Seasonal Reading: Summer Western Romances to Take on Vacation

 

There is something about summer that makes a reader reach for a Western romance. Maybe it's the wide-open sky. Maybe it's the heat—the kind that shimmers off a dirt road and makes everything feel a little more urgent, a little more alive. Maybe it's simply that a long afternoon on a porch or a beach or a hotel balcony calls for a book with sweep and heart and a satisfying ending. Whatever the reason, summer is one of my favorite times of year to read—and to recommend. If you're packing a bag for vacation, planning a long weekend, or simply looking for the right book to carry out to the hammock, I have some suggestions. All of them are mine, which means I can tell you honestly what's in them and why I think they'd travel well.

What Makes a Good Vacation Read?

Before I get to the list, let me share what I look for in a summer vacation book—because not every good novel is the right novel for a beach bag or a long car ride. A good vacation read pulls you in quickly. You don't want to spend the first fifty pages getting oriented while your family is waiting for you to come swimming. The story should be engaging from the first chapter. It should be satisfying to pick up and put down. Vacation reading happens in fragments—poolside, before dinner, in the car while someone else drives. A book that rewards short sessions as well as long ones travels well. And it should leave you feeling good. Vacation is not the time for relentlessly bleak fiction. I want a book that gives me something to look forward to every time I pick it up, and a happy ending I've genuinely earned by the last page. Western romance, as a genre, checks all of those boxes reliably. Strong characters, clear stakes, romantic tension that builds toward a resolution worth waiting for, and a setting that feels expansive even when you're reading in a very small hotel room. Here are some of mine that I think would travel particularly well this summer.

For the Reader Who Loves a Fresh Start

Amanda's Rancher (Loving a Rancher, Book 1)

Mara O'Sullivan is running from a difficult past and a promise she made to raise her late sister's child. Preston Kincaid is the rancher who agreed to a mail-order bride and got considerably more than he bargained for. This is a story about starting over in a new place with a new identity—which feels appropriate for a vacation read, when you're also, in a small way, stepping out of your ordinary life. The Montana setting is vivid and spacious, the romance builds steadily, and the stakes feel real without being overwhelming. It's the kind of book that's easy to start and hard to put down.

The Rancher's Perfect Bride (Loving a Rancher, Book 5)

Zenobia Stanton is fleeing her stepfather when she becomes a mail-order bride to rancher Callum McFadden. She's trying to adapt to ranch life when her past catches up to her—and Callum has to fight to protect everything they're building together. This one has action alongside the romance, which makes it a particularly good read for a long travel day when you need something that moves.

For the Reader Who Loves Second Chances

The Rancher and the Shepherdess (Loving a Rancher, Book 2)

Gormlaith McGowan arrives in Montana as a widow, expecting a new husband and a new start, only to find that her intended has died. What follows is a marriage of convenience with local rancher Garrett McDonald—a man who didn't plan on any of this either. Second chance romances work beautifully in the summer because there's something about the season that makes people feel open to possibility, and this one delivers on that feeling in full.

Stone Mountain Reunion (Men of Stone Mountain, Texas)

Schoolteacher Gwendolyn Jones reunites with her former sweetheart Mark Hardeman after he mysteriously disappeared years before. This short story is a perfect option if you want something you can finish in a single afternoon by the pool. Second chance, real stakes, and a resolution that satisfies.

For the Reader Who Loves Community and Small-Town Warmth

Brazos Bride (Men of Stone Mountain, Texas, Book 1)

Hope Montoya marries rancher Micah Stone to escape her uncle and clear her name after her father's murder. The Stone Mountain community is present throughout—neighbors, local characters, the texture of a frontier Texas town—and that warmth gives the story a richness that makes it particularly enjoyable when you're reading slowly and savoring.

Murdoch's Bride (Loving a Rancher, Book 3)

Charity Kelso and her companions are stranded by a blizzard and taken in by Logan Murdoch, turning his all-male household upside down. This one is warm and a little funny in places, which makes it ideal summer reading. The disruption of a bachelor household by people who need care and community is the kind of story that makes you smile even in the tense moments.

For the Reader Who Loves a Heroine with Grit

High Stakes Bride (Men of Stone Mountain, Texas, Book 2)

Mary Alice Price is fleeing her stepbrothers' deadly plans when rancher Zach Stone steps in. Mary Alice is a heroine who doesn't wait to be rescued—she makes decisions, takes risks, and earns her own happy ending. For readers who want a heroine they can root for from the first page, this is a strong choice.

Tabitha's Journey (Men of Stone Mountain, Texas, Book 5)

Tabitha Masterson flees her controlling brother after their father's death to become a mail-order bride. Her reluctant groom, Bear Baldwin, isn't exactly what she expected—and neither is the life she finds herself building. Tabitha is one of those heroines who surprises you, and sometimes herself, and that makes for very satisfying reading.

For the Reader Who Loves Holiday Warmth—Even in Summer

Stone Mountain Christmas (Men of Stone Mountain, Texas)

I know what you're thinking: Christmas in July? But hear me out. There is a long tradition of reading Christmas stories in the summer, and this one delivers exactly what a holiday story should—warmth, community, healing, and hope. Celia Dubois returns home to mend her broken heart and finds connection with rancher Eduardo Montoya. It's cozy and satisfying in a way that feels like a gift, whatever month you read it.

A Note on Packing Light

If you're traveling with an e-reader, you can take all of these with you without adding a single ounce to your bag. That is, in my opinion, one of the finest things about modern reading life—the ability to carry an entire summer's worth of books in something that fits in a jacket pocket. If you're a physical book reader, my recommendation is to choose two: one that matches your mood now, and one for when that mood shifts. A fresh-start story and a second-chance story, perhaps. A community novel and a gritty heroine. Pack for the reader you might be on day four of vacation, not just the reader you are today. Either way, I hope one of these finds its way into your bag this summer. Happy reading—and happy travels.

When Romance Meets Mystery: My Favorite Crossover Reads

Some of my favorite reads don't fit neatly into one shelf. They belong in the Western romance section AND the mystery aisle at the same time—and I wouldn't have it any other way. 

There's something deeply satisfying about a story where the hero and heroine are falling in love while also trying to figure out who stole the cattle, who's been threatening the widow on the hill, or who left a body in the dry creek bed. The mystery raises the stakes. The romance gives you something to root for beyond the solution. Put them together and you've got the kind of book that keeps me up past my bedtime. 

If you love both romance and a good puzzle, I think you'll enjoy this reflection on why the combination works so well—and a look at some of the books I've written that lean into it. 

Why Romance and Mystery Work So Well Together 

Before I get to specific books, let me explain why I think these two genres are natural partners. 

Tension is the lifeblood of both. A good mystery keeps you guessing—who did it, why, and will anyone figure it out in time? A good romance keeps you guessing too—will these two stubborn, wounded people actually choose each other? When you stack those two layers of tension on top of each other, neither one lets the story sag in the middle. 

The Western setting adds pressure. In a frontier town, there may be no reliable law to speak of. Justice is uncertain. Help is a long ride away. That environment forces the hero and heroine together in ways that feel organic: they have to work as a team, trust each other, and rely on each other's strengths to survive—let alone solve a crime. 

Secrets deepen the romance. Mystery plots often hinge on someone hiding something. That secrecy bleeds beautifully into the romance. Is he hiding something about the crime—or about his past? Can she trust him with her heart if she can't be sure she can trust him with the truth? Those questions layer the relationship in ways that feel rich and real. 

My Own Crossover Reads: Where Romance Meets a Good Puzzle 

I'll confess: part of why I love writing Western romance is that I can layer in a mystery when the story calls for it. A threat, a secret, a crime that needs solving—those elements push characters into corners where their true nature shows. And what shows up in a crisis often becomes the foundation of real love. 

Here are some of my own books and series that blend romance with mystery, suspense, or a puzzle the characters have to work through together. 

The Pinkerton Matchmakers Series 

If you haven't found this series yet, let me introduce you. My Pinkerton Matchmakers books follow agents—men and women—working for the famous Pinkerton National Detective Agency in the post-Civil War West. Every book carries a built-in mystery: a case to solve, a criminal to catch, a dangerous situation to navigate. And underneath every investigation, there's a romance that grows through shared danger, hard choices, and moments of trust that neither character expected to need. 

When your hero is a detective and your heroine is tangled up in the case, every conversation carries extra weight. Is he asking because he cares, or because he's still working the investigation? That tension is exactly what I love to write—and, I hope, what you love to read. 

Death in the Perfect House and Death in the Graveyard 

These two books are as close to a straight crossover as I've written. A mystery that needs solving, a community with secrets, and characters whose relationships shift as the truth comes to light. If you enjoy cozy mysteries alongside your romance, these are worth adding to your list. 

The Men of Stone Mountain, Texas Series 

The Stone Mountain books aren't mysteries in the traditional sense, but there are threats, hidden pasts, and dangers that the hero and heroine have to face together before they can build a life. Brazos Bride, High Stakes Bride, and the rest of the series carry that undertow of tension that mystery readers often enjoy. 

The Kincaids Series 

Family secrets, complicated histories, and the kind of trouble that follows certain people no matter how far West they ride—the Kincaid books (The Most Unsuitable Wife, The Most Unsuitable Husband, The Most Unsuitable Courtship, Gabe Kincaid, and Monk's Bride) all carry threads that readers who love a good puzzle tend to appreciate. 

What Makes a Crossover Western Work 

Not every Western romance with a threat or a secret qualifies as a truly satisfying crossover read. In my opinion, the best ones share a few qualities. 

The mystery is real, not decorative. If the danger is resolved in two pages with no real consequences, it was a plot device rather than a genuine second storyline. The best crossover stories give the puzzle genuine weight: real stakes, real uncertainty, and a resolution that feels earned. 

The romance grows through the investigation. The two storylines should feed each other. The heroine's sharp eye for detail should help crack the case AND reveal something the hero didn't expect to admire. The hero's steadiness under pressure should keep them both safe AND show her she can lean on someone. If the romance and the mystery could be separated without losing anything, the book isn't really a crossover—it's two stories sharing a cover. 

The ending satisfies both promises. You showed up for love AND for answers. A great crossover gives you both, without sacrificing one for the other. When I reach the last page of a book like that, I put it down feeling genuinely satisfied—which is the highest compliment I know how to pay a story. 

What I Look For as a Reader 

When I pick up a Western romance with mystery elements—whether mine or someone else's—here's what I'm hoping for: 

• A heroine who is clever enough to be a real partner in solving the problem, not just someone who needs rescuing. 
• A hero whose protective instincts are tested by a threat that doesn't respond to strength alone. 
• A villain or mystery that feels grounded in the historical period—land grabs, outlaw gangs, family feuds, or frontier justice gone wrong. 
• At least one scene where the hero and heroine are stuck somewhere together, figuring things out side by side, and the attraction gets harder to ignore. 

I don't think that's too much to ask. The best crossover Westerns deliver all of it. 

What About You? 

I'd love to know: do you enjoy Western romances that include a mystery thread? Have you read any of my books that left you feeling like you got both a love story and a good puzzle? 

Leave a comment below and let's talk books. I'm always glad to hear which stories have stayed with you—and why. 

Love, Loyalty, and Longhorns: Western Romance Tropes by Caroline Clemmons

If you've ever picked up a western romance and thought, "I know exactly how this is going to go—and I love it anyway," you already understand the power of a great romance trope. Tropes aren't shortcuts or lazy writing. They're the familiar story frameworks that readers reach for on purpose, the same way you'd reach for a favorite quilt on a cold night. You know the comfort is coming, but the journey to get there is always a little different. 

Western romance has its own distinct set of tropes, shaped by the frontier setting, the wide-open landscape, and the particular code of honor that defines the best cowboys, ranchers, and lawmen in the genre. In this post, I'll walk through three classic western romance tropes that have kept readers loyal to the genre for generations—and explain why each one works so well. 

The Lone Cowboy Who Needs Saving (From Himself) 

This may be the most enduring trope in all of Western romance. The hero is capable, skilled, and self-reliant to a fault. He can ride, rope, and survive a blizzard, but he has no idea how to let another person in. Past loss—a dead wife, an estranged family, a war he can't forget—has convinced him that solitude is safer than love. 

The heroine doesn't set out to save him. She's busy with her own problems. But her presence, her directness, or simply her refusal to be intimidated by his silence gradually cracks the wall he's built. Watching a man this guarded finally choose vulnerability is deeply satisfying, which is exactly why readers keep coming back to this trope. 

An example of this type of Western is Shad, my book in the Guns for Hire series.  Shad is a bounty hunter trying to raise enough to buy himself a ranch.  About the time he gets a down payment together, his uncle, who was injured in the war and has the mind of a child in a man's body, gets himself into trouble, and Shad has to spend his nest egg to get him out.  Shad goes after the outlaw with the highest reward he can find.  While sheltering in a cave from a storm, he finds a badly injured woman who is almost dead and has to care for her.  She was injured fleeing from the outlaw Shad seeks and his gang, who occupied her ranch.  

Marriage of Convenience 

Few tropes are more at home on the frontier than the marriage of convenience. The practical demands of homestead life—needing a partner to file a land claim, protect children, run a ranch, or simply survive the winter—made marriages of necessity a genuine historical reality, which gives this trope its satisfying grounding. 

In western romance, marriage of convenience usually brings together two people who have every reason not to fall in love. He's too gruff, and she's too independent. She came west to escape something, and he's still haunted by someone. They agree to a practical arrangement, keep their emotional distance, and then proceed to fall completely in love despite themselves. 

The slow burn this trope produces is exceptional. Every small act of kindness—a quilt left by the fire, a horse treated gently, a nightmare interrupted by a quiet presence—carries enormous emotional weight because both characters are pretending not to care. 

An example of this kind of Western is the Pinkerton Matchmaker series.  A woman wanting to work as a Pinkerton agent must marry their partner in a marriage of convenience.  It can be dissolved once the case is over.  Of course, in my Pinkerton books, the marriage outlives everything but the two people in it.

The Mail-Order Bride 

Closely related to the marriage of convenience, the mail-order bride trope has a specific energy all its own. The heroine leaves everything familiar behind to travel to a stranger in an unknown place. She's brave, possibly desperate, and betting everything on a fresh start. The hero has advertised for a practical partner, not a love match, and is often unprepared for the woman who actually arrives. 

What makes this trope so compelling is the inherent vulnerability on both sides. She is far from home with no easy way back. He has opened his household, and sometimes his children, to a stranger. Trust has to be built quickly because the frontier doesn't wait for feelings to sort themselves out. That urgency accelerates the emotional arc and makes the eventual bond feel hard-won and real. 

Many of my books involve mail-order brides.  For example, the Pearson Grove series involves mail-order brides for brothers separated by the Civil War, and then for townspeople in the same small town.  Gentry, his friend Jesse, his brother Quinn, Levi the blacksmith, Keith the town banker, and Sidney the mercantile owner, each deal with mail-order brides that are not exactly what they ordered and yet are exactly right.

Why These Tropes Work

Western romance tropes endure because they're not really about the frontier at all—not at their heart. They're about people learning to trust, choosing courage over self-protection, and deciding that another person is worth the risk of being known completely. The longhorns and the wide-open sky are the backdrop. Love and loyalty are always the point. 

Whether you've read hundreds of western romances or you're just discovering the genre this spring, these tropes are the reason the books feel familiar and fresh at the same time. They're a promise the author makes to the reader: the road will be hard, but the destination will be worth it. 

What is your favorite western romance trope? I'd love to hear which ones you reach for most. 

What to Read Next If You Loved [Popular Series] by Caroline Clemmons

Have you ever reached the final page of a beloved series, closed the book with a sigh, and thought, “Now what?” If you’re anything like me, the book hangover after a good Western romance series is very real. Today, I want to play matchmaker between your last favorite binge read and your next happy reading streak. 

Instead of naming only one “popular series,” I’m going to give you a few common types of reader favorites—then suggest what to read next if that sounds like you. That way, you can plug in whichever series you’ve just finished and find your next stop on the Western romance trail. 

If you loved big family sagas 

If your last read followed a sprawling Western family—siblings, cousins, and in‑laws all getting their own stories—you probably loved the sense of home those books created. You want another series where you can move from one couple to the next and still feel rooted in the same world. 

What to read next: 

Try another family‑centered Western series, where each book follows a different sibling or relative, but the ranch, town, or valley stays familiar from book to book. 

Look for reading‑order pages or series lists from your favorite authors so you can follow the family in the right order. Many Western romance authors keep these handy on their websites or Goodreads. 

Why you’ll like it: You’ll get that same “come back to the ranch” feeling, new love stories, and the joy of seeing past couples pop up as side characters. 

If you loved mail‑order brides and small frontier towns 

Maybe your recent favorite series involved mail‑order brides arriving by train, meeting husbands they’ve only seen in letters, and building a life in a dusty frontier town full of secrets and surprises. You loved watching strangers become a community. 

What to read next: 

Look for mail‑order bride or marriage‑of‑convenience series set in one town or region, where each bride brings a different personality and backstory. 

Seek out multi‑author Western bride projects; many invite different writers to create stories in one shared town or theme, giving you lots of variety within a familiar framework. 

Why you’ll like it: You’ll find more strong, resourceful women, good men doing their best in a hard land, and that cozy feeling of recognizing the sheriff, the shopkeeper, and the town busybody from book to book. 

If you loved rugged lawmen and high stakes 

Perhaps your last binge was all about sheriffs, Texas Rangers, Pinkerton agents, and ranchers caught up in danger. You turned the pages for the suspense as much as the romance. 

What to read next: 

Try Western romance series that blend romance with mystery—look for blurbs that mention outlaws, stagecoach robberies, land disputes, or long‑buried family secrets. 

Explore multi‑author Western projects centered on lawmen or protectors; these often feature connected characters across several books and authors. 

Why you’ll like it: You’ll get that same mix of danger, loyalty, and justice, plus the satisfaction of seeing love bloom in the middle of trouble. 

If you loved time‑travel twists 

Some readers fall hard for Western time‑travel romances—stories where a modern woman ends up in 19th‑century Texas or Montana and has to puzzle her way through corsets, cattle, and a very different kind of cowboy. 

What to read next: 

Look for Western time‑travel trilogies or connected books: modern‑day heroines stepping back in time, or historical characters visiting our world. 

Check your favorite Western author’s backlist; quite a few have one small time‑travel series tucked among their historicals. 

Why you’ll like it: You’ll still get wide‑open skies and frontier communities, but with fun fish‑out‑of‑water moments and the question of whether love can cross centuries. 

If you loved multi‑author Western worlds 

Sometimes what hooks you is not just one author, but a whole shared Western town or theme—Christmas brides, widows, proxy brides, matchmakers, or frontier holidays—written by a circle of authors. You enjoy hopping from one writer’s style to another while staying in a connected world. 

What to read next: 

Explore the other multi‑author series your favorite Western author has joined. Many writers participate in several shared universes, so if you liked one, there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy the others.  

On author sites and Goodreads, look for sections labeled “multi‑author series,” “worlds,” or “shared towns” to find the full list.g 

Why you’ll like it: You can mix and match reading order, discover new favorite authors, and still enjoy overlapping locations, families, and events. 

How to find your next read, whatever you loved 

Even if your last favorite series wasn’t Western—or wasn’t mine—you can use a simple trick to find your next book: follow the feeling. Ask yourself: 

Did I love the family dynamics most? 

Was it the small town where everyone knows each other? 

Did the danger and mystery keep me turning pages? 

Was it the mail‑order, second‑chance, or forced‑proximity setup? 

Once you know which part of the story hooked you, look for another series that promises the same emotional flavor, even if the exact tropes or setting change. Goodreads, author websites, and reader groups are wonderful for this kind of “If you liked X, try Y” exploring. 

A gentle nudge to explore my Western world 

If you’ve already read and enjoyed some of my series, you might like to know there’s a whole connected Western world waiting for you—Texas families, mail‑order brides, lawmen, Montana ranchers, time‑travel twists, and more. My reading‑order page gathers many of them in one place so you can pick where to ride next. 

Of course, the real joy of reading is finding stories that feel like they were written just for you. Whether you continue exploring my books or branch out to new authors and series, I hope this gives you a few ideas for what to read next when you reach that last, bittersweet page. 

 

FUN CHARACTERS

By Caroline Clemmons

While writing is hard work, some characters make it fun, too. When I wrote the book STUART, I thought him a perfect match for the woman I had in mind. You might recall that I think of my characters as friends who come to life in my books.

Georgina Potter of Baltimore, Maryland received hurtful treatment from her family. From the time her younger sister Virginia could walk, she demanded whatever Georgina had. Their parents doted on Virginia and allowed her to have what she desired.

While they praised Virginia, Mrs. Potter continually criticized Georgina for her choice of  clothes, her blond hairstyle, and her failing to be as graceful and popular as her sister. Of course, her feelings were hurt, but she hid her pain. That is, until Virginia stole Georgina’s fiancé. Their marriage sealed Georgina’s determination to escape Baltimore before the couple returned from their honeymoon—even if it meant marrying a stranger as a mail-order-bride.

Georgina left for Colorado vowing to make a success of the life awaiting her. When she arrived, her groom did not meet the stage. After learning he was in the saloon, she strode to the swinging doors. Of all things, she found the man who had sent for her had recently married a saloon girl. Jilted again! Her temper boiled over with sarcastic remarks. When the saloon girl grabbed Georgina’s hair, she retaliated, and the fight became a doozy.

The sheriff marched both women to jail and fined each $50.00. The saloon girl’s husband immediately paid her fine. Georgina only had $1.33, so she stayed stuck  in jail. She refused to wire her parents for money. What would happen to her?

Join the fun as bachelor Stuart tackles fatherhood with a baby he rescued.

https://www.amazon.com/Stuart-Bachelors-Babies-Book-10-ebook/dp/B084GFPRGL/r

 

 

 

 

 

 

BOOK BIRTHDAY! by Caroline Clemmons

 Father’s Day weekend is an important celebration for most of us. For me, it’s even more momentous. Drum roll, please!

Father’s Day is the launch of my latest western historical romance, SHAD, Book 7 of 10 in the popular Amulti-author Guns For Hire Series! I’m so excited for you to read this book.

For the past seven years, Shad Stone has been a bounty hunter. A loner for the most part, his gruff exterior hides a tender heart and a quirky sense of humor. He’s known as a man who slips in and out like a shadow to capture the criminals he seeks. I hope you’ll love him as much as I do.

The beauty he encounters is Avonleigh Adams, only child of widowed Hamish Adams. She’s wounded and on the run from the murderer who’s stealing her family ranch. The wanted assassin believes he’s killed Hamish and is determined to wed Avonleigh.

Here’s the blurb:

 A bounty hunter with nothing left to lose. A wounded woman with everything at stake. Can love survive when danger rides with every shadow?

Shad Stone’s dreams of owning a ranch are shattered when his uncle’s reckless actions wipe out his savings. Now, Shad is determined to capture a high-value outlaw to rebuild his future—even if it means facing a ruthless criminal protected by a dozen gunfighters and a corrupt lawman. But fate intervenes when a storm drives Shad to shelter in a cave, where he finds Avonleigh Adams, badly injured and on the run from the very man Shad is hunting.

Avonleigh’s family has lost everything to the outlaw who stole their ranch and shot her father. Though Shad knows rescuing her will complicate his mission, he can’t abandon a woman in need. As they join forces against overwhelming odds, Shad must decide if he can trust Avonleigh—and if he dares to open his heart again.

Can one man stand against a gang of killers? And can the woman he saves teach him that sometimes, the greatest reward is love?

Perfect for readers who love sweet western historical romance, bounty hunter heroes, frontier adventure, strong heroine stories, romantic suspense westerns, redemption tales, and found family romance.

Get your copy here: https://amzn.to/4jJ0Lt3

SHAD will soon be available in paperback and audio formats. It is enrolled in Kindle Ulimited.

Thank you for stopping by today.

SUCCESS FOR ASH!

By Caroline Clemmons

ASH by Jo Ann Roberts is a huge success! I hope you are one of many who purchased and read Book 6 in the Guns For Hire Series. If not, grab your copy today at https://www.amazon.com/Ash-Hire-Sweet-Western-Romance-ebook/dp/B0DXMWC1PS/

Here's the blurb:

An outlaw looking for a fresh start

A schoolteacher who might hold the key to the town's salvation.

Ash "Shotgun" McRae can never make up for all the wrongs he's done. After leaving a notorious outlaw gang, he thought he'd discovered the peaceful existence he'd been looking for when he found work laying tracks for the railroad in Rivers Bend. Yet, when trouble shows up in town, he fears he may never free himself of the burdens from his past.

Schoolteacher Kate Cummings stands as the one bright light in contrast to the curious looks and behind-the-glove whispers blowing through the town. The arrival of Padraic "Patch" Rooney and his gang challenges the small-town serenity she holds dear. Still, her steadfast trust in Ash awakens the strength of courage within them all, giving rise to the collective defiance against the approaching danger.

In a deadly game of dangerous outlaws and secret schemes, Kate and Ash must decide whether they are willing to risk everything for their love, including their lives.

                                                    

And while you're at Amazon....

Please remember my book, SHAD, is available for preorder now for its June 15 release at https://www.amazon.com/Ash-Hire-Sweet-Western-Romance-ebook/dp/B0DXMWC1PS/.

COME JOIN ME!

 By Caroline Clemmons

Occasionally, I send a newsletter to my subscribers. The news also includes a contest, sometimes a recipe, and often information on books by my friends. 

If you aren't already a subscriber, why not sign up? You'll receive a FREE copy of the novella, HAPPY IS THE BRIDE. Isn't that a sweet cover? My husband, Hero, created it for me.

https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/B1RnRgs 

The title comes from that old saying, "Happy is the bride the sun shines on." Hero and I were married in the evening, and there was a full moon. It was a magical night!

If you're married, was the sun shining on your wedding day?

Thanks for stopping by.

The Texan's Irish Bride by Caroline Clemmons

St. Patrick's Day is coming up soon.  My ancestors were Scotts-Ulster trouble makers who left one step in front of the hangman.  I have written several books that have Irish characters in them.  The Texan's Irish Bride is one of them.

Amazon Link

Blurb:

Cenora Rose O'Neill knows her father somehow arranged the trap for Dallas, but she agrees to wed the handsome stranger. She'd do anything to protect her family, and she wants to save herself from the bully Tom Williams. A fine settled man like Dallas will rid himself of her soon enough, but at least she and her family will be safely away from Tom Williams. Texas rancher Dallas McClintock has no plans to wed for several years. Right now, he's trying to establish himself as a successful horse breeder. Severely wounded rescuing Cenora from kidnappers, Dallas is taken to her family's wagon to be tended. He is trapped into marrying Cenora, but he is not a man who goes back on his word. Ah, but what is he to do with a wife and her wild Irish family?

Why not grab a copy of The Texan's Irish Bride to read?  A unique way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.  This book is available in an audio book, as well.  You can listen to it on your commute to anywhere.

 

JOSEPHINE DELIVERS FUN AND ADVENTURE

 By Caroline Clemmons

Reading a series set in a small town lets you become familiar with the characters and keep up with them as the series progresses. One of my favorite series is the Bride Brigade, consisting of seven books. Each prospective bride has a personality unique to her.

In this sweet historical western romance series, Lydia Harrison is upset at the number of men moving away from the town of Tarnation, Texas, because there are no unmarried women and they each want a wife. Lydia decides to do something. She takes her best friend, Sophie Gaston with her to her hometown in Virginia. Lydia places an ad in the newspaper stating her offer of travel and lodging to those selected to accompany her to Texas with the object of matrimony.

The first book of the series is JOSEPHINE, named after my grandmother. The setting is actually a lovely one in Palo Pinto County, Texas that my husband and I discovered on a Palo Pinto County Historical Society Spring Tour many years ago. I’m so glad we were able to take that tour because I fell in love with this location and have used it several times.

This is the newest cover

Blurb for Josephine

Josephine Nailor is desperate to escape a terrible situation. When the opportunity arises via a newspaper ad, she and her best friend slip away from their oppressive fathers and head for Richmond.  Neither can relax until they’re far away from their tiny hometown. With wealthy young widow Lydia Harrison’s help, Josephine and six other young women have a new life waiting in Tarnation, Texas.

Michael Buchanan is fairly content running his mercantile and being mayor of Tarnation. The town is dusty and tiny, but it’s growing. He believes it holds all he needs to be happy—except a wife. There are no available women in town, but he hopes Lydia Harrison’s Bride Brigade will offer a woman he can wed. He is immediately attracted to Josephine.

But Josephine has every reason to mistrust men in general and politicians in particular. Will her misgivings ruin her chance at happiness?

 https://www.amazon.com/Josephine-Bride-Brigade-Book-1-ebook/dp/B015M4FJUY/ 

If you haven’t read this fun and adventure filled series, why not give JOSEPHINE a read?

Thanks for stopping by. Stay safe and keep reading.

HAPPILY EVER AFTER

 By Caroline Clemmons

Each of us deserves a happily-ever-after! I’m one of the lucky souls who actually has my HEA with my husband I call Hero. Many of my friends were not so fortunate. In romantic fiction, however, we expect/demand the HEA ending, or at least happy for now. What keeps us reading is discovering how the hero and heroine overcome obstacles and reach their HEA.

When writing, I try to vary plots with each book. Yet, my books tend to have several common themes: redemption, good defeats evil, love overcomes obstacles, and personal fulfillment. But I don’t want readers to dwell on them, other than to sigh with satisfaction at the end.    

That means one or more of the following occurred: love conquered all, the broken heart healed, the hardened heart cracked and welcomed love, characters achieved fulfillment, and those obstacles blocking characters’ happiness have been defeated. What I desire is that readers fall in love with my characters and think of them as real people (as they are in my mind) and want to read my next book. Nothing makes an author happier.  

 One of my most popular historical western romances dealt with good triumphing over evil, personal fulfillment, and overcoming obstacles. Often evil doers believe themselves above the law and unconquerable. In my books, the evil are always caught or dea;t with severely...eventually. I wish that were true in real life, but it sometimes happens. Let’s go with that, shall we?

THE MOST UNSUITABLE WIFE is about a marriage of convenience that blossoms into a true love match. NOTE: My later books are sweet, but this series is slightly sensual. The idea for this book came from my grandmother once mentioning a girl in her hometown who quit school because of all the rumors and teasing she was forced to endure about her birth and her grandmother’s hateful actions. Although my sweet grandmother didn’t know what happened to her, I wanted the poor girl’s story to end well.

If you’ve ever lived in a small town, you know there are no secrets. Sometimes a person with evil in his/her heart forgets that fact and does terrible things to conceal a fact everyone already knows. 

 

Here’s the blurb from THE MOST UNSUITABLE WIFE:

Wanted: one completely improper bride.

Even if Drake Kincaid had placed such an advertisement in every newspaper in the country, he believes he couldn’t have found a better candidate than Pearl Parker...which is just what he wanted. After all, his parents’ will stipulates only that he marry by his thirtieth birthday, not that he marry well. And no one—including Drake’s grandfather, the man determined to hold him to the ridiculous will’s provision—could possibly think tall, bossy Pearl with her ragtag siblings and questionable “cousin” Belle will make a good wife. Until Drake realizes that in her startling violet eyes he sees a beautiful woman with a generous soul...

Their life together may not have started with hearts and flowers, but Drake and Pearl will soon learn that real love—with a breathtaking dose of passion—will make their marriage a true romance.

 THE MOST UNSUITABLE WIFE is Book One of the Kincaids,

 https://www.amazon.com/Most-Unsuitable-Wife-Kincaids-Book-ebook/dp/B004OR1VOO/

 

Excerpt from THE MOST UNSUITABLE BRIDE:

           "What do you mean, stay here?”

          Pearl had wakened cocooned in the hazy glow following a night of intermittent lovemaking with her husband to find him dressing for the ranch. Then he dropped a bombshell on her.

          "You know it's not safe for you to be on your own. Ranch is too isolated. You'll be safer here in town.” Drake stomped his feet to settle each in the boots he wore. He retrieved a blue chambray shirt from his bag and donned it.

          "For how long?” Pearl slid from bed and grabbed her nightgown from the floor.

          "Well..."

          She whirled on her husband, confronting him, "You never intended for me to move to the ranch, did you?” She yanked her nightie on. No one could argue buck-naked.

          "Don't get riled. Women hate the seclusion. You'll be happier in town. Things to do here and people about you.” Drake shoved his shirt into his twill pants without looking at his wife.

          She stepped toward him and pointed at her chest. "What do you know about what makes this woman happy?"

          A crooked smile broke his face. "Aw, I know what makes you happy, all right. Didn't I keep you happy all night?"

          She shrugged away the comment aimed to distract her. "Did you ask me which I prefer? No.” She hoped her glare chilled his randy hide.

          His voice softened, placating. "Pearl, be reasonable. We don't know who's tried to kill you and your family. Someone might be trailing you right now, waiting somewhere and watching the house.”

          He met her gaze. That muscle twitched in his cheek, letting her know he was less than happy with this conversation. Well, that didn't bother Pearl in the least. Some things needed talked about.

          He walked over and put his hands on her shoulders, then took a deep breath and continued,  "Look, the sheriff and his deputy as well as several of the town's leading citizens will be looking out for any newcomer. I talked to the owners of the livery stable, the hotel, the mercantile, all the places I could think of that a newcomer would stand out. If any strangers come around asking questions, the sheriff will find out immediately. You and Sarah will be safer here."

          "You're taking Storm with you?” She hugged her arms, sensing a lost battle.                 

          "Yes, um, with your permission. I can't see him attending teas or shopping here in town. Besides, he's a big help to me."

          Her head came up and her hands fisted at her hips. "And I suppose Sarah and I are just so much baggage?"

          "Now, I didn't say that and you know it.” He held up a hand, palm out, as if to stay her fury. "But you have no place rounding up cattle and getting ready for a drive."

          "It's true we don't ride, but we could learn.” She could learn anything, given a chance. She suspected no chance would come.

          "There's no time to teach you. 'Sides, it makes the cowboys and vaqueros nervous to have women around the cattle. They think it's bad luck. And I can't leave the two of you at the house with only the housekeeper to help you."

          She sagged in defeat. "Okay, Drake. I'll stay here for now, and I'll try not to shame you. But this is only until we know there'll be no more meanness against my family. Don't think you can keep me waiting too long," she warned.

          His face broke into a smile of relief. "You'll see. By the time this is over and things calm down, you'll like this sweet life so much you won't be able to tear yourself away from Grandpa's house."

          "Too much sweet gives a body a belly ache."

          Ignoring that and stepping close, he kissed her on the cheek then nuzzled her neck. "I'll be sleeping tonight in a bedroll on hard ground. Give me a kiss to remember."

          Something to remember. She'd give him something to remember all right. She raised her mouth to his, let him plunder with his tongue. Her tongue did some plundering of its own as she moved her body against him. When their kiss ended, the heat of passion darkened his eyes.

          "When you're sleeping on the hard ground, all alone, you remember that, husband.” Head high, she turned and walked into the dressing room.

  

Best wishes for your HEA. Thanks for reading!

CHARACTER INTERVIEW WITH ANTOINETTE FOURNIER

By Caroline Clemmons 

As I mentioned earlier this week, all my characters are alive to me. My goal is to bring them alive to you! Today I've invited Antoinette Fournier, the heroine of SIDNEY AND THE MAIL ORDER BRIDE, Book 6 in the Texas Hill Country Mail Order Bride Series. Won't you grab the beverage of your choice  (mine is hot tea) and join me here in my small office.

CC: Come in, Miss Fournier. Thank you for joining us today.

A beautiful woman glides gracefully in wearing a lavender silk pongee dress. She is regal as a queen, but wears a wide smile that sets her dark eyes sparkling. Her pale skin appears flawless. Her coal black hair is thick and glossy and she's left it hanging loose so the curls tumble down ger back.

AF: Thank you so much for having me. I must remind you that I'm now Mrs. Garton, but no matter. Please call me Antoinette.

CC: Of course, Antoinette. Tell us something about your family and where they live.

AFG: I'm from New Orleans. (She pronounced it N'Orleans.) My sisters Cappucine and Ottillie and I attended Miss Robichaux's Academy for Exceptional Young Ladies, where we learned almost nothing of a practical nature. Our younger brother Gaspard Jr. was more fortunate. Our father was a successful businessman who provided all the comforts money could buy. He and Maman met and married in New Orleans.

ANTOINETTE

CC: Does that mean you traveled widely?

AFG: To the contrary, our father was far too consumed with his business to take any time away and he insisted the family stay together.  We did through the war and various hurricanes.

CC: Still, it sounds as if you had a nice lifestyle. What prompted you to become a mail order bride?

AFG: Maman insisted my sisters and I attend her favorite social functions. Believe me, that means hundreds a year. She always chose the designs her dressmaker used to sew our gowns, regardless of what we wanted or our protests that the ballgown bodices were too... um, well, revealing. An odious man named Declan Venables decided to court me even though I assured him he wasted his time. Then at a ball at his home, he told me about a fabulous new rose his mother had acquired and offered to show it to me. I am a keen flower gardener, especially roses. Fool that I was, I allowed him to show me the rose.

CC: Oh, no. It was a trap?

AFG: Fortunately, my sisters followed at a discrete distance behind us. Declan ripped my dress from neck to bodice and tried to assault me. My sisters and I screamed and people rushed to the garden.

CC: I suppose that fixed the blackguard. Did your father beat him to within an inch of his life?

AFG: (Tears glistening in her eyes.) Quite the opposite. My father chose to believe Declan over me. He and Declan set a wedding date only two weeks away. Papa insisted I remain in my room until I consented to the marriage. Instead, my sisters and brother helped me become a mail order bride.

CC: Either way, you took a terrible chance.

AFG: That is so true, and so many things went wrong. (She rolled her eyes) I could never have imagined the problems we'd have. All the same, it was definitely the right choice for me. Sidney agrees and we're the happiest of couples now. I'm very fortunate!

CC: Readers, to read the exciting complete story of Antoinette and Sidney Garton, please go to Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DNTP95FD

This book is also available in paperback. It is enrolled in Kinde Unlimited.

Thanks for stopping by. Stay safe and be kind.

 

AN INTERVIEW WITH SIDNEW GARTON

 By Caroline Clemmons

Dear Readers, please help me welcome today’s guest, Sidney Garton, owner of Garton’s Mercantile in Harrigan Springs, Texas.

He is over six feet tall with brown hair showing a few strands of gray. His piercing ice blue eyes sparkle with mirth and echo his friendly smile. I’d guess his age to be in his late twenties.

He sits across from me.

 CC: Welcome, Mr. Garton. Thank you for agreeing to an interview today.

SG: Please call me Sid. I’m honored to be here, though I’m not sure why you invited me.

CC: We’re eager to learn more about you. Where did you grow up?

SG: St. Louis, Missouri is where my grandparents settled, and my folks still live there. It’s a nice place. Have you been there?

CC: Yes, and I agree it’s a nice city. What does your family do there?

SG: Grandpa established his mercantile and sold merchandise to folks moving West as well as to the local residents. Papa added a wholesale dry goods business to other, smaller stores. I started working in the retail store when I was old enough to push a broom.

CC: Sounds industrious, Sid. How did you come to move to Texas?

SG: You see, I’ve always understood my older brother—his name is Caleb—will inherit the St. Louis store. I dreamed of having my own store. Ben Hathaway and Papa were childhood friends who’ve kept in touch. Ben wrote Papa that the store in Harrigan Springs was going to be up for sale and needed improving. Ben suggested Papa buy it, but I sure wanted to be the one who purchased it.

CC: You’re young to be setting yourself up in such a large business.

SG: Yes, ma'am, but I’d saved all I could from my salary. Papa paid me to work in the store after I turned thirteen, but I lived at home and didn’t have many expenses. I had enough to make the down payment. The place was in pretty bad shape but includes spacious living quarters upstairs. I’ve had to make a lot of improvements and changes on the store and living space, plus I added a large warehouse.

CC: That must have been difficult for you. How did you manage it?

SG: I worked long hours but couldn’t have managed if the bank hadn’t loaned me more money to expand. I’ve had to pinch every cent. Now, I’m finally at a place where I feel more comfortable financially.

CC: What about your personal life, Sid?

SG: (Sid chuckles.) Not much of one, especially since my wife Bethany died.

CC: My condolences, Sid. When and how did she pass?

SG: Of Cancer a  little over two years ago. Sure was hard to watch her suffer. We’d known each other all our lives. Can’t tell you how much I’ve missed her calm presence and sweet smile.

CC: That would have been very difficult. You must have some hobbies or outlets to relieve the effects of your hard work. What are they?

SG: People in Harrigan Springs are friendly, or most of them are. I enjoy talking to customers or those who stop by just to say hello and drink a cup of coffee. On Tuesday evening I host a card game. We play for pennies. (He chuckles again.) Mostly we just talk to each other. Usually the players include my three best friends, sometimes two or three more. Once or twice a week, I take my horse Blackjack for an hour’s ride. I attend church on Sunday morning, but don’t always make the other meetings. I take part in church and civic activities when I can. There’s always something happening in town.

CC: Sounds like a busy schedule. How many people help you in the store?

SG: So far, it’s just me, but my friends have been nagging me to remarry, and then a wife could help me in the store and cook meals, and such. There isn’t anyone locally who is the right age and disposition. Levi Iverson gave me the name of a matchmaker in New Orleans. So, I sent away for a mail order bride. I don’t know whether to be eager for her to arrive or afraid of whom I might end up marrying. (He pulls out his pocket watch.) I’m sorry, Mrs. Clemmons, but I have to get to the store and open for the day.

CC: Of course, Sid. Thank you for coming in so early and for answering my questions.

Sid smiles and gives a half-bow before hurrying out the door.

Readers, to learn about Sid’s mail order bride, Antoinette Fournier, and their adventures and romance, get your copy of SIDNEY AND THE MAIL ORDER BRIDE, Book 6 of the Texas Hill Country Mail Order Bride Series. You’ll find it in e-book and paperback at Amazon here:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DNTP95FD

 It is also enrolled in Kindle Unlimited.

Thanks for stopping by. Stay safe and be kind to others and yourself.