Holiday Anthology Sale

Our multi-author Regency romance holiday anthology, Twelve Lords for Christmas, is discounted through the end of the year to just 99¢! If you don’t have your copy yet, now’s a great chance to dive in!

Twelve Lords for Christmas Regency romance anthology

From sexy earls to holiday ghosts, second chances to false engagements, find your Christmas cheer in these twelve sweet-to-spicy historical romance tales from bestselling and award-winning authors! The lord you’ve been looking for might be just a page-turn away…

A CUP OF CHEER – Deb Marlowe
The Earl of Chester’s wild ways nearly cause a disaster and set him to reevaluating his lifestyle. Paired up with his grandmother’s companion and charged with bringing Christmas to a lonely house, will he come to believe in himself—and love?

THE MISTLETOE TRAP – Eve Pendle
A spicy-hot story of a heroine with a flair for enterprising embroidery and a botanist single father hero. Can a scandal that compromises Amelia’s reputation give their love a second chance?

A MOST INCONVENIENT EARL – Claire Delacroix
When Eurydice Goodenham unexpectedly proposes a marriage of convenience to Sebastian Montgomery, Earl of Rockmorton, the notorious rake is intrigued. Sebastian soon realizes that the unpredictable Eurydice is the perfect match for him – but can he convince his skeptical bride to take a chance on love?

THE LADY’S GUIDE TO MISTLETOE AND MAYHEM – Emmanuelle de Maupassant
On the run until she receives her inheritance, Ursula takes on the identity of an etiquette teacher and heads to Castle Dunrannoch to whip her ‘young charge’ into shape. But the long-lost heir is a whole lot more than she’s bargained for!

A COUNTESS FOR CHRISTMAS – Anthea Lawson
Miss Cecilia Fairfax dreads the upcoming holidays, especially when her brother brings home an unexpected guest. But of all the blessings of the season, sometimes the most unexpected is love.

MISS ISABELLA THAWS A FROSTY LORD – Larissa Lyons
Mistletoe kisses grant a blind heroine and a frosty hero a chance at happiness during a winter house party.

HER ACCIDENTAL GROOM – Nadine Millard
Lady Natalia Soronsky and Lord Benjamin Strafford started out as enemies and ended up as co-conspirators in a faux betrothal. But the longer they continue the ruse, the more they start to wonder just how false their feelings are.

CHRISTMAS SPIRITS – Jane Charles
When Benjamin Storm, Earl of Kenley, is sent to Scotland to procure a missing whisky shipment, he encounters the most unusual smuggler.

JOY TO THE WORLD – Nicole Zoltack
Unbeknownst to Eliza Berkeley, the man she thought she was going to marry was not Stephen Huntington, the Duke of Wyndale. Will a match formed through deceit blossom into love this Christmas?

TO FALL FOR A DUKE BY CHRISTMAS – Sadie Bosque
A reluctant duke and a charming commoner devise a plan to serve their own needs. A false relationship is supposed to be their salvation… Until love intervenes.

WHAT IF I STILL LOVE YOU – Erica Taylor
After a failed elopement ten years earlier, Henry, Earl of Carrington, and Anna, the widowed Viscountess Rycroft, are reunited at his aunt’s Twelfth Night party. Can this star-crossed pair find their way back to each other?

CHRISTMAS PROMISES – Brenda Hiatt
When Lord Vandover leaves for London, he promises his grandmother he will return with a bride. Unfortunately, with each simpering debutante he meets he regrets that promise more—until he encounters the lovely Miss Holly Paxton.

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:

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:

Early Reviews for The Bluestocking’s Bargain

There’s nothing more satisfying than good reviews for a new book! Here are the first few for Arthur and Patience’s story. I also created a trope graphic for this story.

Five star review for The Bluestocking's Bargain, book five in The Ladies' Essential Guide to the Art of Seduction Regency romance series by Claire Delacroix
Five star review for The Bluestocking's Bargain, book five in The Ladies' Essential Guide to the Art of Seduction Regency romance series by Claire Delacroix
Five star review for The Bluestocking's Bargain, book five in The Ladies' Essential Guide to the Art of Seduction Regency romance series by Claire Delacroix
The Bluestocking's Bargain, book five in The Ladies' Essential Guide to the Art of Seduction Regency romance series by Claire Delacroix

Patience Carruthers is a bluestocking with no interest in the fleeting uncertainty of love. Her passion is for books, knowledge, and the improvement of the world. When she learns of Mrs. Oliver’s work, instructing ladies in intimate matters to better their marriages, she is resolved to see that volume published for the public good—and will even accept an agreement to wed a notorious rake to accomplish her goal.

Thanks to his uncle’s reckless wager, Arthur Beckham has immediate need of a wife. Insisting he has an understanding with Miss Carruthers, a lady of good sense and practicality, may provide an escape from his predicament—assuming the lady in question can be persuaded to agree. He proposes a marriage of convenience to Miss Carruthers, vowing he will do whatever she desires in exchange for one son—even ensure the publication of such an uncommon volume.

Arthur is intrigued by this lady and her ability to surprise him. Her commitment to honesty tempts him to abandon the disguise that has defined his life for decades—though Arthur fears that admitting his deception might turn Patience against him forever. Can the book help him to capture the heart of his pragmatic bride before his secret is revealed?

The Bluestocking's Bargain is book five in The Ladies' Essential Guide to the Art of Seduction Regency romance series by Claire Delacroix

Buy the ebook:

Buy at Deborah Cooke's Books

The Bluestocking’s Bargain – Today!

Today’s the day for Arthur and Patience’s story. My plan with these Regency romances is that they would be shorter reads, but they keep getting longer. This one is 85,000 words, and the paperback is 320 pages. I’m just not good at writing short books. LOL

The Bluestocking's Bargain, book five in The Ladies' Essential Guide to the Art of Seduction Regency romance series by Claire Delacroix

Patience Carruthers is a bluestocking with no interest in the fleeting uncertainty of love. Her passion is for books, knowledge, and the improvement of the world. When she learns of Mrs. Oliver’s work, instructing ladies in intimate matters to better their marriages, she is resolved to see that volume published for the public good—and will even accept an agreement to wed a notorious rake to accomplish her goal.

Thanks to his uncle’s reckless wager, Arthur Beckham has immediate need of a wife. Insisting he has an understanding with Miss Carruthers, a lady of good sense and practicality, may provide an escape from his predicament—assuming the lady in question can be persuaded to agree. He proposes a marriage of convenience to Miss Carruthers, vowing he will do whatever she desires in exchange for one son—even ensure the publication of such an uncommon volume.

Arthur is intrigued by this lady and her ability to surprise him. Her commitment to honesty tempts him to abandon the disguise that has defined his life for decades—though Arthur fears that admitting his deception might turn Patience against him forever. Can the book help him to capture the heart of his pragmatic bride before his secret is revealed?

Available Today!

Buy at Deborah Cooke's Books

The Bluestocking’s Bargain is also available in a mass market paperback edition.