March Madness and New Releases

Copperplate Books
March 22, 2024

Hello, lovely subscribers!

Terri

(If you’re dying for Kiera’s updates, you can scroll to find them!)

So, we’ve come to the end of March and I’m left to ruminate about all the things I’ve achieved (and not achieved) since our last newsletter.

I’m finally more or less recovered from my barrage of illnesses (tonsillitis being the main offender) that’s had me down for about a month. This means I can finally write with a degree of regularity again! Hooray! I also just wrote a scene where Henry and Louisa are hiding in a closet together, evading the villain—who knows if that’ll stay, but at the very least it was fun to write.

Her nose brushed his again, a soft sensation that mingled with the feeling of her hand on his cheek. Soft. Her other hand curled around the back of his neck, holding him in place, locking him against her. Acting on instinct, his arms slid around her waist, bowing her body against his. Nerves jangled, lighting like flares, awareness jolting from every pore.

“Are you a dream?” he mumbled, dizzy with want and fear and a thousand other nameless emotions.

The hand around his neck tightened. “Wake up,” she breathed, before pressing her mouth to his.

The angst is real.

I’ve given myself a challenge with this novel: writing in both the past and the present, showing the way they fell in love when they were young, and how they found their way back to one another all over again. I’ll be honest—the difficult of its execution has made me want to throw my laptop at the wall on multiple occasions. But exploring Louisa’s strength and hurt juxtaposed against Henry’s pride and regret has been such a delight. And I’ve introduced one of my new favourite characters, the widowed and flirtatious Lady Matilda. I suspect she’s going to have her own book one day.

“Oh, I see him!” Matilda peered across at the other end of the room where Henry was emerging from the balcony with a young lady on his arm. “He is handsome, isn’t he? Do you think he would mind an older lady?”

“Matilda!” Louisa tapped her arm with her fan. “Besides, he wouldn’t snap for you, no matter what bait you dangled. He has made a vow of celibacy.”

Matilda raised both brows in surprise. “And you were unable to persuade him otherwise?”

“Your shock is flattering,” she said wryly.

“Well, I am shocked. What gentleman can resist you?”

“Ones who care more for their honour than any charms I have to offer.” She spoke lightly, but the bitterness sunk its claws into her heart. Nothing could make her forget the time she—and her love—had not been enough.

“Well, then,” Matilda said, continuing to peer at him. “My estimation of the man has lowered considerably. Gentleman who care for nothing but their own honour are not worth knowing.”

Honesty compelled Louisa to say, “I suspect he had some consideration for my honour, too.”

“Oh, well, what does that matter? You should seduce him, darling. Make him regret the day he ever slighted you.”

I’m also in the process of commissioning my cover, which is very exciting. It’s all coming together and I can’t wait to share it!

New Releases

Two new releases for you this month! The first has just been released by the wonderful Mihwa Lee, and you can find it here! It’s the third in the Rogues Worth Saving series and I can’t recommend it enough.

(image shamelessly stolen from her Facebook group)

The second is coming soon (April 2nd), and it’s Kelsey Swanson’s incredible Loving Mister Stratford, which is third in her Stratford Family series. Special preorder price if you get it now!

(once again, I did not create this image. All credit to Kelsey Swanson)

That’s all from me for now. Should probably get back to writing to make up for lost time…

Terri x

Kiera

First thing’s first, if you like clean and wholesome reads, follow this link to check out a selection of special offers. They’re only available in March, so get them while you can!

Next, and very exciting from my perspective, after months of book-related struggles with the plot and unreasonably uncooperative characters, requiring two massive re-writes of the ending, not to mention a range of other distractions along the way (an unanticipated extension to our fostering career and an unfortunate interaction between a motorbike and a deer to mention a couple), here comes BOOK TWOOOOO!!!

Yes, I know it’s behind schedule, but better late than never! A Dreamer’s Dalliance is due to be released by mid April and I’m on the lookout 👀 for ARC readers. If you would like a FREE COPY and are interested in giving reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, look out for the additional newsletter coming imminently!

(Probably next week!)

Just look at that gorgeous cover!

Following her dreams could cost her everything, including her chance of true love. . .

With her starry-eyed gaze on the capital, Charmaine Goodman cannot wait to experience the delights of a Season. Having devoured enough novels to fill an entire county with romantic encounters, she dreams of nothing less than meeting a tall, dark stranger who will sweep her off her feet. Unfortunately, escaping the confines of her parents’ country vicarage (and the attentions of an unappealing suitor) are simple compared with the challenges which face her in London, and all too soon her conservative upbringing is swept away by the temptations of romance.

Unrequited love is a burden Marcus Jorgensen must bear. With no income, property or even a lawful name to offer the woman he loves, his role as her best friend is stretched to breaking point when she falls for his disreputable, but legitimate cousin. If that isn’t bad enough, past mistakes of his own simply won’t go away, jeopardising his attempts to keep Charmaine from harm.

When her choices lead to imminent disaster, Marcus risks everything to save her. Unfortunately, untangling their problems is not as simple as waving a pistol. Accepting that public disgrace is unavoidable, Charmaine concludes that romance is an illusion. It’s up to Marcus to prove her wrong, but in the face of her romantic ideals, what chance does he have of gaining her love?

Taking Marcus's hand once again, she allowed him to swing her rather more vigorously than decorum dictated before he pulled her back towards him. Pressed against his chest, she felt the tightness of his muscles through his jacket, like a wall of carved timber, rigid and immovable. Her heart pounded disconcertingly.

He murmured in her ear, “All I'm trying to say is that charming manners may disguise dishonourable motives.”

Charmaine pushed some space between them. Would he not drop the subject? “Do you class yourself in that category, Major, or exactly whom are you disparaging?”

They parted and returned.

“You must know I would never wish you harm, but let’s just say that a certain Lord Knighton has a reputation for flirting.”

She snorted. “What fustian, Major. I distinctly remember you telling me in the past that you were flirting with me. How can this be a crime in others if not in yourself?”

The dance took them apart again. “He is not all he seems,” Marcus told her when they reconvened.

“What, he’s not a peer of the realm? An imposter no less!”

Marcus gripped her hand tightly and she noticed a muscle tick in his jaw. “Don’t be obtuse, Charmaine, you know perfectly well what I mean.”

She stared at him, at the whiteness around his mouth, the tension around his eyes, and her own eyes narrowed. “To listen to you, one would think it a crime to enjoy a little gaiety, yet I’m sure Papa wished me to spread my wings and enjoy London. How shall I decide if cousin Eustace and I will suit if I’m prevented from learning more of the world by mingling with those around me?”

It’s going to be a lot of fun and I’m so excited to send it out into the world!

Book Review

Aurora: a humorous Regency novel (Regency Goddess Series) by DG Rampton.

Available on KU, I was enticed to read this by its promise of a humorous read, and I was not disappointed. Despite being underwhelmed by the opening, due to what I felt was a somewhat unlikely scenario with a pistol which had me mentally bemoaning the all-too-frequent unrealistic portrayal of Regency ladies, the characters soon won me over with their witty banter and the entertaining situations they found themselves in.

It’s not often that I end up laughing out loud at a novel, but there were several occasions during this story that I did just that. The characters were endearing, and I enjoyed the welcome addition of a blossoming romance amongst the older generation.

The different elements of the plot were satisfactorily worked out and overall, I felt there was plenty to keep the wheels turning at a natty pace, while the slow-burn, developing relationship between H and h was sufficiently satisfying to maintain my interest.

If I have a criticism, it is that the pace did slow somewhat in the final quarter of the book, making me wonder for a brief time if the author had run out of inspiration. However, I’m pleased to say it picked up again before reaching what I can only describe as a triumphant ending! If you haven’t read it already, I can definitely recommend this book.

And finally…

“Please can you hurry up and finish that book—we want proper walkies, we want rompies on a beach, we want attention and zoomies and play-play!”

Soon, babies, soon 😄

Until next time,

Kiera