What Ought to Have Been - MJ Stratton

Hello again, readers! Today it is a pleasure to welcome MJ Stratton back to my blog, to share a little about her newest release, What Out to Have Been, a Sense & Sensibility variation I was fortunate enough to get a sneak peek at!  

Retribution belongs to God, and I am ill-equipped to carry it out in His place.

~Elinor Dashwood 

       Before leaving Norland forever, Elinor Dashwood forms an attachment to Edward Ferrars. Her tender regard remains constant when the four Dashwood ladies remove to Devonshire, taking up residence at Barton Cottage. Elinor’s hopes for the future are shattered when she unwillingly becomes the confidante of Lucy Steele, learning that Lucy has been betrothed to Edward for four years.

       However, Lucy fails to secure Elinor’s vow of secrecy. When Marianne finds Elinor in her misery, the sisters share confidences, leading Marianne to compare Edward’s honorable conduct with that of John Willoughby. Her musings lead to some startling revelations, igniting a spark of defiance within her.

       Determined to right the wrongs done to her and her beloved family, Marianne takes matters into her own hands. While Elinor may be ill-equipped to exact God’s retribution, Marianne is not. Armed with determination and resolve, Marianne Dashwood sets out to achieve her aims by any means necessary. But can she complete her journey without losing herself in the process?

       Told from both Marianne and Elinor’s points of view, What Ought to Have Been is a Sense and Sensibility variation that ensures all the story’s villains receive their just desserts.

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Let’s talk about Sense and Sensibility. Love it or hate it? It seems to divide the masses, and I’ve encountered more than my fair share of Janites that detest the book. Their reasoning is similar, however: The ending ruined it for them. All the baddies get away with little to no consequences, and even though our heroines get their HEA, it’s lackluster for a lot of folks!

MJS: So what about you, Jayne? Do you love it or hate it?

JB: Sense & Sensibility has always been a favorite of mine. Lackluster is a great word for how I feel about the gentlemen in the story, but I love the sisters!

MJS: Let’s discuss the three villains in the book: Willougby, Lucy Steele, and Mrs. Fanny Dashwood. I guess you could throw Mrs. Ferrars in there, too. What are your feelings about Lucy Steele?

JB: I can honestly say my feelings for her haven’t changed since I killed her off in ‘Outmatched’ LOL. Mrs. Norris might be the only Austen character more deserving of a good shove. Down a flight of stairs. In front of a crowd. 

MJS: Mrs. Norris takes the top position as the worst villain, from what I've gathered through various conversations! I do NOT like Lucy Steele! She is almost universally hated as a master manipulator and a fortune hunter. Her treatment of Elinor is awful and I have no doubt she twisted the proverbial knife any time she could.

JB: Oh, she was absolutely doing it on purpose! Great casting in the ‘95 film, you can see the malicious glee in her eyes when she’s rubbing Elinor’s face in her claim on Edward.

MJS: For sure! The portrayal is part of why I detest Lucy so much! How about Mrs. Fanny Dashwood? Thoughts on her?

JB: Throw away the entire sister-in-law. Just put her in the bin. Honestly, I’d love to see a variation where she’s out of the way and John Dashwood can find a bride who will reconcile him with his sisters.

MJS: Oh my heck that's brilliant! Another plot bunny to add to my list! I’ve saved the hottest button topic for last because I know you have some particular feelings about Mr. Willoughby. Care to share?

JB: So let me first say - yes, my taste in men is trash. Single for a reason. That being said, Willoughby’s charm TOTALLY would have worked on me. I’d be rolling down that hill, spraining my ankle a second time just so he could pick me up and carry me off. But it’s still fun to see him have a little “mantrum” when his schemes are foiled in your re-telling!

MJS: Thanks! I take it you enjoyed reading ‘What Ought to Have Been’ then?

JB: I think it’s your best novel yet! I have always related to Marianne and her Big Feelings, so it was great to see her have that early epiphany and take a different approach to working through her heartbreak and anger. And I loved her friendship with Colonel Brandon!

MJS: Ah, Colonel Brandon! Yet another divisive situation in Sense and Sensibility. I have read so many posts where people say that Marianne settled for Colonel Brandon. Writing her falling in love with him was so much fun for me. I never felt like she settled for him, only that she grew up and realized what real love was.

JB: Hopefully it’s not too late for me to do the same LOL. 

MJ: You know, love appears when you least expect it.

JB: Ah, but where does Alan Rickman appear? Anyone wanna send me his twin, in full regency regalia?

MJ: Never lose hope! Thank you so much for having me, Jayne! Until the next time!

You can purchase or borrow What Ought to Have Been on Amazon or enter the raffle for a chance to win a free copy!

Author Bio:

MJ Stratton is a long-time lover of Jane Austen and her works, having been introduced to Pride and Prejudice by a much-beloved aunt at the age of sixteen. The subsequent discovery of Austenesque fiction sealed her fate. After beta reading and editing for others for nearly a decade, MJ started publishing her own work in 2022. MJ balances being a wife and mother with writing, gardening, sewing, and many other favorite pastimes. She lives with her husband and four children in the small, rural town where she grew up.