Wednesday, November 22, 2017

What Are You Reading? ~ Nov. 22, 2017

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What are you Reading?  Let me know what your current read is, what you recently finish reading, and what you plan on reading next! 

Oh, my word! I've been so busy getting ready for Thanksgiving I forgot to get this post up! Lol! 

Here's my list:


I'm currently reading Holidays with Jane: Thankful Hearts by Rebecca M. Fleming, Jennifer Becton, Melissa Buell, Nancy Kelley, Cecilia Gray, and Jessica Grey. I'm really enjoying these short stories! I love how they've each taken one of Jane Austen's six published novels, condensed it down, modernizing them in very clever, well thought out ways! 



I recently finished Sunset Clause (Southern Fraud Thriller, Bk 6) by J.W. Becton. I love it! Hopefully, I'll get a review up soon. 







What's next? I think I may read The Young Elites by Marie Lu. 









Disclaimer: Links to Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provided, I will receive a small commission. Thanks!




I'm linking up with This Week In Books hosted by Lipsyy Lost & Found.


And with Sam @ Taking on a World of Words

Happy Thanksgiving!!

So, tell me, what are you reading? 

Thursday, November 16, 2017

President Darcy Giveaway Winner!

Hello, my friends! I have the winner of the President Darcy giveaway! I hope you enjoyed Victoria Kincaid's post about "the Beast"!  If you missed it, you could check it out here. I'm looking forward to reading President Darcy, and I hope you are too! 



Without further ado, the winner pick by Random.org is:


KateB




Congratulations!

Many thanks to all who left comments! I appreciate you!



Buy: Amazon
Add to Goodreads.

FTC Disclaimer: Link to Amazon - I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provided, I will receive a small commission. Thanks!

Wednesday, November 15, 2017

What Are You Reading? ~ Nov. 15, 2017

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What are you Reading?  Let me know what your current read is, what you recently finish reading, and what you plan on reading next! 

Here's my list: 

I'm currently reading Sunset Clause (Southern Fraud Thriller Book 6) by J.W. Becton. I'm so happy to be with Julia and Vincent again! Each book has its own mystery, but the set has a continuing mystery that's finally going to be solved as this is the last of the series. I'm going to miss Julia and Vincent! 

I recently finished re-reading Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling. As always, it was great to read!






What's next? As we are coming up to Thanksgiving here in the States, I thought maybe I'd read, Holidays with Jane: Thankful Hearts (Bk 5), an anthology of short stories written by Rebecca M. Fleming, Jennifer Becton, Melissa Buell, Nancy Kelley, Cecilia Gray, and Jessica Grey.






Disclaimer: Links to Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provided, I will receive a small commission. Thanks!





I'm linking up with This Week In Books hosted by Lipsyy Lost & Found.


And with Sam @ Taking on a World of Words


So, tell me, what are you reading? Please leave a comment or a link. Thanks!

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

'Chance and Circumstance' by Kara Louise ~ Guest Post & #Giveaway!

Hello, Friends! I have a treat for you today! Kara Louise is stopping by with a fun guest post, and a chance to win a copy of her new book, Chance and Circumstance! Details for the giveaway are at the bottom of the post.





Jane Austen and “Beauty and the Beast”

I want to thank Candy for allowing me to come and share with you today in celebration of my new book, Chance and Circumstance. Candy and I met seven years ago when she came to a book signing I did in Phoenix. She drove all the way
up from Tucson! There were several who came that day that I still consider good friends. Some from that group met again in Phoenix for lunch a few years later and spent three hours in a restaurant called Darcy McGees. Boy, it was fun.

For those of you who know Candy, you know she loves Disneyland, so I thought there couldn’t be anything better to talk about on her blog than something Disney. Having a three-year-old granddaughter, we watch a lot of Disney films and listen to the music over and over. She always has her favorite, and right now it is Beauty and the Beast.

In honor of Candy and my granddaughter, I thought I would share with you today my observations comparing “Beauty and the Beast” to Jane Austen’s novels. There have been several blog posts comparing B&B to “Pride and Prejudice,” and while I will touch on a few of those comparisons, I want to encompass her other novels. 

So let’s go!

1) Northanger Abbey –NA wins with the most similarities. The dark, sinister castle inhabited by a hideous beast and a young lady who gets thrown into a dungeon ties in perfectly to the Gothic novel aspect of Northanger Abbey. There is also the ‘west wing’ of the castle where Belle is warned not to go, but does. In NA, Catherine does the same thing when warned not to go into Henry Tilney’s late mother’s room.  In B&B, Belle views her little town – a quiet village – as a place where nothing happens, and longs to go where there is adventure, much like Miss Morland, who says, “If adventures will not befall a young lady in her own village, she must seek them abroad.” We also see Belle’s interest in reading, and while Catherine read mainly Gothic novels, we see Belle also reading romance novels, as she sings about them (and her little village) in the song, “Belle.” You can read the lyrics and listen to it here: https://genius.com/Emma-watson-belle-lyrics.

2) Persuasion – The Beast realizes, as Belle leaves his castle, that ‘she’ will never leave him; she has become a part of him that will always be with him.  He sings about this in the wonderful song, Evermore, sung by Dan Stevens. This is true also of Capt. Wentworth. Eight years has passed since he last saw Anne, yet he still loves her. If you have not heard the song, Evermore, you simply must listen to it! Here is a link to the song and the great lyrics: https://genius.com/Dan-stevens-evermore-lyrics. What woman would not want a man to love her so much he never forgets her to the point he feels she will always be with him? Whenever my granddaughter hears that song, she says it makes her sad because the Beast is sad when he sings it. It warms my heart that she understands this at the age of three!

3) Mansfield Park –I felt that B&B’s Gaston, the conceited, but handsome young man who is determined to get Belle to marry him, is very much like Henry Crawford. He knows all the women fall for him, but he is determined to have the one who isn’t at all interested. Unlike MP, however, Belle is beautiful, while Fanny Price is not considered to be so.

4) Emma РAh, yes! Emma, the matchmaker. I compare her to all the servants in the castle who became animated objects due to the curse РMrs. Potts, the teapot, Lumi̬re, the candlestick, and Cogsworth, the clock, etc. They know there is someone who can break the spell, and begin doing whatever they can to bring Belle and the Beast together in their matchmaking schemes. Also, both Belle and Emma have lost their mothers and are wholeheartedly devoted to their fathers.

5) Sense and Sensibility – OK, I struck out, here. Perhaps one of the readers here can find a similarity.  

6) Finally, Pride and Prejudice – I think Darcy can also be compared to the Beast, as he is very disagreeable in the beginning. But he is also like him in the same way Wentworth is. While we don’t see Darcy pining for Elizabeth as long as Wentworth pined for Anne, we see him on two different occasions, months apart, feeling the same admiration for her as he did earlier. And one of those times was after she had angrily refused his offer of marriage!  Then there is Elizabeth. She can be compared to Belle in that they are both avid readers and walkers, and they eventually come to see and bring out the best in Darcy and the beast. 

Now, what about my new book, “Chance and Circumstance?” It is a Pride and Prejudice variation, and I have changed things up a bit. Here is the book description: 


Chance brings about an early encounter between Charles Bingley and Elizabeth Bennet soon after his move into Netherfield. He soon begins to favour this pretty and lively young lady. Circumstances have kept Jane Bennet and Mr. Darcy from the neighbourhood, thereby changing the events that Jane Austen penned in "Pride and Prejudice."

When Mr. Darcy finally arrives, will he be able to keep from interfering when he meets this young lady his friend so greatly admires? When Jane returns from touring the Lake District with her aunt and uncle, will the young gentleman who returns with her prove to be better suited for her than Mr. Bingley ever was?

In this "Pride and Prejudice" variation, chance and circumstance greatly affect the way several of Jane Austen's characters arrive at their happily ever after, but not necessarily in the way you think.

When Bingley meets Elizabeth, they are both attracted to each other’s lively personality. When Darcy comes onto the scene, his friend is well on his way to being in love with her and has begun to single her out. Jane is up in the Lake District with the Gardiners, and with her away from home, Bingley has eyes only for Elizabeth. It will be a long, convoluted journey for Darcy and Elizabeth to get together, much like it is for Belle and the Beast, but I hope you will enjoy the ride!

And one more thing: In the song, Belle, which I mentioned above, Belle sings about her favorite part of the novel when the heroine meets her Prince Charming but doesn’t realize it’s him until Chapter 3. Well, in Chance and Circumstance, it takes quite a bit longer for Elizabeth to realize who her Prince Charming is. In fact, when I sing that song, I change the words to Chapter twenty-three! 

If you would like to read about half of the story, I posted 14 chapters online. You can read them here: http://austenvariations.com/april-showers-elizabeths-walk/

What other similarities have you seen in Beauty and the Beast and Jane Austen’s novels? I would love to hear some on Sense and Sensibility!

Thanks for coming by, and I hope you will enjoy the book. Good luck to you all in the giveaway!


Thanks again, Candy! 

It's my pleasure, Kara! Oh, but you're killing me here with Bingley and Elizabeth! And what, Jane meets someone else?! Haha! I guess I'm going to have to read the book to see how everything turns out! :)







Chance and Circumstance by Kara Louise 

Release Date: October 30th, 2017 
Publisher: Heartworks Publications 
Pages: 297

A Pride and Prejudice Variation.





Buy: Amazon
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FTC Disclaimer: Link to Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provided, I will receive a small commission. Thanks! 



* * * GIVEAWAY * * *

It's giveaway time! Kara Louise is giving away one copy of Chance and Circumstance! To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter below! 


  • One person will win a paperback (U.S. only) or e-copy (Open Internationally) of Chance and Circumstance.
  • Winner will be randomly selected by Rafflecopter.
  • Last day to enter is Nov. 21, 2017, 11:59 pm, Pacific Time.

Good luck!




a Rafflecopter giveaway


Many thanks to Kara Louise for offering one of my readers a copy of her new book! 

If you have any trouble entering through Rafflecopter, please, send me an email. You can find my email at the top of the sidebar at the red envelope icon. 

So, do you know of any other Beauty and the Beast and Jane Austen comparisons?  

Monday, November 13, 2017

The Ones Who Got Away by Roni Loren ~ Excerpt & #Giveaway!

Hello, Friends! I have some exciting news! How would you like to win a print ACR of The Ones Who Got Away by Roni Loren's?! Well, here's your chance! Sourcebooks Casablanca is giving away a copy to one of my readers! Woot! 




The Ones Who Got Away by Roni Loren

“Phenomenal. Gets my highest recommendation!” —LORELEI JAMES, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author   

It's been twelve years since tragedy struck the senior class of Long Acre High School. Only a few students survived that fateful night—a group the media dubbed The Ones Who Got Away.   

Liv Arias thought she'd never return to Long Acre—until a documentary brings her and the other survivors back home. Suddenly her old flame, Finn Dorsey, is closer than ever, and their attraction is still white-hot. When a searing kiss reignites their passion, Liv realizes this rough-around-the-edges cop might be exactly what she needs…   

Liv's words cut off as Finn got closer. The man approaching was nothing like the boy she'd known. The bulky football muscles had streamlined into a harder, leaner package and the look in his deep green eyes held no trace of boyish innocence.

Pre-order: Amazon
Add to Goodreads.

FTC Disclaimer: Link to Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provided, I will receive a small commission. Thanks! 


Excerpt:

     She bit her lip. Of course with his authoritative tone, her mind put him in a uniform and some aviators. She’d never had a particular fetish for men in uniform, especially after her own run-in with the police. But the thought of Finn wearing one and manhandling her a bit had her reconsidering. She would definitely get out of the vehicle. Maybe even let him cuff her. And as inappropriate as the thought was, considering the circumstances, it was a welcome respite from her nightmare. She cleared her throat. “I think you pull it off just fine.”

     His dimple appeared beneath the stubble. “You’re blushing, Arias.”

     “I am not.” She tipped up her chin. “I’m just…still flushed from all the adrenaline.”

     “Uh-huh. Or you’ve got a secret cop fetish.”

     “Stop flirting.” She pointed a finger at him.

     “Am I flirting?” he asked innocently.

     “Yes. And that’s not allowed. You yourself said that kiss was a mistake. So don’t come prancing around here half-dressed with your Batman abs and talking about where to put my hands. No one likes a tease, Dorsey.”

     His grin turned roguish. “I said that kiss was a mistake, not a regret.”

     “Finn.”

     “And Batman abs?” He grabbed the lapels of the robe like he was going to open it and check. “These old things?”

     She stretched out her leg and kicked his thigh. “Stop it. You’re terrible.”

     He lifted his palms in surrender and laughed. “At least you’re smiling now.”

     “Yeah, well, there’s that.” 

     It seemed even after all the years had passed, Finn still had the ability to get her mind off things. When her mom was going through chemo and everything was doom and gloom at home, Finn could somehow figure out ways not just to make her laugh, but to do so in a way that didn’t make her feel guilty for feeling a moment of happiness. 

     She leaned forward, bracing herself on one hand, and planted a kiss on his cheek. “Thank you.”

     “For what?”

     She looked up, meeting his gaze, and realized how close she still was. Close enough to see the flecks of gray in his green eyes, close enough to kiss him. She wet her lips. “Being you. I’ve missed that guy.”

     His Adam’s apple bobbed, his gaze flicking to her mouth before sliding upward again. Her heart picked up speed, and his hand closed around her upper arm. “Liv…”

     “I…” Whatever she was going to say died on her lips because the way he was looking at her made her forget her words. There was want there in those green depths—lust—but there was something else. Something that made her breath stall. Need mixed with something more dangerous. A wildness.

     A curl of heat went up her spine, twining with unease. So much of her wanted to give into it, to see what exactly was simmering there between them. Just grab him and say to hell with it all and make the sheets even sweatier than they already were. But as much as he was drawing her in with that look, he was also warning her off. She didn’t know how she got that sense, but it was there, loud and clear. Push me away. Run. He wanted her to stop this.

     He’d told her outside what he had to offer—nothing but a one night stand. And though right now that sounded all kinds of enticing, she wasn’t going to go there. He didn’t want this. Plus, even sober, it would be too close to how she’d handled her anxiety in college. She didn’t need to chase away her nightmare with a hook-up she’d regret in the morning. She wasn’t that girl anymore.

     “Finn.” The word was strained. 

     “Yes?”

     She swallowed past the dryness in her throat. “We should get my stuff moved. It’s late.”

     He stared at her for a moment and then his grip on her arm softened, his breath tickled her hair. “Right. Of course.”

     He released her and she climbed off the bed with shaky limbs. She wouldn’t let herself look at him. She needed a task—something, anything, to get her mind off the man sitting on her bed. She packed up in record time, and Finn retrieved his gun from the drawer, tucking it in the pocket of the robe. No words were exchanged. When she was done gathering her things, he helped her roll her bag down the hallway to his room. 

     He let her inside and quickly rounded up his own stuff. He moved with quiet efficiency, awkwardness creeping into the silence between them and spreading into every corner of the room. 

     She leaned against the dresser, watching him, hating the growing divide. “Hey, Finn.”

     He looked up, his hands full of computer wires. 

     “I know the kiss was a mistake and things have gotten a little weird and a lot personal tonight. But this—you and I having some time to talk—it was good. I think that’s what I missed the most when everything happened. Losing you as a friend.” 

     His stance relaxed. “Yeah?”

     She crossed her arms and shrugged. “Yeah. We were good at the kissing, but we were better at the talking. I never had to fake stuff with you.”

     His eyebrow arched.

     She laughed. “That’s not what I mean, Mr. Mind-In-the-Gutter. I mean that things were easy between us. That’s hard to find with people. I’m realizing that now. I don’t…have that.”

     He tucked the computer cords in his bag and straightened, his watchful gaze making her fidgety.

     “And that’s not your problem, obviously.” She was rambling now but couldn’t bring herself to stop. “But I opened that stupid time capsule tonight and got to see a big long list of things I wanted to accomplish in life and haven’t. I was supposed to this. I was supposed to that.” She rolled her eyes. “I’m going to name my freaking autobiography Supposed To by Olivia Arias.”

     He frowned. “Liv.”

     She shook her head. “It’s fine. It is what it is. But all I’m saying is that I don’t want another regret added to the list. So I just thought you should know that you meant—mean—something to me. And maybe you could give a flying flip about me. I have no clue what your life looks like now, but I would rather not leave Long Acre later today and go back to being strangers. Because people you don’t have to fake it for are hard to find. So…yeah, that’s all I wanted to say. I’d like us to stay in touch.”

     The corners of his mouth twitched. “That’s all you had to say?”

     “Hey, I’m a photographer not an editor.”

     “I thought you were a web designer.”

     Her lips parted, closed. 

     He smiled. “Maybe you’re already making more changes than you think.”

     She let out a breath. “Maybe I’m just tired.”

     Finn stepped around the bed and held out his hand. “Give me your phone.”

     She was confused for a second, her brain running on too much adrenaline and too little sleep, but eventually his request registered. She reached into her bag to pull out her cell.

     He took it from her and typed a few things and then handed it back to her. “You can always call me, Liv. For anything.”

She took her phone back, her hope sinking a bit. “Right. Thanks.”

     He kissed the top of her head and then grabbed his stuff. “I’m going to get out of your way so you can shower and rest. If you need anything before breakfast, give me holler.”

     “Thanks.”

     He stepped out into the hallway without a backward glance and headed to the room they’d left, obviously more than a little eager to get the hell away from her. She didn’t blame him. She’d apparently become the queen of awkward conversation tonight. 

     With a sigh, she locked her door and made her way over to the bed and collapsed onto it. Spent. Exhausted. And a little frustrated. 

     Finn had taken her words like she wanted someone to call when she needed help, but she wasn’t in the market for a therapist or a savior. She was in the market for a friend. 

     But maybe she was grasping for something that didn’t exist with Finn anymore. Maybe she was just being nostalgic. They weren’t in high school. They didn’t live in the same place. They couldn’t just hang out. The time for that had past. She needed to be okay with that.

     If he wasn’t interested in keeping in touch, she wasn’t going to chase him. 

     She checked the time on her phone to see how many hours she needed to kill before breakfast. But instead of seeing the time, she saw the address book entry Finn had made. 

     His phone number.

     Filed under Batman.

     And a note beneath: You will never be a stranger to me.





Ooh! *sigh* I want to read more!


* * * GIVEAWAY * * *


It's giveaway time! Sourcebooks Casablanca is generously giving one of my readers a print ARC copy of The Ones Who Got Away! Open U.S. residents only. To enter, file out the Rafflecopter below!


  • One person will win a print ARC copy of The Ones Who Got Away 
  • This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.
  • Winner will be randomly selected by Rafflecopter.
  • Last day to enter is Nov. 2o, 2017, 11:59 pm, Pacific Time.

Good luck!



a Rafflecopter giveaway


Many thanks to Sourcebooks for having this giveaway with me!

So, do you want to read this book as much as me? 

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

What Are You Reading? ~ Nov. 8, 2017

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What are you Reading?  Let me know what your current read is, what you recently finish reading, and what you plan on reading next! 

Here's my list: 


I'm currently re-reading Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling. Of course, I'm enjoying it! 






I recently finished A Most Singular Venture by Donna Fletcher Crow. It was pretty good. A mystery centering around some first edition Jane Austen books! Although I'm not much of a mystery reader, I enjoyed the discussions about Jane Austen's Emma. Along with the tour and history of Jane's London.  






What's next? I'm not sure. 

Disclaimer: Links to Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provided, I will receive a small commission. Thanks!


I'm linking up with This Week In Books hosted by Lipsyy Lost & Found.


And with Sam @ Taking on a World of Words


So, tell me, what are you reading? Please leave a comment or a link. Thanks!

Tuesday, November 7, 2017

President Darcy by Victoria Kincaid ~ Guest Post & #Giveaway!

Hello, friends! Victoria Kincaid is here with us today to share a little about what went into the writing of her new book President Darcy! Plus, she has a lovely excerpt to share. She is also giving away a copy of her new book! Details of the giveaway are at the bottom of the post! 




Thanks for having me as a guest, Candy!  Usually, when I write a Pride and Prejudice variation, it requires research about various Regency historical events and customs.  How did they celebrate Christmas?  What would a Regency-era library look like?  How long would it take to get from Pemberley to London?
  
I thought that writing a modern Pride and Prejudice variation like President Darcy wouldn’t require much research.  After all, I have a pretty good idea of our customs and travel times from one place to another in the U.S.  Then I realized how different the president’s life is from that of ordinary Americans, and I knew I had to do a whole different kind of research. 😊  

A lot of what I found out about the presidential life was less glamorous than I expected.  For example: the presidential limousine.  I expected it to be a typical limo—seating around eight to ten people in the back.  That’s not the case at all.  At most it can seat five in the back.  The president and one other person facing forward and three people facing backward.  The president’s seat does have a flip-up desk and a satellite phone, but the interior is a lot more cramped and less glamorous than I had initially imagined, as you can see from this picture. 




Why is it so small on the inside?  Safety.  Although the presidential limo may look like a limo on the outside, it is built like no other vehicle on earth.  To start with, it’s constructed on a truck platform; the underside and sides of the car are bullet- and bomb-proof, and it’ equipped with its own tear-gas canisters.  The doors are eight-inches thick, comparable to the doors on a Boeing 757 airplane (as you can see from this picture of a Secret Service Agent holding open a door).  All that extra armor doesn’t allow a lot of room for extra passengers.  No wonder it’s nicknamed “the Beast”! 


  


It also has its own oxygen tanks (in case of a gas attack), a state-of-the-art GPS and communication center for the driver, night-vision cameras, and a supply of the president’s blood in case he is injured.  The windows are five-inches thick, but none open except for the driver’s, which only opens a few inches so he can pay tolls or speak with someone.  The Beast travels everywhere with the president (including on international trips), and the driver is a Secret Service Agent who has taken rigorous escape and evasion training.  You’ll notice that when the president disembarks from an airplane, the Secret Service often positions the limo at the base of the stairs so that it can shield him as he climbs into the car.   Below is a diagram of some of the features of the Beast (written for a British audience for some reason, thus “tyres,” “boot,” and “defence,” but I guess Mr. Darcy would approve.)




Excerpt from President Darcy:

     Elizabeth was pushed to the side as her father, tired of waiting, waved his hand in the president’s face.  “Mr. President?  John Bennet.” 

     President Darcy dropped Elizabeth’s hand so he could take her father’s. Freed from the power of his gaze, Elizabeth stumbled backward and a few feet away from the knot of people surrounding the president—which now included a couple Secret Service agents and Press Secretary Bob Hilliard. 

     Yet the rest of the world seemed to continue apace, unaware that a man had set her senses reeling.  And not just any man—the president!  Jane conversed animatedly with Mr. Bingley while Kitty and Lydia fidgeted impatiently as they waited to greet the president.  Beside them, Fanny absently patted her shellacked hair, no doubt scanning the room for famous faces.
  
     Hadn’t they noticed the difference in Elizabeth?  A simple touch of his hand had reordered her world.  Well, of course I had a powerful reaction to meeting him.  He’s the president. Duh.  The leader of the free world and all that. Naturally, he’s charismatic and holds people’s attention.  That’s what politicians do.

     Still, Elizabeth had the niggling sensation that he had been the one to prolong the contact—that he had been unwilling to release her hand.  No.  That was absurd.  A trick of her imagination.   In fact, he was probably desperately wishing for some hand sanitizer right now.

     Her father’s voice—always the loudest in any room— intruded on Elizabeth’s thoughts.  “I’m the founder and owner of On-a-Stick, Inc.,” he said proudly.
  
     President Darcy didn’t seem like the kind of person who had eaten anything off a stick in his entire life. “On-a-Stick?” the president repeated blankly.

     Elizabeth winced.  There was no stopping her father now.  
“Surely you know about Meatballs On-a-Stick?” her father said eagerly.

     The president managed a polite smile.  “Your company makes those?” 

     “That was our first product,” Mr. Bennet explained.  Elizabeth could have recited his next words along with him.  “We now sell 106 separate On-a-Stick products.”  The president nodded, but his eyes scanned the room as if hoping for a rescuer.  “We have Ravioli On-a-Stick, Cookies On-a-Stick, Granola Bars On-a-Stick, Eggs On-a-Stick —the eggs are hard boiled, of course.” Her father paused for the same little chuckle he always gave at this point in his spiel.

     “Of course,” the president responded dryly.  Maybe politicians took classes in how to feign interest in boring topics.

     “You have a younger sister, don’t you?” her father persisted.  “We could send her a case of Doughnuts On-a-Stick that she could share with her little friends.”

     President Darcy gazed down at John Bennet.  “Georgiana is a sophomore at Harvard and rows crew.  She has to watch her carbs.”

     Elizabeth’s father continued, undaunted.  There was something almost impressive about his ability to remain oblivious to scorn.  “Soup On-a-Stick!” he announced.  The president’s eyebrows shot up.  “We put it in a little cup and put the cup on a stick.  It’s frozen until you’re ready to eat it.”

     “I see…” the president said slowly.  “Does this enhance the soup-eating experience?”

     His tone was so dry that her father missed the hint of disdain, but Elizabeth was offended on his behalf.
  
     Mr. Bennet continued, “Lasagna On-a-Stick was a real misstep; I don’t mind admitting that to you…”

     Did he plan to describe the marketability of each of the 106 items?  Elizabeth’s stomach twisted, and her cheeks burned. Why did he have to do that here?  She hardly needed additional reasons for embarrassment.
   
     The monologue continued: “Cheese On-a-Stick makes a great appetizer.  You should consider serving it here at the White House.  We have cheddar, American, mozzarella, and brie…”

     President Darcy’s lips curved into a cold imitation of a smile.  Elizabeth noticed his gold cufflinks and Patek Philippe watch; his tuxedo was bespoke and must have cost thousands.  As a child, he had probably eaten his lollipops with a knife and fork.

     Her father was in full-on marketing mode now.  “Sticks are a big improvement over toothpicks when serving cheese…More sanitary and…”

     If Elizabeth had to endure one more minute of this humiliation, she might scream.  She sidled up to her father and tried to catch his eye.

     “I’m sure children enjoy your products,” the president murmured. It was not a compliment. Oh no.  Now he’s done it.
  
     “Not just children,” her father corrected sternly.  “Our research shows that 65 percent of our products are consumed by adults—”

     “Indeed?”
  
     “Yes, and—”

     That diatribe could go on for five minutes, and President Darcy’s eyes already had a glazed and distant look.  Elizabeth grabbed her father’s elbow.  “Dad, we should let the president greet other guests.”

     Her father eyed the rest of his family awaiting their turns.  “Oh.  Yes. We can continue this conversation later,” he reassured the president.

     The other man’s lips twitched.  “Of course.”  Elizabeth had barely drawn her father away before President Darcy reached for Jane’s hand with a rather fixed smile on his face.






President Darcy by Victoria Kincaid

Blurb: 

A modern adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice 

President William Darcy has it all: wealth, intelligence, and the most powerful job in the country. Despite what his friends say, he is not lonely in the White House. He’s not. And he has vowed not to date while he’s in office. Nor is he interested in Elizabeth Bennet. She might be pretty and funny and smart, but her family is nouveau riche and unbearable. Unfortunately, he encounters her everywhere in Washington, D.C.—making her harder and harder to ignore. Why can’t he get her out of his mind? 

Elizabeth Bennet enjoys her job with the Red Cross and loves her family, despite their tendency to embarrass her. At a White House state dinner, they cause her to make an unfavorable impression on the president, who labels her unattractive and uninteresting. Those words are immediately broadcast on Twitter, so the whole world now knows the president insulted her. Elizabeth just wants to avoid the man—who, let’s admit it, is proud and difficult. For some reason he acts all friendly when they keep running into each other, but she knows he’s judging her. 

Eventually, circumstances force Darcy and Elizabeth to confront their true feelings for each other, with explosive results. But even if they can find common ground, Mr. Darcy is still the president—with limited privacy and unlimited responsibilities—and his enemies won’t hesitate to use his feelings for Elizabeth against him. 

Can President Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet find their way to happily ever after? 

A contemporary romance
 
99238 words

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FTC Disclaimer: Link to Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provided, I will receive a small commission. Thanks!

About the Author

Victoria has a Ph.D. in English literature and has taught composition to unwilling college students. Today she teaches business writing to willing office professionals and tries to give voice to the demanding cast of characters in her head.

She lives in Virginia with an overly affectionate cat, two children who are learning how much fun Austen’s characters can be, and a husband who fortunately is not jealous of Mr. Darcy. A lifelong Austen fan, Victoria has read more Jane Austen variations and sequels than she can count – and confesses to an extreme partiality for the Colin Firth miniseries version of Pride and Prejudice.



Connect with Victoria Kincaid



* * * GIVEAWAY * * *

It's giveaway time! Victoria Kincaid is giving away one copy of President Darcy to one lucky So little time... reader! To enter, please leave a comment below!

  • One person will one copy of President Darcy.
  • Winner's choice - paperback or E-copy
  • To enter the giveaway, please leave a comment below and include your e-mail address (please put parentheses around (at) and (dot).
  • Open Internationally
  • Last day to enter the giveaway is Nov. 14th, 2017, 11:59 PM Pacific Time.
Good luck! 

Thank you for stopping by today, Victoria! I found the information about the president's limo fascinating! I had no idea the windows were that thick! Wow! I loved the excerpt also. Poor Elizabeth! Lol! And many thanks for offering one of my readers a copy of your book! :)


So, what did you think about 'the Beast'? Pretty amazing, huh? Or what did you think about the excerpt? Do you like any kinds of food-on-a-stick?
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