Today I'm welcoming
Victoria Kincaid back to the blog. Victoria has visited the blog many times and is always a lovely visitor. She has been making some of her titles available on audio and has come here to tell us about it, bringing a giveaway with her!
I was sceptical about how much enjoyment I would get from audio books but I have been listening for a few years now, when commuting or doing chores, and find them a good way to get some extra reading time into the day. I particularly find them good for re-reads, as I know what's coming next which means I can muster the patience to read at a slower pace!
Let's hand over to Victoria to tell us about the stories she's just released on audio.
* * *
Hi
Ceri and thank you for having me as a guest! I was lucky enough to
recruit Stevie Zimmerman to narrate two of my audiobooks recently.
She always does a terrific job; I especially love the voice she gives
to Mr. Darcy. Readers love her too, and I know they’ll be thrilled
with her narration of Darcy
vs. Bennet
and When
Jane Got Angry
(click on the links to hear samples of her narration). Below are
excerpts from both books and details about a double giveaway of free
copies of both audiobooks!
* * *
Darcy
vs. Bennet
Darcy
had barely taken three steps when he saw a vision. Clad in a pale
yellow gown, the woman’s figure was light and pleasing. Lush curls
of dark hair were piled high on her head, intertwined with tiny
flowers. Instantly, Darcy knew he had not encountered her before.
She was not moving or conversing with anyone; in fact, she seemed a
bit lost.
When
Darcy stepped toward her, her eyes flashed up to his, and his breath
caught. Set off by the pale yellow mask, her eyes were a vibrant
blue he had never seen before. There was something about her…as if
he knew her already—which was ridiculous since he had never met her
before. Without a conscious decision, Darcy took several more steps
toward the mystery woman.
She
had turned her face away and was now scanning the crowd. Seeking
another man? He felt a twinge of unease, which was bizarre. He knew
nothing about this woman.
A
crease appeared between her eyes, and her mouth tightened. Was she
in distress? “May I be of service, miss?” He bowed. “You
appear uneasy.” What a ludicrous thing to say! Surely he could
think of a better way to introduce himself to this vision of
loveliness.
She
was biting her lower lip, and Darcy wanted more than anything to
alleviate her anxiety. “I was looking for my friend.” His surge
of jealousy was instantly assuaged by her next words. “She is
blonde and wears a blue dress.”
“Ah,
I believe she has accompanied my friend onto the veranda for a
dance.”
“Oh.
So I have
been abandoned.” Her lips quirked into a half smile. She
sees her friend’s abandonment as a cause for amusement rather than
resentment, Darcy
noted.
“As
have I. Perhaps we may be abandoned together.” How did such
flirtatious language emerge from his mouth? Usually he had no
facility with words. Perhaps the mask offered him some kind of
license? But her clear blue eyes held his in a captive gaze. No, it
was her. Something about this woman stirred deep feelings so all he
saw—all he could see—was her. The rest of the world simply fell
away.
Her
eyebrows tipped upward doubtfully. Was he being too forward with a
woman he had just met? Darcy almost did not care. He would do
anything, break any rules of propriety to stay with this enchanting
creature. “Would you do me the honor of the next dance?”
She
blinked rapidly and blushed, her gaze not meeting his. Was the
request such a surprise to her? Of course, they had not been
introduced, but a masquerade should allow them to dispense with such
formalities. Then she gave him an arch look. “A stranger in a
mask has just asked me to dance. What would my mother say I should
do in this situation?”
Was
she teasing him? He had seen other men engage in such banter, but it
never happened to him. He cleared his throat. “I believe your
mother would advise you to accept under the circumstances.” He
found himself smiling at her. “I assure you, miss, I am not a
highwayman despite the mask.”
She
tapped her lips thoughtfully with her forefinger. “So you would
have me believe you are a respectable gentleman? I would expect a
highwayman to say so.”
Darcy
could not prevent a laugh from bursting forth. At the beginning of
their conversation he had suspected she might be unaware of his
identity, but now he was sure of it. No woman ever dared to banter
with Fitzwilliam Darcy in such a way; they were too eager to
compliment his figure, his features, his clothing, his horse…and
anything else he possessed. Every exchange with a marriageable woman
was colored by awareness of his fortune—except this one, and it was
delightful. How had such a woman found her way into the Berwicks’
masquerade?
He
restrained an impulse to take the woman’s hand; he did not know
her. “Very well, will you promise to dance with me if I promise
not to purloin your reticule or jewelry?” As he said this, he
realized she possessed neither. How odd.
She
laughed, a bright, silvery sound. He had made her laugh! “Yes, I
thank you. But this set has just begun.”
He
glanced at the veranda where the couples had just begun their set.
“Then perhaps we may take a stroll in the gardens before the next
one commences.” Where had he discovered this new fount of
gallantry and ease? Robert often teased Darcy about being stiff and
formal in company.
The
woman took his proffered arm, and they slowly walked toward the
formal gardens, which were less crowded than in the area around the
court. He had so many questions about this enchanting woman that his
throat felt clogged with them. “I pray you, tell me your name,”
he finally managed.
She
slid him a sidelong glance. “It is a masquerade. Should not my
identity remain hidden?”
He
shrugged. “I do not wish to think of you as ‘that woman in
yellow’ for the entire evening.”
Her
laugh was genuine, not the polite tittering allowed for a lady of the
ton.
“Very well, my name is Elizabeth.”
When
Jane Got Angry
Caroline
Bingley is not my friend,
Jane Bennet realized about five minutes into the woman’s visit at
the Gardiners’ house. It was a startling realization. A
disheartening one.
Jane
had called upon Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst at the Hursts’ house on
Grosvenor Square not long after her arrival in London. With the
reasonable expectation of a prompt return call, she had waited at
home every morning for a fortnight, but Miss Bingley had not appeared
until more than a month had passed. Even this slight Jane might have
ignored if Miss Bingley had appeared at all pleased to continue the
acquaintance—or at least penitent about her lateness—but the
other woman had given only scant and insincere apologies.
Although
she should have been attending to the conversation, Jane instead was
hearing the echoes of many conversations with her sister Elizabeth
warning against believing in Miss Bingley’s regard. Jane struggled
not to fidget in her chair as she recalled Lizzy’s words.
Belatedly
she realized the conversation had faltered to a stop. I
must speak. But,
heavens, what had Miss Bingley and Aunt Gardiner been discussing?
Jane’s memory was entirely blank. “We are enjoying very fine
weather,” she said hastily. Trite but unexceptionable.
Aunt
Gardiner blinked in surprise. Miss Bingley pursed her lips. “What
has that to do with the fashion for long sleeves?” she sniffed.
Jane
shifted in her chair. “Er…well…it is pleasant to wear long
sleeves in fine weather.” The palms of her hands were growing quite
moist. What a terrible explanation!
Miss
Bingley shrugged disdainfully. “If you would call it ‘fine.’
It rained three days ago and ruined my slippers.”
Aunt
Gardiner gave Jane a sidelong glance as if to say, “This
is your friend?”
Jane
raised her eyebrows in response, hoping to convey, “I may have been
mistaken.”
“It
has been quite sunny and warm for the past two days,” Aunt Gardiner
pointed out. “Particularly for February.”
Miss
Bingley flicked a bit of dust from her skirt. “Yes, unseasonably
warm. One does not know whether to wear wool or linen or cotton. It
is most disconcerting.”
Her
aunt rolled her eyes at Jane, who hid a smile. Was it even worth the
effort of a polite conversation if a woman could complain about warm
and sunny weather in February?
Maggie,
the Gardiners’ maid, set down a tea tray laden with biscuits on the
drawing room table. Aunt Gardiner poured a cup and passed it to Miss
Bingley, who took a tiny sip as if she expected they might have
substituted dishwater for tea.
Oh,
good grief.
Gracechurch Street might not be Grosvenor Square, but the Gardiners
were hardly beggars in the streets. Even Maggie gave the visitor a
scornful glance as she slipped from the room.
Jane
supposed she should share the maid’s disdain, but she could barely
summon the energy for it. Every aloof look from Miss Bingley weighed
on her, as if every time the other woman glanced at her, Jane grew
smaller and more insignificant—until she was in danger of
disappearing altogether. She had believed in Miss Bingley’s
friendship, thinking her sincere, if a bit arrogant.
Miss
Bingley had been the one to solicit Jane’s company in Hertfordshire
and treat her as the most intimate of friends. The complete
alteration in the other woman’s demeanor was incomprehensible. Had
Jane unwittingly given offense?
No.
Lizzy warned me. This is through no fault of mine.
It was painfully clear her sister had been correct about Miss
Bingley’s lack of regard.
Her
chest was hollow and achy; her eyes burned. Jane had not only lost a
friendship, but she also had lost faith in her own discernment. What
other errors in judgment have I committed?
Had
Jane been wrong about Mr. Bingley’s regard for her? She had hoped
that an acquaintance with Miss Bingley would allow her to see the
woman’s brother once more. However,
if Miss Bingley is not my friend, I may never see Mr. Bingley again.
The realization
bore down on Jane, pinning her to her chair like an enormous weight.
She
tried to assemble a smile despite finding it difficult to breathe.
Jane had slowly lost all hope of Mr. Bingley after he left
Netherfield, but her arrival in London had rekindled those dormant
embers. Now Miss Bingley’s disdain snuffed them out as completely
as if they had been doused with water.
The
chances were never very good.
Any hopes likely
were in vain. This
reminder did nothing to ease her breathing.
* * *
Have you read either of these books? I've read
Darcy vs. Bennet, which I enjoyed. I still have
When Jane Got Angry on my to be read list. I am intrigued to know what changes that might make, if Jane Bennet had lost her cool!
You can buy these books now, in print or ebook, if you prefer, but also in audio.
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 www.victoriakincaid.com
Giveaway Time
Victoria is kindly giving away an audio book of each title. So one audio book of
Darcy vs. Bennet for one winner, and
When Jane Got Angry for another winner, which can be downloaded from either audible.com or audible.co.uk.
To enter, please leave a comment on the blog post by the end of the day worldwide on
Monday 9 September. Please ensure that you include your name in your comment and also tell me your order of preference for the audio books. That way, if you're chosen first you will get the book you want most!
You can gain one additional entry to the giveaway by tweeting about this post. To ensure that I find your tweet please copy me (@frawli1978) into your tweet.
Note regarding comments: I love to read your comments, but a few blog visitors have reported difficulties in commenting while using the Safari browser. If you are unable to comment, please try using another web browser, such as Google Chrome, or please
contact me and I will add your comment for you :)
Blog Tour Schedule
Victoria is visiting other blogs so you can learn more about the books and increase your chances of winning. Check out these other stops!
September 3 -- Babblings of a Bookworm
September 4 --
My Jane Austen Book Club
September 5 --
From Pemberley to Milton
September 6 –
More Agreeably Engaged
September 10 --
Austen Authors
September 11--
Diary of an Eccentric
September 12 –
Savvy Verse and Wit
September 23 --
Austenesque Reviews
September 21 -
My Love for Austen
* * *
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