Cover: Lydia’s Gamble (A Pride & Prejudice Vignette) by Margaret Lynette Sharp
The author sent me an ARC of this book (HTML format) in exchange for an honest review.
My rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (4 stars)
Plot
(by Goodreads)
Elizabeth is astounded when she hears news from her closest friend, Charlotte Lucas – news concerning young Lydia Bennet and, indeed, the remainder of the Bennet girls. Whatever will Mr and Mrs Bennet say when the truth is finally revealed?
This is another captivating vignette by Australian author Margaret Lynette Sharp.
| Genre(s): | Fan Fiction Kindle eBooks > Literary Fiction > Historical Romantic Novels > in Romance |
| Series: | Pride & Prejudice Variation Vignette |
| Length: | 11 pages |
| Release date: | 2021-09-01 |
Teaser
“Dearest Lizzy,” Charlotte began as soon as the pair were out of the earshot of those left behind, “I hardly know whether to tell you this. I know you are troubled, already, by Jane’s malaise.”
Elizabeth’s brow wrinkled. “Pray enlighten me, dear Charlotte. For I simply must know whatever it is that you have on your mind.”
”’Tis the strangest thing – I have never heard the likes of it before.” Charlotte drew a breath.
My Opinion
As this book is a work of fan fiction, it takes you back to the places and characters of Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice”.
With “Lydia’s Gamble”, Margaret Lynette Sharp has created another nice piece of fan fiction. If you have read “Pride and Prejudice” or even watched the remarkable TV mini-series (1980), you recognize the world of Elizabeth Bennet. This vignette shows us a troubled Elizabeth; Elizabeth, whose warmth and intelligence made “Pride and Prejudice” special, learns of Lydia’s latest act. It is a short read, taking you back to the home of the Bennets and their troublesome youngest daughter Lydia. Margaret Lynette Sharp again took up the hard challenge of writing fan fiction on a classic by Jane Austen, aptly enhancing the story without changing the characters’ ways. If you loved Pride and Prejudice, you will appreciate the additional stories this courageous author has to offer.
“Lydia’s Gamble” is a typical Bennet story, a lovely – and worthy – enhancement of Elizabeth and her family’s story.
This is a book for you if you like “Pride and Prejudice”, fan fiction, classic reads, classic reads’ aptly written fan fiction, and short instalments.
In brief:
| Cover | ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (4 stars) |
| Writing | ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (4 stars) |
| Plot | ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (4 stars) |
| Characters | ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (4 stars) |
| Mood | Hopeful, nostalgic |
| Pace | Steady |
| POV | Third person – past tense |
| Language |  (decent, no swearwords) |
| Violence | (none) |
| Sexual content | (none) |
About the author
My name is Margaret Lynette Sharp, and I’m the wife of the creator of the Grand Organ in the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House, Ronald Sharp B.E.M. I’m proud to say that I’ve won two literary awards – one each at the 2014 and 2015 Short Story Writing Competition held as part of the Hurstville (in suburban Sydney, Australia) Discovery Festival of Community Arts.
These stories have been published in prizewinners’ anthologies, ‘Write Out Loud’ and ‘The Art of Writing’.
My first venture into Jane Austen fan fiction resulted in the best-selling ‘Longbourn Revisited’.
Next came the well-reviewed title, ‘An Encounter at Longbourn’, followed by ‘A Party at Longbourn’, ‘And from Longbourn, A Wedding Comes,’ and ‘Much Ado at Longbourn’. Recently, these five stories were combined, forming the novel-length ‘From Longbourn, With Love’. To date, I have forty published eBooks, and some of these are also available as paperbacks.
I grew up in an inner city suburb of Sydney, moving to a pleasant, tree-filled outer suburb at the age of ten. Ron and I currently live in this same house, a small Federation brick and tile home.
I’m thankful that we live near a river that has a large, netted swimming baths. I love to swim, and I’ve been a member of the local swimming club for well over thirty years. Our little white rescue dog, Chicki, comes with me and waits patiently while I enjoy the water. Afterwards comes her reward – a walk beside the river, and a chance to play on a little, sandy beach. Who knows what doggy friends she’ll find there…
Connect with the author:
Please take a look at my statement on reading in My train of thoughts on …reading. Now I am asking you. 🙂
My questions for you bibliophiles:
What about you? What did you think about “Lydia’s Gamble“? Or – if you did not yet read “Lydia’s Gamble” – are you now interested in reading it yourself?
I am looking forward to reading your comments. 🙂
My train of thoughts on... 