Books and Beans {January}

                                                       (found on www.engelta.hubpages.com)

One of my favorite ways to spend a day is with a good book and a hot cup of coffee.  Let's be honest, I rarely get to spend a whole day reading, but I am able to fit in reading while I'm waiting for kids after practice, before bed, or while my family watches TV.  Each month I will be sharing and reviewing the books I have read that month along with my current favorite coffee concoction.  Of course, I welcome any book or coffee recommendations you can send my way!

Each year, I set a reading goal on Goodreads.  If you're not familiar with Goodreads, you can check it out here.  It's like Facebook for book nerds!!  This year, my goal is to read 52 books...so let's get reading!

The Lake House by: Kate Morton (4 out of 5 stars)

The first book I read this year was "The Lake House" by Kate Morton.  This is the second book I've read by her (the first being "The Secret Keeper" which I LOVED) and she is a fantastic storyteller.  Her characters are well developed and the plot keeps you guessing until the end.  I will say that this is not a book to read when you need to shut your brain off; there are a lot of characters to keep track of and the story takes place in both the 1920's and present day.  In all though, Kate Morton's books are intriguing mixes of mystery, family drama and exquisite scene descriptions.

The Rumor by:  Elin Hilderbrand (3 out of 5 stars)

My next book was a lighter read.  I love reading books by Elin Hilderbrand.  Her beachy reads have accompanied me on many a vacation or been my go to when I want to be on vacation!  While this book was not my favorite of hers, it was a great for shutting off my brain and just reading for enjoyment.

Money Making Mom by:  Crystal Paine (4 out of 5 stars)

I started reading Crystal Paine's blog, The Money Saving Mom, years ago.  I have always found her ideas on money helpful and inspirational.  This book is great for those of you interested in jump starting ideas for multiple streams of income from home.

The Royal We by: Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan (3 out of 5 stars)

I enjoyed this book, but felt like it was about 100 pages too long.  This fiction story loosely resembles the love story of Will and Kate, and is full of drama and laughs.  I love reading about the workings of the royal family, and this did not disappoint on that front.  However, I found myself losing interest and I was disappointed in the ending.

Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology by:  Leah Remini (4 out of 5 stars)

Holy Batman.  This book was on my list for awhile, but I enjoyed it way more than I thought I would.  Honestly, I read it to find out about Tom Cruise and his crazy town antics.  This book is a disturbing look behind the scenes of Scientology based on Leah's experiences.  It was eye opening, sad, and brave on her part.  

*COFFEE*

This month, I am loving the Holiday flat white from Starbucks.  It is creamy, not too sweet, and full of Christmas spice...I'm holding onto the season as long as I can :)

That wraps up January's reading (and sipping).  Hopefully you find something that you might enjoy as well.  Let me know what you are reading and enjoying; I love a good book recommendation!