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Showing posts with label Maeve Binchy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Maeve Binchy. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 28, 2026
Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I HAD To Buy This Summer
Today's TTT prompt is a fun one: Top Ten Books I Had to Have IMMEDIATELY But Still Haven't Read. I feel like this describes pretty much every book on my shelf! No titles came readily to mind, though, so I think I'm going to go a teensy bit rogue and spin the topic a tad.
As always, Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely Jana over at That Artsy Reader Girl.
Top Ten Books I Had to Buy This Summer
I don't know if it's the excessive heat we've been experiencing here in Arizona, or the fact that I've been on Bookstagram (follow me @blogginboutbooks) a lot trying to beef up my presence there, or what, but I've been on a bit of a book buying spree. The last thing on Earth I need is more books and, yet, I just can't help myself. I'm contemplating a serious book ban in 2027! At any rate, here are the last ten books I have purchased, in no particular order:
1. Light a Penny Candle by Maeve Binchy—This deceased Irish author has long been a favorite. Published in 1982, Light a Penny Candle is my favorite book by her. I've been wanting to reread it, but my library has limited copies and the wait times are lengthy, so I decided to just buy a copy for myself. I'm excited to reconnect with it.
The story is about a long-time friendship between two women and the circumstances that now threaten to tear them apart.
2. The Stargazer of Nantucket by Julie Gerstenblatt—It seems like I've heard nothing but good things about this book. The swashbuckling story about a young woman who stows away on a merchant ship sounds like tons of fun. Into my shopping cart it went!
3. You Had Me at Bigfoot by Nancy Campbell Allen—I've read and enjoyed a few of Allen's books. Described as Nancy Drew meets Scooby Doo, her newest novel sounds like a joy. It's a cozy mystery about a reporter and a photographer who are on assignment to cover a society wedding. Whispers of a missing maid and Bigfoot sightings turn what was sure to be a humdrum story into something much, much more exciting.
4. Murdoku: 80 Murder Mystery Logic Puzzles (Volume 1) by Manuel Garand—This is a Bookstagram Made Me Do It purchase. Someone posted about these fun puzzles for mystery lovers, and I had to give them a try, although I actually haven't done it yet. Soon, I hope.
5. The Burning Side by Sarah Damoff—Everyone seems to be raving about this novel, which is about a family whose lives are turned upside down after their house burns in a fire. Forced to move in with relatives temporarily, the strained situation causes them to reckon with their rocky relationships and family secrets. It's a family saga that is supposed to have it all: humor, heartbreak, and healing.
6. The Story Keeper by Kelly Rimmer—Have you seen the gorgeous sprayed edges on the paperback version of Rimmer's newest novel? They are BEAUTIFUL. How could I resist buying a copy for my bookshelf? Spoiler alert: I couldn't.
The novel concerns a woman who returns to her family's crumbling mansion intent on restoring it to its former glory. Within the walls, she discovers a mysterious book that tells a tale that is eerily similar to her own. As these factual and fictional worlds collide, old family secrets are revealed, changing the woman's life forever.
7. The Mad Wife by Meagan Church—The Kindle version of this historical novel is only $1.99 on Amazon. I've been wanting to read the book, so I coughed up two bucks and made it mine. The story is about a 1950s housewife who works tirelessly to keep up the perfect house, marriage, and life. When a new woman moves into the neighborhood, she becomes fixated on the newcomer, sure that the woman is hiding dark secrets. Her obsession with her neighbor soon has her questioning her own life and sanity.
8. The Girl Upstairs by Jessica R. Patch—I've heard that Patch writes clean thrillers, which I'm very interested in. My library doesn't have any copies of this one, her newest, so I had to take matters into my own hands and buy a copy. It sounds intriguing. The story is about a former homicide detective who moves to an old house in Maine to rebuild her life and marriage. As she and her husband renovate the home, she notices some strange things about the place. Convinced that something terrible happened in her new home, the detective begins an investigation that will reveal some shocking truths.
9. Seek Immediate Shelter by Vincent Yu—I blame this purchase entirely on Ethan over at A Book A Week. His review made it sound too good to pass up. When I saw it displayed at the checkout at Barnes & Noble, it felt like a sign from the book gods that I needed to buy it. Bad things happen when you ignore the book gods, so...
The book has a simple premise: on an ordinary day in small-town Massachusetts, everyone receives an emergency message warning that a missile is incoming and they must find shelter immediately. The residents all have different reactions to the news, some of which will lead to devastating consequences when a second message arrives telling them it was a false alarm. What would YOU do if you thought your demise was imminent? How would your actions affect things if it turned out to be false?
10. Count My Lies by Sophie Stava—This one was an impulse buy from my local indie, Changing Hands Bookstore. Sloane Caraway is a consummate liar, spinning tales to make her ordinary life seem more exciting. When a young girl is stung by a bee at the park one day, Sloane professes to be a nurse and removes the stinger. Impressed, the child's handsome father hires her to be his daughter's nanny. As Sloane becomes immersed in the lives of this wealthy family, she begins to suspect that she's not the only one lying about her life. Her employers are hiding dark secrets about their seemingly perfect lives.
There you go, my last ten book purchases. Have you read any of them? What did you think? I'd truly love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on yours.
Happy TTT!
Tuesday, May 05, 2026
Top Ten Tuesday: Authors I Wish Were Still Writing Today (or At Least Writing What I Want Them to Write)
Our TTT prompt this week is a good one, and unique to boot. I don't think I've ever done a list on this topic: Top 10 Authors You Wish Were Still Writing Today. (Thanks to Rebecca over at Top 100 Books for suggesting it and, as always, to Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl for hosting TTT.) As much as I like this topic, I'm having a hard time coming up with ten authors. We'll see if I make it or not!
Top Ten Authors I Wish Were Still Writing Today (or At Least Writing What I Want Them to Write)
- in no particular order -
1. Maeve Binchy—This Irish author is the first one who came to mind for this topic. I've read and loved all of her warm, engaging novels. Unfortunately, Binchy passed away in 2012.
2. Joshilyn Jackson—Don't worry, Jackson isn't dead! She's just turned her writing focus to domestic thrillers instead of the Southern women's fiction for which she used to be known. Although I do enjoy mystery/thrillers, hers just don't entice and enchant me the way her older books do. I hope someday she'll go back to the genre in which she truly shines.
3. Mary Higgins Clark—Since this author's mystery novels were tame enough for teens, my dad got me started on MHC back when I was in junior high. I spent many a night reading way past my bedtime to finish one of her books. She continued writing up until her death in 2020 at 92 years old. Even though her newer books never enthralled me the way her older ones did, the "Queen of Suspense" will always reign as one of my favorite authors.
4. Elizabeth C. Bunce—I'm a huge fan of Bunce's Myrtle Hardcastle historical mystery series for kids. It's tons of fun. It's been three years since the last installment was published and, while that doesn't actually sound like that long now that I'm typing it out, I'm still hankering for a new Myrtle mystery. It looks like Bunce may have turned to pursuits other than writing, but a reader can dream...
5. C.J. Omololu—This YA author died of cancer in 2015 at 49 years old. I enjoyed her novels, and wish she would have had time to write more of them.
6. Agatha Christie—I have a feeling the Queen of Crime is going to be a popular choice today! Truth be told, I've only read a handful of her novels, but I think it would be really interesting to see what she could do with modern mystery themes and tropes.
7. Julia Keller—A Pulitzer Prize-winning author of both fiction and non-fiction, I thought Keller had last published in 2019, when she had two novels come out. After checking her website today, I see that she published a self-help book in 2023, BUT it's still been seven years since a new installment in her Bell Elkins crime series came out. I really enjoyed those books, and would love to see more of them published. It doesn't seem like that will happen, sadly.
8. L.A. Meyer—Meyer started writing his swashbuckling YA series starring the intrepid female pirate "Bloody" Jacky Faber when he was in his 60s. He finished it just before his death at 72 years old in 2014. The series is so fun. I wish he would have had more years to write. It would have been interesting to see what he did after the Blood Jack books.
9. Y.S. Lee—Lee is a multi-talented author who creates in various mediums. I'm currently re-reading her YA historical mystery series starring a teen Chinese-English sleuth in Victorian England. There are only four installments. I wish there were more. I'd also love to see Lee write additional YA novels. Fingers crossed.
10. Lois Duncan—I loved Duncan's mystery/thriller books back in the day. It's been decades since I've read a book by her, but still, there was a time when I could not get enough of her engrossing novels. She passed away in 2016 at 82 years old.
Hey, hey, hey! Look at that, I made it to ten. Have you read any of these authors? Which writers do you wish were still working today, or at least writing what you want them to write? I'd love to know. Leave me a comment on this post, and I will gladly return the favor on your blog.
Happy TTT!
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Top Ten Tuesday: A St. Patrick's Day TBR List of Books Set in Ireland Written By Irish Authors
Happy St. Patrick's Day! Besides wearing green to avoid getting pinched, I've never done much to celebrate this holiday. Although I have a very Irish maiden name, my father's ancestors are decidedly Scottish; my 13ish% Emerald Isle DNA comes from a fourth great-grandfather on my mother's side. The fact that he was born in Ireland is about all we know about him, unfortunately. Since we're all a little Irish today, our Top Ten Tuesday prompt du jour gives a nod to St. Patty: Top Ten Green Book Covers. I'm going to go in a little bit different direction and talk about books I want to read that are set in Ireland and written by Irish authors. (As always, Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely Jana over at That Artsy Reader Girl.)
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I don't generally like Hollywood adaptations, but I have to agree with Rocky on this one: Amaze, Amaze, Amaze!
Top Ten Books On My TBR List That Are Set in Ireland and Written by Irish Authors
1. Dead in Dublin by Catie Murphy—Although Murphy was born and raised in Alaska, she has strong Irish roots, and now resides in Ireland, so I'm counting her!
This book is the first installment in a cozy mystery series starring Dublin limo driver Megan Malone. New to the city, she's enjoying settling into her new home and career when a client dies suddenly after dining in a local restaurant. When the eatery's owner is blamed for poisoning the beloved international star with spoiled seafood, she begs Megan to find out what really killed the woman before she ends up in prison, or worse, loses her restaurant.
2. Everything She Didn't Say by Jane Casey—I'm a big fan of Casey's mystery novels, especially her Maeve Kerrigan series. This book, her newest, is a standalone about two friends staying together in a clifftop house in County Mayo. When one of the women is discovered in blood-stained clothing and the other goes missing, the authorities begin asking questions. Locals insist they only ever saw one woman at the house. Is the other woman lying? Or has something horrible happened to her friend?
Everything She Didn't Say comes out on July 16 in the U.K. I'm not sure when it will be available in the U.S.
3. Foster by Claire Keegan—This "beautiful, sad, and eerie" novel is about a young girl who gets sent to live with a foster family in rural Ireland. There, she finds the love and stability she's been missing. When a secret is revealed, however, it threatens to upend the idyllic life she's been enjoying.
4. The Trial by Jo Spain—Ten years ago, 20-year-old Theo got out of the bed he was sharing with his girlfriend, Dani, and vanished, leaving behind his family, the elite college where he was studying medicine, and a distraught partner. A decade later, Dani returns to the school as a history professor. Theo's unsolved disappearance still haunts her. It soon becomes clear that St. Edmunds is hiding as many secrets within its walls as Dani is keeping inside hers.
5. Light a Penny Candle by Maeve Binchy—I'm still mourning the 2012 death of this beloved Irish author. I've read and loved all of her books, but it's been a long time, so I'm going to begin a reread campaign, starting with Light a Penny Candle (1980), her first novel. It concerns Aisling and Elizabeth, two lifelong friends who have supported each other through thick and thin. They can survive anything as long as they have each other, or can they?
6. The Keeper by Tana French (available March 31, 2026)—French is another Irish crime writer whose books I adore. (I guess she's technically American-Irish since she was born in Vermont, but her father is Irish and she holds both American and Irish citizenship.) At any rate, I've read all of French's novels except this one, her latest. The Keeper is the last installment in a trilogy starring Cal Hooper, an American detective who decides to retire in a small, peaceful Irish village. Although he intends to stay under the radar, he soon becomes entangled in the dramas, grievances, romances, and even crimes that play out in his new town. In this final volume, Cal can't help but get involved when a sweet local girl is found dead in a river. He soon discovers that her death is not as straightforward as it seems. As things get ever more complicated, Cal and his loved become ever more at risk.
7. Death at Whitewater Church by Andrea Carter—This is the first installment in a mystery series starring solicitor Benedicta "Ben" O'Keeffe who helps Sergeant Tom Molloy solve intriguing cases. As the title of this one indicates, Ben is hired by the owners of a deconsecrated church when human remains are discovered on its grounds. The finding creates new interest in the case of a man who went missing on his wedding day six years ago, and the solicitor can't help her own intrigue with the mystery. What really happened to the vanished groom?
8. The Paper Bracelet by Rachael English—As an adoptive mother, I can't get enough of novels like this one. It's about a woman who worked at a west Ireland mother and baby home in the 1960s. While there, she took copious notes about the residents, notes she has held onto for decades. After her husband dies, she decides to use the information in her notebook to try to reunite the mothers with their children. As she proceeds, getting mixed results, she is forced to face her own secrets from the past.
9. The Hungry Road by Marita Conlon-McKenna—When a potato blight ravishes crops in Ireland in 1845, it changes irrevocably the lives of millions of people. This novel looks at the event through the eyes of two of them.
10. Watermelon by Marian Keyes—This list features some heavy books, so I'll end off with a lighter read. Watermelon is the first book in a family drama series about the triumphs and travails of the various female members of a big, chaotic Dublin family.
There you are, ten books I want to read that are set in Ireland and written by Irish authors. Have you read any of them? Which books set in the Emerald Isle are your favorite? Which Irish writers do you like most? I'd truly love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog.
Happy TTT!
Tuesday, July 07, 2020
Top Ten Tuesday: My Most Read Authors
All of us have favorite auto-buy (or at least auto-read) authors. Some of them publish dozens of books, all of which we clamor to consume. This week's Top Ten Tuesday topic—Top Ten Authors I've Read the Most Books By—made me think about the writers I've loved over my 44 years of life and how many of their books I've read. Using Goodreads, Fantastic Fiction, and my not-very-reliable memory, I managed to come up with a list that's fairly accurate (I think).
Before we get to that, though, I want to encourage you to click on over to That Artsy Reader Girl and give our host, Jana, a little love. If you want to join in the TTT fun, her blog has all the deets.
Top Ten Authors I've Read the Most Books By
1. Mary Higgins Clark (20+ books read)—I've mentioned this grand dame of mystery many times on my blog. My dad is a big MHC fan; he's the one who introduced me to her. As a junior high/high schooler I inhaled her engrossing suspense novels (many times late at night, long after I was supposed to be asleep). I haven't been as impressed by her more recent offerings and haven't actually read her for a number of years. Still, the recent passing of this mystery maven made me sad.
2. Jodi Picoult (21 books read)—Picoult's books rarely fail to engage me, so it's no wonder I've read almost everything she's ever written.
3. Kathy Reichs (19 books read)—I love Reichs' forensic mysteries starring Temperance Brennan and have read every book in the series. As of yet, I haven't tried her YA series, Virals, which she pens with her son, Brendan.
4. Maeve Binchy (15+ books read)—Binchy's recent-ish death is another I was saddened by. She was a wonderful Irish writer whose novels I've enjoyed greatly over the years.
5. Judy Blume (12+ books read)—Like many girls of my generation, I grew up reading books like Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret; Super Fudge; Deenie; and Blubber. Although I haven't read a Blume book in decades, I zoomed through a whole bunch of them as a kid.
6. Adriana Trigiani (13 books read)—It's been a little while since I've read anything by this Italian-American author, but I've enjoyed a number of her books. Her Big Stone Gap series is my favorite.
7. Sharon Bolton (12 books read)—Although her British crime novels can be super dark and disturbing, I can't resist Bolton.
8. Jane Casey (12 books read)—Ditto this Irish author of crime fiction. I'm especially enamored of her Maeve Kerrigan series.
9. Stephen King (11 books read)—Reading wasn't considered very cool when I was a teen, so I generally hid my bookwormish tendencies from anyone who wasn't family. If I did risk being seen reading in public, I made sure it was with a socially acceptable author, of which King was definitely one. I'm a lot wimpier now than I used to be, so I haven't read anything from the "Master of Horror" in a decade or so. Still.
10. Christopher Pike (10+ books read)—Pike is another author I loved as a teen. His YA thrillers kept me up way past my bedtime on many a night.
There you go, the top ten authors whose books I've read most throughout my life. What do you think? Do we have any in common? Whose works have you consumed most? I'd truly love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I'll return the favor on yours.
Happy TTT!
Tuesday, September 25, 2018
TTT: The Ones That Got Away
Before we get to that, though, I want to encourage you to join in the TTT fun. It's easy peasey. All you have to do is click on over to That Artsy Reader Girl, read few a few guidelines, make a list of your own, share it, then start visiting other blogs. It's a great way to find new blogs, add great-looking reads to your own TBR mountain chain, and just spread the love around Ye Ole Book Blogosphere. It's a good time, I promise!
Okay, here we go with Top Ten Books By My Favorite Authors That I Still Haven't Read (not including books in series—mostly):
1. J.K. Rowling—Harry Potter is one of my all-time favorite series, but I've never read any of the books by Rowling's alter ego, Robert Galbraith. I've seen mixed reviews, so I haven't rushed to check them out. I will though. Eventually.
2. Maeve Binchy—I adore this Irish author who died in 2012. I thought I'd read all her books except the last three: Minding Frankie (2010), A Week in Winter (2012), and Chestnut Street (2014). Turns out, she's also written a half dozen non-fiction books. Who knew?
3. Liane Moriarty—With the exception of Truly Madly Guilty, I've loved everything I've ever read by Moriarty. There are a few on her backlist that I still need to get to: Three Wishes (2013), The Last Anniversary (2005), and The Hypnotist's Love Story (2012). She also has a children's series, but I'm not sure it's really my cup of tea, so I'll probably skip it.
4. Jodi Picoult—I've long been a Picoult fan, but I haven't read all her books yet. What's missing? Sing You Home (2011) and The Storyteller (2013), plus the two she wrote with her daughter, Samantha van Leer: Between the Lines (2012) and Off the Page (2015).
5. Jacqueline Woodson—I love Woodson's books, but there are plenty I have yet to read by the newly-crowned National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. I'm especially interested in Harbor Me (2018). I also heard her read her newest picture book, The Day You Begin (2018), at the National Book Festival earlier this month and I'd love to re-read it.
6. Rae Carson—I adore Carson's Gold Seer trilogy, but I have yet to give her Fire & Thorns series a go.
7. Neal Shusterman—With the exception of Scythe, I've loved everything I've read by this prolific author. He's tough to keep up with, though, so I have lots of catching up to do with him. I'm not even sure where to start. What's your favorite of his?
8. Julia Keller—I read every Bell Elkins book as soon as I can get my hands on it, but I haven't given Keller's newest series a try yet. The Dark Intercept series has a futuristic/sci fi setup, which isn't my usual thing. Still, I'm going to give it a whirl one of these days.
9. Susan Meissner—Meissner's gentle dual-timeline novels are right up my alley. I've read all of them from 2011 on. The author's got a fairly extensive backlist, though, and I'm definitely planning to check it out. I'm especially interested in The Shape of Mercy (2008), a novel about a college student whose studies of the Salem Witch Trials go a little too deep ...
10. Emily Carpenter—I just discovered this author and while I'm not sure I can call her a favorite yet, I have been enjoying her twisted psychological thrillers. Her newest (which sounds amazing) doesn't come out until March 2019, so I have plenty of time to read the only one of hers I haven't delved into yet—Burying the Honeysuckle Girls (2016). It's sitting on my Kindle, just waiting for me to open it up.
There you go, all (well, some) of the books I still need to read from some of my favorite authors. Have you read any of them? Where should I start? How about you—which books are you missing from your favorite authors? I'd love to know. Leave me a comment and I'll gladly return the favor on your blog.
Happy Top Ten Tuesday!
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