I love Joanne Bischof's writing and her charming settings and characters. This story follows the original very closely, yet remains unique in story and setting due to the mining aspect. However, I just finished a reread of Pride and Prejudice, so that made it very hard to stay invested in a story I already know the ending of. That's why I ended up skimming most of this story, but one day when Jane Austen isn't as fresh in my mind, I will reread this one fully.

If you are looking for a P&P retelling that stays very close to the original beats but with small differences in the plot to match up with the Appalachian coal mining setting, this is absolutely it. I personally had trouble staying engaged from time to time because I already knew what was going to happen, knowing the original story so well. But the last quarter was unique enough and written with Joanne's excellent emotional intelligence that any boredom fled.
A key verse that the main character is stitching into her sampler provides a faith thread woven throughout that is kept central in the reader's mind. Readers of clean romance can enjoy it for not being heavy-handed in that aspect, however.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for allowing me to read an ecopy in exchange for an honest review. all opinions are my own!

I really struggled to get into this book but once I did I enjoyed the read. Interesting characters and good depth to the storyline all very interesting to read. Don’t be put off it it doesn’t grip you right from the off I found it a slow burn but an excellent outcome.

I enjoyed this Pride and Prejudice adaptation by Joanne Bischof DeWitt, set in a coal mining town in Appalachia. The characters are very well done – you can tell who fits with whom from Austen’s book, but they have their own unique aspects in this book. There’s good humor, lots of interesting facts about coal mining, romantic tension, and a fabulous train car named The Pemberton! I kept reading until nearly midnight to see how DeWitt handled the end of the story, and it was worth it.

“I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own." #TheHeartofBennetHollow #NetGalley

As someone who read Pride and Prejudice and awfully long time ago I couldn’t tell you in good conscience that this book is an accurate or good retelling but i can say that it was simply outstanding!

I loved the amount of depth the characters had especially Lizzy and Lacey it was almost as if i knew what they were thinking at some points and what they would do next.

William, William, William, what a dream of a man, these love confessions had be blushing on the bus. I wish we got to see more of their relationship at the end though.

And that leads me to my one complaint: there were a few slight plot holes like West and what happened to him and why he even lied to Lizzy in the first place, and Williams Aunt and Callum’s sister were no longer addressed after some points even though the conflict wasn’t resolved which confused me a tad bit.

All things said i really enjoyed the book especially the first 50% it got slight slow towards the end but that’s the case with a lot of novels

4.25 stars!!

This book is amazing! It was nostalgic for me because it had some Pride and Prejudice references. The storyline was also unique because it is set in the coal town of New River. The Bennett farm is idyllic and picturesque! And The Pemberley, ooh la la, I'd love to travel in that rail car!

The characters are wonderful! By the end of the book, I felt as if they were family. Lizbeth is one of my favorites! She's helpful, loving, and caring. She's kind-hearted, especially towards her mules. William is 😍! I love how he has a change of heart and decides to do what's best for the community and not just himself. Pa Bennett is level-headed and wise! Shout out to Eugene and Sassafras! 🫏

The most intriguing part to me was the description of the coal mine. As the men entered the hoist cage and prepared to go into the bowels of the earth, I inwardly shuddered. But Lizbeth's sampler brought me comfort. "The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light."

I was provided a complimentary copy of the book from Tyndale House Publishers via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Heart of Bennet Hollow is utterly charming in every way. I loved this Pride and Prejudice retelling and how both country and city characters had something to offer and something to learn. 5 stars!

Dewitt has written a book with a gentle hand reminiscent of those from an earlier time period that revolved around family and community. The Bennet family with their five girls will win readers over with their devotion to each other and their farm. They don't have a lot of money but are rich in love. The newcomers Mr. Drake and Mr. Brydolf are quite well off and looking to further expand their riches but soon their interests are piqued by attraction and love in small town New River.

I love a good quote but in this instance a Bible verse is front and center,
"The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light."

Joanne Bischof DeWitt has written some fabulous books in the past like The Sons of Blackbird Mountain and The Lady and the Lionheart. The Heart of Bennet Hollow is in the same league and highly recommended. I appreciate Tyndale House Publishers, via NetGalley, making a copy available for review. All thoughts and opinions are my very own.

This is a new to me author and I enjoyed the retelling of the Pride and Prejudice in this book. Set in the Appalachian coal mining town, the story is told in a way it is easy to envision the coal mines and rail cars. It also draws your attention that the family home will not be given up without a fight as wealthy men come in to buy the land.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. All words are my own.

This is a unique retelling of a beloved classic. It is clear where this novel pays homage to Pride and Prejudice, but Bennet Hollow definitely has its differences that set it apart. I appreciated getting more of Drake's (Darcy's) perspective here, and the additional tension of Drake (Darcy's) possibly buying up the Bennet's land in this story added a new dimension to the story. It's also nice to see Lizbeth as an animal lover, and I appreciate the author's knowledge of the intricate workings of coal country, which are dark in more way than one.However, this wasn't quite a five-star read for me. In my opinion, Lizzy’s liveliness and the wit and sparkle that make Pride and Prejudice so special are absent here Caroline Bingley, George Wickham, and Georgiana Darcy are largely missing as well.

This is still an enjoyable, well-written read. I recommend it to others who enjoy clean Christian historical fiction and Jane Austen retelling.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tyndale for the free eARC! I post this review with my honest opinions. This review is crossposted to Goodreads and will be posted on Amazon and Instagram within a week of the book’s publication.