Victoria visited me with this book when it came out (you can read her guest post here) and I also reviewed it. I'm really pleased to see that more Austenesque titles are making their way to audio. It's great that the option is there for people who can't read print for whatever reason. My audio reading has taken a huge hit since lockdown because my commute was my main audio reading time, and I would often solve the dilemma of exercise or reading by taking a lunchtime walk while listening to my audio book! Audio reading can also be an enjoyable way to limit the dent that things like housework makes to your reading time.
Let's look at the blurb and I will hand over to Victoria for an excerpt from When Mary Met the Colonel.
Book Description
Without the beauty and wit of the older Bennet sisters or the liveliness of the younger, Mary is the Bennet sister most often overlooked. She has resigned herself to a life of loneliness, alleviated only by music and the occasional book of military history.
Colonel Fitzwilliam finds himself envying his friends who are marrying wonderful women while he only attracts empty-headed flirts. He longs for a caring, well-informed woman who will see the man beneath the uniform.
A chance meeting in Longbourn’s garden during Darcy and Elizabeth’s wedding breakfast kindles an attraction between Mary and the Colonel. However, the Colonel cannot act on these feelings since he must wed an heiress. He returns to war, although Mary finds she cannot easily forget him.
Is happily ever after possible after Mary meets the Colonel?
Guest Post and Excerpt from Victoria Kincaid
Hello Ceri! It’s wonderful to be back for another visit. I am celebrating the release of the audiobook of When Mary Met the Colonel – my love story for Mary Bennet. I was lucky enough to get the wonderful Stevie Zimmerman to narrate it. Below is a scene from the beginning of the book. Colonel Fitzwilliam encounters Mary in the Longbourn garden during the wedding breakfast for Darcy and Elizabeth. He discovers, to his surprise, that she knows a lot about military history. I hope you enjoy it!
(Note: on a previous visit, Victoria shared an earlier excerpt from the same meeting with us. If you'd like double the excerpts read that one first!)
Excerpt from When Mary Met the Colonel
“But why did he not attack from the left flank?” Mary asked the colonel, her eyes fixed on the crude map he had drawn in the dirt as she imagined troops and canons and the chaos of battle.
“They did not have time to mount an effective attack. Nor did
they have the numbers of troops they needed,” the colonel responded, bending to
scratch another line in the dirt. “By then the French were in full retreat.”
Mary nodded. It was all so interesting! Accounts in the papers
tended to be simple recitations of facts. However, the colonel brought to life the
personalities, the strategies, the sights, and the sounds of the battle. “Were you
at Ciudad Rodrigo?
The colonel straightened up, exhaling a little laugh. “I was,
but perhaps we should reserve that discussion for another day. I should return to
the drawing room before I am missed.”
Glancing up at the sun, Mary realized only now that they must
have talked for more than an hour. Nobody would think anything of her absence—they
only wanted her to play the pianoforte —but if anyone suspected that she had been
alone with the colonel, it could cause difficulties. His kindness and patience should
not be rewarded with accusations and scandal.
Her hand flew to her mouth. “Of course! I quite forgot myself.
I should not occupy all your time when you—”
He interrupted. “Please believe it was my pleasure. I would
enjoy continuing the conversation later.”
His eyes caught and held hers, but she quickly focused on her
shoes. Throughout their conversation, she had avoided his direct gaze. Although
many would not have called him handsome, his face was open and amiable, and his
deep green eyes were entirely too mesmerizing. When he moved his head, the sun caught
reddish hints in his dark brown hair. It would be all too easy to make a fool of
herself.
“Yes, of course,” she murmured. Naturally, he must say such
things to be polite.
“Miss Bennet.” His voice was firm as he placed a finger under
her chin and lifted her head so she must meet his eyes. “I am perfectly sincere.
There are few people outside the military with the grasp of strategy you have displayed
here. It is astounding.”
“I merely read a lot,” she mumbled, freeing her chin from his
grasp and pulling away.
“Hmm…” She could almost feel the heat of his gaze on her. “I
understood from your sister that you mostly read religious texts.”
She ducked her head. “I hide Brown and Gibbon behind a copy
of Fordyce’s Sermons
when I read; Fordyce is quite a large book. I quote a few passages upon occasion
so no one will suspect I have not read the entire volume. It really is dreadfully
dull stuff.”
Fitz laughed, his green eyes sparkling. “You are quite a surprise,
Miss Bennet!”
She regarded him sidelong. “It is terribly unladylike…”
“Not at all. Why should young ladies be expected to read a book
that would put most clergy to sleep?” Laughter erupted from Mary, and she quickly
covered her mouth, but her eyes were dancing. “Your secret is safe with me,” the
colonel promised.
“Thank you.” She wished to ask the colonel much more but deliberately
closed her lips to prevent any words from emerging. She had probably spoken more
to the colonel than she had to any man, save her father. Mama always warned that
men did not like women who talked excessively—which was rather hypocritical of her.
“I must return to the wedding breakfast.” The colonel managed
a show of great reluctance. He had wonderful manners and was very good at making
a woman feel important. Some woman would be lucky to be his wife.
“Yes, of course. I will follow in ten minutes.” That would preclude
any possible scandal.
He opened his mouth, then closed it, then opened it again. “I
hope we may speak again.”
“Certainly, if you wish.”
“I do.” Before she understood what he was about, the colonel
took her hand, kissed the back, and disappeared up the path to the house. The pressure
of his lips on her hand lingered even as she brought it up to rub her cheek. She
sighed. No man had ever bothered to kiss her hand before. It would be a very nice
memory to cherish on long, cold nights alone in her bed.
Author Bio
Victoria has a Ph.D. in English literature and has taught composition to unwilling college students. Today she teaches business writing to willing office professionals and tries to give voice to the demanding cast of characters in her head.
She lives in Virginia with an overly affectionate cat, two children who are learning how much fun Austen’s characters can be, and a husband who fortunately is not jealous of Mr. Darcy. A lifelong Austen fan, Victoria has read more Jane Austen variations and sequels than she can count – and confesses to an extreme partiality for the Colin Firth miniseries version of Pride and Prejudice.
Visit her at:
Buy Links
When Mary Met the Colonel is available to buy in Paperback, Kindle, Kindle Unlimited and now it’s also available in audio!
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Amazon US • Amazon UK • Amazon CA • Add to Goodreads shelf
Giveaway Time!
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Thank you for sharing this excerpt with us here today as well as the generous giveaway! I read and loved this book a few years ago. This Mary and Colonel Fitzwilliam were really fun together. I especially loved the idea of Mary hiding other books behind Fordyce's Sermons and simply saying a quote from time to time to make people believe she is really reading it. Hope you are doing well and staying safe!
ReplyDeleteHi Chelsea, I am staying well and safe, thank you! I hope the same for you. And thank you for letting me know you enjoyed the book. That means a lot to me. Good luck with the giveaway.
DeleteI liked the bit about Fordyce's Sermons too, Chelsea!
DeleteLove this story
ReplyDeleteHi Vesper, I'm so happy to hear that! Good luck with the giveaway.
DeleteI bet this one would be a winner with you, Vesper, I know you love the Mary/Colonel Fitz combo!
DeleteI have not yet read this story and do like to listen to Aubible variations while walking. I have enjoyed many of this author's books. So thanks for a chance to win.
ReplyDeleteHi Sheila, I'm glad you're intrigued by the story. Good luck with the giveaway!
DeleteI think you will enjoy it when you read/listen to it, Sheila :)
DeleteSounds like a great book and one I would love to listen to. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteThanks Darcybennett. Hope you enjoy it when you listen to it :)
DeleteI'm glad your interest is piqued! Good luck with the giveaway.
ReplyDelete