AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT - Amanpreet Kaur

 Good morning, everyone.

Apoligies for the delay in posting. Blogger decided to crash yesterday morning. So  you're seeing the Author Spotlight today then the review tomorrow (Thursday)

Here's a bit about Amanpreet:

Amanpreet Kaur is a contemporary author who writes heartfelt cozy romance, small-town fiction, and uplifting self-help books. Her work is deeply rooted in themes of love, hope, and comfort, offering readers a sense of warmth and emotional connection through every story.

Currently pursuing a Master of Computer Applications (MCA), Amanpreet began her journey as a self-publisher with a clear vision to build a meaningful presence in the literary world. Blending creativity with purpose, she crafts stories that celebrate simple moments, human relationships, and personal growth.

With a growing portfolio of work, Amanpreet Kaur continues to inspire and engage readers, striving toward worldwide recognition as both an author and a self-publisher.

While you wait for my review post tomorrow, please check out her links below:

Goodreads    AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

All my best!

~ Angela

THOUGHTFUL MONDAY

 Good morning, friends!

Another month begins.  Let's make the most of every day.

All my best!

~ Angela

FRIDAY PHOTO

 Good morning, friends!

I thought we'd kick October off with a fluffy orange kitty. I'm sure a black cat will show up later in the month ;-)

Pixabay - orlizasa-autumn-2703940_640

All my best!

~ Angela

REVIEW WEDNESDAY - Pumpkin To Talk About

 Good morning!

I have a spicy read for you this week.

AMAZON

BLURB:

Mike Page fled Ironwood Flats, Texas the moment he tossed his high school cap in the air and never looked back. But when his little sister, Annie, is suddenly left raising two kids on her own, one desperate call brings him right back to the one place he swore he’d never return. Now, stuck playing uncle, Mike’s in for more than he bargained for, especially since it means surviving the town’s infamous Halloween celebrations—his personal nightmare.

Belle Allen has always been a bit eclectic. As Ironwood Elementary’s quirky part-time librarian by day and bartender by night, she has finally found her rhythm. That is, until Mike, her high school nemesis, walks into the bar bringing painful memories back with him.

Old wounds run deep, but so do new sparks when they keep bumping into each other. As they’re pulled together by chance encounters and unexpected chemistry, Mike and Belle realize they’re not the same people they were in high school. But just as they start falling harder than autumn leaves, reality hits—Mike’s heading back to Indiana after Halloween.

Can they admit they’re bewitched with each other? Or will the spell of their romance be broken?

Notice, the blurb gives no indication of actual sex taking place in the story. I've been really careful about catching those ahead of time. The only indication is in one of the keyword categories. Pumpkin To Talk About hit #182 in the Love/Sex/ Marriage. 

However, the author does open up by telling us there is sex and where we can find it in the book, you know in case you're a teen just looking for the dirty parts 😉. She even tells us we're welcome to skip over that part and keep reading.

Well, I didn't skip. I could have. I could also have decided those parts were not what I signed up for when I borrowed the book. The story kept me sliding pages and wanting to see these two work things out. The parts weren't that bad and didn't detract from the story. Instead, they enhanced the fact that Mike and Bella had some unfinished business and needed to work through things. I am glad I didn't. As you know, I'm all about second chances. They're the theme I follow when telling my own stories. 

I'm glad I kept reading. Aside from Halloween being my favorite holiday and I love a storyline that includes kids. What made this interesting is why the story had two kids, they weren't part of the relationship between Bella and Mike. The kids were Mike's neice and nephew. They added a fun aspect to the story I wasn't expecting. 

I'm giving PUMPKIN TO TALK ABOUT...

.8

All my best!

~ Angela

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT - Allie Samberts

 Good morning, everyone!

I woke up to 55*F this morning. I think Autumn is officially here. Great time for your favorite beverage and a good book. I have what I hope are some great reads lined up for the month.

Let's start the month of with author, Allie Samberts.

Allie Samberts is a romance writer, book lover, and high school English teacher. She was voted funniest teacher of the year for 2023 and 2025 by her students, which is probably her highest honor to date. She fuels her writing with a ton of coffee, and in her free time she is also a runner, and enjoys knitting and sewing. She lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband, two kids, and their dog. You can follow her on Instagram, Substack, or TikTok.

I'll be reviewing PUMPKIN TO TALK ABOUT tomorrow. In the mean time, please check out the links below to learn more about Allie.

Website   FB   FB Fan Page   IG   Tik Tok   YouTube   Audible   Goodreads

Amazon Author Page

All my best!

~ Angela

THOUGHTFUL MONDAY

 Good morning, friends!

All my best!

~ Angela

FRIDAY PHOTO

 Good morning, friends!

As I post today's inspiration photo, I hope the weather has begun cooling down.

Pixabay - commander05-croatia-3182810_640

All my bests!

~Angela

REVIEW WEDNESDAY - Pumpkin Spice Everything

 Good morning, readers!

After waking to 58* F for the first time in months, the sun is shining and we're in for a delightful fall day in the Ozarks. Perfect for today's review:

AMAZON

BLURB:

After calling off her fall wedding, horror novelist Amy Fox is left with a broken heart, a mega case of writer’s block, and a serious aversion to all things pumpkin spice. When she receives news that her grandfather has broken his wrist driving through a Dunkin Donuts—literally straight through the front windows—five hundred miles away, in her hometown of Autumnboro, New Hampshire, Amy has no choice but to return to check on him. If she doesn’t make sure that he’s back on his feet, Grandpa may be moved into assisted living, and Amy’s beloved childhood home will be put on the market.

Knowing she must return, Amy worries about the only thing worse than pumpkin spice—a reunion with Kit Parker—her childhood best friend, first love, and entire reason for skipping town in the first place. As the two reconnect, a second chance seems possible...if only Kit weren’t holding on to a secret that just might unravel everything.

For me, a true testament to a book scoring high in the quills is a book I can't put down. In the beginning, I had a problem staying in the story. I found myself putting the kindle aside and doing other things around the house. Not until bedtime last night was I able to get into the book. I was still unable to stay in the story (at 25% in) before turning out the light. 

I tried again this morning and the story improved drastically. Stretched out in the recliner with my lemon water on the side table and a cat sleeping in my lap did I finally find something to keep me reading.

Senior Citizens!

Yes, Grandpa and all his friends, including a girlfriend, finally had me involved in the story. You'll love these characters.

I found Amy to be a bit whiney. I am still not sure if crossing AMY with AME was an endearmant from Kit and Riley, or simply a spelling issue that was never caught. 

I still have about 25% of the book to read and I will do that today. But I'ver read enough to know that while this book started out slow (for me), you will enjoy the story.

Now a Hallmark Channel Original Movie starring Taylor Cole and Corey Sevier! Set against the scenic backdrop of the White Mountains, New Hampshire, Pumpkin Everything is a small town, sweet romance, and the perfect way to kick off the fall season! A pumpkin spice latte wouldn’t hurt, either.

One thing I've never done is both read a book then watch the movie, or vice versa. I'll be searching out the Hallmark movie this weekend to see how things changed. 

I'm giving PUMPKIN SPICE EVERYTHING...

. 8

All my best!

~ Angela

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT - Beth Labonte

 Good morning, everyone!

We finally got rain in the early morning hours. Good news is the repair in the office seems to have worked. On the other hand, the dining room still has a drip ::: sigh ::: We'll get there. 

Shining the spotlight on Beth Labonte. Here's a bit about Beth:

After working as an administrative assistant for fourteen years, Beth turned to writing silly romantic comedies as her creative outlet in a mundane corporate world. She wrote full time for several years, until a pandemic drove her out of her mind and she gleefully returned to work as a legal assistant. Beth lives in Massachusetts with her husband, son, and cat.

While you wait for the review tomorrow, take a look at her social media links below.

WEBSITE   FACEBOOK   X-TWITTER   IG   BOOK BUB

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

All my best!

Angela

 

THOUGHTFUL MONDAY

 Good morning, friends!

All my best!

~Angela

FRIDAY PHOTO

 Good morning, friends!

I'm scheduling this all ahead of time this month as I have a lot going on before the Ozark Creative Writers Conference in October. I hope you find the photos inspiring.

Pixabay - summa-way-2771495_640

All my best!

~Angela

REVIEW WEDNESDAY - Pumpkin Spice for Autumn

 Hi friends!

I have a fun review today. But first, here's the book:

AMAZON

BLURB:

Love can happen to anyone, anywhere, and in any season. It’s Romantically Seasonal...

They were gods.
They were celestial beings.
They were mythological creatures.

It didn’t matter what they were called. Names were merely a reflection of the current age and occasion. Throughout time, there was only one constant: a strong dedication to their own worthless pride.

Wars were fought... humans suffered... tricks were played... and all in the name of competition; a way of determining a hierarchy amongst themselves.

The strong thrived. The weak suffered.

Cupid shed his stereotypical persona to bring about the bet of the century. For once and for all, he was going to prove helping people fall in love was, is, and always would be, the hardest job.

Four challengers stood at the plate, ready to swing. But would they actually find a way to bring about the romance of Valentine’s Day in their designated seasons?

In book three of this four part series of standalone books, pumpkin spice is in the air. It's the Grim Reaper's turn and he has his own plans for this season. Can love conquer when costumes and curses threaten any hope for a happily ever after?

For lack of a better word, I found this story ENCHANTING. I have never read a book with such an adventurous spirit for a romance. And yes, there is romance. There are two romances in this book, though you don't see the second one coming. PUMPKIN SPICE FOR AUTUMN is probably the most fun book I've read in a long time. I may have to get the rest of this series at some point.

I'm giving Pumpkin Spice for Autumn...

All my best!

~ Angela

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT - C. A. King

 Good morning, friends!

Another hot day in the Ozarks. I can't even get cool enough weather to dig the fall decor out of the warehouse. Who else is ready for Pumpkin Spice Latte's and all things Autumn?

Today's author is C. A. King:

Here's a bit about C. A. King:

USA Today Bestselling & Award Winning Author, C.A. King, was born and raised in Halton County. She currently resides in Ontario, Canada with her two sons.

After the loss of her loving parents and husband, Ms. King was devastated. She decided to retire from the workforce for a year or two to do some soul searching. It was during this time that writing became her passion. She found she was able to redirect her emotions through her writing and decided to publish some of her works.

Carol Ann King is proud to have her name join the list of Canadian born authors. She hopes her writing will help inspire another generation of Canadians to continue adding to the literary heritage and rich culture Canada already has to offer.

Tomorrow, I'll be reviewing the third book in her Romantically Seasonal series. In the mean time, you can find out more about Carol by clicking her links below:

FACEBOOK   GOODREADS

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

All my best!

~ Angela

 

THOUGHTFUL MONDAY

 Good morning, friends!

All my best!

~ Angela

FRIDAY PHOTO

 Good morning, friends!

May we never forget how much this day in 2001 changed our lives.

Pixabay - ylh-usa-3012538_640

All my best!

~ Angela

REVIEW WEDNESDAY - September Love

 Good afternoon, friends.

Under the weather yesterday so I'm a bit behind today.

AMAZON

BLURB:

A chance meeting, a peaceful setting at Sebago Lake in Maine, and a desperate need for relief from an unrelenting grief--all happen in September Love. In 2006, Derek Holland, a Morgan Stanley stock broker, lost his young wife, Jenny, and seven-year-old Zachary, in a tragic accident when a Boston commuter train hit another train head-on. Now in 2008, during the September stock market plunge, when his company is faltering, he retreats to the peace and quiet of Sebago Lake. Ironically, Ingrid Mikkelson returns to Sebago Lake Campgrounds each September to grieve the loss of her husband, Svien Mikkelson, who died of a sudden heart attack in 2006. They choose adjacent sites, #148 and #149. In this chance meeting, they find a connection in their sorrow which quickly turns to love. But Ingrid has a secret that she hesitates to share with Derek. Their life story develops as they show how a new and deeper appreciation for life has grown out of a sudden loss of a loved one. It deepens their strength, their appreciation for relationship and the renewal of self through love.

I couldn't finish the book. I'm 21% into the book and the characters haven't even met yet. When you're talking novella length, that really needs to happen within the first chapter or two. 

Christine Adams gives a lot, and I mean a lot of narration. Sometimes the narration switches from third person pov to first person... often within the same paragraph! 

I think this author's strength lies in her non-fiction.

For the first time ever in a review, I can't post a single quill rating.

Please tell me in the comments, how often do you come across a DNF (did not finish) book.

All my best!

~ Angela

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT - Christine Adams

 Good morning, friends!

Hopefully, the hot weather will break later this week. In the meantime, we are kicking off September with what I hope will be great reads.

This week, I'm shining the spotlight on Christine Adams.

Here's a bit about, Christine Adams:

Christine A. Adams has over two million pamphlets and books in print. One very successful book with Abbey Press is an illustrated Elf Help Book, entitled One Day at a Time Therapy, which has sold over 500,000 copies.

Christine A Adams is now published in 42 Foreign Countries! England, Taiwan, Belgium, Indonesia, Brazil, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Norway, Austria, Netherlands, Denmark, South Africa, India, Sweden, Philippines, Italy, Japan, France, China, Korea, Thailand, Poland, Russia, Hungary, Vietnam, Latvia, Egypt, Slovenia, South Korea, Netherlands, and Denmark.

 Christine, a veteran English teacher and trained counselor, started her publishing career in 1986 when she was completing a pre-doctoral program. at the University of Massachusetts. Education articles began appearing in The English Journal and other educational journals.

For the next twenty years, Chris Adams continued to publish articles, pamphlets, and several books on issues of addiction, relationship, spirituality, education and grief therapy. A full length book called Living In Love: Connecting To The Power of Love Within, which speaks to the need for love and spirituality in our lives, was published by Health Communications, Inc. in 1993. Another book "Love, Infidelity and Sexual Addiction" was published and is still being sold on amazon today. Then, in 1998, Morehouse Publishing Group published a hardcover book, Holy Relationships, which describes a marriage "grounded in spirituality."

Then she added four children's book to her list.

I'll be reviewing September Love, tomorrow. In the mean time, you'll find more about Christine by following any of the links below.

WEBSITE    FACEBOOK   Twitter-X (publishing company)

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

Until tomorrow...

All my best!

~ Angela

THOUGHTFUL MONDAY

 Good morning, friends!

All my best!

~ Angela

REVIEW WEDNESDAY - Sweet September

 Good morning!

Another hot day in the Ozarks. Nothing new this year.

This week, I'm spotlighting author Kirsten Osborne and reviewing her book, SWEET SEPTEMBER.

AMAZON

BLURB:

Trying to find a way to help with the family’s scholarship fund, September “Berry” Calendar joins a cooking competition. Although she’s had no formal training as a chef, everyone agrees she’s the best cook around Cauldron Valley, so she hopes she won’t go down in a pile of burning ash. When a handsome man flirts with her on her first night at the competition, she knows he’ll flirt with any woman, because she is no prize. 

Jack Larson agrees to judge a cooking competition that his mother had been very involved with before her death. He’s dreading having to go and be part of it, but on the first night there, he sees a woman who makes his heart beat faster. Her smile makes him feel like he could catch the stars in one hand, and he wants to give them all to her. When the competition is over, he asks her to help him with a party he’s having—one that he makes up on the spot to be able to see her after they return home to Montana. 

Will Jack be able to use the extra time to convince Berry he’s more than just a playboy? Or will she spend the rest of her life mired in self-doubt?

First off, I've loved every Kirsten Osborne book I've ever read. This is Book 9 of a 12 book series, each written by a different author in a collective of talented writers.

I'm a food competitor and loved the story line. I also appreciated that the heroine was more curvy, wore glasses, and had insecurities. Kirsten brought this out through Jack's point of view during a conversation with her mom on their first meeting when Berry brings him in to the fold like pushing someone into the deep end to see if they'll sink or swim. With ten sisters and a brother, the test was real in Berry's eyes. 

Jack was a man who knew what he wanted the minute he saw her... from the back, no less! He knew she was curvy in all the right places. Watching her ability to wow the judges in the competition against experienced  chefs with her simplistic style, was whipped cream on the dessert. 

I loved this book because in spite of Berry's insecurities, she was able to find her true love with a man that didn't see what she perceived as flaws but as beauty to be cherished and loved.

I'm giving SWEET SEPTEMBER...

Remember to check out Kirsten's spotlight post from yesterday where you'll find all of her links.

All my best!

~ Angela

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT - Kirsten Osborne

 Good morning, friends!

We kick off September with some Autumnal reads. One of them is an unusual read, so we'll see.

This week, we have Kirsten Osborne. I've known Kirsten for many years and featured her a couple of years ago during a Mail Order Bride series she was a part ot.

Here's a bit about Kirsten:

USA Today bestselling author Kirsten Osbourne knows how to write. Each book is an experience that transplants the reader, indulging them in decadence, intense emotion and sweeping love.

 Kirsten was born in Wisconsin, and now lives in Idaho, but she's lived in Minnesota, Texas, and Louisiana along the way.

She writes contemporary and historical romance, venturing into the realm of paranormal romance and women's fiction. She invites you to join her in her world of fantasy, love, and make believe, no matter the location, where there is always a happily ever after at the end.

While you wait for a review tomorrow, you can find out more about Kirsten Osborne by visiting any of her links below.

WEBSITE   FACEBOOK   X   IG   GOOD READS   BOOK BUB

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

All my best!

~ Angela