Medieval Monday ~ Villains ~Week #6 Laurel O’Donnell’s Angel’s Assassin

Posted on March 13, 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 Lauren O’Donnell’s

Angel’s Assassin

Excerpt:

“It was not the act of killing the woman that bothered you, remember? It was the girl. She had seen you. She had looked at you. But it was not the fear of identification bothering you. I believe in the moment that she saw you, in that one moment that she laid eyes upon you, she brought forth something human in you. Some form of compassion. I believe you could no more have killed her in that moment then you could have in any other.”

A disbelieving realization dawned in Damien. He was right. Roke was right. He could not kill Aurora all those years ago, just as he could not kill her now. With this realization, came a sudden dark dread. He remembered telling Roke of Aurora all those years ago. Her eyes. Her beautiful clear eyes. He had not been able to disguise the emotion he felt when he spoke of her. Oh Lord, Damien thought. What kind of power have I given him?

Follow along next week by checking out Sherry Ewing’s blog for week #7.

Welcome to my website!

Blurb:

Damien is an assassin, a man with no home and a tortured past. Sold into slavery as a young boy, he is trained to kill with cold calculation, without remorse. As a reward for his ruthless success, he is given a chance to earn his freedom from his cruel master. One last mission. One final person to slay…

Lady Aurora of Acquitaine is the epitome of purity and goodness, beloved by all her people. She lives her life trying to atone for her mother’s cruelty by being a fair and just ruler. Secretly she fears that one day her mother’s murderer will return for her.

When Damien enters Aurora’s life, tempting her with promises of dark passion and forbidden lust, he threatens to tear her peaceful world apart with shadowy secrets of his own.

Can Aurora’s light heal Damien’s dark spirit or will his evil consume her? The eternal battle of good versus evil, love versus hate, dark versus light, all come to a shattering climax in this historical romance set in medieval England.

Buy Link:

Angel’s Assassin is available at AMAZON.

Next week I’ll be hosting Cathy McRae’s The Highlander’s French Bride.

Posted in Medieval Monday, Medieval Mondays, Medieval Romance, Promotion | Tagged Angel's Assassin, Lauren O'Donnell, Medieval Monday, Villain theme | 2 Comments

Weekend Writing Warriors ~ 03/12/17 Only A Mistress Will Do ~ Proof

Posted on March 12, 2017 by Jenna Jaxon

Counting down to my upcoming 2017 release, Only A Mistress Will Do, here’s more of Mistress before its release on April 4th.

I’m continuing with Chapter One of Only a Mistress Will Do, and 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 and evaluate her as a prospective employee. In today’s snippet, which follows immediately after last weeks’ snippet, Violet’s situation becomes starkly real and goes from bad to worse. (Creative punctuation used to conform to the WWW rules.)

The scant approval vanished as Vestry glared at her and asked, “I assume you are intact?”

Oh, the shame. How could this woman suggest she had already lain with a man? Bitterness flooded her mouth and her chest ached with mortification, though finally she managed a curt nod.

“Lie down on the sofa please.”

“What? Why?”

“I am not fool enough to take your word, Miss Carlton.” Vestry smiled mirthlessly. “A brief inspection will allow me to assure your buyer he is indeed purchasing a virgin.”

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 for pre-order 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, Only A Mistress Will Do, Regency romance, The House of Pleasure series, Weekend Writing Warriors | 24 Comments

The Romance of Language: Word for the Week 3/10/17

Posted on March 10, 2017 by Jenna Jaxon

Accoucher:

By Cruickshank

“He who practises the art of midwifery, a man-midwife.”

–from Robley Dunglison’s Dictionary of Medical Science, 1844

An obstetrician; from French accoucher, to deliver.

–from Richard Hoblyn’s Dictionary of Terms Used in Medicine, 1859

I’d heard this term before while reading historical fiction or historical documents, so I could tell from contest clues what they were. While doing research on Only Scandal Will Do, I discovered that men did not begin delivering babies until the mid-to-late 18th century. These men were held in great suspicion. So birth and midwifery had been the business of women for centuries, and continues on into the 21st century.

If you want to watch a wonderful series about midwifery in a period setting, watch BBC’s Call the Midwife. Great PBS program!

Posted in Romance of Language | Tagged Accoucher, forgotten words, historical words, Jenna Jaxon, male midwife, midwifery, Romance of Language | Leave a comment

Be My Guest! ~ Author Interview with Patricia Green

Posted on March 8, 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, I am ecstatic to be interviewing a phenomenal author and long-time friend, Patricia Green. I met Trish originally during the very brief time she belonged to an online writing group I was in. It’s almost as if she joined just long enough to meet me. 🙂 We have been fast friends and CPs ever since.

Author Bio:

Patricia Green is a fiction writer specializing in erotic romance. She writes love stories that emphasize fun characters with quirky personalities. Patricia currently has more than twenty-five books for you to choose from.

She’s married and is the mother of twins. When she’s not being the angel of domestic harmony and a semi-crazed creator of fictional friends, she loves to embroider, read, and watch hockey.

Find out more about Patricia Green and her books at http://www.patriciagreenbooks.com.

So without further ado, please meet Patricia Green!

I’ll start out, as always with my favorite question because this week I already know the answer: Who was the first romance author and book you read?

I’m not sure if she was the first, but Kathleen E. Woodiwiss was an early influence upon me, and remains one of my favorite authors of all time. I read The Wolf and the Dove only about 100 times.

The Wolf and the Dove was my first historical romance. I don’t think I read it more than about 30 times. 🙂

Who or what inspires your writing?

I am inspired by everyday things. I’ll hear a song and think, “Whose love song would that be?” Or I’ll see people in the mall, persons with obvious occupations, and think, “What kind of person would she/he be attracted to? And what is her/his backstory?”

Which of your own books is your favorite and why?

Each has been a favorite for at least a few months. I guess my all-time favorites are Ace-High Flush (book 2 of the Journey family series), and Striker my murder mystery romance.

I agree Ace-High Flush is tied for my favorite of your books. It’s tied with the historical romance you originally called Glee. I just love those books! Ace is a kick-butt hero!

What is your favorite holiday and why?

I like Passover best because there is so much ceremony involved. I love the rituals.

I agree, rituals are so comforting–as they are intended to be.

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

Good health for the ones I love. With your health, you can do anything.

Exactly.

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

I won first prize in the Renaissance Pleasure Faire’s after-hours “Exotic Erotic Underwear Contest.” Don’t ask what I wore.

LOL!

Do you have any hobbies/passions outside of writing?

I love fiber arts. I embroider, knit, and crochet. It’s a creative outlet that doesn’t involve words.

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

Raymond Chandler is my favorite non-romance author. The Big Sleep is awesome. So much useful information about writing can be gleaned from it, and the story is compelling, dark, and lends itself to a study of the period of history in which it was written.

And I have not read it. It will have to go on my list.

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

The Doctor’s Daughter is one of my more recent books. It tells the story of Verity Bucknell, wanna be doctor, in 1890, in the town of Virtue, Arizona Territory. She helps her father, the town doctor, and she began medical school, only to be summoned back to Virtue to help with her dying mother and raising her younger siblings. Despite her name, she’s a teller of tall tales, and it gets her in lots of mischief.

When a stranger shows up in town—a stranger needing immediate medical attention—she finds out the hard way that telling tales is not an indulgence she ought to be enjoying.

I haven’t read this one yet, but I’m starting it this week (while I’m on break). A man showing up in only a gray sock is too intriguing to not read!

What was your inspiration for this story?

I wanted to write an historical romance set in the late nineteenth century, which dealt with how society was changing. But I didn’t want it to be a book full of controversy and polarizing topics, instead I wanted it light-hearted, with a bit of a mystery story as well as the romance. When I thought of the opening scene—the mysterious man showing up in the Virtue medical clinic, wearing one gray sock and nothing else—it made me laugh out loud. I hoped it would start the book out light, despite the fact that it would later deal with some somewhat more difficult topics.

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

The town of Virtue, Arizona, is home to a family of five sisters, the Bucknell girls. Their mother Modesty Bucknell was the daughter of Patience Sutton. Can you see the pattern forming? Modesty’s daughters are Verity, Charity, Faith, Hope, and Mercy. Although, strictly speaking, they are not all technically “The Virtues”, each is a virtue in deed.

And that makes perfect sense for this series!

Do you have plans for a sequel to this book?

There was a sequel: Charity and the Preacher which came out in December 2016. I had planned on writing a few more books in the series, but that idea has been shelved.

Now, the Infamous Lightning Round:

What is your favorite amusement park ride?

The Haunted Mansion at Disneyland in Southern California.

Tea or coffee?

Coffee!

French manicure or color (and if color, what color)?

Color. My favorite color lately is brick red.

I tried to get your answers as close to brick red as I could.

Beach or mountains?

Beach. Growing up in Los Angeles, if you’re not a beach lover, you must be an alien from Mars.

Chocolate or vanilla?

Chocolate.

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

Boxers.

Blond, brunette or redhead? (preferred men’s hair color)

Brunette.

Would you rather skydive or scuba dive?

Scuba dive, though snorkeling is as close to it as I’ve ever gotten.

Would you rather vacation in Hawaii, Vegas or London?

Vegas, hands down.

What’s the one thing you would never do?

Attack someone for their politics. I may not agree with a person, but I would fight to defend their right to say what’s on their mind. I wish more people had that attitude.

This interview has been way too short for all the questions I’d love to ask! But thank you so much, Trish, for being here with me today. Now, let’s give the audience a taste of your novel: The Doctor’s Daughter.

The Doctor’s Daughter is available at Amazon and Blushing Books.

BLURB:

Verity tends to tell tall tales, despite her name. Everyone knows she’s prone to exaggeration, and no one seems to mind. No one except the mysterious man who winds up wounded and in need of a doctor’s care.

Verity doesn’t know much about the mysterious patient. The newly dubbed “Mr. Smith” has lost his memory, and is of no help in filling in the blanks about his real name or his past that yawn like a bottomless canyon. While he waits for anything that sounds familiar or sparks a memory, he finds Verity’s family to be gracious and supportive. He also finds that he’s more than willing to administer a spanking when Verity tells one of her outrageous stories or makes mischief.

The hot sex between them heats up their time together, but can Verity accept that she’s in love with a possibly married man, a possible outlaw, a possible reprobate? The truth will emerge, but the doctor’s daughter might be the last one to find out.

Next Wednesday my special guest will be another long time friend Lindsay Downs who is an incredibly prolific writer of Regency romantic suspense. Please come back next week to meet Lindsay!

Posted in Author/Character Interviews, Be My Guest, Interviews, Promotion | Tagged author interview, Be My Guest, historical romance, historical western romance, love story, Patricia Green, The Doctor's Daughter, Virtue Arizona series | 7 Comments

Medieval Monday ~ Villains ~Week #5 Barbara Bettis’s The Lady of the Forest

Posted on March 6, 2017 by Jenna Jaxon

Villains!

is our theme for this round of Medieval Monday!

This week’s excerpt is from Barbara Bettis’s

The Lady of the Forest

Excerpt:

For a pair of heartbeats, no one spoke, then Mortimer bellowed. “A lie. Do you think to defy King Richard?”

Kate tilted her head to the side and stared at Henry. Then she smiled. “It’s true. Lord Henry and I exchanged vows long ago.”

“Impossible.” Mortimer lumbered toward Henry, fury thickening his voice. He reached for his sword but the priest held up a hand.

“Is this true?” The priest turned a piercing look on Kate.

“Yes. That is…”

At a note of panic in her tone, Henry added, “We pledged ourselves when we were young, before I joined King Richard for the Holy Land.”

Follow along next week by checking out Sherry Ewing’s blog

Welcome to my website!

Blurb:

He must pursue his enemy; she must protect her people. Can their love survive the duties that drive them apart?

When her elderly husband dies, Lady Katherine fakes her own death and disappears into the forest with others escaping the brutish new lord. Determined to protect her people, she knocks the wrong man senseless. But Lord Henry isn’t an enemy, he’s the brother of her childhood friend. Although his tender confidence tempts her, she’s bound by duty.

Henry of Chauvere has found the one lady he wants for his own, never mind she’s tied him hand and foot. When he learns the king has ordered her to wed Stonehill’s ruthless new master, he insists Kate seek haven with his sister. But she won’t desert her friends. Henry vows to solve her problem, provided he catches a traitor before the threat from Kate’s past catches her.

When a daring rescue compels Henry and Kate to join forces, their attraction grows into love. If only duty didn’t drive them apart.

Buy Link:

The Lady of the Forest is available at

AMAZON TWRP

Next week I’ll be hosting Laurel O’Donnell’s Angel’s Assassin.

Posted in Beleaguered, Medieval Monday, Medieval Mondays, Medieval Romance, On Time Enough to Love, Promotion | Tagged Barbara Bettis, historical romance, Medieval Monday, medieval romance, The Lady of the Forest, Villain theme | 6 Comments

Weekend Writing Warriors ~ 03/05/17 Only A Mistress Will Do ~ Inspected by The Madame

Posted on March 5, 2017 by Jenna Jaxon

I’m only a month away from my upcoming 2017 release, Only A Mistress Will Do, so this week I’m returning to Mistress for some more snippets before its release on April 4th.

I’m continuing with Chapter One of Only a Mistress Will Do, and here is the link to that 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 and evaluate her as a prospective employee. (Creative punctuation used to conform to the WWW rules.)

Launching a Frigate by Thomas Rowlandson

“Let me see you walk, please.” With a crisp snap, Vestry pulled the curtains open and nodded to the path between the sofa and fireplace.

Violet straightened her skirts as best she could. Suddenly stiff and self-conscious, she concentrated on putting one foot before the other until she came face to face with another obscene painting; she clenched her hands and averted her eyes.

“Turn please.”

Feeling more and more like a horse or a cow at Smithfield market, she did as she was told, hopefully with a bit more grace.

In reward, Vestry gave her a slight nod. “You speak and move as befit your station, Miss Carlton. With a little training, I suspect you will be quite popular with our patrons, so I should be able to command a high price for your virginity.”

Violet’s feet tangled in the plush carpet.

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.

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.

The Romance of Language: Word for the Week 3/03/17

Posted on March 3, 2017 by Jenna Jaxon

Curglaff:

“The shock felt in bathing when one first plunges into the cold water.”

–from John Jamieson’s Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language, 1808

Curglotft: panic-struck

–from Alexander Warrack’s Scots Dialect Dictionary, 1911

The first thing I thought of when seeing this word and the definition was the Coney Island Polar Bear Club, which I’ve heard of, but would never belong to. 🙂 I’m shivering now just thinking about plunging into cold water!

It’s the oldest winter bathing organization in the United States, according to their website. They swim in the Atlantic Ocean at Cony Island every Sunday from November to April and have a big event on New Year’s Day which draws participants from all over the country. (Can you even imagine?)

So I’m sure, although they may not know the word, each and every one of their participants has felt curglaff at some point in their participation! I know I’d be curglofft at the very thought! LOL

If anyone’s interested in joining the Coney Island Polar Bear Club, membership is closed for 2016-2017, but here’s the link to the website for more information.

Happy Swimming!

Posted in Romance of Language | Tagged curglaff, forgotten words, historical words, Jenna Jaxon, polar bear club, polar bear plunge, Romance of Language | Leave a comment

The Romance Reviews Anniversary Party 2017

Posted on March 2, 2017 by Jenna Jaxon

Hope you are having a great time with our Anniversary Party! There are games, prizes, and lots of fun to celebrate The Romance Reviews’ 6th Anniversary!

My Q & A is slated for March 11, and the excerpt below will help you to answer my question correctly to help you win the prizes! Prizes include a $50.00 Gift Card, tons of books by very talented romance authors, and an ecopy of my upcoming release, Only A Mistress Will Do.

This excerpt is from my upcoming release, Only A Mistress Will Do, Book 3 in my Georgian House of Pleasure series.

EXCERPT:

Wild laughter out in the hallway, faint strains of a pianoforte, and the lewd grunts from the room next door twisted her stomach. The raucous sounds of the brothel had become more familiar during the week, but still set her on edge. Once the deed was done, she could curl up on the stained sheets and cry uninterrupted. No one would hear her in this place.

Footsteps approached once more, slowed, stopped.

Violet’s heart pounded, her rapid breathing keeping pace. She seized the arms of the velvet chair, fighting to hold herself in place. Her nails sank into the soft fabric as she struggled to slow her breaths.

The doorknob turned.

Her head came up, back straight, forced smile plastered on her face as the door opened wide and she caught a glimpse of the man who had bought her for the night.

He entered the small room in a swirl of black fur and sandalwood, the spicy scent tickling Violet’s nose, making it twitch.

She tipped her head back and looked up into the swarthy face. Dark hair and piercing blue eyes, a strong jaw, and a long, straight nose. Too tall, though. He was too tall for her. The ridiculousness of the irrational thought broke through her lethargy. She forced herself up out of the chair as he strode toward her.

The smile that curled his full lips would have been charming had not the gleam in his eyes betrayed his lustful intent.

“Good evening, Cassandra.” His deep baritone voice sent a frisson of dread through her. “Such a lovely name for a lovely temptress.”

“What pleasure may I give you this evening, my lord?” The words came out flat, but by God, she’d gotten them out. Now to remain standing and not faint. One small goal at a time. She stared at the wide expanse of blue velvet jacket barely two inches from her face.

He ran the back of his hand along her cheek and goose flesh pimpled her whole body. “I do hope the pleasure will be mutual, my dear.”

BLURB:

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

PRE-ORDER LINK: https://www.amazon.com/Only-Mistress-Will-House-Pleasure-ebook/dp/B01I85NPZ0/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Please keep hopping around all the authors’ blogs who are celebrating with The Romance Reviews. And remember, find those answers to win!

Posted in Promotion, The House of Pleasure, The Romance Reviews | Tagged 6th Anniversary Party, book giveaway, Jenna Jaxon, Only A Mistress Will Do, The House of Pleasure, The Romance Reviews | Leave a comment

Be My Guest! ~ Author Interview with Jessica E. Subject

Posted on March 1, 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, I am interviewing a fantastic Sci-Fi Romance author and friend, Jessica E. Subject. I met Jessica originally while blogging with Six Sentence Sunday and now with Weekend Writing Warriors. She writes delightful romances, most with a science fiction setting. Her stories always make me wish I had more time to read!

Author Bio:

Jessica E. Subject is the author of science fiction romance, mostly alien romances, ranging from sweet to super hot. Sometimes she dabbles in paranormal and contemporary as well, bringing to life a wide variety of characters. In her stories, you could not only meet a sexy alien or two, but also clones and androids. You may be transported to a dystopian world where rebels are fighting to live and love, or to another planet for a romantic rendezvous.

When Jessica is not reading, writing, or doing dreaded housework, she likes to go to fitness class and walk her Great Pyrenees/Retriever her family adopted from the local animal shelter.

Jessica lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband and two energetic children. And she loves to hear from her readers. You can find her at jessicasubject.com.

Website – http://jessicasubject.com

Newsletter – http://eepurl.com/eX1Zw

Twitter – http://twitter.com/jsubject

Facebook Page – http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jessica-E-Subject-author/205759796126370

So without further ado, please meet Jessica E. Subject!

I’ll start out with my favorite question: Who is your favorite romance hero or heroine and why? What qualities do they possess that make them memorable?

My favorite romance heroine would be Wanderer “Wanda” from The Host by Stephenie Meyer. She holds that position because she’s an unexpected heroine. When I first met her in the story, I didn’t think I would even like her. After all, she took over a human body with the intention of getting rid of the soul of the host. But as she came to like being in the company of humans rather than fearing them, she became a character I loved. She was willing to learn from them, and then helped them before she fell in love with them.

Who was the first romance author and book you read?

I don’t think I remember that far back. But, the first one I do remember reading is Dance Upon the Air by Nora Roberts. I’ve read many of her books since then, including those she wrote as J.D. Robb.

Who has been the greatest influence on your writing?

There is no one influence with my writing. Every author I’ve read (whether good or bad) has influenced my writing. So has every critique partner I’ve had as well as every editor I have worked with. Also, reviews that I’ve read with constructive criticism have had some influence.

Who or what inspires your writing?

The world around me as well as the one in my mind inspires my writing. Sometimes a story is formed after a dream. Other times it’s an overheard conversation. I find inspiration in pictures, news stories, music, and so much more. The problem is finding enough time to write them all.

Which of your own books is your favorite and why?

That’s like asking me to pick my favorite child. I like them all because I wrote them, but there are different aspects of each story I love. Sometimes it’s the characters, other times the setting, or even the circumstances. I’m always most excited about the stories I’m currently working on or plotting, but Made For Her will always hold a special place in my heart, as does my Galactic Defenders series. They are stories I put a lot of planning and research into. And because I spent that much more time planning these stories, the characters became like friends.

What is your favorite holiday and why?

I like Family Day. It’s a holiday in February where we simply get to spend time with family. We don’t have to prepare large dinners or travel anywhere. It’s just a day off during the coldest month of the year here in Canada.

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

I’d love for someone to clean my house and make dinner so I have more time.

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

I’ve gone on a zipline and the Xtreme Skyflyer.

Do you have any hobbies/passions outside of writing?

I enjoy going to fitness classes at a small fitness center in town. I go to boot camp, spin, weight, circuit, and Zumba classes. It’s an outlet I need, and it helps me sleep better rather than having ideas spinning through my mind all night.

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

I like the writing duo Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, not only the books they write together, but also the ones they write on their own. I can’t really pick a favorite, as I’ve enjoyed so many, but if you haven’t read them before, I would recommend starting with The Relic.

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

What is your favorite amusement park ride?

Roller coasters as long as they don’t go backward.

Beach or mountains?

Mountains

Chocolate or vanilla?

Vanilla

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

Boxer briefs

Would you rather skydive or scuba dive?

Scuba Dive

Would you rather vacation in Hawaii, Vegas or London?

Hawaii

Awww, we were having so much fun and now it’s over! But thank you so much, Jessica, for being here with me today. Now, let’s give the audience a taste of your latest novel: It Took A Zombie Apocalypse.

BLURB:

It started with a kiss.

Then the zombies came. Now, Missy must work with the neighbor her parents hate if she wants to survive. But zombies aren’t the only threat to her life, or her heart.

BUY LINKS:

Amazon US – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N7R0JKQ

Amazon UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01N7R0JKQ

Amazon Canada – https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01N7R0JKQ

Nook – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1125465647

EXCERPT:

RJ pressed on the text and read….

Contagion arrived from Ostrander.
Spread through the hospital.
Stay in bunker.
I’m infected.
Zombies

Zombies? He dropped his phone and stared at it on the floor, expecting it to explode. Zombies didn’t exist. He was in some kind of dream. Had to be. Missy actually had come home for the summer. And kissed him. Now, zombies.

“What is it?” Missy bent down to pick up his cell then handed it back to him. “What happened back at the park?”

“Zombies.” The word came out before he had a chance to stop it. He didn’t know whether to laugh or grab Missy again and run.

A crooked smile formed dimples in her cheeks. “You’re joking, right? Trying to help me laugh off what happened.”

“I wish.” He showed her the message from his father. “My dad doesn’t have a sense of humor.”

The phone beeped, and she pushed his hand away. “I think it needs to be charged. We should call him just to be sure. Or contact somebody. Maybe he meant something else. You know how stupid autocorrect can be.”

RJ rushed to the kitchen, found his charger, and plugged in the cell. But, by then, he’d lost signal. Reception was spotty in West Vitula, but he couldn’t get anything. He peeked through the doorway, out to the living room. “Missy, can you get a signal?”

After digging into her purse, she pulled out her phone with a pink, sparkly case. Not at all what he expected from her. Had he missed that girly side, or had someone given it to her, and she didn’t want to hurt their feelings? That he could understand.

She held the cell up and moved around the room. “I got nothing. What’s going on?”

“I don’t know. Maybe we should try outside?” Though he doubted it would make a difference.

Missy stepped over to window and shoved the curtains aside. “Um, there are people coming. And they don’t…look right.”

RJ glanced outside. Neighbors walked down the middle of the street, their bodies twitching. And no one stopped to talk to one another. They just kept marching along to some unknown destination. As they came closer, he noticed their tattered clothing, their disheveled hair, and limbs connected at odd angles to the rest of their body, as if they’d been trampled. And now they were up and walking.

Next Wednesday my very special guest will be long time friend and CP Patricia Green, an incredibly talented author of romance books in many sub-genres, from sci-fi romance to historical westerns to contemporary spanking tales that are richly detailed, sexy, and fun . I certainly hope you’ll be back next week to meet Trish!

Posted in Author/Character Interviews, Be My Guest, Interviews, Promotion | Tagged author interview, Be My Guest, contemporary romance, It Took A Zombie Apocalypes, Jessica E. Subject, love story, New Adult romance, Sci-Fi Romance, zombie apocalypse, zombie romance | 8 Comments

Spotlight on Valerie Ullmer’s SETH

Posted on February 28, 2017 by Jenna Jaxon

Seth (A Dark Assassins World Novella Book 2.5)

Valerie Ullmer

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Amazon

Amazon UK

Amazon AU

Immortals have been a part of Seth’s world since he barged into Kai’s life at the age of twelve. And having a group of shifter and vampire assassins he considered family, he thought that he’d seen it all and that nothing would surprise him. But the one night he met Aubrey changed his world, and he’d never been so happy to be wrong.

Aubrey was used to seclusion, even before she had been turned into a vampire. She’d never dreamed of a life outside her tiny little world, but that was until she met Seth. Before she could understand her reactions, she ran from him. But she couldn’t stay away. The more she gets to know him, the stronger the connection between them solidifies.

When Seth tells Aubrey that he is her mate, will she take a chance and keep him forever?

He cupped his hands around the warm mug and took a sip of tea as he watched Aubrey process what he’d already told her. Although he knew that everything Kai, Liv, and the rest of the assassins had told him was to be kept secret, he knew he could trust Aubrey.

“The assassins work for an organization called the Dark Company, founded by Ghost, who is a white wolf shifter. There are more shifters than vampires who work for Ghost. They used to work individually, but when Kai met Liv, she insisted that she would feel better if Kai had someone to watch his back, so Ghost gave the okay for pairs to work together on all missions. It worked well, especially after Reaper met and turned his mate, Ara. Reaper is a timber wolf shifter and Ara—well, Ara is special. When she was human, she was telekinetic. Able to move objects, manipulate her environment and people. She was turned by accident and is now a red wolf shifter. Her powers have grown exponentially and she can heal and regenerate dead tissue. She brought Reaper back from death.

“You’ll meet Reaper and Ara when I introduce you to Liv and Kai, but the others who are usually around are Xander, Hunter, Gunnar, Ax, Jade—who are all shifters—and Thomas, Isaac, and Kane, the vampires.”

Aubrey was quiet for several minutes, processing everything he’d thrown at her, but he wanted her to be prepared. Hearing about them differed greatly from meeting them.

“What do you mean by mate? Is it like wife or husband?” Aubrey’s mouth barely moved, the question quiet.

“From what Kai and Reaper have told me, it’s a deeper connection. When they both caught sight of their mates, they knew that they were meant to be together. Kai had a little rougher go at it. He denied to himself and others that Liv could be his mate, until she was kidnapped and he had to face losing her. Reaper had known Ara was his mate the moment he laid eyes on her. What they feel is love, but they describe it as a deep need to be with their mate, combined with a strong feeling of protectiveness. It’s hard to describe, but when you see how they act with each another, you’ll understand.”

Seth reached for her hand, smiling when she threaded her fingers with his and curled them around his hand. She was starting to trust him more, but he knew that she was confused about the feelings he brought out in her.

“Do they know about me?”

“Yes. I told them the same day I met you. Kai figured it out when I started talking and through their mind link, communicated his thoughts to Liv. Liv is excited for me.”

He could see the doubt reflected in her eyes.

“They want what’s best for me and you are what’s best for me. I noticed you the moment you walked in the classroom. And when you walked away from me the first time, I was devastated. I know that this world is new to you, even though you’ve been a vampire for ten years, but I know something that you don’t. I’m your mate.”

Valerie writes paranormal and contemporary romances with strong alpha males and brilliant, beautiful heroines. She lives in Denver, Colorado with her wonderfully supportive husband and their funny and wise black lab. She’s addicted to coffee, crime shows, and reading and writing character driven romances.