Apple has a feature and sale this month on Holiday Romances, which includes The Mercenary’s Bride. The promotion runs from December 1 to December 30. The Mercenary’s Bride is discounted to just 99 cents for the promotion.
Don’t forget that Quentin and Mhairi’s story is also available in audio now, narrated by the fabulous Tim Campbell.
Welcome to my new monthly feature! For December, my focus is on holiday romances—since I write mostly medieval romances, these are Christmas romances.
First up is The Mercenary’s Bride, a Christmas novella, which is now available in audio. This is book #1 of my Brides of Inverfyre series, and is the story of Mhairi, the first of the children of the Hawk of Inverfyre to have her tale told. This is a forbidden romance—Quentin was the Captain of the Guard at Inverfyre, until the Hawk caught him teaching Mhairi to throw a knife. (She asked.) The Hawk banished Quentin, who resolved to earn enough money as a mercenary to return to Inverfyre and ask for Mhairi’s hand. Things didn’t go according to plan, though, and this story opens with Quentin’s return to Inverfyre. Having lost everything, he thinks he can only keep his promise to Mhairi to bring her a good knife—but it’s Christmas at Inverfyre and there’s more love in Mhairi’s heart than Quentin dares to expect. I particularly love happy endings that aren’t expected by the characters, so this is a special story for me.
The Snow White Bride is the third book of my Jewels of Kinfairlie series of medieval romances. It’s the story of Madeline and Vivienne’s revenge on Alexander for arranging their marriages, even though both matches worked out well. The sisters also perceive that their older brother is too busy managing Kinfairlie to even think about marriage—when a beautiful woman seeks sanctuary in Kinfairlie’s chapel on Christmas Eve, her appearance seems fortuitous. Eleanor is only too happy to have a new husband and defender, but she expects a lot less from marriage than Alexander. Can this charming laird win her reluctant heart? (Of course, he can!) I really enjoy the holiday festivities at Kinfairlie in this book, including the Feast of Fools. Eleanor and Alexander’s story is also available in audio.
The Rogue is the first book of my Rogues of Ravensmuir series of medieval romances. This story introduces the family at Ravensmuir (and ultimately Kinfairlie) and includes some suspenseful elements. I think of it as a gothic romance. Ysabella and Merlyn are estranged and haven’t seen each other for years—until Merlyn returns at Christmas to ask Ysabella for help. Someone, he says, is trying to kill him. Ysabella is skeptical, though. She knows her husband is a charming rogue and believes he will say anything to get what he wants. She refuses, and is shocked by the subsequent news that Merlyn has been killed and has made her heir to Ravensmuir. She decides to solve the murder and finds a great deal more than expected during this particular Christmas. Can love triumph over the injuries and secrets of the past? You know it will. 🙂 I love this book and I adore Merlyn. The Rogue is also available in audio.
A Duke by Any Other Name is a Regency romance, which was originally written for an anthology—all of the stories took place when families gathered for a Christmas wedding. Alexander is a duke and a spy, who pretends to be a fashionable fop so that he’s underestimated. He’s on the hunt for a jewel thief, but instead he finds love unexpected—he falls hard for Daphne Goodenham, which puts him in a pickle. How can he court her when he’s in disguise? But how can he be certain of her motives? He could reveal himself and put his entire mission in peril. I had fun with this story of love triumphing over obstacles at Christmas.
Part of this feature is that at least one of the highlighted books will be offered to newsletter subscribers at a discount. If you haven’t signed up for my Knights & Rogues newsletter yet, this might be a good time to do so!
Now that the publication date for One Knight’s Desire, book three in my Rogues & Angels series of medieval romances, the pre-order links have populated at the other portals. You can now pre-order Heloise and Lothair’s story at Apple, Nook, and Amazon, as well as KOBO. The GooglePlay link will go live on the publication date, as usual.
I know it seems a long time away, but the year will pass by in a flash! It always does.
Heloise dreams of a love-match to a noble knight, even though her marriage is for her grim uncle, the Lord de Tulley, to arrange. She knows that one of the knights in service to her uncle could hold her heart captive forever, but pragmatic Tulley is dismissive of such whimsy. He speaks of legacies and defenses, of practicalities that leave Heloise cold. She hopes to persuade him to her view, but when Tulley is healed by Lothair the Viking, an imposing and silent warrior who terrifies Heloise, her marriage is arranged to him against her will. She vows to win her way, no matter what the price—to herself, Tulley or Lothair.
A warrior and a healer, Lothair is accustomed to being caught between objectives. Still, experience has not prepared him for the temptation of Lady Heloise, the beautiful niece of his overlord. The maiden’s very presence steals his wits and renders him mute, while her barest glance fills his heart with wild yearning. Lothair has only his name and his honor to offer, which cannot be enough for an heiress, a beauty and a treasure like Heloise. Lothair knows that his charming rogue of a comrade desires Heloise only for her fortune, but is powerless to intervene—until the Lord de Tulley chooses practical Lothair as his heir and husband of lovely Heloise. The maiden pledges defiance, which a less resolute man might consider a bad portent. Lothair is undeterred. Can he prove himself worthy of the affection of his reluctant bride, or is he doomed to watch as his comrade breaks the lady’s heart?
Coming October 26, 2021!
Pre-order One Knight’s Desire at:
This month, I’m starting a new column on the blog, by featuring books of a certain trope or theme. For November, my focus is on romances featuring arranged marriages. I love these stories of love conquering all, even when it’s unexpected. As part of this new column, the featured titles may be on sale at the retail portals, or newsletter subscribers will have the chance to buy one or more directly from me, at a discount.
Probably my most popular medieval romance featuring an arranged marriage is The Beauty Bride, and it’s free at the online portals right now. This is the first book of the Jewels of Kinfairlie series: when Alexander suddenly inherits his family holding, he discovers that his carefree days are over. The treasury is empty and he has five unwed sisters, each of whom is determined to marry for true love or not at all. He knows he has to see at least two of them married before the winter and resolves to begin with his oldest sister, Madeline, who is the most stubborn of them all. Since she won’t listen to reason, he feels compelled to make a choice for her. Madeline, however, has never followed anyone’s rules—and if her brother thinks she’ll meekly put her hand in that of a renowned mercenary, both he and the bridegroom, Rhys, can think again. The Beauty Bride is also available in audio.
The next two books in the Jewels of Kinfairlie series, The Rose Red Bride and The Snow White Bride, also feature arranged marriages.
The Princess, book one of the Bride Quest, also features a defiant maiden unwilling to marry the man chosen for her. Brianna’s family estate is captured by a mercenary who insists she marry one of his three sons to solidify his victory. He leaves the choice to her. Brianna has no intention of marrying any of the three rogues, so she gives them a test: she pledges to marry the one who brings her a gift that makes her laugh. She’s pretty sure she can keep from laughing at anything and so avoid the old warrior’s plan. She’s not counting on Luc, though, who is done with the life of a warrior and has no patience with spoiled women who think they can make everyone obey their whims. He refuses to accept the quest, which infuriates Brianna—and you can guess what happens while Luc’s brothers are gone. I really enjoy the battle of wills in this one—it makes their dawning love all the sweeter.
Unicorn Bride is an older book of mine, which has been revised and republished. I just love the new cover! I also love this story of a woman fulfilling an arrangement made when she was in her cradle. Alienor has never met her husband-to-be, although she’s heard a lot of stories about strange doings at his remote keep of Montsalvat. She finds a bridegroom in disguise, as well as enough intrigue in her new home to tempt her to flee—but her mysterious new husband is a passionate lover by night, which leaves her torn. Trust is hard-won between these two, but love does conquer all when Dagobert chooses his new bride over his inherited responsibilities.
One Knight’s Return is also a revised older title—I’m realizing as I compose this that I wrote a lot of arranged marriages when I was traditionally published, but haven’t written many since then. Maybe I need to mix that up a bit!—also revised and republished with a new cover. Quinn returns home from the crusades to his family holding, only to discover that his overlord has put a price upon the ruined Sayerne: Quinn has to marry the beautiful and independent Melissande from neighboring Annossy to have any chance of claiming the holding that should be his. He’s perfectly willing to do this, as he probably needs a wife and isn’t romantic at all. Melissande, however, is not thrilled with the plan. She’s not a romantic either, but sees this move as the overlord’s attempt to seize her prosperous family holding. Let the battle begin! This one is a battle of wills between two strong warriors, each of whom has to learn to compromise and delegate.
Part of this new column is that I’ll provide a discount in my newsletter for the featured books. The Beauty Bride is already free, so one of the other titles will be offered for 99¢ when subscribers buy directly from me. (Which one will it be???) If you haven’t subscribed to my Knights & Rogues newsletter yet, this might be a good time to sign up.
For the month of November, I’m participating in a BookFunnel promotion to build newsletter subscriptions featuring Steamy Historical Romances. The idea is that you sign up for the newsletter of any of the participating authors in exchange for a free book from that author.
You’ll find The Crusader’s Bride on the landing page of this promotion, and a lot of other historical romances. Come and discover a new series or author!
Claire Delacroix 