Me, Mom & the Monster: Our Dance Through Huntington's Disease by Corinne Brown Book Blast and Giveaway

 

In the last couple of years, I have found myself reading more and more memoirs. I think they help us get a better picture of ourselves and to be more empathetic toward others. Dealing with something like Huntington's Disease seems unimaginable to me. This brave mother shares her story, along with her daughter's point of view, about how they are navigating this devastating neurological disease. Check out an excerpt and then feel free to have a conversation with the author in the comments section. Follow the tour for even more! Check out the great giveaway before you go!

"The results of your predictive testing are here, and they show that you did inherit the gene for Huntington's disease."

Those words, delivered by the neurologist to 57-year-old Mae Brown, forever changed her life and the lives of her family. Me, Mom & the Monster is a soul-stirring memoir that follows the path of this farming wife, businesswoman, mother and grandmother who lived a life with a monster of a disease. Interwoven with Mae's story is that of her third child, Corinne, whose life is intrinsically connected to her mother's diagnosis. Told from alternating voices of Corinne and her mother, this is a candid account of the harrowing effects of living with a fatal, genetic disease. Me, Mom & the Monster captures the authenticity and vulnerability of a mother and daughter who find themselves entwined in a long dance with a neurodegenerative disease.

Read an excerpt:

Miracle Grow of the Mind by Carol LaHines Release Day

 

If you've ever dealt with a child with special needs or dementia in a parent, you'll probably relate well to this book! Congratulations to Carol LaHines on the release of her new book today!

Literary Fiction, Family Fiction

Date Published: October 13, 2026

Christmas in the Presidential Suite (A Beach House Hotel Story) by Judith Keim Release Day

I always love reading books by Judith Keim. Her romances are always heartwarming, and I especially love Christmas stories. Even better are those on the beach! Happy release day!

Women's Fiction with Romantic Elements

Date Published: October 13, 2026

The Last Heir of Bradbury Manor by Michael Mizov Blurb Blitz and Giveaway

 

Horror season is here, now that we are in October. Today I am bringing you a new gothic psychological horror book to feed the need. Enjoy this excerpt from Michael Mizov's The Last Heir of Bradbury Manor and snag your own copy today! Be sure to let the author know what you think or ask any questions in the comments. Follow the tour for even more. And be sure to enter the great giveaway at the end!

The Last Heir of Bradbury Manor

Review of Haven Moon (Crescent Moon Ranch Book 4) by Tess Thompson

 

Harvest Moon

She’s running from the worst night of her life. He’s the cowboy who could give her a future—if her past doesn’t catch up first.

Sammie Scott never meant for anyone to die.

All she wanted was to escape her husband’s violence and build a safe life for her daughter somewhere he could never find them. But in one terrible, life-altering moment, Sammie is forced to choose between staying to face his powerful family—and a possible murder conviction—or running to protect the only person in the world who needs her most.

So she runs.

A new name. A new town. A rented room at Crescent Moon Ranch.

Bluefern, Montana, is supposed to be temporary. A place to hide. A place to breathe. A place where her little girl can sleep without fear. But the Moon family has a way of making broken people feel like they belong, and no one does that more quietly or more dangerously than Thad Moon.

Thad is steady, kind, and protective in all the ways Sammie stopped believing a man could be. He sees too much—the way she flinches, the way she watches the door, the way she keeps one foot pointed toward escape. He knows Sammie Scott is hiding something. He is not even sure that is her real name.

But it doesn’t stop him from falling for her.

Or for her little girl.

Thad wants to offer them a home on the land his family has loved for generations, but he can’t protect them from a danger he doesn’t understand. And Sammie knows the truth could cost him more than his heart. It could bring trouble straight to the family who took her in when she had nowhere else to go.

As her past closes in, Sammie must decide whether to keep running—or trust Thad with the truth before it’s too late.

Haven Moon is a clean and wholesome, small-town cowboy romance about a single mother on the run, a protector hero, found family, healing after heartbreak, and a love strong enough to outrun the past.

Perfect for readers who love: single-mom romance, protector heroes, small-town Montana settings, ranch romance, found family, emotional healing, romantic suspense elements, cowboy heroes, and heartfelt happily ever afters.

Buy on Amazon

(affiliate links included)

Check out the entire Crescent Moon Ranch series! Also in Kindle Unlimited.

**My thoughts**

We always knew that Sammie had a hidden past. She joined the ranch earlier in the series and has always kept to herself. Now we finally get to find out what she and her daughter are running from. And we finally get to watch her and Thad officially fall in love, because we have all seen it coming. 

They complement each other so well both at work and in life. Thad is protective. Sammie is nurturing. She and I both melt when we watch how easily little Chloe has taken to him. Neither one of them wants to hurt the other one.

As always happens when one runs from her former life, Sammie's past is catching up to her and threatens to take away everything she has built in this small town. True to their family legacy, the Moons are going to protect her, because Slurfpig goes beyond just the original seven. It's significant that Chloe even has one that she carries around with her! 

This installment of the series was probably the fastest one that I read. It has a suspenseful twist, all of the swoons, and just keeps you falling more and more in love with all of the characters. I also need to find a real-life Crescent Moon Ranch to visit one of these days!

Trigger warning: There are stories of abuse in this one. They don't go into graphic detail, but could still affect some readers. Domestic violence, animal cruelty, and child abuse. I appreciate that Tess included a trigger warning at the beginning of the book. 

Review of When Stars Dance at Midnight (The Midnight Stars Saga #4) by Tess Thompson

 

When Stars Dance at Midnight

She’s sunlight in human form. He’s spent his life in the shadows.

Betsy

I’ve spent my life caring for others—easing pain, offering comfort, healing wounds no one else wants to touch. But mine? They’ve stayed buried deep, hidden beneath humor and smiles. When George died, something inside me broke. And falling for a man who’d lost his memory only reminded me how dangerous it was to love someone you couldn’t fully know. Now, I pour everything into my work as a nurse… until Dr. Gabriel Stone shows up, cloaked in secrets, and starts chipping away at the walls I swore I’d never lower again.

Gabriel
Grief sent me running. Away from home, away from guilt, away from everything I couldn’t fix. But then I met Betsy Westbrook. She’s sunlight in human form—too bright, too good, and far too tempting for a man who’s done as much damage as I have. Every moment with her feels like grace I haven’t earned. And I know that if I let her in, I’ll want more. Too much more.

The fourth installment in the beloved Midnight Stars Saga, When Stars Dance at Midnight is a heart-stirring American historical romance set against the backdrop of postwar 1940s New England. Rich with emotion, tender moments, and second chances, this unforgettable love story explores the healing power of compassion, the resilience of the human spirit, and the quiet strength found in love after loss. Perfect for fans of clean wartime romance, emotionally layered characters, and sweeping family sagas that linger long after the final page.

Buy on Amazon

(affiliate links included)

Check out the entire Midnight Stars saga! Free in KU!

**My thoughts**

As soon as I got to the end of the third book in this series, I knew that I needed to know what was going to happen to Mireille's best friend Betsy. While not blood-related to Mireille and her mother - the central characters in the first books in the series - Betsy is still part of the family, as her family essentially adopted Mireille when she came stateside. She suffered her own loss and traumas during the war, just like the rest of them, and needed to have her own love story finally come to fruition.

In the previous book, Betsy was truly full of life, sparkling everywhere that she went. By the time we get to this installment, she has lost some of that shine. You know it's still deep in there, but sadness has overshadowed it. In fact, she even sets out to look for a book about grief to help her cope and to turn things around again. She finds it, and in doing so, literally runs into the solution to fill the holes in her heart and life. It's a man named Gabriel Stone, the new doctor at the hospital, who is also trying to soothe a broken heart and trauma.

It's a mix of a historical romance with a bit of the grumpy-sunshine trope. Gabriel is grumpy and understandably averse to love after the loss of his wife. He has walls up everywhere. Betsy is the sunny one, though a bit dimmed. They provide a balance to each other that serves them well at the hospital, making them the perfect team. And then, of course, that spills over into their personal lives. But there's always a catch that could potentially derail them as they find their way to each other.

Along the way is subtle commentary about lead contamination in children and our disrespect of veterans struggling to find basic necessities like adequate housing. Both feel like more modern problems, but they were even happening back after the Second World War. (How have we not solved these problems yet?)

Then in traditional Tess fashion, you have the wealthy family setting a benevolent example by using their privilege for good instead of being greedy. It's a message I would love all of the wealthy to hear and follow.

This may not have been my favorite installment of the saga, but it was necessary to round out the story and give it a sense of completion. It does stand on its own, but you will want to read the whole series to truly enjoy the experience. I know I'll come back to it again some day.

Read reviews of the entire series:

1 - When Stars Fall at Midnight

2 - When Stars Rise at Midnight

3 - When Stars Dream at Midnight

4 - When Stars Dance at Midnight

Review of Harvest Moon (Crescent Moon Ranch Book 3) by Tess Thompson

 

He's a brilliant chef with a passion for food and fly-fishing. She's a pastry chef craving a fresh start. Is love on the menu — or will the past she left behind ruin the perfect pairing?

After losing her beloved aunt and surviving a terrifying ordeal with a stalker, Elliot is ready to disappear into a quieter life. So when she's offered the job of pastry chef at a charming dude ranch in western Montana, she packs up her broken heart and heads for Crescent Moon Ranch.

It feels like the fresh start she's been praying for.

Until she meets her new boss.

Caspian Moon is a gifted chef, a devoted member of the Moon family, and exactly the kind of man who makes a woman forget why she came to Montana in the first place. Thoughtful, talented, steady — and completely off-limits.

At least, that's what he keeps telling himself.

Caspian has always believed in rules, especially the one about never dating an employee. The ranch matters too much. His family matters too much. And Elliot — with her quiet strength and irresistible talent — matters more than he ever expected.

But some connections refuse to stay professional.

As Elliot finds her footing in the kitchen and in the Moon family's warm, chaotic world, she starts to believe a new life might truly be possible. Maybe even love. But the past she ran from isn't finished with her — and when danger follows her to the ranch, she and Caspian must decide whether fear gets the final word.

Or whether two hearts, bruised but still brave, can build a future sweeter than anything they ever imagined.

Harvest Moon is a clean and wholesome, small-town romance about fresh starts, forbidden attraction, family, healing, and the kind of love that feels like coming home.

Perfect for readers who love: chef romance, workplace romance, small-town Montana settings, protective heroes, fresh starts, family sagas, emotional healing, cozy ranch romance, and heartfelt happily-ever-afters.

Buy on Amazon

(affiliate links included)

Check out the entire Crescent Moon Ranch series! Available in KU.

**My thoughts**

Caspian has had a special place in my heart ever since I met him in Mama Moon. He is the little boy who was different from his siblings. Ranching and "typical boy things" just were not his speed. His love was the kitchen. It took an understanding and loving mother, and later stepfather, to appreciate this in him and to encourage him to hone his skills. Now he is fully grown and running one of the best kitchens in the area, right on the family's Crescent Moon Ranch.

Now he is in search of a new pastry chef to take on the desserts. Along comes Elliot, a talented young woman in search of a new start in life. She wins over Caspian with her secret ingredient in flourless cake to cement her job, and then the kitchen really starts to heat up. 

This one is a slow burn romance, with these two laying a strong foundation of friendship and respect, both in and out of the kitchen. You know they are perfect for each other because of their instant attraction, easy dance while working, and an understanding of the restaurant industry. And believe me, if you've never worked in it, you'll never really understand it. 

Of course, there is a reason that Elliot is seeking a quieter pace of life, and you know that past is going to catch up to her at some point. The twist of that truth was definitely unexpected!

I love this couple and would love to have a Caspian of my own. Let me just say that their first date is one for the books! And the family wedding also has plenty of memorable moments. I think I laughed and cried the whole time.

And of course, I adore the Moon family. I think you will, too. There's a whole series to enjoy. Read them in order, but they can also work as standalones.

Review of Without Pride and Prejudice by Jennifer Peel

 

Can their love conquer pride and prejudice?

Ever since I first read Pride and Prejudice at twelve years old, I’ve dreamed of being Elizabeth Bennet. That dream is now about to come true. I, Monroe Wilde, the woman some could argue isn’t exactly Elizabeth Bennet material, have been chosen to play the beloved heroine for one week at Pride and Prejudice Park, a destination experience for Jane Austen devotees. To make this dream even more amazing and surreal, my best friend, the Duke of Blackthorne, Alastair Fitzroy, has volunteered to play my Mr. Darcy.

If this wasn’t fantastic enough, it appears my broody and ridiculously attractive best friend, who I’ve done my best not to fall in love with, wants to be my real-life Mr. Darcy as well. But there are some gigantic obstacles standing in our way. For starters—I’m not exactly duchess material, and we run in very different circles. Dating me would most certainly make him a social pariah. But the biggest problem of all is that, well . . . I don’t know exactly how to explain it, but somehow after a horrible mishap at the park, I find myself more than just pretending to be Elizabeth Bennet—I land smack dab in the middle of the actual Pride and Prejudice story.

So since I’m here and unsure whether it’s a dream or if Pride and Prejudice really is heaven, I figure I’ll just help move things along and make sure everyone gets a happy ending, even Mr. Collins. But leave it to me to mess up the quintessential love story of all time. What happens if I can’t get Mr. Darcy to fall in love with Elizabeth? Will I ever get back to Alastair? Will I ever become the Elizabeth I so wish to be? And I have to wonder: can my world exist without Pride and Prejudice?

USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Peel presents an enchanting friends-to-lovers story with a Pride and Prejudice twist.

Available on Amazon (KU!)

(affiliate links included)

Also check out the companion novel, Desperately Seeking Mr. Darcy by Becky Monson!

**My thoughts**

I have been a fan of Becky Monson's since her debut novel. So when Desperately Seeking Mr. Darcy came out, I was first in line to gobble it up. And then I knew I absolutely had to read Without Pride and Prejudice, the companion novel by Jennifer Peel. I needed more from these characters, and Monroe just came across as a quirky and loveable character!

I love her because she is perfectly imperfect. She tries too hard to help people and then ends up in some of the funniest predicaments. She sees herself as making a mess instead of helping others. She is outspoken and loves hard. Her love for P&P is like none other.

Fitz is also dreamy. Falling for his aristocratic self beats all of those stories of falling in love with a prince because he seems more realistic and attainable. Can my younger self please go to school in England and find one?

Fate has lined up a parallel universe that is intriguing and just completely works in spite of the changes that Monroe's own pride and prejudice want to inflict as Fitz struggles with his own in the real world. It's a clever nod to the original work that made me fall in love again with not only the characters in this duo, but also the original and all of its cinematic versions. It's rare that I find clever retellings of the classics, but this one is fantastic. I'm so glad Jennifer Peel and Becky Monson teamed up to do this!

Review of Desperately Seeking Mr. Darcy by Becky Monson

 

She just wanted a Mr. Darcy… not her best friend’s brother in breeches.

"Didn't see that coming" could be my life's motto. I mean, I certainly didn't foresee my roommate stealing my boyfriend—an unfortunate turn of events that led to me moving in with my best friend and her infuriatingly attractive brother. Oh, and speaking of the brother? I might have once confessed my love for him, only to be met with soul-crushing, dignity-shattering unrequited feelings. Fun times, indeed.

But in this series of unexpected disasters, one surprise actually worked in my favor: winning a trip to Pride and Prejudice Park, where I get to play my literary hero, Elizabeth Bennet. Sounds like a dream, right?

Well, even that plan goes off the rails. The trip takes such a wild turn that Zane—my best friend’s brother—ends up tagging along and playing Mr. Darcy. And here’s the biggest shock of all: suddenly, all this pretending starts to feel incredibly real. Could Zane actually be the Mr. Darcy I’ve been searching for my entire life? Or will my Pride and Prejudice dreams remain just that—a dream?

USA Today Bestselling Author Becky Monson delivers a witty and romantic escape, where unrequited love, Regency roleplay, and one very unexpected Mr. Darcy collide.

Available on Amazon (KU!)

(affiliate links included)

Also check out the companion book, Without Pride and Prejudice by Jennifer Peel!

**My thoughts**

A lot of people like to reimagine the classics, and it can be tiring. But I knew that I could trust Becky Monson to take Pride and Prejudice and reimagine it in the most unique way. This book, and its companion by Jennifer Peel [Without Pride and Prejudice], are quickly becoming this month's favorite reads. 

Becky has taken the story of Pride and Prejudice and placed it inside the story of Pride and Prejudice. Macy has had a lot of ups and downs in her life and would really like for something to just go her way for once, all by herself. So when she wins her dream trip to role play Pride and Prejudice actually in England, she jumps at the chance. And can you blame her?

[Quick side note: Who knew there were Regency role playing vacations? I may have to look into this...]

Naturally, she wants to be Elizabeth. I mean, don't we all? And her best friend's brother Zane randomly tags along to play Mr. Darcy. So now she is fulfilling a childhood dream, because she's been in love with Zane for almost as long as she can remember. She even made a total fool out of herself with him many, many years ago. 

The characters who end up playing the various characters play their roles very well. Macy works hard to first discover her inner Elizabeth and then to channel her. And Zane as Mr. Darcy? Um, yes, please. 

[I also feel like I need a little bit of Mr. Collins and Mr. Bennet in my life. You won't think me so weird once you read about them!]

I love watching Macy come into her own, finally, as she works to make all of her dreams come true. I love watching Pride and Prejudice come alive in yet another way. I'm craving the Colin Firth miniseries right now. And I can't wait to read the companion novel for Monroe and Fitz's story!

Becky Monson, every time I think I have found my favorite book by you, you hit another one out of the park. Thank you for this one!

Review of Christmas Promises (Sugarville Grove #4) by Tess Thompson

 

Laney Gray thought she had her life all figured out—until her fairytale wedding turned into a public betrayal. Jilted at the altar and humiliated by the very people she trusted most, Laney flees the city for Sugarville Grove, the picturesque small town where she once spent her happiest summers. Seeking solace in her aunt’s charming bookstore, Laney hopes to piece her life back together in time for Christmas.

What she doesn’t expect is to run into Nolan Hayes—the quiet, bookish boy who stole her heart one magical summer. Now an English professor with a steady presence and a smile that still makes her knees weak, Nolan is no longer the shy teenager Laney remembers. But as their paths cross amidst twinkling lights and snow-covered streets, the connection between them feels as familiar—and as powerful—as ever.

Laney may be a city girl out of her element in Sugarville Grove, but as she works to rebuild the bookstore’s holiday traditions, she finds herself drawn not only to the town’s simple charms but also to Nolan’s quiet strength. Yet, both carry scars from the past—hers from a shattered engagement, and his from a heartbreak he’s never shared.

Can the magic of Christmas help Laney and Nolan find the courage to take a second chance on love? Or will old wounds keep them from the happy ending they’ve been waiting for all along?

Heartwarming and full of small-town charm, Christmas Promises is a cozy holiday romance about healing, hope, and the unexpected gift of a second chance.

Available on Amazon (KU!)

(affiliate links included)

Check out the entire Sugarville Grove series by Clara Pines and Tess Thompson!

**My thoughts**

Christmastime is a great time for second chances and true love. Laney was supposed to be married, but it blew up in her face in the most obnoxious way. I can't blame her for wanting to run away and find something that brings her peace and happiness. This is my fourth trip to Sugarville Grove, and I have to say I could use a break there, myself! Even better is when you run into your long lost love from those younger, happier days. You'd be surprised how often that unrequited love will return in your favor, especially in these small towns!

Laney and Nolan fall right back into each other's lives, like they had never been apart. You know that it's meant to be. It's understandable that others may have some reservations about them rekindling so quickly, especially since Laney just escaped a doomed wedding. Nolan has his own past devastating heartbreak. But when you know, you know, right?

I admit that I was fully cheering them on, while also thinking, slow down a bit and make sure this is really what you want and need! I mean, you know that it is, but I've gotten a bit more apprehensive in my old age. Simultaneously, I'm a bit envious of her having the chance to start over, to find a new path in life that has love and success. I really want my own Sugarville Grove!

And can I just say that I need a spinoff that features Aunt Edna and more details about her long lost love, Max? That story thread definitely had me sighing. 

I love these families and I love this town. It's going to be hard to wait for the next installments, but I'm sure looking forward to them!