Coffee Blog

Grinding the beans

Writing Sparkle

Welcome to book review two of fifty-two for this year’s virtual coffee shares. I’ve picked books that are related to the theme here at Brewing Coffee, Twisting Words & Breaking Pencils—coffee, books, and puzzles.

Visions and Vanilla Cappuccino
Author Jinty James
Second edition published in 2017 **Originally titled Cappuccino Corpse
The publisher is CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Available in eBook and Paperback (331 pages)
Witch & Wizard Thrillers | Witch & Wizard Mystery | Cozy Culinary Mysteries

The first sentence, “‘I can’t believe that in two days’ time, this square is going to be transformed into a coffee festival!’” sold me on reading Visions and Vanilla Cappuccino. The words “cute and fun” perfectly sum up my overall take on the book.

I had some questions about magic and witches while I read, like what is a familiar? But my questions may be answered in previous books in the series, which I hadn’t read. Visions and Vanilla Cappuccino is book four. However, my questions didn’t interfere with the reading experience. Without having read the previous titles, I followed the storyline and enjoyed the characters.

Series readers, there are six books in this collection.

You can find my full review on Goodreads, March 2024.

If we were having coffee, I would share a picture of the first puzzle I completed this year. It is called “Holiday Hustle.” This puzzle is a Hallmark brand and has 1000 pieces.

If we were having coffee, I would share that I picked my word/intention for 2025. Last week Lisa shared that her word was ripple, and her post about it was lovely: “Throw Your Rock in the Water: How Small Actions Create Big Ripples.” Maria also shared her word for the year, balance. Both these words resonated for me but didn’t quite have the right feel for me. I was doing a cycle class, and the instructor was talking about having fun with the process and the results would follow and I thought there it was, balance and ripples—fluidity. Easy, smooth, and changeability—my word/intention for 2025 is fluidity.

If we were having coffee, I would share that I bought myself a manual coffee bean grinder and some new coffee flavours to try: smokin’ cherry, sippin’ whiskey, blazin’ apple, stout maple, and hickory stick. I’m considering purchasing a French press.

You might have noticed that I updated my feature image for coffee share. If we were having coffee, I would share pictures of all my Weekend Coffee Share feature images.

2025
2021-2025
2020
When I’m absent for Weekend Coffee Share
after 2018 but before 2020
after 2017 but before 2020
2016
2017

Here is the coffee grinder. Please tell me about your week.

By Shari Marshall – 2025

10 thoughts on “Grinding the beans”

  1. I love manual coffee grinders! That is one of the items I look for when visiting thrift stores and auctions. I don’t have any at the moment, but would love to have one in the kitchen. Making a great cup of coffee is an art and part of my morning ritual. I always get up extra early to enjoy it in solitude. Have a great weekend!

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  2. Sounds like a fun book! I’m intensely reading the Anita Blake series. I’ve tried to read it many times over the years but there are two issues: 1) it’s a lot of books, so I get distracted part-way through and 2) the books are so good I can’t put them down. It’s really hard to get absorbed in a series when I have (many) other obligations.

    I started over from the beginning (again), and although I’ve definitely read past this point, I don’t remember this one very well since I haven’t read it as many times as the previous books. I have no idea what happens, which is exciting, but means I’m staying up past my bedtime and sometimes even waking up early to keep reading. It’s not great for my sleeping habits!

    In other news this week, I finished writing my dissertation (still work to be done, but finishing a draft is a big deal!), and I have been playing with my brand new Cricut. Lots of fun!

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    1. Hi Jayden. It’s tempting to read a series from start to finish, but there have been a few that I take a break from before picking up where I left off. One of the things I enjoy about re-reading a book is finding things I missed on the first read or enjoying a different character from my first.

      Congratulations on finishing your dissertation! That’s amazing.

      Are you planning for A-to-Z yet?

      Like

      1. I do love re-reading! But it makes it easier to put it down when I have to since I know how it ends.

        Thank you!

        Not yet, but I need to start soon for my personal blog. The hosting team has started to do a little prep work, though!

        Liked by 1 person

  3. Kind of odd, but a familiar is the one thing I have known about witches since I was a little kid. From the beginning of time an enchanter/enchantress/witch/warlock/wizard/mage/magician/etc. has had an animal that is always by their side – their familiar. Black cats are the most popular in today’s world, but there are others, and in some old stories they didn’t disguise that the familiar was some sort of demon. Old legends had it that when the enchanter dies, the familiar takes their soul. Anyway, I am assuming that is what you are talking about…

    Glad you found your word for the year.

    I hope you have a wonderful week!

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