So This Is Love by Laura Hile - Excerpt and Giveaway

Today I’m excited to be welcoming Laura Hile back to Babblings of a Bookworm with the first blog visit for her new book, So This Is Love. This book focuses on one of my favourite minor characters from Pride & Prejudice, Charlotte Lucas, who is going to take a different path to canon. Let’s look at the blurb, and then I’ll hand over to Laura for a guest post. There’s also an ebook giveaway for one of you!

Book Description

“I am not romantic, you know. I never was.”

Newly escaped from a loathsome engagement of convenience, Charlotte Lucas has no interest in romance. More than ever, she is convinced that no man would—or could—love her. As companion to an aging aunt, Charlotte’s new life is as predictable as it is circumspect.

But then she is rescued from a robbery by her uncle’s heir, a masterful man who is disastrously handsome. Why has he remained as a guest in the house? Why is he so determined to draw Charlotte out and make her talk? And what of his invitation to visit his home by the sea?

Romance is not on the chart for Captain Jack Blunt. Never again will he be played for that kind of fool! He is ashore only to heal from an injury and see to business, nothing more. And yet the pointed disinterest of his cousin’s pert niece is intriguing. She is forthright, refreshingly honest—and altogether lovely.  She will make a fine wife for one of his officers. But not, of course, for him.

So This Is Love is a joyride of a Regency, bringing whirlwind romance and happily-ever-after to Jane Austen’s staid and practical Charlotte Lucas.

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Excerpt from So This Is Love, introduced by Laura Hile

Mr. Collins is little more than a stranger when Charlotte Lucas agrees to marry him. This is a prudent choice, given her situation. But when Mr. Collins crosses the line, something in Charlotte snaps. How dare he be so familiar, so shamelessly forward! It isn’t as if he loves her!

Come with Charlotte as she breaks the engagement, is sent away to her father’s relations—and discovers a future that is vastly different from the one she envisioned.

Because “I am not romantic” is anything but true. Charlotte simply hasn’t met the right man.

In this story, she will.

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In Chapter 2, poor Charlotte becomes less and less confident about her decision to marry Mr. Collins.

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Indeed, lately it was all Charlotte could do to maintain composure in Mr. Collins’s presence. If only she did not see so much or think so much!

“I have no opinion,” Charlotte reminded herself. “None at all.”

But she did have an opinion, and therein lay the trouble. Moreover, this opinion would not curl up or slink away, but instead chose to taunt her. It had been taunting her for days.

Just now, for instance, it was obvious that Mr. Collins had mixed up the value of the playing cards. And not just any cards, but a knave and an ace. What simpleton would do a thing like that?

In addition to everything else, must Mr. Collins be stupid?

Charlotte took herself in hand. There was no excuse for being petty and ungenerous. “Not every gentleman needs to play whist,” she told herself firmly. “Mr. Collins has other qualities that are admirable.”

Never mind that she was unable to think of even one!

Mr. Collins’s gaze held an expression of shame mixed with bravado. “Whist is not often played by Lady Catherine de Bourgh,” he said, as if this explained everything. “Doubtless you find my skills a little underdeveloped.”

He looked at her expectantly. Was he waiting for her to reassure him? He was! Charlotte knew her duty and said all that was proper. But oh, she hated the duplicity of this. It was not as if whist were a complex game!

“Card games did not come my way during university days,” he announced. “I felt it was my duty to dedicate every moment to my studies.”

Was it truly duty? Or was it because he was so unintelligent that he had difficulty learning anything?

Fortunately, Charlotte did not speak this thought aloud. She sorted her cards and said mildly, “If Lady Catherine is not in the habit of playing, when she does it will be in your best interest to lose.”

She was rewarded with a braying laugh.

“Shame, shame!” he chided. “You oughtn’t to speak of the provider of my living—that is to say, the provider of our living—with such levity.”

“I understand,” said Charlotte. She played her card, and her father and Johnny did likewise. Mr. Collins hesitated, gazing with dismay at his cards.

“Come on, Collins,” said her brother. “We haven’t got all night.”

“Now, son,” said Sir William. “Give the man space to think.”

Charlotte drew a long breath, and then watched her betrothed put down a low-ranking card from the wrong suit. Another blunder.

Johnny gave an unmannerly whoop. Mr. Collins’s face took on a pinched expression.

“I can do this,” Charlotte told herself. “I can manage him as husband.”

And she would! She would encourage him to keep busy with his duties as rector, to practice reading aloud sermons in his study, to call on parishioners, and to cater to Lady Catherine’s every whim.

If he allowed it, she would even teach him how to play cards properly.

Again Charlotte told herself what she had said to Elizabeth Bennet, for it was very true. “I am not romantic. All I ask is a comfortable home.”

The game played itself out, and Johnny took on the duty of tallying the points. Charlotte knew without looking that she and Mr. Collins had lost again.

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Author bio:

Encourager. Believer. Author. Teacher. Friend.

By day, Laura Hile teaches at a Christian school. By night -- or rather, in the early morning when she can think! -- she writes Jane Austen and Regency romance with laughs and happy endings.

The comedy Laura comes by as a teacher. There's never a dull moment with middle school students!

She enjoys gardening (she is a weed warrior!), choral singing, and having coffee with friends.

Laura lives in Beaverton, Oregon, with her husband and a collection of antique clocks. One day she hopes to add a cat or three.

Other books by Laura Hile: Darcy By Any Other Name and the Mercy’s Embrace trilogy. She is a regular contributor to the A Very Austen anthology series.

Connect with Laura:

• Website • Facebook • Goodreads • Twitter 

Buy links

So This Is Love is available as an eBook and is enrolled in Kindle Unlimited. You can also get the story in paperback.

• Amazon US • Amazon UK • Amazon CA • Add to Goodreads shelf

Giveaway Time!

Laura is very kindly offering to give away an ebook of So This Is Love to one of you! To enter, just leave a comment on this blog post by the end of the day worldwide on Friday 19 June.

If you have any difficulties adding your comment please contact me and I will add your comment for you :)

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