Read Caroline’s western historical titles:
Amanda’s Rancher, Montana Sky Kindle World
Patience, Bride of Washington, American Mail-Order Brides Series #42
Josephine, Bride Brigade book 1
Angeline, Bride Brigade book 2
Cassandra, Bride Brigade book 3
The Surprise Brides: Jamie, released simultaneously with three other The Surprise Bride books which are Gideon by Cynthia Woolf, Caleb by Callie Hutton, and Ethan by Sylvia McDaniel, each book about one of the Fraser brothers of Angel Springs, Colorado
The Most Unsuitable Wife, Kincaids book one
The Most Unsuitable Husband, Kincaids book two
The Most Unsuitable Courtship, Kincaids book three
Gabe Kincaid, Kincaids book four
Brazos Bride, Men of Stone Mountain Texas book one, Free
Buy the Audiobook here
High Stakes Bride, Men of Stone Mountain Texas book two
Buy the Audiobook here
Bluebonnet Bride, Men of Stone Mountain Texas book three
Tabitha’s Journey, a Stone Mountain Texas mail-order bride novella
Stone Mountain Reunion, a Stone Mountain Texas short story
Stone Mountain Christmas, a Stone Mountain Texas novella
Winter Bride, a Stone Mountain romance
The Texan’s Irish Bride, McClintocks book one, Free
O’Neill’s Texas Bride, McClintocks book two
McClintock’s Reluctant Bride, McClintock’s book three
Save Your Heart For Me, a western romance adventure novella
Long Way Home, a sweet Civil War adventure romance novella. Kindle only
Caroline’s Time Travel
Out Of The Blue, 1845 Irish lass comes forward to today
Caroline’s Contemporary Titles
Be My Guest, mildly sensual
Grant Me The Moon, sweet, novella is also in Come Love A Cowboy
Snowfires, sensual
Home Sweet Texas Home, Texas Home book one (sweet)
Caroline’s Mysteries:
Almost Home, a Link Dixon mystery
Death In The Garden, a Heather Cameron cozy mystery, Kindle only
Take Advantage of Bargain Boxed Sets:
Wild Western Women Spring Into Love, Kirsten Osbourne, Callie Hutton, Caroline Clemmons, Sylvia McDaniel, and Merry Farmer – Kindle only
Come Love A Cowboy, Kathleen Ball, Caroline Clemmons, Margo Bond Collins, Patti Sherry-Crews, Keta Diablo, Julie D’Arcy, Andi Downing, and Hebby Roman
The Kincaids, Books 1-4 in one set
Wild Western Women Ride Again, Kirsten Osbourne, Callie Hutton, Caroline Clemmons, Sylvia McDaniel, and Merry Farmer, available only at Amazon, Kindle only
Wild Western Women: Kirsten Osbourne, Callie Hutton, Caroline Clemmons, Sylvia McDaniel, and Merry Farmer. Kindle only
Mail-Order Tangle: Linked books Mail-Order Promise by Caroline Clemmons and Mail-Order Ruckus by Jacquie Rogers, Kindle Only
10 Timeless Heroes, time travels include Out Of The Blue and novels by Sky Purington, Skhye Moncreif, Donna Michaels, Beth Trissel, P. L. Parker, L. L. Muir, Linda LaRoque, and Nancy Lee Badger. Kindle only
Silver Belles and Stetsons, Christmas novellas from ten authors including Kathleen Ball, Cait Braxton, Caroline Clemmons, Carra Copeline, Kristin Holt, Lyn Horner, Susan Horsnell, Paty Jager, Hebby Roman, Margaret Tanner -- Kindle only
Men of Stone Mountain, contains the first three of the Stone Mountain Texas books: Brazos Bride, High Stakes Bride, and Bluebonnet Bride. Kindle Only
Rawhide ’n Roses, fifteen 2,000 word short stories by various western historical authors, nominated for the Rhone Award, all proceeds go to Black Hills Wild Horse Rescue
About the Author
Caroline Clemmons is an Amazon bestselling and award winning author of historical and contemporary western romances. A frequent speaker at conferences and seminars, she has taught workshops on characterization, point of view, and layering a novel.
Caroline and her husband live in the heart of Texas cowboy country with their menagerie of rescued pets. When she’s not indulging her passion for writing, Caroline enjoys family, reading, travel, antiquing, genealogy, painting, and getting together with friends. Find her on her blog, website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Google+, WattPad, Shelfari, and Pinterest. Subscribe to her newsletter here to receive a FREE novella of Happy Is Bride.
A sneak peek at Ophelia, Bride Brigade book 4:
Chapter One
Tarnation, Texas 1873
Ophelia lay on her stomach on the bed in her room at Lydia Harrison’s. The trip from Virginia to Tarnation, Texas had both saved and exhausted her. Pa’s last beating had broken two ribs and may have damaged her kidneys because she had blood in her urine. How could he think he was a saintly man doing God’s will when he’d nearly killed her—as Ophelia believed he had her mother.
Josephine applied more of the unguent Lydia had supplied. “Most of the welts are crusted but two are still weeping. The bruises are yellow now. If he did this to you for a spilling a third of a pail of milk, you’d likely be dead if you’d spilled the entire bucket. Oh, if I had your father in sight I swear I’d choke the man or give him a taste of how a beating with a whip feels.”
The salve’s acrid smell mingled with the floral scents drifting through the open window. A gentle breeze cooled her exposed back. Though the lash marks were healing, her ribs and lower back still ached when she moved but she didn’t want her friend filled with hatred.
“No, Jo. We can’t sink to his level. However misguided he is, he believes he’s right. Worse, Brother John agrees with him.”
Gentle as her hands were, Josephine spat her words. “Humph, John Webster may pretend to be a minister with his tiny congregation but he’s as warped as your father. I’m sorry to speak ill of your pa, Ophelia, but there’s something wrong with his mind. Normal men don’t think like that. Even as depraved as my papa is, he never beat a woman.”
Ophelia knew her friend was right, but a lifetime of training to be obedient and “honor your father and mother” wasn’t easy to overcome. After all, the Bible didn’t say honor them only if they deserve your loyalty.
“Doesn’t matter now. Remember you promised you won’t let your papa know where we are until we’re both wed.”
“I remember my promise but, Ophelia, you’re twenty-two, and well of age. Now you’re here, your father can’t force you to do anything.”
Panic knotted her insides. “But, he’d try. I don’t know if I’m strong enough to stand up to him yet. You have no idea what he’s like when he’s angry.” Ophelia sighed when Josephine pulled the soft nightgown over her back.
Josephine replaced the cap on the jar. “I’ve never seen him beat you or I’d have tried to stop him, but certainly I can see what he’s like from your back.”
“Trying to stop him would have meant you’d have gotten the lash for your trouble. Thank goodness, we’re away and he’ll never hit me again.”
She wondered if someone else was helping her pa with all the chores she’d done for him. Perhaps one of her brothers had consented. Why should she care? She couldn’t help wondering. Old habits die hard.
Sighing, she’d resolved not to think of the past. Thanks to Lydia Harrison, all seven of the girls she’d rescued had a chance to start over. Ophelia didn’t know what the other girls were leaving behind but she and Jo had nothing to which they could or would ever return.
Josephine tucked the sheet loosely over her shoulders. “Go to sleep. I’ll get ready for bed, too. I’m sure all of us are exhausted. That stage ride almost loosened my teeth with all the bumps and shakes. I don’t know how you could stand it.”
Ophelia heard her friend readying for bed. “Since Shipp is my last name, I pretended I was on a ship sailing off to an island. Sure enough, here we are in our island’s own special luxury hotel and there are no room charges.”
Her roommate crawled between
the sheets. “I’ll deal with our clothes in the morning. Let’s sail off to sleep, shall we?”
Long ago Ophelia had learned the only way to endure her pain was to pretend it didn’t exist. If Pa had known, he would have beaten her for daydreaming and pretending. God forgive her, the times he’d caught her she’d lied and said she was going over Bible verses in her head.
Now she didn’t have to worry about a misstep or misconstrued word. She was safe for the first time in her life. She smiled, closed her eyes, and drifted on the breeze from the window.
The next morning, Ophelia woke with excitement. She wasn’t sure any man would want her for his bride, but there were so many more men than women she was certain to find someone who wanted a shy woman willing to work hard. Once again, she wished she were as outgoing and strong as her best friend and roommate, Josephine Nailor.
Lydia had assured them that with so many suitable men to choose from, they were each bound to find a suitable husband. Lydia had named the occupations of the town’s bachelors, including several ranchers, cowboys, a banker, store owner, minister, saloon owner, newspaperman, doctor, shipping office owner… after that she’d lost count. Maybe she’d draw the minister or doctor or a rancher.
Josephine smiled at her. “You’re daydreaming again. Better get a move on or we’ll be late for breakfast. Not a good way to start our first day here.”
She fastened her shoes. “You’re right, but I’m too excited to concentrate. So many good possibilities await us.”
Not everyone had shown up for supper last night due to exhaustion from their trip, but all seven of them were seated for breakfast.
Lydia clapped her hands, as she always did before an announcement. “In case you didn’t hear me yesterday when we arrived, Saturday afternoon at four will be our first reception to introduce you to the bachelors in town. Fifteen men I consider suitable have accepted the invitation, but the minister has declined this first event. You don’t have to worry about consenting if one of these men asks you for a stroll or brief buggy ride.”
Rachel pulled a wry face. “So, we only have to worry that they won’t ask us?”
Everyone laughed.
Lydia gazed around the table. “I believe each of you will find the ideal man for you. I am so glad to have you here in Tarnation. Not only do I hope you soon find and wed your soul mate, but I hope you have a lot of children.”
Their hostess sent each one a glance filled with apparent fondness. “Today, we’ll all rest up from our trip. Tomorrow, I’ll need each of you to pitch in and help prepare for the reception. As I explained, you’ll be expected to help Mrs. Murphy and Mrs. Greenberg with serving, clean up, and the housework. Neither signed on to mother hen eight of us.”
Angeline asked, “What about those like me who know how to cook but not clean?”
Their hostess nodded. “That’s a good question. Here’s your chance to learn. By the time you’ve been here a couple of weeks, you’ll know how to entertain so you can do your husband proud and will have learned how to run a household so well you’ll make a competent wife.”
Ophelia leaned against the table’s edge and hoped no one noticed. As was her custom in a group, she kept silent while those around her chattered about their hopes but she enjoyed the enthusiastic company. Basking in the stimulation this group provided her, she carried her dishes to the kitchen.
The plump cook-housekeeper Mrs. Murphy accepted them. “Thank you. Now be off to rest with you.”
Unused to leisure time, Ophelia wondered what to do with her day. On the train and stage, she’d stared out the window at the passing scenery. Realizing she needed to stop daydreaming so much and live life, she vowed to stick with reality beginning that day.
Cassandra (Bride Brigade Book 3) Page 15