Kristie Booker's Blog

If Kat is learning how to move forward, Jess Dalton is learning how to stand her ground. In Summer in the Moon Garden, Jess is the woman you want in your corner—fiercely loyal, quietly determined, and the kind of friend who shows up when everything feels like it’s falling apart. She runs Fred’s Market in […]

The post Meet Jess Dalton: A Fierce and Tender Heroine in Small-Town Women’s Fiction | Summer in the Moon Garden appeared first on Kristie Booker.

These are my take on The Pioneer Woman’s cinnamon rolls. I cut her recipe in half and I use cream cheese frosting instead of the glaze from her recipe—they never disappoint. Soft, buttery, and generously frosted, they’re everything a cinnamon roll should be. Pictured before frosting—because once it goes on, they vanish before I can get […]

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In Summer in the Moon Garden, Kat Bauer is a woman standing at a crossroads. After twenty years of marriage, Kat’s world is quietly falling apart. Her once-loving husband has become distant. Her marriage is unraveling. And the house she poured her heart into is suddenly at risk of being sold—without her consent. With her […]

The post Meet Kat Bauer: A Story of Starting Over, Second Chances, and Rediscovering Herself appeared first on Kristie Booker.

I used AI to help me visualize Kat as I see her in my mind—standing in a moon garden, her genuine smile revealing the vibrant spirit beneath her composed exterior. While the technology gets closer every day, remember this is just one interpretation of our fictional heroine! Have you ever stood in your own doorway, […]

The post Meet Kat: Finding Her Way Back to Herself appeared first on Kristie Booker.

Second chances—those slippery, almost mythical opportunities we long for—often feel like something that happens in books or movies rather than in real life. “If only I could do it all over again…” How many times have you thought those words to yourself? Maybe it was after a lost love, a road not taken, or a […]

The post Second Chances in Life and Love appeared first on Kristie Booker.

During the winter months, I make a pot of soup every Monday. The Pioneer Woman’s Hamburger Soup, a rustic twist on classic beef vegetable soup, has become a staple in my weekly rotation. The rich broth, tender ground beef, and colorful vegetables create a nourishing meal that deepens in flavor as the week progresses. I’ve […]

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As January unfolds, there’s a familiar buzz in the air—the promise of fresh starts and new beginnings. But this year, I plan to approach it differently. Instead of adding more to our plates, what if we focused on doing less, but doing it better? The paradox of modern life is that we’re constantly bombarded with […]

The post The Art of Less appeared first on Kristie Booker.

There’s something magical about how family traditions evolve over time, taking on new forms while preserving their spirit. In our family, what began as a moment of prayer before holiday meals has beautifully transformed into a cherished poetic tradition that brings us together in a special way. Each year, one family member is given the honor […]

The post From Prayer to Poetry: My Family’s Evolving Holiday Tradition appeared first on Kristie Booker.

There’s something magical about the combination of chocolate and peppermint during the holiday season. While some might argue that chocolate is perfect on its own, the addition of cool, crisp peppermint transforms an everyday treat into something festively spectacular—especially when curled up with a good book. Each bite delivers waves of rich, fudgy chocolate studded […]

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As the holiday season approaches, I find myself reflecting on the simple pleasures that bring meaning to life—moments with loved ones, the comfort of a warm meal, or the soft glow of holiday lights. These reflections remind me of the themes in Elizabeth Berg’s The Year of Pleasures, a book I recently re-read. For me, […]

The post From Reluctant Reader to Novelist: How Books Changed My Life appeared first on Kristie Booker.