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 doctor 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 to the possibilities around her.
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.
The Reviews
So without further ado, it’s time to introduce you to the actual book and the launch fun that goes with it!
Aurora and the Enchanted Bookshop
A Clean Cozy Contemporary Fantasy Retelling of Sleeping Beauty
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.
This series started with revenge, but now I’m obsessed with having illustrations in these books.
It’s so adorable!!!
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!
I’m so in love with this character art.
The second artist I used was my own daughter! She worked so hard, and I’m so proud of her! She wants to take commissions when she’s a bit older, so there’s no better way than to start her off here! (And yes, she got paid, just like Becca!)
A Low-Sugar, Low-Fat Peppermint Hot Chocolate 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!
Aurora and the Enchanted Surprise
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!
Belle and the Enchanted Bookshop
The Enchanted Bookshop Fairy Tales, Book #3
Once you finish this book, what next?
Another fairy tale with the magic book, of course!
“I’m not sure why this has you so worried,” Margaret said with a sly smile before sipping her tea. “It’s only a fairy tale, Belle. Surely a fairy tale never hurt anyone.”
After escaping a childhood of instability and unreliable parents, Belle is finally living the life of her dreams. She’s the sole employee of Enchanted Endings Bookshop, working for the notorious busybody and bookshop proprietor, Margaret, and she never wants that to change. Even better is when she learns that Enchanted Endings Bookshop has been chosen to host the live tea event of the year, Steeping Pages and Turning Leaves.
Unfortunately, just when it seems all her dreams are coming true, Belle is blindsided by two intrusions she never saw coming. First, one of the chosen tea party hosts will be… her long-lost mother – the woman who chose a career over her family. And somehow, possibly worse is when Margaret is called out of town for an emergency while they prepare to host the tea, and she leaves her bossy, big-headed businessman godson, Andrew, to run the shop alongside Belle.
Sensing that Belle is less than thrilled to be working alongside Andrew, Margaret announces that it’s finally time for Belle to borrow the infamous fairy tale book Margaret likes to loan out to those she deems need help. But Belle has seen the lasting change this book has brought to the lives of others, and she’s not sure she’s ready for this kind of read. After all, in Belle’s experience, change leads to nothing more than heartache. But with the tea party looming and Andrew’s bossy desire to “fix” the bookshop Belle loves so much, she has little choice but to accept Margaret’s offer. Because Belle’s going to need all the help she can get.
Delve into the warm, flavorful world of tea, books, and rose-flavored spring vibes, soft, sweet magic, clean, no-spice romance, and Beauty’s story made new. Belle and the Enchanted Bookshop can be read as a stand-alone and is the third 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!