Tag: Top Ten Tuesday

Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday!

Top Ten Tuesday is an original weekly feature created by The Broke and the Bookish and is now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s topic is:

Books I Hope Santa Brings

Since Christmas (for those who celebrate) is in 2 days, I’m going to change things up and do something non book related. Today, I’m sharing with you:

Some of My Favorite Holiday Music

These are songs I’ve got playing on my Spotify Playlist. Videos shared are from YouTube.

1. Come On, Ring Those Bells
Artist: Evie

This is an old school favorite from my childhood when we listened to this album on a RECORD PLAYER. *gasp*

2. River
Arist: Sarah McLachlan

I’m a big fan of Sarah McLachlan’s voice, and I love what it does to this song.

3. All I Want for Christmas Is You
Arist: Mariah Carey

How could this not make a holiday music list for anyone who grew up in the 90’s?

4. Last Christmas
Artist: Wham

Much love for this one!

5. Grown-Up Christmas List
Artist: Amy Grant

This is another one that reminds me of my childhood.

6. Hot Chocolate
Artist: Tom Hanks

I adore this one because my daughter used to make us watch the movie year round and she would dance to this song when she was like 2.

7. O Holy Night
Artist: Christina Aguilera

I have this CD from when it originally came out. I always liked this version.

8. Mary Did You Know
Artists: Pentatonix

I could have put any and all Pentatonix holiday albums on here. I especially love this version they did.

9. Winter Song
Artist: Sarah McLachlan

And we’re back to Sarah McLachlan. Love this one.

10. Silent Night
Artist: Jessica Simpson

I actually really love this entire album and her voice on it.

Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday!

Top Ten Tuesday is an original weekly feature created by The Broke and the Bookish and is now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s topic is:

Holiday/Seasonal Freebie

So you get:

Books I Read in 2020 That I Want to Give as Gifts

1. Love Lettering
Author: Kate Clayborn

2. Anxious People
Author: Fredrik Backman

3. The Match
Author: Sarah Adams

4. Full Measures
Author: Rebecca Yarros

5. Spoiler Alert
Author: Olivia Dade

6. The Sun Down Motel
Author: Simone St. James

7. The F List
Author: Alessandra Torre

8. Always a Bridesmaid
Author: Cindi Madsen

9. You’d Be Mine
Author: Erin Hahn

10. That Secret Crush
Author: Meghan Quinn

And many, many more!

Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday!

Top Ten Tuesday is an original weekly feature created by The Broke and the Bookish and is now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s topic is:

Thanksgiving Freebie

My freebie topic is going to be:

Books That Lifted My Spirit This Year (AKA: Rom-Coms)

Besides being thankful for family, friends, and pretty good health this year, I have also been thankful for some great books that have helped me get through COVID-19 social and physical distancing. Some of the ones I’m most thankful for are romantic comedies because they make me laugh. Here are some of my favorites I have read this year.

1. The Match
Author: Sarah Adams

This was my first book by Adams, but it won’t be my last. It brightened my day.

2. Hate the Player
Author: Max Monroe

Every book Max Monroe released this year could make this list This is my favorite.

3. Cheesy on the Eyes
Author: Teagan Hunter

Teagan Hunter always knows how to make me laugh.

4. The Change Up
Author: Meghan Quinn

Every book Quinn writes has me in giggles.

5. Jock Blocked
Author: Pippa Grant

I feel like I should just say “ditto”. Grant knows how to make me laugh like Meghan Quinn does.

6. AWK-WEIRD
Author: Avery Flynn

The awkward-weird combination was a winner.

7. Frenemies
Author: Emma Hart

Emma Hart has some seriously fun books. I love her characters — especially if the books contains grandmas.

8. See Me After Class
Author: Meghan Quinn

And I’m back to Meghan Quinn because she’s the queen of rom-coms. This one had me laughing out loud.

9. The Roommate
Author: Rosie Danan

I don’t know that this one is marketed as a rom-com, but it made me laugh.

10. Not My Romeo
Author: Ilsa Madden-Mills

Same as #9. Probably more a contemporary, but I appreciated the humor in this one.

Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday!

Top Ten Tuesday is an original weekly feature created by The Broke and the Bookish and is now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s topic is:

Characters I Would Name a Pet After

This was harder than it sounds, people! A lot of these are for males, but the dogs we have had are all female.

1. Frank Sanger, This Adventure Ends

2. Graham Cracker (Garret Graham), The Deal

3. Lucy, More Than Forever

4. Daisy, Hothouse Flower

5. Blake Riley, Good Boy

6. Otis, Must Love Dogs…and Hockey

7. Walter, Tapping the Billionaire

8. Clive, Wallbanger

9. Logan Kade, Fallen Crest High

10. Britney Spears, Britney Spears’ Heart to Heart (I’ve always wanted to name a dog Britney Spears, so I had find a book about her.)

Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday!

Top Ten Tuesday is an original weekly feature created by The Broke and the Bookish and is now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s topic is:

Book Titles That Would Make Great Song Titles

I submitted this topic… I had forgotten that! Hahaha! I think I had some great ideas when I thought of it, but they must have all disappeared. Anyways. I am adding the word COUNTRY to this topic because I think these would make great country songs.

1. Super Fake Love Song

I’m imagining a female, teen country start singing about a love that turned out to be fake or something along those lines.

2. The Wreckage of Us

Paging Taylor Swift…but maybe only because she has a song with a similar title. She’d have to go back to country, though.

3. Hard Pass

I can picture either a male or female artist signing about taking a hard pass on someone, like an ex or something.

4. Chicks, Man

Some deep, male, twangy country voice could do a great song with this one. I’m imaging it to be slow like Drunk on a Plane.

5. Not My Romeo

So many, many possibilities with this one!!!

6. Mister Tonight

Can’t you envision a woman singing about her “mister tonight”?

7. One Big Mistake

This could be either male or female.

8. Wherever You Are

This would be a sweet song about being in love.

9. Cowboy Villain Damsel Duel

It would have to involve a big story, something about drinking would probably be involved.

10. The Clover Chapel

Another love song. Maybe about getting married in a clover chapel or something.

Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday!

Top Ten Tuesday is an original weekly feature created by The Broke and the Bookish and is now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s topic is:

Non-Bookish Hobbies

Honestly… I wrote this post and decided it was too boring. I basically watch my beloved kid play soccer, PAC12 Women’s Basketball, and TV dance competitions. Sometimes I ride my bicycle, take walks, do puzzles and camp. There you have it. Now for a book related post…

Celebrity Memoirs Worth Reading

1. Open Book
Author: Jessica Simpson

This really did feel like an open look into Jessica Simpson’s life. She didn’t seem to hold back. I’m sure she did in some ways, but I got to know her in ways I didn’t think I would through this memoir.

2. Kicking and Dreaming: A Story of Heart, Soul, and Rock and Roll
Authors: Ann Wilson, Nancy Wilson

I found this one fascinating being from the PNW and loving some of their music. It was interesting to hear their rise to fame and the lifestyles they led. There’s some cool stuff about the 90’s and grunge involved in parts.

3. Becoming
Author: Michelle Obama

Michelele Obama is a smart woman. She is/was more than just the First Lady. I loved learning about her life, her relationships with her husband, and what Presidential life was like.

4. The Greatest Love Story Ever Told
Authors: Megan Mullally, Nick Offerman

This is probably one of my favorite celebrity memoirs ever. If I had to describe it in one word it would be fun. These two were candid, funny, and a good time. I listened to it, which was amazing as they go back and forth. Then, I dropped by the bookstore to look at the pictures in the book because I was curious.

5. Scrappy Little Nobody
Author: Anna Kendrick

I’m a big Pitch Perfect fan and also a fan of Anna Kendrick’s. She tells some fun stories with humor only the way Anna Kendrick can.

6. Yes, My Accent Is Real: and Some Other Things I Haven’t Told You
Author: Kunal Nayyar

The Big Bang Theory will always be one of my favorite sitcoms. I loved hearing stories about Kunal Nayyar’s youth and his rise to stardom. He’s hilarious.

7. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)
Author: Mindy Kaling

A celebrity memoir list would not be complete without Mindy Kaling. This book is like having a chat with your best friend. If you love Mindy Kaling, you will love this book.

8. Inside Out
Author: Demi Moore

Demi Moore speaking her truth sure was interesting and engaging. I don’t know that I 100% believe everything she told me, but it was fun. If only Ashton would release a memoir of his own…

9. Sounds Like Me: My Life (So Far) in Song
Author: Sara Barielles

Sara Barielles is a singer who caught my attention as a judge on The Sing Off. I wanted to learn more about her, so I listened to this book. I highly recommend listening to this one because each chapter starts out with one of her songs and it’s delightful to listen to her sing and tell you about her life.

10. #IMOMSOHARD
Authors: Kristin Hensley, Jen Smedley

Their brand of humor probably isn’t for everyone, but I read this book after laughing so hard at their comedy special. My husband didn’t think it was quite as funny as I did, so I would say it’s for the moms out there.

Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday!

Top Ten Tuesday is an original weekly feature created by The Broke and the Bookish and is now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s topic is:

Halloween Freebie

My topic is:

Disturbing Reads

These books aren’t all scary or anything. Some of them were mentally disturbing.

1. The Sun Down Motel
Author: Simone St. James

Ghosts haunting a run down hotel and a possible serial killer had me reading with one eye open.

2. Echoes Between Us
Author: Katie McGarry

I was on edge with this one due to the possibilities of ghosts and the empty tuberculosis hospital.

3. Marrow
Author: Tarryn Fisher

There wasn’t one thing about it that didn’t get under my skin or make me uncomfortable.

4. All the Ugly and Wonderful Things
Author: Brynn Greenwood

Beautifully written, but all those ugly things were truly ugly to read about.

5. Nine Minutes
Author: Beth Flynn

Disturbing, but in a good way? There’s Stockholm syndrome involved in this one and a lot of other bad motorcycle gang stuff, but the twists and turns are fascinating.

6. Forbidden
Author: Tabitha Suzuma

One word: Incest.

7. The Weight of Blood
Author: Laura McHugh

The tone of this book was so disturbing and stressful to me that I was constantly having to take breaks while reading it.

8. Verity
Author: Colleen Hoover

I think what made this book even more disturbing was that it’s written by a romance writer. I wasn’t expecting to feel so… disturbed.

9. After
Author: Anna Todd

I know this book/series gets a TON of love, but it has one of the most disturbing college relationships I’ve ever read. Hardin is emotionally abusive and I can’t romanticize his and Tessa’s relationship is romanticized so much.

10. Fear Me
Author: B.B. Reid

Here’s another one that’s disturbing based on emotional, sexual, and physical abuse content. In no way should the relationship between Kerian and Lake be romanticized. Not to say that Reid isn’t a talented writer, though.

Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday!

Top Ten Tuesday is an original weekly feature created by The Broke and the Bookish and is now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s topic is:

Books I Read (and LOVED) Based on Blogger Recommendations

There are tons of bloggers who have given recommendations to me over the years that I have followed. It’s one of my favorite ways to find books. Here’s some of the books I’ve read (and loved) based on recent recommendations.

1. Work Song
Author: Danielle Allen

Recommended by: Nick of The Infinite Limits of Love

Nick had me at office romance + texts.

2. The Story Guy
Author: Mary Ann Rivers

Recommended by: Lenore of Celebrity Readers

Lenore recommended this book to me on Goodreads, and she was right. I loved it!

3. Filthy Forward
Author: Kelsey Cheyenne

Recommended by: Alecia of The Staircase Reader

This book wasn’t even on my radar until Alecia raved about it.

4. Follow
Authors: Tessa Bailey

Recommended by: Kayla of Books and Blends

I like Tessa Bailey’s writing, but her backlist is DEEP. I didn’t even know about this one until Kayla sang it’s praises.

5. Playing for Keeps
Author: Kendall Ryan

Recommended by: Jessica formerly of Reading with Jessica & Nicole of Boundless Bookaholic

I love a good sports romance and both Jessica and Nicole enjoyed this one. Plus, Kendall Ryan books are just fun.

6. Beartown
Author: Frederik Backman

Recommended by: Stephanie of Stephanie’s Book Reviews and Brandie of Running on Words and Wine

Not my normal read, but when Stephanie and Brandie said it’s a must read — it’s a must read.

7. The Sweet Gum Tree
Author: Katherine Allred

Recommended by: Stephanie of Stephanie’s Book Reviews and Brandie of Running on Words and Wine

I NEVER would have read this book without these two saying how good it was. I mean, that cover kind of screams old school.

8. The Guy on the Right
Author: Kate Stewart

Recommended by: Daisy Gal of DG Book Blog

I had read one Kate Stewart book before this and it was kind of meh. Daisy Gal swore this one was amazing, and I trust her judgement, so I gave it a try. It ended up being one of my favorites of last year.

9. Worth the Fall
Author: Claudia Connor

Recommended by: Corina of The Brown Eyed Bookworm

Corina has been lighting up her blog with recommendations lately, and it’s really working out for me. I ended up binging this entire series.

10. Cake
Author: J. Bengtsson

Recommended by: Tanya of Girl Plus Books

I saw this book on Tanya’s blog and was intrigued. She was loving it, so I decided to give it a try. Let’s just say I read the entire 5 book series.