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.

A HERO AND A HEROINE

By Caroline Clemmons

Have you wondered how authors choose a hero and a heroine? There’s a saying that if he’s a fireman, she has to be a firebug—accidentally of course. If he’s a lawman, she should be a criminal (unjustly accused, I’m sure). I used this last phrase for JESSE AND THE MAIL ORDER BRIDE; for BLUEBONNET BRIDE, from the Stone Mountain TX Series (one of my best selling books); and RACHEL, from the Bride Brigade Series. Actually, I’m sure you know there’s a lot more to building a hero and heroine than those two phrases indicate.

Lawman vs. Accused woman

Chemical attraction is important, of course, but eventually the couple has to talk to one another. Basic values, common interests, and more figure into the creation of a couple who can achieve a happily-ever-after. A good sense of humor is important in any relationship. As in real life, the hero and heroine need to “fit” one another.

KEITH

For instance, let’s look at Elliana Barrington and Keith Martin from KEITH AND THE MAIL ORDER BRIDE. Elliana grew up wealthy with strict social and personal values. Keith grew up in a family of criminals in which he was virtually a captive. Elliana knew all the right social responses and how to conduct herself as a lady—unless injustice aroused her anger. Yes, quiet and elegant Elliana had a temper she unleashed on bullies and scoundrels.

Keith trained himself to appear the honest businessman he was, but inside he hated his lack of knowledge of the correct social behavior. At the same time, he feared someone from his past might appear. He worked to become more gracious and learn proper social behavior. After buying the bank and later his home, Keith was strapped for cash. Elliana had unbelievable wealth, but also feared someone from her past would appear to endanger her new life.

Elliana

Although they had different upbringings, they had much in common and they had the same goal of a family and a useful, happy life among friends. Doesn’t that sound like what we all want? Certainly it fits my wishes.

Elliana had kind, loving parents who died young. Keith’s parents are still alive, but too terrible to contemplate. Elliana and Keith each has a different way of handling adversity, but the two meld as a couple. You can obtain the story of their adventures at

https://www.amazon.com/Keith-Order-Bride-Country-Brides-ebook/dp/B0CW7B2GZS/

If you haven’t yet read the Texas Hill Country Mail Order Bride Series, why are you waiting? This sweet historical western romance series is available from Amazon in e-book and print. Each of the series is also enrolled in Kindle Unlimited. The first five books of the series are GENTRY, JESSE,QUINN, LEVI, and KEITH. Currently, I am writing book six, SIDNEY. The seventh book will be ISAAC.

Stay safe and keep reading! 

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?

RACHEL, FREIGHT WAGONS, AND PRISON

Please leave a comment to be entered in my $50 giveaway and check the Rafflecopter to enter the Back To School $250 giveaway at the end of the post.

I’ve loved writing the story of each woman in the Bride Brigade. Many readers have contacted me to tell me how much they’ve loved them. On Friday, the last of the series, PRUDENCE, will be published. If you haven’t yet, I hope you’ll read the series of sweet romances (RACHEL includes one curse word).

The story of RACHEL, Bride Brigade 5, is one of my favorite and sent me researching two subjects. The first was women in prison, which was the most difficult of the two—and disturbing. I could discover no specific instances regarding Virginia, where Rachel was falsely imprisoned. Stories of deprivations and violations abound about treatment of women prisoners throughout history and today. In the nineteenth century West, juries and judges tended to give women lighter sentences that involved local jail time, but not prison, except in the most severe cases. For many years in Texas, women who were sentenced to prison were sent to the male prison at Huntsville until a female unit was finally constructed.

Huntsville, Texas, prison 1870s

The other area involved freight wagons. I had researched this for my novel HIGH STAKES BRIDE, and that subject has more information. My favorite tale on freighting involved Brit Johnson, a black freedman. When his wife and children—along with others—were kidnapped by Indians, Brit went after them. He recovered his family and all but one of the other captives. Unfortunately, Brit’s freight wagon was attacked by a large band of Kiowa. Each of those with Brit was killed. Brit—after firing 179 shells to defend himself, was the last to die. A sad end for a heroic man.

Mules pulling heavy freight were
hardier on hills than horses

That gives you insight into the danger of driving freight wagons. The cargo and the men protecting the goods were at risk for attack by renegades of all nationalities. In RACHEL, the freight company owner is Zane Evans, also the story’s hero. To protect his wagon, he cleverly hires four former gunslingers to ride as guards. Zane is a former Pinkerton agent, so he is no stranger to danger. In RACHEL, he finds more threat.

Imagine living in a remote area where every item you needed and couldn’t grow had to be brought in on freight wagons. The cost of paying freight would be passed on to you, the customer. No Costco or Sam’s or WalMart or Target. Not even a Walgreen’s or Dollar Store. ☺ I would be at a definite disadvantage. Was life in a new, isolated area worth the hazards? Fortunately for us, many people thought it was.

Here’s the summary of RACHEL:

A shameful past…

Rachel Ross’ secret haunts her. She joins other women leaving Virginia for Texas, object matrimony. Vowing never to trust again, she is rebuilding her life. She likes the dusty little town of Tarnation and is attracted to Zane Evans. She accepts a job as his bookkeeper. Her past has made her cautious and she vows never to let down her guard. The attraction is there, and 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 and build a good life in Tarnation, Texas. He has carefully planned his future. He’d never believed in love at first sight until he meets Rachel. Now he’s determined to discover and remove the reason her beautiful brown eyes look haunted.

One event reveals her past in a spectacular way. Will Zane forgive her silence?

Here’s the URL for the book at Amazon: http://a.co/5JqLTuc      

Here’s an excerpt:

Unable to bear waiting any longer, Zane cupped Rachel’s delicate face in his hands. He expected shock or surprise but she merely gazed at him with her berry-colored lips parted. Did she realize what an invitation she offered?

“Rachel, promise me you won’t accept another man’s proposal while I’m gone. Please, give me a chance to court you.” Damn, he sounded pathetic.

Her gorgeous smile wiped away all his embarrassment. “I promise. Will you promise me you’ll be extra careful on your trip?”

“I will. Now that I’ve found you, I have a powerful reason to remain alive.” When her eyes widened, he added, “Rachel, we never take risks, and my guards are very good. And, I’m hardly defenseless.”

She grasped his forearms. “Hauling freight is taking a chance, but I realize someone has to bring in supplies. We’d be in trouble if we only had things the stage can carry.”

“Most of the businesses would shut down. Even the doctor occasionally has me bring in supplies and medicines.”

She smiled at him. “As I see things, I’m bookkeeper for the most important man in town.”

With her in his arms he felt like the most important man in the world. All resistance fled and he gathered her into his embrace and pressed his lips to hers, gently at first. When she leaned into him, he deepened his kiss. Her arms slid under his jacket and around his waist. Elation almost felled him.

GIVEAWAYS

Here’s where you enter the giveaways. Leave a comment to be entered in my $50 giveaway, winner to be announced August 28.

For the Back To School $250 Cash Giveaway, use the Rafflecopter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

RACHEL IS BOOK FIVE IN THE BRIDE BRIGADE SERIES--PLUS CHRISTMAS IS COMING!

I’m excited to announce that the fifth book in my Bride Brigade series, RACHEL, was released last week. To show how pleased I am, I'll give away a copy of RACHEL to one person who comments today. 

This series has been a lot of fun to write and readers tell me they enjoy the books. Tarnation, Texas is a small town with no young single women and many suitable bachelors who wish to wed. A young widow travels East to recruit seven young women candidates for marriage who will live in her home until each chooses the man for her. So far, Josephine, Angeline, Cassandra, and Ophelia have wed. Now it’s Rachel’s turn to find her true love.

Here’s the blurb for RACHEL:

A shameful past…

Rachel Ross’s secret haunts her. She joins other women leaving Virginia for Texas, object matrimony. Vowing never to trust again, she is rebuilding her life. She likes the dusty little town of Tarnation and is attracted to Zane Evans. Her past has made her extremely 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 and create a good life in Tarnation, Texas. He has carefully planned his future. When he meets Rachel, he is instantly attracted but is puzzled by her reluctance to reveal anything personal.

One event reveals her past in a spectacular way. Will Zane forgive her silence?

Here’s an excerpt from RACHEL:

Mama glanced from Hannah to Rachel. “I’ve fixed you a place in my sewing room. Your clothes and things are already there.”

Not even allowed to return to her former room? Scooping up her valise, she turned and fled to the sewing room. “Fine. At least I’ll have privacy.”

Patrick followed and caught up with her before she closed the door. “Dahlia and I’ve been scouring our brains since I learned of our parents’ plan. I may have a solution.” He handed her a folded newspaper page with one advertisement circled. “What do you think?”

Rachel read the item:

“Young women of good character desiring to go west for the purpose of marriage may apply for an interview between ten and four o’clock in the afternoon from April 5^th to 10^th at the Grand Hotel, Richmond, care of Mrs. Lydia Harrison.”

“Good character? This Mrs. Lydia Harrison might not agree I qualify.” She reread the item as she mulled over the implications. Texas was hundreds and hundreds of miles from Richmond.

“Regardless, I’ll go see Mrs. Harrison at ten tomorrow.” She hugged Patrick. “I knew I could count on you, dear brother.”

“You’ll have to thank Dahlia for that advertisement. It wasn’t in the parts of the paper I read.”

All her plans for the future had changed. Instead of welcome from her family, she was ostracized by all but her brother. In her head, she saw the wisdom of her father’s edict. In her heart, she was far too crushed for reason. She wouldn’t remain a second longer than necessary to find a solution.

Patrick leaned a shoulder against the door jamb. “I’ll take off work again to go with you and be certain this woman isn’t a con artist soliciting young women for objectionable purposes.”

Rachel was able to force a smile though her heart had frozen solid. “No, Patrick, thank you for coming for me and for being the same fine man I remember, but I should do this alone. The ad says ‘for the purpose of marriage’ and I’ll be sure of the details before I commit—if she even chooses me.”

“At least let me give you a few dollars to pay cab fare there and back and enough to buy lunch if you’re out then.” He opened his wallet and removed several bills, which he pressed into her hand.

She gazed at the amount. “Ten dollars? Patrick, this is too much.”

He backed away as he held his hands palm facing her. “You don’t know what expenses you’ll have. I’ll worry enough without thinking you have no resources.”

She dropped the cash into her purse. “Thank you. You’re the dearest brother who ever lived.”

His cheeky grin cheered her. “I must modestly agree with you.”

RACHEL buy link https://amzn.com/B01LZP40HG

Now I'm writing Christmas novellas.

MISTLETOE MISTAKE is my story in the box set WILD WESTERN WOMEN -- MISTLETOE, MONTANA that will be released November 1. The authors included are Kirsten Osbourne, Merry Farmer, Sylvia McDaniel, and me. Callie Hutton had to drop out due to contractual obligations. The cover designer is Erin Dameron Hill.

ANGEL FOR CHRISTMAS is a contemporary romance that will be released as soon as I can finish it and get it edited. The cover designer is Skhye Moncrief. I think she did a fabulous job, don't you agree?

Don't for get to leave a comment if you want to be entered in the giveaway!

COVER REVEAL AND THE SERIES

My latest historical western romance is RACHEL, Bride Brigade book 5. I’m sharing the cover with readers today to whet your appetite—I hope! Her story will be released August 26.

On a side-note, do you love mail-order bride stories? I love reading and writing them. The aspects of the fish-out-of-water and the characters' adjustments appeal to me.

After reading Chris Enss’ books about real mail-order brides, I know that many were terribly unhappy. I believe most were—if not a marriage made in heaven—at least a life of satisfaction in which both the husband and wife gained.

After the Civil War, there were so many fewer marriageable men in the East than women. A woman had to choose whether or not she wanted to risk a mail-order marriage in order to have her own home, husband, and children. The other choices were to live with a relative as a sort of glorified servant, teach other people’s children, or work at a job with low pay and no prospects for more. Both Hero's family and mine had instances of the glorified servant. Life as the live-in spinster aunt doesn't sound like a fulfilling life, does it?

When I conceived the Bride Brigade Series, I wanted to create a twist on the mail-order bride. Lydia Harrison brings seven women from Virginia to Tarnation, Texas to meet the town’s bachelors. She was certain each woman would find the man perfect for her. In fact, she chose each woman with a man in mind—but she didn’t tell anyone that. Each of the seven is strong in her own way, Make that eight if you count Lydia, and I do.

So far, Josephine, Angeline, Cassandra, and Ophelia have fallen in love and married. Now we meet Rachel. She has just been released from prison after being framed for embezzlement by her boss. Her father has asked her to quickly leave before she resurrects the disgrace she caused the family by her arrest, trial, and imprisonment—as if being framed were her fault. 

I hope you’ll enjoy RACHEL as much as I do. I love Lydia and these young women and feel as if I know each one, as well as the strong men they come to love. LORRAINE and PRUDENCE will soon follow this fall.

Next month I’ll release two connected contemporary western books, GRANT ME THE MOON and CAPTURE A STAR.