Hi friends! 

We have a lovely surprise for you – a new book announcement and cover reveal from none other than Michelle Ray!!!

The author of There You Were and Duty Bound! 📚

And today she is unveiling that she has a new Pride and Prejudice variation titled Four Weddings and Four Funerals coming out soon! 🙌🏼

Which sounds like a familiar title if you watch movies until you read that it says 4️⃣ of each!?! 👰🏻‍♀️👰🏻‍♀️👰🏻‍♀️👰🏻‍♀️🪦🪦🪦🪦 

Michelle is here to share an excerpt and the stunning cover for Four Weddings and Four Funerals. 

We hope you enjoy! 

~ From the Author ~

Hi all! Meredith, thank you so much for hosting the cover reveal for my latest Pride & Prejudice variation, Four Weddings and Four Funerals, which will be released next week!

The story is broken up into—wait for it!—four weddings and four funerals. That structure was, of course, inspired by one of my favorite movies, Four Weddings and a Funeral, but that is where the similarities end . . . though both, in fact, do share a dashing leading man who makes me laugh. In my story, it is important to note that the funerals are not meant to be miserable affairs. For instance, the first one is for a guinea pig, which leads to Darcy and Elizabeth’s initial encounter. Typically, I do love evoking a good cry, much to my historian husband’s despair since he tries to avoid feelings while reading, but this time I tried to spare him, and you.

In Four Weddings and Four Funerals, Darcy and Elizabeth alternate as narrators, an approach I love because I enjoy seeing the same moment from different points of view. And given how differently Darcy and Elizabeth see the world, I thought it might be fun to hear from them both. I also wanted to get into Darcy’s head because that man is clearly working through some things from his past as he decides whether or not Elizabeth is an acceptable life partner. But who can resist dearest Lizzy?

The cover was created by Susan Adriani at CloudCat Design, whom I’ve worked with in the past on Shakespeare-inspired and historical novels. For this one, I love how she went beyond the romance and beauty of the story to include its whimsy.

Below is a description of the book, as well as an excerpt. Enjoy this peek at Four Weddings and Four Funerals.

~ Book Description ~

Told through alternating perspectives, Four Weddings and Four Funerals follows the entwined paths of Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy as fate unexpectedly brings them together in the most unexpected of settings.

Their lives intersect in ballrooms filled with music, in quiet sitting rooms shadowed by grief, and along woodland paths where restraint begins to falter. With each encounter, logic collides with longing. Misunderstandings linger as attraction deepens, and neither of them remain unchanged by the time they spend in one another’s company.

Darcy is guided by reason, duty, and expectation, but Elizabeth unsettles every certainty he holds. Elizabeth trusts her instincts, but finds herself torn between family obligations and the quiet insistence of her own heart. Each meeting leaves them more entangled than before, yet no closer to understanding how their story might reach a satisfactory conclusion.

Bound by timing and separated by circumstance, they are left to wonder whether their love will ever be allowed to flourish, or if they are merely circling a future that can never be theirs.

~ Excerpt from Four Weddings and Four Funerals ~

Darcy hated weddings. Not all of them, but most. He wanted to be happy for the couple, but he always found fault with the match or the event. But Bingley had asked him to be present, and he could not refuse his closest friend.

He stood outside the church leaning against the trunk of a tree, hoping the shade might hide him from the view of arriving guests. Bingley was likely already inside. Darcy had chosen to walk to the church rather than ride with his friend, needing time to clear his head and, in truth, hoping, yet not hoping, he might cross paths with Miss Elizabeth. He knew she might still be cross with him, even a month since the accident, and from his cousin’s description of her behaviour at the funeral, Darcy thought he might need a word more severe than merely “cross.” Even so, the only way to address the rift was for them to speak face to face. If he could have written a letter to her directly, he might have been able to soften her opinion of him. Yet, without explaining the full reason for his departure, which he would never have set to paper, it might not have mattered.

The Bennet’s carriage clattered into view, but Miss Elizabeth was not in it. She must have chosen to walk, as he had. Or perhaps the bride needed special attention, and Miss Elizabeth was inside, as well. He left the shadows and approached, watching Mrs Bennet being handed down by the coachman, Mr Bennet stepping after, and then the youngest daughters. No Miss Bennet. No Miss Elizabeth.

He was in the open now, and was immediately noticed by Mrs Bennet who raised her handkerchief and waved it wildly at him. “Mr Darcy!” she called. “Mr Darcy!”

Others turned their heads and, though his cheeks burned, he walked towards the family.

“Such a thing to have a daughter getting married,” she said.

“Yes,” was all he could manage.

“Where is Mr Bingley?”

“He . . . I am not certain, madam.”

She said, “Mr Bingley does not know the groom, does he? If so, I would say he might be inside with the man. And you, Mr Darcy, you are not with either—”

“I walked,” Darcy interrupted, unable to listen to another moment of her chatter.

Mrs Bennet cocked her head. “Is Mr Slade unworthy of your friendship?” She asked, not as a concerned mother of her daughter’s best friend, but as a woman fishing for gossip.

“Mr Bingley knows him from town. Mr Slade and I have only recently become acquainted, but he has a good reputation and is said to be kindly. His business dealings are spoken of in a most positive manner.”

Instead of appearing relieved, Mrs Bennet’s face turned sour. “He is a merchant. He will do for Miss Lucas, I suppose.”

Mr Bennet, who had had his attention on his young daughters, caught this last bit and shushed his wife. “We are,” he told Darcy, “pleased for Miss Lucas. By all accounts they are a good match. Well suited in temperament.”

“And none too soon,” said Mrs Bennet. “We feared she might never find a husband.”

Mr Bennet took hold of his wife’s arm as the younger girls tittered, and led them all towards the church, nodding his head to Darcy and whispering fiercely to Mrs Bennet as they went.

They would be miserable in-laws, and he dreaded the thought. But Miss Elizabeth would be a perfect wife. He knew it. He also knew from his cousin that her fury at his rushing away from the accident had not subsided, and he feared she might never be calmed.

He looked about but still did not see Bingley or Miss Elizabeth, so he went into the church. Inside, he saw no sign of them either, and took a seat, feeling self-conscious at being alone. Then Bingley’s figure darkened the doorway, and relief swept over Darcy.

“I am sorry for the delay,” said Bingley as he slid into the pew. “I had the driver turn back to Netherfield, fearing my waistcoat was wrong.”

Darcy thought for a moment. “The blue one? It matches your eyes.” He fought back a smile. “I should think your Miss Bennet would adore such a thing.”

Bingley shoved him with his shoulder in protest. “She favours this green one.” He paused. “Though she has commented upon the blue. Perhaps I ought not to have changed it.”

“I should think that since you are already betrothed you might not concern yourself with such matters.”

“We are not yet married. Not for another three months, and I should like to think I shall respect her wishes even after we are wed.”

“Why did you decide to wait so long?” Darcy asked.

“Miss Bennet hopes that her sister Mary might attend, and believes the additional time will make the difference.”

Darcy nodded. Even his friend’s delayed wedding was largely his fault.

The groom and vicar stepped to the altar and the crowd hushed.

Those in the pews rose, and Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth walked down the aisle in lovely gowns Darcy had never seen. The pale purple fabric whispered as Miss Elizabeth walked past, eyes fixed forward, and all he wanted was to take hold of her and tell her how perfect she looked, and to kiss her and kiss her and—

Bingley sighed quietly as Miss Bennet smiled in his direction. Darcy wished he could express himself as freely. Would he have done so even if his parents had not frowned on outward shows of emotion? Impossible to say.

Miss Lucas passed in a shade of green that he thought the most becoming colour he had seen on her. He suspected this one had been of her deciding, and wondered if her other gowns had been the influence of a mother without taste.

The groom looked as pleased as the bride to exchange vows. Darcy wished them well in his mind, and was determined to smile and appear pleased to have been welcomed to the ceremony.

***

“Why was Mr Darcy here?” Elizabeth wondered as she stood at the altar. She knew he would be attending, but somehow seeing him, breathing the same air as him, made it different. She had been mildly irritated before. Now, fury filled her.

No, she could not frown or storm lest Charlotte think she did not approve of this marriage.

Charlotte. Think of Charlotte.

Charlotte looked beautiful.

Charlotte looked happy.

The early morning hours with Charlotte, preparing her for the wedding, had been a delight. It was the last moments of their girlhood friendship, and though sadness at the finality of it coloured the edges, they had giggled and teased as they recalled adventures of their youth, and it had been most wonderful.

Mr Slade was giving Charlotte a ring.

Charlotte was taking her vows.

Elizabeth had dreamed of taking vows to bind herself to Mr Darcy.

But he ruined it.

He ran away.

In her sister’s moment of need, he ran away.

The clattering wheels. The whinnying horses. The scream.

Why could she not forget it?

She pressed her eyes shut for a moment, then opened them.

Charlotte was beaming.

Charlotte and Mr Slade were wed.

Hooray for Charlotte.

Less so for herself.

Well, nothing to be done. On to the breakfast.

What would she do when Mr Darcy was near?

~~~

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

(expected release date: July 7th)

Such a graceful and elegant cover! I love the lace overlay and flowers. 🪻

I’m spotting some silhouettes of critter friends…I wonder what part they play in this story. 🐹

Four weddings and four funerals?! What is happening in Meryton? How can anyone have time for anything else… 🔔 

I’m so curious about what happened to Elizabeth’s sister…and what was Mr. Darcy’s role in it. 😮

What do you think, friends? 

~~~

You can Preorder Four Weddings and Four Funerals now!

~~~

GIVEAWAY TIME!!

Today Michelle brings with her a lovely prize to give away! 2️⃣ lucky commenters on this post will win an ebook copy of Four Weddings and Four Funerals!

To enter this giveaway leave a comment, question, or some love for Michelle!

• This giveaway is open worldwide.  Thank you, Michelle

• This giveaway ends July 15th!