TTT is hosted at That Artsy Reader Girl! This week’s topic is a love freebie, in honor of Valentine’s Day tomorrow.
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TOP TEN TUESDAY
For this week’s topic I’m sharing some books I’d love to read that have the word “LOVE” in the title.
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I may have gone over 10 books as usual but it’s so hard to just choose 10. Can you recommend any of these books?
Have a wonderful day and thanks for stopping in.
I knew I wanted to read this book from the moment I did the cover reveal for it. The cover is so eye-catching and the book is just wonderful. I’m so glad I had a chance to read it.
ABOUT THE BOOK
The Secret Ingredient
She’s writing her story one recipe at a time…
‘A delicious story that wraps itself around your heart’ Evie Woods, bestselling author of The Lost Bookshop
It’s been three years, two weeks and one day since Kate Shaw’s life changed forever. Three years, two weeks and one day that Kate has been angry – with herself and life.
But today is different. Different because Kate has finally taken the step she’s been avoiding…back into the kitchen. Now, what begins as a (disastrous) attempt to make pancakes becomes a culinary journey that is not only a love letter to someone so important to her, but also an unexpected means of connection to a community she never knew she had…
I love this beautiful cover!
MY THOUGHTS
When you think of food what do you think of? As for myself, I think of love. It doesn't have to be a romantic love, but it could be. Preparing food for someone is an extension of love, showing how much we care about them. We prepare for people that are sick, for celebrations in happy times, funerals in sad times, a romantic date to impress, our family. All extensions of love and caring.
After an unexpected life changing event Kate Shaw is tired of life passing her by. Through food, cooking, and gathering recipes the community comes together. This awakening Kate has that there is life to be lived once again is beautiful.
She discovers her neighbors and realizes she has an unexpected connection to them. Her association with these neighbors is as enriching for them as it is to her. Sweet memories are made, and new friendships are formed through a love of food.
The book is gentle and kind and brings an awareness of wanting to move forward, indulge in a little self-care and just to be kind and do what you can to help others. Highly recommended!
Pub Date 18 Jan 2024
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
Purchase Links
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Secret-Ingredient-Zara-Stoneley-ebook/dp/B0BF96B49J/https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/the-secret-ingredient-sue-heath?variant=40275147096142
VISIT OTHER BLOGS ON THE TOUR
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Author Bio –
Sue Heath lives in Cheshire, England. When she isn’t working, she can often be found running around agility courses with her spaniel, and in the evenings, she loves to cook and spend time with family and friends.
‘The Secret Ingredient’ is an uplifting story that explores how a sense of community, sharing, friendship, love, and a feeling of belonging can help us make sense of life, find comfort, and heal. How we can find our happiness in ordinary things.
Sue has also written fourteen USA Today bestselling romcoms under the pseudonym Zara Stoneley and has sold over half a million copies of her stories worldwide.
You can find out more about Sue on her website – http://www.sueheath.co.uk
Social Media Links –
Website: http://www.sueheath.com
Twitter: @ZaraStoneley
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ZaraStoneley
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zarastoneley/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Sue-Heath/author/B0CBVHB8T5
Thank you for visiting and have a lovely day.
Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/red-heart-keychain-on-top-of-stacking-of-books-159712/
STACKING THE SHELVES
Stacking the Shelves is hosted at Reading Reality It lets us show off the books we’ve acquired in the past week whether it may be from the library, NetGalley, borrowing from a friend, bought or whatever.
MY LIBRARY HAUL THIS WEEK
In nineteenth-century Scotland, following the death of his mother during surgery, Robbie decides to take revenge on the surgeon who performed the operation, Dr. Robert Knox, and in the process, makes a gruesome discovery about the lengths the medical profession will go to advance its knowledge of anatomy.
From the incomparable master of horror and suspense comes an electrifying collection of contemporary literary horror, with stories from twenty-five writers representing today’s most talented voices in the genre.
A collection of fourteen fantasy stories by well-known authors, set in an alternate universe where romance and technology reign and featuring automatons, clockworks, calculating machines, and other marvels that never existed.
These are my daughter’s books. Mine are below.
In the midst of World War II, an English musician, Norah Chambers, places her eight-year-old daughter, Sally, on a ship leaving Singapore, desperate to keep her safe from the Japanese army as they move down through the Pacific. Norah remains to care for her husband and elderly parents, knowing she may never see her child again. Sister Nesta James, a Welsh-Australian nurse, has enlisted to tend to Allied troops. But as Singapore falls to the Japanese, she joins the terrified cargo of people, including the heartbroken Norah, crammed aboard the Vyner Brooke merchant ship. Only two days later, they are bombarded from the air off the coast of Indonesia, and in a matter of hours, the Vyner Brooke lies broken on the seabed. After surviving a brutal 24 hours in the sea, Nesta and Norah reach the beaches of a remote island, only to be captured by the Japanese and held in one of their notorious POW camps. The camps are places of starvation and brutality, where disease runs rampant. Sisters in arms, Norah and Nesta fight side by side every day, helping whoever they can, and discovering in themselves and each other extraordinary reserves of courage, resourcefulness, and determination.
“The American Queen is based on actual events that occurred between 1865-1889 and shares the unsung history of a Black woman who built a kingdom as a refuge for the courageous people who dared to dream of a different way of life.”–
This is my husband’s library check out.
First rate … a fascinating adventure story … the interest never flags.” –San Francisco chronicle. In his most desperate moment, Adolph Hitler issues an impossible order to an disgraced war hero and his commandos. The mission: invade the very heart of England and kidnap Winston Churchill–or kill him. Far from the thunder of war, in a quiet seaside village called Studley Constable, a beautiful widow and a cultured IRA assassin undertake preparations for the ultimate act of treachery. On November 6, 1943, Berlin gets the coded message: “The eagle has landed.” Tightly plotted and bristling with suspense. The eagle has landed is a masterpiece of espionage and commando action, a searing drama of the courage and deceit of those who paid the price for Hitler’s most daring plan.
Pictures of the Hagerstown, Maryland library I go to.
I love this skylight as you climb the stairs to go to the nonfiction section upstairs.
You could say I love going to the library each week 🙂
NETGALLEY GRABS THIS WEEK
Read and reviewed on the blog already
Read and reviewed on the blog already
No book mail this week. It’s just as well!
-Have a great week all. Thanks for stopping in.
288 pages Kensington publisher June 25,2024 publish date
ABOUT THE BOOK
In a heartwarming new series from New York Times bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray, four siblings take a genuine leap of faith when they move to their grandparents’ farm in rural Ohio and decide to become Amish.
Exploring the relationship between Amish and English cultures through the lens of a single family, the Amish Again series is perfect for fans of Beverly Lewis, Suzanne Woods Fisher, and Charlotte Hubbard – and anyone who enjoys uplifting stories about faith, family, love, and the simple life.
SIMULTANEOUS HARDCOVER AND TRADE PAPERBACK RELEASE!
Siblings Martin, Kelsey, Beth, and Jonny are as different as can be, but they have one thing in common. They’re all longing to reinvent their lives. Raised by their divorced lapsed-Amish father and English mother, they only knew real stability and a sense of family when visiting their Old Order grandparents, Josiah and Sylvia Schrock, in peaceful small-town Millersburg, Ohio. Now the four want to try living with them and joining their faith—much to the Schrocks’ surprise . . .
Martin, the eldest, is reeling from a bad breakup, so he’s especially determined to make a fresh start. When he meets his grandparents’ neighbor, Patti Coblentz, he’s immediately drawn to her outgoing, helpful nature—but is so overwhelmed that he appears blunt and rude. Is there any way he can drop his defenses enough to admit she’s captured his heart?
Always self-conscious about the birthmark on her temple, Patti is resigned to never marrying and busying herself with the responsibilities of the large home and property she has inherited. Besides, Martin’s ill-mannered behavior and disconcerting directness make him the last man she’d ever want to wed—no matter how handsome he is.
Yet given time and patience—and adhering to their grandparents’ unexpectedly challenging rules—the whole family might just find what they’re looking for, even Martin and Patti.
Photo by Maksim Goncharenok: https://www.pexels.com
MY THOUGHTS
Shelley Shepard Gray has so many series out, she just keeps turning them out. This is a good thing though. I haven’t read a book of hers I didn’t like or couldn’t relate to. She’s one of my favorite go to Amish writing authors. I’m not sure how many books will be in this series, but this is the start of the newest series publishing June 2024.
4 siblings are looking for their anchor in life. They have been raised by a former Amish father and Englisher mother. They have a close bond and the older have always looked out for the younger.
These siblings haven’t had the best of upbringings and feel peace of mind when they visit their Old-Order grandparents in Ohio.
Will they find the serene happiness they are seeking when they all decide to move to their grandparent’s house and want to embrace their lifestyle and become Amish? Will this give them what they have been missing out on in life? Life never seems to go as we plan though, and curveballs can be expected at the most unexpected times. All their circumstances are different but yet the same in many ways. I enjoyed all the characters but wasn’t sure about the decisions they would make.
I have read this author’s books for many years and always enjoy them. This one ended on a cliff-hanger so I’m sure it’ll take us right into the next in the series.
Pub Date 25 Jun 2024
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shelley Shepard Gray is a NYT and USA Today bestselling author. She’s published over a hundred novels and has over a million books in print. She currently lives in northern Ohio and writes full time.
Shelley lives just an hour from Holmes County, where many of her Amish-themed novels are set. She currently writes contemporary romance and Amish fiction for a variety of publishers. When not spending time with her family or writing, she can usually be found walking her two dachshunds on one of the many trails in the Cleveland area.
She also bakes a lot, loves coconut cream pie, and will hardly ever pull weeds, mow the yard, or drive in the snow.
Shelley also spends a lot of time on line! Please visit her website, http://www.shelleyshepardgray.com to find out her latest news or to sign up for her newsletter. Shelley can also be found on FaceBook, Instagram @shelley.s.gray, or on Twitter @ShelleySGray.
Thanks for stopping in. Enjoy your day.
I’ll admit this is one of the cutest covers I’ve seen on a book in a while, and I can’t wait to get started on it when it releases.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Love, Julie
A Poignant and Humorous Journey of Self-discovery, Resilience, and Redemption
Once, Julie dreamed of a life filled with love and laughter. Now, in her mid-forties, she faces a starkly different reality. She’s single, lonely, and reeling from breaking her hard-earned sobriety in front of her family and friends.
Opting for self-recovery over romance, Julie dives into planning her best friend Kate’s wedding. However, sharing this task with the irritatingly cheerful best man, single dad Luke, proves to be an unexpected challenge.
As Luke’s persistent kindness chips away at her icy exterior, a friendship forms, stirring a longing she’d sworn to suppress. But with self-forgiveness as her biggest hurdle, and her past ready to sabotage her future, can Julie confront the shame and trauma that have darkened so much of her life and find the courage to love again? Or will her demons shatter both her and Luke’s hearts in the process?
Jamie Anderson, author of the hilarious and heartwarming Someone to Kiss, is back with another witty, acerbic, and relatable story. Love, Julie is a richly emotional tale of recovery, forgiveness, and romance that readers have praised for “nailing the humor and snarky nature of our generation.”
Sign up to be the first to know when Love, Julie is available for pre-order, plus grab a FREE romance novella by Jamie instantly! 📚 🎁
Click Here https://dl.bookfunnel.com/ou026lucw0 To Claim Your Free Novella! 📚 🎁
By signing up, you’ll get notified the moment Love, Julie is available for pre-order and receive a launch reminder. Plus, you’ll have the chance to win lots of great prizes and enjoy more freebies along the way!
Publication Date: 30th April 2024
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Author Bio –
Jamie Anderson is based in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. A proud Canadian and Saskatchewanian, she wanted to set her first two novels in the place she was born and raised.
She’s been writing for as long as she can remember, and has been reading for longer than that. She lives happily with her mountain of books, her TV and her two plants.
You can read Jamie’s first novel Someone to Kiss here: https://mybook.to/someonetokiss
Social Media Links – https://linktr.ee/jamieandersonwrites
Thank you for stopping in today. Have a wonderful day.
284 pages 07 Feb 2023 publish date Blackstone Publishing
ABOUT THE BOOK
There’s a lot going on in Joy Howard’s life. She’s got an ex-husband who starts acting like he doesn’t want to be an ex anymore, a sixteen-year-old daughter in need of a guiding hand and a lot of rides to dance practice, more orders for paintings than she has time to paint, and a roster of tutoring clients who sometimes need far more than she can give.
What she doesn’t have is time for a new relationship.
Samuel “Bo” Beauman is a lot of things. He’s a counselor for transitioning ex-cons, a good friend to many, a construction worker, a brother and son, and even a part-time model for a high-end sportswear catalog. He’s also a man searching for redemption.
One thing he isn’t is a man in need of a girlfriend.
But none of that seems to matter when Bo hears Joy’s kind voice in a crowded coffee shop. He instantly knows she’s someone he wants to know better. The two of them hit it off—much to the dismay of practically everyone they know—but Bo doesn’t care what other people think. He feels at peace whenever he’s with Joy, and he won’t let her go without a fight.
When Joy starts getting mysterious texts and phone calls from unknown numbers, she tries to ignore it. But instead of going away, the messages escalate and Joy realizes she can’t handle it alone. But she is juggling a jealous ex-husband, a handful of students with little to lose, and a brand-new boyfriend who spent several years behind bars. Who can she trust?
MY THOUGHTS
Sycamore Circle is the second book in the Rumors in Ross County series. Shelley Shepard Gary is an author who is talented in writing multiple genres.
I enjoyed reading Bo and Joy’s story. They both do community service.
She’s helping people better themselves as she’s serving as a literacy teacher. Bo is a counselor for transitioning ex-cons. He’s big, brawny has tattoos and is an ex-con she’s soft, sweet and kind to everyone.
You wouldn’t think there would be that connection there but there is. Both are learning to trust again and recovering from things in their past. Joy has an ex-husband, a daughter and a secret she’s been keeping from Bo.
Someone is stalking her and sending harassing messages to her. The story moves at a steady pace and escalates as we approach the end. This is not one of the author’s Amish books but there are Amish characters and the culture added to the book which I enjoyed.
A light faith message, we see no one can do it all but through him all things are possible. Positive and uplifting. I look forward to many more books by this author.
Pub Date 07 Feb 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shelley Shepard Gray is a NYT and USA Today bestselling author. She’s published over a hundred novels and has over a million books in print. She currently lives in northern Ohio and writes full time.
Shelley lives just an hour from Holmes County, where many of her Amish-themed novels are set. She currently writes contemporary romance and Amish fiction for a variety of publishers. When not spending time with her family or writing, she can usually be found walking her two dachshunds on one of the many trails in the Cleveland area.
She also bakes a lot, loves coconut cream pie, and will hardly ever pull weeds, mow the yard, or drive in the snow.
Shelley also spends a lot of time on line! Please visit her website, http://www.shelleyshepardgray.com to find out her latest news or to sign up for her newsletter. Shelley can also be found on FaceBook, Instagram @shelley.s.gray, or on Twitter @ShelleySGray.
Do you have a favorite genre this author writes? Mine are her Amish books.
Have a wonderful day and thanks for stopping in.
I was able to do a lot of reading in January 2024 because of being less mobile due to my ankle injury. Here are my favorites. Have you read any of these?
FAVORITE COZY MYSTERY
FAVORITE MYSTERY
FAVORITE NONFICTION
FAVORITE CONTEMPORARY
FAVORITE WOMEN’S FICTION
FAVORITE ROMANCE
FAVORITE HOLIDAY READ
FAVORITE ROM COM
FAVORITE HISTORICAL FICTION
I don’t believe I’ve read any other genre this month. Have any of these been added to your to be read list?
I have a nice stack of books ready to read for Black History month. I’m going to list them here. Obviously, I won’t be able to read them all as I do have other reading commitments and blog tours to read for. If there are any here, you’d like to see me read and review please let me know and I’ll prioritize it. Thank you!
Currently Reading
MY OTHER BOOKS FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Which books should I read for Black History Month? Let me know in the comments. Thanks for the input.
302 pages Berkley publisher August 22, 2023 publish date
ABOUT THE BOOK
Romance blossoms in the Colorado foothills in this sweet romance by New York Times bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray
Former Army captain Greg Tebo loves his new life in Woodland Park. In the two years since he joined the WPFD, he’s gained a reputation as a fearless firefighter, and after being stationed all around the country and overseas, he can’t wait to settle down with a wife and kids.
When a call comes in about a possible heart attack at the scene of a fire at the Garden Center, Greg assumes they’re going to be helping an elderly customer—not the beautiful, feisty proprietor in her late twenties. Kristen Werner has been determined to pretend everything is fine. She refuses to leave the company she’s carefully nurtured and move home to her loving but meddling family in Houston. Since her devastating diagnosis caused her fiancé to dump her, she’s given up on love and thrown herself into cultivating her blooming business instead—even if the hard work further weakens her heart.
Greg is drawn to Kristen’s vibrant, independent spirit and hopes romance will flower. But she’s had enough trouble with her heart to last a lifetime, and can’t trust Greg not to break it—especially if he finds out she can never give him the houseful of children he longs for….
MY THOUGHTS
No matter what genre Shelley Shepard Gray writes in she does it well.
This is the second book in the Woodland Park Firefighters series taking place in the scenic foothills of Colorado.
Former Army captain Greg Tebo has retired and settled into life in Woodland Park, Colorado as a firefighter. Though not dating right now he’s very interested in having a wife and children someday.
Just another day in the office when a call comes in from a garden shop about someone having a possible heart attack, figuring he’d get the elderly person to the hospital quickly, he’s very surprised to see young Kristen Werner. She’s in her twenties and doesn’t want to be a burden to her family and move back home after her medical diagnosis.
Owning and running a garden shop has been a dream of hers and this is where she feels comfortable after being dumped by her fiancée hours before her wedding because he wasn’t able to deal with the knowledge, she had a medical condition. If he couldn’t deal with it, she’s better off without the jerk.
Finding himself drawn to Kristen he feels she would be a great match for him. She’s going the friend’s route though, not trusting him or any man to start a relationship. As love seems to be blooming will she let love into her heart and trust into her soul? Can this relationship possibly progress when they are hiding pretty big secrets from each other that if found out they believe the other won’t want to be with them?
I really enjoy this author’s books and have read quite a few of them including Amish, contemporary and suspense. I’m not sure if this series will continue but would enjoy if it does. You can’t have trust without truthfulness in any relationship.
Pub Date 22 Aug 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
THE AUTHOR
Shelley Shepard Gray is a NYT and USA Today bestselling author. She’s published over a hundred novels and has over a million books in print. She currently lives in northern Ohio and writes full time.
Shelley lives just an hour from Holmes County, where many of her Amish-themed novels are set. She currently writes contemporary romance and Amish fiction for a variety of publishers. When not spending time with her family or writing, she can usually be found walking her two dachshunds on one of the many trails in the Cleveland area.
She also bakes a lot, loves coconut cream pie, and will hardly ever pull weeds, mow the yard, or drive in the snow.
Shelley also spends a lot of time on line! Please visit her website, http://www.shelleyshepardgray.com to find out her latest news or to sign up for her newsletter. Shelley can also be found on FaceBook, Instagram @shelley.s.gray, or on Twitter @ShelleySGray.
Have a wonderful day. Thanks for stopping in.
Photo by Gül Işık: https://www.pexels.com/photo/shelves-and-container-with-magazines-and-books-near-building-entrance-7345377/
IT’S MONDAY! WHAT ARE YOU READING?
t’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a place to meet up and share what you have been, and are about to be reading over the week. It’s a great post to organise yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment and er… add to your groaning TBR pile! Hosted at The Book Date.
Thursday of last week I went for my first physical therapy appointment. It was an hour long, as each subsequent visit will be. I have 2 more appointments this week and 2 next week. I was walking better after the appointment Thursday but then sore the rest of the day and evening. I’ve also been doing the exercises they’ve given me daily. I am able to see an improvement in my ankle and they are pleased.
WHAT I READ LAST WEEK
Not being as mobile as I usually am I got a lot of books read this past week.
THIS WEEK I PLAN ON READING
Have you read any of these books or plan to? Hope you have a great week.
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