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Showing posts with label Fitzwilliam Darcy Undone. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fitzwilliam Darcy Undone. Show all posts
WEEKEND WRITING WARRIORS #86
Welcome back, fellow warriors and guest readers! I had quite a productive week. I added a healthy portion of words to my current WIP and made homemade tomato sauce for the first time in my life. If I had known how time-consuming it was, I might have given back those beautiful tomatoes before scuttling off to the closest grocery store. Next spaghetti night we'll find out if those four hours were worth it. I also canned some green beans in preparation for the upcoming holiday season. My family LOVES green bean casserole, and before I started preserving my own food, I had no idea the difference between store-bought canned goods to homemade. The difference is... all I can say is - wow. The same for Pinto Beans, which we use exclusively for my hubby's chile recipe. Those are resting on my canning shelf as well. Yum... I'm hungry now.
Okey dokey, enough of my manic enthusiasm for all things #canning, and on with this week's offering. I am giving you a snippet from my one and only (for now) paranormal Jane Austen Fan Fiction: Fitzwilliam Darcy ~ Undone. I had a blast writing this, and the response from the readers was good. At the time of publication, there was not much out there for this little sub-genre, but it has now exploded and has gained a following.
Rules of engagement for Weekend Writing Warriors:
Weekend Writing Warriors is a fun blog hop where authors share eight to ten lines from a Work in Progress. If you'd like to check out some of the other author's writing, please click on this link: WeWriWa
EXCERPT:
When they gained entry
to their shared room, she took out the letter and said, “This is from Caroline
Bingley, and what it contains surprised me a great deal.”
Lizzy accepted the
envelope, which contained a sheet of elegant, little, hot-pressed paper, well
covered with a lady’s fair, flowing hand. She read a few lines and gasped.
“The pomposity of that woman, declaring she cannot ‘pretend to regret anything I shall leave in Hertfordshire, except your society.’ And to call you her dearest friend. The woman would not know a friend if they kicked her in the shins while declaring it.” She read further before emitting a very unladylike snort. “This is rich, she hopes their absence can be alleviated by − where is that ubiquitous line? − ‘we may lessen the pain of separation by a very frequent and most unreserved correspondence.’ She threw the letter onto the bed. “Jane, I give you leave to dislike Miss Bingley with all your heart, she is nothing but a pretentious prig.”
MAY I HAVE SOME MORE PLEASE?
“Lizzy,” Jane chastised softly, “that is most unkind. She is letting me know her brother does not hold me in the same regard as I do him. She encourages me to find another beau without her brother getting in the way of my heart, and seems most solicitous in her care of my feelings. She even hinted Mr. Darcy agrees with her opinions, and he is Mr. Bingley’s best friend. Surely, he knows where Mr. Bingley’s true interests lay.”
Never in her life had
Elizabeth wished to impose her will on someone as much as she did right at this
moment. How could Jane be deceived by one such as Caroline Bingley? Anyone with
eyes in their head could see Bingley was madly in love with her sister. She
paused in thought. Of course! They had seen how much in love he was and decided
Jane was not of their sphere and hastened to remove him before he could
declare himself to all and sundry. And what part did Mr. Darcy play in all
this? There was no way Miss Bingley would willingly vacate Netherfield Park
without ensuring Mr. Darcy was in tow. Or had he led the parade himself? Given
what Miss Bingley revealed in her note, Mr. Darcy most likely cautioned his
friend to leave before he’d committed himself publicly, with no way out of an
unwanted marriage.
She fumed silently while
Jane carefully returned the letter to its envelope, and placed it in her
nightstand drawer. Even without her ability to perceive others’ emotions, she
knew Jane’s heart was aching. Unable to bear her sister’s suffering, she headed
downstairs to escape the confines of Longbourn. She stormed to the far end of
her mother’s rose garden and paced. Paced and fumed, and fumed and paced, not
even feeling the cold November air. Her anger waffled between Mr. Darcy and
Caroline Bingley. She instinctively knew Mr. Bingley would defer to Mr. Darcy’s
counsel long before he acquiesced to his sister’s demands. Her anger mounted
with each step. If she could only see Mr. Darcy face to face and tell him what
she really thought.
A tingling sensation cascaded over and through her body, and when she opened her eyes, she found herself in an unfamiliar room, standing before the man himself clad only in a pair of buckskin breeches and Hessian boots.
 |
| Available with Kindle Unlimited |
Book Blurb:
She’s the outcast in her family…
Elizabeth knows she’s different from the rest of her family. She has strange dreams and sees things others do not. With the advent of the odious Mr. Darcy and his friends from Netherfield Park, as well as the amiable Mr. Wickham of the _____shire Militia, her powers seem to increase and her greatest fear is that she won’t be able to contain them and will be discovered.
He has eight hundred years of tradition to uphold…
No Darcy has married a non-magical woman since arriving on the shores of England with William the Conqueror in 1066. However, his kind – Miatharans – are dwindling in numbers. Miatharan's magic only flows through aristocratic bloodlines, so his strange obsession with Miss Elizabeth Bennet is puzzling as she is not of noble blood. Just a country squire’s beautiful daughter who has him slowly becoming undone.
WINNERS ~ GIVEAWAY
The blog tour for Fitzwilliam Darcy - Undone is complete and here are the names of three guests who had their share in the conversations and will each receive a digital copy of my book.
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment, letting me know your thoughts on this decidedly different variation of Pride & Prejudice. I will also be posting this notice on social media.
Deleted Scene-After the Assembly: Fitzwilliam Darcy ~ Undone
I have two scenes from the first chapter. The first was about Mr. Darcy replacing 'himself' in Elizabeth's dream dancing the scandalous waltz with her before he became quite daring in kissing her. He not only claimed her lips but his hands molded themselves to… ummm… certain parts of her body. All part and parcel of him becoming 'undone'.
The second scene I shared was of Lizzy waking up and discovering the
marks (love-bites) on her collarbone. She believed that, in her dream state,
she pinched her skin to give herself the look of a love mark. Lizzy, Lizzy,
Lizzy. Little do you know…
I'd originally written this scene just a tad different, in fact, it was deliciously naughty as you will find out for yourself.
With her hair pinned up in a simple bun, wearing the lovely dress she had on earlier in the evening, Darcy knew immediately she was reliving that night’s assembly. He saw himself, standing stiff along the edges of the ballroom, watching her with hooded eyes. So, that was how she saw him, dark and brooding. Dream Darcy approached and asked for a dance. Something he regretted not doing in real life.
“I thought I was not tolerable enough for you Mr. Darcy.”
Another thing he regretted, most heartily. It was time to adjust her view of him.
With a whispered word and hand gesture, he replaced ‘dream’ Darcy with himself and replied, “I was a fool, Miss Elizabeth. You are the handsomest woman of my acquaintance.”
He took her hand and drew her to the dance floor, willing the orchestra to play the scandalous waltz. Her figure was light and pleasing, her scent a now familiar mixture of lavender and honeysuckle. The crowded room disappeared, replaced by one he was intimately acquainted. The master's chamber at Pemberley.
A canopied four poster bed dominated the room lit only by the fireplace. He plucked at the pins in her hair, almost sighing out loud when her mahogany locks cascaded down her back in a fountain of curls and then swung her up into his arms. The mattress dipped when he placed one knee on the edge of the bed and laid her atop the deep burgundy counterpane, those glorious curls now spread across his pillow. Satin ribbons unfurled and drifted down from the massive posts of the canopy, wound around her wrists. Her fingers curled around the ribbons as her arms were pulled over her head toward the headboard. With a wave of his hand, her clothing melted away, leaving her creamy skin exposed to his hungry eyes. Arms stretched up, her breasts were forced high and tight. His own clothing fell away and his need to taste her skin consumed him. As he stretched his full length over hers, he knew, with one thought, Elizabeth could leave the dream. The fact that she stayed within the bonds of his desire, spoke loudly of her own.
"You are so beautiful," he whispered against her ear, nuzzling the tiny pink shell, trailing his hand from her collarbone to the plump fullness of those upturned breasts. His lips and teeth followed the path blazed by his hand and lavished attention on the tightened peaks before drawing the tender underside of her breast into his mouth. He couldn't get enough of her. Small gasps erupted from Elizabeth when his errant hand passed over her most private place and slid into her body. Her back arched, pushing her breast further into his mouth. He wrapped an arm around her waist and drew her close, his need to possess her completely driving all sane thought from his mind.
Even though his desire made him want to fully seat himself within the cradle of her body, he took his time nipping and kissing every inch of her skin as he moved lower. When he reached her most treasured spot, his tongue coaxed the tiny pearl from its hiding place. Elizabeth quivered and writhed, incoherent words escaping her lush mouth. He pressed one, then two fingers into her slick heat, all the while teasing the bud with his teeth and tongue. When he was assured she was ready, he feathered kisses up her belly, across her breasts before claiming her full mouth, letting her taste her desires on his tongue. He positioned himself at her sweet entrance and thrust. When she gasped, he plunged his tongue into her mouth, mirroring the act of their heated exchange below.
Minutes, hours, days passed before he was fully sated, Elizabeth curled against his side, her head cradled on his chest. He knew not how many times he'd taken her but knew a lifetime would never ease the ache he felt for her. She stirred in her sleep and murmured, "Jane?" He kissed the top of her head through her now tangled curls and released the dream back to her. She'd never remember this night, but he would and it was a memory he'd treasure forever.
Do you believe me when I tell you that Elizabeth saw more than a 'mark' on her collarbone after this scene?
Deleted Scene-Netherfield Park: Fitzwilliam Darcy ~ Undone
~~~~~~~
The stark contrast between the two became glaringly apparent the previous evening when he’d ignored Miss Bingley completely and read a book. With an abruptness, which startled everyone, she insisted Elizabeth parade about the room with her. In some small-minded way she knew the only way his eyes would follow her was if Elizabeth remained tethered to her side. And they had. He’d unconsciously closed his book and watched them, appreciating how Elizabeth’s gown moved over her body. He found himself envying the very cloth that touched her skin like a lover, caressing every curve and luscious line.
When the two women had crossed in front of the fireplace his mouth had gone completely dry at the sight of Elizabeth's lithe figure outlined through her muslin gown. His greedy eyes had soaked in every detail, committing them to memory.
At that exact moment, Richard had interrupted his thoughts with a bawdy remark and he'd been forced to shift in his chair in an attempt to hide his obvious desire, thankful he'd placed the book on his lap rather than on the table when he first started watching them.
Upon noticing his attention, Miss Bingley immediately invited him to join them. Still struggling to control his unruly libido, he'd responded with a polite rejoinder of how they had only two motives for walking about and by joining them, he would only interfere with their grand design.
You should have stayed silent cousin. Richard teased.
Aren’t you dining with Colonel Foster?
I am, but it’s much more fun to imagine you fumbling around Miss Bennet. Now you’ve created a conundrum.
If you hadn’t asked if the light of the fireplace illuminated Elizabeth’s figure I’d have had better control of my thoughts.
I doubt very much I am the reason for your current dilemma. I suggest you take things into your own hand for a speedy resolution.
Sod off, Richard.
He could still hear his cousin laughing even though Richard had stopped their conversation. When Miss Bingley asked Elizabeth if she understood the meaning of Mr. Darcy’s comment, Elizabeth had given him a startled glance and self consciously smoothed her gown. She'd moved so she no longer stood in front of the fireplace and said, with only a slight quiver in her voice, “Not at all. I haven't the slightest idea."
"Oh, come now, Eliza. Where are your pert opinions when I require them the most."
Elizabeth turned her gaze from him back to Caroline. "I may not understand the meaning of Mr. Darcy's comments, however 'illuminating' they might be, but depend upon it, he means to be severe on us, and our surest way of disappointing him will be to ask nothing about it."
Her specific word choice, illuminating, had tension coiling about his spine. First she exhibited signs of not only remembering aspects of the dream he'd created in her mind and physically manifested the lovers mark he'd left on her collarbone, but now she'd hinted at having heard his silent conversation with Richard. How was that even possible? Dare he enter her dreams again as a means of unfolding the mystery that was Elizabeth Bennet? His body tightened at the mere thought of revisiting her without any physical restraints, and then balked. No! He was a gentleman. He'd strayed once and would not do it again. He had to gain control of his emotions and find another way to assuage his curiosity.
~~~~~~~
I changed this scene back to the more time-honored version because I wasn't ready for Elizabeth to realize she could commune solely with her mind. She does later on, but we discover that she has to have a close and trusting relationship with that person, and the ability for sharing thoughts is something learned. A new muscle skill she needs to hone. Therefore, as Mr. Darcy hasn't gained her trust, she wouldn't have been able to 'hear' his thoughts.
Blog Tour: Fitzwilliam Darcy Undone
Today is the launch of my blog tour for Fitzwilliam Darcy ~ Undone and associated links can be found below. Come on over for some interviews, excerpts, and just plain old fashioned blog posts. There will be a chance for you to enter for one of three digital copies of my latest book at each blog stop.
Hope to see you there!
Nov 17: Austenesque Reviews
Nov 18: Diary of an Eccentric
Nov 19: From Pemberley to Milton
Nov 20: Interests of a Jane Austen Girl
Nov 23: Babbling of a Bookworm
Nov 24: Savvy Verse & Wit
Nov 25: My Vices & Weaknesses My favourite: The Newlywed Game
Nov 27: My Jane Austen Book Club
Dec 1: So Little Time
Dec 2: More Agreeably Engaged
FIVE STARS ~ REVIEW
“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.” –Roald Dahl
I love that photo on the cover: Warning: this review may contain *** SPOILERS *** As stated in the title, this is a Pride and Prejudice alternate universe… which means anything goes. And so, it does. Wow! Magic abounded in France and when the Terror hit, those that managed to escape brought it to the British shores. RATING: MA: listen carefully… I said MA and that means MATURE audience and no one… no one should read this who has not reached a certain age. I’m not sure I should be reading it. I blushed to the roots of my hair. I’m not sure if this qualifies as a bodice-ripper but it seemed close to me. It was graphic and descriptive and I don’t think virgins would do… what they did… the first time. I mean, seriously. OK, enough of that. TRIGGER WARNING: there are a few violent scenes that might be hard to read for some. One in particular involves a kidnapping, bondage, and a rape attempt [unsuccessful]. Just saying.
What I liked: I love a Large-And-In-Charge Darcy. OMG! Was he ever? My heart skipped a beat when he entered a scene. Lizzy was right behind him only we didn’t have a clear picture of her. The author doled out bits and pieces of her story all throughout the book and she didn’t come into all her glory until the very end. Again… OMG!! You’ll have to wait for it but it is well worth it. We have a big surprise with another of my favorite characters… our dear Colonel Fitzwilliam. This man was beyond any JAFF description I’ve read of him. Oh MY! My heart skipped another beat. I’ve got to stop drinking Mt Dew before I read a story. Whew! Take Austen’s male P&P characters, who were strong, to begin with, and add powers to them and it will take your breath away. It seems the author was surprising me on every page. ICNPID, seriously, I could not put it down. It was 2:00 a.m. when I finally crashed and burned. And that was from the story and not because I was tired. Whew! I’m too old for this.
“The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.” –W.B. Yeats
There were surprises galore. I was constantly trying to close my mouth because something jaw-dropping was happening every few pages. Caroline Bingley, the superior sister, has always denigrated the Bennet sisters as being below her… well, let me tell you… oh, that would be a spoiler. I can’t say. Mr. and Mrs. Bennet both have a surprise reveal that made me catch my breath… again… jaw-dropping. Who are these people? OMG! Like canon, Collins notified Lady Catherine of the betrothal of his unworthy cousin to her nephew Darcy and she arrived under a full head of steam. The biggest surprise was when she asked about Lizzy’s relations… ‘but who’s your mother?’ Jaw-dropping… and that part of the story immediately turned-on-a-dime into something completely out of this world. Nothing was the same from here on.
Wickham: I need something stronger than SBRB… I mean… seriously, this guy was evil incarnate. He was the devil’s spawn and gleefully mistreated ODC. La! I nearly had a fainting spell when he was working his dirty magic and brought out the twins, Tweedledee and Tweedledum and… I can’t say. I’m not even going to mention Lydia… that girl.
What I didn’t like: Oh, I hate to say it… but I became a bit bogged down with the lineage of ODC, their family histories, the nobility, all the titles, [Caroline would have another cow, for sure, if only she knew], the different societies, their powers, and the abilities of each. Read slowly at this point so you don’t miss something important. Also, **** SPOILER**** I never like to read where ODC anticipates their vows. This just seemed like an excuse to have a sex scene. **** End Spoiler ****
I love a good epilogue but felt like a few threads were left dangling. Maybe my wanting more was the goal. If that was the case… it worked as I have questions. 9-14-20 I borrowed this through the KU program. I highly recommend this for those who love something completely different.
I love that photo on the cover: Warning: this review may contain *** SPOILERS *** As stated in the title, this is a Pride and Prejudice alternate universe… which means anything goes. And so, it does. Wow! Magic abounded in France and when the Terror hit, those that managed to escape brought it to the British shores. RATING: MA: listen carefully… I said MA and that means MATURE audience and no one… no one should read this who has not reached a certain age. I’m not sure I should be reading it. I blushed to the roots of my hair. I’m not sure if this qualifies as a bodice-ripper but it seemed close to me. It was graphic and descriptive and I don’t think virgins would do… what they did… the first time. I mean, seriously. OK, enough of that. TRIGGER WARNING: there are a few violent scenes that might be hard to read for some. One in particular involves a kidnapping, bondage, and a rape attempt [unsuccessful]. Just saying.
What I liked: I love a Large-And-In-Charge Darcy. OMG! Was he ever? My heart skipped a beat when he entered a scene. Lizzy was right behind him only we didn’t have a clear picture of her. The author doled out bits and pieces of her story all throughout the book and she didn’t come into all her glory until the very end. Again… OMG!! You’ll have to wait for it but it is well worth it. We have a big surprise with another of my favorite characters… our dear Colonel Fitzwilliam. This man was beyond any JAFF description I’ve read of him. Oh MY! My heart skipped another beat. I’ve got to stop drinking Mt Dew before I read a story. Whew! Take Austen’s male P&P characters, who were strong, to begin with, and add powers to them and it will take your breath away. It seems the author was surprising me on every page. ICNPID, seriously, I could not put it down. It was 2:00 a.m. when I finally crashed and burned. And that was from the story and not because I was tired. Whew! I’m too old for this.
“The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.” –W.B. Yeats
There were surprises galore. I was constantly trying to close my mouth because something jaw-dropping was happening every few pages. Caroline Bingley, the superior sister, has always denigrated the Bennet sisters as being below her… well, let me tell you… oh, that would be a spoiler. I can’t say. Mr. and Mrs. Bennet both have a surprise reveal that made me catch my breath… again… jaw-dropping. Who are these people? OMG! Like canon, Collins notified Lady Catherine of the betrothal of his unworthy cousin to her nephew Darcy and she arrived under a full head of steam. The biggest surprise was when she asked about Lizzy’s relations… ‘but who’s your mother?’ Jaw-dropping… and that part of the story immediately turned-on-a-dime into something completely out of this world. Nothing was the same from here on.
Wickham: I need something stronger than SBRB… I mean… seriously, this guy was evil incarnate. He was the devil’s spawn and gleefully mistreated ODC. La! I nearly had a fainting spell when he was working his dirty magic and brought out the twins, Tweedledee and Tweedledum and… I can’t say. I’m not even going to mention Lydia… that girl.
What I didn’t like: Oh, I hate to say it… but I became a bit bogged down with the lineage of ODC, their family histories, the nobility, all the titles, [Caroline would have another cow, for sure, if only she knew], the different societies, their powers, and the abilities of each. Read slowly at this point so you don’t miss something important. Also, **** SPOILER**** I never like to read where ODC anticipates their vows. This just seemed like an excuse to have a sex scene. **** End Spoiler ****
I love a good epilogue but felt like a few threads were left dangling. Maybe my wanting more was the goal. If that was the case… it worked as I have questions. 9-14-20 I borrowed this through the KU program. I highly recommend this for those who love something completely different.
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