Meryton Press is happy to release C. P. Odom’s latest novel, A Chance Eavesdropping. It has been a long time coming due to various real-life impediments, but it is here now, and we hope everyone enjoys it. C. P. is a much loved author, and he has another book in the works. Yes, you heard it here. Georgiana’s Friend will be coming in the future, but for now, let’s get back to A Chance Eavesdropping.
Blurb
Can eavesdropping change Elizabeth Bennet’s future?
What is a young lady of the Regency to do when she overhears her own mother plotting against her? When the plot involves matching the lovely Elizabeth Bennet with her unpleasant cousin Mr. Collins, sudden and drastic steps are needed.
Elizabeth’s life is also complicated by the wealthy and haughty Mr. Darcy, a guest of Mr. Bingley, the neighbourhood’s most eligible bachelor and her sister Jane’s suitor. The prideful Mr. Darcy soon departs Hertfordshire along with the Bingley party. But Mr. Bingley returns for Jane’s hand, ignoring the opposition of his sisters.
When Elizabeth’s summer excursion to the North with her aunt and uncle leads to further surprises, including a chance encounter with the high and mighty Mr. Darcy, the travellers accept an invitation to lodge at his estate. Meanwhile, her sister Lydia causes a calamity that may destroy the reputation of the Bennet family.
The gentlemen band together to search for Wickham and Lydia, but can the Bennets’ good name be restored even if the errant couple is found? Is Darcy’s attraction to this country lass with neither fortune nor connections stronger than the voices in his head? Can the mere infraction of eavesdropping truly lead to such wildly unforeseen events?
From the Author
As with most Pride and Prejudice variations, this novel flowed from the idea that the plotting between Mrs. Bennet and Mr. Collins to match him with Elizabeth was overheard in the Longbourn garden. Given Elizabeth’s feisty character, she could either ignore the plotting and let the cards fall where they might or she might take action to thwart the conspiracy. Naturally, I figured she’d take action, and the events in A Chance Eavesdropping flow from that decision.
Buy Link
Excerpt
Since Mr. Collins planned to depart Longbourn early on Saturday morning, he made his farewells the previous night following dinner and before the ladies retired for the night. Mama was her usual garrulous self, expounding well beyond politeness and cordiality in her well-wishing of her future son-in-law who wore an artificial smile as he waited for a break in the conversation.
“My dear madam,” Mr. Collins said when Mama paused for breath, “I cannot wait to again take advantage of your gracious hospitality and see my betrothed once more when I return. Miss Mary has made me the happiest of men by her kind acceptance of my modest offer of marriage, and I hope I am not flattering myself unjustifiably when I say that this happy event will heal the breach between the two branches of the family.”
“Oh, I believe that goes without saying, my good sir!” Papa said, giving Elizabeth a sly wink. Her mother and Mr. Collins nodded happily to each other, believing the head of the family had just stated his patriarchal agreement with his future son-in-law. Only Elizabeth was aware that her father’s comment had two interpretations, the other being that Mr. Collins was indeed “flattering himself unjustifiably.” But she curbed her tongue while her face hid her inner amusement.
*****
Something is brewing, but what? Tell us what you think in the comments.
Giveaway
Meryton Press will be giving away two eBooks of A Chance Eavesdropping. We would love to have your share in the conversation so please let us know what you think about the excerpt, the blurb, or send some love to the author. We want to hear from you. The giveaway is worldwide and will end at midnight, Thursday, the 29th, 2023. Good luck to everyone and thank you for stopping by.
Other Books by C. P. Odom
A Most Civil Proposal, Pride, Prejudice, & Secrets, Consequences, Perilous Siege, A Covenant of Marriage, and Determination, Skirmish & Scandal are available on Amazon. Most are also available in Audiobook format. The Determination Audiobook should be coming soon.
Sophia
HURRAH! CP Odom is back with yet another excellent book! I truly hope to win a copy of this book since I have listened/read more times than I will admit to his other books on both kindle and audio. Congratulations on the publication on a new book, CP Odom! Can’t wait to read the next one! Please enter me in the giveaway
Meryton Press
I think we are all happy have another CP Odom book. It’s great hearing you have read and/or listened to his other books numerous times. That is music to an author’s ears. Good luck in the giveaway.
C. P. (Colin) Odom
Thanks for your interest, Sophia. I hope you enjoy it.
Colin
Kelly Miller
Congratulations and best wishes for the success of your new release, Colin! 🙂
Meryton Press
Hi Kelly. Thanks for stopping by and supporting Colin.
C. P. (Colin Odom)
Hi Kelly,
The books are getting harder to write as I get older. But when I consider the alternative . . .
Anyway, thanks for your interest.
Colin
Robin G.
What could be brewing? Thank you for the excerpt and the giveaway. Best wishes and congrats on your new novel!
Meryton Press
What indeed? That is a good question. Thanks for commenting and good luck.
C. P. (Colin Odom)
Hi Robin,
Well, considering Elizabeth’s feisty nature, some kind of mischievousness must be brewing! Thanks for stopping by.
Colin
Jennie Newbrand
This sounds great! Based on the excerpt it seems that Elizabeth has successfully avoided Mr. Collins’s proposal, but having read some of his other books, I have no doubt that a lot of exciting things will be happening as the story progresses. Please enter me in the giveaway!
Meryton Press
You are definitely entered in the giveaway. Thanks for visiting, Jennie, and we all hope that Elizabeth has avoided Mr. Collin’s proposal!
C. P. (Colin Odom)
Thanks for your interest, Jennie. Good luck with the giveaway.
Colin
Heather Dreith
I am intrigued…can’t wait to read more!
Meryton Press
We hope you get to read more soon, Heather. Thanks for dropping by.
C. P. (Colin Odom)
Hi Heather,
I hope you enjoy what I wrote when you read more!
Colin
Linda
Looking forward to reading another great story from CP Odom!
Meryton Press
We are glad to hear it, Linda. Good luck.
C. P. (Colin Odom)
Hi Linda,
Thanks for having read some of my previous efforts. I hope this one pleases you.
Colin
Jan Hahn
Will Mr. Bennet rescue Mary from Mr. Collins? And does she want to be rescued? Colin’s plots always prove surprising. Congratulations on your new book!
Meryton Press
I agree with you on Colin’s plots always being surprising. It will be interesting to see if Mary wants to be rescued. Thanks for supporting Colin, Jan.
Ceri
Hmm. So it looks Elizabeth managed to divert Mr C to her sister, so if that was easily resolved I’m guessing that her eavesdropping leads to other events. It will be interesting to find out what. All the best with this book!
C. P. (Colin Odom)
Hi Jan,
I don’t think Mary will want to be rescued from Mr. Collins. If you remember, she didn’t have the same bad opinion of Collins’ letter that Elizabeth did. But if Mary goes to Collins, what will happen to Charlotte Lucas?
Colin
Jessica Lowery
Congratulations on the new novel! Looking forward to reading it!
Meryton Press
We hope you get to read it soon. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
C. P. (Colin Odom)
Hi Jessica,
Thanks for being interested. I hope you enjoy ACE.
Colin
Melanie Höhnke
The blurb sounds really intriguing. I’m looking forward to read the book and would gladly enter the giveaway 😊
Meryton Press
You are entered in the giveaway and we wish you luck. We hope you get to read the book soon and find it intriguing.
C. P. (Colin Odom)
Hi Melanie,
Good luck in the giveaway and I hope you enjoy the read.
Colin
Glynis
Obviously Elizabeth managed to prevent her own engagement to Mr Collins! I can’t wait to see how, especially as Mrs Bennet seems ok with the situation? I’ve enjoyed the other books and I’m really looking forward to this one.
Meryton Press
Thank goodness, for that! We are happy to; hear that you have enjoyed Colin’s other books and hope you will like this one too. Thanks for stopping by, Glynis.
C. P. (Colin Odom)
Hi Glynis,
Given Mrs. Bennet’s nature, she’s unlikely to be happy with her least favorite daughter! I hope you enjoy the book when you read it.
Colin
bn100
sounds interesting
C. P. (Colin Odom)
Thanks for your interest. Good luck with the giveaway.
Colin
KateB
I’m very curious how Elizabeth managed to not get engaged to Collins and that Mary became his betrothed. I’m looking forward to reading it. Thanks for the giveaway.
C. P. (Colin Odom)
Hi Kate,
Thanks for your interest in ACE. As for Elizabeth, you can imagine how she would feel to actually overhear her mother plotting to make her be the fourth at Lady Catherine’s game table at Rosings. Given her fiesty nature, she’s unlikely to pick a quiet, demure method of going about thwarting this conspiracy, don’t you think?
Colin
Suzan Lauder
So Colin has tipped canon on its head once more! I don’t think I read this one when I read all Colin’s works before publishing, but I always enjoy his stories. Best of luck on your release and blog tour, Colin!
C. P. (Colin Odom)
Hi Suzan,
Yup, tipping canon on its head is how these variations work, but I can only change one pivotal item and still keep the interest of the reader. And my interest also, of course!
Colin
DarcyBennett
Sounds wonderful. Congrats on the release!
C. P. (Colin Odom)
Thanks for your interest, Darcy.
Cheers,
Colin
Joan
This sounds like it will be a fun book to read! What plot did Elizabeth overhear, and can she thwart her mother once and for all?
C. P. (Colin Odom)
Hi Joan,
The plot she overhears is only skimpily referred to in P&P, but it’s when Mrs. Bennet tells Collins that Jane will soon be engaged and he ought to take Elizabeth, since she’s next in line. Elizabeth, however, happened to be on the other side of the hedge and she wants nothing to do with her mother’s plan to get rid of her least favorite daughter!
Colin
Glory
makes me wonder what things that Elizabeth does after hearing the plot. Congrats on the new book. Will this one be done as an audiobook too?
C. P. (Colin Odom)
Hi Glory,
Well, Elizabeth has to find some way of discouraging Mr. Collins, but that’s only the beginning of the story!
Colin
Betty Campbell Madden
P
I’m eager to read the full story! Thanks for sharing your talent.
C. P. (Colin) Odom
Hi Betty,
Thanks to YOU for your interest! I hope you enjoy the read.
Colin
jeannette
It seems to me that those of us who love JAFF, particularly P&P variations, know of the talented C. P. Odom and his ability to craft interesting, well written stories. I look forward to reading his latest tale and the twists to canon that will be integral to the plot. Congratulations on publishing another novel.
C. P. (Colin Odom)
Hi Jeannette,
Thanks for your congratulations, especially since it seems to be getting harder to write as I get older. I hope you enjoy the perambulations I put our characters through.
Colin
C. P. (Colin) Odom
Hi All,
I appreciate all the interest, and I hope this latest effort lives up to your expectations. I do apologize for not participating as much as I have for previous novels, but I’m going through some difficult personal times, including having to send my wife to the hospital for a severe Urinary Tract Infection. She’s prone to them, and she left this one untreated thinking that it would go away. It didn’t, and I spent the next six days by her hospital bed. She’s home now, but she has to have IV antibiotics for the next week and a half, so I just thank everyone and get back to her.
Cheers,
Colin
Pam Hunter
It sounds like a great read! Thanks for the chance to win a copy of the book.
Meryton Press
Thank you for stopping by, Pam. Good luck.
C. P. (Colin Odom)
Thanks for your interest, Pam. I hope you enjoy the read.
Colin