First of all, YES, this is a launch party. But first… you must know my story. Because no other story was born quite like this…

(Or you can skip my story of vengeance and get straight to the reviews or the book…)

FINALLY, after two years, the day for my REVENGE has come!!!

I’ve published the book that I WANTED to read almost two years ago on my birthday.

Yes. My birthday. Oh, that fateful day.

A cruel, tragic trick was played on me that day when my husband asked me where I’d like to go to celebrate. Obviously, I requested the bookstore. Because books. And birthday.

Now, it had been years since I’d found much that I could read in that bookstore. Too much spice. And yet, hopeful for a birthday miracle, I ventured into the rows and rows of books, sure I could find SOMETHING clean to read.

And then I beheld it… a book with a girl that looked like CINDERELLA on the cover, standing in front of a LIBRARY.

I was entranced. Anticipation coursing through my veins, I picked it up and began to thumb through the pages. Then BAM!!! My eyes were assaulted with SMUT.

Not even joking, I can’t begin to describe the rage that filled me that night. So much rage that I gave up and declared it a useless venture. But on the way home, I didn’t just get sad or mad. I decided to get REVENGE. If the world didn’t have the book I had wanted to read on my birthday, I would write it MYSELF!

And that’s exactly what this book is. Except, rather than just writing about a girl who looked like Cinderella and stood around in libraries, I wrote a cozy contemporary fantasy Cinderella retelling. And in that retelling, I created a magical book – one that was lent out by the nosy fairy godmoth-I mean, local bookshop proprietor. I also added horses, a green-flag man in uniform, and I made EVERYTHING AUTUMN-THEMED. I mean, why not? This was SUPPOSED to be my birthday book after all!!!

So now my revenge is complete. I have the book I wanted to read that day, and I hope you want to read it too. I know it’s not one of my high-stakes epic fantasies, but it’s still got all of the highs and lows of a true Cinderella retelling. In fact, I wrote this book specifically to be a relaxing, satisfying read that will get you in the mood for fall while the wicked stepmother gets her just desserts. Not convinced yet? Check out what early readers are saying:

The Reviews

So without further ado, it’s time to introduce you to the actual book and the launch fun that goes with it!

Ella and the Enchanted Bookshop

A Clean Cozy Contemporary Fantasy Retelling of Cinderella

“Ella,” Margaret interrupted with an amused smile. “Are you suggesting that I gave you a magical book?” Then she took a sip of tea.

Ella is the small town of Buchkarte’s renowned horse whisperer. (Pronounced Book-Heart. Say it right, or the locals will never let you live it down.) Sole daughter of late national equine champions, Ella obviously inherited her parents’ skills and passion. And as she runs the town’s only horse boarding ranch, you would think business would be booming.

Sadly, you would be wrong. Stuck under the thumb of the ranch’s new owner – who also happens to be Ella’s stepmother – it’s all Ella can do to keep the place running while ensuring her beloved horses’ care. And as the cold days of autumn approach yet again, Ella begins to wonder how much longer she can hold on.

But just as she doubts whether she’ll ever find peace or companionship again, thanks to her stepmother’s threats, the local town busybody (and the Enchanted Endings Bookshop’s proprietor, Margaret) lends Ella a book – a book with a familiar story that’s incomplete. But as autumn matures, Ella starts to sense that this mysterious book might have more to do with her life than she first thought, as new possibilities appear before her.

Possibilities that include freedom, independence, and maybe even Margaret’s godson, Asher.

And for the first time since her parents’ deaths, Ella begins to wonder if a happy ending might be within her reach yet. If only she can find a way to write that ending as her own.

Delve into a cozy world of pumpkin-spiced autumn vibes, soft, sweet magic, clean, no-spice romance, and Cinderella’s story made new. Ella and the Enchanted Bookshop is the first in the Enchanted Bookshop Fairy Tales – clean, cozy contemporary fantasy retellings of four beloved fairy tales with gentle magic, safe, clean romance, and seasonal sensations.

The Art in this Book

Did you know this book has commissioned art inside of it? Not because it’s a special edition (it’s not), but because I wanted to make it extra.

Revenge, remember?

So I commissioned two artists to create art for this book, and I think it turned out adorably!

The first artist is Rebecca Paavo. Now, you’ve seen Becca’s art before if you’ve been with me for any length of time. She not only did the illustrations for my children’s Illustrated Classic fairy tales, but she’s also done the maps for the Autumn Fairy Trilogy, the Legacy of the Time Stones Trilogy, the Rose of Destiny Trilogy, and my Classical Kingdoms Collection Neverland Duology. So when I called her and needed something quick, she delivered! In fact, she delivered this cute little sketch based on my description of Ella!

“Nothing intricate,” I told her. “Just something cute.”

And we got this!

The second artist I used was my own daughter! Proud mommy moment, here!

Now, a fun fact about this book is that it actually has a lot of my daughter in it. My daughter is obsessed with horses. She takes riding lessons and is an absolute sponge when it comes to horse knowledge. (One of her favorite things to do is try to identify horse breeds.) So not only was she an artist, but she was a foundtain of knowledge when I needed to make sure that I’d gotten the horse information correct.

She has four illustrations in this book, and here are two of them!

I’m seriously so proud.

And yes, she got paid for this, which makes her extremely happy and ready to do more. She wants to start taking commissions in a few years, and I told her I will absolutely help her with that when she’s ready.

A Low-Sugar, Low-Fat Ice Pumpkin Spice Coffee Recipe

I used to drink caffiene. And I loved it. But it did not love me. Nor do recipes with lots of sugar or fat. Or gluten. Which means I have to get creative if I want to taste the good things in life.

Now, for those of you who can drink the Starbucks lattes in all their frothy splendor, go forth and enjoy! And remember of the rest of us while you do, drinking in our honor.

For those of us who want the goodness without consequences, I have a recipe! It’s been perfected over years of pining for the sugary goodness that I can’t have. Given, it doesn’t taste as good without the special creamer, but you can always substitute your creamer of choice to make it better. (I will throw hands in the grocery store to get this stuff.)

For those of you who can’t stand instant coffee, I get it! It’ll take longer, but you can steep the coffee in almond milk as you might to make regular iced coffee in the fridge. This is my Mommy-has-a-lot-to-do-and-needs-something-fast option.

And if you REALLY want to get fancy, add a few shakes of Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Spice seasoning on the creamer to top it off!

Ella and the Blank Book

An Enchanted Bookshop Bonus Story

As always, I’ve written a bonus story! (And if we can get over 25 reviews, I’ll write a second one to celebrate!)

To read this bonus story, make sure you’re subscribed to my newsletter list! You’ll get the password with which to access ALL of my bonus materials, book inspiration soundtracks, downloads, and more! And if you’re not, you can subscribe today!

Aurora and the Enchanted Bookshop

The Enchanted Bookshop Fairy Tales, Book #2

Once you finish this book what next?

Anothe fairy tale with the magic book, of course!

Margaret just waved me off. “The book is only a little bauble. Nothing too impressive. But,” she paused, her voice growing sly, “I’ve found that sometimes it can be quite helpful with perspective.”

Aurora has a secret – one that her neighbors guard jealously for her. The young woman who lives and works at her three aunts’ bakery isn’t just another small-town baker. She’s a child actress who mysteriously disappeared from Hollywood when she was four and has been in hiding ever since. And Aurora wants to keep it that way. Her quiet life in the small Colorado mountain town of Buchkarte is her dream come true. Her time on-screen, however, left her with scars – physical and emotional – that result in her losing consciousness at all the wrong times.

So when a picture of Aurora pops up online, and her past comes to call, Aurora despairs of ever having a normal life. But just when all seems lost, she finds an unexpected ally – a new-to-Buchkarte pediatrician who happens to be in the right place at the right time. And though Aurora can’t imagine why this young, handsome doctor would be interested in her, he seems determined to be her friend… and maybe more.

Sensing that Aurora’s life is about to turn upside down, the local town busybody (and the Enchanted Endings Bookshop’s proprietor, Margaret) lends Aurora a book – a book with a familiar story that’s incomplete. But when the story begins to mirror her life in strange ways, Aurora realizes change is coming. She just doesn’t know if she’s ready to follow the new plot.

A new plot, after all, might mean doing scary things like acting in the church’s nativity play, facing her ex-agent, and the most terrifying of all…

Dating.

But as the story unfolds, Aurora begins to realize that perhaps the sheltered life she’s been living isn’t all that life was meant to be. Perhaps what she really needs is to wake up.

Delve into a cozy world of cinnamon and peppermint-flavored Christmas vibes, soft, sweet magic, clean, no-spice romance, and Sleeping Beauty’s story made new. Aurora and the Enchanted Bookshop can be read as a stand-alone and is the second in the Enchanted Bookshop Fairy Tales – clean, cozy contemporary fantasy retellings of four beloved fairy tales with gentle magic, safe, clean romance, and seasonal sensations.

Ready for the next book? Make sure to pre-order it so it’s ready and waiting as soon as it drops!

Last Thoughts…

I hope you enjoy this book. I wrote it with the desire to create something festive and delightful, and I had an absolute blast doing it. If you love this book, please consider giving it a rating/review on Amazon or Goodreads. And if you have any friends, tell them about it as well!