By Duty Bound: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

Michelle Ray has done it again! Such a great read!

This book is the most original variation I’ve read in awhile- many of the characters are so different and the plot only vaguely resembles canon. I felt the first person perspective of Elizabeth was extremely well done and heart-rending. There is a feeling of isolation with this Elizabeth- yes she cares about others, connects, and is warm, but also a feelIng that she is on her own. Darcy is very different as well- in some ways both less and more charming but definitely tortured. I surprisingly enjoyed the angst of it all but might have enjoyed ODC coming together before after the 90% part even more so. Definitely worth a read but not sure I’ll be re-reading it as I wouldn’t say it was enjoyable (but clearly not all JAFF is meant to be fluffy!).I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

A great adventure! Darcy and Elizabeth are a great duo in this Regency tale. Enjoyed it from first to last.I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

What an incredibly moving story! Our heroes were certainly put through their emotional paces. I especially enjoyed the fact that you could have removed all mention of P&P and it would still have held up as a solid novel. A lot of JAFFs tend to rely a little too heavily on the canon material and their audience's expectations because of it. Not so with this book!It also may have made me a tentative fan of first person POVs. This is not something I normally enjoy, but the deep insight the author gave us to Elizabeth's thoughts and feelings, that could only be accomplished in first person, were well worth my initial distaste.I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

This story is very well written and made even more unusual by the author writing it from the viewpoint of Elizabeth Bennet. But it is sad and depressing in parts. There is an HEA but the journey to that is dark.

Once again this author doesn't disappoint.The characters are well carved and the storyline is fairly original.Looking forward to a new book

This was a different Jaff. Darcy was a second son and lots of expectations upon him. He loves Elizabeth early on but leaves her. Some hardships and sorrows along their way to happiness. A bit on the heavy side. But still a good read. Great Jaff

A truly heartbreaking romance between Darcy and Elizabeth that started when his cousin, as they are visiting a nearby estate, falls ill and is given care at the Bennet’s home. Sad news from Pemberley arrives cutting short the budding relationship starting to blossom between two couples. And the abruptness is given the distinct air of finality, this coming from Darcy’s cousin who refers to going home and returning to their responsibilities.Elizabeth doesn’t see Mr Darcy again for two years. She is living with her aunt and uncle Gardiner and has made a close friend and tries to forget Mr Darcy. Her caring nature gets her in trouble with her aunt because of an unfashionable zealousness in her curiosity and desire to help the poor but puts her in a dangerous path of extremism from an outside source.She leaves behind her brush with danger and the kind but embarrassing rescue of Mr Darcy, when she is summoned home. Her sister Mary is ill and Elizabeth takes over her care and becomes her companion since no one else seems to have the wherewithal to do it. Mrs. B. is too nervous and stressed about Mary dying, Jane is caring for her mother and the household when her mother can’t, and Kitty and Lydia are too silly and self involved to understand the seriousness of Mary’s situation. Elizabeth asks for a trip to the seaside for Mary and Mr Bennet is more than happy to let them go. The Phillips’ are supposed to meet up with them in a week. But Mary and Elizabeth gain a lot in their time alone and become close friends. They have the most poignant conversations as Mary declines and is facing her death. Of course Elizabeth feels guilty for not being a better sister to her sooner. They are at Ramsgate and Elizabeth meets and befriends Miss Darcy who is of course visiting there with her companion Mrs Younge. She meets the very charming Mr Wickham too. Mr Darcy comes to visit his sister and luckily is at hand when Elizabeth is warned about Georgiana’s proposed elopement.Time and again Elizabeth meets Darcy who alternately treats her like she is the saving lifeline someone just tossed him, or a completely unknown stranger with no prior history or acquaintance. He’s cold and stern. It’s tossing her heart back and forth with every meeting. She vows to give him up which lasts about ten minutes until she thinks about not being able to love anyone else.There are secrets that are alluded to. Which we don’t find out about until much more sorrow (Mary dying) great joy (Jane and Bingley’s engagement,) angst and diversion (Darcy offering Elizabeth a home with Georgiana as a friend and support as she prepares to come out) happens. There is also a lot of drama that occurs when Darcy shares up for his sister’s coming out ball and brings a lady with him.The rest of the story moves forward quickly but maddeningly with bits and snatches of reasons why being revealed cryptically by multiple characters until I wanted to jump out of my chair! I did not see the end coming. It was so sad and beautiful, and a big relief. Thank goodness for the last chapter.I know I will read this one again and want the audiobook when it arrives. I recommend this highly with the angst warning.

Good ending, just not my favorite Darcy or Elizabeth.Maybe I was not in the mood.Darcy is a second son, or is he? He just always stays so distant, and for most of the book.

If I were to describe this book in one word it would be Patients.it takes till the end to get the good part and the the characters are very patient and wait until it’s right

Very well written and edited, this is one of the more enjoyable variations I have read. If only Amazon would understand how errors ruin an otherwise good story. This book could have been fleshed out a bit to illustrate the characters' thoughts and feelings beyond just Elizabeth's. However it does have the effect of putting the reader in her place as she wouldn't have known others' thoughts. It's very much first person. I enjoyed the heck out of it!

Story happened 2 years prior to the original. The Colonel (a regular citizen at that time) and Mr Darcy were on a mission to do a Grand tour. They stopped over the Herefordshire area and met the Bennets. Lizzy and Darcy had a blossoming connection but it was curtailed by an unfortunate event. The next they met (Assembly), Mr Darcy was different and every meeting seems to add to the list of heartbreaks for LizzyThis is a great , clean variation. As mentioned, a lot of emotional daggers for Lizzy (not only from Darcy but from her family). Loved that aside from focusing on ODC, the story also touched on sadness within a family; and how Lizzy, though with past regrets, made up to store for future memories. You will love Lizzy's tenderness and fortitude in this story.I thought this was one of those I hate Darcy stories, but the author gave a reason for his behavior. I felt sorry for him and the torment he must have endured.(though some were such an out of character for Darcy)Also love how ODC honored the ones they love/cherish in the end.Overall, this is an enjoyable story. It is long but every chapter was filled with enticing events.( i couldn't put it down!) Be prepared your heart may be broken repeatedly but there is a HEA.I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

I love Michelle Ray’s books and was excited to read her latest adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. I appreciated the different take on Darcy and the pull of a second chance romance. As always, Ray’s extensive research is evident throughout. Highly recommended!

This re-telling is more than I could have hoped for. I so enjoy Michelle Ray's storytelling and this did not disappoint. A beautiful, thoughtful, and well-researched twist on a beloved classic. Ray's own love for Austen's masterpiece is evident and yet, this deeper insight into Darcy and Elizabeth hit just right. Though my copy came early, I waited until this weekend when I knew I would have time to sit with some tea and scones and immerse myself. My only issue is I read too quickly and as always I just want more.

Borrowed from KU: I volunteered to leave a review: There were a few scenes sent my blood pressure into the red zone. Darcy had a family secret that he held close to his vest. The reader had no idea what it was and Darcy was not saying. However, it affected him and he could not consider Miss Elizabeth for his wife even though he was in love with her. Well then, walk away, and leave her alone. But no, he had to keep coming back. I developed whiplash flipping back and forth with his emotional tennis match. Elizabeth was no better. Her emotions were all over the place and it just didn’t fit. Something was off and I never gained my footing with this story. It felt disjointed and didn’t click with me. I’m sorry, but that is my honest opinion.

This is a 3 for meThe writing and editing are well done and I really appreciated the version of Darcy at the beginning of it. I thought it had genuinely unique elements, considering that these are characters that have been reimagined so frequently, so I really wanted to like it more. However, it’s not a favorite for me as the angst of the story is drawn out to the point that I’m not sure why ‘nice’ characters would bother. It left me feeling a bit annoyed with myself for finding a few normally beloved characters so unlikeable or irritating. There are some elements of the story that weren’t necessarily consistent with the time (e.g. social/behavioural interaction, travel expectations), which normally doesn’t bother me the way it does some and I would have brushed off, except that in some cases it made it harder to like a character I was already expending effort to like.Not sure if it’ll be a re-read for me, but the writing and editing quality alone make it a better effort than many other stories available.I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

What could be better than a meet early, love at first sight, and second son story? This novel starts off so well; Darcy is swoon-worthy. Elizabeth is sweet and understanding. Then tragedy hits Darcy's family. His story is filled with downward and upward struggles from himself and his family.The next time we read about our dear couple, there have been a number of tragedies and near tragedies. Elizabeth must help her family through an incredible situation. I could feel Elizabeth's pain as I read and shed many tears for her and this couple.Darcy and Elizabeth meet again for a third time. She must make some decisions which will wrench her heart in two yet again. But she does her best given the situation.I encourage others to give this novel a try. There is angst. As stated above, tears were spent both times I read this story. This will take many hours to read, so a box of tissues and many cups of tea will be needed. Our dear couple does get their happily ever after.I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

The story was well written like the others I have read by Ms. Ray. I was happy to receive a copy in advance via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. if the star rating was based just on Elizabeth’s character, I might have given it 5 stars. I liked her determination, kind heart, curious nature, adventurous spirit, and naïveté. She is a young country girl after all. She’s allowed to misjudge and grow from her mistakes.Mary, oh, Mary. I cried bunches over her.Normally, the above would warrant 4 or 5 stars. However, this Darcy, I did not like, at least not after the first chapters. Maybe toward the end, he regained a little in my esteem, but it was too close to the end to change my opinion. For about 90% of the book, his behavior toward Elizabeth was cruel. In some ways, I feel he was emotionally abusive. He kept kissing her then turning cold and dismissive or simply disappeared—-time and time again. If was determined not to marry her despite his “love” for her, he should have left her alone instead of torturing her with glimmers of hope. For this reason, I deducted 2 stars.Will this go into my reread pile? No, but that is because I don’t care for overly angsty stories. There’s enough angst in real life. And because I want to like and respect both Darcy and Elizabeth. That’s simply my opinion, but the book was well-written and flowed well. Following Elizabeth was interesting, and she seems a person I would like to be friends with. I teared up for her the many times Darcy toyed with her feelings. It left me wishing she would just write him off and find the deepest love with someone else.

Found this book very enjoyable but too long in my opinion sand so I found myself skipping chapters. I felt sorry for ,Darcy in this book as it reveals that he is the second don but he is not the don of Lady Anne, Lady Anne had recognised him as her son but it turns out that he was the Bayard don of a servant

Angst filled story. Darcy is a second son, or is he. He is certainly depressed, but brandy will make things better. Lizzie is pretty aware that her only hope for survival is marrying someone. She starts with high standards but slowly prune the list of what makes an ok husband. She is not gulping brandy but happy, she is not. A major sickness in the family is almost ignored by the Bennets.Will there be an HEA? It’s not a lock like most stories. The overlaying of depression and angst becomes a bit tiresome but the plot is ok.

This is an interesting story and well written. I was thrilled to see Michelle Ray had written another book as There You Were is one of my all time favorites and I have read it multiple times. However, I was disappointed in this book. Darcy is unforgivable. I understand that he had painful memories etc but he makes too many mistakes and is just plain cruel. Elizabeth gives him no set down but throws herself at him again and again. The ending is sweet and touching and the book worth reading but I cannot give it a higher rating as I so disliked Darcy and was frustrated with Elizabeth.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars. Told from Elizabeth's POV.There is one premise in this story (which I won't give away) that I have not read in any other story. It has to do with Darcy. We don't learn of this "fact"until late in the story. And ironically, that fact is also something which happens in other families and in society and which Elizabeth comes to deal with as she seeks a way to make changes both for the public good and for one servant, in particular.Darcy is a second son, which is a premise I can't remember reading before.Yes, Darcy and Elizabeth meet early in this story and fall in love. There is even one kiss. However, soon he must return to Pemberley as deaths in the family make him duty-bound to tend to estate matters. Meanwhile Elizabeth goes off to London where she finds much to do with cultural events, plays, museum visits, etc. This aunt and uncle Gardiner are much more strict in their expectations about propriety. Again, Darcy shows up.As other reviews state, Darcy runs hot and cold with Elizabeth. There are many times when she sees a look on his face which says he still cares for her. While other times he cuts her off. There is even a time when it seems the lady on his arm will be the next Mrs. Darcy.I have to add that the thread having to do with Mary brought me to tears, which is rare for me in reading JAFF. Elizabeth learns from this experience much about her relationship with her sister. As she says at one point to Darcy: her family has their faults but she loves them, all the same.This story does have its angst and is a page-turner. I have not even touched on some of the threads. I do highly recommend this story.

The writing and editing are great. I love the author's prose and her ability to invoke emotion. That said, THAT is the only reason for 3 stars.I couldn't, in good conscience, give it 5 stars bc the main characters, Darcy and Elizabeth, were too unlikable. If this was a general regency novel, I might give it 4 stars because even though the main characters are unrespectable, that would at least be their original characteristic. But writing P&P variations/retellings/sequels, comes with accountability that I see too many authors try to skimp on.Stripping Darcy of his honor, and the self-respect off of Elizabeth just made this very hard to read. Darcy was awful, cruel and kind of a rake towards the end. I mean, he's about to kiss Elizabeth while he is publically courting another woman and when that OW sees them, Darcy tells the OW that Elizabeth means nothing. That's low. My heart hurt for E and yet Elizabeth accepts anything Darcy does to hurt her, just so she can hold onto tiny scraps of affection. The Elizabeth from P&P who stood up for herself, her family and even misguidedly, Wickham, does not exist in this story. This Elizabeth is more in line with Jane Bennet's original character. Continually sees the world and those around through rose colored glasses, even if the people she sees are continually kicking her while she's down, and Darcy does that. Again and again. Year after year. This was one of the few books where I wanted D&E not to end up together. They were toxic. And the revelation at the end did not absolve him of his cruelty.My review is harsh but I will still read the author's other works going forward. I loved her style of writing, and even though this book will probably not be re-read by me, I hope one day one of her books will become a fave that I can re-read.

This was the second book I've read by Michelle Ray...and it may be my favorite! Similar to her first JAFF, our characters are not allowed to live an easy, carefree life. Told from Elizabeth's POV, she meets Darcy when his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, has fallen ill at Longbourn. Darcy and Elizabeth instantly connect, and they share many happy days together--until tragedy strikes for Darcy, setting them both on an unexpected path.Numerous heartbreaks and obstacles are thrown their way: deaths in both families, the inability to have what you want, the need to find your place in the world. Michelle Ray knows how to write angst and deep longing--and I am here for it!While at times challenging to read (due to the emotions), I stayed up late into the night reading. I needed to know why Darcy was so stubborn (I wholeheartedly wanted to shake sense into him). I needed to know how Elizabeth would handle each new curve ball (I love that she is flawed)... And that is the mark of a great writer--creating a need in their reader to desperately get answers and to always want more.If you are in need of something a bit more emotional (don't worry, there is still happiness), then you need to read this book. Darcy, and especially Elizabeth, earn their HEA here. It is certainly a worthy read.I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.