Pemberley Ranch

From Chapter 1

Rosings, Texas—September, 1870

A lone figure sat astride a tall, black Arabian under a single oak tree atop a ridge. It was a hot day, and in the early afternoon sun, the shade was welcomed by horse and rider alike, standing as still as a statue. He was a tall man in a white shirt with dark trousers and black boots, his unbuttoned vest flapping in the slight breeze, a tan, wide-brimmed, ten-gallon hat pulled low over his brow. Before him stretched a sea of prairie, dotted with hundreds of cattle, lowing and grazing. They were not alone; a handful of wranglers carefully moved their cowponies around the vast herd, keeping an eye out for trouble. The movement of the horses disturbed the man’s mount, and he reached down to gently stroke its neck.

"Whoa there, Caesar, rest easy," William Darcy cooed. "We’ll just stay here under the shade for now. Enjoy the cool." The stallion nodded his head in apparent agreement and bent to take a few nibbles of grass. The man’s attention returned to the scene before him, his bright blue eyes taking in every detail.

A flash of moving white caught his attention. He turned away from his perusal of the herd and twisted in the saddle. There! Across the ridge of hills was a rider, moving fast. Darcy narrowed his eyes in concentration. The horse was a brown and white paint, and none of his riders had such a horse. A stranger—on his land! Caesar began to prance in place, feeling his master’s tension through the reins.

The rider seemed to be alone, and while Darcy had left his gun belt and Colt revolver at the house, he did have a rifle holstered to his saddle. "What say we go check that out, boy?" The horse agreed, and they loped down the hill.

Darcy moved at an angle to the stranger, holding Caesar back until necessary. The intruder was at a full gallop, flying across the crest. Darcy lost sight of the paint as he reached the valley between the hills, and he allowed Caesar his head. The stallion dug in and moved quickly up the rise, and Darcy saw with confidence that he was in the proper position to cut off the paint. Caesar spotted his quarry and headed toward the other horse, waiting for direction from his master.

As they grew closer, Darcy could see that the rider and paint moved in perfect harmony. The horse was rather small, but so was the rider. A boy? Darcy thought, before noticing the wild, curly hair flying on either side of the rider’s hat. As Darcy pulled to a halt, blocking the paint’s progress, a shock of realization coursed through him. That’s no boy—that’s a girl! A girl in men’s clothing!

He pulled his hand away from his rifle, and unarmed, raised his palm in an unmistakable sign. "Hold on, miss!"

The surprised girl came to a halt a few feet away, dust swirling in the breeze. She had on a red-and-white gingham shirt and dungarees, boots firmly in the stirrups. She wore a wide-brimmed floppy hat, shading her face, but even at that distance, he could see her blazing eyes.

"What do you want?"

Her voice was lower than Darcy expected from so short a person—she could not be more than five feet two inches—but it was not unpleasant to his ears, though it was Northern and unfriendly. Darcy was not used to answering demands from anyone in the last four years, and he wasn’t going to change for some strange female.

"Who are you?" he demanded. "This is private property. Who gave you leave to ride across Pemberley?"

"Private?" It was clear he surprised her. "All this? I thought this was open range."

"Not hardly. Everything this side of the Long Branch belongs to Pemberley Ranch." He considered her. "You’re not from around here, are you?"

The girl raised her chin. "We are now. Our place is across the river. My father owns the farm there."

Darcy relaxed a bit. "The old Thompson place?" She answered with a nod. "You’re one of Tom Bennet’s daughters? I was told he had a herd of them." Almost immediately he recognized how his choice of words could be considered an insult, but it was too late.

The girl’s voice was ice cold. "Tom Bennet is indeed my father, sir, and I thank you for your kind observations about my family. Now, if you’ll pardon me." She pulled her reins to return from whence she came, only to be halted by Darcy’s words. "I’ll escort you back to the ford, miss, if you don’t mind."

She looked over her shoulder at him. "I do mind. You’ve made it clear that I’m not welcomed here, and I can see myself home. Good day." To her increased irritation, Darcy fell in beside her. "I see there was no cause for me to voice my preference!"

"The ground is uneven here, and as it’s unfamiliar to you, you might meet with misfortune."

"So—I cannot ride my horse, is that what you mean?" Darcy snapped back, "I truly don’t wish to offend, miss, but you’re being mighty stubborn! Your pony might fall into some gopher hole and break his leg and have to be put down. Now, I call that a tall price to pay for your pride!"

The girl said nothing, she only lowered her head. But Darcy could see the color rise on her cheek as she bit her lip. The two rode in silence for some time along the ridgeline before turning right and making their way down to the river. The trees grew more plentiful and thick next to the riverbank. Darcy tried to come up with some conversation, but the girl’s studied avoidance of his glance stilled his tongue. After a few more minutes, they reached a shallow ford across the Long Branch.

"Well, here we are—Thompson Crossing. Your daddy’s farm’s on the other side. I reckon this is how you crossed over?"

The girl’s sarcastic side reasserted itself. "It is. Thank you so much for assuring I didn’t cause Turner any injury. I am forever grateful!"

Darcy blinked. "Turner? Your horse’s name is Turner?" A grin stole across her face. "It is, sir."

"Strange. Most girls name their ponies Star or Brownie or Buster."

Her grin turned into a mocking smile. "But I’m not like most girls, as I’m sure you’ve discovered." With that, she spurred the paint across the ford, splashing water everywhere, leaving a bemused Darcy behind. He shook his head before turning Caesar back toward the Pemberley ranch house. It was only then he realized that he had neglected to introduce himself.

No harm done, he thought. It’s not likely we’ll meet up again.

Mr. Darcy as a Wild West cowboy? A dungaree-clad Elizabeth Bennett flying over the range on her painted pony? Pride and Prejudice is done Texas-style in Jack Caldwell’s debut novel, Pemberley Ranch. Whether or not a devotee of the esteemed classic novel will want to mosey on over to the antebellum cattle town of Rosings, depends upon one’s taste for shifting the time and place of Austen’s beloved characters. If one’s taste is for Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and the numerous sequels, prequels and spin-offs in existence, then Caldwell’s take will be heartily enjoyed. For the Jane Austen purist, it might be a bit harder to swallow.

Where Caldwell excels is in fleshing out the masculinity of the buttoned-up Regency era Darcy. Here the sense of his authority and command over outlaws and swindlers is impressive to behold. He’s as fast with his gun as he is in spying on a skinny-dipping "Beth." He is a man that other men can’t help admiring, and one that causes many a woman to swoon.

However, it is Darcy’s inner turmoil that is most captivating. As a Confederate soldier, he was flogged within an inch of his life. If not for the attentions of his comrade "Dr." Bingley, he would not have survived. The wounds run deep. He collapses during a night of heavy drinking after "Beth" refuses his marriage proposal. Yes, the self-contained Darcy gets intoxicated.

At times, the Annie Oakley approach to Elizabeth is a bit much. Being a crack shot with a rifle during a Custer’s Last Stand/Alamo type scene borders on the unbelievable. While the original Elizabeth was more than a tea-sipping lady in a parlor, she also wasn’t above and beyond her time period in terms of her station and decorum. Caldwell’s Beth is a little more tomboy and a little less intellectual.

The more inspired anecdotes involve the supporting cast. Fitzwilliam and Charlotte Lucas have a secret, passionate affair. Caroline Bingley suffers post-traumatic stress disorder from Sherman’s March to the Sea and the burning of her Georgia home. Lily (Lydia) is a saloon girl thrown away by town bad boy George Whitehead (Wickham). Mrs. Bennett possesses common sense and the esteem of her husband.

Another tidbit that Caldwell gives to fans is introducing characters from other Jane Austen novels into the story. Henry Tilney of Northanger Abbey is the town clergyman and devoted suitor of pious Mary. Emma’s Mr. Knightley and his brother are the entrepreneurs that Darcy invests in to bring the railroad to Rosings. While bit players like Anne de Bourgh and Georgiana Darcy are given more of a voice.

Overall, if you’re willing to hop in the saddle, you’ll enjoy the ride.


Pemberley Ranch by Jack Caldwell is a story that mixes the Pride and Prejudice story and the aftermath of the American Civil War. This historical romance is set in 1863 Vicksburg, Mississippi and 1870 Rosings, Texas and it has most of the characters of Jane Austen’s novel. Names are changed a bit, circumstances mostly the same, Elizabeth (Beth) who is from the North, despising William (Will) Darcy, a Southerner and Will falling in love with Beth and her eventual capitulation of her feelings toward Will after she realizes how much she has misjudged Will. A new twist to the story is the character of George Whitehead, who is a carpetbagger and not a very nice person and whose goal is to marry Anne de Bourgh or Will Darcy’s sister, Gaby so he can gain control of their lands for his own selfish goals. There are also references to slavery as there is a former slave family who have been burned out of their home and murdered. The blame is put on the Klu Klux Klan but that is far from the truth. There is more than enough suspense, greed, and historical references of the Reconstruction era and lots of good guys and bad guys . I am not usually a fan of westerns, be they books or movies but this book was a good one and I enjoyed it. Jack Caldwell did a great job of combining the storyline of the classic Pride and Prejudice with life in the American west.


"... Pride and Prejudice meets Gone With the Wind..." Jack Caldwell’s debut novel is Jane Austen fiction with a twist. Pemberley Ranch is set in post-Civil War Texas, giving the reader all the pride and decorum of the Regency Gentleman in the form or the American Cowboy. It’s quite a combination! Caldwell has a refreshing take on a classic that will leave readers wanting more Austen variations with western influences.

Beth Bennet travels with her family from Meryton, Ohio to Rosings, Texas and there she meets the devil-may-care, Will Darcy. Will is a Confederate soldier returning to his home, a cattle spread called Pemberley Ranch. Will’s arrogant demeanor turns Beth off from the start, but she soon learns there is more than meets the eye to Will Darcy. Darcy finds himself in love with Beth and trying to prove what kind of man he really is. It takes the entrance of George Whitehead to finally sway Beth’s opinion. Whitehead is determined to insert himself into the Bennet family but Darcy and Dr. Bingley know his true character. It’s up to Beth and Will to save Rosings when George Whitehead tries to take the town for all it’s worth.

I have read and reviewed several Jane Austen variations, sequels, and prequels, but this is the first one set in the old west. I have always thought of myself as more of an Austen purist, preferring the variations to be minimal and expecting the story to flow in a similar manner to the original, but I was pleasantly surprised by Pemberley Ranch. I was fully prepared to dislike the changes that Jack Caldwell had made to my beloved Pride and Prejudice, but it certainly didn’t turn out that way.

I really enjoyed this book and believe it is probably my favorite variation so far. The western influences only enhance the story and give the reader a totally different perspective. Of course, this may be in part because this variation is written by a man. Let’s face it ladies, men don’t think the way we do and this book clearly shows that. Caldwell has taken the stuffiness of Regency England out of the story and allows Austen’s characters to relax a bit and let down their hair. Darcy gets very intoxicated after Beth refuses his proposal. Who would have thought, that Fitzwilliam Darcy would do such a thing and Beth Bennet is less of a book worm and more of a tom-boy in this book than Elizabeth Bennet would ever be.

This book has all of our favorite supporting characters from Charles Bingley who is now a doctor, to some of Austen’s beloved characters from other novels, including Henry Tilney from Northanger Abbey who is now the local preacher. Caldwell lacks a little of Austen’s quick fire wit but he makes up for it with great character development and a very refreshing take on this classic. I really enjoyed the way the author gave Austen’s characters new life and purpose. I recommend this one to those who are considering Austen variations for the first time and to the tried and true Austen fans who want something a little different.

Don’t forget to check out the great giveaway I am having for two copies of Pemberley Ranch!

Pemberley Ranch is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I’m giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag! My favorite Austen variation by a long mile!



I thought I had read every possible permutation of a Jane Austen adaptation possible. But like with most things, I was wrong. I had never thought that a western, post-Civil War, Pride and Prejudice would work at all but it did.

I loved Beth in this one. She was as witty and spunky as we would expect our Elizabeth Bennet to be. She was a bit more…shall we say…untamed. I also was completely into Confederate, war-scarred Darcy. I loved that he was even more of a hero in this one than he was in Pride and Prejudice. He actually went to battle for Beth which Jane’s Darcy really never had to do. I did think that sometimes it seemed as if it was only Beth correcting her behavior and part of the charm of Pride and Prejudice is that both Lizzy and Darcy need some correction before they could be together.

I did feel at times that Caldwell was more interested in imparting a Civil War history lesson than telling Beth and Will’s story. But being a historian, I loved it. Any book that has footnotes is a book that I will love. But generally, I thought that the writing was really good and Caldwell really had the Pride and Prejudice characters and story down and made it his own really convincingly.

This western version of Pride and Prejudice came together perfectly. The characters, the story and the romance from Pride and Prejudice melded well with a Western American environment and every little change that Jack Caldwell made only served to enhance an already amazing story.



1.) Reasons you chose this book
It’s no secret...I love Jane Austen and never turn up the opportunity to rediscover her characters in an unique and original story. Plus, I think Sourcebooks pretty much rocks when it comes to Austen re-tellings and they’ve rarely have steered me wrong.

2.) Reasons you liked or disliked this book
This was an absolute refreshing and original take on Pride and Prejudice. Who would have thought that I would totally fall for it hook, line, and sinker? Especially because it takes place in the United States and after the Civil War. Not exactly my romanticized England, but let me tell you it WORKS!!!
I found that I actually liked his pairing of couples more than the original ones from Pride and Prejudice.
The plot of the story was very well thought out. There was nothing contrite or predictable .
I was very impressed with Caldwell’s steamy romantic scenes...loved them!!!
The only thing I found that I didn’t like was the way Fitzwilliam came across...he sounded a bit dumb and just a tad stereotypical of southern talk.

3.) Reasons for recommending
It’s so original... and fresh! You get to see a different side of some characters and the setting really blew me away. I loved the way Caldwell blended in the Civil War, the grievances of the North and the South, the truly evil bad guys, and of course, the wonderful romance of Will (Darcy) and Beth (Elizabeth).
Rating: 4.5/5

Pemberley Ranch is not your ordinary Pride & Prejudice sequel. It mirrors Jane Austen’s famous literary characters somewhat, and borrows from some of the themes, and then author Jack Caldwell spins us a yarn of wild west fun. The author has been an avid fan of Jane Austen and his debut novel would probably make Austen proud (and perhaps a bit scandalized, but in a good way!). The Bennet family is relocated from Ohio to Texas just after the American Civil War, and the family learns to adjust to becoming southern while mourning the loss of their brother due to the war. Down the road at Pemberley Ranch, brother and sister Will and Gaby Darcy welcome the Bennets to the neighborhood while trying to break through Beth Bennett’s toughened exterior.

We also have a Cate Burroughs who is the overbearing and quite greedy mother to the innocent Anne Burroughs, as well as several new characters in the Texas settlement such as posse and lawmen. Shady deals are underfoot that will affect all of the members of the Texas community of Rosings, but the question is who is involved, and how far will they go to get what they want?

Although not something that is Austen-like, I still enjoyed the western spin on the story. It was completely original and not just another rehashing of how Darcy wins the girl, as this author had no qualms to make the original story disappear in the dust of the wild horses’ hooves. The writing was styled succinctly and not in the melodramatic female tones, as it dealt more with the shady George Whitehead and the aftermaths of the Civil War. I loved connecting some of these new characters with the old P&P characters, but was surprised at how much I enjoyed the way the author intrigued me with this western story. A great read for those readers who like a bit of gunfighting and romance rolled into one.

If Jane Austen wrote an American historical romance it’d be called Pemberley Ranch. If Margaret Mitchell wrote a Pride and Prejudice inspired story it’d be called Pemberley Ranch. That’s right—Ausenites and fans of Gone with the Wind will love this book!

In Pemberley Ranch, the classic story of Pride and Prejudice is retold in the antebellum period after the Civil War in US history. To flip expectations Jack makes Darcy is a Confederate Officer, Bingley a military doctor for the Confederacy, and George Whitehead (Wickham) a decorated Union officer.

The history between Whitehead and Darcy extends to Bingley too so that the two Confederates have a shared dislike of the man. Whitehead is seriously criminal and immoral. Watching him try to land grab in order to make a killing off the future railroad was intense. Catherine definitely overestimated her ability to keep Whitehead in line.

The Bennets move from Meryton, Ohio to Rosings, Texas to make a new start after the war to get away from the memories of their only son/brother who was a casualty in the war for the Union. Beth (Elizabeth) blames the Confederacy for his death even though he contracted a contagion instead of dying by Confederacy bullets. Living in Texas, a Confederate State, is not something Beth ever thought she’d do in her lifetime. She’ll show them what it means to be part of the Union!

Upon arrival she immediately labels caring, loyal, hardworking, and honest Will Darcy as an arrogant louse… while George Whitehead gets on her good side by encouraging her prejudices against the South and the Confederacy. Only time will show how wrong she was in her assumptions.

A key difference to the story is that Beth and Darcy must overcome the North/South divide instead of British class divide from the original telling if their romance is to come to fruition.

I don’t know about other readers but I felt like I was getting a primer in American Civil War history, but in a good way. I learned lots of interesting things and relearned some of what I already knew about the Reconstruction.

It was a very absorbing read. It is my hope to read more of Jack Caldwell in the future.

Rating: 4.5 Stars



I was so excited to read a western retelling of "Pride and Prejudice" and let me say this book delivers! The author retains everything we love about the original, while still making the story different enough that you have to keep reading! He stays true to the characters and themes, but it’s not a scene-for-scene rehash of the original, he mixes it up a lot.

I love reading about American history in historical novels and I feel like it’s pretty rare to find an historical book set in America. It was great to see such a personal side to the Civil War and it’s aftermath. Also, it fit the story so well for Beth to be prejudiced against Darcy at first because he’s from the South and she’s from the North.

Darcy and Beth are fantastic lead characters, I especially have a soft stop for Darcy. Sure, he makes some silly mistakes in wooing Beth, but you couldn’t ask for a more upstanding hero. His heart is always in the right place, and he is always willing to stand up for his high moral standard. Beth is a confident and no-nonsense lady, she’s used to taking care of herself and her family on their farm. She doesn’t need to be pampered like some of the ladies in the story. Beth is definitely not a swooner but I wouldn’t blame her for swooning when Darcy calls her "Miss Beth," with his Texas charm.

Beth’s family is funny and loving, and all of the secondary characters are vividly drawn. A few other Austen characters pop into the story briefly, even Knightley!


Main Characters: 5/5
Supporting Characters: 5/5
Setting: 5/5
Romance: 5/5
Uniqueness: 5/5
Cover: 5/5
Writing: 5/5


Bottom Line: I loved this book, both as a "Pride and Prejudice" spin off and on it’s own. I’d love to see the author write more Austen tie-ins.


PEMBERLEY RANCH by Jack Caldwell is a historical romance set in 1863 Vicksburg, Mississippi and 1870 Rosings, Texas. It is well written depth, details, and fast paced. It has deceit, deception, romance, greed, family, love, and grabbing suspense, intrigue, adventure, prejudices, and faith. This is the story of a Yankee farm girl meets Confederate rancher. It takes place a couple of years after the Civil War. The hero, Will, is a former ex-Confederate prisoner of war. He is strong, determined, handsome, a rancher, subdued, well respected by his men, sister and other town people.The heroine, Beth, is a Yankee, moved to Rosings by her parents with her other siblings. She is beautiful, independent, strong willed, determined, has a hatred to Confederates due to her older brother, Samuel, being killed during the war. When Beth and Will first meet sparks fly. They unwillingly fall in love. When trouble comes calling, Will takes the problem in hand and with the help of his men, together with other town people. They get the situation in hand. I would recommend this book especially if you enjoy the time right after the Civil War, Texas, disagreements, greed, a young romance in progress and learning the stories of the secondary characters coming to completion. This book was received for review from the publisher and details can be found at Sourcebooks Landmark.

The time is at the end of the Civil War and the place is Rosings, Texas. The Bennett family has moved to Rosings from Ohio. The family’s only male heir was killed during the war and one of his sisters, Beth, vows to hate Confederates forever no matter that she must now live among them.

Meanwhile, half of Rosings is owned by Will Darcy, a handsome former Confederate Captain. Will’s best friend is Dr. Charles Bingley, whom he met during the war. Soon Charles falls in love with the eldest Bennett daughter, Jane, and they marry.

Beth allows herself to accept Charles since he makes Jane happy. However, she can barely tolerate his friend, Will, despite the physical attraction she feels around him. To add to Beth’s dislike of Will, devious family friend George Whitehead tells lies and distorts the truth. Unknown to Beth and her family, Whitehead has secrets he’s hiding.

The pull between Beth and Will is a typical case of opposites attracting. She’s a Union farm girl and he’s a former Confederate officer turned rancher. They find they have to pull together to save what is most dear to both of them.

This is a refreshing look at a western romance with a touch of intrigue and humor mingled in. Debut author Jack Caldwell has developed some strong major characters, as well as some lovable secondary ones.

PEMBERLEY RANCH is an enjoyable read. It will have readers hooked from the first page until the last line.



Plot:
The Bennet family moves from Ohio to Texas. Beth is still angry at the south because her brother died in the war, but her sister finds happiness with a Doctor. And so the book begins, she meets the rich rancher Will Darcy. There is dislike, and there is prejudice. And there is wicked George Whitehead with plans of his own for the area.

My thoughts:
I do like Pride and Prejudice re-tellings and this one was so fresh and original. This time the prejudice in the book comes from Beth being from the north and Will from the south. He fought in the wars and he has the scars to prove it. And Beth things everyone in the south had slaves and that is why they fought. She is filled with northern propaganda, but as in the original book she soon learns that there is more to the truth then meets the eye. Darcy, actually he is not as "bad" as he is the original book. Sure he thinks her family is silly but he gets over it. He just fancies her.

You will meet all the characters, Collins as a banker, Cath Burroughs as a ranch owner, Anne with more to her than in the original books, Sheriff Lucas and his daughter, George Whitehead and Denny the kid. And there is reverend Henry Tillney, Mr Knightly, Edmund Bertrand who works at the bank, yes Caldwell has used more Austen characters and I like it.

The book follows, kind of the original, but there are changes, good changes, I enjoy them. And there is gunfights, and wicked plans. If you all thought Wickham was a rotten egg in PP then in this one he is a complete bastard. But it is the wild west.

What a great idea, Mr Darcy as a cowboy and soldier. I liked it at once and he fills the shoes nicely. This is such a fun setting for this story and he makes it work.

Final thoughts and recommendation:
Yes I will recommend it to all you PP lovers, but since the story feels so different then come along historical fiction fans and you all who like a good western. This book has something for everyone. It’s a good 3,5 and I enjoyed and for once I did not know what would happen. An enjoyable story with hidden depths. Not to mention it was written by a man, I liked that.

Reason for reading:
I have a soft spot for PP stories

Cover:
I like it


Pride and Prejudice has never been seen like this before. Jack Caldwell has taken Jane Austen’s story to Texas and created a western regency romance.

Being a Pride and Prejudice fan, some may find it hard to imagine the Bennet family anywhere other than their ancestral seat near Meryton. However, debut author Jack Caldwell has somehow managed do the unthinkably impossible. In Pemberley Ranch the Bennets are no longer English folk but Northeners from the great country of America. Sharon Lathan, bestselling author of In the Arms of Mr. Darcy (Sourcebooks Inc - October 2010), said of this novel: “It’s Pride and Prejudice meets Gone with the Wind,” and she couldn’t have spoken more accurately.
Pemberley Ranch; a Western Historical Romance
Many authors have taken on the daunting task of re-writing Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice or adding sequels to the classic work of literature, but none have done it quite so well or uniquely as Jack Caldwell. Living in post-civil war Texas, the Bennets and Darcys are on opposite sides of the Civil War fence but are on the same side with their Texan pride. The pride of their state, the fight for justice and the loyalty of love is something that brings them all together as nothing else can. Though the main plotline derives from Pride and Prejudice, the way in which Jack Caldwell has effortlessly created the scenes of Pemberley Ranch has made me want to with-hold any details for fear of ruining the beauty of the well written and surprising prose.
As many can surmise, within the pages of Pemberley Ranch readers are introduced to the characters we all know and love, some with a little name twist, in a new and tantalizing way. Lizzy Bennet, or Beth rather, is a dungaree wearing Northener who finds herself in Texas after the Civil War. In Texas she meets Will, that would be Will Darcy, and is automatically prejudiced of the confederate war veteran.
Georgiana Darcy, who now goes by Gabriella, is completely different than the Georgiana we were introduced to in Jane Austen’s work and Lady Catherine deBourgh, or Cate Burroughs as we find her in Pemberley Ranch, is quite the same in disposition but different all the same. Mary Bennet gets a larger role in this adaptation, which I find fresh and well thought out, and Mr. Bennet is like we have never seen him before.
American Historical Romance in a Pride and Prejudice Adaptation
Though Jane Austen’s original Pride and Prejudice was adequately wrought with historicity, Jack Caldwell has added something utterly new and precisely historically accurate. The rich American history amidst the familiar romance tale is breathtaking and captivating and utterly unforgettable. Mixing the western history of the U.S.A. with the English society history found in Pride and Prejudice is something that hasn’t been done before now and can not ever be done so well as Jack Caldwell’s version.
Through the characters and the prose in general, readers grasp a better understanding of history while being thoroughly entertained by a classic love story that can never be forgotten. Jack Caldwell uses a familiar tale to bring American history to life in a way that may have seemed impossible and unsuccessful, but it was far from unsuccessful, in fact the finished product can be nothing if not considered a successfully written Jane Austen adaptation that is just as perfectly stimulating as the original.
Why Read the Romantic Fiction Novel; Pemberley Ranch
Besides the reasons stated above, Pemberley Ranch has many attributes that will make it a favorite for readers. The dialogue is accurately fitting for the American west and envisioning Darcy speaking like a Southerner is just plain fabulous, not to mention the scenes being written as a western historical romance novel make for some very intriguing, very wildly enthralling reading that would make even the rebellious Jane Austen blush.



I don’t know why I can’t resist these Austen continuations but I just can’t. I have to say this one is very, VERY unique from the rest of the ones I have read. While holding true to the premise of Pride and Prejudice it really tosses the story up in the air, mixes it up and presents in a truly American way.

You will find all the familiar character TRAITS in unusual places which was quite refreshing. While a knowledge of Ms. Austen’s work will enhance your reading of this book and cause more than a few knowing smiles it is not necessary to enjoy what is, in effect, a rip-roaring good Western love story.

Sometimes silly and at times stretching believability the book was still a delight and offers a slight education on the Civil War to those unfamiliar with some of the more unpleasant aspects through footnotes.

I would recommend this book to fans of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy AND to fans of Westerns. Both will be satisfied with what is a good solid romance full of intrigue, love and bad guys getting what they deserve.

Oh, and that cover? DIVINE!



I am a sucker for the "modernized" or "classic with a twist" books, especially when they involve the works of my favorite author, Jane Austen. In this book, Darcy is a ranch owner in the wild west. Lizzy and he meet when she rides her horse on his land and of course they do not hit it off right away. I love how no matter what the setting, the timeless love story remains the same. The west is a new twist on the setting and circumstances and I enjoyed it. Caldwell’s writing stays true to Austen’s sense of the characters and I thought this book was well done.



I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed Pemberley Ranch. Author Jack Caldwell offers Pride & Prejudice up in a fresh new prospective that immediately engages the reader. When I first heard talk of a novel that intertwined Pride & Prejudice and Gone With the Wind, I was apprehensive yet eager to read a work such as this. In the I was worried that the characters would lose that special something that Jane Austen provided, but once I picked up Pemberley Ranch, I found that I could not put this book down. The characters are in essence the same characters they have simply been transplanted to post-Civil War America. The core of the story still remained the same, only now Elizabeth and Darcy have to face the North/South problem rather than Regency Class division.

A true gem of historical romance. One that I believe will attract a broad spectrum of readers.



Pemberley Ranch is a wonderful new western starring my favorite literary couple, Mr. Darcy (known as Will in this book) and Elizabeth Bennet (referred to as Beth).

The novel starts with William Darcy and Charles Bingley in the thick of action during the American Civil War. After an altercation with crooked Yankee officer George Whitehead, Darcy and Bingley are shipped off to a prison camp for the rest of the war. Afterwards, Darcy goes back to his ranch, Pemberley, near the small town of Rosings, Texas. Bingley moves to town as the town doctor, but unfortunately, George Whitehead shows up after receiving a government appointment. Darcy tries to avoid town and Whitehead in order to forget the past, but he finds it hard to avoid when he meets the lovely Beth Bennet.

Beth Bennet grew up with her family on a farm in Ohio. After her elder brother Samuel’s death in the war, Beth finds herself unable to forgive Southerners. In order to better their situation in life, Mr. Bennet moves his family to a new farm in Rosings, Texas. Beth has prejudice against the townspeople as they were on the side of the South during the Civil War. Although she hates the ex-confederate officer Will Darcy and all he stands for, she can’t help but be attracted to him.

Will’s cousin Cate Burroughs owns the other half of the land around Rosings that Darcy does not own. Together with George Whitehead and Billy Collins, Cate embarks on a scheme to make money in a nefarious way. Will Darcy and Beth Bennet have to work together to stop them and find romance along the way.

I really enjoyed this novel. I loved the Civil War action at the beginning of the novel, but I thought the novel got a bit slow when it moved to Rosings Texas five years after the war. Luckily the action picked up after that point and I had a hard time putting it down. Pemberly Ranch had a great historical fiction background, and I loved the footnotes that explained certain historical items in more detail.

Caldwell did a fantastic job creating wonderfully unique characters. The characters use similar names as our beloved characters in Pride and Prejudice, but Caldwell made them his own by changing each slightly in unique ways. For instance, Charlotte Lucas is the plain outspoken daughter of the Sheriff who has a secret romance with Darcy’s foreman, Richard “Fitz” Fitzwilliam. I loved this change in Charlotte and I also loved how Mrs. Bennet is a good farmer’s wife that talks too much. She and Mr. Bennet have a much deeper love than what is seen in Pride and Prejudice. And of course, Beth and Will are fantastic lead characters. I was a bit annoyed with Beth’s automatic hatred of Will at the beginning, but soon the two characters were sharing a passionate (though chaste) romance that was riveting to watch unfold on the page.

It was also delightful how characters from other Austen novels would make “guest” appearances. Henry Tilney, Edmund Bertram, Mr. Knightly, etc. all make appearances. Each arrival of an old favorite made me smile.

I thought the novel did an excellent job of using the theme of pride and prejudice. There is much exploration of pride and prejudice between the north and south and that war is actually a grey zone with wrongs and rights on both sides. There was also prejudice against religion (a nice twist was that the Darcys were Catholic) and race (the Darcys have Native American and Mexican heritage and an ex-slave family moves to town). It was intriguing.

I was initially drawn to this novel as it says on the cover that it is a mix of Gone with the Wind and Pride and Prejudice. I love both novels so I was excited by that. As I read the novel though, I thought this description is actually a disservice to the novel. Pemberley Ranch is an excellent western and is the perfect blend of Pride and Prejudice with the old west. Caldwell makes the characters his own and has his own unique plot. I loved it.

Jack Caldwell will have a guest post on my blog on Thursday December 16th. Please stop back by and see what he has to say about this novel. I can’t wait!



Now that I’ve read so many retellings of and sequels to Jane Austen’s novels, particularly Pride and Prejudice, I’m worried that I’m going to tire of the books that have become my guilty pleasure. I just love revisiting Austen’s characters — although these books will never outshine the originals — and the more unique, the better.

Pemberley Ranch is the first Austen retelling I’ve encountered that is written by a man, and that alone grabbed my attention. Jack Caldwell takes the basics of Pride and Prejudice — the misunderstandings of a stubborn young woman and an arrogant young man from two different worlds who find themselves unexpectedly attracted to one another — and makes the story his own.

Set just after the Civil War, Will Darcy is a Confederate officer who returns to Texas to run the family cattle ranch and care for his younger sister, Gaby. Beth Bennet’s family — father Tom, mother Fanny, and sisters Jane, Mary, Kathy, and Lily — leave Meryton, Ohio, for a farm in Rosings, Texas. Beth and Will’s first meeting is less than pleasant, with Beth caught riding her horse on Pemberley land, and it doesn’t help that carpetbagger and scoundrel George Whitehead, a friend of the Bennet family, has nothing but rotten things to say about Will.

Stories about the Wild West aren’t usually my thing, but Pemberley Ranch was a book I just could not put down. Using only the barest skeleton of Pride and Prejudice, Caldwell builds a story with romance, murder, unscrupulous business dealings, post-war Union vs. Confederate tension, segregation, and the lingering horrors and loss of war. I found Caldwell’s rewriting of Austen’s characters to be especially interesting, with Mr. Collins turned into banker Billy Collins, Bingley into a doctor, George Wickham into deed recorder George Whitehead, Col. Fitzwilliam into Pemberley ranch hand Fitz, Lady Catherine into the ruthless ranch owner Cate Burroughs, and Charlotte Lucas into the daughter of the sheriff. Caldwell also pays homage to other Austen heroes, with characters named Henry Tilney, Edmund Bertram, and Mr. Knightly, which I thought was a nice touch.

Pemberley Ranch is an engaging read on its own, and I forgot early on that I was reading a retelling of Pride and Prejudice. But I must admit it was fun to picture Mr. Darcy as a handsome cowboy with a twang and to see all the shady characters in Austen’s novel portrayed as being truly evil. Caldwell does an admirable job balancing the lightness of the romance with the darkness of dirty deeds in a small town. You definitely don’t need to have read or even loved Pride and Prejudice to enjoy Pemberley Ranch, and while most people will read it because its an Austen reimagining, Caldwell should get some credit for being a talented storyteller in his own right.



Mr. Darcy as a Wild West cowboy? A dungaree-clad Elizabeth Bennett flying over the range on her painted pony? Pride and Prejudice is done Texas-style in Jack Caldwell’s debut novel, Pemberley Ranch. Whether or not a devotee of the esteemed classic novel will want to mosey on over to the antebellum cattle town of Rosings, depends upon one’s taste for shifting the time and place of Austen’s beloved characters. If one’s taste is for Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and the numerous sequels, prequels, and spin-offs, then Caldwell’s take will be heartily enjoyed. For the Jane Austen purist, it might be a bit harder to swallow.

Where Caldwell excels is in fleshing out the masculinity of the buttoned-up Regency Era Darcy. Here the sense of his authority and command over outlaws and swindlers is impressive to behold. He’s as fast with his gun as he is in spying on a skinny-dipping “Beth.” He is a man that other men can’t help admiring, and one who causes many a woman to swoon.

However, it is Darcy’s inner turmoil that is most captivating. As a Confederate soldier, he was flogged within an inch of his life. If not for the attentions of his comrade “Dr.” Bingley, he would not have survived. The wounds run deep. He collapses during a night of heavy drinking after “Beth” refuses his marriage proposal. Yes, the self-contained Darcy gets intoxicated.

At times, the Annie Oakley approach to Elizabeth is a bit much. Being a crack shot with a rifle during a Custer’s Last Stand/Alamo type scene borders on the unbelievable. While the original Elizabeth was more than a tea-sipping lady in a parlor, she also wasn’t above and beyond her time period in terms of her station and decorum. Caldwell’s Beth is a little more tomboy and a little less intellectual.

The more inspired anecdotes involve the supporting cast. Fitzwilliam and Charlotte Lucas have a secret, passionate affair. Caroline Bingley suffers post-traumatic stress disorder from Sherman’s March to the Sea and the burning of her Georgia home. Lily (Lydia) is a saloon girl thrown away by town bad boy George Whitehead (Wickham). Mrs. Bennett possesses common sense and the esteem of her husband.

Another tidbit that Caldwell gives to fans is introducing characters from other Jane Austen novels into the story. Henry Tilney of Northanger Abbey is the town clergyman and devoted suitor of pious Mary. Emma’s Mr. Knightley and his brother are the entrepreneurs that Darcy invests in to bring the railroad to Rosings. While bit players like Anne de Bourgh and Georgiana Darcy are given more of a voice.

Overall, if you’re willing to hop in the saddle, you’ll enjoy the ride.

Format: Paperback

Dimensions
Length: 7.75 in
Width: 5.75 in
Weight: 15.28 oz
Page Count: 384 pages