MY FIRST SERIES TO BE NARRATED--THE BRIDE BRIGADE!

 By Caroline Clemmons

When I decided to take advantage of Amazon’s amazing offer to furnish narration for my books, my first thought was The Bride Brigade Series, a historical western romance series about seven women who go west with wealthy young widow, Lydia Harrison. Lydia is determined the town will not lose all the young men due to lack of marriageable women. With her friend, Sophie Gaston, she travels to Virginia to interview women who answer her newspaper advertisement. Those she selects accompany here to the North Central Texas town of Tarnation, with the promise of introductions to eligible single men seeking wives. Each of the seven women has a different background and a different reason for risking everything on a chance to find happiness. The town’s residents dub the seven beauties The Bride Brigade.

Join them on their journey in audio, e-book, or print. They’re also enrolled in Kindle Unlimited. If you haven't read them, please do so. If you've read them, why not take advantage of the audio book and let the narrator read to you?

Here are the seven Bride Brigade hopefuls in chronological order:

JOSEPHINE

Josephine Nailor is desperate to escape a terrible arrangement between her sheriff father and the town’s mayor. When the opportunity arises via a newspaper ad, she and her best friend slip away and head for Richmond. She can’t relax until she’s far away from her tiny hometown. Jose4phine isn’t certain she even wants to marry, but she seizes the escape Lydia provided.

Michael Buchanan is fairly content running his mercantile and being mayor of Tarnation. The town is dusty and tiny, but it’s growing. He believes it holds all he needs to be happy—except a wife. There are no available women in town, but he hopes Lydia Harrison’s Bride Brigade will offer a woman he can wed. He is immediately attracted to Josephine. But Josephine has every reason to mistrust men in general and politicians in particular. Will her misgivings ruin her chance at happiness?

https://www.amazon.com/Josephine-Bride-Brigade-Book-1-ebook/dp/B015M4FJUY/

 

ANGELINE

Angeline Chandler didn’t invite th attack that created her condition, but she suffered the results. Disowned byher family and left alone and destitute, she gets a second chance when a kind woman rescues her and invites her to travel to Tarnation, Texas with six other young women for the purpose of marriage. The prospect of marrying one man while carrying another’s child worries Ange4line. When would ant her with another man’s bavby?

Grady MyIntyre is a minister whose wife deied soon after their son w3as born. The woman who has be3en helping with histoddler has told him she is too oldto continue. When Angeline’s name is suggested as a part-time nanny, he seizes the chance to hire her. Their attraction is instantaneous but Angeline resists. A ministr needs a virtuous woman noy a fallen one. Soon thy marry and both ar3 happy.

Trouble rears its ugly head until mattersw come to a crisis. Will detractrors destroy the happiness Angl\eline aned Grady hav3 ound?

https://www.amazon.com/Angeline-Bride-Brigade-Book-2-ebook/dp/B01CEK3W0S/

 

CASSANDRA

Cassandra Bradford has the cast off wardrobe to pose as a lady. Her goal is to marry a wealthy man who can provide her young brother with a sound future. Drat the luck! The first man she sees in Tarnation is a dusty cowboy who sends her heart pounding. Not for her. She has a better life in mind.

Samuel Drummond is one of the wealthiest ranchers in that part of the state, but he wants that kept quiet. His first wife married him for his money then left when she became bored with ranch life. He won’t let that happen if he remarries. He intends to find a woman who wants him no matter how poor she thinks he is.

When both Cassandra and Sam learn omissions the other has made, there are fireworks between them. They must work through their anger and hurt to achieve happiness.

https://www.amazon.com/Cassandra-Bride-Brigade-Book-3-ebook/dp/B01FICL10M

OPHELIA

Ophelia Shipp wants safety, a home, a husband, and to raise a family. First, she must escape a fanatical father who often beats her mercilessly in the name of religion. After her best friend’s help reaching Lydia Harrison, she travels halfway across the country to a tiny Texas town. What awaits her there must be better than what she left. She longs for a respectable man who will be a gentle and a kind husband.

 

Elias Kendrick had a difficult childhood but he has overcome poverty to build his empire in Tarnation. Now that he owns a successful saloon and the opera house, he is ready to marry and start a family. He’s vowed his children’s life will be different from his—if only he can find the right woman. Two opposites attract—or are they? Ophelia and Elias must learn to overlook their superficial differences to work out their chance at lasting love.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Ophelia-Bride-Brigade-Book-4-ebook/dp/B01HDIKQ3W/

 

RACHEL

Rachel Ross’ shameful past holds a secret that haunts her. She joins other women leaving Virginia for Texas, object matrimony. Vowing never to trust again, she is determined to rebuild her life. She likes the dusty little town of Tarnation and is attracted to Zane Evans. Her past has made her cautious, but she allows him to court her.

Zane Evans is a former Pinkerton agent who wants to forget all he saw in that profession and in the war to establish a good life in Tarnation, Texas. He has carefully planned his future. When he meets Rachel, he is instantly attracted. One event reveals her past in a spectacular way. Will Zane forgive her silence?

https://www.amazon.com/Rachel-Bride-Brigade-Book-5-ebook/dp/B01LZP40HG/

 

LORRAINE

How to escape marriage to an odious man?.Leave the state. Lorraine Stuart joins a group of women traveling to a town with numerous bachelors but no unmarried young women. She longs to meet a man who will admire her and the writing ability that has her stories in several publications, by a pseudonym, of course. Just her luck, out of all those in Tarnation, she falls for the most stubbon man she’s ever met. But the handsome newspaper owner is the only one who makes her heart flutter.

Grant Pettigrew has worked hard to establish the Tarnation Gazette. He is intrigued by Lorraine, but he won’t let a woman write for his newspaper. Besides, he can’t afford to hire anyone yet. The redhead is gorgeous and ignites dreams of family, but he’s never met a more obstinate woman. Will two immovable forces join to form a forever love?

https://www.amazon.com/Lorraine-Bride-Brigade-Book-6-ebook/dp/B0725WQ6XG/

 

PRUDENCE

 Prudence Lynch’s beloved grandmother trained her in midwifery and in folk medicine. Always ostracized because they were different—until someone needed their help—they lived in poverty at the edge of a tiny Virginia village where rumors plagued them. After Granny’s death, Prudence leaves for Richmond. There, Prudence is fortunate to be chosen to accompany Lydia Harrison to Tarnation, Texas. She believes she’s left trouble and gossip behind to establish her healing business and begin a new life.

Doctor Riley Gaston wants a wife and children. He’s threatened to move from Tarnation to seek a wife, but he would never actually leave the community he loves. One of the young women Lydia brings home mesmerizes Riley. That is, until he learns her so-called profession is folk healing, which he views as dangerous as it is worthless. Prudence is as stubborn as Riley. Trouble causes them to reconsider their opinions. But is their change of heart too late?

https://www.amazon.com/Prudence-Bride-Brigade-Book-7-ebook/dp/B0753TDYRM/

Thanks for stopping by.

LUCKY COMBINATION!

 By Caroline Clemmons

Sometimes things go right. Six years ago I conceived a series idea for a young widow who brings several young women to the small town of Tarnation, Texas in 1875. Naturally, I needed a name for the series. A writer friend, Kathy Shaw, suggested the Bride Brigade.  

What better way to celebrate Valentine's Day than seven love stories?

At the first of the initial book, young widow Lydia Jane Harrison hates that so many men are moving away to towns where there are marriageable women. She asks the local bachelors to wait while she brings young women home. Accompanied by her friend, Sophie Gaston, Lydia travels to Richmond, Virginia, with the intention of returning with four young ladies of good reputation. The four will live with her until each selects her husband from among Tarnation’s bachelors.

Plotting and writing this series was such fun. Of course it was work, but work I enjoyed. The first book has Lydia’s plans upset by adding two more women. At a layover in Atlanta, she adds one more. No problem, she has a large home.

On the hill looking across part of 

Johnson's League Ranch

Some time before I began plotting this series, Hero and I had been on a driving tour sponsored by the Palo Pinto County Historical Society. At that lovely event, I found the perfect spot for Tarnation. Originally the place was called Johnson’s League Ranch. In my mind I know exactly where the buildings of the town are located. You probably know that one of a writer’s problems/blessings is that characters become real people. Even if the place has a fictional name, it exists in our heads. We want our characters to have a good place to live.

Because she was a young Southern Belle when they wed, Lydia’s late husband built her a home like the one in which she had lived before the Civil War. While it's true the series does not have to be read in order, it will be more enjoyable if it is. The books’ are in this order: Josephine, Angeline, Cassandra, Ophelia, Rachel, Lorraine, and Prudence. Click on the title above to order the book from Amazon. The books are available in e-book, print, and also are enrolled in Kindle Unlimited.

Each woman faces different obstacles. The books are sweet romances, which means no sex scenes. Don't think that means no romance! Each ends with a happily-ever-after and never a cliffhanger. If you haven’t read them yet, I hope you’ll take this opportunity to do so. 

Lydia Jane Harrison's home

in Tarnation, Texas

Josephine believes she doesn't want to marry--ever. She's been working in Michael Buchanan's Mercantile.

To whet your appetite, here’s an excerpt from JOSEPHINE:

She was exhausted by the approach of closing time. Gunfire cracked and she heard galloping hooves.

Michael reached under the counter for a gun. “Get into the backroom until this is over so you won’t get hit by stray bullets.” He raced out the door and down the boardwalk.

Mrs. Horowitz, wife of the butcher, stepped away from the windows where she’d been admiring a display. “Those awful cowboys have no care for the town’s residents. They must be drunk to act so carelessly.”

“I expect you’re right. If they were intent on robbing the bank, surely they’d come in quietly to evade notice. You can step through the curtain behind you, and you’ll be in the storeroom. There’s a chair you can rest in until those men are stopped.”

Disobeying her employer’s order, Josephine stood at the side of the window so she was protected by the wall but could look out. The sheriff, his deputy, Michael, and a handful of other men with guns drawn tried to apprehend the rowdy cowboys. One of the ruffians darted toward the store.

Dear Merciful Heaven! Terror struck her and her knees almost gave way. The man who’d attacked her had returned with his friends. Was he after her or bent on destroying Tarnation?

Unable to turn away, she watched the man make his way slowly toward the mercantile. This time she was prepared. She raced to grab a skillet intent on cracking the man’s skull if he came into the store.

Mrs. Horowitz peeked through the curtains. “Miss Nailor, come in here with me. You can’t fight guns with a pan.”

“The man who attacked me is headed this way. I’ll dent his head if he comes into the mercantile.”

The other woman inched closer. “Do you see my Claus? Oh, I hope he’s not trying to outgun those men.”

“Besides Mr. Buchanan, the sheriff, his deputy, Mr. Kendrick, and Mr. Evans are there. Mr. Pettigrew also appeared. Oh, no, Tom Boyd is weaving down the road as if nothing is happening.”

“My, my, he’s no doubt so drunk he doesn’t know anything is going on.”

“Run back into the storeroom, Mrs. Horowitz. That man is almost here. He’s likely to shoot you if he sees you when he comes through the door.”

Aleida Horowitz scrambled toward the curtain. “What about you?”

“He won’t see me until too late. Hurry!” Josephine flattened herself against the wall behind the door.

No sooner had the other woman slipped through the curtain than the cowboy rushed toward the counter as if he expected Josephine to be crouched behind the island’s safety. As soon as he was inside, she swung the heavy iron skillet with all her might.

He dropped but not before she heard a burst of gunfire outside. She turned and saw Michael slump in the street’s dust. As her heart dropped to the floor, she screamed, “No!”

 

I’ve already told you that this has a happily-ever-after ending so you don’t have to worry about Michael dying. Still, you have to read the book to find out what happens, don’t you?

LORRAINE, BRIDE BRIGADE BOOK 6, RELEASED!

Thanks to the many of you who have requested the next book in the Bride Brigade series. I’m happy to announce the release of LORRAINE, Bride Brigade book 6.  

Here's a blurb of LORRAINE:

How to escape marriage to an odious man . . .

Leave the state.

Lorraine Stuart joins a group of women traveling to Tarnation, Texas, a town with numerous bachelors but no unmarried women. She longs to meet a man who will admire her and the writing ability that has her published in several publications, by a pseudonym, of course. Just her luck, out of all those in Tarnation, she falls for the most stubborn man she’s ever met. But the handsome newspaper owner is the only one who makes her heart flutter.

Grant Pettigrew has worked hard to establish the Tarnation Gazette. He is intrigued by Lorraine but he won’t let a woman write for his newspaper. Besides, he can’t afford to hire anyone yet. The redhead is gorgeous and ignites dreams of family, but he’s never met a more obstinate woman.

Will two immovable forces join to form a forever love?

Amazon buy link is: http://a.co/hoImjSI

If you haven't done so, why not take advantage of the two of my books that are on sale through May 31?

The contemporary western romance GRANT ME THE MOON is part of the Texas Caprock Tale series set in and near the West Texas town of Post. On June 1, the price will increase from $ .99 to $2.99.  Later this year, I'll be releasing the youngest brother's story, CAPTURE A STAR. I grew up mostly in Lubbock, only forty miles from Post. I've long been fascinated with the Caprock. As an adult, I am intrigued by archeological sites like the Garza site near Post. 

Amazon buy link is http://a.co/d8FBgkG

The historical western romance AMANDA'S RANCHER is part of Debra Holland's Montana Sky Series for Kindle World. Currently on sale for $ .99, it will return to $3.99 on June 1. At the risk of sounding immodest, I admit I love this book! Huge amounts of research went into writing this story, including re-reading Debra Holland's Sweetwater Springs and Morgan's Crossing books set in this time period of 1886-87. The cover shows is my favorite female model from Kim Killion's photo stock site. (I always wanted hair like hers--and Maureen O'Hara's.)

Amazon buy link is http://a.co/5Umw2Yu