Weekend Writing Warriors ~ 4/05/20 Heart of Desire ~ The Most Scandalous of Dances

Posted on April 5, 2020 by Jenna Jaxon

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors!

So sorry I couldn’t join you last week but I was in the process of fetching my daughter home from Jackson, Mississippi–a four day trip that wore me slam out! But I’ve recovered and ready for snippets this week. 🙂

Because I didn’t get to share my final snippet from Betrothal last week, I’ve put it here for you to enjoy before going on to this week’s new offering:

Betrothal:

Strangely soft, yet very sweet, his touch sent a searing bolt straight to her stomach, setting it afire. After moments that seemed an eternity, his mouth slackened on hers as though he would release her. Then he flicked the tip of his tongue across the hard-pressed seam of her mouth, testing for another invitation.

With a gasp she jumped back, drawing a chuckle from Geoffrey, who had the grace to glance around to make sure they had not been observed. “Be not discomfited, sweet. We are safe in our conversation.”

“’Twas not in our conversation that I feared harm, my lord.” Lord, ’twas difficult to sound outraged when she could still feel his lips on hers.

Today I’m switching gears and sharing snippets from Heart of Desire, Book 2 of my Handful of Hearts Regency novella series.

BLURB:

Follow your heart to find your desire

Miss Katherine Locke is irked to start her third Season dancing with the disagreeable Lord Haversham, her brother’s friend and her own arch enemy. After three years out, however, she’s finally interested in the dashing Lord Finley—only to find out her cousin has set her cap for him too. To make the man jealous, Kate feigns interest in Lord Haversham, only to be shocked to find the handsome lord apparently falling for her. With time running out, should she accept his suit and risk falling in love despite herself?

Marcus, Lord Haversham, is in a tight pinch. His estates are failing and, worse, he’s just lost three thousand pounds to his best friend, Lord Ainsley. Ainsley’s solution: have Marcus marry his shrewish sister, and he’ll cancel his gambling debt plus give him ten thousand more pounds for her dowry. With nowhere to turn, Marcus agrees, praying he can keep word of the wager from Miss Locke long enough to charm her into marrying him. But can he avoid falling in love himself?

Some portions of this snippet may be changed from the book’s regular format to allow for WWW’s 10 line requirement.

SNIPPET:

Packed to the gills, Lady Hamilton’s ballroom glittered with candlelight, fine silks and satins, and every type of precious jewel known to the world. The music had a lively air, the first dance being a waltz, and Miss Katherine Locke would’ve thought herself fortunate to be out again in Society after a long, cold, dull winter in Somerset save that her partner, Lord Haversham, was the rudest man in London. Well, his lordship was about to discover that Kate Locke was not one to suffer fools lightly.

“So you refuse to allow your sister to waltz, yet you are quite willing to stand up with me and dance this, according to you, most scandalous of dances.” Kate smiled into the odious wretch’s face before saying, “My lord, I should say that smacks of hypocrisy.”

“Indeed,” Lord Haversham turned them skillfully at the end of the floor, “I would say it showed a want of character in your brother for allowing you to dance it with me. The waltz should be danced by married couples and no one else.” He pulled her close against him, so their bodies almost touched.

She gasped at her proximity to the rogue–how dare he make a spectacle of them on this crowded dance floor?

“You see?” he whispered, peering into her face, his gaze intent upon her mouth.

Look below for a chance to win an e-copy of Heart of Desire or it

is available for .99 on Amazon.

In fact, the whole Handful of Hearts series is on sale this month for .99 each!

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

My newest giveaway for those who need something new to read, is a copy of Heart of Desire on this Rafflecopter giveaway site. Simply click here and follow the instructions to enter to win an e-copy of Heart of Desire. The giveaway runs thru next Saturday night. I’ll announce the winner on this blog on Monday, April 13 and set up the next giveaway. Happy Reading!

Handful of Hearts series by Jenna Jaxon

Click on the covers to purchase for .99 via Amazon.

Posted in A Handful of Hearts, Heart of Desire, Historical Romance, Promotion, Weekend Writing Warriors | Tagged Handful of Hearts, Heart of Delight, historical romance, Jenna Jaxon, Rafflecopter giveaway, Regency romance, Weekend Writing Warriors, Weekend Writing Warriors series | 16 Comments

Heart of Desire Giveaway

Posted on April 4, 2020 by Jenna Jaxon

Although I’d hoped this could have begun last week, circumstances beyond my control have postponed the next giveaway until now. But now the game is on!

A New Giveaway for a copy of Heart of Desire

This is Book 2 in my Handful of Hearts series that I’m spotlighting in April (all of these novellas are on sale for .99!)

BLURB:

Follow your heart to find your desire

EXCERPT:

London, May 5, 1820

“So you refuse to allow your sister to waltz, yet you are quite willing to stand up with me and dance this, according to you, most scandalous of dances.” Kate smiled into the odious wretch’s face. “My lord, I should say that smacks of hypocrisy.”

“Indeed.” Lord Haversham turned them skillfully at the end of the floor. “I would say it showed a want of character in your brother for allowing you to dance it with me. The waltz should be danced by married couples and no one else.” He pulled her close against him, so their bodies almost touched.

She gasped at her proximity to the rogue. How dare he make a spectacle of them on this crowded dance floor?

“You see?” he whispered, peering into her face, his gaze intent upon her mouth.

All she could see were his dark eyes, as the crisp scent of his sandalwood cologne filled her nose.

“Ainsley should be horsewhipped for allowing it.”

“I’ll see to it he horsewhips you if you don’t let me go.” Kate gave a hopping step and smashed her foot down on top of his.

Lord Haversham lurched forward, actually falling onto her.

For the briefest moment, they stood pressed together in a warm embrace that made Kate tingle all over. Then outrage swept through her, and she pushed him away. “How dare you,” she seethed, trying to pull away from him.

“That was your fault, and you know it. And if you make a scene that results in me having to marry you, I swear I will lock you in the tower at my grandfather’s castle and throw away the key.” Lord Haversham righted himself and smiled at her with clenched teeth.

“Of all the students at Oxford, my brother had to befriend you?”

“He had you for a sister—his luck was due for a change.”

“Well, I wish mine would change, Haversham. If I have to endure you for five more minutes, I will fall down in a dead faint just to get away from you.” Kate wanted to scream in frustration at her brother’s best friend, but the man was right. Any scandalous behavior could end with her compromised and married to Haversham before the month was out. The Season had just begun. She refused to let it end in a single night with the man who’d been the bane of her life for years.

So to enter the giveaway, click here

and enter as many times and as many days as you wish! The winner will be announced next Saturday when the next giveaway, an e-copy of Heart of Delight, will begin.

Everyone stay safe and Happy Reading!

Posted in A Handful of Hearts, Giveaways, Heart of Delight, Heart of Desire, Promotion | Tagged book giveaway, Handful of Hearts series, Heart of Delight, Heart of Desire, Jenna Jaxon, Rafflecopter giveaway | 3 Comments

Winner of the Betrothal Giveaway

Posted on March 31, 2020 by Jenna Jaxon

Good morning, everyone!

Congratulations are in order!

(Throws confetti)

CASSANDRA DARENS

is the winner of an e-copy of Betrothal, Book 1 of Time Enough to Love.

This week I’ll begin a new giveaway for a copy of Heart of Desire,

Book 2 in my Handful of Hearts series that I’m spotlighting in April.

BLURB:

Follow your heart to find your desire

Details will be posted here tomorrow (no April Fool’s!).

Posted in A Handful of Hearts, Betrothal, Giveaways, Heart of Desire, Historical Romance, On Time Enough to Love, Promotion, Winners | Tagged Betrothal, giveaway winners, Handful of Hearts, Heart of Desire, Jenna Jaxon, Rafflecopter giveaway, Time Enough To Love | 2 Comments

Weekend Writing Warriors ~ 3/22/20 Betrothal ~ A Great Honor

Posted on March 22, 2020 by Jenna Jaxon

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors!

Today I’m continuing with the first of my medieval romances, Betrothal, Book 1 of my Time Enough to Love series. Betrothal is currently on sale this month for .99 on Amazon, Smashwords and B & N .

BLURB:

Lady Alyse de Courcy has fallen in love with Lord Braeton, a nobleman in King Edward III’s court and a man to whom she has barely spoken. Fate, however, has decreed her betrothal to his best friend, Sir Geoffrey Longford—a handsome and imposing knight, yet hardly the man she wants to wed.

When Sir Geoffrey is bound in betrothal by his father, he could not have expected the beautiful stranger to win his heart the moment they meet. Nevertheless, the fascinating Lady Alyse has done exactly that, and his feelings for her only grow as he learns more of her gentle yet spirited nature. But Alyse’s infatuation with his friend casts doubt on whether she can ever return his regard and their wedding day is fast approaching…

Will he have time enough to win her love?

I’m starting a goodish way into the story. Lady Alyse de Courcy has been betrothed to a knight she has never met, a hulking warrior who she must wed in a matter of weeks before they accompany the Princess Joanna on her journey to Spain. Sir Geoffrey Longford has taken a liking to his little bride; Alyse, however, is slower to give her affection. This scene takes place just after the first banns have been read (banns–public announcement of the intention to wed– had to be read three times on successive Sundays before a wedding could take place) and Alyse’s shyness has become an issue.

Last week we found out Geoggrey’s news–Alyse is to ride in a royal procession to a jousting contest. This week we see her reaction to this news.

We are in Alyse’s POV.

Some portions of this snippet may be changed from the book’s regular format to allow for WWW’s 10 line requirement.

SNIPPET:

Alyse’s mouth dropped open and a thrill coursed through her. “But I am only Princess Joanna’s attendant, Sir Geoffrey. Usually such honors are reserved for the queen and Princess Isabella’s ladies, or the Duchesses and Countesses in the Royal Family. Why did they choose me?”

“Because I am to be one of the knights, and I begged a boon of the king to allow you to be my lady.”

She stared at him in shock, almost unbelieving, though she knew he would not lie about such a thing. To think she owed such an honor to the man she would soon call husband, that he had asked the king himself to grant the favor, made her heart beat an unsteady march in her chest. Alyse parted her lips to thank him when he swooped forward, secured her chin in his hand and kissed her.

Look below for a chance to win an e-copy of Betrothal or it

is available for .99 on Amazon.

Book 2, Betrayal is also on sale for the month of March as well on Amazon, Smashwords, and B & N.

Now, Beleaguered, Book 3, is also on sale for the rest of the month of March on Amazon, Smashwords, and B & N.

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

And to cheer up those who need something new to read, I’m giving away a copy of Betrothal on this Rafflecopter giveaway site. Simply click here and follow the instructions to enter to win an e-copy of Betrothal. The giveaway runs thru next Saturday night. I’ll announce the winner on this blog on Sunday, March 29 and set up the next giveaway. Happy Reading!

Time Enough to Love series by Jenna Jaxon

Check them out on my Amazon Author Page!

Posted in Betrothal, Historical Romance, Medieval Romance, On Time Enough to Love, Promotion, Weekend Writing Warriors | Tagged Beleaguered, Betrayal, Betrothal, historical romance, Jenna Jaxon, love triangle, medieval romance, Time Enough To Love, Weekend Writing Warriors | 25 Comments

In Memoriam

Posted on March 19, 2020 by Jenna Jaxon

This week is the fifteenth anniversary of my father’s death. Elmer “Dit” Jackson left us on March 14, 2005 and I still miss him to this day.

He was a working man all his life. I remember him working with his hands all the time. He and my uncle would tinker with outboard motors and he built our house, a brick barbecue in the back yard, and my playhouse in addition to his own workshops.

He was a great fisherman. We would get up at the crack of dawn to drive two hours to board a head boat to go fishing out in the Chesapeake Bay. He and my uncle used to take a little row boat they had built down to the James River often and fish. I am sure the spot and croker he used to catch have finally replenished themselves after 15 years, but he must have but a dent in their numbers all his life.

Early on he was a hunter also. I remember helping him skin squirrels out in his workshop and remember my mother cooking a big pan of squirrel, rabbit and pork chops in gravy. However, when he changed jobs and began working at a government water station that was out in the woods, he began to feed the animals that would come up to the station. And then he stopped hunting all together.

He loved all animals, but especially cats. I grew up with cats everywhere in the back yard. Later, we had cats who lived in the house, and they were always taken care of and cherished. We only ever had three dogs when I was growing up, but we always had cats.

A more kind-hearted man never lived.

He would do anything for anybody. I remember when two hitchhikers were thumbing a ride on the Interstate highway that ran behind our house, he made sandwiches for them and tossed them and a jar of water over the back fence for them. If any of his brothers or sisters (he was one of 11 children) or any family member for that matter, asked him to do anything, he’d drop whatever he was doing and help them. And all that fish he caught? We ate a good bit of it, but he would always give a lot of it away to friends and family.

Today, the greatest compliment you can pay me is to say I’m like my father, who was truly the best man I have ever known. He had his faults, as any person does. A more stubborn man never lived. But the good in him totally outweighed the bad. And I know I will miss him until the day I die.

Saturday, which was the anniversary of his death, I went to visit the cemetery and I made a pot of his “famous” collards.

Love you, Daddy, and still miss you. But I’m still carrying on in your memory. I always have and I always will.

Posted in In Memorium | Tagged Jenna Jaxon, Memorial post | 2 Comments

My Love Affair with Ireland

Posted on March 17, 2020 by Jenna Jaxon

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

From a young age, I have always been in love with Ireland.

Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

One of my first memories is my mother reading a Little Golden Book called Darby O’Gill and the Little People to me when I was very small and seeing the Walt Disney film of it.

Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Later, I saw another Disney film, The Fighting Prince of Donegal, which appealed to my love of history and I think that cemented my love of all things Irish.

I have proudly worn green every St. Patrick’s Day I can remember, even though I sadly have not been able to discover any Irish ancestry.

My very first trip to Ireland I spent 10 days traveling around the country on trains and buses. That’s when I went to Castle Blarney and kissed the Blarney stone.

Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Being a huge James Joyce fan (I did my undergraduate thesis on Molly Bloom from his stunning work Ulysses), on Bloomsday, June 16th, at the age of 22, I stood atop the Martello Tower in Sandycove, Dublin, just like Stephen Dedalus in Ulysses. Many years later, my second daughter was born on Bloomsday.

Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

And the reason I decided to do the dissertation for my Ph.D. on Women of the the Abbey Theatre, is that I knew I’d have to spend time in Ireland doing research for it. I spent two glorious summers in Dublin researching and soaking up the Irish countryside.

If I can make it happen, I’d like to ultimately retire to Ireland to write at least part of every year.

So I wish you Happy St. Patrick’s Day and leave you with this Irish Blessing:

Posted in Holiday Posts | Tagged Abbey Theatre, Blarney Stone, Darby O'Gill, Fighting Prince of Donegal, Ireland, James Joyce, Jenna Jaxon, Martello Tower, St. Patrick's Day, Ulysses | 1 Comment

Medicinal Herbs: A Medieval Herbology

Posted on March 16, 2020 by Jenna Jaxon

While writing my medieval trilogy, Time Enough to Love, I had reason to research medieval medicine, specifically the plants used to help cure people. In Book 3, Beleaguered, when my heroine becomes ill with the plague, she is treated with a variety of flowers and herbs. Throughout the entire series, the reader sees that plants were used extensively in the medieval world.

Because no one at the time knew what caused disease, there were many theories about why people got sick. Some said it was the will of God, others said the planets’ alignment were out of kilter. Many physicians accepted the theory of humours as reason why a body got sick. This theory stated that the body had four “humours” or fluids in it and if they became unbalanced, the person would fall ill.

Cures abounded, some based on observation of the symptoms, some based on superstition. All of them sound barbaric to our modern ears. If the humours were thought out of balance, a doctor might try to right them by bleeding the patient, sweating them, or making them vomit.

Bleeding patients as a routine treatment lasted well into the 19^th century. It was accomplished by either attaching leeches to the patient or by cutting a vein and releasing the “bad blood.” The results of this procedure were not often good, usually because the patient was already in a weakened state and losing a pint or more of blood made it harder for them to fight off disease.

But plants were used regularly to treat a variety of ailments.

Headaches were treated with a combination of sweet-smelling herbs, such as rose, lavender, and sage. Current opinion held that sweet flowers would cure by getting rid of bad smells. During the outbreak of plague people often carried flowers in their pockets or in a sack tied to a belt to ward off the disease.

Stomach pain was treated with a potion of wormwood, mint and balm. Lavender, sage and peppermint were considered digestive aids. Peppermint is still used for this purpose today.

Head colds and coughs were alleviated with horehound cough syrup and drinks. I remember eating horehound cough drops when I was a child.

Headaches were treated with an infusion of betony.

Fever could be reduced using willow bark (which contains salicin, a similar compound to aspirin), feverfew, or selfheal. I found that an infusion of hyssop, licorice root, and thyme was also used for fever.

Lavender, in addition to being a digestive aid, was used to sweeten the air and was added to the rushes on the floor and used in sachets to keep clothes fresh. During the plague this was a very good form of prevention, because lavender is a natural insecticide and would repel the fleas that carried the plague. Lavender also plays a very important part of the love story in Time Enough to Love.

I hope this little herbalogy has shown you how far we’ve come from medicine in the middle ages, yet how much actual knowledge they had about the use of medicinal herbs.

All three books of my medieval romance series, Time Enough to Love, are currently on sale on Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, and Apple books for .99 each:

Betrothal

Amazon B & N Smashwords Apple

Betrayal

Amazon B & N Smashwords Apple

Beleaguered

Amazon B & N Smashwords Apple

Posted in Beleaguered, Betrayal, Betrothal, Medieval Romance, On Time Enough to Love | Tagged Beleaguered, betony, Betrayal, Betrothal, Jenna Jaxon, lavender, licorace, medicinal herbs, medieval herbology, medieval remedies for sickness, medieval romance, mint, rosemary, sage, Time Enough To Love | Leave a comment

Weekend Writing Warriors ~ 3/15/20 Betrothal ~ News

Posted on March 15, 2020 by Jenna Jaxon

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors!

Today I’m continuing with the first of my medieval romances, Betrothal, Book 1 of my Time Enough to Love series. Betrothal is currently on sale this month for .99 on Amazon, Smashwords and B & N .

BLURB:

Will he have time enough to win her love?

We are in Alyse’s POV.

Some portions of this snippet may be changed from the book’s regular format to allow for WWW’s 10 line requirement. (Today’s punctuation is particularly wonky.)

SNIPPET:

He seemed both solemn and excited by whatever message he had brought. It had to be news indeed, for she had heard nothing, either last night or this morning, that would touch upon them. This mystery so bemused her that she almost failed to see him lean down, bringing his mouth mere inches from hers. She gasped, snatched her hands from his and ducked around him before he could draw closer.

“Would you share something else besides news, Sir Geoffrey?”

“That I would, little maid,” he spun around before she could back away, darting his hand out to secure hers again, and raised it to his mouth, saying “it seems, however, that I must be content with this.” He grazed her skin with his lips, skimming over the surface of her flesh with a floating touch that made her shiver. “And with my news–you know the king called for a joust, a Round Table, at Windsor next week to celebrate the princess’s betrothal?”

Alyse nodded and frowned–the mere thought of jousting sent a quiver of dread down her spine–but his statement was hardly news; the court had been preparing for the tournaments for weeks.

“It has been decreed by His Majesty that on the first day the festivities will begin with a procession of ladies and knights of King Arthur’s court, starting at the Tower of London and winding through the town out to the lists, and you have been chosen to be one of the ladies.”

Betrothal is available for .99 on Amazon.

Book 2, Betrayal is also on sale for the month of March as well on Amazon, Smashwords, and B & N (price change coming soon).

Now, Beleaguered, Book 3, is also on sale for the month of March on Amazon, Smashwords, and B & N (price change coming soon).

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

Time Enough to Love series by Jenna Jaxon

Check them out on my Amazon Author Page!

Posted in Betrothal, Historical Romance, Medieval Romance, On Time Enough to Love, Promotion, Weekend Writing Warriors | Tagged Betrayal, Betrothal, historical romance, Jenna Jaxon, love triangle, medieval romance, Time Enough To Love, Weekend Writing Warriors | 20 Comments

Weekend Writing Warriors ~ 3/08/20 Betrothal ~ All About the Banns

Posted on March 8, 2020 by Jenna Jaxon

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors!

Today I’m continuing with the first of my medieval romances, Betrothal, Book 1 of my Time Enough to Love series. Betrothal is currently on sale this month for .99 on Amazon, Smashwords and B & N .

BLURB:

Will he have time enough to win her love?

We are in Alyse’s POV.

Some portions of this snippet may be changed from the book’s regular format to allow for WWW’s 10 line requirement. (Today’s punctuation is particularly wonky.)

SNIPPET:

They had reached the corridor outside the chapel, carried forward by the momentum of Alyse’s indignation, when she turned to him, her mouth open, a stinging retort on her lips, “’Tis not about—”

The sight of his face froze the words on her tongue; only the tight, thin line of his lips betrayed his anger–hurt, however, lurked deep in his eyes, summoned by his assumption of her continued rejection as he stood stoically ready to face her ire.

But it no longer existed.

Alyse sighed, her resentment draining away. “Nay, good my lord, never say that I have no regard for you, for ’tis false,” she spoke softly and avoided his eyes–shame at her thoughtless words eating at her–“I believe you an honorable man and I have accepted our coming marriage.” She risked a glance at him.

His gaze flicked over her face doubtfully as he said, “Then why, sweet lady, did you look like a heavy storm was brewing in your face–tell me what is wrong, sweetheart, if ’tis not the banns?”

“But it is the banns!”

He stepped back, his mouth pursing with impatience, saying “Alyse, we have but little time–I must attend the king yet I have news that will not wait.”

Betrothal is available for .99 on Amazon.

And now Book 2, Betrayal is also on sale for the month of March as well on Amazon, Smashwords, and B & N (price change coming soon).

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

Time Enough to Love series by Jenna Jaxon

Check them out on my Amazon Author Page!

L is for Lavender

Posted on March 3, 2020 by Jenna Jaxon

Lavender is one of my favorite flowers. I love the color, the look of the flowers, and of course, the smell of lavender has the power to soothe us to sleep with little trouble. Since the days of the ancient Egyptians, lavender has been used for medicinal and healthful purposes. It was also a “miracle plant” during the Middle Ages. So there is little wonder that I used lavender extensively in my medieval novel Time Enough to Love.

The scent of lavender has been associated with medicinal uses for centuries. The ancient Romans used it in their baths, the Middle Ages saw it used to help ward off plague, and our culture uses it today in a variety of ways, but especially. I’ve noticed, in laundry detergents and fabric softeners. In fact, I must confess that I use a lavender/sweet cotton scented fabric softener for my laundry.

Early on in Betrothal, Book 1 of Time Enough to Love, the hero, Sir Geoffrey Longford, remarks on the scent of lavender that surrounds the heroine, Lady Alyse de Courcy:

“He reached out to capture a tendril of her hair. Rubbing his face against it, he inhaled deeply. “You smell so sweetly. ’Tis like flowers in summertime all about you. Even your hair smells like the meadows near my home.”

Alyse smiled at that, her breath coming more normally. “’Tis lavender, my lord. My mother has it cut in our fields, and dries it to make sachets to keep the clothes and linens fresh. She says it gives us good health.” With a shy glance at him she continued, “I do bathe in it too, for it calms and soothes the soul.” She gave a rueful chuckle. “I fear I will require such a bath when I return to my room.”

I wanted to have this olfactory marker for Alyse so I could play with its use in several ways throughout the course of the novel. Not only does Alyse have this scent clinging to her, but she gives Geoffrey a token, a small bag with a lock of her hair in it. The bag smells of lavender because it’s made of part of an old gown of hers that’s permeated with the scent. I also have Geoffrey send Alyse a sprig of lavender as a token of remembrance.

One thing I was excited to discover is that lavender is also used as an insect repellent. Its use as a sachet tucked into linens and clothing helps repel fleas, the major carrier of the Bubonic plague. So the fact that Alyse and Geoffrey have so much contact with lavender explains why they are protected, to an extent, from the plague. Ever since I published this novel, I have used lavender sachets as my signature piece of author swag. In fact, I’m making them right now for my upcoming author signing at the Romancing Williamsburg reader event March 18-21 in Williamsburg, VA.