Tuesday, November 3, 2015

My share in the conversation...Colonel Fitzwilliam and the Countess Sainte Toulour


Available soon on Amazon
I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read and review Stanley Michael Hurd's latest book, 
Colonel Fitzwilliam and The Countess of Sainte Toulours. It is available for preorder now and will be released on Amazon, November 6, 2015. Included at the bottom of my review is an excerpt from the book and there is also a giveaway of two eBooks, open internationally. 

As with most of my reviews, I have purposely not written much about the specifics of the plot. It is not my intention to write spoilers but just give enough hints to entice readers to want to pick up the book and read it for themselves. I do hope you will give this book a try.

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Colonel Fitzwilliam is one of my all-time favorite minor characters in Pride and Prejudice and I was ecstatic when I heard about the newest book by Stanley Michael Hurd. As the title suggests, the story is mainly about Colonel Fitzwilliam…his thoughts, his life, his loves…the very essence of the man. I must say, this novel did not disappoint my expectations! If I started naming things that I loved about this book, I would have to say, EVERYTHING!!!

As the story begins, Colonel Edmund Fitzwilliam is leaving the Horse Guards building to attend dinner and a small private ball at the home of his cousins, Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy. Little does he know that his head will soon be turned by a lovely lady at the dinner and things will never be the same again. Did I mention that he can write a swoon-worthy love letter? He can!

I really enjoyed getting to know Colonel Edmund Fitzwilliam. I liked seeing inside his head and his heart . He is quite a romantic (did I mention love letters?) but also a very intelligent and shrewd officer. He is loyal to a fault and always thinks of others before himself. He is brave, strong and loves his family. I fell in love with this Colonel and wanted him to have his happily ever after.

All of the characters were very well developed and soon several became favorites. I adored Lord Estéban de Esparza! (his name too) He was dashing, daring and handsome! What’s not to love? He plays a key role in the book and is the perfect partner for Colonel Fitzwilliam in their perilous escapades in Spain and France.

The Countess of Sainte Toulours, Lord Whittington and Miss Emily Chelwood are significant to the storyline and have facets to their character that are gradually revealed as the story unfolds. Of course, no good adventure can be without a villain and l’Etailler certainly is a vicious and sly one. Darcy and Elizabeth are not central to this book but they do make appearances continually throughout. Although infrequent, Elizabeth has an important part to play and does it well, as one would expect from her.

The historical aspect of the book is enthralling. There are a couple of twists that I didn’t see coming but that is a good thing! The book left me feeling thoroughly entertained and satisfied. There is adventure, romance, intrigue, longing, sadness, heartache, espionage, joy…a battle of wits (and one battle of not so much wit)…all wrapped up neatly in a novel that keeps you reading from the first page to the last. 

Stanley Michael Hurd has an exceptional command of Regency language and a writing style that sets the flavor of his book perfectly for the time period. The flow of the plot is continuous and never skips a beat. This is a book not to be missed and I highly recommend it to any and all lovers of Colonel Fitzwilliam and Pride and Prejudice, as well as any history buff of the Napoleonic wars.

The author states in the preface of his book, “This work can be taken as either a love story, periodically interrupted by the Napoleonic wars, or an adventure story with romantic interludes.” I say that the two, adventure and romance, are seamlessly woven together and inseparable, to create a word tapestry of excellence by Stanley Michael Hurd.

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Excerpt:

On entering the drawing-room Miss Chelwood saw that Elizabeth had another letter for her, and lost
no time in reading it. As she read, her soft exclamations of tenderness, seemingly almost designed to elicit enquiry, soon produced their effect. “Emily, for Heaven’s sake! Whatever are you mooning over?”

“Oh!” she lamented, “my poor boy! He sounds so lorn and alone!”

“‘Lorn and alone’!” Elizabeth demanded in surprise. “Gracious! Is that Shakespeare?”

“I … I think not,” Emily replied, colouring. “Donne, perhaps—or neither; I can no longer be sure. I have been reading both, I confess, but it may in fact have come from my own disordered imagination.”

“Perhaps you had better limit your reading to prose, dear,” Elizabeth said practically, “as being less likely to discompose the emotions; at this rate we shall soon have to dress you in one of those high, peaked head-dresses, with a scarf flying from its top, and a pendant belt, that you might suffer and swoon the better for your roving knight.”

Emily blushed again, saying, “I only meant he did not sound as if he were in spirits.”

“Yes, in his letter to us Darcy thought he detected that he was not quite himself. Is aught amiss, or does he merely pine?” This last she said with mischievous relish.

“Elizabeth! How can you be so heartless?”

“As he is one of my favourite connexions, and as we have always enjoyed a bit of raillery, if I do enjoy it rather more than I ought, I am sure he will understand and forgive me. But in all honesty I am only too delighted to see him succumb at last to his heart; and I would have you know how truly delightful it is to me that the two of you are together. I am sure I know no other couple so well-suited to one another.”

“There is you, and Mr. Darcy,” Emily said.

Elizabeth did not speak immediately, lost in a reflexion on her own early days as a lover and wife. “Perhaps so,” she mused. “And I dare say we were just as bad, at first. But then, maybe that is it: misery loves company.”

“Misery!”

“No, no, my dear; it is only just an expression. I mean, having been so one’s self, it is reassuring to see another, for whom one holds a strong regard, act the same. One does not feel quite such a mooncalf, then.”

“Am I a mooncalf?” asked Emily in a small voice.

“Completely,” Elizabeth told her affectionately. “Palpably, undeniably, indescribably so; it is terribly sweet, you know. And he is every bit as bad as you. Is not that delicious?”

Emily looked a little alarmed and ashamed, but then she brightened, saying with conspiratorial delight, “Yes—it is.” The two young women laughed, and Elizabeth proceeded to question her minutely on the Colonel’s letter, to Emily’s complete satisfaction.

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Thank you, Stanley Michael Hurd, for giving us such a fantastic story about the good Colonel, Edmund Fitzwilliam. I was honored to be asked to read and review his adventure and it was fulfilling to see him get his due, a book of his own! Thank you also for having a give away for my readers. They will be excited for the chance to win. I hope you will come for a visit any time!

Dear Readers, this giveaway will end at 11:59 PM on the 9th of November. There are two eBooks up for grabs, and both are international! Please leave a comment with your contact information below to be entered in the giveaway. If you feel so inclined tell us something you like about Colonel Fitzwilliam. Thanks so much for stopping by to read my review and the excerpt for Colonel Fitzwilliam and The Countess of Sainte Toulours by Stanley Michael Hurd. Good luck to all in the giveaway. 

29 comments:

  1. What a beautiful excerpt. I can't wait to read those swoon-worthy love letters. I still have each letter my DH sent me when I was in Europe for the 3 months when we were dating. Maybe it is time I teread them. I love that the Vonel is such a loyal and true friend to Darcy.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Deborah Ann. What fun to reread your love letters!

      I too love that about the Colonel. They are so close and that is neat to read about in many of the stories written today. I always love that aspect of the retellings or variations.

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  2. I stopped reading the review when you said you loved it - I don't need to know anything about the story I want it to be a complete surprise - the Colonel is my favourite minor character so I intend to read this especially as I have read Stanley's other books and enjoyed them.
    More books are needed about the minor characters especially the Colonel

    meikleblog at gmail dot com

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    1. Thanks, Vesper. I am happy to hear that you will be reading this one, too. Isn't Mr. Hurd a wonderful writer. I was fascinated with his style and use of Regency language.

      No need to worry. I did not give anything away in my review. I agree that it should all be a complete surprise for every reader.

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  3. Dear Janet,

    Thanks so much for your kind words; this is the first review from someone outside my little circle, and I am very gratified to know it pleased you. I have mentioned before how I get to a point before publication where all I can see are flaws, so I am always nervous about whether a book is any good until people start reading it. I'm taking my first deep breaths in weeks! Thanks again.

    Best,

    Stan

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    1. I feel honored to have written the first review outside your circle. Thank you for the opportunity. I enjoyed the book tremendously and will be reading it again. I can only imagine those pre-publication nerves but I do experience something of the same when I'm ready to release a calendar, have a book cover revealed and especially so with my drawings. I'm like you and can only see the flaws or things I wish I could better. That said, I'm pleased to aid in you being able to take your first deep breath in weeks! :) I thought your book was a perfect blending of romance, adventure and history! Excellent...and I cannot say enough about your writing style. It truly felt like it was from the time period of Jane Austen herself!

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    2. Dear Janet,

      Thank you again; you are too kind. The honor, and the pleasure, were mine, I assure you. I am so happy to have been invited, and I hope to be back again before too very long.

      Best,

      Stan

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  4. I do love the colonel in more ways than I can think of in the novels I have read. How he teases Darcy that he can't carry a conversation but only writes letters. So now he is the one to write so the tables have turned. This will be an interesting read.
    Thanks for the lovely review and it will be fun reading someone's love letters!

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    1. Thanks, MaryAnn. I'm so glad you stopped by. I hope you get a chance to read this book very soon! You will enjoy the love letters, too!

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  5. Oh yes! Very excited about this one. And yay, it was that good for you, Janet. I can't wait to get the adventures, the romance, the updates of Darcy and Lizzy, and oh yes, a good villain is important, too.

    I always enjoyed Colonel Fitzwilliam's support of his cousin the most. I always imagined him being there as a friend for Darcy after they left the ugly Hunsford scene and maybe guessing at Darcy's pain. He was so loyal, dutiful, and yet friendly and playful.

    Appreciate the giveaway opportunity.
    sophiarose1816 at gmail dot com

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    1. I hope you get to read this one too. I was so excited about it and it was every bit as good as I imagined it would be. Thanks so much for visiting and commenting.

      I'm like you, I feel that the Colonel's support of Darcy and their friendship was as binding or more so, than if they were true brothers. I love the banter between them when reading JAFF.

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  6. Dear Sophia Rose,

    I think it’s a sign of Austen’s genius that the Colonel, even though he is only very lightly sketched in P&P, gives all of us the same impression: that he is amiable, trustworthy, intelligent, and on good enough terms with his cousin that he can make jokes at Darcy’s expense without its being resented. I spent about 95,000 words to convey pretty much the same thing! ;-)

    Best,

    Stan

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  7. This delightful review has intrigued me and give this book a chance. I'm fond of Colonel Fitzwilliam and it's good to know that he is the hero of his own story. Sometimes I would love to read minor characters getting a major role than only read novels focusing on D&E.

    evangelineace2020(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. Hi, Sylvia. I'm so glad to have you visit. Hope you are doing good. Thanks for your comments and yes, it is nice to have the colonel as the hero of his own story...and what a fantastic story it is!.

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  8. Dear Lúthien84,
    Inasmuch as the Colonel is the major character of this book, perhaps you will find it satisfies your wishes. While Darcy and Elizabeth are in the book, in this case THEY are the minor characters. Good luck in the giveaway.

    Best,

    Stan

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  9. Love the colonel. I've always wanted to know more about this incredibly entertaining character. The fact that he also is a bit of a gossip could add to a story as well. Can't wait to read this one!! Lynn Char

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    1. Dear Lynn,

      I agree, the Colonel is a very engaging character, and I enjoyed his company very much as I wrote the book. Best of luck in the giveaway!


      Stan

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    2. Thanks, Lynn, for stopping by and commenting. I do think the good Colonel is an entertaining character and he certainly is in this novel. I hope you get to read this book soon and you will see for yourself.

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  10. A thoroughly enchanting excerpt! Thanks, Stan, for yet another wonderful story and thanks Janet for the tantalising review!

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    1. Dear Joana,

      Thanks so much! I hope to hear your opinion of it soon. Good luck in the giveaway!


      Best,

      Stan

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    2. Thank you, Joana, and thanks for popping in. I hope you get a chance to read this one soon.

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  11. A book dedicated to the colonel? I love it! Thanks for the lovely excerpt and for the great giveaway!

    Pam
    Pamh5230@yahoo.com

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    1. Hi Pamela,

      The Colonel is one of the more interesting minor characters in Austen, I have always felt, and he was fun to work with. Good luck!

      Stan

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    2. Hi Pam , and thanks for commenting. I feel confident you will love this book. Good luck in the giveaway!

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  12. Ahhhhhh! A mooncalf? Such a sweet mental picture. It looks like you've done it again, Stan. Edmund? Not Richard? That always takes some getting used to for me as I've fallen into the JAFF habit of thinking of him as Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam. However, I'm tickled you've shaken things up a bit. I have this eBook already so please don't enter me. Now that I think of it, though, I'd best get this in paperback as I have all your others on my book shelf. Back to Amazon.com. Congrats and best wishes!

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    1. Hi Joy. Wasn't the mooncalf comment great! I loved it.

      It took me a bit to adjust to Edmund versus Richard, too, and isn't that funny how we get so set in our thoughts to one name for Colonel Fitzwilliam. I have read many a discussion on the names for him and the thoughts about it. As you can tell, it certainly did not change my enjoyment or opinion of the book! :)

      Thanks for visiting and please let me know your thoughts on the book when you have finished it!

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  13. Hi Joy!

    I called him Edmund because a), it means guardian or warder, which seemed perfect for Georgiana’s guardian, b), Austen uses Edmund and Edward for characters of whom she approves, and c),I had read only Aidan before I wrote Darcy’s tale, and had no idea there was an alternate “canon” in JAFF. Honestly, I don’t think the last point would have affected me much, since I only really care about Austen’s canon. But I have taken some heat for it from other JAFF aficionados, so you are not alone; I’m relieved it doesn’t bother you too much. In any event, thanks so much for your continued support; I hope to hear your opinion soon!

    Best,

    Stan

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    1. I like your reasons for choosing 'Edmund' for his name, especially because of its meaning.

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  14. Thanks, Janet. I thought it seemed reasonable, myself, but Janeites are a spirited lot! I expect I will continue to hear from them on the issue. :-)

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