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Here's the blurb of the newest book:
Then she disappears.
Still reeling from the loss, Darcy is struck by a battlefield tragedy that leaves him in a dark and silent world.
Sent to Donwell Abbey to recover, he's coaxed back to life by an extraordinary nurse. A woman whose uncanny similarities to Elizabeth invite his admiration and entice his affections.
His heart tells him to hold on to Elizabeth. His head tells him to take a chance with his nurse.
But Donwell Abbey holds a secret that just might change everything.
Escape to the era of Downton Abbey in this enthralling stand-alone sequel* to Darcy's Hope ~ Beauty from Ashes that includes appearances by John Thornton, Margaret Hale, Colonel Brandon, Marianne Dashwood, and descendants of George Knightley.
*May be enjoyed as a stand-alone novel, but readers may experience some minor confusions without the context of the mystery of Darcy's Hope ~ Beauty from Ashes.
•Has a happy ending for Lizzy and Darcy.
•Romance is clean. Minor language and some recollections of graphic war scenes.
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Elizabeth bolted from the chair. “Fitzwilliam, wake up!” She nudged his arm in the darkened room, but he continued writhing with great heaving breaths. “Captain!” She squeezed his hand, but he jerked it away, whimpering.
On impulse, she slid her arms under his shoulders and held him close. Instantly his thrashing ceased.
Gently rocking him, she massaged the unbandaged hair at his temple and whispered against his cheek, “It’s all right. Just a dream.”
He breathing slowed, but his body remained tense. “My ribs...hurt.”
She lowered him back to the pillow, then tapped on his hand, Try to relax. All right now?
“Mmm.... Water. And morphine.”
She squeezed his hand and poured water into the hospital cup. She touched the pill to his lips then offered the porcelain straw.
He swallowed. “Who are you?”
Elizabeth froze and closed her eyes. How she longed to tell him the truth, then brush a kiss on his lips, assure him of her love, and promise to stay by his side.
She took his hand and spelled, Miss Thomas.
“Thank you...Miss Thomas.”
Elizabeth sank into the wing chair and released a heavy breath. Could she bear to be so close and yet so far away from Fitzwilliam?
Goodness! I don't know about you but between the blurb and the excerpt I have drawn some conclusions. I have an interview with Ginger Monette to share with you, which will hopefully allay some of your fears :)
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Interview with Ginger Monette
Q: What inspired you to write Darcy's Hope at Donwell Abbey?
Matthew Crawley of Downton Abbey! The war dealt him a tragic blow that played an important role in the storyline of season 2. I was really fascinated at how wealthy English families offered their lavish homes as hospital facilities during WW1. I began to imagine Darcy with his own wartime tragedy, then mixed it with the characters and homes from Austen's works and, voila, Darcy's Hope at Donwell Abbey was born.
Q: You've described Darcy's Hope at Donwell Abbey as a 'stand-alone sequel' to Darcy's Hope ~ Beauty from Ashes. That sounds like a contradiction of terms. Can you explain?
A: Darcy's Hope at Donwell Abbey picks up moments after Darcy's Hope ~ Beauty from Ashes ends. For those who have read Beauty from Ashes, the story will seem like a seamless continuation. For those that have not read book 1, book 2 can be enjoyed on its own, as the backstory from book 1 is woven into the content of Donwell Abbey as part of the dialog and internal thoughts of the characters. Some readers may experience minor confusions at the beginning, but soon the story moves into its own realm, making the specific backstory details somewhat inconsequential.
Q: Why did you break it up into two novels instead of just making it one continuous novel?
A: I chose to make them two novels because both books are complete stories on their own—with a definite beginning, middle, and end. And although Donwell Abbey can be read by itself, consensus among reviewers is that the overall experience is more enjoyable if Darcy's Hope ~ Beauty from Ashes is read first.
Q: That brings up another question. Some readers may be hesitant to read Beauty from Ashes due to its wartime setting. What would you say to those who “don't do war stories?”
I would say it isn't a war story : ) The Darcy's Hope saga is very much a romance in a wartime setting. Just like Downton Abbey, the war provides a dramatic backdrop against which the romance unfolds. The war's fast pace and ever-changing situations meant that nothing was predictable, and things could (and did) change in an instant. Readers have commented that they couldn't predict where either story was going! And much of that is due to the volatile nature of the setting.
Q: Darcy's Hope ~ Beauty from Ashes is primarily set on the Western Front of WW1. Can we expect the same in Donwell Abbey?
A: Although Darcy's Hope at Donwell Abbey opens with Darcy still in Belgium, the setting quickly shifts to England. Most of the story takes place at Hartfield and Donwell Abbey, homes from Austen's novel Emma. And yes, the two homes are still in the Knightley family, and the descendants of George and Emma Knightley are important characters in this story.
Q: Did you face any particular challenges in writing Darcy’s Hope at Donwell Abbey?
A: Yes! Writing to accommodate the tragedy that befalls Darcy was an enormous challenge. But if I tell you what the injury is and the accommodation it required, I would be giving away a major spoiler!
Q: If this tragedy plays an important role but you can't elaborate on it, what can you tell us about the story?
A: It is a tender romance between Lizzy and Darcy with their romance central to the plot.
Q: There are several characters whose names would be familiar to fans of Austen and Gaskell. Can you elaborate?
A: Elizabeth Gaskell's John Thornton “saves the day,” and readers will catch a glimpse of his romance with Margaret Hale. And Austen's Colonel Brandon and Marianne Dashwood from Sense & Sensibility make an appearance.
Darcy's Hope at Donwell Abbey also contains some original but “familiar” characters as well. Sarah Knightley is a spirited descendant of George and Emma Knightley, a couple from Austen's novel Emma. Dr. Matthew Scott is a creation of my imagination who debuted in my first book Tree of Life. I liked him so much, I've given him a similar role in Donwell Abbey. And finally, readers are treated to matriarch extraordinaire, Mrs. Knightley, who is on par with none other than Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
Q: Why only glimpses of these budding romances?
Because I have plans for all of the couples to have their own Great War Romance! If you would like to be kept abreast of the progress of these dear couples, please join my low-volume newsletter family at GingerMonette.com. (And if you like period drama, Downton Abbey, and Jane Austen, join me on Facebook at Ginger Monette Author.)
Q: Is there anything else you would like readers to know about Darcy’s Hope at Donwell Abbey?
A: Yes, three things:
- Rest assured the story focuses on Lizzy and Darcy and has a happily-ever-after ending.
- It’s a clean romance that will keep you guessing until the very end! But do know that tense moments can occasionally prompt mild language, and there are some references to war that might be too intense for sensitive readers.
- And finally, in April of 2017, America will commemorate its 100th anniversary of participation in WW1. If you're like me, you learned almost nothing about this period of history in school. The Darcy's Hope saga is an entertaining way to get a glimpse of what our great-grandfathers experienced, and will give readers some context as they will undoubtedly be hearing a lot about this pivotal event that ushered the world into the modern era as we know it.
I hope readers will give the Darcy's Hope saga a try! I don't think they'll be disappointed : )
Thanks so much for hosting me on your blog!
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Winner of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library's 2015 “Picture This” grand prize, Ginger lives with her family in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she enjoys dancing on the treadmill, watching period dramas, public speaking, and reading—a full-length novel every Sunday afternoon.
• Website • Facebook • Goodreads • Amazon Author Page •
Buy Links for Darcy's Hope at Donwell Abbey (Book 2)
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Blog Tour Schedule
There are other stops on the blog tour to visit:
Thank you, Ceri, for hosting Darcy's Hope on your blog today! I was daydreaming just this morning about England's lavish country homes like Donwell Abbey and wishing I could jump in the car this weekend and visit a few. It is astounding how many of them have survived--what a national treasure!
ReplyDeleteIt's so true, Ginger, we are very lucky in the amount of old buildings that have survived here, there are so many which are well worth visiting up and down the country.
DeleteHey, just read it this week. Fabulous. Hope you get the chance soon, Ceri.
ReplyDeleteI'd need to read the first one before I could start on the second, Sophia, so goodness knows when I'll get to it. I was lucky enough to do some early reading on the first, but I don't know how much it changed when it got published.
DeleteI have read and loved both books in this series. Although they may be read separately,I personally think that they are better read together! I couldn't stand the suspense and wanted to know what would befall ODC,so I treated myself to book two straight away! Highly recommended!
ReplyDeleteI am with you on that, Mary, if I'm reading a series I prefer to be able to continue with it straight away, particularly Austenesque as so many of them have similar themes or storylines. At least this one has a more unusual setting so it'd be easier to keep the story straight than in a P&P sequel, for example.
DeleteHi gals, I haven't read either of these books and the plots sound so interesting. Thanks so much for introducing me to Ginger's books. Can't wait to get started. Jen Red
ReplyDeleteI don't think you'll regret it!
DeleteI hope you enjoy them when you read them Jen.
DeleteWonderful interview Ceri! All I can say is...EPIC SAGA! I also have a question: Do you or 'the muse' decide which character(s) you are going to write next about...or is it based on the WWI timeline?
ReplyDeleteOoh, that's a good question Carole, I hope Ginger can stop by to answer it :)
DeleteI read both of these books and loved them and posted a review also. I also loved the extra Lizzie's Scrapbook and the short video to promote the book.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed them, Sheila!
DeleteI have been eyeing this book on Amazon and debating whether to read it. This post has convinced me it is something I would enjoy. Thanks for the except!
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy this series if you read it, Brenda. This one is book two, where the story concludes.
DeleteBrenda, go for it! I've read both of these books and they're very good reads. I do recommend reading them in order though. I actually went back and re-read book one again after book two and even picked up on some details I'd missed first time around that become significant later on. Well worth the effort!
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you enjoyed them, Anji :)
DeleteGreat review Ceri. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for commenting, Kate :)
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