Undoing

By: L.L. Diamond

Narrated by: Stevie Zimmerman

Seventeen-year-old Elizabeth Bennet always hoped to marry for love. That is, until she surrenders to her mother’s demands and marries the handsome Duke of Leeds.

Thrust into a society disinclined to accept the "country nobody" who entrapped one of their most sought-after bachelors, her marriage of convenience is nothing like she expected. Her husband confuses her, as he hides a scandalous secret he’s reluctant to share.

Fitzwilliam Darcy is a man torn. After meeting the Duchess of Leeds at a ball, he is fascinated by her intelligence and humor, but how does one maintain a respectable friendship with a lady - particularly when that lady is the wife of his cousin and godfather?

Yet, by spending time in her company, he loses more and more of his heart to a lady he is forbidden to possess. Tormented, his feelings must stay hidden from everyone, particularly Elizabeth.

How is he to keep himself under such strict regulation when he is constantly thrown into her company? How does one prevent their own undoing?

Note: contains scenes with adult content.

©2020 Leslie Broussard (P)2020 Leslie Broussard

great story

I enjoyed the story and the narrator always a pleasure. LL Diamond writes P&p variations so well. One of my favorite fan fiction writers

Great story, beautifully read

I couldn’t stop listening. This story is not a retelling of Austen’s original. It is unique, with some new and many familiar characters. I loved it.

Phenomenal, but maybe not for P&P purists

I consider myself a pride and prejudice. That being said, I have the ability to keep an open mind when certain characters are vastly, wildly different from canon. Some may not like this book because of the affair aspect. However, it is beautifully written and so lovingly told. I'm very happy I read this. I will wholeheartedly recommend it, especially if you're trying to dip your toe into a pride and prejudice variation that isn't so happy-go-lucky, but still full of love.

One of my favorites to listen

Spoilers included as it’s hard to review without a few. This story is out of Canon. Elizabeth marries young but her marriage is not consummated as her husband has a different lover. In this version Mr Darcy Sr is alive and cousin to Elizabeth’s husband. D & E become friends and through manipulation Elizabeth’s husband tricks Darcy into an affair with Elizabeth. This story runs the gauntlet for emotions. The way the story is written, and even more so excellently narrated by Stevie Zimmerman truly brings this to life. You can easily put yourself in Elizabeth’s shoes to understand why she did the things she did. It is a beautiful love story, but for some people it may be too graphic or they don’t like knowing that D&E have an affair. I did not see it being out of context or out of character for this story but displayed their love for each other. For those who are Bingley or Col F fans the version of them is different too but I liked the changes as it added to the story. This is a book that I can repeatedly relisten.

Fantastic. Wanted to start over again right away!

L.L. Diamond's writing continues to excel at bringing us beautiful stories that are unique and wonderfully well-written. She hasn't slowed down, she just gets better and better especially in her full length novels. Although HOW she continues to surpass herself after Rain and Retribution or Unwavering Trust, I don't know. All of her historical variations are favorite rereads and re-listens. But you should seek out her contemporaries too!

Undoing is a hard book to review without spoilers. The love story is quite warm so be warned if that is a problem. The difficulties that face our hero and heroine are heartbreaking. They are forced to admire each other from afar with no hope of ever sharing their love, keeping it to themselves and from each other at first. You will love Fitzwilliam Darcy's father George, who is alive in this version. Darcy's cousins switch places making Richard Fitzwilliams one of the bad guys and his older brother the Heir, the good guy and Darcy's backup man. I adored Jane in this story. This is one of the few times her 'only seeing the good' came in really handy on Elizabeth's behalf. I had a lump in my throat at Lizzy's fear of Jane learning the 'secrets' going on in her life. Then again, Jane really showed a remarkable backbone here too. I wanted so badly to turn Lydia over my knee and disable her from sitting down for about a week! And Mrs. Bennet. She is really portrayed at her worst in this story.

Some people thought the ending was anticlimactic. I was glad that last 'action scene' was over in a hurry, because I am so tired of kidnappings (none here) tortuous threats to our heroine (inferred but not happening in reality) or one of our beloved characters getting gravely wounded. But, if I were to ask for anything else it would've been a longer HEA. The epilogue was a 3 hankie gem. Highly recommended.