legends and lattes – Still Life, With Cracker Crumbs..

I rarely buy books anymore for myself – or I didn’t for years. I decided that this year, my self-enforced book buying drought will be over. I miss having my own books. I will still use the library for the bulk of my reading, but I am going to indulge this year as a form of self-care. I deserve books too! Lol.

Since I am super excited and the people around me in my life, in person, aren’t as excited as I am about books – with the exception of my 7 year old son, who also gets geeked about books. He yells “Yay books” every time we go into the library and I am always like “Inside voice!” but I am always stifling a laugh because I feel that way too. The library staff loves him and they are also pretty tickled by his excitement. Anyway, Wyatt loves books too, but he doesn’t get super excited about MY books. Naturally. So, I am sharing with you all!

So grab a cup of something and let me show you my new book babies!

The Last Unicorn. This has always always been a favorite of mine. I love the book, and I also love the animated movie which is pretty much almost exactly like the book. I will admit that parts of the movie freaked me out as a kid! I’ve never owned the book before but this cover.. I had to.

My most recent read! I absolutely adored this book. The little blurb that says it is a warm hug of a book – 100% accurate!

I have heard so many good things about T. J. Klune and I can’t wait to read this one. Everyone who has read it has seemed to love it. I have it on my list for next month, when I am doing Middle Grade March.

I bought this entirely for the cover. And the title. I didn’t even really read what it was about, but, well, if you read here often you know my love of rabbits.

Another stunning cover, and another one I have heard a lot of praise for.

I am so excited to read this one! This is a supernatural retelling of Anne of Green Gables which sounds so cool to me! The author also wrote Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries which I loved! I will probably read this for Middle Grade March too.

So, this is another one I don’t know too much about but I liked the look of it, and it also sounds like something I would enjoy. So fingers crossed!

These three were not purchased by me, but purchased for me by Billy for Christmas and my birthday, but I wanted to include them anyway because they are so cool. There was a time in my life when I would read Walden and Civil Disobedience every year. I haven’t read either for a long time, so I need to at least touch base with Walden again. And I have never read John Muir at all!

And finally these last three are books I have already talked about here. Two were books I had checked out from the library originally (Legends & Lattes, Emily Wilde). I ended up buying Legends and then my dad surprised me with the Heather Fawcett book! He said he saw and knew I would love it. And then of course, A Woman in the Polar Night that I just finished.

I also want to share this photo of my assistant today.

She was a huge helper!

Thanks everyone for giving me an opportunity to share my excitement!

Goodreads summary:

After a lifetime of bounties and bloodshed, Viv is hanging up her sword for the last time.

The battle-weary orc aims to start fresh, opening the first ever coffee shop in the city of Thune. But old and new rivals stand in the way of success ― not to mention the fact that no one has the faintest idea what coffee actually is.

If Viv wants to put the blade behind her and make her plans a reality, she won’t be able to go it alone.

But the true rewards of the uncharted path are the travelers you meet along the way. And whether drawn together by ancient magic, flaky pastry, or a freshly brewed cup, they may become partners, family, and something deeper than she ever could have dreamed.

My Thoughts:

So I keep seeing people say the same thing over and over about this book, that it is a warm hug of a book. I even used it myself on Instagram to describe it, and frankly, it is true. It is 100% a warm hug of a book.

When I picked it up from the library, I was a little hesitant. Did I want to read a book about an orc? Well turns out I did, very much so. This book is just so darn cozy, something I never expected from a book that has an orc, a succubus, a ratkin, and a hob as the main characters. I loved all of the characters, but I am over here hoping for a book about Thimble. And a book about Cal too, who reminded me of Billy. This line in particular.. “Live long enough, you realize some folks can be handed a problem and some tools, and they’ll sort it out.” That is my husband in a line.

Anyways, I digress. Viv is an orc who wants to lay down her sword and live a quieter life, one without fighting and battles, one where she can sleep in the same place every night, and even better, one that involves that glorious magical bean water, coffee. This book is all about Viv starting a new life, forming a new tribe, finding her place. The description calls it a low stakes book, and it really is. It was such a calming read, so full of warmth. It will make you want to seek out a cozy spot and enjoy a cup of something warm and a little something sweet to enjoy, and just read the day away. (I ended up having a slice of alpine cake while reading – perfection, both book and cake)

I read this book in one day, which is something for me these days. I also had checked it out from the library but immediately ordered my own copy. Viv’s world is one I want to return to again and again!