Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Reasons I Like Cozy Mysteries

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.

This week is a freebie, so bloggers get to choose their topics. I chose this one because cozy mysteries have been a part of my life as long as I can remember. Here are the:

Top Ten Reasons I Like Cozy Mysteries

• They give a voice to often overlooked people

Though Scooby Doo started off as a television series, my favorite mystery-solving pooch wound up with dozens of books. He and the "meddling kids" he calls his friends solve mystery after mystery with seemingly supernatural causes. These are cozy mysteries with teenage and dog antics and tons of humor. I'm still a fan of the Scooby gang.

The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew Mysteries are also from my younger years. These two series also featured teenagers, like its animated counterpart, Scooby Doo. Like other cozy mysteries, the boys live in a small city/town near the water. 

Both these series allow teenagers to shine, as they solve mysteries that often stump the adults.

Then there are cozy mysteries that feature senior sleuths. I haven't read a ton of Miss Marple, but I did read The Case of the Bouncing Grandma. 

• They are set in neat places

Duffy Brown's Cycle Path Mystery series is set on Mackinac Island, a cozy resort town where everyone rides around on bicycles. 

Wouldn't you like to live in Cabot Cove, Maine, home to author and crime-solver Jessica Fletcher in the Murder, She Wrote series? 

• They have tons of interesting themes

From herbs to magic and everything in between, new cozy mystery themes crop up all the time.

• They have animal characters

Though cats and dogs seem to be the most popular, you'll even find horses, birds, and other animals in cozy mysteries.

• The female sleuths really kick butt

No matter their ages, female sleuths know how to hold their hold and catch the bad guy. 

• They lend themselves to series - which means plenty of reading material
• They force you to pay close attention to the clues so you can figure out the killer
• Many of their characters have everyday careers: librarian, real estate agent, psychologist, etc.
• They often include quirky characters
• They can be light/funny or serious

Do you enjoy cozy mysteries? What is your favorite cozy mystery? Are there other reasons you can think of to like cozies? 

Cozy Mystery Spotlight: Margaritas, Mayhem & Murder by Mary Cunningham

Andi’s step-mother is a real piece of work! But is Ruby a murderer?

Andi Anna Jones, so-so travel agent/amateur sleuth, puts aside her resentment of her father’s widow and books a 60th birthday cruise to Cancun for Ruby and three friends. Never does Andi imagine the cruise will lead to the murder of a has-been lounge singer—or that Ruby will be the main suspect.

Flirting with more than danger after arriving in Mexico, Andi connects with the charming local sheriff, Manual Rodriquez. After an embarrassing night involving the sheriff, too many margaritas, and a Mariachi band, a chance to check out an eyewitness to the murder leads her to Las Vegas.

In Vegas, a mysterious meeting in the Bodies Exhibition, a body preserving in the prep-room, and an evasive owner of a dance studio, give Andi clues to help Ruby. But when Andi is mercilessly drugged and locked in a storage room, she realizes dear old step-mom isn’t the only one in jeopardy.

Praise for Margaritas, Mayhem & Murder!

“If Evanovich's Stephanie Plum were a travel agent, she'd fit right in working this case alongside Andi, a wanna-be detective readers are sure to love.” —Regan Black, USA Today bestselling author of the Escape Club Heroes and Knight Traveler novels.

“Margaritas, Mayhem & Murder...WOW. Snappy dialog, quirky characters, opens with a curious bang and yanked me through the pages. A fun, fantastic read.” —Jean Rabe, USA Today Bestselling author, Piper Blackwell Mysteries.

“A strong start to a new cozy mystery series by author Mary Cunningham. Andi Anna is one crazy and clever sleuth.” —Cheryl C. Malandrinos, The Book Connection

“Grab a margarita and hold on tight; you're in for a wild ride.”

—Karen MacInerney, Agatha Award nominee and author of the Dewberry Farms Mysteries

“An intoxicating mix of laughter, kooky characters, and a yummy setting.”

—Joanna Campbell Slan, bestselling/award-winning author of the Kiki Lowenstein Mystery Series

“A zany murder mystery with a touch of romance and a handful of humor.”

—Nancy J. Cohen, author of the Bad Hair Day Mysteries

“Charming, lively, and unpredictable, Margaritas, Mayhem & Murder excels in a vivid story mystery fans will relish.”—Diane Donovan, Senior Editor Midwest Book Review

“Margaritas, Mayhem, and Murder is a madcap comedy mystery, rich with colorful characters and snappy one-liners. A heroine named Andi Anna Jones is destined for exotic misadventure.”

—Dana Taylor, author and winner of Golden Quill Awards Best First Book (Ain't Love Grand)

Purchase Margaritas, Mayhem & Murder at:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076N6KBM3

B & N Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/margaritas-mayhem-murder-mary-cunningham/1127355519

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/756600

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Mary_Cunningham_Margaritas_Mayhem_Murder?id=0jU8DwAAQBAJ

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/margaritas-mayhem-murder

Author, Mary Cunningham, grew on the northern side of the Ohio River in Corydon, Indiana. Her first memories are of her dad’s original bedtime stories that no doubt inspired her imagination and love of a well-spun “yarn”.

Childhood experiences, and a recurring dream about a mysterious attic, inspired characters, Cynthia and Augusta Lee, for her award-winning middle-grade series, Cynthia's Attic. The setting is in her childhood home in Southern Indiana. Family stories and ancestors comprise the storylines. There are currently five books in the series: The Missing Locket, The Magic Medallion, Curse of the Bayou, The Magician’s Castle, and Legend of Lupin Woods.

Through a horrifying stint as a travel agent and more rewarding experience teaching travel and tourism, the character, Andi Anna Jones, travel agent/amateur sleuth, inspired her latest adult mystery series. She’s currently writing Book # 2 of the series, along with another middle-grade series, The Adventures of Max and Maddie, a historical time-travel.

Cunningham is a member of The Georgia Reading Association, and the Carrollton Writers Guild.

When she gives her fingers a break from the keyboard, she enjoys golf, swimming and exploring the mountains of West Georgia where she makes her home with her husband and adopted, four-legged, furry daughter, Lucy.

Find Mary on Social Media:

Website: https://www.marycunninghambooks.com

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/marycunninghambooks/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/MaryCunningham

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/gus65/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marycunningham1/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/367223.Mary_Cunningham

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B002BLNEK4

Blurb Blitz Lyrical Press Cozy Mysteries by Janet Finsilver and Lynn Cahoon

Fortunes, fineries, and foul play . . .

It’s whale-watching season in Redwood Cove, and B&B manager Kelly Jackson’s battening down the hatches for the tourist rush at Redwood Heights—a Victorian-style estate owned by her boss. And due to recent jewelry thefts, her duties include keeping track of the many dust-covered artifacts spread throughout the property. But when Kelly finds Sylvia Porter’s lifeless body, menial tasks don’t seem so terrible.

Enlisting the help of a ragtag group of brainy retirees, aka the “Silver Sentinels,” Kelly’s on the hunt for clues hidden behind the mansion’s glamorous façade and for a killer who may want to make history of her next!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT:

“Welcome, everyone. My name is Lily Wilson, and I’ll be leading the tour today. If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to ask them. There’s a sign-in sheet on the check-in counter. We’ll be starting at one o’clock, which is in five minutes.” She turned in my direction and said, “I’d like to introduce the manager of one of Resorts International properties, Kelly Jackson. She’s in charge of Redwood Cove Bed-and-Breakfast.”

The members of the group smiled an acknowledgment. A short man in a denim shirt and khaki pants raised his hand. Lily smiled at him and asked, “Is there something you’d like to know?”

He pointed to the entrance to the parlor. “What is that shield above the doorway?”

“Redwood Heights was built by Reginald Brandon. That’s the family coat of arms,” Lily said. “There is an official Brandon crest on file. However, Mr. Brandon wanted to design his own to reflect life in the West. On his shield he chose to put the silhouettes of two rearing stallions, symbols of strength. Rifles instead of swords crossed over the top of them—the weapons of that era. Tall redwood trees filled in the area behind them and were the source of his wealth. You can see his motto for loyalty and honor on the banner.”

I enjoyed her explanation. It added another dimension to an object that had just been an interesting piece.

A tall woman with a long brown braid down her back pointed to a picture. “Is this Mr. and Mrs. Brandon?”

“Yes, that picture is of the Brandons,” Lily replied. “The woman in the picture is the second Mrs. Brandon. As with many wealthy families and historic estates, there are questionable stories in their past. Redwood Heights is no different.”

“How so?” asked the woman.

“We don’t have any pictures of the first Mrs. Brandon. She was the belle of glittering New York high society who found herself in remote Redwood Cove. She disappeared not long after arriving. Some say she ran off with a lover. Rumors cropped up that she took a sizeable amount of Brandon’s money, changed her name, and left to enjoy San Francisco’s growing attractions.”

The cadence of Lily’s voice took the story beyond a runaway wife. Her tilted head and arched eyebrow led you down a path of mystery and intrigue. The visitors moved a little closer.

Lily leaned toward them and whispered, “Some say she never left at all.” Her words lingered in the dead silence.

Everyone was still—frozen in that past time. Goose bumps popped up on my arms. Someone coughed, and the spell was broken.

“After a time, Brandon married again. They had no children and, alas, the house went to a distant cousin.”

I’d been mesmerized by the tale. Snapping out of it, I looked around. Sylvia still wasn’t there.

“The tour will meet in the parlor. Restrooms are down the hallway to your right,” Lily instructed the group.

I walked up the carpeted stairs to the second floor, running my hand over the smooth oak railing. It had taken hundreds of polishings to develop the fine patina and rich glow.

Sylvia’s room was the first door at the top of the staircase. I knocked quietly. When there was no response, I knocked harder. She must really be a sound sleeper. I tried the door, but it was locked. I rushed downstairs, retrieved her room key, and glanced at my watch. If Sylvia hurried, she’d still have time to make the start of the tour. Arriving back at her door, I knocked again.

“Mrs. Porter, it’s Kelly. The tour is starting in a couple of minutes.” I got no response, so I unlocked the door and peeked in. Sylvia was sitting in front of her dressing table, her back to me.

I opened the door a little farther. “Mrs. Porter?” I stepped inside the room. In the filtered light from the curtained windows, Sylvia’s image reflected in the mirror. Her eyes were closed, and her head rested on her shoulder. She must have dozed off before making it into bed for a nap.

My attention was drawn to a brooch on the left side of Sylvia’s blouse as I approached her. I hadn’t noticed it before. It was a lovely piece—a large egg-shaped pearl surrounded by a burst of red.

I touched Sylvia’s shoulder. No response.

“Mrs. Porter?” I gently shook her.

Sylvia’s head rolled forward and hung down. Her dangling hair covered the side of her face.

I gasped, and my heart began to pound. I looked more closely at her. The burst of red wasn’t part of a pin—it was blood.

Janet Finsilver and her husband live in the San Francisco Bay Area. She loves animals and has two dogs—Kylie, a Rhodesian ridgeback, and Ellie, a boxer/coonhound mix. Janet enjoys horseback riding, snow skiing, and cooking. She is currently working on her next Redwood Cove mystery.
http://janetfinsilver.com/
http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/author.aspx/31695
https://www.facebook.com/janetfinsilverauthor/
https://twitter.com/JanetFinsilver

The quaint coastal town of South Cove, California, is all abuzz about the opening of a new specialty shop, Tea Hee. But as Coffee, Books, and More owner Jill Gardner is about to find out, there's nothing cozy about murder . . .

Shop owner Kathi Corbin says she came to South Cove to get away from her estranged family. But is she telling the truth? And did a sinister someone from her past follow her to South Cove? When a woman claiming to be Kathi's sister starts making waves and a dead body is found in a local motel, Jill must step in to clear Kathi's name--without getting herself in hot water.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT:

Limping home, I saw Greg’s truck parked at City Hall. I went in through the side door that took me to the police station. Amy kept going, heading home to shower before returning to her job as city hall receptionist.

Greg stood by Esmeralda’s desk and raised his eyebrows when he saw me. “Rough workout? I’m glad I was too busy to go today.”

“Oh, you’ll get yours. Don’t think demon trainer didn’t notice you were gone.”

“Okay. So why are you here?” He pushed a curl back out of my face. “Too far to walk home after the workout?”

“You’re just mean, you know that right?” I sank into the couch. It did feel amazing just to veg for a second or two. Okay, so Greg could have been right about my real motives for the impromptu visit. “Actually, I wanted to know about your call-out last night. I’m assuming this was a murder and not an old guy dying in his sleep.”

“And you deduced that from?” He watched me closely.

Shrugging, I sank deeper into the cushions. No wonder Greg didn’t mind sleeping in his office every so often. The couch was amazing. “No one blabbed, if you’re thinking of blaming Toby. You didn’t call, and you’re still wearing last night’s clothes.”

He chuckled. “You’re right. I guess I’m more transparent than I thought. We don’t know much about the murder, except the guy checked in a few days ago under a false name. Of course, the motel doesn’t ask for any verification or even a credit card. Cash only out there.”

“So he’s not a local.” For some reason, this made me feel better. Sure, it was sad someone had died, but people died all the time. I just didn’t want it to be one of my friends.

“Not that I can tell. But I think it’s the biker who’s been racing up and down Main Street. He fits the description.” Greg shrugged and grinned. “And, there’s a bike parked outside his room. Yep, I’m a trained investigator, I notice these things.”

“Big guy?” I thought about how the elderly woman had almost been smashed by the rider just a few days ago.

“Nope. He’s tall, maybe six feet, but if he weighs more than a hundred fifty soaking wet I’ll buy you dinner.” Greg groaned as he stood and walked across the room to his desk. He pulled me to standing. “I hate it when you do that.”

“Do what?” Now that I was upright, my stomach growled reminding me I hadn’t eaten all day. I dug into my tote and pulled out a protein bar.

“Trick me into telling you more than I should.” He pointed to the door. “Out of here. I’ve got work to do.”

I took a bite of my protein bar as I walked out. Pausing at the door, I turned back to look at him. He was already typing into some document. “I take it I won’t see you for dinner?”

“Not tonight. But I’ll be over on Sunday at the latest.” He paused. “Are you working the festival that day?”

“Just the morning shift. We’re closing the main store and only running the food truck that day.” I adjusted the strap on my tote, feeling the weight on my screaming shoulder blade. I walked out of the office and wondered how bad the murder had been. Just because it was a stranger that lay in the morgue, didn’t mean someone from South Cove hadn’t been involved or known the guy.

Or why else would he have been here?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Lynn Cahoon is an Idaho expat. She grew up living the small town life she now loves to write about. Currently, she’s living with her husband and two fur babies in a small historic town on the banks of the Mississippi river where her imagination tends to wander. Guidebook to Murder, Book 1 of the Tourist Trap series, won the 2015 Reader’s Crown award for Mystery Fiction. Visit her at www.lynncahoon.com

http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/author.aspx/26451
https://twitter.com/LynnCahoon
https://www.facebook.com/LynnCahoonAuthor

Buy links:

TEA CUPS AND CARNAGE: amazonkindle, Apple, Google, Kobo, Nook
MURDER AT THE MANSION: amazonkindle, Apple, Google, Kobo, Nook

The authors will be awarding digital copies of all books

on the tour to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter

 during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal & Giveaway: Murder at Morningside by Sandra Bretting

Hat designer Missy DuBois opened her shop, Crowning Glory, along Louisiana's Great River Road to cater to the sophisticated Southern bride. But bless her heart, who knew creating stylish wedding veils would lead to murder?

EXCERPT:

Before Beatrice could say more, the front door flew open and in stomped an elderly gentleman. He was on the verge of a good old-fashioned hissy fit.

“Y’all don’t deserve a say in this wedding!” he said to a young woman who’d slunk in behind him.

The girl looked to be the right age for his daughter. She wore flip-flops and a wrinkled peasant blouse, and she buried her head in her hands. Well, that lifted the blouse an inch or two and exposed her bare stomach.

Lorda mercy. It seemed the girl and her fiancé must have eaten supper before they said grace, as we said here in the South, because an unmistakable bump appeared under her top. She looked to be about four months along, give or take a few weeks, and I could see why her daddy wasn’t too happy with her right about now.

After a piece, she lifted her chin and glared at him. “I hate you!” Her voice rippled as cold as the river water that ran nearby. “I wish you were dead.” She stalked away.

I fully expected the man to cringe, or at least follow her. Instead, he merely glanced our way and shrugged. After a minute, he pivoted on the spectacle he’d caused and casually strolled away, leaving a bit of frost in the air.

“Oh my. Why don’t we continue,” Beatrice said.

Poor Beatrice. She obviously wanted to divert our attention elsewhere. It couldn’t have been every day one of her hotel guests wished another guest was dead. She hustled us farther into the ballroom, as if nothing had happened, all the while explaining the history of Morningside Plantation.

Pre-order Links:

BN: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murder-at-morningside-sandra-bretting/1122597549


Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Murder-Morningside-Missy-DuBois-Mystery-ebook/dp/B014NWMHEW

Sandra Bretting works as a freelance feature writer under contract to the Houston Chronicle. She received a journalism degree from the University of Missouri School of Journalism and wrote for other publications (including the Los Angeles Times and Orange Coast Magazine) before moving to Texas.

Her Missy DuBois Mysteries series debuts from Kensington/Lyrical Underground in May 2016. Bretting’s previous mysteries include Unholy Lies (2012) and Bless the Dying (2014). Readers can reach her online at www.sandrabretting.com and through Facebook at www.facebook.com/sandra.bretting.


Sandra will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, and a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn host.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Musing Mondays - Feb 16

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme sponsored by MizB of Should Be Reading that asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer:

• I’m currently reading…
• Up next I think I’ll read…
• I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
• I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I can’t wait to get a copy of…
• I wish I could read ___, but…
• I blogged about ____ this past week…

THIS WEEK’S RANDOM QUESTION: (will post it once it's up)

Let's talk about cozy mysteries for a minute. Brian A. Klems, the online editor of Writer’s Digest, defined cozy mysteries this way:

The cozy mystery (sometimes simply called a cozy) is a subgenre of crime fiction that gives readers a chance to delight in vicariously solving a murder—without graphic violence or sex. Protagonists are typically amateur (and usually female) sleuths solving small-town crimes with old-fashioned detective work rather than forensics. These unlikely heroes are often small-business owners who find themselves drawn into detection by crimes impacting their work; sometimes their investigative efforts are aided by a significant other with police connections.

As Klems mentioned in his July 2014 article, cozies are making a come back. If you're looking for somewhere to check out the latest cozies, you can pop in over at The Cozy Mystery List Blog. This blogger also talks about cozies on television.

Speaking of television, Netflix has been a great way for me to re-watch Murder, She Wrote; one of my favorite mystery series, which ran from 1984 - 1996. It featured Angela Lansbury as Jessica Fletcher, a former high school English teacher and famed mystery writer who has a knack for solving mysteries in her coastal home of Cabot Cove.

I've read some neat cozy mysteries in my time. Agatha Christie brought us Miss Marple. Stuart Palmer gave us Hildegarde Withers. Miss Maud Silver came to us by way of author Patricia Wentworth. In 2008, I read The Poetry of Murder by Bernadette Steele. I have never seen another book by this author, but I would love it if she came out with something new. Back in 2009, I read the first in a new Christian cozy mystery series, The Case of the Bouncing Grandma by A.K. Arenz. I have the second book, but haven't had a chance to read it yet. I hope 2015 allows me the time to at least crack the cover.

Do you read cozy mysteries? Who are some of your favorite cozy mystery authors?

Book Spotlight: The Mysterious Doll by Linda Weaver Clarke

Amelia Moore, the founder of the Moore Detective Agency, specializes in missing persons. Her cases have taken her to some very interesting places and put her in some dangerous situations, but she always solves the case. With the help of her partner, Rick Bonito, the business is flourishing.

Pauline Jones is confused why her boyfriend took off without telling a soul where he was going. But that isn’t all. Sam Whitaker is accused of stealing a valuable porcelain doll from the museum. His disappearance makes him look guilty, but Pauline is convinced he is innocent. When Amelia finds Sam, she realizes they need to prove his innocence. Where is the antique doll and who has taken it?

Series: Amelia Moore Detective Series
Paperback: 212 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (December 3, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1502929147
ISBN-13: 978-1502929143

Purchase for only $2.99 at:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Smashwords

Linda Weaver Clarke travels throughout the United States, teaching people to write their family history and autobiography. She has traveled to seventeen states and given over 450 workshops. Clarke is the author of six historical sweet romances, four mystery adventure novels, a children’s book, and a new cozy mystery series. She is also the author of an award-winning sweet romance, Melinda and the Wild West, for the “Reviewers Choice Award.” All her books are family friendly.

Website: http://www.lindaweaverclarke.com
Facebook: Facebook profile
Blog: http://lindaweaverclarke.wordpress.com

First Chapter Review: The Bali Mystery by Linda Weaver Clarke

Linda Weaver Clarke is celebrating the release of the first book in her Amelia Moore Detective Series. This is a cozy mystery.

BLURB:  Amelia Moore, the founder of the Moore Detective Agency, specializes in missing persons. Her cases have taken her to some very interesting places and put her in some dangerous situations, but she always solves the case. With the help of Rick Bonito, her business is flourishing.

When Mrs. Brody hires Amelia and Rick to find her missing brother, they find themselves in Bali, Indonesia. They are mystified why her brother quit his job, put his home up for sale, and ran off to this mysterious and exotic island without telling a soul.

COVER: Like the covers for her other books, you can see great care went into creating this one. The setting and main characters are captured here in an eye-pleasing color scheme. I like the subtle texture to the background.

FIRST CHAPTER: Amelia has accepted a new case that involves finding Mrs. Brody's missing brother, William. It soon becomes apparent that someone would rather she not investigate William's disappearance. That's when Amelia calls in Rick to give her a hand.

KEEP READING: This looks like it will be another great book by Clarke. Though a short chapter, the reader gets a chance to meet the two main characters, and the author works quickly to set up the conflict. Told alternately from Amelia's and Rick's points of view, both characters' personalities shine through. Rick is a bit unorthodox in his approach, whereas Amelia is a no-nonsense kind of gal. It looks like Clarke might be weaving a romantic element into the plot between the two main characters. Right now it's more like Moonlighting, where the two detectives are determined to be just friends while considering the winning attributes of each other secretly. I'm curious to see where these characters go from here.

Series: Amelia Moore Detective Series
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (March 29, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1497327156
ISBN-13: 978-1497327153

Purchase at:

Amazon paperback

Amazon Kindle

Barnes and Noble paperback

Barnes and Noble Nook

Smashwords

iTunes

Through April 28th, you have a chance to win a free copy of The Bali Mystery by visiting Linda's blog at http://lindaweaverclarke.blogspot.com/2014/04/interview-with-mystery-and-sweet.html

I read the first chapter of this novel from the author's website. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Gifts for the Book-loving Mom

Merry Christmas, everyone! I hope you had a wonderful holiday. My son and daughter-in-law joined us today, along with my in-laws. We all had a great time and enjoyed some yummy food. I am so full I don't think I can eat another bite.

Books must have been on many minds, as I am now the owner of nine new titles thanks to my family and my Amazon Wish List. Here is what I received:

The Alpine Path is the story of this Canadian author's career and her life. The title comes from a bit of verse the author clipped from an old magazine that said: The Alpine path, so hard, so steep, That leads to heights sublime; How I may reach that far-off goal Of true and honoured fame, And write upon its shining scroll A woman's humble name."

I'm a Lucy Maud Montgomery fan and have read her Anne of Green Gables series numerous times. I've also read The Story Girl series and other titles about residents of Avonlea.

Little House on the Prairie, Laura Ingalls Wilder's heartwarming story of a pioneer girl named Laura and her family's covered wagon journey to Kansas, is one of the most beloved children's books ever written. Ever since her story was first published sixty-five years ago, readers have clamored to know more about Laura and her real life on the prairie.

Now, in this beautifully illustrated volume, you can experience life as it was in the little log cabin. Discover how Laura's real life was both similar to and different from the life she described Little House on the Prairie. Find out what it was really like to homestead land, cook over an open fire, and build a prairie cabin. Make Mary's and Laura's star headbands, cook Ma's stewed blackberries, and plant your own prairie garden. You can even sing the songs that the Ingallses sang to the sound of Pa's fiddle!

For anyone who has ever treasured Little House on the Prairie, Inside Laura's Little House brings Laura's world vividly and remarkably to life.

This book has been on my wish list for a long time. I'm so glad the kids bought it for me.

She may be thirty-fifth in line for the throne, but Lady Georgiana Rannoch cannot wait to ring in the New Year—before a Christmas killer wrings another neck…

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me—well, actually, my true love, Darcy O’Mara, is spending a feliz navidad tramping around South America. Meanwhile Mummy is holed up in a tiny village called Tiddleton-under-Lovey with that droll Noel Coward! And I’m snowed in at Castle Rannoch with my bumbling brother, Binky, and sourpuss sister-in-law, Fig.

So it’s a miracle when I contrive to land a position as hostess to a posh holiday party in Tiddleton. The village is like something out of A Christmas Carol! But no sooner have I arrived than a neighborhood nuisance, a fellow named Freddie, falls out of a tree dead. On my second day, another so-called accident results in a death – and there’s yet another on my third. Perhaps a recent prison break could have something to do with it…that, or a long-standing witch’s curse. But after Darcy shows up beneath the mistletoe, anything could be possible in this wicked wonderland.

Includes an English Christmas companion, full of holiday recipes, games, and more!

I've talked about this book a couple of times lately. It was suggested by a literary agent whose blog I follow.

The year is 1864 in the Colorado Territory. Charlie is all alone on the ranch that sits between the empty prairie and the Rocky Mountains. As the orphaned boy cares for his dying grandpa and tries to figure out how to survive the approaching winter, he keeps remembering the old man's words: "Failure's not an option, son." As the first storm of the season hits, a mysterious mountain man shows up at the isolated ranch and good things start to happen. But to get free of his one gnawing secret, Charlie must learn to trust the giant stranger. On Christmas day he learns that trusting means he'll never have to be alone again.

I also received the second and third books in this series, Rock of Refuge and In Green Pastures.

Any couple who spends the night in the Christmas cottage shall have love everlasting...

Lacey Quinn did not believe in happily ever after or the legend of the Christmas cottage. As maid of honor for her best friend Ava, her duties included decorating the cottage for the newlyweds. It was a simple enough task, but she hadn't counted on sexy Ean Callahan, the bride-to-be's brother, to be assisting her.

Spending the evening ensconced in the overly romantic setting while a blizzard howls outside has Lacey wondering if fairy tales really do come true...

The Kindle version of this one is only 99 cents right now.

Christmas has always been a sad time for young widow Holly Brown, so when she's asked to look after a remote house on the Lancashire moors, the opportunity to hide herself away is irresistible – the perfect excuse to forget about the festivities

Sculptor Jude Martland is determined that this year there will be no Christmas after his brother ran off with his fiancée. He’s keen to avoid the family home. However, he will have to return by the twelfth night of the festivities, when the hamlet of Little Mumming hold their historic festivities and all of his family are required to attend.

Meanwhile, Holly is finding that if she wants to avoid Christmas, she has come to the wrong place. When Jude unexpectedly returns on Christmas Eve he is far from delighted to discover that Holly seems to be holding the very family party he had hoped to avoid.

Suddenly, the blizzards come out of nowhere and the whole village is snowed in. With no escape, Holly and Jude get much more than they bargained for – it looks like the twelve days of Christmas are going to be very interesting indeed!

The Kindle version of this one is also 99 cents right now.

One winter wedding, two happy couples, three ex-boyfriends... And a very uncomfortable weekend.

Carol hates Christmas. Being recently dumped, she's not crazy about weddings either. So her sister Marley's nuptials, over the Christmas weekend, are making her positively Scrooge-like. When she arrives for the weekend at the stately home in rural Scotland to find her three ex-boyfriends in attendance, Carol has no choice but to face her ghosts to discover what really happened in those relationships, learning a lot about herself in the process. As the snow falls outside and the fire crackles in the hearth, might one of the wedding guests become the harbinger of Christmases to come?

This is a novella of approximately 100 pages in paperback, and is a British import. It has been written and edited in British English rather than American English, including all spelling, grammar and punctuation.

This Kindle version is $2.99 right now. I love it that my family is willing to gift me Kindle books.

Now you know what I received for Christmas. How about you? Any good books you would like to share with us?

Top Ten Books I Would Love To See As A Movie/TV Show

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week they will post a new Top Ten list that one of the bloggers at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All they ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

Actually, the entire Sullivan Boys series by K. M. Daughters would make an excellent series. It kind of reminds me of a sexier more romantic version of Blue Bloods. It's a family of brothers and a sister who are all in law enforcement. I've chosen Beyond the Code of Conduct because it was the first book in the series I've read and because Joe and Bobbie's romance is a favorite of mine.

Someone is going to think I have a thing for crime dramas. The Brotherhood is the first in Jerry Jenkins's Precinct 11 series. It's about Boone Drake, who is rising up the ranks of the Chicago PD when tragedy strikes. It would be a suspenseful movie.

Historical fiction--especially Civil War fiction--is always high on my list. Corrigans' Pool is about Ella Corrigan, who must run the family plantation after her mother dies and her father turns to alcohol to drown his sorrows.

Gentry Garland arrives and quickly captures Ella's heart, but disappears without a trace. She hastily marries Victor Faircloth, but can't seem to get Garland out of her thoughts. She soon comes to regret her decision to marry the abusive Victor, and learns of a mystery surrounding Corrigans' Pool.

Killer Career by Morgan Mandel kept me up late at night. Julie McGuire is an attorney and wanna-be writer who comes face-to-face with best-selling author Tyler Jensen at a conference. She quits her law practice, which angers and hurts her partner, Dade Donovan, a man who seeks more than friendship from Julie. What lengths will Tyler go to when he decides Dade is getting in the way?

I recently reviewed Murder by Syllabub by Kathleen Delaney and think it would make a great cozy mystery TV movie. Ghosts, family secrets, and poison leave a lot of ground to be explored. Actually, I think a regular TV series staring Ellen McKenzie as an amateur sleuth would be great.

My Son, John remains one of my favorite novels by Kathi Macias. It's about a family whose life is turned upside down when Liz Peterson's elderly mother is brutally murdered and her son is accused of the crime. A novel of faith and unconditional love, this would make a powerful movie.

One Holy Night by J. M. Hochstetler is a classic dramatic Christmas story. A contemporary miracle story, it features a WWII vet named Frank McRae who is tortured by nightmares of a war he can't forget while his son is called off to duty in Viet Nam. On the home front, Frank's wife is battling ovarian cancer.

Reconstructing Jackson by Holly Bush is set two years after the end of the Civil War. Returning home in a wheelchair, Reed Jackson becomes bitter when his father deems him unfit to run the family plantation. He moves in with family in Fenton, Missouri, where he meets Belle Richards, a dirt poor farm girl abused by her father and brothers. Set during the time of Reconstruction in America, this moving story is just as much about the plight of free African-Americans as it is romance.

Unexpected Christmas Hero by Kathi Macias is one of those tear-jerking seasonal stories that begs to be made into a movie. It is the story of Josie Meyers and her two children who find themselves homeless after the sudden death of Josie's husband, Sam. On the streets, they meet Rick, a homeless Viet Nam veteran who has given his life to God, and who will be instrumental in bringing Josie to Christ.

It has been years since I've read Wind of the Spirit by J. M. Hochstetler, but I still remember how captivated I was by it. This is the third book in her historical series set during the Revolutionary War. As the overwhelming forces of British General William Howe threaten to wipe out General Washington's Continental Army, Elizabeth Howard risks her life to obtain and return with critical intelligence. Meanwhile, the man she wished to marry is far out on the western borders. General Jonathan Carleton, now known as the Shawnee war chief White Eagle, has helped his braves drive white settlers out of Ohio territory, while fighting a more personal battle of his own--finding a way to get Elizabeth out of his heart and steeling himself against the seductive charms of Pathfinder's widow, Blue Sky, as the conflict between him and the shaman Wolfslayer escalates.

The historical detail in this novel is amazing. The series was re-released and I look forward to reading the other three books, which I have already purchased.