Audio: Dangerous to know Anthology

"One has all the goodness, and the other all the appearance of it." —Jane Austen

Jane Austen’s masterpieces are littered with unsuitable gentlemen—Willoughby, Wickham, Churchill, Crawford, Tilney, Elliot, et al.—adding color and depth to her plots but often barely sketched. Have you never wondered about the pasts of her rakes, rattles, and gentlemen rogues? Surely, there's more than one side to their stories. 

It is a universal truth, we are captivated by smoldering looks, daring charms ... a happy-go-lucky, cool confidence. All the while, our loyal confidants are shouting on deaf ears, “He is a cad—a brute—all wrong!” But is that not how tender hearts are broken...by loving the undeserving? How did they become the men Jane Austen created?

In this romance anthology, eleven Austenesque authors expose the histories of Austen’s anti-heroes. "Dangerous to Know: Jane Austen’s Rakes & Gentlemen Rogues" is a titillating collection of Georgian era short stories—a backstory or parallel tale off-stage of canon—whilst remaining steadfast to the characters we recognize in Austen’s great works.

Audible Audio, 14 h
Published April 24th 2018 by The Quill Ink
Jane Austen variations
For review

My thoughts

And here come the tales of all those rakes and rogues you find in Austen. Some that I like, some that I detest and some that are fun to hate. 

“Willoughby’s Crossroads” (John Willoughby, Sense and Sensibility) by Joana Starnes

Oh Willoughby, I so saw you there and then you went and made a mess of things. It is a look at what happened before he ever met Marianne, and the choices he made.

 “A Wicked Game” (George Wickham, Pride and Prejudice) by Katie Oliver

I actually liked Wickham! He was just a young fool, who later in life made so many mistakes. Poor guy. And then he married Lydia in the end, I mean poor guy will pay for that his entire life. 

 “Fitzwilliam’s Folly” (Colonel Fitzwilliam, Pride and Prejudice) by Beau North; 

Fitzwilliam has a bit of a rep with the ladies, but he is an honorable rake, and here he meets his match

“The Address of a Frenchwoman” (Thomas Bertram, Mansfield Park) by Lona Manning;

MP is the one I have seen the least, or read. I really can not recall anything of Thomas, but I liked how he was here and how he fell in love.

 “Last Letter to Mansfield” (Henry Crawford, Mansfield Park) by Brooke West;

Oh Henry, you dug your own grave. I still liked him

 “An Honest Man” (Frank Churchill, Emma) by Karen M Cox; 

Nope, I will never like Frank. It was not a good thing he did, and here we see how he and Jane fell in love, or lust.

“One Fair Claim” (Sir Walter Elliot, Persuasion) by Christina Morland; 

Oh he was such a pompous fool!

“The Lost Chapter in the Life of William Elliot” (William Elliot, Persuasion) by Jenetta James;

I found myself liking him as he fell in love and I felt sorry for him

 “As Much as He Can” (General Tilney, Northanger Abbey) by Sophia Rose;

Yes, NA is another one that I do not know that well, but I take it from this that the General was not a good guy ;) But here, awww, I get man, I get it

 “The Art of Sinking” (John Thorpe, Northanger Abbey) by J. Marie Croft; 

Well this guy is just an idiot. Interesting to hear about, but what a rogue! You had it coming

“For Mischief’s Sake” (Captain Frederick Tilney, Northanger Abbey) by Amy D’Orazio

.THis even had me snorting. At first I was not sure what to make of him, but I guess I get it in a way, and then when he finds love. All is forgiven.

Conclusion:
All these rakes and rogues. Some I can not forgive, some are shown in such a good new light here, that I am inclined to forgive them. But they are all interesting to hear about. What made them into rakes and how it shaped their lives.

Narrator Andre Refig

I like his rake voice ;) They sound so very snobbish at times (in a good way) cos it is just so fitting.

Audio: The Darcy Monologues

“You must allow me to tell you...”

For over two hundred years, Jane Austen’s Mr. Darcy has captivated readers’ imaginations as the ultimate catch. Rich. Powerful. Noble. Handsome. And yet, as Miss Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” is established through Elizabeth Bennet’s fine eyes, how are we to know what his tortured soul is indeed thinking? How does Darcy progress from “She is tolerable: but not handsome enough to tempt me” to “I thought only of you”? 

In this romance anthology, fifteen Austen-inspired authors assemble to sketch Darcy’s character through a series of re-imaginings set in the Regency through contemporary times—from faithful narratives to the fanciful. Herein “The Darcy Monologues”, the man himself reveals his intimate thoughts, his passionate dreams, and his journey to love—all told with a previously concealed wit and enduring charm. 

Stories by: Susan Adriani * Sara Angelini * Karen M Cox * J. Marie Croft * Jan Hahn * Jenetta James * Lory Lilian * KaraLynne Mackrory * Beau North * Ruth Phillips Oakland * Natalie Richards * Sophia Rose * Melanie Stanford * Joana Starnes * Caitlin Williams 

Audiobook, 14 h
Published (first published November 7th 2017)
For review
Pride and Prejudice variation

My thoughts:

Audio short stories set in different eras :)

‘Death of a Bachelor’ by Caitlin Williams 

Darcy's thoughts the month before his wedding and after the wedding. A sweet story.

From the Ashes' by J Marie Croft

Darcy as I have not seen him before when he is trying to write THE letter to Lizzy. He was funny

If Only a Dream’ by Joana Starnes 

Oh Darcy, you are such a fool, but being a fool brings him closer to Lizzy at Rosings. So it all works out. I like these sides of him.

‘Clandestiny’ by Karalynne Mackrory

Netherfield Park, the Ball. See what things you can accomplish by talking!

‘The Beast of Pemberley’ by Melanie Stanford 

A Beauty and the beast re-telling :D Fun! Even if Lizzy could have been nicer. I mean Darcy was so sweet.

‘A Resentful Man’ Lory Lilian

I am not the biggest fan of stories which are just through another POV, but it made it up for it at the end cos he was so dang sweet

‘In Terms of Perfect Composure’ by Susan Adriani 

Here they did not get together when Bingley proposed so everything is still unsure and Darcy makes friends with the Gardiners

‘Without Affection’ by Jan Hahn

Darcy looks back at their life together and a few bumps in the road. All cos of him, men are silly.

‘Hot for Teacher’ by Sara Angelini

Present day, everyone are teachers. Darcy was even more proud than usual

“You Don’t Know Me” by Beau North

I think my least fav, as I do not really care for the modern day (fine 60s) variations, and this was not even a variation. It was just people with their names.

‘Reason to Hope’ by Jenetta James 

This "Modern" day ones sure do not follow the story. Just the names. Darcy meets Lizzy during the war. Though no war action.'

Pemberley by Stage’ by Natalie Richards 

1860s, bandits, Darcy to the rescue. Again, no story, just names. WIckham was evil as alwayas, but I did feel sorry for him too.

‘Darcy Strikes Out’ by Sophia Rose

Present day (present day just works so much better than the in betweens because here they are free. I want free or you know 1800s.)

Anyway, it takes place after "lambton" and it worked really well. Could even been its own story without the PP stuff.

‘The Ride Home’ by Ruth Phillips Oakland

This one was short and took place in a car but it was fun and Lizzy was drunk. It was amusing.

‘I, Darcy’ by Karen M Cox

I have come to realise that Lizzy really tends to be an idiot, yes I get that is the whole point with prejudiced bur Lizzy come on! Tsk.

Modern day, not anything from the story except names.

All in all fun stories! I am a classic which means I prefer it to take place around when it should take place. I like the era and how polite everyone has to be. Or not be.

But some modern ones were really fun too cos it changes thing. Oh you know, one does not have to be all proper ;)

ANd even you non pp peeps can enjoy these

Narrator Harry Frost

He did well and I forgot that I listened to a bunch of stories cos it worked so well (