Do you smell that? Spring is in the air. The flowers are blooming.
The trees are budding. No matter where you live, in the spring time everything
is new, fresh and clean. Even in the desert.
I grew up in central Texas and there is nothing in the world
like wildflowers across the Texas countryside. Acres and acres of blue, red and
yellow blanketing the hills. Beautiful.
Picture courtesy of
Lisa Block
When I first left Texas, twenty-five years ago, I thought
I’d seen my last flower covered landscape. After all, I was moving to the land
of cactus and tumbleweeds. Surely there wasn’t anything beautiful about an
Arizona spring. Boy was I wrong. As much as I loved spring in Texas, I’ve
learned to love Arizona springs just as much. There is just something different
in the air during spring time in the desert. I love the smell of the creosote
when it first blooms, the cactus flowers, the yellow blossoms on the palo verde
trees. I love it all. Instead of
blankets of blue, we have blankets of orange. At least, I say orange. My
husband says yellow. It’s something we argue over ever spring.
Photo by DMallen
I’ve learned that each place has its own unique way to
celebrate spring, so I’d love to hear what your favorite thing about the season
is where you live.
Of course, this spring I have a special reason to celebrate.
March marks the release of my debut novel, “Her Texas Rebel.”
He left so fast, she never got the chance to tell him...
He abandoned her when she needed him most, just as she'd discovered she was pregnant with his baby. And now, ten years later, Sabrina Davis has returned home in search of refuge for her at-risk son as the struggling single mother works toward becoming a nurse. Except Tony Montoya, now a cop, has also returned to Salt Creek, Texas.
Recovering from being shot in the line of duty, Tony plans to use this time in his hometown to make amends for the trouble he caused as a youth. Amends that included breaking Sabrina’s heart. But trouble seems to follow the police officer no matter where he goes, and he doesn't want to hurt the woman he never stopped loving...or the son he just found.
He abandoned her when she needed him most, just as she'd discovered she was pregnant with his baby. And now, ten years later, Sabrina Davis has returned home in search of refuge for her at-risk son as the struggling single mother works toward becoming a nurse. Except Tony Montoya, now a cop, has also returned to Salt Creek, Texas.
Recovering from being shot in the line of duty, Tony plans to use this time in his hometown to make amends for the trouble he caused as a youth. Amends that included breaking Sabrina’s heart. But trouble seems to follow the police officer no matter where he goes, and he doesn't want to hurt the woman he never stopped loving...or the son he just found.
Available now at:
And to celebrate spring, I’ve teamed up with Tara Randel,
Cerella Sechrist and Kate James to bring you a special spring giveaway.
I can’t wait to hear what is special about spring where you
live!
Good morning, LeAnne. Congratulations on your new book. It sounds so good and I love your cover! In TN spring comes early. I love the way the light is now and all the flowering trees are in bloom. The Bradford pears are spectacular. Enjoy your desert. AZ is one of my favorite places.
ReplyDeleteI just love Tennessee! My best friend lives in KY, but close enough to the TN border that I get to enjoy both places when I go to visit her. The green there is so green that it almost hurts my eyes! Your comment reminds me of the song my kids used to sing in preschool about popcorn popping on the trees. I bet it's gorgeous!
DeleteYour photographs are beautiful, LeAnne, and you're right, spring really gladdens the heart. A very apt title for your March release, Love in Bloom, which sounds like an excellent read! All the best with it!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Janice. The picture of Texas bluebonnets is from my friend Lisa's family ranch. I just love her pictures and lucky for me, she loves to share. The Arizona picture is by a photographer I follow on Flickr. Some people really know how to capture the beauty of the desert!
ReplyDeleteI love the smell of spring. The air seems so fresh, the sky so blue, and everything green and bright. Your debut book is a great read. **recommend**
ReplyDeleteYes! The smells of spring! It is second only to the smell of the desert after a monsoon rain!
DeleteThanks so much!!!!
In Alaska, we call it breakup and it usually happens in April. Days are getting long. The geese come back. The snow starts to melt. Once it's gone, every bit of litter and mess that got left in the snow over the winter is exposed. Warm days and cold nights mean icy parking lots. It's probably the ugliest time of the year, and yet we're thrilled because even before the snow is completely gone from the flowerbeds, the perennials are popping up and we know very soon it will be green and beautiful. Gardeners are gathering seeds and starting bedding plants. Fishermen are tying flies and making plans. Summer is coming.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your debut book. I loved it.
Thank you Beth! One of the things on my husband's bucket list is to visit Alaska. Maybe not in the spring though, lol.
DeleteHi LeAnne! I love spring because it means summer is right around the corner. Flowers are definitely my favorite thing about spring. The snowdrops come up first (they are blooming now) and then the daffodils, which have sprouted but aren't quite flowering yet. Bring on the sunshine! Congrats on your debut novel. Love the premise and I'm excited to read it.
ReplyDeleteSummer is my favorite season, so that's another reason to love spring! I'm right in the middle of Christmas in the Cove (yes...I'm very far behind on my reading!) but I'm loving it!
DeleteThere's nothing more beautiful than wildflowers. I especially enjoy them along the roadside while traveling. Congratulations on your debut, LeAnne. I can't wait to read it!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Jill! And congratulations on yours too!
DeleteLeAnne, congratulations on your debut release, and hopefully it's the first of many more releases to come!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing the beautiful spring pictures. Since it's a little too early for spring flowers outdoors where I live, but I'm anxious for spring, I bought a potted bunch of crocuses, and they're starting to bloom! :)
I'm thrilled to share a release month with you, Tara, Cerella and Jill.
Thank you Kate. I'm so grateful to have you wonderful ladies surrounding me this month. :)
DeleteI love the abundance of flowering trees here in NC. The landscape really comes to life in Springtime. I also appreciate that the days are lengthening so I spend more time outside.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your new release.
Thanks so much Laurie! When I lived in Yuma, AZ, the orange trees were always blooming and not only were they beautiful, they smelled great too. I don't see me flowering trees in my part of Arizona now. Longer days....YES!
DeleteI love the pictures...and spring! Congratulations and good luck on the release!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Liz!
DeleteWOW. Love the photos, love spring and just got your book from Amazon. Congrats! I can't wait to read it!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful spring flowers! Congrats on your release!
ReplyDeleteIf I ever left Pennsylvania, I know there's so much I'd miss about the seasons here. But I also think that each place has its own special beauty and seasonal rhythm. I'm so excited for your debut release, LeAnne, and to be sharing this release month with you! :)
ReplyDeleteI love that it's a time for regrowth - to start again. It's like waking up to a clean slate and you can write whatever story you want and work through the chapters to see how it ends. Glad you were persistent each "spring" to keep writing so we can now enjoy the fruits of your labors. :)
ReplyDelete