Author: Kelly Miller
Paperback: $9.99
eBook: $3.99 (free on KindleUnlimited)
Audiobook: $17.46
Narrator: Deborah Balm
When Simon Lockhart accompanied his friends Charles Bingley and Fitzwilliam Darcy to the Netherfield estate, he never guessed how Elizabeth Bennett would impact his future. Yet a few days later, she comes to his aid after a riding accident. The way Elizabeth cares for him—at the risk of her reputation—impresses him. Despite her lack of romantic inclinations, he fixates on her and insists on wooing her. Then he meets her sister Jane, and all thoughts of marrying Elizabeth take flight.
Pet ownership agrees with Elizabeth Bennett. After caring for her Cocker Spaniel Robbie, she takes a greater interest in her sister Mary and tempers her mother's outrageous schemes. Seeing Mr. Lockhart in distress, Elizabeth places his needs first and her safety second. Despite his wealth and pleasant manner, his features don’t call to her. While she finds Charles Bingley attractive, his disinterest in literature limits the scope of any possible relationship. Yet both potential suitors seem superior choices to their sullen friend Fitzwilliam Darcy. Why does she feel so drawn to Darcy?
Elizabeth’s looks and manners take Darcy’s breath away. He cannot stop thinking about her. Yet fate continually draws them together. After Lockhart declares his interest in Jane, Darcy misinterprets Elizabeth's actions as despair. While seeking to protect and befriend her, his sister arrives at Netherfield. Georgiana was bored at Pemberley and still pines for George Wickham. Darcy realizes she needs a friend and knows he can trust Elizabeth to look after his sister’s interests.
So begins The Trouble With Friends: A Pride And Prejudice Variation. Author Kelly Miller compresses Jane Austen’s original timeline and limits the settings to Hertfordshire and London. She sidelines some of Austen’s characters while adding new ones, allowing readers to glimpse her beloved protagonists in a new light. While channeling Austen’s voice, she concentrates less on outdated matters, such as entailed properties and arranged marriages, while giving readers what they most desire: more time spent in the delightful company of Elizabeth Bennett and Fitzwilliam Darcy.
In this altered timeline, some events remain fixed, and others change considerably. I missed some of Austen's longer set pieces, such as Elizabeth's visit with Charlotte and her tour of Derbyshire with her aunt and uncle. Yet amid this classic tale of love and family, Simon Lockhart's friendship, loyalty, and sacrifice make him an outstanding addition to Jane Austen's cast. The Trouble With Friends: A Pride And Prejudice Variation honors Austen’s classic tale and will keep readers involved until the end.
Deborah Balm's cultured voice adds authenticity to Kelly Miller's audiobook. Balm distinguishes characters well, and her narration immerses you in Elizabeth, Darcy, and Lockhart's world. As my first experience listening to a book on Audible, I found it hugely enjoyable.
Thanks to author Kelly Miller for providing a copy of her audiobook for review. The next time I attend an assembly in Meryton or a ball at Netherfield, I shall recommend your novel to all my friends, no matter how amiable or troublesome they may be!
The Trouble With Friends: A Pride And Prejudice Variation by Kelly Miller is available on Amazon.com.
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