ROMANCE WITH POISON AND MAYHEM

By Caroline Clemmons

 

My historical western, BRAZOS BRIDEi, is both a mystery and a romance. I love mysteries, you see, and just can’t help myself when it comes to murder, kidnapping, poison, and other nasty incidents. I am a sweet and gentle soul in person (yeah, right), but I am mean to my characters when I write. After all, survival in the Old West was difficult Authors have to present obstacles for the hero and heroine to overcome. Otherwise, a book would be about a page long and boring.

 

Hope Montoya, the heroine, knows she’s being poisoned but has no idea who wants her dead. Weakened, she knows she can’t fight alone, and she enlists Micah Stone to assist her. How? Through a marriage of convenience, which gives her control of her estate that’s held in trust by her guardian. That doesn’t stop the killer, who relentlessly persists in trying to eliminate both Hope and adds Micah as a target. I love a determined villain, don’t you? I mean, of course, that I love to hate the villain.

 

Besides being close to Hope, for marrying her Micah receives land on the Brazos River and cash, and both are needed badly. The time is August 1870 and there’s a severe drought that has dried up springs, creeks, and waterholes on Micah’s land. Without access to the river, his cattle are dying of thirst. His two brothers are on hand to help him haul water from Zach’s place to the west. Even with their best efforts, they’re losing the battle.

Here’s an exscerpt of Hope and Micah’s wedding night from near the first of the book.

She looked at her hands. Perhaps she was unreasonable. Or maybe insane for sympathizing with a man who'd had to work harder because of her family.

"I know it is an odd situation. If—if you wear your shirt and britches, I guess it would be all right if you slept on top of the cover here." She patted the bed beside her.

He froze. Not a muscle moved, and he only stared at her. Had she misunderstood? Did he think her offer too forward?

She babbled, "That is, if you want to. You said I should trust you. Well, maybe you would be more comfortable where you are." Why didn't he say something? Would he prefer sleeping in a chair to sharing the bed?

From the street below, she heard raucous laughter and someone called to a man named Ben. Music from a piano, she supposed in the saloon, drifted in through the open windows. A gust of breeze moved the curtains and slid across her skin. In this room, though, there was no sound.

Slowly, he rose and extinguished the lamp as he moved across the room. She slid one of the pillows beside hers then scooted down. What had possessed her to offer him half her bed? Would he think she invited more?

Too late to take it back now, for the mattress dipped as he stretched out. Quaking inside at the thought of him so near, she turned her back to him. She heard his weary sigh, as if he relaxed for the first time in a long while.

"Good night," she offered, and hoped he understood the finality of the phrase.

"Yep. Good night, Mrs. Stone." The mattress shook as he turned his back to her. She felt the soles of his feet press against her ankles. He must be several inches too long for the bed and she guessed he had to bend his legs to fit. She didn't dare turn to see firsthand.

She lay perfectly still, afraid to take a deep breath. Soon his breathing changed and she knew he slept. Outside the open window the town quieted and the distant tinkling of the piano was the only sound. Light from the full moon illuminated the room and slanted across the bed. A soft breeze drifted across her, lulling her in its caress.

With a sigh, she fought to relax, but abdominal pain kept her awake no matter how her body cried for rest. Perhaps if she planned, she’d forget the pain and chills that racked her frame.

Plan, yes. She needed a plan for food preparation when she returned to her home. No, Micah said he had a plan. Oh, dear, once more he took charge when it was her life, her home.

Maybe Aunt Sofia and Uncle Jorge would have left by then and things would be fine. Already she felt more secure. She sensed her eyelids drifting closed and the sleep’s blessed relief approaching.

A gunshot ripped apart the night.

The blast startled her and she screamed as something thudded near her head, showering her hair and face with splinters. Panic immobilized her. What had happened?

Micah dragged her onto the floor as a bullet ripped into the mattress.

Bed with ropes instead of bed springs

 Did that excerpt entice you to buy the book?

I hope so because everyone in my family needs an operation. Okay, no one actually needs surgery, but I will appreciate your buying the book. Then, IF YOU LIKED IT, would you be so kind as to leave a review on Amazon? Most readers don’t realize what a gift a good review is to a writer.

Here’s the buy link for BRAZOS BRIDE:

 https://www.amazon.com/Brazos-Bride-Stone-Mountain-Texas-ebook/dp/B007HS10SY/

 

Thanks for stopping by! 

IRISH TRAVELLERS IN FICTION

By Caroline Clemmons

In THE TEXAN’S IRISH BRIDE, the heroine, Cenora O’Neill, and her family were among those turned off their land by an English landlord. Rather than starve, they joined a band of Irish Travellers. How did they end up trekking across the U.S.? You’ll have to read the book to learn the answer.

Cenora O'Neill

Recently, I was the guest speaker at the Irish-American Society of Dallas TX. I discussed my book, THE TEXAN’S IRISH BRIDE, which some members had read beforehand. In my talk, I spent a few minutes talking about Irish Travellers because they play a prominent role in the story.

 Many scholars believe Irish Travellers' language is descended from medieval minstrels and poets who traveled Ireland in the 13th century telling myths and stories. Those medieval entertainers were respected and learned. That ancient language crops up in the Irish Travellers’ language called Shelta, a mixture of English and Irish grammar. Their dialect, or Cant, allows them to speak freely in front of what they call the  “settled people,” "buffers," or the non-travellers. They are careful that no non-traveller learn Shelta.

 At the time of English occupation, many Irish families were turned out of their homes. Since it was illegal for Irish to learn to read and write—only the English could attend schools and universities—the homeless Irish were ill equipped to fend for themselves. Some attended what were called hedgerow schools, where a person who knew how to read and write taught with only sticks and dirt as writing tools. Doesn't it make you angry that a group of people were denied education?

Photo from 1954, but times have changed.

Many homeless Irish families drifted into accompanying the traveling minstrels and other entertainers. Eventually, they became the Irish Travellers. At first they camped in fields. Later, they acquired tents, then the colorful wagons that resemble gypsy wagons.

They are not gypsies, though. Gypsies are Romani and are thought to have originated in India. Their religion is Rom. Travellers are of Irish origin, although they have now spread throughout the Western world. Legislation in Ireland has set aside special camping places for the Travelers. Much controversy exists over whether the children should be forced to attend school or not. In the U.S., they are supposed to attend school. Fortunately, more and more are graduating from high school and some are going on to university and to additional training.

On 1 March 2017, the Irish state recognized Irish Travellers as a distinct ethnic group. An ethnic group is defined as one whose members identify with each other, usually the basis of a presumed common genealogy or ancestryl Ethnic identity is also marked by the recognition from others of a group's distinctiveness and by common cultural, linguistics, religious, behavioral or biological traits.  

Generalizing, most of the families are Roman Catholic and in general, the wives attend mass. They were/are also called Tinkers because there was usually one among them who repaired pots and pans and metal wares. In one of Louis L’Amour’s books, a Tinker makes a large knife for Tell Sackett, the description of which resembles that of a Bowie knife.

Irish Travellers and Irish-American Travellers face discrimination and racial hatred. Their children are the target for bullies at school and the adults are the target of the type of law enforcement members who like to throw around their weight.  As with any group, Travelers include good and bad citizens. Most earn an honest  living working in various forms of construction or carnival concessions. Unfortunately, those who are dishonest often ply one of the construction trades such as roofing, house painting, or paving. The tricksters get half the money up front or a down payment—supposedly for supplies—and are never seen again. Please don’t think I’m bashing the Irish. I’m of Scot-Irish descent and love anything to do with Ireland!.

 By the way, if you haven’t read, THE TEXAN’S IRISH BRIDE, why wait? Here is the buy link at Amazon, where you’ll find e-book and print.

https://www.amazon.com/Texans-Irish-Bride-McClintocks-Book-ebook/dp/B008V1UG54/

The book is also available in Kindle Unlimited.

While you’re at Amazon, please click the Follow button by my name/bio. 

Stay safe and keep reading!

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Travellers 

WANT A READING SUGGESTION?

 By Caroline Clemmons

How is your weekend going? I hope you're spending part of it reading a good book!

Our family members are voracious readers. My father is responsible for my love of reading, he and my fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Huff. My mother didn't discover the joy of reading until she was retired and my aunt brought her a copy of THE THORN BIRDS. Later, my mom said she regretted not reading for all those years. She was hooked! She was so proud when I became a published author. Sadly, my father and aunt had already passed away by that time. I know they would have loved the idea. They were both such good people that perhaps they look down from heaven. So far, I have over 80 titles published, and I have many more planned. Here's my Amazon Author Page link, in case you want to order one of the books I mention. https://www.amazon.com/Caroline-Clemmons/e/B001K8CXZ6

The first series I published was the Kincaids, in which the first three books are sensual and the later titles are sweet. I love that series. The first book's heroine, Pearl Parker, was inspired by a story kernel my grandmother told me of a girl in the town in which she lived. Can you imagine a woman so steeped in false pride that she would try to kill her own granddaughter? It really happened, but the rest of the book is pure fiction. I thought any woman who began life as an unwanted child deserved a happily ever after That book was THE MOST UNSUITABLE WIFE. I had used bride instead of wife, but Kensington changed it, supposedly because they had already published a book with The Most Unsuitable Bride as the title. 

The second series was The Men of Stone Mountain (Texas), my first efforts at self-publishing. I simply love the three brothers who launched that series. Their aunts are patterned after my mom and her sister. I confess that I like Alice from HIGH STAKES BRIDE best of the heroines, though the heroine of BLUEBONNET BRIDE is a close second. I continued the series with several more books set in the fictional town of Radford Crossing. The first three are sensual and the rest are sweet. The first two are available as audio books.

Occasionally, I write contemporary romance. One of the series is Texas Time Travel. I was able to combine my love of history with romance adventures for three couples in TEXAS LIGHTNING, TEXAS RAINBOW, and TEXAS STORM. The last book is about the Woman's Auxiliary Support Program, from Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas. The women who served in the WASP were very brave.  My author friend Sherri Easley is writing a series about the WASP, called The Avenger Girls. I can hardly wait until she publishes them. She has a day job, and that gets in the way. My Texas Time Travel covers are included wsith the Loving A Rancher series below.

                                   

I enjoyed writing in Debra Holland's Kindle World, and was devastated when Amazon cancelled that popular program. I changed the names that belonged to Debra and relaunched the sweet romance series, Loving A Rancher,  but I lost all the reviews I had when it was in Kindle World. The first, AMANDA'S RANCHER, is my favorite, but MURDOCH'S BRIDE sells more.

Instead of mail order brides, I created a series where seven women were brought to a Texas town by a widow who was left with plenty of money to do such a thing. I'm not giving away spoilers when I tell you each of the seven women found a husband--including the widow who brought the women to Texas. This is a very popular series of sweet historical romances. I enjoyed writing each of these, and readers have appeared to enjoy reading them. The first of this series is JOSEPHINE.

I wrote single titles in a number of multi-author series. Those were fun and gave me a chance to work with some very pleasant and superb authors. Those include DESPERATE IN DELAWARE, THEODOSIA, three books in the The Pinkerton Matchmaker Series, two in the Widows of Wildcat Ridge, and many more. 

My current series is The Texas Hill Country Mail Order Bride Series. Whew, Why did I choose such a long series title? 😉Anyway, I love the series. The heroes are GENTRY, JESSE, QUINN, and LEVI, and I'm writing KEITH's story now. I hope you'll give this series a read. I've worked really hard to make each unique, even though they take place in the same fictional town of Harrigan Springs. My daughters and I laugh about the town name. When they were small, they watched Saturday morning cartoons. There was one with this little dog who did a dance, wore a bowler hat, and sang, "H. A. Double R. I... GAN spells Harrigan." The youngest said she can't keep from singing that in her head every time she reads it.

I hope to reach 100 titles someday. Guess I'd better busy and write.

Stay safe and keep reading!

CHRISTMAS SALE TITLES FOR YOU!

Don’t you love reading a Christmas story this time of year? I do—of course, I read them all year but really stock up in November and December. To feed your Christmas-reads craving at a bargain price, let me present my group of contemporary and historical Christmas bargain books.

For those who prefer western historical stories, here’s a selection:

 

The first Christmas novella I wrote was done at my eldest daughter’s suggestion. STONE MOUNTAIN CHRISTMAS is part of my Stone Mountain Texas Series. I love this series and readers have made it a popular.

 

Christmas has been Celia Dubois’s favorite time of year as long as she can remember. When she moves in with her parents a year after the death of her husband, the young widow is appalled at the town’s lack of Christmas spirit. Two months earlier, banditos had burned the church and crushed the townspeople.  Celia vows to return holiday joy to the town. Perhaps doing so might help mend her aching heart. Will Celia’s plan work magic?

Rancher Eduardo Montoya knows Celia is the woman for him. She enchants him with her winning smile and vivacious nature. When her father warns Eduardo away from Celia, Eduardo is both angry and frustrated. After he stops a robbery in her father’s mercantile, will Celia’s parents change their minds about him? Can handsome Eduardo heal Celia’s sorrow?

https://www.amazon.com/Stone-Mountain-Christmas-Novella/dp/1502948001/

 

MISTLETOE MISTAKE was a fun book to write. I hope readers enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it. The novella is an expanded version of the one which appeared in the set WILD WESTERN WOMEN…MISTLETOE, MONTANA.

Shannon Callahan worked hard to become a physician. In New York, she meets resistance to a woman dotor and feels she is no more than a midwife. When the opportunity arises for her to go to Montana and be the only doctor in the town of Mistletoe, she grabs the chance.

Riley McCallister is the sheriff of Mistletoe who townspeople expect to solve their problems. When he learns the new doctor he sent for is a woman, he is shocked and vows never to let her treat him—no matter how beautiful she is. Slowly, Shannon’s skill wins his respect—and more. Shannon’s expertise and dedication during a measles epidemic convinces the town she is a good doctor—but does their acceptance come too late?

https://www.amazon.com/Mistletoe-Mistake-Caroline-Clemmons-ebook/dp/B075GYWL72/

WINTER WISH—sometimes when wishes come true they bring complications!

None of the men in Hopeful, Colorado appeals to Serena Winters. Working at the mercantile owned by her aunt and uncle, she meets everyone in town. Her aunt warns her against falling for a prospector as they always leave town in spring. One full moon, Serena wishes she could attract an interesting man. She should have been more careful about wording her wish.

Brent Adams has filed on his claim and brought gold with him to the assay office in Hopeful. He fears taking it closer to his claim will draw claim jumpers and robbers. He’s immediately charmed by Serena. He’s concerned he’ll incur her anger when she learns the secret he’s withheld.

When Serena is lost in freezing weather, only Brent can save her. Can they reconcile their differences and find lasting happiness?

https://www.amazon.com/Winter-Wish-Caroline-Clemmons-ebook/dp/B088QMXJW2/

MELODY is part of the popular Angel Creek Christmas Brides Series. The series is set just after the Civil War when most of Charleston, South Carolina was in ruins and no marriageable young men were to be found. The year before—the fall after the war—five women answered an advertisement for mail-order brides to a small Montana town. That turned out well and many of the remaining bachelors prevailed upon the brides to recruit more Southern Belles to come to Angel Creek. Six more agree to travel there by train to St. Louis, then by riverboat up the Missouri River, then by stage to Angel Creek.

Melody Fraser is twenty-two and fears remaining a spinster. In addition, she has threats against her fueled by vicious rumors. She is happy to escape Charleston’s destruction and peril for a chance at life in a place untouched by the war. The problem is, she might have stretched the truth a tiny bit.

Nicholas Walker is the new doctor in Angel Creek. He has big, big plans for his clinic and practice as the town grows. He is very efficient and expects to combine a skilled nurse with a wife.  When he learns Melody has only nursed an elderly grandmother, he feels cheated.

They’re in for adventure and excitement. But, will the two grow fond of one another before Christmas or will they apply for an annulment?

https://www.amazon.com/Melody-Angel-Creek-Christmas-Brides-ebook/dp/B07XJ6PZGF/

 

For those who prefer contemporary stories, here are two for you:

ANGEL FOR CHRISTMAS is one of my favorites. I still tear up at the happy ending, which is magical—like the time of year. Many fans have suggested this should be a Hallmark movie.

When a dot com billionaire crashes his sports car into a tree, he wakes up in heaven facing angels Gabriel and Michael. He’s given a chance to redeem his carefree ways by helping an orphanage avoid foreclosure and regain a sound financial picture by midnight on Christmas Eve—or else. To do so, he is sent back to earth as orphanage janitor, Jacob Porter.

After her father died four months ago, child psychologist Suzi Stephens was shocked to learn Serenity Springs Children’s Home and Elementary School faced foreclosure unless she met a balloon note due January 1. She can’t understand why her late father broke the trust her grandfather had carefully constructed to protect the private home. She is afraid the annual gala won’t raise enough money to pay the note much less the needed year’s operating funds. Trying to do her job plus step into her late father’s shoes has stretched her to her limits.

She’s suspicious of the handsome new janitor, who appears more like he’d be at home as a CEO. Could he be a spy for the developer who covets the children’s home property? Suzi overcomes her distrust enough to allow Jacob’s help raising funds. Working together, their attraction escalates but Jacob has nothing to offer the beautiful redhead. He is scheduled for earthly removal at midnight on December 24.

https://www.amazon.com/Angel-Christmas-Caroline-Clemmons-ebook/dp/B01N58VPPB/

HOLIDAY HEARTS was part of the Christmas Comes To Dickens anthology. In case you missed it, here it is for you:

Laura Jordan plans a quiet holiday at home except for the time she might decide to spend serving dinner at the homeless shelter on Christmas Day. She loves her job at Callahan Group advertising agency and admires her boss. She’s careful not to show her attraction because she doesn’t want anything to jeopardize her position there. She’s aware of how quickly office gossip could ruin her reputation and career.

Ward Callahan is a wunderkind who started earning money online trading when he was in high school. At thirty-two, he owns a successful ad agency and is gaining industry recognition. He hasn’t had time for a serious relationship. When Laura starts working for him, he can’t get her off his mind.

When vicious remarks cause Laura to threaten a halt to their budding relationship, Ward is determined to set things right.

https://www.amazon.com/Holiday-Hearts-Caroline-Clemmons-ebook/dp/B09K4M291F/

 

These should keep you reading for several days. Best wishes for the happy anticipation of the season!

Stay safe and keep reading. 

A FAST-PACED ROMANTIC SUSPENSE /TIME TRAVEL

Welcome Fall! Although North Texas can’t compete with New England for colorful leaves, our trees are showing varying shades of gold and orange. Mixed in with our native dark green Live Oaks, these present a pleasant delight for the eyes. The Mountain Cedars—not so much! They’re green, but they bear powerfully irritating pollen that has many of us sniffing, sneezing, coughing, and rubbing our reddened eyes.

In spite of that, I love the Fall season. We get cooler temperatures, a little rain, and the building anticipation of the coming holidays  through the end of the year. I’m not particularly a Halloween fan, that is, except for the candy. I do love the treats available this time of year. Hero and I deliberately buy things we don’t love to prepare for the trick-or-treaters we anticipate. Otherwise, we’d have to go buy more as the day came closer. Not that that has ever happened….

To celebrate the spirit of the spooky season, I have lowered the price of my romantic suspense and time travel combines, OUT OF THE BLUE, to 99¢ for the entire month of October. Caveat: When I checked, Amazon had not yet lowered the price. Please don’t give up—they’ll get around to it soon.

The fault for the delay is mine. You see, Hero and I are downsizing, and I mean really, really downsizing! We are so involved in sorting, packing, and donating that each of us has threatened to go to bed and pull the covers over our head. Life has been so hectic that I let my blog time slip up on me.

Here’s the description for OUT OF THE BLUE:

1845 Ireland: Herbal healer Deirdre Dougherty never cursed at anyone, much less put a curse on the potato crop of her remote Irish village. She’d rather take her chances with the Atlantic lapping at the bottom of the cliff than the mob intent on burning her as they have her cottage. Deirdre leaps . . . and plops down over 175 years later in a Texas lake. She doesn’t understand how she’s ended up with the man from her recent visions or why he has the same name as the saint to whom she prayed. She’s in danger of falling for the handsome policeman who rescued her, in spite of the fact that he thinks she’s lying to him. How can she convince him her story is true when she’s finding it difficult to believe the tale herself?

Texas Today: Police Detective Brendan Hunter wants answers. Who shot him and killed his partner? Why? And why does Deirdre know details of the event? Her story has to be a colossal fabrication or else she’s a beautiful psycho. Either way, he wants her gone before he becomes even more fascinated with her. But he can’t let her out of his sight until she confesses to how she learned details no one but he and his late partner knew.

You can grab an e-book of OUT OF THE BLUE here:

https://www.amazon.com/OUT-BLUE-Caroline-Clemmons-ebook/dp/B008ULBEK6/

Enjoy an excerpt from OUT OF THE BLUE:

            A huge black car apparently had been parked at the back of the lot by the Dumpster and pulled alongside her. Deirdre saw the dented fender before the door opened. Then she realized the two scary guys from the bar were inside, partially obscured from view by the tinted windows. The blond stepped out and reached for her.

            She understood his intent so she screamed for help and ran away from him. People came to the store window.

            Polly rushed to the door. “Blossom’s calling the police. Hold on, Deirdre, we’re coming.”

            But no one rushed to her aid. What could a few ladies do against these two frightening men? She’d have to save herself, so she screamed again.

            The blond caught up with her and grabbed her arm. “No use screaming, lady. You’re coming with us.” He dragged her toward the car.

            She kicked him and screamed again, clawing at him with her free hand. She drew blood along his arm and scratched his face.

            He jerked her and grabbed both her hands. “You’re gonna be sorry you made me mad. I have lots of ways to get even.” He told her what he planned as he yanked her toward the car’s back seat.

            Strong as an ox, the man held her in an iron grasp so her feet barely touched the ground. He heaved her toward the open door. Suspended above the ground, she braced a foot against the car’s body. With her other, she kicked him between the legs, just as Ma had taught her.

            He turned red and released her as he doubled over and dropped to his knees. Without him supporting her, she hit the pavement hard. Her back took the force of her fall and the air whooshed from her. She couldn’t stand but she rolled away.

            The driver pointed a gun at her. “Get in or you die right here, right now.”

            What had Brendan said about this situation when they watched television? “Never get in the car with anyone.” But how could she resist without him shooting her? She recalled the blonde’s threats. If she had to die, she’d rather it be here quickly than at the hands of these two later. She made the sign of the cross and prepared herself for death.

            A horn honked and tires squealed. Brendan yelled. “Deirdre, I’m coming.”

            Blossom and Polly hurried toward her, each carrying a broom and wielding it as if they intended to beat on the blond man. Several associates came with them and lobbed jars of something at the car. In the heat, the jars exploded like small bombs. After one loud crack, red oozed along the spider-webbed glass windshield.

            “What the hell?” The scary man in black turned back toward the steering wheel. “Damn it, Rod, with or without her, get the hell in here.”

            She struggled to her knees then stood, backing away.

            Apparently unable to straighten, the guy she’d kicked hoisted himself back into the car. He yelled, “I’ll get you for this, bitch. When I do, you’re gonna beg me to kill you before I’m through.”

            The black car took off with a squeal from smoking tires, dripping red salsa and leaving glass shards in its wake. The driver had his head stuck halfway out the side window, his front windshield obviously too damaged and dirty for the wipers to clear. Aromas from the salsa’s spicy contents filled the air—cilantro, tomatoes, chili peppers. Deirdre fell in love with those scents.

As with most of my other books, OUT OF THE BLUE is also available in paperback and is free in Kindle Unlimited. If you haven’t yet read this fast-paced story, I hope you’ll take advantage of the October price to grab your copy.

What’s your favorite part of Fall?