NEW RELEASE! SOMETHING ABOUT LIZZY BY ROBIN ELIZABETH KOBAYASHI

 

 

Thank you, Maria Grazia, for inviting me to guest blog today. For many years I’ve wondered what it would be like to be friends with the lively, witty, intelligent Elizabeth Bennet of Pride and Prejudice, even after her marriage to Mr. Darcy, when she is a mother and the mistress of Pemberley. We know from Jane Austen’s novels and letters just how challenging and frustrating it was to be woman in a man’s world during the nineteenth century. My new novella, Something About Lizzy: Family Secrets Post-Pride and Prejudice, is my ode to Elizabeth Darcy née Bennet—her emotional journey as a married woman, her love and relationships and secrets.

Leah Page Answers Questions About Her New Book, Georgiana Darcy’s Magical Meddling

In her new lovely novel, Georgiana Darcy’s Magical Meddling, Leah Page weaves a delightful tale where the classic world of Jane Austen meets the charm of witchcraft. Georgiana Darcy, newly aware of her magical abilities, uses her powers to assist her brother Fitzwilliam Darcy in his quest for true love. With a mix of humor, heart, and a dash of magic, Page crafts a narrative that offers fresh insights into the beloved characters of Pride and Prejudice.

NEW BOOK UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT! DARCY'S STRUGGLE BY KELLY DEAN JOLLEY

 

Explore the world of Fitzwilliam Darcy like never before with Kelly Dean Jolley's new novel, Darcy's Struggle. This romantic and reflective story offers a fresh perspective on the classic tale, probing deep into Darcy's internal conflicts and emotions as he navigates his feelings for Elizabeth Bennet. In the following excerpt, we witness a pivotal moment where Darcy's perception of Elizabeth begins to shift, illuminating his struggle between intellect and heart.

 About the Book

Brilliant, sensitive, and private, Fitzwilliam Darcy finds himself at the Meryton Assembly, consciously troubled by recent events in Ramsgate and unconsciously troubled by himself.  He insults Elizabeth Bennet, at whom he has only glanced.

It is not until she appears at Netherfield—full of life, skirted in mud, and eager to attend to 

her sick sister—that Darcy truly looks at her. When he does, he knows she is the woman he has been searching for, the elusive her of his heart. He falls for her completely…despite her apparent unsuitability to be the Mistress of Pemberley and his half-hearted efforts to convince himself he can live without her.

Shortly before Elizabeth leaves Netherfield, Darcy apologizes for what he said at the Assembly. Will that apology and the depth of his sudden but durable feelings give him hope with Elizabeth? Might George Wickham’s arrival frustrate his hopes, especially after Darcy blunders into a marriage proposal to Elizabeth? 

Romantic, reflective, and ironic, this is a story told from Darcy’s point of view, a story of the struggle from intellect to heart—a deliberate character study and a delicate love story.    

 

 Read an Excerpt

Darcy finally stopped staring.

It took an act of will. Normally, Darcy had willpower in abundance. This time, it took all he had.

When he turned, Miss Bingley was staring at him. She had been staring at him staring at Miss Elizabeth. He realized Miss Bingley had been aware of his staring since it began—since Miss Elizabeth had entered Netherfield.

Bingley’s sister always strained the world through his reactions, and he had forgotten that. His reactions normally determined hers.

Behind him, he heard Miss Elizabeth's voice, now fully contrite and containing no trace of the challenge that had been in her eyes. She spoke softly to the servants. “I am sorry. I tried to clean them before I knocked on the door and believed I had, but the November mud is like glue.”

“It’s no problem, ma’am,” one of the servants said, responding softly in kind.

Miss Bingley turned as Darcy reached her, shaking her head in disapproval. “She walked here. What would she be about?” 

Darcy glanced at her, but only after he finally looked away from Miss Elizabeth. “She has come to help care for her sister. An errand of kindness.”

She went on shaking her head.

Tolerable? 

Darcy could now hear the question in his voice—in foro interno, as it were: the voice of conscience.

Did I say that? Was I that insensible? That inattentive? That mistaken? 

He replayed the scene at the Assembly in his memory again. He had noticed Miss Elizabeth before Bingley pointed her out, and he had glanced at her several times during and after his exchange with him. But Darcy had not actually paid attention to her—he had noticed the peculiar brightness of her eyes, and that was all.

Tolerable? Like saying Shakespeare had a minor gift for phrases. 

He had seen her now—truly seen her—and he would not judge so poorly again. She might have inadvertently trailed mud into Netherfield, but she had also brought life into it.

“Go and sit down, Mr. Darcy. Join the others.” Although Miss Bingley managed a faint smile, her tone was tense, hovering between request and command. “I will go back and see that Miss Eliza finds her way to Jane's room. The apothecary remains there.”

He nodded. He did not glance back at Miss Elizabeth until Miss Bingley was walking toward her and could not see.

When he entered the drawing room, he realized his hands were clammy.

It was a new sensation.

*** 

His personal copy of Johnson's Rambler was open on Darcy's lap and his eyes were fixed on the page, but he managed to read nothing.

He remained distracted.

Miss Elizabeth. Her. Her?

Darcy had never had any patience for those who believed that regard, love, could spring from a first interview or show itself before two words had been exchanged. A fantasy.

He had always believed, to the contrary, that love was the result of less interesting but more promising modes of attachment: knowledge of character, esteem—or even, perhaps, gratitude. These were trustworthy foundations of love.

If any love was possible before two words had been exchanged, it would have to be love without knowledge of character or love without esteem, a house built on sand, the result of passion outstripping virtue, taking reason hostage.

His parents had loved and esteemed one another, learning to do so during a long courtship, and their example of wedded harmony had shaped Darcy's hopes, creating his understanding of connubial bliss.

He knew Christopher Marlowe’s lines—Where both deliberate, the love is slight: Who ever loved, that loved not at first sight?—but he rejected them. He expected a deliberate love, like his parents’. A fine, stout love, solidly three-dimensional, capable of withstanding the contradictions and varieties of life.

As a result, he had never imagined meeting her as involving immediate recognition, of a vision with sudden, compulsive power. He had expected to come to know her as her, as the woman, slowly, over time, after first discovering that she satisfied his demands for her situation and connections, that she was eligible. Eligible for Pemberley. Perhaps she would even have a title. Only then could he begin to ascertain whether she was the woman for whom he was searching. Unfortunately, all the eligible women he had so far met had quickly proven not to be the woman he was looking for.

He had not known what she looked like, but experience had taught him a great deal about what she did not look like. The words of one of his Cambridge tutors came to mind: “Plato asks the question that became the Learner’s Paradox. If you don't know what you are searching for, how can you recognize it when you find it, and if you do know, why is searching necessary? Either way, learning seems impossible.”

But when Miss Elizabeth tracked muddily into Netherfield with November on her hair and in the color of her cheeks, eyes aflame, what Darcy saw had sudden, compulsive power. She was herself a lesson. It was her. He had not known who he was searching for, yet he knew it was she.

But it could not be. She was ineligible.

Did you enjoy this excerpt? Grab your copy then and immerse yourself in this delicate love story and character study, where every glance and gesture holds significance. Darcy's Struggle is a tale of transformation and self-discovery, perfect for fans of Pride and Prejudice and anyone who enjoys a deep, introspective romance. Don't miss out on this compelling new release! 

Amazon Universal Buy Link

 Darcy’s Struggle

About the Author

 Kelly Dean Jolley, a professor at Auburn University, has penned several novels. His first, Big Swamp, is a detective novel, which he followed with a Christmas mystery, The Vanishing Woman. He also composed a book of poetry, Stony Lonesome.

        Using the pseudonym Newton Priors, he released three additional novels: Balter (A Retelling of Pride and Prejudice), Tides of Bath (A Retelling of Persuasion), and a Western, Heaven and Hell: A Romance. 

        Professor Jolley has made contributions to many academic publications as well. He is the author of The Concept 'Horse' Paradox and Wittgensteinian Conceptual Investigations, the editor of Wittgenstein: Key Concepts, and has published over forty academic articles. He is a past Alumni Professor and currently the Goodwin-Philpott Endowed Chair in Religion and Professor of Philosophy.  

Contact Information

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 Other Meryton Press Books by Kelly Dean Jolley

Big Swamp

The Vanishing Woman

Coming Soon from Kelly Dean Jolley and Meryton Press

Pride, Prejudice, and Pretense (A spy novel, a romance, and a character study)

REVIEW: CYANIDE AND SENSIBILITY, A DELECTABLY DELIGHTFUL MYSTERY

Hello,  everyone! I hope you've been following all the excitement around the release of Katie Oliver's Cyanide and Sensibility so far. What about my author interview, which opened the virtual book tour on December 4th? Well, if you've missed it somehow, here is the LINK to enjoy it and hear directly from the author about the creation of her new delightful mystery story. Today I'm especially here to share with you my review of the book. Ready to scroll down and read? No major spoilers ahead, only the typical ramblings of a well-entertained Austen fan. MG

A DUTIFUL SON BLOG TOUR: MESSAGE FROM AUTHOR KELLY MILLER, EXCERPT, GIVEAWAY

Thank you so much for having me today, Maria Grazia! I am excited to begin my blog tour for “A Dutiful Son,” my Regency “Pride & Prejudice” variation! This excerpt is from Chapter 1 and is in Fitzwilliam Darcy’s point of view. It takes place at the Meryton assembly, where he will have his first encounter with the Bennets. The opening words are from Mr. Bingley.

Kelly Miller

SHADES OF PEMBERLEY, INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR SHELLY E. POWELL

 

ABOUT THE BOOK

 Six years after the death of George Wickham, Lydia is once again determined to catch a husband, but when her oldest daughter, Kelsey, realizes her mother is resorting to her usual, shameless tactics, Kelsey is determined to put an end to the pattern. Yet, stopping her mother seems impossible. Perhaps the only way to save the infamous Lydia Wickham from her own impropriety and spare her family from ruin is to distract her with what she craves most: the attention of a fine gentleman. But when fine gentlemen are scarce, what can Kelsey do but make one up? Unfortunately, the only person willing to help her is the handsome but swaggering Nathaniel Worth, a man with all the telltale signs of trouble. As Kelsey reluctantly confides in Nathaniel and pulls him into her schemes, she can't help but notice his kindness, charm, and incredibly dark eyes, but she'll never admit she's in love. Despite her best efforts, all Kelsey has done is proven to herself she is much more of a Wickham than she ever wanted to be. How can she give her heart to another when she cannot trust herself?

THE LADY'S GUIDE TO DEATH AND DECEPTION BLOG TOUR: REGENCY SPY MARY BENNET IS BACK!

 

About the Book

What is a spy willing to do when both her heart and her country are at risk?

Life changes once again for British spy Miss Mary Bennet when Napoleon Bonaparte escapes from the Isle of Elba. Mary quickly departs England for Brussels, the city where the Allied forces prepare for war against the French. But shortly after her arrival, one of the Duke of Wellington's best officers is murdered, an event which threatens to break the delicate alliance between the Allies.

KATHERINE COWLEY, THE TRUE CONFESSIONS OF A LONDON SPY - Q/A POST, EXCERPT & GIVEAWAY

 

What is the book about?

The True Confessions of a London Spy is about Mary Bennet solving a murder mystery in London. A messenger for Parliament has been found dead, and there are fears that it is part of a greater plot against the government…

MARIA GRACE: TWO NEW BOOKS IN THE JANE AUSTEN'S DRAGONS SAGA!

Thank so much for inviting me to visit, Maria Grazia! I’m excited to share my newest books with your readers!

Who hasn’t said Jane Austen books could really used a lot more dragons? Ok, maybe you need to be the mother of sons in order to heard that. So, I suppose you can blame my three sons for this adventure. We were having lunch at the local pizza buffet one day and started kicking around ideas and we hit on ‘what if dragons lived during the Regency…’ Well before I knew it, we’d hammered out an entire dragon culture and the story potentials went WILD. So much fun!

BOOK UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT: THE DARCYS OF NEW ORLEANS BY MAGGIE MOOHA

THE DARCYS OF NEW ORLEANS

In this sequel to Elizabeth in the New World, Elizabeth and Darcy's romance endures and deepens. After Elizabeth suffers a devastating loss, Darcy decides to take her, their daughter Emma, and their son, Bennet, to visit Elizabeth’s dear friend Poppy in New Orleans. Now a free woman of means, Poppy lives on a plantation with her husband, daughters, and son, Phillipe.

A LADY’S REPUTATION BLOG TOUR: EXCERPT & GIVEAWAY

About the Book

“Mr. Darcy, I am eager to hear your explanation for the fact that quite a few people believe we are engaged.”

It starts with a bit of well-meant advice. Colonel Fitzwilliam suggests to his cousin Darcy that, before he proposes to Elizabeth Bennet in Kent, perhaps he ought to discuss his plans with their families first. 

What neither man could have predicted however was that Lord Matlock would write the news to his sister or Viscount Saye would overhear, and tell his friends, or that his friends might slip a little and let their friends know as well. The news spreads just as quickly through Hertfordshire once Mrs Bennet opens the express Mr Bennet receives from Mr Darcy, and in a matter of days, it seems like everyone knows that Mr Darcy has proposed marriage to Elizabeth Bennet. 

Everyone, that is, except Elizabeth herself. 

Her refusal is quick and definite—until matters of reputation, hers as well as Jane’s, are considered. Then Mr Darcy makes another offer: summer at Pemberley, so that Jane can be reunited with Mr Bingley and so that he can prove to Elizabeth he is not what she thinks of him. Falling in love with him is naturally impossible…but once she knows the man he truly is, will she be able to help herself?

HIS CHOICE OF A WIFE BLOG TOUR: SPOTLIGHT POST, EXCERPT & GIVEAWAY

About the Book

When a man’s honor is at stake, what is he willing to risk for the woman he loves?

After a disastrous marriage proposal and the delivery of an illuminating letter, Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet hope never to lay eyes on one another again. When a chance meeting in Hunsford immediately throws them in each other’s way, Darcy realizes his behavior needs correcting, and Elizabeth starts to appreciate his redeeming qualities. But is it enough to forgive the past and overcome their prejudices?

AUTHOR GUEST POST: BEAU NORTH ON MAKING THE COLONEL

Hello, and thanks so much for hosting me today! After nearly a decade of having this story kicking around in my head (and through countless incarnations on my Google Drive) I’m thrilled to be able to finally share ‘The Colonel’ with all of you. Some of you might be familiar with my first book, Longbourn’s Songbird, and the trials and tribulations of Will Darcy’s cousin, Richard Fitzwilliam. When I set out writing this story back in 2009, I had an idea of telling Pride and Prejudice from The Colonel’s point of view, in a more modern setting while still keeping the action at a pivotal moment in world history.

After several drafts, I put most of Fitzwilliam’s story aside in favor of getting to the juicy Darcy-and-Elizabeth story. But Richard lingered in my head. A kind-hearted rake, the archetype of men I’d been watching on AMC since I was a girl. The final product, this character I’d borrowed from my beloved Austen, had become a sort of Frankenstein of these leading men. My Richard would have the quiet intensity of Cary Grant’s TR Devlin in Notorious, his exterior cool while his eyes devoured every expression on his lady love’s face. He would have the gin-soaked humor and self-depreciating wit of Bogart’s Richard Blaine in Casablanca, and the looks and go-to-hell attitude of Gene Kelly’s Victor in Cross of Lorraine.

DARCY IN HOLLYWOOD BY VICTORIA KINCAID - EXCERPT + GIVEAWAY

Hello everyone! New release under the spotlight for your consideration. It's a contemporary variation of Pride and Prejudice by Victoria Kincaid. Here's her message + an excerpt + giveaway open internationally. Enjoy and ... good luck!  Maria Grazia