German Editions of The Beauty Bride

The German editions of The Beauty Bride, book one of the Jewels of Kinfairlie series of medieval romances, has reverted to me, so I’ve republished it in new editions in both ebook and trade paperback. The other three ebooks are enrolled in Kindle Unlimited – I’ll add The Beauty Bride to KU once the old edition comes down from all other retailers, but it’s available now at Amazon.

Amazon is dislinclined to link the old and new edition, which means that the reviews on the old edition have vanished. If you posted a review and are inclined to do so again on the new edition, I would appreciate it. Books without reviews look so lonely!

The new trade paperback is available now at Amazon, but is working its way through the distribution chain to other retailers.


Die schon Braut, The Beauty Bride book one of the Jewels of Kinfairlie series of medieval romances by Claire Delacroix in its German edition

Höhergeschätzt als Gold sind die Juwelen von Kinfairlie und nur die Würdigsten dürfen um ihre Liebe kämpfen … Der Laird von Kinfairlie hat fünf unverheiratete Schwestern – jede für sich ein Kleinod. Und er hat keine andere Wahl, als sie in aller Eile zu verheiraten.

Lady Madelines Herz ist nicht käuflich zu erwerben … vor allem nicht durch einen verrufenen Geächteten wie Rhys FitzHenry. Und doch wurde Madelines Hand verkauft, an keinen anderen als an diesen kampfesmüden Krieger, auf den ein Kopfgeld ausgesetzt ist. Eine pflichtgetreuere Maid würde dem Befehl des Lairds vielleicht Folge leisten und ihr Schicksal widerspruchslos annehmen, doch Madeline war noch nie gehorsam. Sie beschließt, fortzulaufen, und denkt nicht im Traum daran, dass Rhys sie verfolgen könnte.

Sie erwartet nicht, dass dieser wortkarge Mann ihr den Hof macht, indem er ihr fantasievolle Geschichten erzählt, und noch viel weniger, dass jeder seiner packenden Berichte eine Narbe auf seiner Seele enthüllt, die er hinter einem Schutzschild verborgen hält. Es ist für sie unvorstellbar, dass ein Mann wie Rhys ihr Herz in Gefahr bringen könnte, während er selbst so wenig von seinen eigenen Gefühlen verrät. Als Rhys’ Vergangenheit seine Zukunft bedroht, fasst Madeline den Entschluss, ihm blind zu vertrauen. Sie geht das Wagnis ein, zu glauben, dass er unschuldig ist – und riskiert ihr Leben für eine Leidenschaft, die wertvoller ist als das kostbarste Juwel.

„Ein gefühlvoller historischer Liebesroman, der im Mittelalter spielt.“—Publishers Weekly


Die schöne Braut ist auch als Hörbuch in englischer Sprache erhältlich.


Die schöne Braut, E-book: 


Die schöne Braut, Taschenbuch:

The Duke’s Desire & the Ladies’ Essential Guide to the Art of Seduction

Sometimes characters don’t follow the author’s plans.

The Hellion’s Heart, book four of The Ladies’ Essential Guide to the Art of Seduction series of Regency romances by Claire Delacroix

The romance between the Duke of Haynesdale and Esmeralda Ballantyne was planned to be a sub-plot that carried through the entire series of The Ladies’ Essential Guide to the Art of Seduction. By book four (The Hellion’s Heart) it’s become clear to me that these two need their own book and so they’ll get it.

Some of the scenes in their book will appear in earlier books in the series. They may be shorter or told from another point-of-view. This book will include more (new) scenes and more detail about these two. It will be published as book seven in the series so that there are no spoilers in the other books of the series—you’ll know they’re together by the end of book six, but The Duke’s Desire will fill in all the gaps.

Publication is planned for a year out because there will be two more books in the series first:

• The Hellion’s Heart will be published in July

• Book five will release in October 2024

• Book six will release in January 2025

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

• The Duke’s Desire, book seven, will be an April 2025 release.

• Book eight will be Sylvie’s story with publication planned for August 2025.

• The series will wrap up with a Christmas novella in November 2025.

The pre-order for each book will be created when the book itself is completed, so keep an eye out for those. I really like this plan. Once I get ahead of things a bit, I’ll see about sliding some other stories into my schedule, too.

I’ll show off some of the new covers in my next Knights & Rogues newsletter, including The Duke’s Desire. That goes out June 5 so there’s still time to sign up.

Sign up for my Knights & Rogues medieval romance newsletter.

New Stretch Goal in my Blood Brothers Kickstarter Campaign

I’m excited today because we unlocked the second stretch goal in my Kickstarter campaign. The Blood Brothers map, hand-drawn by Ellen Tribble, will be added to the new editions – the ebook special editions, as well as the new trade paperbacks and new hardcovers.

Blood Brothers map drawn by Ellen Tribble

I love maps, so I’m pretty excited about this addition to the books – it’s the first time I’ve commissioned a map for one of my series!

We have a new stretch goal now, to add NINE family trees. First, there’s the family tree of Jean le Beau and his four sons. That will go in the front of each special edition. Then there are two additional family trees for each book, one for the hero and one for the heroine.

Blood Brothers stretch goal of nine family trees

So, when we unlock this goal, the special editions of The Wolf & the Witch, for example, will have Jean le Beau’s family tree at the front, as well as Maximilian’s family tree and Alys’ family tree at the back of the book. The family trees will also be available as digital downloads for all backers. This stretch goal will unlock when the campaign reaches $2900CA in total funding.

Remember that there’s also a stretch reward that ends at midnight tonight!

Beguiled ebook stretch reward February 16 in Blood Brothers Kickstarter campaign

Every backer who has pledged $25CA or more by midnight tonight will get the ebook of Beguiled, my collection of romantasy short stories and novellas. I’ll send out the ebooks via BookFunnel tomorrow so you can start reading right away.

Come on over to Kickstarter and check out the Blood Brothers campaign! We’re making pretty books together!

New print editions of the Blood Brothers series of medieval Scottish romances by Claire Delacroix coming to Kickstarter in February 2024

The Video of Four Editions of The Hunter & the Heiress

My next Kickstarter campaign will feature new hardcover editions of the four Blood Brothers medieval Scottish romances and launches next Monday. (eek! I’m trying to be cool about this one.) We’ve seen the new dustjackets and new illustrations, but now you can see them on actual books. I ordered early copies of The Hunter & the Heiress in those two new editions, and this short video shows all four books – the current trade paperback and large print hardcover, and the new trade paperback with duplexed cover and new hard cover with case laminate illustration.

Compare the four print editions of The Hunter & the Heiress

The preview page for the Blood Brothers campaign is live at Kickstarter now, and you can follow it to be notified when the campaign launches.

Follow the Blood Brothers campaign.

Blood Brothers medieval romances new hardcovers coming to Kickstarter in February 2024

New Trade Paperback with Duplex Cover for The Hunter & the Heiress

Yesterday the first copy of the new trade paperback for The Hunter & the Heiress arrived so I want to show it to you. This one has the new cover illustration by Dar Albert printed on the *inside* of the cover in colour – that’s called a duplex cover. I’ve never ordered one of these before, so was both curious and a wee bit skeptical.

No need. It’s just gorgeous. I’ll make a video comparing all the print editions once the new hardcover (with the illustration on the case laminate) arrives, but here are some pictures I took yesterday. Here’s the front of the book:

new trade paperback of The Hunter & the Heiress by Claire Delacroix with duplex cover

These books have a matte finish on the covers, which has a lovely velvety feel.

When you open the book, you can see the duplex image on the inside front cover – this is kind of a peek because I didn’t want to crack the spine and also I had only one hand available:

new trade paperback of The Hunter & the Heiress by Claire Delacroix with duplex cover

I’m really pleased with the colour on this, and that the inside cover has the same velvety matte texture as the outside. The image, as you can see, is flopped from the way it prints on the case laminate.

The Hunter & the Heiress illustration for the case laminate on the new hardcover edition

Of course, the entire inside of the cover is printed, so you see the sword on the inside back cover.

new trade paperback of The Hunter & the Heiress by Claire Delacroix with duplex cover

I like this option because you can get the new cover image without buying a hardcover edition.

The other three books have similar trade paperback editions with duplex covers, all of which will be available in my upcoming Kickstarter campaign. These trade paperbacks and the new hardcovers will be available signed through the Kickstarter, but you’ll also be able to order a set of these trade paperbacks drop-shipped (i.e. not signed) in the campaign which will save a bunch on shipping, esp if you’re in the US.

I know I’ve gone back and forth about what happens to these editions after the KS ends, but since my online store is now open (much sooner than anticipated – it was my goal for 2024 and is already up and running) I’m not going to distribute this new trade paperback or the new hardcover to retailers. They’ll be available first through the Kickstarter, then exclusive to my store, Deborah Cooke’s Books. If you buy them through the Kickstarter campaign, of course, you’ll get other goodies, too. 🙂 The existing trade paperbacks (with the guys on the covers) and the existing large print hardcovers (with castles on the covers) will remain available at the portals.

The preview page for the Blood Brothers campaign is live at Kickstarter now, and you can follow it to be notified when the campaign launches. February 12 is the big day!

Follow the Blood Brothers campaign.

Blood Brothers medieval romances new hardcovers coming to Kickstarter in February 2024