Constance Ruth Clark | Updates

The Impossible Lady Ashbourne

Constance Ruth Clark — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 13:13:49 -0400

Read the book in progress for FREE on Substack- and give your opinion to the author!

She wasn’t actually wicked. Just practical... until he came along.

Lady Margot Ashbourne has spent years being practical. When her husband died, leaving her with a crumbling house and three stepdaughters with expensive taste, she did what needed doing: she made them work. She budgeted. She survived.

So what if her youngest stepdaughter ran off with a prince and spread rumors about being locked in coal chutes? Margot has more important things to worry about—like keeping the roof from caving in.

Enter Percival Fairfax, Earl of Thorncroft. Impossibly handsome, irritatingly charming, and in desperate need of someone to restore his ancestral home. He offers her a job, a fortune, and absolutely no romantic complications.

He’s lying about the last part.

As Margot brings Raventhorn Hall back to life, she finds herself increasingly drawn to its owner—a man who builds her pavilions instead of buying her flowers, who values her sharp tongue instead of wishing it were softer, who looks at her like she’s exactly enough just as she is.

But when royal interference and society gossip threaten to rewrite her story once again, Margot must decide: keep playing the villain in someone else’s fairy tale, or finally claim her own happily ever after?

A deliciously witty romance about renovating homes, rewriting narratives, and a “wicked” stepmother who deserves her own fairy tale ending.

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Stirring Up the Storm – Wild Thunder is Coming

Constance Ruth Clark — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Get ready, Springfield fans!

I’m thrilled to officially announce that the next book in the Wild Romance series is underway—and trust me, it’s a story you won’t want to miss.

I’ve got my hands full (and my heart tangled) as I dive into Wild Thunder, and yes—it’s every bit as intense, emotional, and twisty as you’ve come to expect.

This book has been whispering to me for months, and now the storm’s rolling in fast. I’m deep in the drafting stage, surrounded by sticky notes, coffee cups, and characters who refuse to stay quiet. Wild Thunder is shaping up to be a tale of second chances, secrets that won’t stay buried, and the kind of love that shakes you to your core.

If you’ve been following along with Springfield, Maine, you know it’s no stranger to drama, heart, and heat—and this time, I’m turning the dial way up.

Without giving too much away, I’ll just say:

This story brings back a fan-favorite side character and pairs them with someone who should be their enemy… but the heart never listens to logic, does it?

There’ll be stormy nights, slow-burn tension, and yes… some thunder of the emotional and bedroom variety. 😉

We’re heading straight into the life of a struggling dairy farmer—with a story of resilience, long-buried love, and second chances that will leave your heart aching in the best way.

Meet Emma Collins.

She’s 37, widowed, and worn to the bone. A 180-cow operation to run. Two young kids (Sara, 9, and Sam, 6). More vet bills and violations than she has hours in the day. She’s tough. She’s exhausted. She’s one storm away from losing it all.

What she doesn’t see coming?

A different kind of storm—Luke Bennett.

Luke left Springfield ten years ago. But he never left Emma. Not really. He’s back now—bearded, unrecognizable, and quietly determined to fix more than just her broken equipment.

What Emma doesn’t know: Luke’s loved her since he was eight years old.

What he suspects: Her daughter might be his.

Let’s just say… the past isn’t finished with them yet.

There’s history here. There’s tension. There’s a secret that could change everything.

As Emma fights to survive one storm after another, Luke might just be the calm in the chaos—or the thunder that brings everything crashing down.

If you love:

Slow-burn second chances
Small-town meddling (hi, Wyatt)
Broody heroes with soft spots
And the ache of a love that never really let go…

Then Wild Thunder is your next must-read.

Yes, there’s competition.
Yes, there’s a meddling brother.
Yes, there’s a love triangle brewing with a rival farmer who thinks he’s the answer to Emma’s problems.

But Springfield has a way of revealing the truth.
And the heart knows who it belongs to.

Wild Thunder is about trust, healing, and falling in love with the one person who’s always seen the real you—even when you were too tired to look in the mirror.

Stay tuned for sneak peeks, exclusive first chapters, and the return of some familiar faces.

Make sure you’re subscribed to my newsletter so you don’t miss a minute of the emotional, steamy, slow-burn goodness to come.

With love (and maybe a little cow manure),
Constance Ruth Clark

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🎙️ Blushing My Way Through a Podcast Reading 😳🔥

Constance Ruth Clark — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Hey, friends!

So, something fun (and slightly mortifying) happened recently…

I was featured on Episode #46 of the Indie Reads Aloud Podcast hosted by the fabulous Diana Kathryn Plopa—and let me tell you, I thought I was prepared. I really did.

But then I started reading Chapter One of Wild Country Hearts—and totally forgot how much Peter swears in that opening scene. 😳

Yep. I was blushing so hard I probably matched the book cover. Diana, being a total pro, kept it cool while I read through all of Peter’s snark and attitude, but whew… I now understand the true meaning of secondhand embarrassment—from myself.

All that said? It was an amazing experience, and I’d love for you to check it out:

🔗 Watch & Listen to the Episode

📺 YouTube: Watch here

🎧 Anchor.fm: Listen here

📱 Spotify: Stream it here

📝 Show Notes & Extras

📖 Blog with Episode Details: Click here for notes & extras

🌐 Podcast Main Pages:

• Main Website Show Page

• Anchor.fm Show Hub

• YouTube Channel

🎁 Want to grab your own copy of Wild Country Hearts?

Here’s the direct link to the book on Amazon:

👉 Wild Country Hearts on Amazon

This episode was such a joy to record. Diana creates a space that’s warm, encouraging, and just the right amount of nerdy fun (you know I love that). If you’re a romance reader—or just love hearing authors read their own work—you’ll want to check it out.

Huge thanks again to Diana Kathryn Plopa for making me feel welcome—even when I was stumbling over Peter’s sailor mouth. 💀😂

Let me know if you check it out—I’d love to hear what you think of the scene. Just don’t judge me if I sound like I forgot how to breathe halfway through reading. Because I did.

💬 And don’t forget to subscribe to the show to discover more amazing indie authors.

XO,

Constance Ruth Clark

(constanceruthclark.com)

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NOT A WICKED STEPMOTHER — Chapter One is LIVE!

Constance Ruth Clark — Tue, 27 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

She’s not here for magic. Or princes. Or society’s approval.

She’s here for wine, solitude, and possibly arson.

Too bad a certain Earl of Thorncroft has other plans…

If you like grumpy-sunshine romance, ballroom disasters, and heroines who wield fans like weapons—this is for you.

Read the first chapter now on Substack →

Subscribe to get new chapters every week.

https://open.substack.com/.../book-teaser-not-a-wicked...

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✨ I did a thing… ✨

Constance Ruth Clark — Sat, 24 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

I started a Substack.

It’s called Connie's Corner—and it’s where I’ll be sharing everything that doesn’t quite fit between the pages of my books:

💌 bonus scenes

💔 behind-the-scenes angst

🔥 steamy short stories

✍️ writing truths & slow-burn secrets

Think of it as a love letter. To the stories we crave, the characters we miss, and the readers who feel it all with me.

Want in?

The first post just went live. It’s warm, messy, and a little personal—just like the best kinds of beginnings.

👉 [Link to Substack]

#romancereads #slowburnromance #authordiary #romancewriter #booklovercommunity #emotionalreads

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Introducing The Lady Billionaire Series: Powerful Women, Passionate Romance

Constance Ruth Clark — Sat, 12 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

I'm thrilled to finally share a project that's been close to my heart for months. Today marks the official launch of my newest romance series—The Lady Billionaire Series—stories that turn the traditional billionaire romance on its head by putting powerful, wealthy women at the center of passionate love stories.

Flipping the Billionaire Script

We've all read (and loved!) those billionaire romances featuring powerful men sweeping women off their feet. But what happens when SHE is the one with the empire? When SHE is the one with the private jet, the executive suite, and the commanding presence that dominates every room?

That's the question that inspired this series. I wanted to explore romances where financially powerful women meet their matches—not in wealth, but in character, strength, and heart.

Meet Our First Lady Billionaires

The series begins with two connected but standalone stories:

Hidden Heiress (Novella)

Charlotte Hale may be heir to a manufacturing fortune, but she's determined to uncover who's sabotaging her mother's legacy—even if it means going undercover as "Lottie Marks" at her own factory.

What she doesn't expect is Ethan Rourke, the suspicious foreman whose piercing gaze seems to see right through her disguise. As equipment fails and contracts disappear, Charlotte and Ethan find themselves reluctant allies in uncovering corporate espionage—and unexpected allies in matters of the heart.

This quick, satisfying novella is available FREE to my newsletter subscribers or just $0.99 for a limited time!

Model Behavior (Novel)

Jayne Stapleton commands a fashion empire worth billions, built from the ashes of heartbreak after her high school sweetheart betrayed her. When a serial killer begins targeting models connected to her agency, the detective assigned to the case is none other than Nick Graham—the man who shattered her heart ten years ago.

Nick never stopped loving Jayne, and he never cheated—he was set up by someone obsessed with breaking them apart. As danger closes in around them and long-buried feelings resurface, Jayne must decide if protecting her carefully constructed world is worth sacrificing a second chance with the only man who ever saw past her wealth to the woman beneath.

Model Behavior delivers all the passion and suspense you could want in a full-length billionaire romance, priced at $4.99 for its launch.

What Makes a Lady Billionaire Story?

These aren't just gender-flipped billionaire romances. Each book in the series explores the unique challenges successful women face in love and life:

The struggle to be seen for who they are beyond their bank accounts
Finding partners who support rather than compete with their success
Balancing vulnerability in love with strength in business
Learning that control doesn't always bring happiness

And of course, each book delivers the steamy romance, emotional depth, and satisfying happily-ever-after that you deserve!

What's Coming Next

I'm already working on the third installment in the Lady Billionaire Series, featuring a tech mogul whose innovative security app has made her one of the youngest billionaires in America—and put her directly in the path of a former military specialist hired to test her supposedly "unhackable" system.

But that's all I can say for now! 😉

A Special Request

If you enjoy Hidden Heiress or Model Behavior, I'd be so grateful if you'd consider leaving a review. Your feedback helps other readers discover these powerful women and their love stories, and it means the world to me as an author.

Thank you for joining me on this journey into the world of Lady Billionaires—women who command boardrooms and bedrooms with equal passion!

P.S. Remember that Hidden Heiress is available FREE to newsletter subscribers! It's the perfect introduction to the Lady Billionaire world before diving into Model Behavior's deeper story. Sign up using the form below to get your copy delivered straight to your inbox!

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