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Top 10 Tuesday — Serial Killers

29 Oct

Happy Halloween TTT! Today’s freebie is courtesy of the letters S and K, which stand for SERIAL KILLERS! I have been posting a Halloween TTT for years now and have exhausted all the hooks I can think of. So today I am listing books that feature serial killers. I know it seems extreme to choose this theme, but Halloween movies almost always involve some knife/chainsaw/gun-wielding killer. But rest assured, the killers in the books listed are (eventually) taken care of.

For more Halloween mayhem, visit That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top 10 Books That Feature Serial Killers

8 Down by Kimberly Woodhouse

The Bones Will Speak by Carrie Stuart Parks

Coming of Winter by Tom Threadgill

Critical Threat by Lynette Eason

Cuts Like A Knife by M.K. Gilroy

False Pretense by Heather Day Gilbert

Legacy of Lies by Christy Barritt

Mind Games by Nancy Mehl

Night Fall by Nancy Mehl

The Pawn by Steven James

Top 10 Tuesday — Changing Habits

22 Oct

Happy Tuesday! I considered not participating in today’s TTT — too much thinking required 😉 and I wasn’t sure I had much change in my reading habits over the past years. However, I did think about it and discovered that along with changes in my real life, my reading life followed suit. It’s been 5 years since my husband sold his business to a corporate buyer and he started working for the man. 😉 I was suddenly and gleefully out of a job (change #1). Then two of my children married (change #2) and two grandchildren were born (change #3). My husband went from working 5 days a week to 4 days a week to 3 days a week (big change #4). So here I am with seemingly endless time on my hands, but it has been filled with more travel, more husband together time, and with seeing family a little more often. That means reading slowly shifted in priority. I used to read well over 100 books a year. I am currently 7 books behind in a 75-book Goodreads Challenge. I know, 50 plus books already read this year is way over the national average, but it is certainly a change for me.

All that being said, I really have changed my reading habits. My list details some of those changes and the books that fit them.

For more bloggers’ lists, visit That Artsy Reader Girl.

5 Top Reading Habit Changes in The Last 5 Years

I used to read everywhere and have 3 books going at the same time — one audiobook, one ebook, and one physical book. Now I occasionally read more than one book at a time, but for the most part I read just one.

Current read: A Place to Land by Lauren K. Denton

I used to go on solo road trips to see my daughter play college soccer while her dad stayed home and worked. A lot of my time spent in the car included an audiobook. I also found myself doing chores in longer blocks of time that I passed with an audiobook — not so much any more. I haven’t listened to an audiobook in forever. I have one started that I need to finish.

Audiobook to finish: The Gardins of Eden by Rosey Lee

My choice of books has changed a bit too. My go-to will always remain mystery/suspense, but I find I gravitate to historical fiction more often now.

The last historical fiction book I read: The American Queen by Vanessa Miller

Years ago I chose to read more for pleasure, than have-to (review books).

The last book I read because I wanted to: Something Borrowed by Rachel Scott McDaniel, Allison K. Pittman, and Susie Finkbeiner

I joined another book club in order to read outside my box. This has been so much fun. My small group chooses historical fiction featuring strong (and real) female characters.

The last book we read: Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade by Janet Skeslien Charles

What has changed in your reading life?

Top 10 Tuesday — Supplemental Reading

15 Oct

Happy Tuesday! As you can expect from me, I changed up this week’s TTT topic. I just wasn’t feeling a rehash of books I read in my long ago classes, so I’ve created a list of books I would include as supplemental reading for dusty college classes 😉 . At least that’s how I view them now from a lens that is *ahem* 40+ years old. Please note that I am all for reading the facts, but a little entertainment is always a good addition. I hope you find a book that sparks your imagination.

For more on topic bloggers, check out That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Supplemental Reading

Computer Technology 301: Topics in Cyber Security

Alaskan Cyber Hunters Series by Kimberly Woodhouse

Ecology 101: Conservation

Where Trees Touch The Sky by Karen Barnett

World History 201: Wartime in The Far East

Darkness Calls The Tiger by Janyre Tromp

The Women by Kristin Hannah

Political Science 201: The McCarthy Era

The All American by Susie Finkbeiner

American History 301: Forgotten Events in The Civl War and Reconstruction

The American Queen by Vanessa Miller

Library Information Sciences 101: Building A Library

Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade by Janet Skeslien Charles

Criminal Justice 301: Hostage Negotiation

Lethal Standoff by DiAnn Mills

Top 10 Tuesday — Bookish Brags and Confessions!

8 Oct

Happy Tuesday! Today’s TTT is all about brags and confessions. When thinking about this topic I have to admit I felt a little bit ashamed about all the books I haven’t read yet. But I have had some accomplishments in my reading life too. So this list will be a balance of things I need to work on and some wins that I can feel good about. And let’s be honest — reading should bring joy not guilt! My list highlights some great books too — hope one sparks your interest.

Top Bookish Brags And Confessions

First The Brags

I am fairly well-read and count many classics as my favorite books. I have read both The Count of Monte Cristo and Moby Dick and loved both!

I almost always find the book better than the movie. While the movie version of The Count of Monte Cristo was horrible, Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers was very well-done. You also need to read The Mountain Between Us by Charles Martin before seeing the movie. And if all you know is the movie, read the book now!

Through my book club I have discovered very good books that I would not have normally picked up for a variety of reasons. Two of those are The Women by Kristin Hannah and The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon.

Now for The Confession 😉

I have a lot of books. I mean a lot. More than I want to count. Physical books, ebooks, audiobooks — you name it! It’s only an out of control problem if I don’t live another 573 years LOL! I am really trying to whittle them down, but since I quit working 5 years ago I seem to have less time to read. Ask your old friends, it really is a thing. 😉

Here are some of the books that have recently entered my house that I need to read! They are for book club and review, so I’m pretty confident they will be read in a few weeks.

I was going to add another confession, but really this encompasses all of my book issues — can’t resist a pretty cover, have to acquire a favorite author’s latest book, have to support indie bookstores, etc.

Sorry, not sorry!

Top 10 Tuesday — The Cover Made Me Buy It

1 Oct

Happy Tuesday! I had a hard time getting into today’s TTT topic — Books I Read/Avoided Because of the Hype. So I decided to go off on a tangent and list books whose covers made me buy them. I am a sucker for a great cover. And I don’t seem to have a type that catches my eye either, although 4 on my list include children. But all the books languish on the TBR shelves. Clearly I have a problem with buying, then not reading books. I buy books as though I will live until I am 538. LOL! Let me know if you have read any, and if so, which I should begin immediately.

For all the hype, visit That Artsy Reader Girl.

The Covers Made Me Buy Them

Catching The Wind by Melanie Dobson

The Children’s Blizzard by Melanie Benjamin

The Constantine Conspiracy by Gary E. Parker

The Good Dream by Donna VanLiere

The Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie Benedict

Quaker Summer by Lisa Samson

Remember Me by Mario Escobar

The Romanov Conspiracy by Glenn Meade

The Rose And The Thistle by Laura Frantz

The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry

Top 10 Tuesday — Fall TBR

24 Sep

Is it really Fall already? Unfortunately, it is still hot, hot, hot where I live. I hear cooler temperatures are coming, along with a developing hurricane! That I can do without. We will hope for a needed rain event and the ushering in of Fall weather. As to my Fall TBR List, well, as always, it is excessive. It includes books I had high hopes of reading in the summer, review books, and book club books. I need to knuckle down and get some reading done! Let me know what you think of my list.

For more TBR lists to inspire you, check out That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Books on My Fall TBR List

70 North by Kimberly Woodhouse

Between The Sound And Sea by Amanda Cox

The Divine Proverb of Streusel by Sara Brunsvold

Hope Like Wildflowers by Pepper Basham

Maria: A Novel of Maria Von Trapp by Michelle Moran

Of Gold And Shadows by Michelle Griep

Over The Edge by Irene Hannon

A Place to Land by Lauren K. Denton

Something Borrowed by Rachel Scott McDaniel, Allison Pittman, and Susie Finkbeiner

Water’s Break by Sophia Hansen

Top 10 Tuesday — Redeemed!

17 Sep

Happy Tuesday! Nothing says Christian fiction like a redemption story. That is certainly what God’s business looks like, and CF authors work hard to make that plain. While the message may be overt or subtle, redemption — freedom that is found through Christ — is powerful. I’ve included Biblical fiction and general fiction in my list, proving that redemption has been offered by God throughout time. I hope you find a story to love.

For more redemptive stories, check out That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Redemption Stories

The Edge of Belonging by Amanda Cox

Flame of Resistance by Tracy Groot

Like Water from My Heart by Charles Martin

Love Amid The Ashes by Mesu Andrews

Love in A Broken Vessel by Mesu Andrews

The Masterpiece by Francine Rivers

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers (no list of redemptive stories is complete without this book)

Redeeming Grace by Jill Eileen Smith

The Rhythm of Fractured Grace by Amanda Wen

The Wind Blows in Sleeping Grass by Katie Powner

Top 10 Tuesday — Let’s Escape!

10 Sep

Today’s TTT topic is books that provide a much needed escape. One of the reasons I love to read is the idea of escape — not from reality or family or obligations — but to a new experience or perspective. So in a way all books are an escape for me. So going with that, I have a list of books with escape in the title. Yes, I am twisting the topic once again. There are several genres represented. You should find one that serves as a suitable escape. 😉

For more escape reading, check out That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top 10 Books with Escape in The Title

Alaskan Avalanche Escape by Darlene L. Turner

The Auschwitz Escape by Joel Rosenberg

The Austen Escape by Katherine Reay

A Daring Escape by Tricia Goyer

Deadly Mountain Escape by Mary Alford

The Escape by Lisa Harris

Escape from Amsterdam by Lauralee Bliss

The Escape Game by Marilyn Turk

Escape to Morning by Susan May Warren

Treacherous Escape by Kellie Vanhorn

Top 10 Tuesday — Let’s Cook!

3 Sep

Happy Tuesday! Today my TTT list features books with characters that cook. The list includes characters ranging from seasoned chefs to newbie bakers to ice cream makers, plus a few chocolatiers! And they cover a variety of genres — something for everyone’s tastes. 😉 Don’t forget to load up on some snacks for your reading time!

For more mouth-watering lists, check out That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Books That Feature Characters That Cook!

All’s Fair in Love And Cupcakes by Betsy St. Amant

The Baker’s Wife by Erin Healy

A Heart Adrift by Laura Frantz

Invisible by Ginny Yttrup

The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan

More Than Words Can Say by Karen Witemeyer

The Saturday Night Supper Club by Carla Laureano

The Sweet Life by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Sweet on You by Becky Wade

Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder by Valerie Burns

Top 10 Tuesday — Glimpses of Me!

27 Aug

Today’s TTT topic was a bit daunting. Bloggers are to share the posts that reveal the most about them. Hmm. I went back through a year + TTT posts to find something, anything, that would give you a glimpse of me. The lists include the trivial (my favorite color), the places I have traveled, my bookish OCD, and the books that make me think and feel. Reading between the lines and lists, you get a small picture of me. I hope you discover some great books too!

For more revealing posts, check out That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top TTT Posts That Show A Glimpse of Me!

Best Books I Read in 2023

Fun Places I Have Visited

I Get All Emotional, Baby!

Most Recommended Books

Shelf-ish Organization

What’s Your Favorite Color?