Hi friends! I’m so very happy to welcome back author Christine Combe who is here to talk about two of her newest releases! And this pair of books is a little daring because Christine has done the unthinkable – she has Elizabeth marrying someone other than Fitzwilliam Darcy! 😮😱🫢😯
With that type of premise, you know you are in for a story that is set on a completely unique path and one with a lot of emotional turmoil – and I just happen to love when stories include both these things! 🤩
Christine is here to share a little bit about her inspiration for the two books in her The Husbands of Elizabeth Bennet series. We hope you enjoy! 🙌🏼
Thank you, Meredith, and hello everyone! I am so very excited to be returning to Austenesque Reviews to talk about not just one but two new Austen variations! I’ve written a duet (or duology, if you prefer) called The Husbands of Elizabeth Bennet.
In volume one…
In volume two…
Hope those blurbs intrigue you! Now, let me tell you a little bit about how I came up with the idea for this two-part story…
We all know how much Elizabeth loves her long walks. I remember thinking one day, What if she found an overturned carriage? I wondered what Lizzy would do and was certain she would do whatever she could to help. I then wondered, What if the survivor turns out to be a nobleman who happens to fall in love with her?
I know, I know… There are many Austenesque novels out there where Elizabeth marries a nobleman, and even those where he is an older man with hope of siring of an heir. I knew straight away that I wasn’t going to put ODG in that kind of situation—to marry for security, for herself or her family, isn’t her way (normally). I wanted her to have met someone who was as rich if not richer (and Henry is definitely richer!) than Darcy but who, unlike him, would decide he didn’t care what anyone would think. He would be as charmed by Elizabeth’s impertinence and playfulness as Darcy, but not afraid to show it—or to go after what he wants.
It is this forwardness that leads Darcy to see how very wrong he is to not follow his heart. Only, by the time he realizes he is in love with Lizzy, she’s already being charmed by the marquess, and ODB feels there’s no way he can compete.
Although Henry’s sister takes Elizabeth under her wing to help introduce her to society, there’s still his jealous daughter and a murder plot to complicate their lives before she and Henry can go on to their happily ever after. And please, don’t skip volume one just because it ends with Elizabeth married to someone other than Darcy! I assure you it’s a very fun story with a very charming man whom you will adore getting to know as much as I adored writing him.
Now, given the title of the duet is The Husbands of Elizabeth Bennet, I knew that dear, sweet Henry would eventually have to meet his demise so that she could eventually meet her destiny with Darcy.
There are nine years between the epilogue of volume one and the first chapter of volume two. In that time, both Darcy and Elizabeth have lost their spouses (yes, he did eventually marry) and are left to raise young children alone. They are both pressed by relatives to re-enter society, and immediately upon doing so, they are besieged with speculation as to whether they will marry again.
I felt like Elizabeth would not want to—or so that’s what she firmly believes. Her husband has only been gone a year, after all. No one who knows her well should even expect her to, as she truly loved Henry. Darcy feels much the same—he doesn’t need to marry again, because even though his only child is a daughter, Pemberley isn’t entailed, so his daughter is his heir.
But as so often happens, true love finds its way. Darcy is immediately reminded of feelings he thought buried deep, and though he fights his attraction to Elizabeth, he eventually accepts that he can’t. Meanwhile, Elizabeth is stubbornly digging her heels in saying she has no desire to marry again, all while falling in love a second time without even realizing it.
Amidst the marriage-minded machinations of their families and the gossiping members of the ton, Darcy and Elizabeth manage to establish a friendship through the interaction of their children, and when both see that they need each other, that’s when it becomes clear that love is what unites them.
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What do you think, folks? I hope the blurbs and my thoughts on bringing Darcy and Elizabeth together after being apart for a decade intrigue you. Thanks so very much for stopping by to learn about The Husbands of Elizabeth Bennet today, and thanks again to Meredith for having me!
Thank you for the visit, Christine! This sounds like a interesting journey for Darcy and Elizabeth! I quite like seeing Darcy and Elizabeth in different scenarios, and I’m intrigued to learn more about the characters of the people they married.
How gratifying it will be to see them finally come together! 🥰
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Both volumes of The Husbands of Elizabeth Bennet are available in ebook, paperback, and hardcover from Amazon. Also available to read in Kindle Unlimited.
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Connect with Christine
About Christine
Christine, like many a JAFF author before her, is a long-time admirer of Jane Austen’s work, and she hopes that her alternate versions are as enjoyable as the originals. She has plans to one day visit England and take a tour of all the grand country estates which have featured in film adaptations, and often dreams of owning one. Christine lives in Ohio and is already at work on her next book.
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GIVEAWAY TIME!!!
In conjunction with her visit, Christine is generously giving away 1 ebook from her The Husbands of Elizabeth Bennet duology (winner’s choice!) to one lucky reader! Woot woot!
To enter this giveaway leave a comment, question, or some love for Christine below!
- This giveaway is open worldwide. Thank you, Christine!
- This giveaway ends April 12th!
I have read more than one book were Darcy or Elizabeth have been married before, and I love these stories! I do enjoy lots of angst and an uncertain road to their happy-ever-after. So, congratulations! I look forward to this intriguing dueology!
I agree!!
I hope you enjoy them when you get to read them!
I have read both books and they are fabulous. I recommend them highly. The only other JAFF book I have ever read that also had you devastated at the loss of Elizabeth’s first (non-Darcy) husband is the wonderful On Equal Ground by Elizabeth Adams. If you’ve read that book, you’ll love this one as well.
So happy you enjoyed them!
These sound so good! Often times we see Elizabeth married first but don’t always get to read the full story. I’m looking forward to reading them both!
I hope you enjoy them when you get to read them!
Thanks to Meredith for hosting. I adored Henry in Book 1: What a wonderful guy. It never hurts having Elizabeth marry a Marquess. Seriously, she was now a Lady with the wealth and connections that even Darcy could appreciate. I don’t usually enjoy stories where ODC marries other people. However, in this case, it was warranted. Darcy left Hertfordshire to escape his infatuation and Bingley would have left the area and never returned.
Things that were avoided: According to the timeline: a heartbroken Jane would go to London after Christmas and receive the snub from the superior sisters, Elizabeth would travel to Kent at Easter, receive the DHP [Disastrous Hunsford Proposal], read Darcy’s letter, travel during the summer to Derbyshire, tour Pemberley, renew relations with Darcy and meet his sister, receive another letter announcing the scandal created by the Couple of Shame, the restoration of the family name and honor with the marriage of the little tartlet to her scoundrel, and finally Jane and Bingley reunited. Look at all that was eliminated by this first book. Whew! I’m exhausted just mentioning it.
I hated that Darcy missed his chance but Elizabeth’s emotions had never been engaged. Darcy was still that haughty man who snubbed her at the assembly by calling her tolerable. Darcy scuttled his ship. I’m sorry. This loss was on him. He should suffer. I don’t mind it when Darcy has to eat a bit of crow now and again. I wouldn’t want a steady diet of it.
Book 2 was difficult to read. I could relate to Elizabeth because I also was in a period of mourning. Man, that hurt. I agreed with Elizabeth’s feelings that it was too soon to move forward. Everyone thought she should be ready to step back into society and be willing to meet men of consequence, connections, and fortune. Readers had to endure a lot of angst before reaching the happy ever after. Whew!
I wish Christine all manner of success with her stories. Thanks to the publisher for the generous giveaway. Good luck to all in the drawing. Blessings.
Thank you for the kind words, J.W.! I’m so happy you enjoyed these stories, even if book 2 was a little difficult for you.
The concept of both Darcy and Elizabeth having been happily married before and raising children on their own is a concept that I would like to discover. I have these two volumes on my wish list. Congratulations on publishing another story.
Thank you so much for the kind words! I really hope you enjoy these stories when you get a chance to read them.
First, congratulations! I have had my eyes on both these books. I do enjoy the trope of Elizabeth being married to another before Darcy. But what really intrigues me is a whole book on that first relationship before Elizabeth and Darcy find their way to each other. Thank for a chance at the giveaway!
I loved the first book, it was different in an exciting new way. I look forward to the next one. The covers are lovely, but looking closely, the first couple looks a bit older and been through some things than the second one. Was it conscious or just happystance, I wonder…?
So very sorry I am late replying to this (life has not exactly been kind lately), but the gentleman on the first cover actually *should* look older because the character is in his forties. On the second cover, the female model is different because I could not find a picture of the first lady with another male that suited me, so had to find another. Darcy is not yet 40in book 2, so it’s okay if he doesn’t quite look it.
Congrats on the release!
Thank you, Darcy!
Congratulations on the book release!
Thank you, Denise!
This is definitely on my list of books to buy. Thank you for the giveaway!
I’m pleased you look forward to them!
These books have me interested even though I’m not an angst lover. I’m not usually a fan of either of ODC marrying others but I have read several which I’ve enjoyed. I feel these will be in that category so they are on my list. Good luck with them Christine.
Hi again, Glynis! I always look forward to seeing your comments on my blog tours. I promise you, Henry is a very charming man – some of my early readers actually were sad to see him go!
Loved Vol 1!! looking forward to Vol 2. thanks Christine and Congrats on 2 awesome reads!
I’m so happy you enjoyed book 1 and hope you enjoy book 2 just as much!
I have not read one like this! Intrigued. Congrats on your releases!
Oh, I really hope you enjoy them when you get to read them!
Well, we will see. I don’t mind Jane or Charlotte marrying differently, but I have never liked Darcy marrying Lizzy as his second wife, we will see how Elizabeth marrying someone else sets. In versions where she married Me Collins or Col Fitzwilliam, I wasn’t thrilled.
This was my first try at writing such a story, and it was quite the emotional journey for me. I actually adore Henry, and so many readers have adored him as well. I hope you’ll give him a chance!
Looking forward to reading the story!
I really hope you enjoy them when you do!
This sounds like a wonderful duology! I have no problems with them marrying another first, as long as they do end up together, as long as it’s not Collins!
I really hope you enjoy the stories when you get to read them!
I have both of these books on my TBR list, and am looking forward to reading them.
I hope you enjoy them when you do read them!
Poor Darcy – let’s face it waited too long! These books sound terrific. Thank you for the giveaway.
He certainly did wait too long! Some of my early readers even said he deserved a little suffering with the way he acted.
I’ve read both and enjoyed the drama!
I am so happy you enjoyed it all! lol
Wow! You have convinced me that I actually CAN read a book where Lizzy marries elsewhere (first) without exploding into a million pieces. As long as they end up together, I can endure a zig or a zag along the path. So, I am adding to my wish list and looking forward to jumping into the story with both feet!
I promise you, you will love Henry! And don’t worry, Darcy is still swoony in book 2 even if he is nearly 40 by then.
I’ve loved Christine’s other works so I’m very sure I will love these. I like the premise. I don’t know how an author decides to have Elizabeth marry someone else before Darcy, I think this would be a tremendous challenge. But of the ones I’ve read where the plot went in that direction, I’ve enjoyed them all. Definitely on my TBR list. Thank you for the chance at a giveaway.
So very happy to know you have enjoyed my work so far! The inspiration for this story stemmed from the thought of wondering what Elizabeth would do if she encountered an overturned carriage on one of her long country rambles, and of how she and everyone else would react if the survivor of the accident turned out to be a nobleman who fell in love with her. Henry is so very charming right from the start that you really can’t help but like him. I will have to think of some way to bring him back in a future story.