I is for Island

Posted on March 14, 2014 by Jenna Jaxon

No, I really didn’t plan it this way, but the letter I just happened to come up during the week I’m on the beautiful island of St. Thomas, visiting fellow author Ella Quinn. So I thought I’d give you a few facts about this island and share some breathtaking photos of the place.

St. Thomas is part of the U.S. Virgin Islands and lies at latitude 18 down in the Caribbean.

Pirate lore has it that Blackbeard used the island as a hang out while he was down here. They have Blackbeard’s Castle, a tower built for defense by Danes in 1679, but reputed to be his base.

Magen’s Bay is one of the 10 most beautiful beaches in the world. (I can now attest to that!). We go here every morning and walk two miles, down and back. But be sure to say “good morning morning” to everyone you meet. It’s the local custom and to not greet someone marks you as rude.

And there is a wonderful night life here! Ella took me to Latitude 18, a small bistro type place, frequented by the locals. The food is excellent and the music of Flipswitch was fantastic!

Tomorrow we’re off to St. John’s Island, where I hope to take even more pics. I’ve got 5 blogs this weekend, including this one, so I’ll be posting lots more of my adventures before I leave on Sunday.

If you like island romance, you should check out mine, Almost Perfect, an erotic Caribbean romp with a man who knows his Kama Sutra! Available at Amazon!

Hope you enjoyed this little island tour! Back to the land of ice and snow next week. 😦 But I’ll make the best of the tropical clime while I’m here.

Posted in Alphabet Post | Tagged Blackbeard's Castle, FLipswitch, I is for Island, island romance, Jenna Jaxon, Latitude 18, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands | 14 Comments

Horny Hump Day 03/12/13: Almost Perfect

Posted on March 12, 2014 by Jenna Jaxon

WARNING: MATERIAL NOT SUITABLE FOR THOSE UNDER THE AGE OF 18!

NOT SAFE FOR WORK!

Participating authors in Horny Hump Day post three sentences from their published works or WIP, hot like a firecracker! LOL

Since I’m in Island mode this week, down in St. Thomas visiting fellow historical author, Ella Quinn, I thought I’d give you a hot snippet from my island romance Almost Perfect.

Pam’s fantasy 1Night Stand has gone very awry. Instead of her pirate lover, she’s left with her ex-husband. However, Roger’s been busy during the two years of their divorce–and he’s decided to show Pam what he’s learned. Vigorously. In this scene they are in the warm Caribbean water and Roger is standing, taking Pam for a wild ride.

In no time, he’d built a delicious tension that excited her in a whole new way. Then he shifted to faster, deeper thrusts, squeezing her ass as he pumped in and out. He brought her body to the sharp pinnacle of release just as he groaned and dipped them into the water.

Hot Caribbean night! If you want to feel more of the heat, Almost Perfect is available at Amazon, B & N, and ARe.

Please continue to the Horny Hump Day blog site for additional sites on the hop and go check out the other hot authors.

Thanks so much for visiting the Journal once more for Horny Hump Day!

Posted in Betrayal, Blog Hops, New Release, On Horny Hump Day, On Time Enough to Love, Promotion | Tagged Betrayal, blog hops, historical romance, Horny Hump Day, Jenna Jaxon, medieval romance, sensual sex scene, Time Enough To Love | 19 Comments

Interview with Eden Ashe, Author of The Dragon’s Heart

Posted on March 11, 2014 by Jenna Jaxon

I want to thank my fellow Lyrical author, Eden Ashe, for agreeing to do this interview with me today. Eden’s got her newest release, The Dragon’s Heart, first book in her Dragon Lore series, to talk to us about today.

Welcome, Eden.

Tell us a little bit about your new release.

The Dragon’s Heart is the first story in the Dragon Lore series that follows a group of ancient dragon-shifters. After three millennia of war, peace is finally on the horizon for his people when the dragon king, Daniel, realizes he has a mate. The same woman he believes had tried to have him killed the year before. But Shelby, the most famous actress in the world, is anything but a murderer, and despite how long it took her to get over him the first time, she puts everything she is into convincing him that forever with him is exactly what she wants.

2. What was your inspiration for this story?

I love writing stories about characters who have every reason to not want to be together, but can’t seem to walk away, either. Daniel was always certain Shelby was an actress, and when I had her shot with the entire world watching, the pieces started to fall into place. What better conflict than having a man half in love with a woman he believes tried to have him killed?

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

Weirdly, a lot of my characters change their names a lot, except for the characters in this series. Daniel has ALWAYS been Daniel, along with Adrian, Micah and Luca. Their names came out of nowhere and just stuck. The one thing I am fanatic about is making them a little different, a little quirky. Because Daniel would never let me change his name, I had to come up with a surname that fit his status as dragon king—hence Ashborne.

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

I’m a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants writer. Always have been, always will be, but I am a chronic over-thinker. I do better under massive amounts of pressure where I can turn my brain off and just write what the characters want me to write.

5. Do you have plans for a sequel to this book?

Yep! Dragon Lore Book 2 is in the final stages of its second draft, and as soon as I get the last few chapters wrapped up, it will get sent to the beta readers for suggestions and comments.

6. Who was the first romance author and book you read?

Judith McNaught’s Perfect. Oh, good Lord Above I loved that book so much I devoured everything she’d ever written the seconds I could get my hands on it. Shortly after that came my Julie Garwood addiction.

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

A house on the beach someplace warm.

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

No, I am SO not a daredevil. The only time I ever acted out of character was at a county fair when a woman grabbed my niece’s arm and yelled at her. My husband finally had to lift me up and drag me away from her before I ended up in jail for assault.

Now, Lightning Round:

9. What is your favorite amusement park ride?

Any roller coaster.

10. Tea or coffee?

Neither. Sugar Free Red Bull for me, please. Preferably mainlined right to my blood stream.

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

Neither, really.

12. Beach or mountains?

Beach

13. Chocolate or vanilla?

Vanilla

14. Boxers, briefs or commando?

Boxer briefs.

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

Brunette.

16. Would you rather skydive or scuba dive?

Skydive

17. Would you rather vacation in Hawaii, Vegas or London?

Hawaii.

18. What’s the one thing you would never do?

Scuba dive.

Here’s the blurb for The Dragon’s Heart:

The dragon-shifter king will do anything to keep his mate alive…even if it means war.

After millennia as king of the dragon-shifters, Daniel Ashborne wants a little peace and quiet, especially from the beautiful Hollywood starlet who haunts his memories. His escape tactics end abruptly when he is called to the ER to save the one woman he wants to forget, but who now bears his mark.

Shelby Kincade’s life and movie career were nearly destroyed when Daniel vanished a year ago. Now he’s back, claiming they have been accidentally mated. Getting over him once was hard enough, but she must choose either the life of her dreams or the man she can’t live without. With peace finally on the horizon between the dragon-shifters and the Hunters, an assassination attempt on the dragon king and his mate shatters everything. Tensions rebuild as Daniel and his loyal team of shifters try to discover who put out the hit. Enemy and ally lines are crossed, but in the end–after the battle ash has settled–no one could have foreseen who has plotted for their own gain.

CONTENT WARNING: Graphic fight scenes, lots of great sex, and hot, hot, hot dragon men. A Lyrical Press Urban Fantasy Romance

Excerpt:

A furious Daniel towered over her.

Realizing she was in an ambulance, she scooted back on the stretcher, pulling the sheet tighter around herself. Something was very, very off. There was no pain or range of motion issue with her shoulder. There was just a blackness where the last hour should have been. Whatever was wrong with her, it ran core deep, and had everything to do with the man treating her as if she’d caused all the wrongs in his world.

She let out a pathetic snort. He had vanished on her, leaving her to face the last year alone. The media wasn’t forgiving at the best of times, and they’d had a field day–field year–with America’s Good Girl falling from grace. A dead body, and the disappearance of the man accused of the crime, was too good of a story for the media not to run around the clock for a month straight.

It didn’t make any sense why he hated her. For as much hell as he’d caused her in the last eleven months, professionally and personally, nothing had prepared her for the blast of emotions that rocked her at seeing him standing close to her again. She had no idea what to do with the realization she’d missed him. As soon as she figured out what the hell was going on, she needed deep psychological help.

“So.” She was careful to keep her left arm tucked against her stomach as she tried in vain to put more distance between them. It still didn’t hurt, but the thought of ripping the rapidly healing wound open made her queasy. She’d never been a big fan of blood. Her teeth tugged at her bottom lip as she tried not to worry about how much space he took up, even while sitting on the bench. He was huge. “You’re alive.” When he leaned forward, bringing them closer together, she tried to keep her face impassive. Her gaze dropped to the huge forearms he braced against tree trunk-sized thighs, before she snapped her attention back to his face. He was a lunatic who looked to be on the verge of major violence. She wasn’t so confused she didn’t understand the combination was a powder keg with a lit fuse. “I wasn’t sure. The police said you were gone before the ambulance ever got to the hospital.”

“Disappointed, princess?”

She almost snorted at him. She’d spent the last year hoping he was still alive, and trying not to let the uncertainty drive her out of her mind. “I didn’t get myself shot on purpose, you know. So whatever you’re mad at me about, it’s not my fault. I didn’t ask them to call you.”

“Right.” He dragged his gaze from the mark over her heart back to her face. Though she was sure she was imagining it, she could have sworn his eyes lingered on her mouth. “Just like the Hunter showing up in your bedroom was just a weird twist of fate?”

“A hunter?” She asked, certain she was missing a huge part of the conversation. “Daniel, my house was in the most exclusive part of Los Angeles. There isn’t anywhere to hunt.”

“Ryuu.”

She remembered that word from their first date. He’d told her it was an ancient dragon curse because his sister didn’t like him using cuss words. Funny. She’d thought it was sweet at the time. Now she was sure it just made him bat-shit crazy.

About the Author:

Convinced dragons have gotten a bad rep throughout time, and more than a little addicted to fairy tales and romance novels, Eden Ashe has decided to re-write history. In her version, the dragons are ancient warriors in tarnished armor, who not only deserve the girl in the end, but will fight forever for her.

www.edenashe.com

www.twitter.com/EdenAshe

www.facebook.com/eden.ashe.author

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7262875.Eden_Ashe

Posted in Interviews, Promotion | Tagged dragon-shifters, Eden Ashe, Interview with Eden Ashe, Lyrical Press, Paranormal Romance, The Dragon's Heart | 9 Comments

My Writing Process

Posted on March 10, 2014 by Jenna Jaxon

I have answered questions many times about my writing process, but when my great friend and fantastic author Patricia Green (http://www.patriciagreenbooks.com) asked me to participate in this blog tour, I was intrigued. The questions that you are required to answer are not the run-of-the-mill questions about process. And some of them are down right hard. But I like things that make me think and if you really want to know about how I write, this post should tell you that exactly.

1) What am I working on?

Currently, I am finishing a polishing run on my Regency romance To Woo A Wicked Widow and sending it off to an agent. I’m also awaiting edits for my Georgian romance Only Marriage Will Do, the second book in the House of Pleasure series. And I’m hard at work revising the third and final novella, Beleaguered, part of my serial novel, Time Enough to Love. When that’s done…well, we’ll see.

2) How does my work differ from others of its genre?

In my bio I state that I have “always loved a dark side to the genre, a twist, suspense, a surprise.” I’m a great fan of Saki, O. Henry, and Stephen King, so I have been influenced by them all and try to incorporate all of these darker elements into my romances. I love nothing better than a surprise ending or a cliffhanger at the end of a chapter. You don’t always get that in romances, so I sort of think of it as my niche.

3) Why do I write what I do?

I am a history buff. Have been since I was a child. History was always been my passion, and I love research, so when the writing bug bit me, it seemed quite natural for me to write historical romances. I’d read romantic suspense and historical fiction, but I was most drawn to the historicals. The year I started writing I must have bought and read 200 historical romances, falling deeper and deeper in love with the genre. I have written several contemporary erotic books, but as I said, history is my passion.

4) How does your writing process work?

Hands down I am a plotter. I get an idea for a story—usually a song will come on while I’m driving in the car and I then take it and run (To Woo A Wicked Widow came about from my listening to the Weather Girls singing “It’s Raining Men!”). Next I plot out all the major points, like a story board using post-it notes. Then when I have all the points down, I write a detailed outline of each chapter. I don’t always stick to the outline exactly. If another connection occurs to me, or another character presents itself, I can go with it. Then I begin to write the first draft, using the outline as a guideline. During this draft I layer in and discover character traits. And in the next draft I go back and add in more description (I hate writing description!) and historical details, fleshing out the book and enriching it. My goal is to have the reader so immersed in the time period they feel like they are there. After this it goes to my wonderful beta readers and then hopefully out to agents and editors.

Now, after hearing all about my process, who is up on deck for next week’s tour stop? Two wonderful writers from my local RWA chapter. Dani Jace had her first novella, White Doe, an erotic paranormal romance published last September. And E.J. Towler who writes military romance and is sending out a request for her current book shortly.

Thank you all for coming by to check out my writing process. I hope you’ll check out Patricia’s, Dani’s, and E.J.’s as well!

Posted in On Writing | Tagged Blog Tour, Jenna Jaxon, My Writing Process | 17 Comments

Weekend Writing Warriors ~ 3/09/14 Only Scandal Will Do

Posted on March 9, 2014 by Jenna Jaxon

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors! I’m changing gears this week and giving you a sample of my Georgian romance Only Scandal Will Do, which is once again available at Amazon!

This is from the beginning of the novel, which is set in London, 1761:

“Put her back in the carriage, now!” Her assailant snarled the brusque command, sending a shiver of fear through Lady Katarina Fitzwilliam.

An unseen attacker seized and tossed her into the coach. Gagged, hands pinioned behind her back, ankles bound together, she lay trussed like a Christmas goose in a cramped bundle on the hard plank floor of the dim carriage, her diaphanous Grecian costume in ruins. Schemes for escape flashed through her head in a dizzying whirl.

The horses jerked forward, the uneven cobblestones of London’s streets jouncing her already aching body.

All because she’d been bored.

Doggedly, Katarina tested the bonds securing her hands, strained against the coarse rope then relaxed, seeking play in the cords–none.

If you want more before next week, Only Scandal Will Do is available at Amazon on SALE today for $3.19!

In the mean time, check out the rest of the Warriors here. There’s some fantastic snippets to be read.

Posted in House of Pleasure, On Only Scandal Will Do, Weekend Writing Warriors | Tagged Jenna Jaxon, Only Scandal Will Do, Weekend Writing Warriors | 25 Comments

Scandal is Back!

Posted on March 8, 2014 by Jenna Jaxon

Hooray! My Georgian romance novel, Only Scandal Will Do, has been off the market for the past couple of months while its contract was assumed by Kensington Publishing because of the merger with Lyrical Press. So Scandal has been unavailable–until now!

I checked Amazon today and I am so happy to say Scandal is again available for purchase in e-book format at the new bargain price of $3.19! The original price was $5.99 and the list price now is $3.99, but it’s discounted even more for its debut as a Kensington book. 🙂

In case you’ve not heard about Scandal, here’s the blurb:

He has the woman of his dreams, but what price will he have to pay to win her heart?

Kidnapped and sold at auction in a London brothel, Lady Katarina Fitzwilliam squelches an undeniable attraction to the masked stranger who purchased her, pits her wits against him, and escapes him and the scandal that would ruin her life.

Unable to resist temptation in a London brothel, Duncan Ferrers, Marquess of Dalbury, purchases a fiery beauty. She claims she’s a lady, but how can she be? No lady of his acquaintance in polite society is anything like her. Then he discovers she is who she says, and that this latest romp has compromised her reputation. He knows how that is. One more scandal and he’ll be cast out of London society, but he needs a wife who’ll provide an heir to carry on his illustrious family’s name. He seeks out Katarina, intending only to scotch the scandal, but instead finds his heart ensnared. He’s betting their future he’ll capture her heart, but does he have what it takes to win the wager?

WARNING: A blade-wielding heroine who crosses swords with a master of sensuality.

And a short excerpt:

“I assure you, there was never a night like that before.” Lord Dalbury spoke quietly, and Katarina sensed a tension in him. “I had never done such a thing before. Never participated in such an auction. Never tried to take a woman unwillingly to my bed.” He stopped speaking. Just stopped. Then his breath hissed as though he’d slowly released it.

“I cannot find the words to tell you how deeply I regret I was not a better man that night.” He paused, and she held still and waited. “What I tried to do was madness, without thought, without honor. I do not even have an excuse other than my base desires, and that your abundant charms overwhelmed me.” His face was shadowy in the scarce light of the sickle moon, but he sounded contrite. “I have no right to ask for your forgiveness. I have no right to expect it. But I would ask you to allow me to attempt to remedy the situation.”

Kat shook her head slowly. “What on earth do you believe you could do, Lord Dalbury, that could even come close to a remedy for the terror and humiliation you put me through? Do you think now that I have met you, heard your feeble attempts at an apology, and rejected them, the memory of that night will magically disappear?” She fought to control her anger, though she yearned to blast him with it. “What magic potion would you have me take that would erase the memory of you pinning me to the bed? Because if you have such an elixir, then yes, I will gladly take it from you and obliterate you absolutely and irrevocably.”

He stood silent at her words, then said simply, “I have only myself to offer, my lady.”

“You would have me kill you, my lord? In that, too, I agree I would oblige you, but not at the cost of my own life. I understand the English law punishes those who do murder quite severely.” Kat was astonished when he lurched backward, as from a blow.

“No, my lady, I would not have you kill me,” he said, sounding grimly amused. “Though indeed that would probably give you most satisfaction. I meant I would have you marry me.”

His words surprised a laugh out of her. “Marry you?” The laughter grew. “I see, my lord, you think me both a whore and a fool.”

“I think you are neither, Lady Katarina.”

“Then you are the fool to believe I would put such a man as you in control of every aspect of my life.” That he thought she would even entertain the suggestion was insulting.

The pale moonlight shadowed his face, but she could read displeasure there just the same. “You judge me solely on one act that, I assure you, was grossly out of character for me. You cannot possibly know what kind of husband I would be.”

“And never will, Lord Dalbury. I can swear to you that I would not marry you if I were in Hell and you were my only hope of Heaven.”

He inclined his head toward her, a faint smile touching his lips. “I believe you made a similar claim about dancing with me, Lady Katarina. Yet we have indeed enjoyed a dance together despite your words.” His tone was soft, the sensuous, cajoling one he had used to seduce her that night in the House of Pleasure.

Kat trembled, recalling the incredible sensations of his hands, his mouth on her body. Damn. He could not do this to her again. Not just with his voice.

“Is there nothing that would entice you to leave your Hell for my Heaven?”

She struggled to answer, opened her lips to deny it, only to find her mouth completely sealed by his.

I hope you enjoyed this little bit of Scandal. 🙂 If you’d like to read more, it’s available at Amazon.

And more good news about the House of Pleasure series! I’ve just received the contract for Only Marriage Will Do, which is Juliet’s story and book two in the series. Tentative release date is in late October.

So great news all the way around this Saturday morning! Hope you come back for more Scandal tomorrow for my Weekend Writing Warriors post. 🙂

Posted in Book Spotlights, On Only Scandal Will Do, Promotion, Uncategorized | Tagged books reissued, Georgian historical romance, historical romance, Jenna Jaxon, Kensington Publishing, Only Scandal Will Do | 8 Comments

H is For Historical Heroines

Posted on March 7, 2014 by Jenna Jaxon

Penthesilea as one of the Nine Female Worthies

Heroines are the life’s blood of the romance novel. Even though I hear time and time again “I read romances only for the heroes,” the heroines of romances are just as, if not more critical to drawing the reader into the book.

If a heroine is unlikable early on in the novel, chances are the reader isn’t going to enjoy the book and may simply put the book down and refuse to read more. One friend recently said that she’d been reading a first book in the series but didn’t think she’d go on to the second one. When asked why, she stated that the heroine of the second book was to be the sister of book one’s heroine and she was such an unlikable character she didn’t want to read her story.

I personally believe that we have sort of a double standard where unlikablilty is concerned. I’ve found—at least with myself—that I’m more forgiving with unlikable heroes. I’ll read much further in a book, pulling for the hero to redeem himself, than if it’s the heroine I don’t care for. My biggest case in point is Claire in the Outlander series. I’m still reading the series (about at book 4 now) even though I still don’t like Claire. But if I have to put up with her to have Jamie Fraser, then so be it. 🙂

So yes, we feel very strongly about our heroines, for bad or for good.

Then what makes a good heroine? In her article “Three Characteristics a Heroine Should and Should Not Have,” Jeffe Kennedy states that the most important characteristics a heroine should have are to be believable, be relatable, and be admirable. These are certainly “must haves” for today’s heroine. My personal opinion (again) is that our heroines have changed (at least in the historicals I’ve read) to reflect the changing times and our changing sensibilities about these three characteristics.

To be believable, relatable, and admirable today, heroines in historicals must have a bit more spunk that would usually be found in women of the period. (This may also be true in contemporaries, but I don’t read very many of those so I can’t vouch for them.) I teach my classes in theatre that theatre holds a mirror up to society. If you want to see what people thought during the time period, look at what they put on stage. I think the same is true, recently, of romance novels. Because of the feminist movement of the 1970s that convinced women that they were just as capable as men in every arena, women today have grown up with that sensibility.

Readers today want to see a resilient heroine who can meet every challenge without waiting for a man to rescue her. (Not that she can’t be rescued by him, but if she can do it one her own, she will.) These heroines are sympathetic and very entertaining—I wrote one myself in Only Scandal Will Do—but are they a reflection of today’s woman or the woman of the period?

Remember, our heroine has to be believable. How man women throughout history knew how to fight with sword and pistol? Could drive a carriage? Was adept at piloting her own ship? Was head of a spy ring? There may have been some, but I suspect they were a small minority throughout history. If we hold these activities up to the industry standard—Miss Elizabeth Bennett—she falls short on each one. Yet she is one of the most beloved heroines of all time who is believable, relatable, and admirable.

I remember refusing to read the end of an historical series because all the wives of one particular group of men were extraordinary by the standards of the day. I mean, you’d expect one or two to have unusual attributes, but eight? That stretched my willing suspension of disbelief. These heroines were admirable and relatable, but sadly not believable to me.

Historical romance authors walk a fine line today with regards to their heroines. They have to find ways to make these women appeal to their audiences, while still holding true to the period. One way to do this is to research your time period—be it Regency, Georgian, Medieval, or Victorian—and find those stories of true heroines and how they managed to win their men and overcome their obstacles. Then use these ideas to create a likeable heroine who is true to herself and her niche in time.

Posted in Alphabet Post, On Writing Historical Romance | Tagged Alphabet Posts, feisty heroines, heroines, Historical Heroines, Jenna Jaxon, romance heroines | 19 Comments

Horny Hump Day 03/05/13: Betrayal ~ Forget Everything

Posted on March 5, 2014 by Jenna Jaxon

WARNING: MATERIAL NOT SUITABLE FOR THOSE UNDER THE AGE OF 18!

NOT SAFE FOR WORK!

What do you think of our brand-spanking new banner? (Pun intended!)

Participating authors in Horny Hump Day post three sentences from their published works or WIP, hot like a firecracker! LOL

A final snippet from Betrayal before I move on next week.

“A consummation devoutly to be wished.”

He began to withdraw and thrust, creating a smooth rhythm that soothed her aching flesh and kindled excitement once again. Soon she writhed like a wanton beneath him, everything forgotten except the drive of his shaft and the throbbing deep within her. She locked her hands round his neck and raised her hips to meet him, thrust for thrust.

They’ve left no doubt about that marriage bed. If you like my snippet, Betrayal is available from Amazon and Smashwords!

Please continue to the Horny Hump Day blog site for additional sites on the hop and go check out the other hot authors.

Thanks so much for visiting the Journal once more for Horny Hump Day!

A Warm Welcome to Embracing Romance!

Posted on March 4, 2014 by Jenna Jaxon

This gallery contains 16 photos.

Just found this delicious looking historical romance blog and thought my readers might like to also embrace the romance.

More Galleries | 2 Comments

Spotlight: Pleasing the Pirate by Sharon Cullen

Posted on March 3, 2014 by Jenna Jaxon

Blurb:

Two hearts are wrenched between love and duty in Sharon Cullen’s tale of a ruthless pirate and the Scottish lass who fills him with desire for something greater than plunder.

With her clan’s crops burned and their property confiscated, Mairi McFadden is desperate to free her brother from imprisonment so that he can take his rightful place as chief. Her only hope is the fierce English pirate Phin Lockwood, but the buccaneer laughs at her meager funds. His roving eyes, however, tell Mairi there’s something else he’ll take in exchange for her brother’s rescue. Though she burns with hatred for the English, she’ll do anything to save her clan.

The crown has made it clear that Phin has two choices: bring in a certain Scottish traitor or hang. And he’s not about to let a tiny, whiskey-eyed woman get in his way, even if she is pointing a gun at him. When Phin learns that Mairi’s brother is the very man he seeks, he’s more than willing to use the lass as bait. But as the moment of capture draws near, Phin is surprised by his feelings for the courageous beauty who has him considering risking his life—for someone besides himself.

Excerpt:

The sound of large, booted feet made its way toward Captain Phin’s cabin, interrupting her thoughts. The steps were heavy, methodical, steady, moving ever closer. Mairi sat up. Her palms grew moist and her heart thundered. This had to be him. Even his footsteps sounded authoritative.

She jumped up and wiped her free hand on her skirts, wincing at the protestation of her stomach. Transferring the pistol, she wiped off her other hand, then raised the pistol with both hands, sighting down the barrel as her da taught her to do.

The door creaked open and Captain Phin stepped in. All six foot plus of him. He had to duck to clear the doorway and when he straightened, the top of his blond head nearly touched the ceiling.

He locked stormy gray eyes on her. He was wearing a dark blue waistcoat with gold epaulets at the shoulders and absolutely nothing beneath it except a very large expanse of sun-browned skin.

Oh my. She had to remind herself to breathe.

His breeches were tan in color and so tight she saw every muscle in his thighs ripple. Rugged, well-worn boots reached his knees.

Mairi tore her astonished gaze from his body to his face. This was not what she expected when she pictured Captain Phin Lockwood. She’d imagined an older man, face creased by years on the ocean. Bowlegged, bent at the shoulders, a dry voice and rheumy eyes.

This man’s shoulders were impossibly wide and his eyes . . . She swallowed. She’d never seen such beautiful gray eyes.

A dark brown brow was lifted in query, a sensuous mouth twisted in an ironic smile. He crossed his arms over his naked chest and spread his very non-bowlegged legs to accommodate the rocking of the ship.

“That pistol is as big as you are, little one.”

Oh, dear. That voice wasn’t dry at all. It was smooth as the whiskey her da had kept in his study.

Sharon’s Bio:

Sharon Cullen is the author of the historical romance, The Notorious Lady Anne, Loving the Earl and Pleasing the Pirate. She’s also published in romantic suspense, paranormal romance and contemporary romance.

Her other job descriptions include chauffeur, laundress, cook and mediator to her three very busy kids, her husband and two dogs. She lives in southwest Ohio with her brood although her dream is to someday retire to St. Maarten and live on the beach.

If you’d like to find out more about Sharon and her books, you can visit her website. She’s addicted to social networking so you can find her on Facebook and Twitter. Friend her! Like her! Follow her! She’d love to hang out with you and talk about her passion—books.

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EX48V3C?ie=UTF8&tag=randohouseinc-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B00EX48V3C

Barnes and Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?ISBSRC=Y&ISBN=9780345549723&cm_mmc=Random%20House-_-Pleasing+the+Pirate-RandomHouse-9780345549723-_-Pleasing+the+Pirate-RandomHouse-9780345549723-_-Pleasing+the+Pirate-RandomHouse-9780345549723

Random House: http://www.randomhouse.com/book/233800/pleasing-the-pirate-by-sharon-cullen#abouttheauthor