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! 

Sale On A Bride For Dalton by Caroline Clemmons

 A BRIDE FOR DALTON 

The Proxy Brides Book 25 

By Caroline Clemmons 

 

On sale for 99¢ from July 9 – 14 

 

About the book 

 

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 in the way. 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? 

 

Buy link is https://www.amzn.com/B07X3V948W 

 

 

Excerpt 

 

Guilt attacked Dalton when he recalled how he’d complained about Rebecca’s flowers. When he rode in yesterday, he’d noticed how cheerful her darned flowers looked. He recognized she’d put in extra work to beautify their home and then he’d been a jerk. 

He recalled his mother saying she sure missed her roses. Why hadn’t he or his father ever sent away for rose bushes? Would they even grow here? He thought he’d seen some in town.  

His hand remained too painful to be much use on the ranch. He was glad it was about time to go home. As he and Two Bits rode by some brush, he stopped.  

“That serviceberry would look nice in Rebecca’s flower bed.” He dismounted and dug the folding shovel from his saddlebags. 

Two Bits held out his hand for the shovel. “I’ll dig it up for you seeing as how your hand’s hurt ’cause of me.” 

Dalton was shocked by the man’s offer. He’d never known Two Bits to do one lick of work that wasn’t forced on him. Rebecca had made more of an impression than she could know. 

He cheerfully gave the shovel to the cowboy. “Thank you.” 

Two Bits dug around the healthiest of those in the patch. “Your wife sure is nice to us and she’s a good cook. Ain’t many around like her, that’s for sure.” 

“She’ll appreciate you helping her with her flowers. I was kind of mean about them when I first saw them.” 

His cowhand didn’t glance up. “I couldn’t help overhearing. Don’t know why you’d mind her setting out flowers. Guess most women have a liking for such things. Don’t hurt nothing.”  

Two Bits set the first bush aside and dug at a second. “I figure she’d like this one, too. It’s shaped real pretty.” 

“You’re right. Aw, I don’t know why I acted the way I did. Reckon it was the surprise of seeing the change when I was already in a bad mood. Being married keeps a man off balance all the time. I put my foot in my mouth often enough. To tell the truth, I never know what she’ll think of next.” 

Two Bits looked up and grinned. “Guess that’s interesting ’cause you don’t never get bored.”  

Dalton couldn’t keep from laughing. “That’s the truth.” 

 

5 star reviews from Amazon readers include these: 

 

“This is a well written story and the plot and characters have been well thought out too. If you enjoy a good story with excitement, adventure, a little mystery and humor you will love reading how these two find their happily ever after.”  

  

“Caroline Clemmons has once again created a story that captivates its reader…“ 

“You will love the surprise ending. Caroline Clemmons had done it again!”  

 

“Caroline Clemmons has penned a delightful story with colorful, well developed characters.” 

 

“Really enjoyed this well written entertaining story.… A bit of a twist in the story, but just the right amount.” 

A NEW PROXY BRIDE -- A BRIDE FOR DALTON!

Here’s another book birthday! Please help me celebrate A BRIDE FOR DALTON, Proxy Brides book 25. I’m pleased to add another release to this popular multi-author series. Christine Sterling conceived the series and I believe there are about fifteen or so authors involved. Virginia McKevitt has created the covers. I love the image on this cover. Aren’t her eyes blue?

I laughed at some of the scenes in this book and hope readers will also. There are also tense scenes but I don’t want to give the plot away entirely. You already know the story ends with a happily-ever-after. 

About The Book

Rebecca wants a husband but not the man her stepbrother/guardian insists she wed. To escape his serious 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. Even though he’s been lonely, the last thing he needs at this time is a wife in the way. He’s a gentleman and sees no other solution than to complete the vows. How is he going to keep Rebecca out of harm’s way while he completes this job?

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

The universal link to the book is http://getbook.at/Dalton

Pre-Order Problems

By the way, some who preordered the book won’t receive it without re-ordering. Amazon inadvertently listed the book twice and some preorders went to one listing and some to the other. When one of the listings was deleted, so were the preorders for that one.

Excerpt

Back at the barn, he told her, “Wait where you are until I can help you.”

She bristled a bit. “I can get down by myself, Dalton.”

“I know you can but can you stand up when you do?” He helped her dismount.

She wobbled and held on to him. “Oh, my, I see what you mean. My legs don’t want to support me.”

“Stand there a few seconds until your legs cooperate. In the meantime, I’ll take advantage of the situation.” He kissed her several times and she responded with equal measure. His enthusiasm increased and he wondered if she’d agree to cavorting on the hay.

Bert’s voice cut in, “Can’t leave you two alone, can I? Leave your horses to me and go on up to the house if you’ve a mind for that kind of thing.”

Dalton grabbed her hand and, laughing together, they ran toward the house.

 Reader Appreciation Event

You have until the 14^th to enter for prizes and chit chat. The event and schedule can be found at https://www.facebook.com/events/2422613808007816/