"On What Grounds"

I recently found a mystery series that I love! Usually it is harder for me to get into a good mystery. But after reading Cleo Coyle's On What Grounds I was hooked. Of course it didn't hurt that the mystery is based in a coffee shop and the protagonist (Clare) is the manager who talks about coffee all the time. You learn how to properly brew a cup of coffee; how beans/grounds should be stored; proper mixing of syrups and milk. The story line was also good though. Coyle keeps the reader wondering and trying to figure out who the murderer is. Clare is a woman who has decided to start the next stage in her life. She is 40 (if I'm remembering right), divorced and has a daughter who is starting culinary school. Consequently she has decided to accept the position of manager of the Village Blend; a coffee shop she used to work at and where she met her ex-husband. There are some fun twists in the short book. Of course I am addicted to the talk of coffee and must try some of the recipes at the end of the book. Especially the Cappuccino Walnut Cheesecake.

On to the next in the series and more coffee talk!

"Lake Wobegon Days"

For my first audio book I chose Lake Wobegon Days by Garrison Keillor. I had initially begun reading this book; but when I was searching for an audio book I saw this one and knew I had to listen to it. Keillor narrates it and his voice is so mellow and calming that it made my drives to work and back bearable. His descriptions of his home town are very memorable. It is like you are walking down the streets and know the people and buildings. He also throws in the long vowels and little words that are 'Minnesotan'. Of course I am not from a small town. I like to call my home town a suburb of a suburb. It is however small enough to know who lives in what house. Unfortunately as years go by I am starting to forget and people are of course moving on as they do. Keillor's writing really takes you down memory lane. There are the seasons and holidays to go with the seasons. Then the religious aspect of a small town. Then of course the 'everybody knows everybody' aspect.

I have never listened to any of Keillor's radio shows. But I have heard many good things about his shows and books. This was a very good book to choose for my first audio book.