Tuesday, November 5, 2019

The Perfect Gentleman Blog Tour! ~ Guest Post, Excerpt, & Giveaway!

Hello, my friends! It's my stop on The Perfect Gentleman Blog Tour! I'm very excited about this book! It's the kind of tale I look for in a Pride and Prejudice retelling! I hope you enjoy this excerpt Julie Cooper has selected for us, and be sure to check out the awesome giveaway! Details are at the bottom of the page! 




Greetings all, and thank you for letting me talk a little bit about this story! Every Pride and Prejudice variation needs a “Hunsford” moment, and The Perfect Gentleman is no exception.

One drawback to most Hunsfords, however, is the sense of helplessness we feel as readers, watching our favourite couple make decisions that could potentially destroy any chance of a future together. I will admit that I don’t always mind watching Darcy make a muck of things—but Lizzy’s participation in any ugliness can get to me. I suppose I always want Lizzy to be a much better human than myself—more patient, more charitable, and most of all…wiser than Fitzwilliam Darcy.

I believe this Lizzy achieves this lofty goal. In The Perfect Gentleman, Lizzy is a girl with dreams. Born of a mother who is “sunk beneath reproach” so to speak, and abandoned by her father, she might have turned to her mother’s scandalous means of supporting herself. But she can always see through the false glamour of her mother existence, even while recognising that Mrs Bennet did the best she could with the means she had. Lizzy doesn’t judge—she simply believes in herself, and that she can do better and become more than society expects.

By the time we come to the following excerpt, we are rooting for Lizzy to triumph over the circumstances of her birth and realize her goals. We’re also pretty sure that nothing will stop her, despite her upcoming confrontation with the arrogant Mr Darcy:

Excerpt from The Perfect Gentleman: 

SHE FOUND HIM pacing impatiently near the carriage. For just a moment, Lizzy was simply captivated by his appearance. From shoulders needing no buckram padding to the long legs leather-tipped in polished Hessians, he was a picture of wealth, masculinity, and authority. His wardrobe alone priced him beyond her reach; she ought to have known better. To have kissed him was a blunder of monumental proportions, for she could not imagine anyone else ever making a better job of it. 

And yet, in an odd way, she was proud of herself. She had captured the interest, however briefly, of a formidable, aristocratic man. In this, she could understand what had driven Fanny Bennet to sacrifice herself for Sir Eden; there was a thrill in it, an imitation sort of power, for a female so often at the mercy of others.

And yet, unlike Fanny, Lizzy had not succumbed. Her hopes and dreams remained intact. She would not sacrifice or give them away, not in return for fleeting—if wonderful—sensation. And though the odds of seeing Mr Darcy again were sadly slim, she could not be sorry she had known him just a little. A deep-seated fear that she was her mother’s daughter was forever banished. 

She was Elizabeth Bennet, a sculptor, and Fitzwilliam Darcy thought her beautiful. 

How many could say that? 


***

Of course, our Mr Darcy isn’t exactly stupid, and we can have perfect confidence in this “perfect” gentleman that, despite the upcoming setback, he won’t let her get away. 


It was great fun writing this couple, who from an “outside looking in” view were exact opposites, but along the way of their Regency Road Trip, discover that they aren’t so far apart, after all.





The Perfect Gentleman
by Julie Cooper

Book Blurb 

’Tis no secret that Lizzy Bennet has dreams. The uniquely talented daughter of a woman with a dubious reputation, Lizzy knows she must make her own way in a world that shuns her. Fitzwilliam Darcy carries the stains of his family’s disgrace upon his soul and only by holding himself to the strictest standards has he reclaimed his place in society. 

Now Georgiana Darcy has gone missing. If his fifteen-year-old sister cannot be found quickly, the scandal could destroy Darcy’s years of perfect behaviour. Lizzy Bennet know just what to do to find Georgiana. She is willing to join the pursuit to get what she wants but will Darcy be willing to trust her with his secrets? And what will they do when the search for Georgiana reveals what neither expected to find? 

The Perfect Gentleman is a romantic adventure so big it needs two volumes in one book. Follow the adventure in A Not-So-Merry Chase and discover the surprises and temptations that await at Pemberley in Love Wisely But Well.

Buy: Amazon US (paid link) • Amazon UK • Amazon CA
Add to Goodreads

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


About the Author

Julie Cooper, a California native, lives with her Mr Darcy (without the arrogance or the Pemberley) of nearly forty years, two dogs (one intelligent, one goofball), and Kevin the Cat (smarter than all of them.)  They have four children and three grandchildren, all of whom are brilliant and adorable, with the pictures to prove it. She works as an executive at a gift basket company and her tombstone will read, "Have your Christmas gifts delivered at least four days before the 25th."  Her hobbies are reading, giving other people good advice, and wondering why no one follows it.

You can connect with Julie Cooper on Facebook.




Blog Tour Schedule




* * * GIVEAWAY * * *

It's giveaway time! Quills & Quartos Publishing is giving away a $50 Amazon gift card! To be eligible, just comment on any of the blog tour stops. You need not visit all the stops (one point per stop and comment), however, it does increase your chances of winning by earning more entries. The contest ends on November 13, 2019.




  • To enter, leave a comment below!
  • For more entries, comment on any of the blog tour stops.
  • Open Internationally
  • The last day to enter the giveaway is November 13, 2019.

Many thanks to Quills & Quartos Publishing and Christina Boyd @ The Quill Ink for having me on this book tour! 

Congratulations to Julie Cooper on the release of The Perfect Gentleman, and thank you for visiting us here today!

So, friends, what do you think? Do you like stories where Elizabeth and Darcy are thrown together in some way and have to work with each other? 

24 comments:

  1. Really really looking forward to this book! I want to see how the dynamic between Darcy and Lizzy change in a different situation. Thanks for the giveaway!

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    1. Hi Danielle, and thanks! Good luck in the drawing!

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  2. I do hope neither are near perfect, for me that is a step too far. As far as working together, Elizabeth surely must risk her reputation when that happens

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    1. LOL, this Lizzy doesn't really have a reputation to lose!

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  3. Wonderful excerpt. I am enjoying following the blog tour. I look forward to reading this book!!

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  4. Congratulations on this amazing book, Julie! This Elizabeth is so strong, determined and special. Darcy sees that almost from the beginning, even though it takes him sometime to acknowledge that and respect and admire her for exactly who she was.

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    1. Thank you Daniela! Your kind words are much appreciated.

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  5. I downloaded the book yesterday. I will start reading once I’m done Saving Elizabeth. This book sounds great! Not sure what other books you have, but will keep you in mind

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    1. I'm so happy you're planning to read Marsha! This is my first published work, but several forthcoming in the future.

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  6. I always cringe when I read the Hunsford proposal because they are both so off the beam- him with his oblivious arrogance and she with her misguided prejudices. While I cringe, I do appreciate that they are on equal footing once he writes that letter and they can both start to do better.
    I like that the Elizabeth in Julie's story conquers her past and can hold her head up as she steadily achieves her goals.

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  7. Thank you Sophia Rose! We are cringing buddies, so I hear you. It's that necessary evil, as you say. Appreciate you following the blog tour!

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  8. Lovely excerpt - your Elizabeth seems indeed very wise and level-headed. :) Congratulations on publishing!

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    1. Thank you Annilina! Lizzy has taken charge of her household since she was a young girl, so she has developed wisdom beyond her years. :)

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  9. I'm glad that Elizabeth remained strong.

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  10. “To have kissed him was a blunder of monumental proportions, for she could not imagine anyone else ever making a better job of it.”

    That’s in! I’m in. Delicious excerpt!

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  11. He's the best kind of blunder! Thanks Christina!

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  12. I like how this sounds. Totally different scenario.

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  13. I love the way this Elizabeth is formed by her unique background, and how she avoids being judgmental. Definitely TBR soon!

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  14. Thank you for this entertaining excerpt, Julie. I really love that Elizabeth is bold and declare her love for Darcy through her kiss. Can't wait to see Darcy's reaction to it.

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  15. thank you for the glimpse into the story. Eager to know how soon he can accept EB's family situation.

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  16. I loved the book Julie and am thrilled to be taking this blog tour with you! Crossing fingers! Many congratulations!

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