When the Ocotillo Bloom

by Linda LaRoque

Lynn Devry is a single mother with a prickly attitude. As a result of her divorce, her happiness and health have dimmed. In an effort to get in shape and regain her happy fun-loving outlook, she follows the advice of a good friend and her daughter to take a summer job on a ranch in West Texas. She arrives to learn she’s been duped—her job description is not what she’d been led to believe. But she’s signed a contract and will stay until a replacement can be found. As the summer progresses, Lynn challenges her body, tackles old fears, and buries grudges to find the light that is to be her destiny.

Seth Williams, a psychologist and divorced ranch owner, has never gotten over his divorce and harbors a secret hope that he and his ex-wife will reconcile. During the summer, he runs a camp for problem kids. He needs a bread cook, and on the advice of a friend hires Lynn Devry. When the haughty school teacher is thrust into his life, he realizes his summer will be anything but dull. As mutual respect and friendship grows, he learns his happiness lies in the future, not in the past.

Set amid the stark beauty of West Texas, two people disenchanted with love find respect and attraction growing into something deeper. When the Ocotillo Bloom charters the journey of Lynn and Seth as they overcome obstacles and find self-renewal—the reward being love.

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Linda LaRoque grew up in an average sized Texas town and participated in the usual school activities. She owes her love of reading to Miss Mayfield, her 6th grade teacher. Every day after lunch she read to the class introducing her students to a world of adventures. From the Bobbsie Twins, Little Women, and Nancy Drew Mysteries, Linda moved on to Gwen Bristow, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Anya Seton and Philippa Gregory, Barbara Michaels, Phyllis Whitney, and Victoria Holt. After high school she obtained a BS degree in Home Economics Education and later earned a MS degree.

Linda is a retired teacher who loves Texas, its flora and fauna, and its people. Her stories paint pictures of life, love, and learning set against the raw landscape of ranches and rural communities in Texas.

Reviews

[Anna Dyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

When The Ocotillo Bloom was Linda LaRoque's first paperback, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The setting of the Big Bend area in West Texas was favored by the author because, as she states at her website, she lived there as an adult and fell in love with the landscape including the beautiful mountains and the lovely Ocotillo plant. The author sets up the main character, a longtime teacher whose divorce papers still have wet ink - so well that I knew exactly who she was and could even identify with certain aspects of her life. Her longtime friend and lawyer and her grown daughter have tricked her into thinking she is on her way to a nice dude ranch/spa to relax her depressed cares away. To her dismay, she is actually on her way to a Summer job as a cook's assistant at a ranch camp for wayward youth - not unlike what she already teaches full-time her other 9 months. To say that Lynn is not a happy camper is an unstatement, and she takes out her frustrations on just about everyone within hearing distance of her tirades including the owner, boss, and through the author's clear descriptions - handsome Seth Williams. I found Lynn, an out of shape woman out to get even with everyone (not to unlike the youth in her midst) in direct contrast to Seth who is in fine shape as attested by his jeans, except for both being hurt by past relationships. There is plenty of growing up by all. I laughed so hard at times. This is a tender story though that I enjoyed so much that I've read it again. If you can find this book, I know you will enjoy it.

[Linda LaRoque · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first novel. It was published by Wings epress in February of 2007. Set in the Big Bend area of Texas, it's a love story about a woman overcoming depression while caring for problem kids at a camp.

[Christine Komandosky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable book.