Cover Reveal ~ New Cover for Seduction at the Christmas Court

Back in January, as part of my 10th year as an author celebration, I revealed new covers for my medieval romance series, Time Enough for Love.

 

 

 

 

All but the one for the medieval Christmas novella: Seduction at the Christmas Court. I wanted to save that one to reveal during the Christmas in July promotion. And so finally, here it is!

 

How about that for some steamy Christmas in July? 🙂

And it’s on SALE this month on Amazon for just .99! Just click here.

Now for the blurb and excerpt.  Enjoy!

BLURB:

Christmas tidings of comfort, joy, and temptation…

Alyse and Geoffrey, Lord and Lady Longford, have journeyed to the glittering Christmas Court of King Edward III in the year 1349 to wait upon the king and take part in some Yuletide merriment.

However, when Geoffrey is suddenly called into the king’s service again, Alyse must remain at court, attending the queen and persuading her rebellious sister to accept an unwanted betrothal. When rumors of Geoffrey’s death arise, Alyse fends off an old suitor who wants to renew their friendship.

But how long will he take “No” for an answer?

 

EXCERPT:

Alyse stared in horror as Guy nonchalantly raised her hand to his lips. The skin seemed to shrink, as though it would crawl off her bones to escape his touch. She longed to snatch it away from the vile man however, mindful of the thousand eyes that marked her every movement, she instead gave him a coy look and a nod. “You are kind to remember me, Guy, now that you have my sister to wife. I doubted you would give me a glance in the wake of her beauty.”

Geoffrey moved closer to her, his hulking presence a subtle warning.

An she knew her husband, he was now sorely tempted to run Guy through with his sword. Thank God it lay safe in their chamber. “I give you good evening, Sir Guy. It has been long since last we met at my father’s house.” Remind him who had triumphed that evening and mayhap he’d keep his distance and his head.

“Too long, cherie. Perhaps now we are to be kindred, we will see much more of one another.” His gaze rested on her mouth and he licked his lips.

Bold villain. Alyse drew closer to Geoffrey. The man’s dark-eyed gaze would peel the clothes from her like the skin from an orange an she endured it much longer.

Face blackened in a scowl, Geoffrey bumped her side as he stepped between her and Guy. “My wife will enjoy her sister’s company as often as she likes while we are at court, Sir Guy. An you are in the room you may bear them company as well during the Christmastide. Should you journey to Longford after you are wed, of course, we will always open our home to you.” Her husband’s teeth clenched so tight his jaw creaked. He’d rejoice in Guy’s company when the last trump sounded.

“Pippa,” Alyse said, turning to her sister, sorry that she must bear witness to Guy’s disrespect. Pray God His Majesty never heard tell of this conversation. She grasped her sister’s hands, pulling the girl from Guy’s side. “’Twill only be a short time ‘ere we are gone from here. This feuding twixt Guy and Geoffrey will last only so long as we remain here. Once you are married—”

“Once I am married to him there will be no escape, Alyse.” Pippa’s voice, hard-edged, flat, and filled with anger, made her cringe. “I will be forever chained to a man who cares nothing for me, only for my sister.”

Seduction at the Christmas Court is available at Amazon for .99 and at B & N, Smashwords, and Kobo for $1.00 (Smashwords and its affiliates are having a July sale that reduces the listed price.)

Merry Christmas in July!

THE TIME ENOUGH TO LOVE SERIES

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The Christmas Mouse ~ More Christmas in July

I’m home from the beach now and gearing up for my next trip next Monday, but I wanted to share some pictures my daughters and I took when we went to the Christmas Mouse in Duck last week. Since I was doing this Christmas in July promotion, I thought it would be apropos.

The Hall of Christmas Trees

Selfie With Christmas Tree

They seem to have every Christmas ornament known to man!

Animal Ornaments

Food Ornaments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My daughters made me close my eyes and led me to these trees! I wanted to take them home with us!

Peacock Christmas Tree

Cardinal Christmas Tree

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And my Christmas Card moment for you!

Merry Christmas in July!

Weekend Writing Warriors ~ 07/014/19 Married by Christmas ~ That Blasted Beard

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

 

 

BLURB:  

A wager he should have refused…

 

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

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

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

We are in still Marianne’s POV.

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

SNIPPET:

Ullr, the bow-god of Norse mythology

“This beard is devilishly itchy,” he said as he rubbed it, and it slipped to the side once more. “It’s stuck on with egg white.”

Giggling, Marianne tugged it back into place, her fingers trailing over his firm jaw. A jolt of heat raced up her arm, making her flush all over. Stunned, she stepped back and looked at her hand, convinced it would be singed.

Will stood staring at her, as if he’d experienced the same rush, for his cheeks turned pink. “Did you feel that?”

She nodded, not taking her gaze off him. “What was it?”

He shook his head, saying, “I don’t rightly know, but I’ll wager it’s something to do with this blasted beard.”

Married by Christmas is currently available on

Amazon !

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

 

Christmas Books by Jenna Jaxon

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where in the World is Jenna Jaxon? (Part 3)

Where in the world am I, July 8, 2019?

DUCK, NC!

Yes, this week I’m on my family vacation/writing retreat at our timeshare down in Duck, North Carolina. We have been coming here almost every year since…well, it seems like forever!

It’s a totally relaxing place. We are on the second floor, overlooking the sound.

They had updated the siding this year, so there’s a cleaner (but less rustic) look to the building.

Still, the pool is awesome (if the weather will cooperate!) and the beach is so relaxing, just to sit and watch the waves roll in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But I’m also writing, finishing up my next Christmas novella (Christmas in July theme, remember?), It Happened at Christmas and plotting yet another one (title to be determined) to release in my own anthology that should come out in late October/early November.

So I hope you have a glorious week, whether on land or sea, mountains or beach!

 

 

Christmas in July Newsletter Subscription Winners

As promised, here are the winners for the Christmas in July Promotion:

E-Book Copies of Married by Christmas

PATRICIA GREEN

ALICE CASTLE

KATRINA DEHART

DIANE BURTON

GINA JOHNSON

WINNER OF THE SIGNED PRINT COPY OF

YULETIDE HAPPY EVER AFTERS

CYNDI BENNETT

Thank you to everyone who dropped by to comment on the new release!

Not a subscriber to my newsletter? Want to be? Lots of perks come your way when you sign up: advance warning on sales, new releases, appearances, and cover reveals, and special giveaways like this one every month. If you’d like to sign up, just click here and fill in the form!

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL MY WINNERS!

I’ll be contacting you shortly! 🙂

Weekend Writing Warriors ~ 07/07/19 Married by Christmas

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

 

 

BLURB:  

A wager he should have refused…

 

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

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

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

We are in Marianne’s POV.

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

SNIPPET:

Ullr, the bow-god of Norse mythology

“I’m sorry about this,” she muttered then looked sharply at Will. “What are you going to do with your bow and arrows?”

Groaning, William left her to stash his equipment behind a tall spruce tree that dominated the far side of the ballroom and returned. “Better?”

“Much, for I feared I would be in danger of finding one of the arrows in my back,” she said, with a glanced at him and smiled. They’d often quarreled, but always made it up.

He grinned and replied, “I think you’re mistaking me for Cupid.”

Immediately, she relaxed–they were all right again. “Hardly, as Cupid wore only a toga or some such thing; much too scantily clad for this chilly weather and never have I ever seen a beard on any statue of him.” That beard fascinated her–if gentlemen actually wore those things, might they all look as handsome as Will did?

Married by Christmas is currently available on

Amazon !

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

 

Christmas Books by Jenna Jaxon

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Fishy Business

It has been such a busy week I haven’t had a chance to tell everyone about our newest family members: We now have FISH!

Last week I was working with the Young Diplomat’s Program at Hampton University. For our final presentation–a production that incorporates all the different activities the students have been learning during the week (ballroom dance, drama, debate, choir, hip hop dance)–the assistant director wrote a story for her drama students to enact that had to do with goldfish.

This was the first time we had used goldfish as a theme for the production. (Usually we have used Chinese dragons.) And part of the set for the piece included a pond with a waterfall. The director of the production decided that the pond should have goldfish in it. So we bought gravel, plants, and 25 fish from a local store and introduced them into the environment the evening before the production. The next morning all but one of the fish survived the night and the production went off splendidly.

However, as we were taking down the set the question became, “What do we do with the fish?”  Several people said they wanted to take one or two, but in the end only one person actually took three.

I took the other 19.

I texted my husband the details and asked him to go get a tank and all the other fish paraphernalia and with absolutely no argument he said, “I’m on my way to Walmart.” (This is why I married him.)

So our household now has four people, three cats, and 19 fish. One of the cats, Marmalade, has proclaimed herself the “Mother of Fish,” and insists on watching them closely.

And we are quite enjoying the fish as well. We used to have two 30 gallon tanks, one salt water, one fresh, so we are very used to having fish. We even tried exotic creatures like clown fish and anemones, a peppermint shrimp, and a seahorse.

Now we have the guppies (they weren’t actually goldfish we discovered) and when I was at Walmart this week, I found something whimsical to make the fish feel more at home. 🙂

 

So I’ll leave you with that wonderful undersea theme song from “Spongebob Squarepants.”