Monica Fairview's Blog, page 42

Spiteful Spirits: A Top “Five” List of Spiteful Characters in Austen

What would Jane Austen have thought of our modern obsession with Halloween? Would she have ditched her Twinings tea for a pumpkin spice latte? Would she have given out unhealthy quantities of candy to trick-or-treaters—or would she have sent them home with nothing more than a witty insult?

Somehow, I don’t think she’d be in love with the commercialism of Halloween, but I do believe she’d have enjoyed our celebration of spiteful spirits. While Austen didn’t include zombies or sea monsters in her ...

Book Release Celebration and Giveaway: A Worthy Woman

So, a funny thing happened. I sort of finished the ebook for A Worthy Woman, so I just hit publish instead of sitting on it for a particular day or waiting for the paperback to be done. I would apologize for surprising everyone, but somehow, I don’t know that it will be necessary

For those who are on the fence, I will continue to post a couple more preview chapters here and on my website, but if you just want to cut to the chase and read it, you can find A Worthy Woman on Kindle and Kindle Unli...

Cover Reveal and Excerpt from Wits & Wagers

Its the cover reveal for Wits & Wagers!  I hope you’ll all forgive me, for I promised to draw a name at the end of September for someone to win a copy and then… I forgot.  But pretty please leave me a comment anyway and I will make good on both prizes at once,  I swear!

Hope you enjoy the excerpt below! Jane and Elizabeth have just returned to Hertfordshire from being in London and Lydia has some thoughts!

An excerpt from chapter 6

An hour later, the five Bennet sisters had gathered in Lizzy an...

P&P The Untold Stories: Elizabeth Reflects on the Assembly

Lizzy Agrees with Her Mother? – an uneasy prospect

October 16,1811

The Bennet ladies had only just settled into their carriage to commence their short journey home from the Meryton assembly when Lydia, obviously very well pleased with herself, burst forth with, “What a ball! I declare, it was as if the whole affair was organized specifically for my enjoyment. Did you notice? I was never without a partner, not for a single dance!”

“Nor was I!” said Kitty, not wanting to be left behind. “Poor Mar...

P&P The Untold Stories: Charlotte Lucas at the Meryton Assembly

Charlotte’s Evening at the Assembly

October 16, 1811

Not so many years ago, Charlotte had hated attending assemblies. Now they were among her chief pleasures, as she enjoyed the music and the opportunity to visit with her friends, but when she had been younger, she had been agonizingly aware that she might as well have been invisible to the young gentlemen in attendance. Their eyes would always slide past her to the prettier girls, and while any of them would have described her as a good sort,...

P&P The Untold Stories: Darcy at the Meryton Assembly

Mr. Darcy and the Insult

October 16, 1811

The haute ton, it was not.

Fitzwilliam Darcy was accustomed to being noticed, but not openly stared at. He sipped idly of his drink whenever some bold local appeared set to approach him, and gazed apathetically out at the uncivilized melee when he was left alone. One of the burdens of modern society—a man such as he was expected to make himself agreeable to everyone, no matter what his own wishes on the subject may be.

Bingley had scarcely entered the r...

A Gentleman of Worth Audiobook release and Chapter 1 of A Worthy Woman

Good morning and happy Tuesday! I am so excited to let you know A Gentleman of Worth is out on audiobook! Deborah Balm offered to return to narrate the second installment of the Montford Cousins series, and she did a fantastic job as always. The audiobook comes out just in time since I’ve almost completed the edits on book 3, A Worthy Woman and hope to have it out before the end of the month. You can refresh your memory on Nicholas and his gregarious nature before you read of his love story. Nic...

WIP Sneak Peek! by Jennifer Altman

Hello, friends! Happy autumn!

If you happened to read my last post, you may remember that I shared some fun facts about my current WIP (if you missed that post, you can read it HERE). So, today, I thought I would take the next step and share an actual excerpt from the book.

The following scenes occur early in the story. Darcy has recently arrived in London, having just escorted Georgiana from Ramsgate after her thwarted elopement with George Wickham. The opening scene takes place at Darcy House...

P&P The Untold Stories: Mr Bingley Goes to Town

Mr Bingley goes to town to fetch his sisters and Darcy for the Meryton assembly

October 9, 1811

Charles Bingley was in an exceptionally good mood. What an autumn it was going to be! For the first time ever, he would spend it at his estate. Well, he had only leased the Netherfield Park, not purchased it, but what difference did that truly make? The sentiment was the same. Having just spent a week there, he knew he had chosen well. At present, he was on his way to town. There had been one or two ...

P&P The Untold Stories: Mr. Bingley Returns Mr. Bennet’s Call

Now it’s Mr. Bingley’s turn!

October 7, 1811

In a few days Mr. Bingley returned Mr. Bennet’s visit, and sat about ten minutes with him in his library. – Pride & Prejudice

Five days had passed since Mr. Bennet had called on Mr. Bingley at Netherfield Park. The delay in returning the gentleman’s call was a result of the number of visits the gentleman had received from his neighbors. It appeared that there was not a man in the county who had not traveled down Bingley’s drive for the purpose of we...