Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Top Ten Tuesday - Summer TBR

It's Tuesday!  Today's Top Ten Tuesday topic hosted by The Broke and the Bookish is what are the top ten books on your TBR list for summer.  Now my Spring TBR list is far from completed.  I've read 3 and am working on 2 more which puts me at 50% if we consider the working on books read.  However, this does not stop me from making another list for summer.  Nor does it dim the optimism that THIS time I'll get the list read.

Given that my attention span has been about equal to that of a gnat's and that I'm still reading stacks of review books AND getting the Agatha Christie books read I'm keeping it pretty light.  From bottom to top here is my list.

1.  The Language of Bees by Laurie R. King - I have been neglecting this series for far too long considering this book came out 4 years ago and I've yet to read it.  It's been far too long since I've checked in with a slightly mellower Holmes and his fiercely independent and intelligent wife Mary Russell.

2.  I'm Kind of a Big Deal by Stefanie Wilder-Taylor - This is the 4th of Taylor's books and I've read the previous 3.  Her first about new motherhood made me laugh till I cried, her 2nd made me roll my eyes and want to yell at her "Yes I get it you drink a lot of wine!  Can we move on now?" Her 3rd was funny and thought provoking so I'm looking forward to reading #4.

3.  The Sharper Your Knife the Less You Cry by Kathleen Flinn - This is the first book by the woman who wrote The Kitchen Counter School and is about her time at Le Cordon Bleu.

4.  Murder on the Half Shelf by Lorna Barrett - another series I've neglected for far too long.  While the main character sometimes drives me nuts this series about a town of bookstores in New Hampshire is a great cozy.

5.  Death by the Dozen by Jenn McKinlay - I love McKinlay's books and I love cupcakes.  I also have 2 others in this series on the shelf so it's time to make some progress.

6.  Cookie Dough or Die by Virginia Lowell - the first in a series of cozies about a cookie shop has been sitting on my shelf for way to long plus there are several other books in the series that I want to read.

7.  Golden Malicious by Sheila Connolly - I adore Sheila Connolly's books and can't wait to read the newest in her apple orchard series.  Plus one of the characters is restoring an old house so double treat for me!

8.  Read It and Weep by Jenn McKinlay - I love the books in McKinlay's library series almost as much as I love Connolly's orchard books.

9.  If Mashed Potatoes Could Dance by Paige Shelton - I read Shelton's first book in the cooking school series ages ago and really enjoyed it.  Why I put off reading the second for so long I have no idea.

10.  Hometown Girl by Mariah Stewart - the fourth book in the Chesapeake Diaries series.  I'm determined to like this series even if the first 3 haven't been home runs for me.

I seem to be in a cozy mystery kind of mood right now!  What's on your list?  If you made one for spring how did you do?

27 comments:

  1. I really enjoy reading nonfiction about food and cooking--and I liked The Sharper Your Knife . . . a lot! Hope you enjoy it!

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    1. I'm really looking forward to this one. I've had this and her 2nd book on my shelf for ages but have yet to get to either of them.

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  2. Good luck with your list! Summer seems to be the time when a lot of people get more time to read, so maybe you fall into that list too? Especially when you can read outside. Oh the best part of summer. :)
    Brittany @ This is the Story of My(Reading) Life

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    1. Thanks! I seem to feel like I have less time to read during the summer because I get so busy with other stuff but I'm going to keep plugging away. I'll get them all read eventually! And yes reading outside is heavenly!

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  3. These look like interesting books, Katherine. I'm way behind on the Laurie King series so I need to read some of those, too (don't remember the last one I read for sure!?!) I like the sound of a number of your books so I'll have to go check them out.

    I just went back and checked my spring list and was surprised I'd actually read 6 out of the 10 books!

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    1. I only have vague memories of the last one I read - I think it was the one where they went back to explore San Francisco where Mary was born? I'm at least 4 books behind. Most of the others are authors I've read and enjoyed in the past. Congrats on getting 6 read! I'm cheating a little to claim 5!

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  4. Interesting list. I hadn't heard of any of these books before!

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    1. Thanks! Most of these are old favorite authors. I don't like to challenge myself too much in the summer!

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  5. I don't generally make seasonal reading lists, but it doesn't stop me from enjoying reading other people's. As if I need more ideas for what to read . . . Haha

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    1. I know what you mean! These lists are deadly. I always end up with at least a few off everyone else's lists that I simply must read. Because I'm running low...

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  6. Nice mix. I've read two books by Sheila Connolly and had mixed results; I loved one and was meh on the other. I'm going to give her another try,

    I think I may have read one book in the Laurie R King series but I remember very little about it.

    Some of your other books sound appealing; I hope you get to them.

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    1. Not all Connolly's books are winners but something about her writing always gets me. I like the King series but they can be a little dry. I do love the take on the Sherlock Holmes story.
      Thanks! I don't have much hope that I'll get to them all but one can always hope!

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  7. I really want to read King's series, it's been on my tbr list since 2010! I hope you enjoy all your summer reads Katherine :D
    Thanks for stopping by my TTT
    -Kimberly @ Turning the Pages

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    1. Thanks! I've really enjoyed the King series though it can be a little dry. The take on the Holmes story is really fun.

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  8. Hopefully you get through as many of these books as you can! This is a terrific list since you've mixed a bunch of different types of books :)
    Lily

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    1. Thanks! I'm really hoping to get to these this summer. Way to many series that have been neglected for far too long!

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  9. Laurie King! Yay! I love thos books. Well, the two I've read. Yeah, I've neglected that series too.

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    1. They are definitely good books but I can't remember the last one I read! So embarrassed because I really enjoy the series.

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  10. I've got several cozy mysteries on my summer reading list too. I'm trying to read a cozy every other book. I just love them!

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    1. I love cozies but I do try to mix them up too. There's nothing better than a good cozy!

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  11. All those cozies are on my list too. Enjoy!

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    1. I'm sure a few of these were inspired by you Yvonne! You always have the best cozy reviews!

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  12. This is a great list from the Chesapeake shore books to the cozy mysteries!

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  13. Love your list! The cozies look good; I'm a fan of Jenn McKinlay, too, and I really want to try Connolly as well. As for the other genres, I've thought of trying Mariah Stewart but haven't gotten around to her yet.

    When you read The Language of Bees, be prepared to go right on to The God of the Hive, because the two are much more tightly linked than others in the series - there are a LOT of loose ends in the first book that aren't tied up until the second book.

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    1. I like Connolly even though the mysteries aren't always perfect. There's something about her writing and settings that really grabs me. I love Mariah Stewart though this might not be the series to start with. She's got some really great romantic suspense titles that'd I'd try first.
      Thanks for the heads up on The Language of Bees. I'm not sure if I have next one but I know the library does. I'll make sure I've tracked it down before I start Bees!

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  14. Looks like you've got some fun stuff coming up!

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