Lucy Marin

 

Lucy Marin developed a love for reading at a young age and whiled away many hours imagining how stories might continue or what would happen if there was a change in the circumstances faced by the protagonists. After reading her first Austen novel, a life-long ardent admiration was borne.

Lucy was introduced to the world of Austen variations after stumbling across one at a used bookstore while on holiday in London. This led to the discovery of the online world of Jane Austen Fan Fiction, and soon after, she picked up her pen and began to transfer the stories in her head to paper.

Her first novel, Being Mrs Darcy, was published in March 2020. A novella, Mr Darcy: A Man with a Plan, came out in July 2020, followed by The Recovery of Fitzwilliam Darcy in April 2021, Christmas at Blackthorn Manor (part of the ‘Tis the Season collection) in November 2021, and Her Sisterly Love in January 2022. The Marriage Bargain, a full-length novel, was published in April 2022, followed by The Truth About Family in January 2023, A Matter of Prudence in August 2023, and Mrs Bennet Makes a Match in October 2023.  Releases in 2024 include A Pinch of Salt (modern), The Truth About Family, and The Art of Apology. She also contributed a short story, Darcy and the Blue Devils, to the compilation, Affections and Wishes.

 

~ Lucy’s Novels ~

The Marriage Bargain

“You can sell Pemberley and settle as many debts as possible. Or you could marry a wealthy woman and use her fortune to restore it.”

Fitzwilliam Darcy, heir to a mountain of debt, a tarnished family name, and a crumbling estate finds himself confronted by an unthinkable choice. Knowing it is a last chance to save his birthright, he agrees to an arranged marriage with Miss Elizabeth Bennet, ward of her wealthy but vulgar uncle, Mr Gardiner. Despite entering into the marriage understanding what he is giving up, he soon finds himself resenting the actions of his forebears and the choices he feels he was forced to make.

Elizabeth Bennet knows that marrying a gentleman of high birth would allow her to reclaim the social status she lost when her father died. Having been approached by men falsely proclaiming their affection for her, she embraces the opportunity to set the terms of her marriage openly and honestly. After meeting Mr Darcy and his sister, Elizabeth is determined to give them the home and care they deserve. Believing she and Mr Darcy have a common understanding of what their union will be like, she has high hopes for a happy future.

A friendship between them soon promises to bloom into something more romantic but Darcy has unresolved issues in his past that will not remain hidden. Dismayed, Darcy at last confronts his errors…but is it too late for he and Elizabeth to find happiness together?

The Marriage Bargain is a forced or contracted marriage variation of Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice and will be enjoyed by fans of Georgette Heyer’s A Civil Contract and other regency romances.

Her Sisterly Love 

He could not deny that he loved her with the sort of feeling and certainty that novelists and romantics dreamt of—not that he had ever considered himself romantic.

AT THE TENDER AGE OF TWELVE, Elizabeth Bennet vowed to protect her younger sisters from her parents’ neglect, brought on by their increasingly combative marriage. Jane is her partner in this endeavour—until her attention is diverted by the arrival of a handsome new neighbour, Mr Bingley. With him is his friend, Mr Darcy, who Elizabeth first dismisses as taciturn and rude. But as she gets to know him, other feelings arise—ones destined to end in heartbreak because of her promise to remain with her sisters.

SOON AFTER ARRIVING at Netherfield, Fitzwilliam Darcy finds himself intrigued by one of the local young ladies. There is something about Elizabeth Bennet’s kindliness that draws him to her, and as he learns more about her, his admiration grows. First determined to forget her, he soon wants more than anything to win her heart and her hand in marriage. But will the very thing that draws him to her be the thing that forever keeps them apart?

Her Sisterly Love is a Pride and Prejudice novella variation.

Christmas at Blackthorn Manor 

She should want Mr Darcy to find happiness in marriage, but it would be a terror to watch him fall in love with another woman.

ELIZABETH BENNET IS SHOCKED when, sixteen months after last seeing Mr Darcy in Lambton, she meets with him at a Festive Season house party at Blackthorn Manor. There with her sister Jane—now Mrs Ridley—she is further surprised to see romantic tensions flaring between her sister and her former beau, Mr Bingley, who has arrived with Mr Darcy.

INTENT ON KEEPING Mr Bingley and Mrs Ridley from making a mistake, Darcy and Elizabeth are distracted from their own romantic inclinations—a welcome diversion as both are convinced that their love must be unrequited. Elizabeth believes that Darcy cannot accept being brother to Wickham, and Darcy is certain Elizabeth can never forgive him for failing to return Mr Bingley to her sister Jane or protect ladies, including Lydia Bennet, from Wickham. 

BUT EVERYTHING IS NOT as it seems. As the party approaches its end, will they learn the truth about what has really kept them apart or will they go their separate ways once again? 

Mr Darcy: A Man with a Plan

Fitzwilliam Darcy was a man in despair following his disastrous proposal in Kent. If only he had done this, or said that! If only he had made more of an effort? 
Was it too late?

Perhaps it was not, for soon after that fateful April day, Darcy unexpectedly sees Elizabeth in London. He seeks her out again, ostensibly to ensure she now thinks better of him. He quickly decides that he wants to win her affections. It would require effort, perhaps a great effort, but Elizabeth Bennet was worth fighting for.

But in order to do so, he would need a plan.

This novella is a Pride & Prejudice Variation which incorporates the characters of Jane Austen into scenes of the author’s imagining.

 

 

Being Mrs Darcy

One distressing night in Ramsgate, Elizabeth Bennet impulsively offers Georgiana Darcy aid. Scandalous rumours soon surround the ladies and Fitzwilliam Darcy, forcing Elizabeth and Darcy, strangers to each other, to marry.

Darcy despises everything about his marriage to the daughter of an insignificant country gentleman with vulgar relations. Georgiana, humiliated after a near-elopement with George Wickham and full of Darcy pride, hates her new sister. Their family look upon Elizabeth with suspicion and do little to hide their sentiments.

Separated from those who love her, Elizabeth is desperate to prove herself to her new family despite their disdain. Just as she loses all hope, Darcy learns to want her good opinion. He will have to face his prejudices and uncover the depths of Georgiana’s misdeeds to earn it, and Elizabeth will have to learn to trust him if she is to ever to find happiness being Mrs Darcy.

This book is a Pride and Prejudice variation featuring Jane Austen’s beloved characters in scenarios of the author’s imagining.

 

The Recovery of Fitzwilliam Darcy

I am not William Lucas. I never was. I am…I am…I have no notion who I am meant to be.

In 1789, a terrible crime is committed, plunging one family into grief as another rejoices in an unexpected child. Two decades later, a chance meeting returns William Lucas to his birthright as Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley.

Discovering the truth about his past means leaving behind everyone he loves. The pain of separation from his childhood best friend and soon-to-be betrothed, Elizabeth Bennet, threatens to destroy their happiness forever. Tormented by questions about himself, he struggles to understand his new life. He must contend with a father buried in the shadows of the past and family relationships he does not understand.

The truth has come out. Some have gained by it, some have lost by it, and I am in the middle. I cannot possibly make everyone happy. No matter what I do, someone will suffer. No matter what I do, I shall suffer.

Somehow, he must find a way to do right by his new and old families, especially if he is to avoid losing Elizabeth forever.