This week I thought I’d share with you the titles that are on my To-Be-Read (TBR) list. Some of the books are new, some are old. Some are by authors I’ve read before, some are new to me. They run the gamut of genres. And this list is by no means exhaustive.
Before I can get to any of the books on my TBR list, I need to finish the one I’m reading along with two others I’ve got stacked on my nightstand. I’m currently reading The Falcon at the Portal by Elizabeth Peters. She is the very talented writer of a series starring Egyptologist Amelia Peabody and Peabody’s entire family. Peters creates a mind-boggling cast of characters that are always fresh and always entertaining. Though the main characters always manage to find themselves in the middle of danger and intrigue, there are moments in Peters’ books that make me laugh out loud. I haven’t read her books in order, though I probably should have, if only to follow the stories of her family members as they make their way through the years around the turn of the twentieth century.
The two books I’ll read next are Agatha Raisin and the Terrible Tourist and Death of a Dentist, both by M.C. Beaton. Agatha Raisin is the heroine of a series of cozies set in the English Cotswolds. She is feisty and sarcastic with just enough vulnerability to make her endearing. A smart, driven woman who retired to the English countryside after building and later selling a successful public relations firm in London, Agatha uses her business savvy to her advantage in solving the crimes that disturb the peace of the Cotswolds. Death of a Dentist is part of a series starring Hamish Macbeth, a Constable in the Scottish highlands who finds challenge and contentment with the mysteries in his small corner of Scotland and whose love of the highlands and determination to avoid career advancement are part of his undeniable charm. I look forward to every adventure of Agatha Raisin and Hamish Macbeth.
And now here’s more of my TBR list:
The Plum Tree by Ellen Marie Wiseman. This book is set in World War II Germany and is the love story of a young German woman and the Jewish son of her employer. It’s gotten great reviews. I first heard about Ms. Wiseman in a newspaper article published in my hometown, where she happens to be a local author. Full disclosure and shameless plug: this book is published by Kensington Publishing, which will be releasing my first novel, Secrets of Hallstead House, in July 2014.
What She Left Behind, also by Ellen Marie Wiseman. This book sounds amazing. Since Ms. Wiseman explains it better than I ever could, I encourage you to visit her website at http://www.ellenmariewiseman.com.
Crescent City Mystery Series by Holli Castillo. This series currently consists of three books, all of which are set in New Orleans: Gumbo Justice, Jambalaya Justice, and Chocolate City Justice. They feature NOLA prosecutor Ryan Murphy, an outspoken woman who has more than just crime scenes to keep her busy, including cops in the family, romances, and Hurricane Katrina.
They Call Me Ace and the Sandi Webster Mysteries, all by Marja McGraw. I’ve been following Marja’s blog (http://blog.marjamcgraw.com/) for a while now and her writing is delightful. She’s funny and thoughtful, and I’ve asked for these books for Christmas. They Call Me Ace is part of the Bogey Man mystery series, a witty, fun, and intriguing group of books featuring a Humphrey Bogart look-alike. I highly recommend Ms. McGraw’s stories!
When Angels Fall: A Benedetti Renaissance Mystery by Hillary Corby. Ms. Corby loves all things Italian as well as historical mysteries, and this book received great reviews for both. I am looking forward to this book!
Elizabeth of York by Alison Weir. This sounds like a fantastic biography. If it’s half as good as Ms. Weir’s Mary Boleyn, I will enjoy it very much.
A Secret Kept by Tatiana de Rosnay. This book is about a long-held secret and its devastating impact on the present. If you haven’t already, I strongly encourage you to read Sarah’s Key by the same author. It is a haunting story.
The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth by Alexandra Robbins. A friend of mine suggested this one, and it sounds great. It’s about the traits that help “outsiders” thrive after high school. I hadn’t heard of Ms. Robbins before last week, but I intend to read this book soon.
The Paris Wife by Paula McLain. This is a book about Hadley, Ernest Hemingway’s first wife, and her time with Ernest in 1920s Paris. Though I have always been a huge fan of Ernest Hemingway’s writing, I became interested in Hadley when I read Z: The Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald a few months ago (a fabulous book). The Paris Wife has gotten great reviews and I can’t wait to get a copy of it!
As I mentioned above, this list is nowhere near complete. Writers are readers first, and I’m always adding to it.
What’s on your TBR list? I’d love to hear about the books you’re reading!
Until next week,
Amy
Reade and Write 