An Arrangement She Cannot Refuse
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Source: Review Copy from Author
Diverging her path from Jane Austen’s just days after Darcy’s disastrous proposal at Hunsford Parsonage, debut author Jan Hahn delivers a riveting Pride and Prejudicevariation that is full of conflict, deception, mystery, and romance. Similar to Mr. Darcy’s Proposal by Susan Mason-Milks, Mr. Darcy’s Obsession by Abigail Reynolds, and To Have His Cake by P. O. Dixon the characters of this novel are greatly impacted and affected by the death of Mr. Bennet. Because of Mr. Bennet’s premature and unfortunate passing, the Bennets must leave Longbourn, move to smaller lodgings, and the eldest daughters must look for governess situations, unless Elizabeth accepts the aid and arrangements offered to her by Mr. Darcy…
As you may have guessed given the title of this Pride and Prejudice variation, Elizabeth nobly sacrifices her happiness and romantic desires by unwillingly accepting the hand of Mr. Darcy, the man she emphatically refused to marry just six months before. Being the fiercely independent and slightly stubborn heroine we know and love, Elizabeth experiences quite an emotionally turbulent journey. Throughout the pages of this well-crafted variation we witness Elizabeth battle between her anguished grief, former prejudices, jealous suspicions, and her burgeoning feelings of love.
What I loved most about this splendid variation was that it was told solely from Elizabeth’s point of view, and that the reader was able to observe all her feelings, thoughts, and emotions first hand. It seems that most retellings of Pride and Prejudice tend to focus on Darcy and allow readers to get inside his head; this alternative perspective was refreshing and illuminating. Readers are able to comprehend why Elizabeth is resentful and distrusting of Darcy when he doesn’t confide in her, refuses to answer her questions, seems to have an uncommonly familiar relationship with her maid, and claims to have only married her because she would be a good influence and companion for Georgiana. Witnessing Elizabeth’s struggles and sorrows, the reader cannot help but feel sympathetic and even more endeared to this beloved heroine.
Although the main focus of the novel is Elizabeth and Darcy, readers will be pleased to see that Georgiana and Colonel Fitzwilliam receive a lot of page time and are given some interesting character development. The relationship between Georgiana and Elizabeth in this novel is especially sweet and charming. I took pleasure in seeing Georgiana confide her past dealings with Wickham, go to Elizabeth for advice about love, and divulge her deepest secrets.
GIVEAWAY!!! Thanks to Jan Hahn and the lovely people at Meryton Press I have ONE beautiful new copy of An Arranged Marriage to give away to ONE lucky winner!
All you have to do is leave a comment on this review. (To save your inbox from unwanted spam, please don’t leave your email address.) Just check back to see if you win! This giveaway is open worldwide!
This contest will end February 13th! Thank you for entering and best of luck!
What a great review! I have to agree! This is definitely one of my top favorite P&P variations! I already have the book so don’t enter me in the giveaway. Good luck everyone!
Jan is one of my favorite P&P authors! Can’t wait to read this. Great giveaway!
I read this online awhile back and loved it. I’d be so happy to win a copy. Thanks for the giveaway!
This was a fantastic book! I am so looking forward to reading the Journey!!
What a wonderful book! I would love to win a copy of it!
Cathi
Nice review and I agree that it’s a little different to have a book told entirely from Elizabeth’s perspective. I look forward to reading this one. Thanks for the giveaway!
Thank you, Candy, Araminta, Monica, Zally, Cathi, and Heather, for your interest and kind comments! And a big thank you to Meredith for such a generous, lovely review! I love the intimacy of writing in first person and especially when I’m writing about falling in love with Mr. Darcy.
I read it online as well. I loved it. I’m so glad Meredith gave it a 5. I would love an actual physical copy of this book. I have read the other one mentioned. I read this one and just adore it however. It’s so nice to have a different approach to look forward to. Keep up the good work Jan. What an interesting cover on this book. I haven’t seen one quite like it. and that’s unusual for me.
I have had this one on my wish list for a while because the premise sounded so good. I love the idea of seeing what would happen to Elizabeth and Darcy if circumstances were changed a bit.
Thanks for sharing your review and for the giveaway opportunity.
This sounds very interesting because anything in life can happen and something such a the death of her father would have greatly affected her life in many ways. Thanks for the giveaway! I would love to read it!
Terrific review, Meredith! I really enjoyed Abigail Reynolds’ concept on Mr. Bennet passing away and the elder Bennet girls having to take governess positions so this sonds like an equally good read. I would love to win a copy; thanks so much for the opportunity.
~Lori
This is on my list to read! How exciting to have it in a giveaway–thank you for that!
~Cara:)
Loved, loved, loved this book! So glad to see your review and what a great review it is! This was my first book to read of the Pride and Prejudice variations. I read it three times in a row. I have been hooked on all things Jane Austen ever since, especially the P n P retellings, sequels and alternate paths. I enjoy all of Jane Austen but hadn’t read any of her books in many years until this past year. What a treasure now to rediscover her. Now I can hardly wait to read The Journey. Always nice to see a giveaway but don’t enter me in this one since I already own a copy!
Okay, just saw you were giving this away, and just had to leave a comment. I have been dying to read this book!!
Thanks, Meredith!
Thank you, Suzan, Sophia Rose, Margaret, Lori, Cara, Jakki, and my dear jt! I appreciate your interest and each of your comments so much. Readers are vital to a writer. Without them, we’re just talking to ourselves.
What a teaser;). I must get my hands on this book. Thank you for the review and giveaway.
I would enjoy perusing it.
This book sounds so interesting! I can’t wait to read it, and I’d love to win a copy!
never before today had I been so eager to comment on a austen reivew giveaway. I had read this story online before it was taken down to be published and I say this story is as good as the reviewer claims it to be. It is one of my favorites and it was bitter sweet to find that it is no longer available online for me to reread for free. I will gladly purchase a copy of this book though when I have the money because it is my favorite and I love rereading it on a rainy day or when I need a pick me up.
Grace, how sweet of you! It’s wonderful to hear from people I’ve known on Jane Austen sites. And thank you, Beverly, Mary, and Jocelyn! I hope whoever wins this book enjoys it.
This sounds like a book I would enjoy, and I appreciate the chance to win it! There are so many Austen read-alikes; it’s nice to hear what others think about this one.
Great post Meredith! This book sounds wonderful! I have read some great things about this novel and I really want to get my hands on it!=) Thanks for the giveaway!
Thank you, Patricia and Kelli! I wish there was a way for everyone who comments to win a copy, but good luck to all.