Welcome Anna Markland

I want to introduce you to another author friend of mine - Anna Markland.

Passion conquers whatever obstacles a hostile medieval world can throw in its path. My page-turning adventures have earned me a place on Amazon’s All-Star list.

Besides writing, I have two addictions-crosswords and genealogy, probably the reason I love research. I am a fool for cats. My husband is an entrepreneur who is fond of boasting he’s never had a job.

I live on Canada’s scenic west coast now, but I was born and raised in the UK and I love breathing life into the history of my homeland.

Escape with me to where romance began.

How did you get started writing? 

I entered a writing contest in primary school in England, and came third (out of three)! I became interested in (i.e. addicted to) genealogy a few years ago and wrote several family histories. A tidbit about a Norman family that I unearthed while doing research in 2011 prompted me to write my first novel, Conquering Passion.

Third out of three isn't that bad, right? lol  So Anna, what genres do you write, and why? 

Most of my stories are either Viking or medieval era. However, my latest release is what I call a “contemporary with medieval overtones”.  It’s a Kindle Worlds book entitled Hungry Like De Wolfe.

What a catchy title! What is your favorite part of writing? 

I enjoy getting to know the characters while I am writing the story. After publication I love getting letters from readers telling me how much they enjoyed my work. 

I'm sure you get a lot of letters from readers, too! Tell us about your newest release.

Hungry Like De Wolfe is a KW book, that is to say it is “fan fiction” based on a book by Kathryn Le Veque, and it can be found in her World of De Wolfe Pack. It’s the second book I’ve written in conjunction with Kathryn’s “world”. The first one was a Scottish medieval, Highland Dawn.

Here’s a blurb for Hungry Like De Wolfe.

Blaise de Wolfe risks losing De Wolfe Hall unless he can prove his pure Norman ancestry and be eligible for a substantial renovation grant from the "Sons of the Conquest", an exclusive club.  He turns to family tree researcher Anne Smith, unaware of her Norman roots and consequent disdain for the male-only policies of the club. Sparks fly between them when she digs up some unexpected information about Blaise's medieval ancestor, Gaetan de Wolfe. 

Anne harbors other resentments. Widowed when her husband volunteers for a second tour with the British Army in Iraq, she is reluctant to embark on another relationship, though she is drawn to Blaise. He too is afraid to risk his heart after his fiancée dumps him upon learning his ancestral home is draining his bank account.

Two great medieval dynasties come together in this novella set in London in 2006— Le Veque’s De Wolfe Pack and  Markland’s Montbryce~FitzRam family. The world will never be the same.

What will your next project be?

I’ve just finished a medieval series, The Von Wolfenberg Dynasty. Book III of that series, Faithful Heart, will be available Sept. 26^th. It’s on preorder now for 99 cents, but only until Sept. 26^th. The three books follow the children of characters from an earlier book. I tend to follow families in my series. I guess it’s the amateur genealogist in me.

After that there will be a Christmas novella in an anthology with several other well-known authors. The stories center around the theme of the Kissing Bough. Mine is entitled An Unkissable Knight.

Where can readers find you on social media?

You’ll find a FREE download of one of my novellas on my website. My Facebook page is Anna Markland Novels.

Tweet me @annamarkland, join me on Pinterest, or sign up for my newsletter.

Welcome Jenna Jaxon!

Jenna has been a internet friend for several years. I feel like we know each other so well, and yet we haven't met face-to-face. Maybe one day!

Jenna has a new release and I can't wait to share it!

A Scandalous Dance—The Waltz During the Regency Period

Most people know a waltz when they see one—a romantic ¾ time lilting dance for partners where they hold each other at the hand and waist as they twirl around the dance floor. Not quite so during the Regency period.

The Regency waltz, as it was danced in the early 19^th century, was very different from the form we know today, but still had the reputation of being scandalous. In fact, young ladies who were just out in society in their first Season had to get permission from a Patroness at Almack before she could dance the waltz at the Assembly rooms.

So what made this particular dance so shocking?

Walter Nelson in an article titled “The Shocking Waltz” describes the movements of the Regency waltz as “a strikingly intimate and sensuous dance, which is a major departure from the group dances and stately minuets of earlier generations. To a society that focused so much attention on harnessing teen age libido to the purpose of making a good marriage, this was rather disturbing.”

The article goes on to comment that although English Country Dancing, considered imminently respectable, contained both direct eye contact and body contact but in very limited amounts. In the waltz, however, “the eye contact is continuous and unflinching and so is the body contact -- with hands, ... resting on any number of body areas, and lingering there for a while.”

You can understand how the matchmaking mamas watching all this very physical contact might get very nervous about the attention their darling daughter was paying to one particular gentleman—who might not be a very nice gentleman in the end. As the hero of Heart of Desire says, the waltz should be danced only by married couples. Of course, he’s dancing it with a woman who is not his wife when he says it, which draws her caustic comment to be sure!

Here is a youtube clip of how the waltz was danced - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nwwYlm-G1s

HEART OF DESIRE

Follow your heart to find your desire

Miss Katherine Locke is irked to start her third season dancing with the disagreeable Lord Haversham, her brother’s friend and her own arch enemy. After three years out, however, she’s finally interested in the dashing Lord Finley—only to find out her cousin has set her cap for him too. To make the man jealous, Kate feigns interest in Lord Haversham, only to be shocked to find the handsome lord apparently falling for her. With time running out, should she accept his suit and risk falling in love despite herself?

Marcus, Lord Haversham, is in a tight pinch. His estates are failing and worse, he’s just lost three thousand pounds to his best friend, Lord Ainsley. Ainsley’s solution: have Marcus marry his shrewish sister and he’ll cancel his gambling debt plus give him ten thousand more pounds for her dowry. With nowhere to turn, Marcus agrees, praying he can keep word of the wager from Miss Locke long enough to charm her into marrying him. But can he avoid falling in love himself?

EXCERPT

The music had a lively air and Miss Katherine Locke would’ve thought herself fortunate to be out again in Society after a long, cold, dull winter in Somerset save that her partner, Lord Haversham, was the rudest man in London. Well, his lordship was about to discover that Kate Locke was not one to suffer fools lightly.

“So you refuse to allow your sister to waltz, yet you are quite willing to stand up with me and dance this, according to you, most scandalous of dances.” Kate smiled into the odious wretch’s face. “My lord, I should say that smacks of hypocrisy.”

“Indeed.” Lord Haversham turned them skillfully at the end of the floor. “I would say it showed a want of character in your brother for allowing you to dance it with me. The waltz should be danced by married couples and no one else.” He pulled her close against him, so their bodies almost touched.

She gasped at her proximity to the rogue. How dare he make a spectacle of them on this crowded dance floor?

“You see?” he whispered, peering into her face, his gaze intent upon her mouth.

All she could see were his cool gray eyes, as the crisp scent of his sandalwood cologne filled her nose.

“Ainsley should be horsewhipped for allowing it.”

“I’ll see to it he horsewhips you if you don’t let me go.” Kate gave a hopping step and smashed her foot down on top of his.

Lord Haversham lurched forward, actually falling onto her.

For the briefest moment, they stood pressed together in a warm embrace that made Kate tingle all over. Then outrage swept through her, and she pushed him away. “How dare you,” she seethed, trying to pull away from him.

“That was your fault, and you know it. And if you make a scene that results in me having to marry you, I swear I will lock you in the tower at my grandfather’s castle and throw away the key.” Lord Haversham righted himself and smiled at her with clenched teeth.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jenna Jaxon is a best-selling, multi-published author of historical romance in periods ranging from medieval to Victorian.  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 lives in Virginia with her family and two rambunctious cats, Marmalade and Suger.  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.

Jenna is a PAN member of Romance Writers of America and is very active in Chesapeake Romance Writers, her local chapter of RWA.

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

FIND JENNA HERE:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jenna-Jaxon/146857578723570

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jenna_Jaxon

Blog: https://jennajaxon.wordpress.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4960704.Jenna_Jaxon

BUY LINK: 

AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KRWDMQO#nav-subnav

Web Site Launch!!

Introducing…

I have an actual website, and I’m excited to tell you all about it and share it with my friends. This website is easy to maneuver, and the pictures are very eye-catching. (I had to keep up with my awesome book covers, right?) I have a few new features. Along with the books section, I have one for my blog—which links to my old one—and I have a contact page, a contest page, and a book signing page that will let you know where I’ll be signing next. Be sure to check them out!

One of the new features I like is my newsletter sign up section (located on the home page and ‘about me’ page). So to give my website launch the kick-off it deserves, I’m offering a FREE book if you sign up for my newsletter. The book I’m giving away free is:

CHAMPION (Fairy Tale / Robin Hood Romance)

When you wish upon a star…

All romance novel photographer Payton Fox really wants is a hero in her life. A man that is dashing and honorable… a man worthy of his own fairy tale! One particularly frustrating evening she casts a fleeting wish upon a shooting star. She doesn’t actually believe anything will happen, but in the blink of an eye the man from her fairy tale wishes—a regular Robin Hood—materializes right before her. He even claims to be the legendary Lord of Loxley, and goes by the name of Archer. Uncertain what to believe, Payton is shocked when this hero rescues her time and again, and she can’t help but be swept off her feet.

Slowly she accepts that this strange and noble man might truly be the fairy tale character of her dreams. Unfortunately, Archer isn’t connecting with the modern-day world and longs to return to his time. She also discovers that if he stays with her, his story will cease to exist.

Can she send him back, knowing he’ll take her heart along with him? Can she deprive the world of his story? How can she do that to those looking for their Champion - the perfect hero?

Now, without any further distractions, I invite you to wander through my new website – www.mariehiggins.com.  Or just click on the "HOME" tab at the top of this page. 

Welcome Karen Aminadra

I'm very happy to introduce you to Karen Aminadra. I met Karen on Facebook, and I instantly fell in love with her writing. She writes CLEAN romances, just like I do!!

So, Karen, take it away...

Today I am celebrating the launch of my eighth novel! Yes, eighth!
I cannot even believe I am here already! It has been such an exciting journey and wonderful four years since I published my first novel.

The Suitable Bride is book 2 in The Emberton Brothers series and is a clean Regency romance novel.
In the first novel, we followed the story of Richard, the eldest of the three brothers. In this book, we follow Edward the middle one.

Edward is the driven one out of the three. He has spent years working hard at achieving his dream. He’s a politician and dreams of being Prime Minister of Britain one day. He knows the advantages there are to be had in marrying and is eager to find a bride from amongst the set who will help advance his career.

Frances Davenport is the daughter of a lord. She is privileged and has led a life that has had its ups and downs…literally speaking ;-) She’s a little naughty. She doesn’t believe there is one single man out there who can please her as a husband and is resigned to that fact. Until she meets Edward, that is…

To celebrate the release of The Suitable Bride I am having a bumper giveaway with a big list of goodies! Please visit my blog to enter! And good luck! https://kjaminadra.wordpress.com/

BLURB

Edward Emberton wants to be Prime Minister. He has a passionate vision for the future of England, which includes the abolition of slavery. As the son of a tradesman, his journey to Parliament has been a difficult one, but there is only one thing left to cement this foothold on the steps to Parliament – a suitable bride. She must be of noble birth, reasonable intelligence, mild temperament, and extraordinary beauty.

Frances Davenport is most of those things. And a suitable marriage to Edward isn’t only the answer to her prayers; it’s a way to keep her secrets. Edward is handsome, driven, and better still, enchanted by her beauty. It’s more than a suitable match; it couldn’t be more perfect.

But appearances are often deceiving, and Frances’ beguiling beauty comes with its own set of problems. Edward and Frances are about to discover that there’s more to marriage than suitability because neither is as suitable as they seem…

AMAZON LINK - http://amzn.to/29yA0FP

Author bio -

Karen is a multi-genre author who writes novels within many different genres; Historical Romance, Historical Crime, and modern Chick-Lit.

She can usually be found sat at the computer either writing a novel, writing down new ideas or on social media chatting!

Her love of reading, writing short stories, and her childhood imaginary world led quite naturally to writing novels. Encouraged to read by her bookworm father and grandmother and by winning a writing competition in just her first year of secondary school, she was spurred on, and she has been writing stories ever since. Her love of mystery and plot twists that she put into that first story continues today.

She has travelled to and lived in many countries, not just in her imagination, and has gained an insight into people’s characters that shines through in her work. Today, with her feet firmly back in the United Kingdom, she travels the world, the universe and in time through her imagination and her novels.

She is now the author of eight novels;

Charlotte – Pride & Prejudice Continues,

Rosings – Pride & Prejudice Continues book 2,

Relative Deceit – Death in the Family,

The Uncanny Life of Polly,

It’s a Man’s World – Lettie Jenkins Investigates,

Wickham – Pride & Prejudice Continues book 3,

The Spice Bride – The Emberton Brothers Series book 1.

The Suitable Bride – The Emberton Brothers Series book 2.

In 2012 she received a B.R.A.G Medallion ™ for her debut novel Charlotte – Pride & Prejudice Continues.

In 2013 she was once again honoured with a B.R.A.G Medallion ™ for Rosings – Pride & Prejudice Continues book 2.

In 2016 she received another prized B.R.A.G Medallion™ for Wickham -Pride & Prejudice Continues book 3.

For more information and to download a free book visit  www.karenaminadra.com

GIVEAWAY!

I've decided to have a GIVEAWAY!!

Did that capture your attention?

For all of my readers who have read my short story, "Worth Fighting For", please leave a comment with your email and I'll send you an ebook copy of  "Take My Heart" which is book #1 of my Heroic Rogues series.

Lindsay Lennox, daughter of the governor of Turkey, worries she’ll never have the chance to meet a man and fall in love. Being the youngest of eight daughters, it is customary for all of her sisters to marry before she can be out in society and even meet a man. Her twenty-fourth birthday is coming quickly, and she’s running out of hope. Desperation takes hold and she disguises herself as a servant in order to slip through the palace gates. Disaster strikes when she meets a handsome sea captain and is mistakenly whisked across the sea to England. Lindsay knows her only hope of salvation will be to find her Whitton relatives in England and beg for help. Unfortunately, the devastating Captain Braxton proves more temptation than her lonely heart can resist.

Mercedes Maxwell is devastated when her twin sister is driven to take her own life by none other than her husband, William Braxton. Determined to make her brother-in-law pay for the injustice, Mercedes travels to Philadelphia to find him. She is shocked to find that William is unaware of his wife's death, and when Mercedes is mistaken for her sister, she decides to pose as her twin to glean some answers. Mercedes embarks on an adventure she never dreamed of in hopes of bringing justice to her sister. Instead of justice, Mercedes uncovers a plethora of secrets and mystery. As she works to unravel the mystery and discover who she can trust, Mercedes finds that all is not as it seems, and that William Braxton may be the one man she can trust.