My Brother, Your Sister

A Pride and Prejudice Variation

By: Shana Granderson A Lady

Narrated by: Karen Cass

A Duchess, two Countesses, and their families are forced to stop at the Red Lion Inn in Meryton on their way home to one of their estates due to two of the ladies beginning active labor.

The same day, Fanny Bennet, with Thomas Bennet away in London, also goes into labor with her second child. When she calls for the midwife and Mr. Jones, she is informed they are both at the inn attending two ladies. Fanny asks her mother-in-law, Beth Bennet, to remain home after the Lucases send their carriage to transport her the one mile to the inn so she may be attended to by the midwife, and if needed, Mr. Jones.

On the 5th day of March 1790, a little after midnight, the children are born within minutes of each other, a mix of both sexes. Even though Fanny was hoping for a son to be the heir and eventually end the entail on Longbourn, she accepts her daughter with love. Bennet arrives the day after the birth and discovers he knows the high-born men from his days at Cambridge.

After a few days of recovery, the three families and the two male babes continue their journey to their estates, and Bennet and Fanny return home to Longbourn to introduce a very excited Jane to her sister, Elizabeth Rose. Jane feels rather smug as she insists Mama would give her a sister to play with, regardless of Mama's insistence it would be a brother.

Our tale follows the various families and children through the years. As in canon (one of the few similarities) Charles Bingley leases Netherfield Park. In this story, the party he hosts is rather larger than in canon, heavy with eligible men.

Will Darcy be his usual prideful, arrogant, Lizzy-insulting self? Will this Bingley be a man of strength or one who is capricious and easily led? Will William Collins make his intrusion into the Bennets' lives and how will Lady Catherine and Wickham factor into this story? Will our favorite hulking footmen-guards be present?

We know at some point it will be discovered that Lizzy is not the child of Fanny and Thomas Bennet, but who is their son? There were two boys born that night, so we have to discover which one was taken from the Bennets. We will learn why there was a swap and whether it was intentional or an error. Once the two who were swapped are informed they were raised by families that were not theirs by blood, how will they react, and the same question for the families involved.

All of the above questions and many more will be answered as this tale is told.

©2024 Shana Granderson A Lady (P)2024 Podium Audio

Baby Swap?

Be prepared for an out of canon story including changes in many characters. This has a more sensible Mrs Bennet due to a more involved Mr Bennet and that his mother is alive and taken the younger Mrs Bennet under her wing. This relationship develops sweetly and the family is much better off than even the local community knows. When Mrs Bennet starts her labor with her 2nd child she is moved to the local inn as two other ladies that are traveling through the area are also in the stages of labor and there is only one midwife. After the babies are born and Mr Bennet, the chess champion at University, arrives he knows the husbands of the two other ladies as he played chess with them in the past. Jump forward years and chess continues via the post and all the children grow up before they meet again. The revelations from that meeting have a substantial impact for all involved. A few other things to be aware of if you are pro Bingley & Jane this is not a story for you. I did like the changes in Wickham, Mr & Mrs Hurst and that we got to enjoy Darcy's parents. I borrowed this book via KU & got the audiobook to go with. The narrator was good but not my favorite. It took me a little bit to get into her rhythm but then was able to enjoy it better.

Refreshing , low angst twist P&P Variation

What a wonderful story!! I love that Mrs. Bennet was a pleasure, and would enjoy more stories with her being pleasant! What a beautiful twist on this Variation! A definite ”must” for all P&P Variation lovers!

Outstanding Narration

I really love this narrator and really glad she is doing JAFF. Her performance for all characters is very engaging.

I really enjoyed the premise of this variation too, and with the exception of a crazy Caroline and a side villain near the end, all the characters are very likeable.

Pretty good, with some ridiculousness

The story was interesting, if a bit long winded. I wish, really wish, the author had not given such ridiculous nicknames to some of the characters. Kathy, Giana, and Janie just don’t hit the same as Kitty, Georgie and Jane. I should have ended a bit earlier.

interesting premise

loved the storyline - the expanded family was great. I felt like I was being read a list of family members and dates of births and marriages for half the book. The reader may have been part of the problem, while she's a proficient narrator, she didn't add much vocal flair. I would consider this book an ok listen - not great, but certainly not bad. I just had the overall feeling that I was being told a story with basic details rather than immersed in a sweeping novel.