Top Ten Tuesday: New Authors I Discovered in 2025

 

This week's theme for Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, is "Bookish Discoveries I Made in 2025." I am going to list 10 authors that I hadn't heard of before or ones I now know about that would be added to my TBR pile. I have either read one of their books or own one to read this year. The link will take you to their Goodreads page if you want to see a full book list and bio. Happy reading!

1. Michael Jecks- Focusing on the first crusade, historical fiction on a subject that is hard to find

2. Abigail Keam- She runs a Facebook cozy mystery page I love and has written some cute cozies herself. 

3. Vanessa Kelly- Her cozy country house mysteries have a Jane Austen feel to them and look cute.

4. Michael Livingston- Non-fiction author focusing on medieval history...my favorite!

5. C.W. Gortner- His novels about more obscure queens intrigue me enough to start collecting them...Juana of Castile and Isabella of Castile are two that I want to read more about.

6. Raymond Wemmlinger- His novels also feature historical subjects less known....Queen Anne of Scotland is one I'd like to read about.

7. Beth Cowan-Erskine- she writes 1930's country house murder mysteries set in Scotland....and there are only two books so far so this might be a series I can actually stay caught up with.

8. Katherine Kurtz- She has written several novels about The Knights Templar and their origins. These books were written in the 1990's so they are becoming classics.

9. Jenny Telfer Chaplain- She writes "sweeping, historical family sagas" and the box set I have is set in Ireland and Scotland around the late Victorian era. 

10. Myra Hargrave McIlvain- Her novels and specialty is Texas historical fiction set in the mid-1800's.  I am from Texas so they looked intriguing. 

Do you know any of these great authors? Which of their books are you familiar with and would you recommend them?

Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish and Personal Goals for 2026

 

This week's theme for Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, is "goals for 2026." I really wasn't feeling this post until tonight so I'm of course late posting but....it's been a rough 2024 and 2025 and I'm feeling a bit discouraged about listing goals and expectations. Even typing is tough due to my medical issues so blog posts can be stressful. But I think goals are good no matter where you are in life so here are mine! Maybe this year will pleasantly surprise me. 

What are your goals for this year?

Bookish Goals:

1. Create a TBR list and work hard at it. I have too many books that I keep saying I want to finish. I know, this is one all book lovers share.

2. Join Sample Saturday and post about it. I absolutely love samples but again, way too many that I don't go back and try out. Then, delete them if I know I don't like the book.

3. Continue to read what I like and not what I think I should read. Life is too short. 

4. Find books and authors to promote for Can't Wait Wednesday. I really enjoy this post each week but feel so limited about resources for it. I don't often find what I need on NetGalley so I'm looking for more places to find upcoming releases.

5. Read physical books. I love my Kindle but this is a goal I always set for myself and don't do much with. Some of it is laziness and eyesight and some is that I just honestly forget. I do love holding books though so I'm going to try to go through my bookshelf this year.

Personal Goals:

1. Get my surgery I need and get better so I can return to work. It has been a long, depressing fall and winter in a wheelchair and dealing with my Cushing Disease diagnosis. I'm ready to be healthy and out of the house living a normal life again. 

2. Get my youngest ready for college. My oldest is already a college Freshman and now in August I'll be an empty nester. I have mixed feelings about this as I am very excited for him and for my husband and I to have a new life together but it is definitely bittersweet.

3. Get outside more. I really need to work on this one as I'm not naturally an outdoor person. But when I do go out I'm always glad I did.

4. Go on a family vacation this summer. We have not been able to do this the last two summers and it is time. We are planning a cruise and I could not be more excited!

5. List the things I'd like to improve around the house cosmetically. This is something I've wanted to do for awhile. Go room by room and list everything I'd do if I had unlimited time and money and just start....no matter how big or small. 

Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Beautiful Winter/Holiday Book Covers

 

This week's theme for Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, is a December free choice. I decided to display ten beautiful winter/holiday book covers. The beautiful artwork in the book world is amazing and puts me in the spirit of the season. Being from Texas we don't get much of a winter, much less snow very often so these covers make me feel cozy and like I'm in a snowy, wintery setting. 

Click on the picture to go to Goodreads for more on each book.

What are your favorite types of book covers that really catch your eye?

 

Top Ten Tuesday: Top 10 reasons I’m thankful for books and blogging

This week's theme for Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, is a Thanksgiving/Thankful freebie. I decided to list the top ten reasons I'm thankful for books and blogging about books. I'm kind of obsessed with my blog now, it's like my third child, lol. Happy Thanksgiving week to all my friends in America. Bring on the turkey and pumpkin pie!!

1. Books are always there for you, even at 2 a.m.

2. You can spend whole afternoons just browsing, you don't even have to actually read them. It's relaxing sometimes just to look at covers, plot lines and dream about reading them.

3. Covers themselves. Such beautiful artwork going into some of them, I just enjoy seeing them and deciding whether or not to read the actual book.

4. Series books....by authors you just know won't let you down. When I'm not at my best sometimes it's comforting to know I can always start the next book and feel a sense of order in the world.

5. Speaking of series books.....seeing how characters evolve and feeling like they are old friends you are checking up on.

6. Blogging about books....is there anything better?? I love promoting authors and am thankful to do my little part in that world.

7. Meeting fellow bloggers through their content. I am in awe of the things people have time to post with our busy lives. They give me great, creative ideas and I love checking in even if I'm often neglectful about commenting.

8. Feedback from bloggers. It is truly appreciated! There are so many books and authors out there I can't keep up, so I love comments and input from anyone who has insight.

9. That feeling of community we have built. We have a hobby that many don't relate to (those who horror...hate to read!) and it is so nice to know how many other book nerds are out there too.

10. Reading challenges....I need to participate in and keep up with more. They keep you fresh and engaged and I am so thankful for those who host them on their blogs. 

What things in the bookish world are you thankful for? Share with me :) 

 

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Wish I Could Read Again For the First Time

 

This week's theme for Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl,is "Books I Wish I Could Read Again For the First Time." I seem to recall doing this one before but I'm going to resist the urge to look for a previous post. I want to see what I come up with today. Several are books I would not read now. I was in such a true crime phase in my 20's and don't like it at all now! But I tried to include all my years of reading in this list.

In no particular order here they are. If you read my blog at all, many on the list probably won't surprise you, lol.  Click on the title to link to Goodreads.

Happy Reading ya'll!

1. Voyager by Diana Gabaldon (Book 3 of the Outlander series

2. The Land Beyond the Sea by Sharon Kay Penman

3. Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

4. North and South by John Jakes

5. The Courts of Love by Jean Plaidy (Eleanor of Aquitaine)

6. Queens of England by Norah Lofts

7. Susannah by Candice F. Ransom

8. The Shattered Crowns series by Christina Crofts

9. Alexandra: The Last Tsarina by Carolly Erickson

10. Everything She Ever Wanted by Ann Rule 

Top Ten Tuesday: Satisfying Book Series

 

This week's theme for Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, is Satisfying Book Series.  I love series and have way too many of them going at once. I'll probably never read them all but I like to read book one and decide if I want to continue. It has to really be good for me to keep going past the first 2-3 books and I'm becoming more selective as there are just so many!  

The ones I've listed below are my absolute favorites (yes I repeat them often in these types of posts) and ones I either have read many or most of in the series or intend to. So enjoy, hopefully you find one you like from my list, and I can't wait to see other bloggers' lists. Might give me some new ideas! 

Happy reading ya'll!

Click on the link for GoodReads

Lady Eleanor Swift by Verity Bright

Cadfael Chronicles by Ellis Peters

The Kent Family Chronicles by John Jakes

William Monk by Anne Perry

Charlotte and Thomas Pitt by Anne Perry

The Inspector de Silva Mysteries by Harriet Steel

Lord Edgington Investigates by Benedict Brown

Fiona Figg Mysteries by Kelly Oliver

Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen

The Medieval Saga Series by David Field

Have you read any books from these series? If yes, which ones were your favorites? Did you finish the series or not?

 

Top Ten Tuesday: Books On My Fall 2025 TBR List

 

 

This week's theme for Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, is to list the books on my TBR list for fall. I love posts like this but I usually end up with many unread by the next season. Still, it's fun to look ahead with the best intentions and I truly love going to other blogs to see what they have posted. So in no particular order, here are ten books I'd like to finish before the end of December. Happy reading ya'll!

Click on the book title to link to GoodReads:

1. Murder in an Irish Castle by Verity Bright

2. The Enemy and Miss Innes by Martha Keyes

3. Hammer of the Scots by Jean Plaidy

4. A Fatal Encounter in Tuscany by Vivian Conroy

5. Murder at Everham Hall by Benedict Brown

6. Midwinter Murder by Agatha Christie

7. Tudor Dawn by David Field

8. Secrets of a Scottish Isle by Erica Ruth Neubauer

9. The Case of the Christie Conspiracy by Kelly Oliver

10.Stephen and Matilda's Civil War by Matthew Lewis

Top Ten Tuesday: My Favorite Cozy Series Mysteries Set in the 1920's

 

This week's theme for Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, is to pick books set in a certain time, place, etc. of my choosing. I thought it would be fun to choose books set in a one hundred year period and since I also love so many cozy mysteries I chose my favorite ones set in the 1920's. There are so many series here that I wanted to narrow down my favorites. Here is my list. I can't wait to see others' ideas!

Cozies Set in the 1920's: (Click on the title link to go to Good Reads)

1. Lady Caroline  by Isabella Bassett 

2. Lady Eleanor Swift by Verity Bright

3. Camille Devine Mysteries by Andrea Hicks

4. Lottie Sprigg Mysteries by Martha Bond

5. Jane Wunderly Mysteries by Erica Ruth Neubauer

6. Lord Edgington Investigates by Benedict Brown

7. Tommy and Evelyn Christie Mysteries by Catherine Coles

8. Lady Felicity Quick Mysteries by Rosie Hunt

9. Kitty Worthington Mysteries by Magda Alexander 

10. Her Royal Spyness Series by Rhys Bowen

Have you read any of these series? What other cozies are your favorites?