A stolen painting, a meddling cousin, and a clever country girl with a mind of her own—can Fitzwilliam Darcy recover a masterpiece without losing his heart?
Find out November 30!
A New Story…
Category: Jane Austen Fanfiction
A New Romantic Adventure
Are you ready for a merry-go-round of love, laughter, thrills, and adventure? I sure hope so! Because that’s what I wrote for you. My goal was to write a story you can escape into—one to lighten your heart, give you cheer, and make you swoon. I can’t wait for you to meet this Darcy and Lizzy!
Here’s what it’s about:
No mission is impossible for this Agent of the Crown… until he meets his match!
Fitzwilliam Darcy is the Crown’s most formidable secret weapon—a Master Spy. His latest mission will test his limits when he’s assigned to protect England’s foremost code decipherer, Mr. Thomas Bennet… and his wife and five unmarried daughters.
Elizabeth Bennet does not suspect that her father’s puzzles are for anything more than the improvement of their minds and her sisters’ dowries. When she’s thrust into Mr. Darcy’s company, she is captivated by the mysterious gentleman. There is something dangerous about him… something she can’t quite put her finger on but is determined to discover.
Surrounded by danger and secrets, Darcy’s greatest challenge is to protect the woman he’s falling for without embroiling her in his perilous world of espionage and deadly foes—a mission doomed for failure until he accepts that two are better than one and that Elizabeth is the key to overthrowing the machinations of a criminal mastermind.
Do you like light-hearted, feel-good romance?
I hope so! Because that’s what I wrote.
Want a little more? Here’s an excerpt from the chapter that inspired the title:
“What are you doing?” Mr. Darcy grumbled beside her.
“I am going to pick the lock,” she replied with as much confidence as she could muster.
“Do you have experience picking locks?”
“Not especially. Do you?”
“No, but I fear how your hair will look when we are finally discovered.”
As if she had not considered that! Of all the pompous, know-it-all… A quick reminder of Mr. Darcy’s kinder qualities curtailed her irritation and bolstered her forbearance. Good heavens, the man tried her patience! “You would have me cross my arms and wait for someone to discover us? How long might that take? Does Mr. Bingley even use this room?” She had appreciated the comfortable seating area around the fireplace, but she had not failed to notice the lack of glowing embers as well as the desk’s lack of a chair.
“I only mean to point out that it is to our advantage not to appear disheveled when we are finally found.”
She turned to face him directly, one hand holding her pin, the other fisted on her hip. That he was right only irritated her more. “Do you have a better idea?”
“I am thinking.”
“Excellent. While you think, I shall attempt to pick this lock.” Returning to the door, she twisted her pin with too much enthusiasm. The pin bent and snapped. Confound it!
What do you think? Would you read it?
A Weekend Sale!
I can’t believe it’s been over a year since A Splendidly (Un)Suitable Match released! Anniversaries are my favorite, so I have a little surprise for you. A SALE!
Have you met Clarice, Jemima, and Duchess yet? It’s a humbling thought for Darcy, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and Bingley to credit their Happily-Ever-Afters to braying, waddling, barking critters, but it sure makes for a fun story!
If you haven’t read it yet, you can grab your copy here for only 99 pennies this weekend. I hope you enjoy it!
A Perfectly (Un)timely Proposal—A Teaser
When your best friend is maddeningly right…
What has happened to disquiet our sassy heroine so much?
Release Day is February 10!
PREORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09RKLY7LS
Everywhere Else: mybook.to/PerfectlyUntimely
A Perfectly (Un)timely Proposal—First Lines
There’s nothing like talking about the weather to warm a young lady’s heart! 🤣
Keep trying, Mr. Darcy.
With a start like that, what could possibly go wrong?
Release Day is February 10!
PREORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09RKLY7LS
Everywhere Else: mybook.to/PerfectlyUntimely
A New Story is on the Way!
I’ve been craving low-angst stories lately. Ones with a feel-good charm, sweet romance, teasing banter, good friends, puppies, and laughter. Sound good to you too?
I sure hope so because I wrote one!
It all started with this question: What if Mr. Darcy’s infamous Rosings proposal was interrupted… by a puppy? And what if, over the course of the novel, every one of Mr. Darcy’s attempts is frustrated until he’s finally able to give Elizabeth a worthy proposal?
Fitzwilliam Darcy has found his perfect match in Elizabeth Bennet. Her spirited conversation, their frequent encounters at Rosings Park, and the fire in her eyes when she looks at him encourage Darcy to ask the question burning in his heart.
His words are well-rehearsed, and the moment is perfect… until a Great Dane puppy escapes from the kennel and plants her muddy paws on his brushed breeches, ruining his plans and gaining the attention of the lady he wishes to make Mrs. Darcy.
Elizabeth Bennet is grateful for the interruption. There is nothing Mr. Darcy can say that she would wish to hear.
But when he adopts the rambunctious puppy, she sees a kindness in him that challenges her opinion of the gentleman.
Will Elizabeth’s dislike change by the time Darcy can finally propose? Or will their friends’ well-meant interference and a Great Dane pup ruin their chance of finding love?
A Perfectly (Un)timely Proposal is a feel-good, low-angst, sweet Regency romantic comedy inspired by Jane Austen’s timeless classic, Pride and Prejudice.
Release Day is February 10!
PREORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3GhYMZ7
Flash Sale!
4 books for FREE! 4 books at 99c each!
Do books give you the warm fuzzies? Make your day brighter?
Me too!
So, from December 26-28, here’s a feel-good, cozy gift from me to you! Let’s send of 2021 with a bang… of books!
The clock is ticking, so click on the covers below to grab your copies now!
A Sneak Peek at Fitzwilliam Darcy, Man of Fortune
Are you ready for a rip-roarin’ adventure where Mr. Darcy is a swashbuckling hero? Where Miss Elizabeth isn’t a damsel in distress but a competent woman who can defend herself?
Well, then, I have something special for you. Here’s a taste of Chapter One:
If looks could kill, Wickham would have impaled Darcy with his eyes. “Marry Miss Lydia, and you may leave for your new commission free of debts, reclaim your dignity, and be a thousand pounds richer.”
Wickham clenched his jaw and slammed his fist against the barrel. Darcy had won, and Wickham knew it. “Devil take you, Darcy. I am not in a position to refuse,” he hissed through gritted teeth.
“Do we have an agreement?” Darcy folded his arms over his chest and glared down at Wickham.
Bowing his head, Wickham snarled, “You have my word. I shall marry Lydia.”
Darcy turned toward the door. Breaking glass, bawdy laughter, and angry, drunken shouts awaited him on the other side of the street. It was only a matter of time before shots were fired. Uncrossing his arms, he said, “Meet me at St. Clement’s at ten o’clock on the morrow.”
Without further leave, he departed, shoving his way through the odorous bodies, trays of rancid beef, and raised tankards. As wretched as the Thames smelled, it was a relief to breathe the night air outside the tavern.
He would order a bath the moment he returned to Darcy House. A couple of glasses of his finest brandy ought to dispel the remnants of the tavern.
Glancing cautiously about, Darcy walked swiftly to the corner, his gaze roving for a hackney to convey him far away from this unsavory neighborhood. He wished he could have brought his own carriage, but a gang of ruffians would have harmed his men and stolen his conveyance.
He rounded a corner, raising his hand when a hackney came into view, his voice catching in his throat when he heard a scuffle behind him.
Nerves on point, he turned. There was a blur of motion, then his hat flew off his head. At the same time, he heard glass shatter and felt his head part. Blurry and unbalanced, he flung out, catching his assailant with his fist.
“Pretendin’ to be a gent. Almost didn’t recognize him,” he heard in a strange man’s voice.
He felt another hand—a rough one that scratched against Darcy’s shaved cheeks—pressing something against his mouth and nose, smothering him. “Don’t forget how dangerous he be. Stay alert ‘til he sleeps.”
“Busted yer nose proper, didn’t he,” chuckled the other.
Two men. Darcy struggled, but the cloth smelled sweet, and his limbs grew heavy. He felt himself fading into the night.
“Elizabeth,” he whispered before he succumbed to the black void.
Fitzwilliam Darcy, Man of Fortune goes live October 21!
Grab your copy today, and let the adventure begin!
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3lVLIBX
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09JMHJ5B4
Everywhere Else: mybook.to/ManofFortune
How Much Research Goes Into A Historical Novel?
Isn’t history fascinating? I relish the opportunity to delve into the everyday details of the Regency period, and if you enjoy my books, you probably do too. If you’d like a glimpse into some of the research that goes into a novel, please read on.
Note: These are by no means all of my sources. I picked the links I thought you would enjoy the most, being both informative and entertaining.
Photo by Charles Deluvio on Unsplash
Are you curious about the recipe that won Mr. Darcy’s heart? Click here to see the inspiration for Mr. Darcy’s favorite plum cake. Please let me know if you give this a try! I chickened out (pun intended!) when I saw how many eggs this recipe required. Hint: It’s A LOT.
So, of all the eggs…why a duck egg? To make a greater splat, of course! Do you want to see the difference in size between a chicken and a duck egg? Click here for a picture comparison, as well as a peek into the Austen’s garden where they would have kept poultry.
Speaking of eggs…
A Splendidly (Un)suitable Match had several Easter eggs. Did you find them?
Did you catch a song title by The Clash? It’s hard to imagine a British punk rock title fitting in a Regency era story, but it worked so well, I snuck it in and left it there for my eagle-eyed rock fan readers to find.
Here’s another one: Several nods were given to All God’s Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot. Mrs. Hurst was inspired by one of his characters. And you might have recognized his name as the Meryton farrier. Here’s what I learned about the important role farriers played in the development of veterinary medicine!
Here’s a lovely picture of Princess Charlotte with her beloved Maltese, Lioni.
And finally, here’s a glimpse into the Regency parlor game Miss Bingley suggested—and which backfired in her face. Speaking of games…did you recognize Spillikins as Pick-Up Sticks?
If you have no idea why I’m sharing these links with you, then click here to grab your copy of A Splendidly (Un)suitable Match! Colonel Fitzwilliam bets a guinea that you’ll chuckle at least once.
