REVIEW WEDNESDAY - Spring Fling

 Good morning, readers!

By the time you see this, I will be on the last stretch to home. I am so ready to get back to some form of routine. 

This week's book is:

AMAZON

BLURB:

Moving to Wanted, Kentucky was supposed to be my fresh start.

Settle in to work at the animal rescue shelter. Keep my head down. Absolutely do not get tangled up with broody men carrying bourbon and generational expectations.

Then the spring festival recipe contest implodes.

I did not mean to dethrone the town’s beloved reigning champion. But thanks to an anonymous judging mix-up—and a wandering dog named Barrel with suspiciously sticky paws—I’m accidentally crowned winner.

Wanted loses its collective mind.

Enter Ian: master distiller at Four Brothers Bourbon, local golden boy, and walking embodiment of serious about his craft. Dragged onstage to “clarify the rules,” he delivers a passionate speech about fairness, integrity, and respecting tradition… while being offensively attractive.

Within hours, the internet dubs him Hot Bourbon Guy.
Within minutes, I want to fake my own death.

I’m trying to give the prize back and disappear. Ian would prefer to hide in a rickhouse and age quietly for the next hundred years. Instead, we’re stuck together in the middle of viral fame, wounded small-town pride, and a spring that’s heating up in ways that have nothing to do with bourbon.

I loved this book and may need to pull up Book 1 in the series for our Christmas in July reads. Most of you probably know if a story involves young children, pets of any kind then I'm there. Barrel sounds like an adorable dog I'd love to spoil. I'd keep corn dog nuggets on hand just for his daily treat (only 1) lol.

Winnie comes off like a walking catastrophe in the beginning but what she really needs is the yang to her yin. We all need that one person in our life that accepts us as we are, yet makes us better because of them... and vice versa. 

Ian prefers to fly under the radar but if you have someone like Winnie in your circle, boundaries are all off... for the better. 

I also appreciated what appeared to be great Bourbon research. Makes me want to go to a Bourbon tasting somewhere if for no other reason than for the experience. I'm not a drinker but think just seeing if I can detect the 'notes'  you'll find near the end of the story would be interesting. 

My only negative is the use of the F-bomb. I have never seen a use for the word. My thought is if you can say something without that word and still make sense, the profanity isn't necessary. I realize a lot of people talk like this but that doesn't mean we have to. As writers we need to be examples, not part of the vulgarity. Just my opinion. 

With that said, I'm giving SPRING FLIGH...

.8

Remember to check out the links below:

FACEBOOK    INSTAGRAM   GOODREADS   AUDIBLE

All my best!

~ Angela

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT - Erin McCarthy

 Good morning, readers.

I should be home by the time you read this. I'm going to schedule next week's posts as well so I can get settled back in to routine. Bob leaves Saturday and I'll be all about deep cleaning while I'm the only one home. Do you clean better when everyone is out from under foot? Or does it matter? Inquiring minds!

This week's author is Erin McCarthy.

A little about, Erin:

USA Today and New York Times Bestselling author Erin McCarthy sold her first book in 2002 and has since written over eighty-five books in the romance and mystery genres. The recipient of multiple writing awards, Erin has a special weakness for high-heeled boots, martinis, and traveling. She lives with her renovation-addicted husband (he built her a bar, so it’s all good!) and their blended family of kids and rescue dogs.

As her bio states, she's a very prolific and talented author. You can learn more about Erin by checking out the links below.

FACEBOOK    INSTAGRAM   GOODREADS   AUDIBLE

All my best!

~ Angela

THOUGHTFUL MONDAY

 Good morning, everyone!

I just got home this afternoon. Why do we always need a vacation from vacation?

All my best!

~ Angela

REVIEW WEDNESDAY - Let Me Count the Ways

 Good morning, readers!

I only have a couple days left of this trip to KS. After a couple of days in OK with family I'll be back home. Back to normal to kick off May.

In the mean time, let's finish April strong. I have next week's book review scheduled (you know, since I read these last two books out of order. LOL). This week's book...

AMAZON

BLURB:

It was impulsive of me, sleeping with Theo; he’s a rule-obsessed sheriff who’s SO not my type. Then again, Theo’s got this knack for making me feel seen, heard, and desired…

I’m Emma Jacobs, owner of The Pretty Pinecone, a romance-only bookstore. I can sell you the perfect love story, but I can't seem to write my own happy ending. When a rival bookstore threatens my beloved shop’s survival, I decide to offer wine tastings and poetry nights. There’s just one problem—Theo Baird, Sugar Pine's infuriatingly handsome yet uptight new sheriff. He’s determined to shut me down over every minor infraction. 

Good thing that Theo’s good looking, because his personality is desperate need of a glow-up. And yet, no one challenges me the way Theo can. As my Valentine’s Day event approaches, featuring anonymous love confessions and Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s passionate verses, our boundaries begin to blur, and I wonder if maybe I’ve misread Theo all along. But then disaster strikes, and I must decide if I’m brave enough to risk my heart on the most daring venture of all—falling in love.

LET ME COUNT THE WAYS is a sparkling, small-town romance about finding courage in poetry, passion in the unexpected, and the one person who makes breaking the rules worthwhile.

Theo is a true hero; the characterizing having nothing to do with being 'the new sheriff in town'. We all come with baggage. Either what we carry on our own shoulders or what we bring in to a relationship. Emma and Theo both opened up their back pack of issues over a period of time through the book, at points when the information was important to that point in the story. Laurel didn't give us everything at once. She fed us what we needed at the appropriate times. She's a master story crafter that way and I look forward to reading more of her work. 

Laurel built believable characters, giving them each their own badge of who they are. Some are a bit quirky, some need to loosen up a bit (and do when the time is right). I'd love to have a bookstore like The Pretty Pinecone, or even Emma's so-called competition book store across the street. 

Let Me Count The Ways is part of a stand-alone series. I need to read the story of Emma's college room mate and Morgan's story. I encourage you to read anything by Laurel Osterkamp. I think you'll love her books as much as I am. 

I'm giving LET ME COUNT THE WAYS...

Please visit the links below to learn more about Laurel Osterkamp.

WEBSITE   FACEBOOK   GOODREADS

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

GOOGLE PLAY   AUDIBLE

All my best~

~Angela

FRIDAY PHOTO

 Good morning, friends.

I hope everyone is safe in this rollercoaster spring weather. Please be safe and aware of you surroundings.

Ioana Motoc on Pixabay

All my best!

~ Angela

REVIEW WEDNESDAY - Slight Delay

 Good morning, friends!

There is a slight delay in this week's review. 

I'm having a great time at the junk journal retreat! What a blessing to be in the same room with like-minded creative people... you know, the same type of experience we get at book conventions and writer's conferences.

However, I read the wrong book for this week. While I scheduled all of the Spotlight posts for while I'm away, I intended to read the books on my trip. In a slight error, I read next week's book instead of this week's. LOL

I will post this week's book on Friday. The good thing is, they are novella length so I can curl up and read the book after I walk away from the crafting table for the day. 

If you want to see what I'm doing, please follow my IG account... https://www.instagram.com/angeladrakea 

or my creative channel ...

https://www.instagram.com/KellysCreativeDreams

All my best!

~Angela

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT - Laurel Osterkamp

 Good morning, friends!

As you read this week's posts I will be on my way home from a junk journal retreat. I craft and do admin. stuff during the day and work on my books in the late afternoon/ evening. I've shared this in my 4/9/26 post so if you missed that, click the dated link.

This week I'm sharing author Laurel Osterkamp with you.

Here's a bit about Laurel:

Laurel Osterkamp writes smart, emotionally rich fiction about messy relationships, creative reinvention, and the kind of love that leaves a mark. She’s the award-winning author of nearly a dozen novels, including Favorite Daughters and the #1 Amazon bestseller Beautiful Little Furies. Her newest novel, The Side Project, blends second-chance romance with literary flair—perfect for fans of Emily Henry, Annabel Monaghan, and anyone who loves bookish love stories with bite.

In addition to her novels, Laurel’s short fiction has appeared in literary journals across the web. When she’s not writing (which is rare), she teaches adult ESL and middle school enrichment classes, goes running with twisty audiobooks in her ears, and educates her daughter on the cultural importance of Beverly Hills, 90210.

She lives in Minneapolis with a family that loves to argue and cats that love to hiss. Ramona Quimby is her spirit animal.

While you wait for tomorrow's review of Let Me Count the Ways, please check out her links below:

WEBSITE   FACEBOOK   GOODREADS

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

GOOGLE PLAY   AUDIBLE

All my best!

~ Angela

THOUGHTFUL MONDAY

 Good morning!

I'm enjoying creative time. I hope these quotes and the Friday Photos are inspiring you.

All my best!

~ Angela

FRIDAY PHOTO

 Good morning, friends.

If you're a fantasy writer, I thought this picture would give you the feels.

Courtesy of Peter Schmidt on Pixabay

All my best!

~ Angela

REVIEW WEDNESDAY - An Early Spring

Good morning, readers. 

I hope you took a few minutes to check out our author for this week, JoAnn Durgin

AMAZON

BLURB:

Small-town charm and rediscovered dreams are always in season in Dogwood Creek, Tennessee!

Investigative journalist Ryan Hartmann is living his best life. Based in his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia, he gets the prime assignments and travels the world. When he finally takes a break to visit his Grandpa Luke in a tiny mountain town in Tennessee, Ryan encounters a gorgeous fireball of a woman at the local diner before he even steps foot in his grandfather’s house. After a case of mistaken identity and a wacky run-in at the local bookmobile, these two are off and running!

Jennifer Collins moved into her grandmother’s mansion in Dogwood Creek five years ago. Her Grandma Ellie has plenty of room and, as a successful playwright, she needs an assistant. Also a part-time actor at the nearby Smoky Mountain Playhouse, Jennifer slides effortlessly into both roles. What she doesn’t expect is a handsome man from Atlanta with mesmerizing eyes, surprising transparency, and a witty sense of humor who comes to town and challenges her at every turn. When a long-held, fiercely guarded family secret is leaked to the public and the press, who has the obvious motive? Who can be trusted?

Join the fun among the dogwoods where love is always in bloom. Toss in a bit of mystery, a group of lovable matchmakers, and the perennial possibility of small-town hijinks. Where the ordinary becomes extraordinary and everyday citizens step out of the shadows as heroes. Who knows, there might even be a knight in shining armor among them!

I knew going in this was Christian fiction. I have read and reviewed them here many times. However, An Early Spring is really high on the subject. God is mentioned at least once on nearly every page, they live their life according to God, and she backs up some of the discussions by having the characters quoting verses. I get all of that, and I know that's what readers of Christian fiction want. I'm not going to ding her on any of those points.

The good news is, Jennifer and Ryan's story is truly heartwarming. I got multiple chuckles with the bantering between Ryan and his grandfather. Jennifer's grandmother is the epitome of where Hollywood legends go when they walk away from the industry. I loved how JoAnn sprinkled in some of the classic actors that would have been a part of her grandmother's day. I love a classic Hollywood movie. I wonder if there is a story similar to her grandmother's final picture.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I think you will too. I'm giving An Early Spring...

You'll find out more about JoAnn Durgin in the links below:

WEBSITE   FACEBOOK   GOOD READS  BOOK BUB

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE   

All my best!

~ Angela

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT - JoAnn Durgin

Good morning, readers!

Totally flip the script from last week. This week we get to know Christian author, JoAnn Durgin.

Here's a bit about JoAnn:

JoAnn Durgin is a USA Today Bestselling Author named one of the "35 Essential Christian Romance Authors" in 2018 by Family Fiction Magazine. A former estate administration paralegal, she is the author of more than forty contemporary Christian romantic fiction novels ranging from novellas to supersize novels over 500 pages! JoAnn is unapologetic about sharing the hope, grace, and mercy to be found in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

JoAnn is best known for the beloved LEWIS LEGACY SERIES. The series is complete with 12 books plus the accompanying novel, PRELUDE. Other popular series include the STARLIGHT CHRISTMAS SERIES, the WONDROUS LOVE SERIES, and the TREASURED VOW SERIES as well as a number of standalone novels. JoAnn also writes contemporary Christian romance under the pen name of Julianna Desmond.

I'll be sharing Book 2 in the Dogwood Creek Matchmaker's series tomorrow. In the meantime, please check out her links below:

WEBSITE   FACEBOOK   GOOD READS  BOOK BUB

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE   

All my best!

~ Angela

 

THOUGHTFUL MONDAY

 Good morning!

I'm am scheduling all of the blog posts for the rest of the month. I leave on Friday for a Junk Journal retreat and won't be checking in until I return end of the month. Bob is going to hold down the fort while I'm gone. I hope you'll continue to check in. ~ Thank you!

All my best!

~ Angela

FRIDAY PHOTO

 Good morning!

We had a semi-feral MainCoon I'd named Fluffy (for obvious reasons). just showed up in our yard one day. He spent eighteen months getting to know me before I could pet him, eventually hold and love on him. He loved to be brushed. 

About a month ago another male showed up. A tuxedo tabby. Very territorial and ran fluffy off. I miss my ginger kitty. This picture reminds me of him.  Is there a cat in your story? 

courtesy of y20221225-cat-9169528_640 on pixabay

All my best!

~ Angela

REVIEW WEDNESDAY - Spring Trip

 Good morning, readers.

I have to let you know up front this is not the type of book I would normally read, but the book is only 96 pages and I was intrigued about what the author, Sage Donnell, would accomplish in such a limited number of pages. Let's dive in!

AMAZON

BLURB:

Spring break is coming up and high school teacher Kade could not be more excited to spend the week with her girlfriend, Aiesha. The two haven't seen much of each other since their Valentine's trip thanks to their long distance relationship and generally busy lives, but this will give them the opportunity to spend the whole week together.

Will friends, surfing, and a few communication issues get in the way?

Features an ace-spectrum character.

While I've read Lesbian romances, the aspectrum character was new to me. Sometimes, authors forget that regardless of gender, or sexual preferences, the core of the relationship is the same. Are they compatible and can they work within those challenges and come together?

Sage Donnell did this masterfully. There is no gratuitous sex in the book. It's very clean, behind closed doors (or at least out of site since they're sleeping in a loft). SPRING TRIP is all about finding your way in a new, budding relationship. She shows Kade's struggle and growth masterfully as well as Aiesha's understanding of Kade's struggle and patience to let things grow naturally between them. 

Again, while this isn't my normal read, I enjoyed the story. Isn't that why we read books? For the stories?

I'm giving SPRING TRIP...

Remember to check out Sage Donnell's links below.

GOODREADS   X-TWITTER  AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

All my best!

~ Angela

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT - Sage Donnell

 Good morning, friends!

As you'll see from her photo, water is Sage's happy place. Here's more about her:

BIO:

Sage grew up in Colorado, spent most of her adult life in Portland, Oregon, and now resides in Ajijic, Mexico. She is trying to improve her Spanish and has found that even in Mexico, she's still her. 

She is a not-too-serious hiker, a voracious reader, a lover of games, and an enjoyer of a good water-based activity on a hot day. Although her beloved dog only agrees with the first two activities.

I'll be reviewing her book, Spring Trip, tomorrow. In the mean time, you can find more about Sage and follow her through the following links:

GOODREADS   X-TWITTER  AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

All my best!

~ Angela

THOUGHTFUL MONDAY

 Good morning!

I hope everyone had an enjoyable weekend. Spring is taking a roller coaster ride. Near freezing temperatures the past two nights. Now, we're to warm up again. I just keep asking, 'is it fall yet?' 

All my best!

~ Angela

FRIDAY PHOTO - On Saturday

 Good afternoon!

If you're seeing this on Saturday, I have been so busy setting up for Q2, I totally spaced Friday. So, this week is a day late but still gives you inspiration for your Easter weekend:

Courtesy of Andy on Pixabay

All my best!

~ Angela

REVIEW WEDNESDAY - Lucky In Love

 Good morning, readers!

No, this is not a repeat post nor is it an April Fools joke. Today's book really is titled "Lucky In Love".

AMAZON

BLURB:

She trusts lists. He trusts luck. The town is about to test both. 

Molly O’Rourke runs her bakery—and her life—the same way: carefully planned, perfectly measured, and safely predictable. Surprises are for other people. Preferably far away from her ovens. 

So when a broken neon LUCKY sign, a last-minute festival crisis, and a charming traveling repair contractor all arrive at once, Molly knows one thing for certain: 

The universe is up to something.

Declan Byrne fixes problems for a living. Loose wires, broken generators, collapsing setups—he’s seen it all. What he hasn’t seen is someone quite like Molly: steady, capable, and determined to keep chaos at arm’s length… even when he keeps showing up inside it. 

Between glitter catastrophes, parade emergencies, and one almost-kiss that changes everything, Molly starts to realize that not all surprises are disasters. 

Some might be exactly what she didn’t know she needed. 

Lucky in Love is a warm, funny, feel-good romantic comedy novella 

I really enjoyed this story. First off, it's short and I love novellas. They fit in my reading time, time I can immerse myself in a story without feeling like I'm letting something slide. 

I also loved the characters, including Molly's assistant.  Declan was that quiet, solid man every woman needs in their life. They had chemistry but let it slowly come to the surface. Brynn brought this about without giving us filler just to make a wordier book. Like Molly, the author took care of business with efficiency and care.  My other favorite character was the Mayor. If you're a Good Witch fan, then I think you'll agree there are definite similarities in the mayor characters. As soon as she all but burst into the bakery, My mind started running pictures of the Mayor from Good Witch. Let me know in the comments below if you had the same experience.

I'm giving LUCKY IN LOVE...

In the mean time, please remember to check out Brynn Winslow's links below and her other books on Amazon.

INSTAGRAM   GOODREADS

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

All my best!

~ Angela