Top Ten Tuesday - Book Covers on My TBR That Give Off Fall Vibes

 

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 Book Covers That Give Off Fall Vibes so I'm going through my TBR to find ten that just say fall to me.

1.  The Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie Gilmore

2.  The Night Parade by Kathryn Tanquary

3.  A Distant Grave by Sarah Stewart Taylor

4.  Ink and Shadows by Ellery Adams

5.  A Doomful of Sugar by Catherine Bruns

6.  A Dream of Death by Connie Berry

7.  The Ghost of Misty Hollow by Sue Ann Jaffarian

8.  A Killer Maize by Paige Shelton

9.  A Fall of Marigolds by Susan Meissner

10. Mussled Out by Barbara Ross

A Year of Having Fun with Reading - The Uncharted Flight of Olivia West + Wild Ride

The last few years I've made a list of 10 books - 5 books off my shelf, 5 books from the library - that I'm really wanting to read.  There's no real rhyme or reason.  I just go through my library list and my shelves and pick the books that are calling to me.  Here is one that I've read recently.

Goodreads:  The Uncharted Flight of Olivia West by Sara Ackerman

Blurb:  1927. Olivia "Livy" West is a fearless young pilot with a love of adventure. She yearns to cross oceans and travel the skies. When she learns of the Dole Air Race––a high-stakes contest to be the first to make the 2,400 mile Pacific crossing from the West Coast to Hawai'i—she sets her sights on qualifying. But it soon becomes clear that only men will make the cut. In a last-ditch effort to take part, Livy manages to be picked as a navigator for one of the pilots, before setting out on a harrowing journey that some will not survive.
1987. Wren Summers is down to her last dime when she learns she has inherited a remote piece of land on the Big Island with nothing on it but a dilapidated barn and an overgrown mac nut grove. She plans on selling it and using the money to live on, but she is drawn in by the mysterious objects kept in the barn by her late great-aunt––clues to a tragic piece of aviation history lost to time. Determined to find out what really happened all those years ago, Wren enlists the help of residents at a nearby retirement home to uncover Olivia’s story piece by piece. What she discovers is more earth-shattering, and closer to home, than she could have ever imagined.

My Thoughts:  This was an interesting read with two interesting and very different lead characters in two different time periods.  Livy West wants to fly and the fact that she's a woman doesn't really make a difference.  She can read the weather and navigate better than anyone around and is unflappable and while not fearless is unstoppable.  Wren is an artist wildly lacking in self confidence or purpose.  She's at the end of her rope when a surprise inheritance throws her a lifeline and pulls her into a different direction.  Both stories are interesting with likable main characters.  I liked them both which doesn't always happen in dual timeline books.   The pacing was quick and the characters felt like real people.  I adored the ending and it has me wanting to read more about the infamous Dole race.  My Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)

Goodreads: Wild Ride: A Memoir of I.V. Drips and Rocket Ships by Hayley Arceneaux

Blurb:  In this boldly optimistic debut memoir, Hayley Arceneaux details how she overcame seemingly insurmountable odds to grab hold of a life greater than she'd ever imagined. With her signature upbeat messaging, Arceneaux recounts her odyssey, from her cancer diagnosis at age ten and the yearlong treatment that inspired her goal of working with pediatric cancer patients, to living through her father's terminal cancer diagnosis, to getting her lifelong dream job at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital as a physician assistant. She was sure she'd finally attained the life she wanted, and then the amazing and unimaginable happened: She was invited to go to space as a St. Jude ambassador.
Throughout the book, Arceneaux encourages readers to fight for the life they want, saying, You have to hold on, because you don't know what great thing can come and change your life. Take the chance and you will feel, and learn, and grow, and become even more you. Following your dreams can take you to dreams you didn't know you had.

Arceneaux's uplifting story is the inspiration we all need today. She offers wisdom and lessons in courage to anyone fighting against the odds. And through it all, she reveals how resilience and faith can help us grab hold of the life we've always wanted and live it to the fullest.

My Thoughts:  Hayley was Will's PA at the very beginning of his time at St. Jude when everything was scary and uncertain and our lives had been turned upside down.  It was still in the beginning of Covid protocols so it felt like we never knew what was going on or saw the same person twice.  Until Hayley showed up.  She was friendly and was the first person who really took the time to get to know us and really let us know it would be okay.  Because of that, my review could never be unbiased.  But I found the book incredibly honest and authentic.  Her journey is unique filled with frustrations and setbacks but with a strong family support system and a fantastic outlook.  I have met Hayley's family and I can say that they seem as wonderful as she makes them out.  My Rating: Loved It (5 Stars)

At Bertram's Hotel - Classic Mystery Review

Goodreads:   At Bertram's Hotel by Agatha Christie

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

Description:  This old-fashioned London hotel may not be quite as reputable as it makes out!

When Miss Marple comes up from the country for a holiday in London, she finds what she's looking for at Bertram's: traditional décor and impeccable service. But she senses an unmistakable atmosphere of danger behind the highly polished veneer. Not even Miss Marple can foresee the violent chain of events set in motion when an eccentric hotel guest makes his way to the airport one day late!

Genre: Mystery - Classic

Why I Picked This Book:  This was the September pick for the Read Christie Challenge 2025.

My Impression: I absolutely love this premise.  Bertram's is beautiful, quietly luxurious, and wonderfully comfortable in ways that speak of an earlier time and that seem so English to foreign travelers.  I love the descriptions of the food, the decor, and the guests.  But just like most of Christie's books all is not what it seems and Jane Marple and her eagle eye is realizing this with every day she stays there.  Meanwhile, a string of crimes is happening around the country with confusing eye witness accounts all have ties to Bertram's.  When a missing person's case brings everything to a head Miss Marple proves a valuable witness.  

While the premise is fantastic the execution - especially in the last half is a bit muddy and doesn't hold up 100%.  Miss Marple's role is very much one of an observer even at the very end.  I do love the character of Chief Inspector Davy who plays the bumbling dumb officer beautifully and I really appreciated Miss Marple's gift of observation.  

This is very much along the lines of Christie's later books.  The premise is great but the execution has some dropped points and jumbled concepts.  That said, it's still a fun quick read - though it isn't one I'd recommend to those new to Agatha Christie.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Of course!  I'm already looking forward to the October book.

Would I Recommend this Book?  I would definitely recommend this author this isn't a book I recommend for new Christie readers.

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

 I'm in a list making kind of mood so I thought I'd start making random five 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.  Dim Sum of All Fears by Vivein Chien - This is the second book in the Noodle Shop mystery series and I enjoyed this one just as much as the first one.  Lana is still thinking working in her family's noodle shop is a temporary thing but is forced to step it up and take up a management role when her parents have to leave for an extended period of time.  Murder happens and Lana is pulled into the investigation.  I really enjoy all the characters and was fully caught up in the mystery.  This is a solid cozy mystery and a series I'm looking forward to continuing.  My Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)

2.  Veil of Night by Linda Howard - This was my first book by this author though she's been on my radar for ages.  I enjoyed it.  The plot was good, the pacing was spot on, and I liked the main character.  I also found the wedding industry as a good vehicle for a suspense story as weddings frequently don't bring up the best in people.  My main issue was the male main character.  He's pretty awful and I really feel Jacqueline deserves way better.  My Rating: Liked It! (3.5 Stars)

3.  Animal Magnetism by Jill Shalvis - This was on my read or declutter list for this year.  It's an older series set in a small Idaho community and usually focuses on animals in some capacity.  This was a typical Shalvis romance.  Fun premise, quirky female lead with some baggage, tough guy male lead with a soft heart (and a bit of a baggage).  It was a quick read with characters I really enjoyed and a great conclusion.  I'll definitely read more in this series. My Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stories)

4. Not a Happy Family by Shari Lapena - Another new to me author and another one that has been on my radar for awhile.  This story grabbed me right from the beginning and I really enjoyed the audio of this one.  I flew through it and had no idea how it was going to end.  Every character was pretty awful but they were all interesting and there was a number of potential motives.  The ending was interesting.  It was a touch open ended but had a heaping serving of clues so I can guess what happened next.  I will definitely pick up more books from this author.  My Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)

5.  Flea Market Magic by Bella Falls -  This was a cute paranormal cozy with a family of witches and ghosts and a whole lot of quirky characters.  The author did a good job of building the world without a major info dump.  I don't understand everything about how the world works but I knew enough to enjoy the read.  The characters were a little one note and I never really liked the main character.  I also didn't love that the solution to the mystery was revealed through magic and not investigation.  I would probably pick up the second book in the series if it was on Hoopla or Audible Plus but I wouldn't go out of my way to look for it.  My Rating: Liked It (3 Stars)

Books from the Backlog - A Beautiful Blue Death

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:  A Beautiful Blue Death by Charles Finch

Blurb:  On any given day in London, all Charles Lenox, Victorian gentleman and armchair explorer, wants to do is relax in his private study with a cup of tea, a roaring fire and a good book. It's a nice life. But when his lifelong friend Lady Jane asks for his help, Lenox cannot resist another chance to unravel a mystery, even if it means trudging through the snow to her townhouse next door.
One of Jane's former servants, Prudence Smith, is dead -- an apparent suicide. But Lenox suspects something far more sinister: murder by a rare and deadly poison. The house where the girl worked is full of suspects and, though Prudence dabbled with the hearts of more than a few men, Lenox is baffled by an elusive lack of motive in the girl's death.

When another body turns up during the London season's most fashionable ball, Lenox must untangle a web of loyalties and animosities. Was it jealousy that killed Prudence? Or was it something else entirely different, something that Lenox alone can uncover before the killer strikes again?

Why It Needs to Come Off the Shelf:  I read and enjoyed this one back in 2018 but remember absolutely nothing about it.  I want to continue with the series but need to get this one read before I start the next one.  

A Dark and Deadly Journey - Historical Mystery Review

Goodreads: A Dark and Deadly Journey (AN Evelyne Redfern Mystery #3) by Julia Kelly

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

Description:  After being sidelined for a pesky gunshot wound, typist-turned-field agent Evelyne Redfern is ready for her next assignment with Britain’s secretive Special Investigations Unit. When a British Intelligence informant in Portugal mysteriously disappears just after hinting that he has vital information about German plans that could tip the balance of World War Two, Evelyne and her dashingly irksome partner, David Poole, are sent headed to Lisbon to find him.

Once they land, Evelyne and David aren't even able to leave the airport, before she discovers one of their fellow aeroplane passengers murdered and uncovers a diary with a clear link between the victim and their missing informant. With their mission in jeopardy before it can truly begin, Evelyne and David fight to keep their cover intact as they descend deeper into the shadows that surround Lisbon’s glittering collection of wealthy expats and dangerous spies. This case will test Evelyne and David’s training, charm, and wit―and their growing attraction for one another.

Genre: Mystery - Historical 

Why I Picked This Book:  I've read the first two books in this series and really enjoyed them so of course I had to pick this one up.

My Impression:  Julia Kelly is quickly becoming one of my favorite historical fiction authors and this is one of the historical mystery series I look forward to the most.  This was a great read with a unique setting that allowed for a wide variety of issues to happen.  I really enjoyed the mix of murder, espionage, and personal as Evelyne tries to figure out all the chaos around her which includes dealing with her complicated (and shady) father and her relationship with her partner David Poole.  

Portugal isn't the usual setting for a World War II mystery so it made for an interesting twist on the usual Homefront mystery.  The intricacies of working in a neutral country made this extra interesting.  I like Evelyne as a main character.  She's smart and well trained but isn't always flawless.  Her background is interesting and her relationship with her father is complicated.  I liked the dynamic between Evelyne and David as well.  They're both professionals but have a connection and feelings for each other.  

This was a solid historical mystery with interesting and complex characters and even more complicated plots.  This is a series best read in order as there is quite a lot of background information needed for everything to make sense.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Absolutely!  I'm looking forward to reading more from Julia Kelly both her mysteries and fiction.

Would I Recommend this Book?  I would - though I would recommend you start with the first book in the series.  This can be read as a standalone but I think would be more enjoyable if read in order.

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

Top Ten Tuesday - Fall TBR

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 Fall TBR.  I love making seasonal TBRs!  Am I best about sticking to them? Not in the slightest but I like pretending I will.

1.  The Seven Rings by Nora Roberts - This is the conclusion of a trilogy that I've really been enjoying.  I can't wait to see how everything resolves.  

2.  Sugar and Spite by Carol J Perry - This is the next book in the long running series set in Salem, Massachusetts with a twist of paranormal - and a psychic cat.

3.  Death at the Door by Olivia Blacke - I really enjoyed the first book in this series where the main character is a ghost.  It's a fun twist on the usual mystery.  I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next.

4.  What She Saw by Mary Burton - This is a suspense author I've been wanting to read and I liked the sound of this one.

5.  The Forget-Me-Not Library by Heather Webber - This is one of my favorite magical realism authors and I can't wait to start this one.

6.  Witches of Dubious Origin by Jenn McKinley - I love this author and this one looks fantastic. How could I resist that cover?

7.  The Secret Christmas Library by Jenny Colgan - Colgan's books are either very big wins of very big misses for me and I have my fingers crossed on this one. 

8.  Murder on a Scottish Train by Lucy Connolly - I've really enjoyed this series and am excited to read this next one.

9.  The Five Red Herrings by Dorothy L. Sayers - This is the next book in the Lord Peter Wimsey series.  I really enjoyed this previous book and I just read a historical fiction involving Sayers and her character talks about writing this book during that book so I took that as a sign.

10. The Crow Trap by Ann Cleeves - Cleeves is on my must read list for this year and fall seems like the time of year to start the Vera series.

What books are on your Fall TBR?