Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy

From Chapter One

Summer 1808

Before Darcy gave his opinion on signing the lease, he had gone into the neighboring village of Meryton and had found a typical market town near enough to the London road so that it had some amenities, such as a circulating library, an assembly hall, and a variety of shops that would meet Bingley’s simple needs, if not those of his sisters, Caroline and Louisa, who were to keep house for him. He also made inquiries as to the local society. With Sir James Darlington, a baronet, gone to take the waters in search of a cure for his gout and relief for his wife’s arthritis, Sir William Lucas, who had been knighted the previous year, was the only person of rank within easy riding distance of Netherfield Park. Darcy knew that Bingley, who loved dancing almost as much as he loved horses, would sign the lease as soon as he heard that there was an assembly hall in Meryton. By the time his footman had returned with a horse, a light rain had begun to fall, but Darcy would push on to Netherfield nonetheless and hope that the weather would improve or at least not get worse.

The weather got worse, and by the time Darcy made his entrance at Netherfield Park, his only interest was in being shown to his room, as he was chilled to the bone. Despite dripping all over the tile in the foyer and his apparent discomfort, Caroline Bingley was attempting to engage him in conversation, and her sister, Louisa Hurst, whose voice resembled a newly hatched chick, was asking if he wanted her to order some tea. “Thank you, Mrs. Hurst, but I would prefer to go straight to my room, so that I might change out of these wet clothes.” He looked down at his feet and an expanding puddle, and Louisa directed a servant to show Mr. Darcy to his room.

A short while later, Bingley came bounding in. Charles’s enthusiasm for life was usually infectious, but Darcy was so tired from the ride that all he could think of was his bed.

“Darcy, we were expecting you hours ago. Were you waylaid by highwaymen?”

Darcy merely shook his head. “If you were hoping for a bedtime story about how I eluded capture by brigands, I am sorry to disappoint you, but perhaps your governess is in residence?”

“Ah, good old Darcy, always in fine form no matter what the circumstances.” As he watched his friend shed his wet garments, he explained that he had sent a servant to rummage through the house to look for clothes for him. “Unfortunately, Sir James Darlington was a rather rotund man and not a great tall fellow like you are, and you could not get into a pair of my breeches with a shoe horn. So let us hope that your carriage will be here early in the morning.” Bingley exited the room, but then poked his head back in. “Oh, by the way, there is an assembly in the village tomorrow evening.”

“Bingley! An assembly? We will speak of it in the morning,” the exhausted traveler answered.

“No need, Darcy, I have already accepted an invitation on your behalf,” and he quickly left the room.

The next day, Darcy tried to find an excuse for not going to the assembly. But if he did not go, Caroline and Louisa would have a reason to stay behind, and then Darcy would have to play cards with them or listen to Mr. Hurst drone on about how difficult it was to find a shop that stocked brandy and French wines, and if you did, how damn expensive they were. The wars on the Continent were a great inconvenience to Bingley’s brother-in-law.

“Come now, Darcy. It will do you of world a good. I am told there are many local beauties, and they most certainly will be in need of partners.”

The matter was finally settled when Mr. Hurst, who had been sprawled out on the couch, sat up and let out a loud belch. “If you insist, I shall go, but I warn you, Bingley, I am in no humor to dance.”

“Darcy, I cannot force you to dance, but may I ask that you remove that scowl from your face? We do not want to frighten our neighbors.”

 

In late morning, Darcy’s manservant arrived at Netherfield Park. Mercer, who had been with Darcy for the past five years, was the most capable and ingenious man he had ever met. Upon hearing the sound of crunching gravel on the main drive to the house, he went to the window and laughed when he saw his servant at the reins of a farm wagon carrying all of his chests.

Darcy was not looking forward to attending the assembly. He was always uncomfortable in these country settings. Even in Lambton, the nearest village to Pemberley, or on the farms of his tenants, where he knew everyone by name, he did not know how to converse with people not of his class, especially if they were of the opposite sex. You could discuss breeding sheep with a farmer, but what did you talk about with the farmer’s daughter? Fortunately, his young sister, Georgiana, had no such difficulties and was able to converse on any number of subjects, including, to his amusement, the need for road improvements between Lambton and Matlock with a local farmer.

Upon entering the assembly room, the party was introduced to Sir William Lucas and his daughter, Charlotte, a rather plain lady, but one who seemed to have a pleasant disposition. Following on Sir William’s heels was the master of ceremonies, who asked if there was any lady to whom Darcy wished to be introduced, but he answered by saying that it was not his intention to dance. Within minutes, the hall was buzzing with news of the amiable Mr. Bingley’s unpleasant friend, who refused to dance because he was above his company.

Darcy spotted Bingley dancing with a lovely creature with blond hair and blue eyes. This was all so familiar to Darcy. Wherever they went, Bingley’s engaging ways quickly won over his new acquaintances. Within minutes, he would be besieged by gentlemen wishing to arrange introductions for their daughters, and he would always end up dancing at least two sets with the prettiest girl in the room.

“Come, Darcy. I must have you dance,” Bingley said during a break in the music.

If Darcy gave any hint that he might be persuaded, he would have Bingley after him all night. So with great emphasis, he answered, “I certainly shall not. You know how I detest it, unless I am particularly acquainted with my partner.”

Bingley continued to push and encouraged him to dance with the sister of the golden-haired Miss Bennet. “Miss Elizabeth Bennet is very pretty, and I daresay very agreeable.” After a quick glance, he said, “She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me,” and told his friend that he was wasting his time. After Bingley left, he looked over his shoulder and realized that the young lady had heard what he had said.

“Blast it all,” he thought. He had not meant to give offense.

His intention had been to stop Bingley from further entreaties. He was sure he had offended, but since he would not be seeing her again, he made the decision to say nothing. Instead, he went into the cardroom, where he soon found himself playing against competent players, who lightened his purse by a pound or two.

After spending most of the evening in the cardroom, he returned to the assembly and watched as Miss Elizabeth made her way through the complicated steps of a quadrille. Now that he had an unobstructed view of the lady, he saw that she was quite pretty, especially when she smiled, and he also noticed how softly her long, dark curls fell upon her shoulders and the brightness of her eyes and the fullness of her mouth. Shortly after realizing how appealing Miss Elizabeth Bennet was, he told Bingley he was sending for the carriage.

Mary Lydon Simonsen is one of my favorite Jane Austen adaptation writers. I love Searching For Pemberley and I LOVED (capitals intended) Anne Elliot: A New Beginning. Simonsen always brings a new perspective and humor to the stories we already love.

Lizzy and Darcy were amazing as always but Georgiana and Anne were the stars of the book. I think they are some of the most mysterious in Pride an Prejudice. They never got the air time they deserved and I love seeing how each author interprets them. Simonsen did an amazing job of capturing them and giving them a wit, spunk and intelligence that we all know they have. I especially loved the matchmaking and manipulative Anne. The more adaptations I read, the more I love Anne.

There were so many things that I love about this book and that I love about all of Simonsen’s adaptations. She is a master at the subtle shift in plot that change everything. The one thing that I did have a slight issue with is the major plot point of Darcy’s previous lovers. I mean, I know he has them and he didn’t enter his marriage with Lizzy a virgin but I don’t want to read about them and I sure as sugar don’t want to know their names. But then again, it’s not a gripe at all just a reflection of my idealization of Mr. Darcy.



The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy is a novel that explores the idea of Anne de Bourgh (daughter of the insufferable Lady Catherine de Bourgh) being the reason why one of the greatest couples of all time come together. With the assistance of Darcy’s younger sister, Georgiana, and his dear friend, Colonel Fitzwilliam, Anne does everything she possibly can to assure that her cousin marries Miss Elizabeth Bennet.

Unlike a lot of Jane Austen fan fiction, this novel follows very closely to Pride and Prejudice, resembling more a retelling than a brand new story itself. That isn’t to say it’s not enjoyable. There’s added scenes (including some behind-the-scenes looks at Austen’s scenes), some very nice character insight and new scenes of things we’ve always wondered about. The biggest changes I noticed were the alterations to Georgiana and Anne themselves. Georgiana is two years older in this tale and not nearly as quiet and shy. She also have a feverish love of romance novels, which reminded me some of Catherine Morland. Anne is far-removed from the sickly, weak woman we find in Austen’s original. There are also some additions to the loves and suitors of others but I’ll save that for you to read for yourself.

All in all, I find this book charming (and not to mention refreshing as I really enjoyed seeing things through the eyes of people who are normally background characters) and I’ll be moving up Mary Lydon’s other Austen title on my to-read list as well. 4/5.



The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy is a variation of Jane Austen’s Pride And Prejudice. Mary Lydon Simonsen’s biggest alterations are in the openness and disposition of the characters. No characters are left untouched, not even Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth, which will give purists pause, but for those who love what-if scenarios the results speak for themselves with Darcy and Elizabeth getting the happy ending they deserve.

The first bit of the novel rushes through the beginning portions of Pride And Prejudice to get to the meat of the changes aka the heart of the story. The most notable difference as a result to Simonsen’s alterations appears in the fallout of Darcy’s first blundered proposal. He tells his cousin, Anne de Bourgh, what happened when she drags it out of him and proceeds to give him advice. Meanwhile Lizzy confides in Charlotte and her sister about the incident and Darcy’s rebuttal letter.

The divergence has been made and is continued with minor characters getting to play larger roles and say lines unseen in the original. Together they knowingly or unknowingly work in bringing about the romance.

Anne faithfully works her magic (which has a far wider reach than one might think as she is not under her mother’s thumb) to bring Darcy and Elizabeth together when it seems like they’ll never run in the same circles again. Georgiana, far from the shy retiring miss in the original, is a bright plucky girl on the brink of womanhood, who isn’t afraid to push for what she desires—seeing her brother in a love-match marriage.

Other changes include two affairs in Darcy’s background prior to meeting Elizabeth, Jane’s sharp insights into the Bingley sisters’ characters, an older Bingley brother that isn’t Charles who is the heir, servants gossiping, portions focused wholly on Wickham and his mindset, and even Mr. Bennet giving Mrs. Bennet an earful of both of their deficiencies in raising their daughters.

For a variation that’s fun and quirky try The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy.


The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy shows that author Mary Lydon Simonsen adores the characters from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and that she’s willing to have a little fun with them. I’d first seen Simonsen’s playful side in Anne Elliot: A New Beginning (my review), a hilarious rewriting of Austen’s Persuasion. This time around, Simonsen recognizes that the arrogant though well-meaning Darcy needs some help in the romance department. Despite being one of England’s most eligible bachelors, Darcy can’t get a simple farmer’s daughter to accept a marriage proposal that most woman would die for.

Enter Anne de Bourgh, Darcy’s cousin and daughter of the high-and-mighty Lady Catherine. Despite some serious health problems, Anne puts together a plan to bring Elizabeth and Darcy together at Pemberley — a plan that enables both of them to recognize their faults and move beyond bad first impressions. Darcy’s sister, Georgiana, also assumes the role of matchmaker and assists in Anne’s scheming.

The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy closely follows the events in Austen’s original novel, which made it a tad slow for me in spots. But Simonsen’s original characters make the book a delight. I loved getting to know Anne, and Georgiana’s penchant for gothic novels and her pursuit of a career in writing was a lovely addition. Simonsen even gives Louisa Bingley more of a role, and her interactions with Lord Fitzwilliam, Colonel Fitzwilliam’s brother and Darcy’s cousin, are hilarious. The odd Mr. Nesbitt, who courts Jane Bennet in Mr. Bingley’s absence, and Mrs. Caxton, a woman from Darcy’s past, also provide much entertainment.

Without straying too far from the original, Simonsen allows readers to get into the heads of Austen’s characters and even has some fun with the ones we love to hate. Caroline Bingley is even more snotty, Wickham even more horrid, and Lydia Bennet even more dimwitted, generating much laughs. Those dead set against altering Austen’s classic novel might not be amused, but if you’re like me and don’t mind someone taking liberties with your favorite characters, The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy is a fun, light read.


I believe that one reason Pride and Prejudice has been so popular is that its readers thoroughly enjoy the dance that is Darcy and Elizabeth’s relationship. Their path to the wedding altar isn’t straight or smooth, providing a delicious tension that results in a very satisfying conclusion. Mary Lydon Simonsen’s The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy appreciates this dance and expands it just a bit, to a similar and delightful ending.

For a while during the beginning of Perfect Bride the facts and plot points that occur are right on point with the original Austen text. Simonsen quotes Austen once in a while, and for the most part all the dialogue is new, but everything that occurs could have easily happened in other scenes not included in Pride and Prejudice. It’s almost as if there was a second unit of cameras filming alternate scenes while the original story was being captured with Austen’s mental camera. I found it to be interesting and very much enjoyed this fleshing-out of the cast of characters.

Eventually Simonsen’s plot diverts a bit from the original, but the conclusion of the tale is, for the most part, the same as Austen’s. Mary simply added a few turns and twirls to the Darcy/Bennet dance, as well as to the promenades of others in the story. This was very effective and I liked the choices that she made.

My quibbles are few on this one. The plot introductions that I’ve seen online (including the one above) seem to credit Georgiana with the bulk of the matchmaking and scheming that transpired. In truth, Anne de Bourgh is predominantly at the wheel, surreptitiously guiding Darcy and Lizzie toward each other. Georgiana spends most of her time trying to figure out Anne’s secret plans and then of course supports Miss de Bourgh in those efforts after she’s put the pieces together. Anne is the instigator, and it is more her story than Georgiana’s.

There was a sub-plot involving Darcy’s lovers of the past that I found to be superfluous. And there were just a few moments of Darcy fantasy that were unnecessarily steamy, although realistic for the character.

Overall, The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy is an excellent choice for Janeites who enjoy Pride and Prejudice and its interesting characters. I loved this new perspective on Austen’s work and found the book to be enjoyable and brisk. There were a couple of nights when I stayed up irresponsibly late, not wanting to put the book down. I’d say to myself, “Just one more chapter…” and I’d end up going to bed at 1am. For this wife and mother of two, that’s fairly late!

While I own a copy of Simonsen’s Searching for Pemberley, I haven’t had a chance to read it yet. Now that I’ve been introduced to this author and her work, I’m looking forward to that title even more than I had in the past. I know it’s a totally different story, but if it’s as enjoyable as The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy, then it should be a perfect choice for me!

Mary Lydon Simonsen‘s The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy re-imagines Pride & Prejudice in such a way that Darcy and Elizabeth cannot get past their misunderstandings and disagreements without a little help from two matchmakers — Georgiana Darcy and Anne de Bourgh. Anne takes the reins for much of the book after she learns her cousin Darcy has proposed marriage to Elizabeth at Rosings and failed miserably at gaining her hand and love.

The main plot points of Lizzy’s visit to Pemberley, Lydia’s downfall with Wickham, and Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s visit to Hertfordshire are all present, but Anne helps convince Lizzy to visit Pemberley and prompts her mother to visit Hertfordshire. Georgiana is a secondary matchmaker in this novel, but she’s witty and grows into her role as mistress of Pemberley by ensuring her guests are comfortable and do not annoy one another, especially since Caroline Bingley and Elizabeth are in the same room vying for the same man’s affections.

“And, yet, Anne was saying that Mr. Darcy went with his sister to the milliner’s shop. Lizzy could just picture him, crossing and uncrossing his legs, and drumming his fingers on top of his hat, when he was not pacing the floor.” (page 56)

Simonsen has sketched a strong Anne and Georgiana, women who are more modern than convention dictates, but who are well aware of society’s expectations for their behavior. Georgiana is about to come out into society when things go awry in the Bennet family, but she unselfishly tells her brother to right the wrongs and go to his love to ease her pain. Unlike Austen’s minimal sketch of Georgiana as a beloved sister, Simonsen creates a strong young woman with romantic notions and a penchant for writing.

Not to worry because Jane and Mr. Bingley’s romance is not forgotten, but there is more than one obstacle thrown in their way after Bingley is convinced by Darcy and the Bingley sisters to cease his courtship of Jane. Enter Mr. Nesbitt, a solicitor with a odd sense of courtship and love. This subplot is delightful, serves to increase the suspense in the Darcy-Lizzy romance, and is full of twists and turns.

“While Mary was croaking out a lullaby, the youngster had put his hands over his cousin’s mouth and had asked her not to sing. Everyone in the family now owed a debt of gratitude to a four-year-old boy.” (page 161)

“‘I am not angry with either of you. I am, however, a little disconcerted that you embarked on such an elaborate scheme after I told you I already had a plan in place.’

‘Your plan was terrible. I have saved you weeks of anxiety about Elizabeth. You must own to it, Will. My plan was better than yours.” (page 204)

The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy by Mary Lydon Simonsen is engaging and funny. The interactions between Anne and Darcy are often filled with playful jabs between cousin, and the dialogue between Jane and Lizzy are not only sisterly but full of sweet teasing. Another fun re-imagining of Pride & Prejudice that delves deeper into the secondary characters of Austen’s novel.



I am very leery when it comes to reading Austen inspired fiction, re-writes, or sequels. However when it comes to Simonsen’s work all bets are off. Simonsen’s past Austen inspired books were quite good and The Perfect Bride is no exception. I really liked and enjoyed this one immensely. Simonsen uses the basic premise of Pride & Prejudice condensing the original source work into a few chapters at the beginning. Kind of like a summary, but a quick telling of events to get the reader up to speed. The bulk of this match making story takes place after Elizabeth refuses Darcy at Rosings. Simonsen adds to P&P by expanding upon situations form the book, making them her own.

For example, when Darcy writes the letter to Lizzy to explain his side of the story, he first pours his heart out to his cousin Anne de Bourgh, who he is very close with. This is where Anne steps in and she is wonderful! Nothing like her mother or the portrayal we are used to seeing in the movie versions of P&P. That’s what made this story refreshing for me. Expansion of characters, getting into their heads, reading about their background. This goes for Georgiana and Colonel Fitzwilliam as well.

As for elaborating on situations, Simonsen delves into what happened with Lydia in Brighton, Fitzwilliam’s family history, and shows how Caroline Bingley truly is a witch. Caroline certainly gets her comeuppance, and those scenes were delicious yet painful to read at times, because you just know she is not getting Darcy despite what she thinks.

As for Lizzy and Darcy, Simonsen wonderfully builds anticipation between the two of them. Each with their own thoughts and apprehension of seeing each other, "Do I look good...will my feelings be returned." I was very eager for them to get together. Just speak your mind Darcy!

All in all I really enjoyed this book. It was like getting together with old friends who I haven’t seen for a while and they had stories to share. All of the characters were wonderfully drawn and I felt like I was in the room when events happened. I also loved the fact that Simonsen used the previously unexplored characters of Georgiana and Anne as the impetus of the matchmaking and all of the machinations of the match making was cute. So if you are looking for a fun and interesting read, pick this one up. You will enjoy it.



I have to admit I love the Austen trend that’s been going around the past couple of years. It’s so much fun to watch authors take beloved characters and just run with them. Sometimes they put them in odd situations and sometimes they just retell the tale in a new manner. I have to admit that a few of the Darcy books that I’ve read have been boring failures, but I’m happy to proclaim that this is not one of them!

I found the writing absolutely alluring. It’s witty and full of character. I was sucked in from the very beginning and couldn’t put the book down. I found all of the characters to be completely lovable, although in different forms. Some of the characters are absolutely vile and I found myself loving every time they entered onto the scene. Their impromptu remarks and actions kept me giggling throughout the book. The wit of the main characters kept me smiling in between the giggling. No, this book isn’t primarily humor but what’s the point of romance if you don’t smile throughout it? Ah, the romance part! It’s in there! You won’t find all the lackadaisical sex scenes that today often pass for romance. What you’ll find is sweetness and love.

There are a few misunderstandings throughout the book, but I love the way that they were dealt with. One of the formula’s for romance novels states that there should be a misunderstanding and instead of thinking about what happened like normal, rational adults, a character (or more than one in some cases!) holds onto their incorrect and childish way of thinking until the end of the book when the truth clobbers them over the head. I detest that! If you’re too stupid to ask if Joe had an affair with your best friend then you’re too stupid to be in a book I’m reading! If you don’t have the good sense to realize that just because Sheryl is hugging a man it doesn’t mean she’s sleeping with him, then I don’t want to read about you! I want to read about smart characters that have a bit of morality and a good bit of intelligence. What I loved most about this book is that throughout the misunderstandings, characters are dealing with situations as I would. Well, as I’d like to think any mature adult would (Not that I’m mature, mind you!) Instead of assuming the worst and carrying it throughout the book, they take the time to think about the situation and act accordingly. This made for a much better read for me. Instead of spending the book wondering why paper was wasted on such a dimwitted human being, I was able to enjoy all of the nonsensical things that went wrong.

This book is crisp as a spring day. It’s fresh and charming. Some of the characters are deliciously annoying while others will capture your heart. A wonderful sense of adventure and intrigue are found. I strongly suggest this book for you Darcy fans out there, but also for anyone else looking for a fun romance or just a jolly good time.

This book expands on the love story of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett. For the most part, it stays true to Jane Austen’s work. However, in this book, Darcy’s cousin Anne is the matchmaker behind the couple’s reunion. This was a good twist. Characters are further developed in this book more than the original, such as Mary and Anne, and that was well done. This book was well written and I enjoyed it. Austen fans and romance readers alike would enjoy this book. I received this book from Sourcebooks for review.

The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy, by Mary Lydon Simonsen is an adaptation of Pride and Prejudice which takes us down a different path after Darcy is summarily refused by Elizabeth at Hunsford Cottage.

Fitzwilliam Darcy’s cousin, Anne de Bourgh is a bit of a schemer and not as ill as she lets on. As it turns out, she’s noticed Darcy’s regard for Elizabeth Bennet and after he confides his rejection in Anne, she decides to take some matters into her own hands. Matchmaking seems to be something she excels at for over the course of the book, she orchestrates Elizabeth and Darcy’s ‘chance’ meetings.

Simonsen manages to keep the general plot of Pride and Prejudice intact with this new twist and Elizabeth ends up on her trip to Derbyshire with her aunt and uncle, thus seeing Pemberley for the first time. This also allows Darcy to set some of his newfound resolve to charm her into action.

Some things I thoroughly enjoyed about the book were the additional viewpoints of the ancillary characters, particularly George Wickham. We normally don’t get to see the internal machinations of the villain and I think it is because authors wouldn’t touch the idea with a ten foot pole. Truly? Who knows what Austen was really thinking when she outlined Wickham’s actions? Was it mercenary? Lust? Or a plot of revenge against Darcy all along? Simonsen chooses a path and vets it out wonderfully, giving us snippets of his mindset.

The addition of new characters can be jarring, but to handle the main plot line loss of Mr. Collins, Simonsen invented Mr. Nesbitt. After Jane is spurned by Bingley a new man appears on the scene and while Mr. Collins could have been considered the most ridiculous person Austen ever dreamed of, I would lay money down and say that Simonsen dreamed of someone who could give Collins a run for his money. Although he only makes brief appearances and most of the time in passing discussion, he had me howling with laughter. He was absolutely ridiculous.

That being said, some other characters Simonsen created didn’t sit as well with me. Darcy’s past catches up with him and being a man of 28 means that he hasn’t been a monk. While I agree it is very conceivable that Darcy had other lovers in the past, the inclusion and presentation of them in the book was slightly jarring and a little incongruous. I didn’t understand how they fit into the plot and think it interrupted the flow.

Another side of the coin is how altered some of the characters had become overall. Caroline Bingley, while no ones friend and not very likeable, became so waspish and mercurial that I thought maybe she was addicted to opium. Hey! It could happen!

Overall, there was a lot of humor and it was a fun read. Darcy has a hard time with women and under that rough exterior, Simonsen strove to show us what his kind hearted female relatives saw, a fragile heart.

3 out of 5 stars!



We read Price and Prejudice and sigh in happiness at this enduring tale of a romance that was always fated to be.

Or was it?

No seemingly random events drive the action in A Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy, Mary Lydon Simonsen’s retelling of Pride and Prejudice. Everything is arranged by none other than that unlikeliest of characters, the little-seen Anne De Bough.

Anne may be sickly, but her frail body houses a rapier-sharp mind. The story begins as Darcy confesses to Anne his monumentally bungled marriage proposal to Elizabeth. With the skill of a master strategist, Anne, along with some help from Darcy’s sister, Georgiana, orchestrates the events that at last being them together.

In A Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy, Ms. Simonsen writes Pride and Prejudice as Jane Austen would have if she were alive today. She fleshes out the supporting characters, giving their motivations in their own words, as well as providing rationales for some of the coincidences in the original. Did the whim of the gods bring Darcy and Elizabeth together at Pemberley? Nothing of the sort. Anne directs the action, never leaving us in doubt that our characters find their happy endings not because of the mercy of the universe, but because of her deliberate, watchful care.

With a fast-reading, engaging style, along with a touch of humor—Darcy is so excited about Elizabeth that he must now wear trousers instead of breeches—A Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy brings a new and enjoyable immediacy to Jane Austen’s most popular novel.



Why I wanted to read this book: I’m addicted to all things Jane Austen and I’m often fantasize of being Mrs. Darcy!

What worked for me:


I loved getting to know Anne de Bourgh and Georgiana better with this retelling of Pride and Prejudice. I often thought that if just given the chance Anne would stand up and speak her voice. They were both very clever in their manipulation of Darcy and making sure that he and Elizabeth would be in close proximity to one another.
My dislike for Caroline Bingley grew with each page...it’s almost fun to hate her!! And I thought the author did a great job of making Wickham, a very bad boy!!
There were a few moments where I did find the retelling a bit slow. I think this may be because I’m so familiar with the story and at times the author didn’t stray far from the original. But I feel that she did change it up a bit and really made the story fun and fresh.
Oh, I almost forgot about the great twist the author added to Jane’s story...I really thought this was very, very clever and it totally worked for me! I’m being cryptic because I don’t want to ruin your read!!
Recommend? For those that love all things Austen, then this is a book that I wouldn’t hesitate to tell you to read. It’s charming and cute...nothing earth-shattering, but a good read that explores two characters that some of us would like to get to know in more depth. I think Mary Lydon Simonsen is a writer that will continue to deliver with her retellings of Austen’s characters!

My Rating: 3.75/5


Have you ever wondered about Mr. Darcy’s side of the story in Pride and Prejudice? I know I like to think about Mr. Darcy! The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy chronicles Mr. Darcy’s love for Elizabeth Bennet and how his sister Georgiana and cousin Anne had to work their magic at times to get Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth together.

The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy mostly takes place between Mr. Darcy’s ill-fated proposal at Rosings to just after the marriage of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth. This story is unique in that we get to find out what happened on Mr. Darcy’s side, and it also fills in the missing gaps on the Bennets’ side.

The other unique aspect is that Anne de Bourgh is no longer the non-talkative invalid of Pride and Prejudice; she is a heroine with weak lungs who gives her all to ensure that her beloved cousin Fitzwilliam Darcy will have a happy ending. Unlike in P&P, she actually befriends Elizabeth and they become correspondents. She uses this opportunity to convince Elizabeth of Darcy’s goodness and also to make sure the timing of her holiday with find Mr. Darcy at home at Pemberley.

Georgiana has also changed in this version of the classic tale. She is no longer a shy wallflower, but is a budding author whose imagination takes flight at anything hinting of gothic mystery or of romance. Her curiosity of her brother’s secret love for Elizabeth leads her to help her cousin Anne to do anything she can to bring the two together.

The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy was a very well-written and enjoyable tale. It had great witty dialogue that made me laugh out loud a few times. Unlike some other Mr. Darcy books that just paraphrase Pride and Prejudice, The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy is a fully realized tale of its own that was very intriguing. Author Mary Lydon Simonsen took the original story and expanded on it, creating new intriguing characters, and developing other minor characters into riveting new characters themselves. I especially liked the expanded Bingley clan and older brother George. I also loved the humorous turn of events after Lydia elopes with Wickham.

Overall, The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy is the perfect book for all lovers of Pride and Prejudice to fill in the behind the scenes details of how our favorite two lovers were finally able to get together!



Jane Austen inspired fiction has captivated the interest of many readers across the world. With sequels, prequels, variations and mash-up’s, there is a lot to choose from in this growing area of fiction. It’s hard to know which one to pick to read, as there are so many choices. Mary Lydon Simonsen makes it easy with The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy! I would consider her stories, variations. She uses Jane Austen’s work as a guide and gives us the same wonderful characters and essentially the same story, but with some changes and twists that make it interesting and different.

Mr. Darcy has asked Elizabeth Bennet to marry him. She has refused him because of his arrogance and interference in Jane and Bingley’s relationship. This is where The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy starts to change from Austen’s original, Pride and Prejudice. Darcy could have went on with his life and forgotten Elizabeth or the story could have proceeded just as it did in Austen’s book, but that’s not what happened. Darcy’s cousin, Anne De Bourgh was his intended bride before he met Elizabeth, but that seems to have been her mother’s wish, not her own. Anne realizes that Elizabeth is just right for Darcy and she puts a plan in motion to get them back together. She uses Mr. Darcy’s sister, Georgiana to help her bring the plan to fruition at Pemberley.

In, The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy, Simonsen takes some of Austen’s minor characters and gives them a more prominent position in the story. Though Georgiana Darcy is a part of Pride and Prejudice by Austen, we know very little about her character. Simonsen shows us a Georgiana that we may not have been expecting. She’s young and care-free, has the curiosity of any teenager. She and Anne become matchmaker’s for Darcy and Elizabeth. It’s a light-hearted book with lots of wit and heartwarming sentiment. Georgiana’s devotion to Darcy is very compelling.

Anne De Bourgh’s character is explored in greater detail in Simonsen’s book as well. Anne appears to have been "sickly" though we are not told what is wrong with her in Pride and Prejudice. She seemed to be timid and much in the shadow of her overbearing mother, Catherine De Bourgh. In The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy she comes out of shell and we see her as a spirited young woman, with determination. She decides that Elizabeth and not she, is Darcy’s perfect match and she puts her matchmaking skills to the test as she tries to get them together. But matchmaking doesn’t always go the way it’s planned and we see Anne and Georgina getting into all kinds of scrapes along the way.

I enjoyed the book very much. It was a much lighter, happier book than I was expecting and it really hit the spot with me. It is certainly what could have happened if Austen had taken a different path. So as a variation, I think it stays true to the original story, while giving us other options to explore. The changes in the overall story did not change the eventual outcome, which we know and love, Darcy still ends up with our beloved Elizabeth. It’s always fun to see what would have happened if someone had figured out their attraction to each other and tried to get them together sooner, so this book really brought that possibility to the fore.

I recommend it to lovers of not only Austen inspired fiction, but to Austen lovers as well. You may think that nothing can be as good as Austen, but I have a feeling you might be more open to "change" than you think! Austen "purists" are missing out on a lot of great fiction.



The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy by Mary Lydon Simonsen follows on the heels of her Austenesque sequel, Searching For Pemberley. Simonsen takes quite an intriguing approach in her latest book with Elizabeth and Darcy going their separate ways, and brings front and centre Georgiana Darcy and Anne de Bourgh, who together become matchmakers trying to bring together Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy. While I am an Austen purist, I do enjoy the tone Simonsen creates in her novels and found it rather refreshing to see a book about characters who did not get much attention in Austen’s Pride & Prejudice. Simonsen has quite a way with words and her prose follows along the traditional Austen lines, some scenes are a little more risqué than Austen’s original novel, yet Simonsen stays true to Austen’s main characters and brings the readers attention more to Georgiana and Anne, two characters I had always wished to know more about yet Ms. Austen did not feel compelled to share them too much with her readers. Overall I found The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy to be a delight, fun and ultimately charming read. I enjoyed Simonsen’s take on the characters and found them charming or not, depending on which one, just as I did in the original Pride & Prejudice. I do think those who enjoyed Pride & Prejudice as well as those who have never read it (but really, do) will find The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy to be an engrossing and delightful afternoon of reading.



Reviewed by Meg M.

Within the pages of The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy, author Mary Lydon Simonsen reveals a plot concocted by cousins Georgiana Darcy and Anne de Bourgh to unite Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy. This delightful Pride And Prejudice spin-off allows readers to see the classic tale from a variety of angles, including those of Georgiana and Anne, two characters who aren’t allowed a lot of time to speak in the Jane Austen’s beloved original work.

Simonsen weaves together a tale where Anne and her cousin, Fitzwilliam Darcy, are the best of friends. Despite their family’s plans for the two to someday marry, the two cousins aren’t interested in one another, and when Anne discovers Darcy’s affections for the beautiful and witty Elizabeth Bennet, she can’t help but get involved.

The matchmaking begins at Rosings, where Anne first becomes aware of Darcy’s feelings and the misunderstanding that has led to Elizabeth’s refusal of his marriage proposal. After Mr. Darcy makes Elizabeth aware of his true motives and character in his famous letter, Anne is there to help Elizabeth decipher her feelings for the brooding gentleman. It is here that Anne requests to write to Miss Bennet, planning to invite the lady to Pemberley, where she is sure to see Mr. Darcy at his best.

When Georgiana, Mr. Darcy’s sister, learns of this plan, she is more than willing to help, especially after meeting Elizabeth, with whom she forms a fast bond. In several delightful scenes, readers are treated to the cousins’ plan to embarrass the snobbish Caroline Bingley at Pemberley, all the while working to push Darcy and Elizabeth together. All is going well until it is revealed that Lydia Bennet has eloped with Mr. Wickham. Now Anne and Georgiana must work overtime to bring these two together before all is lost.

While most works inspired by Pride And Prejudice are normally ridiculous and written without historical accuracy in mind, this tale is fun, fresh and enormously entertaining. Often read as a quiet mouse, Simonsen’s portrayal of Anne de Bourgh causes the character to leap off the page with sparkle and wit. Georgiana, in similar fashion, is a lovely character who cares for her brother’s happiness above most other things in the world, and with urgency, she fights to help him secure the woman that is perfect for him. And Simonsen thankfully stays very true to the essence of what has made the characters of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy stand the test of time, allowing readers to see their mistakes, their vulnerability, and above all, the love that overcomes their pride and the conventions of their time period.



I don’t think I would be exaggerating if I labeled Pride and Prejudice as Jane Austen’s most popular work. In fact, I will take it one step further and proclaim it one of the most beloved novels of all time. It is no surprise to me, at all, that readers want to revisit this tale, and movie makers and writers keep pumping out P&P inspired fare. In the past fifteen years, we have seen a plethora of Mr. Darcy and Lizzy Bennet prequels, sequels, retellings, variations and inspired books. Mary Lydon Simonsen’s new offering The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy falls into the variation category. She has reworked the classic love story of misconceptions and misunderstandings offering her own unique take. Purist, fair warning if you are easily “put out” by tampering with your cherished classic. Be advised to make haste and head back to the unadulterated original, now! You will not find faithful adherence to Austen’s characterizations here. But if you are liberal in approach and tempered for a good lark, there are abundant amusements to be had in this new novel.

The plot line runs parallel to Jane Austen’s original. Mr. Darcy, an arrogant, wealthy young man snubs Elizabeth Bennet, a spirited, overly confident gentleman’s daughter at a local assembly Ball. Her sister Jane and his best friend Charles Bingley fall in love but are separated by him. She is convinced that Darcy has spitefully withheld a promised living to her new flirtation Mr. Wickham. Mesmerized by her impertinence and fine eyes, he is compelled to propose despite his own objections to her family. She flatly rejects him. He writes the “Be not alarmed madam letter” of explanation then promptly departs. How will they reunite and find love? Austen’s narrative and denouement is famous for its plot twists and gradual reversal of his pride and her prejudice. Simonsen walks the same path, but her characters react differently changing the outcome requiring other minor characters to be developed to facilitate their eventual love match. Enter Mr. Darcy’s sickly cousin Anne de Bourgh and his shy younger sister Georgiana Darcy. Both ladies have had major character make-overs. Anne is now a dear friend and adviser to her cousin; Georgiana, a spunky and adventurous kid sister. Both heavily advocate and plan their reunion.

After Darcy returned to his room for the night, Anne thought about all that had happened between Will and Elizabeth and recognized that her cousin had got himself into a real mess. But Fitzwilliam Darcy was in love with Elizabeth Bennet, and Anne had seen real interest on Elizabeth’s part during their evenings together at Rosings Park, so something had to be done. Before retiring, she had settled on a course of action. It was as complicated as any battle plan, and it would take luck and timing to make it work. But her cousin’s happiness was at stake, and so she began to work out the details of her scheme. Page 37

Through expansion of other minor characters and introduction of new one’s we begin to see the back story to Austen’s masterpiece as Simonsen envisions it. Even the servants, who receive only a passing mention in the original, get some great lines. Hill, the housekeeper at Longbourn spreads all sorts of town tittle-tattle and pertinent tidbits to the Bennet family. More holes filled. And, Simonsen even ventures to mention the two affairs that Darcy had before he met Lizzy. Well, he is a Regency gentleman after all. One of the biggest changes in temperament is in Lizzy’s sister, the gentle and biddable Jane Bennet. She sees no fault with anyone in the original, which is in itself a fault, but not in this version. Jane sees through the Bingley sisters fake friendship, calls her father to account for his lack of guidance to his wife and three younger daughters, and believes the only reason why her sister rejected Mr. Darcy’s marriage proposal was in her defense. Yes. It’s not about Darcy being the last man in the world that Lizzy could be prevailed upon to marry (because he is a snob and a jerk at that point) but because Lizzy was so angry at him for separating her beloved sister from her beau Mr. Bingley.

It was true that Lizzy’s dislike for Mr. Darcy was based on his unkind words and haughty behavior at the assembly, but that would not have been enough for her to reject out of hand a proposal from a man of such consequence. And as sympathetic as Lizzy was to Mr. Wickham being denied a promised living, Lizzy had not known Mr. Wickham well enough to become so angry as to be dismissive of Mr. Darcy’s offer. The intensity of Lizzy’s rejection could come only as the result of someone she loved being hurt, and that someone was Jane. Page 117

If you are chuffed by my mention of some of the changes, take heed. This is true fanfiction where you “[S]uppose as much as you chuse; give a loose to your fancy, indulge your imagination in every possible flight which the subject will afford.” Simonsen has played the game well, though I struggled with the opening set-up and some who have not read the original novel nor seen one of the many movies may be lost as she leaps through the first third of the original book’s plot to the first proposal scene of Lizzy and Darcy at Hunsford. After that point she settles in and develops her slant more evenly.

Creative, well-paced and definitely diverting, The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy will surprise you, repeatedly, as you compare the original to this variation. I will concede that it is always difficult for me to warm to big changes in beloved characters, especially Lizzy and Darcy, who we all know so well. I can’t say that I enjoyed all the vicissitudes, but I admire the author’s creativity. Where this novel excelled at expanding upon minor characters and introducing new ones, it foundered in reverence to Austen’s hero and heroine, which is pretty much why many are drawn to read a Pride and Prejudice sequel with Mr. Darcy in the title in the first place. After her success with the historically driven Searching for Pemberley, this is Simonsen’s first attempt at pure fanfiction. It was a great start that promises an even greater future.

4 out of 5 Regency Stars



Author Mary Lyndon Simonsen has remade the classic Austen work; Pride and Prejudice, into a whole new novel with grandeur details on over-looked characters.

Mary Lyndon Simonsen has taken a beloved classic and made it a new historical romance novel full of the characters we all know and love, yet fresh and different at the same time. This book certainly has the main story that is so familiar, but a few little changes here and there make a difference in a big way.

A Classic Pride and Prejudice Remake in The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy
The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy is Mary Lyndon Simonsen’s idea of Jane Austen’s classic tale. The main theme is there; Darcy falls for Elizabeth but their pride and prejudices get in the way of the two uniting. Caroline Bingley is still an annoyingly stuck-up woman, Jane and Bingley are still separated for a time, Lydia still runs off with Wickham, and the details go on. At first I thought this book was an attempt to make Pride and Prejudice more readable for today’s teens. I was a little let down that it was just the same old story. But it wasn’t, it isn’t.

An Historical Romance Fiction Tale in The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy
The difference between this Austen remake and the original is undoubtedly the way Darcy and Elizabeth ultimately find themselves united. In the original Pride and Prejudice Darcy wins Elizabeth’s heart by writing her a letter explaining away his choices, then proving he is a compassionate man by seeing to the happiness of Lizzy’s sister, all with Lizzy in mind. This still takes place in The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy, but far more occurs then you may think.

It falls to a few matchmakers to play their cards right, so to speak. Those who love Darcy, and find themselves believing Lizzy is the right woman for him, unknowingly help Darcy win her over. Lots of matchmaking and so called ‘coincidences’ take place. This new take on the original, with more being done to unite the two, is refreshing and entertaining to say the least.

Why You Should Read This Romantic Fiction Novel
One of the best parts of this book is how the author plays up the sub-characters. People we don’t get to see a lot of in Pride and Prejudice suddenly have much larger roles. Lady Catherine De Bourgh’s sickly daughter for one. In Pride and Prejudice we see Anne De Bourgh has a sick woman supposed to marry Darcy as per her mother’s wishes, a quiet woman who can’t even hold up a conversation. Not so in The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy.

In this remake, Anne is actually a very wonderful woman who cares very much for her cousin; Darcy, but only so far as she would for a brother. Anne’s detailed character in this novel plays a major role in Darcy and Lizzy’s uniting, and though she is still a sickly woman, Anne moves about the country side with a witty and wise mind and ends up with her own happily ever after.

Another character we learn more about is Georgiana Darcy, Will Darcy’s sister. We see more of her love for her brother, but readers also learn more about Georgiana as a woman. She was not so easily conned by Wickham as any Pride and Prejudice fan may have thought and she is more than intelligent and imaginative in her own right. Georgiana also plays a role in Darcy and Lizzy’s love life, though not so much as Anne.

The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy stays true to its original counterpart; it relates to the society goings on of the regency era, is more of a deep and meaningful romance read than a fun fluffy one, relates to the world as we know it as far as pride and prejudices are concerned and is recommended for romance lovers of ever age range.

Mary Lyndon Simonsen has taken a beloved classic and made it a new historical romance novel full of the characters we all know and love, yet fresh and different at the same time. This book certainly has the main story that is so familiar, but a few little changes here and there make a difference in a big way.



After a series of mishaps, Mr. Darcy is in a foul mood when he arrives at the estate his friend, Charles Bingley, rented in Hertfordshire. His mood persists at the assembly he is forced to attend, accounting for his diatribe about country life and even the lovely Elizabeth Bennet, who hears his disparaging remarks. When the two meet again at Rosings, Darcy is totally smitten by Elizabeth, while she still holds a grudge, causing another clash when he proposes. Darcy holds no hope until his cousin, Anne de Bourgh, steps in to play matchmaker to the reluctant pair with the help of Darcy’s all-too observant sister, Georgiana. Using her creative license, Simonsen offers her insights into Austen’s beloved characters in this retelling of Pride and Prejudice, giving prominence to minor characters’ influence over the mismatched couple so that true love will prevail. For instance, Anne de Bourgh is not her overbearing mother’s puppet but rather a much beloved cousin who chooses her battles, giving the story a unique spin.

Simonsen (Searching for Pemberley) spins off another superior Jane Austen homage, retelling Pride and Prejudice from Mr. Darcy’s perspective. She makes him much more sympathetic in the process, revealing that where Elizabeth Bennet sees haughtiness and pride, Darcy feels only discomfort from being out of his element. She also improves on the character of his cousin, Anne de Bourgh, by making her the matchmaker who brings Darcy and Elizabeth together when both have despaired of unsnarling their complicated feelings for each other. This offering will entertain those who already know their Austen and Georgette Heyer by heart, as well as fans of old-fashioned romance where bodices stay firmly put and the greatest intimacy is found in eye contact and a few choice words. (Jan.)

Format: Paperback

Dimensions
Length: 7.75 in
Width: 5.75 in
Weight: 16.00 oz
Page Count: 400 pages