An eBook Deal & a New Italian Edition

Yesterday brought some nice holiday surprises. One came to my doorstep (in a downpour) and one to my email via Bookperk.

My Inconvenient Duke

First off, we have a limited time only eBook deal on My Inconvenient Duke. From now until 2 January, it’s on sale for $1.99 in the U.S. and Canada. Since publishers don’t always let me know when deals are coming up, and it’s impractical to haunt the various bookstores daily to find out, sometimes my news does not come as far in advance as I’d like. But there’s time! If you haven’t yet read the third Difficult Dukes book, here’s a chance to do so and save a few bucks. Or maybe you’ve a friend who might enjoy Blackwood and Lady Alice’s story.

The second item was Il Duca Libertino, the Italian edition of A Duke in Shining Armor. The copies were a little damp, having landed on the stairs instead of the porch, but they survived near drowning. (It was quite a storm.) And they would be readable if only I could. But the Italian I learned in repeated lessons has for the most part either evaporated on gone into deep hiding in my brain. Also, the vocabulary I did learn was limited to beginner level. Italian is not easy for an American, believe me, especially one of very mature years. All those articles and pronouns. But it’s so beautiful that I find myself opening pages and trying to comprehend. And no, I don’t comprehend much, except insofar as I wrote the book and know how it goes. But I think we can all appreciate the cover design. It’s always interesting to see the way other countries do it—how they dress the characters, what scenes they choose, the poses, etc.

Signed by Author books and an updated French edition

Readers have asked how to get signed copies of my books. If you’re unable to attend one of my book events, you might want to get in touch with a bookstore affiliated with it. For instance, Aesop’s Fable in Holliston, Massachusetts, has supplied books for the Ashland Public Library RomCons, and will be at the book celebration tea party on 25 January 2025. They have signed copies of many of my books and will be able to provide signed copies of My Inconvenient Duke (if you preorder and let them know). You can find relevant information here.

Aesop’s isn’t the only bookshop. I recently signed copies of Lord of Scoundrels as well as bookplates at the Book Club Bar in Manhattan and at the Ripped Bodice bookstore in Brooklyn, NY. These are lovely bookshops, and if you’re in the New York area, you might want to drop in. Otherwise, you might want to give them a call for a signed copy or a bookplate.

If I’m invited to sign books elsewhere, I’ll update.

Lord of Scoundrels cover with “Signed by Author” sticker.

In international news:

It’s been years since I’ve received a print copy of one of my international editions. Apparently, they’re not doing that much anymore. However, my French publisher, J’ai Lu, recently sent me a lovely surprise—updated covers for the first Carsington Brothers book, Miss Wonderful. It’s so interesting to see the different interpretations and styles, and I think J’ai Lu does a beautiful job.

Cover of French edition of “Miss Wonderful”

For readers in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand: We won't be late!

In this day and age, you would think that with a push of a button a book could be released simultaneously all over the world, in all formats. Annoyingly enough, we are not at that day and age. We’re still dealing with contracts and subsidiary rights, licenses, and a bunch of other things that would bore you witless, were I to attempt explaining—presuming I could explain in any remotely intelligible fashion.

However, in this day and age, it is possible—if one has the right team, working diligently—for the eBook to come out in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand on the same exact day (well, allowing for time zones), as it does in the US and Canada. I’m very happy to report that my absolutely right team has managed the feat. In short, my UK/AU/NZ readers will be able to read My Inconvenient Duke on their e-readers as soon as my US readers do.

It will not have the exact same cover (please see contract, etc note above), as you can see if you compare the cover here with the one on the Books page. But I think the non-US/Canadian version is quite as nicely done, and like the U.S. version, it includes the house, which I’ll talk about in a future blog post.

As to other formats, like audio: Again, please see the note about contracts & rights, etc. When/if we have an audio release for you, I’ll let you know promptly. I’m sorry we don’t have it now, but oh, it’s complicated… Let’s keep our fingers crossed.