TORN- Guest Post, Excerpt & Giveaway

Good Afternoon everyone,

I am very pleased to welcome today at From Pemberley to Milton one of my favourite authors and a dear friend who didn’t mind going on a Jane Austen Road Trip with me back in 2017. Putting up with me for a couple of days is not that easy, so you can see what a gem she is 🙂 I am speaking of Lory Lilian, mostly known as the “Queen of Hot Mush” and who has recently released a regency variation which is very atypical for her. TORN, I am told, is her most angsty book and she is here today to talk about this and also to ask for your opinion, so please feel free to join the discussion and let us know where you are at when it comes to angst 🙂 You already know where I stand, so no point in stating once more how much of an addict I am to it 😉

Thank you for visiting Lory, and the best of luck with this new release!!! I absolutely LOVE the cover by the way 😉

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“TORN” is a romantic, Regency Pride and Prejudice variation. The road to happiness is set with obstacles to overcome, making the journey more arduous for our beloved characters—and readers.
Separated by pride, prejudice, and misunderstandings, betrayed by their temper and wounded by vanity, Elizabeth and Darcy take separate paths in the heat of anger—and are tormented when they must reap what they have sown.
Darcy struggles to avoid the woman he loves more every day, but Fate keeps bringing them together. Elizabeth’s thoughts wander to Mr Darcy and, even in his absence, her feelings for him improve, until she realizes he is the only man in the world with whom she could be truly happy. Such revelations come far too late when both are bound by promises to others. Can they live a lifetime torn between love and duty?
Stealing a moment of passion one hot summer night, how can Elizabeth and Darcy continue without the other after knowing such true happiness?
Rated Moderate for hot romance but not explicit sex scenes.
Lory Lilian has a golden rule when it comes to reading and writing Jane Austen fan fiction: Elizabeth and Darcy only belong to each other, with no one to separate them. This story might appear to break this rule, but the author kindly asks the readers to trust her.
“Torn” might tear your heart out but Elizabeth and Darcy surely find a way to put it back.

 

You can find it at:

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

 

 

 

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It is always a great pleasure to be at “From Pemberley to Milton.”

Rita is one of the JAFF people I had the great pleasure of meeting two years ago and visit many JA’s related places together. Sharing the news of my latest release on her blog is just awesome!

Today, I would like to chat about my latest book TORN, about angst and how much of it we can bear in JAFF stories. How much we like to torture ODC before we allow them to find their HEA eventually.

For many years, I admitted being an angst wimp. I still am. I wrote six variations full of mush until I dared to plunge into the angst. (Although my second one – “Remembrance of the Past” – did have some very distressing parts…)

Pushed by some cyber-friends / bloggers (Meredith, Claudine and even Rita!), who insisted that I should add angst to enhance my stories, I did so and in 2017, when I published “A Man with Faults”. I was thrilled by the reader’s favorable reaction. The book claimed on Amazon Sales Rank 235, which was huge and it meant that lots and lots of people read it. In that book, the tortured one was Darcy. He was resentful, angry, tortured, and uncertain of Elizabeth’s feelings (though very much in love with her) until the last chapter. Poor guy, right?

TORN is the second angst-filled I wrote and I must say I needed tissues while working on it. I suffered for what I did to my beloved characters. And to make it even worse, there is no character to hate! Everyone (except out Wicky – who has a short, yet significant role) is honest, kindhearted, honorable, and generous – which made ODC’s struggle more difficult to follow. I intended to make the readers feel TORN as much as Elizabeth and Darcy, to wonder what they would do in a similar situation. Hope I succeeded to some degree.

There is a HEA – of course. Nobody who knows me would doubt that. This story was exhausting to write, and I am sure I will focus on hot mush for at least another year.

For now, here are a few questions for you, dear readers: how much angst do you like in JAFF stories? What sort of angst (forced marriage, other partners, unequal affection – or any other kind)? And – what kind of angst would you like to read about and did not find in any variations? (But I very much doubt there was something undone yet! LOL) If you have any other ideas to talk about, feel free to do so.

I look forward to chatting with you!

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Elizabeth walked down the left side of the shore to where the long grasses and wildflowers grew undisturbed and the paths were lined with bright yellow gorse.

She took off her shoes and waded into the sea up to her ankles, the waves caressing her feet. The air was cool and refreshing, but the water felt warm.

The cottage behind her, the bay revealed itself to her eyes. As the wind blew through the line of trees, it mixed with the sound of waves, as in a symphony. There was no sun, so she took off her bonnet and unpinned her hair. She yearned to feel uncaged, unrestrained.

The bay was as beautiful as she remembered. The combination of colours and sounds, and the softness of the sand between her toes enchanted her. She turned towards the hidden place, where she had fallen asleep—and gasped in astonishment. There was a horse tied to a tree.

She immediately minded her own appearance, looking around. With her bonnet removed and her hair blowing free, she was in no state to be seen and had not imagined meeting anyone in such a place.

She saw nobody nearby, until her eyes were drawn towards the shore where waves, stirred by the wind and tide, crashed noisily.

It seemed surreal as a man rose from the water and stepped out of the waves, stunning her senses. He wore but a white shirt and dark trousers, striding unburdened until he noticed her. At that moment he stopped; the waves pushed him, and he almost fell but still did not advance.

Even at this distance, the heart recognised what the eyes still hesitated to admit.

Eventually, he seemed to gather the strength to approach and so did Elizabeth. Slowly, hesitantly, as in a dream.

When they were only steps away, she could see the look of yearning on his handsome features. His curled hair, wet and dishevelled. His dark, staggering gaze. The water dripping from his face. His white shirt soaked, unbuttoned, revealing his neck and torso.

He stared at her, narrowing his eyes, his lips half parted as if he struggled to speak.

Before any of them could say a word, Elizabeth’s heart finally defeated her mind, freed itself from any restrain, any rules, any demands of duty and decorum, screaming the truth inside her with such a power that it shattered her and weakened her knees.

She loved the man in front of her with every sense and every fibre of her body! She had loved him for such a long that she did not even remember when it began. She loved him against her own will and reason and judgment. She loved him most ardently.

“Miss Bennet…”

“Mr Darcy…”

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Lory Lillian is giving away 2 eBooks to my readers, and the best thing is, you can choose any book from her portfolio! Comment on this post to be eliegible to the giveaway and please let us know which book your would prefer and why. In case you don’t know Lory’s entire portfolio, feel free to peruse her Amazon author page, and you will find all her books there.

The giveaway is international and it is open until the 14th of October. The winners will be announced shortly after.

Good Luck Everyone!

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The Pilgrim: Lydia Bennet and a Soldier’s Portion – Excerpt & Giveaway

Good Afternoon everyone,

I am very pleased to be opening today the blog tour for The Pilgrim: Lydia Bennet and a Soldier’s Portion, Don Jacobson’s last book on the Bennet Wardrobe series. I know this series is highly regarded by everyone in the community and I am finally starting to read the entire collection this month, so you may expect some reviews on these books shortly. Until then, I would like to welcome Don Jacobson to From Pemberley to Milton, and share with you an excerpt of Lydia’s story.

I hope you like it and that you share your toughts on this series with all of us. If you’ve read any of the previous books, pelase don’t be shy and share your impressions with us 🙂

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“My life has been very much like an unfinished painting. The artist comes to the portrait day-after-day to splash daubs of color onto bare canvas, filling in the blanks of my story. Thus grows the likeness, imperfect as it may be, which you see today.”

                                   Lydia Fitzwilliam, Countess of Matlock, letter to her sister

                                               Elizabeth Bennet Darcy, March 14, 1831.

 

Does it matter how a man fills out his regimentals? Miss Austen never considered that query. Yet, this question marks the beginning of an education…and the longest life…in the Bennet Wardrobe saga.

Lydia Bennet, Longbourn’s most wayward daughter, embarks on her quest in The Pilgrim: Lydia Bennet and a Soldier’s Portion. This biography reveals how the Wardrobe helps young Mrs. Wickham learn that honor and bravery grow not from the color of the uniform—or the gender of its wearer—but rather from the contents of the heart.

In the process, she realizes that she must be broken and repaired, as if by a kintsugi master potter, to become the most useful player in the Bennet Wardrobe’s great drama.

“Multifaceted and nuanced, The Pilgrim: Lydia Bennet and a Soldier’s Portion, speaks to the verities of life. Once again, Don Jacobson has combined the essence of Pride and Prejudice with an esoteric story line and the universal themes of redemption and forgiveness in this well-crafted narrative.”

Mirta Ines Trupp, author of The Meyersons of Meryton.

 

 

 

You can find The Pilgrim: Lydia Bennet and a Soldier’s Portion at:

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

 

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Chapter III, IV Excerpts

July 29, 1813 Longbourn

The three wives of the 2^nd Battalion of the 33^rd Foot (Wellington’s Own) have been desperately awaiting news of their husbands in the wake of the great battle at Vitoria. No such information was forthcoming. Thus, nerves have become increasingly raw. A carriage has pulled into the carriage way in front of the manor house. Mr. Bennet has greeted its occupants, Sergeant Henry Wilson, Corporal Charlie Tomkins, and Lieutenant George Wickham.

…

The Sergeant bowed and answered succinctly, “We fought at Vitoria. T’was one of those queer things, fortunes of war, sir. Never saw it before.

“A frog cannon—one of those gallopers, smaller caliber—opened up from our flank as we advanced. T’was a lousy shot, but, they’re French, so what can you expect? In any event, the ball came across at a diagonal, missing everyone at the Lieutenant’s end of the file.

“It smacked into a 32-pound ball that had dug into the ground when le brutal let loose as we came down the road. The moment that smaller iron ball hit the other, it exploded into a thousand pieces. Ripped two men to bloody rags. Hurt three or four more.

“One of those shards caught Mr. Wickham in his short ribs. Because it came in from the side, it skidded across his back atop the bone. Laid him open a good eight inches, Mr. Bennet. The surgeons did not have to dig around to find it. It fell out of his work-a-day tunic onto the stretcher.[i] He has been fighting infection ever since, although he is now weaker from travel than suffering the effects of fever.”

Wilson extended a closed fist toward Bennet and then opened his hand. In the half-light that poured out of the front door…the torches having only just been lit by Hill and James…Bennet saw a twisted, blackened chunk of metal.

Bennet lowered his voice and leaned in toward Wilson, “Please, I entreat you, do not show this to any of the women. I have been living in a house full of females afflicted with nerves for over a month. Seeing this would cause a vapor attack that would rival any of Vesuvius’ eruptions!

“But tell me, before we are besieged by fluttering females, why did not you or Colonel Fitzwilliam advise the ladies that you were alive? We knew of the battle, but casualty lists have been spotty.”

Wilson nodded, “I do apologize if our lack of communication was trying. However, Colonel Fitzwilliam was also wounded in the battle. Tomkins and I were fortunate enough to see him swept from his horse by a voltigeur’s ball. We collected him from the aid station and loaded him onto the same wagon with the Lieutenant.

“Then the bone cutters spent the next few days fiddling with both. The good news was that since they were body wounds, they could not amputate anything.

“T’wasn’t until they had dumped them at our feet outside of the hospital, and we got our hands on some of Sergeant Harper’s maggots as well as some good Spanish honey that we were able to get them on the mend.

“In truth, Mr. Bennet, Charlie and I decided that t’would be better for us to get the Colonel home to Rosings and Mr. Wickham back here to Longbourn than to try to explain ourselves in letters that would probably not arrive until after we did.

“So, I went to Captain Sharpe who went to Lord Wellington’s camp. Whatever he did or said, I cannot say. All I know is that he came back with passes for Tomkins and me to carry dispatches and escort the two officers home.

“Took us several weeks, but we made it to Lisbon, and Nosey’s paperwork got us aboard a schooner heading up to Dover. Got there three days ago. We delivered the Colonel to Mrs. Fitzwilliam and Miss Bennet yesterday.

Suddenly a flurry of skirts and raised voices broke the night’s quiet.

Laura launched herself past Mr. Bennet and wrapped her arms around her husband’s neck.

Lydia and Annie looked fearfully over their friend’s head at the Sergeant.

In a voice more jovial than necessary, Wilson called out, “Are the three of us ever glad to see you! Mr. Wickham is a bit worse for wear, no little bit of it due, I am sure, to Tomkins’ incessant chattering.

“Did you know, Mrs. Tomkins, that your husband is an indifferent traveler? We had to stop about four times between Town and here so Tomkins could stretch his legs, although I am hard-pressed to understand how those short sticks needed any limbering.”

By this point, Tomkins had poked his head out the door.

“ ‘ere now, ya big oaf. While you’ve bin chin-wagging…beggin’ yore pardon, Mr. Bennet…my Mr. Wickham could ‘ave been upstairs getting sponged off by sumthin’ pr’ttier than the likes of you.”

As Wilson feigned outrage, Lydia pushed past and made for the carriage. Her father delayed her progress.

“Your husband was wounded in the fight, but you knew that, did you not, my girl? He is on the mend but remains weak.

“You must be strong, now, for Mr. Wickham.”

Lydia looked up at her sire and firmly replied, “Papa, at this moment, I am your daughter and not my mother’s. Imagine me as Lizzy, if you must, although I would rather you see me as a soldier’s wife ready to shoulder the portion that title brings.”

The subalterns gently hoisted Wickham from the carriage. They made to carry him, but the Lieutenant stopped their effort with a gentle shake of his head. Instead, as they set him on his feet, Lydia ran forward and inserted herself beneath his right arm, forcing a wince from the man as she wrapped her arm around his waist.

He said nothing, but tenderly kissed the crown of her head where it rested by his chin.

Clearing his throat, he addressed Mr. Bennet in a voice a few shades above a whisper, humility showing in every word.

“I had despaired of ever again seeing this beautiful edifice…and I speak first of my wife,” at this, he kissed Lydia’s forehead as she gazed up at him, “and second, this house. Thank you, Mr. Bennet, for caring for my wife and her friends whilst we have been off in Spain.

“I would hope that you could extend your hospitality further to allow me time to recover my strength…”

A troubled look crossed Mr. Bennet’s face, and he closed the few feet between himself and Wickham, halting the Lieutenant’s address with a hand gripping his left shoulder. He studied the younger man’s face, bronzed both by the sun and the entry’s torch baskets which had begun to gain traction against the deepening twilight. There was not a single jot of self-pity, once Wickham’s stock-in-trade, but rather a distinct weariness.

Bennet was firm but, he hoped, friendly.

“Now, I will have none of that, sir!

“Even if you were not my daughter’s husband and, thus, my son, I would never begrudge one—or three—of His Majesty’s soldiers bed and board.

“However, Mr. Wickham, I fear that you must be under some misapprehension concerning my thoughts about you.

“Unlike another of my boys, who bruits about that ‘His good opinion, once lost, is lost forever,’ I endeavor to be less rigid. I find Mr. Blake’s words apt:

The man who never alters his opinion is like standing water,

and breeds reptiles of the mind.

 

“Do not think that I criticize Darcy. In truth, his old unforgiving nature has softened somewhat since he wed my Lizzy. He does remain quite protective of his family, so I would not expect an invitation to Pemberley anytime soon.

“I, on the other hand, have watched your progress in the years since we were introduced. Reports have reached me from those of our mutual acquaintance including Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mr. Hunters. You, sir, have reshaped yourself, not only becoming a respected officer in the Regulars, but also a better, more decent man.”

Wickham furiously blinked away the moisture bejeweling his lashes. Lowering his eyes toward the ground, “My emotions conspire to make a fool of me. Ever since I took that fragment…

“You seem to have absolved me of my sins against your daughter and family, Mr. Bennet. While I was not expecting it, t’was the one great regret that worried me when I thought I would perish before I had the opportunity to make amends and to ask your forgiveness.”

He sagged against Lydia. Wilson and Tomkins firmly gripped him. Mr. Bennet leaped forward and clasped his son’s hands quickly concluding their conference saying, “Rest easy, young man. You are family, and family forgives, especially in the face of indisputable evidence.

“You, Wickham, have long been lost, but now you are found.

“Welcome home, son.”

[i] This is drawn from the bullet found on the gurney used to carry Governor John Connelly into Parkland Hospital on November 22, 1963.

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Don Jacobson has written professionally for forty years. His output has ranged from news and features to advertising, television and radio. His work has been nominated for Emmys and other awards. He has previously published five books, all non-fiction. In 2016, he began publishing The Bennet Wardrobe Series—

The Keeper: Mary Bennet’s Extraordinary Journey (2016)

Henry Fitzwilliam’s War (2016)

The Exile: Kitty Bennet and the Belle Époque (2017)

Lizzy Bennet Meets the Countess (2017)

The Exile: The Countess Visits Longbourn (2018)

The Avenger: Thomas Bennet and a Father’s Lament (2018)

The Pilgrim: Lydia Bennet and a Soldier’s Portion (2019)

Jacobson is also part of the collective effort behind the publication of the upcoming North and South anthology, Falling for Mr. Thornton: Tales of North and South due out in the Fall of 2019.

Other Austenesque Variations include the paired books “Of Fortune’s Reversal” (2016) and “The Maid and The Footman.” (2016) Lessers and Betters offers readers the paired novellas in one volume to allow a better appreciation of the “Upstairs-Downstairs” mentality that drives the stories.

Jacobson holds an advanced degree in History with a specialty in American Foreign Relations. As a college instructor, Don teaches United States History, World History, the History of Western Civilization and Research Writing.

He is a member of JASNA. Likewise, Don is a member of the Austen Authors collective (see the internet, Facebook and Twitter).

He lives in the Las Vegas, Nevada area with his wife and co-author, Pam, a woman Ms. Austen would have been hard-pressed to categorize, and their rather assertive four-and-twenty pound cat, Bear. Besides thoroughly immersing himself in the JAFF world, Don also enjoys cooking; dining out, fine wine and well-aged scotch whiskey.

His other passion is cycling. Most days from April through October will find him “putting in the miles” around the Seattle area (yes there are hills). He has ridden several “centuries” (100 mile days). Don is especially proud that he successfully completed the AIDS Ride—Midwest (500 miles from Minneapolis to Chicago) and the Make-A-Wish Miracle Ride (300 miles from Traverse City, MI to Brooklyn, MI).

Contact Info:

Don Jacobson’s Amazon Author’s Page

Goodreads Author’s Page (with blog)

Author Website (with blog)Twitter (@AustenesqueAuth)

 

 

 

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The blog tour is just starting, so please don’t forget to check the following blogs for more excerpts, author interviews, reviews and much more 🙂

9/25 From Pemberley to Milton

9/26 So Little Time…

9/27 Interests of a Jane Austen Girl

9/28 My Love for Jane Austen

9/30 Babblings of a Bookworm

10/1 Diary of an Eccentric

10/2 More Agreeably Engaged

10/3 My Vices and Weaknesses

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Don Jacobson is generously giving away 4 eBooks of The Pilgrim: Lydia Bennet and a Soldier’s Portion. To apply to this giveaway, just click on this Raffelcopter link.

Good Luck Everyone!

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I, Sofia-Elisabete, Love Child of Colonel Fitzwilliam: A Perfect World in the Moon

The wonderful Nicole Clarkston recommended I, Sofia-Elisabete, Love Child of Colonel Fitzwilliam: A Perfect World in the Moon to me and when I heard what it was about, I became incredibly excited about the possibility of reading it.

The book is written in the first person and is told from the point of view of a 4-year-old girl who is the love child of Colonel Fitzwilliam, and a Portuguese woman whom he met while stationed in Portugal during the war. This child is called Sofia-Elisabete and she will embark on a great adventure through Europe in search of her roots, inviting us all to join her in the fantasy world that only a child’s brain can create.

I find this premise particularly interesting for many reasons: as stated above, the main character is Portuguese (the obvious one); she has a connection to one of my favorite secondary characters; and she is a child, making the book evidently different, which is something I have been craving for lately.

As I started reading, I realized that this book would be even more different than I expected and I was thrilled about it. I had never read anything like this in JAFF and I absolutely loved it! The imagination of this child, and the fact that we follow the story from her point of view reminded me of a South American literary style that I usually find in the works of Luis Sepúlveda, and that I haven’t read in a while and never in JAFF. As reality starts to give way to fantasy and events become to unravel in a whimsy manner, we are pulled into the story and cannot get out until we ascertain what the future of this child will be. The main character, Sofia-Elisabete, will conquer readers’ hearts who will cherish for her to find everything she hopes for.

This literary style was one of the aspects I cherished the most in the book because I felt transported into a completely different reality, but also the endearing manner in which the events were described. There is an innocence in this book that is irresistible and that will please readers who are able to keep an open mind towards it.

Another aspect I loved in the book were the Portuguese references, namely the name and descriptions of the towns and the local costumes that were mentioned. It was visible the author did a lot of research because many references were not only difficult to find, but also accurate. I was truly impressed with many details that were added to this book in regards to Portugal and its costumes. The one detail I didn’t like, and that constantly distracted me from the story was the incorrect use of some words such as Sofinha, Papai, me chamo and Con muito gusto. The author would have benefit from having a Portuguese beta reader who could have corrected these small details. Of course, these details will be relevant to Portuguese readers, but will be completely irrelevant to foreign readers, so do not be discouraged by it.

Overall this book is a very interesting story that will appeal to readers searching for something different in the JAFF world, and I recommend it to those who want a good story that doesn’t necessarily involve romance.

 

You can find I, Sofia-Elisabete, Love Child of Colonel Fitzwilliam: A Perfect World in the Moon at:

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

A Chance Encounter in Pemberley Woods – Excerpt & Giveaway

Good Afternoon everyone,

Today I am sharing an excerpt of A Chance Encounter in Pemberley Woods whose first pages I found gripping! This is a low angst novella that readers can devour in one afternoon and that introduces a very cute new character to the plot. Spoiler alert: You can actually see that new character on the books cover which is absolutely amazing!!!

Have you heard about this book yet? It is Brigit Huey’s first novel and if you take a closer look at the book’s details on Amazon’s page, you can see it was edited by the lovely Nicole Clarkston 🙂 Promising, right? If you haven’t heard about it yet, you can read the blurb and the excerpt to decide if this is your next weekend read 🙂

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A surprise meeting

A baby alone in the woods

And a second chance at love

Fitzwilliam Darcy returns to his beloved Pemberley with one thing on his mind ̶ to forget Elizabeth Bennet. Riding ahead of his party and racing a storm, he happens upon the very woman he wants to avoid. To his astonishment, she is holding a baby whose name and parentage are unknown.

Elizabeth Bennet never dreamed she had wandered into Pemberley’s Woods on her afternoon walk. But when she finds an infant alone in the storm, she turns to the last man in the world she wants to see ̶ and the only one who can help them both.

As the mystery of the baby’s identity intensifies, Elizabeth finds Mr. Darcy to be quite the reverse of what she expected. But when the child’s family is discovered, will the truth bring them together, or tear them apart?

You can find A Chance Encounter in Pemberley Woods at:

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

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To his surprise, Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst stood apart from the other ladies, their heads bent together—similar unhappy looks upon their faces. He felt a pang of remorse. Had they not been in constant pursuit of him, they might have been pleasant enough. However, their treatment of both Miss Elizabeth and Georgiana was inexcusable.

As soon as they saw him, they ceased their private conversation, rising to greet him instead. Sycophantic smiles pasted on their faces, they asked whether he wished for tea and cake. He accepted the tea then moved away from them to sit near Georgiana.

“Shall we not have some music?” Mrs. Hurst enquired. “I am sure Caroline would oblige us.”

Darcy answered in what he hoped was a polite and kind way. Caroline moved toward the pianoforte, and the rest of the company sat nearby, the better to hear her performance. It was masterfully done, of course. Caroline was an extremely accomplished woman. Darcy stole a glance at Elizabeth. She was sitting beside her aunt, attending to the music with polite interest.

When Caroline had played two pieces, she stood and invited Georgiana to play. Darcy looked at his sister, trying to determine how best to make her excuses. He knew she disliked playing for company. To his surprise, however, Georgiana rose and made her way toward Elizabeth.

“Miss Elizabeth,” she said in a confident tone Darcy could scarcely recognize. “Would you accompany me?”

Elizabeth received this request with surprised pleasure but confessed that she did not know any duets.

“Then perhaps you would turn the pages for me?” Georgiana asked.

“I should be delighted, Miss Darcy,” came the reply.

Darcy watched as his sister took her place at the pianoforte and began to play, Elizabeth dutifully turning the pages of her music as necessary.

When Georgiana had finished her first piece, no one clapped louder than he. Mr. Gardiner leaned toward him, sharing the settee as they were, and whispered, “She is quite accomplished, sir. Her love of music is obvious.”

“Yes,” he replied. “She has always been musical, and I am happy she finds such enjoyment in the discipline.”

“They make a pretty picture, do they not?” his companion replied. Darcy glanced at him, detecting something in his tone that sounded a bit like his teasing niece. Mr. Gardiner was obviously close to his niece, and their resemblance was occasionally rather striking. Darcy had the sudden feeling that Mr. Gardiner understood his feelings toward Elizabeth quite clearly.

“A very pretty picture indeed,” he replied, not wishing to hide his interest. He watched as Georgiana prepared to play another piece after extracting a promise from Elizabeth that she would play next.

Georgiana played his favorite solo arrangement of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23. When at last Elizabeth sat down to play, she too played Mozart. It was when she began to sing that Darcy felt his heart clench in the familiar pain of desire for that which he could not have. Dear Elizabeth, how very lovely she is. He thought again of her words about him in the parsonage: “… the last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed on to marry.”

Darcy felt a steely resolve beginning to build within him as he sat there in his family home, watching Elizabeth play. He would show her that he had changed, that her words had been taken with all the seriousness they deserved. And he would win her heart if there was any possibility to do so.

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Brigid has been in love with Jane Austen since first seeing the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice as a young girl. She lives in Ohio with her husband and two kids, and spends her free time reading and writing. This is her first Pride and Prejudice variation, though many others live in her imagination.

Contact Info:

Website: https://brigidhuey.com/

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorBrigidHuey/ 

Email: brigidhueywrites@gmail.com

Instagram: @brigidhueywrites

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrigidHuey

 

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The blog tour for A Chance Encounter in Pemberley Woods is almost at an end, but you can still read all the guest posts and excerpts that were shared in the other blogs. In case you’ve missed them, here is the list of blogs involved in this tour:

 

September 9  – So little time…

September 10 – Darcyholic Diversions

September 11 – Interests of a Jane Austen Girl

September 12 – Savvy Verse & Wit

September 13 – Babblings of a Bookworm

September 14 – My Love for Jane Austen

September 15 – My Life Journey

September 16 – Austenesque Reviews

September 17 – Half Agony, Half Hope

September 18 – Diary of an Eccentric

September 19 – From Pemberley to Milton   

September 20 – My Jane Austen Book Club

September 21 – My Vices and Weaknesses

 

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Meryton Press is giving away 8 eBooks of Brigid Huey’s A Chance Encounter in Pemberley Woods. To apply to this giveaway, just click on this Raffelcopter link.

Good Luck Everyone!

 

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The Giveaway Winners are…

Good Afternoon everyone,

I hope you are all having a great week and that you are reading something interesting 🙂 I have been lucky lately because I’ve read quite a few good ones.

But today I’m not here to share feedback nor to make recommendations. I’m here to announce the winners of Victoria Kincaid’s generous giveaway of two audiobooks, one of Darcy vs. Bennet and another one of When Jane Got Angry.

I’ve read both of these books and I highly recommend them, so if you haven’t won the giveaway I recommend getting either the kindle copy, or the audio version. I haven’t listened to the audiobooks yet but they are both narrated by Stevie Zimmermen who is one of my favourite narrators, which means they have to be good 🙂

I would like to thank Victoria Kincaid for her generosity and to all who took the time to visit From Pemberley to Milton and leave a comment. Your enthusiasm for JAFF books is what makes us all continue sharing these posts and giveaways 🙂

Now without further ado… The randomly selected winners are:

Darcy vs. Bennet

*** Wendy Essenburg ***

 

When Jane Got Angry

*** Maureen C ***

Congratulations everyone! I hope you enjoy your prizes 🙂 Can you please contact me through e-mail ritaluzdeodato at gmail dot com and provide me your addresses so that all prizes can be sent to you? Can you also let us know if you have a US or international account on audible? This will be important to get you the right code 🙂

Happy Reading!

The Journey Home to Pemberley – Review & Giveaway

In The Journey Home to Pemberley the author uses her knowledge of England to take the reader on a journey of their own through the country. Her vivid descriptions will allow the reader to visit the Lake District, Derbyshire, Dorsetshire, and Cambridge without even leaving his home. However, this is not the reason why you must read this book. You must read The Journey Home to Pemberley because it is a captivating, well-written romance that reaches the readers hearts and souls.

In it, Elizabeth and the Gardiners make it to the Lake District and find themselves aiding the rescue of a gentleman who was caught and injured during a horrible thunderstorm. That gentleman is none other than Mr. Darcy, and when Elizabeth discovers that it is him our hearts start to beat faster. Her genuine concern for his welfare and all the actions she takes while at the inn are pure bliss for romantic readers. The initial chapters are therefore very romantic and sweet. The reader will want to stay at that inn forever! But of course they cannot remain there for the entirety of the story and some angst will have to appear at some point.

When it did, I literally screamed at my kindle! I couldn’t believe what was happening, and I couldn’t believe that my favourite character would have to suffer that much once more! Until that moment I couldn’t stop reading because I was loving all the romantic interlude and dialogues I was seeing, but from that moment on I couldn’t put the book down until Darcy was happy once more.

Of course, the journey to happiness will not be simple, but fate will help and these characters will meet one another several times after the disruption in their relationship. Their last encounter at Pemberley is absolutely perfect! It kept me awake for much of the night because every sentence and every paragraph had to be read over and over again. The environment in which they meet is perfect. Their reactions are perfect. Their dialogues are perfect. What can I say? The entire chapter is perfect!

There are talented authors who write staggering books and average authors who work hard and write acceptable books. Joana Starnes falls into the first category and The Journey Home to Pemberley is once more proof of that. She doesn’t need far-fetched plots to capture the reader’s attention because her prose is enough to have that effect. This book captured my attention since the initial chapter where we see a thunderstorm come into Darcy’s way, until the couples reunion at Pemberley after the long journey they took throughout the country.

The only quibble I had with this book was the ending that seemed to drag a little. I understand most readers will love to see the main characters enjoy their bliss, as well as to know the fate of the secondary characters, but to an angst addict such as myself, it seemed a little too much. Despite this, one of my favourite aspects of the book was Darcy’s pure joy in the final chapters. It was hard to feel his pain during the angst part of the book, but the joy the author was able to transmit in the end was worth it. This is in fact one of Joana Starnes best characteristics as an author, she is able to make the reader feel everything the main characters are feeling, and that I would say is the best feature of this book! The emotion that is transmitted to the reader is compelling and will make everyone keep reading until the very end.

I highly recommend this book to everyone who wants a well-written and riveting romance. It is not overly angsty so I think it will appeal to readers who prefer a lower dose of angst, and it has a very interesting twist in Lydia storyline. The consequences of Lydia’s actions on her family are also very different and I liked this innovation, especially to Mrs. Bennet’s character.

Summing up, this is one of my favourite books this year and I recommend it to all types of readers.

You can find The Journey Home to Pemberley at:

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

 

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The blog tour is just beggining, please follow it to have a sneak peak at this story with excerpts or more insight on the creative process with guest posts. And of course, to apply to the giveaways 🙂

Yuu can find all the dates and blogs that will feature this book below:

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Joana lives in the south of England with her family. Over the years, she has swapped several hats – physician, lecturer, clinical data analyst – but feels most comfortable in a bonnet. She has been living in Georgian England for decades in her imagination, and plans to continue in that vein till she lays hands on a time machine.

She is the author of eight Austen-inspired novels (From This Day Forward ~ The Darcys of Pemberley; The Subsequent Proposal; The Second Chance; The Falmouth Connection; The Unthinkable Triangle; Miss Darcy’s Companion; Mr Bennet’s Dutiful Daughter and The Darcy Legacy) and one of the contributors to the Quill Ink anthologies (The Darcy Monologues, Dangerous to Know and Rational Creatures). They are all available at Amazon in Kindle and paperback, and some in Audible too: Joana’s Amazon Page.

 

You can connect with Joana on:

Facebook

Website

Twitter

Instagram

Austen Variations

 

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Ms. Starnes is offering a very generous giveaway to readers who follow her blog tour:

 

8 ebook copies of The Journey Home to Pemberley.

1 Paperback copy of The Journey Home to Pemberley.

1 Jane Austen & Pride and Prejudice goodie bag.

 

To apply to it, please click on this Rafflecopter link.

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Letters of the Heart – Excerpt & Giveaway

Good Afternoon everyone,

Today I’m closing the Blog Tour for Kay Bea’s recently released Letters From the Heart and I hope you have followed it because I some very interesting posts out there. I’ve also seen a lot of good reviews on Amazon which means this book promises to be a good one! It’s on my TBR pile and I do hope I have the time to read it, until then I’ll have to settle for excerpts such as the one we are sharing here at From Pemberley to Milton. I hope you like this one 🙂

 

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November 26, 1812
Pemberley, Derbyshire

Dear Richard,

I can scarce believe it has been only one year since I danced with her at Netherfield. Forgive me; I have attempted to follow your advice and not dwell overmuch on the past, but on this day, I cannot help but think of how different things might have been.

I was enchanted that evening. I can still close my eyes and recall her scent of lavender, contemplate her grace as she danced, and see every expression of her magnificent eyes. They sparkled with merriment as she spoke with her friends, burned with shame when she watched her younger sisters, and flashed with anger when she spoke to me. Every look spoke of her passion and loyalty, and I was lost. I was terrified and I ran the next day. The day I left was the very day Miss Elizabeth declined Collins’s first proposal. Had I been there, I would like to think I would have declared myself immediately. But, perhaps not. I had not yet learnt to be humble or to consider how I might please a woman worthy of being pleased.

Enough. I shall be maudlin no longer. I can give you no excuse to spend Christmastide torturing me. Georgiana and I shall arrive at Ashford Lodge on December 10. Georgie wishes to have some time with your parents before the arrival of our Kent relations. I have had a letter from Anne; she intends to introduce her mother to Mr Addison whilst we are all together. She has contrived, with the apparent cooperation of your own dear mother, to have Mr Addison and his sister invited for a visit of several days. The Addisons seem to have many friends in the area and, in what I am certain is no coincidence, they will be spending Christmas with a family residing not ten-miles from Ashford. You may wish to bring your sword as it might be required to defend Mr Addison from our aunt. Lady Catherine is an enigma to me. She is very much as she ever was in her fundamental nature: demanding, unyielding, and imperious. Yet, in the matter of Miss Elizabeth, she has been exceedingly useful and has acted with naught but kindness to that lady. It confounds the mind. I shall not question it as I am told that Miss Elizabeth’s general condition is much improved. The relief this news brought to that lady’s father can only be imagined.

’Tis unfortunate your Lady Amelia cannot join the family party. I suspect her father would be more amenable to the arrangements if you would formalise the nature of your understanding. As you have not spoken to either of them of your intentions, you cannot be truly surprised at her family’s reluctance. Perhaps your courage will be found amongst the gifts this year.

Your cousin,
Fitzwilliam Darcy

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November 26, 1812
Hunsford Cottage, Kent

Dear Jane,

Was it only one year ago that we danced with our friends at Netherfield? So very much has changed since then. I wonder, if I had not been so hasty to judge Mr Darcy, whether things might have been different. But it is no matter now. I can scarce believe I shall be an aunt in just a short time. You and my brother will make wonderful parents. I do wish Mama would give you some peace. I would suggest you appeal to our father, but after so long a marriage, I do not think he will begin to check her behaviour now. I was happy to hear from Mary that Lydia is learning to play so well and that Kitty continues to improve in drawing. Indeed, it sounds as though Miss Darcy made quite the impression on our little family in the weeks she was visiting you at Netherfield. Perhaps the newfound peace will have some influence on Mama as well.

Life in Kent continues on rather quietly. Lady Catherine sends her coach daily that I might continue my friendship with Anne. I have been assigned my own rooms at Rosings as there are times when Anne feels she cannot part with me and begs that I remain overnight. Lady Catherine keeps Mr Collins busy with the various needs of the parish. Between his increased responsibilities and my new duties to Anne, it frequently happens that I do not see my husband more than once or twice a week. I find I can well bear the separation.

I confess I dread the coming holiday, for Lady Catherine and Anne will travel to Ashford Lodge for a month complete, and I shall find myself quite desolate without them or my dear family for company. We shall make a very small party, just Mr Collins and myself. Perhaps I should invite some distinguished family of the parish to join us. I shall speak to Lady Catherine first as my cousin will never fail to do her bidding.

Please give my brother and sisters and father my love. As to our mother—and do not think I have ignored your entreaties in this department—I have not yet learned to forgive her. I do not know that I ever shall. I know you do not approve of that sentiment, but I cannot help myself. Our father was ill, but he was not dying, and she very well knew it. To force me into my present circumstance was unconscionable. Please do not ask me to pardon the woman who has been responsible for ruining all my hopes. I am at last finding some measure of contentment here, but it is not due in any part to that lady.

Wishing you every joy.

Love,
Elizabeth Collins

 

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The death of one’s spirit should come with a great deal of noise: weeping and wailing, if not thunder or the roar of a fire. Elizabeth could not have imagined a spirit forced into darkness by something so mundane as the scratch of pen on paper. Elizabeth Bennet has been certain of many things in her life; her place in society, the love of her family, her ability to choose her own future, and her ability to accurately judge the character of those she meets. Three days after the Netherfield Ball, a near tragedy shakes that foundation and in the weeks that follow, Elizabeth learns that nothing is certain. Compelled by circumstance and her mother’s will, Elizabeth is condemned to marry her father’s heir, Mr William Collins. Isolated from everyone she knows and loves, Elizabeth is faced with a dark and difficult future. Unaware of the changes that have occurred in his absence, Fitzwilliam Darcy returns to Hertfordshire determined to right his wrongs and prove himself worthy of Elizabeth’s love. When he learns he is too late to secure his happiness, Darcy determines he will express his love for Elizabeth the only way he can – by protecting her younger sisters as well as he would his own. Old bonds are strengthened, family ties are severed, and unlikely allies emerge as each of them struggles to make sense of the changes they face.Can happiness be found when it seems all hope is lost?

This novella is a variation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and as such contains her characters as well as those of the author’s creation.

 

 

 

You can find Letters of The Heart at:

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

 

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Kay Bea is an administrative assistant and Jane Austen lover living in Kansas City with her husband of twenty-five years, her mother-in-law, and her fur kids. She has written several short stories and drabbles on fanfiction.net as “I Found My Mr. Darcy” and on A Happy Assembly as MrsDarcy2032.

Kay grew up in Wyoming, enjoyed a two-year adventure in Maryland, and now calls Missouri home. When she isn’t writing, Kay enjoys photography, cooking, and spending time with her adult children and three granddaughters.

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We have just closed the blog tour for Letters of the Heart, but you can still read all the guest posts and excerpts that were shared in the other blogs. In case you’ve missed them, here is the list of blogs involved in this tour:

 

Tuesday, September 3: My Jane Austen Book Club

Wednesday, September 4: Austenesque Reviews

Thursday, September 5: My Vices & Weaknesses

Friday, September 6: Calico Critic

Monday, September 9: Babblings of a Bookworm

Tuesday, September 10: Savvy Verse & Wit

Wednesday, September 11: Margie’s Must Reads

Thursday, September 12: From Pemberley to Milton

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Quills and Quartos is offering a generous giveaway of a $50 Amazon Gift Card for one lucky reader who comments  on any of the blog tour stops. To be eligible, just comment on any of the blog tour stops, and fear not, one need not visit all the stops (one point per stop and comment), however, it does increase your chances of winning by earning more entry points.

The giveaway is open until the 19th so you still have time to to check out all the posts and increase yoru chances of winning 🙂

Good Luck Everyone!

 

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My Jane Austen Roadtrip – Chapter VI – Pemberley & Steventon at last

Good Afternoon dear readers,

By now you probably know that I love travelling and sharing those travels with you when they pertain the JAFF universe, but I’ve been a bit lazy (I blame the difficulty in taking the pictures out of my phone and into my computer for that laziness), and I’ve failed to share with you my latest Jane Austen Road Trip.

Last February I visited England once more, and even if this is not exactly current news, I thought you might still like to see the places I visited, especially because this time I had the most wonderful host and tour guide who was writing a book that was published yesterday…can you guess who it was?

This is me, at her house, having a sneak peak at the initial chapters, and little did I know that this would be one of my favourite books of the year!! I have finished reading it today and will publish the review soon, so keep an eye on From Pemberley to Milton to know more about The Journey Home to Pemberley 🙂

Have you guessed the author’s name yet? Well, I’m sure you know I’m talking about Joana Starnes! This lovely lady welcomed me into her home and allowed me to have a sneak peak at The Journey Home to Pemberley and I couldn’t thank her enough for all the hospitality and patience with me 🙂 Ms. Starnes is a beautiful person and I’m very honoured to have had the pleasure of getting to know her a few years ago. She is also one of the most talented authors I know, so if you haven’t read all her books yet, I highly recommend them, especially this new one, which is also available on Kindle Unlimited.

About the trip, I could say that I went to the UK because of Jane Austen, but this time I flew across the channel for a different reason. You see, I love The X-Files as much as I love Pride and Prejudice and one of the stars of the show, Gillian Anderson, was doing a play called All About Eve in Noel Coward Theatre. I had met her in a Meet & Greet in 2017 in Brussels and again in 2018 in Orlando, but I had never seen her on a play, so I HAD to see this women live on a theatre. Luckily Mira from Obsessed with Mr. Darcy was a sweetheart and bought me a ticket to go with her and a friend, so this trip wasn’t due to Austen, but Austen was present everywhere! Plus, the play also stared Lily James, do you remember her? She played Elizabeth Bennet in Pride, Prejudice and Zombies, so in truth, my entire visit revolved around Jane Austen.

But I’m sure you’re not really interested in Gillian Anderson and her plays, even if Lily James was part of it, so we should just go straigh to Pemberley!!!

Do you see the small pieces of snow in the grass? And isn’t the frozen lake beautiful? The last time I visited Pemberley it was summer, the sun was shining and the sky was blue, so I loved visiting the property during the winter with new colours adorning it. This allows me to better imagine all the Pemberley scenes described in JAFF books because now I know how the house looks in different times of the year. And we know that lots of books have our couple meeting after a storm or getting stranded there because of bad weather, right 😉

Before setting out to THE POND and walking in the gardens, Joana and I met Glynis and that was one of the highlights of the day!!! Glynis is a wonderful lady and I love discussing books with her 🙂 We sat in the cafeteria, drank tea (probably coffee in my case) and talked, talked, talked about Darcy 🙂

But all good things come to an end, so we did have to say our goodbyes and head back to the pond which was also frozen! It was amazing! I think Joana was a little surprised about my excitment over a frozen pond… but God know why, I was amazed by it!

Before we left, Joana took some time to contemplate the house in “her tree” (a little bird told me she wrote a book sitting there, so now that’s Joana’s tree to me) and I walked around in a different part of the property I hadn’t discovered the first time I visited 2 years ago. This was one of my favourite strols in Pemberley because it made me feel home.

I feel at peace in Lyme Park, and walking around in that place brings me a feeling of happiness I cannot describe. It is so quiet and beautiful that I feel I would have been truly happy being mistress of it! I can’t imagine anything more wonderful then having an opportunity to walk around in these paths whenever I wanted, or picking up a book and reading while listening to the water falling, or the birds singing.

I filmed these videos while walking quite close to the house to show you how quiet and beautiful this place is. Usually people post lots of videos and pictures of the house, the gardens or the orangery, but I don’t see pictures of the wilderness surrounding the house very often, so I thought you might like to see how it is, especially because these places are really close to the house, and just a little after the gardens.

Can you imagine living in a place like this? No wonder Elizabeth gets lost on the grounds on so many variations! If she got lost during a storm, I don’t know how they would find her!

As the day came to an end we made our descend into the train station to head back south, were chased by several dears (that scared the hell out of me), and watched the Derbyshire sunset 🙂 It was stunning! I love to watch the sunset at the beach, but watching it in Derbyshire was just as beautiful. The green of the fields made an exquisite contrast with the orange in the sky, and once more, I envied Elizabeth Bennet!

And as we were in England, Joana took me to this incredible pub to have a truly English experience 🙂 Isn’t she the most wonderful host? This place was beautiful and if I am not mistaken it already existed in Jane Austen’s time 🙂 But Joana will be able to give you more details about the place 🙂

The following day Joana took me to Steventon which I had been wanting to visit for many years, so I was really happy to have a chance to visit it in this brief visit 🙂

There aren’t many things to see in Steventon. When we got there, I could only see a few houses and the church and that was NOT what I was expecting. Maybe I should have done some research, because in fact, even the church was different from what I expected, it was a small and cozy building, much smaller than I thought. When I got inside and noticed that no one could have any real privacy during the Sunday services I was able to better understand some scenes of many JAFF books I’ve read. If you imagine the Hunsford church was just like the one Jane Austen went to,  then you can perfectly understand how Mr. Darcy was obliged to look at Elizabeth during Mr. Collins entire eulogy 🙂

One of the best things about these trips is that they show me how different Jane Austen’s world was from the one we live in. Seeing Steventon made me realized that live could have been romantic, but also quite boring and hard. Can you imagine living in a place where your only company was the one of 3 or 4 neighbors? Can you imagine having to go to the church on Sunday and meeting the same people every week? Having no escape and being forced to talk to them? No wonder regency ladies were so excited to go any place that was not their home, and no wonder they had to choose their husbands wisely!

Did you know the church was this small? Have you ever been there? Had you seen any pictures? I am really happy I had the opportunity to visit it this year 🙂

After the church, Joana showed me the place where Mr. Austen’s house must have been, and I confess it was a little disappointing because there is nothing there! I mean, the place is bucolic and beautiful, but there isn’t much to see apart from the landscape and what was probably a well. Wouldn’t you prefer to be able to visit the house Jane Austen lived in as a child?

We also stopped at the coaching inn where Jane used to take her letters. If I remember correctly this place is 4 miles away from her house, so it is quite a walk to make every day, but I imagine regency ladies were more used to walking then we do, and lets face it…they didn’t have much to do anyway, so this was probably a welcomed distraction.

As we were leaving this area we discovered a phone booth which was turned into a free library in honour of Jane Austen. Isn’t this a great idea? I have seen several of these libraries around the world, but this was by far the most beautiful I have ever seen!

After living the dream with Joana Starnes for a couple of days, I returned to London. There I still had time to have lunch with a colleague I used to work with, and walk an entire afternoon through Mayfair with another friend who was a sweetheart to put up with me and my insistence for searching places that could be remotely related to Jane Austen. But I think I better leave those pictures to another time. Today was all about Lyme Park and Steventon 🙂

If after this parade of pictures you are still interested in seeing my previous Jane Austen Road Trips, you can check them on the links below. They will show you different places and different adventures with lots of interesting people 🙂

 

My Jane Austen Road Trip I

My Jane Austen Road Trip II

My Jane Austen Road Trip III

My Jane Austen Road Trip IV

My Jane Austen Road Trip V

 

I have now visited most places related to either Jane Austen’s life, her works, and the filming locations of film adaptations, but I hope to be able to visit a few more next year 🙂 Hopefully 2020 will bring another Jane Austen Road Trip, until then, I’ll leave you with the peace and quiet of the best place in the entire world!

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Victoria Kincaid on Audible & Giveaway

Good Afternoon everyone,

How are you this week? Have all your children returned to school? I don’t know if in your part of the world they re-start school in the beginning of September but here they do, which means traffic is back to normal 😦 It’s time to say goodbye to summer and accept that my commutes will now take one hour to each side once more. The positive side of it is that I will re-gain more time to listen to audiobooks 🙂 And speaking of which, did you know that Victoria Kincaid launched two other books on Audible? That’s right, y’all will have more audiobooks to add to your list! But I’ll let her discuss that with you 🙂

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Hi Rita, thank you for having me back for a visit! Today I’m sharing exciting news with your readers: I’ve recently released two audiobooks recorded by the wonderful Stevie Zimmerman!   Stevie does such a great job with the voices of all my favorite Pride and Prejudice characters that I love listening to her narrate. You can click on these links, Darcy vs. Bennet and When Jane Got Angry, to hear samples of the narration. Below are excerpts and details about a double giveaway for both audiobooks!

 

Darcy vs. Bennet

He took her hand and led her out toward the edge of the veranda where there was fewer people and cooler air. They stood by the balustrade, catching the evening breezes. “Thank you for the dance.” William was a little breathless. “It was most enjoyable.”

“Thank you for asking me. You are an excellent dancer!” She could not help smiling at him.

But his face was solemn, almost as if he was concentrating on something. Without taking his eyes from hers, he slowly brought her hand to his lips and kissed it, lingering far longer than was strictly polite. A shiver shot through Elizabeth’s entire body. He did not relinquish his hold; he turned her hand over and bent his head to gently kiss her palm. Thank goodness I am wearing gloves. If he were kissing my skin, I might burst into flames!

“I must see you again, fair Elizabeth.” he breathed. “Where can I find you so I might obtain permission from your father to court you?” His head was still bent over her hand, but he glanced up through his lashes.

Elizabeth could not quite stifle the thrill of excitement at the thought of being courted by a man such as this. But she forced herself to ignore the sensation. “I am afraid it is impossible, sir.”

He straightened, regarding her with a frown. “Are you promised to another?” His voice had a new hoarseness.

“No, but—we are from different worlds.”

The lines on his forehead deepened. “You are a gentleman’s daughter?”

“Yes, yes, of course.” She cast about for a reason that would not reveal her identity. “I am not from Sussex.”

“Neither am I,” he responded promptly. “My family has an estate in Derbyshire. Where do you reside?”

She opened her mouth to say “Hertfordshire” and only just remembered that she should not reveal anything. It was all too easy to forget herself in this man’s presence!

“It matters not. It is in every way impossible. I am sorry.”

He appeared so crestfallen that Elizabeth considered revealing the true reasons they could not meet again. But if the Berwicks discovered that Louisa Green and her friend had insinuated themselves into the ball, it would be a great scandal, risking both women’s reputations—and likely earning William’s disgust as well. It was best if she departed while he still thought well of her.

 

 

You can find Darcy Vs Bennet on:

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

Audible

and here is my review

 

 

When Jane Got Angry

Many other women would be angry with Miss Bingley, Jane supposed. Lizzy. Lydia. Her mother. But Jane was the sister who did not make a fuss. She did not demand. She did not protest. Papa called her “the quiet one.” Jane could be counted upon to bring Mama her tea when she had an attack of nerves. Or to mediate any dispute between Kitty and Lydia. To remain calm no matter what happened. That was who she was.

Even when your friend was revealed to be false.

Of course, none of this could be shared with the maid. “Are you at all acquainted with Miss Bingley?” Perhaps Maggie had heard some rumors; Jane could conceive no other reason to raise the subject with her.

“No, miss. Not at all. But I am acquainted with Mr. Bingley’s valet, Joseph. That is to say, Mr. Harvey.” The girl colored faintly. She had red hair and the very pale skin that often accompanied it.

Jane felt a faint spark of hope, although she did not know how Maggie’s acquaintance might benefit the lowly Miss Bennet.   “I see.”

“Miss Bingley gives her brother a world of trouble. He has complained about her to Joseph.”

“Do you know if Miss Bingley encouraged her brother to leave Netherfield?” The words were out before Jane could have second thoughts. She should not be gossiping with her aunt’s maid, but the question was one she often had wondered about—and it was such a relief to share her woes with a sympathetic listener. Aunt Gardiner attended to Jane’s anxieties, but she was very busy with her children—and often inclined to give advice about “forgetting” Mr. Bingley. Jane did not believe such a feat was possible.

“I don’t know, but I can ask.”

Jane said nothing, torn between her need to learn the truth and her quite proper desire to avoid gossip.

She caught another glimpse of her wan reflection in the mirror. What did it signify? “No, it matters not. My path and Mr. Bingley’s are unlikely to cross again.”

Maggie’s reflection—standing behind Jane’s—frowned. “Why is that?”

“We do not run in the same circles, and Miss Bingley seems inclined to discontinue the acquaintance.”

Maggie shook her head, making her red curls bounce. “Och, people of quality make everything so hard. If I liked a fellow, I would just go up and knock on his door.”

Jane stifled a laugh. “Would that it were so simple.”

Emboldened, Maggie stepped a little closer to Jane and lowered her voice. “I could ask Joseph about Mr. Bingley’s schedule so you might find him and speak with him.”

Jane gave the maid a sad smile. “I thank you for the offer, but I could not possibly approach Mr. Bingley. It would be unpardonably forward.”

“But if you was to know where Mr. Bingley would be, you could arrange to encounter him—all accidental like—with him none the wiser.” Such deviousness would never have occurred to Jane. Her mouth hung open as she stared at Maggie. “Like, if he was riding in Rotten Row one day, you could be, too,” the maid clarified.

“I do not own a horse,” Jane said softly.

Maggie waved this objection away. “That was just an example. He could be going any number of places. Gentlemen like him do, you know.”

It was a tantalizing suggestion. Jane was tempted to accept Maggie’s offer just for the opportunity to lay her eyes on Mr. Bingley one more time. But if she should converse with him—and if he remained ignorant of her presence in London…? Then perhaps he might pay the Gardiners a call, and they could renew their acquaintance.

 

 

You can find When Jane Got Angry on:

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

Audible

and here is my review

 

 

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Victoria Kinkaid would like to give my readers a chance to listen to these recently released audiobooks so she is offering two separate giveaways, one for an audio copy of Darcy vs. Bennet and one for a copy of When Jane Got Angry. Please let us know in the comments which one you would like to receive and why to apply to the giveaways. They are open until the 15^th of September and will be announced shortly after.

Good Luck everyone!

Conceit & Concealment

Conceit and Concealment is amongst my all-time favorite books but I never got a chance to review it, so I am doing it now in the hopes that those who, for some reason, have not read it yet, may consider adding it to their to be read list.

You may ask why you should read this book, well; for starters, the historical component of this book is an unbelievable addition that will get readers hooked to the story from the start. Not only will readers want to know what is happening to the main characters, but most of all, they will want to know what will happen to the country and the resistance. In this book England is at war with France, the French army has actually overpowered British troops, and entered English soil ruling it on behave of Napolean. You may think you will stand by the English people who have apparently lost the war, but I must warn you that readers will have a hard time picking sides because they are shown both sides of the conflict and both arguments will seem valid. You may want to choose the side of our heroes, but you will definitely understand that on the other side you have people who are just following orders, and for whom you start to grow a lot of sympathy. I found this a beautiful aspect of the book, and even if I didn’t research a lot to know if there is historical accuracy, I am sure the author did a lot of research because she made me love reading every single historic aspect that was depicted in the book.

Most readers want to know about the writing style and romance present in the book, of course, and even if I didn’t start with that aspect, they are both incredibly good! The dialogues are witty and engaging and I would personally love to have those type of discussions with Darcy. Moreover, the women are portrayed as thinking beings, and not just as fragile creatures who need to be protected by man. They are intelligent and take action into their own hands. They are courageous and an important part of the plot, which was another aspect I really enjoyed.

The secondary characters aren’t just there to fill the pages either, they are well built with their own backstory, which makes us intrigued at first and in love with them as pages go by.

I haven’t spoken much about the main characters, namely Mr. Darcy, but my, oh my! He is absolutely perfect in this book! I have certainly loved him and how his relationship with Elizabeth was built. We could feel real chemistry between them as we flipped the pages in this book, and even when we thought things would get cold between them, something happened to bring the sparkle back. The depth of their feelings is addictive in this book and readers keep craving for more Darcy and Elizabeth moments. It is one of the most beautiful relationships I have seen in JAFF, and I can say with certainty that most readers will be rendered to it.

I have initially read this book and more recently heard the audiobook so let me tell you that if you prefer audios, the narration makes justice to the quality of the book. All characters are easily distinguished and the accents are very well done. Usually I find accents from different countries annoying in audiobooks because they never seem quite right (in my line of business I hear a LOT of different accents, so I’ve become quite the expert), but that doesn’t happen in this book so I need to congratulate Elizabeth Klett for a wonderful narration.

Conceit and Concealment is a roller coaster of emotions, it is fast paced with something always happening in the narrative, but the author also takes the time to ascertain certain characters feelings and let the reader experience their interactions, making it perfect in terms of balance between action and character development. It is an incredible narrative full of passion, history and supported by strong and well-built characters that will compel readers to turn the pages franticly until the end. I highly recommend this book to all my readers.

You can find Conceit & Concealment at:

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

and on Audible