Happy Monday readers!
A new book by Grace Gibson is almost here! 😮
Did you hear me?
I said a new 🙌🏼 book 🙌🏼 by 🙌🏼 Grace 🙌🏼 Gibson 🙌🏼 is 🙌🏼 almost 🙌🏼 here!!! 🙌🏼
Wooooooo Hooooooo!!!!! 🥳
The author of the brilliant and beloved favorites Silver Buckles, Old Boots, and The Last House and Lambton is about to delight us with another new offering – The Zephyr! 📖
And today she is sharing the most beautiful of covers with us! 😍
We hope you enjoy!! 🤗
~ From the Author ~
Hi Meredith! Thank you so much for having me today. I am so excited for a chance to introduce your readers to my latest story, The Zephyr. It is always a privilege to be featured on your blog and even more of a treat to be here for a cover reveal. Austenesque Reviews is the perfect place to show off yet another gorgeous cover by Pemberley Darcy. This beautiful image is an irresistible invitation to peek behind the cover, isn’t it? I certainly think so, and I am very grateful to my editor and friend, Debbie Styne, and all the wonderful people at Quills & Quartos who have helped make this story come to life for readers who love Elizabeth and Darcy.
~ Book Description ~
WHEN MR FITZWILLIAM DARCY RETURNS to Hertfordshire a year after last seeing Elizabeth Bennet, he is surprised to find that she has taken up careering around the countryside in a brand new curricle. Even more surprising is the manner in which their verbal sparring turns to good humor, banter, and flirtation. So much so that her neighbors begin to wonder if their attachment is more than just friendly.
WHILE ELIZABETH BENNET IS ENJOYING the freedom that her little Zephyr brings to her, another young lady is not so fortunate. Bound by the strictures of an unforgiving society, the lady is helpless…at least until Elizabeth’s tender heart demands that she provide aid to the hapless miss. When an impulse of compassion turns into another dreadful secret and places her squarely in trouble’s way, she is forced to drive as if her life depends on it, and her last, best hope lies in Mr. Darcy’s willingness to help her through the adventure of a lifetime.
~ Excerpt from The Zephyr~
What an uproar my winning the Zephyr had caused! But just as I was imagining dashing past the young sprig of Lucas Lodge on the false flat leading up to the Lea bridge, I was pulled roughly out of my little dream.
“I had been wondering when you had learnt to whip.”
He spoke in a low grumble to match his frown.
“Had you? I wonder that you have thought of me at all, Mr Darcy.”
I was watching with delight as his jaw hardened when he suddenly turned upon me. “When last I was here, you were frightened of horses and did not even ride. You can be nothing other than a novice! What were you thinking to be careering around the countryside at such speed?”
“Thinking!” I exclaimed. “My word, who thinks when they are racing a curricle? I was merely trying to out-pace someone unknown to me who seemed in hot pursuit. How could I have known you were not a dangerous criminal?”
“Oh, I see. There are so many highwaymen who drive a curricle and matched pair,” he said drily.
“Well,” I said with a sniff, “anything is possible. It is not uncommon for a criminal to steal, is it? Besides, I did not precisely turn around to take your likeness for a portrait. I saw someone careering, as you say, towards me, and I used a bend in the road and a cut through the woods to evade capture.” I paused to look appraisingly at him. “How did you make up so much ground, I wonder? By rights I should have beaten you to the fork in the road.”
“I thought the horses pulling the curricle in front of me were out of control and perhaps whoever was driving it,” he said, aiming a stabbing look down upon me, “had lost hold of the reins.”
“Oh, in that case, I owe you an apology, sir. I did not know you were on a mission of rescue. If I had known that, I would have done a better job of pretending distress, so you could have come to my aid. You must have been quite put out with me when I pulled around you on that rise up to the bridge.”
“You will never do so again, for now that I know what is ahead on that route, I shall plan my strategy accordingly.”
“Are we to race through Lindbury Wood again?” I asked in an accent of exasperating delight. “I am in alt! Perhaps this time—”
“There will be no next time,” he declared. “I refuse to be party to you breaking your neck.”
“Oh, very well,” I said with a sigh of dejection.
In truth, I enjoyed little more than teasing Mr Darcy into speaking candidly of his monumental disapproval of me. But he had had enough apparently, for he unclasped his hands and stalked away from me as if for good.
A tormenting fate would plague him, however, for Lady Lucas had stupidly placed him next to me at dinner. Typically, I sat in the hinterlands of the dinner table at Lucas Lodge, but without Jane, I was now given the place at the table usually reserved for Miss Bennet of Longbourn, and I took advantage of my placement over the course of the next hour by throwing polite enquiries at Mr Darcy’s stoic profile.
“How is Miss Darcy faring, sir? Is she still in town or at Pemberley?” and a bit later, “What is the weather in Derbyshire in summer?” followed closely with, “What plays have you seen during the Season? Did the opera produce Figaro again? I had heard they might do Ophelia instead.”
This was the sort of chatter Mr Darcy seemed to despise, and he replied in clipped tones and abbreviated sentences meant to depress my aspirations for a true conversation. Miss Bingley, sitting at his other elbow, vied meticulously for every other opportunity to question him, thus we took turns peppering him with our inane enquiries.
Mr Darcy, his head swivelling from left to right as though he were in the audience of one of the Regent’s tennis tournaments, struggled to find a pause in which to put the next bite of food into his mouth.
Eventually, I tired of plaguing him. Besides, Miss Bingley was better at it, and I left her to it entirely when she began to question him about his rose garden.
“Are you growing any new varietal roses at Pemberley this year, sir?” she asked sweetly.
“I am sure we are.”
“How divine! I have heard there is a new white rose that is extraordinarily fragrant. I believe it is called the Lily of Avalon. Perhaps you should look into it.”
“Perhaps,” he said with a faint sigh of resignation, “although I believe my mother planted that rose in our garden a decade ago.”
As amusing as this forced exchange had been, I turned to speak to Mr Graves, the curate, and heard no more from my right side until the main course was removed and replaced with the cheese board.
“Did you swallow a chicken bone?” Mr Darcy asked me in a low aside, pulling me away from attending to the conversation at the far end of the table.
“What?”
“You became rather silent. Should I be concerned?”
“Oh, I thought perhaps I should allow you to eat.”
He grunted before changing the subject. “When next will you be terrorising Hertfordshire in your curricle made of matchsticks and glue?”
I turned to look directly into the gentleman’s eyes out of flat curiosity. “I go whenever I can, sir. Why? Did you wish to be forewarned?”
Something amazing then occurred, for Mr Darcy’s lips almost curved into a faint smile. “Something like that,” he said.
And without further ado….here is the big reveal!!!
(expected release date: March 17th)
Such an idyllic vision of Spring. Please transport me here. Right. Now. 🌷
Everything is stunning, and I love the details – the garden fixtures, the flowers, the delicate print of her dress. I need that dress.🪻
I love that Elizabeth is a daredevil adventuress – this will be so fun to explore! I’m eager to see what new course this takes the story on. 🐎
The banter Grace Gibson creates between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy is masterful – I cannot wait to witness more of it! 🗣️
What do you think, friends? 🤔
~~~
GIVEAWAY TIME!!!
The lovely people at Quills and Quartos are offering 3️⃣ ebook copies of The Zephyr to 3️⃣ lucky readers who comment on today’s post!
To enter this giveaway leave a question, comment, or some love for Grace below.
- This giveaway is open worldwide. Thank you, Quills and Quartos!
- This giveaway ends February 28th.
You can preorder The Zephyr now!
My sincere gratitude to Grace and the wonderful people at Quills and Quartos for putting this special post together!
Such a lovely preview of what’s to come! So happy Grace Gibson continues to write, and I look forward to reading it ❤️
Thank you Monica! Good luck on the giveaway!
I always love to read about E and Darcy and I wonder what has happened to Lydia
I also love to see how many ways ODC can fall in love, Elizabeth. And poor Lydia – she has a bit of a hard time in this story, but I think she will be okay. Good luck on the giveaway!
I am so delighted you have written a new book, to be released on my birthday as well! What a wonderful gift. I don’t generally buy hard copies, but I have all your books and have gifted them to many friends. Your humor and character expression are so enjoyable. Thank you.
Super! I will absolutely think of you on release day/birthday, Elizabeth. I hope this is a great year for you and I really appreciate your support!
So excited for this book and another Grace Gibson story!
Hi Lauren. Thank you for dropping by today. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!
I’m so excited for another Grace Gibson book!!
I’m excited for you to read it too, Cynthia! Hope you enjoy it.
I’m excited for you to read it, Cynthia! Best of luck to you on the giveaway.
Bea
Beautiful cover, can’t wait to read Grace’s new book !!!
I totally agree it is a beautiful cover, Kathy. I can’t wait for you to read it.
Sweet cover and delicious premise and preview! So excited for this one. Congratulations!
So happy to hear from you Sam! Thank you for popping in and commenting today.
I am so excited for this book. Thanks for offering a giveaway!
Thank you. Good luck on the drawing – I’ve got my fingers crossed for you!
I was so excited when I heard Grace was set to give us a new book. I had the pleasure of reading the ARC and let me tell ya, it has all the identifying marks of a Grace Gibson treasure–the dialogue is quick and clever, full of playful teasing and a slow, ever soooo delicious build-up of attraction for our dear couple. Y’all will love it! Congratulations to Grace!
Your opinion means so much to me, Ree. I really appreciate your feedback and I’m so happy you enjoyed it. Thank you for stopping by the cover reveal and happy reading!
The dialog between them seems so fun. Will enjoy reading a teasing Elizabeth. Looking forward to reading The Zephyr!
Hi Maritza – so great to hear from you! Hope you enjoy it.
Beautiful cover. Good luck with the release and thanks for a chance to win a copy. Having read the stories mentioned by Meredith, I look forward to reading this one also.
I really appreciate that, Sheila. Thank you so much!
Wonderful and best wishes with your new release.
Hi Jennifer! Nice to hear from you today. Hope you have a wonderful week and good luck on the drawing.
Happy Cover Reveal Day, Grace! Your cover is lovely and this excerpt leaves me wanting more. I love it already. 🙂
Thank you so much, Susan. I really appreciate your comment.
The verbal sparring is delightful and the cover is beautiful! I will have to add this to the TBR hoard.
So great to hear from you, Christina! Thank you for stopping by and commenting today.
Oh that cover is beautiful. I love her writing so much, can’t wait to read this!
I could not agree more about the cover, Raven. Thank you so much – I really hope you enjoy this adventurous Elizabeth!
Love the cover and can’t wait to read this book!
I can’t wait for you to read it Michelle! Good luck on the drawing!
Glad to see Lizzy is not bounded by her two legs. I can see the daredevil in her maneuvering her ride. Excited to see how she got there.
Like you, Nancy, I always want to see Elizabeth pushing the boundaries of such an orderly existence. Thank you for your comment and I am excited for you to read about her adventures!
Love your story and the cover, Grace! So excited to have another of your books out in the world (almost)!
I am truly appreciative of your encouragement, Jan. Thank you for everything!
Sounds good and the cover is lovely
Thank you Michelle!
This excerpt gave me lol moments in my otherwise dull morning. There are so many things I like about the cover, particularly that the model is looking away from the audience. I must admit though, that I am disappointed that the zephyr is not a part of the scene. It would have been so much fun to see it! Congratulation on publishing another story. I look forward to reading it.
So fun to hear you found it amusing Jeannette! Thank you and hope the rest of your day is great!
Can’t wait to read this!
I can’t wait for you to read it either! Thank you very much for stopping by to comment, Laura.
What an absolutely gorgeous cover! I love that dress. Elizabeth driving? Love it, especially apparently racing Darcy! It seems Lydia has had her own little adventure which has curbed her wild behaviour! This is definitely a winner, thank you.
Lovely to hear from you again, Glynis. I hope you are doing well, and that you too are a winner – of this giveaway! Best of luck to you and take care.
I’ve read four of Grace Gibson’s previous books, and they were all 5+ stars. It’s so exciting that another one is on the way! The cover is gorgeous.
I’m so appreciative – and lucky! – to have readers like you, Elizabeth. Comments like this are very encouraging. Thank you so much!
The usage of white on the cover is so understated and pretty. The banter so far is delightful and I can’t wait to read more!
I agree about the white, Danielle. It makes for a very charming cover, doesn’t it? I have my fingers crossed you win a copy – good luck!
What a gorgeous cover! It makes me long for spring. The book sounds wonderful, Grace. Congratulations!
Hi Lucy! Great to hear from you! Yes, let’s hope for an early spring and the inspiration it brings – happy writing!
Very pretty cover. Can’t wait to read it.
Thank you so much, Yvonne!
I was fortunate enough to read an ARC of this book, and I absolutely adore the witty dialogue and banter that you have written. I’m waiting for the hardcopy to be available for purchase. ❤️
Oh my goodness, Gratia! I’m thrilled you enjoyed it! I believe the paperbacks are available to buy as of today. Happy reading!
The premise doesn’t speak to me, but I love all of Grace Gibson’s other books, so I’m looking forward to reading this one, too.
I really appreciate that you are open to giving it a try, Erro. Good luck on the drawing and hope you have a great week!
The cover is gorgeous and the excerpt sounds delightful.
Thank you so much!
I would like to be in that dress and in that setting!
Me too! Of course I would also like to be that slender and young and charming… big sigh. Thanks for dropping by for the reveal today, Patricia!
Oh, I can’t wait to read it! The excerpt made me laugh out loud, always an excellent selling point.
Hi Peg! Lovely to hear from you today, and even better to know Elizabeth made you laugh. I hope you enjoy the story. Fingers crossed for you to win a copy.
Oooh! I’m so excited for a new Grace Gibson book. In fact, just last week as I was looking for a new book to read, I mentioned to myself that I wished there was a new Grace Gibson book available. Honestly, I really did. The cover is beautiful, the banter is divine, and the anticipation for the release date is already building to the point that I’m champing at the bit while attempting to hold my horses.
Champing at the bit–I love it, Jan! You must have had your psychic hat on for sure!
Love the cover. I loved the author’s previous books, Silver Buckles as well as Old Boots, so I look forward to reading the latest published story.
And I look forward to you reading it, Sarah. I truly hope it makes you smile. Thank you so much for stopping by and good luck on the giveaway.
I’m so exited for this new novel! Old Boots is one of my favorite variations.
Thanks for the giveaway!
I am so fortunate to have readers like you, Catarina. Thank you and good luck!
A lovely cover and a fun excerpt! Fingers crossed for the giveaway, although I’m sure I’ll read it regardless of whether I win a copy.
I will cross my fingers for you too, Coleen! Best of luck and I hope you enjoy reading this story.
Omg I am so excited about this!! I love Grace Gibson’s other books and this cover is just lovely. I love the gardens in bloom with white flowers
Your excitement is infectious, Andrea! I can’t wait for you to read it, and now I am picturing you turning the pages as you sit in a garden full of white flowers…
This is one of the BEST excerpts I’ve read and the banter between E&D is so good!
This is one ebook I’d really like to win. Thanks for the giveaway!
Wow! I am so appreciative of your feedback on the excerpt. Good luck to you on the drawing – it would be great if you won!
Yes, that is a gorgeous cover from Pemberley Darcy and the story sounds all sorts of fun.
It is great to hear from you today, Sophia. I agree the cover is gorgeous and as to the story, I had so much fun writing it. If some of that comes through, all the better. Thanks again and happy reading!
What a lovely cover!
I could not agree more! Glad you liked it. Best of luck on the drawing too.
Beautiful, enticing Cover! I have enjoyed your books and look forward to reading this one. Thank you for writing such interesting variations.
Pemberley Darcy did a beautiful cover, didn’t she? I am so lucky – and I am even luckier to have appreciative readers like you, Becky. I hope you enjoy this new story as much as the others.
I agree with Meredith and the other commenters, that cover is gorgeous! I love the repartee between Darcy and Elizabeth. I really look forward to reading this. Thank you for the cover reveal, excerpt and giveaway. Congrats and best wishes on the new release!
So nice to hear from you, Robin! Thank you and good luck on the giveaway.
This is wonderful news. I have loved all of Grace Gibson’s books, so I am in all anticipation for this one!! Can’t Wait!!!
Hi Cassandra! Very nice to hear from you today and I hope you enjoy this story.
I’ve read and re-read all of Grace’s books! So excited she has written a new story; cannot wait to read it!
It would be great if Zephyr made it onto your “to be reread list” too, Cynthia. Thank you so much for your comment today, and have a great week!
Is Ausentiana a word? I really enjoy all the books authors are writing using her characters, plots, etc. and would like to read “Zephyr.”
Thanks for running the giveaway!
Thank you, Mary! Best of luck to you on the giveaway.
I’m all astonishment with this gorgeous cover!
I’m so glad you like it, Caryl. Thanks for stopping in to comment today!
Sounds like an amazing story!
Aww, thank you, Meran! Good luck on the giveaway. I have my fingers crossed for you!
The cover on its own is enough to draw you in and want to read it. I am a Jane Austen fan and this era. I would be thrilled to win a copy to read and review. Thank you for the chance.
I agree about the cover, Jeanne, and the era has definitely captivated me as well. Good luck to you on the drawing and thanks for commenting today.
Wow, great cover–totally makes me want to read it! CAN’T WAIT!
Thanks so much Lisa! I hope you enjoy Elizabeth with an adventurous side to her!
I’ve just read the first few chapters available online and I am very excited! At this very moment I am re-listening to “The Last House in Lambton” – it is one of my favourites. Can’t wait to read this new book.
So wonderful to hear that LHIL is one of your favorites, Kate. I am fortunate to have appreciative readers like you and it is special when one of my books gets a reread. Thanks so much!
Can’t wait! I’ve loved each of Grace Gibson’s books! In fact, many of them are automatically re-reads for me! She truly knows how to write some swoon-worthy moments and witty banter! Great cover design too! That Spring garden is lovely, as well as the gown she is wearing.
These are some lovely comments, Kaidi, and so greatly appreciated! I hope you enjoy The Zephyr too. Hope you have a beautiful spring wherever you are!
Oooh, The cover is so bright and beautiful! I have read all of Grace Gibson’s books, and can’t wait to read this one too! Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy.
Nice to hear from you Cyndy and I agree that Pemberley Darcy has made a beautiful cover. I have my fingers crossed for you with the giveaway – best of luck!
Congratulations Grace!! I can’t wait to read this! Its funny, it has been cold and snowy here in YYC, and we have finally had some ‘warm’ weather. And as I scrolled down the page to reveal the cover, and I saw the cover, it made me smile! So spring-ish! I love the colours, and after reading the teaser, it matches the kind of weather that Elizabeth would be ‘careening around the countryside’ in her Zephr! Looking forward to this read! Again congrats Grace!
Thank you so much, Char. I hope spring comes any day now for you after this winter. Really appreciate you stopping by to comment today.
Congrats Grace! Love the premise, and as the cover revealed itself as I scrolled down the page, it made me smile! It says Spring, the garden Lizzy’s dress and all the flowers! Love it. It seems to match the kind of setting for Lizzy to be ‘careening around the countryside’. 🙂
I can’t wait to read this one! Again, congrats!
Please delete 🙂 I thought that it did not post. LOL!
The cover is lovely, but I enjoyed the excerpt even more!
Oh wow, Ceri–that is very kind of you to say! Good luck on the giveaway.
Such a lovely cover!!!! Best one I have seen in a long time.
Aren’t I extra lucky with this one, Hollis? I can’t give the artist enough credit. Thank you so much!
Oh, I love that cover. I am so ready for spring. Her dress and the basket are lovely against that background. And look at those curls. I’m sure they will drive Mr. Darcy crazy if her driving doesn’t do so first. LOL! Their banter was so much fun. Darcy will never win in a conversation or argument with Miss Elizabeth. That was written in the stars. What fun. Blessings on the launch of this new work and good luck to all in the drawing.
Excited to hear from you, J.W. Garrett – your comments are as insightful as ever! I hope you are doing well, and blessings back to you.
The cover is lovely, congratulations on the release!
Nice to hear from you! Hope all is well with you. Thanks for dropping in today.
Great preview and cover reveal! I’m ready to read!
Thank you so much, Debra!
Love the cover and can’t wait to read the book!
I hope you enjoy it and thanks so much for stopping by to comment!
The brief look at the book is intriguing. The Zephyr will be added to my TBR list! However, while the cover is pretty it is missing one key element: the zephyr!
An image of the Zephyr would have been fun as well, Cimora. Good luck on the giveaway and I hope you enjoy this story!
The excerpt is wonderful, it left me impatient to read the whole story. As Darcy, I also want to know how it came to be that Elizabeth is now a whiz driver of her Zephyr. The cover is so beautiful! The colors and the full effect are marvelous! I hope to be one of the lucky ones!
Here is a hint – would you believe John Lucas had something to do with Elizabeth’s new curricle? Hmmm. I hope you are lucky in the drawing too! Thanks for stopping by to comment.
The cover is beautiful but I am disappointed not to see a zephyr.
I have book on preorder so it will magically drop into my kindle on release
So looking forward to its arrival.
So nice to hear from you, Terri. My hope is that you will imagine the Zephyr and Elizabeth’s beautiful little carriage ponies as the most glamorous buggy any of her neighbors have ever seen–not unlike a regency period sports car – haha!
The cover of your new book is amazingly gorgeous! I enjoyed reading this scene and look forward to reading the book. Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy.
Thank you, Jill! I have my fingers crossed for you!
The description of this book is intriguing, and the cover is beautiful. Looking forward to reading it this year.
I hope you enjoy it, Stephanie. Thank you for dropping in to comment and good luck on the giveaway.
Love the colors & have it on my wish list
Thank you, Glory! Good luck on the giveaway.
I, too, love the cover. I really appreciate seeing new works on this blog. The story sounds intriguing and will surely draw me in when released.
I find most of my new reads on author’s blogs.
Great! Thanks for stopping by for this cover reveal, Deb.
I agree with Meredith of the beauty of the cover, but it is hard to imagine that Elizabeth on this stunning cover is tearing around in her Zephyr! I know that I won’t be disappointed in this new book, as Grace’s books have been terrific books. Thank you for the excerpt and giveaway.
No, her white dress is not bespattered with mud just yet, is it… Well, I assure you, it will be soon–and her hair will be tangled by the wind, and she will very likely be taking a few risks! I hope you enjoy this story, Eva. Thanks for stopping by to comment.
Beautiful cover! Looking forward to the new story and lots of witty dialogue (as in all Grace Gibson’s stories). Just lovely!
Thank you so much, Cheryl! I really appreciate you stopping by for the cover reveal.
Congratulations Grace on your latest novel. Your Silver Buckles is a favorite of mine and I loved the audiobook. I look forward to reading Zephyr and the cover is beautiful. Will this be made into an audiobook version too? –Leslie
Hi Leslie. Yes, Quills and Quartos publishing does have plans for an audiobook. Thank you so much for dropping in for the cover reveal. I am so happy you enjoyed Silver Buckles. I hope The Zephyr is also a fun read for you.
Oh excellent! I always love the way Grace Gibson writes the interplay between Elizabeth and Darcy. I very much look forward to this book. AND to an audiobook of it!
Thank you so much, Shannon! I look forward to you reading this story – and yes, there will be an audiobook. Good luck on the drawing.
What transpired in the year after Darcy & Elizabeth last met to make Elizabeth the driver of a curricle, I wonder?
Hmmm. I wonder…. Would you believe John Lucas had something to do with it? Happy reading, Lois!
Your previous books were winners; I expect this one to be also.
One of the prettiest covers I’ve seen.
Hi Betty! Great to hear from you. Good luck on the giveaway and take care.
Congratulations on your new book, Grace. I know it will do well.
I really appreciate it, Janet. Thank you.
Your cover is gorgeous. I look forward to reading THE ZEPHYR.
Thanks Ann. I hope you enjoy it!
What a beautiful cover and such an original storyline!
I’m really glad you found it original. Thank you for stopping for the cover reveal, Satu.
The cover is gorgeous! I own every one of Ms. Gibson’s books that I’ve read. Can’t wait for this.
I’m so fortunate to have great readers like you, Denise. It is great to hear from you!
This is a very pretty cover and the title of your upcoming new novel is intriguing, Grace. I have to look it up and it means a soft gentle breeze. I’m quite sure this is what Elizabeth experience when she drives her curricle at great speed. I can’t wait for it to be released soon.
Hi Luthien! I also see Elizabeth enjoying the fresh breezes streaming past her as she drives her little Zephyr around her neighborhood!. I hope you enjoy the story and thank you for stopping in to comment.
I’m so pleased to learn of your new release. Your previous variations have brought me much pleasure.
And thank you for avoiding Rafflecopter.
So nice to hear from you again, Betty. I’m so fortunate to have readers like you – thank you!