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The Widow Elizabeth: A Pride and Prejudice Variation Kindle Edition

by Renata McMann (Author), Summer Hanford (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.3 506 ratings

Part of: A Pride and Prejudice Variation (33 books)

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Can heartbreak ever lead to greater happiness?

When Elizabeth weds one of Darcy’s dearest friends he tries, and fails, to put his love for her behind him. Then, after two years of regretting his decision to step aside for his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, Darcy is given that rarest of gifts, a second chance. Though he mourns the cousin he loved like a brother, Darcy can’t help but wonder what might have been, and what could still be.

Elizabeth's heart is broken by her husband's death. Worse, she’s being pressed to marry not only by her family, but a barrage of suitors. Amid the chaos and sorrow, only one person, Mr. Darcy, seems to fully understand her need to grieve. He, like Elizabeth, knows Colonel Fitzwilliam deserves the respect of a full twelve months of mourning.

Still, much can happen in a year.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B075X5FPPT
Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 24, 2017
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 3109 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 242 pages
Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1977674771

Best Sellers Rank: #395,874 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #8,192 in Regency Historical Romance
- #9,946 in Regency Romances
- #11,787 in Classic Literature & Fiction

Customer Reviews:
4.3 506 ratings

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Summer Hanford
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Summer writes a lot, so for an easily digestible overview of her various series, visit her website: www.summerhanford.com
As Summer Hanford, Summer currently writes Pride & Prejudice retellings (with a touch of humor...and sometimes a little adventure). Summer is currently working on more Pride & Prejudice variations with Renata McMann, as well as writing some on her own, and creating several illustrated Children's Books.
Summer lives in New York with her husband and compulsory, deliberately spoiled, cats. The newest addition to their household, an energetic setter-shepherd mix, is (still) not yet appreciated by the cats (we literally have a wall down the center of our living room), but is well loved by the humans. For more about Summer, visit www.summerhanford.com.
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Renata McMann
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Renata McMann is the pen name of someone who likes to rewrite public domain works. She is fond of thinking "What if?"
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4.3 out of 5

506 global ratings

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CEK

A romantic second chance story

Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2024

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Elizabeth starts off as wife to the Colonel, as Darcy waits too long to understand his feelings. After Lizzy is widowed, Darcy is executor for the estate and they begin again. A stronger Jane, an interesting but still cantankerous Lady Catherine, a few non-canon characters, and a Wickham who grows on you. Very sweet and romantic, with plenty of tart dialogue.

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Wilkey Way

Much better than I expected

Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2021

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I almost didn't read this because I don't like stories where Darcy is not Elizabeth's first husband. But I'm glad I gave it a chance because this was very well written book and very believable for the most part. Although it's clear that this author Duo does not like Mrs Bennett as they always way over exaggerate her deficiencies as a mother which I don't feel does justice to her character in canon.

I just wish more time could have been spent showing Darcy and Elizabeth romance after they both admitted they loved each other. But as always anything from this author Duo is a very clean read, which I appreciate.

2 people found this helpful

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JKom

"What if"...Col. Fitzwilliam proposed before Darcy could?

Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2023

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In this "what if?" variant, the Horrible Hunsford Proposal never happens. Col. Fitzwilliam falls hard for Elizabeth, and with military decisiveness, proposes to and weds Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Darcy represses his feelings, regretting his indecision but unwilling to cause unhappiness to his favorite cousin.

Colonel and Mrs. Fitzwilliam are happy together – but when their young son dies, and then the Colonel falls during the Battle of Waterloo, Elizabeth is left penniless and despondent.

There is a minor but puzzling mystery about Col. Fitzwilliam's death – but who would want to do such a thing, and why?

This is a softened portrait of Lady Catherine, although it's offset by a truly awful Mrs. Bennet, who is exaggerated to the point of caricature. Still depressed, Elizabeth is shocked to learn her husband was his cousin Anne's heir – and with his death, she inherits everything, including Rosings.

As Elizabeth goes through her year of mourning, many changes come to her family – some good, some bad. Darcy is still in love with her, but will she ever be willing to forget his cousin Richard and learn to love him instead?

2 people found this helpful

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Lorie McClory

Interesting plot if you overlook the typos

Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2017

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This book was a page-turner. I loved the character development. The biggest problem for me were typos and misused words. Better editing would make this book nearly perfect fan fiction for me.

4 people found this helpful

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wosedwew

Only the dead have seen the end of war. ~ Plato

Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2017

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Elizabeth Bennet Fitzwilliam has suffered tragedies.

Her infant son succumbs to fever.

A month later, her husband leads his men into battle at Waterloo – and doesn’t lead them out.

A great war leaves the country with three armies — an army of cripples, an army of mourners,
and an army of thieves. ~ German Proverb

SPOILER
The grieving widow is helped to return to England by the wife of her husband’s General.
Elizabeth Fitzwilliam arrives in London to stay temporarily with the Gardiners.
After a brief visit, she travels to Longbourn.

In the two years Elizabeth has been on the continent, her family has seen many changes.
Kitty has married, has a son and lives in London. Mary has married; has no children and lives in Meryton.
Jane has never married and endures the scorn her mother once reserved for Elizabeth.
And Lydia? Lydia ran away with Wickham and returned to live at Longbourn after he abandoned her.

The Fitzwilliam family has suffered three deaths in rapid succession: Anne de Bourgh,
Richard Fitzwilliam and his older brother, the Earl of Matlock.

Mystery descends on Elizabeth as she arrives at Longbourn. Someone wants her to falsify her husband’s death date.
She is offered a strong financial incentive but refuses to dishonor her husband. But … why the subterfuge?

Her husband’s cousin Darcy is administrator of his estate. He arrives with a surprise for the impoverished widow.
Elizabeth and Jane are off to begin a new life.

War would end if the dead could return. ~ Stanley Baldwin

Who is the mysterious Mr. Talbot?
Why does Lady Catherine pension off her most valued servants?
Who is the new Earl of Matlock?

This is a gripping story of grief and renewal.

I always like an epilogue to explain away all the loose ends and two old friends do an exemplary job.
I had some qualms about the next generation’s inheritance issues but I guess if they don’t mind, I won’t either!

I would recommend this to anyone who likes JAFF. My opinion is – this is the best yet from this author.
I read this on KU but I am buying a copy to keep.

In war, there are no unwounded soldiers. ~ José Narosky

17 people found this helpful

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Kindle Customer

Slow

Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2020

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Definitely not as good as the other books by McNabb & Hanford. Obviously E being a widow makes for a more somber book.

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Calvin

A real interesting twist for those who love a bit of conspiracy.

Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2017

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Short Description:
1st Star - Helped pass time and some laughs,
2nd Star - Good flow (story-telling) - decent pace and well balanced,
3rd Star - A bit of the classical tragic love story at the start (yeah I do enjoy Shakespeare's tragedies),
4th Star - Better to have loved, and lost than to have never loved at all.
5th Star - A real interesting twist for those who love a bit of conspiracy.

Long Description: The long and short of this book is that I loved it. I enjoyed this piece very much. Anything I say here would sort of give the story up, I feel, so I will leave it to the imagination and only say - beware of plots and schemes.

One person found this helpful

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C F Hans

Aptly Titled

Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2017

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This really covers the time of Elizabeth's widowhood. The prologue covers the time between proposal and marriage to Colonel Fitzwilliam. Chapter one begins after his death. You get a little of her happy time married in retrospection but mostly you slog through her year of mourning. Darcy spends much time with her and helps her get her bearings with her new situation while trying to allow her to grieve for her losses, she lost a son to disease some two months before her husband. But he hates how many suitors she has and worries one may secure her affections before her year is finished. He has wanted her since before she knew his cousin, he will go mad if he loses her again to another because he moved too slowly. Mostly sad, somewhat annoying, well told story. Once was enough.

6 people found this helpful

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Cassie Ripley

I loved it!

Reviewed in Canada on January 15, 2024

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Warning: the characters thoughts aren’t distinguished from their speech and other text, so it can be tricky to follow. I found I needed to reread some passages again to try and grasp what the heck the authors meant. This book would benefit greatly from a good edit and the use of italicized character thoughts. Hence why I deducted one star from my rating.

I enjoyed this book, though at the beginning I was very close to tears several times. It is a story of Elizabeth's year of mourning and all the changes in her life as well as those of Jane. Lady Catherine and a new character Lady Gwen are very interesting. Overall this book is very enjoyable and the epilogue gave me a giggle. I will be reading this one again. I was glad not to witness any suffering drawn out too much and less gore; the implications are enough. I barely finished this story, but the surprises in plot along the way kept me going. There were a few particularly endearing scenes which made it worth completing.

B. Bolton

Dragging Out the Agony!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 12, 2022

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This variation prolonged the agony almost to the very end.

Then……

The two arch meddlers wanted to dabble again with the children.

Dr Dragonlady

Both poignant and delightful

Reviewed in Australia on February 14, 2024

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Beginning as a study in grief, the narrative weaves the stages of grieving with chicanery, unrequited love and even redemption. The characters, even in new contexts are faithful to canon and the dialogue is lively. Lady Catherine and Lady Gwen are very well drawn. Recommended.

Nancy

Gutes Mittelmaß...

Reviewed in Germany on January 6, 2018

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...aber ein bisschen zu vorhersehbar. Trotzdem 4 Sterne, weil mal jemand das Experiment gewagt hat, sich zu Überlegenheit, wie es weiter gegangen wäre, wenn Col. Fitzwilliam Elizabeth in Kent Darcy vor der Nase weggeschnappt hätte. Insgesamt aber wenige Überraschungen in dem Buch, aber vielleicht hab ich mittlerweile auch schon zu viele dieser Gattung gelesen.

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Vipra Jena

Good, clean ,sweet romance

Reviewed in India on June 7, 2018

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In this variation, Elizabeth falls in love with Colonel Fitzwilliam and marries him. The novel starts with her becoming a widow. From there developments take place where Mrs. Bennet refuses to have her at Longbourn. I really hated Mrs Bennet and Lydia in this variation and rightly so!
By some twist of fate or fortune, Elizabeth finds herself ensconced at Risings Park as the mistress of the estate! She resides with Jane and is helped in the running of the estate by none other than our very dear Mr. Darcy(who else,really!!:-)).
Jane is shown a lot tougher in this variation and I admire that. She speaks her mind and doesn't let Bingley trample all over her.
With the usual looks and glances happening between our ODC and a near tragic event at the end, a HEA is reached.
I liked reading it and would love to come across more of such divergent variations.

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The Widow Elizabeth: A Pride and Prejudice Variation Kindle Edition

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About the authors

Summer Hanford

Renata McMann

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