General Books / Top Ten Tuesday

#TopTenTuesday: 10 Most Recent Additions to my Kindle

Dini @ dinipandareads67 Comments

We’re back with another Top Ten Tuesday, a weekly meme hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl.

This week’s topic is TTT Rewind (Pick a previous topic that you missed or would like to re-do/update.)

For today’s TTT Rewind, I’m going back to a topic that I last did in January 2022! Honestly, I’m kinda surprised that I haven’t done this topic sooner although I feel like I have and maybe I just called it something different? But I digress. Today I’m highlighting ten of the most recent additions to my Kindle shelf—this isn’t including any KU titles but books that I’ve actually purchased. It’s an eclectic mix of fantasy, romance, literary and non-fiction and old and new pubs! On that note, here’s what I’ve bought recently:

Dominicana by Angie Cruz

📖 SYNOPSIS

Fifteen-year-old Ana Cancion never dreamed of moving to America, the way the girls she grew up with in the Dominican countryside did. But when Juan Ruiz proposes and promises to take her to New York City, she has to say yes. It doesn’t matter that he is twice her age, that there is no love between them. Their marriage is an opportunity for her entire close-knit family to eventually immigrate. So on New Year’s Day, 1965, Ana leaves behind everything she knows and becomes Ana Ruiz, a wife confined to a cold six-floor walk-up in Washington Heights. Lonely and miserable, Ana hatches a reckless plan to escape. But at the bus terminal, she is stopped by Cesar, Juan’s free-spirited younger brother, who convinces her to stay.

As the Dominican Republic slides into political turmoil, Juan returns to protect his family’s assets, leaving Cesar to take care of Ana. Suddenly, Ana is free to take English lessons at a local church, lie on the beach at Coney Island, see a movie at Radio City Music Hall, go dancing with Cesar, and imagine the possibility of a different kind of life in America. When Juan returns, Ana must decide once again between her heart and her duty to her family.

Made in Manhattan by Lauren Layne

📖 SYNOPSIS

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Central Park Pact comes a reverse My Fair Lady for the modern era about a pampered and privileged Manhattan socialite who must teach an unpolished and denim-loving nobody from the Louisiana Bayou how to fit in with the upper crust of New York City. Perfect for fans of Christina Lauren and Sally Thorne.

Violet Townsend has always been a people pleaser. Raised in the privileged world of Upper East Side Manhattan, she always says the right things, wears the right clothes, and never rocks the boat. Violet would do anything for the people closest to her, especially her beloved grandmother. So when she asks Violet to teach the newly-discovered grandson of her friend how to fit in with New York City’s elite, Violet immediately agrees. Her goal? To get Cain Stone ready to take his place as heir to his family company…but to say he’s not exactly an eager student is an understatement.

Born and raised in rural Louisiana and now making his own way in New Orleans, Cain Stone is only playing along for the paycheck at the end. He has no use for the grandmother he didn’t know existed and no patience for the uppity Violet’s attempts to turn him into a suit-wearing, museum-attending gentleman.

But somewhere amidst antagonistic dinner parties and tortured tux fittings, Cain and Violet come to a begrudging understanding—and the uptight Violet realizes she’s not the only one doing the teaching. As she and Cain begin to find mutual respect for one another (and maybe even something more), Violet learns that blindly following society’s rules doesn’t lead to happiness…and that sometimes the best things in life come from the most unexpected places.

The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen by K. J. Charles

📖 SYNOPSIS

Bridgerton meets Poldark in this sweeping LGBTQIA+ Regency romance from award-winning author KJ Charles

Abandoned by his father as a small child, Sir Gareth Inglis has grown up prickly, cold, and well-used to disappointment. Even so, he longs for a connection, falling headfirst into a passionate anonymous affair that’s over almost as quickly as it began. Bitter at the sudden rejection, Gareth has little time to lick his wounds: his father has died, leaving him the family title, a rambling manor on the remote Romney Marsh…and the den of cutthroats and thieves that make its intricate waterways their home.

Joss Doomsday has run the Doomsday smuggling clan since he was a boy. His family is his life…which is why when the all-too-familiar new baronet testifies against Joss’s sister for a hanging offense, Joss acts fast, blackmailing Gareth with the secret of their relationship to force him to recant. Their reunion is anything but happy and the path forward everything but smooth, yet after the dust settles, neither can stay away. It’s a long road from there—full of danger and mysteries to be solved—yet somehow, along the way, this well-mannered gentleman may at last find true love with the least likely of scoundrels.

The First Binding by R. R. Virdi

📖 SYNOPSIS

All legends are born of truths. And just as much lies. These are mine. Judge me for what you will. But you will hear my story first.

I buried the village of Ampur under a mountain of ice and snow. Then I killed their god. I’ve stolen old magics and been cursed for it. I started a war with those that walked before mankind and lost the princess I loved, and wanted to save. I’ve called lightning and bound fire. I am legend. And I am a monster.

My name is Ari. And this is the story of how I let loose the first evil.

The Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah

📖 SYNOPSIS

Neither here nor there, but long ago…

Loulie al-Nazari is the Midnight Merchant: a criminal who, with the help of her jinn bodyguard, hunts and sells illegal magic. When she saves the life of a cowardly prince, she draws the attention of his powerful father, the sultan, who blackmails her into finding an ancient lamp that has the power to revive the barren land.

With no choice but to obey or be executed, Loulie journeys with the sultan’s oldest son to find the artifact. Aided by her bodyguard, who has secrets of his own, they must survive ghoul attacks, outwit a vengeful jinn queen, and confront a malicious killer from Loulie’s past. And, in a world where story is reality and illusion is truth, Loulie will discover that everything—her enemy, her magic, even her own past—is not what it seems.

Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in A World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Pérez

📖 SYNOPSIS

‘Invisible Women takes on the neglected topic of what we don’t know – and why. The result is a powerful, important and eye-opening analysis of the gender politics of knowledge and ignorance. With examples from technology to natural disasters, this is an original and timely reminder of why we need women in the leadership of the institutions that shape every aspect of our lives.’ Cordelia Fine
You’ve heard all about the Gender Pay Gap…
Welcome to the Gender Data Gap.
Our world is largely built for and by men, in a system that can ignore half the population. This book will tell you how and why this matters.

In her new book, Invisible Women, award-winning campaigner and writer Caroline Criado Perez shows us how, in a world largely built for and by men, we are systematically ignoring half the population. She exposes the gender data gap – a gap in our knowledge that is at the root of perpetual, systemic discrimination against women, and that has created a pervasive but invisible bias with a profound effect on women’s lives.

Caroline brings together for the first time an impressive range of case studies, stories and new research from across the world that illustrate the hidden ways in which women are excluded from the very building blocks of the world we live in, and the impact this has on their health and wellbeing. From government policy and medical research, to technology, workplaces, urban planning and the media – Invisible Women exposes the biased data that excludes women. In making the case for change, this powerful and provocative book will make you see the world anew.

Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater

📖 SYNOPSIS

It’s difficult to find a husband in Regency England when you’re a young lady with only half a soul.

Ever since she was cursed by a faerie, Theodora Ettings has had no sense of fear or embarrassment – a condition which makes her prone to accidental scandal. Dora hopes to be a quiet, sensible wallflower during the London Season – but when the strange, handsome and utterly uncouth Lord Sorcier discovers her condition, she is instead drawn into dangerous and peculiar faerie affairs.

If Dora’s reputation can survive both her curse and her sudden connection with the least-liked man in all of high society, then she may yet reclaim her normal place in the world. . . but the longer Dora spends with Elias Wilder, the more she begins to suspect that one may indeed fall in love, even with only half a soul.

Bridgerton meets Howl’s Moving Castle in this enchanting historical fantasy, where the only thing more meddlesome than faeries is a marriage-minded mother.

Pick up HALF A SOUL, and be stolen away into Olivia Atwater’s charming, magical version of Regency England!

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

📖 SYNOPSIS

A warm and uplifting novel about an isolated witch whose opportunity to embrace a quirky new family–and a new love–changes the course of her life.

As one of the few witches in Britain, Mika Moon knows she has to hide her magic, keep her head down, and stay away from other witches so their powers don’t mingle and draw attention. And as an orphan who lost her parents at a young age and was raised by strangers, she’s used to being alone and she follows the rules…with one exception: an online account, where she posts videos pretending to be a witch. She thinks no one will take it seriously.

But someone does. An unexpected message arrives, begging her to travel to the remote and mysterious Nowhere House to teach three young witches how to control their magic. It breaks all of the rules, but Mika goes anyway, and is immediately tangled up in the lives and secrets of not only her three charges, but also an absent archaeologist, a retired actor, two long-suffering caretakers, and…Jamie. The handsome and prickly librarian of Nowhere House would do anything to protect the children, and as far as he’s concerned, a stranger like Mika is a threat. An irritatingly appealing threat.

As Mika begins to find her place at Nowhere House, the thought of belonging somewhere begins to feel like a real possibility. But magic isn’t the only danger in the world, and when a threat comes knocking at their door, Mika will need to decide whether to risk everything to protect a found family she didn’t know she was looking for….

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

📖 SYNOPSIS

Effia and Esi: two sisters with two very different destinies. One sold into slavery; one a slave trader’s wife. The consequences of their fate reverberate through the generations that follow. Taking us from the Gold Coast of Africa to the cotton-picking plantations of Mississippi; from the missionary schools of Ghana to the dive bars of Harlem, spanning three continents and seven generations, Yaa Gyasi has written a miraculous novel – the intimate, gripping story of a brilliantly vivid cast of characters and through their lives the very story of America itself.

Epic in its canvas and intimate in its portraits, Homegoing is a searing and profound debut from a masterly new writer.

Juniper & Thorn by Ava Reid

📖 SYNOPSIS

From the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Wolf and the Woodsman comes a gothic retelling of The Juniper Tree, where a young witch seeks to discover her identity and escape the domination of her abusive wizard father. Perfect for fans of Angela Carter, Catherynne M. Valente and Shirley Jackson

_________________________________

A gruesome curse. A city in upheaval. A monster with unquenchable appetites.

As the last true witches living in a city shifting from magic to industry, Marlinchen and her two sisters are little more than tourist traps as they treat their clients with archaic remedies and beguile them with nostalgic charm. Marlinchen spends her days divining secrets in exchange for rubles and trying to placate their tyrannical, xenophobic wizard father, who keeps his daughters sequestered from the outside world. While at night, she and her sisters sneak out to enjoy the city’s amenities and revel in its thrills, particularly the recently established ballet theatre, where Marlinchen meets a dancer who quickly captures her heart.

But as Marlinchen’s late-night trysts grow more fervent and frequent, so does the threat of her father’s rage and magic. And while the city flourishes with culture and bustles with enterprise, a monster lurks in its midst, borne of intolerance and resentment and suffused with old-world power. Caught between history and progress and blood and desire, Marlinchen must draw upon her own magic to keep her city safe and find her place within it.

Have you read any of these books or are they also on your TBR?

67 thoughts on “#TopTenTuesday: 10 Most Recent Additions to my Kindle”

  1. That’s an interesting selection for sure! I read The Stardust Thief, although didn’t like it much. I, however, really enjoyed The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches! And I have Half a Soul near the top of my TBR. Definitely planning to read it this year.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • I’ve seen so many great things about Very Secret Society but I have seen mixed reviews for Stardust Thief. I’m still looking forward to reading both though and I’m also keen to get to Half a Soul! I’ve heard great things about that one as well 😊 Hope you enjoy it, Timy!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  2. I hope you enjoy these! I liked The Stardust Thief. I have so many books on my kindle and even KU that I need to get a move on. 😂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Thanks, Andie! I haven’t seen The First Binding mentioned much on the blogosphere but what I have seen is very positive! I saw it on Kindle the other day for 99p and I thought, well, why not then?! 😂 I justified it as being meant to be, haha!

      Like

      Reply

  5. I recently added Juniper & Thorn to my Kindle too! I was adamant to not buy anymore ebooks but I’ve wanted this book for so long. The only downside is not having a physical copy of that pretty alternate cover haha. Hope you love all these!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  14. Ohh, there’s a lot of interesting books that you added! So… I just purchased The First Binding from BookOutlet. It’s a MONSTER in size. haha. I want to read it so bad though!!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Omg, someone else just commented about how monstrously huge it is! 😂 I’m so glad that I got it as an ebook—it’ll definitely help feeling less intimidated by it, haha! Let me know when you decide to read it, maybe I’ll join you!? 😍

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      • I was so shocked when I pulled it out of the box. I’m pretty sure I’ll download the ebook from the library to read it when the time comes. Haha, it’s not on my close radar but we could eventually, if you’re not in a hurry!

        Like

        Reply

    • Ah, I can’t wait to read both of them! I’ve heard great things about Very Secret Society and it just really sounds like a book I’ll adore. I’m really excited to check out Stardust Thief as well and I hope you enjoy it too! 😃

      Like

      Reply

  19. I really enjoyed The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches. It was funny and I laughed my way through it. I will be listening to The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen on my ride home this weekend. I hope you enjoy all these, Dini.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  22. I feel like I’ve mentioned Invisible Women a thousand times in posts because of how much it taught me (and shocked me, in a lot of ways!). It’s a great audiobook too if that helps you get through it as I know nonfiction isn’t your favorite / easiest. The author narrates it and does a great job. Definitely recommend that one!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • I actually read an excerpt mentioned in a research study shared by one of our grantees at work and it sounded SO interesting! Even in that little paragraph I read I learned so much, so I’m really looking forward to reading the whole thing! I feel like it’s a book I’d want to highlight to bits, haha 😂 I’ll defo keep in mind the audio too because I’m terrible at reading NF, lol. Thanks for the rec, Jennifer!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  30. Half a Soul and The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches are both on my TBR. I hope you enjoy reading all of these when you get the opportunity. Thanks for stopping by my blog earlier this week.

    Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!

    Like

    Reply

  31. Always a good topic choice! Dominicana and Homegoming are both waiting on my bookshelf, too. Hopefully we can read and enjoy them soon!

    Like

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:

Gravatar
WordPress.com Logo

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Cancel

Connecting to %s