The Angel of Longbourn

Loved this story from start to finish. A very ill Darcy helps in changing the young man's proud demeanor to say the least. Depending on the Bennets for his comforts and care, Darcy's ideals swiftly take a one hundred-eighty degree turn and he realizes that character, not status and wealth, are truly what will make him happy. Recognizing that Elizabeth is the poor daughter of a humble country squire, Darcy sees that her wit, knowledge, and sweet caring heart are worth far more than money and prestige. In step the usual icky characters who are bent and determined to make their life a living nightmare. Forget Wickham. Colonel Fitzwilliam took care of him shortly after his appearance in Meryton. Caroline Bingley, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and William Collins fill the pain in the butt part of this story. Caroline is the least offensive throughout since she's put in her place by everybody else she comes in contact with. Lady Catherine is as always the person to be reckoned with, but eventually is set in her place, thrown out of Longbourn, and gone from their lives. William Collins is by far the dumbest idiot there is in this version of Pride and Prejudice. No really, more stupid than usual. Just about required his death to back off from his focus on Elizabeth. Following his, made up in his mind imaginary betrothal to Elizabeth, was both funny and sickening. Even after the removal of Lady Catherine from Longbourn, Collins wouldn't back off. Eventually, he left creating another breach worse than the one he came to mend between the Collins-Bennet family. Well, finally after the removal of Lady Catherine and Mr. Collins, ODC get their chance at their HEA. Comedic touches by others added much levity especially when Mrs. Bennet finally is pushed to her breaking point. Great story, good read, and especially fortuitous that Elizabeth already had the illness that inflicted Darcy so that she'd be the one to nurse Darcy throughout his sickness.

I dearly loved this book by this very talented and professional author. The book is well edited, and Mr. Rowland's superb word choice is so colorful that it makes me feel that I am there. You are in for a treat if you read this and his other books, but this is the best of all.Darcy slid off his horse, sick from Typhoid when it was raining. Lizzy found him and called for help from her father who has him taken to Longbourn where the doctor orders him to stay. Elizabeth was his nurse at first as she had once had typhoid unlike her sisters. Later Bingley was looking for his friend, and thus they learned of Mr. Darcy's identify and Jane and Bingley were attracted to one another. This Mr. Darcy is appreciative to his host and tolerant of the shortcomings of some of them.The family has to deal with Mr. Darcy's visitors, some welcome like Mr. Bingley, Col. Fitzwilliam, and Darcy's valet. Others were a trial like Mr. Collins who was super stupid, meddling, and offensive. Another was Lady Catherine and heir daughter. They stress the limited resources and patience of those at Longbourn. Mrs. Bennet is not quite as dumb as in canon, but she is still herself. Mr. Bennet is more attentive of threats to his daughters, but still too prone to allow certain things for his amusement like disrupting his home to permit Lady Catherine to stay until she finally becomes too much for him. Mr. Wickham disposes of himself to not be much of a factor in this book. Caroline has to keep away from Longbourn to avoid exposure to. Typhoid.Anyway, I highly recommend this book as a truly outstanding example of a book where Lizzy and Darcy are attracted to one another early, but the challenges arise from other factors, especially Lady Catherine. There's a lot of cause for laughter, but you also want to kick Lady Catherine out of Longbourn long before she is forced out when she committed one rude and threatening act too many. This Mr. Collins is truly obnoxious and Mrs. Bennet does not take to him as in cannon. Charlotte does not get a chance to be in his company. He is an annoying presence while Lady Catherine is even worse, if that is possible, and poor Elizabeth has the most to be annoyed about. Why would Mr. Bennet even let those disagreeable folks stay. At least, he made his position clear where Mr. Collins was concerned. Thank you for such a wonderful book.

This is a sweet variation of Austen's Pride and Prejudice in which Darcy becomes ill with typhoid fever while riding horseback in the rain from London to Netherfield and falls from his horse. He is discovered by the intrepid Miss Elizabeth Bennet who was out walking in the rain and arranges for the handsome stranger's removal to Longbourn. Elizabeth begins to admire the gentleman whom she nurses until he regains consciousness as she is the only of the Bennet girls to have previously contracted typhoid fever.Once Darcy awakes, he and Elizabeth find that they have much in common, and Darcy will have to regain his strength at Longbourn and not be removed to Netherfield, despite Miss Bingley's, and later, Lady Catherine's, objections. What will happen as Darcy's and Elizabeth's attachment continues to grow as he convalesces?I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It's nice to *not* have Darcy and Elizabeth at loggerheads; their relationship grows quite naturally, much like Bingley's with Jane. I rarely give 5 stars to non-classic novels, but I found this variation to be soothing and just what I needed at this time. A lovely story!!

Excellent new story from Jann Rowland. Really enjoyed this one very much, just wish it were longer because I wanted more. It was a pleasure to read; but maybe I just love seeing Darcy so vulnerable and needing Elizabeth's rescue! Never a dull moment with all the dynamics going on between all these characters at Longbourn! I going to read it again now!

Overall I enjoyed this frothy little tale.What I would regard as a light hearted retelling of Miss Austen's original, but having a place in the genre. Some of the plot seems a bit stretched out and with a third reading rather like wading through gelatinous treacle alternating with glutinous mud but forgiven for the maintained level of warmth between the two main characters. A pleasant read! No recommendations.

I really enjoyed this - light, but not ridiculously so, issues resolved nicely, well written. I liked that Mr Bennet was a little stronger than in some books. Jane & Bingely were colourless, and for once Caroline Bingley wasn't a pantomime villain - though Catherine De Burgh made up for that! I just wanted the resolution to be a little less rushed.

Totally agree with the other reviewer. The end was too quick. Earlier Lady Catherine said she would have her revenge but she didn't. I expected her to eg tell Mr Collins to compromise Elizabeth or get Wickham involved. She didn't. Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable read. Jan Rowland always writes enjoyable JAF books.

Jan always has a unique twist to his stories this one does not disappoint. Well worth the time to read. Enjoy fellow JAFF funs.