tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55193913154730326142024-03-17T02:14:01.222-05:00More Agreeably EngagedAusten-inspired Illustrations & EffusionsJanet Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904728146256943042noreply@blogger.comBlogger515125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519391315473032614.post-89268877979908354352021-03-18T07:34:00.003-05:002021-03-18T07:41:12.243-05:00Dangerous Magic...Monica Fairview<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibsCo4UFp9LXrMQwtkTzaJyMzKpbradXIBQM9tfd6M39556n2I_uVuZTqMJ5mtzGrfpDiZOdGFjcZ6iRrwhfDdD-k2z7NrC5mbzvLOg4EzynE4Uvd-JxdjaUxAIsKmvPnd77E9ckU_XUw/s2048/Dangerous+Magic+Book+Cover+jpg.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1283" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibsCo4UFp9LXrMQwtkTzaJyMzKpbradXIBQM9tfd6M39556n2I_uVuZTqMJ5mtzGrfpDiZOdGFjcZ6iRrwhfDdD-k2z7NrC5mbzvLOg4EzynE4Uvd-JxdjaUxAIsKmvPnd77E9ckU_XUw/s320/Dangerous+Magic+Book+Cover+jpg.jpg" /></a></div><span style="color: #134f5c;"> It's such a pleasure to welcome Monica Fairview back to More Agreeably Engaged. Monica has a new book with a little magic! The title, Dangerous Magic, is intriguing without knowing anything else about the book. Then there is the cover. </span><span style="color: #134f5c;">Take a look at it to the right. Isn't it pretty. I love the two colors. It lends the look of magic to the cover and also draws us in. Besides the title and cover to get our curiosity going, w</span><span style="color: #134f5c;">e are in for a treat because Monica is sharing the back cover copy and an excerpt! Not only that, but Ms. Fairview is giving away one eBook to a lucky reader. More on the giveaway later. For now, let's read what is on the back cover. </span><p></p><p><span style="color: #134f5c;">*****</span></p><p><b><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: medium;">BACK COVER: </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>A sparkling tale
of Regency England, a forced marriage, and two magicians who must work together
to save the Kingdom.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal">Elizabeth Bennet is
stunned when the Royal Mages come to her peaceful country home of Longbourn to
take her away. She is even more bewildered when she is commanded to marry a
powerful mage by the name of Fitzwilliam Darcy. She has always dreamed of marrying
for love, and an arranged marriage with an arrogant stranger was never part of
her plans. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">But Darcy and
Elizabeth have no choice in the matter. Uniting their two forms of magic is
essential if the Kingdom is to defeat Napoleon’s mages. They may dislike each
other on sight, but Darcy and Elizabeth have to overcome their differences and
find common ground before it is too late. Fortunately, it is not long before
the sparks begin to fly between them. </p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Join the author
of ‘Fortune and Felicity’ in this Jane Austen Fantasy Variation, an enchanting
story of determination, love, and hope against all odds. <o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>*****</i></p><p><b style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">EXCERPT:
DANGEROUS MAGIC</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">Darcy paced up
and down in his practice hall, for once unable to keep his mind on his
training. He was not a member of the Council, but he had expected to be invited
to Elizabeth Bennet’s assessment. However, they had refused to allow him to be
part of it, on the grounds that he might influence the proceedings. He had
never heard anything more ridiculous. Why would he want to do such a thing? He
did not particularly like the idea of marrying her, true, but he was hardly
going to stand in the way of the only candidate who might be able to help him
win the war.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">Or did they think
he would try to influence the proceedings in her favor? That he might find a
way to help her? He would never do that, either. There was no point appointing
a Janus Mage who could not live up to their expectations. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">The ways of the
Council were often mysterious to him. It would all be a great deal easier if Lord
Matlock would not be so tight-lipped about the whole business. After all, Darcy
was the one who had to live with their decision. He ought to have a say about
whether she was suitable or not. Instead, he was forced to wait it out. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">He hoped his
uncle would remember to inform him of the outcome, and that Darcy would not be
forced to go to the Council Chamber himself to find out the verdict.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">He was on the
verge of doing that very thing when there was a knock at the door and his uncle
appeared.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">“Well?” said
Darcy, dreading the answer, one way or the other. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">Matlock smiled
and clapped him on the shoulder. “The results are impressive, Darcy. Very
impressive. She has all the qualities we require. She is able to stay calm even
in the most adverse situation, her magic is powerful, and she is creative.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">Darcy let out the
breath he was holding. “Thank heavens. We can finally get on with it.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">Then he
registered something in his uncle’s words. “Did you say ‘creative’? What does
that mean, exactly?” It was not a characteristic that people normally
associated with mages<span style="color: red;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">His uncle smiled.
“I am sure you will discover what I mean very soon. Meanwhile, you can be easy.
We have found you a Twin, and I think you will be satisfied. Though I have the
feeling that you will not be as pleased about it as I am.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">“I wish you would
speak plainly for once, Uncle, instead of always speaking in riddles,” said Darcy.
“Will she do or will she not?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">“If that is all
you wish to know,” said Lord Matlock. “Then I will answer plainly. Yes, Darcy,
Miss Bennet will do.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">Darcy nodded.
“Good. Then the wedding will take place as planned.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">“Yes.” Lord
Matlock turned to leave. As he walked out of the door, Darcy thought he heard
his uncle say, “and heaven help you, my boy.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">But when he
called out for the earl to explain himself, Darcy did not receive an answer. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">*****</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Are you ready to read more about <i>Dangerous Magic</i>?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">AUTHOR
BIO</span></span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ1CxId1JE3m8iaC33T_1N2Y7VF9bSfMi95P7Xld6nVrgvFDZXBYLJF95Yr-kQhGu5YlCnDTU-EZz4FdGGtmvM19oBcAZhKoeavyVp-zs9vCQWmL05SEr2fBZPXzsjTz9ZYmyLhdsmGBM/s500/Monica_Fairview.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ1CxId1JE3m8iaC33T_1N2Y7VF9bSfMi95P7Xld6nVrgvFDZXBYLJF95Yr-kQhGu5YlCnDTU-EZz4FdGGtmvM19oBcAZhKoeavyVp-zs9vCQWmL05SEr2fBZPXzsjTz9ZYmyLhdsmGBM/w245-h245/Monica_Fairview.png" width="245" /></a></div><b><span lang="EN-GB">Monica
Fairview</span></b><span lang="EN-GB"> writes
Jane Austen sequels and variations as well as Regencies. Her latest novel is
a <i>Pride and Prejudice</i> fantasy variation, <i>Dangerous
Magic</i>. Her biggest claim to fame is living in Elizabeth Gaskell’s house in
Manchester, long before the house was restored. After studying in the USA, she
taught literature, then became an acupuncturist. She now lives near London.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-GB">Monica
loves anything to do with the nineteenth century, and obsessively follows every
period drama she can find. Some of her favorites are ‘North and South’, ‘Bright
Star’ and ‘War and Peace’, and a dozen others that she couldn’t possibly list
here. Of course, she has watched Pride and Prejudice (1995 and 2005) more times
than she could count on her hands and toes.</span> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-GB">Monica
enjoys reading fantasy and post-apocalyptic novels but avoids zombies like the
plague. She loves to laugh, drink tea, and visit National Trust historic
properties [those were the days!], and she is convinced that her two cats can
understand everything she says.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="color: #134f5c;">CONTACT INFO</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="https://www.darcyregencynovels.com/"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">WEBSITE</span></b></a><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> |</span><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></b><a href="https://austenvariations.com/"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">BLOG</span></b></a><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> |</span></b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1399009.Monica_Fairview"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">GOODREADS</span></b></a><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> | </span></b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/MonicaFairviewAuthor"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">FACEBOOK</span></b></a><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> | </span></b><a href="https://twitter.com/Monica_Fairview"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">TWITTER</span></b></a><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> | </span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.co.uk/mfairview/_saved/">PINTEREST</a></span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b><span style="color: #134f5c;">BLOG TOUR</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfn3NyE9X78tt9_kfgv8W4yiJTpetmOzwEdNnwAJDtiXOKLHj7Zkst_2z1uOcJCtAUHpo5T8CXDS8Zn8YI7-909ISYt5T7UzdPgBRVuQqNc0c9AoIDfxvIiJXkJ5ZwCe_jVRMGDnP_PUI/s1350/Dangerous+Magic+Blog+Tour.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="1350" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfn3NyE9X78tt9_kfgv8W4yiJTpetmOzwEdNnwAJDtiXOKLHj7Zkst_2z1uOcJCtAUHpo5T8CXDS8Zn8YI7-909ISYt5T7UzdPgBRVuQqNc0c9AoIDfxvIiJXkJ5ZwCe_jVRMGDnP_PUI/w451-h217/Dangerous+Magic+Blog+Tour.png" width="451" /></a></b></div><b><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b style="color: #134f5c;">GIVEAWAY</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">As I already mentioned, there is one eBook being given away by Monica Fairview. The giveaway is international. Leave a comment below to enter the giveaway. Be sure I have a way to contact you. The giveaway will end at midnight on the 23rd of March. Good luck everyone!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Now tell us what you thought about the excerpt? Did you like it? What about some of the others that you have read? I'm fascinated with what I've read so far. The line that Lord Matlock uttered in the next to last paragraph above hooked me. The entire excerpt had me wanting to read more, </span><span style="color: #134f5c;">so I purchased the eBook</span><span style="color: #134f5c;">! Have any of you read it yet? I hope to soon. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Thanks for stopping by, Monica. I appreciate you including my blog your tour. I wish the best with this release. It looks like it is already doing quite well! Congratulations!</span></p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></b><p></p>Janet Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904728146256943042noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519391315473032614.post-32819702020387870052021-03-06T22:02:00.000-06:002021-03-06T22:02:23.092-06:00And the winners are...<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">There have been several posts with giveaways. All winners have been contacted and books delivered. Congratulations to all the winners. A special thank you to the authors hosting the giveaways. The winners were excited to have won. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Thank you to everyone who stopped by and left a comment. I appreciate your support of my blog, and I know each of the authors thank you for reading their posts and commenting. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">The winners, starting with the most recent first, are:</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><b>Elaine Jeremiah's novel</b> <i><b>Elizabeth and Darcy: Beginning Again</b></i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><b>2 eBook winners</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">DarcyBennet and Nightstitcher</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><i><b>Came a Flight Gently</b></i> <b>by Leigh Dreyer and Paul Trockner</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><b>1 eBook winner</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Deborah Ann</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><b><i>Angel in Her Pocket </i>by Brenda J. Webb</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><b>2 eBook Winners</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Luthien84</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Kelly Miller</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Congratulations to everyone. It's always fun to read your comments. </span></p>Janet Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904728146256943042noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519391315473032614.post-569409707053596712021-02-19T10:07:00.002-06:002021-02-19T10:15:40.981-06:00Elaine Jeremiah... Elizabeth and Darcy: Beginning Again<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUGA31XwLkyhRv-irjcHoVwEdTXvjDLo7uTujavuZ_ZidyvsvO5XoZJyy0qXhIYJ1hHwvvS4LC-HR6auhomlDV0drS_lCGUlcE9WDAEjNty0RYIWEFEm0GmcNi_uNsvPeiONsw4gQRD9k/s800/Elizabeth+and+Darcy+Beginning+Again+cover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUGA31XwLkyhRv-irjcHoVwEdTXvjDLo7uTujavuZ_ZidyvsvO5XoZJyy0qXhIYJ1hHwvvS4LC-HR6auhomlDV0drS_lCGUlcE9WDAEjNty0RYIWEFEm0GmcNi_uNsvPeiONsw4gQRD9k/s320/Elizabeth+and+Darcy+Beginning+Again+cover.jpg" /></a></div><span style="color: #134f5c;">It is a pleasure to have the lovely Elaine Jeremiah as my guest today. She has a new release, <i><b>Elizabeth and Darcy: Beginning Again</b></i>. Have you been seeing it around the blogosphere? Have any of you read it yet? If you have, please let us know in the comments.</span><div><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #134f5c;">Since we all love excerpts, Elaine is sharing one with us today. Isn't that great! We will be able to learn a little more about the book. She is also giving away two eBooks! Thank you for your generosity, Elaine. </span></div><div><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #134f5c;">Let's take a look at the blurb before we read the excerpt.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Blurb:</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Little
does Elizabeth Bennet think the journey across muddy fields from her home at
Longbourn to Netherfield Park will change her life forever.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">But
an unexpected encounter with the proud and haughty Mr Darcy leaves her injured
and vulnerable. Worse still, she is left alone with him for a significant
amount of time. Her reputation at risk, she is forced to make a decision about
her future. Now her life will never be the same again.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Can
Elizabeth ever be happy? Or will she always loathe Mr Darcy?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">*****</p><span style="color: #134f5c;">I like the sounds of this book. Lots of Darcy/Lizzy time is always a plus for me. What about you? Do you like them to spend much time in company? Maybe the excerpt will give us a peep into some of that together time! :)</span><p></p><p><b>Excerpt:</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">They had been
trapped together for hours now. The rain was still pouring down outside and yet
Darcy was immeasurably relieved. Conversing with Elizabeth on the subject of
their favourite novels had been the most pleasant discussion he had had with
her in the history of their short acquaintance. During their previous heated
exchange, he had thought that they would never be able to get past their
difference of opinion. He did so wish not to be at odds with her. Why exactly
that was he could not have said. And yet she was like no other young woman he
had ever met. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-indent: 14.2pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">Her manner was
so unaffected and natural. There appeared to be no guile in her nature. In
spite of their somewhat precarious situation, he found himself glad to be in
her company. How it would end he knew not. He supposed that when the rain died
down he ought to go and get some help. Walking to Netherfield Park would most
likely be the easiest solution. It was not so far from here. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-indent: 14.2pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">But for the
moment there was nothing he could do except to remain seated next to her in the
tiny hut. He found it was no hardship to him however and he wondered if after
today’s events, her feelings towards him would thaw a little. Perhaps that was
too much to hope for though, and he should just be gratified that fate had thrown
him together with her for a while. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-indent: 14.2pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">He shook his
head at his jumbled thoughts. </span><i><span face=""TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT",serif" lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT; mso-fareast-font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT; mso-hansi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">What is
wrong with you, man? </span></i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">he asked himself. </span><i><span face=""TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT",serif" lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT; mso-fareast-font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT; mso-hansi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">What is it to you if the lady
likes you or not? Even if she did and you liked her in return, there would be
nothing to be done about it. She is unsuited to you in every way. She is</span></i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">…<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-indent: 14.2pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">‘Mr Darcy?’<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-indent: 14.2pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">He started and
turned to see Elizabeth staring at him with a puzzled expression on her face.
He cleared his throat, which was suddenly dry. ‘Yes, Miss Bennet?’<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-indent: 14.2pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">‘Are you quite
well?’<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-indent: 14.2pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">He felt his
cheeks growing warm. ‘Yes, thank you, quite well.’ <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-indent: 14.2pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">She gave him a
searching look. ‘I am glad to hear that. Only, you appeared lost in thought and
you shook your head as if something were the matter.’ She paused, leaning her
head to one side as she regarded him. ‘I hope I am not the cause of it.’<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-indent: 14.2pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">Egad, how did
she succeed in reading his mind? ‘Not at all,’ he said. Would she see through
his lies?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-indent: 14.2pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">But it appeared
that she believed him, for she said, ‘I am glad to hear it, sir. Goodness knows
I’ve caused enough trouble to last you a lifetime.’<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-indent: 14.2pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">He shook his
head. ‘Not at all, madam. I have… I am enjoying being in your company. In any
case, I should say that of the two of us you are the worse off. After all, you
have the injured ankle.’ He gestured towards it. ‘Are you still in great pain,
or is it improving somewhat?’<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-indent: 14.2pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">She scrunched
up her nose. ‘My ankle has seen better days. But the pain is less when I do not
put any weight upon it.’<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-indent: 14.2pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">Before he knew
what he was doing or could stop himself, he reached out a hand to her and
touched her arm for a brief moment, then removed it as swiftly. Mortified, he
said, ‘Forgive me, Miss Bennet, I am not quite myself. I am concerned for your
welfare and that is all.’ <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-indent: 14.2pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">Elizabeth
looked at him with a curious expression on her face. It seemed to him to be a
mixture of outrage and something else. What that was he could not have said.
But when she spoke, she merely said, ‘Please do not trouble yourself, Mr Darcy.
I am not affronted. After all, you have handled me a great deal more than that
already today.’<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-indent: 14.2pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">He nodded,
biting his lip and dropping his gaze to the floor with a smile. ‘You are right,
I suppose. But in truth, my carrying you all that way was out of necessity
rather than will.’ <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-indent: 14.2pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">‘So you wished
to touch my arm?’ <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-indent: 14.2pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">He sat up
swiftly, his cheeks burning. He could not meet her gaze. ‘I did not entirely…
that is to say…’ He trailed off, unable to finish. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-indent: 14.2pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">‘Sir, it is of
no matter to me whether you wished to or not,’ Elizabeth answered him. When
finally he felt equal to the task, he risked a glance up at her. To his
surprise she looked as though she were trying to suppress a smile, a laugh
even. ‘In fact I am glad that you are not finding my company a trial.’<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-indent: 14.2pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">‘A trial? Oh
no, Miss Bennet, I could never say that.’<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-indent: 14.2pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">She nodded, pursing
her lips. ‘Then, Mr Darcy, perhaps we may draw a line under the truly terrible
turn of events at the assembly and continue to be cordial in one another’s
company, as we are being now?’<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-indent: 14.2pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">He smiled at
her hyperbole and at the knowledge that perhaps she no longer hated him. ‘Of
course, Miss Bennet. Nothing would please me more.’ <o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> *****</o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="color: #134f5c;">This sounds like a good read. Darcy was caught! I loved that he was blushing and unable to meet Elizabeth's gaze. I'm ready to find out what happens next! </span></o:p></p><p><b>Author Bio:</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZqo8zHqsTxtQwmqMvn__MpjLMOZK2l_42_QRYo6aEEOnJiEUCJ-1JYIPiPkdhPxrvE8z-s1ZasZacU1QoV-7IcC1zFJi9-jFugmzQgeqaHbnFARTak2z43cwTzv13VzGHe8bV-_CJjks/s1350/Elaine+Jeremiah.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1350" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZqo8zHqsTxtQwmqMvn__MpjLMOZK2l_42_QRYo6aEEOnJiEUCJ-1JYIPiPkdhPxrvE8z-s1ZasZacU1QoV-7IcC1zFJi9-jFugmzQgeqaHbnFARTak2z43cwTzv13VzGHe8bV-_CJjks/w234-h234/Elaine+Jeremiah.jpg" width="234" /></a></span></div><span lang="EN-GB"><br />Elaine lives in Bristol, South West England
with her husband and their golden retriever, Dug. But she was privileged enough
to grow up in Jane Austen country, in Hampshire.</span> <p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">She’s always loved writing, but it’s only
been in recent years that she’s been able to devote more time to it. She
decided to self-publish with the help of her wonderful husband who’s very
tech-savvy! In 2013 she self-published her first novel, but it was only with
her fourth, her novel ‘Love Without Time’, that she felt she finally found her
niche: Jane Austen Fan Fiction!</span> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">She’s always loved Jane Austen’s writing
and the Regency era, so this felt like a natural thing for her to do.
‘Elizabeth and Darcy: Beginning Again’ is the first ‘Pride and Prejudice’
variation she’s written.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">If you want to connect with Elaine online,
her Facebook page can be found here: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/elainejeremiahauthor/">https://www.facebook.com/elainejeremiahauthor/</a></span> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Her Twitter handle is: @ElaineJeremiah</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">Her website is here: <a href="https://elainejeremiah.co.uk/">https://elainejeremiah.co.uk/</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Giveaway:</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #134f5c;">It's time for the giveaway! Yay! Two of you will get the eBook, <i><b>Elizabeth and Darcy: Beginning Again</b></i>, and get to find out for yourself, what happens next. To enter, please share your thoughts on the excerpt. Be sure I know how to reach you, should you be the winner. The giveaway will end at midnight, Central Time, on the 23rd of February. Good luck to all of you.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #134f5c;">*****</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Should you want to go ahead and purchase your own copy, the links are below:</span></p><p><a href="https://amzn.to/3s7xr6d" target="_blank">Amazon US</a></p><p><a href="https://amzn.to/2LiP3LH" target="_blank">Amazon UK</a></p><p>*****</p><p><span style="color: #134f5c;">Elaine, thank you so much for including my blog in your tour for this new release. I loved having you visit. Thank you also for the generous giveaway for my readers. Best wishes on your book.</span></p></div>Janet Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904728146256943042noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519391315473032614.post-20565665876760023472021-02-11T10:47:00.002-06:002021-02-11T10:50:25.368-06:00Came a Flight Gently...Leigh Dreyer and Paul Trockner<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP5giXeWGSnvLG_A6twL7rkD653TsOPPYULszjViTRkKcVw6lyoHq01laAoWLKUAGWSUKIrMUv9J0oGdGguHqL13ry3hPPlwWmtHekBZeFVGTVryWccvBs53nsBJvgrOMQyNxHsDHNz0c/s600/Came+a+Flght+Gently+Front+Cover+M.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="375" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP5giXeWGSnvLG_A6twL7rkD653TsOPPYULszjViTRkKcVw6lyoHq01laAoWLKUAGWSUKIrMUv9J0oGdGguHqL13ry3hPPlwWmtHekBZeFVGTVryWccvBs53nsBJvgrOMQyNxHsDHNz0c/s320/Came+a+Flght+Gently+Front+Cover+M.jpg" /></a></div><span style="color: #134f5c;">My guests are Leigh Dreyer and Paul Trockner. I am happy to have both of you visit my blog. Leigh has been a guest before, but not Paul, so welcome, Paul. I am fascinated that the two of you wrote this together, especially since you are father and daughter. That must have been a great experience for both of you. Congratulations! </span><p></p><p><span style="color: #134f5c;">We have a giveaway and an excerpt, but first I'll let you learn a bit more about the authors, post the blurb, then get to the excerpt and giveaway. Thanks to all of you, Dear Readers, for stopping by.</span></p><h1 align="center" style="text-align: center;"><a name="_Toc61348270"><b><span color="windowtext"><span style="font-size: medium;">Author Bios</span></span></b></a><b><span color="windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></b></h1><p class="MsoNormal">Leigh Dreyer is a huge fan of Jane Austen variations and the
JAFF community. She is blessed to have multi-generational military connections
through herself and her husband, who she met in pilot training. She often
describes her formative years in this way: “You know the ‘Great Balls of Fire’
scene in <i>Top Gun </i>(Goose, you big stud!) when Goose and Meg Ryan have
their kid on the piano? I was that kid.” Leigh lives with her pilot husband, a
plane-obsessed son, a daughter who was a pink pilot for Halloween, and a
one-year-old son who is so used to F-16 noise, he does not even startle to
sonic booms. <o:p></o:p></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal">Paul Trockner was an Air Force fighter pilot for
twenty-eight years. He flew the F-111, T-37, A-10, and T-38. He currently
teaches fighter pilots using simulator instruction. He has been happily married
for thirty-six years to his lovely wife Elizabeth. Leigh is the oldest of his
five children. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><h1 align="center" style="text-align: center;"><a name="_Toc61348276"><b><span color="windowtext"><span style="font-size: medium;">Blurb</span></span></b></a><b><span color="windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></b></h1><p class="MsoNormal">In the exciting conclusion of the Pride in Flight Series
(The Best Laid Flight Plans and The Flight Path Less Traveled), our dear couple
Elizabeth and Darcy have moved to Pemberley to begin their lives together. An
outsider to New York society and the affluent world of Darcy, our heroine uses
her characteristic drive and wit to begin her marriage and all that comes with
him. Helped along by Mrs. Reynolds and a
curmudgeonly airplane mechanic, Elizabeth discovers a new path to the civilian
flight world. Darcy, ever the hero, supports her and learns to trust her
instincts. Fast-paced and dramatic, Came a Flight Gently soars through love,
adventure, and intrigue as it races through Reno to the finish.</p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNveMaLYG2iUhQ8nHnzXMfaaLgnQ5yajuprRO9CDmnDyM3YtzbZj2am7aCsW9CroE-NYUe9BI4dl6MDqx6q3ML74U8sQnO9UTUDtsCLI5B3zUI9JTgeeCzqEbr2_29g6ZX_nxCVuj4J60/s812/CAFGfullspread+M.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="812" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNveMaLYG2iUhQ8nHnzXMfaaLgnQ5yajuprRO9CDmnDyM3YtzbZj2am7aCsW9CroE-NYUe9BI4dl6MDqx6q3ML74U8sQnO9UTUDtsCLI5B3zUI9JTgeeCzqEbr2_29g6ZX_nxCVuj4J60/s320/CAFGfullspread+M.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><h1 align="center" style="text-align: center;"><b><span color="windowtext"><span style="font-size: medium;">Excerpt
from Chapter Five</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“How’d you find this place?” he
asked as he sat down with a cup of coffee. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“Mrs. Reynolds sent me down.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> “I don’t need any help. I’m fifty-nine, not
seventy-nine, for heaven’s sake. I can handle the airplane.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Elizabeth stifled a smile with her
cup. “Maybe she thought with two you’d like an assistant.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“We’ve had two planes before. When
Will and Richard were learning to fly, we had a Citabria and the Bonanza. Mr.
Darcy and I taught them. Will’s become a great little pilot, though I shouldn’t
let him hear me call him little.” Chuckling, the mechanic continued. “No, not
Mr. F-22 fighter pilot.” He straightened himself. “Of course, it’s not an A-10.
Now, I think he just got done flying ‘38s.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“Did you fly in the service?”
Elizabeth asked, taking a sip. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“Yep, F-111s, two tours, T-37s in
between, A-10s and T-38A and Cs. Around forty-three hundred hours. But what I’m
most proud of is over two thousand instructor hours.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“How’d you become a mechanic?” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“Retired from the service. Got into
some financial trouble with my ex-wife. Mr. Darcy, Will’s dad, hired me as an
assistant mechanic. I apprenticed for a year, then took over when the other
retired.” He looked at her over his glasses. “<i>You</i> aren’t in trouble, are
you?” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“No, no.” Elizabeth laughed. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“By the way, I’m Steve Weston,” he
said, reaching out his hand. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“Elizabeth Ben—I mean—Elizabeth
Darcy.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“You one of their cousins or
something?” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“Or something,” answered Elizabeth,
not wanting to ruin the moment. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“Well, hot chocolate’s done. The
salt’s probably worked so we have no excuse.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">They donned their gloves again and
went back to the doors. The salt had worked and the ice on the doors only
required a little persuasion with the sledgehammer. Elizabeth felt a thrill run
through her with the physical labor and banging the ice off the door. <i>It’s
been too long since I’ve felt useful.</i> After several minutes of work, the
large doors creaked open, filling the warmer hangar with cold air. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“We need to work quick,” Mr. Weston
called loudly to her from the other side of the hangar. “The block was heated,
and it’s been in the hangar, but we need to get the runup done before it
cools.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">The aircraft positioned and
chocked, Mr. Weston opened the back door and started the engine to let it warm
and cycle the propeller. Once shut down, he motioned over to Elizabeth and
showed her where to look for leaks. When they found none, they closed the
hangar doors and turned up the heater. It was six when they got all the covers
put on the plane and it was ready to fly again another day. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“What can you tell me about the
Lancair?” she asked, pointing to the candy apple red plane next to Darcy’s
Bonanza.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“Not much,” Mr. Weston said as he
filed various tools away into their places. “A friend of mine flew it in for
Will a couple weeks ago on a ferry permit. The builder did a good job but
didn’t fly it. I’ve got the paperwork and books on it. I’ve got to do a
condition check and go through all the systems. It’ll take about two months. It
has better technology than the Bonanza, well at least newer, composite
fuselage, fuel injection. Updated glass cockpit inside. Comfortable, stable,
fast, but you have to pay attention more than a 172. You got any time?” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">She let her hand glide along the
smooth painted wing as she listened. “I’ve my private license and about seventy
hours in the T-6.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“Tailwheel time, eh?” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“Uh, no. The new T-6. I was in the
Air Force.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“Was?” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">She shifted uncomfortably as he
examined at her. She could practically see the questions running through his
mind, though he had not paused his work.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“Yeah, I had a mishap and was
medically retired.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“Hmm, you’ll have to tell me about
it sometime. I worked as a safety for a bit, so I enjoy hearing about those
things.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">After a pause, Elizabeth summoned
the courage to ask: “Mr. Weston, do you still teach?” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“Flying or mechanics?” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“Flying is what I’m most interested
in at the moment. I think I would like to get my commercial and become a CFI.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“Can you afford it? The 172 down
the road rents for a hundred and fifty dollars an hour.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“I think so—my husband has a pretty
good gig, and he’s a pilot, too, so I’m sure he’ll be supportive.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“You’re young. How long have you
been married?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“Almost four months.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“It will take some time away from
him.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“I think he’ll be okay with it.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“Huh, let me check with the boss. I
don’t think he’d be upset. He just moved back so hopefully no more random trips
across the country. Though, with more consistent flying, he might need me
around a little more often than in the past.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“How much will you charge to
instruct?” Mr. Weston laughed, a jolly sort of chuckle that Elizabeth found
appealing, contrasting his initial porcupine-like personality. He seemed a
teddy bear sort of person, one who was initially gruff, but quite warm once he
welcomed you to his circle of trust. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“You live near here?” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">A smile crossed her face, and she
said, “Pretty close.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“How about you come clean and sweep
the hangar, help me with the aircraft, and bring me donuts once a week?” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">As she reached out her hand to make
the deal, an artic blast came whooshing through the door. Both of them yelled,
“Come in or go out, but shut the door!” Shaking hands, they grinned at each
other. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“All right. I’ll get it!” They
heard as the door slammed shut. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Will Darcy stepped into the hangar.
He looked between Elizabeth and Mr. Weston and gave a half-smile.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“Hello, Mr. Weston. How’s the
Bonanza?” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“She’s great. Fresh oil. Run up and
leak check done. Ready to go again. You put twenty-five hours on her in two
months. She’s not flown that much since your dad flew her on business.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“I know, it got busy there for a
while.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“Will, Mrs. Reynolds sent Elizabeth
down for some work.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Will raised an eyebrow at
Elizabeth. “She did, did she? Mrs. Reynolds does a good job making sure
everyone stays busy and has the help they need.” Darcy bowed to Elizabeth.
“Hello, madam. Captain William Darcy at your service.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“Pleasure to make your
acquaintance, kind sir.” Elizabeth held Will’s outstretched hand and curtsied.
Neither could keep a straight face and burst out laughing. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Steve Weston looked confused. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“Mr. Weston, may I introduce my
husband, <i>Captain</i> William Darcy.” She elbowed Darcy, teasing him about
their courtly introduction. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Mr. Weston shook his head and
narrowed his eyes at her. “Cousin or something—you had me going. Why didn’t you
say something? <i>Oh no</i>. And I had you chopping ice, grabbing tools—” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Elizabeth interrupted. “I was
having such a good time, doing something, <i>learning</i> something, I didn’t
want to spoil it.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“I should have thought to introduce
both of you before now,” said Darcy. “Mr. Weston was on the board until a few
years ago when his son, Frank, took his place.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Weston smiled sheepishly. “I’ll
teach you anytime you want after the thaw, and you’re welcome to stop by
anytime to learn something.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Elizabeth grinned. “I hope our
deal’s still on then. I’ll bring the donuts! When do you want me here?”</span> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>*****</o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Have you read the first two books in this series? If so, what did you think? We would love to hear your thoughts. What about this excerpt? </span><i style="color: #134f5c;">(I loved that Elizabeth didn't specify exactly who she was!) </i><span style="color: #134f5c;">Make you want to know more? </span><span style="color: #134f5c;">You can go ahead and preorder with the universal links below.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Universal Links for the February 14th Preorder:</span></b></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>US Link: http://bit.ly/CameaFlightGentlyUS</o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>UK Link: http://bit.ly/CameaFlightGentlyUK</o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSyjClTHs-3DgTqKTFpEWICBQaTD6s7thyphenhyphenF_8CNb1Cf_ZUiY0VgQBjsOz6PtxDpfFMsgWvI-j6wp0YLkf7dXQLCZjcE9prDTZC1HZLRXVL_oWftH6Z9TqVyN1BJhVrbFOgYSHgLRHqgDk/s360/BookBrushImage-2021-2-8-11-3753+M.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="270" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSyjClTHs-3DgTqKTFpEWICBQaTD6s7thyphenhyphenF_8CNb1Cf_ZUiY0VgQBjsOz6PtxDpfFMsgWvI-j6wp0YLkf7dXQLCZjcE9prDTZC1HZLRXVL_oWftH6Z9TqVyN1BJhVrbFOgYSHgLRHqgDk/s320/BookBrushImage-2021-2-8-11-3753+M.png" /></a></div><o:p><span style="color: #134f5c;">If you haven't read the first two books, they are on sale right now. There are buy links below. The sale is through the 14th of February, so now is your chance to own these eBooks. </span></o:p><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Flight Path Less Traveled Links</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">Amazon US: http://bit.ly/FlightPathLessTraveled</p><p class="MsoNormal">Amazon UK: http://bit.ly/UKFlightPath</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Best Laid Flight Plans Links</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">Amazon US link: https://amzn.to/2IkAWTF</p><p class="MsoNormal">Amazon UK link: https://amzn.to/2SfGA9m</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Contact Information</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">Author Name: Leigh Dreyer and Paul Trockner</p><p class="MsoNormal">Email: leighdreyerauthor@gmail.com</p><p class="MsoNormal">Facebook: Leigh Dreyer</p><p class="MsoNormal">Facebook Page: @leighdreyerauthor</p><p class="MsoNormal">Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/leighdreyer</p><p class="MsoNormal">Website: http://www.leighdreyer.com/</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Giveaway Time: </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #134f5c;">The authors are giving away one eBook and it is worldwide. Leave a comment below to enter, and be sure I have an email or some way to contact you, should you be the winner. The giveaway will end <b>February 15th at midnight central time</b>. Good luck to everyone. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Thank you to Leigh and Paul for visiting my blog and hosting a giveaway for my readers. We wish you the best with your book.</span></p><p></p>Janet Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904728146256943042noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519391315473032614.post-72135176598235102302021-02-09T11:25:00.000-06:002021-02-09T11:25:05.481-06:00Riana Everly...Death in Highbury: An Emma Mystery<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3KoT-tNRMkNop3XUzJAAglI_LbFisIrAdWmt_vFA9VKY1iJ49dxGAPIisFBspATShuX2-M1zlcbYIAGbfhG7yYayG6YIJ-Ao2fhRSZ2bcLHHcjrfqMPmxtZxQl8x6gryjAOL0gcmOIMQ/s600/Highbury+Cover+400x600.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3KoT-tNRMkNop3XUzJAAglI_LbFisIrAdWmt_vFA9VKY1iJ49dxGAPIisFBspATShuX2-M1zlcbYIAGbfhG7yYayG6YIJ-Ao2fhRSZ2bcLHHcjrfqMPmxtZxQl8x6gryjAOL0gcmOIMQ/w133-h200/Highbury+Cover+400x600.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><span style="color: #134f5c;"> My guests today are Riana Everly and London's premier society paper, Regency Scandals Today. Ms. Everly is being interviewed about her new series, <i>Miss Mary Investigates</i>. The latest book in this series is <i>Death in Highbury: An Emma Mystery</i>. We will talk more about it later, and Riana Everly has an excerpt for us as well.</span><p></p><p><span style="color: #134f5c;">Before we sit down for the interview, I would love to share a little bit more about this latest release. Here's the blurb for <i>Death in Highbury: An Emma Mystery</i></span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Alegreya SC";">Blurb</span></h1></blockquote></blockquote><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">When political chaos in London forces Mary
Bennet to take refuge in the picturesque town of Highbury, Surrey, she quickly
finds herself safe among friends. Emma Woodhouse welcomes her as a guest at
Hartfield, Jane Fairfax is delighted by her love of music, and Frank Churchill
can’t stop flirting with her. But it is not long before Mary starts to suspect
that beneath the charming surface, Highbury hides some dark secrets.<br />
<br />
Alexander Lyons is sent to Surrey on an investigation, and at his friend
Darcy’s request, heads to Highbury to make certain Mary is comfortable and
safe. But no sooner does he arrive than one local man dies, and then another!<br />
<br />
Soon Alexander and Mary are thrust into the middle of a baffling series of
deaths. Are they accidents? Or is there a very clever murderer hiding in their
midst? And can they put their personal differences aside in time to prevent yet
another death in Highbury?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">*****</span></p><p>Since we know a bit more about the book, I invite you to sit in and enjoy the interview before it goes to press.</p><p></p><h1><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Alegreya SC";"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXIgJuwrleE4HZFOHTqXHv-t9zsLvPPNymJW_ChZ-e6IUlfBY1ZLd4zDs-LjAEUNqflF0BzEgCHvcLqOcGwLJGbtVGHdNlfqqCp0J5fbw6U1Yx1YgJxZ_iRtkTgTS7MPuvbxM_TqZ30dc/s750/Regency+Scandals+Today.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="163" data-original-width="750" height="88" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXIgJuwrleE4HZFOHTqXHv-t9zsLvPPNymJW_ChZ-e6IUlfBY1ZLd4zDs-LjAEUNqflF0BzEgCHvcLqOcGwLJGbtVGHdNlfqqCp0J5fbw6U1Yx1YgJxZ_iRtkTgTS7MPuvbxM_TqZ30dc/w400-h88/Regency+Scandals+Today.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">Greetings, Gentle Readers. <i>Regency Scandals
Today</i>, Regency London’s premier society paper, is delighted to publish this
interview with our favourite authoress of matters romantical and mysterious, Mrs.
Riana Everly. We beg your indulgence as we relate every word to you, as
follows.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-CA">RST:</span></b><span lang="EN-CA"> Mrs.
Everly, thank you for slipping through time from your own futuristic era to
speak with us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-CA">RE:</span></b><span lang="EN-CA"> The
pleasure is mine. And I must thank you for inviting me to talk to you, as well
as to this lovely blog for allowing me the space to speak.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-CA">RST:</span></b><span lang="EN-CA"> What
can you tell us about your new series, <b>Miss Mary Investigates</b>? I have
heard of it, but know very little and would be illuminated.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-CA">RE:</span></b><span lang="EN-CA"> Gladly. <b>Miss
Mary Investigates</b> chronicles the adventures and detection skills of Miss
Mary Bennet. You know her, of course, from Miss Austen’s wonderful novel <i>Pride
and Prejudice</i>. But whereas Miss Austen focuses her tale on the older two
Bennet sisters, Elizabeth and Jane, my own tale allows Mary to step forward and
out of her sisters’ shadows. In <i>Death of a Clergyman</i>, it is Mary who
acts to save Elizabeth from the most dreadful accusation of murdering their
vile cousin, Mr. Collins. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-CA">RST:</span></b><span lang="EN-CA"> Poor
Miss Elizabeth! How fortunate that Mary was there to save her. But what of this
second adventure? Surely Elizabeth is not so accused again?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-CA">RE:</span></b><span lang="EN-CA"> No, not
at all. Now Elizabeth is quite safe from all blame and is happily married to
Mr. Darcy. But Mary’s adventures are not over. In this novel, <i>Death in
Highbury</i>, she removes to the world of Miss Austen’s novel <i>Emma</i>,
where a new set of deaths puzzle her.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-CA">RST:</span></b><span lang="EN-CA"> Murders!
How horrid! And how exciting. But I must ask, why Mary Bennet? If I recall, she
is not the most interesting character in Miss Austen’s work. Surely Miss
Elizabeth – or, rather, Mrs. Darcy – would be better suited to the role.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-CA">RE:</span></b><span lang="EN-CA"> You are
quite correct, and others have, indeed, allowed Elizabeth to step into the
shoes of the detective, shoes which she fills very well indeed. But Mary is not
the unassuming wallflower some believe her to be.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">Indeed, Mary Bennet has some particular
qualities that make her a very good sleuth. The main one, ironically, is the
fact that she is so forgettable. She is the sister that everyone ignores and
pays no attention to, which means she sometimes hears and sees things that
should probably be kept secret. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">She is also smart. She might not have
Lizzy’s sparkling wit, but she is studious and well-read, and she has a great
deal of time to think and mull and ponder. All that time poring over her books
of sermons and her piano studies has done something to improve her mind, after all,
even if people don’t always want to hear the results.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-CA">RST:</span></b><span lang="EN-CA"> Miss
Mary seems more than qualified for her role, then. Does she undertake these
adventures alone?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-CA">RE:</span></b><span lang="EN-CA"> No, she
is not always pleased by the connection, but she does have a confederate, an
investigator from London by the name of Alexander Lyons. He is an annoying Scot
with red hair, a strong accent, and no time for the upper classes, even though
they’re the ones who keep him in business. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-CA">RST:</span></b><span lang="EN-CA"> A Scot?
Does he (brings out fan) wear a kilt, by chance? La! Is it getting warm in
here? Ahem. How did Mary come to know him?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-CA">RE:</span></b><span lang="EN-CA"> Alas, he
dresses quite as any other Londoner would dress. When Mr. Collins was killed,
Mr. Darcy engaged Alexander to help solve his murder and save Elizabeth from
the gallows. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-CA">RST:</span></b><span lang="EN-CA"> Mr.
Darcy? How was he connected to this investigator?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-CA">RE:</span></b><span lang="EN-CA"> It seems
that Alexander helped Mr. Darcy with a problem of his own the previous summer.
You can read about this in the novella The Mystery of the Missing Heiress,
available at <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08H1D7R29">Amazon</a> or at <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1030418">Smashwords</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-CA">RST:</span></b><span lang="EN-CA"> If Mr.
Lyons is present again in Highbury, Mary must be quite delighted to see his
kilt… I mean, his face again. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-CA">RE:</span></b><span lang="EN-CA"> Sadly
this is not the case. When Mary is stranded in Highbury because of tragic
events in London, Mr. Darcy sends Alexander down to see to her wellbeing. But
Mary is not entirely pleased by this. Here. Rather than having me talk further,
let me offer you an excerpt from the novel.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-CA">Here is an excerpt from <i>Death in
Highbury: An Emma Mystery</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">The sun had brightened and grown hot, and
the village was now quite busy, with shopkeepers calling from doorways and
windows, children dashing from building to building, tradesmen and village folk
scurrying about in their daily routines. A small group were clustered outside
of the Crown, talking loudly of the news from London, and a larger crowd seemed
to be gathered within, from the noise that spilled out onto the street. Behind
the inn, which sat in a sort of island off the main square, Mary could see the
stables and yard, where a carriage stood devoid of its horses. It must have
arrived some time ago, the team that drew it even now being tended by the
ostlers, its occupants taking nourishment in the inn and tending to their
needs. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">She had not thought Highbury to be a usual
place for carriages to stop and take rest, since it was off the main roads and
on the way to nowhere in particular, but people would travel where they must,
and a respectable inn was not to be sneered at. Having spent her own time in
its warmth last evening, she congratulated the travellers on their fine choice.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“Come, Miss Bennet, come with me,” Emma
dragged her towards a tea shop that sat to one side of the inn. “You must try
Mrs. Latimer’s ices. They are quite as fine as those in London, from what my
sister tells me, and she has cakes and other treats as well. Do join us, Mr.
Knightley. I shan’t tell Papa, for he would be angry at you.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">A sweet ice sounded the very thing, and
Mary was happy to oblige. As Mr. Knightley trailed behind them, she allowed
Emma to pull her past the crowd by the inn and towards the door, but as they
passed the narrow lane that ran down the far end of the Crown, she heard a
voice she never thought to hear again.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“Now, now, Mr. Cox, this is a very fine
tale you’ve told me.” She would know those deep tones and that broad Scots
accent anywhere. “I admit it seems alarming, although such things are not
unusual. I shall make some inquiries and will return to you as soon as I have
something to relate. You’re staying in the inn as well? Then I shall see you
anon. And thank you again for the ride down. ‘Twas much more comfortable a way
to travel than by post.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiselXoiC7HS4OCzQIJ-Z6O7rsrnqJOyKw376LUU75l2QwbdeCM93IxMhrLLo_Ze2_pshafvic4-gwH6hLxgLE5bxXuzWBtO_deXzPBTCj4nVWQ2zK8OXp6j_Sm2k6VNC6rkFogpIP5dkI/s903/Alexander+painting+red+hair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="903" data-original-width="736" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiselXoiC7HS4OCzQIJ-Z6O7rsrnqJOyKw376LUU75l2QwbdeCM93IxMhrLLo_Ze2_pshafvic4-gwH6hLxgLE5bxXuzWBtO_deXzPBTCj4nVWQ2zK8OXp6j_Sm2k6VNC6rkFogpIP5dkI/s320/Alexander+painting+red+hair.jpg" /></a></div><span lang="EN-CA">It was him. Whatever was he doing here? He
could hardly be seeking her, for he had not come to visit as he had promised
before. What strange business could have drawn him to this village in the
middle of Surrey, near no town or location of major importance? And moreover,
could she possibly avoid him? She hurried her steps to move to Emma’s side, the
quicker to enter Mrs. Latimer’s tea shop, but it was too late.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“Miss Bennet! Mary.” He had seen her. There
was no recourse but to halt her steps and turn to face him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“Mr. Lyons.” Her eyes were narrow and cold.
She had not forgiven him, and she wished to let him know it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“I say,” Mr. Knightley exclaimed. “Lyons—I
know that name. Darcy has mentioned you. Miss Bennet, this must be the very man
you spoke of in your account of the incident last autumn. Can it be?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">With no good grace, Mary introduced the two
men. “Mr. Knightley, may I present Mr. Alexander Lyons of London. Mr. Lyons,
Mr. Knightley.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“We’re back to Mr. and Miss, are we, Mary?
Well, so be it.” His voice was resigned, his expression sad, but Mary cared
not. They had parted as friends, and then he had broken his promise. Now that
the introductions were over, they might go their separate ways once more. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">But Mr. Knightley shattered those thoughts.
“We were about to take ice at the tea room. Do join us, sir. I would be pleased
to know a friend of Mr. Darcy and of Miss Bennet too.” And so the invitation
was accepted, much to Mary’s displeasure.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“What brings you here, Mr. Lyons?” Mr.
Knightley sat back in the delicate chair in the tea room. The foursome had
ordered their treats and were waiting for the serving girl to return with them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“Two matters really,” the red-headed
Scotsman replied. “I had been engaged to look into a situation that pertains
somewhat to these parts, and matters had progressed to the point where I felt I
must come down to make my inquiries, but it was a commission from another
source that brings me to Highbury itself.” His eyes landed upon Mary and she
forced herself to meet them coldly and then look away.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">*****</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Doesn't this make you want to read the book? It certainly did me. I'm hoping to start it soon. Thank you, Riana Everly, for including me in your blog tour. I wish you much success on this book and series.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #134f5c;">For those of you following the blog tour, the schedule is below! Don't forget to enter the giveaway for this stop on the tour. The Rafflecopter is below, or you can enter another way. See below!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkO2RzYDeHcYJfXxvidOOpX34ZQhHGpcprRLHGBcX-R1pLg24cdNWhL7GDOFBVCn-jbP3Nx7GJWG7Rgch3Opa57QNFXQSF-nFjBlJEIxABQEhijvfwxtSxZHulAlMtzChxKTqZtECTIo/s900/blog+tour.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="734" data-original-width="900" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkO2RzYDeHcYJfXxvidOOpX34ZQhHGpcprRLHGBcX-R1pLg24cdNWhL7GDOFBVCn-jbP3Nx7GJWG7Rgch3Opa57QNFXQSF-nFjBlJEIxABQEhijvfwxtSxZHulAlMtzChxKTqZtECTIo/w400-h326/blog+tour.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><h1><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Alegreya SC";">Biography<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">Riana Everly was born in South Africa, but
has called Canada home since she was eight years old. She has a Master’s degree
in Medieval Studies and is trained as a classical musician, specialising in
Baroque and early Classical music. She first encountered Jane Austen when her
father handed her a copy of Emma at age 11, and has never looked back.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">Riana now lives in Toronto with her family.
When she is not writing, she can often be found playing string quartets with
friends, biking around the beautiful province of Ontario with her husband,
trying to improve her photography, thinking about what to make for dinner, and,
of course, reading!</span></p>
<h1><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Alegreya SC";">Contact Links<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-CA">Facebook:</span></b><span lang="EN-CA">
www.facebook.com/RianaEverly<br />
<b>Website:</b> www.rianaeverly.com<br />
<b>Email:</b> riana.everly@gmail.com<br />
<b>Amazon:</b> www.amazon.com/Riana-Everly/e/B076C6HY27</span></p>
<h1><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Alegreya SC";">Buy Links<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-CA">Universal Link:</span></b><span lang="EN-CA"> <a href="https://books2read.com/deathinhighbury">https://books2read.com/deathinhighbury</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-CA">Amazon Link:</span></b><span lang="EN-CA">
<a href="http://mybook.to/deathinhighbury">http://mybook.to/deathinhighbury</a></span></p>
<h1><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Alegreya SC";">Giveaway<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">Riana Everly </span>is giving away five eBooks worldwide over
the course of the blog tour, chosen randomly from people who enter. To enter,
please use the Rafflecopter..</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">
If you don’t like Rafflecopter, you can still enter. Just send an email to (<a href="mailto:riana.everly@gmail.com">riana.everly@gmail.com</a>) saying so, and
she will add your name to the list for the draw.<br />
The giveaway will close at 12am EST on February 27, 2021.<o:p></o:p></span></p><h1><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Alegreya SC";">Rafflecopter<br /></span></h1><p></p>
<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="49aa98595" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/49aa98595/" id="rcwidget_7yi3mdtl" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>
Janet Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904728146256943042noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519391315473032614.post-54150599748572261802021-02-03T10:53:00.000-06:002021-02-03T10:53:48.073-06:00My share of the conversation...An Angel in Her Pocket<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIBR5RS-6TveN5Xs2pHctMvgXO5WcX3tx2B3Tyr7qrYD-_Z6InDa-VWzCopZ6ztkoXn5cp_GUWKrB9zWwrHUhxVCj61yS62xppAZUkwmIrVpD6_F5s7CYnjE_zRB5YqrNa6VRQNB6IbY8/s500/An+Angel+in+Her+Pocket+Brenda+J+Webb.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="325" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIBR5RS-6TveN5Xs2pHctMvgXO5WcX3tx2B3Tyr7qrYD-_Z6InDa-VWzCopZ6ztkoXn5cp_GUWKrB9zWwrHUhxVCj61yS62xppAZUkwmIrVpD6_F5s7CYnjE_zRB5YqrNa6VRQNB6IbY8/s320/An+Angel+in+Her+Pocket+Brenda+J+Webb.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Today I am sharing my thoughts with you on a novella I read during the Christmas holidays. If you haven't read it, I hope you will. It is Brenda J. Webb's <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/ANGEL-HER-POCKET-Prejudice-Variation-ebook/dp/B08R7ZC7Y2/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1DWRUA02IGE5W&dchild=1&keywords=an+angel+in+her+pocket+by+brenda+j+webb&qid=1612371101&sprefix=An+Angel+in+Her+Pocket%2Caudible%2C233&sr=8-1" target="_blank">An Angel in Her Pocket</a></i>. It is a lovely story and a feel good story. Sometimes those are just what I need. </span><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">My review will be rather brief because I do not want to give away too much of the story. I hope it is enough to make you want to read it too. It will be well worth your time.</span></span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: times;">To give you an idea of what it is about, here is the blurb.</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">This story was inspired by my favorite Christmas movie, “It’s A Wonderful Life” with Jimmy Stewart. Whilst my story does not follow that plot, I wanted to write a tale about an angel who helps Elizabeth Bennet one bleak Christmas. Here is the blurb for “An Angel In Her Pocket.”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Life had been hard for Elizabeth Bennet in the months since she refused Mr. Darcy’s proposal at Kent. Lydia eloped with Mr. Wickham, and her father died shortly thereafter. Mr. Collins took possession of Longbourn, forcing her family to live apart to survive. She and Jane left to live in London with the Gardiners, and Elizabeth’s hope of finding employment there was fading quickly as Christmas approached.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Grace Angelini is on a mission from St. Peter to right a wrong. For her plan to work, Fitzwilliam Darcy has to overcome his pride and propose to Elizabeth Bennet a second time, although neither is a part of the other’s circle. Undeterred, Grace does her best to unite the couple by securing a position for Elizabeth as Darcy’s goddaughter’s governess.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Will Grace’s help prove to be a blessing or a curse when Elizabeth’s position is put in peril through no fault of her own?</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">You’ll find the answer in “An Angel in Her Pocket.”</span></span></p><div>*****</div><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><b>My share in the conversation...</b></span></p><p><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">An <i>Angel in Her Pocket</i> is such a delightful story. I loved every minute of it. Brenda J. Webb did an excellent job with the writing and editing of her Christmas story. I was invested from the beginning and was sorely disappointed when I had to stop reading for the rest of the day! I couldn't wait to start reading again and see how the angel, Grace, was going to bring Darcy and Lizzy together. </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">There was a puppy and a young girl in this story! It was enjoyable seeing Darcy and Elizabeth interact with both. </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">I loved Darcy and Lizzy, and the author kept them true to their characters. I will stop here because I do not want to give any spoilers. It's short, delightful, and easy on the pocketbook. Don't miss this one!</span></span></p><p>*****</p><p><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: times;">I'm giving away one eBook copy of this novella, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/ANGEL-HER-POCKET-Prejudice-Variation-ebook/dp/B08R7ZC7Y2/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1DWRUA02IGE5W&dchild=1&keywords=an+angel+in+her+pocket+by+brenda+j+webb&qid=1612371101&sprefix=An+Angel+in+Her+Pocket%2Caudible%2C233&sr=8-1" target="_blank"><i>An Angel in Her Pocket</i>,</a> by Brenda J. Webb. It may be after Christmas, but this story is good any time of the year!</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: times;">Let me know if you have read it. What did you think? Would you like a chance to win it? If so, leave a comment below. Be sure I have your contact information. Thanks to everyone, and good luck. The giveaway ends Saturday, the 6th of February at midnight, Central Time. The giveaway is US only. I'm sorry for that, but unless there is a way to gift it to you through Amazon, I'm limited to US only.</span></p>Janet Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904728146256943042noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519391315473032614.post-14727768900417924322021-02-01T12:38:00.001-06:002021-02-01T12:49:05.145-06:00And the winners are... Rosings Park by Jack Caldwell<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Several of you stopped by for Jack Caldwell's visit. We appreciated your thoughts and comments. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT9hoNkX4bGN8DSAgTPraTZxBNsVlGtgtA5xW_dbx3xBQtDKdRANnnYwGpUq0puPPBxIAO7U5Gch6bogKG1ueqCUlrsTFBKX-_CROg-C7edOFdx1EdX_k3CVwrZ3ZZIGKXX1cCeHYw_po/s294/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><img border="0" data-original-height="294" data-original-width="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT9hoNkX4bGN8DSAgTPraTZxBNsVlGtgtA5xW_dbx3xBQtDKdRANnnYwGpUq0puPPBxIAO7U5Gch6bogKG1ueqCUlrsTFBKX-_CROg-C7edOFdx1EdX_k3CVwrZ3ZZIGKXX1cCeHYw_po/s0/image.png" /></span></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">The two winners of the eBook, <i>Rosings Park</i>, the last book in the series, are:</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">RS and Sophia Rose</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Congratulations, ladies! I hope you enjoy the book. You will have to let us know what you think of it. Thanks to the rest of you for visiting.</span></p>Janet Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904728146256943042noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519391315473032614.post-67202659216587085772021-01-27T10:12:00.011-06:002021-01-27T10:17:40.232-06:00Jack Caldwell...Rosings Park<p><span style="color: #134f5c;">Jack Caldwell is visiting at More Agreeably Engaged, and he is always a welcome guest. Today he is going to tell you about <i>Rosings Park</i>, the last book in his Jane Austen's Fighting Men series. I haven't read all the books in this series but have loved the ones that I have read. I'm eager to have the time to start at the beginning and read through to the end of the series. What about you? Have you read them? I'm hoping to review this latest one in the not too distant future. </span></p><p><span style="color: #134f5c;">Let's take a few minutes and hear from Jack. Oh, but first, did I mention there is a giveaway? Yes, there is! Okay, now back to you, Jack! :)</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;">Greetings, everybody. Jack Caldwell here.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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</v:shape><![endif]--></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK12iyXcgwEXe20JbJDkUL5p2lGjRnn_JlbHNaU2QqWq1FfEpzP-OrnBh33hIaqPNJOfqqf5-ZHwRZMltsXjtKkUxaKDrkVY4rIBMETcwjel1iaoAf5l4zWJctFwZXtpIztE2Sp5j1zno/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="294" data-original-width="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK12iyXcgwEXe20JbJDkUL5p2lGjRnn_JlbHNaU2QqWq1FfEpzP-OrnBh33hIaqPNJOfqqf5-ZHwRZMltsXjtKkUxaKDrkVY4rIBMETcwjel1iaoAf5l4zWJctFwZXtpIztE2Sp5j1zno/s16000/image.png" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;">I’m happy
to have the opportunity to talk about my latest novel, <b><i>ROSINGS PARK: A
Story of Jane Austen’s Fighting Men</i></b>. This book is the closing chapter
to the series I started with <i>THE THREE COLONELS: Jane Austen’s Fighting Men</i>.
There are currently two other books in the series, <i>THE LAST ADVENTURE OF THE
SCARLET PIMPERNEL</i> and <i>PERSUADED TO SAIL</i>.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;">The <b>Jane Austen’s Fighting Men</b> series is a unique one
in Austen fiction. I take the immortal characters created by Miss Austen and
insert them into the historical events of the Regency period, the most notable
being the Hundred Days Crisis of 1815. I also assume that all of her characters
knew and interacted with each other. This leads to some interesting stories, I
can assure you!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;">The first three books were <b>companion novels</b>—separate
stories that happened in and about the same time, but with some limited
interaction. They can be read as stand-alones, but it is more fun to read them
all and enjoy the small amount of interweaving between them all.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;">ROSINGS PARK</span></i><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;"> is different. A sequel to
<i>THE THREE COLONELS</i> (which was itself a sequel to <i>PRIDE AND PREJUDICE</i>
and <i>SENSE AND SENSIBILITY</i>), <i>ROSINGS PARK</i> acts as the concluding
chapter to the series. <i>THE THREE COLONELS</i> was about the Battle of
Waterloo. <i>ROSINGS PARK</i> is what happened afterwards. And boy, did a lot
happen! Economic depression, rapid industrialization, volcanic explosions,
civil unrest, and crop failures. Regency Britain was in turmoil and our favorite
characters are caught up in the midst of it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;">Who are those characters? <b>Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy</b>,
of course, are major players in my little drama. <b>Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam</b>
has been knighted, married <b>Anne de Bourgh</b>, and lives at Rosings with the
irksome <b>Lady Catherine</b>. Meanwhile, Sir Richard’s good friend, <b>Sir
John Buford</b>, suffers grievous injuries received at Waterloo, and his wife,
the former <b>Caroline Bingley</b>, struggles to nurse him back to health.
Meanwhile, there are unknown forces out to destroy Rosing Park.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;">Excited yet? I hope so!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;">Now to the excerpt. To set the scene, it is a summer morning
in 1817. There is a house party at Rosings Park, now controlled by Sir Richard
and Anne Fitzwilliam. Visiting are Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy and Sir John
and Caroline Buford. Buford lost an arm at Waterloo and still suffers because
of it. Richard tries to help:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="para1" style="text-indent: 0.25in;">Richard was at the breakfast table
early the next morning in his riding clothes, eating a bit of the fowl from the
night before, when Buford limped in. “Good morning. I left a leg for you.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">“Some people would take offense at that, you know.” Buford poured
a cup of coffee.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">“I have said worse.” Richard then noticed that Buford looked
terrible—his eyes red and his complexion pale. “I say, old man, do you wish to
put off our ride this morning?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">“I am well, I assure you,” he said, making a point of dropping
the leg onto a plate. “Let me gnaw on this a bit, and we shall be off. Does
Darcy join us?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">“No, he has already eaten and left.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">Thirty minutes later, the two gentlemen made their way to the
stables, accompanied by Sergeant Gregory and Corporal Frost. Quicksilver and
Hannibal were saddled and ready, as well as a mount for Gregory. Frost helped
his master to the mounting block, and soon Sir John was safely astride his
horse.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">“Let Lady Buford know we have gone,” Buford instructed his man.
“We should be back before midday.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">“Aye, sir. Good ride, gentlemen.” Frost waved as the three men
set out.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">It was a fine, June day, if a bit cool. The sun was high in the
sky, and the grass was green. Richard led the way, slowing Quicksilver’s pace
in deference to Sir John. His friend did not like it.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">“Deuce take it, Fitz! I am not in leading strings! Ride on!”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">Buford spurred Hannibal into a gallop, forcing the others to give
chase. The three dashed along the hills and dales of Kent, enjoying the
exercise and comradeship. They slowed as they neared the village.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">“I must leave you, sir,” said Gregory. “I have business with Mr.
Evans and Mr. Clarke.” The majordomo rode towards Hunsford, and the two former
cavalrymen loped off in the opposite direction.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">The pace easier, conversation could be had. “I say, the crops
here are as bad as they are in Wales.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">“Blasted weather! Mr. Evans tells me the planting was at least a
month late. If the weather would just warm!” He turned to Buford. “You take an
eager interest in my harvest. Since when did you pay the least attention to
farming?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">“I had nothing else to do, living with my brother.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">Richard frowned at that. The pair came to a creek, and
Fitzwilliam suggested they rest the horses. He quickly dismounted and rushed to
his friend before he tried to climb down from the saddle.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">“Leave off! I can do this,” Buford growled at him.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">“Stop being a mule and allow me to help you.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">“Go to the devil, Fitzwilliam!”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">Richard grinned. “No doubt I shall. Caroline will make certain of
it should any injury befall you, so be a good fellow and take my hand.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">Buford glowered and reluctantly did as he was bidden. The horses
were secured to a low branch, permitting them to graze, and the gentlemen made
their way to a fallen log. Buford sat down, but Richard did not. Instead, he
tossed his friend a small flask.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">“Brandy,” Richard answered Buford’s unasked question. “Drink up
and tell me how you are faring. And none of that folderol from last night. We
are brothers in arms, blast it, and you will tell me true!” He crossed his
arms.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">Buford managed to open the flask with one hand and took a sip. “I
have been better. Is that what you want me to say?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">“Are you in pain? Is there nothing you can take for your relief?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">Buford stretched his leg. “No, nothing. The hip is not so bad
most days—just stiff. Other times…sitting in a coach for hours is hard work.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">“And the arm?” Richard leaned against a tree.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">Buford glanced down at the half empty sleeve. “I am coming to
terms with it, I think. Oh, it does not hurt in the least. Strangest thing
though. Sometimes it itches. Not the stump—my forearm. The missing forearm.” He
looked up at Richard. “How can I feel something that is not there?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">Richard shook his head. “I never heard of such a thing. What does
the doctor say?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">“Macmillan says it is usual in cases like mine but gives no other
answers. It is deuced distracting, I can tell you.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">The two old comrades were silent for a time, enjoying the morning
air.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">“Do you have nightmares, Fitz?” Buford asked quietly.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">“Sometimes. Not as much as when I first came home. You had one
last night, I take it?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">“I look that awful? No, do not answer me. Yes, I did, a bad one.
Too often I get no rest.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">“Surely, Mr. Macmillan can concoct a draught of—”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">“By the infernal, no!” Buford cried. “Do you remember General
Norwich, who lost his leg in Spain? The man is now a complete drunkard. I may
be useless, but I shall not lose myself in drink or draughts!”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">“Yes, I saw poor old Norwich in a sad shape last year at
Boodle's. But what is this about being useless? You are not useless, Buford—far
from it!”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">“That is easy for you to say. I cannot fence, or shoot, or fish.
All sport is beyond me.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">“That is not true.” At Buford’s furious look, Richard quickly
added, “I do not mock you. You know me better than that. You can ride, for
example.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">“Yes, the cavalry taught us to ride one-handed,” Buford held up
his right arm, “but with the wrong hand! I am still not used to using the reins
with my right.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">“You have no need for a sword in England, Buford.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">“I might, with your impertinence!”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">Richard laughed. “You would have to catch me first, and you have
never been able to do that.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">“Just wait, you popinjay! I shall have you singing another tune
soon!”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">“I look forward to it. And what is this about fencing? You still
can hold a foil.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">Buford sighed. “The balance is all wrong. Besides, with this hip,
I cannot push off in attack.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">“Then I might actually have a chance against you.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">For the first time, Buford grinned. “That I doubt!”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">“We shall practice together and strengthen that leg. And Darcy
gave me a pair of rifled pistols. What say to a spot of target shooting, eh?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">“I suppose.” He took another pull of the brandy.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">“Buford, forgive me, but all this sitting about does you no good.
You are like me. You must have an occupation. What happened to your plans to
stand for Parliament?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">“I may still do that…someday.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">“What are you waiting for? If there is no open seat in Wales, you
can find some pocket borough that will suit! My family controls a few in the
north.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">“I dislike the idea of rotten boroughs, Fitz. Besides, where
would I get the thousands of pounds I would need to get elected?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">“As you will. What about the Foreign Office or Whitehall? Surely
Castlereagh or York can use a man with your gift for languages.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">Buford was incredulous. “Go back into the army or work as a
clerk?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">“That is not my meaning! You know there are many gentlemen, even
peers, who serve the King in Whitehall. Write to Wellington. You worked with
him before. He likes you and few have his connections. He will help you if you
but ask.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">“It may mean travel outside the country.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">“What of it? Caroline adores travel. She glows when she speaks of
Vienna. She is not attached to an estate, and to tell the truth, I do not think
she would care to be.” At Buford’s incredulous look, he added, “I know a
fashionable country house is expected of a gentleman, and Caroline is a
wonderful hostess, but an estate is more than that. Think of your brother’s
responsibilities. He thrives because he is like Darcy. There is nothing that
needs to be done that he does not do himself. He and Mrs. Buford are hardly in
town. I do not think that is the life Caroline desires.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">“True,” Buford allowed.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="body">Richard saw that Buford was carefully considering the idea. “If
you need another opinion, talk to Darcy or write to Brandon.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;">Buford looked at his friend. “I
shall think on this, Fitz, I promise you. Thank you.” He tossed the flask back
to Richard. “But I believe the ladies should be at breakfast by now. Shall we
ride back and join them?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;">
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</span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a name="_Hlk58580126"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;">ROSINGS PARK – a Story of Jane
Austen’s Fighting Men</span></i></b></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk58580126;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;">is now
available in print, Kindle, and at Kindle Unlimited.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_2"
o:spid="_x0000_i1029" type="#_x0000_t75" style='width:468pt;height:369.75pt;
visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
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o:title=""/>
</v:shape><![endif]--></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT1z_TzdffeK8Qt2UcKbqsT3a5Wi9NZh5xE9ZfO1sIN7nnL0N0C9k2THgoYCYf_Q9_Yp1gwqZjIjGi6Qun4VbFrbG-XwuWzg_RC5BJ0lrdwNdXtkNEUSFAb5Uy61DAt8434s1RXvAq8aw/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="493" data-original-width="624" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT1z_TzdffeK8Qt2UcKbqsT3a5Wi9NZh5xE9ZfO1sIN7nnL0N0C9k2THgoYCYf_Q9_Yp1gwqZjIjGi6Qun4VbFrbG-XwuWzg_RC5BJ0lrdwNdXtkNEUSFAb5Uy61DAt8434s1RXvAq8aw/w473-h373/image.png" width="473" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
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<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;">To
celebrate, I am giving away two (2) ebook copies of <i>ROSINGS PARK – a Story
of Jane Austen’s Fighting Men</i> in your choice of MOBI (Kindle) or EPUB
format!<o:p></o:p></span></p><span style="color: #134f5c;">Oooh, what do you think? I'm definitely excited! What about you? I'm eager to hear from any of you who have read this book and any or all of the Fighting Men series. If you haven't read it, would you like a chance to win it? As Jack stated above, he is giving away two eBook copies. To be entered have your share of the conversation in the comments below. The giveaway will end on the 30th of January at midnight, Central Time. Thanks for stopping by and spending some time with us. Jack, thank you for the generous giveaway for my readers!</span><p></p>Janet Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904728146256943042noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519391315473032614.post-8700162558948163862021-01-26T11:27:00.003-06:002021-01-26T11:40:13.664-06:00Determination...C. P. Odom<p><span style="color: #134f5c;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTIl8Hti_7nmlsXuDB7szLxdlevTzSUOEgFA7RQ42FSW51ucuFPaQlhNrXb28IgYKYIGNpJozJVNcsS1CHwuo0kcfR9sEkqvuAWFv4ofzTDVmaoPoEFsLbGugA1AJjBHxGqauem_Lik7Q/s1125/Determination+Final+FC+wobld+010921+S.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTIl8Hti_7nmlsXuDB7szLxdlevTzSUOEgFA7RQ42FSW51ucuFPaQlhNrXb28IgYKYIGNpJozJVNcsS1CHwuo0kcfR9sEkqvuAWFv4ofzTDVmaoPoEFsLbGugA1AJjBHxGqauem_Lik7Q/s320/Determination+Final+FC+wobld+010921+S.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br />Welcome to More Agreeably Engaged today. Due to circumstances beyond her control, Dee from Donadee's Corner is unable to post her review, which will come at a later date, possibly outside the scheduled blog tour. I am happy to host C. P. Odom in her place and will share an excerpt from chapter fifteen. Be sure to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway at the end of the post.</span><p></p><p><span style="color: #134f5c;">In case you haven't read it, let's take a look at the blurb first!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Blurb<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">“Love at first sight” is a laughable concept in the
considered opinion of Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam and never occurs in real
life—certainly not in the life of an experienced soldier. In fact, until he
observes the smitten nature of his cousin Fitzwilliam Darcy, he doubts that
fervent love truly exists. Marriage, after all, is a matter of money, social
standing, and property.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">But his cousin becomes besotted with Elizabeth Bennet,
the lovely but penniless daughter of a Hertfordshire gentleman, and is
determined to make her his wife. Unfortunately, emotions overwhelm his good
judgment, and he botches an offer of marriage.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">When the colonel attempts to untangle the mess, his
own world becomes almost as chaotic when he makes the accidental acquaintance
of Miss Jane Bennet, Elizabeth’s beloved elder sister. Can emotions previously
deemed impossible truly seize such a level-headed person as himself? And can
impassible obstacles deter a man of true determination?</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #134f5c;">*****</span></p><p></p><p align="left" class="section" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-GB">This
excerpt is from Chapter 15 of my new novel, <u>Determination</u>. Previously,
Colonel Fitzwilliam has been in romantic pursuit of Jane Bennet and has now
called on her at her home, Longbourn. During that visit, he and Jane walk into
Meryton along with Darcy and Elizabeth. Jane and Colonel Fitzwilliam lag behind
the other two and thus see Wickham and three other officers step out of a shop,
and Wickham confronts Darcy in the street. This excerpt deals with the events
of that confrontation. Janet Taylor and her son put together an image of that
confrontation on the back cover of the novel.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="chapter"><span lang="EN-GB">Chapter </span><!--[if supportFields]><span
lang=EN-GB><span style='mso-element:field-begin'></span><span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>SEQ Chapter \* ARABIC <span style='mso-element:
field-separator'></span></span><![endif]--><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">15</span></span><!--[if supportFields]><span
lang=EN-GB><span style='mso-element:field-end'></span></span><![endif]--><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Quote1"><span lang="EN-GB">My lord cardinal (Cardinal Richelieu), there
is one fact which you seem to have entirely forgotten. God is a sure paymaster.
He may not pay at the end of every week or month or year; but I charge you,
remember that He pays in the end.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="quoter"><span lang="EN-GB">— Anne of Austria<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="date1"><span lang="EN-GB">Saturday, May 9, 1812<br />
Meryton, Hertfordshire<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="para1"><span lang="EN-GB">Despite their attempt to walk faster, it was a
simple fact that Jane was not nearly as accomplished a walker as Elizabeth. And
while Richard could easily have increased his own pace, he could only have done
so by forging ahead by himself, a thought that never crossed his mind. So it
was that Elizabeth and Darcy were still about thirty yards ahead when, as they
reached the outskirts of Meryton, George Wickham stepped out of a shop in
company with three other officers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">Richard was close enough to hear Wickham utter
an exclamation of surprise as he caught sight of the two walkers who were just
passing the shop, which caused both Elizabeth and Darcy to stop in the middle
of the road and turn towards Wickham and his friends. Richard could see from
the piping and the cut of their uniforms that all four red-coated men were
lieutenants from the same regiment, undoubtedly the local militia of which he
had heard. The regiment had spent the winter months in Meryton and were being
sent to summer quarters on the southern coast.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">But such mundane thoughts were inconsequential
to the cold, savage fury that swept through him at the thought of finally being
in the presence of the scoundrel who had nearly ruined the life of his dear
Georgiana.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">Because Wickham and his friends had stepped out
in the road to face Darcy and Elizabeth, they did not see Richard and Jane, who
were walking up the road behind the officers. But Richard was close enough to
hear the familiar voice of Wickham. That sneering tone, which had merely been
objectionable when he had known him at Pemberley as a young man, now served to
increase his already smouldering anger to the seething point.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“Ho, Miss Elizabeth,” Wickham called loudly.
“And Mr. Darcy walking out with her. Such a fine couple, eh, lads?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">A titter of amusement went through the other
three, which must have encouraged Wickham, for he stepped closer.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“I <span class="italic">am</span> disappointed,
Miss Bennet, to find that you have been enticed by the Darcy fortune and
consequence. I thought better of you—I really did—even though you and your
sisters have no dowry and your father’s estate is entailed to another. But who
can account for desperation—right, lads?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">Richard saw Darcy step forward, his jaws
clenched in rage, which caused Wickham’s companions to step forward also. This
threatening manner caused Darcy to stop since it was clear that, if he
confronted Wickham physically, the other three would likely come to his aid.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“I know you would love to thrash me, Darce old
man,” Wickham said mockingly, “but all your fortune will not help you if you
raise a hand against me and my friends. And, since you yourself have no friends
hereabouts, I would recommend that you be on your way like a good little boy. After
all, everyone here is well aware of all your offences against me.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“Still the bully, I see,” Darcy said icily, and
Richard was now close enough to see the contemptuous expression on Elizabeth’s
face. It was clear that whatever lingering doubts she might have held regarding
Wickham had long since been dispelled and in the most thorough fashion.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">Darcy’s contemptuous comment had evidently
infuriated Wickham; he put a hand on his sword and stepped towards Darcy, who
showed no inclination to retreat but rather stepped in front of Elizabeth to
shield her.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“I do not have to take that kind of abuse any
longer…” Wickham began.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">Richard was still ten yards behind Wickham and
his fellows, but he knew he could delay no further; the situation gave every appearance
of getting out of control very quickly. He knew he had to do something immediately.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“Well, if it is not Lieutenant George Wickham,”
he boomed in a voice shaped by innumerable shouted commands to mounted troops
at drill and on the battlefield. “I never expected to come upon you in this
place—and wearing the King’s uniform. Will wonders never cease?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">The unexpected nature of the shout from behind
them, as well as its strength, broke the concentration the four officers had
trained on Darcy, and they whirled about instantly.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“Please remain here, Miss Bennet,” Richard said
quietly but firmly before stepping towards the four officers, all of whom were
staring at him in surprise and even alarm. That alarm was undoubtedly the
reason their hands had gone to their sword hilts at his unexpected comment.
They had reacted to the harsh overtones of the statement even if the words
themselves had been quite benign. Beyond them, further up the road, Lydia and
Kitty had turned around and now stared at the scene in open-mouthed wonder and
confusion.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“Where the devil did you come from,
Fitzwilliam?” Wickham blustered loudly, and Richard shook his head in mock
disappointment.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“Now, that is not a very respectful comment,
Lieutenant, especially when speaking to a superior officer,” Richard said
easily as he came to a stop several yards away. His speech was calm and
collected, but it ought to have woken alarms in the mind of the other men, had
they the experience and wit to know they had just wandered into treacherous waters.
“I have to wonder whether your training in military courtesy has been sadly
neglected. Or perhaps you were just asleep when that topic was taught? But it
is not at all what I would have expected from four officers such as yourselves—even
if your regiment is of the militia.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">While the other men now were expectant and
alert, if a bit confused, Richard appeared totally relaxed, standing with his
arms behind his back. Despite his size, he hardly presented a formidable
picture, especially since his comments had been spoken so mildly. Wickham ought
to have known better from their years together at Pemberley, but his blood was
up, and he had friends to stand with him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="section"><span lang="EN-GB">***<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="bodysection"><span lang="EN-GB">Jane had stopped in the roadway as Richard
had ordered her to do, responding instinctively in the manner of a maiden when
her protector steps forward in her defence. She was now about ten yards from
the group of red-coated men, but she clearly recognised something the militia
officers had not perceived. Richard was <span class="italic">not</span> standing
in an unconcerned manner—not at all. His hands were behind his back, true, but
he had turned his sword belt around so that his sheathed sabre hung behind his
leg and out of sight of the four who confronted him. One of his hands—<span class="italic">huge</span> hands, Jane now realised—held the scabbard of boiled
leather while the other gripped the wire-wound hilt of his heavy cavalry weapon.
She felt prickling along the back of her neck and down her back.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span class="italic"><span lang="EN-GB">This is </span></span><span class="italicallcap"><span lang="EN-GB">not</span></span><span class="italic"><span lang="EN-GB"> a trivial affair—this is </span></span><span class="italicallcap"><span lang="EN-GB">real</span></span><span class="italic"><span lang="EN-GB">. There is
danger, real danger, in this situation, and I have never encountered anything
like it. Does Mr. Wickham see that? Does he understand his peril? Certainly, Colonel
Fitzwilliam is prepared for anything. I can see it in the tension of his
shoulders even if these four fools cannot. He is prepared to draw that sword instantly
if events force him to do so.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">The thought brought her eyes back to the hilt of
his sabre, and a single glance revealed its well-worn appearance.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span class="italic"><span lang="EN-GB">That is not a dress sword, </span></span><span lang="EN-GB">she realized with a jolt of wonder.<span class="italic"> Why did I not
see it before? I have seen the swords these militia officers wear, shining and
adorned with gold gilt about the hilt and scabbard. This sword is weathered and
worn. Not dirty, certainly, but stained and well-used.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">She had no idea from what those stains might
originate, but she did know that some stains did not wash out. Her neck
prickled again as her racing mind pictured Colonel Fitzwilliam holding that
sabre in one of his huge hands on the drill field or on the field of battle.
Instinctively, she knew he had seen life and death situations completely
foreign to her experience, all with that fearsome weapon in his massive hand,
and she was deathly afraid of any impending confrontation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">However, it did not seem that the colonel was
worried. Except for the tension in his shoulders—visible to her but not to
Wickham and his friends—she could see no other signs of concern on his part.
Instead, he seemed composed and confident despite facing possible odds of four
to one.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“In fact, young sirs,” Fitzwilliam continued in
the same mild tones, “as I stand here, a colonel in the regular army of His
Majesty, commanding a regiment of his dragoons, I am quite surprised to see
four hands on the hilts of four swords, all belonging to four mere lieutenants
of militia.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">A number of people from the village had gathered
around the tableau in the street by this time, and several shopkeepers stood
just outside the doors to their shops to see what was happening.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“I have to wonder,” Fitzwilliam said softly, the
mildness gone from his voice as he bared his teeth in the rictus of a smile, “whether
you four lads understand that, if even half an inch of sword shows out of one
of your scabbards, I shall kill you, one and all, right in this street.” His
words fell into the stillness with the impact of heavy weights hitting the
ground from a great height.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“And I have to wonder whether you pups are aware
that, by merely putting your hands on your sword hilts, you have all made
yourselves guilty of the capital crimes of mutiny and threatening a superior
officer, His Majesty’s realm now being in a state of war. I could have all four
of you miserable excuses for King’s officers in front of a court before the
afternoon is over and dangling from a rope before tomorrow’s sun is fully over
the horizon.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">Not a sound could be heard in the street as all
those around, including the four officers in front of the colonel, realized the
truth of what they had just heard. No one moved a muscle, and Fitzwilliam’s
grin grew wider though no less mirthless.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“Those of you who do not desire to be killed in
this street had best assume a less threatening posture,” he said quietly.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">The four officers had never seen anything as
fast as the sudden blur of the colonel’s sword leaving his scabbard. Before
they could take a breath, they found themselves facing their adversary, who
stood easily with sabre in hand, balanced on the balls of his feet and ready
for anything. The tip of his heavy, dull-gleaming sabre was downward, but the
face of each of the four red-coated officers was pale as they saw death look
them in the eye.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">As if the drawing of that sabre had restored
their minds to consciousness, all four men immediately took their hands off the
hilts of their dress swords. Jane was not surprised to see that all of those
swords, even Wickham’s, were decorated much more lavishly than Colonel Fitzwilliam’s,
but not one of them wanted to pit their blades against that of the frightening
figure before them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“Ah, much better but still not adequate, lads,” Fitzwilliam
said coldly. “The custom we have in the King’s service is that junior officers
are at the position of attention when in the presence of a superior officer.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">The other three officers instantly braced to
attention, followed somewhat belatedly by Wickham.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“Now that the formalities are complete,
Lieutenant Wickham,” Fitzwilliam continued, his voice mild again, “perhaps you
could tell me why I just heard a lieutenant of His Majesty’s militia foully slander
my cousin Darcy in public—preparatory, it seemed to me, to what looked
suspiciously like the intent of administering a beating to said cousin?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">Wickham said nothing, but his eyes were dark
pools of hate as he stared at Fitzwilliam.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“Nothing to say, eh? I suppose that is not too
surprising since I feel certain no one here is aware that most everything you
have told them about my cousin has been a complete and absolute fabrication—in short,
Wickham, a series of outright, bald-faced lies.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">There was a rustle and whispering among the
onlookers at this statement.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“These ordinary people are probably not aware
that you were given a legacy of a full thousand pounds upon the death of old
Mr. Darcy, the father of my slandered cousin.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">A spate of whispering broke out but was
instantly hushed as Colonel Fitzwilliam continued. “Nor, I am sure, are they
aware that the present Mr. Darcy made a bargain in which he gave you three
thousand pounds in return for your relinquishing any claim to a living in the
church. I daresay my cousin Darcy should have known better, but he was
obviously indulging more in wishful thinking than cold logic.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">These statements, delivered in a matter-of-fact
voice that carried to the back of the now-larger crowd, brought about renewed
whispering, and Wickham’s expression was that of a trapped man.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“Four thousand pounds, Wickham. Many of these
people will not see that much money in their whole lives, and you had it in
your hands before you were four and twenty—put into your hands by the man you
have foully slandered in this neighbourhood. Of course, that figure does not
include the several times Darcy paid off the debts you left behind. And now, I
daresay, you have none of that fortune left.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">Fitzwilliam looked around at the crowd, and he
could see the suspicious looks being directed towards Wickham by several of the
shopkeepers. Then he looked back at the older of Wickham’s three companions.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“You appear to be the senior, Lieutenant. What
is your name?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“Denny, sir.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“Well, Lieutenant Denny, then be aware of this.
I have known George Wickham since I was twelve years old, and I have personal
knowledge that what I say is true. My parents, the Earl and Countess of Matlock,
are also aware of it. If, as I suspect, Lieutenant Wickham owes money to the
officers of the regiment, might you have any idea how he intends to pay off
those debts?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">The glance Denny gave Wickham had little of
friendship in it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“No, sir, I do not know. And yes, sir, he does
have a number of debts of honour.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“Gambling debts. Well, George never was as good
at any of the games of chance as he thought he was. But now, I believe you
three have things you should be doing—such as taking a fellow officer before
your colonel, perhaps? In fact, I shall make that an order. Do you understand
me, Lieutenant Denny?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“Yes, sir,” Denny said, beads of sweat now
visible on his brow.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“And I would advise you to take care as you
escort him to Colonel Forster, for I give you fair warning that George Wickham
is quite accomplished at running out on debts. I hope that also is clear,
Lieutenant.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“Yes, sir. Completely clear.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“Very good. Well, that seems to be all. That
being so, you gentlemen—if I may use the term loosely—are dismissed to your
duties.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">Wickham was not close to being quick enough to
flee. He was still gaping at Fitzwilliam when two of his erstwhile friends had
him by the elbow and were urging him down the street, followed by Denny. Jeers
and catcalls sounded behind him, drowning out his sudden protests at the manner
in which he was forcibly marched on his way.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">Lydia and Kitty appeared not to know what to do
at first, standing stock still, their heads swivelling back and forth between
Colonel Fitzwilliam and their former favourite, who had just taken a drastic
fall from grace. Finally, after whispering together for a moment, both girls
ran up the street to catch up with the red-coated quartet.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">Jane was not nearly as bewildered, and she now
noted several shopkeepers exiting their shops with notes and receipts in hand
as they made haste to catch up with the men surrounding Wickham.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">Fitzwilliam turned back towards Jane, and he
looked quite satisfied as he did some kind of complicated pirouette with his
sword before smoothly sliding it into his sheath, a movement so rapid and fluid
that Jane knew it must be the result of thousands of repetitions.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“Well, <span class="italic">that</span> was
certainly exciting,” Darcy drawled wryly as he and Elizabeth joined his cousin
and the four continued their interrupted walk.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“Yes, it was,” the colonel said, and Jane was
surprised at the harshness in his voice. “And it need not have happened if you
had not become so distant and reserved. You should have exposed Wickham the first
time you met him here in Hertfordshire. Then he could not have cheated these
shopkeepers and his fellow officers. And that does not even take into account
the probability that he has been dallying with the daughters of these simple
folk.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">Darcy stiffened at Fitzwilliam’s cold, slicing
voice, his anger plain to see. “I was trying to protect Georgiana—”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“I never mentioned Georgiana when I related my
story to Miss Elizabeth and her aunt, so there is no reason you could not have
done similarly.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">Elizabeth’s eyes were on Darcy now, and Jane
could read the question in them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“Tell her, Darce,” Fitzwilliam said forcefully.
“If she is worth marrying, she has to be worth trusting with the Darcy family
secrets. But it is best that you explain yourself. I have no idea what
transpired while I was gone these five years, but the Darcy I grew up with never
would have allowed things to get so bad. I suspect Miss Elizabeth would find
that man much easier to understand.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">Darcy looked at his cousin angrily for a moment,
but as Fitzwilliam watched his cousin’s anger visibly fade, his own stern
visage softened accordingly. But when Darcy nodded in agreement and turned towards
Elizabeth, he stopped him with an upraised hand.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“That subject should be discussed later and more
privately, especially since Miss Elizabeth’s sisters appear to have decided to
rejoin us.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">Again, Darcy nodded in agreement as the two
girls came running up to them and skidded to a stop.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“Colonel Fitzwilliam, Colonel Fitzwilliam,”
Kitty burst out, panting breathless either from bewilderment or exercise. “What
just happened?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“Why are Mr. Wickham’s friends taking him away
like that?” Lydia said, glancing up the street as the quartet of militia
officers turned aside from the road towards their encampment. “They did not
look very friendly when we ran up to them. And they would not even stop to talk
though Mr. Wickham was pleading with them to let him go.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“What you just observed, my dear ladies,” Fitzwilliam
said, “is justice being done.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“Justice?” Lydia said in protest. “But Mr.
Wickham—”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“—is going to get what he deserves,” Jane said
firmly. “You saw all those shopkeepers hurrying after the officers, did you
not?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“Well, yes, but why does that matter?” Lydia
cried.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“Because they just learned that your Mr. Wickham
is never going to pay what he owes them. He has no money to do so, and he
leaves debts wherever he goes. I watched Mr. Wickham as Colonel Fitzwilliam
said as much, and I recognised the truth of what he said. In fact, I have been
castigating myself for being so gullible as to be taken in by Mr. Wickham’s
well-spoken and amiable nature. And Mr. Darcy could also give testimony to
that, because the colonel says his cousin has assumed Mr. Wickham’s debts
several times previously.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“And I have just decided that I shall do so one
more time,” Darcy interrupted harshly. “My cousin Fitzwilliam is right: this is
my fault because I did not make Wickham’s true nature known to everyone, and I
cannot allow these tradesmen to suffer because I did not do what was right.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“And Colonel Fitzwilliam revealed that Mr.
Wickham is not only a gamester but never had any intention of making good his
losses to his fellow officers,” Jane said, looking sternly at both Lydia and
Kitty.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“That is the primary reason those officers are
taking Wickham to their colonel,” Fitzwilliam said coldly. “An officer’s honour
is highly important to him even though he be only a lieutenant in a militia
regiment rather than being in the regulars like me. That is why gambling debts
are referred to as ‘debts of honour’ since an officer is honour-bound to repay
them. But Wickham has no money, and I daresay he was exceedingly anxious to be
away from this country town. He always has an instinct when his string is about
to run out. Doubtless he would have found it necessary to flee the regiment at
some point. This encounter today just accelerated that moment.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">From the looks on her younger sisters’ faces,
Jane had her doubts that they truly comprehended much of these explanations.
But she also saw their expressions change to craftiness, and she did not need
to read their mind to know they had just realized that they possessed pearls of
gossip they could relate to all their friends. Without even a goodbye, both
girls turned and scurried off up the street.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“I suppose I should try to stop those two,”
Elizabeth said in mortification, “but I am feeling so drained that I simply
cannot summon the willpower.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">She looked at Fitzwilliam with an indecipherable
expression. “I thought I was going to see blood in the street just now,
Colonel. I always looked at those swords the militia officers wore as simply an
adornment, somewhat like a woman’s necklace.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“My cousin can be somewhat formidable,” Darcy
said with obvious fondness. “He usually manages to maintain a semblance of
politeness and good manners to keep it concealed, but he has lived much of his
life in a different world than the three of us.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“Look,” Elizabeth exclaimed in amusement. “You
have made him flush in embarrassment, Mr. Darcy.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">Only then did she notice that Darcy had rather
tentatively offered his arm preparatory to continuing their walk up the street.
She looked at him for only a moment and then took it, tucking her hand around
his forearm.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">As they walked slowly away rather stiffly, Jane,
her violet eyes shining, said softly, “Bravo, sir.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">Fitzwilliam only shrugged then offered his own
arm before they began to follow Darcy and Elizabeth.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“Well, someone had to do something,” he said, a
trifle apologetically.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">Jane nodded in agreement. <span class="italic">But
you stepped forward to do that something, </span>she thought<span class="italic">,
while everyone else just stood about looking at what was happening without any
idea what to do. I certainly had no idea things like this could happen, and I
had no more clue than everyone else about what to do. Colonel Fitzwilliam may
be fair spoken, but he is a man used to action and getting things done</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">This led to another, more disturbing thought. <span class="italic">And he has said he intends to make me his wife. After witnessing
what just transpired, I find myself wondering how I could possibly doubt that
he will fail in his intent—Mr. Bingley or no.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">With these thoughts in mind and after walking
past several shops, Jane shook her head firmly. “I cannot allow you to dismiss
what you did so casually. It was like nothing I have ever witnessed before, and
I suddenly understood how sheltered my life has been. That was a real
situation, completely outside my experience. As Lizzy said: men could have
died.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“Possibly, I suppose, but I hope I am not
indulging in false modesty when I say that it was not likely. None of those
four, especially Wickham, had the stomach for a fight with someone who knew
what he was about. I have been in dangerous situations before, unlike any of
those four, and I was confident all of them would back away if I pushed hard.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">Jane looked at him a long moment. “I hope you
will not take this amiss, Colonel, because it is not meant as a criticism. It
is a mere statement of fact when I say you are totally unlike anyone I have
known before.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">Colonel Fitzwilliam’s teeth gleamed as he looked
down at her cheerfully. “No offence taken, Miss Bennet. Such an assessment
bodes well for the ultimate success of my endeavours, I believe.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">Jane felt her cheeks warm at again hearing this…this
rather unsettling man…so forthrightly state his desires. She cast about
desperately for a way to change the subject.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“Another thing I found fascinating,” she finally
said, a bit lamely, “is the way your speech seemed to change so easily. At one
moment, you were taunting those men in gentlemanly tones, and then the next your
speech sounded more like it came from the…the…”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“From the docks?” Fitzwilliam asked cheerfully.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“Well, I have no way of knowing, really, but it
seems likely.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“I command a regiment that was originally raised
in Wales, but we have added a mixture of odds and ends from just about
everywhere over the years. When things get a bit exciting, I sometimes talk
like old Sergeant Jones, the grizzled veteran who first taught a very, very
young Lieutenant Richard Fitzwilliam how to be a soldier.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">“I see,” Jane said, smiling slightly as she
glanced over at the sturdy man with the sun-darkened face and the gleaming
teeth. Then her eyes swung back to Darcy and Elizabeth walking rather slowly
ahead of them, and her smile grew warmer. It certainly seemed as if Darcy and Elizabeth
were talking more easily. She certainly hoped so because she thought he could
make her sister happy if Lizzy would just give him a chance.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">But, as concerning as Lizzy’s situation was,
Jane’s thoughts kept returning to the tension-packed encounter just concluded.
As she had commented, the danger had seemed paramount at the time, but she was
not remembering the danger right now as much as some odd little snippets about Fitzwilliam
himself. For example, she had been shocked at the size of his wrists when he
put his hands behind his back, one hand on his sword and the other on his
scabbard. The curl of his arms had pulled the cuffs of his uniform jacket
upward revealing wrists of a more impressive thickness than she had ever before
seen on a man, even the blacksmith in Meryton. And then she had realized that
his hands had been equally large with fingers thick and wide. She had already seen
how his hand could swallow her own when he raised it to his lips previously,
but seeing those fingers curl around the hilt of his sword had brought home the
power in those hands.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">And in his arms and shoulders also. She had
previously thought his uniform coat had been badly tailored, but seeing the
fabric strain as he jerked his sword from the scabbard had shown her to be in
error. His uniform had been tailored to allow the necessary freedom of his
shoulders, chest, and arms. She was certain she had <span class="italic">never</span>
seen a gentleman with shoulders like <span class="italic">that.</span> From their
first meeting, she had recognised he was a much <span class="italic">wider</span>
man than his cousin was, but she had not realized the true extent of the
difference until she had seen him uncoil and set himself, ready to move if
Wickham or his friends had drawn their swords.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">She remembered the slender hands and fingers of
Mr. Bingley, which were, in her experience, the rule for most gentlemen. She
supposed she ought to feel disdain that Colonel Fitzwilliam’s wrists and arms
were more like those of a farmer or labourer than of a gentleman, but she felt
nothing of the kind. She actually felt a thrill at the thought of his large
hand holding her own on the dance floor. And as for the thought of those strong
fingers on her waist…or elsewhere…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="body"><span lang="EN-GB">An exciting tingle ran up and then down her
spine, and Jane carefully looked away at the shop windows as they walked,
hoping she was thus able to hide the blush she felt warming her cheeks.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="body"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4l0MK6imszbjRnAX35DgiWdTBcj_Cf8xwmtsIl79IOdMRxczMaBORPLOso7KXiQE3FAuWzbCGSmG79-Y03Vn7Toz01rhnxRLW3qBS0Dl5YCt02Cntc6KwJo6ytPsCRlr_vJcLeV1JHpw/s1200/Determination+Final+Wrapper+010921+wobld+S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="833" data-original-width="1200" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4l0MK6imszbjRnAX35DgiWdTBcj_Cf8xwmtsIl79IOdMRxczMaBORPLOso7KXiQE3FAuWzbCGSmG79-Y03Vn7Toz01rhnxRLW3qBS0Dl5YCt02Cntc6KwJo6ytPsCRlr_vJcLeV1JHpw/w464-h322/Determination+Final+Wrapper+010921+wobld+S.jpg" width="464" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="section"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #134f5c;"><o:p>What did you think of this encounter? It should have made those officers know it was no trivial affair! Several readers have said this was one of their favorite scenes when Colin was posting this story at Hyacinth Gardens. It is still a favorite scene! </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Contact Info<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/colin.odom"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Colin Odom
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<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Determination-Prejudice-Variation-C-Odom-ebook/dp/B08SMMCW5F/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Determination+by+cp+odom&qid=1610599944&sr=8-1"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Amazon US</span></b></a><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"> eBook, Paperback,
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Reviews</span></a><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt;">01/25 </span><a href="https://interestsofajaneaustengirl.wordpress.com/"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Interests of a Jane Austen
Girl</span></a><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="section"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #134f5c;">
</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt;">01/26 </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://www.donadees.com/">Donadee’s
Corner</a></span><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">*****</p><p class="section"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Giveaway time is here! Good luck to everyone. There are 8 eBooks of <i><b>Determination</b></i> in this giveaway. Please use the Rafflecopter to enter.</span></p><p class="section"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span></p><p class="section"><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="0ca86b9b41" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/0ca86b9b41/" id="rcwidget_i0lwjjpx" rel="nofollow"><b>a Rafflecopter giveaway</b></a></p>Janet Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904728146256943042noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519391315473032614.post-73587859392356267792020-12-07T08:48:00.000-06:002020-12-07T08:48:06.849-06:00Maria Grace...Unexpected Gifts<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKabayz8qe1GgA2PpLGn2PTmyY0QNAMKcjQwzgU6wl-6CNZdXbz8jnJVijXp3Wu6Pzf16Sp4br0O-UhQKbc5roAhILEFhsV165707agywKoXi9GNC0uKDXO7pwA3ixNL5EbqDnxRiZte8/s725/Unexpected+gifts2+M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="725" data-original-width="450" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKabayz8qe1GgA2PpLGn2PTmyY0QNAMKcjQwzgU6wl-6CNZdXbz8jnJVijXp3Wu6Pzf16Sp4br0O-UhQKbc5roAhILEFhsV165707agywKoXi9GNC0uKDXO7pwA3ixNL5EbqDnxRiZte8/s320/Unexpected+gifts2+M.jpg" /></a><span style="color: #134f5c;">Maria Grace is my guest today, and it is always so good to have her stop by. She has a new Christmas book, <i>Unexpected Gifts. </i>Doesn't that sound lovely! I always enjoy reading Christmas stories and especially those about Darcy and Elizabeth. I'm looking forward to hearing more about this one. Maria is going to tell us a little about it, and she shares an excerpt with us. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!</span></p><p><span style="color: #134f5c;">Thank you, Maria, for visiting today. I think we can all enjoy some "warm fuzzies" this year.</span></p><p>*****</p><p class="MsoNormal">Thank you for hosting me, Janet. I love getting to visit
with you.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">I knew I wanted to write another Christmas book way back in
the spring. But try as I might, I could not find the holiday vibe anywhere.
Gee, I wonder why, right?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">I kept trying and trying then pretty well gave up. Which was
when I finally figured out what I wanted to write on. With all this this year
has brought (I actually caught myself saying ‘then it all went 2020’ to
describe something!), I wanted to write about difficult relationships that come to the fore during a
quarantine—oh I meant the holidays. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The holidays just seem to bring out all those rough edges
and leave us at risk for rubbing each other the wrong way but they also offer a
chance for making difficult relationships better. That seemed to be a very
appropriate place to dwell this year.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">I didn’t have to look too long or hard at the Darcy family to
identify places were prickliness was likely: Lady Catherine, Lady Matlock,
Lydia, even Charlotte Lucas might harbor some serious resentments towards
Elizabeth and Darcy. So that became the foundation for this collection of three
holiday short stories. They may make you laugh, make you think, and might even
make you cry, but they will definitely leave you with the warm fuzzy holiday
vibe that we all so need right now!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">This is the fourth book in the Darcy Family Christmas
series. Remember to check out the other three!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzlO3-37mXueyJjWsR1Rwn2WoW7cEVUu5yPYMlRuZ9Mk-URzx8QqjCHW3F1tzWOJncpUPUUVj605NLVBhbVTT-qRLXx3X78v9dhj5vWZD1H6ACMsYn-0BRGqqGx7BAxwogWVeoOFISKg/s1236/Unexpected+Gifts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="668" data-original-width="1236" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzlO3-37mXueyJjWsR1Rwn2WoW7cEVUu5yPYMlRuZ9Mk-URzx8QqjCHW3F1tzWOJncpUPUUVj605NLVBhbVTT-qRLXx3X78v9dhj5vWZD1H6ACMsYn-0BRGqqGx7BAxwogWVeoOFISKg/w427-h230/Unexpected+Gifts.jpg" width="427" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Here’s a little excerpt:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Elizabeth
paced the spacious, well-appointed bed chamber of Matlock Manor, the taffeta of
her dinner gown swishing with that peculiar sound only taffeta made. Darcy had
chosen the color, a luxurious green—a color he said set off her eyes. The gown
had been purchased for hosting Christmas dinner at Pemberley which of course had
not happened. So instead, it would be subject to Lady Matlock’s subtle and
polite critique.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Even
after the—events—of Elizabeth’s first Christmas in Derbyshire, her relationship
with Lady Matlock remained—formal—yes, that was the best way to describe it.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">She
sat on the edge of the bed, piled high with feather beds and a generous
counterpane. The bed curtains, striped burgundy and gold, matched the drapes
and the linens while the mustardy-gold painted walls echoed the warmth of the
fire and candles making the room seem warmer than it was. Boughs of evergreen,
tied with red ribbons, draped the mantlepiece, scenting the air with their
perfume. The guest room was tasteful, but a bit too elegant to be truly
comfortable.</span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It
was only a meal, only a dinner. It was not as if she had never attended a fancy
dinner or even one at Matlock before—but none were quite like this. Lady
Matlock had made certain that she knew the company tonight would be quite fine
and if anything went wrong it would be the talk of Derbyshire and not easily
forgotten.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Lovely
woman.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Two
knights and their wives and a baronet and his lady were among the guests
tonight, along with several landowners with estates that made Longbourn look
like a yeoman’s farm. Thankfully, Darcy’s favorite cousins would also be there,
so that was some mercy.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Lady
Matlock—she would never be Aunt Matlock any more than Lady Catherine would be
Aunt Catherine—had ever so gently suggested that it would behoove Elizabeth to
guard her conversation and behavior very carefully. All eyes would be on the
Darcys. Even those guests so unfortunate as not to hold titles had intimated to
Lady Matlock that they still considered Elizabeth a mere country farmer’s
daughter, not truly fit for their company. Not that <i>she</i> felt that way of course;
she and the earl supported Darcy in his choices, however unexpected they might
have been. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It was probably a very generous sentiment all told,
but it hardly made her feel any better. And the way in which Lady Matlock said
it somehow left it sounding no more genuine than when she had declared the same
thing at Pemberley.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Elizabeth let her head fall back and she stared
into the inside of the bed canopy: generously gathered gold wool that swirled
into a rosette in the center.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Merciful heavens! Back in Hertfordshire she had
enjoyed dinner parties and social occasions. Looked forward to them, planned
for them. Never, truly never, had an event caused her to experience the
flutterings in her stomach and pains in her head that her mother so often
described. The ones she experienced now and could not blame her increasing
state for.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What did it mean that Mama was suddenly sounding
reasonable? </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">How Darcy would laugh at that! He dearly loved to
laugh now. Hopefully, after this was said and done, they would be able to look
back at this night and laugh, too.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The chimes of a long case clock, stationed on the
landing of the great stairs, striking six filtered through the heavy oak door
of her chamber. Dinner guests would be arriving. She should make an appearance
in the drawing room.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">To her fate she went.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>*****</o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="color: #134f5c;">Ah, poor Elizabeth. I hope the dinner goes well for her. It does sound a bit intimidating, to be sure. I guess we will have to read the book to learn how it went. Have any of you read it yet? Here's the blurb or back cover copy if you want to know more about it.</span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="color: #134f5c;">*****</span></o:p></p><h1><span style="font-size: medium;">Unexpected Gifts Back Cover Copy</span></h1><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div>Yuletide 1814, the Darcys are celebrating their third wedding anniversary and the baby Elizabeth is expecting. Overprotective and perhaps overbearing, Darcy is ready to do anything for Elizabeth’s comfort, including defying the will of his aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh who demands their presence to bestow a gift that absolutely cannot wait.</div><div><br /></div><div>What sort of gift is so urgent it cannot wait for a more auspicious time?</div><div><br /></div><div>Christmastide 1815, the Darcys hope for a particular sort of joy to bring a close to a dark and difficult season. It only seems fitting that an unexpected—and unwelcome—guest disrupts their small family house party. Could the unexpected gift they bring be the key to the fulfillment of the Darcys’ most heartfelt desires?</div></span></div><h1><span style="font-size: medium;">Buy Link:</span></h1><h1><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Unexpected-Gifts-Prejudice-Sequel-Christmas-ebook/dp/B08NYW6745">Unexpected Gifts</a></span></h1><div>*****</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Author Bio:</b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijoIR1P6wIRtBy2oebQ2HWIoU8tcuWsy_9hL6ku_U9b6eIQdjXEDEw-HbOMaLKFn7w0_KC85pV2iNWGXF0Ix86f0dvyZtW_TNwRvE4d4qeBq38o7UrBo12fjRMxkrijWH0aURmGXJDa8w/s2048/2014+poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1638" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijoIR1P6wIRtBy2oebQ2HWIoU8tcuWsy_9hL6ku_U9b6eIQdjXEDEw-HbOMaLKFn7w0_KC85pV2iNWGXF0Ix86f0dvyZtW_TNwRvE4d4qeBq38o7UrBo12fjRMxkrijWH0aURmGXJDa8w/w208-h260/2014+poster.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><br />Six-time BRAG Medallion Honoree, Maria Grace has
her PhD in Educational Psychology and is a 16-year veteran of the university
classroom where she taught courses in human growth and development, learning,
test development and counseling. None of which have anything to do with her
undergraduate studies in economics/sociology/managerial studies/behavior
sciences. She pretends to be a mild-mannered writer/cat-lady, but most of her
vacations require helmets and waivers or historical costumes, usually not at
the same time. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">She writes gas lamp fantasy, historical romance
and non-fiction to help justify her research addiction. Her books are available
at all major online booksellers. </span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">She can be contacted at:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><a href="mailto:author.MariaGrace@gmail.com"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">author.MariaGrace@gmail.com </span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><a href="http://facebook.com/AuthorMariaGrace"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Facebook: </span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><a href="https://twitter.com/WriteMariaGrace"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Twitter</span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><a href="http://randombitsoffascination.com/"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Random Bits of Fascination </span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><a href="http://austenvariations.com/"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Austen Variations</span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><a href="http://englishhistoryauthors.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">English Historical Fiction
Authors </span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/mariagrace423/">Pinterest </a></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">*****</p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">What about the other three books in the series? Do you have them or do you want to buy them? The buy links are below.</span></p></div><h1><span style="font-size: medium;">Buy Links for Other Books in the Series:</span></h1><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Darcy-Elizabeth-Christmas-Prejudice-behind-ebook/dp/B077J7SVMM/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Maria+Grace+Christmas+1811&qid=1607350963&s=digital-text&sr=1-1">Christmas 1811</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B018OW8IOK">The Darcy's First
Christmas (currently on sale!) </a></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>
</o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Admiration-Love-Prejudice-sequel-Stories-ebook/dp/B077J51JC4">From Admiration to
Love<br clear="all" /></a></span><br /></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="color: #134f5c;"> Let's take a look at the back cover copy of each of the other books. If you have read them, which is your favorite?</span></o:p></p><h1><span style="font-size: medium;">Darcy and Elizabeth: Christmas 1811</span></h1><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Jane
Austen never wrote the details of Christmastide 1811. What might have happened
during those intriguing months?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"> </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Following
the Netherfield ball, Darcy persuades Bingley to leave Netherfield Park in
favor of London to avoid the match-making machinations of Mrs. Bennet. Surely,
the distractions of town will help Bingley forget the attractions of Miss Jane
Bennet. But Bingley is not the only one who needs to forget. All Darcy wants
this Christmastide is to forget another Miss Bennet. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Can
the diversions of London help Darcy overcome memories of the fine eyes and pert
opinions of a certain Hertfordshire miss? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"> </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Without
the Bingleys, the Bennets are left to the company of Mr. Collins and the militia
officers—entirely suitable company, according Mrs. Bennet. Elizabeth disagrees,
refusing an offer of marriage from the very eligible Mr. Collins. Mama’s nerves
suffer horridly until Elizabeth follows her advice to make the most of the
officers’ company.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"> </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Even
Mr. Bennet seems to agree. So, whilst Jane pines for Bingley, Elizabeth admits
the attentions of one agreeable Lt. Wickham. What possible harm can it cause,
especially when her parents are so pleased?</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"> </span></p><h1><span style="font-size: medium;">The Darcys' First Christmas</span></h1><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Elizabeth
anxiously anticipates her new duties as mistress of Pemberley. Darcy is confident
of her success, but she cannot bring herself to share his optimism. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Unexpected
guests unsettle all her plans and offer her the perfect Christmastide gift,
shattered confidence.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Can
she and Darcy overcome their misunderstandings and salvage their first
Christmastide together? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">From
the award winning author of <i>Given Good Principles, Remember the Past </i>and<i>
Mistaking Her Character</i>, <i>Sweet Tea</i> short stories offer the perfect
bite to transport readers back to the Regency era for the first days of new love.</span></p><h1><span style="font-size: medium;">From Admiration to Love</span></h1><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">After
the debacle of the previous holiday season, Darcy and Elizabeth joyfully anticipate
Christmastide 1813, Georgiana’s come out at Pemberley’s Twelfth Night Ball
culminating the season. With months of planning behind the event, even Lady
Matlock is satisfied and sends Colonel Fitzwilliam to represent the family,
assuring there will be no repeat of the previous Christmastide. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">On
St. Nicholas’, Anne de Bourgh and Lady Catherine arrive on Pemberley’s doorstep—never
a good sign—demanding sanctuary against the de Bourghs who (according the Lady
Catherine) are trying to retake Rosings Park for their family with plans to
seduce and marry Anne. Needless to say, Darcy and Fitzwilliam are skeptical.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>
</o:p></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Not
long afterwards, three gentlemen suitors appear at Pemberley, hoping to court
Anne and obliging Darcy to offer holiday hospitality. Anne adores the attention
whilst Lady Catherine makes her displeasure know, throwing Pemberley into
turmoil that threatens the Twelfth Night Ball. Can Darcy and Elizabeth, with a
little help from Fitzwilliam, soothe Lady Catherine’s nerves, see Anne to a
respectable match, and still salvage Georgiana’s come out? </span><o:p></o:p></p><p>****</p><p><span style="color: #134f5c;">These sound like good Christmas reading. With our strange year, all of us may have more time to read this year. Sitting in front of a warm, cozy fire with a blanket, a cup of hot chocolate or hot tea, and a good Christmas story sounds like a wonderful way to spend an evening or two. Thank you, Maria Grace, for stopping by, and for giving us some lovely stories to warm our hearts for the holidays. I look forward to spending some time with the Darcys at Christmas.</span></p><p></p>Janet Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904728146256943042noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519391315473032614.post-64128654238816401712020-12-02T07:57:00.004-06:002021-02-03T10:24:16.054-06:00Fitzwilliam Darcy Undone by Sue Barr<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJjVcmeL6M_DO2UdlfHWAnJnZoXGucg_AJcKnGfobfylN-q_fdti_veIRQ7kcs06XxxSEnQJa0NODtvDu6EvTFV_nTqKeo8gcuAFamgnDtVnNC3KDJ2zgU_H4wGWS6D2xHLMGKGw0rW1g/s2048/FDU.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJjVcmeL6M_DO2UdlfHWAnJnZoXGucg_AJcKnGfobfylN-q_fdti_veIRQ7kcs06XxxSEnQJa0NODtvDu6EvTFV_nTqKeo8gcuAFamgnDtVnNC3KDJ2zgU_H4wGWS6D2xHLMGKGw0rW1g/s320/FDU.jpg" /></span></a></div> <span style="color: #134f5c;">It is my pleasure to welcome back, Sue Barr, to More Agreeably Engaged. It is always so nice to have you visit, Sue. This new book, <i>Fitzwilliam Darcy ~ Undone</i>, sounds different and interesting. The excerpt you shared has me really curious. The descriptions give the scene such an ethereal quality. I look forward to reading more about this story. </span><p></p><p><span style="color: #134f5c;">I've rambled enough so now, let's turn this over to Sue.</span></p><p>*****</p><p><i>What would Pride & Prejudice be like if Darcy and Elizabeth had a touch of magic in their lives?</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Thank you, Janet, for hosting me today. This is last
stop on the tour for Fitzwilliam Darcy ~ Undone and I’m thrilled to be here. As
I’ve stated earlier, I’m humbled by how close the JAFF community is and how
well they treat others as we stumble along in life. Truly amazing.</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">I’m not one to talk a lot about myself, I’d rather
share who I am with my writing and even then, I don’t delve too far because my
mind is a twisted, cavernous valley filled with shadow and light, highs and
lows. Usually I write what I call ‘fluffy’ pieces, solely about romance and I’m
a huge sucker for an ‘out of this world’ alpha male who knows what he wants and
sets out to get it. Fortunately, it’s usually our feisty heroine who keeps him
on his toes, and my latest novel, Elizabeth most definitely has Fitzwilliam
unbalanced. Or should I say… Undone?</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">I hope you enjoy the following short excerpt.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">“Do not leave me, Elizabeth.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">“Never. Now rest. We’ll discuss this in the
morning.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">“What if morning never comes again.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">He heard her soft chuckle.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">“Believe me, Fitzwilliam, we have all the time in
the world right now.”</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">“I cannot bear for us to be apart.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">The bed dipped softly as she joined him and curled
into his side on top of the counterpane. When he would have protested and
begged her to crawl beneath the covers, she laid a hand on his chest and
murmured, “Sleep.” When he awakened, the sound of crashing waves and the salty
tang of the ocean teased his senses.</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">He opened his eyes and took in his surroundings.
The room in which he lay was unlike anything he’d seen before. Floor to ceiling
terrace doors opened wide, allowing fresh sea air to flow through the room.
Wisps of almost translucent material for curtains fluttered in the breeze and
beyond the window, a stone terrace. From there, he noted a strip of white sand
sloping down to azure blue water which stretched as far as his eye could see.
But what caused his heart to almost stutter to a stop was the sight of a slight
woman standing on the pristine sand, her hair and skirts billowing out behind
her like a glorious sail.</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><i><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Elizabeth</span></i><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">As though he’d called to her with his mind, she
turned and flashed a brilliant smile. Pain free, he stood and moved to meet her
on the terrace. Without any thought of propriety, or who may be in the area, he
hauled her up against his chest and captured her mouth with his. She met his
demands with her own and they remained locked together for minutes, hours,
days. He had no concept of time except this exact moment with his Elizabeth.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">“My love,” he murmured into her hair, holding her
close to his chest. “I thought I’d lost you.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">She stepped out of his embrace and when he would
have protested and dragged her back, she took his hand and tugged.</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">“We have much to discuss and we have all the time
in the world to love each other.”</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">*****</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Take a look at this book blurb. It puts more questions in my mind.</span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0in;"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Book Blurb:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><b><i><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">She’s the outcast in her family…</span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Elizabeth knows she’s different from the rest of
her family. She has visions and strange dreams and sees things others do not.
With the advent of the odious Mr. Darcy and his friends from Netherfield Park,
as well as the amiable Mr. Wickham of the _____shire Militia, her powers seem
to increase and her greatest fear is that she won’t be able to contain them and
will be discovered.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><b><i><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">He has eight hundred years of
tradition to uphold…</span></i></b><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">No Darcy has married a non-magical woman since
arriving on the shores of England with William the Conqueror in 1066.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, his kind – Miatharans – are
dwindling in numbers. Miatharan magic only flows through aristocratic blood
lines, so his strange obsession with Miss Elizabeth Bennet is puzzling as she
is not of noble blood. Just a country squire’s beautiful daughter who has him
slowly becoming undone.</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><b><i><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Fitzwilliam Darcy ~ Undone</span></i></b><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"> is available in Kindle
Unlimited (Amazon) until Dec 12 when it will be released to other major digital
retailers.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">*****</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0in;"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Author Bio:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><b><i><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">‘The prairie dust is in my blood
but no longer on my shoes.’</span></i></b><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Although it’s been over </span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">forty-two</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"> years since Sue called
Saskatchewan home, her roots to that straight-lined province and childhood
friends run deep. The only thing strong enough to entice her to pack up and
leave was love. When a handsome Air Force pilot met this small-town girl, he swept
her off her feet and they embarked on a fantastic adventure which found them
settled in beautiful Southwestern Ontario when hubby retired from the military
and began his second career as an airline pilot.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Sue started writing in 2009 and sold her first manuscript
in 2010. Always a reader of Regency romance, she discovered Jane Austen Fan
Fiction</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"> in 2014 and al</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">most immediately </span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">wanted to know – </span><i><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Whatever happened to Caroline Bingley after her brother and Mr. Darcy
became engaged to a Bennet sister?</span></i><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"> From that question, her first JAFF book was
launched</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">In her spare time, </span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Sue</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"> cans and preserves her own food, cooks almost everything from scratch
and grows herbs to dehydrate</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">. Her latest venture is to create her own spice seasonings, experiment
with artisan breads and make her own homemade vanilla</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">. Hubby has no complaints other than his jeans keep
shrinking. At least that’s what he claims…. Her sons</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">, their wives</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"> and </span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">all seven </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">grand</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">children </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">don’t mind this slight obsession
either.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Website:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="about:blank"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: blue; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">https://suebarr.ca</span></a></span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">FB: </span><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="about:blank"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: blue; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSueBarr/</span></a></span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Twitter: </span><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="about:blank"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: blue; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">https://twitter.com/SBarrAuthor</span></a></span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Amazon Author Page: </span><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="about:blank"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: blue; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B010I53Z1C</span></a></span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p>*****</o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p>If you have missed any stops along the way, be sure to go back and visit the other blogs.</o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnHhwJck2fqzFmnNJxm2cjZP7WPypMRnuIN_mFTy18q2iTeDeHFXHsw0av7wPMU3mF_3AFvyv6V1hqnfsyuJ6iiwKztWIFnr8alwCRptvr3pX9ewZXxsKH4gkgSWJN0k3T12dzCxqHYLk/s2048/Join+the+Blog+Tour.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnHhwJck2fqzFmnNJxm2cjZP7WPypMRnuIN_mFTy18q2iTeDeHFXHsw0av7wPMU3mF_3AFvyv6V1hqnfsyuJ6iiwKztWIFnr8alwCRptvr3pX9ewZXxsKH4gkgSWJN0k3T12dzCxqHYLk/s320/Join+the+Blog+Tour.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="color: #134f5c;">If you want to get your own copy of the book, use the buy link below.</span> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><b style="text-indent: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 14.0pt;">BUYLINK:</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA">https://www.amazon.com/Fitzwilliam-Darcy-Undone-Prejudice-Alternate-ebook/dp/B08HYP8ST7<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">*****</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Thank you, Christina Boyd, for organizing the blog tour and for including my blog. It was great having Sue visit again. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Sue Barr, I wish you the best with your new release. Thank you for sharing the excerpt and a little about yourself. I enjoyed reading both. </span><span style="color: #134f5c; text-indent: 0in;">I've been seeing much about your book around the blogosphere and in social media. Since this is the last stop for your tour, I hope it has been a fun tour for you. Again best wishes with your book.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: #134f5c; text-indent: 0in;">Now for the giveaway... :)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><b><u><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 14pt;">Giveaway:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA">*Sue Barr will giveaway an ebook of this latest novel to 3 random winners for entire blog tour. Follow the tour and join in the comments to be entered to win. Sue will choose the random winners and announce the winners on social media on December 5.</span></p><p></p>Janet Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904728146256943042noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519391315473032614.post-69823620983642170672020-11-18T00:04:00.013-06:002023-09-29T13:58:24.159-05:00North Fanger...Jayne Bamber<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c; text-align: left;"> It's great to have Jayne Bamber visiting today. We've had a hard time getting together with Jayne's last two books, so I'm happy we were able to make this post. Welcome, Jayne. </span></div><p></p><p><span style="color: #134f5c;">This sounds like a different book and an interesting one. I confess, I'm quite intrigued by the cover. What do you think, Readers? Don't you like it? Have any of you read it yet? If you have, we would love to hear from you.</span></p><p><span style="color: #134f5c;">Jayne has an excerpt for us and a giveaway. Be sure you enter via the Rafflecopter at the end of the post.</span> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkEyvSFh0EoyhhsLGqXIbkBy7pjD-fIPLqIdPUqhIipcqlDbTZ5WuwZWsrYIgaoKDJyswoRpARg1kMTkJVzx3WBJE2rwO14lG6O44Y4kYiQLqe24ilSbpGdTdLLGKG0O_8iOghUmDQsEs/s2048/Cover+Wrap.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1437" data-original-width="2048" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkEyvSFh0EoyhhsLGqXIbkBy7pjD-fIPLqIdPUqhIipcqlDbTZ5WuwZWsrYIgaoKDJyswoRpARg1kMTkJVzx3WBJE2rwO14lG6O44Y4kYiQLqe24ilSbpGdTdLLGKG0O_8iOghUmDQsEs/w400-h281/Cover+Wrap.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Excerpt:</b></h3><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Darcy knocked on the door to the chamber where Elizabeth had taken
his sister. She bid him enter, but made no other acknowledgement as he joined
her beside the bed where Georgiana had been laid. The silence did not bother
Darcy - what was a man to say to the woman he loved, after they had just
covered up the murder of his relation and hers, a murder committed at the hands
of his own sister?</span><span style="font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Elizabeth was perched on the bed at Georgiana’s side, and Darcy
took a seat nearby, content to watch Elizabeth’s curious ministrations. She was
slowly unwinding her silver chain from around Georgiana’s wrists, which were
marred with blistered red burns. Georgiana’s jaw was clenched and her
countenance belied her pain, but she was silent and almost serene as she held
Elizabeth’s calm, confident gaze. She was also, inexplicably, covered in a thin
layer of dirt across her chest. </span></p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Georgiana’s eyes landed on Darcy and her face twisted in despair.
“Oh, William, I am so sorry. You must hate me!” She shifted uncomfortably as
the last of the silver was pulled away.</span><span style="font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Elizabeth reacted at once to Georgiana’s agitation by repositioning
herself to sit on top of Georgiana’s legs. She laid her hands on Georgiana’s
shoulders, her fingers slowly rubbing in the dirt. “Close your eyes, Georgie.
Remember what we practiced? You do not need to breathe, but you can go through
the motions of it. Good. Just like that. Feel the cold earth on your skin. Can
you feel my heart beating?”</span><span style="font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“No.”</span><span style="font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Good. Eyes closed. Inhale, exhale, you remember that.” Elizabeth
continued to massage the dirt into Georgiana’s chest, but turned to look at
Darcy. “She is technically dead - her body wants to be in the ground. A little
soil will keep her grounded - forgive the jest - it also obscures her ability
to sense our heartbeats. She will eventually be able to control her impulses
better without it, but for now….”</span><span style="font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Darcy leaned back in his chair with an overwhelming heaviness,
fighting the impulse to recoil from his sister. If Elizabeth could be so brave,
so magnificently poised, he was determined to match her resolve. “She is
technically dead,” he repeated stonily. “She does not look dead - she looks
very well indeed.” </span><span style="font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In truth, the sight of Georgiana, even covered in dirt and blood,
even after what had transpired downstairs, was still better than what he had
begun to fear since her disappearance. He let out a long, slow breath,
considering a painful truth: that he could reconcile himself to what he had
witnessed this night, and what Georgiana was now, more easily than he could
bear to lose her. It was a terrifying prospect, but he would conquer
this. </span><span style="font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I am a monster,” Georgiana murmured.</span><span style="font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Elizabeth slowly lifted one of Georgiana’s arms, displaying her
wrist to Darcy - the marks left by the silver had already begun to heal. “You
are not a monster, dear girl. You are quite remarkable.”</span><span style="font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Georgiana opened her eyes and peered up at Elizabeth before
turning to look at Darcy. “Brother?” </span><span style="font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I could never hate you,” Darcy said earnestly. He glanced over at
Elizabeth for reassurance before slowly taking Georgiana’s hand in his. “I was
so worried - you disappeared, and I feared the worst.”<br /></span><span style="font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“And this… is not the worst? You have seen what I am.”</span><span style="font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Darcy struggled to formulate his reply. “What you are is safe. You
are returned to me; that is enough right now. Whatever must be done, you must
know that I would do anything for you.”</span><span style="font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The trace of a smile formed on Georgiana’s lips. “Lizzy said
you would be kind to me. I was afraid you would be disgusted - <i>I </i>am
disgusted by what I have done - what you have had to do to conceal it….”</span><span style="font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Darcy again looked to Elizabeth when words escaped him. She smiled
warmly at him, tears in her eyes, and he instinctively handed her his
handkerchief. She accepted it and silently dabbed at her eyes for a moment
before sliding off of Georgiana’s legs. When Georgiana made no sudden
movements, Elizabeth let out a sigh of relief and began to stand. “I fear you
have long been desiring my absence - I will leave you now.”</span><span style="font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“No,” Georgiana cried, as Darcy echoed the same reply. In a
frighteningly swift movement, Georgiana latched onto Elizabeth’s hand, and then
released it. “Good God, I hurt you!”</span><span style="font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“No,” Elizabeth said quickly, but she rubbed at the place where
Georgiana had grabbed her. “I will stay, if you wish it, but you must practice
your movements. Slow and soft. You do not know your own strength.”</span><span style="font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Georgiana visibly relaxed. Elizabeth remained at her side, and
began making slow gestures with her hands. “Mirror me, like this. It will feel
natural with practice, and in time you will be quite proficient.”</span><span style="font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Darcy watched Elizabeth in awe. He had teased her for not being
afraid of <i>him</i>, but she had every reason to fear his sister. “Where did
you learn this, Miss Bennet?”</span><span style="font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She kept her voice neutral and her eyes on Georgiana, who had
begun to mimic Elizabeth’s simple gestures. “My Uncle Silas is something of an
expert concerning vampires.”</span><span style="font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Darcy’s whole body clenched. He knew, but he had not been ready to
hear the word spoken aloud. His mind rejected what he had seen - such creatures
were the stuff of stories - and yet before him was proof to the contrary. “How
can this be possible?”</span><span style="font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Elizabeth lowered her hands and glanced over at him, giving Darcy
an arch look and a shrug of her shoulders. “I cannot say, sir, but I find it
fascinating.”</span><span style="font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“That is one word for it.” Darcy, Elizabeth, and Georgiana all
looked up at once as Richard strode into the room. “But I should like to hear
from my cousin <i>exactly</i> how such a thing came to be, and why we have had
to endure such a night as this.”</span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">***</span></p><span style="color: black; font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />Georgiana had been too distracted by Elizabeth's calming presence
to notice Richard come into the room, and his severity was a harsh surprise.
Once again her agitation took hold of her, and Georgiana fought against her
impulse to fly at her cousin. There was a weight on her legs as Elizabeth
perched there once more, but it was her gaze that stilled Georgiana at
last. </span><span style="font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Richard made no secret of his disgust at what she had become, and
a glance at William told Georgiana that her brother was only doing a better job
of concealing his revulsion. Only Elizabeth was truly at ease in her presence;
this woman was a stranger to her, while William and Richard were her family.
And so was Lady Catherine. </span><span style="font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I am sorry, I am so sorry,” she moaned, afraid to meet anyone’s
eye but Elizabeth’s.</span><span style="font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Georgiana could sense her new friend’s annoyance, but realized
that it was directed at Richard. She followed Elizabeth’s gaze over to William,
and the snarly feeling of anger faded into something softer; Georgiana did not
understand it - indeed, she understood little of what had passed in the last
four months, but as the tension of the moment abated, she felt ready to speak
rationally at last. “I will tell you whatever you wish to know.”</span><span style="font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Elizabeth seemed pleased by the evenness of Georgiana’s voice, and
after asking Richard to sit, she slid off of Georgiana’s legs and once again
perched on the side of the bed. Georgiana entwined one hand with Elizabeth’s,
and with her other hand she softly touched the dirt on her chest. It was an odd
treatment, but stranger still was the realization that there was still a great
deal Georgiana did not understand about herself. </span><span style="font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I have been made a vampire,” she said, the statement nearly a
question. “I have seen and done such horrible things - I cannot bear my own
existence!” She began to sob, and again Elizabeth rubbed the dirt into her
skin.</span><span style="font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Who did this to you? Tell me,” Richard thundered. Both William
and Elizabeth sent him matching looks of warning, and he drew back in his
chair. “Please, Georgie. I only wish to understand.”</span><span style="font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Georgiana wrung her hands; she knew herself to be a vicious,
bloodthirsty demon, but she was suddenly more frightened than anybody in the
room. She could not bear the censure that would inevitably come. It was
devastating enough to recall the events that she had endured - her abduction,
transformation, captivity, and months of starvation - yet it hurt more deeply
to consider that her family might cast her off after all. </span><span style="font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I am so ashamed,” she whimpered, trembling as she leaned into Elizabeth’s
shoulder. She was immediately drawn into an embrace; she made herself savor the
human warmth of it, and not the heartbeat that sang to her. </span><span style="font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">William slowly rose from his chair, his movements careful as he
came to sit on Georgiana’s other side. He, too, wrapped his arms around her,
and after a moment the faint smell of fear turned into something much sweeter.
She looked up at his face and an incredible feeling washed over her. “Oh,” she
murmured. “It is love. I did not know the smell of it, before.”</span><span style="font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">With a pained smile, William stroked her cheek; Georgiana closed
her eyes again and let the warmth and affection wash over her, until William’s
voice pulled her out of the brief reverie. “Was it Wickham? Did he do this to
you, Georgie?”</span><span style="font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Elizabeth drew in a sharp breath; Georgiana could feel her new
friend’s heart quicken. She pulled away and buried her face in her brother’s
chest. “Yes, it was.”</span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">***</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Elizabeth recoiled and instinctively looked at Mr. Darcy, who met
her gaze as he cradled his shaking sister. With a sinking feeling, she recalled
their conversation at the Netherfield ball - she had accused Mr. Darcy of
cruelty toward the man, when he had tried to warn her. “But I do not
understand… he was in the regiment….”<span style="font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“He left Meryton for London just days before Georgiana disappeared
from Matlock House,” Mr. Darcy said. </span><span style="font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Colonel Fitzwilliam swore and pounded his fist against the arm of
his chair. “I knew there was some connection there.”</span><span style="font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Elizabeth was still struggling to accept this shocking revelation.
“Georgiana, are you saying… George Wickham changed you? He is a vampire?”</span><span style="font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“He is,” Georgiana wailed, still clinging to her brother. “He is a
monster.”</span><span style="font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Reeling, Elizabeth attempted to console the trembling vampire; her
hand brushed against Mr. Darcy’s and his fingers curled around hers. For a
brief instant he looked at Elizabeth with the same intensity as he had done at
the pianoforte that evening. She was strangely soothed by the certainty that
there was indeed admiration in his ardent gaze, though this time there was
panic and tremendous sorrow there as well - and a sense of shared
calamity. </span><span style="font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The colonel stood and began to pace. “I do not know how, but I am
going to find him, and I will kill him for this.” </span><span style="font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "High Tower Text",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“No,” Georgiana said, finally looking up from her brother’s
embrace. “I mean to do it myself.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnfhxffBliex5QC3OT7j-rj8OaRtkhjd48POUtnV49UuznSt7RLCtOZV-NMzFAgI4p0KDcx5UKSyuckXfmdLOoMnNLPSTaVh3a_c_ybWq0kblHZzYulDodqmcugn0CQXMAWFtRPkWHBSU/s2048/Cover+Wrap.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1437" data-original-width="2048" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnfhxffBliex5QC3OT7j-rj8OaRtkhjd48POUtnV49UuznSt7RLCtOZV-NMzFAgI4p0KDcx5UKSyuckXfmdLOoMnNLPSTaVh3a_c_ybWq0kblHZzYulDodqmcugn0CQXMAWFtRPkWHBSU/w400-h281/Cover+Wrap.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="color: #134f5c;">Wow! This was quite an excerpt? What did Georgiana do? Who did she kill? I am wanting answers. We know who turned her, but what is the rest of the story. You have piqued the imagination with this scene, Jayne. Thank you for sharing it with me and my readers today.</span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Dear Readers, if you haven't read the book yet, you can get your copy of <i>North Fanger</i> at <a href="https://www.amazon.com/NorthFanger-Gothic-Mash-up-Jayne-Bamber-ebook/dp/B08MBJDDJT/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=northfanger&qid=1605634067&sr=8-1">Amazon</a>. You might win it too! The giveaway link is the last thing on the post.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="color: #134f5c;">Have you visited the other blogs in the blog tour? If you have missed any, the blogs in the tour are listed below. You can also see which stops are yet to come! </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqOftR96CYGR6X4pfHkAvDf5m7gcu8l2zyLI-mKDyAswIbgNqecHFL0t251xvcAEQZd8CrCEX7GQE_w-7G4iXXuiwaemwFJaZabeDyA_Enzn9wmtVXVS-hsyeKM-rtUuxRmCZEOqkm0a8/s2048/Blog+Tour+Promo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1186" data-original-width="2048" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqOftR96CYGR6X4pfHkAvDf5m7gcu8l2zyLI-mKDyAswIbgNqecHFL0t251xvcAEQZd8CrCEX7GQE_w-7G4iXXuiwaemwFJaZabeDyA_Enzn9wmtVXVS-hsyeKM-rtUuxRmCZEOqkm0a8/w400-h231/Blog+Tour+Promo.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><o:p><span style="color: #134f5c;">Now for the giveaway - Jayne is giving away one eBook of <i>North Fanger. </i>Use the Rafflecopter link below to enter. Good luck everyone!</span></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #134f5c;">https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/01b2829a6/</span></p>Janet Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904728146256943042noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519391315473032614.post-12040019997958097392020-10-30T15:11:00.008-05:002020-10-30T15:11:55.504-05:00And the winner is... Be Your Own Heroine<p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="color: #134f5c;">It was so nice to have Sophie Andrews and her sister Charlotte visit my blog. They cowrote a lovely book and you can read my review. The publisher of the book, <i>Be Your Own Heroine, </i>generously offered a hardbound copy for one of my readers. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUqDeIgaEgW3LA6xqtGMY4y1y4YyMN5qqpu3AuskSr8J5cD6Ist2ZhLbCvIfUan4pLtSa5_D8XNvCoHO1T-2c4lqGprF_UFM1ESYgCb9rPnv_ll7NujS2pfInQ3dEXBOrCK7UEMmlHaYg/s2048/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1354" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUqDeIgaEgW3LA6xqtGMY4y1y4YyMN5qqpu3AuskSr8J5cD6Ist2ZhLbCvIfUan4pLtSa5_D8XNvCoHO1T-2c4lqGprF_UFM1ESYgCb9rPnv_ll7NujS2pfInQ3dEXBOrCK7UEMmlHaYg/s320/unnamed.jpg" /></span></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">And the winner of <b><i>Be Your Own Heroine</i></b> by Sophie and Charlotte Andrews is:</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">dstoutholcomb</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Congratulations, Denise! You will love adding this book to your library. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">I'll be emailing you shortly </span><span style="color: #134f5c;">with the information I need.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Thank you to everyone who stopped by and shared your thoughts.</span></p>Janet Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904728146256943042noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519391315473032614.post-50482474074337275252020-10-25T13:53:00.000-05:002020-10-25T13:53:28.462-05:00Be Your Own Heroine...Sophie and Charlotte Andrews<p><span style="color: #134f5c;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRwwdfM11cSmZT005AMiGpMRVKs-kwOfLxGRhOOAnBl3CmMTuURWP9AaoNCfGpIWh6HacE4mRVP8OU-o31KkweYeQq0JEObW-xExzgmLmQODZbaVsPCrnKm6pbZI1nuZh1agAvu0vDE4s/s2048/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1354" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRwwdfM11cSmZT005AMiGpMRVKs-kwOfLxGRhOOAnBl3CmMTuURWP9AaoNCfGpIWh6HacE4mRVP8OU-o31KkweYeQq0JEObW-xExzgmLmQODZbaVsPCrnKm6pbZI1nuZh1agAvu0vDE4s/s320/unnamed.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #134f5c;">It has been some time since I had a post on my blog. What better way to return and share some of my thoughts than with the Andrews sisters! It is a pleasure to have Sophie and Charlotte, the authors of <i><b>Be Your Own Heroine</b></i>, as my guests. Sophie has been a friend for many years, and I am happy to have her here, along with her sister, Charlotte. Welcome, ladies. I wish you success with your book. It is lovely that you wrote it together. I like the book cover and illustrations too! </span><p></p><p><span style="color: #134f5c;">Before I share my thoughts with you, let me give you some background on these two lovely ladies.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: medium;"><b>Author Biography:</b></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Sophie and Charlotte Andrews are sisters who both love to
lose themselves in books. Charlotte’s passion for reading and writing began in
her earliest years. She studied Latin American literature as part of her degree
at Warwick University, but especially enjoys historical fiction. Younger sister
Sophie appreciates many different genres – however her true love is for all
things Jane Austen, an enthusiasm that was initially sparked by studying Pride
and Prejudice at school. She started her blog, Laughing with Lizzie, in 2012,
aged 16, and soon began to participate in Austen events and festivals around
the country. As a founder member of the Jane Austen Pineapple Appreciation
Society, she organizes house parties, balls and picnics and starred in the 2017
BBC documentary “My Friend Jane”. Her first book, <i>Be More Jane</i>, was
published in 2019 by CICO Books. Sophie lives in Berkshire.<o:p></o:p></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Would you like to contact them or visit Sophie's blog? The
contact information is below:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: medium;"><b>Contact Links:</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><b><a href="http://laughingwithlizzie.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Laughing with Lizzie Blog</a></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/laughingwithlizziejaneaustenblog">Laughing with Lizzie Facebook page</a></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><b><a href="https://www.instagram.com/laughingwithlizzie/">Laughing with Lizzie Instagram page</a></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><b><a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/LaughingWithLiz">Laughing with Lizzie Twitter page</a></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><b>Sophie's email: s.j.andrews@hotmail.co.uk</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><b>*****</b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Be
Your Own Heroine</span></span></i></b><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"> by Sophie and Charlotte Andrews</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="" style="font-family: adobe-garamond-pro; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><b>My thoughts and impressions:</b>
</span></p><p class="" style="font-family: adobe-garamond-pro; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">The life lessons from literature center on six fictional
characters or heroines:</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #134f5c;">1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Elizabeth
Bennet, <i>Pride & Prejudice</i> by Jane Austen</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #134f5c;">2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Jo
March, <i>Little Women</i> by Louisa May Alcott</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: adobe-garamond-pro; font-size: 18px; text-indent: -0.25in; white-space: pre-wrap;">3.</span><span style="font-family: adobe-garamond-pro; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: adobe-garamond-pro; font-size: 18px; text-indent: -0.25in; white-space: pre-wrap;">July, </span><i style="font-family: adobe-garamond-pro; font-size: 18px; text-indent: -0.25in; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Long Song</i><span style="font-family: adobe-garamond-pro; font-size: 18px; text-indent: -0.25in; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by Andrea Levy</span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #134f5c;">4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Eleanor,
<i>Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine</i> by Gail Honeyman</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #134f5c;">5.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Katniss
Everdeen, <i>The Hunger Games</i>, a trilogy by Suzanne Collins</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: adobe-garamond-pro; font-size: 18px; text-indent: -0.25in; white-space: pre-wrap;">6.</span><span style="font-family: adobe-garamond-pro; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: adobe-garamond-pro; font-size: 18px; text-indent: -0.25in; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hermione </span><span style="font-family: adobe-garamond-pro; font-size: 18px; text-indent: -0.25in; white-space: pre-wrap;">Granger, </span><i style="font-family: adobe-garamond-pro; font-size: 18px; text-indent: -0.25in; white-space: pre-wrap;">Harry Potter</i><span style="font-family: adobe-garamond-pro; font-size: 18px; text-indent: -0.25in; white-space: pre-wrap;"> series by J.K. Rowlings</span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="" style="font-family: adobe-garamond-pro; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Although I was unfamiliar with some of these heroines, each
has her own section where the reader learns a little about her, her life, her
strengths, and a memorable moment in her life. How did each of these leading
ladies become a heroine? What made each of them? Who contributed? These are
just a few of the questions covered by the Andrews sisters. They talk about
family, friendships, love, and even bullying. At the end of each section, there
are three bullets to stress the important lessons to be gleaned. I liked those
and felt they could be beneficial to all readers.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #134f5c;">In general, we should learn to love ourselves and know we do
not have to be alone. We don’t have to be perfect, but we should strive to improve
our less than desirable traits. We should be proud of who we are and where we come
from. Who could not benefit from those lessons?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #134f5c;">The simple truths found in this little book are good food
for thought. The words within can be and should be an inspiration for women of
all ages, especially so for those who are trying to find their path in life.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #134f5c;">I enjoyed reading quotes from other books besides the six
with the chosen heroines. These quotes were scattered throughout the sections in
pertinent places. <i>Be Your Own Heroine</i> is interesting and a delight to read.
It gave me a few things to ponder and improve. Congratulations, Sophie and
Charlotte, on a job well done.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #134f5c;">*****</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #134f5c;">To purchase this book, visit </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Be-Your-Own-Heroine-literature/dp/1782498966/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=be%20your%20own%20heroine&qid=1602497538&s=books&sr=1-1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: adobe-garamond-pro; font-size: 18px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amazon.com</a><span style="font-family: adobe-garamond-pro; font-size: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> or </span><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Be-Your-Own-Heroine-literature/dp/1782498966" id="yui_3_17_2_1_1603650114743_527" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: adobe-garamond-pro; font-size: 18px; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amazon.co.UK</a></p><p class="MsoNormal">*****</p><p class="" style="font-family: adobe-garamond-pro; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">My teenage granddaughter is living with me right now, and this is a book that would be helpful to her. I look forward to hearing her thoughts after she has read it. Would you like to read more about this book and its authors? If you do, there is one more stop on the blog tour. Be sure to visit it tomorrow, or go back and visit any you might have missed. </span></p><p class="" style="font-family: adobe-garamond-pro; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7av_rKtdrV5sbeI8wX-u3zNAi2w-rcpbCMNaUulO-vIzZTCQTaxL_2Gip6w0d-5PS1QQ3VpPmxvx_l-lkUIFpVadgIvwWxM2od4k8-WlvQdc-oK5yEVcCX9xEKzH9JEKLag0kdxE0Z98/s707/Be%252BYour%252BOwn%252BHeroine%252Bposter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="707" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7av_rKtdrV5sbeI8wX-u3zNAi2w-rcpbCMNaUulO-vIzZTCQTaxL_2Gip6w0d-5PS1QQ3VpPmxvx_l-lkUIFpVadgIvwWxM2od4k8-WlvQdc-oK5yEVcCX9xEKzH9JEKLag0kdxE0Z98/w281-h400/Be%252BYour%252BOwn%252BHeroine%252Bposter.jpg" width="281" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="color: #134f5c;">It is giveaway time! Yay! We all like a giveaway, and this is a book you will love having in your library. The publishers, CICO Books, are allowing me to give away one hard bound copy of the book, <b><i>Be Your Own Heroine</i></b>, by Sophie and Charlotte Andrews. Leave a comment below to be entered. Have you read it? What are your thoughts? Who are your heroines? Do you have a life lesson learned that you want to share? Please let us know your thoughts below. The giveaway is international and will end on the 29th of October at midnight US Central Time. Good luck to all and thank you for stopping by today!</span>
<p></p>Janet Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904728146256943042noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519391315473032614.post-20481209448332669382020-07-30T10:18:00.011-05:002020-07-30T10:26:37.436-05:00Kellynch: Dragon Persuasion...Maria Grace<div class="separator"><div class="separator" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN24t7HRnCJD4p85pHOgVnKkS0gr7hiSHmnvqh4VChIXwQRCakln6HApAqdyBEyfytHtXY37HcosJxsBpy_WctkU_FYH-bPBk7ZZRNlioVgOizaUIdJvpv9ERMz6QAtYSKfJdHi8jh61I/s320/Kellynch+Slumbering+Dragon+ebook2.jpg" style="text-align: left;" /></div></div><span style="color: #134f5c;">Maria Grace is my guest today, and she is announcing the release of </span><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Kellynch: Dragon Persuasion. </i>She is also going to share some "eye-rolling" words with us. :) Maria, you made me smile when I read your post. Of course, there were dragons in Jane Austen's time! (Did I copy part of that from your book banner, or do great minds think alike?) lol </span></span></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Dear Readers, please give this lovely lady a chance to explain! Maria, it's all yours!</span></span></div><div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoTitle"><span style="color: #134f5c;">*****</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; mso-line-height-alt: 1.15pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Thanks
for having me Janet!. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">I’m utterly
tickled to announce that the Persuasion arc of my Jane Austen’s Dragons series
is complete with the release of </span></p>
<span></span>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; mso-line-height-alt: 1.15pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">You’re not the
first to roll their eyes at me and mutter that—I’ve raised three teenaged sons
after all. I’m sure you expect an answer like “Because zombies, vampires and
werewolves have already been done.” And while that is utterly true, and the
sort of thing I might say if you caught me at just the right—or wrong—moment,
it isn’t a very good answer.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; mso-line-height-alt: 1.15pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">You’re rolling
your eyes at me again. But give me a chance and hear me out.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; mso-line-height-alt: 1.15pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Why, you say?
(Seriously, stop muttering at me under your breath, I can hear you!) </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; mso-line-height-alt: 1.15pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Even the father of
fabled King Arthur has a dragon connection. King Uther Pendragon was said to
have seen a dragon shaped comet that inspired the dragons that graced the
standards he carried. With dragons just about everywhere in English myth, it
seems likely that Jane Austen herself was familiar with many of these dragon
legends.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; mso-line-height-alt: 1.15pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">So, what if (A
word of caution, when a writer says “what if”, it might be a good time to
politely excuse yourself…) those dragon myths contained a large helping of reality
and there really were dragons in England? What it they weren’t just a thing of
the medieval era, but continued to be a very real presence in British society
into the modern era? How might that work? That would require a research trip
back Uther Pendragon and his dragon encounter. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; mso-line-height-alt: 1.15pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">So, what if Uther
Pendragon was embroiled in battle not just with the Saxons, but </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">with dragons as
well and he saw a real dragon who could speak with him, not just a comet as
most stories suggested? Would not others have heard it too? Wait, no—what if
the dragons had a way of hiding in plain sight that only a select few people
could see through and Uther was one of those and made peace with dragonkind…</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; mso-line-height-alt: 1.15pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Suddenly I saw a
world, hundreds of years removed from medieval England, where mankind and
dragonkind could coexist, governed by the Blue Order, an organization founded
by Uther Pendragon himself, on human and dragon partnership, dedicated to
protecting the safety and interests of both species while keeping the dragons
secret from the very large segment of the human population with hearing
insufficient to detect dragon voices. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; mso-line-height-alt: 1.15pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Here's a little
preview of what that world might look like:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; mso-line-height-alt: 1.15pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">_________</span></p>
<h2><a name="_Hlk46071201"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">August
15, 1814 </span></a></h2>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>Laconia, the
cat-like tatzelwurm, wound himself around Wentworth’s feet as he walked the
stony street to the Blue Order office in Lyme. People bustled about, with all
the accompanying noise that did nothing so much as remind one that he was no
longer at sea and the master of his own s</span>hip. Sunny, bordering on hot, the salty
sea breeze clipped the edge off the heat and left the shadows beside the
buildings notably cooler, almost chilly. A
number of people stopped and stared at the sight, not so much because he was
walking with a tatzelwurm, but rather because they saw <a name="_Hlk21510261">Laconia
as an enormous cat, weaving in and out through his strides.</a></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span><span>Though it looked like a difficult, intricate
dance, Laconia had been doing it since he was a wyrmling. It had become more
difficult as he had grown into a substantial creature, nearly three stones in
weight with height and length to match, but Laconia insisted. While he was well
able to protect himself now, the scars of his hatching trauma still plagued
him. Laconia never felt very comfortable in unfamiliar places, around
unfamiliar people—he rarely got much more than an arm’s length away from
Wentworth in such situations.<span></span></span></span></p>
<span></span>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span><a>Like most offices of the Blue Order, this one was entirely
indistinguishable from the ordinary buildings on either side of it. Far smaller
than the great office in London where Wentworth was first presented to and
accepted by the Order, this one appeared little different from the first-rate
townhouses on either side of it. Four-stories tall, white brick front with
black wrought-iron work, balanced, symmetrical windows on either side, with
curtains drawn to block the view from the street. Beneath would be several
stories of basement levels with connections to the dragon tunnels that passed
through all of England. <span></span></a></span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span><span><a>The corner of his lips
turned up. How surprised the other residents would be to learn what was really
going on in the house or that the unusual number of large birds of prey perched
along the roof were a cockatrice guard company. Frankly, he still was, and he
had known about it for years.<span></span></a></span></span></p>
<span></span>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span><span>Brass door knockers—drake’s heads holding
large rings—rose from the great blue doors. That was how one could always tell
a Blue Order establishment; the doors were this particular shade of blue.
Apparently, the color was made especially for the Order. Order members in the
colorman’s guilds controlled it quite carefully, so it might only be sold for
use on Blue Order buildings. Naturally they had the help of a few conveniently
placed companion dragons to convince stubborn customers that green was really a
most fashionable color.</span></span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span><span>He twisted the signet ring on his left little
finger—now that he was beached, it was appropriate he wore it. Order members
liked to be able to identify one another.<span></span></span></span></p>
<span></span>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>Wentworth rapped
on the door. A blue liveried butler, tall, serious, and foreboding opened it,
stepping slightly to the right to completely fill up the doorway and block the
entry.</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>“Mrrrow.” Laconia
looked up at him, sniffing the air, tail lashing around Wentworth’s ankle.</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>The man’s eyes
widened just a bit, but he held his ground until Wentworth lifted his left hand
and his ring—perhaps a mite too close to the butler’s face.</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>“</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>The butler shut
the door behind them. “Come this way.”</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span><a>They followed him into a large receiving room, facing the
mews. Two large windows, sheer white drapes obscuring the view</a></span><span><span><span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;">, </span></span>lined
the far wall. <a>It smelt a mite musty, as though the
windows had not been open in quite some time.</a> Many places seemed to smell
musty these days. Was it just that all buildings smelt that way when one was
accustomed to open air? White paper hangings with Order-blue vines or lines or
whatever they were called, covered the walls. The occasional pastel fairy
dragon peeked around the vines here and there, probably to make it all more
interesting, but utterly unrealistic. Had the artist ever seen what the
creatures actually looked like? What was wrong with a simple plain color, or
even white? <span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span><span>Two tall, oaken bookcases, showcasing books
published by the Order, stood proudly flanking the fireplace opposite the
windows while a third filled up the wall between the windows. A slightly worn
tea table and several similarly serviceable card tables served as focal points
for several clusters of lyre-back chairs near the far wall. Couches, covered in
something rusty-colored, with dragon-claw-and-ball feet filled up the rest of
the space. <a>The whole effect was rather welcoming, and
blissfully quiet.</a> The only other occupants were two brown minor drakes
wearing Order livery badges, studying a tome at a table near the windows.<span></span></span></span></p>
<span></span>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>“Wait here,
please. The Admiral will receive you shortly.” The butler bowed and strode out.</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>Wentworth took
Laconia to a small couch bathed in the sunbeam from the window oppos</span>ite the
drakes. He sat and helped Laconia arrange himself on his lap. “Are you well?”</p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>Laconia grumbled,
which to most sounded like a growl. But once one heard Laconia truly growl, one
never mistook one for the other again. “I am fine.”</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>Wentworth stroked
his silky black fur and scratched behind his ears. “I know the place smells
very odd, but you will grow used to it.”</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>“That is easy for
you to say. You have never had a smell warn you a larger dragon was about to
try and make you his breakfast.”</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span><a>“That was quite the interesting morning, was it not? I
would have been consumed right along with you. I do quite remember how that
feels.” Perhaps Croft was right, he should write that adventure </a></span><span><span><span style="color: black;">as</span> a
monograph on the territorial nature of sea drakes and submit it to the Order
for publication. It was quite the story.<span></span></span></span></p>
<span></span>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>Laconia pressed
his cheek into Wentworth’s hand. “But you did not smell it coming.” His tail thumped
dully against the cushions as he opened his mouth and flicked his forked tongue
in the air.</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>“You are not
accustomed to the smells of land. Anything that does not reek of salt air
smells wrong to you.”</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>“While I much
prefer that smell</span></p>
<span></span>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>“As is the term
warm-blood—when used by a dragon.”</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>“When they do not
offend my olfaction—”</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>“Ahh, Captain
Wentworth!” Admiral Easterly strode in. </span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>Laconia flicked
his tongue against Easterly’s hand. Some of the tension left his shoulders and
he rubbed his cheek against Easterly’s palm. </span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>“You have become
quite the legend in the Navy—the luckiest ship’s cat you are called. We could
have done with a dozen more like you finding prize ships out there.”</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>“Then why assign
so many dragon-deaf as captains?”</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>Wentworth and
Easterly chuckled.</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>“One can only work
with what one has. Come back to my office.” Easterly led them upstairs to a
room that faced the mews. </span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>The office was
small by the standards of landed accommodations, but spacious to any ship’s
captain. Stark white walls, bare as the clean and polished wood floor; their
footsteps echoing off both. Tidy and efficient. Shelves near the window held a
sextant, a telescope and books on navigation and nautical dragons—oh! There was
one he had not read: </span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>“Might I borrow
that?” Wentworth pointed to the volume.</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>In a single
movement, Easterly pulled the book from the shelf, handed it to Wentworth and
pointed to a chair near the worn, dark oak desk that occupied the center of the
narrow room. “Ever hungry for learning, aren’t you! Of course, you can. In
fact, I would even recommend it, given what I have to talk with you about. Sit,
sit, be comfortable</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>Laconia chirruped
a sound of approval. Coiling his tail to use like a spring, he launched himself
to the desktop. He circled the pillow, sniffing it deeply, fanged jaws
half-open and eyes a little glazed. What—rather who—had been there before?</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>“Do not worry, she
does not mind sharing this particular perch. Mina is resigned that my offi</span>ce is
a public place.”</p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>“I did not know
you had a Friend once again.” Wentworth drew the wooden armchair close to the
dragon pillow and sat down.</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span><a>“She befriended me when her previous Friend died, another
old Admiral. She likes sea-faring men, after they have retired. Mina does not
like to sail herself.” Easterly looked over his shoulder toward the bookcase.<span></span></a></span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span><span>A fluffy grey head peeked out from behind the
bookcase. “Meyrrrrow.” High and feminine, it was almost as though she spoke
with an accent. <span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span><span>“Pray come out and be introduced.” <span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span><span><a>Mina slither-crept
into the light and looked up at Easterly. Perhaps only half Laconia’s size, she
seemed small, though by feline standards she was certainly substantial. Long
and lithe, the silver fur of her front, feline half blended seamlessly into
gleaming silver scales on her serpentine tail. Stars above, she was a gorgeous
creature. Intelligent deep blue eyes stared up at him, searching his character,
his worthiness to be an acquaintance—or at least it looked very much that way. <span></span></a></span></span></p>
<span></span>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span><span><a>Laconia chirruped at
her. She regarded him a moment, eyes growing very large. Her jaw opened
slightly; her fangs evident as she breathed deep. “Mrrroww!” She sprang to t</a></span></span><a name="_Hlk29281155">he
desk near Easterly.</a></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span><span><span>“Mina,
may I present Laconia and Wentworth, Friend of Laconia.”<span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span><span><span>Wentworth
bowed from his shoulders to Mina and Laconia dipped his head slightly, but not
below Mina’s. Ah, yes, dominance, it was always dominance with dragons.<span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span><span><span>She
regarded Wentworth a moment longer, then turned to Laconia. She leaned toward
him and sniffed rapidly. Laconia mirrored her. He stepped forward to </span></span></span><span><span><span><span style="color: black;">sniff</span> her neck. When she admitted the attention, he
slithered closer, drawing his nose down her entire length as she did the same
for him, flowing in a large draconic circle on the desktop. The circle stopped,
and she ducked under him, rubbing the top of her head against his belly. He
purred and pressed down a mite as though to embrace her as she did.<span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span><span><span>She
slithered around to face him. Wide eyed and blinking, was it possible for a
tatzelwurm to be drunk? Dragon thunder! Laconia wore the same expression.<span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span><span><span>“Yourrr
visit is welcome.” She pressed her cheek to Laconia’s.<span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span><span><span>Laconia
licked her face and rubbed his cheek against hers. “Your scent … is right.” He
purred and sighed and licked his lips.<span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span><span><span><span> </span>She purred and hopped on the pillow, curling
into a dainty ball with her chin resting coyly on her tail. Laconia followed,
curling around her and resting his chin on her shoulder. By Jove, that was an
awfully friendly arrangement.<span></span></span></span></span></p>
<span></span>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span><span>Easterly lifted his eyebrows and shrugged.</span></span></p>
<span></span>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>“</span><span><span style="color: black;">Your</span></span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>“Yes, yes indeed.”
Easterly tugged his jacket straight and sat down. “I am not sorry to hear you
have been beached for the foreseeable future. I know that is anathema to many
Captains, but truly, we need men like you for the Order.”</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>“Like me?” So many
things that could mean, and not all of them complimentary.</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>“Proven
dragon-hearing men who can follow orders, who can manage themselves in a
crisis, and make good decisions on their own. Exactly what the Navy has trained
you for.”</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>Laconia’s ears
pricked, and he fixed his eyes on Easterly, wrapping his tail a little tighter
around Mina.</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>“What is happening?”</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span><a>“Where dragons are concerned, there are always a great many
things happening. But, since the revolution in France and most recently the war
with Napoleon has affected the continental dragons, times are especially
turbulent.”<span></span></a></span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span><span>“What has that to do </span></span><span><span><span style="color: black;">with </span>English
dragons?” Wentworth crossed his arms and leaned in, heart be</span></span>ating faster. Damn
battle reflexes kicking in.</p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span><span>The tip of Laconia’s tail twitched and his
forked tongue flicked. He felt it, too.<span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span><span>“Major dragons along the coast, both land and
the few marine ones we have relations with, have been on edge watching for
signs of invasion. I will tell you privately, it is a good thing that never
happened. <a>The Pendragon Accords were never written to
consider the ramifications of an invading foreign army from the continent.”</a><span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span><span>“Why not? The Romans—”<span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span><span>Easterly lifted open hands. “Yes, yes, just
chalk it up to arrogance. <a>It is a problem that is being
addressed in London even now. </a><a><span>A joint committee of dragons and Blue Order
Officers, including representatives of both the Army and Navy, is attempting to
draft new provisions to deal with the matter.</span> </a>But in the meantime,
we must soothe ruffled scales as it were, and I need Dragon Mates like you to
do it.”<span></span></span></span></p>
<span></span>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>“Whose scales are
ruffled?” Laconia’s tail twitched faster.</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>“Have you met
Cornwall?”</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>“The Prince Regent
or the firedrake?” Prickles started at Wentworth’s scalp and raced down every
limb. </span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>“Either, both?
They are not exactly dissimilar.” The admiral snorted. “Of course, I never said
such a thing.”</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>“Of course not,”
Wentworth muttered.</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>“In any case, we
have received a number of complaints from minor dragons of the Cornwall Keep.
Cornwall has been unusually restive of late. They fear there is something
seriously the matter and, worse still, Cornwall is contemplating handling the
matter himself. It is rarely a good idea to permit major dragons to manage
affairs on their terms.”</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>“Is that not what
the Accords are for?” Blood roared in Wentworth’s ears. He fought the urge to
spring to his feet.</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>“It is precisely
why there are Keepers assigned to the major dragons, charged with handling
issues for the dragons. While I have known a great many hotheaded and stubborn
men, I have yet to meet one who rivals the amount of damage an angry dragon can
cause.”</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>“Then why is the
Prince Regent not managing the matter?” </span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>Easterly glowered.</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>That had been a
stupid question.</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>“The key issue
here is that a particular kind of diplomacy is needed—”</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>“You think Laconia
and I are suited for that?” Wentworth sneaked a quick glance at Laconia.</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>“I need a man who
has had dealings with nautical dragons, as the matter involves sea hold
property.”</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>Now he had to
move! Wentworth jumped up and paced the length of the far too short room. “</span></p>
<p class="Gracenormal0"><span><span>“That is the heart of the current debate.
Here.” Easterly plucked a thin red leather-bound volume—a monograph perhaps—off
the shelf and handed it to Wentworth as he strode past. <i>Determining the
Boundaries of Major Dragon Holdings: The Implications and Complications of
Instinctive Dragon Territorial Determinations Intersecting with Human
Traditions and Law.<span></span></i></span></span></p>
<p class="Gracenormal0"><span><span><span>Damn,
that looked complicated.<span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span><span>“Unfortunately, the legal codes have not been
rendered very clearly. In the current situation, I am not even certain Blue
Order codes cover the situation.”<span></span></span></span></p>
<span></span>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>“And what
precisely is the situation.” Wentworth fell into his seat with a dull thud.</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>“Cornwall has laid
claim to something off his coast that we are not even sure exists.” Easterly
pressed his temples hard.</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>“So, the dragon
might be mad?”</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>“Some have
entertained that possibility.”</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>“You want us to go
and confront a fire drake—a royal firedrake—who may well be touched in the
head—as mad as the king himself?” Wentworth dropped the monograph on the desk.</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>Mina started;
Laconia glared at him.</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>“In short, yes.
And, the Prince Regent might also be very interested in the matter, should the
news reach him directly.”</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>“The Prince does
not know the nature of the situation?”</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>“He has not
informed us of any problem and the Order has not contacted him regarding the
complaints—yet.”</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>“You must be
joking? That amounts to keeping secrets from the crown!” Wentworth threw his
head back and huffed. “I might be beached, but I am hardly dicked in the nob
myself, and I am quite certain Laconia—”</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>“We have dealt
with worse.” Laconia lifted his head slightly, glancing from Easterly to
Wentworth. “You recall that sea drake who tried to refuse to grant us passage
through her territory? Sh</span>e had an entire battalion of sea drakes and marine
wyrms ready to do battle for the territory.”</p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>“What has that to
do with—”</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>“Or the herd of
hippocampi who thought you violated their fishing ground?’</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>“Again, what has
that to do—”</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>Laconia stood and
walked across the desk to look Wentworth in the eye. “What else are you going
to do until you find a mate?”</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>Wentworth’s jaw
dropped and he sputtered. “Dragon’s blood and sea foam!”</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>“You will mind
your language around my mate.” Laconia glanced back at Mina and chirruped.</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>“Your mate?”
Wentworth and Easterly said simultaneously.</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>“Yes.” The
tatzelwurms hissed.</span></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span><span> </span></span>ot be
at loose ends right now. You must have a way of keeping yourself occupied until
…”</p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><span>Wentworth slapped
his forehead. “How do you intend for us to get to Cornwall?” </span></p>
</div>
<p class="GraceNormal">________________________</p><p class="GraceNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="GraceNormal">Is it a little off the beaten path for Austenesque
fiction? Absolutely! But what better time to try out something entirely new and
different than a year like 2020?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="GraceNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="GraceNormal">If you’d like to have a peek at more previews, check them
out on my website, RandomBitsofFascinaion.com.<span>
</span><a href="https://randombitsoffascination.com/?s=the+dragons+of+kellynch">The
Dragons of Kellynch</a> and <a href="https://randombitsoffascination.com/tag/kellynch-dragon-persuasion/">Kellynch:
Dragon Persuasion</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span> _______________________</span></span></p><p class="MsoTitle">Dragons of Kellynch<span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpM4hTrDoq9XRBkxv0gsRR4uf3-o8xPjH0lgb74FbV23HuQRGO-IXF70hAGI4l2cl-EMcDWPfOL4w67-Me9PnqnW9RepvhCqXG1_ZD0ZuEK2QHrZfBr6OQhMbTQsyrsuGMh5KNlKMGiBY/s320/The+Dragons+of+Kellynch-ebook.jpg" /></div><o:p> </o:p><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">In order to secure
he</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">r future, a young lady must marry well.</span></b><p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">One would think Anne
Elliot, a baronet’s daughter, would find the marriage mart far easier </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">to
n</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">avigate than a more ordinary woman. One would</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> be wrong.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">After refusing a
poor, but otherwise perfect sailor, on the advice of her friend Lady Russell,
Anne finds an unhappy choice before her: marry deathly dull Charles Musgrove or
hope against hope that another suitable proposal might come her way before she
becomes a spinster on the shelf.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Anne’s disgracefully
independent choice to refuse Charles’ offer turns her world entirely
arsey-varsey and not in the expected</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">And once one sees
dragons, one talks to them. And when one talks to them, nothing is ever the
same again.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Must a young lady
marry well if she hears dragons?</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><a href="https://books2read.com/DragonsofKellynch"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">https://books2read.com/DragonsofKellynch</span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span> </span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span> ~~~~~</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoTitle">Kellynch: Dragon Persuasion<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Keeping a hibernating dragon should have been
a simple thing.</span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN24t7HRnCJD4p85pHOgVnKkS0gr7hiSHmnvqh4VChIXwQRCakln6HApAqdyBEyfytHtXY37HcosJxsBpy_WctkU_FYH-bPBk7ZZRNlioVgOizaUIdJvpv9ERMz6QAtYSKfJdHi8jh61I/s2048/Kellynch+Slumbering+Dragon+ebook2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN24t7HRnCJD4p85pHOgVnKkS0gr7hiSHmnvqh4VChIXwQRCakln6HApAqdyBEyfytHtXY37HcosJxsBpy_WctkU_FYH-bPBk7ZZRNlioVgOizaUIdJvpv9ERMz6QAtYSKfJdHi8jh61I/s320/Kellynch+Slumbering+Dragon+ebook2.jpg" /></a></b></div><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span></span></span><p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Should have been, but it was not. Apparently,
nothing involving dragons was ever simple, at least not for Anne Elliot, junior
Keeper to dragon Kellynch. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">With the estate in debt, Anne’s father in
denial, and the dragon’s treasure missing, Kellynch’s awakening was shaping up
to be nothing short of catastrophe. Not to mention there was the pesky matter
of her own broken heart and resentment against the old friend who had caused
it.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Captain Frederick Wentworth had spent his
life making something of himself in the Navy. With the</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Working as an agent of the Blue Order,
managing dragon matters across England, seemed a much better alternative. At
least until investigating one such matter sent him directly in the path of Anne
Elliot, the woman who had ruined him for all others.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Now a royal dragon rages, a sleeping dragon
lurks, and too many treasures have gone missing. Can Anne and Wentworth lay
aside resentment, pride, and heartbreak to prevent Kellynch’s awakening from
ending in bloodshed—or worse?</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Jane Austen meets Pern in a fantastical
regency romp bound to delight readers of Jane Austen and Anne McCaffrey alike. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span> </span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><a href="https://books2read.com/KellynchDragonPersuasion"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">https://books2read.com/KellynchDragonPersuasion</span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUCWo_j76fOHnfnAbYybX6P-uKFubopn_cF5hdg8lN5vOcPzOLHGoFb251UZc9yQ4wwJGfiqUHGHTrI0Llq1ZMaCGw_rBuylQi-4tYsHuL4wHGQFldNywBpzBNicghyphenhyphengOwrfTZdyoOsec/s1800/Dragon+Persuasion+tour+banner.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1800" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUCWo_j76fOHnfnAbYybX6P-uKFubopn_cF5hdg8lN5vOcPzOLHGoFb251UZc9yQ4wwJGfiqUHGHTrI0Llq1ZMaCGw_rBuylQi-4tYsHuL4wHGQFldNywBpzBNicghyphenhyphengOwrfTZdyoOsec/w500-h166/Dragon+Persuasion+tour+banner.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjseyVEvlREJlP1A5GlovetS1I0LoCrJPZiCGT4L6BAQ9nh3cGNgvlqqrn1cBB6dzIBbYI4cCOf1zhCJOsHDVfXzga-5RVgKW37iFTygRBajkErWZr-0wFXkCZ1oMS492fDYWxs0571Niw/s2048/2014+poster.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1638" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjseyVEvlREJlP1A5GlovetS1I0LoCrJPZiCGT4L6BAQ9nh3cGNgvlqqrn1cBB6dzIBbYI4cCOf1zhCJOsHDVfXzga-5RVgKW37iFTygRBajkErWZr-0wFXkCZ1oMS492fDYWxs0571Niw/w163-h204/2014+poster.jpg" width="163" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Six-time BRAG Medallion Honoree, Maria Grace has
her PhD in Educational Psychology and is a 16-year veteran of the university
classroom where she taught courses in human growth and development, learning,
test development and counseling. None of which have anything to do with her
undergraduate studies in economics/sociology/managerial studies/behavior
sciences. She pretends to be a mild-mannered writer/cat-lady, but most of her
vacations require helmets and waivers or historical costumes, usually not at
the same time.</div><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">She writes gas lamp fantasy, historical romance
and non-fiction to help justify her research addiction. Her books are available
at all major online booksellers. </span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">She can be contacted at:</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><a href="mailto:author.MariaGrace@gmail.com"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">author.MariaGrace@gmail.com </span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><a href="http://facebook.com/AuthorMariaGrace"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Facebook: </span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://twitter.com/WriteMariaGrace"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Twitter</span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><a href="http://randombitsoffascination.com/"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Random Bits of Fascination </span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><a href="http://austenvariations.com/"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Austen Variations</span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><a href="http://englishhistoryauthors.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">English Historical Fiction
Authors </span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/mariagrace423/">Pinterest</a></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">*****</span></p></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0in;"> </p></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Maria, before I say anything else, I have tell you how pretty and eye-catching all your dragon covers are. I think they are so neat! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Your post was delightful. Thank you for stopping by and explaining to my readers and me about your dragons. I also enjoyed the excerpt. I hear many good comments about your dragon books. I wish you the best on this new one as well. </span><i style="color: #134f5c;">Persuasion</i><span style="color: #134f5c;"> is my second favorite Jane Austen book so this one is perfect. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Maria Grace is giving away one eBook of </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Kellynch: Dragon Persuasion. </i></span></span></div><p></p>Janet Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904728146256943042noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519391315473032614.post-74734865792132099082020-07-17T21:18:00.001-05:002020-07-17T21:18:15.434-05:00And the winners are...<div style="text-align: center;"><font color="#134f5c">I have some winners to announce. All have been informed and probably already have their eBooks. They will have some good reading hours. For those of you that entered, but didn't win,</font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font color="#134f5c">please stop and comment on the future giveaways.</font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font color="#134f5c"><br /></font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font color="#134f5c">Nicole Clarkston gave away three eBooks of </font><i style="color: #134f5c;">Tempted</i><span style="color: #134f5c;">. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">The three winners are:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font color="#134f5c"><br /></font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font color="#134f5c"><b>Cyndy Henry</b></font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font color="#134f5c"><b><br /></b></font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font color="#134f5c"><b>Unknown (Madenna)</b></font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font color="#134f5c"><b><br /></b></font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font color="#134f5c"><b>Rosa</b></font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font color="#134f5c"><br /></font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font color="#134f5c">*****</font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font color="#134f5c"><br /></font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font color="#134f5c">The next giveaway was for one eBook of Victoria Kincaid's<i> Rebellion at Longbourn</i>. </font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font color="#134f5c">The winner is:</font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font color="#134f5c"><br /></font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font color="#134f5c"><b>BCherrington</b></font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font color="#134f5c"><b><br /></b></font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font color="#134f5c"><b>*****</b></font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font color="#134f5c"><b><br /></b></font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font color="#134f5c">Bronwen Chisholm also gave away one eBook of Missing Jane. That winner is:</font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font color="#134f5c"><b><br /></b></font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font color="#134f5c"><b>J. W. Garrett</b></font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font color="#134f5c"><br /></font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font color="#134f5c">*****</font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Congratulations to each of you!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">We appreciate your support of all the visiting authors, and I especially, appreciate your support of my blog. I hope to see you visit the other authors making guest appearances in the future. Later on this month, Jayne Bamber is my guest. Be sure to watch for that post on Tuesday, the 28th of July.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Thank you Nicole Clarkston, Victoria Kincaid, and Bronwen Chisholm for visiting More Agreeably Engaged. You are always welcome to stop by anytime. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font color="#134f5c"><b><br /></b></font></div>Janet Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904728146256943042noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519391315473032614.post-37215929683759652962020-07-16T20:48:00.001-05:002020-07-16T20:48:06.058-05:00Murder at Northanger Abbey...Shannon Winslow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnOcxg9HZq6ElmAPYlzmeasng2vjMhefVcdZGmY3HkiL83_9RZrDwh_at6fk46ZquPZ9LFazHO20UbRVC925zlMsOzej-mNCi69FNhmwORGavbOtOeBBJnN-NDtvfIrcXIIk4Py24yqo/s2048/Murder+at+Northanger+Abbey_KINDLE+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1328" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnOcxg9HZq6ElmAPYlzmeasng2vjMhefVcdZGmY3HkiL83_9RZrDwh_at6fk46ZquPZ9LFazHO20UbRVC925zlMsOzej-mNCi69FNhmwORGavbOtOeBBJnN-NDtvfIrcXIIk4Py24yqo/s320/Murder+at+Northanger+Abbey_KINDLE+Cover.jpg" /></a></div><font color="#0c343d">Good evening to you. I'm happy to have you stop by my blog today! Shannon Winslow is my guest, and she is sharing an excerpt from her latest release, <i>Murder at Northanger Abbey. </i>I'm excited about this novel, Shannon. I have always enjoyed <i>Northanger Abbey, </i>and your book sounds awesome. I hope it is doing well for you. Thanks for sharing this excerpt. Enjoy, Dear Readers.</font><div><p class="MsoNormal">Thanks so much, Janet, for inviting me to stop by <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">More Agreeably Engaged</i> on my blog tour
with my latest novel. This time I’ve come up with something a little different
– a tongue-in-cheek murder mystery, full of intrigue, humor, and of course,
romance!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I love ALL of Jane Austen’s novels, and hope to write at
least one book related to each of hers. So I’m thrilled to now share my salute
to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Northanger Abbey</i> – my
interpretation of what happens next with Catherine and Henry Tilney in my
sequel <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Murder at Northanger Abbey.</i>
This is a never-before-seen excerpt from chapter 2, where the main action of
the book is set into motion by the arrival at Woodston parsonage of a very
unexpected invitation. I hope you will enjoy this bit of banter between the
newlyweds!</p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">~~*~~</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“What do you make of it, Henry?” Catherine asked.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .25in;">They were standing in the hall,
both staring in wonder at the invitation Henry held in his hand, as if it might
have come from another planet, when in fact it had originated less than twenty
miles away.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .25in;">“It is about the last thing I
expected,” said he. “I am amazed enough that my father should contemplate such
a thing at all – giving a fancy-dress ball on All Hallows Eve – let alone that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">we</i> should be invited to it.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .25in;">“Perhaps this time he has decided
to really forgive us for marrying,” Catherine said brightly. “Perhaps the
invitation is his way of showing we are now truly welcome to Northanger Abbey
again.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .25in;">“I suppose it is possible,” Henry
said, sounding dubious. “It would be more like him than a straightforward
apology or an admission that he had been wrong in any way, which I should never
expect from him in an hundred years. Still, I cannot be quite easy about it
either. I wonder…” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .25in;">“Do you think Eleanor will be
there?” cried Catherine of a sudden, interrupting her husband. “Although I know
I should call her Lady Astley, now that she is married and a viscountess. Oh,
how I should love to see her again!”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .25in;">Henry laughed. “Your mind leaps
ahead so rapidly, my darling, that I cannot keep up. While I am still
considering if we should accept this invitation, no doubt you have already
decided what costume you shall wear to the event and what feats you shall
perform to amaze the crowd.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .25in;">“I have done no such thing, Henry!
It is only that I so long to see your sister, as I daresay you do just as
strongly, if only you would admit to it. We owe so much of our happiness to
her, and we never had the chance to thank her properly!”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .25in;">“My dear Catherine, although I
agree that my sister is everything that is virtuous and kind, you should not
imagine she married a man of title and fortune just to throw my father into a
more charitable humor for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">our</i> sakes.
You know yourself that she had long been partial to Jonathan.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .25in;">“Yes, but that is even more to the
point, Henry. Cannot you see that? For Eleanor to remember us at such a time of
long-awaited personal jubilation, to think of speaking to your father on our
behalf when her head could have easily been too full of her own concerns and
happiness for anything else… That shows how truly amiable she is.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .25in;">“Is that what it shows? How stupid
of me not to have seen it. You must forgive my thick-headedness, my love. Men
are so dense when it comes to social niceties. These things are far beyond me.
Once again I say what I told you long ago in Bath, that no one can think more
highly of women’s superior understanding than I do. As you will recall, it was
(and still is) my opinion that nature has given women so much understanding, in
fact, that they never find it necessary to use more than half of what they
possess.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .25in;">Catherine crossed her arms and
gave her husband a stern look. “I remember it very well. But you said it only
because you liked to tease me.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .25in;">He leant closer so their faces
were just inches apart. “That is another thing that has not changed, my dear.
Whatever makes you blush must prove irresistible to me, for you are
irresistible to me when you blush.” He soundly kissed her to confirm his point.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .25in;">Afterward, Catherine paused a
moment to catch her breath and clear her head. “Very prettily said, sir. But
now we are married, you have other more pleasant ways of making me blush.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .25in;">“I know!” Henry said with a lift
of his brows and a significant gleam in his dark eye.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .25in;">“So you may safely leave off
teasing me so often as you were used to doing.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .25in;">“Hmm. There is some merit in what
you say, I suppose. But now, as for this invitation,” he said, tossing the card
carelessly onto the hall table, “I am inclined to ignore it. I do not trust my
father, and my instincts tell me he has something more in mind than generous
hospitality and restoring family harmony.”<span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"> </span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .25in;">~~*~~<span style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Henry is right; General Tilney <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">does</i> have something more in mind. But of course, Henry and
Catherine go to the ball anyway. If they had not, there would have been no
story! Besides, as it says a little further along in this same chapter, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It had been ordained. Events that absolutely
required their presence were soon to unfold at Northanger; that was the
material point. Catherine and Henry’s days of heroism were not over and done
with yet.</i> And so, the young couple is off on a grand and potentially
life-changing adventure. I hope you’ll go along for the fun!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .25in;"><o:p><font color="#0c343d">Well, what do you think? Do you like Northanger Abbey? Do you like the sounds of an actual murder there for Catherine to solve? I do. I'm quite fascinated. If you've read it, tell us in the comments what you think about it. I would love to hear your thoughts.</font></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .25in;"><o:p><font color="#0c343d">Thank you for stopping by, Shannon, and for including More Agreeably Engaged in your blog tour. It is always such a pleasure to have you visit. I hope you will stop by when you release your next new novel.</font></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .25in;"><o:p><font color="#0c343d"> Do you want to know more about the book? Read the back cover copy and then check out <a href="https://shannonwinslow.com/">Shannon's website</a> for all the stops on her blog tour. She has some lovely posts and excerpts to share with everyone. Thank you, Shannon.</font></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .25in;"><i>Murder at Northanger Abbey</i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .25in;">Sequel to Jane Austen’s Spoof on the Gothic Novel</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .25in;">Newly married to her beloved Henry, Catherine’s eyes are now open to the grownup pleasures of wedded life. Yet she still hasn’t quite given up her girlhood fascination with all things Gothic. When she first visited Northanger Abbey, she only imagined dreadful events had occurred there. This time the horror is all too real. There’s been a murder, and Henry has fallen under suspicion. Catherine is determined to clear her husband’s name, but at the same time, she’s afraid for her own safety, since there’s a very good chance the real murderer is still in the house.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .25in;">This delightful sequel reprises the mischievous spirit of Austen’s original spoof on the Gothic novel, while giving Catherine a genuine murder mystery to unravel.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkNNgasaq3AoxLhIm88E4A7WoqiAG5Z4Fg9mYJp_lRp5txIPxZwct2kvaeN9gpay7_qQSSxv84th2ZUkMAzvS9zugfwbNBAOczyz78KnSKYLrbZi6AAIJ5EFQfryZWvdzr51g8NR-mSL0/s1280/MNA+banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkNNgasaq3AoxLhIm88E4A7WoqiAG5Z4Fg9mYJp_lRp5txIPxZwct2kvaeN9gpay7_qQSSxv84th2ZUkMAzvS9zugfwbNBAOczyz78KnSKYLrbZi6AAIJ5EFQfryZWvdzr51g8NR-mSL0/w500-h281/MNA+banner.jpg" width="500" /></a></div></div>Janet Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904728146256943042noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519391315473032614.post-53592793354004348582020-07-09T08:59:00.001-05:002020-07-09T09:20:01.585-05:00Missing Jane...Bronwen Chisholm<font color="#04575b">Good morning or afternoon, depending on where you are! I'm happy to have you drop by and share some time with us. </font><div><font color="#04575b"><br /></font></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjB-kr5l-oNMIELDwI7aoV7B5LCYE5nIIIV-5cmw_OFG3LyhmY3ZIs3uAfcMBrvG9_I0kw-AeEj3uZiiv1JC2jTvia9NlzwJ1FrQIy0C-O8h2Lzb4rjkUvplLpSDvBWFv8CmKczP8rwcg/s602/Missing+Jane.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="602" data-original-width="373" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjB-kr5l-oNMIELDwI7aoV7B5LCYE5nIIIV-5cmw_OFG3LyhmY3ZIs3uAfcMBrvG9_I0kw-AeEj3uZiiv1JC2jTvia9NlzwJ1FrQIy0C-O8h2Lzb4rjkUvplLpSDvBWFv8CmKczP8rwcg/w156-h254/Missing+Jane.jpg" width="156" /></a><font color="#04575b">Bronwen Chisholm is my guest and is sharing a bit about her book, <i><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Missing-Jane-Bronwen-Chisholm-ebook/dp/B08BKJB4N6/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Missing+Jane+by+Bronwen+Chisholm&qid=1594302855&sr=8-1">Missing Jane</a></b></i>, a deleted scene, and a giveaway! Don't you just love to read deleted scenes? You are going to like this Charlotte immensely. I already</font><span style="color: #04575b;"> do. I bet it wa</span><font color="#04575b">s hard t</font><span style="color: #04575b;">o cut this scene from the book! </span></div><div><font color="#04575b"><br /></font></div><div><font color="#04575b">Thank you for visiting my blog, Bronwen. I'm glad to have you again, and I think your book sounds great! Welcome to More </font><font color="#04574b">Agreeably Enga</font><font color="#04575b">ged.</font><br /><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Hello! I am
so pleased to be here with you today at More Agreeably Engaged. My latest
novella, <i>Missing Jane</i>, releases tomorrow and I wanted to stop by and
share a deleted scene with you. Before we begin, here is a bit about the book.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a name="_Hlk42025022"><i><span style="font-family: "book antiqua", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Mr.
Bennet is dead; his daughters “scattered to the winds,” according to Mrs.
Bennet.<o:p></o:p></span></i></a></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk42025022;"><i><span style="font-family: "book antiqua", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">And the eldest Miss Bennet? No one
really knows.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk42025022;"><i><span style="font-family: "book antiqua", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Poor Mr. Bingley is led to believe she
is no more, but her sister swears she is alive.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk42025022;"><i><span style="font-family: "book antiqua", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Can Mr. Darcy and his friend find her
and, in turn, their own happily ever afters?</span></i></span><i><span style="font-family: "book antiqua", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua", serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">When I began writing this story, it
started out from Elizabeth’s point of view. I reworked the first chapter
several times before I realized that it just wasn’t needed and decided Darcy
and Jane would tell the story for once. That said, this scene at the beginning
of Chapter Two was hard to cut. I think you will understand why. (Since it was
deleted, it was not edited; so please forgive my errors.)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua", serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Elizabeth moved about
the book room in a daze. She had done as her father instructed, removing
anything of sentimental value from the room and locating the names and
directions of family members they had never met. Now all that was left would be
passed on to Mr. Collins.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua", serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She shuddered. The
odious man was expected to arrive today. Mr. Phillips, her uncle and father’s
attorney, had notified him of his inheritance. Even now, her sisters waited in
the drawing room to greet the Collinses when they arrived. Her mother had not
yet left her rooms.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua", serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A soft knock on the
door interrupted her thoughts and she turned to find Mrs. Hill watching her
with a sad look in her eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua", serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Mr. and Mrs. Collins
have arrived, Miss.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua", serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Thank you, Hill,”
she replied before taking one final look about. “I will be there directly.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua", serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Yes, miss. Tea will
be served promptly.” The loyal housekeeper slipped soundlessly from the room.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua", serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Elizabeth turned and
looked at her father’s chair. “Oh, Papa, how ever am I to deal with that man?”
Her lips tugged upward as her eyes filled with tears. “I am certain you are
looking down at us in expectation of the ridiculous, but I do <i>not</i> share
your amusement this time.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua", serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She took another deep
breath and left the room. Pausing outside the doors, she was able to hear her
cousin lamenting the loss of Mr. Bennet at so young an age, while expressing
his gratitude for the size of Longbourn as Charlotte had only just informed him
she was increasing. The mumbled replies of her sisters gave her the necessary
motivation to enter the room.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua", serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Charlotte,” she said
as she approached her friend and they embraced. “I am pleased you arrived
safely.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua", serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“How are you, Eliza?”
Charlotte asked as she clasped and held Elizabeth’s hands. “You look tired.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua", serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mr. Collins cleared
his throat. “Cousin Elizabeth,” he said as he moved toward her.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua", serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Elizabeth held out a
hand which he grasped, drawing it close to his chest and causing her to step
closer to him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua", serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I was just
expressing my condolences to your sisters on your father’s passing.” He shook
his head as he clucked his tongue. “So young. Who would have known when we were
all together just a few short months ago that he would be taken so quickly? The
things we might have done differently.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua", serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Elizabeth drew her
hand from his grasp and linked arms with his wife, taking the seat beside her
and causing him to find another. “Did I hear you have news to share?” she asked
her friend.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua", serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A warm blush covered
Charlotte’s cheeks. “It is full early to announce, but I have been ill in the
mornings and explained to my husband the possible cause.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua", serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Is it not
wonderful?” Mr. Collins beamed from his seat a short distance away. “Hopefully
it will be a son and my wife and other children will be secure in the knowledge
they will continue at Longbourn for many years.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua", serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Elizabeth’s jaw
dropped open as she stared at the man. Before she could think of a response,
Charlotte stood and marched toward her husband.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua", serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Mr. Collins, may I
have a word with you in the hall, sir?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua", serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">His confused
expression was nearly comical and, for a moment, Elizabeth imagined she heard
her father chuckle.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua", serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Of course, my dear,”
he finally replied and rose to follow her from the room.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua", serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Though they intended
to close the door, the latch to that room was tricky and sometimes slipped. The
door drifted open enough that words could be heard coming from without. The
Bennet sisters, well the eldest three, attempted to appear as though they could
not hear what was being said, but the younger two moved closer in order to
fully understand.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua", serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“But Lady Catherine…”
Mr. Collins whined.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua", serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I care not what Lady
Catherine thinks or says. We are no longer at Hunsford, and we are no longer
required to kowtow to her. You are a landed gentleman, the heir to Longbourn.
You owe that harpy nothing.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua", serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Charlotte, I am
shocked.” His voice conveyed his emotions fully. “The lack of respect…”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua", serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I respect those who
earn it. Lady Catherine has done nothing but order people about and force her
opinions on others. She cares not for those who serve her or the people under
her protection.” There was a pause and Elizabeth suspected her friend was
attempting to regain her composure. “I hope you will <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not</i> oversee Longbourn as she does Rosings Park for I fear you will
quite disappoint me.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua", serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mr. Collins was
apparently shocked into silence. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua", serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Now, Eliza, her
sisters, and their mother are in mourning. We shall retire to Lucas Lodge. My
father has offered for us to stay there until the Bennets are ready to make
other arrangements.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua", serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A moment later, the
couple reentered the room as Kitty and Lydia rushed back to their seats.
Charlotte approached Elizabeth and took her hands once more.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua", serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“We will <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not</i> force you out. This is your home as
long as need be.” Mr. Collins began huffing and she turned back to him. “Sir,
it is time for us to leave,” she picked up her reticule and left the room.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua", serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mr. Collins appeared
torn. He looked at Elizabeth then turned to Jane. “Please tell your mother I
shall return tomorrow to review the books.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua", serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jane nodded, a look
of shock covering her features as Mr. Collins turned and followed his wife.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua", serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Elizabeth released
the breath she had been holding. She looked about at her family. Charlotte had
given them a reprieve, but she knew they must make arrangements and leave
Longbourn as soon as possible.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Isn’t Charlotte wonderful? <i>Missing
Jane</i></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> is quickly
becoming my favorite story that I wrote. Certain scenes bring a smile or laugh
when I think about them. The Kindle version is available for pre-order <a href="https://amzn.to/38eXrTk">HERE</a> and will be released on July 10<sup>th</sup>.
I hope you will pick it up and love it as much as I do.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua", serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">And now, a GIVEAWAY! Just make a comment on this
blog and Janet will pick 1 lucky winner to receive an ebook copy of </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua", serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Missing
Jane</span></i><span style="font-family: "book antiqua", serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">. Good luck! And I hope you enjoyed our visit as
much as I did. I can’t wait to read your comments.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua", serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6Mtn6I-5a5r9MbUVSXI0broTOzsrUB2O4XRV2Iq6Ed4Ueo2bMF-uXMw1jcT51nf0d44M6Ottp-p0sdWQGzJyzEUWT-3vzA937dHK3kU3V7RZixVAZX6D59C36xo-bNpggouyAD6dgOY/s330/BC.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-indent: 28.8px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="330" data-original-width="330" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6Mtn6I-5a5r9MbUVSXI0broTOzsrUB2O4XRV2Iq6Ed4Ueo2bMF-uXMw1jcT51nf0d44M6Ottp-p0sdWQGzJyzEUWT-3vzA937dHK3kU3V7RZixVAZX6D59C36xo-bNpggouyAD6dgOY/w204-h204/BC.jpg" width="204" /></a></div> <b style="text-indent: 0.3in;">Bronwen Chisholm</b><span style="text-indent: 0.3in;"> began her writing career working on suspense
romance, but finally became a published author with her Pride and Prejudice
variations. She takes great pleasure in searching for potential “plot twists”
and finding the way back to a happy ending.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Her love of writing has led her to several writing groups,
and she is currently serving as the vice president of the Riverside Writers and
organizes the Riverside Young Writers.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For more information, visit her at <a href="http://www.bronwenchisholm.com/">www.bronwenchisholm.com</a>. <o:p></o:p></p><br /></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxfbqNsfXErhuROSPK_3cYF8IMErNg4y-_7gOt6gHstqo2fvL7ScTJXspvbi-LDMbPcYXPYcaiSf2YUJCnv1ifqnJLJ3I-exayHSOlt8LLsQ61npf52BxAJY1mW4G9KvmQFBDfFbweQW0/s1200/Blog+Tour+Update.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxfbqNsfXErhuROSPK_3cYF8IMErNg4y-_7gOt6gHstqo2fvL7ScTJXspvbi-LDMbPcYXPYcaiSf2YUJCnv1ifqnJLJ3I-exayHSOlt8LLsQ61npf52BxAJY1mW4G9KvmQFBDfFbweQW0/w500-h259/Blog+Tour+Update.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><font color="#04575b"><br /></font></div><div><font color="#04575b"><br /></font></div><div><font color="#04575b">Thank you so much for sharing your deleted scene and for hosting a giveaway for my readers, Bronwen. I know they are happy with both! Congratulations on your release, and I hope it does really well. I am anxious to read more about this Charlotte. I can see why this may be your favorite of the books you have written to date! </font></div><div><font color="#04575b"><br /></font></div><div><font color="#04575b">AS you read above, Bronwen is giving away one eBook copy of <b style="font-style: italic;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Missing-Jane-Bronwen-Chisholm-ebook/dp/B08BKJB4N6/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Missing+Jane+by+Bronwen+Chisholm&qid=1594302855&sr=8-1">Missing Jane</a>. </b>If you don't want to wait, you can pre-order today for delivery to your eReader tomorrow, July 10th. If you decide to take a chance on being the winner,<b> the giveaway will end on the 13th of July at midnight central time.</b> Leave a comment below to be entered. Tell us what you think of Charlotte? What did you think of Mr. Collins? lol Good luck to everyone, and thank you, Dear Readers, for your support.</font></div>Janet Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904728146256943042noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519391315473032614.post-23373143787065433562020-07-02T08:49:00.002-05:002020-07-02T08:49:42.330-05:00Victoria Kincaid...Rebellion at Longbourn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnl6vA3NBYboA1dG9wGpTLe3EnL57JnQFQlga23m_1kH5FXtmpA6iEkRTsBSmR9_oM9Yw_cmdGWgrCY0a36IjCj4oeWdepSOLTwVZzO21vES1ME_oJWZg7tFBKoLJxWX_8Liz2TFkrNeQ/s1600/Rebellion+at+Longbourn+high+res.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnl6vA3NBYboA1dG9wGpTLe3EnL57JnQFQlga23m_1kH5FXtmpA6iEkRTsBSmR9_oM9Yw_cmdGWgrCY0a36IjCj4oeWdepSOLTwVZzO21vES1ME_oJWZg7tFBKoLJxWX_8Liz2TFkrNeQ/s320/Rebellion+at+Longbourn+high+res.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #134f5c;">Good morning everyone. I hope you are all staying well. </span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c;">Visiting today, we have the lovely Victoria Kincaid, who is always a pleasure to host. I know you will enjoy reading what she has to tell us, as well as reading an excerpt from her release, <i><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Rebellion-Longbourn-Pride-Prejudice-Variation-ebook/dp/B088PZCV1Z/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2A7G7B6EH6WG3&dchild=1&keywords=rebellion+at+longbourn&qid=1593697354&sprefix=Rebellion+at+Long%2Caps%2C206&sr=8-1">Rebellion at Longbourn</a></b></i>. We all enjoy those excerpts, don't we!</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c;">Welcome, Victoria. I'll turn the floor over to you. :)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;">*****</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Hello
Janet!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And thank you for welcoming me
back to your blog!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
Jane Austen is rightfully celebrated for her depictions of romance, but I also
appreciate her for those moments when she details the bonds between
women—particularly sisters. I think the best example of this is <i>Sense and
Sensibility</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">While
the novel is about Elinor and Marianne’s search for love and security—as well
as Austen’s barbed social satire, it is also a touching depiction of a love
between two sisters. Even though they are quite different, they obviously care
deeply for each other, and I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Austen has
them marrying men with homes that are quite near each other. She obviously
liked the idea that the sisters would not be separated. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Pride
and Prejudice</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">
also pays attention to the relationships between sisters, although (like <i>Persuasion</i>)
it also emphasizes how sisterly ties can sometimes go sour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Jane and Elizabeth enjoy a relationship
that is somewhat similar to the one in <i>Sense and Sensibility</i>: the two
women are quite different in temperament, but they enjoy a deep and loving
relationship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
always thought it was significant that Jane is the only person whom Elizabeth
informs of Mr. Darcy’s first proposal—as well as the contents of his
confidential letter. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only does she
trust Jane to keep these secrets, but she also has confidence in Jane’s ability
to give her good advice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As in <i>Sense
and Sensibility</i>, Austen makes a point of telling us that these two sisters
end up living near each other in Derbyshire (after Bingley gives up the lease
on Netherfield). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The author herself
obviously doesn’t like the idea that marriage will separate the sisters. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I’ve
always thought it was a shame that Elizabeth didn’t enjoy such a close
relationship with her other sisters, although it wouldn’t be very realistic to
have five sisters who all loved each other dearly and never quarreled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But when I started writing <i>Rebellion at
Longbourn</i>, I wondered how Collins’s ownership of Longbourn would affect the
relationships among the sisters. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
thought shared adversity might bring them closer together. In addition, at the
beginning of the book, Elizabeth concocts a scheme to make life at Longbourn
more tolerable for the tenants—by improving the estate’s agricultural
techniques (without Collins’s knowledge). She recruits her sisters to help,
particularly Mary, who has a special interest in agriculture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really enjoyed writing that aspect of the
book and imagining how the sisters would support each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think Austen would have approved. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
excerpt below comes from an early chapter, when Elizabeth and Mary are trying
to convince Collins—to no avail—to adopt new agricultural techniques so his
extravagant expenditures won’t bankrupt the estate. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Since he would not decrease his spending,
she had hoped at least he would embrace the idea of increasing the estate’s
income.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But now Collins gave her a
patently false smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Your concern for
Longbourn does you credit, Cousin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, as a woman, you naturally do not understand such things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is all accounted for in the ledgers.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He gestured vaguely toward his desk, which
was entirely empty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It has to do with
credits and debits…profits and so on.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Elizabeth suspected she understood
Longbourn’s ledgers better than Collins did or he would not be purchasing gold
pocket watches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“You, my most exquisite cousins, should
concern yourself with domestic duties—where you are doing an admirable job—and
allow me to worry about the finances and such.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Perhaps the time had arrived when
Elizabeth needed to remind him why additional income was desirable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Of course, Longbourn is your estate and you
may decide what happens here, but it is clearly in need of additional
funds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The tenants’ houses—” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Collins sighed and rolled his eyes; the
tenants had raised these matters before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But Elizabeth pushed forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“The tenants’ houses are in need of repair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Longbourn needs greater profit.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Standing, Elizabeth tapped one of the books
on the desk before Collins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I implore
you, sir, to at least read the passages Mary has marked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is your duty to Longbourn to be the best
landowner you can be!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">She knew instantly that she had pushed too
far.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Collins had quite a temper,
although he liked to pretend he did not—one of many lies he told himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Red in the face, Collins clambered to his
feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You and Mary should not concern
yourselves with these matters when there are many household tasks waiting to be
performed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These journals appear to be a
distraction from your ordinary duties; I shall cancel the subscriptions, and
you will return these books to the library.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After all, they belong to me.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mary’s face was a picture of anguish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“But surely there is no harm in—” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Collins lifted his chin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You both live at Longbourn on my
sufferance,” he intoned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I ask little
in recompense.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was a lie but not
one Elizabeth could dispute with any success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“However, I do insist that you leave the running of Longbourn to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know everything that happens on the estate
and, therefore, am in the best position to make decisions.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mary blinked back tears as Collins
gathered journals and books from the table and tore still more from her arms,
setting them on the floor behind his desk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Elizabeth put her arm around her sister as
she gave Collins a cold stare.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Indeed,
sir.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will trouble you no
longer.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mary raised her chin as if she would
object, but Elizabeth shook her head slightly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They could accomplish nothing more at the moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She held herself rigid and straight as she
escorted Mary from the room. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Kitty and Jane awaited them in the
kitchen, the one room that Collins would never visit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Polly was helping Hill prepare dinner; both
strained to overhear the conversation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“What happened?” Kitty asked, running up
to them as they descended the stairs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Elizabeth shook her head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“He would not listen to a word we said.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kitty’s face fell.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Worse, he confiscated the books and said
he would suspend the journal subscriptions,” Mary moaned. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“My sincerest apologies.” Elizabeth gave
her sister a comforting hug.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I did not
foresee that possibility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I have no
doubt we can sneak the books from his study when he is not at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He will never notice their absence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I believe Sir William Lucas subscribes to
at least two of those journals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He would
happily lend them to you.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mary’s face brightened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Your conversation was extremely
enlightening and proper,” Elizabeth assured her sister.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You can do nothing if Collins is a fool.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mary’s smile widened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">At least I brightened someone’s day,</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <i>for I have accomplished
little else of worth</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>Maybe Sir
William would hire Mary to be his steward; at least then one of the Bennet
sisters would not be dependent on Collins’s largesse.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Elizabeth smiled at her own whimsy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If only women could be stewards, Mary would excel
at it, and Elizabeth would not worry about that sister’s future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had hope that eventually Jane and Kitty
would make respectable—if not spectacular—marriages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Mary had shown little interest in
marriage, and Elizabeth doubted her temperament was well-suited to becoming a
governess or lady’s companion. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“What will we do now, Lizzy?” Kitty’s
words drew Elizabeth from her reverie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Everyone regarded her expectantly, making Elizabeth yearn for a good
response.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But she had pinned her slim
hopes on persuading Collins to adopt more modern agricultural methods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing happened on an estate without the
landowner’s cooperation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were
virtually powerless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Already the effects
of Collins’s bad management were being sensed by the tenants and demonstrated
by the estate’s productivity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Her hands balled into fists as she stared
at the five women in the kitchen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their
lives—and the lives of all the other inhabitants of Longbourn—were scarcely
less important than Collins’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
certainly far more important than Collins’s waistcoats. It was unfair that they
should have so much less control over their own lives than he did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Summary:
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Elizabeth
Bennet’s father died two years ago, and her odious cousin Mr. Collins has taken
possession of the Longbourn estate. Although Collins and his wife Charlotte
have allowed the Bennet sisters and their mother to continue living at
Longbourn, the situation is difficult. Viewing Elizabeth and her sisters as
little more than unpaid servants, Collins also mistreats the tenants, spends
the estate’s money with abandon, and rejects any suggestions about improving or
modernizing Longbourn. After one particularly egregious incident, Elizabeth
decides she must organize a covert resistance among her sisters and the
tenants, secretly using more modern agricultural methods to help the estate
thrive. Her scheme is just getting underway when Mr. Darcy appears in Meryton. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Upon returning from a long international
voyage, Darcy is forced to admit he cannot forget his love for Elizabeth. When
he learns of the Bennet family’s plight, he hurries to Hertfordshire, hoping he
can provide assistance. Sinking into poverty, Elizabeth is further out of
Darcy’s reach than ever; still, he cannot help falling even more deeply in
love. But what will he do when he discovers her covert rebellion against
Longbourn’s rightful owner?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Falling in love with Mr. Darcy was not
part of Elizabeth’s plan, but it cannot be denied.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Darcy struggles to separate his love for her
from his abhorrence for deception.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will
their feelings for each other help or hinder the Rebellion at Longbourn?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p>*****</o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="color: #134f5c;">What do you think? Does this whet your appetite for more? It does mine. Have any of you read this book yet? I haven't but will be reading it soon, I hope. I always enjoy reading Victoria's books, so I know this one will be no different. </span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="color: #134f5c;">Thank you for stopping by More Agreeably Engaged, Victoria. I appreciate you including us in your tour. Best wishes with <i><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Rebellion-Longbourn-Pride-Prejudice-Variation-ebook/dp/B088PZCV1Z/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2A7G7B6EH6WG3&dchild=1&keywords=rebellion+at+longbourn&qid=1593697354&sprefix=Rebellion+at+Long%2Caps%2C206&sr=8-1">Rebellion at Longbourn</a></b></i>, but I am betting it is already doing really well.</span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="color: #134f5c;">Victoria is giving away one eBook, and the giveaway is worldwide. To be entered</span></o:p></span><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px;"> in the giveaway, h</span><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">ave your <i>share in the conversation</i> in the comments below. </span><b style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Giveaway will end at midnight central time on the 6th of July. Good luck to all!</b></div>
Janet Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904728146256943042noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519391315473032614.post-17363548209872570332020-06-30T11:16:00.002-05:002020-06-30T13:53:04.314-05:00Tempted by Nicole Clarkston Cover Reveal <span style="color: #134f5c;">Hello, Dear Readers. I hope you are all well and safe. It has been quite a few weeks since I have posted, so I am happy to be here today.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT8RvLpsjkdtWGUatiTT57uC7yJn1_8ZOgoeUj9x2fEnSijdtLpcrf557AauBGHju4gKWEgN3L9fdWoig08oO6WTpiTChU1c5e0p_eztC8zlleQmd7Y7BXaLVwFVS8NLBc6u9mX4TkA-E/s1600/Tempted+CR+promo+M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="821" data-original-width="1200" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT8RvLpsjkdtWGUatiTT57uC7yJn1_8ZOgoeUj9x2fEnSijdtLpcrf557AauBGHju4gKWEgN3L9fdWoig08oO6WTpiTChU1c5e0p_eztC8zlleQmd7Y7BXaLVwFVS8NLBc6u9mX4TkA-E/s400/Tempted+CR+promo+M.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">My special guest, Nicole Clarkston, chose More Agreeably Engaged to share the cover reveal for her new release, <i><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08C24C2VR">Tempted</a></b></i>. Oh my, you are going to love the book! We both hope you will love the cover too. Before we get to the cover, h</span><span style="color: #134f5c;">ere's Nicole to tell you a little about her story.</span><br />
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Tempted is a book that truly frightened me. I have confessed this before, and there are SO many reasons why, but today I will be sharing one of them: Elizabeth is no country squire’s daughter. She’s not even gently brought up.<br />
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To explain a little more about her, first I will touch on the back story of Tempted. The time, as you have noticed, is moved up about 90 years. That timeline gave me several new opportunities, and I don’t even have time to list all the historical details I tried to take advantage of, but one of them is the Boer War. The British Empire fought the Boers, or otherwise known as Dutch Afrikaners, to gain control of the region for trade. That is the ugliest and simplest version of the history possible, and, as we all know, the real history is much bigger and more kaleidoscopic than that. However, as a side effect of the war, the British Army was in constant need of horses for the cavalry. Horse buyers went to Australia and the United States trying to buy up as many remounts as they could, a venture financed in some part by British investors.<br />
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That is where Colonel Fitzwilliam comes in. Some of these horse buying stations were in Wyoming, and I created a fictional town around one for my purposes. This humble little cow town, the focus of the British Cavalry’s interests, is where our Elizabeth hails from. The Bennet family’s ranch has failed and been sold, and now Mr Bennet works with the Army.<br />
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Circumstances conspire to thrust Elizabeth from her home and into Darcy’s world, but she is still very much a wild child. She does not sit still well. She does not understand why titles and influence are so gosh darn important. And she has no clue how a “lady” is supposed to act in “quality” drawing-rooms.<br />
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Oh, and she really doesn’t understand why she finds this Darcy character so… um… fascinating.<br />
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That is not to say that our Elizabeth is irreverent and obstreperous. Well, not most of the time. Okay, once in a while she is respectful and modest. It’s just that her ideas of how things should work don’t really fit in this new world, and she’s just stubborn enough that she doesn’t mind saying so.<br />
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I do hope you enjoy Tempted! Here is one of the excerpts that had me so terrified!<br />
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--Nicole<br />
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*****<br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">From what Nicole said, what do you think about this Lizzy? It's interesting that she hails from the United States and is not a gentleman's daughter. Hmmm, I wonder what that can mean for Darcy when they eventually meet, but wait, I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's read the blurb and see if more information is brought to light.</span><br />
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<b>Blurb:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
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<b><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Running from her past, Stumbling into the unknown,</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">and Drawn to
a future she cannot have.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<b><br /></b>
<b><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Elizabeth Bennet left all she loved behind when she accepted Colonel Fitzwilliam's hand. </span></b><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Dragging her sister Jane, her cousin Billy Collins, and a horrible secret along with her, she leaves her home </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">and family in the United States and sets sail for England..., and safety. Expecting to meet her </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">new husband when he returns from the Boer front, she is shocked to learn that not only does </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">his family not believe her, but Richard has gone missing.</span></b></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Fitzwilliam Darcy is only doing his duty. Trying to learn the truth of what happened to his</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">cousin, while sheltering the woman who claims to be Richard Fitzwilliam's wife, he encounters</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">more than he bargained for. She is ill prepared for life in this world, and her independent ways</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">threaten to defeat her before she has even begun. Unfortunately, she is close to defeating him,</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">as well. Pledged to marry another, but honour-bound to do all he can for Fitzwilliam's wife,</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">his equanimity and fortitude are tested whenever she is near.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">When news of Fitzwilliam finally comes, it brings both grief and complications. Surprises,</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">possibilities, and agonising choices... Will Darcy and Elizabeth find a path to love? Or will new</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">revelations and the shadows of the past tear them apart before they are even together?</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">From the author of <i>These Dreams</i> and <i>Nefarious</i>, <i>Tempted</i> is a deliciously nuanced tale</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">of longing and trust. With good people in impossible places, close-knit families, and secrets</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">working in the dark, Darcy and Elizabeth have to fight every step for their future.</span></b><br />
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*****<br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: inherit;">Are you ready to see the cover? Let's take a look.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGRXzb8ym8Mf9eSFUo1rvknFBO4yq1bUcLHvSF2ngmB9yI6Gac3VaXp82lbH-Ud-mmZOxVIUSlN7oKZSU0kAmeO0mavBfLomVa2JVHdXH1Y6ddGRk9bZKz3Pmuv_Nr4jhiBWpBEhT_Ii0/s1600/Tempted+FrC+Final+06_30_20+CSw2A+wobld+M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGRXzb8ym8Mf9eSFUo1rvknFBO4yq1bUcLHvSF2ngmB9yI6Gac3VaXp82lbH-Ud-mmZOxVIUSlN7oKZSU0kAmeO0mavBfLomVa2JVHdXH1Y6ddGRk9bZKz3Pmuv_Nr4jhiBWpBEhT_Ii0/s400/Tempted+FrC+Final+06_30_20+CSw2A+wobld+M.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: inherit;">What do you think? Do you love these colors? I do! They are so soft and romantic. Does this scene depict the dawn of a new day and a beginning, or the end of day and the close of a chapter? Hmm, I wonder! I also wonder why Darcy and Lizzy are turned away from each other? There are so many questions that need answering.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">I have two other reasons for
"loving" this cover! My grandson and granddaughter are the models for
Darcy and Lizzy. Some of you may remember Chayseland from one of Nicole's other
covers, </span><i><a href="https://moreagreeablyengaged.blogspot.com/2018/05/cover-revealnicole-clarkston.html">London Holiday</a></i>. This is his fourth time as Darcy. Emily makes her first
appearance on a cover. We had fun doing her hair for the photo session... well,
sort of fun. It took me about two hours to fix it. She has so much hair and it
is long. I didn't know what to do with all of it! lol I may have given out in
the process, but she stayed calm and patient. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c;">Do you want to see the back cover or full wrapper? Let's take a look.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf64S-UnnyqkQBdOSskJUXqD03kfOLxQrYC1gd0DBKCilfmMPSTIsiZWcuDenCITROJF4y9yXs08bgOa_oEH3_esR5zNEFSg9AajBfwX7H7arshV26MUL2wjQFzhHzmC7um4C3_bMHo4w/s1600/Tempted+FC+Final+06_30_20+CSw2A+wobld+M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1076" data-original-width="1600" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf64S-UnnyqkQBdOSskJUXqD03kfOLxQrYC1gd0DBKCilfmMPSTIsiZWcuDenCITROJF4y9yXs08bgOa_oEH3_esR5zNEFSg9AajBfwX7H7arshV26MUL2wjQFzhHzmC7um4C3_bMHo4w/s400/Tempted+FC+Final+06_30_20+CSw2A+wobld+M.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: inherit;">What is the girl(Lizzy) riding toward or away from? Do you notice the soldier vaguely in the upper left side of the back? From the blurb, we can make an assumption of whom that might be. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c;">We hope you like the cover and are intrigued by the blurb. If you want more enticement, there's an excerpt! YAY!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span></span>
*****<br />
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<b>Excerpt:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Darcy found himself at sixes and
sevens. The officers at Whitehall had provided almost nothing new of import for
Reginald’s questions. He had been able to dispatch another letter to Richard’s
fellow officers, but it would be weeks, at best, before any reply could be had.
And so, the most prudent thing to do seemed to be to withdraw again to
Pemberley, at least until travel to Africa was favourable.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">A groom had brought his horse to the
train station at Derby, and Darcy set out at a brisk trot for home. After the
stifling air and cobblestones of London, the springy green of the turf beneath
his horse’s hooves was invigorating. An hour’s ride—long enough to clear the
cobwebs from his body after so much sedentary waiting. Why had he stayed in
London so long? </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Oh… yes. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Richard’s wife must be relegated to
her proper place in his mind and in his home. That was what he must do. She
would take her meals with the family as a guest naturally should, but he would
avoid her during his hours of work and study. She must not interfere with his
daily activities, with his plans and routines, for she was but one more woman
in a house full of them. And as soon as Reginald joined his wife at Matlock,
Darcy would pressure his cousin to do his proper duty and receive the whole party
as he should have done before—the dowager and her sensibilities be hanged. That
would secure him peace of mind on all fronts, and that was the only logical and
proper thing to do.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">By the time he crested the knoll
overlooking his home, he was filled with a renewed sense of purpose and
decisiveness. This enigma of a woman would know her place, and he would no
longer permit her presence to cloud his judgment. What was she but a small
nuisance? The real problems—Richard, his business interests, Georgiana’s
future, and the management of his home—these must be first in his mind. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Only a few moments after he had
settled this with himself, he was tested. He had ridden the shorter route,
round the fields of grazing livestock, when a distressed lowing caught his
attention. Not far off, one of his shorthorns was down, and she looked to be
bringing a calf. It was late even for an Autumn calf—most of the other calves
were already fat and sleek—but this appeared to be one of the younger heifers.
If she had no help…</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">But what was that? A horse stood
nearby. Whoever had come to the cow’s aid was already hunched behind her. Darcy
jogged near, expecting it to be one of his herdsmen. “How is she?”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">There was a surprised squeak, and a
bare, curly head popped up above the cow’s hip. “Oh, thank goodness it is you,
Mr Darcy! Can you help?”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“What the devil… Mrs Fitzwilliam!”
Darcy swung down from his mount and was at her side in an instant. “What are
you doing out here?”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">She cocked an annoyed look up to him
as he towered over her. “Trying to save your cow, which is more than you are
doing. Come, lend me a hand. I don’t have any rope.”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Mrs Fitzwilliam, my men will look
after the cow. I insist you come away at once!”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Your men are at least twenty
minutes away, and unprepared besides. It will be nearly an hour before they
make it back here if we go to fetch them. Do you really intend to let your cow
die rather than permitting me a little blood on my hands?”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“You cannot know what you are
doing!” </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">But, in fact, she did seem to know.
He watched in horrified amazement as she did the unspeakable—reaching inside
the cow to search for the calf’s front hooves. She grimaced, her dark eyes
looking in his direction but not focused upon him. “Mr Darcy, I can feel it,
but my hand is not large enough to grasp. Can you try?”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Revulsion shuddered through him, but
his pride would not suffer for a woman and a guest to best him at such an
endeavour. He stripped off his coat and tossed it over his saddle, then rolled
up his shirt sleeves to kneel beside her.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The rest passed in something of a
daze for Darcy. Above the gritty brutality of the scene, a piercing awareness
left him reeling. Her shoulders were pressed into his chest as she tried to
turn the calf, then they were pulling together. His mind must have closed
itself down to everything it found repulsive, for the only senses he was aware
of was the touch of her hand beside his, the warm life stirring beneath his
fingertips, and the fresh, clean fragrance of her hair when the calf lurched at
last, and she fell into him. She was laughing, her weight toppling him
backwards. Though he still held his soiled hands apart, his arms unconsciously
closed around her body until the soft flesh of her neck bumped his chin.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">She wriggled, trying to sit upright
again and accidentally delivering a few rather sharp blows to his ribs in the
process. “A bull! It is a bull calf, sir! I—” She stopped mid-sentence as she
turned to him and found his face only inches away. She cleared her throat,
blinked, then looked down at her hands. “I suppose I need some water.”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">He lurched unsteadily to his feet
and offered his hand to help her up, then considered withdrawing it when he saw
the filth covering his palm. “Uhm…”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">But before he could step back, she
grasped his hand, and a moment later they stood facing one another—both the
worse for their labours. “I…” He stared stupidly at their hands, their clothes,
and still could not help but admire the sweat-streaked tendrils of hair that
had worked loose from her bun. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">She was still holding his hand, but
with a few rapid blinks and a gasp, dropped it suddenly. “Mr Darcy, sir, I beg
you would forgive me for asking that of you.”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Asking what? That I would care for
my own animals? Who should have done it but I? You were quite right, for both
would have died if we had tried to send for help.”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“But to direct you to do as I did…
to order you to… you must have found it offensive. I expect now you know me to
be far less a lady than I had managed to convince you before.”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">He laughed quietly. “I had already settled
it with myself that you were no proper lady. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">That</i> was no surprise to me, but do you always fling yourself
headlong into trial and danger?”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Frequently, I am afraid.”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Indeed! Perhaps I am beginning to
understand why my cousin carried you off, after all.”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Her expression at once took on a
haunted, broken look, and she stepped back. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Idiot</i>,
Darcy scolded himself. What a foolish thing to say to a woman mourning the
absence of her husband! </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">She was looking uncomfortably
around, avoiding his face. Darcy gestured beyond her, fumbling for some way of
helping her forget his careless words. “There is a stream just there. We can
wash a little, and I will escort you through the secret passageways into the
house.”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mrs Fitzwilliam tilted her head,
those eyes twinkling in curiosity. “Secret passageways? Why?”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I… thought it might go better for
you if you were not seen… that is, before you dressed.”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Oh. Miss Darcy would find it
vulgar. Of course, you are right. I had not thought of that.”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Darcy pinched his lips together and
turned about, rather than meeting her gaze. The young cow was already standing
and cleaning her calf, her mortal peril now entirely forgotten. The calf, too,
thrashed lustily and then struggled to his feet. Mrs Fitzwilliam was beaming
proudly as they watched the youngster, then turned as if to share her
infectious joy but she sobered instantly when she met his eyes. He tipped his
head in the direction of the stream, trickling only a few yards away, and began
to walk. She followed, then they knelt together on the marshy bank. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Darcy’s eyes strayed from his own
hands to the delicate lines of hers as the cool water sparkled over them. Her
hands were formed… differently than he was accustomed to. Her fingers were not
long and tapered like most ladies he knew, but rather short, and not entirely
straight. The flexor muscles at the base of her thumb were well-defined and
curved almost voluptuously down to delicate wrists. Her forearms were sculpted,
shapely and lean, and a fine network of veins crossed their inner surface… no.
No, they were not veins, but a light web of scars. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">He looked curiously to her face, but
she had apparently sensed his notice. Her mouth was set grimly, and she even
seemed to be turning faintly away as she finished the task of cleaning her
hands. Darcy settled back to his own concerns, briskly scrubbing his forearms,
and then shaking the cold droplets from his skin. He returned to the horses
before she did, and retrieved both of their hats from the ground, dusting hers
off before offering it again to her. She accepted it as if uncertain what to do
with it, turning it over with a furrowed brow before she settled it on her
head, the veil slightly askew.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Mrs Fitzwilliam, if I may?” He
gently turned the hat on her head, and enjoyed her embarrassed giggle more than
he cared to admit. He then offered his hand to assist her into the saddle. Her
face softened, and she looked for a moment as if she would accept with
pleasure, but then her features seemed to cool. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Thank you, Mr Darcy, but it is not
necessary. I can manage.” She gave the horse a cue, and Darcy watched in
astonishment as his own mare—a champion polo pony purchased for her fire and
quickness—gave a low groan and dropped herself down on the grass for her rider
to mount. Mrs Fitzwilliam settled herself in the saddle, and even spread her
skirts with little trouble, and then she gave the horse another signal to stand
up. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">She grinned proudly back at Darcy.
“I have grown quite fond of your horse, sir.”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">He coughed. “Yes, well… not many can
manage a horse of her sensitivity, but I see you are getting on with her well
enough.”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">She laughed and patted the mare’s
neck, but when she took up the reins, she looked all abashed, then started
twisting in the saddle and looking at the ground. “Drat!”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Something amiss?” </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I, ah… I believe I have lost my
gloves again. I forgot all about them—not used to them, you see. I think it is
the third pair I have lost.”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“And I am certain they will not be
the last. Come, I believe we can manage to find another pair for you.”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">She tightened her lips into an
apologetic smile. “I am afraid I am quite the nuisance with my wardrobe. I
understand I have already ruined four petticoats beyond any hope of proper
restoration.”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Five, after today. I shall be
certain to send my cousin the launderer’s bill... the earl, that is,” he
clarified when her brow creased faintly. “Truly, I am in jest, Mrs
Fitzwilliam.”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I should hope so,” was her tart
response, “for I expect you will earn such an earful from your valet that my
transgressions will pale in comparison.”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Darcy glanced down at his trousers,
then allowed a boyish grin as he looked back to her. “Do you know, it was worth
it.”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">She answered him with a look of
warmth, then turned quickly away, wetting her lips. “I expect we should hurry.”
She stiffened her spine, and a moment later, her horse was galloping away from
him. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Darcy had thought at first to walk
sedately back, enjoying the leisurely amble to the house with one whose company
was becoming a greater pleasure than he dared confess, but… perhaps it was
better this way. Her still-crooked veil flapped in the breeze, and her figure
was bent forward, hands light on the reins as her mount ripped up the sod
before him. A curious thrill spiralled through his chest—a free-spirited whim,
a playful fancy. Surely, it could do no harm.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">He hissed to his horse and gave
chase.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
*****</div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">After reading the excerpt, do you want to purchase the book now? You can. Just click on the link to get your copy and start reading today.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08C24C2VR">Amazon US</a> </b></span><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08C24C2VR/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Tempted+by+Nicole+Clarkston&qid=1593493975&s=books&sr=1-1" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b>Amazon UK</b></a></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="color: #134f5c;">I loved that scene and how Elizabeth had taught the horse to help with her mount. Doesn't this sound like an excellent book? I can tell you, first hand, that it is. Poor Darcy tries his best to resist the charm of this impertinent American miss, but he is drawn to her like a moth to flame. At times, your heart will break for more than one character, and you may even shed a few tears. There are also some laughs, joy, and much heart-felt joy. The romance is swoon-worthy. I highly recommend this book to all readers. It will not disappoint. Nicole Clarkston does it again. </span></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span></o:p></span>
<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="color: #134f5c;">Want to read another excerpt? There is a short one over at <a href="https://austenvariations.com/book-launch-tempted-launch-and-giveaway/">Jane Austen Variations</a>. :)</span></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="color: #134f5c;">Thanks for stopping by and sharing another big day for Nicole. Thank you, Nicole, for allowing me to reveal your cover, showcase my grandchildren, and tell a little about your wonderful book. <i><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08C24C2VR">Tempted</a></b></i> is now available at any Amazon. Get your copy today. </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="color: #134f5c;">But wait, do you want a chance to win this book? Of course, you do! Nicole is generous and is giving away three eBooks of <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08C24C2VR">Tempted</a>! </i>Yay! Isn't that wonderful! Three lucky winners will get their very own copy of this book. Leave a comment below to be entered, and be sure I know how to reach you! The giveaway is worldwide, and it will end tomorrow, July 1st at midnight Pacific time. </span></o:p></span><span style="color: #134f5c;">Good luck to everyone.</span></div>
<b></b>Janet Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904728146256943042noreply@blogger.com55tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519391315473032614.post-8207816350625332332020-04-17T10:00:00.001-05:002020-04-17T10:00:23.428-05:00The Bennet Affair...Riana Everly<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwNOl3musmx1cjKBuLUihWBzHe0w_98Ri2QP8qeuqFHZbCV068jztwXPNfcboA_cpPaXL21dgjSA4_QhGhjMXFhTculJpESVSLC2q2E9at-CwhpGCZYx05GyX8aCyu1ObaEIPMvt4f3v0/s1600/Bennet+Affair+Cover_400x600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwNOl3musmx1cjKBuLUihWBzHe0w_98Ri2QP8qeuqFHZbCV068jztwXPNfcboA_cpPaXL21dgjSA4_QhGhjMXFhTculJpESVSLC2q2E9at-CwhpGCZYx05GyX8aCyu1ObaEIPMvt4f3v0/s320/Bennet+Affair+Cover_400x600.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #134f5c;">Riana Everly is stopping by with some interesting information on codes and cyphers. If you have been reading about her latest book, <i>The Bennet Affair</i>, you may have read that Darcy and Elizabeth encounter French spies, rumored to be led by Thomas Bennet. Oh my! This does sound intriguing. I love a good spy mystery. When it involves two of my favorite fictional characters, that makes it all the better! </span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c;">If this is your first encounter with T<i>he Bennet Affai</i>r, let me give you some background. Let's start with the blurb. Later Riana shares an excerpt with you! </span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-CA">Blurb<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">A tale of secrets, sweethearts, and spies!<br />
<br />
Elizabeth Bennet’s bedroom in the ancient tower of Longbourn has always been
her private haven. So what are those footsteps and shuffling noises she’s now
hearing from the room above her head? Drawn from her bed one dark summer night,
her clandestine investigations land her in the middle of what looks like a gang
of French spies!<br />
<br />
William Darcy’s summer has been awful so far, especially after barely rescuing
his sister from a most injudicious elopement. Then he is attacked and almost
killed nearly at his own front door in one of the best parts of London. Luckily
his saviour and new friend, Lord Stanton, has a grand suggestion—recuperate in
the countryside and help uncover the workings of a ring of French spies,
rumoured to be led by none other than country squire Thomas Bennet!<br />
<br />
Drawn together as they work to uncover the truth about the Frenchmen hiding in
their midst, Elizabeth and Darcy must use all their intellect as they are
confronted with an ingenious code machine, a variety of clockwork devices,
ancient secrets and very modern traitors to the Crown. And somewhere along the
line, they just might lose their hearts and discover true love—assuming they
survive what they learn in the Bennet affair.<br />
<br />
<i>The Bennet Affair</i> is a full-length JAFF novel of about 112, 000 words.<br />
<br />
<b>Buy Link</b>: <a href="https://books2read.com/thebennetaffair">https://books2read.com/thebennetaffair</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">***</span></div>
<b>Codes and Cyphers</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="Paragraphnormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">In <i>The Bennet Affair</i>, Lizzy
and Darcy discover a machine that encrypts secret messages important to the
ongoing war between England and France. They talk a lot about codes and
cyphers, but the two words are not interchangeable. A code is a system where
words, images, or numbers are substituted for words or phrases, and where one
needs the key to break the code. These can be quite random and cannot be broken
without the key. Think, for example, of a Chinese restaurant menu, where each
item has a number. The only way you know that item 87 is the hot and sour soup
is because the menu tells you that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Paragraphnormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">A cypher, on the other hand, changes
the message on a letter-by-letter basis and does not imply meaning. A code book
is not necessary, and cyphers can be broken with enough determination and
effort. In other words, codes operate on semantics, or meaning, whereas cyphers
operate on syntax, or symbols.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Paragraphnormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Here is a small selection of cyphers
that are often used.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h3>
<span lang="EN-CA">Caesar Cypher <o:p></o:p></span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOq08L_Ljeon3dIv82ZOHAlKqr7zoUc9i6MYLDUlHiUefRkVZW4-2zFaCidczN09gFfrr8BJITQFEQlYO3bPRNM2YW8jxYnsJ_mhayrFw7USYPX1uNR5zrweFhiZ68llcYqKms0jdLgD0/s1600/Ceasar+wheel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOq08L_Ljeon3dIv82ZOHAlKqr7zoUc9i6MYLDUlHiUefRkVZW4-2zFaCidczN09gFfrr8BJITQFEQlYO3bPRNM2YW8jxYnsJ_mhayrFw7USYPX1uNR5zrweFhiZ68llcYqKms0jdLgD0/s200/Ceasar+wheel.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">This is the first thing that Darcy
and Lizzy tried, and it is one of the simplest encryption methods. It is a type
of substitution cypher, where each letter of the original is replaced by
another letter a certain pre-set distance ahead in the alphabet. If, for
example, the parties have decided that A now is B, all letters A will be
replaced by Bs, all Bs by Cs, etc. A variation of this is to start at the back
of the alphabet and work forward, so each A becomes Z, each B becomes Y, and so
on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Paragraphnormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="Paragraphnormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The Caesar cipher is named after
Julius Caesar, who, according to Suetonius, used it with a shift of three (A
becoming D when encrypting to protect messages of military significance. It is
easy to use, but also easy to crack, and it succumbs readily to a brute force
attack, where the decrypter just tries all 25 shifts of the alphabet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h3>
<span lang="EN-CA">Vigenère Cypher<o:p></o:p></span></h3>
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</div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">First described by Giovan Battista
Bellaso in 1553, this is a type of polyalphabetic cypher, where multiple
alphabets are used to encrypt a message. It wasn’t until 1863 that Friedrich
Kasiski published a general method of deciphering Vigenère cyphers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Paragraphnormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Paragraphnormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The Vigenère cypher is the one that
Lizzy cracked in our story, and it relies on a key word to enable the two sides
to encrypt and decrypt the message. The machine gave our heroes the word
GOLDFINCH as the keyword, which told them which letters substituted for which
in the message. It is a series of Caesars, each with a different shift or
offset. So for the first letter, you’d use a Caesar where A becomes G. For the
second letter, A would become O, and for the third, A would become L, and so on
until you finish the word, where you would simply return to the first letter of
the key word. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h3>
<span lang="EN-CA">The Jefferson Disc or Wheel Cipher<o:p></o:p></span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhje9bufIpN16r8N8XdBnx1Gpxw8C1xqz_aEEd9PK2y71SPj-tcI9Ph7y8ZNPreUHC_lHnjrrPmyeThZ0Be7Q3w_9Cxxwz69BTFM0j_YX_ToOEGSdM-cZdtOS1DegLPlKxpGRYz3Vn_OR4/s1600/Jefferson-Wheel-Cipher-closeup-In-Custodia-Legis-300x200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhje9bufIpN16r8N8XdBnx1Gpxw8C1xqz_aEEd9PK2y71SPj-tcI9Ph7y8ZNPreUHC_lHnjrrPmyeThZ0Be7Q3w_9Cxxwz69BTFM0j_YX_ToOEGSdM-cZdtOS1DegLPlKxpGRYz3Vn_OR4/s1600/Jefferson-Wheel-Cipher-closeup-In-Custodia-Legis-300x200.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">This is Thomas Jefferson’s invention,
also known as the Bazeries Cylinder. It consists of a series of discs on a
central rod, each with the scrambled letters of the alphabet printed or etched
upon them. The discs are numbered and can be rearranged. The encrypter spells
out a message on the discs, then rotates the entire cylinder to some degree,
and writes down the nonsense letters now in front of him. The recipient
arranges the discs on his cylinder in the identical order, which must be
predetermined, and simply reverses the action, spelling out the nonsense and
then rotating the entire cylinder until he sees a line that makes sense.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Paragraphnormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Paragraphnormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The Wheel Cipher was invented in 1795
but did not become well known, and was reinvented over a century later by
Etienne Bazeries. The system was used by the United States Army from 1923 until
1942 as the M-94.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Paragraphnormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Why don’t you try your hand at a simple
Ceasar cypher, where A becomes B.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Paragraphnormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">J ipqf zpv bsf bmm tubzjoh tbgf boe
xfmm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Paragraphnormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><span style="color: #134f5c;">Were you able to decipher the code? Now enjoy the excerpt!</span></o:p></span></div>
<h1>
<b><span lang="EN-CA">Excerpt<o:p></o:p></span></b></h1>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2xwCThGFwqAaxHr4CDKeTCpu0iwrB2QzXhYYSEJ6hMtsEInx2YaeSDmwWLT3svcUAB2YDjfiv0ce9MdRLN6u_eLcJRUqm-DTAgl0Drn-3ltAlp3T6C78bRkVvyS0qj-eqYByebDK0ESY/s1600/Marguerite+Gerard+Lady+Reading.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="553" data-original-width="456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2xwCThGFwqAaxHr4CDKeTCpu0iwrB2QzXhYYSEJ6hMtsEInx2YaeSDmwWLT3svcUAB2YDjfiv0ce9MdRLN6u_eLcJRUqm-DTAgl0Drn-3ltAlp3T6C78bRkVvyS0qj-eqYByebDK0ESY/s320/Marguerite+Gerard+Lady+Reading.jpg" width="263" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Richard placed a piece of paper on
the kitchen table. It had a series of letters written across it in an untidy
but tutored hand—Richard’s own, Darcy noticed. He must have copied only a small
portion of the message text for their efforts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Paragraphnormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">TOHLXMG C SG BLQHPR<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Paragraphnormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">“That makes no sense</span><span lang="EN-CA"> whatsoever,” Elizabeth chewed her bottom lip, and Darcy felt his
eyes drawn to that spot and he fought the urge to reach across to her and pull her
into his arms. <i>Not now, not when you are out of sorts and needing comfort.
Later, when you are under better regulation and you can ask the lady her
thoughts on the matter.</i> He pulled his eyes from her lip and sent them back
to the nonsense on the paper.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Paragraphnormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Paragraphnormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">“</span><span lang="EN-CA">It is
encrypted, Miss Elizabeth,” Richard teased. “If it made sense, </span><span lang="EN-CA">our </span><span lang="EN-CA">labours </span><span lang="EN-CA">would
not be needed.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Paragraphnormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Paragraphnormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">“Silly man!” she teased back. “</span><span lang="EN-CA">Of course I knew that. I </span><span lang="EN-CA">merely made a
comment. Now, how is our word from the machine to relate to this string of
letters?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Paragraphnormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">There was silence as all three
contemplated the matter before them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Paragraphnormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Paragraphnormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">“The most obvious solution would be a
Caesar </span><span lang="EN-CA">cypher,” Richard offered. “It is a </span><span lang="EN-CA">fairly simple </span><span lang="EN-CA">cypher to break, but easy to
encrypt and easy to translate back, if you know the offset.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Paragraphnormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Paragraphnormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">“Offset?” Elizabeth asked, but Darcy
could see her mind working as </span><span lang="EN-CA">surely as he had seen the
workings of the mechanical horse he had purchased for her from Mr. Mendel. She
would find for herself the meaning </span><span lang="EN-CA">quickly enough
without help, such was her intelligence. “Ah, I believe I have it. The offset
is how far along the alphabet one need go </span><span lang="EN-CA">in order to
uncover the meaning. If the offset is B, then all As become Bs, all Bs become
Cs, and so on.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Paragraphnormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Paragraphnormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">“Clever girl!” Richard beamed. Darcy
sent him a scowl, but then turned his own smile upon the lady. She </span><span lang="EN-CA">really was a clever young woman, </span><span lang="EN-CA">with an understanding
that transcended her middling education. She had determined in a moment what an
offset </span><span lang="EN-CA">cypher was, with little guidance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Paragraphnormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">“If we assume the first letter of our
code word to </span><span lang="EN-CA">be the offset, then all As become Gs, and
so forth. Let us see what it tells us.” Richard found a pencil in his pocket
and </span><span lang="EN-CA">began to scratch at the paper.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Paragraphnormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Paragraphnormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">NIBFQGA V MA UFKBJL<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Paragraphnormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Paragraphnormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">“That cannot be correct.” She chewed
at her lip again, and Darcy now wished to kiss it, lest she raise a welt or
break the rosy surface of soft flesh.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Paragraphnormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Paragraphnormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">“Neither did I expect it to be,” his
cousin sighed. “That would be too simple, although with the encoded keyword, it
was well worth the trying.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Paragraphnormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Paragraphnormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">“Could it be one of the other
letters?” Something </span><span lang="EN-CA">was worrying at the back of Darcy’s
mind, but it would not come to him. “Perhaps the offset is the O.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Paragraphnormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Paragraphnormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Once more, Richard began working with
his pencil.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Paragraphnormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Paragraphnormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #134f5c;">What do you think? Is your interest piqued? Mine is! </span></span></div>
<div class="Paragraphnormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="Paragraphnormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Let's get to know Riana Everly. Do you have any questions for her? If you do, be sure to ask them in the comments below. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-CA">Author Bio<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b><span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Riana Everly was born in South Africa, but has called Canada home since she was eight years old. She has a Master’s degree in Medieval Studies and is trained as a classical musician, specialising in Baroque and early Classical music. She first encountered Jane Austen when her father handed her a copy of Emma at age 11, and has never looked back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Riana now lives in Toronto with her family. When she is not writing, she can often be found playing string quartets with friends, biking around the beautiful province of Ontario with her husband, trying to improve her photography, thinking about what to make for dinner, and, of course, reading!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Riana’s novels have received several awards and citations as favourite reads of the year, including two Jane Austen Awards and a Discovering Diamonds review.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">You can follow Riana's blog at https://rianaeverly.com/blog/, and join her on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/RianaEverly/) and Twitter (@RianaEverly). She loves meeting readers!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px;"><br clear="all" style="break-before: page;" /></span></b>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-CA">Blog Tour<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Here are my blog tour stops!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 14.98px;">March 31 ~ </span><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="https://interestsofajaneaustengirl.wordpress.com/"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 14.98px;">Interests of a Jane Austen Girl</span></a></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 14.98px;"><br />April 4 ~ </span><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="https://forloveofausten.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 14.98px;">My Love for Jane Austen</span></a></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 14.98px;"><br /></span></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 14.98px;">April 6 ~ </span><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="https://frompemberleytomilton.wordpress.com/"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 14.98px;">From Pemberley to Milton</span></a></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 14.98px;"><br />April 9 ~ </span><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="https://diaryofaneccentric.wordpress.com/"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 14.98px;">Diary of an Eccentric</span></a></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 14.98px;"><br />April 13 ~ </span><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="http://babblingsofabookworm.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 14.98px;">Babblings of a Bookworm</span></a></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 14.98px;"><br /></span></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 14.98px;">April 15 ~ </span><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="https://halfagonyhalfhopereviews.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 14.98px;">Half Agony, Half Hope</span></a></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 14.98px;"><br /></span></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 14.98px;">April 17 ~ </span><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="http://moreagreeablyengaged.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 14.98px;">More Agreeably Engaged</span></a></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 14.98px;"><br />April 21 ~ </span><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="https://candy-m.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 14.98px;">So Little Time… So Much to Read</span></a></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 14.98px;"><br />April 24 ~ Author Takeover at </span><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/historicalfictionbookclub/"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 14.98px;">The Historical Fiction Club</span></a></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 14.98px;"><br />May 8 ~ </span><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="https://austenesquereviews.com/"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 14.98px;">Austenesque Reviews</span></a></span><u><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 14.98px;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 14.98px;"><br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-CA">Contact<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Website: <a href="https://rianaeverly.com/">https://rianaeverly.com/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Blog: <a href="https://rianaeverly.com/blog/">https://rianaeverly.com/blog/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RianaEverly/">https://www.facebook.com/RianaEverly/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-CA">Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/RianaEverly">https://twitter.com/RianaEverly</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;">Thanks for stopping by, Riana. </span><span style="color: #134f5c;">I loved your post about codes and cyphers. </span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c;"> It is always good to have you visit. You are welcome to stop by anytime, and I hope it will be again soon.</span>Janet Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904728146256943042noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519391315473032614.post-35732240143452349222020-04-10T10:00:00.001-05:002020-04-10T10:06:54.921-05:00Undoing...L. L. Diamond<span style="color: #134f5c;">How are you doing? I hope everyone is staying well and keeping some semblance of calm in these extraordinary times in which we find ourselves. It is all a bit surreal, isn't it. When weather permits, I spend time in my yard, communing with nature and </span><span style="color: #134f5c;">listening to the birds.</span><span style="color: #134f5c;"> For them, life goes on as usual. The birds are building nests, </span><span style="color: #134f5c;">mating,</span><span style="color: #134f5c;"> </span><span style="color: #134f5c;">and raising their young. Watching them brings me much peace, and it is restorative to my soul in this world with an invisible enemy. I've done some baking, and it has been fun. That is something I used to do a lot, but not so much of late, until this past week. What are you doing to keep things as normal as possible? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments. I hope each of you is faring well mentally, as well as physically. Stay safe. You are in my thoughts and prayers. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJ2FkgYXJcBWv4jC59ps0L6fKAa0pKSVOSV7y3aJTztV_K3ruN8LrwztL_AVbqvFoR6LMfCXodV_hnHeHr3p-MRvtJYte5Nr2ZeUUOTFULMa-3mUrhUYQMyHTgeuIj3ciS-Y7npATASA/s1600/90350599_2533629280243641_3370494779744845824_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJ2FkgYXJcBWv4jC59ps0L6fKAa0pKSVOSV7y3aJTztV_K3ruN8LrwztL_AVbqvFoR6LMfCXodV_hnHeHr3p-MRvtJYte5Nr2ZeUUOTFULMa-3mUrhUYQMyHTgeuIj3ciS-Y7npATASA/s320/90350599_2533629280243641_3370494779744845824_n.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;">*****</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;">It's so good to have L. L. Diamond visit again. You've probably been seeing her around the blog world lately and my place is her stop today. Her new release, <i>Undoing</i>, sounds like a really good read. (the cover is lovely too) Leslie is sharing an excerpt with us, and I feel it is one that each of you will enjoy. Thanks, Leslie.</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c;">*****</span><br />
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<i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Thank you for having me! I’m
so excited that Undoing is finally out for everyone to read. My dearest wish is
that everyone can lose themselves for just a little while in Darcy and
Elizabeth’s story. Today, I have an excerpt for you. We’re off on a trip to the
theatre! I hope you enjoy it!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> Elizabeth stepped out of the carriage with the support of her husband’s
hand and surveyed the building before her. The Lyceum was not as opulent as the
Theatre Royal, but since the fire, the Lyceum was certainly grander than a pile
of cinder.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> “Have you never been here before?” asked her husband, offering his arm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> She shook her head but made certain her expression remained pleased.
“No, I have not. My aunt and uncle have taken me to the Theatre Royal in the
past, but my uncle did not seem inclined to attend an event here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> “Perhaps due to the variety of shows?” He glanced at the building and
then back to her face. “For a time, it was used for a circus, then a concert
hall, and last I had heard, Madame Tussaud displayed her wax portraits here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> Her chin hitched back a little. “Wax portraits?” How odd?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> “Yes, they resemble sculptures.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> They began to stroll to the large doors as a footman followed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> She laughed, glancing over as he watched her curiously. “I attempted to imagine
my uncle in such an exhibit. He attends art exhibitions in order to keep my
aunt happy. I do not think he would consent to a show featuring wax statuary. I
do wonder if Lady Vranes would find them worthy of her time?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> One side of his lips quirked as he disengaged his arm within the doors
for the footman to remove his coat before the servant stepped forward to take
her cloak. As soon as their coats were carried away, they started towards the
stairs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> They were only a few steps inside when her husband’s name rang across
the hall. “Leeds!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> “Aah, Sir Isaac,” her husband replied. “I do hope you and your wife are
well.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> “Yes, we are quite well, as you see.” Sir Isaac’s wife strolled up, and her
husband’s arm tensed. “We heard you had returned to town,” said Sir Isaac, “but
it seems we have not attended the same soirees.” The gentleman’s air was
jovial, but his wife was another story. She nodded to the duke upon her
approach, then appeared to be interested in everything in the room but
Elizabeth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> Her husband leaned slightly towards the wife. “Lady Beatrice, I would
like to present my wife, Her Grace Elizabeth Osborne, The Duchess of Leeds.”
Lady Beatrice pursed her lips and crinkled her nose, appearing as though she
had been made to drink dirty bathwater.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> She curtsied as Elizabeth did. “Your Grace,” she responded. She still
never looked at Elizabeth’s face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> Sir Isaac froze in place and swallowed hard. His head jerked to the
side. “Ah! There are the Clarkes!” Sir Isaac glanced back to her husband.
“Pray, forgive us, but we were to meet them here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> Her husband gave a curt nod. “Of course, we understand.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> Elizabeth curtsied. “It was lovely to make your acquaintance.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> Sir Isaac’s head bobbed. “Yes, we were pleased to make yours as well. I
hope you both enjoy the play.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> She pressed her lips together to prevent a giggle until they were far
enough away. “He reminds me of Sir William Lucas.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> “Yes, they have much in common.” His voice was lower than was his wont.
“He is an agreeable fellow. I do not care to be in company with his wife.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> “You did not appear pleased to see her.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> “No, once upon a time, I protected Darcy from her schemes. She made no
secret of her disappointment when his engagement to Lady Anne Fitzwilliam was
announced. Lady Beatrice was the laughing stock of society for the remainder of
that season.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> “Why had she set her cap at Mr. Darcy, do you think?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> “Her father married her off to Sir Isaac a year following Darcy’s
marriage. Her father’s estate and a few other holdings were sold not long
after. His debts were severe. I believe she coveted George’s wealth. The Darcys’
reputation for managing their assets is well-earned.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> She peered over her shoulder at Lady Beatrice, who smiled as she spoke
to whom Elizabeth assumed was Mrs. Clarke.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> “Your Grace, we are pleased to join you tonight.” Elizabeth turned at
the familiar voice, smiled, and returned Lady Matlock’s curtsey. Lord Matlock
and Viscount Carlisle stood at the lady’s side chatting with her husband, so
Elizabeth removed her hand from her husband’s arm to stand a bit closer to the
countess.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> “Your dress turned out lovely,” complimented Lady Matlock. “I still
adore the colour.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> Elizabeth glanced down at her new evening gown. The rich apple blossom
red velvet clung to her chest with a very high waist before it flowed down in
long, elegant waves. A delicate lace trim adorned the top of each tiny puffed
sleeve at the shoulder. The lady on the fashion plate wore a feathered
monstrosity, but Elizabeth insisted on the excess velvet to wrap through her
hair, fashioned like a Greek statue. A flower necklace of garnets graced her
neck with matching drop earrings from the Leeds collection. Her mother would
faint if she saw her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> “Thank you, I am pleased with the result. I appreciate your help in selecting
the material at the drapers that morning. I had not noticed the bolt in the
corner.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> Lady Matlock gave her a motherly smile. “That colour suits your
complexion and hair very well. I heartily approve of the wrap over the
feathers.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> A hand rested upon her arm, drawing her attention to the Darcys who had
joined their group. “It seems all of our party has arrived. Shall we make our
way to the box?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> Elizabeth nodded, and her husband led her towards the stairs, halting at
the sound of someone calling Lady Matlock from behind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> “There you are, Mother!” Colonel Fitzwilliam squeezed sideways through
the last of the crowd and stopped before Lady Matlock.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> Elizabeth’s gaze shifted to Fitzwilliam as he rolled his eyes to
Carlisle. Carlisle closed his eyes and sighed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> The colonel took no notice. “Harrison said you and father had come to
the theatre, so I decided to join you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> Lady Matlock coloured and opened her mouth twice before she could utter
a sound. “B . . . but, Richard, we are here at the invitation of the Duke of
Leeds.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> The colonel showed not the least appearance of remorse or embarrassment.
“I had not realised.” His smile faltered slightly, but he recovered without
pause. “It is no bother. I shall return to the barracks . . .”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> “Colonel, you are welcome to join us this evening,” said her husband in
his usual voice. “I am certain we have a seat for you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> The earlier grin instantly returned to the colonel’s face, and he
executed a quick bow. “I would be most grateful. I am so often at my duties. I
rarely have a spare evening at the theatre with my parents.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> Her husband merely dipped his chin before he resumed their way to the
boxes. Fitzwilliam Darcy’s assessment of his cousin must have been correct. Her
husband surely indulged the colonel out of respect for Lord and Lady Matlock
since her husband’s tight expression certainly did not appear as though he was pleased
to see the colonel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> Once they arrived at their box, the colonel offered to procure
refreshments, excusing himself for a glass of wine. They had arrived early,
which allowed them to visit with the other guests before taking their seats.
Lady Matlock strolled over and took Elizabeth’s arm, leaning towards her ear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> “I am terribly sorry Richard has imposed himself.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> His behaviour had indeed been rude. Lady Matlock, however, had been a
kind friend to Elizabeth, and she knew from experience one could not always
control or influence their most unruly of relations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> “Please do not make yourself uneasy. He confessed himself that you did
not invite him. I would not be comfortable if you were unable to enjoy the
evening out of worry that you have offended us.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> Lady Matlock took her hands and squeezed them firmly. “You are too kind.
I fear I am too indulgent with him at times. You see, Nicholas—Viscount
Carlisle—was actually the younger of a set of twins. His elder brother, Albert,
died of a fever when they were but three.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> How terrible it must be to lose a child! No one aware of her misfortune
could blame Lady Matlock for her indulgence. Elizabeth pressed her hand to her
chest to express her condolences, but Lady Matlock forestalled her by speaking
first.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> “I hope I did not upset you too terribly. I wished you to understand if
I seem to indulge my sons from time to time. I was devastated when Richard
joined the army rather than taking orders. I do worry for him so. I fear I give
in to him far more than I should.” There were tears in the countess’s eyes, but
she swiftly choked them back. “Tonight is for us to enjoy. I apologise if I rendered
the mood melancholy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> “Not at all, Lady Matlock.” Elizabeth squeezed the lady’s hand. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> “No more Lady Matlock. I should like you to call me Evelyn.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> Elizabeth balked. She should address her as society dictated, should she
not?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> “I insist,” said Lady Matlock.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> “But . . .”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> “I do hope we are friends. My friends address me as Evelyn.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> Her husband and Lord Matlock joined them as Elizabeth nodded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> Lady Matlock released her hands to clasp hers in front of her. “I intend
to pay some calls early next week. Would you care to join me?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> The duke grinned. “I think it is a wonderful suggestion, Elizabeth. You
have received callers, but have not yet returned any of the visits.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> The countess’s adamant eyes returned to hers. “Then let us plan on
Monday. I am willing to wager we have a few of the same names on our lists.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> She could not refuse such an earnest offer of friendship. “I would be
pleased to join you. But, if I am to call you Evelyn, you should call me
Lizzy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> The colonel’s voice heralded his return, and he stepped forward with his
brother and the younger Mr. Darcy hovering nearby, which unsettled Elizabeth. Mr.
Darcy wore an odd expression that made the hair on her arms stand on end, and
whenever she happened a glance in his direction, he stared at her. What could
he mean by such behaviour?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> A bell signalled the performance would soon begin. Her husband steered
her towards the first row of chairs, seating her beside Fitzwilliam, yet her
husband did not sit to her opposite side. Instead, he took a seat almost behind
her at the end of the row. He smiled at her, and she returned the gesture. Lady
Matlock took the chair to her right with Lord Matlock to the opposite side of
his wife. This was non-sensical. Lord Matlock sat beside his wife, but her
husband was seated on an entirely different row? Would she ever understand him?
He remained as much of a mystery now as when they first wed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<b><span style="color: #134f5c;">Author Bio:</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih1DFeXFq6Gq5HPXUMHUGMsN63kPwQ9zzaYuyhF9y8Q9WdiiJou6dRiwIPsMAK-VzNzOZpV7tOWIc4cK3dkL4RNGQFdGZ7z66ZvKIlF4IA-DvXqvoIpoByS74nRIvwSl2s5hxhbOA4VnE/s1600/21439522_830802623756095_1925095341_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1475" data-original-width="1600" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih1DFeXFq6Gq5HPXUMHUGMsN63kPwQ9zzaYuyhF9y8Q9WdiiJou6dRiwIPsMAK-VzNzOZpV7tOWIc4cK3dkL4RNGQFdGZ7z66ZvKIlF4IA-DvXqvoIpoByS74nRIvwSl2s5hxhbOA4VnE/s200/21439522_830802623756095_1925095341_o.jpg" width="200" /></a><strong><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-weight: normal;">L.L. Diamond
</span></strong><span lang="EN-GB">is more commonly known as Leslie to her
friends and Mom to her three kids. A native of Louisiana, she
spent the majority of her life living within an hour of New Orleans before
following her husband all over as a military wife. Louisiana, Mississippi,
California, Texas, New Mexico, Nebraska, and now England have all been called
home along the way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<span lang="EN-GB">After watching <em>Sense and Sensibility</em> with her
mother, Leslie became a fan of Jane Austen, reading her collected works over
the next few years. <em>Pride and Prejudice</em> stood out as a favourite and
has dominated her writing since finding Jane Austen Fan Fiction.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-GB">Aside from mother and writer, Leslie considers herself a
perpetual student. She has degrees in biology and studio art, but will devour
any subject of interest simply for the knowledge. Her most recent endeavours
have included certifications to coach swimming as well as a fitness instructor.
As an artist, her concentration is in graphic design, but watercolour is her
medium of choice with one of her watercolours featured on the cover of her
second book, <em>A Matter of Chance</em>. She is also a member of the Jane
Austen Society of North America. Leslie also plays flute and piano, but much
like Elizabeth Bennet, she is always in need of practice!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-GB">Leslie’s books include <em>Rain and Retribution</em>, <em>A
Matter of Chance</em>, <em>An Unwavering Trust</em>, <em>The Earl’s Conquest</em>,
<em>Particular Intentions</em>, <em>Particular Attachments</em>, <i>Unwrapping Mr. Darcy, It’s Always Been You,
It’s Always Been Us, It’s Always Been You and Me, </i>and<i> Undoing, </i>which releases <i>April
1<sup>st</sup>.</i><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><i><br /></i></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Visit
Leslie’s website</span><span lang="EN-GB"> <a href="http://lldiamondwrites.com/" target="_blank">lldiamondwrites.com</a>. Follow her on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004790958002" target="_blank">Facebook
</a>and on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/LLDiamond2" target="_blank">@lldiamond2</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<b><span style="color: #134f5c;">To purchase your own copy of <i>Undoing, </i>click on the link below.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span></b>
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086HT5DLV/ref=sr_1_8?keywords=L.L.%20Diamond&qid=1585465521&sr=8-8&fbclid=IwAR1IpP64SXia_oGxxWPvBwzyu7h_fr4EYYHuIKs0uL_qn19EF3qyvUTu5qU"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Amazon US</span></a><br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Undoing-L-L-Diamond-ebook/dp/B086HT5DLV/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Undoing+by+L.+L.+Diamond&qid=1586529695&s=books&sr=1-1-catcorr"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Amazon UK</span></a><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c;">It is always so nice to have Leslie stop by. I hope you enjoyed her visit and excerpt as much as I did. Do you have any questions about <i>Undoing</i> for Leslie? We would love for you to have your share in the conversation. What did you think of this excerpt? Does it make you want more? Please tell us what you are wondering or thinking in the comments below. Don't forget to share what you are doing during your time sheltering at home. </span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c;">Leslie, since you mentioned being off to the theatre, and this post was sent to me quite a while back, how was the theatre? I'm glad you got to go and enjoy it before everything was shut down.</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c;">Now for a giveaway! Yay! Everyone will like this for sure! Leslie is giving away two eBooks and the giveaway is international. To be entered, leave a comment below. Be sure I have a way to contact you, in case you are one of the winners. The giveaway will end at midnight on the 15th of April. Good luck to all! </span><span style="color: #134f5c;">Thanks to everyone for stopping by. </span>Janet Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904728146256943042noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519391315473032614.post-2956842313978989142020-03-27T08:28:00.000-05:002020-03-27T08:28:55.286-05:00Mr. Darcy's Clan...Lari Ann O'Dell<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQDUv8RcOar0BQJryUpQb7qMdNBR51NkoueyRhK8dmj854HSYOp-cg1HUtVScuH-66DLLzJTeWHNjT5oM7POuPlM4DwkLKxBacu6HP_n2C3blJy1qUS2hTokmD4Po8DL-ulkt0kaEFuYU/s1600/Mr+Darcy%2527s+Clan+Cover+LARGE+EBOOK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQDUv8RcOar0BQJryUpQb7qMdNBR51NkoueyRhK8dmj854HSYOp-cg1HUtVScuH-66DLLzJTeWHNjT5oM7POuPlM4DwkLKxBacu6HP_n2C3blJy1qUS2hTokmD4Po8DL-ulkt0kaEFuYU/s320/Mr+Darcy%2527s+Clan+Cover+LARGE+EBOOK.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="color: #134f5c;">It is my pleasure to welcome for the first time to More Agreeable Engaged, Lari Ann O'Dell, author of <i>Mr. Darcy's Clan</i>. It is a story about vampires and Firstborn Sons in English society.</span><span style="color: #134f5c;"> Sophia Rose is giving us her early impressions of the story and will review it at a later date.</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c;">Before we read Sophia's impressions, let's take a look at the book description and get to know Lari Ann.</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Book
Description:<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b>
<span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">The upper echelon of English society—comprised of vampires, or Firstborn Sons—is a world Elizabeth Bennet has no desire to join. She has little exposure to Firstborn Sons until Mr. Bingley arrives in the neighborhood and falls in love with her sister Jane. His mysterious friend, Mr. Darcy, attracts Elizabeth’s attention, but she is convinced he is hiding a dark secret. In spite of this, powerful feelings draw her to him. She learns a shocking truth when Mr. Wickham appears, and disaster strikes at Netherfield. Forced into Mr. Darcy’s supernatural realm, a confusing new world of danger threatens their deepening love. How can they find eternal happiness when members of his illustrious clan are plotting her demise? Can Mr. Darcy rise beyond his past to save her or will he lose her for all eternity? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;"></span></b></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Author
Bio:<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2FkUp_d6XszpL11fYzCXE2RzsVWPbWjGZ9RPPBWAw9mQ5rXMge03Im3o_n_OYzOiHFriWwe3y1UmY_u-wshcvPGyTMi-vrpVz1FMgZ33rzSHVeG55ztFX5r2mmuZU3AOTlXaiSZliuiE/s1600/IMG_6861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2FkUp_d6XszpL11fYzCXE2RzsVWPbWjGZ9RPPBWAw9mQ5rXMge03Im3o_n_OYzOiHFriWwe3y1UmY_u-wshcvPGyTMi-vrpVz1FMgZ33rzSHVeG55ztFX5r2mmuZU3AOTlXaiSZliuiE/s200/IMG_6861.JPG" width="150" /></a><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">Lari Ann O'Dell first discovered her love of Pride & Prejudice when she was eighteen. After reading a Pride & Prejudice variation she found in a closing sale at a bookstore, she said, "This is what I want to do." She published her first novel, Mr. Darcy’s Kiss, two years later.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">Born and raised in Colorado, she attended the University of Colorado in Boulder and earned a bachelor's degree in History and Creative Writing. After graduating college, she wrote and published her second novel, Mr. Darcy’s Ship. Her third novel, Mr. Darcy’s Clan, is her first supernatural variation, and she is working on two more fantasy variations. She is now back at school and pursuing a degree in Nursing. She adores her two beautiful nephews, Hudson and Dean. She currently works at a middle school and writes whenever she can.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;"></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><b>*****</b></span></div>
<span style="color: #134f5c;">Are you ready to see what Sophia Rose has to say about Mr. Darcy's Clan? I am so I will turn this over to her. Thanks, Sophia Rose. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Sophia Rose's Early Impressions for Mr. Darcy's Clan by Lari Ann O'Dell:</span></b><br />
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A Vampiric Pride and Prejudice? My interest was piqued. Mr. Darcy is just the sort of tall, brooding
hero who would make a good vampire character and Elizabeth a feisty heroine
whose courage would rise in the face of fangs and blood.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The book opened with a history of how England became a
nation ruled by vampire royals and aristocrats and received the Dictates, a
code of honor, to live by and hence an alternate history with a paranormal
element joined with the familiar P&P storyline.<o:p></o:p></div>
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From the opening chapter, I encountered a curious new take
on an old story. Wealth and family are
important to Mrs. Bennet, but having a daughter married to a First Son
(vampire) and taken as an Eternal Mate (become his vampire wife) is her end
game. News of a rogue vampire who killed
a neighbor barely registers before news of a First Son and his party arriving
to take the lease of Netherfield Park puts them all in a dither.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Elizabeth is eager to meet the Netherfield party because
they will, if nothing else, break up the monotony of things, but soon a snub
from the rude and abrasive Mr. Darcy and the snobbish behavior of Mr. Bingley’s
relations gets her back up. Even still,
she is drawn to Mr. Darcy and senses he is keeping a secret.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Darcy recognizes Elizabeth immediately as her blood Calls to
him, but her lower position means she cannot be for him. Or so he keeps telling himself. It pains him to see her fall under Wickham’s
Thrall and he won’t walk away now.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But, of course, the wicked Wickham is a vampire and doesn’t
follow the Dictates and he has his dastardly gaze fixed on Elizabeth when he
sees what she means to his old nemesis Darcy.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The table is set for a tension-filled supernatural conflict
and romance. I reluctantly stopped at
the beginning of Part Two. A heart has
already been broken, an uneasy accord has begun, and a villain is ready to
wreck havoc. It has been fascinating to
see the story alter to accommodate the paranormal worldbuilding and the swifter
arrival of conflict and romantic development between the characters.<o:p></o:p></div>
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My curiosity is not assuaged and I am eager for more.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">*****</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;">Thank you, Sophia Rose! It is great to read your thoughts. You have given us much to think about, and now I want to know more. How about the rest of you? Are you ready to know more? If so, you can get the book here.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Buy Info: <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mr-Darcys-Clan-Lari-ODell-ebook/dp/B085BTW312/ref=sr_1_1?crid=24VXG40AR2KRD&keywords=mr.+darcy%27s+clan&qid=1584331806&s=books&sprefix=Mr.+Darcy%27s+Clan%2Cstripbooks%2C190&sr=1-1"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Amazon US</span></b></a><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<b style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mr-Darcys-Clan-Lari-ODell-ebook/dp/B085BTW312/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Mr.+Darcy%27s+Clan&qid=1584331851&sr=8-1">Amazon UK</a></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #134f5c;">If you want to reach out to Lari Ann, you find her here:</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Contact
Info:</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/lariann.odell">Facebook</a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;"><a href="https://twitter.com/lariodellauthor">Twitter</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Lari-Ann-ODell/e/B00EIGWUA0%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share">Amazon Author Central</a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7221703.Lari_Ann_O_Dell">Goodreads Author Page</a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/authorlariannodell/">Facebook Author Page</a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">*****</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxVmLhZz7zb3V9poB7I5bpIAClvU96sEUC3KHOzSXHQtkNIwviUZo6fKP0er7Fm_KGAofQkdAqueMb_0nWQPPVHY1vwYCrflP3JfxBY6bxj78aCNWkP10b4WaEetNsmPT3g5H3nZhyNaA/s1600/MDC+Blog+Tour+Banner+Vert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="561" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxVmLhZz7zb3V9poB7I5bpIAClvU96sEUC3KHOzSXHQtkNIwviUZo6fKP0er7Fm_KGAofQkdAqueMb_0nWQPPVHY1vwYCrflP3JfxBY6bxj78aCNWkP10b4WaEetNsmPT3g5H3nZhyNaA/s320/MDC+Blog+Tour+Banner+Vert.jpg" width="198" /></a><span style="color: #134f5c;">Have you been following the blog tour? If you have missed any stops or if you want to know where it is going in the next few days, please take a look at the schedule below. You can go to any stop from here. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;"><b><i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Mr.
Darcy’s Clan</span></i></b><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
Blog Tour Schedule:</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">March 24 <a href="https://savvyverseandwit.com/"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Savvy Verse & Wit</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">March 25 <a href="https://www.donadees.com/"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Donadee’s Corner</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">March 26 <a href="https://diaryofaneccentric.wordpress.com/"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Diary of an Eccentric</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">March 27 <a href="https://moreagreeablyengaged.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;">More Agreeably Engaged</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">March 30 <a href="https://myvicesandweaknesses.wordpress.com/"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">My Vices and Weaknesses</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">March 31 <a href="https://candy-m.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So Little Time…</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">April 2 <a href="http://frompemberleytomilton.wordpress.com/"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">From Pemberley to Milton</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">April 3 <a href="https://babblingsofabookworm.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Babblings of a Bookworm</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: #134f5c;">April 6 </span><a href="http://www.austenesquereviews.com/"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Austenesque Reviews</span></a><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Giveaway:</span></span></b><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;">Lari Ann O'Dell is hosting a giveaway of 8 eBooks! That's right! Be sure to enter so you can have a chance to win </span><i style="color: #134f5c;">Mr. Darcy's Clan. </i><span style="color: #134f5c;">The giveaway is international.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Rafflecopter:</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="0ca86b9b37" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/0ca86b9b37/" id="rcwidget_ml7e60pn" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>
Janet Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904728146256943042noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519391315473032614.post-39493913453912204962020-03-21T09:05:00.000-05:002020-03-21T09:05:14.156-05:00When Duty Calls...Belén Paccagnella<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhL2O_LhwyYOZ0rh4nExbOVJHZKhzBy_IerN-LfDIX9U0VVlWL7ZmJftZwTEXyyJDoTLaCelS1AZg-QMIZtf33WROPBlcd29a_sVgqSjJU-L7_aVP2O2IQCNO8PZ1OMimUcfugInxORU/s1600/WDC+Final+Front+Cover+M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1066" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhL2O_LhwyYOZ0rh4nExbOVJHZKhzBy_IerN-LfDIX9U0VVlWL7ZmJftZwTEXyyJDoTLaCelS1AZg-QMIZtf33WROPBlcd29a_sVgqSjJU-L7_aVP2O2IQCNO8PZ1OMimUcfugInxORU/s320/WDC+Final+Front+Cover+M.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #134f5c;">It is my pleasure to have the lovely Belén Paccagnella visit today. She allowed me to interview her for my stop on the <i>When Duty Calls</i> blog tour. I hope you enjoy her responses as much as I did. Thank you, Belén, for stopping by and answering my questions. Are you ready to get started? I am so let's do it! :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><span style="color: #134f5c;">Why did you
decide to write a forced marriage scenario? What about it intrigues you?</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">When I
discovered the wonderful world of Fanfiction I read almost everything that was
out there. But as it usually happens, the more you read, the more picky you
become. Some stories became too sweet and mushy for my taste and I walked away
for angst for the sake of angst. I remember distinctively the first forced
marriage story I read in 2000. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
fascinated by it, by the idea of Elizabeth and Darcy overcoming their issues
and dealing with their problems as a married couple and not apart as it happens
in the original novel. As a reader, I want them to interact, to argue, and to really know each other before falling
in love. The only way to achieve that, at least in a Regency context, is by
marrying them early in the story. Making it against their will makes it even
more interesting, at least to me! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><span style="color: #134f5c;">I feel the same way you do. I don't like angst for the sake of angst. That does nothing for a story. I also want Darcy and Lizzy together as much as possible and witness them interact. Thankfully, you have lots of that in <i>When Duty Calls</i>. I loved the
scene where Darcy sent a letter and locket to Elizabeth. Was there anything
specific that inspired that scene?</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Not
something specific per se. That scene was written with the purpose of keeping
them apart until the wedding so Elizabeth wouldn’t have the chance to ask Darcy
about Wickham. Initially, it was going to be a very short letter that would
increase Elizabeth’s animosity towards her betrothed. But something quite
unexpected happened as I was writing Darcy’s letter. I am a very visual person,
scenes flow in my head like videos which I then translate into written words. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, here I was envisioning of this scene of Elizabeth
sitting on her bed, opening the letter, sulking because her plans are ruined,
when suddenly the image of a heart-shaped pendant falling from the envelope appeared
in my mind. I wrote it down and, of course, Elizabeth reacted to this beautiful
token and the passionate declaration engraved behind. It only added to her
confusion. She wants to hold on to her hatred, but she wishes things were
different between them. The locket also shows the reader Darcy in a more
benign light, because, until that point, he comes out as a complete idiot. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><span style="color: #134f5c;">That scene was truly well done. You showed Elizabeth's confused state of mind and emotions quite well. As the story progresses from that letter and gift of the locket, readers begin to see the Darcy you meant us to see. Even though this scene is later in the book, you made
Darcy “real” and likable when he fell into the water going after the frog. Was
that a fun scene to write? What about the way he hushed Lizzy’s protests? That
was well done!</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It was,
wasn’t it? Who doesn’t love a wet, cheeky Darcy? That was actually the first
scene I wrote for this story. The very first one. The image of him stealing a
kiss from his wife in front of everyone popped in my mind and I wrote it down.
I knew it had to be a forced marriage scenario, so then I sketched the entire
story around that moment. Aside from the sudden kiss, the other thing I love in
this scene is Mr. Gardiner’s comment on Darcy’s method to silence a woman. It
was a fun way to wrap it up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">How interesting that the "wet scene" was the first one you wrote! I love that! Yes, Mr. Gardiner's comment was wonderful! I laughed when I read that part and I agreed with him! Tell us
something about <i>When Duty Calls</i> that you love most. What is your
favorite scene? (if you can tell us without giving anything away)</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Two of my
favorite scenes have been posted during the blog tour, so I won’t be spoiling
much. There is also one happy scene I like a lot, and it’s the one where Darcy
gives Elizabeth the letter. She comes to bid him goodbye and runs like a maniac
across the house because she overslept. It was great fun to write that one. But
I also like angst and drama, so there are also a couple of sad scenes that I
think are beautiful and poignant. One of them is the one where Elizabeth sheds
her first tear at the townhouse and Darcy sees her crying. That is a turning point
for him and it’s the kickoff for some important character growth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><span style="color: #134f5c;">Oh, I love the scenes you mentioned too, and some of my favorites have been in the blog tour. I loved your book, so I can pick quite a few favorite scenes! I must admit that I prefer novels set in Regency times so I was thrilled that you wrote this one in that era. Do you
prefer to write stories that are in Regency times or modern times?</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Being a
native Spanish speaker, I find easier to write modern.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I like both. Modern allows me the
possibility to play around with the original plotline, while Regency has more
complexity and richness in the vocabulary that challenges me to try harder. For
this rewrite I read 4 Jane Austen’s novels to be more in tune with Regency
‘lingo’. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><span style="color: #134f5c;">Wow! That is dedication. Obviously you've read lots of Jane Austen! How and when
did your interest in Jane Austen take root?</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It happened
when my sister insisted that I watched the 1995 BBC mini series. It was love at
first sight. Before that, I didn’t even know about Jane Austen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><span style="color: #134f5c;">Watching the 1995 BBC miniseries was love at first sight for me too. What drove
you to start writing your own books? Did you write other things before writing Austenesque
stories?</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">When I was
kid, around 11 or 12, I used to come up with episodes of my favorite show and
then tell them to my cousins or friends (who obviously shared my passion for
that show). So, I guess, fanfiction is in my genes! Even know, when I watch a
movie or tv show, a ‘what if’ storyline always manages to sneak into my
mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><span style="color: #134f5c;">That's neat. Can it be troublesome when watching shows though? You must have a strong muse! Does that muse cause your story to lead you at times, or do you use an outline and
follow it religiously? What is your writing routine? Is there any setting that
is more inspirational to you when writing?</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I usually
come up with the general idea, the backdrop for the story, and I sketch out the
characters. It’s easy to get confused and switch names or places. Then I start
writing. Random ideas and scenes pop in my head and I write them so I can use
them when the right time comes. Sometimes the characters take me in a different
direction and, if it works, I adjust the plot so they can be part of the story.
But I somehow find my way back to the original plotline. Side stories and
secondary characters are usually the ones that grow beyond what I imagined initially.
It happened with Jane’s and Bingley’s storyline in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Appearances </i>(maybe I’ll publish it one day). That was a very
interesting side story to write and I loved how it became entwined with the
main character’s arc.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><span style="color: #134f5c;">I'm fascinated with the possibility of "Appearances" and the side story entwining with the main character's arc. I hope you will publish it someday. Now for my last question, what have
you learned from writing that has helped you in your daily life?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It certainly
improved my English! And my knowledge about the things I write. I do a lot of
research when I’m writing story. I also met very interesting people along the
way and made great friends.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #134f5c;">Readers, do you have any questions for Belén? If so, please leave them in the comments. I'm betting she will be happy to answer them. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #134f5c;">Thanks so much, Belén for taking the time to respond to each of my questions. I enjoyed all of your answers.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Should you want to find Belén on social media, her contact info is below.</span></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/belen.paccagnella">Facebook</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/belenpaccagnel1">Twitter</a> <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/belenpaccagnella/?hl=es-la">Instagram</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">You may purchase the book at these links.</span></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/When-Duty-Calls-Prejudice-Variation-ebook/dp/B085HR9YCG/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1583524664&refinements=p_27%3ABel%C3%A9n+Paccagnella&s=digital-text&sr=1-1&text=Bel%C3%A9n+Paccagnella"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Amazon US</span></b></a><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/When-Duty-Calls-Prejudice-Variation-ebook/dp/B085HR9YCG/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=When+Duty+Calls+by+Belen+Paccagnella&qid=1583689102&sr=8-1"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Amazon UK</span></b></a><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCL9xVLeMvEwVijWbAB9v8Cr7KofRbgLBWOVSe0yzy_p-3wHJlfrhkiV36A-X9blbsSRi3IyUUbpvO1XrdCKzXLlm0vBk5cJnNiDhj5XUA1MCjBTv8K0eIT8qR_H5aHb90QIg7KWQRc90/s1600/WDC+Blog+Tour+vert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1359" data-original-width="901" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCL9xVLeMvEwVijWbAB9v8Cr7KofRbgLBWOVSe0yzy_p-3wHJlfrhkiV36A-X9blbsSRi3IyUUbpvO1XrdCKzXLlm0vBk5cJnNiDhj5XUA1MCjBTv8K0eIT8qR_H5aHb90QIg7KWQRc90/s320/WDC+Blog+Tour+vert.jpg" width="212" /></a><b><span style="color: #134f5c;">If any of you have missed any stops along the away, you can go back to each of the blogs and read the posts as well as enter the giveaway for one of the eBooks of <i>When Duty Calls. </i>There are eight being given away so your chances of winning are good!</span></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">When Duty Calls</span></span></i></b><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"> Blog Tour Schedule</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">March 11 </span><a href="https://diaryofaneccentric.wordpress.com/"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Diary of an Eccentric</span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">March 12 </span><a href="https://candy-m.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So Little Time…</span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">March 13 </span><a href="https://austenprose.com/">Austenprose</a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">March 16 </span><a href="https://babblingsofabookworm.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Babblings of a Bookworm</span></a><u><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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March 17 <a href="https://www.donadees.com/"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Donadee’s Corner</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">March 18 </span><a href="https://savvyverseandwit.com/"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Savvy Verse & Wit</span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">March 19 </span><a href="https://interestsofajaneaustengirl.wordpress.com/"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Interests of a Jane Austen Girl</span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">March 20 </span><a href="http://www.austenesquereviews.com/"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Austenesque Reviews</span></a><u><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">March 21 </span><a href="https://moreagreeablyengaged.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">More Agreeably Engaged</span></a><u><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">March 23 </span><a href="http://frompemberleytomilton.wordpress.com/"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">From Pemberley to Milton</span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">March 24 </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://myvicesandweaknesses.wordpress.com/">My Vices and Weaknesses</a></span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Giveaway:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">Meryton Press is giving away 8 eBooks of </span><span style="color: #134f5c;"><i>When Duty Calls. </i>Thank you to all following the blog tour and good luck in the giveaway. As of today, March 21st, there are four days left to enter the giveaway which ends at 12:00 AM on the 26th. </span></div>
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Janet Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904728146256943042noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519391315473032614.post-53113148851220009092020-03-17T12:51:00.002-05:002020-03-17T12:51:45.498-05:00Elizabeth: Obstinate Headstrong Girl<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRuYrK_ITsXZeWoMnFms4uNOoILozh2wcIFT5D6to_zEVCCocVZXcMwVIaQzam2a_Nkk1hCYmLxTWinjMwfIvF8bvBgpR8LoGc1o_PSfovjFRaOg-0KDb2ScgUdQJxPvSnUsM6ny8J4qw/s1600/Elizabeth_Obstinate%2528ebook1.9%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRuYrK_ITsXZeWoMnFms4uNOoILozh2wcIFT5D6to_zEVCCocVZXcMwVIaQzam2a_Nkk1hCYmLxTWinjMwfIvF8bvBgpR8LoGc1o_PSfovjFRaOg-0KDb2ScgUdQJxPvSnUsM6ny8J4qw/s320/Elizabeth_Obstinate%2528ebook1.9%2529.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
Today I'm spotlighting the anthology <i>Elizabeth: Obstinate Headstrong Girl</i>. I will be featuring an excerpt from Elizabeth Adams' s story, "Something Like Regret." I hope you will enjoy it. There is also quite a nice giveaway, so be sure to check that out at the bottom of the post.<br />
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Before we get to the excerpt, allow me to show you more about the book.<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">About the book</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">(e-book, trade paperback, pp.350)</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">“Obstinate, headstrong
girl!” For over two hundred years, Elizabeth Bennet has enchanted and inspired
readers by being that “obstinate, headstrong girl” willing to stand up to the
arrogance and snobbery of her so-called betters. Described by Austen as having
a “lively, playful disposition,” Elizabeth embodies the perfect imperfections
of strong-willed women everywhere: she is spirited, witty, clever, and loyal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">In this romance
anthology, ten Austenesque authors sketch Elizabeth’s character through a
collection of re-imaginings, set in the Regency through contemporary times. In
ELIZABETH: OBSTINATE, HEADSTRONG GIRL, she bares her most intimate thoughts,
all the while offering biting social commentary about life’s absurdities.
Elizabeth overcomes the obstacles of others’ opinions, not to mention her own
flaws, to find a love truly worthy of her—her Mr. Darcy—all with humor and her
sparkling charm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">“I think her as
delightful a character as ever appeared in print…” wrote Jane Austen in a
letter to her sister Cassandra, January 1813―and we think so too!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">Foreword by NY Times
& USA Today bestselling author Tessa Dare.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">Stories by Amy D’Orazio, Jenetta James,
Christina Morland, Beau North, Joana Starnes, Karen M Cox, Elizabeth Adams,
Leigh Dreyer, J. Marie Croft, and Christina Boyd. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ5EPUi0ovOmwspL13b_DJrVpBSfxOkVNnmdivh5gBZmFVfnjUS8ppcRY0fNQGm7hTgk6Ri7sabceoRJDDJ9px5OjRGBSQZ9bM5hA_h8pIsEC087_jaqGrLDzbTSMjgrf2_67V5civ9aE/s1600/7Something+like+regret+cover_Elizabeth.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1003" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ5EPUi0ovOmwspL13b_DJrVpBSfxOkVNnmdivh5gBZmFVfnjUS8ppcRY0fNQGm7hTgk6Ri7sabceoRJDDJ9px5OjRGBSQZ9bM5hA_h8pIsEC087_jaqGrLDzbTSMjgrf2_67V5civ9aE/s320/7Something+like+regret+cover_Elizabeth.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<b>Excerpt:</b><br />
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An excerpt from in <b>“Something Like Regret” by Elizabeth
Adams</b>, Elizabeth meets Darcy at Pemberley much like in canon, however, a
little honesty helps them reach their happily ever-after sooner. This is an
excerpt with a swoon-worthy letter exchange by the newly betrothed couple:<o:p></o:p></div>
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Our journey home was uneventful,
and I reread Fitzwilliam’s letter more times than I can remember. One passage
in particular made me blush in embarrassment, but I will admit, I read it more
than any other.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I can hardly believe you will be
my wife in little more than a month—more importantly, I will be your husband.
Mine will be the privilege of sharing a life, a home, and a bed with you. Your
kisses will be mine alone, your affection my reward—for what I know not, but I
am grateful, nonetheless. My dearest, loveliest Elizabeth, you are all that I
could ever wish for and more than I ever dreamed of. Speed time for me, my
love. Five weeks now feels interminable…<o:p></o:p></div>
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I could do naught but reply.<o:p></o:p></div>
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My Dear Fitzwilliam, <o:p></o:p></div>
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How shocking it is to refer to you
as such, and yet, how delightful. I have never written a love letter before. I
am certain I will improve with practice, if you do not mind being the recipient
of my fledgling efforts. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I have not opened your second
letter, as requested (it really is quite cruel of you to leave me in suspense,
teasing man), but your first has brought on more blushes than the whole of my
life. I too look forward to our life together with eager anticipation. Was it
only yesterday that I left Pemberley? It feels ages ago. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I watched the forest through the
window as we left, wishing the trees and paths and animals a silent farewell.
Is it strange that I feel Pemberley is already my home? Perhaps I feel that way
because you love it so dearly and I love you so dearly. I have never been one
to wax poetic on my feelings toward others, but if I am all you could wish for,
you have far surpassed my wildest dreams. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I never dared to hope that such a
man would be my husband. That he would love me, and want me with him forever,
and hold me in such tender regard. <o:p></o:p></div>
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You honor me with your affection,
Fitzwilliam, and you have mine in its fullest measure. All my heart has to
give, I give to you. All my affection, my kisses, my embraces, my love, it is
all yours. It is my privilege to be your wife and a source of great joy to have
such a husband. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Have I made you blush yet? It is
only fair as I was the color of a beet root while reading your letter and my
aunt sat across the room, smirking behind her needlepoint as I did so. Have I
told you how happy I am that you have become friends with the Gardiners? They
are my dearest relations next to Jane and it pleases me greatly that you see
their value. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I am quite a pathetic creature as
I miss you already and I saw you only yesterday morning in Lambton. How ever
will I maintain my equanimity for five long weeks? Hurry to Hertfordshire, my
love. You will be greeted with open arms and warm affection. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Your Elizabeth<o:p></o:p></div>
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I followed instructions and waited
until the third day of our journey to open his second letter. I was rather
surprised to see practical suggestions of places to visit and a detailed travel
guide. It wasn’t until I reached the end that I understood his game.<o:p></o:p></div>
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If you should visit Ravenswood
Hall, explore the maze and pay special attention to the fountain in the
northwest corner. It occurs to me that it would be an excellent place to steal
a kiss, or three, when next we visit my friend John. He has recently married,
and he and his wife will return to Ravenswood by the time I bring you home to
Pemberley. (I do not think I shall ever tire of thinking of Pemberley as your
home.) We can test the maze ourselves. You may tell me then if you approve my
plan. <o:p></o:p></div>
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If you are not pleased with the
maze, there is a ruin near Bellamy that has a very fine prospect; there is also
the river at Peagram, with its secluded willows…<o:p></o:p></div>
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He went on, telling me of secluded
glades and hidden follies he knew of. Truly, he was practicality itself.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>ELIZABETH ADAMS</b> is a book-loving, tango-dancing,
Austen enthusiast. She loves old houses and thinks birthdays should be
celebrated with trips—as should most occasions. She can often be found by a
sunny window with a cup of hot tea and a book in her hand. She writes romantic
comedy and comedic drama in both historical and modern settings and
occasionally puts her sociology degree to use in nonfiction. You can find more
information, short stories, and outtakes at www.eadamswrites.com.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">Giveaway:</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">The
<b>#OmgItsOHG (Oh-my-gosh, it’s Obstinate Headstrong Girl) Blog Tour </b>began February
18 with announcement and cover reveal at Austenesque Reviews, and we hope you
will continue to join us and connect with each author about their “Elizabeth” story.
We’ve included a Grand Prize package giveaway (a book of your choosing from
each of the eleven author’s backlist) as well as additional giveaway: my </span><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/740777458/silly-austen-inspired-magazine-cover"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Silly Austen-inspired blank note cards</span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"> and coordinating coffee mug. Open
worldwide, so be sure to participate. 1) Enter the</span><a href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/fe4b734818/?"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"> Rafflecopter</span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"> for the Grand Prize package of books,
and 2) comment on the blog stops to be counted for the additional giveaway (you
need not comment everywhere to be entered in that drawing but we hope you’ll
have your share of the conversation.) Ends March 31. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<b></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Goodreads: </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51329630-elizabeth"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51329630-elizabeth</span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">BuyLink: </span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0998654051/">https://www.amazon.com/dp/0998654051/</a></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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If you haven't made all the stops in the blog tour, the schedule is below.</div>
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This anthology sounds really good. The letter from Darcy was, indeed, swoon-worthy! Wow! Elizabeth's letter to Darcy was quite nice too! I loved this. Thanks, Elizabeth Adams. If this is any indication, I know I will enjoy reading the anthology when time permits. We may all have plenty of time on our hands in the coming weeks. Some good reading will be nice. </div>
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Thanks, Christina, for including me in the blog tour. I wish you and all the authors well. </div>
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Good luck to everyone in the giveaway.</div>
Janet Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904728146256943042noreply@blogger.com22