Today's Special - - Jess Michaels

Jess Michaels is a woman with multiple personae.  She writes historical romance as Jenna Petersen, snarky urban fantasy as Jesse Petersen and, as Jess Michaels, is an award-winning author of erotic historical romance.   I first met this talented author -and really fun lady - as Jenna Petersen but today we're welcoming her as Jess Michaels, writing geek.  When Jess isn't busy writing, she can be found hiking the desert surrounding her Arizona home, spending time with family and designing jewelry (which she sells).  Find more information about her at her website.

Welcome, Jess!

Confessions of a Romance Writing Geek

Jess Michaels

Hi everyone and thanks so much to PJ and Andrea for having me here on Romance Dish. I think we’ve known each other since the dawn of time. Okay, so maybe more like 7-8 years. Sometimes that feels like the dawn of time to me.  But some of you lovely readers may not know me quite so well, so here is what you need to know about me: I write erotic historical romance as Jess Michaels set in the Regency period. I write dark, emotional erotic stories and it’s pretty darn fun. I have also written historical romance as Jenna Petersen and I write snarky urban fantasy as Jesse Petersen. I wear a lot of hats.

But the big thing I’m here to talk about today is I am also a self-proclaimed, loud and proud geek. It didn’t used to be cool to say that. As a kid, my geekish tendencies had me ignored on the playground, but now is a great time to be a geek. So how am I a geek? Well, my home is decorated with art from comic books, Star Wars and Venture Brothers for one. I am a huge fan of anime. I wear t-shirts with Star Wars on them and lines from Portal (a video game). Oh, and I play video games. A lot. And Munchkin.

So basically, your happy geek. But lately I’ve been thinking about the fact that my geekishness is what helps me write. As a kid, I was always entangled in pretending. My brother and I had friends (The Davlin Kids) who used to come to stay with their Dad in the summers. As soon as they got to town, they’d practically live at our house, playing Star Wars, writing our own movies and generally wreaking havoc on the order of my Mom and Dad’s house.

Pretending got me through a lot of days. Telling and acting out stories was a fun escape we all indulged in. Now I do it for a living. Though instead of acting out the stories I’m telling, I write them down on the page and eventually they become available for mass consumption. I don’t think I’d be doing that if I hadn’t played Princess Leia in a dozen new adventures in my back yard as a kid.

So what makes you geek out? Or did you ever do anything as a kid that led you to the path you’re on now?

Review -- The Unclaimed Duchess

The Unclaimed Duchess
Billingham Bastards -- Book 2
By Jenna Petersen
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: August 31, 2010






Rhys Carlisle, Duke of Waverly, has lived his life adhering to the strict social dictates ingrained in him by his late father. He has a reputation for being distant, cold, and obsessed with maintaining the sanctity of his rank. Like his father, he believes that all emotions are weakness and that a duke should not congregate with anyone below their station. After he marries his longtime fiancée, Lady Anne Danvers, and they return from their honeymoon, Rhys is visited by his friend Simon, Duke of Billingham, who delivers the words that will change Rhys’s life forever: he is a bastard son of the late Duke of Billingham. Simon also informs Rhys that someone else knows their secret and is attempting to blackmail them. Naturally, Rhys is confused and angry and he immediately rides off to be alone as he doesn’t want anyone, including his new wife, to witness as he struggles with the shocking truth of his birth. The stubborn Anne later confronts him at his hideaway, but Rhys refuses to divulge his secret in order to protect her. He figures that if they separate, then when the scandal breaks, Anne won’t be viewed as a partner in the scandal, but as a victim. What he doesn’t count on is how much his wife is willing to fight for him. And despite how close they become while at the cottage, he knows he must return home to deal with the impending scandal.

Lady Anne has been betrothed since birth to Rhys and has been in love with him for nearly two decades—ever since he rescued her from his teasing friends when she was a little girl. She has been raised to be the perfect duchess and hostess to Rhys and hopes he’ll possibly return her love someday. After such a long engagement, Anne is thrilled when they finally marry and believes it’s the perfect beginning. Needless to say, she is stunned when upon their return Rhys leaves with no word as to his whereabouts and doesn’t come back after three days. Anne frantically calls upon Simon demanding he tell her what was said between him and her husband. Simon doesn’t feel it’s his place to reveal all to her, but does tell her where Rhys might be. Anne goes there and finds her husband a broken man. She is determined to support him...even if he won’t tell her why.

The Unclaimed Duchess is the second book of Jenna Petersen’s Billingham Bastards series. Readers met Rhys in the first book, What the Duke Desires, and I was anxious for his story, despite the fact that he came across as arrogant. I actually like a little arrogance in my heroes. *g* He starts off as sort of a jerk in this book, but with the steadfast love and devotion of Anne, he becomes a hero truly worthy of her love. Anne was a wonderful heroine and really embodied the phrase “stand by your man”. She wasn’t weak and she never gave up. “...I’ve always seen something more in Rhys. I have always known it was there, hiding...perhaps being protected by that cold shell he presents to the world. I believe...no, I know he has a capacity for true nobility beyond his rank, beyond the blood and family history he holds in such high regard.” I especially enjoyed the time Rhys and Anne shared at the cottage getting to know each other better. It was very touching. Plus, fans of the first book will be happy to revisit Simon and Lillian as they play pivotal roles in this story. The Unclaimed Duchess is a great addition to the series that leaves me wanting more—I can’t wait for the next installment!

~Andrea

Guest Author - Jenna Petersen

Today we are thrilled to have Jenna Petersen (also known as Jess Michaels) as our special guest author! I've been a fan of Jenna since her debut book, Scandalous, hit the shelves. She is one busy lady, let me tell you. Not only does she write under and have a website for both of her pseudonyms, she also runs The Passionate Pen website, a valuable resource for anyone who wants to write and become published. Her latest book, What the Duke Desires, is the start of a new series and one that you don't want to miss! Check out my review here. So without further ado, please help me welcome Jenna Petersen to The Romance Dish!

Hi everyone! And thanks so much for having me today! I’m so excited to be part of The Romance Dish’s launch week!

So if you don’t know me, I’m Jenna Petersen and I write historical and erotic historical romances. Oh… and I also like to break heroes. It’s true. Think of my track record. In SCANDALOUS my hero was a bastard with a terrible mother and an even worse brother who is forced into a marriage. FROM LONDON WITH LOVE, accused of treason. DESIRE NEVER DIES, feels responsible for the terrible injury of his best friend and partner. SEDUCTION IS FOREVER, adrenaline junkie with a death in his past. LESSONS FROM A COURTESAN, another forced marriage and has to keep a terrible secret from his beloved brother. And my last book, HER NOTORIOUS VISCOUNT, dead twin brother, forced to take on a title he hates.

So, yeah, I like to take my men and twist them in knots. And my latest release, WHAT THE DUKE DESIRES, is no different. However, I do think I’ve reached the peak of my sadism against heroes in this book.

First, let me say that Simon Crathorne, Duke of Billingham is a decent man. He’s not your typical rake (though he’s certainly sexy as all get out) and he’s basically trying to do the right thing. That made breaking him a little harder in some ways. But I managed to do it by dismantling everything he ever believed about his father and ultimately everything he ever thought about his own life.

Twisted, right? And I had so much fun doing it. And even more fun knowing that my heroine had it out for him (at least for some portion of the book) even as he’s falling in love with her.

So you may now be thinking, “Sheesh, lady, why mess with a nice guy?” Well, I have to tell you, I love romances where the couple has to struggle and battle, ones that tie me in knots and make me wonder if it can all really work out. I think it makes the happily ever after all the sweeter. And there was nothing sweeter to me than getting Simon and Lillian there.

Oh yeah, and this book starts a series, The Billingham Bastards. And since the word “bastards” (one of my favorite themes, obviously) is in the title, you can bet I’ll be tying my other two heroes from the series into knots, too. But that’s for a different day…

So do YOU like the battle of a romance to get to the happily ever after?

And I have an extra special treat for you, dear readers! Jenna has graciously allowed me to post the cover for her upcoming Jess Michaels' release NOTHING DENIED!

So, what do you think? I love it and think it fits perfectly with the other books in the series. NOTHING DENIED is the third book in the Albright sisters series and releases February 2, 2010! I can't wait for this one!!

REVIEW - WHAT THE DUKE DESIRES

What the Duke Desires by Jenna Petersen

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: October 27, 2009

After overhearing her father’s deathbed pronouncement to her brother for the reasons behind her mother’s scandalous suicide, Lillian Mayhew has sought revenge against the man responsible, the Duke of Billingham. Instead of avenging their mother’s death, her brother drowns his sorrows in a bottle. And then the old duke passes away and is praised as a saint. Lillian knows what she must do – find proof that the former duke is nothing like he is heralded as and expose the truth about him. The perfect opportunity arises in the form of a house party hosted by the current duke and his mother.

Simon Crathorne, Duke of Billingham, is seeking a respectable wife, thus the reason for the house party. From the moment he first sees Lillian, Simon feels an instant connection with her. And even though he knows she isn’t an appropriate choice in a bride, he can’t seem to stay away from her. While going through his father’s papers at the estate, he learns that his father isn’t the man that he and everyone else thought he was. But will the things he discovers ruin any chance he has for happiness?

What the Duke Desires is the first book in a new series by Jenna Petersen, and I must say that it looks to be a really good series if this one is any indication. Simon is unlike any of Ms. Petersen’s other heroes and I completely adore him! I love that despite his parents’ disastrous marriage, he believes in love and wants it and passion in a marriage. I also love that he didn’t let up with Lillian – he repeatedly goes to her, whether it’s to check on her after she claims a headache or just to walk with her. And he doesn’t care that all eyes are on him when he does. Even though Lillian doesn’t like the attention, he continues – not to be mean but because she truly interests him and he doesn’t care who knows it. He’s nothing if not determined! *sigh*

Lillian is a clever and very genuine heroine. She comes to the house party with a purpose, but once she meets and gets to know Simon, her priorities start to shift. She finds it more and more difficult to carry through with her original plan since doing so will hurt Simon. I like that she isn’t the typical I-don’t-want-marriage heroine. In fact, she isn’t against marriage at all, but has no illusions of such a lofty one – she’s over twenty-five, possesses no money, has a drunk for a brother and a scandalous mother. Her practicality is very refreshing.

This is now my favorite of Jenna Petersen’s books. In it, she brings readers a well-matched hero and heroine, a cast of attention-grabbing secondary characters, and a plot twist that will surprise you. You do not want to miss What the Duke Desires!

~Andrea