Tumbling Dominoes

Posted on March 7, 2023 by Deborah Cooke

Yesterday, I moved out my publication dates. Moving one meant moving the next and so forth, so we have a domino effect.

The Widow's Wager, book 3 of The Ladies' Essential Guide to the Art of Seduction series of Regency romances by Claire Delacroix — The Widow’s Wager

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

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

The Widow’s Wager will now be published April 11.

The Scot & the Sorceress will now be published June 15.

One Knight’s Desire will now be published August 15.

The culprit was a story that I added into my schedule in January, mistakenly believing it would be a novella. Kiss of Enchantment is a full-length book and one that has to be nestled into the existing world of the Dragonfire Novels. It’s the first book in a new PNR series and hopped onto my schedule during my Kickstarter campaign. It also publishes in April. I was just too optimistic about getting the story done in a short period of time and, as a result, everything moved a little bit further along the conveyor belt.

On the upside, my next Kickstarter campaign will feature new print editions of The Bride Quest – not omnibus editions, but individual hard covers and mass market editions. That will launch in May or June, and I’ll tell you more as we get closer to that. You can also follow me on Kickstarter to be notified of all new campaigns.

The Stolen Bride Cover Reveal

Posted on February 6, 2023 by Deborah Cooke

The Stolen Bride, book three of the Brides of Inverfyre series of medieval Scottish romances by Claire Delacroix

The Stolen Bride is Evangeline and Ramsay’s book, book three of the Brides of Inverfyre series of medieval Scottish romances. This pair met in The Runaway Bride and there’s a lot of energy between them. Evangeline, of course, will be expected to make a strategic marriage but won’t be pleased about it. I’m thinking Ramsay will offer the perfect temptation for her to defy her father, the Hawk, and to evade her arranged marriage. Hmm. But why does Ramsay want to marry her? Evangeline may think she’s jumped from the fat to the fire…

This one will be published in December 🙂

She will be no man’s prize….

Evangeline Armstrong is resolved to evade the strategic marriage arranged for her by her father, the Hawk of Inverfyre. She feigns compliance, intending to flee to the king’s court for protection once her party is away from Inverfyre. Instead, she is seized by Ramsay MacLaren, an outlaw and her father’s sworn enemy, and compelled to wed him.

Ramsay MacLaren owes a debt to the eldest daughter of the Hawk of Inverfyre, one he will never forget‚ just as he cannot forget the beguiling beauty who helped him escape her father’s dungeon. He has learned that no other woman can satisfy him, though he knows the Hawk would never allow their match. When Ramsay witnesses Evangeline’s departure with only a small party, he sees his chance and claims her for his own.

In morning’s light, Evangeline fears that Ramsay’s sweet words were solely to earn her capitulation—and support his claim to Inverfyre. All the same, she cannot regret the marvel of his touch. Does she dare to trust the warrior whose kiss ignites her very soul? For his part, Ramsay finds himself captivate by the woman he has taken to wife—even at the expense of his own plan for vengeance. Can he truly destroy all of import to her to avenge the past? When Ramsay is challenged by Evangeline’s wealthy betrothed, how can he choose between his vow to his family and the lady who holds his heart in thrall?

Evangeline and Ramsay’s story is coming December 26, 2024.

Pre-order available at some portals:

Coming in March – The Widow’s Wager

Posted on December 15, 2022 by Deborah Cooke

The Ladies’ Essential Guide to the Art of Seduction continues with The Widow’s Wager, book three of the series, coming in March. Matters become complicated for Mrs. Oliver when the Duke of Haynesdale’s widowed sister seeks out the secrets of her notorious book-in-progress, and the protective duke takes an interest in his sister’s activities.

The Widow's Wager, a Regency romance by Claire Delacroix

She wed once for duty but will only wed again for love…

For as long as she can remember, Eliza North’s heart has been in the possession of her older brother’s friend, Nicholas Emerson. But Nicholas has always been oblivious to Eliza, and when he bought a commission and sailed to war, she wed sensibly instead. Returned to her brother’s house a widow, she meets Lieutenant Emerson again and realizes neither of their feelings have changed. She accepts his request to chaperone his younger sister, Helena, hoping she might win his attention yet, with the assistance of the mysterious Mrs. Oliver and her guide for seduction.

Nicholas Emerson could never aspire to wed the daughter of a duke, especially one so pragmatic as Eliza has always been. That she married for the whimsy love makes him wonder how well he knew Eliza after all. She is still the only woman who captures his attention, but he knows his injuries mean he can never marry. Still, he cannot resist the chance to request Eliza’s assistance with Helena’s second season, and the chance to share her company.

Neither of them anticipate Helena’s wild behavior or their necessary alliance to defend her reputation. Entrusted with the manuscript of Mrs. Oliver’s advice on the seductive arts, Eliza puts its counsel to use, much to Nicholas’ delighted astonishment. How can he refuse the woman he loves, even knowing that he can never ensure her happiness? Caught between honor and love, Nicholas must accept his legacy from the war for this pair to have a future—is Eliza the woman who can heal his wounds forever?

Coming March 21, 2023

Pre-order available at some portals.

The Dragon & the Damsel Delayed 30 Days

Posted on August 30, 2022 by Deborah Cooke

I’ve moved the publication date for Rafael and Ceara’s book out one month, just to give a little breathing room. With my books coming out of Kindle Unlimited, there have been a lot of admin tasks to complete and I’m feeling the press of time. That extra month will ensure that I have time to make the book the best it can be.

If you’ve pre-ordered the book, you’ll likely receive a notification from your portal of choice. You don’t have to do anything. 🙂

The Dragon & the Damsel, book three of the Blood Brothers trilogy of medieval Scottish romances by Claire Delacroix

A mercenary convinced that each man must see to his own survival first, Rafael has learned to savor the moment and its pleasures. He is interested solely in conquest and coin, not any promise of the future—until an alluring maiden challenges him, defying him to stake a claim. Rafael cannot resist Ceara with her flame-red hair and keen wits, but their cat-and-mouse game takes a dangerous turn when Ceara is stolen by her kin. Rafael cannot stand aside when the damsel’s survival is at risk—though if she has stolen his shielded heart, she must never know of his weakness…

Ceara fled an arranged marriage, determined to wed for love or not at all. A horsewoman and huntress herself, she has encountered no man worthy of her affection—until she matches wits with Rafael, with his flashing eyes and seductive touch. She knows the handsome warrior seeks only one prize from her, but hopes to steal his heart. When she is captured and compelled to return to her betrothed, she is thrilled that Rafael lends chase. When he claims her as his own bride, Ceara dares to hope for more than a marriage of convenience.

But Rafael appears to be interested solely in conquest and passion, and their match becomes a battle of wills. Will Ceara be cast aside when her newfound spouse is offered the prize he desires above all else? Warrior and damsel, can these two wounded souls learn to surrender the truth of their hearts—before their union is shattered forever?

Coming October 20, 2022

Pre-order available at some portals:

The Year Ahead

Posted on August 2, 2022 by Deborah Cooke

Yesterday, there was a post on the blog of my Deborah Cooke website, about my month in the garden this past May and the decisions I made while weeding. The upshot of it all is that I’ll be focussed on historical romance for the next year, to the exclusion of other sub-genres. I’m curious to see where this takes both my stress level and my sales.

This decision is why I was able to add a new Regency romance series, The Ladies’ Essential Guide to the Art of Seduction, to my schedule, and I’m looking forward to it.

So, here’s my publication schedule as it looks right now:

The Brides of North Barrows including all four Regency romance novellas by Claire Delacroix — The Brides of North Barrows
August 2022

The Dragon and the Damsel, book three of the Blood Brothers trilogy of medieval Scottish romances by Claire Delacroix — The Dragon & the Damsel
September 2022

The Masquerade of the Marchioness, a Regency romance by Claire Delacroix — The Masquerade of the Marchioness
November 2022

I know more and have my work planned through the end of 2024, but I’d rather share details once I have covers and pre-orders. There will be more stories in The Ladies’ Essential Guide to the Art of Seduction published next year, for example. That series is planned to have seven books and will finish up in early 2024.

You probably noticed that One Knight’s Desire is back on the schedule for publication next July. I’ll be continuing with the Rogues & Angels series, which also is planned to be seven books long.

I’ve also decided to take my backlist titles out of Kindle Unlimited (not Blood Brothers just yet) and republish them at the other portals. That will probably take until the end of September, but if you’re reading in KU, finish up your series now.

This is a pretty relaxed schedule for me in terms of writing, so I have a number of other histrom projects that I’m hoping to tuck into the plan. I’ll write those first, then list them for short pre-orders when they’re done.

Claire Delacroix

Bestselling Author of Medieval Romance and Fantasy Romance

Tag Archives: Coming Soon

Tumbling Dominoes

The Stolen Bride Cover Reveal

Coming in March – The Widow’s Wager

The Dragon & the Damsel Delayed 30 Days

The Year Ahead