RELEASE DAY! The Diamond Series Box Set by Cassandra Dean

Hi peeps,

I’m so excited to announce today is the release day for The Diamond Series Box Set! It’s my very first box set, and I’m so stoked to share it with you all. This set combines two of my favourite tales, ROUGH DIAMOND and FOOL’S GOLD, and are set in the old American west. I must admit, I was a bit hesitant to paddle around in the Western pool, but I had such a blast I’m glad I got over my apprehension! I love the no-nonsense frontier ladies, the uber-sexy, duster-wearing cowboys and the romantical nature of people forging into the great unknown. I hope you enjoy reading these tales as much as I enjoyed writing them!

Cassandra

xx

Stop on by the Diamond Saloon, where devious Englishmen blithely charm sceptical saloon owners and where voluptuous singers archly tease the strong, silent type. Enjoy these two sexy tales from Freewill, Wyoming.

ROUGH DIAMOND
Owner of the Diamond Saloon and Theater, Alice Reynolds is astounded when a fancy Englishman offers to buy her saloon. She won’t be selling her saloon to anyone, let alone a man with a pretty, empty-headed grin…but then, she reckons that grin just might be a lie, and a man of intelligence and cunning resides beneath.

Rupert Llewellyn has another purpose for offering to buy the pretty widow’s saloon—the coal buried deep in land she owns. However, he never banked on her knowing eyes making him weak at the knees, or how his deception would burn upon his soul.

Each determined to outwit the other, they tantalize and tease until passion explodes. But can their desire bridge the lies told and trust broken?

FOOL’S GOLD
Christmas Eve, the Diamond Saloon is empty of its people, and Pearl la Monte has a hankering to retire early. A pounding at the Diamond’s door rids her of such a fool notion. Her irritation rises when she sees the prissy, polite-like Garrett standing outside.

Ethan Garrett has a powerful need to gain succor. When the saloon’s voluptuous redheaded singer scowls at him from the threshold of the Diamond, he doesn’t stop to think on how his ire at her has disappeared. Or how he just wants to spend some time in her company.

When a blizzard storms in, trapping them, will they spend their time arguing or find their irritation for each other disguises something more?

Available NOW

Amazon: AU | US | UK | ARe | Google | iTunes 

Excerpt from ROUGH DIAMOND:

Lifting the glass, Alice studied its contents. “There is nothing quite like the enjoyment you get from a good whiskey. There’s the look and color of it, and the way it burns in the light.”

“It’s the same color as your eyes,” Llewellyn breathed, his own wide and empty of thought.

A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. That’s right. Fool me into thinking there’s not an ounce of calculation to your words. “Is it? Mighty kind of you to notice.”

A happy grin was her response.

Well now, she was surely going to enjoy this. Setting her own half-smile, she tilted her glass, watching as the whiskey caught the light of the candle. “Have you ever noticed the feel of glass? It’s smooth against your fingers, and though the whiskey burns you, the glass is cool. It seems strange, doesn’t it? That such fire could come from something so cool.”

Intensely aware of his gaze upon her, she brought the glass to rest on her bottom lip. “You lift the glass to your lips, and all that coolness rests upon your flesh. The scent of the whiskey hits you, sweet and fiery. Your mouth waters, and you can’t wait to have it inside you. Slowly, so slowly, you tip the glass, teasing yourself as long moments in want of its taste stretch unbearably.”

He no longer wore a smile. Dark eyes watched her as strong fingers dug into the glass before him.

A prickle washed over her skin, her heart a steady beat in her chest. With hushed voice, she continued. “Liquid slides down your throat. The flavor explodes inside you, a glorious rush of sensation that overwhelms and consumes. You curl your tongue, enjoying the lingering sensation in every part of your mouth. Then, you look at the bottle.” Finally, she met his gaze direct. No subterfuge. No tease. “And you know you can do it again.”

Excerpt from FOOL’S GOLD:

Turning on her heel, Pearl marched off toward the stairs.

A weird kind of panic jolted through Ethan, one he’d never felt before in all his days. It was…he didn’t…. She couldn’t leave him. “Where are you going?”

She whirled to face him, her irritation plain. “I was seeking my bed before your arrival, and now I’m seeking it again. Help yourself to whiskey this one time. I got better things to do.”

Shoving to his feet, he strode to her. “Don’t just walk away when we’re discussing things.”

“We ain’t discussing nothing. You’ll be down here, waiting out the blizzard. I’ll be in my bed, doing what I was gonna before you arrived. That’s the end of it.”

Taking a step, she made to leave him. Again.

He grabbed her arm. “Don’t leave me.”

“Don’t tell me what to do.” Glaring at him, she stood before the bar, her magnificent hair slipping from its pins, her breasts rising and falling.

Abruptly, his mouth went dry. Clearing his throat some, he said, “You’re supposed to offer succor to those in need.”

“We’re closed, remember?” Paint-less lips pressed tight together, she glared up at him.

They were so close he could see the faint marks of freckles on her skin.

Pearl La Monte had freckles.

A kind of haze came over him, tightening his skin and bringing with it something all-fired powerful and completely unstoppable. All the years he’d known her crashed through him, all the times she’d flirted with him and meant something else, all the times he’d seen her perform on stage and wished he could have held such fire.

Grabbing her upper arms, he hauled her against him and, ignoring her shocked gasp, he covered her mouth with his. 

Cassandra Dean is a best-selling, multi-published author of historical and fantasy romance. Her latest novel, SILK & SCARS, is book 3 of her popular Silk Series featuring law-loving peeps and their happily ever after. Her next novel will be SILK & SCHOLAR, book 4 of the Silk Series.

Cassandra is proud to call South Australia her home, where she regularly cheers on her AFL football team and creates her next tale.

Visit Cassandra’s website at http://cassandradean.com

Join Cassandra’s mailing list at http://eepurl.com/kzesP

Follow Cassandra on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCassandraDean and on Twitter @authorCassDean

Contact Cassandra at cassandra@cassandradean.com 

SILK & SCARS, The Silk Series Book 3, is now available

 Hi peeps

I’m super stoked to announce SILK & SCARS, book 3 in my Silk Series, is now available!
This book was a bit of a nightmare to write. It took me f o r e v e r to understand Gwen and Edward’s story, and this book was definitely a case of how my original idea morphed into something completely unrecognizable by the end. Originally, I wanted Edward to be a gruff, blustery kind of duke, growling at Gwen, who would refuse to allow him to treat her that way. However, as I wrote, Edward suddenly loved Gothic novels, became an introvert and before I knew it, I had a sensitive, shy duke who desperately wanted to talk with Gwen but had no idea how.

Gwen herself was hard to get a handle on as well. I just couldn’t figure her out. Why did she dare to write letters to a duke? What was her motivation? What were her internal fears that drove her to be the person she was? Finally, I discovered who she was and...Welp, I’d love the say the story flowed from that point on, but it totally didn’t. It was still a tough slog, but I got there in the end and I’m really proud of how it turned out.

I hope you enjoy!

Cassandra

xx

For over a year, Miss Gwendolyn Parkes and the Duke of Sowrith have corresponded. At first an error, the letters quickly became something much more, a friendship forged on like minds and perhaps the hope of something more… 

When Gwen is compelled by her employer to attend the duke at his Dartmoor estate, she is devastated to find her beloved friend cold and imperious, even if he is the most handsome man she’s ever seen – despite his scars. 

Edward, Duke of Sowrith, has longed to meet Gwen. Arranging her passage to his estate, he is tongue-tied when confronted with her quiet beauty. All too aware of the twisted ruin of his face, he allows fear to hold him silent…until Gwen’s safety is threatened. 

Finally together, they grow closer until it seems they can never again be apart – but can a commoner and a duke find a happily ever after?

Decadent Publishing ||Amazon: AU | US | UK || ARe | iTunes | Google Play | B&N 

Excerpt:

Crossing her arms over her stomach, Gwen leaned forward, pressing deep. Good heavens, she was nervous, and excited, and nervous. She was going to meet Edward. One moment soon, he was going to open that door, and she would see him. She would see the man she’d corresponded with for over a year, to whom she’d expressed every thought, and who had expressed his to her. It did not matter that he was a duke, so far above her in consequence as to be laughable. He was her friend, and, at last, they would meet. 

Foot tapping wildly, she leaned her head back against the wall. This was all so ridiculous. She was ridiculous to have this unbridled excitement rioting through her. Exhaling, she caught the stare of the gargoyle. The gargoyle knew how ridiculous her thoughts. Its stone features laughed at her, and in a fit of pique, she poked her tongue out. 

The study door opened. Leaping to her feet, she swayed as the blood rushed from her head.

Lord Beecham appeared in the door way and, his eyes lighting upon her, crooked a finger. “Miss Parkes. Come.” 

Heart beating a rapid tattoo, she bent to grip the handle of her carpet bag. Lord Beecham had abandoned the door by the time she had gathered herself enough to approach, the worn wooden handle of the bag pressing deep into her palm. 

Passing through the doorway, Gwen stopped, her jaw slack as she looked about the chamber. Lit only by the flame of the massive fireplace dominating one wall and the wan flicker of a lamp seated on the enormous desk, the room was huge, cavernous even, and dark. So dark. The faint light picked up rows upon rows of books while heavy drapes of an unidentifiable fabric covered what she could only presume were windows. The floor was the same stone as the hall, the only carpet appearing before the fire under the clawed feet of a large armchair. 

Her gaze returned to the fireplace. A man stood before it, his back to her, right hand held by his left. 

Her heart, already racing, started a wild thud against her ribs. That was him. The duke. Edward.

He did not turn, though she willed him to. Willed him to turn so she could utter that most important of phrases, the one she’d longed to say for an age now. 

Hello, Edward. 

Cassandra Dean is a best-selling, multi-published author of historical and fantasy romance. Her latest novel, SILK & SCARS, is part of her popular Silk Series featuring law-loving peeps and their happily ever afters. Her next novel will be THE DIAMOND SERIES BOX SET, which gathers together stories from her Diamond Series, romances set in the Old West.

Cassandra is proud to call South Australia her home, where she regularly cheers on her AFL football team and creates her next tale.

Visit Cassandra’s website at http://cassandradean.com

Join Cassandra’s mailing list at http://eepurl.com/kzesP

Follow Cassandra on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCassandraDean and on Twitter @authorCassDean

Contact Cassandra at cassandra@cassandradean.com

Slumber Cover Reveal!

   The Tailor has been tasked to find the princess...

   Upon decree from his king, Sebastian, Tailor to the entire kingdom of Dormiraa, embarks on the mission to fetch the Princess Thalia home, her seven year Royal Tour over. He didn't expect to find her working with clockwork and gears, encased within a coffin of glass. He did not expect the sight of her wild black hair to set his heart to pound, or the flash of her dark eyes would heat his blood. He did not expect he would want her so badly, not when he could never have her.

   The princess must become the Queen...

   Thalia has always known she must return to the capital to prepare for the throne. She did not expect her father to send the Tailor to fetch her, or that this man with his extravagant clothes and subtle cosmetics would intrigue her so well.    There was something about him, something that spoke of danger and secrets, even as his wicked mouth and knowing eyes made her yearn.

   However, not everyone desires the princess's return. When they are attacked, they can only turn to each other. Will they overcome status and secrets to discover a love for all time?

Beyond Fairytales

Fantasy Romance

Coming soon

Decadent Publishing

Excerpt:

The discordant note of a missed strike rose from the coffin, followed by a terse mutter. By the Maiden, was the princess cursing?

A sudden, terrible thought occurred. Was it the princess? Surely she wouldn’t curse as if she was a dockworker Maybe his source had lied about the gear worker being the lost princess. Maybe this wasn’t her at all, and he would spend another three months trying to find the erstwhile royal.

No. If it killed him, this would be her. He was not going to waste any more time on this.

So decided, he intoned, “Princess,” in the clear, strong voice he used to quell conversation.

The woman in the coffin—the princess, damn his eyes—started, and a loud clang split the air, immediately followed by one of those deliciously vulgar curses. Pulling out of the coffin, she glared at him.

His breath strangled in his throat. Heat stormed through him, his cock hardening in his too-thin breeches.

Thrice-damned god, but she was arresting.

Wild ebony hair escaped from the band holding it back while furious black eyes pilloried him, full lips pursed in displeasure. Her worker’s clothes revealed more of her form than they should, the homespun shirt opened to the middle of her breast bone. The undyed fabric seemed too rough for such fine skin, the dull off-white hue a contrast with her dusky flesh. The brown leather harness of her trade nipped in her waist and cupped her breasts, while trousers outlined full hips and long legs, the latter encased in knee-high boots of soft brown leather capped with steel.

Quite insanely, he wanted to taste the damp skin revealed by her shirt.

“What do you think you’re doing?” she demanded.

She had to be the princess. Only royalty could deal such a stare.

“Doing?” he said.

She folded her arms beneath her breasts. He tried not to notice how her action plumped her flesh deliciously through the leather. “Do not come into a workroom and startle a gear worker, especially if she’s wielding tools that could harm her, the object she works on, and your fat head once she recovers herself.”

“My apologies, Princess.” He offered his most charming smile and ignored how the darkening of her scowl made him harder. “I am the tailor, and I have been sent to fetch you home.” 

======================================

About Cassandra :

Cassandra Dean is a best-selling, multi-published author of historical and fantasy romance. Her latest novel, SILK & SCORN, is part of her popular Silk Series, featuring Victorian Era lawyers and their happily ever after. Her next novel, SLUMBER, will be available soon from Decadent Publishing’s Beyond Fairytales, and features Cassandra’s take on Sleeping Beauty.

Cassandra is proud to call South Australia her home, where she regularly cheers on her AFL football team and creates her next tale.

Visit Cassandra’s website at http://cassandradean.com

Join Cassandra’s mailing list at http://eepurl.com/kzesP

Follow Cassandra on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCassandraDean and on Twitter @authorCassDean

Contact Cassandra at cassandra@cassandradean.com

Reader's Crown Finalist!

 I am pleased to get to share some news. First of all, I am not an author who enters a lot of contests. Frankly I rely on you, the readers, to tell me if something is good or not. Which is why I am super excited to share that Love Reclaimed, The Market Series, Book 3 was rated a 9.15 in the RomCon Readers Crown, making it a finalist in the Erotic category! If you‘d like to learn more about the Reader’s Crown contest please go here for details.

I was particularly thrilled with this outcome because honest to goodness readers read and rated the book. And as I said before, I believe if a book is worthy readers will acknowledge it. So, I want to say thank you to all of you. Thank you for those of you who bought my book, thank you to those of you who judged in the RomCon Reader’s Crown contest, and thank you to those of you who have yet to discover my writing...because I believe that one day you will. :-)

Wait? You haven’t heard of me? You don’t know The Market Series?

Well let me tell you about The Market Series. The books are a set of three novellas that take place in and around a Victorian era London brothel called The Market. The brothel is run by Madame Marie Marchander. It consists of three row houses. The main house in the center contains the common rooms. From the street, the house on the left is for the average customer who is there to see one of the ladies of the house. The right side caters to those with less average desires and the income to indulge them. Kinks of all kinds can be found on the right side. Voyeurs given something to watch, floggings can be both given and received, domination abounds, and orgies are not uncommon occurrences.

Reader’s Crown Rated 9.15

Love Revealed (The Market Series, Book 1)

Lady Katherine Drummond plays by society’s rules, even after the Ton turns on her. Shunned by her peers, she keeps up appearances by day but allows her true self out in the privacy of The Market. There, in the arms of one man, she comes alive. So much so, she signs a contract to be his for six months. Despite never having seen his face and knowing him only as Sir, she fears losing her heart to the man who breaks through her defenses.

Lord Raymond Tarkenton, the Earl of Heathington, despises being one of the most sought after bachelors of the Ton. He could never ask a woman of his circle to submit to his sexual needs, and a mistress would never be an option. For now, one masked woman at The Market holds his undivided attention. When he realizes that his masked lover and Lady Katherine Drummond are one and the same, he must find a way to convince her that they are bound together by more than the straps at her wrists and the contract they signed. He must reveal himself and his love to her. But will she accept him for more than a sexual escape?

Love Redeemed (The Market Series, Book 2)

Brennan Whitling wants for nothing but the love of a good woman. He has a close family, good friends, and a successful textiles import business. But, a beautiful and elusive young woman he has only seen from afar haunts him. Until a chance meeting leads to far more than dinner.

Serena Freemont has only ever known the life of a prostitute. When an invitation to dinner by a handsome gentleman provides her an opportunity to experience life as a young lady, it’s too tempting to pass up. Much like the man issuing it. After a night of passion she must disappear or face his reaction when the truth is revealed.

To find happiness Serena must shed her past long enough to realize she is worthy of a future. To win her heart, Brennan must show her the redemptive power of love.

Love Reclaimed (The Market Series, Book 3)

Owner of one of the most successful brothels in London, Madame Marie Marchander has seen and done it all. Jaded by the hand life dealt her, she gave up on love the night her virginity was auctioned off twenty years earlier. But then the boy, now a man, she once loved walks in to her establishment.

Jonathan Pierce, Baron Heartfield, had waited too long to save the woman he loved. A man no longer bound by the vows taken as a boy nor under the influence of his father, he is determined to woo and win the heart of the only woman he ever loved. The fact she was forced in to prostitution is of little consequence beyond the guilt he bears for not interceding with her father.

Resolved to prove to Jonathan that she is not in need of saving, nor is she an appropriate wife, Marie agrees to take him as a lover for six months. Steadfast in his love, he launches an assault on her heart with all the strategy his years in the military afford him. His only goal, to reclaim her love.

The Market Series at Decadent Publishing

Sorcha Mowbray is a mild-mannered office worker by day…okay, so she is actually a mouthy, opinionated, take charge kind of gal who bosses everyone around; but she definitely works in an office. At night she writes romance so hot she sets the sheets on fire! Just ask her slightly singed husband.
She is a longtime lover of historical romance, having grown up reading Johanna Lindsey and Judith McNaught. Then she discovered Thea Devine and Susan Johnson. Holy cow! Heroes and heroines could do THAT? From there, things devolved into trying her hand at writing a little smexy. Needless to say, she liked it and she hopes you do too!

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