Be My Guest! ~ Author Interview with Elf Ahearn

Posted on April 12, 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 historical author Elf Ahearn! We are currently sharing an historical romance boxed set, Her Perfect Gentleman, so I thought I’d take this opportunity to introduce you to Elf–her real name and I love it!–and let her tell you about herself and her historical novella, His Lordship’s Darkest Secret.

Author Bio :

Elf Ahearn, yes, that is her real name, lives in New York with her wonderful husband and a pesky (yet irresistible) cat. Before becoming a novelist, she spent 20 years in Manhattan working as an actress in nearly 100 productions (yet rarely being paid for any of them). From that lucrative career, she jumped to journalism, and then to corporate communications where she garnered multiple awards for a newsletter she wrote and edited. Her novel, A Rogue in Sheep’s Clothing hit #1 in its genre on Amazon this September, and bless its heart, has been consistently selling for over three years.

Website: www.elfahearn.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elf.ahearn?fref=ts

Newsletter: email elfahearn@hotmail.com to subscribe

And now let’s meet Elf Ahearn!

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

I know this will sound odd as heck, since I’m not into gay romance, but there’s a male-on-male author from England named K.J. Charles who is brilliant. In her book An Unseen Attraction, there’s a character name Clem Talleyfer, who grows clumsy when he’s being pressured or jostled by people. His personality is so beautifully drawn, I could have spent another 1,000 pages with him.

Hero worship knows no bounds, Elf. He sounds fantastic!

Who was the first romance author and book you read?

I wish I could remember the title, but it was by Sabrina Jeffries, and it was the sexiest work of literature I’d ever laid eyes on. Needless to say, I couldn’t put it down. The book that really pushed me on my writing path, however, was M.M. Kaye’s The Far Pavilions. I knew when I read that novel, I wanted to create stuff that had that same sense of adventure, and characters pushed against impossible odds who would sacrifice everything for love. Only the romance genre will let you do that.

OMG, I love M.M. Kaye! I love The Far Pavillions, but I really think I love In the Shadow of the Moon even more. Her books put a trip to India on my bucket list.

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

I’m kinda both a pantser and a plotter. Since I always know my ending, I draft a loose outline with a few scenes I think will take me where I want to go. However, my characters inevitably march over that outline, trampling the poor thing to pulp. That’s okay, as long as I can persuade them to come home and make nice with my climax and denouement.

You’re a better writer than I am, Gunga Din. I have to have a detailed outline or I can’t start to write at all!

What is your favorite holiday and why?

Christmas is my all-time fav, which stands to reason since my name is Elf. BTW, I swear that came straight from my parents’ imaginations.

What I adore about Christmas, though, is that everyone is thinking about someone other than themselves. Even if coming up with a gift for Aunt Betty is a hassle, and a drag, and something to drag oneself into kicking and screaming, Aunt Betty is still taking up brain cells. To me, more than Santa Claus or even the birth of Jesus, that’s the miracle of Christmas.

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

I went to Europe alone. It was shortly after I graduated from college—pre-internet days, mind you. The trip was pure daredevil, but I got lonely fast and wished I’d had someone with me. For example, on one of my last nights, I missed the train out of London and had to book a room. This woman at the accommodations desk told me the only hotel available in the entire city was the youth hostel I’d stayed in the entire week. Then they didn’t have a single, so I ended up paying an astronomical amount for a room with 10 beds in it. Had someone been with me, they might have shouted, “No Elf, don’t do it!”

We must get together and chat about our experiences. I had a similar one when I was a senior in college!

Do you have any hobbies/passions outside of writing?

Watching TV. Wait—is that considered a hobby?

I do, unless you can find a way to turn it into a profession.

What is your favorite cuisine?

Food that someone else cooked…

A woman after my own heart. 🙂

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

What was your inspiration for this story?

Just after my wedding, I discovered that during the reception, which we held at the house, someone stole my silver jewelry. Not the expensive gold stuff, just the silver, and only the pieces I wore frequently. A few years later, I figured out that the thief was my best friend—one of my bride’s maids. And that’s when the story came to me. The evil side of the villainess in His Lordship’s Darkest Secret is based on that friend. The hoarding side came from my sister.

When my father died, my sister kind of lost it, taking everything we didn’t sell from a huge house and stuffing it in and around her tiny house. It was so bad you couldn’t see the front door, and there were plastic tarps all over the property under which furniture, books, sofa cushions, and valuable artwork moldered together and rotted.

I have a photograph of the interior of the house. You literally can’t tell up or down except for a single mask hanging on the wall.

First-hand experience—that’s what inspired this novel.

Wow, I’d say!

I am a fanatic about my character names. Are the character names special in any way?

Another sister, the one who told me I should write romance, had a much-loved kitty named Flavian. He walked like a truck driver, and mewed like a pansy. The hero in His Lordship’s Darkest Secret is named after him. Hopefully, he’s a little more alpha than the cat, though.

LOL!

Now, the Infamous Lightning Round: (Choose 5-6 of the questions below)

What is your favorite amusement park ride?

Rollercoaster. Hate the Ferris Wheel, though. Scares me to death.

Tea or coffee and how do you take it?

Tea! The first cup of the day has soy milk, the second cup is black.

Hot dogs or Hamburgers?

I eat more hamburgers, but I do love a good dog every once in a while.

Favorite all time movie?

The Producers. As a former actor, I can’t get enough of that film. Shakespeare in Love is another one that turns my crank.

That is a hoot!

Chocolate or vanilla?

So easy, it’s almost shocking you ask, Jenna. Chocolate, naturally.

I never meant to shock you, Elf!

Boxers, briefs or commando? (preferred for your heroes)

Since the gentlemen who occupy my pages, are, as I said, gentlemen, and since none of them has made it out of the 19^th Century, I’m going to say boxers.

How many states have you lived in?

Three. I’m a pretty sedentary creature.

Would you rather skydive or scuba dive?

Way rather scuba dive. Swimming is my bag, baby.

Cat person or dog person?

Cats, cats, cats! But I do love dogs too. Sufie, the kitty of my heart, is asthmatic, so we can’t have a dog because it would upset her delicate equilibrium. Someday, though, I’ll have a dog.

I’m a cat person too. There’s something purrfect about them. 🙂

What’s the one thing you would never do?

Steal my best friend’s jewelry…

ROFLMAO!

What’s your favorite Starbucks drink?

I was going to say iced coffee, but I have to admit, I love those cold frappuchinos. OMG, are those things addictive!

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

Bugs Bunny.

Here’s the blurb for His Lordship’s Darkest Secret, which you can find in the boxed set, Her Perfect Gentleman on Amazon, B & N, and other etailers!

BLURB:

If Lady Claire Albright had one wish, it would be to forget brooding, powerful Lord Flavian Monroe. But even after two years of bewildering silence, she yearns to touch his sinuous arms and feel his calloused hands upon her cheeks. Then, on the brink of her come out, they accidently meet. His ward is ill, and he begs her to use her knowledge of healing to help the girl. But this patient is sick in a way that’s far different from what Claire expected—dangerously different. And, as she struggles to find a cure, Flavian resists rekindling their love. Is it the ward’s illness that keeps him cold and distant, or a dark and terrible secret?

The thought of Claire in the arms of another man is unbearable, but in his heart, Flavian knows he mustn’t ask her to share the consequences of his mistake. Nor should he have brought her to his home and exposed her to his ward’s sickness. Yet he lacks the strength to send her away. Each time he looks into the blue pools of Claire’s eyes, the urge to feel her body pressed against his consumes all reason, and he is left unable to utter the word, “Goodbye.”

Next Wednesday my special guest will be Marie Higgins, 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, Elf Ahearn, Her Perfect Gentleman, His Lordship's Darkest Secret, historical romance, love story, Regency romance | 5 Comments

Medieval Monday ~ Villains ~Week #10 Lane McFarland’s Lindsey

Posted on April 10, 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 Lane McFarland’s

Lindsey

Excerpt:

Several men rushed from the huddled group to aid their fallen companions. Lindsey hurried to the first man and knelt beside him. She pushed his hair to the side and grimaced.

Logan.

Cora’s little bandits were correct.

His swollen face was blackened, and blood caked the back of his head. “Logan, can ye hear me? It’s Lindsey.”

His eyes fluttered. Moans of the injured men wafted around her. She jerked the basket to her side and brought out a flask of water, a soft cloth, and a jar of salve. “Look in my basket for more water skins,” she called over her shoulder to the other prisoners.

Logan’s friends, Adam, Thom, and Colyne lay unmoving. Dark dried blood and dirt smeared the men’s swollen, beaten faces. Their listless bodies attested to abuse and neglect.

Follow along next week by checking out Sherry Ewing’s blog for week #11.

Welcome to my website!

Blurb:

Who said life was fair? Certainly not Lindsey MacDougall. She rebels at a world dominated by men. Dressed in lad’s clothing, she manages her father’s stables, caring for, breeding and selling horses. Unwavering on performing her duty to the rebellion, Lindsey throws caution to the wind and secretly delivers missives behind enemy lines to the Scottish warriors.

Logan Ross uses his happy-go-lucky smile to warm the hearts of many willing lasses, but it also masks his pain—the pain of his birth. As a bastard son, he is unacceptable for any Laird’s daughter, including the spirited Lindsey MacDougall. However, she haunts his dreams. Determined to prove his worth, he throws himself into the middle of the rebellion, leading men into mortal danger.

After helping Logan escape from a brutal English dungeon, Lindsey fights her traitorous attraction to the virile highland warrior, vowing never to lose her heart to any man.

Buy Link:

Lindsay is available at AMAZON.

Next week I’ll be hosting Rue Allyn’s Knight Errant.

Posted in Medieval Monday, Medieval Mondays, Medieval Romance, Promotion | Tagged Knight Errant, Medieval Monday, medieval romance, Rue Allyn, Villain theme | 3 Comments

Weekend Writing Warriors ~ 04/09/17 Only A Mistress Will Do ~ A Discussion of Terms

Posted on April 9, 2017 by Jenna Jaxon

Only A Mistress Will Do has released!

I thought I’d post one more tidbit before moving on to another WIP. Enjoy!

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, Madame 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 accepted Lord Trevor’s assistance and is being sheltered in the house where he kept his former mistress. The next morning they are having breakfast together when a familiar topic arises. They are discussing Violet’s maid when the scene opens.

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

“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, saying, “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 and said, “I believe we covered that subject last night, however, if you have reconsidered, I’d be delighted to discuss the terms.”

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. . . .

Only A Mistress Will Do is available on

Amazon and B & N.

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 | 27 Comments

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.

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.

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!

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!