Hello, Dear Readers, it is once again time to gush over the newest release by MJ Stratton! I have been privileged to read an advance copy, and I assure you all, you are in for a captivating and thought provoking experience!
Synopsis:
Determined to marry for affection, Elizabeth Bennet rejects her cousin’s proposal,
unaware that doing so will throw those she loves most into turmoil. When her decision
forces her sister Jane to marry without affection and leaves her dear friend Charlotte
Lucas bereft of hope, Elizabeth is ensnared in a tangled web of interference and
obligation.
Fitzwilliam Darcy is certain he’s left Hertfordshire and the beguiling, impertinent miss he
met there behind, only to find her in Kent when next he visits his aunt. While Miss
Elizabeth Bennet may seem indifferent to his presence, wrapped as she is in her own
concerns, Darcy finds it impossible to mirror her disregard. But as his love for her
comes to the fore, her mire of obligations and hope threatens to keep them apart.
To Marry for Love is a sweet, low-angst Pride and Prejudice Variation where Elizabeth,
Jane, and Charlotte find love and happiness in an intricate dance of duty, honor, and
second chances.
My Review:
"To Marry for Love" is a deeply emotional reimagining of Pride and Prejudice, blending themes of sacrifice, redemption, and love against a backdrop of misjudgments and social constraints. Stratton's newest variation takes Jane Austen’s beloved characters and places them in a series of circumstances that test their principles, relationships, and resilience. The novel opens with Jane The The novel opens when Jane Bennet faces a series of crushing disappointments: Mr. Bingley’s sudden departure from Netherfield, her father’s impending death, and the manipulation of her into marriage to Mr. Collins out of duty to her family.
Elizabeth’s story parallels Jane’s in its challenges. Trapped by circumstance and societal pressure, Elizabeth accepts Mr. Darcy’s proposal, not for love but for necessity, Her journey explores themes of survival, and the difficulty of maintaining integrity in the face of social expectations. The novel’s tension heightens as Elizabeth and Darcy confront their misunderstandings and the consequences of their actions.
Stratton’s portrayal of Jane Bennet is top notch. Often relegated to the sidelines in many Pride and Prejudice retellings, Jane is given a powerful arc here. Her journey from a compliant and optimistic young woman to someone who asserts her dignity and independence after the unexpected loss of her husband is both compelling and satisfying. Elizabeth remains intelligent and strong-willed, but Stratton adds layers of vulnerability and desperation to her character, making her decisions—though unorthodox—entirely believable. Mr. Darcy, on the other hand, is written as a man torn between his values and prejudices. His initial distrust of Jane and his obliviousness to Elizabeth’s predicament create friction that drives much of the story’s conflict.
"To Marry for Love" explores what it means to marry for obligation, and the love of one's family instead of for romantic love. Jane and Elizabeth’s marriages highlight the sacrifices women of their era often made, and the emotional toll these sacrifices exacted. Stratton also examines themes of redemption, forgiveness, and trust, as Darcy, Elizabeth, Jane, and Bingley each work through their missteps to rebuild relationships.
MJ Stratton weaves a tale of heartbreak and healing, crafting a story where familial love can be enough, and where romantic love, though tested, ultimately triumphs. This novel is perfect for fans of Pride and Prejudice who enjoy stories that deepen the emotional stakes, and provide new dimensions to beloved characters.
Have I intrigued you yet? Wait, there's more! MJ Stratton has been kind enough to provide us with a sneak peek before the release, which by the way, is December 26th, so that's Boxing Day squared away for all of us! Take a look.
Excerpt:
Cloak wrapped tightly around her, Elizabeth set off for home. The carriage would be
forced to take the wide lane that ran from the manor to Meryton. Elizabeth knew a faster
route— a footpath through the trees. She walked briskly, her hands buried in a fur muff
and the hood of her clock pulled over her bonnet. As she rounded a bend, she collided
with a solid, red-coated figure.
“Oof,” she said, stumbling back. Strong hands reached out and grasped her
elbows, steadying her before she fell onto the wet ground.
“Steady on, Miss Elizabeth.” Mr. Wickham’s tone held amusement. Elizabeth did
not care to be laughed at. Her mood was dark, and she had no patience for idle
soldiers.
She straightened. “Thank you for your assistance, Mr. Wickham. I best be on my
way.”
“That is a cold greeting for an old friend.” He tut-tutted. “Pray, let me escort you
back to Longbourn.”
“There is no need. I can find my way without assistance.”
Mr. Wickham frowned. “If this has ought to do with my courtship—”
“Believe it or not, sir, but not everything is about you. My pique has quite another
source.” Elizabeth huffed and made to go around Mr. Wickham.
“May I assist in any way?” He practically begged Elizabeth to satisfy him. She
found his manner distasteful, in a way. It was as if he could not tolerate her being in the
world and thinking ill of him.
“There is nothing you can do for my present relief,” she said, infusing a little more
patience into her voice. She hoped that in placating him, he would allow her to pass, but
it was not to be.
“It would not be gentlemanly to allow you to go on whilst you are so distressed.
Come, allow me to escort you home.” Mr. Wickham gestured to the path before her.
Rather than argue, Elizabeth continued toward Longbourn, the soldier falling into step
beside her.
“Your sister is to marry in two days’ time,” he said. Elizabeth scowled.
A poor attempt at conversation, though he cannot know how the topic vexes me, she
mused silently. “Jane has the dubious honor of marrying my father’s heir,” she said
aloud.
“I thought Mr. Bingley made your sister an offer.” Mr. Wickham sounded
genuinely shocked. “Many of my fellow officers said the Netherfield ball was held in her
honor. Though I was unable to attend, I assumed that her engagement to Mr. Bingley
was finalized that evening.”
“Have you not heard the calling of the banns these last three Sundays?”
Elizabeth stared at him incredulously.
“My duties have kept me from church, unfortunately. Given my desired
profession, it is all the more painful that I am kept from worshiping with the other
congregants.”
Elizabeth thought his explanation a little too convenient, but attributed her cynical
thoughts to her general discontent. She said nothing in reply, waiting instead for him to
speak.
“I wonder if Darcy had anything to do with Mr. Bingley’s departure,” Mr. Wickham
mused. He spoke quietly, almost as if speaking to himself, but his tell-tale glance at
Elizabeth spoke his true purposes. He wished to know her thoughts.
“His involvement is something I have contemplated,” Elizabeth confessed. She
was relieved to turn her ire in another direction. Her sister could not be blamed for
accepting Mr. Collins. No, it was the two vicious harpies and the proud Mr. Darcy who
drew Jane’s love away, leaving her at the mercy of their idiotic cousin.
“Darcy always liked to have his own way,” Mr. Wickham continued. “His disdain
for Meryton’s society in general would be enough to convince him to ‘rescue’ his friend.”
“Why is it any concern of Mr. Darcy’s who his friend marries?” Elizabeth kicked a
rock in her path. “Surely there is no fault to be found in my sister! Our place in society
might not be the same as his, but Jane is a gentleman’s daughter. Marrying her would
only improve Mr. Bingley’s prospects.”
“My old friend will not surround himself with those he deems as beneath him. In
marrying your sister, Mr. Bingley would irrevocably connect himself to those Darcy sees
as inferior. In consequence, he would be forced to sever his friendship.” Wickham
paused, turning his gaze to Elizabeth’s. “Darcy gets what Darcy wants.” He shrugged
and they continued down the path.
Elizabeth fumed silently. Mr. Wickham had more than a passing acquaintance
with the arrogant man from Derbyshire, and therefore had more knowledge of the
gentleman’s behavior. While she had only suspected that Mr. Darcy had a hand in Mr.
Bingley’s departure, Mr. Wickham’s words seemed to confirm it.
They approached Longbourn just as the carriage could be seen coming down the
lane. “I shall leave you now,” Mr. Wickham said. “I am to meet with Miss King and her
aunt for tea.”
“Thank you for the escort, sir,” Elizabeth replied. Mr. Wickham stared at her in a
strange manner, and she wondered if he expected some other kind of reply. He frowned
briefly, then nodded before turning and striding away.
It was not until much later that Elizabeth thought to question just what Mr.
Wickham had been doing in Longbourn’s woods that Sunday afternoon.
Oooooohhh, the nerve of that Mr Wickham! He never fails to outrage me. Mr Wickham features less in this variation than he does in Ms Austen's original, though his audacity could, as usual, frustrate even the most serene readers.
A little about the author:
MJ Stratton, whose much-beloved aunt introduced her to Pride and Prejudice at the age
of sixteen, is a long-time lover of Jane Austen and her works. The subsequent discovery
of Austenesque fiction sealed her fate. After beta reading and editing for others for nearly
a decade, MJ started publishing her own work in 2022. MJ balances being a wife and
mother with writing, gardening, sewing, and many other favorite pastimes. She lives with
her husband and four children in the small, rural town where she grew up.
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