Mrs Collins, Against Her Wishes

By: Melanie Schertz, a Lady

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Length: 8 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

A Pride and Prejudice what if story. With the departure of the Netherfield party to London, the Bennet family's hopes of a marriage between Jane and Mr Bingley are dashed. Due to declining health, and wishing to protect his family, Mr Bennet insists on Elizabeth marrying his cousin, Mr Collins. On the way from the wedding breakfast to Hunsford, a terrible carriage accident befalls the newlyweds. Mr Darcy receives a letter from his aunt, pleading for his assistance, as her clergyman is dead and his wife is terribly injured. What will Darcy's reaction be to finding the young lady he cannot forget, in the cottage at Hunsford?

Wonderful

Lately I have been listening to a lot of Ms. Schertz's books from the Plus Catalog. Some of them were not so good, some are pretty good, and this one was wonderful. If it had been performed by a talented artist, it would have been even more amazing. The Virtual Voice glitches at the beginning of each chapter are very aggravating and also it is sometimes difficult to know whom is speaking due to the monotone narration. Even with the drawbacks of Virtual Voice this book is excellent from beginning to end. It is not rushed, yet does not contain extraneous details or episodes.

Elizabeth is coerced into marrying Rev Collins in order to save her family from being "tossed into the hedge rows" after terminally ill Mr. Bennett leaves this world. Thankfully, just after the wedding, and before the marriage is consummated, Collins dies in a carriage accident on their way home to the Parsonage in Kent. Unfortunately Elizabeth is severely injured. Mr Darcy is devastated when he arrives in Kent and finds out that Elizabeth is almost dead. He is beside her bed constantly to help nurse her. Things really crank up as all the characters we love and hate make appearances in the story. Mrs. Bennett, Lady Catherine and Wickham are absolute evil people!

The plot moves swiftly and kept me soundly hooked until the end. I was thrilled that the worst of the characters were justly punished for their actions. There is angst, but the author does not make the listener suffer for extended periods of time. I really loved this book and highly recommend it, particularly to Jane Austen lovers.

Outstanding

One of the best P&P vagaries I have read. I would love for a voice actor to read it as it’s very well written and different from the other hundreds I have read in this genre. I loved it. It was nice to see those who deserved reproof got it and from the characters you wouldn’t suspect. Great work! I look forward to other books by this author.