A surfeit of lovers! Reading and writing stories in two time periods…
When I was quite young I read a now slightly forgotten classic called “Green Darkness” by Anya Seaton and ever since then, I have had a real soft spot for novels which feature more than one time period. I have loved various others including “Possession” by A. S. Byatt and the novels of Lauren Willig and Kate Morton. I must confess that I am probably the only person left in the English speaking world (and beyond) who has not read “Outlander”, but I have it and have been looking forward to it for ages. Basically, there is something about a story crossing eras and stepping over the stones of time, that just pulls me in.
This fascination is reflected in “The Elizabeth Papers”. I have tried to write two stories that play along together as my modern day protagonists discover the long hidden secrets of the past, whilst having a few romantic dramas of their own along the way. What is the Jane Austen element? Well, the long hidden secrets just happen to be those of Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy. And the quest for answers take the modern day actors to twenty-first century Pemberley. They discover truths about the Darcys and about themselves while they are there. So, the present and the past sort of run into each other.
One of the things I enjoyed most about the book, was relating the Regency story of Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth, to my modern story. I didn’t intend the modern players to be present-day reflections of everyone’s favourite couple, but they do have some characteristics in common. Each time I changed eras, I found myself mentally changing costume to get into the zone of whichever era I was writing about. Off with the bonnet and on with the Levis, or visa versa.
What is it about crossing epochs that so appeals? Well, I am a romantic and a historian and I think that is the killer combination here. The idea that the events of the past can turn up and touch us when we least expect it is at the heart of the books I have highlighted here, and, I hope, The Elizabeth Papers too.
Do you have any favourite time hopping novels that I have not mentioned? I would love to hear about them. Thank you to Pam for hosting me on today’s blog tour stop – and good luck to all those who enter the giveaway!
“It is settled between us already, that we are to be the happiest couple in the world.” —Jane Austen, Pride & Prejudice
Charlie Haywood is a London-based private investigator who has made his own fortune—on his own terms. Charming, cynical, and promiscuous, he never expected to be attracted to Evie Pemberton, an emerging and independent-minded artist living with the aftermath of tragedy. But when he is hired to investigate her claims to a one hundred and fifty year old trust belonging to the eminent Darcy family, he is captivated.
Together they become entwined in a tale of love, loss, and mystery tracing back to the grand estate of Pemberley, home to Evie’s nineteenth century ancestors, Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy.
How could Evie know that in 1817 Elizabeth Darcy began a secret journal? What started as an account of a blissful life came to reflect a growing unease. Was the Darcy marriage perfect or was there betrayal and deception at its heart?
Can Evie and Charlie unearth the truth in the letters of Fitzwilliam Darcy or within the walls of present-day Pemberley? What are the elusive Elizabeth papers and why did Elizabeth herself want them destroyed?
Buy the book: Amazon
Author Bio:
Jenetta James is the nom de plume of a lawyer, writer, mother and taker-on of too much. 
She grew up in Cambridge and read history at Oxford University where she was a scholar and president of the Oxford University History Society. After graduating, she took to the law and now practises full time as a barrister. Over the years she has lived in France, Hungary and Trinidad as well as her native England. Jenetta currently lives in London with her husband and children where she enjoys reading, laughing and playing with Lego. Suddenly Mrs. Darcy is her first novel.
Links:
Blog: http://jenettajames.merytonpress.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jenettajameswriter
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JenettaJames
GIVEAWAY!
Moonlightreader is not responsible for this giveaway.
Must be 18 years old to enter.
The Elizabeth Papers Blog Tour Schedule:
5/30: Guest Post & Giveaway at My Jane Austen Book Club
5/31: Excerpt & Giveaway at Romance Novel Giveaways
6/1: Review at Tomorrow is Another Day
6/1: Guest Post & Giveaway at Liz’s Reading Life
6/2: Review at From Pemberley to Milton
6/3: Guest Post at Moonlight Reader
6/4: Review at Babblings of a Bookworm
6/5: Review at Just Jane 1813
6/6: Guest Post & Giveaway at Austenesque Reviews
6/7: Excerpt & Giveaway at So Little Time…
6/8: Character Interview at More Agreeably Engaged
6/9: Author Interview at Savvy Verse & Wit
6/10: Review at Diary of an Eccentric
6/10: Excerpt & Giveaway at Skipping Midnight
6/11: Review at My Kids Led Me Back to Pride and Prejudice
6/12: Review at Margie’s Must Reads
6/13: Excerpt & Giveaway at Best Sellers and Best Stellars
***Text and images were provided by the author.***
Great minds think like, Jenetta 🙂 I, too, love Anya Seton. “Dragonwyck” has one of the best antagonists I’ve ever read. I’m looking forward to reading your newest!
Thanks Karen! I also love Katherine by Anya Seaton – but that is a straight historical story rather than a time switchers. She was a great writer. Thank you for your kind words, Jenetta
“First Impressions: A Novel of Old Books, Unexpected Love, and Jane Austen” by Charlie Lovett was an incredible read. It has a mystery, 2 time periods, AND Jane Austen!
Okay – never heard of it – MUST read it! I’m off to amazon now… thank you for the tip off. Best wishes, Jenetta
Jenetta, if you do end up reading it, I’d love to know what you think of it.
The only time travel (I think) that I have ever read in Austen was “The Man Who Loved Jane Austen” by Sally Smith O’Rourke. And I am an unabashed reader of Outlander series. I was officially pinked by Lauren Willig’s “Pink Carnation” books a few years back reading all she had written to that point one after another. I think “The Elizabeth Papers” is comparable to that series the most. Neat how you both are attorneys from prestigious colleges!
That is very flattering, thank you:-) I will look up The Man Who Loved Jane Austen – I’ve not come across that one
I have read First Impressions by Lovett, and you are not the only one never to have read “Outlander”, i Have never watched it either
I have it on my kindle but have never got around to it – one day…
I hope this book makes it to Pam’s fave list! I’m also one of the last who hasn’t read “Outlander,” but Pam loves it.
I have every intention of reading it Suzan:-)