NEW COVER REVEAL

 By Caroline Clemmons

Each of us likes new clothes occasionally. For books, that means a new cover. The three books I’m featuring today have new covers from Charlene Raddon’s Silver Sage Book Covers. Can’t you imagine the women on the covers preening in their new “clothes”? I can, but then many of us writers are slightly crazy. But I digress. Bear with me while I remind you about the trilogy with the new wardrobe, the Pearson Grove books.

When I was growing up, my dad told us stories about his family and things that had happened to them since they arrived in Texas in 1876. He was from a family of one girl and seven boys—and what a rowdy bunch of boys they were (poor girl!). When he was eight, he moved from the rural Pilot Grove community where he’d been born to the town of Denison, Texas so he could attend a good school. That town is the county seat of Grayson County and an important stop on the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railway, known as the Katy. I’ve visited Denison several times due to my curiosity about what my dad might have seen as well as research for my historical books. The site for my Pearson Grove Series is near the community of Pilot’s Grove. There are very few buildings left there now, but it’s between Blue Ridge and Van Alstyne. Dad’s first name was Pearson, which is the reason for the series name.  

Each of the series is available in e-book and in paperback and is free on Kindle Unlimited. These are stand-alone books. But I’d love for you to start with the first one if you haven’t already read them. The continuity is more enjoyable if they’re read in order.

Here are the new covers and  blurbs.

Book 1, is MAIL ORDER MORIAH (A Brides of Beckham romance):

A woman searching for a place where she is accepted…

A disillusioned man…

A couple searching to meld their lives and build for the future.

Moriah Singleton faced hardship to get from England to America but met more problems once she arrived. The only solution was to become a mail-order bride in r away Texas. How will she ever save enough to bring her sister to America?

After a disastrous brief engagement ended badly, Scott Ferguson sent for a mail-order bride. He needs her help in his mercantile. He hopes his wife will also be his life’s helpmate.

Danger, family entanglements, and disaster await the couple. Will the problems bring them closer or drive them apart?

The Amazon buy link is. https://www.amazon.com/Mail-Order-Moriah-Brides-Beckham-Pearson-ebook/dp/B07KKMM2SN/r

Book 2 is ALEXANDRA’S AWAKENING:

A wealthy woman forced to change…

 A heroic sheriff standing his ground…

The danger that unites them…

Alexandra Novak has been raised in wealth and is used to having whatever she wishes. Her parents have spoiled her and she’d begun to believe it her right. A fire that destroys her family home and almost costs her mother’s life starts Alexandra rethinking her values. When her father’s revelation shatters her world, she is determined to do whatever necessary to make her father happy—even if it means being nice to that girl he’s brought into their home.

Virgil Witt is the best sheriff Pearson Grove has had. Under his leadership, crime is at an all-time low. He has reconciled himself to the fact that he is destined to live alone except for his dog. Maybe that’s best since his job is a dangerous one. He can’t understand why Alexandra chases him, especially not after he’s explained he has no money.

When danger strikes the Novak family, can Virgil solve the problem in time? Can Alexandra convince Virgil she has changed? Can the two of them work together or will her need for the best resurface?

The Amazon buy link is https://www.amazon.com/Alexandras-Awakening-Pearson-Grove-Book-ebook/dp/B07QN87L13

Book 3 is DEBORAH’S DILEMMA:

What can Deborah do to protect herself from the devil plaguing her hometown?

Can a young man who’s been away for six years fit into the community he left?

What madman is responsible for the murder and mayhem plaguing Pearson Grove?

Deborah Taber has been concerned by her inability to choose her life’s occupation. That worry was pushed aside when someone shot her brother and fire bombed her family’s newspaper, The Pearson Grove Gazette. She believes Trey Pearson is innocent of attacking her brother—isn’t he? She’s had a crush on Trey since second grade and desperately wants to trust him.

Wade Pearson III, called Trey, is happy to be home on Pearson Ranch after six years in New England. He trained to manage his family’s far-reaching investments. Nothing prepared him to be accused of murder or targeted by a killer. If not for quick action by the sheriff, Trey would have been lynched by vigilantes. He wants to help trap the real villain while protecting Deborah, her family, and his.

Can Deborah and Trey survive the threats against them? Will this clever murderer be caught before he delivers his terrible revenge against those he believes slighted him? 

 Here’s the Amazon buy link: https://www.amazon.com/Deborahs-Dilemma-Pearson-Grove-Book-ebook/dp/B07SNH2SG2/

 

If you haven’t already these books, please do so. I think you’ll enjoy them.

 Stay safe and keep reading! 

SALE ON ALEXANDRA'S AWAKENING!

 By Caroline Clemmons

 

In the first book of the Pearson Grove Series, MAIL ORDR MORIAH, Alexandra Novak was not heroic. In fact, she was a spiteful brat.  Since then, life has shaken her world and forced her to realize how selfish she’d been. Don’t you love it when the bad girl turns good? I hope you do, because she is the heroine in ALEXANDRA’S AWAKENING, book 2 of the Pearson Grove Series. The book is on sale for 99¢ from today through Monday midnight, August 30.

 

Here’s the blurb:

 

A wealthy woman forced to change...

A heroic sheriff standing his ground...

The danger that unites them…

 

Alexandra Novak has been raised in wealth and is used to having whatever she wishes. Her parents have spoiled her and she’d begun to believe it her right. A fire that destroys her family home and almost costs her mother’s life starts Alexandra to rethink her values. When her father’s revelation shatters her world, she is determined to do whatever necessary to make her father happy—even if it means being nice to that girl he’s brought into their home.

 

Virgil Witt is the best sheriff Pearson Grove has had. Under his leadership, crime is at an all-time low. He has reconciled himself to the fact that he is destined to live alone except for his dog. Maybe that’s best since his job is a dangerous one. He can’t understand why Alexandra chases him, especially not after he’s explained he has no money.

When danger strikes the Novak family, can Virgil solve the problem in time? How can Alexandra convince Virgil she has changed? Can the two of them work together or will her need for the best resurface?

Here’s the buy link at Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Alexandras-Awakening-Pearson-Grove-Book-ebook/dp/B07QN87L13/

 

Here’s an excerpt:

Alexandra crept until she was several houses away then hurried to the footbridge over Pearson Creek. She leaned on the railing and let out all her frustration, disappointment, and resentment. With her arms crossed on the rail and her head pillowed on them, she didn’t know how long she sobbed.

“Here, now. Nothing’s as bad as that. You mustn’t jump.” Strong arms gently pulled her away from the rail.

As if being caught here wasn’t bad enough, she recognized that voice. “I wasn’t going to jump, Sheriff Witt. Can’t a person have any privacy?”

“Miss Novak? This is not an area of town for a woman like you to be out alone in the evening. What are you doing here?”

“That’s none of your business. Besides, I thought you prided yourself that the town was safe.” How could she explain such a humiliating incident?

He turned her to face him but she wouldn’t meet his gaze.

“Alex… Miss Novak, I can’t force you to explain, but as sheriff of Pearson Grove, your safety is very much my business. In general, Pearson Grove is a safe town. All it takes is one bad person to assault you. You understand why I can’t leave you here alone. I’ll walk you home.”

“I can’t go home with my face all red and blotchy. What if someone sees me on the way?” She broke out in a new wave of sobbing and rested her head on the sheriff’s chest.

His arms came around her, patting and caressing her back. “Nothing is as bad as all that. What or who has you so upset?”

“Papa… Papa and Ron are at that girl… that Lula’s house. Why are they there? What is the attraction that she offers that Mama and I don’t? Why did they lie and say they were going to the Lodge? Oh, it’s too horrible to contemplate.” She couldn’t stop the new round of sobbing against his broad chest.

His embrace tightened and she thought he kissed her hair near her temple. Before she could process that intimacy, he continued, “Instead of worrying, why don’t you ask your father?”

“Ask him? Admit that I’ve been following him? How can I do that? He’d be hurt and angry. What would Mama think if she knew? Poor Mama.”

“Would asking him for an explanation be so bad? Could hearing any reasons possibly be worse than the way you feel now?”

She heaved a heavy sigh. “I guess not, but I don’t know if I can bring myself to confront them.”

Still holding her close, Virgil chuckled, his mouth near her ear. “I believe you can do whatever you set your mind to do. Come on,” he pulled away and handed her a handkerchief, “Dry your eyes so I can walk you home.”

Alexandra dabbed at her eyes and blew her nose. When she cried her face got all blotchy red and she imagined that’s how she looked now. She pulled the shawl further forward over her face, hoping it shielded her features from prying eyes in case they met anyone on the way home. With a deep breath, she stiffened her spine and held her head erect.

“I’m ready, Sheriff.” She took his arm as if he were leading her in most formal circumstances.

“Miss Novak, please don’t come down this way again alone at night. I come this way every evening. I’d be happy to escort you wherever you wish to go.”

“I’ve seen more than enough of this part of town and have no wish to ever come here again. But, I thank you for your offer.”

They strolled toward her house with the sheriff stopping once in a while to make sure a door was locked.

“Do you always rattle doorknobs like that?”

“That’s another part of my job. I ensure that no one forgot to lock his door and that no one broke in. Since I’ve been sheriff, the crime rate in town has gone down. I intend to keep it that way.”

“Do the businessmen know you do this?”

“They certainly do and they’re all in favor. It’s especially important if someone’s in a hurry and forgets to lock up. I don’t want any invitations issued for burglars to help themselves.”

“I only know about the bank and I know Papa and Ron always make sure everything is locked. I bet you’ve never found their door unlocked.”

“Nope, not even once. You’d be surprised at some I have found open.”

“Such as?”

“To quote you, Miss Novak, that’s none of your business.”

The nerve of him, talking to her like that. “Virgil Witt, you are the orneriest man.”

“Thank you. The sheriff’s not supposed to be a sweet pushover. People are supposed to be a little bit afraid of me.”

“Ha, like when you shoveled the snow from old Mr. Althoff’s walk last winter, that kind of fear? Oh, and when you repaired Mrs. Whittenberg’s front porch, that must have terrorized her.” If there were brighter light from the lamp post she’d be sure, but she thought he blushed.

His free hand tugged at his collar. “Well, I do community service you know. That’s part of my job too.”

“Phfft, I don’t think it is. I remember reading the requirements for the sheriff. You’re only to keep the peace and not break laws and to be fair so that everyone gets the same treatment. I suppose you do that even though you’re a lot friendlier to some than others.”

“I have friends I like to associate with when I can.”

“Like the Fergusons.”

“Yes, Scott’s been a friend since he moved here and now Moriah is a friend as well. I also know people I never want to be around unless I absolutely have to.”

“Like me.”

His steps faltered. “M-Miss Novak, why would you say such a thing?”

“Don’t think I haven’t noticed that every time you see me, you turn and go the other way. I guess partly you’re mad at me for breaking the engagement with Scott.”

“Not at all. You two should never have been engaged in the first place.”

“Why would you say that?” Before he could answer, she held up her hand. “No, wait, now that I think about it, you ran when you saw me before Scott and I stepped out together, much less were engaged. What did I ever do to make you dislike me so strongly?”

He spluttered a bit before he said, “I-I don’t dislike you, Miss Novak, so please don’t think I do. Here we are at your home’s front door. I’ll bid you goodnight.” He tipped his hat and turned to leave.

She fisted her hands on her hips. “There you go, running away again as if I were some sort of monster who frightened you.”

He turned back and faced her, a scowl on his face. “I do not run away in fear when I see anyone, Miss Novak, is that clear?”

She took a step his way. “What would you call the way you turn tail every time you see me?”

He sent her a wry grin. “Merely self preservation, ma’am.” He bowed and tipped his hat. “Goodnight.”

 

While you're here, why don't you follow me on BookBub? Here's the link: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/caroline-clemmons

Don't forget that THEODOSIA: A Proxy Mail-Order Bride, is available now for only $2.99 or free in Kindle Unlimited. The print version is awaiting Amazon's approval. THEODOSIA is a sweet western historical romance set in 1878.

https://www.amazon.com/Theodosia-Proxy-mail-Order-Bride-ebook/dp/B09BD7RKXF

Stay safe and keep reading!

 

 

CREATING THE PEARSON GROVE SERIES!

I'll be giving away an e-copy of one of these books to a person who comments.

When I conceived the idea of the Pearson Grove Series, I visualized seven books. Each book will feature a young woman of the fictional town of Pearson Grove, which is in North Central Texas near Van Alstyne. Coincidentally, my father, Pearson Johnson, was born near Van Alstyne at Pilot Grove. While the site of Pearson Grove is not where my father was born, it is close.

My father always encouraged me to read and to write. In fact, he taught me to read. He placed a high value on education. He was almost old enough to have been my great-grandfather. His father was middle-aged when he was born, so our generations on that side of the family are skewed.

Daddy was a gifted storyteller whose tales about growing up with six brothers and one sister (poor girl) mesmerized me. The stories Daddy told me ignited my passion for history, especially Texas history. He spoke of his family coming to Texas from Georgia and events that plagued or amused them. I tried to write all these stories down and insert them into a Johnson family book my brother and I compiled.

The Pearson Grove Series is my attempt to pay my father homage for encouraging me to write and read and study. I hope readers will enjoy the seven titles over the next few months as they are interspersed between other releases. Of course, they are in e-book and print and are enrolled in KU.

The books to date are:

MAIL-ORDER MORIAH, a Brides of Beckham romance, Pearson Grove Series Book 1.

A woman desperate to begin a new life

A mercantile owner besieged by problems 

The disaster that brings them together . . .

Moriah Singleton faced hardship to get from England to America but met more problems once she arrived. The only solution she could find was to become a mail-order bride in far away Texas. How will she ever save enough to bring her sister to America?

After a disastrous brief engagement ended badly, Scott Ferguson sent for a mail-order bride. He needs her help in his mercantile. He hopes his wife will also be his life’s helpmate.

Danger, family entanglements, and disaster await the couple. Can Moriah fit into Pearson Grove? Can she help her sister? Will their problems bring Moriah and Scott closer or drive them apart?

Universal Amazon link: http://getbook.at/MORIAH  

ALEXANDRA’S AWAKENING, Pearson Grove Series Book 2.

A wealthy woman forced to change; a heroic sheriff standing his ground; the danger that unites them…

Alexandra Novak has been raised in wealth and is used to having whatever she wishes. Her parents have spoiled her and she’d begun to believe it her right. A fire that destroys her family home and almost costs her mother’s life starts Alexandra to rethink her values. When her father’s revelation shatters her world, she is determined to do whatever necessary to make her father happy—even if it means being nice to that girl he’s brought into their home.

In spite of his young age, Virgil Witt is the best sheriff Pearson Grove has had. Under his leadership, crime is at an all-time low. He has reconciled himself to the fact that he is destined to live alone except for his dog. Maybe that’s best since his job is a dangerous one. He can’t understand why Alexandra chases him, especially not after he’s explained he has no money.

When danger strikes the Novak family, can Virgil solve the problem in time? Can Alexandra convince Virgil she has changed? Can the two of them work together or will her need for the best resurface?

Universal Amazon link http://mybook.to/Pearson

DEBORAH’S DILEMMA, Pearson Grove Series Book 3   

What can Deborah do to protect herself from the devil plaguing her hometown?

Can a young man who’s been away for six years fit into the community he left?

What madman is responsible for the murder and mayhem plaguing Pearson Grove?

Deborah Taber has been concerned by her inability to choose a life’s occupation. That worry was pushed aside when someone shot her brother and fire bombed her family’s newspaper, The Pearson Grove Gazette. She believes Trey Pearson is innocent of attacking her brother—isn’t he? She’s had a crush on Trey since second grade and desperately wants to trust him.

Wade Pearson III, called Trey, is happy to be home on Pearson Ranch after six years in New England. He trained to manage his family’s far-reaching investments. Nothing prepared him to be accused of murder or targeted by a killer. If not for quick action by the sheriff, Trey would have been lynched by vigilantes. He wants to help trap the real villain while protecting Deborah, her family, and his.

Can Deborah and Trey survive the threats against them? Will this clever murderer be caught before he delivers his terrible revenge against those he believes slighted him? 

Universal Amazon link Is http://mybook.to/Deborah

The young women still to be featured are Felicity, Corinne, Lula, and Evelyn. 

I hope you'll read the entire series and that you'll enjoy each one. In the meantime, if you've already read one or all three of these, please leave a review on Amazon! You'll be helping me tremendously and helping prospective readers. 

Best wishes,

Caroline

NEW RELEASE -- ALEXANDRA'S AWAKENING

When I was growing up, my dad told me stories about his family in Texas. He was from a family of one girl and seven boys—and what a rowdy bunch of boys they were (poor girl!). When he was eight, he moved from a rural area to the town of Denison, Texas so he could attend a good school. That town is the county seat of Grayson County and an important stop on the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railway, known as the Katy. I’ve visited Denison several times due to my curiosity about what my dad might have seen.

No one knew where my father’s mother was buried. Darling Daughter Number 1, my brother, and I located the cemetery in which my grandmother is buried. Unfortunately, hers was one of many that had a wooden marker. All that’s left of those markers is a stob. (If you’re not from Texas or a rural area, you may not know that a stob is a piece of wood sticking up from the ground. Used in a sentence: I tripped on that stob.)

As the site for my Pearson Grove Series, I chose the area in which my dad was a boy. His first name was Pearson, which is the reason for the series name. He was always supportive of my writing. Sadly, he’s passed away, but I think he’s looking on and smiling that I named the series after him.

Book 2 of the Pearson Grove series, ALEXANDRA’S AWAKENING, is released today! In book one, MAIL-ORDER MORIAH, Alexandra was not likeable. She was snobby and spiteful, but let’s give the girl a chance, all right?

She gets into trouble a couple of times but she also comes to the rescue when needed. ALEXANDRA'S AWAKENING is a sweet western historical. This is a fun book and I hope you'll read and enjoy it.

Here’s the blurb:

A wealthy woman forced to change; a heroic sheriff standing his ground; the danger that unites them…

Alexandra Novak has been raised in wealth and is used to having whatever she wishes. Her parents have spoiled her and she’d begun to believe it her right. A fire that destroys her family home and almost costs her mother’s life starts Alexandra rethinking her values. When her father’s revelation shatters her world, she is determined to do whatever necessary to make her father happy—even if it means being nice to that girl he’s brought into their home.

Virgil Witt is the best sheriff Pearson Grove has had. Under his leadership, crime is at an all-time low. He has reconciled himself to the fact that he is destined to live alone except for his dog. Maybe that’s best since his job is a dangerous one. He can’t understand why Alexandra chases him, especially not after he’s explained he has no money.

When danger strikes the Novak family, can Virgil solve the problem in time? Can Alexandra convince Virgil she has changed? Can the two of them work together or will her need for the best resurface?

The Universal Amazon buy link is http://mybook.to/Pearson The book is also available in print and is free in KU.

This is a stand-alone book but I’d love for you to read the first one if you haven’t already done so. The Universal Amazon buy link for MAIL-ORDER MORIAH is http://getbook.at/MORIAH.

You still have a few days to enter Connie Bretes’ April Showers Romance E-Book Giveaway at the top of this blog. If you click the image you will be taken to the Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway. You'll notice in the graphic that MONK'S BRIDE is part of the giveaway.