Award-Winning Western Romance Author Jennifer Jakes

GET LOST IN THIS STORY…

A man with a bitter past…

After the Civil War, Major Sinclair Bradford fled West to escape the pain of battle and the shame of a failed marriage. Haunted by betrayal and lies, he trusts no one—especially women. The last thing he needs is the lure of a dark haired brothel madam. Not only is she beautiful enough to tempt the devil, she’s deceitful enough to shred what’s left of Sinclair’s heart. But when she asks for his help to investigate the attack of a young girl, he can’t say no to her—nor the aching desire she stirs in him.

A woman with no future…

Eden Gabrielli lives by three rules: Never trust the wealthy, do whatever it takes to survive, and never again believe a decent man could love a whore. After being stabbed and left for dead, she must lie to keep her secrets and protect her sister from a life of prostitution—even if that means deceiving the handsome and determined Major Bradford, the one man who tempts her to break her rules. She might need his help, but she craves his touch, which makes him a dangerous ally. Because if the truth is revealed, more than her rules could be broken…

I’m thrilled to host Jennifer Jakes at Get Lost In A Story today! Not only is she an uber-talented author, she’s one of my writing partners for the Western romance anthology Passion’s Prize, which contains her steamy new novella, Eden’s Sin. Jennifer was a Golden Heart finalist in 2010, the same year I made the finals, both of us with Western romances. She’s an amazing writer, but you’ll find that out as soon as you pick up one of her books.

 After trying several careers—everything from a beautician to a dump truck driver—Jennifer finally returned to her first love, writing. Maybe it was all those Clint Eastwood movies she watched growing up, but in her opinion there is no better read than a steamy western historical.

Married to her very own hero, she lives on seven acres along with two beautiful daughters, two spoiled cats, three hyper dogs and one fat rabbit.

During the summer she does Civil War re-enacting and has found it a great research tool, not to mention she has continued appreciation for her microwave and hot water heater.

Her debut novel, RAFE’S REDEMPTION, was a RWA Golden Heart® finalist and Won BEST ROMANCE 2011 at DITHR and many other awards. RAFE’S REDEMPTION has since become a #1 Best Seller on Amazon! 

Her second book, TWICE IN A LIFETIME, was an International Digital Award finalist. It has also recently become a #1 Best Seller on Amazon! 

An excerpt from Eden’s Sin…

“We can see if Mary Rose feels up to talking now.” Eden stacked the dirty plates into the sink. “The dishes can wait.” Better to let the major ask his questions and be gone. This evening was too …cozy.

“All right.” He pulled the frying pan free from the heat. “After you.”  He smiled again, and it was discerning as hell. His dimple, the fact his eyes crinkled at the sides…and the way his hair was still mussed did crazy things to her insides. He was nothing like the men she’d been with. High-bred dandies, they were. Alexander being the cream of the crop, or the bottom of the barrel depending on how you looked at it. Nevertheless, all of them were worthless, selfish men who betrayed their wives, their business partners, and anyone dumb enough to associate with them.

She much preferred Sinclair’s class of people. Much preferred a lazy smile from a man willing to help in the kitchen over a rehearsed laugh from a man sprawled over a fainting couch. Much preferred the heady scent of saddle leather over bottled toilet water. Much preferred the man following her over any man she’d met in a long, long, long time.

She felt his gaze scorching her back as she led him through the kitchen to the spare room where Mary Rose rested. What was he thinking as he trailed behind? Was he wondering about her limp? Why she'd become a whore?

Something foreign inside made her want to tell him, wanted him to understand this life had chosen her, not the other way around. That given a choice, she would have been anything but a whore. Could have been a wife, a mother. Could have been someone respectable, wonderful, loved.

Before they reached the door she stopped short and turned – colliding against the major. His arms shot out catching her, wrapping her in his heat for just a moment, but searing her with the memory she wouldn’t soon forget. She glanced up to apologize, but the words froze in her throat. His brown eyes darkened to black, and a thick, languid heat flooded her limbs, making her boneless.

She melted against his hard body. Oh, God, she wanted him, wanted to stay right here in his heat for just a minute or a month. She wanted to feel safe, warm. Wanted, wanted so much.

She lifted her head. His lips were full and so close. His breath brushed across her cheek, warm, sweet from his sugared coffee. His palm slid up her ribs, his fingers achingly close to her breast, closer, closer, so close the breath froze in her lungs. The look he gave her was unguarded, exposed, raw, a look that stirred a spark inside her, sparked embers she'd buried long ago. A spark she thought to keep extinguished forever, but now it scorched her inside out.

And God help her, she liked it.

E.E.: How often to you get lost in a story?

Jennifer: Not nearly as often as I wish I could! But I do manage to read a few chapters each night before bed—even if that means staying up a little too late…LOL

E.E : What’s the first romance book you remember reading? 

Jennifer: Oh, good question! And I actually do remember! I was 11 yrs old and it was summer break. I must have been driving my mom crazy because she handed me a Harlequin and said, “Go read!” The title was Blue Jasmine. And the rest, as they say, is history. I was hooked on romance!

E.E.: What’s your favorite cartoon character?

Jennifer: Is it wrong to have a crush on Flynn Ryder from Tangled….? No, I didn’t think so. He’s the BEST Disney hero ever—not to mention the only one who could grow facial hair and act manly…just sayin’.

E.E.: What sound or noise do you love?

Jennifer: I love rain on a tin roof. Makes me wish my house had a tin roof. Since it doesn’t, I do like the ticking of a clock or the lapping of waves.

E.E.: Be honest, when reading...do you put yourself in the heroine’s role?

Jennifer: Oh, yeah. And in the hero’s. That’s why I’m such a tough critique partner. :)

E.E.: What’s your favorite kind of story to get lost in?

Jennifer: Historical Romance all the way. Preferably, Western Historical. I want action and danger, and I like the grittiness of the Old West.

E.E.: What do you do to unwind and relax?

Jennifer: I’m not familiar with these 2 words. What are they? LOL  Honestly, I am a workaholic. Wish I wasn’t but it’s my nature.

E.E.: What would you say is your most interesting quirk?

Jennifer: I have a very odd sense of humor. ;) Odd and ornery and a little dirty.

E.E.: Tea or Coffee? And how do you take it?

Jennifer: Iced Tea/ “Girly” (as my dh calls it) Coffee. A little coffee with my cup of cream and sugar.

E.E.’S GOTTA ASK – JENNIFER’S GOTTA ANSWER  J

E.E.: Who's your celebrity crush and why?

Jennifer: Ohhh, Alex O’Loughlin, 100 %.  He is gorgeous and has an Australian accent (tho’ we don’t get to hear it on Hawaii 5-0). What more can you ask for in a hero? He’s fodder for many a daydream, er, I mean plot. Plot, yes, that’s what I meant.

 

CURRENT RELEASES: Eden’s Sin, an individual novella and featured as one of three interlinked stories in the anthology Passion’s Prize. This book, written with Golden Heart sisters E.E. Burke and Jacqui Nelson, is the first in a new series, Steam! Romance and Rails.

UP NEXT: Ah, decisions, decisions. I have so many plot ideas right now, I’m having a hard time deciding on which one. I have part of ALASKAN HEAT written but a group of sexy Civil War heroes are bugging me to write their series….so we’ll see.

PREVIOUS RELEASES: Well, my Debut Book and Golden Heart novel recently made Kindle #1 Best Seller. Check out RAFE’S REDEMPTION if you have time.  http://tinyurl.com/btv45l2

Here’s where you can find Jennifer:

Website: www.jenniferjakes.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jennifer.jakes.33

Twitter: @jenniferjakes

Pinterest: Jennifer Jakes

Blog: Wild and Wicked Cowboys

Will you be giving away a book today?

Actually, two ebooks. Eden's Sin and Rafe's Redemption. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

GOT A QUESTION YOU’D LIKE TO ASK YOUR FANS?

Jennifer: If you’re a fan of the Western genre, have you been watching the new(ish) T.V. series on AMC-TV, Hell on Wheels? If so, who is your favorite character on the show?