Today is the release day for Denise O’Hara’s latest novel, Legally Darcy, and I am happy to join the celebration with a special excerpt and giveaway for my readers! The novel is a modern retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, and I hope you will stay tuned for my review in the new year.
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Excerpt from Legally Darcy, courtesy of Denise O’Hara
“Charles, I am at my wit’s end with gutter-trash trying to use this company as their stepping stone into society,” Darcy said with such a sharp tone that Charles took a step back in surprise.
“Elizabeth is an exceptional candidate, Darcy.” Charles floundered, his thoughts in disarray. He could not remember Darcy mentioning other interns as of late.
“Why is her application coming in so late?” Darcy asked impatiently. “Records aren’t worth much if one does not use them promptly. I thought every candidate in the city flooded our office with requests weeks ago. I remember that nonsense well enough.”
“Would you just take a few minutes to look at her application? She’s at the top of her class. She’s had trouble securing her internship,” Charles replied reluctantly, looking worriedly at the crack in the door. “Darcy, please close the door a moment, she is just—”
“JUST a waste of time, Charles!” Darcy snapped with growing exasperation as his hand fell away from the still open door.
“Darcy! The young lady is—”
“I won’t hear it, Charles!” the man said impatiently.
Charles was alarmed at the set of the man’s jaw and the red that was blossoming in his face. He’d never seen Darcy so angry in all the years they’d known each other.
“Have you considered that there might be a reason she cannot secure an internship? She was homeschooled throughout high school. Her credentials are likely not even worth the paper they are printed on! Look Charles, I’m sorry you’ve been duped. Miss Homeschooled doesn’t have what it takes to tempt me into wasting my time.”
Darcy shook his head and made his way out into the lobby, before he said something he would regret. He needed a moment to think over the situation, to regain his composure. The intern was unfortunate, especially in the timing. However, I stand firm in my belief. The others would not pass up a promising intern. His mood did not improve as he saw a young woman rounding the corner, the door swinging shut behind her.
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The nerve of him! Elizabeth fumed with indignation and embarrassment. How dare he accuse her of faking her records, especially when he’d apparently never checked them to begin with!
She stormed down the sidewalk, eyes trained ahead as she tried to calm herself. She could feel the creases of a scowl deepening with each passing moment. Her stomach was twisted in knots as she fought the wave of frustration that threatened to burst forth. The Darcy firm was seen as the peak of professionalism and ethics. A Holy Grail every student wished to achieve, but rarely expected to attain. And when I finally get here, I find out the man is nothing but a belligerent tyrant lording over the office! To top off the disillusionment, this so-called expert made a terrible judgment on her character without ever reading her full application, never mind meeting her!
She rose her hand to hail a taxi, earning herself a barely veiled scowl from the driver as she slammed the door. Go ahead buddy; you’re not the first to think the worst of me today. She considered turning her phone off in case someone tried to call once they’d discovered her absence. In the end, she decided that it did not matter if they called or not. She would not accept an interview from Mr. Darcy if he ran the last law firm on Earth!
Thank you, Denise, for sharing this exciting excerpt from your new novel! I can’t wait to find out how Darcy digs himself out of this mess!
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About Legally Darcy
Ten year old Will Darcy leads an ideal life. But things change suddenly in the course of one day. As time goes by, circumstances require him to take on more and more responsibilities, until he’s faced with a choice of pursuing his own dreams of becoming a lawyer or acting in his beloved sister’s best interest. Years later, his life finally seems to be on track. At 28, he’s a successful attorney at one of the top law firms in the country and things couldn’t be going better, either professionally or personally. He thinks he’s got it all figured out- until someone from his past, and a new acquaintance, in the form of feisty law student Elizabeth Bennet, turn his world upside down.
Check out Legally Darcy on Amazon | Goodreads
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About the Author

Denise O’Hara
Denise O’Hara loves everything Jane Austen. She accidentally came across her first continuing story of Pride and Prejudice many years ago while browsing her public library. She excitedly checked the sequel out to take with her to Destin, Florida, one of her favorite vacation spots of all time! After years of loving Pride and Prejudice, she was so thrilled to get more of the story!
Over the years, she read many Pride and Prejudice adaptations and sequels. She decided to jump into the Pride and Prejudice waters herself with her first three stories, A Pride and Prejudice Continuation: Life after the Wedding Series! While Darcy and Elizabeth’s story was her favorite, she always felt there was more to discover about Charles and Jane Bingley. Becoming Jane Bingley delves into the Bingley’s life after the wedding, with the Darcy’s story continuing also. In subsequent books, Caroline Bingley’s story is furthered as well. Of course, she soon found herself intrigued with putting Darcy and Elizabeth in different predicaments, and has written several books with them taking center stage. Legally Darcy is her first retelling with the couple as modern day couple. But as with all her books, the content remains a clean romance.
She lives with her own Mr. Darcy of 29 years. They enjoy simple things, like baking goodies, pies especially, having coffee or tea on the deck, and taking walks together, and sitting around a campfire roasting marshmallows. They have two grown children whom they adore. Right now they are in the final weeks of getting ready for their only daughter’s wedding in February. Exciting times! She and her Mr. Darcy are grateful to have parents nearby, as they love to spend time with family. They just wish there was more time to visit! Between them, they have ten sisters! That’s right, no brothers. Sisters are the best!!!
And they are thankful for their many good friends from all over the world who are as true brothers and sisters to them!
And as anyone who knows them will tell you, they love the Bee Gees, who have given Denise and her Mr. Darcy countless hours of joy.
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Giveaway
Denise is generously offering 3 ebook copies of Legally Darcy to my readers. To enter, please leave a comment with your email address letting me know what intrigues you most about the book. This giveaway will close on Wednesday, December 28, 2016. The winners will be chosen randomly and announced in the comments section of this post. Good luck!
Oh boy, yeah, he definitely dug a pretty deep hole with that scene. A law office setting. Sounds good. Thanks for sharing about it.
Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.
sophiarose1816 at gmail dot com
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I was expecting Darcy to get himself into some kind of trouble right off the bat, but I still found myself shocked at his behavior here!
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Thanks so much for starting off the blog tour, Anna!
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You’re very welcome! Glad to help!
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It is hard for me to even wrap my head around Darcy and Elizabeth in the present. Will enjoy trying to though!
dizzysheep@embarqmail.com
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Some of the modern-day P&Ps are my favorites!
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I love the excerpt and can’t wait to read the rest. Please don’t enter me as my copy just appeared on my Kindle. Best wishes for a great launch, Denise.
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Happy reading, Joy!
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Thanks, Joy! 😊
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Oh my, I have been keeping an eye on this one for a while now. Love the excerpt – Darcy insulting Elizabeth? Never! Oh dear. I would love to read this and thank you so much for the giveaway 😃 glyniswhitelegg at gmail dot com
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Ha ha! I always know there will be an insult, but I’m always shocked anyway!
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It looks intriguing. Darcy managed to insult Elizabeth’s competency, so they are off to the usual start. Lizzy will have to prove him wrong. I am curious how Charles knows so much about her. Is he dating Jane? I’m definitely intrigued. I loved Timeless Love, so I’m sure I would love this one as well.
Thanks for the giveaway.
Happy Holidays
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I’m looking forward to reading it to find out the answer to that question!
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Lol, yes! Every time I come to that part in a book, I’m thinking: No, Darcy! Don’t do it! 😳
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Thanks for the excerpt and giveaway. Enjoyed reading how Darcy’s setdown of Elizabeth is done in this modern story. Poor Lizzy to overhear such things said about her. I am also intrigued who this mystery person is that shows up turning Darcy’s world upside down, could it be Mr. Wickham? Can’t wait to read more!
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It all sounds very exciting, doesn’t it?
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I can’t even imagine how Elizabeth would forgive him for such a comment! And we know she can hold a grudge. It’s all uphill from here I suspect.
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I sure hope so! I can’t wait to see how it all plays out!
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Oh Darcy! not again… Thanks for the excerpt!! As an aspiring lawyer myself, I love anything set in the legal world. Excited to read your new book and congrats on the publication!
priscillateh@live.hk
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This sounds perfect for you then!
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Thanks, Priscilla! Hope you enjoy it!
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Oh my! Tantalizing excerpt! Home-schooled? Perfect! I have not yet found a modern variation that I love … but I’m thinking this could be the one.
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I really enjoy modern variations. Hope you enjoy this one!
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Thanks for the excerpt and giveaway. Looking forward to reading it!
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Hope you get a chance to read it!
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Hey, this is one I have NOT read and it is drawing my attention with that classic beginning to the relationship between Elizabeth and Darcy. I would love to win a copy so please count me in this give away. Please and thank you.
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I would imagine it would be hard to find a variation you haven’t read yet! 😉
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I did go on Amazon and read the Sample so I now am ready for the rest of the story! Classic beginning.
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I can’t wait to see what you think of it!
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Wow, sounds like a fun read! I love moderns, and love the idea of Elizabeth applying for an internship!
Thanks for offering a giveaway, would love to win!
Lorrq@hotmail.com
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I think it sounds fun, too! Hope you get a chance to read it.
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What intrigues me most in modern P&P stories is how the author peppers their story with angst.
I discussed this with a GR friend recently,and she quite rightly stated that angst was easier to create,in a very believable and realistic sense,in Regency stories.
To portray angst in these modern days,there is a huge temptation to favour a serious assault,kidnapping or other more violent experience for our beloved Elizabeth to deal with,usually at the hand of a husband/partner called Wickham.
So I’m looking forward to see how Ms O’Hara deals with this facet of the story.
Loved the excerpt….Darcy seems so high and mighty,looking forward to witnessing how the mighty shall fall!
Cheers!
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That’s really interesting, Mary! I’d never really thought about that. I’m going to have to look back over all the moderns I’ve read and consider this.
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Oh, this sounds like a good modern one. Since I had early dreams of being a lawyer, I could relate to this one.
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I did think of you when I read the summary!
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What an exciting sneak peek, Denise! I’m hooked, reel me in, please! If I’m not picked on 12/28, I’ll be purchasing the book on 12/29:)
Thank you!
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Happy reading!
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As soon as I realised that the office door was still open, I thought “Someone get the man a shovel. He’s about to dig himself into a huge hole!” Some of my favourite variations are set in times other than the Regency era and most of them are set in the present day. I’m guessing it must be quite hard for writers, in this kind of scenario, to set up the conflict without writing Darcy as a “sexist, misogynist dinosaur”, to quote Judi Dench’s M in Pierce Brosnan’s first James Bond film.
I definitely want to read more now, just to see how Darcy manages to get himself out of the aforesaid hole.
Thanks for the giveaway, ladies.
angmardee (at) hotmail (dot) com
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I was thinking the same thing! I can’t wait to see what happens.
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This looks like a good story. It is difficult, I’m sure, to write “not handsome enough to tempt me”, in present time, but your take is a good one and very believable. I will have to put this on my TBR list.
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It always is interesting to see how authors translate the insult into modern day.
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Oh boy, Darcy’s gonna be in some trouble! I love modern adaptations and P&P, and the law element is seriously sexy haha
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I agree with everything you said! 😉
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Burn….
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Ha ha!
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Thanks to everyone who stopped by to read the excerpt! The 3 winners are: Glynis, priscillateh, and darcybennett. Congrats and happy reading!
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Congratulations. Enjoy…I did.
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Glad to hear it, Sheila! I will be reading it soon.
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