Love Never Fails: A Pride & Prejudice Variation by Jennifer Joy
My rating: 4 of 5 starsLove Never Fails is a variation on Pride and Prejudice that I found quite unique and original. Jennifer Joy is a very creative author and I very much enjoy seeing the new situations she finds for Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy.
I have to say that while listening to this variation on audible.com, I was also reading a very humorous variation by another author. The juxtaposition was quite strange and I have to take care to give this more melodramatic variation its due. It definitely has some angsty aspects, as we are never sure if our dear couple will quite come to the point, but the journey is quite intricate and involved. This makes for a very satisfying read.
In this variation, the Bennet family are unable to attend the Meryton assembly, as they did at the beginning of the original, as Mr. Bennet has died. Elizabeth still refuses Mr. Collins and is faced with the wrath of her mother, and an incredible guilt regarding the break up of her family. The family is feeling the kindness of an anonymous benefactor, but is desperate to find a place of their own.
Unknown to Elizabeth, who is seeking a way to keep the family together, Mrs. Bennet has made her own plans. She places Kitty and Mary with their Aunt and Uncle Philips in Meryton, requests her brother Gardner take Jane and Elizabeth to London, and she sells Mr. Bennet's library of books in order to finance an apartment in London for herself and Lydia. Elizabeth has a couple of opportunities to talk with Mr. Darcy while in Hertfordshire, but the Bennet family has never met the Bingley family, who return to London.
The Bingley family have actually gone back to London to deal with a serious family problem: Lady Lavinia Rutledge, their father's sister. Charles is responsible for his aunt while his parents take a short trip to the Americas in order to search out new business opportunities. Lady Rutledge is, however, quite the handful. She has gotten herself into trouble in London and needs some watching over. With a bit of a twist, Elizabeth is looking for work as a companion, and ends up with the job of watching over the Bingley's aunt.
Lady Lavinia Rutledge is a manipulative, outspoken and daring older woman who, although the bane of the Bingley existence, has earned a spot in the hearts of Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam. Darcy has a secret he is hiding that is causing him great feelings of guilt. He, therefore, is quietly watching over Elizabeth, who is drawn to his compassion and kindness. We can see the two are falling in love. Lady Rutledge is in the background making things happen - and we are not always sure whose side she is on.
Throughout the story the main themes are the guilt keeping our dear couple apart, and the love they have for family and friends which cannot fail. Will they overcome their guilt, acknowledge their love, and find their happy ending?
I enjoyed this story very much and enjoyed the growing friendship and love between Darcy and Elizabeth. There are some other interesting twists regarding the future plans of Mrs. Bennet. I did not give this story 5 stars, however, because there were a couple of aspects to the story that felt a little forced - such as the lack of meeting between Bingley and Jane, and the extreme action taken by Lydia. But, all in all, this was original and well worth reading. A definite recommendation.
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I, too, read and enjoyed this book. I am now reading her latest release.
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