Yes, There was a time before TV #inspiration # historicalromance #giveaway


In The Spotlight with Caroline Clemmons

Why I Write Historical Romance By Caroline Clemmons

Our family didn’t get a television set until I was eleven or twelve. Even then, where we lived in West Texas, shows were only broadcast in the evening. So, our family talked to one another. Imagine that?

My father was a great storyteller. He used to entertain me with stories of his family coming to Texas from Georgia in 1876. He regaled me with the exploits of some of his kin. He made that time in Texas history come alive for me. His stories involved humor as well as excitement. I never tired of listening.

Couple this with the Saturday morning movie matinees starring Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, Hopalong Cassidy, and the Lone Ranger. I knew I was destined to ride the plains rounding up rustlers and bank robbers with Roy and Dale.

I was only able to attend the matinees until I was ten because that’s when we got a washing machine. Previously, while my mother was at the Laundromat and grocery store on Saturday morning, I would spend the time at the movies. Back then, they were the best babysitter in town. Ushers patrolled the aisles to insure everyone was all right. They let the mothers come in and get their children when the parents were ready to go home.  

To help, I had two outstanding history teachers. In junior high school, Mr. Truman Shelton inspired a love of history. In college at Texas Tech, Dr. Cullen Holden insisted every student learn Southwestern history as well as the American history course material. This meant we furiously took notes on the Southwest while in class. At the same time, we were responsible for learning the information in our textbooks. Heavy studying, but I especially loved the Southwestern study.

Is it any wonder that I love writing I historical romances? I write the occasional contemporary romance, but I admit my heart belongs in the Old West from 1870 through 1900. With every book, I remember my father relating family tales for me. Although most of my novels are set in Texas, I’ve also written historical romance set in Montana, Colorado, and Utah.

My latest, Monk’s Bride, is book five in the popular Kincaid series. I departed slightly from the rest of the Kincaid books in that this one is sweet instead of sensual. Monk is simply not the type man to get the cart before the horse, so to speak. He holds himself to a higher standard than that with which he judges others. He is particularly protective of women and children. Not an alpha hero, but the kind of beta hero Betsie needs. Since this is a novella, there isn’t the time needed to show the couple after their marriage. I hope you’ll give it a read and let me know how you like the story.

Title: MONK’S BRIDE
Series: Kincaid Series Book 5
Author: Caroline Clemmons
Publisher: self-published
Cover artist: Kim Killion
Genre: historical romance, western
Pages 129

A destitute widow; a reformed con man; the danger that links them…

Betsie Galloway Hirsch has escaped Memphis with her son. Her gambling husband tricked the wrong people and they’re demanding Betsie pay his debts—or else. She’s come to Kincaid Springs to stay with her mother and seek a safe place for her son. Being so far from her former home, she feels secure. That is, until danger confronts her.

After 34 years alone, Michael “Monk” Magonagle is falling in love with Betsie and is fond of her son. Monk is certain she is not free of the men her late husband cheated. Although he is not a violent man by nature, Monk is willing to fight for Betsie’s safety. He and the men of the Kincaid family prepare to meet the enemy.

How can Betsie and Liam be protected from the approaching danger? Will she and Monk be able to forge a love that endures or will one of them be silenced forever? What toll will the enemy exact?

Excerpt (G heat)

They were at the Kincaid front door. She hated their time together was over.

Monk put his hands on her shoulders. “Betsie, may I kiss you goodnight?”

Inside she was yelling yes!, but she pretended to be demure. She certainly didn’t want him to think she was a hoyden. “I think that would be all right.”

He removed his hat and pulled her into an embrace. She’d thought he meant a kiss on the cheek, but that wasn’t the case. His lips sought hers softly at first, then as if he would consume her. Without conscious thought her arms went around him, pulling him closer.

When he broke the kiss, it was as if she’d been deprived of a part of herself. Each of them panted with ragged breaths. He held her a few minutes longer, his forehead against hers.

“I apologize for getting carried away.”

“Please don’t. I was hanging on to you as if I was drowning and you were a life preserver.”

He brushed an errant curl from her face. “Then you’re not sorry?”

“Not a bit. I have to admit I was carried away, too. Perhaps it’s not proper to admit, but I enjoyed your kisses.”

Her admission brought a wide smile to his face. “Goodnight, Betsie. I’ll be by to escort you to Mass in the morning. I hope I may call again soon.”

“I look forward to both.” She slipped inside and hurried to her room.

She changed into her night clothes and crept in to check on her son. He was sound asleep with his dog cuddled close but had kicked off his cover. She leaned over to give him a kiss and tucked his sheet around him.

Her lips still tingled from Monk’s kiss. He was her beau, a serious beau. She wanted to dance around the room. Instead, she crept to her room and crawled into her bed. She’d have sweet dreams tonight.

Buy  it here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PJQQ2CF

Meet Caroline Clemmons

Through a crazy twist of fate, Caroline Clemmons was not born on a Texas ranch. To compensate for this illogical error, she writes about handsome cowboys, feisty ranch women, and scheming villains in a tiny office her family calls her pink cave. She and her Hero live in North Central Texas cowboy country where they ride herd on their three rescued indoor cats as well as providing nourishment outdoors for numerous woodland creatures.

The books she creates in her pink cave have made her an Amazon bestselling author and won several awards. She writes both sweet and sensual romances about the West, both historical and contemporary as well as time travel and mystery. Her series include the Kincaids, McClintocks, Stone Mountain Texas, Bride Brigade, Texas Time Travel, Texas Caprock Tales, Pearson Grove, and Loving A Rancher as well as numerous single titles and contributions to multi-author sets.

When she’s not writing, she loves spending time with her family, reading books written by her friends, eating out, browsing antique malls, checking Facebook, and taking the occasional nap.

You can stalk Caroline Clemmons here:

Website http://carolineclemmons.com

Facebook http://Facebook.com/CarolineClemmonsRomances

Twitter http://Twitter.com/CarolinClemmons (no E in Caroline)

Blog http://carolineclemmons.blogspot.com

Pinterest http://Pinterest.com/CaroClemmons

Subscribe to her newsletter  and receive news of new releases and giveaways as well as a FREE novella, Happy Is The Bride at https://carolineclemmons.us5.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=0a24664c906875718d975ad7b&id=7c2e488a51

Join her Facebook readers page, Caroline’s Cuties, for contests, giveaways, news, and chatting about books and other fun things at https://www.facebook.com/groups/277082053015947/?ref=nf_target&fref=nf

Find all her books and follow her on her Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/default/e/B001K8CXZ6/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1530672876&sr=8-2-ent&redirectedFromKindleDbs=true

Follow her on BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/caroline-clemmons

Read Caroline’s western historical titles:

Blessing, book 2, Widows of Wildcat Ridge, sweet

Garnet, book 9, Widows of Wildcat Ridge, sweet

Pearson Grove Series(Sweet, set in Texas)

Mail-Order Moriah. Book 1

Mistletoe Mistake, sweet Christmas story set in Montana

Loving A Rancher Series (sweet)

Amanda’s Rancher, No. 1

The Rancher and the Shepherdess, No. 2

Murdoch’s Bride, No. 3

Bride’s Adventure, No. 4

Snare His Heart, No. 5

Capture Her Heart, No. 6

Loving A Rancher, No. 7

Patience, Bride of Washington, American Mail-Order Brides Series #42, sweet

Bride Brigade Series: sweet, set in Texas

Josephine, Bride Brigade book 1

Angeline, Bride Brigade book 2

Cassandra, Bride Brigade book 3

Ophelia, Bride Brigade book 4

Rachel, Bride Brigade book 5

Lorraine, Bride Brigade book 6

Prudence, Bride Brigade book 7

Save Your Heart For Me, a mildly sensual romance adventure novella

The Surprise Brides: Jamie, sensual, released simultaneously with three other of The Surprise Brides books which are: Gideon by Cynthia Woolf, Caleb by Callie Hutton, and Ethan by Sylvia McDaniel, each book is about one of the Fraser brothers of Angel Springs, Colorado

Long Way Home, a sweet-ish Civil War adventure romance set in Georgia

The Kincaid Series: Sensual, set in Texas

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

Monk’s Bride, Kincaids sweet novella, five

Stone Mountain (Texas) Series:

Brazos Bride, Men of Stone Mountain Texas book one, sensual

Buy the Audiobook here

High Stakes Bride, Men of Stone Mountain Texas book two, sensual

Buy the Audiobook here

Bluebonnet Bride, Men of Stone Mountain Texas book three, sensual

Tabitha’s Journey, Stone Mountain TX mail-order bride novella, sweet

Stone Mountain Reunion, a Stone Mountain Texas short story, sweet

Stone Mountain Christmas, a Stone Mountain Texas Christmas novella, sweet

Winter Bride, a Stone Mountain Texas romance, sweet

McClintocks: set in Texas

The Texan’s Irish Bride, McClintocks book one, sensual

O’Neill’s Texas Bride, McClintocks book two, sweet

McClintock’s Reluctant Bride, McClintocks book three

Daniel McClintock, McClintocks book four, sweet

Caroline’s Texas Time Travels

Out Of The Blue, 1845 Irish lass comes forward to today Texas, sensual

Texas Lightning, sweet, 1896 woman rancher comes forward to today

Texas Rainbow, sweet, 1920s flapper comes forward to today

Texas Storm, sweet, WWII WASP comes forward to today

Caroline’s Contemporary Titles

Angel For Christmas, sweet Christmas tale of second chances, sweet, poignant

Texas Caprock Tales:

Be My Guest, mildly sensual with mystery, sensual

Grant Me The Moon, sweet with mystery,

Snowfires, sensual, set in Texas

Home Sweet Texas Home, Texas Home book one, sweet

Caroline’s Mysteries: (Texas)

Almost Home, a Link Dixon mystery

Death In The Garden, a Heather Cameron cozy mystery

Take Advantage of Bargain Boxed Sets:

Mail-Order Tangle: Linked books: Mail-Order Promise by Caroline Clemmons, set in Texas, and Mail-Order Ruckus by Jacquie Rogers, set Idaho

Under A Mulberry Moon, nine-author anthology, July 2018, available for a limited time, novellas by Zina Abbott, Patricia Pacjac Carroll, Caroline Clemmons, Carra Copelin, Keta Diablo, P. A. Estelle, Cissie Patterson, Charlene Raddon, and Jacquie Rogers.

Cinderella Treasure Trove, excerpts, blurbs, author bios, and recipes from authors who write books with a new take on a fairy tale. Free

Musings and Medleys, blurbs, excerpts, recipes, and author bios from the authors in Under A Mulberry Moon. Free

I will give two commenters an ebook from my blacklist. Just tell me your favorite western movie actor. I’ll announce the winner next Friday.


21 responses to “Yes, There was a time before TV #inspiration # historicalromance #giveaway”

  1. It must be something to feel such an attachment to a place. My family has too much wanderlust for that, and while living in several countries, as most of us have done, provides a sense of the wide world, it’s a shallower sense of place than you have.

    • Ed, my husband and I have had wanderlust. Our youngest daughter said she wished we’d have stayed in one place. Sigh. Made me feel guilty. However, you are correct that moving gives you a wider sense of place and greater knowledge of people. I do have an attachment to Texas, especially West Texas where I grew up. My parents were very much homebodies. Thank you for commenting!

  2. Already follow you on most posts. We West Texas girls have to stick together. Clint Eastwood, although I really loved James Coburn. Yes, nothing to look at but so sexy.

  3. Caroline, I can so relate to your childhood and watching those famous cowboys on tv. I did the same. Our ditchrider (irrigation supervisor) was the only person in the area to have a tv and we’d go over Friday nights to watch wrestling. Then when we got ours, I watched the same shows you did. One Christmas I got a Roy Rogers and Dale Evans ranch, complete with cardboard pieces to build the ranch house, and plastic horses and figures of Roy and Dale. My imagination ran wild with my gift. Although I lived on a farm, we had no livestock, no horse to ride. You’re so lucky to have been raised on a ranch and can use all that wonderful experience in your novels. In school, history was a favorite class but it never included much local history, so I found my love of the west through books. I love the fact that you set your stories in Texas, mostly. I like the fact that Monk is a beta male yet still enough alpha in him when the time calls for it to protect the woman he loves. My heroes all lean more toward beta heroes. That’s the beauty of books….something for everyone.

  4. That’s is why I love Jacquie Rogers Silver City event . No electronics you actually have to talk to each other.
    Chuck Connors, because, He was a great dad, and did not fire his gun needlessly. He also was durn handsome, oh those eyes.

  5. Enjoyed hearing about entertainment as you were growing up. We had some story telling at home but I know we had a TV by the time I was 3 or 4. My dad and his brothers had some adventures. Mom had some stories too about her dad and step mom. It seemed like so much a simpler life. Thank you for sharing that. Great excerpt, too.

    • It was a simpler life, Debra. One of the things I miss is the closeness of families. Mine is close but I was thinking about when Hero and I were in a restaurant. The family at the next table didn’t speak to one another. They each were on a cell phone the entire time–parents and three children. I suppose they think that they dined out together but I think that together, they ate alone. Thanks for your comment.

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