It’s been too long since Kris Jayne, author of Cross My Heart and Morning Star came to share her books and a little bit about herself. It’s my pleasure to welcome her back to this week’s blog.
How Kris Jayne Creates a Series
One of the questions I get all the time is: How do you come up with ideas for your books? The usual answer: I don’t know. Crazy stuff pops in my head as I’m wandering the earth.
However, The Lone Star Crossed Saga started with a very specific idea. I wanted to write a fictional, entirely separate from real life spin on an actual oil patriarch who had two families (we won’t get into that, but it’s WILD… and this is a very famous billionaire family). Growing up in Dallas, where I set most of my books, I’d heard the story and always been fascinated by the idea of a man with a secret family.
In my series, the families don’t know anything about each other until the patriarch dies and puts some unique stipulations in his will. I LOVE a reading of a will. It’s my secret indulgence. Dead patriarchs and crazy wills. I probably watched too many soap operas as a child.
To make the idea more my own, I created a multiracial, billionaire family with secrets and soap opera-style drama. I started with one of the patriarch’s grandchildren, a black businessman called home. Carter Cross Jr. is the hero of the first book in the series, 
Cross My Heart. I started Carter’s story as book five in my previous contemporary romance series, but as I wrote it, I decided it would be better as the start a series all on its own. So The Lone Star Crossed Saga with the Star and Cross families was born.
My latest book in the series, Morning Star, tells Anthony Star-Hunter’s love story. He’s Carter’s cousin, and the stipulations of his granddad’s will demand he get married. Morning Star is my steamy, contemporary romance take on a marriage of convenience complete with a “compromise” at a wedding party that pushes an unlikely couple down the aisle. It has instalove, opposites attract vibes and some SUPER steam, so fair warning.
Anthony has a bad boy past, stemming from his childhood rebellion and issues with his way-less-than-perfect family. He’s cleaned up his act, and he needs a bride NOW. Enter very responsible Sarah Pennington. She would never agree to a fake marriage scheme—except that her family is in trouble and the lure of cash in this business arrangement could be their salvation.
Anthony planned to rekindle the brief romance with her stepsister, Catie. Sarah’s Dad married Catie’s mother when Sarah was in college. The problem is that Catie has a wandering eye, and Anthony’s eyes keep drifting back to Sarah. Then, they’re caught in a situation that leaves him with little choice but to change plans.
At first, it seems they have nothing in common beyond an attraction they both deny, but soon enough, they realize they’re fighting through the similar childhood wounds and looking for the same thing: someone they can trust who has their back.
I was so excited to write Anthony’s story that I swapped my planned book order for the series. His was supposed to be book four, but I had to move it up after the big revelations of book two.
Morning Star by Kris Jayne
The marriage is fake, but the passion is real.
To inherit his grandfather’s fortune, Anthony Star-Hunter has to find a tolerable bride, like, yesterday. Super responsible Sarah Pennington has her own family problems, and she’s determined Anthony won’t be one of them. Can he convince her to give fake marriage a chance? Their slow-burn, un-love affair isn’t what either expect, but it might be what both of them need forever.
An Excerpt of Kris Jayne’s Morning Star
Sarah
“I wonder if Anthony and Matt have arrived yet?”
Catie surveyed the expanse of lawn and yucca trees in front of our home for the next several days. A warm breeze filtered through the car. Rolling down the windows on the way from the airport let me enjoy the delicious break from a New York winter. My weather app said highs would be in the mid 80s, and as we approached mid-afternoon, the temperature had to be close.
I ignored Catie’s question. “How many guests are they expecting?”
“A couple of hundred.”
Her face lit up, and I turned in the direction of her gaze. Another car had pulled up. Our driver got out and opened her door before coming to my side. I waited as if I were incapable of finding my way out of the backseat.
“Thank you,” I said with a smile glued to my face.
The source of Catie’s excitement came forward with his friend.
“Hey, you two!” she shouted.
Matt encircled her in a bear hug. Over his shoulder, her ex, Anthony, lingered, his face inscrutable behind dark Prada sunglasses.
“Great timing. Stef is already here. Get settled, and I can give you a tour. We’re going to have a blast,” Matt exclaimed, letting go of Catie and turning to me, hands extended with cautious affection. “I know you’re not a hugger.”
I laughed. “No, I’m not, but glad to be here. Congratulations!”
“When Catie said you were her plus one, I was thrilled.”
I knew Matt well. In fact, I met him before Catie, but I wasn’t in his tightest circle of friends who spent more time in New York’s social scene. That was her bag. She introduced him to Estefania, an art gallery manager who’d hired Catie’s catering company for dozens of events.
Catie canceled the Viscount Radleigh at the last minute and brought me instead. It’d be hard to ensnare Anthony with his romantic rival in tow.
The prey stepped forward. “Catie and Sarah Pennington. Welcome to Tulum.”
He stretched his arms out and swam past me to hug Catie, who crooned.
“Welcome yourself. We got here a smidge before you, I think.”
She patted his back and moved out of his arms. “Let’s get our bags inside because I want that tour.”
“Miguel has already taken your bags up,” Matt said.
Sure enough, they weren’t in the trunk anymore. I followed the group into the foyer where Estefania greeted us, and the group initiated a new round of hugs I couldn’t escape without seeming weird.
Her parents. Matt’s parents. Someone’s grandmother. Some groomsmen. Then face to face with Anthony.
He stopped. “Not a hugger, huh?”
“No,” I said.
“A handshake then?”
“Sure.”
He grabbed my hand in both of his and gave it a vociferous shake, forearms flexing against his cuffed sleeves. Humor brightened in his dark gaze. His hands were more calloused than I expected from a guy who, as far as I could tell, led a pretty soft life.
“Careful,” I said. “I’m going to need that arm.”
He dropped my hand. “You still deserve a hearty welcome. It’s been a long time.”
“Five years.”
“I’ve seen you around the city. Your friend Inez hosted a benefit last year. I would have talked to you, but you kept disappearing.”
The sparkle of mischief in his eyes told me he knew I’d avoided him. The heat prickling my neck had nothing to do with the tropical weather.
“You’ve seen Catie since then.”
“A handful of times,” he replied, tearing his eyes from mine to search for his ex-girlfriend. “Less than I used to. I’ve spent more time back home lately.”
“You’re from Texas, right?”
He nodded. “Well, we’d all better get unpacked. The wedding adventure starts this evening with cocktails.”
I shook off my disappointment at his sudden dismissal. My plan was still to avoid him as much as possible. His attention made me nervous. Catie bounced back over, ready to drag me away.
“Our room is on the east side. Let’s drop our purses and meet back here.”
“Sounds good.” I smiled and ignored the man standing next to me.
Catie didn’t. “See you in a few, Anthony.”
“Wouldn’t miss it.”
He turned the wattage of his smile up to full blast, and Catie tittered as she grabbed my arm to drag me away.
BUY LINKS for Morning Star
Morning Star is available in paperback or eBook.
- Buy directly from Kris: https://shopkrisjayne.com/b/EgcKy
- Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B4SWHT81
- Kobo https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/morning-star-69
- B&N https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/morning-star-kris-jayne/1141678745
- Apple https://books.apple.com/us/book/morning-star-a-family-saga-romance/id6443011016
- Google Play https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=t2V2EAAAQBAJ&pli=1
What Kris Jayne’s Readers are Saying…
This is the first Kris Jayne book that I have read and it WON’T be my last! This book checks off a lot of boxes and had me so enthralled that I didn’t want to stop, I read it all in one sitting. Not only is this story well written it touches upon a lot of issues that like to avoided or not brought up, and that is one thing I love about this story! Kris Jayne is a talented writter that has drawn me into The Lone Star Crossed Saga, and will have me coming back for book two. I can’t give this book anything other than 5 out of 5 stars, it’s too well written with drama, mystery, intrigue and of course romance.
Giving this book a Cayenne Pepper rating, maybe a little of an over exaggeration, but the scenes that the two main characters are together in and are sex scenes could melt panties. There is a slow burn throughout the story with the heat being turned up here and there, and to be honest the main male character in this book is described so well that just the thought of him has my blood running a little warmer.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes to see equality and bi-racial relationships, along with wrongs set right. I don’t want to give spoilers away, so I can’t say much more than that. But if you like friends to enemies to lovers tropes this one is for you. With twists and turns, and a little espionage going on through out the book, it will keep you on your toes. I can’t wait for book number two in this saga to come out!
– Tantalizing Tomes
What happens when you find out the man who died under embarrassing circumstances is your grandfather and the family dealing with the fallout is now your family. That’s what happens to Carter Cross Jr who laughed with his friends about the Star family only to learn that was his flesh and blood that just died. Now add to that those skeletons are falling out of the dusty closet, and you have to become an executive to save everyone’s future inheritance whether they like you are not. This story is rich in characters and story line. There are secrets from the past and present swirling all around Carter and how he handles each one is what makes this story a good read. From his love interest Nisha who has secrets and baggage of her own, to his sister an ex-doctor, a brother who is finding his way, his mom who knew many of the family secrets and said nothing, a mentor who was training him to take over and has ex problems of his own, and the family who would like him to disappear out of existence. Reading this kept me in the story to the very in.
– Hawkeye
Great story! I liked that, despite Nisha and Carter’s attraction, a lot of work, growth and family drama made the journey to the end a rocky road. I thought the characters were well written and I really enjoyed their family crazy. Both Nisha and Carter made me want to smack them in the back of head, but they got it together. I enjoyed the lead in to the next book because I didn’t expect to like some the characters that I was ultimately cheering for at the end. This was an enjoyable book.
– Alisa
What’s Next for Kris Jayne?
Circle the Stars. I won’t spoil it, but Anthony’s story HAD to come next. It features some of my favorite things:
—A sexy, bad boy hero with a heart of gold
—A bold heroine who stands up for herself
—Trashbin antagonists you love to hate
—Jet set locations from New York to Tulum to Florence
—Buckets of soapy family drama with heat, humor, and heart
Get to Know Kris Jayne
Kris Jayne is a devoted writer, reader, and traveler. She spends her days blissfully sweating out the writing process in the Dallas area with her dogs, Otis the Shih Tzu, Rocco the Terrier, and Red the Foxy Mutt.
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