Under the Mistletoe Day 2: Mr. & Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy: Two Shall Become One + GIVEAWAY

Similar to Kara Louise's excerpt from Pemberley Celebrations, this one also takes place during Darcy and Elizabeth's first Christmas season, making it all the more special and memorable! I hope you enjoy this kissing scene as much as I do! I just cannot help smiling through this entire scene! I'd love to hear your thoughts!  

From Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy: Two Shall Become One, chapter titled “Christmas at Pemberley” by Sharon Lathan

In truth, this particular Christmas would not necessarily be counted preeminent, yet through the blissful years of their life together, Lizzy and Darcy would agree that it held a very special place in their hearts. The reason was simple: it was their first.

Christmas Eve dawned cold with ominous dark clouds threatening despite having dropped fresh snow in the night. All the guests were slow to rise, preferring to stay snuggled under warm blankets. As there were no particular plans for the morning hours, it mattered not. The Darcys, as host and hostess, strove to attend to their duties and so departed their chambers far earlier than they wished or had grown accustomed to. Darcy held Lizzy’s hand in the crook of his arm as they walked.

Abruptly Darcy stopped, causing Lizzy to collide with him, but prior to her uttering a sound, he propelled her backwards into an empty side corridor. 

“What …” she began but he shushed her with a hiss and a finger to her lips.

“The Lathrops,” he whispered, pointing and cautiously sticking his head around the corner. Lizzy peered around his shoulder and stifled a laugh at the sight before her. At the bottom of the stairs, Mr. and Mrs. Lathrop had discovered one of the strategically positioned mistletoe balls, and were dutifully obliging the custom.

“What shall we do now?” Lizzy asked her husband with a grin. At roughly the same moment they looked upward and noted that they too were precisely under another mistletoe ornament.

“How many of these baubles did the maids fabricate, anyway?”

“I believe they were considering all the places the footmen frequent,” Lizzy said with a chuckle.

“Whatever the motivation, it is a ritual with historic dictates that we would be severely remiss to not observe,” Darcy stated firmly, capturing his wife’s mouth equally as firmly in an ardent kiss.

It must have been the day for espying lovers beneath mistletoe for Colonel Fitzwilliam’s chambers were down this very hallway and, with a chuckle, he ducked back into his room and busied himself until he deemed the corridor was clear.

*Excerpt provided by the author and used with author's permission

***GIVEAWAY TIME***

The lovely Sharon Lathan has kindly offered ONE paperback copy of Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Two Shall Become One to one lucky commenter! (US Residents only) To enter, please leave a comment and fill out the Rafflecopter form! Good luck! =)


a Rafflecopter giveaway

From the Publisher:

It's Darcy and Elizabeth's wedding day, and the journey is just beginning as Jane Austen's beloved Pride and Prejudice characters embark on the greatest adventure of all: marriage and a life together filled with surprising passion, tender self-discovery, and the simple joys of every day.

As their love story unfolds in this most romantic of Jane Austen sequels, Darcy and Elizabeth reveal to each other how their relationship blossomed. From misunderstanding to perfect understanding and harmony, theirs is a marriage filled with romance, sensuality, and the beauty of a deep, abiding love.

Author Bio:

Sharon Lathan is a native Californian currently residing amid corn, cotton, and cows in the sunny San Joaquin Valley. She divides her time between being a homemaker, nurturing her own Mr. Darcy and two children, and working as a registered nurse in a Neonatal ICU. Throw in the cat, dog, and a ton of fish to complete the picture.

Sharon’s passion for Pride and Prejudice and then all things Jane began in 2005 upon seeing the movie version starring Kiera Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen. The burning desire to know what happened next sent her on a quest through online fanfiction and then ultimately into writing the story herself when she never found a sequel precisely matching her happily-ever-after vision. Now she has five complete novels, a novella, and a companion novel recounting Georgiana Darcy’s love story to her credit! Will it ever stop? Who knows, but she is having a fabulous time spinning the Darcy Saga!

Connect with Sharon Lathan
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Under the Mistletoe Day 1: Pemberley Celebrations by Kara Louise

I just love this scene: Christmastime, playful teasing, mistletoe, a sweet kiss... sigh! What's not to love here? I'd love to hear your thoughts after you read this delightful excerpt!

An excerpt from Pemberley Celebrations – The First Year, by Kara Louise 
A Special Christmas Dinner

Elizabeth stepped inside Darcy’s study and walked past the dark wooden shelves that rose to the ceiling, letting her fingers trail over the leather book covers. Darcy’s eyes followed her as she came near.

She came up alongside of him with a smile in her eyes, leaned over, and kissed him.

He looked up at her and beamed. “May I always expect such an agreeable greeting, my dear, even when we have been married fifty years?”

“You can depend upon it, my love,” she answered, and then pointed up to the ceiling above him. “Particularly when you are seated beneath the mistletoe!”

He glanced up at the sprig of mistletoe hung directly over his chair. “I have yet to discover who put that up there!” he said, looking back at her with an accusatory stare.

“I hardly know,” she said with a mischievous grin. “But if you are not careful where you sit, just about anyone could come in here and give you a kiss!”

“How do you know someone has not already done just that?” he asked, attempting to conceal a smile, but failing to hide the twinkle in his eyes.

Elizabeth feigned a look of shock. “Do you mean someone besides me?” Elizabeth whispered, as she narrowed her eyes at him and folded her arms in front of her. “I had better not hear that someone else has kissed you!”

“As a matter of fact, someone else did!” he answered with great satisfaction, and then pursed his lips together.

Elizabeth leaned in toward him. “I demand to know who it was!”

He looked at her and shook his head slowly. “I fear that telling is not part of the rules.”

“Rules! What rules?” she asked, arms braced at her waist.

“The rules of kissing under the mistletoe.”

“This is not to be borne!” she exclaimed in a voice that was meant to sound like another. “If you would excuse me, sir, I am going to climb up there and remove it directly!” She pulled a chair beside her husband’s desk and as she appeared ready to stand up on it, he gently took her hand to stop her.

“Whoa!” Darcy laughed. “The last thing I need is for you to get hurt in a fit of playful teasing! It was Georgiana, dear.”

A look of mock relief swept across her features, followed by a knowing smile. “Well!” she said, as she leaned in to kiss his forehead. “In that case, I believe I shall leave it up. For now!” She smiled and put her arms about him, bringing her lips to his ear. With a breathy whisper she added, “But if I hear about anyone else stealing a kiss, I shall have it removed!”

“I would not have it any other way!” He swung her around and pulled her into his lap, meeting her surprised gaze with an intent look. “I dare say we must take advantage of that kissing ball while it is there. Do you not agree?” He did not wait for an answer, but wrapped her in an ardent embrace, passionately kissing those lips that had just mercilessly teased his ears with her warm breath.

When at last they drew apart, he whispered, “Now, my dear, why did you come in here or was it merely a ruse to give me a kiss?”

*Excerpt provided by the author and used with author's permission

From the Publisher:

Join Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy in this compilation of short stories as they celebrate the holidays and special events in the first year of their marriage. Beginning with Christmas, the decorations are being put up, but it has not been a joyous holiday at Pemberley for many years. Can Elizabeth bring back the Christmas Spirit? There are three other Christmas stories, as well as stories about a New Years Eve Ball, a Valentine's Day Mystery, an Easter Visit, and several others that will entertain you throughout the year.

Author Bio:

I live in Kansas, am a wife and mother (of a grown, married son), caretaker of (at the moment) 1` dog, 6 cats, 3  horses, and 4 goats. We live on 10 acres in the country. I began writing about 10 years ago as a hobby and out of a love for Jane Austen's characters and her novel, "Pride and Prejudice." I never believed I would have 6 published novels within 10 years. I also work part-time at my church doing publications and a variety of other jobs. I work right across the hall from my husband, who is one of the Pastors. He says he is there to keep an eye on me, but I think it is the other way around.

My husband and I both grew up in Los Angeles, so living in Kansas now is quite a change, but we love the slower pace and our rural home that's not too far from town. I enjoy reading, writing (of course), crafts, music, and really anything creative. I enjoy playing and watching some sports, traveling, and visiting with friends.

Connect with Kara Louise
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*Stop by on Friday for day 2 of Under the Mistletoe! (There will be a giveaway)!!*

Leatherbound Reviews Presents: Under the Mistletoe

Passionate Kisses and Holiday Wishes

Do you hear that? It’s the jingle, jangle of sleigh bells, the sweet melody of carolers singing, children laughing as they play in the snow, the crackling of the Yule log. There simply are so many wonderful sights and sounds of the Christmas season. After all, they do not call this the most wonderful time of the year for nothing.

It’s definitely a most wonderful time of year for my family and me. I just love spending extra time with my little boy and girl making crafts and cooking up all kinds of yummy goodness!  It was while baking cookies for my son’s preschool class that I had an idea. Naturally, one cannot bake Christmas cookies without listening to Christmas music. It was then that a mistletoe song came on the radio, and I immediately thought about all the fun kissing scenes I have read that take place under the mistletoe.

Being the selfless person that I am, I felt the need to share these scenes with you, my dear readers. :) During the next couple of weeks, I will be posting these fun, romantic, and even heady mistletoe excerpts. In addition to the excerpts, several authors are also donating copies of their books for giveaways! You WON’T want to miss that now, would you? What a wonderful early Christmas present!

I hope you all will join me starting Wednesday and over the next few weeks in celebrating the Christmas season with these authors and their all too enjoyable mistletoe scenes!! 

Have you read a book with a mistletoe scene? Do you have a favorite? I'd love to hear about it!

Can't get enough Jane Austen? Join Meredith at Austenesque Reviews for A Jane Austen Christmas Celebration where she will have have guest posts, interviews and a live chat, as well as some lovely giveaways! 

Review: One Thread Pulled by Diana Oaks

A New Unraveling of Austen's Classic

In her debut novel, One Thread Pulled, author Diana Oaks explores what would happen if Elizabeth Bennet never heard Mr. Darcy utter his infamous cutting remark about her being tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt him. With this thread pulled, how will the rest of the story unravel?

Resolved to strictly maintain a platonic relationship with the bewitching Miss Bennet, Mr. Darcy faces one heck of an internal struggle. Their friendly banter, laced with double entendres, only serves to wreak havoc on his resolve.  After Darcy finally surrenders, he finds himself on a different field of battle facing his sworn enemy.

Seeking revenge for separating Georgiana and him, Wickham seeks retribution in a way that will cause Darcy pain equal to his own. Simultaneously, Caroline sets out with her own plan. Even though she possesses her trademark hauteur, Caroline’s character undergoes changes under Ms. Oaks’s pen, and readers are left wondering about Caroline’s mental stability. Add to these the contingency Mr. Bennet places on Darcy and Elizabeth’s engagement, and readers are in for some interesting twists and titillating rising action.

As the book ends, the engaged couple sets out for a season in London, leaving readers anxiously awaiting the sequel. I am curious to know how Elizabeth will handle a Season amongst the ton as Mr. Darcy’s affianced.  Moreover, Elizabeth feels Lady Catherine isn’t finished with her ultimate goal of preventing her and Darcy’s marriage. I was also left wondering if we have seen the last of crazy Caroline.

Replete with amusing and diverting dialog and scenes, Oaks takes Austen’s classic and expands upon her plot, filling in the gaps and proffering more detail to Austen’s scenes, while at the same time, giving the story a unique twist.

With this tome coming in just over 440 pages, Oaks uses her page count well with just the right amount of angst to keep the book firmly placed in my hands. I hope Ms. Oaks gets the sequel published soon!

Connect with Diana Oaks


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