Hi friends! You made it through another crazy week, let’s do something to celebrate! How about we talk about the next exciting release from Quills and Quartos? Years ago, not long after I started blogging I read Mary Anne Mushatt’s Darcy and the Duchess, and loved it! It was my first variation that explored a path so far outside of Pride and Prejudice‘s canon. And I really love when authors do that, I cannot wait to learn more about Mary Anne’ new release – Taken!
The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina was the impetus to my discovering fan fiction, leading to writing stories of Jane Austen’s beloved characters in new circumstances. One of my favorite sub-genres is where Elizabeth is not a Bennet. In Taken, Elizabeth discovers her true, inner worth despite being a foundling, then reuniting with her true family. Her journey reveals and tests her self-worth, strength, and qualities of who she is and what she believes, as she reunites with her true family.
The unlimited love of Edwin and Gloria Bennet help her to heal her—internal and external—wounds to become a brilliant young woman. Even before she encounters Darcy, her world is changing, and though she faces an uncertain future, her character strengthens and when tested, she puts him in his place. Finding and joining her birth family challenges her adaptive ability to open her heart, and face those who would do her harm. She triumphs in being able to love and relish life.
Perhaps at that time, as I, my family, and my city navigated the uncertain waters of recovery, I needed that sort of reassurance, that no matter what we are faced with, it is what we chose to do, how we open our hearts and minds to the challenges of each day that matter. I don’t mean to sound Pollyannaish, but, when I look back at that time, of the relish I felt writing Taken, that is what remains.
~ Book Description ~
Taken from her home as a young child, Elisabeth Bennet’s sense of self is shaken when the mystery behind her true identity is unraveled. Discovering her place as the daughter of a duke, she confronts reclaimed memories of her brutal abduction, while tackling the alien world of Regency England’s high society. Facing the ton is the least of her concerns as her kidnappers remain determined to keep her from Fitzwilliam Darcy – the man who showed his love by first proposing she become his mistress. Humbled by her refusal, he returns to win her love and respect.
Together with her reunited family, Elisabeth faces her greatest challenges to both her life and her heart — reclaiming herself and finding her happiness.
And without further ado….here is the big reveal!!!
(expected release date: April 13th)
I really love all these elegant renderings Q&Q is using for their covers, don’t you? 🖼
I love this Regency lady’s ensemble – her fine dress, the ruffled collar, and her vibrantly colored gloves. 🧡
An abduction, mystery, and sinister villains, I love the sound of this! 🙌🏼
Oh boy, sounds like Darcy puts his foot in it again! Wonder how he can redeem himself to Elisabeth! 🙊
What do you think, friends? 🤔
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~ Connect with Mary Anne ~
~ About Mary Anne ~
Mary Anne Mushatt a life-long writer relocated to New Orleans last century, where she earned an MFA and created a documentary of oral histories in the African-American and Native American communities along Louisiana’s River Road. When the levees failed, exiling her family from their home, she discovered the community of Jane Austen acolytes and began writing novels placing the Pride and Prejudice’s beloved characters in innovative situations. Taken is her second published novel. As a result of one of her earlier novels, she works with a multi-disciplinary team aiding victims of human trafficking become survivors.
She lives in New Orleans with her husband, two sons and two dogs.
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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! 📚🤤
To enter this giveaway leave a question, comment, or some love for Mary Anne below.
- This giveaway is open worldwide. Thank you, Quills and Quartos!
- This giveaway ends April 3rd.
*~*
You can preorder Taken now!
Our sincere gratitude to Mary Anne Mushatt, Christina Boyd, and the wonderful people at Quills and Quartos for putting this special post together!
This is Darcy and Elizabeth’s first meeting? It is good that he revealed his sense of humor! I look forward to reading more!
He’s going to need it.
Feeling Pollyannaish is good I think! I saw that film with Hayley Mills at the cinema when I was a child and I loved it, especially the crystals!
What a lovely cover and a great premise! Oh dear Darcy, what were you thinking?i think humble pie is due!
I’ve already added this to my wish list.
Thanks! Don’t worry, Elizabeth has back up and they know where Darcy lives.
I loved all of Mary Anne’s stories when I first read them and cannot wait to have all of them to read whenever I want. Congrats on publishing Taken.
Thanks. It’s a thrill to see it in print! Stay safe!
You mean there is more….
It sounds like there will not be much about the Bennet family in this story
Never fear, there are Bennets in this story, and new family members to bring her joy and try her patience.
Congrats! A lovely cover Mary Anne – we do not see Elisabeth’s famous eyes, but that “smile” indicates they are there. I can’t wait to see who/what knocks some sense into Darcy.
Thanks for the “giveaway.”
Don’t worry, there’s a que to knock some sense into his handsome head.
I love the premise of this story as I’m a huge fan of hidden identity stories.
Me too! It was so much fun to figure out how the reveal would happen and let me tell you — there are more than one!
Lovely cover! Intriguing story! I do love the trope ‘Elizabeth is not a Bennet’! I also love when authors ‘go outside the box’. Congratulations and I will have to check out your first book too!
Me too! I love seeing where Elizabeth and Darcy can go and what they’re capable of doing. I hope you enjoy this tale.
I agree with you on both parts, Carole!! It is always such a fun journey to explore!
oOne of my all time favorite stories. Can’t wait to read it again. Lovely cover.
Thank you!
I’m so excited that Taken is published! I absolutely loved everything that Mary Anne posted and like others, count Taken as one of my favourites. I look forward to reading the finished version as soon as possible. Gorgeous cover!
Thank you! It’s one of my favorites, too! I loved writing it and am so pleased it will be in hard cover, too.
Beautiful cover! I can’t wait to read this one!
A very elegant cover and I find the abduction story interesting and exciting. Congrats, Mary Anne on your new release!
Goodness, this would be quite an adventure to go far outside the canon in my readings…but this is something I would try. A big congratulations on the reveal and soon release, and the giveaway is also exciting. Thank you for offering all these good things!
Congratulations on taking the first step. These are our beloved characters trying on new adventures, but I hope I’ve caught some glimmer of Elizabeth’s sparkle to show her in a new light.
Love stories where Elizabeth in some way outranks Darcy. Watching him eat crow is always delightful.
And he has multiple servings in this one!
It is fun to see the tables turned a little! And yes it is!
I read the excerpt in the Quills and Quartos email, and I was delighted with it. Looking forward to adding this book to my ever-growing list of JAFF books to be read.
I absolutely LOVE Darcy and the Duchess and have read and re-read it many, many times (it is a most valued part of my library)!! I am so intrigued my the premise of Taken that I just pre-ordered the book on Amazon!! I just can’t wait until I receive it on April 13th!!! This sounds like another story that I will treasure for many, many years! I must admit, I can’t resist stories where Lizzy is a member of the aristocracy/is ranked higher than Darcy — I purchase every book with this premise that I find!! When you couple that with the fact that she was kidnapped, I am even more intrigued!!! I can’t wait to read this lovely story!!!
Thank you! I hope you enjoy this story as much as I did writing it. I just keep this image of me working on it in bed, knees bent to keep the laptop in place long after the house slumbered. It truly is one of my favorites.
Brilliant! I’m so happy this is coming out!
Oh Darcy, no, no, no–what were you thinking? Our Lizzy-your mistress! Heaven forbid! The cover is wonderful. My favorite covers are those where one cannot see the entire face since inevitably my mind’s picture of the main characters are not the same as those on the covers. Ah well, just a personal preference…
Wow, not lions and tigers and bears, but excitement and intrigue and bad Darcy! Just lovely!
Hah! Love it!
Gorgeous! I can always spot a cover by Susan Adriani—Elegant for sure! Looking forward to the release. Congratulations to all on another terrific read!
Susan did a beautiful job, I am so grateful. I hope the story matches her great work.
I think I’m beginning to learn her style as well. Definitely one I will never get tired at looking at!
Lovely cover as always, Meredith. You get to showcase all these fabulous covers, what fun [hello to your Mr. Bingley]. I first read this on fan fiction and am so excited to see it published. Congratulations to our author Mary Anne and a special thank you for you and Q&Q Publishing for the generous giveaway. I wish you all the best. New Orleans is once again hard hit, this time with the virus. I wish you all the best in staying safe and healthy. Blessings.
So happy to hear your praise for this one too, Jeanne! Hope you are staying safe and well!
I had the same impression about the cover as you did, Meredith. I want to know what happened and how did Darcy insult Elizabeth? How did the Bennet’s end up with Elizabeth. Thank you for the cover reveal and giveaway.
Yes, so many questions! It will be so much fun to see the answers revealed!
Personally, I am VERY excited about this release. The few excerpts Q&Q have posted are intriguing, and I love me a good Elizabeth is actually very well connected trope. Cannot wait to read it. Plus, this cover? Gorgeous.
Fasten your carriage belts we’re in for a bumpy ride!
Lovely cover. Interesting review – great as always. This sounds like one I must read. So thank you for a chance to win it. I will have to look up her first book to see if I read that one.
I am full of anticipation for this new book!!! And the chance to win the giveaway is thrilling!!
Intriguing premise and beautiful cover! Can’t wait to read this story!
I hope you find the story satisfies.
His mistress?? I can hardly believe my eyes? Oh my goodness! Am really looking forward to seeing how he grovels his way out of that particular hole!
Best wishes on your book,Mary Anne. Love the cover. ☘️
What a great idea to have Elizabeth be a foundling 😀 Like the sound of your new story!!
It is a lovely cover! I look forward to reading the book.
Congratulations on this release.
Oh I wonder how Darcy will take this that EB is even superior to him in rank (and he had asked her to be his mistress). it seems the Darcy here is a littlle full of himself. Can’t wait when everything is revealed.
Thnak you for this post
Thank you all for your wonderful comments. It’s been a thrill to see Taken published. I admit, this story had me in a unique and compelling way. And while the Bennets are involved, Elizabeth has many family members to take up the slack. Thanks to Ellen and the Q&Q fairy-godmothers, Taken is better than ever before.
I hope it meets your expectations.
Best,
Mary Anne
Wishing you all the best, Mary Anne! Thank you for sharing your lovely cover with us! It is great to hear everyone’s comments – both those that have read and those who are wanting to read it!
Thank you Meredith, for this and for all you do for the JAFF community. This is spectacular!
Can’t wait for a reread!
What a great cover! Congratulations on publishing Taken, Mary Anne, I’m looking forward to reading it!
Thank you!
Beautiful cover and intriguing storyline. Congratulations Quills and Quartos on another terrific release!
Lovely cover! I can’t wait to read your new release. I’m sorry to say that I have not read your first book either. Will remedy that soonly. Thanks for the giveaway.
Looking forward to reading this book. The cover is delightful as is the glimpse of the story
The cover is beautiful and the premise is fascinating! Thanks for featuring here and best wishes with your new publication! ♫
Thanks! The cover is amazing.
Love the cover and the lovely dress she is wearing. Did I just read Darcy offered her to be his Mistress????WOW!!! He will need so knee pads for this one. Can’t wait to read it. Congratulations on the publication. Stay safe
I know! I want that dress! And lol about the knee pads!
Looking forward to another enjoyable story. Thank you.
Thank you so much for hosting Mary Anne and Taken, Meredith, and for all of the kind and encouraging comments left here today. We are so excited to be publishing Taken and bringing it to the larger world of JAFF readers, and are thrilled by the responses here–both to the excerpt and the gorgeous cover made for us by Susan Adriani. Thanks to everyone who stopped by, and we hope you’ll all love Taken as much as we do!
Jan and Amy
My pleasure! Thank YOU for all these wonderful stories you are publishing. And thank you for the lovely opportunity to share this post and celebrate the news about this new release from Mary Anne Mushatt!! I love the covers Susan designs – this one is another beauty!
I love it when beautiful art work is used on covers.
Me too!
I can’t wait for it to come out! And like so many others have said before me, I love all of the beautiful covers on your books. They are my favorites!
Me, too! To both!
such beautiful cover art!
denise
Susan really did a great job!
I can’t wait to read this book! One of my favorite storylines!
Mine, too. That’s why it was so much fun to write.
Ooh this Darcy is a handful, is he not? His mistress? How dare he! And that mischievous sense of humor! Tsk, tsk. I cannot wait to see Lizzy humble the proud!
I agree, and if I do say so myself, he does!
I know, right? I cannot wait to see how Lizzy responds to this kind of proposal – is it Hunsford-style or worse than Hunsford style?!
This sounds great.can’t wait.
Susan is a genius!
What a gorgeous cover!
I don’t see the excerpt that some readers are commenting on, but I like the premise of duchess Lizzy!
I believe it was emailed from Quills and Quartos if you subscribe to their newsletter.
Gosh this story sounds fun!! What an interesting idea Lizzie not being a Bennet. Hope it goes well!
The cover is truly beautiful and I really like how this story seems so different! It sounds like it is a fun book to read. Thanks for a chance to win!
This sounds great. Supportive Bennets are a nice change. Best of luck with it.
Thank you!
I love this story and can’t wait to read again.
That’s what I felt when I started editing it for publication. There were parts even I forgot, and other that brought tears to my eyes. It was like reading a new story.
Truly great cover.
I’m confused by the blurb (is she kidnapped twice? Or have the bad guys been lurking & regulating her life for 20 years?). I assume all will be revealed to everyone but the villains’ satisfaction.
All will be revealed — in time!
Beautiful cover! I’ve been eagerly awaiting this release, and am now off to preorder…
The cover is exquisite; I have been admiring Q&Q’s lovely covers this spring!! 😀
And the premise sounds amazing–I am definitely looking forward to reading this one!!
Thank you, Meredith, for hosting this wonderful cover reveal!!! 😀
Warmly,
Susanne 🙂
Yes, I so agree! These Q&Q covers are so attractive – love their style!
I am so excited for this book! I read the first excerpt and I was hooked!!! Thank you for sharing your talent!!!
Thank you! I really liked the excerpt they picked. It’s their first encounter.
I’m really looking forward to reading Taken, I think I may have read part of it online before. But this is really exciting to have it published. I too just love covers that use old paintings depicting the era we love so much. Well I wish Mary Anne Mushatt all the best with the release of Taken, and now I need to go put it on my wish list and see what else she has out there already available.
Indeed a good way to celebrate getting through another weird week!
I hope Taken helps alleviate some of the down time of self-isolation. A way to another world.