Once Upon A Grind by Cleo Coyle (Tuesday Intros & Teaser Tuesday)

Once Upon A Grind is the fourteenth book in the Coffeehouse Mystery series. I've had a love-hate relationship with the series over the years. There are parts of each book I really enjoy -- mostly the side-characters like the main character's ex, her ex-mother-in-law, and her staff. This time around? I'm really not sure if they can keep me reading. And magic coffee beans that allow Clare to become psychic? When did this even become a thing? On one hand I feel like I need to keep reading to see if it improves past the 43% mark .... and on the other hand, how did I even make it to 43%?

"First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros" is from the first paragraph or two of
a book being read now (or in the future) and is hosted by I'd Rather Be At The Beach.

"Teaser Tuesday" at The Purple Booker asks for a random line
or two from anywhere in the book currently being read.

Billionaire Blend by Cleo Coyle (Tuesday Intros & Teaser Tuesday)

I'm just starting this one tonight after having given up on another book that wasn't holding my attention. I've had pretty good luck with this series so far so I'm hoping this doesn't disappoint!

"First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros" is from the first paragraph or two of a book being read now (or in the future) and is hosted by Bibliophile by the Sea. "Teaser Tuesday" at The Purple Booker asks for a random line or two from anywhere in the book currently being read.

***UPDATE***

Billionaire Blend is the thirteenth book in the Coffeehouse Mystery series. I keep reading them (obviously), but I keep find myself wondering why. I can't stand the main character's love interest and, often, want to smack the main character silly. Everything else keeps pulling me in, though. I love her mother-in-law and ex-husband and the coffeeshop staff and I would absolutely love a spin-off book (or twelve) about her daughter and her love interest ... but Clare and Mike? Eh. 

Cleo Coyle's Roast Mortem

Cleo Coyle's Coffeehouse Mystery series has been one of my absolute favorite set of "cozies." Coffee, New York City, baking, murder. What's not to love? Well, besides the occasional steamy moments I skim over in any book. And I'm not talking about the steam from an espresso machine ... although there's a lot of detailed info about coffee brewing and equipment and whatnot that, to be honest, I tend to skim over as well. After reading as many in the series as I have it gets a little "eh."

Roast Mortem is the ninth book in the series and, if you're going to read them at all, I highly suggest that they be read in order. I actually went against my usual rule about these things this past Christmas and skipped ahead to the twelfth for a book club read ... and it about killed me because so much had obviously happened between # 8 and # 12 that I was in the dark about. Never again!!!

It was a nice change of pace to have so much of the focus on Queens (which is highly under-represented in books that I've read) and to highlight the NYFD (although why equipment was invented for them for the book instead of just writing about what really gets used is totally beyond my comprehension).

BUT

Clare Cosi (the main character) has always had traits that I've found annoying and those remain ... as has my questioning of her choices when it comes to men ... and the not-so-occasional shake of my head at how she tends to respond to life in general ... and how if I met the character in real life we probably wouldn't hit it off (although I'd gladly become besties with some of the supporting cast!).

Hrmph.

I can't help but wonder if maybe that skip ahead back in December was why I just wasn't "feeling" Roast Mortem the way that I have others in the series. I kept thinking to myself "yeah, yeah, yeah ... I know where this is going" with side-stories and character developments. Maybe I'll skip ahead to # 13 the next time I feel like continuing with the series. I did quite enjoy # 12. Well, except for being annoyed by Clare ... and skimming the coffee industry TMI ... and .......

Hrmph.