A Cup of Autumn: when love wasn't a part of the plan

A Cup of Autumn is the third book in the Silver Falls series by Melissa McClone. Keaton Andrews has always dreamed of becoming a tenured professor at an elite university. His plans come to a halt when he learns that his department has been cut and his contract has been terminated. With time on his hands, he heads to Silver Falls to spend time with family and focus on his options. One morning, at the local cafe, he takes a risk and orders something other than his usual coffee. Raine Hanover has been running on empty, trying to find reliable staff for her increasingly busy cafe when she is “volunteered” to organize the town’s annual Boo Bash. She has no time for romance and she especially has no time for a charming smile even if it is a nerdy yet handsome professor. When Keaton offers to help her organize the event, it takes long before the sparks fly. 

Silver Falls is a small town that I wish I lived in. The sense of community, friendship and family is heartwarming. I love this series and I was eagerly waiting for the nerdy professor’s story. Right off the bat, I loved Keaton and Raine. They were honest with each other about their expectations and plans for the future. He still had no plans to stay in Silver Falls and Raine wasn’t leaving. However, sometimes you can’t help it when you fall in love and are faced with a painful decision. Does one follow their long standing dream? Or do they embrace a new one? It is a sweet story and I couldn’t not put it down. I read well into the night as I wanted to see Keaton and Raine’s happy ending. I am looking forward to the final book in the series and the final Andrews sibling to have their story. I highly, highly recommend A Cup of Autumn. 

A Cup of Autumn is available in paperback and eBook

Scene of the Grind: small town, coffee and murder

Scene of the Grind is the first book in the Killer Coffee Cozy Mystery series by Tonya Kappes. Roxanne “Roxy” Bloom has returned to Honey Springs, Kentucky after her bitter divorce. She opens the first coffee house, The Bean Hive, in the tourist lakefront town. There is excitement in the air as the town is updating its boardwalk businesses in order to increase tourism. Excitement turns to suspicions when Roxy discovers Alexis Roarke dead in her shop, the Crooked Cat Bookstore. Roxy’s Aunt Maxi is an immediate suspect as she owns the building and Maxi had a very public argument with Alexis over the rent. As the gossip heats up, Roxy decides to uncover the killer’s identity to prove that her aunt is not the perpetrator but will her investigation risk her life too? 

Scene of the Grind was an enjoyable cozy mystery that kept me guessing until the end. It also had an element of a second chance romance between Roxy and her boyfriend from her teens, Patrick. As with most mystery stories, the first obvious suspect isn’t always the real killer, but I wouldn’t always bank on that because mystery authors like to throw curve balls. The identity of the killer in Scene of the Grind wasn’t on my radar at all. When I looked back on the clues, there was one that jumped out at me as an “aha moment” after the killer was revealed. Overall, I enjoyed Scene of the Grind and look forward to reading more of this series. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, I recommend Scene of the Grind. 

Scene of the Grind is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook

Life After Coffee: a story of one woman's struggles with life and family

Life After Coffee by Virginia Franken is the story of one woman’s journey from globetrotting coffee hunter to homebound mom. The story opens with Amy O’Hara late for her flight as she heads out for a six week work trip. She is a coffee buyer for a local coffee grindhouse, Mateo’s. She is also leaving on the day of her son’s birthday party. But on the way to the airport, she gets called back by her boss to inform her that she has been laid off as Mateo’s has been bought out. Amy goes home to the birthday party where the other parents there don’t realize who she is. When she informs her husband, Peter, about her job, he jumps at the chance to go back to work and have Amy stay at home. Peter dreams of selling a screenplay and dives into it, leaving Amy to her own devices. She and Peter begin to argue about who should be working and who should stay at home. Will Amy find her way in her new role as stay at home mom? Will she be able to get back to work? Will Peter sell his screenplay?

Unfortunately, I did not finish Life After Coffee to answer these questions. Amy is an out-of-touch mother who irritated me. I got through seven chapters before I couldn’t take anymore. I couldn’t stand the cussing. I understood why Amy was trying to be realistic about her husband’s dream of selling his screenplay; however, there are better ways to be realistic without deflating the person himself. As a woman who dreamt of being a mother and has struggled to have children, I couldn’t relate to Amy. Amy was a mother by birth only and not in action. Maybe she is able to find her motherly spirit but I found myself not caring to find out. I also found some of the dialogues of the children too unrealistic for a 5 and 3 year old. If this book seems to be your taste, then I recommend you give it a try. You may like it. I, however, could not enjoy it.

Life After Coffee

is available on Amazon in paperback and on the Kindle

and

on Barnes and Noble in paperback and audiobook