BookBub Results for The Crusader’s Bride

Posted on July 10, 2023 by Deborah Cooke

I had a BookBub Featured Deal on Saturday for The Crusader’s Bride so let’s have a look at the results.

I was pleasantly surprised by the effectiveness of this promotion. This book has had several featured deals in the past, and the first one is typically the most effective. The most recent one was February 2020; there was one in March 2018 and also in October 2016, so this was #4. The October 2016 featured deal was the first time the book was free and coincided with the publication of The Crusader’s Handfast, book five of the Champions of St. Euphemia and the series finale. That’s always the most powerful combination, IME.

The Crusader's Bride at #10 overall in the Amazon US store on July 9 2023, as well as #1 in medieval romance and #1 in ancient world romance

This time, The Crusader’s Bride rose to #10 overall in the US Kindle store, as well as #1 in Medieval Romance and #1 in Ancient World Romance.

Over at Apple, The Crusader’s Bride rose to #18 overall in the Apple store, and #13 in Romance. It’s always fun to see what else is on the main list – I have romances on either side on both lists, but there’s Sun Tzu’s Art of War as a neighbour on the main list. 🙂

The Crusader's Bride at #18 overall in the Apple store on July 8, 2023 as well as #13 in Romance

Of course, the book is still free, and will be until the end of August. Don’t miss your chance to start this complete series of medieval romances!

Start the Champions of St. Euphemia series of medieval romances by Claire Delacroix free

The Crusader's Bride, book one of the Champions of St. Euphemia series of medieval romances by Claire Delacroix — The Crusader’s Bride

Gaston battled for duty and honor—until Ysmaine tempted him to fight for her love…

When the Templar knight Gaston unexpectedly inherits his family estate, he knows he needs a wife and heir. A marriage of convenience to a widow in need of assistance is a practical solution and the newly-wed pair leave Jerusalem, entrusted with the delivery of a package for the Templars. Away from the life he has known for years, Gaston quickly realizes that little is following his plan—especially his mysterious wife, whose presence awakens an unexpected fire…

Twice widowed, Ysmaine doubts she will ever wed again, let alone have a marriage of merit—until she is charmed by the gruff knight intent upon defending her. Ysmaine weds again, not only by her own choice but to a warrior whose honor she admires. She is determined to show Gaston that marriage has more to offer them both than an heir, but first she must win the trust of the wary man she has impulsively wed…

Neither realize that Gaston has been entrusted with the treasure of the Templars—much less that someone in their small party is intent upon claiming the prize at any cost. In a company of strangers with secrets, can Gaston dare to trust his new bride? Can Ysmaine convince Gaston to confide what he knows? Can they solve the riddle together before the villain’s plan comes to fruition and all is lost?

Get The Crusader’s Bride ebook:

Sorting Those Pre-Orders

Posted on July 6, 2023 by Deborah Cooke

Those of you in my Facebook group know that I’m moving away from assetless pre-orders for 2024. This means that my pre-orders will be shorter, because they’ll only be loaded once each book is done. The reasons for this are that the portals have been lengthening the time required to process a book file, and also that they sometimes muck up and deliver the wrong file. If they only get the final one, that can’t happen. The other issue with long pre-orders is that life happens, as it has for me lately, and differnet portals have different rules about moving the delivery date on a pre-order.

Last week, I sorted out the rest of 2023.

The Scot and the Sorceress, book four of the Blood Brothers trilogy by Claire Delacroix

The Scot & the Sorceress will now be published on August 29. This means that the existing pre-order at Amazon had to be cancelled (because it couldn’t be moved). If you had pre-ordered the book there, that pre-order has been cancelled. Right now, there’s no pre-order at Amazon. I’ll create a new one in August, once the book is done. As usual, there is no pre-order at GooglePlay. The book will be available there on the publication date. If yo upre-ordered at Nook or KOBO, you’ve probably received a message about the book’s new publication date.

Also, the pre-order link for Murdoch’s book at Apple has changed. I had set it up to deliver from Draft2Digital, but the first two books in the series are published directly to Apple and all books in the series have to reach the Apple store the same way for Apple to add them to a series page. I figured we’d just bite the bullet and change it over now.

There is also a new link for The Dragon & the Damsel for Apple for the same reason.

One Knight's Desire, book three of the Rogues & Angels series of medieval romances by Claire Delacroix

One Knight’s Desire will now be published on October 24. For the same reason as with S&S, the existing pre-order at Amazon has been cancelled. and there will be a new one created closer to the publication date. If you had pre-ordered the book at Apple, Nook or KOBO, you’ve probably received a message about the changed date.

The pre-orders are up for both Christmas at Tullymullagh and Easter at Airdfinnan, both of which are done and will deliver on December 12. (Yay!)

My last release of the year will be The Stolen Bride in December. Phew!

In 2024, we’ll switch over to pre-orders when books are completed and this will all be so much simpler. Thanks for your patience!

Buy Links for Easter at Airdfinnan

Posted on July 5, 2023 by Deborah Cooke

Don’t miss this new story set in the world of the Bride Quest, coming in December! This one was intended to be a short story, but ended up being a novella. I think you’ll enjoy Margaret and Nicholas’ second chance romance and their battle of wills!

Easter at Airdfinnan is an epilogue to the Bride Quest II trilogy, set six years after the end of The Temptress.

Six years after the end of The Temptress, the family have all been invited to Airdfinnan to celebrate Easter, as well as the knighting of Jacqueline and Angus’ oldest son Fergus. There’s also a betrothal planned between their oldest daughter, Annelise, and Rowan’s son, Nicholas. An arranged marriage between the pair might make sense, but more than one person in attendance is keeping quiet about their doubts. The mysterious vine that bloomed during Bayard’s courtship of Esmeraude is growing again, though, seemingly determined to ensure that the path of true love succeeds. Will Nicholas make a love match instead of an arranged marriage?

This story is included in the new 25th Anniversary commemorative hard cover and mass market paperback editions of The Temptress, and will be published on its own in ebook.

Coming December 12, 2023.

Pre-order available at some portals.

Free Book Blast Today!

Posted on June 30, 2023 by Deborah Cooke

Today’s the day for the huge multi-author promotion at Romance BookWorms. There are over 1000 books free for download, for one day only – today! You’ll find The Crusader’s Bride among the offerings and many more books, too.

Hurry on over to the landing page so you don’t miss out!

New Bride Quest Swag

Posted on June 27, 2023 by Deborah Cooke

I had some new goodies printed for the Bride Quest Kickstarter campaign and wanted to show you. Right now, they’re only available to the backers of the campaign – you can expect this in future, that advance or exclusive swag will be available at Kickstarter. I have these printed in small quantities, so there aren’t many leftovers.

First, there’s a new bookmark showing the 25th anniversary commemorative mass market editions of all six Bride Quest books. This is a really fat bookmark, almost a postcard.

BIG bookmarks for the Bride Quest 25th anniversary commemoraitve editions

I’ll order more of these in the fall and add them to the swag you can request from me, as part of the launch of the new editions in November.

Next, I did postcards of the six cover illustrations. Backers get a set of all six. The new logo is on the back of each one. When these are gone, they’re gone.

Set of six postcards with the illustrations for the Bride Quest 25th anniversary commemoraitve editions

Then I ran some stickers because they’re just so cute. These are tiny, and again, backers get a set of six, one of each cover illustration. When these are gone, they’re gone.

Set of six mini-stickers with the illustrations for the Bride Quest 25th anniversary commemoraitve editions

There also is a set of six colouring pages to download, print and colour. I’ll make those available for download here in November as part of the launch of the new editions.

There are a few sets of postcards and stickers left, but I haven’t decided whether to save them for my next Kickstarter campaign and sell them as add-ons or sell them in sets in November from here. If you have strong thoughts either way, please comment on the post.

Aren’t they pretty, though?

Claire Delacroix

Bestselling Author of Medieval Romance and Fantasy Romance

Category Archives: Medieval Romance