Terri L. Mcclelland

Fairly Entertaining

Revisado: 03-30-25

This was an ok JAFF book. Darcy and Elizabeth, despite their less than admirable feelings for each other, team up in a pretend courtship to deflect matchmaking Mrs Bennet and Lady Catherine. Lady Catherine is not about to let her nephew go so easily and threatens to disrupt Georgiana’s debut season in whatever manner she can.

False feelings eventually lead to genuine ones but ODC are trapped in a situation of their own making and don’t know how to disentangle themselves without damaging their own and Georgiana’s reputation. Somehow it all works out.

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Outstanding

Revisado: 03-26-25

This is the second of my two favorite Melanie Rachel stories, the first being “I Never Knew Myself.” It is an interesting vagary…Elizabeth is, and is not, a Bennet!

Elizabeth is taken as a 10 year old child to Mr Bennet’s aunt and uncle, Olivia and Phillip Russell. The Russells are very rich and well connected and Elizabeth is given an education to rival anyone in the first circles of the ton. She has been best friends with Georgiana Darcy for years but due to the presence of George Wickham in his godfather’s life she has never had the opportunity to meet Fitzwilliam Darcy. Also when she is poised to make her come out her uncle passes away, leaving her in deep mourning instead.

Her Bennet family wants her to visit them and her mother insists she uses the Bennet name instead of Russell. It is when his friend Mr Bingley leases the Netherfield estate that Elizabeth finally makes Darcy’s acquaintance. She has made a promise to her parents not to use the Russell name. What happens when her best friend’s brother insults her and assumes she is a penniless country lass in search of a rich husband?

Sparks fly and villains make problems for ODC as they come to know each other and come to know the truth of the other’s story. This is a fabulously rich tale and the narration is superb. This is an absolute “Do Not Miss”!

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A Darcy Family Secret

Revisado: 03-18-25

What is the connection between Mrs Gardiner and her mother, Mrs Wilson, to the Darcy family?

Darcy is falling for Elizabeth against his better judgment at the same time he is learning some unpalatable truths about his father. He doesn’t want to accept either situation and so he runs from both. His sister, Georgiana, will know the truth no matter the outcome to the Darcys and pursues it with the help of the colonel and Elizabeth.

Even though I am not the greatest fan of virtual voice I liked having a dual male and female voice doing the narration. I appreciate also that virtual voice makes these books better available price wise for those of us who really enjoy them.

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Scary!

Revisado: 02-18-25

Where is AI taking us? Hopefully not where this story went. Although, everything is not how it seems…

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JAFF Comfort Food

Revisado: 02-15-25

This is a favorite P&P variation that I read at least once a year. It is low on angst but has a really compelling story.

It takes place primarily in Derbyshire, which is a big difference as her family is not present to make an unwelcome impression on her acquaintance and relationship with Darcy. After her sister Mary marries Mr Collins that vindictive gentleman suggests to Elizabeth that she get busy finding a husband because she will not be welcome when he has inherited Longbourn. Jane has also recently married Bingley and has basically cut her family, including Elizabeth which has caused much heartache and confusion.

Elizabeth has been invited to Derbyshire to mentor a younger cousin who is making her come out. Her cousin Olivia is the eldest daughter of her father’s sister and she and Elizabeth become fast friends. Her aunt, however, carries a mysterious resentment towards her brother, Mr Bennet, which manifests in hostility toward Elizabeth.

Darcy is a near neighbor and he and Elizabeth are not long in developing a friendship that moves to a romantic attachment fairly soon. With no unruly family in the background their relationship progresses much more smoothly than in canon.

The fireworks develop when an unexpected suitor for Darcy makes herself known in no uncertain terms. Then the Bingleys come to visit with Caroline in tow and that young lady will definitely have her say in the matter of Darcy’s marriage ambitions.

I think of this story as comfort food. It’s a go-to read when I want something good and familiar without the need for teeth-gnashing angst.

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Long a Favorite of Mine

Revisado: 02-12-25

This book is probably my all time favorite JAFF. I was beyond delighted when this came out in audio and with Harry Frost as narrator no less. I could have hoped that a few of the errors in the book were corrected before it was released but I’m not really complaining because I’m so happy it’s here! I really love how ODC comes together early in this story, eliminating the (sometimes) tiresome antagonist behavior between Elizabeth and Darcy.

Elizabeth not a Bennet, or raised by a family other than the Bennets, is a favorite trope of mine. I think it’s because Elizabeth’s character is such a cut above the other Bennets. I include Jane in this opinion as well. Yes she is sweet, but is never openly averse to her family’s behavior and is not supportive of Elizabeth despite how devoted Elizabeth is to her. She tolerates the worst behavior in everyone and refuses to recognize any negativity.

I also love the absence of the usual villains in this story. Wickham and Caroline have a minute to wreak havoc but are neutralized easily. Lady Catherine is an estimable character who supports Elizabeth and helps her make a big adjustment into the family of a peer. Instead we have two other wonderfully, awful baddies to threaten the happiness of ODC.

This is a long book. I have read it many times. I have reread it so often because I love losing myself in this world. I often tell myself I will skim parts but I always end up reading it all. The story and characters are so good I don’t want to miss any part.

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Out of This World!

Revisado: 02-08-25 El oyente recibió este título gratis

Take two of my favorite genres, sci fi and P&P JAFF, mash them up and what do you get? A fantastically fun romp putting ODC and all our other favorite characters on new worlds, and sometimes into alien beings. Fear not that this will discard the classic elements of the story. They are very much intact.

I was so excited when this book went audio. You can tell that the narrator, Benny Fife, had a wonderful time voicing the characters and especially the aliens. He really made it a fun listen.

There is so much to unravel in this story. Why does Captain Darcy use a different name than his famous father? Why is Mr Bennet considered a traitor to Earth along with Darcy’s dearest cousins? What actually happened to his cousins? Can Darcy ever understand the complexity of a seemingly simple mechanic in Elizabeth Bennet? Will Ambassador Bingley follow his heart and embrace his feelings for the enormously talented Jane Bennet or will he allow his ridiculous aide, Caroline Bingley, or his clueless friend Darcy to dictate his future? (And whatever will Caroline do with false eyelashes and high heels on a space ship?) Will the mysterious overlords be able to manipulate the many worlds and species (happily named after British shires and Austen-created estates and places) into lasting peace?

If you enjoy great world building, exploring new frontiers and seeing your favorite P&P characters in unique environments, this story is for you. I also encourage you to seek out the book version to see beautiful illustrations of all the characters so you can see how the authors conceived them. The extra terrestrials are so much fun!

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Suspenseful

Revisado: 02-03-25

This was a wonderful story. It involves aspects of dementia, technology, spy craft and betrayal. I was really sucked in and was surprised at the identities of the baddies. Lots of suspense. Well worth a listen!

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Another Tour de Force by Seline Garrou

Revisado: 01-20-25

Garrou’s stories are not meant to be serious JAFF…you just read them for the sheer joy of the story (kind of like a car accident you can’t look away from).

In this book (Part 1) the Bingleys are a desperate gang out to marry Caroline off to Darcy, then kill him so Bingley can marry Georgiana and take over the Darcy income and holdings. The Bingleys are pretenders with no apparent past and have no money beside some stolen swag from their last caper. The Bennets have had an AWAKENING and have turned exceptionally genteel (every last one starting with Mrs B), and thanks to Mr Gardiner (who is some kind of London Godfather) are also exceptionally wealthy.

The town of Meryton, led by a jealous Lady Lucas, have turned against the Bennets big time and since the Bingleys believe they can incorporate that ill will into their “master plan” the eldest two Bennet girls are ruined, accused of attempting to compromise Darcy, Bingley and an exceptionally repugnant Collins. Those two girls were BUSY!

When Part 1 ends the Bennet girls are run out of town, Caroline is engaged to Darcy and the Earl and Countess of Matlock are trying to save Darcy from his very stupid self while pretending to go along with the Bingleys’ craziness. The Bennets are promising RETRIBUTION for every single person who dared to frown in their direction. This will be with the aid of their secret Bennet relations, a Duke and Duchess”, and of course the fierce Godfather Mr Gardiner.

The VV is tolerable. Unfortunately Part 2 is not available on audio. You can read it for free on KU if you have a subscription.

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Starring Jane

Revisado: 01-18-25

Mr Bennet is a speculator. Mrs Bennet is much more sensible. There are only four Bennet daughters with only two “out” as the story begins.

Mr Bennet is in debt to his cousin Robert Collins. Mr Collins is done with bailing out Bennet and Longbourn. He is ready to consider bailing out Bennet one last time but with strings attached. Mr Bennet must be willing to marry off his daughter Jane to Collin’s son Walter.

Very pleasant, low angst story. No Lady Catherine but a different very bad Wickham. VV is pretty acceptable.

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