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Top 10 Tuesday — Great First Lines!

24 Feb

Happy Tuesday! TTT‘s topic today is bookish quotes. I regularly participate in First Line Friday hosted by Carrie at Reading Is My Superpower. What a great way to introduce new books to readers! So today, I am including some of the best first lines from the past few months. I hope you find a book to pique your interest.

For more bookish quotes, please visit That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top First Lines!

I deeply regret to confirm that your son Lance Corporal Mark James Taylor died in Vietnam 1 November 1968.

All We Thought We Knew by Michelle Shocklee

Viola Chambers had always wondered at what point in the dying process a person understood they weren’t long for this world, and now she’d give anything to unlearn it.

The Bitter End Birding Society by Amanda Cox

“The sea never gives back what it claims . . .”

Deadly Currents by Elizabeth Goddard

A shrill sound pierced the night, sweeping through the house like the unearthly wail of a banshee.

Dragonfly Ashes by C. C. Warrens

Lizbeth Bennet clutched the handle of the wicker basket with hope.

The Heart of Bennet Hollow by Joanne Bischof DeWitt

No one knew that Carol Langstrom hated Christmas.

Once Upon a Christmas Carol by Melody Carlson

Natasha shifted uncomfortably on the rock floor of the icy cave, shoving her gloved hands under her armpits to keep warm.

Queen of Hearts by Heather Day Gilbert

Death had always been fashionable.

Specters in The Glass House by Jaime Jo Wright

Pandemonium has broken out in the streets of New York City.

Under The Tulip Tree by Michelle Shocklee

When I was eight, I watched my mother disappear in fading pixels.

Wicked Is The Hollow by K. E. Ganshert

Top 10 Tuesday — Bucket List Books!

17 Feb

Happy Tuesday! Today’s TTT topic is books for the armchair traveler. Isn’t it great that a book can transport you to another place and time? I love it when a book makes me feel I am really there. I also love to add places to my travel bucket list after reading a book. I have had great experiences visiting places I first traveled to while reading — Alaska, the Shetland Islands in Scotland, Yellowstone, Zion National Park. Today I am listing a few books that make me want to get up out of my armchair and really experience in person their settings. Will I be able to go everywhere on my list? Probably not, but these books really make me want to! (I have 3 books set in Washington State — looks like I should really plan a visit.)

For more books for armchair travelers, please visit That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Bucket List Books

Beyond The Sound And Sea by Amanda Cox — the Outer Banks, NC

Heirlooms by Sandra Byrd — Whidbey Island, WA

Hope Harbor by Irene Hannon — the Oregon Coast

My Heart Belongs on Mackinac Island by Carrie Fancett Pagels — Mackinac Island, Michigan

The Road to Paradise by Karen Barnett — Mt. Ranier National Park

The Secrets of Paper And Ink by Lindsay Harrel — Cornwall

Shadows of Lancaster County by Mindy Starnes Clark –Lancaster County, PA

Storm Warning by Elizabeth Goddard– the Washington Coast

Where The Fire Falls by Karen Barnett — Yosemite National Park

Where Trees Touch The Sky by Karen Barnett — Redwood National Park

Top 10 Tuesday — The Love Boat!

10 Feb

Happy Tuesday! Today TTT bloggers are celebrating all things romance with a Love Freebie! After many years of creating these posts it is a bit daunting to come up with something fresh. Today I am featuring romance novels — contemporary, historical, and suspense — that have part or whole of their settings on boats. You know, The Love Boat! 😉 Extra points for those whose characters cement their love on the open seas. Come aboard, they’re expecting you!

For more Love Freebie fun, please visit That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Ten Books with Love Boats!

The Choice by D. L. Wood

The Glass Bottom Boat by Laura Thomas

The Indigo Heiress by Laura Frantz

Love Overboard by Shannon Sue Dunlap

The Magnolia Duchess by Beth White

The Mayflower Bride by Kimberly Woodhouse

Midnight on The Scottish Shore by Sarah Sundin

The Mistletoe Countess by Pepper Basham

The Pirate Bride by Kathleen Y’Barbo

Stranded by Dani Pettrey

Top 10 Tuesday — New-To-Me Authors

27 Jan

Happy Tuesday! Today we are talking about bookish discoveries (new authors, new genres, new bookstores, etc.). My lists consists of new-to-me-authors and the first book (but not the last) I read in 2025. I had a great reading year, and these authors added greatly to the fun. I hope you discover a new author too!

For more bookish discoveries, please visit That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top New-To-Me Authors from 2025

Jayna Breigh — The Hunted Heir

Crystal Caudill — Written in Secret

Leslie Kirby DeVooght — Stealing Magnolias

T. I. Lowe — Indigo Isle

Jamie Ogle — Of Love And Treason

Naomi Stephens — The Burning of Rosemont Abbey

Donna Jo Stone — When Wildflowers Bloom Again

Hope Welborn — Hidden

Top 10 Tuesday — Goals!

20 Jan

It’s good to have goals I’ve been told. But when you are just a little (or a lot) type A (with some OCD thrown in), goals can become stressful rather than tools for growth. I used to do a lot of reading challenges. They sounded like a lot of fun until I became fixed on choosing books to fit the challenge instead of reading what my mood or interests pointed to. I’ve posted reading goals every year for a long time now. This year my list is very short —

Read whatever I want.

Repeat.

LOL!

Kind of freeing, isn’t it? These goals give me permission to say yes (or no) to review requests and launch teams when a book strikes my fancy. They will also allow me to reach for those books that are languishing on the shelves. Wish me luck! I think I’ll definitely need it. 😉

Here are the books I am reading in the next few weeks.

Top 10 Tuesday — Books I Can Hardly Wait For!

13 Jan

Happy Tuesday! 2026 has already been one long year and we aren’t even half way through January. If you’ve noticed I’ve been quiet here on the blog, it’s because my MIL fell and suffered a subdural hematoma on the 3rd. She is back at her care facility and is receiving excellent care, but I would appreciate any prayers you lift up. She is 97 years old and the toll of the injury has really impacted her. I will probably be in an out of the blogosphere for the foreseeable future.

But today I have a bit of free time and listing my most anticipated books of the first half of 2026. I long to get lost in a good book! What books are you looking forward to?

For more 2026 releases, please visit That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Anticipated Books of 2026 (First Half Edition)

An Appearance of Impropriety by Jayna Breigh (January)

The Bookshop of 99 Doors by Jaime Jo Wright (April)

The Brunswick by Callie Murray (May)

Deadly Currents by Elizabeth Goddard (February)

Last to Fall by Lynn H. Blackburn (March)

Mists over The Channel Islands by Sarah Sundin (February)

On Living Stone by Heather Kaufman (January)

Secrets Chase Her by Rachel Dylan (May)

South of Somewhere by T. I. Lowe (March)

Spies, Lies, And Alibis by Natalie Walters (May)

Top 10 Tuesday — Most Recent Additions

30 Dec

Happy last Tuesday of 2025! How is it the year is over?! I had a great year of reading and of course acquiring books. My physical, Kindle, and NetGalley shelves overflow. Today on my TTT post I am featuring the last books to hit my NetGalley shelf. I know, I need to get reading. Let me know what you think of the latests additions.

For more TTT posts, visit That Artsy Reader Girl.

Last 10 Books Added to My NetGalley Shelf

The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall by Jaime Jo Wright

A Brewed Awakening by Pepper Basham

Dark Design by Nancy Mehl

Daughter of The Rebellion by Jamie Ogle

Echoes of A Silent Song by Amanda Wen

Handle with Care by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen

More Than Friends by Denise Hunter

Not Exactly Mr. Darcy by Carolyn Miller

Spies, Lies, And Alibis by Natalie Walters

Witness Protection by Robert Whitlow

Top 10 Tuesday — Winter TBR!

16 Dec

Happy Tuesday. I am Christmas binge-reading right now, but I am also looking forward to some great reading in the months ahead. Today my TTT Winter TBR list contains a couple of Christmas books I hope to finish up before New Year’s, some book club reading, and some just because reading. I hope you find a book to pique your interest!

For more Winter TBR lists, please visit That Artsy Reader Girl.

Winter TBR List

All We Thought We Knew by Michelle Shocklee

An Appearance of Impropriety by Jayna Breigh

The Bitter End Birding Society by Amanda Cox

Christmas with The Queen by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb

The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn

Hidden by Hope Welborn

How to Sparkle by Leslie DeVooght

Spies, Lies, And Alibis by Natalie Walters

Taking A Second Shot by Leslie DeVooght

Whiskers, Wreaths, and Murder by Kathy Manos Penn

Top 10 Tuesday — Let It Snow!

9 Dec

We don’t get a lot of snow where I live. We did have a freak snowstorm in late January that left 6 inches on the ground. Needless to say, it threw everyone for a loop! Even the Waffle Houses in town were closed. 😉 So I usually get my snow-fix from books. I grew up outside of Orlando, so snow is always a treat for me. Today’s TTT topic is Books With A Snowy Setting. I could just rinse and repeat last week’s Freebie post, but I’ll come up with a few more books for you to cuddle with. Bonus: all have snow on the cover! There are quite a few with Christmas settings as well (it’s an eclectic list), so you can keep your holiday reading going. I hope you love my list!

For more snowy reading, please visit That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Books with A Snowy Setting

The Children’s Blizzard by Melanie Benjamin

The Christmas Remedy by Cindy and Erin Woodsmall

The Christmas Swap by Melody Carlson

Cold Threat by Nancy Mehl

An Endless Christmas by Cynthia Ruchti

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawson

Hidden in The Night by Elizabeth Goddard

Snow Day by Billy Coffey

Sunrise by Susan May Warren

A Wreath of Snow by Liz Curtis Higgs

Top 10 Tuesday Freebie!

2 Dec

It’s Freebie time at Top 10 Tuesday! While the possibilities are endless, I decided to list the Christmas books (0r Christmas-adjacent) I am reading this month (and a couple I read during Thanksgiving week). I am in full Christmas spirit mode which is surprising for me because I am generally a Scrooge until mid-December. But I’ve already started shopping and I put the wreath on the door yesterday 😉 . The books have certainly jump-started the season for me. I hope you find a book to love!

For more TTT Freebie posts, head to That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Christmas Books I Am Reading This Month

The Christmas Book Flood by Roseanna White

Christmas with The Queen by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb

Frostbite by Christy Barritt

Headwater Holiday by Hannah Hood Lucero

Hidden by Hope Welborn

Once Upon a Christmas Carol by Melody Carlson

Whiskers, Wreaths, And Murder by Kathy Manos Penn

The Wish Book Christmas by Lynn Austin