Letters from the Heart

By: Kay Bea

Narrated by: David Pickering

Length: 4 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

The death of one’s spirit should come with a great deal of noise: weeping and wailing, if not thunder or the roar of a fire. Elizabeth could not have imagined a spirit forced into darkness by something so mundane as the scratch of pen on paper. Elizabeth Bennet has been certain of many things in her life: her place in society, the love of her family, her ability to choose her own future, and her ability to accurately judge the character of those she meets. Three days after the Netherfield Ball, a near tragedy shakes that foundation and in the weeks that follow, Elizabeth learns that nothing is certain. Compelled by circumstance and her mother’s will, Elizabeth is condemned to marry her father’s heir, Mr William Collins. Isolated from everyone she knows and loves, Elizabeth is faced with a dark and difficult future. Unaware of the changes that have occurred in his absence, Fitzwilliam Darcy returns to Hertfordshire determined to right his wrongs and prove himself worthy of Elizabeth’s love.

When he learns he is too late to secure his happiness, Darcy determines he will express his love for Elizabeth the only way he can - by protecting her younger sisters as well as he would his own. Old bonds are strengthened, family ties are severed, and unlikely allies emerge as each of them struggles to make sense of the changes they face. Can happiness be found when it seems all hope is lost?

This novella is a variation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and as such contains her characters as well as those of the author's creation.

©2019 Kay Bea (P)2019 Kay Bea

Heart breaking and beautiful

This story is told primarily through letters, from Lizzy to her sisters and her father; and then letters from Darcy to his cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam, his Aunt Catherine and more.

They swing from heart warming to heartbreaking. Lizzy’s bravado when writing her sisters in describing her life in little hints we, as modern readers pick up on right away as describing abuse. And we recognize the nightmare she must be going through. Yet her cheerfulness and determination to keep up her communication with her family is is to recognize bravery and a spirit that refuses to be utterly broken.

I love this story. I loved Darcy in this story. I even loved Lady Catherine. I re-listen to this every year and experience it as if the first time. I cry and then I rejoice. The last couple of chapters are so good, so happy.

I highly recommend this audiobook. And this author.

heartwrenching...

This story was an emotional rollercoaster. it made me weep and it made me angry. But in the end it was well worth it.

David Pickering is a Gifted Storyteller

Fantastic novella in ebook and even better in audio. David Pickering is a gifted storyteller and I liked his clear, rich voice, his characterizations without being over-the-top, and pacing. No distracting production issues to steal from my overall enjoyment or attention. Easy to recommend.

Great story

It started with some angst. Mr Bennet became ill and Mrs Bennet decided that Elizabeth should be wed to Mr. Collins to save them all. This was just after the ball. When Mr Darcy comes to his senses and goes back to Hertfordshire he is in for a chock. Well written and narrated.

Wonderful Debut

David Pickering is excellent in the narration of this book, which is primarily the reading of letters. If this audiobook doesn’t make you weep, I would be very surprised.

Book review from August 26, 2019

Congratulations Kay Bea on a wonderful debut publication. I thoroughly enjoyed every page and love your writing style. I wept over and over again reading the personal pain and ultimately the joy and love in the letters. The words touched my heart. I loved the development and loyalty of the sisters, the friendship of the de Bourghs and the Fitzwilliams. Very well done. I look forward to and encourage your next in 2020.

Disappointed

I would never have thought any writer would make our beloved strong willed miss Elizabeth Bennett into an abused and battered wife of mr Collins, it was terrible to hear Eliza go from strong and impertinent to a victim of abuse who forfeited her lively spirits to a man she never even wanted... worst p&p variation iv heard!!

Awful story

In my opinion this was an awful story. Wife beating or some other awful things done to Elizabeth. This is not what I listen to Pride and Prejudice variations for. So glad she at last found happiness but the ineffectual power of the characters who supposedly cared for Elizabeth was terrible too.