Top Ten Tuesday: Books with the Word Cafe in the Title

 Welcome to this week's edition of Top Ten Tuesday which is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week's theme is Books with the Word “[Insert Word Here]” in the Title (Choose a word and find ten books with that word in the title.)

My initial thought was to use the word girl but in the last few days I have read a couple of really good books which both had the word cafe in the title, so I am going with that! 

The Handsome Man's Deluxe Cafe by Alexander McCall Smith - This is book number 15 in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series

The Cafe by the Bridge by Lily Malone - This is the second book in a trilogy set in in southern Western Australia.

Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe by Heather Webb - I loved this book when I read it a few years ago (my review)

Before the Coffee Gets Cold: Tales from the Cafe by Toshikazu Kawaguchi - This is the second book in the Before the Coffee Gets Cold series

The Custard Tart Cafe by Isabella May - Just thinking about this book makes me want to eat a Portuguese Custard Tart! (my review)

The Enchanted Garden Cafe by Abigail Drake - This is the first book in a series set in Pittsburgh. (my review)

Finding Family at the Cornish Cove by Kim Nash - whoops. Had this recorded in my spreadsheet as Finding Family at the Cornish Cafe. It is, however, set in a cafe so I am keeping it! It is the second book in the lovely Cornish Cove series. (my review)

The Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie Gilmore - This is the first book in the very popular Dream Harbor series.

The Bittersweet Bakery Cafe by Catherine Greer - I just read this last week and I loved it. I will be reviewing it in a couple of weeks.

The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris by Evie Woods - Whoops this is a bakery not cafe but it was such a good read I am going to count it anyway! 

I am also going to be sharing this post with Weekend Cooking which I host here! 

Top Ten Tuesday: Stormy!

 Welcome to this week's edition of Top Ten Tuesday which is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week's theme is Books to Read During a Storm (these can be cozy/comfy reads, books with storms in them, atmospheric reads for dark and stormy nights, light reads to combat the heavy weather, etc.) (Submitted by Astilbe.)

For my first three choices I thought I would share some books that have components of storms in the title. If there is a storm happening around you, there may be wind, there may be thunder and there may be rain. There could be other things, but let's start with those:

He Shall Thunder in the Sky by Elizabeth Peters - As a bonus this cover also has some lightning on it!

Ill Wind by Rachel Caine - Rachel Caine has a whole series of books called Weather Wardens where all the titles are weather related.

The Right Attitude to Rain by Alexander McCall Smith - This is one of the Isabel Dalhousie which is set in Edinburgh, so I imagine you would need to be used to rain!

And now lets move onto books with stormy titles.

Flowers from the Storm by Laura Kinsale - A romance classic from the early 1990s!

Firestorm by Rachel Caine - This is another book in the Weather Wardens series.

Storm Front by Jim Butcher - Apparently I read this in 2008 and again in 2011 - who knew! I certainly didn't remember that!

The Night They Stormed Eureka by Jackie French - I recently started reading another Jackie French book but didn't get very far before I had to return the book to the library!

Season of Storms by Susanna Kearsley - Never miss an opportunity to get a Susanne Kearsley book into the a TTT post!

A Storm of Swords by George RR Martin -  this is the third book in the A Song of Ice and Fire series, more commonly known as the Game of Thrones books.

The Storm Sister by Lucinda Riley - The second book in the Seven Sisters series by Lucinda Riley. I am currently listening to the seventh book in the series.

Top Ten Tuesday: Not new!

Welcome to this week's edition of Top Ten Tuesday which is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week's theme is Oldest (aka Earliest Published) Books On My TBR (submitted by Nicole @ BookWyrm Knits)

As I have a tendency to do, I have twisted this week's topic just a bit. Like most of us, I have a tendency to read new books, so my post this week is all about the books I have read this year that were published before 2020.

The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai - originally published in 2013. I have the follow up book ready to read on my Kindle. (review)

Before Your Memory Fades by Toshikazu Kawaguchi - originally published in 2018. Seeing this author at Melbourne Writers Festival is one of my highlight for this year. (review)

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa - originally published in 2010. Interesting that the first three are all Japanese books.

Sylvester by Georgette Heyer - originally published in 1957. One of my all time favourite audiobook experiences is listening to Richard Armitage narrate the books of Georgette Heyer. I tend to listen to them every couple of years ago. Audible bliss!

Relish by Lucy Knisley -  originally published in 2013. This was a Cook the Books selection and a re-read for me. (post)

The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine by Alexander McCall Smith - originally published in 2015. It had been a good few years since I had listened to or read one of the Precious Ramotswe books. Highly recommend the audio versions. Might be time for the next one.

Family Tree by Susan Wiggs - originally published in 2017 - Another Cook the Books selection (review)

Song of the Sun God by Shankari Chandran - originally published in 2017. I loved the first Chandran book I read so I decided to give this one a go on audio.

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd - originally published in 2001 - This is another Cook the Books selection. (review)

The President's Hat by Antoine Laurain - originally published in 2012 - I did do a bit of a Antoine Laurain binge this year. Another book I read by him was published on 4 January 2020 so just missed out on being counted for this purpose 

So, what have I learned from this? I am likely to read older books thanks to Cook the Books. I am also likely to read older books in translation or to listen to them on audio. And it must just be a coincidence that so many of the surnames of these authors start with a K right?

Top Ten Tuesday - Happy!

Welcome to this week's edition of Top Ten Tuesday which is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week's theme is Books I Had VERY Strong Emotions About (Any emotion! Did a book make you super happy or sad? Angry? Terrified? Surprised?), I am focusing on books with variations on the word happy in the title.

The Happiest Refugee by Ahn Do - Ahn is pretty much a national treasure at this point but he started his life in Australia as a refugee.

The Happiest Man on Earth by Eddie Jaku - This man went through so much but still knew how to be happy.

Happy Ever After in Bellbird Bay by Maggie Christensen - Book number 9 in the Bellbird Bay series (review)

Happy Place by Emily Henry - I must get to the new Emily Henry book.

The Recipe for Happiness by Jane Lovering - I read this a while ago and really enjoyed it. (review)

Isla and the Happy Ever After by Stephanie Perkins - This was the follow up to the hugely successful Anna and the French Kiss!

The Lost Recipe for Happiness by Barbara O'Neal - I doe enjoy Barbara O'Neal's books.

Blue Shoes and Happiness by Alexander McCall Smith - Book number 7 in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency (review)

Happy Ever After by Nora Roberts - The covers for this series are so gorgeous!

Happy People are Annoying by Josh Peck - No, I haven't read this one! But it did amuse me to include it in this list.

This week....

I'm reading

This week my reading is taking me to Greece, more specifically to Santorini. I am reading Summer at the Santorini Bookshop by Rebecca Raisin and really enjoying it! I will have the review for this one up later this week.

We had our read on a theme bookclub meeting last week. The theme was Crime: Fact or Fiction and there were lots of interesting books that were read. Here are just some of them. 

My two books were The Thursday Murder Club and The Woman Who Walks in Sunshine by Alexander McCall Smith, which is part of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series. The next theme is related to Writers Festivals,  which could be an author you have seen at a festival before or one who is coming to a writers festival soon. That gives a lot of scope for authors. Not sure who I will choose yet.

I'm watching

Last week we watched the finale of Great Kiwi Bake Off. I don't think we have any new Bake Offs to watch at the moment but I think there should be a new Aussie version soon. Hopefully.

I also managed to watch a few movies this week, and they were all very different from each other. The first one I watched was Love at First Sight movie which was based on the book The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E Smith. It is a meet-cute rom-com where our two main characters sit next to each other on a flight from the US to London. It also featured Jameela Jalil as an almost fairy godmother like character. It was a lot of fun and just what I need on that particular day!

We met up with some friends for a long lunch on Saturday and during the course of a wide ranging conversation the movie Leave the World Behind based was recommended. This was based on a book of the same name by Rumaan Alam. I don't normally watch this kind of thriller, but it was definitely watchable. I did find the ending very...abrupt. It felt like there should probably be more movie! I did also find it a bit odd that the Obamas were connected with the movie. They were Executive Producers.

I also finally got to watch the French movie The Taste of Things. If you look up the phrase food porn in the dictionary you will be directed to  watch this movie. There is very little dialogue in the first 39 minutes. It is literally a well choreographed sequence of chopping and cooking, the various characters working in sychronisation as an amazing meal is prepared

Posts from the last week

Top Ten Tuesday: April Showers

Blog Tour: Widows on the Wine Path by Julia Jarman

Weekend Cooking: What I Baked in my Kitchen in March

Six Degrees: Lonely Planet: France to Christmas Pudding

I've linked this post to It's Monday, what are you reading? as hosted by Book Date

Top Ten Tuesday: Book to Screen

 

Welcome to this week's edition of Top Ten Tuesday which is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week's theme is Movies/TV Shows That Would Have Made Amazing Books (Submitted by Sabrina @ Notes From a Paper Plane Nomad) but I am going to do the most recent examples of where I have seen a movie or TV series based on a book or read a book associated with a series, or a couple of can't wait for the TV series.

The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas - I have recently watched two French movies based on the books. They were really good adaptations

One Day by David Nicholls - I started watching this series a few weeks ago. I need to get back to it.

Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn - I am looking forward to season 3 coming out soon very soon

Masters of the Air by Donald Miller - We just finished watching this series last week.

Lessons in Chemistry - I read the book late last year and then watched the TV series

No 1 Ladies Detective Agency - I am very close to finishing my current audio book which is book no. 10000 in the series of the same name. I watched the TV adaptation many years ago and very much enjoyed it!

All the Light You Cannot See by Anthony Doerr- We watched this TV series recently.

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles - I have read another of Amor Towles books, but not this one yet, but I will be watching this!

Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa - The movie is just called Sweet Bean 

Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams - This is a bit of a curve ball because whilst I did watch this it was a play rather than on a screen!

This week

I'm reading

Last week I wasn't 100% sure which book I was going to read next, but I ended up deciding to start The Chocolate Factory by Mary-Lou Stephens. I am about 30% through and I am enjoying it! It is all about the creation of the chocolate factory in Hobart in Tasmania.

I only have about 20 minutes left to go in my current audiobook which is The Woman Who Walks in Sunshine by Alexander McCall Smith. Now I need to choose which book to start next. We are going for a bit of a drive over the weekend, so I also need to find a book that we can listen to in the car on the way up!

I'm watching

Last year we watched Amanda and Alan's Italian Job where they bought a decrepit house in Sicily and renovated it. They then sold it and gave the profits to a charity. They are back to do it all again, this time in Tuscany!  It's a lot of fun!

We were meant to go and see another French movie last night, but I buggered up when buying them and bought the tickets for Saturday night instead of Sunday night. We were nicely settled in when someone turned up and said you are in our seats! Whoops! So instead we got a coffee and then headed home. I really wanted to see this movie as well!

Life

We went to see the musical version of Groundhog Day on Saturday! It was so good! I could watch it over and over and over again!!  (See what I did there??)

I also stretched myself a little bit this weekend by making hot cross buns. My brave husband is eating them, and they taste good, but they are a bit dense. I will try to make them again next year and hopefully they will be a bit softer next year!!

I did have a bit of a panic day yesterday. For some reason I got signed out of my Microsoft account and so I suddenly couldn't access any of my spreadsheets. Now one of these is my list of books that I have read going back to 2004, so I was a bit devastated at the idea of having lost it! Luckily I eventually worked out that I had to log in with a different account and nothing was lost, but phew! I was panicking a bit!

Posts from the last week

Top Ten Tuesday: Books on my Autumn TBR

Weekend Cooking/Cooking the Books: Relish by Lucy Knisley

I've linked this post to It's Monday, what are you reading? as hosted by Book Date

This week...

 I'm reading

I mentioned last week that I started reading a book because it was calling to me. Unfortunately, a different book started calling my name and so I ended up reading No. 23 Burlington Square by Jenni Keer instead. I really enjoyed it, so no regrets, but now I need to try and fit the other book in.

I also finished reading Relish by Lucy Knisley. I will have a review up for my reread of that book on the weekend.

Now I need to decide what to read next. Should I read  one of my upcoming blog tour books even though I have about 3 weeks, or just a normal review book, whatever I feel like from my TBR list, or one of the 3 library books I have out. Decisions, decisions.

I also finished listening to Richard Armitage whisper sweet nothings in my ear. Actually he was narrating the book Sylvester by Georgette Heyer. Alway such a treat to listen to one of these books

I wasn't sure what to listen to next. However, last week I tried a new post out called Time Travel Thursday and I was reminded that 10 years ago I was reading one of the books in the No. Ladies Detective Agency and so I decided to listen to The Woman Who Walks in Sunshine, the next book for me in the series. It will also count for my Read on a Theme bookclub as well, so I will have read two books for this month.

I'm watching

We finished a couple of things this week. Firstly, we finished Bake Off : The Professionals which is a show that we love.

We also finished watching Masters of the Air, which is the story of the 100th Bomber Group from WWII. After finishing the last episode, we also watched a documentary called The Bloody Hundredth which features interviews with the actual men who lived the story from the TV series.

Last week, we watched the first part of The Three Musketeers, which was called The Three Musketeers: D'Artagnan. This weekend we went and watched the sequel, The Three Musketeers: Milady. Interestingly, both of these movies were filmed at the same time. The end of the movie definitely lends itself to another movie. I wouldn't be surprised if there is a third movie.

Finally, I felt the need for something a bit fun so I watched Irish Wish on Netflix, which stars Lindsay Lohan. It wasn't bad. Here's the trailer.

Life

Last Tuesday night we went to see Pink in concert. This is the third time I have seen her live. The first two times it was in an arena, but this time it was in a stadium, so just Pink, her band and dancers, and 59998 other people! She always puts on an amazing show.

I also did a cooking class for a Maltese Easter treat called Fogilla. I am looking forward to sharing that experience with you all in a couple of weeks.

Posts from the last week

Top Ten Tuesday: Read on a theme bookclub

Time Travel Thursday 

Blog Tour: The Bordeaux Book Club by Gillian Harvey

Weekend Cooking: Ready, Steady....Cook

I've linked this post to It's Monday, what are you reading? as hosted by Book Date

Time Travel Thursday

Recently I saw someone mention a feature called Time Travel Thursday which was started by Emily at Budget Tales Book Blog. Given that I have a handy dandy list of the books I have read going back to  July 2004 I thought this could be something I could do!!

The idea is that you share what were you reading at a point in the past so here are the books I am sharing.

1 year ago

Here's my review

2 years ago

5 years ago

10 years ago

Top Ten Tuesday: A visit to the cafe

 

Welcome to this week's edition of Top Ten Tuesday which is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week the theme is  indie self published books. I feel a bit bad but as usual I am going off script and doing a different theme.

A couple of weeks I posted something and in the comments someone said they would have plenty of cafe books, and i do too. So here are ten books with the work cafe in the title.

The Handsome Man's Deluxe Cafe by Alexander McCall Smith - This is book number 15 in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series.

The Cafe by the Bridge by Lily Malone - This is the second book in the Chalk Hill series which I really enjoyed. (Review)

Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe by Heather Webber - Another really enjoyable read (review)

Tales from the Café by Toshikazu Kawaguchi - This is the second book in the Before the Coffee Gets Cold series.

The Custard Tart Cafe by Isabella May - Just thinking about this title makes me want to eat a custard tart. (review)

The Cafe at Seashell Cafe by Karen Clarke - This cover just looks feel good to me! 

The Little Cafe in Copenhagen by Julie Caplin - I have another Julie Caplin book to read at some point

Wind Chime Cafe by Sophie Moss - This is on my Kindle to read at some point.

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop Cafe by Fannie Flagg - Couldn't have a list of cafe books without this one.

Cafe La Femme series by Livia Day- Whilst this book is A Trifle Dead, it is part of the Cafe La Femme series, set in Hobart. (review)

Cup of tea anyone?

Top Ten Tuesday: Weddings

 

Welcome to this week's edition of Top Ten Tuesday which is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week the theme is Unlikable Characters You Can’t Help but Love (These are villains, criminals, jerks, etc. that make you fall in love with them anyway, perhaps because they evolve by the end or they’re secretly wonderful and have been all along.)


I am, however, going off topic again this week because 1 November is my wedding anniversary. It is 3 years since my lovely husband and I got married in Vanuatu so today I bring you wedding related books!

The Dressmakers of Yarrandarah Prison by Meredith Jaffe - Just looking at this cover brings back such good memories of reading this book about a group of prisoners who decide to make a wedding dress during their sewing class

Lost Without You by Rachael Johns - Whilst this title doesn't scream wedding, it is all about 4 women and one wedding dress!

Vision in White by Nora Roberts  - I could have chosen any of the books from this quartet. I still think these covers are gorgeous!

Boomerang Bride by Fiona Lowe - Such a fun read!

The Wedding Shroud by Elisabeth Storrs - It's not always about the white dress!

The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party by Alexander McCall Smith - Book no. 12 in the No 1 Ladies Detective Agency series.

Maggie's Run by Kelly Hunter - This was the first book set in the small Australian town of Wirralong, and the wedding business that prospered.

The Wedding Officer by Anthony Capella - I think I might want to read this again before we go away as it is set in Naples

An Island Wedding by Jenny Colgan - This was the fifth and seemingly final book in the Mure series set on an island in far northern Scotland.

Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married by Marian Keyes - In this case it was Marg was getting married!!

Maybe next week I will be back on topic. We'll see!