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)

Friday Fives - Five Short Reviews for Books I've Read Recently

I'm in a list making kind of mood so I thought I'd start making random fve lists.  Sometimes they'll be bookish other weeks not so much. This week I'm sharing 5 quick reviews for books I've read recently

1.  An Inconvenient Wife by Karen E. Olson - This was an interesting murder mystery with a clever take on Henry IIIV's story complete with beheaded wives and "fixers" and all the other people who surrounded Henry in his life.  Seeing the Tudor court in modern day New York was interesting and well done.  The pace of the story was well done and I was intrigued by all the different characters and found the diary entries so interesting.  My only complaint is that I would have liked the ending to be a little more fleshed out.  I would have liked to see a bit more of the killer's motives and what happened.  Overall, this was an interesting and very clever mystery and I will look for this author's books in the future.  My Rating:  Really Liked It (4 Stars)

2.  Holmes, Marple, & Poe by James Patterson - I haven't read anything by Patterson in literally decades but this one had me intrigued.  There was a lot I liked about it.  I really liked the three main characters and what is revealed about them.  I enjoyed the way they investigated and worked together.  There are several supporting cast members who added quite a bit to the book.  That said the mulitple plot points kept me feeling a bit distracted and I never felt like I was fully hooked on the story.  I will read more of this series but it isn't on my top reads list.  My Rating: Liked It! (3.5 Stars)

3.  Wonderdog: The Science of Dogs and Their Unique Friendship with Humans by Jules Howard -  This was an interesting read if you're interested in the evoloution of theory on how dogs think and on how dogs think in general.  It's definitely on the techinal side and can be disturbing at times as the history of scientific experiments is not always the most ethical.  It's  a bit dry but the information is solid.   My Rating: Liked It (3 Stars)

4.  The Troublemaker Next Door by Marie Harte - This is the first romance I've read by this author and it was a fun read.  I like the setup with the three women roommates and how they have a strong friendship despite the fact they frequently drive each other crazy.  I liked how the romance between Flynn and Maddie developed.  They have their issues - especially Maddie - but both are nice people and it was nice to watch their relationship progress.  I also liked Flynn's brothers and their relationship.  My main issue with this one is that it was a bit too spicy for my taste.  I'm more of a closed door romance reader and this was a doors and windows wide open romance.  I'm looking forward to reading more from this series.  My Rating: Liked It! (3.5 Stars)

5.  Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire - I have had this series on my TBR since this book came out but since I'm not much of a fantasy reader I kept putting off picking it up.  It was definitely weird but kept me absolutely hooked and was a story and a world that I thoroughly enjoyed.  Nancy is the perfect main character for the first book as she is coming into the school new and is just as confused by all the new terms as I was.  I enjoyed meeting all the different (in all senses of the word) characters.  While I did guess the who well before it was revealed the ending still had my jaw dropping a bit and I definitely want to pick up the next book.  Despite the characters being teenagers, the language and level of violence does not make this a middle grade or even young adult book.  This was a weird but wonderful read and I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series.  

Books from the Backlog - And Only to Deceive

Today I'm linking up with Carole from Carole's Random Life of Books for Books from the Backlog.  I really enjoy the chance to feature a book that's been hiding in the piles of books for far too long!

Goodreads:  And Only to Deceive by Tasha Alexander

Blurb:  For Emily, accepting the proposal of Philip, the Viscount Ashton, was an easy way to escape her overbearing mother, who was set on a grand society match. So when Emily's dashing husband died on safari soon after their wedding, she felt little grief. After all, she barely knew him. Now, nearly two years later, she discovers that Philip was a far different man from the one she had married so cavalierly. His journals reveal him to have been a gentleman scholar and antiquities collector who, to her surprise, was deeply in love with his wife. Emily becomes fascinated with this new image of her dead husband and she immerses herself in all things ancient and begins to study Greek.
Emily's intellectual pursuits and her desire to learn more about Philip take her to the quiet corridors of the British Museum, one of her husband's favorite places. There, amid priceless ancient statues, she uncovers a dark, dangerous secret involving stolen artifacts from the Greco-Roman galleries. And to complicate matters, she's juggling two very prominent and wealthy suitors, one of whose intentions may go beyond the marrying kind. As she sets out to solve the crime, her search leads to more surprises about Philip and causes her to question the role in Victorian society to which she, as a woman, is relegated.

Why It Needs to Come Off the Shelf:  I have several books in this series sitting on my shelf and I think I'm going to pick this one as the next long running series I start making progress on.

A Holiday Homicide - Cozy Mystery Review

Goodreads:  A Holiday Homicide (A Secret Bookcase Mystery #4) by Ellie Alexander

Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)
Source:   Publisher

Description:  As whispers of foul play swirl like snowflakes, Annie soon finds herself tangled in a web of secrets, small-town rivalry, and long-buried mysteries.

With pub-owner and new love Liam by her side and the help of her loyal bookstore colleagues, Annie sets out to solve Redwood Grove’s latest murder mystery. And the closer she gets to the truth, the more she discovers that the baking community isn’t as sweet as it seems…

Can Annie unwrap the truth before the killer strikes again? Or will this be one Christmas she won't live to remember?

Genre: Mystery - Cozy

Why I Picked This Book:  I've enjoyed the three previous books in the series and I love pretty much everything I've read by this author.

My Impression:  This is one of the coziest cozy mystery series I've come across.  There's a strong community, the main character has a good group of friends that are practically family, and the bookstore is on my list of fictional places I wish were real.  How can I not enjoy a book set in a mystery bookstore with fun characters - especially when written by Ellie Alexander?  

This was a fun mystery.  A not so likable influencer drops dead in the bookstore during a heavily publicized event with a local bakery.  While Lily had seemed sweet and bubbly on camera there are a number of behind-the-scenes actions that has Annie wondering just what the real Lily is like.  A number of characters - local and otherwise - seem to have a motive but it takes some serious digging to figure out who would want to kill her.

I really wasn't quite sure who the killer was until Annie figured it out and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to that point.  The book is full of Christmas-y cheer and a bit of suspense.  I really enjoyed that there is progress being made in Annie's personal life as well as her quest to find out who murdered her best friend, Scarlet.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Absolutely!  I've read three series by Alexander and really enjoyed everything she's written.

Would I Recommend this Book?   If you enjoy cozy mysteries and love some holiday cheer mixed in with your murder this book is a great choice!  While you can easily jump in with this book the previous three books are lots of fun and not to be missed.

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *

Top Ten Tuesday - Ten Books I've Read in the Past 5 Years That I"m Thankful For

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 Thankful Freebie.  I don't think I'm the only one who has found the last 5 years a bit hard so I'm looking through my reading logs and finding 10 books that made me happy during that time.

1.  The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery - This book is peace and happiness for me and the last time I read it was right at the beginning of the pandemic.  It feels like it's time to pick it up again.

2.  The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles by Julie Andrews Edwards - This is one of the last books Will and I read together before he got sick and he absolutely loved it.  We had such a good time reading it together.

3.  Summer at Lake Haven by RaeAnne Thayne - This is the first book I picked up in the hospital a few weeks after Will was diagnosed with Leukemia.  It was the first time I was able to distract myself and I will always be thankful for that moment of escape.

4.  Ammie, Come Home by Barbara Michaels - Really I'm thankful for all of Barbara Michaels books but this one especially always comes to mind. They're cozy and Gothic-y and fast paced enough to pull me in and allow a nice little reading break.

5.  Pretty much anything by Agatha Christie - I love all of Christie's books and have a lot of favorites.  No matter what's going on or what mood I am there is always a Christie that will work.

6.  The Key by Patricia Wentworth - While not all of Wentworth's books are winners when her books are good, they are the perfect cozy reading for tired frazzled brains and I'm always thankful to be able to grab one off the shelf.

7.  The Mrs. Pollifax Books by Dorothy Gilman - I love the world that Mrs. Pollifax inhabits and there is nothing like her empathetic good sense to make me happy.

8.  The Bakeshop Mysteries by Ellie Alexander - This is one of my favorite cozy mystery authors and I love the world she has created in Ashland, Oregon around a family owned bakery.  Reading it is like finding the perfect table for people watching in a warm cozy bakery with the best treats to snack on.

9.  Nora Roberts books - They're incredibly unrealistic and everyone is gorgeous and talented and kind (except for the ones that are really really not) but I love the friendships and relationships she creates, and they're always fast enough paced for a perfect escape which I am always thankful for.

10. The Meg Langslow series by Donna Andrews - This is another of my favorite cozy series and while it doesn't provide the same warm cozy bakery feel that the Alexander books do there is no author that I've found that does chaos quite like Andrews.  The titles make me laugh and I love all the characters and seeing what they're up too.  Oh - and the mysteries are always entertaining too.  This series is a perfect treat to relax with after a long day or when you need a laugh.  

What books and authors are you thankful for?

Madrigals and Mayhem - Cozy Mystery Review

Goodreads: Madrigals and Mayhem (Cambridge Bookshop Series #4) Elizabeth Penney

Rating: Really Liked (4 Stars)
Source:   Publisher

Description:  In Madrigals and Mayhem, the fourth in Elizabeth Penney's charming Cambridge Bookshop series, Molly Kimball finds that even the holidays can come with a healthy dose of mystery.

Molly is eager to experience her first English Christmas with family and friends now that she's adjusted to her move to Cambridge and her restoration of her family’s ancestral bookshop, Thomas Marlowe—Manuscripts and Folios. When local toyshop Pemberly’s Emporium reopens, Molly is excited to meet the new owner, Charlotte Pemberly, who is determined to make the toy store a success after unexpectedly becoming her grandfather Arthur’s sole heir.

Arthur's new wife Althea Winters and her unpleasant family loathe Charlotte for inheriting what they believe was theirs and have set their sights on a valuable Madame Alexander doll that's gone missing. When Althea's grandson is poisoned by cakes from Tea & Crumpets, Charlotte becomes the top suspect. Molly believes Charlotte was the intended victim and investigates the Pemberly’s home, only to discover that Arthur had been murdered.

Genre: Mystery - Cozy

Why I Picked This Book:  I've really enjoyed the previous three books in the series so I was excited to pick this one up and see how Molly's first English Christmas was.

My Impression: Molly is getting settled into her new hometown and enjoying her time with her friends, family and boyfriend. She's excited to see that the local toyshop is opening up and is glad to get know the new owner.  But the excitement is short lived when a man is found passed out in the back and Molly finds herself pulled into a tangled web of family feuds and stolen objects.  

I loved the bits about the dollhouses and getting the store ready for Christmas.  I also really enjoyed getting to know a bit more about Molly's mom and her relationship with her family when she was young.  It was also good to touch base with Kieran and Daisy and just to see how Molly's life was progressing.

The mystery was good though it took a bit to develop.  We hear about what's going on with the Winters/Pemberly family and we meet Charlotte's cousin (who just happens to have been poisoned) fairly early on.  However, I did find the mystery interesting, and I loved the scavenger hunt part.  I would have liked some more Christmas-y aspects but overall, I enjoyed this mystery.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Absolutely!  I've really enjoyed this series and am looking forward to continuing with it.  I would also pick up any other series this author has written as I really enjoy the cozy mystery worlds she creates.

Would I Recommend this Book? If you enjoy English cozy mysteries with a bookish elements this is a good series though I would recommend starting from the first book.

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *