Weekend Writing Warriors ~ 09/08/19 Heart of Decadence ~ “I Never Married Him”

Posted on September 8, 2019 by Jenna Jaxon

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors!

I have a new book (it was published in a set this past spring, but I’m bringing it out later this month–as soon as the edits are done.) called Heart of Decadence, the latest of the Handful of Hearts novella series. Here’s the cover–you’re the first (other than my newsletter subscribers) to see it!

BLURB:

Miss Amelia Burrowes was the scandal of the ton in her first Season, when her fiancée died and she was declared a ruined woman by Society. Ten years later, she’s back in London to make an arranged marriage that will hopefully allow her sisters to be received by the ton. But when Nathan, Lord Ainsley, the man she’d really had a tendre for all those years ago, renews their acquaintance, the flame between them rekindles and Amelia must convince him that a woman with a past deserves a future.

I started last week with a scene at the end of the first chapter. Amelia has been discovered by Mr. Burke, her intended, although she’s not very keen on marrying him. He’s trying to become “better acquainted” with her, very much against her will, when a stranger interrupts their kiss. Mr. Burke then introduces Amelia.

The snippet has been slightly altered to accommodate the WWW format.

SNIPPET:

“Miss Amelia Burrowes?”

Her head came up and their gazes met and she swallowed hard before asking, “Lord Ainsley?”

Mystical full moon starry night in park

“Yes, I wonder you remember me–it has been ten years, hasn’t it?” A shadow from his past rippled over Ainsley’s soul, calling to mind a moonlit garden and a lingering kiss long ago.

“Eleven, my lord for we met at Lady Somerville’s my first Season out.” She’d taken her hands from in front of her face and now twisted them before her.

He distinctly remembered that introduction to the most beautiful woman of the Season, then he frowned. “It is not Lady Carrington?”

“No, my lord, I never married him.”

Nathan blinked; she’d never married?

Heart of Decadence will release in September 2019

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

Handful of Hearts series by Jenna Jaxon

Posted in A Handful of Hearts, A Match Made at Christmas, Christmas stories, Heart of Deception, Historical Romance, Holiday Posts, Married by Christmas, On Weekend Writing Warriors, Promotion, Seduction at the Christmas Court, Weekend Writing Warriors | Tagged A Handful of Hearts series, Heart of Decadence, historical romance, Jenna Jaxon, Regency romance, second chance romance, Weekend Writing Warriors | 15 Comments

Weekend Writing Warriors ~ 09/01/19 Heart of Decadence ~ An Interruption

Posted on September 1, 2019 by Jenna Jaxon

I’m Baaackkk!

After four weeks of traveling and two weeks of recovering from it, I am finally back with Weekend Writing Warriors for the fall. I have a new book (it was published in a set this past spring, but I’m bringing it out later this month–as soon as the edits are done.) called Heart of Decadence, the latest of the Handful of Hearts novella series. Here’s the cover–you’re the first (other than my newsletter subscribers) to see it!

BLURB:

I’m starting with a scene at the end of the first chapter. Amelia has been discovered by Mr. Burke, her intended, although she’s not very keen on marrying him. He’s trying to become “better acquainted” with her, very much against her will.

The snippet has been slightly altered to accommodate the WWW format.

SNIPPET:

He ran his tongue along the seam of her mouth, pushing insistently, trying to gain entry. Oh, absolutely not. Once again, she pushed against his chest, digging her palms into his jacket and trying frantically to back away.

The click of the library door opening froze Amelia, posed, unfortunately, like a reluctant nymph being ravished by some errant god.

“Kate, are you in here?”

The man’s voice spurred her to desperate measures because of one thing she was certain: she couldn’t afford to be compromised by Mr. Burke for then she’d be forced to marry him or become even more of an outcast in Society. Praying for strength, she hauled back her hand and thumped him on his ear.

He grunted and released her.

Amelia sprang backward, her hands covering her mouth, scrubbing at her lips; turning her gaze toward the door, she looked into the startled gray-eyed gaze of a very tall, very handsome stranger.

The man’s eyebrows had shot straight up, but now returned to normal and his lips drew into a disapproving pucker as he said, “Well, you are certainly not Kate.”

Heart of Decadence will release in September 2019

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

Handful of Hearts series by Jenna Jaxon

Where in the World is Jenna Jaxon? (Part 12)

Posted on August 20, 2019 by Jenna Jaxon

Good Morning all! Here’s the latest from

BRUGES!

It has been more crazy days of sightseeing and traveling since I left Wrotham. I spent two nights in London, resting and then shopping for last minute souvenirs–in the rain, I might add!

Then very, very early on Thursday, I flew out of Heathrow and into Stuttgart, Germany for a week-long visit with my good friend and fellow historical author Ella Quinn. We barely had time to catch up, then we left the next morning for Bruges, Belgium, a 7 hour car ride with Ella’s Great Dane, Lilly.

BRUGES

PUBLIC SQUARE IN BRUGES

As soon as we got there we checked into our lovely hotel, Hotel d’Orangerie, then headed out to Les Poules Moules, a fabulous restaurant whose specialty is steamed mussels. Absolutely delicious! I couldn’t finish them all. Then we walked around the town, just kind of orienting ourselves to the lay of the land (although Ella’s been there before, it’s still confusing).

MY LUNCH OF MUSSELS AND FRITES (FRENCH FRIES)

HOTEL DE ORANGERIE

Next day we set out to The Church of Our Lady, to see Michelangelo’s Madonna and Child sculpture (I had heard of this “Bruge Madonna” from the movie The Monuments Men) and it is a beautiful, beautiful sculpture. After lunch–while we got out of the pouring rain–we went to the Basicilia of the Holy Blood and they were having a veneration of the Holy Relic for which their church is named: a vial of the blood of Jesus Christ. I was absolutely awed by the fact I was seeing an actual church relic (as a history major I’d read about them, but never seen one).

BRUGES MADONNA BY MICHELANGELO

BASILICA OF THE HOLY BLOOD

THE BLOOD RELIC
PHOTO BY MATT HOPKINS VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

After this we took a boat ride through the canals of Bruges. Then I acted the tourist, buying Belgian lace and Belgian chocolates for those at home.

BOAT RIDE TOUR OF BRUGES

Next morning we headed out to the battlefield at Waterloo and visited one of the museums and walked down to the Hougoumont farm, the center of Wellington’s defense. We were very fortunate that a re-enactment was happening that weekend. We got to visit with a group of re-enactors who were actually portraying not the Waterloo campaign, but a battle between the British and French from the late 18th century (Waterloo was just convenient to do the re-enactment on). So I got a picture of them (and Lily got in the shot!).

BATTLEFIELD AT WATERLOO

HOUGOUMONT FARM AT WATERLOO

RE-ENACTORS AT WATERLOO BATTLEFIELD

After lunch at the battlefield, we headed back to Stuttgart. Yesterday we rested, and today we will be exploring (read shopping) Stuttgart.

Where in the World is Jenna Jaxon? (Part 11)

Posted on August 13, 2019 by Jenna Jaxon

Good Morning all! Here’s the latest from

WROTHAM!

WROTHAM

I left Cornwall on the last leg of my world-wind tour of England on Saturday morning, facing more challenging train changes to get to Wrotham Village in Kent. The bulk of the journey was fine, the Great Western Railway taking me from Penzance to London in about five hours, despite the weather that caused some trains to be delayed or canceled. At Paddington Station, however, I had to change to Charing Cross station for my final leg into Kent. Navigating the Underground with 3 pieces of luggage was a bit of a challenge, but I made it in time for the 3:00 train to Sevenoaks. From there it was a bit of a taxi ride to get to Wrotham Village (have since found out there’s a closer station) and The Bull Hotel.

THE BULL INN

The reason I’m in this part of Kent is strictly because of my first Widows’ Club book, To Woo A Wicked Widow. I set it in the little village of Wrotham and so simply h)ad to come see the place I’d researched so much. There’s a scene in the book set in the Bull, an inn that’s been in existence since 1280. So when I discovered I could actually stay there, I was crazy excited.

The village is very small (especially contrasted with the recent places I’d been), so I was able to do the walking tour in about an hour or so, before having dinner in the restaurant downstairs (yes, once again my room is on the top floor).

THE BULL INN RESTAURANT

THE BULL INN RESTAURANT 2

In To Woo A Wicked Widow, I had Charlotte, the heroine, take her guests on a walking tour of the village, where she meets with Nash, the hero, and he actually takes them around showing them all of the village. So there’s a scene in the inn, then they walk down the street (now literally about 300 feet) to St. George’s Church. A must see on my walking tour.

ST. GEORGE’S CHURCH

INTERIOR STAINED GLASS WINDOW

THE CHURCH NAVE

BRASS PLAQUES FOR INTERMENTS

All of these pictures illustrate parts of Nash’s tour of the church. The only thing they were able to do that I was not was go up into the clock tower. I saw no access and didn’t want to press my luck, given the age of the tower.

I wandered up and down the streets, taking dozens of pictures. This place is Wrotham Place, which used to be a royal lodge. It was here that Henry VIII awaited news of Ann Boleyn’s execution. (Also mentioned in my novel.)

WROTHAM PLACE

WROTHAM PLACE 2

And here’s what the rest of the village looks like:

WROTHAM VILLAGE 1

WROTHAM VILLAGE 2

WROTHAM VILLAGE 3

Because the village was so small and I got all my touring done within an hour, and because the weather decided not to cooperate, I spent all of Sunday evening and most of the day Monday resting and writing. Not a bad thing given how much I’ve been traveling.

This morning I was off and running heading back to London for a couple of days and awaiting my next journey. Those details coming at the end of the week!

Cheers!

Jenna

Posted in Where in the World is Jenna Jaxon | Tagged Jenna Jaxon, Kent, St. George's Church, The Bull Inn, Where in the World is Jenna Jaxon, Wrotham | 4 Comments

Where in the World is Jenna Jaxon? (Part 10)

Posted on August 12, 2019 by Jenna Jaxon

Good Morning all! Here’s the latest from

PENZANCE !

The morning of August 7, I left Bath en-route for Cornwall and the seaside resort of Penzance. Unlike previous train journeys, this one was a piece of cake: no changes and I reserved a seat the whole way. All four hours was a lovely trip down into Cornwall.

I once directed and played a role in Gilbert and Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance, but I had other reasons as well for visiting the Cornwall coast. I’ve actually set two of my novels there. The first was a time travel novella I’m currently turning into a novel, working title Falling in Time, and the second is the upcoming fourth book of The Widows’ Club series, Much Ado About a Widow, which takes place primarily in St. Just, a mere eight miles west of Penzance.

My B&B this time was The Warwick Guest House, a beautiful prospect that overlooks the water. Almost better, I was situated on the first floor. No steps!

WARWICK HOUSE

My first night I took a stroll down the Promenade, right beside the water. Beautiful weather, sunny and a mild temperature in the mid-60s.

PROMENADE 1

PROMENADE 2

Not only did I go for a walk, I stopped at Fraser’s fish and chips where they made a fabulous gluten-free version of the classic and in different kinds of fish. I had the hake, a locally sourced fish from the waters I was walking beside. Not only delicious, but worth coming back to Cornwall for next year as well!

FRASER’S FISH AND CHIPS

Next day I took the Hop on-Hop off bus on a tour of the southern tip of Cornwall. I went through Mousehole, Lamorna, Porthcurno, Land’s End, Sennen Cove, all the way around to my goal: St. Just. Because Georgie and Rob’s story is set on the Cornish coast in the town of St. Just, I had to pay a visit and take some photos.

TOWN CENTER

IN TOWN ST. JUST

LOOKING TO THE COAST

ST. JUST

My second day in St. Just I used to rest and do some writing. I’ve started on the last of my House of Pleasure books, Only Pleasure Will Do, and I got three chapters edited and a fourth almost completed.

Next morning I was off and running again to another part of the country. Those details coming soon!

Cheers!

Jenna

Posted in Where in the World is Jenna Jaxon | Tagged Cornwall, Fraser's Fish and Chips, Jenna Jaxon, Penzance, St. Just, Warwick Guest House, Where in the World is Jenna Jaxon | 1 Comment

Where in the World is Jenna Jaxon? (Part 9)

Posted on August 9, 2019 by Jenna Jaxon

Good Morning all! Here’s the latest from

BATH !

This is the city, out of all those in my travels, where I felt most connected to the Regency period. Even though the town’s popularity was waning during the early 19th century, so many places are still available to see, I just had fangirl moment after fangirl moment.

Arrived to find I was staying in the heart of the city, Great Pulteney Street, in a Georgian house B & B.

MY B&B IN BATH

And since my most current WIP, It Happened at Christmas, is set in Bath, I was thrilled to find out I wasn’t staying a block away from where I had my heroine, Portia Willingham, living in the book.

THE SHOPS ON PULTENEY BRIDGE

I ended up walking just about everywhere, although my first full day, I used the Hop on Hop Off bus so I could see everything, then go back to the places I needed to visit in person.

The first of these was the Upper Assembly Rooms. This is where I began to get a little verklempt. I had just been writing about my heroine and hero dancing in the Ballroom and suddenly I was standing in that very ballroom! And let me tell you, it is huge! It could accommodate up to 800 people and looking at it, I believe it. The chandeliers are monstrous and gorgeous. There are five of them. I stood looking at them and could imagine perfectly what the scene would have looked like with all the candles lit, the ladies and gentlemen mingling or dancing. So verklempt.

BALLROOM AT THE BATH ASSEMLEY ROOMS

SEDAN CHAIR AT BATH ASSEMBLY ROOMS

(Outside the ballroom I had another moment when I saw they had on display two period sedan chairs–just like the ones in the scene I’d written the night before!)

I managed to continue through the Octagon Room and the Cards Room (now a cafe), then downstairs to visit the Costume Museum. Gorgeous period era clothing, including Regency of course.

REGENCY FASHIONS

Then up the street to the Royal Crescent, where I had my novella’s hero living. Took pictures of the Crescent and of No. 12 (where Benberry and Daventry live in the book), although it looked vacant.

ROYAL CRESCENT

The next morning I went the other place that had me verkelmpt–Sydney Pleasure Gardens. This park, the only existing 18th century Pleasure Gardens still in existence, was down at the end of the street where I was staying. I walked all over it, taking picture after picture which helped me immensely as I finished the book that night, with a scene set in Sydney Gardens! It really doesn’t get any better than this.

SYDNEY PLEASURE GARDENS

(If you want more info or pictures on Sydney Pleasure Gardens, click here to go to my recent article on it for Historical Hussies.)

Afterwards I went to the Jane Austen Center, the Bath Postal Museum, and finally stopped at the Pump Room for Afternoon (Gluten-Free) Tea. A long, relaxing time with delicious food and a three piece orchestra playing tunes from My Fair Lady when I walked in. 🙂 If you are ever in Bath, you should do the tea at the Pump Room. Afterwards, I went to the Roman Baths, and finally back to my B & B.

WRITING WITH QUILL AND INK AT JANE AUSTEN CENTER

TEA AT THE PUMP ROOM

Next morning I was off and running again to a completely different part of the country. And another story for another day. 🙂

Cheers!

Jenna

Posted in Where in the World is Jenna Jaxon | Tagged Afternoon Tea, Bath, Bath Postal Museum, Great Pulteney Street, Jane Austen Center, Jenna Jaxon, Pump Room, Roman Baths, Royal Crescent, Sydney Pleasure Gardens, Upper Assembly Rooms, Where in the World is Jenna Jaxon | 4 Comments

Where in the World is Jenna Jaxon? (Part 8)

Posted on August 6, 2019 by Jenna Jaxon

Good Morning all! Here’s the latest from

KENDAL !

Sorry this post is so late, but have been so busy getting to and enjoying my stay in the Lake District.

Train service is great in England, but you have to take a lot of trains sometimes. I had to change trains 3 times to get to Kendal, then missed the connection at Oxenholm and had to wait an hour for the next one.

When I finally got to the town of Kendal I needed lunch, but there was literally nothing near the station. I had to hoof it up and down hills, with three pieces of luggage, and finally found a gluten-free option: Subway. Just a bit different in England, but still delicious. They didn’t have GF bread, so I got a salad. As someone once said, Hunger is the best sauce!

Caught a taxi out to my guest house, The Gateway, which was about 2 miles outside of town. Beautiful former manor house that’s now a B & B with a fabulous restaurant. After an exhausting day and a gourmet meal of lamb cutlets, I crashed in a very comfy bed.

PUB AT GATEWAY

MY ROOM

Next morning I had signed up to take the High Adventure tour of the Lake District. It was an all day tour with many stops to get out and take pictures. Beautiful country, with roads that were basically one lane wide. Very tricky maneuvering when other cars came along.

LAKE WINDERMERE

ELTERWATER BRIDGE

DRY STONE WALLS

FOOTBRIDGE AT SKELWITH

My third day there I had originally planned a train trip to Gretna Green, however, it would have meant taking innumerable taxis once I got there, and I was pretty tired still from the tour. So I took the day instead to write on my Christmas novella, It Happened at Christmas, and got it all done but the last chapter! Also had two great meals at The Gateway and did some writing outside in the English countryside.

WRITING IN THE ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE

That was more than inspiring. I plan to dedicate the story to the staff at the Gateway who were so helpful and took such good care of me!

The following morning, I packed up and headed out for the next stop on my world-wind tour of England. But that’s a story for another day. 🙂

Cheers!

Jenna

Posted in Where in the World is Jenna Jaxon | Tagged Albany, Fortnam & Mason, Jenna Jaxon, London trip, Merry Wives of Windsor, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, St. James Park, Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, Where in the World is Jenna Jaxon | 3 Comments

Where in the World is Jenna Jaxon? (Part 7)

Posted on August 3, 2019 by Jenna Jaxon

Good Morning all! Here’s the latest from

LONDON !

Spent a very busy two days in London visiting several places I’ve either used in my books or intend to use. And in one case, fulfill an item off my bucket list.

First full day I took the Underground to Green Park, first stop: The Albany.

A very prestigious address both during the Regency and now. Matthew, Lord Lathbury, the hero of What A Widow Wants, resided there when he first met Fanny. Their first liaison took place in his apartment there.

From the Albany I crossed the street and had a peep into Fortnam and Mason’s at all their fabulous foodstuffs. (I’m going back there to send good home when I return to London!).

Then I was off to Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. This a a recreation (and as close as they could possibly get it) to the actual theatre of Shakespeare’s time. I’ve been wanting to see this for 20 years, ever since one of my dissertation advisers, Dr. Frank Hildy, talked about it and showed the pictures. He was a consultant on the building of it because he is an architectural theatre historian. They built it using the same materials and techniques available in the late 16th century, including wooden pegs instead of nails and thatch for the roof (the only current thatched roof in London).

The only difference with this theatre is that because of the thatched roof (which was the reason the original Globe burned to the ground), the insurance company made them install a sprinkler system.

Inside, the theatre is as close to being what Shakespeare’s audiences would have experienced as possible. Today’s audiences can pay 23-47 pounds (just like the middle classes in the 1590s) for a seat in one of three tiers of galleries. Or for 5 pounds (in the 1590s it would have been 1 penny) you could be a groundling and stand in the courtyard around the stage.

Having already walked over a mile that day, I opted to be a middle class person and gladly paid 23 pounds for a ticket to see The Merry Wives of Windsor at the matinee. I also wisely rented a cushion for the performance (if you don’t, I swear your bum will go numb on the hard oak benches). You can also buy a seat back, but I braved that one out. The play was wonderful and afterwards I took a tour of the theatre and got even more pics of the theatre.

Day 2 in London was all about parks: Vauxhall Pleassure Gardens and St. James Park.

Vauxhall has been used as a setting in Georgian, Regency, and Victorian romance novels so I absolutely had to see it. It is a far cry from what it was in its heyday (then it was sort of a Disney World for adults). Today it’s a very quiet park, with people playing bowls and walking their dogs mostly. However I detected a remembrance of days past in the park and spent a bit of time sitting and thinking about how ladies and gentlemen had used that place for courting, trysting, and all kinds of shenanigans. 🙂

St. James Park, in contrast, was teeming with people (although I managed to miss most of them in my pictures). I did find one spot, by the lake in its center, that was the exact place I had in mind for the duel that didn’t happen between Lord Manning and the Marquess of Dalbury in Only Scandal Will Do. The Marquess describes the place where he’s dueled before as “by the duck pond.” And I found it!

The Duck Pond

I took many, many more photos of these places, as well as ones of Bow Street, what I believe to be Whites Gentlemen’s Club (under construction so I couldn’t get a good picture of it), and Brooks. I’ll be using these on my blog in future posts and maybe even in some promo. But just seeing these places with my own eyes has given me ideas about how to describe them for my readers.

I was off early on August 1st, headed to my next destination! I’ll post about that tomorrow!

Cheers!

Where in the World is Jenna Jaxon? (Part 6)

Posted on July 29, 2019 by Jenna Jaxon

Good Morning all my followers! I bid a fond farewell to NYC on Sunday night and woke up this morning in

LONDON!

Ella Quinn and I left JFK after sharing an Uber to the airport and we spent time together in the Delta Sky Lounge until her flight was called. Hers left NY around noon and mine didn’t leave until 6:00 pm.

After Ella left, I continued to enjoy the perks of the Lounge with Lulu.

and met an interesting guy named Eric who used to live in Gloucester and knew a lot of the people and places I did.

Small World Moment!

Once I got on the plane, I had a very nice surprise: the seat next to mine remained vacant.

So I got to stretch out quite a lot and used the other tray table as well as mine. Very smooth flight, very smooth landing, although I only dozed a bit here and there. And despite all my trepidation, I sailed through customs and was met by my taxi driver who was very chatty as we wound our way through London as it woke up on a Monday.

Arrived at my lodgings, The Charlotte Guest House, in Hampstead way too early for check-in, but they offered to give me breakfast (it comes with the room each morning) and will hold my luggage until my room is ready, sometime after noon. So I’m ensconced in the back garden of the Charlotte until my room is ready. It’s so nice out here, and so perfect a day, I could just camp out here for the 3 days of my stay!

Today I plan to reset my internal clock, so not much activity other than going out to eat and getting my bearings. Maybe writing some if I don’t fall asleep at 4:00 pm!

Tomorrow I take the tube into London to see as many Regency sites as I can.

Stay tuned!

Posted in Where in the World is Jenna Jaxon | Tagged Charlotte Guest House, Jenna Jaxon, London trip, Where in the World is Jenna Jaxon | 1 Comment

Weekend Writing Warriors ~ 07/28/19 Married by Christmas ~”You’re Angry at Me?”

Posted on July 28, 2019 by Jenna Jaxon

In keeping with my Christmas in July theme (and the fact it’s a new release) I have switched this month to my new Christmas novella Married by Christmas.

BLURB:

A wager he should have refused…

After two miserable Seasons, Miss Marianne Covington is determined not to have a third and enlists the help of longtime friend William Stanley to assist her. Will wagers he can find her a husband before Christmas. But when none of the suitors suit, he is ready to do something drastic for the woman who’s become more than just a friend.

I’m starting with a scene a little into the story. Marianne has bemoaned the fact that there are no decent gentlemen to marry. Her friend Will has wagered he can find her a husband by Christmas.

In this week’s snippet Marianne and Will are at a winter costume ball. He’s dressed as Ullr, a Norse god, including a beard. He’s just suggested introducing her to another gentleman, but after a comment from Marianne that goes a bit too far, her mother insists she must apologize and dance with William as penance. After the dance, William does introduce Marianne to Lord Sherston.

In today’s snippet, Marianne has accosted William because she believes he has tried to trick her with an unsuitable suitor and has dragged him out onto the balcony.

We are in now in Marianne’s POV.

The snippet has been slightly altered to accommodate the WWW format.

SNIPPET:

“You’re angry at me?”

“Who else would I be angry at?” She stamped her foot again and cried, “How could you introduce me to Lord Sherston, who, even though he seems a very pleasant gentleman, has but one thing on his mind: to find a mother for his four sons–four sons, William!”

Astonished, he took a step backward and bumped into the balustrade that surrounded the balcony, some twelve feet above the ground. “Sherston has four sons?”

“You know he does and that is the second cruel trick you’ve played on me.” She moved toward him, fire in her eyes.

Suddenly, Will no longer felt safe backed against the balustrade. Inch by inch, he slowly made his way around the curved end of the balcony until his back rested on the hard stone of the building; he sighed in relief.

Marianne had followed him until now she stood before him, her hands opening and closing rapidly–would she actually plant him a facer?