Top Ten Tuesday: Books on My Fall 2023 To-Read List


Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

Here are ten of the books I’m looking forward to checking out this autumn. The first two have already been released, but I’ll share release dates for the ones that aren’t out yet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Holly by Stephen King

Why I’m Interested: I try to give everything Mr. King writes a shot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Rez Ball by Byron Graves

Why I’m Interested: I recently reviewed Big Crow for Long and Short Reviews and am curious to make comparisons between that true-life account of a Native American teen who played basketball and this fictional take on a different Native American teen basketball player.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Land of Milk and Honey by C. Pam Zhang

Release Date: September 26

Why I’m Interested: With all of the difficult some farmers have been having this year with growing crops, a fictional account of a world too hot to rely on agriculture is intriguing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. The Museum of Failures by Thrity Umrigar

Release Date: September 26

Why I’m Interested: While there’s a lot of joy to be found in moving to another country, being an immigrant can also bring all sorts of complications to one’s life. I’m curious to see what this author has to say on the subject.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. Out There Screaming by Jordan Peele

Release Date: October 3

Why I’m Interested: His films are fun to watch, so here’s hoping a book from him will also be amusing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6. When Ghosts Call Us Home by Katya de Becerra

Release Date: October 3

Why I’m Interested: Honestly, the cover is what first pulled me in this direction. Isn’t it amazing? Paranormal horror is something I enjoy, too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7. The Leftover Woman by Jean Kwok

Release Date: October 10

Why I’m Interested: Now that it’s much less common for people who aren’t from China to adopt children from China, I’m curious to see how this topic will be treated in fiction.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8. The Woman in Me by Britney Spears

Release Date: October 24

Why I’m Interested: Is it weird to read an autobiography of someone you weren’t a fan of? Now I wonder what might have been going on behind the scenes in her life to make her behave the way she did. Maybe this will help to explain it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9. Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldreee

Release Date: November 7

Why I’m Interested: Maybe this will finally convince me to read Legends & Lattes? It’s been on my TBR for ages.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10. Same Bed, Different Dreams by Ed Park

Release Date: November 7

Why I’m Interested: Alternate histories can be such great stories. I hope this is as good as it sounds.

Top Ten Tuesday: Water-Themed Books and Films We’ve Reviewed


Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

One of the coolest things about being part of a group of reviewers working together is the wide range of genres and perspectives we cover here.

I rarely read romance, for example, but I stay up-to-date on some of the newest titles out there thanks to my fellow reviewers who spend some to all of their reading time in that genre. Likewise, those of us who love horror give everyone else a chance to know what’s going on with the scary side of modern fiction as well.

Here are some of the books and films we’ve discussed over the past few months that have water references in their titles. If you pay close attention, you might notice a tiny bit of overlap between this list and last week’s list.

The genres they cover range from mystery to picture books to science fiction, so there’s a little something here for just about everyone. I think it’s cool to look for the similarities not only between books but between book reviewers as well!

Just like last week, I wrote this post in advance for scheduling purposes. It’s once again possible there might be another water-themed review or two on our front page by the time this is published.

1. On Duck Pond by Jane Yolen

Genre: Children’s

 

2. Saltwater Sorrows by Rhonda Parrish 

Genre: Science Fiction

 

3. Razorblade Tears by S. A. Cosby

Genre: Mystery

 

4. Fuddles and Puddles by Frans Vischer

Genre: Children’s

 

5. The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson

Genre: Mainstream Fiction

 

6. Dragon Springs & Other Things by Raven Oak 

Genre: Science Fiction

 

7. Fresh Water for Flowers by Valerie Perri

Genre: Romance

 

8. Deep Tide by Laura Griffin

Genre: Mystery

 

9. Movie Review: Adam & the Water

Genre: Science Fiction

 

10. Salt Water by Eugenia Triantafyllou

Genre: Science Fiction

 

What books with watery themes or titles have you read lately?

 

LASR Anniversary Scavenger Hunt: Wolf’s Keep by K.E.Turner

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He’s all she loathes. She’s everything he needs. Time isn’t the only barrier she’ll cross to gain her heart’s desire.
Archaeologist Erin Richardson loves her job, but the dig in France is something else. A crumbling keep, a dungeon and the search for legendary chevalier Gaharet d’Louncrais… Her imagination is running overtime. Thank God he’s long dead and only comes to life in her dreams. Until a mysterious amulet sends her back to the tenth century. Now her fantasy has become her reality.
Gaharet d’Louncrais needs a wife. He’s powerful and handsome and women constantly vie for his attention. If they knew his secret, they’d run for their lives. Forget love. Forget finding his true mate. He’d forsake it all to save his wolf pack from extinction. But when Erin appears, with her strange clothes and her even stranger tale, she stirs his inner beast. He wants nothing more than to claim her as his own.
Erin knows a player when she sees one. Arrogant and charming, he’s everything she’s guarded her heart against. The Dark Ages are no fairy-tale, and she will need to fight to survive, but the most dangerous thing of all is the way Gaharet makes her feel.
She needs to find a way home. Gaharet needs her to stay. And now he’s found her, he plans on never letting her go.

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LASR Anniversary Scavenger Hunt: Honor (Sin City Wolf) by January Bain

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Never run from a wolf!

Isadora Champagne is a witch on a dangerous mission—to take down Lucius Luceres. That bad boy alpha billionaire doesn’t deserve to have it all his way. Thinks he can dump her baby sister and get away with it! But now that she’s met the shifter, keeping her heart safe from him is going to take more than the curse she laid on him…it just might cost her a pact with the devil himself.

Lucius of the House of Luceres is an alpha werewolf, secure in his bad-to-the-bone reputation. But when confronted by the beautiful Isadora one fateful night, even he can’t ignore the extreme attraction that instantly ignites between them. But what he hadn’t counted on was how useful her magic gifts can be to the House of Luceres when one of their own goes missing.

Will he be able to set aside the centuries of mistrust between witches and shifters and allow her special brand of courage and caring to heal even the most jaded heart?

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LASR Anniversary Scavenger Hunt: Murder with Strings Attached by Mark Reutlinger

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Sometimes even the most carefully conceived burglary can take an unexpected turn. Florence Palmer has her eye on concert violinist Aaron Levy’s priceless violin. Unfortunately, she finds it’s already been stolen. Her surprise doubles when the virtuoso she’d planned to burgle offers to hire her to help him steal it back. But they’re not the only ones looking for the missing violin. When Flo inadvertently becomes the prime suspect in a case of murder, she and Aaron need to clear her name. Will they find the real killer and get the violin back to its rightful owner without anyone else, especially themselves, being killed? Winner of the Top Shelf Award for Fiction/Humor.

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LASR Anniversary Scavenger Hunt: All That Shimmers by Diane Bator

Thanks for joining us on our 16th anniversary scavenger hunt! There are two ways to enter to win and it’s easy to play– first read the blurb below, then answer the question on the first Rafflecopter. You might win a $100 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC (along with other prizes). Follow and visit authors’ social media pages on the second Rafflecopter and you’re entered to win another $100 Amazon/BN GC (along with other prizes)!

Laken Miller swears her new apartment above Vintage Sage is haunted. Even her English Sheepdog, Sammy, is petrified of the things going bump in the night – and day.

Then she finds her ex-husband’s body in the courtyard.

Can she prove her innocence and find the real killer before the new police chief gives her a different kind of shimmering bracelet than she’s used to?

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LASR Anniversary Scavenger Hunt: Sudden Turn by Eden Monroe

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Freelance reporter Ginger Martel loves the thrill of chasing down edgy human-interest stories for her popular newspaper column, People Unlimited. Now, hot on the trail of a story that could well earn her a second media award, Ginger undertakes her latest adventure with characteristic pluck, but she is unprepared for the sudden turn that awaits her.

Hostage negotiator Shane Elliott, handsome and self-possessed, has his own share of challenges, a dead wife and a difficult past. When the frantic 9-1-1 call comes in that stormy Saturday night, he must try to unravel yet another potentially deadly situation. Sudden turns are at the top of his job description, they’re what he was born to expect.

Can he save the day yet again, or does fate have something else in store this time around?

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LASR Anniversary Scavenger Hunt: The Thong Principle – Saying What You Mean and Meaning What You Say by Donalee Moulton

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The Thong Principle has little to do with beachwear and everything to do with effective communication. It’s about ensuring messages are successful for the sender – and the receiver.

The book delves into the elements that comprise successful communications – conciseness, clarity, concreteness, and much more. It also puts those elements into context. Communications that miss the mark confuse and annoy. They fail to deliver their message. They damage our credibility and erode goodwill.

The Thong Principle overflows with real-world examples to help us understand why we fail to get our messages across as intended.

Then it explains how we can anticipate, identify, and correct errors and oversights. This is both at the highest level – including building and maintaining trust – and down in the weeds where even one word makes a difference.

The Thong Principle will draw you in and keep you reading with examples, exercises, and information that resonates.

It’s also funny. Laughter and learning are wonderful partners.

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LASR Anniversary Scavenger Hunt: Two Dukes in Denmark by NC Ross

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Join the Mile High club.

After she’s left dumped and homeless, flight attendant Lina can’t be bothered by love.

But when she meets her former high school nemesis on a flight she’s working, banter turns into something more.

It’s only one time… or so she thinks.

Lina doesn’t realize that this gorgeous secret royal is about to change her life, as he and his friend book a flight straight for her heart.

But Lina’s past experiences won’t release her, no matter how good these men make her feel.

Will she fly past all of the secrets, so she can live with the passion she deserves?

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LASR Anniversary Scavenger Hunt: Rorik by Mary Morgan

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The Dark Seducer is known throughout Scotland as a man who charms many women into his bed. Pleasure is his motto as he obtains information for his king. Yet Rorik MacNeil harbors one secret buried beneath his heart of steel. An unfulfilled conquest plagues both man and his inner wolf, and Rorik would rather suffer death’s sharp blade than confront his greatest fear.

As the Seer for the Orkneyjar Isles, Ragna Maddadsson confronts an unknown destiny when she travels across the North Sea to Scotland. In her quest to deliver a message from a powerful vision, she fears the warrior will not listen. If Rorik ignores her warning, Ragna must find a way to forestall his impending death. If unsuccessful, she risks having her heart cleaved in two.

To unravel their true fates, Rorik and Ragna must trust in the power of the wolf.

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