Sun-Kissed Blog Tour ~ Excerpt & Giveaway!

Hey, Everyone! This summer is starting off with some pretty awesome reads! I have quite a few guest posts coming up! 

As part of the Sun-Kissed Blog Tour, J. Marie Croft is here with an excerpt of her short story that is in Sun-Kissed: Effusions of Summer.

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Men bathed in the nude in a separate area 200 yards away from the women

and were known to observe them bathing through a spyglass.

(~Sharon Wagoner, Jane Austen’s Regency World Magazine)

~ THE REGENCY ENCYCLOPEDIA ~

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The above quotation inspired J. Marie Croft to write a romantic-comedy for the Meryton Press Summer Lovin’ anthology (now available as Sun-Kissed: Effusions of Summer).  

In that short story, some of our favorite Pride and Prejudice characters are in Sandfirthstrand (a fictional seaside resort) rather than at Pemberley during the summer of 1812.

It is inevitable that a single man

in possession of a good telescope

must behave somewhat sheepishly

in an excerpt from Joanne’s:

Spyglasses and Sunburns

“... then I dined at the Thyme & Tyde and viewed the oil painting of the cove. The scenery hereabouts is quite charmingly picturesque.” Darcy picked up a newspaper and glanced at the front page. “Did you see any interesting sights in your travels?”

“What do you mean?” The mahogany box holding his spyglass was hugged close to Bingley’s chest. One moment he met his friend’s gaze challengingly, and the next he could not look him in the eye.

“I am merely curious.” Darcy glanced up from the newspaper and waited. And waited. Raising his eyebrows, he prompted, “So?”

“So what?” Bingley fidgeted with the case’s clasp.

“Did you do or see anything noteworthy today?”

Beet red, Bingley narrowed his eyes, trying to discern whether there was suspicion in Darcy’s expression or inflection. “Why? I mean—Why, I did a bit of bird watching, is all.”

“Good heavens, man. You must have been out in the sun too long. You are behaving quite barmy, and your face is burnt again.” Darcy looked away for a moment and then back at Bingley’s pale countenance. “Well, I thought it was red. Merely a trick of the light, I suppose.”

“No, no. Perhaps I did get some sun today. I took my telescope out and observed the seal colony as well as seabirds and—” Shifting on the seat, Bingley’s gaze fell to the instrument case.

“And? Did you observe any other creatures? Any mermaids sunning themselves on the shoals?” Darcy asked with disinterest.

“You do know!” Bingley shot to his feet.                                                                                                      

Darcy calmly folded the paper, tossed it aside, and quietly observed the other man. “I do know what?” said he in a clipped tone.

Seated again, Bingley slipped a finger between his Adam’s apple and cravat. “You do know, um, that mermaids are mythical.”

Scrutinizing the fellow’s flushed face, Darcy softly said, “Do you require a physician, Bingley?”

“No, I thank you.”

“Is there nothing you could take for relief? A glass of gin, perhaps? Shall I get you one?” Darcy’s concern for his friend was interrupted by a light knock on the door, and he bade entrance.

Georgiana swept into the room, all barely contained excitement and wide smile. “I met Mrs. Gardiner today, and she is perfectly charming!”

Immediately fearing the worst, her brother and his friend bombarded her with questions.

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Joanne will be dropping by, off and on, today; so feel free to bombard her with questions.

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J. Marie Croft is a self-proclaimed word nerd and adherent of Jane Austen’s quote “Let other pens dwell on guilt and misery.” Her light-hearted novel, Love at First Slight (Meryton Press, 2013), bears witness to Joanne’s fondness for Pride and Prejudice, wordplay, and laughter.

Connect with J. Marie Croft

twitter • facebook • website • pinterest

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“So each had a private little sun for her soul to bask in…” —Thomas Hardy

If you desire a little heat, a summer flirtation, or an escape to bask in your own private sun, this whimsical collection of original short stories is inspired by all things summer. In collaboration with some of Meryton Press’s most popular and award-winning authors, this anthology debuts other promising and emerging talent.

• In KaraLynne Mackrory’s “Shades of Pemberley,” Mr. Darcy, with some fantastic assistance, discovers Elizabeth Bennet in a most unlikely place.
• Karen M. Cox’s “Northanger Revisited” modernizes Northanger Abbey at a fictionalized Georgia seaside.
• Linda Beutler takes us to Paris as a young gentleman is schooled in the ways of amour in “The Incomplete Education of Fitzwilliam Darcy.”
• In “Spyglasses and Sunburns,” J. Marie Croft takes the Miss Bennets to the seaside where they chance upon handsome acquaintances.
• In Abigail Bok’s “A Summer in Sanditon,” a little sea bathing seems just the thing to cure what ails Anne de Bourgh.
• In Natalie Richards’ “Midsummer Madness,” an honest confession and a promise between strangers at a masque ball mend a misunderstanding.
• Sophia Rose reimagines a modern-day Persuasion in “Second Chance at Sunset Beach.”
• In Morgan K Wyatt’s “Dream Spinner,” a near-death car accident and an unlikely trucker bring new perspective to a young co-ed’s life and love.

Contemporary and Regency alike, each romance was dreamt as a perfect summer refreshment to bring a smile to your own sun-kissed face.

Stories by:

KaraLynne Mackrory● Karen M. Cox ● Linda Beutler ● J. Marie Croft

Abigail Bok● Natalie Richards ● Sophia Rose ● Morgan K Wyatt

Buy: Amazon • B&N
Add to Goodreads

FTC Disclaimer: Link to Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provide, I will receive a small commission. Thanks!

For more stops on the tour:

6/15: Guest Post at Austenprose 

6/16: Guest Post & Giveaway at My Jane Austen Book Club 

6/17: Review at Diary of an Eccentric

6/18: Excerpt & Giveaway at So Little Time… 

6/19: Guest Post & Giveaway at The Little Munchkin Reader

6/20: Excerpt & Giveaway at The Calico Critic 

6/21: Review at Margie's Must Reads

6/21: Guest Post at My Love for Jane Austen 

6/22: Guest Post & Giveaway at Best Sellers & Best Stellars 

6/23: Excerpt & Giveaway at Songs and Stories 

6/24: Review at Wings of Paper

6/25: Excerpt at Writer Wonderland

6/26: Guest Post & Giveaway at My Kids Led Me Back to Pride & Prejudice 

6/27: Review at Babblings of a Bookworm

6/28: Author Feature & Giveaway at The Delighted Reader 

* * * GIVEAWAY * * *

It's giveaway time!! Meryton Press is giving away One e-copy of Sun-Kissed: Effusions of Summer to one lucky person! To enter fill out the Rafflecopter below and leave a comment!

Many thanks to Meryton Press!!

• One person will win an e-copy of Sun-Kissed: Effusions of Summer.
• Open Internationally
• Last day to enter: June 25th, 2015.

Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Please, leave a comment! We'd love to hear from you! Please feel free to leave any questions you might have for Joanne! 
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!