Mr. Bennet's Dutiful Daughter

A Pride and Prejudice Variation

De: Joana Starnes

Narrado por: Stevie Zimmerman

When Colonel Fitzwilliam's disclosures are interrupted by the bearer of distressing news from Longbourn, Miss Elizabeth Bennet is compelled to accept an offer she would have otherwise dismissed out of hand. An offer of marriage from the all-too-proud Mr. Darcy. Yet how is she to live with a husband she hardly knows and does not love? Will she continue to feel trapped in a marriage of convenience while events conspire to divide them? Or would love grow as, day by day and hour after hour, she learns to understand the man she married, before she loses his trust and his heart?

(Given the "early marriage" premise, the issue of growing affection and intimacy is central to the story. The relevant scenes are not graphic, but the novel does address mature themes.)

©2016 Joana Starnes (P)2017 Joana Starnes

P&P gets an interesting twist

Loved the narration. Enjoyed the storyline because it put both Darcy & Elizabeth in a new twist. Well done. These stories are for mind escape and fun.

Loved the story!

Engaging story, just enough angst, the chasers recognizable with Austens characters. I’ll definitely listen again

Heart-wrenching and Emotional P&P Variation

"Serve and obey, a terrifying burden when one cannot also love and honor. How could she sacrifice herself thus?"

In this Pride and Prejudice variation, Col Fitzwilliam's revelation of Darcy's interference in Bingley and Jane's budding romance is interrupted by a letter from Longbourn with disastrous news. Mr. Bennet has been struck down by an apoplectic fit and lies at death's door. Darcy recognizes that Mr. Collins will cast out the Bennet family the moment Mr. Bennet passes and immediately proposes to Lizzy. His proposal is tempered with apologies for the timing and kindness in his consideration of her current condition. He offers to convey her to Longbourn and on the way Lizzy considers his offer.

Lizzy only knows that Darcy is cold and capable of cruelty to those once considered friends, she believes that he is a proud and reserved man. But she also perceives the love he has for her and the closeness and companionship he shares with Bingley and Fitzwilliam. She recognizes the advantages to her family, and that close association with Bingley may bring him back to Jane. Lizzy agrees to marry him, and Darcy is overcome with joy. But simply saying "yes" can't solve their problems. Lizzy struggles in a marriage of unequal affections, and Darcy wonders what happened to the lively and charming girl he fell in love with.

Poor Lizzy! and poor Darcy! Without Lizzy's words of refusal to dispel Darcy's pride, and Darcy's letter to clear up her misconceptions, Lizzy continues to willfully misunderstand Darcy and he remains blissfully unaware of her true feelings of disapprobation. Darcy makes blunder after blunder and repeatedly insults her family, while Lizzy rails at her lack of choice in the marriage but won't speak up for herself. Both of them are the losers in this situation. Things finally come to a head after Darcy learns that Lizzy didn't marry him for love, and their woeful failure to communicate leads to some of the most heartbreaking scenes in any P&P variation I've read.

The author made me feel Lizzy and Darcy's pain deeply, the emotional turmoil she created was incredible. I spent chapters unable to work because I was blinded by tears, and I haven't been able to begin a new book yet. This isn't a lighthearted or frothy read, but a well written novel about love grown through gratitude and two very different people coming to understand each other. Ms. Starnes' writing was impeccable, and she lifted my heart with warm loving scenes between our couple, then ripped it out of my chest with wrenching descriptions of their pain.

Who better to narrate this beautiful retelling than Stevie Zimmerman? Her voice is quickly becoming synonymous with Pride & Prejudice to me. She is able to masterfully perform the male character's voices, and her normal speaking voice is so pleasant. She has the perfect accent, tone, and voice for each character. They came alive and lived and loved through my speakers.

I received a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review. I have this book on my reread list, and it is well worth an audible credit.

A hard lessened learned

If you could sum up Mr. Bennet's Dutiful Daughter in three words, what would they be?

Misunderstanding, love, and forgiveness.

What did you like best about this story?

Elizabeth growing to love her husband and trying to make him happy. Let’s say it was hard work, more than I’m could have imagined.

Which character – as performed by Stevie Zimmerman – was your favorite?

Elizabeth of course. Stevie Zimmerman made All the characters come to life and is always a pleasure to listen to without any of the characters sounding hokey.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Mrs. Bennet causes havoc wherever she is but what else is new.

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed listening to the audiobook. I wanted more.

Wonderful Story and Audible Narration

This is a wonderful P&P variation, wonderfully narrated by Stevie Zimmerman. This book includes part of the story told via Mrs. Reynolds, the Pemberly Housekeeper’s diary. That is a nice touch. I highly recommend Mr. Bennet’s Dutiful Daughter to anyone that wants to read a really good love story.