Jenna Jaxon Romance--because passion is timeless.

Spotlight on Angela Quarles and Steam Me Up, Rawley

Posted on February 12, 2015 by Jenna Jaxon

Blurb

Jack the Ripper might be in town. But is marriage more terrifying?

In an alternate Deep South in 1890, society reporter Adele de la Pointe wants to make her own way in the world, despite her family’s pressure to become a society wife. Hoping to ruin herself as a matrimonial prospect, she seizes the opportunity to cover the recent Jack the Ripper-style murders for the newspaper, but her father’s dashing new intern suggests a more terrifying headline—marriage.

Dr. Phillip Rawley’s most daring exploit has been arriving at his new home in America in a hot air balloon. A tolerable sacrifice, if it means he can secure the hand of his new employer’s daughter in a marriage of convenience. But Adele works, she’s spirited, and she has an armored pet monkey running her errands. Not only does she not match his notions of a proper lady, she stirs up feelings he’d rather keep in tight control.

With Adele hunting down a headline and Dr. Rawley trying to protect and pursue her, a serial killer is spreading panic throughout Mobile, Alabama. Can Adele and Rawley find the murderer, face their fears, and discover true love?

Excerpt:

Good God, what kind of creature was this?

Phillip ducked into a nearby alcove, unspent frenetic energy coursing a seductive path through him, and stared in awe at the scene playing before him. He’d been ready to give away his presence and jump to her defense, but Loki had handled it quite effectively.

And now she was grinning?

She definitely was the strangest creature he’d ever encountered. She appeared to enjoy it.

He’d followed her, of course, not willing to see her come to harm. She reached her vehicle, humming a jaunty tune, and tucked Loki into a basket.

Hands fisted at his sides, Phillip stepped from the shadows, angered and wanting her to know it, the contrast of his concern with her lackadaisical attitude so jarring, it had to be addressed. “What do you think you were doing?”

She jerked, and her eyes widened. “Dr. Rawley!” The excitement lent her cheeks a charming pink glow.

His breathing came faster. Blood rushed to his groin. The witchy woman caused his body to react in an annoying manner.

She stepped toward him. “You followed me.” No recrimination colored her tone, just simple surprise, as if shocked he’d put in the effort on her behalf.

“Someone had to keep an eye on you.” His gaze locked on her lush lips. Dropped to her bosom, her rapid breathing making them rise and fall in a most becoming manner.

And he couldn’t help it–he cupped her face, pushed her against the wall, and crushed her mouth with his. Heat speared through him, tightening his loins. Just one taste of that fire, that energy. He had to feel that energy, experience that energy. He had to know that energy. What made her unsuitable also made her so delectable. Just. One. Taste.

Then all thought fled but for the enjoyment of her soft lips. When she opened them slightly, he groaned and took advantage, tasting her. She tasted of excitement. Of freedom. Of danger. And it sizzled through him.

Her arms encircled his neck, and he needed no further encouragement. He pressed against her, the fabric of her bustle scrunching against the brick wall. It cushioned her hips so they pressed toward him, her soft curves molding against him, making him lightheaded. Her lavender scent enveloped him, mixing with the taste, the experience of her, firing him further.

“Scree tchee!”

He pulled away, breathing hard. Her eyes were now a darker brown, and her face more flushed.

Hell’s. Teeth.

His chest tightened with horror and shame. Shame for his weakness, horror for the mess he’d created.

Hands shaking, he picked his top hat off the ground where it had fallen, brushed it off, and placed it back in position. “Pardon me. I don’t know what came over me.” He gulped in air and gazed around.

He’d kissed her. Brazenly. And on a public street.

“It’s perfectly all right. I understand.”

“You do?” His voice came out a tad high.

“Of course.” She rubbed his arm. “Being a man of daring and high passions, you were caught up in the moment. Perfectly understandable, I assure you.”

High passions? Daring? This woman had him all wrong. “I’m not such as you describe.” Not if he could help it. Revulsion choked him—as if his body recoiled from the blood he inherited from his mother. Her blood would not control him. Passion was a weakness. A weakness any sane, rational man worked hard to avoid. A weakness he had no notion he harbored until meeting Miss de la Pointe.

No. She had him all wrong.

“Yes, yes, I know. You like to pretend you’re not, but I have you figured out.”

A thread of unease settled in his gut, and he pulled on the lapels of his frock coat. If she truly knew him—as the plain, unemotional man he was–would her eyes dance as she looked upon him?

“Enough of this. It would be better for both of us if we forget what transpired.” He’d be damned if he was such a man as she saw.

Her eyes widened and then narrowed. He wasn’t sure he liked that look. It was a look that didn’t bode well. “You’re the one who kissed me, sir.”

“True. I apologize.” But you kissed back…

Just thinking about her response made his blood heat all over again. He must get away from her. To think about what happened and what it meant. She befuddled his brain. An ordered life was what he wanted, not one that could be made topsy-turvy at a moment.

She shook her head, but only said, “Apology accepted. Do you need a ride?”

He fiddled with his cravat and stickpin. “If you don’t mind, thank you.”

But as she stood there, all calm composure with her hand slightly extended for his elbow, his sister’s word rattled through him. Coward.

Egad. Could she have the right of it? Could his insistence on Miss de la Pointe’s unsuitability be a mask to cover his fear he wasn’t enough to hold someone like her?

Bio

Angela is a geek girl romance writer. What makes her romances geeky? Whether it’s fan girling over Ada Lovelace by having her as a secondary character in Must Love Breeches, or outright geek references with geek types in her romantic comedy with paranormal elements, Beer and Groping in Las Vegas, or going all Southern steampunk in Steam Me Up, Rawley, she likes to have fun with her romances and hopes her readers do too.

Angela works at an independent bookstore and lives in an historic house in the beautiful and quirky town of Mobile, AL. When she’s not writing, she enjoys the usual stuff like gardening, reading, hanging out, eating, drinking, chasing squirrels out of the walls and creating the occasional knitted scarf. She’s had a varied career, including website programming and directing a small local history museum, and has discovered that writing allows her to explore all her interests.

She has a B.A. in Anthropology and International Studies with a minor in German from Emory University, and a Masters in Heritage Preservation from Georgia State University. She was an exchange student to Finland in high school and studied abroad in Vienna one summer in college.

Author Links

Website: http://bit.ly/VMFK00

Blog: http://bit.ly/WkQbXG

Join my mailing list: http://bit.ly/1sde3Qi

Paranormal Unbound, the group blog I belong to: http://bit.ly/1sdaIRa

Twitter: http://bit.ly/Se5gQ0

Facebook: http://on.fb.me/VMFT3L

Pinterest: http://bit.ly/1qRhgHQ

Book Links

Amazon: http://bit.ly/SMURAmz

Nook: http://bit.ly/SMURBN

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1pcvD23 Steam Me Up, Rawley board on Pinterest: http://bit.ly/10xPdRA

Official Book Page: http://bit.ly/SMURBook

Posted in Book Spotlights, Guest Bloggers, Promotion, Spotlights | Tagged Angela Quarles, fantasy, Jack the Ripper, monkey, serial killer, SOuthern steampunk, Steam Me Up Rawley, steampunk | Leave a comment

Jenna’s 411 ~ 2/11/2015

Posted on February 11, 2015 by Jenna Jaxon

Welcome to another week’s installment of Jenna’s 411! Sorry I was MIA last week. A stomach flu and an upper respiratory infection laid me low for most of the week. I felt so bad I couldn’t even write! For me, that’s bad. But I’m back in the saddle again with some info for you.

Book Chat ~ Valentine’s Day Sale!

In honor of the holiday dedicated to romance, I’ve put all of my self-published books (plus Hog Wild) on sale for just .99 each! This means my medieval trilogy: Betrothal, Betrayal, and Beleaguered, my contemporary erotic Fairy Tale Hog Wild, and my newly released erotic romantic comedy, Almost Perfect can all be found on Amazon, Smashwords, and ARe for just .99 each! Better stock up while the sale lasts!(through Valentine’s Day)

The Almost Perfect Rafflecopter Giveaway continues and will run through the end of my blog tour. For a list of my blog tour stops, click here. Those winners will be announced on Valentine’s Day. Prizes include a gift card and chocolate!

On the Home Front ~ Swag Workshop

Kieran Kramer’s Princess Swag Bag

Last week before I got sick, I was informed by RWA that my proposal for a workshop: Swag for the Romance Writer, had been accepted for the 2015 RWA National Conference! I’m thrilled and terrified all at once. 🙂 But I love swag and I’ve done a workshop on it for my local chapter, so I’m getting my ducks in a row and my swag into bags! It’s going to be a fun time I think.

Jenna Fun Fact of the Week

Throughout my life, I have taken classes in four foreign languages: Latin, French, Russian, and Gaelic. I also studied Spanish, but not formally. And for all these language lessons, French is the only one I still have a smattering of. At least, I was able to sort of navigate Paris when I went there thirteen years ago. I can recognize some Latin words, and I remember one sentence in Russian: Ya idu na pochtu paslat pismo. Which is the phoneticized rendering of the Russian sentence for “I am walking to the post office to mail a letter.” LOL So funny what we remember. In Gaelic I only remember how to pronounce the name of one of my Irish actresses, Maire Nic Shiubhlaigh (Moire ni Shoovly).

That’s all from me for this week. But don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter. (See the “J” icon in the right-hand sidebar.) And come by for the announcement of the Rafflecopter winners on Sunday during my Weekend Writing Warriors post.

So, how’s your week been?

Posted in Jenna's 411, On Almost Perfect, Promotion | Tagged .99 sale, Almost Perfect, foreign languages, Jenna Jaxon, Jenna's 411, RWA National Workshop, swag | 6 Comments

Spotlight on Monica Corwin and Heart and Souls

Posted on February 10, 2015 by Jenna Jaxon

Thank you so much for letting me drop in with my upcoming title: Heart and Souls.

Here’s a little about the book:

Heart and Souls follows church detective Constance Grace as she hunts a con man stealing women’s souls.

In the late 21st century, scientists created a serum that gave every person nine lives, also known as souls. Flush with expendable life, Earth collapsed into war and anarchy, leaving the Catholic Church to step in and take control. In a world where the stealing of souls is big business, it takes people like Constance Grace, detective in the Soul Theft Division, to hunt the criminals down and strip them of their remaining souls.

When social-climbing con man, Noah Hannock, plunks himself on the church’s radar, he becomes Constance’s problem. With a brand new partner, Mikon Cross and seven of her nine given souls remaining, Connie has to enter high society under a too-familiar alias to tempt Noah into her web.

While the chemistry between Connie and Mikon is scorching hot, the reality is they don’t trust each other. Each with their own secrets to protect, the hunt for Noah Hannock threatens them both. The only way they can survive is if they learn to lay themselves—heart and souls—on the line for each other.

About the Author:

Monica Corwin is an outspoken writer who believes romance is for everyone no matter their preferences. Displaced in Central Pennsylvania, Monica Corwin attempts to spend her days writing away in her home by the river. In reality she chases around a tod- dler and writes when she can. In her free time she drinks entirely too much coffee and collects tomes on King Arthur. Monica Corwin has over thirteen published works from publishers such as Crimson Romance and Cleis Press. You can find her on the web at www.monicacorwin.com. She is also on Twitter @Monica_Corwin and Facebook.

Excerpt:

He watched as she pulled her unruly mane up into a messy bun on top of her head. Every time he saw her do it, he couldn’t help but think it was a move specifically designed by women to turn men on. The pale skin of her delicate neck was now on full display, as were her toned shoulders and biceps. Usually he liked his women soft, and while Connie did have softness here and there, mostly she was made up of backbone, hard-toned muscles, and coffee.

“Stop being a creeper,” she said, breaking the spell.

He looked up. She was giving him a pointed look with an eyebrow arched. Somehow he had forgotten himself and sat staring at her. Will this night never end?

“Sorry, I was zoning out,” he said.

“Yeah, on my tits.”

“Really, I wasn’t staring at them. I was just thinking.”

“Uh-huh.”

There was no talking to her. He climbed up and went to his own bed. She was right, but he wasn’t going to admit it. He’d have to hear about it for the next year otherwise. “How are you feeling?” he asked after a few moments of silence.

“Still a little messed up from the drug, but, not terrible,” she said.

“That’s good.” He could tell she wasn’t saying it all though. She sat on top of her comforter, shoulders slumped, as she rocked ever so slightly back and forth. There was no way he could let her stay like that all night. If she was to be tortured then he could at least bear some of the burden.

He got up and walked over to her, moved behind her on the bed, and circled his arms around her upper body. She didn’t move, didn’t even breath, for a few seconds. It was a huge relief when she sagged into him, allowing him to hug her more comfortably.

The intensity with which his heart leapt and battered against his ribcage was astounding. If heaven and hell could merge it would live in such a moment. Her scent engulfed him, consumed him, and made him think of all the things he knew he shouldn’t. It was a shock when he realized she was guarding her thoughts to him. Not effectively, but she was making an attempt to ease his discomfort.

“Here,” he said, shifting his legs open so she could lean back into him and stretch out as well.

Such an unlikely pair they made. Only having met a month ago and now here they were in a gilded hotel room, holding each other gently. He would never have imagined a moment like this between them when they first met. Father Reynolds wouldn’t have either.

Constance turned to face him, and he watched helplessly as she slipped her tongue out and wet her lips.

“I’m going to kiss you, Mikon, unless you stop me,” she whispered, only inches away from his mouth.

Pre-Order Now! http://www.breathlesspress.com/index.php?main_page=product_free_shipping_info&cPath=13&products_id=724

Posted in Book Spotlights, Guest Posts, Promotion, Spotlights | Tagged contemporary paranormal romance, Heart and Souls, Monica Corwin, Paranormal Romance | Leave a comment

Medieval Monday: Spotlight on Bambi Lynn and Marek

Posted on February 9, 2015 by Jenna Jaxon

It’s Medieval Monday again and I’m spotlighting fellow medieval romance author,

Bambi Lynn!

Now, please welcome Bambi Lynn!!

BLURB: Boring accountant, Kitty Petty, struggles to get through each day one at a time since the brutal murder of her husband. She spends every free moment caring for her young daughter, until the night she wakes to find her bed on fire.

Kitty doesn’t know how she got to the year 1196, much less how to get back. But if she doesn’t, her daughter will be institutionalized. Having failed to save her child from the clutches of a madman. Kitty vows to protect her future. But going back to her time means risking her own life and separating her from the knight she has grown to love.

Marek Stone wants to protect his wife from the people of Stonebridge. Katherine has been declared a demon after her miraculous rise from the funeral pyre, and the villagers want justice.

EXCERPT:

Marek jerked the laces free at the waist of his chausses, tugged them off and, naked, padded across to the tub. Stepping over the side, he sank into the steaming water. With a sigh, he closed his eyes, resting his head back against the rim.

The look of ecstasy on his face made Kitty want to rip off her own clothes and jump in with him. She realized she’d never known lust until that moment. She tried to deny it, but the pulse at her core could not be ignored, nor could the moisture that pooled between her thighs. Slowly she tiptoed over until she stood next to the tub, gazing down at him.

He did not open his eyes, but spoke so quietly he must have known she stood next to him. “If you have had a change of heart towards Bria, I am pleased. I would not deny her the affections of her mother. I have often told you not to toy with me, now I demand the same consideration of her. I would not have her disappointed in any way.”

She nodded vaguely, her gaze riveted to the water line just beneath his chest.

When she did not answer, he looked up at her. “Wife,” he snapped. Kitty jumped, having been caught gawking at his nudity, barely hidden beneath the water. “Continue to stare at me thus and you’ll find yourself possessed of me for the first time in years.”

Kitty could think of nothing more pleasant that being ‘possessed’ of this man.

He settled himself once again, but continued to look up at her. “I have not concerned myself with your whoring for some time. But I would like nothing more than for Bria to know the love of a happy family. You are a mistress of deceit. If you can make her believe she has that, I would be…grateful.” His expression softened.

Kitty fairly melted. He loved that child. All he wanted was for her to be happy. She knew in that moment that this man would never allow harm to come to his daughter, much less harm her himself. He wasn’t like Jake. She reached out, traced the tip of her finger along the scar that trailed into his wet hair.

The touch was like an electric shock. The downy hairs on the back of her neck prickled. A shiver racked her whole body.

He must have felt it, too. Marek grabbed her wrist and, before she could say anything to stop him, pulled her over the side and into his lap. Water sloshed onto the floor.

Her first thought, that he was ruining Bria’s favorite gown, evaporated as he pulled her against his chest, crushing his lips to hers.

Kitty knew she should resist. She couldn’t breathe. The frantic, almost desperate movement of his mouth on hers seared her. She kissed him back with all the pent up passion and loneliness she’d felt in recent months.

God! He was a good kisser. His lips were full and seemed to devour her. She opened her mouth wider, taking his tongue inside her. Her hands grasped his shoulders. Oh, but she could get used to this.

And her daughter would perish.

Available At: Amazon, B&N, Apple

Next week, February 16, I’m spotlighting Victoria Zak’s fabulous books.

Posted in Blog Hops, Book Spotlights, Historical Romance, Medieval Mondays, Medieval Romance, Medieval Times, Promotion, Spotlights | Tagged Bambi Lynn, historical romance, Knights of Stonebridge, Marek, Medieval Monday, medieval romance, time travel romance | Leave a comment

Weekend Writing Warriors ~ 2/08/15 Almost Perfect

Posted on February 8, 2015 by Jenna Jaxon

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors! My erotic romantic comedy, Almost Perfect, released on Friday, January 23rd. I’ve added two short stories to this enhanced version of the novella, giving more exploits of my hero and heroine.

This is the final week I’m giving you 8 sentences from a new scene in the original novella, now titled “An Almost Perfect Night.” Here’s a little more from Pam’s steamy encounter with her pirate:

He lowered his head and clamped his mouth onto her nipple, tugging on it almost to the point of pain. The ache reached the crucial place between her legs, making her writhe with need.

“Mmmm,” he growled and grasped the tip with his teeth and squeezed.

Pam moaned, pain and pleasure fusing within her.

He raised his hips and plunged into her, sliding his whole thick, hard length inside with a power that forced the air from her lungs.

She gasped as he filled her completely, stretching her to almost impossible limits… God, he was the best lover she’d ever had, and she hadn’t seen his face or learned his name. Determined to see the face of her mystery lover, she rolled him over.

That’s all for Almost Perfect. If you want more, read on!

And there’s a sale going on right now. All my self-published books for .99 each! Check out the links below!

Blurb for Almost Perfect

When they met by accident at The Rocky Horror Picture Show…

When Pam Kimball’s plans to play Janet at a Rocky Horror Picture Show get derailed, she commandeers the first guy she sees—a tall, sexy, geeky stranger—to be her Brad. Roger Ware’s come for a midnight showing of a classic movie, only to find himself dragged onto the stage by a forceful brunette who won’t take “no” for an answer. When Pam invites herself over after the show, her seduction is clear, but will it continue once Roger reveals one embarrassing secret?

and their first Christmas is almost their last…

As Pam and her computer geek boyfriend Roger prepare to celebrate their first Christmas together, Pam is having doubts about their relationship. When her present to him backfires, bringing their lovemaking plans to a crashing halt and Roger suddenly announces he won’t be back for New Year’s Eve, Pam fears the worst. Might a break-up be her present this Christmas Eve?

how could they ever hope to make marriage work?

Pamela Kimball’s birthday present, a One Perfect Night adventure, promises to jump-start her life, put a new man in her bed, and help her forget her past. Unfortunately, movie-buff Pam’s Pirates of the Caribbean fantasy takes an alarming wrong turn when she’s abandoned on a not quite deserted island—with ex-husband Roger Ware.

Before long, Pam realizes the geek she used to be married to has transformed into one of the most charming, sexiest men she’s ever met. When a simple kiss leads Roger to challenge her to test his improved lovemaking skills, Pam must decide if her heart can survive the consequences of becoming Roger’s “almost” perfect night.

Almost Perfect and all my self-published books are available now on Amazon, Smashwords, and ARe . So come grab your copy!

And don’t forget to check out the rest of the Warriors here. There’s some fantastic snippets to be read.

Posted in On Almost Perfect, Promotion, Weekend Writing Warriors | Tagged .99 sale, Almost Perfect, Jenna Jaxon, pirate fantasy, Weekend Writing Warriors | 10 Comments

Medieval Monday: Spotlight on Mary Morgan and Dragon Knight’s Medallion

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Jenna Jaxon

It’s Medieval Monday again and today I’ve got a fabulous trailer, a Valentine from all of us medieval authors to our lovely readers. Check it out below:

Now, today I’m spotlighting fellow medieval romance author, Mary Morgan.

Next week, February 9, I’m spotlighting Sandra Jones .

Now, please welcome Mary Morgan!!

To right a wrong, two souls are brought together only to shatter when they are torn apart by the deeds of an evil druid.

Dragon Knight, Stephen MacKay’s powers are altered after the death of his sister. Now he is plagued with visions that threaten to destroy his soul. When Aileen Kerrigan falls through a time tunnel, he vows to keep her safe, despite the fact the beautiful but head-strong half-blooded fae could be the death of him.

When Aileen finds out her dad is a Fenian Warrior, she flees to a nearby ruin. Armed with the medallion her mother gave her, and a matching one belonging to a long dead knight, she is flung into the past and finds a handsome but surly warrior who is on a quest. Now it seems her future could be entwined with his, if she doesn’t kill him first.

Excerpt:

Full shock registered inside her brain as she realized where she’d seen this man. Her body started to quake, and she clutched her hands to her chest.

“No, th…this cannot be,” she choked out. “Tell me who you are. I demand to know your name!”

Are all the fae so dumb and beautiful, he thought. “Ye ken who I am.” Stephen’s head caught a glimpse of the fae, as she started to take a few hesitant steps backwards. What the bloody hell was wrong with her? She was standing too close to the edge. If she was not careful, she would slip on over.

Why did he care? She could just vanish, right? Stephen rubbed his face, the remnants of a headache still behind his eyes. Sweet Bridget! Now the fae was yelling at him.

She waved her hands, all the time shaking her lovely head. “You are not him!”

He had to put a stop to this, or she would fall. Perhaps, she was a daft fae. He certainly did not know their ways, nor did he want to find out. However, this creature was becoming more agitated, and for some unfathomable reason, he did not want her to come to any harm.

“Och, fae healer, stop your babbling,” he dismounted with a groan.

“No, no, no!” Pointing a finger at him, she continued to walk backwards. Stumbling, her foot twisted among some tree roots, causing her to lose her balance.

Stephen swore as he lunged for her, grasping her arm and crushing her against his chest. “Are ye truly daft?”

Buy Links:

Amazon Barnes & Noble The Wild Rose Press

Follow Mary via:

http://www.facebook.com/mary.morgan.564

http://www.twitter.com/m_morganauthor

http://www.pinterest.com/marymorgan50

I hope you’ve enjoyed meeting Mary and taking a look at her fabulous Dragon Knight’s Medallion. 🙂

Posted in Blog Hops, Book Spotlights, Historical Romance, Medieval Mondays, Medieval Romance, Medieval Times, Promotion, Spotlights | Tagged Dragon Knight's Medallion, dragons, fantasy medieval romance, Highland warrior, historical romance, Mary Morgan, Medieval Monday, medieval romance | 5 Comments

Weekend Writing Warriors ~ 2/01/15 Almost Perfect

Posted on February 1, 2015 by Jenna Jaxon

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors! My erotic romantic comedy, Almost Perfect, just released on Friday, January 23rd. I’ve added two short stories to this enhanced version of the novella, giving more exploits of my hero and heroine.

So today I’m giving you 8 more sentences from a new scene in the original novella, now titled “An Almost Perfect Night.” Pam’s pirate has arrived and is showing he was worth the wait:

Before she could utter a “Thank God,” he’d turned her around and seized her lips, thrusting his tongue into her mouth. All protest died. His mouth tasted like honeysuckle, warm and sweet. He’d lifted her as easily as if she were a doll. Then her clothes were gone, and he’d lowered her to the soft sand, his lips locked with hers all the while. She had yet to see his face, but with moves like that, who cared what he looked like?

Now she lay on her back, his taut body stretched over hers, reveling in her long-awaited ravishment.

He nudged her legs apart with his knee and the hard length of his cock pressed against her inner thigh— Jesus, how long was he?

Blurb for Almost Perfect

When they met by accident at The Rocky Horror Picture Show…

and their first Christmas is almost their last…

how could they ever hope to make marriage work?

Almost Perfect is available now on Amazon, B & N and ARe . So come grab your copy!

And don’t forget to check out the rest of the Warriors here. There’s some fantastic snippets to be read.

Posted in On Almost Perfect, Promotion, Weekend Writing Warriors | Tagged Almost Perfect, Jenna Jaxon, pirate fantasy, Weekend Writing Warriors | 8 Comments

Jenna’s 411 ~ 1/28/2015

Posted on January 28, 2015 by Jenna Jaxon

Welcome to another week’s installment of Jenna’s 411!

Book Chat ~ Almost Perfect Release

Almost Perfect, my erotic contemporary romantic comedy, released on January 23. Hooray!

Winners of my Release Day Giveaway were Jennifer Lowery and Loveshistorical.

The Rafflecopter Giveaway continues and will run through the end of my blog tour. For a list of my blog tour stops, click here. Those winners will be announced on Valentine’s Day. Prizes include a gift card and chocolate!

On the Home Front ~ The Boxwood Inn

Weekend before last, my husband and I took a break and spent the night at our favorite romantic getaway: The Boxwood Inn in Lee Hall, VA. We’ve been going to this wonderful bed & breakfast for years, sometimes for the night, sometimes just for dinner, but we always enjoy the experience. We were supposed to spend New Year’s Eve there, but due to circumstances beyond our control, it had to be postponed. And I’m kind of glad it was. We were the only guests there and received the royal treatment. I plan to do a full post on The Boxwood soon, so I’ll save most of the accolades and descriptions for that post. However, I will say that if you’re in this neck of the woods, The Boxwood is a lovely place to stay and be pampered.

Jenna Fun Fact of the Week

I don’t usually confess this so baldly, although most people who know me know this is true, but I am an optimist. My glass is perpetually half-full. I tend to see the good in most situations and I am always looking on the bright side of life. I’m not really a Pollyanna type, but I prefer to believe things will work out. I even think that I would be a survivor of any of a number of disasters, although I suspect I might not want to survive a zombie apocalypse. LOL I’m just sayin’.

That’s all from me. But don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter. (See the “J” icon in the right-hand sidebar.) The first edition goes out this weekend to subscribers. I plan to include some sort of goodie for those who receive the first issue, so please, join the throng!

How’s your week been?

Posted in Jenna's 411, On Almost Perfect, Promotion | Tagged Almost Perfect, contemporary romance, Jenna Jaxon, Jenna's 411, newsletter on Jenna Jaxon, optimist, The Boxwood Inn | 3 Comments

Untamed & Unabashed ~ Lydia Bennet’s Story by Liza O’Connor

Posted on January 27, 2015 by Jenna Jaxon

Welcome to Lydia’s Bennet’s story.

If you’ve read Pride & Prejudice, you know Lydia is the youngest of the five Bennet sisters. Like her siblings she has little chance of making a good marriage. Still, Lydia is not your typical heroine. She doesn’t cry over her hopeless future. She sets about to change it, without concern to propriety or decorum. Lydia falls to the charms of Wickham when she’s sixteen, certain a marriage to the handsome fellow is the beginning of her fabulous life. Wickham’s many failings reveal themselves in short order and Lydia realizes she’ll have to secure a better future for them both.

Here’s a bit of detail from Pride & Prejudice that touches upon Lydia’s story.

In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austin has Lydia and Wickham go directly to Longbourne after their wedding. However, that wasn’t practical, since Wickham needs to make arrangements to pay off debts and has yet to acquire a new position. So I’ve delayed their return to Longbourne in this story, allowing them both to get into more trouble.

Elizabeth Bennet told her story in Pride and Prejudice. Now Lydia Bennet tells her side of her whirlwind marriage to Lieutenant Wickham. The youngest of five daughters with a pittance of a dowry and no hope for a good marriage, Lydia feared her life was doomed from the start. She learns how to set herself apart from her sisters and gain the attention of young men. She hones charm and flirtation to an art. Willing to take risks, she manages to acquire a substantial dowry and marries her beloved Wickham. Yet, her life remains on the brink until she gains the patronage of a wealthy Duke trapped in a loveless marriage.

“Lydia was Lydia still; untamed, unabashed, wild, noisy and fearless.”

—quote by Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

EXCERPT

After hours of passion beyond her former comprehension, Lydia lay in peaceful bliss, her head resting upon David’s hard chest. His hand gently stroked her arm.

“I will remember this forever,” he said, his voice filled with sadness.

Lydia frowned and pushed herself up. His words sounded like a goodbye. “Will I not see you again?”

Rolling off the bed, he lifted her gown off the floor, shaking it to lessen the wrinkles. “I cannot.”

Lydia could not make sense of his reply. How was it possible she could have incurred delight beyond imagination and he felt nothing? “Did I not provide you pleasure?”

He gasped in pain and turned to face her. “You cannot fathom the pure rapture you gave me.”

Now she was more confused than ever. “Do you dislike feeling such?”

Placing her gown on the bed, he moved away from her. “I consider myself a connoisseur of erotic enjoyments. But I have always kept it in check. While I crave pleasure, the women are not important to me.” He poured himself a drink. “I taste them for a month and then send them off.”

Taking a deep swallow, he turned and faced Lydia. “You are different. You are like opium to the blood. I crave you even now, when I should be satiated.” He sighed. “I dare not continue this. You are too potent, too desirable. I will return you to Wickham and be done with this. Otherwise, you’ll destroy my life.”

SALES LINK

Amazon

More About the Author

Liza O’Connor’s favorite books are Pride & Prejudice and Douglas Adams’ four book trilogy, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Go figure…

Raised in the southern mid-section, Liza escaped to the East Coast once out of college. She’s worked as a journalist, a radio DJ, a security guard, a stock broker, a strategist, and a business solutions consultant to name a few of her many occupations. Again…go figure.

She learned to fly planes, jump out of planes, hang-glide, kayak and scuba dive, to name of few of her ‘let’s kill Liza’ moments. However, her favorite activity is to hike with her dog Jess among the shaved mountains of NJ.

Here are additional Historical Novels by Liza O’Connor

A Humorous Sleuth Series: The Adventures of Xavier & Vic

The brilliant English Sleuth, Xavier Thorn, takes on a cheeky apprentice who turns out to be a young woman. Vic prefers to dress as a young man so she can live a more interesting life in the Late Victorian era. Overtime, Xavier makes her his partner in all ways.

The Troublesome Apprentice — The greatest sleuth in Victorian England hires a young man who turns out to be a young woman.

The Missing Partner — Oops! The greatest sleuth in Victorian England goes missing, leaving Vic to rescue him, a suffragette, and about 100 servants. Not to mention an eviscerating cat. Yes, let’s not mention the cat.

A Right to Love — A Romantic spin-off from the Adventures of Xavier & Vic. The gypsy pirate Jacko falls in love with a compromised lady of high society.

The Mesmerist — The Mesmerist can control people from afar and make them murder for her. Worse yet, Xavier Thorn has fallen under her spell.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT

LIZA O’CONNOR

Investigate these sites:

Liza’s Blog and Website Facebook Twitter

Google +

Posted in Book Spotlights, Historical Romance, On Regency Romance, Promotion, Regency Romance, Spotlights | Tagged historical romance, Liza O'Connor, Lydia Bennet's Story, Pride and Prejudice, Regency romance, Untamed & Unabashed | 8 Comments

Medieval Monday: Spotlight on Ashley York

Posted on January 26, 2015 by Jenna Jaxon

My feature is the first in The Order of the Scottish Thistle Series – The Bruised Thistle.

Blurb: Iseabail MacNaughton, the orphaned daughter of a Scottish laird, is forced to flee her home and seek assistance against her lecherous uncle who has usurped her family’s land. When she meets Seumas, a strong and valiant mercenary, she cannot help wondering if he could be the one to stand with her again her uncle. But with a price on her head and enemies on all sides, her trust is not something she can afford to give lightly…

Seumas MacDonell is a man wounded in body and soul, driven by guilt. When he rescues Iseabail from one of his own men, he cannot deny the attraction he feels for her, despite the wound that left him unable to act on it. In the hope of finding redemption for his sins, he agrees to help Iseabail…but will his feeling for her prove to be the ultimate obstacle to his salvation?

EXCERPT:

“Methinks ye wish to place a curse on me with that look of yers… What is yer name?”

Though she jumped at the sound of his voice, she could not help watching as he poured water from a pitcher to a bowl sitting on the table beside the fire. Mesmerized by the motion and the play of firelight over his expansive chest, she did not notice right away when he stopped his movements. She met his eyes. Her heart beat faster and that strange heat centered in her belly again.

He quirked a brow. “I asked ye a question and I expect an answer…or do ye not know how to act with yer betters?”

Her better? Though she seethed inside, Iseabail bit her tongue before she gave herself away. If he but knew how much land her clan called their own…

Nay, Iseabail. Remember the part you play here.

Lowering her eyes, she quietly answered him. “Forgive me, m’lord. I forget myself.” Unsure what else the charade called for, she curtseyed slightly.

“Yer name?” He still didn’t move. His brows were raised in expectation yet again.

“My name is Iseabail.”

He nodded, apparently appeased. “And my name is Seumas.”

His face settled into a slight smile and he continued with his washing. His muscles flexed as he rubbed across his chest and down his arms, scrubbing the soap into lather then rinsing it clean until his skin glistened. When he finished, he reached for the cloth beside him but turned his face to her.

She exhaled slowly.

“Come here, Iseabail.”

His tone was coaxing, as if speaking to a newly harnessed foal. She took the few steps toward him. When he reached for her face, she tensed and her mouth went dry. He was no better than her uncle, after all, and disappointment washed over her. She glanced down, steeling herself for the imminent assault, before facing him. His hand stopped just short of her face. Their eyes met and she could tell he was insulted by his tight lips and furrowed brow.

He wiped her cheek with a wet finger. “Ye’re filthy,” he said with disgust. “Make use of my water and be quick about it.” Seumas walked away, rubbing his hands dry.

Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and Apple

Next Medieval Monday my featured author is Mary Morgan with her latest release.