Top Ten Books That Live in My Head Rent-Free

Posted July 20, 2026 by Jana in Top Ten Tuesday / 17 Comments

Welcome to another TTT! This week’s topic was submitted by Emma @ damppebbles.com and is: Books That Live in My Head Rent-Free. I love this topic because there’s so many ways to interpret it. Maybe the books live in your head because they were really good, really bad, scary, just what you needed at the time, unique, thought-provoking, life-changing, etc. Bonus points if you elaborate on why you chose your picks this week, but if you’d like to remain mysterious that’s great too!

Good Spirits by B.K. Borison
This was so unique, so heartwarming, and so festive! I think about it all the time, and how much I love reading it.

Sea of Charms by Sarah Beth Durst
I could say this about any of the books in this series, and I know this one isn’t even out yet, but oh my goodness the love I have for this book. I love the cozy, atmospheric, low-stakes storylines in these books as well as the sweet, wholesome romances. But the sea serpent and little plant in this book both stole my heart and I think about this book probably every day.

Lock Every Door by Riley Sager
It’s just. So. Good. It’s the book that made me love books set in spooky buildings. I actively seek them out now, but this one will always be my favorite and the one I wish I could re-read again for the first time.

Another Fish in the Sea by Amy Kelly
This is my favorite novella ever. I’ve never read such a magical, heartwarming, swoony romance that was so perfect while also being so short. My mom and I talk about this one all the time, and how we wish there were more bite-sized (seriously, it’s 32 pages long) romances out there that were this perfect.

The Christmas Dress by Courtney Cole
I think of this book every holiday season and love how it made me feel. It’s such a lovely, lovely story.

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
I crave this book and the dragons in it on a daily basis. I love these dragons more than the people. lol.

The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn
It’s so exciting and soooooo good. I love this book so much, and it’s the book I compare all other WW2 fiction to.

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
There’s this scene in a secluded mountain cabin that has not left my brain since the day I read it.

Hello Stranger by Lisa Kleypas
My favorite historical romance. I love the suspense, the swoons, the characters. This entire series lives in my head rent-free, though, let’s be honest.

The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss
I read this during the exact time I needed it. I listened to the audio, surrounded by Christmas decorations, cross stitching a very complicated (and huge) piece for a good friend for Christmas. I loved the story and the narrator and the coziness of this book. It’s right up there with my very favorite Christmas books. And I looooved the miniseries of it that Hallmark released last year!

Which book lives in your head rent-free?
What about a book makes it stay with you for a long time?


Top Ten Books I Want to Read by New to Me Authors

Posted July 13, 2026 by Jana in Top Ten Tuesday / 25 Comments

Welcome to another TTT! This week’s topic is: Top Ten Books I Want to Read by New to Me Authors. I’m sharing ten books I’m super excited to read that are written by authors I’ve never read before. There were soooooo many to choose from! I love discovering new authors, especially when they have a huge backlist of titles to read. Do you agree? Anyway, here are my picks!

The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love by India Holton
Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune
Love’s a Witch by Tricia O’Malley
Trial of the Sun Queen by Nisha J. Tuli
Some Like It Scot by Pepper Basham
Don’t Let Your Dukes Grow Up to Be Scoundrels by Louisa Darling
The English Masterpiece by Katherine Reay
Off the Beaten Path by Madison Wright
Since We’ve No Place to Go by Kate Watson
The Gentleman’s Confession by Anneka R. Walker

Have you read any of these books? If so, are they good choices for my first book by that author(s)?


Top Ten Books with the Word “Hot” in the Title

Posted July 6, 2026 by Jana in Top Ten Tuesday / 21 Comments

Welcome to another TTT! Since it’s officially summer now and I am officially melting in the heat and being poisoned by all the wildfire smoke in the air (Utah currently has the largest wildfire in the USA, plus a bunch of others. Any prayers, thoughts, good vibes, etc. for the firefighters, first responders, and those suffering as a result of these fires would be much appreciated) I thought it only fitting to choose the word “hot” for this week’s topic. If I’ve read the book, I’ll include my star rating. All others are on my to-read list!

Hotshot Doc by R.S. Grey (5 stars)
White-Hot Hack by Tracey Garvis Graves
A Hot Scot for Christmas by Gina Conkle
Hot to Go by Kristen Bailey
Hot for Slayer by Ali Hazelwood (4 stars)
The Heiress and the Hothead by Sabrina Jeffries
Too Hot by Wendy Dalrymple
The Red Hot Earl by Darcy Burke
Hot Shot by Robin Bielman
Hot Pursuit by Kay Marie

What word did you pick for this week’s topic?


Married with Benefits by Ellie Palmer | Book Review

Posted July 2, 2026 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 2 Comments

Married with Benefits by Ellie Palmer | Book ReviewMarried with Benefits by Ellie Palmer
Published by GP Putnam's Sons on July 21, 2026
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 384
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher (Netgalley)
Add to Goodreads
Buy on Amazon

A trope-filled delight of a rom com about two strangers who enter into a marriage of convenience that becomes anything but convenient.

Lainey Davis can't wait for the day she'll be able to escape her tiny Wisconsin town. But she's not even close to covering her health insurance premiums and pricey migraine medication, let alone saving up enough to start over some place new. That is, until Lainey receives some news that might upend her unlucky streak. Through the archaic legal doctrine of adverse possession, Lainey has inadvertently squatted her way into owning one of the most notorious houses in modern architectural history.

But Lainey owns only the house. The surrounding property, a lakeside money pit the previous owner used as a front to deal illegal reptiles, has been willed to newcomer Elliot Hodges, a D.C. architect who wants to rent the place to fellow architecture lovers. Neither can rent or sell without reaching an agreement.

Desperate to rent out the only valuable house on the property, Elliot proposes an unconventional marry him for health insurance and in exchange, she’ll allow him to rent the house as part of his resort until he’s saved enough to buy her out. It's a win-win Lainey will finally have a way out of her small town, and he’ll own the house designed by his architectural idol. But when the end date looms and their connection grows, Lainey’s no longer sure what’s more leaving Elliot behind or letting him in.

I really enjoy Ellie Palmer’s romances because there’s always something about her stories that feel unique and unexpected. She puts a lot of focus on the framework of the story. She adds so many little details that, when added together, provide so much depth and interest. Her characters have very rich lives (with backstories), and we learn so much about them that they feel like friends. The settings are rich and detailed enough that it feels like you’re there. The supporting characters are interesting and not just placeholders or plot devices to move the story forward. Her books contain an entire world, not just the here and now with the focus being on the romance and not much else. That’s not to say that the focus isn’t on the romance, because it is, but so many different pieces of the story share the limelight at the same time that I always come away knowing I’m not going to forget her books.

Married with Benefits has the cutest main couple. First, we’ve got Lainey Davis. She is such a cool and interesting character. She talented and can do anything she sets her mind to. She’s incredibly smart, in both the book smart and the street smart ways. She’s a little chaotic and bananas in that way that so many artistic people are, myself included. She is independent, can hold her own, and will not be pushed around, especially by a nerdy Clark Kent who thinks he owns the land her house is on. There’s no dimming her sparkle! And then there’s Elliot, our nerdy, unassuming, prim and proper golden retriever who wears sweaters and glasses and has no idea what do with this free spirit except marry her. I’ve never seen a man so caught of guard by a woman’s personality before, and it was so endearing and amusing. He truly is out of his depth and falls first (ahem, no he pines and yearns in the most delicious way), much to his chagrin. Their chemistry is electric from the moment they meet. She is having none of his nonsense and he’s absolutely dumbfounded. I’m not even sure he knows how they ended up married, but he’s not mad about it! She challenges him on all levels, and he stands taller for it. I loved watching them slowly burn from adversaries to friends to lovers. We get to see them cohabitate and work through issues together, developing a bond that felt very special. They go deep about their pasts and their dreams. I loved how the topic of chronic illness is treated, and seeing what it looks like to support someone through that. As someone with chronic pain conditions, this relationship really warmed my heart and gave me hope. I just love these two.

I also loved the supporting characters. Life in a small town means everyone knows everyone. There’s friendly (and not so friendly) rivalries between businesses, nosy neighbors, loose pharmacy regulations regarding timely payment on prescriptions (LOL), and everyone in everyone’s business (if you have too many cars parking in one place, you WILL be fined). It felt cozy and sweet. I loved the architecture elements and the interesting house. That whole storyline reminded me of Frank Lloyd Wright.

All in all, Married with Benefits was wonderful. I had so much fun reading it and am excited for Ellie’s next book!


Top Ten Most Anticipated Books Releasing in the Second Half of 2026

Posted June 29, 2026 by Jana in Top Ten Tuesday / 19 Comments

Welcome to another TTT! I can’t believe I’m saying this, but we’re halfway through the year! Today I’m going to ask you to do a really hard thing. And that really hard thing is to pick ten books releasing anytime from July 1 – December 31 of this year that you’re the most excited to read! I’m sorry! I know it’s hard, but we can do this! Also, if you can’t do this just list all of them and make it top 200 Tuesday. There are no rules here! I’m not including Sea of Charms by Sarah Beth Durst or Grim Tidings by B.K. Borison because I’ve already read them, but you can bet they’d be on this list if I hadn’t! They’re both amazing, so you should pre-order them right now.

Just for the Season by Rachel Griffiths (July 7, 2026)

For fans of Lisa Kleypas and Sarah MacLean, Rachel Griffiths’s latest historical romance is a sexy, laugh-out-loud romp that’s The Bachelorette set in Regency England with shades of Bridgerton.

Lady Charlotte Louisa Aveton knows all of London’s rules, and better yet, knows how to break them. But when she takes it too far and stumbles into a serious scandal, she knows only one thing will save her—marriage, as soon as possible.

With only one summer to pick a husband, Charlotte invites all of England’s most eligible bachelors to an extravagant summer retreat at a country manor house. There’s a brooding artist, a wickedly handsome Russian prince, and one of the richest men in all of Europe…so why do her eyes keep sliding over to the Duke of Warrick, the only man who’s ever come close to breaking her heart?

Does Charlotte’s summer of suitors have any room for second chances?

The Hocus Pocus Handbook by Ann Aguirre (September 1, 2026)

Thea Winter has been stolen. She’s the other side of the changeling story, and she’s been raised by a hobgoblin named Mudge, who taught her wildcraft, how to know when the coin-sith would attack and how to get one to show its belly. Unfortunately, Mudge didn’t teach Thea how to stay out of trouble. Which is why she’s facing an unwanted marriage of convenience.

Or would be, but her spouse bolted. Now she has to hunt down Devan J. Fenelon, but she’s been saddled with a taciturn, humorless hunter known as Winter’s Hound. He answers only to his cousin, and she’s not looking forward to this quest at all.

Kerboros has never known freedom. His life is an endless series of ceaseless commands from his reprehensible cousin, Lord Liskaal. Since his father’s failed rebellion, Kerboros has been permitted to survive only as an example to others, an object lesson as to how far one may fall. Certainly, he has his own hidden dreams and secret schemes, but they’re not what anyone would expect. What he wants most, he will most likely never attain.

But then, he receives his next assignment. Escort Thea Winter, protect her during the search. And it’s a glorious torment to travel with her.

She is sunshine. He is shadow.

Their love is forbidden, but when irresistible force sweeps up an immovable object, the resulting reaction might be magical…

Falling for Keeps by Kasey Stockton (September 2, 2026)

Emma Harper wants a love story. Carson Price wants nothing to do with one.

As the children’s librarian in Autumn Ridge, Emma spends her days surrounded by happy endings. But between restoring her old farmhouse, keeping her family together, and searching for a decent man in a very small town, her own romance feels permanently shelved.

Then one impulsive night at a bar, she kisses Carson Price—the popular guy she crushed on in high school.

For Emma, it’s a reckless little dream come true.

For Carson, it’s a fun night with a beautiful woman he never expects to see again.

Until the next morning… when he moves in across the street.

Newly divorced, cynical, and focused on raising his daughter while rebuilding the dental practice he just bought, Carson has no interest in love. Marriage? Never again. Romance? Absolutely not.

Friendship with his warm, bookish, unexpectedly tempting neighbor? That might be safe enough.

Except Emma has never been good at doing anything halfway. And the more he lets her into his life, the harder it is for either of them to pretend friendship is all this is.

She’s ready to fall. He’s determined not to. But in a small town, staying just friends might be the hardest thing of all. Falling for Keeps is a sweet, single dad, sworn-off love romantic comedy set in the small town of Autumn Ridge.

Untitled Empyrean [Not Book Four] by Rebecca Yarros (September 29, 2026)

No idea what it’s about yet (the publisher has not given
us a cover or synopsis yet), but I’m here for it!

The Christmas Yes List by Melissa Ferguson (October 6, 2026)

Get ready for a laugh-out-loud holiday romance that’s brimming with witty banter and heartwarming cheer by the bestselling author of Meet Me in the Margins, Melissa Ferguson.

Chronic people-pleaser Chloe Hollis is determined to finally learn how to get over her fear of rejection. Her unconventional solution? She must collect ten “nos” before Christmas Day by asking strangers for the most ridiculous favors she can dream up. But her plan goes hilariously off-track when she meets James Dutton.

James, a rule-following workaholic, has decided to do the exact opposite of he’s saying “yes” to every opportunity that comes his way in hopes of finally embracing life–and maybe a little Christmas spirit.

As they continue to get tangled up in each other’s wild experiment, Chloe and James find themselves in a whirlwind of festive, awkward, and delightful situations. But no one is more surprised than they are to realize they’re falling in love.

With sparkling humor and swoon-worthy heart, this delightful Christmas rom-com is a feel-good story about facing fear head-on, choosing growth over comfort, and finding the courage to say “yes” to the things–and the people–that truly matter.

Queen of Lombard Street by Lisa Kleypas (October 20, 2026)

In Victorian England, no woman—not even a brilliant economist like Reina Martin—is allowed to open her own bank account. Men will take care of everything, women are told. But Reina knows better. As the illegitimate daughter of a Spanish immigrant mother, she’s haunted by the memory of living with unpaid grocer’s bills and no coal for the hearth.

So together with her mentor, the powerful banker William Farlow, Reina will build the first all-women’s bank, where women can manage their own financial security.

At home, Reina’s domestic staff of recently paroled prisoners are building new lives and becoming a found family. But soon Reina is shocked to discover that her enigmatic butler, John Pembroke, is an undercover police detective. He’s been assigned to investigate Farlow, who’s suspected of financial crime on a scale so massive, it could destabilize the British economy. Pembroke needs Reina’s expertise for a high-stakes nighttime heist to obtain incriminating evidence.

Now Reina faces the agonizing choice of betraying her mentor or turning her back on thousands of working-class families who stand to lose everything. Either way, her dream of the women’s bank may be over.

But courage and sacrifice aren’t limited to the battlefield—they also occur at the kitchen table, where women who believe in compassion and community are working to remake the future. And when the stakes are highest, Reina knows to trust her heart as well as her intellect.

Based on real-life trailblazers such as Mary Paley Marshall, Britain’s first female economist, and financial titan Hetty Green, Queen of Lombard Street brings to light the hidden history of extraordinary women whose achievements should be celebrated. How can we know who we are, if we don’t know who we were?

Untitled (A Court of thorns and Roses #6) by Sarah J. Maas (October 27, 2026)

Again, no cover or synopsis from the publisher has been released yet but I am so excited!

A Cinderella Christmas by Sabrina Jeffries, Mary Jo Putney,
and Anna Bradley (October 27, 2026)

Three reigning legendary queens of Regency Romance deck the halls with this delightful collection of three sparkling novellas, set against the tinsel and mistletoe of a magical Christmas season.

THE MISTLETOE MAIDEN * Sabrina Jeffries
Once arrogant and aloof, Lord Noel Davenport is determined to help childhood friend Eve Archer restore her family’s fortune. Queen Charlotte’s upcoming charity Christmas embroidery contest is the perfect place for Eve to display her skills and gain opportunities. But though Noel has chosen a wife, by midnight it’s clear that guarding his heart is impossible when desire proves an irresistible gift . . .

THE CINDERELLA CHALLENGE * Mary Jo Putney
Rejected by her bigoted family, gifted young Casey has survived by disguising herself as a young man and working in the offices of the Chatham Royal Navy Dockyard. But when she reports her suspicions of a plot against Britain’s most brilliant engineer, she doesn’t expect handsome investigator Cameron Tremayne to swoop in and decide to the solve the mystery of her as well. Can their unlikely partnership bring them a future of loving Christmases together?

A WINTER’S WISH * Anna Bradley
While she designs the stunning gowns that have made her wicked stepsisters the toast of London, Estella Harley also plans to escape her cruel stepmother. Posing as a lady’s maid, she seizes her chance at a glittering Yuletide house party thrown by the mysterious Duke of Hawthorne. But when it comes to secrets—and longing for a real-life fairytale—the duke and Estella have more in common than meets the eye . . .

Peculiar Stars by Rebecca Yarros (November 17, 2026)

Callista Moran has spent a lifetime putting her own plans aside to care for other people. Once she and Darren Knight announce their engagement, she thinks her future is finally set. But when a routine sailing trip goes tragically wrong, a cyclone blows those carefully made plans away.

Stranded on an island for the next eighteen months alongside the crew and her fiancé’s cousin, Callista discovers a strength she never knew she had. And begins to question the life she always thought she wanted. With Dominic, an ex–army medic, she finds true peace―and a version of herself that she doesn’t need to explain. They resist their connection at first, but as months wear on, and the hope of rescue fades, something real starts taking shape, built on who they are when everything else is stripped away.

When they’re finally found, the world hasn’t changed. But they have. In the height of a modern media frenzy, learning to live as the people they’ve become will challenge not only their definition of survival, but love.

Til Quest Do Us Part by Ivelisse Housman (December 1, 2026)

Two Former Teen Protagonists Who Saved the World now need to learn how to be adults—with adult feelings—in this witty, warm romantic fantasy.

Princess Elysande Sybilla Aurelion of Estrachia, Voice of the Thousand-Eyed Goddess, impulsively made a vow to her knight, Faron, at eighteen years old, under the secrecy of night and the thousand watchful eyes of her patron deity. To be fair, they expected to perish at the hands of a raging sorceress the next day—but then they didn’t.

Once she took the throne, everything changed. Ely and Faron agreed that they were too young and too important—as the now Queen and Knight Guardian—to be anything more. And with Ely’s responsibility as the new sovereign of her people, it was better to forget the whole thing than risk the kingdom’s newfound peace.

Ten years later, Ely finds herself needing to marry the prince of a neighboring territory for political advantage, and discovers that she is, technically, married to her best friend. And the Goddess won’t let her out of her oath that easily. Now, Ely and Faron must work together to seek the deity and break their vows in favor of the greater good—even if they risk rekindling a flame that never truly died.

Are you looking forward to any of these?
Tell me about a book (or a few) still releasing this year that you’re excited about!