Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Guest Post: Love at First Slight by J. Marie Croft + Giveaway!!

I am super excited to announce that J. Marie Croft is releasing a new novel! I am a huge fan of puns, alliteration, and witty humor, all at which Ms. Croft excels! I hope you enjoy this deleted scene from her soon-to-be-released novel, Love at First Slight!

A Superfluous Backstory
by J. Marie Croft
Determination to post a chopped chapter here at Leatherbound Reviews may show an abominable sort of conceit, but be assured I have utmost respect for Jakki. Without her, Love at First Slight (LaFS) might have been shelved – and I donʼt mean on other peopleʼs bookcases!



The superfluous, a very necessary thing. ~ Voltaire

Wrapping oneʼs head around the gender reversals in LaFS can be challenging. So, with sheer delete (Yes, yes, there had to be a pun in here somewhere!), Iʼm sharing this backstory before the bookʼs release in November. Readers may want to familiarize themselves with a few of the storyʼs characters.

The following unedited, chopped chapter includes a small backstory on a certain portrait – one that graces the cover and appears in Volume III, Chapter One, of Love at First Slight. (Coincidentally, the word ʻleather-boundʻ also appears in that same section of the book.) 
*****



~Love at First Slight Backstory~
It may not be universally acknowledged, but the unvarnished truth is that a young widow in possession of a good fortune is not necessarily in want of another man in her life. Handsomely provided for by an ample jointure, said widow need not relinquish control of her recently gained property nor surrender her disenthrallment unless, of course, she could find true love, or a close facsimile, a second time around.

A more widely recognized truth is that a single young woman with patrician connections and untold wealth is expected to find a suitable suitor. To surrender such worth to a bridegroom beneath her lofty sphere – no matter how enthralling he might be – would be the stuff of madness or, leastwise, of fictitious prose narrative of the most fanciful stamp.

The dormitory room was a double one, even though the headmistress had insisted there was no such accommodation at her seminary.

“There is now!” A peer of the realm practically growled the words as he handed over an incentive sufficient to make the woman more accommodating and amend her school’s rigid policy. An extra twenty guineas was a small price to pay for his niece’s contentment. If it was within the aristocrat’s considerable power, whatever the girl wanted would be hers for the asking.

A young woman sat upon a narrow bed recently moved into the double room. Though wealthy, she came from the merchant class ranks, bore the taint of new money, and was called a ‘mushroom’ by other pupils. Her new friend had rescued her from Polite Society’s spiteful schoolgirls. The tradesman’s granddaughter had, in turn, saved the Earl’s privileged niece from the same society’s sycophants.

One of the room’s occupants was thought to be serious, reserved, and aloof; the other more cheerful, good-natured, and sweet. Judging by their behaviour and banter one particular night, it was unclear which girl was which.

“Let us both vow, here and now, to only plight our troth for love,” said Jane. “Marriages of convenience just seem so awfully cold and bland.”

“Speaking of this evening’s dinner,” said Elizabeth, “I recently had a meal that was quite the opposite of awful, cold, and bland. Lady Matlock’s cook prepared a meat and vegetable dish with a spicy sauce, served over rice. It was an Indian concoction called curry. If you want to escape cold and bland and instead experience heat, flavour, and excitement, you could visit India. The East India Company conveniently has single Englishmen there in want of wives. It is rumoured Miss Hurst may have to go thither to find a husband.”

“Are you suggesting I curry favour with her?” Jane easily ducked the pillow flung in her direction. “Seriously, Lizzy, I long for romance and true attachment, not a business transaction. Only the deepest affection, I am convinced, shall sway me. Is such optimism impractical?” 
~Continue Reading~
From the publisher:
In this humorous, topsy-turvy Pride & Prejudice variation, the gender roles are reversed. It is Mr. Bennet’s greatest wish to see his five sons advantageously married.
When the haughty Miss Elizabeth Darcy comes to Netherfield with the Widow Devonport (nee Bingley), speculation—and prejudice—runs rampant.
William Bennet, a reluctant and irreverent reverend, catches Miss Darcy’s eye, even though he is beneath her station. His opinion of her is fixed when she slights him at the Meryton Assembly.
As her ardour grows, so does his disdain; and when she fully expects to receive an offer of marriage, he gives her something else entirely .... 


Connect with J. Marie Croft


***Giveaway Time***

Thanks to Meryton Press, Leatherbound Reviews has 2 copies (1 ebook and 1 paperback) of Love at First Slight to giveaway! Open internationally!
To enter, simply comment on this blog post. 
Please leave your email address or Twitter handle so I know how to contact the winner. 
Giveaway ends November 5, 2013.
Best of luck! 

47 comments:

  1. I have read a modern day reversed gender role story of P&P so I look forward to read one in the original time period

    meikleblog at gmail dot com

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    Replies
    1. Oh, I hope you like it, Vesper. What was the modern one you read?

      Delete
    2. Vanity and Vexation by Kate Fenton

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    3. Oh, I have seen that! Must look into it. Thanks, Vesper! :)

      Delete
  2. The book's eagle-eyed editors helped me stay true to the Regency era, but I disliked ditching delightful (albeit anachronistic) words such as 'foofaraw'.
    Thanks for commenting, Vesper Meikle.

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  3. I love this idea. What inspired this story? It sounds like it will be a lot of fun.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't remember what inspired this story back in 2008. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun. I suppose it was curiosity about 'what if' the Bennets had sons instead of daughters.
      Thanks for asking, summerrivers.

      Delete
    2. Thanks for entering the giveaway, Summer. Best of luck. :)

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    3. In case you didn't get it my email is saganchilds at gmail dot com

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  4. I love the premise of this story!! I cannot wait to see how it differs yet remains the same to the original version; how will our favorite couple come together??

    Thanks for the lovely giveaway!!

    Liz
    Csuexc(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Liz,
      Thanks for the lovely comment. The plot parallels P&P but veers off on its own now and then.
      How, indeed, will a darling of the ton and an irreverent reverend come together?

      Delete
    2. Thanks for stopping by, Liz. :) The premise does sound rather interesting and unique doesn't it? Like you, I enjoy seeing what authors keep the same and what they change in variations. I hope you enjoy the story. :)

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  5. I have so much curiosity for this story, and I see its plot parallels P&P and veers off on itself.

    Thank you, Jakky and J. Marie for opportunity.


    Warmisunqu's Austen
    warmisunquc(at)gmail(dot)com.
    https://twitter.com/WarmisAusten


    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Natali. :) I hope you enjoy what Ms. Croft did with the story and gender roles. Best of luck in the giveaway.

      Delete
    2. Hopefully your curiosity can soon be appeased.
      I appreciate your comment.

      Delete
  6. The story is very unique and can't wait to read it and compare the difference between this and Jane Austen's novel. Thanks for the generosity.

    evangelineace2020(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Luthien! Isn't comparing the variation to Austen's novel fun? I always enjoy seeing how authors do it and what they choose to put in and make original. I hope you enjoy Elizabeth Darcy & William Bennet's story.

      Delete
    2. Hi Luthien,
      Thanks for your interest in LaFS and for commenting here.

      Delete
  7. This sounds really interesting! I would love to win a paperback (don't have an e-reader)! Thanks for the giveaway!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for entering the giveaway, arjanne! Best of luck. :)

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    2. There's nothing like a real book. I do have an eReader, but I can't wait to hold the LaFS paperback!

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  8. This looks like such fun! I don't know if I've ever read a role-reversed P&P story...? If I have, I can't think of it at the moment. Oh! Maybe Attempting Elizabeth. But that was a modern. Anyhoo... Congrats on the new book-baby, Joanne and thanks, ladies, for the giveaway.

    @jaffobsession

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Monica, and thanks!
      I hope LaFS will be as much fun to read as it was to write.

      Delete
    2. Yeah, I can't think of any gender role-reversals I have read either. If I had, it has yet to come to me. I hope you enjoy Joanne's story, Monica. I just love her wit and humor! =)

      Delete
  9. must.read.!!!!
    thank you for the giveaway!!

    cyn209 at juno dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for entering the giveaway, Cynthia! Best of luck! :)

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  10. I like your exclamations, cyn209!!!
    Good luck in the giveaway!

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  11. It sounds very interesting indeed! Congratulations on your upcoming release!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Anemailname!
      I like your email name.

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    2. Thanks for stopping by, Anemailname! I hope you enjoy Ms Croft's book. :)

      Delete
  12. I can not wait to read this! It sounds so interesting.
    Jkaplan2(at)socal(dot)rr(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi jewels1328,
      Thank you for the comment and the enthusiasm.

      Delete
  13. I can't wait to read this book. I pre-ordered from Amazon but I am still anxiously waiting. I have read the snippet that Amazon lets you preview and it sounds GREAT so far. amanda.young1987@yahoo.com

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    Replies
    1. Hi Amanda! Thanks so much for stopping by and entering the giveaway! Glad you like what you have read so far of LaFS. I hope the rest lives up to your expectations!

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  14. Hi Amanda,
    You've just made me very happy!
    LaFS should be available any day now. I'm anxiously waiting, too!

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  15. This sounds really fun. I can see how a modern can have the sexes of the characters swapped but a historical setting is more problematic. How can there be a Hunsford with nobody to propose? Many other questions raised in my mind too! I was just looking for this on amazon, to add to the whopping wishlist, but I can't find it on kindle. Do you know if it'll become available in kindle format?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Ceri,
      LaFS will be available for Kindle any day (or hour) now.
      You asked about the Hunsford scene. Well, as the back of the book says ... when she fully expects to receive an offer of marriage, he gives her something else entirely. ;-)

      Delete
    2. I just checked, Ceri, and it is still only available in paperback. Like Joanne said, hopefully soon! :) I hope you enjoy the story when you do read it. :)

      Delete
  16. We're swo lucky this autumn, there's something new and delicious coming up almost every day! This looks so tempting! Thanks for the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Joana,
      I'm glad it looks tempting. That's better than just tolerable or not handsome enough. ;-)

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    2. I agree, Joana! I cannot keep up with all the new books coming out! ;) Must find more time to read. ;)

      Delete
  17. I have never read reversed gender P&P story, so this one intrigues me greatly. Though after reading the deleted scene, I clearly understood the extend to which my English skills are lacking, so I will need a dictionary to fully appreciate the style and enjoy all puns of the author:)). But I think this book is worth the effort. Thank you for the giveaway! oloore (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi ooloore,
      You English skills are not lacking. I'm a word nerd.

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    2. Oh, I hope you are not too intimidated, Oloore. And don't feel bad; I had to look up a few words, too. ;) Ms. Croft has such a command of words that it really makes her writing that much more enjoyable! :)
      Best of luck in the giveaway!

      Delete
    3. Thank you for your kind words of support! I am certain that reading an enjoyable book is one of the best ways to improve language skills and "my courage always rises with every attempt to intimidate me":)))

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