Redbuds

The redbud tree is native to the United States, especially to the eastern half. It's sometimes called the Judas tree because of the legend that Judas Iscariot hanged himself on one of the European varieties. The tree is noted for its eye-catching spring blossoms. It's the state tree of Oklahoma.

My new book, Mistaken Bride, is set in the fictitious town of Redbud, Arizona. The town got its name from a large redbud tree the founder planted to celebrate the town's fifth anniversary. Here is an excerpt that tells about it:

They walked by the green area the town used for special events. “Have you seen the redbud tree? It’s what the town was named for.”

Danielle took in a breath of air before she answered, or had she been discretely sniffling? “No, I haven’t.”

“Come, it’s not far.” Cullen led her down the trail cut by so many people using the same path.

He didn’t want to take her back to the hotel to sit alone in her misery. Perhaps this would cheer her and make her afternoon more pleasant.

“What do you think?” Cullen asked.

“It’s quite the spectacle with its rosy exhibition.”

“Come, let’s sit on this bench, and I’ll tell you how Redbud got its name.”

“An Irishman with a head of red hair founded this town,” he began his story. “In fact, most people called him ‘Red,’ although his real name was Fion Walsh. In honor of the town’s fifth anniversary, he had a tree-planting ceremony and planted this redbud. The town has pampered it ever since.”

Mistaken Bride publishes this Friday for Kindle, but it's already available in print and should be on Audible soon. I hope the novel does well, and the fans I've gained by publishing in multiple-author projects over the last few years will want to read this one, too, even though it's one of my standalone Westerns and not part of a MAP. I promise it's just as good as any I've published before.

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