Dangerous to Know: Jane Austen's Rakes & Gentlemen Rogues Genres: Austenesque Format: eARC
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"One has all the goodness, and the other all the appearance of it." —Jane Austen
Jane Austen’s masterpieces are littered with unsuitable gentlemen—Willoughby, Wickham, Churchill, Crawford, Tilney, Elliot, et al.—adding color and depth to her plots but often barely sketched. Have you never wondered about the pasts of her rakes, rattles, and gentlemen rogues? Surely, there's more than one side to their stories.
It is a universal truth, we are captivated by smoldering looks, daring charms ... a happy-go-lucky, cool confidence. All the while, our loyal confidants are shouting on deaf ears, “He is a cad—a brute—all wrong!” But is that not how tender hearts are broken...by loving the undeserving? How did they become the men Jane Austen created?
In this romance anthology, eleven Austenesque authors expose the histories of Austen’s anti-heroes. "Dangerous to Know: Jane Austen’s Rakes & Gentlemen Rogues" is a titillating collection of Georgian era short stories—a backstory or parallel tale off-stage of canon—whilst remaining steadfast to the characters we recognize in Austen’s great works.
Here are a few quick lines from a sampling of the authors to whet your appetite:
We arranged to fight our duel at that place where all the most elegant duels were fought: the secluded gardens near the Circus, accessed by the Gravel Walk; naturally, the occasion was to be held at dawn. I had been in my chair, subject to the shavings and combings and clippings of old Morley until at last, I cried out, “’Tis enough man! I am not gone to my wedding day!”
Morley frowned at me, his dark eyes sharp with disapproval. “Your wedding day? That is not a day I shall likely live to see so I must keep at my art on these, more common, events.”—Captain Frederick Tilney, For Mischief’s Sake, Amy D’Orazio
I smiled drowsily as she caressed my chest. “I love you, Clémence.”
Her fingers stilled as I closed my eyes in pleasurable exhaustion and drifted towards sleep.
She did not reply. —Mr. George Wickham, A Wicked Game, Katie Oliver
Yes, fellows, since you press me so hard, yes, I confess it, Cupid's darts have winged me. If you must have the story, pass me that bottle first. I can lift it with my left hand without paining my collarbone excessively. Now, you may not like what you are about to hear. You think lightning will never strike you. But let me tell you, last year on Basingstoke Down, I was neither looking to fall in love, nor looking for someone to fall in love with me, when all unawares—but stay, I must go further back… —Mr. Tom Bertram, The Address of Frenchwoman, Lona Manning
What say you? Are you in? Everyone may be attracted to a bad boy…even temporarily...but heaven help us if we marry one. "Dangerous to Know: Jane Austen’s Rakes and Gentlemen Rogues" will be released in print and ebook mid-November 2017.
I am not a big fan of anthologies, they’re hit or miss with me but how on earth could I say no to Jane Austen’s Rakes & Gentlemen Rogues? Yeah, I simply could not! As a matter of fact, I don’t think I have ever turned down an Austen Anthology. #Austenite ♥♥♥♥ Well needless to say, Christina and Crew do it again! They take our favorite scoundrels and give them new life! I mean really, who here doesn’t LIVE to LOVE a bad boy? I even feel Darcy is somewhat of a bad boy, a Gentlemen Rogue if you will. I know, I know, I know, these stories (although he has a cameo in a few) are not about him, but what is life without Mr. Darcy after all? Sorry back to the Rakes, these short stories were nothing short of amazing! I loved them all but I really came to love Colonel Fitzwilliam all over again. I had so much fun reading these titillating tales and finding redemption in all of our rakes! These stories were sweet, sexy and so so satisfying! I can’t wait to see what else Christina and her band of Janeites will have for us next!
Grand Prize #2
Follow our “Dangerous to Know: Jane Austen’s #RakesAndGentlemenRogues” Blog Tour and comment on each stop to be eligible for #RakesAndGentlemenRogues Pleasures prize pack: ‘Pride & Prejudice’ Print, autographed by Colin Firth & Jennifer Ehle; Bingley’s Teas (Willoughby & The Colonel); Jane Austen playing cards; set of 6 Austen postcards; and ‘The Compleat Housewife’ notecards set. (All guest comments will be entered in drawing to win. Comment at each site to increase your odds.) Contest ends midnight, December 30, 2017. One “Grand Prize #2 winner” will be announced January 2, 2018.
