Top Ten Tuesdays is an original and weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.  

 

 

I've come to learn that a TBR list created in advance doesn't necessarily mean "I shall read these books in a timely manner."  Of course, that doesn't ever keep me from making my lists; I love making lists after all.  I do know for certain that there are several books I plan to get to reading within the months in the Winter season (December through March, I believe) as well as many books I am anticipating the release of and WANT to read upon their release date.

 

Also, my typical TBR list usually rounds out to approximately 20 books I want to read, plan to read, or am anticipating the release of for each month (my average is reading about 15 books monthly).  Ten is a really hard number for me to work with, to be totally honest, because I've already started listing all the books I'm planning on reading in January (yes, I may have skipped December, but December tends to be a busy month for a lot of other stuff).

 

In this situation, I will attempt to eliminate as much as I can for the sake of this list.  In fact, the books listed below are just a random pick of the books I most want to get to reading within the next few months.  Of course, there are more; when it comes to books, there are always more.

 

In no particular order:  My Top Ten Winter TBR List

 

 

 

 

1.  SEAL of My Dreams -- an anthology of novellas written by various Romantic Suspense authors

SEAL of My Dreams is an anthology I discovered whilst perusing the different book subscription service platforms (Oyster, Scribed, Kindle Unlimited--known as the "Netflix for books" sites).  In short, I was just doing research to see how beneficial to me subscribing to any of these platforms would be (hint: the answer is, not very).  I have an ongoing obsession with Romantic Suspense novels right now and immediately took to this anthology when I saw it; there are various authors I like, have come to like, and have heard of and have become interested in, listed as contributing to this anthology.  The book sold for a very cheap $0.99 on Amazon Kindle a month or two ago and I couldn't help going ahead and adding it to my collection.

 

Sometime in January, I'm going to begin reading SEAL of My Dreams.  I don't know why I'm waiting until January--it just feels like a good way to start the new year, I guess.

 

 

 

2.  Death Sworn by Leah Cypess

I have this book requested for hold at the library and am hoping that I'll be able to check it out within the next month or two, which would fall into the "Winter TBR" season.  Reviews have been mixed about the story, but the one thing that stands out to me is the strong female heroine training a cave of assassins premise, as well as the fact that reviewers have noted that there is no instalove nor any triangles.  Also, a YA female character with priorities that don't revolve around the boy she falls in lust with at first sight.  I love me some strong female leads and in a high fantasy, this is typically what draws my attention--as much as I am a hopeless romantic and love romances, I also like a level-headed female who has her priorities straight (when life or death is at stake, I'm thinking it's probably not so important that you can't choose between pretty boy and broody boy who both want to love you and want to push you away at the same time).

 

So I'm looking forward to reading this book soon so I can determine whether or not I'll continue on with the series.

 

 

 

    

3.  Show No Mercy by Cindy Gerard

4.  Take No Prisoners by Cindy Gerard

5.  Whisper No Lies by Cindy Gerard

I bought these books on a whim after becoming obsessed with Romantic Suspense.  While Cindy Gerard isn't the best author out there (I have since discovered other Romantic Suspense authors I love equally or even more), she does hold a special place in my heart since she's the first Romantic Suspense author I became a big fan of; her Bodyguard series is definitely one of my more favorite of Romantic Suspense series, with a particular character I fell head over heels in love with (well, two, but well...)

 

And now that I own THAT series as well as the follow-up series, Black Ops, Inc., and I have been listing them every month as part of my personal monthly TBR, and then getting distracted with shiny new books around every corner, I think it's high time I scheduled a more "permanent" TBR for them.  So I at least want to start reading the first three books of this series this winter (maybe starting in January with SEAL of My Dreams).  Once I can finish Black Ops, I can then move onto One-Eyed Jacks because Cindy Gerard has a new book release pending in February...

 

 

 

6.  Practice Makes Perfect by Julie James

In anticipation of the April release of Suddenly One Summer, I'm slowly finishing up all the published Julie James novels, since I have decided that I will read everything she has written.  Practice Makes Perfect is one of her earlier works and the only Julie James book I have left to read; I have plans to amend that situation quickly.  That is all.

 

 

 

7.  The Silkworm by Roberth Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowling)

I wasn't all too smitten with The Cuckoo's Calling, but that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it.  It felt mediocre to me, but I still liked Cormoran and Robin as a cute little P.I. partnership.  Nonetheless, Rowling is Queen and I've seen some really positive reviews about The Silkworm in comparison with the mediocrity of The Cuckoo's Calling, so I'm interested in continuing this series.

 

I was on a library waiting list for the e-book and was listed as patron number 2 out of 16 last week.  I had been on this waiting list since the book was released in June and acquired by the e-book library that same month.  And yes, it has been a long wait.  I finally got the notice yesterday that I can now check this book out.  Seeing as how I still have a few other books I need to finish, I'm going to take advantage of the 21 day check-out and will probably finish reading this book sometime during the Winter TBR season.

 

 

 

8.  Stitching Snow by R.C. Lewis

This book just sounds fun.  Some reviewers I follow have praised it.  And it sounds like a nice little kickass Snow White meets Star Wars retelling.  How awesome is that?  My only matter is how willing I am to spend money... or if I'd rather wait out another library hold list.  Whatever the case, I WOULD like to put this book on my Winter TBR.  Of course, the holidays are approaching and I feel I owe it to myself (for reasons) to splurge just a little bit more.

 

 

 

9.  Princess of Thorns by Stacey Jay

The premise of Princess of Thorns sounds good enough to anticipate in that "edge of my seat" fashion.  Sleeping Beauty's daughter as a warrior princess, cursed to destroy any male who kisses her, disguised as a boy to enlist the help of a Prince to save the world and reclaim her stolen throne.  There's a high fantasy adventure of epic proportions (hopefully), a fairy tale retelling, a warrior princess, the potential for FEELS and more heartbreaking feels...  AND THERE IS A CROSS-DRESSING PLOT DEVICE!

 

This book just has Ani-bait written all over it.  I am inclined to include this book onto my list of holiday splurges this year.  In fact, I insist that I buy myself this book upon it's release date and read it for pure enjoyment during the holidays.

 

Let's just all cross our fingers and hope that it delivers, because I could cry if it doesn't.

 

 

 

 

10.  Shadow Scale by Rachel Hartman

I have been waiting for this sequel for nearing two years.  I'm sure that's grounds for immediate purchase when the book is finally published in March.  But this also means that I may or may not end up rereading Seraphina as part of my Winter TBR just to refresh my memory.

 

***

 

This list barely skims the unofficial and even longer TBR I've already started putting together.  It includes the rest of the Black Ops series by Cindy Gerard, A.G. Howard's Splintered series (the second and third books), possibly the next three Bishop/SCU books by Kay Hooper, the two books in the Mann Family series by Kate Brady, and lots of others.

 

But my TBR is ever-changing, pending my mood and what I can get my hands on, so my hope is that, having published a post with books I officially want to add to my Winter TBR, maybe I'll be a bit more structured in choosing my next book.

 

Then again, maybe not.  Who knows?