sweet happily ever afters

Bei der Tanzprobe (at the Dance Recital) by Leopold Schmutzler

Bei der Tanzprobe (at the Dance Recital), signiert Leopold Schmutzler, Öl auf Leinwand. Leopold Schmutzler, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

If you would like to listen to this post, you can do so on YouTube at this link.

Today, I’ve a Story Connections post that is a bit different than most, because I’ve got some book news to share before I get to the picture and a story excerpt part of the post.

You see, I have a new book available for pre-order, but there is a short window of time, during which you can get the book early and for free. All you have to do is be subscribed to one of my reader communities, whether on Patreon, Substack, or my blog.

If you are already a subscriber to one of those places, you should have received an email, or a notification via an app, on either Friday or Saturday with a link to where you could download a copy of None So Accomplished as Mary. It’s the sequel to How to Marry an Accomplished Lady, and it is part of my Sweet Extras collection.

Sweet Extras are always offered as free downloads to my reader community for a period of time before the release of the book. This time, you have until March 31 to download your copy.

So, if you missed that email, or if you’d like to subscribe to one of my reader communities, you can find that post here: on my blog under the Subscribers Only Post menu option, on Substack in the Substack chat, or on Patreon in the eBook Downloads Collection. You have just over half a week left before the download link expires.

If you prefer to purchase your books from a favourite eBook retailer, you can pre-order None So Accomplished as Mary here. Release day is April 4, 2025.

If you’ve already read the book and are the book rating and reviewing sort, early reviews/ratings can be placed on the book’s Bookbub page here or on Goodreads here.

Just one more thing before we get to the picture and excerpt part.

None So Accomplished as Mary is best enjoyed when read AFTER you’ve read How to Marry an Accomplished Lady, which is in my Sweet Possibilities collection. And that story is best enjoyed AFTER you’ve read An Accomplished Lady (of the best sort), which is a Teatime Tale.

In case you need to pick up either of those previous books, I’ve added a 50% off coupon on them at Smashwords until April 5, 2025. The coupon will be applied automatically at checkout. You can find How to Marry… here, and An Accomplished Lady… here.

Are you still with me? 🙂 I know. That’s a lot of info, but now, let’s look at that painting.

I selected this image because, as you will see, None So Accomplished as Mary begins at a ball, and the ladies in the painting are preparing for a ball and having a fabulously fun time. That attitude matches with this book perfectly, since it continues the light-hearted, feel-good romance mood established in the two preceding books in this trio.

In this story, Colonel Fitzwilliam is dead set against knowingly falling prey to a matchmakers scheme. However, that doesn’t mean he can’t unknowingly be captured by a bit of cunning and a tantalizing riddle to solve.

The chapter below takes place just as such an entertaining journey to happily ever after for Mary and the colonel is about to begin.

Enjoy!

It’s a new release kind of day!

GEt your copy here

Yesterday was the day that this book went live on all retailers. The only places where I’m still waiting to see the book listed are Hoopla (which always takes forever) and Everand.

If you’re a subscription reader, the book is available to read “for free” with your Kobo Plus subscription, and it has been added to the Repository on Patreon for paid members to read.

FYI: There are changes being made to membership things at Patreon. The official reveal of all that will be coming soon, but for now, just know that all paid members have been given access to read this new release and the Teatime Tales prequel as part of their membership benefits. And memberships currently begin at $1 USD.

If you’re a paperback reader, both the large and regular print paperback editions are available on Amazon.

I got my copies of it just a few days ago, and they turned out very pretty. 🙂

How to Marry an Accomplished Lady, just like it’s prequel An Accomplished Lady (of the best sort), is not an angsty book. It’s not supposed to be. It’s more of a romcom — full of entertaining antics and enjoyment. That doesn’t mean that there isn’t anyone trying to stop Darcy from marrying Elizabeth. Oh no, there are a few of those characters, who simply add to the drama that might just drive Darcy to distraction as he moves from determined to ask Elizabeth to marry him, to betrothed, to finally married.

And there are hints at what you might expect in the short sequel to this story, which will be a Mary and the Colonel novelette. (And which I need to get back to writing after the holidays).

If you’d like to see what some of the advance review copy readers are saying about this book, here are a few sound bites from the reviews I’ve gotten via my Booksprout Review Team.

If you haven’t gotten your copy of this book yet then click here to find it at your favourite retailer.

Please feel free to share news of this new release with your friends! You can always tag me on FB (@LeenieBrown) or IG (@leeniebbooks) and I’ll give it a like (as long as Meta lets me know about the tag — you know how social media can be 😉 ).

Have a great weekend! Happy reading!

<3 Leenie

The College of Physicians (Microcosm of London Plate 020)

Thomas Rowlandson (1756–1827) and Augustus Charles Pugin (1762–1832) (after) John Bluck (fl. 1791–1819), Joseph Constantine Stadler (fl. 1780–1812), Thomas Sutherland (1785–1838), J. Hill, and Harraden (aquatint engravers)[1], Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

If you would prefer to listen to this post, you can do that on YouTube at this link.

Annabelle (aka Belle) lost her heart to a young man who was training to be a physician. Unfortunately, her father is more than a bit full of himself. He’s a narcissist of the first order, and a physician as a son-in-law will not do. So, he makes sure to separate Belle from Fritz and hopes to see Belle married to someone more suitable. However, six years later, Belle is still unmarried, and her father gives up hope. Therefore, when his sister in Bath asks to have Belle join her as her companion, he’s more than willing to send her away. Little does he (or Belle) know that Aunt Augusta’s physician is Fritz.

This story, His Irreplaceable Belle, is an original sweet Regency romance with a Persuasion flavour and is book four in my Touches of Austen series.

Below is an excerpt from chapter 2.

Enjoy!

Watercolor Flowers

Images for the above video were sourced through Depositphotos. Video background was created using Animoto and Canva.

I decided to share the images for this post in a bit of a different fashion today, and you have some options. You can press play and listen to the rest of this post being read to you, or you can press play and turn off the sound to see the images before you read the post below. It’s totally up to you how you wish to enjoy it.

While Georgiana’s sketchbook in Protecting Miss Darcy contains only sketches, I couldn’t resist sharing these pretty watercolor flowers that I found, so that, just like Lily (Alfred’s niece), you could “page” through them.

In the excerpt below, you’ll hear a bit about an incident involving a flower and bee and, hopefully, you’ll enjoy watching Alfred come to a surprising conclusion.

Im Trauerhause/In the House of Mourning (Fragment) , Walter Firle

If you prefer, you can listen to this post on YouTube at this link.

What if Mr. Darcy was engaged to his cousin Anne?

What if she died before they could make their engagement public?

What if Mr. Darcy had only just met Elizabeth and had begun to feel attracted to her when he hears that his Anne has died?

Well, those are some of the questions that prompted the writing of Mr. Darcy’s Comfort.

This story and it’s sequel both spend most of their time in a setting where sorrow stands at the door and even comes in … unbidden … to sit for a while.

Grief and sorrow are most certainly present in the scene from Mr. Darcy’s Comfort that I’m sharing today, since it takes place, in part, in a room, where loved ones are sitting vigil, much like is happening in the image above.

An Excerpt from Chapter 4 of Mr. Darcy’s Comfort

…“How is your heart?” Richard asked as Darcy threw back the covers and swung his legs over the edge of the bed.

“It aches a great deal more than the rest of me.”

“Will you sit watch?”

Darcy nodded. “I should like to. Will Aunt Catherine allow it? I am not female.”

“She has allowed Father, so I am certain she will allow you to take a turn as well.” Richard rang for Darcy’s man as Darcy made use of the chamber pot before finding his robe and taking a seat near the fire to enjoy another small amount of port. “However, you have been ill, and we would not wish for you to become so again, so your activity might be limited. Do not push yourself beyond what you are able.”

Darcy heard the worry that lay beneath the slightly severe tone Richard used. “I will do my best,” he agreed.

Richard smiled. “I shall see that you do.” He nodded to Darcy’s man and made his way to the door. “I shall see you in the breakfast room. You must eat.” He stood at the door and waited until Darcy had given his agreement that he would eat before leaving the room.

~*~*~

After having eaten, Darcy made his way to Anne’s small sitting room. He paused outside the door for a moment, blew out a breath, drew another, and though his heart would not remain beating at the pace he wished it would but instead insisted on increasing its rhythm, he stepped into the room. Anne lay peacefully at one end. She looked no less fragile in death than she had in life.

“Aunt Catherine,” he said softly. He knew that though Anne looked as if she were sleeping, she was not, but still, he kept his voice low as speaking any louder seemed wrong.

His aunt looked up from her work of tying black ribbons around small packages. “I have one for you, Darcy.” She searched her basket and pulled out a larger item. It was wrapped in lavender cloth and tied with the same black ribbon she was using on her current project. “I selected a few items for you that I know she cherished.” She held the gift out to him. “She is still beautiful, is she not?”

Darcy turned his head to look once again at Anne. “Yes,” he answered. Anne’s was not a classical beauty but one of delicacy like a fine piece of china. “I have come to spend some time with her.”

Lady Catherine rose from her chair. “You would have been good to her.” She placed a hand on his arm. “And she would have made you happy. I know it.”

Darcy smiled. “I believe you are right.”

She sighed loudly as if lifting some heavy object. “You shall never be my son.” She patted his arm. “It is a pity.”

“Indeed, it is,” Darcy agreed. It would not have been an easy task being her son, but he could have managed. “Mother would be disappointed, would she not?”

Lady Catherine patted his arm again and nodded. Her lips were firmly pressed together, and her eyes were watery. He knew she was not the sort of lady to allow her emotions to be aired before others. Therefore, he respectfully looked away.

“Mother has likely met her, and they are having tea while Mother shares stories about you.”

To his surprise, he found himself wrapped in his aunt’s arms. It was something that had not happened since just after his mother had died.

He squeezed her tightly. “I may never be your son, but I shall always care for you,” he whispered. “I promised Mother I would.”

“You are a good boy,” she replied. Then, she straightened herself, gathered her basket, and left him alone in the room.

Darcy walked over to where Anne lay and studied her face. “Your mother is going to miss you. She already does.”

He and Anne had spoken about how Lady Catherine would adjust to Anne’s being in Derbyshire after they married. They knew that, eventually, Lady Catherine would come to live with them. Darcy had planned to have Richard see to Rosings until it might be needed for a second son of his and Anne’s to manage it.

But now? He blew out a breath. Things were different now that Anne was gone. The fate of Rosings would lie in the hands of his uncle, Lord Matlock, according to the provision in Anne’s father’s will. However, there was time for all that to be decided.

“Your mother can still live with me if she so chooses,” he assured Anne. “I will not cast her aside unless she becomes too demanding. Then there is that cottage we had discussed as being perfect for her.” He smiled down at Anne. “What shall I do without you? I am not good at conversing with ladies. How shall I ever convince someone to take me on?”…