Hope for Congo and Seduction Reveal

Copperplate Books
February 22, 2025

Terri

Hello! February is coming to an end—the second month of the year already—and I already know it’s going to be a busy year!

Before I get started, however, I’d like to draw everyone’s attention to a charity giveaway I’ve taken part in! Histrom Hope for Congo. For those who haven’t already seen: it’s to support survivers of sexual assault from the ongoing war in Congo. Last month, a group of authors (including myself) ran a special promo focusing on consent. This month, we hope our stories can benefit women denied this privilege. They may live far from us, they may not look like us, but their human rights are the same. And so we’re giving away a collection of our books, and in return, we’re asking our readers to donate. Please help us bring hope where, right now, there is none. Thank you. TO ENTER:

DONATE to panzifoundation.org (African-led, established, supports women survivors of s3xual v!ol3nce in the region) We don’t care how little you give, many drops make an ocean.
FORWARD donation receipt to [email protected] (Don’t worry, this won’t contain personally/financially identifying information. Donation amounts will be kept strictly confidential.)
INCLUDE a note to confirm you’re in UK or US to be eligible for paperback prize.
You’re in! Entries close 28 February 2025. Winners drawn & announced in March. (We are not associated with Panzi Foundation in any way. Responsibility for distributing books sits with individual authors. Email addresses will only be used for the purpose of distributing books and to inform winners in March.)

Thank you so much for reading!

The Spinster’s Seduction

Look how pretty it is! I’m SO obsessed

As many of you know, my next novella is coming out next month (a month on Monday!) and I am SO excited share it with you all. ARC signups are now closed, but you can still preorder here.

And because I’m nice like that, enjoy a lengthy extract below:

“I have a question,” she said, letting her hands fall away.

“Then ask it.”

“When I am kissing you, how do I know that you are . . . also enjoying it?”

He snorted, but when she frowned, he took her hands and pressed them to his mouth, one after the other. “Sweet, innocent Evie. You are a delight.”

“It was an honest question.”

“Let me give you an honest answer, then.” The corner of his mouth curved, though his eyes remained hot on hers, like scorched coals. “Do you know what happens when a man is aroused?”

“His—” She stumbled over her words. “His phallus swells.”

He gave a delighted bark of laughter and brought her face to his for another quick kiss. “Never change, my dear.”

“Charles! Is that incorrect?”

“Not in the slightest, although I am not in the habit of referring to my cock as a phallus.” He tilted his head at the way she recoiled from the word. Once, and only once, Lady Durham had used the coarse expression, and Evelyn had disliked it immensely. If she were to refer to a man’s private parts, she did not wish to do so in that way. “Does that distress you?”

“It seems unnecessarily coarse.”

“Ah, but Evie, I am.” His thumb stroked across the hinge of her jaw, oddly tender despite his words. “You are sitting on the lap of a hardened rake, and I mean that in every sense of the word.”

His tone, playful and serious all at once, indicated his double meaning, and she frowned. “Do you mean hard as in . . .”

“Say it.”

“I will not say that rude word,” she said firmly.

“Very well. Yes, Evie, I was referring to my erection.” He took her hand. “Promise me you won’t be shocked.”

“At what?”

His lips twitched. “I’m about to show you my phallus.”

“Show me?”

“Well, perhaps not quite that.” Gently, he brought her hand between them, to a sizeable bulge between his legs. “When a man is aroused, he becomes hard, and that is what I am experiencing now. Because of you.”

Shock initially made Evelyn want to flinch away, but after a moment’s contemplation, she kept her hand there, wrapping her fingers around the length. He inhaled sharply, but when she glanced at his face, he shook his head.

“It’s sensitive.” A wry smile touched his mouth. “More so than I would have anticipated.”

“You . . . like this?”

“I do.”

“I had not thought . . .” She dropped her gaze to his trousers and the sight of her hands on his manhood. Pleasure spiked through her, and she explored the length of him, squeezing and massaging as she grew bolder. “You admit things so easily.”

He caught her wrist, stilling her. “I admit to experiencing pleasure at your hands, yes. But we should stop that for now.”

“Why?”

“Because today’s lesson is on kissing.”

She looked back at his face. “Then kiss me.”

Oddly enough, this book took a long time coming (pun absolutely intended) to me. Friends to lovers isn’t always my favourite trope—especially when there’s angst involved. And with me, there’s always angst. I’ve not learnt how to write Histrom without it. But at the same time, I wanted their friendship to feel real. A genuine obstacle and a great joy all at once.

And I think (I hope) I’ve achieved that.

Evelyn and Charles may have spent the majority of their lives as friends rather than lovers, but I like to think that they had all the trappings of a relationship without the sex. They cared for one another, put each other first, loved wholeheartedly, and even without knowing precisely why they remained unwed, saved themselves for each other. In many ways, they are more fortunate than those who found unhealthy or loveless relationships. And bringing Evelyn to discover her own sexuality and her body—and Charles discovering his tenderness, his heart, and his capacity for great gentleness—has been such a privilege.

I’m a sappy mess, so I’ll finish it there, but suffice it to say I have cultivated such a love for these characters of mine, and I hope you do too.

(Also, for anyone wondering—if it would add a little je ne sais quoi—Charles is Theo and Nate’s baby, eloquently referred to by Jacob as a “potato”. Thus, he has become known in my inner circle as “potato baby”. And let me tell you the number of potato/French fry/tater tot jokes I have endured from some beta readers is ridiculous. Have fun seeing him as a grand romantic lead now. You’re welcome.)

Until next time!

Terri x

Kiera

Hi there!

Kiera here, having a minor meltdown at the prospect of giving an author talk next month. Ugh! Public speaking is so out of my comfort zone. Give me a quiet room with my computer, a good view, the all-important arrival (courtesy of my other half) of freshly brewed mid-morning coffee and—did I mention quiet?

Anyway, here’s the thing: what do I talk about? The actual writing process; where my ideas come from; how I became an author; the practicalities of self-publishing . . . the list goes on. And should I read an extract? Heeeelp!

If you feel inclined to point me in the right direction, I’ve created a Google form specially. All you have to do is tick the 3-5 things you’d be most interested to learn—all anonymously—I’ll be super grateful for any advice.

In other news, I’m having a sneaky break in the sun next week, after which I’ll be forging towards the end of book 3 which is available for pre-order here. Watch out for the cover reveal coming soon.

That’s all for now, and don’t forget my form if you have a mo!

Thanks,

Kiera