Horny Hump Day 02/05/13: Betrayal ~ Unimaginable

Posted on February 5, 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

It’s here!

Betrayal!

A continuation of last week’s scene. Alyse has tried to scoot away from Thomas as his mouth slid down her inner thigh.

With dismaying ease, he hauled her back to him and, without any warning, burrowed his head between her thighs.

The unimaginable feeling of his hot breath on her most private part froze the protest in her throat. Then he slowly traced the outline of her opening with his tongue, and her long-suppressed moan escaped, filling their cabin with sounds of a need she had hoped to hide.

I was good this week. Back to only three sentences. 🙂 I hope you enjoyed another little teaser from Betrayal. 🙂 If you did, it’s 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!

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 | 10 Comments

Cover Reveal: Mr. Right Now by Kristina Knight

Posted on February 3, 2014 by Jenna Jaxon

An undercover reporter, an author trying to escape nasty headlines…one hot vacation!

When her celebrity boyfriend of three years dumps her and claims he’s now gay, unlucky-in-love author Casey Cash decides to get out of New York. A cruise seems like the perfect escape: everyone onboard will be locked away from television, newspapers and internet gossip pages, allowing her some much needed relaxation. There’s only one problem: her oh-so-helpful agent has hired a male escort for her…and a big NYC paper has sent a pesky reporter on-board, vowing to get the dirt. Mason Drury doesn’t want to write an expose on Casey, but he’s in a bind. After a source flipped on him, he’s persona non grata at his newspaper. Celebrity trash or not, this story will put him back on top. Too bad he finds himself breaking the first rule of reporting by getting attached to his subject and letting bias influence his story. Casey’s much more interested in sexy Mason than the annoying escort who’s bunking in her room. Mason might even have romantic potential if she can shake her well-meaning-but nosey-fans. Oh, and that reporter. She’s got to avoid him at all costs…

Excerpt for Mr. Right Now:

Casey needed things to slow down. And she desperately wanted whatever was happening to speed up. She didn’t know who Mason was. Didn’t know if he was the reporter or just some random guy. Her head said he was the reporter. Why else would he have hit on her so hard from the time she came on board? It had to be part of his plan.

But then, why would a reporter waste time talking to a random woman about her life? Setting her up with another harmless guy who would bolster her self-confidence and help her bounce back from rejection. That was something a nice guy would do. Casey wanted badly for Mason to be a nice guy. Just for a little bit.

Then she’d go back to the craziness of Tyler and figuring out who the reporter was. How to avoid him and save what was left of her reputation.

Surely her future could spare her a few more minutes with Mason Drury.

“What’s your plan?” he asked, his eyes intent on hers.

What was her plan? She knew she had one. It was a good one, too. What was it again?

He pressed his lips to hers, and she didn’t care about plans or who was following whom.

One little kiss.

What could it hurt?

Mr. Right Now is available at Amazon.

Author Bio:

Once upon a time, Kristina Knight spent her days running from car crash to fire to meetings with local police—no, she wasn’t a troublemaker, she was a journalist. When the opportunity to focus a bit of energy on the stories in her head, she jumped at it. And she’s never looked back. Now she writes magazine articles by day and romance novels with spice by night. She lives on Lake Erie with her husband and daughter. Happily ever after.

Kristina’s Links:

Website: http://www.kristinaknightauthor.com

FB: http://www.facebook.com/kristinaknightromanceauthor

TW: @AuthorKristina

GR: http://www.goodreads.com/authorkristina

PI: http://www.pinterest.com/authorkristina

Posted in Cover Reveal, Guest Bloggers, Promotion | Tagged contemporary romance, cover reveal, Kristina Knight, Mr. Right Now | 4 Comments

Sunday Social: Super Bowl Sunday

Posted on February 2, 2014 by Jenna Jaxon

Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

I am not a sports fan.

But the one team sport that I will watch is football. Reluctantly. And nowadays, only the Superbowl.

Many years ago I used to watch Redskins football with my Dad on Sundays. It was a great bonding experience and it was when the Redskins were in their heyday. Went to at least 2 Superbowls. They were truly Superbowl Sundays for me.

These days I don’t watch football during the regular season. (I’m too busy writing.) But every Superbowl Sunday I’m in there watching. Except now I’m usually watching for the commercials. LOL Yeah, I’m one of those.

Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

My husband isn’t a sports fan at all, but he watches the Superbowl. He loves the commercials and the food. So tonight we’ll have chicken wings and pigs in a blanket, chips and guacamole and queso dip and watch the Superbowl.

What I think is funny is that in our household, I’m the football expert. After a play my husband will look at me and say, “Okay, what just happened?” LOL And usually I can tell him, because I listened

Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

all those years ago when my Dad explained things to me. You never know when something’s going to come in handy. 🙂

How about you? Are you watching the Superbowl? Are you rooting for a team or just there for the commercials?

Posted in Social Sunday | Tagged football, Jenna Jaxon, Superbowl, Superbowl party snacks | 14 Comments

RELEASE DAY FOR BETRAYAL!

Posted on January 31, 2014 by Jenna Jaxon

BETRAYAL

RELEASE PARTY!

My second novella in the Time Enough to Love medieval romance, Betrayal, is now available on Amazon and Smashwords.

Time Enough to Love is a romance novel, told in three novellas, about the courtiers of King Edward III’s court in 1348. The book follows the heroine, Alyse de Courcy, a lady-in-waiting to Edward’s daughter, Princess Joanna, from her betrothal to a man she doesn’t know, through her courtship, treachery, marriage, and ultimately the fight to survive the Black Death that sweeps through Europe.

Book 1: Betrothal

They are betrothed by law but can he make it an affair of the heart?

Lady Alyse de Courcy has fallen in love with Lord Braeton, a nobleman in King Edward III’s court and a man to whom she has barely spoken. Fate, however, has decreed her betrothal to his best friend, Sir Geoffrey Longford—a handsome and imposing knight, yet hardly the man she wants to wed.

When Sir Geoffrey is bound in betrothal by his father, he could not have expected the beautiful stranger to win his heart the moment they meet. Nevertheless, the fascinating Lady Alyse has done exactly that, and his feelings for her only grow as he learns more of her gentle yet spirited nature. But Alyse’s infatuation with his friend casts doubt on whether she can ever return his regard and their wedding day is fast approaching…

Will he have time enough to win her love?

Book 2: Betrayal

The worst betrayals come from within.

After a night of passion with her betrothed, Sir Geoffrey Longford, Lady Alyse de Courcy is eagerly looking forward to her wedding. But when Geoffrey is forced to marry another, a heartbroken and possibly pregnant Alyse finds herself in her own private hell. She must either gamble with her reputation or marry someone she does not love.

A reputed connoisseur of women, Thomas, Lord Braeton, has dallied with many ladies of King Edward’s court, although he has favored none. However, as Geoffrey’s best friend, Thomas has sworn to serve and protect Alyse, an oath now sorely tested when he agrees to marry her—in name only—to guard her reputation. Yet, as they grow closer, and Thomas discovers Alyse’s sweet but spirited nature, he comes to desire a marriage in truth. Can he overcome her memory of Geoffrey or is Thomas doomed to burn with passion for a woman he can never possess?

Book 3: Beleaguered (Due to release Spring 2014)

Sailing into the cataclysmic disaster of the Black Death, Alyse, Geoffrey and Thomas must act to save themselves from the burgeoning pestilence. Can love find a way to survive?

Excerpt from Betrayal:

From the corner of her eye, she caught movement in the doorway, and several men and ladies moved to make way for the final actor in this terrible play. Thomas strode grandly into the chamber, smiling as though he walked in a decorous procession. Attired in a splendid robe of green wool, adorned with velvet down the center edges and fur at collar and cuffs, he swept her a low bow. He laughed as he arose, but the sound died on his lips when at last he registered her figure in the blue chemise. The stunned look in his eyes was swiftly replaced by a hot hunger that made her gasp. Any hope she had of him honoring his promise died with that look.

“Lady Braeton.” He held out his hand, and Alyse had no choice but to take it. He raised it to his lips, searing her flesh with their warm touch. “You are a vision I scarce would credit this side of heaven.” She peered into his darkened eyes, seeking mercy. At his almost imperceptible nod, she could breathe again.

He released her and stepped back. “The wedding is done.” Thomas nodded to his attendants, who stepped forward. “Let the bedding be done as well.” Stretching forth his arms, he waited as the men stripped the robe from him, revealing his perfectly nude body beneath.

A brisk hum echoed around the room as the whispered comments of the ladies merged with the bawdy japes of the gentlemen. Thomas stood unflinching, a slight smile still on his lips.

Alyse’s mouth dropped open, and her gaze raced over his form as she tried to look everywhere and nowhere at once. His shoulders, smooth and broad, showed strength from wielding his sword these many years. The arms that had held her were now bare and sculpted like a statue’s. Her gaze slipped lower, to his chest matted thickly with pale hair over well-defined muscles. She tried to stop there, to force her eyes back to his face. But she had seen his cock, jutting boldly from a golden bush. Heat rushed to her cheeks. She could no longer deny that their bedding tonight would completely consummate their marriage. Whether she agreed or not. How else would the witnesses be satisfied?

Today I’m on a 35 blog blitz for Betrayal’s release where I’m holding various contest or giveaways. The list of blogs is under the Blog Tour Tab above if you want to visit around and be entered for multiple prizes.

If you leave a substantive comment on this blog, you’ll be entered to win one of the following:

A copy of Betrothal and Betrayal (5 commenters)

A pair of medieval style earrings (1 commenter)

A $25.00 Gift Certificate to Amazon , B & N, or ARe (1 commenter)

Hope you have fun here and elsewhere helping me celebrate the release of

BETRAYAL

Posted in Betrayal, Blog Tours, Book Spotlights, Giveaways, New Release, On Time Enough to Love, Promotion, Release Day Tour | Tagged Beleaguered, Betrayal, Betrothal, courtiers, historical novella, historical romance, Jenna Jaxon, knights and ladies, love triangle, medieval romance, Rising Phoenix Publicaitons, sensual romance | 34 Comments

Medieval Times: The Question of Birth Control

Posted on January 30, 2014 by Jenna Jaxon

One’s mind does not leap to the idea of contraception during the Medieval period for a couple of reasons. First, the Catholic Church, the major influence on much of Western Europe during the period, considered birth control a sin and forbade couples from practicing it. The second reason is that much more emphasis was placed on having children, both in noble homes to get the much needed male heir and in the lower classes to have additional hands to work the land. A final reason is the oft held belief that methods were simply not available during this time.

After doing some very interesting research, I found that Medieval women actually often defied the Church and did indeed use a variety of methods to prevent conception and space out or reduce pregnancies. Below is a partial list of these methods—some of which will probably make you shudder.

1. Abstinence. The only method approved by the Church. Even though couples might go through periods of refraining from sex, they did not last for long. 100% effective, but very hard to maintain the regimen.

2. Lemons. A fruit probably only found in wealthy households. A sponge soaked in lemon juice and inserted into the vagina acted both as spermicide and pessary (a physical barrier between sperm and cervix). Casanova reportedly used lemon rind as a cervical cap or diaphragm.

3. Pessaries. A medicated vaginal suppository used either to support the uterus or to deliver medication (usually contraceptive). Pessaries for contraception could contain cedar oil, cabbage leaves, fresh mandrake, nettles, or other plants reputed to prevent conception.

4. Concoctions. One recommendation was for women to drink either sheep’s urine or rabbit’s blood to prevent pregnancy. Not sure how that would work, but just the thought might lead one to reconsider method #1.

Queen Anne’s Lace

5. Queen Anne’s Lace. Also called the wild carrot plant. This was the birth control of choice in Medieval Europe. Women either chewed the seeds to release the essence or ground them up and put them in water and drank it. The seeds had to be ground up or they were not effective. There is medical evidence that Queen Anne’s Lace was able to prevent pregnancy because the chemical in the seeds block progesterone synthesis, thus disrupting

Poison Hemlock

implantation. Other plants used in a similar way included pennyroyal, artemisia, willow, and rue. The big caveat to using Queen Anne’s Lace is that the plant looks very similar to the deadly poison hemlock.

Birth control has been practiced since ancient times and the medieval period was no exception. However, I’m sure women today are extremely happy that we need only take a pill instead of implementing these desperate measures.

The characters in my medieval trilogy, Time Enough to Love, are not concerned with birth control, although pregnancy does play a role in the second novella, Betrayal.

Betrayal releases tomorrow–so excited! Be sure to come back for the Release Party here and on multiple blogs across the internet!

Posted in Medieval Times, On Research | Tagged abstinence, Jenna Jaxon, medieval birth control, medieval contraception, medieval romance, Medieval times, pessary, Queen Anne's Lace | 17 Comments

Horny Hump Day 01/29/13: Betrayal ~ Intimacy

Posted on January 29, 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

It’s almost here!

RELEASE DAY IS FRIDAY FOR

Betrayal!

A sexy scene for just before the release…

She wanted to arch her back and revel in the lust-filled sensations he offered, but some small part of her continued to resist.

He urged her to bend her knees, opening her wider until she lay bare before his hot gaze. A flush bloomed all over her as she imagined how she must look to him–such an intimacy did not seem right, even for husband and wife. She jumped as his tongue slid down her inner thigh, heading toward—

I was bad. I used four sentences for the first time, but I really wanted to set that scene up so I couldn’t cut the first sentence. My apologies. But I hope you enjoyed this little teaser from Betrayal. 🙂 If you did, it’s set to release January 31–only 2 more days to wait!

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, 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 | 8 Comments

5 Steps for Surviving a Revise and Resubmit

Posted on January 27, 2014 by Jenna Jaxon

R & Rs are both exciting and frustrating. You get a do-over, but there are still no guarantees. Still, I think this post gives you good advice on how to turn the beast into your best friend.

Writers In The Storm Blog

By Orly Konig-Lopez

Querying authors know the feeling: Your email pings with an incoming message. It’s from one of the agents who requested your manuscript. Your heart beats in your ears, you close one eye, tilt your head to a 35 degree angle and squint at the words. Maybe this is “the one.”

“Thank you for sharing, blah blah. I liked blah blah. But … ”

You groan. It’s a rejection.

You keep reading anyway. This is where the “but” gets interesting. There are notes. Detailed notes. And a request to resubmit after you’ve made the revisions. Whoa!!!!!!!

Once you’re done with the “it’s not a no” dance (and get an ice pack for the muscle you pulled – not that I’m speaking from experience on this), you sit down to pound out those revisions.

Wait! Back away from the keyboard. Seriously. Hands up. Scootch back. This is not the…

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Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Sunday Social: Let it Snow!

Posted on January 26, 2014 by Jenna Jaxon

Outside my house at 3:30 am on Wednesday morning

Those of you who live with lots of snow for a good portion of the winter please forgive my exuberance this week as I revel in the snow we received during the middle of the week. Here in the Eastern part of Virginia snow is a rarity, more so than in Central Virginia where I grew up. Then we would get snow every year; Wednesday’s snow was the first one here in about 2 years I think.

So I will wax rhapsodic about the snowfall this week.

Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

My favorite thing to do whenever it snowed was to go sledding. We’d wax the runners of our sleds, set out for the neighborhood street that had the best hill, and fly down it all day, usually for several days as I remember.

I’m really astonished that we didn’t get killed.

True, we lived in a cul-de-sac sort of neighborhood, but the street we rode down had a T-intersection and cars could have come along and wiped us out very easily. We, of course, never thought about that.

Ahh, the invincibility of youth!

I do remember the rush of wind, the bite of the cold, the pure enjoyment of the ride. Given the opportunity, I think I would indulge even today, although I’m sure I’d ride sitting up, not laying down. LOL

My favorite thing to do when it snows now is cook. A pot of chili and some cornbread

Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

muffins enjoyed while watching the bird feeders in the backyard is the ticket on a snowy day nowadays.

How do you enjoy a snowy day at your house?

Posted in Social Sunday | Tagged chili, cooking, Jenna Jaxon, sledding, snow, snow day activities, snowy day | 15 Comments

D is for Downton Abbey

Posted on January 24, 2014 by Jenna Jaxon

Yes, I am a Downton addict.

I came very late to the party, I must admit. I hadn’t seen a single episode until Christmas Eve, 2012. I was up late, wrapping Christmas presents and PBS was having a Downton Abbey marathon. It continued until about 3 in the morning—just as I was wrapping the last present. After that I was hooked.

The Downton Abbey phenomenon is far-reaching in America. I suppose we have always been fascinated with the aristocratic culture we left behind in 1776. We thrill to a title, bow to a baronet, vie for a viscount, moon over a marquess, and dream of a duke. And we absolutely adore the Earl of Grantham and his family.

Downton Abbey gives its viewers the rare Triple Crown of theatre: excellent writing, superb acting, and exquisite production values. From the fabulous period costumes, to the luscious set—Highclere Castle, the home of the eighth Earl and Countess Carnavon—to Dame Maggie Smith as Dowager Duchess Violet Crawley, a role she was born to play, to the poignant storylines, this period drama gives us not only a glimpse of a little explored time period (early 1920s) but shows us the elegance of aristocratic living just as circumstances were beginning to alter. One of the plots this season on Downton shows us that the old ways of life are beginning to change, to be superseded by modern conveniences and notions. At one point Mrs. Huges says, “Perhaps parents don’t want their children going into service.” Unheard of a generation before, when being a servant in a noble household was the best employment many working class parents could have dreamed of for their sons and daughters.

In this respect, I think Downton Abbey allows us to see a parallel in the changes we are experiencing in our times as well. We are on the leading edge of the technological age. Many of the parents and grandparents who watch the program can relate to the changing society evidenced in this English household. We remember a time before the internet, computers, cell phones, when children obeyed a little better and life was a little slower, a little sweeter. We can see these same changes in the world of Downton—children marrying the ‘wrong” people, people defying the proprieties in their search for happiness, others begrudging progress when it presents itself as the logical thing to do.

Are you a Downton devotee? What do you enjoy most about the show?

Posted in Alphabet Post | Tagged Alphabet Post, change in society, Downton Abbey, Jenna Jaxon | 11 Comments

Cover Reveal: Shot Through the Heart by D’Ann Lindun

Posted on January 23, 2014 by Jenna Jaxon

Blurb: Laramie Porter has tried to get her drug-addicted brother help, but he’s refused every time. When Laramie finds his wife—and her best friend—murdered, she vows to have him convicted. Before she can flee, her brother takes Laramie and his wife’s body into the mountains and throws them from a cliff. Somehow, Laramie lands on a ledge. After what her brother has done, Laramie doesn’t want to ever believe in another man, but Derrick earns her trust when he protects her from the man who would see her dead.

To cover up the evidence of his crime, Lawrence starts a wildfire

Derrick Garrison is through with women after he learns his ex-wife was a bigamist who only wanted his money. Believing a lightning strike has started a wildfire, he’s pushing his cattle out of harm’s way when he discovers a woman huddled on a cliff side. Derrick can’t believe the same sheriff who helped bring his ex to justice murdered his wife. But when the cocaine addicted lawman tracks Laramie through a raging fire, attempting to kill them both, Derrick becomes a true believer. His protective instinct kicks in and he falls in love with the woman in danger.

Together, they survive the fire, the attempts on their lives and a bounty on their heads…to see justice served. And fall in love.

Shot Through the Heart is available at Amazon!

Author Bio: Falling in love with romance novels the summer before sixth grade, D’Ann Lindun never thought about writing one until many years later when she took a how-to class at her local college. She was hooked! She began writing and never looked back. Romance appeals to her because there’s just something so satisfying about writing a book guaranteed to have a happy ending. D’Ann’s particular favorites usually feature cowboys and the women who love them. This is probably because she draws inspiration from the area where she lives, Western Colorado, her husband of twenty-nine years and their daughter. Composites of their small farm, herd of horses, five Australian shepherds, a Queensland heeler, two ducks and cats of every shape and color often show up in her stories!