Loving Miss Tilney

A Variation of Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey

By: Heather Moll

Narrated by: Stevie Zimmerman

She’s forbidden to wed a nobody. He’s nothing in society’s eyes. Will their desperate schemes backfire before they find a way to be together?

Northanger Abbey.

Eleanor Tilney can’t bear her lonely life any longer. Distraught when her tyrannical father throws her friend out of the house because the girl lacks an inheritance, the long-suffering general’s daughter decides anything is better than a future all alone. So in a frantic bid for freedom, she puts aside her tender feelings for a man of no standing to pursue a wealthy husband.

Philip Brampton understands that fortune is against him. And he tries gallantly to bury his distress and support his lonely beloved, even after she starts pursuing an arrogant buffoon. But when he catches the fellow about to kiss her, their resulting harsh words cause a heartbreaking rift.

Stiffening her spine in a world that refuses to acknowledge her value, Eleanor attempts to navigate the impossible situation without quashing her desires. And though his shy nature abhors a scene, Philip braces himself for a confrontation with her cruel and abusive patriarch. Do these childhood sweethearts have any hope of achieving lasting happiness?

©2023 Heather Moll (P)2023 Heather Moll

A Northanger Abbey Variation

Stevie Zimmerman skillfully brings Heather Moll’s creative story about Eleanor Tilney’s friendship and forbidden romance with Philip Brampton to life. Her performance of the father tyrant, General Tilney, was perfection. The audiobook beautifully portrays Eleanor and Philip’s struggles, as Eleanor seeks independence and makes difficult choices that break both their hearts. This book is a captivating variation of Northanger Abbey. The excellent narration and well-written story make it a highly recommended listen, offering a refreshing diversion from the typical Pride and Prejudice variations.

Heartbreaking wonderful story.

It’s Heather Moll, I expect the best. And we got the best. I absolutely loved this heartbreaking triumphant story.

When I first read this I was at one point waiting for a Dr’s appointment and started tearing up, which made me put it down and join the real world really fast. Oh my goodness. Three quarters of the book or more is crushing and shocking sadness with the public and private humiliation of Eleanor Tilney by her father General Tilney. You won’t believe the narrator is who she is (our favorite,) when you hear him shouting her name. I can tell you I wouldn’t have had Eleanor’s bravery.

The frought love story between Eleanor and Phillip was such a yearning and frustrating experience. Her decision to escape the Abbey at the only honorable way she knew, by marriage was frankly rather scary at worst and painful at best.

There is a moment of Eleanor’s ‘last straw,’ that was risky and very unsure, but I applauded her. You’ll love what happened afterwards when she was rescued by Phillip.

No more surprises in this review now. You will see for yourself what a great story this is. Highly recommended for JAFF readers. Highly recommended for Regency Romance readers who like a somewhat Gothic feel to their stories. Very satisfying.

Excellent narration of disappointing story

First of all, Stevie Zimmerman's performance was excellent, as always. As for the story. while most secondary Austen characters have very little backstory in canon, my impression from Northanger Abbey was that Eleanor and her beau had great integrity and high principles, so the gratuitous content and somewhat explicit scenes of anticipating their vows took me by surprise. Additionally, I felt little sympathy for Eleanor overall. Yes, her father was a tyrant of the first order; however, looking for another man to be her husband (regardless of love) under the gaze of the man she did love seemed more than cruel. I'm not sure what other options might have been available to Eleanor--seems like very few, but I'm not a fan of selfishness in any H/h. Without question, I hope to see good behavior rewarded with an HEA. Eleanor wasn't the heroine I wanted to cheer for. Although I have several of the author's earlier books, this is the second book that surprised me with gratuitous scenes, Perhaps she is shifting to that type of content, but I will not be reading or listening to more of her books to find out.