The Romance of Language: Word for the Week 4/07/17

Posted on April 7, 2017 by Jenna Jaxon

Groaning Cheese:

“It is customary at Oxford to cut the cheese (called in the north of England, in allusion to the mother’s complaints at delivery, “the Groaning Cheese”) in the middle when the child is born, and so by degrees form it into a large kind of ring, through which the child must be passed at the christening.”

–from Observations on the popular Antiquaries of Great Britain, 1849

This is actually a multi-purpose cheese, as slices of it are also used like wedding cake, put under a young woman’s pillow, and slept upon so they would dream of their lovers.

Another source gives out that the Groaning Cheese is actually a cake made to look like a cheese, hollowed out to pass the baby through.

Is this a tradition you’d like to see brought back for christenings? 🙂

Posted in Romance of Language | Tagged forgotten words, Groaning Cheese, historical words, Jenna Jaxon, Romance of Language | 4 Comments

Be My Guest! ~ Author Interview with Jenna Jaxon

Posted on April 5, 2017 by Jenna Jaxon

Hello, and welcome to my new feature for 2017.

I’ve begun a Wednesday weekly post to present interviews with authors across all romance genres. Although I’m primarily an historical romance writer, I do read outside my genre and suspect a lot of you do as well. And what’s more fascinating than finding out more about either your favorite authors or new ones? I plan to change up my questions (most of them at least) every three months or so, just to keep the interviews lively.

So now gather round the tea table, grab a scone or cookies, and a cup of tea or coffee and discover a new friend in the writing world.

This week on Be My Guest, as promised, I am interviewing…me! My latest historical romance, Only A Mistress Will Do released yesterday, so I thought I’d take this opportunity to let you know a little more about me–some things you might not have known before from other interviews.

Author Bio :

Jenna Jaxon is a multi-published author of historical in all time periods because passion is timeless. She has been reading and writing historical romance since she was a teenager. A romantic herself, she has always loved a dark side to the genre, a twist, suspense, a surprise. She tries to incorporate all of these elements into her own stories. She’s a theatre director when she’s not writing and lives in Virginia with her family, including two very vocal cats.

Jenna is a PAN member of Romance Writers of America as well as Vice-President of Chesapeake Romance Writers, her local chapter of RWA. She has three series currently available: The House of Pleasure, set in Georgian England, Handful of Hearts, set in Regency England, and Time Enough to Love, set in medieval England and France.

She currently writes to support her chocolate habit.

So, my standard first question:

Who is your favorite romance hero or heroine and why? What qualities do they possess that make them memorable?

Jo Beverley’s Beowulf Malloren, Marquis of Rothgar and Diana, Countess of Arrandale from the Malloren series, set in Georgian, England. The whold series has them in it, but their book is Devilish, my favorite romance novel. I absolutely love these two characters together, hot, sexy, determined, crazy fighting skills. They remind me vividly of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie in Mr. and Mrs. Smith, although Rothgar is a good deal hotter than Pitt!

Who or what inspires your writing?

It depends on the project. I get inspiration from everything from a song (my upcoming release, To Woo A Wicked Widow, was inspired by The Weather Girls song “It’s Raining Men), to a chance word or sentence in another romance novel, (Only A Mistress Will Do was inspired by a single sentence in a Mary Balogh novel), to the Cinderella fairy tale (a sweet novella, Heart of Delight).

Which of your own books is your favorite and why?

I do hate to play favorites, but at the current moment it’s Only Scandal Will Do, although Only A Mistress Will Do is running neck and neck with it! But I love Scandal because I love the heroine (my alter ego), I love the dynamics between the hero and heroine, plus I think the story and setting are cohesive to produce a rather stark, gritty feel to the book that was what I was aiming for. I also see that in Mistress, so that makes sense it’s tied for favorite. I think recently that Mistress may be pulling ahead. 🙂

What is your favorite holiday and why?

Halloween, hands down. I’ve always loved that holiday (felt it was mine for some reason) and still decorate the house and yard to look like a graveyard for the Trick or Treaters. I love making all the cool themed treats and the wonderful costumes everyone wears. It’s a very theatrical holiday, so that may explain it some.

Are you a pantser or plotter? What is your process?

I am hands down a plotter. I can’t do anything, once I have my story idea, if I don’t come up with an outline. Detailed, outline, usually about 10 pages long. It’s a road map to keep me straight on where I’m eventually going to end up. Of course, along the way, as I’m writing, I add some stops occasionally, make a detour here or there. But generally I follow the map, I have a very poor sense of direction (in life and in writing) and the few times I’ve tried to “wing it” I’ve lost all kinds of time because winging it without thinking of latter repercussions almost always made me have to backtrack and continue down the path I’d originally set.

Who is your favorite non-romance genre author? What is your favorite book of theirs?

Another easy one. Stephen King. Love, love, love his books. When he was writing his Dark Tower series I used to fear either he would die before finishing it, or I would die before I finished reading it. And although The Drawing of the Three is my second favorite King book, my absolute favorite is It. Scared the bejesus out of me, but I’ve read it about 8 times.

What is your favorite cuisine?

My absolute favorite cuisine is Indian. I’m not a fan of spicy, but I love the exotic tastes of Indian food and it has the distinction of being the most gluten-free cuisine I’ve run across because they use a lot of lentil flour in their dishes. Usually I can order almost anything off the menu or take from the buffet because everything except the breads don’t have gluten.

Now, tell us a little bit about your newest book.

Only A Mistress Will Do released yesterday (Hooray!) and it’s Book 3 in my House of Pleasure series. It’s about a woman, Violet Carlton, who, because of the death of her brother, eventually is forced to become a prostitute. She is saved by a good Samaritan (who buys her at the House of Pleasure) and they attempt to find her respectable employment or marriage. Along the way, they manage to fall in love, which is unfortunate because he’s already engaged to another woman through an arranged marriage. He also has a secret that he’s desperately trying to conceal, but some secrets simply cannot be kept.

What was your inspiration for this story?

This is the story I spoke of earlier that was inspired by a Mary Balogh novel, A Precious Jewel. That book is about a prostitute in a brothel who becomes the mistress of one of her customers and falls in love with him. The book talks briefly about how she became a prostitute and mentions that she won’t think about her first week in the house. Which got me to thinking, what would it be like for a gentlewoman to have to become a prostitute? How horrifying would it be? How did she steel herself to go through with that first customer? And Mistress was born. (While I was on vacation with my family at Disney World, of all places!)

Are the character names special in any way?

Violet Carlton’s name had been in the back of my mind ever since I wrote Only Scandal Will Do. I stuck in a reference to they type of woman Lord Trevor might marry and described her as a “shy violet,” who the heroine of Scandal says she will transform into a “tiger lily.”

Do you have plans for a sequel to this book?

The hero and heroine will figure in the remaining books of the series and will also have a supporting role in the companion series I’m planning, Captivating Countesses.

Now, the Infamous Lightning Round:

What is your favorite amusement park ride?

Splash Mountain at Disney World!

Tea or coffee and how do you take it?

Tea in the mornings or very late at night with raw sugar and milk; coffee at work and in the theatre, half and half only.

Hot dogs or hamburgers?

Hot dogs–with mustard, chili, and onions!

Chocolate or vanilla?

Chocolate is my drug of choice.

Favorite all time movie?

Notting Hill

How many states have you lived in?

Three: Virginia, Maryland, and Tennessee

Cats or dogs?

Cats. Although I like dogs, I’ve always been a cat person as was my family. We had tons of cats when I was growing up, but only 3 dogs.

What’s your favorite Starbucks drink?

The Smoked Butterscotch Frappe they had for a while. But that is now gone, so back to Skinny Mocha Latte.

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

There’s a lot to choose from, but I think I will go with Bugs Bunny from my childhood.

Here’s the blurb for Only A Mistress Will Do, which just released on Amazon, B & N, and other etailers!

BLURB:

The man of her dreams . . . belongs to another woman.

Destitute and without friends, Violet Carlton is forced to seek employment at the House of Pleasure in London. She steels herself for her first customer and is shocked when the man rescues her instead of ravishing her. A grateful Violet cannot help but admire the handsome Viscount Trevor. But she must curb her desire for the dashing nobleman she can never have because he is already betrothed to another . . .

Tristan had gone to the House of Pleasure for a last bit of fun before he became a faithful married man. But when he recognizes the woman in his bed, he becomes determined to save her instead. Now, his heart wars with his head as he falls for the vulnerable courtesan. Unable to break his betrothal without a scandal, Tris resolves to find Violet proper employment or a husband of her own. Still, his arms ache for Violet, urging him to abandon propriety and sacrifice everything to be with the woman he loves. . . .

Next Wednesday my special guest is Elf Ahearn, a fellow historical romance author. Hope you return to you favorite Wednesday spot to meet her!

Posted in Author/Character Interviews, Be My Guest, Interviews, Promotion | Tagged author interview, Be My Guest, Georgian romance, historical romance, Jenna Jaxon, love story, Regency romance | Leave a comment

Only A Mistress Will Do Release Party! Post #3

Posted on April 4, 2017 by Jenna Jaxon

Today, at long last, Book 3 of my House of Pleasure series releases!

Only A Mistress Will Do

BLURB:

The man of her dreams . . . belongs to another woman.

And here’s a third exclusive excerpt from Only A Mistress Will Do:

EXCERPT:

He kissed her hands and she shivered. They would need to further their acquaintance a bit more rapidly. “Have you never been kissed before, Dora?”

She turned her head to the side and shook it, then tried to slip her hands out of his.

“No need to be afraid, my dear. I won’t hurt you.” Slowly, sensually, he brushed the back of her hand with his lips, then turned it over and grazed her palm as well. “Kisses are a normal part of married life.”

“I know.” Her voice was stronger than a whisper, but still low. “I’ve seen my brother Simon kissing his wife Judith.”

“Would you like for me to kiss you?” He stared into her clear blue eyes and cupped her cheek.

An almost imperceptible nod.

Good.

Tris angled her face toward him and pressed his lips against hers, gently at first, then more insistently. He slid his other hand around her back and pulled her even closer, until he could feel her small breasts against his chest. Carefully, he opened his mouth and ran the tip of his tongue along the seam of her tightly clamped lips.

She gasped and stumbled away. “My lord.”

He let her go. Her stricken stare told him this would be an uphill battle, near impossible to win in such a short time. Still, he smiled at her. “Did you enjoy your first kiss, Dora?”

Raising her fingers to her lips, she rubbed them lightly, as if she could feel the kiss better that way. “I don’t know, my lord.”

“Tristan, please.”

A brief nod. “Tristan.”

“Then we will have to try again, when next I come.” He smiled gently, trying to reassure her as he would a skittish colt. “Perhaps then you will know.”

“Did…did you enjoy it, my…Tristan?” The big blue eyes held out the hope of his approval.

“I did, Dora, very much. Soon I hope you will feel the same.”

Her smile stretched the width of her face, banishing her uneasiness and lightening her eyes to a dazzling azure. “Oh, I am sure I will, Tristan.” She bobbed her head and scurried out.

Tris collected his cloak from Pratt and sent for his horse. What a damnable mess. He hated to lie, but the hesitant hope in Dora’s face when she asked if he enjoyed the kiss had squeezed his conscience into that pathetic admission. Perhaps it would be better next time. The girl was sweet, too sweet for his tastes if truth be told. So he should not be surprised she stirred not one iota of passion in him, even pressed firmly against his cock. There hadn’t been so much as an inkling of a stirring down below.

That might concern him except for the immediate response when he thought of kissing Violet. If he had been engaged even in this light a dalliance with her, his ride home would have become damned uncomfortable. In fact, if he didn’t stop thinking of her right this minute he might regret it, though he doubted that.

Stepping out onto the portico in the brisk wind, his ardor abated somewhat. Still, it didn’t matter. He’d be tortured by thoughts of Violet in his arms long after her departure and his wedding were things of the past.

If you’d like to read more, Only A Mistress Will Do is now live on Amazon! Pick up your copy today!

One more party game before we go.

In this next game, I’m giving away a $10.00 Amazon gift card randomly to a commenter who tells me in a comment below something about your first kiss.

Mine, as I recall, was not as romantic as Dora’s was above. I was in the second grade, I initiated it, and the boy’s response was “You’re crazy.” LOL

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME TO CELEBRATE

ONLY A MISTRESS WILL DO‘S RELEASE TODAY!

Posted in Giveaways, Historical Romance, Only A Mistress Will Do, Promotion | Tagged book giveaway, Georgian romance, Jenna Jaxon, new release party, Only A Mistress Will Do | 3 Comments

Only A Mistress Will Do Release Party! Post #2

Posted on April 4, 2017 by Jenna Jaxon

Today, at long last, Book 3 of my House of Pleasure series releases!

Only A Mistress Will Do

The man of her dreams . . . belongs to another woman.

And here’s another exclusive excerpt from Only A Mistress Will Do:

EXCERPT:

After joining Lord John outside the green room, Violet led the way upstairs. Five minutes saw her things gathered, and with her thin cloak over her shoulders, she followed her rescuer down the shadowy staircase, once again trying to ignore the bawdy noises swirling around her. Whoever Lord John was, he could not lead her into a worse hell than this one.

They arrived outside Madame Vestry’s office door, and he ushered her in.

Tonight Madame was dressed for a party in the guise of Aphrodite, goddess of love, draped in layers of sheer fabric. The woman’s ebony eyebrows rose as they entered, but her self-satisfied smile made Violet suspect she was not surprised to see them.

“Your business is concluded so swiftly, my lord? Did Cassandra not please you?” She turned her enigmatic face from the tall man to Violet.

Lord John laughed, harsh as a cawing crow. “I think the business you sent me to see to has been accomplished.” He nodded curtly toward Violet, but kept his gaze on Madame Vestry. “In fact, Miss Carlton has pleased me so well I have persuaded her to take Serena’s place.”

“Excellent.” A gleam appeared in Madame Vestry’s eyes as she stroked the small plaster dove sitting on her desk, Aphrodite’s symbol. “I will, of course, require my usual finder’s fee.”

“I expected nothing less, Amorina. I am especially grateful you found Miss Carlton for me. Such a rare flower needs special tending.” He glared candidly at the Madame. “Tending I will oversee personally.”

“I never had any doubt about that, my lord.” Vestry turned to Violet, the smug look vanished. “You have been given this opportunity to improve your situation, Miss Carlton. I trust you will take every advantage it offers.” “I will, Madame Vestry.” Violet felt too weary to speak more.

Lord John placed a protective hand at the small of her back, a gesture that sent a frisson of warmth through her. As they reached the threshold, her protector looked over his shoulder, his face softening as he smiled at

the goddess of love. “Thank you, Madame Vestry.”

“No, it is I who thank you, Lord Trevor. Bon chance.”

Not Lord John, but Lord Trevor. Violet did not recognize the true name of her new protector, but she didn’t care. If he was willing to help her escape this brothel and keep her safe, she didn’t care if he was the devil himself.

If you’d like to read more, Only A Mistress Will Do is now live on Amazon! Pick up your copy today!

For my next party game, let’s play I Need A Hero! Copy a picture of what you think Lord Trevor should look like–a handsome, sexy hero mind you–into a comment below. I’ll pick a random commenter to receive an e-book from my back list AND the winner’s name will appear as a character in the next House of Pleasure book, Only Seduction Will Do. Leave a suggestion in a comment below to be entered to win!

POST NUMBER 3 WILL RELEASE TODAY AT 6:00 PM TODAY!

STAY TUNED FOR MORE CHANCES TO WIN!

Posted in Giveaways, Historical Romance, Only A Mistress Will Do, Promotion | Tagged book giveaway, Georgian romance, Jenna Jaxon, new release party, Only A Mistress Will Do | 4 Comments

Only A Mistress Will Do Release Party!

Posted on April 4, 2017 by Jenna Jaxon

Today, at long last, Book 3 of my House of Pleasure series releases!

Only A Mistress Will Do

This is one of my favorite books of this series, because Violet Carlton faces such horrible obstacles to overcome all the way through the book. By the end, even I felt sorry for her! I also threw everything but the kitchen sink at my hero, Tristan, Viscount Trevor. They have a very rocky time of it, making you wonder will they ever get their HEA?

BLURB:

The man of her dreams . . . belongs to another woman.

And here’s an exclusive excerpt from Only A Mistress Will Do:

EXCERPT:

When she entered, the quiet young man stood even straighter.

Lord Trevor marked the man’s movement, noted her, and rose. “Miss Carlton.” He stopped, his mouth still slightly open, but wordless.

What was wrong? A thousand possibilities bloomed in Violet’s imagination. Fearful her dress had suddenly popped open at the site of the repair, she glanced down. When she raised her head, Lord Trevor had managed to close his mouth, but that hungry look still smoldered in his eyes.

“Miss Carlton, excuse me.” He cleared his throat, sipped the coffee, and tried again. “Please be seated.” He pulled out the chair next to him.

“Another plate, Thomas.”

With a lurching bow, the footman hurried out of the room.

“I trust you slept well? I apologize for the lack of creature comforts. However, you look as though the night’s adversities never happened.” His sapphire gaze hadn’t left her face since she entered the room. “You are a most beautiful woman.”

Heat rose in her cheeks. “Susan is a very skilled ladies’ maid, my lord. She believes me to be your current mistress and insisted on turning me out for your satisfaction.” The words were a challenge. Let him deny what he would.

“I beg your pardon, Miss Carlton. I wasn’t exactly sure how to proceed.” Lord Trevor sat back in his chair, shoulders sagging. “I’m in two minds about the situation, you see.” He folded his napkin and laid it neatly on the table before looking at her. “What we do not wish to happen is for anyone to discover I’m keeping you here. You’d be as ruined as if you were found at Madame Vestry’s, no matter the true circumstances. Last night I had no choice but to bring you here, since you had no companion or maid and could scarcely be left alone. It may be that in several days I can move you to more suitable lodgings. With Susan accompanying you it may serve.” “Thank you, my lord.”

Thomas entered with a plate filled with sausage, smoked herring, grilled kidneys, potatoes, and hot rolls. Enough food to feed her for a week.

She inhaled and the rich scent of the kidneys mingled with the yeasty smell of the rolls made her sway. A quick indulgence before she shook off the delicious distraction. “That is most kind of you. However, why did you tell her I am your mistress?” Violet forced herself to remain calm. Lord Trevor seemed to trust the maid to remain silent, so she must as well.

He shrugged and sipped his coffee again. “I told her only that I wished to employ her services again, immediately, for a guest at Lammas House. She assumed our relationship based on past occupants.”

“Then you don’t intend to make me your mistress, Lord Trevor?” Her voice came out harder than she had intended, but she was coiled like a spring inside.

“Would you like to be, Miss Carlton?”

Her throat closed as if she’d swallowed a peach pit. Worse, her entire face flamed.

He eyed her coolly. “I believe we covered that subject last night, however, if you have reconsidered, I’d be delighted to discuss the terms.”

“Terms?” Her squeak startled her. What terms would a woman be able to dictate to a man?

“Yes, the terms of your employment as my mistress. Do you think such arrangements are done on the fly?” His boisterous laugh made her shrink back in her seat. “I’ve heard of marriage settlements that were less advantageous to a bride-to-be. Mistresses, if they are canny and the protector generous, can negotiate everything from amounts, times and places, to how many trips to the opera or the numbers of pieces of jewelry she can expect to receive each year of the arrangement.”

That such dealings involved detailed contracts had never crossed Violet’s mind. She gawked at Lord Trevor as he sipped his coffee, watching her every move. Of course, she’d never had cause to wonder about anything like this at all, until now. Still, it sounded almost like a settlement. With a kind and handsome man like Lord Trevor, such an agreement might almost seem like a marriage.

Lord Trevor sat up, the lascivious twist to his mouth replaced by a sober line. “I beg your pardon, Miss Carlton. Such information is not within the purview of genteel ladies. And at any rate, as I informed you, I am no longer inclined to take a mistress, due to my impending nuptials.”

Of course. He’d told her last night he couldn’t make her as his mistress because he would shortly marry. Unaccountably disappointed, Violet raised a forkful of kidneys to her mouth. The brief temptation had been absurd. Lord Trevor had promised to find a respectable position for her. That was the next goal.

If you’d like to read more, Only A Mistress Will Do is now live on Amazon! Pick up your copy today!

As this is a party, I thought I’d have some party games. In this first game, I’m giving away an autographed copy of Only A Mistress Will Do to the person who comes up with the perfect name for Jack, Lord Manning’s home estate.Lord Manning figures largely in Mistress, but in my next book, he’s going to spend some time at his estate. What should I call it?

In Only Scandal Will Do, Duncan’s family estate is Merrywell; in Only Marriage Will Do, we find out Amiable’s family’s seat is called Cheswyck.

What should Jack’s estate be called? Leave a suggestion in a comment to be entered to win!

POST NUMBER 2 WILL RELEASE TODAY AT NOON!

STAY TUNED FOR MORE CHANCES TO WIN!

Posted in Giveaways, Historical Romance, Only A Mistress Will Do, Promotion | Tagged book giveaway, Georgian romance, Jenna Jaxon, new release party, Only A Mistress Will Do | 10 Comments

Medieval Monday ~ Villains ~Week #9 Bambi Lynn’s Lucan

Posted on April 3, 2017 by Jenna Jaxon

Villains!

is our theme for this round of Medieval Monday!

Join us and discover some of the most evil and dastardly villains our medieval romances ever produced! And we are doing something a bit different this time around. We’re breaking our excerpts up into tantalizing little bites–only 8 to 10 sentences each week. So you’ll need to keep up to get the whole excerpt. We let you know each week whose blog we’ll be at the week so you can keep up with each Medieval Monday author’s work the same way.

This week’s excerpt is from Bambi Lynn’s

Lucan

Excerpt:

Lucan had little time to admire his cousin’s prowess as he continued to fight his own opponent. The man appeared to feel no pain. He showed no signs of fatigue nor weakness from the number of wounds Lucan had inflicted. He began to doubt his own ability to defeat the man, his chances of survival dwindling further when he tripped on the body of a dead man lying sprawled where he’d fallen. Lucan’s combatant howled with fury as he came at him, the advantage his.

Follow along next week by checking out Sherry Ewing’s blog for week #10.

Welcome to my website!

Blurb:

Neala Comyn, wife of a powerful laird, wants to end the pain and suffering of an abusive marriage. She is a woman without hope, believing God has forsaken her. When she is kidnapped by a rival laird who claims to be a god himself, her faith is further shaken. Could Lucan Munro be the salvation she has prayed for? Or will her sins condemn her to eternal damnation?

Lucan Munro, has the power of a Celtic god. He can conjure his heart’s desire from thin air. But can he save the woman he loves from a demon hell-bent on claiming her soul?

Buy Link:

Lucan is available at AMAZON.

Next week I’ll be hosting Lane McFarland’s Lindsay.

Posted in Medieval Monday, Medieval Mondays, Medieval Romance, Promotion | Tagged Bambi Lynn, Lucan, Medieval Monday, medieval romance, Villain theme | 3 Comments

Weekend Writing Warriors ~ 04/02/17 Only A Mistress Will Do ~ “It Will Not Hurt Much”

Posted on April 2, 2017 by Jenna Jaxon

I’m still counting down–only two more days!– to my upcoming 2017 release, Only A Mistress Will Do. So here’s a little more of Mistress before its release on April 4th.

Here is the link to the previous post if you want to catch up.

Miss Violet Carlton is a woman facing a horrifying decision: become a prostitute in order to live or retain respectability and starve. Madame Vestry, owner of the House of Pleasure, has agreed to see Violet. To evaluate her as a prospective employee, Mavame Vestry insists on an inspection to confirm Violet’s virgin state. And having been satisfied of it, she arranges for Violet to entertain her first customer.

In this snippet, Violet has met her “Lord John” for the evening, and is now lying in bed, dreading what is to come, as he joins her.

(Creative punctuation used to conform to the WWW rules.)

Bounding up, he pressed his knee between her thighs and her whole body tensed, waiting for the pain.

Tears slid down her cheeks as she tried to stifle a sob.

“Did I hurt you?” he asked in a kind voice that held a desolation all its own.

How could she rail against such kindness? Even that bit of comfort was denied her.

“No, my lord,” she whispered as she fought the tears, but they choked her voice even worse when she held them back. Instead, she concentrated on controlling her breathing, hoping that would calm her; in just a few minutes it would be over.

“I know you haven’t had a man before,” he said, brushing her hair back from her forehead, a soft touch that devastated her with its gentleness. “It will hurt, but not very much, and not for very long.”

No, not for very long; only for the rest of her life.

BLURB:

The man of her dreams…belongs to another woman.

Only A Mistress Will Do is available for pre-order on

Amazon and B & N.

And today is the LAST DAY Only Marriage Will Do, Book 2 of my House of Pleasure series, is on sale for .99! Here’s the link if you want to check it out!

Last Days to join my Thunderclap Campaign for Only A Mistress Will Do! If you’d like to support it, it’s not too late, but you only have today and tomorrow. Can you please help? I’ve be eternally grateful! Just click this link and agree to tweet or share.

THANK YOU!

REMEMBER: RELEASE DAY FOR MISTRESS IS TUESDAY, APRIL 4TH!

COME PARTY WITH ME!

Books in the House of Pleasure series:

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, House of Pleasure, House of Pleasure Series, On Weekend Writing Warriors, Only A Mistress Will Do, Promotion, Weekend Writing Warriors | Tagged Georgian romance, historical romance, Jenna Jaxon, new release, Only A Mistress Will Do, Regency romance, The House of Pleasure series, Weekend Writing Warriors | 30 Comments

The Romance of Language: Word for the Week 3/31/17

Posted on March 31, 2017 by Jenna Jaxon

Whirligigs:

Testicles.

–from B. E. Gent’s Dictionary of the Canting Crew, c. 1699

“David” by Michelangelo
Picture by Jörg Bittner Unna – Own work. Via WikiMedia Commons

Somehow I think that is enough said. LOL At least I used a classic to illustrate the “whirligigs.”

A modern definition from Merriam-Webster is “one that continuously whirls, moves, or changes.”

Perhaps I can see a connection. 🙂

Posted in Romance of Language | Tagged forgotten words, historical words, Jenna Jaxon, Romance of Language, testicles, whirligigs | 2 Comments

I Need Your Support! Thunderclap Campaign for Only A Mistress Will Do

Posted on March 30, 2017 by Jenna Jaxon

My third House of Pleasure book, Only A Mistress Will Do, releases next Tuesday on April 4! To get the word out, I’ve been running a Thunderclap campaign to help promote it on release day.

However, I find myself with 5 days to go and needing 41 more supporters.

You Can Help!

Just click the link below and you can sign up to send out a Facebook post and/or a Tweet to your followers and friends announcing Only A Mistress Will Do. Just the one message.

Click HERE to support the Thunderclap Campaign.

If you haven’t signed up already, would you please? I’d really appreciate it! And tweet and share this post as well because if I don’t reach 100 supporters by April 3rd, none of the messages will be sent. 😦 With Thunderclap it’s all or nothing. And I’m hoping it’s going to be all 100 messages going out on Tuesday.

Thank you all so very much! Anyone who leaves a comment on this post, letting me know that you’ve supported the campaign either today by joining, tweeting or sharing, or that you’ve done that in the past, will be entered to win an e-copy of Only A Mistress Will Do. The winner will be announced on this blog on Tuesday, April 4th at the Release Party!

So come party with me and let’s celebrate!

Posted in Giveaways, Marketing, Only A Mistress Will Do, Promotion, Thunderclap Campaigns | Tagged Jenna Jaxon, Need Your Support, Only A Mistress Will Do, Release Day Promo, Thunderclap campaign | 7 Comments

Be My Guest! ~ Author Interview with Sheri Fredricks

Posted on March 29, 2017 by Jenna Jaxon

Hello, and welcome to my new feature for 2017.

So now gather round the tea table, grab a scone or cookies, and a cup of tea or coffee and discover a new friend in the writing world.

Last week there was a last minute snafu. I was in production and didn’t get Gina Danna’s post up in time. She’ll be my guest in May instead.

So, this week on Be My Guest, I am really jumping up and down to have Sheri Fredricks as my guest! She and I met through a shared loop and I’ve admired her work for a very long time, so I’m truly tickled pink to have her here with me today.

Author Bio:

Always on the hunt for the uncommon things in life, award-winning author Sheri Fredricks thrives on creating romantic adventures.

A former engineering secretary, she lives on California’s beautiful central coast. “I wanted to move away from a profession of inflexible right angles and create an unboxed world with no boundaries.” A voracious reader since her early years, Sheri found her brain crowded with stories of her own. “Ultimately,” she says, “my husband encouraged me to write them all down.”

Winner of the Paranormal Romance Guild Reviewer’s Choice Award, and a Finalist multiple times for InD’Tale eMagazine’s Reward Of Novel Excellence award (RONE), she has numerous five-star reviews everywhere eBooks are sold.

Sheri loves to spend time at home and connecting with readers. A computer hutch keeps her focused on creating stories, but the panoramic view of life on a ranch will call her outside to play in the sun.

Where to find Sheri:

Newsletter signup: http://eepurl.com/bFicIb

Website: www.sherifredricks.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/Sheri_Fredricks

Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/SheriFredricks

So without further ado, please meet Sheri Fredricks!

Who has been the greatest influence on your writing?

Different people have influenced my writing in different ways, it’d be impossible to name just one. So I’ll go with the one who prodded me to start writing in the first place: My husband. From the beginning, he absolutely cheered me on and has continued to do so.

Support at home is a major factor in a writing life.

Who or what inspires your writing?

The “What” inspires me. Rather, the what-if. For instance: What if Tarzan was a lonely, sexually frustrated man alone on an island of gorillas, and a woman suddenly shows up? Or this one: What if centaurs could shapeshift into humans? The ideas are endless!

Like Stanislavski’s Magic If!

Which of your own books is your favorite and why?

The first book I published holds a special place in my heart. Remedy Maker taught me many things, the first being perseverance.

If you could have one wish granted just for you (not world peace, LOL), what would you wish for?

Excellent health for my family until the day we leave this earth. What more could anyone wish for?

Indeed.

What is the most exciting/daredevil thing you’ve ever done?

Why do I feel like I’m in junior high playing Truth or Dare? Ha! I’ll combine the two.

A bazillion years ago I took a SCUBA class and in order to pass to the next level, we had to make a shallow dive of forty feet in open water (aka the ocean). To that point, my deepest dive had been ten feet—in a swimming pool.

The ocean’s surge to swim past the breakpoint was scary enough, and there were tons of seals due to a slow moving bait ball offshore. But I swam straight out about five feet underwater to the marker, then tipped my fins to the sky and swam down. When I touched sand, I glanced up and saw the lighter colored water at the surface. In between, fish and seals swam.

Mesmerized, I ended up laying on the bottom of the ocean, holding onto a stalk of bull kelp to keep me from being dragged away by the constant surge. Every once in a while I’d take the regulator out of my mouth and blow air rings, then watch seals chase the rising bubbles to the surface.

WOW! That sounds absolutely awesome! I used to SCUBA dive way back in the day and loved it. Never got to play with seals, though. This sounds way cool.

What is your biggest regret?

Not listening to my heart as a teenager. That’s really when I wanted to start writing.

Do you have any hobbies/passions outside of writing?

If I had time to peruse other hobbies, I would. My husband, a landscape contractor, has a home office which I run full-time. We have also have two teenage boys who are active in high school varsity sports. On top of it all, we’re partners in a sheep ranch. Obviously we needed “one more thing to do”, so my husband raises and trains border collies for livestock herding and competition. He’s a nine-time national qualifying competitor himself. Me…I just like to pet the pretty dogs and feed them! Currently, we have nine dogs in our kennels.

Good Grief! And I think I’m busy!

Now, tell us a little bit about one of your books.

You’ve heard of twisted fairytales, Lord of the Jungle is a little like that. I’ve taken a character we all know and put an unconventional spin on him.

Tarzan is the only hairless gorilla on the island. Regardless, he’s pushed his way to the top and became Alpha of his family’s band. When a female washes up on shore and her features are hairless like him, his curiosity is peaked to find out if she’s hairless all over.

Do you have plans for a sequel to this book?

I do! Forever My Jane, Book 2 of the Jungle Island series, is available at Amazon.

I loved Lord of the Jungle and Forever My Jane sounds just as delicious!

Now, the Infamous Lightning Round:

What is your favorite amusement park ride? The roller-coaster!

Tea or coffee? Half-caff coffee in the morning and herbal tea after 2PM.

French manicure or color (and if color, what color)? Lately, I’ve been going for anything with sparkles. Right now that color is Candy Apple Red.

Would you rather skydive or scuba dive? I think SCUBA, but won’t rule out skydiving.

Would you rather vacation in Hawaii, Vegas or London? I’ve been to Hawaii and Vegas, so London it is!

What’s the one thing you would never do? Work on a marine engine in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. (I know nothing about mechanics)

BLURB:

A shipwrecked woman.

The uncharted island.

Jane Porter craves a thrill but when marauders scuttle her ship and she washes ashore onto an island inhabited by animals and one sexy wildman, that’s when the real adventure begins. Dependent upon her vine-swinging rescuer who acts more ape than musclebound man, she places her survival in his rugged hands and relinquishes her desire to his raw sensuality.

For more seasons than he can remember, Tarzan has lived among the tiny island’s gorilla band. Instinct propels him to save the female he finds half-dead in the surf, but gazing into her eyes, his mating tool dances an ancient tribal beat.
While the pirates search for their bounty, Tarzan and Jane are in danger. To survive, they’ll have to hang onto each other as they swing for dear life. Their adrenaline-rush of passion among the canopy of the jungle threatens not only a dizzying fall from a great height, but also into love.

Lord of the Jungle is available at Amazon and Books 2 Read.

Next Wednesday will be a bit out of the ordinary. My guest for the day will be…me. My third House of Pleasure book, Only A Mistress Will Do, releases next Tuesday, so I thought I’d take this opportunity to give you a bit more information about me as an author. I’ve changed up the questions for the next few months, to give you all a little different look at my guests and in this case, me. Hope you’ll come by on Tuesday for the Release Party as well!