Audio: A barista´s guide to love & larceny

By: Caroline Bonin

Narrated by: Sarah Beth Pfeifer

Length: 12 hrs and 48 mins

Release date: 01-27-26

Publisher: Tantor Media

Categories: YA

To review

This was a sort of cozy fantasy where magic is real.

Dani ran away from her family who used her powers and got a partial scholarship at a magical college. But she has to work at a coffee place since she needs money. And then there is schoolwork. It is a lot to handle.

She has a good friend in her roommate McKenna who is partial fae (I would really want to know more about that). And then a crush at Kass who frequents the cafe she works at .

And then a professor learns of her ability and wants her to take part in a "extra credit project". And she seriously needs the money so she can get her degree.

But yes there is a lot more going on. A company who is making a dream drug. Meeting new friends. Handling her schoolwork and fearing getting kicked out. And that budding romance.

Very cozy feel to it. A but of love, a bit of larceny. But things will work out for her.

I liked the narration. She worked well with different characters and the mood of the book

Dani Lionet is no stranger to working hard. But now she's attending her dream magic university, and must manage classes, shifts at the local cafe, and maintaining her partial scholarship—all while trying to keep her unique ability under wraps. That way, no one else can take advantage of it like her parents used to. So when a visiting professor calls Dani out on her ability, she's terrified.

Yet, it seems Professor Silva just wants to pay Dani to use it to investigate a soon-to-be-released lucid dreaming product with horrible side effects. Dani is hesitant, but she needs the money, and it would help her new friend who was part of the product's clinical trials. Plus, she has a swoony distraction in Kass, a mage and her endearingly cute new regular at work...even if she can't tell him about her ability or extracurricular activities. The fact that he seems just as interested in her is very uncharted territory for Dani since, thanks to her parents, she's never lived in one place long enough to have a real crush.

Can Dani help with the professor's "group project," learn to embrace her ability, and get to know Kass? Or will it all fall apart before the semester is over?

TMST

 

 

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating,

2/10/2026 Share some Romance Book recommendations

Ok it is late, so no pics! First of all TESSA DARE! Read her historical romance books. They are so fun.

And now I am just gonna go random, and not with picks that everyone knows at once....except Singh, I have to mention her. I also love her rugby books!

Anyway, here we go:

Historical romance: A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting by Sophie Irwin

Paranormal romance. Storm Echo by Nalini Singh

Fantasy romance: The Desert King's Spy by Eve Langlais

Sci fi romance: Polaris Rising by Jessie Mihalik

Contemporary romance: Heidi's Guide to Four Letter Words by Tara Sivec

CR: Runaway Groom by Lauren Layne

2/17/2026 Are there any books you've read that changed your perspective on a subject?

2/24/2026 Which books are you looking forward to reading this Spring? (March-May)

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating.

If you are interested in participating in TMST or receiving periodic emails that list the upcoming TMST topics and questions,  please fill out this GOOGLE FORM.  Participation is optional and never required.

Carole´s Monday: On the way to the wedding- Julia Quinn

Author: Julia Quinn

Title: On the Way to the Wedding

Series: Bridgertons #8

Genre: Historical Romance

Format: paperback

Pages: 384

Published: June 27, 2006

Where I got It: My shelf (Amazon)

Summary: 

A funny thing happened...

Unlike most men of his acquaintance, Gregory Bridgerton believes in true love. And he is convinced that when he finds the woman of his dreams, he will know in an instant that she is the one. And that is exactly what happened. Except...

She wasn't the one. In fact, the ravishing Miss Hermione Watson is in love with another. But her best friend, the ever-practical Lady Lucinda Abernathy, wants to save Hermione from a disastrous alliance, so she offers to help Gregory win her over. But in the process, Lucy falls in love. With Gregory! Except...

Lucy is engaged. And her uncle is not inclined to let her back out of the betrothal, even once Gregory comes to his senses and realizes that it is Lucy, with her sharp wit and sunny smile, who makes his heart sing. And now, on the way to the wedding, Gregory must risk everything to ensure that when it comes time to kiss the bride, he is the only man standing at the altar...

Review:

Been holding off on finishing this series! It takes so long between each season of the show that I've been slowly making my way through the series. I finally decided to finish the main books of the series and read Gregory's tale. I still need to read the short story about Violet. 

Gregory is not your A-typical guy of the ton. He believes in love and wants to find love. He wants what all his other siblings have. He wants it badly. When he comes across Hermione, he fancies himself in love. She HAS to be the one? Right? ...Right? Enter in Hermione's best friend, Lucy, who likes Gregory. He seems like the best of suitors, so she decides to try to help him win the girl. Lucy is engaged, and there is no way out of it, so why not let her best friend find love? 

So I loved that Gregory truly wanted to be happy and find his own person. He sees how happy everyone in his family is, and he is the last unmarried sibling. He wants it so bad that he finds himself in love with the wrong person. It isn't love...no spoiler. Lucy is his person. He is just a dumb-dumb to not see it. Same with Lucy, but I get why she is blinded to it. She's technically engaged anyway. Not by choice, but family duties and whatnot. 

I struggled really bad for the first...mmm....45% of the book? Gregory's infatuation with Hermione grated on my nerves. Sure. That is the whole story. He eventually wakes up after an event and realizes he never loved her. He loved the idea of being in love. Why SOOOO long? Why not shave that off a bit? Maybe only being in love like....30% of the book? And then fighting to get the real girl. I would've liked to see more time with Gregory yearning for Lucy and making her feel wanted. 

Other than that block. I loved the story. It was dramatic and crazy and just plain fun. Gregory has a huge heart, and he's a big dumbdumb. Silly. 

Lucy was sweet. 

I liked one character a lot (I won't spoil anything). I was really hoping he found an HEA. Maybe the show will flush his story our more *fingers crossed*

In the end, this was a lovely series. I can see myself re-reading this someday. I loved all the siblings, even though they frustrated me sometimes. I'm so glad Netflix is making these books into a show. I would love to see more books like this find the limelight. But yes, totally worth reading the whole series. I had a little issue with this one, but by the end, I ended up having fun. I'll give this 3 stars. 

Reading Challenges

-  Reading Romance Challenge #2 (Wedding)

Audio: Lucky Suit by Lauren Blakely

By: Lauren Blakely

Narrated by: Zachary Webber, Andi Arndt

Length: 2 hrs and 25 mins

Release date: 01-31-19

Publisher: Audible Originals

Contemporary romance

Short novella. I do like these. Things have to work fast.

Kristen tries online dating and meets this fun guy Cameron. They talk, the flirt, but when they meet for real something is wrong...

So I can´t tell you what, but Cameron is a good guy and someone really wants these two to find love with each other.

Fun, some intrigues. Some meddling people, and two people who live on different sides of the country. But this is romance and it all works out.

Cute and fun. Good narration

Kristen Leonard is done with setups. She’s not interested in your son or your nephew or your butcher or the guy who mows your lawn, thank you very much, grandma! After all, she’s a modern woman—she’ll take her chances on the algorithms of online dating to find her ideal man. Before long, she meets a man who might just be the one—he’s hilarious, quick-witted, and full of heart. And when she meets up with Cameron in real life, he certainly looks exactly like his profile picture…but something’s not quite right.

There’s really no telling what brought them together and all bets are off as to whether or not they can trust their hearts over their heads. After all, can you fall in love with someone you’re not sure you really even know?