First Line Fridays # 35: “Keep Holding On” by Melissa Taggg

It’s time for a new edition of First Line Fridays hosted by the Hoarding Books blog!

Happy October!!!!!!! It’s time for all things fall, so I’m loving it! When I think about fall reading, I think about Melissa Tagg’s stories. I know she has novels set in all seasons, but there’s something about the fallish ones that makes me happy. I want flannel and pumpkins and candles and apple cider when I read them.

Keep Holding On is this feeling x 1000. Maybe it’s the charming story, or the apple orchard setting, or the lovable characters. I can list many reasons why I think this is a perfect fall romance! I have to share the first paragraph because it is captivating and SO clever!

FIRST LINES:

He’d tell his family tonight. After the wedding. Before he turned himself in to the police.

Your turn! What’s your first line?

“Fall Time, Cozy Time” Book Tag

While it’s looking a little more like winter every day, I’m still wanting to be in the fall frame of mind. I just love all the cozy things of the fall and winter seasons, including reading books by the fire!

This book tag is one I saw on my friend Rissi’s BookTube channel and blog. Though I’m not following the video format, I still thought this was a cute tag and a way to talk about all the cozy things with the prompts!

Fall Time, Cozy Time Book Tag

1: Crunching Leaves: “The world is full of color – choose a book that has reds/oranges/yellows on the cover.”

How about a red, orange, and yellow cover?

Lizzy and Jane by Katherine Reay | Still Life by Dani Pettrey

When You Look at Me by Pepper Basham

2: Cozy Sweater: “It’s finally cool enough to don warm cozy clothing: what book gives you the  warm fuzzies?” 

Oh my goodness, a recent favorite that gave me the warm fuzzies was the delightful contemporary romance Rose in Three Quarter Time by Rachel McMillan. Also, anything by Melissa Tagg or Courtney Walsh instantly belongs in this category.

3: Fall Storm: “The wind is howling & the rain is pounding – choose your favorite book OR genre that you like to read on a stormy day.” 

Genre: historical romance!

Something like Sons of Blackbird Mountain by Joanne Bischof or The Matrimonial Advertisement by Mimi Matthews because they have such character depth, vibrant sense of place, etc

4: Cool Crisp Air: “What’s the coolest character you’d want to trade places with?”

Definitely Tzivia Khalon from Ronie Kendig’s “Tox Files” series because…… she’s strong. SUPER smart. An archaeologist. She’s often underestimated because she’s gorgeous, but she can and will kick butt if necessary.

5: Hot Apple Cider: “What under hyped book do you want to see become the next biggest, hottest thing?”

Recently…. Things Left Unsaid by Courtney Walsh. Poignant, emotional, and REAL women’s fiction at its best. Because it’s an indie book, it might be a little under-the-radar for some readers who would really love it AND be blessed by its message. I hope YOU check it out!

6: Coat, Scarves, and Mittens: “The weather has turned cold & it’s time to cover up – What’s the most embarrassing book cover you own that you like to keep hidden in public?”

NONE! Maybe an older cover or two from 1990’s fiction that’s just not “appealing” by today’s standards, but otherwise, nope.

7: Pumpkin Spice: “What’s your favorite Fall time comfort food(s)?”

Anything with cinnamon. (But this is me all year longgggg.) I love all the baked things with cinnamon that seem to be season-appropriate, too. Apple pie, apple cinnamon doughnuts, cinnamon oatmeal, cinnamon cookies, spiced cranberry scones, cinnamon toast, and the list goes on…

YOUR TURN! What are your favorite things about fall? What would be your picks for these prompts? Join the tag if you want!

Top Ten Tuesday: Fall TBR + Mood Reads

It’s another Top Ten Tuesday, now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl!

Today’s official topic: Books on Your Fall TBR

Let’s talk FALL! I’m all about this getting-cooler season. Where I live, it still feels like summer, but I am planning for all things pumpkin, apple, and spiced very soon. This, of course, puts me in the mood to read (or reread) stories with fall settings. Today I’m sharing a list of books that make me feel all the autumn or fall coziness plus a few from my TBR!

Fall “Mood” Reads

The “Walker Family” series by Melissa Tagg | Specifically, books 2-3, Like Never Before and Keep Holding On make me feel cozy and crave all things APPLE (because book 3 has an orchard!)

The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn by Lori Benton | I’ll reread this book for ANY reason, but really, I remember its setting being vividly described and part of it evoking that crisp “chill” of fall air.

Hometown Girl by Courtney Walsh | Apple cider doughnuts, anyone???? Oh, and there’s a great little mystery in this one! I feel a reread coming up soon…

Where Trains Collide by Amber Stokes | This sweet little novella explores the landscape of the Pacific Northwest during an autumn season — a season of change for the characters, too! (HEY! This one is FREE on ebook platforms through Sept. 20!)

A Noble Groom by Jody Hedlund | A historical romance that makes the harvest unforgettable!

My Fall TBR

My actual TBR pile is insane. So , here are just a few of the new books that mostly release this season I plan to read!

 

Lies We Tell Ourselves by Amy Matayo | I’m reading this one now! Amy’s stories are always the best balance of thought-provoking and emotional.

My Hands Came Away Red by Lisa McKay | A new cover on an older classic! I’ve heard nothing but good things about this book.

Bear No Malice by Clarissa Harwood | OK, I know this doesn’t release til 2019, but I am doing a happy dance on the inside because I got my hands on an ARC! I LOOOOOVED book 1, Impossible Saints.

All Made Up by Kara Isaac | This sounds like such a cute story! I might have to catch up on Kara’s backlist before I read it, though, because I know Kat is a secondary character in some of her stories. that will be such a hard thing to do.

A Sparkle of Silver by Liz Johnson | Two words: Liz. JOHNSON! I cannot wait to see what she does with a southern mansion, a mystery, and opulence!

An Hour Unspent by Roseanna M. White | I have no doubt this long-anticipated series conclusion will be amazing.

Things Left Unsaid by Courtney Walsh | A new indie from Courtney that’s a spin on romance and women’s fiction – YES, please!

When You Look At Me by Pepper Basham | Music + Cupcakes + introverts + Pepper’s heart = a story I’ve been anticipating for a while!

Your turn! What’s on your Fall TBR? Do you have fall reads recommendations? Books you reread each fall? Let me know in the comments!

Sweater Weather is here!!! (A Tag)

Let’s venture off-topic a little and talk about sweater weather today, AKA autumn. Amber over at Seasons of Humility has tagged me in The Sweater Weather Tag, so let’s talk about fall!

Favorite candle scent

I’m going with a Christmas scent here: peppermint. Specifically, Yankee Candle’s North Pole scent. It just smells festive!

Coffee, tea, or hot chocolate?

If you’re forcing me to pick one, tea. I love it all: hot tea, iced tea (SWEET iced tea. This is the south.), lukewarm tea….I’ll take it any way I can.

What’s the best fall memory you have?

This one is tough! I’m going to go with one of my many favorites: hiking with my family a few years ago to Hawksbill Crag (AKA Whitaker Point) as the leaves were just past their peak. It was beautiful! Something I will never forget.

A photo of Hawksbill Crag from said hike.

Best fragrance for fall

Cinnamon. I love cinnamon in anything (oatmeal, tea, ice cream, apple pie, pumpkin pie, etc.). It just smells like the season!

Favorite Thanksgiving food

Pumpkin pie!!! And, it has to have REAL whipped cream. If you’re at my Mamaw’s at Thanksgiving, you have to make your dessert plate early just to make sure my cousins don’t get all the whipped cream (you know who you are) 🙂

Most worn sweater

Hmm. Maybe my comfy brown zippered one? I tend to wear it around home all winter.

Football games or jumping in leaf piles?

Leaf piles! That’s another fall memory with family — playing in the leaves. And climbing the trees.

Skinny jeans or leggings?

Skinny jeans

Combat boots or Uggs?

Hiking/hunting boots, for sure!

Is pumpkin spice worth the hype?

Yes, but only if you REALLY like pumpkin. One or two pumpkin spices lattes a season, and I’m good. But I do love the opportunity to try and make all things pumpkin this time of year. Pumpkin pancakes, anyone?

Favorite fall TV show

This year, I’m going to have to say fall Hallmark movies.

What do you want to be for Halloween?

No idea!!! This year I’m pretty last minute with deciding because I’ll be working.

Hats or scarves?

Both!!!! Especially if they match 🙂

What’s your #1 favorite thing about fall?

Trees. Seeing them reveal their true colors is almost magical. Almost a metaphor: when your character is revealed, will you display something vibrant underneath?

That was fun!!! I’m tagging Beckie and anyone else who wants to join!

What are your favorite things about fall???? Please share in the comments.

Fun Find Friday: Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe

Last week, in honor of fall in general, I tried a new recipe. Let me tell you, this homemade pumpkin spice latte recipe has NOTHING on that popular chain we all know and love. It has a lovely, fresh flavor because of the real pumpkin puree you add.

I used this recipe from Bakergirl I found via Pinterest. The recipe is for a pumpkin spice syrup you combine with warmed milk and coffee for lattes. I bet the syrup would be great used in other ways, too! My advice: make some REAL whipped cream to top it.

This is one of my new favorite fall recipes. Do you have any favorite fall recipes? I’d love to hear your fall favorites in the comments! Thanks for visiting!

Sooo my homemade #pumpkinspicelatte was amazing! I wish I could make all of you 1 so you would know how fall tastes! pic.twitter.com/e6I8NIJzO1

— Courtney Clark (@CameraCourt) October 30, 2013

A new reviewing opportunity!

Hi, everyone!

I’m so excited to tell you that I am now a part of a great team of book reviewers for the Family Fiction website and monthly digital magazine!

My first review for them is out in the November issue of the Family Fiction digital magazine. You can view it here! I covered Fired Up by Mary Connealy.

Happy November, and thanks for visiting or following my blog!

And, because every post deserves a photo, here’s one I took this week. It’s close to my house in the Arkansas Ozarks. I just love all of the warm colors of fall!

Fall Harvest Wreath

I love fall. It’s one of my favorite seasons! (I really do love them all, but I’m not a fan of the hoooot summer days). With pumpkin EVERYTHING, what’s not to love? My favorite pumpkin food would be a pumpkin pie, made with a fresh pie pumpkin, and real whipped cream. A truly unique pumpkin food I tried recently was pumpkin ravioli with browned butter and sage. Yum!

I was inspired by all the fall decor I had seen in different stores recently. And on Pinterest. I decided to make a wreath from various picks, pumpkins, and gourds I gathered from my favorite craft stores.

 

This is the result!

Here’s the burlap bow I made! It was simple and easy. I used wire-edged burlap ribbon.

And, a close up of my favorite gourd.

Photographer for hire!

I am available for senior picture photo sessions in Northwest Arkansas – just in time for fall! I would love to have the opportunity to capture you as a senior in portraits, sports, or a lifestyle environment. I will be happy to meet you in a location of your choice for a photo shoot. Please contact me for scheduling, pricing, or additional information. Also, you can contact me to see more of my work.

This is a senior pic I was able to take recently near my home.

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