Get Lost in This Story…
CONFESSIONS OF AN IMPROPER BRIDE
TWICE TEMPTED
Serena Donovan left London six years ago, her heart broken and her reputation ruined by devilishly handsome Jonathan Dane. Now, with her family's future in peril, she reluctantly agrees to return to England and assume her late twin's identity. The price? Marry a man she doesn't love and spend the rest of her days living a lie.
Jonathan Dane, Earl of Stratford, has become an incorrigible rake, drinking, gambling-and trying to forget Serena Donovan. Yet the moment he's introduced to the prim and proper "Meg", he recognizes the sensual young woman who captured his heart. Haunted by his past mistakes, he refuses to lose Serena again. But convincing her to trust him is no easy task. Claiming his lost love means exposing the truth and destroying the life Serena has sacrificed everything to rebuild. With the future of all the Donovans at stake, and their undying passion capable of triggering yet another scandal, how much will Jonathan and Serena risk for a chance at true love?
Serena Donovan left London six years ago, her heart broken and her reputation ruined by devilishly handsome Jonathan Dane. Now, with her family's future in peril, she reluctantly agrees to return to England and assume her late twin's identity. The price? Marry a man she doesn't love and spend the rest of her days living a lie.
Jonathan Dane, Earl of Stratford, has become an incorrigible rake, drinking, gambling-and trying to forget Serena Donovan. Yet the moment he's introduced to the prim and proper "Meg", he recognizes the sensual young woman who captured his heart. Haunted by his past mistakes, he refuses to lose Serena again. But convincing her to trust him is no easy task. Claiming his lost love means exposing the truth and destroying the life Serena has sacrificed everything to rebuild. With the future of all the Donovans at stake, and their undying passion capable of triggering yet another scandal, how much will Jonathan and Serena risk for a chance at true love?
Jennifer Haymore grew up on the Big Island of Hawaii, where she surfed, learned how to fly airplanes, raced bicycles, and developed a love for sailing. She was an avid reader and completely destroyed her eyesight by sneaking a flashlight under her covers and reading far into the nights — making her mother wonder why on earth she couldn’t get up for school in the mornings…
Jennifer holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from UC Berkeley and a master’s degree in Education from UCLA. Before she became a full-time writer she held various jobs from bookselling to teaching inner-city children to playing bit roles in soap operas.
You can find Jennifer in Southern California trying to talk her husband into yet another trip to England, helping her three children with homework while brainstorming a new five-minute dinner menu, or crouched in a corner of the local bookstore writing her next novel.
Welcome to Get Lost in a Story today, where I am excited to host fellow historical author and agency sister, Jennifer Haymore! In this fun interview, I learned we have more in common than a genre and an agent…and that’s an eclectic music collection and a love for cream and sugar.
So, let’s get to the Get Lost Interview and learn more about this fabulously talented author!
Heather: What’s your favorite “love” word?
Jennifer: I have so many! I think “adore” is one of my favorites. When a man adores a woman, you know he’s done for!
Heather: Do you write while listening to music? If so what kind?
Jennifer: I always write while listening to music. It’s as if my brain is not programmed to write unless I have my iPod going. It doesn’t even matter what kind of music--I often have my entire playlist going, which is a hugely eclectic mix from classical to show tunes to jazz to Celtic music to pop to rap. Crazy, I know…
Heather: What’s the first thing you do when you finish writing a book?
Jennifer: Sleep, usually! I just finished writing a book that’s due in August, and I closed my computer in the parking lot of a park, then went to watch my son’s baseball game. But after it was over, I slept for about 10 hours straight!
Heather: If you were given a chance to travel to the past where would you go and specifically why?
Jennifer: There are so many places I really want to go. Ancient Rome and Ancient Egypt are two eras I love. But right now, I’d really like to visit Regency England. There are some research questions that are so difficult to get answered, so I’d go and see what the “real” Regency was like!
Heather: Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let them influence your writing?
Jennifer: I know a lot of writers say they don’t read reviews, but I do. I’m very interested in what readers think about my stories, and I listen to their criticisms. With every book, I try to improve, to become a better storyteller and ultimately a better entertainer.
Heather: Tea or Coffee? And how do you take it?
Jennifer: I drink far too much of both--I’m on a chai tea kick right now. I take both with plenty of cream and sugar!
Heather: What color would you make the sky if it wasn’t going to be blue anymore and why?
Jennifer: I think I’d make it lavender because it’s the only color I can think of that would keep us all calm. Can you imagine a fire-engine red sky? Eek!
Heather: What is your favorite cheese?
Jennifer: American cheddar. My foreign friends have told me it’s far too orange to be natural, but it’s been a staple of mine forever!
Heather: What’s your favorite kid joke?
Jennifer: I don’t have one, but I can tell you my husband’s (of course, he’s taught this one to our children!).
Q: What did Silly Willy say to the bee?
A: Boo, bee!
Ha. Ha. Ha. <g>
Heather: Which era would you most like to have lived in, fashion-wise and why?
Jennifer: I have always adored the fashions of the late 19th century--late Victorian times. Think of Scarlett O’Hara’s clothes in Gone with the Wind. My absolute favorite!
Heather: Which is your favorite language other than your native language?
Jennifer: French. The language of romance. ;-)
Heather’s GOTTA ASK – Jennifer’s GOTTA ANSWER J
Heather: So, I noticed on your website that you grew up on the Big Island of Hawaii (I’ve only spent a week there, but absolutely LOVED it). Can you tell us what it was like for you to grow up in such a beautifully remote place?
Jennifer: Growing up in Hawaii, I couldn’t wait to get away, to go back to the mainland where I was born. When I was 15, I developed this plan whereby I’d go to California and live with a friend, and graduate from high school a year early. I was determined! I ended up doing both, but now I understand why 15 is waaaay too young to leave home. It was really hard on me--I needed my parents! It was better the following year, when I started at UC Berkeley at the age of 16…still too young, but better.
Now that I’ve been away from Hawaii for so long, I miss it and can’t wait to get back. My husband and I have talked about moving there hundreds of times, but there’s always something keeping us back.
GOT A QUESTION YOU’D LIKE TO ASK YOUR FANS?
Jennifer: I made a few decisions when I was young (under 21) that changed my life. One was leaving Hawaii and my parents at the age of 15, which I regretted. The other was marrying my husband at the age of 20, which I’ve never regretted.
Is there a big decision you made as a teenager or young adult that influenced your life for better or for worse?
WILL YOU HAVE A DRAWING FROM THOSE LEAVING COMMENTS?**
Jennifer:
I’ll give away a signed copy of my trilogy:
A HINT OF WICKED
A TOUCH OF SCANDAL
A TOUCH OF SCANDAL
A SEASON OF SEDUCTION
Thanks so much for being with us today, Jennifer! Where can your fans find out more about you on the web?
**Note: Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North American addresses only. If an Advanced Reading Copy (ARC) is available, the author may utilize that option for International participants. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants.
Join us Monday when Maureen hosts Juliana Stone!