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.
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.
Excerpt from THE MOST UNSUITABLE BRIDE:
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!
No comments:
Post a Comment