An Arranged Marriage

A Pride & Prejudice Alternate Path

By: Jan Hahn

Narrated by: Stevie Zimmerman

Length: 8 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's Summary

Can a marriage of convenience ever lead to true love? Immediately after Elizabeth Bennet refuses Mr. Darcy's proposal at Hunsford, her father dies, leaving Longbourn entailed away and little fortune to sustain his widow and daughters. Six months later, the Bennet family receives a visitor with a most unusual offer that promises to save the family from financial and social ruin. Elizabeth's sense of duty forces her to enter into an arranged marriage with a man she does not even like.

Told from Elizabeth's point of view, An Arranged Marriage is a compelling twist on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Can Elizabeth overcome her feelings of anger, resentment, and suspicion toward her new husband and - the most bewildering sensation of all - a growing attraction for the last man in the world she ever wished to marry?

©2011 Jan Hahn (P)2019 Jan Hahn

A petulant Elizabeth

The storyline is rather cute and endearing. However, the characterization of Elizabeth is so off that it's really not a P&P story. There is no wittiness from her. She overreacts to Darcy and throws multiple temper tantrums.

Zimmerman does an excellent job narrating the story, which lifts it above the mundane.

So if you don't see it as a P&P variation but think of it as just a sweet, period romance, then you'll be all right.

An angry Elizabeth?

The author has leaned heavily on Austen's style without the witty quality of Austen's writing. Elizabeth came across as an angry woman without much humor. As far as fan fiction goes this isn't bad but dear Jane is a hard act to follow.

Not recommended

I must start off by saying that there was a lot of detail put into this book and the narrator was fantastic. However, there are some things that i could not get past. One of those things was Elizabeth’s and Darcy’s entire personalities were completely wrong. I tried to excuse these things as she was dealing with grief, but it was too much. I saw people talking about it in other reviews, but decided to give it a chance anyway. The story is full of tropes and twists you can see coming and normally I like that, but these were far to cringe and I found myself wincing in every chapter. If you want to enjoy it, don’t go in looking at it as a P&P variation.

One of the better JA Fan Fictions I have read

This story is one of my favorites for fan fiction! The story is not only believable but true to JA characters. I like how independent Elizabeth still is. The author does not make her week or off the wall impulsive. How Darcy has normal human faults. Stevie Zimmerman is by far the best female narrator I have heard. This book is worth the cost/credit use.

Oh, Elizabeth!

My goodness but Lizzy is angry, unforgiving and unreasonable in this version. Other reviewers had warned that this was an angry Elizabeth, but still, I had no idea it was this bad. Understand me, please, it’s a great book and of course Stevie Zimmerman brings it to life.

Imagine Lizzy married to Darcy without the Hunsford letter and you will be better prepared for just how angry she is in this tale. None of the misunderstandings are cleared up first, her opinions of Darcy are intact and unmovable no matter the evidence to the contrary. Yeah, it’s rough. Ms Hahn and Ms. Zimmerman take us on a very hard journey to the HEA, in fact I had doubts we would ever get there. Whew!

Arranged marriage to a true love match

It was good to return to an old friend of a book, and to have the pleasure of Jan Hahn and Stevie Zimmerman’s story telling, in this lovely P&P variation of my favourite couple. This story was the first book I bought for my kindle and it was wonderful to return to it. The story was lovely, funny at times, and so much better than I remembered 😃 Also to have Georgiana as a much more central character by the end of the story, alongside of Richard Fitzwilliam.

Another enjoyable experience to listen to Stevie Zimmerman, can’t wait for her next performance and next audiobook project

Stevie Zimmerman does a great job!

I read this book about 10-years ago. I enjoyed it then. However, the addition of the Audible narration puts the icing on the cake.

Great narration

Very fun twist to beloved pride and prejudice! Weaves the original story in very well with alternate story. I enjoyed very much.

Stubborn early days

I purchased this book way back..paperback. Discovered again with the amazing narration of Stevie...can't go wrong.

Mr. Bennet passes away a few days after the Hundsford proposal and the letter. 6 months later, Darcy presents himself with another proposal. Elizabeth shows her stubborn and immature self with an eventual "ah ha". Darcy also experiences a few " ah ha" moments as well. This story focuses on Darcy, Elizabeth, Georgiana and Colonel Fitwilliam.

Some very sweet and tender moments and an all around lovely story.

A Very Determined Darcy

I bought the paperback of this book several years ago and loved it. It was recently brought to my attention that it has been recorded, so of course I had to have it. It’s a great story, maybe one of the earliest forced-type marriage tropes. It’s a delightful book and I highly recommend it.

Dreadful

After plunging myself into Miss Austen's world once more and having just finished the excellent "The Other Bennet Sister" by Janice Hadlow, I decided to try and remain in this world a bit longer with "An Arranged Marriage" - the premise of which seemed enjoyable. Well, what an error that was. This book is dreadful. In all fairness, I am writing this review even though I have not finished it, but an hour in, I am convinced that it is not worth my time to continue listening.

If you are an admirer of Elizabeth Bennet's character, please move along and do not waste any time with this story. The Lizzie this book depicts could not be more different than the one Jane Austen created. She is silly, naïve, rude, selfish, worse than Lydia at times... Her actions and thoughts are just plain stupid and idiotic and she is determined to see the bad in everything and everyone - especially Mr Darcy. Now, I know that the meeting in Pemberley has not happened in this timeline but I cannot believe that she would behave in such a manner with Mr Darcy knowing what she knows (she has read the letter he wrote her) and that she should still see him as this evil, untrustworthy, unkind gentleman. She is depicted in such a way that it's honestly insulting to Jane Austen that she should be considered to be the same character.

Maybe the story would have merit in itself if the characters were not ones that we know already. The story of a young lady forced into marriage with a gentleman she despises only to realise that she has misjudged him would not be groundbreaking but could be entertaining and enjoyable. However, using beloved and respected characters and making them act in completely unnatural and unbelievable ways completely ruins the experience.

Once again, my advice is to move along and find a better sequel/alternate universe. There are plenty to choose from.

Quite cheerful

Most P & P variations are filled with angst, misunderstandings and heartbreak. This variation is quite cheerful by comparison. Excellent narration.

A delight from start to end

I loved this audiobook from the first to the last word. I laughed and I cried, I shrieked with delight. what more can I say?

I am so grateful to Jan Hahn to have written it and ever so happy that the amazing Stevie Zimmerman has narrated it. I am in love with this book. Right upon finishing it I listened to the end chapter again.

Sheer delight.