Quite a few of you lovely, lovely people have asked about the next book, and now that the book is actually written 8) I feel I can post a few tidbits of information. I should say that everything in this post is subject to change, as it’s not yet set in stone. Once I have an official cover, blurb, and release date I will definitely create a proper page for the book in my Bookshelf section. For the meantime, here’s what I can tell you.

The book will be almost probably certainly titled A Night to Surrender. It will most likely be released in early Fall of 2011, like August/September-ish. And it will most definitely have a gorgeous cover, if the preliminary artwork is any indication. I can’t share it yet. Believe me, I want to.

Oh, I am weak. Maybe I can give you a just a teensy, tiny snippet?

*siiiiigh*

The setting for this book (and the entire series) was partly inspired by the trip I took to England this past August. I spent most of my time on the coast of Sussex–Brighton, Hastings, Rye. The hero of the book, Victor Bramwell, is a war hero. He’s been granted a revived medieval earldom, which includes a very un-revived medieval castle. Rycliff Castle, as it exists in the book, was loosely cobbled together from several sites I visited. One of them was Hastings Castle, pictured here.

*siiiiigh* some more. So lovely.

To go along with that, here’s a teensy, tiny snippet from the book (again, all subject to change! Not edited yet), where the heroine, Susanna Finch, is showing the newly arrived Bram to what is now his castle.

Once they crested the sandstone ridge, Susanna pulled to a stop. “Well,” she said between deep inhalations, “there it is, my lord. Rycliff Castle.”

The castle ruins sat perched at the tip of an outcropping, an arrowhead of green heath jutting over the sea. Four stone turrets, a few standing arches…here and there, a bit of wall. This was all that remained. In the background spread the English Channel, now turning a lovely shade of periwinkle in the dimming afternoon.

Silence reigned for a long minute as the men took in the scene. Susanna kept quiet too, as she tried to see the ancient ruined fortress through fresh eyes. As a young girl, she’d be taken with the romance of it. When viewing the castle as a picturesque ruin, the absent walls and ceilings were the best features. The missing parts were invitations to dream; they inspired the imagination. When looking upon this as a prospective residence, however, she could only imagine the missing parts would inspire grave misgivings. Or perhaps hives.

So there are a few tidbits. More snippets (and lengthier excerpts, and full size covers, and complete blurbs) to come…!


21 comments to “Sneak Peek at What’s Next…”

  1. SonomaLass
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    · December 3rd, 2010 at 11:45 am · Link

    I’m very excited to see that you’re setting the book in my old stomping grounds in Sussex. (Literally, I have walked many miles over those downs.) Such beautiful country! And there’s nothing like those ruins. I love the twist of having to make them into something practical.

    Looking forward to more!!



  2. Lisa
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    · December 3rd, 2010 at 12:04 pm · Link

    Thanks for sharing, Tessa! Looking forward to getting more info in the months to come. Can’t wait-it looks great already! 🙂



  3. Cari White
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    · December 4th, 2010 at 2:26 pm · Link

    Tessa, I can’t wait! You’re first six books that I’ve read are amazing. Thanks for sharing the unedited snippet! 😆 Have a blessed Christmas and New Year!



  4. Helen Nazzaro
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    · December 6th, 2010 at 6:00 am · Link

    Tessa, You are soo talented. Thanks for sharing your gift! Thanks also for the picture showing the inspiration for the setting 🙂 I hope you, Lance Romance and the Darelings have a blessed and fun Christmas season!



  5. Bren
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    · December 6th, 2010 at 2:23 pm · Link

    Can’t wait to read it after hearing so much about it. :$ Thanks for the tiny amuse-bouche.



  6. Tessa
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    · December 7th, 2010 at 12:04 am · Link

    @SonomaLass: I loved Sussex! Wish I could have used the downlands more–this is mostly coastal. But there will be future books, so who knows… 🙂 I just realized the other day that I’d seen the Long Man of Wilmington from the train. The funny thing is, I guess a lot of these sights (Long Man and Hastings Castle, for two) were obscured, buried, forgotten during the Regency.

    Lisa and Cari – thanks so much! There’s so much more I’ll post in coming months, but I’m so glad you’re looking forward to it.

    Helen, Thank you! I will pass your regards to Lance! 😉

    Bren, are you sure you haven’t heard too much about it?
    :$ <--- Tessa's face, while writing. Bren has witnessed the trauma.



  7. Leigh LaValle
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    · December 7th, 2010 at 10:12 am · Link

    What a great teaser. I can’t wait to read it!



  8. Lady Indis Dress
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    · December 14th, 2010 at 9:48 am · Link

    Tessa, you tease! 😉 Now we have to wait with baited breath for the next bit you can offer us. Oh well. There’s no chance of a revolt. We love your books too much. :mrgreen:



  9. Lydia Mazza
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    9
    · December 26th, 2010 at 8:12 am · Link

    *jumping up and down* Yay!!!!!!!!!
    And that’s all i can say at the moment!



  10. Jennifer
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    · December 28th, 2010 at 12:45 pm · Link

    I am so excited about this one! I confess that I just found your books and am currently working on the backlist. But I am so glad I found you! Enjoy your time catching up on life until corrections come in!



  11. Pam Green
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    11
    · January 2nd, 2011 at 2:37 pm · Link

    Tessa…love your style girlie…just finished your Stud Club Trilogy and passed them on to my girlfriends at lunch this week. We all are Mom’s with Princess bedrooms in our homes too here in the snowy Midwest. I am hoping to pick up some of your other books soon to tie me over until next Fall’s release. Thanks for the Sneak Peek!



  12. Noelle Pierce
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    · January 10th, 2011 at 6:58 pm · Link

    I could have sworn I had you on my Google Reader feed, but I didn’t see this update. 🙁 I can’t wait for this new series! I love your books and have adopted a must-buy-for-friends attitude with your books because I refuse to lend my copies out.

    Noelle



  13. PJ
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    · January 16th, 2011 at 6:26 am · Link

    That’s enough to have me intrigued, Tessa! Love the (almost, probably, certainly) title and the glimpse of the cover is gorgeous.

    Have marked my calendar for 3rd quarter 2011. Can’t wait! 🙂



  14. Jane Conner
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    · January 17th, 2011 at 7:07 pm · Link

    Your trip sounds wonderful. And judging from your past books, I know this story will be another huge success!
    Best,
    Jane



  15. kathy
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    · January 18th, 2011 at 9:58 am · Link

    can’t wait



  16. Jenni
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    · January 19th, 2011 at 8:12 am · Link

    😮 YAY! Cant wait. So looking forward to the release. Will this be part of a series or stand alone? Keep writing! We love what you do!



  17. Tessa Dare
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    17
    · January 19th, 2011 at 8:28 am · Link

    It’s Tessa here –

    You all are the most lovely, lovely people. Thank you so much for all the wonderful comments. I’m sorry to have been absent (yet again! I’m always apologizing, it seems) – I’m currently rewriting big parts of this book. Which is a good thing, believe me. The book needs it. But knowing there are some people waiting for it and reading these lovely, encouraging comments means the world right now. Thank you so much!



  18. Susanna Ashdown
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    · January 25th, 2011 at 2:09 pm · Link

    Yes! My name in Print! It sounds amazing and I cannot wait to read it when it’s out! So happy that you enjoyed my name enough to use it in one of your stories! Thank you.



  19. Taija Gardner
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    · January 25th, 2011 at 7:30 pm · Link

    Oh my great stars and heavens! A new book SQUEEEEE!!!! I can’t wait! The art looks amazing even in that tid bit. I was turning my head trying to peek around the corner of the picture to see more ^^ I know I’m a ditz. The setting looks wonderful. I can’t wait for ti to be released! I am putting it on pre-order as soon as it’s on amazon. 🙂



  20. Angela
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    · February 1st, 2011 at 8:10 am · Link

    I read the Stud Club trilogy this month and loved them all! I’m super excited to read your future works. I currently have a pile on my night stand of your first trilogy next up for me to read. Sometimes I think about how much time and effort writers put into a series, knowing that I am going to read them in a week because I can’t put them down! I’m so excited to do so, and am confident that I am going to love these stories just like the others. Thanks!!!



  21. Jeanne Miro
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    21
    · February 10th, 2011 at 6:30 am · Link

    Tessa –
    My middle name is Hastings and I always say that some day I’m going to do the geneology to find out who I’m related to in the Hastings “line”. My husband said if there is s rogue or a strumpet in the family tree that will probably be the link! Can’t wait A Night to Surrender to be released.