Joan Reeves: 2026

New Christmas Romance - Wedding Belle by Bonnie Edwards

Good morning! Grab your coffee—or maybe a cup of egg nog if you're ready for the Christmas Romance Parade of New Books.

I, like hundreds of thousands of other readers, love Christmas Romance Novels and Movies. If you do too, then you're going to love today's offering.

My friend—and one of my favorite authors—Bonnie Edwards has a new book publishing today. You're going to adore Wedding Belle, a Dickens Holiday Romance, that will give Hallmark movies a run for the money.

ABOUT WEDDING BELLE

In the small Christmas town of Dickens in New England, there’s a special magic for second chance, later-in-life romance.

Belle Rodgers, an ambitious loner, loves her quiet life in Manhattan. She’s had all the personal drama she can handle. When she’s guilted into attending her Grandad’s wedding celebration in the New England holiday town of Dickens, she’s shocked to discover the weirdo who tried to lure her into his car at the airport.

His good friends vouch for him, telling her he’s kind and generous but a bit shy.

Ezekial “Coop” Cooper has a huge problem conversing with attractive women; a barricade to the normal life he wants more than anything, made worse since the tragic loss of his fiancée.

But this stunningly vibrant Belle? His heart says she’s worth the agony of trying to talk, despite their emotional and physical distances. She’s big city and he’s moving to Dickens. She’s a loner while he wants a family. He’s done with ambition, and she’s determined to succeed.

Shy brain, they call it. He calls it a damn curse; one with the potential to make him a very lonely man. To win Belle he must change. That change requires conversation—for Coop the equivalent of running through a burning building drenched in gasoline.

First step, get her to stop looking at him as if he were some kind of weirdo.

You can pick up your copy of WEDDING BELLE at all Kindle Shops including:

BELLE - US

BELLE - UK

BELLE - AU

MEET BONNIE EDWARDS

Bonnie Edwards has been writing all her life, starting with a poem about Santa suffering with gout. She was seven, Santa was a thousand years old.

Delighted with writing, she went on to write family sagas, humorous contemporary romance, romantic suspense, erotic paranormal ghost romances and more.

Published by Kensington Books, Harlequin Books, Carina Press, and Robinson (UK), Bonnie’s stories stretch from short stories to novellas and novels. Now, she’s happy to be publishing her work herself.

With 40+ titles to her credit, she has been translated into several languages and sold books worldwide. Learn about all of her thrilling romances, be the first to know about new releases, and get a free romance by subscribing to her free newsletter, Bonnie’s Newsy Bits.

Follow Bonnie online: Website * Amazon * BookBub * Facebook * Instagram

EXCERPT, WEDDING BELLE, When they meet:

He headed into the terminal, calling Joe for his reserved rental car. Being a regular meant that the agency staff, which consisted of Joe, his wife, and his daughter, brought the car to the doors for him. They’d also offered to sell him one and store it for him, but that seemed too permanent despite how often he considered it.

What the heck, he should do it. He’d talk to Joe and work out a deal. He idly wondered what Nathan would make of this new whim. His buddy would laugh and call it Dickens magic or some nonsense.

The floor to ceiling windows looked white with blowing snow. A squall had moved in.

Odd that the weather could change this quickly. He’d stepped inside only a moment ago. He’d have sworn the skies were clear as he’d walked to the terminal. Maybe he’d been distracted and hadn’t noticed the clouds move in. Or the snow swirl to the ground.

He spied a woman in front of the floor to ceiling windows. She wore a knee-length puffy coat in green with a bright red scarf. Christmas colors he thought with a grin. Her reflection told him she looked worried as she took in the wintry scene outside. Coop walked up beside her and when she turned to see who’d invaded her space, she jumped back.

“You scared me,” she said frostily and looked past him, as if he should be with other people. But, as usual, he traveled alone. Always alone. A state he hated.

The woman was lovely. She had hair a rich shade of auburn and a mass of curls. Her blue eyes looked skeptical as she waited for him to speak. He wet his mouth, determined to get the words out.

He knew he wasn’t a handsome man, but he was pretty sure he’d know if he looked scary. But how to tell a woman he could be trusted without sounding untrustworthy?

He tried a smile, and she stepped back again. Apparently, his smile didn’t reassure her. Or make him look any better.

“I’m…I’m having a r…r…rental brought around if you’d like a lift,” he explained in his least threatening voice. Relief flooded him as the words came out. Only a couple of hesitations. He licked his lips. “Dickens is a sm…sm…small town. I’m sure it wouldn’t be out of my way to drop you off.” He indicated the view of white, blowing snow. “This…w…weather could last a while.” He heaved a breath in and out. He smiled wider, but she leaned back further. He pulled his lips back down to normal. Didn’t help. She still looked around for other nearby people while he felt his ability to speak fade to nothing.

“Right,” she muttered. “No, I’m fine. My ride will be here any moment.” And she opened the door and walked straight out into the blizzard to wait.

Clearly, she’d prefer to freeze than spend a few minutes in a car with him. The upside was that he wouldn’t have to talk to her again. Small mercies.

(Remember, the US, UK, and AU links are just above the start of the excerpt, the US link is in my summary below.)

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

I think you're really going to like WEDDING BELLE. Get your copy today! If you love it, be sure and leave a review for Bonnie.

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Saturday Share Recipe - Easy Chicken Carbonara

Today's recipe is easy, but I'm going to make it even easier. Use a rotisserie chicken.

Also, do what I do when I cook pasta. Cook the whole package and store what you don't need in a covered container in the fridge.

Use it within 5 days, and it's like freshly cooked.

Just plunge it into some boiling water for a couple of minutes then drain.

The flavors in this chicken dish are delicious—bacon, onion, and garlic. Then there's the umami of cream and Parmesan.

What's not to love?

Ingredients

7 ounces spaghetti or other pasta as you prefer

8-10 slices of bacon, diced and fried

2/3 cup diced onion

1 garlic clove, minced

2 cups cooked chicken, cut up

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated or shredded

1/2 heavy cream

Directions

1. Cook the pasta or refresh already cooked pasta.

2. Fry the bacon, stirring frequently, until crisp. Remove bacon and drain on paper towel Then pour off the rendered fat, leaving about a tablespoon in the frying pan.

3. Saute the onion and garlic in the bacon fat about 3-4 minutes. Stir frequently until it is cooked but not brown. Letting garlic brown makes it bitter.

4. Stire in the chicken, pasta, parmesan, and cream.

5. Cook over medium heat until heated through.

6. Toss the bacon into the pan and mix the rest of the ingredients.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

This is super easy, comes together fast, makes 4 hearty servings, and it's really delicious.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Friday Quote - Funny Stuff

I've been writing all day so I'm late with a Friday post. I thought a little laughter might be in order if you've had a tough week.

Here's some funny stuff to carry you from Friday to the weekend.

Out of the mouth of Kathy Lee Gifford, former TV host who was renowned for havng a loose filter. She spent her career saying whatever was on her mind.

Once upon a time, she said this regarding her sex life.

"We practice safe sex now. We gave up the chandelier a long time ago."

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Anyone out there swinging on a chandelier?

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Review - The Terminal List - True Believer - Prime

The long-awaited Season 2—True Believer—of The Terminal List finally made its premiere on Prime on October 21.

I imagine all who were fans of the 2022 The Terminal List were glued to their TV sets as they binge-watched the 8 episodes on Prime.

True Believer picks up where the first action-thriller series ended with James Reece still hallucinating on events and people in his life. He's on a sailboat in the ocean and one gets the feeling he's wondering why he should go on living.

For this series, they seem to be taking Jack Carr's books in order. The first season was from the book, The Terminal List. This second season is from the book, True Believer.

The third season if it happens will be based on the third book, Savage Son. As a reader, I love it when something like this happens which is very rare.

WHAT'S TRUE BELIEVER ABOUT

Reece finished his Terminal List, but he may also be terminal, but he's not dead yet. He does his best to disappear and find some kind of life, but acts of terrorism and the CIA pull him back to do what he does best: hunt terrorists.

TRUE BELIEVER CAST

You'll see some familiar faces from The Terminal List and also from Dark Wolf, the Prequel Spin-off starring Taylor Kitsch.

In the order of their roles, here's the Cast:

• Chris Pratt as James Reece

• Constance Wu as Katie Buranek

• Taylor Kitsch as Ben Edwards

• Tom Hopper as Faife Hastings (Raife Hastings)

• Dar Salim as Mohammed Farooq

• Gabriel Luna as Freddy Strain

• Luke Hemsworth as Jules Landry

• Riley Keough as Lauren Reece

• Arlo Mertz as Lucy Reece

• Jeanne Tripplehorn as Lorraine Hartley

• Costa Ronin as Vasili Andrenov

• Alexis Louder as Nicole Deptul

MY THOUGHTS

If you like realistic action, charismatic characters, strongly plotted stories, watch TRUE BELIEVER. If you have not seen THE TERMINAL LIST yet, start with it.

It gives emotional resonance to the characters and you'll understand Reece's motivation, his character, and his sense of honor and brotherhood.

I really liked True Believer, but it wasn't as emotionall wrenching as The Terminal List until the end when one death affected me so strongly that I cried as if I'd known the soldier.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

No doubt about it, Jack Carr is a storyteller who intimately knows what he writes about.

Monday Magic - MS Office Vs. Libre Office

Welcome to the first Monday in November. Wow. Where has the year gone?

Today's Monday Magic post is a little different. No free app to review but a free office suite to share with you.

If you're still paying for Microsoft Office Suite, why?

That's the question you'll be asking yourself after watching Microsoft Ruined Office; People Found a Better Way by Money Legends on YouTube.

This channel has about 80K subscribers.

Now, I am not a hardware and software expert of any sort. I only know what I've personally learned about computers and operating systems. I can see how one operating system and software works as opposed to another, but this is just my opinion, not advice to tell you how to manage your own computer system.

WHY SWITCH?

(1) No Copilot.

The advent of AI on Microsoft has been a game changer for many people—especially authors—and not in a good way. A friend of mine was venting about how Microsoft has slowed her productivity because when she's writing a paragraph and pauses a few seconds to decide which word she wants to use, Copilot begins filling in words. These are sometimes ridiculous words. She ends up having to delete, deleted, delete and put in the right word.

(2) Linux and Libre Office are free.

The escalating subscription price for MS Office is a nightmare for many. I happen to own my copy of the MS Office Suite because I bought it several years ago, and I'm still using it.

However, the other elements of Windows have slowed everything on my computer down to a snail's pace. The constant updates are frustrating in the extreme.

To make a long story short, my Darling Hubby removed everything to do with Microsoft Office and Windows. In its place, he installed Linux Mint Cinnamon for an operating system (free) and Libre Office Suite to take the place of MS Office. Everything works at warp speed.

I've seen how his laptop works with Linux and how his MS Office files work with Libre Office. Of course, he had to save all of his MS Office files on flash drives to download back into his computer once Linux and Libre were installed.

(3) Libre Office reads all of MS Office files. You can even save as an Excel or whatever file.

(4) Another advantage? Viruses aren't as much of a problem with Linux as with Windows.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Watch the video and do your own analysis, and make your own decision.

As for me, when I get this book finished, I'll have my Darling Hubby do the same to my desktop computer that he did to his laptop.

Nose to the Grindstone, a Writing Jouney

Hello, World! I'm still here, pecking away on the final draft of my book that will be released in November.

Since I haven't blogged since this past Saturday when I shared the recipe for Sweet Potato Cranberry Muffins, you probably thought I had:

(a) slipped away for a Mediterranean Cruise,

(b) got konked in the head and developed amnesia and didn't remember I had a blog,

(d) been chained to my office computer and must stay here until the final draft really is FINAL.

THE ANSWER IS

Of course, the answer is D. I'm spending hours at the computer, editing and rewriting the final version of this book that has gone through nearly as many rewrites as any work by Roald Dahl.

You know him. He wrote children's books like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Matilda as well as adult short fiction.

In case you don't know, he would rewrite his stories over 150 times before he was satisfied with them.

I haven't done that many rewrites, but I wanted this to be special. This work that I'm obsessing over will be the Second Edition of my very first published novel, Summer's Fortune.

The book, published so many years ago, has no mention of the things we take for granted. No cell phones. No social media domination.

I wanted to rewrite it to meet today's expectations of a romance novel as well as to add in the humor that was in the original story.

Why do all that? Because the premise of the book is made for a crazy romantic comedy. It's just taken a lot longer to do all that.

Also, I've been through a dozen book covers but haven't landed on the one that's perfect. I can't put it up for pre-release on Amazon until I have the cover.

*long drawn-out sigh*

When will this book be available? Hopefully I'll have it up on pre-release next week. Be sure and check back for that announcement. Better yet, sign up for my free newsletter.

In the meantime, check out JANE (I'm-Still-Single) JONES, my ebook on sale for only 99¢. As one reader said, "It's a hoot and a half." This book is also available in Audio and Print, but those editions, though reasonably priced are not on sale at this time.

JANE - US *** JANE - UK *** JANE - AU

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Like Gustave Flaubert once said, "Writing is a dog's life, but the only life worth living."

Saturday Share - Sweet Potato Cranberry Muffins

I love muffins of every variety, but they're often more like tiny cakes with lots of sugar. (Yes, I'm talking about banana nut muffins.)

Today's recipe was created by my younger daughter. These muffins are sweet, but not too sweet. They do require a few minutes of prep work, but you could do that the night before.

If you have a food processor, just toss in the roughly chopped ingredients to make shredding them easy.

These muffins are full of fiber and healthy ingredients. They call for almond flour, but you can substitute AP flour or self-rising. If you use self-rising flour, leave out the baking powder and salt.

I think you'll like them. Even better, some of the ingredients just shout, "Autumn!" Get your muffin tin and baking spray out or those cute little silicone muffin cups and set your oven for 350°F (175°C). Get a big mixing bowl ready. After you process each ingredient, dump it into the big bowl.

Ready? Let's bake a batch for the weekend.

SWEET POTATO CRANBERRY MUFFINS

Ingredients

1 medium sweet potato, peeled, chopped, and shredded
2 carrots, peeled, chopped, and shredded
2 bananas, peeled
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup coconut
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup dried cranberries, without added sugar
3/4 cup almond flour
1 teaspoon baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions

1. Place peeled, chopped sweet potato and carrots in food processor and pulse until shredded then add to the mixing bowl.

2. Peel bananas, toss in food processor, and "liquefy" then add to bowl and stir together.

3. Add the egg and mix well then the flour, salt, and baking powder. Blend well.

4. Add the coconut, chopped pecans, cranberries, and cinnamon and mix until well blended.

5. Using an ice cream scoop or small measuring cup, add the batter to the muffin tin.

6. Bake 30 to 35 minutes until tops are golden. Serve warm.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

A food processor makes prep a breeze, but a sharp knife and a chopping board are also easy. These are healthy and delicious and perfect for the season.

Worry or Work

Pardon me while I yawn. Again. I didn't sleep well last night. I fell asleep quickly but woke up just as quickly a short while later.

I think it was because I couldn't stop thinking about the book I'm writing.

I couldn't seem to fall back asleep. After an hour of tossing, turning, and fuming, I decided to do as Dale Carnegie once advised.

"If you can't sleep, then get up and do something instead of lying there worrying. It's the worry that gets you, not the lack of sleep."

I suppose I was fretting over my slow progress in getting this book into publishable form. So, I was up, thinking about it, making more notes, and trying to figure out why I'm having such a hard time with this book. I think it's because I've had so many interruptions and distractions since I began the book.

A long-form piece of writing demands consistency because holding the information about plot, chracters, emotional truths, setting, etc. in your mind is required. Every interruption from brief to lengthy means you end up going back to your outline and notes rather than simply sitting down and let the words flow from your fingertips to the keyboard to the screen in front of your face.

I guess that's the way I bring an idea to a book ready to be read. So, I'm still trying to build that consistency of habit so that everything I know about this story is ever present in my mind.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

At least, that's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

Review - Fear the Night on Prime

Since Halloween is a couple of weeks away, horror movies are all over the streaming services. I don't care much for horror, but I did watch FEAR THE NIGHT, starring Maggie Q.

You may think this is not a horror film, but I disagree. Any movie where 8 women are at a bachelorette party and masked men with bows and arrows show up and begin killing them one by one? That's a horror film.

ABOUT THE MOVIE

Tess, played by Maggie Q, is an Iraq War veteran and recovering alcoholic, who returns home to heal. Despite her strained relationship with her sister Beth, they join with other friends for their younger sister Rose's bachelorette party at the family farm.

Tess tolerates the group's activities, observing from a distance because she senses something isn't right with the caretakers. Later that night, all hell breaks loose when a band of men attack.

The movie is brutal and gory as the men murder several women, and Tess, the war veteran, returns the favor as she fights to save the women and herself.

The action is intense, and the pace is relentless. It would be nice to think that all women would band together to fight for themselves, but some of the women can't rise above their fear.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

If you're looking for an action flick with no holds barred and a tough as nails protagonist, Fear the Night is for you.

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Monday Magic Free App - Organize Holidays

Take a deep breath. You're going to need it because Thanksgiving is only 38 days away.

I always think of the time from Thanksgiving Day to New Year's Day as a sprint, not a marathon—it's a 36-day race to get past the first day of the New Year so life can get back to its normal pace.

Don't panic. There's a way to get organized so you can handle all the demands. That's what today's free app is all about.

Any.do is free for iPhones and Android.

Of course, there are 2 tiers to this app: free and subscription. You can read the difference between the two on their website.

Any.do can take the stress out of the upcoming holidays by helping you put all tasks in one place: shopping, decorating, sending cards, wrapping gifts, etc. As a task management app, you can integrate your calendar, to-do lists, and daily planners.

You can also collaborate with others directly in the app to help plan family gatherings or coordinate holiday events. Advanced features include color tags to mark high-priority tasks and a built-in AI assistant to help you organize your lists efficiently. Here's an overview of what's free.

FREE PLAN

* Tasks and Lists: Unlimited personal tasks and to-do lists.

* Calendar & Daily Planner: Built-in daily planner view and calendar sync.

* Reminders: Basic one-time reminders.

* Syncing: Real-time syncing across your mobile, desktop, and web devices.

* Grocery Lists: Shared or personal grocery list creation.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

If that sounds like the kind of help you need, visit Any.do and get started.

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Resentment - Best Quote Ever

Today's post was inspired by my Darling Hubby's weekly "Happy Friday" to his subscribers.

He often comes up with great quotations to end his remarks. The one he used last week is the one I snagged for today. These words of wisdom come from Nelson Mandela.

You'll love it.

“Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies.”

When I read that, I laughed, but at the same time I thought, how very true. I've never understood people who can hold a grudge for a lifetime.

I've laughed at Sheldon Cooper and his list of mortal enemies on The Big Bang Theory, but there are people like that in real life. I know someone who quarreled with his mother and one of his sisters and went for years without speaking to them. I don't know what the argument was, but I was pleased when the feud was over and they were speaking again.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Life is short, and the older one gets, the shorter life becomes. Why waste precious time and energy keeping resentment and hatred alive?

Saturday Share - Nutty Butter Bundt

Good morning! I'm postponing my novel writing quota to early evening because I'm going to a baby shower today.

Parties like that always make me think of cake so this is a great day to share a recipe for an easy party cake—also a good day to blog since I haven't done that in several days.

By the way, you can leave the nuts out if you wish. Of course, you'd have to call it a Butter Bundt then.

Break out the bundt pan and let's get started.

NUTTY BUTTER BUNDT

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups self-rising flour
1 1/4 cups of milk
1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
10 tablespoons of butter, softened
1 3/4 cup of sugar
3 eggs
8 ounces of dairy sour cream (not the fat-free kind)
1 cup of finely chopped pecans (or your favorite nut)

Directions

1. Prepare a bundt pan and preheat oven to 325°F (165° C). Sift or whisk flour then measure out the amount needed.

2. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Slowly add eggs, one at a time, beating about a minute after each. When all are added, beat an additional 3 minutes on medium.

3. Slowly sprinkle in the flour, alternating with the milk. Blend well. Add the vanilla then the sour cream. Mix until well blended.

4. If using nuts, add them now, and mix on low for a couple of minutes..

5. Pour the batter into the bundt pan. Tap the pan on the counter to get rid of any air bubbles and use a spatula to level the top if needed.

6. Bake 45 - 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

7. Remove from oven. Let it set in the pan about 5 minutes then turn it out onto a cooling rack.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

That's all there is to making this light, delicious cake. Of course, you can glaze it with a powdered sugar glaze or a thin chocolate ganache glaze. Personally, I like a slice of this plain with a cup of tea.

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FairyTale Romance by M.J. Schiller

Last month I told you about Four and Twenty Blackbirds by M. J. Schiller which is Book 1 of her new series Fairytale Romance.

If you're a fan of fairy tales in stories, movies, and TV series, you really should read M. J.'s series.

WHY FAIRYTALE ROMANCE

Here's what M. J. said about this new series.

"Like most little girls, I was totally enraptured by the fairy tales involving a knight in shining armor who flies in to save the princess from the dastardly villain. But as an adult, I like for the princess to be able to rescue herself sometimes and rescue the hero on occasion, too. And as I did research for my medieval romance, I realized that happily-ever-afters in that time period were hard to come by.

"Women didn’t have much choice in whom they wed, especially someone who was chosen by a royal. To decline meant death. So, my FAIRYTALE ROMANCE SERIES has its dark moments, but hopefully that makes the happily-ever-after more poignant and satisfying.

"After all, when life keeps throwing someone curveball after curveball, and they come out on the other side, we like to applaud. It means more."

POCKET FULL OF RYE

If you love reading series, book after book, you'll be delighted to know that the books in the Fairytale Romance series are being published quickly. Book 1 debuted in September. This month Book 2, Pocket Full of Rye, publishes today, October 7.

Once upon a time, a girl married a prince...but that didn't guarantee her happily-ever-after.

A girl named Izzy was wed to a prince, despite the fact that she was in love with his brother. After all, one does not cross royalty. Although the marriage had a rocky start, Izzy learned to love Carac.

But when his ambition brought danger, who could Izzy count on?

In a dark world, can Izzy ever have a happily-ever-after?

Excerpt from Pocket Full of Rye by M. J. Schiller

“Help him,” she pleaded.

Trevarius went on one knee, thinking it odd that his mother looked to him for help and not to the crown prince. He touched the king’s arm. “My lord father, are you in pain?”

The king’s forehead furrowed as if confused, but Trevarius noticed that the wrinkles were only on one side, which was strange. The king managed a slight nod. Trevarius was relieved that he seemed to understand the question but, at the same time, was concerned about the pain.“Is the suffering so great that Your Majesty cannot bear to be carried to your chambers?” he asked tenderly.

The king’s visage remained unchanged.

Trevarius sighed, speaking out loud. “How am I to aid him when we lack all means to speak to each other?”

Izzy, who still watched the queen warily but had cautiously drawn near, interjected excitedly. “His eyes, my lord. Mark how he moves his eyes.”

Trevarius observed the king. His gaze was shifting from side to side.

Izzy bent. “I believe he means to say nay.”

Trevarius seized upon it. “Is that so, Father?”

Again, the king’s chin dipped almost imperceptibly.

“You give us your leave, then, to bear you to your chambers?”

This time, though still small, the nod seemed to convey the sovereign’s impatience. Trevarius stifled a chuckle, relieved that his father was feeling well enough to be his usual choleric self. He looked up and caught Izzy’s smile, too. Then she lifted her head, peering at something beyond his shoulder, and the smile vanished. Trevarius turned, spying the fierce glare that Carac was aiming at his wife. When he twisted back, Izzy had risen and withdrawn, running her hand across the top of her chair, her gaze downcast.

It is not all joy and sweet bliss with them, then.

He was surprised when this realization didn’t bring him cheer, but seeing Izzy’s sorrowful face only brought him pain.

Books2Read Link for Pocket Full of Rye

MEET THE AUTHOR

M.J. Schiller is a retired lunch lady/romance-romantic suspense writer.

She enjoys writing novels whose characters include rock stars, desert princes, teachers, futuristic Knights, construction workers, cops, and a wide variety of others.

In her mind everybody has a romance. She is the mother of a twenty-eight-year-old and three twenty-six-year-olds. That's right, triplets! Having recently taught four children to drive, she likes to escape from life on occasion by pretending to be a rock star at karaoke. However…you won’t be seeing her name on any record labels soon.

VISIT M. J. SCHILLER ONLINE

Website: https://mjschillerauthor.blogspot.com/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/M-J-Schiller/e/B009JOQFQQ

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/m-j-schiller

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/MJ-Schiller-Romance-Author/286382241460365

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mjschiller/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mjschiller

Tumblr: http://mjschilz.tumblr.com/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/mjschiller

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6479377.M_J_Schiller

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

If you're looking for a different kind of romance, POCKET FULL OF RYE is it. Get your copy today!

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Review - The Love Hypothesis

Now streaming on Prime is a new romcom, The Love Hypothesis, based on Ali Hazelwood's novel of the same name which you can purchase from Amazon if you wish.

Before I begin the review, let me give you some interesting history about this book which began life as a Star Wars fan fiction story published online in 2018.

Back then, the story was called Head Over Feet and was about the Reylo ship between Ray and Kylo Ren.

ABOUT THE MOVIE

The Love Hypothesis follows the main character graduate student Olive at Stanford University who ends up in a fake dating relationship with biology professor Adam Carlsen.

She does all this to convince her best friend that she and the professor are in love so her BFF will also accept love. Of course, those fake feelings become real.

MY THOUGHTS

The movie is delightful with excellent charisma between the main characters portrayed by Lili Reinhart as Olive Smith and Tom Bateman as Dr. Adam Carlsen.

The cast is rounded out by Rachel Marsh as best friend Anh Pham, Nicholas Duvernay as Jeremy Langley, Jaboukie Young-White as Malcolm Browne, Arty Froushan as Dr. Thomas Benton, Jeananne Goossen as Dr. Juliet Aslan, Kenny Wong as McConnell, and Alexandra Petrachuk as Natalie Lazotti.

The plot is unremarkable, but that doesn't mean the movie is without charm. The movie isn't deep and dramatic, and it isn't meant to be. If you're looking for something light-hearted, fun, and funny, this will be your jam.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

If you like the movie, give the book a try Oh, just so you'll know, a sequel titled The Two-Body Problem is set to publish in February 2027.

Monday Magic - Make a Cartoon of Yourself

Want to create your own cartoon image of yourself to use as an avatar, logo, or other use?

Want it to be free?

Then you want to go to CARTOONIFY, a free web-based tool that will help you do just that.

There are many web apps using the name Cartoonify, the one above has .de on the end of the link. Yes, that's Germany, but the webpage is in English and very easy to use.

So Cartoon yourself in a few easy steps. No software to install, no account, and no photo to upload. No personal data risk and no hidden subscriptions.

The web app is a free cartoon avatar maker in your browser. You can mix more than 300 graphic parts — face, eyes, hair, clothes, and background — then download your cartoon face as SVG (vector) or PNG.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Seriously, this is super easy. Try it. You'll probably like it.

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Sunday Thoughts - Worth of Time

Most people think of the novel, Little Women, when they hear the name, Louisa May Alcott.

What they may not know is how wise this 19th century author was.

Sprinkled throughout her novels were bits of wisdom that are as true today as they were then.

What she had to say about understanding the worth of time inspired today's Quote Graphic.

I placed the quotation against a backdrop of beautiful autumn leaves.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Have a lovely Sunday!

Saturday Share Recipe - Chicken Mushroom Soup

I may be rushing the season, but October brings thoughts of soup simmering on the stove. Yes, it's time for an Autumnal recipe.

CHICKEN MUSHROOM SOUP

Ingredients

2 cups leftover chicken, chopped
1 small can of sliced mushrooms, drained
1/2 cup diced onion
1/2 cup diced celery
1 carrot, diced
8 cups of water
3 tablespoons Better Than Bouillon Roasted Chicken Base
1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 cup heavy cream or Half & Half if you prefer
Slurry made of 1 tablespoon of cornstarch mixed well with 4-5 tablespoons cold water—if you want a thick soup.

Directions

1. In a large soup pot, combine all of the ingredients except the cream and the Slurry.

2. Simmer for a half hour.

3. If wanting a thick soup, whisk in the Slurry and let it simmer a few minutes.

4. Reduce heat to a low simmer and add the cream or Half and Half. Stir to blend. (You add the cream last to a lower heat because you don't want the cream to "break."

5. Serve hot with a crusty bread of your choice.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

You can make it using an equal amount of chicken broth or stop instead of the Chicken Base and water. Either way, the soup is delicious and packed with protein and yummy flavors.

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BLOG PAGES

New Christmas Romance - Wedding Belle by Bonnie Edwards

Saturday Share Recipe - Easy Chicken Carbonara

Friday Quote - Funny Stuff

Review - The Terminal List - True Believer - Prime

Monday Magic - MS Office Vs. Libre Office

Nose to the Grindstone, a Writing Jouney

Saturday Share - Sweet Potato Cranberry Muffins

Worry or Work

Review - Fear the Night on Prime

Monday Magic Free App - Organize Holidays

Resentment - Best Quote Ever

Saturday Share - Nutty Butter Bundt

FairyTale Romance by M.J. Schiller

Review - The Love Hypothesis

Monday Magic - Make a Cartoon of Yourself

Sunday Thoughts - Worth of Time

Saturday Share Recipe - Chicken Mushroom Soup

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