Happy Monday readers!

Today we are sharing the FIRST author post of 2025! 👏🏼

And not only that…it is the FIRST cover reveal of 2025!! 🙌🏼

And not only that…it is for a brand new author and her debut release with Quills and Quartos! 🎉 🎉 🎉

Please extend a warm welcome to Emilia Stratford who is sharing her cover for Some Particular Evil! 😈

~ From the Author ~

Thanks so much, Meredith, for hosting the cover reveal for Some Particular Evil! I had so much fun creating, outlining, and crafting this murder-mystery-with-a-happily-ever-after that I found it hard to let it go. Thankfully, Quills & Quartos convinced me that it was worth putting out into the world, and they have been amazing to work with.

This story started with a vision of Elizabeth being kidnapped by a bumbling Mr Collins, to be given over to a foreign mercenary. Instead, she is thrown into the arms our own dear Mr Darcy, whose rough-and-tumble appearance and lowborn accent leave him completely unrecognisable. From there, I had to answer the questions: Why is Darcy on the run? Why would Collins kidnap Elizabeth? Who is behind it all?

Unfortunately, as those questions found answers and the story took shape, my beloved, misunderstood fist-for-hire did not make it into the narrative. Nor did Elizabeth’s kidnapping or Mr Collins’s being quite so horrible.  Darcy’s fugitive status and rowdy disguise, however, stayed the course.

What eventually materialised was a double mystery that surprised even me as the layers peeled back to reveal long-buried family secrets, the reasons behind Darcy’s deeply entrenched mistrust, injustices to be reconciled, and a bond of love so strong, no dagger could sever it. As we watch Darcy and Elizabeth grow to know, love, and protect one another, our exploration into the minds and hearts of those around them serves to prove Darcy’s claim:

“There is, I believe, in every disposition a tendency to some particular evil…”

~ Book Description ~

There is, I believe, in every disposition a tendency to some particular evil.

FITZWILLIAM DARCY WOULD HAVE NEVER IMAGINED the depravity dwelling in the hearts of those he thought he knew best. On the run from hired killers, he is forced into hiding in the mean streets of London with the only person he can trust being Elizabeth Bennet.

LEFT BEHIND IN KENT, Elizabeth Bennet is still reeling from Darcy’s presumptuous marriage proposal when she discovers the plot to kill him. Leaping to the gentleman’s aid, she helps him go into hiding and then sets about trying to learn what she can of the plot against him—all of which reveals, gradually, new insights into Darcy’s true character.

FALLING INTO A CLANDESTINE CORRESPONDENCE, she and Darcy share pieces of their hearts and together discover family secrets that could shake the very foundations of Darcy’s being—and put Elizabeth in mortal danger. Afforded a second chance at the sweetness of love amid the foulness of evil, will their romance prevail?

SOME PARTICULAR EVIL is a closed-door, second chance, enemies-to-lovers regency romance with a mysterious twist.

~ Excerpt from Some Particular Evil ~

Standing in the corridor, haloed by candles too bright for Darcy’s sleepy eyes, Fitzwilliam shifted on his feet and hesitantly looked up to meet his gaze. Something was terribly wrong. Fitzwilliam was always the picture of composure, much as Darcy strove to be, but now appeared anxious, unwilling to voice the words he had presumably come to speak. Darcy waited.

“There is a man here, a constable.”

“What has happened?” Darcy asked, now fully awake and immediately cataloguing what kind of disaster or villainy could have occurred while he was secreted in the study.

“He wishes to see you, Darcy,” the colonel croaked. “He says he has a warrant for your arrest.”

Still disoriented from his sudden awakening, Darcy wondered if he had heard his cousin correctly. “I beg your pardon?”

“There is a constable here. He says he has come from London with a warrant for your arrest,” Fitzwilliam repeated with marginally more ease than the first time.

“If this is a joke, it is not amusing,” Darcy said. He was hesitant to believe his cousin, whose sense of humour was so far removed from Darcy’s own that it sometimes bordered on the morbid, but the colonel’s countenance was grave. He did not need to answer; this was no joke.

“Where is he?” Darcy asked, tugging on the hem of his coat and readying himself to meet whatever ridiculous accusations this man would lay at his feet. He had never done anything that even bordered upon illegal. He paid his taxes to the last farthing. He treated all around him with respect, never exploiting or defrauding others. He had never even gone into the seedy establishments where men’s vices, legal and otherwise, were catered to. Fitzwilliam Darcy was an upstanding citizen, loyal to King and Country. This was clearly a misunderstanding.

“He is in the drawing room, and he has got a rather brawny fellow with him.”

Darcy motioned for Fitzwilliam to lead the way, darting a glance towards a still-hidden Elizabeth before exiting the room. He walked with determined steps, intrigued but not deeply concerned about the matter which would be brought forth. Then Fitzwilliam halted, turned about, and gazed at Darcy’s face with eyes that bore into him, causing Darcy the first twinges of worry.

“This is serious, Darcy. He is talking about treason,” he confided in almost inaudible tones.

“Treason!” Darcy hissed back at him. “I would never!” The walls began closing in around him, and the only thing keeping him upright was his indignation at such an accusation.

“He says he has witnesses. Rock solid evidence,” Fitzwilliam said, speaking fast and darting his eyes towards the hall they were about to enter. “Do you think, perhaps, you should run?”

“Run? I have done nothing wrong!” Darcy said, unable to believe what he was hearing. “Besides, running would only make me look guilty. I shall do no such thing.” With that, he motioned once again for Fitzwilliam to precede him, and he entered the drawing room hard on his cousin’s hesitant heels.

Before he had greeted his aunt and cousin, or even fully entered the room, the stocky, balding gentleman before him began reading aloud, “Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy of Berkeley Square London, you are under arrest on the charge of treason. On the eve of November 16, in the year of our Lord 1811, you, Fitzwilliam Darcy, were heard by members of His Majesty’s militia in the county of Hertfordshire making threats against, and offering to compensate persons for the assassination of the Prince Regent. You are to be remanded to Newgate Prison this night, until such time that you might answer for these charges in a court of law.”

“Threats against the Prince Regent? This is ludicrous!” Darcy began in his defence. “I have no reason to wish the Regent ill!”

“I am sure you do not, sir,” the constable said drily, before adding, “You shall have a chance to make your denials before the judge, Mr Darcy.”

“And I am to be taken to Newgate? Tonight?” Darcy asked, breathlessly.

“Do you know who this man is, sir?” Lady Catherine interjected. “This is the nephew of the Earl of Matlock. You cannot simply enter my home and drag him away in chains!”

“No chains, my lady. And I’d rather not drag him away. I’d rather he come willingly,” the man told her, unmoved by Lady Catherine’s outburst.

“May I have a moment to gather my things?” Darcy asked.

“Aye, but I must accompany you,” the constable told him.

“I shall accompany him,” Fitzwilliam cut in. “Lady Catherine will not wish to have a stranger wandering through the family wing. I am a colonel in His Majesty’s army; I have proved my loyalty to the Crown. You may trust me to return him to you forthwith.”

The man bowed, then smoothed his greasy hair across his head and over the bare patch in the middle. “We depart in a quarter of an hour.”

And without further ado….here is the big reveal!!!

(expected release date: February 3rd)

Intriguing yet somber. Very matching in tone to what we know about this story so far. 😯

I love the close-up and fine detail of this gentleman’s attire – the cravat knot, the pin, the fob. 🎩

A murder plot? Treason accusations? Dark family secrets? Such evilness indeed!  😈

Looks like Darcy is needing some rescue and assistance! I can’t wait to see Elizabeth’s reactions to all this intrigue! 🫢

What do you think, friends? 🤔

~~~

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

The lovely people at Quills and Quartos are offering  3️⃣ ebook copies of Some Particular Evil to  3️⃣  lucky readers who comment on today’s post!

To enter this giveaway leave a question, comment, or some love for Emilia below.

• This giveaway is open worldwide. Thank you, Quills and Quartos! 
• This giveaway ends January 31st. 

 

You can preorder Some Particular Evil now!

My sincere gratitude to Emilia and the wonderful people at Quills and Quartos for putting this special post together!