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.
