MAY 25-27, 2012 JOIN ME --
Claire will be presenting panels and workshops at the 2012 ConQuestKC Conventionat the Sheraton Hotel in Kansas City. Don't miss out!
May 23, 2012 RELEASE DAY-- Fated for Sacrifice,the fifth book in the Inherited Damnation series, releases today!
MAY 4, 2012 NOMINATED -- A Broken Christmasis a finalist in the HOLT Medallion Contest, Best Short Contemporary 2012!
APRIL 12, 2012 RELEASE DAY-- Ensnared by Blood,book four in the Inherited Damnation series, releases today!
March 16, 2012 NOMINATED -- Misunderstanding Masonhas been nominated for the Best Book of 2011 by The Romance Reviews!
March 2-4, 2012 JOIN ME--
Claire will be at the Fantasy on the Bayou Conference in New Orleans this weekend. Stop in and say hello!
February 10, 2012 NOMINATED -- Misunderstanding Masonhas been nominated by The Long and Short Reviews for the Best Book of 2011!
JANUARY 3, 2012 RELEASE DAY -- Immortal Hope, the first book in the dark paranormal series, The Curse of the Templars releases to stores everywhere!
December 21, 2011 RELEASE DAY -- Paranomal novella, Destined to Die, the third in the Inherited Damnation series.
December 7, 2011 RELEASE DAY -- Paranomal novella, Tormented By Darkness, the second in the Inherited Damnation series.
November 30, 2011 NEW REVIEW -- Romantic Times awarded Immortal Hope4 Stars (out of 4).
Claire Ashgrove has been writing since her early teens and maintained the hobby for twenty years before deciding to leap into the professional world. Her first contemporary novel, Seduction's Stakes, sold to The Wild Rose Press in 2008, where she continues to write steamy, sexy stories for the Champagne and Black Rose lines. Adding to these critically acclaimed romances, Claire’s paranormal romance series, The Curse of the Templars will debut with Tor in January 2012. For those who prefer the more erotic side of romance, she also writes for Berkley Heat as the National Bestselling Author Tori St. Claire.
Claire lives in Missouri with her two toddler sons, and too-many horses, cats, and dogs. In her “free” time, she enjoys cooking, winning at Rummy, studying Ancient Civilizations, and spending quiet moments with her family, including the critters. She credits her success to her family's constant support and endless patience.
Series: The Curse of the Templars, Book I Publication Date: Jan 3, 2012 Pages: 368 ISBN-10: 0765367580 ISBN-13: 978-0765367587 Format & Pricing:
e-Book - $7.99
Mass Market Paperback - $7.99
Back Cover Copy:
CENTURIES AGO,
Templar knights defied the archangels and unearthed the copper scroll, revealing the gates to hell. Cursed for their forbidden act, they forever roam the earth protecting mankind from evil. But darkness stalks them, and battles they fight bring them ever-closer to eternal damnation. One promise remains to give them salvation – the return of the seraphs.
Embittered by his purpose, Merrick du Loire must honor an ancient pact and bring peace to his cousin’s soul. When he stumbles upon history professor Anne MacPherson, he discovers she possesses a sacred artifact that marks her as a seraph. Duty demands he set aside his personal quest and locate the knight she’s fated to heal. As he struggles with conflicting oaths, Anne arouses buried hope and sparks forbidden desire that challenges everything he’s sworn to uphold.
Anne has six weeks to complete her thesis on the Knights Templar. When Merrick takes her to the Templar stronghold, he presents her with all she needs—and awakens a soul-deep ache, he alone can soothe. Yet loving Merrick comes with a price. If she admits she's destined for him, her gift of foresight predicts his death.
Destined to Die
Series: Inherited Damnation Publication Date: Dec 21, 2011 Pages: 163 Format & Pricing:
e-Book - $4.50
Back Cover Copy:
Haunted by his mother’s betrayal, Belen McLaine surrendered to his demonic half long ago. For centuries, he’s roamed, doing all he can to corrupt those he encounters. But Belen’s life changes when a little Yuletide fun goes wrong, and the one woman he can’t stay away from is suddenly in need of his protection. Unable to cast her aside, he finds himself on a deadly path to love.
The one date Faith Winters shared with Belen was laden with fireworks, but he stayed away until the night of her brutal attack. As danger escalates, he becomes her only safety and shared passion gives way to something deeper, hotter, than she’s ever known before. Yet Faith has no idea her greatest threat is the very man who holds her heart.
For Belen, even if it means hurting Faith, he must not succumb to love. If he fails, his father’s curse promises he’ll take Faith’s life.
Tormented by Darkness
Series: Inherited Damnation Publication Date: Dec 15, 2011 Pages: 152 Format & Pricing:
e-Book - $4.50
Back Cover Copy:
Cursed by her incubus father centuries ago, the last thing Rhiannon McLaine wants is to fall in love.
The night she delivers flowers to detective Mick Farrell, however, everything changes. Deep-seated attraction flares into untamed passion. In the morning, Rhiannon awakens to find she’s lost her heart. Now, unless she can convince Mick of her secret past, she’s destined to take his life.
When Rhiannon asks Mick to go camping with her, instinct warns him to refuse. Though he hungers for her love and the goodness she represents, he’ll do anything to keep her from discovering the darkness within his soul. Yet a weekend in the woods is the perfect place to indulge in temporary desire…until he finds himself bound against his will.
Surrounded by ancient Celtic rites and magic, can Mick see beyond Rhiannon’s duplicity and recognize her love? Or will the revelation of her true demonic nature doom Rhiannon to a mortal life alone?
Cursed to Kill
Series: Inherited Damnation Publication Date: Oct 26, 2011 Pages: 133 Format & Pricing:
e-Book - $4.25
Back Cover Copy:
One of eight children born to an ancient Celtic priestess and sired by a demonic incubus, Cian McLaine suffers from a centuries-old curse. Though his immortality allows him to enjoy the pleasures of mortal life, he is plagued by the desire to kill. As long as he doesn't fall in love he can keep the compulsion at bay.
When Cian walked into her rare bookstore months ago, Miranda Phillips never imagined she'd lose her heart to the handsome playboy. Her reward for doing so was abandonment. Cian left as mysteriously as he appeared, in the middle of the night with no explanation, no goodbye. Now he's back, and passion flares just as hot. But Cian has secrets. If Miranda is to survive, she must uncover the truth and free his darkened soul.
A Broken Christmas
Publication Date: Oct 26, 2011 Pages: 156 Format & Pricing:
e-Book - $4.50
Back Cover Copy:
Delta Force operative Kyle Garland divorced his wife to protect her. His top-secret missions expose him to constant danger, and his world is full of lies and deceit. But the threat to Aimee doesn’t come in the form of insurgents or bombs. Rather, his soul-deep love and the dreams he silently nurtures are her greatest hazard. When a career-ending injury brings him home for Christmas, to keep her safe he must bury his feelings and hide the monster he’s become.
Fourteen months ago, Aimee had the perfect marriage… then Kyle blindsided her with a divorce. Now, he’s coming home, and she intends to get her answers. Yet the crippled man she confronts bears scars her years of nursing cannot heal. The secret he’s hiding is tearing him apart. No matter how she tries, he keeps her at a distance, despite the love that’s still evident in his kiss. What Aimee doesn’t know is her own damaged past terrifies Kyle more than any wartime horror.
As she forces him to confront his demons, will the holiday shred the fragile bonds they share, or will Christmas complete all their broken parts?
Misunderstanding Mason
Publication Date: Aug 31, 2011 Pages: 152 Format & Pricing:
e-Book - $4.25
Back Cover Copy:
When Kirstin Jones agreed to work with her live-in boyfriend, Mason, on a freelance job for a wealthy client, she never thought it might destroy their relationship. But the client’s keen observations show her that she’s been little more than Mason’s shadow. Fed up with his insensitivities, she moves out. Weeks later, desperate to stand on her own, she accepts work with the same client once again. Only this time, the project requires Mason’s help. To obtain his aid, she must meet his terms. And what he wants is more than she can afford.
Mason Montgomery is baffled by Kirstin’s claims that he never had time for her. While verbalizing his emotions has never been his strong point, he’s spent five years showing his love. He needs Kirstin more than he wants to admit. When she leaves him, he’ll stop at nothing to get her back, even if it means working with the client who twisted truths and tore his life apart.
This time Mason’s not leaving room for misunderstandings.
Gabrielle Warrenton gave up everything to pursue her dream of a first-class Egyptian Arabian breeding farm. Her future lies in her new stallion’s success. Though she possesses an exceptional eye for horseflesh, she lacks the training knowledge, and Bahadur Mamoon has a date with the nation’s most affluent show in three weeks. Nothing that would present a problem given his previous credentials. Only, the sellers disguised one critical fact—he’s crazy.
Jake Lindsey-Sullivan was once part of an exceptional Arabian training team. Under his mother’s guidance, he developed an instinctual talent, but she was the star, the cornerstone of his life. Until she met a premature death. Grief-stricken and plagued by guilt, Jake abandoned the world of horses. Now an over-the-road truck driver, he evades the memories.
When a snowstorm throws two Arabian professionals into close-quarters, they discover an engulfing passion. But will Mamoon rip open emotional scars, or forever seal them shut?
A Christmas to Believe In
Series: Three Kings Publication Date: Nov 24, 2010 Pages: 354 ISBN-10: 1601547897 ISBN-13: 978-1601547897 Format & Pricing:
e-Book - $7.00
Trade Paperback - $14.99
Back Cover Copy:
Struggling Thoroughbred breeder, Clint King, hasn’t been home for Christmas in five years. This year, his prize mare's due to foal any day, and in the wake of his father’s death, Clint can’t stand the idea of returning. Except, Alex is getting married on Christmas Eve, and their mother’s put her foot down. With his mare in tow, Clint prepares to meet a sister he’s never known, and Alex’s unexpected triplets. The one salvation he looks forward to is childhood companion, tomboy Jesse Saurs. Yet when he reunites with Jesse, he uncomfortably discovers she’s become all woman.
Jesse Saurs has everything she needs – financial security, a home, and a foster child who’s about to become her son. With Ethan’s final hearing scheduled just before Christmas, her dreams will come true. When she learns Clint and his brothers are returning, she anticipates a holiday reunion that’s sure to entertain Ethan. But on the night of Clint’s return, the ‘brother’ she expected leaves her trembling after a hug. Even worse, Ethan makes it clear Clint's not welcome.
Will Christmas destroy hopes and dreams, or will it become the gift they've all been longing for?
When Lucas Benning relocated to Kansas City, he agreed to allow his best friend’s sister to remain under his roof. Problem is, they’ve despised each other since he cut off her hair when she was fifteen. They drive each other crazy – he disrupts her work; she always has to have the last word. But as Valentine's Day approaches, his sentimental side can’t accept Olivia’s jaded perspective that the holiday’s for fools. He vows to prove romance is real and it doesn’t go hand-in-hand with sex. Except the game he starts to prove a point awakens a frightening passion he can’t escape.
Eccentric artist Olivia McDaniels finds Lucas’ proposal laughable. A man can’t woo a woman he’s not attracted to, let alone one he can’t stand. Yet when her brother commissions a portrait of Lucas, she begins to see a different side of the man. He’s tender, selfless and, to her horror, his thoughtfulness chips away at the walls she’s erected around her heart. Only, Lucas belongs to another woman, and the feelings he stirs inside Olivia can only lead to pain.
Will Cupid forge a timeless bridge between their differences? Or will his arrows eternally miss the mark?
Renowned architect Josh McDaniels spent ten years avoiding his hometown and the unforgettable memories of his youth. But when a former classmate phones him before Christmas with a proposal he can’t refuse, he finds himself back in the small town, surrounded by holiday festivities and engulfed in memories of a blue-eyed girl.
Amanda Masterson knows three things about Josh. She loves him, he loves her, and he’ll walk out when those feelings terrify him, as he always does. Ten years ago, he abandoned their dreams. Eight years ago, he returned to break her heart again. Now, he’s back once more, and this time he’s jeopardizing not only her heart but her daughter’s as well.
Can the spirit of Christmas overcome a past riddled with mistakes? Or will fears and doubts destroy the greatest gift of all?
McCleery Racing didn’t become a Thoroughbred racing powerhouse by betting on longshots. Maddie McCleery made it a multi-million dollar player through hard work, logical decisions, and a commitment to never involve herself with men who lived on the sport of kings. But when she sets her sights on a two-year-old colt her rival owns, she never imagines the lengths she’ll go to, to bring the future champion home.
Riley Jennings wants unobtainable Maddie almost more than the Triple Crown. After his Kentucky Derby win, however, he sees a way to sure-fire victory. His proposed wager stacks the odds in his favor – if her horse wins the Preakness, he’ll accept her terms. If his horse comes in first, they’ll negotiate his way.
When the dust settles on the wire, will love claim final victory, or will unexpected tragedy stop them in the gates?