Illustrated Life Journal – Brewing Coffee, Twisting Words & Breaking Pencils

Welcome to book review seven of fifty-three. As you know, I provide freelance book reviews to several review companies. It has been a great experience, introducing 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.

Ella Minnow P.
Author Trisha Fleming
Published in May 2025
The publisher is Trisha Fleming
Available in Hardcover and Paperback (30 pages)
Children Learning Resource | Picture Book

If we were having coffee, I would share an Illustrated Life Journal update. I’m still enjoying drawing in it regularly.

If we were having coffee, I would share that later today I have an appointment for i-float services. It’s float therapy to promote deep relaxation, help with chronic pain, meditation, and Theta State, and right-brain function. The water has magnesium in it, so it helps with magnesium deficiency, which aids with anxiety, depression, improved sleep, and so on. I’ll let you know how it goes.

If we were having coffee, I would share that I’m considering creating a space to share pictures of my Tarot readings and related stuff. I’m just not sure which platform to create it on. Thoughts?

Well, here is the coffee bean grinder. How was your week? Please leave the link to your coffee share below so I can pop in for a visit.

By Shari Marshall (2026)

Welcome to book review forty-six 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.

Blueberry Muffin Murders
The author is Joanne Fluke
Published in 2011
The publisher is Kensington
Available in eBook, Audiobook, Hardcover, and Mass Market (320 pages)
Private Investigator Mysteries (Books) | Cozy Culinary Mysteries | Cozy Animal Mysteries

This book wasn’t on my original list of books to read, review, and share during Weekend Coffee Share. However, I realized it was a good fit when the main character said, “As the proprietor of The Cookie Jar, Lake Eden’s coffee shop and bakery . . .” Blueberry Muffin Murder is book three of thirty-five in the Hannah Swensen series.

These are cozy murder mystery books that include recipes.

You can find my full review on Goodreads: Blueberry Muffin Murder review.

If we were having coffee, I would share a picture of the puzzle that I have been working on for weeks. It really was challenging. I found because of the colours that it was best to work on it in natural daylight instead of at night with the lights on. Anyway, it took a while, but it was a satisfying image to complete. It’s called “Starry Night” and is a Buffalo Games 1000-piece puzzle.

Has anyone completed a 3000-piece puzzle? I haven’t, but I am curious about it.

If we were having coffee, I’m partway through The Illustrated Life Journal course offered through Domestika. I’m enjoying it. It’s brief, but it provides enough information to get set up and start art journaling independently. What I like about it is the freedom of images. When I draw, I get so caught up in creating a perfect image that it can take the enjoyment out of it. With this journaling, she teaches you that images are for you and nobody needs to see them; individual images are all part of a larger page; it isn’t about perfection, it’s about mindfulness and gratitude. So, I find I’ve let go of judgment about the work and love the process and the completed page.

If we were having coffee, there was no coffee share link-up last week. If you are curious about my post, you can check it out at “Flipping the cards—tarot, books, and puzzles.”

That’s my share this week. Here is the coffee bean grinder, virtual friend. How was your week?

By Shari Marshall – 2025