Darcy tamped down a memory of a recent ball and the lady whose laugh and spirit haunted him at the most unexpected times. “I do not wish to be hunted, yet…” he continued, his voice low, “I believe I would like to be found.”
(from Mendacity & Mourning)
J.L. Ashton knocked it out of the park with her second variation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Her latest novel, Mendacity & Mourning, was so very different from other variations I’ve read. From the mysterious death of Anne de Bourgh that has Mr. Darcy known around Meryton as the “Grieving Groom,” to the odious (and odorous) Mr. Collins as a gossipmonger who causes all sorts of trouble for the Darcys, Fitzwilliams, and Bennets, to the bawdy humor of Colonel Fitzwilliam, and even a menagerie, I devoured this book every chance I could get.
In the midst of Darcy’s guilt and grief over his cousin, he plans to find himself a wife. He visits Netherfield for a bit of downtime, and there he meets the family of his friend Bingley’s beloved Jane. Darcy is instantly captivated by Elizabeth Bennet but believes her promised to another. Elizabeth is confused by Darcy’s attentions toward her, believing him to be mourning the cousin who was supposed to be his wife. This is just the beginning of a whirlwind of gossip, scandals, and misunderstandings that conspire to keep them apart.
Ashton really shakes things up with her portrayal of the de Bourghs and Mr. Collins, and I enjoyed watching it all unfold. Although a simple heart-to-heart conversation between our dear couple could have sped things up a bit, I was too busy laughing at everything else going on to care. The book blurb describes Mendacity & Mourning as a “slightly unhinged romantic comedy,” and it certainly is that and more! I don’t want to say too much because you really just need to read it and go with the flow, and half the fun is having no idea where the story will take you next. I can’t wait to read more from Ashton in the future.
****
About Mendacity & Mourning
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a gossip in possession of misheard tales and desirous of both a good wife and an eager audience need only descend upon the sitting rooms of a small country town in order to find satisfaction. And with a push from Lady Catherine, Mr. Collins sets alight a series of misunderstandings, rumours, and lies that create obstacles to a romance between Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet.
This slightly unhinged romantic comedy follows Darcy as he sets off to find himself a wife and instead finds himself pulled into the mire of his aunt’s machinations and his own fascination with Elizabeth, whom he believes betrothed to another. As Meryton judges him the grieving groom of Anne de Bourgh and a caddish dallier with the hearts of others, Darcy must ferret out the truth behind his cousin’s disappearance, protect his sister from the fretful fate of all Fitzwilliam females, and, most importantly, win Elizabeth’s heart.
Check out Mendacity & Mourning on Goodreads | Amazon
****
About the Author
Jan Ashton didn’t meet Jane Austen until she was in her late teens, but in a happy coincidence, she shares a similarity of name with the author and celebrates her birthday on the same day Pride & Prejudice was first published. Sadly, she’s yet to find any Darcy and Elizabeth candles on her cake, but she does own the action figures.
Like so many Austen fans, Jan was an early and avid reader with a vivid imagination and a well-used library card. Her family’s frequent moves around the U.S and abroad encouraged her to think of books and their authors as reliable friends. It took a history degree and another decade or two for her to start imagining variations on Pride & Prejudice, and another decade—filled with career, marriage, kids, and a menagerie of pets—to start writing them. Today, in between writing Austen variations, Jan lives in the Chicago area, eats out far too often with her own Mr. Darcy, and enjoys membership in the local and national chapters of the Jane Austen Society of North America.
Mendacity & Mourning is her second book with Meryton Press. She published A Searing Acquaintance in 2016.
Connect with Jan via Facebook | Pinterest | Twitter | Blog.
****
To follow the tour, click the banner below
Disclosure: I received Mendacity & Mourning from Meryton Press for review.
The more I read about this book, the more desperate I am to read it! I have been trying to win a copy (very trying I’m afraid!) But I may just have to concede defeat and buy it 😱. I do love a comedy and a comedy with Darcy and Elizabeth as main characters? Well that is perfect. Thanks for this post.
LikeLike
If you didn’t luck out with the giveaway, it definitely is worth buying. I don’t think you’ll regret the purchase! 😉
LikeLike
This book sounds delightful!!! A comedy of misunderstandings,mischief and the ensuing mayhem,no doubt,that follows in its wake!!!
Poor Darcy!! Can’t wait to read this and discover the delights for myself!!! 😉
Best of luck with your book,Jan! Hope it’s received well by the JAFF community.
LikeLike
Thank you, Mary! Love your alliteration of misunderstandings, mischief and mayhem!
LikeLike
I hope you love it as much as I did, Mary!
LikeLike
Sounds like a story that would be right up my alley. What a splendid review.
LikeLike
Thank you! I hope you get a chance to read it!
LikeLike
I also loved this book! I would try to read a little bit of it before going to sleep thinking that it would cause me to drift off to dreamland with some amusing happy thoughts in my mind. Unfortunately, the story is so engaging and the humor is so delicious, that instead of drifting off to a sweet slumber, I would stay up until the wee hours of the morning, unable to stop reading. It’s so good that I’ve already read through it twice!
LikeLike
Hello, my fellow Jan! Sorry I kept you up, but I’m so happy to hear I made you laugh!
LikeLike
That’s fantastic, Jan! I know what you mean about this book keeping you up late!
LikeLike
Anna, what a warm, thoughtful and lovely review! I’m so happy you enjoyed the humor in my “slightly unhinged romantic comedy.” You had an early peek at the cover, and I’m thrilled the story lived up to the love and quirks of the artwork! Thank you!
LikeLike
My pleasure! All the praise is well deserved. 🙂
LikeLike
Love your review Anna! Can’t wait to read it myself!!!!
LikeLike
I hope you love it, Carole!
LikeLike
Sounds fun
LikeLike
It was!
LikeLike
Loved this book and reviewed it. 5 stars.
LikeLike
Glad to see you loved it as much as I did, Sheila!
LikeLike
Another ringing endorsement! I’ve got quite a pile at the moment but I have already ordered the paperback of this book & am looking forward to it:-)
LikeLike
I hope you love it as much as I did, Jenetta!
LikeLike
Well deserved five stars, plus the bonus of reading one of Anna’s fab reviews. She really knows how to write them. Thanks, Jan and Anna!
LikeLike
Thanks for the kind words, Suzan!
LikeLike
Great review Anna, I loved it. 🙂 So many recommendations from my favorite bloggers and reviewers, I’m definitely putting it on my TBR pile (or mountain).
Thanks for the entertaining tour Jan. Congratulations. 🙂
LikeLike
I know what you mean about TBR mountain! Hope you get a chance to read it.
LikeLike
Would love to grab it as well. Highly unlikely though!
LikeLike
I hope it becomes available where you are, Mystica!
LikeLike
Hi Anna, this looks like a goodie. Please bring this over to Books You Loved: July so everyone can see it. Cheers
LikeLike
Thanks, Carole! I added the link. 🙂
LikeLike
Sounds like another fun one. I’ll have to check this one out.
LikeLike
I bet you’d enjoy this one!
LikeLike
Great review, Anna! Mendacity and Mourning has had an amazing blog tour 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks, Karen! Yes, it certainly did!
LikeLike
[…] Mendacity & Mourning by J.L. Ashton […]
LikeLike