Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Cozy/Atmospheric Reads & Tell Me Something Tuesday: What's Something You Rebelled Against as a Kid?

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. 

Happy Tuesday! So thrilled to see you back here again. I appreciate your loyal readership. Today's topic for Top Ten Tuesday is cozy/atmospheric reads. In honor of my love of cozy mysteries and Halloween, I give you my...

Top Ten Favorite Cozy Mysteries

The Josiah Reynolds Mystery series by Abigail Keam captured my attention with its unique covers.

The Plain Jane Mystery series by Traci Tyne Hilton is so much fun. The protagonist is a twenty-year-old woman running a cleaning business and taking classes at Bible school. 

The Consignment Shop Mystery series by Duffy Brown is one of my all-time favorites. I love historical homes. 

Though I first learned of Jessica Fletcher from the hit Murder, She Wrote show, when they novelized this series, I knew I would eventually read some of them. Don't you wish you lived in a place like Cabot Cove? Minus all the murders, of course. 

The Amish Bishop Mysteries series is one that I wish Vannetta Chapman would have taken beyond three books. The protangonist had such a unique crime solving ability. 

Avery Daniels' Resort to Murder Mystery series has been a favorite of mine since I read the first book. 

The Bouncing Grandma Mysteries series is one I quickly fell in love with. I wish there were more than two books. A. K. Arenz has penned other books, but not another one in this series.

The Logan & Cafferty Mystery series by Jean Henry Mead, like the Bouncing Grandma series, features older protagonists. This is something that I enjoy. 

The Lighthouse Library Mystery series blends three of my favorite things: a lighthouse, a library, and the Outer Banks. I love visiting the bookstore in downtown Manteo to see what new books Eva Gates has written. 

One of my writing group colleagues, Marty Damon, has written the Cate MacLeod Mystery series. I had the chance to see some of these books in draft form, but forgot how amazing they were until I read them. 

Tell Me Something Tuesday (TMST) is hosted by Jen Twimom at That's What I'm Talking About. TMST is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. Participation is optional, and you leave your comments in the weekly post if you are participating. Check it out if you would like to join.

This week's topic might prove to share some interesting tidbits about our fellow bloggers. Unfortunately, you won't find that here. I did not rebel. I was too scared. Now, that could be the result of the fire and brimstone delivered to we Gen Xers in paraochial school daily or because I had an unpredictable father and a mentally ill mother, but to this day, I feel like if I don't behave myself, God will find a way to make an example of me. I can't even lie without becoming physcially ill. Just another quirk of little ole me. 

Looking forward to dropping in at your blogs to see what you came up with today. 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday - Oct 20

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are, and about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit, comment, and add to that ever-growing TBR pile! So welcome, everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and was then taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.

Happy Monday! I'm writing this late on Sunday, so if you come across typos, please give me a bit of grace. I'm exhausted. This last week was filled with appointments, meetings, a play in support of a local nonprofit, and a writers conference. Here are a few photos:

Greenfield Community College, where I attended a writers conference on Saturday

Spent last Monday replenishing my marketing material

Play to support Alianza DV Services

Theo warmed up with his coat on a cold and wet day

The week ahead has two closings, meetings, a training session, and photos for a new listing. All good stuff.

In books. I reviewed Eleanor Roosevelt's Nightly Prayer by Donn Mitchell. You can find it here.

I continued reading The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall by Jaime Jo Wright this week. Need to pick up the pace if I am to finish both October books. 

I read a bit of The Curiosities by W.H. Eatons, a middle-grade novel that I downloaded from NetGalley. 

The Man Next Door, another romantic comedy by Sheila Roberts, is next.

Singing the Forge by G. H. Mosson is still on pause as I read October books. 

I want to read Old Flames, New Beginnings by Lea Schizas during the holiday season. 

Eager to read Crescent City Christmas Chaos by Ellen Byron for a November review. 

Also looking forward to reviewing Charlie Can't Sleep by Rachel Joy Welcher.

Will be posting a First Chapter Review of A Quarterback for Christmas by Linda West in November.

Ms. Pennypickle's Puzzle Quest by Chris Grabenstein is a middle-grade NetGalley download I need to read. 

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books they added to their shelves the previous week. This weekly meme is now hosted by Vicki at I'd Rather Be At The Beach. 

Proving that I am my own worst enemy, I added two new titles to my review pile and then grabbed a bunch of Kindle freebies. 

Upcoming Events

• The Neighbor and the Gifts by Danielle Grandinetti - Oct 23 (Spotlight)
• The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall by Jaime Jo Wright - Oct 29 (Review)
• One Foot in the Ether: Whispers of the Pendle Witches by Kayleigh Kavanagh - Oct 30 (Spotlight)
• The Man Next Door by Sheila Roberts - Oct 31 (Review)
• A Quarterback for Christmas by Linda West - Nov 13 (First Chapter Review)
• Singing the Forge by G. H. Mosson - Nov 25 (Review)
• Crescent City Christmas Chaos by Ellen Byron - Nov 27 (Review)

This week's Christmas... in the news post is up at Christmas Year Round. We are talking about Netflix Christmas movie premieres, the Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll, and Christmas at Wooddale. Check it out here. Also, this week, I posted Three Things to Do in October to Prepare for Christmas. Check out my tips and links to recipes and decorating ideas here.

At The Children's and Teens' Book Connection, I shared a post about the January release of The Moon without Stars by Chanel Miller. You will find that here. 

You will find my Top Five Favorite Episodes from Little House on the Prairie - Season 3 at Laura's Little Houses if you click here. 

Gosh, that was a lot. Are you still reading? Enjoy your Monday!

Book Review: Eleanor Roosevelt's Nightly Prayer by Donn Mitchell

 

For those looking for an in-depth exploration into how Eleanor Roosevelt's faith influenced her personal life, work, and political life, Eleanor Roosevelt's Nightly Prayer by Donn Mitchell would be a good choice. 

Mitchell opens with an introduction explaining how political historians tend to "marginalize religion," and some reasons why. He discusses Roosevelt's writing, speeches, and volunteer activities. Then the narrative moves swiftly along to Roosevelt's nightly routine, as outlined by her son, Elliot, which included daily writing and prayer. 

As the reader follows along, they are immersed in the life of Eleanor Roosevelt, her family, the times in which she lived, and in how she worked to create a "new world order based on respect for human dignity." This would lead her to be appointed as a U.S. delegate to the United Nations after her husband's death. 

I found Eleanor Roosevelt's Nightly Prayer to be thoroughly researched. This biography of one of America's most admired First Ladies supports that her commitment to her Episcopalian religion continued to influence her life and work in many ways. It was a solid but dense read. I feel a hardcover copy that I could mark up and refer back to would have been easier to digest. 

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Morehouse Publishing
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 4, 2025
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1640658459
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1640658455

I downloaded a copy of this book from NetGalley. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge: Books I Read on Someone's Recommendation

 

The Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge is hosted by Long and Short Reviews. They offer this blog hop as a weekly prompt to help you gain new friends and visitors. You don't have to participate every week, but if you decide to post and join the blog hop for a week, Long and Short Reviews asks that you share your link on their weekly post on their website (it will be the top post on the home page each Wednesday morning). The link list remains open for new links for 48 hours. Visit the other bloggers participating to see what they discuss that week. Comments are appreciated.  

Welcome back! It's Wednesday again. In a few more days, I will be attending a writers' conference, which I haven't done since the pandemic. I'm excited. 

This week's Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge is about books we've read thanks to someone's recommendation. Oddly, there aren't a ton of those. I know what I like. I tend to read the same genres. That said, here is one that I decided to pick up because of someone's recommendation.

My sister and one of my friends told me I had to read Left Behind. There were three or four books out when I started reading this series. This ended up being one of my favorites. I've said this before, but this series was the first one that I eagerly awaited for each new book to release. I was so disappointed when it ended. 

What is a book you've read based on someone's recommendation?  

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I Wish I Could Read Again for the First Time & Tell Me Something Tuesday: Has a Book Ever Ignited a Hobby/Passion in You?

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. 

We have returned to Tuesday. See how quickly that happened. This week's topic is especially fun. We are talking about books we wish we could read again for the first time. This will likely be hard to narrow down to ten, but I am sticking with that magical number. 

Top Ten Books I Wish I Could 

Read Again for the First Time

Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery - I didn't appreciate this book when I first read it, which was years before Sullivan Entertainment brought it to the small screen with Megan Follows. After watching Sullivan's production, I went back to the books and fell in love, reading all eight books in a row. 

Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder - Here is another book I didn't appreciate in my younger years. Though the Little House on the Prairie show definitely sparked my interest in Wilder's books, the internet and online forums led me to learn more about Wilder's real life, which renewed my interest in the book series. 

The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough - I wish I had read the book before watching the mini-series. Now, it's likely I never would have read the book without falling in love with the mini-series, but I could never get over how different Father Ralph looked from Richard Chamberlain or how the timeline of Ralph's death was altered when the book made it to the small screen. 

Beyond the Code of Conduct by K. M. Daughters - This book has such a spectacular ending that I read it three times. I would love to go back and experience it all over again. 

Under the Liberty Oak by Paige M. Cummings - This is another book with such a phenomenal ending that I want to experience it all for the first time. I read this book so early in my reviewing career that it doesn't even appear on this blog. 

Abby Finds Her Calling by Charlotte Hubbard/Naomi King - This was the first book of Hubbard's that I had read. At the time, I don't think I knew that King and Hubbard were the same person. This led me to reading all the books in this series and in Hubbard's next two series. I still miss her work.

The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson by Jerome Charyn - This amazing novel was my introduction to Charyn's work. Inspired by Dickinson's letters and poetry, Charyn blended fact and fiction so masterfully that you believe every word is the truth. I loved the passion and wit of Dickinson in this portrayal. 

Noble Cause by Jessica James - One of my favorite Civil War novels. This story touched the heart in so many ways. I cried buckets. Not every book can move me this way. It perfectly captured the emotional and physical conflict of this time in American history. 

The Lost Hours by Karen White - This novel was the first standalone of White's that I read after finishing The House on Tradd Street. She has a distinct voice and style, so I felt in familiar territory. This novel is engrossing, powerful, and mysterious. I still recall bits of it, but I would love to erase it from my mind so I could go back and experience it all again for the first time. 

My Son, John by Kathi Macias - This is another emotional book that made Macias one of my favorite all-time authors. Up until I read this novel, I had only read her nonfiction. This story is an emotional ride that tugs every heartstring. I wish I could read it again for the first time. 

Have you read any of these? What are your thoughts?

Tell Me Something Tuesday (TMST) is hosted by Jen Twimom at That's What I'm Talking About. TMST is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. Participation is optional, and you leave your comments in the weekly post if you are participating. Check it out if you would like to join.

What a creative question for Tell Me Something Tuesday. Reading the Anne of Green Gables and Little House series led me to research more about the authors' lives, which, in the case of Wilder, led to one of my largest book collections. Reading books from other children's authors inspired me to keep working at finding my place in the publishing world. Reading poorly edited books led me to become a copy and developmental editor. Amazingly, I am the worst self-editor on this coast. :) 

Has reading a book ignited a hobby or passion in you? 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday - Oct 13

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are, and about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit, comment, and add to that ever-growing TBR pile! So welcome, everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and was then taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.

Happy Monday! I'm unsure if we will lose power and/or internet thanks to the Nor'easter currently traveling up the East Coast. The storm made quite a mess on the Outer Banks. My heart goes out to everyone there. You can see Facebook videos from Sam Walker here. This news report says a flash flood warning was issued for Myrtle Beach and other areas in South Carolina, too. So far, things are windy and rainy here. Lost a tree branch up the street. 

My news from the week: I finally took a weekend off. We went to Boston on Saturday for the Bruins versus Sabres game. The Bs won! Before we left for Boston, I brought in the rest of the harvest and prepared for the storm. Everything is packed away for the winter. 

The best news from this week is that the Lil' Diva and her husband closed on their new home! They have spent the weekend painting and ripping up old carpets. Not sure how quickly they will move in, but they have time to get work done.

Other photos:

Can you see the little frog that was hanging in my yard on Saturday?

The herbs and tomatoes are done for the season

In my reading world, this one is still on pause as I read October books. What I have read of this poetry collection, Singing the Forge by G. H. Mosson, is wonderful. 

I still need to write my review of Eleanor Roosevelt's Nightly Prayer by Donn Mitchell. 

I continued reading The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall by Jaime Jo Wright on the way to Boston.

I started The Curiosities by W.H. Eatons, a middle-grade novel that I downloaded from NetGalley. 

The Man Next Door, another romantic comedy by Sheila Roberts, is next.

I want to read Old Flames, New Beginnings by Lea Schizas during the holiday season. 

Ms. Pennypickle's Puzzle Quest by Chris Grabenstein is a middle-grade NetGalley download I need to read. 

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books they added to their shelves the previous week. This weekly meme is now hosted by Vicki at I'd Rather Be At The Beach. 

This book arrived from the publisher the other day. Look for my review soon.

God is with us--even in the dark.

For Charlie, bedtime is the hardest part of the day. The stillness of the night brings strange sounds, racing thoughts, and an overwhelming feeling of loneliness. But as Charlie's mother reminds him of the timeless truth from Psalm 121--that we can rest because God never sleeps--he begins to face the dark with renewed courage and peace.

This beautifully illustrated book not only acknowledges a child's fear but also equips them with a biblical, comforting approach to tackle it. Through tender storytelling and thoughtful illustrations, Charlie Can't Sleep! reassures little ones that even in the quiet, scary moments, God sees them, hears their prayers, and stays by their side.

Caregivers will love Charlie Can't Sleep! for its gentle blend of spiritual encouragement and practical support for children as well as its special note from the author that encourages meaningful conversations with children.

Key Features:

• Relatable Storytelling: Helps children feel understood in their nighttime fears
• Biblical Comfort: Draws on Scriptural truths to remind kids of God's constant presence and care
• Expertly Illustrated: Breezy Brookshire brings Charlie's world to life with playful artwork that will engage and delight young readers
• Encouraging Message: A positive resource that builds faith, trust, and courage in children

Perfect for Christian families, Sunday school classrooms, and children's libraries, Charlie Can't Sleep! will become a bedtime favorite for anyone helping little ones conquer nighttime anxieties. Discover Charlie Can't Sleep! and share with children the comforting truth that God is with us--even in the dark.

Upcoming Events

• The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall by Jaime Jo Wright - Oct 29 (Review)
• One Foot in the Ether: Whispers of the Pendle Witches by Kayleigh Kavanagh - Oct 30 (Spotlight)
• The Man Next Door by Sheila Roberts - Oct 31 (Review)
• Singing the Forge by G. H. Mosson - Nov 25 (Review)

The latest Christmas... in the news post is up at Christmas Year Round. This week's news features the Old-Fashioned Christmas in the Woods, the seven best new Christmas decor items at Walmart, and Christmas music playing on a station based in Utah. Check it out here.

At The Children's and Teens' Book Connection, I wrote my 2025 writing goals third-quarter update. It's dismal, folks. Real estate is taking up all my time. You can see what I accomplished here.

The only new post at Laura's Little Houses outlines which countries the readers reside in. Looks like Brazil takes the top spot. You can read more here.

That's it for me. I will check in when and if I am able today. Enjoy you week!