Weekend Writing Warriors ~ 09/15/19 Heart of Decadence ~ “Ogre No, Outcast, Yes”

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors!

I have a new book (it was published in a set this past spring, but I’m putting it on pre-order TODAY, with the release to be September 30) called Heart of Decadence, the latest of the Handful of Hearts novella series. Here’s the cover–another stunning winner from Danielle Fine!

 

BLURB:  

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

I started earlier this month with a scene at the end of the first chapter. Amelia has been discovered by Mr. Burke, her intended, although she’s not very keen on marrying him. He’s trying to become “better acquainted” with her, very much against her will, when a stranger interrupts their kiss. Mr. Burke then introduces Amelia and she and the stranger, Lord Ainsley, discover that they had met ten years before. He thought she had married, but she tells him no, she did not. Later, Ainsley asks his friend, Lord Haversham, what he knows about the lady. But when he gives him her name, he has an unexpected reaction.

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

SNIPPET:

Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Haversham sat bolt upright, spewing whisky over himself and Nathan’s best Italian leather chair.

“What the devil’s the matter with you?” Nathan asked, grabbing his handkerchief from his pocket to save his favorite seat.

Haversham mopped his face and clothing with his own linen, asking, “You did say Miss Burrowes, didn’t you?”

“I did, although you say her name as though the lady was an ogre of some sort; I can assure you she is not.”

“Ogre, no, outcast, yes–I am amazed she’s back in Society, even after all this time.”

“We cannot be talking about the same lady,” Nathan said as he finished scrubbing the leather cushion and stood “for this is Miss Amelia Burrowes, a sweet but rather spirited lady even when I first met her.”

“I was acquainted with her when she first came out–you had made such startling remarks about her beauty I wanted to see her for myself and scraped an introduction.” He peered down at his cravat, baptized with dark stains and exclaimed,“Gads, Ainsley, I shall have to hurry home and change my linen before heading to the club; I’m not fit to be seen.”

“Tidy yourself later; what about Miss Burrowes?”

“Well, you were, of course, right about her beauty, so it’s no surprise that, not long after you left, she was snapped up by Lord Carrington—they became the most fashionable couple of the Season and seemed very happy together…and very affectionate, until Carrington suddenly fell gravely ill.”

 

Heart of Decadence is now available for pre-order here and will release on September 30, 2019.

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

 

Handful of Hearts series by Jenna Jaxon

 

 

 

 

 

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

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors!

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

 

BLURB:  

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

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

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

SNIPPET:

“Miss Amelia Burrowes?”

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

Mystical full moon starry night in park

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

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

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

“No, my lord, I never married him.” 

Nathan blinked; she’d never married?

Heart of Decadence will release in September 2019

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

 

Handful of Hearts series by Jenna Jaxon

 

 

 

 

 

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

I’m Baaackkk!

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

 

BLURB:  

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

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

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

SNIPPET:

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

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

“Kate, are you in here?”

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

He grunted and released her.

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

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

Heart of Decadence will release in September 2019

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

 

Handful of Hearts series by Jenna Jaxon

 

 

 

 

 

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

Good Morning all! Here’s the latest from

BRUGES!

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

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

BRUGES

PUBLIC SQUARE IN BRUGES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

MY LUNCH OF MUSSELS AND FRITES (FRENCH FRIES)

HOTEL DE ORANGERIE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

BRUGES MADONNA BY MICHELANGELO

BASILICA OF THE HOLY BLOOD

THE BLOOD RELIC
PHOTO BY MATT HOPKINS VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

BOAT RIDE TOUR OF BRUGES

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

BATTLEFIELD AT WATERLOO

HOUGOUMONT FARM AT WATERLOO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RE-ENACTORS AT WATERLOO BATTLEFIELD

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

More on that tomorrow!

Cheers!

Jenna

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

Good Morning all! Here’s the latest from

WROTHAM!

WROTHAM

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

THE BULL INN

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

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

THE BULL INN RESTAURANT

THE BULL INN RESTAURANT 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

ST. GEORGE’S CHURCH

INTERIOR STAINED GLASS WINDOW

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE CHURCH NAVE

BRASS PLAQUES FOR INTERMENTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

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

WROTHAM PLACE

WROTHAM PLACE 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

WROTHAM VILLAGE 1

WROTHAM VILLAGE 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WROTHAM VILLAGE 3

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

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

Cheers!

Jenna

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

Good Morning all! Here’s the latest from

PENZANCE !

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

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

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

WARWICK HOUSE

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

PROMENADE 1

PROMENADE 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

FRASER’S FISH AND CHIPS

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

TOWN CENTER

IN TOWN ST. JUST

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LOOKING TO THE COAST

ST. JUST

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

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

Cheers!

Jenna

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

Good Morning all! Here’s the latest from

BATH !

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

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

MY B&B IN BATH

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

THE SHOPS ON PULTENEY BRIDGE

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

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

BALLROOM AT THE BATH ASSEMLEY ROOMS

SEDAN CHAIR AT BATH ASSEMBLY ROOMS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

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

REGENCY FASHIONS

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

ROYAL CRESCENT

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

SYDNEY PLEASURE GARDENS

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

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

WRITING WITH QUILL AND INK AT JANE AUSTEN CENTER

TEA AT THE PUMP ROOM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

Cheers!

Jenna