An Interview with Hamish Adams by Caroline Clemmons

 

Welcome, Readers. Today we have a guest who's a bit different than our usual visitors. Hamish Adams is the father of Avonleigh, our heroine in SHAD in the Guns for Hire series. Mr. Adams is an impressive man with the air of one used to being in control. He’s dressed in dungarees and plaid shirt. As he enters, he is removing his western hat—probably a Stetson.

CC: Come in, Mr. Adams, and have a seat. I'm so glad you're here today so our readers can meet you.

HA: Thank you for inviting me today, but don't know why you thought anyone would be interested in what I had to say.

CC: Our readers will be very interested. You've had such an exciting life. Why don't you tell us about growing up?

HA: Well, I grew up in the Scottish Highlands not far from Loch Loman. Sure is pretty country up there but there just isn’t enough land available to the likes of me. You see, I had my heart set on being a rancher. Sure was hard to leave my family, but they understood and gave me their blessing. I'd heard about free land out West so that's where I headed. Met a man in Texas who told me about this part of the country in northern New Mexico Territory.  I sure am glad. I never saw a place so pretty and now I live here.

CC: You certainly have a nice ranch, at least that's what I've heard. As I understand it, some of it is federal grazing land but some of it is your own land. Is that right?

HA: Yes, ma'am that's right. My wife and… um … maybe I should back up and mention I met my wife in Boston. I fell in love with her immediately first time I saw her and she latched on to me, too.  We had a short courtship, then came West. She was the love of my life. We set up this ranch and I built a house—of course, it was small, but we were happy there. (Grows solemn and looks wistfully at the wall for a moment, then shakes his head.) I don't guess I'll ever get over losing her.

CC: That must have been hard, having a small child and no wife and trying to get your ranch running. How did you manage?

HA: If it hadn't been for the Montoya family, I don’t know what I would have done. Lupe and Marcia Montoya saved me. Marcia took charge of the house and my darling girl. Lupe continued to help me as my foreman and best friend. As their family grew, they were like my family. Sure are fine people.

CC: When did your current struggles start?

HA: When that low-down rascal Larkin bought the spread to ours. We hadn't had any trouble from that side until he arrived, then he wanted to buy my  ranch. I refused to sell. You can't tell me that isn't why I got shot in the back.

CC: Oh no, that sounds terrible! I'm so glad you survived.

HA: Only because Lupe heard the shots and came to investigate. He found me lying on the grass and took me home. I needed a doctor in the worst way, so Lupe and his two sons snuck me out of the house … oh it’s complicated. They eventually got me to town and the doctor.

CC: Goodness, that was fortunate as well as complex. Since you're here today, it must mean that everything all worked out.

HA: Harumph, not by a long shot. My darling girl had a confrontation with that Larkin, who tried to hold her hostage, but she got away. Fellow name of Shad found her and saved her life. (He chuckles and his eyes sparkle with humor.) Not sure that young man realizes she has set her cap for him, so he might as well just give up. Seems like a real nice man, but I told him I'm gonna shoot him when I'm well. He didn't even look worried. (He stands and gestures with his hat.) Ma’am, I'm afraid you'll have to excuse me. I see a couple of Larkin’s riders out the window and I sure don't want them to catch me here. Lupe’s waiting for me out back, so I’ll slip out that way. Thank you for inviting me.

CC: Thank you for coming, Mr. Adams. I wish you and your daughter the best of success in getting your ranch back and getting rid of all those troubles. Well, readers, Mr. Adams has left the room and is on his way somewhere else. I surely hope he's successful, don’t you?

If you haven’t yet read SHAD, I hope you'll be intrigued and want to fall into the adventure and into romance. SHAD's at Amazon and is also in kindle unlimited as are all my books. click HERE to buy  SHAD.

  Thanks for stopping by—keep reading books!

Bounty Hunters Were Tough by Caroline Clemmons

 

One of the interesting things about writing a book is the research required for background information. For instance, in SHAD I learned that bounty hunters occasionally didn’t get the reward they deserved. Can you imagine risking your life to capture a dangerous criminal only to learn when you brought him to justice that there were no funds to honor the bounty? I’d be mighty upset, wouldn’t you?


Another thing I learned about bounty hunters is that many considered them little better than the criminals they captured. To get close to their intended prey, they would have to blend in with the people who befriended the criminal. In some cases, that might mean looking pretty scruffy. Easy to be misjudged in that case, right?


Although they performed a service to society, they were not lawmen and had no credentials to protect them should a conflict occur. That’s one reason Shad carried the wanted poster with him. If he came up against a “his word against mine,” he had proof he was after the bad guy.


Bounty hunters spent a great deal of time alone or among strangers. Some men spent their entire working years chasing after the next wanted man. If they were clever, that might give them a normal lifespan. One mistake could mean death. Frankly, as much as I love reading and writing about bounty hunters in the Old West, an accountant or storekeeper seems a better career choice.

 Shad:  Book 7 Guns For Hire

by Caroline Clemmons

Shad is being relaunched August 15th.  If you remember, computer problems caused the file to be full of mistakes and typos.  I was so distraught over my Hero's death that I did not notice them until after the book was released.  I am soooo embarrassed, but I got a new computer that has actually saved my edits.  I am not putting this book up for pre-order, but it will be available from Amazon and will be in Kindle Unlimited.  The other books from the Guns for Hire series are out now.

Luke: Guns for Hire Book 10 by Winnie Griggs

Luke:  Guns for Hire Book 10

By Winnie Griggs

Amazon Buy Link

The latest Guns for Hire book, Luke, is now out.  Here are the details:

Book Blurb:

He left without saying goodbye. Now he’s back—injured, weary, and in her care.
In the small northeast Texas town of Tucker’s Gap, Hattie Brooks has fought to overcome the quiet prejudices that shadow her birth and her chosen work. As her uncle’s medical assistant, she’s found her calling—and is slowly earning a place in a community that doesn’t easily forget. But when Luke Dawson—the boy who once rode away without a word—returns after a near-fatal accident, Hattie’s hard-won peace is put to the test.
Luke never planned to return to Tucker's Gap. As a Texas Ranger, he’s built a life defined by duty, danger, and distance from the past. But when an ambush leaves him badly injured, the only road to recovery leads back to the town he once left behind—and to Hattie, the girl he hurt without meaning to, now grown into a capable woman he can't ignore.
Luke's plan is to heal and leave as quickly as he came. But the more time he spends in Tucker’s Gap—watching Hattie work, reconnecting with old ties, and facing the ghosts he never quite laid to rest—the harder it becomes to walk away. Especially when he begins to wonder if the life he’s built is really the one he wants… and if the woman he left behind might just be the home he’s been searching for all along.

Author Bio:

Winnie Griggs grew up in south Louisiana in an undeveloped area her schoolmates considered the very back of beyond. With her two younger siblings and another family of three siblings for playmates, she spent many an hour exploring the overgrown land around her home, cutting jungle trails, building forts and frontier camps, and looking for pirate ships on the nearby bayou. 

Once she 'grew up' she found other outlets for dealing with all those wonderful, adventurous, imaginary friends by filling notebooks with their stories. And somewhere along the way, those scribblings gave way to full length books.

Eventually she found her own Prince Charming, a rancher whose white steed takes the form of a tractor and whose kingdom is situated in a small rural community that she loves to call home, and together they've built their own storybook happily-ever-after. Their lives together expanded to include four now grown children who share Winnie's vivid imagination and her husband's steadier influences and are now out in the world pursuing their own adventures.

You can learn more about Winnie and her books, past and future, at www.winniegriggs.com

Check out all the Guns for Hire books on Amazon.

 

San Antonio and the Rose Window by Stephanie Suesan Smith

 

Rose Window

San Antonio, Texas

For a large number of years, my parents, my sister, and I went to Padre Island, Texas for three days, then to San Antonio, Texas for four days.  We could only stand the beach for a few days before we got sunburned and sick.  When we went to San Antonio, it usually rained.  Sometimes buckets of rain.  

No matter, we always had to go on the Mission trail.  This is a collection of five Spanish missions built by the priests who accompanied Spanish soldiers to occupy the land and enslave the indigenous people.  The Spanish did their level best to exterminate the local population, or at least make them Catholic.  They forced them to build the missions and an aqueduct that still carries water today.

I personally didn't like going to the missions. I saw them once and wasn't impressed, but Mom liked to look at them. My sister and I have a series of photographs standing beside the rose window for several years running.

After the Mission trail, we would go to the Riverwalk and eat Mexican food.  That was the part of San Antonio I liked.  We would also walk through the open-air market.  Things were too expensive to buy, but looking didn't cost anything.  Of course, we ate Mexican food practically every meal while we were in San Antonio.

One year, my Dad got stung on the heel of his foot by a wasp.  He limped around for a day before Mom made him go to an urgent care place.  He was given antibiotics and a tetanus shot because, as the doctor said, you never knew where the wasp had been.

An Agent for Magdala

by Caroline Clemmons

Buy Link

Magdala, on the other hand, got to stay in the best hotel in San Antonio and try to catch a jewel thief who didn't want to be caught.  She also went to the market. 

Here is the blurb:

She craves adventure, but this may be too much…His job means the world to him…Capturing jewel thieves will test them…

Magdala leaps at the opportunity to become a Pinkerton agent. Learning the position requires a paper marriage shocks but doesn’t deter her. Maggie plans to get an annulment before her unusual family learns of the situation. She’s determined to prove she has the grit to be an excellent investigator. But, why does she have to be partnered with the one man who has been rude to her?

Douglas “Cloud” Ryan loves being a Pinkerton agent. Otherwise, he’d never go along with his boss’ crazy plan to marry him to a female agent. He’s certain women have no business dealing with criminals. After barely surviving the stagecoach trip from Denver to San Antonio Maggie needs to stay in the background and let him solve the case. He has reasons to distrust women, especially women like Maggie.

Can Maggie and Cloud catch the jewel thieves plaguing an historic San Antonio hotel without becoming victims? Will they take a chance on the love growing between them?

Ash: Guns for Hire Book 6 by Jo-Ann Roberts

Ash

Guns for Hire Book 6

by Jo-Ann Roberts

Buy Link

Ash is the newest book in the Guns for Hire series.  

Book Blurb:

An outlaw looking for a fresh start.

A schoolteacher who might hold the key to the entire town’s salvation.

Ash “Shotgun” McCrae can never make up for all the wrong he’s done. After leaving a notorious outlaw gang, he thought he’d discovered the peaceful existence he’d been looking for when he found work laying tracks for the railroad in Rivers Bend. Yet, when trouble shows up in town, he fears he may never free himself from the burden of his past.

Schoolteacher Kate Cummings stands as the one bright light in contrast to the curious looks and behind-the-glove whispers blowing through the town. The arrival of Padraic “Patch” Rooney and his gang challenges the small-town serenity she holds dear. Still, her steadfast trust in Ash awakens the strength of courage within them all, giving rise to the collective defiance against the approaching danger.

In a deadly game of dangerous outlaws and secret schemes, Kate and Ash must decide whether they are willing to risk everything for their love, including their lives.

 Author Bio:

Born and raised in western Massachusetts, Jo-Ann Roberts was fascinated by America’s Old West and always felt she was destined to travel on a wagon train following the Oregon Trail. With her love of history and reading, she began reading historical romance during high school and college. Victoria Holt, Jude Deveraux, and Roseanne Bittner were among her favorites. Influenced by her father, she fell in love with John Wayne, James Garner, and her all-time favorite, James Stewart and grew up watching Wagon Train, Bonanza and Rawhide.

A firm believer in HEA with a healthy dose of realism, Jo-Ann strives to give her readers a sweet historical romance while imparting carefully researched historical facts, personalities, and experiences relative to the time period. Her romances take her readers back to a simpler time to escape the stress of modern life by living in a small town where families and friends help one another find love and happiness.

When she isn’t creating believable plots and relatable heroes and heroines, Jo-Ann enjoys spending time with her husband, children and grandson. She also enjoys baking, quilting and eating way too much chocolate. 

After 38 years in public education in Connecticut and Maryland, she’s now calls North Carolina home. 

Lance by Heather Blanton

 Lance

Book 4 Guns for Hire

by Heather Blanton

Buy Link

Book Blurb:

He lost everything. Now he has nothing left to lose.

Lance Wister had a home, a family, and a future—until greedy railroad barons and ruthless bankers took it all. Hardened by war and burning for revenge, he turns to the only justice he has left: hitting his enemies where it hurts—their wallets. But when his own gang betrays him, leaving him wounded and on the run, he’s out of options… until fate lands him in the wagon of a wary but resourceful peddler.

Cat Callahan has spent years outrunning her past, keeping to herself as she roams the rugged frontier. But when she stumbles upon an injured outlaw hiding among her wares, she has a choice—help him and risk her own freedom, or turn him in and possibly reveal her identity to the law.

Forced into an uneasy partnership, Lance and Cat must navigate a treacherous web of enemies, secrets, and the wild Colorado terrain. But the longer they’re together, the harder it is to ignore the fire sparking between them.

When their pasts finally catch up to them, they’ll face a deadly choice: stand together… or let their enemies tear them apart.

Author:

Heather Blanton is a wonderful author.  She is also a talented graphics artist who is formatting all the books in this series and inserting the graphics at the beginning of each chapter.

Romance, Poison, Murder--a Love Story

By Caroline Clemmons

 For years I believed that westerns were written mainly for a male audience. Then I discovered Lorraine Heath’s western historical romances. I was home! From Lorraine’s books, I learned of other writers who wrote similar stories. Two of my favorites are Julie Garwood’s PRINCE CHARMING (yes, I know it starts out in England) and FOR THE ROSES (yes, it begins in New York City).  Maggie Osborne’s PROMISE OF JENNY JONES is another keeper. Have you ever read a more clever book than MUCH ADO ABOUT MARSHALS by Jacquie Rogers?

 I could go on, but now I have to conduct a little business. You knew I’d get around to it, didn’t you?

one of the covers used

 

My western historical is both a mystery and a romance. I love mysteries, you see, and just can’t help myself when it comes to murder, kidnapping, poison, and other nasty incidents. I am a sweet and gentle soul in person (yeah, right), but I am mean to my characters when I write. After all, survival in the Old West was difficult. Authors have to present obstacles for the hero and heroine to overcome. Otherwise, a book would be about a page long and boring.

In BRAZOS BRIDE, Hope Montoya knows she’s being poisoned but has no idea who wants her dead. Weakened, she knows she can’t fight alone, and she enlists Micah Stone to assist her. How? Through a marriage of convenience, which gives her control of her estate that’s held in trust by her guardian. That doesn’t stop the killer, who relentlessly persists in trying to eliminate both Hope and adds Micah as a target. I love a determined villain, don’t you? I mean, of course, that I love to hate the villain.

Besides being close to Hope, the woman he secretly loves. by marrying her Micah receives land on the Brazos River and cash, and both are needed badly. The time is August 1870 and there’s a severe drought that has dried up springs, creeks, and waterholes on Micah’s land. Without access to the river, his cattle are dying of thirst. His two brothers are on hand to help him haul water from Zach’s place in the west. Even with their best efforts, they’re losing the battle.

 Here’s an excerpt of Hope and Micah’s wedding night from near the first of the book:

She looked at her hands. Perhaps she was unreasonable. Or maybe insane for sympathizing with a man who'd had to work harder because of her family.

"I know it is an odd situation. If—if you wear your shirt and britches, I guess it would be all right if you slept on top of the cover here." She patted the bed beside her.

He froze. Not a muscle moved, and he only stared at her. Had she misunderstood? Did he think her offer too forward?

She babbled, "That is, if you want to. You said I should trust you. Well, maybe you would be more comfortable where you are." Why didn't he say something? Would he prefer sleeping in a chair to sharing the bed?

From the street below, she heard raucous laughter and someone called to a man named Ben. Music from a piano, she supposed in the saloon, drifted in through the open windows. A gust of breeze moved the curtains and slid across her skin. In this room, though, there was no sound.

Slowly, he rose and extinguished the lamp as he moved across the room. She slid one of the pillows beside hers then scooted down. What had possessed her to offer him half her bed? Would he think she invited more?

Too late to take it back now, for the mattress dipped as he stretched out. Quaking inside at the thought of him so near, she turned her back to him. She heard his weary sigh, as if he relaxed for the first time in a long while.

"Good night," she offered, and hoped he understood the finality of the phrase.

"Yep. Good night, Mrs. Stone." The mattress shook as he turned his back to her. She felt the soles of his feet press against her ankles. He must be several inches too long for the bed and she guessed he had to bend his legs to fit. She didn't dare turn to see firsthand.

She lay perfectly still, afraid to take a deep breath. Soon his breathing changed and she knew he slept. Outside the open window the town quieted and the distant tinkling of the piano was the only sound. Light from the full moon illuminated the room and slanted across the bed. A soft breeze drifted across her, lulling her in its caress.

With a sigh, she fought to relax, but abdominal pain kept her awake no matter how her body cried for rest. Perhaps if she planned, she’d forget the pain and chills that racked her frame.

Plan, yes. She needed a plan for food preparation when she returned to her home. No, Micah said he had a plan. Oh, dear, once more he took charge when it was her life, her home.

Maybe Aunt Sofia and Uncle Jorge would have left by then and things would be fine. Already she felt more secure. She sensed her eyelids drifting closed and the sleep’s blessed relief approaching.

A gunshot ripped apart the night.

The blast startled her and she screamed as something thudded near her head, showering her hair and face with splinters. Panic immobilized her. What had happened?

Micah dragged her onto the floor as a bullet ripped into the mattress.

 

Did that excerpt entice you to buy the book?

 I hope so because everyone in my family needs an operation. Okay, no one actually needs surgery, but I will appreciate your buying the book. I believe you will enjoy the series which includes Brazos Bride, High Stakes Bride, Bluebonnet Bride, and others. .

Here’s the buy link for BRAZOS BRIDE:

https://www.amazon.com/Brazos-Bride-Stone-Mountain-Micah/dp/1478172517/

 Thanks for stopping by! 

Read O'Neil's Texas Bride by Caroline Clemmons for St. Patrick's Day

 

O'Neil's Texas Bride

by Caroline Clemmons

Amazon Buy Link

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day by curling up and reading O'Neil's Texas Bride.

Book Blurb:

New cover. Finn O’Neill longs for his own ranch, his own horses, his own home and family but thought the lofty dream beyond him. Now the opportunity has arisen but to achieve his dream, he bargains with Grandpa McClintock and his nephew to pose as a miner and seek out the person or persons causing disasters at the Farland Coal Mine.

Stella Clayton has witnessed the heartbreak and tragedy of a coal miner’s life. Her family came from England to the promise of a better life only to find the same hardships. She is determined that her young brother will never follow in their father’s footsteps. And she vows she will never marry a man who engaged in that work. She fights to resist charms of the handsome Irishman who’s recently come to work in Lignite, Texas.

When Finn arrives in Lignite, he immediately falls for the beautiful schoolteacher, Stella Clayton. But her father is one of the men suspected of causing destruction. What Finn discovers soon puts him and members of the Clayton family in peril. Can he salvage his dream, fulfill his promise, and protect the woman he loves and her family?

Doggy Distribution System

Baxter

I see cat people talk about the Universe's cat distribution system, but there is one for dogs, too.  I took one of our best dogs, Molly, from an abusive owner.  I wasn't planning to get a dog but there she was.  Baxter, pictured above, showed up terror-stricken on a neighbor's porch on July 4th.  The neighbor called Darling Daughter two to "come get that dog off my porch."  We looked for his owner but no one was looking for him.  At least, not that we found.  He is a sweet Poodle mix who loves to sit on my lap while Hero, Darling Daughter two, and I watch movies each night.

Most of our dogs have found us, not the other way around.  Both daughters have done doggy rescue and ended up with foster fails -- the dogs came in but never left.  What is the strangest way you have found yourself with a dog?

The heroine of Sidney and the Mail Order Bride, Antoinette Fournier, has a dog crash her wedding to Sidney.  In fact, he gets mud all over her wedding dress.  She asks Sidney if she can keep the dog and he reluctantly agrees.  You wouldn't believe how hard Antoinette, who grew up waited on hand and foot, found it to bathe her new dog.  Here is a tiny taste of her problems, which didn't end when she finished bathing Lucky -- she still had to empty the trough and refill it with clean water.

Excerpt

Holding the makeshift leash with her left hand, she bathed Lucky. Apparently he enjoyed the attention because he stood still. Soaping Lucky with her right, soon she realized she had to use both hands to distribute water and rinse away the soap. Lucky thought they played a fun game. He jumped and splashed until her shoes and skirts were soaked. She managed to get him clean, but when she tried to woo him out of the water, he acted as if tugging was a part of their game. 

“Come on, Lucky, time to get out and dry off.” She yanked hard on the leather leash. Lucky leaped out the opposite way—and dragged Antoinette into the trough.

“Luckeee!” Water in her mouth cut off her yell. 

Spitting and spluttering, she struggled out of the water and pushed her wet hair from her face. Wringing her skirt and petticoats to rid them of part of the water pouring from them, she wiped her face with the towel. 

Lucky shook himself, and then ran up to her, his leash dragging behind him. She ran the wet towel over him then went to the stable door. 

“Lucky, come here.”

Instead, he ran in circles between the mercantile and the barn.

Of course he needed exercise, but not now. How could she capture him and get him back into the barn? She retrieved the bone and held it so he could see it. “Look what I have for you, Lucky.” 

He must have smelled or sensed the meat on the bone because he darted into the stable. She dropped the bone on his food dish. After she’d filled the makeshift water dish, she removed the leather strip, left him gnawing his bone, and closed the barn door behind her.

To see what happened next, get the book.  Sidney and the Mail Order Bride, from Amazon.  It is also in Kindle Unlimited.

 

Series Rock by Caroline Clemmons

 As an author, I know my series are easier to write because I know some of the characters from the previous books.  While all my characters are alive to me, I get to watch them grow and change more in a series than in an individual book.  As a reader, I love to find a series by a writer I enjoy because I know I won't have to hunt for a book until I finish the series.  Here are a few of my series to help you find your next read.

The Kincaids Series

Amazon Link

The Kincaids series starts with The Most Unsuitable Wife. There are five books in this series. 

A woman being targeted for a fortune she doesn't know exists; a rancher running out of time; the marriage of convenience that can save them both.

Pearl Parker needs to get her and her two younger siblings she has been raising away from Piper's Hollow TN. Targeted by an unknown person, Pearl is desperate to find someplace far away from those that want to do her and her siblings harm. When she meets Drake Kincaid, he offers a solution that might be the answer to her prayers.

Drake isn’t ready to get married, especially by command. But, now he is in danger of losing the successful family ranch where he has worked most of his life. His parents’ will stipulates he must marry by the age of thirty or forfeit his claim to the ranch. While on a horse buying trip, he meets Pearl.

Pearl and Drake realize that each might be exactly what the other needs. Pearl believes that she will have a safe place in Texas to raise her siblings, with protection from the people that want to harm them. Drake is relieved to meet the marriage clause, allowing him to keep the ranch.

What happens when Drake realizes that Pearl isn't the meek wife he envisioned? Will Pearl blossom or be crushed by restrictions? Can Drake protect Pearl and her family when the people who threatened her arrive in Kincaid Springs? Is there a way love can bloom in this sensual romance with a touch of humor and adventure?

Men of Stone Mountain Texas Series

Amazon Buy Link

Man of Stone Mountain Texas Series

The first book in the Man of Stone Mountain Texas series is Brazos Bride.  There are five books in the series.  

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.

Pearson Grove Trilogy

Amazon Buy Link

Pearson Grove Trilogy

The first book in the Pearson Grove Trilogy is Mail Order Moriah.  A woman desperate to begin a new life, a mercantile owner besieged by problems, and the disaster that brings them together . . .

Moriah Singleton faced hardship to get from England to America but met more problems once she arrived. The only solution she could find was to become a mail-order bride in far away Texas. How will she ever save enough to bring her sister to America?

After a disastrous brief engagement ended badly, Scott Ferguson sent for a mail-order bride. He needs her help in his mercantile. He hopes his wife will also be his life’s helpmate.

Danger, family entanglements, and disaster await the couple. Can Moriah fit into Pearson Grove? Can she help her sister? Will their problems bring Moriah and Scott closer? Will trouble drive them apart?

A sweet western historical romance, first of the exciting Pearson Grove series.

Bride Brigade Series

Amazon Buy Link

The Bride Brigade Series has seven books in it.  

Josephine Nailor is desperate to escape a terrible situation. When the opportunity arises via a newspaper ad, she and her best friend slip away from their oppressive fathers and head for Richmond. Neither can relax until they’re far away from their tiny hometown. With wealthy young widow Lydia Harrison’s help, Josephine and six other young women have a new life waiting in Tarnation, Texas.

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?

I hope you enjoy these series.  I have more, but will save them for another post.

WHAT DO YOU FEAR?

 By Caroline Clemmons

A couple of friends and I were at lunch a few days ago. One of the numerous subjects that came up was: what in books and movies scares us? What scares you so much you sleep with the lights on? These friends and I meet to discuss writing and books. Mostly.

In books, every great hero or heroine has a flaw and/or a secret. His secret is something he would be embarrassed to admit or that he believes might damage his reputation and employment. For example, tough and seemingly fearless Indiana Jones feared snakes. So, he had to deal with a lot of them at once. Shudder.

In KEITH AND THE MAIL ORDER BRIDE, banker Keith Martin fears people learning his family are crooks, especially if a family member came to town. Such a revelation would cause bank customers to withdraw their money as well as shun him. You can get your copy of e-book or print at Amazon here:

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

 

 Writing terrifying scenes is sometimes intriguing. In THE MOST UNSUITABLE HUSBAND, the rogue-ish hero had been buried alive and barely escaped before he suffocated. As a result, he feared confined dark spaces. Can you blame him? Imagine how difficult it was for him to crawl through a narrow tunnel to enter a cave and rescue a child, but that’s aside from the main plot. I’m so pleased that book has been very popular with readers. Get your copy of e-book or print at Amazon here:

https://www.amazon.com/Most-Unsuitable-Husband-Kincaids-Book-ebook/dp/B004M8T1D8/ -

 

 

Who would fear a precious baby? How about a rugged bounty hunter, a bachelor, who has never been around children? He finds the baby crying after criminals kill the little girl’s parents. He loads up her belongings to take to the person who adopts her. No one he can trust will take the child. You guessed it—STUART becomes a dad. It’s a fun story. If you haven’t read it, you’ll find it at Amazon here:

https://www.amazon.com/Stuart-Bachelors-Babies-Book-10-ebook/dp/B084GFPRGL/  

 

In HIGH STAKES BRIDE, Alice Price fears the big cave her rescuer takes he to, but not as much as she fears the two men chasing her. The cavern appears endless, and she realizes her rescuer, Zach Stone, has used it many times. I love Alice—she’s as klutzy as I am. Wish I looked like her! If you haven’t yet read this book, it’sw available in e-book, print, and from audible.

https://www.amazon.com/High-Stakes-Bride-Stone-Mountain/dp/1479253596

 

  

Whatever you choose, reading expands your mind and delays dementia. I and many other historical authors do a lot of research to make sure details in our books are credible. So, in addition to being entertained, you’ll learn painlessly at the same time. Buying and reading our books makes us happy. We want you to love the fruits of our labor.

Thanks for stopping by.

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!

THE OUTLAW AND THE SHERIFF

by Caroline Clemmons

My friends Charlene Raddon, has a new book, THE OUTLAW AND THE SHERIFF. I love Charlene's writing--and so do her readers as you can tell by her 5-star ratings.

This series is a bit different in that each has an outlaw bride. Doesn't that sound intriguing? As you can see by the cover below, Charlene designs lovely, eye-catching covers when she wears her other hat, Silver Sage Covers.

Here's the blurb:

In the unforgiving landscapes of the Old West, Jerrellyn Ables confronts the moral quandary of her outlaw family's life when a bank heist leaves her wounded and forgotten by her kin. A twist of fate brings Blade McCreery, a charismatic ranch hand to her doorstep, saving her life and kindling an unexpected romance that challenges Jerrellyn's beliefs.

Determined to right the wrongs committed by her family, Jerrellyn faces peril as she tries to compensate a family they unwittingly harmed. Caught in the act, she's confined by her own blood, trapped between loyalty and her own redemption. Meanwhile, Blade, now the County Sheriff, leads a posse to capture the Ables gang, torn between justice and his burgeoning feelings for Jerrellyn.

As the showdown unfolds, questions loom: Will Jerrellyn escape her family's clutches? Can Blade reconcile his duty with his love for her? Amidst the dust of the Old West a vendetta-driven Pinkerton agent threatens their happiness. Will love prevail, or will Jerrellyn face the consequences of her family's crimes?

You can find the THE OUTLAW AND THE SHERIFF on Amazon at the following link:

https://www.amazon.com/Outlaw-Sheriff-Brides-ebook/dp/B0CY3X636Z/

Let Charlene tell you a little about herself in her own words:

Believe it or not, I began my fiction career in the third grade when I told my class that a little sister I never had died of a black widow bite. I also wrote books through my teen years, always about a girl whose mother mistreated her by making her wash dishes, sweep the floor... you get the idea. Never finished any of those stories. But the idea of writing a real book and publishing it never occurred to me. It was a particularly vivid dream that drove me to drag out a portable typewriter and go to work on my first novel. In 1990, my second completed book, TENDER TOUCH, brought me a first place win in a writing contest and the following year became a Golden Heart finalist. That won me an agent and a contract from Kensington, who published five of my western historical romance novels. My books have placed or won in other contests as well. FOREVER MINE received a Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award nomination. I've always loved the Old West and I believe my novels reflect that emotion through their depth and vibrancy. I am always working on a new story. I hope you try my books and enjoy them. Follow me on my website at https://charleneraddon.com and get a free book.

Thanks for stopping by.

WELCOME ELLIANA

 By Caroline Clemmons

Hello, Friends,

I’ve invited for tea recently wed Elliana Barrington Martin, bride of Keith Martin. Their story is in KEITH AND THE MAIL ORDER BRIDE, Book 5, Texas Hill Country Mail Order Brides, a sweet historical western romance and adventure. [Elliana glides in wearing an impeccable lavender silk dress trimmed in lace. She is dark blond with wide blue eyes and alabaster skin. Her regal bearing might make her appear unapproachable if it were not for her delightful smile. She appears to be a young woman who smiles frequently.]

Elliana Barrington Martin

CC: Please have a seat, Elliana. Thank you for joining me today. [I pour our tea into my best china cups, hoping I don’t rattle the cup and saucer as I hand it to her.]

Elliana's Interview Dress

EM: [She takes the cup and saucer with no apparent effort or concentration.] Thank you for having me. I appreciate the invitation.

CC: Will you tell readers a bit about yourself—your age, how tall you are, and so forth? [I hold the pastry plate for her to select one, then set the plate on the table between us. She chose a shortbread cookie.]

EM: [Her eyes ice over briefly.] One doesn’t usually ask a woman her age, and I can’t imagine why your readers would like to know. [She takes a deep breath and her smile returns.] I’m twenty-three and about seven inches over five feet. I grew up in Evansville, Indiana, where both my parents and my father’s brother and his wife lived with my grandparents.

[She has a wistful expression.] My parents were a wonderful couple. Papa helped Grandpa with his investment business and they were successful for clients and for our family. Papa was devoted to Mama—everyone was. She was elegant but kind. She laughed easily and was quick to hug me. While they were alive, I was happiest while they were alive. My parents and aunt died in a tragic accident when I was twelve, and my grandmother took over my care. My uncle Joey and then my Grandpa died a few years apart. I adored Gran, and I knew she doted on me. But she was much more serious and formal than my mother. She had a bad heart and recently passed.

CC: You have my sincere condolences. How did you come to be a mail order bride?

EM: You see, Uncle Joey’s son Trey was only a couple of years older than I was. Sad to admit, but he was a terrible person. A greedy bully, vengeful and always in debt, even though he had a very nice monthly allowance from his trust fund. Gran wanted me away from Evansville when her Will was read. She had left our family home to become the Barrington Girls Academy and a good deal of money to others, especially to me. She knew my cousin, Trey, would be furious and seek to harm me unless I was elsewhere.

CC: That sounds frightening. But if you were getting a large legacy, why did you need to marry a stranger?

EM: For all Gran’s having trained me to be a strong woman, she thought the right husband would help protect me. Uncle Alexander was given the task of finding that man. He wasn’t really my uncle, but my godfather and our family attorney, Alexander Penobscott. How he located Keith I have no idea, but he is quite resourceful and a leading attorney, not just for Evansville, but for surrounding states as well. I’m not certain he looked for a man seeking a mail order bride, but that’s the way it worked out.

CC: Was it an arduous journey?

EM: [She rolls her eyes.] The train would have been rather pleasant if I hadn’t been so sad about Gran. I have to say I hope to never, ever ride a stagecoach again. It’s an onerous way to travel. I apologize, but I don’t believe I should reveal more about that part of my trip.

CC: How do you like your new home?

EM: If you mean Harrigan Springs, I love it. Since I grew up in a city, I was surprised to learn I love living in a small town. The people are friendly, but curious. It’s true what they say about small towns: If you sneeze on one side of town, someone on the other side of town will say “bless you.”

CC: How about your home? After growing up with wealth, have you adjusted?

EM: [laughs] Traveling there, I had no idea what to expect. For all I knew I’d be living in a log cabin. I had to trust Gran and Uncle Alexander. I knew that Gran had her companion, Jane, supervises the packing of many things from our home and having them shipped to my new address. I was so surprised to find Keith’s home, well our home now, was a beautiful and luxurious Italianate-style house. Seeing inside was also a surprise, for there was almost no furniture.

CC: Is there anything else you’d like for us to know?

Foyer of the Martin Home

EM: Oh, there is so much more, but I simply must go. I’ve promised the children I’d take them for a drive to visit friends on a ranch outside town.

CC: Children?

EM: Readers will simply have to buy the book to find out more. [She elegantly rises.] Thank you for your hospitality. Please excuse me. [She she leaves]

CC: Goodness, it sounds to me as if Elliana left out quite a few details. If you haven’t read KEITH AND THE MAIL ORDER BRIDE, you can find it in e-book and print at Amazon. It’s also in Kindle Unlimited.

https://www.amazon.com/Order-Bride-Texas-Country-Brides-ebook/dp/B0BZDT6Q1J/

  

Thank you for stopping by.

GREAT REVIEWS FOR JOSEPHINE

By Caroline Clemmons

"I found the story to be exciting and captivating. There were enough twists and turns that you never knew what was going to happen next. I could not put the book down until I found out the ending. I highly recommend this book. Can't wait until Book Two comes out."

 

"Caroline Clemmons always writes a wonderful story. "

 

"I loved this book and couldn't put it down."

 

If you like historical romances, you'll love this series. I'm on the final book now and already dreading it coming to an end. You'll meet a great group of women looking for husbands as you're introduced to the folks living in a small Texas town. Love is in the air as each finds the man of their dreams.

 https://www.amazon.com/B015M4FJUY 

"I found the story to be exciting and captivating. There were enough twists and turns that you never knew what was going to happen next. I could not put the book down until I found out the ending. I highly recommend this book."

"A fun light and clean read." 

"This was a sweet story full of romance and excitement."

"The author captures your imagination and runs with it happily to the end. The plot was superb and carried you to the end."

"This was a truly interesting and fun story of which I had a hard time to put down. Caroline Clemmons is at the top of my list as an author."'

The series is available in e-book and print. It is also enrolled in KU. If you haven't read this series, I hope you'll give it a read now!

/thanks for stopping by!