Tuesday 10 May 2022

The Barrister’s Bride by Suzan Lauder - Blog Tour, Excerpt and Giveaway

Blog Tour: The Barrister's Bride by Suzan Lauder
I’m happy to be hosting a stop on the blog tour for Suzan Lauder’s new Pride & Prejudice variation, The Barrister’s Bride. Suzan has joined us with an excerpt of the book and has brought a giveaway opportunity. Let’s look at the book description and then I’ll hand over to Suzan to introduce the excerpt.

Book cover: The Barrister's Bride by Suzan Lauder
Book Description 

A pact that will change their lives forever…

Fitzwilliam Darcy is a successful young barrister with a bright future. His late uncle has guided his career, made him his heir, and even selected a bride for him—sight unseen—whom he’ll meet and marry upon her majority. Who could have predicted that making the acquaintance of Miss Elizabeth Bennet in Meryton would throw those careful plans into disarray?

Elizabeth Bennet doesn’t know what to make of “Fitz” Darcy, who intrigues and draws her notice like no other. Despite Fitzwilliam’s warnings, she allows Mr. George Darcy, Fitzwilliam’s older brother and master of Pemberley, to charm her. Little does she know that she, too, has been promised in marriage by her late father—to an unknown barrister, no less. What is she to do when her hopes to marry for love disappear in the blink of an eye?

Is George Darcy’s suit in earnest? Can this mysterious bridegroom of her father’s choosing become the husband of her dreams? With the danger of duels and deceit, what will come of the initial attraction between her and Fitzwilliam? Will she become the barrister’s bride?

Note: contains scenes with adult content.

* * *

Introduction from author Suzan Lauder 

Ices
I feel an affinity to Ceri because I’m a redhead too, and I have Welsh ancestry, so I enjoy coming to her blog today for an exclusive excerpt from The Barrister’s Bride, which just released last week. I hope you take time to comment after reading.

The excerpt that follows has Elizabeth and Mr. George Darcy, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy’s older brother, out for ices at Gunter’s. The Mr. Darcy mentioned in the scene is George, and his brother is called Fitz at this point in the story. This excerpt is from Elizabeth’s viewpoint.

~~~

Book cover: The Barrister's Bride by Suzan Lauder
Excerpt from The Barrister’s Bride

Mr. Darcy stood. “Ho! Wickham! Over here!” She twisted in her chair. Mr. Wickham had stepped into the shop.

Mr. Wickham’s face lit in delight as he changed direction and joined them at their table. “Ices in February. A bit cool, though I suppose that, since the crocuses are out, springtime must be close.”

“Are you not here for the ices?” asked Elizabeth.

“No, I come for the sweetmeats. Except that now I see Darcy here, I find that I hope to interest him in an amusing activity a few days hence.”

Mr. Darcy’s countenance shifted from that of animated friend: his eyes clouded over and his facial expression became shuttered. The steady, neutral pose of his features suggested he suspected the nature of the pursuit, and it wearied him. “Excuse my friend, Miss Elizabeth. His idea of amusement may not be fit for respectable ears.”

Mr. Wickham scoffed. “I do not think Miss Elizabeth such a prude to be offended by a mere gentleman’s card party,” He lifted one eyebrow to Mr. Darcy in what could be called a conspiratorial manner. Ah, yes, even a gently born lady would know what they alluded to. This would not be Aunt Philips’s card party with lottery tickets and a light supper. They were to consider an evening of high stakes gambling.

“I cannot attend your event. I am hosting friends for a musical presentation at Middlebrook House that evening.”

“How did you know it was Wednesday?”

Mr. Darcy tapped his nose. “I am aware of what occurs amongst the ton, acceptable and not. In any case, I shall not be at your friend’s card party. Oh, my!” Mr. Darcy pointed towards the window. “My brother just passed the shop. I have not seen him in an age. Do excuse me for one moment while I fetch him to join us.” With that, he placed his hat on his head and rushed out of the door.

“You are acquainted with Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, am I correct?” asked Mr. Wickham.

“Yes. He is a close friend of my sister’s affianced, Mr. Bingley. I expect you know him from your youth.”

Mr. Wickham frowned. “Yes, but he has crossed me more than once since then. Old Mr. Darcy wanted to give me a living at Kympton, but when he died, Fitz suggested I be trained for the military, which would be dangerous and not near as lucrative. Thankfully, George disagreed, and he helps me out while I give him business advice. I am similar to my father, who was Pemberley’s land steward.”

“Mr. Fitzwilliam had a great influence on your livelihood?”

“He and his uncle the judge were, yes. Without a reliable income, I was unable to prove my ability to support a wife. Thus, I am still waiting to be allowed to court the woman I love. I do believe that Fitz knew and tried to keep us apart.”

“Why would he do that?”

“He is jealous since I am more sociable and better connected than he is.”

“Could Mr. George Darcy not help?”

Mr. Wickham shrugged. “In those matters, he defers to Fitz. Says he has the right amount of acumen.”

“It sounds as though he interferes more than he should.”

The bell for the shop door rang again, and the Darcy brothers entered. Elizabeth stifled a gasp when her view of Mr. Fitzwilliam’s tall, handsome person struck her like a lightning bolt. His eyes met hers and never wavered while he strode to their table. Mr. Wickham rose and shook his hand to greet him. The barrister’s apparel made him look older than Mr. George Darcy or Mr. Wickham and added an air of importance and legitimacy to his character. When invited to sit, he glanced at her with a slight frown and begged that he had no time. Meanwhile, Mr. Wickham insisted he must purchase his marzipan and depart since he was late for an appointment across town. His smile did not appear genuine; he was avoiding Mr. Fitzwilliam.

“With my own lady friend, you know.” Mr. Wickham waggled his eyebrows. He said his good-byes. Mr. Fitzwilliam’s sullen expression lifted a little, and he waved his arm to Mr. Wickham. Was he pleased to see him leave?

“I insist you take Wickham’s chair for a few minutes, Fitz,” said Mr. George Darcy.

“Very well.” Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy’s usual deportment seemed different today. He was as stately as before, but his eyes remained on Elizabeth for long periods of time. Was that a glare? Was he critical of her for some reason? She could not fathom what she had done to offend him. She lifted her hand to smooth her hair, but her bonnet was carefully in place, so her hair could not be tousled. She gave Mr. Fitzwilliam a stare of challenge, and his lashes lowered.

~~~

Author Suzan Lauder
Author Bio

A lover of Jane Austen, Regency period research and costuming, yoga, fitness, home renovation, design, sustainability, and independent travel, cat mom Suzan Lauder keeps busy even when she’s not writing novels based on Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, all of which are published by Meryton Press.

She and Mr. Suze and their rescue tabby split their time between a loft condo overlooking the Salish Sea and a 150-year-old Spanish colonial casita in Mexico. Suzan’s lively prose can be found on her Facebook author page, www.facebook.com/SuzanLauder; on Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest as @SuzanLauder; and on her Meryton Press blog, road trips with the redhead www.suzanlauder.merytonpress.com.

Contact Info

Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Pinterest / Meryton Press blog, road trips with the redhead 

 

Full cover wrap: The Barrister's Bride by Suzan Lauder
Buy Links 

The Barrister’s Bride by Suzan Lauder is available to buy now in Paperback, Kindle and Kindle Unlimited.  

Amazon USAmazon UKAmazon CA • Add to Goodreads shelf 

 

Giveaway Swag
Giveaway Time!

Meryton Press is giving away six eBooks of The Barrister’s Bride by Suzan Lauder. There is a swag giveaway by Author, Suzan Lauder, and it includes a personalized signed copy of the book, a Suzan Lauder reticule, an embroidered handkerchief, and a fan. Both giveaways are in the Rafflecopter.                          

Link to Rafflecopter


Note about comments:  If you have any problems adding your comment please contact me and I will add your comment for you :)

 

Blog Tour - The Barrister's Bride by Suzan Lauder
Blog Tour Schedule

May   9 My Jane Austen Book Club

May 10  Babblings of a Bookworm

May 11 The Literary Assistant

May 12 My Vices and Weaknesses

May 13 Interests of a Jane Austen Girl

May 16 Austenesque Reviews

May 17 From Pemberley to Milton

 

 

* * *

If you don’t want to miss any of my future posts, please subscribe 

Subscribe to Babblings of a Bookworm

If you'd like to be friends on Goodreads then please invite me - just say that you visit my blog when it asks why you'd like to be friends with me.

 

 

27 comments:

  1. This sounds intriguing. Thanks for sharing here and for a chance to win a copy. It is on my "Wish List".

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So glad to hear it, Sheila, as I know you're a discerning reader. Good luck!

      Delete
    2. Glad you enjoyed the post :)

      Delete
  2. Well, this sounds interesting. I usually break my fans during swoon-worthy moments and have had to buy more gorilla glue. I'd love that fan in the swag and a copy of the book. Thanks to Ceri for hosting and to Suzan on the launch of this new work. I wish you all manner of success. Good luck to all in the drawing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's a nice fan for costuming, hot flashes, or Darcy swoons. Good luck!

      Delete
    2. It's always good to have a spare fan available for the swoony bits :)

      Delete
  3. I'm looking forward to reading this one. Love her books!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Love it when someone says they love my books. I love this book, and was sad to let it go to publishing so I could no longer play with it.

      Delete
    2. Hope you enjoy it when you read it

      Delete
  4. Aw, Wickham! He is always up to something isn't he? Poor me, poor me..., is usually what he is up to! Thanks for sharing this excerpt, Suzan! It is so hot at my place today that I would love an ice from Gunter's or anywhere! :) Ceri, thank you for hosting The Barrister's Bride and Suzan Lauder. It was great stopping by.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you read the book, you'll get to try (in your mind) the flavours of ices too. I wish it were hot here. Ice cream is okay if it's cool out, though. That's what Mr. Suze tells me when he brings it home after a bike ride while I've been writing.

      Delete
    2. Always thinking about how he can turn things to his own advantage!

      Thanks so much for your work in arranging the blog tour, and thanks both for stopping by!

      Delete
  5. Yay! I'm so glad this is finally out there for everyone to read! I love the sound of the flavours at Gunters and would love to meet Darcy for an ice (Fitz Darcy, of course ;) ) I'm not sure about E with George (especially since he seems to be great buddies with Wickham). Is George even worthy of our dear girl's time?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yuck to the Georges. Yay to FItz.

      Delete
    2. I am with you, somebody who has known Wickham for any length of time and still is friendly with him is raising some big red flags!

      Delete
  6. Intriguing scene! So it seems that Fitzwilliam has a cordial relationship with his brother, even if they are not especially close. But Wickham is another matter; I wonder if there is more to those card parties than just cards!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're especially suspicious, as you should be. Wickham can't be up to any good. Thanks for commenting, Kelly!

      Delete
    2. I don't trust them either!

      Delete
  7. I like it when Darcy has to work hard to win his lady but an actual hard-working Darcy is even better!
    Especially when I have a guess who this barrister Elizabeth is promised in marriage is...
    I'm not a redhead and I have no Welsh ancestry but...can I have some of this ice cream?
    Alexandra

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Barristers supposedly didn't work. They were considered gentlemen. Their remuneration went to the bank, which supposedly meant they weren't paid for their efforts. However, this Darcy takes his profession quite seriously and spends many hours on his cases.

      Which flavour do you prefer? There was parmesan, asparagus, and jasmine, to name a few!

      Thanks, Alexandra!

      Delete
    2. Not everybody can be a redhead with Welsh ancestry so I am sure there will be ice cream left for you too :)

      Hope you enjoy the story of this hardworking Darcy when you read it.

      Delete
  8. Would love to read this as it sound great!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope you get a chance to read it, then!

      Delete
    2. Hope you enjoy it when you read it

      Delete
  9. Thank you for the excerpt and the giveaway. Looking forward to the story esp the revelation time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Revelation time has some drama that readers will be surprised about. Elizabeth is always feisty!

      Delete
    2. I think from this set up we are expecting quite a few revelations. Hope you enjoy it when you read it.

      Delete

If you're not logged in to Google please leave your name in your comment or it will post as anonymous. Thanks! - Ceri