Caroline Linden's Blog

From all retailers, download A Study in Scandal (part of my Scandalous series) absolutely free! It's got a brand new epilogue, and an extended preview of my next book When the Marquess Was Mine because the heroes of these two books are brothers.

Don't wait too long, though--this will only be free for a limited time.

Happy reading!

XO
Caroline

Four years ago some friends and I got together to write a book. It was so much fun, and received such lovely feedback from readers, we've gone back to Kingston Castle and written a sequel to At the Duke's Wedding. Today you can get At the Christmas Wedding, in which it snows (heavily), the castle is full of guests again (some unexpected), and Bridget has persuaded everyone to play a part in the world's silliest play (written by her). On behalf of Maya Rodale, Katharine Ashe, and myself, Happy Christmas!

My story, Map of a Lady's Heart, stars Wesley, the Earl of Winterton, who comes to Kingstag in search of an old atlas. Wes is a traveler, never staying in England for long, and on this trip he's brought his nephew...who is very taken with the young ladies visiting at the castle. Viola Cavendish, private secretary to the mistress of Kingstag, has the tricky job of maintaining order during the house party, and the arrival of unexpected guests only makes that harder--especially Wes, who makes her pulse race. But before long, the only map Wes wants is one that shows him the way to lovely Viola's heart...

Read the Prologue here!

If you are missing any books from my Scandals series, they're all on sale to some degree, but most especially Six Degrees of Scandal, which is only $0.99 on your e-reader until October 23. And you can still order The Desires of a Duke: Historical Romance Collection, a boxed set of eight dashing, daring dukes in search of true love, on sale December 12.

I hope you're enjoying fall. My puppy (now 75 lbs but not yet a year old) is loving the cooler weather. I sit outside on my patio and write while he tries to catch falling leaves. Hopefully by the end of the month I'll be done with An Earl Like You, the follow-up to My Once and Future Duke and scheduled for next October. In publishing we really work ahead!

Happy reading to all--

Caroline

Ten years ago I sat down to write a book about a very fortunate young lady. Her mother spoiled her, her older brothers adored her; she was beautiful, kind, and fun-loving, the sort of girl who would expect to be swept off her feet by love at first sight and live happily-ever-after.

Well, that sounds like a fairy tale—too good to be true. Real relationships are built on not only the joy and love but also the hard times two people survive together. And so I knew Celia Reece would make a terrible mistake, as people often do when things are too good to be true, and marry the wrong man. Which is an odd way to begin a romance novel, but there it is. Celia never notices her brother's best friend, Anthony Hamilton, is in love with her, and he doesn't act until it seems too late.

This book is the story of how he wins her heart after all. Today it's back in print with a lovely new cover (but the exact same story as when it was first released in 2008).


In other exciting news, I have a cover to share with you for my next book! My Once and Future Duke, in which the Duke of Ware finally gets his story, will be the start of a new series called The Wagers of Sin, and it comes out February 27, 2018. You can pre-order it now, if you like to plan ahead.

And after hearing from my Facebook followers, I put together a boxed set of four of my novellas. The set is titled Scandalous Liaisons: Four novellas and includes A Study in Scandal; The Secret of My Seduction; A Fashionable Affair; and When I Met My Duchess. All of these are previously published and each is available on its own, but if you missed some and like package deals, this is for you.

I had to put on my sweatshirt this morning to take Puppy to the park, which means fall is edging into view. Even more astonishingly, I just delivered one of my children to college for the first time. Maybe I can blame my red, teary eyes on fall allergies, or a particularly poignant romance novel... Some of my favorite authors do have new titles coming out soon, especially:

Dark Embrace by Eve Silver, out today!!!
The Duke by Katharine Ashe, coming out September 26
It's Hard Out Here for a Duke by Maya Rodale, coming out November 28

Happy reading to all!

(Do you get my newsletter? If not, join now! Members got a chance to win print copies of all the books in the Reece trilogy.

Today's the day: The Secret of My Seduction is out now, just $0.99 for your e-reader (a special introductory price good through 3/28/17), and also in print via Amazon. All About Romance calls it "a quick, sexy read" and "a nice coda to the Scandals series." I can't wait to hear what you think!

In other news, come see me and dozens of other authors at the Boston Marriott Burlington in Burlington MA on April 7, 6:00 - 8:00 PM. We'll be signing books as part of the NEC-RWA conference, with proceeds to benefit literacy charities in New England and a bunch of raffle baskets up for grabs. There will also be a reading salon, where I'll be reading along with fifteen other authors later that evening.

And my good news this month is that I finished my next book! It's scheduled for release in March 2018, starring the Duke of Ware, who appeared in my very first novel, What a Woman Needs. I'm not saying there won't be anything from me before then, but you'll read about it here first.

If you aren't already a member, join my VIP Readers' list. Last month I gave away a copy of The Secret of my Seduction to one reader, and signing up is the only way to get The Truth About Love, a short story exclusively for members.

After It Takes a Scandal came out, I heard from many readers wondering what happened to Lady Samantha, Benedict's sister. By then I had already written Love in the Time of Scandal, where Samantha turned up happily married. I always know what happens to my characters, even the minor ones! I started work on a novella about Samantha's romance with an unconventional hero, a painter who's also the son of a duke, which leads to her escape from her terrible father. It took a little longer than expected, but today Samantha's story is available for everyone to read, in A Study in Scandal. (And if you missed It Takes a Scandall, it's only $1.99 on your-e-reader through February 22.)

Leading up to March 29, when Six Degrees of Scandal, the fourth and final novel in the Scandals series, will answer all your questions about Olivia and James and especially the mysterious Lady Constance, I'll be doing a few events with some other great authors who also have new books out. I've already read the first two and can't wait to get my hands on the others. If you're near Cambridge, MA or Vero Beach FL, I'd love to see you at one of the events!

The Rogue Not Taken by Sarah MacLean
My American Duchess by Eloisa James
Because of Miss Bridgerton by Julia Quinn
Dukes Prefer Blondes by Loretta Chase

Romance Roundtable (with Sarah MacLean and Eloisa James)
February 26, 7:00-9:00 PM
Porter Square Books
25 White St.
Cambridge MA 02149

A Day of Historical Romance (with Julia Quinn, Eloisa James, and Loretta Chase)
March 20, 3:00-4:30 PM
Vero Beach Book Center
392 21st St. (Miracle Mile)
Vero Beach, FL 32960
*At the Vero Beach event, will be available for sale nine days early.

In other news, one of my very first books, What a Gentleman Wants, has been reissued and is available in print again. It's got a beautiful new cover, but the story inside is the same as when it was originally published in 2006. And if you've read it and wonder what happens next, don't miss the bonus epilogue on my website.

And lastly, as of today new subscribers to this newsletter will receive a free short story called The Truth About Love. I hope you enjoy it!

Today is the official on-sale date of my latest novel, Love in the Time of Scandal. It's the third in the Scandalous series, and picks up where It Takes a Scandal left off. Penelope Weston does not like Benedict Lennox, Lord Atherton, at all, and yet he seems to be everywhere she turns. Benedict is intent on marrying a sensible, quiet woman, but he can't stop thinking about the passionate Penelope. And when they get caught in a scandalous position, marriage is the only answer. The question of true love, however, will take longer to answer.

Thrillingly, the book has already got some wonderful reviews. Booklist gave it a starred review and raved about the "shrewdly matched protagonists, abundance of heady sexual chemistry, and satisfying measure of sharp wit," and called the Scandalous series itself "fabulously entertaining." BookPage made it a Top Pick for June and Kirkus called it "smart, poignant, deftly written." I can't wait to hear what you think of it!

If you're in the Boston area, join me for a book launch party at Porter Square Books in Cambridge, Massachusetts on June 18 at 7:00 PM. Come share your favorite romance story, have some cupcakes and champagne, and pick up a signed book. I'd love to see you there!

To get in the spirit, Porter Square Books asked me to share a list of some of my favorite 'scandalous' romances. As a reader--and lover--of historical romance, it was hard to keep from naming two dozen historicals, but the truth is every age has its scandals, and those always offer juicy story potential. Here are some of my suggestions for adding a little scandal to your reading:

Then Came You by Lisa Kleypas
A Tale of Two Lovers by Maya Rodale
Taking Liberties by Diana Norman
Welcome to Temptation by Jennifer Crusie

If you've been waiting for a print version of All's Fair In Love and Scandal, my Scandalous novella, it can be yours on June 9. This won't be in bookstores, but you can order it through most online retailers. And of course the ebook is available right now.

And lastly, since I know there will be Questions, YES! there will be another Scandalous book. It will be called Six Degrees of Scandal, scheduled for April 2016. Every story and every character has to reach a happy end....including Lady Constance and her 50 Ways to Sin.

Happy reading!

Caroline

Last fall I asked readers which character's story they would most like to read. To be honest, I really expected people to choose Aunt Evangeline, from Love and Other Scandals. But to my surprise, everyone wanted to read about Douglas Bennet, the scapegrace brother of Joan. I read every comment and email begging to learn what happens to him, and so, dear readers, today you can read his story! Never let it be said I don't listen to my readers. I hope you enjoy seeing Douglas get his romantic comeuppance--naturally causing a bit of scandal in the process--in All's Fair In Love and Scandal.

I'm also thrilled to say that my first contemporary novella Will You Be My Wi-Fi? originally published in the anthology At The Billionaire's Wedding, is a finalist in RWA's RITA award for Best Romance Novella. And though I highly recommend reading the entire anthology, it's also available for sale on its own now.

While you wait for Love in the Time of Scandal, coming out on May 26, my publisher and I have put together a sampler of the entire series so far. If you haven't started my Scandals series, or know someone who might enjoy it, the sampler will include excerpts from all three novels and this latest novella, along with an essay on how I came up with 50 Ways to Sin, the naughty story at the heart of the series. Look for this free e-book sampler on all major retailers; it will be released on May 5. And speaking of 50 Ways to Sin, I'm currently writing the fourth and final book, wherein all will be revealed. Do you think you know who Lady Constance is? In April 2016 you'll find out for sure.

Happy reading!

Caroline

My new book hits the shelves today! This is the follow-up to Love and Other Scandals, starring Abigail Weston and the brooding, mysterious man next door. Is he a war hero, a thief, a recluse, a murderer ... or the man of her dreams?

I have quite a soft spot for the hero, Sebastian. Far from being master of all he surveys, he's endured some significant hardship. When Abigail walks into his life, he's sure of two things: she's the most wonderful woman he's ever met, and she deserves so much better than the likes of him. Writing their story was both a challenge and a pleasure, and I hope you enjoy it, and come to love them both as much as I did.

Those wicked stories from Love and Other Scandals, 50 Ways to Sin, are still a source of fascination to Abigail and her sister Penelope, and many people have written to ask about them. Here's your chance to read the very issues featured in the book: submit proof of purchase of It Takes a Scandal, and receive three issues to see for yourself just how naughty Lady Constance can be.

Spring has finally arrived here in New England, after a brutal winter. I hope things are bright and blooming for you, too!

Wishing you many happy hours of reading,

Caroline

If you've read Love and Other Scandals, you know a little something about the scandalous Lady Constance and her infamous stories, 50 Ways to Sin. Subscribers to my newsletter got a peek at one issue, but there are more... and people were asking to read them. How naughty is Constance, after all?

Here's your chance to find out. If you buy It Takes a Scandal by May 6, 2014--that's from now until one week after it goes on sale--and submit proof of purchase here, Avon Books and I will send you three issues: the very first one where Constance embarks on her life of wickedness, plus both issues Joan savors during Love and Other Scandals.

I have to confess, writing Lady Constance's stories is almost as much fun as writing my own. I hope you get just as much entertainment out of them as I do!

~Caroline

I have a new book out! Today Love and Other Scandals hits bookshelves both physical and virtual. I'm so pleased that it's gotten some really lovely reviews already. Publisher's Weekly called it "a quiet gem," and Booklist said "[the] writing is tartly witty, the chemistry ... between Joan and Tristan is pure passion, and [the] subtle incorporation of the Fifty Shades phenomenon into the plot is priceless."Hurrah!

If you've read A View to a Kiss, you might remember Joan from that story. This is her book to give full vent to her adventurous streak! She meets her brother's rakish friend, Tristan Burke, and sparks fly from the first moment. Tristan doesn't like her; he just wants to kiss her into silence. Joan doesn't want to like him, but--thanks in part of a scandalous publication called 50 Ways to Sin--she's desperately curious to know what she's missing as a spinster, too...

My inspiration for 50 Ways to Sin, a series of erotic stories that enthrall Joan and her friends, came in part from my daughter--specifically, when she bought 50 Shades of Grey. The full story is here on the Amazon Daily blog. It was surprisingly fun to write Regency-era erotica!

And if you haven't read it yet, the anthology I wrote with Maya Rodale, Miranda Neville, and Katharine Ashe, At the Duke's Wedding is still available for your e-reader for only $2.99--but not for long! We're also working on getting a print version available soon.

Hope you've got a few more good reading-by-the-pool days left this summer!