Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish Goals for 2025

 

First off.....I am wondering if I can get one of my three cats to pose like this? Lol....but seriously I love this Top Ten Tuesday post each year. Looking back I don't necessarily do well with these goals but I try! 

So here again in January are my bookish goals I hope to accomplish this year and I am excited to see how many I have in common with my fellow readers and bloggers. They are in no particular ranking order, just my thoughts. Thanks to Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl for hosting this each week. Happy reading ya'll!

1. Read more history- I say this every year....I used to be such a straight up reader of history books. But darn if my fellow bloggers didn't get me hooked on historical fiction and now there are so many wonderful books out there I'm finding it impossible to read a dry history book.

2. DNF books after page 50- If I have devoted this much time and energy I need to stop. I'm 50 years old and have only so much time in life left to read...lol.

3. Stop starting so many series- This will be sooooo difficult for me. I love series books but I have to be choosy because I can't possibly read all the books in every series I come across.

4. Spend more time reading and commenting on others' blogs- I absolutely love reading book blogs but often get absorbed in them and forget to comment too. I need to work on this!

5. Whittle down my TBR pile- I know we all have this goal. Enough said. Pick a book and finish it each month is a good start!

6. Give a chance to some new authors- Another goal I always have. I truly want to do this but it's hard when I need a good book from a trusted author I know won't disappoint me and waste my time.

7. Finish my actual paper books- I don't have many as at my age and with my eyesight getting worse each year I'm an avid Kindle user. But I have some great paper books you can't get on Kindle so I want to try to start them this year.

8. Post more consistently- I do post weekly and often more than once. But I don't want just reviews. There are so many fun weekly post ideas and challenges I want to get more involved with. It is just lack of time that causes me to have whole weeks where I don't post with intention.

9. Devote more time in my week to actually reading- This is another goal I'm sure I share with my fellow bloggers and readers.....spending a lot of time looking at new books but not enough time actually reading them. It's just so relaxing to scroll and dream :) 

10. Work on collections- Lately I've been wanting to scour more bookstores for books that are worth keeping in physical form. I'd love to own all of Jean Plaidy's works as they are hard to find and many other authors I've grown up loving. Just for fun. Just because. 

Pirates and Patriots: A Tudor Naval Adventure by David Field (The New World Nautical Saga Book 1)

 

Publication Date:

June 2, 2023

Genre:

Historical Fiction

Series:

The New World Nautical Saga Book 1

Length: 

246 pages

Book description (goodreads):

The world is Drake’s oyster…

England, 1554

Fifteen-year-old Francis Drake is realising his dream of sailing on the open seas. After training with his cousins William and John Hawkins in their naval business, he takes his first commission upon the Bonaventure.

But when disaster strikes the ship and Francis saves the men with his quick-thinking, he makes an enemy of the captain, who threatens to charge Francis with mutiny.

Francis must seek a new path to make his fortune and he joins with the Hawkins brothers to search for glory in foreign lands.

But trading on the world stage is already being dominated by Spanish and Portuguese explorers and so Francis must act quickly if he wishes to make his mark.

And as one Tudor queen makes way for another, and Spanish relations grow ever tenser, Francis Drake may soon be needed to help save his country from the threat of war...

My Thoughts:

I have read most of Field's Medieval series and was not interested in this one at first. So glad I changed my mind because I absolutely loved this book and can't wait to read the next two in the three part series. 

Francis Drake is such a fascinating person and even though I know some of the story was crafted by the author, the basic facts as to how he rose through the ranks to defeat the Spanish Armada are solid. The love story between him and his wife Mary seemed plausible and her needing him to validate her as a wife and being distraught at how long he'd be away on his voyages felt very realistic. 

I loved the way he was portrayed as having a sense of humor about life too and wondered if this were something the author felt he had to add because it was something written in historical documents. His interactions with his cousins, Queen Elizabeth, and his crew members made the history come alive. I actually found myself wanting more detail as to how he handled his work life during the times he wasn't at sea.

Not needing or wanting books with detailed accounts of battles, this one was again a great balance of recreating the voyages to the West Indies and Americas, the navigating of the later named Drake's Passage, and the fateful day defeating Spain's formidable navy without so much detail one gets bored. Field's books don't feel like military books but they include enough to do justice to the important parts you have to learn. 

I will definitely be continuing with this series and all of his books. This is the way to learn history!

Can't Wait Wednesday: Two Weddings and a Murder by Alyssa Maxwell (A Lady and Lady's Maid Mystery) Book 9

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, Two Weddings and a Murder, by Alyssa Maxwell. Her Gilded Age series is very popular and I've read the first three. I have not read any from the Lady's Maid series but thought I'd feature it for those who have enjoyed them. Set in the 1920's it follows the goings on of lady's maid Eva Huntford.

Historical Cozy Mysteries

February 25, 2025

Book Description courtesy of Amazon:

As Lady Phoebe and her betrothed say their vows of holy matrimony, a killer has vowed unholy vengeance on the town’s chief inspector . . .

June 1922: The blessed day has finally arrived. Phoebe Renshaw and Owen Seabright are to be wed, and lady’s maid Eva Huntford could not be more delighted for her lady’s happiness. But she is disturbed by one notable absence from the ceremony—her beau, Police Constable Miles Brannock. When Miles finally does appear, breathlessly running into the reception at Foxwood Hall, he brings grim news: he’s found Chief Inspector Isaac Perkins murdered, shot in his home in his favorite parlor chair with his own gun.

A policeman naturally makes enemies, especially those of questionable character. In charge of finding his former boss’s killer, Miles reviews the details of the crime scene. The murder weapon has been wiped clean and left on the table next to the remnants of the chief inspector’s breakfast: sausage pasty and coffee reeking of a bit of whiskey. No sign of forced entry. A seemingly peaceful scene—other than the bullet hole in the victim.

Before Miles can make much progress in his investigation, a Scotland Yard detective arrives in Little Barlow to take over the case—and promptly focuses his suspicions on the constable himself, who he reasons had motive and opportunity. Coming to their maid’s defense, Phoebe and Owen postpone their honeymoon to join Eva in clearing her beau’s good name and unmasking the identity of the true killer . . .

Stacking the Shelves #44

 

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Reading Reality. It's a place to showcase any books I have purchased, borrowed, or been lucky enough to have been given an advance copy of. Hope you find something that looks interesting to you or that makes you remember a favorite book you need to finish. Enjoy your reading this week!

Bought on Kindle for $0.99

The title on this book really caught my eye. I had not heard of these mysteries before either and it just looked interesting. The price was great too. I love stories set in places llike Key West also so that appealed to me. It features a married detective duo and I love that. Tommy and Tuppence are a favorite with Agatha Christie so I thought I'd give this series a try. It's called The Pat and Jean Abbott Mysteries.They are set in WWII England. 

Bought on Kindle for $2.99

I am fascinated with Katherine of Valois's story. This is one I hadn't heard of yet but I just had to get it. It is probably more a romance than I'd normally read but I'm willing to try it. Historical accuracy is a must for me so hopefully this author doesn't embellish her and Owen Tudor's story too much. 

Bought on Kindle for $1.99

Set during the Napoleonic Wars, this is part one of a series fittingly titled Napoleonic Wars. There are three novels total. I am always looking for ways to learn more about this time period and its significance. Sometimes these kinds of books have too much detail about the battles and not enough history. Hoping this one is a good blend of both. 

First Review of 2025! Hourly History: The Crusades, The Hundred Years War, and British Raj

Publication Date:

February 15, 2016

Genre:

History/Medieval History

Series:

Hourly History

Length: 61 pages

Book Description (Amazon):

The Crusades are the prototype and epitome of the Holy War. The fight to take control of the city of Jerusalem, believed to be the most sacred Holy City to two distinct religions of Christianity and Islam, has lasted far longer than the two centuries of the Crusades and its reach has extended far further than Europe and the Middle East. Over the course of nine organized campaigns and many more unorganized ones, the Christian west militarized in the name of God to push back the threat of Islam advancing from the east. Understanding the Crusades is key in understanding the religious divides that still threaten the order of the world.

Publication Date:

October 6, 2019

Genre:

History/Medieval History

Series:

Hourly History

Length: 47 pages

Book Description (Amazon):

The Hundred Years’ War was a series of conflicts waged between England and France between 1337 and 1453. The war involved several generations of kings on both sides and was fought over a single issue: whether the English had the right to rule the kingdom of France. The origins of the war can be traced back to the invasion of England in 1066 by William the Conqueror, the duke of Normandy. William became king of England, but he also retained control over his lands in Normandy. From that time on, English kings ruled not just over their own country but also over areas of western France. What is now France was at the time of the Norman conquest not a single country but rather a group of semi-independent principalities. By the early 1300s, the kingdom of France was consolidating and emerging as an important European power, and it was almost inevitable that there would be a conflict between France and England over the English lands in western France.

The Hundred Years’ War marked important changes in the very nature of warfare. When it began, the principal weapons on both sides were heavily armored knights who generally followed an agreed code of conduct. By the time the war ended, the Age of Chivalry had been superseded by the appearance of gunpowder weapons which rendered these knights and their notions of chivalrous combat obsolete. The Hundred Years’ War was an important element in the creation of modern Europe and in the definition of the national characters of both England and France. This book tells the story of this long, complex, and fascinating conflict.

Publication Date:

March 13, 2023

Genre:

History/History of India

Series:

Hourly History

Length: 45 pages

Book Description (Amazon):

The British Raj refers to the time from 1858 to 1947 when the British Crown directly ruled the Indian subcontinent. During those 90 years, India saw enormous social, political, and cultural upheaval. New systems of education were introduced, and increasing industrialization brought societal change. The British administration also united large numbers of indigenous people, though they were often united mainly by their opposition to the British and their desire for independence.

The growing independence movement saw the emergence of one of the most influential and charismatic political leaders ever: Mahatma Gandhi. His policy of non-violent opposition inspired people across the world and helped to guide India to independence. However, with independence came partition as the British divided the region according to religious and ethnic lines. Instead of a single independent nation, the Indian subcontinent became two and then three separate nation-states, something that led to violence and conflicts that persist today.

This is the story of how the British Raj inadvertently created the modern nations of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

My Thoughts:

I have made a list of things I want to work on for my blog and personal reading goals this year. One is to read and review more history books. These hourly history ones  are a great way to learn basic historical facts and major themes quickly while still getting accurate information. I already knew a lot about The Crusades and next to nothing about The Hundred Years War or British India. The Crusades book followed everything I knew in a timeline covering all the major Crusades and historical figures from 1096 to the late 1200's. I came away with some gaps filled in my knowledge as well. The books on the other two were great in that I learned about all the major points like Agincourt and  Ghandi's movement without being given too much detail that might make me feel confused being newly exposed to the topic. 

If you love history and biographies you will love these books. It is going to be difficult to choose which ones to read first because there are so many. With Kindle Unlimited you can read most of them for nothing. Also, if you sign up for their newsletter at HourlyHistory.com you get free e-books each Friday!

Happy New Year 2025

 

Just taking a moment to say thank you to anyone who read my blog, posted a comment, or suggestion, or got new inspiration for new books from it. 

My blog turns 3 today and I still love reading, reviewing, and posting each week. I also love that I am promoting authors new and old in some small way. I am in awe of those who write books and all the hard work that goes into it.

The book blog community is so wonderful and I can't think of a better hobby for me to be a part of.

I hope you all have a blessed day and wonderful 2025. See you soon with new reviews and content and Happy Reading!!!

Top Ten Tuesday: Best Books I Read in 2024

 

Happy New Year's Eve 2024....what better way to end the year than with a Top Ten list. Thank you to Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl for hosting. These are the best books I read in 2024. I am realizing how much I read books by certain, trusted authors and that are often a part of a series. I'd like to read new authors but have a hard time deciding where to start. 

It was interesting to go back and see that I spent the year with a lot more mysteries than I ever realized! 

What were your favorites? I hope you find many more ahead in 2025. 

1. When Christ and His Saints Slept by Sharon Penman 

2. The King's Commoner by David Field

3. Traitor's Arrow by David Field

4. Dark Clouds Over Nuala by Harriet Steel

5. The Virgin in the Ice by Ellis Peters

6. Covert in Cairo by Kelly Oliver

7. Secret of the Scarab by Isabella Bassett

8.The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie

9.Elephants Can Remember by Agatha Christie

10.The Crusades by Hourly History (review coming soon)

The Mystery of Mistletoe Hall by Benedict Brown (Lord Edgington Investigates Book Four)

 

Publication Date:

November 11, 2021

Genre:

Cozy Mystery 

Series:

Lord Edgington Investigates Book 4

Length:

243 pages

Book Description (GoodReads):

England, 1925. When Lord Edgington receives an invitation to spend the Christmas holiday with an old colleague from the police, he expects fine food, good conversation and the warmth of a roaring fire. But on arriving at Mistletoe Hall with his family, they discover the house deserted and no explanation for where their host or his servants could be. As more guests appear, the master detective begins to question what could connect the disparate group of newcomers. A teacher, a comedian, a thief, a sportsman, a singer, a policeman and a racing driver will all have their roles to play when a killer crashes the party. Cut off from the outside world by the worsening weather, and with bodies piling up, Lord Edgington must rely on his wits, his years of experience, and the help of his bumbling grandson Christopher in order to solve "The Mystery of Mistletoe Hall" .

With hints of “And Then There Were None” and “The Sittaford Mystery”, the fourth "Lord Edgington Investigates…" novel is a spoiler-free, standalone whodunit with a wicked resolution all of its own. Filled with warmth, humour, a fiendishly twisting plot, an adorable canine sidekick and plenty of Yuletide spirit, “The Mystery of Mistletoe Hall” is an Agatha-Christie-style Christmas cracker that will baffle and charm you in equal measure.

My Thoughts:

This book was a stand alone in the series and I haven't finished book one yet. So I was glad I could read this at Christmas and enjoy it without series spoilers. The covers are so pretty and are what made me stop and notice. Then having a male detective made me want to try it more because as I've said there are so few cozies with them. It's almost always women so changing it up is fun. 

Lord Edgington is a great character. He and his grandson Christopher are always stumbling upon a crime or body and working together to solve the case. In this story I especially loved the author's descriptions of the mansion they visit, the snow, the sleigh they take to ride to the front, and then combining that with the creepiness of the woods and the sense of doom. As murders occur and everyone feels unsafe and uneasy, they must try to stay calm and find out what is happening and why.

Murder at the Dolphin Hotel by Helena Dixon (Book One: A Miss Underhay Mystery)

Publication Date:

December 11, 2019

Genre:

Cozy Mysteries

Series:

Miss Underhay Mysteries

Length:

252 pages

Book Description (Good Reads)

A room with a view… to murder

June 1933. Independent young Kitty Underhay has been left in charge of her family’s hotel, The Dolphin, on the tranquil English coast. She’s expecting her days at the bustling resort to be filled with comfortable chatter with chambermaids as they polish the mahogany desks and glittering candelabras of the elegant foyer. Everything must be perfect for the arrival of a glamourous jazz singer from Chicago and a masked ball that will be the cultural highlight of the season.

But when several rooms are broken into and searched, including Kitty’s own, she quickly realises that something out of the ordinary is afoot at the hotel. Soon rumours are flying in the cozy town that someone is on the hunt for a stolen ruby. A ruby that Kitty’s mother may well have possessed when she herself went missing during the Great War. And when the break-ins are followed by a series of attacks and murders, including of the town’s former mayoress, it seems the perpetrator will stop at nothing to find it.

Aided by ex-army captain Matthew Bryant, the Dolphin’s new security officer, Kitty is determined to decipher this mystery and preserve not only the reputation of her hotel, but also the lives of her guests. Is there a cold-blooded killer under her own roof? And what connects the missing jewel to the mystery from Kitty’s own past?

My Thoughts:

This is my second time to read this book. Actually, all the way through...the first time I read about a third and stopped. I think I was just overwhelmed with other books and reviews at the time and didn't finish it. I picked it up again and am glad I did. I confess it wasn't my favorite cozy series but that is because I've read so many this year it is sometimes hard to choose. And the story lines blur together too.

Kitty is the typical independent woman of her time. She helps with the running of the Dolphin Hotel along with her beloved grandmother who is absent for much of the book, caring for her sister. Kitty is left in charge and thinks she is only preparing for guests and fancy parties. She doesn't realize she's about to embark on a sleuthing expedition for a missing ruby, her missing mother, her missing father and will have help from a dashing man, Matthew Bryant. Her grandmother has hired Matt to look after security and Kitty and Matt have immediate chemistry. As Kitty seems to be in some danger from someone who is committing thefts and then murder, Matt feels very protective of her and it becomes more than a job.

I enjoyed the banter between the two and the story line. Kitt's missing mother and the reasons behind why she is missing were the main parts that kept me intrigued. If the murders and jewels had been the only plot it wouldn't have worked as well. Also, having her father be a mysterious, shady character who appears to have gotten Kitty's mother with child and deserted them both added to the drama. The ending left open many story arcs to come so that means the series has a ways to go. 

I will likely pick up book two eventually. I seem to be in a pattern of reading book one of a series and then moving on later if I feel like it. I can't say this would be my first series choice but it wasn't bad. I just didn't find myself as bonded to the characters as some others. Also, the history parts about Matthew being in WW1 seemed very simplistic and shallow of extra tidbits found in other cozies. But I don't hold that against the author, that's not the main purpose of the story here. 

It was a good story with potential and has a lot open to continue with.

Stacking the Shelves #43

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Reading Reality. It's a place to showcase any books I have purchased, borrowed, or been lucky enough to have been given an advance copy of. Hope you find something that looks interesting to you or that makes you remember a favorite book you need to finish. Enjoy your reading this week!

Bought on Kindle for $1.99

This is the latest book in one of my favorite cozy historical mystery series. I won't get to it for awhile but I am slowly collecting them. It is book 20 of the Lady Eleanor Swift mysteries and they are just adorable. In this one, Eleanor and her bulldog Gladstone are caught up in a blizzard, trapped in a mansion with a killer. Yes, it sounds like it's been done before but these are well written than most cozies and are sharp and funny. I have read more of them than any other cozy series. They get better with each one!

Bought on Kindle for $1.99

I love all things concerned with Dan Jones...his books, his podcast content, interviews. He takes complicated times and historical information and makes it interesting, relevant, and more easily understood for those without lots of background knowledge. I confess I'm a lot more interested in learning about the Crusades than the Templars but as I've gotten to know this time period better I find myself wanting to know exactly who these men were. I am sure Jones will be a good place to start for the facts. 

Bought on Kindle for $1.99

I am SO excited for this purchase. I have already read and reviewed Falls the Shadow, but it is one of Penman's books I didn't have on Kindle. Her books rarely go on sale and are sometimes hard to get at all. So when this came up for this cheap I was overjoyed! I think it is still on sale if you want to get it yourself. At the time of my review I didn't love it. But since then I've learned a lot more about Simon de Montfort and would like to re-read it to see if my opinions have changed any. Glad I have it and can take my time reading it now.