Top Ten Beautifully Descriptive Book Quotes

Posted February 23, 2026 by Jana in Top Ten Tuesday / 12 Comments

Welcome to another TTT! Today’s topic is: Quotes From/About Books. Share book quotes you love, quotes about being a reader, etc. I’ve done a lot of posts on book quotes:

So today I’m going to share quotes that are beautiful descriptions of something, be it feelings, scenery, etc. This is going to be tricky!

“The sun kept dipping down into the ocean and the lights came on at the harbor, casting sudden shadows on the ground, illuminating the faces that were just a second ago silhouettes. The sky was golden and purple, the ocean a darker shade of violet.”

―Never Always Sometimes by Adi Alsaid

“Winding our way through the narrow path, we finally pulled to a blessed stop outside the castle. Fingers of moonlight reached over the spires and slid down the roof, casting our shadows in sinister shapes. This castle was eerie and I haven’t even stepped inside.”

― Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco

“Loving Alex is innate language. I don’t remember how I learned it because by the time it dawned on me to consider the concept, I was already fluent. I didn’t stop loving him, I didn’t forget that I loved him, either. All I did was put the words behind a door to prevent them from escaping into conscious thought. They’ve been waiting there all this time, alive, just as loud, just as strong, as they ever were.”

― Old Flames and New Fortunes by Sarah Hogle

“She had memories of a quiet pool in the woods, where she’d retreat with her books, hiding from chores that needed to be done around the house. She remembered the sound of her parents after sunset, calling her to come home. The fireflies would flicker around her as it became too dark to read, but still she’d stay, to watch the fireflies over the water and listen to the birds and the squirrels settle in for the night and the night hunters, the owls and and the cats, begin to wake. Once, she’d even glimpsed a unicorn sipping from the pond, but it could have been only a white deer and a trick of the twilight. Another afternoon, her father had come with her, avoiding his chores too. They’d read books side by side, and her mother hadn’t said a word when they’d returned. A week later, her mother had been the one to join her by the pond, arriving with lunch in a basket and presenting Kiela with a new unread book, a rare treasure on the island.”

― The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst

“It sounds like a floorboard, emitting the faintest of creaks. I sit up and scan the room, looking for—well, I don’t know what to expect. An intruder? A burglar? The mansion beginning its inevitable slide into the Atlantic? But there’s nothing to see.”

― The Only One Left by Riley Sager

“I want to be commanding, stern, intimidating, but I am raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens. My resolve is dandelion fluff.”

― Twice Shy by Sarah Hogle

“…there is not a woman alive who has not learned how to eat rage in order to appear calm.”

― The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn

“The wind you hear is the same wind that has always blown. The rain that falls is the same rain. Over and over, round and round, like a giant circle. The wind and the waves have been present since time began. The rocks and stars too. But the rocks don’t speak, and the stars are too far away to tell us what they know.”

― What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon

“I smelled jasmine first—then saw stars. A sea of stars flickering beyond glowing pillars of moonstone that framed the sweeping view of endless snowcapped mountains. Welcome to the Night Court”.

― A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

“He was seated on the bench now. He had his left elbow on his knee, his right arm across his lap, his shoulders hunched, his head bowed. White face, red hair: snow and fire, like something from an old tale. The book I had noticed earlier was on the bench beside him, its covers shut. Around Anluan’s feet and in the birdbath, small visitors to the garden hopped and splashed and made the most of the day that was becoming fair and sunny. He did not seem to notice them. As for me, I found it difficult to take my eyes from him. There was an odd beauty in his isolation and his sadness, like that of a forlorn prince ensorcelled by a wicked enchantress, or a traveller lost forever in a world far from home.”

― Heart’s Blood by Juliet Marillier

AND a bonus, because I saw this while I was hunting for quotes and burst out laughing.

“A man is not entitled to be called a father merely because he once had a well-timed spasm of the loins.”

― Marrying Winterborne by Lisa Kleypas

Which quote is your favorite?
What kinds of quotes did you select for this week’s prompt?


Top Ten Books for Armchair Travelers

Posted February 16, 2026 by Jana in Top Ten Tuesday / 15 Comments

Welcome to another TTT! This week’s topic was submitted by Laurie C at Bay State Reader’s Advisory and is: Books for Armchair Travelers. I loooooove this topic, and have done many similar ones over the years! I love traveling and I love it when a book can take me on a vacation. Many of my favorite books fit this topic, but I’m going to do my best to find books I haven’t mentioned as often because you’re probably getting sick of seeing certain titles popping up in my lists all the time. lol. I will be visiting as many blogs as possible to find more recs to feed my travel bug!

And Now, Back to You by B.K. Borison
The bulk of this book takes place in a luxurious lodge during a huge blizzard, and it sounds like just the place I’d enjoy being snowed in.

The Loch Effect by Genny Carrick
Tag along on a guided tour across Scotland! There’s so much pretty scenery.
This is a closed-door romance.

Love, Loss, and Pasta Sauce by Stephanie Taylor
A woman buys a rundown villa in a small Italian village and fixes it up.

Cotswolds Holiday by Kasey Stockton
Christmas in the Cotswolds! The pub in this sounds so cozy.
This is a closed-door romance.

Enemies Abroad by R.S. Grey
Two teachers chaperone a school trip to Rome!

On a Night Like This by Lindsey Kelk
This takes place on a yacht in the Mediterranean Sea.

The Gem Thief by Sian Ann Bessey
This is a super fun and romantic European adventure where the leads are hunting down a gem thief.
This is a closed-door romance.

Eighty Days to Elsewhere by K.C. Dyer
This is the ultimate armchair travel experience. If you love The Amazing Race you will love this romance that takes you all over the globe, following Jules Verne’s itinerary in Around the World in 80 Days.

Roman Crazy by Alice Clayton and Nina Bocci
Another novel sent in Rome!

Gentlemen Prefer Nerds by Joan Kilby
This is another romance featuring two characters chasing down a thief (this time it’s a jewel thief). It takes place in Australia (at a beachy resort town) and has lots of pretty scenery descriptions.
This book has been re-titled and is now called Fancy Pink.

What are some of your favorite destinations in books?
Do you have any recommendations of titles I’d enjoy?


Top Ten Pink & Red Book Covers

Posted February 9, 2026 by Jana in Top Ten Tuesday / 16 Comments

Welcome to another TTT! In honor of Valentine’s Day this Saturday, this week’s topic is a love or Valentine’s Day freebie! I’ve decided to feature book covers that are pink and red, aka Valentine’s Day colors! These books are all either books I want to read or have read!

Say You’ll Be Mine by Naina Kumar
My Phony Valentine by Courtney Walsh
The Bodyguard Affair by Amy Lea
Love and Other Side Effects by Deidra Duncan
Most Eligible by Isabelle Engel
Big Nick Energy by Kristen Bailey
Let’s Make a Scene by Laura Wood
Four Weekends and a Funeral and Ellie Palmer
The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau by Kristin Harmel
The Forever Pact by Jaimie Casey

Give yourself and those you love a hug this Valentine’s Day!


Book Covers Featuring Pretty Typography

Posted February 2, 2026 by Jana in Top Ten Tuesday / 14 Comments

Welcome to another TTT! This week’s topic is Book Covers Featuring Cool/Pretty/Unique/etc. Typography. Typography is the art of arranging letters so they look visually appealing and more interesting than, for example, the body text of this blog post you’re reading now. I did a similar post to this a few years ago, so if you need inspiration on what I’m talking about click here to have a look. As a graphic designer, I adore pretty typography and design so this was a really fun topic for me.

Good Spirits by B.K. Borison
It’s simple, but stunning. I love the interlinking o’s and the swash on the leg of the R. So pretty!

Where the Lost Wander by Amy Harmon
I love how the words look like they’re part of a breeze sweeping down the prairie.

A Holiday by Gaslight by Mimi Matthews
The font itself is really pretty, but the layout and treatment of it elevates it to an entirely different level. It’s so cozy and classy.

Magic and Mischief at the Wayside Hotel by Elizabeth Everett
It’s hard to have that many words look so nice together in such a flourishing font, so this is amazing. Plus, that font is so whimsically adorable.

A Brush with Love by Mazey Eddings
I wish I loved the book as much I love words made out of toothpaste! This is so cute!

The Starlight Heir by Amalie Howard
This is just. So. Pretty. The glimmering silver effect is very cool, but the font itself is out of this world.

Stranger Things Have Happened by Kasie West
Something about this typography triggers my warm, fuzzy feelings of nostalgia and lemonade stands and summer days as a kid. Sometimes you don’t need to understand why you love something, it’s all about how you feel. The font itself is plain, but the colors and the chunky drop shadow bring me back to design trends from when I was a teen. It’s comfortable.

Swift and Saddled by Lyla Sage
More anything else, this is a case of impeccable font selection. Doesn’t it just scream cowboys and wide open spaces? And it goes so perfectly with the pulp-esque cover style.

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter
The combination of script and block fonts here gives off such a great vintage Christmas feeling. There’s an art to combining fonts, and this is so well done.

A Little Something Different by Sandy Hall
So sweet and dainty. Reminds me of old fashioned Valentine’s Day ads.

Which cover is your favorite?
Do you love typography as much as I do?


Rings of Fate by Melissa de la Cruz | Book Review

Posted January 29, 2026 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 2 Comments

Rings of Fate by Melissa de la Cruz | Book ReviewRings of Fate by Melissa de la Cruz
Series: Curses and Crowns #1
Published by Red Tower Books on January 6, 2026
Genres: Fantasy, Fantasy Romance
Pages: 410
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher (Mail)
Add to Goodreads
Buy on Amazon

She’s a barmaid who doesn’t believe in fairy tales. He’s a prince cursed to live one.

Aren Bellamore has no interest in being anyone’s princess. She’s too busy running the Raven’s Beak tavern, fending off unwanted marriage proposals, and dreaming of escape. But when a brush with death and a dangerously handsome stranger upend her life, Aren finds herself bound to a bargain that could change everything.

Prince Dietan has carried the cursed Rings of Fate ancient weapons of devastating power since childhood. The magic is killing him, and the enemies are closing in. To make the journey to reverse his curse, he needs a bride to hide his secrets. Aren wants freedom. Pretending to be his fiancée should give them both what they want.

But as their perilous journey pits them against political schemes, monstrous Kilandrar, and a growing attraction neither can deny, the line between make-believe and destiny begins to blur. And the fate of two kingdoms may depend on whether a cynical barmaid and a cursed prince are willing to risk their hearts.

You can tell early on that Rings of Fate is meant to be light, cozy, and funny. It’s not the kind of story that wants you to take it super seriously, and I appreciate that in a book! Often we see really complicated fantasies that require note taking and laser-beam focus. I’ve even found myself throwing my hands up in the air and not even trying to remember everything and hoping I’ll understand what’s going on when I need to. Aside from the intense amount of names (people, places, etc.) I found Rings of Fate very easy to follow. You do need to be a bit patient, though, as the beginning was kind of slow. I enjoy books that don’t make my brain hurt and don’t require a ton of concentration and memorization because, let’s be honest. There’s a LOT going on in the world right now, much of it stressful and scary and upsetting, so having a book that’s easy to escape into for a little while is a gift. It’s light on the magic and worldbuilding, so you can jump in and be just fine not really knowing where or when this book is taking place.

Rings of Fate gives you a very slow burn romance that reads like a fairytale, with fast-paced action (at times) and some funny moments. Early on, a drunkard is forced to buy the entire bar a round of drinks because he didn’t follow the rule of not proposing marriage to the barmaid, Aren. She clearly takes no crap. She’s a surly and grumpy Cinderella kind of character, who works herself to the bone so her perfect twin sisters have everything they need. She wields a frying pan as a weapon (literally), and talks back to those who cross her. She’s independent and rough around the edges. I grew to appreciate her as a character, even if I didn’t have warm fuzzies towards her because she loves to talk about how she’s not like other girls, and identified with the jaded feelings she has towards certain aspects of her life. Then you’ve got Prince Dietan, who is softer and more emotional. He’s got the weight of the world on his shoulders (again, literally), and he brings a certain depth and vulnerability with his backstory. I liked the two of them together, although I wanted more chemistry. The banter between them was fun at first, but the relationship didn’t get the attention I wish it had been given as far as development goes. All of a sudden, bam. Love. I wasn’t entirely convinced. The journey was interesting, but became monotonous. This would have been the perfect time to develop their relationship like I’d hoped, but not a lot happened during this time. I enjoyed the characters they met along the way and it would have been fun to learn more about some of them. I really loved Dietan’s friends. They made the story for me!

There are some things that gave me pause. We are clearly not in our world, but all of our swear words are there and slang like “family jewels” when referring to Dietan’s genitals. Aren says “as if” at one point. That threw me off a little. Aren refers to her sisters as “my girls” a million times, and each time it felt strange to me. Their dad is still living and, while she is the sole breadwinner for the house and helped raise them, I found “my girls” to be an odd thing to call them. She also does literally use her pan as a weapon, defeating some evil monstrous… cloud of wind(?) who siphons the life out of people and can raze an entire village with a hard bonk to the head. It felt too easy.

I did like parts of Rings of Fate, and I’d recommend it to those looking for a lighter fantasy adventure. If you’re looking to dip your toes into the world of fantasy romance, this might be a good place to start. It was fun and easy to read, and sometimes that’s just what I need. I’m curious about what’s going to happen next, so I’ll be keeping an eye out for the next book.