Hello November from Guest LeAnne Bristow

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A big, warm welcome today to our guest LeAnne Bristow!

Hello and Happy November! November is my favorite month because it hosts two of my favorite things, Thanksgiving and Fall. Yes, I know that fall technically started at the end of September, and since my birthday is in October, that should be my favorite month. But I live in southeastern Arizona and it really doesn’t feel like fall into November. Sometimes not until mid-November.

If I get an overwhelming urge to see fall colors before then, we pack up the truck, hook onto the camp trailer and make the 4 hour drive to the “Alps of Arizona.” Alpine is a small town nestled in the White Mountains and is one of my favorite places in the world. At an elevation of over 8000, it provides an escape from the heat during the summer, a haven for hunters in the fall and spring and a place for desert rats to experience snowboarding and skiing in the winter.

Photo by Chris English

The series I write for Harlequin Heartwarming is inspired by Alpine. Coronado is a fictional town, but in it, you will see why I love Alpine and the White Mountains so much. The latest book in the series takes place in the fall. While I was hoping that the book release would be closer to Thanksgiving, I was still pretty excited to write anything fall related.

When Randon Farr returns to Coronado, in Her Hometown Soldier’s Return, all he wants to do is fix up his family cabin, sell it and get far away from the town that looked down on him and the woman he let down. Millie Gibson has loved her brother’s best friend since she was eight years old. When he joined the military, he promised he would come back for her. Now he’s back, but he’s too broken to keep that promise.

The nurturing instinct that makes Millie a great nurse won’t let her abandon Randon, whether he wants her to or not. She promises to help him learn to deal with his PTSD symptoms, even if it means enabling him to leave Coronado for good.

In true western hospitality, Randon is never left alone for too long, whether it’s Millie, or the Ladie’s Auxiliary who insists on making sure his refrigerator is always full, men from the local church who want to help him with the repairs on his cabin, or some troubled boys from the nearby trailer park who see Randon as their mentor.

There are so many things I loved in this story, but getting to add my favorite sights, sounds and smells of fall made this book extra special.

I would love to share this story with you.

AMAZON

I’m giving away a copy of Her Hometown Soldier’s Return to one lucky commenter.

To be entered, tell me your favorite things about fall!

LeAnne Bristow writes sweet and inspirational romance set in small towns. When she isn’t arguing with characters in her head, she enjoys hunting, camping and fishing with her family. Her day job is a reading specialist, but her most important job is teaching her grandkids how to catch lizards and love the Arizona desert as much as she does.

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70 thoughts on “Hello November from Guest LeAnne Bristow”

  1. I love November. Days are cooler, Thanksgiving, and my birthday are just a few of my favorite things about fall.

  3. My favorite thing about fall is the vibrant colors. I was disappointed they weren’t quite as brilliant as usual where I live this year, but it varies, depending on what the weather has been like.

    • Yes, yes, yes! I love the fall colors. Sadly, I’m still waiting for them to hit here. But they are gorgeous up in Alpine, so I need to go back. I hope yours come soon.

  4. The colors of fall, the cooler weather, the fragrance of fall, the expectations and gratitude of Thanksgiving are all things I love about fall.

  5. The best part of fall is apples! I buy a bushel and make applesauce, apple pies for Thanksgiving and Christmas, apple bread, and apple crisp. I also love the smell of fall…the fresh air, the leaves and the smell of wood burning stoves.

  7. As a native Arizonan I totally relate to your love of the fall season. My favorite part of fall, besides the fact that the weather is finally cooling off, is gathering with family and friends to celebrate all of the things we are so grateful for and enjoying God’s beautiful creations here in Arizona.

    • Hi Karin!!!! So nice to see a fellow Arizonan!!! There is nothing like the cooler weather right now! Although it was 22 degrees at my house this morning, so I was a little cold!

    • Yes! Hallelujah to that!!!! I’m in the southeastern corner, so it doesn’t get quite as hot here as it does closer to Phoenix, thank goodness!

  12. In Minnesota, it is the change of seasons that I love. Fewer tourists in the area, less noise on the lakes, less traffic, and the beginning of nature blossoming in all her beauty. It is magical. I like the feeling of solitude as well. Walking by the lakes, four wheeling, visiting a horse rescue ranch, and decorating the outside of our house. Thank you for coming today. I’ve enjoyed getting to know you as a new author to me.

    • Hi Kathy!! It sounds like you have the best fall plans!!! I’m jealous! And, of course, it clears out up north, because they all head to AZ for the winter, lol!!!!

    • Hi Kathy! It sounds like you have the best fall plans! I’m super jealous! And, of course, it’s not as crowded up there. That’s because they all come to Arizona for the winter, lol!!!!

    • Hi Kathy! It sounds you have the best fall plans! I’m jealous! Of course, it clears out up north…that’s because they all come to Arizona for the winter, lol!!!

    • Hi Kathy! You sound like you have the best fall plans! I’m jealous! Of course, it gets clearer there because they all come to Arizona for the summer!
      I hope I won’t be a “new to you” author for long. 😉

    • Hi Kathy, It sounds like you have the best fall plans! I’m jealous! Part of the reason it gets clearer up there is because they all come to Arizona for the winter, lol! And I hope that I’m not a “new to you” author for long and look forward to getting to know you!

  14. This sounds like a very exciting story I would love to read. I have long been in love with northern Arizona, since our trip to Kingman, Az for a job. Kingman was interesting, but not to my liking. I grew up in Iowa with lots of green grass and farmland, as my father was a farmer. The bare ground, and perpetually dry lips and throat were not a fond memory. Flagstaff is a whole other scene. We arrived in June, in the midst of a snowstorm, and we were wearing shorts! Anyway, your story is the tale of many veterans, coming back from war. My son included.

    • Hi Judy! I lived in Yuma for 8 years, so I totally get what you mean about the bare ground! I thank your son for his service! My husband and daughter are veterans, too.

  15. I live in southern Arizona and I also love fall because I get to wear my long pants and socks. Today I even wore a sweatshirt to work (it was 32 degrees this morning).

  16. I love the colors and smells of fall. Dry leaves, fresh cut corn fields, wood fires (in stoves or fireplaces) and apples on the trees or cooking tell me fall is here with the fun of Halloween and Thanksgiving family gatherings.

    • Corn fields! That’s something I forgot all about! I will add that to my list of fall things. Fall is just so great for family, don’t you think?

  18. The best thing about Fall is that it is a little cooler weather and not the heat we have most of the year. I also like hot cocoa and pumpkin pie.

  19. Hello and welcome! Your book sounds like a very good read and I love your book cover! I love fall because of the cooler weather, the changing of the leaves and it means it is getting closer to the Holidays which I love for family gatherings.

    • Hi Alicia. Of all my books in the Coronado series so far, this cover is definitely my favorite! I’m still waiting on the leaves to change here in my town, which is why I have to head up to Alpine ever so often to really enjoy fall.

    • I don’t get a lot of changing leaves where I live, which is why we have to head up to the mountains for a few days. At least I’m getting so cooler weather! Have a great day!

  21. My favorite things about fall are the cooler temps, the beautiful leaves and gaining an extra hour of sleep. Thanks for the chance to win a book.

  23. Hi guys! I’m hoping this comment will go through. I’ve been trying to respond to your wonderful comments, but I’m having some difficulties. I’m hoping a separate post will work and maybe it is just the replies that aren’t working. ?

  25. I love seeing the leaves change colors, and then watching as the fall through the air on windy days. That, and the crunch of them underfoot are the best things about fall.

  26. Welcome. I enjoy looking at the beautiful color of leaves that the Lord has painted this time of year. I also love being covered by a warm blanket enjoying a wonderful book. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.

  28. I love Fall, because their is a nip in the air, nice & crisp and the leaves fall a lot more after this. This change in the Season let’s you know that Halloween, Thanksgiving & Christmas isn’t that far off. Get ready for family get togethers & ALOTS of food….

  29. Definitely the cooler weather since I live in Florida. I also love celebrating my birthday as well as my daughter’s birthday in early October. It is also fun to bake pumpkin spice goodies.

  30. Fall is my favorite season. I am from the Northeast originally, so late September has been my favorite. Although now it isn’t getting cool enough until October and this year, who knows. I love the crispness in the air, the colors of the trees, the crunch of fallen leaves underfoot, picking apples, all the fall produce, and watching the animals as they prepare for winter. We live in the TN Blue Ridge area now, but all those things are still true, just pushed a bit later. Sadly, this year the flood ruined Fall for so many.
    A belated Happy Birthday. Enjoy the holidays.

  31. I love the cooler weather, the colorful leaves, apple pie, pumpkin bread & now my daughter’s pumpkin roll, & usually the lack of bugs but our weather has been a bit of a rollercoaster making it harder for the bugs to disappear for good.

  32. Just the title of this book reminds me of “our” story. My husband and I married not long afer he was drafted into the U.S. Army. He was able to come home on leave at Christmas so we married on Christmas Eve. We then traveled to Colorado where he was stationed. Just three months later, he was shipped out to Korea, and was there for 458 days. When he was discharged and came home, what a homecoming it was. I met him at the airport and the cover picture looks very much like my memory of that day. Can’t wait to read this.

    I’m in Alabama and we had a short time of cool/fall weather, then it got hot again, and dry. No rain since sometime in September. So dry.

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