"Sweetbriar Cottage" by Denise Hunter

Every time Denise Hunter releases a new book, I'm itching to get my hands on it! I was especially excited to read Sweetbriar Cottage, as it features a (very) minor character from Just a Kiss, the final novel in her Summer Harbor series. (Also—Just a Kiss just won the 2017 INSPY Award for contemporary romance/romantic suspense! Check out all the winners here.)

"The Girl Who Could See" by Kara Swanson

I'll be completely honest—I was drawn to The Girl Who Could See because of the cover. The book description could've probably said anything, and I still would've requested this book. But the fact that it's science fiction made me want to read it even more!

Top Ten Tuesday: Best Books I've Read So Far This Year

Today's Top Ten Tuesday topic, The Best Books I've Read So Far in 2017, was too good to pass up. Why? Because it always takes me f.o.r.e.v.e.r to compile and publish my yearly "best of" list ... so if I pick the best ones I've read in the first six months of the year now, I'll have less work to do in December (or January. or February. or March.)! I'm listing them in the order I read them, from most to least recent. Just picking them out is enough work for now—don't ask me to rank them, too!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (6-26-17)

I'm back!!!! It's been nearly a month since I participated, and I've missed it. My schedule is finally slowing down and allowing time for reading for pleasure again! After I submitted the yearbook two weeks ago, I had to dive right into INSPY reading. The winners will be announced shortly, and I'll be sure to share the announcement here :-)

"The Captain's Daughter" by Jennifer Delamere

While many historical romances feature women starting over again in a new place, what sets The Captain's Daughter apart is its setting—the London theater scene.

"Jane of Austin" by Hillary Manton Lodge

Simply delightful: Those are the words that spring to mind when I think of Hillary Manton Lodge's modern day twist on Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility.

"The Whys Have It" by Amy Matayo

When I hear that Amy Matayo has a new book coming out, I have just one reaction: How soon can I read it? 

"Heavy Weather" by Normandie Fischer

When I first heard about Heavy Weather, I was intrigued. The synopsis made it sound interesting, and I was looking for a new "listen while I mow" book, so I thought, why not? Turns out, that was a very good decision, as I spent hours enjoying this novel.

"The Noble Servant" by Melanie Dickerson

I love Melanie Dickerson's medieval novels! They all take one (or maybe two) fairy tales and give them a twist. Dickerson's Hagenheim/Fairy Tale Romance series, which I'm still working my way through when I have a spare reading moment, is absolutely fantastic. The Noble Servant is the third book in Dickerson's other medieval series (admittedly, it gets a little confusing keeping all the books straight!), the Thornbeck/Medieval Fairy Tale series. I loved the second book, The Beautiful Pretender, so I was quite eager to get my hands on this book.