Top Ten Tuesday - Ten Books I Want to Read in 2025

Today I'm linking up with Top Ten Tuesday hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl which is all about lists.  Since lists are one of my favorite things this is one of my favorite linkups!  Today's topic is a freebie.  I'm starting to think about my reading for next year and here are 10 books I'm thinking of putting at the top of my TBR.

1.  The Author's Guide to Murder by Beatriz Williams - Williams is an author I always enjoy but have neglected in the last few years.  I love the sound of this one and had hoped to get to it as soon as it came out but other books got in the way.  I'm thinking it might be on my priority list for 2025.

2.  The Siren of Sussex by Mimi Matthews - Historical romance is a genre I used to read a ton of but then suddenly stopped.  I read a book in this series a few years ago and enjoyed it and a number of my favorite bloggers have said good things about this series.

3.  A Morbid Taste for Bones by Ellis Peters - Leslie Budewitz's Spice Shop Mystery series put this series back on my radar as the main character is a big fan of the series and frequently references it.  It's one of those series that I always meant to read but never did.  I'm thinking of putting the first in the series on my Classic Mystery list for next year.

4.  The Last Close Call by Laura Griffin - I love everything about the blurb on this one and I have enjoyed some of the previous books that I've read by this author.  I really meant to read it this year but don't think I will get to it so I want to pick it up in 2025.

5.   The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand - Somehow, I've never read anything by this author and I really want to fix that.  This one sounds like one I'd enjoy so I'm leaning towards starting with this one.

6.  Aggie Morton, Mystery Queen: Peril at Owl Park by Marthe Jocelyn- This is a middle grade mystery series very loosely based on Agatha Christie's childhood and the first was an absolute delight.  I want to continue the series in 2025.

7.  Stormy Petrel by Mary Stewart - This is another one for the Classic Mystery List though it is neither really a mystery or a classic but I always have a Mary Stewart title on the list and this one caught my eye.

8.  Booklovers by Emily Henry - Emily Henry is another author I need to read.  I tried Happy Place by her and ended up DNFing it but want to give her books another chance.

9.  Emily Wilde's Encylopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett - This book has been on my TBR since it came out and I absolutely adored another book by this author I read earlier this year.

10.  The Joy of Slow:  Restoring Balance and Wonder to Homeschool Learning by Leslie Martino - It's been a while since I've done in reading on homeschool and while the system, we have going right now is working pretty well this one really appeals to me.

Have you read any of these?  What did you think?  Any books you recommend for 2025 reading?

Authors I've Been Meaning to Read - Breakfast at the Honey Creek Cafe by Jodi Thomas

At the beginning of the year, I made a list of authors that I've been saying I need to read and commit to reading at least one book by each of the authors in 2024.  Here's my thoughts on one of those books/authors.

Goodreads:  Breakfast at Honey Creek Cafe by Jodi Thomas

Blurb:  Piper Jane Mackenzie, mayor of Honey Creek, won’t let a major scandal rip her quirky hometown apart, or jeopardize her dream of one day running for higher office. So she’s willing to welcome undercover detective Colby McBride, hired to help solve the mystery behind her wannabe fiancé’s disappearance. Colby’s cover? That he is an old boyfriend now begging Piper for a second chance—always when there are plenty of townsfolk around to witness his shenanigans.

Piper hardly knows whether to laugh or cry, especially when she finds herself drawn to the handsome rascal. He's not the only newcomer she has to deal with. There’s a new interim preacher in town, Sam Cassidy. Drifting from one assignment to another since his one love died, Sam isn’t sure he’s the right fit for Honey Creek. But as Piper knows, this is a place chock-full of surprises. And if she can keep her town—and her heart—from going completely off the rails, there may be a sweet, unexpected future in store . . .

My Thoughts:  This book was not what I expected and my enjoyment kind of snuck on me.  When I started it, I thought it was cute though maybe a little hokey but as the book progressed, I became completely hooked.  I liked that it was an ensemble cast and am not quite sure which storyline I liked the most.  Piper and Colby were fun, but Pecos was so sweet and hardworking I couldn't help but root for him.  At first, I figured this book would be a solid 3 stars - liked it but not memorable - but as the story went on, I fell in love with the community of Honey Creek and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.  This is a good read if you're looking for a good character driven story with a bit of romance.  My Thoughts:  Really Liked It (4 Stars)