October 16, 2025
This is the first week where I'm fiddling with the thermostats since it's getting colder outside. As much as I love the cold weather, it's time to turn on the heat.
I usually do a little writing in the morning after breakfast, but everything has to be just right: bed made, dishes put away, coffee consumed. And I have to be WARM.
Yesterday, I woke up with an extra cold nose. Downstairs, I checked the first thermostat. It was sixty-three degrees in the house. Something wasn't right.
Our old house runs on a boiler, and has two heating zones, so when I checked the second thermostat, the screen was blank. The little battery icon blinked in the bottom right corner. Ahh, a simple fix, thank goodness! Memories of the winter when we lost heat for a week as temperatures outside fell below zero had flashed through my brain. The temp in our house got down to 48 degrees that January! Unfortunately, the fix at that time required a whole new boiler.
So, warmth was restored yesterday, and the writing got done.
TOMORROW I'm looking forward to release day for A CAFE AU LAIT KIND OF LOVE - yay! I've been busy prepping my posts for the Facebook Takeover in the Coffee Loft After Party group. I hope you'll join me here!
Aside from working with the lovely authors for this project, writing a stand alone book not connected to one of my own series allows for a little brain break. I wasn't tied to a certain town, set of characters, or the back stories from previous books. I loved how Ginger and Cal evolved in their own environments, so much that I decided to include Ginger in the next Port Chance novel as Kit's good friend (you'll see Kit in this book, too).
Here's Chapter 1:
Ginger Giatti dipped the frother into the cup at the back counter while rereading the Yelp review on her assistant’s phone. She’d post this on the website as soon as she found a spare minute. In the meantime, she and Merris tended a last-minute rush for drinks before the storm hit. Outside, the western sky looked like a bruise. Roiling gray clouds churned closer by the minute.
“This is one of the best reviews we’ve ever received.” She finished the drink, snapped on the lid, and called out the name she’d written on the cup.
“I figured you’d be thrilled,” Merris said as she worked on several iced drinks. “Wouldn’t you love to know who it is?”
“It could be anyone.” She took a clean mug from the rack to start a latte.
There was nothing like a rave review to end the workweek. Primed to lock the doors promptly at eight, she had a busy night ahead of her. With a girlfriend visiting whom she hadn’t seen in ages, her to-do list was as wide as the Mississippi River across the street.
Merris glanced over her shoulder. “Should I ask Jace to wipe down tables? I think he’s about finished with dishes.”
“Good idea. I bet we won’t have many more come in tonight with the forecast.” Someone exited the shop, and through the opened door, the sky rumbled in agreement.
Merris frowned. “We should probably stack the outside chairs, too. The wind is really picking up.”
“Why don’t you tell Jace to do that, too, please.”
Twenty-something Merris was Ginger’s hardest-working barista. She entrusted Merris to run the café on days when Ginger took off. It wasn’t like she was far away if Merris needed her in a pinch anyway. Once she bought the building, Ginger quickly renovated the apartment above Coffee Loft for herself. It was one of the historic brick storefronts in the Olde Towne District of Greenhaven. The building had good bones, the contractor had told her. She was lucky to own it.
Merris finished her drink order then went to check on Jace in the back kitchen. Ginger started the latte for the next customer. Behind her, chatter in the busy dining area slowly ebbed as customers left due to the incoming late summer storm. Chairs screeched across the tile floor, the doors opened again, her flag outside snapped in the wind. She lifted the pitcher of steamed milk to finish off the delicate heart design of the latte art.
WOOF!
Ginger jumped, the pitcher wobbled, and the cute little heart was now drowned in a soup of steamed milk. Some even dribbled over the rim, pooling onto the saucer.
She grumbled under her breath, ditching her efforts for the finishing touch.
“It’s your friend,” said Merris with a sarcastic note of cheer in her tone when she returned from the kitchen. “Should I ask him to leave?”
“I hate to do that. He’s one of our most regular customers.” She eyed the man who’d appeared on the patio despite Stormaggedon bearing down on them. “I’ll take care of it.”
“Maybe you should rethink the dog-friendly policy.” Merris glanced over her shoulder and toward the shop window. “That dog he has with him today is more horse than canine.”
“Right? I think his bark just rattled the mugs on the mug wall. No joke.”
She chanced a look at the front window again. Cal Donner had kicked up his feet on one of the chairs, raking his thick, dark hair with one hand and hanging onto the leashed horse-dog with the other. The thing pawed at one of two women who sat at the table next to him, vying for their attention. They laughed, and even from a distance, Ginger could tell they were flirting with Cal. It grated on her nerves, the way women swooned in his presence.
The overhead lights blinked as Ginger handed the latte to the young woman who’d ordered it, then made her way from behind the counter and out the front doors. Cal spotted her as soon as she stepped outside. His overeager expression always made her smile in spite of herself.
“There she is,” he crowed. “How’s Ginger today?” Cal flashed her a Hollywood grin, which she’d quickly learned wasn’t reserved only for her. His charm was a part of his wardrobe. She bet he even smiled in his sleep.
“Hi, Cal. You’re keeping a different schedule today. You usually come before lunch on Fridays.” She eyed the two women at the other table. They tossed their cups into the garbage while casting furtive glances at the two of them.
“Schedule change. I had a load of work to finish up,” he said, rubbing the dog’s neck as it leaned against him. “Hey, I want you to meet Ridley. He’s my new foster.”
Ginger stuck her hand out to let Ridley sniff her. The dog offered a lick, leaving a gooey trail of drool across her palm.
“Ridley, so…nice to meet you.” She wiped her hand on her apron. The dog was so large his nose almost reached her chin with his four paws on the ground. “What happened to, ah, Gipper?”
“Gunther. Adopted yesterday,” Cal said. “I still think he would have made the perfect boy for you.”
“My cat would not appreciate me bringing a dog into the mix.” How many times had she mentioned this? She’d never been a dog person. “Was Ridley crossbred with a Clydesdale?”
“Part Dane, part shepherd,” Cal said with a laugh. “Isn’t he a handsome boy?” This he cooed in a baby voice, going nose to nose with Ridley.
Goodness. Cal needed to take this love fest somewhere else so she could get the patio in order.
“Looks like we’re going to get some rain. I don’t want to kick you out, but I think we’re going to stack the chairs so they don’t end up down the block.”
“Sure, sure. Can I get an iced Loftie to go?” He slipped a ten-dollar bill from his shirt pocket.
“I’ll be right back with that,” she said, just as a gust rattled the flag pole above her head.
Grumbling, she left him on the patio to go make his drink. Inside, Jace wiped down the tables in the empty dining area. Merris pulled the garbage bag out of the container and tied the ends together.
“Any luck?” Merris asked.
“He’s still here, isn’t he?”
Merris giggled. She’d teased Ginger before about Cal coming in not only for his almost daily coffee. He watches you when you’re not looking, she’d said. It was nonsense, of course. Her indifference probably challenged him is all. He was the type who loved basking in everyone’s attention. But Merris didn’t buy that, especially on the occasions when he’d leave behind cute little notes on the table, like “thanks a latte” and “you mocha me want to come here every day.” Ginger just rolled her eyes when Merris presented them to her, and she teased her right back. No, they’re for you, Ginger would insist.
Overhead, the lights blinked again. The hum of the equipment quieted for a second, then surged to life again.
She exchanged a look with Merris.
“Maybe you should head home. I’ll close up.” She looked over her shoulder to where Jace had just turned over the last chair and set it on a tabletop. “Jace, you too. I don’t want you two to have to drive through the storm.”
“Are you sure?” Merris said.
“Positive.”
“Aww, look at that. He’s stacking the chairs for you,” Merris said, nodding to the patio.
Sure enough, Cal had tied Ridley to the wrought-iron railing so he could gather the chairs together. He lifted one in each hand, whereas she could only do one at a time.
“I think he just earned his drink,” Merris said with a wink.
She huffed, but silently she agreed. She’d give him the drink on the house for saving her time. Surely, he wouldn’t read into that, would he?
As she pulled down the last set of window blinds, someone’s opened umbrella skittered down the sidewalk. One of the patio chairs Cal hadn’t stacked yet toppled over. He glanced at her with gritted teeth, mouthed “yikes,” then ducked when one of the metal poles from the awning above his head clattered onto the sidewalk. The poor dog tucked his hind end, ready to bolt, but Cal unwound his leash from the railing. She motioned for him to come inside. It was getting scary out there.
Cal pulled open the door, bringing in a burst of wind and rain just as the storm hit.
“This will blow over in a few minutes, I bet.” She stepped back from the window and looked down at Cal’s wild-eyed horse-dog, the poor thing.
Cal knelt down and pulled Ridley close. “It’s okay, buddy. You’re okay.”
The lights blinked in rapid succession. The dog whined.
“Here, this is on the house. Thanks for stacking the patio chairs.” She handed him the drink and his money. She glanced overhead at the light fixtures. “I sure hope we don’t lose electricity.”
She’d barely finished uttering those words when, sure enough, the lights flickered again.
This time they went out for good.
ORDER NOW SO IT POPS ONTO YOUR KINDLE AT MIDNIGHT TONIGHT! It'll be in Kindle Unlimited too.
𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗙𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗳𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
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Yesterday, Meg Easton's charming SPICED CHAIS & SECRET SPIES released too. I've signed up for a trial version of Kindle Unlimited simply because I want to read both seasons of the Coffee Loft collections without breaking my book budget. I admit I've skipped around quite a bit, not reading them in order, because some resonate with me more than others. Meg's is one I can't wait to get to. I LOVE her writing!
Put on your coziest fuzzy socks and softest sweater, and grab a mug of something warm because our latest Coffee Loft book just released! SPICED CHAIS AND SECRET SPIES by Meg Easton is live!
All it takes is one cup of spiced chai, one spontaneous barista, and one unexpected assignment to turn his carefully balanced world upside down.
Winston “Ollie” Baldwin’s life is predictable and safe, just the way he likes it. An accountant by day and a cat dad by night, his daily highlight is his morning visit to the Coffee Loft, where Daisy Maxfield, the lively barista and devoted dog mom, serves up the best spiced chai— and the brightest smiles.
Ollie’s crush on Daisy is as big as his ledger is thick, but his courage to ask her out? Not so much. He’s resigned to admire her from afar, convinced she’s out of his league. That is until an unexpected favor for an old friend puts him into closer quarters with Daisy than he ever dreamed possible.
As Ollie navigates his suddenly less predictable and anything-but-boring work life, he finds that Daisy’s easygoing charm is helping him face his fears, one misadventure at a time. As these opposites are thrown together outside of the Coffee Loft, their connection deepens, showing Ollie that life might have more to offer than just balance sheets and quiet nights in.
Can a man who’s always played it safe in life and love learn to take the ultimate risk? Ollie’s about to find out that stepping out of his comfort zone might just lead to the best payoff yet.
Get the book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CW1DWYX6
Check out all the Coffee Loft books in the fall collection: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CXQBFPHK
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Check out the FALL NEW RELEASES in the collection below! It's officially comfy-chair-fluffy-blanket-hot-mug-of-something reading weather, and with any one of these books to read, you'll be set! So many pretty covers, too!
Look for my coffee-inspired NEW RELEASE giveaway in next week's newsletter. I'll be on the road, but I've already scheduled the announcement, so be checking your inbox on Wednesday.
Facebook Page * Instagram
Goodreads * Readers Group
Port Chance Series * NEW BOOK *
New, small-town romance series! It's in Kindle Unlimited too.
That Woman on Thistledown Lane
Apple Blossom Dreams
Hearts in Hendricks series (4 books):
Available on Amazon, and it just returned to Kindle Unlimited in September 2024 too! See the series page here.
Blueberry Point Romance series
More small-town romance in Hendricks, MN with Darcy and Sean Stetman's romantic inn as the backdrop. Seven books plus a season-inspired, four-novella collection. Find the series here.
Silver Leaf Falls series
Multi-author small-town romance series, all in Kindle Unlimited! Read my book as a stand alone or as part of the series. You can find A Forever Kiss in Silver Leaf Falls here as well as the rest of the Silver Leaf Falls books.
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