tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37344720826817970972024-03-13T03:55:49.606+00:00Monica Fairview, Author Discover Mr. Darcy's World: Jane Austen variations, sequels and magicMonica Fairviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07859188231849000840noreply@blogger.comBlogger160125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734472082681797097.post-48468171714589219472023-04-19T12:04:00.038+01:002023-04-19T12:04:00.170+01:00Launch!!! Allow Me To Tell You: A Lighthearted Pride and Prejudice Variation<p> Hello everyone. It's been much longer than I expected since my last post!</p><p>Here the days have been getting warmer, and spring is in full swing. Which is perfect for the setting of my novel!</p><p>I hope you will Allow Me to Tell You about my new book [I couldn't resist the pun 😊😂]. </p><p>I can't wait for you to discover it for yourselves!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVwvR4SXSlYW45_xTw6T1Vp-VPRzYpldtgkHT1T9o47m6Ctn-7m5YMap2F1IGoZJc5V0IoR78fuSqFIpGKxBXSedL6hMdMir2D1tnBEtTNDWYDrJYPkR_uW0ACwIg8x1s5Fx3-6EnUOyEs7FvcjjCYcqbvt7t0Wo2GG4-LygEIbm-Qfzd5i0AP6VGrcQ/s945/Allow%20Me%20Phone%20Mockup%20graphic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="945" data-original-width="945" height="445" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVwvR4SXSlYW45_xTw6T1Vp-VPRzYpldtgkHT1T9o47m6Ctn-7m5YMap2F1IGoZJc5V0IoR78fuSqFIpGKxBXSedL6hMdMir2D1tnBEtTNDWYDrJYPkR_uW0ACwIg8x1s5Fx3-6EnUOyEs7FvcjjCYcqbvt7t0Wo2GG4-LygEIbm-Qfzd5i0AP6VGrcQ/w445-h445/Allow%20Me%20Phone%20Mockup%20graphic.jpg" width="445" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Book Description</h3><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">When Fitzwilliam Darcy makes a complete mess of his proposal at Rosings
Park by writing a letter, there is more at stake than his hurt pride. The
letter starts off a chain of events that have an immediate impact on the people
around him, including Elizabeth. And adding insult to injury, Elizabeth is now threatened
with ruin. <o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">But Elizabeth will not be intimidated so easily. She insists Mr. Darcy
is the last man in the world she would want to marry, and nothing will change
her mind. To rescue her from an impossible situation, Colonel Fitzwilliam steps
in, and asks for her hand in marriage. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Will it be an offer she cannot refuse, or will Mr. Darcy find a way to
earn her love?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Allow Me to Tell You</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> is a sweet Jane Austen
variation. It is a light-hearted, full-length romantic comedy that follows our
beloved couple Darcy and Elizabeth through their journey of discovering each
other. <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3f7fbf; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://mybook.to/allowmeto" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">On Amazon Now</a></b></span></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Available for free on Kindle Unlimited and in paperback.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://mybook.to/allowmeto" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1406" data-original-width="881" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifFcJMrKn_sc_cjY6pLbUEldrkkgl4zAL6r5u322b3rbVpkYP6ZUR4fhjlwEMaA8J9fsZ4Fb8QaIePzS81zi1rptqKZiovGmTfqirP5-vuqcpk5441RByiPv6u_GlbSp2Do8-jbTNFOHcWmIHVUuprIZxawsIc0ynEmWl-iFgziXWP0Z3A0OW_uuXV0w/w305-h486/Allow%20Me%20to%20Tell%20You%20Cover%20new.jpg" width="305" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3f7fbf; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://mybook.to/allowmeto" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">On Amazon Now</a></b></span></h3><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Monica Fairviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07859188231849000840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734472082681797097.post-27279621170895581812022-01-24T00:30:00.025+00:002022-01-24T17:19:35.481+00:00Threads of Magic Release Day is here!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Threads-Magic-Prejudice-Variation-Darcys-ebook/dp/B09NYNQ41Z/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3DVPBMWWL4R58&keywords=threads+of+magic&qid=1643042821&s=digital-text&sprefix=threads+of+magic%2Cdigital-text%2C172&sr=1-2" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="1410" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhcjGyTmgiYb5quFrfaXwRID0FF4lkR9xyz_O0tHAR4EMc6N8KYtPWWTnpGrfTfbbzZI01xxKpKgDq8pu4enG3oLJZnVSpQp-zGp34nXocqqZ59G9krTb7U16BwLWIX-k4RhtP6G9dun6PrVORqf_L89EFaVdcD78VUzGhxW1k-jpM6oKw-mwDXt5cqLw=w202-h320" width="202" /></a></div><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's been a long time coming, but Book 2 of <b>Mr. Darcy's Magic </b>is finally here<b>. Threads of Magic is</b> the bewitching tale of a forced marriage between two powerful mages. The novel picks up after Fitzwilliam Darcy has told Elizabeth that he is in love with her, but are the differences between them too difficult to overcome? </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Since this is the second book of a series, there is more to come. Experience the slow-burn romance developing between Elizabeth and Darcy in this magical adventure. </div><h4 style="text-align: left;">What people are saying: </h4><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4e4344; font-family: Lora; font-size: 14px;">"This whole story was a powder keg waiting to blow" -- Sophia Rose, Books of My Heart</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4e4344; font-family: Lora; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4e4344; font-family: Lora; font-size: 14px;">"A great new magical Regency fantasy series starring some of the best characters from literature." -- Laura Gerold, Laura's Reviews</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4e4344; font-family: Lora; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4e4344; font-family: Lora; font-size: 14px;">"I highly recommend this for those who love a bit of magic with their JAFF." -- J.W. Garrett, Goodreads</span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Description</h3></div><p class="MsoNormal"><i>In a magical Regency England, two powerful magicians strive to find a balance between love and duty as they confront enemies who might well be their closest friends.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Elizabeth Bennet may be a heroine, but by defying some of the most powerful mages in England, she has made enemies who will stop at nothing to embroil her in scandal.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">So when she is accused of endangering the Royal Mages through her reckless actions, she no longer knows who to trust. Even the gentleman she loves is taking their side. It seems the only person who believes her is the captive French mage who is imprisoned in the cellar at Netherfield.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Meanwhile, Fitzwilliam Darcy is willing to fight to the death to defend Elizabeth, if only she would stop getting herself into trouble. Why does she always have to break the rules? And why does even her sister Jane cause him so many problems?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Join us in this magical Jane Austen Regency variation. Set mostly in Meryton, with familiar beloved characters from <i>Pride and Prejudice</i>, you will once again be enchanted by Elizabeth and Darcy’s struggle to find true love against the backdrop of England’s war with Napoleon.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Threads of Magic is now <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Threads-Magic-Prejudice-Variation-Darcys-ebook/dp/B09NYNQ41Z/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3DVPBMWWL4R58&keywords=threads+of+magic&qid=1643042821&s=digital-text&sprefix=threads+of+magic%2Cdigital-text%2C172&sr=1-2" target="_blank">available on Amazon</a>. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">If you have not yet read Book 1 of Mr. Darcy's Magic, <b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08W4CFT4Y?notRedirectToSDP=1&ref_=dbs_mng_calw_0&storeType=ebooks" target="_blank">Dangerous Magic</a></b>, you are in for a treat. <b>Dangerous Magic</b> was voted Reader's Choice Favorite for 2021 on Austenesque Reviews. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_SyeQb7emgPsOfwT00fRHE_kB90bCeqYbnEp8tOV2rwFBHJAQDE8g_o1aumftYOv2UgKei2Z9cja0TUmG67YOdrauRbF9Dt9llqhz7OTV8H3R6OcpNPvLC5ns0ooO6-_eve7u-wpLlkE3jr7areh_zKjGOQI8i7YbrulCRsZtpckPvyo3SP6-jo33DQ=s400" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="364" data-original-width="400" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_SyeQb7emgPsOfwT00fRHE_kB90bCeqYbnEp8tOV2rwFBHJAQDE8g_o1aumftYOv2UgKei2Z9cja0TUmG67YOdrauRbF9Dt9llqhz7OTV8H3R6OcpNPvLC5ns0ooO6-_eve7u-wpLlkE3jr7areh_zKjGOQI8i7YbrulCRsZtpckPvyo3SP6-jo33DQ=w200-h182" width="200" /></a></div><br /><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span><p></p>Monica Fairviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07859188231849000840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734472082681797097.post-56127899068841152892021-12-30T01:51:00.003+00:002021-12-30T01:51:46.335+00:00Dangerous Magic is on sale! AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!<p> </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://austenvariations.com/2021-deck-the-shelves-in-the-closet-book-sale/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYTYQ6JgVAs4k-1zQVPEzeuJtty39ZmFJyChctXzzHnxxTwZs4rFAZB16ls5tc3kSs8-Afyl9OsKeSa9KWV7wSmWUQZ-gW2HlqAuX6BhbRdJfjGRLAX-ECDzYzyHxLJiuduulv_WO_6rVUUb4QM2RwiPJZnOqY8ejMgmthQkBSeUnFNbnT-KpVjHWMpg" width="300" /></a></div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">To celebrate the upcoming release of Book 2 of Mr. Darcy's Magic, THREADS OF MAGIC, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Dangerous Magic is on sale for $.99 until December 31st!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You might also want to check our <a href="https://austenvariations.com/2021-deck-the-shelves-in-the-closet-book-sale/" target="_blank">Deck the Shelves sale</a> on Austen Variations for lots of discounts on various books by our talented Authors!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Meanwhile, I hope next year will bring us good cheer. Stay safe, appreciate your loved ones, and may the New Year be a new beginning. </div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBdF6DTKtKlj0xZm1Q-PZZ4LXjT4x-kWs3Is_ONdA7BWo3QoA1bbB6PvLA2_RmbMqGa1alWopiKIx4n14R-PcjWoVU69s1XyPjGtZyiOjkC1R8WZIFmA9yfkXTP28PPdt8iMnT9HHkputG4tw4wQBmihvreaGQzdP8jUv7u4H7nQWgjLukpkY9Q7ubSQ=s940" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBdF6DTKtKlj0xZm1Q-PZZ4LXjT4x-kWs3Is_ONdA7BWo3QoA1bbB6PvLA2_RmbMqGa1alWopiKIx4n14R-PcjWoVU69s1XyPjGtZyiOjkC1R8WZIFmA9yfkXTP28PPdt8iMnT9HHkputG4tw4wQBmihvreaGQzdP8jUv7u4H7nQWgjLukpkY9Q7ubSQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Monica Fairviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07859188231849000840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734472082681797097.post-15305750529538035702021-09-19T18:30:00.000+01:002021-09-19T18:30:48.794+01:00Dangerous Magic Audiobook now available for pre-order!<p> </p><h4 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dangerous-Magic-Mr-Darcys-Book/dp/B09FYGMN4Z/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1631975836&sr=8-2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Dangerous Magic Audiobook" border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTkFvmCaW7qT1iA1FKVjGMnmilSrem1KMRqC5WjjDLRph7k-BT_N440s4j8BXZWXk7O9Gybt4YprU2TQ7KIxwebdwXqAG7Lw7HXfTTBe8jfWYX41s5fGZyObflf9FV-wZa18XjzCk48Vq5/w320-h320/51Uhlhj%252BK%252BL.jpg" title="Dangerous Magic: A Pride and Prejudice fantasy variation" width="320" /></a></h4><h4 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Dangerous Magic is now out as an audiobook! I'm so excited about it because it's my first audiobook ever, and it was recorded by a well-established audiobook company, Tantor, who contacted me with an offer. </h4><div>The narrator is the lovely Jennifer M Dixon. I have heard her read a sample from the book, but I haven't heard the whole recording yet. I can't wait!</div><div><br /></div><div>The audiobook will be released on September 28th on Audible and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dangerous-Magic-Mr-Darcys-Book/dp/B09FYGMN4Z/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank">Amazon.</a></div><br /><p></p>Monica Fairviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07859188231849000840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734472082681797097.post-2604882262533117622021-03-15T00:30:00.040+00:002021-03-20T23:45:20.097+00:00Dangerous Magic: RELEASE DAY!<p> Finally, the day I've been waiting for! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dangerous-Magic-Monica-Fairview/dp/B08XZGQ981/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1615758965&sr=8-1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="397" data-original-width="559" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8AXjsW1MPKJD4kst2M2Aw4UOSKaSAT-Vk6HrEODXguQbMlKrOkebK4aSQiTO4kWIG5l1KwWVtW4s54si3KNIqLmoT9QrfuMxlx5hxPMmzVQoaRiAVtBHhke6nV2ng9YwnXuJTYb6Yf5LS/w400-h284/Release+day+post+%25281%2529.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>It seems seems like I've been waiting forever for DANGEROUS MAGIC: A PRIDE AND PREJUDICE to come out. I wrote this novel last year, during lockdown, and I wanted to escape to a kingdom far, far away. What better place to escape to than Jane Austen's England -- don't we all love to go there? -- except that this Regency world has the added element of magic. As you can see on the book cover, I have a golden coach at the top. It's a symbol of her journey away from the comfort of Longbourn and to a new life that is full of challenges, opportunities and -- danger. <p></p><p>One upon a time, a young lady -- Elizabeth Bennet -- was forced to marry a powerful magician. Since it is a truth universally acknowledged that all powerful magicians in England are in possession of a fortune, that should have been reason for celebration. but Elizabeth Bennet did not like to be forced to do anything. Moreover, Mr. Darcy was most definitely<em> not</em> in need of a wife. He was in need of a fellow magician who would unite with him to defeat Napoleon's magicians, and he was not happy about having to a) being obliged to marry a nobody from a place no-one had ever heard of, b) having to work in close quarters with a young lady who did not have the same illustrious education he had.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dangerous-Magic-Monica-Fairview/dp/B08XZGQ981/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1615758965&sr=8-1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1283" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje8yN9isujiVAT8Tp5-OXcrPWkpsVQiuSeB2Cc46tm7wjey7z0B5nkhAnwDBMgpoWkA5vF6d90hlrajCA-GBCmSh83ji4NgkgwwyX1buaNHkWPSlNSFBH_AKMxGI3xutu5eOaDW8IEH0qK/w200-h320/Dangerous+Magic++Book+Cover.png" width="200" /></a></div><br />As might be expected of such a mismatch, things go wrong very quickly. <p></p><p>Luckily, this is a magical tale, so magic happens. The question is, can Elizabeth and Darcy learn to weave magic together before Napoleon's magicians attack? And will they find love along the way?</p><p>Let the enchantment begin! </p><p>Excerpts from DANGEROUS MAGIC can be found on my website <a href="https://www.darcyregencynovels.com/excerpt">here</a>, where you will find the Prologue, and on Jane Austen Variations <a href="https://austenvariations.com/excerpt-from-dangerous-magic-love-hate-elizabeth-meets-darcy/">here.</a></p><p>There are also lots of giveaways along the way on my blog tour, if you'd like a chance to win a copy. To find out more about the blog tour, you can check out my <a href="https://editor.wix.com/html/editor/web/renderer/edit/87b0b584-a5dc-486a-b776-16ed522a21f2?metaSiteId=779a9d53-bb61-46b1-a3af-220dc0896d3c&editorSessionId=0e038c23-805e-400d-af3f-129d5d023c49&referralInfo=dashboard" target="_blank">website</a>. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Monica Fairviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07859188231849000840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734472082681797097.post-106181316084801402021-02-19T15:35:00.001+00:002021-03-15T00:41:22.758+00:00Dangerous Magic: A Pride and Prejudice Fantasy Variation<p>I've been wanting to write a novel about mages for a long time. I've had this image in my mind of Mr. Darcy as a great mage, and it wouldn't let go. So with all that's been happening this past year, it seemed like a perfect time to let my give my imagination full rein and live in a magical world for a while. </p><p>The result was <i><b>Dangerous Magic</b></i>. I've loved every minute of writing it, even though combining Regency with fantasy presented some unexpected challenges. </p><p>The novel will be out on March 15th, and is available for <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dangerous-Magic-Pride-Prejudice-Fantasy-ebook/dp/B08W4CFT4Y/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Dangerous+magic&qid=1613746621&sr=8-1" target="_blank">pre-order from Amazon. </a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNTcR3VpimWAyGUcAuAQATy3jrbHUcRZY-1svw1Vnda6CTPKpa0OD8jUcHaV3KnP0QQRvtfUS-qta9tmmwAytYn1YUT-LOwuzyd9LC7b4XH2UyHdWOjAi7Fe37Wd9oyndZZfCqgb1-NPQ/s2048/Dangerous+Magic+Book+Cover+jpg.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1283" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNTcR3VpimWAyGUcAuAQATy3jrbHUcRZY-1svw1Vnda6CTPKpa0OD8jUcHaV3KnP0QQRvtfUS-qta9tmmwAytYn1YUT-LOwuzyd9LC7b4XH2UyHdWOjAi7Fe37Wd9oyndZZfCqgb1-NPQ/w200-h320/Dangerous+Magic+Book+Cover+jpg.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b>Blurb</b><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US">A sparkling tale of Regency England, a forced marriage, and two mages who must work together to save the Kingdom.</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US">Elizabeth Bennet is stunned when the Royal Mages come to her peaceful country home of Longbourn to take her away. She is even more bewildered when she is commanded to marry a powerful mage by the name of Fitzwilliam Darcy. She has always dreamed of marrying for love, and an arranged marriage with an arrogant stranger was never part of her plans.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US">But Darcy and Elizabeth have no choice in the matter. Uniting their two forms of magic is essential for the Kingdom to defeat Napoleon’s mages. Darcy and Elizabeth may dislike each other on sight, but they must overcome their differences and find common ground before it is too late. Fortunately, it is not long before the sparks begin to fly between them.</span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US">Join the author of ‘Fortune and Felicity’ in this enchanting story of determination, love, and hope against all odds. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dangerous-Magic-Pride-Prejudice-Fantasy-ebook/dp/B08W4CFT4Y/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Dangerous+magic&qid=1613746621&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Now available on Amazon for pre-order.</a></p><p>I'll be posting excerpts along the way. My first stop is at <a href="https://austenprose.com/" target="_blank">Austenprose on February 19th</a>, where you can find an exclusive excerpt featuring Elizabeth and Darcy's tense first encounter. If you're interested in finding more about Dangerous Magic, and for a chance to win a copy of the novel, here is my blog tour. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhljpcNQ94TRPUbSY9BRY3OslCd0zc-Iqw_wW5bBTzQsRk0mzeYI-KXrBWfVp9B4C28xiSL7dhhWjRDoHUQ_4PE8g6L3Hp9OwokxPycOABK_Oe351ju70rrEhT4xcbcCAZfwpJy-Wb3yK1b/s1350/Dangerous+Magic+Blog+Tour.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="1350" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhljpcNQ94TRPUbSY9BRY3OslCd0zc-Iqw_wW5bBTzQsRk0mzeYI-KXrBWfVp9B4C28xiSL7dhhWjRDoHUQ_4PE8g6L3Hp9OwokxPycOABK_Oe351ju70rrEhT4xcbcCAZfwpJy-Wb3yK1b/w640-h309/Dangerous+Magic+Blog+Tour.png" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Monica Fairviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07859188231849000840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734472082681797097.post-54782711296029093472020-04-29T23:40:00.002+01:002020-04-29T23:44:19.737+01:00Fortune and Felicity is LIVE!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Just wanted to let you know that Fortune and Felicity is LIVE, and that I am keeping it at a special discount price of $2.99 for another few days. Also, I have put the novel on Kindle Unlimited, so you can read it for FREE if you have signed up for it.<br />
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The paperback version should be coming out any day now, so if you prefer a physical copy, then you should be a able to get one shortly.<br />
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Monica Fairviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07859188231849000840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734472082681797097.post-44879756632034825282020-04-20T22:48:00.001+01:002020-04-20T22:48:17.155+01:00A lovely review from Rita at From Pemberley to Milton<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I loved this very thoughtful review of Fortune and Felicity. You have to read it to appreciate it.<br />
<a href="https://frompemberleytomilton.wordpress.com/2020/04/20/fortune-felicity-by-monica-fairview/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Click here to go to the blog. </span></a><br />
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Rita has given the novel 5 stars, and here is her conclusion:<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Bitstream Charter", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;">"Fortune & Felicity is an extremely well written book that has the perfect quantity of all ingredients ... It has romance, depth, character development and the perfect pace to make it an engaging novel. I highly recommend it to all my friends 🙂" </span></div>
Monica Fairviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07859188231849000840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734472082681797097.post-74093214188290322222020-04-10T13:11:00.000+01:002020-04-10T13:11:10.279+01:00Kicking off my Fortune and Felicity blog tour with My Jane Austen Book Club<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So here it is. Just over one month of visiting several blogs, with, of course, several opportunities for you all to win free ebook copies of the novel. It's also a opportunity to find out more about me, about the background to the book, and to chat. I'm starting with an interview over at<a href="http://thesecretunderstandingofthehearts.blogspot.com/2020/04/fortune-felicity-blog-tour-interview.html#more" target="_blank"> My Jane Austen Book Club. </a><br />
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Here's a list of the blogs I'll be visiting. I hope I'll have a chance to see some of you along the way.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4YRYEYetzSf0guEYd61lfC6GHvjrMdOwjmcdKW_MBXRgqSHShpR3osTkdzxy2XkDmZ3OVcgtMGYC8M7tROtzqhh194fL_6YABxuHB1sOCLdte_hoTM3l-3kuzVUbh9auMskT7vPUf4_Vz/s1600/Blog+Tour+F%2526F+with+dates.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="560" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4YRYEYetzSf0guEYd61lfC6GHvjrMdOwjmcdKW_MBXRgqSHShpR3osTkdzxy2XkDmZ3OVcgtMGYC8M7tROtzqhh194fL_6YABxuHB1sOCLdte_hoTM3l-3kuzVUbh9auMskT7vPUf4_Vz/s640/Blog+Tour+F%2526F+with+dates.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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Meanwhile, I just put up a post on Austen Variations about the <a href="https://austenvariations.com/hot-cross-buns-a-good-friday-tradition/" target="_blank">fascinating associations of hot cross buns. </a><br />
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Monica Fairviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07859188231849000840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734472082681797097.post-74508847664756210032020-04-01T01:01:00.003+01:002020-04-01T22:51:31.504+01:00April Fools: Fortune and Felicity Book Cover Reveal!!! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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We have to celebrate anything we can in these difficult times, so I'll leave you guessing whether the cover reveal is real or not, just for a bit of fun on April Fools Day.<br />
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But before we go on, I just wanted to put up a reminder of Mr. Darcy's first appearance at the Assembly, just because it's important to remember the beginning of the journey, since my novel begins at the end of it... or perhaps not quite. The iconic scene we all know so well.<br />
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Okay, so if you haven't been following my chapters from <i>Fortune and Felicity</i> at Austen Variations, you have a chance to catch up before release day, so do head on back there to <a href="https://austenvariations.com/excerpt-fortunefelicity-monica/" target="_blank">start with the Prologue.</a><br />
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Meanwhile, here's the book description to give you an idea what to expect:<br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><i><span style="color: #20124d;">I</span><span style="color: #741b47;">n this Pride & Prejudice variation,
Elizabeth and Darcy have a second chance to get things right. Will they be able
to come together this time, or will pride intervene yet again?</span></i></span> </div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><i><span style="color: #741b47;">Seven years after Darcy’s disastrous
proposal, Darcy is in need, not of a wife, but of a governess for his young
daughter. Imagine his surprise when he discovers Elizabeth Bennet on the list
of possible candidates provided by the employment agency. The question is,
should he take her on as a governess, or would he be playing with fire?</span></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><i><span style="color: #741b47;">Elizabeth Bennet is forced by her reduced
circumstances to take on a position. However, when Mr. Darcy invites her for an
interview, she is embarrassed and humiliated. How could she possibly live under
the same roof as the man she had rejected so strongly seven years ago?</span></i></span> </div>
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<i><span style="color: #741b47;">Whatever decision she makes, there will be
a high price to pay… one way or the other.</span></i></div>
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So here we are: drumroll....</blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The cover for my new novel, Fortune and Felicity:</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086MJ4LRR" target="_blank"><img alt=" Fortune and Felicity by Monica Fairview" border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW3sGYhUGOmzedU6mqpaRnnlw4a4jmUHhaN4B8q4A_IoIhbguM1yUXv_oQBuNWXVj90Im5ymw0aKgcKC8vtddWrFJBPpZobpzs3Fq8LV65o-JvQw2nZyNKezOZod_jQUD59EPUOUVHAveG/s640/Fortune+and+Felicity+Cover+MEDIUM+WEB.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086MJ4LRR" target="_blank"><i>Fortune and Felicity is now</i> available for pre-order! </a></span></div>
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Monica Fairviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07859188231849000840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734472082681797097.post-59858664512467185982018-03-07T19:32:00.000+00:002018-03-07T19:32:11.680+00:00My new Austen Variation: Mysterious Mr. Darcy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0KJ-uhlMg3pAFYuT_HX0o_wRbYT55rGJdaDaCsfW3AT7BzH-mqPjBtf3-sSa50myGkiQ1bCPPxDaImgbxzSs1xZprUIW1y6Hu5z5Hh27XNDj-6IUxXg-74JaX2150YzNgTsgiMAf7SrOb/s1600/Mysterious+Mr.+Darcy+Cover+MEDIUM+WEB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0KJ-uhlMg3pAFYuT_HX0o_wRbYT55rGJdaDaCsfW3AT7BzH-mqPjBtf3-sSa50myGkiQ1bCPPxDaImgbxzSs1xZprUIW1y6Hu5z5Hh27XNDj-6IUxXg-74JaX2150YzNgTsgiMAf7SrOb/s320/Mysterious+Mr.+Darcy+Cover+MEDIUM+WEB.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
I'm gearing up for the release of <b>Mysterious Mr. Darcy</b>, my new 'what-if' <i>Pride & Prejudice</i> variation. I'm really eager to get this one out, because I have a feeling people will enjoy it. It's my favorite Darcy novel so far.<br />
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Here's a discription, to give you a sense of what it's about.<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;">Three years after
the original events of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pride &
Prejudice</i>, Darcy receives a visit in his isolated manor in Cornwall. It is
Charles Bingley, and he has come to ask for a favour… <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;">There is
nothing Elizabeth Bennet likes more than a laugh – except for a mystery. From
the moment she first encounters Mr. Darcy, she senses he is hiding something.
But the more she tries to find out about who he is, the more evasive he
becomes. However, Elizabeth soon turns her attention to someone else. As Mrs.
Bennet points out, Mr. Darcy is a nobody, and Elizabeth needs to marry someone
who can provide for her and her sisters. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;">Meanwhile,
Mr. Darcy doesn’t want anyone to know about the scandal that haunts him from
the past. He certainly doesn’t need someone like Miss Bennet, who asks him
questions and tries to slip him up. Fortunately, he is more than equal to the
task of putting her off. What he doesn’t expect is that before he knows it, he
finds himself longing to tell her the truth. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;">Are
Elizabeth and Darcy meant to come together in this variation, or is Elizabeth
destined for somebody else?</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Note: Mysterious Mr. Darcy is not a
mystery. It is a ‘what-if’ in which Mr. Darcy has to deal with the consequences
of his past, a past that will change the shape of his future. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I have several chapters of the novel posted on Austen Variations, so if you want a proper preview of the novel,<a href="http://austenvariations.com/wip-when-pride-prevails/" target="_blank"> that's the place to find it. </a> Don't be confused by the title. It was originally called When Pride Prevails before I decided to call it Mysterious Mr. Darcy. </span></div>
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Monica Fairviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07859188231849000840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734472082681797097.post-88494843932829259942016-09-09T23:08:00.002+01:002016-09-09T23:08:46.013+01:00Giveaway and chance to win a free e-book: The Darcy Novels<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Over at Laura's Reviews, I have a treat. Not only did <a href="http://lauragerold.blogspot.co.uk/2016/08/mr-darcys-pride-joy-by-monica-fairview.html" target="_blank">Laura review <i>Mr. Darcy's Pride and Joy</i></a>, but she is hosting me as part of the Blog Tour. So head over there to read an excerpt of the novel and for a <a href="http://lauragerold.blogspot.com/2016/09/mr-darcys-pride-and-joy-blog-tour-with.html" target="_blank">chance to win an e-book copy.</a><br />
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Plus there is still a chance to win one of The Darcy Novels at <a href="https://diaryofaneccentric.wordpress.com/2016/08/31/excerpt-giveaway-mr-darcys-pride-joy-by-monica-fairview/" target="_blank">Diary of an Eccentric</a>, which ends on Sunday the 11th. You can find a different excerpt there. I hope you enjoy. Meanwhile, if you'd like to read Anna's review of <i>Mr. Darcy's Pride and Joy,</i> you'll find it <a href="https://diaryofaneccentric.wordpress.com/2016/09/06/review-mr-darcys-pride-joy-by-monica-fairview/" target="_blank">here. </a><br />
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Meanwhile, I was delighted to see a review of not one, but two of my novels on <a href="http://meditativemeanderings.blogspot.co.uk/2016/09/reviews-of-recently-read-books.html" target="_blank">Meditative Meanderings</a>. Susanna reviewed both <i>Mr. Darcy's Pride and Joy</i> and <i>Steampunk Darcy. </i>I do like surprises! </div>
Monica Fairviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07859188231849000840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734472082681797097.post-20465018934959384932016-09-08T17:23:00.001+01:002016-09-08T17:25:19.065+01:00Mr. Darcy: Example of a Regency Gentleman<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I thought it would nice to share this video produced by the BBC about The Regency Gentleman, particularly since they talk about Mr. Darcy in it! What do you think? Does he live up to your expectations?</div>
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Monica Fairviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07859188231849000840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734472082681797097.post-75866229960600566682016-06-23T00:03:00.000+01:002016-06-23T00:04:07.619+01:00Here It is At Last! Mr. Darcy's Pride and Joy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's been a long journey from start to finish, but here it is, finally!<br />
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<a href="http://viewbook.at/Fairviewbook3" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5EpTaRAuZaimEV_TxHoAN_k3eaHkVsmD70Trq3kGg0NkrurMNI3NFCWg6K5XdH2pnYmQhd8O0LfXiPyjHywmVTBKdjS1j0cMBJ4P6aaYxnZ5tULAA9mZ_PhH43K3Ajdi14cfSz-wkdxF9/s320/Pride+and+Joy+3D.png" width="271" /></a></div>
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<i>Mr. Darcy's Pride and Joy</i> is now available to <a href="http://viewbook.at/Fairviewbook3" target="_blank">pre-order on Amazon</a> and will shortly be available in other outlets, too. Mr. Darcy's Pride and Joy concludes the Darcy Novel series, but it can easily be read as a standalone novel.<br />
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If you haven't had a chance to read the earlier books, here they are.<br />
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Meanwhile, since the pre-order at Amazon doesn't show an excerpt, here is the opening of the novel for you to enjoy.<br />
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<i>Chapter One </i><br />
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It was a glorious autumn day, with just the right nip in the air, just the right kind of blue in the sky, and just the right kind of cream clouds soaring above the city. In short, the weather had contrived to be perfect on this most perfect of occasions. At least, that was what Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley thought as he stepped out of his townhouse, deposited his top hat on his head, and twirled his walking cane by his side. He was too dignified to skip down the steps as he would have liked to, or to slide down the banister as he did when he was a child, but his heart was leaping with joyous energy nevertheless. Miss Elizabeth Bennet had agreed to be his wife -- dearest, loveliest Elizabeth -- and nothing could complete his happiness other than to have her in his arms, in his bed, and in Pemberley. For now, however, London must do, and accordingly, London seemed to be doing its best to make the day as radiant and sublime as it could possibly be. <i><span style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span></i></div>
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He had asked for the carriage to be brought round, and as he emerged, it halted on the cobbled stones in front of the townhouse. He viewed it with pride. It had been scrubbed clean of the grime of London and polished until it gleamed, the gilded Darcy coat of arms glittering in the sunlight. On this momentous day, he would not arrive at the Gardiners in a hired cab. He wanted as much pomp and ceremony as he could garner in barely an hour’s notice. He had sent out for the best flowers that could be found this late in the season and ordered the inside of the carriage hung with garlands and the seats strewn with rose petals. He would take Elizabeth to Hyde Park in the afternoon and make her feel like a queen. As he stepped in, the sweet aroma infused his nostrils, evoking in him the buoyant feeling of spring time.</div>
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He could still scarcely believe it. He had proposed to Elizabeth for the third time and she had finally accepted him. All that remained was for Mr. Bennet to give his consent and for the papers to be drawn. It was a mere formality, he knew, but things would not feel settled until he had done so. In a few hours – nay, even earlier – Elizabeth Bennet, the love of his life, would be his.</div>
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He knocked on the roof to get the carriage going and immediately the horses set off at a trot. Not for long, however. Soon the clamor and the traffic slowed them down to a crawl and Darcy started to become restless. He was impatient to see Elizabeth, as well as to speak to her father. On a more mundane level, too, he was hungry. Mrs. Gardiner had extended an invitation for Darcy to join them for luncheon and he had been glad to accept, not only for the opportunity to spend time with Elizabeth, but also because he had not eaten a morsel of the Bingley’s lavish wedding breakfast. He had been too nervous to even consider eating then, but now his stomach was making rumbles of discontent.</div>
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As they drew closer to Church Street where the Gardiners resided, a commotion sounded ahead and the carriage came to a standstill. Darcy put his head out of the window and found a wheelbarrow full of lettuces had been upset and was blocking their way. They were close to their destination, and Darcy considered whether he would not be better off walking, but he did not want his newly polished boots to be stained, not today, when he wanted to look his absolute best.</div>
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“Can you turn back?” said Darcy, to Young Ebenezer, the coachman.</div>
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Ebenezer grinned. “Well, Mr. Darcy, it is quite difficult to turn it in such a tight space, but if anyone can do it, I can.”</div>
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Darcy nodded. “Do it.”</div>
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Then it was an eternity of waiting as the carriage was slowly and painfully maneuvered until it was facing the opposite direction. After that, they still had to find their way through some of the back streets to the Gardiner’s place, which was a challenge even for Young Ebenezer’s ingenuity. They were forced to stop and ask the way a few times.</div>
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Then, finally, they were there, in front of the elegant white stucco townhouse. The blue door to the house opened, the stairs were let down, and there was Elizabeth, standing in the doorway, the sun glinting off her auburn curls. He leaped from the carriage and was by her side in a moment. She put out her hands to him and he grasped them, longing to draw her closer, but forcing himself to be content with that limited contact.</div>
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“I have missed you,” he said, drinking in her presence.</div>
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Her eyes laughed back at him. “You cannot have missed me, Mr. Darcy, surely. It has been less than two hours since I last saw you.”<br />
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<i><a href="http://viewbook.at/Fairviewbook3" target="_blank">See on Amazon</a></i></div>
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Monica Fairviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07859188231849000840noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734472082681797097.post-91611647745876753612016-01-24T10:53:00.000+00:002016-01-24T10:53:06.088+00:00An Interview with Jane Austen, by Monica Fairview<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>Jane Austen is known for her caustic and irreverent wit. I thought it might be fun to highlight some of her most famous statements by framing them in a particular way.</i></div>
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<i>So today, as a special guest, I have Miss Jane Austen, who has kindly agreed to answer some of my questions about romance, her view of marriage and her writings, using her own words. I hope you will welcome her warmly.</i></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: blue;">So many people have come to love and admire Mr. Darcy, your creation. What do you think is the main attribute of the romantic hero?</span></div>
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<i>There is no charm equal to tenderness of heart.</i><span lang="EN-GB"></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: blue; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">In your opinion, what is the best way to win a gentleman’s heart?</span></div>
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<i>In nine cases out of ten, a woman had better show more affection than she feels.</i></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: blue; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">What about all the enhancements a young lady has at her disposal? All the fine Regency gowns we love so much?</span></div>
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<i><span style="background: white;">It would be mortifying to the feelings of many ladies, could they be made to understand how little the heart of man is affected by what is costly or new in their attire</span>. Woman is fine for her own satisfaction alone.</i></div>
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<i><span style="background: white; color: blue;">Elizabeth Bennet’s lively manners and intelligence are an important aspect of why Mr. Darcy loves her. Do you think this is true generally in romance?</span></i></div>
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<span style="background: white;">A woman, especially if she has the misfortune of knowing anything, should conceal it as well as she can. However, in justice to men, that though to the larger and more trifling part of the sex, imbecility in females is a great enhancement of their personal charms, there is a portion of them too reasonable and too well informed themselves to desire anything more in woman than ignorance.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></span><span style="background: white;">A good-looking girl, with an affectionate heart and a very ignorant mind, cannot fail of attracting a clever young man.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: blue; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">In Pride and Prejudice, you write about failed proposals. What do you think is the essence of a successful proposal?</span></div>
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<i>Is not general incivility the very essence of love?</i></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: blue; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">But Elizabeth accuses Mr. Darcy of being uncivil, yet he fails in his proposal.</span><span lang="EN-GB"></span></div>
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<i>Angry people are not always wise. Besides, he</i><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; color: #181818; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span><i>surprises her.</i><span lang="EN-GB"> <i>Surprises are foolish things. The pleasure is not enhanced, and the inconvenience is often considerable</i>.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: blue; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">You are fond of portraying selfish, self-centred people in your novels. Take Mary Elliott in Persuasion, Lady Catherine and Wickham in Pride and Prejudice, Isabella Thorpe in Northanger Abbey and many others. Yet even if they’re villains, you never condemn them fully. Why is that?</span></div>
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<i>Selfishness must always be forgiven, you know, because there is no hope of a cure.</i><span lang="EN-GB"></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: blue; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Some would even go so far as to say you favour your villains over your heroes and heroines. Would you agree that is the case?</span></div>
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<i><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">Very possibly. I do not want people to be very agreeable, as it saves me the trouble of liking them a great deal. Besides, pictures of perfection, as you know, make me sick and wicked.</span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: blue; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">One thing that puzzles me about your novels is how many ineffective clergymen there are in them. Even the hero of Mansfield Park Edmund Bertram succumbs easily to temptation. Why is this the case?</span></div>
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<i>It will, I believe, be everywhere found, that as the clergy are or are not what they ought to be, so are the rest of the nation.</i></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: blue; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">If you will permit me, Miss Austen, I would like to ask a question of a personal nature. Have you ever been in love yourself?</span></div>
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<i>No. The more I know of the world, the more I am convinced that I shall never see a man whom I can really love.</i></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: blue; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Do you think marriage is an important part of a lady’s identity?</span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-GB">It depends. </span><span style="background: white;">It is poverty only which makes celibacy contemptible to a generous public! A single woman, with a very narrow income, must be a ridiculous, disagreeable old maid! -- the proper sport of boys and girls -- but a single woman, of good fortune, is always respectable, and may be as sensible and pleasant as anybody else. </span></i><i><span lang="EN-GB"></span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: blue; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">What do you think is the foundation of a good marriage?</span></div>
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<i><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance.</span></i></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span><span style="color: blue;">Do you believe in marrying your soulmate?</span></div>
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<i><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">There is not one in a hundred of either sex who is not taken in when they marry.</span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: blue; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">But you do have some happy relationships in your novel -- Darcy and Elizabeth, for example. What do you think is the reason for the success of their relationship?</span></div>
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<i><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of.</span></i></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: blue;">Finally, Miss Austen, what do you think of the Romance genre?</span></div>
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<i><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">I could not sit down to write a serious romance under any other motive than to save my life.</span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Thank you, Miss Austen, for your timeless words.</span></div>
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Monica Fairviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07859188231849000840noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734472082681797097.post-37725320135199477302015-08-18T10:57:00.002+01:002015-08-18T10:57:43.212+01:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
My first novel ever was<i> An Improper Suitor </i>-- published by Robert Hale in the UK. It is a sweet Traditional Regency.<br />
<i>An Improper Suitor</i> has now been re-released in a boxset with four other Bestselling Regency Authors Amanda Grange, Melinda Hammond, Liz Bailey and Fenella Miller.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Regency Quintet Summer</i> <i>Edition</i> is </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">EReader News Book of the Day!! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Woohoo! Better still, it is selling at the amazing discounted rate of $.99c or £.99p!! Time limited offer!! </div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YANT5L8" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Amazon US</a><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00YANT5L8" target="_blank">Amazon UK</a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here's an excerpt from the novel:</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB">The few riders at this
unfashionable hour in Hyde Park moved out of their way and watched as they
galloped by. Fashionable society did not approve of the Ladies’ Cavalry Charge,
as Lady Bullfinch jokingly called it, but that had never stopped her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">She spurred Hamlet on.
This was as close to flying that any mortal could reach. Certainly with the
whoosh of air past her ears and the sensation of hovering above her side-saddle
she could imagine herself a swallow in flight, or even a sparrow hawk swooping
down on its prey. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">A high pitched scream
brought her down to earth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Julia checked her horse.
Colours resolved themselves into shapes. Hyde Park settled back into green
grass, Rotten Row, South Carriage Drive, and lines of oak.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">From the corner of her
eye she glimpsed a lady fighting to control her mount. It reared, then suddenly
broke into a fierce gallop. The rider pulled at the reins, and for a moment it
looked like the horse had slowed down. But it was only objecting to her clumsy
handling. It tossed its head then bolted, running as if pursued by a colony of
bees.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">There was no time to
think. Julia veered off the path and chased after the renegade horse, urging
Hamlet onwards. Delighted to show the racing skills for which he had been bred,
Hamlet lengthened his stride and accepted the challenge. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: .75in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">So far the girl was still
on the horse, hanging on precariously. Julia willed her to remain seated for a
few minutes longer, until she could reach her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">They departed the avenue
of tree and headed into an area that was more thickly wooded. Julia redoubled
her efforts. She did not want the girl to be felled by a low hanging branch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Not far behind her, the
beating of hoofs showed that she was not the only rider who had witnessed the
event. She did not look back. Her gaze stayed fixed on the unfortunate girl, as
though her eyes themselves could pin the girl to her saddle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: .75in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Then something large
hurtled into Julia, emerging from behind a copse of trees to her right. The
impact jolted her. She slid down in her side saddle, dangerously close to
losing her seat. An iron arm wrapped itself round her throat. A hand reached
out and gripped the reins of her horse, pulling them from her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">In a daze, her mind
registered that someone was abducting her. She recalled horrible tales she had
heard about foolish debutantes who rode in the park without a chaperon or
groom. Tales of kidnappings and ransoms. Only this time, she was in the
tale. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: .75in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">She glanced desperately
around her, but there was no-one else in sight. The trees hid her from the main
path and apart from the endangered rider some way ahead of her, there was not a
single person who could help. Perhaps someone <i>was</i> around, out of view but not out of earshot. She opened her
mouth to scream. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The iron arm clamped
down on her mouth. “Don’t be bird-witted,” said a man’s voice close to her ear.
The voice did not sound uncouth. His accents were refined, clearly those of a
gentleman. But gentlemen of the ton, too, could be villains. “If you scream,”
he continued. “We’ll have everyone within earshot descending on us.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: .75in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Why exactly did he think
she was going to scream? To frighten the magpies?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">She sank her teeth into
the flesh of his palm and bit down hard. She could feel her teeth cut the skin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: .75in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">He yelped. “Damnation,
woman! What did you do that for?” But to her utter surprise, he did not take
his hand away. He kept it firmly in place. A grudging respect for his
resilience passed through her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: .75in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">“If you give me your
word not to start shrieking, I’ll remove my hand.” She nodded as well as she
could. How did he expect her to give him her word when his palm was smothering
even the tiniest squeak?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: .75in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">He removed his hand and
examined it. She noted with satisfaction the red marks she had made. An impulse
to scream as loudly as she could rose up in her, but she restrained it. She
would not act dishonourably. There would be opportunities to escape him, she
was certain. It was possible, of course, that he was a bedlamite. The idea gave
her more confidence. She was used to dealing with unreasonable people. Her
grandmother was one of them, as was her aunt Viola.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: .75in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">“You may wish to
reconsider what you are doing, sir,” she said in a firm, no nonsense tone. “I
do believe you have mistaken me for someone else.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: .75in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">He did not answer. Her
words had no effect at all. She tried to pry his fingers off the reins, but he
held onto them fast. All his effort was concentrated on keeping hold of the
reins. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: .75in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Julia realized that he
would soon be running into difficulties, trying to control not only his own
horse, but Hamlet and her all at once. So far, he seemed to be managing, and a
tiny traitorous part of her admired his skill. However, she was certain that if
she kept thrashing about, he would sooner or later be forced to let go of one
of the three. So she wrestled with his arm and thrashed around as much as she
could, waiting for him to tire and lose his grip.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjL7sOJYx2Ygy2ptC2aC97DJ93-BN5Qc27Ya4BhXN4KxeoEES8zahzVprWbuNJvGP6s9ucIAP9dEA8_8jhWLx-RBSVDObWaJ0kqTlzLfIfmXYdOkmI0bVrnDT-O29H1p-rQAT-BgrmQsNY/s1600/darcy-astride-a-white-horse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjL7sOJYx2Ygy2ptC2aC97DJ93-BN5Qc27Ya4BhXN4KxeoEES8zahzVprWbuNJvGP6s9ucIAP9dEA8_8jhWLx-RBSVDObWaJ0kqTlzLfIfmXYdOkmI0bVrnDT-O29H1p-rQAT-BgrmQsNY/s400/darcy-astride-a-white-horse.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: .75in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">A vigorous twist brought
her assailant’s face to view. He was exactly the kind of figure they warned
young girls about – a ruthless-looking man with a pronounced jaw, thunderous
brows and piercing black eyes. What made matters worse, he was gnashing his
teeth, which made him seem like a villain straight out of a gothic story. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: .75in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Then Hamlet reared. <i>My worthy horse</i>. He came to her rescue, attempting
to throw off her assailant and escape his clutches. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: .75in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">“Well done, Hamlet!” she
cried. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: .75in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">But instead of releasing
the reins, the man tightened them, forcing Hamlet down. Hamlet succumbed with
an angry snort. The reins pressed into her right shoulder cutting into
her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: .75in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">“Let go at once, sir,”
she said, mustering as much arrogance as she could, but growing worried now
that she would not be able to get away. “And let go of my horse. You’re
injuring his mouth.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: .75in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">“If you weren’t so
hen-witted and just stopped struggling, I’d be able to let go,” said the
villain. “I’m only trying to protect you from injury.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: .75in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Definitely a bedlamite. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: .75in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">“I…do … not … need …
protection,” she said, very slowly, articulating each word clearly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: .75in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">He did not react. He
held on grimly with that iron grip, refusing to let go.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: .75in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">A different strategy was
called for, clearly. Julia went limp. It was worth a try. Perhaps he would
relax his hold if she pretended to give up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: .75in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">She had not realized
that going limp would imply leaning into him. Her position on the side-saddle
meant that now her whole back moulded into his chest. His breath tickled her
ear. The musky scent of his shaving cream filled her nostrils.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: .75in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Julia felt a strange
sensation go through her – a warmth and a yearning she had never experienced before. She closed her eyes, driven by the temptation to give in to that
feeling. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: .75in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">The man shifted away and
let go of the reins abruptly. “Your horse appears to have settled down.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: .75in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">“Of course he’s settled
down.” she said, angry at herself for letting down her guard. “I’m sure he’s a
great deal more comfortable now that you aren’t mangling his mouth."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: .75in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: .75in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00YANT5L8" target="_blank">Amazon UK</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: .75in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: .75in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YANT5L8" target="_blank">Amazon US</a></span></div>
<br /></div>
Monica Fairviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07859188231849000840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734472082681797097.post-27478942728979006092015-03-05T16:00:00.001+00:002015-03-05T16:00:51.760+00:00Songs & Stories: The Darcy Brothers Tour: Character Interview with ...<a href="http://liedermadchen.blogspot.com/2015/03/the-darcy-brothers-tour-character.html?spref=bl">Songs & Stories: The Darcy Brothers Tour: Character Interview with ...</a>: Hello! Today it is my pleasure to host Messrs. Fitzwilliam and Theophilus Darcy, stars of the exciting new literary collabora...Monica Fairviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07859188231849000840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734472082681797097.post-28124386989420539772015-02-24T09:09:00.001+00:002015-02-24T09:09:20.821+00:00More Agreeably Engaged: My share in the conversation...The Darcy Brothers<a href="http://moreagreeablyengaged.blogspot.com/2015/02/my-share-in-conversationthe-darcy.html?spref=bl">More Agreeably Engaged: My share in the conversation...The Darcy Brothers</a>: A Book Review: The Darcy Brothers by Monica Fairview, Maria Grace, Cassandra Grafton, Susan Mason-Milks and Abigail Reynolds One of ...Monica Fairviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07859188231849000840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734472082681797097.post-91504218293062565932015-02-02T05:00:00.000+00:002015-02-02T09:09:56.418+00:00The Darcy Brothers Launch on Austenprose<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ttdGhhnB__W1ZTL3giPOLSL9atVwjdWCGQesEPnRVP4RKf8A9qLMLfYI9SAApzpxySDoarnLPt51QBDs5O0hx3NiOyQ_QVy_RYy2RM9Gyj_H3rrowsOHZT2HW1QF0TqfUXHkPMO5cTUg/s1600/TBD-tour-banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ttdGhhnB__W1ZTL3giPOLSL9atVwjdWCGQesEPnRVP4RKf8A9qLMLfYI9SAApzpxySDoarnLPt51QBDs5O0hx3NiOyQ_QVy_RYy2RM9Gyj_H3rrowsOHZT2HW1QF0TqfUXHkPMO5cTUg/s1600/TBD-tour-banner.jpg" height="130" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Well, the day is finally here. The Darcy Brothers is now LIVE.<br />
<br />
We are celebrating the occasion on <a href="http://austenprose.com/" target="_blank">Austenprose</a> today on February 2nd 2015, where you can find out more about the novel and have the opportunity of winning a copy. Many thanks to Laurel Ann Nattress for kicking off the launch tour!<br />
<br />
You can follow Theo Darcy (who always has a great deal to say) on his <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/779339148804206/" target="_blank">launch page</a> today and on his <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theophilusdarcy" target="_blank">Facebook page</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUGdW4JDlwCaZ8O6B1E_yvuRQ3gz16fN5lwxa0zY8L-sO31tIjHE361kpgG_JTM3NzT75AMdJRI_FSkKcqGHIO2iN3bLXPhltd6fWWqa5PM1fnC3bRkJHUuRxo5AnKGXqDFM2MW052z_bl/s1600/Champagne_glasses.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUGdW4JDlwCaZ8O6B1E_yvuRQ3gz16fN5lwxa0zY8L-sO31tIjHE361kpgG_JTM3NzT75AMdJRI_FSkKcqGHIO2iN3bLXPhltd6fWWqa5PM1fnC3bRkJHUuRxo5AnKGXqDFM2MW052z_bl/s1600/Champagne_glasses.png" height="320" width="269" /></a></div>
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Monica Fairviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07859188231849000840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734472082681797097.post-56138400422420635682015-01-24T05:03:00.000+00:002015-01-25T15:18:09.024+00:00Flawed Motivations in Pride & Prejudice<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h4>
<br /></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 10pt;">"If one could but go to Brighton!" observes Mrs.
Bennet in <i>Pride and Prejudice</i>, </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"A little sea-bathing would set me up for ever." </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 10pt;">In my novel <i>Mr. Darcy’s Challenge</i>, she has an
opportunity to do so, though not under the best of circumstances (Lydia has
gone missing). Not surprisingly, despite Mrs. Bennet’s anxiety about her
daughter, she is not about to give up the chance of a lifetime to experience
some sea-dipping. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 10pt;">In <i>Pride and Prejudice</i>,
Lydia’s trip to Brighton plays a pivotal role. The basic themes of the novel –
pride and prejudice, which are two sides of the same coin in many ways – are centered
on the fact that people are limited by one-sided perceptions of the world. These
perceptions, moreover, are flawed. </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">In a few skilled strokes of the quill, Jane illuminates her
characters’ motivations while at the same time showing how each one, in very
different ways, is responsible for the disastrous consequences of Lydia’s trip
to Brighton.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilcEVuFFe4kVO2ynzf_Vj-QsOBokSbV24NJjssNC_G5mKGjtXzEQdJz_PxSgGoHLBGZHKuhqR9BmxoduyigngnrUJY2LE632aXpZ1g-PkKFkB0oyR091pASFJw8H6GkdQd06IpSIuydbC0/s1600/brighton+encampments+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilcEVuFFe4kVO2ynzf_Vj-QsOBokSbV24NJjssNC_G5mKGjtXzEQdJz_PxSgGoHLBGZHKuhqR9BmxoduyigngnrUJY2LE632aXpZ1g-PkKFkB0oyR091pASFJw8H6GkdQd06IpSIuydbC0/s1600/brighton+encampments+1.jpg" height="253" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Lydia</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It comes as no surprise that Lydia’s whole world revolves around
the officers, and who can blame her, really? She is fifteen, and in a small
village like Meryton there are few opportunities to meet young men. For her,
the departure of the militia is nothing short of a disaster – so much so that
it is almost one of the first things she mentions when she goes to meet Lizzy and
Jane at the inn after they return from Hunsford/London.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"They are going to be encamped near Brighton; and I do so
want papa to take us all there for the summer! It would be such a delicious
scheme, and I dare say would hardly cost anything at all. Mamma would like to
go too of all things! Only think what a miserable summer else we shall
have!"</span></span></blockquote>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jane Austen provides us with an insight into the workings of
Lydia’s mind – and indeed into the fantasies of many a hormone-driven teenager,
revealing her vanity as well as her hopes and dreams. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“She saw, with the creative eye of fancy, the streets of that gay
bathing place covered with officers. She saw herself the object of attention to
tens and to scores of them at present unknown. She saw all the glories of the
camp … and, to complete the view, she saw herself seated beneath a tent,
tenderly flirting with at least six officers at once.”</span></span></blockquote>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jane Austen is careful to show us that, behind that extraordinary
vision, however, there is a certain insecurity. It is no coincidence that after
she initially breaks the news of the Brighton plans to Lizzy and Jane, she
brings up the subject of marriage, showing that to her, flirting is not just an
idle pursuit.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJ6Ml6WDdSSRmTw3YGBPNnY1zFeA85bQQlEyo1nh_2ho5ivB_sFP9tPBtqFKnXzPnyOBLIYL5EPqt8YVheSBYMzn49VtCVnHx6PSV5Dp3ghGfsu7dRGUeo9LxXNCDpNfNrrOyNSy2kR6u/s1600/Lydia+bennet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJ6Ml6WDdSSRmTw3YGBPNnY1zFeA85bQQlEyo1nh_2ho5ivB_sFP9tPBtqFKnXzPnyOBLIYL5EPqt8YVheSBYMzn49VtCVnHx6PSV5Dp3ghGfsu7dRGUeo9LxXNCDpNfNrrOyNSy2kR6u/s1600/Lydia+bennet.jpg" /></a></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background: white;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Have you seen any pleasant men? Have you had any
flirting? I was in great hopes that one of you would have got a husband before
you came back. Jane will be quite an old maid soon, I declare. She is almost
three-and-twenty! Lord, how ashamed I should be of not being married before
three-and-twenty!... Lord! how I should like to be married before any of you!”</span></span></blockquote>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 10pt;">Under Lydia’s flighty silliness, there is in fact
a sense of determination, and she accomplishes what she is determined to do.
Unlike her sisters, she will <i>not</i> come
back without a husband and she <i>will </i>be
married before them. Her perspective is flawed, however, because she does not
care how she achieves this goal.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Mrs. Bennet</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mrs. Bennet is most adamant about having her daughter go to
Brighton. There is a certain wistfulness in her desire to send Lydia to the
coast that shows how much she identifies with her youngest daughter. You could
almost feel sorry for her, in fact. It is clear that she is saddled with a
husband who has little interest in travelling or doing anything exciting. He
doesn’t even like to go to London.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Lydia's going to Brighton was all that consoled her for the
melancholy conviction of her husband's never intending to go there himself.”</span></span></blockquote>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Evidently Mrs. Bennet feels she has missed out on her own youth.
Her lively spirits have been given no outlet when she is married to a man who
spends as much time as possible in his library. It is as if Mrs. Bennet has
chosen to live vicariously through her daughter. This need to see her daughter
enjoy life makes her blind to the dangers of sending her away with the equally
giddy Mrs. Forster.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Chty5GfBhnlQ769XAlOKPGb9qf7e3wY_Qziz3GDgSYk9dF7HmVixxqG7yrb-ljXV2n9UFe_j7OnISBh0PTnvahGE8VQXxc0LWFpArwxLgLyFOLYzgSntCKI87OcMRcBkZLy63xzDeV-j/s1600/Mrs.+Bennet+sad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Chty5GfBhnlQ769XAlOKPGb9qf7e3wY_Qziz3GDgSYk9dF7HmVixxqG7yrb-ljXV2n9UFe_j7OnISBh0PTnvahGE8VQXxc0LWFpArwxLgLyFOLYzgSntCKI87OcMRcBkZLy63xzDeV-j/s1600/Mrs.+Bennet+sad.jpg" height="200" width="132" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 10pt;">Mrs. Bennet was diffuse in her good wishes for
the felicity of her daughter, and impressive in her injunctions that she would
not miss the opportunity of enjoying herself as much as possible -- advice
which there was every reason to believe would be attended to.</span></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Mr. Bennet</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Of
the four characters I’m dealing with, Mr. Bennet’s motivation is perhaps the
most flawed. In his avoidance of conflict at all costs, he is unwilling to take
a firm stance and is so good at side-stepping the issue that even Lizzy is
taken in by him.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Elizabeth
saw directly that her father had not the smallest intention of yielding; but
his answers were at the same time so vague and equivocal, that her mother,
though often disheartened, had never yet despaired of succeeding at last.”</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Lizzy
believes she understands her father. She thinks he sees things the way she
does, but she is proven wrong. The moment the Fosters offer to take Lydia with
them, Mr. Bennet is more than happy to yield, as long as it doesn’t require any
effort on his part. His initial refusal to allow Lydia to go doesn’t stem from
concern for Lydia. It stems from his reluctance to travel. “We shall have no
peace at Longbourn if Lydia does not go to Brighton. Let her go, then,” he
says.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmfC1b8YH0g-r5z80qeuUQQMdOc2DXmuXUZdBCMxg-VxBQBejnTSH5k9B2-uuycAda5YgGKNfXbosn-cB36_MDTY3RHu31chbtQmm3iqA6LiLnzhouicWIUktR6clPiIIM1grQ8jcqWy9X/s1600/Mrs.+Bennet+reading.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmfC1b8YH0g-r5z80qeuUQQMdOc2DXmuXUZdBCMxg-VxBQBejnTSH5k9B2-uuycAda5YgGKNfXbosn-cB36_MDTY3RHu31chbtQmm3iqA6LiLnzhouicWIUktR6clPiIIM1grQ8jcqWy9X/s1600/Mrs.+Bennet+reading.jpg" height="98" width="200" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Lizzy</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Apparently, Lizzy
is the only one that shows any alarm at the possibility of sending Lydia off
unaccompanied. She feels it so strongly, that she is willing to “betray” her
sister by arguing against it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"…detestable as such a step must make
her, were it known, she could not help secretly advising her father not to let
her go.</span></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Since we identity with Lizzy, it is
easy to think that at least she was being sensible. However, Jane Austen
doesn’t let her main character off the hook. She very quickly reveals that
Lizzy has her own self-interest in mind, and Mr. Bennet is quick to seize on
that. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"If you were aware," said Elizabeth, "of the very
great disadvantage to us all which must arise from the public notice of Lydia's
unguarded and imprudent manner -- nay, which has already arisen from it, I am
sure you would judge differently in the affair."</span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Already arisen?" repeated Mr. Bennet. "What, has
she frightened away some of your lovers? Poor little Lizzy! But do not be cast
down. Such squeamish youths as cannot bear to be connected with a little
absurdity are not worth a regret. Come, let me see the list of the pitiful
fellows who have been kept aloof by Lydia's folly."</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9umOU-_VKODD9JuaMLvd4lww0-6OFGhoetsSDlDJ9-qVRXqZN15yhOaf3Lt9MWfnkKfInnrh0vYHSt1TM-quAXqLOp8KN_ZieHA1zDoG3xIKB4TjqR_qESNPEk1pGMxM2uc1AGkJJhBQz/s1600/500px-Elizabeth-keira-knightley-as-elizabeth-bennet-10470523-1250-840.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9umOU-_VKODD9JuaMLvd4lww0-6OFGhoetsSDlDJ9-qVRXqZN15yhOaf3Lt9MWfnkKfInnrh0vYHSt1TM-quAXqLOp8KN_ZieHA1zDoG3xIKB4TjqR_qESNPEk1pGMxM2uc1AGkJJhBQz/s1600/500px-Elizabeth-keira-knightley-as-elizabeth-bennet-10470523-1250-840.jpg" height="134" width="200" /></a></div>
</span></span></blockquote>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Elizabeth’s attempt to persuade her father not to send Lydia fails
precisely because it is centered on herself. She is thinking of Darcy and of what
he would think of her. This becomes even more complicated when it comes to not
mentioning what she knows about Wickham to her father. Again, she shows her
motivation is not primarily concern for Lydia. After all, knowing what she
knows about Wickham, and knowing that Lydia is bound to meet him, the least she
could have done is warn Lydia not to trust him (even if it fell on deaf ears).</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Having revealed the flaws inherent in the Bennet’s perception of
Lydia’s trip to Brighton and what it means, Jane Austen leaves us with a sense
of inevitability. No one person alone is to blame for Lydia’s disastrous
choice. Everyone is. Consequently, the Bennets stare ruin in the face. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thank heavens for Mr. Darcy, who sails right in and makes
everything alright. What would we have done without him?</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsCQ4RUCNxyhXz87aSVLCAw8fZPcdkmXI2F0KiiXfc5St26mPyovCo4PUKC-3r67s5y03SBt_CU6qryCczKhYRclk09O53dQybCbeSJwmyLyTgDkdj5Wy0w7rXcaRqkW8LbeU1eBssYDE2/s1600/Mr.+Darcy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsCQ4RUCNxyhXz87aSVLCAw8fZPcdkmXI2F0KiiXfc5St26mPyovCo4PUKC-3r67s5y03SBt_CU6qryCczKhYRclk09O53dQybCbeSJwmyLyTgDkdj5Wy0w7rXcaRqkW8LbeU1eBssYDE2/s1600/Mr.+Darcy.jpg" height="200" width="181" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="background-color: transparent;">(This post appeared yesterday on </span><a href="http://austenvariations.com/jinj-prideandprejudice/" style="background-color: transparent;" target="_blank">Austen Variations</a><span style="background-color: transparent;">) </span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">@copyright Monica Fairview</span></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">All quotes must be linked to this address or to Austen Variations </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
Monica Fairviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07859188231849000840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734472082681797097.post-75567901301235914222014-12-16T10:19:00.001+00:002014-12-21T10:44:40.009+00:00Happy Birthday, Jane!! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkMxqHFZtLfLKjd248oEvTwxkCYbiA0PqmtdbnPdbun2FWugC_Gw6KfxNls-3ORy0lAv5C6t9p00_UNWogfFhdOLX1ZDKWChdcVmrurXegt9Lq7SS6xmj7AmIZN5hELxeIqFh8LfyiOSVp/s1600/484px-Jane_Austen_happy+birthday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkMxqHFZtLfLKjd248oEvTwxkCYbiA0PqmtdbnPdbun2FWugC_Gw6KfxNls-3ORy0lAv5C6t9p00_UNWogfFhdOLX1ZDKWChdcVmrurXegt9Lq7SS6xmj7AmIZN5hELxeIqFh8LfyiOSVp/s1600/484px-Jane_Austen_happy+birthday.jpg" height="400" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
We have a great deal to celebrate because, even though Jane's life was cut short very early, she still managed to achieve something wonderful. Her books have delighted millions over two centuries, and they have the ability to bring together so many people from different backgrounds from around the world. Her wit, her memorable characters, her ability to see through the hypocrites and sycophants of the time, her clever obsevations and of course, her innovative (at the time) depiction of romance -- these are just a few things that we have come to love and cherish. To me, what is most memorable about her is her sharp which has the capacity to startle you out of your complacency.<br />
<br />
Here are some examples of phrases by her that I'm particularly fond of:<br />
<br />
<br />Next week I shall begin my operations on my hat, on which you know my principal hopes of happiness depend. ~Letters<br /><br /><br />It would be mortifying to the feelings of many ladies, could they be made to understand how little the heart of a man is affected by what is costly or new in their attire. ~Northanger Abbey<br /><br />...it was not in her nature to question the veracity of a young man of such amiable appearance as Wickham. ~Pride and Prejudice<br /><br />A lady, without a family, was the very best preserver of furniture in the world. ~Persuasion<br /><br />I have more than once observed to Lady Catherine that her charming daughter seemed born to be a duchess, and that the most elevated rank, instead of giving her consequence, would be adorned by her. — These are the kind of little things which please her ladyship, and it is a sort of attention which I conceive myself peculiarly bound to pay. ~Pride and Prejudice (Mr. Collins)<br /><br />Those who do not complain are never pitied. ~ Pride and Prejudice (Mrs. Bennet)<br /><br />How pleasant it is to spend an evening in this way! I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book! ~ Pride and Prejudice (Caroline Bingley)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrWiLf9g-xfbBAON8_tAfS4N1msWd7b4PaBoirWlMzYN7mxSAv_PZKoGkizhyphenhyphenMgv5w0Sqr8TfDAU5utpIhkFik24HoQyKw4xRDbkJ8QpQU9Kt4AIWZY7vVYj6tGW_aOZW4puMKlR6ll17O/s1600/Thomson-PPNothansomeenough.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrWiLf9g-xfbBAON8_tAfS4N1msWd7b4PaBoirWlMzYN7mxSAv_PZKoGkizhyphenhyphenMgv5w0Sqr8TfDAU5utpIhkFik24HoQyKw4xRDbkJ8QpQU9Kt4AIWZY7vVYj6tGW_aOZW4puMKlR6ll17O/s1600/Thomson-PPNothansomeenough.jpg" height="400" width="356" /></a></div>
<br /><br /><br />I have been a selfish being all my life, in practice, though not in principle. As a child I was taught what was right, but I was not taught to correct my temper. I was given good principles, but left to follow them in pride and conceit. Unfortunately an only son (for many years an only child), I was spoilt by my parents, who, though good themselves (my father, particularly, all that was benevolent and amiable), allowed, encouraged, almost taught me to be selfish and overbearing; to care for none beyond my own family circle; to think meanly of all the rest of the world; to wish at least to think meanly of their sense and worth compared with my own. Such I was, from eight to eight and twenty; and such I might still have been but for you, dearest, loveliest Elizabeth! What do I not owe you! You taught me a lesson, hard indeed at first, but most advantageous. By you, I was properly humbled. I came to you without a doubt of my reception. You showed me how insufficient were all my pretensions to please a woman worthy of being pleased. ~Pride and Prejudice (Mr. Darcy, of course)<br /><br /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: georgia, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">And here it is -- in Jane's own mischievous words -- the reason we should celebrate Jane's birthday</span><br />
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: georgia, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span>
<br />
I am very much obliged to my dear little George for his messages, for his Love at least--his Duty I suppose was only in consequence of some hint of my favourable intentions towards him from his father or mother. I am sincerely rejoiced however that I ever was born, since it has been the means of procuring him a dish of Tea. ~Letters<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: georgia, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: georgia, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px;">Thank you, Jane Austen!!</span></span><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
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</div>
Monica Fairviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07859188231849000840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734472082681797097.post-90891992368433329482014-11-27T14:24:00.000+00:002014-11-27T14:24:08.701+00:00Thanksgiving Weekend Goodreads Giveaway <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/" target="_new">Goodreads</a> Book Giveaway
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23608640"><img alt="Mr. Darcy's Challenge by Monica Fairview" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1416852962l/23608640.jpg" title="Mr. Darcy's Challenge by Monica Fairview" width="100" /></a>
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<h3 style="font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px; margin: 0; padding: 0;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23608640">Mr. Darcy's Challenge</a>
</h3>
<h4 style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0 0 10px; padding: 0;">
by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1399009.Monica_Fairview" style="text-decoration: none;">Monica Fairview</a>
</h4>
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Giveaway ends November 29, 2014.
<br />
See the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/117068" style="text-decoration: none;">giveaway details</a>
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Monica Fairviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07859188231849000840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734472082681797097.post-64107556893651881192014-11-27T14:19:00.004+00:002014-11-27T14:19:55.025+00:00Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends across the pond!!!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
Have you spotted Mr. Darcy yet?? :)</div>
Monica Fairviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07859188231849000840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734472082681797097.post-49203724587214658152014-11-25T05:01:00.000+00:002014-11-25T12:58:33.647+00:00Release day! Mr. Darcy's Challenge<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
It's finally here! We're celebrating the release of Mr. Darcy's Challenge today at <a href="http://www.austenvariations.com/">Austen Variations</a> with a chance to win copies of the novel as well as a reading of Chapter Two. Come and join us in the celebration!</h4>
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Monica Fairviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07859188231849000840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734472082681797097.post-29705323346474672562014-11-21T11:10:00.000+00:002014-11-21T11:42:55.859+00:00Mr. Darcy's Challenge available for pre-order on Nook, Kobo and iTunes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I'm very pleased to announce that you can now pre-order in several different formats. You can order in all these formats on Smashwords, which sells the novel in various formats (you pick which format you'd like when you check out). Or of course you can do it directly. Here are the various links.<br />
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<a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/493233" target="_blank">Smashwords</a>|<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/mr.-darcys-challenge/id942395892?mt=11" target="_blank">iTunes</a>|<a href="http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/mr-darcy-s-challenge" target="_blank">Kobo</a>|<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mr-darcys-challenge-monica-fairview/1120792285?ean=2940046407617">Nook</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Darcys-Challenge-Darcy-Novels-ebook/dp/B00PF3KJA8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416567989&sr=8-1&keywords=Mr.+Darcy%27s+Challenge">Amazon.comUSA</a>|<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mr-Darcys-Challenge-Darcy-Novels-ebook/dp/B00PF3KJA8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416567858&sr=8-1&keywords=Mr.+Darcy%27s+challenge">Amazon.co.UK</a>|<a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Mr-Darcys-Challenge-Darcy-Novels-ebook/dp/B00PF3KJA8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416567739&sr=8-1&keywords=mr.+darcy%27s+challenge">Amazon.CA</a><br />
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Unfortunately, the paperback is not yet available for pre-order.<br />
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Monica Fairviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07859188231849000840noreply@blogger.com0