Happy Tuesday! Today I am tweaking the TTT prompt just a bit. I am listing books I have read whose titles include real cities. I have visited some of those places (5 in fact!), but others I have only traveled to in my imagination via the books listed. I love how many different genres and time periods are represented — I hope you find one to schedule your next trip to!
Happy Tuesday! While I might be able to accurately pinpoint what book I was reading on August 11th over the last 10 years, I am not sure I have the energy to do that. It’s too hot here in middle Georgia! LOL. So for today’s TTT topic I am going to list the most memorable books read in August of the same time period. I keep a list of books read by month, so it is a fairly easy task. It was fun to remember the books that made the biggest impressions. I hope you find one to love!
For more August 11th reads, please visit That Artsy Reader Girl.
Top Memorable Books Read In August over The Last 10 Years
2016 — Within The Veil by Brandy Vallance
2017 — Ghost Heart by Lisa Harrisand Lynne Gentry
2018 — Falling For You by Becky Wade
2019 — In The Shadow of Croft Towers by Abigail Wilson
2020 — The Last Year of The War by Susan Meissner
2021 — The Nature of Small Birds by Susie Finkbeiner
2022 — The Paris Betrayal by James R. Hannibal
2023 — Songs That Could Have Been by Amanda Wen
2024 — The Lost Boys of Barlowe Theater by Jaime Jo Wright
Happy Tuesday! I am going off topic today because I am just not feeling the suggested prompt of today’s TTT. I missed last week because we were in Virginia welcoming grandbaby #4, so today my list includes recently-ish read books that live in my head rent-free. A couple are pretty creepy — I am not sure what that says about my head! 😉 I hope you find one to pique your interest.
Happy Tuesday! Today TTT bloggers are sharing upcoming books that they cannot wait to read. It’s really hard to limit the list to just 10, but here goes.
If you like some added creepy with your suspense, then The Bookshop 0f 99 Doors by Jaime Jo Wright can be your next thrilling read. Ghosts/spirits and undiscovered doors to the other side provide the backdrop to this faith-filled novel that will keep you guessing. Read on for more info.
The manor’s rumored one-hundredth door may conceal secrets hidden as deep as the estate’s bookshelves extend high . . . but the haunted past has a way of ensnaring curious souls.
In 1888, Minnie Tipton finds herself beset by the dark superstitions that envelop the Pennsylvania mansion her father bought. Convinced the vengeful spirit of a Civil War captain haunts the house and worried by her father’s rapidly worsening illness, Minnie delves into the home’s fraught past in an effort to bring him peace. Yet the lingering impact of the war and the gruesome tale of murder she uncovers only foster more fear and threaten to unravel Minnie’s own sanity.
In the present day, Triss Bellamy eagerly steps into the role of bookshop manager in the mansion-turned-museum boasting ninety-nine doors. But Triss’s dream job turns into a nightmare when havoc breaks loose with the arrival of her brother’s team of self-proclaimed paranormal investigators. Their determination to find a rumored one-hundredth door–a dangerous portal to the madness long said to plague the mansion–results in calamity, leaving Triss no choice but to hunt down the truth or watch her brother slip forever beyond her reach.
An atmospheric dual-time Gothic suspense masterfully penned by acclaimed author Jaime Jo Wright with themes of a Civil War-era ghost, a possible hidden door, and unexplained mysteries at a historic mansion’s bookshop with a troubled past.
Jaime Jo Wright, multi award-winning author–including the Christy and Daphne du Maurier awards–is a coffee-fueled and cat-fancier extraordinaire. She has entwined her life with the legendary Captain Hook, residing serenely in Wisconsin’s rural woodlands. Her literary vocation involves penning chilling Gothic tales, a baffling change from that of Austenites, with a strong preference to the master of dark, Edgar Allan Poe. Two mischievous urchins adorn their family, who keep their mother on her toes – providing an exhilarating amount chaos.
I love a spooky story, and Jaime Jo Wright always delivers. In my opinion, The Bookshop of 99 Doors goes above and beyond to deliver riveting stories (there are two timelines) with broken main characters who are desperate to understand their worlds. And of course, it contains the promise or threat of worlds unseen, depending on your perspective. I found this book to be excellent for many reasons. The history of the notorious Ambrose Fields house is well-developed. Grisly crimes, ghosts, and rumors of the Underground Railroad are all part of its intrigue. The characters, main and secondary, are complex. And you never really know just what is going on with them. The creep-factor is off the charts, but in true Wright fashion, the spookiness is more Scooby-Do than Stephen King. I like that there is always a reasonable explantation in spite of being convinced that there really are ghosts afoot. I read a couple of reviews that stated that God is not a part of this book. I found that to be far from the case. The two main female characters, Triss and Minnie, are seekers. They are stumbling around, but are determined to find truth. No, there is not a salvation scene, but I felt sure that with the Spirit’s (capital S 😉 ) wooing, their desire to know God would win out in the end. Because of the heads-up from the reviews I spent a lot of time looking for God in this book. And I found Him. And because this is fiction, I can write my own happily-forever-after for all of those seeking.
I read this book for book club this month and anticipate a great discussion. It is a great choice for a buddy read. I highly recommend it!
Highly Recommended.
Great for Book Clubs.
Audience: Adults.
(I purchased the ebook from Amazon. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
Happy Tuesday from the sunny and HOT south! I really wasn’t feeling this week’s TTT prompt — wishlist books. So, I decided to feature books with the word wish in the title. That quickly evolved into books with wish(es), hope(s), and dream(s) in the title. I hope you find one to love!
I am excited to take part in the Book Bee’s Bloggers Choice Tour today. Bloggers are featuring books that they love and warrant some special attention. Every Life Treasured is a 3-novella collection from Jennifer Q. Hunt, Hannah Hood Lucero, and AubreyTaylor that celebrates the value of life. 10% of the proceeds from the sale helps to support LoveLine, an organization that helps women reclaim motherhood. Each story is a different genre and a unique perspective from the authors. Give it a look!
A Mother’s Tender Hand by Jennifer Q. Hunt
While others praise her kindness as a social worker, for Alice Vogel it will never be enough. The needs brought on by the Great Depression are as endless as the guilt she can never outrun. Then she meets the Tanner family, who value people—even those the rest of society scorns. With her growing attraction to Seth Tanner and her unexpected admiration for his mother Milly, everything she believes is turned upside down. Will these new friendships that have transformed her life survive the truth of her story?
The Missionary and the Marine by Hannah Hood Lucero
Since her conversion from Islam, Nadia Hamdan has made it her life’s purpose to share the hope she has found in Jesus. As surprising as her new faith is the man she’s fallen in love with–a Marine who spent his career fighting men like her terrorist father. When Nadia vanishes without a trace, Walt nearly loses his own faith. But the aftermath of her captivity will demand a reckoning from them both in what they truly believe about God, life, and unconditional love.
Born for Adversity by Aubrey Taylor
A child grows in Lani’s womb, a constant reminder of the young man she loves and will never have. The handsome François Durant fancies her, and would give her a safe and comfortable life–if only she’ll have ‘it’ taken care of. Instead, Lani seeks solace with her family in Bavaria. There, she will not only face the decision whether to keep the child or give him up for adoption, she will also be challenged to overcome the desire for a man’s love–a challenge made more difficult by the kind young farmer down the road.
10% of all profits will go to the non-profit organization LoveLine which helps women reclaim motherhood.
Excerpts
A Mother’s Tender Hand by Jennifer Q. Hunt
Wednesday, September 19, 1934
Alice Vogel stood before a mill cottage in need of fresh white paint and a new tin roof. It would get neither, she knew, for the inhabitants hadn’t enough to eat. And that was why she was here.
She checked her Manila folder. The Tanner family. Father and Mother, both aged 44. He’d lost an arm in the Great War but had been working in Lindale’s textile mill until an injury last month. Nine children, six still at home. The youngest, Bobby, aged three, was listed as retarded.
She walked up the concrete steps from the street into the front yard. An old tire had been made into a swing that hung from a towering oak, and two gray rockers on the porch gently swayed in the breeze of the autumn day. The sounds of children playing and a rooster crowing came from the backyard. Alice marched up the brick porch steps and rapped on the screen door.
The Missionary And The Marine by Hannah Hood Lucero
12 Months and Three Days Ago
New Orleans, LA
” . . . Happy birthday, dear Walt. Happy birthday to you!” DuWayne Walters beamed at his makeshift family as they concluded the obligatory serenade. His facial muscles strained to maintain the expression when his friends and girlfriend transitioned into an off-key rendition of For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow. They meant well, but the reminder of his involuntary medical retirement from Marine special operations took a sizable chunk out of the enjoyment of being the center of attention.
Iris Jones had one hand resting on her swollen abdomen, fork hovering in her other as if she might stop the cake before it was even cut. Her husband, Barrett Jones, Esquire, draped his arm around her shoulders, restraining her and gently prompting her to lower the fork. They were liked night and day, not just because she was the scrappy street rat while he was from more refined stock.
Walt cleared his throat, pulse ticking up when his girlfriend of three years Nadia Hamdan, slid her hand into his. He automatically met her dark brown eyes which were glinting at him in the candlelit private room of the swanky French Quarter restaurant. Her bright red lips parted, but she didn’t get a word out before Iris spoke loudly across the table.
“You gonna blow that candle out before the whole top of the cake is coated with wax, birthday boy?”
Born for Adversity by Aubrey Reiss Taylor
Lorraine, France
(Formerly Lothringen of the German Reich)
April 1920
My sister grabs my hair as I heave forward into the basin. There is nothing left in my stomach. Monika coughs and waves a hand over her face. “Ugh, could you at least eat something?”
“I’ve tried.”
She tends to the bucket while I splash water on my face and rinse my mouth. I slump to the floor and run a hand over my hair. Monika reappears. “Lani, you have to tell Mama.”
“There is no way.”
“What are you going to do, you can’t hide it forever?” She pinches my side. “You know you can’t do that.”
“No, I know.”
“Once you start to show she’s going to send you away.”
“Would she really do that?”
“Why do you think Käthe went to Switzerland?”
“Because she got married.”
“Not at first.”
“Why did no one ever tell me?”
“Because you weren’t around.” She washes her hands. “Once you came back, it was old news.”
“So, what? We just don’t talk about it? I have a niece or nephew out there no one’s ever told me about?”
“The baby died,” Monika says matter-of-factly, “which for Käthe’s sake is good.”
About The Authors
A lifelong storyteller, Jennifer Q. Hunt has worked as a writer of both fiction and nonfiction, as well as an editor and ghostwriter. She has over twenty-five years of ministry writing experience for churches, pastors, and Christian ministries.
Jennifer writes fiction with faith and purpose. Her Sorrow and Song trilogy shows multi-generations as they wrestle with their place in history and following the Lord through challenging circumstances.
Back in north Georgia after several years away, Jennifer is a happy wife to Christopher and homeschool mother to four elementary-aged children.
For history tidbits, deleted scenes, and more “extras” as well as information about upcoming releases, visit jenniferqhunt.com or follow Jennifer on Facebook at Jennifer Q. Hunt, Author or Instagram @jennifer.q.hunt.author.
Hannah Hood Lucer0 is a wife, mom of three, Army veteran, and self-proclaimed word-slinger. While it is the brackish waters of the Mississippi Sound that flow through her veins, western North Carolina holds her heart. Her love for storytelling is the fruit of a lifetime of cultivation in the vibrant cultures of the Gulf Coast and the Blue Ridge Mountains. She currently resides in South Mississippi with her husband and three children on their ten-acre homestead. They have a dog, thirteen chickens, and at least fifty species of mosquitos, depending on the month of the year. When she isn’t in the garden, at the stove, or homeschooling, she can be found at her computer—just follow the sound of frenetic typing. Her motto is, “Draft, edit, read, repeat.”
In her Gott Mit Uns Series, and her new Separate Ways Series, Aubrey Reiss Taylor unites a fascination for history with a passion for redemption, creating a unique brand of gritty, honest wartime sagas, written from the German perspective. She is the mother of three, and married to her best friend Brian. When she’s not writing or taking care of home and family, she enjoys making music, dancing, reading, and spending time with friends.
Tour Giveaway
(1) winner will receive a $30 gift card (winner’s choice of Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Christianbook, or Baker Book House)!
Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight June 8, 2026 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on June 15, 2026. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Happy Tuesday! While you certainly shouldn’t judge a book by its cover 🙂 , we all know that compelling cover design is what attracts a reader. There are so many elements to a great cover design — I commend those who produce these works of art. The title font is one such element, and the sky is the limit to types that can be used. Today TTT bloggers were tasked with showcasing fonts that mimic handwriting. I have chosen some books I have read/reviewed that fit that bill, those that have partial or full titles that look handwritten. There are a lot of different genres; I hope you find a book and a cover to pique your interest.
Happy Friday! A few days ago I mentioned that my book club is reading the gothic suspense novel, The Bookshop of 99 Doors by Jaime Jo Wright. I cannot wait to dig in, and the first lines are fabulous, so it is definitely calling me.
Here are the first lines:
A person hopes they can lead a quiet and simple life, one that isn’t shrouded in secrets and suffocated by lies. This is what I had hoped for. It was not to be. — Minnie Tipton, aged 91
The manor’s rumored one-hundredth door may conceal secrets hidden as deep as the estate’s bookshelves extend high . . . but the haunted past has a way of ensnaring curious souls.
In 1888, Minnie Tipton finds herself beset by the dark superstitions that envelop the Pennsylvania mansion her father bought. Convinced the vengeful spirit of a Civil War captain haunts the house and worried by her father’s rapidly worsening illness, Minnie delves into the home’s fraught past in an effort to bring him peace. Yet the lingering impact of the war and the gruesome tale of murder she uncovers only foster more fear and threaten to unravel Minnie’s own sanity.
In the present day, Triss Bellamy eagerly steps into the role of bookshop manager in the mansion-turned-museum boasting ninety-nine doors. But Triss’s dream job turns into a nightmare when havoc breaks loose with the arrival of her brother’s team of self-proclaimed paranormal investigators. Their determination to find a rumored one-hundredth door–a dangerous portal to the madness long said to plague the mansion–results in calamity, leaving Triss no choice but to hunt down the truth or watch her brother slip forever beyond her reach.
An atmospheric dual-time Gothic suspense masterfully penned by acclaimed author Jaime Jo Wright with themes of a Civil War-era ghost, a possible hidden door, and unexplained mysteries at a historic mansion’s bookshop with a troubled past.
Jaime Jo Wright, multi award-winning author–including the Christy and Daphne du Maurier awards–is a coffee-fueled and cat-fancier extraordinaire. She has entwined her life with the legendary Captain Hook, residing serenely in Wisconsin’s rural woodlands. Her literary vocation involves penning chilling Gothic tales, a baffling change from that of Austenites, with a strong preference to the master of dark, Edgar Allan Poe. Two mischievous urchins adorn their family, who keep their mother on her toes – providing an exhilarating amount chaos.
My full bookshelves, NetGalley shelf, and Kindle give testimony to my high hopes and TBR failures. 😉 I always have good intentions to read a book as soon as I take possession. Alas, I am an optimist when it comes to my free time and capacity to read all the books. Today TTT bloggers are urged to fess up to the few or many books that they have left unread. I went back to the past few years’ posts of Summer TBR Lists to discover what I really wanted to read and failed miserably to complete. I hope you (and I) discover a book we just can’t not read. Double negative there for fellow English majors.
Many of the books I review are provided to me free of charge from publishers, authors, or other groups in return for a review. The opinions expressed in the reviews are mine and mine alone. No monetary consideration is given. This disclaimer is in accordance with FTC rules.
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