Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World (A Pride & Prejudice Variation Book 5)

This book is different in that the author delves into the emotional ramifications of a young lady forced to marry against her inclination but determined to make the best of it, and the arrogance of a young man who gets what he wants only to find that in his selfishness he has imposed himself unwillingly. The desperate unhappiness, the small steps to try to remedy the situation, the misunderstandings and miscommunications felt real and raw, which is not something we commonly read in JAFF. But the growing love and understanding that draws ODC together: first tentatively and then more assuredly, resonated with me. Because the book starts with the proposal at Hunsford and (spoiler alert) the resulting quick marriage, the book does not have the sparkling dialogue between ODC, and we see a troubled EB struggle to suppress her thoughts and feelings beneath a veneer of calm acceptance following the advice of her aunt Gardiner. I thought this story was very thoughtfully written. The book does have some graphic love scenes for mature audiences only that some might want to fast-forward through.

Just when Elizabeth is about to reject that very objectionable marriage proposal at Hunsford, Darcy kissed her and there were several witnesses. One, Colonel Fitzwilliam, was quite angry at his behavior but Darcy explained that Elizabeth had just agreed to marry him. What could she do to avoid ruination but concur?Now, married to a man she completely misunderstands and still believing the lies Mr Wickham had spewed, she tries her best to agree with everything just to keep the peace. Darcy wonders what has happened to his vibrant, vivacious Elizabeth? Where has she gone? And why has this insipid imposter been left in her place?He saw a glimpse of her old personality when the colonel visited and the ensuing argument nearly ends their marriage! Darcy is hurt, but during his recovery, with laudenum, there are MORE problems. Now Elizabeth wants to die but she might be pregnant, such a conundrum!Well written and edited if you like to see what happens in a passionate marriage.

Our story begins at Rosings Park. Darcy is delivering his insulting proposal, and before Elizabeth can make any response, he kisses her -- in front of witnesses. So Elizabeth is forced to marry the last man in the world she wishes to marry.Life at Pemberley is a daily struggle for Elizabeth, knowing she is to spend a lifetime in a loveless marriage. It seems she can do nothing to please her husband. Her despair is crushing her once-lively spirit. She is cut off from her family and friends as Darcy insists that she discontinue her contact with them.Keep a few tissues handy, but don't stop reading.4

But even if I did, I still truly enjoyed it this time! I also cried, which NEVER happens, so there is that.There are many variations with this basic premise, Elizabeth marrying Darcy against her desires, but this is a definite favorite. There is a painful truth present here, about how they would have reached mutual affection and appreciation without the canon events at Hunsford, without delving into absolutely gut wrenching unhappiness and eventual ruin of any possibility of a happy marriage. (I read one like that once, and it literally made me ill. This is definitely NOT that depressing!)Furthermore Abigail Reynolds is one of my favorite writers of ODC, because their powerful passion is always a joy to read. I especially appreciated that descriptions were almost completely ignored until there were true emotions behind their physical intimacies. This is a brilliant plot device and window into their minds!Wonderful!

First I'd like to review the genre. I have read many P&P variations and alternatives lately and they fall into different categories. It's probably helpful to know what they are like going in so that you don't read something you are bound to hate in principle. The Abigail Reynolds P&P books are romance novels that borrow the Darcy and Elizabeth characters and the scenes we know and love, but turn them into fluffy bathtub reading. They are R-rated (explicit sex), as are other similar novels that are not about P&P. I don't think they are meant to be canonical but are fun little fantasy escapes into What-If Land. Don't read them if you are squeamish about love scenes or are 12 years old or have a need for Jane Austen's exact sensibilities to be expressed in the pages. Do read them if you want a fast read where you already know something about the characters, don't want to have to think too hard, and want an entertaining escape.I think I've read all the Abigail Reynolds P&P variations now. This one was somewhat different than the others in that it was darker and more tragic. The characters weave a web of misunderstanding that only gets untangled at the end. If the other books are filled with almost silly, exuberant physical affection, this one is filled with crying and worrying and staring at the wall. As other reviewers have mentioned, the book's diversion is that Elizabeth feels forced into accepting Darcy's proposal at Rosings and then has to enter into married life without all the information contained in his post-rejection letter, and without his improved manners. If you suspend your disbelief to accept that premise then the rest of it works okay, although the characters get mired down in almost willful misunderstanding. The story was pretty good although I kind of wished I'd known going in that it would be such a downer.

I'm not sure about this one. I have to admit, I do love the thought of someone doing a Jane Austen variation/sequel/prequel, but nothing has ever really blown my mind, and do we all remember that painful collection of words that was published under the title of 'Mr and Mrs Fitzwilliam Darcy, Two Shall Become One'? This book isn't like that, thank goodness (!!)... but it's not Jane Austen either. Elizabeth doesn't seem like the Elizabeth we all know and love in this, although, much to the writer's credit, I think she has captured Darcy very well. I just don't see Elizabeth as the type to be tearing up every five pages, nor was she the type to 'give way' as much as she does in this book...Jane Austen wrote her far too spirited for that. I can't help but recall how taken aback Lizzy is when she learns about Charlotte's reasons for marrying Mr Collins. Is it possible that she can now act in the same way? Austen's Elizabeth has more backbone than that, and would have told Mr Darcy exactly what he could do with his proposal, even if he had kissed her infront of onlookers and so compromised her. It wasn't slushly, however, which was brillaint, although Elizabeth does fall in love with Darcy a little too quickly to make it believable, (I'm all about the chase), even to all of us dedicated Austen fans out there. I'm also not a fan of disecting what happens in the bedroom, I'm certainly a close the door on the reader kinda girl... There are bits in the book which are very preditcable, some which are just too far fetched to make it a really comfotable read... If this story was perhaps just a regency romance about the struggles of Joe Bloggs and his wife, I might have enjoyed it more, so maybe the fact that Reynolds made it about two of the most beloved characters in English Literature is what I'm stuggling with. All this said, I think there will be many people who will love this book, and read again and again. I won't, but I certainly dont think it was a waste of my time or money that I read it. I suppose that's the real issue here, that all people are different, we all have different thoughts and images in our heads as to what Darcy and Lizzy should look, be, or act like, and this was Abigail Reynolds interpretation of what she thought would have happened if Lizzy had said "Yes" to Darcy's proposal the first time round.

This story explores the impact of unequal affections at the start of the marriage between Darcy and Elizabeth. As they misunderstand each other and hide their emotions the descent into deep sadness for them both is palpable.A rollercoaster read but definitely worth the tension.

Ok so I was in a bit of a down in the dumps mood but once I started to read this I got sucked right in!You have to get it into your head that this is not just a re-telling it's a 'what if?' So, you come into the story part way, follow it for a bit then go off on a complete tangent. The turning point was a bit (well....very) contrived and then Elizabeth needed to have a bit of a personality change to follow her new path and for a while Darcy was detestable and blind but then it got really interesting. Oh, and there's sex - so if,for you Elizabeth and Mr Darcy don't have sex then you're not going to approve but before you rule the book out, at least in this one it's not pre-marital sex. Try it. I did and on the whole, I liked it. I think I'll try another by the same author.

As a huge fan of fan fiction I was happy to see Abygail Reynolds publish some of her stories. I have read several of her works online and am happy to buy hard copies of the ones she has available. Though many 'what if...' senarios are available not many writes are as good as she is. This is a good read based on what would have happened if Elizabeth had had to accept Darcy at Hunsford, and how they eventually came to the same understanding they had by the end of JAs classic.

Normally I love this authors work, but this wasn't her best work. It was a good story, but it dragged on and lacked her usually charm, humour and sensuality. It seemed that it was longer book and they shortened it by taking out a lot of the story. It seemed full of holes, jumping from one thing to another and was very repetitive in places. Not the best P&P work she has done.