Welcome to another TTT! Before I jump into this week’s post, I wanted to thank those of you who granted some of my wishes last week! I did my best to find all of you and thank you personally, but it was a little tricky in one instance since I know several people with the same name! So, thank you to Lisa (at The Plain-Spoken Pen) for the copy of The Girl Who Belonged to the Sea! I’m so excited to read this! Thank you to Andrea T. for First to Fall! This is one of my favorite books, but I didn’t have my own copy! Now I can re-read it over and over again! Thank you to Jamie (at Keeper of the Wood Between Worlds) for Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries! Several of my friends have been raving about this one right now, and I’m so excited to jump in! And thank you to Katherine E.P. for The Last Bookshop In London! I borrowed the audio through my library and loved it so, so much. I’ve been really wanting a copy for my personal library! Thank you, thank you all!

This week’s topic is Top Ten Books on My Summer 2023 to-Read List, and I love building these seasonal TBRs even though I’m not so great at following them. lol. I’ve selected both old and new/upcoming releases and am excited about all of them!

1. The Blonde Identity by Ally Carter

A fast-paced, hilarious road trip rom-com about a woman with amnesia who discovers she’s the identical twin sister of a rogue spy… and must team up with a rugged, grumpy operative to stay alive.

It’s the middle of the night in the middle of Paris and a woman just woke up with no memory.

She only knows three things for certain:

1. She has a splitting headache.

2. The hottest guy she has (probably) ever seen is standing over her, telling her to run.

And oh yeah…

3. People keep trying to kill her.

She doesn’t know who. Or why. But when she sees footage of herself fighting off a dozen men there’s only one explanation: obviously. . . she’s a spy!

Except, according to Mr. Hot Guy, she’s not. She’s a spy’s identical twin sister.

Too bad the only person who knows she’s not the woman they’re looking for is this very grouchy, very sexy, very secret agent who (reluctantly) agrees to help her disappear.

That’s easier said than done when a criminal organization wants you dead and every intelligence service in the world wants you caught. Luckily, no one is looking for a pair of lovesick newlyweds on their honeymoon. And soon they’re lying their way across Europe–dodging bullets and faking kisses as they race to unravel a deadly conspiracy and clear her sister’s name.

But with every secret they uncover, the truth shifts, until she no longer knows who to trust: the twin she can’t remember or the mysterious man she can’t let herself forget…

2. Marry Me by Midnight by Felicia Grossman

Author Felicia Grossman—whose “books are powerful and passionate and swoon-inducing!” (Eva Leigh, USA Today bestselling author)—kicks off her new series with an enchanting twist on Cinderella: in which a charming heiress must marry to save her family’s business, but the one man she dreams of is the one man she can’t have.

Every love story begins with once upon a time .

London, 1832 : Isabelle Lira may be in distress, but she’s no damsel. Since her father’s death, his former partners have sought to oust her from their joint equity business. Her only choice is to marry—and  fast —to a powerful ally outside the respected Berab family’s sphere of influence. Only finding the right spouse will require casting a wide net. So she’ll host a series of festivals, to which  every  eligible Jewish man is invited.

Once, Aaron Ellenberg longed to have a family of his own. But as the synagogue custodian, he is too poor for wishes and not foolish enough for dreams. Until the bold, beautiful Isabelle Lira presents him with an irresistible offer . . . if he ensures her favored suitors have no hidden loyalties to the Berabs, she will provide him with money for a new life.

Yet the transaction provides surprising temptation, as Aaron and Isabelle find caring and passion in the last person they each expected. Only a future for them is impossible—for heiresses don’t marry orphans, and love only conquers in children’s tales. But if Isabelle can find the courage to trust her heart, she’ll discover anything is possible, if only she says yes.

3. The Paris Agent by Kelly Rimmer

1970—In the aftermath of his war-ravaged past, Noah Ainsworth is still haunted by memories of his time as a fearless British operative in France. But a critical head injury left Noah with frustrating memory gaps and a burning question that plagues him—who was the agent who saved his life during that tragic final mission?

Determined to find answers, Noah’s daughter Charlotte embarks on a quest from their cozy home in Liverpool, leading her to the incredible lives of two ordinary women—Chloe and Fleur—who transformed into fearless spies on foreign soil. But as Charlotte unravels the heroic exploits of these women and their connection to Noah, she inadvertently stumbles upon evidence of a double agent lurking disturbingly close to home, drawing her into a treacherous web of secrets and unearthing a shocking story from those final days of the war.

Once again, Kelly Rimmer takes readers on a gripping journey, one that threads the lives of two remarkable women into the fabric of history, unveiling the power of courage, family and the indelible mark left by the darkest era of human conflict.

4. In the Weeds by B.K. Borison

A grumpy farmer and a no-nonsense social media influencer have another chance at love in this charming romantic comedy.

Evelyn St. James isn’t the kind of woman you forget. Beckett Porter certainly hasn’t. One incredible weekend in Maine, and he’s officially a man distracted. He’s not unfamiliar with hot and heavy flings, but Evie wove some sort of magic over him during their tumble in the sheets. He can’t stop thinking about her laugh. Her hand pressed flat against his chest. Her smiling mouth at his neck.

So when she suddenly appears on his farm as part of a social media contest, he is…confused. He had no idea that the sweet and sexy woman he met at a bar is actually a global phenomenon. When Evie disappears again, Beckett resolves to finally move on.

But Evie, who has been feeling disconnected from her work and increasingly dissatisfied with life online, is trying to find her way back to something real. She returns to the last place she was Lovelight Farms and the tiny town of Inglewild. And it has absolutely nothing to do with the hot farmer she spent two incredible nights with.

5. Role Playing by Cathy Yardley

From Cathy Yardley, author of Love, Comment, Subscribe, comes an emotional rom-com about two middle-aged gamers who grow their online connection into an IRL love story.

Maggie is an unapologetically grumpy forty-eight-year-old hermit. But when her college-aged son makes her a deal―he’ll be more social if she does the same―she can’t refuse. She joins a new online gaming guild led by a friendly healer named Otter. So that nobody gets the wrong idea, she calls herself Bogwitch.

Otter is Aiden, a fifty-year-old optimist using the guild as an emotional outlet from his family drama caring for his aging mother while his brother plays house with Aiden’s ex-fiancée.

Bogwitch and Otter become fast virtual friends, but there’s a catch. Bogwitch thinks Otter is a college student. Otter assumes Bogwitch is an octogenarian.

When they finally meet face to face―after a rocky, shocking start―the unlikely pair of sunshine and stormy personalities grow tentatively closer. But Maggie’s previous relationships have left her bitter, and Aiden’s got a complicated past of his own.

Everything’s easier online. Can they make it work in real life?

6. The Spectacular by Fiona Davis

New York Times bestselling author Fiona Davis transports us back to 1950s Manhattan and the glamorous Radio City Music Hall. . . .

New York City, 1956: Nineteen-year-old Marion is over the moon to have been selected to be one of the Rockettes, Radio City Music Hall’s glamorous precision-dancing troupe. It’s an honor to perform in the world’s most spectacular theater, an art deco masterpiece. But with four shows a day as well as grueling rehearsals, not to mention exacting standards of perfection to live up to, Marion quickly realizes that the life of a Rockette has both extraordinary highs and devastating lows.

Then one night a bomb explodes in the theater. It’s only the latest in a string of explosions around the city orchestrated by a person the press has nicknamed the “Big Apple Bomber.” They have been terrorizing the citizens of New York for sixteen years by planting bombs in popular, crowded spaces. With the public in an uproar over the lack of any real leads after a yearslong manhunt, the police, at Marion’s urging, turn in desperation to a radical new technique: psychological profiling.

As Marion finds herself pulled deeper into the investigation, she realizes that as much as she’s been training herself to blend in—performing in perfect unison with all the other identical Rockettes—if she hopes to catch the bomber, she’ll need to stand out and take a terrifying risk. But she may be forced to sacrifice everything she’s worked for, as well as the people she loves the most.

7. French Holiday by Sarah Ready

One (crumbling) French castle. Two enemies-at-first-sight. The holiday of a lifetime.

Merry DeLuca has a problem—a big problem. Her sister just married her best friend and the only man she’s ever loved. Her life is rapidly spiraling down the drain and she doesn’t have an escape plan.

So when Merry is offered a three-month holiday living in a romantic castle in the French countryside she leaps at the chance. Merry knows her French holiday will fix everything—there will be mouthwatering pastries, delicious (meaningless) flirtations, and languid strolls through vineyards at sunset. Her holiday will be perfect.

At least, Merry believes that until she arrives and finds Noah Wright—the best man at her sister’s wedding and the worst man she’s ever known—staying in her castle.

Famous travel documentarian by day and arrogant devil by night, Noah refuses to leave the castle. Which means that Merry and Noah are stuck together in France, in a crumbling castle, in a holiday where nothing goes right. Not for Merry and not for Noah.

So they strike a truce—they’ll live as cohabitating friends for three-months, and then they’ll amicably part ways, never to see each other again.

But the thing about friendship? Sometimes secrets are uncovered. Mysteries revealed. Hearts laid bare. And friendship can start to feel a lot like caring. A lot like love. It can even make you wish that the holiday never has to end.

8. A Cruise Fling by Laura Brown

CRUISE /kro͞oz/ verb

1. To sail in an area, especially for pleasure
2. To look for someone…definitely for pleasure

Mackenzie Laurel is done with rotten lemons. Especially the guy kind. With no relationship, no job, and nowhere to live, Mac’s leaving reality behind to go on a luxury cruise. Sun. Sand. Ocean breezes. Heaven. Of course, a little fun in the sun wouldn’t hurt. And a certain green-eyed passenger might just be the thirst-quenching lemonade she needs…

Cole Matterhorn isn’t a relationship guy. Hell, he can barely commit to leftovers. Yet the second he meets Mac, there’s sparks—the kind that could mean some delicious distraction. Distraction that Cole desperately needs to escape from his work problems and the event that imploded any chance of his having a normal life.

Mac and Cole have more in common than just chemistry. She’s hard of hearing and knows a little something about not always fitting in—and that his prosthetic does not define him. For 9 days they’re both having the time of their lives, whether it’s their failed trivia attempts, heating things up on a Caribbean beach, or even a sexy karaoke serenade.

Now it’s only a matter of time before they hit the shore—and reality.

9. The Paris Notebook by Tessa Harris

A secret big enough to destroy the Führer’s reputation. . .

January 1939:

When Katja Heinz secures a job as a typist at Doctor Viktor’s clinic, she doesn’t expect to be copying top secret medical records from a notebook.

At the end of the first world war, Doctor Viktor treated soldiers for psychological disorders. One of the patients was none other than Adolf Hitler. . .

The notes in his possession declare Hitler unfit for office – a secret that could destroy the Führer’s reputation, and change the course of the war if exposed. . .

With the notebook hidden in her hat box, Katja and Doctor Viktor travel to Paris. Seeking refuge in the Shakespeare and Company bookshop, they hope to find a publisher brave enough to print the controversial script.

But Katja is being watched. Nazi spies in Paris have discovered her plan. They will stop at nothing to destroy the notebook and silence those who know of the secret hidden inside. . .

10. Duke Gone Rogue by Christy Carlyle

Will Hart, the Duke of Ashmore, is everything his father was not: scrupulously honest, forbidding, and apparently joyless. As a duke, he’s a catch, but as a grumpy stick-in-the mud, no lady knows quite how to catch his eye. When his sisters concoct a plan for him to visit a run-down family property in Cornwall, he reluctantly agrees, hoping it will be a chance for him to rediscover the carefree man he once was.

Madeline Ravenwood believes she can do anything she puts her mind to, including running the gardening business she inherited from her father and being a founding member of the Royal Visit Committee. Hard at work preparing for Princess Beatrice’s visit to judge their annual flower show, the appearance of a stern, handsome duke is a distraction Maddie doesn’t need.

Tasked by the committee to convince the duke to repair his ramshackle manor house in time for the royal visit, he agrees, if she will join him as he explores Cornwall. Spending their days, and nights, together, Will’s love for Maddie becomes too strong to ignore. But Maddie knows how different their worlds are and when the burdens of his title reappear, can Will convince her that she’s the woman he’s been waiting for?

What’s the one book you hope to get to this summer?
Are you excited about any of these, too? Or have you read any of them?

Welcome to another TTT! First off, I wanted to thank those of you who commented on last week’s link-up post expressing concern for me. It was scary and painful, but I’m ok!

This week’s topic, Bookish Wishes, is a popular one and one I host twice a year (around Christmas and again in June)! List the top 10 books you’d love to own and include a link to your wishlist so that people can grant your wishes. Make sure you link your wishlist to your mailing address or include the email address associated with your e-reader in the list description so people know how to get the book to you. After you post, jump around the Linky and grant a wish or two if you’d like. Please don’t feel obligated to send anything to anyone! I love hosting this topic in June because it coincides with my birthday, which is next week, as well as with the secret Santa gift exchange I host: Christmas In July! Sign-ups are currently open, so if you’re interested in spreading some festive cheer this summer click on the #giftmasinjuly hashtag on the top menu bar of my blog for more information!

Desert Island Duke by Kate Bateman
The Relationtrip by Elana Johnson
The Foxglove King by Hannah F. Whitten
The Rogue Not Taken by Sarah MacLean
The Girl Who Belonged to the Sea by Katherine Quinn
Along Came a Lady by Christi Caldwell
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett
The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin
Too Wilde to Wed by Eloisa James
First to Fall by Jenny B. Jones

Here’s the link to my full wish list, which includes everything I mentioned here and more!
I’d be so happy to receive any of them.

Which book are you wishing for the most right now?
Did you have a wish granted? Come let me know if someone surprised you!

Welcome to another TTT! I was in the hospital over the weekend (my first and hopefully last ambulance ride ever), so I will not be posting my list this week. I wanted to make sure to have the Linky posted, though, so you can still visit other participants.

Today’s topic is: Books or Covers that Feel/Look Like Summer. You can interpret this in a number of ways. Maybe the covers or titles are obviously summer themed, but maybe the feeling the book gives you is all warm and summery. Maybe the book cover colors look summery or the story itself takes place in the summertime. Or maybe the titles you select are favorites that you re-read every summer when you were on break from school. Have fun sharing, and I’m hoping I’ll be back next week!

Welcome to another TTT! Today’s topic, Things That Make Me Instantly NOT Want to Read a Book, is the opposite of last week’s topic and I thought it would be fun to do them back-to-back like this. What are some of your dealbreakers or turn-offs when deciding whether or not to read/finish a book? Maybe it’s a genre you don’t like, an author who has burned you in the past, trigger warnings, subject matter, writing style, etc. You can also include reasons you might DNF a book, which I’m including in my list as well. Don’t feel like you have to name author names or book titles unless you want to! I’m going to keep this general because I never want to hurt feelings!

1. Certain trigger warnings. 
I find myself looking for trigger warnings a lot more than I used to because I keep accidentally stumbling upon upsetting content in books I never would have expected to see that kind of content in. Animal abuse/death is probably my biggest dealbreaker, but there’s several others that I just won’t read.

2. If a book is described as heartbreaking, heart-wrenching, or heartrending.
Leave my heart alone! Oh, and “harrowing” and “tear-jerker” aren’t great for me either!

3. First-person present-tense.
It’s my absolutely least favorite, but I’ll do it for a story that sounds too hard to pass up or is written by an author I really love.

4. Enemies to lovers trope. 
Ok, so this one isn’t always the case and is not a true dealbreaker for me. I’ll read enemies to lovers if it includes another trope I love, like fake dating or forced proximity. I’ll also read this trope if it’s by an author I love, or if I can tell it’s not going to be a book filled with toxic hatred. I can’t stand it when characters spend the bulk of the book being mean to or yelling at each other.

5. Sad subject matter with no hope.
This one has evolved for me a little. I used to shy away from all sad books (and I still do with most contemporary fiction), but then I fell in love with historical fiction (mostly WWII). Many, if not all, WWII fiction novels have sad moments. It’s the lack of hope and the lack of goodness in a sad story that will make me set it aside. If there’s no good characters, no light moments, and no hopeful messages then there’s nothing for me to take away from the story and what’s the point of that?

6. Inaccuracy/lack of research.
If a place I’ve been to is incorrectly described, a historical period was clearly not researched, or an aspect of a culture or religion that I’m a part of is inaccurately portrayed then I usually won’t finish the book.

7. Too many pop culture references. 
Books don’t age well when these are included too often, and it pulls me out of the story!

8. Curse words from this world in fictitious worlds. 
If I’m reading a fantasy or sci-fi novel that does not take place on Earth (or on the Earth we all know), it irks me to no end when the author has the characters throwing around f-bombs. But then again, I also cringe when I read made-up curse words that substitute for ours. lol. So maybe there’s no hope for me!

9. Excessive character descriptions.
Yes. He’s hot. She’s hot. His eyes are green like the forest, like the grass, like an emerald, like the skin of a watermelon. I get tired of it!

10. Ugly covers. 
This isn’t a dealbreaker for me, but it’s definitely a speed bump. I know you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover (and I’ve read amazing books with ugly covers), but there are SO many books out there with beautiful covers and I absolutely know that I will always pick those up first in a bookstore.

What are some of your turn-offs or dealbreakers when it comes to books?

Welcome to another TTT! This week’s topic, Things That Make Me Instantly Want to Read a Book, can be interpreted in a couple different ways. First, you can take this in a situational direction. For example, a rainy day, a day at the pool or beach, or a snowstorm are all situations where I’d instantly grab a book for some relaxing reading time. Or you can think of a book’s attributes that would immediately draw you in, such as a trope you love, your favorite author’s new release, or a setting you’re excited about.

I’ve chosen to tweak this topic a little and share things about a book’s cover and back cover that would grab me and make me want to learn more about it. If I’m in a bookstore or browsing for books online in places like  Goodreads, Amazon, Netgalley, or Edelweiss the following ten things will ultimately pique my interest and prompt me to investigate.

1. The cover or title indicates that it’s most likely an adult fantasy romance. 
I find these to be so hard to find! I have a few favorites, but I’m always on the lookout for more.

2. Colorful book cover.
I love bright, colorful covers and find my eye always zeroing in on them when I’m perusing bookshelves.

3. An author I love has blurbed the book.
If I’m looking through books and spot a small quote on the cover from an author I love endorsing that book, I’ll be interested right away.

4. The title indicates that there’s traveling involved.
Or really, if the book is set in a location I’d like to be.

5. The title is punny. 
I love a good pun, so if I see one in a title I’m going to want to know why it’s there!

6. Pretty dresses. 
So many amazing historical romances feature the heroine on the cover in an opulent gown. I always need to take a more in-depth look at a book if I see a dress I like!

7. It’s written by an author I’ve never heard of.
I am always looking to discover new authors!

8. It’s written by an author I love.
But I also get so excited when I see than an author I love has a new book!

9. Sparkles!
If a cover has any glitter or sparkles or foil accents on it, I turn into a barracuda who will grab it immediately.

10. Christmas
I’d be kidding myself if I didn’t include this one. We all know I love Christmas, so if I see a book whose cover is decorated for Christmas or whose title guarantees festive cheer I’m going to take a look. Guaranteed.

What about a book makes you pick it up to learn more?