This month, we’ve got stories about measuring the courage of one’s convictions, about gay wizards and vampires in a reimagined Gilded Age NYC that doesn't discriminate against same-sex couples, and about what you’re willing to risk for love,
January 2025 Lopt & Cropt Releases
Just one this month!
The Power of Refusal by Mary Alice Alexander
This is a Pride and Prejudice variation in which Elizabeth realizes the only power she has in life is the ability to choose her husband and to refuse the men who will not make her happy. And she gets to experience FIVE increasingly terrible proposals, but comes to regret turning down only the second one (Darcy's).
Through misunderstanding, miscommunication, and missed chances, it's never the right place or the right time for Darcy and Elizabeth. But what if it finally could be? Find out on KU now!
The Christmas Heiress by Melanie Rachel
Against Every Objection by Cat Andrews
Her Whole Heart by Melanie Rachel
This is a Pride and Prejudice variation in which a teenage Elizabeth makes a daring rescue at boarding school and now, years later, has money for a season in London for her and Jane. They'll just have to manage fortune hunters, mean girls, gossip, and that guy who insulted Elizabeth at the first ball of the season (you know the one).
Darcy has no desire to be on the marriage mart or in the ballrooms of London for the season, but he's there for his family. After his insult to Elizabeth, he's tasked to look out for her best interests and slowly falls in love with her. But how will he get Elizabeth to trust him?
After editing 18(!) of Melanie's books, I can tell you that this story features the funniest scene she's ever written. Her Whole Heart is out now on KU!
My Dear Friend by Heather Moll
What if Regency Darcy and Elizabeth swiped left on each other?
Heather Moll’s My Dear Friend is a Pride and Prejudice variation where Darcy and Elizabeth separately sign up for a matchmaking scheme and start writing letters to each other, signed only with their initial.
In the meantime, every time Elizabeth sees Darcy in person, she can't stand him, but F in her letters is quickly becoming her best confidant. Darcy, meanwhile, is still crushing on Elizabeth but is conflicted with the feelings he has for L, his correspondent.
This is Pride and Prejudice crossed with You’ve Got Mail, in a sweet and satisfying novella! It's out now on KU!
Discretion and Avarice by Mary Alice Alexander
This one is playing with some different what-if scenarios for Pride and Prejudice: Darcy and Elizabeth are younger, Darcy's parents are alive, and Darcy is the youngest of three, with a wastrel older brother Andrew who's the heir to Pemberley. Without having the riches and responsibilities and pride of the heir, Darcy can approach Elizabeth with a lot more openness, and they fall for each other. But Darcy isn't established in a career and can't support a wife.
But Andrew's vices are catching up to him, and the Darcy parents have ensured that our Darcy is in control of the money and Pemberley. Elizabeth, meanwhile, also has to care for her family, who is on the brink of ruin (but not because of the sister you expect!). Can Darcy and Elizabeth ever manage to be together when Darcy's responsibilities (without the title or the money) and Elizabeth's family are keeping them apart?
Discretion and Avarice is ou
Darcy and Elizabeth's Dreams of Redemption by Melissa Anne
After Darcy leaves Netherfield, he begins having dreams of Elizabeth in which she rejects his proposal—but it gets him thinking about Elizabeth and if she might not be the exact match for him if he can get past his pride. Meanwhile, Elizabeth is also having dreams that are making her reconsider her opinion of Darcy.
By the time they meet up again at Kent, they’re both ready for each other—but their families aren’t necessarily ready for them together. With opposition from both sides, they only have themselves and their dreams to keep them together.
A teeny tiny bit of a paranormal spin on the classic P&P story, Darcy and Elizabeth’s Dreams of Redemption is available now in KU!
An Accidental Meeting by Melanie Rachel
This is a Pride and Prejudice variation in which Darcy and Elizabeth meet at Pemberley, and Darcy invites her and the Gardiners to stay at the house. He's trying to do everything he can to show Elizabeth that he's changed, and it's working! They're on their way to falling in love when they discover a mysterious treasure, and things (and people) around Pemberley start getting weird and suspicious.
This is a super engaging and funny novella that explores Darcy and Elizabeth's shaky new relationship in a sweet, lighthearted way, like all of Melanie's work in this series of novellas has. (They're all standalones so you don't have to read the previous to understand this one.) An Accidental Meeting is out now on KU!
Rising Courage by Heather Moll
How do we feel about kidnapping in our romances? How do we feel when the hero and heroine are kidnapped together?
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This is a Pride and Prejudice variation where Darcy still makes his terrible proposal to Elizabeth and gets shot down. Elizabeth takes herself out for a walk after this, and kidnappers mistake her for Anne de Bourgh. Darcy sees her getting kidnapped and he gets taken along with her so that he can protect her (and also ‘cause he’s rich and can be ransomed for $$).
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Now, stuck together (gotta love that forced proximity!) and desperate to escape, Darcy and Elizabeth have to work together, get past their misunderstandings, and save themselves from danger.
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Adventure and angst await! Rising Courage is out now on KU!