The Bride Brigade series by Caroline Clemmons follows seven courageous women who journey to Tarnation, Texas, in search of second chances and true love. United by hope and friendship, each heroine’s story is a heartwarming blend of romance, resilience, and small-town charm on the Texas frontier. If you love strong women, loyal friends, and happily ever afters, you’ll adore the Bride Brigade!
Book 1: Josephine
A desperate escape. A new beginning in Texas. Can trust and love blossom after a lifetime of fear?
Josephine Nailor will do anything to protect herself and her best friend from the oppressive fathers who control their lives. When a newspaper ad offers hope, the two young women seize the chance to flee their tiny hometown for Richmond, and ultimately, a new life in Tarnation, Texas. With the help of the wealthy and kind-hearted Lydia Harrison, Josephine and six other women join the Bride Brigade, each hoping for safety and a fresh start.
Michael Buchanan, mayor and owner of the local mercantile, is proud of his growing town but longs for a partner to share his life. When he meets Josephine, he’s immediately drawn to her spirit and beauty. But Josephine’s painful past has left her wary—especially of men in power. As attraction grows between them, Josephine must decide if she can let go of old fears and embrace the happiness she deserves.
Will Josephine’s mistrust keep her from a future with Michael, or will love help her find the courage to claim her place in Tarnation?
Book 2: Angeline
A woman with a troubled past. A minister in need of hope. Can love heal wounds and defy judgment in a frontier town?
Angeline Chandler never asked for the heartache that changed her life, but she’s left alone and destitute after a brutal attack and her family’s rejection. When a kind woman offers her a second chance in Tarnation, Texas, Angeline dares to hope for a future—even as she carries another man’s child.
Grady McIntyre, the town’s minister, is struggling to raise his young son after his wife’s passing. When Angeline is suggested as a nanny, Grady seizes the opportunity. Their attraction is immediate, but Angeline believes a man of faith deserves a virtuous woman, not someone with her past.
As they build a new life together, gossip and prejudice threaten their happiness. When danger strikes, Angeline and Grady must stand together to protect their family and fight for the love they’ve found.
Book 3: Cassandra
A desperate plan… A masquerade to achieve a goal… Lies that create a web…
Cassandra Bradford has the cast off wardrobe to pose as a lady. Her goal is to marry a wealthy man who can provide her young brother with a sound future. Drat the luck! The first man she sees in Tarnation is a dusty cowboy who sends her heart pounding. Not for her. She has a better life in mind. Samuel Drummond is one of the wealthiest ranchers in that part of the state, but he wants that kept quiet. His first wife married him for his money then left when she became bored with ranch life. He won’t let that happen if he remarries. He intends to find a woman who wants him no matter how poor she thinks he is. When both Cassandra and Sam learn omissions the other has made, there are fireworks between them. They must work through their anger and hurt to achieve happiness.
Book 4: Ophelia
A woman fleeing her painful past. A self-made man with dreams of a brighter future. Can hope and love bridge the gap between two hearts in Tarnation, Texas?
Ophelia Shipp is determined to leave her troubled past behind and find safety, a loving husband, and a home of her own. Traveling halfway across the country, she arrives in the small town of Tarnation, Texas, believing anything must be better than what she left behind. All she wants is a respectable, gentle man who will help her build the family she’s always longed for.
Elias Kendrick knows what it means to struggle. After a difficult childhood, he’s built a thriving business empire in Tarnation, owning both the saloon and the opera house. Now, he’s ready to settle down and create the loving home he never had. But finding the right woman isn’t easy—especially when he and Ophelia seem so different on the surface.
As Ophelia and Elias are drawn together, they must look past their differences and learn to trust in the promise of a new beginning. Will they find lasting love, or will the shadows of the past keep them apart?
Book 5: Rachel
A woman haunted by a shameful past. A former Pinkerton agent seeking peace. Can love heal old wounds in dusty Tarnation, Texas?
Rachel Ross carries a secret that haunts her every step. Leaving behind a troubled past in Virginia, she joins a group of women traveling west to Texas for object matrimony, determined to rebuild her life far from judgment and suspicion. In the dusty town of Tarnation, Rachel finds a place she can call home—and a man who stirs feelings she thought long buried.
Zane Evans, a former Pinkerton agent, has seen the darkest sides of humanity during the war and his career. Now, he seeks a quiet life in Tarnation, but meeting Rachel challenges everything he thought he wanted. When a startling event reveals Rachel’s hidden past, Zane must decide if he can forgive her silence and embrace the woman he’s come to love.
Book 6: Lorraine
A woman escaping an unwanted marriage. A stubborn newspaperman. Will ambition and attraction spark a love story in Tarnation, Texas?
Lorraine Stuart refuses to be forced into a marriage with a man she can’t stand. Fleeing her home state, she joins a group of women journeying to Tarnation, Texas—a town full of bachelors but lacking eligible women. Lorraine dreams of finding a man who will appreciate her wit and her secret talent for writing, even if she must hide behind a pseudonym. Out of all the men in Tarnation, it’s the most obstinate—yet intriguing—newspaper owner who captures her heart.
Grant Pettigrew has poured his soul into building the Tarnation Gazette. He’s fascinated by Lorraine’s spirit and beauty, but he’s not about to let a woman write for his paper—or hire anyone he can’t afford. As their paths cross, sparks fly between two equally determined souls. Can Lorraine and Grant overcome pride and stubbornness to build a future together, or will their ambitions keep them apart?
Book 7: Prudence
A gifted healer seeking acceptance. A skeptical doctor guarding his heart. Can love and trust grow in a town divided by tradition and progress?
Prudence Lynch has always lived on the edge of society, trained by her beloved grandmother in midwifery and folk medicine. Ostracized and plagued by rumors, Prudence dreams of a fresh start after her grandmother’s death. When she’s chosen to travel with Lydia Harrison to Tarnation, Texas, she believes she’s finally left trouble behind and can establish her healing practice in peace.
Doctor Riley Gaston is dedicated to his community and longs for a wife and family, but he’s wary of anything that challenges his medical training. When he meets Prudence, he’s captivated—until he learns her profession is folk healing, which he considers dangerous and worthless. Both are stubborn, and their clash of beliefs threatens to keep them apart.
But when trouble strikes Tarnation, Prudence and Riley must reconsider their opinions and work together to save those they love. Will they find common ground in time, or will pride and prejudice cost them their chance at happiness?
Why Readers Will Love the Bride Brigade Series
Compelling, Courageous Heroines
Each book in the Bride Brigade series introduces a new heroine with a unique backstory—women who have faced hardship, scandal, or heartbreak and are determined to build a better life. Whether escaping a painful past or seeking a second chance, these women show remarkable resilience and strength as they forge new paths in the frontier town of Tarnation.
Emotional Second Chances and Redemption
Readers are drawn to the deeply emotional journeys of the characters, many of whom carry secrets or shame from their former lives. The series explores how love, trust, and community can help heal old wounds and offer hope for the future.
Authentic Historical Settings
Caroline Clemmons transports readers to late 19th-century Texas with vivid descriptions of small-town life, local customs, and the challenges of settling in a rugged land. The fictional town of Tarnation, nestled near the Palo Pinto Mountains, feels real and alive, making each story immersive and engaging.
Heartfelt Romance and Community Spirit
The Bride Brigade series is built around the idea of community—women supporting women, neighbors banding together, and townsfolk welcoming newcomers. The romances are sweet yet passionate, with each couple overcoming obstacles and learning to trust in love again.
Diverse, Interconnected Stories
With seven books in the series, readers can enjoy a tapestry of interconnected lives and relationships. Characters from earlier books often reappear, allowing fans to revisit favorite couples and watch the town of Tarnation grow and change over time.
Unique Take on the Mail-Order Bride Trope
The premise—a group of carefully chosen women traveling together to a Texas town in need of wives—offers a fresh spin on the mail-order bride genre. The stories blend romance with themes of independence, friendship, and the courage to start over, making them especially appealing to fans of historical romance with strong female leads.
Uplifting Endings and Satisfying Epilogues
Each book wraps up with a well-crafted, heartwarming conclusion, often featuring epilogues that tie up loose ends and show the ongoing happiness of the couples and their community.
Readers who love historical romance, stories of women’s independence, and tales of hope and new beginnings will find the Bride Brigade series a rewarding and memorable journey.
Available As A Bundle
Buy the whole series from Amazon at once.
Related Series You’ll Love
If you’re enchanted by the spirited heroines and heartfelt romances of the Bride Brigade series, you’ll also love these other captivating western sagas by Caroline Clemmons:
Men of Stone Mountain, Texas
Follow the Stone brothers as they face danger, justice, and love on the untamed Texas frontier. Perfect for readers craving adventure and passionate romance.
Loving a Rancher
Step into the world of ranch life with stories of hope, resilience, and unexpected love, set against the sweeping landscapes of the West.
The Kincaids
A sweeping family saga filled with loyalty, second chances, and enduring love, all set in the heart of the Old West.
Reader Reviews
“The Bride Brigade series is a delightful blend of strong women, heartwarming romance, and small-town charm. Each book is a joy to read!”
— Amazon Reviewer
“Caroline Clemmons creates heroines you can root for and heroes you’ll fall in love with. I didn’t want the series to end!”
— Goodreads Reviewer
Discover more uplifting stories of courage, friendship, and happily ever after in Caroline Clemmons’s beloved western romance collections.
About the Author
Caroline Clemmons brings authentic Texas flavor to every story, drawing from her life in North Central Texas cowboy country. Her extensive research into frontier history and deep love for the Lone Star State shine through in every page of this beloved series.
More from Caroline: Browse All Series | Meet Caroline
