Spies Like Us - Series
Once Upon a Wicked Wager
Release Date:  16th January 2026

If love is a gamble, this is one wager they cannot afford to lose.

Notorious widow and social pariah, Lisbeth Carslake, Countess of Blackhurst, was acquitted of her husband's murder, but no one believes in her innocence. Known as the Black Raven (bringer of bad luck and death) she is the topic of gossip and wagers. She knows the only way to prove her innocence beyond doubt is to return to society and find her husband's killer.
 
Oliver Whitely, Earl of Bellamy is well and truly in dun territory and drunkenly takes on The Black Raven Wager and ends up agreeing to a business proposal, to escort her back into the viper's pit known as the ton, at the end of a fire poker. Together, they must find her husband's killer before the killer finds them. That is if her schedule allows and they don't kill each other first.
If love is a gamble, this is one wager they cannot afford to lose.



Once Upon a Scandalous Secret
Release date:  24th April 2026

Duty made him her guardian. Desire made him break every rule.

Lord Anthony Ashton, spy and confirmed bachelor, becomes guardian to orphan Lady Lucinda Sterling, a clever, captivating beauty hidden away in a country finishing school far too long.
Granted, with her long-awaited London season at last, Lucinda dreams of finding a husband and a place to belong. But a scandalous secret, long buried and tied to her father's mysterious death, threatens to shatter her reputation.
As Anthony guides Lucinda through the perils of the ton, he's drawn not only to her beauty but her unexpected resilience in the face of whispered slander. Every stolen glance, every lingering touch pushes the bounds of propriety… and his self-control.
But falling for one's ward would end his career. And when the truth of her father's secret emerges, it tests not only their hearts, but their very lives.
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Once Upon a Reckless Rogue
Release date: 24th July, 2026

In a world of war and duty, hearts intertwine in unlikely love.

In the shadows of post-war Spain, THOMAS MARKHAM, a spy, is sent on a covert mission, only to be captured and brutally tortured to the point of near death. Salvation comes in the form of an unexpected savior.

Under threat of death,ELENA DÍAZ, a skilled healer, is forced to keep the English captain alive. But something about him, his resilience and fighting spirit, reminds her of the brother she lost. When the chance to escape arises, she risks everything to take the broken Englishman with her.

Drawn even closer together on their journey from the Spanish coast to the heart of England—in the face of danger, betrayal, and hidden truths—they long to share a life together, but can they find a place where they are truly safe?


Once Upon A Devilish Duke
Release date: 24th October, 2026

Pride may have shielded his heart, but only love can mend it.

The Duke of Warrington's world is a minefield of secrets and regrets since the tragic night of his wife's death in childbirth. Ever since, Edward Ashton has immersed himself in his demanding role as the King's Liaison in London, and chosen isolation and duty as his companions, ignoring the daughter whose birth cost him the respect of his family.

Devastated by her father's passing, Rose Montgomery stays with her friend Marianne Ashton to grieve his loss and soon finds herself consumed by the duke's disregard for his daughter, Lady Maxine. When the opportunity to travel to London for the Season arises, Rose goes determined to infiltrate the duke's world and force him to acknowledge the child he pretends was never born.

As Rose pushes past his defenses, she finds that Edward is not the monster she expected, but a brilliant man on the verge of exhaustion. Through stolen kisses and heated debates, she begins to melt the ice around his heart to find the man beneath.

But Edward is torn between duty and his heart. When the truth is finally revealed about the night his wife died, will he be able to win back the trust of his daughter and the heart of the woman he loves?
Awards for Cassandra Samuels
  • 1st (Gold) in the Marylands Writers' Associations Great Beginnings contest for Historicals
  • 1st in the Ripping Start Contest 
  • 2nd place in Valerie Parv Award
  • 2nd in the RWAustralia's Selling Synopsis Contest
  • 2nd in the Hook in a book competition
  • 3rd in The Hearts Through History - Romance through the Ages contest for Regency
  • Finalist in the First Kiss Award
  • Finalist in the Australian Romance Reader Association (ARRA) awards for Debut Author and Best Historical Romance