Monday, September 16, 2019

The Journey Home to Pemberley...Joana Starnes


Welcome to More Agreeably Engaged, Joana. It's so exciting that you have a new release! The excerpts that you have been posting really made me want to read more! :) I've been anxiously awaiting your visit today and everything you have in store for us! 

Dear Readers, Joana has written a special treat just for us. Aren't we lucky! It is lovely, but I will say no more for now, except...! OH MY! I swooned! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Before we get to the vignette, let's take a look at the trailer.


Isn't it lovely! Wow! I keep watching it again and again. What do you think about it?

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Do you want to know a little more about Joana Starnes?
Not only is she an excellent writer, she is also a lovely person. 

Author Bio:


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

She is the author of eight Austen-inspired novels (From This Day Forward ~ The Darcys of PemberleyThe Subsequent ProposalThe Second ChanceThe Falmouth ConnectionThe Unthinkable TriangleMiss Darcy’s CompanionMr Bennet’s Dutiful Daughter and The Darcy Legacy) and one of the contributors to the Quill Ink anthologies (The Darcy Monologues, Dangerous to KnowRational Creatures and Yuletide). They are all available at Amazon in Kindle and paperback, and some in Audible too: Joana’s Amazon Page.


You can connect with Joana on:


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Are you ready for the vignette? I am, so here you go! Enjoy!

Thank you, Janet, for welcoming me here today on the blog tour for my latest book, The Journey Home To Pemberley, which was released a few days ago.

I’ve been posting some excerpts at Austen Variations since the beginning of August, and there was another one in the cover reveal post at Austenesque Reviews last week. In those excerpts we see what Elizabeth is thinking and feeling (and how her thoughts and sentiments take her by surprise) when she finds herself tending to an injured and barely conscious Mr Darcy. But what – if anything – is he thinking at the time?

How about a vignette from Mr Darcy’s point of view? Please follow the links above if you’d like a quick reminder of just where we left our favourite couple – or rather how we left them 😊 – then pray read on:

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

It made no sense at all that he should be shivering uncontrollably while his mouth felt parched and his body was on fire. Wave after wave of fire and throbbing pain washed over him. Pain in his head? His body? He could not tell, nor did he care.

It made no sense either that he should hear her voice. Mr Darcy! Good heavens, Mr Darcy? Time and again he fancied he could hear this – now a shocked cry, now a barely audible whisper. Senseless fantasies, of course. The sound of her voice was but a forlorn echo in his imagination. Just as she was but a phantasm now – in equal measure a comfort and a torment. Nothing but a phantasm that came to him in dreams.

But that made no sense either. She had never called him Mr Darcy in his dreams.

Fogged with pain, his mind refused to grapple with the unsolvable conundrum. So Darcy allowed himself to drift into dizzying darkness, even as an intermittent cool sensation on his brow brought temporary comfort. Yet it also brought the aching wish to believe it was her healing touch that soothed him.

It could not be. And with that lucid thought, he sunk into oblivion.

* * * *

The ice seemed to have lost its grip on him. It was melted – gone. But the heat had not subsided, and as it swirled and trapped him in its heavy folds, the dreamy haze around him acquired an increasingly poignant quality. For the treasured phantasm was still there, somewhere in the haze, almost as substantial as a physical presence.

He could have sworn he could detect her scent. Jasmine and gardenia. Her scent, and hers alone. He could have likewise sworn that the cool touch on his temple was hers. Hers too, the fingers that seemed to stroke his hair. And when he reached out blindly, searching blindly, he could have sworn it was her hand he found and clasped.

It slipped away, the phantasm’s hand, and he winced when the illusive succour vanished.

“Elizabeth…” he whispered in his dream, and at length the phantasm was willing to indulge him. He was permitted to feel the clasp of cool fingers yet again, and her voice, brought forth from the deepest recess of his memory, spoke the words he wished to hear. Spoke gentle words – as only a conjured phantasm would – urging him to rest and promising she would not leave him.

A dream, as always. It must be. Yet it felt more comforting than ever, and he could only pray he would not wake anytime soon and find the sweet illusion shattered.

She was but a phantasm, as he knew full well. But he answered her as if she were real:

“Thank you, my love.”

As if her promise to remain beside him were something that he could depend upon.

* * * *

The perfect dream had not vanished yet – extraordinary! – but recent recollections gradually emerged from the haze, as did faint wisps of sanity. He must have hit his head when the skittish beast, his uncle’s mount, had thrown him, Darcy reasoned. So now his addled mind was playing tricks on him. For, instead of signalling that he was lying in the rain by the side of the rough track, it sought to convince him that he was somewhere else. That he was abed – and safe – and warm.

Moreover, it insidiously laboured to persuade him that he was not alone. That she was beside him, her head resting on his shoulder. The warm weight felt impossibly real. So did her scent, as it invaded his senses.

He exhaled. Reality would eventually hit, no doubt, and the illusion would give way to loss. As always.

‘Reality be damned,’ Darcy hazily thought, and allowed his mind to foster the delusion for a little while longer. It was easily done – so easy to imagine that her head was on his shoulder. That her hair brushed his cheek as his chest rose and fell with every breath. He had even fooled himself into believing that the warm softness beneath his lips was her brow, when reality hit with far more force than he had expected.

There was someone with him in the darkness. The stranger jumped and gasped. And the high-pitched gasp was that of a female.

His senses abruptly jolted into alertness, Darcy sought to shuffle up as unmitigated horror washed over him. Surely he had not lost his mind to the point of taking some wench to his bed in a fever-induced haze – in the insane pretence that she was Elizabeth!

He had no recollection of any such debauchery, but that could hardly count as reassurance. His head pounded more fiercely than ever and his throat felt painfully raw as he rasped, “What the devil? Who goes there?”

“Sh-sh. All is well. ‘Tis I – Elizabeth,” the answer came at last in a faint whisper, and it brought no reassurance either.

Instead, the sense of loss swelled, mingled with no little anger at the disembodied voice that chose to mock him so. A sound escaped him, half sigh, half muffled snort.

“Do not toy with me, woman,” he muttered. “I am in no fit state to put up with it.”

What he heard next was a mild chuckle that might have fuelled his vexation, had it not been followed by a softly spoken, “Probably not.”

The air left his lungs in a shocked rush. He must be running stark raving mad if he was patently awake – and yet was still hearing things. Hearing her everywhere!

‘Say something else! Speak to me again!’ he wanted to cry out, yet all he managed was a hoarse, “Your voice! Who are you?”

“We need some light,” she said, and then there was light, as though she had willed it so. Blinding light. Exhilarating.

Darcy stared, scarce daring to believe his eyes.

“Good God! It is you,” he choked out in a ragged whisper.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

So what happens next?

They are alone – the best possible chance for them to talk uninterrupted. So they talk. About what? The Hunsford debacle, of course. Things must be said, apologies made – by both of them – and in Mr Darcy’s case the apology turns out to be forthright, if not very articulate.


And where do they go from here?

I hope you will enjoy finding out.

Many thanks for stopping by to read the vignette. Please enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win one of the 8 Kindle copies of The Journey Home To Pemberley, or a paperback copy, or a P&P and Austen-related goodie bag. The Giveaway is international.

Best wishes, thanks for reading and thanks again, Janet, for hosting me today. It’s always such a pleasure to be here!

Thank you also for sharing this vignette with us. It was delightful! Swoon! Did I say that already? lol It was such a pleasure having you visit my blog again. Best wishes with The Journey Home to Pemberley. Please come back again soon.



Thank you for such a generous giveaway, Joana! There are going to be some very lucky people!
Readers, to enter, please use the Rafflecopter below.
Don't forget to visit all the stops on the blog tour.

Rafflecopter:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

33 comments:

  1. Oh Joana! I love this scene anyway but even more so now I’ve read it from Darcy’s point of view ❤️.
    Such a fabulous story! (Even when it wasn’t ����) I managed to survive the angst and hugely enjoyed the finale!
    Thank you Joana for writing it and Janet for sharing this vignette ��

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    1. Wasn't it a lovely scene! I so enjoyed it and the complementary part in the book too. Joana can write angst and she can write romance! These scenes make me sigh and smile happily! Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Glynis. I was thrilled to have Joana and this special vignette on my blog today.

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    2. Huge thanks for your wonderful words, dear ladies!! You're ever so kind! I'm so happy you loved the book and this scene. Extra special thanks for the thumbs-up and all your fabulous support, and thanks, Janet, for hosting the vignette today and letting Mr Darcy wake up here, safe, cosy and loved :))

      Hugs and best wishes to you both!

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    1. It's always fun to read his POV, isn't it. Joana has quite a talent for getting in his head.

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    2. Thank you, DarcyBennet and Janet! I'm so glad you think so!

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  3. Sounds like Darcy got thrown by his horse, if so he will be forever in its debt

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    1. You are so right, Susan! He will thank that horse for the rest of his life. It was his uncle's horse, if memory serves. Thanks for stopping by.

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    2. LOL Susan, that horse is set for life :)) Darcy's bound to insist on it.

      Yes, it was, Janet. You're so good to remember such a tiny detail!

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  4. Thank you for the vignette, Joana! I will enjoy reading it along with the book. Looking forward to it.

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    1. I hope you'll like the book, Ginna! Thanks for stopping by and best of luck in the giveaway.

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  5. This was a wonderful scene, Joana, and it sounds like an exciting story!

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    1. I'm so glad you think so, Kelly! Thanks for reading and I hope you'll like the full story too.

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  6. I already have Joanna's book and have been enjoying my read. Best wishes Joanna on your new release! ♫

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    1. Thanks so much, Jen, and best wishes for you too and the yummy Taste of Peanut Butter!

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  7. You always write Darcy's thoughts and feelings so beautifully Joana. I'm looking forward to reading this book when I have 2 days off in a row. :-)

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    1. Thanks, Kate! I'm so glad you think so!!
      Keeping my fingers crossed for your 2 days off in a row :)
      Thanks for coming to read the vignette and for following the posts & leaving all those lovely comments. All the best and have a good week.

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    2. I should have 2 days off without any extra duties soon. My hubby is going on a family visit, so more reading time for me. ;-)

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    1. Oops, sorry, I posted my reply to Kate in the wrong place :)

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  9. I thought that was hilarious for some reason. He was so confused poor fellow. :)

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    1. I'm so glad it gave you a giggle, Sophia :))
      Thanks for reading!

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  10. Oh, goodness! Both the trailer and the excerpt had my heart pounding! Joana writes so beautifully, and I love how her Darcy can be both vulnerable and proud all at once. Thanks for sharing, and congrats to Joana on the new release!

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    1. You're so kind! Thanks so much for the wonderful words, Christina. I'm so glad you liked the excerpt, the trailer and my writing style. That's exactly how I feel about yours. You took my breath away with 'A Remedy Against Sin' and it just got better and better from there. All the best and please keep writing!

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  11. Pick up off the floor! That was beautiful! I will have to print this out and save, when I do read the book. I love it when Elizabeth chuckles...I can clearly visual her eyes sparkling and the lovely tilt to her lips when she smiles. I now have one on my face! Thank you for that!

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    1. I'm so glad that the post put a smile on your face, Carole! Wishing you a wonderful and very happy time with your loved ones and thanks for stopping by to read this!

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  12. Love this scene! Joana, you capture my Darcy, the way I imagine him. There are lots of swoon-worthy Darcy’s out there, but I rarely find another author who writes Darcy as I see him. I’m just beginning the book. Thank you for writing it and for your generosity in sharing your talent with us.

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    1. Thank *you* for reading it, Jan, and for your wonderful words! I'm so happy and honoured that you think I capture your Darcy the way you imagine him. This means so much to me coming from you, who have drawn me into Austenesque fiction with your exquisite prose. Thank you for your beautiful novels, for the dreams they inspired and for your ever so kind words about my work! Much, much appreciated!

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  13. I have the book so I don't need to win one.:) I am loving this story just as I love ALL Joana's stories!

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    1. Thanks so much, Brenda! I feel the same about yours! Thanks for your wonderful support over the years and wishing you lots of inspiration!

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  14. I remember reading the excerpt from Elizabeth's point-of-view on the same scene so it's refreshing to know what was Darcy thinking, Joana. I look forward to reading more excerpts.

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