a decent fall read. A quick and easy small town romance perfect for autumn and the halloween season. Loved the characters and the dynamics between them all

Pumpkin Spice was absolutely wonderful, I could not put it down. Set in a small town in the month of October, a pumpkin farm, a Halloween festival, family, romance, and of course pumpkin spice lattes galore. I loved the main characters from the very beginning, this book is the perfect fall cozy read. Thank you NetGalley and Bold Stroke Books for the ARC!

Cute!

Nicki keeps bumping into Carter when her Halloween obsessed niece volunteers her to help with the festival that is held at the farm where Carter works. Unable to avoid Carter and commitment as she seems quite taken with spending time with Nicki, feelings develop between them until they just can’t help falling for one another.

Everything about this was sweet and fall ready to be the cutest Halloween based romance ever. From the title, to the story, to the relationship between Nicki and Carter, everything was perfect. My heart melted the second they interacted because Carter was totally charismatic, and I knew no matter how much Nicki wanted to try and stay clear of the path of love after having her heart broken. There were so many opportunities for them to get closer and Carter didn’t miss a one of them, so it was a good job she wasn’t afraid to indulge in all the activities and fun happening around them.

Cater was completely endeared with Nicki, which just made every interaction they shared so much cuter. With Nicki thinking she was a mess, she actually pulled it off really well and it was the sweetest thing as she panicked about doing the right thing and avoided meddling from family members. The unexpected moments really made this story, Carter had an unpredictability that made her spontaneous and fun, daring Nicki to try things or giving her no choice, which in turn gave her confidence and brought her out of her shell just a little for us to really get to know her too.

Loved the story and really enjoyed it! A perfect fall romance for Halloween if you want to avoid spooky and dark things.

Pumpkin Spice is a sweet quick Fall read about Nikki who is shy and works as an accountant. Then you have Carter who has moved back to Virginia so she can help out on the family's pumpkin farm. In this book there is a lot of teasing with the main characters, sisters and niece. Overall I enjoyed this Fall read and thought it was a decent read. Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for this ARC read in exchange of my honest review.

This was the perfect book to kick off autumn month for me and honestly one of the best cozy romances I’ve read.
This is a small town romance book centres around Nikki who is kind of awkward and introverted, but she meets Carter, the woman working at the Pumpkin Farm who she develops a major crush for.
They start to get to know each other doing all of the autumn activities and bonding over Pumpkin Spice Lattes
It’s definitely a low stakes book with minimal drama which I really enjoyed. I loved all the little details surrounding the small town.
Grab yourself a PSL and get cozy for this one
Thanks @netgalley & @boldstrokesbooks for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

Nicki dating has never been great when she thought it’s was heading somewhere she gets blindsided and her heart is broken. Nicki loves her family and will do anything for them when her niece needs help she volunteer to plan the Halloween festival and she basically does it’s on her own without any help from the other’s parents. Nicki meets Carter who family owns pumpkin patch where the festival being held at. Carter is there to help her family out while trying to figure her life as they get closer they let their insecurities almost ruin them before they have a chance. I enjoy this read love the family bonds throughout the book and Nicki being cute trying to guest Carter first name.

The story drew me in from the start and gave me a warm fuzzy feeling reading it. Pumpkin Spice is a feel-good Holiday romance set in a small town in Virginia and for an Australian like me, it's full of the Fall colours and activities that are just not seen where I live. This is an F/F read which is not my usual read but everything else was a small-town love story with a caring and meddling family. Humour and drama fill the pages as you take the journey of a new romance along with these great characters within this book.

A cozy romance that feels like an ode to fall for anyone who loves the changing season, even if you don’t want everything pumpkin spice.

As an awkward lesbian in a small town, Nicki Russell’s dating prospects have never looked good. When she runs into Carter, the hot butch woman who’s new in town, Nicki definitely doesn’t think she stands a chance. Her plan is to stay away from Carter to avoid embarrassing herself. But, Nicki will do anything to see her niece happy and that includes volunteering to plan the Halloween festival at the pumpkin patch owned by Carter’s family.

I found Nicki’s awkwardness to be cute if a little over the top at times. The attraction is mutual from the beginning but of course there needs to be a misunderstanding. However, it took a slightly different form than usual as the reason for the big fight was not heavily foreshadowed.

There were two critical subplots, the wood chopping and Nicki trying to figure out Carter’s name. I thought the first was well executed since it connected to the main conflict and helped demonstrate Carter’s personality. The guessing of the name however was inconsistent throughout the story. It was really frequent at first then seemed to just stop all together before popping up at the end again to try and make a point. The point about respecting Carter’s, and queer people in general’s, chosen identity was important and I really liked that Rachel was the one to deliver that message but the power of it was diminished given the execution of the storyline.

Overall, even though this novel didn’t do everything it tried to, it’s an easy read and I would recommend it to anyone looking for the cozy feeling of fall.

Pumpkin spice is a small town romance book centred around Nicki, an awkward introvert who meets Carter at a pumpkin farm. While I enjoyed the premise for a holiday romance and do typically enjoy the hallmark movie style romance books, I struggled to get past how stereotypically millennial it was in every sense. This made many moments which were written to be sweet or relatable as slightly cringey.
While not a primary character, my favourite part of the book was lily, the protagonists niece who was so perfectly written as a headstrong 9 year old.

Overall pumpkin spice was a quick, easy, and enjoyable read but was not a standout in the genre.

Nicki Russell has never been smooth. More like a bumbling, awkward mess always falling short of her dreams. Good college? She never had the money. Post-grad? She'll get around to it someday. Happy ever after with the perfect woman? One major heartbreak is enough to have her swearing off love forever. Current life plan?
Avoid all unnecessary human contact. That goes double for Carter, the hot new butch in town.
The fact it's named after my most favourite hot beverage of all time is what hooked me first, the sapphic autumnal setting and story was the line and sinker.
A compelling easy read for those looking to enjoy a pleasant slow burn with festivities and feel good vibes. It was eve opening to read about Carter because I realised I'm a lot more like them then I realised (not a bad thing AT all) and it was great to have the representation of the more androgynous type queer women in the book. I feel it might reach to a wider audience. I am not off to buy a whole new wardrobe to fit the autumnal pumpkin farmer theme!
Thank you to Net galley, Bold stroke books and the author for an early edition of this novel in return for an honest review.

A fun fall read with lots of pumpkins and a small town. It made me run to my local Starbucks and try out a seasonal latte.
Quite funny and a cute love story.

This is the kind of book where even their problems are cute.

I'm not familiar with standard romance tropes, but I'd categorize this as underdog lands a hottie.
Nicki is a self-depreciating 40-ish lesbian. I think she describes herself as mousy and plain. She meets Carter while visiting the pumpkin patch. Carter is a 'hot butch' that has muscles and wears Carhart clothes. The story is mostly about them getting to know each other through all these fall activities - pumpkin patching, helping the local school with a fall carnival, drinking PSL. ETC.

The fall vibe is very in your face, while the actual romance is mild and S-L-O-W building. If I'm being honest, Nicki and Carter annoyed me, but that's a really subjective criticism so I can't fault the book. I will say that Nicki's relationship with her sister was funny, and I liked reading about middle aged characters rather than younger adults.

If you enjoy reading about the cutest cutesy cutest-ness. Or really like fall. This could be your new favorite book.

3 stars. Nicki Russell volunteers to help with the Halloween event at her nieces's school. She cannot help that she can't stop running into Carter, who she has a crush on and family owns the pumpkin patch. They both have to work together for the event and can't stop their feelings for each other form evolving as they spend more time together.

This book was fine, I felt like the characters fell way too quickly and I did not like it which is why I did not give it a higher rating. The characters are fine, they both seem to evolve throughout the novel. I just thought their relationship went too intense too quickly and it was not that well written. I really wanted to like this book more, but it was a little cliche and not my favorite. The characters ran into each other way too many times and some of the meetings felt a little forced. I also really did not like the drama in the book and how quickly it was resolved. I would skip this one.

Pumpkin Spice was the perfect autumnal read that just made you feel cosy and relaxed. This was the written version of a Hallmark movie but more sapphic.
Nicki, one of the main characters, is in a tough spot. In her forties and down on her luck with love, she vows to swear off it. I liked the fact that our main heroine was a little older than typically written in romance books. A lot of romance focuses primarily between the ages of 21-35 ish so it was refreshing to read. She was super clumsy and just doing her best to carry on with life.
Carter is our other heroine. Working at her family’s farm, mainly the pumpkin farm, she comes across as a bit of a mystery. The two immediately had chemistry and the added bonus of autumn/fall was great.
It was entertaining, perfect for this time of year I just wish there was more depth to the characters, especially Nicki. She could have been portrayed as a strong, confident woman by the end, and find her feet but she remained the same in my opinion. It was escapism and an enjoyable read.
Thank you for the eARC!

This story can be considered seasonal, specifically about autumn and its traditions, more specifically pumpkins. And it's definitely small town related. That doesn't mean it's simple or cheesy, although it is quite humorous. Especially the awkwardness of one of her protagonists, Nicki. She's so clumsy that she's adorable.

Nicki has not been lucky in love, she is now in her forties and her stable relationships have been few and not very stable. She has always trusted and expected a lot from her relationships and in return she has always received disappointments. So when she meets Carter, she doesn't want to get her hopes up, but her sister Rachel pushes her to take risks.

Carter is a bit of a mystery throughout the book, although she is so polite and kind and willing to everyone that she is almost perfect, it is not necessary to know much more about her and her past. Until that can be problematic.

With two very likeable protagonists, an autumnal and festive setting, the story has been pleasant and enjoyable. Also with children and cats, I almost forgot to mention it. Perhaps a little more depth into the protagonists' past experiences would have been appreciated. But if you are looking for a happy and positive read, without further pretensions, this story is it.

This was a decent read and I think there are people who will definitely love it but for me it was just okay.

There were parts of the book where nothing much was happening and I’d have liked it more if the characters had more depth to them, especially Nikki.

A sweet and cozy romance perfect for autumn!

In her forties, Nicki knows what she likes. Nicki loves fall, her sister, and her niece and nephew. When her niece Lily begs Nicki to volunteer for the Halloween festival, Nicki agrees. It doesn't hurt that she'll get to see more of Carter, the hot butch working at her parents' local pumpkin farm.

The first half of this book was absolutely perfect fall crush vibes and sweet developing romance. The second half got a little spicier, and Nicki's anxiety and insecurity flared. I wish there had been a chance for Nicki to go to therapy to deal with her issues. Otherwise, I loved the small town setting and the loving support of Nicki's sister and Carter's family.

Nicki and Carter's romance eas cute and the setting definitely makes it a great autumn read. That said, the voice wasn't for me. The pacing bogged down with unnecessary details from the off set. But, if you enjoy extreme detail that's his to the MC being neurodivergent then this could honestly be the perfect book for you. Give it a try!

Nicki works in the accounts field in Virginia and views herself as a plain Jane who can't be successful in a relationship. She lives in a cabin near her sister, Rachel, who is going through a divorce. They help and support each other with whatever they need. When Nicki meets adorable butch Carter at the pumpkin farm, Rachel encourages Nicki to talk with Carter.

Carter has moved to Virgina from the Pacific Northwest where she lived with a girlfriend in a yurt in a sustainable environment. Carter is also the family name, but Carter has taken that as her adopted first name since she does not like her first name and won't reveal it to other people.

Nicki and Carter start running into each other at the local bakery/coffee shop and start getting to know each other over pumpkin spice lattes and pastries. Nicki asks Carter to take it slow as they begin to develop a friendship. This eventually turns into more.

The relationship between Nicki and Carter was solid with no conflict. Then all of a sudden as the book approached the end disagreement arose. It almost felt fabricated and not keeping with the context of the other eighty percent of the story. 3.5 stars
  
I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Pumpkin Spice is a feel-good Holiday romance set in a small town in Virginia. The protagonist, Nicki Russel, is a thirty-something woman working in the financial department of the University of Virginia. She lives in a cottage alone, but her sister Rachel lives right next door. Rachel is divorced, with two lovely and funny children – Lilly and Blake. Nicki and Rachel have a close relationship and can always lean on each other. Visiting the local pumpkin event with Rachel and her nephews, Nicki meets the hot new butch in town – Carter. Carter's parents own Carter Farms, where they will be hosting this year's Halloween festival. Being the clumsy, awkward woman she is, Nicki volunteers to help with the preparations for the festival, earning herself a chance to befriend Carter. Despite her crippling fear of rejection, Nicki gathers the courage to ask Carter on a date. Will the two women find a shared love language, or will their past experiences in love get in the way?

I don't typically read romance novels, but this one blew me away. Reading Pumpkin Spice melted my cold heart and made me believe someone would love me in all my damaged glory. Nicki is a relatable protagonist. Before she met Carter, she hadn't dated in a while, and her last relationship was a disaster. Whenever Nicki is with Carter, she either trips or drops something, but Carter does not look down on her. During one scene at a Haunted house at Carter's Farms, Nicki attempts to fake being scared and fling herself into Carter's arms only to fall and hit her head against a chest. She almost suffers a concussion. At first, I was apprehensive about the author overusing Nicki's clumsiness, but that was not the case. As a clumsy girl myself, I had to laugh and nod emphatically.

I loved Nicki and Carter's dynamic. It felt raw and realistic, and I desperately wanted them to remain together. Carter seems like she will be the braver one in their relationship, but her stoic appearance is flimsy. While spending more time with Carter, Nicki realizes that Carter is more reserved than she initially appeared. Carter never tells Nicki her first name and only vaguely tells Nicki about her ex-girlfriend. Nicki is so head over heels that she does not register Carter's hesitation about completely opening up to her. I liked how Nicki and Carter had internal struggles, which eventually became a problem in their relationship. The third act conflict of the novel was believable and expected. The two women knew that to preserve their relationship, they would have to have a serious conversation and lay all their cards on the table.

I would classify Pumpkin Spice as a slow-burn romance. There is only one spicy scene, for anyone wondering. It is such a wholesome, funny, and sweet book. It made me laugh out loud and giggle so many times. It is now one of my favorite romance novels.

Thank you Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for the free review copy!