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.

This Year’s Holiday Anthology!

Posted on October 26, 2023 by Deborah Cooke

Ten Lords for the Holidays, a Regency Christmas romance anthology featuring stories by Jennifer Ashley and Claire Delacroix

Ten Lords for the Holidays is this year’s Regency Christmas anthology and it’s available now!

Escape into ten tempting stories of the holiday season! Roguish lords and lovely ladies find their happily-ever-afters amidst the warmth and glitter of a historical Christmas. Whether you prefer a dashing spy, a haughty prince, or a scoundrel who is more than he seems, the lord you’re looking for is just a page turn away…

A FIRST FOOTER FOR LADY JANE (*mild)
Jennifer Ashley
When Grandfather MacDonald predicts Lady Jane will marry this year’s First-Footer–the first guest into the house on Hogmanay—she dismisses the notion. Her childhood sweetheart is fighting on the Peninsula, and she can’t imagine marrying anyone but the staid Major Barnett. But when the clock strikes midnight, and Hogmanay begins, a knock at the front door changes Jane’s life forever.

LORD LOCRYN AND THE PIXIE’S KISS (*mild)
Deb Marlowe
When is a kiss actually a curse? When an irate Pixie forbids you to kiss the wrong girl — ever.

A DUKE BY ANY OTHER NAME (***hot)
Claire Delacroix
The Duke of Inverfyre disguises himself as a vain fop in order to catch a notorious jewel thief, which proves most inconvenient when he meets a lovely maiden who might steal his heart under other circumstance. But Daphne Goodenham is not deterred by his outrageous clothing and foppish manner. Is she a fortune hunter indifferent to appearances, a perceptive lady who sees his hidden truth, or an ally of the villain? At the very least, she is a perilous and untimely distraction…

A COUNTERFEIT CHRISTMAS SUMMONS (*mild)
Ava Stone
Lady Emma Whitton has decided its time to take her future in her own hands. She has been in love with Viscount Heathfield since she was in leading strings. Unfortunately, it’s been almost that long since she’s laid eyes on her brother’s old friend and vice versa. Tired of waiting for him to remember her, Emma pens a holiday invitation (in her brother’s hand) to Heathfield and waits as patiently as she is able for her one true love to arrive…

LADY HOLLY’S JOLLY CHRISTMAS (**medium)
Nadine Millard
Lady Holly has no interest in the Christmas season, and hasn’t since the tragic death of her mother. The widowed Earl of Stockton has as much reason to despise the season as Holly does. But fate and the arrival of a mysterious old lady have plans for these two. Will Lord Stockton learn to open his heart? And will Lady Holly finally have a jolly Christmas?

CHRISTMAS KISSES (*mild)
Nicole Zoltack
Lady Anna has her sights on a scoundrel of a duke. Her mother insists on Anna befriending a marquess’s son, a man Anna finds far too rude. Is either gentleman the right one for Anna?

THE DUKE WAGER (***hot)
Eve Pendle
Her family’s Christmas eve bankruptcy means aspiring doctor Miss Tamara Patterson must save them with a marriage to a wealthy man. Any man except her longtime nemesis, The Duke of Newton. Until he offers her a wager she can’t refuse…

A PRINCE FOR YULETIDE (*mild)
Anthea Lawson
Miss Eliana Banning attends the Midwinter Masque. There, she meets a gentleman in wolf’s clothing who might prove to be her heart’s desire…or her worst enemy.

RESCUED BY A CHRISTMAS KISS (**medium)
Larissa Lyons
Seeking shelter from danger during an ice storm, an unemployed companion barges in on an unsuspecting widower. Thanks to his mischievous, superior cat, love blooms during the topsy-turvied days before Christmas.

MAKING MERRY (*mild)
Erica Ridley
Holiday romance blossoms in Christmas, England, between theatre director Miss Estelle Blaire and Marlowe Castle solicitor Mr. Aaron Thompson… discover the 12 Dukes of Christmas series with this prequel novella!

Scoop up the other two collections, Twelve Lords for Christmas and Twelve Lords for Yuletide for more heartwarming tales of the holidays!

Buy the ebook:

The Masquerade of the Marchioness Available in Portuguese

Posted on October 16, 2023 by Deborah Cooke

My Regency romance, The Masquerade of the Marchioness, book two of The Ladies’ Essential Guide to the Art of Seduction, is now available in a Portuguese edition!

A Farsa da Marquesa is the Portuguese edition of The Masquerade of the Marchioness, a Regency romance by Claire Delacroix

Ela não é a mulher com quem ele se casou…

Philomena Wright, Marquesa de Arlingview, é universalmente admirada por seu intelecto, bom senso e esforços de caridade em favor das viúvas e dos órfãos. Uma mulher com todas as vantagens, também guarda um segredo que a enche de culpa: na verdade, ela é a irmã gêmea de Philomena, Penelope. Temendo acabar solteirona, ela comparece a um baile de máscaras na esperança de encontrar um pretendente, antes de admitir a verdade a todos, apenas para encontrar um cavalheiro que a afeta como nenhum outro…

Garrett Wright sente falta do propósito, e do perigo, de seu trabalho como espião durante a guerra. Ele percebe estar entediado com o disfarce de libertino imprudente. Quando concorda em ajudar a desvendar um ladrão de joias infernizando a sociedade londrina, ele é seduzido por uma beldade que desperta um sonho, e se vê determinado a desvendar a verdade, custe o que custar.

Quando ele encontra joias roubadas com a dama, Garrett teme que ela guarde um segredo mais perigoso do que a própria identidade. Forçado a escolher entre a honra e um amor inesperado, como ele cumprirá seu dever e garantirá um futuro feliz com a mulher que conquistou seu coração para sempre?

Bargain Print Books

Posted on October 13, 2023 by Deborah Cooke

Every once in a while, Amazon discounts print copies of books. I’m not sure why this happens, but it’s a great opportunity to get a print edition at a good price. Quantities are undoubtedly limited, so once the copies are gone, they’re gone. This morning, I noticed these bargains on my books in the US store – I’ve linked each title to the product page for the book at Amazon.com:

A Most Inconvenient Earl, book four of the Brides of North Barrows series of Regency romance novellas by Claire Delacroix

A Most Inconvenient Earl mass market paperback for $3.30US

Something Wicked This Way Comes mass market paperback for $4.57US

The Temptress trade paperback for $6.43 US

The Heiress trade paperback for $7.48 US

The Beauty trade paperback for $7.34 US

The Crusader's Handfast, book five of the Champions of St. Euphemia series of medieval romances by Claire Delacroix

The Crusader’s Vow trade paperback for $3.71 US

The Crusader’s Heart trade paperback for $5.05 US

The Crusader’s Kiss trade paperback for $3.70 US

The Crusader’s Handfast trade paperback for $3.17 US

Discounted prices might be available in other geos – it looks as if some of them are available in CA, for example – but you’ll need to click through to see.

Edited to add – I hear that the trade paperbacks of The Rogue, The Scoundrel and One Knight Enchanted are also a good deal today. Happy shopping! 🙂

The Christmas conquest in Portuguese

Posted on October 12, 2023 by Deborah Cooke

The Christmas Conquest, book one of my Ladies’ Essential Guide to the Art of Seduction Regency romance series, is now available in a Portuguese edition!

A Conquista de Natal is the Portuguese edition of The Christmas Conquest, a Regency romance by Claire Delacroix

O amor não fazia parte do plano quando este casamento foi arranjado…

Rhys Bettencourt, Barão Trevelaine, pretendia, a todo custo, evitar a maldição da família. Um casamento arranjado com uma intelectual de fortuna deveria assegurar a produção de ao menos um herdeiro. Afinal, eram as esposas amadas pelos Bettencourt que sempre morriam no parto. Contudo, a prática Catherine minou o esquema do marido ao roubá-lo de seu coração. A única forma de Rhys protegê-la é negar satisfação física a ambos, indo contra seus próprios desejos.

Catherine Carruthers contentou-se em se casar por praticidade e aceitou um casamento arranjado para agradar à família. No entanto, dois anos mais tarde, Catherine está certa de que o marido arrojado e aristocrata se arrepende da escolha que fez e que o casamento deles nunca será nada mais. Ela aceita um convite para passar o Natal na Mansão Rockmorton, e assim decidir se deixa Rhys e volta para a casa do pai. Contudo, ao chegar, Catherine descobre páginas de conselhos sensuais deixados no quarto dela, assim como um Rhys determinado a convencê-la a ficar. O casamento deles pode ser salvo?

Armada com informações, e com pouco a perder, Catherine embarca em uma campanha de sedução que Rhys será impotente para resistir, mesmo que ele tema o destino de Catherine caso ele se renda à tentação. Preso entre o amor e uma maldição miserável, Rhys conseguirá encontrar um jeito de manter a querida esposa em segurança e ao seu lado?

Com o epílogo bônus À Luz da Meia-Noite

The Princess is 99¢

Posted on October 5, 2023 by Deborah Cooke

To support the promotion of The Beauty as a free read this month, I’ve just made The Princess a 99¢ read. The Beauty is book #5 of the Bride Quest, and of course, many people like to start at the beginning of the series.

I didn’t think of this until yesterday, and had difficulties making the price change at both Apple and KOBO. This morning, I made both of those changes, but the KOBO price change won’t take effect until tomorrow.

The Princess is 99¢ in the five major English-language geos – AU, CA, NZ, US and UK – through October 30.

The Princess, #1 of The Princess, #1 of the Bride Quest series of medieval romances by Claire Delacroix

Princess Brianna of Tullymullagh is determined to marry only for love—until her father’s holding is conquered and the king decrees that she must wed one of the victor’s sons. Thinking she can outwit this condition, Brianna issues a challenge: the son who brings her a gift that makes her laugh will win her hand.

Thus begins the Bride Quest of the three brothers Fitzgavin.

Burke and Rowan, knights both, ride out on Brianna’s quest, each intent upon triumph. Only Luc refuses to participate, for he knows that a princess had no place in the life of a battle-weary warrior like himself. Brianna is not inclined to accept his refusal—she tempts him and awakens his slumbering senses with her alluring beauty and her sweet kisses. Luc has sworn to lay down his sword forever—until he is the sole one who can defend the fair maiden who has claimed his shielded heart.

“Claire Delacroix is the queen of medieval romance! Reading The Princess is like sipping vintage wine—delectable!”
Rendezvous

USA Today Bestselling Title

Tropes for The Princess, book one of the Bride Quest series of medieval romances by Claire Delacroix

“Exquisite! A marvelously beautiful tale of love!”
Bell, Book & Candle

Buy The Princess ebook:

Winner
1998 Best Historical Romance
Colorado Romance Writers’ Award of Excellence

Finalist
1998 Best Historical Romance
Holt Medallion

Finalist
1998 Best Medieval Historical Romance
Romantic Times

“The essence of fairy tale, fable and legend!”
Romantic Times

“Delacroix captured me with the first sentence…and left me wanting more! Her musical style of writing transformed this story into a bard’s tale of knights, quests, mystery and love.”
All About Romance

“[Claire Delacroix] has a magical, lyrical style of writing that captures the reader from the first page. Add mysterious secret treasure, as well as several murders, to this wonderfully passionate romance and you have an exciting medieval that’s not to be missed.”
Old Book Barn Gazette

Buy Trade Paperback:

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the publication of The Princess, I’ve created new editions of the Bride Quest books, all of which will be available at retail portals in November 2023. There’s a new cover illustration for each book in the series, which will appear on the new mass market paperback and the new hardcover edition.

Here’s the pretty new cover illustration of Luc and Brianna: