CURL UP AND READ!

By Caroline Clemmons

 

Winter has finally arrived in North Central Texas. I like the colder weather, although I’m not one who enjoys  cold-weather sports.  I don’t think I would enjoy living further north where snow lingers for months. Beautiful to see, but it makes transportation difficult. I’m the type who sits at my computer and writes, or curls up by the fire to read.

Do you read reviews before you purchase a book? I admit I seldom do unless the author is one who is new to me. I am pleased with the reviews for SIDNEW AND THE MAIL ORDER BRIDE, Book 6 of the Texas Hill Country Mail Order Brides—at least those I can see. The Kindle Unlimited reviews don’t show up, only the number of stars given. The problem is, I need more reviews!

Here are a few reviews to tempt you in case you have not yet purchased this book:

“This was an awesome story. It was funny and endearing. Antoinette trying to learn to cook and work in the store and take care of an adorable dog. I highly recommend this book.”

“Once again Ms Clemmons has knocked it out of the park with Sidney. Funny, heartwarming, with a sweet happily ever after. Can’t wait for her next book.”

 “I have, I think, read ALL of Caroline Clemmons books, and I’ve never been disappointed. This wonderful book had the same effect on me! I loved everything about it and have decided to buy this whole wonderful series in book so I can read them at my leisure.

I love mail order bride books and this book is way up on my list. Can’t wait for the next book. These will be housed on my bookshelf. Both Sidney and Antoinette will be in for a huge surprise and dare I say, a bit of a shock when they finally meet each other and discover their expectations may not be! Congratulations Caroline on what will be a wonderful series. I’m excited already about the next book. I highly recommend this book!”

“I really like this author she writes a really good story and her characters they are realistic and fun….”

To get your copy, here's tthe buy link:

 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DNTP95FD

 

 If you haven’t read SIDNEY AND THE MAIL ORDER BRIDE, I hope you will now.

Please leave a review. Reviews help prospective readers as well as the author. Many places for promotion require a minimum number of 5-star reviews.

 

Thanks for stopping by today. Keep reading, stay safe, and be kind.

REVIEWS, ANYONE?

I’m excited today because I’m going over the proof—what is sometimes referred to as galleys—of McCLINTOCK'S RELUCTANT BRIDE as a last check of the text before releasing a book. Errors in a book annoy me as a reader.  As an author, errors in MY books upset me more than I can say. However, all the people who critique, beta read, and edit for me are humans. ☺

Regrettably, an occasional error is overlooked. Believe me, it is not for lack of scrutiny. Since I wrote the book, I know what I wanted to say. When I worked for a newspaper, we were not allowed to edit our own articles for this very reason. We need fresh eyes who don’t know what we intended to be certain what we say is clear and what we meant to relate.

A lot of criticism has been leveled at self-published authors. Trust me, I’ve been with one of the big traditional NY publishers, with a lovely small press, and now am self-published. Being self-published is NOT the problem. The problem as I see it is that in their eagerness to get a book online, some authors skip the editing process. Others are novices and don't yet know the craft well enough to publish their work.

Of course all authors love our books, they’re our babies and we are proud of them. Having criticism is like someone telling you your child looks like a monkey or a pig. Words spoken or written in a review can hurt.

Better is what one is taught in writing an editorial. For every negative, offer a positive. No matter how much you dislike a book you are reviewing, there have to be several things you liked.

I confess that if I dislike a book, I don’t leave a review (Except once when a book was infuriating). I’m ashamed to admit that even when I love a book, I seldom leave a review. I’m trying to break this lazy habit and leave a review for each book I read—and I read a lot of books.

Why bother? Many places for an author to promote require a certain number of 4 and 5 star reviews. Numerous readers scan the reviews before purchasing a book. Good reviews help an author immeasurably. Bad reviews do not. As I said before, bad reviews are heartbreaking for an author; good reviews are balm for our soul.

Lately, there is a tendency of some people who’ve downloaded a book for free to bash the book. Many times, the review makes clear that the person didn’t read the book. Who would do such a mean thing?

I won’t belabor the point, but please leave a review for every book you read, especially if you enjoyed the book. 

In the meantime, happy reading!

   

WOO HOO! NEW RELEASE GABE KINCAID IS ON HIS WAY!

Thanks to all those who helped launch GABE KINCAID on Sunday. What a great party we had. Cyberchampagne sand cyberchocolate served to all. Thanks for helping send Gabe on his way.

If you haven't yet purchased your copy, please accept my invitation to do so. Here are the links
Amazon    Barnes and Noble  and   Kobo. It's also supposed to be up at the iBookstore and iTunes. And please, please, please leave a review after you read the book. Reviews are so important to authors.

If you've never participated in a Facebook Launch Party, you're missing some fun and prizes. Other authors drop by, and we have a ball discussing various aspects of writing. You know authors--if we're not writing, we're thinking and talking about writing. ☺ We can't help ourselves.

Bestie Geri Foster and I planned this past launch together and called it Bad Boys and Cowboys. Okay, technically Gabe Kincaid is not a cowboy; he's a lawyer in the Old West. Technically, A. J. Roddio is not a bad boy, he's an agent for Falcon Securities who helps Falcon's main secretary, Zoe Ross, save the day. We write fiction, okay?

Now, I'm off to my critique meeting to discuss the book on which I'm currently at work, BACK TO MY TEXAS HOME, book 2 of the sweet contemporary Texas Home series. Book one is HOME SWEET TEXAS HOME.

Thanks for stopping by!

A BOOK OF FIRSTS FOR A GROUP OF FIRSTS

Today launches Marketing For Romance Author's first Blog Hop. First in more way than one: The theme is "Firsts" -- the first kiss, the first love, the first loss, whatever is first in the story. Join us for three days of fun excerpts, contests, and giveaways. Details about giveaways are on each author's site.

I'm giving away a copy of BRAZOS BRIDE, Men of Stone Mountain Book One. This book celebrates several firsts. BRAZOS BRIDE is the first romance in which I've used poison. Hope Montoya is the first woman Micah Stone has ever loved. Micah is the first man Hope has ever trusted. Their kiss is her first. (He's too gallant to say whether or not it's his first kiss.☺)

One disaster after another plagues the couple.

Here's the BRAZOS BRIDE blurb

Hope Montoya knows someone is poisoning her, but who? She suspects her mother was also poisoned and knows her father was murdered. Who wants her family eliminated? She vows to fight! She realizes she won’t last the eight months until she turns twenty-five and her uncle no longer controls her or her estate. Never will she be dominated by a man as she was by her father, as she has seen her mother and grandmothers dominated. If she marries, she gains control now, but only if she weds a man she can trust. Only one man meets her requirements. Can she trust him to protect her and capture the killer...but then to leave?

Micah Stone has been in love with Hope since the first time he saw her. But he was accused of her father’s murder and surely would have hung if not for his two brothers’ aid. Most in the community still believe him guilty. But the drought has him too worried about water for his dying cattle to care about his neighbors’ opinions. When Hope proposes a paper marriage in exchange for land on the Brazos River and much needed cash, her offer rubs his pride raw. His name may be Stone, but he’s not made of it. He can’t refuse her for long, and so their adventure begins. He and Hope have to stay alive and discover the killer before they become victims in the deadly assaults.

A BRAZOS BRIDE excerpt

She savored a bit of the stew, then bit into a fresh biscuit covered with syrup. Closing her eyes in bliss, she chewed slowly. “Oh my, this is wonderful. Never have I tasted better stew. And these biscuits are light enough to float away.”

Bert blushed and lowered his head. “Thank you, Miz Stone.”

Micah’s dimpled smile demonstrated his appreciation for her comment. Why should that please her so?

Hope learned more about their struggle for water, how they'd hauled barrels of it from some spring a good ways off on Zach's land, apparently their only remaining dependable source of water.

She remembered her father’s angry reprimand and the blow he’d delivered when she’d suggested he install windmills on their land. Her eye was swollen and purple for days, but he told the servants she’d fallen against the door. They knew, of course, and wouldn’t look at her until the bruises faded. She pushed the sad memory aside and returned to the present. Did she dare make a suggestion to Micah?

She gathered her courage. “Have you thought about a couple of the Mitchell Self-Governing Patent Windmills? I saw an ad for them and plan to install them in several spots on my land.”

Excitement gleamed in Micah’s eyes. “Hey, I saw an ad also, and I’d love to have them. Until now, I haven’t had the cash.”

He’d planned the same thing. And he didn’t appear to resent her suggestion. She wanted to shout with glee. He actually respected her opinion, and didn’t say a woman had no business thinking such thoughts. “Oh, well, maybe we can get a discount on the freight and cost if we order together.”

Zach nodded. “Good idea, Hope. I wouldn’t mind a couple of them myself, soon as we get your and Micah’s problems settled.”

They talked about where the windmills would be placed and guessed how long it would take them to arrive. All through their discussion, Hope was treated as if her ideas were equal to those of the men. Their response surprised and soothed her. Maybe this arrangement would work for everyone.

Micah laid his spoon aside while Bert served up the pie. "I need to talk about something less pleasant. Someone tried to kill us last night." For a minute everyone stopped talking and stared at Micah. The only sound was a horse’s nervous whinny.

Bert cocked his head toward the window and paused as if listening to the horse, but it quieted so he resumed serving. Everyone forked up the pie while Micah explained about the ordeal.

"Sheriff know?" Joel asked between bites.

Micah nodded. "Surprised me. Acted halfway decent about it. Said he'd keep investigating, but don't suppose anything will come of it. Without a witness, it could be anyone."

"So what's your plan, Cap’n?" Slim asked.

Micah swallowed and said, "I'm leaving you and Bert in charge here. For months now someone’s been poisoning my wife. You know her father was murdered, and now someone's tried to kill us. We have to be on guard all the time. You two are charged with taking care of this place while the rest of us take care of my wife." He dug into the last of his pie.

Slim looked indignant. "Poisoning a purty lady like Miz Stone? Low down sidewinders!"

"You’re right about that.” Micah pushed his plate aside. “Tomorrow you can start the cattle toward the river. One of us will stay at the Montoya ranch with Hope so she's always protected, but the other two will be over to help."

Always protected. She repeated the words in her head while she nibbled at her pie. The words reassured her and she looked at each of the men at the table. She might not have her home to herself, but safety in numbers popped into her mind. She no longer faced danger alone. Things would be all right now.

Bert asked, "Reckon I ought to go cook for you? I could make sure no one messed with Miz Stone's vittles."

Zach smiled apologetically at Hope as if he'd known she should have been included in the decision. "Our two aunts will arrive soon to help our new sister, maybe today if they caught the stage."

Micah said, "You're badly needed here, Bert, to look after this place."

Bert actually smiled. "Me and Slim can do it, cain't we?"

Slim nodded and started to say something, but another horse whinnied and this one sounded alarmed. Slim frowned and sniffed the air. "You smell smoke?"

Micah sniffed at the same time. "Something burning, Bert?"

"Nope, I done put the fire out on account of how dry it is. Covered it good with dirt." He rose and ambled to the window.

"Lord A’mighty, the barn's afire!"

BUY LINKS 

Smashwords

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/227618?ref=CarolineClemmons

Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Brazos-Bride-Stone-Mountain-ebook/dp/B007HS10SY/ref=sr_1_5?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1360469552&sr=1-5&keywords=caroline+clemmons

Nook

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/brazos-bride-caroline-clemmons/1112046241?ean=2940015705805

Kobo

http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Brazos-Bride/book-cPbbxBEBEUGAmVt2r_T8Lg/page1.html?s=pSf_FBKWSU-3md5njf342g&r=1

BRAZOS BRIDE REVIEWS

"This was one of the best books I have read for a while."

"I really liked this mystery/romance."

"Well written, flows nicely, and has an interesting plot."

"A wonderful story, memorable characters, and a great read."

"I could almost taste the dust and heat."

Continue the FIRSTS BLOG HOP FOR MORE GIVEAWAYS!

"Firsts" blog hop starting at midnight FEBRUARY 10TH through midnight FEBRUARY 13TH! 
40 authors from #mfrworg 

Click here http://is.gd/mfrwbloghops  and ride our ribbon!

Here's what you're supposed to do, as I understand the blog hop. Go to the above link, and leave your comment to enter my drawing for a copy of BRAZOS BRIDE. I don't understand how it works either, but I've been assured it's magic. ☺ Or technology. Or something. Feel free to leave a comment here, too. That will guarantee you're entered in the drawing just in case magic goes awry.

Thanks for stopping by!

HAPPY 2013

Where did this past year go? I've kept myself at the computer and one day passes quickly into the next. What about you? Are you happy to see the last of 2012? Many of my friends have had a difficult year, and my family and I have had some health issues.. But don’t we always hope that the New Year will be better than the last? I certainly do.

As far as my writing is concerned, I’ve had a wonderful year! Thank you to each of you who encouraged me, supported me, bought my books, and left good reviews! If you’re a writer, you understand how
that support bolsters my morale and my muse. If you're a reader, let me assure you that I appreciate your tremendously.

Long ago I quit making a list of resolutions, but I have a few. As usual, losing weight is a big one, no pun intended. ☺ Mostly, though, I set writing goals. Family health issues warred with my finishing my current work in progress, BLUEBONNET BRIDE. Don't you hate when life interferes with our plans?  I’m back on track now, and hope to have it published later this month.

After that, I’m writing Storm Kincaid’s story, THE MOST UNSUITABLE COURTSHIP. I love Storm and his gentle, quiet strength and dry sense of humor. His story will be hard on him, of course, because writers must torture their heroes (and heroines). Storm’s heroine is not someone from the first two books. He meets a young German immigrant on his quest to capture criminals who killed a friend. To do so legally, he has been appointed a Federal Marshal. More about that later.

Are you attending a party on New Year's Eve? Having a big dinner on New Year's Day? On New Year's Eve, Hero and I will relax in the family room with wine and cheese while we watch a movie on TV--either Netflix or Amazon.. On New Year's Day, Darling Daughter Two will come for dinner and a Netflix movie. Perhaps that sounds unexciting, but both will be restful and pleasant. Sometimes exciting is a curse. ☺

In the meantime, I wish you a happy, prosperous, and healthy New Year!

Thanks for stopping by!

Book Review -- THE HELP

This month my book club, Book Divas, has read THE HELP, by Kathryn Stockett. It was my turn to choose our reading selection. I'd already devoured THE HELP and loved it. Many readers were born after the setting of this book but they'll recognize correllations to our present society.

First of all, I want to say that it should be a law that ALL people must work with the public before they become twenty-one. Those who do develop a new appreciation to being at the whims of self-centered people. They are never rude to restaurant servers because they remember the surly customers who stiffed them their tips. They remember being yelled at becauser of prices they had no part in determining. And they learn what it's like to clean up other people's messes with little or no thanks.

But Skeeter, the protagonist of THE HELP, has a unique appreciation for those who serve others. It's in the way she charges forth to right wrongs that makes this book one you will keep on your shelves right beside TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. I loved the story and I loved the ending.  I dare you to read it and disagree!