Love at First Slight by J. Marie Croft
Author’s Pin(terest) Boards:
Love At First Slight + Textaisles (Victorian & Regency Lovelies)
Genre(s): Fiction | Romance | Historical | Regency | Jane Austen Sequel
Published by: Rhemalda Publishing, 1 October 2013
Available Format: Paperback | Page Count: 342
Synopsis of the story:
“It may not be universally acknowledged,
but the unvarnished truth is that a young widow
in possession of a good fortune is not necessarily in want of another husband.”
In this humorous, topsy-turvy Pride & Prejudice variation, all the gender roles are reversed. It is Mr. Bennet’s greatest wish to see his five sons advantageously married. When the haughty Miss Elizabeth Darcy comes to Netherfield with the Widow Devonport nee Bingley, speculation—and prejudice—runs rampant.
William Bennet, a reluctant and irreverent future reverend, catches Miss Darcy’s eye even though he is beneath her station. However, his opinion of her was fixed when she slighted him at the Meryton Assembly. As her ardour grows, so does his disdain, and when she fully expects to receive an offer of marriage, he gives her something else entirely ….
Biography of the Author:
J. Marie Croft, a Nova Scotia resident and avid reader all her life, discovered Jane Austen’s works later than others but made up for lost time by devouring the six novels and as many adaptations and sequels as she could find. In the midst of reading prodigious amounts of Austen-based fan-fiction, she realized, “Hey, I can do that.” In her spare time, when not working at a music school or on a wooded trail enjoying her geocaching hobby, she listens to the voices in her head and captures their thoughts and words in writing. Her stories are light-hearted; and her motto is Miss Austen’s own quote, “Let other pens dwell on guilt and misery.” J. Marie Croft is a member of the Jane Austen Society of North America (Canada) and admits to being “excessively attentive” to the 1995 BBC version of Pride and Prejudice. She can be contacted at her website: J. Marie Croft
Why this particular story perked my interest to participate in the Cover Reveal?
When the email for this Cover Reveal alighted itself into my Inbox, I was immediately drawn into Ms. Croft’s take on Pride and Prejudice, where she single-handedly flipped the tail on the story which has become one of my most beloved reads!! Coincidently or naught, I have been re-reading Pride and Prejudice this month as a way to step back into Austen’s world, as I am a self-declared Janeite! This is the year I decided it was high time I dig into her novels inasmuch as the lovely offerings of re-tellings, spin-offs, sequels, and other such pieces of ‘after the canon’ contributions to the genre! The icing on the cake for me is to have had the opportunity to not only discover a sequel author for Jane Austen, but to find one of my first Canadian authors! I have always been readily intrigued by the literature of my northern neighbour, but I have not oft been able to discover their literary works! It’s quite the exciting proposition, isn’t it!? If Darcy were a woman and the singleton Bennett were a bloke!? What delightfully bewitching and romantically engaging intrigue this story shall reveal! It appeals straight to my adaptable heart, as one of my favourite re-tellings of classical literature are the motion picture adaptations of A Christmas Carol where the gender role is exclusively feminine! An added dimension of tales that wrap around our hearts and endeavour all of us to ask, “What if?” I am most keen on reading this unique spin of Darcy & Bennett!
{*UPDATE: I did not realise she had such a lovely pin(terest) board full of inspirational sayings, clever phrases, Victorian & Regency clothing pieces, and all the lovelies you’d expect from a period sequel author to gravitate towards! I cannot even express how many are my ‘new favourites’ and how delighted I am in having learnt this board exists! I think author pin(terest) boards are warming on me!}
{*NOTE: I volunteered to be a blog stop on the Cover Reveal Tour for Love At First Slight. I was not compensated for this post, and my thoughts are my honest opinion based upon my first impression of having read the synopsis.}
{SOURCES: Cover of Love at First Slight, photograph of author J. Marie Croft, as well as press release information for the book itself were provided by Rhemalda Publishing. Cover Reveal badge provided by Parajunkee to give book bloggers definition on their blogs. }
*NEWSFLASH*:
In December 2013, I received this lovely book in exchange for an honest review by J. Marie Croft’s new publisher “Meryton Press“. Meryton Press took over the rights for publication when Rhemalda Publishing closed suddenly after this Book Cover Reveal went live. My review for “Love At First Slight” is coming to Jorie Loves A Story the weekend of the 13th of December 2013! Stay tuned!
Copyright © Jorie Loves A Story, 2013.
