News from Elizabeth About Her New Book

I haven’t had too many chances to review Jane Austen fan fiction because I’ve written my own book!

CANCELLED is a contemporary romance about a robotics engineer engaged to his business partner when a previous one-night stand reappears. Pregnant. And it’s his.

The story is told primarily from a male POV and includes elements of chick-lit. In true indie author fashion, I’m challenging a few of the genre rules for both romances and chick-lit.

It’s priced at $2.99 on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and 50% off on Smashwords until 9/22/11 with the coupon code JZ49W

Buy Cancelled on Amazon
Buy Cancelled on Barnes and Noble
Buy Cancelled in any format on Smashwords

Now that my book is out, I will have time again for more reviewing!

Review of “The Truth” by Sandra C

Time Period: Regency              Length: 12 parts, approx 110,000 words

Rating: PG

Relation to the Original: Take what you know about after the Rosings proposal, turn it upside down on its pretty little head, give Mr. Bingley the boot, and add in a few deliciously scandalous letter exchanges…

Link to Story: The Truth by Sandra C

The Truth by Sandra C is a very strong re-imagining of our favorite Bennet sisters, Jane and Elizabeth, finding happiness and husbands! The story delves deeper into the background histories of Wickham, Georgiana, and the lesser Bennet sisters.

Mr. Darcy’s improper letter of explanation after the failed proposal attempt sparks off a continuous exchange of secret letters between Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth. These letters are one of the most positive aspects of the novel. For the most part, the voices of Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam leap off the pages, making an honest retelling of how these two characters really stink at face-to-face conversation, but get along much better when one can edit with a quill.

The tension for the various couples is well constructed, and a release comes for the reader just as you’re begging for a resolution for the couple. The addition of new characters is mostly kept to the background, but a few new faces adds freshness to the story line. I am not a stickler for period accuracy, but a few times the dialogue came off more modern and name choices jarred against my own perceptions of the times. I can read right past this, and they were very few cases of needing to do so.

The ending is a little off for me for two reason. Elizabeth sums up the endings of everyone’s lives by making the entire first part of the story be an oral history of how she and Darcy courted told to her grown, pregnant daughter. This would work if there was some indication in the beginning of the story that this device was being used, such as introducing “Danielle Darcy,” and then going into the story. Also ,the dialogue from Danielle sounded a little childish to me at times to be coming from a woman about to give birth. One of the final couplings also greatly disappointed me. An attempt to redeem one of the clearest villains of Austen’s world is a little to hard to swallow, let alone pairing him up with one of his victims.

Beloved Moment

There were many times where the dry wits of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth made me laugh out loud. The greatest treasure are the cuts against Caroline Bingley. Finally, I have never read a Jane/Colonel Fitzwilliam pairing before and must say I very much enjoyed how Sandra C. illustrated their personalities are far better-suited than a Jane/Bingley pairing.

Review of “Disenchanted” by Kara

Time Period: Regency              Length: 24 Chapters

Rating: PG

Relation to the Original: Disenchanted closely follows the plot developments of Pride and Prejudice, but transports the story into Regency England with wizards, magic, flying horses, and everything delightful about the world of fantasy fiction.

Link to Story: Disenchanted by Kara

Mixing the worlds of fantasy and Jane Austen could easily become a hot mess on the page. Author Kara’s work, Disenchanted, is far from it. The story is a must read for anyone with a love of both Austenfic and fantasy books. Although we all know what generally happens in the plot of Pride and Prejudice, the immersion of Austen’s world into the world of fantasy makes this story a real page turner.

The only lament a reader could have is that the story ends too soon! Kara moves the story along at a very brisk pace, and with her wonderful imagination, this reviewer would love to get her hands on any and all deleted scenes. The lack of scenes with Georgianna is one clear loss, another is there is no plot device involving Wickham running away with anyone. However, the back story on Mr. and Mrs. Bennet is both unique and a suitable replacement to the loss of any familiar plot lines.

Beloved Moment

So much of this story simply played like a movie in my mind. The scenes later in the story where Mr. Darcy begs Elizabeth to leave to protect herself because the Thief is coming (can’t say much more, don’t want to spoil anything) are so emotional. The dialogue is charged with raw human reaction and the scenes literally leap off the page.

Review of “The Bennet Son” by Nerin

Time Period: Regency              Length: 44 Chapters

Rating: PG

Relation to the Original: The Bennet Son understandably retells the story of Pride and Prejudice from the very beginning. Although there are a few similarities to the events in Austen’s tale, Nerin integrates them into the story with great originality and creativity.

Link to Story: The Bennet Son by Nerin

I admit the idea of a Bennet son made me skeptical as to how believable the story could be. I am happy to report my first inclinations were very wrong! The Bennet Son works Jonathan Bennet seamlessly into the family. The natural changes an older brother would have on the family dynamic are captured superbly in the interactions between Mr. Bennet, Jonathan, Elizabeth, and Jane. You can’t help but admire Jonathan Bennet and accept him as a canon member of the Bennet family.

This fan fiction answers the question of how would things be different for the Bennet family if a son was born first? Not only that, but the answer is a perfectly plausible storyline. Nerin weaves in many of the famous events we all love from the original story, such as the assembly dance and Netherfield ball. Those that would be forced, such as the visit to Rosings, are omitted.

Because this story is so very unique, the ending feels slightly rushed and not a perfect fit. The author’s imagination and originality is so thoughtfully represented throughout the story, I would have loved to see an ending that was more Nerin and less Austen. Nerin includes the famous Aunt Catherine dressing down and puts a twist on the Lydia/Wickham debacle. The only issue is that without the visit to Rosings, Aunt Catherine suddenly appearing at the end of the novel to berate Elizabeth lacks the punch it has when Aunt Catherine and Elizabeth are previously acquainted. Not that I’m a fan of Lady Catherine. But, it is easier to feel her deluded personal insult when a reader can see why she considers herself bamboozled by a young upstart.

Ending aside, and the conclusion does wrap up major issues appropriately, readers should not pass up this story. It has a sequel, The Fourth Sister, that details Kitty Bennet’s journey to love. Between The Bennet Son and The Fourth Sister, many innovative exchanges and insights give less prominent characters in Pride and Prejudice a chance to shine and enchant the reader. The Bennet Son is a great read especially for those who enjoy alternate retellings of the events in Hertfordshire and London that resulted in two Bennet sisters married to men of great wealth.

Beloved Moment

It’s rare that an author gets cheeky with Miss Georgiana. I love the exchange between her and Colonel Fitzwilliam in Chapter 17 when she off-handedly remarks it’s been 6 days since she has seen Jonathan Bennet. Colonel Fitzwilliam pounces on this as a sign of her esteem for the man, and she tries to back peddle, claiming she only knows because it was the last time she also saw her brother. Uh-huh. You’re not fooling anyone, Georgie!

 

 

Review of “Speak Not Against the Sun” by Amy Robertson

Time Period: Regency                  Length: 14 chapters + Epilogue

Rating: PG

Relation to the Original: “Speak Not Against the Sun” picks up directly after Elizabeth Bennet refuses Mr. Collins’ hand in marriage. On a rampage in the forest, she runs into Mr. Darcy, who is seriously injured after falling from his horse. Familiar obstacles pop up to prevent Darcy and Elizabeth from understanding one another.

Link to Story: Speak Not Against the Sun by Amy Robertson

Although more of a novella length, “Speak Not Against the Sun” is a precious tale of Elizabeth and Darcy falling in love. The exchanges between them imagined by Amy Robertson bring a tender smile to any reader’s mouth. If you find you have no words, by all means, check to see if you’re eating pheasant!

The first chapter of “Speak Not Against the Sun” is one of the most exciting chapters I’ve encountered in Jane Austen fan fiction. The scene of Elizabeth stomping through the forest, throwing a fit about Mr. Collins, then transitioning to Florence Nightingale when she finds Mr. Darcy upsettingly horseless is a treasure. Perhaps it started off as a one-shot, but the comedy and drama that follows is a welcome lengthening to the story.

It would be nice if the story could have included more tender moments, either between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, or even Jane and Charles. The description of Elizabeth and Georgiana spending a week alone at Pemberley is another luxurious depiction for Jane Austen fans, but it would have been nice to see a little more breach of propriety before the conclusion.

Beloved Moment

Colonel Fitzwilliam happens to interrupt hide and seek during the ‘French hour.’ Chapter 12 is a hoot!

Review of “A Fair Prospect” by Sandra P.

Time Period: Regency          Length: 46 chapters (ten sections)

Rating: PG (really no rating is given, but the romance scenes are extremely chaste hand holding, kissing)

Relation to the Original: Reimagining of the events after the first proposal attempt at Rosings. Full of delightful distractions from new characters, and flirtations with breached propriety that could have led to a forced marriage. A great deal of miscommunication and assumptions are the conflict here.

Link to Story:

A Fair Prospect by Sandra P.

Poor Mr. Darcy! Thanks to some added “deleted scenes” from the original Pride and Prejudice, reading “A Fair Prospect” lets the reader squirm and feel the full discomfort of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet after the first proposal attempt. From there, Sandra P. deviates dramatically from the original story, to include a foil to Mr. Darcy: Mr. Nicholas Harrington. Although a second son, Mr. Harrington is provided for financially by his family, Lord and Lady Harrington. Oh, did I mention Mrs. Gardiner is his godmother? As Nicholas is a child hood friend of Miss Elizabeth, and scheduled to visit with Jane and herself at Cheapside following Miss Elizabeth’s visit at Rosings, poor Mr. Darcy not only competes with every other obstacle we know and love, but now another potential suitor.

The story line of “A Fair Prospect” keeps the reader guessing, as so many near catastrophes strive to drive Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam apart. Be prepared to hold your breath until the very end, and selfishly grin at the darling conclusion.

Beloved Moment
After Mr. Darcy invites his love Elizabeth and her London relatives to a dinner at his town home, Lady Catherine makes an unexpected arrival and takes over hosting the event. Upon Elizabeth’s entrance to the dinner, Lady Catherine sneers at Elizabeth with a marked response about her even being invited. Elizabeth retorts back and turns the tables on Lady Catherine’s snub, and the rest of the party works to hide their mirth. See if you don’t laugh out loud yourself when you read Chapter 30.

Review of “A Most Civil Proposal” by Colin

Time period: Regency

Rating: NC-17 (in later chapters, very intense and descriptive love-making scenes. Nothing violent)

Relation to Original: “What-if” scenario of Mr. Darcy’s first proposal attempt at Rosings is overheard and gossiped about by the Rosings staff, forcing Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy into an engagement.

Language: A very nice blending of modern story-telling, with a great deal of dialogue exchanges, but vocabulary and diction reflecting the time period. This isn’t a fan fiction full of unfamiliar vocabulary, but enough clever word choices to make you feel like it could have been a draft Jane Austen herself penned with an alternate ending.

Link to Story:

http://meryton.com/ellenspdf/A%20Most%20Civil%20Proposal.pdf
The site, meryton.com, requires registration for members to read stories.
One of the first Pride and Prejudice fan fictions I read that amazed me with its storyline, characters, and “what-if?” scenario. Like many Pride and Prejudice fan fictions, the story departs from Austen’s story during Elizabeth Bennet’s visit to Rosings. In A Most Civil Proposal, Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy are thrown into a forced engagement due to gossip-spreading servants in the employ of Lady Catherine de Bourgh.

The characterizations are very true to the original story. There is some softening of Mr. Darcy’s harsh, principled actions. Thanks to an omniscient narrator, the introspection of Darcy’s motivations reveal a man slightly unsure of himself, but never apt to revealing this side of himself to others. Instead, the story reveals a very logical, romantic, and reasonable Mr. Darcy. If you are desiring a villain out of Darcy, this isn’t the story for you.

Additionally, Colin reveals delightful scenes with many of the background characters of Pride and Prejudice. If you ever wanted a little more chutzpah from Anne and Mrs. Collins, enjoy this story!!! Elizabeth’s showdown with Catherine is one of the best I’ve seen, and the story is altered a little for the Lydia/Wickham debacle. In some ways, the author Colin is extremely generous with Miss Lydia Bennet, but still captures the action we all so wish we could do to her, if one could reach through the pages.

Overall, “A Most Civil Proposal” is a wonderful twist on Jane Austen’s regular story, but there aren’t any major plot devices to blow your hair back. Thankfully, there are plenty of romantic dealings between Darcy and Elizabeth, and the love scenes penned include every delicious detail, without overt vulgarity. If you want a simply fluffy, minor bumps in the road, tale of what would have happened if the first proposal was known by those who would bandy gossip around, you can’t go wrong with “A Most Civil Proposal.”

Beloved Part:
In anticipation of their upcoming wedding vows, Mr. Darcy and Miss Bennet spend a little alone time in Mr. Gardiner’s study, with the door open for propriety’s sake. After a few liberties are taken, Mr. Darcy criticizes himself for not waiting until the wedding night to do more than hold Elizabeth’s hand. Elizabeth gives Mr. Darcy a funny, and firm chastisement for treating his future wife like a Vestal Virgin. Find it on page 90 and enjoy a smirk with me.