Thursday, April 9, 2015

A Peculiar Connection Blog Tour & Giveaway!

Hey Everyone! I'm excited to be part of the A Peculiar Connection Blog Tour! At this stop in the tour, Jan Hahn has an intriguing excerpt for you to read from her new book, A Peculiar Connection. And Meryton Press is giving away an e-copy of the book to one lucky winner! Woot! You'll find the information for the giveaway at the bottom of this post!

Many thanks to Jakki at Leatherbound Reviews for organizing this blog tour!  



Book Blurb:
Will a mysterious note from the past doom the love of Jane Austen’s most beloved couple?

A Peculiar Connection begins near the close of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Bent on preventing the engagement of her nephew to Elizabeth Bennet, Lady Catherine de Bourgh declares that any union between Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth would be “a sin against Heaven itself!”  Her shocking revelation, along with a cryptic message written over twenty years earlier, thrusts the couple into a whirlwind of heartbreak and disbelief.

Could a deserted mansion in Derbyshire or a small church hidden in the wood hold the key to solving the puzzle?  And why is Elizabeth inexplicably drawn to the portrait of three young boys in Pemberley’s gallery?  


Determined to confirm or refute Lady Catherine’s accusation, Darcy and Elizabeth are forced to embark upon a twisted trail into bygone days and family secrets.  All the while, they must endure the exquisite torture of denying the indisputable desire that still hovers between them. 



Excerpt:


From Chapter SixDarcy and Elizabeth attempt to keep the circumstances of her birth secret.  The following scene takes place at Pemberley late at night between Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam with Elizabeth listening.

Descending the stairs, I rounded the corner toward the drawing room when I saw lights issuing from within and heard the sound of men’s voices.  I shrank back into the shadows and blew out my candle.  Sufficient illumination remained in the hall sconces to show the way.  I had tiptoed lightly, my slippers making little sound on the walnut floor.  I turned to retrace my steps, but then I realized the argument between the men would drown out any muffled sounds I might make.

“But you do not care for dancing, Darcy.  Thus, I see no valid reason why I should not have secured Miss Bennet’s hand for the first two dances.”

“She is pretty enough.  Plenty of men will seek her favour.  You need not claim her attentions for the entire first hour.”

“But she knows no one in Derbyshire.  I fail to see why my invitation rouses your temper.”

“Do not concern yourself with my temper; it is within check.  And you are mistaken.  Several neighbours have called since her arrival, and we have returned the visits.  Elizabeth is acquainted with enough local gentlemen to attract an adequate number of partners.”

“Then why in heaven’s name are you in such a humour?  I have not seen you drink this amount since we left Rosings last Easter.  What is wrong with you, man?”

I could not hear an answer and quickly scurried across the hall until I stood right outside the door.  I wished to hear Mr. Darcy’s words more than I feared detection.

“The whole affair is troublesome,” he said, his voice sounding defeated.  “Elizabeth’s connection with my family is obscure, to say the least.  I would not draw undue attention upon her or raise questions that might cause talk.”

“I do not understand your reasoning.”

He sighed deeply.  “I wonder just what my neighbours think of her.  I cannot recall when the Whitbys moved here.  Surely, there are others among my friends whose families lived here when it all happened.”

“When what happened?  Out with it, Darce. Of what do you speak?”

“What?”  Mr. Darcy sounded as though he had been awakened from a private reverie and somehow been caught revealing more than he should.

“You said you wondered how many of your neighbours lived here ‘when it all happened.’  I do not understand to what you refer. Is Miss Bennet’s birth the result of some sort of scandal?”

“Of course not, Fitzwilliam!”  

Silence followed. I could hear my heart beating, and I began to tremble, holding my breath. I heard someone begin to pace back and forth within the room.  

“It is just that her parents were killed in an unfortunate accident right after her birth, and she was left an orphan.  To have been taken in by a family other than her own kindred may give rise to gossip, and I will not have talk about her!” His voice grew insistent.  “Do you hear me?  I will not tolerate it!”

I released my breath, reassured that Mr. Darcy had covered his blunder.


Author Bio:

After leaving a long career in the world of business, Jan Hahn began writing stories based on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice in 2002.  Her first novel, An Arranged Marriage, was published in 2011 by Meryton Press and won Best Indie Novel from Austen Prose that year.  Her second novel, The Journey, was selected by Austen Prose as one of the Top Five Austen Inspired Historical Novels of 2012, and it won the Favorite Pride and Prejudice Variation/Alternate Path award from Austenesque.    In 2014, Austen Prose listed Ms. Hahn’s third novel, The Secret Betrothal, among the Best Austenesque Historical Novels. She is a member of JASNA and lives in Texas.


Connect with Jan Hahn 



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Blog Tour Schedule



3/30: Review at Savvy Verse and Wit
3/31: Excerpt at Songs and Stories 
4/1: Guest Post & Giveaway at My Jane Austen Book Club 
4:2: Review at Babblings of a Bookworm
4/3: Author Interview at  The Little Munchkin Reader 
4/4: Review at Margie's Must Reads
4/5: Guest Post & Giveaway at My Love for Jane Austen 
4/7: Guest Post & Giveaway at More Agreeably Engaged 
4/8: Excerpt at Laughing with Lizzie 
4/9: Excerpt & Giveaway at So Little Time…
4/10: Review at Diary of an Eccentric
4/12: Review at The Delighted Reader 
4/13: Excerpt & Giveaway at Austenesque Reviews 
4/14: Guest Post & Giveaway at Babblings of a Bookworm
4/15: Review at Warmisunqu's Austen


*** Giveaway***

It's giveaway time!! Meryton Press is giving away ONE e-copy of A Peculiar Connection to ONE lucky winner! This giveaway is open Internationally! To enter fill out the Rafflecopter below and leave a comment! 

Thank you, Jan Hahn and Meryton Press

  • One person will win an e-copy of A Peculiar Connection (Kindle or Nook).
  • Open Internationally.
  • Last day to enter: April 16, 2015.

Good luck!


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Please, leave a comment! We'd love to hear from you! Remember, to enter the giveaway you MUST fill out the Rafflecopter (shown above). If you need help entering, email me by clicking on the email icon at the top of the sidebar. Thanks!

24 comments:

  1. I have to read this one!! Pity I have to wait for my new bank card.

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  2. all these excerpts are increasing my need to read this book

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  3. Please do not enter me as I already have this book. Congratulations to Jan for hitting this one out of the ball park. I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this Darcy and Elizabeth. Such obstacles!!! Thanks for being on the blog tour, Candy. These excerpts remind me why I need to go back and re-read this one again.

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    1. Hi, Joy! Thanks for stopping by and telling us how much you loved 'A Peculiar Connection'! That's great to hear! I hope to pick up a copy at the Festival of Books. I'm looking forward to reading it!

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  4. These excerpts made me more curious about this novel. I cannot wait to read it!!!!

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  5. The story sounds intriguing! Another great book by Jan!

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  6. Definitely looking forward to reading this one. Anxious to see how you pull off the HEA with this particularly onerous obstacle in the way!

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  7. What an excerpt! Yikes, Colonel Fitzwiliam doesn't know? I wonder if Darcy will confide in him... Can't wait to read it!

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    1. Hi, Dung! Yes, I was very curious about that too! Hey, are you going to the LA Festival of Books? Meryton Press will have a booth there. I'm planning on going.

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    2. Hi Candy, yes I'll be there. I'm actually volunteering on Saturday for two shifts. Looking forward to stopping by the Meryton Press booth. Not sure what day you plan to go, but would love to meet up!

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    3. Awesome!! I plan on going Saturday! I'll send you an email in a few days! :)

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  8. Very interesting excerpt! I wonder what kind of logic Mr.Darcy employed in this scene. He is obviously jealous of Colonel dancing with Elizabeth for two dances, but he explains it by his wish for her to dance with other men. And what if Elizabeth danced with some other local men? how much Mr.Darcy would imbibe then?:))) Men and their logic!

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  9. Sounds like a good book. A little different with the first-person narrative.

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  10. Thank you for all your comments. I loved them! The colonel is a bit different in this variation, and he does rile Darcy’s temper at times. Good luck to all of you in the giveaway (except Joy)! And Joy, I appreciate your kind support so much. You’re the best!

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  11. This is a very teasing excerpt, Jan. I am anxious to know who are Elizabeth's real parents. I'm guessing the colonel's assumption is spot on.

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  12. Believe me, Darcy's just as anxious as you are, Luthien! Thanks!

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  13. Thanks for the excerpt and the chance to win this book! Sounds so intriguing!

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  14. Looking forward to reading this one! I love Jan's books :)

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  15. I loved the excerpt and am so looking forward to reading this book. I loved reading all of Jan's books so far Thank you for the generous give away.

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    1. Thank you, Deborah Ann! I hope you like the book.

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