When We Are Married by Caitlin Williams Blog Tour and Giveaway

Today the blog tour for Caitlin Williams' new book, the 'Pride & Prejudice' variation, 'When We Are Married' stops by. I get to share my review with you, and there is a giveaway of an ebook of the story for a commenter on this post. Read on for more details!

Book Description

Two sisters, one man. Someone’s heart is about to get broken.

Elizabeth Bennet quickly realises she has misjudged Mr Darcy. In Kent, she learns first impressions are not always accurate. His proposal is disastrous, insulting even, but when she reads his letter her heart begins to thaw, and her objections and prejudices start to melt away. Elizabeth decides to offer Mr Darcy a sliver of hope, an apology, and a second chance.

Yet when he begins to call at Gracechurch Street, determined to become a better man and humbled by Elizabeth’s reproofs, he unwittingly stirs the romantic hopes of another lady altogether.

Jane Bennet is bereft and confused, rejected by Charles Bingley. She is fearful of becoming an old maid and eager to fall in love with the very first gentleman who takes notice of her. Mr Darcy just happens to be everything her mother has wanted for her; rich and handsome, the perfect suitor.

Through crowded, industrious Cheapside, to the elegant ballrooms of Mayfair, Mr Darcy chases Elizabeth Bennet, unaware that the quiet unassuming girl who smiles too much, is fully intent on chasing him.

* * *

When We Are Married by Caitlin Williams - My Review

I have had the pleasure of having Caitlin Williams visit Babblings of a Bookworm previously, but I haven’t read either of her full-length novels yet (‘Ardently’ and ‘The Coming of Age of Elizabeth Bennet’). This is not due to any lack of desire to read them, as they have fantastic reviews, it’s purely down to my TBR mountain! I’ve only read a short story of hers, ‘Death of a Bachelor’ in ‘The Darcy Monologues’ and it was one of my favourite stories in an excellent anthology so I jumped at the chance to have a review copy for this blog tour.

‘When We Are Married’ explores a variation which is a new one on me. What if Elizabeth returns to Hunsford Parsonage, having read her explanatory letter from Mr Darcy, and she hasn’t missed his farewell visit? Here, aware of how unfairly she has misjudged him, Elizabeth takes the opportunity to apologise to him, which is reciprocated by Darcy. He says that he will call on Jane in town, which Elizabeth understands to mean that he will try and repair the breach he caused between Jane and Bingley. So, rather than part on bad terms in Kent, Darcy has hope and Elizabeth is frankly confused about what she wants, although she is not unwilling to see him again.

However, Darcy finds that the friend who was ‘so easily guided that his worth was invaluable’ has decided that this is the moment to be firm, and he refuses to accompany Darcy on his calls and renew his acquaintance with Jane.

‘Bingley laughed. “Darcy, you sought to protect me and now I have had time to consider. I see that you have been a most excellent friend to me in this respect.”

When Elizabeth reaches London she finds that Darcy has called on Jane, as promised, with the aim of making himself agreeable to Elizabeth’s beloved sister. However, his attentions have been received with quite a different spirit than intended. What if, instead of being the truly modest girl that canon Jane was, she believed Mrs Bennet’s view of her? That she was so beautiful that any man might want her. Coming up to the age of 23, Jane is getting close to being ‘on the shelf’. Having been let down by Mr Bingley, Jane has determined on finding herself an eligible husband... and Mr Darcy is extremely eligible! He seems very keen to call in Gracechurch Street too, which clearly shows Jane how he feels about her. He may not be somebody who Lizzy likes, but Jane can’t help but feel that he would make her a very suitable husband.  

‘For the first time in months, she felt alive, wanted, and admired.’

Sticky situation! A self-delusional Jane? This is an interesting idea for a variation and despite the sisters’ closeness Ms Williams gives plausible reasons for them not confiding their feelings to one another – one keeping her certainty of a new admirer a secret, and the other dealing with a change in feelings towards an individual and the following uncertainty of feeling. The version of Mr Darcy presented in this story is quite frankly adorable. He has a wonderful sense of humour:

“You will have to talk to me sometime. I am not garrulous. I have said more in the last five minutes that I did all of yesterday put together. I shall depend much on you for conversation, when we are married.”

Elizabeth’s head snapped around suddenly, her gaze met his, and he almost laughed as shock overcame her whole countenance, her eyes were impossibly wide, her mouth hung open.’

He has a wonderful way of teasing Elizabeth, and ‘when we are married’ becomes somewhat of a theme. I loved to see a romantic, teasing side to Darcy even as much as Elizabeth did!

“I need to go away to recover from the shock of finding you in masterful possession of a quality I had not previously ascribed to you.” 

“Dishonesty perhaps, or presumption?” 

“No sir, a well-developed wit.”

Obviously, with two sisters, as close as they are, both having feelings towards the same man, at some point there will be a collision of sorts. I am not in the habit of disliking Jane Bennet. Although in canon she is quite perfect, she is also quite likeable because she is so modest. Not so much here! Jane takes an interesting character journey in this book, one which I haven’t seen explored before and I’m not sure that I found all of that part of the story entirely likely, however, I was pleased to travel a different road, in the company of such a delicious rendition of Mr Darcy.  I found this to be a very enjoyable variation and one I would recommend. I would rate this as a five star read.

* * *

Buy Links

This book is available to buy now, on Amazon US, Amazon UK and elsewhere. It's available on Kindle Unlimited and you can also add it on Goodreads.

Author Biography

Caitlin Williams is the author of two novels, Ardently and the best-selling The Coming of Age of Elizabeth Bennet, both based on the characters from Pride and Prejudice. She’s a lifelong Austen devotee and lover of all things regency.

Originally from South London, Caitlin spent thirteen years as a detective in the Metropolitan Police, but is currently on a break from Scotland Yard so she can spend more time at home with her two children and write.

• Austen Variations • Twitter • Goodreads • Facebook •

Giveaway Time!

Caitlin is kindly giving away an ebook of 'When We Are Married' to a commenter here, open internationally. To enter, just leave a comment on this post by the end of the day on Tuesday 1 August, ensuring that you leave a way for me to contact you.

Thank you so much to Caitlin for the giveaway, and for Claudine of Just Jane 1813 for arranging this mini blog tour! Please visit the other stops on the tour, listed below.

Blog Tour Schedule

July 21 Austenesque Reviews / Guest Post Launch & Giveaway

July 22 Of Pens & Pages / Book Review & Giveaway

July 23 Just Jane 1813 / Book Review & Giveaway

July 24 More Agreeably Engaged /  Book Review & Giveaway

July 25 My Vices & Weaknesses / Excerpt Post & Giveaway

July 26 Babblings of a Bookworm / Book Review & Giveaway

July 27 From Pemberley to Milton / Book Review & Giveaway