Amazon Review: You know that coffee shop you love? The one where you're greeted as a friend (even if it's your first time there), you get an amazing cup of coffee and perhaps a yummy treat, and then you head to one of the cozy spots to sit down, exhale, and relax for a bit? A welcoming, well-run coffee shop seems effortless, but it's the well-run team behind the roaster and espresso machine that makes it so. Caffeinated is a fun and engaging look at the inner workings of the Inkwell Café - a coffee shop with the magical blend of great people, product, and energy. We follow along as Jenn, a veteran café manager, is hired to open the newest Inkwell Café in a scenic coastal California town that reminds me very much of the delightful towns of Pismo Beach or Avila Beach. We watch as Jenn preps to open the store and takes us through the grand opening and the first year. Along the way, we meet a fun cast of characters who soon work their way into our hearts. I'll never forget Suzie, the girl Jenn hires who has zero experience and who turns out to be the best employee she's ever had. And being a coffee aficionado, I loved how adeptly the author weaves in coffee education -- how it's grown, how it's roasted, how it's brewed, how Sumatra tastes different from Arabica, and so much more. Caffeinated is an engaging look at the microcosm of life found in a favorite neighborhood café. It makes for a fun read -- preferably while sitting in your favorite chair in your favorite coffee shop and drinking your favorite java drink. Cheers to life, quirky personalities, great coffee, and the ways we're all connected, and to Jeannie Bruenning for sharing this world with all of us. -Kara L. Stewart
Amazon Review: "Caffeinated" is one of those thoroughly delightful novels you'll want to keep reading even after the last page. This funny, heartwarming slice of life in a café was inspired by Bruenning's own experiences. She's a born storyteller, a keen observer of life, a lover of people and finds the humor and heart in every whacky situation. I'm not even a coffee drinker but I loved this book! -Gail
Amazon Review: Caffeinated or not... it's time to settle in for this great light read. whether you've been the patron in your favorite spot, worked in some capacity in a coffee shop, or you've always wondered what it would be like to work in one, Caffeinated will take you through the journey. The author did a great job of bringing you through all of the crazy and not so crazy things that happen during any given moment in "the day of a life" within a cafe. And a cool bonus was that, throughout the book, she planted coffee seeds of coffee knowledge. It was incredible and thanks for the the tips.
I encourage you to grab your beverage of choice (preferably caffeinated) and cozy up with Caffeinated.
Amazon Review: Grab an extra cup of java and get ready for a delightful read! The author has a way of drawing you in to the story as if you were part of her dedicated coffee crew so much so that you can almost literally smell the beans roasting and inhale the bakery air. Coffee shops are a beautiful way to bring together the most uncommon people. I highly recommend you get Caffeinated! - Laurie
Amazon Review: I totally enjoyed this story of community -- what makes it, how it grows. Makes me want to cultivate a presence in my own cafe!
So many laugh out loud scenes, like the drive through the foggy darkness oozing chocolate!! And engaging characters like the boat chick: ). -Jean Brown
