J. Kenner's Blog, page 66
February 14, 2014
Cover Reveal! IGNITED by J. Kenner — Most Wanted book 3
It’s #MostWantedMonday … on Friday!
And to celebrate, it’s cover reveal day for IGNITED, book 3 in the Most Wanted series! Can I just say YUM?
Preorder Here (More Retailers coming!)
Amazon/Kindle
Amazon UK
B&N/Nook
Amazon
Amazon UK
Barnes & Noble/Nook
iTunes
Books-A-Million
Indie Bound
Amazon print
Amazon Kindle
Random House
Amazon UK
Barnes & Noble/Nook
Books-A-Million
Indie Bound
Where Do You Want To Go Next?
The Stark Trilogy- bestselling erotic romance
Most Wanted series - desire and danger in this new erotic romance series
The Shadow Keepers - dark and dangerous paranormal romance
Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom - need we say more? fast-paced and fun, you'll love Kate Connor
Protector Series- bestselling light paranormal romance ... with superheroes!
The Blood Lily Chronicles- assassins and Armageddon, danger and desire, fast-paced urban fantasy
Click here to see if J.K. will be in your area or online soon!
February 13, 2014
Irene Preston: Gratuitous Sex, Quantum Entanglement, and My Love Affair with Jack White
Please welcome Irene Preston to the blog!
Gratuitous Sex, Quantum Entanglement, and My Love Affair with Jack White
Think those are just random words I used to lure you in? Wrong! I’m going to discuss all of them. And they will all be relevant (I hope).
Let’s start with the gratuitous sex bit. Now J. Kenner fans, don’t get me wrong – I’m an avid romance reader as well as writer. I like hot sex as much as the next person. There’s nothing I like better in a good read, especially a romance, than a steamy sexy scene.
But over the past few years, the term ‘mommy porn’ has been bandied about quite a bit. Erotica has been the hot word du jour (as though it never existed before 50 Shades), and. . . Infamous was published.
Infamous was, I thought, a rather sweet romance. Very family oriented. With, you know, a few steamy sex scenes. Just the right amount of sex (so I thought) to express the relationship that existed between my characters, Morgan and Jessica.
Imagine my surprise when I found out Infamous had been picked up for Crimson Romance’s “spicy” line. Spicy! Wow. Now, I should tell you, I didn’t really have a problem with this. I did write the steamy sex, after all. I read widely – including that new-fangled erotica on occasion. I don’t have a problem with sex scenes or erotica. But there is one thing I do have a problem with.
I’ll give you the scenario:
I’ve downloaded Hot New Romance Novel by Bestselling Author to my kindle. I’m enjoying it quite well when I get to this part (situation wildly altered to protect the guilty):
The protags, two physicists, are walking up a hill one afternoon discussing string theory as it relates to quantum entanglement and arguing over whether they should even take a second glance at loop quantum gravity. This is a Big Deal in the plot because their research grant is at stake. It’s an animated discussion. Then. Suddenly. They are having sex. Tab A goes into Slot B and. . . . .WHOA! Okay, back up. I was skimming a bit, because the math behind string theory is a bit over my head, so I obviously missed something. Except I didn’t. There’s no emotional lead-in to explain why these two people are suddenly having monkey sex. None. Then they get done and continue with the physics discussion.
Okay, that was the quantum entanglement bit. I’ll admit I cheated a little. It might not have been completely relevant.
Now here’s the thing. This is not a love scene. This is not even erotica. This is nothing. This is sex-for-the-sake-of-a-sex scene. I am not amused. I lose a bit of respect for Bestselling Author.
Why did all this become relevant to my “sweet” romance (with the steamy sex scenes)?
Well, apparently “sweet-with-steamy” wasn’t quite “spicy”. My editor asked me to add two sex scenes to maintain a heat level appropriate to the line. I agree (hey, I want the sale) and I am (I tell myself) a professional.
I sit down to make revisions, and the first scene goes off without a hitch. It’s actually just an expansion of a scene that was already in the book. I have the sneaking suspicion that I was just lazy to not write it in the first place. Onward to Scene Two.
And here’s where Artistic Integrity rears it’s head (who knew I had such a thing). I don’t want to write scene two. You see, I’ve made a big deal in the place where Scene Two is supposed to go about Jessica and Morgan not having sex. It is toward the end of the book and they are not in a good place. The are barely speaking. They are not having sex.
But I’m a professional. Right.
I spend several days kicking around different ideas for Scene Two (which I now refer to in my head as “Gratuitous Sex Scene”). I begin to have empathy for Bestselling Author and her physicists. I complain to my husband (the non-romance writer) who is spectacularly unsympathetic. “I don’t see the problem,” he says. “We have fights. Sometimes we have sex in the middle. It a happens.” Except in writing romance. In romance, sex means something. Otherwise, it is the romance equivalent of Chekhov’s gun never being fired.
Enter my love affair with Jack White.
Jack’s White’s “Love Interruption” more specifically (although, yes, I was already crushing on Jack before that). Here are the lyrics that did it for me:
I want love
To roll me over slowly
stick a knife inside me,
and twist it all around.
Holy cow! That’s devastating. That’s beautiful. And. . . it hit me. . . that’s what Jessica and Morgan needed if Gratuitous Sex Scene was going to work.
So I wrote it. Or I tried. I honestly can’t judge my own work. But I did try.
In the end, I think (I hope) it made the story stronger.
So here are my questions for you – when is the sex gratuitous? Always? Never? Some gray area in between? Have you experienced the Quantum Entanglement situation in a novel you’ve read?
If you’ve been kind enough to read Infamous, I’d love your feedback on how I handled the love scenes between Jessica and Morgan.
You can read the first chapter free on IrenePreston.com or grab the whole e-book on Amazon for only $1.99 during February. I warn you, there may be gratuitous sex. You can come back here and flame me if I broke my own rules!
Irene Preston has to write romances-after all, she’s living one! As a starving college student, she met her dream man who whisked her away on a romantic honeymoon across Europe. Today they live in the beautiful hill country outside of Austin, Texas where Dream Man is still working hard to make sure she never has to take off her rose-colored glasses.
Connect with Irene at her website, on Facebook, on Twitter, at GoodReads, on Pinterest, and on her Amazon Author’s Page!
Get Infamous at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, and KOBO!
Watch the official Jack White Lover Interruption Video!
And don’t forget to visit the Jack White webpage!
A big thanks to Irene for blogging with us today!
Don’t forget Irene’s questions: “When is the sex gratuitous? Always? Never? Some gray area in between? Have you experienced the Quantum Entanglement situation in a novel you’ve read?” Let us know what you think in the comments!
Where Do You Want To Go Next?
The Stark Trilogy- bestselling erotic romance
Most Wanted series - desire and danger in this new erotic romance series
The Shadow Keepers - dark and dangerous paranormal romance
Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom - need we say more? fast-paced and fun, you'll love Kate Connor
Protector Series- bestselling light paranormal romance ... with superheroes!
The Blood Lily Chronicles- assassins and Armageddon, danger and desire, fast-paced urban fantasy
Click here to see if J.K. will be in your area or online soon!
February 12, 2014
Hump Day books from Jean Brashear, Shirl Henke, Margaret Watson, Mary Campisi, Savanna Fox, Deb Marlowe, Michele Renae, and Mel Curtis!
Please enjoy this week’s fantastic selection of Hump Day books, including a Valentine’s Day anthology!
THREE books at one VERY low price!
Find out more at Jean Brashear’s website!
Loving Lucifer at Midnight (House of Dreams Trilogy)
Two spies battle each other in the bedroom but together stalk the enemies of England through the back alleys of Regency London.
More at Shirl Henke’s website!
New novella! $0.99 during February!
Be sure to visit Margaret Watson’s website!
Pulling Home: That Second Chance, Book 1
First time ever on sale! Only 99 cents!
For more visit Mary Campisi’s website!
Bound to be Dirty (Dirty Girls Book Club)
Can the Dirty Girls Book Club’s latest selection of BDSM save Lily’s faltering marriage?
Connect with Savanna Fox at her website!
A Slight Miscalculation: A Half Moon House Short Story (Half Moon House Series)
New Release: Free!
More at Deb Marlowe’s website!
Check out book #2 in the Paris Secrets trilogy that brings this sexy erotic romance closer than Window.
More at Michele Renae’s website!
The magic of Valentine’s Day comes alive in this anthology of never-before published novellas by award-winning and Amazon bestselling authors!
For more on Mel Curtis visit her website!
If you would like to submit a Hump Day book please click here and read the instructions!
Where Do You Want To Go Next?
The Stark Trilogy- bestselling erotic romance
Most Wanted series - desire and danger in this new erotic romance series
The Shadow Keepers - dark and dangerous paranormal romance
Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom - need we say more? fast-paced and fun, you'll love Kate Connor
Protector Series- bestselling light paranormal romance ... with superheroes!
The Blood Lily Chronicles- assassins and Armageddon, danger and desire, fast-paced urban fantasy
Click here to see if J.K. will be in your area or online soon!
February 10, 2014
Heated by J. Kenner – today’s #MostWantedMonday
“You’re pretty damn sure of yourself.”
“Very. What did you think? That walking away was going to wind me up? Was somehow going to make me want you more?” His voice, low and smooth, sent shivers coursing through me. “I’ll tell you a secret, Sloane. I already want you more. I saw you, and I knew I would have you.”
I licked my lips, but stayed silent. In part because I wanted to see where he was going, but also because I couldn’t trust myself to speak.
He paused on the dance floor, then took a single step back so that he could look at me fully. “I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing, but I don’t care.”
I shook my head. “I’m not playing a game.”
“No?” His gaze lingered on my face, and I had to fight the urge to turn away, afraid he’d see the truth in my eyes. “Too bad,” he said. “Because I am. I started playing the moment I saw you.”
I swallowed, not sure if I should run away or wrap myself in his arms. “I don’t understand.”
“Yeah,” he said. “I think you do,” and though his smile was warm, I saw heat and danger in his eyes. “You’re the prize, Sloane. And I’m in it to win.”
–We’re counting down to the release of Heated by J. Kenner, book 2 of the Most Wanted Series (this week’s #MostWantedMonday snippet!)
Coming May 13! Pre-order your copy now!
Amazon print
Amazon Kindle
Random House
Amazon UK
Barnes & Noble/Nook
Books-A-Million
Indie Bound
Where Do You Want To Go Next?
The Stark Trilogy- bestselling erotic romance
Most Wanted series - desire and danger in this new erotic romance series
The Shadow Keepers - dark and dangerous paranormal romance
Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom - need we say more? fast-paced and fun, you'll love Kate Connor
Protector Series- bestselling light paranormal romance ... with superheroes!
The Blood Lily Chronicles- assassins and Armageddon, danger and desire, fast-paced urban fantasy
Click here to see if J.K. will be in your area or online soon!
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February 5, 2014
Hump Day books from Patricia McLinn, Lisa Mondello, Tawny Stokes, Kathryn Lynn Davis, Patricia Rice, Melissa F. Miller, Terri Brisbin, and Edie Claire!
Please enjoy eight new Hump Day books, including historical romance, new adult romance, a mystery, a legal thriller, and a romantic ghost story!
Medals can be won, careers can be made, hearts can be lost …
Don’t forget to visit Patricia McLinn’s website!
Her Dakota Man (Book 1 – Dakota Hearts)
Book 1 of Dakota Hearts is now on sale for 99 cents!
More at Lisa Mondello’s website!
Violet is Blue (Hothouse series)
Brand New NA Romance!
First in the the Hothouse series!
Connect with Tawny Stokes at her website!
Scottish Historical now .99!
Please visit Kathryn Lynn Davis at her website!
Undercover Genius (The Family Genius Mysteries)
Next book in the Family Genius Mystery series now out!
And visit Patricia Rice’s website for more!
Irreparable Harm (Sasha McCandless Legal Thriller No. 1)
FREE Bestselling Legal Thriller!
First in the Sasha McCandless Series!
Visit Melissa F. Miller’s website for more!
The Queen’s Man – a time travel romance novel
Special 99¢ price until Valentine’s Day!
Don’t forget to visit Terri Brisbin’s website!
Wraith (Hawaiian Shadows, Book One)
Ghostly Hawaiian romance with 4.8-star average on 96 Amazon reviews now on sale for Valentine’s Day for just 99 cents!
For more see Edie Claire’s website!
If you would like to submit a Hump Day book please click here and read the instructions!
Where Do You Want To Go Next?
The Stark Trilogy- bestselling erotic romance
Most Wanted series - desire and danger in this new erotic romance series
The Shadow Keepers - dark and dangerous paranormal romance
Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom - need we say more? fast-paced and fun, you'll love Kate Connor
Protector Series- bestselling light paranormal romance ... with superheroes!
The Blood Lily Chronicles- assassins and Armageddon, danger and desire, fast-paced urban fantasy
Click here to see if J.K. will be in your area or online soon!
February 4, 2014
Fab sale on a great kick-ass series by Julie Leto
I’ve loved this kick-ass series by Julie Leto since it launched! And now you can get all her Dirty books in one shot for the sale price $3.99! Super cool!
Aren’t these new covers awesome?
For Kindle: http://amzn.to/1cHs0jy
For Nook: http://bit.ly/1fEXTba
Where Do You Want To Go Next?
The Stark Trilogy- bestselling erotic romance
Most Wanted series - desire and danger in this new erotic romance series
The Shadow Keepers - dark and dangerous paranormal romance
Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom - need we say more? fast-paced and fun, you'll love Kate Connor
Protector Series- bestselling light paranormal romance ... with superheroes!
The Blood Lily Chronicles- assassins and Armageddon, danger and desire, fast-paced urban fantasy
Click here to see if J.K. will be in your area or online soon!
February 3, 2014
Heated by J. Kenner on #MostWantedMonday
I took a single step away from the pillar I’d been guarding all evening. “I should probably mingle.”
“Probably,” Tyler said, as he took hold of my upper arm. “But what fun is there in doing what’s expected?”
I stopped, looked down at where his hand was pressed against my bare arm and idly wondered if I would have a burn mark there simply from the heat of our contact.
“You never did say why you were looking for me,” Tyler said.
“No, I don’t suppose I did.”
“You saw me from afar and just had to get close? If that’s the case, I know the feeling.”
I couldn’t help my laugh. “Good god, that’s corny. Does it work on many women?”
“You’d be surprised.”
“Mmm. Sadly I don’t think I would.” I really was enjoying myself far too much. “Actually, you’re not too far from the truth. I did see you, and I suppose you could say it was from afar. Magazines, newspapers, that kind of thing. You seemed powerful and a little mysterious.”
“Always good to keep the press and the public guessing. It increases the mystique.”
“Does it? Well, I guess it worked. I’ve thought about you, Tyler Sharp. You wouldn’t leave my head. And I decided that I had to meet you. I had to know if the living, breathing man was as interesting in person as he was in my fantasies.”
“And?”
“And now I’ve met you,” I said, then I gently pulled my arm free. And, leaving that little bit of bait dangling, I slowly walked away.
– Heated by J. Kenner, book 2 of the Most Wanted Series (this week’s #MostWantedMonday snippet!)
Coming May 13! Pre-order your copy now!
Amazon print
Amazon Kindle
Random House
Amazon UK
Barnes & Noble/Nook
Books-A-Million
Indie Bound
Where Do You Want To Go Next?
The Stark Trilogy- bestselling erotic romance
Most Wanted series - desire and danger in this new erotic romance series
The Shadow Keepers - dark and dangerous paranormal romance
Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom - need we say more? fast-paced and fun, you'll love Kate Connor
Protector Series- bestselling light paranormal romance ... with superheroes!
The Blood Lily Chronicles- assassins and Armageddon, danger and desire, fast-paced urban fantasy
Click here to see if J.K. will be in your area or online soon!
February 2, 2014
#SoccerMomSunday — more Kate Connor demon hunting soccer mom coming soon!
There were bodies everywhere. Pushing. Shoving. Writhing.
Some malevolent. Others merely . . . existing.
It was hell. Absolute, pure, undiluted hell.
I should know. My name is Kate Connor, and I’m a Level Five Demon Hunter with Forza Scura, a secret arm of the Vatican tasked with taking out demons and other nasties. Which means that I’m pretty well-versed in the realities of hell.
Welcome to #SoccerMomSunday as we count down to the return of Kate Connor, demon hunting soccer mom!
Kate and family’s newest adventure is coming soon in Pax Demonica, which will be on sale soon (end of this month or early next). If you haven’t already, be sure to sign up for the newsletter and be the first to know when the book goes live!
In the meantime, if you haven’t met Kate, you can download book one in the series, Carpe Demon, for free at most retailers!
Carpe Demon
Adventures of a Demon Hunting Soccer Mom (Book 1)
Kindle
Nook (99c)
Kobo
iBooks
And be sure not to miss any of the books in the Demon Hunting Soccer Mom series!
February 1, 2014
#StarkOnSaturday – do you fondue?
I reach for a strawberry, but he gently smacks my hand.
“No, no,” he says.
I stare at him. “Um, hello? Chocolate.”
He laughs. “Close your eyes.”
I narrow them but don’t close them.
“Disobedience, Ms. Fairchild? You do live dangerously …”
#StarkOnSaturday
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Books-a-Million
Random House
Indie Bound
Amazon UK
Waterstones
WH Smith
Where Do You Want To Go Next?
The Stark Trilogy- bestselling erotic romance
Most Wanted series - desire and danger in this new erotic romance series
The Shadow Keepers - dark and dangerous paranormal romance
Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom - need we say more? fast-paced and fun, you'll love Kate Connor
Protector Series- bestselling light paranormal romance ... with superheroes!
The Blood Lily Chronicles- assassins and Armageddon, danger and desire, fast-paced urban fantasy
Click here to see if J.K. will be in your area or online soon!
January 29, 2014
Hump Day books from Lily Everett, Richard Ellis Preston, Kathy Shay, Hope Tarr, Sydney Strand, Maggie Marr, Nicole Flockton, and Cat Kalen!
Please peruse and enjoy these eight enticing Hump Day books, including two boxed sets, the first in a steampunk series, and a collection of real-life romance stories from twenty eight romance writers!
Shoreline Drive (Sanctuary Island)
A marriage of convenience can turn into so much more. Especially on Sanctuary Island!
More at Lily Everette’s website!
Romulus Buckle & the City of the Founders (The Chronicles of the Pneumatic Zeppelin, Book One)
Recently hit #1 on the Books>Science Fiction & Fantasy>Science Fiction>Steampunk Amazon list!
See more at Richard Ellis Preston’s Amazon page or at his blog!
Beginnings: Six Series Starters
Six of Kathryn Shay’s award winning novels—the first book in each of her series—for a limited time only!
And be sure to check out Kathryn Shay’s website!
Scribbling Women and the Real-Life Romance Heroes Who Love Them
Twenty-eight romance fiction writers reveal their real-life stories of how they met, wed and love their spouses and life partners.
More at Hope Tarr’s website!
His Favorite Regret: A Romantic Comedy (His Favorite Series)
A NEW romantic comedy featuring an action hero and the girl he left behind…along with a dog named Mouse and a trifecta of sisters who like to create chaos.
And please visit Sydney Strand’s website!
Hard Glamour (The Glamour Series)
Hard Glamour, Book 1 in the Glamour Series, Maggie Marr’s New Adult Contemporary Romance series is now available!
Be sure to visit Maggie Marr’s website!
A sexy short story about being in love with your best friend — and discovering it takes two to tango!
Find out more at Nicole Flockton’s website!
HOT New Release sure to take away the winter chill!
More at Cat Kalen’s website!
If you would like to submit a Hump Day book please click here and read the instructions!
Where Do You Want To Go Next?
The Stark Trilogy- bestselling erotic romance
Most Wanted series - desire and danger in this new erotic romance series
The Shadow Keepers - dark and dangerous paranormal romance
Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom - need we say more? fast-paced and fun, you'll love Kate Connor
Protector Series- bestselling light paranormal romance ... with superheroes!
The Blood Lily Chronicles- assassins and Armageddon, danger and desire, fast-paced urban fantasy
Click here to see if J.K. will be in your area or online soon!
