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About Deborah Cooke

I write romance novels, including medieval romances as Claire Delacroix, and contemporary and paranormal romances as Deborah Cooke. I also am an avid knitter and sewist.

The Duke’s Desire in the EU

Apple is changing their policies as of February 2025 regarding books published to the EU. The existing Apple link won’t work in the EU after that date. That means orders on the link I created first won’t be delivered to readers in the EU. 😦

I’ve created a new link for The Duke’s Desire for Apple for the EU – that means there are two Apple links, but you’ll only be able to see one of them, wherever you are.

If you are in the EU, please use this Apple link to pre-order The Duke’s Desire.

This means, of course, that my books that don’t have this specific EU link will be unavailable to be purchased new beginning in February in the EU store. I’m building duplicate listings and the other titles in the Ladies’ Essential Guide are up first. I’ll share those links with you when they’re lilve.


The Duke's Desire, book six in The Ladies' Essential Guide to the Art of Seduction Regency romance series by Claire Delacroix

Esmeralda Ballantyne is the most successful courtesan in London, a woman envied by many and a mystery to all. When her past threatens the future of her younger sister, she finds an unexpected champion in the Duke of Haynesdale, a gentleman driven by his honor to intervene on her behalf, despite his disapproval of her trade. Does she dare to trust her newfound protector with her truth, or is the duke—like so many men of her acquaintance—interested in only one kind of compensation from her? As much as she refuses to surrender to any man, Esmeralda fears her impulse will lead her astray…will the price of capitulation be her fiercely defended independence or her heart?

Damien deVries, the Duke of Haynesdale, abandoned his rakehell ways when his father bought his commission, and the injury he sustained is a permanent reminder of his wasteful youth. The youngest of three sons, he never expected to inherit the duchy, and finds himself discontent, burdened by responsibilities and—according to his mother—past due to wed and provide an heir. The difficulty is that the only woman of interest is the forbidden beauty, Miss Ballantyne. There could not be a less inappropriate choice for his duchess, but no other woman tempts him to abandon convention and return to his wicked ways again.

Drawn together by an irresistible desire, duke and courtesan agree to a short affair. But their need for each other proves so insatiable that it cannot be denied. Does Damien dare to surrender his heart to a woman like Esmeralda? Can Esmeralda trust any man fully and give Damien his deepest desire? There is one last secret she holds that will either draw them together or drive them apart forever—when she finally shares it, can they put the betrayals of the past behind and forge a future on their own terms?

Coming in May 2025

Pre-order available at some portals:

Romancing the Falls 2025

I’ll be attending several author/reader events next year. First up will be Romancing the Falls in May. Tickets are available now.

I’ll put up a book pre-order page in the new year. 🙂

Romancing the Falls reader event 2025

May 30 – 31, 2025
Romancing the Falls
Crowne Plaza Hotel, 5685 Falls Ave,
Niagara Falls, ON L2E 6W7, Canada
Buy tickets now at the RTF website.

The Scoundrel in Italian

The Scoundrel, book two of my Rogues of Ravensmuir series of medieval romances, is now available in an Italian edition!

Ladro di cuore is the Italian edition of The Scoundrel, book two of the Rogues of Ravensmuir series of medieval romances by Claire Delacroix

Caro lettore,
sono consapevole di aver agito in modo sfrontato, sfacciato e imperdonabile…e ammetto di non poter incolpare altri che me stessa. Sapevo con che tipo d’uomo avevo a che fare, sapevo che Gawain Lemmergeier era una canaglia e un malfattore. Eppure, quando ho tramato per sedurlo e reclamare ciò che era mio di diritto, non avrei mai immaginato che avrei ceduto al fascino di questo spericolato mascalzone dai capelli dorati.

Sia chiaro, ho recuperato ciò per cui sono venuta, ovvero la sacra reliquia rubata a mio padre in grado di ristabilire le sorti del mio maniero, e mi sarei anche accontentata di tornare a casa con la mia ricompensa. Ma, ahimè, ho lasciato che il desiderio prendesse il controllo delle mie azioni. Perchè sì…mentre cercavo il mio tesoro, ho osato indurre in tentazione Gawain, gli ho permesso di battermi, di stregarmi e persino di portarmi a letto.

Lady Evangeline di Inverfyre


“Affascinante e avvincente!”

ThebestReviews.com

Pre-Order The Duke’s Desire

Esmeralda and the duke’s story is coming next May, and the pre-order links are up now!

The romance between the Duke of Haynesdale and Esmeralda Ballantyne was planned to be a sub-plot that carried through the entire series. By book four (The Hellion’s Heart) it became clear to me that these two needed their own book and I planned for this release. Some of the scenes in this book appear in earlier books in the series. They may be shorter or told from another point-of-view. This book includes more scenes and more detail about these two. It will be published as book six in the series so that there are no spoilers in the other books of the series—The Duke’s Desire will fill in all the gaps.


The Duke's Desire, book six in The Ladies' Essential Guide to the Art of Seduction Regency romance series by Claire Delacroix

Esmeralda Ballantyne is the most successful courtesan in London, a woman envied by many and a mystery to all. When her past threatens the future of her younger sister, she finds an unexpected champion in the Duke of Haynesdale, a gentleman driven by his honor to intervene on her behalf, despite his disapproval of her trade. Does she dare to trust her newfound protector with her truth, or is the duke—like so many men of her acquaintance—interested in only one kind of compensation from her? As much as she refuses to surrender to any man, Esmeralda fears her impulse will lead her astray…will the price of capitulation be her fiercely defended independence or her heart?

Damien deVries, the Duke of Haynesdale, abandoned his rakehell ways when his father bought his commission, and the injury he sustained is a permanent reminder of his wasteful youth. The youngest of three sons, he never expected to inherit the duchy, and finds himself discontent, burdened by responsibilities and—according to his mother—past due to wed and provide an heir. The difficulty is that the only woman of interest is the forbidden beauty, Miss Ballantyne. There could not be a less inappropriate choice for his duchess, but no other woman tempts him to abandon convention and return to his wicked ways again.

Drawn together by an irresistible desire, duke and courtesan agree to a short affair. But their need for each other proves so insatiable that it cannot be denied. Does Damien dare to surrender his heart to a woman like Esmeralda? Can Esmeralda trust any man fully and give Damien his deepest desire? There is one last secret she holds that will either draw them together or drive them apart forever—when she finally shares it, can they put the betrayals of the past behind and forge a future on their own terms?

Coming in May 2025

Pre-order available at some portals: