Welcome to book review forty-nine of fifty-two for this year’s virtual coffee shares. I’ve picked books related to the Brewing Coffee, Twisting Words & Breaking Pencils theme—coffee, books, and puzzles.
Remaining books to discuss in 2025, in no particular order:
- The Puzzled Mystery Adventure Series: Book 1-3
- Puzzle House
The Writer- The Book of Chaos
- The Writing Retreat
And here I am reviewing a title not on the list. However, 1st to Die surprised me by hitting my book review theme because it is about a writer who is, or possibly is, a serial killer. I have shared a lot of cozy mystery titles. 1st to Die is a crime fiction suspense. It is part of a twenty-five-book series: The Women’s Murder Club.
1st to Die
The author is James Patterson
Published in 2002
The publisher is Little, Brown and Company
Available in eBook, Audio, Hardcover, and Mass Market (488 pages)
Legal Thrillers (Books) | Serial Killer Thrillers | Women Sleuths
You can find my full review on Goodreads: 1st to Die.
If we were having coffee, I would share that I finally got a few minutes to start a puzzle. I picked one from the puzzle cupboard that I had completed last December. It’s a Ravensburger Christmas kitchen scene. I will share a picture once I finish it.
If we were having coffee, I would share that I started a photo challenge on December 1. One picture per day, shared on social media (for me, Facebook, X, and Instagram). There is no theme. My goal with this challenge is to be mindful and present and to highlight something from my day.
If we were having coffee, I would share that we set up the Christmas tree, but have put no decorations on it yet. We are hoping to finish decorating this weekend. Our Friday night movies shifted to Christmas movies last week. We are doing something new for our seasonal movie nights. We are taking turns making hot cookies or brownies to accompany the movie. Fun and tasty.
By Shari Marshall – 2025
Brewing Coffee, Twisting Words & Breaking Pencils 
🤍
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I was hoping for the recipe for that divine looking cookie/cake in a mug!
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Me too, Bernie. That’s an image from Unsplash.com.
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I like the idea of taking turns making hot cookies or brownies to accompany the movie. Thank you for your weekend coffee share.
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I think it will be fun, Natalie. The idea was accidental. We watched The Santa Claus a couple of weeks ago, and my older son disappeared for a few minutes off and on. Then he came in with hot peanut butter cookies!
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I love a photo challenge and occasionally do one for a month. I’m yet to put my tree up, so need to get to it asap.
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Photo challenges can be fun.
Happy decorating, Jenniefer.
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What a sweet suprise from your son! I love that tradition idea!
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I think it is going to add a nice touch to our holiday movie adventures. I am making chocolate chip cookies next week, but I might try and find a festive chocolate chip.
Happy Sunday, Kathleen.
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Your photo challenge sounds great! Yours is the second blog today that I’ve read that mentioned a James Patterson book/series that I have not yet read. But both sound so good (the other one was called The Chef).
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I haven’t read that book. I did just look it up, though, and it looks good. Thanks for stopping in, Joanne.
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I really like the “one photo a day challenge”, it was a long time since I did something like that. I do like how it becomes almost like a photo diary, and how it help one to stay in the present moment. I think it also can be used as a gratitude practice, highlighting one thing we are grateful for each day. I might try the challenge myself 2026, we’ll see. Thank you for this wonderful post and the coffee. It is still early so I’ll skip the cookie 🙂
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Mindfulness and gratitude are two reasons I decided to participate in the challenge. It fits with my illustrated life journal practice too.
Happy Sunday, Maria.
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Yes, I can see that. The journal I purchased for my daughter, inspired by your post about your illustrated journal arrived yesterday.
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That is exciting. I looked up the book you mentioned about the Illustrated Life journaling and purchased a copy. It was a helpful and inspiring read.
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That is awesome! I hope my daughter is going to like it as well, I think she will.
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I love your December movie plans 🙂 Sounds like a sweet and lovely way to spend the weekends 🙂
I found you on Insta and love the photos you’ve put up. I’m not there often, but I do like a peek at the lives of others through the lens/on the grid.
Hope your week is off to a great start! Can’t wait to see the puzzle 🙂
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It is my turn to make cookies next, and I’m planning a chocolate chip cookie, but with a seasonal chip of some sort. Perhaps cookies will be a good picture for my photo challenge . . .
Hope you are having a lovely week.
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