Unfounded

A Pride and Prejudice Variation

By: Jessie Lewis

Narrated by: Elizabeth Grace

Nobody was fortunate enough to be loved in such a way twice in one lifetime.

Elizabeth Bennet dreads encountering Mr. Darcy when she visits Pemberley, for surely, after she spurned his offer of marriage, he must despise her. Yet they do meet, and to her astonishment, he holds no resentment towards her. Regrettably, someone else does. Unbeknownst to Elizabeth, her reintroduction to the master of Pemberley is far from universally welcomed. There are others for whom prejudice is stirred up by the familiarity between Miss Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy.

Darcy is amazed to find Miss Bennet at his house, her opinion of him altered materially for the better. He is busy making plans to renew his attentions to her when other impediments arise that threaten to undermine his hopes of happiness. Will problems with house and household crumble the tender foundation between them before they can build a life together?

Unfounded is a second chance romance at Pemberley and is a novel-length Pride and Prejudice variation.

©2023 Jessie Lewis (P)2023 Quills & Quartos Publishing

Fantastic

Jessie Lewis is a great writer who does a fine job of creating new stories while remaining true to the original characters. This good book was transformed into great with the narration of Elizabeth Grace. She is fantastic and I hope she will read more JAFF works.

A new favourite P&P variation

Jessie Lewis has done it again! This flawless, heartbreakingly beautiful variation is everything I love about this genre. This variation is so much about loyalty and history and love. Darcy’s love for Elizabeth and Pemberley and his family’s legacy. Mrs Reynolds love for her master and her lifelong loyalty to Pemberley. Elizabeth’s amazing patience, understanding and healing love. Jessie has this amazing skill of writing incredibly painful angsty stories with such an element of humour that you can’t help but have a little chuckle whilst persevering for her to give you the romance and happy ever after you know will come. This was beautifully narrated by Elizabeth Grace who has the most amazing Darcy voice, such a great choice for this story. This audiobook will be a frequent relisten and is a favourite this year!

Pride and Misconceptions at Pemberley

Loved this book! Jessie Lewis is a favorite writer and Elizabeth Grace a favorite narrator. What's not to love!

This takes place almost entirely at Pemberley during a a time when this beautiful manor faces possible destruction. Darcy questions the hopeful possibility of a loving relationship with Lizzy when he needs hope the most. In a questionable but honest way others conspire against their relationship. Mrs. Renyolds plays a significant role, among others.

What I loved most about this book is the freshness of the plot, and the impressive complexity of the plot. It is one of the most unique variations I have read. Jessie Lewis uses one word titles for her books and it is always fun to dissect the book and match it to the title. And Elizabeth Grace's narration is as fabulous as always.

This is an all-time top JAFF for me.

This is an all-time top JAFF for me. Will listen repeatedly. Excellent narration though the recording is muddy at times. Psychologically acute with excellent dialogue and details of a Regency household. The focus on Mrs Reynolds is unique and emotionally powerful.

Second chances, unexpected betrayals and a love that rebuilds!

Always a lover of all things Austenesque, I was excited to get a copy of the audiobook of Unfounded by Jessie Lewis. I have read some of her other Pride & Prejudice variations and had always enjoyed them. I was particularly intrigued by the possibility of the unique take that Lewis promised from the classic story, as Darcy and Elizabeth face a whole set of challenges that would have even surprised Austen herself.

In Unfounded, we begin our story during the fateful second chance meeting of Darcy and Elizabeth at Pemberley when she is visiting Derbyshire with her Gardiner relations. For anyone who has ever wished that Darcy and Elizabeth had more of an opportunity during this meeting to come to appreciate their improved understanding of one another beyond their past prejudices, Unfounded is the story for you. It was such a joy to watch the moments of forgiveness, sweet admiration and not so subtle flirtation and passion that Lewis brings to life between Darcy and Elizabeth during this time.

As Darcy struggles with a threat to the very physical foundation of his ancestral home, he finds comfort and strength from having the woman he has never stopped loving at Pemberley with him. Unfortunately, unbeknownst to either Darcy or Elizabeth, a betrayal from the most unlikely of places threatens to undermine the tenuous reconnection that our couple has started to build. With forces working to pull Darcy and Elizabeth apart against the backdrop of Lydia and Wickam's unexpected wedding, readers are taken on a whirlwind of emotions as the couple works to find their way back to each other.

At learning at how close the source of the betrayal is that lead to Elizabeth leaving Pemberley, Darcy's world is shaken once again. Lewis lends rich poignancy and depth to the incredible amount of responsibility and stewardship that Darcy feels towards his family's legacy and ancestral home. It was beautiful to watch Darcy refuse to give up on what he knows he wants with Elizabeth and to see how her emotional support and love lend him the strength to take on the most difficult challenge facing Pemberley since its establishment. In the end, it's through Elizabeth's tenacity and encouragement that Darcy is able to heal the pain of a lost connection, make peace and to face their future with renewed optimism and hope.

I listened to this in audiobook, which was narrated by the incredibly talented Elizabeth Grace. Grace is one of my favorites in the Austen space, particularly when it comes to capturing the various layers of our favorite brooding hero. Once again, Grace delivers a wonderful performance in Unfounded and adds another level of entertainment to this fantastic story.

If you are looking for a Pride and Prejudice variation that has wonderful emotional richness, character dynamics that are complex and entertaining and a story that makes you fall in love all over again with how this incredible couple epitomizes true and unconditional devotion, then definitely take a read (or a listen) to Jessie Lewis' Unfounded!