NEW RELEASE - BOX SET FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY 99 CENTS!

By Caroline Clemmons

After being out of town for a while, Joan Reeves is playing catch up on a myriad of projects and asked me to fill in for her today. I want to remind you about a box set from nine of my favorite authors and myself that was released yesterday, COURTING THE WEST, priced for a limited time at only 99 cents!.

Among these ten authors are NY Times, USA Today, and bestselling authors Debra Holland, Kirsten Osbourne, Lily Graison, Cynthia Woolf, Jacquie Rogers, Sylvia McDaniel, Paty Jager, Merry Farmer, Keta Diablo, and myself. Sylvia Moncrief designed the cover. These 10 novels are not new, but we banded together to present them to you in the hope you'd find new favorite authors (us!)

Amazon    Amazon CA    Amazon UK   Nook   Nook UK   
Kobo   iTunes

Included in the box set are:

PAINTED MONTANA SKY by Debra Holland

In 1894, Lily Maxwell travels to Sweetwater Springs, Montana with precious cocker spaniel. Lily is painting the wildflowers of the area for a project that could launch her artistic career. For years, she has denied herself happiness because of her equestrian accident that left her with a damaged hip, a limp, and a sense of unworthiness. Her inability to bear children has kept her from giving her heart to anyone.

Rancher Tyler Dunn's wife abandoned him and their son, and he wants nothing to do with women. This new woman in town with her lovely violet eyes and wonderful talent stirs feelings in Tyler. After Tyler rescues Lily's dog from being swept away by the river, Lily develops a friendship with him, the people on his ranch, and his young son, Oliver. Yet the two of them dare not give in to their feeling for each other.

Can these lonely souls find their hearts' desires under the majestic Montana sky?

DAISY, Suitors of Seattle Series by Kirsten Osbourne

Raised with advantage and privilege, Daisy must now find a husband. Because of her overwhelming shyness, she chooses to let her aunt, Harriett Farmer, find her a husband.

Aunt Harriett's suggestions are not what she expected. Setting her up to be a mail-order bride, she sends her to Montana to meet Eli King. What she finds is a life vastly different than what she's used to. Can she possibly find love and contentment or is she doomed to a life of regret?

HIS BROTHER'S WIFE by Lily Graison

When Grace Kingston accepts a wedding proposal through a mail-order bride agency and travels across the country to be married, she has no idea her bridegroom is a fourteen-year-old boy. There's no way she can accept his offer but with depleted funds and winter coming on, Grace has little choice but to stay.Things go from bad to worse when she meets Jesse's older brother, Rafe. The attraction is immediate. He's surly, rude, and downright pig-headed but he makes her pulse race with a single glance.

Rafe Samuels thought to teach his brother a lesson by making him take responsibility for his rash behavior but one look at Grace and his plans go up in smoke. She isn't the dowdy spinster he imagined and having her live in his house and not be able to have her is the worst kind of torment. But putting her out of his mind is impossible.

As fall turns to winter, Grace finds that living with the two brothers isn't as simple a thing as she once thought. Jesse still thinks marriage is in the cards, and Rafe is a devilishly handsome distraction she doesn't need. She can't decide if he hates her or wants to kiss her. And how does she avoid breaking Jesse's heart when it becomes clear that the attraction between her and Rafe is mutual?

TAME A WILD HEART by Cynthia Woolf

Catherine Evans fell in love when she was three years old, head-over-heels, forever kind of love. The very first moment she saw twelve-year-old Duncan McKenzie, she told God and her pony that she was going to marry that boy. He was handsome. He was kind. He was strong and smart and all the good things a boy should be. For thirteen years she loved him with every beat of her heart. And on her sixteenth birthday he walked away from her father's ranch and from her. He didn't look back over his shoulder. Not even once. And from that day forward, Catherine swore off all men. Her heart turned to stone, her will to iron, and her vow to God changed. She'd run her father's ranch. She'd succeed. She'd survive. And she would never, ever love another man as long as she lived.

Duncan McKenzie left the ranch ten years ago, desperate to escape temptation in the form of a budding young lady too innocent to claim for his own. But Catherine's frightened father summons him home. The ranch is under attack and the old man's stubborn daughter refuses to seek help. Duncan left a sweet young girl behind a decade ago. He returns to a defiant siren, a woman whose heart is as wild as the land she would sacrifice her life to protect. When Catherine's father coerces her into marrying Duncan, the fire in her eyes spells trouble, but it's the good kind of trouble Duncan has no desire to resist. Marriage is the only way he can protect her. Especially when Duncan's own past comes calling in the form of one dangerous and vengeful outlaw. Catherine's cowardly enemies want the ranch badly enough to kill for it, and his reluctant bride is very much in their way.

SLEIGHT OF HEART by Jacquie Rogers

A Straight-Laced Spinster...
Lexi Campbell, more comfortable with neat and tidy numbers than messy emotions, is determined to find the sharper who ruined her little sister and make him marry her. When his lookalike brother Burke appears, she greets him with a rifle and forces him to help her. Can she resist his magic charm?

A Gambler With Magic Hands...
To claim the family fortune, smooth-dealing Burke O'Shaughnessy has to find his brother Patrick, despite being saddled with an angry spinster. But when Lexie shows and astounding talent for counting cards and calculating odds, he figures she might be useful after all. Can he draw the queen of hearts?

A HERO'S HEART by Sylvia McDaniel

Wade Ketchum is searching for his only surviving sibling when he finds a ready-made family.

Rachel Cooke is stranded on the Oregon trail with three orphans and a rebellious sister, until gambler Wade Ketchum rescues them. The hardened cowboy is searching to find his long lost brother, is out of cash, and has no time for a praying spinster. When Rachel runs out of options, she makes a deal. Wade must pretend to be her husband and help her reach Oregon. But somewhere along the trail, pretending becomes real. Can she help Wade realize that he still has a heart capable of love?

LAYING CLAIM, Halsey Homecoming Series, by Paty Jager

Jeremy Duncan commits to haul one last load of supplies across the great interior of the Yukon before heading home. But, he has to trade his pack animals for sled dogs and leave Skageay in the middle of a blizzard due to one strong-willed, business-minded beauty.

Determined to find her older brother, Clara Bixbee doesn't care how she gets across the pass, as long as she does, and soon. Hiring handsome pack guide Jeremy Duncan seems to be her best choice. Especially after she saves a young girl from being beaten by the local gang leader and needs to escape Skagway fast.

SARAH SUNSHINE by Merry Farmer

She was done with her shameful past...
But Sarah Wither's past isn't done with her. Though she longs for Roy LaCroix--body, heart, and soul--old wounds and fresh battles threaten to end her second chance at an honest life before it begins.

His future is only a heartbeat away...
But how can Roy LaCroix stay true to the woman he's waited for so long when he and Sarah are embroiled in a twenty-year-old feud that threatens to keep the star-crossed lovers apart? Roy must choose: be a man of substance or stay true to his heart.

Only love can stop history repeating itself before it's too late.

CHASING THE DEAD, Bannister Brothers Series, by Keta Diablo

The Apache kidnapped me to dispel and evil ghost from their village. If I tell them I don't possess the same skills my madre did, they'll cut my throat and feed me to the dogs. Celesta was the best spirit chaser in all of New Mexico before she died.

The most I can hope for is that Emmett, my fiancé, will rescue me. Is he capable of such a thing? Poppy must not have thought so because he sent Deacon Bannister to save me. Deacon...the man who walked away days before our wedding a year ago. The man who still melts my bones with one look.

We're running for our lives from Uday, the vaporous ghoul tracking us. He lusts after Sacheen, the beautiful maiden banished from the Apache village who travels with us. The warrior killed her father when Sacheen refused to marry him, and then Sacheen's brother killed Uday.

The ghost's powers grow stronger every minute on our journey back to El Vaquero...and so does my love for Deacon.

THE MOST UNSUITABLE COURTSHIP, Kincaids Series, by Caroline Clemmons

Storm Kincaid wants justice; Rena Dimitriev wants revenge.

When Storm's best friend and the man's wife are murdered, Storm secures a temporary appointment as a Federal Marshal so he can trail and capture the killers. He follows them to twenty-one-year old Rena's home, which is in flames when he arrives. She has survived by following her elderly husband's instructions while the men murdered him. Storm intends to take her to the nearest town where she will be safe.

Rena can identify the men who killed the person who had been her husband in name only and like a grandfather to her, and she vows to kill at least one of them. Whether or not Storm allows her to accompany him, she assures him she will go after the murderers. She is the only person alive who can identify the evil foursome whose policy has been to leave no witnesses. Storm agrees to take her with him. She'll be safer with him to protect her than she would be riding alone.

As a powerful and passionate love blossoms, they unite to rescue three orphaned children, fight the elements, and encounter the killers. Will their love be enough to protect them?

Challenge by Paty Jager

All my life I've excelled when I've been challenged. When my older brother was learning to read, I sat beside him and my mom learning right along with him. He took the Hunter's Safety Test, and the next year I took the class and beat his score. ;) He excelled in band, I excelled in band.  My dad said we had to get 3 point or better GPA, I finished High School with a 3.85.

I like to be given challenges. That's one of the things I like about being an Indie author. I set my challenges

and I strive to meet or beat them. This past month, I struggled with the challenges I'd set for myself. Partly because I jumped on several multi-author projects that put a halt to my schedule. Last week, I took my challenges by the horns. With a struggle and lots of brain muscle, I laid those challenges down.

I have the fourth book in the Shandra Higheagle Mystery Series, Murderous Secrets published, with the paperback coming out in a week. I have the last of the Halsey Brother/Halsey Homecoming series available. This is a Christmas novella titled, A Husband for Christmas: Shayla's story. Those were my projects that didn't get published as I'd planned. But they are out and I can now breathe a sigh of relief.

The multi-author challenges were a Christmas anthology of Historical Western Romance Christmas Novellas Silver Belles and Stetsons on pre-order. And a box set with nine other amazing western authors. The box set, Courting the West is available on pre-order also.  Both the anthology and box set aren't new books for me. The anthology has my Christmas novella, Christmas Redemption. But I took the time to tweak it a bit and add a couple new scenes for people who have read it before. Courting the West has the first book on my Halsey Homcoming trilogy- Laying Claim. This book takes place in the Yukon during the gold rush.

With those challenges out of the way, I now have to make time to promote all the above and write the first two books in my new historical western romance series, Letters of Fate. I've started one of the books and am having fun with the concept and the characters. But it is one more challenge because I am using someone else's world to write this story. It takes some interaction with others and keeping the story true to the original.

My biggest challenge now, is to get these two Letters of Fate books written before December 21st. We're visiting our children and grandchildren for Christmas and I have to get my writing done before we leave.

What was your biggest challenge this year?  Did you face that challenge with tenacity and win?

www.patyjager.net

Writing into the Sunset

Smart Girls Surprise: Western Romance Music, Dance, and Books #western

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Smart Girls Surprise

by Jacquie Rogers

Oooh, do we ever have a surprise for you... well, a few of us at SGRR, anyway.  I can't tell you what it is--I can't even tell you which authors are the culprits--but I can give you a clip of a fun movie.

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers 
Barn Dance

Okay, I do have something that I can talk about, and that's the fabulous boxed set that's coming out October 15.  What's that, you ask?  It's Courting the West, and it's available for pre-order now, so get it while it's 99¢!

My contribution is Sleight of Heart.  I've mentioned the inspiration for the characters--the heroine, Lexie Campbell, is patterned after my mom's sister and the hero, Burke O'Shaughnessy, is a mash up of Maverick, James Bond, and Remington Steele.

But that was after the idea of the story came to me.  And where did it come from?  Heart.

Yes, he's a magic man, Momma.

Yep, we have a lot of good reading for you.  And I've only read half the books in Courting the West, so I'll be buying it, too.  What a deal!  Several of my favorite authors, plus one of my absolute favorite books of all time, which I'll re-read for the umpteenth time because I have no willpower whatsoever, The Most Unsuitable Bride by Caroline Clemmons.  

This is such a win!  I'm happy to be included and ecstatic to get to read all these wonderful stories.  And guess what?

We're Having a Party!

Prizes every fifteen minutes and a grand prize of $50.  You get to schmooze with your favorite authors and talk about books and just about anything else you can think of.  Handsome cowboys, and oh, those chaps.  What could be more fun!  So please join us!

Hearts of Owyhee series

Hearts of Owyhee

Much Ado About Madams

Much Ado About Marshals

Much Ado About Miners

Much Ado About Mavericks

Much Ado About Mustangs

Amazon Author Page

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WHAT'S YOUR OPINION?

By Caroline Clemmons

Stick with me while I explain a bit, and then I need your opinion.

Being self-published means I write what I want and on my schedule. Okay, I’ll admit I’m a slave driver when it comes to setting that schedule, but I have the choice of coasting along if I wish. Another plus to being my own boss is that I can write the type book I wish.

Of course, I still have the book edited, have a cover designer create the cover, buy numerous ads to promote the book, and so forth. Although I love being self-published much more than being with a traditional publisher, that means I deal with the problems that otherwise would be partially handled by my publishing house. I am my publishing house. LOL

Among self-published authors, there is controversy about whether pre-orders are worthwhile or not. So, I’m asking you to weigh in on this issue. 

***Here's where I need your opinion: Do you purchase books through pre-order or wait until the book is released? Please let me know why or why not with a comment.

While I’m talking about pre-orders, let me mention a box set (of which one of my books is part):

COURTING THE WEST is a western historical romance box set at only 99 cents for ten sweet to steamy novels by NYTimes, USAToday, and other bestselling authors. They include Debra Holland, Kirsten Osbourne, Lily Graison, Cynthia Woolf, Jacquie Rogers, Sylvia McDaniel, Paty Jager, Merry Farmer, Keta Diablo, and me—Caroline Clemmons. 

Preorder COURTING THE WEST at Amazon: http://amzn.com/B015JVRIZY

Here are the COURTING THE WEST books with a mini-description and a line from a review followed by my reaction to the book. I must warn you that I’m a fan of every author in this box set:

PAINTED MONTANA SKY by Debra Holland, NYTimes and USA Today Bestselling author.
Can two lonely hearts find their hearts' desire under the majestic Montana sky? "You'll fall in love with this town and these characters."

Debra Holland has never written a bad book. I loved this story about a girl with a limp who sets out to paint wildflowers. I have a limp since my ankle problems, so right away I’m hooked on Lily’s story even though her limp is from a fall from a horse. Then Lily meets a sweet man who is as shy as she is. You’ll love learning how the hero arranges for Lily to be able to navigate the uneven meadows for her painting. This book was quite touching with unforgettable characters.

DAISY (Brides of Seattle series) by Kirsten Osbourne, USA Today Bestselling Author. Can she possibly find love and contentment or is she doomed to a life of regret? "I definitely recommend this book and this series to Everyone!"

This might be my favorite Kirsten Osbourne book—even with so many from which to choose. Daisy Sullivan is one of seven daughters with flower names, known as “the flower daughters” of their socially prominent parents. She longs to be treated as herself and signs up through her aunt Harriett as a mail order bride for Eli King. I was also happy to meet up again with Harriett, who founded the marriage agency in Beckham, Massachusetts and is now living in Seattle. (Sorry, but in my head these are real people.)

HIS BROTHER’S WIFE by Lily Graison, USA Today Bestselling Author. A high society mail
order bride with a 14 year old bridegroom and his devilishly handsome brother all under one roof. What could possibly go wrong? “An emotional roller coaster ride, right up to the end.” ~Charlene Botha

Mail-order bride Grace Kingston barely makes it to her destination to meet her groom. When Jesse Samuels turns out to be a 14-year old boy, Grace is humiliated and devastated. She’s broke and can’t even rent a room in town. She has no alternative but to go to the Samuels ranch with Jesse and his handsome brother, Rafe. The situation sounds humorous, and it is to everyone but Grace, Jesse, and Rafe. In fact, the book is the perfect blend of humor, pathos, excitement, and romance.

TAME A WILD WIND by Cynthia Woolf, Amazon Bestselling Author. Revenge is a dish best served cold. “Love, trust and lust just in the right combo...”

And revenge is a big part of this book, but so is finding true love. Widow Cassie O’Malley needs a foreman and Sam Colter fills the bill. In fact, he is just about perfect. Except for one thing—a killer is after him and willing to destroy anyone Sam values. This is another great Cynthia Woolf story and she holds readers captivated with this quick-paced book.

SLEIGHT OF HEART by Jacquie Rogers, Amazon Bestselling author. A strait-laced spinster, a gambler with magic hands, and a fortune to be won—by sleight of hand, or Sleight of Heart? “It's a full house with romance, high stakes and adventure. You can always count on Jacquie Rogers for some laughs, and she doesn't disappoint...Enjoy the ride!”
~Meg Mims, author of Double or Nothing

This book made me laugh so many times! Lexi is just a fun heroine and Burke is too yummy to forget. I loved the repartee between them and all the subtle twists Jacquie wove into the adventures of this couple. Lexi is loosely based on a math wizard (did you see me shudder after the word “math”) great aunt who was so super smart she worked for the government on a special project. Of course, the aunt who inspired Lexi lived in the 1900s and Lexi in the 1800s. I defy you not to love this book!

A HERO’S HEART by Sylvia McDaniel, Amazon Bestselling author. Wade Ketchum is searching for his only surviving sibling when he finds a ready-made family. A 1996 Golden Heart Finalist.

In my opinion, this is one of Sylvia’s best books. While Wade Ketchum is searching for his brother he finds Rachel Cooke, her sister, and three orphans as the only survivors of a wagon train attacked by Pawnee. Rather than desert them, he agrees to take them to Fort Laramie and leave them there so they can meet and travel with another wagon train. Rachel gets under his skin, though, and he can’t abandon her. When the new wagon master says she can only come if she’s married, Wade has to decide whether or not he’ll take the job. This a great romance.

LAYING CLAIM by Paty Jager, Amazon Bestselling author. Jeremy Duncan heads into the
Yukon Territory by dog team in the middle of a blizzard to keep one strong-willed, business-minded beauty alive. “A wonderful plunge into the Alaskan gold mining era.”

Jeremy Duncan’s sister married into the Halseys and he is eager to prove he’s worthy of the trust that family placed in him. Claire Bixbee has come to Alaska to find her brother after the death of her father. She hires Jeremy as her guide because he’s “the only honest guide” in Skagway. He tries to talk her into waiting until a patch of bad weather is over, but she refuses and he does have a contract to keep in the Yukon. Against his better judgment, he takes on the job. There are surprises along the way and more when they find the brother. This is an adventure romance with enough humor to make you smile and enough danger to keep you on the edge of your seat.

SARAH SUNSHINE by Merry Farmer, Amazon Bestselling author. Only love can stop history from repeating itself before it’s too late…. “Loved Sarah’s story! Makes you
feel good about life and how you can overcome your past.” 5 Stars Amazon Reviewer

Sarah Withers has just served out her contract as a whore at the local saloon and is determined to live a virtuous life now. Roy LaCroix was her best customer and wants to marry her now that she’d free of her former life. Sarah is popular with most of the people in town because she is kind, helpful, and has a sunny disposition. There are always a few, though, who seek to keep people “in their place” and don’t want Sarah to be happy. Sarah and Roy are determined to find a way to live their dream and a group of old biddies are determined to stop them.

CHASING THE DEAD by Keta Diablo, Amazon Bestselling author. A sinister ghost chases
Deacon, Madrid and the Indian maiden, Sacheen, across the desolate landscape of New
Mexico. “The old west and paranormal all wrapped into one page turning book. A five-star read!” The Book Heathens

If you like Southwestern anthropology and archeology as much as those in my family do, this is a story you will dig into to and enjoy. I admire the research that Keta must have done and that flows through the story seamlessly without detracting from the book. I didn’t intend to read the book at one sitting, but I simply couldn’t stop. I can’t wait to read the Bannisters, Book 2.

THE MOST UNSUITABLE COURTSHIP by Caroline Clemmons, Amazon Bestselling author. Storm Kincaid wants justice; Rena Dmitriev wants vengeance. “More than just another western novel. A well-plotted action thriller that's full of romance and passion and peopled by very likable characters.”

I wanted this story to differ from any of my others, and it does. At least, in my opinion. Storm is chasing a group who killed his best friend and the friend’s wife when he finds Rena. She had hidden from the men who killed the elderly man who was more like a grandfather than husband. She vows to trail and kill the men for what they did whether Storm lets her accompany him or not. The only way he can protect her is to let her go with him.

These are previously published books, but even if you’ve read one in the past, you can’t go wrong at this bargain price. I read all of the books in the ARC, even those I’d read previously, and love this set! I hope you will too. COURTING THE WEST offers everything: heartstopping action, humor, and romance. 

***Don't forget to tell me whether or not you pre-order books and why. 

So Much Fun Coming My Way! by Paty Jager

I am so excited for the Holidays and 2016!

The holidays will bring two new Christmas Novellas from me. Secrets of a Christmas Box with Isabella Mumphrey my Indiana Jones/ MacGyver female anthropologist who finds adventures.

And A Husband for Christmas, a novella to finish off my Halsey Brother Series. Shayla Miller Halsey returns to Sumpter with a fun-loving Englishman. She discovers she would rather have strong arms and security than pulling pranks.

I'm in an anthology, Silver Belles and Stetsons with a novella I've revised and added new material to. Christmas Redemption was a fun story to write and one that makes me happy every time I finish working on it and reading it.

Tagline:  Can two battered hearts find solace or will the past continue to haunt their lives?

I'm in a box set with nine other talented writers.  It will be titled Courting the West.  My historical romance, Laying Claim set in the Yukon Territory in 1899 will be in the box set.
Tagline:

Jeremy Duncan heads into the Yukon Territory by dog team in the middle of a blizzard to keep one strong-willed, business-minded beauty alive.

And then I'll have my fourth Shandra Higheagle Mystery releasing soon. Murderous Secrets.
Tagline: After visiting her relatives at the reservation and the adamant statement from a friend of her father’s, Shandra discovers things about her father’s death that makes her believe it wasn't an accident.

I have a Holiday Facebook Party Scheduled for November 8th on my Facebook Fan Page. You can sign up to join the party or join my Fan page. There will be author guests, virtual drinks and goodies, and real prizes.

January 2016 will kick off my new historical western romance series, Letters of Fate. I'm excited about this new series. As the series title says, the hero and heroine are brought together through letters. Each letter will be received by the hero and his life will be changed forever.