Guest Post/Giveaway–Betrayal (Time Enough to Love, bk 2) by Jenna Jaxon

  Published January 31st 2014 by Rising Phoenix Publications – Add it on Goodreads

After a night of passion with her betrothed, Sir Geoffrey Longford, Lady Alyse de Courcy is eagerly looking forward to her wedding. But when Geoffrey is forced to marry another, a heartbroken
and possibly pregnant Alyse finds herself in her own private hell. She must either gamble with her reputation or marry someone she does not love.

A reputed connoisseur of women, Thomas, Lord Braeton, has dallied with many ladies of King Edward’s court, although he has favored none. However, as Geoffrey’s best friend, Thomas has sworn to serve and protect Alyse, an oath now sorely tested when he agrees to marry her—in name only—to guard her reputation. Yet, as they grow closer, and Thomas discovers Alyse’s sweet but spirited nature, he comes to desire a marriage in truth.

Can he overcome her memory of Geoffrey or is
Thomas doomed to burn with passion for a woman he can never possess?

                       The Language of Flowers


Although the language of flowers was extremely popular during the Victorian period, flower symbolism dates back to pre-Christian times and came to Europe in the 12th and 13th centuries. Crusaders returning from the Holy Land brought back both new plants— most importantly roses—and ideas about what the flowers or their colors meant. Some say that women in Eastern harems sat about pondering the meanings of flowers and that is how the symbolism began.

One of the first uses of this symbolism occurred in religious art. Saints are often depicted with flowers that are symbolic of their particular virtue, suchas St. Catherine of Sienna, the lily for purity or St. Patrick of Ireland, the shamrock for his teachings about the Trinity. Also during this time, the red rose came to symbolize the blood of martyrs and the passion of Christ.

In the Medieval period, the language of flowers evolved into a complex system of symbols that served the nobility well. The art of courtly love demanded the knight to compose poetry for his lady fair. But many people of the age could not read and write.

The language of flowers filled a need to communicate an undying love without the written word.

Some common flower meanings:

Aloe – Grief
Amaranth – Immortal love
Canterbury Bells – Gratitude
Carnations – pink means a woman’s love
red means my heart aches for you
yellow means you have disappointed me/rejection
white means disdain
Coriander – Lust
Daffodil – Unrequited love
Thistle – Nobility
Rosemary – Remembrance
Blue violet – Fruitfulness
Morning Glory – Love in vain
Pear blossom – Lasting Friendship

In my medieval novella, Betrayal, my hero and heroine have a scene in the rose garden at his estate where he educates and woos her with the meanings of different roses. I did alot of research into the roses of the period and their meanings specifically for this scene.

In my book they clip Eglantine, Cheshire, and Damask roses all with meanings to them. A medieval rose garden was actually quite common on noble estates, and I made great use of this one to bring my hero and heroine closer together.

Some of the meanings of medieval roses:

Red – True love
White – Innocence, virtue, purity
Yellow – Friendship or dying love
Pink – Grace
Dark Purple – Gratitude
Burgundy – Beauty
Coral – Passion

The language of flowers has died out somewhat in our busy 21st century lives, but the meanings, and the beauty, of the flowers live on.




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Jenna Jaxon is a multi-published author of historical and contemporary romance.
She is currently finishing revisions to her fifth full length novel, To Woo A Wicked Widow, set in Regency England and the first book in her five part series, The Widow’s Club.

Only Marriage Will Do, second book in her Georgian House of Pleasure series is
with the editor. Her medieval trilogy, Time Enough to Love, is being published by
Rising Phoenix Publications. Book 1, Betrothal is currently available. Book 2,
Betrayal, will be available at the end of January.

Jenna has been reading and writing historical romance since she was a teenager.
A romantic herself, she has always loved a dark side to the genre, a twist,
suspense, a surprise. She tries to incorporate all of these elements into her own
stories. She lives in Virginia with her family and a small menagerie of pets. When
not reading or writing, she indulges her passion for the theatre, working with local theatres as a director. She often feels she is directing her characters on their own private stage.

She has equated her writing to an addiction to chocolate because once she starts she just can’t stop.


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Jenna Jaxon is offering a $50 Amazon GC in a tour wide contest.

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