Today I’m excited to share with you Patricia Beal’s upcoming release – Desert Willow. I enjoyed her debut contemporary romance and you can read my Inspy Romance recommendation for A Season to Dance here.
Book Description
After a failed engagement, Captain Andrew Lee James has focused on building a career in the Army he loves. That commitment includes helping a feisty, out-of-work ballerina whose devotion to her grandmother’s dying wish immediately grabs his heart. She’s the one, but will he be able to win the heart of a woman who has vowed to never be involved with a soldier?
College graduate Clara Malone swore to never love anyone in the military again but when her dying grandmother asks her to deliver a love letter to the general who broke her heart decades ago, she agrees and finds herself escorted by a handsome Army captain whose kindness challenges her beliefs. Surrounded by desert willows that shower her path with pretty pink flowers and sing with the buzzing of hummingbirds, Clara enjoys the wild beauty of El Paso—and her time with Andrew—more than expected.
Can she deliver her grandmother’s last love letter without losing her heart to a man who represents everything she fears?
Narelle’s Thoughts
I’m a Patricia Beal fan and I loved reading Desert Willow. The story is set at a military post in El Paso, Texas, and opens with Clara flying in from Cincinnati to hand deliver an important letter from her grandmother. The letter is addressed to a colonel who had been her grandmother’s first love in Brazil.
The elderly colonel has health issues, and his daughter in El Paso gives Clara the option of staying in El Paso until the colonel is well enough to fly in and meet Clara.
Clara is a ballet dancer who has completed her studies but failed to land a job in a ballet company. She’s broke, her mother is in Brazil with her dying grandmother, and the opportunity to temporarily stay in El Paso is too good to refuse.
Andrew is a military man who has a strong faith. Sparks fly when he meets Clara, and the physical attraction is strong. Their romance is sweet and I loved how they communicated with each other and discussed important issues, including faith issues. Andrew is looking for a wife, but there are many complications. Clara doesn’t share his faith and his ex-fiance, who isn’t a believer, is back in his life.
The characters are realistic in their struggles with temptation. If they made unwise choices in the past, they were living with the consequences of their decisions. Sexual temptation and adultery are issues that are addressed in the story from a Biblical perspective. The story also includes end of life themes.
I enjoyed learning more about military life in Texas and the ballet world. I highly recommend Desert Willow to readers who like Christian contemporary romances with strong and realistic faith elements in the story.
To learn about Desert Willow, please visit Patricia Beal’s website. Here’s the Amazon pre-order link.
Have you read many contemporary romances with military heroes and/or heroines?
An aside: I live in Canberra, Australia, and our Emergency Services have issued warnings about severe bush fire risks for today (Saturday). It’s possible we may lose power and internet/phone access. If I’m offline and not replying to comments today, this may be the reason. Please pray for us in Australia. Too may lives have already been lost in South-Eastern Australia from the massive out-of-control fires.
A fun loving Aussie girl at heart, Narelle Atkins was born and raised on the beautiful northern beaches in Sydney, Australia. She has settled in Canberra with her husband and children. A lifelong romance reader, she found the perfect genre to write when she discovered inspirational romance. Narelle's contemporary stories of faith and romance are set in Australia and international locations.
Sounds good! thank you for sharing
Hi Tracy, You’re very welcome, and I hope you’ll have an opportunity to read Desert Willow. 😊
Happy New Year Narelle! Having had a house fire in 1997, I watch in horror at the devastation of life and property in Australia. My thoughts and prayers are with you and all Australians. While our fire was devastating, my parents and brother still had their own and the community was still standing. The effects of global warming are everywhere – Australia, Europe, and in the Midwest. In Michigan we are experiencing an usual warm winter, which creates havoc on the Great Lakes with its all time high water levels. Shorelines are eroding and homes are washed away. Thanks for sharing Patricia Beal’s works. A new author to this avid reader. Praying for your safety and peace of mind.
I’ve been praying for all of you, stay safe!
I have this on my TBR list. Thank you for sharing.
Prayers for Australia! The news from Down Under is as sobering as it is horrifying. Take care…
Thank you so much! Stay safe, friend. These fires are so heartbreaking and scary…
Praying for you!
And oh my goodness, I had no idea she has one coming up and love that it’s military!!
Sounds really good, thanks for sharing your review.
Praying for Australia!!! This book sounds good!! Thanks for sharing!!
Narelle, praying for you all in Australia.
Hi all, I’ll be back ASAP to reply to your individual comments. Air quality here is hazardous and I have some family stuff to take care of this morning. All your prayers are very appreciated. ♥️
It’s been a while since I read a contemporary romance with a military hero. A genre I do enjoy reading though.
Hi Lucy, It’s releasing in February – not long to wait! 😊
Hi Renate, wow, I had not heard about homes being washed away on the Great Lakes – very sad and scary 😞. I’m sorry that you’ve experienced a house fire and understand how the Aussies who have lost homes are feeling. Thank you for your prayers – they are very appreciated. I hope you’ll have a chance to read Patricia’s book. 😊
And, Happy New Year!
Hi Paula, thank you! We are safe in Canberra and are thankful we haven’t lost power or had fires close to us. We’re staying indoors because the air quality is hazardous from the smoke and experts are saying it’s the equivalent to smoking 25 cigarettes a day… When I’ve had to leave the house today, I’ve carried a damp hand towel to cover my nose and mouth. Our city is getting new supplies of P2 face masks tomorrow but we’re being told to stay indoors. All prayers are appreciated. 😊
Hi Valerie, Thank you! Yes, the fire situation is scary and heartbreaking and we still have a long way to go… Praying for rain to break the drought and put out the fires.
Hi Patricia, You’re very welcome. 😊 We will stay safe and stay indoors.
Hi Toni, I’m glad you now know about Patricia’s second book, Thanks for your prayers. :)
Hi Megan, You’re very welcome. I hope you’ll have a chance to read Desert Willow. 😊
Hi Trudy, You’re very welcome, and we appreciate your prayers. 😊
Thank you, Merrillee. 😊 Your prayers are appreciated.
Hi Trudy, You’re very welcome & we appreciate your prayers. 😊
Hi Mary, It was awhile since I’d read one, too. I hope you’ll have an opportunity to read Patricia’s book. 😊