Showing results by narrator "Stevie Zimmerman" in All Categories

An attempted assault leaves Miss Elizabeth Bennet seeking tender comfort from the man she had, at one time, abhorred. Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy's gentle compassion fosters a budding affection as the couple grows to acknowledge each other's weaknesses and failings while recognizing their own. From Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, we know Mr. Darcy as a man willing to make phenomenal changes for the woman he loves.

When a perfect marriage, the perfect husband, and perfect life is nothing but an illusion. Sarah Standon is living the dream, at least that’s what everyone tells her. She is the wife of a successful solicitor who looks like a movie star. They live a Stepford existence and appear to have it all. Then, one fateful night, everything changes. A terrible accident leaves Sarah alone to deal with a situation so frightening she starts to question her grip on reality. Her perfect life has been exposed as the lie it always was and she loses everything.

Inspired by Jane Austen’s birth—and death—day, The Last Gift considers what happens if July 18, 1817 was only the beginning for Jane Austen. After the Lady meets her characters in the Universe she created, what would make her existence not only tolerable but also transcendental?

When the Duke proposes a clandestine alliance to Lady Catherine, her pragmatic nature sees the wisdom in his scheme. While he may be a rogue, he's also a trusted confidant of her brother. Moreover, she remains steadfast in her conviction to resist any rogue's enchantments. Neither harbors matrimonial intentions, and their hearts bear no inclinations toward each other. Their plan appears impeccable—until fate casts an unexpected twist.

Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy finds himself in the unusual position of chasing a woman rather than being chased. Miss Elizabeth Bennet is exasperated as Mr. Darcy, the rudest man of her acquaintance, is being nice—to her! How can she continue to despise a man who apologizes so well? Based on Jane Austen’s classic novel Pride & Prejudice, Mr. Darcy’s arrogance and pride are equally matched by Miss Elizabeth’s prejudice. While Mr. Darcy hesitates to speak, his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, quite against his canon character, blurts his thought in the most inconvenient manner, adding to Darcy's distress.

He is Elizabeth’s sworn enemy. Yet, when he comes to her rescue, she is forced to rethink her opinion. Trapped together for hours, each layer of their character is revealed until their masks are gone, and their worst fears are shared. Will Mr. Darcy’s arrogant pride keep him from finding tender affection and happiness? Will her prejudice withstand trials so a man worthy of her affection will not be lost?

Elizabeth Bennet despises Brussels sprouts, sewing, and men who think too highly of themselves—especially Mr. Darcy. When her brother shows a decided preference for the arrogant oaf, will she continue to hold onto her resentment or discover for herself what the baby finds so appealing? After a valuable piece of jewelry goes missing and aspersions are cast, can two opposing forces work together to solve the crime? Will opposites attract? Can a toddler who admires them both help them to admire each other?

Philip Brampton understands that fortune is against him. He tries gallantly to bury his distress and support his lonely beloved, even after she starts pursuing an arrogant buffoon. Stiffening her spine in a world that refuses to acknowledge her value, Eleanor attempts to navigate the impossible situation without quashing her desires. And though his shy nature abhors a scene, Philip braces himself for a confrontation with her cruel patriarch. Do these childhood sweethearts have any hope of achieving lasting happiness?

Miss Jane Fairfax has spent her life—though poor and expecting the eventuality of a governess position—by the side of a colonel’s daughter, living beyond the means she was born into. When she meets the enigmatic and handsome Frank Churchill in Weymouth, she can’t help but fall for him. Mr. Frank Churchill, the heir to his aunt’s fortune and dependent on her goodwill, knows that he cannot marry without Mrs. Churchill’s permission. Desperate to marry Jane, he proposes not only marriage but a plan to hide their engagement until his aunt approves of the match.

In the Regency era, surface appearances of civility often conceal more hostile activity. More than one family of seemingly sterling reputation is torn apart by savage intra-family feuds. That situation unexpectedly confronts Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet when Darcy’s interest in Elizabeth becomes known to Lady Catherine de Bourgh and her noble Matlock relations. Determined to prevent an affront to the reputation of their aristocratic clan, the most prominent members of the family gather with Lady Catherine to confront Darcy and force him to choose a more suitable wife.

Fearless and impulsive, Lady Anne Eliza Lewis, daughter of the Earl of Doverton, is not the usual ton lady. Nor does she want to be, for she's worked the bulk of her adult life at being a balloonist. Well-read Benedict Giles Urquhart, Viscount Worthington is a man who values peace and order over all else in his life. When a freak accident with a crashing hot-air balloon spooks his horse and throws Benedict, his placid life takes an abrupt turn, to say nothing of the distracting and unrepentant woman manning it.

Our Fine Romance is the true story of two young people who grew up separately during the London Blitz of 1940, and were both evacuated into the English countryside. Following their unusual meeting, courtship, and marriage, they emigrated to "Apartheid" South Africa. Three years and two children later, for financial reasons, they made the risky decision to move to Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia), close to the war-ravaged Republic of Congo.

The Lambeth Workhouse is no place for nice dresses, so why does Violet Marsh dream of a pretty blue satin dress? Violet remembers nothing of her life before the poverty of the workhouse. Her only comforts are a recurring dream and little Joe, the cheeky orphan, who is her one friend. But, life is hard in the workhouse. At eight years old, Violet has learned to keep quiet about her dreams. She has learned that there is little hope for the future.

Fitzwilliam gives his opinion of Meryton and its assembly ball to Bingley before having a chance to thoroughly study the attendees. A woman with fine eyes catches his attention, but she rebuffs his invitation to dance. Miss Elizabeth Bennet quotes his own thoughtless words back to him and seems to find amusement in causing him discomfort as she ensures all in attendance know his thoughts.

A duke who has imprisoned himself in an attic for nine years is in need of a wife...Evander Meyrick, the Duke of Sutherton, has lived the past 13 years under a curse. He didn’t know just how bad the curse was until every lady he married died within a year of their wedding day. Now he has a step-daughter, Tabitha, who is ready for her first Season, and he longs to give her something he can’t have for himself: A normal life. A spinster who thought her best years were behind her may find a second chance so long as the curse doesn’t touch her...

All Vicar Julian Roskin wants is to lead a quiet life. He’s caused enough trouble in the past. He doesn’t need any more problems. But, late one night, his safe and predictable world is turned upside down when a beautiful young lady ends up on his doorstep in need of protection. Protection, in this case, will require him to marry her. Reason tells him not to do it. Nothing good can come from marriage to a lady he doesn’t know anything about. But something about her demands he take her up on her offer.

Isabel Besson’s father owns a French Equestrian Circus in which she grew up, touring throughout France and performing with her brilliant horse, Alonzo. In the audience at a performance in London is Leo Sommers, earl of Camden, who is stunned when he sees in Isabel the replica of his famous great-grandmother, whose portrait hangs in his drawing room. This is no coincidence, as it soon comes to light that Isabel had been kidnapped as an infant and adopted by “Papa” and his wife when an English woman attempted to sell them the baby.

Lewis Cotter, the Earl of Pruett, has just inherited his title, and his first order of business is to find a wife. He never thought he would need to get married, but after the death of his older brother, it’s up to him to secure the estate. While he has to marry for money, he doesn’t want to marry just anyone. He wants a love match.

Fitzwilliam’s first impression of the residents of Meryton is poor, save for noticing a pair of fine eyes in a pale face. Elizabeth Bennet fascinates him even as they argue over her mother and sister’s intentions toward Bingley. When he learns of her weak heart, it does nothing to dissuade him from losing his and falling helplessly in love with her.

Dragging along a reluctant Lydia due to her scandalous behavior with a certain redcoat, Lizzy arrives at Hunsford to reunite with Charlotte. To her displeasure, she discovers Mr. Darcy is visiting his aunt at Rosings Park, and their stays overlap. At first, acrimony remains between them, but as the days pass, she starts to soften toward him. Lydia and Georgiana unexpectedly become close friends, and when Lydia is invited to stay with them at Darcy House, Lizzy can scarcely refuse to act as Lydia’s chaperone.