Social Sunday: My Favorite Halloween Party Treats

Posted on October 13, 2013 by Jenna Jaxon

Welcome back to Social Sunday, the day I do no promotion on the blog and just kind of hang out with personal topics.

I’m continuing with my month devoted to all things autumn and Halloween-y. Today I’m looking at my favorite Halloween party treats.

When my girls were young we would have a Halloween party every year and I would pull out all the stops with the baking. I loved creating different kinds of treats, being creative and making them as scary as I could (yet still appetizing!).

I made Witches’ Broomstick cookies (a peanut butter cookie attached to a pretzel),

Mummy Dogs (hotdogs wrapped in strips of biscuit),

Worms in Dirt (chocolate pudding topped with crushed Oreos and gummy worms),

Monster Mouths (Granny Smith Apples with peanut butter and candy corn teeth),

and my favorite (because of the way they looked) Eyeballs (Powdered sugar Donut holes with M & M irises). These were served with Witches’ Brew (Lime sherbert and ginger ale) and a good time was had by all.

Of course, the kids likely went home hopped up on too much sugar. Oh, well. Happy Halloween!

What fantastic foods have you made to celebrate Halloween?

Sweet Nothings–10/12/13 As Long As You’re Mine

Posted on October 12, 2013 by Jenna Jaxon

If you are looking for the Scandal and Betrothal Giveaways, click HERE

“Let me whisper sweet nothings in your ear.”

Welcome back to Sweet Nothings, a little shadow of Sweet Saturday Samples, until that sweet treat starts back up. Until that happens, I’m doing a little weekly blog where you can post a “sweet” excerpt (PG 13 or milder) from one of your works. Remember: please hold the excerpt to 350 words or less. But if your cutting needs just a few more words, that’s okay too. I won’t be counting. LOL

Today’s “Sweet Nothing” is another excerpt from my (hopefully) soon-to-be released Victorian historical novel, As Long As You’re Mine. This excerpt is the spirited continuation of last week’s “nothing.” Rafe gets a bit more than he bargained for.

“Stop! Stop right there, Mr. Beauregard.” No panic in her, just imperious command. “And stop looking at me like that.”

“Like what?”

“Like you’re thinking about…about what happened…” She trailed off then raised her chin to meet his smoldering gaze.

“But I am thinking about it, Samantha.” He reached out and seized her shoulders. “I’m thinking about it this very second.” His mouth descended without warning, insistent against her soft, perfect lips. Encouraged to find no resistance, he angled his head, slipped one arm around her waist and the other behind her head, tangling his fingers in her silky hair.

He ran his tongue lightly over her closed lips and felt her shudder. His heart began to hammer as he teased further, seeking some chink in her tight defenses. When he found none, he concentrated on seducing her lips with gentle tugs, nibbling here and there. She relaxed in his arms and slid her hands up onto his shoulders, pulled him toward her. He lifted his head in surprise to find her eyes, ice picks of gray steel, staring at him from less than an inch away. He caught movement in his peripheral vision and jerked back, but—

Whap!

Pain exploded along his left cheek. He cupped his face, too stunned to do more than watch as Samantha stepped back, shaking her hand. He moved his jaw gingerly, making sure it had not been dislodged, and rubbed the cheek to assuage the sting. She frowned and fired heated glances at him, though she seemed more surprised and confused than angry. Was she upset because he had kissed her, or because she had liked the kiss? Only one way to find out.

As Long As You’re Mine–Coming November 2013

Okay, now it’s your turn to share a “Sweet Nothing.” 🙂

Posted in On As Long As You're Mine, Promotion, Sweet Nothings | Tagged As Long As You're Mine, Excerpts, Jenna Jaxon, sweet excerpts, Sweet Nothings, Victorian romance, writing romance | 10 Comments

The Heroines You Love to Hate

Posted on October 11, 2013 by Jenna Jaxon

I’m over on the Inkslingers Blog today. Come take a look at my thoughts on Heroines You Love to Hate.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Horny Hump Day 10/09/13: As Long As You’re Mine

Posted on October 9, 2013 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

Switching gears back to my WIP As Long As You’re Mine

that should release in mid-November!

As Long As You’re Mine probably has the most love scenes of any historical I’ve written. Here’s a sexy snippet from Rafe’s wedding night where Samantha learns there’s more than one way he can pleasure her:

A touch of his tongue to the hidden nub and her protest changed to a sharply voiced “Ah.” Her body tensed as he stroked and teased the little pearl, her moans becoming a guttural need deep in her throat. He released her hands so he could part her thighs, then he lowered his tongue, tracing the folds of her smooth flesh, and the growling sounds of her pleasure filled the room.

Whew! Hope you enjoyed this little tease from As Long As You’re Mine. 🙂

Please visit the Horny Hump Day blog site for the other sites on the hop and go visit the other hot authors.

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

Posted in Blog Hops, On As Long As You're Mine, On Horny Hump Day, on Victorian Romance, Promotion, WIP | Tagged As Long As You're Mine, blog hops, historical romance, Horny Hump Day, Jenna Jaxon, sensual sex scene, Victorian romance | 15 Comments

Cover Reveal: Pleasing the Pirate by Sharon Cullen

Posted on October 8, 2013 by Jenna Jaxon

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 brotheris 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.

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://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pleasing-the-pirate-sharon-cullen/1116813729?ean=9780345549723&itm=1&usri=9780345549723

For more buy links: http://www.randomhouse.com/book/233800/pleasing-the-pirate-by-sharon-cullen

BIO:

Sharon Cullen is the author of the historical romance, The Notorious Lady Anne (on sale now), Loving the Earl (available November 2013) and Pleasing the Pirate (available February, 2014). She’s also published in romantic suspense, paranormal romance and contemporary romance.

Her other job descriptions include chauffer, 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, Twitter and Tumblr. Friend her! Like her! Follow her! She’d love to hang out with you and talk about her passion—books.

Posted in Book Spotlights, Cover Art, Cover Reveal, Promotion | Tagged cover reveal, historical romance, pirates, Pleasing the Pirate, Random House Loveswept, Scottish historical romance, Sharon Cullen | 13 Comments

Social Sunday: My Favorite Halloween Movie

Posted on October 6, 2013 by Jenna Jaxon

Welcome back to Social Sunday, the day I do no promotion on the blog and just kind of hang out with personal topics.

Since it’s October, my favorite month, and Halloween, my favorite holiday, is just around the corner, this month will probably be devoted to all things autumn and Halloween-y. Starting with my favorite Halloween movie (non-scary).

I loved this movie from the first time I saw it. My kids loved it all these years and I just got to watch it again (and not for the last time this year I suspect) the other night. The casting of the witches could not have been better. Bette Midler is just superb and Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy are fabulous as the Sanderson sisters. The teen actors are also well cast and together they create a wonderful ensemble piece.

My absolute favorite scene is where the witches are lured into a furnace by a French-English language tape saying things like “I would like to get a book” and then the equivalent in French. After the witches are burned up, they miraculously re-appear and Bette Midler comes out of the oven spouting the same English-French exercises: “I want my book.” “Je veux mon livre.” As though the atoms of the tape have been reassembled in her and that’s all she can do is translate these sentences. LOL This just tickles me to no end!

Here’s the trailer from this wonderful 1993 classic, though I hope you’ve enjoyed the whole movie.

Now, what’s your favorite Halloween movie?

Posted in Social Sunday | Tagged Bette Midler, Favorite Halloween movie, Halloween, Hocus Pocus, Jenna Jaxon, Social Sunday | 28 Comments

Sweet Nothings–10/04/13 As Long As You’re Mine

Posted on October 5, 2013 by Jenna Jaxon

If you are looking for the Scandal and Betrothal Giveaways, click HERE

Secret

“Let me whisper sweet nothings in your ear.”

Today’s “Sweet Nothing” is another excerpt from my (hopefully) soon-to-be released Victorian historical novel, As Long As You’re Mine. This excerpt is not exactly “sweet” although it’s not terribly racy either. Samantha and Rafe are discussing their situation after Rafe has come from a visit to her father.

Rafe peered at her, curious. The animation that sprang into her face transformed her from a merely beautiful woman to one of unparalleled loveliness. Like watching life breathed into a china doll.

“But why ever not? You cannot have been afraid of him? Father blusters but seldom bites.” She paused. “Well, that may not quite be the truth, but if you stand up to him it works out best. He can’t be allowed to intimidate you or he’ll make you feel like Goliath has trampled you. So,” she looked up at him with total confidence, “what is your plan?”

“As I stated to your father earlier, Lady Samantha, I plan to marry you.”

Her brows furrowed and she tilted her head to the side. “But you just said you don’t want to marry me!”

“I did say that. I do not wish to marry you. But after the trick you pulled last night, I have no choice. You are ruined in the eyes of society and I will be also if I don’t marry you.” Rafe tried not to sound harsh, but bitterness at the situation stole into his tone.

“But this is all a mistake, damn it! It isn’t your fault.” There was anguish in her voice.

“A lady does not swear, Samantha.” Thank God men did.

“Well, this lady does, Mr. Beauregard.” She began to pace wildly, gesturing with those expressive hands. “I cannot believe you are so weak-willed that you will take a stranger to wife because it is what ‘honor’ calls for.”

“From what I hear, you’d like me better if I were that weak-willed.”

She whirled on him. “How dare you, sir!”

Rafe smiled and narrowed his eyes. “Let us revisit what you dared last night, my lady, before either of us becomes indignant. Let us remember that I awakened to a most insistent hand on my shoulder and then…”

“Don’t you continue, sir!”

“We certainly continued then.” Rafe’s mind burned with the memory of her hot mouth. Unconsciously, he moved toward her.

As Long As You’re Mine–Coming November 2013

Okay, now it’s your turn to share a “Sweet Nothing.” 🙂

Posted in On As Long As You're Mine, Promotion, Sweet Nothings | Tagged As Long As You're Mine, Excerpts, Jenna Jaxon, sweet excerpts, Sweet Nothings, Victorian romance, writing romance | 12 Comments

Goodreads Giveaway!

Posted on October 3, 2013 by Jenna Jaxon

During the month of October, while I’m on the Enjoy the Scandal Blog Tour with Only Scandal Will Do, I’m running a giveaway over on Goodreads.

I’m giving away ten (10) signed copies of Only Scandal Will Do at the end of October.

So what are you waiting for? Click the icon and enter to win! Easy as pie.

Even better, enter the giveaway, leave me a comment with your email, and I’ll send you a copy of my medieval romance Betrothal.

How’s that for a giveaway? 🙂

Posted in Betrothal, Book Spotlights, Enjoy the Scandal Blog Tour, Giveaways, On Only Scandal Will Do, Promotion | Tagged Betrothal, Enjoy the Scandal Blog Tour, Goodreads, Goodreads giveaway, Jenna Jaxon, Only Scandal Will Do | 17 Comments

Cover Reveal! On the 12th Date of Christmas by Nikki Lynn Barrett

Posted on October 2, 2013 by Jenna Jaxon

If you are looking for Horny Hump Day, click here.

COVER REVEAL!

On The 12th Date of Christmas

By Nikki Lynn Barrett

Contemporary holiday romance

Expected release date: November 8, 2013

Blurb:

After being mugged, Robin Sorenson is left shaken and her spirit in humanity broken. Worse, she’s not sure how to deal with the new anxieties or who to confide in, since she’s always preached to pick oneself up and move on. Yeah, she’s been the go to girl when anyone’s had problems.
Christmas is coming, and her belief in magic and miracles has faded.

Then Jonas comes back.

Jonas Aimes made a mistake. A big one, when he walked away from Robin a year earlier. He’d loved her, always had and still does, but his desire to please his aging and strict parents took precedence. Back from the overseas internship they’d struggled to get him in, he plans on winning Robin back. What he didn’t count on was discovering the shell of the vivacious woman he’d loved.

Broken.

Remembering her love of Christmas, Jonas pulls the holiday heartstrings. What? All is fair and love and war. Right?

Twelve days, Twelve Dates.

Robin is speechless when Jonas not only refuses to leave her alone, but dares her to accept his cheesy holiday themed challenge. Twelve dates to give him a chance to prove he loves her and is never leaving her again.

But in the season known for miracles can Robin find the magic needed to open her heart and faith once more…or will she forever wonder about the ghost of the Christmas past that could have been?

Goodreads Link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18483703-on-the-12th-date-of-christmas

Excerpt from On the 12th Date of Christmas:

The hostess walked up to the table and took their order. After she disappeared, Jonas reached for her hand again. “I’m not sure where to begin. I could apologize profusely, but does it do any good? I should never have let my family pressure me into the choice, but I can’t change what I did. It took being so far away to realize just what I’d missed. You put up with a heck of a lot of immaturity from me last year and I can’t imagine what you were feeling.”

“Jonas-”

“Please, let me get this out. The experience from the internship was great, but there were a few things that I saw that really gave me a whole new perspective. I missed you, and even though I knew I would, I missed you far more than I ever imagined.” His hands covered hers, sending a chill down her back.

“I can’t just pick up where we left off and think things would be okay.” She said simply, not trying to be mean, but honest. “Cant and won’t.”

He nodded. “I get that. I’m not expecting anything. I just had to tell you what I felt. I would be an idiot to think we could pick up and that everything would be fine, because I know that would never be the case.”

The sincerity in his voice was something she never expected. He watched her with those dark eyes that never turned away from her face, and she knew he meant business.

A smile lit up his face. “Give me twelve dates.”

Robin raised a brow. “Twelve dates? What are you talking about?” Now he was just acting strange. Kind of cute, but definitely strange.

“Twelve dates to show you just how much you mean to me. On the twelfth date, if you don’t feel like we could at least try to work things out, I’ll leave you alone. If I don’t at least give this a shot, then I’m going to have a lot of regrets.”

“Twelve dates. You seriously sound like someone from one of those cheesy films they air this time of the year.”

He feigned hurt. “Cheesy? Ouch. That’s a blow to the heart.”

“Twelve dates isn’t a long time to decide.” God, he was being serious about this, wasn’t he? Twelve dates? How in the world did he plan to try to show her anything with only twelve dates? The idea sounded cute, charming and sweet, it really did, but how did he plan to pull it off?

“Maybe for people who don’t have our history, true. But we’ve known each other since high school. Come on, what could it hurt?”

A lot, actually. She kept the words to herself.

“Of course, we can talk and spend time together outside of the twelve dates, so it’s not like we’re limited.” Jonas continued. He circled her palm with his thumb. “And right now doesn’t count as one of the dates.”

Robin laughed. Butterflies danced around in her belly. Oh, good grief. What happened to her promise just a few hours ago? To focus on her own life and not get wrapped up in a man?

Okay, just because you agree to this doesn’t mean you’re changing your mind. They’re just dates. Sure, dates with a man I loved, but they’re still just dates regardless.

“What about your family? What will they say?”

A storm of anger built up in his eyes as they darkened. “I don’t care what they say anymore, Robin. My family shouldn’t have so much sway on how I feel about you. I should have realized that a long time ago. They don’t get to choose anymore.”

Though it’s not a series, and On the 12th Date of Christmas is a standalone book, Robin makes her first appearance in The Secret Santa Wishing Well. Readers have been asking for her story and of course, more of Cheyenne, Jacob and the kids.

Blurb: The Secret Santa Wishing Well:

The magic of Christmas has been lost to Jacob Winston. At the suggestion of his ill sister, Jacob takes a job as a Secret Santa at the mall, hoping to restore his Christmas spirit. Even that doesn’t seem to work, until a special little boy ambles up to make a very special wish… Cheyenne Jensen is struggling to raise her two kids without the help of her ex-husband who refuses to acknowledge his daughter’s existence and doesn’t provide for the son he does. This Christmas is shaping up to be as heartbreaking as the last, until her son Ben’s kind actions lead a stranger to them. Ah, but it’s Christmas time and the magic has begun. When Jacob and Cheyenne meet, neither can deny their immediate attraction to one another. As situations arise that require they spend more time together, their feelings grow stronger and stronger. With Christmas fast approaching, the pair learn what matters most in life. Now, if only they could ditch the ghost of Christmases past. Maybe this holiday will bring some wishes come true- for everyone after all.

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18308875-the-secret-santa-wishing-well

Giveaway: 3 e-copies of The Secret Santa Wishing Well

To enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway click here.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Nikki Lynn Barrett lives in Arizona with her husband and son. She’s an avid reader, a dreamer, and loves everything about books. She runs a book blog, an online used bookstore, and writes various genres of romance. Nikki can also be found outside with her camera when a storm is near, snapping photo after photo. Her dreams of becoming a writer started when she was young, when she started writing books in one subject notebooks by the fifth grade. The Secret Santa Wishing Well is her debut book. You can visit Nikki’s site at: www.nikkilynnbarrett.blogspot.com for more information. She is working on her next book. Nikki would love to hear from readers. Email her at www.nikkilynnbarrett.blogspot.com

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&query=nikki+lynn+barrett

https://www.facebook.com/NikkiLynnBarrettauthor

@Stormgoddess925 on Twitter

Posted in Book Spotlights, Cover Art, Giveaways, Guest Bloggers, New Release, Promotion | Tagged Christmas story, contemporary romance, Nikki Lynn Barrett, On the 12th Date of Christmas | 8 Comments

Horny Hump Day 10/02/13: Only Scandal Will Do

Posted on October 2, 2013 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

To Celebrate the Launch of my Enjoy The Scandal Blog Tour

Here’s another sexy tidbit from Only Scandal Will Do!

Duncan and Katarina are sharing a bed willingly for the first time. Very willingly.

“I have waited so long for this moment, Katarina,” he crooned, and his hot breath in her ear set her trembling, as need for him intensified. He stole down again, and this time let his fingers wander through the wiry curls, parted them and her. Gently, he urged one finger inside her, and she gasped at the strange feeling of them so intimately joined.