Confession: I had no idea what to do for this week’s theme. The ladies at The Broke and the Bookish suggested that this week be about those books for which we feel differently now that time has passed. Ugh. First of all, if I love a book, I love it. I don’t typically change my mind. I just have different levels of favorites. Secondly, if I decided suddenly that for whatever reason I DON’T like a book anymore, I certainly don’t want to completely ruin an author’s day by saying so.
And then my husband came up with the genius idea of comparing my book love to the Kentucky Derby. I love. Because a) it’s close to home for us and b) lately I’ve had several books that have just slightly edged out other books by the same author for top billing as my shining-star favorites. The nudged-aside books are still my faves. But these newer reads are my favorite-favorites.
I also apologize for the lack of fancy graphics or much detail today … but I’m tired 🙂 I’ll try to be back on my a-game next week!
Dawn Crandall’s upcoming October release The Cautious Maiden (which I’ve had the great honor of reading already) toppled The Captive Imposter from its perch as my favorite of The Everstone Chronicles. (The Captive Imposter had previously toppled The Hesitant Heiress lol) And also… its hero … Vance… ALL THE DREAMY SIGHS AND BUBBLE HEARTS FOR VANCE! Yes, I completely all-capped that because HE IS NOW MY FAVORITE OF DAWN’S HEROES. Oops… I all-capped that, too. But it’s well-deserved. One fan and fainting couch may not be enough when it comes to this book.
The Beautiful Pretender, a medieval retelling of The Princess & The Pea meets Beauty & The Beast, by Melanie Dickerson may… MAY…. have ever so slightly unseated The Merchant’s Daughter as my favorite of Melanie’s books. And, like Dawn’s books, the hero in The Beautiful Pretender may have ever so slightly edged out the hero in The Merchant’s Daughter as my fave, too. I’m still conflicted on this (see my review) but it’s at least a photo finish here.
Now… this one technically is already toppled too… by The Thorn Healer, the NEXT book in Pepper Basham’s Penned in Time Series. But, there’s no cover for that one yet (I got in on an early early read 😀 ) so I decided to spotlight The Thorn Keeper instead. The Thorn Keeper, which came out in February, quickly became my fave. But y’all? The Thorn Healer IS EVEN BETTER!! November. Mark your calendars.
Up until I read Now and Forever by Mary Connealy, my favorite of her books was any of the Trouble in Texas series. But this particular book about one of the Wild at Heart girls nudged the Trouble In Texas boys just the teensiest bit to the side. The humor. The romance. The writing voice. All of it was just spot on & a delight to read. (As a side note – the audiobook is really entertaining too! The narrator is perfect for these books!)
So….. Yes…. I realize there are only 4. And they are all historical novels. *hangs head in blogging shame*
Since I’m clearly having trouble coming up with some for this week – that means YOU need to come up with some for me lol. Let me know in the comments – Which books have won by a nose for you?
Fun list, Carrie. Sometimes you simply have to get creative with your Top 10 Tuesday meme’s. I know the feeling of NOT being inspired. 🙂
Lol!! Next week I will have way more than 10. That should make up for this week, right?
What a unique list! 🙂
Thanks for posting about The Cautious Maiden topping my other books as your favorite! It’s not a bad thing to keep liking an author’s books more and more! And I think this is one of the first official blog spotlights for this book–since it’s still about 4 months out from being released! I’m so glad you loved it, and I cannot wait to read your “real” review when it comes time to post those! ❤️
Yay!!!!!!!! I can’t wait to WRITE my real review lol
I haven’t read any of these books, but I will have to take your word for them! They sound really great though, and I shall definitely check them out.
Lovely list!
thanks, Aditi!
This week’s topic made my head hurt! No aha! moment for me, not even a completely different off-topic theme. Glad that you and Rissi are more creative than I am. Good list! Maybe next week’s Beach Reads will get me back on track.
i have so many I’m trying to choose from for next week – if you need some more books to fill in the list, I’ll share some of mine with you lol
she’s not lying. she has more books 🙂
😀
I am with you on “The Beautiful Pretender” by Melanie Dickerson. I read it from start to finish in one evening and it topped “The Healer’s Apprentice” and “The Merchant’s Daughter” for me. Since “The Captive Imposter” is currently my favorite Crandall title, I now have high hopes for “The Captive Maiden”. I actually have one book that I did love better the second time through though and that was “The Prayer Box” by Lisa Wingate. It’s just a brilliant book in so many ways.
I still need to read that one!!
Yeees!!!! LOVE Now & Forever! Started The Beautiful Pretender last night! <3 Great idea!
yay!!!! 😀 Can’t wait to hear what you think about it!
All the covers are gorgeous and I don’t think I’ve read anything by any of these authors! I’m definitely adding them to my TBR. This was definitely a challenging topic for me as well. Most of my opinion changers were about books I read when I was younger and then had a different perspective when I reread it years later!
that’s true… i might could have added to the list by going that route. And yes – aren’t those covers absolutely beautiful?!? Much cover love 🙂
Great list. I’m really struggling with this weeks topic too.
it’s almost… ALMOST … as bad as the “non book related websites” one haha
Very interesting because The Cautious Maiden and The Thorn Healer both are now favorites for those authors. You are the reason I now read Dickerson. The Beautiful Pretender is my favorite of the two I’ve read. I LOVED Now and Forever…best yet. My reading buddy’s favorite author is Mary Connealy so I passed that one on to her. She’s one author of which I have no PB’s because I always pass them onto my friend. 🙂 These are four great reads!!!
I think you would love The Merchant’s Daughter, too, Rachael! It sounds like you could have written this post for me… I should have outsourced it to you since I had such trouble with it LOL
Well, Carrie, you actually mentioned 9 books, so that’s almost 10, even though you only spotlighted 4. I don’t know how you keep up with everything you do! Especially with hosting the fun giveaway. Keep up the great work! Hugs!!
Ooooo excellent point, Winnie! I knew I liked you 😉 Hugs back <3
Nice spin on the topic! I understand your point about when you love a book it stays that way. I will also keep loving a book if I once loved it, though I may start loving it less as other books get a little higher on my favourites list. If that makes any sense 🙂
Yes! Absolutely!
I could only think of a single book for this week’s topic, so I didn’t even write a list. Great job! 🙂
Ugh. It was so tough!!
Carrie, thank you for the fun post! I feel your pain…. Dawn Crandall has become one of my FAVORITE authors! 🙂
Yes! All of these are!
Love your take this week! I feel the same as you do – if I liked it, I still like it. If I didn’t like it, I probably don’t even remember reading it any more. I can’t think of one book that I’ve loved and now I don’t like.
Let’s see…trying to think of a book that nosed out another one…I just read Carry On by Rainbow Rowell and that was close, really close, but I still love Landline more.
I almost didn’t do one this week, but I squeaked it out: My TTT.
I really liked how you organized yours!!
Like the sound of The Beautiful Pretender. I love it when an author continues to impress with new works. The worst feeling is to fall out of love with an author.
That’s so true! And sad.
I’m the same way! I have my favorites, but then I have my new favorites. They all are my favorites, but I find myself talking about my new favorites and and not really thinking about old favorites. Which is sad, but when I reread old favorites, I talk about them more. It’s a cycle, and I like it that way. 🙂
Haha! Exactly! 🙂
I like your twist on this week’s prompt! SUPER CREATIVE AND AWESOME *nods sagely* And I don’t really read historical adult so I don’t recognise any of these, haha, but it’s still awesome that the authors have given you multiple favourites. Or favourite-favourites. 😉 Maggie Stiefvater is an author who I keep giving 5-stars to aaaall her books, but some I still like more than others. Sometimes rating books IS SUPER HARD, RIGHt?!? XD
Thanks for stopping by @ Paper Fury!
You know, I still need to read Maggie Stiefvater. I’ve heard amazing things about her books. Oh – and thank you for the sage nod. I feel much better about my post now 😀
Creative post! I liked it 🙂 We havent been to the Derby, but to Churchill Downs. Happy Reading!
i have been to neither haha!
i have been to neither haha!
My head was nodding through your list:
Yes – going to read the entire Everstone Chronicles series
Yes – I want to read this!
Yes – on my kindle and waiting (I do have trouble remembering what’s on there)
and then YES! Each book in the Wild at Heart knocked down the last as my favorite
No shame in such a great list! 😀
Lol! Thank you 🙂
EEEKKKKKK! I need to read The Captive Imposter so I can beg for The Cautious Maiden early!! 🙂
This is a fun take on the topic. Makes me think about which are my favorite books be certain authors–so hard to choose!
Thanks for stopping by my TTT earlier this week 🙂
yes! you need to read The Captive Imposter for SO MANY REASONS lol. And then the same goes for The Cautious Maiden 🙂