Excerpt + Giveaway with Author Mary Smythe!!!

October 13, 2025 • Author Features, Giveaways • 53 Comments

Hi friends! Happy Thursday!

I’m so happy to welcome back author Mary Smythe to Austenesque Reviews today! 🙌🏼

As you may have seen, Mary Smythe celebrated the release of a new Pride and Prejudice variation that has not only a most gorgeous cover, but also a very protective Elizabeth Bennet! 🩷

Mary is here to share an excerpt from her newly published release – The Happiness of a Most Beloved Sister. 📘

We hope you enjoy! 🤗

~ Book Description ~

Had not my own feelings decided against you, had they been indifferent, or had they even been favourable, do you think that any consideration would tempt me to accept the man, who has been the means of ruining, perhaps forever, the happiness of a most beloved sister?

AFTER HER ELDER SISTER JANE is endangered by a youthful romantic disappointment, Elizabeth Bennet takes it upon herself to stand guard over Jane’s heart—as well as her own. Thus, when Mr Bingley enters the neighbourhood and Jane once again appears to be enamoured by a gentleman suitor, Elizabeth is deeply afraid that history will repeat itself. From a protective instinct, she speaks out of turn, possibly ruining Jane’s chance at happiness forever. When Mr Bingley proves to be as fickle in his attentions as Elizabeth feared, she must face the consequences of her well-meaning actions. But is her most beloved sister truly deserving?

FITZWILLIAM DARCY IS NOT AT ALL IMPRESSED by Jane Bennet and her pretensions, believing her to be a fortune hunter. Neither does her treatment of Elizabeth endear her to him. When Bingley abandons her, Darcy deems it for the best, easily discerning that her frigid heart remains untouched. He has no inclination to reunite them…until a desperately unhappy Elizabeth asks it of him. Darcy must then choose between his conscience and his heart and also decide wherein his loyalties must lie.

THE HAPPINESS OF A MOST BELOVED SISTER is a Pride & Prejudice variation. It is a low angst friends to lovers romance with a guaranteed happily ever after for Darcy and Lizzy.

~ Excerpt from The Happiness of a Most Beloved Sister ~

As Elizabeth fidgeted with her glove beneath the table, she watched with painful mortification as her mother, emboldened by the wine, crowed loud and long over Jane’s triumph at ‘catching Mr Bingley’. Her elder sister had done no such thing, not yet, and frankly Elizabeth was increasingly concerned that she would be made unhappy if she did. She would be yet more miserable should he defect now; from everything Elizabeth had witnessed, it was obvious that Jane’s heart was already engaged, even if her hand was not.

Knowing this, she could not sit idly by and allow Mrs Bennet to completely ruin Jane’s chances. The grim expression on Mr Darcy’s face informed her that he was disgusted by the display. What if he put Mr Bingley off Jane entirely?

“Mama,” she hissed, repeating herself a second and then a third time until Mrs Bennet attended her. “I beg you, lower your voice. You are doing Jane no favours by making a spectacle of yourself.” She subtly inclined her head in Mr Darcy’s direction with the hope of clarifying her point.

Mrs Bennet hiccupped and flapped her hand at Mr Darcy; Elizabeth felt him stiffen beside her. “What is Mr Darcy to me, pray, that I should be afraid of him? I am sure we owe him no particular civility as to be obliged to say nothing he may not like to hear.”

“For heaven’s sake, madam, what advantage can it be to you to offend Mr Darcy?” She wished to add that her mother would never endear herself to Mr Bingley in so doing, but could not with the subject of their dispute sitting next to her. This discussion was already humiliating enough without being vulgar herself.

“Oh, Lizzy, you are always so…so…” Whatever insult her mother meant to convey was interrupted by a belch. “You ought to leave off defending Mr Darcy’s delicate sensibilities and devote yourself to catching Mr Collins. It will not be so great a match as Jane’s, but it is good enough for you.”

So saying, Mrs Bennet turned back to Lady Lucas and continued her monologue, now with added complaints about ‘ungrateful daughters trying her poor nerves’ amidst the fantastical wedding planning. Elizabeth sat back in her seat with her face burning.

A glance at Mr Darcy was quickly withdrawn when she saw the tight set of his jaw. Her mortification was all the greater for his visible censure, though she had not liked him prior to that evening. Before his apology, she had considered him disdainful and cold, more likely to look at her with a satirical eye rather than an admiring one. His acknowledgement of wrongdoing, combined with the faltering attempt at a compliment following quickly on its heels, had softened her towards him a great deal. Instead of a prideful man who held himself far above his company, she now saw him as endearingly awkward, if still somewhat high in the instep.

Even if she credited Mr Darcy with better feelings, it was clear that he still held her mother in contempt. Given Mrs Bennet’s conduct, she did not fault him, but surely this behaviour coloured his opinion of all the Bennets.

Her gaze swept the length of the table, and she fought the desire to wince. Mr Bennet was observing his wife from the corner of his eye and poorly hiding his laughter behind his wine glass; he would not be curbing Mrs Bennet’s volubility. Nor, apparently, would he be disrupting the capers of his younger daughters. Mary was pounding out a dirge on the pianoforte in the corner, having jumped ahead of Mrs Hurst to do so. Kitty and Lydia had somehow obtained a sabre and were taunting Mr Denny with it. The lieutenant was agreeably engaged in their game, only swiping at his purloined property with perfunctory intent, but the commotion it caused at that end of the room was atrocious.

Good Lord, if her family had actively conspired to expose themselves as much as they could, it would have been impossible for them to play their parts with more spirit, or finer success, than they were presently doing. Mr Bingley might be ignorant of their antics, but Mr Darcy was fully aware. Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst, too, were observing the Bennets with a gimlet eye. Would they persuade their brother away from Jane? Could she do anything to prevent it?

She must speak to Mr Bingley. He owed her the dance after dinner, they had arranged it at the beginning of the evening, and she would take the opportunity to determine his intentions and beg him to handle Jane’s heart gently. It was all she could do; but would it be enough?

I love a protective Elizabeth! But will her intervening here cause more harm than good??? 😧

Can’t wait to find out! 📖

~~~

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

The lovely people at Quills and Quartos are offering  3️⃣ ebook copies of The Happiness of a Most Beloved Sister to 3️⃣  lucky readers who comment on today’s post!

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

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

~~~

Disclaimer: The Amazon links used in this post are affiliate links. 

53 comments

    1. It’s a painting! Done by Arthur Hacker in 1899 and titled “Innocence.” Isn’t it just lovely? Really inspiring to work with.

      Reply

  2. Just got my hard copy and moved it to the top of mys stack (because of the compelling excerpt!). Will start reading tomorrow! Would love an ecopy too, though. Just sayin. 😉

    Reply

  3. I read this through KU, and it was a 5-star read for me! I would love a chance to win a copy. I also hope it will be an audiobook.

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  7. Love the sumptuous cover, and would love to win an ebook copy. The excerpt has certainly raised our appetite to continue the story!

    Reply

  10. Heavens! Poor Elizabeth! Her mother goes her own sweet way regardless and her father won’t exert himself to check either her or the younger girls! I believe Jane isn’t even all Elizabeth thinks she is! So, that leaves Elizabeth as the only sensible member of the family. Luckily it seems as if Darcy does actually realise that and as he seems to have apologised, hopefully Elizabeth won’t resent him.

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    1. They say you can’t choose your family, but I’ll bet Elizabeth sometimes wishes she could. At least she has Darcy. 🙂

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      1. I do love the samples you tempt us with. The idea of Elizabeth protecting Jane to the point of blindness isn’t new, but Darcy being right about Jane is a rarely used trope. I look forward to discovering it.
        Your books are an automatic purchase for me – as they are consistently delightful to reread.
        Thank you for sharing

        Reply

  11. This sounds so interesting! I do love a version with a bad Jane! . Thanks for the chance to win a copy. I’d love to read it.

    Reply

  12. Mrs. Bennet certainly likes to hear herself talk, and doesn’t seem to care who’s listening! Hopefully Lizzy and Darcy can straighten out this mess.

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  17. I love Mary’s writing, so I am really looking forward to reading this. Thank you for the excerpt and giveaway. Congrats and best wishes on the new release!

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  18. I’m right in the middle of reading this story via KU. This is a truly entertaining Jane. I’m enjoying the story very much. Also love the cover…like a lovely watercolor.

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  23. Congrats Mary!! I love the exploration of the relationship between Lizzy & Jane…and a bad Jane is always interesting, looking forward to reading this…I love the cover, so might just have to get the paperback for my library!

    Reply

  24. I have been reading this book in the evenings-thank you for putting it on KU-and I just passed the scene above. Darcy’s apology was well written and endearing. I’m anticipating reading the scenes where Elizabeth finally recognizes Jane’s selfishness and I have been holding tight against the temptation of reading the last chapter to see is Jane ends up with Bingley! I can’t read fast enough! Congratulations on publishing another story. Love the cover BTW.

    Reply

  25. I thank for the opportunity to win the book but I preorder it and have read it already . I particularly liked Darcy in this version he is strong enough to allow Elizabeth to come to her own conclusions re Jane which I found really good.
    I am impressed when authors are generous enough to give away their work
    So thanks again I am sure the lucky winners will be thrilled.

    Reply

  29. I have always been distressed over Mrs. Bennet’s loudly expressed comments and the failure of Mr. Bennet to address it. I feel Elizabeth’s angst . Thank you for the excerpt and giveaway.

    Reply

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