The Heart of Bennet Hollow: A Southern Historical Romance Retelling of Pride and Prejudice

Joanne Bischof DeWitt

Oct 2025 · Tyndale Fiction

About this ebook

An Appalachian farmer's daughter and a wealthy businessman find a surprising love but must reckon with what divides them in this retelling of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice by the award-winning author of The Lady and the Lionheart .

New River, Virginia. 1904. Lizbeth Bennet longs to preserve her family's farm, securing a future for her and her sisters, a difficult task in their Appalachian coal mining town. Money is scarce, and Lizbeth is determined to find a way without giving up treasured pieces of her family's legacy. But when the mine is put up for sale, it's clear change is approaching. A contingent of coal barons descends on the town to investigate whether the mine is worth their investment, among them a young man rumored to be a very rich, eligible bachelor.

William Drake arrives focused on business and keeping his distance from the townspeople, especially those living on land entangled with the mine, including a farmer by the name of Bennet. As William digs through legal issues, his struggle to weigh the potential financial gain against what is right for the community grows more complicated when he meets one of the Bennet daughters.

Despite an awkward first meeting, Lizbeth and William continue to cross paths, and soon Lizbeth questions her first impression of the man she believed to be proud and indifferent. But just as their friendship begins to evolve, a revelation shakes Lizbeth's tenuous trust, and she learns all may not be as it seems. To determine what is true, and step toward a love she's barely dared dream of, Lizbeth must confront her own prejudices . . . and decide whether the future she's always imagined is the one her heart truly wants most after all.

• An inspirational historical romance retelling of Pride and Prejudice for fans of Julie Klassen, Sally Britton, and Sarah E. Ladd
• A clever, clean love story
• Southern historical fiction in the vein of Michelle Shocklee and Pepper Basham
• Includes discussion questions for book clubs

Ratings and reviews

Ahh! Pride & Prejudice fans, this is a must read! Achingly beautiful, The Heart of Bennet Hollow’s a brilliant retelling set in 1904 Appalachia. I loved the way Joanne Bischof Dewitt took this beloved story & made it something new, unique, & every bit as lovely. I was completely drawn in to the story & with every page I couldn’t wait to see how the author would recreate the familiar with remarkable twists. Highly recommend!

The Heart of Bennet Hollow is a lovely adaptation that meshes an original storyline with the “feels” of P&P. Well done! This book is suitable for teens and older with no inappropriate intimate scenes and no bad language. I received this book from the author/publisher free of charge, with no expectation of a positive review. I also purchased the audiobook.

About the author

With over 100,000 copies sold, Christy and Carol Award–winning author Joanne Bischof DeWitt writes heartfelt romance with memorable characters. She lives in California with her new husband and their blended family of six teens and young adults, making her a big fan of conversations, laughter, and large dinner tables. You can find her at joannebischofdewitt.com.