NAME THE DOG CONTEST

 By Caroline Clemmons

In the book I’m currently writing, SIDNEW AND THE MAIL ORDER BRIDE, Book 6, Texas Hill Country Mail Order Brides Series, a stray dog is one of the characters. One of my daughters wanted him to be a Lacy Blue, the only dog breed developed in Texas and now the Texas State Dog. We are dedicated Texans. However, after deliberation, I decided he needed to be scruffier than the Lacy Blue, the breed developed by the three Lacy brothers in 1860. That beautiful breed needs lots of exercise, which Sidney and Genevieve are not in a position to provide. So, he’s going to be a mixed breed.

THE DOG

When he shows up the first time, he looks as if he’s been rolling in a mud puddle. He’s too thin, but very affectionate. If he stands on his hind legs, his paws can rest on the heroine’s shoulders. So far, I’ve referred to him as “the dog,” but he needs a name.

I’ll award a $10. Amazon gift card to the person who suggests the winning name. To enter here, just leave a comment.

You can also enter by leaving a comment at Caroline’s Cuties, my Facebook Reader Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/277082053015947 If you’re not already a member, why not join?

The winner will be announced on Facebook on May 21^st.

Thanks for stopping by. Stay safe and keep reading!

BUILDING A SERIES

 By Caroline Clemmons

Readers often ask me where I get my ideas. The answer is, ideas are the easy part of writing. They pop into my head several times a day. A memory, a news story, or a bit of conversation may spark a kernel for a story.

For instance, the idea for my current Texas Hill Country Mail Order Brides Series came as the result of a photo I came across when searching for a different one. The one I found was from a trip our family took many years ago to the Mayan Dude Ranch near Bandera, Texas. That is in the southern Hill Country, near the Medina River. The experience delighted our daughters and me. Hero was not as enthusiastic, but he was a good sport. (By the way, I'll never choose such a long series name again.)

The photo reminded me how much we love spending time in the Hill Country, and the several times we have included that area on vacations. Unfortunately, the photos have faded too much to be used here. They were processed at a place that used a defective process. Darling Daughter 2 and I even drove through the area on our way home from a conference in San Antonio. Well, it wasn’t officially on our way, but a delightful detour. To us, everything interesting is “on our way.”

I enjoy reading and writing mail order bride stories. I have read numerous books in which true stories of actual mail order brides are related. Chris Enss covered several of particular interest in HEARTS WEST. Some stories were happy while others were tragic. Of course, those I write all have a happy ending!

The photo of our family’s experience at Mayan Dude Ranch led me to the what if several the bachelors of a small town each wound up married to a mail order bride? I invented the small town of Harrigan Springs, county seat of fictional Harrigan County. The town and county name came to me when I was humming the song from an old children’s cartoon, “H-A-double R-I GAN spells Harrigan.” I’m sure that seems odd to those who are not authors, but I’m being honest.

Medina River near dude ranch

Once I had the location, I needed to choose the bachelors and their names and occupations. I try not to duplicate main character names. I chose Gentry, Jesse, Levi, Sidney, Keith, Isaac, and Edmund. After I released Gentry, so many readers wanted a story about Gentry’s younger brother, Quinn, that I added him to the series and wrote his book as book 3 in the series. Then, I had to assign each hero a profession.

Next, is the heroines. Each heroine must present a challenge to the hero. At the same time, she must be different than those I’ve chosen for other stories. I outlined the series and came up with a list of heroines I felt would work. Since only three of the books have been released, I suppose we’ll see how readers like them. Heidi Roth from Bavaria marries rancher Gentry McRae, Rosalin from Washington D.C. marries Sheriff Jesse Cameron, and Priscilla Bradford from Boston marries rancher/gambler Quinn McRae. Next will be Maeve Kelly from Ireland via New York, who marries blacksmith and entrepreneur Levi Iverson. That book will be released at the end of March.

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Books 1-3 of the series

I hope you are reading the Texas Hill Country Mail Order Bride Series. If not, you can find them and my other books at my Amazon Author Page https://amazon.com/Caroline-Clemmons/e/B001K8CXZ6/  Each is available in e-book, print, and is enrolled in Kindle Unlimited.

Keep reading and stay safe!  

QUINN IS HERE!

By Caroline Clemmons

This is a wonderful day! QUINN AND THE MAIL ORDER BRIDE released today. QUINN is book 3 in the Texas Hill Country Mail Order Brides Series. I am super excited about this book. This is a sweet historical western romance. If you read GENTRY, you’ll recognize that Quinn is his younger brother, although each book is stand alone.

Quinn is a good man with a tortured soul that causes him to… umm, to be less than he should be. After fifteen years apart, he is with his two older brothers, something he’s yearned for the entire time apart. He is a step closer to achieving his goal of owning a ranch. First, he has a lot to learn—and a secret to share.

Priscilla Bradford is a well-bred Boston woman to whom fate has dealt a horrific blow. The tragedy might break most women, but not Priscilla. Her quiet, ladylike behavior masks her strength and willpower.

Here’s the blurb:

Priscilla Bradford is determined she and Quinn McRae will have a happy marriage—all she has to do is convince him.

Priscilla Bradford’s once-impressive family has fallen on desperate times. She and her brother have lost everything. Against her brother’s wishes, she leaves Boston to become a mail order bride to a man in Texas. She’s relieved when she arrives and finds her groom is a handsome and charming man. His family welcomes her—at last, she feels part of a loving, happy family. But her husband soon behaves as if he were two people. She’s certain he’s a good man, and is determined to discover the reason for his mysterious behavior.

Quinn McRae is overjoyed to reunite with his brothers after being apart for fifteen years. They don’t understand why he doesn’t fit into ranch life on their terms. How can he explain the heartbreaking event that continues to create his horrific nightmares? He can’t—at least, not without revealing the secret he believes would cause them to send him packing. In addition to his internal battle, a local bully is determined to kill Quinn and his brothers.

How will Quinn overcome the bully’s attempts to destroy his family? Can Priscilla and Quinn conquer his doubts to become the happy couple of her dreams?

https://www.amazon.com/Quinn-Order-Bride-Country-Brides-ebook/dp/B0BSTMWV5X

Priscilla Bradford McRae

Here’s an excerpt when Priscilla urges Quinn to be more gracious to his brother Gentry:

“Easy for you to say, I’m out there working like a dog in this weather while you’re in here living like the lady of the manor. Isn’t that the way you grew up? No worries, nothing but parties and fancy clothes all your life.” His tone was pleasant but his words were spoken to sting.

Why had she bothered? She grabbed a piece of paper from her pocket and waved it as if it was a fan open in her hand while she gestured delicately with the other hand. With a coy smile, she gave her impression of a Southern belle.

“I do apologize, Quinn shugah. Of course, I grew up in fine silks and satins, waited on hand and foot, attended fancy balls and dinners, and besieged by beaus.” She fluttered her eyelashes. “Why, a big, str-ron-n-g man like you must wonder why someone like little ol’e me would leave a life of leisure and privilege to become a mail order bride.” She reached up to pat his cheek. “Bless. Your. Heart.”

Narrowing her eyes, she changed to a tone of disgust. “Sometimes you are an arrogant idiot!” She turned and sashayed into the next room.

 

I hope you’ll give QUINN AND THE MAIL ORDER BRIDE a read. I think you’ll enjoy it. In fact, I think you'll enjoy all three of the books of this series. Let me know whether you do or not at https://carolineclemmons.com

  

JESSE IS HERE FOR YOU!

By Caroline Clemmons

Woo Hoo! JESSE IS HERE! 

That’s right, join me in celebrating the release of JESSE AND THE MAIL ORDER BRIDE. This is a sweet, clean historical western romance set primarily in a small town, available in ebook and in print, and enrolled in Kindle Unlimited. 

The url is https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BD64JC1D?ref_=pe_3052080_276849420

Swoonworthy Jesse Cameron emigrated from Scotland. He’s now the Harrigan County Sheriff in Harrigan Springs, Texas. He’s respected and well-liked for his firm but fair approach to the law. He’s a strong believer in the law and in justice. After several years in Texas, he’s ready to settle down with wife to go in the house he just bought.

Rosalin Arnold

Rosalin Arnold was naïve when she left the orphanage at sixteen. She was deceived into becoming trapped as a pickpocket for the past three years for a man she believes personifies evil. Those who’ve tried to escape him are harshly punished or killed when caught—and they’re always caught. She hatches a plan to escape escalating danger, bringing her best friend and a small boy with her. But can they escape a man who has tentacles nationwide?

What will Jesse think of her when she confides in him? He’s too honorable to desert her, but will she lose his trust and any chance of his love? What will happen when her nemesis finds her and her friends?

JESSE AND THE MAIL ORDR BRIDE is Book 2 in the Texas Hill Country Mail Order Bride Series.  

Here’s an Excerpt when Jesse and the posse return home from a manhunt that caused him to miss Rosalin ‘s arrival:

He hurried up to his front door and stopped short. Did he knock? This was his house, but he didn’t want to scare her.

While he deliberated, the door opened and a wee lad stared up at him. The boy scrutinized his badge, then his face. “You must be Sheriff Jesse Cameron.”

He stepped inside and took off his hat. “That’s right. You must be Rosalin’s nephew.”

“Yes, sir. I’m Henry Bernard. Did you get the bad guys?”

“We did.” He hit at his leg with his hat as he looked around the parlor. Furniture had been moved and decorations added. Odd feeling, being treated like a guest in his own home. “Um, is your aunt here?”

“I am.” She swished into the room and smiled at him. “I hope you don’t mind that we’ve stayed here in your absence.”

His tongue tangled and he couldn’t form a sentence. While he gaped at the prettiest woman he’d ever met, the boy took his hat from him and hung it on the hat tree.

She gestured to the kitchen. “Mrs. Pickard brought over a pie this morning. She thought you’d be back today.”

He managed to say, “I… I better wash up. Dinnae usually look like this. Had a rough few days.” He washed up at the kitchen sink, wondering if that was all right. Wait—this was his house.

 

I hope you’ll read JESSE AND THE MAIL ORDER BRIDE and will enjoy it. 

Hint: If you haven’t yet read Book 1 in the series, it’s not too late to get it also.

Stay safe and keep reading.

 

 

NEW PREORDER -- JESSE AND THE MAIL ORDER BRIDE

Join me in announcing JESSE AND THE MAIL ORDER BRIDE is now available for preorder from Amazon for release on September 29. This is book 2 of the sweet, small town, family-oriented Texas Hill Country Mail Order Brides Series. It will be available in e-book and print, and will be enrolled in Kindle Unlimited.

https://www.amazon.com/Jesse-Order-Bride-Caroline-Clemmons-ebook/dp/B0BD64JC1D/

Book 2 of the series

Sheriff Jesse Cameron is from Scotland. He believes in the law and in justice, and does his best to serve Harrigan County citizens. Rosalin Arnold hates the way she’s forced to live and vows to improve her life. After months of plotting, she seizes her chance.

Here’s the blurb:

What will happen when her lawman husband learns the truth about her criminal past?

Sheriff Jesse Cameron is dedicated to uphold the law of his adopted country. After leaving Scotland, he came to Texas, and learned he liked the place and the people—at least, most of them. He keeps Harrigan County free of troublemakers with his “strict but fair” policy. Now that he has a steady job and has bought a house, he figures it’s time to find a wife and start a family. He and his best friend write to the same matchmaker, hoping their brides will be sisters or friends. Jesse hopes his wife will provide a peaceful home and welcome him each evening with a good meal and a warm smile.

Growing up in an orphanage left Rosalin Arnold too naïve to avoid being trapped in the clutches of an evil man who has her picking pockets. Those who’ve tried to escape him have always failed and were severely punished—or killed. In spite of that, Rosalin has been plotting to get away and seizes her chance to escape. She takes her best friend with her, and also an adorable boy of eight. All she and her friends want is a home where they can live without constant fear. She prays she has successfully evaded the devil who has tentacles everywhere.

What will happen when her past catches up with her, and she’s forced to confess everything to Jesse? Of course Jesse will defend her, but will he forgive her lies?   

 

Rosalin Arnold

I hope you’ll preorder JESSE AND THE MAIL ORDER BRIDE. This entire series is set in fictional Harrigan County, which I squeezed in between the real Bandera and Medina Counties. I like this part of Texas, and hope you’ll enjoy visiting via reading. Books open new worlds.

Texas Hill Country Scene

Stay safe and keep reading!