Kindle Unlimited
Unlimited reading. Over 4 million titles. Learn more
Read for Free
OR
Kindle Price: $5.99

Save $9.25 (61%)

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions

Buy for others

Give as a gift or purchase for a team or group.
Learn more

Buying and sending eBooks to others

  1. Select quantity
  2. Buy and send eBooks
  3. Recipients can read on any device

These ebooks can only be redeemed by recipients in the US. Redemption links and eBooks cannot be resold.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs

Follow the author

J Dawn King
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

A Father's Sins: A Pride and Prejudice Variation (The Misadventures of Darcy & Elizabeth) Kindle Edition

by J Dawn King (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
See all formats and editions
NEW COVER: February 2023

"The sins of the fathers are to be laid upon the children." Shakespeare - Merchant of Venice

How do Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet overcome the consequences of poor decisions made by their fathers while they were young?

Mr. George Darcy, loved his eldest, illegitimate son, George Wickham, and indulged him by bringing him to Pemberley to live after the death of his wife. His heir, Fitzwilliam Darcy, paid a heavy price for this decision.

Mr. Thomas Bennet, at the persistent urging of his wife, chose not to have his youngest children, including his only son, vaccinated for smallpox. When the plague hit Longbourn it devastated their family. his second child, Elizabeth, paid the heaviest price for this decision of her father.

Will Mr. Darcy and Miss Elizabeth be able to overcome the consequences of their father's choices? When outside forces impact their growing attraction, can they forge a future for themselves? Will their love have a chance?

This Regency variation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is a page-turner where our hero and heroine overcome monumental odds to achieve their happily-ever-after.
Previous page
  1. Part of series
    The Misadventures of Darcy & Elizabeth
  2. Print length
    242 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    March 21, 2014
  6. Reading age
    13 - 18 years
  7. File size
    738 KB
  8. Page Flip
    Enabled
  9. Word Wise
    Enabled
  10. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  11. See all details
Next page
Next 2 for you in this series See full series
Total Price: $11.98
By clicking on the above button, you agree to Amazon's Kindle Store Terms of Use
More like A Father's Sins: A Pride and Prejudice Variation (The Misadventures of Darcy & Elizabeth)
Page 1 of 1Start overPage 1 of 1
Previous page
  11. Reverie & Rancour: A Pride & Prejudice Vagary
    Kindle Edition
    Just released
    $3.99
  26. Mr Darcy's Scandal: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
    Kindle Edition
    Just released
    $3.99
  28. Rain and Retribution
    Kindle Edition
    $5.99
Next page
Loading...

Editorial Reviews

Review

Review Rating: 5 Stars! A Father's Sins: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by J Dawn King is an alternate version of Jane Austen's beloved classic Pride and Prejudice. A Father's Sins immediately takes a turn from the original novel when three of the younger Bennet sisters as well as the heir succumb to smallpox. As young Elizabeth was the one in charge of their care when the siblings passed, Mr. Bennet, in his grief, places illogical blame on his daughter, disowning her and kicking her out of the house. Taken in by the Gardiners she becomes a more independent, modern and well traveled woman with a deep interest in nursing.
It is an interest that comes in handy when she's called back to Hertfordshire because her older sister Jane had taken ill at Netherfield Park. There Elizabeth meets Mr. Darcy and the rest, as they say, is history.

I've read Pride and Prejudice as well as read and seen many variations in books and film and I found myself enjoying A Father's Sins very much. I found it interesting how King used both the Bennet and Darcy fathers as the catalyst to change the story especially since in the original novel Elizabeth and Mr. Bennet were very close.

Also in A Father's Sins the Darcy's are more open about their past and their connection to a certain villain which greatly diminishes and pride or prejudice that might crop up and take away from Elizabeth and Darcy coming together and falling in love, something that's guaranteed to send any Austen fan's heart aflutter. - Reviewed By Kayti Nika Raet for Readers' Favorite

About the Author

First time author Joy Dawn King fell in love with Jane Austen's writings two years ago and discovered the world of fan fiction shortly after. Intrigued with the many possibilities, she began developing her own story for Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet. Living high in the Andes Mountains of South America, Joy loves to take an occasional break from the Latin culture and bury herself in reading English literature about her favorite English characters. Joy, and her husband of 34 years, live next door to their only child, Jennifer, her husband, and twin grandchildren and is a native Oregonian. The author is currently writing about Mr. Bingley's and Jane Bennet's struggles with happily ever after and will follow with the tale of what happens when Colonel Fitzwilliam immediately falls in love with Constance Wickham, who hates him bitterly.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00J6CO2HK
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Quiet Mountain Press (March 21, 2014)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 21, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 738 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 242 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1496129180
  • Customer Reviews:

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
J Dawn King

J Dawn King

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Joy Dawn King, who also writes Mr. Darcy/Elizabeth stories as Christie Capps, fell in love with Jane Austen's writings in 2012 and discovered the world of fan fiction shortly after. Intrigued by the many possibilities, she began developing her own story for Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet.

At the time she wrote her first novel, "A Father's Sins", she was living high in the Andes Mountains of South America. Joy loved to take an occasional break from the Latin culture and bury herself in reading English literature about her favorite English characters. Joy, and her husband of 37 years, lived next door to their only child, Jennifer, her husband, and twin grandchildren and is a native Oregonian.

In late 2014 the Kings relocated to Oregon where other stories popped into her head. She is typing as fast as she can to keep up.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
646 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

K. Pease
5.0 out of 5 stars I spent the whole of the day lost within it...
Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2022
Verified Purchase
I could not believe the start of this novel and was shocked into the second part, which provided enough of a balm that I could not help but be caught! I loved that this book was so new and unexpected in many ways while holding some characters to their exact traits and turning others most enjoyably! I spent the whole of the day lost within it and cannot repine the doing so! Another great read from an amazing author~
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
S. L. Majczan
4.0 out of 5 stars Lessons learned by cruel and unfair treatment
Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2014
Verified Purchase
Having read all the other reviews I am only going to add additional comments. Others have explained the plot, the reason for the title, the change in several main characters, (some drastic), and the author's use of the third person POV to explain events and thoughts.

I must say that the POV was probably a little of the reason for 4 stars. I much prefer to be inside our characters' heads and hear what they are thinking. For me this adds to the angst and, at times, to the sexual tension. The creative variation here was evocative. One has to think that these two characters, in becoming such rational, caring and fair people had to have been blessed at birth with the best personalities (or born under the right stars) to take the treatment they received at the hands of their fathers and to then be able to sort through and set aside the parts of that role model, which tended towards cruelty and downright unjust actions towards their own. The meeting of ODC five years before the main events was an attractive part of the tale. (I have read such in Memory by Linda Wells.) But in viewing Elizabeth's personality at age 15, certain traits stand out and remain in Darcy's memory when he meets her again. Yes, I found believable that an intelligent person could resolve to find out everything they could about medication and treatment to help prevent what happened in the beginning of our story. Elizabeth was VERY independent even before smallpox hit but that event and its consequences set resolve into action when she was exposed to customs in other lands while traveling. (I did question how the Gardiners could afford five people traveling all over the world...minor point.)

The relationship between our dear couple did develop quickly but then, some do believe in "Love at First Sight" and, even though this was not at first sight, it did come close to being so. There were none of the misunderstandings or misspoken words prevalent in the canon. Darcy does flub his "proposal" but for entirely different (and understandable) reasons than in P&P.

I did love how Elizabeth was able to win so many male and female supporters and how they would all stand behind her or between her and trouble, etc. And I liked when the gentlemen all galloped off to find her, after she left Netherfield in secret.

The characters we love to hate were handled with firm resolve or drastic fates, but that, too, was satisfactory. Alas, poor Jane - did she ever come to understand the other side of the story?

I found this book to be a page-turner and it was only firm resolve that sent me to bed at anywhere near a reasonable hour.
6 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Amazon Customer
3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting twist
Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2014
Verified Purchase
This was an angle that I had not read before in the dozens of P&P sequels I have read over the years--Mr. Bennett blames a 15 year old Lizzy for the deaths of most of her family during a plague and disowns her! And Darcy has almost an equally bad experience with his father. Although there were some gaps in the narrative, and some grammar issues, I found it a good read, and would recommend this for the ardent P&P fan.
3 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Amanda S.
5.0 out of 5 stars A big treat just waiting for you !
Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2024
Verified Purchase
If J Dawn King wrote it, don't bother with a review: get cozy, go to the beginning, and submit to the joy of a Wells told tale. There is only one character that doesn't get a proper comeuppance.
Helpful
 Report
JKom
4.0 out of 5 stars Turning the original upside-down in an interesting plot
Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2020
Verified Purchase
The prologue sets an unusual imagining of E & D meeting when E is only 14 and D is 21. He finds her a delightful young girl, but although he remembers her he doesn't think of her romantically as she was hardly more than a child. In a tragic set of circumstances, E is disowned and goes to live with the Gardiners.

Her uncle and his family take her along on a business trip that lasts for (apparently) 3-4 yrs. Whether this is long enough to have stopped in so many ports as they did, including a sojourn in India, I have no idea. Certainly ocean travel took weeks and months, in an age of sailing ships**. It could easily take 4-6 months to reach India. Realistic timeline or not, it does make sense that E would become interested in herb remedies and basic wound treatments; such knowledge was only practical if making long journeys to countries where English speakers were relatively rare.

When E is summoned unexpectedly back to Longbourn after a five-year exile, she is shocked to hear her father intends her to wed Mr. Collins. Mr. Bennet is a radically different character in this book; he is more of a villain than even Wickham. His character is exaggerated into not merely selfishness, but greedy and verbally vicious. He has no redeeming characteristics and his redemption feels like a false step by the author. It's a little too convenient for such a complete about-face.

The Matlocks meet E and find her delightful. They assist D, the Colonel and the Gardiners in thwarting both Lady Catherine and Mr. Bennet, which allows the HEA wedding to take place despite E being still underage.

A minor mystery which pops into the story unexpectedly, is cleared up and E is finally reconciled, at least superficially, with her parents and Jane. In this story, the HEA romance of Jane and Bingley does not occur. Jane is rewritten as not just sweet and "see no evil", but utterly passive and docile to the unreasonable demands of her parents, preferring "peace at any cost".

** It should be noted despite some reviewers saying the Gardiners probably had the connections to "travel first class", the reality is that meant a small, often noisome cabin with tiny bunks. ALL ships were freight & trade goods carriers; passengers were secondary. There were no dedicated passenger-only sailing ships in the first half of the 19th century. Sailing boats were not the fast "Clipper" boats, which did not come into wide usage until the late 1840s. Steamship travel was also experimental at the time, as the story points out. The first Atlantic crossing from Europe that went to Surinam (South America) using mostly steam power did not happen until 1837, well after the events in P&P.
8 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Cassie Ripley
5.0 out of 5 stars I loved it!
Reviewed in Canada on August 10, 2023
Verified Purchase
Such a riveting tale. I couldn’t put it down. I got so engrossed in the story that I actually felt like I was apart of the story. I also love the TV series and movies as well.
Report
Judy Coldwell
5.0 out of 5 stars Great story
Reviewed in France on January 24, 2024
Verified Purchase
This rattles along at a fast pace, you promise yourself you’ll read to the end of the chapter and before you know it you’re half way through the next. Just how I like it. The goodies are really good, the baddies are disgusting as always …. what are baddies for if not to give you a chance to hiss and boo. Mr B is vile, Mrs B only appears briefly thank goodness and Jane is as dull as ditchwater, my family would probably have said about her “the lights are on but nobody is in”.
I loved it, definitely one to be re-read several times.
Report
Mohamad
5.0 out of 5 stars Good book
Reviewed in India on May 30, 2019
Verified Purchase
Good book.
Report
Sophie
5.0 out of 5 stars A very unique, different and enjoyable variation!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 6, 2014
Verified Purchase
I was very pleased when I was asked if I would review A Father's Sins for the lovely Joy King.(I was provided with a review copy but this is my honest, unbiased opinion.) And I was not disappointed as I really, really enjoyed this book! It was perhaps a more serious variation than I usually would choose, however it was very unique and a very interesting idea to explore.

I found the writing in this book to be very good, especially being this author's debut novel. The language seemed appropriate and it flowed well as I read. There was a good balance between dialogue and passages of internal thoughts or description as well.

As I said, the story and theme of the book - how a father's bad choices or actions can affect the children and even the grandchildren - was quite serious and very sad at times because of seeing the effects on the children, most prominently on Elizabeth and Darcy. It was a really interesting route to explore and very cleverly done, I felt. As well as Elizabeth and Darcy, there are other characters that have been affected by the decisions of their fathers and the theme really was masterfully weaved through the story. What was also interesting was that to begin with, the story happens very much in canon to the original - Jane falling ill at Netherfield, Mr Collins coming to visit etc - but Lizzy is in a very different situation!

As well as the serious side to this tale, it was also very drama filled and fast moving! Joy certainly knows how to capture the reader’s attention from the very start! I was hooked into this story from very early on and it stayed that way until the end! It was very powerful and intense at times, but completely compelling and captivating - it resulted in a late night as I just had to race to the end to see how it would resolve!

As well as the drama and the sadness caused by the seriousness of the story, there is also some humour which lightens the mood, so don't worry that this is a story with no laughs - I certainly laughed quite a bit! And of course, unsurprisingly, there is a lovely, romantic and satisfying happy ending!

Both Elizabeth and Darcy are very much characters to be admired in this story, particularly Elizabeth, after what they have been through as a result of their fathers. Beginning with Darcy; Wickham actually is his half-brother in this variation and Wickham is the favoured son. And Darcy pays heavily for this favouritism, and subsequent bitterness from Wickham when he doesn’t receive what he believes is his due, being the eldest son.

We see a different Darcy in this story, thanks to a brief meeting between him and Elizabeth quite a few years before the rest of the story is set. They happen to meet each other in a book shop, and both are impressed by the other. When they meet again years later, thanks to the much more favourable first impression from all those years ago, they get on much better! Darcy is charming and polite to Elizabeth from the off, and we also get to see his brotherly nature and love of his sister much sooner which again is lovely.

Let alone the difficulties of the past, Darcy has a hard time of it through this story; due to an incident, which I shall not give away the details of, Darcy ends up injured for quite a bit of this book. Things change when illness occurs and we see a new side to Darcy. As well as some fun, fever induced conversations, we get to see a rather vulnerable Darcy. And who doesn’t like a Darcy who needs to be taken care of for a while? (I would have loved to be Elizabeth caring for him!) We get to see his true nature much faster – for it is rather hard to keep up the ‘master of Pemberley’ act while in a fever!

As I said, Elizabeth really is one to admire in this story. Her problems with her father and her past are really shocking and you can’t help but feel sorry for her. However, she still is recognisable as the Elizabeth we know and love as she takes her misfortunes and tries to make the most of them and enjoy her life regardless of the past. She has such a strong and determined spirit. We see her caring side as she nurses Darcy through his illness, her comforting side as she helps Georgiana to cope with all that is happening and her powerful side as she deals with some challenging situations and confrontations.

Due to the similar situations regarding problems with their fathers, I think the fact that Darcy and Elizabeth get off to a much better start and have a good relationship from the beginning is perfect. Through all the problems facing them from other people, they at least don’t have problems with one and other, and instead have each other to turn to and find comfort. There is no previous pride or prejudice getting in the way and they are open with each other. Elizabeth is so caring of Darcy when he is ill, and they really become close during this time. I really loved them in this story and the way their relationship develops in the different and most unusual circumstances.

Aside from Darcy and Elizabeth, my other favourite character in this story was Georgiana. As I said earlier, she is in the story from the very beginning so we really get to know her and she is lovely! I love the journey she has through this story; she grows and matures and flourishes thanks to the friendship of Elizabeth. You see an interesting side to Georgiana as well, again due to Darcy’s illness, watching her trying to cope and deal with what is happening.

Elizabeth and Georgiana really get on well in this story. I always think Georgiana and Elizabeth would be great friends, and so it is lovely to see them spend so much time together in this tale. Elizabeth is a real comfort and a wonderful role model for Georgiana and she really helps to bring her out of shell and to mature into a strong young woman. As well as Elizabeth and Georgiana, when Darcy is with these two as well the scenes are just wonderful. The three of them complement each other perfectly and have such a brilliant relationship. They all, in turn, comfort each other through a variety of trying situations.

Now to a less pleasant subject... Mr Bennet. As you can see from the blurb, the fathers in this story are not nice, and I am afraid the Mr Bennet we know and many of us love is a monster in this story. He is very different and be prepared to not like him, at all. But do not fear – he is very easy to separate from the Mr Bennet we know and love in Pride and Prejudice! Mrs Bennet is also not much better, and even Jane is slightly changed as a result of the influence of her father and being away from Lizzy for 5 years. But, this is a variation and changes are to be expected, and I did enjoy these changes and this new and unique twist on the Bennet family as a change. It is not all bad for Elizabeth; while Lizzy’s own family is not kind to her, the Gardiners are very sweet and caring to her throughout!

Where would we be without Wickham causing trouble? He causes plenty of problems and grief for poor Darcy in this story! He is a real menace and because of the twist with his connection to the Darcy family, you will hate him even more and feel even sorrier for Darcy - I did anyway! (Although I will also admit that I did actually feel a little sorry for Wickham at times - but only slightly!)

Who could forget the Bingleys! Mr Bingley is just as sweet and affable and Caroline is just as jealous and determined to become the Mistress of Pemberley as ever. Bingley really grows from a slightly naïve young man into a mature gentleman through this story and it was nice to see this development. (I can't wait for his own story which Joy is currently working on!) Caroline, on the other hand, is still a pain but she gets her comeuppance which is hilarious!

I love Colonel Fitzwilliam, and it is always great to see more of him in these variations. And I was not disappointed with the Colonel in this story! He is brilliant; funny and loveable as we know him to be. Again, because of Darcy’s illness, we get to see his caring side which was a lovely change. (I can't wait for his story either which will be written after Mr Bingley!)

A wonderful addition is the Matlock family, and I love them! The relationship and obvious love of their niece and nephew is touching. They also are quickly pleased with and impressed by Elizabeth, and are kind and really respect her. Lord and Lady Matlock are both very strong characters and I defy anyone who doesn’t love them to bits by the end of the book! It really was interesting to see the family behind the wonderful Colonel Fitzwilliam.

How could we have a story without some interference from Lady Catherine? She turns up to cause problems, and plenty of them! Lady Catherine is just as horrid and scheming as we expect from her. Anne, however, is rather changed from how we know her and this was a lot of fun to read! One of my favourite Lady Catherine scenes was the iconic confrontation between her and Lizzy, however this time it is Darcy holding his own... “She is the daughter of a gentleman, as I am the son of a gentleman. In that, we are equals.”

To end this drama filled story there was a particularly lovely epilogue. I do love it when there is an epilogue tying up any loose ends and letting us know what happens to all the characters!

As you can probably see, I really enjoyed this story. It was unique and different. This is a much more serious variation than I usually read, but it was an interesting and enjoyable change. I particularly loved the more positive start to Lizzy and Darcy’s relationship as well as the friendship between those two and Georgiana. Also, the addition of the Matlock family was wonderful! The story was very dramatic and fast paced but had romance and humour - a perfect mix! Joy really is a talented author and I can’t wait for more!
2 people found this helpful
 Report
Dr. Eric M. Jones
4.0 out of 5 stars Slow start, but worth reader's persistence. Great fun.
Reviewed in Australia on May 4, 2014
Verified Purchase
I was about a quarter of the way through "A Father's Sins" and was finding the going tedious. Too much narrative, too little dialog; altogether too wordy. However, I'm glad I kept going. Around the time that Wickham has his big scene, the story came alive for me and became a page turner. One reviewer has described the story as melodramatic and another as implausible. Both make valid points. But it is also great fun. So I've only knocked it down one star and congratulate Ms. King on an excellent debut.
One person found this helpful
 Report
Report an issue

Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report