Jolene Navarro Has Found Heaven

by

 

The Heart of Family is in the Texas Hill Country:

Why I’m Back on the Frio River

Writing has always been a way for me to make sense of the world around me. And there are two subjects that constantly tug at my heartstrings, begging to be explored. The beautiful chaos of big family dynamics and the serene, rugged charm of the Texas Hill Country along the Frio River. When these two worlds collide in my writing, it’s like magic for me.

My last few series have been along the Texas Coast. Who can resist a cowboy pirate. Not me.

But now I’ve started a new series in the fictional town of Rio Bella with the five De Leon siblings. They were raised by their grandfather.

There is something undeniably special about large families. The constant laughter, the occasional squabbles, the shared memories, and the deep bonds that tie everyone together. These dynamics are a rich tapestry of stories I love to write.

My goal is to capture the essence of those moments, big and small, that make family life so vibrant. Whether it’s a chaotic family gathering or a quiet moment shared between generations, I find endless inspiration in these relationships.

The Texas Hill Country, specifically along the Frio River, holds a piece of my soul. The rolling hills, the crystal-clear waters, the ancient cypress trees—it’s a place of breathtaking beauty and profound peace. When I write about this place, I’m transported back to lazy summer days spent swimming in the river, the smell of barbecue in the air, the sound of crickets chirping under a starry sky and chasing fireflies in my grandparents’ backyard. The Frio River isn’t just a location; it’s a character in its own right, shaping the stories I tell.

In THE TEXAN’S UNEXPECTED HOME, my hero doesn’t think he belongs in the small town of Rio Bella, but he might change his mind. I love this story of finding family and home where you didn’t expect it.

After losing everything in a devastating fire, racehorse trainer Kingston Zayas returns to his family’s ranch to claim his inheritance…and learns that he must first live there for a year. The only silver lining? Single mom Abigail DeLeon, the ranch’s event planner, and her energetic son, Leo. But Abigail’s family wants nothing to do with any Zayas. Forced to work together, they unravel a tangle of secrets that changes everything Kingston thought he knew about his family—and most important, where he belongs…

From Love Inspired: Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope.

The Ranchers of Rio Bella

Book 1: The Texan’s Unexpected Home

Here are some reasons why I feel so compelled to write about these topics:

Connection: Writing allows me to connect with others who share similar experiences or dream about that type of life. I have the honor of writing my dreams and walking through the pages with me. It makes my dream real.

Preservation: Bits of truth and family stories are woven through my fictional pages. I want to capture stories and memories before they fade.

Exploration: Each story is an opportunity to explore the complexities of relationships and the magic of nature in a deeper way. How has God worked in my life? It can be very eye opening for me.

Joy: Ultimately, writing about these topics brings me immense joy. It’s a way to celebrate the things that matter most to me: family and the beauty of the natural world.

This photo is of my husband’s mother with her children (11 surviving) and grandchildren and great grandchildren. Yes, we had to go to the high school football field to get the picture. How Texas is that? Writing about big family dynamics in the setting of the Texas Hill Country along the Frio River feels like coming home. It’s where my heart is, and it’s what I feel compelled to share with the world. I’m currently writing the third book in the series and it just feels so natural.

I’ve shared my favorite place in the world with you and as much as I love my Hill country I also love traveling. So, give me a place to go. If you could go one place in the world, where would it be and what would you recommend, I do there? Leave a comment to put your name in the hat for one of three copies of The Texan’s Unexpected Home. 

So, inspire me. Give me some good places.

About Jolene:

Jolene, a seventh-generation Texan, knows, as much as the world changes, people stay the same. Good and evil. Vow-keepers and heart breakers. Jolene married a vow-keeper who showed her that dancing in the rain never gets old. Her life, much like her stories, is filled with faith, family, laughter, dirty dishes and all of life’s wonderful messiness. She uses her art degree to teach inner city kids about the world and they teach her about life.

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57 thoughts on “Jolene Navarro Has Found Heaven”

  1. I love the mountains of Northeast Tennessee. Quiet and beautiful. You can do nothing or you can go to nearby towns and counties and find experiences.

    • We drove through on our way to Maryland. It so gourgous. I did get stuck driving over the mountains during a heavy storm. We were heading to the National History competition so we had a trailer will all the props. So I didn’t get to enjoy the mountains as much as I hoped. Lol. I would love to go back and spend time there.

  2. I’m the oldest of 10 and know just what you mean about memories and stories! If you’ve not toured it, the Smithsonian museums in Wash., D.C. are well worth visiting (budget sufficient time). And keep in mind, the National Zoo is part of it.

    Thanks for running the giveaway; the book sounds like a good story.

  3. If I could, I would go to Alaska & see the wildlife & scenery & northern lights.
    You could always visit Maine. You can’t go wrong no matter what season you decide to visit or where you decide to visit, coast, mountains, lake, hiking, camping, whatever it’s beautiful.

    • Main is on my bucket list. Being in Texas were autumn is limited I’ve always wanted to experience a Main fall. This summer we are finally going to Alaska. I’ve never been and I’m super excited.

  4. I have traveled extensively, going to all 50 states and 40-some other countries. Next on my bucket list are New Zealand & Australia and Wales. I would recommend that you go to the place that calls to you. We are all different, and what appeals to one might not another.

    • We just spent a long weekend at Big Bend in Texas and in a few weeks we are heading to Alaska and Vancouver. So I totally get experiencing it all. Lol. I love traveling. I find people that are local or spend a lot of time there know the best places.

  5. Maine in the fall. Nothing as amazing as trees turning color and there are so many of them it’s simple amazing.

    • Yes!! That is on my list. You’re the 2nd person to suggest Main. It’s moving up on my wish list.

  6. I love road trips and I can’t say that I wouldn’t love to visit everywhere I’ve already been again (except maybe big cities). I love the mountains, the beaches, the small towns, lakes and canyons.

    • Yes too all this. This summer I’ve planned a trip that includes a good section of road trip along on the upper west coast. We will also be traveling by train…ship…and plane. I’m so excited

  7. Chimney Rock outside of Ashville, North Carolina. I got to see if for the first time last August and it is so amazing. It’s a cave behind and below a waterfall

  8. I always wanted to go to Alaska. We always took our kids to Branson, Missouri and Silver Dollar City> The Sight and Sound Theater is great.

  9. I just want to say The Texan Unexpected Home is a very good book. It explores the dynamics of family.

  10. ah Texas – what a world unto itself – I am not sure if you can take it all in in a single lifetime!

    • I’ve lived here all my life, and there are still parts undiscovered. A few weekends ago, we went to Big Bend for the first time.

  11. Arizona in the wintertime
    You could visit the Grand Canyon, the Navajo Nation, the Petrified Forest, the Mogollon Rim that Zane Grey wrote about.
    Many things to see and do here, and tee weather is great at this time.
    There is also the Old Town Tucson, the Lowell Observatory and the the desert with all of its wonders.

    • I grew up reading Zane Grey. And have loved visiting all those areas. Some are worth multiple visits.

    • I have explored Wyoming since I was a kid. It was one of my father’s favorite places to visit.

  13. We spent a year in a small farming community when my father was in Vietnam. I would like to return to Cartwright, North Dakota, a town of 25 people.

  14. This is not a duplicare post.We spent a year in a small farming community when my father was in Vietnam. I would like to return to Cartwright, North Dakota, a town of 25 people.

    • This summer, we are doing a three-week trip starting with flying into Seattle and then going north. On our way back, we are taking the train from Vancouver to Portland. In Portland, we are renting a car to do a road trip down to North Hollywood to see our son. We were going from Portland to Lincoln City, then following the coast down through the Redwood forest. Should we go to Pacific City?

  17. My dream places are Scotland and Ireland for the lush lands and castles!
    I’ve been to the Smoky’s in Tennessee and fell in love with the place. It’s so beautiful there. I was in the Gatlinburg area at the time. I can’t wait to go back.

    • You and me both. Maybe for my 60th birthday, I can do the Scotland-Ireland trip. Lots of my DNA come from that area.

  18. I love mountains! However, if I had one place I could go it would be Alaska!! It’s been on my bucket list since I was a little girl! I like to travel, but I haven’t been very many places. If it needs to be somewhere I’ve been, it’d be NC.

    • Alaska has been on my list for a long time too….this summer it is happening. I’m so excited. I’ve been planning it since Sept. We are getting on a ship in Vancouver. Never been there either.

    • Yes. I was there as a kid and would love to go back as an adult. The beaches are a whole other world, and some of the waves were gigantic.

  20. I would recommend the Thomas, Davis, Canaan Valley area in West Virginia. There are ski resorts as well as beautiful parks to explore. There is a beautiful waterfall that you can get close to. There is shopping in the small towns and area. Not far from the area is Seneca Rocks and Caves. I love the area. Thank you so much for the opportunity. God bless you.

    • I’ve never been, but I love nature and hiking. My new series involves them finding a cave on the ranch. We have a few in our area. Seneca Rocks and Caves sounds like a place I would love to visit.

  21. Hello fellow Texans Jolene ! Nice to have you here. I love going to a small town in NM and it is called Cloudcroft, I love going there and staying in a cabin. When we have gone we go walking and sometimes they have little plays which are super cute. It is a very pretty place to visit, I love going there. I would love to visit Ireland and Scotland who knows maybe someday. If not, I would love to go somewhere where the Red Cardinal birds are abundant, I love red cardinals. Have a great weekend. I loved learning about your big family. Your books sound like Great reads. I have 5 siblings, 3 older brothers and 2 younger sisters and lots of nieces and nephews, I have 2 grown children of my own and 3 grandchildren. We have 1 pup and lots of grand furs.

    • Hola!!! One of my uncles moved to Cloudroft when I was little – we would visit in the summer. It is a great place. Scotland and Ireland are on my wish list too. Someday, right? 🙂

  22. I love going to Puerto Rico. I love the food, and it is a fun place to be. One of the fun sights to visit is the historical sight, El Morro.

    • My husband and I were talking about Puerto Rico. It looks like an awesome place to relax and have fun, so we added it to our places to go list.

  23. One of my favorite places to visit is Taos, New Mexico. It is Georgia OKeeffe country if you are at all interested in Art. They also have wonderful Indian items for sale. The Pueblo there is to tour as well.They have great restaurants and museums. And a great ski area in the Winter.

    • I’m a high school art teacher. 🙂 And she is one of my FAVORITES!!!! In February 2020, we had plans to stop there and actually stay on her property on our way to Colorado Springs. My now son-in-law was popping the question and he loves surprising people. She kind of knew he was going to ask about their favorite trail, so we were the surprise. She wasn’t expecting us to be there. That was the week Texas was covered in snow. It started on our way up, so my husband didn’t want to risk us getting stuck in New Mexico. I didn’t get my Georgia O’Keeffe experience. It is still on my list.

  25. I have always wanted to go to Scotland and Ireland but the only way I get to visit there is in books. I am not much of a traveler anymore.

    • It’s on my short list. My grandmother was still traveling into her 80s. Her last big trip was to Italy; she was 86. After that, she just wanted to stay closer to home. I hope I have her genes. 🙂

  27. I loved getting to see the Biltmore estate in Asheville North Carolina. So pretty! Everyone should visit at least once.

    • I’ve driven through NC, but wasn’t able to spend much time there. I always imagined it being romantically serene.

  28. I love to travel and have so many places I want to go. Age and health make many of those iffy. The top of that long list includes the Galapagos Islands, Machu Picchu, Angkor Wat for starters. Realistically, Ireland and Scotland are on the top of my list most likely to be able travel to.
    I was lucky enough to travel a bit when I was much younger. Two of my favorite places were Singapore and Bali. Singapore has such wonderful ethnic diversity with a British feel. Walking down the street you can tell as the neighborhoods change by the smell of the spices and the food cooking. Bali had the feel of time just stopping and ancient gods. The culture was still very strong. It was relatively easy to get away from the touristy things and experience the local cultural if you knew how and tried. The ancient temples held the weight of their religion and age. This was back in 1971 and sadly, I am sure it is no longer that way anymore. Since then, there has been massive resort development in the area. So many areas have lost their culture becoming more “Western” losing what makes them special. The temples are still there, the beaches and country will still be beautiful (if you can see past the high rise resorts), and the cultural shows will give a small taste of what it was like. It is still a popular place to visit.
    Good luck finding your next place to have an adventure.

    • Wow – that sounds fascinating. Yes, I fear age will eventually limit the places I can go. Scotland and Ireland are on my short list, too.

  29. I recommend cape may, NJ. Beautiful beaches, historic homes and lots of neat shops make it a great place to visit. Thanks for the chance to win a book prize.

    • I’ve never heard of it, but I just looked it up. It looks like a great place to visit. I love the houses. I want to make a road trip to the northeastern coast.

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