Sharing joy...one sweet story at a time.
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!
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.
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.
Are you in the mood for a light-hearted, low-angst novel that’ll give you a few chuckles? That’s what I set out to write in my latest novel, A Splendidly (Un)suitable Match, and I hope this story brings you as much joy as it’s brought me over the past few months.
Opening Lines from Chapter 1
Darcy brushed the sweat trickling down his cheek, the folded messages sliding against the lining in his waistcoat pocket propelling him to Matlock House.
It was a rare occurrence for Darcy to receive correspondence from his relatives when they lived walking distance from his own residence. They preferred simply to call.
One note on any day was unusual. Two notes on the same day was disconcerting. To receive one from his aunt, followed by another summons a quarter of an hour later from his uncle, was alarming.
Picking up his pace, Darcy ran down the damp sidewalk, his boots slapping against the wet pavement and marring their polish.
A long string of grand houses lined one side of the street facing the park, the grass vibrant green against the dull gray sky. His uncle’s house was on the corner, five bays wide, the whitewashed stucco overwhelmed by the gloomy weather threatening to break yet again.
The first drops pelted against Darcy’s hat just as he reached the bottom step.
The butler flung open the painted black door, taking Darcy’s hat and gloves. “His Lordship is expecting you, sir.” Despite Perkins’ decades of experience repressing emotion into a tone of bland indifference, Darcy heard his relief and felt it with the efficiency with which the butler relieved him of his damp hat and greatcoat.
Apprehension rippled through Darcy. The situation must be dreadful if the servants were uneasy.
A shadow fell over the marble from behind him, and the squeak of wet boots slipping on the slick floor and the subsequent, “Thunder ‘an turf!” identified the newcomer before Darcy turned to see Charles Bingley, arms flailing to catch his balance.
“You got the summons as well?” No sooner had Bingley uttered his question than the obvious answer struck him. He grimaced. “Of course you did. The colonel must be in a proper fit of the blue devils.”
Darcy grimaced. He had warned Richard, but his cousin had refused to listen. And now, here they were….
What trouble has Colonel Fitzwilliam gotten into? Curious to know more?
US Amazon: Click HERE to pre-order your copy!
Anywhere Else in the World: Click HERE!
A Splendidly (Un)suitable Match will deliver to your Kindle on Thursday, July 15!