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Top Ten Tuesday – Books on my Fall 2020 TBR

Today’s Topic: Books on my Fall 2020 TBR

Hosted by: That Artsy Reader Girl

This fall’s TBR list is a mix of books, I’ve been meaning to get around to as well as new releases.

Love and a Little White Lie – It’s been a long wait for a new release from one of my favorite contemporary authors. I can’t wait to read this latest offering. Plus, I love the concept of an agnostic working for a church. Should be interesting.

The Joy of Falling – This author has a way of digging deep into the emotions of her characters and readers with  the stories she tells. I always come away feeling like I understand difficult circumstances better and feel more compassionate towards others.

Under Scottish Stars – Speaking of a long wait, it’s been five years since the release of book 2 in the McDonald Family Trilogy. I had about given up on this third and final book in the series set on the Isle of Skye. I’m sooo excited!

The Solid Grounds Coffee Company – Another third and final book in a series from Carla Laureano.  Both of the characters Ana and Brian have piqued my interest from the previous books so I’m looking forward to their stories.

Loving a Lady – I’m a big fan of this author and her Regency romances. They generally feature a good deal of humor and interesting characters. This is the third book in her Brotherhood of the Black Tartan series.

Before I Called You Mine – This one received rave reviews upon it’s release and features a story about adoption. I’m looking forward to reading it.

A Deception at Thorncrest -Sept 8 – The latest in a fun cozy mystery series set in 1930’s Britain. I’m eager to see what Milo and Amory are up to now.

Reckless – Sept. 30 – Ya’ll know I love my medieval romantic fiction from Tamara Leigh. I also am really loving this series about the D’Argent men.

Mistletoe & Mr. Right Oct 6 – Well, anyone who read The Tourist Attraction this year, will understand why this is on my Fall TBR. I need more Alaska and more Ulysses the moose!

The Love Note – Oct 20 – I don’t even know what this story is about, but the cover sold me. I want to know what is in that love letter!

Gentleman Jim – Nov 10 – Any new Mimi Matthews release is an automatic must-read for me. Advanced reviews are saying this is one of her best yet.

The Cul de Sac War – Nov 10 – This looks all kinds of cute and features a favorite trope of mine; enemies to lovers.

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Top Ten Tuesday – Evocative Book Covers

Today’s Topic: Cover Freebie

Hosted by: That Artsy Reader Girl

Art serves many purposes, but one of the most important is to make us think and feel, to evoke emotion in us and to help us to see things with fresh eyes. In my opinion, book cover art is no different. Although it’s main design is to sell the story inside. The image tells us what to expect. But good book art can also create the same reaction as other types of art.

For this week’s prompt, I want to share covers which have not only grabbed my eye, but have caused me to feel or to take action. Some of these covers motivated me to purchase the book, without knowing anything about it. Others have artwork I wish I could use in my home. And then there are those that evoke strong emotion in me, whether that is yearning, comfort, wistfulness or familiarity. Continue reading “Top Ten Tuesday – Evocative Book Covers”

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Driving with Cary Grant – Nine Grant Films Featuring Memorable Auto Scenes

While the history of the automobile begins a couple of decades earlier, the rise of mass production in the early 1900’s led to them becoming part of our every day lives. Another popular “product” was produced around the same time in 1904, a man who would eventually come to be known as Cary Grant.

Both Grant and the automobile are ubiquitous parts of international history.  Autos are in-arguably a vital part of every day life, an industry which continues to grow and innovate.  While Grant may not be as essential by comparison to our world today, he is still a very important part of our cultural history. Comparisons are still made to his talent, his style and his contributions to the film industry.

As someone who has long been obsessed with Cary Grant, it recently dawned on me how many of his movies contain a memorable scene with him in a vehicle. Almost all non-historical films contain vehicles as they were a part of every day life. But Grant’s films elevated them as more than just part of a scene. Instead the became an actual setting for action and dialogue to advance the story. Even closer notice reveals that many of the movies utilizing vehicles in this way are directed by Alfred Hitchcock. I’m sure there is a deeper analysis to be drawn here about Hitchcock’s particular use of cars in his pictures starring Grant, but that’s another article for another day.

In celebration of two great “products” of the past century, here are nine films featuring Cary Grant in vehicles. Continue reading “Driving with Cary Grant – Nine Grant Films Featuring Memorable Auto Scenes”

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Top Ten Tuesday – Books I Loved But Never Reviewed

Today’s Topic: Books I Loved But Never Reviewed

Hosted by: That Artsy Reader Girl

Oh wow! This week’s post kind of shames me. I’ve only reviewed a very small percentage of the books I’ve read, so this list could be very, very long if I named them all.

And while favorites implies a very limited number, I’m overly generous with the term.

I’m going to break this down into more recently discovered favorites as well as ones I’ve loved for many years. And while it’s impossible to keep it to ten, this is a very small list of my favorites.

Continue reading “Top Ten Tuesday – Books I Loved But Never Reviewed”

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Top Ten Tuesday – Books with Famous Cities in their Titles

Today’s Topic: Freebie

Hosted by: That Artsy Reader Girl

Although international travel has been severely curtailed thanks to the craziness that is 2020, thankfully we can always rely on books for adventures in armchair traveling. Which in some ways is even better than the real thing; no long lines at the airport, or untold hours seated next to that annoying person on the plane, no jet lag and no language barrier.

So for my fellow armchair globe-trotters, here is my list of books with real-life locations in their titles. And if you are wondering what to pack…a hat  is a must! Continue reading “Top Ten Tuesday – Books with Famous Cities in their Titles”