Hi friends!! 2024 has not been kind to blogging endeavors here on Austenesque Reviews. 😔 I hope you will all bear with me as I muddle through and try and sort these tech problems out. 🙈
But here is something that will brighten everyones’ week I’m sure – a cover reveal! 🙌🏼
And not just any cover reveal…a cover reveal for Michelle Ray, author of the daring and creative Pride and Prejudice variation – There You Were. ❤️
I’m so excited to share the cover reveal for Michelle’s upcoming release – By Duty Bound! 🤗
~ From the Author ~
Thank you for having me at your blog to talk about By Duty Bound.
This story started with my wondering how to start a new story. Mr Darcy is originally introduced as rude, forbidding, closed off — pick your not-so-great adjective. I wondered what it would be like if he was the exact opposite at the beginning, and if for D&E, it was love at first sight. What if their relationship was thwarted by a tragedy and if they were bound by duty to walk away from each other?
I have always loved imagining scenes in P&P that were alluded to but never seen, and decided to explore some of those. I also wanted to see how other relationships than D&E might change under different circumstances. One inspiration was Beth’s death in Little Women. I have no sisters, but some of my friends are my heart, and the recent loss of one affectedly me deeply. How might such a loss change Elizabeth?
I teach an elective class that, for part of the year, explores how working people have been treated. As I was writing various servants into the story, I began thinking about their lives, and how they were both connected to and disconnected from those they served. While there were boundaries, a curious, thoughtful character like Elizabeth might be someone to take an interest in those less fortunate than herself, and my research turned up some fascinating issues being discussed in Austen’s times.
Coming back to my inspiration, I think my favourite line from By Duty Bound. is: “Mr Darcy was good at heart, despite having wounded mine.” I am fascinated by forgiveness, as well as how people change over time. Most of all, I love writing about longing. So here’s to longing, loss, love, and duty!
~ Book Description ~
“You are more concerned with duty than in doing what is right?”
“Performing my duty is what is right.”
WHEN FITZWILLIAM DARCY meets Elizabeth Bennet at Longbourn, he is a footloose and fancy-free second son, still bearing a yoke of family expectation but free to fall in love with whomever he chooses. He forms an immediate attachment with Elizabeth Bennet who, with her sweetness and good humour, is exactly what he has always wished for. Alas, just as he recognises his wish to offer for her tragedy strikes and suddenly his future is no longer his own to decide.
Two years later, Elizabeth Bennet finds herself restless with the strictures of being a lady of the Quality. She finds her heart tugged in a multitude of directions, from the plight of servants to the struggles of orphans, but despairs of ever finding a gentleman who will replace Darcy in her heart. Her own considerations of romance are also set aside when family tragedy strikes the Bennets.
TAKING HER ILL SISTER to Ramsgate, Elizabeth is once again thrown into the path of Mr Darcy but finds him a far different man than the one she once knew. Mr Darcy is taciturn and grave, oftentimes angry. Despite her disappointment in his abandonment years prior, she cannot help but feel a tug towards wanting to understand and help him. But can duty ever be reconciled with happiness, or is their romance destined to be forever thwarted by their responsibilities?
And without further ado….here is the big reveal!!!
(expected release date: February 5th)
Elegant and moody. I love this portrait style. The darker and richer colors really set a sombre tone. 🖼
The scene in the background looks charming and inviting, but the rigid posture and the black gown allude to some tragedy and hardships. 🖤
Mr. Darcy as a second son is so interesting to explore. I like seeing how Pemberley and his responsibilities change his character and demeanor. 🎩
I love longing too. It sounds like both Darcy and Elizabeth experience some real trials and turbulence in this story. ❤️🩹
What do you think, friends? 🤔
~~~
GIVEAWAY TIME!!!
The lovely people at Quills and Quartos are offering 3️⃣ ebook copies of to 3️⃣ lucky readers who comment on today’s post!
To enter this giveaway leave a question, comment, or some love for Michelle below.
- This giveaway is open worldwide. Thank you, Quills and Quartos!
- This giveaway ends January 17th.
~~~
You can preorder By Duty Bound now!
My sincere gratitude to Michelle Ray and the wonderful people at Quills and Quartos for putting this special post together!
I want this book! It has an original plot and I would love to read it!
I hope you enjoy it, and I appreciate your enthusiasm.
An intriguing premise, & not one I’ve come across before. I also like the extremely vapid Scottish heiress; her fatigue dripped off the page!
Brilliant cover, snippet definitely has me intrigued. I look forward to reading the published story
I’m glad you are intrigued, and hope you find it to be a good read.
Oh, Michelle, I know this will be a read that’s difficult to “live” with, by which I mean in engaging in ordinary living, such as eating, sleeping, working.
And once I start it, I’ll be thankful for retirement.
Thank you.
Betty Campbell Madden
Well I hope you can eat, sleep, work, AND enjoy my book. ; )
The cover is lovely. I like the softness of the background too.
Congratulations on your new release!
Thanks so much!
I loved the premise! Very intriguing!!
I’m glad you like the premise!
I can’t wait to get a copy of this book. The cover colors are classy. Quills and Quartos publications can always be counted on to present the best.
Thanks. I’m so pleased and honored to be part of Q&Q.
Sounds wonderful! I can’t wait to read your new book. Congratulations, Michelle!
Thanks, Lucy!
Love the cover & it sounds like an interesting path this journey will take. . I wonder at what changes happened in both of their lives, granted we can guess as the possibilities but can’t want to see what actually happens. I have added this to my must read list! ~ Glory
Thank you for your support and I hope you like it.
This is a great story premise. I can already sense Darcy’s utter devastation when duty takes over. I saw the portrait’s dress as a grey color with a pale pink ribbon. I have always liked those colors together. Thank you for this generous giveaway.
Ooo, yes “devastation” indeed. I hope you enjoy.
Lovely cover. I had the pleasure of reading an arc and I gave it an easy five stars. The writing is brilliant! Congratulations on your new release.
Amazing. Wow. Thank you!!
The premise looks quite interesting. I hope that there is a HEA for Elizabeth and Darcy!
I’m glad you like the premise!
The premise is interesting, and the cover is lovely.
Glad it sounds good, and I hope you enjoy reading it.
What a lovely cover! Is the dress black or just very dark? Has someone died? I’m wondering what the tragedies are. I’m assuming the first is maybe the death of Darcy’s older brother? But how could he just abandon Elizabeth? I do wonder who the sick sister is in Ramsgate? I so look forward to finding out.
Such good questions. I hope you enjoy the journey as the answers are revealed.
Hmm. ‘lady of quality…’ We can see Darcy’s change in circumstances quite clearly. And his anguish. But what are the changes from canon that bring Elizabeth from the second daughter of a country squire to a ‘lady of quality?’ I’m hooked. Thank you for your efforts. And your offer.
Sounds intriguing! Can’t wait to read it. The book cover looks amazing!
Thanks for your interest in my book, Danelle.
Love the cover!!! Would love to read this!!! Sounds like a wonderful story.
I’m glad you like the cover and the premise. I hope you like it.
I am looking forward to reading this!
Thanks, Brenda. I hope you like it.
Love the dress
Kind of makes me wish I could sew one for myself!
I find the cover striking – the color of the gown next to the ivory skin is just beautiful. I look forward to reading this book!
I think the designer did a lovely job, too. I hope you enjoy it.
What a beautiful cover and original plot! I can’t wait to read this!
Thanks, Satu!
Congratulations, Michelle, on your new book! The premise sounds very intriguing. I’m looking forward to reading it.
Thanks so much!
If D is desperately in love with E, I’m there for it!
Desperately is love sounds lovely, right?
Lovely cover. Thanks for a chance to win a copy. Good luck with the release.
Thanks!!
Wow. How absolutely original! I don’t feel like I’ve seen anything like this before and can’t wait until it’s released so I can read how it all works out. Congratulations to Ms. Ray on her new release and the beautiful cover.
Thanks so much, Melissa. I hope you enjoy it.
Ooh, looks interesting!
Will winners also be emailed, or is it necessary to check the Facebook page? Thanks!
I hope you find it as interesting as it looks. ; )
Stunning cover!
Thanks, Regina. I love it, too.
The cover is amazing. I personally have a preference for covers when the models face away from the camera. This is a book that I will certainly look forward to reading. Congratulations on publishing another story.
Thanks, Jeanette! I hope you enjoy this one.
Thanks so much! I hope you enjoy this one.
Congratulations, Michelle!!!
Thanks, Sandy!!
Oh my gosh, this would be amazing to read!!!
I hope you enjoy it!
Ooh! Always so excited for a new Michelle Ray book…and this cover is great!
Thanks for your ongoing support!
Wow! Another book by Michelle Ray! We can’t wait to flip through those pages. Judging by the cover…is that you Michelle??? Best wishes and lots of love
It is not, in fact, me. ; ) I wish I owned such a gown. Or estate! Thanks.
Sounds like a very enjoyable book!
Thanks!
I really like the cover, and the story line sounds very interesting. I cannot wait for it to come out so I can read the story. Looking forward to this one.
I hope you enjoy it!
Congratulations, Michelle! The book sounds great!
Thanks so much, KQ!
So excited to read it! Awesome!
Thanks, Susan!
This one sounds intense! Would love to read.
Hopefully a good intense. ; )
This book is definitely on my list! Michelle is such a clever author and I absolutely can’t wait to read this epic love story.
Awww thank you. I hope you like the latest.
I am so proud of you, Michelle! You have a gift for altering perspectives, outcomes, time and circumstance. I can’t wait to read this!
Thanks, Kelly!
I enjoy books where Darcy is a second son. It seems to give him a more free personality. I do so hope that he is able to remember himself in this book before it is too late! (I read an excerpt of his book!)
Ah Darcy. 1st or 2nd son, always dreamy. ; )
I can’t wait to read this and I like your explanation of the cover. The beautiful dress’s very low cut back though was a little jarring to me at first. I guess that was the fashion then.
I hope you enjoy it.
Looking forward to this release!
Yay.
Our poor girl. To have her happiness snatched away like that and then family miseries as well. The world is cruel sometimes.
Indeed.
I hope this will be available on KU; I’m eager to read it.
I hope you enjoy it.
I can hardly wait to read it! I enjoy Darcy as a second son (actually anything Darcy). The contrast with his usual character is always interesting.
Yes, being a second son does make a difference.
on your new book! My reading list just seems to keep growing!
Michelle is a writer that makes reading an adventure! Can’t wait to snuggle up and dive into this one!
You are too kind.
Wow this sounds so compelling and the cover is perfect. Can’t wait for more
Thanks!
I love the cover.
I will be finishing up a dress that I was to wear at the JAFF Reader and Writer Get Together in November of 2023. I did notice how low the backs of dresser were and I will revise the pattern so it will suit me more. I noticed the black and my first thought was, “who died” and how would this impact Darcy, Georgiana, and Elizabeth and her sisters. I am eagerly waiting to read this book because it starts from a totally different perspective, and of course I hope that our happy couple become a happy couple. Darcy has always resolved his inner conflicts, one at a time; he can see his errors and has been able to correct them. I hope he will do the same in this new offering. Thank you Michelle for a different concept. I will preorder and jump in when it arrives in my Kindle.
You sew? So cool. I hope you enjoy the book – and the get together!
I actually love how the woman – I assume Lizzy – is looking away from the house in the background and off into the distance at something we can’t see. The whole image is wistful and I think the inability to see her expression, what she’s holding (flowers, a book? Are her hands merely clasped?), or what she’s looking at really adds to that.
You are so observant. It made me look again at the talented designer’s work.
I like reading variations that explore how different circumstances would change ODC. As Elizabeth says in the original, people vary so much over time so there is always something to discover in their characters. The potential changes in Darcy and Elizabeth, given the circumstances in this book, sound intriguing. I look forward to reading it!
I hope you enjoy it.
I can’t wait to read the newest book by the skilled writer, Michelle Ray! All of Michelle’s books are a gift of language and creativity.
Awww thank you for your kind words.
This book sounds incredible! I can’t wait to read it
Thanks!
I like that Darcy has a chance to be free from responsibilities at least for a little while in this story. Definitely interesting change from the norm and something that I’ve never read before. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
Yes, I was excited to write him a little different than what we expect.
Aside from the wonderful cover, and the intriguing blurb, if it is anything ANYTHING like There You Were, I know I will adore it. I love that book so much. I’ve reread and relistened to it multiple times. It’s heartwrenching and triumphant. I’ve got to go listen to it again. I love your writing, Michelle Ray. Best of luck with the launch of this new book baby. Blessings.
Meredith, I hope your tech problems are smoothed out poste haste.
How kind! I am so glad you enjoyed There You Were so much!!
Hmmm…it looks like my comment did not make it to the thread yesturday. Let’s try again. A must read for me and adding to my library! The cover is lovely, the dark tones of the dress in contrast to the pink ribbon, it works! Congrats Michelle R.
Thanks so much!
I’m looking forward to reading this. And what a lovely cover!
Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy!
Can’t wait to read it!
I hope you enjoy it!
I’m eager to find out what led to the state of affairs described in the blurb, and what happens after that. Great cover too!
I hope you enjoy it.
I love the gown on the cover! This sounds like an interesting premise and like it will have lots of yearning and angst!
Like the cover and the excerpt.
Hello Im writing from Milan, Italy, I just love the cover, so very beautiful, I love these variations of Pride and Prejudice, although I have to read maybe twice a book, to fully understand it, as english is not my native language. Im looking forward to reading it as soon as it is available.
I adore the beautiful cover which foreshadow something darker is afoot in this story. I think it will be a good addition to my library. And I do wonder what tragedy has befallen the Darcy and Bennet family. Guess I’ll have to wait for the release to find out.