RECIPE AND 99¢ SALE

 

By Caroline Clemmons

Perhaps you’ve noticed I’ve participated in numerous multi-author series over the years. One that proved less like a series and more like a single title was CHARLOTTE’S CHALLENGE. In this sweet western historical romance, widowed Charlotte Dunn struggles to save her ranch from a vicious neighbor.

Usually in a multi-author series, the releases are set in a clearly defined time schedule with the series’ authors cross-promoting each release for multiple benefit. Something went wrong with this series and that didn’t happen. So, poor Charlotte has sat on the book shelf all alone. Bless her heart.

Now you have a chance to rescue her from loneliness by taking advantage of this limited time 99¢ sale. I believe it’s a good story that you’ll enjoy.

Here’s the blurb:

A widow determined to save the family ranch…

A man who inherited cursed pirate gold…

They must combine efforts to defeat an evil man.

 

Bret Craig is a wealthy descendant of one of the crew of The Golden Fleece. Over a century ago the merchant ship had prevailed against pirates carrying a treasure of cursed Inca gold. The legacy promises retribution against anyone who misuses the treasure. Bret has heard the story all his life, but he believes the tale is a myth and that he’s in no danger if he spends the money selfishly. Ignoring his sister’s warning, he sets out for a grand adventure heading west.

Widowed former mail-order bride Charlotte Dunn is in danger of losing her family's ranch. She lost her husband to a rustler’s bullet when the rustlers stole half her cattle and killed both ranch hands. When she and her stepsons rescue a man who fell from his horse, they soon learn the man has amnesia. From his saddlebags, they discover his name is Bret Craig. Charlotte nurses Bret, manages the ranch, and cares for her three stepchildren she loves. No sooner does Bret regain his memory than they learn the remainder of the herd has been rustled. Bret must reconsider his priorities, especially in light of the romance gently blossoming between Charlotte and him.

Can Charlotte and Bret save the ranch and recover the stolen cattle?

To take advantage of this limited time offer, click on the url below:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08DM3BD2Z

 

Don’t forget that PATIENCE, BRIDE OF WASHINGTON will be available at 99¢ for a few more days.

https://www.amazon.com/Patience-Bride-Washington-American-Brides-ebook/dp/B017HLR6CE/

 

 

This time of year, I crave comfort food. One of my favorites is the following recipe given by a great cook at our church.

Corn Casserole

(also called Corn Pudding)

 

1 can creamed style corn

1 can whole kernel corn, drained

3 eggs

1 cup milk

1 stick butter (1/4 pound)

2 Tablespoons butter

1 teaspoon salt

½ cup corn meal

1 small can chopped green chillies

1 small onion, minced

 

Place stick of butter in the casserole dish or pan. Place in a 250 degree F oven, just until the butter is melted. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, slightly beat the eggs; add all the ingredients and mix. Pour into the hot butter and bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes at 350 degrees.

 Stay safe and keep reading!

 

BOOK BIRTHDAY FOR CHARLOTTE'S CHALLENGE!

Woo Hoo! I’m celebrating the release of CHARLOTTE’S CHALLENGE. I love this story. Charlotte Dunn is a spunky woman. Bret Craig starts as a bit selfish but soon learns his lesson. Beta readers have been enthusiastic about this book.

The universal buy link is https://mybook.to/Bret  

CHARLOTTE’S CHALLENGE is available in ebook, print, and is enrolled in Kindle Unlimited. Widowed Charlotte Dunn struggles to save her ranch from a vicious neighbor.

I not only love Charlotte and Bret but also a secondary character, Moses “Moose” Tatum. I visualize him as a bit like Sam Elliott. One of the beta readers disagreed and suggested he was more like Festus on Gunsmoke. Let me know what you think.

Here’s the blurb for CHARLOTTE’S CHALLENGE:

A widow determined to save the family ranch…

A man who inherited cursed pirate gold…

They must combine efforts to defeat an evil man.

 Bret Craig is a descendant of one of the crew of The Golden Fleece. Over a century ago the merchant ship had prevailed against pirates carrying a treasure of cursed Inca gold. The legacy promised retribution against anyone who misused the treasure. Bret has heard the story all his life but believes the tale is a myth and that he’s in no danger if he spends the money selfishly. Ignoring his sister’s warning, he sets out for a grand adventure heading west.

Widowed former mail-order bride Charlotte Dunn is in danger of losing the family ranch. She lost her husband to a rustler’s bullet when half the cattle were stolen and both ranch hands were killed. When she and her stepsons rescue a man who fell from his horse, they learn the man has amnesia. From his saddlebags, they determine his name is Bret Craig. Charlotte nurses Bret, manages the ranch, and cares for her three stepchildren she loves. Soon after Bret regains his memory they discover the remainder of the ranch’s cattle herd has been rustled.

Bret re-evaluates his priorities in order to embrace the love blossoming between Charlotte and him. Can they save the ranch and recover the stolen cattle?

 

Bret must have dropped off to sleep. When he roused himself he sat on the edge of the bed for several minutes. He was about to stand when Davie rushed into the room.

The boy looked about to cry. “Mr. Craig, can you come to the porch? Mr. Winfield is here upsetting Mama.”

Bret reached for his rifle. “You’d better walk beside me. I’m not too steady yet. Help me tuck in my shirt so I look decent.”

They made their way to the front door.

Bret pulled off his bandage and tossed it at a table before stepping onto the porch. “Is something wrong, Charlotte?” He carried his rifle.

She looked almost as surprised as the man facing her. Another man sat on his horse nearby.

The man facing Charlotte scowled. “Who are you?”

“A friend of the family and you must be Winfield.”

Charlotte glared at the man. “Mr. Winfield was just leaving.”

Winfield pointed at Bret. “I still don’t know who you are, mister.”

“I don’t see that it’s any of your business, mister. I believe Charlotte said you were leaving.” He cocked his rifle and leveled it at Winfield. “You on the horse, don’t draw or you’re a dead man. In fact, I believe you’re both trespassing and I can shoot you without worry.”

“You’ll regret this. I’ll talk to you another time, Mrs. Dunn.”

“Not everyone is for sale, Mr. Winfield.”

The man mounted his horse and after a glare at Bret, he galloped away with his friend following.

Davie cheered. “You did it, Mr. Craig, you scared him off.”

“Mrs. Dunn, I beg your pardon for addressing you by your given name. It seemed best under the circumstances. Now, I believe I’d better sit down somewhere.”

She rushed to his side. “Let me help you. Put your arm over my shoulder so I can help support you. Davie, tend to the rifle and remember it’s been cocked.” She guided Bret inside the house.

His legs threatened to give way. “Perhaps we could stop and rest a moment.”

“If you can make it into the kitchen you can sit at the table. Our lunch is almost ready.”

He was never so glad to see a chair. At least he didn’t believe he was. “Why was he here this time and what upset you so?”

“It’s almost laughable.” When she looked up, anger sparked in her eyes. “If you can believe the nerve, he came to propose to me.”

“I thought you said you were a recent widow.”

“I am. He said he knew I didn’t want to lose the ranch and if we married I could share all the land. He even agreed to let me bring the children.” She appeared angrier. “Of course Davie and Susie would have to go to boarding school. He graciously said Jimmy wouldn’t have to go away until he was a year older.”

Bret looked where Davie had stood his rifle. “I wish I’d shot him.”

 

I hope you’ll read and enjoy CHARLOTTE’S CHALLENGE. 

COVER REVEAL FOR CHARLOTTE'S CHALLENGE

I’m so excited about this story that I want to share the cover. The preorder is up and CHARLOTTE’S CHALLENGE will be released September 18.

The Universal Amazon Link is https://mybook.to/Bret

 

Here’s the legend on which the series is based:

The Golden Legacy

In 1734 a pirate brigantine attacked a merchant ship, The Golden Fleece, in the Caribbean. Although smaller, the merchant ship bested the pirate craft that contained a treasure trove of gold and jewels. A dying pirate claimed the Incas had cursed anyone who misused the treasure, hence the reason the merchant crew was victorious. The treasure would also bless anyone who used it for good. The greedy merchant captain, James Carlson, was killed during the battle, but his eighteen year old daughter, Sarah, survived in her cabin.

Mindful of the curse and to thank God for their salvation, she asked the crew members to split the treasure equally, but to make a binding pledge that they would keep only twenty percent for their own use, and give ten percent to help others. With the rest, each was to buy something of great value that could be passed down to their descendants, with the curse passing onto anyone who broke the line and used it selfishly. If used selfishly, the treasure would be lost but reappear in some form after skipping a generation. 

You can understand why I wanted to be a part of this multi-author project. Can’t you conjure numerous possibilities for this series? I’m revealing the cover for the historical that is set in 1885 Texas. Early next year, I’ll write a contemporary romance for the series. 

Here’s the blurb for CHARLOTTE'S CHALLENGE:

Bret Craig is a descendant of one of the crew of The Golden Fleece. Over a century ago the merchant ship had prevailed against pirates carrying a treasure of cursed Inca gold. The legacy promises retribution against anyone who misuses the treasure. Bret has heard the story all his life but he believes the tale is a myth and that he’s in no danger if he spends the money selfishly. Ignoring his sister’s warning, he sets out for a grand adventure heading west.

Mail-order bride Charlotte Dunn lost her husband to a rustler’s bullet. Now she’s in danger of losing the ranch her husband built and intended passed down to his eldest son. Charlotte’s two stepsons are riding their horses when they see Bret fall from his horse and strike his head on a stone. Once he regains consciousness, he has amnesia. She nurses Bret and plans to sell their remaining cattle to pay the mortgage on the ranch. Bret regains his memory and learns the remainder of the herd has now been stolen. Worse, the villain does not give up easily.

They must work together to defeat those trying to ruin Charlotte’s attempt to save the ranch.  Are two people at cross purposes able to embrace the love blossoming between them?

I hope the blurb intrigues you and you preorder CHARLOTTE’S CHALLENGE. I believe you’ll enjoy Charlotte and Bret’s story. 

SNEAK PEEKS!

By Caroline Clemmons

This is an exciting time in my writing. I have many projects in the works and want to share a few with you. The rest of 2020 is filled with book launches and 2021 has numerous titles already scheduled. Of course, as well as being available in e-book and in print, all my titles are free in Kindle Unlimited.

The closest release will be at the end of next week on the 19^th when I publish AN AGENT FOR JUDITH, book 79 in The Pinkerton Matchmaker Series. In fact, you can preorder this one now and it will show up on your e-reader magically on release day. AN AGENT FOR JUDITH required a lot of research but I enjoyed it. Hero and I love northern New Mexico. Writing about the area was hard work, but also a pleasure. Virginia McKevitt did the cover for this title. I wish my hair were like the model's. I wouldn't mind looking like her either. In case you want to preorder AN AGENT FOR JUDITH, click https://mybook.to/Judith 

July 1-July 31 is Christmas in July, sponsored by Cheryl Wright. She’s an Australian author who writes the Old West as well as if she had lived there. She’s also an incredibly nice person. She’s rounded up a slew of bargains for your summer reading.

On July 7 DESPERATE IN DELAWARE, book 11 in the Yours Truly: The Lovelorn Series, will be released. This is a column in the tradition of an early Dear Abby column. People write in and The Lovelorn offers advice. Mina Stapleton goes west to visit her cousin and, hopefully, meet a husband. Austin is glad to have a wife, but his legal battle against his neighbor keeps him on edge. Winning against the neighbor is the only way to save his cattle and his ranch. DESPERATE IN DELAWARE is now available for preorder at https://mybook.to/Mina.

August 4 is the date a Secret Project will release… shhhh, it’s a surprise for later!

August 18 will be the release date for LOUISIANA BRIDE, book 12 in the North and South Series. This book takes place in 1862. While the Civil War rages, people still find romance. Phoebe Boudreaux and two of her friends aid Captain Cody Claiborn's escape before he’s sent to a Union prison. How could bringing food to those who need it be criminal? Although he willingly goes with them, he lectures them on the dangers of treason for their part in his escape. But, can they get him to safety and then to his ship before they're caught?

CHARLOTTE’S CHALLENGE, Golden Legacy Series, will release September 18. That puts the callous descendant of a pirate in the clutches of a desperate widow close to losing her ranch. Charlotte Dunn surprises herself when she finds an injured man who appears to have amnesia. A woman will concoct quite a story when faced with losing her livelihood and the ranch her late husband worked so hard to found. With a case of amnesia, Brett Craig has no choice but to believe the lovely widow and her children. After her stern lecture that this is the only time they can lie, her stepchildren help her trick this man into helping them. His soft hands soon have blisters. Is he on the way to being reformed?

There are more releases coming your way. If you haven't followed me on BookBub, please do so. You'll be notified when I have a new release. Here's the link:

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/caroline-clemmons

Keep reading!