J. Kenner's Blog, page 93
March 12, 2013
The Bachelor Finale: It’s All About the Romance (and an early read of The Prince’s Bride!)
I’m so excited to have Julianne MacLean guest blogging today with her overview of The Bachelor! Read on! (And leave a comment for a chance to win an advance reading copy of The Prince’s Bride, coming in May!)
If you’re a hard core Bachelor fan like I am, you know exactly what I’m talking about. You tune in week after week to enjoy this guilty pleasure, and you wait eagerly for the fairy tale ending with a gorgeous Prince Charming, who gets down on one knee and proposes to the lucky woman who wins his heart over all the others.
Just like any good romance novel, there’s plenty of conflict and sexual tension along the way–and if we’re lucky, at least one cartoonishly evil villain will step out of the limo each season to keep the drama cooking.
This year it was Tierra—the most emotional and self-absorbed bachelorette we’ve seen in a while, or maybe ever. Thank you, producers, for selecting her to be on the show (although I think Little Miss Nevada was confused and thought she was on “Toddlers in Tiaras”). I can’t say I was disappointed when Sean kept her around week after week. She was the jaw-dropping train wreck that kept me riveted and awestruck. I just couldn’t look away.
Thank you also, for bringing us Courtney, who snagged the final rose during Ben’s season (are they still together? I’m guessing no…). Courtney provided me with unexpected inspiration for a female villain subplot in one of my novels. She unblocked my muse. Does that mean I can deduct part of my cable bill? Sure, why not.
But what about Sean and Catherine? The 2013 season finale just ended, with a seemingly equal fan base for both the bachelorettes who made it to the final rose ceremony. I hate to admit this—because I’m a romance novelist and I should have had this pegged—but I thought Sean was going to pick Lindsay. There was just something that felt right between the two of them and I loved her family. I was heartbroken when he rejected her, but she handled it with class and dignity. Surely she deserves some consideration for a future season of The Bachelorette?
Before then, however, we will see the return of Desiree, who will slip into some more slinky gowns, repel down a mountain or two, and maybe bungee jump off a bridge. Good choice, producers. Like the rest of Bachelor Nation, I adored Desiree. She was gorgeous, outdoorsy, and charming. I just hope her brother can learn how to play nice this time.
But back to Sean and Catherine. As I mentioned, I thought it was going to be Lindsey (was it a clue that she wore silver and Catherine wore gold?), but when I watched him propose to Catherine, I was sucked in like every other hopelessly romantic Bachelor fan, and was weeping into the sleeves of my fuzzy bathrobe when he slid the ring on her finger and she looked like she needed an oxygen mask. Now that’s good television.
Yes, I respected Sean’s mom, who worried about his tough decision and said cautiously, “You don’t have to propose to anybody.” I would probably say the same thing in her shoes, but as an incurably hopeless romantic, I shouted at the TV: “But America WANTS you to!”
Thank heavens he did get down on one knee. What would it be without the giant sparkly ring and the triumphant orchestral crescendo? We are all grateful for the happy ending, which is why I for one will continue to tune in to ABC on Monday nights whenever roses are being handed out.
* * *
If you love happy endings with a handsome Prince Charming, please leave a comment and tell me what you thought about this season’s Bachelor Finale
Or if you don’t watch the show, tell me your favorite series on television right now. The Walking Dead? Mad Men? Family Guy? 
One lucky random commenter will win an autographed advance reading copy of my upcoming release THE PRINCE’S BRIDE, which hits bookstores on May 1.
Marriage is more than she ever bargained for.
Bestselling author Julianne MacLean’s Regency-era trilogy of royal romance comes to a breathless conclusion…
Handsome Prince Nicholas of Petersbourg is an infamous ladies’ man, but even he doesn’t expect a flirtation at a masquerade ball to turn into abduction. Especially with a jailor as temptingly beautiful as the young woman on the other side of the locked door …
Veronique Montagne was desperate when she agreed to kidnap a prince to settle her profligate father’s gambling debts, and certainly didn’t imagine that her prisoner might sweet-talk her into helping him escape. Saving her home is now the least of her troubles, especially when the attraction simmering between her and the angry prince blazes into true passion. To save them both from scandal, Nicholas proposes a convenient marriage—but when a vengeful plot threatens to tear them apart, he discovers that Veronique’s love is what he desires most of all…
Julianne is a USA Today bestselling author of over 20 romance novels. Visit her website at www.juliannemaclean.com for more information about her books and writing life.
Thanks so much to Julianne for visiting! Don’t forget to leave a comment to win and ADVANCE copy of THE PRINCE’S BRIDE!
March 11, 2013
Meet Allison Brennan: Author & Television Addict!
I’m thrilled to have Allison Brennan on the blog today … in case you didn’t know it, a new Lucy Kincaid story is coming March 12! Pre-order Reckless now and you won’t miss a thing.
Read on, and learn all about Allison’s television addiction!
When I first got serious about writing, I was working full time and had three kids (I now have five!) and the only time I had to write was at night when the kids were asleep. But those hours were also my television time, and I’m a TV addict.
I love the movies, sure (and some movies just have to be watched on the big screen, like The Hobbit and Oz and Skyfall and Star Wars) but television is my true love. Sort of like movies are a stand-alone novel and television is a series – I love coming back week after week to my favorite television shows to revisit my favorite characters.
Because I was serious about finally finishing a book (I had over 100 beginnings and no endings!) I knew that I had to make sacrifices. The ultimate sacrifice was giving up television. I did it—I didn’t want television for three years.
There were minor exceptions. Renting a movie to watch with the family, for example, or my “reward” television—when I finished writing a book, I would reward myself with an entire season of one of my favorite shows on DVD. Then, my husband and I would have a marathon and watch the entire season in a week or two. That’s how I saw FIREFLY and LOST and DEADWOOD and HEROES.
Once I was able to quit my day job, I started up my TV habit again.
I am very heartened that over the last decade or so, television has really upped their game. Cable original programming has blown the doors off the “tried and true” (read: been there, done that) crime shows. (Aside: I love crime fiction, both reading and watching, so
75% of the shows that I buy or DVR are crime-related.)
First, JUSTIFIED. I like to say I discovered this amazing and original F/X show and then told all my friends and it became a hit. (Ha, ha, ha.) Seriously, I watched it from the beginning solely because I heard it was based on an Elmore Leonard short story and he was consulting. I thought, “This has got to be good.” It is better than good. It’s one of the best shows out there today. Now nearing the end of its fourth season. (They usually announce in March whether the show is renewed – I am very optimistic it’ll be renewed, and it should be.)
Another? HAVEN, on the SyFy network. Found out it was based (loosely) on a Stephen King book (THE COLORADO KID) and I just had to watch it. Love it.
One benefit of shows like JUSTIFIED and HAVEN is that they are shorter seasons, usually 13 episodes, which gives a great over-arcing story without drawing it out too long. And, because it’s shorter, they don’t take the long hiatus that network shows do. Like BONES, GLEE, and GRIMM.
Speaking of GRIMM – this is one of my favorite shows. In the first season, it was on the fence for weeks about whether it would be renewed or not. Fortunately, it was, and I’m so, so glad. It can take 2 or 3 seasons for a show to really find it’s audience, and this was one of those different shows that takes awhile to find a place. But it’s great storytelling and writing and I’ve loved it from the beginning. My problem? They took three months off in the middle of season two. That frustrated me. But, because the show is so good, I forgave them (now that it’s back on!)
I still love the tried-and-true shows, don’t get me wrong! NCIS and LAW & ORDER: SVU are on my must-watch list. I didn’t think that SVU would survive Elliot leaving; I’m glad they did because Amaro and Rollins are two of my favorite characters. And now that SUPERNATURAL has regained its footing after fumbling seasons 6 and 7, I’m happy. I’m not a fan, in general, of sit-coms, but my daughters (19 and 17) and I love NEW GIRL.
THE WALKING DEAD has been hit or miss for me – I loved season one, but season two has been a little … not as good. I don’t know why! I think maybe because to maintain the intensity, they should have stuck with the fewer episodes a season. Because this show is Intense with a capital “I.” But I love Daryl! (Who doesn’t?) and I have season three waiting in the queue because everyone says season 3 rocks it. (NO SPOILERS! I’ll get out my crossbow and … just kidding. But seriously, no spoilers!)
My new show of the year? THE FOLLOWING. Yes, it’s dark and gritty, but it’s oh-so-good with Kevin Bacon and James Purefoy and all the dark psychological drama I’ve always enjoyed, done well. Definitely not for the faint-of-heart! I’m also pleased that the network is limiting this to 13 episodes (last I heard) – this is one of those shows that can be a perfect one-season story arc without stretching or getting old.
And then … there’s something new coming out on March 18th! Like I need more television to watch … but the trailer to BATES MOTEL is so compelling, I suspect I’ll be watching next week. https://www.facebook.com/BatesMotelAETV
What about you? What show do you most want to see renewed for another season? Any show that’s worn out its welcome? What new show can you not wait to see? Let’s talk TV – my favorite addiction!
Allison Brennan is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of 20 books and numerous short stories. Her latest novella, “Reckless,” is out this Tuesday, followed by the sixth book in the Lucy Kincaid series, STOLEN, in June. She lives in northern California with her husband, five kids, and assorted pets. You can find out more about her and her books and links to facebook and twitter on her website, http://allisonbrennan.com
JK here: I’m not sure if I should thank or curse Allison for coming by … now I have more shows to add to my ever-growing pile!
March 10, 2013
Claim Me in my In-Box! (Thanks, Nook!)
All I have to say is “Yay”!!(Claim Me will be on-sale April 23!)
You can get Claim Me for the Nook by following this link: Pre-order Claim Me from Barnes & Noble!
And here are some links to other retailers:
Pre-order Claim Me from Amazon!
Pre-order Claim Me from Books-a-Million
Pre-order Claim Me from Random House
Pre-order Claim Me from your favorite independent bookseller
Pre-order Claim Me in the U.K. from Amazon
Pre-order Claim Me in the U.K. from Waterstones
Pre-order Claim Me in the U.K. from WH Smith
Want more? You can even pre-order Complete Me from Amazon or from Barnes and Noble! On-sale July 30!
And if you missed Release Me, you can snag your copy from your favorite retailers here:
Random House
Amazon (print)
Amazon (kindle)
Amazon United Kingdom
Barnes and Noble (print or Nook)
Books-A-Million
Kobo
iBooks
Indie BoundAnd don’t miss the contest! We’re celebrating Release Me being 8 weeks on the USA Today bestseller list! Learn all about it here!
March 9, 2013
Stark On Saturday – March 9 sneak peek at Claim Me (Stark Trilogy, book 2)
My phone beeps and I pause in the middle of the parking lot to pull it out of my purse, then smile when I see it’s from Damien.
Thinking of you. Be good on your first day. Get along with the other kids. But don’t share your candy.
I laugh and tap out a reply. I only share my candy w/ u.
His reply makes me smile. Very glad to hear it.
I answer just as quickly. Heading into building now. Wish me luck.
His response is quick. Luck, though you don’t need it. Meeting reconvening, must go. Tonight, baby. Until then, imagine me, touching you.
I always do, I reply, then sigh happily as I slide my phone back into my purse, but not before noticing the time. It’s only 9:45, which means that I have fifteen minutes before I’m supposed to report for work.
My phone rings, and I pull it out. Damien again. “I’m imagining,” I say, keeping my tone sultry.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” He doesn’t sound sultry at all. In fact, he sounds downright pissed. I grimace. Apparently, he’s just spoken to Edward.
“Going to work,” I say.
“I’m supposed to be in a meeting right now.”
“So why aren’t you?”
“Dammit, Nikki—”
“No,” I snap. “I’m the only one who gets to say that. Dammit, Damien, I am perfectly capable of driving myself. And if you want to hire out Edward then ask me. It’s easy. You walk up to me and say, ‘Nikki, darling, light of my life, can I have my driver take you to work?’”
There is a pause, and I hope that he is laughing. “And you would have said yes?”
“No,” I admit. “But that’s the way you should have handled it. It’s my job, Damien. I want to drive myself. I will drive myself.”
Claim Me will be on-sale April 23!
Pre-order Claim Me from Amazon!
Pre-order Claim Me from Barnes & Noble!
Pre-order Claim Me from Books-a-Million
Pre-order Claim Me from Random House
Pre-order Claim Me from your favorite independent bookseller
Pre-order Claim Me in the U.K. from Amazon
Pre-order Claim Me in the U.K. from Waterstones
Pre-order Claim Me in the U.K. from WH Smith
Want more? You can even pre-order Complete Me from Amazon or from Barnes and Noble! On-sale July 30!
And if you missed Release Me, you can snag your copy from your favorite retailers here:
Random House
Amazon (print)
Amazon (kindle)
Amazon United Kingdom
Barnes and Noble (print or Nook)
Books-A-Million
Kobo
iBooks
Indie BoundAnd don’t miss the contest! We’re celebrating Release Me being 8 weeks on the USA Today bestseller list! Learn all about it here!
More soon,
XXOO
March 8, 2013
bits and pieces…
Cover Reveal for Complete Me coming next week! And in just a few hours, Spring Break officially starts! (too bad it’s wet and rainy). I’m going to be so. freaking. productive.
We’ve Got Travel Fever! Continuing the Mardi Gras vibe with Marcia King-Gamble (and a giveaway!)
I’m all about the excitement of Mardi Gras and New Orleans! Today we’re still in the old French South with Marcia King-Gamble, author of the Revelers series with Michelle Monkou, who joined us yesterday. Marcia also has a giveaway for commenters…so keep reading!
I’ve got the fever – travel fever that is!
I figured I would continue the journey my collaborator, and friend, Bestselling author, Michelle Monkou, began yesterday. Michelle and I are on a mission to take you to a faraway place with our steamy Mardi Gras stories set in exotic locales.
My travel bug began at age eight when I left my tiny, Southern Caribbean Island and headed for the United States. I was so excited and so nervous that I never left my plane seat. I was awed by the clouds whizzing by and thrilled to be on a plane heading for a new adventure.
14 years later, I got offered a position as a flight attendant for an international airline. I was thrilled beyond belief. I’d made the cut, even though speaking a second language was a stretch for me.
From then on every penny of disposable income got squirreled away for the next international adventure. This was a love affair rivaling none. Oh the sights I saw, the foods I ate, and the people I met. It was the best finishing school ever. I went to places like Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, and Hong Kong. I pub crawled in Kansas City, flew over the glaciers in Alaska, and bought lobsters in Portland, Maine. I partied with rock stars and actors, and served kings and queens on my knees. (No joke here!)
Naturally when Michelle came up with the idea to serve up romantic, carnival-themed reads, I jumped on it. These were all places I’d been. Carnival was a part of my culture and writing about it was a natural for me. I chose New Orleans as a setting because Mardi Gras in The Big Easy is associated with fun. New Orleans is a city of mystery, tradition and culture. It’s got it all going on.
Its origins can be traced way back to medieval Europe. Then in the 17th and 18th centuries the French introduced Boeuf Gras – Fatted Calf. The colonies quickly got with the program and Mardi Gras was celebrated openly in New Orleans. Society balls quickly became the norm and that led to today’s Mardi Gras balls. It took a full one hundred years for the first street maskers to appear, and presto, the parades that exist today were born!
Almost anything goes at Mardi Gras and revelers will do almost anything to get those beads. The more beads you have draped around your neck, the more you probably have exposed. So when you shout, “Throw me something, Mister,” be prepared to bare your breasts and more.
Seducing Circe captures the excitement and decadence of a New Orleans Mardi Gras. Think Cajun hero meets savvy New Yorker amongst a world of intrigue.
Marcia King-Gamble hails from a sunny Caribbean island where the sky and ocean are the same mesmerizing shade of blue.
This former travel industry executive is a national bestseller with almost 30 books to her credit. She has written for Harlequin, Kensington Publishing, BET, and St. Martin’s Press. Visit her web page, Twitter, and Facebook page! Leave a comment.
Great thanks to Marcia for joining the blog!
She is giving away a copy of the novella and a Mardi Gras mask to a randomly-selected commenter below! Let us know what you think and be entered to win!
P.S. - I have a new Protector (Superhero) novella out! Check out Aphrodite's Embrace (currently only on the Kindle, but coming soon to other etailers!)
And in super fab news, Bantam has moved the pub date for the next two books in the Stark Trilogy even sooner! Claim Me will be out April 23, and Complete Me out July 30. WOOT! (And if you missed book 1, Release Me, grab your copy now!)
P.P.S. And why not scroll down and share the post? After all, sharing is sexy!
XXOO
--J.K.
March 7, 2013
Do You Have the Travel Bug? The Allure of Carnival with Michelle Monkou (and a giveaway!)
Considering how much I love to travel, I think today’s guest blogger and I must have been separated at birth! Please welcome Michelle Monkou, whose book, Carnival Temptress is part of The Revelers Series with Marcia King-Gamble. Coming in March! (And a giveaway, too — keep reading!)
Let me confess…travel documentaries, romance books with exotic settings, and reading about a country’s history are my favorite past times. You see, I love to travel. From the age of three, I’d left my birthplace of London, England and crossed the Atlantic Ocean to Guyana, South America. I say that was when the travel bug bit and I have been under the influence, ever since.
While I’ve made it a rule to travel, as much as possible, and as long as the budget allows, sometimes, I have to enjoy the beauty of new locales through the Travel Channel. The Caribbean has been one such place that has held a special allure for me. Each island has its history and mystique that make it different from all the others. Along with the weather, cuisine, natural beauty, the Caribbean also has traditional celebrations—Carnival—that give a signature flare.
Carnival has a long history that goes beyond the wild revelry of music and dancing in the streets. The islands of Trinidad and Tobago produce one of the largest Carnivals annually. The tradition dates back to the late 1700s with influence from the French, they do know how to party LOL. The Africans participated after the passing of the Emancipation Bill in 1834 with massive street celebrations.
Calypso music was the backbone of these festivities. In contemporary times, the musical genre, marked by drums and the steel pans, allows for wit, satire, and innuendo to be expressed without repercussion. Different flavors have been added to the Calypso beats reflected by the multi-ethnic population that came to the islands, as early as the 1800s as indentured servants. Now a hybrid of Calypso, called Soca, has emerged that has a more upbeat tempo. Each year, contests for the best Soca band are all part of the fun.
Spectacular costumes of beads, sequins, and feathers are a natural part of the celebration. Slaves were known to copy in their own style the lavish costume balls of their French owners. As a result, characters of the fete were created, many still in play in the modern Carnival. Once the parade begins, each band is led by a king and queen in the over-sized, large costumes. Physical stamina is definitely part of this job since the big contraptions require extensions and wheels to carry it through the streets.
Each Caribbean island has its own calendar schedule. In Trinidad and Tobago, the schedule is based on the pre-Lenten schedule on Monday and Tuesday, ending in the early hours of Ash Wednesday.
Can you tell that I absolutely love the Caribbean? What exotic (or simply romantic) location tickles your fancy? And until you get there, how do you satisfy that craving: documentaries, movies, romance books, etc. Please share, I’d love to hear your travel dreams.
Michelle Monkou recently celebrated ten years (Nov. ’02 – ’12) of writing romances and looks forward to many, many more years to come. She writes contemporary romances with Harlequin Kimani Romance (December release of Racing Hearts) and publishes her earlier titles (Secrets, Scandal & Seduction AND Finders Keepers), alongside new stories all in e-book format for Kindle and Nook. 
Michelle’s latest release, Carnival Temptress, is Book 1 in The Revelers series. The series is a collaborative effort with Marcia King-Gamble of sexy, saucy romantic tales in Carnival-themed settings. For further information, please check her website; her Twitter; her Author Facebook Page.
Thanks so much to Michelle for coming by! And also for generously offering to give away two book to two lucky commenters randomly selected. So be sure to drop her a line below!
March 6, 2013
Damien Stark sneaks and peeks! (Stark Trilogy Excerpt and Outtake from Claim Me, Book 2)
The image above is a sneak peek at the upcoming #StarkOnSaturday post scheduled for March 9!
And, because I’m feeling generous today, what follows is an outtake from Claim Me (i.e., a short bit that did not make it into book 2 of the Stark Trilogy!)
Jamie makes a face, then rolls off the bed and hurries to her room to change. While she’s gone, I strip down in the living room and slip on the cocktail dress. It has spaghetti straps, so the bra has to go. And then, because I’m feeling wild and decadent and a little bit melancholy, I take off my panties as well. I sigh, imagining Damien’s reaction when he explores beneath my skirt. For that matter, imagining my own. Just thinking about his hands upon me makes my skin tingle and my loins tighten.
I stifle a grin. In my pre-Damien days, I sincerely doubt that I’d ever once used the word “loin.” Now it is a word that I am intimately, happily familiar with.
I give myself a mental shake, then head into the bathroom to touch up my make-up, then into my bedroom for a garter belt and stockings.
Claim Me will be on-sale April 23!
Pre-order Claim Me from Amazon!
Pre-order Claim Me from Barnes & Noble!
Pre-order Claim Me from Books-a-Million
Pre-order Claim Me from Random House
Pre-order Claim Me from your favorite independent bookseller
Pre-order Claim Me in the U.K. from Amazon
Pre-order Claim Me in the U.K. from Waterstones
Pre-order Claim Me in the U.K. from WH Smith
Want more? You can even pre-order Complete Me from Amazon or from Barnes and Noble! On-sale July 30!
And if you missed Release Me, you can snag your copy from your favorite retailers here:
Random House
Amazon (print)
Amazon (kindle)
Amazon United Kingdom
Barnes and Noble (print or Nook)
Books-A-Million
Kobo
iBooks
Indie BoundAnd don’t miss the contest! We’re celebrating Release Me being 8 weeks on the USA Today bestseller list! Learn all about it here!
Hump Day Books from Stephanie Julian, Shar Dimick, Patricia Rice, Meredith Bond, Shelly Thacker, Debra Holland, Jean Brashear, and Patrice Michelle
Need a favorite new book to beat the mid-week slump? This week I have some great titles for your perusal… quite a few with a Western theme!
By Private Invitation (A Salon Games Novel)
An RT Top Pick and national bestseller!
Learn more at Stephanie’s website!
Take a Deep Breath (Lake of the Pines)
Now only $2.99.
Learn more at Shar’s website!
All A Woman Wants
Another new backlist release from Book View Cafe!
Learn more at Patricia’s website
Storm On The Horizon, a paranormal Regency romance novella
New Paranormal Historical Romance Novella!
Learn more at Meredith’s website
Timeless (Stolen Brides Series)
Sizzling HOT sale price just 99 cents, March 6-10 only!
Learn more at Shelly’s website
Starry Montana Sky (The Montana Sky Series)
An Amazon Top 50 Greatest Love Stories pick.
Learn more at Debra’s website!
Texas Roots: The Gallaghers of Sweetgrass Springs (Texas Heroes)
Brand-new Gallaghers story in Jean’s Texas Heroes series!
Learn more at Jean’s website
Josh’s Justice, Cowboy Romance (Bad in Boots, Book 4)
Top 20 in Western Romance!
Learn more at Patrice’s website
Interested in submitted a title for the weekly Hump Day feature? Here’s the info!
P.S. - I have a new Protector (Superhero) novella out! Check out Aphrodite's Embrace (currently only on the Kindle, but coming soon to other etailers!)
And in super fab news, Bantam has moved the pub date for the next two books in the Stark Trilogy even sooner! Claim Me will be out April 23, and Complete Me out July 30. WOOT! (And if you missed book 1, Release Me, grab your copy now!)
P.P.S. And why not scroll down and share the post? After all, sharing is sexy!
XXOO
--J.K.
March 5, 2013
The Stark Trilogy in Slovenia!
I
‘m thrilled that that the Stark Trilogy will be published in Slovenia! I recently accepted an offer from Mladinska Knjiga Zalozba D.D. for the Slovene rights!
Yay!
Interested in where Release Me and/or the entire trilogy has sold? You can click the image on this page to learn more about the foreign territories!
P.S. - I have a new Protector (Superhero) novella out! Check out Aphrodite's Embrace (currently only on the Kindle, but coming soon to other etailers!)
And in super fab news, Bantam has moved the pub date for the next two books in the Stark Trilogy even sooner! Claim Me will be out April 23, and Complete Me out July 30. WOOT! (And if you missed book 1, Release Me, grab your copy now!)
P.P.S. And why not scroll down and share the post? After all, sharing is sexy!
XXOO
--J.K.
