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Olivia Stewart risks everything to accomplish her dreams. She’s tired of being pitied because she’s been jilted, tired of teaching other people’s children without any of her own. When she signs with a matrimonial agency, a letter from Jamie Fraser sounds perfect. A widower with two young children will give her a head start on the family she’s determined to have. But Colorado holds surprises for Olivia that endanger her goals and even her life. Rancher Jamie Fraser is shocked to learn his mother has written for a mail-order bride for him. He has two children and no plan to marry again. Ever! His late wife taught him women can’t be trusted. Even his beloved mother isn’t above tricking her sons to achieve her heartfelt ambitions. Now he’s stuck with a wife he didn’t want—a stubborn woman bent on changing his home and his life. Can two strong people at odds achieve happiness? Angel Springs, Colorado is a small town that inspires big dreams. Olivia and Jamie just might find their dreams meld to form a powerful and enduring love..
197 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 6, 2015
72 people are currently reading
56 people want to read
About the author
Caroline Clemmons
139 books383 followersThrough a crazy twist of fate, Caroline Clemmons was not born on a Texas ranch. To make up for this tragic error, she writes about handsome cowboys, feisty ranch women, and scheming villains in a small office her family calls her pink cave. She and her Hero live in North Central Texas cowboy country where they ride herd on their rescued cats and dogs. The books she creates there have made her an Amazon bestselling author and won several awards. Find her on her blog, website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Google+, and Pinterest.
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Click on her Amazon Author Page for a complete list of her books and follow her there.
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Subscribe to Caroline’s newsletter at www.carolineclemmons.com to receive a FREE novella of HAPPY IS THE BRIDE, a humorous historical wedding disaster that ends happily—but you knew it would, didn’t you?
She loves to hear from readers
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
October 13, 2015
Four women are duped by Mrs. Fraser as they think they were corresponding with her sons. Four sons are tricked by their mother as she orders them surprised mail order brides. They meet the women the evening before their morning wedding.
No one is happy and they have no problem showing it.
Jamie and his kids need a good kick in the pants, and Olivia is the perfect person to deliver it. And boy is she good at whipping that family of 3 into shape.
Sometimes Jamie needed a slap up side the head. He was ridiculous at times and thank heavens Olivia put on her armor, bucked up, and bounced back from her idiot husband's comments.
My only complaint- I wish that the story had been longer so we could fully buy into the love part. Oh- and I wish all of the series had been written by one author- so far I like this author's story the best between books 1 & 2.
No one is happy and they have no problem showing it.
Jamie and his kids need a good kick in the pants, and Olivia is the perfect person to deliver it. And boy is she good at whipping that family of 3 into shape.
Sometimes Jamie needed a slap up side the head. He was ridiculous at times and thank heavens Olivia put on her armor, bucked up, and bounced back from her idiot husband's comments.
My only complaint- I wish that the story had been longer so we could fully buy into the love part. Oh- and I wish all of the series had been written by one author- so far I like this author's story the best between books 1 & 2.
August 4, 2022
I would have loved this book more if Jamie wasn’t so absolutely pig-headed. Very narcissistic.
If it would have just been in the beginning where he was used to being single and had a rough go of being thrown into a relationship, and he realized his faults, but it wasn’t like that at all. It took a near death accident to happen and then all the sudden he changed? Wasn’t very convincing. I loved her though!!
If it would have just been in the beginning where he was used to being single and had a rough go of being thrown into a relationship, and he realized his faults, but it wasn’t like that at all. It took a near death accident to happen and then all the sudden he changed? Wasn’t very convincing. I loved her though!!
November 20, 2019
It was ok, I may finish the series at a later date.
October 5, 2015
Good story!
This is one of my favorite historical authors, the story line was great, but it felt rushed at times. Editing was lacking in some parts. I still recommend this book and plan on reading the other three in the series.
This is one of my favorite historical authors, the story line was great, but it felt rushed at times. Editing was lacking in some parts. I still recommend this book and plan on reading the other three in the series.
December 14, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. I am excited to read the others in the series. I like the plot line and the characters. The way each other combines the other characters from the other books is amazing. I hope they do this again.
October 18, 2015
Greatly enjoyed
I thoroughly enjoyed enjoyed this one of the quartet. All four were good but this one was very involving. You were there in the overhang looking for food and warmth.
I thoroughly enjoyed enjoyed this one of the quartet. All four were good but this one was very involving. You were there in the overhang looking for food and warmth.
October 17, 2015
Jamie, by Caroline Clemmons, is the first book in the Series, The Surprise Brides.
5 Stars
This story takes place in Colorado in 1880.
The Surprise Brides is a set of four books, each written by a different author telling the story of one of four brothers and his “surprise” bride. This whole idea of my favorite authors coming together and collaborating on this multi-faceted story is exciting. From the prologue to the end of Jamie’s story there are tantalizing tidbits that spark the reader’s curiosity about this thrown-together family and builds anticipation for the next story.
Jamie is the oldest of the brothers and so to me his and Olivia’s story seemed to be the reasonable one to read first. Each book is a stand-alone story, but the way the stories naturally blend, you cannot read just one and stop.
Kind of like eating potato chips.
In the prologue we learn Fiona Fraser decided to take the problem of her poor, lonely, unmarried sons into her own hands and surprises each one with his very own mail order bride. You can imagine the ruckus when these unexpected wives-to-be arrive at the Fraser home and are presented to the four, self-reliant, independent Fraser men, none of which felt he needed a wife at this particular time in his life. Each of Fiona’s sons have good reason not to be happy with the situation his mother is forcing upon him.
Jamie has been married before and the only good thing to come out of that challenging union was his two beautiful but undisciplined children. Mama Fraser appears to be quite proud to announce that Olivia is a teacher in her introduction to her oldest son. Olivia will soon realize that between the scars Jamie suffers from his first experience with marriage and the unruly children her heart goes out to, that her work to make this marriage a happy and loving one will not be easy.
Olivia steps up to the challenge when her mother-in-law injures her leg and must take to her bed. As Olivia manages the household and makes progress with the children’s behavior, she falls in love with her new family and husband. She doesn’t realize her love and courage will be tested in a most severe way that could end in tragedy if she fails to protect all she holds dear.
Will Jamie recognize the blessing he received when Olivia entered his life? Will their marriage ever become the union they both long for? Will tragedy bring an end to their story?
All the questions are answered in this well-plotted and beautifully told story. I was captured from page one and my interest did not waver once throughout the story. This is a book for someone that enjoys stories of big families filled with big personalities lots of changes. I look forward to reading more of this family’s adventures.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015...
Jamie is the first book in the Series, Surprise Brides.
5 Stars
This story takes place in Colorado in 1880.
Surprise Brides is a set of four books, each written by a different author telling the story of one of four brothers and their “surprise” bride. This whole idea of my favorite authors coming together and collaborating on this multi-faceted story is exciting. From the prologue to the end of Jamie’s story there are tantalizing tidbits that spark the reader’s curiosity about this thrown together family and builds anticipation for the next story.
Jamie is the oldest of the brothers and so to me his and Olivia’s story seemed to be the reasonable one to read first. Each book is a standalone story, but the way the stories naturally blend, you cannot read just one and stop. Kind of like eating potato chips.
In the prologue we learn Fiona Fraser decided to take the problem of her poor, lonely, unmarried sons into her own hands and surprises each one with his very own mail order bride. You can imagine the ruckus when these unexpected wives-to-be arrive at the Fraser home and are presented to the four, self-reliant, independent Fraser men, none of which felt they need a wife at this particular time in their lives. Each of Fiona’s sons have good reason not to be happy with the situation their mother is forcing upon them.
Jamie has been married before and the only good thing to come out of that challenging union was his two beautiful but undisciplined children. Mama Frazer appears to be quite proud to announce that Olivia is a teacher in her introduction to her oldest son. Olivia will soon realize that between the scars Jamie suffers from his first experience with marriage and the unruly children her heart goes out to, that her work to make this marriage a happy and loving one will not be easy.
Olivia steps up to the challenge when her mother in law injures her leg and must take to her bed. As Olivia manages the household and makes progress with the children’s behavior she falls in love with her new family and husband. She doesn’t realize her love and courage will be tested in a most severe way that could end in tragedy if she fails to protect all she holds dear.
Will Jamie recognize the blessing he received when Olivia entered his life? Will their marriage ever become the union they both long for? Will tragedy bring an end to their story? All the questions are answered in this will plotted and beautify told story. I was captured from page one and my interest did not waver once throughout the story. This is a book for someone that enjoys stories of big families filled with big personalities lots of changes. I look forward to reading more of this family’s adventures.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015...
The other three brothers' books are:
The Surprise Brides: Caleb by Callie Hutton http://amzn.to/1KvP4id.
The Surprise Brides: Gideon by Cynthia Woolf http://amzn.com/B015JLMQBU
The Surprise Brides: Ethan by Sylvia McDaniel http://amzn.com/B015PG1FOI
All four books are available in print and also from Nook, iTunes, and Kobo.
Mary Adair is the author of the award winning, bestselling Native American Passion series set in the Colonial Carolina and England. She and her husband live on the side of a mountain in Eastern Oklahoma with a menagerie of pets.
5 Stars
This story takes place in Colorado in 1880.
The Surprise Brides is a set of four books, each written by a different author telling the story of one of four brothers and his “surprise” bride. This whole idea of my favorite authors coming together and collaborating on this multi-faceted story is exciting. From the prologue to the end of Jamie’s story there are tantalizing tidbits that spark the reader’s curiosity about this thrown-together family and builds anticipation for the next story.
Jamie is the oldest of the brothers and so to me his and Olivia’s story seemed to be the reasonable one to read first. Each book is a stand-alone story, but the way the stories naturally blend, you cannot read just one and stop.
Kind of like eating potato chips.
In the prologue we learn Fiona Fraser decided to take the problem of her poor, lonely, unmarried sons into her own hands and surprises each one with his very own mail order bride. You can imagine the ruckus when these unexpected wives-to-be arrive at the Fraser home and are presented to the four, self-reliant, independent Fraser men, none of which felt he needed a wife at this particular time in his life. Each of Fiona’s sons have good reason not to be happy with the situation his mother is forcing upon him.
Jamie has been married before and the only good thing to come out of that challenging union was his two beautiful but undisciplined children. Mama Fraser appears to be quite proud to announce that Olivia is a teacher in her introduction to her oldest son. Olivia will soon realize that between the scars Jamie suffers from his first experience with marriage and the unruly children her heart goes out to, that her work to make this marriage a happy and loving one will not be easy.
Olivia steps up to the challenge when her mother-in-law injures her leg and must take to her bed. As Olivia manages the household and makes progress with the children’s behavior, she falls in love with her new family and husband. She doesn’t realize her love and courage will be tested in a most severe way that could end in tragedy if she fails to protect all she holds dear.
Will Jamie recognize the blessing he received when Olivia entered his life? Will their marriage ever become the union they both long for? Will tragedy bring an end to their story?
All the questions are answered in this well-plotted and beautifully told story. I was captured from page one and my interest did not waver once throughout the story. This is a book for someone that enjoys stories of big families filled with big personalities lots of changes. I look forward to reading more of this family’s adventures.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015...
Jamie is the first book in the Series, Surprise Brides.
5 Stars
This story takes place in Colorado in 1880.
Surprise Brides is a set of four books, each written by a different author telling the story of one of four brothers and their “surprise” bride. This whole idea of my favorite authors coming together and collaborating on this multi-faceted story is exciting. From the prologue to the end of Jamie’s story there are tantalizing tidbits that spark the reader’s curiosity about this thrown together family and builds anticipation for the next story.
Jamie is the oldest of the brothers and so to me his and Olivia’s story seemed to be the reasonable one to read first. Each book is a standalone story, but the way the stories naturally blend, you cannot read just one and stop. Kind of like eating potato chips.
In the prologue we learn Fiona Fraser decided to take the problem of her poor, lonely, unmarried sons into her own hands and surprises each one with his very own mail order bride. You can imagine the ruckus when these unexpected wives-to-be arrive at the Fraser home and are presented to the four, self-reliant, independent Fraser men, none of which felt they need a wife at this particular time in their lives. Each of Fiona’s sons have good reason not to be happy with the situation their mother is forcing upon them.
Jamie has been married before and the only good thing to come out of that challenging union was his two beautiful but undisciplined children. Mama Frazer appears to be quite proud to announce that Olivia is a teacher in her introduction to her oldest son. Olivia will soon realize that between the scars Jamie suffers from his first experience with marriage and the unruly children her heart goes out to, that her work to make this marriage a happy and loving one will not be easy.
Olivia steps up to the challenge when her mother in law injures her leg and must take to her bed. As Olivia manages the household and makes progress with the children’s behavior she falls in love with her new family and husband. She doesn’t realize her love and courage will be tested in a most severe way that could end in tragedy if she fails to protect all she holds dear.
Will Jamie recognize the blessing he received when Olivia entered his life? Will their marriage ever become the union they both long for? Will tragedy bring an end to their story? All the questions are answered in this will plotted and beautify told story. I was captured from page one and my interest did not waver once throughout the story. This is a book for someone that enjoys stories of big families filled with big personalities lots of changes. I look forward to reading more of this family’s adventures.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015...
The other three brothers' books are:
The Surprise Brides: Caleb by Callie Hutton http://amzn.to/1KvP4id.
The Surprise Brides: Gideon by Cynthia Woolf http://amzn.com/B015JLMQBU
The Surprise Brides: Ethan by Sylvia McDaniel http://amzn.com/B015PG1FOI
All four books are available in print and also from Nook, iTunes, and Kobo.
Mary Adair is the author of the award winning, bestselling Native American Passion series set in the Colonial Carolina and England. She and her husband live on the side of a mountain in Eastern Oklahoma with a menagerie of pets.
August 19, 2023
very nice
This was a very nice book to read by Caroline Clemmons. A surprise bride is about Jamie and Olivia. Neither one knew they were going to merry each other. This was all set up by Jamie’s mother. She wanted her four sons to merry, so she wrote letters to the brides. All of her sons were surprised about there brides. This is a very good read.
This was a very nice book to read by Caroline Clemmons. A surprise bride is about Jamie and Olivia. Neither one knew they were going to merry each other. This was all set up by Jamie’s mother. She wanted her four sons to merry, so she wrote letters to the brides. All of her sons were surprised about there brides. This is a very good read.
October 9, 2021
Lovely story
Caroline Clemmons has the ability to write and develops characters that the reader can believe are real and fall in love with. Another well developed story. I have not found a book by the author In have not liked. This story I love.
Caroline Clemmons has the ability to write and develops characters that the reader can believe are real and fall in love with. Another well developed story. I have not found a book by the author In have not liked. This story I love.
February 27, 2022
Love This Story
This story catches your interest from the start. I could picture each person from their descriptions. I could relate to the feelings and incidents also. Very well written!
This story catches your interest from the start. I could picture each person from their descriptions. I could relate to the feelings and incidents also. Very well written!
April 25, 2022
Another day, another book!
I enjoyed reading "Jamie: The Surprise Brides" (Book #1) by Caroline Clemmons. It was a fun, quick read - and the heroine managed to save the day, and the life of her new stepson. Will be starting "Caleb" (Book #2) next!
I enjoyed reading "Jamie: The Surprise Brides" (Book #1) by Caroline Clemmons. It was a fun, quick read - and the heroine managed to save the day, and the life of her new stepson. Will be starting "Caleb" (Book #2) next!
November 3, 2019
Loved this story
I adored this story, Olivia s patience, humor, and maturity were absolutely wonderful. Jamie certainly had blinders on when it came to his children.
I adored this story, Olivia s patience, humor, and maturity were absolutely wonderful. Jamie certainly had blinders on when it came to his children.
December 26, 2019
3.5 stars
March 3, 2023
Great read!!
July 20, 2025
Fabulous book. I really enjoyed it
March 25, 2022
The Surprise Bride: Jamie
I enjoyed this book from one of my favorite authors. Jamie and Olivia were fun characters to follow and I enjoyed the storyline along with the development of their love story which lead to their HEA. JudyE
I enjoyed this book from one of my favorite authors. Jamie and Olivia were fun characters to follow and I enjoyed the storyline along with the development of their love story which lead to their HEA. JudyE
December 11, 2015
I liked this book by Caroline Clemmons as she writes about Jamie, one of the four brothers in the Surprise Brides series. Jamie's mother orders a mail-order bride for each of her four sons. The boys don't find out until the women arrive at the start of a blizzard. In order to protect their reputations, the men MUST marry them, whether they want to or not. To refuse would dishonor not only the four women, but also their mother's reputation. Jamie has been married previously and has two young, unbehaved, unruly children who need order in their lives. Jamie is the oldest son, the bossiest son, and quite honestly, needs a strong woman to stand up to him. He's forgotten how to have fun, forgotten how to laugh, forgotten how to relax and enjoy life. Olivia helps him reclaim who he is and learn to live again.
I loved this story and this series. Each book in the series is similar but has its own story to share. It is not a "if you've read one, you've read them all" type series. I've enjoyed three of the four books and will be finishing with Gideon shortly. I have not been disappointed.
I loved this story and this series. Each book in the series is similar but has its own story to share. It is not a "if you've read one, you've read them all" type series. I've enjoyed three of the four books and will be finishing with Gideon shortly. I have not been disappointed.
September 27, 2015
Part of family story continues
I have never read Caroline CLemmons before she has a great flow to her work. Part of her contribution to this family series, was Jamie the oldest. A father and a widower full of responsibilities and burdens who finds a strong wife to help him heal his heart.
I have never read Caroline CLemmons before she has a great flow to her work. Part of her contribution to this family series, was Jamie the oldest. A father and a widower full of responsibilities and burdens who finds a strong wife to help him heal his heart.
September 10, 2016
Great short read with all the fixings of a sweet love story!
March 1, 2019
Wow this book was something. Some men just need to be hit upside the head. Jamie is one of those men too. He is so in denial it isn’t funny. I am so glad that Olivia is the right women to put him into his place so to speak.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews