Good morning, friends! Did you see whose cover is being revealed today?!? 😯
Jessie Lewis!!!! Ahhh! I know many readers are like me and absolutely adored her amazing debut, Mistaken, right? And now we get to learn a little bit about her next release which is also a fabulous-sounding Pride and Prejudice variation that will be coming out November 18th! 🙌🏼
Please help me give a warm welcome to Jessie Lewis! 💕
~ From the Author ~
Thank you, Meredith, for hosting the cover reveal for my new book, Speechless. It’s always such a joy 
to share with your readers knowing they love Austen inspired stories as much as I do. Some of your readers might remember my previous Pride and Prejudice variation, Mistaken. Whilst that story veered pretty sharply from canon in some respects, Speechless wades unapologetically through much more familiar tropes.
The idea for the story popped into my head one day as I was re-reading Pride and Prejudice for possibly the millionth time. Mr Darcy is pretty useless at expressing himself, I thought. In fact, he is so bad at it that it might be better if he couldn’t talk at all. That way, he might stop putting his foot in it every time he opens his mouth, and Elizabeth Bennet would have to put some real effort into understanding him, rather than continue to make all her vexing assumptions. They wouldn’t want to be interrupted by anybody else, either; no Caroline Bingley or Lady Catherine stirring the pot or trying to speak for Darcy. Our dear couple needed space and time to work things out for themselves, or the notion of his muteness would be less effective. Once that idea was firmly set in my mind, I needed to find a way to make it happen, and that’s where some good old JAFF tropes came to my rescue.
Tropes are tropes for a reason: they worked so well the first time that people have kept on using them. The fun comes in putting one’s own spin and voice on them. Hence, when I realised the best way to tell my story was by utilising one of the most well-visited tropes of the genre, I didn’t shun the idea, I embraced it! Speechless sees Darcy and Elizabeth marooned together in a remote place and forced to come to a better understanding sooner…except with some pretty major impediments to communication. It’s an interesting and emotional ride, and one that I thoroughly enjoyed writing. Elizabeth and Darcy are such rich, intricate characters to work with that writing them in situations like this, where they can play off each other with dextrous wit, is incredibly fun. Given that it’s set just a few weeks after the Netherfield ball, though, I’m not sure how happy either Darcy or Elizabeth would claim to be at finding themselves stuck together…
When it came to the concept for the cover, I and the fabulous team at Quills and Quartos knew it had to be Darcy-focused. Speechless is told entirely from his point of view, so the story is intimately his. As well as trying to reflect the wintery setting, we particularly wanted the cover to capture Darcy’s isolation as a result of his inability to communicate. Having his back “to camera” was a way of separating him from the reader, of making him unreadable. It is a romantic tale, but it is also a personal journey for Darcy, taking him from lonely young man, through a terrifying and isolating experience to reach a life-changing and enchanting conclusion. The palette was chosen to show the darker side of that passage, with the hints of wintery magic giving a glimpse into the romance that weaves strongly through the story. I hope the readers are intrigued enough to want to share his journey!
Thank you, everyone, for popping into Austenesque Reviews to check out my cover. Feel free to ask me any questions in the comments below, or you can interact with me on Twitter (@JessieWriter), FaceBook (@JessieLewisAuthor), or on my blog . I’d love to hear from you!
I love hearing that this is romantic tale and also a personal journey for Mr. Darcy!! 👏🏼
~ Book Description ~
Could anything be worse than to be trapped in a confined space with the woman you love?
Fitzwilliam Darcy knows his duty, and it does not involve succumbing to his fascination for a dark-eyed beauty from an unheard of family in Hertfordshire. He has run away from her once already. Yet fate has a wicked sense of humour and deals him a blow that not only throws him back into her path but quite literally puts him at Elizabeth Bennet’s mercy. Stranded with her at a remote inn and seriously hampered by injury, Darcy very quickly loses the battle to conquer his feelings, but can he win the war to make himself better understood without the ability to speak?
Thus begins an intense journey to love and understanding that is at times harrowing, sometimes hilarious and at all times heartwarming.
And without further ado….here is the big reveal!!!
(expected release date: November 18th)
Doesn’t this look like a perfect book to curl up with this winter season? Such wintery vibes!! ❄️
I love that the cover reflects the setting and that the POV. 🎩
I wonder what has happened to Mr. Darcy to trap him in an inn with Elizabeth and not have the ability to speak!?! 😶
What do you think, friends? 🤔
Thank you, Jessie, for stopping by and allowing us to share your lovely new cover for Speechless! I am so happy you embraced this trope as it is one I never get tired of reading! I especially love that the twist in this scenario is that Mr. Darcy cannot speak! It sounds fantastic, and I am all eagerness to read it!
~ About Jessie ~
own good and was forced to take up writing them down in order to save her family and friends from having to listen to her saying so many of them. She dabbled in poetry during her teenage years, though it was her studies in Literature and Philosophy at university that firmly established her admiration for the potency of the English language. She has always been particularly in awe of Jane Austen’s literary cunning and has delighted in exploring Austen’s regency world in her own historical fiction writing. It is of no relevance whatsoever to her ability to string words together coherently that she lives in Hertfordshire with two tame cats, two feral children and a pet husband. She is also quite tall, in case you were wondering.GIVEAWAY TIME!
The lovely people at Quills and Quartos are offering a generous giveaway of a $20 Amazon Gift Card for one lucky reader who comments on today’s post! (Prepare your wishlists!) 📚🤤
To enter this giveaway leave a question, comment, or some love for Jessie below.
- This giveaway is open worldwide. Thank you, Quills and Quartos!
- This giveaway ends November 17th
*~*
You can preorder Speechless now!
And learn more about Jessie and her NEW release in the upcoming Speechless Blog Tour.
Our sincere gratitude to Jessie Lewis, Christina Boyd, and the wonderful people at Quills and Quartos for putting this special post together! We truly love doing this kind of post and were honored to host this cover reveal for Jessie Lewis!
Love the cover, and I love Jessie’s stories. Mistaken was so quirky and different than most JAFF, that I’m curious to see what she has in store for us in this new story. I’m off to preorder it now!
I’m delighted to hear you enjoyed Mistaken – I hope you enjoy Speechless just as much! Thanks for stopping in to check out the new cover!
What a beautiful cover! And the premise of the book sounds seriously entertaining — looking forward to reading this. Congratulations on publishing!
Thank you, Anniina! I hope it gives you a warm fuzzy feeling on these increasingly cold winter days.
Like the cover, and a speechless Darcy is an improvement
Ha ha, Elizabeth would certainly agree at the beginning, Vesper! Thanks for dropping in to check out the new cover!
I love the cover. This sounds so interesting I’m going to go and preorder. Thank you for stopping by and sharing this with all of us.
Thank you for stopping by to join in the fun – I hope you enjoy the story 🙂
I read and loved Mistaken (5 stars) and look forward to reading this one. It does sound very intriguing. Thanks for a chance to win.
Ah, thanks so much, Sheila. Good luck to you in the draw, I’d love you to read this new adventure for ODC.
Another fantastic cover and I’m looking forward to reading your new book. Best Wishes and Congratulations! ♫
The designer did such a great job, didn’t he? Thank you Jennifer!
Oh fab! I love the cover! I love this premise! I love that they have no interference from Caroline or Lady Catherine! AND I especially love that Elizabeth having to help Darcy obviously improves her opinion of him.
Can’t wait for this one, luckily it’s only one week!
Can’t wait to read it! Just preordered it.
And I love that you’re going to read it, Glynis! Good luck in the draw!
That’s so great to hear, Michelle, I hope you really enjoy it 🙂
I absolutely loved Mistaken and your excellent writing. I can’t wait for Speechless to see how a mute Darcy is able to overcome Elizabeth’s prejudices against him. You may be correct, Jessie, that mute is preferable to “In vain have I struggled”. Nothing like letting the girl know you really didn’t want to like her.
Yes, being mute certainly makes Darcy choose his words more carefully. Though, being prone to brooding as he is, sometimes extra time can just give him more time to be cross! ha ha! Thanks for popping in to comment Anna.
The cover is wonderful, captivating and a work of art. This novel sounds memorable and a real treasure.
Thanks, April, that’s really sweet. I certainly hope you remember it fondly if you get the chance to read it 🙂
I woke up this morning to a dusting of snow! My thoughts on seeing your cover? Why couldn’t they have been marooned on a sunny beach?
Seriously, very attractive cover and one that will stand out in the tiny image on Amazon. Loved your first book (both times I read it) and I’m looking forward to this one.
Ha ha ha, that would have been much more pleasant for all involved, although sunny beaches can be in short supply in England at the best of times, let alone the midst of winter. Thanks so much for popping in to comment Rose!
I’m thoroughly intrigued. Perhaps being mute will be an improvement to his usual foot-in-mouth dialogue? Looking forward to this release.
You’d like to think so wouldn’t you! Thing is, we’ve all seen Darcy still put his foot in it, even when he takes the time to write a nice long letter! Yikes! Don’t worry, being stuck means there’s time to work on his delivery 😉
Looking forward to reading this new story. Love the cover.
That’s really great to hear, I hope you enjoy it! 🙂
I’ve been going back to Mistaken again and again so I’m waiting (im)patiently for something else to get my claws into. Looking forward to seeing how Darcy protests against being spoon-fed by Elizabeth without a voice! Good luck with the release.
Rest assured he is every bit as stubborn without a voice as he is with one…tee hee! I hope the story brings you a smile 🙂
Mistaken was very enjoyable. The cover is beautiful and the atmosphere is evident.
The designer did such a good job … even the way Darcy’s shoulders are held back, like he’s preparing himself to face something…really sums up this story. And I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed Mistaken, Laini. Thanks for commenting!
I cannot wait to read this one and see how you accomplish having Darcy unable to speak! 🙂
Tee hee…he was not happy about it, I can tell you! Thanks Brenda 🙂
The premise is fantastic. Love the idea you have of Darcy being physically unable to fit that foot in his mouth.
It really was fun to write, too. I hope you have fun reading it. Thanks Ginna!
Loved Mistaken and am sure would love this too. The cover is great and appropriate for the story.
Thank you, Darcybennett. Good luck with the draw!
I was intrigued by this story ever since I got the excerpt from Quills newsletter!
Can’t wait to see it published.
Good luck and thank you–both– for the giveaway!
It’s always super hard choosing what part to use for an excerpt–enough to intrigue but careful not to reveal too much. I’m pleased to hear you enjoyed the section you read and hope you enjoy the rest just as much. Thanks for dropping in to comment!
An exceptional cover that is beautiful. This book is memorable and I look forward to enjoying the story.
Thank you, April. Good luck in the giveaway! 🙂
What a lovely cover!!! I really can’t wait to read it! Congratulations on your new book, Jessie!
Thanks ever so much Daniela. I hope you enjoy it!
Looking forward to reading it!
I hope you enjoy it, Keara. Thanks for stopping by today!
Looks like the perfect read for a chilly day with cozy chair, blanket and a cuppa!
And a roaring log fire! Thanks Sharon 🙂
I loved Mistaken, especially the wonderful dialogue. If Darcy is speechless I’m still depending on you to deliver the same in a unique way! I really look forward to this release. I love the cover as well.
That’s so lovely to hear, thanks Marie. And don’t worry… where there’s a will, there’s a way, and Darcy certainly likes to get his way! 🙂
What a beautiful cover! So appropriate for this time of year.Can’t wait to see how ODC survive being stranded together, especially when Darcy has no voice. Congratulations on your new book release.
Thank you Mary! Hopefully this story will warm a few cockles this winter 🙂
Beautiful cover, excellent story idea and lots of interesting “teaser” hints. I cannot wait!
Thanks so much, Cheryl, I hope it’s worth the wait!
What an outstanding post! Thanks, Meredith, for sharing. Looking forward to this novel. And that cover is gorgeous.
Thank you Christina, you’re a gem!
I was happy to share this lovely post, Christina! Thank you for all you do!
Thank you both for helping make this blog tour happen
Oh my gosh, this sounds too good to pass up, and what a gorgeous cover….can’t wait to read it!!!
Thanks so much, Susan. It’s a lovely cover isn’t it. I’m very lucky!
Love the cover!!! Congratulations! What an intriguing premise too!
Thank you Carole. It was great fun to write. I hope you have as much fun reading it 🙂
Congratulations on the new book! You are a new to me author but these books look like great ones.
I do hope you get the chance to read one or both, Brenda. Stories aren’t stories until they’re read so I love it when I connect with new readers 🙂
I still haven’t read Mistaken, and I’ve been meaning to read it all year! This is a lovely cover, I also like the wintry vibes! Looking forward to reading Speechless.
No need to enter me into the giveaway, just wanted to join in the conversation 🙂
Thanks Ceri! Speechless and Mistaken are vastly different stories, so it will be very interesting to see what you make of them if you get the chance to read them 🙂
I just signed up for your blog. I look forward to getting to read your books!
That’s great, Erna, I’ll see you over there soon! I hope you enjoy all of it, thanks for popping in today!
Congrats, Jessie, and the team at Q&Q for a fab book and cover. I’m already intrigued after that explanation and the blurb.
Ah, then I hope you get the chance to read it and find out what’s happened to ODC, Sophia. 🙂
This does sound like a fabulous variation.
Thank you Mary! Good luck in the giveaway 🙂
Quills and Quartos has been knocking it out of the park with so many amazing stories. Mistaken is easily in my top 5 JAFF stories. I am so excited for Speechless (and the fact that it’s release is on my birthday). Reading it will be a fantastic birthday gift! Jessie, congrats on the upcoming new release!
On that’s so exciting! Happy birthday for Monday Dara! I hope you enjoy the read 🙂
I am really late to this party. But better late than never. Spent the day at the Dr’s office. Ugh! Anyway, I’m here now. Wow! That cover choice was amazing. Did I say WOW yet? Wow!!! I love it and I love the idea of Darcy not being able to speak and being in his head. I also like the idea of them being away from all the distractions that get in their way of discovering each other and their feelings. I have this on my wish list. I look forward to reading this. Blessing Jessie on the success of this new work. Congratulations and I hope the launch is everything you hope it will be. Blessings. Thanks to Meredith for hosting this cover release; She gets to have all the fun. [say hello to your Mr. Bingley]
Ahhhh, thank you so much for such a sweet message! I hope you get the chance to read it. Best of luck in the giveaway! 🙂
This cover definitely deserves all those wows! 😉 Hope you are doing well, my friend! Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your enthusiasm for Jessie’s new release!
I love the cover, it gives the feeling of winter and silence. Mistaken is one of my favorite JAFF and I’m looking forward to reading it. Already preordered.
Wow, that’s fantastic Kate, I hope it makes you smile 🙂
In 100% truthfulness, I haven’t ever read p&p, but I’m intrigued by this alteration and very well may actually read it in order to understand the changes!
Well, hopefully you won’t need to read P&P to understand or enjoy Speechless, although I don’t deny it will add depth. Still, I would recommend reading P&P anyway, because it’s wonderful. I hope you enjoy both!
Wow, what a wonderful response!! I have Mistaken on my wishlist and would LOVE to add Speechless as well. Meredith’s glowing review of the former has convinced me of the NEED to have both!! 🙂
Quill and Quartos is so generous in offering this giftcard, and I am thrilled to be in the running!!
Both covers are amazing: the piquancy of Mistaken and the wintry mysteriousness of Speechless. With covers like these, I can easily imagine the quality of their contents!! 🙂
Congratulations, Jessie!!
Warmly,
Susanne 🙂
P.S. I keep a journal of amazing words that I have been collecting since July 2015, and I only have a few empty pages left to fill. I know the joy of new-to-me words–rather like making a new friend! 🙂
~SB 🙂
Words are great aren’t they! One of my all time favourites is “Nincompoop.”
That’s really lovely, thank you Susanne. I hope you do get to read both. They’re very different, but I thoroughly enjoyed writing both and love them equally. Best of luck in the giveaway!
I cannot wait to hear your thoughts on Mistaken, Susanne – I know you will love it!
Thanks for sharing your lovely enthusiasm for Jessie’s books! Best of luck!
Beautiful cover! Congrats on your latest release! I loved Mistaken!!! Can’t wait to read this one.
Thank you so much, it’s great to hear you loved Mistaken! I hope this one makes you smile too 🙂
Nice cover. I wonder if he has frozen his tongue???hmm or maybe he was thrown of the horse trying to run from EB 😉 Eagerly looking forward to its release. Thank you for the give-away .
He should have run faster and further because he didn’t do a very good job of getting away from her, did he? Tee hee! Hope you have fun discovering what’s really happened. 🙂
I surely will. Looking forward to it.
Congratulations on your new release. The cover fits the story. Poor Darcy . It will be so good to read his stumbling from his POV.
Thanks Eva. I love writing Darcy’s point of view. He’s such a mix of meaning well and being clueless about the workings of women’s minds. Thanks for commenting!
Wow, a very beautiful cover, Jessie.I adore that it’s unique and there’s a reason why you chose to show the back of a man. I don’t think I’ve seen other Austenesque book covers portraying a man’s back before so it sure will grab any reader’s attention. I can’t wait to know more of how Mr Darcy overcome his inability to communicate with his voice.
Thank you Luthien! I Love the cover too, it’s so lovely to hear you like it as well. Darcy certainly struggles at first, but he is very lucky to have been stranded with a woman known for her compassion, even if she is less than enamoured of her patient! Thanks for dropping in to comment 🙂
What a great idea for your new book!! It sounds so interesting, would love to read it 😀 The cover is clever too, though I miss seeing his handsome features a little bit.
On the plus side, at least this way we avoided the problem of choosing a face that some people found un-Darcylike. Everyone’s opinions of what he looks like are so varied! This kind of fits with how Austen described him … as in, not at all really.
I’m so glad you’re excited to read it, Charlotte. I hope it makes you smile!
Great cover, and winter is coming – indeed (we had snow here yesterday in the Boston area)! Best of luck with your new book; I’m looking forward to reading it.
Thank you so much Lilyane, I hope you enjoy it!
Congratulations on your new book! Love the cover. Mistaken was a five star read. Off to preorder this one.
Thank you Shelley! I love hearing people enjoyed Mistaken. I’m all anticipation to know what you make of Speechless. Thanks for popping in to comment.
The cover is gorgeous! I very much look forward to reading this, you’ve got me quite intrigued
I certainly hope you have fun finding out what’s happened to ODC. Good luck in the giveaway!
A whole new twist on my favorite story!! What a good idea to have him as a favorite strong and silent type 😀
It’s a gorgeous cover! I love a good trope done well. I’m looking forwards to reading Speechless. Best of luck, Jessie.
Thanks for your support Lucy! 🙂
Hi Jo’s Daughter. Yes, Darcy takes the notion of strong silent type to new heights in this story, ha ha! Well put! 🙂
Wow, did I get behind this week, sorry this is so late. I love the cover! I love the premise, it sounds so enticing so I can’t wait to read it. I kinda love/hated Mistaken during a great part of the book (you know which part) but could not put it down, and in the end I loved it. I also have the audio version so I hope to see this new one in audio sometime in the future. The best of luck with the launch of your new book, Jessie. Great success to you.
Thanks Michelle!! Speechless is already being recorded so you’ll definitely get the chance to listen to it. I’m glad you survived the rollercoaster of Mistaken to get to the end and still love it! I hope you love Speechless too 🙂
What a good story, to have him unable to say that Lizzie is not handsome enough to tempt him 😀
Ah, regrettably he’s already said that before he loses his voice. Whatever will we do with poor Darcy?!
I cannot wait for this book! Congrats on the new release!
Thanks Leah! Best of luck in the giveaway 🙂
It’s Sunday evening and I can’t help trolling Amazon to see if Speechless is released a few hours early Looking forward to reading it! Much success on the launch.
That’s so sweet Deborah! It’s live now and available to buy. I hope the binge of D&E time it provides proves worth the wait 🙂