Jenna Jaxon Romance--because passion is timeless.

Weekend Writing Warriors ~ 1/25/14 Almost Perfect

Posted on January 25, 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 sentences from a new scene in the original novella, now titled “An Almost Perfect Night.” The setting is a tropical island where Pam’s waiting for her Pirates of the Caribbean adventure to begin:

The deliciously hard body pressed her into the warm sand. Sinewy arms pinned her shoulders while his stubbly beard rasped against the skin of her neck as he kissed and nibbled his way down the slope of her neck. Her pirate had shown up at last, a dream come true. Tall, dark, and handsome might be a cliché, but man, it felt so good. The warmth of his naked torso rubbing against her bare midriff set her ablaze with hungers she’d thought would never be satisfied.

She’d been sitting under the trees, contemplating a scathing rejoinder to Roger’s accusation when she’d been pulled into an embrace from behind. She’d shrieked and tried to scramble away, but he’d nuzzled her ear and whispered, “It’s me, Pam. I’m here to give you your perfect night.

Blurb for An Almost Perfect Night

Can their love turn “almost perfect” into one perfect night?

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.

Forced by hunger to accept Roger’s offer of dinner, Pam realizes the geek she used to be married to has transformed into one of the most charming, sexiest men she’s ever met. His newfound confidence—and hot body—re-kindles old fires. A simple kiss leads Roger to challenge her to discover how much his lovemaking skills have improved, leaving Pam torn between self-preservation and burning desire.

With time running out before they’re rescued, Pam must decide if her heart can survive the consequences of becoming Roger’s “almost” perfect night.

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 | 12 Comments

Almost Perfect Releases!

Posted on January 23, 2015 by Jenna Jaxon

My erotic contemporary romantic comedy, Almost Perfect, released today!

*throws confetti in the air*

To celebrate the release and the beginning of the blog tour, I’m doing a giveaway via Rafflecopter here and on all of my tour sites. You can find a list of the Almost Perfect Blog Tour sites below and on the Blog Tour page above.

The tour runs from today, beginning with a stop at Liza O’Connor’s blog, (where you’ll find a fantastic 5 star review) and ending with Jennifer Lowry’s Romance Recipes in mid-February just before Valentines Day, which is when the winners will be announced. Two winners, in fact. One will receive a $25.00 gift card. The other, in honor of Valentine’s Day, will receive a basket/box of chocolates.

“Valentines Day Chocolates” by John Hritz from Ann Arbor, MI, USA – Flickr. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

So, here’s the blurb and an excerpt from Almost Perfect.

Blurb:

They met by accident at The Rocky Horror Picture Show and their first Christmas was almost their last. Can Pam Kimball and Roger Ware hope to make marriage work? Only time–and these three tales–will tell: An Almost Perfect Meeting, An Almost Perfect Christmas, and An Almost Perfect Night. An erotic romantic comedy for people who are “almost” perfect.

Excerpt from An Almost Perfect Night:

“If you’re skinny dipping, you forgot to remove one very important piece of clothing.”

She shrieked and whirled around.

Roger stood on the beach behind her, a green bottle of Perrier in one hand. His gaze played up and down her naked torso, and his salacious grin widened. “Mind if I join you?”

She gasped, wrapping her arms across her chest to shield her breasts from his hot gaze. “What the hell are you doing back here?”

“I came to make peace.” He waved the bottle at her. “Thought you might be thirsty by now.”

Her gaze fastened on the green glass, her mouth suddenly dry as sand. She stepped toward him then froze as she glanced at his face.

Roger stared at her, his eyes sparkling with excitement. He wiggled the bottle, challenging her to take it.

She’d be damned if she’d accept anything from him. Not here, anyway. That would make her feel weak, dependent. She eyed the condensation on the bottle. A single drop ran down the side, hung for a second at the bottom then plopped into the sand.

Shit. Right now, she was weak, dependent, and thirsty.

“Come on, Pam. It’s only water.” He still held the tempting thing out to her. Hell. She marched up to him, her steps as loud as she could make them on the packed sand. Stopping an arm’s length from him, she peeled one hand away from her breasts and shifted her other to cover as much as possible. For once, she thanked God for a B cup. She snared the bottle and shot him a look of triumph, only to realize the bottle was capped. To open it, she’d have to use her other hand.

Furious, she shifted her gaze from the tantalizing object to his gleeful eyes. “Would you open this for me, please?”

“Suddenly lost all your strength, have you, hon?” His eyes took on a hunger she remembered. “It’s not as if I haven’t seen your breasts before.”

“Then you don’t need to see them again, do you?” Heat rose in her cheeks. He was enjoying this way too much. “Come on, open it. You said it was a peace offering.”

“And these are part of the peace negotiations.” He stood, arms crossed over his muscled chest, better looking than she remembered.

Not fair.

“I’m bored, Pam. My date still hasn’t turned up, so I thought I’d come harass you a while. I’ll tell you what.” He reached for the Perrier and unscrewed the cap, but didn’t offer it to her. “You show me yours, I’ll show you mine.”

“And why would I want to see yours again?” She fixed her gaze on the bottle resting at his hips, watching the carbonated bubbles rise to the top, willing herself not to let her gaze stray toward his crotch.

“For old time’s sake?” His eyes flashed with mischief as he tipped the sparkling water up and started to drink.

She stared, her parched lips opened in outrage. Glug, glug. He was making that sound on purpose. Was he going to drink the whole damned thing?

After swallowing at least a third of the contents, he came up for air. “Ah! Hits the spot every time.” He grinned. “Still can’t take a joke? Too bad. Here.” He thrust it toward her.

Pam grabbed the bottle with both hands and shoved the end into her mouth so quickly the glass clicked against her teeth. Greedily, she sucked in and almost choked. The exquisite lime-flavored water rushed into her body to hydrate parched cells. Three more guzzles, and she breathed deeply, satisfied for the moment.

She wiped her hand across her chin where she’d dribbled and held the bottle out to him, but his slack-jawed attention was riveted on her chest. Which meant….

“You still look fine, Pam. Mighty fine.” Her ex-husband licked his lips, his grin reaching almost ear to ear.

“Damn it, Roger.” She wrapped her arms around her breasts so fast she hit herself with the bottle. If there hadn’t still been some water left, she would’ve brained him with it.

He reached down and slipped off his sandals then untied his drawstring, all the while grinning like a fool. With one swift movement, he shucked his pants to reveal a hard, tanned body, complete with a seriously large erection.

She hadn’t seen that coming.

Almost Perfect is now available at Amazon, Smashwords, and ARe.

Now click here for the Rafflecopter: Enter to win the gift card and chocolate! And follow along on my blog tour for more chances to win!

Jan. 23 Liza O’Connor

Jan. 26 Melissa Keir

Jan. 27 D’Ann Lindun

Daryl Devore

Jan. 28 Jennifer Lowry

Jan. 29 Monica Corwin

Jan. 30 Sheri Fredricks

Feb. 2 Meet the Characters

Feb. 12 Romance Recipes

Posted in Almost Perfect Blog Tour, Blog Tours, New Release, On Almost Perfect, Promotion, Release Party | Tagged Almost Perfect, contemporary romance, deserted island, Erotic Romance, erotic romantic comedy, Jenna Jaxon, Kama Sutra, new release party, pirates, Pirates of the Caribbean, Rocky Horror Picture Show, sex on the beach | 13 Comments

Jenna’s 411 ~ 1/21/2015

Posted on January 21, 2015 by Jenna Jaxon

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

Book Chat ~ Almost Perfect Release

Almost Perfect, my erotic contemporary romantic comedy, releases day after tomorrow on January 23. I hope you’ll come by for the release festivities. I’ll have a Release Day Giveaway as well as a Rafflecopter Giveaway that will run through the end of my blog tour. Winner will be

“Valentines Day Chocolates from 2005” by John Hritz from Ann Arbor, MI, USA – Flickr. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

announced on Valentine’s Day. Prizes include gift cards and chocolate!

On the Home Front ~ Newsletter: From the Pen of Jenna Jaxon

One of my goals for 2015 was to start a monthly newsletter for my readers, to give them updates in what I hope will be my busiest year to date. Well, I’m now happy to report that the first letter will go out in early February! And yes, you can teach an old dog new tricks. Yesterday I created a sign-up form with MailChimp, and actually put a button to it on my blog! I’ve got the icon here, which can be found in the top right-hand corner of the blog. So if you’d like to sign up, please do! I plan to give news about up-coming releases, advance cover reveals, giveaways each month, and a gluten-free recipe good enough to tempt non-gluten free readers. 🙂 And much more. Look for the first edition in just a couple of weeks!

Jenna Fun Fact of the Week

I’ve written posts before about using the sense of smell in romance writing and how important it is to put the reader into the character’s skin through the olfactory sense. I’ve also taught my classes that one way we communicate non-verbally is through the sense of smell: the perfume or cologne we use says something about how we want to be perceived. My signature cologne is Chloe by Lagerfeld. If you don’t know it, it’s a very sweet, flowery, and (to me) romantic scent. It makes me think of a woman in a flowing long white dress running through a meadow. You can’t get more romantic than that!

That’s all from me. 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, signature perfume | 9 Comments

Spotlight on La Contessa and the Marquis by Lindsay Downs

Posted on January 20, 2015 by Jenna Jaxon

Thank you very much for having me visit you and your blog to introduce my newest regency cozy mystery series, Rogues and Rakehells Mystery. The first book in the series, La Contessa and The Marquis is currently available for preorder with its release set for Monday, Jan 19, 2015.

As I’m not sure where you, the readers of this post, live in the world I’ve included all the Amazon buy link for your convenience.

Blurb-

When Bianca Maria Ledford Goretti, La Contessa de Massa, flees back to her homeland and the safety of her godmother, The Duchess of Gorham, little does she realize who’s arms she lands in.

Lord Rainer Cross, Marquis of Hathaway, is a well-known and dangerous rakehell within the ton. Little does he suspect his godmother has set him up to halt his skirt chasing days.

Over time the reason for Bianca’s return comes to light which has Rainer deeply concerned. Not sure who he can trust Rainer turns to has several of his more interesting staff. He has them use their talents to ferret out the truth.

Everything get more complicated when they learn a friend might not be who he claims to be. Not sure who to trust, except Rainer and the duchess, Bianca learns several startling facts which could protect her from harm.

Once everything is revealed the duchess steps in with a surprise, something neither could have ever seen coming.

Excerpt-

Rainer Cross, Marquis of Hathaway, settled his shoulder against a pillar where he’d ensconced himself so he could overlook the ballroom. A warning glare to several want to be rakes was all that was needed to send them scurrying back to their mommas.

With a renewed resolve, to search down one particular individual, his piercing blue eyes studied the throng of ladies. Some too old but searching for a lover, even if for a brief tryst. Others on the hunt for a husband of which he had no interest, at least with them, as he already had his sights set on one person in particular.

Granted, he’d not seen her, except from a distance, but if the reports were to be believed she was, without a doubt the most beautiful lady, the truest diamond, to ever grace the ton.

Then, as if Venus rising from the ocean, she appeared at the top of the grand ballroom vestibule. He could feel the air rush from his lungs, something he’d never experienced before, as he fixed his gaze on her.

Seeing her in the flesh, as it were, he knew all the whispers circulating about had been true. Without a doubt she was the most beautifully, enchanting and mysterious woman he ever set his eyes upon.

He was pleased to see she was conversing animatedly with an elderly, heavily bejewelled woman. From where he was standing and the angle of the matron, Rainer wasn’t able to see her face.

“As long as she’s not my godmother, then I most assuredly will gain an introduction to the Contessa,” he mumbled to himself.

Due to the loud voices, so everyone could be heard over the musicians, he didn’t hear their presentation. His only concern was the woman accompanying the contessa as he already knew her name- Bianca Maria Ledford Goretti, La Contessa de Massa. Levering himself off the pillar he started toward them, still unable to see who her chaperone was when a friend, another fellow rake, stopped him.

“Rain, I do hope you’re not going after that delicate morsel, as I’ve it on excellent authority she’s eaten up and spit out several lords,” Tony, or more precisely Anthony Fuller, Earl of Wyatt, his friend from their days at Eton then university, informed him.

“My dear friend if she does, then I’ll die a happy man for la Contessa is a gem whom I wish to possess.”

“Ah, and that’s the rub. After she dismisses you she’ll then tread over your heart leaving nothing but a shell of a man. Trust me on this for I’m sure you’ve heard the rumor her first husband died mysteriously.”

“Tony, the only lady I fear is my godmother. If you’ll excuse me I’m going to attempt an introduction,” Rainer told him. With a pat on Tony’s shoulder he stepped around his friend and started for the divan where both ladies had settled.

As he made his way forward he wasn’t surprised to see both women had already collected a small group of young ladies around them. What he found amusing were several swains on the outskirts, all trying to be noticed by either lady.

Upon seeing a frontal assault was out of the question Rainer selected to attack from the rear. Stepping into an adjourning, but linked, alcove he easily approached them and came to a halt within feet of his object.

“Damn. I thought she wasn’t in town,” he mumbled on spying his nemesis, best known as his godmother, The Duchess of Gorham.

Buy Links-

Amazon US- http://tinyurl.com/pyw2lba

Amazon UK- http://tinyurl.com/nhp3oph

Amazon CA- http://tinyurl.com/kwf494z

Amazon AU- http://tinyurl.com/q6ssryz

Amazon DE- http://tinyurl.com/pcmhkgm

Amazon FR- http://tinyurl.com/ms85q3a

Amazon BR- http://tinyurl.com/m8849d6

Amazon IT- http://tinyurl.com/jwy7524

Amazon MX- http://tinyurl.com/lwqv3c9

Amazon NL- http://tinyurl.com/msfmqj2

Amazon ES- http://tinyurl.com/mch56nh

Amazon IN- http://tinyurl.com/m4bqqfu

Trailer-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKXamzz68x4

Bio-

I’ve been an avid readers ever since I was old enough to hold a red leather bound first edition copy of Sir Walter Scott’s The Lady of the Lake in my lap.

So it only seemed natural at some point in my life I take up pen and paper to start writing. Over time my skills slightly improved which I attribute to my English teachers.

My breakthrough came about in the mid 1970’s when I read a historical romance written by Sergeanne Golon, Angelique. This French husband and wife team opened my eyes to the real world of fiction. Stories about romance, beautiful damsels, handsome heroes and plots which kept me hooked. Of course, being a man, I had to keep my reading hidden from others as that wasn’t appropriate reading for men.

With this new found appreciation of the written word I took up other books and devoured them as a starving person would a plate of food. I them attempted to write again. I still wasn’t satisfied so I put it aside for years as other events entered my life.

Finally, in the early years of the new millennium I tried again to write and once again met with limited success. At least now I was able to get past the first page or two. Then, in 2006 a life changing event brought me back to my love, I took a job as a security officer. This allowed me plenty of time to read different genres.

My favorite was Regency. As I poured through everyone I could get my hands on I knew this could be something I wanted to attempt.

Since 2012 when my debut regency romantic suspense released I was hooked and have, except for a few contemporaries, focused on this genre.

Since 2012 I’ve lived in central Texas. I’m also a member of Romance Writers of America and their local chapter.

Where you can find me-

Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/lindsay.downs.7

Facebook Pages- https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lindsay-Downs-Author/325132754200597?ref=hl

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Regency-by-Lindsay-Downs/421654731286944

Twitter- @ldowns2966

LinkedIn- http://www.linkedin.com/home

Goodreads- http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/3210224-lindsay

Lindsay Downs-Romance Author- http://lindsaydowns-romanceauthor.weebly.com/

Amazon- http://www.amazon.com/Lindsay-Downs/e/B007NQAIIS/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_2

Posted in Guest Posts, Historical Romance, On Regency Romance, Promotion, Regency Romance | Tagged historical romance, La Contessa and the Marquis, Lindsay Downs, Regency romance, Rogues and Rakehells Mystery | 4 Comments

Medieval Monday: Barbara Bettis

Posted on January 19, 2015 by Jenna Jaxon

Welcome back to Medieval Monday! Today I’m hosting Barbara Bettis and her release The Heart of the Phoenix.

Excerpt:

At first, Evie thought it was the thud of her headache. Then the pounding came again, louder. She groaned and turned over. Opening her eyes told nothing; the blackness in the cabin was impenetrable.

“Marie?” Her voice rasped in a dry throat. Blasted tears.

No one answered. The girl must still be on deck. Evie might as well have left Marie behind, for all the assistance the maid provided. With a groan, she swung her feet over the side of the bunk and felt her way along the wall toward the sound of another insistent knock.

“A moment,” she called. “I’m coming.” Who had the nerve to wake her in what must be

the middle of the night? Hah. Need she even wonder? Her toe collided with something, and she yelped as she landed on her knees on the wood plank floor. Just what she needed. A broken foot.

The door burst open, bringing with it a dim light. “What’s wrong?” Stephen’s deep voice filled the room. “Where’s the damned lantern?

“If I knew, I would have lighted it.” Blasted man. Did he think she enjoyed stumbling around in the dark? He acted as if she did so just to plague him.

Holding a shielded ship’s lantern high, he stepped toward the desk. “Here it is. Where’s that lightskirt who’s supposed to be your companion?”

“Leave Marie alone. I wanted privacy and gave her permission go above.” Never mind that Evie had just complained about the same thing. He had no right to do so.

“What do you want?” she asked. “Is something wrong?”

“A little late to ask that, isn’t it?” He bent to coax the cabin lantern to flame.

“Oh, for the love of heaven. Stop plaguing me. Why are you here?”

“I thought you’d like to know the identity of our fellow passenger.”

“At this hour? Could you not have waited until morning?” Sweet Mary, preserve her patience. He was the most maddening man alive.

Light flared in the cabin’s shuttered lantern, throwing a shadow across his face, reminding Evie of another reason he should not be here. Her body instantly throbbed to life.

She pressed her palms against her stomach and inhaled. Calm. She needed calm. He was not the most beautiful man she’d ever beheld. He did not possess the power to heat her blood to boiling.

He did not care that she thought of him night and day.

That much was true, for certain.

“I have news that will make the rest of your trip joyful.”

His words centered her whirling mind, and Evie eyed him warily. What news could possible make her happy right now?

She ventured a guess. “You are leaving? Your second in command, the delightful Sir Macsen, will accompany me the rest of the way home?”

“Much better.”

She could tell he was angry now by the way he glowered and roared in that whispery sort of way no one else could hear, but left her with no doubt of his displeasure.

“Your betrothed.” He bent and scooped her off the floor.

“What? What about him?”

“That’s the identity of the illustrious lord who crosses to England with us.”

“You’re drunk. And put me down. I’m perfectly capable of getting up on my own.”

“Be quiet. You have blood on your leg.”

“Of course I do. I tripped and fell trying to answer your pounding when you could as easily have opened—“ His words finally penetrated her throbbing head. “I’m bleeding?”

Oh, blast. The contents of her—empty—stomach churned. She attended the villagers’ hurts, bound the cuts and scrapes of servants and their children. The sight of their blood bothered her not a whit.

But her own? Black spots danced at the corners of her vision, becoming larger and larger until she heard Stephen’s voice.

“Evie, Evie. What the hell?”

His voice echoed so far away. If she didn’t know better, she’d vow he sounded alarmed. Perhaps she’d close her eyes for a moment.

As the ringing in her ears crescendoed , she recalled his words. Betrothed.

Her betrothed was on board?

Dear Lord, just let me die.

Blurb: Some call him a ruthless mercenary; she calls him the knight of her heart. Memories Lady Evelynn’s childhood hero is home—bitter, hard, tempting as sin. And haunted by secrets. A now-grown Evie offers friendship, but Sir Stephen’s cruel rejection crushes her, and she resolves to forget him. Yet when an unexpected war throws them together, she finds love isn’t so easy to dismiss. If only the king hadn’t betrothed her to another. Can be cruel Sir Stephen lives a double life while he seeks the treacherous outlaws who murdered his friends. Driven by revenge, he thinks his heart is closed to love. His childhood shadow, Lady Evie, unexpectedly challenges that belief. He rebuffs her, but he can’t forget her, although he knows she’s to wed the king’s favorite. And deadly When his drive for vengeance leads to Evie’s kidnapping, Stephen must choose between retribution and the love he’s denied too long. Surely King John will see reason. Convict the murderers; convince the king. Simple. Until a startling revelation threatens everything.

Buy links:

Amazon: http://bitly.com/1vSZgLG

The Wild Rose Press: http://bitly.com/1nIViQz

NEXT WEEK my guest is Ashley York . See you then on Medieval Monday.

Posted in Medieval Mondays | Tagged Barbara Bettis, historical romance, Medieval Monday, medieval romance, The Heart of the Phoenix | 9 Comments

Weekend Writing Warriors ~ 1/18/14 Almost Perfect

Posted on January 18, 2015 by Jenna Jaxon

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

And today I’m giving you 8 sentences from short story #1, “An Almost Perfect Meeting,” with only a little creative punctuation. The setting is a showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Pam, who is in the shadowcast, needs another actor. Roger has just backed into her:

She’d been talking to a guy in costume seated at the end of the row, and he’d practically upended her into his lap. Before he could utter a word of apology, though, she straightened and her face lit up as if he were the answer to her prayers.

“Thank God.” She shoved a pair of black plastic glasses onto his face and said, “I need a Brad.”

Had she lost her boyfriend? He shook his head. “I’m Roger.”

“I don’t care if your name’s Elvis, you’re Brad tonight!”

An Almost Perfect Meeting:

Does the right place and the wrong time equal the almost perfect couple?

When Pam Kimball’s plans to play Janet at a Rocky Horror Picture Show get derailed, she’s determined to go on with the show. She commandeers the first guy she sees—a tall, sexy, geeky stranger—to be her Brad. The guy knows nothing about the show, but plays along, stunning her with a kiss in the middle of the performance. Pam feels his interest while they dance and decides to make a bold next move.

Roger Ware’s come for a midnight showing of a classic movie, only to find a cult classic playing instead. To make it worse, he’s dragged onto the stage by a forceful brunette who won’t take “no” for an answer. Not that Roger wants to say no after one impulsive kiss gets him fired up for more. When Pam invites herself over after the show, her seduction is clear, but will it continue once Roger reveals one embarrassing secret?

Almost Perfect releases on Jan. 23, but it’s up for preorder on Amazon and ARe right now. 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, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Weekend Writing Warriors | 7 Comments

Jenna’s 411 ~ 1/14/2015

Posted on January 14, 2015 by Jenna Jaxon

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

Book Chat ~ Almost Perfect Pre-Order

The final copy of Almost Perfect, my erotic contemporary romantic comedy, is now uploaded and approved by Amazon! It’s just waiting for release on January 23. I hope you’ll come by and pre-order your copy. Two short stories and a novella about a young couple–a girl obsessed by movies and a guy who’s a computer geek– who meet by accident at a midnight showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show. Instant attraction could lead to some hot sex. Sounds perfect, right? Wait until you read the rest of the story!

On the Home Front ~ CONTEST WINNER!

I have just been informed that my Regency Romance, To Woo a Wicked Widow, won First Place in the Historical Category of the Chesapeake Romance Writers’ “Finish the Damn Book” Contest! So thrilled! The presentation of my “Rudy” award will be made at the chapter conference in

Rudy Award

March. I can’t wait! Now I’m really hoping for big things from Widow. I need to start querying it again soon.

Jenna Fun Fact of the Week

“Stephen King, Comicon” by “Pinguino”

Many of you know that my favorite romance author is Jo Beverley. However, I have to admit that my all-time, across the genres, favorite author is Stephen King. I’ve always been a big fan of horror books and movies and when I discovered King (the first book of his I read was Carrie and I loved they format of the book with all the “documentary” evidence of the “White Report.” My absolute favorite book of his is It (also loved the TV movie), although The Stand, 11/22/63, and The Drawing of the Three (Dark Tower Series #2) run a very close second. In fact, I have his latest–Revival–on my nightstand, just waiting to begin. Of course when I read his books I sleep with the light on afterwards. LOL A small price to pay for the thrill of being scared by the master himself.

That’s all from me. How’s your week been?

Posted in Jenna's 411, On Almost Perfect, Promotion | Tagged "Finish the Damn Book" Contest Winner, Almost Perfect, contemporary romance, Jenna Jaxon, Jenna's 411, Stephen King | 13 Comments

The Other Duke and an Interview with Jess Michaels

Posted on January 13, 2015 by Jenna Jaxon

Friend and fellow erotic historical author Jess Michaels is here today to talk about her newest release, The Other Duke, and a bit about herself as well.

Tell us a little bit about your new release.

My release is The Other Duke, an erotic historical romance about a man, Rafe Flynn, who unexpectedly inherits a title and a fiancée, Serafina McPhee, from his rotten cousin. Whether they can work out their relationship with a passel of secrets and dangers between them remains to be seen.

What was your inspiration for this story?

I actually loved the idea of the title The Other Duke and then I started wondering who he would be and what would make him the other duke! And entire family came out of that and it’s a new series called The Notorious Flynns. The second book, The Scoundrel’s Lover will be out in March and the third will be in the spring (May or early June, depending on my ability to finish).

I am a fanatic about my character names. Are the character names special in any way?

I spend a good deal of time on the names, but really I just want them to be attractive, not too similar to each other (No Mandy and Randy) and somewhat period appropriate. I have always liked Raphael for a guy and Serafina is just such a pretty name.

What was your process for writing this book? Is this different or the same as other books you’ve written?

I do a character sheet first, followed by a synopsis and then scene “sketches”, which is really just a scene by scene plotting I do. Then I start writing. I write between 12-20 pages a day depending on my schedule for the week and I try to take two days off for a weekend for writing so I don’t burn out. This is pretty much my usual schedule. I find that I stick to a method until it starts not to work and then I’ll look for a new method. Otherwise I frustrate myself.

Do you have plans for a sequel to this book?

The book is the first in a series. The second book will feature the sister of the hero from this book and the third book will be for the hero’s brother. I don’t really do sequels. As a romance author, I’m not sure they’re fair to readers (at least, I don’t like books with the kind of ending that requires a sequel).

Who is your favorite romance hero or heroine and why? What qualities do they possess that make them memorable?

Oh, hard to say. I kind of forget character names from other books even ones I like. From my own books, I’d say Grace from A Measure of Deceit was one of my favorites. And I just finished the next book in this series, The Scoundrel’s Lover, and Marcus from that book is still hanging about in my heart at present. LOL

Who was the first romance author and book you read?

The first one I remember is Julia Quinn’s How to Marry a Marquis. But there was one I read in 9^th grade and I have no idea who wrote it or the name. There was a scene in the carriage where the heroine had been slipped an aphrodisiac and the hero, um, helped her. It stuck with me. I came to romance late because my Mom didn’t read it until I started writing it.

Who has been the greatest influence on your writing?

You know, I’d have to say me. I definitely have help and I have writers who I admire, but at the end of the day I make myself sit in my chair and write 6 or more books a year. Writing is a solitary job in a lot of ways, so I have to depend on me to make it work. Which is why I’m working harder at giving myself credit and being kinder to myself, take better care of myself.

If you could have one wish granted just for you (not world peace, LOL), what would you wish for?

Do I get to wish for infinite wishes? No, that’s cheating right? I would probably wish for some kind of financial security, like wining $10,000,000 or something. That way I would still be able to do what I love, but I wouldn’t have to stress over it as much. We could always travel where we wanted and provide security for our future in every way.

What is the most exciting/daredevil thing you’ve ever done?

I’m not really much of a daredevil, actually. But we love to travel. We went to China in 2008 (and drank snake wine) and we’re going to Paris this summer where I’m sure we’ll have lots of adventures. I’d like to do Japan next year or maybe Australia. But we’ll see. We may do a tour of some of the states we haven’t seen in the US instead.

Now, Lightning Round:

What is your favorite amusement park ride?

I had a really good time on the Little Mermaid ride in California Adventure with my nephew last year.

Tea or coffee?

Neither. I would prefer diet coke, but I just got off that, so water.

French manicure or color (and if color, what color)?

Color and I love OPI’s “Fly”!

Beach or mountains?

We live near the mountains and I love it. I love to visit the beach. I would live there but beach property is pricy (maybe if I win that money).

Chocolate or vanilla?

Chocolate.

Boxers, briefs or commando?

I’m a girl. Do they make boxers for us? Oh, you mean for guys. Boxer briefs. LOL I like the straddle the line.

Blond, brunette or redhead? (preferred men’s hair color)

Brunette.

Would you rather skydive or scuba dive?

I like indoor skydiving (it’s my new thing) and I just learned to snorkel, which I’d like to do more of.

Would you rather vacation in Hawaii, Vegas or London?

London. I think Hawaii is just okay and I can do Vegas any time I want pretty easily

What’s the one thing you would never do?

I don’t speak badly about my husband. Ever.

Thanks so much for the fantastic insights, Jess! And now for a bit more about The Other Duke.

Blurb:

For years Serafina McPhee has been engaged to marry the heir to the Duke of Hartholm and for almost as long, she has been struggling to find a way out of that engagement. When he suddenly dies, she does not mourn but thrills at the idea that she will be free. Unfortunately, best laid plans go awry when the next in line for the title, her intended’s cousin, Raphael “Rafe” Flynn is forced to take over the engagement. But Serafina knows Rafe’s reputation as a libertine and wants nothing to do with him, either, even if he is devastatingly handsome.

She proposes an arrangement: she will agree to the marriage and provide Rafe with his heir and spare. Once she has done her duty, he will let her go. Rafe is intrigued both by her beauty and by her utter disgust with the idea of being his bride. Women normally fall at his feet, not cringe away from him. However, since their arranged marriage is not something he can escape, he agrees to her terms.

But when he finds out on their wedding night the truth about her torture at the hands of his predecessor, he finds himself driven not just to fulfill his bargain with his new bride, but to introduce her to desire. While they move closer together, surrendering to wicked pleasures, dangerous emotions may violate every agreement they’ve made.

Short Excerpt:

Serafina forced herself not to flinch as she entered the room with its richly paneled walls and tall bookcases filled with tomes Cyril had never touched in his life.

Come to think of it, Serafina hated this chamber as much as the parlor.

A man stood at the fire and, as her father shut the door, he turned. Serafina caught her breath.

She had never met Raphael Flynn, the new Duke of Hartholm and the cousin of her late fiancé. He wasn’t titled and moved on the outside fringes of the Upper Ten Thousand.

What had been said about him were murmurings of a reputation that seemed to both irritate and intrigue those in her circles. He was rich but no stranger to scandal and repeated behavior that thwarted Society’s many rules.

Even Cyril had hardly spoken of his cousin in the past except to malign him, which softened her to the man considerably.

And then there were the rumors of his intensely handsome good looks. Now that she stared at him, leaning on the mantel with a haphazard nonchalance that didn’t reflect the importance of the moment, she couldn’t deny that he was utterly beautiful. An Adonis. There was no other way to describe him.

Buy links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QQOIBOQ/

Barnes and Noble (will not be available until release date)

Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-other-duke/id949739665?mt=11&uo=4

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-other-duke

Posted in Author/Character Interviews, Book Spotlights, Guest Posts, Interviews | Tagged erotic historical romance, historical romance, Jess Michaels, The Other Duke | 3 Comments

Medieval Monday with Cathy MacRae

Posted on January 12, 2015 by Jenna Jaxon

Medieval Monday is Back! And I’ll be having some new faces on the blog for this feature, as well as some old friends with new works. This week it’s Cathy MacRae with The highlander’s Tempestuous Bride.

What happens when the sixteen-year-old daughter of the laird, destined to dutifully marry to benefit the clan, falls in love with the wrong lad? In Medieval times, punishments ranged from forced marriage to the man chosen by the laird, to imprisonment, life in a nunnery, or even death.

Gilda does not set out to defy her parents, but when she falls in love with the son of the laird of a neighboring clan that has been at war with hers for years, things are bound to go wrong.

Returning home after a ten-year absence, Ryan Macraig falls for a fiery, red-haired lass from the wrong end of the firth. He can’t ignore his need to see her again, even knowing she must be a hated Macrory. Gilda Macrory trespasses Macraig land, but haunting memories of the young man she once met there draw her to the forbidden place. Learning he is Laird Macraig’s son threatens her dreams, for her father would never agree to a marriage between his daughter and their enemy’s son.

With pirates raiding the coast, bad blood between the Macraig and Macrory clans could cost Ryan and Gilda their love—and their lives.

Excerpt:

“Are ye sure . . .” A quick stride took him back to her side.

Gilda jerked the knot at her waist and the skirt fell free, but not before Ryan got a glimpse of slender ankles. She settled an arch look on him and it was all he could do to keep from laughing at the regal air she portrayed.

“I am fine. I am also certain I will not meet ye here again?” Though couched as a question, her tone indicated she’d rather see anyone other than him the next time she ventured out to pick berries.

Ryan shrugged. “I think the berries are about finished for the year. Mayhap the Macraig cook will send a lad out to pick the rest. We like sweets like jams and pastries at Ard Castle, too, ye know.”

“Goodness knows the men at Ard Castle need sweetening,” Gilda shot back, her cheeks pinking as she clearly regretted her quick retort.

“A kiss from a pretty lass would help sweeten this Macraig’s disposition.” Ryan marveled at the swirling colors changing Gilda’s eyes from silver to stormy gray.

Though a well-trained young warrior, Ryan was not quick enough to dodge the palm of Gilda’s hand as it made stinging contact with his cheek. He rubbed his jaw ruefully. He should have remembered though the lass had fascinating gray eyes, she also possessed fiery red hair and a temper to match.

He opened his mouth to apologize, but Gilda had already spun, her back ramrod straight as she marched away, the handle of her basket gripped tight in one hand. The other hand clenched and opened, possibly to relieve the answering sting he felt on his cheek, perhaps echoing a desire to encircle his neck.

Ryan grinned. He would have regretted the apology, anyway.

Amazon buy link: http://www.amzn.com/B00P89UHME

Posted in Blog Hops, Medieval Mondays, Promotion, Spotlights | Tagged Cathy MacRae, historical romance, medieval romance, Scottish historical romance, The Highlander's Tempestuous Bride | 1 Comment

Free Read Friday ~ Hog Wild Chapter 2

Posted on January 9, 2015 by Jenna Jaxon

Welcome to Free Read Friday !

This is my day to give my fans a little treat with a free read from either a current WIP or one of my published novels or novellas. And sometimes the free read will be a completely new piece written just for this post, or perhaps a scene taken out of a novel in editing–something that no one but me and my editor has seen. 🙂

If you like this new feature (leave me a comment and tell me if you do), I’ll make it a Friday fixture. 🙂

For this installment of Free Read Friday, since people seemed to have liked my post last week (Hog Wild is currently at #17 on Amazon in the Fairy Tales category) I’m posting the second chapter. It’s a good bit hotter than Chapter 1, so if you need to read the rest of the story, please click on Amazon to down load your free copy!

Click the title below to take you to Free Read Friday. This Free Read is rated R-18 and older. (In fact, you might want to bring a fan or some cold water! LOL)

HOG WILD

When Lula Wolfendale’s motorcycle breaks down on her way to a Harley rally, she makes a detour into tiny Shoshone, CA to find a replacement. Seducing biker Beau Hogue and commandeering his Harley is easy; finding sexual satisfaction is a “hog” of a different color. A Blue Phantom, to be exact, owned by Beau’s older brother Jesse. After brief, unsatisfying encounters with his younger brothers, Lula approaches Jesse with a proposition: a sexual battle for his Phantom, where Lula will emerge with either a bike to die for or the climax of her dreams. Or is there a way for her to obtain both?

Enjoy! Come back next week for another free read.