I will be reading more from these authors. The stories just jumped off the page. They were magical, holiday fun. I didn't want the book to end. They were heartwarming, happily ever after, feel good stories. Loved it!

This was such a magical read. All happening in one town, Moonbright, Maine, affectionately known as Halloweentown! They pull out all the stops for the parade and festivals. Everyone is involved and at the center is Bellaluna's Bakeshop. A magical bakeshop passed down from mother to daughter for generations, now being run by Bree and her Grandmother.

Three stories set in the same town at the same time. One starring Bree herself, who is beginning to think the magic gene has skipped her, along with two other ladies who thought they knew what they wanted until a bit of magic snuck into their lives.

This was a charming collaboration from three very talented women and it works so well. It is one of those curl up with a Pumpkin Spice Latte' and a sugar cookie and feel all the warm feels!

Well Done!

NetGalley/  August 27th, 2019 by Kensington

Ah what super cute fall/Halloween romance novellas. I enjoyed visiting Moonbright from all three authors. I absolutely loved all three descriptions of fall and the Moonbright Halloween festivities it definitely gave me all the fall vibes.

Sweet Magic by Donna Kauffman.
Donna Kauffman is an author I’ve read and this story was cute and set up moonbright and the magical cookies really well. The love story was cute there was definitely a lot going on family wise. Not my favourite one but definitely cute

The cookie recipe from this one is amazing!!! So yummy

Love Spells Disaster by Allyson Charles.
I really liked this story and could have spent more time with Chip and Cass. Chip was an awesome hero and I definitely started out really like Cass, being frustrated with her and then liking her again. I will definitely be checking out more novels by Allyson Charles.

These cookies gave me a wonderful idea for my Halloween cookies this year!

Sweet on you by Kate Angell

This was the most wonderful story to wrap up this book. I adored Lara and Jack and their love story was adorable. The addition of Edna was so perfect. She is definitely my favourite resident. I can not wait to read more by Kate Angell. She definitely has caught this readers attention.

Since I’m all about pumpkin spice this cookies are getting made for sure.



Thank you to netgalley and Kensington books for providing me a copy for my honest review

This charming, book takes place in Moonbright, Maine, a small town that comes together in preparation for the grand Halloween parade.

You're introduced to Bree the thirty-something baker at her grandmother's (Sophia's) bakery, Bellaluna's Bakeshop who's inherited magical ways have yet to come to materialize, until one day, Caleb comes through the bakeshop's backdoor and thrust into her life.

We also meet quirky Cassandra who is willing to do anything to convince her boss (her unrequited love) that she is the one for him - even to try to cast a couple of her friend, Franca's spells. But before she gets to accomplish any spells, the handsome local carpenter, Chip comes to her rescue when she begins to choke on a cookie.

Then we are acquainted with just-dumped Lara who's no ex-boyfriend goes off with the local sex kitten and leaves her to alone at Bellaluna's Bakeshop to wallow in her grief., just finds out her rent is being raised, and she needs to find employment. Yesterday. Enter Jack, the former high school football-star-turned-Moonbright's mayor, who invites himself to the seat across from his old classmate. Lara luck seems to have taken a dramatic turn for the better.

This was an absolutely charming read that gave me the autumn feels! I couldn't put it down and was happy to continue reading about the different lives of these women and how they fall in love. A romance three-fold novel, The Bakeshop at Pumpkin and Spice is made for those who enjoy Pumpkin Spice lattes, crunching leaves under their shoes and dressing up for the spooky holiday.

SPOILER ALERT: If I do have anything not-so-great to say about the book is that I found the quick proposals very disbelievable.

Besides that, this is definitely a keeper and I'm excited to try some of the recipes that were included!

I loved this charming anthology of stories centered around a lovely small town in fall. This book has the fall introduction we are all carving with wonderful fall foods, descriptions of fall seasons and wonderful touch of magic in each story. I loved it and never wanted it to end. This book begins with the perfect intriguing fall cover and opens the world of fall in New England for the reader.

Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity.. My review opinions are my own.

Its autumn in Moonbright, Maine and the leaves are turning to brilliant colors the pumpkin pie's scent practically jumps out of the pages and the featured bakeshop is featuring hard to resist autumn desserts. The bakeshop is the center of these three stories .
Sweet Magic by Donna Kauffman is the first book introducing the setting of Bellaluna's Bakeshop. The next story is Love Spells Disaster by Allyson Charles which also features autumn treats with a touch of magic. The next is Sweet on You by Kate Angell. Each story features the bakeshop and wonderful charcters. I loved this set of stories that are entrancing to read and take you to all the beauty of fall in New England. I highly recommend these stories for your reading enjoyment.

Heartfelt and with just all the cozy fall vibes these stories were so adorable! Cute romance stories with some supernatural things thrown in such as a witchy family that bake special treats to help people made these stories so fun and just perfect for this time of year. Anyone who loves romance heartfelt stories and a little supernatural thrown in will devour this right up!

I had the hardest time with this. Starting with the names of the characters, a mouthful. Couldnt really get into it . Not a fan of mulitple stories in one book. Just not my cup.of tea, but that's fine.

Bree is part of a magical baking family handed down through the females of the family. She is heading towards 30 and feels she is never going to open up her magical side. Her Nonna tells her she cannot impart the love match until she herself has experienced it. In walks Caleb and she loses her heart on the spot. Seems the same happens to Caleb but will their living in different states put a damper on their love or can the magic fix all that’s thrown in their path. I loved this sweet Holiday book short and look forward to reading more about this town and people!

I picked this book mainly because I like the books of Donna Kauffman - and it didn't disappoint! I enjoyed all the stories and will be looking forward to reading more by the others. This was a fun Halloween compilation. Have already sold it in my store!

The Bakeshop at Pumpkin and Spice is a perfect introduction to fall. Readers are transported to Moonbright, Maine where three authors offer romantic tales that pass through Belleluna's Bakeshop. All of the stories are filled with a sweet magical realism that happily reminds me of the work of Sarah Addison Allen, but infinitely fluffier.

Sweet Magic Donna Kauffman - This is what drew me to the book initially; I love Kauffman's work. This story, while good, would have worked best as a full-length novel. Much like Allen's work, the story involved family secrets and the satisfying romance that comes from two individuals finding their person. Abriana and Caleb's relationship moved quickly in the short time frame, but a lot of the behind the scenes warmth of Caleb's family circling the wagons and Abriana meeting them, would make for wonderful reading in full.

Love Spells Disaster Allyson Charles - I may have found a new author to try in this one! Charming, romantic, and the most humorous of the three, what begins as a case of pining for the wrong person and refusing to see the right one was steamy, funny, and all too cute.

Sweet on You Kate Angell - I was skeptical about this one as romances between a supervisor and subordinate are often sketchy, but Angell gave this one a very Parks and Rec feel. I even could see the court clerk, Ethel Beavers, in place of crotchety old Edna. The romance was sweet and the best contradiction of whirlwind and slow burn

Each story ended with a mouth watering recipe that I'm itching to try. Usher in fall with this one!

I have to admit that I did not finish this book. I was really hoping for a bit more magic in the story, more like a Sarah Addison Allen type, but its turning out to be more of a harlequin romance style. While the story is fine so far, I'm just not in the mood for this much romance and have many others things I would like to be reading. This would be a good weekend cabin trip read :)

A billion years ago (okay, three, three years ago 😉 ) I reviewed a fun Halloween anthology from Kensington Books called The Cottage on Pumpkin and Vine, which had the setting of Moonbright, Maine. Happily, we have returned to Moonbright and Halloween in Kensington’s latest anthology, The Bakeshop at Pumpkin and Spice.

The three novellas in The Bakeshop at Pumpkin and Spice each have stories involving Bellaluna’s bakeshop where magical matchmaking is on the menu.

While Donna Kauffmans’s “Sweet Magic” was probably the best written of the three novellas, the actual story of Abrianna, Sofia’s (of the magical bakeshop) granddaughter, and Caleb, who has come to Moonbright to run his uncle’s Greek restaurant while his uncle is on vacation, didn’t come together for me. As I’ve said in the past, probably most recently in the past week, romance novellas can be a hard sell when it comes to instalove.

I enjoyed Allyson Charles’ “Love Spells Disaster” (nice play on words) until Cassie showed herself to be judgmental and rude regarding Chip, the handyman and love interest. This is another thing about novellas, if you have a rude main character, you have very little time to redeem that character for your reading. In this case, that just never happened. Cassie would apologize only to make a rude comment as an attempt at making a joke. Nope, just nope.

My favorite of the three was Kate Angell’s “Sweet on You.” Lara and Jack have known each other in passing forever. Lara always presumed that someone like Jack, a smart jock in high school and now Mayor of Moonbright, would never look at someone like her. I loved this story’s humor, especially with the crotchety character of Edna. Lara and Jack were engaging. Definitely a good story to end the anthology with.

Fittingly at the end of each novella is a cookie recipe.

If you’re looking for an anthology of sweet seasonal romances, you might enjoy The Bakeshop at Pumpkin and Spice .

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Halloween is just around the corner, and the denizens of Moonbright, Maine know how to celebrate. Jack-o’-lanterns, haunted houses, and even a parade ring in the season— and for a lucky few, there just might be a hint of magic in the air. Three budding romances. Three novellas. One magical bakeshop.

Sweet Magic

Bree works in her family’s bakery, Bellaluna’s, where the secret ingredient is magic. Among all the mouth-watering treats that they regularly dish out rests a special cookie that can nudge would-be couples together. Though Bree has tried to perfect the recipe, her attempts have always come up short … but then Caleb, a visiting restaurateur, steps in and gets a taste of her latest creation.

Author Donna Kauffman is tasked with opening the collection, setting up the hook that pulls each of these three stories together. It’s a delicious treat. Though there is a certain level of love at first sight between Bree and Caleb, Kauffman balances it with plenty of tension. Both are hesitant to rush into a relationship, and an interesting twist forces them to think outside of themselves. Charming without drifting into saccharine, it’s a perfectly sweet opening.

Love Spells Disaster

Cassie knows what she wants, and right at the top of her list is a date with her boss. Armed with two cookies from Bellaluna’s, she has the perfect plan. However, she’s thwarted when Chip, perhaps the complete opposite of her boss, helps himself to one of the treats. But it’s hard to stay angry at him when he agrees to help her build her dream haunted house.

Author Allyson Charles just might thrive off of complicated characters. Some of Cassie’s judgments of Chip are harsh, and there are moments when she’s downright unlikable. And yet, Charles skillfully allows her to grow and change, ultimately leading to a satisfying conclusion. It’s a remarkable journey in only a few short pages. With some clever character work mixed with genuinely funny scenes, this makes for a fun and brief entry.

Sweet On You

Getting dumped was not how Lara wanted to start her day. Toss in an increase in her rent and an unsustainable job and things might not be able to get much worse. However, after a trip to Bellalun’s, she scores a new job working for Mayor Jack Hanson— planning the Halloween parade. But as the two work to create the most memorable Halloween celebration Moonbright has ever seen, old feelings are stirred up.

While each of the three stories features the community, this one goes all-in. The Halloween parade is the pinnacle of Moonbright’s festivities, and the planning process leads to some heartwarming revelations about residents. Author Kate Angell has perfected the feel-good romance, with Lara and Jack gradually forming a realistic connection by working on something that benefits others. With plenty of callbacks to the first two stories, this is the perfect wrap-up.

Content was really cheesy and the context of the story seemed underdeveloped. Could be a cute concept if executed differently.

I love the title of this book and was disappointed by the whole thing. I would not recommend this to anyone.

The Bakeshop at Pumpkin and Spice is a sweet batch of novellas sure to make you crave all things fall. The stories are all very well written with interesting characters. I liked each story. So grab this book and a cup of pumpkin latte and enjoy! Thank you netgalley for the arc on exchange for this, my honest review

A perfectly sweet and spicy collection of stories for a crisp fall day, THE BAKESHOP AT PUMPKIN AND SPICE was the perfect antidote to my 'ohmygod why is it still so hot, school has started already' blues. All three novellas are by new-to-me authors and I'll definitely be digging into their backlists for more, because this was a magical autumn treat.

A fun collection of autumn-themed stories. These have great storylines that mix all things fall with a dose of romance. A good collection for when you need something shorter and entertaining to read. Good characters and a great setting.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Sweet Magic - Donna Kauffman

Good story. Bree is the latest in her family to work at the family bakery. Within the family, it is an accepted fact that some members have a magic touch when it comes to baking. Bree hasn't yet experienced that phenomenon and is beginning to despair that she ever will. That is until Caleb comes into the shop. Suddenly those Italian cookies have a little extra zing to them.

Caleb is in Moonbright to help his Uncle George with his restaurant while George and his wife are on vacation. Caleb does not expect to become fascinated with the baker down the street. He has enough on his plate, trying to figure out what is going on with the restaurant.

Neither Bree nor Caleb can explain why they are drawn together so strongly. It makes no sense because Bree is planted firmly in Moonbright and Caleb is only in town for six weeks or so before he goes back to Philadelphia. But as Caleb gets deeper into the problems at the restaurant, Bree is there to help him. There is no doubt about the attraction between them, but both try hard to resist it. Neither one wants to hurt the other or suffer a broken heart. I ached for them both, as it was clear that their hearts were already deeply involved, but neither could see a way to make it happen. I liked how honest they were about the pros and cons of being together. When the truth behind his uncle's troubles comes to light, Bree and Caleb have to work together to find a solution. It takes the help of family, especially Bree's grandmother, for them to get their happy ending.

I liked seeing Caleb come into his own as he worked through the restaurant's troubles. Though an excellent chef, he avoided the front of the house like the plague in his family's restaurant. In Moonbright, he had to do it all and discovered that he was better at it than he expected. I liked seeing him work with his sister, Cassie, to find the problem and fix it in a way that preserved his uncle's pride. I'm looking forward to seeing more of Cassie. I also liked seeing Bree find her groove at the bakery. Her grandmother's support was critical, and I liked how Sofia helped Bree through her doubts. I loved the scene in the epilogue with Clark Kent and Wonder Woman.


Love Spells Disaster - Allyson Charles

Cassie is a recent arrival in Moonbright. She chose the town because of their focus on Halloween, which is her favorite holiday. Now that she has settled in, she is ready to look for a man in her life. Due to a rough childhood, Cassie has particular requirements for a potential mate. Having had her fill of bad boys, she sets her sights on her boss, an uptight, strait-laced man who has the security she craves. Unfortunately for her, he is oblivious to her interest, so she looks to the tried and true "the way to a man's heart is through his stomach." She stops at the Bellaluna Bakery where Sophia gives her two special cookies along with the instructions to be open to whatever comes her way.

Disaster ensues when her boss turns down the cookie because he's in training for a marathon. When she munches a cookie herself, she chokes and is rescued by a visitor to the office. Chip helps himself to the other cookie, but Cassie wants no part of a man who doesn't check her boxes. Chip, on the other hand, is immediately attracted to Cassie. I had a bit a trouble with Cassie here, as she was quite rude and judgmental toward him. She redeemed herself somewhat by feeling guilty and did eventually apologize.

Chip and Cassie are thrown together when she needs a handyman to build her haunted house for Halloween. I liked seeing them together here as their efforts gave them the chance to get to know each other. Chip comes to understand what drives Cassie and has the patience to overcome her fears. Though Cassie tries to resist Chip's appeal, it isn't too long before she realizes that they have more in common than she thought. There were some pretty funny scenes as Cassie experiences one disaster after another in her pursuit of the wrong man. I liked the ending as Cassie finally realized the treasure she had. I also loved how Chip loves all of Cassie's Halloween quirkiness.


Sweet on You - Kate Angell

My favorite of the three stories. The story opens with Lara in the bakeshop where she is cruelly and publicly dumped by her boyfriend. To add insult to injury, she also runs into her landlord who informs her that the rent on her apartment is going up, and her employer can't guarantee she'll have a job past Christmas. Enter the mayor and his coworkers for their daily coffee break. The shop is crowded, and Jack ends up sitting with Lara. Sophia brings them some of her cookies and Jack and Lara chat for a while. A caring man with a big heart, it doesn't take long for Jack to get Lara to tell him of her troubles. He invites her to stop by his office if her job hunt isn't successful.

I loved both Jack and Lara. Lara is a sweet woman, a bit short and curvy, and a little insecure because of it. She is also smart, organized, and determined. Jack is a great mayor. He has the love and respect of the townspeople, and he loves them right back.

I loved the development of the relationship between Lara and Jack. They knew each other in school, where each had a crush on the other but never did anything about it. I loved hearing about how Lara attended all of Jack's hockey games, and that he knew she was there. Jack is currently swamped with the details for the Halloween parade, which leaves him little time for doing actual mayor work. After getting a chance to talk to Lara, he realizes that she would be perfect as the town's event planner and hires her on the spot. There is also the added bonus of being able to see her every day. Jack is well and truly smitten. Lara is surprised by Jack's attention but is equally attracted to him. Over the next couple of weeks they spend a lot of time together, both for work and personal time. I loved how easy it was for them to talk to each other and share their lives. There were some great scenes of them together. One of my favorites was their day of pumpkin and apple picking, and the heat that built between them all day. There was a brief resurgence of Lara's insecurity at one point, but Jack handled it perfectly. The ending was great.

I loved the setting of the story as Lara and Jack plan the Halloween parade. There are so many moving parts that it takes a truly organized person to make it all work. I adored seeing Lara make the job her own, being flexible when necessary for and firm when she needed to be. It was satisfying to see her stand up to her ex when it came to his demands. I liked Jack's assistant, Donna, and her little nudges of pushing Lara and Jack together. My favorite secondary character was Edna. Though she comes across as quite the grouch at the beginning, both Jack and Lara soon see that there is a side of her that few people know about. I laughed at her nicknames for people and cheered when Lara gave her one of her own. I loved her part in the twist at the end.

3 wonderful and charming stories that gets the reader in the mood for Autumn. It's wonderful how in sync the stories are and that they flow together so seamlessly.