Top Ten Tuesday-Books You’d be a Fool Not to Read

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. 

This week, the topic is Books You’d be a Fool Not to Read (Happy April Fool’s Day! In honor of this silly holiday, share the books you think people must read for whatever reason. They could be your favorites, books you deem classics, books that you learned something important from, books you wish you’d read sooner, etc. You could even narrow it down to a specific genre and share the must-reads for that genre. Get creative!)

I went through my favorite reads and chose ten.  These are books I've loved over the years.  They aren't literary classics, but they are my classics, and I loved them for one reason or another.  Click on the covers to get to their Goodreads page.

16 Lighthouse Road by Debbie Macomber:  This is the first book of her Cedar Cove series.  I read it when it first came out and was addicted.  It's one of the few series I've actually read every book (it was before my reviewing days).  It later became a TV series on Hallmark.  I liked that, too, but it wasn't nearly as good as the books.

Cat on the Edge by Shirley Rousseau Murphy:  This book was my introduction to cat cozy mysteries before they were called "cozy".  One of my favorite scenes is when Joe Grey is in trouble and he manages to call home and say "This is Joe, your cat." (or words to that effect - his human didn't know his cat could talk back then).  This is a series I even got my husband into.  I still have a few books to read in this series.

Dewey by Vicki Myron:  This is one of my few non-fiction books.  Dewey was a library cat, and this book is so touching.  I remember listening to it in the car.  an emotional book.  A little cat who touched many lives.

Cat Stories by James Herriot:  I read this years ago.  Of course, this book features cats.  The author shares many wonderful stories.

The Beach House by Georgia Bockoven:  This is perfect for beach reading.  Several couples stay at a beach house to get away from their everyday lives briefly.  I read this many years ago, so I don't remember all the details, but there was an older couple that touched my heart and always remembered their scenes.

Curiosity Thrilled the Cat by Sofie Kelly:  This is the first book in the magical cats series.  It's such a charming book.  It's about a librarian who moves to Minnesota.  She is adopted by two stray cats.  She's intrigued by them and has no clue that these are very special cats.  They only show her what they want her to see like a catnip addiction and an obsession with Barry Manilow music.  Another series I've fallen behind on, but plan to continue.

Murder Past Due by Miranda James:  This is the first book in the Cat in the Stacks cozy mystery series.  Diesel is a Maine Coon cat, but he doesn't talk and doesn't have mystical powers.  He follows his human librarian Charlie everywhere and assists in solving mysteries.  It's a very clever series and I enjoy every minute of them.

1st to Die by James Patterson:  This is the first book in the Women's Murder Club.  When it first started, I loved this series.  It was one of the rare times I bought the hardcover editions of each book as soon as they were released.  I've fallen way behind on this series, but maybe someday I'll catch up.

One for the Money by Janet Evanovich:  This is the first Stephanie Plum book and, like the James Patterson series, I devoured these as soon as they were released.  I bought them whether they were hardcover or not.  I didn't care, but like the Women's Murder Club, I fell behind on this series.  I can't imagine catching up with it, but I might.

Paw & Order by Chris Abernathy:  This is the first book in the Detective Whiskers cozy mystery series.  I immediately fell in love with this series and still reading it.  This is about a widow who moves to Florida after her husband's death.  She takes her husband's cat with her.  What she doesn't know is that Detective Whiskers used to help her husband with his detective work.  He doesn't talk to humans and has no supernatural powers, but he does communicate with the other animals in the neighborhood and helps solve crimes.  It's such a cute, charming series and makes me happy to read it.

That's it.  What's on your list this week?