Fitzwilliam Ebenezer Darcy – Barbara Tiller Cole

December 6, 2011 • Blog Events, Giveaways, Reviews • 42 Comments
Darcy as Scrooge? YES!

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Source: Review Copy from Author

Because of Elizabeth’s silence upon his return to Meryton, Fitzwilliam Darcy does not tarry or renew his addresses. Assuming Elizabeth was avoiding him and unable to forgive him, Darcy keeps his silence. Instead, full of despair and self-loathing, Darcy retreats to Pemberley where he nurses his broken heart with strong drink and solitude. Refusing Bingley’s invitations, sending Georgiana to Matlock, and giving the servants a holiday, Darcy intends to spend Christmas with his failures, his agony, and his dashed dreams. Fortunately for Darcy, three Christmas Spirits set out to alter the desolate and destructive path he is on by visiting him one strange and profound December night…

Uniting the supernatural spirits and Christmas message of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol with the characters and humor of Jane Austen, Barbara Tiller Cole presents a Christmas novella that is the perfect companion for a chilly night in front of the fire! Darcy made an excellent, albeit more brooding and romantic Scrooge, and I greatly enjoyed seeing everything from his perspective. It was heartrending to see Darcy tortured by the visions of his past and terrified of how bleak the future could be for his loved ones.

Although Darcy’s visions are full of darkness, death, and despair, the three Christmas Spirits bring an abundance of light, cheer, and good humor to this tale. Even the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come! I enjoyed Darcy’s relationship with all three ghosts, especially the Ghost of Christmas Present! She was a hoot! While I enjoyed the lightheartedness and satire of the Christmas Spirits, I did sometimes find their conversation a little too frank and discomfiting. Especially the scene in the epilogue, it was a tad awkward.

Engaging, entertaining, and filled with good cheer Fitzwilliam Ebenezer Darcy is a wonderful way to start the Christmas season! In the paperback edition, which is actually Large Print, the novella comes to about 150 pages, making it possible for you to read this novella in one sitting. And because of the more lighthearted and satirical tone of this novel, this novel will be a fun escape. (Be prepared to suspend disbelief a little and enjoy a few laughs with this tale.)

If you are looking for Christmas ideas for your Janeite friends, why not gift them Fitzwilliam Ebenezer Darcy? Or, maybe ask for it on your Christmas wishlist!

GIVEAWAY!!! Thanks to Barbara Tiller Cole, I have one BRAND NEW copy of Fitzwilliam Ebenezer Scrooge to giveaway to one of you lucky readers!

All you have to do is leave a comment on this review!  (To save your inbox from unwanted spam, please don’t leave your email address.) Just check back to see if you win! Fortunately for our interntational friends, this giveaway is openworldwide. Thank you, Barbara!!

Want to DOUBLE your chances of winning?  Check out my interview with Author Barbara Tiller Cole and leave a comment!

This contest ends December 11th. Thank you for entering and best of luck!

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Disclaimer: The Amazon links used in this post are affiliate links. 

42 comments

  2. Now you have me even more curious about this story with your mention of an awkward scene. Lol I’m glad it’s short since Darcy’s angst is so profound, and that the ghosts provide some comic relief.

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    Reply

  5. A short holiday read is exactly what I need. This time of year seems to be rather busy and I think a book one can read in one sitting is perfect!
    I agree with Monica. I am even more curious now after the mention of frank conversations and an awkward scene.
    As always, thanks so much for the giveaway! 🙂

    Reply

  12. Smashing Dicken’s Christmas Carol with Austen’s P&P sounds like an intriguing read. Loved learning about this book. Thanks for posting and thanks for the giveaway opportunity.

    Reply

  14. Sounds like an interesting combination of two great authors and novels. Short is definitely good this time of year and I love Christmas stories! Thanks for the having a giveaway. That is always fun, win or lose.

    Reply

  20. If only I could win it….
    I’m from Italy and many of these books are still anavaliable both in paperback and in Kindle.
    I love both “Pride and Prejudice” and “A Christmas Carol”

    Reply

  22. [Margaret: I love when a giveaway is international. Thank you! I’ll keep my fingers crossed!]

    Jane Austen has just an international appeal, and I have friends I have made all over the world so I wanted to make this open to all. Good luck!

    Barbara

    Reply

  23. [MonicaP said…
    Now you have me even more curious about this story with your mention of an awkward scene. Lol I’m glad it’s short since Darcy’s angst is so profound, and that the ghosts provide some comic relief.

    Thanks for the giveaway!]

    Monica…Let’s just say that ALL the ghosts with the exception of one loved to tease poor Darcy. There is angst and comedy…yes. Good luck!

    Barbara Tiller Cole

    Reply

  26. [Jakki L. said…
    A short holiday read is exactly what I need. This time of year seems to be rather busy and I think a book one can read in one sitting is perfect!
    I agree with Monica. I am even more curious now after the mention of frank conversations and an awkward scene.
    As always, thanks so much for the giveaway! :)]

    Jakki:

    It is a busy time of year. And I would rather people think it is short…than not finish it as it was slow and boring..LOL. Thanks for commenting! And I am very happy that you won a copy at another stop on my blog tour!

    Barbara Tiller Cole

    Reply

  27. [Kelli H. said…
    Great review! This book sounds like a fun holiday read! Thanks for the giveaway!=)]
    Kelli:
    I hope that people do find it to be a fun holiday read. That was my goal. And good luck on the giveaway!

    Barbara Tiller Cole

    Reply

  28. [Jennifer said…
    OOOH! Two chances to win. I will probably be “doubly unlucky” but it can’t hurt to try. I really can’t wait to read this one!]
    Jennifer….you know what they say…Double the Pleasure, Double the fun…oh, sorry that was a Double mint commercial..LOL. But I really wish you good luck! Hope you get a chance to read it whether you win or not.

    Barbara Tiller Cole

    Reply

  29. [Beverly said…
    I love the “teaser” and now I need to read all of it. Thanks for sponsoring this giveaway.]
    Beverly:
    I am grateful to Meredith for the review and for your comment as well! Good luck.

    Barbara Tiller Cole

    Reply

  30. [Laura Hartness said…
    I love Austenesque fiction, and pairing it with Dickens’ Christmas Carol is great!

    Thanks for the review and giveaway!

    Laura Hartness]
    Laura:

    I love Austenesque fiction as well! And Dickens! Good luck with the giveaway!

    Barbara Tiller Cole

    Reply

  32. [stilettostorytime said…
    Christmas and Mr. Darcy all in one…makes me one happy girl!]
    Stiletto…
    Yes, a nice combination I think! And Darcy at Christmas would make ME a happy girl! 😀

    Thanks for commenting!

    Barbara Tiller Cole

    Reply

  33. [Sophia Rose said…
    Smashing Dicken’s Christmas Carol with Austen’s P&P sounds like an intriguing read. Loved learning about this book. Thanks for posting and thanks for the giveaway opportunity.]

    Sophia Rose…
    Hopefully they are not SMASHED together…but perhaps knitted? Crocheted? not welded? Blended! Shaken not stirred…not that is James Bond. Oh well, I wish you luck. Thanks for commenting! Barbara Tiller Cole

    Reply

  34. [Faith Hope Cherrytea said…
    thanks for your forthright review – always appreciate any headsup moments ;))]

    Faith Hope Cherrytea! Love your screen name! The reality of the headsup moments is that the ghosts are relentless in teasing Darcy about his reactions to Elizabeth and his poor state of grooming!. Thanks for commenting..

    Barbara Tiller Cole

    Reply

  35. [Janet T said…
    Sounds like an interesting combination of two great authors and novels. Short is definitely good this time of year and I love Christmas stories! Thanks for the having a giveaway. That is always fun, win or lose.]

    Janet….I think that ‘short’ as a criticism is definitely better than WAY too long and cumbersome, boring. It was written to be a fast paced novella in tribute to the season, and to my parents and their love and Dickens…and Jane Austen respectively. Thanks for commenting and good luck!

    Barbara Tiller Cole

    Reply

  36. [zally said…
    now I’m curious about the Epilogue….]

    I hope that you are not a cat..LOL…Curiosity killing them and all..LOL. But cats really do not like baths, so maybe you will be safe! 😉

    BTCole

    Reply

  38. [pseudophilosopher said…
    This sounds good and the large print makes it even more appealing!]

    Pseudo: Glad you appreciate the large print. This was dedicated to my parents and my mother was legally blind for the last 10 years of her life, but could manage to read Large Print books up until a year before she died. I wanted a book that I was dedicating TO them to be one that they could have read. I have also been very grateful for the response to the Large Print Version. I was #4 in Large print romances for 2 weeks in a row. VERY affirming that I made the right decision!

    Thanks..BTCole

    Reply

  39. [BeckyC said…
    Thank you for the review. Sounds like a great holiday read! thanks for the giveaway!]

    Becky:

    I appreciate the review as well! I hope that you have a wonderful holiday and that the story makes it just a tad bit better!

    BTCole

    Reply

  41. [Sonia from Italy said…
    If only I could win it….
    I’m from Italy and many of these books are still anavaliable both in paperback and in Kindle.
    I love both “Pride and Prejudice” and “A Christmas Carol”]

    Sonia:
    I wish you good luck! I will let you know that ‘Fitzwilliam Ebenezer Darcy’ is now available on Amazon Italy’s web site. I just double checked to be sure!

    BTCole

    Reply

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