I ❤️ Coffee
Plus, a small book review of Legends & Lattes
What is better than National Ice Cream Day? You guessed it! National Coffee Day! As if I needed a special day to drink a cup of joe.* Everyday is National Coffee Day as far as I’m concerned.
* Naming my dog Joe was a coincidence. I double swear.
My apologies for getting this newsletter out a little later than I wanted. I read the news … to discover that Friday, September 29, 2023 is National Coffee Day for us Americans. And Sunday, October 1, 2023 is International Coffee Day for us everyones.
I find it apropos that I am writing this in a coffee shop, btw.
I have no quantifiable evidence of this, but I highly suspect that either Pumpkin Spice season or National Coffee Day happened together as advertising for Starbucks.
Anyway, after finding out that yesterday was National Coffee Day, I just had to read something that had been on my reading list called Legends & Lattes. It’s almost like it was … a ring of fortune that National Coffee Day happened.
So, I took a self-imposed holiday, brewed a cup of coffee, curled up in a cozy blanket, and read. I mean … I just had to do this for my newsletter’s sake, amirite?
As it turns out, my own dire-cat (my cat, Meow) jumped up and settled himself in my lap as I read.
Coffee + Book + Snuggling = Perfect.
The Promos
This week, we have Women’s Fiction Binge, an all-genre book giveaway. Find something awesome to read with a cup of coffee or tea. First Fall by Tina Hogan Grant looks good.
Book Review of Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
4.5 out of 5 stars
Legends & Lattes is a low-magic, low-stakes fantasy with a low-key romance. The protagonist is Viv, a former fighting orc, in a world with rules that are very D&D-like (except, the author never really explains any of the rules, until he has to explain one of the rules).
Anyway, Viv’s last adventure was to find a this magical item called the Scalvert’s Stone, which is actually something that a Scalvert Queen (think like a queen bee) creates inside of her head. The thing is thought to be a good luck charm.
In Viv’s case, she wants it to help her open up something super cool because she’s super cool. It’s called a Coffee Shop, a gnome invention.
That’s it.
No, really, that’s it. The entire book is like a step-by-step tutorial on how an orc opens up a coffee shop. In ad nauseum detail.
You think I’m joking around, but I’m not. I don’t joke about my coffee, unless it’s whether I want another cuppa before I finished my last cuppa.
This is the book that the Dalai Lama would write if the Dalai Lama wrote a fantasy novel. Orc gets good luck charm. Orc opens up coffee shop. The End.
So at this point, you are asking yourself … Maureen, why the F would I read this F’n book?
The thing is … the author has literally broken every single writing and genre rule imaginable. And yet, this book is oddly endearing. Like when your kitty cat jumps up on your lap, kneads his paws, and purrs. Or you see a puppy video on Youtube. Or something adorable, like kawaii.
My only complaint is because this book is so low key … nothing happens for the first 50 or so pages. No conflict. No arguing. No drama. At page 50, I almost put it down, but I forced myself to read it because I needed to write a newsletter post about it. So that is why I deducted 1/2 of a star.
Please note that this book is a low-key LGBTQ clean romance.
Happenings
Next week, I’ll be on a break. I usually take one once every three months or so. Don’t miss me too much. :) I have lots of stuff to catch up on.
Pumpkin Spice has been on my mind all week, just in time for the Coffee Days. I’m writing a little recipe book full of #PSL. When I say little, I mean 5 recipes. Unfortunately, I didn’t have it out on time this week, but when it’s ready, I’ll let everyone know.
In the meantime, I’m compiling a bunch of pumpkin spice love, which I haven’t finished yet. In case you need some extra pumpkin spiciness in your life.
Also, you might like some pumpkin spice cupcakes, which I shared with my office. It got some good reviews.
If you make them, you might also like my cute little pumpkin spice cupcake picks I made ya, too. Just add your email to the sign-up form, and you’ll get the download. (Don’t worry, if you are already on the mailing list, you won’t get added twice.)
In case you need some upcycling ideas for used coffee grounds.
Here’s a picture of Joe for the day of a cuppa joe. His favorite day, too.
