Release Day: The Present–Christmas on the Side

Posted on November 23, 2021 by Jenna Jaxon

**Happy Release Day for The Present!**

Seems I was just releasing a book the other day (I was), but my brand new contemporary Christmas novella, releases on Amazon today!

I’m thrilled with where the story went, although it was rough going switching to contemporary settings and characters after writing historical for so long. There are so many things you need to consider today that you didn’t in the 18th or 19th century (a major one being using protection if the characters are going to have sex!). But I will say I ended up having fun with these characters. So much fun that my editor has persuaded me to write a second book and maybe even a third using characters introduced in this one. So maybe look for volume 2 in July, perhaps? A little Christmas in July is always fun.

The Present is now available for purchase on Amazon! I hope you enjoy it and the other seven Christmas on the Side novellas!

BLURB:

Tessa Avery’s Christmas has gone from bad to worse. Unemployed for six months and reduced to cleaning her heartless sister’s apartment to make ends meet, Tess is at her wits end how to get back on her feet. Then her sister comes up with an offer Tess can’t refuse: tell Janice’s boyfriend Hal she’s breaking it off with him—two days before Christmas—or Janice will withhold Tess’s payment.

Hal Chapman is livid that his supposed girlfriend tells him they’re through—not even in person, but by way of her sister—and is oh so ready to get even. He offers Tessa the present he’d gotten for Janice, a pair of diamond earrings worth enough to make Tessa’s financial problem a lot easier in exchange for a little revenge against his ex-girlfriend.

When their escapade is over, Hal asks Tessa out on a date. Tess is thrilled, but wary—is Hal really interested in her, or just interested in more revenge? As they come to know one another better, Tess begins to hope for a new beginning with Hal. But when a sudden crisis calls for her to make a hard choice, will her ultimate decision sink their budding relationship or turn their night together into the best Christmas present ever?

The excerpt below is a continuation of the excerpt I started Sunday in my Weekend Writing Warrior post. If you’d like to read that excerpt, click here.

EXCERPT:

Janice had hurt him, and he wanted to get back at her in one of the most primal ways possible—sleep with someone else. The fact that the someone else was her younger sister would just add gasoline to the flames when Janice found out. Which would probably be tomorrow.

Tess couldn’t blame him for wanting to return the blow to his ego. In her opinion, Janice would be getting exactly what she deserved and more. Tess just didn’t know if she wanted Hal to use her to do it.

It would have been different under other circumstances. Hal was a hot, sexy guy. Tall, broad shoulders—if he kept unbuttoning that shirt she’d know in a minute if he had a six-pack under that designer shirt. What woman wouldn’t want a night in bed with that guy? But it would be revenge sex, short and sweet. It would mean nothing else to him.

Did she want it to mean something else to her? Or could she just chalk it up to a great one-night stand with the added benefit of a generous tip. A three-thousand-dollar tip.

Squeezing the jewelry box closed, Tess raised her chin. “What do you want me to do?”

****

The sound of the door opening brought Tessa up out of the deep sleep she’d fallen into. She turned her head toward the noise to find Janice silhouetted in the doorway. She attempted to raise herself up, but something had her weighed down.

“Tess? I saw your car. What are you still doing here?”

“What time is it?” Tess tried to look at her watch, but her arm was caught under something.

“Two-thirty. I went back to Kevin’s for a night cap and, well, one thing led to another—” Lights flashed on. “Oh. My. God!”

Tess blinked, shielding her eyes. She tried again to sit up, but the something still had her pinned down—when she could focus it turned out to be Hal’s big warm body. He lay sprawled half on top of her, wedged against the back of the couch, wearing only his unbuttoned shirt and very loose-fitting boxers.

“What the hell is going on here?” Janice’s shriek brought Hal’s head up.

“Huh? Morning already?” He peered down at Tess and smiled blearily. “You don’t need to leave yet, do you? I don’t have to be at work until eight.”

“What are you doing on top of my sister, Hal Chapman?” Janice’s voice could have cracked the sound barrier. She stared at them, her gaze going from Hal’s partially naked body to Tess’s equally unclothed one and her face deepened to the shade of the red hand-blown De Carlini Christmas ornaments on her tree. “This had better not be…What have you been…Have you lost your mind?”

Hal peered up at his ex-girlfriend. “I don’t believe I have, Janice.” Then he grunted, freed one hand from beneath them and ran a finger down Tess’s cheek. The unexpected caress made her shiver. “I don’t think I’ve lost anything at all.” He returned his attention back to Janice. “Except a lousy girlfriend.”

Gaping like one of the trout Tess used to catch on fishing expeditions with their father, Janice looked like she wanted to murder one—or both—of them. With no weapon to hand, however, she settled for the next best thing and stalked over to glare down at Tess. “And you, you little slut. You were supposed to get rid of him. Not screw him.”

Aching to haul off and smack the shit out of her sibling, Tess breathed deeply and aimed as low as she could muster. “I figured better me than you, Jan. After everything you’d told me about Hal, I just had to see for myself.” She eyed Hal up and down, a slow, thorough, look that lingered on his boxers. “I have to say, you weren’t lying.”

The audible gasp from Janice almost made Tess sputter with laughter as her sister’s face turned the awful shade of red called puce.

“Out! Both of you get out of my house, this minute.” Janice even stamped her foot, which made it even harder for Tess not to laugh.

Smirking, Hal shifted and eased off her until he sat on the end of the sofa, rubbing the back of his neck. Glancing around the room, he located his pants, draped over an end table. With a loud groan he stood and reached for them.

As he pulled them on, Tess sat up looking for hers as well. She located them wedged between the sofa cushions and pulled. Hal was sitting on them, so of course they didn’t budge. “Hal.”

He turned to her and she motioned to where her pants were trapped beneath him.

“Oh, sorry.” He stood and finished putting on his pants. The whirr of his zipper seemed loud as a chainsaw in the silent room.

Tess jerked her pants from under the sofa cushion, then stood and stepped into them, eyeing her sister.

Eyes bulging, chin quivering, chest heaving as though she’d run a marathon, Janice stalked back to the door and threw it open. “I never want to see you again.” Her gaze flashed from one of them to the other and her voice rose. “Either of you!”

A quick glance at Hal, who nodded, and Tess grabbed the velvet box from the coffee table and paused. She needed to get her coat, but it was in the closet, too close to Janice to chance it. She wouldn’t put it past her sister to throttle Tess if she came too close. She’d have to brave the winter’s chill long enough to get into her car. And pray the heater decided to work tonight.

Hal slung his jacket over his shoulder and put an arm around Tess, guiding her out the door and being sure to put himself between the sisters. However, he stopped just before they crossed the threshold. “Merry Christmas, Janice. Thanks for the present.” He squeezed Tess’s shoulders and promptly ushered her through the door.

Want to read more? Grab your copy of The Present on Amazon now!

Christmas on the Side Novellas

Posted in Christmas stories, contemporary romance, Holiday Posts, New Release, On All Wrapped Up, The Present | Tagged Contemporary Christmas romance, Contemporary holiday romance, contemporary romance novella, Jenna Jaxon, release day, sexy contemporary romance, steamy contemporary romance, The Present: Christmas on the Side | 1 Comment

Weekend Writing Warriors ~ 11/21/21 ~ The Present: Christmas on the Side ~ “It’s Over”

Posted on November 21, 2021 by Jenna Jaxon

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors !

This week I’m switching, just for this week, to my upcoming release, The Present, part of the Christmas on the Side series of Christmas novellas. It releases on Tuesday, November 23. It’s a bit different for me–as it’s a contemporary, sexy, Christmas story, but I had written a piece of Christmas flash fiction over 10 years ago, and I suddenly wanted to know what happened to those two characters. Next week I’ll return to The Widow Wore Plaid.

BLURB:

When their escapade is over, Hal asks Tessa out on a date. Tess is thrilled, but wary—is Hal really interested in her, or just interested in more revenge? As they come to know one another better, Tess begins to hope for a new beginning with Hal. But when a sudden crisis calls for Tess to make a hard choice, will her ultimate decision sink their budding relationship or turn their night together into the best Christmas present ever?

I’m beginning a little way into the novella. As the blurb states, Tess’s evil sister blackmails Tess into delivering the bad news to the sister’s boyfriend that she’s breaking up with him, just before Christmas. Here’s a snippet where Tess tells Hal her sister is dumping him. We are in Tess’s POV.

EXCERPT:

Swift and painless, like a surgeon. “She went without you, Hal. She said to tell you…” the words stuck in Tess’s throat, and she had to clear it before she could go on, “she said she didn’t think it would work out between you two.” God, she could still barely say the words. What must it be like to hear them? “That it was over.”

Hal stood in the middle of the room, staring at her in disbelief, then his brows came down in a thunderous frown as the lines of his handsome face hardened. His hand clenched on a small, brightly wrapped box Tess noticed only when the paper ripped under the strain.

Oh, shit, he did get her a ring! I’m going to kill the bitch myself.

And a little more for good measure…

He must have seen her eyes on the present because he gave a sharp laugh and thrust the box at her. “Here, Tess. You take it instead. Payment for services rendered as messenger.”

Shaking her head, she backed up a step. She wanted nothing more to do with this whole fiasco except to fix herself another drink then get the hell out of here and go home. “I can’t take that, Hal. You should return it.”

“Open it.” The command was harsh.

Hands trembling, she took the small box. “I’m really sorry she did this to you, Hal.” She looked at his face, but it had been wiped clean of emotion.

“Open it. Please?” The return to a softer voice gave his words a pleading tone, and Tess just couldn’t disappoint the man again tonight.

“Okay.” She finished tearing the red and white striped paper away, and exposed a small, burgundy velvet case. Heart in her throat, she raised the lid of the clamshell to reveal diamond earrings. A match for the swirled pendant on the necklace he’d given Janice. “Oh, Hal. They’re beautiful.”

“They’re yours.”

The words staggered Tess, constricted the air in her lungs. Those earrings could be sold, maybe help her to live until she found a real job. She raised her face and swallowed. “I can’t take these, Hal.”

“Not even for services rendered?”

Her heart took off like a racecar. “Wh…what do you mean? For doing Janice’s dirty work?”

His dark eyes glittered wickedly. “For delivering her message, yes.” She sucked in air, able to breathe again. “And for performing another little service for me.” He tapped the box with his finger. “That would earn those for you—and then some.”

Her breath stopped as Tess stared at him. She’d thought Hal a nice guy, a good guy. Had she been wrong about that? Was he suggesting what she thought he was suggesting?

Pulse racing, her mouth turned dry as he shrugged out of his Armani jacket, pulled his silk dress shirt out of his pants and started to unbutton it. She glanced down at the diamonds in her hand.

If you’d like to read more, you can pre-order The Present on Amazon, or get it on release day, Tuesday. 🙂

All Wrapped Up is a collection of four pieces of flash fiction with Christmas themes. One of them, The Present, is the piece my new novella is taken from. It’s FREE on Amazon, if you’d like to take a look!

On November 17, the Nine Ladies Dancing: Christmas Miracles anthology of Christmas novellas released and is now available on Amazon. My Christmas novella, It Happened at Christmas, is part of that nine author anthology, so you should check it out! Here’s the link. It will also be available on Kindle Unlimited at no cost for members.

Don’t forget to check out the rest of the Warriors here. There’s some fantastic snippets to be read.

New Contemporary Christmas Novella from Jenna Jaxon

Posted on November 19, 2021 by Jenna Jaxon

I’m back with another new Christmas release, this time one of mine! Yes, if you hadn’t heard, I decided to mix it up this Christmas and write a contemporary romance! It’s a sexy little story, called The Present, that takes place in Chicago in the present day and takes place over the week between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. It’s an extension of a flash fiction piece I wrote years ago, called The Present, that I somehow never forgot. So this year, I decided why not find out what happened to Hal and Tess?

The novella is part of a Christmas novella series called Christmas on the Side, and all eight authors of the series are members of my RWA local chapter, Chesapeake Romance Writers. So while you’re checking my Christmas story out, check out theirs as well! We’re all on Amazon, three are already available and the rest of us are on pre-order. My book releases on Tuesday, November 23! Here’s the link if you want to pre-order.

BLURB:

EXCERPT:

“Didn’t you hear the doorbell?” her sister shouted, staggering toward the white sofa where she dropped the shopping bags. She stood glaring at Tess while she pulled off her gloves, finger by finger.

“You couldn’t hear a stick of dynamite go off over the racket this thing makes.” Tess kicked at the ancient machine. “If you had a decent one, I would have heard the damn bell.”

“I doubt that.” Janice nodded toward Tess. “You couldn’t hear over the noise blaring out of your ear buds. I seriously doubt you’re listening to Christmas carols.”

“I might be.” The statement was farfetched at best. Tessa hadn’t been in the holiday spirits this year at all. Losing one’s job didn’t really make one festive.

“Yeah, and I’m the Virgin Mary.” Swinging her purse off her shoulder and plopping it down on the table behind the sofa, Janice groaned, then pulled her wet two-inch heels off, letting them fall on the carpet Tessa had just painstakingly cleaned.

Tessa dove down and scooped them up before they could touch her clean carpet. “Is it raining outside?” She scooted to the bathroom and grabbed a fingertip towel to catch the drips from the black patent leather shoes. “I didn’t think they were calling for that.”

“It’s snowing, not raining.” Janice stripped off her white cashmere coat and tossed it on the end of the sofa, then settled down beside her packages. “And no, they hadn’t called for it, despite the fact it’s the end of December. You really should expect this sort of weather two days before Christmas. Can you make me a drink? I could use one. You won’t believe how much money I just spent on presents for the office Christmas party.”

Oh, yes. Tess could easily believe it. “That’s tonight, isn’t it?”

“Yes. Starts about eight. I’ll arrive fashionably late.” Janice leaned back against the white sofa, her dark auburn hair and chic navy-blue suit creating a stark contrast. She smiled.

Oh, hell. Tessa knew that smile. Something terrible was about to go down.

“I plan to have a drink with Kevin Byrne. Drinks plural would be better.” Her sister’s smile widened. “Rumor has it he’s the number one candidate to get the V.P. nod after the merger.”

“I thought you told me Hal was getting that position.” Hal was Janice’s boyfriend of six months. Tess had a lot of sympathy for the man. He must have gotten into the relationship before he knew anything about Janice. Any man smart enough to make V.P. of a major corporation had to have sense enough to run the other way when he saw her sister coming. But Hal was a good guy. It would have been hard for him to break it off with Janice, despite all the truly despicable things she’d done.

“That might have been true last month.” Janice rubbed her feet. “But it’s old news, or so I hear now. Alex, the office manager, told me yesterday that once the merger is over, they plan to make Kevin V.P. in charge of Communications.”

Hence the drinks, plural, with Kevin. Her sister could smell blood in the water better than any shark. “Does Hal know?”

Janice shrugged. “I certainly haven’t told him. He’d already left on that trip to Aspen when I found out.”

Picking up her phone, Tessa waved it in front of Janice’s face. “It’s called a cell phone, Janice. You could have called him. The man deserves to know he’s not getting the promotion.”

Her sister looked away. “I can’t swear he doesn’t know already.” She sat up. “Will you please bring me a drink? Scotch on the rocks.”

“So, I’m your bartender now as well?” Tessa glared at her sister, all the while knowing she’d get the damned drink.

“If the shoe fits.” Janice stretched like contented cat about to settle down for a nap. “It’s been such a stressful day.”

“Yes, shopping can be a bitch sometimes.” Moving toward the bar, Tess grabbed a highball glass and headed for the kitchen.

“Well, it can. I had to think very carefully about what to get for each one of my team members. And Kevin.”

“And thinking was never your strong suit.” Tess mumbled as ice clinked into the glass. “What did you get for Hal?” Silence from the living room drew Tess to stick her head around the corner. “You did get a present for Hal, didn’t you?”

Janice shrugged. “What’s the point? It’s over between us.”

Tess’s mouth dropped open. “What the hell do you mean, it’s over? The man adores you.” She stared at the necklace draped perfectly around her sister’s neck, the pendant sparkling at the top of Janice’s cleavage: a huge one carat diamond sitting in the center of swirled platinum ribbons, each swirl set with small, round diamonds. “That necklace he gave you for your birthday could fund a coup in a small South American country.”

“I won’t say Hal’s not generous. Far from it. But that was never what our relationship was about.” Janice looked at Tess and sniggered. “Poor Tess. You don’t get that our connection was all about position and the power it brings, not about romance.” She shrugged. “If Hal’s no longer on his way to the top, I can’t let that stop me.”

The urge to fling the glass of ice at her sister was so strong Tess had to set the highball down and move away from it. “I don’t believe it. You’re going to tell Hal you’re breaking up with him two days before Christmas?”

The smile her sister turned on her was the evilest thing Tess had ever seen.

“Oh, I’m not going to tell him.” She licked her lips. “You are.”

Come back on Tuesday for the Release Party and another excerpt!

Other Christmas Books by Jenna Jaxon

Posted in Christmas stories, contemporary romance, Holiday Posts, Short Stories, The Present | Tagged Christmas story, Contemporary Christmas romance, contemporary romance, Jenna Jaxon, Sexy Christmas story, Steamy Christmas story, The Present | Leave a comment

Love at Christmas: A New Christmas Novella from Daryl Devore

Posted on November 15, 2021 by Jenna Jaxon

One of my dear author friends has just released a very different, very special Christmas novella that I’m so happy to introduce you to today. Please welcome Daryl Devore with Christmas Notes.

Christmas Notes

Just released – Christmas Notes – a Christmas romance novella. Grab a hot chocolate, a cozy blanket, cuddle down on the couch and enjoy.

Writer’s Inspiration

One question writers get asked – a lot -, “Where do you get your inspiration from?”

Most of the time I’m stuck for an answer. Stories just come to me.

Another question is, “What was your playlist for this book?”

I don’t have playlists. I write in silence. Distractions distract me. I’m a bit ADD. Oh, look a chicken. Is there chocolate?

There was a suggestion for writing a seasonal novella – a short story that focused on the holiday season. I thought it sounded like a fun idea.

But it was mid-Oct and I couldn’t get into the Christmas spirit – heck it wasn’t even Canadian Thanksgiving yet. (I’m Canadian.) The grass was still green. The flowers were still in bloom. The Canada Geese hadn’t even flown south yet. How was I supposed to be feeling the Christmas spirit?

Without spending hours watching Christmas movies, or hauling out our Christmas tree weeks in advance, I decided to pop on my headphones and listened to Christmas music – not just any Christmas music – Trans Siberian Orchestra. If you’ve never listened to them – give it a go. Wow – their take on Christmas music is phenomenal. One song in particular – Carol of the Bells. (Technically, its name on the album cover is Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24.) To catch a listen – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6FhOb7-1dg

The story behind their version of the song – On Christmas Eve, a lone man challenges the war by playing music on the rubble of his war-ravaged city – Sarajevo. When you listen to this song, you can hear the beauty and then the destruction – the jarring rock music portraying the bombs and chaos.

In my story, Christmas Notes, the rock music represents Giselle’s life. It’s a mess. Not the life she’d planned and something she was truly embarrassed about.

Giselle, is you or I. No one special, but life kicked her down once too often. There by the grace of God go I – that line wasn’t the basis for the story – the music was – but it does help understanding.

The story follows the same structure of the song – calm – chaos – calm – chaos then resolution. All in under 10,000 words.

So for once, I can answer two interview questions –

“Where do you get your inspiration from?”

Trans Siberian Orchestra’s Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24

“What was your playlist for this book?”

Trans Siberian Orchestra’s Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24

Excerpt:

Rock bottom is hard. And I’d smashed up against it. Bruised not only my pride, but also my body. Guess that’s what happens when you haven’t eaten in a few days and pass out on the sidewalk in front of the largest department store witnessed by hundreds of Christmas shoppers. And all of them with cell phones recording another titillating moment in the biggest city in the country. Yeah, it just wasn’t my day.

Tears stung my eyes as I shifted to my hands and knees while watching feet scurry past. I didn’t look up. Didn’t want to see their faces. The judgmental disdain and embarrassment etched into their frosty red cheeks. Their sanctimonious scorn of myself and the condition to which I’d sunk. Their chagrin of not being willing to help and of desperately trying to pretend I was invisible.

Icy droplets fell from the sky, settling on my neck. It wasn’t quite snow, but was no longer rain. And it was raw cold. To my core. I pushed up to standing, brushing away the frigid sleet from my arms and legs. I pressed my scraped palm against my hip to stop the bleeding then checked my bag. It and its contents seemed all right. Yes, my existence has been reduced to having pretty much everything I own in a bag or two.

My life wasn’t always like this. How I got here doesn’t matter. Another sad sob story. A cruel twist of fate. A dream shattered. I could go on using a dozen more clichés, but I’m pretty sure you get the idea.

So again, I say, hitting rock bottom is hard. And, I might add, it sucks.

Blurb:

Can a slice of pizza and a flute erase the ravages of life and allow Giselle and Ethan to fall in love by Christmas?

Collapsing in front the biggest department store in the city on one of the busiest days of the holiday season was not how Giselle imagined her day. Cold and hungry, she trudged through her daily existence wondering if she’d ever find happiness again.

Teenagers. Ethan loved working with them and turning their raw musical talent into something beautiful and rewarding, but that didn’t fill the black void in his soul.

Like fate, the songwriters’ muse nudged Giselle and Ethan together. But can Giselle overcome her fears and can Ethan get past the darkness that surrounds him, so they can find love?

Buy Links

Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09L7954ST

Books2Read – https://books2read.com/u/3keqvO

Please note – this book will only be available in ebook form as it is too short to be printed in paperback form.

Bio and Social Media:

Two writers in one. Daryl Devoré writes hot romances with sexy heroes and strong heroines and sweet romances with little to no heat. She has several published books available on Amazon in ebook, print and audio. Also, available at other book retailers via Books2Read.

Daryl (@daryldevore) lives in an old farmhouse in Ontario, Canada, with her husband and 2 cats. Daryl loves to take long walks on her quiet country road or snowshoe across the back acres, and in the summer, kayak along the St. Lawrence River. She has touched a moon rock, a mammoth, and a meteorite. She’s been deep in the ocean in a submarine, flown high over Niagara Falls in a helicopter, and used the ladies room in a royal palace. Life’s an adventure and Daryl’s having fun living it.

Blog – Romance – Sweet to Heat

Twitter

Every Other Month Newsletter (always looking for subscribers)

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Posted in Christmas stories, contemporary romance, Guest Bloggers, Guest Posts, Holiday Posts, Short Stories | Tagged Christmas Notes, Christmas romance, Christmas short stories, Contemporary Christmas romance, Contemporary Christmas short stories, contemporary romance, Daryl Devore | 2 Comments

Weekend Writing Warriors ~ 11/14/21 ~ The Widow Wore Plaid ~ Pray

Posted on November 14, 2021 by Jenna Jaxon

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors !

Can we really be half-way through November?!!! I can hardly believe it!

This week I’m continuing snippets from my upcoming historical romance, The Widow Wore Plaid. It’s the sixth and final book of The Widows’ Club series and I’m truly very excited to share it with you.

BLURB:

The Battle of Waterloo made them widows, but each has found new happiness. And Jane, Lady John Tarkington, intends to keep her freedom, even if love—and one particular gentleman—are determined to claim her heart . . .

It is a truth rarely acknowledged—at least in public—that a wealthy widow is free to pursue a great many adventures. For two years, Jane has privately enjoyed her independence. Why should she remarry, even when the gentleman proposing is as wonderful as Gareth, Lord Kinellan? She entreats him never to ask her again. But as her Widows’ Club friends—now all joyfully remarried—gather at Castle Kinellan, Jane begins to wonder if stubbornness has led her to make a terrible mistake . . .

Kinellan needs a wife to give him an heir, and he wants that wife to be Jane. They are perfect together in every way, yet she continually refuses him. Just as he is on the point of convincing her, a series of accidents befall Gareth and point to an enemy in their midst. He has promised Jane a passionate future filled with devotion, but can he keep them both alive long enough to secure it?

I’m starting my snippets toward the end of Chapter 2. Gareth, Marquess of Kinellan has just finished dancing with Jane, Lady John Tarkington, with whom his is deeply in love. Jane loves him as well, but is wary of giving up the independence of widowhood, even for this man she loves. As the snippet begins, they have just finished a fast-paced Scottish dance.

EXCERPT:

“What is the meaning of this intrusion, Rory?” Kinellan’s jaw creaked as he spoke.

“Begging your pardon, cousin,” a sheepish look on his face, the dark-haired young man, not long ago a boy, glanced from Kinellan to Jane, “Aunt Prudence sent me to find you. She says she must speak with you on a matter of utmost importance this moment. What must I tell her?”

Kinellan drew in a long breath and expelled it slowly. “Thank you, Rory, tell Aunt Pru I’ll be there directly.”

The lad bowed and backed away, perhaps afraid Kinellan would attack him if given the chance.

Kinellan stood and held out his hand to Jane. “Duty calls yet again, my dear, so perhaps we can resume this conversation later.”

And a little more for good measure…

He raised his eyebrows. “After the household has settled for the night?”

On the tip of her tongue to plead a headache or her courses, Jane looked into his dear face and could not refuse him. “I’ll be waiting.”

He offered his arm and she took it, trying not to tremble. In all likelihood this would be their last tryst. As soon as the throes of passion had been spent—their final interlude perhaps—he would continue with the words he had been about to speak just now, telling her he would not be renewing his addresses and that it would be best for all if she left with the other guests when the gathering was over in two days’ time.

They continued slowly into the castle, each step a death knell to Jane unless she could convince herself in the next few hours that this man was the one for whom she would sacrifice everything. And pray he would propose again.

I recently had the official cover reveal and announced a Rafflecopter giveaway to celebrate the reveal and the upcoming release. And as the novel is set in Scotland, I’m giving away a little piece of the Scottish Highlands! A souvenir plot, to be exact, that entitles the owner to be styled Lord or Lady of Glencoe, Scotland! To enter the giveaway, just click this link and follow the Rafflecopter instructions.

Additionally, my upcoming contemporary Christmas novella, The Present, is on pre-order on Amazon, part of a Christmas series called “Christmas on the Side.” It will release on November 23rd. You can go check it out here. And visit my blog on Tuesday for an exclusive excerpt!

On November 17, the Nine Ladies Dancing: Christmas Miracles anthology of Christmas novellas will release and is now available for pre-order on Amazon. My Christmas novella, It Happened at Christmas, will be part of that nine author anthology, so you should check it out! Here’s the link. It will also be available on Kindle Unlimited at no cost for members.

Don’t forget to check out the rest of the Warriors here. There’s some fantastic snippets to be read.

The Widows’ Club series

Posted in Blog Hops, Historical Romance, On Weekend Writing Warriors, Promotion, Regency Romance, The Widow Wore Plaid, The Widow's Club, Weekend Writing Warriors | Tagged historical romance, Jenna Jaxon, Regency romance, steamy romance, The Widow Wore Plaid, The Widow's Club series, Weekend Writing Warriors | 12 Comments

Weekend Writing Warriors ~ 11/07/21 ~ The Widow Wore Plaid ~ “Can I Speak With You?”

Posted on November 7, 2021 by Jenna Jaxon

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors !

This week I’m beginning snippets from my upcoming historical romance, The Widow Wore Plaid. It’s the sixth and final book of The Widows’ Club series and I’m truly very excited to share it with you.

BLURB:

EXCERPT:

Laughing, Jane allowed herself to be pulled into the corridor and led through narrow passageways until Kinellan pushed open a door and suddenly there was cool air and moonlight. They emerged into the quietness of the formal garden, Jane still gasping for air. He led her to a crescent-shaped stone bench and assisted her to sit.

“Can I speak with you for a moment?”

His words would have thrilled her had his tone not filled her with apprehension. The serious note in it made her clutch the sapphire pendant at her throat. Dear Lord, what was he about to say? Would he ask her to marry him once more, breaking his vow not to do so, or would he ask her to leave the castle? Gathering her strength, she took his hand and tried to smile. “What is it, Kinellan?”

And a little more for good measure…

“Jane, I have tried to abide by your wishes as you asked me to do in May. I have not renewed my offer to you, in the hope that through my deeds you would see my sincere appreciation for you as both a woman and a partner.” His voice was gentle, soothing. Lethal. “I had hoped you would indicate to me in some manner that you were ready to allow me once again to pay my addresses to you, but I have seen nothing to offer me hope that such a change of heart has occurred.”

Mouth dry, throat as though she’d poured sand down it, Jane could only sputter, shaking her head to stop the words before he ended their association for all time.

“Jane, I think it best if—”

“My lord.”

They both jumped, Jane starting so badly she shook.

I had the official cover reveal last week and announced a Rafflecopter giveaway to celebrate the reveal and the upcoming release. And as the novel is set in Scotland, I’m giving away a little piece of the Scottish Highlands! A souvenir plot, to be exact, that entitles the owner to be styled Lord or Lady of Glencoe, Scotland! To enter the giveaway, just click this link and follow the Rafflecopter instructions.

Additionally, my upcoming contemporary Christmas novella, The Present, is on pre-order on Amazon, part of a Christmas series called Christmas on the Side. It will release on November 23rd. You can go check it out here.

On November 11, the Nine Ladies Dancing anthology of Christmas novellas will release. My Christmas novella, It Happened at Christmas will be part of that anthology, so you should check it out! I’ll give you the link as soon as I get it.

Don’t forget to check out the rest of the Warriors here. There’s some fantastic snippets to be read.

The Widows’ Club series

THE WIDOW WORE PLAID ~ COVER REVEAL

Posted on November 1, 2021 by Jenna Jaxon

Today I’m officially revealing the cover for the 6th book in my Widows’ Club Regency romance series, The Widow Wore Plaid.

Isn’t it gorgeous? 🙂 And I had a lot of say in what actually went into the design, so I couldn’t be more pleased with it.

BLURB:

And here is an excerpt from The Widow Wore Plaid, just to whet your appetite.

EXCERPT:

Throwing up his hands, he groaned and sagged against the wall, his banyan sliding half off him. “Have your way with me, woman. I surrender myself into your hands. Do with me what you will and I swear I will enjoy it.”

Panting, she stepped back from him, seeing the sculpted muscular form, strong arms, and dark eyes glazed with smoldering desire as if for the first time. This man wanted her, or had wanted her to be his wife for a long time. No one would ever make her feel this way again, no matter how many lovers she might take. She could look for the rest of her life and not find a man as kind or generous or loving as he. And she had all but thrown his love away with both hands. The revelation devastated her and she hung her head.

“Jane?” Kinellan straightened, peering into her face.

Sobbing, she threw her arms around him, laying her head on his broad chest, the only place she wanted it to be. Tears pricked her eyes. The fast beat of his heart beneath her ear should have given comfort, but did not, for her own heart was tearing asunder. The trickle of tears became a flood.

“Darling.” He slipped his arms around her, cradling her close. “What is wrong?”

“I…I don’t want to leave.”

“Sweetheart.” He cupped her chin and turned her face up to his. A thundery frown marred his brow. “Who has asked you to leave? Was it Aunt Prudence? Fiona?”

“N…no.” Jane sniffed, trying to blink back the tears and regain her composure.

“Someone else?” His frown grew darker.

She nodded. “You.”

The Widow Wore Plaid will release on December 28, 2021 and is currently available for pre-order at the following retailers:

AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B091MJ1C8M/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i6

BARNES & NOBLE: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-widow-wore-plaid-jenna-jaxon/1139126668;jsessionid=ACAA269602C75AE8F2EDAAFB8BB10391.prodny_store01-atgap12?ean=9781420149784&st=AFF&2sid=Kensington%20Publishing%20Corp._8067221_NA&sourceId=AFFKensington%20Publishing%20Corp.

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-widow-wore-plaid

APPLE: https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-widow-wore-plaid/id1561405266

GOOGLE PLAY: https://play.google.com/store/search?q=9781420149784

Because The Widow Wore Plaid is set in Scotland, I’ve decided to run a Rafflecopter giveaway in which the first prize is a piece of the Scottish Highlands!

The lucky winner will receive the title to a 1′ square souvenir plot of land near Glencoe in the Scottish Highlands. You’ll receive a downloadable certificate of ownership of the 1′ plot, the right to style yourself Laird or Lady of Glencoe, a Gift Pack containing a parchment certificate with embossed seal, membership at the Glencoe VIP Privileges Club, and the right to visit your plot anytime you want and the ability to transfer it to future generations.

I’m buying a plot for me as well, so your plot will be next to mine! I thought this would be a fun way to celebrate the book and help the conservation efforts in the Scottish Highlands as well.

Second prize for the giveaway is a $40 gift certificate to either Amazon or B & N (winner’s choice).

The winner will be chosen and announced on December 28 at The Widow Wore Plaid Book Launch in Virginia.

The Giveaway begins on November 1 at midnight. To enter The Widow Wore Plaid Rafflecopter Giveaway then, click here.

Thank you for stopping by to help me celebrate the cover reveal and I hope you’ll return to my blog in the coming weeks for continued snippets and updates on The Widow Wore Plaid.

The Widows’ Club Series by Jenna Jaxon

Posted in Cover Art, Cover Reveal, Giveaways, Historical Romance, Regency Romance, The Widow Wore Plaid, The Widow's Club | Tagged adventure romance, Jenna Jaxon, Regency romance, Scotland, Scottish highlands, Second chance love story, second chance romance, The Widow Wore Plaid, The Widow's Club series | 36 Comments

Weekend Writing Warriors ~ 10/31/21 ~ Heart of Hope ~ The Scandalous Waltz

Posted on October 31, 2021 by Jenna Jaxon

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors !

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Hope you have a happy, spooky, and safe Halloween!

RELEASE DAY!

I’m back this week with a final excerpt from my just released Heart of Hope, the sixth book in my Handful of Hearts novella series. It’s the story of Lady Letitia Stowe and Mr. Albert (Bertie) Symmons, who meet, although not for the first time, at Lady Hamilton’s ball (where all couples meet in this series).

Today is the last day for excerpts from Heart of Hope. Next week I’ll begin snippets from my upcoming release The Widow Wore Plaid!

BLURB:

Wallflower Lady Letitia Stowe is determined to dance with no one at Lady Hamilton’s ball unless she knows the gentleman. When just such a man appears in the form of Albert Symmons, Letitia is suddenly eager to dance with him…until she discovers their set is the scandalous waltz. Letitia begs off and instead they talk together, each confessing a weakness. Inspired to help one another, they make a pact: she will instruct him in dancing, and he will do likewise for her in horseback riding. Their frequent meetings grow into true affection and respect; however, Letitia discovers her brother has another match in mind for her.

Can Letitia and Bertie come up with a way to change her brother’s mind or will they need to take more drastic measures to secure a “happily ever after”?

This excerpt takes up right where we left off: Letitia is trying to be a wallflower because she doesn’t want to dance with anyone she doesn’t know. But she spies Mr. Symmons, who she does know, and hopes he’s headed toward her. He is and the conversation this week is now leading toward an invitation to dance. However, at the penultimate moment, Lord Kettering intrudes and asks Letitia for a dance.

We have now switched to Bertie’s POV. Hope you enjoy. I’m starting right where I left off last week. Bertie’s has just admitted he’s “not much of a swimmer.”

Today I’m jumping ahead just a little. Bertie has just claimed Letitia for his dance. But naturally, the course of true love does not run smoothly. Enjoy!

EXCERPT:

“I believe we must go, my lady. They are making up the set.” Mr. Symmons glanced at the floor and cocked his head. “I beg your pardon, I was mistaken. They are not making up sets for this dance.”

The first strains of the music began, and a cold dread shot through Letitia. “Is it a quadrille, perhaps?”

“I don’t think so.” He peered first at the dance floor then at the orchestra leader. “I believe they are going to play another waltz.”

And a little more for good measure…

Letitia’s mouth dried. Much as she enjoyed Mr. Symmons’s company, she simply could not dance a waltz with him. “Are…are you certain?”

He looked out over the floor, where couples were standing together, not forming longways sets. “I believe so, my lady.”

“Oh, dear, this is terrible.” She had so looked forward to dancing with Mr. Symmons, something she’d never thought would happen. But she simply couldn’t do it. “I do apologize, Mr. Symmons, but I’m afraid my brother thinks the waltz too scandalous for a young woman to dance.”

His eyebrows shot up, quite comically. “I say, that’s deucedly odd. It is 1820, after all. Most people don’t deem it scandalous at all these days.”

“Yes, others have remarked on that little foible of his.” Letitia fingered the golden heart necklace at her throat. “But he is adamant. In fact, he’s forbidden me to dance it with anyone in public.” She didn’t like lying to anyone, especially to her current partner.

Heart of Hope is now available to download on Amazon. Today is the last day to get it at the pre-order price of .99, so grab your copy now. After release it will revert to its regular price of $2.99.

If you’d like to find out more about Lord Seton’s courtship of Miss Powell, pick up Hearts at All Hallows’ Eve. It’s now FREE on Amazon and Smashwords. But hurry up and download. It disappears at midnight tonight!

And the final Widows’ Club book, The Widow Wore Plaid, is available for pre-order on Amazon as well. It will release on December 28th.

Don’t forget to check out the rest of the Warriors here. There’s some fantastic snippets to be read.

Handful of Hearts series

(Today is the last day at .99! Grab your copies now!)

Posted in A Handful of Hearts, Blog Hops, Heart of Hope, Historical Romance, On Weekend Writing Warriors, Promotion, Regency Romance, sweet romance, Weekend Writing Warriors | Tagged A Handful of Hearts series, Heart of Hope, historical romance, Jenna Jaxon, Regency romance, sweet Regency romance, sweet romance, Weekend Writing Warriors | 9 Comments

Weekend Writing Warriors ~ 10/24/21 ~ Heart of Hope ~ Rescue at Hand

Posted on October 24, 2021 by Jenna Jaxon

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors !

I’m back this week with another excerpt from my just finished WIP Heart of Hope, the sixth book in my Handful of Hearts novella series. It’s the story of Lady Letitia Stowe and Mr. Albert (Bertie) Symmons, who meet, although not for the first time, at Lady Hamilton’s ball (where all couples meet in this series).

BLURB:

Shy wallflower Lady Letitia Stowe is determined to dance with no one at Lady Hamilton’s ball unless she knows the gentleman. When just such a man appears in the form of Albert “Bertie” Symmons, Letitia is suddenly eager to dance with him until she discovers their set turns is the scandalous waltz. Letitia begs off and instead they talk together, each confessing a weakness. Inspired to help one another, they make a pact: she will instruct him in dancing and he will do likewise for her in horseback riding. Their frequent meetings grow into true affection and respect until Bertie is so bedazzled by Letitia he asks her to marry him and she joyously says yes.

Unfortunately, Letitia’s brother has another match in mind for her with the wealthy, titled Lord Kettering. To change her brother’s mind, Letitia and Bertie stage a series of faux rescues where Bertie is the hero. Regrettably, none of them work and Letitia fears they may have to resort to a tried and true method of assuring their marriage: have Bertie compromise her. However, when Bertie proves unwilling to go down that path to matrimony, Letitia may have to take matters into her own capable hands.

We have now switched to Bertie’s POV. Hope you enjoy. I’m starting right where I left off last week. Bertie’s has just admitted he’s “not much of a swimmer.”

EXCERPT:

“I’m merely waiting for Lady Letitia to finish her dance so I can secure her for another one.”

Seaton picked her out of the whirling figures on the floor dancing The First of April. “Another pretty young lady in this year’s crop. I wish you luck as well.” He shifted his gaze once more to Miss Powell, who returned it with a sweet smile. Seaton seemed to freeze then mumbled, “Excuse me, Symmons,” and hurried toward the lady.

Finding himself suddenly abandoned, Bertie looked about for someone to converse with, but no one of his acquaintance was near. So he turned his attention to the dance floor, easily spotting Lady Letitia as she promenaded with her partner. Though her lips were set in what would pass for a smile, Bertie could tell she wasn’t particularly enjoying herself. Her partner, however, seemed not to notice the lady’s discomfiture.

And a little more for good measure…

Kettering chattered to his partner non-stop, oblivious to her distress. How ungentlemanly of his lordship. When Bertie got to partner her, he’d make certain she enjoyed the dance.

The couple circled, Kettering still talking almost without taking a breath. Lady Letitia’s face had frozen, her smile shrinking with each passing moment. The longer he watched them, the more incensed Bertie became. For tuppence, he’d plant the man a facer once he was off the dance floor. If Bertie knew a gentleman looked to a lady’s comfort above all else, Kettering should bloody well know. Poor Lady Letitia. The moment the dance ended, Bertie vowed to jump in and rescue her.

Heart of Hope is now up for pre-order on Amazon and will release next Sunday on October 31th. The pre-order price is just .99, so grab your copy now. After release it will revert to its regular price of $2.99.

If you’d like to find out more about Lord Seton’s courtship of Miss Powell, pick up Hearts at All Hallows’ Eve. It’s .99 on Amazon and free on Smashwords.

And the final Widows’ Club book, The Widow Wore Plaid, is available for pre-order on Amazon as well. It will release on December 28th.

Don’t forget to check out the rest of the Warriors here. There’s some fantastic snippets to be read.

Handful of Hearts series

(all on sale for .99 each during October)

Weekend Writing Warriors ~ 10/17/21 ~ Heart of Hope ~ Not Much of a Swimmer

Posted on October 17, 2021 by Jenna Jaxon

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors !

BLURB:

We have now switched to Bertie’s POV. Hope you enjoy.

(PS–This is the unedited version, so any flubs are my own and will be dealt with by my editor I’m sure. But if you wish to point out anything, please do!)

EXCERPT:

A hulking presence beside him made him glance at the gentleman he’d come to stand beside–Lord Seaton, with a hungry look in his eyes.

“Evening, Symmons.” Distracted, Seaton seemed to be staring at someone across the dance floor.

Bertie followed his line of sight to Miss Powell, a sweet young lady Bertie had danced a quadrille with earlier–though talking animatedly to her mother, every so often she would send a glance and a smile toward Seaton. The intensity of Seaton’s stare put Bertie in mind of a tiger stalking its prey, although he rather thought his lordship had less sinister motives for his attention to the lady.

“Miss Powell was a lively partner in our quadrille earlier,” he nodded toward the lady, “Have you danced with her yet, my lord?”

Not breaking his gaze, Seaton nodded saying, “We were partnered in the country set just finished.” A smile curled his lips. “I’ve found her, Symmons, by God, one dance was all it took. I plan to take Miss Powell to wife as soon as I can speak to her father.”

And a little more for good measure…

The bald statement took Bertie aback. He’d no idea of finding a wife this Season, although he supposed he might look about at the young ladies with an eye toward next year…or the next. But the swiftness of Seaton’s decision struck him as reckless. Did the determination of a lifetime take so little time to make? He hoped not. Marriage was too permanent to make a mistake. Bertie planned to take his time and make the correct choice. “I wish you luck, then, Seaton. She’s very pretty and will be a credit to you.”

For the first time, Seaton looked at him and a grin flashed. “Thank you, Symmons. I hope I won’t need luck, but I’ll take your good wishes all the same.” He peered at Bertie. “Are you getting ready to dip your toe in the water as well?”

“No, my lord,” Bertie shook his head vigorously, “I’m not much of a swimmer.”

Heart of Hope is now up for pre-order on Amazon and will release on October 31th. The pre-order price is just .99, so grab your copy now. After release it will revert to its regular price of $2.99.

If you’d like to find out more about Lord Seton’s courtship of Miss Powell, pick up Hearts at All Hallows’ Eve. It’s .99 on Amazon and free on Smashwords.