Today's TTT topic is an Indie Freebie, which includes a wide range of possible topics: indie bookstores, indie publishers, indie authors, indie books on your TBR list, etc. It was suggested by the brilliant bloggers behind Dark Shelf of Wonders and Books Are the New Black. I wasn't sure quite what to do with this one, but I finally decided to highlight an indie publisher with roots right here in Arizona. I'm going to tell you a little bit about the history of Poisoned Pen Press (gleaned from online sources), then show you ten books I want to read that they have published recently. 

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

Poisoned Pen Bookstore is an indie shop located in Scottsdale, Arizona, that specializes in mystery, thrillers, as well as American Southwest literature. The store was founded in 1989 by author Barbara J. Peters. In 1997, Peters and her husband founded Poisoned Pen Press, a separate entity which is dedicated to publishing mystery books. Sourcebooks acquired Poisoned Pen Press in 2018. This popular imprint publishes novels by well-known authors like Freida McFadden, Sulari Gentill, Martin Edwards, Vicki Delany/Eva Gates, and many more. 

Although I live in a suburb of Phoenix, I've actually only been to the Pen once and it was quite a long time ago. I'm on a self-imposed book-buying ban at the moment; when I finish with it, I need to revisit the shop. They're known for hosting lots of author events, so I'll be keeping an eye out on future offerings. In the meantime, here are ten of their recently published or soon-to-be published titles that I would like to read.

1. Someone Else's Daughter by Andrea Stewart (available 23 February 2027)—Although she is estranged from the YouTuber parents who monetized her childhood, Ellie Campbell still watches their viral videos. When she notices some alarming details in one of their videos, then finds out that a close friend of the family is missing, Ellie rushes home to make sure her younger sister is safe—only to find that she has run away. If Olivia needed protecting, surely she would have come to Ellie, but she didn't, so where is she? Ellie won't stop until she finds out.

2. The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood—At 77, Judith Potts is living her best life as an independent woman who spends her time doing whatever she pleases with no one looking over her shoulder. While swimming in the Thames one evening, she witnesses a vicious killing. The police don't believe her protests of innocence, so she launches her own investigation into the murder. Soon, she is joined by two friends, who form the titular club. This is the first installment in the popular cozy series.

3. Saddled With Murder by Eileen Brady—Another series opener, this one stars veternarian Kate Turner, who is busy juggling a busy practice, a complicated personal life, and now, a series of suspicious deaths and doings that all seem to point to her. All these complications mean Kate is having a very difficult time having a holly jolly Christmas. Instead, she must find the answers that will prove her innocence.

4. The Murders in Great Diddling by Katarina Bivald—This series begins by introducing author Berit Gardner, who is desperately in need of a good story to tell. The quiet, rundown village of Great Diddling is just the kind of place that must be hiding some bangers. Berit just needs to dig a little. A suspicious death at a village tea party provides not only the story spark the author's been looking for but also a chance for the eccentric residents of Great Diddling to do some creative reinventing of themselves and their town.

5. It Ends Here by Heidi Perks (available 6 October 2026)—A small, seaside town is rocked by the sound of a gunshot coming from inside a local cafe on a quiet morning. Inside, are five strangers. Outside, is a growing crowd of onlookers desperate for answers. Who fired the shot, and why?

6. A Doomful of Sugar by Catherine Bruns—When her father is murdered, Leila Khoury returns to her Vermont hometown to take over his maple syrup business. Although she believed her dad was well-liked by his community, she learns that that's not exactly the truth. With her family consumed by grief and the police eyeing them all with suspicion, it's up to Leila to find out who killed her father and why.

7. The Clock Struck Murder by Betty Webb—In 1920s Paris, Zoe Barlow is dismayed when a guest at her home accidentally breaks her favorite clock. Intent on acquiring a replacement, she heads to the flea market where she is shocked to discover that the clockmaker has wrapped her purchases in a lost Chagall painting. When Zoe comes seeking more priceless paintings, she finds the vendor's murdered body. The police are preoccupied with the 1924 Summer Olympics, so Zoe takes it upon herself to figure out who killed the woman and what role the paintings might have played in her untimely death. 

8. When They Find Me by Carter Wilson (available 10 November 2026)—Expanse, Colorado, is so tiny and remote that it almost doesn't exist, making it the perfect place to hide. That's exactly what Annie Wolfe and her daughter are doing in their off-the-grid cabin. When another woman with a reason to hide comes to Annie's door, their lives collide, sending them on a dangerous hunt for the truth. 

9. Finders Keepers by Natalie Barelli—When Rose discovers that all the secrets she's been keeping about her troubled past are now exposed in a newly-published novel, she's furious—and baffled. The author claims the story is fiction, but Rose knows it's not. How does the author know so much about Rose's secret past? Posing as a fan and assistant, Rose sets about infiltrating the writer's life and carrying out her dark intentions.

10. Miss Winter in the Library With a Knife by Martin Edwards—Six people who are involved with the world of crime writing are invited to a remote village in North Yorkshire by a mysterious entity called the Midwinter Trust. They are contestants in a murder mystery game. The person who solves the mystery will win a life-changing prize. With a winter storm incoming and a group of competitive players vying for victory no matter the cost, it's a dangerous place to be...

There you go, ten Poisoned Pen Press titles that I'm looking forward to reading. What do you think? Have you read any of them? What did you choose to chat about for your Indie Freebie today? I'd truly love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog.

We made it to the -ber months. Yay! We've even had some cloudy, cooler days here in the blistering hot Arizona desert. It won't last, but I'm enjoying it while I can. How's the weather in your corner of the globe?

Contributed by the always delightful Cathy over at What Cathy Read Next, our topic du jour is: Top Ten Books With Nationalities in the Title. This prompt was a bit difficult since I wanted to use books on my TBR list and find ten different nationalities. European and U.K. ones were way easier to find than anything else, but I managed to include a few unique ones. I had to use some subtitles to get to ten, but I made it. 

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

1. The Last Russian Doll by Kristen Loesch—Although she grew up in Moscow, Rosie is living in England, attending Oxford, and living a very British life. All she wants, though, is to understand her Russian heritage. Returning to her native country to explore her family's history there, she uncovers a sweeping story that spans from the 1917 revolution to the end of the Soviet Union.

2. Murder in an Irish Village by Carlene O'Connor—Naomi's Bistro has always been at the heart of small town life in Kilbane, County Cork. When a man is found murdered in the restaurant, the siblings who run the bistro become suspects. Fearing the scandal may mean the end of their family business, they throw their energy into solving the murder.

3. The French Bookshop Murder by Greg Mosse—Englishwoman Zoe Pascal says au revoir to her home country and heads to the South of France, where she opens a bookshop. Just as she is settling into her French life, a tourist is murdered in her new town. As Zoe was the last to see the victim alive, she becomes the prime suspect in the killing. Desperate to clear her name, she launches her own investigation to prove her innocence.

4. I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez—In this YA novel, a Mexican American family is grieveing the death of their perfect older daughter. Julia, the younger daughter, feels pressure to live up to Olga's example, even though she is beginning to suspect that her sister was never as perfect as she seemed. Who was Olga, really?

5. The Swiss Nurse by Mario Escobar—This historical novel tells the story of Elisabeth Eidenbenz, a real woman who saved the lives of hundreds of mothers and children during both the Spanish Civil War and World War II. 

6. The School for German Brides by Aimie K. Runyan—Taught to be an independent thinker, Hanna Rombauer is thrown for a loop when her mother dies and she is sent to live with an aunt and uncle. Now living an unexpected life of luxury, she is reluctantly paired with an up-and-coming SS officer. Sent to a school that will turn her into the perfect Nazi wife, Hanna is horrified by what she is being taught. When she discovers a desperate Jewish woman hiding near the school, Hanna risks everything to help her and her unborn baby.

7. The Cuban Heiress by Chanel Cleeton—Inspired by the true story of the SS Morro Castle, this historical novel features two women traveling on the ship on its journey between New York and Havana. One is an heiress, or so everyone thinks. The other is a jewel thief. The women team up to help each other achieve their goal of making sure justice is served where it is due.

8. The Strange Case of Dr. Couney: How a Mysterious European Showman Saved Thousands of American Babies by Dawn Raffel—Two of my four children were born prematurely, at just 29 weeks gestation. One of them weighed 3.3 lbs., the other was 3.6. Thankfully, they are now strong, healthy men with few side effects from their traumatic births, but ever since the first was born in 1998, I've been fascinated by the history of how premature babies have been treated over time. Dr. Couney is an interesting figure whose controversial tactics really did make a difference in the care of these fragile infants.

9. Influenza: The Hundred-Year Hunt to Cure the 1918 Spanish Flu Epidemic by Dr. Jeremy Brown—I'm also fascinated by infectious diseases, viruses, and epidemics. This book is supposed to be interesting and enlightening.

10. The Lost English Girl by Julia Kelly—It's 1935 and Viv Byrne—who has been raised in a strict Catholic household—discovers she is pregnant following a fling with Joshua Levinson, a Jewish man. Marriage is the only acceptable solution to her crisis, but when Joshua makes a stunning decision on their wedding day, Viv is forced to stay with her disapproving family. Five years later, with war breaking out, the young mother must evacuate her daughter to the English countryside to live with a wealthy family. As Viv scrambles to decide what to do, she struggles to figure out how to keep her broken family together.

There you are, ten books with nationalities in the title that I want to read. Have you read any of them? Which books did you come up with for the prompt today? I'd truly love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog.

I'm a little late to the TTT party this week, but I didn't want to miss the prompt du jour, especially since I'm the one who suggested it! Ha ha. I love visiting bookish places—libraries, bookstores, historical sites, etc.—so I want to know all about the Top Ten Bookish Places You've Visited (or want to visit). Personally, I'm going to do five of each. I can't wait to see everyone's lists. 

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

Whitby, North Yorkshire, England—Whitby is a lovely seaside town and port. My husband and I both reminsce fondly about the happy day we spent exploring it a couple years ago. One of the highlights was walking up the famous 199 steps to see the 7th Century monastic ruins at the top of the cliff. An ancient church, St. Mary's, sits next door surrounded by a picturesque cemetery. Dracula by Bram Stoker was set in Whitby. My husband and I got a good laugh out of this sign that hangs in St. Mary's:

The Library of Congress (Washington, D.C., USA)—I've never been inside a library as gorgeous as this one. It's stunning.

Robert Burns Birthplace Museum (Alloway, Ayr, Scotland)—I knew very little about Scotland's national poet Robert Burns before visiting this site that was suggested by a Scottish friend. Even if you're not familiar with the writer, his humble childhood home and surrounding museum offer a fascinating look at his life and work.

Shakespeare and Company (Paris, France)—This is iconic bookshop actually works for both of these lists. I visited Paris for the first and only time in 2021 when there were still strict COVID rules in place. Only a small amount of people were being allowed into the store at a time, resulting in long, long lines. My traveling companions didn't want to wait and, since I didn't want to hold us all up, I walked by the store without ever going inside. Bummer. 

Prince Edward Island (Canada)—I think this gorgeous area is on every Anne of Green Gables fan's travel bucket list.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida)—My daughter and I are going to check this one off sometime around the new year. Can't wait!

Admont Abbey Library (Admont, Austria)—Friends keep asking my husband and I where we're planning to go for our next international trip. Germany and Austria have long been on my bucket list. (Technically, we've been to Austria since we spent the night in Vienna 9 months ago, but that was just a quick layover so it doesn't really count.) This breathtakingly beautiful library is one site I really want to see. 

Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House (Concord, Massachusetts, USA)—This historical home was the long-time residence of the Alcott family. Louisa May lived here when she penned her classic Little Women. It's now a museum dedicated to the author's life and work. 

Anne Frank House (Amsterdam, Netherlands)—Reading The Diary of Anne Frank made a huge impression on me as a young reader. I'd love to visit this historical site and learn more about her.

Have you visited any of these sights? Which was your favorite? What bookish spots have you been to? Which are you dying to see? I'd truly love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog. 

I'm a sucker for a good series, the longer the better. The only problem is that I often find myself getting stuck in the middle of them, usually forgetting who's who and what's what between installments. Sometimes, I've blanked so much that I just start the whole thing over! And I'm not a person who loves rereading. The struggle is real. Today's TTT prompt is right up my alley: Top Ten Book Series I Want to Catch Up On (Or Start). I could make a Top 100 list just using the first part of this topic, but I'll try to narrow it down to just ten mystery series I want to catch up on.

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

(Book covers show the first installment in each series.)

1. Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series by Louise Penny

Books in Series: 21 (and counting)

Books I've Read: 13

Next Up: Kingdom of the Blind

This is one of my favorite mystery series of all time and I don't want it to ever end. I've been reading the books slowly (very slowly) in order to savor them. Chief Inspector Armand Gamache is one of the most likable and admirable detectives I've ever encountered. His colleagues, friends, and associates are a complex and colorful bunch, which makes for a lot of interesting tales. It's a great series. If you like mysteries, you have to give it a go.

2. Veronica Speedwell series by Deanna Raybourn

Books in Series: 10 (and counting)

Books I've Read: 6

Next Up: An Impossible Imposter

Veronica is no ordinary Victorian woman. She's a daring, outspoken lepidopterist who solves mysteries in her spare time. With the help of her hunky associate, she has all kinds of crazy adventures in the name of bringing about justice. These books are hilarious and fun.

3. Ruth Galloway series by Elly Griffiths

Books in Series: 15 (series complete)

Books I've Read: 4

Next Up: A Dying Fall

Ruth is an archaeologist who helps the Norfolk police solve crimes.

4. Gilded Newport series by Alyssa Maxwell

Books in Series: 14 (and counting)

Books I've Read: 6

Next Up: Murder at Crossways

As a second cousin to Cornelius Vanderbilt (albeit one without his abundant wealth), 21-year old Emma Cross is in a unique position in society. She uses that status to her advantage as she writes a newspaper column about high-society happenings. What she really wants is to be an investigative reporter breaking important news. Luckily (or unluckily as the case may be), crime seems to have a way of finding her, putting her in the position of playing amateur sleuth both above and below stairs.

5. Amish Candy Shop Mysteries series by Amanda Flower

Books in Series: 11 (and counting)

Books I've Read: 7

Up Next: Blueberry Blunder

Bailey King leaves her dream job as an assistant chocolatier in New York City to help her Amish grandmother run her candy shop in a small Ohio town. As quaint as the village is, there's a whole lot going on under the surface. Bailey finds herself digging into a surprising number of murders among both the Amish and English residents.

6. Bakeshop Mysteries series by Ellie Alexander

Books in Series: 24 (and counting)

Books I've Read: 1

Next Up: A Batter of Life and Death

This is one of those series that I had to start over with. I reread Meet Your Baker a few months ago.

Set in Ashland, Oregon—a real town that is famous for its annual Shakespearean festival—this culinary mystery series stars the mother/daughter team that runs Torte, a popular (fictional) bakery. With the yearly festival chaos as well as the usual conflict that abounds in a small, insular town, baker Juliet Capshaw always has her hands full serving up baked goods and helping to solve the murder du jour.

7. Kate Hamilton series by Connie Berry

Books in Series: 6 (and counting)

Books I've Read: 4

Next Up: A Collection of Lies

American antiques dealer Kate Hamilton helps to solve her first murder while visiting Scotland. Later, she moves to the U.K. where she continues helping her detective boyfriend solve crimes.

8. Shana Merchant series by Tessa Wegert

Books in Series: 6 (series complete)

Books I've Read: 5

Next Up: The Coldest Case

This crime series features Shana Merchant, a former NYPD detective with a traumatic past. Trying to put her trauma behind her, she takes a job in New York's Thousand Islands area. There, she solves new cases while also dealing with the unresolved issues from her past.

Although this series is complete, Wegert is now writing a spin-off series that I'm excited to read.

9. Baker Street Mysteries series by Valerie Burns

Books in Series: 5 (and counting)

Books I've Read: 2

Next Up: A Cup of Flour, A Pinch of Death

This fun cozy culinary series stars Maddy Montgomery, a fashionista social media star who's reeling from being left at the altar. When a great-aunt she never knew leaves Maddy a surprise inheritance, she sees it as the new start she desperately needs. It doesn't matter that she can barely boil water, she can totally run Aunt Octavia's popular bakery, right? It's not long before Maddy is in over her head trying to learn to bake, run a business, wrangle a giant mastiff, and...solve a string of murders?

10. Royal Spyness series by Rhys Bowen

Books in Series: 20 (and counting)

Books I've Read: 2

Next Up: Royal Flush

I started this historical mystery series this year and have really been enjoying it (especially on audio). It stars Lady Victoria Gergiana Charlotte Eugenie—Georgie—a cousin of England's King George V. With her family's fortune waning, she leaves her Scottish castle for London, where she'll have to make her own way for the first time in her life. In addition to worrying about how to make ends meet, she's at the mercy of Her Majesty, the Queen, who often enlists Georgie's help with various inconvenient projects. Then, there are all the murders that seem to happen around her...

There you go, ten mystery series that I need to catch up on. Have you read any of them? What do you think? Which series do you need to catch up on? Which are you planning to start? I'd love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog.

Today's Top Ten Tuesday prompt is: Cover Freebie. You can pick any topic related to book covers. In celebration of my 20th blogiversary this week, I'm going to highlight the covers of the first ten books I reviewed here at BBB. As always, this fun event is hosted by the lovely Jana over at That Artsy Reader Girl.

On August 7, my little blog will turn the big 2-0. Twenty! I can't believe it. Although I'm living in the same house I was living in back in 2006 (we moved back in in 2021 after living elsewhere and renting it out for 14 years), a lot has changed in my life since then. Two decades ago, I was a 30-year-old stay-at-home mom juggling the needs of a husband and three young children. Life was chaotic, not leaving me tons of time to read or relax in any way. I needed a creative, stay-sane strategy to survive. Book blogging did that for me. Now, I'm half a century old, I have four mostly grown children (my baby turns 18 in a few months) and one grandbaby. Life is generally calm, leaving me with oodles of time to read. It's never been a perfect life, but it's always been a good one. Being part of this beautiful book blogosphere has made it even better. Thank you for hanging here with me, whether you've been around since the early days or you just started following me. I don't know how long I'll keep this gig going, but for now, I'm enjoying myself, so I'll carry on.

Oh, and I was curious to see who the first person to comment on my blog was and if they were still hanging around the book blogosphere. I'm thrilled to give a shout out to Lindsi over at Do You Dog Ear? Her blog is still going strong. Thanks a bunch, Lindsi, for your support!