Mr. Darcy – Bitten – Release by Mary Simonsen

Mr. Darcy Bitten - Front OnlyIf it’s October, then it’s werewolf time! As many of you know, I wrote the novel, Mr. Darcy’s Bite, that was published in 2011 by Sourcebooks. That was followed in 2013 by the sequel, Mr. Darcy Bites Back. The response to both was so positive that I serialized a prequel, Mr. Darcy – Bitten, here on Austen Variations. After reading my story, many/several/some people asked that I make the book available as an e-book and expand the love story of Darcy and Elizabeth. I have done that, and I would say that about a third of the book is new content. Original content has been revised.

Why do I keep writing werewolf stories when the paranormal craze seems to have passed? I’ll begin by telling you that of all my books my favorite is Mr. Darcy’s Bite, and there’s a simple reason for that. Despite the cover that shows Mr. Darcy with fangs bared, this is a book about love and acceptance. Can Elizabeth accept the fact that the man she loves becomes a werewolf for two days in the lunar calendar? If she can, her life is forever changed. Not only must she love Mr. Darcy, she must protect him from people who would do him harm if they knew of his secret. His alternate life requires constant vigilance from all those who love Fitzwilliam Darcy.

In Mr. Darcy – Bitten, we go back to the beginning when fourteen-year-old Master Fitzwilliam Darcy is bitten by a werewolf in the Black Forest while on holiday with his family. In the story, a parent’s agony and a boy’s terror are detailed. By the time, Darcy has become a man, he has accepted that his life will forever be ruled by forces beyond his control. But the question is: will an accidental meeting with a she wolf fourteen years earlier prevent Darcy from being with the woman he loves? Here is an excerpt from Mr. Darcy – Bitten:

Although Elizabeth did not see him, Darcy was there, and he smiled as he looked at Lizzy framed by the window. She looked adorable in her night dress and cap, and he thought how wonderful it would be to have her come to him in his bed at Pemberley and lay beside him. Thinking of such a scene, he let out a great howl that pierced the quiet of the evening. 

A wolf howling in Hertfordshire was not the best idea, and Darcy’s manservant—the man who had dedicated his life to protecting his master—is scared witless:

“I was in the public house when I heard your cry,” Mercer said, “and within a minute, every man, sober or not, was talking about guns and spring traps and organizing a hunt.”

Darcy admitted that it was a foolish thing to do.

“Then why did you do it?” During the second day of nightfall, Mercer’s nerves had been shredded as he listened to villagers and farmers discuss the possibility that there was a wolf loose in their neighborhood.

“Because I was happy!” Darcy answered, all regrets disappearing at the thought of his lovely Elizabeth. “It is that simple, Mercer. For a few moments, I was honestly and truly happy! And that is what wolves do when they are happy. They howl—long and loud! I can count on one hand the moments of pure joy I have experienced since I was fourteen years old and became this—this creature—this man-animal that people loathe without knowing why. When I saw Elizabeth at the window, she was looking for me, and that alone gave me hope—something I have been without from the time I left Kent.” 

Sourcebooks has lowered the price of the e-book of Mr. Darcy Bites to $2.99 on Kindle. This is a temporary price cut, so if you want the novel, please order it ASAP. The novellas are available on Kindle and Nook for .99.

Happy Halloween.

Mr. Darcy Bitten on Kindle and Mr. Darcy Bitten on Nook for .99

Mr. Darcy Bites Back on Kindle and Mr. Darcy Bites Back on Nook for .99

Mr. Darcy’s Bite on Kindle for $2.99

69 comments

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    • tgruy on October 15, 2015 at 12:34 am
    • Reply

    I have Mr. Darcy bites back but I want the others!! Where is Mr. Darcy’s Bite in $2.99?

    1. Click on the link above for Mr. Darcy’s Bite.

    • Linda Clark on October 15, 2015 at 1:04 am
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    I have both of your books “Mr. Darcy’s Bite” snd “Mr. Darcy Bites Back.” To be honest when I ordered the first book it was on a whim. I didn’t think I would like it as I generally am not into the paranormal, but you won me over in the first few chapters. ‘Bites Back’ was ordered before I even finished ‘Bite’. Now you have completed the story by going back to the real beginning. Please enter me into the drawing for “Bitten”!!!

      • Mary Simonsen on October 15, 2015 at 10:57 am
      • Reply

      Thanks, Linda. So glad you enjoyed the “Bite” books. I certainly enjoyed writing them.

  1. These have always been my favorite paranormal versions. The prequel sounds fantastic!

      • Mary Simonsen on October 15, 2015 at 10:57 am
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      Thanks, Anna. I guess we have a mutual admiration thing going b/c I really enjoy your blog.

      1. Thanks for the kind words, Mary!

    • Paula C. on October 15, 2015 at 6:01 am
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    I have several of your books – P&P variations and from the Patrick Shea series – and they are always a delightful reading. I don’t possess any of the Bitten series because, as another participant said, ‘I generaly am not into the paranormal’, but knowing your style of writing I think it can be a very good experience. Please enter me in the Kindle giveaway. Thank you for your generosity and, specially, for your talent providing us, Austen fans, many fantastic books.

    1. Thank YOU for being so supportive of my writing efforts.

    • Deborah on October 15, 2015 at 6:27 am
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    I have read and enjoyed both the book and sequel, and while I am not a fan of the paranormal, I enjoyed them. I am looking forward to reading the prequel.

    1. Thanks, Deborah. Always good to hear from you.

    • MaggieG on October 15, 2015 at 6:55 am
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    Mary, I am not usually someone who reads werewolf stories but I have to say that Mr.Darcy’s Bite is one of my favorite books. I have read it several times and will probably read it again. I am looking forward to reading the 2 novellas. I don’t know how I missed Mr. Darcy Bites Back. Thanks for the many hours of enjoyment.

    1. Thanks, Maggie. So glad you enjoyed Mr. Darcy’s Bite. It truly is my favorite as Darcy’s being a werewolf allows him to break out of the Regency-era straight jacket.

    • Madenna on October 15, 2015 at 7:37 am
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    I would be honored to receive your books!

    1. Thanks, Madenna. Good luck. 🙂

    • Mari on October 15, 2015 at 8:33 am
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    I have both of the books, and I loved them both. I am not really a fan of the paranormal, but the books transcend being pigeonholed as paranormal stories, so anytime a new Darcy werewolf book comes out, I will be lining up to buy it. I am rather tired of vampires, and I hate zombies, so all that is left is a good werewolf story. And I will never say no to a good ghost story, despite having lived in three haunted houses, and a brief stay in a haunted hotel room. Darcy is such a romantic hero, that I don’t care that he is a werewolf. He is still Darcy, and I love him. My own Mister Darcy enjoyed the stories, and I am sure we will enjoy the prequel as well. Good luck to everyone in the contest, but I am on my way to Amazon to get my copy. Who wants to wait?! The only question is of my husband will swipe my Kindle and get started before I do.

    1. Hi Mari. Thank you for your kind words, and I love the fact that your husband enjoyed the stories as well. You’ve lived in 3 haunted houses! Yikes! I’m a real wuss when it comes to things like that. Thanks for letting me know you enjoyed my stories.

    • Vesper Meikle on October 15, 2015 at 8:36 am
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    So with all the disadvantages of Darcy and Elizabeth coming together they both have to contend with him being a werewolf – you are making life difficult for them

    1. True. But they figure it out. 🙂

    • Martha Claycomb on October 15, 2015 at 9:31 am
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    I’m not normally a fan of this genre but I took a chance because I had enjoyed your other books and I’m glad I did! Wonderful stories!

    1. Thank you so much, Martha. I appreciate your kind words.

    • Pam Hunter on October 15, 2015 at 9:37 am
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    I have “Mr. Darcy’s Bite” and would love to read the sequel AND the prequel. 🙂

    Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy!

    1. Thanks, Pam. Good to hear from you.

    • Kathy L Berlin on October 15, 2015 at 9:57 am
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    I have all three but have not yet read Bitten (in my TBR pile). I just wanted to once again thank you for writing. I also have 2 Patrick Shea’s waiting for me to read! Like others, I thought I was not a fan of paranormal, but when you add Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth, I seem to be hooked every time. Please keep writing!

    1. Kathy, As long as there are kind people like you to read my stories, I will keep writing. Thanks again and again.

    • Kelli on October 15, 2015 at 10:22 am
    • Reply

    yeah! Picked up the prequel and sequel, already have the other.

    1. Thanks, Kelli. I hope you enjoy it. I really enjoy writing about werewolves. I’ve seen them in the wild, and I’m a big fan of lupines.

    • Sheila L. M. on October 15, 2015 at 10:24 am
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    As so many others have said, I am not a fan of paranormal in JAFF. But when you convinced me to read the first one stating that it was really more of a love story I BIT and then bought and read the second one also. So count me in on this drawing. Oh, BTW: yours are the only paranormal ones in JAFF that I have bought and read…no vampires nor zombies for me. Thanks for the chance. And if I am not so lucky as to win, you may be assured that I will buy this third one.

    1. Sheila, You have been so supportive of my efforts, I really and truly appreciate it. The serialization ran last Sept. and Oct. It’s a busy time for a lot of people. I took it off Austen Variations b/c it needed to be cleaned up, and then I decided to publish it after hearing from several readers.

    • Sheila L. M. on October 15, 2015 at 10:26 am
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    How did I miss it as the serialized prequel?

    • Laura on October 15, 2015 at 10:34 am
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    After reading the excerpt you shared, I’d love to read any of the books. Thanks for sharing!

    1. Thanks, Laura. I appreciate it.

    • Leslie on October 15, 2015 at 10:48 am
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    Mr. Darcy’s Bite and Darcy Bites Back are two of my favorite werewolf stories. Sounds like I differ from most of you – I love werewolf stories, time travel stories, body switching stories, but, like many of you, no vampires or zombies. Just finished re-reading Another Place in Time, by the way, and I’m looking forward to reading Bitten.

    1. Hi Leslie. Thanks for your support, and I’m so glad you enjoy my stories. Another Place in Time is one of my favorites b/c I get to go back to the Regency, but with toilet paper!

      • Sheila L. M. on October 15, 2015 at 3:50 pm
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      I do like time-travel books also and with the Zombie movie coming out next year I am pondering if I should read that book. Anyone read it?

    • Anji on October 15, 2015 at 10:51 am
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    Don’t enter me in the giveaway as I already have all three installments. I do like a bit of paranormal mixed with my JAFF, being the geek that I am with respect to sci-fi/fantasy etc. but vampires and zombies do absolutely nothing for me. Werewolves are different, as they always seem so alive. If I were a fan of the Twilight series, I’d always be Team Jacob rather than Team Edward.

    Like Sheila, I’m wondering how I missed the serialised prequel on here.

    1. Hi Anji. Thanks for your support, and I am very pleased that you enjoy my books. The serial ran last Sept. and Oct. That’s a busy time for many people. Happy to hear you will have a chance to read it now.

    • Ginna on October 15, 2015 at 11:19 am
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    So how much does this published version differ from what you posted before? Has it changed much?

    1. Bitten is about one third original content. The serial was revised somewhat.

        • Ginna on October 15, 2015 at 4:42 pm
        • Reply

        It seems, then, that it might be like reading a new book, would you say?
        I LOVE new books! So please consider me for the giveaway.

    • Florence Solowianiuk on October 15, 2015 at 11:52 am
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    Hi Mary,

    Please enter me into the drawing for the set of Darcy werewolf novels. I’ve read nearly all of your books, having finished “Behind Pemberley’s Walls” recently. I’m also quite fond of “Darcy on the Hudson,” “Another Place in Time,” and “Captain Wentworth Home from the Sea.” I do enjoy paranormal stories, although I’ve not delved into the world of werewolves yet.

    1. Will do, Florence. So glad you enjoyed my stories.

    • Jennifer Redlarczyk on October 15, 2015 at 12:06 pm
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    I’ve read the first two books and look forward to this third one. Great fun! Jen Red

    1. Thanks, Jen. Always good to hear from you.

  2. I have really been wanting to read these…mostly because although werewolves aren’t my thing, I have so enjoyed your other variations that I knew that you’d handle the paranormal with insight and compassion.

    Congratulations on the publication of the prequel, and I’m crossing my fingers in hopes of winning a Kindle copy!! 😀

    Warmly,
    Susanne 🙂

    1. Thanks, Susanne. I always appreciate hearing from you.

    • Wendy Roberts on October 15, 2015 at 3:44 pm
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    I don’t have either, but would love to read them both!!

    1. Thanks, Wendy.

    • Sheila L. M. on October 15, 2015 at 3:57 pm
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    I am ashamed to admit it but i went back in my mail box and there are a LOT of e-mails I never opened…and didn’t delete from last fall. I remember I was traveling to Washington state in November and then had company over Christmas and with baking for the holidays…well you know how it is. But I still didn’t see a blog about any werewolves or bites or Bitten????

    1. When I decided to do an e-book, I took the chapters down from Austen Variations, but they were up for at least 6 months. Sounds as if you were very busy last fall.

    • Roxey Wolff on October 15, 2015 at 5:46 pm
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    You know that I’m always anxious to read anything you write, and since I am a Wolff, especially anything to do with Darcy being one! I have loved the last two! I can’t wait to read the prequel!

    1. Thanks, Roxey. Hope all is well with you.

    • Kimberly on October 15, 2015 at 6:59 pm
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    I love paranormal, scifi and fantasy! Combine that with JAFF and I am in reader heaven! How did I not know about any of these books? I’ve read and enjoyed many of your other variations. Thanks for sharing the excerpt here as well. I would love to be entered into the drawing.

    1. Hi Kimberly. You are entered into the drawing for the 2 novellas, but you might want to take a look at Mr. Darcy’s Bite for $2.99. I never know when Sourcebooks will end a sale. Thanks for your kind words. Mary

    • BeckyC on October 15, 2015 at 11:03 pm
    • Reply

    You write werewolf Darcy well and I am excited to read more! Of course I also enjoy your other variations, mystery series and more. Thank you for the giveaway.

    1. Thanks, Becky. Always good to hear from you.

    • Lois Nation on October 15, 2015 at 11:25 pm
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    I have both books as well, and many others that you have written. I can even remember the comment my daughter made to me after we had read, “Mr. Darcy Bites Back” about the snoty lady that was also a werewolf. She said she felt sorry for her because, with her being a werewolf, she probably couldn’t ever be a mommy.

    1. Lois, I remember you told me about your daughter’s comment, and I have to admit, it never occurred to me that the female cannot become a mother. But if there is anyone who shouldn’t be a mother, it’s Nell. This is a perfect example of the importance of reader feedback. Thanks for commenting.

    • Nicole on October 16, 2015 at 2:25 pm
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    I would love to win your novels! The Patrick Shea novels are my favorites and I really enjoy your writing. And really $2.99 is such a good value I think I need to update my kindle! Thank you and please keep writing!

      • Mary Simonsen on October 17, 2015 at 12:01 pm
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      Thanks, NIcole, for your kind words. 🙂

    • RosannaK on October 16, 2015 at 5:22 pm
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    Congratulations on your prequel. I greatly enjoyed the other two and look forward to reading this new release. Not being a huge fan of the werewolf genre, my intrigue with these stories instead remains with reading of love overcoming obstacles and you have done a spectacular job of achieving this for Darcy and Lizzie. I also hope you will be writing a 4th so we know how Elizabeth does on her first foray as a she-wolf and because I dearly want to know what Darcy’s reaction will be to Elizabeth’s deed. I will sign off wishing you a Happy a joy-filled All Saint’s Day.

      • Mary Simonsen on October 17, 2015 at 12:05 pm
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      Thanks, Rosanna, for your kind words. Happy All Saints Day to you as well. 🙂

    • Kathy on October 17, 2015 at 1:01 pm
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    Congratulations on the new book that I remember your posting about before. Reading your post here, I wanted to say that I have really enjoyed the werewolf-themed variation, and recall that I really like Mercer- who has been an awesome valet in every variation.

    1. Hi Kathy. I love Mercer, and I’m so glad that you do, too. I wish I could clone you. You are so kind.

  3. All the best with the new book! I have read both ‘Mr Darcy Bites’ and ‘Mr Darcy Bites Back’ and I enjoyed the premise very much, in the Bites Back book particularly 🙂

    1. Thanks, Ceri. I appreciate it.

    • Sarah on October 18, 2015 at 6:10 am
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    I find it intriguing how many werewolf/vampire Darcy variations have been written, and even more so that I enjoy them when that’s not usually my thing!

    Pleased to see a prequel to Mr Darcy’s Bite. Not sure if I should try and read that before finding Mr Darcy Bites Back.

    PS Sorry to read about your blog difficulties. At least there are other avenues these days 🙂

    1. Hi Sarah. I would read Bitten before Mr. Darcy Bites Back. Hope all is well Down Under. We’re still having summer weather in Phoenix. I’m so ready for fall.

        • Sarah on October 25, 2015 at 5:30 am
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        Thanks, Mary.

        Not too hot here yet, but it’s on its way by all accounts. Roll on the cooler weather for you 🙂

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