Hi friends! Happy Monday!
Did you see that the lovely Jessie Lewis just released a new Pride and Prejudice variation last week titled – Enamoured? 🤩
I love that Jessie Lewis continues her single word title trend – Mistaken, Fallen, Speechless, Epiphany, Unfounded, and now Enamoured. 👏🏼
Jessie is here to share an excerpt from Enamoured! 😍
We hope you enjoy! 🤗
~ Excerpt from Enamoured ~
Mr Bennet lowered himself into the chair behind his desk and gestured for her to take a seat. Elizabeth
waited, disquieted by his demeanour. “I should like you to go with your sister to London tomorrow.”
“Why?”
“I need you to call on your mother at Mrs Randall’s establishment.”
Elizabeth frowned. “Could Jane not do that?”
“Yes, and I am sure she will. But Jane cannot report to me her mother’s situation, as I hope you will.”
“Why do you need me to report Mama’s situation? And why could not Jane—”
“Jane has not your good sense. And before you contradict me, I do not mean that she is deficient in understanding. But we both know she is too apt to see the good in everything, and I do not need a roseate view of matters. I need the truth.”
“Goodness, what do you fear the truth might be that warrants such clear-sightedness?”
Mr Bennet sighed quietly. “I am sorry to give you any anxiety, Lizzy, but I am afraid it cannot be avoided. Before your mother went away, she was quite out of sorts. Recent events had made her more than commonly fretful.”
Elizabeth winced. “My refusal to accept Mr Collins distressed her a great deal.”
“You cannot be held responsible for your mother’s nerves, child. They are an entity unto themselves. The point is, she did not depart in a convivial state of mind. We had words.”
“If you will pardon my saying so, that is not entirely uncommon. It is unfortunate that she had to go away before you resolved your quarrel, but I am sure it will all be forgotten by the time she comes home.”
He shook his head. “This was different. Your mother was not herself when she left—and now she is not responding to my letters. Her note to Lydia that she had arrived safely and wishing you all a happy Christmas is the only correspondence she has sent.”
Elizabeth smiled indulgently. “She has not been gone very long. How many letters have you honestly sent to her?”
She knew she must begin to take the matter seriously when Mr Bennet answered “Three.” Her father loathed correspondence: not even the most urgent communication could usually induce him to reply within a month. That he had written to Mrs Bennet at all was indicative of his concern.
“I beg you would not worry, Papa. Her friend cannot remain ill forever. She will be back before you know it.”
“I thought she would be back within a few days, Lizzy. I did not want her to go and foolishly believed refusing her enough money to make the visit comfortable would stop her. She took what funds she had left over from this month’s housekeeping and went regardless, but it was not much. Unless she has suddenly discovered a sense of frugality that has entirely eluded her for the last quarter of a century, I would have expected her to run out by now.”
“Why have you given no indication that you suspected anything was amiss? You have seemed perfectly at ease with her absence.”
“And so I shall continue to do until she comes home. You must comprehend the damage it would do to our reputation if it were to be discovered that my wife has…” He looked down at his desk, his complexion turning ruddy and his voice gruff as he concluded, “…left me.”
“Oh, Papa! That is surely not even a possibility. ’Tis much more likely that Mama is simply too busy looking after her friend to write. I expect a letter will arrive in the next few days.”
“And if that happens, I shall send the carriage directly to bring you home. But if you do not go with your sister tomorrow, then another plausible excuse for you to go to London may not soon arise.”
“Would it not be better for you to go yourself?”
“It would only draw attention to her absence. Your uncle would certainly ask questions.”
“You cannot mean to keep this from him?”
“I have every intention of keeping this from him! I cannot have your uncle think his sister is so unhappy that she has left her home and all her family. And as for Jane, her beau has already hied off to London without her. Imagine her dismay to discover her mother has done likewise.”
“But what of my sisters? You will have to involve yourself in their activities far more than you are used to if you hope to keep them in check.”
He looked somewhat dejected at the suggestion but did not recede. “I am sure Mrs Philips will help should any matter arise that requires a woman’s wisdom.”
This was little consolation to Elizabeth; wisdom was not a concept one commonly associated with her aunt Philips. “I would ordinarily say you would do better to ask Charlotte for help, but of course, she will be gone to Kent with her new husband.” The thought gave Elizabeth pause, and she added, “I would miss her wedding if I left tomorrow.”
Her father grunted dismissively. “You will never convince me that you would enjoy watching your friend shackle herself to my nincompoop of a cousin.”
Elizabeth laughed softly, resignedly. “No, I do not think I much would.”
She did not relish the prospect of giving up Mr Wickham’s company to travel to London on a fool’s errand either, yet her father would not be moved, and she had no choice but to accede. She could only hope her assurances that she and her mother would very soon be home were correct.
Ooh!! Mrs. Bennet causing some drama and concern! 😮
I wonder what mischief (if any) she is getting into? 🤭
And how she and Mr. Bennet can repair it… ❤️🩹
Can’t wait to read more about Lizzy’s and Mrs. Bennet’s adventures in London! 🎩
Congrats, Jessie! We wish you all the best with your new release of Enamoured. 🎉
~~~
GIVEAWAY TIME!!!
In conjunction with Jessie’s lovely visit, Quills & Quartos is giving away 3️⃣ copies of Enamoured to 3️⃣ lucky readers of this blog.
To enter this giveaway leave a comment, a question, or some love for Jessie below!
- This giveaway is open worldwide. Thank you, Quills and Quartos!
- This giveaway ends July 31st.
Congratulations on your newest release!
I loved the 2 people, who were less than perfect, were the impetus which pushed ODC together!
Thank you Sam, I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
I am in the midst of reading Enamoured on Kindle Unlimited right now and it is enthralling. Congratulations on the new release, Jessie!
Thank so much! Hope you enjoy the end as well as the beginning
This sounds like another story that will be fun to read. And we all know that Jessie Lewis is an outstanding author. Congratulations on publishing another book!
You’re very sweet Jeannette, thank you 🙂
Congratulations on the new release! I am looking forward to reading this.
Thanks Laura. Good luck in the draw!
The excerpt sounds exciting. Can’t wait to read the whole book!
I hope you get the chance!
I read this book on ku. It was absolutely hysterical. The very first scene was so unbelievable…I don’t think I’ll ever unsee it. Such a wonderful book! Congratulations on this newest release and thanks for the giveaway.
Thanks for your lovely comments Terri, I’m so pleased it gave you some smiles 🙂
Jessie always comes up with the best ideas! I need to add this to my book hoard!
This idea – at least the line in canon that inspired it – has been nagging at me for years. Thought I’d better get on and write it!
Congratulations on your new release!! I can’t wait to read it!
Thank you Dannelle 🙂
I have enjoyed all of Jesse Lewis’ books. It is quite shocking that Mr. Bennet is stirring from his book room to be concerned about his wife and the family’s reputation. Who exactly is enamored and to whom? Thank you for the excerpt and giveaway.
I’m so pleased my books have brought you joy Eva. Good luck in the draw!
It sounds intriguing. Hope it all works out for the Bennets and Darcy.
If happy endings were good enough for Jane Austen then they’re definitely good enough for me 😉
Good luck with this release. I finished reading this late last night and plan to write my review sometime today.
Thank you for giving the story a go Shiela 🙂
I’m about to start reading this through KU, but I’d still like to enter the giveaway!
I hope you enjoy it Coleen! Good luck in the draw
I am reading it now – that prologue!
Tee hee 🙂
What is going on with Mrs. Bennet? Thank you for the excerpt and giveaway. Congrats and best wishes on the new release!
Thank you Robin, you’re very kind!
Cannot wait to read this! Although Mistaken will always be my favorite, lol!
Aw thanks Lisa. Mistaken holds a very special place in my heart too – always lovely to hear when someone else loves it 🙂
Love all your books!!! The cover for this one is beautiful. Congratulations!!! Looking forward to reading this one.
Thanks Susan! It certainly captures the intense close up scrutiny Elizabeth and Darcy face from the ton in the story!
Congratulations on the new release, I’ve loved all of your books!
Thank you, it’s lovely to hear that 🙂
oh ho! Mrs. B!! Let loose on London! This KU has been sitting in my online shelf for a week now, but after reading Terri M’s comment above, I will be reading it starting today!! Thanks Jessie, & Congrats!
Here’s hoping you have some fun reading it! Thanks Char 🙂
I am always excited for a Jessie Lewis novel! She has a great way of combining humor, heart, and emotion in great, believable writing. I can’t wait to start this one!
Thank you for your kind words – good luck in the draw!
Lovely cover! But Bingley and Mrs. B? Yikes, I’m afraid that’s one storyline I have no interest in reading.
It’s an eye catching premise, isn’t it… Things aren’t quite as bad as they seem. Mostly. Thank you for your kind words about the cover!
Have it on my TBR list. Jessie Lewis always provides new insights in the kaleidoscopic P&P realm. Thanks for all the great books!
Good luck in the draw Becky!
OOO I love that cover!
Thank you!!!
Congratulations on the release. I have just started reading
I do hope you enjoy it!
Hi Jessie,
I didn’t notice the titles of your books have the pattern of one single word (thanks Meredith for your insightful comment LOL) and this story promises a lot of fun kind of “Searching for Mrs Bennet”
I laughed with the resolution of Mr Bennet sending Lizzie with Jane because he doesn’t trust Jane’s naive perspective!
Thanks for the chance to win a copy and I wish you the best in the release
By the way, I love the hues of the cover: the creamy touch, the yellow and gold of the dress.
Teresa
Thanks Teresa! Yes, once I’d written Mistaken and Speechless, neither of which was deliberately one word, the theme sort of stuck, and the rest fell into the same pattern. It’s sometimes a challenge to find the right word but this one came fairly easily. Good luck with the draw!
This is at the top of my list of “to be read” books. Can’t wait!
Can’t wait to see whether you like it! Thanks Amy
Interesting premise, I wonder what’s going on with Mrs Bennet.
You and Elizabeth both! I hope you get the chance to find out!
Thanks for featuring this book!I just downloaded it from KU, and will be starting it today.
Love to hear when people are about to dive into one of my stories. I hope you enjoy it!
Congratulations on the release. I love Jessie Lewis books, I’m looking forward to reading it. Thanks for the giveaway.
Thank you Kate, that makes me very happy to hear. 🙂
Congratulations on the new book!
Now to wonder what is going on with Mrs B!!!
It takes some persistence on Elizabeth’s part to find out! (Luckily with lots of time with Mr Darcy in the process…)
What an intriguing brouhaha you’ve imagined for the Bennet family! I’m hooked and hope to be one of your 3 winners (thanks for running the giveaway).
I love the word brouhaha! And that really is what’s been whipped up, too. Poor Elizabeth! Good luck with the draw!
I have this book and it was excellent although I would have liked to know what happened with other couples within the story as well.
Thanks so much Terri, I’m so pleased you enjoyed it. I too always want to spend more time in this world we all love so much. I hope it helps to know I’m applying that energy to my next story 🙂
Congrats on the newest release. I look forward to reading it.
Many thanks Kathryn!
Congrats on your new release! I just downloaded a copy to read next as it sounds quite interesting.
Wonderful! I do hope it gives you some smiles. 🙂
Thank you for having me at your blog Meredith! It’s always an honour to share my book news with your lovely readers 🙂
I would love to win a copy, I find this story very intriguing! Is Bingley and Mrs Bennet really being naughty…
I have read all your books, and I love every one. I just downloaded Enamoured through KU, and I can’t wait to read it!
Ooh, this is an interesting beginning! I don’t think I’ve read a story starting from this premise.
Sounds so intriguing and so unlike Mrs. Bennet to run off to London. Thanks for the excerpt. I look forward to reading more. –Leslie
Hi Meredith,
I already read that book via Kindle Unlimited, while being on a boat along the Dalmatian coast between Trogir, Zadar and the Kornati Islands, in the company of my husband and my too eldest granddaughters. We discussed it watching the dolfins who jumped aorung on both sides of the boat, so it really would bee a special treat to get one of my own