Desperate in Delaware

Thank you for having me as your guest today, Alethea.

When I was a child, my dad used to talk about events from his family after they left Georgia in 1876 and came to Texas up through his lifetime. I wish I had taken better notes! Dad’s stories fascinated me—and still do. I think he is the main reason I have such a love for history.

In addition, I had two wonderful history teachers. The first was Mr. Shelton in eighth grade world history. The second was Dr. Cullen Holden my freshman year at Texas Tech. Dr. Holden despaired that we weren’t learning enough Southwestern history and lectured on that in addition to what was in our history textbook. This meant a lot of extra studying but I loved it and it hooked me even more on Texas and Southwestern history. That love has continued. I simply never get enough new information about the years 1866-1899 in particular, but prehistory up through today in general.

I’m sure it’s no surprise that many of my books are historical romances.  My latest release, DESPERATE IN DELAWARE, Yours Truly: The Lovelorn Series, is set primarily in Palo Pinto County, Texas. For those who have no idea where that is, it is two counties west of Fort Worth, Texas. My husband and I have gone on Palo Pinto County Historical Society Tours several times. In our opinion, it’s a fascinating area. 

Let me share a blurb of DESPERATE IN DELAWARE:            

I will wait no longer! Since my parents’ death I’ve been living with my sister’s family. I help care for her home and her adorable children. But, when will I have my own husband and children? There is not even one eligible man near my age in our small town. I hear the snickers and hurtful remarks—old maid, spinster, on the shelf. My cousin sent me a newspaper clipping from a Yours Truly: The Lovelorn’s column. Imagine my surprise when the letter to the columnist read as if I had written it. I’ll do it—I’ll follow the Lovelorn’s advice and change my location. I’ll go to Texas to visit my cousin. I refuse to watch my life disappear until I’m left with only regrets!

The Universal Amazon buy link is https://mybook.to/Mina The book is available in e-book, print, and is enrolled in KU.

***I’ll give away an ebook to one person who comments on this blog. Be sure to leave your full name and/or email so I can contact you by private message if you win.***

Here’s an excerpt of the hero and heroine’s meeting:

After a harrowing ride, they arrived at Palo Pinto. When the stage stopped, she waited until the other passengers stepped out before she climbed down. There was Cindy to greet her. The tall man with Cindy must be her husband, Bert Kennedy.

Cindy ran forward and hugged her. “I’m so glad you’re here. I know you’re exhausted but I promise you’ll be glad you’ve come.”

Mina laughed with pleasure at seeing her cousin once more. “I hope so because I’ll never ride that stage again. Well, not for a while anyway.” She stood on tiptoe to accept Bert’s kiss to her cheek.

“I’m happy to finally meet you.” He grinned at her. “We left the twins with our housekeeper so we’d better load your trunks and get home before she gives notice.”

Bert called to a tall man standing nearby. “Austin, make yourself useful and give me a hand with this luggage.”

The man, who wasn’t bad looking, gave her a long scan from head to toe and back up then stared from the pile of luggage back to her. “You plan on opening a store or did you just bring everything you ever owned?”

She started to give him the sharp side of her tongue but Cindy interrupted.

“Miss Mina Faye Stapleton, this is our good friend, Austin Wright. Austin, Mina is my favorite cousin and she’s moving to Palo Pinto.”

Mina’s pique evaporated. She laughed and nudged Cindy. “Are you still stealing my line? I’m the one who only has one cousin while you have two.”

She sobered and glared at the rude man. “How do you do, Mr. Wright?”

“I do fine, Miss Stapleton. Good thing I’m here. Bert could have killed himself if he’d tried to load these trunks alone.”

As if the man hadn’t left Mina aghast with his latest rudeness, Cindy linked arms with Mina’s. “Let’s leave them to their job and walk to the house. It’s only a short way.”

Here’s a bit about me:

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 two rescued indoor cats and dog as well as providing nourishment outdoors for squirrels, birds, and other critters.

The books she creates have made her a bestselling author and won awards. She writes sweet to sensual romances about the West, both historical and contemporary as well as time travel and mystery. When she’s not writing, she loves spending time with her family, reading her friends’ books, lunching with friends, browsing antique malls, delving into genealogy, checking Facebook, and taking the occasional nap. Find her on her blog, website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Pinterest.

Join her and other readers at Caroline’s Cuties, a Facebook readers group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/277082053015947/ for special excerpts, exchanging ideas, contests, giveaways, recipes, and talking to like-minded people about books and other fun things.

Click on her Amazon Author Page for a complete list of her books and follow her there.