“Finish the Damn Book! It’s Not Too Late!”

Posted on October 18, 2013 by Jenna Jaxon

“Finish the Damn Book” Contest: Still Time to Enter!

Judi McCoy

A couple of weeks ago, I posted about Chesapeake Romance Writers’ 2nd Annual “Finish the Damn Book” Contest.  The contest, in memory of our late member Judi McCoy and her beloved Bichon Frise Rudy, opened to entries on September 1 and will accept your manuscripts until

MIDNIGHT, OCTOBER 31, 2013

THERE IS STILL TIME TO “FINISH THE DAMN BOOK!”

ALL CATEGORIES ARE STILL OPEN TO ENTRIES

Entries should be no more than 40 pages (1st chapter and last chapter plus a synopsis that will NOT be judged) of a manuscript of at least 40,000 words.

The contest is open to published and unpublished authors, although the entry must be unpublished and uncontracted at the time of final judging in January 2014.  Winners will be announced at our February 8th chapter meeting.

Rudy

We’ve reduced the entry fee to $15.00 for RWA members and $20.00 for non-RWA members.  RWA member number required on entry form.

OUR JUDGES ARE:

Paranormal – Amanda Barnett (Wild Rose Press)

Contemporary – Danielle Fine (Definition House)

Young Adult/New Adult – Deb Smith (Bell Books)

Mainstream with Romantic Elements – Marie Lamba (Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency)

Historical – Jordy Albert (Booker Albert Literary Agency)

All contest information and entry forms can be found on our contest web page.

So come on, finish that damned book and strut your stuff in our contest!  You’ll be glad you did!

Chesapeake Romance Writers

Posted in Chesapeake Romance Writers, Contests | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Spotlight: Only Love Survives by Renee Charles

Posted on October 17, 2013 by Jenna Jaxon

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BLURB:

Amidst an epidemic ravaging the world, all Megan Fletcher’s hopes for the future lie in getting to Las Vegas where newscasts reported scientists were gathering to search for a cure for the modern plague. After rescuing her from a rooftop surrounded by Zombies, Sam Woods appoints himself her escort. While he knows she is determined to get to Vegas no matter the cost, he doesn’t know her secret. And with his hatred of all things Zombie, she doesn’t dare tell him the truth. The more he kisses her, the harder it is for Megan to hide her growing feelings…and the bite-shaped scar.

But Vegas is not the haven it was promised to be, and when Megan’s immunity to the disease is discovered, she realizes her future and her heart belong to Sam, if he will trust her. An idealistic school teacher and ex-corporate mogul manage to find love despite a looming worldwide catastrophe. Can their love survive while everything around them is dying? Will they learn that when facing the end of the world, Only Love Survives?

Available now!

EXCERPT:

A storm that spelled danger flashed across Sam’s face. He advanced on Megan so fast, she backed up against the side of the Suburban. Planting a hand firmly on each side of her, he pinned her with his arms as well as his gaze.

“What I want? Are you so hard-headed you can’t tell what I want?” He covered her mouth with his lips and crushed her clever comeback with an assault on her senses.

Megan pushed him, but he didn’t budge. Instead, he continued to kiss her until her heart raced and cheeks flushed with need. All resistance melted and she succumbed to the warmth of his embrace. Her arms wound around his neck of their own accord pulling him closer while her tongue sought his in a passionate dance, completely ignoring what her heart wanted.

When he finally broke away leaving Megan breathless and wanting so much more, Sam put his forehead to hers and watched her mouth like a drunk watches amber liquid poured into a glass. “You,” he rasped.

“I’ve wanted you since I found you hanging from that damn roof, and all our little encounter in the river did was add fuel to the fire.”

Bio:

Author, Renee Charles believes all love is legendary. Being the only female in a house full of giants (husband and two teenage boys) she tends to lean toward the strange and unusual, but inevitably the softer side shines through.

Whether life leads her to a snow-covered mountain top, sun dappled forest, or the bottom of a ravine (yes, ditches happen) she always has a pen and note pad ready so wherever the next adventure takes her, she can take notes.

Her own romance began in an insane asylum. Luckily, both she and her husband only worked there. But it makes sense her romance novels have strange beginnings that lead to passionate endings. Romance with a dark twist.

In the face of zombies, werewolves, and big foot she always seems to find a happily ever after to leave you with a sigh at the end.

Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/ReneeCharlesAuthor

Website link: http://www.reneecharles.net/

Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Renee-Charles/e/B009Z0MYCI/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

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Posted in Book Spotlights, Promotion | Tagged , , , , , | 9 Comments

Horny Hump Day 10/16/13: As Long As You’re Mine

Posted on October 16, 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!

rnc_iojx1047a-300

As Long As You’re Mine probably has the most love scenes of any historical I’ve written. Here’s another sexy snippet from Rafe’s wedding night.  He is more than ready!

10425814_m“You are so ready for me. I can’t wait any longer, Samantha.” He brought his huge, hard erection into position just outside her body. She’d had no idea of his size last time and seeing him fully aroused now, she was glad she hadn’t.

 

LOL!  Samantha’s got some surprises still in store for her. 🙂 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!

7days

betrothal-with-log final

Posted in Blog Hops, On As Long As You're Mine, On Horny Hump Day, on Victorian Romance, Promotion, WIP | Tagged , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Heart Over Horny: Guest Author C.D. Brennan

Posted on October 14, 2013 by Jenna Jaxon

watershed

Watershed isn’t’ too much of a fanny tickler. And I mean fanny in the British sense of the word. Unlike most romance books out there, Watershed is a sweet romance. It seems once 50 Shades topped the charts, it’s all about sex these days. I’m not knockin’ it for sure. Sometimes I pace ahead in a romance just to get to the good sex scenes! And many of my colleagues write hot romance, and I enjoy them just as much. I read a huge range of romance from YA/NA to BDSM, so not even necessarily partial to sweet versus saucy.

So why did I choose to write a sweet romance during a tidal rush of steamy books to the market?

There are two reasons, really.

I have to be honest and say the first one is my mum. Seriously. Because it was my first book, I knew my entire family and friends all over the world would read it. I couldn’t hold my mum back from the bookstore and from telling every one of her friends and every customer that visited our family business. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not ashamed of romance – love is what makes the world go around – and I’m old enough to say the word sex in front of her now without cringing. But just barely. LOL. And your mum is – well, your mum.

The second and most important is that Watershed is the first book of the Love Where You Roam series. Stories about self-discovery and falling in love. A light-hearted read, Watershed revels in those “first days”. It’s about the butterflies, about the wonderment and confusion – it’s about looking forward to seeing that person, just seeing them, even if it is only for a few minutes. It’s about the sexual tension that builds so strongly between two people that it is almost painful. It’s that time of your life that rarely will be repeated (but can happen at any age!) – all the great emotion and buzz that resonate in your gut when you know something is building, something inescapable, something that will change your life.

I’m exploring this exact theme on my Sundae With Nuts blog where I host my fellow authors who answers sweet to steamy questions, but always questions about those “first days”. As my latest guest said: “It’s about having some fun and remembering your wild and crazy youth!”

So, even though Watershed won’t make you as horny as some other reads, I do hope it will leave you feeling happy, fulfilled, perhaps a soft sigh of awww may slip from your lips as you close the last page. Most of all, I do hope that it touches your heart.

Watershed is available at:  Amazon  Barnes and Noble  iTunes

And you can find CD Brennan here:  Website  Facebook  Goodreads  Twitter  Pinterest

Posted in Book Spotlights, Guest Bloggers, Guest Posts, Promotion | Tagged , , , , | 15 Comments

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), broomsticks (1)mummydogs

 

Mummy Dogs (hotdogs wrapped in strips of biscuit),

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

 

monster mouthjpgMonster 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).  eyeballswitches brewThese 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?

 

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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
 

Couple by Michel Garnier

“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

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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 , , , , , , | 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!

rnc_iojx1047a-300

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!

7days

betrothal-with-log final

Posted in Blog Hops, On As Long As You're Mine, On Horny Hump Day, on Victorian Romance, Promotion, WIP | Tagged , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Cover Reveal: Pleasing the Pirate by Sharon Cullen

Posted on October 8, 2013 by Jenna Jaxon

Image

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

sharon blk and whiteIIIBIO:

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 , , , , , , | 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).

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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 , , , , , | 28 Comments