Welcome to book review five 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.

Beyond the Land of Dreams
Author Susan Bruck
Published in December 2022
The publisher is Soul Blossom Living
Available in eBook, Audiobook, and Paperback (356 pages)
Fantasy | Coming of Age | Fairy Tale

If we were having coffee, I would share that I have started a challenge within a challenge. So, I started a photo-a-day in December. This week, I started a 30-day creativity challenge, which I plan to share as my daily picture until the 30 days are complete.

If we were having coffee, I would share that I tried to complete the board on my 3000-piece puzzle. I typically start with the edging, but there are too many false fits. It was a nightmare. So, when I get time to work on it again, I’m going to need to try a different section.

If we were having coffee, I would share that I realized I have too many projects going on. I need to prioritize them instead of working on all of them in little chunks. So, classes are top of the list because of the financial investment in them. My manuscript bumps to the top three when it returns from my editor. Then I’m creating a Tarot and an Oracle deck. I plan to focus on the Oracle and return to the Tarot after, except for Illustration class where I’m creating three Tarot cards for my project. Reading and puzzling are for downtime. My research for my next book can wait until next month. All other projects can wait until I’ve whittled the other ones down.

By Shari Marshall (2026)