Coffee Time Romance & More: Coffee Thoughts the Book Blog » Matilda

Holiday Grind – A Coffeehouse Mystery

Matilda — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 07:01:46 +0000

Cleo Coyle is a pen name for a husband and wife team. Both Cleo and her husband had similar upbringings growing up in working class neighborhoods to Italian immigrants. Both held jobs in food service before taking up residence in The Big Apple. Cleo became a children’s book author and journalist and her husband a magazine editor and writer. They met and married and now reside and work in NYC writing both together and separately, the enjoy cooking together, drink a lot of coffee and hang out at local coffeehouses.

Awesome is what this book is! I absolutely loved this story. It was fun, fast paced and exciting. This latest coffeehouse mystery is definitely a keeper. In this book, you not only get a mystery but you get as a bonus — a book within a book! There is a large section devoted to coffee, where you can learn coffee lingo and try your hand at making your own specialty drinks with the recipes and a website to see pictures of the recipes. Bonus after bonus just for the reader. What more could you want in a book?

Author’s Website

Read the Review

Beyond the Quiet by Brenda Hill

Matilda — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:35:39 +0000

Brenda Hill is a woman who wears many hats. She is a novelist, a short story writer, and not to mention she writes restaurant reviews as well as features for a southern California newspaper. She also has her hand in editing. She loves books and believes you can find light, laughter and love inside. She believes in the majic of storytelling. Like to know more check out her website for the latest.

Let me start by saying if I could give more than five cups I would give 10 or more. Ms. Hill has written Lisa’s story so well that I could barely set the book down to wipe away my tears. Lisa’s journey will have you feeling all she felt. To go from her grief to self discovery to empathy is a truly amazing ride. Each character has a role that plays an enormous part in the story, none less important than another. If you do not add this book to your collection, you will have missed a truly amazing read.

Read the Review

Brenda’s Website

Tasting Fear By Shannon McKenna

Matilda — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 15:01:58 +0000

Shannon literally starting writing while working in an insurance office; Told to look busy she did and there it was. Yet she still wanted to follow a passion of hers, singing. She sang everywhere from church wedding’s to a Renaissance Faire, which lead her to meeting her future husband Nicola. And now they live in southern Italy. Check out her website to learn more about her and her adventures.

Tasting Fear is an exceptional read! It is one overall story broken into three parts; one for each sister. These parts come together and whisk you away on a journey of murder and suspense, with a huge dose of romance added in. Ms. Mckenna has written a tale you will really want to sink your teeth into and add to the bookshelf.

Read the Review

Author’s Website

All The Right Reasons, Damaged Heroes Book 3 by Sandy James

Matilda — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 13:00:39 +0000

Sandy James wears many hats, besides being an author she is also a teacher and an owner of a small racing stable. She loves her life with her husband and her two grown children. Horse racing and writing have become her passions in life. She feels her life is truly blessed and even though she has been diagnosed with Lupus she is a strong believer that even with a chronic illness you can go out and enjoy your life to the fullest.

What an emotional story, filled with anger and bitterness, love and joy, heartache and pain, acceptance and trust. Lucas and Joy’s story is all that. Ms. James takes you into the most intimate parts of her characters and shows you the real essence that makes them come to life. In turn capturing the reader’s attention and holding on till the last word. This is a book that you will want to add to your bookshelf. This reader is ready to explore the other stories in the Damaged Hero Series.

Read the Review

Author’s Website

Pandora’s Justice by Elaine Charton

Matilda — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 15:10:55 +0000

Elaine Charton has her own unique website guardian; Miss Lucy the cat. Ms. Charton is the author of romantic suspense and paranormal romantic suspense. According to Miss Lucy; Elaine hails from a family of five brothers. She has also been with her “mate” for over twenty years in which things are never dull or boring; a promise he made when he proposed to her in which he has never broken. She has been an avid reader since an early age. Where she often rewrote the endings of the stories to make a happy ending, eventually she began to write her own stories.

Wow! What a great book. Action, romance, cute kids, all that is missing is the puppy. The characters are well honed and pull you into their story to ride along for one heck of an adventure. The storyline just races along, making you try to turn the pages faster. I totally enjoyed this story and all it had to offer and I am sure many other readers as well. Wonderfully done, Ms. Charton.

Read the Review

Author’s Website

Bittersweet Victories by Rachel Smith

Matilda — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 03:00:41 +0000

Rachel Smith was born in Okinawa; she was an air force brat. She tried her hand at writing numerous times but did not like the outcome. In the meantime she accumulated student loans, and children. By her thirties she tried her hand at writing again. She says she has time now to devote to her writing as all her kids have grown into wonderful adults and a husband who has been with her thru rocky times. Rachel believes she is truly blessed.

What a surprisingly wonderful book. This is not just your average romance. This one has flaws and consequences. Ms. Smith writes Angie and Marty’s story with such emotion and realism. She opens the touchy subject of HIV and walks you through it carefully. You come away educated in a subject many know little about. This is definitely a book to add to your collection. You will not regret it.

Read the Review

Rachel’s Web Site

Illusions by Wanda B. Campbell

Matilda — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 17:29:08 +0000

Wanda B. Campell is an author of Christian fiction; she incorporates her faith into her books. She is a hopeless romantic whose books not only include God and faith; they also include real life relationships that the reader can totally relate to. In between her writing time, she has a career in healthcare, she is a licensed real estate agent, and is currently working on her Bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies. Wanda currently resides in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and two sons. Besides reading and writing Wanda loves to collect magnets from around the world. I am sure she finds many in her love of travel.

Illusions is another winner for Ms. Campbell. She has taken a controversial situation and allowed the reader to walk in her characters’ shoes and feel and see what they do. Courage, strength, faith and love are just a few of the characteristics we see. This is such a touching story of the perfect facade we can put up for others to see in spite of our broken spirits. You cannot help but think, learn and grow with this story as it unfolds. I highly recommend this and any other books Ms. Campbell writes. Her stories are that exceptional.

Read the Review

Author’s Website

Wanda B. Campbell

Matilda — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 18:21:06 +0000

I have found that i tend to enjoy changing up the way I read my romance. From say contemporary to historical, to adding a bit bit of suspense or paranormal, then some heat and back round another way.. keeps things fresh and doesnt leave theat same old boring plot line. And beinga reviewr has reall allowed me to sample many flavors, but one that reall stands out of late is Christian/Inspirational Romance.. At times we all want to feel some reality within our reading as well and it seems like this genre is just racing along with the best of them. I have read quite a few good one but this one author has just blown me away with her writings. I have had the pleasure of revieweing 2 of her books , one of which has just been released.

Her name is Wanda B Campbell

Her website is http://www.wandabcampbell.net/

Links to the 2 reviews I have done for her

Illusions

http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/BookReviews/Illusions.html

First Sunday In October

http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/BookReviews/Firstsundayinoctober.html

Both these books truely show you the human spirit of men and women and the sometimes painful truths we all face in life, yet turn to things such as faith and friends and family to see us thru. Ms. Campbell uses such powerful emotions in her books one cannot help but to immerse yourself. I cannot say that there is one defineing moment or character that truely stands out amongst the others.. It is rather books that must be felt with your heart not read with just words written on paper. If you truely are looking for “real romance” than I would say hands down pick up either one of these 2 books you will not be disappointed in any way. No matter what your Choice of religion might be.

Thank you again Ms. Campbell for giving us a hope and love when life can sometimes be so bleek. You truely have a wonderful gift.

Matilda

Spies, Mystery, & Suspense Books

Matilda — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:25:08 +0000

Wow what a subject.

I love mystery & suspense. even when it adds a bit of romance o the mix. I wish I could say that I have liked just one book but I honestly cant. I love steven king, dean koontz, John saul, and have read many books by authors I cant remember..lol..

One of the strangest I have read was one my brother loaned me a few years back by steven king – only it was under a different name.. steven bachman i think it was. It was so strange but good reading here is a link for the book http://www.stephenking.com/library/novel/desperation.html

These miners release a creature called Tak and he reaks havoc on a small town. He invades their bodies and well kills a lot of people. Very strange and creepy. So what Books are on everyone elses list?

Happy reading all

Matilda

A Single Thread By Marie Bostwick

Matilda — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 22:12:05 +0000

Since an early age Marie has been doing both reading and writing. She wrote her own version of Camelot to go along with the music she heard from listening with her grandmother. As she grew thru her teen years she began writing short stories and teen angst poetry; but never thought of writing seriously until later on and now a few books and receiving a few awards for her writing the rest is history. Marie lives in Connecticut with her husband Brad, and a son who is still attending high school. When Marie is not writing she is volunteering for her church, quilting, or simply watching movies or hanging out on the front porch with her friends and spending time with her family.

What a wonderful story of strength, character and friendship. Ms. Bostwick has written a story so touching that it pulls at your heartstrings and doesn’t let up till you finish these women’s stories. She takes you on a journey with them and allows the reader to feel the same emotions as these women do. With the obstacles each must face, you cannot help but wish for a happy ending in these women’s lives. If you need a wonderful book to touch you and maybe even change your future path, I highly recommend adding A Single Thread to your book collection.

See the Entire Review

Author’s Web Site

Accidentally Dead by Dakota Cassidy

Matilda — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 05:22:09 +0000

Dakota lives in Texas with her two sons, her mother, a few dogs and cats and an awesome boyfriend that puts her own heroes to shame. She loves to laugh, people, chatting and don’t forget the hair products. She is an author you don’t want to just pass on by but one to get excited about her works.

Accidentally Dead is a definite winner in my opinion. Ms. Casssidy’s imagination just blows me away. I have read a few of her other works and this reader is never disappointed with her comedic tales that totally entertain you from beginning to end. Her characters are so real you cannot help but enjoy the ride. In this story Nina and her friends are a hoot, the vampire is hot and what an awesome romantic comedy movie this would make. A definite bookshelf keeper.

See the Review

Dakota Cassidy’s Web Site