Maxine “Pumpkin” Novak is coming home to Chicago to do three things: eat turkey with her family; chill with her best friend, Joy; and avoid all the awful people who gave her that childhood nickname. But a run-in with a dreamy old classmate sidetracks her plans in a heartbeat, and gets her heart pounding.Bartender Talbot “Stoner” Spice has out-performed his high school epithet and whooped his … whooped his childhood demons. Dividing all his time between running the neighborhood bar and caring for his widowed mother, he has never seen the need for a serious relationship. That all changes when his high school crush, Max, returns from California and walks into his bar two days before Thanksgiving. She doesn’t know it yet, but she’s not getting away from him again.
Get ready for a full plate of hot, yummy Thanksgiving naughtiness that will melt your heart and leave you begging for more. This book is a safe read, containing NO CHEATING, a GUARANTEED HAPPY ENDING and no relationship cliffhangers!
And don’t forget Max’s best friend Joy, who gets her own story in the second installment of this two-part holiday treat, Comfort and Joy, releasing Dec. 21, 2018!
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This story is about two high school classmates who reunite 20 years later. I loved this book, it gives you a glimpse of how life just wraps you up sometimes and you miss the little things.
I adored Spice’s character, he’s everything you look for in an older man. Great read, can’t wait to read book 2.
Pumpkin and Spice is a fast paced steamy romance. It has a little bit of sweet with a touch of spice to satisfy every romance reader. If you are after a holiday romance to make you smile and give you hope that you just might end up with your school crush, then this is the book for you.
Maxine graduated high school and immediately left Chicago without looking back. Teased about her weight, she moved to California and built a life. The only regret she had was that she was alone. She always wished that Stoner, the boy who helped her on graduation night, had asked her out. Back in town to see her family for Thanksgiving, she runs into him again. Stoner always had a crush on Maxine but couldn’t say so. Now is his chance to tell her how he feels and make his dream come true.
I can honestly say that it was so lucky that I saw an author duo, Alexa Riley, recommend Abby Knox. I absolutely adored Pumpkin and Spice! The characters of Maxine and Stoner were so vivid and likeable, and an older couple which absolutely rocked! There was so much emotion packed into this story that you can’t help but love it. I am now a complete fan of Ms Knox and will be acquiring her back list asap. I devoured Pumpkin and Spice and now I’m going to dive into Comfort and Joy to see how Maxine’s friend Joy gets her happy ever after. 5 stars for Pumpkin and Spice!
4.5 stars. Adored this book. Max and Stoner aka Talbot, go to high school together, each having crushes on each other, but never acting on it. Max takes off right after graduation, while Stoner stays and handles some unfinished business he has. Fast forward 20 years and these two see each other again and since they are older, more confident, they don’t wait. I loved their relationship dynamic and how they do not waste precious time this time around. I don’t like that this wonderful relationship took 20 years, it’s the only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars, because I was smitten with this sweet book and even sweeter couple. Pretty sure most of my book highlights have notes starting with, awe. Just a real feel good book.
This was a safe read, because after they get together there are no others. And even though they didn’t date in high school, I was so glad that there was no mention of others during their separation. No om or ow drama. I also wanted to give a shout out to the phrase Mattress Olympics, so funny. Another shout out for that adorable cover, love it. Sweet, sexy and fun read with great epilogues, plural and an hea. Now I’m just waiting “patiently” for her besties book *grabby hands*.
First, I’d like to point out that I love this book’s cover!!! It’s so pretty & goes perfectly with Max & Stoner’s story.
Second, I want to say that despite there being so much wasted time (in my opinion, at least) between Max & Stoner, I LOVED their story. It was sweet & steamy & it warmed my heart. They made such a beautiful couple.
Last, I conclude that Pumpkin & Spice is a very nice read & I totally recommend it, because as I said, I LOVED IT!!!
Maxine and Talbot meet again 20 years after high school. Not only do sparks fly, but love is in the air. This short novella packs a sweet and steamy punch. I love the emotional connection that they share as well as the sparks. The characters and their families are surprisingly well-developed given the shortness of the story and I loved them. I recommend this quick holiday read.
These Windy City Holiday Duet stories are probably my favorite books of Abby Knox.
I do reread them, quite often especially around the holidays!
The minute Max graduated high school she left the windy city behind and has only gone back during the holiday season to visit family. 20 years late she’s going home once again, but with more on her mind than usual. When her and Joy go to visit the town bar, Max gets a big surprise in the form of tall, handsome bartender.
Talbot, aka Stoner, since high school has had some strong feelings for Max. However, after graduation he resigned himself to never seeing her again. But during the Thanksgiving holiday, 20 years later, the woman of his dreams walks back into his bar…and this time he’s not letting her walk away from him again.
If I had any kind of complaint about this book, and when I think about it it is a bigger issue than I make it seem. Talbot is sexually assaulted by the priest and principal of their high school. Things never came out until after they had graduated…and for some reason the small town blames Talbot and his mother even though Talbot never came forward until after some more prominent people came forward. This is a bit of a heavier subject than most readers, including me, want to read about in a sweet holiday novella.
This was my first read by this author. This book was ok. I will read the next one to see how it goes.
Max and Tablot had a quick connection in high school and meet back up 20 years later. The connection is there instantly. They just find their way to make it work.
This was a quick read and is part of a duet.
Pumpkin and Spice is book one in The Windy City Holiday Duet by Abby Knox. This is a stand alone novella that I enjoyed so much. It is my first book by Abby. Its short, oh so sweet, and sexy!
Maxine (Max) “Pumpkin” Novak is thirty eight years old and is going home to Chicago for Thanksgiving with her family. Her life and successful advertising business is in San Diego, CA. Max needs a few days away from her life in San Diego just to hang out with her family, her best friend, Joy, and eat lots of pumpkin pie. Even though she has been home for previous visits, she and Joy have never gone to the local bar since they went on the night they graduated from high school twenty years ago. But this time they do, and Max can’t believe who is tending bar but the boy she had a crush on in high school.
Talbot “Stoner” Spice was hopelessly in love with Max back in high school. But his life was a mess back then. He was a mess. Now, twenty years and lots of therapy later, he is still in love with her. He can’t believe it when she walks into his bar. He let her walk away twenty years ago and never told her how he felt. There’s no way she’s getting away this time.
This is sort of an insta-love romance. Even though they knew who each other was twenty years ago, they weren’t friends. Talbot worshiped Max from afar. But let me tell you, the grown up Talbot knows what he wants and he moves fast. And he won’t be accepting no for an answer. Not that Max wants to say no.
This turns out to be the best Thanksgiving of their lives as these two finally find each other. They were each other’s missing piece. This is a quick read but it’s a sweet, sexy Thanksgiving story that is sure to put you in the spirit, and maybe even make you swoon a little bit.