Sarah Johnson's Blog: Sarah Johnson - My Peculiar World, page 5

New Release!!! Pursued – Leaving Bennet Behind Vol 3

 

Exciting news! I could not wait any longer, so I uploaded the files last night, and today the newest tale of the Leaving Bennet Behind saga – Pursued – is available in print and ebook format!

This is Mary’s story – and I know y’all have been patiently waiting for it. Still left is #4 – Kitty’s story – and #5 – Lydia’s story. These last two will be dramatically different in the book series than the original long story, so please have patience with me in getting them written.

 

Synopsis

The Bennet family changed dramatically when Mr Bennet nearly lost his life. The rekindled love between him and his wife encouraged a unifying bond amongst their five daughters. Their story unfolds as each eligible young lady walks down the aisle, taking her husband’s hand and forever leaving the name of Bennet behind.

 

Alexander Fitzwilliam, Viscount Primrose, has had his share of difficulties in dealing with society, including near scandal that could now cause him more heartache than when the rumors first began two years ago. Why? Miss Mary Bennet. Since the day he first saw her sitting beside the road covered in mud, he has not been able to put her out of his mind, and very soon his heart as well. Despite his determination in pursuing her good opinion, his attentions are not well received. Would the coming Season in London and summer at Pemberley be any different, or would she continue to avoid any further connection?

 

You can get Pursued on the following:

Amazon  |  Kobo  |  Barnes & Noble  |  CreateSpace

Saturday Sneak Peek: Pursued

Today’s sneak peek scene is taken from the new book, Pursued (Leaving Bennet Behind Series, vol 3). The book will be on pre-order next week, and available by the end of the month, so catch your first sneak peek here! To read more of Chapter 1, visit the Peculiar Ramblings Library. The following is the case sensitive password (including the !): AustenClassics!

You can also find books 1 and 2 of the Leaving Bennet Behind series on the Peculiar Ramblings Library, and for a limited time, Chosen is available for free (EBook)!

And now for the sneak peek scene…

 

Friday, April 3, 1812

Mary had to admit, Georgiana’s carriage was well-sprung. More so than any in which she had ever ridden, especially her father’s that bounced all around. She was fortunate enough to be in such luxury for the trip, unlike the rest of her family who now traveled directly behind them. They would stay with the Gardiners for only a week, but Mary was to stay at Darcy House the entire Season, and Elizabeth and her husband talked of her going to Pemberley with them as well. It was an experience she would not soon forget.

She looked over to her friend who lay in the bed fashioned for her comfort while traveling. Georgiana was fast asleep, the velvet, fur-lined blanket she adored, with the Darcy crest embroidered in the center, was tucked in around her and pulled up to her chin, keeping her warm. It was a peaceful sight.

Mary’s eyes moved to the two who sat across from her. Elizabeth was leaning against her husband who had his arm wrapped around her shoulders. She, too, was asleep, her hand resting gently on her expanding mid-section. Mary smiled when she thought of the couple having their first baby in the autumn.

Oh, what a memorable evening when the news of their expanding family was revealed to all! It was suspected by their friends and family for many weeks leading up to the announcement, but no one would dare ask until the couple was ready to tell their secret. Everyone knew they only awaited the arrival of the newly wedded Bingleys to complete those Elizabeth wished to be present for their announcement. It was no surprise, but felicitations were heard all around and a flourish of emotion from Mrs Bennet reminded them all quickly just how loved the baby would be. What was a surprise that evening was when her mother revealed the contents of a letter from the Gardiners in which it was said they too would be having another child around the same time as Elizabeth and Darcy. Mary chuckled to herself when her next thought was that Jane and Bingley may have a similar announcement by summer.

Darcy looked up from his book, his face questioning Mary, though he did not speak. When he saw her looking towards where Elizabeth’s hand rested, he too smiled, then he pulled his wife a little closer, drew the rug up over her shoulder from where it had fallen, and went back to reading his book in silence.

Mary was too excited to rest, so she pulled her journal from her bag and flipped through all the entries she had made since her last birthday when she received it. She would need a new one soon—she thought this one might last until her birthday again in June, but maybe not. She had pin money saved up for her Season in London though, so she would just have to purchase one if she ran out of pages.

Her thumb stopped on one entry, and her eyes scanned the words.

October 1, 1811

Mama is overjoyed with a new addition to the neighborhood. It is said a single gentleman of some wealth has taken on Netherfield Park, and Mama is determined he will be smitten with Jane. Who wouldn’t be though? She is the sweetest person, and only an ogre would not be taken with her beauty. I just hope he is as amiable as Mama wishes him to be.

As it turned out, the single gentleman was smitten with her—so much so that they were now married. She turned back a few pages to an entry a few weeks before.

September 18, 1811

What a birthday Kitty has had this year! Papa’s hound had her puppies today. Just how many pups can one dog have? I have never seen such a large litter before—eleven! I wonder if it is a record. Papa says they will be the talk of hunting season…

She smiled. Just as her father predicted, they were the talk of gatherings for many months, causing quite the quarrel among some of the gentlemen when they were old enough to be sold. She again flipped through the pages.

October 31, 1811

Today was the first day of Lizzy’s engagement to Mr Darcy. Not to be outdone however, Mr Bingley asked to court Jane. These two brave gentlemen will, I fear, soon find out of what mettle they are made. Mama was full of anxiety after they left this morning.

I wonder–will I ever marry?

Mary knew exactly what this entry contained. She had flipped back to it and read her list of requirements in a mate many times since that night when it was penned. Her finger drew down to the bottom of the page.

…what if I decide I do want to marry and yet no gentleman will have me? I know what torment Charlotte Lucas receives from the neighborhood for not marrying by her age… She could not help but chuckle at how it had all changed for Charlotte, and so quickly. Just yesterday she was married, and to an earl at that! Having stayed at Netherfield the last month where the earl was also a visitor, Mary watched as the romance between the two was unfolded, and she could not help but feel a pang at hoping she too would have that one day as well. Naturally her next thoughts turned to Lord Primrose, and her body reacted as it always did—her heart began to beat more rapidly and her palms began to sweat.

She shook her head slightly, determined to not think of him at this moment. Her eyes returned to her journal, but she could not stop herself from turning just a couple of pages back and reading the familiar messy entry, her first about him.

October 30, 1811

How could I have known what a tale I would have when I awoke this morning? If only we did not need more flowers for the tables tonight, but we did, so I decided to search for them on my own. What a disaster! I slid down a muddy embankment, nearly falling into the river, and lost my spectacles! Papa has joked often that without them I could not see a tree standing in front of me, but I learned today it is the absolute truth. As I sat on the side of the road, covered in mud and anxious as to how I was to return home, I was sent a savior—Alexander Fitzwilliam.

Unfortunately I had to ride on his horse, but he did offer to accompany me when he saw how frightened I am of the beasts. I can feel my cheeks flushing even now as I recall the terrifying moment when the horse moved unexpectedly and I, in turn, buried my face into the gentleman’s chest. Oh, what mortification I felt! How could I act so wantonly? This gentleman only meant to help me home; I am certain he did not wish to be accosted by me in a moment of fright.

If I am to be truthful though, and I know I must be, even if only here within these private pages of my journal, the moment was one I shall never forget. He drew his arms around me in an embrace I could only call magical, and I began to calm as his soothing voice washed over me. I have never felt such emotions welling within me before. It felt as if I belonged there his embrace. Even just writing those words I can once again feel the warmth of his presence around me and his eyes piercing into my soul. I was so close I could see small flecks of gold in his bright green eyes. I now sit in my chambers, having washed the mud away, and I cannot but wonder who this gentleman is. I have never seen him before, nor heard his name in conversation with others, and have no idea if I will ever see him again.

Mary’s heart pounded in her ears, and she knew her cheeks were aflame, but she could not stop reading. She glanced up to see that no one was looking at her, then continued on with the entry she made just a few hours later.

He is a viscount! A VISCOUNT! And even worse than that, he is Mr Darcy’s cousin! I felt such mortification as never before when he was introduced to me tonight at the dinner party. He even returned my spectacles! Knowing how much mud was on me when I returned home, I am certain he ruined his clothes today just searching for them. Why would he do that for me, a stranger?

Even worse than the headache I had from not having my spectacles for so long today was the ache that rose within me at hearing him tell his cousin about meeting me. “She had no bonnet, and her dress was at least six inches deep in mud. How she could have thought to be out like that is beyond me. She looked almost wild…”

Mary saw the tear streaked ink of the sentence that cut so deeply into her heart, and she felt her eyes begin to fill with tears even now. She must refrain from reading about him any longer, so instead she put her journal back into her bag and turned, curling into the corner of the carriage and drawing the rug on her lap up over her arms. As she dried her eyes she hoped Darcy did not see her tears, for she knew if he did he would question his wife later and Elizabeth would then ask her about it. This aching in her soul was not something she could discuss with anyone. Even after all these months, and many interactions since, she felt the stab of pain as those words he spoke that night echoed within her.

She was determined to not let it affect her any longer. She was to have her second Season, her first in London, and she would enjoy all the diversions without a second thought to what the viscount thought of her. Even if he was to be around quite often, she could learn to ignore the reactions her body had to him. Perhaps she would even find the person who she would marry while she was in Town?

 

To read the rest of Chapter 1, visit the Peculiar Ramblings Library. The following is the case sensitive password (including the !): AustenClassics!

Wordless Wednesday: Week 1

Peculiar Ramblings Guest Post: Melanie Schertz – The Good, the Bad, and the Really Disturbing

Melanie Schertz is a retired crime scene/lab technician who now spends time reading Pride and Prejudice variations, making jewelry, and most importantly, spending time with her children and grandchildren, as well as her dog, Mr Darcy, and her cat, Lizzy. Mr Darcy is being trained as a mobility assistance service dog.

Melanie has published nineteen Pride and Prejudice variation books, and all can be found on Amazon. Her blog is: http://melschertz.com

 

The Good, The Bad, and the Really Disturbing

By Melanie Schertz

It is easy to see the villains in most of Austen’s stories.  Many of them are so obvious, it is almost like a neon light above their heads which reads “BAD NEWS”.

We look at Willoughby in Sense and Sensibility.  He is the sort to live in the moment, have all the fun he can, and place blame on everyone but himself.  He got a girl pregnant, and rather than admit he made a mistake, he blames his sudden removal from Marianne to be due to his aunt’s decision to bless someone else with the living he thought he would inherit.  He placed Marianne’s reputation in jeopardy due to his “party boy” behavior, with no concern for her, which is clear when he runs off, not explaining anything to her.  Had he told her that he could not marry her, due to financial difficulties, and that he had to marry someone else for wealth, Marianne would have been able to move forward.  But then he would have had to deal with reality. And reality is not fun at times.  He is sort of an obvious bad guy who is so good, you love to hate him.

In Persuasion, there are so many “bad guys”, mainly in Anne Elliot’s family and her mother’s friend, Lady Russell.  They place Anne in a position of inferiority, and demand that she must wait on them and take care of their needs above her own.  I, for one, wanted to smack Anne’s father and her sisters, especially Mary.  Boo hoo, pity party, when their bad behavior is what put them into the position which Anne was expected to fix for them.  No one in her family wants Anne to find a life of her own, and especially do not want her to be happy.  If Anne were happily married and living her own life, it would take away from what she could do for them.  And Lady Russell is a snob, pure and simple.

Mansfield Park shows us the evil siblings who come to visit the neighborhood.  My favorite part is when Mary Crawford blames Fanny Price for Mary’s brother, Henry, running off with Fanny’s married cousin, Maria Rushworth.  According to Mary Crawford, had Fanny given Henry the encouragement he wanted, and accepted his offer of marriage, Henry would never have run off with a married woman.  Yet he had had an ongoing “relationship” with Maria even before she married Mr Rushworth.  The sort of young man he was, flirting with an engaged woman under the nose of her family and her intended, tells me that, even if Fanny had married him, Henry would not have kept himself faithful to her.  But it is Fanny’s fault for not putting herself in such a marriage.  I can understand that…NOT!  Maria Rushworth and Henry Crawford deserve each other, leave Fanny alone.

And now, let’s look at my personal favorite, Pride and Prejudice.  You have so many “baddies” to deal with in this story.  You have the obvious baddies, such as Caroline Bingley, Mr Collins, and Lady Catherine de Bourgh.  Then you have the sneaky baddie in George Wickham.  Wickham, to me, is the sort who is most disturbing.  He is a manipulator, cool and suave, knowing just how to turn someone’s opinion to his favor.  He is the sort who could sell sand to a camel (or as I like to say, the stereotypical used car salesman).  Wickham is able to use your feelings against you, and that is disturbing in my book.  Mr Collins is obviously a stupid, greasy, toady, and we can’t help but hate him and his boot licking attitude.  Lady Catherine is obnoxious and overbearing, and again, easy to dislike.  And yes, Caroline Bingley is easy to dislike, yet, of the group, she is easy to understand, due to her mindset.  It is easy to look at someone who, like many at the time in history, were looking to improve their lives and escape their lower beginnings.  Who wouldn’t want security and respect?  Caroline wanted both in the package of Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy.  And though I don’t like her, I can understand why she can be a baddie.

So, out of all the baddies I have listed, I would have to give the April Fools award for most disturbing and devious baddie would have to go to…. (drumroll please)… George Wickham.  His prize is a one way trip to France during the war (Australia is too good for him).

Peculiar Ramblings Game: Austen’s Fools

Hello friends!

We’ve got another quiz for you this time, and it’s a challenging one! Even I almost made a mistake, and I made the quiz!! I hope you enjoy it! Drop us a line and tell us how you did. My time was 9 minutes 11 seconds, and Eileen’s was 8 minutes 17 seconds.

 

 

Another New Cover!!

As I explained in my last blog post, when I first started publishing I didn’t really have a set “style” for my book covers, but after a while that style seemed to emerge. So in an attempt to have all my books look similar, I am redoing some of the older ones.

 

This time it is the book – Just to Hear ‘I Love You’ – that got a new look!

 

I know this process doesn’t interest everyone, but it does some, so if I bore you then I apologize now.

 

The original cover gave me fits from the start. This is one cover where I learned the hard way that what was in my mind was never going to happen on the cover unless I hired an artist, and that I couldn’t afford. The story centers on Mary Bennet, and tells of her struggles and pitfalls, as well as triumphs, as a deaf girl in the Regency era. So I wanted the cover to convey her essence. But, alas, that never emerged with the first cover. It was nice – pretty colors, and in print especially it looks nice, but it was not ‘Mary’ to me.

 

So when I was on the search of an idea for a new cover, this image stood out to me. It has a quality of pensiveness that is very Mary-esque, don’t you think? So after getting the opinion of my friend, and her agreeing with me, I decided to go for it and use this picture for the book.

 

The colors for this one came about simply because I love this color combination. I have never liked pink, and this is far from that, and yet still feminine – again a Mary quality from the story.

 

 

And so the new cover was born! I had such fun creating this one – and had to change a few things about the letters and brightness so it could be seen, especially on smaller devices. It has worked out to be one of my favorites! I am now very glad I decided to update this book!

 

I hope you agree as well!!

 

The eBook will be updating for you soon automatically. If you own a copy of the old version in print and would like to exchange it for this one, please contact me by either email (peculiar_lady2@yahoo.com) or on facebook about the details.

 

If you do not yet have this book, here is a little about it as well as the links to purchase it!

 

Just to Hear ‘I Love You’


An Alternate Tale of Jane Austen’s ‘Pride & Prejudice’


 
Mary Bennet’s life forever changes when a childhood accident leaves her isolated in a silent world. Her sister Elizabeth emerges as her fiercest champion and unstinting protector. When further tragedy befalls Longbourn, Aunt and Uncle Gardiner embrace their orphaned nieces into their London household.Mary and Elizabeth must face the disapprobation of London society as they endure a Season of intense scrutiny. Will Mary’s own dearest wish— just to hear ‘I love you’ —ever come to be, or will being deaf forever consign her to life apart? The sisters must face their past and Mary’s worst critic when another family’s tragedy lands directly on their doorstep. Will they have the strength to endure for the sake of another? 


 
 
Pre-Order From:August 21, 2014


Publication Date: September 29, 2014
ISBN: 1500734012


ISBN-13: 978-1500734015


ASIN: B00MWC9370
Print Length: 428 pages
Available in Trade Paperback and eBook from the following retailers:


Amazon | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | CreateSpace

 

Announcing New Covers – And a FREEBIE!!

Chosen (Leaving Bennet Behind #1) was one of my first books to go out on the market, so since adding to my library has changed the style of my covers, I wanted to update this series as well.

 

So here we go – brand new, hot off the presses covers for the first two in the Leaving Bennet Behind series – Chosen and Cherished – as well as the soon to come #3, Pursued. (It should be out in April!!)

eBook covers:

Print book covers (#3 of course is not completed yet):

 

If you have purchased any of this series in print before now with the old covers, and wish to have the new ones instead, please contact me about an exchange. (Facebook pm or email: peculiar_lady2@yahoo.com)

 

And also, as promised, there is a FREEBIE!!! The eBook version of Chosen is now marked down to FREE on Amazon and Kobo, and hopefully Barnes & Noble soon to come. There is no telling how long I will leave it at this price, so get it while you can!

New Author Leenie Brown!

I remember it well the night I first met the now famous Leenie Brown. It was a dark and stormy night…

 

Ok, so maybe it wasn’t so dramatic as that. I don’t remember the exact night we met, but it was one evening when something drew us both to Chat on the A Happy Assembly board. We hit it off from the start though, and have since formed a great friendship – I would even call her one of my best friends, even though we have never actually met.

 

It is such a wonderful moment for me now to introduce you to Ms Eileen Brown, or as she will soon be better known – Leenie Brown, Author!!

 

 

I have had to privilege these last seven months to have Eileen as one of the five contributing members of the Peculiar Ramblings Newsletter. She is a true gem with her pen, as well as her spatula, and likes to whip up the recipes we feature just to test them out before they go out to our public every month.

 

It is a great honour to now call her a published author! Her first book, Oxford Cottage, is a wonderful tale of our favorite Pride & Prejudice characters, told in a unique and fascinating variation from the original.

 

On a rainy day in April, Fitzwilliam Darcy and Charles Bingley stop to ask a gentleman for directions to Netherfield since the ones they have been given appear to be faulty. At the gentleman’s insistence Darcy and his friend seek refuge from the rain at a nearby cottage. The young woman who greets them captivates Darcy with both her beauty and character. Elizabeth Bennet possesses a quick mind and a determined spirit. She is resolved to complete the challenge her father has set before her at Oxford Cottage. However, she does not expect to be met by a handsome stranger and fall in love, nor does she expect to find herself thrust into a situation where her quick thinking may be all that can keep both herself and her young companion safe.

Doesn’t that sound like such a fabulous story? It is – believe me, this is one you will read over and over again!

 

You can purchase this one in either Trade Paperback or EBook format on Amazon and Kobo.

 

And I have one more morsel for those who have read this far down this blog post already – The FIRST person to comment below, or tell me on Facebook or Twitter, the answer to the following question, I will gift you an ebook copy of this new book through Amazon.

What is Eileen’s favorite flower?

 

First to answer correctly wins!!

**A winner has been chosen!  Congratulations, Tina for guessing the correct flower!**

Because my journey to writing began on the forums, I h...

 

Because my journey to writing began on the forums, I have a deep passion to keep my stories free to those who really wish to read them. Most were able to be posted before they were made into a published book, but in the case of the Leaving Bennet Behind Series, the original story posted is very different than what it is growing into as it unfolds and is written into the series. So, in an effort to also allow it to be read online as my others are, I have begun posting it on two forums (AHA and BAC) an in our Peculiar Ramblings Library. To read it in our library, you will need to enter this case sensitive password: AustenClassics!

 

So please enjoy this story as it unfolds, and let me know what you think! Since the first two books of the series are fully written, and the third nearly written, I can post the chapters pretty quickly – and comments from readers always urges me to post more often. So please let me know your thoughts! I also wanted to start a Facebook discussion group for the series so people can comment about the postings there easily. If you are interested in joining this group, please click here.

 

Protected: A Peculiar Ramblings Story: A Music Room Meeting

 

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