Welcome to book review two of fifty-three. As you are aware, I provide freelance book reviews to several review companies. It has been a great 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.

Apparently
Author Sue Dvorak
Published in April 2025
The publisher is GFB
Available in eBook and Paperback (346 pages)
Motherhood in Women’s Studies | Motherhood (Kindle Store)

If we were having coffee, I would share as promised last week, my 60-Before-60 bucket list I’m actively working on this year.

60-Before-60

1. Journal regularly
2. Learn about the Illustrated Life Journal and Art Therapy
3. Join a book club
4. Write a book for 7 to 9-year-olds
5. Write a children’s book
6. Complete two 3000-piece puzzles
7. Make homemade Christmas cards
8. Re-watch all the seasons of Friends
9. Go on a haunted walk
10. Visit a winery
11. Go on a vacation, just me and my hubby
12. Go on a lunch or dinner boat cruise (local)
13. Grow my blog to 2000 followers
14. Go roller skating
15. Do a tarot reading daily for myself
16. Start my days with 1 to 5 sun salutations
17. Try a new craft, maybe paint by numbers or something
18. Finish one full Illustrated Life journal book
19. Choose and read five nonfiction books (memoir/biography): My Love Story by Tina Turner, The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, Friends, Lovers, & Big Terrible Things by Matthew Perry, and My Next Breath by Jeremy Renner
20. Write a “How I write” type of book (not necessarily for publication)
21. Learn about the Sabbaths and include aspects in my traditional holiday celebrations
22. Read a book by Robin Hobb
23. Get a library membership
24. Join a writer’s group (in person or online)
25. Complete a 5000-piece puzzle
26. Complete a 9000-piece puzzle
27. Have a picnic
28. Have a candlelight dinner at home
29. Try baking butter tart squares
30. Mail 4 to 5 postcards (are postcards still a thing)
31. Learn a version or two of the solitaire card game with a physical deck of cards
32. Take an online course in tarot, crystals, energy, or something witchy
33. Have root beer floats with my family
34. Something ice-cream: maybe an ice-cream party or try all the flavours of hard ice-cream on the menu at my local ice-cream shop
35. Barbecue a pizza
36. Visit a farmer’s market
37. Complete a photo of the day challenge (1 picture every day for 365 days; share daily or weekly on IG, FB, and X)
38. Add some strength training to my weekly fitness routine
39. Make jam
40. Create a cookbook for each of my boys
41. Get a couple’s psychic reading
42. Get a fish and name it either Pumpkin or Honey
43. Draw on location with my life journal
44. Go to a street festival
45. Eat at a food truck
46. Watch a parade
47. Have a family slumber party
48. Make an ice-cream cake
49. Go apple picking
50. Make apple candle holders (fancy fall dinner)
51. Do an Advent puzzle
52. Go to an airshow
53. Be confident enough with my tarot to give readings for close friends and family
54. Research yoga retreats (maybe attend one)
55. Research writer’s retreats (maybe attend one)
56. Fireside picnic in my living room
57. Read a book from the banned book list
58. Visit a zoo
59. Write a “100 things I love” list
60. Visit a museum or an art gallery
61. Bonus: Spend 24 hours without an agenda or schedule

If we were having coffee, I would ask if you have a current bucket list or if you have completed one previously.

If we were having coffee, I would share that I’m still working on my 2000-piece puzzle, so I don’t have a photo of it this week. After I finish it, I’m moving on to try my first three-thousand-piece one, which is a bucket list item. Another bucket list item is the photo challenge. I have completed thirty-nine days so far, and I am loving it. If you would like to follow along on that journey or join in, you can find me at X or Instagram @sharimarshallauthor. (Linktree) Here is a picture from this week; it connects to my tarot journey as well.

Here is the coffee bean grinder. Please leave a link in the comment section so I can visit your Coffee Share.

By Shari Marshall (2026)