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Book Spotlight: The Unexpected Miss Bennet by Patrice Sarath & Giveaway

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Lately my interest in Austen retellings has really been growing so you’ll probably start to see a few reviews of them here and there.  When The Unexpected Miss Bennet by Patrice Sarath, releasing on December 6, caught my eye I knew I wanted to read it.  My copy arrived the other day and I have to say that I really love the cover – it’s even more gorgeous in person.  I just adore the old fashioned feel to it.  Today I’m going to share with what the book is about and make sure to check out the giveaway at the end of the post as well!

 

About The Unexpected Miss Bennet by Patrice Sarath

Patrice Sarath’s charming Regency novel THE UNEXPECTED MISS BENNET tells the story of the sweet but rather unremarkable Miss Mary Bennet, the third of five Bennet daughters made famous in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.

Unlike her sisters, Mary Bennet is just short of pretty and though she is learned in Fordyce and more or less adept at playing the piano, few in society expect a respectable gentleman to court the third Bennet daughter. While she is shy and would much rather keep her nose in a book, a series of events raises a question that haunts Mary: will she meekly follow the path to spinsterhood set before her?

Determined that Mary should have a chance at happiness, the elder Bennet sisters scheme and plan to find her a proper gentleman. Lizzy invites Mary to visit at Pemberly in hopes that her sister will flourish. But only when Mary finally learns to strike out independently can she truly be accomplished in her own right. And in a family of extraordinary misses, ordinary Mary may turn out to be the most wholly unexpected of them all.

Read an excerpt
Pre-order The Unexpected Miss Bennet at Amazon US or Amazon Canada

 

About Patrice Sarath (from her website)

photo credit: Ben Van Dyke

I’m a writer and editor in Austin, Texas. My first novel, Gordath Wood, came out from Ace in the summer of 2008, and the sequel, Red Gold Bridge, in 2009. Gordath Wood is hard to categorize. It’s fantasy but with only a touch of magic to it. It has romance, but is not a romance (a very different beast). It has a murder-kidnap mystery in it. Basically it has all of the elements of books I like to read. And although everybody has different tastes, I am betting that more than a few of you also like your books the same way I do — shaken and stirred. So if you like fantasy-mystery-romance novels, this one’s for you.

Oh yeah, it also has horses in it. Lots and lots of horses.

Like most writers, I have a day job. In my case, I am a business and industry editor for Hoover’s, Inc. During the day, I write about the mundane and yet still fascinating world of business and commerce, specifically in the financial and construction industries. At night, I switch hats and write fantasy and science fiction.

Patrice’s website
Patrice’s blog
Find Patrice on Facebook

 

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

I have one copy of The Unexpected Miss Bennet by Patrice Sarath to share with my readers.  To enter…

  • For 1 entry leave me a comment entering the giveaway.
  • For 2 entries, follow my blog. If you already do, thank you, and please let me know in your comment so I can pass the extra entry on to you as well.
  • For 3 entries, blog or tweet this giveaway and spread the word.

This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only (no PO boxes) and I will draw for the winner on Saturday, November 26/11.  Good luck everyone!

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Comments

  5. I agree the cover is really charming. Mary’s story sounds like one that needs to be told. Thanks for the giveaway.
    I’m a Google follower.
    lcborwer40(at)gmail(dot)com

  8. Oh, this sounds wonderful and I am so glad that you will be getting the chance to read it soon. I would love to get that chance too and so I will enter your giveaway for sure!

    zibilee(at)figearo(dot)net

  11. No need to enter me, but I love the cover of this one too and I’m looking forward to reading it. I’ll post your giveaway in my sidebar as usual.

  12. I’d love to read this one! Thanks for another great giveaway –
    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

  18. I think a story about the retiring Mary would be great! Thanks for the info and chance to win.
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

  20. So I think I’m late to the party on the Austen re-telling books. I have not read any of them; maybe because it’s been so long since I read the real thing. One of these days I’ll pick one up; do you recommend one author in particular?

  24. I would like to find out how this ends up – especially with 5 sisters involved .

    amhengst at verizon dot net

  27. These Austen retreads are not my cup of tea (though I did read the zombie one) but I’m always amazed at how MANY there are. You could read these for a very long time!

  31. I never thought of Mary as a heroine in a story but it sounds like a good one.
    mce1011 AT aol DOT com

  35. 1. I love Jane Austen and P&P! I think a novel from Mary’s perspective would be great. I’ve enjoyed a lot of books based off of Austen’s P&P. I love the cover too!
    2. I have been following this blog for a while, but just now signed up with my email.
    3. I sent a tweet out about the contest. Please follow me if you’d like to: phantomphan114.

  40. Thank you for offering this book contest. I would like to enter my name in the draw. Thanks!

    pboylecharley(at)hotmail(dot)com

  42. I love Jane Austen’s books and am not always impressed by the spin-offs but this one sounds wonderful…and not just because ‘Mr. Darcy’ isn’t part of the title!

    I’m looking forward to your thoughts on this book.
    Thank you for offering a giveaway copy!

    I’m a faithful follower of your wonderful blog!
    Aimala127(at)gmail(dot)com

  44. I am glad to see Mary Bennet getting some limelight here. I always felt sorry for her with two beautiful older sisters and two lively younger ones.

    I am already a GFC follower: Sophia Rose.

    Thank you for the interview- loved the idea of that fantasy mystery romance BTW- and for the giveaway opportunity.

  45. a new author – yay! It is always I treat to read a new work and I enjoy stories ab out Mary so winning this would be a double delight!