Weekend Writing Warriors ~ 9/20/20 The Widow’s Christmas Surprise ~ Best Be Safe

Posted on September 20, 2020 by Jenna Jaxon

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors!

Today I’m continuing with my Christmas novel that releases at the end of September, The Widow’s Christmas Surprise. This is book five of The Widows’ Club series and is Maria’s story.

Here’s the blurb:

BLURB:

The death of her husband has thrown Lady Maria Kersey’s future into doubt—and her heart into the arms of a man she cannot have. But Christmas with the Widows’ Club will bring choices—and surprises–that may change all her holidays to come . . .

Maria just gave birth to her first child, a beautiful daughter—but the event is shrouded in sorrow. A month earlier, Maria’s husband, Lord Kersey, was killed in a duel under compromising circumstances. Worse, Maria’s failure to provide a male heir has stripped her of any hope of an inheritance. Scorned by the ton, one of her few allies is her late husband’s steward, Hugh Granger. Hugh is everything her husband was not—warm, charming—and penniless. . . .

Hugh has fallen desperately in love with Maria, but has little to offer but comfort. As their attraction becomes impossible to resist, Maria flees to London to spend Christmas with her dearest friends, a group of widows who lost their own husbands in the Battle of Waterloo. Little does she know the holidays will reveal a twist of fate she never expected—proving that the greatest Christmas gift is the magic of true love . . .

I’m starting this snippet well into the book because this is a fun scene. Maria is about to leave her lover, Hugh, to go to Scotland until they can marry. Hugh has taken Maria out for a final outing, to spend some time together before they have to say goodbye.

We are in Hugh’s POV.

EXCERPT:

“My hero.” She clutched his arm in mock terror.

He pushed aside some frozen vegetation, creating a path to the ice. “Hold my hand.”

She gripped it tightly and followed him to the edge.

“Wait here and let me sound out the ice. It’s been so cold recently I don’t think it has thinned, but best be safe.”

Maria nodded gravely, her brows drawn inward. “Do be careful.”

He set his skates on the smooth ice and pushed off.

And now to finish the scene :

Each year it came back to him, as if he skated every day of his life. Cautiously, he struck out for the center of the pond, watching for slushy spots or cloudy patches of ice. That meant it wasn’t frozen hard enough. But everywhere he looked the ice was clear. No air bubbles, no cracks, just solid, clear ice. Perfect. “I think it’s good,” he called, turning toward the bank. “Come on out.” He waved to her even as he started back.

Maria set her skates on the surface and pushed off. She wobbled for a moment, her arms flailing as she fought for balance.

Hugh hurried toward her, then something seemed to change.

Suddenly, she remembered her balance and her strokes became strong and even. She threw back her head and laughed, then struck out to meet him. Grabbing his hands, she assumed the skater’s position, right hand over left, and their feet began to glide in unison.

The Widow’s Christmas Surprise is available on Amazon, B & N, Kobo, and Apple.

I’ll be running a Christmas giveaway between now and September 27 when The Widow’s Christmas Surprise releases. The prizes are signed print copies of the previous Widows’ Club books, Christmas ornaments, swag, and a $25.00 Amazon gift card. To enter this Rafflecopter giveaway, click here.

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

Posted in Historical Romance, Promotion, The Widow's Christmas Surprise, The Widow's Club, Weekend Writing Warriors | Tagged Christmas ornament giveaway, Gift Card Giveaway, historical romance, Jenna Jaxon, swag and book giveaway, The Widow's Christmas Surprise, The Widow's Club series, Weekend Writing Warriors | 18 Comments

The Widow’s Christmas Surprise ~ Meet Maria

Posted on September 15, 2020 by Jenna Jaxon

Two weeks from today The Widow’s Christmas Surprise releases in e-book and mass media print so I wanted you to meet the heroine of the book, who made her first appearance in book one, To Woo A Wicked Widow, and afterward was assumed to have found her happy ending. As you will see, this is not actually the case.

In To Woo A Wicked Widow, we found Maria Wickley a distraught young woman, widowed at sixteen, and just coming out of mourning. Her cousin, Lady John Tarkington, befriends the girl and invites her to a country house party.

Maria is a rather simple girl, raised in the country in a family of the gentry, land-owning but not terribly prosperous. She and her next-door neighbor, William, are young and desperately in love. But when duty calls to William to help foil Napoleon’s army one last time at the battle of Waterloo, he enlists as a private in the army. Their parents agree to let them marry before he goes to war and they have only one night together before he is killed in the battle.

At the house party, a naive Maria is enthralled by the rake, Allen Garrett, and finds herself swept off her feet by the charming cad. She ends up in an “interesting condition” and at the end of the book, elopes with the scoundrel. Her other widow friends and her cousin all wish her well, but fear that marriage will not mend her ne’er-do-well husband’s roguish ways.

And in The Widow’s Christmas Surprise, we find that it didn’t. The book opens with

Garrett, now Lord Kersey, about to participate in a duel after being caught in a married woman’s bed. When Kersey is killed and Maria’s child is born a girl instead of the hoped for heir, Maria (now eighteen) must grow up quickly and become a woman who can make the proper decisions about her and her daughter’s welfare.

The trouble is, there’s this estate steward, Hugh Granger, with whom Maria feels a kindred spirit. However, the man has no prospects and his fortunes are about to go from bad to worse. The prudent thing for Maria to do is marry the heir apparent to the Kersey title, another rake just like her late husband, and with that marriage secure her future.

The question is, will Maria let her head or her heart prevail? The coming Christmas season with the Widows’ Club will bring choices—and surprises–that may change all her holidays to come . . .

The Widow’s Christmas Surprise releases on September 29 and is now available for pre-order at the following e-retailers:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B082WQT41J/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i3

B & N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-widows-christmas-surprise-jenna-jaxon/1135644826?ean=9781420149753

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-widow-s-christmas-surprise

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-widows-christmas-surprise/id1512241034

Posted in Christmas stories, Holiday Posts, Regency Romance, The Widow's Christmas Surprise, The Widow's Club | Tagged historical holiday romance, Holiday romance, Jenna Jaxon, Regency Christmas romance, Regency holiday romance, The Widow's Christmas Surprise, The Widow's Club series | Leave a comment

Weekend Writing Warriors ~ 9/13/20 The Widow’s Christmas Surprise ~ The Wager

Posted on September 13, 2020 by Jenna Jaxon

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors!

Today I’m continuing with my Christmas novel that releases at the end of September, The Widow’s Christmas Surprise. This is book five of The Widows’ Club series and is Maria’s story.

(Today I’m on the road visiting relatives, so I won’t be visiting your sites until the evening.)

Here’s the blurb:

BLURB:

We are in Hugh’s POV.

EXCERPT:

Courtesy Evelyn Simak and Wikimedia Commons

“Ice skates!” Maria darted forward, taking one up, but being mindful of the blade. “I used to go ice skating all the time at my parents’ house. There is a river nearby that would freeze when the weather was cold enough.” She turned a gleeful face to him,“How did you know?”

“I didn’t.” Grinning like a fool at her look of pure pleasure, Hugh thanked whatever angel had whispered in his ear to take Maria skating. “I hoped you had skated before, but I would have been happy to teach you if you hadn’t.”

“Well let’s see who knows what,” she said and dropped down onto the log and began to tie the skates onto her shoes, “last one onto the ice has to pay a forfeit.”

Lord, and didn’t he know what her forfeit would be if she won the wager.

And now to finish the scene :

Hugh sat down to strap his skates on as well. The process wasn’t terribly difficult, just lengthy. He fumbled with the straps, his fingers stupid as he tried to hurry.

“One skate on!” Maria laughed and began on the other one.

“No fair. You have smaller fingers that work better than mine.” Cursing under his breath, Hugh buckled the first skate on and reached for the second, although he doubted he could catch up with Maria now.

“Done!” Pink cheeked she laughed again as she stood before him, showing him first one and then the other skate. “Do you need some help with your laces, my dear?”

“No, thank you.” His words came out a growl, which made Maria laugh all the harder.

“Come.” She held out her hand and helped him up when he was finished. “I cannot wait to skate again. It has been an age at least. I had to have been ten years old.”

“Well, I hope it comes back to you, but if not, I will be here to save you.” He grinned as they made their way toward the pond’s edge.

The Widow’s Christmas Surprise is available on Amazon, B & N, Kobo, and Apple.

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

Giveaway Winners!

Posted on September 8, 2020 by Jenna Jaxon

I’ve had so many giveaways recently, I thought I’d announce them all at once here.

(Throws confetti)

First, the winner for the Only Scandal Will Do Giveaway, who I did announce before, is

SANDY FEHR.

The winner for the Only Marriage Will Do Giveaway is

AMY DONAHUE

And the winner for the Only Pleasure Will Do Release Party Giveaway is

CAROLYN INMAN

Congratulations to all my winners. You will be contacted shortly and I am putting your physical prizes in the mail today. If I have not already contacted you, I will be doing that shortly.

And don’t forget my Christmas Giveaway that’s going on throughout September (well at least until the 29th), which is when The Widow’s Christmas Surprise releases (another party on the horizon). The Rafflecopter link for that is here, if you’d care to enter.

Have a great day and see you on the blog! I love to get comments from you!

Posted in Giveaways, House of Pleasure Series, Only Marriage Will Do, Only Pleasure Will Do, Only Scandal Will Do, The Widow's Christmas Surprise, The Widow's Club, Winners | Tagged giveaway winners, House of Pleasure Series, Jenna Jaxon, Only Marriage Will Do, Only Pleasure Will Do, Only Scandal Will Do, The Widow's Christmas Surprise, The Widow's Club series | 1 Comment

Christmas Giveaway All This Month!

Posted on September 7, 2020 by Jenna Jaxon

Christmas Giveaway on my blog!

My new historical romance The Widow’s Christmas Surprise releases at the end of September (the 29th) so all this month I’m running a Rafflecopter giveaway on my blog.

Prizes are

Signed print copies of my Widows’ Club books

Christmas ornaments

swag

and a $25.00 gift card.

Come on by any of The Widow’s Christmas Surprise blog posts (there should be at least one every week between now and the release) and enter to win! Click here for the link to the Rafflecopter giveaway.

Posted in Christmas stories, Giveaways, Promotion, The Widow's Christmas Surprise | Tagged Gift Card Giveaway, Jenna Jaxon, Rafflecopter giveaway, Signed copies giveaway, Swag Giveaway, The Widow's Christmas Surprise | 31 Comments

Weekend Writing Warriors ~ 9/06/20 The Widow’s Christmas Surprise ~ A Final Outing

Posted on September 6, 2020 by Jenna Jaxon

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors!

Today I’m changing books, to my Christmas novel that releases at the end of September, The Widow’s Christmas Surprise. This is book five of The Widows’ Club series and is Maria’s story.

Here’s the blurb:

BLURB:

We are in Hugh’s POV.

EXCERPT:

Courtesy Evelyn Simak and Wikimedia Commons

Pulling Caesar down to a trot and then a walk, Hugh brought them to a stop right at the end of the irregularly shaped pond. There were bulrushes thick at the far end, with overhanging trees, now leafless. Nearest to them was the overturned log where he and Bella had sat to lace on their skates last year. There was also a place to tie the horses so they could crop the little bit of grass still left. An idyllic spot for their last day together.

Hugh dropped to the ground, then helped Maria down as well. She slid down into his arms, every part of her touching every part of him it seems. The minx would try his patience for certain. He gave her a stern glare. “You had best behave, young lady–I made a promise to your cousin not to compromise you before we could marry.”

And now to finish the scene :

“I think I will take my chances with Jane’s wrath if it means I can be close to you, my love.” She gave a coquettish laugh and Hugh groaned. Best divert her away from this dangerous topic.

“Here is your surprise.” He waved toward the frozen pond.

“I see.” She looked askance at the pond, then at him. “I will admit I am surprised, for I cannot fathom a single reason why you would have done so.”

“Ah, but here is the other part of the surprise.” He untied the parcel from behind the saddle and brought out two pairs of—

I’m sure you can already guess what it is! LOL

The Widow’s Christmas Surprise is available on Amazon, B & N, Kobo, and Apple.

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

Release Day Party for Only Pleasure Will Do!

Posted on August 31, 2020 by Jenna Jaxon

AT LONG LAST!!

Only Pleasure Will Do, the final book of the House of Pleasure series, releases today!

Available on Amazon and Smashwords for $2.99.

I started writing Only Scandal Will Do, the first book of the series, in Fall of 2009 after reading a romance novel by Mary Balogh called The Secret Pearl. I got the germ of the idea for my book from that book (although the two books are totally different) and the idea for Scandal (originally titled The Marquess Makes A Mistake) so consumed me that I put aside the novel I’d started writing and had to write Scandal instead because the main characters would not give me any peace until I did.

When Scandal got picked up, originally by Lyrical Press, my fabulous editor, Mary Murray asked me to remove an early chapter in the book. The chapter followed a minor character, a Bow Street Runner who was investigating his cousin’s kidnapping and goes to a notorious brothel to see if he can obtain information from the madam. My editor said that that was the only chapter that was not in either the hero or heroine’s POV and it really didn’t do very much to forward the story, so I should cut it, but keep it and maybe use it somewhere else another time.

Now, this summer, that chapter became A Matter of Pleasure, the prologue and first chapter of Only Pleasure Will Do. At long last, after eleven years, Reginald Matthews and Amorina Vestry get to have their story told and I couldn’t be happier about how that story turned out. Over the years I’ve been thinking about what I wanted to do with these two characters and as I worked on plotting out their story I tried to make a lot of things come full circle from the first to last book of the series. If you recently read Only Scandal Will Do, I hope you catch some of these little deja vu moments in Only Pleasure Will Do. I had a lot of fun crafting them in.

To day is a day of celebration, and so in the spirit of a party, I’m having a couple of giveaways. The first is a complete set of the House of Pleasure e-books (not all are in print yet) plus a swag pack and the second is an Amazon gift card for $20.00 plus swag pack. All you need to do is enter the Rafflecopter giveaway here and you’ll have as many chances to win as you enter.

As promised, I have the winner of the Only Marriage Will Do Giveaway from this past week. That winner of an e-copy of Only Marriage Will Do, a swag pack, and a $5.00 Starbucks gift card is

AMY DONAHUE

Congratulations, Amy! I’ll be contacting you later today for some information.

Everyone, please tell your friends who like steamy historical romances that this is the series and the book for them! And here are the details and an excerpt from Only Pleasure Will Do:

BLURB:

The pleasure is all hers…

Amorina Vestry, madam of the House of Pleasure for six long years, has wrested a living out the establishment by devising a variety of ways to give men pleasure. But behind the persona of the ruthless businesswoman, schooled in the erotic arts, lurks another woman with a secret she dares tell no one. Now, in vengeance for thwarting a dastardly plan, Amorina is kidnapped and forced to commit murder to save the one person she loves unconditionally…unless the man she secretly yearns for can rescue her before it’s too late.

When Amorina Vestry goes missing, Sir Reginald Matthews, former Runner now magistrate at Bow Street, agrees to search for the very provocative woman he met a year ago and cannot seem to forget. He manages to track her down, only to be captured by the same madman who took her. Their close proximity in a make-shift prison leads inexorably to a night of passion in which Amorina lowers her guard to reveal a shocking truth. Spurred by his growing attraction to her, Reginald is determined to free them before she commits the most heinous crime imaginable.

As Reginald races to save Amorina, he comes to fear another foe as well. He may very well save his love only to find he must give her up or risk the censure of a society that will condemn her.

EXCERPT:

The unexpected touch of his lips sent a firestorm of heat coursing through Amorina, as if his mouth were a torch set to a line of black powder that sizzled directly to her core. It had been such a long time since any man had touched her so strongly, so deeply. The shock that such feelings still existed within her almost made her pull back from him. Almost. At some basic level, though, she understood that if she did so, Sir Reginald would believe it a rejection of him, and she’d lose any chance of even a fleeting moment of passion in his arms. Instead, she slipped her arms around his neck, pressing her body more securely against his, her fears of Tommy Redmond’s revenge washed away by the wave of desire that engulfed her.

In response, he groaned and deepened the kiss, sliding his tongue smoothly into her mouth, a sensation she’d enjoyed only once before, with the marquess. Thoughts of Duncan and their time together flooded her memory, but she banished them firmly. That past could not be reclaimed, even if she wished such a thing. Standing here, in Sir Reginald’s embrace, she wanted her only thoughts to be of him and the pleasure they could share.

Now it was her turn to show him what was on her mind.

Only Pleasure Will Do is available on Amazon and Smashwords for $2.99 for today only. Tomorrow the Amazon price reverts to the non-pre-order price of $4.99. Smashwords and its affiliates will continue at the $2.99 price for a week (since they didn’t have a pre-order option).

Thank you for joining the fun with me today!

HAPPY RELEASE DAY!

Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Posted in Giveaways, House of Pleasure Series, Only Pleasure Will Do, Promotion, Uncategorized | Tagged giveaways, House of Pleasure Series, Jenna Jaxon, Only Pleasure Will Do, Only Pleasure Will Do Release Party, Release Day Party | 4 Comments

Weekend Writing Warriors ~ 8/30/20 Only Pleasure Will Do ~ “Who the Devil Hit Me?”

Posted on August 30, 2020 by Jenna Jaxon

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors!

Today’s snippet is from my historical romance, Only Pleasure Will Do, currently on pre-order with Amazon. This is the fifth and final book of the House of Pleasure series which will release tomorrow on August 31!

Here’s the new blurb for Only Pleasure Will Do:

BLURB:

The pleasure is all hers…

As Reginald races to save Amorina, he comes to fear another foe as well. He may very well save his love only to find he must give her up or risk the censure of a society that will condemn her.

Amorina Vestry has been kidnapped and held in two basement rooms for two weeks. In the middle of the night, the door at the top of the stairs–the only possible means of escape–opens. Terrified, she slips into the other room and waits for her chance to escape. Last week she hit the man who had invaded her prison with a chair and knocked him out. Now she’s bent on finding out just who she’s knocked out. I’m skipping ahead a few pages for this week’s snippet, to where Amorina has put Mr. Matthews on the makeshift bed and he is just coming to.

EXCERPT:

Bouncing out of the bed, he came to his feet, his head still turning, searching for danger. “Madam Vestry, thank goodness I’ve found you,” he raised his hand to the back of his head and winced, “who the devil hit me?”

“I’m afraid I did, Mr. Matthews–I beg your pardon, Sir Reginald, I believe, is correct now. May I congratulate you on your good fortune?” Smiling, she urged him to sit once more–broken heads were rather chancy and she didn’t want him to keel over again. “Do sit down. I am sorry to have been the one to incapacitate you. Had I known it was you, I would never have done so, of course.”

“Indeed,” he sat then leaned back against the wall and his shoulders slumped, “I must commend you on your aim. My head feels as though a horse kicked me.”

And now to finish the scene :

“What brings you here, Sir Reginald?”

“When you didn’t put in an appearance within a reasonable time, she contacted me. Said she was following your instructions.”

“That is correct.” Avoiding his gaze, Amorina eased down onto the cot beside him. “I’d given instructions that if anything ever befell me, if I disappeared or was being held for ransom, or anything out of the ordinary, she was to contact you at Bow Street.” Always one to follow directions to the letter, Jenny had done as asked. Amorina only hoped she didn’t live to regret it. “Thank you for granting my request.”

“I owed you a debt, Madam Vestry, nothing more.”

“A debt?”

“Last summer you aided my kinswoman, the Marchioness of Dalbury, at the risk of your own life, I’m certain. You also gave succor to her sister-in-law at Christmas, I’m told.” He sketched a bow from his waist then winced. “My family is more than indebted to you. As soon as Jenny told me you were overdue, I began to search for you.”

“I pray my request has not endangered you in any way.”

Sir Reginald grunted and rubbed the back of his head again. “Not until now, it seems.”

Only Pleasure Will Do is available on Amazon for the pre-order price of $2.99. The book reverts to its regular price of $4.99 on the day after Release Day, September 1. Grab yours while you can!

A Matter of Pleasure, the prologue to Only Pleasure Will Do, is available for FREE on Amazon, Smashwords , Kobo, Barnes & Noble, and Apple.

Today is the last day to enter the giveaway I’m running to celebrate the upcoming release of Only Pleasure Will Do. To enter via Rafflecopter, just click here. I’m giving away an e-copy of Only Marriage Will Do, a swag pack including a lavender sachet, Jenna Jaxon pen, a handcrafted magnet, a piece of jewelry themed to tie into the book, and a $5.00 Starbucks gift card.

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

Posted in A Matter of Pleasure, Historical Romance, House of Pleasure, House of Pleasure Series, Promotion, Weekend Writing Warriors | Tagged Georgian romance, historical romance, House of Pleasure Series, Jenna Jaxon, Only Pleasure Will Do, Weekend Writing Warriors | 16 Comments

The Writer’s Eye: Deadlines

Posted on August 26, 2020 by Jenna Jaxon

DEADLINE!

So sorry I missed last week’s post, but I am working feverishly toward a deadline for the final book in the Widow’s Club series, working title The Widow Wore Plaid. I’ve written the first draft out long hand, my preferred way to work. Somehow writing out a book long hand gives me permission for it to be crap, because I know I can fix it in revision. When I type directly into the computer, I feel it has to be perfect the first time around, so it takes me longer to write as I am constantly editing.

I’ve tried to be good about my deadlines with all my editors through the years. They have deadlines they have to meet as well and if I miss mine, they will likely miss theirs as well.

Which is why this post is so short. I hope to revisit the topic soon, but for now I’m going back to my typing, trying desperately to make my deadline next week.

Wish me luck!