Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday: Picture Books About the New Year

December 2, 2025 By Long and Short Reviews 32 Comments

Can you believe that we are less than a month away from 2026? Here are ten books about New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day from a variety of cultures, not all of which actually begin their new year on January 1.

1. Happy Chinese New Year, Kai-lan! by Lauryn Silverhardt

2. Every Month Is a New Year: Celebrations around the World by Marilyn Singer

3. Shanté Keys and the New Year’s Peas by Gail Piernas-Davenport

4. The Bravest Flute: A Story of Courage in the Mayan Tradition by Ann Grifalconi

5. Squirrel’s New Year’s Resolution by Pat Miller

6. What a Way to Start a New Year!: A Rosh Hashanah Story by Jacqueline Jules

7. Mademoiselle Grands Doigts: A Cajun New Year’s Eve Tale by Johnette Downing

8. Clifford’s Happy New Year by Norman Bridwell

9. Angelina Ice Skates by Katharine Holabird

10. The Night Before New Year’s by Natasha Wing

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Musings Tagged With: New Year's Day, New Year’s Eve, Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday: Quotes About Pie

November 25, 2025 By Long and Short Reviews 36 Comments

Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

Pie is the most delicious course of Thanksgiving dinner if you ask me! Here are ten quotes about pie.

1. “America has developed a pie tradition unequivocally and unapologetically at the sweet end of the scale, and at no time is this better demonstrated than at Thanksgiving.”
― Janet Clarkson, Pie: A Global History

2. “Pie is good any time of the day.”
― Kristin Hannah, Magic Hour

3. “There is no problem that can’t be solved with the help of a good carrot pie, my friend.”
― Anna Horbatenko, Bedtime Stories: Little Bunny and The Big Race

4. “Whoever put steak and kidneys together in a pie made a serious error in judgment. — Nick Snowbeard”
― Cinda Williams Chima, The Warrior Heir

5. “After going upstairs to visit her father, who had looked vastly pleased with himself and stoutly insisted the mincemeat pie would cause him no troubles whatsoever, Garrett went down to the front receiving room. She sat at the escritoire desk and sorted through correspondence, and picked at the slice of mincemeat pie Eliza had brought her. She could only manage a bite or two. She’d never been fond of sweet-and-savory dishes, and she’d certainly never shared her father’s fondness for this one. In her opinion, mincemeat pie was a jumble of ingredients that had never been meant to unite in one crust. It was a heavy, overpowering dish, entirely resistant to digestive enzymes.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Hello Stranger

6. “Mother took the pie out of the oven and it hissed fragrant apple, maple, cinnamon steam through the knife cuts in the top crust. She was making her world beautiful. She was making her world delicious. It could be done, and if anyone could do it, she could.”
― J.J. Brown, Death and the Dream

7. “Never ask a baker what went into a pie. Just eat.”
― George R.R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons

8. “I went to sit in the bus station and think this over. I ate another apple pie and ice cream; that’s
practically all I ate all the way across the country, I knew it was nutritious and it was delicious, of
course.”
― Jack Kerouac

9. “There were little triangles of coconut custard pie on a graham cracker crust for dessert, the best and sweetest thing…”
― Joe Hill

10. “Pie makes everybody happy.”
― Laurie Halse Anderson, The Impossible Knife of Memory

What is your favorite dessert?

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Musings Tagged With: Quotes, Thanksgiving, Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday: The First 10 Books I Randomly Grabbed from My Shelf

November 4, 2025 By Long and Short Reviews 41 Comments

Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

These are all books from my TBR list I’m curious to read.

1.Ma te (Bride, #2) by Ali Hazelwood

2. Girl Dinner by Olivie Blake

3. The Hearth Witch’s Guide to Magic & Murder (The Hemlock Saga, #1) by Kiri Callaghan

4. Overdue by Stephanie Perkins

5. Dracula by Bram Stoker

6. Twice by Mitch Albom

7. Wanting Daisy Dead by Sue Watson

8. The Keeper of Magical Things by Julie Leong

9. The Isle in the Silver Sea by Tasha Suri

10. Crafting for Sinners by Jenny Kiefer

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Musings Tagged With: TBR Lists, Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday: Halloween Quotes

October 28, 2025 By Long and Short Reviews 46 Comments

Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

Halloween is nearly here, so today I’ll share some fun quotes about this holiday.

1. “People give you a hard time about being a kid at twelve. They didn’t want to give you Halloween candy anymore. They said things like, “If this were the Middle Ages, you’d be married and you’d own a farm with about a million chickens on it.” They were trying to kick you out of childhood. Once you were gone, there was no going back, so you had to hold on as long as you could.”
― Heather O’Neill, Lullabies for Little Criminals

2. “For some of us, Halloween is everyday.”
― Tim Burton , Tim Burton

3. “The farther we’ve gotten from the magic and mystery of our past, the more we’ve come to need Halloween.”― Paula Curan

4. “It was so close to October that Halloween was knocking at his heart.”
― Barry Eysman, Candles For November

5. “Dear Great Pumpkin, Halloween is now only a few days away. Children all over the world await you coming. When you rise out of the pumpkin patch that night, please remember I am your most loyal follower. Have a nice trip. Don’t forget to take out flight insurance.”
― Charles M. Schulz, The Complete Peanuts, 1961-1962

6. “Most people will tell you growing up means you stop believing in Halloween things – I’m telling you the reverse. You start to grow up when you understand that the stuff that scares you is part of the air you breathe.”
― Peter Straub

7. “People think that ghosts only come out at night, or on Halloween, when the world is dark and the walls are thin. But the truth is, ghosts are everywhere. In the bread aisle at your grocery store, in the middle of you grandmother’s garden, in the front seat on your bus. Just because you can’t see them doesn’t mean they aren’t there.”
― Victoria Schwab, City of Ghosts

8. “Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. Christmas and the others can end up making you sad, because you know you should be happy. But on Halloween you get to become anything that you want to be”
― Ava Dellaira, Love Letters to the Dead

9. “I turned down Halloween parties every year, where people wanted zombies raised at the stroke of midnight or some such nonsense. The scarier my reputation got, the more people wanted me to come be scary for them. I’d told Bert I could always go and threaten to shoot all the partygoers, that’d be scary. Bert had not been amused. But he had stopped asking me to do parties.”
― Laurell K. Hamilton, Cerulean Sins

10. “The Harvest Moon glows round and bold,
In pumpkin shades outlined in gold,
Illuminating eerie forms,
Unnatural as a candied corn.
Beware what dare crawls up your sleeve,
For ’tis the night called Hallows Eve.”
― Richelle E. Goodrich, Making Wishes: Quotes, Thoughts, & a Little Poetry for Every Day of the Year

Happy Halloween to everyone who celebrates it!

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Musings Tagged With: Halloween, Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday: Cozy/Atmospheric Reads

October 21, 2025 By Lasreviews 45 Comments

Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

Fall is the time for cozy blankets and a cup of something warm… unless it’s still 90 degrees where you are. Since I live in one of those areas where it won’t really start to cool down for another few weeks, I thought I’d go with a more creepy, atmospheric sort of vibe rather than cozy fall feels. I do love a good spooky read, so hopefully one of these sparks a bit of interest.

The Hacienda and Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas. These are both set in Mexico in the early 1800’s and give off a very spooky, gothic vibe.

This Ancient Evil by Dorothy Daniels. Another set in Mexico, but in the late 1800’s. I had some issues with this book, but the setting of the secluded ranchero with the mysterious pyramid in the background gave it a pleasantly creepy vibe.

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson. I listened to a full cast audiobook of this novella and I found myself constantly looking over my shoulder. You can just feel the evil – or is it madness? – lurking off in the shadows.

The Woman in Black by Susan Hill. I have an audio version of this that I return to every October because it’s just so creepy. An old mansion, sitting empty after its owner died, located in a difficult to reach place. What could go wrong, right? If you’re like me and enjoy creepy movies, both the 1989 and 2012 movie versions of this are great. I prefer the 1989 version simply because it’s less refined and more spooky.

The Wrong Family by Tarryn Fisher. How creepy is it to know that someone could be living in the crawl space of your house without your knowledge? I try not to read books like this simply because I might not ever sleep again if I do.

House of Monstrous Women by Daphne Fama. Set in a creepy forest in an even creepier mansion in the wilds of 1986 Philippines, this book just drips tension and anxiety. Just beware – there are a lot of bugs in this book.

The Witch of Willow Hall by Hester Fox. Fleeing scandal, Lydia and her family retreat to Willow Hall, a country estate with secrets and a dark history. Set in the early 1800’s, it’s very gothic and creepy.

The Witches of New York by Ami McKay. A young girl stumbles into a shop looking for work and discovers a whole new world, one where witches are real. Beatrice discovers the magic within her and, in 1880’s New York City, uses it to the best of her ability. Beautifully written and very engrossing.

And to end this post with a couple of less creepy, but still Halloween adjacent books, I give you two of the cutest books I’ve read this year.

Bob the Vampire Snail by Andrea Zuill. Adorable picture book about a snail who is bitten and turns into a vampire. This made me wish my kids were still small so I could share it with them.

Garlic and the Vampire and Garlic and the Witch by Bree Paulsen. A duology of cute and at times intense graphic novels involving anthropomorphic vegetables, including a very daring head of garlic.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Musings Tagged With: Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Things I Love About Autumn

October 14, 2025 By Long and Short Reviews 40 Comments

Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

Hello from Astilbe, one of Long and Short Review’s bloggers.

For today’s freebie post, I’d like to share ten reasons why autumn is my favorite season of the year.

1. The beginning of my relief from seasonal allergies.

2. Halloween.

3. The food: pumpkin spice lattes, candy corn, pumpkin or sweet potato pie, fresh apples, and more!

4. Shorter days help me to appreciate the sun more.

5. Paranormal films which are the most entertaining subgenre of horror if you ask me.

6. The leaves change colour and make my corner of the world a beautiful place for a few weeks.

7. New holiday-themed books are everywhere. I prefer the Halloween stories, of course, but there are plenty of great options for many other holidays as well.

8. It’s generally cool enough to wear cozy sweaters.

9. There are so many different holidays to celebrate in the coming months. I love seeing the joy these days give to people.

10. Many insects have died off or gone into hibernation now which makes spending time outside more pleasant.

What’s your favorite season?

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Musings Tagged With: Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday: Satisfying Book Series

October 7, 2025 By Lasreviews 57 Comments

Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

Since I tend to get attached to fictional characters rather easily, I do tend to seek out series. Getting to see the same people pop up over and over again, and getting to know more about their lives, is what makes me happy. However, not all series can maintain their momentum or keep the readers happy in the end. I’ve been lucky in that the majority of the series I have started have ended well. There are always exceptions of course, but for the most part, I’ve had good luck. Here are a few of my favorites, even if I’m not quite finished with them yet:

Faces of Evil series by Debra Webb. I loved everything about this series. Each book picked up practically where the last one left off. The pace was intense, the romance was fantastic, and the bad guy – Eric Spears – was menacing and somehow still a bit charming.
The Kate Shugak series by Dana Stabenow. While I’m not quite finished with this series yet, I absolutely adore it. Kate is very no-nonsense and takes no prisoners, which makes her amazing at her job. The addition of her Aleut heritage and all the tidbits about native Alaskans and Alaskan history only makes it that much more interesting.
The Deep Dish Mysteries by Mindy Quigley. I stumbled onto the first in this series – Six Feet Deep Dish – on Netgalley a few years ago. I’m a big pizza lover, so it was an instant draw. The characters are great and one of them is even a descendant of Al Capone. Which is amusing since Del & Son’s Pizzeria is gangster themed. The only downside to this series is that I get some serious pizza cravings reading it.
Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree. The third book in this series releases in a couple of months, but so far, the first two have been absolutely amazing. Shout out to the author himself who is also pretty amazing.
The Crown Jewels Regency Mysteries series by Lynn Morrison and Anne Radcliffe. A good friend of mine and I have a buddy listen group going where we pick different audiobooks and listen to them, then discuss. This series was added to our list because while I love mysteries, she’s more partial to regency romances. Who knew I’d find a book that combines both so well? The two main characters, Lady Grace and Lord Percy and hilarious at times and are perfect for each other.
Check Please! series by Ngozi Ukazu. This was recommended by a friend of mine who is a huge hockey fan. I’m a sucker for a cute manga or graphic novel, so it being hockey themed was just a bonus. Both volumes are adorable, and Eric Bittle is the sweetest boyfriend ever. Also, he bakes when he gets stressed and might just be having an emotional affair with his oven, but shhh, don’t tell Jack!
The Third District series by John Sclazli. This probably doesn’t qualify since the first part was a 20 page short story and the second is a 2 hour audiobook. However, both of these stories were hilarious and refreshing.
The Temperance Brennan series by Kathy Reichs. I’ll be honest with you, I’m only about halfway through this series, but I enjoy them all. As an actual forensic anthropologist, the author brings expertise and insight to the mysteries. As someone who loves to learn something from her fiction, this series has been a constant draw over the years. With the exception of Tempe’s occasional bad choices, there isn’t anything I don’t like about these books.
The Adenashire series by J. Penner. The blurb for the first book caught my attention immediately. I am not, after all, the kind of person who can resist a baking contest, especially not one that’s set in a fantasy world. Everything about this book was exactly as I wanted it, and the sequel was just as good, if not better, than the first. The second involved a baby dragon and not much can compete with a baby dragon in my opinion. I’m looking forward to the third in this series and hoping that it’s just as magical and fun as the first two have been.
The Bosch Universe by Michael Connelly. I’m including everything here – Bosch, Ballard, The Lincoln Lawyer, and Jack McEvoy – in this. The author only gets better as the series go on, fine-tuning his writing and the characters as he goes along. While I haven’t yet read the most recent novel, containing a new character, I am anxiously awaiting the next Mickey Haller book due in October. The thing I like best about these books is that they cross over often bringing Mickey into Harry’s world or Harry into Mickey’s. The only thing I dislike about this series is that the author decided to age the characters along with the books, so Harry’s in his 70’s now, I believe, and that does not bode well for his character.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Musings Tagged With: Book Series, Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday: Books on My Fall 2025 To-Read List

September 23, 2025 By Long and Short Reviews 48 Comments

Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

This autumn sounds like it’s going to be an excellent season for books.

Here are ten titles I’m looking forward to, a few of which I learned about from the Top Ten Tuesday topic earlier this year about books we’re anticipating that are being released in the second half of the year.

I will be thanking those bloggers individually later on in this post as they really helped me find some great titles for today’s post.

1. The Maiden and Her Monster by Maddie Martinez

Why I Want to Read It: The golem myth is something I’d like to learn more about.

2. Hot Wax by M.L. Rio

Why I Want to Read It: The protagonist’s backstory sounds quite mysterious.

3. Cursed Daughters by Oyinkan Braithwaite

Thank you to AJ Sterkel for blogging about this.

Publication Date: September 25

Why I Want to Read It: As soon as I read the phrase generational curse in the blurb, I knew this was going to catch my attention. What an interesting topic.

4. The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes by Chanel Cleeton

Publication Date: September 30

Why I Want to Read It: Imagine being paid to procure the last copy of a book known to exist! What an unusual thing to do.

5. What Stalks the Deep by T. Kingfisher

Publication Date: September 30

Why I Want to Read It: Kingfisher is on my must-read list, and this is one of two books from them on today’s list.

6. The Unveiling: A Novel by Quan Barry

Thank you to Top 100 Books Reviews for blogging about this.

Publication Date: October 14

Why I Want to Read It: Literary horror isn’t a mashup of genres I see too often.

7. The land of sweet forever by Harper Lee

Thank you to Anne @ Headfull Of Books for blogging about this.

Publication Date: October 21

Why I Want to Read It: A new Harper Lee book sounds great to me.

8. Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

Publication Date: November 4

Why I Want to Read It: More Hunger Games universe stuff? Sign me up!

9. Deadly Ever After by Brittany Johnson

Publication Date: November 4

Why I Want to Read It: I’m excited to see how Ms. Johnson makes the concept of true love’s kiss fresh and new again.

10. Snake-Eater by T. Kingfisher

Publication Date: November 11

Why I Want to Read It: As stated earlier, Kingfisher is one of those authors I always find time to check out.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Musings Tagged With: TBR Lists, Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday: Books With Occupations in the Title

September 2, 2025 By Long and Short Reviews 22 Comments

Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

Thank you, Lisa of Hopewell, for submitting this theme! Here are my answers to it. Some of these professions aren’t really a thing anymore, but I think they still count.

1. The Queen’s Dollmaker by Christine Trent