Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Love Just For Their Gorgeous Covers

 

This week's theme for Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, is a cover freebie choice and I went with, "Books I love just for their gorgeous covers." This is something that I find ridiculous but here we are! Seriously, I am a sucker for beautiful covers although I won't buy it if the subject is completely boring to me but there are many books that draw me in simply because the covers are so engaging. 

Click on the picture to go to Goodreads to find more information about the book.

Click on the book title for my review if I've read and reviewed it on my blog.

1. Murder in an Irish Castle by Verity Bright- It is hard to pick just one of these books for a beautiful cover choice. They are all stunning but this one was a favorite for its Christmas theme.

2. A Christmas Vanishing by Anne Perry- Another Christmas cover that I find gorgeous. I've finished all of Perry's Christmas books now but some I'd like to re-read. 

3. Midwinter Murder by Agatha Christie- This has been on my TBR list for awhile. I love the snow mixed with the purple and blue font. It is so striking.

4. The Scottish Ladies Detective Agency by Lydia Travers- I love everything about this cover from the plaid skirt to the car to the green grass. It says Scottish Highlands for sure! It is hard to pick from her novels because all the books have amazing covers.

5. Trouble in Nuala by Harriet Steel- I fell in love with this cover the minute I saw it. Who doesn't love these elephants? And the story, set in 1920's Ceylon is so unique. Anothe series I want to get back to reading soon.

6. Murder at the Mena House by Erica Ruth Neubauer- I've read several from this series and her covers are always beautiful and really do a great job of representing the time and place of the book.

7. Death of a Dishonorable Gentleman by Tessa Arlen- I haven't read this one yet but I loved the Downton Abbey type house and water reflection all set at twilight. 

8. The King's Commoner by David Field- I love all the covers in this Tudors series but this one is especially beautiful with the purple background and fancy font.

9. The Alpine Christmas Mystery by Benedict Brown- This author has so many beautiful covers but this one with the snow and gorgeous mansion is my favorite. 

10. Murder On the S.S. Cleopatra by Sara Rosett- This is one of my absolute favorites. I can almost imagine myself going down the Nile on this boat a hundred years ago. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I HAD to Have Immediately but Still Haven't Read

This week's theme for Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, is Books I HAD to have immediately but still haven't read. Okay this one makes me laugh....because it's a looonngggg list with me! And I suspect with most of my blogger friends. And teacher friends. Anyone who loves to read and loves books and loves to browse books is always buying, borrowing, getting gifted books they have no time to read. So why do we keep doing this???

I have really tried to work on this this past year. To weed out what I know I won't ever read and focus on those that I know I'll like if I can just get going. The internet and apps have ruined me over the years. And my Kindle....too many choices. So here is my very short list that could be a mile long of books I just had to have but haven't gotten around to reading yet.

Click on the title to go to Goodreads to learn more about the book.

1. Midsummer Mysteries by Agatha Christie

2. A Court of Betrayal by Anne O'Brien

3. The Princes of Ireland by Edward Rutherfurd

4. Blood Royal by Eric Jager

5. Plantagenet Princesses by Douglas Boyd

6. Eleanor of Aquitaine by Alison Weir

7. The Castle of Kings by Oliver Potzsch

8. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

9. Simon the Coldheart by Georgette Heyer

10. Blood On the Tracks (Railway Mysteries) Edited by Martin Edwards

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