- COFFEEHOUSE ANGEL has been chosen to appear on the Fall 2009 Kid's Indie Next List (formerly Booksense).
- A TOP PICK FOR SUMMER READING by Viking Magazine.
"A G-rated supernatural romance with interesting twists at its neatly tied up conclusion will appeal to readers looking for light chick-lit."
- School Library Journal
"A perfect coming-of-age story about a strong girl trying to find her way in life."
- Jessica Palacios, Once Upon a Time Books, Montrose, CA
"This isn't a bubble gum book. Teen readers will be encouraged to discover who they are and how their actions affect the world around them, including the people they love."
- St. Louis Post-Dispatch
"Entertaining plot twists kept me intrigued, while subtle messages about growing up, developing confidence and the importance of community - COFFEEHOUSE ANGEL has been chosen to appear on the Fall 2009 Kid's Indie Next List (formerly Booksense).
- A TOP PICK FOR SUMMER READING by Viking Magazine.
"Coffeehouse Angel was one sweet and heavenly read that I absolutely adored! Grade A+"
- Laurenscrammedbookshelf.blogspot.com
"Utterly charming--that's what I have to say about Coffeehouse Angel. Entertaining yet realistic, Selfors' writing was captivating throughout. I was altternately shaking with laughter or tears from the start. With the truly eloquent voice of a confused and struggling teenage girl, all mixed up with angels and intrigue, this book couldn't have been better! Grade A."
- Reading Rocks
"A light but warm story full of lovable, quirky people with realistic struggles, this book affectionately portrays the insecurity and uncertainty every young adult feels growing up, and the power of love, friendship, and community to draw out vibrant strengths and gifts each person can offer to others."
- Lemuria Bookstore, Jackson, Miss.
"I truly believe it is a book that most everyone can and will enjoy. Grade A-"
- The Book Pixie
"Coffeehouse Angel had to be one of the cutest books I've read in a long time."
- The Book Obsession
"...The fact that the mystery man was an angel who wants to repay her by fulfilling her deepest desire would make one think that Katrina's life would become a whirlwind of perfection. No problems, right? End of story. That's what one would think. But Katrina doesn't know what she wants.
You can't just throw out random wishes just becasue they're what everyone else would wish for. And there's bound to be problems if the wish doesn't go as planned. Or is somehow intercepted by someone else. Can life really ever go back to being what it used to be? Can you make life not change? And if you could, what new experiences and people would you never know?
And if you are always living life wanting something else, are you really living?
Take a sip of Coffeehouse Angel to find out what Katrina wishes for. It's a light, heavenly read."
- TeensReadToo.com
"Coffeehouse Angel is a sweet read for reluctant tween and teen readers looking for a story with a healthy dash of love, magic and character growth. Read for the feel-good smile it will leave on your face as you turn the last page."
- Steph Su Reads
"Coffeehouse Angel was soooo cute! It was the perfect romantic comedy."
- A Maze of Books
"I love reading while I walk (and no, I have never walked into a tree or fallen off a curb) and I love trying out a book I might not otherwise read during this finite time. If I can't stay interested for that period, well, neither will the people I might want to sell it to or talk to about it. I get lucky most of the time and the books I choose for these walks are well worth it. This walk included Coffeehouse Angel by local author Suzanne Selfors.
A great selection for reading around the lake! I got done with my walk and then sat in my (much warmer) jeep and read for another hour-couldn't leave the park until it was done! A couple of rain squalls, seagull flocks and their attendant mess and feathers later and I was done! What a great book! Romance, mystery, good and evil, grand friendships, little guys up against the big guys-it's all in there and I am so glad I chose this particular book on this particular day."
- Renee Kirkpatrick, Book Buyer for Third Place Books
"This was one of those books you simply could not put down...It's a book that leaves you fulfilled but curious, the perfect mix."
- Emma Morgon, Darien Library
"Sufficient charm to get readers, steaming mug of coffee in hand, through a chilly afternoon."
- Kirkus Reviews
"Coffeehouse Angel is one of my favorite books of the year."
- Lisa Enchanting, Enchanting Reviews, 5 stars
"Coffeehouse Angel is a light-hearted tale of love and friendship. Suzanne Selfors uses wonderful language to describe the small town and its quirky inhabitants. The reader easily feels like on of the family and will want to organize a campaign to close the evil Java Heaven."
- Karinlibrarian.wordpress.com
"Coffeehouse Angel is hilarious, happy, sad and satisfying all at the same time."
- The Book Blogger
"This book is hard to put down. It's one of those books that you can really lose yourself in; you know the ones. Where every sound around you disappears as you eagerly read on, flipping page after page without realizing how much time had slipped by."
- The Book Girl Reviews
"Coffeehouse Angel is a light and humorous read that will have readers laughing and rooting for Katrina every step of the way." 4 stars
- Fantastic Book Review
"Bits of Scandinavian culture lace Selfors's smalltown America setting, and she ties up the loose ends nicely. Though this airy story is slow to start, the conclusion will satisfy."
- Publisher's Weekly
"I simply could not put this book down."
- A Passion For Books
Nominated for the 2010 PNBA Book Award
Top Nine Books of 2009: Bookworm Readers
January Book Choice: Columbus Parent Magazine
The following sites also gave great reviews:
booksaremybff.blogspot.com
msyinglingreads.blogspot.com
aflightofminds.blogspot.com
rimasbookjournal.wordpress.com
tvandbookaddict.blogspot.com
whatbrireads.blogspot.com
justyourtypicalbookblog.blogspot.com
bambiereads.blogspot.com
melissasbookreviews.blogspot.com
jesslovesagoodstory.blogspot.com
Nordby
Coffeehouse Angel takes place in the fictional town of Nordby, which I based on the real town of Poulsbo, Washington, an adorable Scandinavian village near my home.
I love Poulsbo, with its small town feel and picturesque setting. Here are some photos.
I wrote most of Coffeehouse Angel at Hot Shots Java, a great coffeehouse in downtown Poulsbo.
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Anna's Old World Scandinavian Coffehouse might look something like this. |
This is the Sons of Norway Hall in Poulsbo, where Katrina and Malcolm go dancing during the Winter Solstice Festival.
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Here's Poulsbo's marina, where Katrina and Vincent hang out and watch the Christmas ships.
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Artist/Illustrator Realm Lovejoy
created this portrait of Malcolm |
Who is Malcolm?
The word "angel" is derived from the Greek word "angellos", which means "messenger." And that's what Malcolm is, a messenger.
Some readers will see him as a guardian angel, but when I wrote him I thought of him mostly in this messenger role. And I based his physical characteristics on one of the early mythological messengers, the Greek God Hermes. Like Hermes, Malcolm wears a kilt, carries a satchel, and has winged sandals.
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Chocolate Covered Coffee Beans
In the story, Katrina gives Malcolm a bag of chocolate covered coffee beans when she finds him sleeping in the alleyway behind her Grandmother's coffeehouse. Here's a recipe for this delicious treat!
 Ingredients:
Freshly roasted coffee beans (try to avoid overly acidic roasts)
One bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips
Directions:
1. Melt 1/2 cup chocolate chips in the microwave, but remember to stir it every 15-30 seconds.
2. After it's smooth, let it cool for a minute, then mix in about 1/3 cup of the roasted coffee
beans and stir.
3. With a spoon or fork, lay the coffee beans out on some wax paper on a tray, making sure they are all separated from each other.
4. Let them cool there, or put them in the freezer to speed things up. If you would like more chocolate on them, or just for looks, drizzle some white or other chocolate over them. Let them cool completely.
5. Separate them into a bowl or bag, and then dust them with powdered sugar or cocoa powder if you chose.
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When Katrina spots a homeless guy sleeping in the alley behind her grandmother's coffee shop, she leaves him a cup of coffee, a bag of chocolate-covered coffee beans, and some pastries to tide him over, never expecting this random act of kindness to turn her life upside down. The adorable vagrant, Malcolm, is actually a guardian angel on a break between missions, and now he won't leave until he can reward Katrina's selflessness by fulfilling her deepest desire. Fame and fortune seem like the obvious requests, but after two botched wishes, Malcolm knows Katrina is hiding something from him. But how can she tell him the truth, when her heart's desire has become Malcolm himself?
