Our theme for the month is April Showers, and I adore the rain. Especially early in the morning on days when I can sleep in. That's a blessing I always treasure. But showers, storms, whatever you want to call them, bring much more and they are some of my favorite things...
Flowers.
I don't care what kind they are, or what color, or how cheap, I love them ALL. And as long as my husband gets me flowers on Valentine's Day, I couldn't care less what else he gives me. There's something about them that just makes my heart sigh.
My favorites are Texas wildflowers. God bless my state and what happens in the Spring, because nothing else equals it. Not in my opinion anyway. My absolute favorite flower is the Bluebonnet.
Growing up, we'd go on "bluebonnet hunts". We'd search for the best fields that showcased all of the beauty God had to offer and got to tour Texas at the same time.
One of the coolest places to visit is the Antique Rose Emporium. They've been a nursery for over a hundred years and have centuries old roses. I can wander the Emporium's meandering paths for hours, and I'm not even a gardener. (My mother is and if I could, I'd show you her backyard, but the freeze took it.)
And all of this gorgeousness inspired the talent of the heroine in the book I'm releasing on May 7th. It's available for pre-order right now...
MR. PIERCE'S HERO
Corinne Taylor has a secret. And it must be protected. If her
mother discovers what Corinne has been hiding, Hell will not describe the place
in which she will find herself. Beulah, Corinne’s mother, has proclaimed
herself “queen” of Pike’s Run, and no one crosses her, especially not her
daughter.
And while Corinne does what she can to guard her secret, her best
efforts aren’t enough. War comes to Pike’s Run and the Taylor household when
Beulah learns of her daughter’s betrayal. The battle that ensues forces Corinne
to seek help from a new arrival.
Jonathan Pierce, a successful lawyer, has come to Pike’s Run
looking to find solace from his past. When Corinne asks for his support, her
innocence and bravery call to the needs within his broken spirit, and he can’t
turn her down. She is capturing his heart, but if she ever learns of his
cowardice, she will reject him, killing any hope he has left of finding love.
Excerpt
Once Jonathan had crossed the bridge over the stream, he caught sight of a figure
walking down the road, heading toward him. His senses came alive when he
recognized Miss Taylor. He gritted his teeth and tried to foster indifference
to her appearance.
She faltered in her steps when she saw him, but then picked up
the pace. “Mr. Pierce,” she hailed.
Hadn’t he given her permission to call him Jonathan? He stopped
in the road near a copse of maple and sprawling live oak and waited for her to
reach him. Perhaps she didn’t remember that he’d asked her to use his given
name. Until she did, he wouldn’t use hers. It was too intimate, and by the way
his body reacted to her swaying hips and smooth complexion, he needed distance.
“Afternoon, Miss Taylor.”
She halted five feet from him. Her gaze searched his face,
scanned the area around them.
She looked confused. Or uncertain.
“Is something wrong?”
He saw her swallow, and the need to shield her and knock the
teeth out of the person who dared upset her came over him. How anyone could
torture this lovely creature escaped his reason. He took a deep breath and
tried to rein in his fury on her behalf. Her fight was not his.
“My m-mother intends to use my garden tomorrow.” Her eyes went
wide with fear.
Her gaze pleaded with him, but what did she want him to say?
He’d already advised her on what to do. “I’m sorry.” He didn’t know how else to
respond.
“I have to tell her she has no right to,” she rasped.
He inclined his head once, easily detecting the tremble in her,
and he wanted to slay her dragon for her. He would have no problem telling the
woman any interference would be considered trespassing, but…this was not his
war.
Miss Taylor’s shoulders slumped, and she pressed two fingers
into each temple. “I can do it. I can stand up to her.”
The words sounded like a litany she repeated to herself. They
weren’t an assurance for him. “Of course, you can,” he offered, but he really
had no idea of the stuff of which she was made.
She let out a slow breath then drew in another deeply. After a
few moments, she lowered her arms to her sides and lifted her chin. “Would you
like to see it?”
“Your roses?”
She nodded.
“Of course.”
Aware she gave him an opportunity only a handful of others had
experienced, he didn’t dare turn down her offer. He should, though. In fact, he
should be going on his way, putting distance between himself and a woman who
tugged at his basic needs and protective side.
But instead of heeding good sense, he followed her. She headed
into the lush trees to his right, and he lifted his brow in surprise. He’d
stopped near the path that hid her handiwork? He hadn’t even realized it. Stunned
with how well disguised the trail was, he checked his surroundings in case he
needed to get his bearings on the walk back.
He had to duck under sprawling branches, and if he hadn’t had
the owner leading him, he would have missed the footpath buried under fern and
ivy. They wound among the trees, the forest thick enough that they had to walk single
file.
When hedgerows appeared, she unlatched a gate and let him in.
He hadn’t gone two steps before amazement struck him. He stopped in his tracks
and stared at the beauty.
Was it acceptable to even breathe amidst this labor of love?
The blooms were open to the five o’clock sun streaming in. The bright orange
light danced off of shades of purple, pink and red. Yellow dazzled the eye,
along with peach and white.
He felt a nudge at his elbow. He looked down, and the smile
directed up at him put the flowers to shame.
“You can walk around. You won’t hurt them.”
The teasing glint in her eyes made his mouth tip up at the
corners. He couldn’t stop himself from glancing at the luscious curve of her
lips. Warmth spread through him, but he turned away, avoiding the lust curling inside.
Instead of a reply, he went down the stone walk, allowing the glory of her
handiwork to delight his eye.
He paused at different varieties, noting the shape of the
petals or how they lay against each other. Their fragrance wafted around him,
making him want to sit and soak up their loveliness. Which was odd.
When he reached the center, he turned and found her several
paces behind him. She hadn’t said a word as he’d explored. He could only
describe the expression on her face as one of pleasure. She seemed glad she’d
shared her haven with him.
“You did all this?”
She nodded, a blush staining her cheeks.
Even standing amidst the evidence of her talent, modesty
enveloped her. He couldn’t help the slight smile that formed. “It’s magnificent.”
“Thank you.”
Should he venture into her world and help her? If he did, he
feared the safety of his heart. Still, he couldn’t hold back. “And you can’t
let your mother do…whatever it is you suspect she will do.”
His words made dismay flit across her lovely features. He
wished he could recall what he’d said, but it was the truth.
“I know,” she replied, her voice hoarse with
feeling.
BUY MR. PIERCE'S HERO
And you can enjoy the first eleven books in the series, as well! Visit Pike's Run, Texas, and you'll get a bit of Little House, a dash of Anne of Green Gables and tons of romance!
TEXAS BRIDES OF PIKE'S RUN SERIES
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