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Mr Bennet's Dutiful Daughter Blog Tour 17 Nov - 2 Dec

19/11/2016

The blog tour is on, and there are lots of Giveaways!

Please visit and I hope you'll like what you see:

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Mr Bennet's Dutiful Daughter: Cover Reveal, Launch and Blog Tour

4/11/2016

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Many thanks to everyone who took part in the Guessing Game over the last three days, your comments were amazing fun!
I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!

Well, no need to guess any more. Thanks to the amazing Claudine Pepe from 'Just Jane 1813' and the wonderful people who kindly joined in co-hosting the cover reveal, 'Mr Bennet's Dutiful Daughter' is now officially out :)

‘Mr Bennet’s Dutiful Daughter’ on Amazon.com

‘Mr Bennet’s Dutiful Daughter’ on Amazon.co.uk

For a chance to read some wonderful posts and enter the Launch Giveaway Rafflecopter please visit:

Babblings of a Bookworm

Diary of an Eccentric

From Pemberley to Milton

Just Jane 1813

More Agreeably Engaged

My Jane Austen Book Club

My Kids Led me Back to Pride and Prejudice

Obsessed with Mr Darcy

So Little Time

Thanks EVER so much for the warm welcome, Ceri Tanti, Anna Bitgood Horner, Rita Deodato, Janet Taylor, Maria Grazia Spilla, Tamara Howes, Mira Magdo and Candy Morton and huge thanks, Claudine Pepe, for everything!!

Please follow the Blog Tour for more details and GIVEAWAYS

November 17/ My Jane Austen Book Club/Launch Post & Giveaway

November 18/Pemberley to Milton/Book Review & Giveaway

November 19/Obsessed with Mr. Darcy/ Book Review & Giveaway

November 20/ A Covent Garden Madame Gilflurt’s Guide to Life/Guest Post

November 21/ Margie’s Must Reads/ Book Review & Giveaway

November 22/ Babblings of a Bookworm/ Book Review & Giveaway

November 23/Diary of an Eccentric/Book Review & Giveaway

November 24/ Happy Thanksgiving

November 25/ So Little Time… So Much to Read/ Excerpt & Giveaway

November 26/ Just Jane 1813/Interview with Joana Starnes

November 27 / My Kids Led Me Back to Pride and Prejudice/ Guest Post & Giveaway

November 28/ More Agreeably Engaged/ Vignette & Giveaway

December 2/ Austenesque Reviews/ Excerpt & Giveaway

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Cover reveal & Launch Giveaway: GUESSING GAME - DAY 3

3/11/2016

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Thanks again for the amazing response and your wonderful comments!!!! I was giggling inanely as I read them. Don't know about you, but I had lots of fun with the guessing games!

Just like on DAY 1, it was so great to find some many great guesses!

Congrats to the winners once again!

So, the DAY 2 answers:

I'll start with the third question, where the consensus of opinion was A: 'lace caps'. Oh, yes, we love our universally acknowledged JAFF truths, and one of them is that Elizabeth's hair is too beautiful and glints too prettily to be covered with caps, so Mr Darcy would much rather she never wore them. Rather than expanding on the conversation between Elizabeth, Mr Darcy and Mrs Gardiner, I thought you might like to see an earlier fragment that leads up to it:

'His words came in a rush, disjointed and barely comprehensible between burning kisses, but he continued to intersperse them nonetheless – not that Elizabeth could have wished him to do otherwise. “Why do you imagine… that I took myself away… for hours on end… and two nights in a row?”
She drew back then.
“Why?” she asked, searching his eyes.
“Because I could not bear to be near you and not come to you, and I could not come to you when you were so clearly against me. Because in the midst of the harshest reproaches flying between us I could not tell if what I wanted most was to throttle you or kiss you.”
Her warm laughter rang between them.
“Oh, I would say kiss me. Definitely kiss me, if those were the only options.”
“Not the only options. Not by a fair margin,” he playfully growled back, and did kiss her again, not needing further prompting.
Their breaths came in ragged gasps when they stopped for air, still clinging to each other.
“Should you not go? You will be late,” she offered eventually, when she discovered she could speak.
“Go? I am not going anywhere!”
“Foolish man,” she tenderly admonished. “You must. Your uncle is expecting you.”
“What I must do,” he said showering her face and head with a much tamer smattering of little kisses, “is have a word with that girl of yours, Sarah, and bribe her into throwing all these godawful caps away. Whoever has devised them? The devil’s own invention, I call it. I love your hair. Why must you cover it?”'

The second question: Napkin? Fork? Spoon? I LOVED your comments about how Lizzy might or might not want to inflict the most damage :D

I guess this would make:
The fork - the weapon of choice
The napkin - the sensible alternative
The spoon - the middle ground

In the end it was C: a spoon, but only because they were having soup at the time. The context was that, halfway through their disagreement:

'Her husband dabbed his lips.
“If you must.”
What she must do is set the spoon down before it left a dent into her palm, Elizabeth thought grimly, and did so. Quietly. Lydia would have let it fall into the bowl with a loud clatter. Then she was far worse than Lydia, for she had the strongest urge to throw it across the table or, better still, at him. She resisted it. Just as she resisted giving her husband the upbraiding he richly deserved in the presence of the two blank-faced footmen who served their dinner. She wondered in passing if they were so well trained as to remain blank-faced, were they to hear what she had to say.'

Which leaves the question 'What did Colonel Fitzwilliam find?'

Gentle and ever so decorous ladies, I hope you won't be too shocked to hear it was C - a frilly chemise:

'He sought to rearrange the pillows, only to discover a frilly chemise tucked between the top mattress and the headboard. He tugged at the frothy garment till it was displayed to its full length and glory, to his cousin’s acute mortification.
“Well, then,” Fitzwilliam grinned as he tucked it back where he had found it, “a pity this is not Miss Elizabeth’s bedchamber, otherwise I would have gladly offered you the token.”
A pillow flung forcefully at his head was Darcy’s prompt response to the remark, and a low growl followed:
“Hold your tongue, will you, and just go to bed!”'

Would you still like to play?

For the third and last day of the GUESSING GAME, I'll keep it short (but not exactly sweet ;) ):

DAY 3 - WHODUNIT?

Rita Deodato ('From Pemberley to Milton') said the funniest thing when she was reading the ARC for 'Mr Bennet's Dutiful Daughter':

"This can’t get any worse, can it? Who am I kidding, this is Joana Starnes, of course it can get worse!"

So, what do you think?

Who throws the biggest spanner in the works? Is it:
a. Mr Wickham?
b. Lady Catherine?
c. Mrs Bennet?

and

At what point in the book does it happen?
a. 50%?
b. 70%?
c. 90%?

Hope you had fun with the GUESSING GAMEs! The Day 3 good guesses will be entered into the Rafflecopter, just like the others, but I think this time I should keep the answers under wraps, so that I don't give the game away much too soon. I hope you'll enjoy reading the whole story. See you tomorrow for the Cover Reveal at:

Babblings of a Bookworm
Diary of an Eccentric
From Pemberley to Milton
Just Jane 1813
More Agreeably Engaged
My Jane Austen Book Club
My Kids Led Me Back to P&P
Obsessed with Mr Darcy
and
So Little Time

Huge thanks again, Ceri, Anna, Rita, Janet, Maria Grazia, Tamara, Mira and Candy for kindly co-hosting the cover reveal, and especially to you, Claudine, for everything!

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Cover reveal & Launch Giveaway: GUESSING GAME - DAY 2

2/11/2016

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Huge thanks everyone for joining in the first round yesterday! It was absolutely wonderful to see so many of you here and I LOVED your guesses and your comments!!!!!

I'm delighted to say that almost everyone has won at least one extra entry in the Cover Reveal and Launch Giveaway! Claudine has kindly offered to add those extra entries to the Rafflecopter as soon as the link is live, and I'm ever so glad to see she'll probably need my help :) So many good guesses!!

Congrats to the winners, at least one good guess means you have the MYSTERY PRIZE in the bag!!

You'll find more details about it in the Cover Reveal posts. But first, yesterday's quotes and a little bit more about where they came from:

1. "“Oh, I knew it! I knew you would not have the heart to leave us at the mercy of that odious Collins. Dearest Lizzy, how clever of you to refuse him! Who would not exchange Longbourn for Pemberley? How rich, how grand you will be! And your dear husband will set us up safely and comfortably, I am sure. I hope he will overlook my having so disliked him before. Oh, Lizzy, how good of you to set aside your own dislike and agree to have him. How good and sensible, my dear, dear girl. Bless you, my sweet, for this sacrifice!”
The repeated entreaties for the outpourings to cease had no effect, until Elizabeth said with energy:
“Hush, Mamma! He will hear you.” There was no risk of that, in truth. The door was closed, the house sturdily built with thick walls and floors and, surprisingly, her mother was not as shrill as usual. Even more surprisingly, at her now favourite daughter’s admonition she suddenly grew silent, giving Elizabeth the opportunity to continue. “You must not speak again of any of this. Gratitude – sacrifice – dislike. What gentleman wants to hear that his future wife sees the union as a sacrifice? Particularly one of Mr Darcy’s standing.” Who said that? Elizabeth - OPTION B

2. Darcy's patience was to be tested further when Fitzwilliam saw fit to smirk:
“There we are. ‘Tis a fair old while since I last shared a bed with you. Now, while we are on the subject, pray do not imagine I will put up with snuggling, whatever dreams you might be dreaming in this ever so feminine bedchamber. I give you fair warning, I will defend myself if you do not keep your distance.” Who said that? Colonel Fitzwilliam - OPTION A

3. The voice tensed every sinew in his body. Wickham’s reviled voice, speaking softly in a tone of sickeningly-sweet commiseration.
“Forgive my intrusion, but I had to follow once I overheard. If it gives you any comfort, I know how you must feel. Believe me, of all people in this house I know precisely what anguish this must be. But I beg you would not reproach yourself. You had no choice. And everything you did was with good intentions.” Who said that? Mr Wickham - OPTION B
(No pulling the wool over your eyes with that one ;) )

Would you like to have a go at the second round of questions now?

Come on, join in for extra chances to secure the MYSTERY PRIZE and, fingers crossed, win one of the other giveaway prizes too.

For those of you joining us today, welcome! No problem if you missed DAY 1 of the contest, just join in DAY 2 for extra entries in the Cover Reveal and Book Launch Giveaway (you can read more about the giveaway here).

The second round works in the same way: have a look, have a guess and leave your answers in the comment box. Good luck, thanks for taking part and hope you're having fun.

DAY 2: NOW THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!

1. So Mr Darcy and his cousin share a bedchamber - at Longbourn, as you'll probably guess from this paragraph:

A few moments later Fitzwilliam discovered a [....]
“Well, then,” he grinned as he tucked it back where he had found it, “a pity this is not Miss Elizabeth’s bedchamber, otherwise I would have gladly offered you the token.”
A pillow flung forcefully at his head was Darcy’s prompt response to the remark, and a low growl followed:
“Hold your tongue, will you, and just go to bed!”

What do you think Colonel Fitzwilliam discovered?
a. an embroidered handkerchief
b. a sheer nightgown
c. a frilly chemise

2. On the subject of throwing things, there is a scene from much later in the book, when Elizabeth and Mr Darcy are already married:

"Then she was far worse than Lydia, Elizabeth thought grimly, for she had the strongest urge to throw it across the table or, better still, at him. She resisted it. Just as she resisted giving her husband the upbraiding he richly deserved in the presence of the two blank-faced footmen who served their dinner. She wondered in passing if they were so well trained as to remain blank-faced, were they to hear what she had to say."

What do you think Elizabeth would have liked to throw:
a. a napkin
b. a fork
c. a spoon

3. And the last one for today:

"Do rest easy, dear aunt, I have it on excellent authority that some people from the highest circles regard them as godawful.”
“Lizzy! That language!” Mrs Gardiner exclaimed, mildly scandalised. “Your husband will think you were raised in the stables.”
But, far from scandalised himself, Darcy was grinning widely into his cup of tea.

What are they talking about, do you think:
a. lace caps
b. poke bonnets
c. crepe dresses

Thanks for joining in the game and I hope you'll be back tomorrow!

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Cover Reveal & Launch GIVEAWAY and a GUESSING GAME

1/11/2016

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What better way to celebrate the upcoming cover reveal and launch of a new book than with a GIVEAWAY?

You’ll find more details on Nov 4 at Just Jane 1813 and all the other blogs kindly co-hosting the cover reveal (Babblings of a Bookworm, Diary of an Eccentric, From Pemberley to Milton, More Agreeably Engaged, My Jane Austen Book Club, My Kids Led Me to Pride & Prejudice and Obsessed with Mr Darcy).

HUGE thanks for the wonderful welcome, Claudine, Ceri, Anna, Rita, Janet, Maria Grazia, Tamara & Mira!

For now, let me say it’s an international giveaway of

* a paperback copy of Mr Bennet’s Dutiful Daughter and
* 2 Kindle copies (each Kindle copy comes with a winner’s choice of
2 Pride & Prejudice- and Austen-related goodies).

You’ll find the Rafflecopter link in the cover reveal blog posts, when you’ll hear more about the MYSTERY PRIZE that will be sent to EVERYONE who enters the cover reveal & launch giveaway from Nov 4 to Nov 15 or wins extra entries (see below).

Until the 4th of November, how about a GUESSING GAME ?

It works like this: today and for the next couple of days I’ll post a few questions and possible answers about what on earth might be going on with Mr Bennet’s Dutiful Daughter and her love life. Come and have a go!

Every good guess counts as an entry in the Cover Reveal and Book Launch Giveaway, and the winners will be announced at Just Jane 1813 on November 16.

Would you like to take part? Then please read on:

DAY 1 – WHO SAID THAT?

Have a look at a few quotes and have a guess, then please leave your answers in the comments box – it’s as simple as that!

1. “You must not speak again of any of this. Gratitude – sacrifice – dislike. What gentleman wants to hear that his future wife sees the union as a sacrifice? Particularly one of Mr Darcy’s standing.”

a.Miss Mary Bennet
b.Miss Elizabeth Bennet
c.Mrs Bennet

2. “‘Tis a fair old while since I last shared a bed with you. Now, while we are on the subject, pray do not imagine I will put up with snuggling, whatever dreams you might be dreaming in this ever so feminine bedchamber. I give you fair warning, I will defend myself if you do not keep your distance.”

a.Colonel Fitzwilliam
b.Mr Darcy
c.Mr Bingley

3. “Forgive my intrusion, but I had to follow once I overheard. If it gives you any comfort, I know how you must feel. Believe me, of all people in this house I know precisely what anguish this must be. But I beg you would not reproach yourself. You had no choice. And everything you did was with good intentions.”

a.Mr Bingley
b.Mr Wickham
c.Col Fitzwilliam

Happy guessing and good luck in the Giveaway!

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﻿Mr Bennet's Dutiful Daughter Blog Tour 17 Nov - 2 Dec

Mr Bennet's Dutiful Daughter: Cover Reveal, Launch and Blog Tour

Cover reveal & Launch Giveaway: GUESSING GAME - DAY 3

Cover reveal & Launch Giveaway:﻿ GUESSING GAME - DAY 2

Cover Reveal & Launch GIVEAWAY and a GUESSING GAME

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Mr Bennet's Dutiful Daughter Blog Tour 17 Nov - 2 Dec

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