Willoughby’s Return, Blog Tour, another Review and Gunter’s Teashop!

I am having a lovely time on my blog tour. Thanks so much to everyone who has given me such a warm welcome. Follow the links for more guest posts and giveaways from The Bookworm and here is a review from Books Like Breathing

I have been yearning for a Sense and Sensibility sequel. Colonel Brandon is my second favorite Austen hero (sometimes he even beats Darcy). Sometimes I get a bit tired of Darcy (just bought two more P&P sequels) and yearn for some Brandon, Wentworth, Tilney and Knightley (never Edmund Bertram).
Odiwe’s portrayal of all of the characters was perfect. Marianne was exactly as she was in S&S albeit a bit more mature. I also could understand why she was upset with Brandon. He completely neglected her to take care of his “other” family. I would have been upset too. Colonel Brandon was broody yet sweet—just as I imagine him. He did make a few mistakes throughout the book but redeemed himself. Marianne and Colonel Brandon’s marriage was a huge highlight for me. There was so much tension yet so much love.

I was so pleased to find that Margaret was a main character in Willoughby’s Return. She was sorely neglected by Jane Austen in S&S. She deserved a happy ending too. Henry was the perfect match for her and I enjoyed the twists and turns her story took. Willoughby was really not a huge portion of the book. Well, he is there but he is kind of like a storm cloud…you worry about what he will do but he passes through without any major problems.
I am going to sound like a huge nimrod say this but…I had no idea that Colonel Brandon had no first name. I always thought his first name was Christopher. Pollution from the 1995 movie, I guess. I think that it may make me a bad Jane Austen fan but I had no idea.

I think this may be put on my favorite Jane Austen sequels list. I wish there were more Sense and Sensibility sequels (psst…sequel authors, drop Darcy for a minute and write about Colonel Brandon and Marianne). Willoughby’s Return is definitely worth a read if you love Jane Austen sequels but are looking for something new.
Grade: A+
Grace

When I was researching Willoughby’s Return I travelled into London city centre to see if I could find anything of Regency London. One of the places I wanted to track down was Gunter’s Teashop in Berkeley Square where Margaret Dashwood is taken by her friend Henry Lawrence on her arrival in the capital. Unfortunately, much of the original square is lost and the cafe now occupying the spot where the sign of the pineapple proclaimed Gunter’s position is a modern affair behind plate glass. However, on the opposite side you can still see splendid buildings and catch a glimpse of an Adam ceiling through a window. A couple of liveried gentlemen were standing outside one of the grand houses and I stopped to have a chat with them. They were fascinated by my 1803 map and told me that the house they were guarding had some wonderful Georgian interiors.

Gunter’s Teashop was famous for its ice creams and sorbets. In summer the carriages would gather in the square to be served outside – more information and lovely pictures on the Georgian Index

The top print shows a Gillray print of Bond Street. Marianne takes Margaret shopping in and around Bond Street and they also visit Hookham’s circulating library. The second print shows Berkeley Square looking very different from today!

Willoughby’s Return in Bidding War for Film Rights and Two Reviews!

OK – so that’s just the dream scenario and one surely every writer thinks about! In my absolute fantasy, of course, I have Emma Thompson phoning me begging to let her produce the film (she tells me she has already written the screenplay based on my book, which she couldn’t wait to buy!) In the next breath she is saying that Greg would make a perfect Colonel Brandon now his temples are greying so deliciously – I hesitate, only because on the other line my husband’s mouthing at me that Sony want Richard Armitage. Oh, the dilemma – what to do?!!!

Emma’s sister Sophie would make a wonderful Mrs Dashwood or even Mrs Jennings – she’s a fabulous character actress. But, maybe in the dream scenario I could get to play Mrs Jennings! And could Emma resist being in a new Austen adaptation especially if we could get Ang Lee on board. I’d definitely want Patrick Doyle or Mario Darianelli for the music and the same fab designers who did the original S&S – the list goes on.

So, if you could put on your dream version of Sense and Sensibility or Willoughby’s Return, who would you cast? I think Carey Mulligan would make a good Marianne and perhaps Johnny Lee Miller for Willoughby. What do you think? And who would you cast for the roles of Elinor and Edward, and for my book – Margaret Dashwood and Henry Lawrence?

Please leave a comment below – just for fun, this one!

I’ve had a couple more reviews I’d like to share:

4.0 out of 5 stars Willoughby’s Return, November 5, 2009
By S. Agusto-Cox “Savvy Verse & Wit”

Willoughby’s Return: A tale of almost irresistible temptation by Jane Odiwe reunites readers with Mr. and Mrs. Brandon and Marianne’s sisters Margaret and Elinor from Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen.

“But three years of married life had done little to really change her. Marianne still had an impetuous nature, she still retained a desire for impulse and enterprises undertaken on the spur of the moment.” (Page 3)

Truer words were never spoken about Marianne. She is the same impetuous girl from Austen’s book, even though she is married to Colonel Brandon and has a son, James. Her husband, however, has obligations to his ward, the daughter of his deceased first love, and her child–a child she had with Marianne’s first love, Mr. Willoughby. Drama, drama, drama fills these pages, just as they filled Marianne’s life in Ausen’s work, but Odiwe adds her own flare to these characters.

Marianne continues to hide things from her husband no matter how innocent the situations may be and her jealousies drive her to make nearly scandalous decisions and snap judgments. However, while this book is titled Willoughby’s Return, he is more of a minor character and his storyline with Marianne looms from the sidelines as her younger sister Margaret and her beau Henry Lawrence take center stage.

Margaret is very like Marianne in that she is passionate, romantic, and impetuous. She’s opposed to marriage and Marianne’s matchmaking until Margaret sets eyes on Henry Lawrence. She falls head-over-heels for him, but Odiwe throws a number obstacles in their way.

Readers may soon notice some similarities between Henry Lawrence and Frank Churchill from Emma by Jane Austen, but the romance unravels differently for Henry and Margaret than it does from Frank and Emma. Readers that enjoy Jane Austen’s books and the recent spin-offs will enjoy Willoughby’s Return: A tale of almost irresistible temptation – a fast-paced, regency novel with a modern flair.

5.0 out of 5 stars Sense and Sensibility Continues Brilliantly, November 4, 2009
By Lori Hedgpeth “Psychotic State” –

I adore Jane Austen and I have a serious obsession with Austen fan fic. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to review this book not only due to my love of all things Jane Austen but also because I thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Odiwe’s previous effort, opportunity to review this book not only due to my love of all things Jane Austen but also because I thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Odiwe’s previous effort, Lydia Bennet’s Story.

Ms. Odiwe again took a secondary character from an Austen story – this time Margaret Dashwood from Sense and Sensibility – and shared with her readers a continuation of what happened after Austen’s novel ended. She also took what could have been an unfinished story – Willoughby’s leaving and Marianne marrying Colonel Brandon – and wove it intricately into the tale of a now of-age Margaret finding love.

Willoughby’s Return works so well because, as she did with Lydia Bennet’s Story, Ms. Odiwe stayed faithful to the characters Jane Austen originally created and by doing so, Willoughby’s Return reads virtually as a Sense and Sensibility sequel written by Austen herself. Marianne, while more mature due to Colonel Brandon’s love and the events that transpired in Sense and Sensibility, still has a romantic, and even flighty, streak. Colonel Brandon, while deeply enamored of his wife, is still serious about his responsibilities to his wards. Elinor is still mindful of appearances and decorum and Lucy Steele Ferrars and Anne Steele are still very much the busybodies they were. Even Mrs. Jennings still remains ever the fanciful matchmaker.

I could not wish for a more fluid, yet entertaining, story, nor a more satisfying ending. I raced through the book as I was anxious to find out what would happen, while at the same time dreading for the story to end because I was enjoying myself so much. In my opinion, Ms. Odiwe surpassed herself with this effort and I enjoyed it even more so than I did Lydia Bennet’s Story.

If you are a fan of Jane Austen, of Regency romps and/or historical fiction, I cannot recommend Willoughby’s Return enough. A definite must-read!

Don’t forget the competitions are still running – click on the links in the side-bar!

Colonel Brandon Quiz

More fun in celebration of my book Willoughby’s Return! To win a copy of Willoughby’s Return simply answer the questions about Colonel Brandon, the true hero of Sense and Sensibility.

1 Where does Colonel Brandon live?

2 What is the name of Colonel Brandon’s ward?

3 Who first decides that the Colonel is in love with Marianne?

4 Which character says the following of Colonel Brandon?

“I have three unanswerable reasons for disliking Colonel Brandon: he has threatened me with rain when I wanted it to be fine; he has found fault with the hanging of my curricle, and I cannot persuade him to buy my brown mare. If it will be any satisfaction to you, however, to be told that I believe his character to be in other respects irreproachable, I am ready to confess it. And in return for an acknowledgment, which must give me some pain, you cannot deny me the privilege of disliking him as much as ever.”

5 Who said of Brandon – “But he talked of flannel waistcoats, and with me a flannel waistcoat is invariably connected with the aches, cramps, rheumatisms, and every species of ailment that can afflict the old and the feeble.”

6 Of all the screen adaptations who is your favourite Colonel Brandon and why?

Click the link to post your answers to be added to the hat to win a copy of Willoughby’s Return. The competition is open worldwide and will close November 14th – winner announced on the 16th.

Two Interviews and copies of Willoughby’s Return to win!

I did enjoy yesterday’s competition answers – thanks so much to everyone who participated and shared their wonderful musical memories! The competitions to win the CD and the painting are still open until November 14th.

I’m conscious that a lot of the giveaways on my blog tour are for the US and Canada only – so, I am adding a copy of Willoughby’s Return – anyone can enter – leave a comment below in answer to today’s question!

Thank you to Barbara and Serena for their interviews – they have giveaways, so click on the links to find out more!
There’s an interview with me over on Everything Victorian and More – click here
Savvy, Verse and Wit Click here to read my interview with Serena from Savvy, Verse and Wit.

Three very different but excellent interpretations of Mr Willoughby – The bottom picture shows Peter Woodward in 1981 playing opposite Tracey Childs as Marianne Dashwood, the middle photo is of Greg Wise playing the part of Willoughby to Kate Winslet’s Marianne, and finally, the latest production had Dominic Cooper playing the part with Charity Wakefield as Marianne.The question I’m asking today is which couple is your favourite? Whose interpretation did you like best and why?

Willoughby’s Return – Competition no 3 Win a Sense and Sensibility Soundtrack!

I loved this film version of Sense and Sensibility and the music by Patrick Doyle is beautiful! In celebration of day 3 of the publication of Willoughby’s Return I am offering this brand new CD of the soundtrack.
Willoughby and Marianne share a love of music when they first meet in Sense and Sensibility. After he breaks her heart there is a very poignant passage where Marianne tries to overcome her feelings by playing again – but it will not do.

After dinner she would try her pianoforte. She went to it; but the music on which her eye first rested was an opera, procured for her by Willoughby, containing some of their favourite duets, and bearing on its outward leaf her own name in his hand writing. That would not do. She shook her head, put the music aside, and, after running over the keys for a minute complained of feebleness in her fingers, and closed the instrument again; declaring, however, with firmness as she did so, that she should in future practise much.

If you’d like a chance to win the CD I’d like to know if you have a special love song or a special piece of music that you associate with someone – it could be a first love, a boyfriend, your Mum or Dad, a special friend. You don’t have to name names, but I’d love to know about your piece of special music or song choice and why it’s so dear to your heart!

Just leave a comment below! The competition is open worldwide and closes on November 14th. The winner will be announced on November 16th.

Yesterday I had the chance to chat with Jaime on her blog Book Nerd Extraordinaire – Click here to read – US and Canada have a chance to win a copy of Willoughby’s Return!

Willoughby’s Return – Win a pack of Jane Austen Greetings Cards

Do you think you know Sense and Sensibility? Today’s competition in celebration of the publication of Willoughby’s Return is to win a pack of Effusions of Fancy notecards. The pack of cards designed by yours truly from original watercolour paintings will comprise of the following:

Pump Room at Bath

Jane at Lyme

Jane Austen and Tom Lefroy at the Ashe Ball

Christmas at Steventon (Jane and Cassandra walking in the snow)

Steventon Rectory in Winter

Jane and her Father

Jane Austen Portrait

L’aimable Jane

All you have to do for a chance to win is answer the following questions – then visit my austeneffusions website – and e-mail your answers! The competition is open worldwide and correct answers will be drawn from a hat. Competition closes November 14th, winner announced on Monday, November 16th! Good Luck!

I am awarding two sets of cards to two winners who answer the following correctly.

1 In Sense and Sensibility who does Marianne Dashwood marry?

2 In Sense and Sensibility who gives Marianne a horse?

3 In Sense and Sensibility who does Elinor Dashwood marry?

4 Where do the Dashwood sisters go for the season with Mrs Jennings?

5 What is the name of Edward Ferrars’s brother in Sense and Sensibility?

Willoughby’s Return – a Review from Booklist, and a Competition to win a Painting!

It’s officially publication day of Willoughby’s Return! Thank you to everyone who have sent me wishes of congratulation, I feel very honoured! Thanks also to Dominique Raccah, Deb Werksman, Danielle Jackson, and everyone at Sourcebooks for making another dream realised.

It’s always an anxious time waiting for the reviews to come in – this review from Booklist made my day!

Booklist
Issue: November 15, 2009
Willoughby’s Return.
Odiwe, Jane (Author)
Nov 2009. 352 p. Sourcebooks/Landmark, paperback, $14.99. (9781402222672)

Odiwe follows Lydia Bennet’s Story (2008), her sequel to Pride and Prejudice, with a sequel to Austen’s Sense and Sensibility. Marianne has settled nicely into life as wife and mother, although every so often she indulges in one of her infamous flights of sensibility. She is certain her husband, William, adores her, but has he gotten over his passion for his first love, whose portrait occupies a place of honor in their home? The arrival of William’s nephew Henry grants Marianne the opportunity to play matchmaker between Henry and her sister Margaret, but the return of John Willoughby to Dorsetshire is not welcome news because now Marianne faces the difficult decision of whether to remain true to the quietly dependable man who married her, or give in to temptation with the rogue who broke her heart. Odiwe’s elegantly stylish writing is seasoned with just the right dash of tart humor, and her latest literary endeavor is certain to delight both Austen devotees and Regency romance readers.
— John Charles

To celebrate publication there will be a fortnight of fun in November – interviews, competitions, quizzes, and giveaways of my book, not only on my blog, but on those participating on my tour.

Book Nerd Extraordinaire 2nd
Everything Victorian 3rd
Savvy, Verse and Wit 4th
A Bibliophile’s Bookshelf 5th
The Bookworm Blogspot 6th
Books Like Breathing9th
Jane Austen’s World 10th
Fresh Fiction12th
Love, Romance, Passion11th/13th

First up today is this painting of Marianne and Elinor, the two Dashwood sisters. I’ve painted a few different versions of these girls – I hope you can tell which is Marianne and which is Elinor!

In Willoughby’s Return, Elinor still has a trying time keeping her sister safe from her fits of sensibility, and now she also has Margaret to contend with who is of a very similar disposition.

If you’d like to win this watercolour painting by yours truly, please leave a comment below saying which is your favourite heroine from Sense and Sensibility and why! The competition is open worldwide (closes on November 14th) and the winner will be announced on Monday, November 16th.

Look out tomorrow for another Competition!

Sense and Sensibility first published in 1811!

In 1811, Jane Austen’s first novel, Sense and Sensibility was published on October 30th by Thomas Egerton. Jane paid for the privilege and awarded her publisher a commission on sales. She made a profit of £140 on the first edition, which sold all 750 printed copies by July 1813. A second edition was advertised in October 1813. Note the title page in the last illustration – there is no reference to Jane as the author. It simply states – By a Lady – it was not considered quite the done thing to be a lady novelist and so keeping her name a secret was preferred.
On April 25th of that year she was doing the last edits to her book. I love this snippet to Cassandra in a letter sent whilst she was staying at her brother Henry’s house in Sloane Street, London. If you remember, this was the brother who had married Eliza de Feuillide. Jane writes:

No, indeed, I am never too busy to think of S. and S. I can no more forget it than a mother can forget her sucking child; and I am much obliged to you for your inquiries. I have had two sheets to correct, but the last only brings us to Willoughby’s first appearance. Mrs. K. regrets in the most flattering manner that she must wait till May, but I have scarcely a hope of its being out in June. Henry does not neglect it; he has hurried the printer, and says he will see him again to-day. It will not stand still during his absence, it will be sent to Eliza.

Here is that passage describing Willoughby’s first appearance:

They set off. Marianne had at first the advantage, but a false step brought her suddenly to the ground, and Margaret, unable to stop herself to assist her, was involuntarily hurried along, and reached the bottom in safety.

A gentleman carrying a gun, with two pointers playing round him, was passing up the hill and within a few yards of Marianne, when her accident happened. He put down his gun and ran to her assistance. She had raised herself from the ground, but her foot had been twisted in the fall, and she was scarcely able to stand. The gentleman offered his services, and perceiving that her modesty declined what her situation rendered necessary, took her up in his arms without farther delay, and carried her down the hill. Then passing through the garden, the gate of which had been left open by Margaret, he bore her directly into the house, whither Margaret was just arrived, and quitted not his hold till he had seated her in a chair in the parlour.

Elinor and her mother rose up in amazement at their entrance, and while the eyes of both were fixed on him with an evident wonder and a secret admiration which equally sprung from his appearance, he apologized for his intrusion by relating its cause, in a manner so frank and so graceful, that his person, which was uncommonly handsome, received additional charms from his voice and expression. Had he been even old, ugly, and vulgar, the gratitude and kindness of Mrs. Dashwood would have been secured by any act of attention to her child; but the influence of youth, beauty, and elegance, gave an interest to the action which came home to her feelings.

Later on in her letter, Jane Austen describes a party that Henry and Eliza were giving for friends – it gives us a delicious insight into her world.

At half-past seven arrived the musicians in two hackney coaches, and by eight the lordly company began to appear. Among the earliest were George and Mary Cooke, and I spent the greater part of the evening very pleasantly with them. The drawing-room being soon hotter than we liked, we placed ourselves in the connecting passage, which was comparatively cool, and gave us all the advantage of the music at a pleasant distance, as well as that of the first view of every new comer.

I was quite surrounded by acquaintances, especially gentlemen; and what with Mr. Hampson, Mr. Seymour, Mr. W. Knatchbull, Mr. Guillemarde, Mr. Cure, a Captain Simpson, brother to the Captain Simpson, besides Mr. Walter and Mr. Egerton, in addition to the Cookes, and Miss Beckford, and Miss Middleton, I had quite as much upon my hands as I could do.

Poor Miss B. has been suffering again from her old complaint, and looks thinner than ever. She certainly goes to Cheltenham the beginning of June. We were all delight and cordiality of course. Miss M. seems very happy, but has not beauty enough to figure in London.

Including everybody we were sixty-six – which was considerably more than Eliza had expected, and quite enough to fill the back drawing-room and leave a few to be scattered about in the other and in the passage.

The music was extremely good. It opened (tell Fanny) with “Poike de Parp pirs praise pof Prapela”; and of the other glees I remember, “In peace love tunes,” “Rosabelle,” “The Red Cross Knight,” and “Poor Insect.” Between the songs were lessons on the harp, or harp and pianoforte together; and the harp-player was Wiepart, whose name seems famous, though new to me. There was one female singer, a short Miss Davis, all in blue, bringing up for the public line, whose voice was said to be very fine indeed; and all the performers gave great satisfaction by doing what they were paid for, and giving themselves no airs. No amateur could be persuaded to do anything.

The house was not clear till after twelve. If you wish to hear more of it, you must put your questions, but I seem rather to have exhausted than spared the subject.

Willoughby’s Return is to be published officially tomorrow. If Jane was half as excited about her publication she must have been happy indeed!

Illustrations:
Jane Austen, Henry Austen by Jane Odiwe
Title page of Sense and Sensibility

My Blog Tour has started!

I’ve been having a lovely time visiting the blogs of Lori Hedgpeth Psychotic State blogspot and Mandi Schreiner Smexy Books

Click the links above to read their interviews!

Willoughby’s Return – Reviews!

Thank you to Barbara, Bella, and Mandi, who have taken the time to read and review Willoughby’s Return on their blogs. I’m looking forward to their interviews!

Everything Victorian and More…In this new sequel to Sense and Sensibility, Ms. Odiwe has captured Jane Austen’s style with ease and eloquence, making this book a rare reading delight.

A Bibliophile’s Bookshelf

I openly admit that I’m a Pride and Prejudice fan. I know Pride and Prejudice inside out, and it is one of my most beloved books in my bookcase. Having said that I do have a soft spot for Jane Austen’s other novels, and in particular to the tale of Sense and Sensibility. Of all of Jane Austen’s heroine’s Elinor Dashwood is right up there alongside Eliza Bennet as one of my favorites.

Imagine my delight when I was asked to review an upcoming sequel to Sense and Sensibility called Willoughby’s Return by the lovely Jane Odiwe. A chance to dive back into the sweet story of Sense and Sensibility, with the impetuous Marianne and the strong, beautiful Elinor. Of course I had to say yes, and thus started a wonderful reading journey back into the world of the Dashwoods.

Willoughby’s Return sets the scene three years after Sense and Sensibility, and sees Marianne and Elinor happily married, with a few bumps in the road occurring when John Willoughby re-enters their lives.

Jane Odiwe writes with such eloquence and style that you can’t be helped for thinking that you are reading a Jane Austen book, but no it is definitely Jane Odiwe’s name on the cover!

In characters, plot and style, Willoughby’s Return is so beautifully written, that there is barely a seam between Sense and Sensibilty and Willoughby’s Return.

Despite the premise on the back-cover, this story centers more around Margaret Dashwood, as Marianne plays matchmaker and tries to set her up with the wealthy Henry Lawrence.

I loved the plot, and the way that Margaret is cast into the spotlight. For me, it kept the storyline fresh and interesting, and between Margaret and Marianne I was glued right through to the last pages.

This is Jane Odiwe’s second book, and it is clear that her skills as a writer are developing and becoming better and better. I thoroughly enjoyed Willoughby’s Return and will definitely be keeping my eyes peeled for her next novel.

Smexy Books

Willoughby’s Return is a delightful tale that swept me away for the time I was reading. For those who are looking to return to the Austen world with a very sweet story, I definitely recommend this book.