Top Ten Tuesday, Featuring My Favorite Reads....Beachy Reads

Happy Tuesday, and welcome to another edition of Top Ten Tuesday sponsored by That Artsy Reader Girl. Today's theme is Beachy Reads. If you are new to my blog, my favorite place and type of reads are ones that involve sand and ocean water.

 

Not all of my selections are beachy theme, but I think these are perfect books to read while lying out on the beach.

Are you a beach lover like me, or do you prefer lakes, streams, or even winter-time?

Let me know in the comments.

Top Ten Tuesday Books Set in Biblical Places and Times

 

Happy Tuesday, and welcome to another edition of Top Ten Tuesday sponsored by That Artsy Reader Girl. Today's theme is Books Set in/Take Place During X (Pick a place, time, era, etc. Examples: Books set in Europe/Italy/Australia/Chicago, books set in Regency England, books that take place during the 1900s, books set in imaginary worlds/post-apocalyptic/dystopian worlds, books set on the ocean, books set in castles, books that take place during WW2, etc.) I chose books set in biblical times. They're some of my favorite reads and don't get highlighted enough.

This is book two of Mesu Andrews' David's Wives series. It releases on August 19, 2025.

I love all of the genres within Christian Fiction, but biblical fiction seems to be my favorite. It's fun seeing the character differently and through the eyes of someone else.

Have you read any of these books? Are some waiting on your TBR? Let me know in the comments.

Top Ten Tuesday Honorific Book Titles

Happy Tuesday! I didn't know there was a label for titles like Mr., Husband, Countess, Earl, etc. It was fun looking for books that fit that description. 

I hope y'all are surviving the heat, wherever you are. Here in Idaho, we've had nearly a week of 100-degree weather. I can handle the Florida heat and humidity, but this dry heat just takes my breath away. 

So, what do you think, did I choose correctly? Have you read any of these amazing books? As I chose these books, I was quickly reminded of the stories that each of them contains. Let me know in the comments. I hope you have a wonderful Tuesday!!!
 

You and Me, For Real (Hollywood Hills Series Book 1) by Hayley Elliot Reviewed

 

About the book:

Title: You & Me, For Real

Author: Hayley Elliot

Genre: Rom-Com

Series: Hollywood Hills Book 1

Format: Kindle

Pages: 368

Source: Publisher

She swore she’d never be in front of the camera again, but now she’s falling for a Hollywood heartthrob with a tabloid-worthy secret.

Former child reality star Ashton Reid is done with fame and dreams of a quiet life and finally opening her own animal rescue. But establishing a non-profit requires funding and, therefore, publicity. For Ashton, this means facing her crippling anxiety anytime a camera is pointed in her direction. Despite her best efforts to avoid all things Hollywood, when celebrity Griffin Ford rushes into her shelter carrying an injured dog—with his impossibly muscled arms and notorious abs—she’s helpless against those almond eyes. The dog's eyes, that is.

Actor Griffin Ford is desperate for his first meaningful role. Tired of being seen as nothing more than washboard abs on an angsty teen drama, he’s agreed to a fake relationship with his co-star to guarantee the lead in her father’s next movie. But when the contract requires more than he’s bargained for, he begins to question the future he always imagined. To take back some ownership of his life, Griffin adopts a new dog—despite being clueless about pet ownership.

Drawn to Ashton’s authenticity, Griffin recruits her to train his new rescue. In return, Griffin helps her navigate publicity and social media for her foundation. Outside the glow of Hollywood, it doesn’t take long for Ashton to see that Griffin is more than the hunk he portrays on TV. As their professional and personal lives intertwine and their attraction grows stronger, their chemistry becomes undeniable. But when the heat of the spotlight threatens to expose Ashton’s past and Griffin’s secret, the two must fight for what’s real between them, or risk becoming another casualty of fame.

Goodreads || Amazon

My Thoughts:

I believe I started following Hayley Elliot on Instagram and then applied for her street team. I love reading debut authors; they have been one of my favorites since I began blogging.

To be honest, this book took me a while to get into. I also struggled with keeping track of the characters. I wasn't a fan of Scarlet at all. She was annoying. I loved Roxy. Once Ashton and Griffin met, the story really took off for me. I'm not saying much more as I don't want to ruin it for you.

I enjoyed this book and am quite sure that Hayley Elliot will join the ranks of my favorite Rom-Com authors, like Sarah Monzon, Bethany Turner, Betsy St. Amant, and Angela Ruth Strong, to name a few. 

This book releases on August 14, 2025; so go ahead and pre-order from your favorite bookseller. 

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

About Hayley Elliot:

Hayley’s always loved love. Exhibit A: her writing career began in journalism (ahem—diary entries) chronicling her crushes. Writing lighthearted romance stories was a natural transition. It gives her great joy to create fun, sweet escapes for readers with guaranteed happily-ever-afters.

She refills her creative writing well by reading (duh), doing photography, and occasionally drawing or painting. Hayley also loves taking naps, doing embroidery, and crocheting like a seventy-year old. More than anything, she enjoys spending time with her husband, two daughters, and beloved Goldendoodle in their Oklahoma hometown.

You can follow and get in touch with Hayley on these platforms.

Website || Facebook || Instagram || 

More Than Enough - 90 Devotions for Loving Yourself as God Loves You by Sandra Byrd

 

About the book:

Title: More Than Enough

Author: Sandra Byrd

Published by: Our Daily Bread Publishing

Genre: Devotional

Format: Paperback

Pages: 194

Source: Publisher

Do you ever feel like no matter what you do, you will never be enough? 

There’s a lot of pressure on women in society and Christian circles to be perfect if they want to be accepted. But the truth is, we will never be perfect in this life, and we don’t have to be. 

Join Sandra Byrd on this 90-day journey to learn the importance of loving yourself the way God does, dismantling toxic perfectionism through heartfelt stories and Scriptures that teach you that you don’t have to keep striving. 

Discover the importance of loving yourself the way God does, freeing yourself from unrealistic standards, unhealthy self-talk, and unattainable perfectionism. God’s grace and unconditional love already call you more than enough.

Goodreads || Amazon || Barnes & Noble || Our Daily Bread 

My Thoughts:

This is the third devotion I've read by Sandra Byrd and probably my favorite. She uses stories much like Christ did by telling parables to His followers to make the scripture come alive.  

As humans of today with likes, comments, and text messaging, we, as women, are battling our own self-love daily. If you grew up in my generation, it was considered vanity to love yourself, but we not only need to love ourselves, we need to realise and understand how much God loves us, and Sandra Byrd shows us how much we are loved by God in the pages of this book.

This little book is perfect for when you're looking for a quick devotional. The only problem, you'll keep reading because, in Sandra Byrd's style, you won't be able not to read it.

Disclaimer: I received a copy from the publisher. I was not required to write a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

About Sandra Byrd

Bestselling author Sandra Byrd continues to earn both industry acclaim and high praise from readers everywhere. The author of more than fifty books, her work has received many awards, nominations, and accolades, including the Historical Novel Society’s Editor’s Choice award, two Christy Award nominations, two Library Journal Best Book selections, and inclusion on Booklist’s Top Ten Inspirational Books of the Year list. Her traditionally published books include titles by Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster, Tyndale House Publishers, WaterBrook Press, an imprint of Penguin Random House, and Bethany House. She’s also an independent author.

Sandra has also published dozens of books for kids, tweens, and teens, and devotionals, including the bestselling The One Year Be-Tween You and God Devotions for Girls. She continued her work as a devotionalist with The One Year Home and Garden Devotions and The One Year Experiencing God’s Love Devotional, which was named by Called Magazine, the #1 magazine for Christian Women, as among their favorite, must-read books.

As an editor and an in-demand writing coach, Sandra is passionate about helping writers develop their talents and has mentored hundreds of writers at all stages of their writing careers. For testimonials about her editing and book coaching, please visit sandrabyrdbookcoach.com.

Sandra loves walking, the beach, cooking and baking, photography, watching Escape to the Country, Fake or Fortune, Chef’s Table, and spending time with family and friends – real and fictional!

You can connect with Sandra on these platforms  Facebook || Instagram ||Twitter 

First Line Friday 111

 

    

 

                                                           

About the book:

Title: The Highland Heist

Author: Pepper Basham

Series: A Freddie and Grace Mystery #4

Publisher: Barbour Fiction

Format: Kindle

Source: Purchased

Grace Storms a Scottish Castle to Save her Sister
 
Lord Astley surprises his wife with a trip to America to see her family before they end their honeymoon adventures. But just as they arrive, they find Grace’s sister, Lillias, is the prime suspect in her husband’s murder. To add to the confusion a solicitor arrives to tell the sister’s they are needed in Scotland immediately to claim their mother’s inheritance.
 
The clock is ticking to clear Lillias of suspicion, but someone is determined to keep the sisters from reaching the Scottish Highlands. When Lillias disappears, Freddie and Grace race to Scotland, sure the answers will be found in a long-forgotten castle.
 
With a ghost from Frederick’s past leaving threatening clues along the way, the mysterious Mr. Kane waiting in the wings to grab the inheritance for himself, and an apparition haunting the infamous castle, Lord and Lady Astley must capture the castle, save Lillias, and not die in the process.
 
The Highland Heist is a Freddie and Grace Mystery, sequel to The Mistletoe Countess, The Cairo Curse, and The Juliet Code.

Goodreads || Amazon || Baker Book House || Barnes & Noble

This book released this week and when I read the first line I knew it was perfect for a First Line Friday.

FIRST LINE

June 23, 1914

Perfect husbands were rare, except perhaps in fiction, but Grace Percy, Countess of Astley, had married the real-life equivalent, she was certain.

Is that not the perfect first line?! I just love it because I feel that way about my husband. Besides that it's so Pepper Basham and I just love it, and I know this book is going to be amazing!

About Pepper Basham

I love a good romance, whether it’s set in an Edwardian-era manor house or a small town in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Readers enjoy my fun, dramatic, heart-warming, and inspirational novels with the certainty of a happily-ever-after.

Though some of my contemporaries have a Britallachian twist, others are Mayberry-esque, while others bring about the elegance and struggles of the Downton Abbey era. If any of these story ideas sound good to you, take some time to peruse my cyber corner of the world. “Sit a spell” as we’d say in my neck of the woods and let me ‘spin you a yarn’ filled with a few of my favorite things.

You can find Pepper on the following social media sites. Website || Facebook || Instagram || Twitter 

Please leave your first line in the comments and then go to Readingismysuperpower and read other first lines, and join the link-up if you'd like.

Top Ten Tuesday - Books Published in July 2025

 

Happy Tuesday, and welcome to another edition of Top Ten Tuesday sponsored by That Artsy Reader Girl. Today's theme is a freebie, so I chose to do books that will be published this July. And by the way, how did we get to July? It just doesn't seem possible.

The Sands of Sea Blue Beach has been on other lists of mine, but it will be published in July. Plus, the book is so pretty. 

In this top ten list, I chose to add some different genres. I've been mixing up my genres, and I've been reading more. More about that in another post. 

Are there any on my list that you are planning to read? Let's talk about that in the comments.