It Taught Me to Hope

Jann Rowland presents a must-listen for fans of wholesome Regency romance.

©2025 Jann Rowland (P)2025 Tantor Media

Nothing special

Too repetitive! Honestly, what was the point to retell the same story all over again to all the characters in the book?

Low angst variation with many changes

Lydia elopes before Elizabeth and the Gardiners leave for Derbyshire which changes everything. Six years later Darcy happens upon Jane in London which renews his interest in Lizzy. The story spends the first few chapters describing the intervening 6 years for the Bennett sisters before Darcy returns to Meryton with his sister. The story is a little drawn out but Harry Frost’s superb narration easily keeps your interest.

What happens if Elizabeth does not take her trip?

3 1/2 stars rounded up for the story, but five stars for the narration.

In this variation, Lydia disappears before Elizabeth’s trip with her aunt & uncle. Due to this, Darcy does not find out and is unable to help search for Lydia and Wickham. The story picks up six years after this event. All the remaining sisters except for Elizabeth have married. Mr. Collins has passed away along with Mr. and Mrs. Bennet.

Georgiana has taken her brother to task about grabbing or taking a chance at his happiness. So he does that and shows back up to see if he can woo Elizabeth. I did enjoy the time they were able to spend together, but I thought Elizabeth held out longer than she should.

Overall, it was a nice second chance story and one that I will absolutely listen to again due to the outstanding performance by Harry Frost.

Great story

In this book Elizabeth is the owner of Longbourn after the death of her parents and mr Collins only fathering a daughter before his death. Mr Darcy comes back to the neighbourhood and it begins. Great jaff.

Excellent P&P variation

There’s a difference between a P&P variation, which is a refreshing new story using the same characters, and a retelling, which leans on much of the same storylines and verbatim quotes from Austen’s original. In this book, which is a variation, we get a fresh new story. Same characters. Same personalities, but a new experiences.

This story is low angst and enjoyable. The narration is excellent.