Book Review and Giveaway - Eat, Drink, and Get Buried (A Coffeehouse Mystery) by Cleo Coyle

My Review

Clare Cosi is hosting a special party at her coffeehouse, Village Blend, in NYC.  It's a birthday party for Ava Welsh's boyfriend Ryan.  Ava grew up with Clare's daughter Joy and is like one of the family.  Ryan is planning to propose to Ava at the party, so it looks like a joyous occasion ... until a mysterious woman is thrown off the balcony by someone who looks like Ryan.  Ryan takes off running and Clare works to solve the mystery and clear his name.

I wanted to read Eat, Drink, and Get Buried because I enjoy cozy mysteries and love this series.  The Village Blend setting feels like a visit with old friends.

This is such a strong mystery!  It has so many elements I enjoy in cozies.  The mystery is set up very early on when Ryan is almost the victim of a hit and run accident before the party.  The chapters are short but full of drama and developments, so the book has a lively pace.   With Ryan on the run (and with Ava and Joy in danger) the stakes are very high.

I have suggested this series several times to friends and enthusiastically recommend Eat, Drink and Get Buried.  It is such an enjoyable, fast paced read - sure to please anyone who enjoys NYC or restaurant settings.

Book Synopsis

When the Village Blend caters a glittering rooftop party, their creative coffee concoctions are eclipsed by a shocking murder in this thrilling new Coffeehouse Mystery from New York Times bestselling author Cleo Coyle.

Years ago, when master roaster Clare Cosi was a newly divorced mom raising her daughter, Joy, Ava Welsh became Joy’s best friend. Now the painfully shy girl next door has grown into a successful New York businesswoman, and Clare is delighted to be catering Ava’s coffee-themed party, especially when her boyfriend, Ryan, confides his plan to propose that very night.

Then a scream shatters the celebration. A woman is thrown off the balcony to her death, and Ryan–who abruptly flees the party–is accused of murder. Clare vows to help Ava clear his name.

Her digging uncovers suspicious connections to a deadly event from which a teenaged Joy and Ava barely escaped with their lives. The stakes rise ever higher as a ruthless killer attempts to keep the ugly truth buried–even if it means sending Clare and her caffeinated crew six feet under.

Author Bio

CLEO COYLE is a pseudonym for Alice Alfonsi, writing in collaboration with her husband, Marc Cerasini. Both are New York Times bestselling authors of the long-running Coffeehouse Mysteries, now celebrating more than 20 years in print, and the national bestselling Haunted Bookshop Mysteries. With more than one million books sold, their works have been translated into Spanish, Japanese, and Czech; received multiple Best of Year selection honors from reviewers; and have been recommended by Booklist as among the best culinary mysteries for core library mystery collections. Alice and Marc are also bestselling media tie-in writers who have penned properties for Lucasfilm, NBC, Fox, Disney, Imagine, Toho, and MGM. They live and work in New York City, where they write independently and together, wrangle their rescue cats, drink a lot of java, and cook like crazy. Connect with Cleo at CoffeehouseMystery.com

Author Links

Webpage: https://www.coffeehousemystery.com/

Free Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/cleocoylerecipes/newsletter

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CleoCoyle/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cleocoyle_author/

X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/CleoCoyle

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/cleocoyle.bsky.social

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/cleo-coyle

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/51488.Cleo_Coyle

Purchase Links:

Amazon Barnes & Noble   Kobo   Google Play    Apple    Bookshop.org

Giveaway

Thanks to Berkeley Publishing Group, Netgalley, and Great Escapes Book Tours for a copy of this book.

Book Review - The Heart of the Maker: How to Put Your Passion to Work by Jake Weidmann

My Review

The Heart of the Maker: How to Put Your Passion to Work is a book that helps creative people and entrepreneurs think in terms of making a living incorporating their personal passions.

I wanted to read this book because I was a Creative Writing major (and I still write daily).  I also have a small vintage business online.  The Heart of the Maker appealed to me in terms of both these personal passions.

There is a strong faith component to the book, as Jake Weidmann discusses how to balance personal faith and pursuing creative endeavors.  I found this approach unique and thought provoking. 

This is a beautiful book. Jake Weidmann is a Master Penman and the design of the book is very eye catching.  The book is divided into 16 chapters, with descriptive titles like The Sketch: Start Small and Flow:  Finding Your Productive Rhythm.  

I found the author's approach to creativity inspiring:  "Be as serious as you'd like about your business, but make work your play" (p. 119).  

He also offers practical suggestions, like:  "If you struggle from distractions, then I encourage you to either stay up late or get up early if the nature of your work allows that kind of thing. ... Find the hours of the day when your creativity peaks and lean into them" (p. 121).

This is a thoughtful, reflective book and I look forward to spending more time with it, perhaps journaling as I think about some of the ideas that spark my interest.

I recommend The Heart of the Maker: How to Put Your Passion to Work for creative people or entrepreneurs who want to live a balanced life as they pursue their passions.

Book Synopsis

Unlock the transformation of your passion with the keys of purpose-driven work in The Heart of the Maker. Whether you’re an artist or entrepreneur, writer, weekend warrior or looking for a way to activate your calling, this book serves as a blueprint for turning creativity into meaningful action.

With hard-won lessons and a deep connection to the spiritual roots of creativity, this maker’s guide equips you with the tools to face uncertainty and emerge confidently into your creative calling.

Jake Weidmann, renowned self-taught artist and the youngest Master Penman in the world, wants to show you how to:

• balance the sacred and the sellable in the business of soulful creation;
• embrace your gift in less-than-ideal times and spaces for your making;
• grow your skill while balancing the books, working with your spouse, dealing with stress, and fighting burnout;
• discover the importance of faith, family, and relationships as the foundation for great art and a meaningful life;
• grow closer to God by connecting with the spiritual roots of creativity;
• see your challenges as a way to stretch your ingenuity; and
• overcome self-doubt by trusting in God’s plan and stepping boldly into your unique creative purpose.

But this is more than a guide—it’s a call to action for anyone ready to leave behind the ordinary and make a lasting impact in their work and their life. With The Heart of the Maker, readers will learn how to view their creativity not just as a skill but as a gift, meant to be cultivated and shared to glorify God and bless others.

Author Bio

Jake Weidmann – Jake is a professional artist and certified as one of nine Master Penmen in the world. Jake was certified through IAMPETH (International Association of Master Penmen, Engrossers, and Teachers of Handwriting) in July 2011. He holds the title as the youngest Master Penman by three decades and the youngest to ever attain the title. His journey into calligraphy has been the “special sauce” for everything he now creates, incorporating the traditional calligraphic flourishing into his fine art. Jake is self-taught in each of his disciplines (calligraphy, painting, drawing, woodworking, and engraving). While he typically works with private clients, Jake has worked with Apple, Inc., Crossway Books, and Biola University, and has spoken from countless stages including TEDx and Q, and was featured on the PBS series, A Craftsman’s Legacy.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson and TLC Book Tours for a copy of this book.

Book Review: The Pirate Queen by Ariel Lawhon

My Review

In 1500's England, Grace O'Malley grows up loving the sea.  She wants to sail, like her father, but she is a girl from a prominent family, so she is expected to marry and raise children.  She is forced into an arranged marriage and separated from her first love.  Later Grace finds her way back to the sea and adventure as a pirate.  This sweeping novel tells her life story from childhood to her later years.

I wanted to read The Pirate Queen because I saw a play about Grace O'Malley's life years ago and found it fascinating.  I have always wanted to know more about her.  I love historical fiction, so really looked forward to this novel.

This is a big book, told in three parts that weave through the book: Maiden (Grace's young years), Mother (her marriages and children), and Matriarch (her pirate years and later life).  These sections repeat throughout the structure of the book;  I thought this unique and winding narrative would take some getting used to, but it works really well in telling Grace's story.

The book begins with a long cast of characters and a glossary of Gaelic words and definitions.  The very lengthy cast of characters was a bit off-putting, but I just dove in to read and had no issues keeping the characters (including those with same/similar first names) straight.  The characterizations in this book are so well developed and the primary characters have a great deal of depth and nuance.

Grace is a fascinating person - even more so, of course, because she was a real historical figure.  I found her longing for the sea, for adventure, for wanting more in her life than what women in the 16th century could have so moving and compelling.

My favorite scene in the book is the long-awaited meeting between Grace and Queen Elizabeth I.  Their conversation and the things left unsaid were so telling about women in this time period.

I highly recommend The Pirate Queen for historical fiction readers, and especially for anyone interested in the Elizabethan England or pirates.  I look forward to reading other Ariel Lawhon novels as well.

Thanks to Doubleday Books and Netgalley for an advanced reading copy of this book.

Book Review - A Fall to Remember by Ellie Alexander (Half Moon Bay Series)

My Review

Miranda Brown owns a small family store called The Green Grocer in Half Moon Bay, California.  She likes her quiet life with her adult son Pete and her niece Elise.  Then on a trip, she takes some laughably bad travel pictures and becomes a viral sensation.  A travel company makes her into a social media sensation, with a handsome PR guy, Jim Cole, covering her presence at the town's Fall Harvest Festival.  Sparks fly, but Miranda wonders if this is all business for Jim?  

I wanted to read A Fall to Remember because the small town setting, the Harvest Festival, and the sweet romance sounded very cozy and appealing.  It was!

Miranda and Jim are a wonderful potential couple, so well suited but also tentative and cautious.  I enjoyed watching this slightly more mature couple (nice to see in a rom-com!) get to know each other during the Festival.

The secondary storyline in this novel involves Miranda's son Pete, who is smitten with Jim's coworker Shelby ... but he is also involved in an unlikely (and unwanted) dating pair up with a model and social media influencer.

A Fall to Remember is a sweet, leisurely story that will appeal to Gilmore Girls fans and readers who love small towns, Autumn, and all things pumpkin!  It would make a great weekend read.

Thanks to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for an advanced reading copy of this book.

Book Review - We Wish You a Messy Christmas: A Holiday Novella by Melody Carlson

My Review

As the holidays near, Olivia Bradshaw is dating her childhood neighbor Malcolm McEntire.  This should be a joyful time of year, but their families are not close because Olivia's mother is a judgmental perfectionist.  Then one thing after another happens that brings their families together, like it or not - and things start to change.  But will they change enough for Olivia and Malcolm to contemplate a life together?

I wanted to read We Wish You a Messy Christmas because I found the Christmas theme appealing.  I enjoy Melody Carlson's Christmas novellas and try to read them each year.  (You will find a number of reviews of her books here at my blog.)

This was a fun read.  There are some sweet rom-com moments, some laugh out loud moments, and some gentle faith moments as well.

I enjoyed the book and wish it had been longer.  I would have enjoyed more time with the Bradshaws and the McEntires.  (Or even a sequel about what happens next!)

I recommend We Wish You a Messy Christmas for readers who enjoy light Christmas fiction with a heartwarming message.

Thanks to Revell and Netgalley for an advance reading copy of this book.