After the angsty variation Letter From Ramsgate, Suzan Lauder decided to venture into comedy and developed an unthinkable premise based on Mr. Collins character. She didn’t go so far as to make him witty and interesting, but she made him A Most Handsome Gentleman, or as everyone keeps saying in the social media #HOT Collins.
The changes in his appearance, along with his own foolish character, were sufficient to change the behaviour of many P&P characters towards him, which created the funniest dialogues and situations you can think of. Can you imagine the impact of a good-looking man coming to Longbourn in search of a wife?
I confess I was impressed with Mr. Collins because I can imagine some situations that would render Mrs. Bennet speechless but none that would have the same effect on Lydia, and that my friends, was Mr. Collins greatest achievement in this book! Well…maybe not the greatest. His impact on Lady Catherine’s behaviour was both unexpected and hilarious, so the first place in the podium may go to that feat.
Both scenes made me laugh really hard, but they were not the only ones. The verbal discussions between Mr. Collins and Mr. Bingley, Mr. Collins comments on Elizabeth’s skinny appearance, his attraction to Charlotte and the scenes Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth see on the fields behind Longbourn are amongst my favourite moments in this book, but it’s hard to highlight only some scenes because the entire book is incredibly funny. I could not put it down!
I also enjoyed the fact that despite all the craziness that involved Mr. Collins’ presence in Meryton, Elizabeth remained true to herself and was not easily taken by her cousin’s good looks. He may be good-looking, but he’s still a fool, and if I may say, an even more annoying one, so I was really glad that to see that Suzan Lauder didn’t include Elizabeth in the group of ladies who would faint at the sight of Mr. Collins.
I had a great time reading A Most Handsome Gentleman and could not recommend it enough for those who want to relax and enjoy a good comedy. It is a highly entertaining book that will make readers laugh out loud from the first page until the last.
Suzan Lauder took a risk by venturing into this new subgenre but she nailed it! Congratulations!
You can find A Most Handsome Gentleman at:
A lover of Jane Austen, Regency period research and costuming, cycling, yoga, blogging, and independent travel, cat mom Suzan Lauder is seldom idle.
Her first effort at a comedy, A Most Handsome Gentleman is the fourth time Lauder has been published by Meryton Press. Her earlier works include a mature Regency romance with a mystery twist, Alias Thomas Bennet, a modern short romance Delivery Boy in the holiday anthology Then Comes Winter, and the dramatic tension filled Regency romance Letter from Ramsgate.
She and Mr. Suze split their time between a loft condo overlooking the Salish Sea and a 150-year-old Spanish colonial home near the sea in Mexico.
Suzan’s lively prose is also available to her readers on her blog, road trips with the redhead www.suzan.lauder.merytonpress.com, on her Facebook author page https://www.facebook.com/SuzanLauder, and on Twitter @suzanlauder.
Contact Info:
10/20 My Jane Austen Book Club; Character Interview, Excerpt, Giveaway
10/21 My Love for Jane Austen; Guest Post, Giveaway
10/22 Obsessed with Mr. Darcy; Review
10/23 Austenesque Reviews; Vignette, Giveaway
10/24 Tomorrow is Another Day; Review
10/25 Babblings of a Bookworm; Guest Post, Giveaway
10/26 From Pemberley to Milton; Review, Giveaway
10/27 Just Jane 1813; Guest Post, Giveaway
10/28 Darcyholic Diversions; Author Interview, Giveaway
10/29 My Vices and Weaknesses; Character Interview, Giveaway
10/30 Half Agony, Half Hope; Review, Excerpt
10/31 Laughing With Lizzie; Vignette, Giveaway
11/01 Diary of an Eccentric; Review, Giveaway
11/02 So little time…; Guest Post, Excerpt, Giveaway
11/03 Margie’s Must Reads; Review, GA
Suzan is offering 8 ebook copies of A Most Handsome Gentleman on this blog tour.
Readers may enter the drawing by tweeting once a day and daily commenting on a blog post or review that has a giveaway attached for the tour. Entrants must provide the name of the blog where they commented. Remember: Tweet and comment once daily to earn extra entries.
A winner may win ONLY 1 (ONE) eBook of A Most Handsome Gentleman by Suzan Lauder.
Each winner will be randomly selected by Rafflecopter and the giveaway is international.
To enter the giveaway click here.
Good Luck everyone!
From Pemberley to Milton 
This sounds like a lot of fun!
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It definitely is Ria!
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Fun was intended when I wrote it, Ria!
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Thanks for sharing your review, Rita. I enjoyed reading your thoughts. Glad to read the story made you laugh as much as it did me.
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Thank you Janet. I really enjoyed reading this book! Thank you for the opportunity to be in the blog tour 🙂
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I agree, Janet. Rita wrote a fantastic review that helps readers to determine what the book is about and how much she enjoyed it. Thanks!
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Oh no another Rafflecopter! As the site doesn’t work on my phone I must try and remember to enter on my tablet tomorrow if that will let me!!
Anyway back to the book. I’m really looking forward to reading this one especially now I know that Elizabeth is not one of the Collins fans. Also I must know what Darcy and Elizabeth witnessed in the fields. I assume it has something to do with the back cover? Thanks for a lovely review Rita.
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Good luck with the Rafflecopter Glynis. You are on the right track ;)))
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I envy your ability to do this on your phone, Glynis. Good luck with the rest of the entry opportunities. I agree, it was a top-quality review.
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nice to have a comedic twist in a JAFF
denise
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It is isn’t it? I like to read something different once in a while and it’s not everyday that we see a comedy coming out 🙂
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There are other books with comic elements, but this one is intended as a comedy, and that makes it fun from beginning to end. Thanks, Denise!
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Rita,
Well,you certainly enjoyed this book!! Your enthusiastuc response to it was infectious and your thoughts were a delight to read!
Thankfully Lizzy remains true to herself and isn’t bewitched by a handsome face! Am really looking forward to reading of these humorous encounters and the witty dialogue that ensues! Any book that makes me laugh out loud,especially in these long Winyer nights,is a winner in my eyes!
Cheers for sharing your thoughts,Rita. Happy reading! ☺️
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I really did Mary! It is very funny and I had a great time reading it. I wouldn’t say she is not bewitched by a handsome face, but at least she is able to discern that there is more than the face :))
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Elizabeth couldn’t be fooled too badly if she was still going to be our witty, clever Elizabeth. Many thanks to you for commenting and to Rita for reviewing.
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This book will be high on my TBR list.
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Thanks so much! It really means a lot to me that you say that! Thanks to Rita for inspiring it!
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Great review Rita. I’m putting it on top of my TBR list, just a kind of book I’d love to read now.
Congratulations Suzan for the release of this book. 🙂
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Thanks, Kate. Good to know I can offer a feel-good book for readers.
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Sounds entertaining, would love to read it! Thanks for the fun review.
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It was a fun review, capturing the highlights of the book! I hope you get to read it soon.
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If he can stop Lydia talking then he has some good points
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Hahaha! You always capture something unusual in your comments, Vesper! Thanks so much!
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Delightful review and I can’t wait to read it! This sounds like so much fun!
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It was delightful! Thanks to Rita! I hope you get a chance to read the book soon and enjoy the fun like we have.
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I am so looking forward to reading this. Great review.
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I’m extremely grateful to hear your enthusiasm towards the book and this exceptionally well-written review. Rita is great to her readers.
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I can’t wait to see how a “hot Collins” changes things in the story. Thanks for the chance to win a copy!
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That’s why we love our JAFF, to experience those variations. Thanks to Meryton Press for providing the giveaway.
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I love books that make me laugh and this one seems like one that will do just that. I love the premise and can’t wait to read about a speechless Lydia. Good job Mr. Collins!
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You’ll get lots of opportunities to laugh at Lydia and the others in this book. Mr. Collins is a force to be reckoned with! Hahaha!
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Great review Rita. I’m looking forward to reading this one since it’s a new premise… hot Mr. Collins? Oh my!
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The review showed how the new premise was applied in many cases. Reading the book will reveal what Rita didn’t say–she was excellent at avoiding spoilers at some of the funniest moments. I hope to know how you liked it too, Dung.
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Great review – and good luck with the launch Suzan!
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I was fortunate to follow #1 bestselling novel “Mistaken” and its comic moments within a Regency Romance with my romantic comedy. Best of luck to you, too!
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Awesome this sounds very promising indeed ^_^
It reminded me, Rita, of our talk about the hilarity of Mr. Collins character.
Definitely entering the giveaway. Thank you for the opportunity, Suzan.
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I think Collins would be a fun character to play since he’s so ridiculous! Best of luck on the giveaway of 8 e-books by Meryton Press. There are still 6 days left where the giveaway is part of the blog tour post.
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What a fun premise! Thanks for the lovely and intriguing review, Rita, and congrats for the release of yet another great story, Suzan!
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Thanks for all your support, Joana. Rita did do “intriguing” well in her review! She’s such a wonderful promoter of authors and books. We’re fortunate to have her.
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I was lucky enough to get one of the first peeks of this while Suzan was writing it, and I definitely agree, Rita! The impact of his handsomeness as well as the reactions of those who see him is definitely worthy of a case of the giggles.
Congrats, my dear friend on all the great reviews! You deserve them 🙂
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Thanks, hon. You’re a terrific beta and I’m lucky to have you. I’d also like to take this chance to thank the other beta, Nina, as well as the Meryton Press editor, Gail Warner, and proofreader Ellen Pickels. They had a good chance to giggle at #HOTCollins before the readers did.
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A gorgeous Mr Collins sounds super fun, would love to read this story !!
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He’s still obnoxious as usual, but that makes the story more fun. Thanks so much for joining the comments.
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So looking forward to reading this. It does sound so very amusing.
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Somehow I’ve got a soft spot for Collins and his absolute devotion to his dearly beloved patroness 🙂
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