March 3, 2026 by Courtney @ The Green Mockingbird Blog

Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Books with Pilot Main Characters

It’s another Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl!

Today’s official topic is a Genre Freebie! Thanks to the book I’m currently reading, Claire Holloway is Winging It, I’m inspired to do spin on this topic with less of a genre focus and more of a character focus. My list features main characters whose profession includes piloting airplanes! These span genres and settings from early 1900s to today, but they all include a bit of romance in the storyline. Some of them are still on my TBR 🙂

It’s interesting to see these covers all together. Some clearly feature an airplane or indicate a pilot’s presence in the story, others don’t.

10 Books with Pilot Main Characters

Beyond the Clouds by Elizabeth Camden

Claire Holloway is Winging It by Angela Ruth Strong | My current read, featuring a pilot hero and a flight attendant heroine!

All of You by Sarah Monzon

The Aviator’s Lady by Gabrielle Meyer

High as the Heavens by Kate Breslin

Walking on Hidden Wings by Rachel Scott McDaniel

On Wings of Devotion by Roseanna M. White

The Sky Above Us by Sarah Sundin

Brunch at Bittersweet Cafe by Carla Laureano

Wild Montana Skies by Susan May Warren

How did you participate in the freebie TTT this week? Have you read any of these stories? Do you have a penchant for reading about a certain profession?

October 28, 2025 by Courtney @ The Green Mockingbird Blog

Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Orange & Fallish Covers

It’s another Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl!

Today’s official topic is a Halloween Freebie! Since I’m not usually very into this holiday, other than embracing caramel apples and, occasionally, cotton candy at my church’s carnival, I’m doing a lighter spin on this topic. I like gathering covers on theme, so I have a list today of 10 Orange & Fallish Covers. I’m reaching back a few years for some of these titles, a few of them have autumn settings, and one is from my TBR.

10 Orange & Fallish Covers

Hope on Heartbreak Mountain by Elizabeth Camden

A Not So Fictional Fall by Savannah Scott

The Right Kind of Fool by Sarah Loudin Thomas

Like Never Before by Melissa Tagg

A Modest Independence by Mimi Matthews

The Secret of Orange Blossom Cake by Rachel Linden

Easy As Pie by Carina Taylor

Once Persuaded, Twice Shy by Melodie Edwards

You’re the One That I Want by Susan May Warren

When In Rome by Sarah Adams

How did you participate in the freebie TTT this week? Have you read any of these stories? Do you have any orange covers to add to my list? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

October 7, 2025 by Courtney @ The Green Mockingbird Blog

Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Favorite Series ~ 5 Historical & 5 Contemporary

It’s another Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl!

Today’s official topic is Satisfying Book Series! I’m going with the general theme of the topic and listing 10 favorite series, with 5 historical and 5 contemporary settings. It’s been a bit quiet on the blog lately, so this is an easy way to share and discuss fav books. And YES, these are happily, frequently talked-about on this blog. I’d love to hear if you’ve read any of these titles!

10 Favorite Series

5 Historical Series

The Brotherhood of the Black Tartan series by Nichole Van | Book 1: Suffering the Scot

The Kindred Series by Lori Benton | Book 1: Mountain Laurel

The Price of Privilege Trilogy by Jessica Dotta | Book 1: Born of Persuasion

The Parish Orphans of Devon series by Mimi Matthews | Book 1: The Matrimonial Advertisement

The Blackstone Legacy series by Elizabeth Camden | Book 1: Carved in Stone

5 Contemporary Series

The Sons of Scandal series by Becky Wade | Book 1: Memory Lane

The Two Blue Doors series by Hillary Manton Lodge | Book 1: A Table by the Window

The Prince Edward Island Shores series by Liz Johnson | Book 1: Beyond the Tides

The MacDonald Family Trilogy by Carla Laureano | Book 1: Five Days in Skye

The Adelaide Springs Love Stories series by Bethany Turner | Book 1: Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Othe

What series did you include for TTT this week? Have you read any of these stories? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

July 29, 2025 by Courtney @ The Green Mockingbird Blog

Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Late Summer TBR Books that I’d Take to the Beach

It’s another Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl!

Today’s official topic is Beach/Beachy Reads! I’m going my own way with this theme and listing 10 titles from my late summer TBR that I would take to the beach. But let’s be real for a second– I’m more of a mountains person. SO, this list is 10 anticipated books I want to read/listen to soon, whether at the beach, on a mountain, or in my cozy chair. Some of these titles are new releases, some in series I’ve already started, or some I am just now hyped about reading.

10 Late Summer TBR Books that I’d Take to the Beach

Wes and Addie Had Their Chance by Bethany Turner

London, Love, & a Little Something Irish by Nataly Jennings

A Fierce Devotion by Laura Frantz | released today!

Betting on the Best Friend’s Brother by Melanie Jacobson

Of Love and Treason by Jamie Ogle

The Radiance of the Moon by Ashley Worrell

The Lady of Red River Valley by Gabrielle Meyer | my current read!

Hero Debut by Angela Ruth Strong

A Tartan Love by Nichole Van | released today!

The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love by India Holton

How did you spin the beach theme for TTT this week? Have you read any of these stories? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

June 3, 2025 by Courtney @ The Green Mockingbird Blog

Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Summer Destination Titles

It’s another Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl!

Today’s official topic is a Summer Freebie! I’m spinning it to fit titles with places in their names that make for armchair adventure type reads, which *could* be visited in the summertime. I’ve read every book on this list (some are go-to favorites) and can recommend them in their respective genres.

10 Summer Destination Titles

Jane of Austin by Hillary Manton Lodge | Texas, USA

Wild Montana Skies by Susan May Warren | USA

The Seamstress of Acadie by Laura Frantz | Modern day Nova Scotia, Canada

A Girl’s Guide to the Outback by Jessica Kate | Australia

Five Days in Skye by Carla Laureano | Scotland

The London Restoration by Rachel McMillan | England

The Belle of Belgrave Square by Mimi Matthews | London, England

The Sisters of Sea View by Julie Klassen | Sidmouth, England

A Castaway in Cornwall by Julie Klassen | England

The Berlin Letters by Katherine Reay | Germany

What topic did you pick for TTT this week? Have you read any of these stories? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

May 6, 2025 by Courtney @ The Green Mockingbird Blog

Top Ten Tuesday: Arkansas Authors & Books

It’s another Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl!

Today’s official topic is Authors (or books by authors) Who Live In My State/Country (submitted by Jennifer @ Funk-N-Fiction). Since I live in the southern/landlocked state of Arkansas, it doesn’t feature much in fiction. But I do have some fantastic authors who live in my state, AND books set here. I’ve featured most of these authors or books before, so please search out their tags or titles to see more.

Arkansas Authors & Books

Author Jenny B. Jones calls the northwest area home, and several of her books are set in the fictional town of “Sugar Creek”. Fun fact: there really is a little creek called Sugar Creek, and you cross it on HWY 62. | There You’ll Find Me, I’ll Be Yours, A Sugar Creek Christmas

Author Amy Matayo calls northwest Arkansas home, too. Some of her stories are set in the area, as well! She writes a range of genres from inspirational to romcom to new adult | Lies We Tell Ourselves, They Call Her Dirty Sally, The Whys Have It

Author Miranda Atchley calls Arkansas home and has some fun indie-published historical mysteries. | Deadly Pearls (Fiona Clery Mysteris #1), The Christmas Book Shoppe

Author Tara Johnson lives in Arkansas and has fiction in contemporary and historical genres. | All Through the Night, Engraved on the Heart

Shadows in the Mind’s Eye by Janyre Tromp | This story is set in Hot Springs, AR, during the post-WWII days. It showcases fascinating real history and a riveting tale.

Winning His Trust by Toni Shiloh | This book has a fictional Arkansas setting inspired by the small towns of Jasper and Ponca, two places special to my family and heart.

The Wedding Kiss by Hannah Alexander | A story set in 1901 Eureka Springs, AR. This one has been on my TBR for a long time as its setting is a quaint neighboring town.

What books did you share for TTT this week? Have you read any of these stories? Do you have favorite books set in your state or country? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

February 25, 2025 by Courtney @ The Green Mockingbird Blog

Top Ten Tuesday: 6 WWI Fiction Authors & Books

It’s another Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl!

Today’s official topic is Books Set in Another Time. I did a dive into my drafts folder to find a list of WWI-era stories and authors to recommend and include in this list. I’m drawn to historical fiction and favor stories set in the last 250 or so years, especially around prominent historical events like wars or their aftermath. SO, this brings me to a list of authors today and some of their works set during WWI that I have enjoyed.

6 WWI Fiction Authors & Books

Roseanna M. White | The author of several WWI-era series, I recommend starting with a lady thief and a beta hero pairing in A Name Unknown

Anna Lee Huber | Her historical mystery series are wonderful! While technically post-WWI in its setting, her character Verity Kent series has close ties and throwbacks to events of WWI. The series starts with This Side of Murder

Pepper Basham | Well known for her contemporary romcoms, Pepper is also adept at historical romances and her early “Penned in Time” series is a beloved favorite. Start with book 1, The Thorn Bearer.

Kate Breslin | Her books are standalones but several of them are in the same story world during WWI. Start with a loose beauty and the best retelling, Not by Sight.

Rachel McMillan | With a backlist of books set during both world wars, Rachel has a fantastic Canadian-set mystery series whose timeline extends into WWI happenings and involvement starting with The Bachelor Girl’s Guide to Murder

J’nell Ciesielski | The author of several titles set around the time of the Great War, I especially adore her marriage of convenience story between a Russian aristocratic refugee and a Scottish doctor in The Ice Swan

What books did you share for TTT this week? Have you read any of these stories? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

February 11, 2025 by Courtney @ The Green Mockingbird Blog

Top Ten Tuesday: Romance Tropes

It’s another Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl!

Today’s official topic is a Love Freebie for the upcoming Valentine’s Day. I’ve decided to feature romances that handle a few specific tropes VERY well! Instead of gravitating to my normal favorite, the marriage of convenience, I have decided to list some other tropes I enjoy when they are well-developed. These are the second chance romance trope, the friends-t0-lovers dynamic, and the lesser written married romance/reconciliation trope.

Romance Tropes

Second Chance Romance

Julia Monroe Begins Again by Rebekah Millet | Review

London Tides by Carla Laureano | Review

A Heart Adrift by Laura Frantz | Review

Friends to Lovers

Cole and Laila are Just Friends by Bethany Turner | Review

A Match for Emma by Pepper Basham | Review

The Lily of Ludgate Hill by Mimi Matthews | Review

Married Romance/Reconciliation

The London Restoration by Rachel McMillan | Review

The Winged Tiara by J’nell Ciesielski | Review still pending!

Walking on Hidden Wings by Rachel Scott McDaniel | Review

High as the Heavens by Kate Breslin | Review

What kind of “love” books did you share for TTT this week? Have you read any of these stories? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

September 3, 2024 by Courtney @ The Green Mockingbird Blog

Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Stories Involving Food

It’s another Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl!

Today’s official topic is Books Involving Food (That are Not Cookbooks). This topic is practically tailored for my reading tastes, since it’s no secret that I enjoy foodie fiction. My list today includes books with food or as some kind of central element.

I’ve blogged about this for TTT before with lists: Top 10 Book Which Feature Characters Who Cook/Bake, 10 Eat This, Read That Books & the Foods to Enjoy While Reading Them and, a while back, this Meal Planning 101 list.

1o Stories Involving Food

The Solid Grounds Coffee Co. by Carla Laureano

With No Reservations by Laurie Tomlinson

Sweet On You by Becky Wade

Hadley Beckett’s Next Dish by Bethany Turner

The Divine Proverb of Streusel by Sara Brunsvold

The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie by Rachel Linden

Of Literature and Lattes by Katherine Reay

The Enemy by Sarah Adams

from my TBR

Tacos for Two by Betsy St. Amant

Christmas at the Cat Café by Jessica Redland

Did you share food books for TTT this week? Have you read any of these stories? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

July 2, 2024 by Courtney @ The Green Mockingbird Blog

Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Recommended BLUE Books

It’s another Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl!

I am late (today, at least) with getting together my TTT list, but I saw friends posting with this prompt and had to join in! Today’s official topic is Books with My Favorite Color on the Cover. Since I have a nice GREEN book list from a few years ago, I thought I’d feature my second-favorite color here: BLUE. These have mountains, stars, water, and all the pretty designs I like to see on covers (especially the gold accents on several of them!). I’ve read every book on this list and can recommend them in their respective genres.

Bonus: I made a list recently of lovely PINK covers that caught my eye.