My medieval romance, The Wolf & the Witch, is now available in an Italian edition!
Dopo che gli è stata negata la legittima eredità, Maximilian de Vries escogita un piano per vendicarsi del padre e assicurarsi un futuro. Alleatosi con i suoi due fratellastri si reca all’antica e misteriosa Kilderrick, deciso a prendersi il castello promessogli anni prima, a qualunque costo. Una donna, che si dice sia una strega, è l’unica coraggiosa abbastanza da sfidarlo, ma Maximilian ha la soluzione: sposarla, sia che lei voglia o no, e ottenere il dovuto.
Ma il baldo guerriero dovrà tenere testa ad Alys Armstrong, una ragazza con una sete di vendetta e una rabbia che potrebbero superare le sue. Alys non ha intenzione di cedere al possente e orgoglioso mascalzone che le ha rubato tutto, per quanto seducente sia il suo tocco, e non condivide la sua fissazione per i duelli ad armi pari.
Acerrimi nemici sin dall’inizio, l’unione di Maximilian e Alys è uno scontro di volontà. Quando scoppia la passione, saranno capaci di resistere alla tentazione? E quando Kilderrick sarà in pericolo, uniranno le forze per salvare il castello che vogliono tanto, e l’amore inaspettato a cui tengono più di ogni altra cosa?
I’ve moved the publication date on The Dragon & the Damsel out by a week. It will now be published on October 26. This is because I am still running late after having a terrible cold for two entire weeks – ugh – and I want to make sure there’s time for a complete review before publication. Although I’m sorry for the delay, I love this story and can’t wait for you all to read it. 🙂
If you have pre-ordered the book already, you might have received a notification from your portal of choice. Your pre-order will be fulfilled on the 26th. This teeny delay might also mean that the print edition is available on the on-sale date, too. Thanks for your understanding!
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?
I’m finished republishing all of my medieval romances at all portals. They’re out of KDP Select and all available at all retailers. The ebook interiors have also all been updated, and the links at Books2Read have been updated, not just to include the new Apple links but also the audio and print links. (Phew!) The last books to be published wide were: The Beauty Bride, The Jewels of Kinfairlie Boxed Set, Kinfairlie Knights, First Knights, An Elegy for Melusine and Beguiled.
And because we’re back at all portals again, The Beauty Bride is going free. It’s already free at KOBO, Nook, Apple, GooglePlay and Smashwords. It may not yet be free (yet) at Amazon in your geographic territory. Amazon reserves the right to price-match or not, at their discretion.
I left the review quotes and the excerpt on this post. They’re copied from the book’s landing page and it is kind of fun to see it out in the world again.
More cherished than gold are the Jewels of Kinfairlie, and only the worthiest may fight for their love…The Laird of Kinfairlie has unmarried sisters, each a gem in her own right. And he has no choice but to see them all wed in haste.
Lady Madeline’s heart is not for sale…especially not to a notorious outlaw like Rhys FitzHenry. Yet Madeline’s hand has been sold, to none other than this battle-weary warrior with a price on his head. A more dutiful maiden might cede to the Laird’s command and meekly accept her fate, but Madeline has never been obedient. She decides to run away, though she never dreams that Rhys will pursue her.
She does not expect this taciturn man to woo her with fanciful stories, much less that each of his enthralling tales will reveal a scar upon his shielded soul. She never imagines that a man like Rhys could imperil her own heart while revealing so little of his own feelings. When Rhys’ past threatens his future, Madeline takes a leap of faith. She dares to believe him innocent—and risks her own life to pursue a passion more priceless than the rarest gem.
Claire Delacroix is always a winner for me with her tales of chivalry, passion and lush romance—I simply love her books. I found this one to be a great read, and recommend it highly to anyone liking a rousing, medieval-period romance. Five angels!
Fallen Angel Reviews
Download The Beauty Bride page to print and colour!
Ms. Delacroix creates an atmosphere so real that you’ll feel the wind in your hair as you race across the land with the protagonists. This writer is a genius at stirring the emotions of her readers and letting them share the excitement of the characters.
Rendezvous
Once again, Claire Delacroix comes through with an historical romance that does not disappoint…There are few medieval writers who can sweep me away as Claire Delacroix can. I cannot wait for the following books of this trilogy.
Romance Reader at Heart
Ms. Delacroix has painted a tale of love and romance fit to be framed…I quite literally devoured this book in a single day of reading. It was so entertaining and well written that I could not bring myself to put it down. I even forgot to eat because I was so wrapped up in this wonderful tale and, gasp, there was chocolate in the house!
After reading this magnificent book, it’s easy to see why Ms. Delacroix is considered one of the best medieval romance authors around. With careful attention to detail and a beautiful writing style, she whisks you to the Middle Ages for a grand romantic adventure…The Beauty Bride is a fabulous read!
The Romance Studio
Buy a Signed Trade Paperback
Buy a signed trade paperback copy of The Beauty Bride from Claire! The price is in US dollars and includes postage to the US or Canada.
$19.99
An exciting action tale fully packed packed with an assortment of well-defined forceful characters, both old and new…This is a prime example of the highly imaginative and entertaining novels Delacroix is celebrated for, in a stellar start to what looks to be a sensation new medieval series that is heading straight for my ‘keeper shelf’!
Historical Romance Writers
Ms. Delacroix has a wonderful way of pulling you into the story…you will not be able to put the book down until you are finished.
She was the proper age to be the surviving child of Rhys’ cousin Madeline Arundel. She shared her mother’s coloring and her mother’s name. Her supposed family were so anxious to be rid of her without a dowry that they resorted to this vulgar practice of an auction, something no man would do to his blood sister.
And Rhys had to admit that he liked the fire in this Madeline’s eyes. She was tall and slender, though not without womanly curves. Her hair was as dark as ebony and hung unbound over her shoulders, her eyes flashed with fury. Rhys had seen many women, but he had never glimpsed one as beguiling as this angry beauty.
A single glimpse of her had been all it had taken to persuade Rhys that buying Madeline’s hand was the most effective solution to his woes.
After all, with Caerwyn beneath his authority, he would have need of a bride to have an heir. And wedding this woman, if she indeed proved to be Madeline’s daughter and the sole competing heir for Caerwyn, would ensure that no one could challenge his claim to the holding. He did not fool himself that he had sufficient charm to win the hand of such a bride any other way. Rhys had no qualms about wedding his cousin’s daughter, if Madeline proved to be that woman. In Wales, it was not uncommon for cousins to wed, so he barely spared the prospect of their common blood a thought.
Indeed, she would be compelled to wed some man this night, and Rhys doubted that any would grant her the even-handed wager that he was prepared to offer to his bride. Rhys had to believe that he could grant a woman a better life than that offered by her family or this irksome boy, Reginald.
Marriage was a perfect solution for both of them.
And so he bid.
And so the chamber fell silent.
It was as simple as that. Madeline would be his.
Rhys strode forward to pay his due, well content with what he had wrought.
The young Laird of Kinfairlie responsible for this foolery spoke finally with vigor. “I protest your bid. You were not invited to this auction and I will not surrender my sister to your hand.”
Before Rhys could argue, Tynan granted the younger man a poisonous glance. “Did I not warn you that matters might not proceed as you had schemed, Alexander?”
Alexander flushed. “But still…”
“The matter has passed from your grasp,” Tynan said with finality. Rhys knew that Tynan would indeed have cast him out if Rosamunde had not vouched for his character. The lady Madeline had some souls concerned for her future, at least.
“You cannot claim her!” Alexander cried. “I will not permit it.”
Rhys smiled a chilly smile and let his gaze drift over the younger man. “You cannot stop me. And you cannot afford to exceed my bid.”
The young laird flushed crimson and stepped back with a murmured apology to his sister, which Rhys thought long overdue.
Rhys then turned to the huffing Reginald Neville. “Have you no more coin?”
Reginald’s face turned red and he threw his gloves onto the floor. “You cannot have that much coin!”
Rhys arched a brow. “Because you do not?”
Anger flashed in the boy’s eyes. “Show your coin before we continue. I insist upon it!” Reginald flung out his hands and turned to the assembly. “Can we trust a man of such poor repute to honor his debts?”
A murmur passed through the company and Rhys shrugged. He sauntered to the high table, removing a chamois sack from within his leather jerkin. The lady caught her breath when he paused beside her and Rhys studied her for a heartbeat. Her eyes were wide, a glorious simmering blue, and though he sensed her uncertainty of him, she held her ground.
It was not all bad that she was as aware of him as this. He liked the glitter of intelligence in her eyes, as well as the fact that she had tried to halt this folly. He was accustomed to women who spoke their minds and a bride who did as much would suit him well.
He smiled slightly at her, hoping to reassure her, and she swallowed visibly. His gaze lingered upon the ruddy fullness of her lips and he thought of tasting her, knowing then how he would seal their agreement.
But first, the agreement had to be confirmed.
“You need not fear, sir,” Rhys said coolly. “I will owe no debt for the lady’s hand.” There were more than enough gold coins in his sack, but Rhys was not anxious to flaunt his wealth. He cautiously removed only the amount necessary, and stacked the coins upon the board with care. Tynan bent and bit each one of them to test their quality, then nodded approval.
“Then, have her!” Reginald spat in the rushes with poor grace and stormed from the room. His gallantry, in Rhys’ opinion, was somewhat lacking.
There was utter silence in the chamber as Rhys reached out and laid claim to Madeline’s hand, such silence that he heard her catch her breath. His hand was much larger than hers and her fingers trembled within his grasp.
But she did not pull her hand from his and she held his gaze steadily. Again, he admired that she was stalwart in standing by the terms of agreement. He bent and brushed his lips across her knuckles, feeling her shiver slightly.
Alexander placed a hand upon Rhys’ arm. “I do not care for convention or broken agreements. You cannot wed my sister—you are charged with treason!”
Rhys spoke softly, not relinquishing the lady’s hand. “Do not tell me that the Laird of Kinfairlie is not a man of his word?”
Alexander flushed scarlet. His gaze fell upon the stack of coins and Rhys knew that he had desperate need of those funds.
He leaned closer to the boy, the lady’s hand yet firmly clasped in his own, and dared the new heir of Kinfairlie. He would show the lady, at least, what manner of man her brother was. “I will grant you a chance to rescind your offer, though it is more than you deserve. Reject my coin, but solely upon the condition that the lady shall not be sold to any man.”
It was clear that the younger man struggled with this decision. He appealed to his sister with a glance. “Madeline, you must know that I would not do this without cause.”
And he reached for the coin.
“Cur!” she cried, her scorn matching Rhys’ own. Rhys turned to her, his breath catching at the fury that lit her expression. “Take it then, Alexander! Take it, for whatever debts you have, and reject whatsoever loyalty Papa might have thought you owed to your siblings.”
Alexander’s hand shook slightly as he claimed the coins. “Madeline, you do not understand. I must think of the others…”
“I understand as much as I need to understand,” she said, her words as cold as ice. “God save my sisters if you think of them as you have thought of me.”
“Madeline!”
But the lady turned her back upon her sibling, her bearing as regal as that of a queen, her gaze locking with Rhys’ own. He saw the hurt that she fought to hide and felt a kinship with her, for he too had been betrayed by those he had believed held him in regard.
“I believe there is a meal laid to celebrate our pending nuptials, sir,” she said, her words carrying clearly over the hall.
Aye, this bride would suit him well. Rhys lifted her hand in his grip and bent to brush his lips across her knuckles in salute. She shivered and he smiled, knowing their nuptial night would be a lusty one.
“Well done, my lady,” he murmured, liking that she was not readily daunted. “Perhaps our agreement should be sealed in a more fitting way.”
A beguiling flush launched over the lady’s face and her lips parted as if in invitation. Rhys gave her hand a minute tug as the company hooted, and she took a pace closer. He could fairly feel the heat of her breath upon his cheek and her own cheeks flushed. Still she did not look away, though her breath came quickly in her uncertainty.
Rhys entwined their fingers, then lifted his other hand to her face. He moved slowly, so as not to alarm her, well aware of her uncertainty. She would be a maiden, without doubt. It would not do to make her fearful of his touch. Rhys tipped Madeline’s chin upward with his fingertip. Her flesh was soft beyond belief, her valor admirable. He smiled slightly, saw a spark in her eyes that reassured him as little else might have done. This was no fragile maiden who would fear her own shadow.
Rhys bent and captured Madeline’s sweet lips beneath his own. To his satisfaction, the lady did not flinch, nor did she pull away.
In the past year or so, I’ve noticed that romantic comedies tend to have cartoon covers. I’d been thinking of updating the look of my time travel romances, so this time, we went with cartoon covers. The first one to be completed is The Last Highlander. I think this cover is so cute!
The new edition, with this cover, is processing at the portals in both ebook and print. If you already own the ebook, this may be presented to you as a new edition to download. I’m not sure what Amazon will do as they don’t like to push out updates. If you want a print edition and prefer the 2017 cover, you can buy one directly from me.
Scotland, 1314—After the Scots reclaim Edinburgh Castle, Alasdair MacAuley only wants to celebrate. But the revels are interrupted by an old crone who claims the castle’s true owner is the legendary witch Morgaine le Fee. Dared by his fellow warriors to go meet the witch, Alasdair heads down a flight of stairs—and tumbles right into another century…
Scotland, 1998—American Morgan Lafayette is in Scotland to enjoy the history, not to ogle men in kilts. So when she stumbles upon a brawny man in a kilt, she is less than enthralled. She is certain he’s drunk for he claims Morgan is a powerful sorceress who has brought him to her magical kingdom! Despite her reluctance, she is intensely drawn to this handsome Highlander and the mystery surrounding him, a mystery that has the power to alter history—and her heart—forever…
“Long after the last word, you will bask in the afterglow of this fascinating story.”
—Rendezvous
Finalist Colorado Romance Writers’ Award of Excellence for Best Paranormal, Fantasy or Time Travel Romance
Previous Editions
Original mass market edition
2011 edition
2017 edition
“The Last Highlander is a tremendous time travel tale that stars two wondrous lead protagonists. The brisk story line will grab onto readers from page one and not let go until the story is complete.”
—Affaire de Coeur
“With an ending guaranteed to bring a tear and a smile to your face—The Last Highlander is a quick-paced, thoroughly entertaining read. A winner!”
At times humorous, at times heartwrenching, this unique time travel deftly combines historical facts with a shimmering romance that defies time and place…The resolution is simply wonderful, and I’m not going to give it away. You will just have to read it yourself to savor the feast Ms. [Delacroix] provides.
And we’re back! My medieval romances have come out of Kindle Unlimited and moving to wide distribution again. The second batch is live at the other portals now, and I’ve rebuilt the links here on my site. I also updated the links on Books2Read for print and audio editions.
There are a few exceptions that will join the other books in the middle of October. The Beauty Bride is still in KDP Select until October 11. That means the boxed sets which include The Beauty Bride (the Jewels of Kinfairlie Boxed Set, First Knights and Kinfairlie Knights) will have to wait to be published wide until TBB is out of KU. I’m in the midst of having new covers designed for all four of the Time Travel romances, so they’ll be republished with the new covers. And I need to update the interiors for both An Elegy for Melusine and Beguiled before they’re published at all portals again.
I’m also going to add the Jewels of Kinfairlie series on Radish. The Rogues of Ravensmuir are already there. I don’t find that my historicals get as much traction there as contemporaries, but if this series does well, I’ll load some more books there. (It’s a bit of a labour-intensive process.)
Claire Delacroix 