Book bargains—A Duke in Shining Armor

Please brace yourself for a small flurry of blog posts in the coming days. Things seem to happen in bunches.

Today’s news comprises two special offers for A Duke in Shining Armor, the first Difficult Dukes book, U.S. edition.

EBook deal: Until 25 April, you can get the book for a mere $1.99 from all the major eBook retailers. If you already own it, thank you! And please feel free to pass the information on to a friend.

Audio deal: Until 30 April, the audio version, with the talented Kate Reading giving voice to my story, is available at Chirp and Barnes & Noble (and possibly other retailers, but I can’t say, not having received those details) for only $3.99. Again, if you already own it, thank you! And please don’t hesitate to alert your friends.

More summer deals, for a short time only

FLASH SALE: Two Difficult Dukes books for a Kindle One Day Gold box on 21-22 July. $0.99 for A Duke in Shining Armor and $1.99 for Ten Things I Hate About the Duke.

Those are my most recent books. How about a deal on an early work?

The Lion’s Daughter, the eBook of my first full-length historical romance* is on sale from 19-26 July for $0.99. For less than a dollar you can make a rare visit to Albania in the time of Lord Byron, the Prince Regent, and other historical figures you’ve come to know through my and other writers’ early 19th century-set romances. However, as far as I know, this is the only historical romance set in Albania.** It features a character who appears in other books of the Scoundrels series, including the series’ centerpiece, Lord of Scoundrels. Why Albania? That’s where my family comes from, it’s not very well known, and I’ve been there. I believe this falls into the category of Write What You Know.

Meanwhile, in Albania…

*My first six books were traditional Regency romances: shorter books, with a sweet take on the smoochies—in other words, no explicit sex, but kisses and cuddles do happen, and definite sexual tension. The full-length historical romances are about twice as long, and the bedroom door is not closed.

**One of the traditional Regencies, The English Witch, is also set partly in Albania.

Communications note

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Charles Baugniet, The Letter, 19th century

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Not everybody loves social media, but if it’s something you enjoy/are addicted to/don’t mind very much, please consider following me on Facebook and/or Instagram. You will get to see pretty or intriguing or funny pictures. On Instagram, you’ll be alerted to one of my sporadic giveaways. And see pictures. On my Pinterest page, you’ll find boards devoted to each of my full-length historical romances, with maps and all kinds of illustrations of places, things (like apparel), and people appearing in the story. There are also boards for various nerdy historical topics and miscellaneous items I like to share. In short, more pictures.

And speaking of giveaways, this is Week Two of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Giveaways. If you stop by these historical romance authors’ social media accounts and give them a “Follow,” you’ll get a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card. This simple act will also automatically enter you for a chance to win the grand prize (Kindle + $300 VISA gift card) on August 9. Contest entry site is here.

The Blackwoods & the Difficult Dukes series

A great many readers have asked about the Duke and Duchess of Blackwood’s story.

Alexander Brullov, Young Woman with a Book, 1839 (I’d date this before 1837, going by the dress)

Let me preface this explanation with apologies for the confusion. My imagination rarely proceeds logically. If it did, I’d have written twice as many books by now. At least.

My plan for the Difficult Dukes has always been a trilogy: Three books about the three Difficult Dukes known as Their Dis-Graces: The Dukes of Ashmont, Blackwood, and Ripley, in alphabetical order.

When I began the first book, A Duke in Shining Armor, here’s what was in my head: Ashmont was a hot mess and Blackwood was in a troubled marriage to Ripley’s sister, Alice. But it was Ashmont’s runaway bride who took hold of my imagination first—thus Ripley’s story.

When that was done, I tried to tell the Blackwoods’ story (well, yes, I wanted to know what was going on, too), but my imagination refused to cooperate. Ashmont had to come next, like it or not.

Illustration by Robert Cruikshank

The result:

Book One: A Duke in Shining Armor, Ripley and Olympia’s story, published 2017.

Book Two: Ten Things I Hate About the Duke, Ashmont and Cassandra’s story, published 2020.

Book Three (in process): Title Unknown,* Blackwood and Alice’s story. Planned publishing date is 2022.

Regarding Lord Frederick Beckingham (Uncle Fred) and Lady Charles Ancaster (Aunt Julia): Until Book Three is finished, I won’t know whether I’ve completed their story arc or will need to write a novella, but I do plan to reveal their story.

Regarding other characters: I haven’t decided and probably won’t until Book Three is finished. Not all secondary characters inspire a complete story, but I hope to have most of the loose ends tied up with Book Three.

Robert Cruikshank, “The Arrival, or Western Entrance to Cockney Land” (i.e., Hyde Park Corner, from the English Spy

*Please do feel free to offer title suggestions.