Jenn LeBlanc's Blog, page 12
April 11, 2011
Skin…
Last Friday was my book release party at the Denver Press Club. It was so fantastic. Carmen and the crew made it a wonderful time, the drunken pears from Kenn at A Man of All Seasons catering were just to DIE for good, and so many people came out to help me celebrate and buy me out of books. Yep, sold out of hardcopies. But….it is soooo pretty. So very very pretty.
Saturday I took Derek (a.k.a. my muse…a.k.a. the lead in my book) to the studio just to have a bit of fun. His momma drove all the way from Sheridan, WY for the party so we brought her along for the crazy ride that is studio. It was…well, studio always is an incredibly good time. We flew solo, except for my Auberry standing as A.D. We used whatever we had available, which was lots of green stripes. It worked well since Derek dyed his hair green and platinum just for the shoot, which was just for us to goof off.
We sure do get it done when we goof though.
I can't say enough about this guy.
Here are a few previews.
Pretty.
Model Portfolio Derek Hutchins
Model Portfolio Derek Hutchins
Model Portfolio Derek Hutchins
Filed under: Illustration, Images Tagged: Derek Hutchins, illustrated, illustration, Jenn LeBlanc, model, photography, portrait, sexy, studio, torso
April 7, 2011
A Marriage of Inconvenience – Susanna Fraser
"Left orphaned and penniless as a young child, Lucy Jones learned to curb her temper, her passions, and even her sense of humor to placate the wealthy relatives who took her in. She became the perfect poor relation–meek, quiet, and self-effacing. She clings to her self-control because she can control nothing else.
James Wright-Gordon also lost his parents at a young age. But he became a wealthy viscount at fifteen and stepped into full control of his fortune and his birthright as a parliamentary power broker at twenty-one. At twenty-four, he is serenely confident in his ability to control everything in the world that matters to him.
At a house party in the summer of 1809, James quickly discerns Lucy's carefully hidden spirit and wit and does his best to draw them out. After being caught in a compromising situation, they are obliged to marry. But can two people whose need for control has always been absolute learn to put love first?"
This novel was really perplexing to me. It had a slow, steady, building pace. Not my typical romance with the twists and turns and more rapid pacing. Though, it did have twists and turns. It was intriguing and kept me reading all night. The way some of the secondary relationships were left at the wayside was a bit distracting to the overall flow of the book —there are three all told— that take center stage and then two simply vanish, no fade— just gone. I mean they got wrapped up eventually, but it was distracting when they just fell off the radar.
The writing was lovely, the majority of the story was in Lucy's perspective, with intermittent scenes from other's perspectives, and that fact made the transition to others a little unexpected because I got so settled into Lucy's head (though not 1st person) that when it shifted for a little bit I was very aware of it.
I really liked Lucy, and the love story was beautiful, gentle, building and graceful. I did not think James' reaction to the trust issue was in keeping with his personality, it really threw me off. And it was odd that more of their personalities came out after the wedding than before. And along those lines, for something from the blurb to happen halfway through the book was seriously odd, because I kept waiting for it, was expecting it, and it wasn't happening. That bugged me. I went back and read the blurb again to make sure I was reading the right book! Weird weird weird.
At any rate. I give it 4 stars because honestly it kept me up till 2:30 last night reading, and I had to get up at 7. So there's that. I did skim over some of the internal waffling at the end, it was unnecessary, but I was tired. I never wanted to throw the book across the room, I never once rolled my eyes, and the only WTFckry was the blurb thing, I mean seriously, almost to the page halfway through. But I really liked the characters. They were very well done.
I know this review seems to be all over, and it is. Like I said, this book had me perplexed. I'm still trying to figure out what happened to me while reading it. It was wonderful in all its strange, confusingness (yes it's a word, I just made it up). I liked all the things about it I don't normally like about other novels. SO…I just don't know.
OH! And the cover, I almost forgot…WELL DONE. Beautiful. Wonderful, I would buy the book for that cover alone.
I just discovered —in all my linking glory— that one of the other romances in the book is in itself a book, published previously. So there is that, it is titled The Sergeant's Lady and was released last year. I will have to read it now (also a beautiful cover). That explains the treatment of the relationship in this book. I had no idea.
I received this book from NetGalley for review.
Filed under: historical romance, Regency, review Tagged: A Marriage of Inconvenience, ARC, historical, netgalley, Regency, review, romance, Susanna Fraser
April 5, 2011
FREE BOOK!!
Goodreads Book Giveaway
The Rake and the Recluse
by Jenn LeBlanc
Giveaway ends April 08, 2011.
See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.
Filed under: historical romance, Illustration, Images, The Novel Tagged: ARC, free, giveaway, Goodreads, The Rake and the Recluse
The Last Warrior – Susan Grant
"As a decorated soldier, the young General Tao knows only one kind of honor—to his people. But when his own king betrays him, he discovers that his sacrifices, his successes, may not have been for the good of the country at all.
Fate—and his enemies—throw him together with Elsabeth, a red-haired beauty who has served as the royal tutor. Her loyalties, though, remain with her father's people, the rebellious Kurel, who worship the old ways, even harboring the forbidden arks that brought the Kurel to this planet ages ago. When a threat greater than their peoples' war looms, intent on destroying the world they both know, the fierce warrior and the sensitive scholar must unite. Together, they must fight for their planet, for their world and for their love."
The love story in this book was beautiful. The relationship building was intricate and detailed and I loved her style when she was ignoring the world around them and simply concentrating on the feel of his hand or the look in her eyes. It's the only thing that kept me reading, and that might not be because of the book as much as because of me.
I don't read much fantasy or alternate world type books, because I just can't follow, and if it isn't done explicitly well, they just really annoy me. I did not like the world building here, I did not like the terms used, and throwing Dr. Seuss books in when the world is still new to me REALLY threw me for a loop and I had no idea what to expect. I get it now, but mentioning the Seussinator might have been better done later no in the story, not at the beginning where I'm trying to get used to the fact that the name of the world is a play on Earth, and some of the medicines they use are known as antibiotics and penicillin but others by literal names like "drowse." If these people are as smart as they are purported to be then the name of the medicine should follow suit, if the Kurel are not simple people and to name things as if they were is an insult to them in my opinion, it goes against the attempts to show them as smarter or above their station. If they know penicillin and antibiotic and continue to use it then they understand the origin and the reason for the names and their own names for medication would follow suit. These are just the little world-building details that stuck in my craw, so I apologize, because, like I said I'm not much for books that require it because I am so very into details that when something is a little bit off it rankles.
If it weren't for the love story, well, the promise of the love story I would have put the book down the minute I read "drowse" and I'm glad I didn't. The relationship built between Tao and Elsabeth was touching and believable. It grew slowly, building on trust above learned traits and behaviors. I loved that the characters did not fall to tradition and their prior teachings about the others' tribe. I loved that they were both open to learn about the other, and their respective peoples. It is very rare to find such open mindedness, and whenever they started to fall into their old ways they caught themselves, no outside force had to correct them. It was genuine and it was powerful. Outside of the world building issues that I am happy to own as mine, the writing was wonderful, it flowed and spoke and created wonderful scenes. My only other stumbling black was reading the pigeon-speak. No. I don't like that. I know what pigeons sound like, I'm good.
If you read it only for the love story it is worthwhile. I rated it a 3 because I almost didn't finish it after trying to get through the world building, and that's a bad thing. Again, for me.
I did not throw my book though I did roll my eyes every time the pigeons spoke (so maybe three times?) The only WTFckry was in the world building. OH! The cover. 1. That's not Tao, and 2. where was the snow? Whatever.
I received this book from NetGalley for review.
Filed under: review, sci-fi / fantasy Tagged: critique, ebook, fantasty, novel, review, romance, sci-fi, Susan Grant, The Last Warrior
April 4, 2011
Happy Birthday!!
Just a little birthday hello to a fellow author (I shouldn't because she is a tease, but there ya go)
Happy Birthday Ashley 
Filed under: historical romance, Illustration, Images
April 1, 2011
Please release me…set me free…
It's release week again, YAY!
Let me explain, the digital release was February 10, and the release next week is for the print book, which was never going to be a possibility. However, due to popular demand, there is now a trade paperback. The cost of printing an illustrated trade novel is a bit more than everyone would like, so I have it priced at the lowest possible cost, and I can't discount it. Not even for release week. SO.
Ebook sale!! That's right, to celebrate the release of the trade and limited edition full-color hardback, the EBOOK is now on sale! Exciting right?
Well I thought so anyway. So the party is next Friday (woot) and my first appearance and your first chance to get a set of trading cards (not to mention I have a couple ARCs of the trade I can sell) is tomorrow. The ebook goes on sale right about…NOW!
60% off all ebook purchases from this site, coupon code is PARTY!!
The code will expire shortly after the party next Friday.
ALSO!! The first chance to get a set of trading cards is tomorrow!! If you are in the neighborhood come see me at an art sale. More info on my Facebook page, are you a fan yet?
Rollercoaster brake released. Here we go…
And because it is illustrated, I suppose I'll share an image with you. Is this one in the final trade book? I'm not sure. I guess you can find out! EEEEP!!
Francine and Gideon
Filed under: historical romance, Illustration, Images, News, The Novel Tagged: ARC, beauty, book, couple, Derek Hutchins, ebook, epub, historical, historical romance, illustrate, illustrated, illustration, images, Jenn LeBlanc, love story, male, man, model, novel, photography, romance, studio, Victorian
March 29, 2011
Of auctions and endings.
FIRST! Because I always need something else to work on, I have an auction up right now, part of Operation Auction to benefit a member of the romance community Fatin whose husband was recently killed in a senseless tragedy. I am auctioning a photo shoot, held on-site during RomCon 2011, you + sexy cover model + makeup and hair + mad photoshop skillz = your own, personal, romance cover. GO. BID. NOW!
If you are the winner of the auction we will discuss your photo shoot this summer, costuming, themes, all the good stuff. It will be a BLAST! So GO. BID. NOW!
and in other news:
The end is here.
I have thought this before, but now I can really see it, feel it, touch it even, in the form of my novel in tangible form. Saturday I received the proofs of my hardback and trade paperbacks. They were beautiful, I was thrilled.
I am actually quite in love with the trade paperback. Quite. And so it is the end. The release is April 8 (you're coming to the party right? Here is your INVITE)
Sometimes I wish I was a traditional author. Writing a book then having help and backup for everything else. This one man band sort of thing is kinda nuts. (and by kinda—I mean really)
I farmed out a few things, I had help with content editing, a professional copy editor, assistance from a professional designer and photo editor, but for the most part it was me.
Concept, writing, design, photography, layout, research, etc. It doesn't sound like much, but it really is. Not that I am bragging, only sharing what it takes to self publish on this level. Yes, it's true, anyone can write a novel and upload it to Amazon to be sold on the Kindle store, but there is a huge difference between uploading a word document and uploading a fully polished, designed and completed ePub file. There are so many steps that go into publishing that I actually had not considered before.
ISBN registration with Bowker, © pages, correct layout, proper terminology, margins even. Indents and spacing. All these little tiny things that are automatic or inherent in publishing design, I don't —or didn't— know. Publishing for dummies style. I needed a checklist.
But here it is, checklist be damned, hell and high water both making appearances in the form of uncooperative software and file corruptions. The end. And, a beginning as well, because the end of this book heralds the start of the next and if you have read the first you know what I'm talking about. Everyone wants to know how Perry is going to get his rake on.
So there it is! Come say hello at the party! Check out the book, bring a friend, there will be FREE stuff, a photo booth (and speaking of photos GO. BID. NOW!)
Filed under: historical romance, Images, News, The Novel Tagged: beauty, ebay, ebook, historical, historical romance, illustrated, Jenn LeBlanc, male, model, Operation Auction, party, release, romance, sexy, studio, Victorian, vintage
March 25, 2011
The Vampire Voss – Colleen Gleason
"Regency London – a dizzying whirl of balls and young ladies pursued by charming men.
But the Woodmore sisters are hunted by a more sinister breed: Lucifer's own.
Voss, also known as Viscount Dewhurst, relishes the sensual pleasures immortality affords. A member the Dracule – a cabal of powerful, secretive noblemen marked with a talisman that reveals their bartered souls – the mercenary Voss has remained carefully neutral … until Angelica.
Angelica Woodmore possess the Sight, an ability invaluable to both sides of a looming war among the Dracule. Her very scent envelops Voss in a scarlet fog of hunger – for her body and her blood. But he is utterly unprepared for the new desire that overcomes him – to protect her.
Now Voss must battle his very nature to be with Angelica … but this vampire never backs down from a fight."
I really liked this book. It didn't fall into the typical I am a vampire here me roar tropes that so many books I've read do. We know you are a vampire, we've got it, KTHKSBYE. This book retells the vampires as minions of Lucifer, or Luce as his minions lovingly refer to him (can you call that cute? It's a cute nickname but the dude is evil, I mean THE evil, so cute is kinda odd here) Anywhoo…loved the retell. Loved how she added pieces to the traditional vampires without completely rewriting hundreds of years of foretold history and reference (which annoys the sparkle out of me-kidding!)
This book was interesting, it held my attention, the love story was difficult and impassioned, she didn't skirt around the very real issue that he was a terrifying murderous beast, but she showed us, she didn't tell us in the vein of 'he is a vampire 'nuff said' she also didn't beat us about the head with that fact, it simply was. There was a bit of info dump at the beginning, but kind of necessary for the world building, it's just that it was reiterated a bit too much at times. Pain, got it, need, got it, take take take, got it. It was almost too much…ALMOST. She walked a very fine line but I didn't roll my eyes.
The redemption themes went very well with the devil's minon ideas. It was very well played, and took these vampires where many would only dream to go, but I can't go on for fear of spoilage. The characters were well developed, and each stayed true to his own beliefs. A difficult thing in a vampire love story.
Because I am a cover junkie can I say I hate the cover? Because I do, I really hate it. I would never pick it up off a shelf. I don't like him on this cover AT ALL. She's fine, though a bit wimpy, but he is just ick. So there is that. I would hate to think that that cover would have kept me from buying this book in the store, I am sure lots of you will look at the cover and totally think I'm insane. That's the great part about books and art, I hate-you love. It is what it is. The design (as an aside) is beautiful. I just don't like him, and his glowy (in the wrong color) eyeballs.
SO Voss, and I love that he loves when she says his name, it's all the little things about falling in love that come forth in their story, the sounds of words the feel of bare skin, the handwriting, she does detail well, and she does it in spades. I want to say I loved this book, but I'm not sure. Ultimately I think I will reread it and then maybe I will be able to fall deeper into the story, but quite honestly, I went into it with that cover in my head (silly right? but I am a visual person) and I couldn't get past it.
Angelica was a wonderful personality, I wanted to smack her sister every time she showed up, but that happens with sisters, I want to smack my own every time she shows up too (kidding, not really, totally kidding)
So where does this all leave us? A beautiful love story, with very dark and twisted lines. I actually love the idea of the vampires in Regency London, I will probably look for the fuftre books (as this is #1 in the Regency Draculia series)
It did not keep me up late at night, I wasn't eager to get to bed just to read it, though I did take my iPad with me to dinner once, which I don't usually do. There was no WTFckery, I never rolled my eyes and I didn't want to throw the book across the room. WAIT! There was one thing that popped up two or three times. SIDEWISE is not a word. It just isn't. The word is sideways. That pulled me out of the story every time she said it, but other than that, nada.
I received this copy of The Vampire Voss from NetGalley for review.
Filed under: historical romance, paranormal, review Tagged: Colleen Gleason, historical, historical romance, paranormal, Regency, review, romance, vampire, Vampire Voss
March 18, 2011
Guarding a Notorious Lady – Olivia Parker
Guarding a Notorious Lady
(Devine & Friends #3)
by Olivia Parker
"A woman of pristine breeding, Lady Rosalind Devine is also an unrepentant meddler and snoop–which is why her brother refuses to leave her to her own devices while on his wedding trip. But Rosalind will not make things easy for any unseen, unwanted "nursemaid"–and vows to use her considerable wiles to expose her mystery guardian.
Nicholas Kincaid, the Marquess of Winterbourne, agreed to secretly guard his friend's spoiled, stubborn sister, though her infuriating penchant for mischief is causing him to question his decision. Though bound by the rules of society–and friendship– Rosalind's spirit and sensuality have sparked a fierce desire in Nicholas to play a very different role in her life, one that entails passion, ecstasy . . . and unavoidable scandal."
I had a hard time with this book. It just didn't build tension like I would have liked. The storyline is good, the characters were something, but there just wasn't any need or want for me to find out how they got to their HEA. I am not really sure why. It felt like I knew the entire book before I was out of the first chapter which was frustrating.
The fact that he is Scottish-ish doesn't add anything to the story other than mind-eye-candy, which is nice except that you then wonder why on earth he is a Scot. This book had some very real possibility that I just dint think it quite lived up to. It got better toward the end, but he got so incredibly brooding it seemed like an entirely different hero at times. I really liked her personality, but one of the things that makes her who she is is prevalent in the beginning then just disappears except for mentions, and speaking of mentions the bet that is the talk of the town, and a huge reason the hero is in the story and isn't even explained! Or is it and that was something very easily missed? I've no idea, but every mention of this so called bet annoyed me because I didn't know what it was for.
So I had a hard time, because I really wanted to like it, but just didn't. Also, at the end I think there is a serious editing mistake, or part of the book is missing, because he goes from telling her to leave her door unlocked to pulling her out of the room to go swimming at night basically in the same breath and it makes no sense whatsoever. But neither does swimming at night when she nearly froze falling in the lake earlier in the day. Hopefully it gets one more good edit before publication becuase there were some errant copy edit mistakes.
I really wanted to like this book, because I really liked where she was trying to go with the characters. I thought they were worth the effort of finishing, but in the end I was disappointed. It didn't work for me.
That being said, I didn't throw it across the room, I merely fell asleep readng it, (yay for smacking myself in the face with my iPad!) I didn't roll my eyes, because nothing was preposterous, far from it, it was all much to easily accepted. And no WTFckry.
I gave it 3 stars because I really, really liked the characters.
Filed under: historical romance, review Tagged: Devine & Friends, Guarding a Notorious Lady, historical, historical romance, novel, Olivia Parker, Regency, review, romance
March 15, 2011
You can haz cheer
I've a twitter buddy who needs a cheer today.
What could be better than an unpublished yummmmy from my upcoming book?
mmm
You can haz:
Filed under: News
