Welcome to book review one of fifty-three. As you are aware, I offer freelance book reviews to various review companies. It has been a successful experience that has introduced me to new authors and their wonderful books. Each week this year, I’m opening my Weekend Coffee shares with a link to a review I’ve provided. Reviews are three stars or higher. The genres range from picture books to fiction and nonfiction titles.

Graveyard Elementary
Author Ran Ernst
Published in January 2024
The publisher is REE Design
Available in eBook and Paperback (136 pages)
Reading age is marked as 8 to 18

If we were having coffee, I would share that I have three and a half years left to complete my 50 Before 50 bucket list. I started this list when I was 36, and I’m happy with the progress I have made with it. I’m going to work to complete a few more. However, I have a few items that I know I won’t complete because they aren’t realistic for me.

1. Do a Scotland/Ireland tour
2. Visit Hawaii and/or the Bahamas
3. See a shark breach
4. Visit Alaska, perhaps on a cruise
5. See the Florida Everglades

If we were having coffee, I would share that during November and December 2025, I created a new list of items. It’s a 60 Before 60 list. I will share that list with you next week.

If we were having coffee, I would share that in combination with the medium classes and the illustration course I am taking, I decided on a new project for 2026. I’m going to create my own Tarot deck! I’ve given myself the full year to get a rough deck created; that’s seventy-eight cards. However, I’m not sure if it will be a personal deck or if I will publish it. That’s a whole separate area of research. Either way, I will share about the experience and product when we have a virtual coffee.

If we were having coffee, it would be the time of the year to share my word for the year. In 2018, I started using a word for the year instead of setting a New Year’s resolution. Since then, my words have been transformation, hope, goals, health & happiness, success, laughter, progress, and fluidity. This year’s word is ENERGY.

Sorry, I don’t have a puzzle to share this week, but hopefully next. Here is the coffee bean grinder. How was your week? Do you have a word of the year, or do you create a resolution for the year?

By Shari Marshall (2026)