Hi friends! It’s an exciting occasion! 

Author Jayne Bamber is visiting Austenesque Reviews today to share about her newest release – Kindly Meant Interference…and it just so happens to be this book’s release day!! 🥳

And can I just say – what a brilliant title. It so evokes Caroline Bingley. 🫖🧡😏

Jayne is here to share a most charming bookstore excerpt from Kindly Meant Interference. 📚

We hope you enjoy! 😊

I am delighted to celebrate Release Day for my latest Pride & Prejudice variation here at Austenesque Reviews!

In my fourteenth novel, Kindly Meant Interference, Darcy and Elizabeth have help from a friend on their path to romance. The unlikely matchmaker determined to unite them is a character I’ve always had a soft spot for – Caroline Bingley!

When Caroline overhears Mr. Darcy declare that he will never marry her, she makes it her mission to ingratiate herself with the woman she believes is the future Mrs. Darcy, unaware that Elizabeth loathes the man. It takes time for Caroline to smooth matters over, when Elizabeth is so hesitant to see any good in the man said that she was “not handsome enough to tempt me.”

As Elizabeth slowly overcomes her dislike of Mr. Darcy, he must learn to look past the vulgar and chaotic behavior of her family – not that his own relations are much better behaved! And while Caroline believes that a trip to London is the way to a fresh start for ODC, we all know what really brings them together – improving their minds through extensive reading….

~ Excerpt from Kindly Meant Interference ~

Elizabeth drew in a deep breath and let out a hum of contentment at the pleasant smell of the book shop, and lingered over a display of newly arrived volumes near the front. Had she no concern for funds, she might have carried them all off with her. Mr. Darcy also examined the books, and she wondered about his grand library – here was a man who could leave this shop with as many volumes as he chose.

“I am not surprised to learn that you are a reader of novels, sir.” Elizabeth had not moderated her volume, and an older man at the back of the shop peered at Mr. Darcy with affronted derision. Elizabeth grinned.

Mr. Darcy looked up at her, the corner of his lips twitching. “Why is that?”

“In reading novels, one observes the doings of others, though they are but fictional characters, without actively participating in the story. It is no little difference to your behavior in company, ever observant.”

“Am I not an active participant when I go out in society?”

Elizabeth thought that Mr. Darcy ought not go out in society at all, for he only made people uneasy. She had no wish to insult the man directly, for she would have in turn forfeited her right to resent his slight to her at the assembly. She clung to her moral high ground, and answered cryptically, “That is certainly something to ponder.”

After examining a few collections of poetry, Elizabeth was hailed by Mrs. Pruett, the proprietor’s wife. “We received a new shipment, and held back the two volumes you asked about last month.”

Elizabeth smiled, bouncing up on her toes a little as she gave a clap of her hands. “Excellent! I may be traveling soon, and I shall have something new to read on the journey. One must always have something sensational to read when travelling.”

The kindly woman asked Elizabeth to wait as she retrieved the books, and Mr. Darcy came to her side. “Had you not opened the subject of books with Miss Bingley, I might have forgotten that my sister wrote to me of a few books she has lately acquired while staying with our aunt in London. I wrote down the titles, hoping that I might find one or two. The library at Netherfield scarcely deserves the word, but perhaps I shall ask the shopkeeper.”

This was a rather long speech for Mr. Darcy, but his countenance lit in a singularly charming manner as he spoke of his sister. “What sort of books does Miss Darcy favor?”

“Poetry and novels, of course, and plays – she is very fond of Shakespeare. Recently she has taken an interest in reading histories.”

“All of my favorites. May I?” Elizabeth reached for the small folded paper on which he had written out three titles. He allowed her to examine the three titles written there, and Elizabeth laughed in amusement – she and Miss Darcy had similar tastes indeed.

Mr. Darcy seemed to await some commentary, but Elizabeth instead took a pencil off of Mrs. Pruett’s desk and added two titles she had recently enjoyed, a novel and a history of the Wars of the Roses.

When Mrs. Pruett returned with Elizabeth’s books, Mr. Darcy asked her about the titles on his list, and the matron laughed. “Well, the first two I have just given to Miss Bennet, and I am afraid they are the only copies. I do not have the third, but I believe I may have the two written in pencil.”

Mr. Darcy looked over at Elizabeth as she smiled bemusedly at him. After a moment of triumph she felt a little guilty, and offered him one of the two books. He hesitated, but she moved her hand closer, and finally he accepted Walter Scott’s English Minstrelsy. “Thank you, Miss Elizabeth.”

The tone of his voice sent a chill down Elizabeth’s spine; she recalled that he had called her pretty, if Miss Bingley was to be believed. She turned away, extracting a few coins from her reticule to pay for her novel. When she turned back, Mr. Darcy had purchased the historical volume she had recommended as well as the collection of poetry and her novel, which he then handed back to her.

She looked at him with confusion. “Mr. Darcy, I….”

“It is yours to keep, and I thank you for the other two. I thought perhaps once I have read the poetry and you the novel, we might make a trade of them.”

Elizabeth found herself nodding in agreement, though she could scarcely speak from astonishment. Fortunately, Miss Bingley entered the shop and greeted them. She stopped to examine a book with highly embossed gold scrollwork across the leatherbound cover, and then turned her gaze back to Elizabeth.

“Happy news, Miss Eliza! My brother and I have worked out all the details for a little jaunt down to London in a few days. You and Jane shall stay a week with us, unless your aunt and uncle wish to steal you away to stay with them.”

“That is exciting indeed – but you may call me Lizzy, if you like.”

“Very well, Lizzy; you may call me Caroline, or Caro if you prefer. How gay we shall all be in London! And you are very welcome to accompany us, too, Mr. Darcy.”

Miss Bingley smiled encouragingly at him, but Elizabeth was oddly perturbed at the thought of him joining their little party. She reminded herself to think of Jane’s happiness, for surely it would be a fine thing for Mr. Bingley to come to know her sister amongst relations whose behavior was above reproach….

Love it! Love the playfulness, the smiles, the better impressions. This was so sweet. I am looking forward to seeing what happens in London! 😁

But I must say, seeing such a genial and generous Caroline Bingley is quite the change up! 🙃

The cover is brilliant. I love the juxtaposition of a modern style background with a very Regency fashion plate. 👒

Happy release day to Jayne Bamber and Kindly Meant Interference! 👏🏼🎉👏🏼🎉

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GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

Jayne is kindly offering an ebook giveaway of Kindly Meant Interference, in conjunction with her visit today!

To enter this giveaway, leave a comment, question, or some love for Jayne below and fill out the rafflecopter form.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

• This giveaway is open worldwide. Thank you, Jayne!
• This giveaway will end June 24th!