Source: Review copy from author
In the first book in The Lost Heir Novella Series, April Floyd writes a unique take on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. In Mrs. Fitzwilliam, Elizabeth Bennet is now the widow of Mr. Darcy’s cousin, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam, with a four-year-old son named after his father. While little of the courtship is mentioned, readers learn that Elizabeth met the colonel after the Netherfield party left. Jane and Bingley are married with a child, Elizabeth and little Richard live with them at Netherfield, and Charles is estranged from his sisters and Mr. Darcy.
Elizabeth has never met the colonel’s family because he broke ties with them, and they know nothing of her son. However, upon the death of the Matlocks’ eldest son, Mr. Darcy is set to inherit, as they are unaware of little Richard being the legitimate heir. This brings Elizabeth to London, where she has a tense meeting with the Matlocks and begins to understand why her husband was estranged from them.
However, she soon finds an ally in Mr. Darcy and his sister. Despite her feelings having changed since the last time she met him, Elizabeth can’t bring herself to make little Richard’s presence known just yet. She knows what is best for her son, but she worries about the Matlocks’ interference in his upbringing. She carries this secret with her as she forges a new friendship with the Darcys and takes her place in London society as the colonel’s widow.
I really enjoyed Mrs. Fitzwilliam, especially the fact that years have made Elizabeth and Darcy wiser and more willing to put the past behind them, bonding over their mutual love for the colonel. I also loved that Bingley was willing to take charge of his own happiness, and his fondness for Elizabeth and especially her son was endearing. The novella does end with a cliffhanger, but not one that will drive you crazy waiting for the next book. At any rate, the second installment, The Colonel’s Son, has already been released, and the final book is coming soon.
Giveaway: April Floyd is generously offering 5 ebook copies of Mrs. Fitzwilliam to my readers! To enter, please leave a comment with your email address. This giveaway will be open through Sunday, September 30, 2018. The winners will be chosen randomly and announced in the comments section of this post. Good luck! (Also, stay tuned for my review of The Colonel’s Son, along with another giveaway!)
Disclosure: I received a copy of Mrs. Fitzwilliam from the author for review.
This is a great premise. However, I’m holding off on reading the first two until the last one comes out so I can binge all at once. Please don’t enter me as I already have book 1 and 2. Hurry and write, April. I’m waiting!
Ha ha! I’m reading book 2 now and am enjoying it already.
No I can’t read books where the Colonel is killed off, and was married to Elizabeth
I think it’s easier to handle in this series because it’s already happened when the book starts. You don’t meet him; he’s only talked about after his death. That made it easier for me at least.
Anna, I loved your review and definitely want to read this series. Thanks gals.
Thanks!
It is difficult to accept a premise in which Elizabeth marries someone other then Darcy first but I have read that before. I would enjoy reading this but, like J. Dawn King, I would hold off beginning to read the first until I have all three in my hands. Thanks for a chance to win. odara7rox(at)rcn(dot)com
I believe the last book is due out in October, so you won’t be waiting too long!
Oh, my goodness! What happened for Elizabeth to have married Colonel Fitzwilliam and his estrangement from Darcy and his family? This book sounds so good. Thank you for the giveaway. evamedmonds(at)gmail(dot)com
It’s a very interesting and tense situation. I hope you get a chance to read it!
Sounds like an interesting premise. Thanks for the chance to win a copy. Jadseah4(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thanks for stopping by!
Oh Darn!! Now I have to read it! Sounds like an interesting plot and lots of great witty comments as Lizzy deals with the Matlock family and their snobbery. Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy.
The Matlocks definitely leave a lasting impression! Hope you get a chance to read it.
Oh, I love the sound of this premise! So many possibilities! Thanks for the giveaway opportunity, April and Anna!
Thanks for stopping by, Debbie!
I don’t usually like it when Darcy or Elizabeth have been married before but there are exceptions and this sounds like it may be one of them.
I see there will be 3 books making up this story so I won’t read any until I have them all. Luckily 2 are out already so only one more to wait for.
Thank you for the generous giveaway.
It’s definitely easier to handle when the other spouse is already out of the picture, although too bad for the colonel!
I already own the first book so don’t include me in the drawing. I just wanted to comment. I also grabbed the second book so I could read them together. Yeah!! Congratulations to April Floyd on this launch and blessings on the success of both books. I am so excited. Thanks Anna for hosting.
Thank you for stopping by! I’m reading the second book now, and it’s good so far!
Wow, this sounds fantastic! I would love to read this one. Thanks for the giveaway
I think you’d like this one. Thanks for stopping by!
I would really like to read this trilogy. It sounds like a lot of opportunities for angst, before the HEA. I’m more acceptable to stories where Elizabeth or even Mr Darcy (I’m more jealous over him I’m sure) has been married to someone else first in the plot line, than some other commenters. I understand their viewpoint, though. I just believe the joy in the end is so much more poignant in those cases.
I sheepishly agree with a few comments above about waiting for the third book to come out before starting out on the first. I say ‘sheepishly’ because I’ve been one of those fans who have commented back to others who wouldn’t start a series (of I don’t know how many books) before the last one was published before starting. I have been known to say ‘don’t wait, you don’t know what your’e missing!) This sounds very good, I’m looking forward to reading it.
I’m like you when it comes to them being married before and am open to those storylines. It’s easier to stomach here, I think, because the colonel is dead when the book begins, so Darcy doesn’t have any competition on that front, though other obstacles stand in their way.
I have a hard time starting series right away, but in this case, I knew April planned to release them fairly quickly, so it wouldn’t be a long wait.
I hope you get a chance to read them all soon!
I have enjoyed April’s other works, so would be interested in this one as well.
I hope you get a chance to read it!
The premise sounds interesting….I would read it in a heartbeat.
I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did!
I love this twist on Pride and Prejudice and am looking forward to reading it. Thank you for the generous give away. skamper25 at gmail dot com
Thanks for stopping by!
I really like the premise of this story, Anna. If Mr Darcy has not married yet, there seem to be a chance for Elizabeth for her to become his wife. But I think I will hold back on reading the variation until all the books in the series are published.
evangelineace2020(at)yahoo(dot)com
I hope you enjoy the series! You won’t have to wait too long. 😉
I wanted to thank the wonderful Anna for hosting this giveaway and for her lovely review. And thank all of you who entered to win a copy, I am so grateful for your comments.
You’re very welcome!
Thank you all for stopping by to check out my review and enter the giveaway. I hope you’ll come back soon for my review of The Colonel’s Son and another giveaway!
The winners of Mrs. Fitzwilliam are: sagustocox, Cheryl Kepler, Michelle H, Deborah, and Luthien84. Congrats and happy reading! (I’ve sent you all an email.)