Hi dear readers! It has been quite the busy month for Quills and Quartos! Did you see all the fabulous new novellas they released in July?! They all sound incredible! But guess what, they have more in store for us readers to anticipate! Including a new release from Julie Cooper (which is in addition to her new novella that just came out a few weeks – Lost & Found!)
Julie’s new release is called Tempt Me…and let me just tell you, friends – it is absolutely the type of 
story that does indeed tempt me 😆(sorry, couldn’t resist!)
~ From the Author ~
A Tempting World…
I love vampire stories. I love Regency stories. However, here is my abhorrence: I do not usually enjoy—as a reader—learning new worlds. Figuring out “the rules”—especially the politics, the etiquette, the prejudices, and language variances is sometimes tedious. My entertainment time is limited, and when I have a chance to dive in and read, I don’t have a lot of time to decipher intricate world-building clues before I can understand the author’s plot points. If the first chapter is stuffed full of things I need to learn before I can care about the characters, I’m probably gonna pass.
To be honest, it’s one of the things I love about Regency JAFF…the familiarity. Characters I already love or hate, and political and social rules I already understand. That’s not to say I mind an author shaking things up on occasion, giving me a sensible Mr Collins or a kindly Miss Bingley, but in general, I prefer the characterizations to remain true to the original, even if many other circumstances have changed.
Tempt Me, plainly, is a vampire story (we use the more medieval-ish spelling of ‘vampyre’ within it, to emphasize that this is an ancient race). But it is carefully set within the Regency world. In fact, their only “law” is to remain unnoticed by their neighbors, to live openly within the boundaries of society, yet use disguises of every sort to keep their secrets. JAFF readers should feel a familiar comfort zone, despite the paranormal aspect of Darcy’s meal preferences!
Tempt Me features an Elizabeth caught between what she knows and what yet remains hidden from her. She is two years older than canon and thus has had more time to search for meaningful connection (and be disappointed.) Her quest for happiness is definitely clouded by all she cannot understand, as well as the pride of a Darcy who has had a couple of centuries to grow set in his ways. Nevertheless, and ultimately, we see an Elizabeth who is empowered to conquer the adversity surrounding her with her fearless capacity for love.
I was immediately enchanted by this cover! I think it brilliantly conveys Elizabeth’s sometimes-lonely journey, her wistfulness, her beauty, and her strength. At the same time, it hints of magic and blood, while not entirely eclipsing the Regency world she lives within.
~ Book Description ~
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single vampyre must be in want of a wife. Someone biddable, her memories easily expunged to allow for strange, inexplicable deeds and baffling circumstances. A tractable creature, of average intelligence, willing to attend to the business of producing heirs and keep out of all else. A girl easily moulded, incurious, indifferent, and demanding nothing beyond access to his fortune.
Fitzwilliam Darcy knows exactly who he needs. He can fix on the hour, the spot, the look, and the words which laid the foundation for an obsession he rejected. But ten years later, at an assembly in an obscure village in Hertfordshire, he finds himself in the middle once more.
His needs are unalterable. But can he resist the one woman he truly wants?
And without further ado….here is the big reveal!!!
(expected release date: September 4th)
This cover is hauntingly beautiful…. 😮
What a pose, what a dress! 💃🏽
I absolutely love the definition and texture we see in the leaves and fabric – both the tree and the dress are equally amazing! 🌳
The font choices and coloring of both the title and author name are exquisite. 🖌
Darcy seems to be searching for a wife that is the opposite of Lizzy, I can’t wait to see how that plays out! 😆
What do you think, friends? 🤔
*~*
~ Connect with Julie ~
~ About Julie ~
Julie Cooper, a California native, lives with her Mr Darcy (without the arrogance or the Pemberley) of nearly forty years, two dogs (one intelligent, one goofball), and Kevin the Cat (smarter than all of them.) They have four children and three grandchildren, all of whom are brilliant and adorable, with the pictures to prove it. She works as an executive at a gift basket company and her tombstone will read, “Have your Christmas gifts delivered at least four days before the 25th.” Her hobbies are reading, giving other people good advice, and wondering why no one follows it.
*~*
You can preorder Tempt Me now!
Our sincere gratitude to Julie Cooper, Kristi Rawley, and the wonderful people at Quills and Quartos for putting this special post together!
Love love love it! Amazing story, amazing cover – I cannot wait time get my mitts on this one!!! Thanks Meredith and HUGE congrats to you, Julie!
Thank you Jessie! Your support means so much!
Yikes! You couldn’t have come up with a more exquisitely tempting cover for this novel!!! WOW! Just WOW! Congratulations on another ‘tempting’ offering! I will be waiting for the paperback to be offered up!
I’m just tickled by how it came out…I know Q&Q went to a lot of trouble with this one!!!
Thank you so much!
Gorgeous! Simply gorgeous.
I think so too! Thanks Christina!
What a beautiful cover, Julie!! Congratulations on your new book!
Aw, thanks Daniela!!
Wow! What a cover! Congratulations and best wishes.
Thank you Jennifer! Much appreciated!
OMG – this cover is STUNNING!!! Congrats!
Very much appreciate your support Lory!
Intriguing cover! Congratulations, Julie.
That cover is gorgeous and it sounds like an interesting read.
I’m so pleased you like it!
Absolutely gorgeous cover! Love it!
Stunning cover! I can’t wait to read this!
I’m so happy you like it!
Congratulations on this book cover. It is beautiful. She appears to be immersed within herself. Is this for protection from within or out?
Elizabeth has several challenges, within a world she really doesn’t know she lives within. She draws some pretty incorrect conclusions. And there is definitely danger, but Darcy’s a pretty protective kind of vampyre. 🙂
I love all of her stories and that cover is to ‘die’ for! (pun intended)
Awww Brenda thank you! That means so much!
OMG! LOVE the dress, the cover, and those shoes. I haven’t worn heals that high in years but I’d attempt it just to try them on. Wow! That guy is amazing, the girl is amazing, the pose, the color choices… oh, yeah, you already mentioned that, Meredith [hello to your Mr. Bingley]. I can’t wait to get my hands on this one. Wow! Thanks to Julie and Q&Q for the giveaway, good luck to all in the drawing. Blessings on the launch and success of this. Be safe everyone, wear masks, and stay healthy.
OOOPS!! Not a drawing and I can’t edit my comment. I was so excited. Well… maybe later. Anyway, great cover reveal.
Your excitement is much appreciated!! Thank you!
What an absolutely stunning cover! I love the colour of the dress and the pose.
Reading the blurb it’s totally obvious that Elizabeth is perfect for Darcy’s needs?? Well, hopefully he’ll find out that although she’s the opposite to what he thinks he wants, she is exactly who he really needs!
This is definitely going on my list!
I love that its on your list! Thank you!
Great cover, this story certainly has a gripping description, can’t wait to read it.
Thank you so much!
An absolutely stunning cover! I love the richness of the colors used.
I agree, the artist definitely outdid himself!
Quite a beautiful cover! I cannot wait to read this.
Thank you Jen!!
The cover is absolutely stunning!
The artist did such a fantastic job, I am so happy!
I love the cover. And I loved the story in its original form. Can’t wait for the edited for publication version!
I sure appreciate your support Lucy! xo
I’m very excited to read your story (I love fantasy variations of course) and think this is a STUNNING cover!
JAFF fantasy sisterhood, Kara! Thank you!
An absolutely beautiful cover!! Congratulations on the coming release, Julie!
Thank you Anniina! I very much appreciate your kind words.
I keep searching the article and comments for the name of the cover artist and can’t come up with it. Kudos to him or her. It’s stunning and very different, suiting this excellent story.
What I love best about Julie’s writing: the beautiful prose. I used to collect snippets of other authors’ prose for inspiration, and Julie’s from back in the day at AHA offered quite a lot of examples to the collection, and that’s only from a sample of her writing. There’s no one like her. I look forward to this book coming out.
Best of luck with your upcoming release, Julie, and thanks for hosting, Meredith!
I’m so excited to read this story. Is it September yet?
I would say it’s “just around the corner”…except…2020. What is it, July 91st now?
Hopefully…coming soon. Thank you Tina!
Artist is Bran Cedio, a very talented person! Thank you so much for your lovely support, Suzan. It is much appreciated.
Absolutely love the cover! Congratulations!
Thank you so much Shelley!
Wowza! Edgy. Love it.
denise
My first ever Wowza! Well, had I created the cover myself, it would be my first. I guess the wowza goes to Q&Q and Bran Cedio, the artist. But I’m super happy you love it!
Looks brilliant. Loved perfect gentleman and loved the first chapter of this I read at AHA
Thank you so much Kit, for supporting me from the beginning!
The cover is stunning, like out if a fairytale 😀
There is something magical about it, right?? Appreciate your comment!
The cover is brilliant and the blurb intriguing. I’m not normally into vampire stories, but this might just “tempt me”!
Fingers crossed you’ll give it a try! Totally understand not being into vampire romance, and wanted to bring the genre into a Regency worldview. Thank you so much for your consideration!
Dramatic, mysterious and stunning! A fitting cover for one of my favorite stories. So looking forward to reading again. Congratulations, Julie! Epic story. Thank you, Quills and Quartos for publishing so many wonderful stories.
Wow, stunning cover! The color, the dress, and just about everything on the cover makes it pop! Congrats on your newest release, I’m looking forward to reading it!
Oh my. That cover. It’s just…well, what everybody else said and more. What a showstopper. I’m really excited to read this. Loved The Perfect Gentleman, though haven’t read Lost & Found yet, but it’s on my wish list. Best of luck Julie on the new release and the near future release.
I really enjoyed this story when it was posted several years ago — I would frequently go back to it, it was so compelling and well written. I have thought about it since, wondering if it would ever be published. I am so glad to see this and I have preordered!