Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Want to Read by New to Me Authors

 

This week's theme for Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, is Books I Want to Read by New to Me Authors. This is one topic I definitely won't have trouble with. I am finding it hard to narrow it down because although I love series books by tried and true authors, that is often my problem! There are some really great books I feature on my blog that I don't always get around to because I keep going back to my "comfort" authors. 

So here is my list of books that I need to put in front of the others on my TBR pile.

Happy reading y'all!

Click on the book title to go to Goodreads. 

1. The Falcon of Palermo by Maria R. Bordihn- As far as I can tell this is the author's only novel. It is unique and I keep saying I'm going to read it. It is about the life of the Holy Roman Emporer, Frederick II and there aren't many books on that subject. 

2. A Lady's Guide to Etiquette and Murder by Dianne Freeman (Countess of Harleigh Book One) - I love the covers of these books and a mystery set in upper society London is always fun. Set in 1899 in Belgravia, the American Countess of Harleigh must navigate the social scene, her visiting sister, dashing gentlemen, and solving murder. 

3. Hue and Cry by Shirley McKay (A Hue Cullan Mystery Book One)- I just mentioned book two on my Sunday post because I bought it for a great price on Kindle. I need to read these because they are mysteries set in 1500's academia Scotland and that sounds like a fun read.

4. The King's Daughter by Christie Dickason- This novel about Princess Elizabeth, daughter of James I is unique and this author has written several other historical fiction novels that center on obscure people and events. I love finding authors who take on less common subjects. 

5.  The Iron King by Maurice Druon (The Accursed Kings Book One)- This famous novel about France's King Phillip the Fair is one I have had on my TBR pile for a long time. I don't know why I never seem to get around to this author because his works are now considered classics. It is just another I need to get to!

6.  Daughter of York by Anne Easter Smith- Margaret of York, the sister of Edward IV is the subject of this novel. It is hard to get Smith's books in the U.S. without paying full price so she has remained lower on my list. So many people love her books so she is one that I would like to read eventually.

7.  The First Man in Rome by Colleen McCullough (Masters of Rome Book One)- I am not super interested in Roman history....I don't know why it just hasn't ever caught my excitement like I think it should. But this historical fiction series is one I need to try from a well known author. It remains high on my TBR list.

8. The Doctor's Wife by Myra Hargrave McIlvain (Joseph Stein Book One)- This book is written by an author from Texas, as am I, and so it caught my attention immediately. I love people who take stories about their hometown or state and write to entertain and inform about history. 

9. The Queen's Cousin by Raymond Wemmlinger- This author came onto the scene fairly recently with some very interesting historical novels. This one is about Queen Anne of Scotland (Anne of Denmark), wife of James VI (also James I of England). She is often overlooked in this genre. 

10. Death of a Dishonorable Gentleman by Tessa Arlen (Lady Montfort Mystery Book One)- These covers are so pretty and the setting feels like Downton Abbey with a mystery thrown in. I'd like to try book one soon. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Books With the Word "Queen" in the Title

 

This week's theme for Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, is Books With the Word "Queen" in the Title. I thought this would be an easy topic for me as I read so many books that fit this description. I challenged myself to find books I have not read or reviewed yet. So here is my list. 

Happy reading y'all! 

Click on the book title to link to Goodreads.

1. The White Queen by Philippa Gregory

2. Queen of the North by Anne O'Brien

3. Queen Isabella by Alison Weir

4. Queen Hereafter: A Novel of Margaret of Scotland by Susan Fraser King

5. The Last Queen by C.W. Gortner 

6. The Captive Queen of Scots: The Story of Queen Mary by Jean Plaidy

7. Rebel Queen by Michelle Moran

8. Mary, Queen of Scots by Antonia Fraser

9. Victoria the Queen: An Intimate Biography of the Woman Who Ruled An Empire by Julia Baird

10. Island Queen by Vanessa Riley

          

 

 

 

Top Ten Tuesday: Books On My Summer 2026 TBR List

This week's theme for Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, is Books On My Summer 2026 TBR List. I like this topic but since I already joined the 20 Books of Summer reading challenge I'm going to list most from that list. I doubt I'd get more than 20 books read anyway, but I might! I also know my TBR list is not ever completely realisitic but still it's fun to see what I can accomplish. These are the top ten I'll likely finish or at least begin!

Happy reading y'all!

**Click on the title to go to goodreads for more information about the book.

1. Hammer of the Scots by Jean Plaidy

2. A Great and Terrible King by Marc Morris

3. The Reckoning by Sharon Kay Penman

4. The Royal Hammer by David Field

5. Death From High Places by Benedict Brown

6. By the Pricking of My Thumbs by Agatha Christie

7. Highgate Rise by Anne Perry

8. Murder in Manhattan by Verity Bright

9. The Snake, the Crocodile, and the Dog by Elizabeth Peters

10. Murder in Moscow by Kelly Oliver

 

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Can't Believe I've Never Read

 

This week's theme for Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, is Books I Can't Believe I've Never Read. I seem to remember doing this topic years ago for Top Ten Tuesday but I was honestly too lazy to go back and find it today, lol. 

I probably have books that keep appearing on this list and then that made me think....Shellie, when are you FINALLY going to read them?  Sigh...it's just my typical book loving self I guess who keeps getting distracted by shiny new ones! Many are classics that I have wanted to buckle down and read for years. 

So here is my list and I guess I really, really need to get going! 

Happy reading y'all!!

**Click on the book title to go to Goodreads.

1. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas- 

I just finished watching the PBS mini series and it's made me want to finally get started reading this....but it's soooooo long! Kind of intimidating

2. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy- This book just seems like the kind you have to read to be educated. It's a true classic. Again, so incredibly long though.

3. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte- 

I loved Jane Eyre but somehow never got around to reading the sister's book.

4. Emma by Jane Austen- I have started this book twice. I was enjoying it and so I think I just stopped because it requires so much focus and concentration which I really need to work on!

5. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen- Some people say this is better than Emma so it's one I can't believe I haven't started.

6. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy- The premise of this book doesn't truly interest me but my father even loved it (I get the feeling it's a romance driven novel) so maybe I need to give it a try.

7. My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier- Rebecca will always be my favorite by this author but I love the old black and white movie of this book so I'm surprised I've never read it.

8. The Greatest Knight by Elizabeth Chadwick- This is about a subject I love, William Marshal and a period I love, the 1100's.....I need to get going on this one!

9.The Memoirs of Cleopatra by Margaret George- This has been in my Kindle forever. I know nothing about Cleopatra outside of the movie with Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. It's one I keep forgetting about.

10.The First Man in Rome by Colleen McCullough- This seems to be a classic and well researched book about Julius Caesar and I'm sure the whole series is amazing. It's another book I've had in my Kindle forever but just haven't started.

Top Ten Tuesday: My Favorite Books By My Favorite Authors

 

This week's theme for Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, is My Favorite Books By My Favorite Authors. This is a fun topic and easy to answer. Choosing only ten will be the problem! And trying to just pick one book as my favorite is hard. 

I am someone who loves series books so I have lots of authors to choose from who've written several books. I'm sure if you've read my blog for long the ones I choose won't surprise you but I'm trying to find some I haven't mentioned as often too. Here is my list!

Happy reading y'all!

*Click on the book to go to Goodreads for more information.

*Click on the book title for my review (if I have one).

1. Lionheart by Sharon Kay Penman- The first three books in this series are amazing. And if I hadn't read the last two I'd have definitely said no way could book four be my choice for the best. And then I read Lionheart. It was indescribably good and it is one of those books that I'll never get to re-read in quite the same way again. The Land Beyond the Sea rivals this one but you just can't top the way Penman re-creates the time, place, battles, and bravery of King Richard I. It is a masterpiece. 

2. The Face of a Stranger by Anne Perry- I am currently reading book 18 in this series, William Monk, and although they are all excellent, the first book is the classic for me. It introduces us to Inspector Monk, struggling with amnesia and having absolutely no recollection of his past life. I found this along with the mystery intriguing and I was completely hooked ever since. I haven't reviewed it because I read it long before I had my blog but maybe I will do a re-read when I finish the series one day. 

3. Voyager by Diana Gabaldon- I know, I know, this ends up on every favorite list of mine but, well, it IS my favorite! I have read this book three times and I could read it again tomorrow. It starts in Scotland with the battle of Culloden, takes you through time to an ocean voyage, Jamaica, voodoo, plantations....it is the most unique of all the Outlander books I think. It just never gets old for me.

4. Murder In An Irish Castle by Verity Bright- This is my favorite historical, cozy mystery series and the one I've kept up with in order. It always appears on my list of favorites due to the fun characters, great locations, and clever writing. Lady Eleanor, her butler Clifford, dog Gladstone, and beau Hugh are darling. I love to start a new one every few months. My favorite so far is this one set in Ireland. The author does a great job with the setting and it has that Christmas vibe too. 

5. Balian d'Ibelin by Helena Schrader- This author is so unique. I would never have heard of her if I hadn't gotten so interested in the history of the crusades during Covid. I started listening to a podcast and at some point her stories were mentioned. She is considered an expert on the crusader period and specifically on the d'Ibelin family who were influential during that time. She has written these books, which are fiction, and also some non-fiction books. 

Her website, helenapschrader.com has lots of interesting information for those interested in the crusader era. In addition, she has won awards for her books set during the Spartan period and WWII. I loved this first book in this trilogy and want to continue with the other two eventually. 

6. A Morbid Taste For Bones by Ellis Peters- I was surprised to find that I haven't reviewed this book. It introduces us to the beloved Brother Cadfael, the former crusader, turned monk who solves crimes within his Shrewsbury town. I am up to book seven and love Peters writing. She has introduced me to some great vocabulary and has a wonderful way of making you feel you are living in the 1100's. 

7. The Conscience of a King by David Field- He has become one of my favorite authors the last few years. Field is a retired lawyer who writes books that are meant to educate people on British history in an entertaining way. This book is my favorite and is about Simon de Montfort and his attempt to institute the first beginnings of democracy in England. I knew nothing about him until I read it and it was a great introduction without being bombarded with too many details. All of his books are amazing!

8. The Mystery of Mistletoe Hall by Benedict Brown- I am really enjoying these books and the Christmas ones are so cozy and atmospheric. The main characters are Lord Edgington and his grandson Christopher who share a bond inside of a somewhat obnoxious family and work together to solve the mysteries they just keep stumbling into. The author has a great way of using witty dialogue and unique circumstances to create one of a kind stories that are a dime a dozen in the 1920's cozy mystery world. 

9. The Courts of Love by Jean Plaidy- This is another book I really need to re-read and do a review on. I read it years ago and it absolutely hooked me on learning everything about Eleanor of Aquitaine. Plaidy has a way of telling all the stories about a person in an easy to read yet very informative way. 

This book is one of her longer ones and is really detailed with Eleanor's life story, but It covers it in a way so the reader who is new to the period can keep up. Plaidy will always appear on my favorites lists....she's just a part of my life and childhood and got me interested in historical fiction. 

10. Fall of Giants by Ken Follett- I have yet to finish this trilogy. I started book two years ago and really need to finish it! I wasn't much of a fan of his Kingsbridge series but this book detailing the end of most of the monarchies of Europe and WWI is one of my all time favorite novels. It is such a great way to learn history through epic entertainment and is the kind of book I'd read over and over again. 

This is one that needs to be re-read and reviewed eventually. Although the next two books in the series interest me, this one in particular is special because it is hard to find good novels about WWI specifically.