A Longer Excerpt for Just Trouble

I’ve intended to post a longer sample for Just Trouble for a while, and finally got around to it this week. There’s a short one on the book’s landing page here on the website, but you can now download a sample with the first two chapters here on Bookfunnel.


Just Trouble, book one of the Carpe Diem Café series of contemporary romances by Deborah Cooke

If I recognize trouble when I see it, it’s because I grew up with a huge crush on my best friend’s older brother, Luke Jones. Born with sinful good looks and enough charm to talk himself out of almost any situation, he’s always been a rebel with attitude to spare—as well as gorgeous, reckless and dangerous for good girls like me to know. Though he’s found fame, fortune and all the fan-girls with his band, Luke remains the star of all my secret fantasies.

But now, he’s back—one sizzling look is enough to set my world on fire— and he wants a favor. (From me!) Time to make the world a better place, Luke says, but I recognize half a story when I hear one. Does it really matter? I need to ditch this crush before it’s too late for me to fall in love for real and find my own happy ending. Luke doesn’t need to know that it’ll be more than a favour for me. He also won’t linger in the sleepy little town of Empire, and when Luke leaves this time, he’ll be gone forever.

The problem is that the other half of the story is the kind of revelation that hooks me hard. Luke’s on a quest to right old wrongs, and making the world a better place is pretty much my theme song. Am I crazy to hope for more from the man who has only ever committed to his music? By the time I learn the whole truth, will my heart be lost forever? For once, though, I’m not going to play it safe. Win or lose, my time to seize the moment is now.

Coming in February 2025

Pre-order available at some portals:

Just Trouble, book one of the Carpe Diem Café series of contemporary romances by Deborah Cooke, alternate cover

Just Trouble has two cover designs. Choose which cover you prefer! Both editions will have the same interior and both will be available in ebook and trade paperback.

Amazon has added the option of alternate covers. You can pre-order the ebook with the alternate cover from Amazon, or from my online store. Also, I’ve added the alternate cover to Apple with a separate link for non-US territories.


Download a longer sample at BookFunnel.

About Me
USA Today bestselling author Deborah Cooke, who also writes as Claire Delacroix

I’m Deborah and I love writing romance novels that blend emotion, humor, and happily-every-after. I’ve been publishing my stories since 1992 and have written as Claire Delacroix (historical and fantasy romance), Claire Cross (time travel romance and romantic comedy) and myself (paranormal romance and contemporary romance). My goal is to keep you turning the pages, no matter which sub-genre you prefer.

Visit Claire’s website