Top Ten Tuesday: Books on My Winter 2024-2025 to-Read List

 

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Artsy Reader where each week they post a new top ten list and ask fellow bookish folk to share their lists on that topic.

This week the theme is: Books on My Winter 2024-2025 to-Read List:

(Click on cover for Goodreads link)

Remember When by Mary Balogh

She writes beautiful and moving historical romances! I read every new release!

Head Cases by John McMahon

FBI agents in the Pattern and Recognition unit. "Five brilliant but misfit agents tasked with solving cold cases." I'm in!

Nemesis (Orphan X #10) by Gregg Hurwitz

The Orphan X series is wonderful! Smart, fun, full of danger and action. Where justice prevails by the end!

Cold As Hell (Haven's Rock #3) by Kelley Armstrong

Of course I'm reading the newest Rockton/Haven's Rock series!

Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 by Lisa Unger

A social media "hide and seek" contest on a secluded island that turns deadly. Add in a "treacherous storm" and this mystery/thriller sounds like an exciting page-turner!

The Summer Guests (The Martini Club #2) by Tess Gerritsen

Loved the first one! Maggie an ex-CIA operative retires to Maine to live a quiet life, but things don't goes as planned. Thankfully, she has a group of trusted friends, also retired intelligence, close-by for support.

Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister

I started Wrong Place, Wrong Time earlier this year and couldn't stop listening! What a riveting mystery with a touch of the paranormal. I'm excited to pick her newest up!

Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley

I read the premise and it sounded fun! Reminded me a little of of the movie Date Night with Steve Carell and Tina Fey. 

Lie's on the Serpent's Tongue (Bittersweet in the Hollow #2) by Kate Pearsall

Loved the first book! This quote from the book description is perfect: "A beautifully dark YA set in Appalachia tinged with magic, mystery, murder, and romance." I can't wait for Rowan's story!

See How They Hide (Quinn and Costa #6) by Allison Brennan

The FBI Mobile Response Team, set up to help small towns with limited policing resources is tackling a new murder case with Matt Costa and Kara Quinn at the heart of the story. Love Allison Brennan's brand of mystery/thriller/crime procedural!

What books are on your Winter TBR?

Sunday Post #276

 

The Sunday Post is hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated reviewer book blog, and is a post to recap my bookish and non-bookish things from the last week. I'm also linking up to The Sunday Salon hosted by Deb Nance @Readerbuzz.

Happy Sunday! My week is out of whack getting back from Texas late Monday has made all my days feel off. Also, I caught a cold from my grandson and ended up calling in sick on Friday. I don't feel good.

Today (Saturday) I finally finished a review copy that felt like a chore to read. The book was just over 300 pages but just dragged on for me. I'm supposed to be starting another romance, but I started it and just couldn't get into it. I'm setting it aside for now. I started one puzzle, sorted all the edge piece and then was annoyed by how easily the pieces come apart so I disassembled and started another. I finally landed on a book that's keeping my interest: Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper. Not a review book, but I don't care. I hadn't been in the greatest mood, but finally settling into a book and puzzle I like has lifted my spirits a bit. Now if I could get over this darn cold! I'll just be guzzling Day and NyQuil until then. 

Read:

(Click on title for Goodreads link)

Prime Time Romance by Kate Robb: 3 Stars

No Ordinary Duchess (Greycourt #3) by Elizabeth Hoyt: 4 Stars

A Measure of Menace (A Below Stairs Mystery #7.5) by Jennifer Ashley: 4 Stars

The Snow Killer (DI Barton #1) by Ross Greenwood: 4 Stars

Received:

Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, Minotaur Books, and Macmillan Audio! 

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Review: No Ordinary Duchess by Elizabeth Hoyt

 

No Ordinary Duchess (Greycourt #3) by Elizabeth Hoyt

Publication Date: December 10th 2024 by Forever

Pages: 352

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Lady Elspeth de Moray is on the hunt for an ancient book, rumored to be in one of the Greycourt libraries, to help once again unify the Wise Women, a group of unconventional, educated and skilled in many lethal ways.

 

Julian Greycourt is heir to the dukedom, but his tyrannical uncle is gunning for him and has kept him and his sisters under his cruel dominion since his father and mother died. However, Julian receives word that there may be proof to string his uncle up and set their family free. Uncle Augustus was a horrid man with diabolical plans, so Julian needed to find that evidence quickly!

 

Lady Elspeth’s and Julian’s searches intersect throwing them together constantly as a steady undercurrent of attraction simmers between them. There was quite the buildup and very, very spicy! Julian had some edgy desires. Lady Elspeth, with the way she was raised, wasn’t a wilting flower shocked by any of this. They were well matched!

 

No Ordinary Duchess was a great combo of suspense and romance, with heavier topics and some lighthearted humor. Elspeth was very much a positive ray of sunshine to Julian’s broody and serious demeanor. As Julian’s past is revealed this is completely understandable!  

 

I’m a big fan of Elizabeth Hoyt, her writing is beautiful, clever and very sensual! It’s been a while since she released her last book, so I was thrilled to hear about this newest installment of the Greycourt series!

4 Stars

Book Description:

From a New York Times bestselling author, the much-anticipated third novel in the Greycourt series.

Cold and brooding, Julian Greycourt, the heir to the Windemere dukedom, has always known that his uncle the duke was responsible for his mother’s death. Now he’s determined to exact revenge against his uncle—if he can find the proof. But Julian hides a secret so explosive it will destroy him if it’s ever revealed, and the duke is watching. The last thing he needs is a distractingly sensual woman whose very presence threatens to destroy his plans.

Sunny and cheerful, Lady Elspeth de Moray doesn’t know why her brother and Julian fell out all those years ago, but she can’t let the autocratic man get in the way of her mission: to retrieve an ancient family text that she believes is in one of the Windemere libraries. Locating the tome, however, proves trickier than she anticipated, and at each turn, she’s thrown together with the maddingly mysterious Julian. And the temptation to give in to her family’s greatest enemy grows stronger with each intriguing encounter…

Review: Out in the Cold by Steve Urszenyi

 

Out in the Cold (Special Agent Alexandra Martel #2) by Steve Urszenyi

Publication Date: November 12th 2024 by Minotaur Books

Pages: 336

Source: Publisher 

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Finland has been under sneaky attacks from several fronts for months and things point to Russia being the culprit. With Finland being a NATO ally this spells disaster if things keep up requiring a strong response that could lead to World War III. However, information comes to Agent Alex Martel from unexpected places. Can Alex and Caleb get to the bottom of the attacks, find the culprit and stay alive? That’s the challenge since Alex and her friends are under fire, left and right!

 

Out in the Cold is action packed from chapter one, and it was an exciting read! Alex is scrappy and undeterred, no matter the odds against her. There are several bad actors here, political zealots with no regard for life as they push their world vision through and benefit financially, too. It mirrors (unfortunately) some of the things you see in real life in this political climate. The ending was a satisfying and just conclusion. However, there was one bad character undiscovered, and I wonder how that will affect the future for Alex and Caleb.

4 Stars

Book Description:

Special Agent Alex Martel is thrown back into a deadly world of deception when a series of attacks threaten to incite World War III in this action-packed thriller.

While sailing across the Mediterranean, the megayacht Aurora is rocked with explosions, taken under siege by unknown assailants. On board are some of Europe’s wealthiest and most powerful political players, including the secretary general of Interpol, a high-ranking Finnish diplomat, and Special Agent Alex Martel―whose lethal sniper skills kick in to bring them safely to shore.

Someone is waging a ruthless campaign of attacks against Finland, one of NATO’s newest members, in an attempt to throw the Alliance into turmoil. Teaming back up with CIA agent Caleb, Alex is thrust into the middle of the fray, pursuing the villains from the waters off of Monaco to the Baltic Sea and home to American soil.

As the US is pulled deeper into the conflict, a global catastrophe seems inevitable. But who is really responsible for these escalating attacks on Finland? The Russians, or someone much closer to home? As new allies surface and old enemies reappear, Alex has no way of knowing who to trust―and she might only have one last shot to keep the world from going to war.

Four Romance Book Giveaway: Fantasy/Paranormal Edition

 Happy Tuesday! I meant to put this giveaway up before I left for Texas, but time got away from me. I'm giving away four romance books all with an element of paranormal/fantasy element.

Happy Medium by Sarah Adler

Her Knight at the Museum by Bryn Donovan

My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine

My Vampire Plus-One by Jenna Levine

The giveaway is open to US residents only. Fill out the rafflecopter for a chance to win. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sunday Post #275

 

The Sunday Post is hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated reviewer book blog, and is a post to recap my bookish and non-bookish things from the last week. I'm also linking up to The Sunday Salon hosted by Deb Nance @Readerbuzz.

I'm in Austin, Texas right now babysitting my two grandkids while my daughter and SIL are off for the weekend. It's been busy but fun. It's also been raining! It poured here yesterday (Saturday), but thankfully leveled down to a drizzle by the time I took the kids out. Went to Barnes & Noble and bought toys and books, went to lunch and then went and saw Moana 2. 

Stayed up late watching True Spirit, the story of Australian teenager, Jessica Watson, the youngest person ever to sail solo nonstop around the world. It was inspirational and a little suspenseful!

Austin, Texas this morning. Cloudy and not as rainy as yesterday. 

Read:

(Click on cover for Goodreads link)

Out in the Cold (Special Agent Alexandra Martel #2) by Steve Urszenyi-4 Stars

Under Loch and Key by Lana Ferguson-4.5 Stars

Hidden (Alex Verus #5) by Benedict Jacka-5 Stars

Her Knight at the Museum by Bryn Donovan-3 Stars

Received:

Thank you to Tantor Audio, Dutton Books and Minotaur Books!

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Review: Under Loch and Key by Lana Ferguson

 

Under Loch and Key by Lana Ferguson

Publication Date: December 3rd 2024 by Berkley & Penguin Random House Audio

Pages: 416

Audio Book Length: 12hrs 18min

Narrator: Samantha Summers & Flint Park

Source: Publishers

Rating: ★★★★½

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Keyanna “Key” MacKay has come to Scotland to her father’s family farm after he dies, searching for a connection and roots. She doesn’t receive the warmest welcome from her grandmother or their farmhand, Lachlan Greer, but she’s determined to stick it out.  However, things slowly thaw as Key gets to the bottom of her family history. There’s a mystery and an ancient curse involving both Lachlan and her family and it becomes Key’s mission to uncover the truth and break the curse before it ruins her newfound happiness and love.

 

Under Loch and Key is my favorite Lana Ferguson to date! I loved the combination of mystery, adventure, romance and a little danger! I’m pleased that the romance had chemistry and buildup! Yes, it was spicy, but it didn’t feel like it was just thrown in there for the sake of having spice. And the epilogue was so touching!

 

I alternated between an audio and e-copy and recommend either version. I loved the fact that not only did we get a female and male narrator for Key and Lachlan, but they also performed their own parts throughout the story, even when the story switched POVs! Samantha Summers and Flint Park did an excellent job with all the voices and accents! Flint Park’s Scottish accent was wonderful and sounded authentic!

4.5 Stars

Book Description:

A woman discovers that not all monsters are her enemy—the opposite, in fact—in this new paranormal romance by Lana Ferguson, author of The Fake Mate.

Keyanna “Key” MacKay is used to secrets. Raised by a single father who never divulged his past, it’s only after his death that she finds herself thrust into the world he’d always refused to speak of. With just a childhood bedtime story about a monster that saved her father’s life and the name of her estranged grandmother to go off of, Key has no idea what she’ll find in Scotland. But repeating her father’s mistakes and being rescued by a gorgeous, angry Scotsman—who thinks she’s an idiot—is definitely the last thing she expects.

Lachlan Greer has his own secrets to keep, especially from the bonnie lass he pulls to safety from the slippery shore—a lass with captivating eyes and the last name he’s been taught not to trust. He’s looking for answers as well, and Key’s presence on the grounds they both now occupy presents a real problem. It’s even more troublesome when he gets a front row seat to the lukewarm welcome Key receives from her family; the strange powers she begins to develop; and the fierce determination she brings to every obstacle in her path. Things he shouldn’t care about, and someone he definitely doesn’t find wildly attractive.

When their secrets collide, it becomes clear that Lachlan could hold the answers Keyanna is after—and that she might also be the key to uncovering his. Up against time, mystery, and a centuries old curse, they’ll quickly discover that magic might not only be in fairy tales, and that love can be a real loch-mess.

Audiobook Review: The House at Watch Hill by Karen Marie Moning

 

The House at Watch Hill (The Watch Hill Trilogy #1) by Karen Marie Moning

Publication Date: October 1st 2024 by Harper Audio

Pages: 384

Audio Book Length: 11hrs 34min

Narrator: Amanda Leigh Cobb & Tim Campbell

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Zo Grey is down on her luck with a terminally ill mother just trying to get by when she discovers she’s the heir to a vast estate and fortune in Divinity, Louisiana. However, there’s a catch: she has to live at the old imposing house for three years in order to inherit.

 

There was some waffling back and forth over whether she’d accept the terms, but to be honest who in their right mind wouldn’t accept and give it a go?  Especially someone like Zo in her financial situation. Yes, the house looked intimidating (and it was!) but sounded gorgeous as soon as you set foot inside!

 

Of course, anything that seems too good to be true usually is, and Zo starts to discover a darker side to the town, the house and her history. She’s known on a subconscious level there was something “extra” about herself, but her mother never shared anything about her past or powers.

 

The House at Watch Hill was more about setting this world up and didn’t have much in the way of action until the end. Still, it was an engrossing read and Moning has a way of setting up an enticing backdrop and mysterious characters. There are two potential love interests. Not sure how it’ll work out, but I did prefer one over the other. The story ended on a cliffhanger. I look forward to finding out what happens next after that last scene!

I listened to the audio version and really enjoyed Amanda Leigh Cobb and Tim Campbell’s performance! She has an appealing voice and Tim Campbell’s lent an air of mystery to his character.

4 Stars

Book Description:

#1 New York Times bestselling author Karen Marie Moning is back with a gripping, imaginative, and seductive new series in which a young woman moves to Divinity, Louisiana, to inherit a large fortune and a Gothic mansion full of mysteries and ominous secrets...

Zo Grey is reeling from the sudden death of her mother when she receives a surprising call from an attorney in Divinity, Louisiana, with the news she has been left an inheritance by a distant relative, the terms of which he will only discuss in person. Destitute and alone, with nothing left to lose, Zo heads to Divinity and discovers she is the sole beneficiary of a huge fortune and a monstrosity of a house that sits ominously at the peak of Watch Hill—but she must live in it, alone, for three years before the house, or the money, is hers.

Met with this irresistible opportunity to finally build a future for herself, Zo puts aside her misgivings about the foreboding Gothic mansion and the strange circumstances, and moves in, where she is quickly met by a red-eyed Stygian owl and an impossibly sexy Scottish groundskeeper.

Her new home is full of countless secrets and mystifying riddles, with doors that go nowhere, others that are impossible to open, and a turret into which there is no visible means of ingress. And the townspeople are odd…

What Zo doesn’t yet know is that her own roots lie in this very house and that in order to discover her true identity and awaken her dormant powers, she will have to face off against sinister forces she doesn’t quite comprehend—or risk being consumed by them.

Sunday Post #274

 

The Sunday Post is hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated reviewer book blog, and is a post to recap my bookish and non-bookish things from the last week. I'm also linking up to The Sunday Salon hosted by Deb Nance @Readerbuzz.

Happy Sunday! I hope everyone who had the time off had a nice holiday weekend!

 

We had family and friends coming out from Idaho and Southern California with two days of fun planned. Lots of activity here! Cleaning both inside and outside, which was a project since the rains made a mess of the yard. Wine tasting on Friday in Amador County, which was fun and beautiful.  Everyone came out to our place on Saturday and we went and toured Empire Mine, one of the gold mines that is now a state park with an estate and gardens. It was pretty even though the fall foliage is almost gone there were still a lot of golden and orange trees to see. Then downtown and back to our house for dinner. We had a crockpot roast going, so we didn't have to worry about doing too much when we got back. Mashed potatoes, gravy, carrots, salad, green bean casserole, and then apple pie. 

The kitties are doing really well. Peanut is still not completely sold, but he's not trying fight with them anymore. Thank goodness! 

Smokey is super friendly!

Starla is a little more cautious with us, but loves to be social, too.

Read:

Click on cover for Goodreads link

Taken (Alex Verus #3) by Benedict Jacka-5 Stars

Chosen (Alex Verus #4) by Benedict Jacka-5 Stars

Constituent Service by John Scalzi-4 Stars

Servant of the Earth (The Shards of Magic) by Sarah Hawley-3 Stars

I've been hooked on the Alex Verus series by Benedict Jacka, listening to the excellent audios while I was cleaning and prepping this last week. I'm about halfway through the 5th installment. I hope to finish today while working a puzzle and relaxing! Constituent Service was a funny novella! 

Received:

Thank you to Berkley and Penguin Audio!

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