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Tuesday, December 07, 2021

Top Ten Tuesday: End of the Year Reads


It's hard to believe there are only 24 more days left of 2021! There's still plenty I need to do before the year closes out. Among my many to-do items is reading at least ten more books so I can hit my goal of 200. Shouldn't be too hard. Since today's Top Ten Tuesday topic is a freebie and I'm not feeling very creative today, I'm just going to list the titles I'm planning to get to before January 1st rolls around.

If you're in a list-making mood today, definitely hop on the TTT party train. It's always a good time! All you have to do is click on over to That Artsy Reader Girl for all the details.

Top Ten Books I'm Planning to Read Before January 1st


1. The Long Weekend by Gilly Macmillan (available March 29, 2022)—I'm a fan of Macmillan's engrossing thrillers, so I'm excited to read her newest. Although it doesn't come out for awhile still, I've got an e-ARC. Yay! The novel concerns a group of friends who book a stay in a remote English inn. When their husbands are all delayed, the women go on ahead. Upon arrival, they receive a disturbing note saying one of their men will be murdered. Stuck in the isolated countryside, their vacation takes a terrible turn for the worst.


2. The Murder Rule by Dervla McTiernan (available May 10, 2022)—This Irish author is one of my favorite crime writers. There's not a lot of info on her newest, for which I have an e-ARC, but it appears to be a standalone mystery/thriller. Color me intrigued!


3. Yusuf Azeem is Not a Hero by Saadia Faruqi—I need to read a book by a Muslim-American author for a reading challenge and I've heard good things about this one. Faruqi co-wrote another middle-grade novel I enjoyed, so I'm excited for her newest. It concerns a boy who lives in small-town Texas. With the 20th anniversary of 9/11 coming up, his Muslim community is on edge, especially considering all the protests against a new mosque that's opening up nearby. What will happen as the anniversary approaches in a town that's already simmering with unease? 


4. Lies That Comfort and Betray by Rosemary Simpson—I enjoyed the first installment in this Gilded Age mystery series and am anxious to see what happens in this second book. Prudence MacKenzie, a wealthy heiress, has just formed a detective agency with her friend, Geoffrey Hunter. When one of Prudence's young maids is murdered, the duo have their first case. The victim died in a disturbingly similar way to the women Jack the Ripper killed. Has a vicious killer crossed the pond? Or is someone copying his notorious crimes?


5. Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson—A dark academia book prompt is propelling me to finally re-read this YA murder mystery that takes place at a remote East Coast boarding school. I enjoyed it the first time around and am looking forward to moving on with the series once I remind myself of who's who and what's what in the series.



6. Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan—This one is getting a lot of positive buzz. It's about a woman whose dying younger brother is a big fan of a newly-published book called The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. When he asks her a burning question that only the author can answer, she reluctantly seeks out C.S. Lewis. The famous author offers her no quick answers, but what he does give her is far more valuable: hope.


7. Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls by Kaela Rivera—I need to read a fantasy book for a reading challenge prompt and this one sounds interesting. Based on Mexican folklore, it's about a girl who must go on a dangerous, magical journey in order to save her sister.


8. Daughter of Venice by Donna Jo Napoli—Two of the reading challenges I'm trying to finish are asking me to read books set before the 17th Century. That's not my usual era, but I like Napoli and this book—set in 1592—sounds intriguing. It's about a young noblewoman in Venice whose future will be spent inside a convent. Unless she changes it. Which she does, to her peril.


9. I'll Be Seeing You by Mary Higgins Clark—As a teenager, I spent many hours reading MHC by flashlight after I was supposed to be asleep because I literally could not put her books down. I'm supposed to read a 1990s bestseller for a reading challenge so I'll be revisiting this oldie but goodie. It features a news reporter who's mourning her father, who's presumed dead after his car plunged over a New York City bridge. When a young woman is murdered, a woman who could be the reporter's double, her father's secrets—and the truth about his suspected death—begin coming to light.


10. Mr. Dickens and His Carol by Samantha Silva—This Christmas novel is one I hoped to read last year. Since I've already completed my annual re-reading of A Christmas Carol, I think it's a good time to enjoy this festive tale about the writing of my favorite holiday story.

There you go, ten books I'm hoping to read before 2022 begins. What's on your reading list for the rest of the year? Have you read any of my picks? What did you think? What did you choose for your freebie topic today? I'd truly love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I'll gladly return the favor on your blog.

Happy TTT!

69 comments:

  1. Books one and four are the two I'm going to go and investigate as they both sound very intriguing. I have a couple of books I need to finish before the end of the year, one for a challenge and one for an online book club, hopefully I can get those read.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm just about done with THE LONG WEEKEND. It's a very gripping read! LIES THAT COMFORT AND BETRAY is actually the second book in the series, so start with WHAT THE DEAD LEAVE BEHIND. Oh, and guess what I'm picking up at the library today? Books 2 and 3 in the Lady Hardcastle mystery series. Thanks for recommending it!

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Cath!

      Delete
  2. Great list! There's a lot on here that I would recommend to my students as well. Adding Mr. Dickens and His Carol to my immediate TBR - it sounds really good.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree. I'm really hoping I can get to it before Christmas. We'll see.

      Thanks for popping in, Priya!

      Delete
  3. Great idea for a list! I doubt I would be able to read ten books in the next three weeks, but good luck and I hope you enjoy them!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. One down, nine to go! I got this...I hope :)

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Tammy!

      Delete
  4. I feel this topic! I have so many books I want to get read before the year ends!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Right? I always panic at the end of the year because I want to reach my goal, even if I'm SUPER far behind. This year, the goal is definitely in sight. Phew!

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Deanna!

      Delete
  5. Cece Rios and Once Upon a Wardrobe both sound like books I'd enjoy. I need to make a list like this!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I started with a "100 Books I Want to Read Before the Year Ends," then a "50 Books" list and now I'm down to a "10 Books," so I guess the lists are helping to keep me motivated. I love crossing things off lists!

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Deb!

      Delete
  6. I don’t know if my last comment went through, so feel free to delete this one if it’s a duplicate.

    Mr. Dickens and His Carol sounds really good. How does it compare to the original? I reread A Christmas Carol every year, too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I haven't read MR. DICKENS AND HIS CAROL yet, so I don't know how it compares. All I know is it's about the creation of A CHRISTMAS CAROL, but it's fiction. I'm intrigued by it, for sure. Also, I love that you re-read A CHRISTMAS CAROL too. It's such a great story and, honestly, I feel like I get something new out of it every time I read it.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Lydia!

      Delete
  7. From your list I've only heard of (and read) Truly Devious :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. TRULY DEVIOUS is a fun read, isn't it? I should have waited to read it, though, until the other books were out so I could just binge the whole series at once. Too bad I'm so impatient!

      Thanks for stopping in, Laurie!

      Delete
  8. I haven't heard of any of these books but Once upon a wardrobe sounds intriguing. I do love that C.S. Lewis series.

    I don't have any TBR books as I never making reading lists but I do hope to at least a few books before the year is over.

    Have a lovely day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I never made TBR lists before I started blogging, but now I use them to organize and motivate myself. Plus, they're just fun to make! I rarely stick to them, but I still enjoy making them :)

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Lissa!

      Delete
  9. Awesome list of books you hope to read before the end of the year. Mr. Dickens and His Carol would be my first choice. Once Upon A Wardrobe and Lies That Comfort and Betray also caught my eye. Thanks for sharing.

    https://thebookconnectionccm.blogspot.com/2021/12/top-ten-tuesday-top-ten-bookish.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I just finished THE LONG WEEKEND, so I think I'm going to read MR. DICKENS next. It sounds like the perfect Christmas read!

      Thanks for stopping in, Cheryl!

      Delete
  10. This is a great topic for today's post. I read the Mary Higgins Clark one many moons ago and I have seen Patti Callahan's around and think it sounds interesting. Have a great day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's been ages since I read a MHC book. I used to INHALE her books, but I haven't been as impressed with her more recent ones. She had a prolific writing career, though, and it's sad that she's no longer with us :(

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Cindy!

      Delete
  11. Oooh, these sound good! I'll definitely be adding some of these to my TBR!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yay! I'm glad you found a few to pique your interest. Be sure to let me know what you think of them if you read them.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Leah!

      Delete
  12. Happy TTT, Susan! And good luck finishing up these last ten books before the end of the year! It's funny, Mr. Dickens and His Carol is one I meant to read last year, too, only I never did. And then I forgot about it. Thanks for the reminder! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha ha. That happens to me ALL the time! There are so many books I want to read that I can't keep them all in my head. Thank goodness for Goodreads. It helps me keep track.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Lark!

      Delete
  13. So many pretty covers! I'm intrigued by Ince Upon a Wardrobe and Mr. Dickens and his Carol.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They both sound so good, don't they? MR. DICKENS is up next for me. I hope it's as good as it sounds.

      Thanks for popping in, Danielle!

      Delete
  14. Loads of these look good!Yusef Azeem sounds really interesting

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've heard excellent things about YUSEF AZEEM. I'm excited to read it!

      Thanks for stopping by, Catherine!

      Delete
  15. I really want to read Truly Devious--great list!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's an entertaining mystery. I'm not fond of re-reading, but I'm actually looking forward to it with this one. And, of course, I'm excited to move on with the series and find out what happens next.

      Thanks for popping in, FangirlFlax!

      Delete
  16. Oh wow! You're a fast reader then! I don't think I'll get 10 books finished before New Years! I still need to start Maureen's new series here too! Loved her Shades of London series that never got finished sadly.



    Thanks for visiting my TTT!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do read pretty fast. It helps that I don't watch tv and that I always have an audio book going so that I can read even while doing dishes, cleaning house, decorating for Christmas, etc.

      I really liked the Shades of London series, too. I'm so sad that Johnson never finished it. Here's hoping she comes back to it one of these days...

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Jessica!

      Delete
  17. Replies
    1. I finished one of the books on my list today, so I have nine to go to reach my goal. I'm cooking right along!

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Carol!

      Delete
  18. Oooh! These sound like interesting reads! Great picks!

    Here’s my TTT!

    Ronyell @ Rabbit Ears Book Blog

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm hoping they're all good reads. We'll see.

      Thanks for stopping in, Ronyell!

      Delete
  19. Hope you get to all of these! I really want to read CeCe Rios, but I doubt it will happen in 2021.

    Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It sounds like such an interesting read, doesn't it? Not really my genre, but I'm still very intrigued by it. I hope we both enjoy it!

      Thanks for popping by, Nicole!

      Delete
  20. I was so busy today, mine is going to be a TTW. I am doing the same thing. I read Once Upon a Wardrobe over the weekend. I am probably in the minority, but it was only okay for me. My review to come. I hope you get all these read and you enjoy them all. I am interested in Mr. Dickens and His Carol, I am not familiar with it, but it sounds like a good one.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, bummer! The only other book I've read by the author (SAVING SAVANNAH) was kind of a meh one for me, so we'll see. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I'll love MR. DICKENS.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Carla!

      Delete
  21. I hope you get to all of these! The Long Weekend sounds super fun.

    I liked Truly Devious.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. TRULY DEVIOUS really is a fun read. I enjoyed it, too. THE LONG WEEKEND wasn't as good as I wanted it to be, but it definitely kept me turning pages. Macmillan's books are always edge-of-my-seat reads.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Greg!

      Delete
  22. Oh my gosh, a MacMillan and a McTiernan?! Such great authors. I am adding both to my TBR/Christmas wish list.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The books don't come out until next Spring, but they're both available on Edelweiss now. The Macmillan kept me turning pages, but I didn't love it. I'll get to the McTiernan soon. Keeping my fingers crossed that it's a good one!

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Helen!

      Delete
  23. I hope that you get to all these books but that is a lot of reading in so few days. I won't hold you to it! Thanks for dropping by my blog and for reading one of my reviews...Dragon Hoops. I really enjoyed it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha ha. I'm determined to meet my goal of reading 200 books this year—for the first time ever—so I'll do it one way or another :)

      Thanks for stopping in, Anne!

      Delete
  24. Good luck reading all these. I am a big fan of the Truly Devious series. Hope it's as good the second time around.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm sure it will be. Bonus is I really can't remember anything about the storyline, so maybe it will be like I've never read it before. Ha ha.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Sam!

      Delete
  25. I hope you enjoy reading these when you get the opportunity!

    Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!
    https://readbakecreate.com/holiday-books-that-dont-mention-the-holidays-in-their-title/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! I hope so, too :)

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Pam!

      Delete
  26. Looks like you have some fun reading ahead. I just finished Mr. Dickens and His Carol. I really liked it! It is a perfect book for December. I couldn't come up with a list idea this week.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, good! I'm starting it tonight and am looking forward to it.

      Yeah, sometimes the freebie topics are the hardest ones to do. I wish I were more creative with them, but...nope.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Kami!

      Delete
  27. I can't even imagine reading 200 books in one year. I think I went just over 150 during one of the years I was recovering from broken bones, but not even close since then. Good luck on getting there...now, get to reading.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha ha. Well, I've never read 200 books in a year. At least not yet. I do feel like all I ever do is read, which is true-ish. I don't watch tv, I don't have a lot of other hobbies, I don't have little kids to watch, and I listen to audiobooks while I drive, clean, etc. So, yeah, I read A LOT. Considering that, it's surprising that I'm only at 191 books for the year so far.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Sam!

      Delete
  28. Truly Devious is such a great series and so fast paced!Good luck hitting your goal, you can do it!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, good, I'm glad to hear that the rest of the series is as good as the first book. I'm excited to get back into it.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Leslie!

      Delete
  29. I've been meaning to get to CeCe Rios myself. Good luck with all of these!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It sounds like a unique and compelling novel, doesn't it? I'm anxious to see what it's all about.

      Thanks for popping by, Alicia!

      Delete
  30. Nice idea to prepare for your last reads of the year. Have a good December.

    Thanks for visiting my TTT which is about German books.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hopefully, this will help me reach my 200 goal. I've finished THE LONG WEEKEND and am now reading MR. DICKENS AND HIS CAROL. I'm only a few chapters in, but I'm enjoying it so far.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Marianne!

      Delete
    2. That sounds interesting, especially since I'm reading Mr. Dickens' Carol right now. LOL

      Delete
  31. Replies
    1. Thanks! I've read two of these so far and they've both been good.

      Thanks for stopping in, Lectrice!

      Delete
  32. As someone with a seriously ill child I was very nervous going into Once Upon a Wardrobe but I really really enjoyed it. I don't know that much about C.S. Lewis's actual life so I'm not sure on the accuracy there. The Rosemary Simpson looks good. I've read a few in the series and enjoyed 2 but disliked the most recent one. Good luck with your list! You've got some great choices.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, yes, I bet your experience with your son makes you wary about reading certain books. I'm glad ONCE UPON A WARDROBE was bearable for you. I hope I enjoy it as well. I'm really liking the Simpson series, but I've only the first one so far.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Katherine!

      Delete
  33. I hope you're able to get to all of these. Once Upon a Wardrobe sounds so good. I hadn't heard of that one before but definitely need to read it. I read Mr. Dickens and His Carol a couple of years ago and thought it was quite good.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I had some issues with MR. DICKENS, but I liked it overall. The ending gave me all the feels for sure! I still haven't gotten to ONCE UPON A WARDROBE. I have high hopes for it, though.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Suzanne!

      Delete
  34. I'm not even going to *PRETEND* I'll read more in 2021. This has NOT been my year for reading, but I do hope you enjoy and accomplish reading all of these! Happy reading. :) Thanks bunches for visiting Finding Wonderland on this week.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, there's always next year! I will definitely hit my goal this year (I only have six books left and I am going to get to 200 come hell or highwater!).

      Thanks for popping in, Rissi!

      Delete

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