ONLY SCANDAL WILL DO RELEASE PARTY!

Posted on July 23, 2012 by Jenna Jaxon

TODAY IS ONLY SCANDAL WILL DO’S

OFFICIAL RELEASE!

I’m so incredibly happy I want to PARTY all day!  And this is a multi-site party, to boot.  I’ll tell you about the other sites and what’s going on there in a minute.

First, I want to tell you about the Contest and Giveaways for this week.  To celebrate Scandal’s release, I’m having a rather involved contest–not like I usually have.  This week it’s all about the points.  Getting points.  Racking up points.  And there are lots of ways to gain points:

Copyright (c) 123RF Stock Photos

1.  Every time you comment on this blog all week, you receive a point.  I’ll have posts each day this week, from today through Sunday (sometimes I’ll have multiple posts in a day–like today!).

2.  Today I have a review posted on Aine Massie’s blog site.  Go by there and post a comment and get two points.

3.  I’m featured on The Romance Reviews in a couple of places today!  Click on the banner tag at the top right of this post and it takes you to my Sizzling Summer Reads post (Do this last).  Leave a comment for 1 point.  TRR is featuring Scandal in a Q & A there today.  Click the TRR link, answer the question correctly and put the answer in your comment here and you receive 2 points.  Visit TRR’s four star review of Scandal, tell me what’s the horrid social issue the reviewer found was a new take on the 18th century romance, put that in your comment as well and receive 3 points for the comment.

4.  Like and tag Only Scandal Will Do at Amazon = 2 points.

5.  Like my Facebook Author Page=2 points.

6.  Follow me on Twitter @Jenna_Jaxon=2 points.

7.  Subscribe to this blog=2 points.

8.  Visit my blog throughout the week.  I’ll have a different post each day.  Comment or answer a question posed in the blog and receive more points.

Now for the Prize Packages:

3rd Place Winner will win a Scandal swag pack

(Bookmark, signature card, business cards, magnet,

and print copy of Heart of Deception, my historical romance short story)

2nd Place Winner will receive a $15.00 Gift Card

1st Place Winner will Become a Character

in the third book of the Scandal series, Only A Mistress Will Do

And each post on my blog this week (including each of my four posts today) will be entered into my Instant Giveaways.  Instant Giveaway prizes will include pieces of swag, e-copies of my books or a signed print copy of Heart of Deception.

Thank you all for coming by today.  My next post will be at 10:00 am and includes an unveiling!

Posted in Contests, On Only Scandal Will Do, Release Party | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 27 Comments

Six Sentence Sunday–7/22/12–Only Scandal Will Do

Posted on July 22, 2012 by Jenna Jaxon

Only Scandal Will Do

Officially Releases on July 23, 2012!

My historical romance novel, Only Scandal Will Do, is available for purchase!  It released on Thursday and has been doing well in reviews and sales.  So it’s back again for Six Sentence Sunday!  Hope you enjoy!

Lady Katarina Fitzwilliam has been kidnapped and auctioned off in a brothel to the highest bidder, a man in a cloak and mask.  He plays master to her slave, but when she protests she is a lady, he challenges her to prove it to him.  She explains the circumstances and when he becomes sympathetic, she lowers her guard and allows him to comfort her.  She finds herself strongly attracted to the stranger and he takes full advantage of her willingness–until she comes to her senses.

Lady Katarina realized he  didn’t believe her story after all.  She threatened to kill him if he didn’t let her go and insisted once more that she was who she said she was.  Now she takes action.  In the aftermath of her strike, Kat commandeers the man’s cloak and prepares to.

The hallway was still vacant. She sped across the threshold and closed the door with a quiet click.

Rain had fallen since she’d entered this hell house. Shivering, she paused at the back door to raise the hood. With any luck at all, no one here would be able to trace her. Leaving only a trail of small, muddy footprints to melt into the gloomy London night, she slipped out.

But she’s not out of the woods yet!

 

Copyright (c) 123RF Stock Photos

Want to read more?  Only Scandal Will Do is now available at Amazon and iTunes.

I’ll be celebrating starting tomorrow with a release party and some awesome contests and giveaways.  Please come by!

I appreciate everyone’s comments, so thank you in advance for leaving one!  Please also check out the other Six Sentence Sunday participants.  I know you’ll be glad you did!

Posted in On Only Scandal Will Do, On Six Sentence Sunday | Tagged , , , , , | 52 Comments

Sweet Saturday Sample–7/21/12 Only Scandal Will Do

Posted on July 21, 2012 by Jenna Jaxon

Welcome back to Sweet Saturday Sample!  All excerpts here are rated PG-13 or milder.

Today I’m switching up, and giving you the opening scene of my just released book, Only Scandal Will Do.  Hope you enjoy!

“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. She muttered a curse and forced her whole body to relax. Tension would never free her. Rough and tumble games growing up with Jack had taught her that.

Jack! God, where was he? Was he alive or… She’d heard one muted cry when they were attacked, then nothing. If her brother were dead, it would be her fault.

Katarina pulled and twisted her wrists. If they had stayed in Virginia, they would have been better off. London was far wilder than she would have believed. Although she’d heard of women being abducted by highwaymen, she’d thought them only tales–until now.

But when Jack inherited a title, they’d been forced to come to London. The six months of mourning for their father not quite over, Great-Aunt Harriet now commanded the little social life allowed her. The past month found her stuck all day with strong tea and inane gossip about her aunt’s old friends. Finally, rebellion set in. Over breakfast this morning, she’d demanded Jack escort her to a masquerade ball this evening, ironically attired as Athena, goddess of war.

A nasty rut jarred the carriage, making Kat groan. What wouldn’t she give for Athena’s armor at this moment, or at least her spear. She had to admit, though, she’d gotten her wish. She wasn’t bored now.

I hope you enjoyed this  sample and stop by SSS tomorrow for six sentences more from Only Scandal Will Do.  And today be sure to click here to visit more Sweet Samples.

Only Scandal Will Do is available at Amazon and Only Scandal Will Do @ iTunes!

Posted in On Only Scandal Will Do, On Sweet Saturday Sample, On Works in Progress | Tagged , , , , , | 15 Comments

Friday Favorites–Favorite Kiss

Posted on July 20, 2012 by Jenna Jaxon

Welcome back to Friday Favorites where each week I’ll ask you to post an excerpt about a favorite.  Last week I was on vacation with spotty internet, so I wan’t able to post.  This week I’m back and, because Only Scandal Will Do has been released, I wanted a favorite that sizzled.  So I’m going to show you my favorite kiss from Scandal.  It’s not the hottest kiss in the book, but it’s still my fave.

Kisses come in all varieties–a chaste kiss that’s loving not passionate, a sweet kiss that evokes a longing in every reader, a sexy kiss that begs the participants for more, the hot kiss that makes you turn on the fan and shout for ice water.  Whether we’ve experienced these kisses in the flesh, or vicariously through our reading, kisses are a fantastic experience.

I’m sure we all have our favorite kiss in our own or others’ work.  In all my works–and I have a lot of kissing in my books–my favorite kiss occurs in Only Scandal Will Do.  And I remember when I wrote it because it came out of nowhere.  My hero, Duncan, is out in the garden at night, trying to talk to Katarina about their situation.  She’s wary of him, has just refused to marry him, saying, “I can swear to you that I would not marry you if I were in Hell and you were my only hope of Heaven.”

I had stopped writing, was thinking of how to get her back into the house.  Put my fingers back on the keyboard and this is what came out (the speaker of the first line is Duncan):

“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.

The feeling of his mouth on hers transfixed her. She could hear her heart racing, thudding painfully in her chest. Not with terror, but with something she feared even more: pleasure.

He was gentle, for all the swiftness of his attack. Just like before. Softly he pressed her lips, leisurely outlining her mouth with his tongue. The sensation sent shivers all over her, even as a flush of heat rose in her core. Her body molded to his, his hard muscles rippling against her as he shifted his weight and gathered her more tightly. He clasped her head in a grip that supported rather than restrained. Cradled described that feeling best. Yes, cradled in his arms.

That overwhelming sense of safety washed over her again, and she relaxed into the comfort of his embrace. Her body remembered the exquisite sensations of before and delighted in them. She tangled her fingers in his hair and pressed closer, opening her mouth, urging him to enter. He obliged wholeheartedly, sweeping in to claim his playground. Kat whimpered as a sweet urgency filled her. She wanted to remain this way forever.

Duncan obviously took over, because neither Kat nor I saw that coming!  But I love how we both yielded to the inevitable.  You’ve got to love a man who knows what he wants–and goes for it. LOL

So share your favorite kiss today.  Chaste, sweet, hot, sizzling–what’s your pleasure?

By The Way–Only Scandal Will Do is now available at Amazon. 🙂

 

Posted in Friday Favorites, On Only Scandal Will Do, On Writing Historical Romance | Tagged , , , , , , , | 24 Comments

Only Scandal Will Do is Released on Amazon!

Posted on July 19, 2012 by Jenna Jaxon

At long last, four days earlier than expected, my Georgian Novel, Only Scandal Will Do has been released!

I am overwhelmed, excited, happy, scared.  The list goes on. But I am mostly very happy and excited to be able to share it with my readers who have heard about this book for almost a year now.

I will have the Official Release Day Party on Monday, July 23 because I’m still setting up for that little shindig.  I’ve got blogs planned for the week and a BIG contest I’ll tell you about in a minute.

Duncan and Katarina, my hero and heroine, have made this journey with me, through major rewrites, beta reads,  and edits as I used them and their story to learn how to be a writer.  They are as real to me as some of my friends, and it’s a little sad and scary to have them out in the world now.  But as they are dauntless, I’m sure we’ll all survive.  And they will return throughout the Scandal series, so I haven’t totally let go.  Yet.

There are also some people I need to thank, because without them this book would not have been written.  First and foremost I thank my husband and two daughters who have supported me throughout the three years I have been working on this story.  I’ve ignored them more nights than not to work on the computer, go off to writer’s conventions and retreats.  And they’ve done their best to leave me alone and let me write.  Thank you, guys.  This is the winner’s circle for us!

I also need to thank my four beta readers:  Kary Rader, Patricia Green, Carrie Olguin, and Brenda Dyer.  Without you ladies and your critiques and support, this book would not have made it to the query stage.  Thank you for making me make hard decisions, for pushing  when I didn’t want to budge, for making me hear things I didn’t want to hear.  That’s what good crit partners do and you are the best!

In that same vein, my heartfelt thanks to Marion Browning-Baker, for keeping my historical research straight.  You did a fantastic job, Marion.  I’ve already gotten compliments on the period details.  And last, but certainly not least, my editor Mary Murray, who believed in this manuscript and worked in collaboration with me to make the book the best it could possibly be.  I’m incredibly proud of what we have accomplished.  Like a child, it truly takes a village to write a novel.

That’s all my Academy Awards-esque spiel.  Now on to the contest!

Starting on Monday, I’ll be running a contest to celebrate the release of Only Scandal Will Do.   That week it’s all about the points.  You gain points by commenting on my blog posts, on Aine Massey’s post/review and answering The Romance Review’s questions on Monday, by following my blog, following me on Twitter, liking my author page on FB and by answering questions on posts on my blog during the week.  If I’m anywhere else during the week (and I’ll let you know if I’m guesting) and you post a comment, you get points.

At the end of the week (Sunday), the three highest scores receive the following prizes:  Third place:  Scandal Swag pack; Second Place:  $15.00 GC; and First Place:  Become a Character in the third book in the Scandal series, Only A Mistress Will Do. I’ll also have Instant Prizes each day on my blog with giveaways of my other books or other swag.

Sound interesting?  Then come on by and hang out at Jenna’s Journal next week and rack up those points!

So now here’s the blurb for Scandal and after it the buy link.

Have a Super-Great Day!

Blurb for Only Scandal Will Do:

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.

Only Scandal Will Do is available for purchase at Amazon.

 

Posted in Contests, Giveaways, On Only Scandal Will Do, On Writing Historical Romance | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Only Scandal Will Do for Horny Hump Day 7/18/12

Posted on July 18, 2012 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

Today’s Horny Hump Day has another nibble from my historical romance novel, Only Scandal Will Do, set to be released on

July 23rd.

Only 6 days away!

This scene skips ahead to another, hotter scene between Duncan and Katarina.

He withdrew and she whimpered, unwilling to lose that connection, only to feel stinging pain as he slid two fingers in to stretch her wider.

 

Moaning, she writhed with mounting tension. She felt moisture where he stroked and fondled her, stoked a fire that threatened to burn out of control.

I think control is a thing of the past!  Could you control yourself? 🙂

Please check out the Horny Hump Day blog site for the other sites on the hop and go visit the other hot authors.   The site also gives the details of how to sign up for next week if you’d like to play with us. 🙂

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

Posted in Blog Hops, On Horny Hump Day, On Only Scandal Will Do | Tagged , , , , , | 29 Comments

What I’m Reading Now: Laid To Rest by Patricia Ann Preston

Posted on July 17, 2012 by Jenna Jaxon

A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do.

If you heard wild laughter a couple of weeks ago, you’ll know exactly when I was reading Patricia Preston’s deliciously funny short story Laid to Rest.  I’m sorry I haven’t shared this with you sooner, but vacation last week threw me off schedule.  Still, if you’re in the mood for a short, black comedy, this book is the ticket.

Darlene Higginbottom is determined to shake the dust of Clayburn, Mississippi from her shoes and head for stardom in Hollywood.  However, traveling money is hard to come by in 1957, so Darlene tries to make a little on the side in the world’s oldest profession.  Trouble is, her first customer, Mayor Stroud, dies in her bed.  Now she must rely on two good ole boys, Richie Underwood and Tommy Ray Petty (Clayburn’s answer to Dumb and Dumber), to help get her out of this pickle, and the mayor out of her bed and back to his home.  All without his wife’s knowledge.  Their journey that night will keep you turning pages as your eyes water and your stomach aches with laughter.

Six sentences of Laid to Rest was the first snippet I ever read on Six Sentence Sunday over a year ago.  That’s how memorable it was.  I loved Darlene’s voice, the premise, everything told me, in just those six sentences, that this book was going to be fantastic.  I’m so glad I was proved right!  The humor has the quintessential Southern charm, the characters remind me of people I have known, and the descriptions recall hot summer nights of my youth (though never so colorful!).

My absolute favorite scene comes when Darlene discovers the mayor in her bed (she has just come from putting her “fee” away before getting down to business):

“The mayor was sprawled on top of the bed.  All two-hundred-plus pounds of him lay face down on the sagging mattress, crosswise.  When I looked at his pale, butt-naked body, all I could think of was a possum in the moonlight.”

That’s when you heard my wild cackling.  In a public place, too!

The only bad thing about this book is that it’s too short.  But I have it on good authority that this is not the end of Darlene, Ricky and Tommy.  I’m looking forward to the promise of that future book, so happy they have not, like Mayor Stroud, been laid to rest.

Laid to Rest is available on Amazon and the other usual e-vendors.

Posted in What I'm Reading | Tagged , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Guest Author: Candice Gilmer~Rescuing Rapunzel

Posted on July 16, 2012 by Jenna Jaxon

Today I’m welcoming fellow Lyrical Press author,Candice Gilmer, to Jenna’s Journal.  Since last year with the release of my fractured fairy tale, I’ve been fascinated by fairy tales as a romance trope.  Candice’s newest release takes advantage of this trope, using the fairy tale Rapunzel as the premise for her Rescuing Rapunzel.

First of all, I’d like to thank Jenna for having me today on her blog. It’s so nice to be here today, talking about my latest release, Rescuing Rapunzel.

When I was a kid, I loved fairy tales. Some day the prince would come and rescue the commoner, and they would live happily ever after.

But as much as I loved them, I always wondered something–where were these kingdoms? Because there were an awful lot of princes that saved these commoners from wicked stepmothers and evil witches. Were all the princes brothers? Did they all set out to rescue/fall in love with a commoner? Was it some kind of test of being a prince? Did that mean that Cinderella, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty were all sisters-in-law?

I never really figured this out, until I started doing some research for my fairy tale, Rescuing Rapunzel. Imagine my surprise when I learned that Kings and Queens in Germany, (approximately where the fictions “White Mountains” of my book is set) were
not the only ones with children who were princes or princesses.

It goes approximately like this: (pulled from German Nobility)

1. German Emperor (Or King of Prussia), and his children were princes and princesses, excluding the eldest heir–who became Crown Prince (Kronprinz)

2. King and Queen of German States, Majesties, of course, and their children were princes and princesses.

3. Grand Dukes, who were considered Royal Highnesses, of smaller states and their heirs were prince and princesses, and the heir received the heredity title.

So that’s a lot of princes and princesses. Not to mention that unlike English titles being only passed down to elder boys, in Germany, the eldest received titles, but so did all the children, whether they were boys or girls. They all became “Duke von Hohburg” or “Duchess von Hohburg,” unlike English peerage, where the eldest male is heir to the biggest title, and the other boys get secondary titles the father may have, but only upon his death.

One of the interesting “tweaks” I made to my story was that the titles can be passed down before death, so part of my hero Nick’s dilemma is that if he doesn’t find a wife in a certain amount of time, his mother will pick one for him, so he can be married when the title is passed down to him. A fun part of writing a fairy tale in my own little world is being able to bend the peerage rules to suit my needs.

Thank you so much, Candice, for coming by today.  Here’s hoping for a Happy Ever After for you and Rescuing Rapunzel!

Rescuing Rapunzel Blurb:  The Charming Nobles Book 1

Getting Rapunzel out the tower is only half the problem…

Rapunzel longs to live in the world she sees through her window, but more than her tower keeps her trapped. Her mother has taught her obedience without question and filled her with fear. She knows she will never reach the ground. Then Lord Nicolas von Hohburg scales her wall, breaks into her life, and changes everything.

Nick has resigned himself to a life of duty when Rapunzel’s song calls him to her tower. Soon she has his heart wrapped in her lengthy tresses and he can think of nothing else. But his responsibilities and sense of duty threaten to come between them…

Warning: A scheming witch, a damsel in distress and a Charming Noble who just might save the day.

Here’s a short excerpt from Rescuing Rapunzel, from Nick’s point of view:

“Has your mother finally gotten you to commit to one of the ladies?” Bryan asked.

Everyone in Hohburg Province knew the three of them fought the marriage-noose. Penn preferred all women to a single one. Bryan refused to enter into a loveless marriage–he had lived most his life with parents who acted like acquaintances. Nick had a mother bound and determined to see him married before he reached twenty-five. He had six months to find his own bride or his mother would choose for him.

Something Nick certainly did not want.

“No,” Nick replied, shivering at the thought.

He was loath to marry any of the local nobility. Too many of them were after him due to his rank. After all, a Duke was a rare prize indeed.

He glanced at the windows above. A gaggle of girls stood there, watching and whispering. If he dared break away from his friends, he would be besieged in moments. He would rather face an army. Women were much more dangerous than anything he would find on a battlefield.

Bryan tipped his head to the side. “You have been riding a lot lately. Do you have someone waiting for you?”

“No, no, I have just been avoiding them.” He gestured to the girls.

“The least of them has to be more entertaining than the Black Forest,” Penn said, wiping his brow. “I know where I would rather spend my evenings.”

“Everyone knows where you would rather spend your evenings,” Bryan countered.

Penn grinned. “Perhaps that is why our dear friend has tucked his latest conquest away. Afraid of a little competition, Nick?” Penn waggled his eyebrows.

“I am not meeting any female,” Nick replied. Yet he could not help thinking about the tower. When Penn looked at him, he turned away, unable to meet his eye.

Bryan smirked. “Then it is a woman.”

“No.” Sighing, he relented. “It was just a voice.”

Author Bio:

Candice Gilmer leads a dangerous double life as a mommy and a writer. In between diaper changes and boo-boo healing, she writes stories usually to the tune of children’s television. Growing up in the Midwest, Candice stays close to her family, especially the ones with basements when the tornadoes come around. She also works as a hairdresser, which she’s done for over fifteen years, and brings her laptop to work so she can write between clients.

When she’s not writing, styling hair and taking care of her family, she gets together with her girlfriends for gossip and coffee while her husband hunts ghosts with Wichita Paranormal Research Society. All in all, she stays very busy, but really, she wouldn’t have it any other way.

Well, maybe a little less children’s television.

Author Links:

Website: http://candicegilmer.com

Blog: http://candicegilmer.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Candice-Gilmer/96543284794

Twitter: http://twitter.com/candicegilmer

Email: candice.gilmer@gmail.com

Internet Radio: http://www.ztalkradio.com, Dear Emmy, Saturday nights, 10pm-midnight, EST

Buy Links:

Rescuing Rapunzel @ Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Rescuing-Rapunzel-Charming-Nobles-ebook/dp/B007VMJ0T2/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1338576358&sr=8-6

Rescuing Rapunzel @ Barnes and Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rescuing-rapunzel-candice-gilmer/1109558412?ean=9781616503710

Rescuing Rapunzel @ Lyrical Press Site:  http://www.lyricalpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3_26&products_id=506

Posted in Guest Bloggers, On History, On Writing, On Writing Historical Romance, On Writing Romance, Reader's Corner | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 26 Comments

Six Sentence Sunday–7/15/12–Only Scandal Will Do

Posted on July 15, 2012 by Jenna Jaxon

Only Scandal Will Do

Releases on July 23, 2012!

Scandal is back!  My historical romance novel, Only Scandal Will Do is back again for Six Sentence Sunday!  Hope you enjoy!

Lady Katarina Fitzwilliam has been kidnapped and auctioned off in a brothel to the highest bidder, a man in a cloak and mask.  He plays master to her slave, but when she protests she is a lady, he challenges her to prove it to him.  She explains the circumstances and when he becomes sympathetic, she lowers her guard and allows him to comfort her.  She finds herself strongly attracted to the stranger and he takes full advantage of her willingness–until she comes to her senses.

Lady Katarina realized he  didn’t believe her story after all.  She threatened to kill him if he didn’t let her go and insisted once more that she was who she said she was.  Now she takes action.  In the aftermath of her strike, Kat commandeers the man’s cloak and prepares to make her escape.

The still-unmoving figure lay sprawled on the carpet as if dead, and a twinge of remorse shot through her. A fleeting memory of his lips on hers caused her to catch her breath. She was not sorry she’d struck him. Nevertheless, she hoped the man would recover.

And live another day to debauch someone else? Steeling herself against her previous charitable thoughts and disturbing memories, she peeped out the door. 


Will she make good her escape?

I’m very excited for this release in just one more week! I’ll be celebrating starting July 23rd with a release party and giveaways.  Please come by!

I appreciate everyone’s comments, so thank you in advance for leaving one!  Please also check out the other Six Sentence Sunday participants.  I know you’ll be glad you did!

Posted in On Only Scandal Will Do, On Six Sentence Sunday | Tagged , , , , , | 20 Comments

Sweet Saturday Sample–7/14/12 Time Enough To Love: Betrothal

Posted on July 14, 2012 by Jenna Jaxon

Welcome back to Sweet Saturday Sample!  All excerpts here are rated PG-13 or milder. Here’s another post from my new WIP, my medieval trilogy Time Enough To Love.  Part 1 is called Betrothal.  The series is set in England and France in 1348.  Betrothal takes place at the court of King Edward III.

Lady Alyse de Courcy is a waiting gentlewoman to Princess Joanna, youngest daughter of King Edward.  After receiving the news that the new courtier, Sir Geoffrey Longford, is her betrothed, a dazed Alyse manages to finally speak.   She acquits herself well, but just as she thinks her ordeal before the court is over, Geoffrey turns the tables and escorts her around the Great Hall. During their procession, Alyse sets him a feat to win her regard.  But when they finally arrive back at Alyse’s table, she finds they are not alone:  Lord Brayton, who had caught Alyse’s fancy, skirts courtly wordplay with a serious flirtation, leaving Alyse wondering how her betrothed will answer. (Disclaimer:  This work is not yet edited, so please forgive any flaws.)

“Thomas!” The censure in Geoffrey’s voice was aimed squarely at his friend, not his bride-to-be and Alyse could breathe again. “Would you seduce my lady before my very face?” The disapproval was mocking, but she detected a subtle undertone of truth to it.

 

“Only if it could not be accomplished behind your back, Geoffrey!” Thomas laughed, moving his words into the realm of fashionable wordplay.

Geoffrey continued in this vein with his friend, though Alyse prayed he would take her back to her place before she collapsed. Her mind fixed on thoughts of respite, she started when Lord Brayton rose, plucked her hand from its place atop Geoffrey’s and raised it to his lips.  “Fair lady, I wish you great joy in your coming marriage. May Sir Geoffrey prove himself worthy of so lovely a maid.”

 

Her breath caught in anticipation of the fire of his lips, but her eagerness changed to bewilderment when Lord Brayton’s kiss did not arouse her in the least. Disappointed and puzzled,Alyse was not paying attention as he returned her hand to Geoffrey’s arm. The unexpected shock as her bare skin met his made her gasp anew at the fiery sensation sent coursing throughout her.

 

She jerked her head up to stare at Geoffrey, amazed he did not feel it too. But he perhaps did. A slight widening of his eyes and the deepening of their color to darkest sapphire revealed that something had stirred him as well. The look she had seen twice before, the something unknown to her, was back and with a shock she finally recognized it for what it was: desire.

I hope you enjoyed this latest sample from  Time Enough to Love.  Stop by SSS tomorrow for six sentences from Only Scandal Will Do.  And today be sure to click here to visit more Sweet Samples.

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