Even though it's 105 degrees here in Arizona today, I'm sure it's starting to feel like Fall somewhere, so I'm breaking out an Autumn-themed TTT banner. It will still feel like summer in the Phoenix area for awhile, unfortunately, but at least I can pretend, right?

In honor of Labor Day, which we celebrated yesterday here in the U.S., today's TTT theme is: Top Ten Books With Occupations in the Title. I'm going to scour my TBR list to see what I can find. Shouldn't be too tough. (Actually, it was a bit hard. I only found eleven, which surprised me since it seems like occupation titles are all the rage these days. Interesting...)

As always, Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely Jana over at That Artsy Reader Girl.

1. The Widow Spy by Megan Campisi—This historical novel is based on the true story of Kate Warne, the first female detective in the U.S. In the summer of 1863, she's tasked with gaining the trust of a Confederate socialist and spy. What is already a seemingly impossible task is made even more risky by the secrets Kate herself is hiding.

2. The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill—When attorney Theodosia "Theo" Benton abandons her career in order to concentrate on finishing the novel she's been writing, she knows it's going to cause a stir. Then, her writing mentor is murdered, the police target her brother for the killing, and Theo finds herself following clues left by the dead man in order to solve the crime. 

3. And the Band Played On: The Titanic Violinist and the Glovemaker: A True Story of Love, Loss, and Betrayal by Christopher Ward—In this "outstanding piece of literary detective work," Ward presents the research he did on his grandfather, a violinist who continued to play music with his Titanic bandmates as the great ship sank. The author examines the effects of Jock Hume's death on his pregnant fiancée and other family members.

I'm not sure where the glovemaker comes in, but hey, bonus points for me for finding two occupations in one title! This cover photo actually doesn't show the subtitles. Hmm...

4. The Bangalore Detectives Club by Harini Nagendra—This is the first book in a cozy mystery series set in 1920s India. It stars a new bride who spots a suspicious shadowy figure at a party. When a guest turns up dead and a frightened young woman is accused of the crime, the newlywed can't help herself—she has to investigate. Little does she know just how dangerous sleuthing can be...

5. The Maid's Secret by Nita Prose—I love this fun mystery series! The third installment finds our plucky heroine organizing a shoot at the hotel for a popular antiques appraisal television show. On a whim, she brings in some of her gram's treasures, one of which is, shockingly, of enormous value. When the item is stolen, Molly and her friends launch their own investigation to catch a thief.

6. The Artist of Blackberry Grange by Paulette Kennedy—It's 1925 and a devastated Sallie Halloran is in desperate need of a change. When she learns that her great-aunt, who is suffering from dementia, needs a live-in caretaker, she heads to the woman's crumbling mansion in the Ozarks to take the job. When her great-aunt starts painting strange, haunting pieces hinting at secrets from the past, a curious Sally starts digging into the artist's life for answers.

7. The Lamplighter's Bookshop by Sophie Austin—Left penniless by her father's gambling debts, Evelyn is desperate to find a way to support herself and her mother. When she learns about a position at a bookstore, she eagerly applies. She's not the only applicant. Can Evelyn and William, an enigmatic writer with his own secrets, find a way to work together to their mutual benefit?

8. The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association by Caitlin Rozakis—This cozy fantasy features a panicked mother whose daughter has just been bitten by a werewolf. Whisked away to a secret magical school community, she is grappling to understand its many oddities—from frightening prophecies to terrifying PTA politics. Will she and her family ever find their way in a strange new club they never asked to join?

9. The Librarians by Sherry Thomas—In a quiet Texas suburb, four quirky librarians have found peace and acceptance working at the local library. When a murder occurs during a library event, their neat world is completely upended. Suddenly, their refuge is at risk and the only way to save it is to trust one another and work together to save their beloved library.

10. The Lost Baker of Vienna by Sharon Kurtzman—Inspired by the author's family history, this novel tells the story of a war refugee who has found freedom in Vienna. Struggling to survive on very little, Chana risks everything each night as she sneaks back into the hotel kitchen where she works during the day to bake her father's beloved recipes. When she finds herself at the center of a dangerous love triangle, things become even dicier. How can Chana figure out what her heart really wants when she must concentrate her every effort on ekeing out enough of a living to keep herself and her family alive?

There you go, ten books on my TBR list that feature occupations in their titles. Have you read any of these? Which occupation titles did you choose to highlight today? I'd love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog.

Happy TTT!  

I'm a little late to the party today, but I didn't want to miss my favorite weekly book blogger event. Today's prompt is an appropriate one for the start of a new year—Top Ten Bookish Goals for 2024—but I had so much fun with last week's topic—Top Ten Most Anticipated Reads Releasing in the First Half of 2024—that I decided to make a Part Two. (If you missed Part One, click here.) In addition to the up-and-comers on my TBR list that I didn't mention last week, I added a bunch more titles from your lists, and now I'm even more excited for 2024's exciting lineup of books.

Before we get to my list, be sure to click on over to That Artsy Reader Girl and give our hostess, Jana, some love.

- in order of release date -  

1. Trapped in Yosemite by Dana Mentink (available February 1)—I'm not a big fan of romantic suspense, but this one sounds exciting. When Yosemite National Park is leveled by a massive earthquake, a K9 handler and his ex-fiancee are thrown together to save the life of her young daughter. With dangers both natural and human throwing roadblocks in their way, they are quickly running out of time to save the child and themselves.

2. Embers in the London Sky by Sarah Sundin (available February 6)—When a young widow escapes to London after the Nazis invade The Netherlands, she becomes separated from her 4-year-old son. While working to help a British agency evacuate children to safety, she enlists the help of a handsome journalist to help her locate her lost boy. With bombs and a series of murders causing chaos in London, it's becoming increasingly clear that they are running out of time and into more danger than either one of them bargained for. 

3. Sisters of Fortune by Anna Lee Huber (available February 20)—You all know I can't resist a Titanic book! Based on a true story, this historical novel concerns the Fortune sisters, three siblings returning home to the U.S. from their Grand Tour in Europe. Their voyage on the grandest ocean liner ever built changes all of their lives in irrevocable ways.

4. The Hidden Life of Cecily Larson by Ellen Baker (available February 20)—Billed as Orphan Train meets Water For Elephants, this historical novel concerns a young orphan who finds unexpected acceptance and belonging when she is sold to a traveling circus at four years old. Almost 100 years later, she receives a DNA kit as a gift, the results of which open up old secrets and new questions about her family, her past, and herself.

5. Baby X by Kira Peikoff (available March 5)—In this futuristic thriller, DNA from anyone can be used to create babies. Celebrity DNA is especially desirable, creating a thriving black market for eager fans who are also prospective parents. In an effort to prevent the theft of his biological matter, singer Trace Thorne hires Ember Ryan, a bio-security guard, to protect his interests. Despite Ember's strict protection, a pregnant woman claims to be carrying Trace's child. Is it true? What are Trace and Ember going to do about it? 

6. These Tangled Threads: A Novel of Biltmore by Sarah Loudin Thomas (available April 2)—Almost a decade ago, the friendship between Lorna Blankenship and two of her friends was torn apart by a betrayal. Now, Lorna, a master weaver, has been given the opportunity of a lifetime to design a gown for Cornelia Vanderbilt's society wedding. In order to do it, she will have to face past secrets and hurts in order to reunite the women and enlist their help in accomplishing her monumental, life-changing task.  

7. The Widow Spy by Megan Campisi (available April 9)—Based on a true story, this historical novel tells the story of Kate Warne, the first female Pinkerton detective. Also a Union spy, she's tasked with befriending a Confederate socialite. With a working-class background and secrets of her own that must stay hidden, that may be more difficult than it seems. If she can succeed in her mission, it could mean the end to America's bloody Civil War. 

8. That Night in the Library by Eva Jurczyk (available June 11)—On the eve of their college graduation, seven students sneak into their school's rare books library to perform a Greek-inspired ritual asking for wisdom from the Gods. Minutes after they start, the lights go out and one member of the group drops dead. As more students die, the others must root out the murderer before it's too late for them all. 

9. The Nature of Disappearing by Kimi Cunningham Grant (available June 18)—Emlyn is happy with the simple life she lives as a hunting and fishing guide in the wilds of Idaho, far away from her past life. When an old flame seeks her out to enlist her help in finding a mutual friend, who seems to have disappeared, Emlyn is reluctantly pulled back into a world she's desperate to leave behind. She can't deny that her survival skills make her especially suited for the task, so she reluctantly agrees to follow the man she once loved into the woods to search for her former best friend in spite of the increasing danger.

10. Secrets of Rose Briar Hall by Kelsey James (available June 25)—In Gilded Age New York City, a beautiful young woman marries a wealthy stockbroker and moves into his luxurious mansion. Everything changes after the party she throws for her husband's powerful associates goes awry somehow. Millie can't recall what happened at the event, but it must have been horrible for her friends to have shunned her, leaving her alone and bewildered in her cold, empty house. What really happened on the night of the party? 

There you go, ten more 2024 releases I'm looking forward to reading. Do any of them strike your fancy? What new releases are you excited to crack open? What are your bookish goals for 2024? I'd love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog. I also reply to comments left here (although I am a week behind at the moment).