9 books for 99¢! THE TEXAN'S IRISH BRIDE by @CarolinClemmons #9WaysBoxSet

The Texan's
Irish Bride

by Caroline Clemmons

This month I'm featuring all the authors from the 9 Ways to Fall in Love box set.  Yep, you get nine full romance novels—everything from romantic suspense and paranormal to western historical romance.  Today, meet Caroline Clemmons!

How The Texan's Irish Bride came about
I love Texas history, especially the 1870-1890 time period. The Texan's Irish Bride is set in Central Texas near Bandera and Medina, and also the Lost Maples State Natural Area. That area appeals to me and is the location of many working ranches and some fairly famous dude ranches. Years ago, my family and I stayed at the Mayan Dude Ranch and loved it. I decided to write a book set in that area.

After visiting Ireland and hearing about Irish Travelers, I was drawn to their quaint carts, strange cant [language], and their sad plight. The more I studied about them, the more fascinated I became. Then I learned that a huge group of Traveler families wintered in a Fort Worth suburb at an RV/MH park owned by one of the Travelers, and some even lived there year around. I decided to bring a group of Travelers from Ireland to Texas in 1885. Irishman Sean O’Neill’s family has been traveling with the group, though not truly absorbed by them.  

I love this book and love the cover. The couple is among my favorites about whom I’ve written. I hope you’ll enjoy reading The Texan's Irish Bride as much as I enjoyed researching and writing Cenora and Dallas’s story.

Who is Caroline Clemmons?

Caroline Clemmons is an Amazon bestselling author of historical and contemporary western romances whose books have garnered numerous awards. Her most recent novel, Bluebonnet Bride, is a poignant tale of tender redemption. 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 reading, travel, antiquing, genealogy, painting, and getting together with friends.
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About The Texan's Irish Bride

Cenora Rose O’Neill knows her father somehow arranged the trap for Dallas, but she agrees to wed the handsome stranger. She’d do anything to protect her family, and she wants to save herself from the bully Tom Williams. A fine handsome settled man like Dallas will rid himself of her soon enough, but at least she and her family will be safely away from Tom Williams.  

Texas rancher Dallas McClintock has no plans to wed for several years. Right now, he’s trying to establish himself as a successful horse breeder. Severely wounded rescuing Cenora from kidnappers, Dallas is taken to her family’s gypsy-like Irish Traveler’s wagon to be tended. He’s trapped into marrying Cenora, but he is not a man who goes back on his word. His wife chatters constantly and has a silly superstition for everything. Passion-filled nights with her make up for all her faults—but what is he supposed to do with her wild Irish family?

9 Ways to Fall in Love

9 Romance Novels for 99¢!

Caroline Clemmons, THE TEXAN’S IRISH BRIDE. Cenora Rose O’Neill knows her father arranged the marriage trap for Dallas McClintock but she’d do anything to protect her family. Wounded rescuing Cenora from kidnappers, rancher Dallas learns his wife has a silly superstition for everything. But passion-filled nights with her make up for her annoying habits and family. 

Carra Copelin, CODE OF HONOR. Graeme McAlister returned home to discover why his foster brother supposedly overdosed on morphine and crashed a company jet. When Graeme McAlister comes back to McTiernan, TX and stirs up widow Maggie Benning’s old memories and feelings, can she overcome past pain to accept the a new love in her life?

Geri Foster, OUT OF THE SHADOWS. Falcon Securities Agent Brody Hawke sees the world from a tilted angle. A.J., who saved Brody’s life, is captured and diplomats are getting nowhere in his rescue. Brody takes over even though he knows his impetuous actions will ruin his career. CIA agent Kate Stone’s life is torn apart when Brody kidnaps her. When she and Brody reach A.J., they learn the situation is more serious and far-reaching than they’d imagined. Brody, Kate and Falcon Securities must rescue A.J. and stop the assassination of the President of the USA. Will Brody and Kate discover love along the way?

Kathy Ivan, LOSING CASSIE. Welcome to Destiny's Desire Lodge, where The Fates manipulate and the Fate-Keeper battles to unite predestined souls. The arrival of a mysterious letter draws Jake Stone to Destiny's Desire. Cassie Daniels has been running for seven long years. To find happiness she must face past evil. When Fate and Destiny collide . . . can Love survive?

Paty Jager, SECRETS OF A MAYAN MOON. Doctor of Anthropology, Isabella Mumphrey, is about to lose her university job. Her mentor’s request for her assistance on a Guatemalan dig is the opportunity she’s been seeking. DEA agent Tino Kosta, is deep undercover as a tracker and jungle guide. Isabella’s appearance heats his Latin blood, taking him on a dangerous detour that could leave them both casualties of the jungle.

Anna Jeffrey, SWEET RETURN. When Dalton Parker is summoned home to handle a family crisis, the last thing he expects is a prime pasture of his family’s ranch taken over by stinking chickens. The explanation is Joanna Walsh, his mother’s best friend. He can’t keep from admiring Joanna’s caring nature and common sense, not to mention her great body. The dumbest thing he could do is try to lure her into his bed, but he’s never been smart when it comes to women.

DeLaine Roberts, TWO SIDES OF A HEARTBEAT. After a beautiful proposal, Dr. Grayson Brooks pleads with his fiance', Alexandra Morrison, not to get on the plane. Once the plane is in the air, events turn their lives upside down. Secrets and the past once again haunt both families. Alexandra is so close to having it all: a baby, a gorgeous husband, and a family united. But is she strong enough to fight for what she wants? 

Jacquie Rogers, SLEIGHT OF HEART. Starched-up Lexie Campbell, more comfortable with neat and tidy numbers than messy emotions, must find the man who ruined her little sister and make him marry her. When his lookalike brother Burke appears, she greets him with a gun and forces him to help her. Smooth-dealing Burke O’Shaughnessy, riverboat gambler and prestidigitator, must find his brother Patrick to claim the family fortune. But when Lexie shows an astounding talent for counting cards and calculating odds, he figures she might be useful after all. Can he resist the queen of hearts?

Beth Trissel, SOMEWHERE MY LOVE. Two hundred years ago Captain Cole Wentworth was murdered in his chamber where his portrait still hangs. Presently the estate is a family owned museum run by Will Wentworth. As spirit-sensitive tour guide Julia Morrow begins to remember the events of Cole's death, she must convince Will that history is repeating, and he has the starring role in the tragedy. The blade is about to fall.

Across A Moonlit Sea by @MarshaCanham - Blogger Book Fair #BBF

Blogger Book Fair

features

Across a Moonlit Sea

by Marsha Canham

Welcome to my stop along the Blogger Book Fair!  I'm featuring terrific authors all week.  Dawn Chandler and Haley Whitehall kicked off the BBF here, and today, we have a longtime favorite author, Marsha Canham!

Jacquie: Give us a brief bio and tell us what has driven you to write in your genre.

Marsha Canham

Marsha: Pirates have always fascinated me, starting with Errol Flynn as Captain Blood and travelling down through the years to the amazing Pirates of the Caribbean. When I wrote Across A Moonlit Sea, I was swashing and buckling right alongside the main characters and had such a grand sail, it has resulted in two sequels, The Iron Rose and The Following Sea. Not only that but I am currently working on the fourth book in the series, tentatively titled The Far Horizon. Love my pirates. Love my Dante men. Love my heroines who not only keep up with the Dante men, but prove they are every bit as strong and dangerous.

Jacquie: Entice us! Tell us about Across A Moonlit Sea.

Marsha: A rip roaring high seas adventure set in Elizabethan England when dashing privateers known as sea hawks banded together to guard their country and their queen against the Invincible Armada being amassed by Spain. Simon Dante, the Pirate Wolf, meets his match in battle and in love when he crosses swords with Isabeau Spence. Together they join forces with Sir Francis Drake on a daring attack on Cadiz.

Jacquie: Why do you write in the historical romance genre? What aspect of life in this genre intrigues you the most? Did you work that into Across A Moonlit Sea?

Marsha: I've always loved the old black and white adventure movies and heroes like Errol Flynn, Douglas Fairbanks, John Wayne. I loved Robin Hood and Zorro and Sir Lancelot, so it just felt natural to write about what I loved. My books are filled with that same kind of woo hoo action and adventure that hopefully takes readers on a wild, satisfying ride.

Jacquie: If a person who had never read a historical romance asked you for a recommendation, what novel or movie would you recommend and why? What did the author do to bring the story alive for you?

Marsha: I would probably recommend Braveheart, with Mel Gibson. Or Robin Hood with Russell Crowe. Both movies put the viewer right into the gritty heart of the era. No pretty makeup or false eyelashes on the heroines. And the heroes..? *swoon*

Excerpt!

Here is a brief excerpt from Across A Moonlit Sea, where the hero Simon Dante discovers that Isabeau Spence is far from being the captain's meek daughter.

Across A Moonlit Sea
by Marsha Canham

While every man within earshot held his breath and waited, Dante stared at Spence, at the wide slick of blood that streaked his throat and spread across his collar. Something in the fierce, burning topaz of the captain’s eyes made Dante look down to where Beau was still crouched on the deck. He took a casual step toward her and used the barrel of his musket to lift her chin, and there was no mistaking the similarity in the bright, hot sparks of amber that flared up at him. His own gaze narrowed in speculation as he glanced back at Spence.

“Such rare coloring,” he mused. “Unlikely there should be such an exact match within a thousand miles … unless the two were related somehow. She appears to be too young and fresh for a sister. A daughter, perhaps? One with a long, shapely throat more than suitable for slitting in order to ease you of some of your stubbornness.”

Spence stiffened perceptibly. But instead of bowing to the implied threat, he allowed a wide, somewhat contemptuous grin to settle across his face as he folded his arms across his barrel chest.

“A clever deduction, Cap’n Dante. And, aye, Beau’s my daughter. The sweet fruit o’ my loins. Mayhap that’s why she doesn’t take any kinder to threats than I do.”

Dante felt a sudden, sharp intrusion of steel next to his skin and his body froze even as his gaze was drawn slowly downward again. Beau’s golden eyes were still staring up at him, but it was her hand that won his full attention, and more specifically, the stiletto clutched in her fist. The point had already pierced through his hose and was resting like a cold sliver of ice across the impressive bulge of his manhood. A flick of a slender wrist would reduce that impression considerably.

“We seem to have reached an impasse, Cap’n Dante.” Spence chuckled wryly. “Unless, o’ course, ye’ve no objection to pissin’ out a hole in yer belly. She’s a fair hand at carvin’, an’ blow me dry, but look at them eyes ye were so admirin’ of a minute ago—I’d say she were in a ripe fair mood to prove it, would ye not agree?”

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Jacquie: What’s next? Is Across A Moonlit Sea a part of a series?

Marsha: There are currently three books in the Pirate Wolf Series: Across A Moonlit Sea is the first, followed by The Iron Rose and The Following Sea. I am working on the fourth installment of the Dante saga as we speak, The Far Horizon.

Thank you, Marsha!
Where you can find her:
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Gerri Bowen: Love's Blood #paranormal #romance

Love's Blood
by Gerri Bowen

Every once in a while you come across an author who has a unique perspective and you know they'll come up with an original story.  Such is the case with Gerri Bowen, who has been a friend of mine for many years.

For a listing of all her short stories and books, check out Gerri's Amazon page.

I asked her to write a little about her latest release, Love's Blood, so here she is.  Enjoy!

Gerri tells how the story came about

Love’s Blood is my new paranormal~ fantasy~ historical romance, but took several years in the thinking part, and then to the writing it down part. And then all the stuff that comes after that. I believe I realized my first scene when I was listening to The Medieval Babes. I could see women chanting. Strong women. Warrior women. Sitting on the ground in the woods, chanting and singing. But why were they doing that? More thinking and other characters introduced themselves. Okay, an outcast Dane. I’m a sucker for The Outcast Dane. Had to get him in the story. I could make the time period work. Then the Wood Nymphs had to be in because, as everyone knows, Wood Nymphs love to sing and en-spell with their songs. The strong women have no need to en-spell, they have other gifts. Sapient animals were next; I just happen to have two that are in other stories. Yes! They were perfect. So I thought I had it down.

Gerri Bowen

A wild-blooded Cymraes (Welsh woman) and an outcast Dane are aided by two sapient animals on a mission to protect their humans and ensure they join in fruitful matrimony.

A woman with inherited paranormal gifts begins a quest of protection for three girls. A cursed, outcast Dane welcomes the strange woman into his homestead.

She feels welcome and wanted for the first time in her life, but sees the evil behind the curse. She must hide her abilities, while fighting the evil. (And the evil is nasty!)

So I wrote it down, and as so often happens, other characters made themselves known. Some re-acquainted themselves to me. For those familiar with what I write, you can recognize certain characters or places. Breen is a sanctuary. The DaTamPanni is an immortal. The auld gods are, well, not gods, and are sleeping at Breen. Perseus makes another, longer appearance.

By the time I was done, I had a love story. Also, much emotional pain and turmoil; surprises for some of the characters; emotional and spiritual growth, and humor.

As to the why of my story, well, why not? Who is to say my story never happened?

Excerpt of
Love's Blood
by Gerri Bowen

Britta blinked, her eyes narrowing while they accustomed themselves to the bright light, and she held her hands up to shield her eyes. Then Inga was gone from her grasp, was being held by a man, a man Britta assumed was the father of the girls. Yea, she recognized him from their thoughts, although he was dirty, his clothes and face spattered with dried mud. He had dark hair while his daughters had light hair, almost white. She looked at the men accompanying him. All were large, rough looking men, also covered in mud. Armored, too, but not like the Saxons near her kin.

The girls were rescued; they didn’t need her now. Their father had come after them, had even brought men to help him. No doubt they were greatly loved, judging by the tears and laughter she saw from the girls. But hadn’t she already known that, from their thoughts?

Her quest had ended before it had begun.

She needed a new quest. Well, obviously she first had to escape. Go home to Breen? That didn’t seem like much of a quest.

She blinked and stared. The father was talking to her. And frowning. Big frowns coming from their father to her. Why? She looked at the girls, his girls, not hers, to see their reaction. They were smiling, and then Inga came over and wrapped her arms around her waist. Why was the father frowning at her? He looked at her like…

She reached up and felt her hair. It felt puffy even though it had been weeks since she washed it, although one side didn’t feel quite right, as if… She pulled out several twigs, leaves and clumps of dried mud. Yea, she probably looked like she’d been rolling in mud. Hmmm… There was a dim recollection of rolling and trying to get away… Doubtless her face was dirty as well. Holding out her arms, she saw dirt, very visible in the light of day. Yea, she needed to bathe. Doubtless that was the reason why their father looked at her so strangely.

♥ ♥ ♥

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