The Price of Pemberley

A Pride & Prejudice Variation

De: J. Dawn King

Narrado por: Stevie Zimmerman

When losing everything leads to finding what matters most.

When catastrophe strikes the Darcy family, Fitzwilliam Darcy finds himself stripped of both his ancestral home and guardianship of his young sister. The magnificent Pemberley estate—his birthright and legacy—has been wrenched from his control through deceit and legal manipulation, leaving the once-proud master destitute and angry.

Seeking refuge in Hertfordshire as a guest of his loyal friend Charles Bingley, Darcy's path crosses with the brilliant and resourceful Elizabeth Bennet. Unlike the privileged circles he once moved in, Elizabeth understands intimately how to navigate life with nothing but wit and determination.

Together, these unlikely allies forge a powerful bond. Armed with their sharp minds and unwavering resolve, they devise an audacious plan to reclaim what was stolen. As they battle against seemingly insurmountable odds, they discover that the ultimate fortune may not lie in Pemberley's grand halls, but in the meeting of two kindred spirits who refuse to accept defeat.

In this captivating Regency variation of Jane Austen's beloved Pride & Prejudice, Darcy's greatest loss becomes the catalyst for his greatest love.

©2025 Joy D King (P)2025 Joy D King

Emotional, Honest, and Unforgettable

Another excellent performance by Stevie Zimmerman. It’s fabulous having this story in audio too.

After Georgiana and Wickham elope, Darcy receives the second shock of his life: he wakes from a drunken stupor to discover he is no longer master of his own homes. What dastardly deed has caused this—and who is behind it? After exhausting every avenue open to him at present to restore his inheritance and feeling somewhat defeated, he takes refuge with his loyal friend Bingley at Netherfield until his investigation can draw out more leads. Though weary and discouraged, he remains determined to seek justice while doing all he can to protect his sister from her lying, cheating husband and to get Pemberley back.

At the Meryton assembly, Darcy does insult Elizabeth, but after she confronts him, it prompts a rare thing from him: a genuine and immediate apology. Elizabeth accepts, but as penance, she challenges him to keep Lydia and Kitty in check for the remainder of the evening so they do not disgrace themselves—or their family—before the night is out.

They become friends quickly, confiding in one another as trust grows between them. Pemberley has long been at the centre of Darcy’s identity, but the people in his life now—especially Elizabeth—begin to challenge that. Could he still be happy without the weight of legacy? And is it really about the estate at all, or about becoming the man he knows he can be—someone honourable, loving, and strong enough to build a home and future with Elizabeth?

“He finally said, to himself, to the universe, ‘I am Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley in Derbyshire, the son of Gerald Darcy and Lady Anne Darcy.’ He was unaware of the moment she stepped next to him and was surprised to see her lovely eyes looking up at him through thick eyelashes. ‘You are Fitzwilliam Darcy, a man who does not shirk his duty, a man who rises from the ashes to become whatever is necessary to protect those precious to him, a man willing to suffer loss to gain true value…’” —quote from book

Meanwhile, will the mystery of who stole from him and how he might get it all back be resolved?

Lots of page time for ODC here: I adored the courtship and marriage of this Elizabeth and Darcy. There are a few surprises along the way, including a different Lydia and a particularly callous Caroline. Bingley shows great loyalty and strength in this variation. And two new likeable characters—Mr Crosgrove and a lad named Petey—befriend Darcy and quietly influence his choices. The Fitzwilliam family also plays a very positive and supporting role for Darcy and his new bride.

J. Dawn King’s extensive library and the positive reviews she has built through the years shows she writes with a seasoned hand and a clear love for the characters of Pride and Prejudice. Her stories are always deeply emotional in the best way—they make you feel everything. I always end up in tears at least once, and always come away loving Elizabeth and Darcy even more. In this variation she draws out the depth of their love with quiet intensity, never rushing the bond between them, but letting their romance unfold from courtship to the birth of their children in a way that will stay with you. I can’t wait to see what she has in store for her readers next, because I know I want more of this.

Highly recommend.

Kisses only.

An automatic buy

J Dawn King has crafted another wonderful P&P variation. In this one Darcy’s world gets tipped upside down. He loses everything: his sister, his estate, his townhouse and his identity. This angry man is who is with Bingley at Netherfield. This Bingley is a stronger version and quickly helps Darcy to start to wake up to his behavior. Several other characters but especially Elizabeth help him to see that he is more than his estate and all that comes with it. For those readers/listeners that love lots of Darcy and Elizabeth on page time you will like that aspect of this story. I also love that they come together earlier in the book so we could experience some of their married life and the issues they have to face.

I originally bought the paperback to add to my collection, but was thrilled when the audiobook was released. You can tell from my other reviews if you ever look at them that I love audiobooks. The primary reason is these amazingly talented human narrators bring the story to life & let you feel the emotions of the characters plus draw you deeper into the story. Stevie Zimmerman was wonderful in this performance!