THOUGHTFUL MONDAY

 Good morning, readers!

A new month full of promise and great reads.

All my best!

~ Angela

FRIDAY PHOTO

 Good morning, friends!

Winding up another month. Time just seems to fly, doesn't it?

Anna May Wong

courtesy of Pixabay

All my best!

~ Angela

REVIEW WEDNESDAY - A May Bride

 Good morning, readers!

I do apologize for the delay. I got up yesterday morning with a flu bug. Forming coherent sentences wasn't going to be popular. Much better today, so let's get into today's review.

Yesterday was the perfect day to curl up with a book... while I had jars of potato fries in the pressure canner. LOL Multi-tasking is a must until I get things in order.

AMAZON

BLURB:

Ellie has prepared for her wedding all her life . . . but she has forgotten the most important part.

Ellie Martin, a country girl living in Atlanta, has dreamed of a traditional wedding all her life—a wedding just like the one her younger sister is planning back home. Even though Ellie is realizing her dreams in the big city as an up-and-coming real-estate agent, she’s missing a key ingredient to her plans for the future: a groom.

Then Ellie meets Gray Whitby—at a wedding of all places. Gray is handsome and fun, and he sweeps her away in a whirlwind romance. In a matter of months, Ellie knows Gray is "the one," but her mother isn't so sure, judging Gray to be the freewheeling type, like Ellie's runaway father. 

When Ellie jeopardizes her own future for the sake of her sister, Gray feels like he'll always be second to Ellie's family. Can Ellie and Gray find their own way together amidst the demands and perceptions of others or will their romance end before it has truly begun?

I liked Ellie's character, though Gray was definitely a favorite. This is the first book I've read in a long time where the conflict between the two was tangible and left me not just asking 'will they/ won't they (because they always do in a romance) but how are they going to figure things out - and in the tight confines of a novella, no less! As I got deeper into the story I got the impression there was more of Ellie's mother in her than she realized. I was impressed the author didn't have Gray bring it up. That would have been a devastating move for their relationship - end of story. In stead, she let Ellie and Gray figure things out on their own terms. 

While Ellie's sister reminded me a bit of an entitled sister, I most wanted to get in her mom's face and give her a hard talking to. She needed to be reminded that her mistakes were hers and not her daughters. Gray's family were the kind you want to marry in to. 

I cam giving A MAY BRIDE...

You'll find more books by Meg Moseley by clicking any of the links below.

GOODREADS   PUBLISHER

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

All my best!

~ Angela

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT - Meg Moseley

 Good morning!

This week, I'm shinning the spotlight on a California girl turned southern belle.

Let's get to  know Meg Moseley:

Although I've lived more than half my life in other states, I'm still a Californian at heart. I love vintage bungalows, twisted oaks on rolling hills, and the rocky beaches of the Central Coast. A few blocks away from my childhood home stood a Lutheran church where I came to faith, first through Sunday School teachers whose kindness drew me to the kindness of God, and then through confirmation classes. The Bible verses that had been drilled into my head came to life in my heart.

After moving away from home as a teenager, I worked at a variety of jobs, from candle-maker in a tourist town to administrative assistant at a Christian college. I married a wonderful man from Michigan, and we lived north of Detroit for seventeen years. That's where we started homeschooling our three children, an endeavor that we finished in Georgia when our youngest graduated from high school in 2009.

My husband and I live near Atlanta, close to the foothills of the Southern Appalachians. His motorcycle often carries us to the mountains of Georgia, Tennessee, or the Carolinas. Sitting on the back of the bike, I can pray, enjoy the beautiful views, and plot new stories. Fiction makes my world go 'round, whether I'm writing it or reading it

Tomorrow, I'll be reviewing Book 6 (of an 11-book series). In the mean time, please click on the links below to find out more about Meg and her books:

GOODREADS   PUBLISHER

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

All my best!

~ Angela

THOUGHTFUL MONDAY

 Good morning, readers!

This month is just flying by.

All my best!

~Angela

FRIDAY PHOTO

 Good morning, friends!

Something about this man spoke to me. I think he'd make a wonderful character in a story.

PIXABAY

All my best!

~ Angela

REVIEW WEDNESDAY - Lavender & Quill

 Good morning, friends!

AMAZON - Box Set

Today's book is interesting in the way the stories are presented. Let's check out the blurb, first.

When life fell apart in Seattle, Ashley St. James never thought she’d find herself back in Hope Hill—the small town of lavender fields, quirky neighbors, and lingering family ties. But inheriting her late father’s beloved bookstore, Lavender & Quill, might just be the second chance she didn’t know she needed.

Determined to reopen the shop and start fresh, Ashley quickly discovers that peeling back the layers of her father’s legacy won’t be easy. A devastating storm, hidden letters from the past, and a wealthy newcomer determined to reshape the town threaten her plans at every turn.

Thankfully, help arrives in the form of Noah Callahan—the quiet, skilled craftsman with a protective streak and a daughter who adores books as much as Ashley does. But as the repairs unfold and buried secrets surface, Ashley must decide if she’s ready to risk her heart—and stand her ground against the charming but dangerous newcomer intent on buying her out. 

With the support of her sisters, a blossoming romance, and the mystery of Lavender & Quill pulling her deeper into Hope Hill’s history, Ashley might just find that some chapters are worth rewriting.

Normally, (in other box sets I've read), each book in the set is it's own story. If the series is collaborative with multiple authors, while each story is different, there is a running theme. In other sets where all of the books are by one author, each story is different but offer multiple characters from the initial story yet each have their own book. Think seven sisters with each sister having her own story while everything winds together in a well-written series. 

Lavender & Quill is different. I've never seen this done before, making the way May North writes her own special voice. 

There are five books in Lavender & Quill. Each book is a novella of around eighty-six pages. But here's the kicker. Each novella appears to be just a continuation from the novella prior. While I've not read the entire 367-page boxed set, I have the feeling the collection is Ashley & Noah's story broken up into individual quick reads, rather than sitting down with the whole tome. Interesting way of creating a story.

May North is great with description and a way with comparative words. I enjoyed Book 1 of Lavender & Quill. I may try to finish the series before turning back to KU. 

In the mean time, I'm giving Lavender & Quill...

.8

All my best!

~ Angela

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT - May North

 Good morning, friends!

After a brief thunderstorm this morning, I'm jumping in before the next wave hits. Today's weather is going to be perfect for curling up with a cup of coffee, my cat (Tabitha), and a good book. 

Let's meet this week's author, May North:

While May spends most of the days doing what she loves–writing–she also loves her two boys and reading books. As May has grown older, she realized her taste in books changed. She wanted books that felt like a warm blanket and hot chocolate on a cold winter day. So, she started writing those books. She hopes her books give you the joy and comfort it does her bringing them to life!

May North offers several boxed sets on her Amazon page. We'll be checking out one of the others later in the month.  For now, you can learn more about May's books by clicking either of the links below.

GOOD READS   AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

All my best!

~ Angela

THOUGHTFUL MONDAY

 Good morning, readers!

I hope your week is all you hope for.

All my best!

~ Angela

FRIDAY PHOTO

 Good morning, everyone!

I'm coming in a bit late with this one. With all the going I've been doing lately, this one should have posted two weeks ago - a nod to Beltane.

PIXABAY

All my best!

~ Angela

REVIEW WEDNESDAY - May Flowers

 Good morning, readers.

If you're looking for a quick read during your coffee break, today's book is for you.

AMAZON

BLURB:

Love blooms after the rain…

Aria Garcia is a fifth-grade teacher in Vermont, who likes to keep her private life private. Her co-workers are curious as to who is sending her flowers almost every single day. Aria has never felt the way she does with Damian Rossi. He makes her feel safe and, most importantly, loved.

With each new bouquet of flowers from Damian, Aria falls deeper in love. After a month of sneaking around, Damian is ready to show off his love for Aria. Will Aria be able to find the courage she needs to let go of her fears?

Stories don't come any sweeter than this. Don't be deceived by the length. A lot is packed into the forty-seven pages! 

First, Aria Garcia is dealing with past emotional trauma, making her afraid to fully step into a relationship with a guy that seems beyond perfect.

Next we have Damian, who from what we see from Aria's point of view seems like the perfect guy. Maybe too perfect. 

When Damian puts the brakes on their private relationship, Aria is forced to confront her dad. Later, seeing Damian in his sister's flower shop and how she and her husband interact she realizes something important. 

I saw something in this story I wish a dear friend of mine would understand. We have to let go of whatever happened in our past if we're to truly live in the present. Most of the time we can't do anything about what lives in our brain like the boogey man, orchestrating our every decision in the present. Talk about the situation with whomever was involved. Resolution or not, only you can decide what your true future holds - the happiness you deserve.

The only thing that confused me in it's inclusion was the Cinco de Mayo situation with her class. I couldn't pull it together. Maybe I missed something. So, if you read this book (and I hope you will), please let me know in the comments what you saw.

I'm giving MAY FLOWERS...

. 8

Remember to check out Eden Larsen's Good Reads and Amazon Author Page.

All my best!

~ Angela

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT - Eden Larsen

 Good morning, friends!

A quick note:

While I read/ review novella-length books every week, I do this for two reasons. The biggest one is time. My main focus since Bob retired is spending time with him and take care of our home. He didn't retire after 42 years for me to sit with my nose in my book/ kindle. The second reason is to give you a taste of an author's work. This enables you to decide in a limited mount of time if this is an author you want to further discover. Also, I've joined Kindle Unlimited so most books are available on Kindle Unlimited. Please remember to leave a review. 

With that, let's meet this week's author:

While Eden Larsen is a prolific author you won't find her with a website, a FB page, etc. She focuses on building her readership through Amazon and Goodreads.  Here's a bit about Eden.

Eden Larsen was born in a little town in northeast Utah, the youngest of four children. Over the years, she has developed a love for books, puzzles, and nativity sets. A tradition in her house is to watch as many Hallmark movies throughout the year. She has been dubbed “favorite aunt” by her nieces and nephews. She hopes to retain this title throughout her entire life. 

When Eden isn’t writing, she is raising an intelligent, creative, and imaginative teenage boy. Together, they live in southwest Utah.

I'll be reviewing May Flowers tomorrow. This is Book 5 in her calendar series. While the book is only 47 pages, I'm looking forward to reading the book. I'm hoping the story is captivating enough for me to go back and read the other eleven books. 

You'll find Eden Larsen on the following places:

GOODREADS

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

All my best!

~ Angela

THOUGHTFUL MONDAY

 Good morning, readers!

Feels good to be in routine again.

All my best!

~ Angela

FRIDAY PHOTO

 Good morning!

Let's thing May, Spring, happy thoughts!

PIXABAY

All my best!

~ Angela

REVIEW WEDNESDAY - Spring At Taigh Fallon

 Good morning, readers!

I have a treat for you this morning. 

AMAZON

BLURB:

When designer Angel Tempest agrees to help her friend Zac inspect his surprise inheritance, she expects a peaceful break in the Scottish Highlands. Instead, she finds a crumbling estate and Kyle Fallon, Zac’s brooding, bossy Canadian cousin.

Angel is frustrated by Kyle’s attitude — and the way his rugged looks and intense eyes distract her.

Kyle isn’t thrilled to be back in Scotland. He’s only here to settle family business, not clash with a beautiful but sharp-tongued designer who has wild ideas for the house he’s half-inherited.

As they navigate conflicting visions for the estate, tensions rise between Angel and Kyle — and so does the chemistry.

And when long-kept secrets of the house emerge, what started as a reluctant partnership turns into something neither of them saw coming.

Angel has a Goth style. She loves all things Victorian, right down to the Jet jewelry she designs. You can feel her excitement at exploring Zac's inherited home in the Scottish Highlands. What she doesn't count on is the fierce energy with his cousin, Kyle. This is a true enemies to (potential) lovers romance, all evolving from a couple of spirits from the 1800s inhabiting the estate. 

I was enchanted by Angel's enthusiasm, Kyle's (whatever attitude), the secret passages and the ghosts of Alasdair and Annis. The Jet mourning ring almost appears as a shell game. Keep an eye on that piece of jewelry.

Spring At Taigh Fallon is a brief vacation in the Scottish Highlands, to a centuries old home, complete with a turret, you will truly enjoy.  This is Book 1 of 2 in the Tempest Sisters series. Just for fun, we'll visit Book 2 in our Christmas in July series. 

In the mean time, I'm giving, Spring At Taigh Fallon...

All my best!

~Angela

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT - Kirsty Ferry

 Good morning!

Can you believe we are in May? Oh, and Cinco de Mayo is today. Make the most of Taco Tuesday, for sure!

Today, we're getting to know Kirsty Ferry.

Let's learn a bit about Kirsty.

Kirsty is from the North East of England and won the English Heritage/Belsay Hall National Creative Writing competition in 2009 with the ghostly tale 'Enchantment'.

Her timeslip novel, 'Some Veil Did Fall', a paranormal romance set in Whitby, was published by Choc Lit in Autumn 2014. Many of her subsequent Choc Lit books have since been re-published by Joffe Books, including her popular Cornish Secrets timeslip series. Kirsty now writes dark, witchy, Gothic timeslips for Boldwood, with her first Boldwood book being 'The Witch's Stone' and the second 'The Snow Witch', both due out in 2026.

Kirsty has a BA (Hons) in Literature, and subsequently achieved a Masters with Distinction in Creative Writing from Northumbria University in 2016.

I look forward to reading this week's book, Spring at Taigh Fallon: An irresistible Scottish romance (Tempest Sisters Book 1)

In the meantime, check out Kirsty's links below.

FACEBOOK   GOODREADS

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

All my best!

~ Angela

THOUGHTFUL MONDAY

 Good morning, friends!

I am back home and back to a routine of sorts. At least I'm home and can accomplish things. 

Bob is gone for a few days so I'm planning to can potatoes and get a car full of stuff destashed and taken to Goodwill. Wish me luck!

All my best!

~ Angela

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