Monday 8 February 2016

SPOTLIGHT ON ... A LITTLE WHIMSICAL IN HIS CIVILITIES BY J. MARIE CROFT - EXCERPT & GIVEAWAY


Hello there! I'm really glad to open J. Marie Croft's Blog Tour for the release of her new humorous novella! Good luck to her and great success to her new book and, of course, good luck to all of you in the giveaway below. Don't forget to read and enjoy the excerpt before you try your luck! 
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Excerpt

It’s the third evening following Darcy and Bingley’s return to Hertfordshire,
and they’re attending another Meryton assembly in the hopes of winning their hearts’ desires.

For Darcy, old habits die hard.
Already on tenterhooks and made increasingly impatient while awaiting the Bennets’ arrival,
he has become a tad testy, to put it mildly.


Then, adding to his vexation,
each and every endeavour to ask Elizabeth to stand up with him
is unintentionally foiled by others, including Sir William Lucas.

Darcy’s thoughts are made public in this excerpt from J. Marie Croft’s novella,
A Little Whimsical in His Civilities

Why is she not being slighted tonight, of all nights? I understand her fondness for dancing, but does she not realise such activity is a certain step towards falling in love? No more partners tonight, woman, except me! Oh, that the fie-fickle fiends had all sprained their ankles whilst climbing the rickety stairs to this rough-hewn room!
Did I mention I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young men who dare ask Elizabeth to stand up with them? Nostrils flaring and teeth gnashing, I have an urge to howl at the moon. But I am a Darcy, and Darcys do not behave like dogs or wolves. I would like, however, to unleash some of this beastly, pent-up frustration.
Obviously, my dogged hopes of winning Elizabeth’s precious heart are not being entertained as planned. If only I had played my cards right, I might be with her right now rather than with mad-bred Sir William Lucas.
“Mr. Darcy, my apologies, sir, but I have just now recollected your aversion to a certain amusement. With Miss Linville’s exception, you have asked no young ladies to stand up with you this evening. Your objection to dancing has not changed during the past year, I assume, so may I encourage you to visit our card room? There are a number of tables set up for the enjoyment of gentlemen such as yourself who do not wish to participate in the dance, albeit the others are mostly older, infirm, or married gentlemen. Nevertheless, I am sure they will welcome you and your money. We do not play high here, and you shall risk only a few coins tonight.”
Deuce take him! I am not a savage. I must not wring Sir William’s neck. I am supposed to put my best foot forward. I must not put my foot up Sir William’s—never mind! I thank the man for his kind consideration, but I decline the offer. What is a rousing game of cards compared to having the privilege of watching Elizabeth dance with a prancing profusion of pribbling, pox-marked pignuts?

Blurb 

Told entirely from Fitzwilliam Darcy’s point of view, J. Marie Croft’s humorous novella, A Little Whimsical in His Civilities, spans one moonlit, autumnal night upon the gentleman’s return to Hertfordshire in pursuit of Elizabeth Bennet.

“We take the turning which places us on Meryton’s main road, and—oh, gad! There it is—the base-court building which passes for an assembly hall in this godforsaken place. For me, the venue shall be either a heaven or a hell tonight. My palms grow clammy, my gut churns, and I regret that second helping of onion-laden vegetable pie forced on me before we left.”

Accompany Darcy as he, intent on reversing the disastrous first impression he made there, braves another Meryton assembly and seeks to win his heart’s desire.

Author Bio 

J. Marie Croft is a self-proclaimed word nerd and adherent of Jane Austen’s quote “Let other pens dwell on guilt and misery”. Her light-hearted novel, Love at First Slight (Meryton Press, 2013), her humorous short story, Spyglasses and Sunburns, in the Sun-Kissed: Effusions of Summer anthology (Meryton Press, 2015), and her novella, A Little Whimsical in His Civilities (Meryton Press, 2016) bear witness to Joanne’s fondness for Pride and Prejudice, wordplay, and laughter.


Purchase A Little Whimsical in His Civilities by J. Marie Croft

                                                    Amazon  Barnes & Noble

Blog Tour Schedule 

2/8: Excerpt & Giveaway at My Jane Austen Book Club
2/9: Guest Post & Giveaway at Moonlight Reader
2/10: Review at Tomorrow is Another Day
2/11: Guest Post & Giveaway at So Little Time…
2/12: Excerpt at My Love for Jane Austen
2/13: Excerpt & Giveaway at More Agreeably Engaged
2/14: Guest Post & Giveaway at Liz’s Reading Life
2/15: Guest Post & Giveaway at From Pemberley to Milton
2/16: Review at Just Jane 1813
2/17: Review at Half Agony, Half Hope
2/18: Review at Margie’s Must Reads
2/19: Excerpt & Giveaway at Best Sellers and Best Stellars
2/20:  Guest Post & Giveaway at Skipping Midnight
2/21: Guest Post & Giveaway at Babblings of a Bookworm
2/22: Guest Post & Giveaway at My Kids Led Me Back to Pride and Prejudice

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

14 comments:

Vesper said...

sounds like it will be a long evening for Darcy - I hope it is not made easy for him

dstoutholcomb said...

love the story from Darcy's POV

kim hansen said...

Sounds like a good read.

Ginna said...

Looks like it will be good ..... like your books USUALLY do!

Anji said...

I'm still chuckling over 'prancing profusion of pribbling, pox-marked pignuts'!

Can't get enough of tales from Darcy's POV. This sounds like so much fun!zz

Just Jane 1813 said...

Such a fun read! Thanks for sharing.

J. Marie Croft (Joanne) said...

A great big THANK YOU, Maria, for beginning my novella's blog tour.

Thanks, also, to those leaving comments. Good luck in the giveaway!

And, by the way, Angi, I'm also rather fond of 'prancing profusion of pribbling, pox-marked pignuts'.

Unknown said...

It sounds really interesting. Thanks for the giveaway.

ColleenL said...

Can't wait to read Darcy's second attempt at a Meryton assembly! Congrats on another new release!

Jo's Daughter said...

How fabulous to get a good glimpse of what's going on in our beloved Darcy's head and heart!!

Maria said...

Love to see the story from Darcy's point of view!

Deborah Ann said...

I can just picture Darcy's thoughts. The excerpt has me smiling. I am eagerly anticipating reading this with a silly grin on my face.

Unknown said...

Love a book from Darcy's pov. Sounds interesting.

Dung said...

Can't wait to read this from Darcy's POV.