PROXY BRIDE BOOKS ARE POPULAR READS

By Caroline Clemmons

Don’t you love a great series that continues to have books available? I love reading them and writing in them. That’s why Proxy Bride Series conceived by Christine Sterling has remained a favorite with so many readers. We’re up to 76 and more are coming this year!

All through the month of January, the Proxy Bride Series is being featured by the participating authors—arranged by Heidi Gray McGill. The historical western romance books are still only $2.99 each for e-book, most are available in print, and are enrolled in Kindle Unlimited. You can find them featured at this site—revolving through the month to expose each of the books.

https://heidimcgill822089357.wordpress.com/the-proxy-brides-series-promo/

Proxy bride marriages used to be more common than they are now. However, they are still performed. Those in the series are set in the late 1800s. I’m sure you’re aware that the Civil War and the move West left the male population in the Eastern United States highly depleted. You know that more men died in the Civil War than in both WWI and WWII combined. So what was a young woman to do? She could become a mail-order bride or a proxy bride unless she wanted to be a companion (dogsbody) to an older woman or live as little more than a servant with a sister or brother and family.

Most proxy brides, I think, were arranged by friends rather than a matrimonial agency. At least that’s how the marriage happened in the proxy bride stories I’ve written. So far, I have three books in the series, but I’ll add more.

My first is A BRIDE FOR GIDEON, book 16. At the risk of sounding immodest, I love this book. 

Book Authority chose this book as the Top Proxy Bride Book of All Time. Woo Hoo! You can imagine how thrilled I was to learn that. The cover, by V. McKevitt’s Black Widow Cover Designs is also one of my favorites. She designed all the covers for the series.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07R85KZPC

Here is the synopsis for A BRIDE FOR GIDEON.

Keira desperately wants to belong somewhere

Gideon is haunted by a secret too horrible to share

Fate conspires against them…   

Keira Cameron came to Boston from Scotland after the death of her parents. She wanted a job, a husband, and eventually a family. She feels rejected because she’s too tall, too foreign, and too pretty for a wife to want her working near a woman’s husband. Were her expectations unreasonable? Her cousin convinces her to enter a proxy marriage to his friend, Gideon Ross, who lives in Montana Territory. Out of options, she agrees and hopes her goals will be realized.

Gideon Ross is a large man at five inches over six feet. His business is a smithy and gun repair shop. The war left him with a terrible scar on his face. He wears a beard to try to conceal the scar but still hears people whisper he’s a monster and a giant. Do they think he has no feelings? He’s haunted by the war and has terrible nightmares. Reluctantly, he agrees to wed Keira by proxy.

 Outside forces work against the couple. Keira and Gideon must find the key to the attack on their lives. Can they defeat the enemy before they’re too late?

 

My second Proxy Bride is A BRIDE FOR DALTON, Book 25

Rebecca and Dalton embark on married life in unusual circumstances. Can love blossom in tumultuous times?

Rebecca wants a husband but not the man her stepbrother insists she wed. To escape his threats she turns to a family friend for help. Reverend McClain suggests she enter a proxy marriage to his only living relative, a nephew who ranches in Montana. Out of options, she agrees. Until she arrives in Sweet Springs, she has no idea the telegram with instructions to her supposed groom has not been delivered. Where does that leave her?

Dalton is working with dangerous men to accomplish his goal. The last thing he needs at this time is a wife to distract him. He is a gentleman and sees no other solution than to complete the vows. How is he going to keep her out of harm’s way while he completes this job?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07X3V948W

 

My last (so far) is A BRIDE FOR LUKE, Book 36

Each is struggling to build a better life. Two strong-willed people are bound to clash. Danger forces them to focus on what is at stake.

Maeve Kelly came to America for a better life. In Boston she found only signs that said No Irish Need Apply. Now the cousin she is staying with is moving. Maeve has until the end of the month to find a new place to live. Her friend at the laundry where she works suggests proxy marriage to her nephew as a solution. Maeve resists then finally accepts.

Sheriff Luke Sullivan is admired and well-respected in the community of Broken Wheel, Wyoming Territory. When he learns his mother and aunt have schemed to get him a proxy bride he’s furious.  Before he and his bride can adjust to one another, Luke is caught in the middle of an explosive situation between striking miners and the railroad. 

 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08416GQHG

A BRIDE FOR LUKE received a Crowned Heart Review from InD'Tale Magazine.

I hope you’ll take advantage of the wonderful books in the Proxy Bride Series.

Stay safe and keep reading! 

99¢ SALE -- A BRIDE FOR GIDEON

By Caroline Clemmons

This is a great 99¢ sale on a great historical western romance today through November 15th!

When a story I’ve written is well received, I’m grateful and inspired. A BRIDE FOR GIDEON, book 16 of the Proxy Brides Series, has 120 five star reviews, and was chosen the #1 Proxy Bride Book of All Time by Book Authority. What a pleasant surprise that was! The book is in ebook and print, and is enrolled in KU. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Bride-Gideon-Proxy-Brides-Book-ebook/dp/B07R85KZPC/

I loved the cover the second I saw it. V. McKevitt of Black Widow Designs created the cover. The model on the cover looks the way I always wished I did. A lot of people in my mom’s maternal family had red hair and blue eyes. My eyes are blue, but I got blonde hair that darkened as I aged. I know, we often want something different than we have.

For those who don’t know, a proxy marriage is when the bride and groom are in separate locations. As unusual as this may sound, proxy marriage is still practiced today. For instance, a man serving in the military might marry his sweetheart by proxy—or vice versa. I enjoy writing proxy bride stories, and hope you enjoy reading them.

A BRIDE FOR GIDEON is a sweet historical western romance, most of which takes place in a small Montana town. Here’s the blurb:

Keira desperately wants to belong somewhere

Gideon is haunted by a secret too horrible to share

Fate conspires against them…   

Keira Cameron came to Boston from Scotland after the death of her parents. She wanted a job, a husband, and eventually a family. She feels rejected because at almost six feet she’s too tall. Her Scottish burr makes her appear too foreign. She is too pretty for any wife to want Keira working near the woman’s husband. Were her expectations unreasonable? Her cousin convinces her to enter a proxy marriage to his friend, Gideon Ross, who lives in Montana Territory. Out of options, she agrees and hopes her goals will be realized.

Gideon Ross is a large man at five inches over six feet. His business is a smithy and gun repair shop. The war left him with a terrible scar on his face. He wears a beard to try to conceal the scar but still hears people whisper he’s a monster and a giant. Do they think he has no feelings? He’s haunted by the war and has terrible nightmares. Reluctantly, he agrees to wed Keira by proxy.

 Outside forces work against the couple. Keira and Gideon must find the key to the attack on their lives. Can they defeat the enemy before they’re too late?

Scottish cottage 

Enjoy an excerpt:

He drained the last of the milk from the jar. “Go ahead and buy what you need. You can’t sleep on a pallet and I can’t take up less room than I did last night.”

A broad smile appeared on her beautiful face. “You’ll sleep better when you can stretch out and not have your feet sticking off the end of the bed.”

He met her gaze, remembering their wedding night. “Aye, and I’d like to hold my wife in my arms all night.”

She blushed and looked down. “I’ll take these back to the house so you can get back to work.”

He held her shoulders. “Keira? There’s no need to be embarrassed because your husband wants to hold you in his arms.”

“I don’t know what to say or do. So much has changed in only a short while.”

He took the items from her and pressed a kiss to her rose petal lips. She leaned into him but didn’t respond for a few seconds. He increased the pressure on her lips and she wrapped her arms around his neck.

The creak of a wagon startled him. Someone called, “Whoa.”

Keira stared at Gideon but her eyes didn’t appear focused. She opened her mouth as if to speak but said nothing. Gideon kept his arms around her.

Bud Palmer came into the smithy. “Oh, sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt.”

Gideon changed so only one arm was around Keira’s shoulders. “Keira, this is Bud Palmer. Bud, Keira is my wife.”

Bud pumped Gideon’s hand. “Congratulations.” He took Keira’s hand. “Welcome, Mrs. Ross. Sure hope you like Haverhill.”

“Thank you, Mr. Palmer. I already like this town.” Once again she picked up the things from lunch. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll get back to the house.”

Bud stared after her. “You’re a lucky man. I believe that’s the prettiest woman I’ve ever seen.”

Gideon agreed, yet an odd feeling gripped him. He didn’t want Bud gaping at his wife with that appreciative gleam in his eyes. He didn’t want any man looking at her in that way. Who was he kidding? He suspected every man who saw her would stare no matter what her husband wanted.

He faced his visitor. “What can I do for you?”

Stay safe and keep reading!

SNEAK PEEK AT A BRIDE FOR HOUSTON

By Caroline Clemmons

February is thought of as the month of love. For romance writers and readers, every month is the month of love. We love Love, so to speak.

Are you doing something special for your love this weekend? Years ago I started a kitchen fire when trying to prepare a special breakfast that included French toast. Hero called me to ask a question and I wandered to his office down the hall to answer. I forgot I had butter melting in a skillet and stayed to discuss something long since forgotten.  Lucky for us, I discovered the burning butter in time to douse it with baking soda. Disaster was averted but I had a mess to clean. I hope to do better this year!

I’ve been thinking about romance books and series. Currently, I’m writing a Proxy Bride Series book, my fourth for the popular series. I enjoy proxy bride stories. Having strangers in a marriage of convenience adds a dimension to the tale. While overcoming other obstacles, they must adjust to one another. Such difficulties either cement or destroy the relationship. Of course, in a romance, they are united for a happily-ever-after.

Speaking of which, my next release, A BRIDE FOR HOUSTON, is currently available for preorder. I hope you’ll preorder the book. Here's a sneak peek at the lovely cover from Black Widow Designs:

She barely escapes death…

He is angry when a mail-order bride jilts him…

They must defend themselves against mysterious assailants.

 

Theodosia “Theo” Jordan has lived with the harsh aunt and uncle who are her guardians since her parents’ death five years ago. In three weeks she will turn twenty-one and inherit the estate now controlled by her uncle. She overhears her aunt and uncle planning her death to cover up the uncle’s embezzlement from her estate. Acting quickly, she escapes Atlanta that day by becoming a proxy bride to a man living in a small town in Texas.

Houston Kingsley yearns for a happy family like his brother has. Being cheated by a fraudulent mail-order bride who jilts him and keeps the money he sent her discourages him. Is he destined to live alone? His brother convinces him to try for a proxy bride.  The marriage of convenience process sounds simple enough—if he can scrape up the cash for a second fare and travel expenses.

But unknown forces create danger for Theo and Houston. Can they discover and defeat the guilty to achieve the happy home each desires?

This is shortly after they meet:

Shyness struck Theo as her husband led her toward their home’s front porch.

At the door, he stopped. “Always planned to do this. Hope you don’t mind.” He scooped her up and carried her across the threshold.

She couldn’t keep a surprised squeal from escaping, followed by laughter. “I always hoped my husband would do that.”

Appearing pleased, he gestured around them. “You see the foyer isn’t large, but accommodates a hall tree. They also had a grandfather clock on that wall, but they took it with them. Maybe we can get one someday.”

She removed her hat and added it to the shelf on the hall tree, then hung her coat on a hook. “That sounds nice.” She’d need elbow grease to polish the floor. The marks of where the clock had stood were faintly visible.

After adding his jacket to the peg next to hers, he studied her. Slowly, he walked around as if assessing her. “I never expected a redhead for a wife. A lot of folks think redheads have a bad temper or bring bad luck.”

The nerve of him—though she suspected he was teasing her. “I never expected my husband would have a beard. A lot of women don’t like a man with whiskers on his face.”

He grinned and spread his hands. “Hey, I can shave off my beard.”

She shifted her shoulders and sent him a saucy smile. “Hey, I can shave off my hair if the color doesn’t suit you. Would you prefer a bald wife?”

He laughed and raised his hands in surrender. “I give up, you win that round. Although, I know many women color their hair. Many even try for the color of yours, which I find a quite pleasing shade. Let’s continue the tour.” He guided her through the home’s downstairs.

 

Click here to preorder A BRIDE FOR HOUSTON https://www.amzn.com/B08THSBZH5/.

Thanks for stopping by the blog!