Blog Tour: Interview w/ Jenna Jaxon!

WELCOME TO THE BLOG, JENNA! :)

 

 Jenna Jaxon is a multi-published author of historical  and contemporary romance who has been reading and writing historical romance since she was a teenager.  A romantic herself, Jenna 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 writing.

Jenna lives in Virginia with her family and a small menagerie of pets.  When not reading or writing, she indulges her passion for the theatre, working with local theatres as a director.  She often feels she is directing her characters on their own private stage.

She has equated her writing to an addiction to chocolate because once she starts she just can’t stop.

  

 

Where to Find Jenna:

Website/Blog | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

 

 

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The_Book_Queen: Hi Jenna! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? 

Jenna: Hi, Danielle.  Thank you so much for having me here today.  I think this is going to be such a fun blog to visit! (Thank you, I hope you enjoy it!)

I’ve been writing professionally for about 3 1/2 years.  I’m unfortunately not a full-time writer, but I love my day job, which is teaching theatre at a small college and directing productions each year.  I live in a rural area with my husband and two daughters and a small menagerie of pets.  I love to travel and spent two summers in Ireland working on my dissertation.

TBQ: Your newest release, Only Scandal Will Do recently came out. Can you tell us a little bit about this book, and why readers are going to love it? 

J: Only Scandal Will Do is the romance between an arrogant nobleman and a feisty woman who dares to deny him at every turn in their relationship.  Even after he compromises her, she’s determined to live life on her own terms.  So only scandal will do to bring these two together in the end.  Readers are going to love watching the merry chase Katarina leads Duncan on as she fights him--literally--at every turn.

TBQ: It seems like the marriage between your hero and heroine [Duncan and Katarina] was originally more one of convenience that then grew into something more. What do you think it is about such pairings that make many readers sigh? [Myself included, I'll admit!]

J: There’s something appealing about people who are thrown together through circumstances beyond their control.  Readers love to believe that despite bad beginnings, the couple can find a way to fall in love with one another.  That plot is very romantic, I think, because the hero and heroine have to work at their relationship, and have to change to make it work, which is also true in real life.  And a man or woman who is willing to make the effort to change is very sexy!

 

TBQ: You've already released a few historicals as well as contemporary erotica novels--Are there other genres you would like to write about?

J: No. My love is historicals.  The erotic contemporaries were kind of a surprise--there was a call for submissions for an erotic fractured fairy tales and I thought “I can do that.”  But I plan to concentrate on making historicals my brand. (Nothing wrong with that--historicals were my first love, and to this day are my favorite, I think!)

TBQ: I know we all hate this question, author and reader alike. :) But I have to ask: What are a few of your favorite books and/or authors?

J: I always like to plug my favorite authors. My favorite romance author is Jo Beverley, followed by Lisa Kleypas, Kathleen Woodiwiss, and Mary Balogh.  My favorite romance book is Devilish (followed closely by Outlander and Devil in Winter).  I also love Stephen King (Dark Tower series), Phillipa Gregory (The Other Boleyn Girl), and John Grisham (The Firm). (Ah, I love Lisa's books, Kathleen and Mary's are also great!)

 

TBQ: Have you ever fallen for a hero, either from one of your books or from another author? If so, who is he and what drew you to him?

J: I’ve been drawn to a couple of my heroes, but the one I really fell for was my first--Sir Geoffrey Longford from my medieval romance Time Enough to Love. I love his noble nature, his physical prowess, and his wholehearted love for the heroine.

The one hero not my own that I fell hard for was Jamie Fraser from Outlander.  A man who would sacrifice anything for the woman he loved is absolutely swoon-worthy in my book.  (Yep--love Jamie!)

 

TBQ: What's next-- Can you tell us a little bit about your upcoming releases or WIP?

J: My next release will be another erotic contemporary, 7 Days of Seduction, which I’m finishing up edits for.  My Victorian historical, As Long As You’re Mine, is out to agents, and Betrothal, Book 1 of Time Enough to Love, is with my editor.  I hope to self-publish that in October.  I plan to publish that novel as a series of three novellas, each one a month apart.  And I’m working on Only Marriage Will Do, the second in my House of Pleasure series, of which Scandal was the first book.  I’ve been a little busy this summer. :) (Wow--you have been busy! Good luck with everything!)

SPEED ROUND:

 

A day on a secluded island OR a day at the spa? A day on a secluded island

Reading a spicy romance novel OR a sweet “my-heart-skips-a-beat” one? Spicy novel all the way!

Which would you rather have an affair with: a sexy highlander OR a devilishly handsome English lord?  This one is HARD!  If the highlander isn’t Jamie Fraser, I’ll take the devilishly handsome English lord. :)

Hot summer days OR cold winter nights?  Cold winter nights!  (They tend to heat up so quickly! LOL)

Where would your dream house be: in the city, where all the action is OR nestled in the mountain where you can enjoy the quiet and the wilderness? Nestled in the mountains.  I went to undergrad school up in the mountains and would love to live there again.

If you could live in any time period, past or future, which one would it be? Even though the medieval period is my favorite, I don’t think living during that time was very comfortable.  I do think I’d love living in the mid-to-late Victorian period.

Cover Lover OR Blurb Fan?  Cover Lover (And may I say that the cover for OSWD is beautiful!)

Steamy Novella OR Sweet Novel? (aka, Quickie or Slow Build Up?)

Steamy Novella of course!

 

And finally, tell us 3 unique/wacky/fun things about yourself:

I’ve gone partially commando in public (top only).

I love to ride roller coasters but I’m afraid of heights.

I absolutely adore butterscotch sundaes. (Not caramel, real butterscotch.) [Now you are making me crave a butterscotch sundae!]

  

 

The_Book_Queen: Thanks so much for stopping by, Jenna, and please know that you are welcome back anytime! Do you have any questions for our readers—something to spark a good discussion? :)

 

Jenna: Thank you, Danielle, for having me!  I’m wondering if readers are ready for an ending other than HEA or HFN?  Would you like to read a book where a hero or heroine makes the ultimate sacrifice?  Or do you need to have an HEA for the romance novel to be satisfying?

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Only Scandal Will Do by Jenna Jaxon

Publisher: Lyrical Press, Inc. (July 17, 2012)

Series: House of Pleasures, 1

Genre: Historical Romance

 

Kidnapped and sold at auction in a London brothel, Lady Katarina Fitzwilliam squelches an undeniable attraction to the masked stranger who purchased her, pits her wits against him, and escapes him and the scandal that would ruin her life.

Unable to resist temptation in a London brothel, Duncan Ferrers, Marquess of Dalbury, purchases a fiery beauty. She claims she's a lady, but how can she be? No lady of his acquaintance in polite society is anything like her.

Then he discovers she is who she says, and that this latest romp has compromised her reputation. He knows how that is. One more scandal and he'll be cast out of London society, but he needs a wife who'll provide an heir to carry on his illustrious family's name. He seeks out Katarina, intending only to scotch the scandal, but instead finds his heart ensnared.

He's betting their future he'll capture her heart, but does he have what it takes to win the wager?

WARNING: A blade-wielding heroine who crosses swords with a master of sensuality.

 

 
 
Where to Buy*:

 Kindle | Publisher

More Info:

Add it on GoodReads!

 

Only Scandal Will Do by Jenna Jaxon

Excerpt

 

“Who are you, sir?” Katrina asked.

“Your master, slave.”

Harsh words cloaked in a voice of deep velvet. A shiver of dread raced down Katarina’s body, as much from the words as from his tone. “I am nobody’s slave,” she replied, trembling. “There has been a dreadful mistake.”

“I think not, my lovely. I paid a small fortune for your ownership this evening. Make no mistake.” He continued to stroke her hair and she twisted her head to the side. His mouth below the half mask twitched into an insolent smile. “I am pleased that you possess courage as well as beauty.” His fingers touched her cheek. “The mask hid the slave’s wealth well.”

She jerked away. “You may have paid for a slave, sir, but what you find in this room is a lady in distress. Will you prove a gentleman or a rogue?”

“A lady in distress?” He laughed and straightened. “How did a lady come to find herself on display at an auction, scandalously clad in a transparent Greek costume, in Madame Vestry’s House of Pleasure?”

“House of Pleasure?” she squeaked.

“Where else would such a thing occur?” The man’s amusement deepened.“And there will certainly be pleasure here tonight, slave.”

He ran a hand slowly down her arm, fingers trailing silkily against her bare flesh. Mouth agape at such a liberty, she slapped the hand away and ran for the door. With a long arm, he snared the diaphanous folds of her gown. The material strained against her body. Kat froze lest it rip, exposing her completely. Cursing her own folly for choosing such a costume, she swung around to face her captor.

“Please release me, sir,” she demanded, trying to keep her temper in check. She needed to woo this man to her cause. And though it galled her, she could only do so with soft words, not blows. Perhaps the blows could come later. “I beg you to aid me in my hour of need.” She put every ounce of charm into her smile; she could cajole him, as long as he couldn’t read her mind.

“Ah, but I have needs too, slave.” His hands were in her hair again, as though he could not help himself.

Well aware from his husky tone what needs the man likely had, Kat winced. If only she could see all of his face. It was so difficult to judge the man under that golden mask. She forced herself to relax, though the thought of his hands on her raised gooseflesh everywhere. It was only her hair, after all. No great sin. Perhaps if she softened her demeanor, she could convince him of her plight. She could offer honeyed tones for a little while.

“Will you hear my story of how a lady ended up in this House of Pleasure, sir?” Even to her own ears, her innocent tone sounded false. How would it sound to--

Releasing her hair, the stranger grabbed her hand. “We both know how you will end up, my slave. Come.” He pulled her toward the four-poster and she dug her toes into the rough, worn carpeting. Honey be damned! She had no intention of going anywhere near that bed.

 

 

 

 

 

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Thanks for stopping by today, Jenna! :) I enjoyed reading your responses, and I hope the readers did as well!


Don't forget Jenna's question!
I’m wondering if readers are ready for an ending other than HEA or HFN? Would you like to read a book where a hero or heroine makes the ultimate sacrifice? Or do you need to have an HEA for the romance novel to be satisfying?
 


Be sure to follow the rest of the tour!





Enjoy!   


Until Next Time,
 
*TBQ's Book Palace is a member of both the Amazon and Barnes and Nobles affiliates program. By using the links provided to buy products from either website, I receive a very small percentage of the order. To read my full disclosure on the matter, please see this post!