Monday, July 28, 2014

The Most Unsuitable Wife - Teaser Tuesday & First Chapter, First Paragraph, Tuesday Intros

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I do love historical western romances, especially those set in Texas, so I knew I'd enjoy THE MOST UNSUITABLE WIFE by Caroline Clemmons. What I liked best about this book was the strong heroine. Pearl has been responsible for taking care of other people her whole life, and she doesn't back away from challenges. But her self-sufficiency causes trouble. Drake is completely clueless when it comes to knowing what Pearl wants. He tells her: "I didn't ask you to change who you are. But couldn't you have tried to fit in a little until I got home? Go to a few tea parties and listen to women prattle? How hard could that be?" For Pearl, it's like punishment! A mystery adds tension to the plot--why are bad guys trying to cause Pearl harm?

THE MOST UNSUITABLE WIFE is Book One of The Kincaids Series, and I'm looking forward to reading the others soon.

FIRST PARAGRAPH:
Texas hill country, March 10, 1878
     "Marry by my thirtieth birthday or lose this ranch to my worthless uncle?" Seething with rage and betrayal, Drake Kincaid stepped off the porch of his ranch house, glared back at his grandfather and cousin Lex. "How could my own flesh and blood put me in this position? All I've worked for hangs by a wedding ring and a lace noose."

TEASER from 24% on my Kindle. 
"He--well, he hates me for having the nerve to turn down his marriage proposal four years ago. Dessie hates me because she knows he asked me before he proposed to her."

Genre: Historical Western Romance
Length: 248 Pages
Amazon Link: The Most Unsuitable Wife
Other Books by Caroline Clemmons: Amazon Author Page

Synopsis from Amazon:
Sensual Western Romance: Pearl Parker has to get her rag tag family away from Piper's Hollow, TN before more mischief finds them. Drake Kincaid's surprise proposal offers the solution she needs. But neither Drake nor Pearl realize trouble will follow them to Texas or why. Pearl is not the wife Drake's grandfather envisioned when he ordered Drake to marry by his 30th birthday. Pearl is not the meek wife Drake envisioned and he soon learns she has a mind of her own. Humor, adventure, murder, kidnapping and arson invade the passion this couple shares.

Most Unsuitable Bride Cover Oops! This book has a new cover! It's gorgeous, isn't it?



  

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86 comments:

  1. Sounds like an event-filled page turner. Sounds like you enjoyed it! My teaser

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    1. Heather, this story has a bit of everything - hunky hero, admirable and beautiful heroine, romance, humor, murder, kidnapping, arson, family, and a cast of secondary characters I love.

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  2. You definitely got my attention with this one! I don't often read historical fiction, but I like the sound of this one...and on a superficial note: love that bed on the cover! LOL

    Here's mine: “EVERGREEN”

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    1. I like that bed too. Looks like a comfy cozy place to snuggle.

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    2. I also love that bed, but the newest cover has a man and woman on it with a lavender background to match the heroines eyes.

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    3. Laurel, I do hope you'll give THE MOST UNSUITABLE WIFE a read. If you do, please let me know whether or not I've converted you. ☺

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  3. Not my type of read, but I do like Historical Fiction. Hope you enjoyed it! :)

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  4. Thanks for featuring me on your blog, Sandra. I think I should tell you that is an old cover and there's a terrific new one I love designed by Kim Killion.

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    1. Hi Caroline,

      I'm not sure which cover I prefer, although on the new version, the expression on Pearl's face, is priceless!

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    2. Ooops! Sorry I picked up the older cover. I'll find the new one and see if I can add it to the post.

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  5. Love your teaser, Sandra! This seems like a great read, thanks for sharing!

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  6. Love this teaser! Definitely adding it to my TBR list. I don't read a lot of romance, but this sounds like it has just about everything you could ask for in a good Western romance. Thanks for coming by my Teaser.

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    1. It's a good story with fascinating characters. I think you'll enjoy it.

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    2. Laura, I hope you will read and enjoy THE MOST UNSUITABLE WIFE. I love the Kincaids and this book launches the family's stories.

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  7. Hi Sandra,

    I quite like a good historical romance, from time to time, although I must admit that the Western slant to the story is not necessarily so easy for me to relate to.

    I do like the idea of a strong, feisty heroine and a slightly clueless hero, who manages to counteract her very well, without really knowing he is doing so!

    The only real Western romances I have read, are written by author Meg Mims and from what I can see, I am certain you would enjoy them ... I'll leave some links so that you can check them out.

    http://www.fiction-books.biz/reviews/my-thoughts-about-double-crossing-by-meg-mims/

    http://www.fiction-books.biz/weekly-memes/mailbox-monday/new-on-the-shelf-at-fiction-books-this-week/

    Thanks for sharing and enjoy the story,

    Yvonne

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    1. Thanks for the links, Yvonne. These sound like books I'd enjoy.

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    2. Yvonne, I love Meg Mims as well. If you enjoyed her books, you'd enjoy mine and that of many of my fellow writers including Jacquie Rogers, Debra Holland, Sylvia McDaniel, Kirsten Osbourne, Merry Farmer, and Callie Hutton. Give us a chance.

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  8. I'll probably check this one out, I LOVE historical romances and some western in it just sounds appealing to me! ;)

    Thanks for sharing and here's my TT! :)

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    1. Silvia, I hope you will check out THE MOST UNSUITABLE WIFE. I worked hard to research and write this book.

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  9. This sounds like an exciting story! I like strong female leads and it sounds like Pearl is just that. I would keep reading.

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    1. Pearl is an admirable character who you'll enjoy getting to know. This is a good story.

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    2. Pearl is strong--she's had to be--but she is also compassionate and kind. She is one of my all time favorite heroines. I based her on a tiny kernel of a story my grandmother told me about a woman in her tiny Tennessee village. The story of what happened when Pearl was born was true, I'm sad to say. Grandmother didn't know what happened to the girl, so I wrote a happy ending for her. One of the great things about being a writer!

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  10. The cover is gorgeous. I wonder what kind of character Drake is. Please don't say he's a bad guy...
    Here's my teaser.
    Kero @ Kero's Book Blog

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    1. Without giving anything away, I can say that Drake is a good guy. He's just a little bit clueless about Pearl until he gets to know her better.

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    2. Drake is a wonderful man and handsome as can be. At the start of the story, he's angry that his parents' will included a ridiculous stipulation. His cousin Lex accompanies him, and Lex has a cool head. One thing Drake doesn't know is how to treat a real woman because his mom was snobbish and shallow. He thinks all women are like her. Pearl surprises him.

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  11. I have not read a western historical in awhile. This one sounds like it would be a lot of fun.

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    1. Nise', I hope you'll give THE MOST UNSUITABLE WIFE a try.

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  12. Great teaser. sounds like an interesting read. I love historical romance. Thanks for stopping by my TT http://cynthiastacey.com/2014/07/29/teaser-tuesday-july-29/

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    1. Thanks you, Cynthia. I hope you love my historical romances.

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  13. Hmm.. sure fire way to find an unsuitable wife I would have thought... Like the intro and the teaser, I do hope you are enjoying the ride. Thanks for visiting my TT http://cleopatralovesbooks.wordpress.com/2014/07/29/teaser-tuesday-july-29/

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    1. Definitely an enjoyable book. I plan to read the whole series (as time permits!)

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  14. Sounds rally good, and with conflicts galore. Thanks for sharing.
    Thanks for stopping by earlier, Sandra. Happy reading.
    Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews

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    1. Lexie Lin, yes THE MOST UNSUITABLE WIFE has lots of conflicts and obstacles. But it is a romance, so you know there's a happily-ever-after.

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  15. I may have to check this out. I love a good marriage of convenience story.

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    1. Suzie, so do I and I hope you find this one to your liking.

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  16. Sandra, you always seem to share the best western novels. In reading the first paragraph, I could already see the film in my mind; I like when authors pain lucid pictures and settings :) Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Caroline Clemmons is such an excellent writer. You'll love anything she has written.

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    2. Claudia, thank you for the lovely compliment. I hope you'll read THE MOST UNSUITABLE WIFE and that you enjoy the book.

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  17. I'm not a big romance reader, but I loved how that intro was so very Texas!

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    1. Except for the novella LONG WAY HOME, each of my books takes place primarily in Texas. Think of THE MOST UNSUITABLE WIFE as a mystery, adventure, women's fiction, with romance thrown in. ☺

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  18. Hmm... I'm not much for Historical Romance or Westerns but this situation sounds like something I've been through before lol! Thanks for sharing :)

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    1. Oh, I hope you haven't been through what Pearl has experienced!

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    2. My heart is stabbed by your comment, Amanda. ☺ Try this one, won't you? I might convert you.

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  19. That sounds like a difficult situation ! Lol

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    1. At times a person will cut off his nose to spite his face. Don't worry, Drake learns his lesson and becomes a wonderful husband--eventually.

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  20. Great teaser! Nothing like a good historical romance. Thank you for stopping by. :)

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    1. Jess, I'm glad you like historical romance. I hope you also like western historical romances.

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  21. "Marry by her 30th birthday." I imagine that, if in those days, a woman wasn't married by 30 she was either destined to be a spinster, or she REALLY didn't want to marry for some reason. So your teaser intrigued me.

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    1. No, the hero must marry by his thirtieth birthday. He barely makes the deadline. Pearl is not the biddable wife he envisioned and teaches him a lot about women and himself.

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  22. Guys who claim they don't want to change you, but prove themselves wrong in the same sentence drive me nuts.

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    1. Drake didn't want to change. He went kicking and screaming and surprised the heck out of himself when he realized he liked the new person he'd become.

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  23. Great Teaser!! Here's mine.

    http://disturbia0509.blogspot.com/2014/07/teaser-tuesday-729.html

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  24. sounds like he's been issued a challenge. enjoy your book. Kelley at the road goes ever ever on

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    1. Kelley, I hope you'll accept the challenge as well and read the book. Thanks for commenting.

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  25. Thank you for commenting madame vaquer.

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  26. Awesome first chapter-and teaser! I feel sorry for her, it's not her fault that the guy proposed to her first! Thanks for stopping by! Happy reading!

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    1. What's funny is that the man who proposed to Pearl (and who she declined) is a minister. He and his wife launched a campaign against Pearl and the young people she has taken under her wing. The reverend and his wife are not nice people--to put it mildly.

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    2. As Sandra explained, the passage isn't about the man Pearl married, but a small-minded man in her home village. Pearl is surprised when Drake proposes, but snaps up his offer as soon as he agrees to let her family accompany them to Texas.

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  27. Sounds like a story that will pull you right into the drama.

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  28. This looks great. I love Western Romances. One of my favorites is one that Nora Roberts wrote, but this looks pretty good too.

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    1. Even being mentioned in the same sentence with Nora Roberts is a high for me. She is one of the reasons I wanted to write romance. MONTANA SKY is one of my faves of her books.

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  29. Although I'm not a huge historical fiction fan, I do love western historicals and this sounds really good.

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    1. Yvonne, thank you. I hope you will give THE MOST UNSUITABLE WIFE a chance and that you enjoy reading the book.

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  30. Not a fan of westerns or romances so this is probably a NO for me. I hope you enjoy it and am happy you decided to join us this week.

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  31. Diane, different strokes and all that. Thanks for commenting anyway.

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  32. Uh oh. I'm not a tea party going gal either. LOL
    sherry @ fundinmental

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    1. Not many of us are. Pearl wants to be productive, and she is. Poor Drake has to learn to adjust, but he finds the trouble is worth the happiness.

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  33. Ooh, sounds like an awesome read!! I'll have to check that one out!

    Thanks for stopping by my TT @ Addicted Readers!

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    1. Alicia, thanks for commenting. I hope you give my book a read.

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  34. I've never read any historical romance before, but would like to try a new one. I'm sure that genre will help me a lot to understand other country's old history and culture. You made a very good teaser, giving us a little hint about Pearl's trait by quoting Drake's request to her. Personally, I like the first cover (one with the bed) more than the second. It looks much more romantic and girlish in certain way :P
    thanks for checking out my blog!

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    1. The first cover was provided by the original publisher. When the rights reverted to me, I had to furnish a new cover. I like both, but prefer the latest one. I hope you'll try THE MOST UNSUITABLE WIFE and that you'll enjoy reading about Pearl and Drake. Theirs is the first of a series I intend to continue for quite some time.

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  35. This sounds like the centuries old dilemma of what a man expects a woman to be...and what they want for themselves!

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    1. Pearl wants to be a good wife, but she has her ideas of what that entails. Drake expects her to be as snooty as his mom. Fortunately, she isn't.

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  36. Your pick sounds good! Thanks for stopping by Shut Up & Read!

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    1. Sheri, thank you for commenting on THE MOST UNSUITABLE WIFE. I hope you'll give this book a read.

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  37. I enjoy reading marriage of convenience stories! Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Cassie, I love them also, and have written several. I hope you'll read Pearl and Drake's story.

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  38. This sounds like a great read! I love strong heroines. :) I definitely like the new cover better, too. Great teaser!!

    Rachel @ Paper Cuts

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    1. Rachel, thank you so much for your comment. Pearl is a strong heroine. She is kind, compassionate, and a truly good person. After enduring hardship all her life, I was glad to give her a happily-ever-after with Drake.

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  39. Ooh... this guy proposed to her too.... awkward!

    Thanx for visiting my TT
    Naomi @ Nomi’s Paranormal Palace

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    1. And they say nothing's worse than a woman scorned, but a petty man scorned is by far worse in this case. Fortunately, she finds a good man but has to train him. Isn't that always the case? ☺

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