In spring of 2015,
Cynthia Woolf recruited three other authors to write linked books: Callie
Hutton, Sylvia McDaniel, and me. I was thrilled to be included with authors
whose books I read and love. Cynthia called these THE SURPRISE BRIDES and each book was subtitled with the name of
the hero: Jamie, Caleb, Gideon, and Ethan. Perhaps you’re one of the many
readers who purchased the books individually. If not, now they’re available in a boxed
set of all four books for the bargain price of $6.99.
The stories are set
in 1880 and are about the four Fraser brothers on the Circle F Ranch near Angel
Springs, Colorado. Mama Fiona Fraser thinks her sons should marry and takes
matters into her own hands by sending for four mail-order brides. The four
young women arrive as a snowstorm is underway and are snowbound for several
days. Chaos, humor, and drama ensue.
One determined mama, four reluctant
brothers, four mail-order brides:
Jamie by Caroline
Clemmons:
Olivia Stewart is
tired of being pitied because she’s been jilted, tired of teaching other
people’s children without any of her own. When she signs with a matrimonial
agency, a letter from Jamie Fraser sounds perfect. A widower with two young
children will give her a head start on the family she’s determined to have. But
Colorado holds surprises for Olivia that endanger her goals and even her life.
Rancher Jamie
Fraser is shocked to learn his mother has written for a mail-order bride for
him. He has two children and no plan to marry again. Ever! His late wife taught
him women can’t be trusted. Even his beloved mother isn’t above tricking her
sons to achieve her heartfelt ambitions. Now he’s stuck with a wife he didn’t
want—a stubborn woman bent on changing his home and his life.
Can two strong
people at odds achieve happiness? Angel Springs, Colorado is a small town that
inspires big dreams. Olivia and Jamie just might find their dreams meld to form
a powerful and enduring love.
Caleb by Callie Hutton:
Caleb Fraser is the town bad boy and enjoying
the single life to the fullest. He has no intention of marrying. No time soon,
anyway. He keeps telling his mama he will chose a wife shortly, just to keep
her off his back. However, Mama Fraser takes the situation in hand and sends
for mail order brides for all four of her sons.
Lily Parker is running from humiliation and is
on her way to marry a stranger. She’s traveling with three other women, all of
them contracted to wed the Fraser brothers. What they don’t know is the men
have no idea they’re about to be hog-tied.
Both Lily and Caleb are in for a surprise. But
will Lily’s surprise be too much for Caleb to handle?
Gideon by Cynthia Woolf:
As the local preacher, Gideon Fraser
often talks about the many virtues of a good marriage, but that doesn't mean he
has the slightest inclination of claiming a bride of his own. No, he's been
burned before, by greedy women who only want the prestige and money the Fraser
family name can provide. When his mother's devious matchmaking results in his
unexpected wedding, Gideon looks at the beautiful face of the woman who has
sworn to be his and wants nothing to do with her. But Gideon is in danger of
losing his heart until he discovers the truth. His new wife lied to him...about
everything.
Ruby
Haller needed a husband and fast. A treacherous man promised her the world,
took her virginity, and left her without a father for her unborn child. When
her father, the town minister, found out she was expecting a child, he offered
her hand in marriage to the meanest man in town. Becoming a mail-order-bride
appeared to be a safer choice. But instead of a rancher, she ends up the wife
of a stubborn, bull-headed preacher and he's none too pleased when he discovers
her duplicity. Worse? The local town beauty, who had been courting him for
years, is determined to make her life a living hell.
But
Angel Springs, Colorado is a small town that can inspire big dreams. It's
nearly Christmas, and as these two hearts heal, a holiday miracle just might be
within reach.
Ethan by Sylvia McDaniel:
A reluctant groom and a runaway
bride…
Beth Worthington finds herself racing from a wealthy older
groom into the arms of a stranger when she defies an attempt by her father to
marry her off. Instead, she takes matters into her own hands and agrees to
become a mail-order bride with no intention of staying married to her unknown
suitor.
Ethan Fraser is shocked when he discovers his mother ordered
him a bride. To save the innocent girl’s reputation, he goes through with the
wedding. What he doesn’t expect is for his innocent bride to have plans of her
own – that don’t happen to include him.
When an unexpected snowstorm traps the two together they
have to learn to compromise in order to survive.
Can a
rich debutante and a Colorado cowboy learn to live together before the snow
melts or will their different lifestyles tear them apart before they have a
chance to find out?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We four authors worked
diligently on these full-length romance novels to insure no one contradicted
what the others had written. I was surprised how difficult that was, but the
result of the four books released in September 2015 was rewarding. We believe we
created good reads.
That’s why we have
combined the books into a box set at a bargain price of $6.99. THE SURPRISE BRIDES box set is now
available at Amazon and iBooks and by now may be available at Google+, Barnes
and Noble, and Kobo.
The Amazon buy link is:
Here’s the first
of the opening prologue to get you intrigued in the story:
The Circle F Ranch
outside Angel Springs, Colorado,
Thursday, October
14, 1880
Jamie Fraser looked northward. “Snow’s coming down fast and
thick for this early. Gonna be a hard winter.”
His younger brother Gideon threw the corral gate closed.
“Pete better hurry back or he’ll be stuck in town with our supplies.”
His brother nearest to him in age, Caleb, turned up his
collar. “I’m heading to my house. I don’t aim to stand around waiting on Pete,
no matter what Mama says.”
Jamie shot his rowdy brother a stony stare. “She doesn’t ask
much of us. Won’t kill you to hold off on your carousing for a couple of hours.
Besides, you can’t head into town in this weather.”
Ethan, his youngest brother, laughed and nudged Caleb. “He
doesn’t have to. Has him a sweet little gal stashed at his house.”
Caleb pushed at Ethan’s chest and sent him tumbling onto the
snowy ground. “Keep your mouth shut. Nobody’s business but mine.”
Ethan hopped up and Jamie stopped him before he tackled
Caleb.
Jamie said, “Settle down. We have more important things to
do than wrestle in the snow.” Jamie noted smoke now came from the fireplaces
upstairs as well as in the big room they used as a parlor.
The jingle of sleigh bells interrupted the quarrel. Good
thing Pete had attached the skids to the farm wagon earlier. Mama must have
been listening for the ringing because she came out onto the porch all bundled
up against the cold. Knowing the shock coming for his brothers, his sympathy
extended to all three.
Guilt over his silence nagged at him. “Let’s go stand with
Mama.”
All four men loved and respected their mother. Since their
beloved father’s death five years before, they’d been especially considerate of
her feelings. Now they trudged through the snow to stand with her while the
sleigh came into view.
Gideon craned his neck. “Looks like Pete’s got passengers.
Who’d be coming here in this weather? You expecting anyone, Mama?”
She straightened. “As a matter of fact, I am. I’d appreciate
you boys staying right here with me. I have something important to say to you
in a few minutes.”
Jamie watched Pete pull up near the steps. Something didn’t
look right, so he counted the passengers.
Four?
He counted again.
Four women had arrived.
Frowning at the horrible suspicion that hit him, Jamie
turned to his mother. “Mama, what have you done?”
