“Fall is in the air!” Mom announced the other day. I’m not sure what that means, exactly. But Mom is skipping merrily around the house, chirping about “fall colors,” “sweater weather” and “hot chocolate.” I’d be just as happy with a nice, thick New York steak. Whatever.

I figure it’s only a matter of time until Mom breaks out that orange thingy she hauls me into whenever we go out in cold weather. Pay off: Coming home to cozy spot in front of a nice, warm fireplace.

Anyway, Mom says it’s the first day of fall today. And a great time to grab a hot cuppa whatever and curl up next to a roaring fire with a good book! She’s got a list. Checked it twice. (I helped. The first list didn’t smell right.)

So to kick off the arrival of fall, here are some of Mom’s top picks for the season. Note that we received complimentary copies of these books in exchange for honest reviews. Some are old. Some are new. In no particular order:

1. The Samaritan’s Patient – Chevron Ross

Paige Abernathy wakes up in a hospital and doesn’t remember a thing. Not her name or birthdate. Not her address or phone. Not friends or family. All the hospital staff knows is that some guy in a business suit found her beaten to a pulp on a Texas bridge, brought her in to the E.R. and disappeared.

Questions swirl in this fast-paced and riveting read: Who is Paige Abernathy? What happened to her? Where does she belong? Why was she standing on a bridge in the middle of nowhere dressed in a ballgown, dance shoes, and a tiara? Why does she have so many enemies? Who’s trying to kill her, and why?

Marinated in mercy and seasoned with hope, this gently faith-flavored novel simmers with transcendent themes as it serves up a heaping helping of hope. It’s a heartfelt and captivating read that will resonate long after the last page is turned. Bravo!

2. Mother To Elephants: The Story of Daphne Sheldrick – R.G. de Rouen

Nicknamed “The Elephant Mother” because of her lifelong devotion to these magnificent pachyderms, Daphne Sheldrick’s life story is skillfully chronicled in this delightful picture book. The part about how many of the former elephant orphans return to visit Daphne after growing up and being set free is so endearing.

Indeed, Mother to Elephants is a terrific read! It’s not only an engaging story, it also raises awareness about the plight of elephants and the dangers they face from poachers. Young readers will find great empathy, sensitivity, insight, and awe in these pages. The text gently imparts fascinating facts about elephants as well as valuable lessons about treating animals with respect and compassion. And don’t miss the Elefacts at the end!

Mom loved this book! It’s a little Out of Africa (Isak Dinesen). A little Born Free: A Lioness of Two Worlds (Joy Adamson.) And all heart. With a gripping true story, bright and beautiful illustrations, and a magnificent real-life setting, Mother to Elephants is sure to delight young readers and their parents alike.

3. Out of the Dust – Karen Hesse

Powerful and poignant, this award-winning story is set in the Oklahoma Dust Bowl of the Great Depression. The author’s masterful use of spare free verse propels this story right off the pages. You can almost taste the dust and hear Billie Jo’s piano.

4. Dead By Proxy – Manning Wolfe

Most people don’t get to attend their own funeral. Or hear their eulogy. But criminal defense attorney Byron Douglas does both in this gripping legal thriller by Manning Wolfe. Indeed, it’s a case of out of the frying pan, into the fire for Byron Douglas in this riveting read that expertly teams courtroom drama and legal maneuvering with imminent danger, spine-tingling suspense, a touch of romance, and non-stop action. Talk about an adrenaline rush!

5.  Mystery at Sea Edge: A Monterey Adventure – J. Margaret Bell

When Wick Farrington and his sister arrive on California’s central coast for the summer, the kids have no idea what mysteries and discoveries await in J. Margaret Bell’s imminently engaging and thoroughly enjoyable historical fiction novel, Mystery at Sea Edge: A Monterey Adventure.

Searching for an elusive figure who seemed to be spying on them the previous day, Wick, his sister Rindy, and new friend Les find a gold locket entangled on a bush. Then they find an old, weather-beaten “Gingerbread House.” The house belongs to a strange old man named Garcia. Let’s just say that Garcia isn’t exactly a warm and fuzzy kind of guy. He prefers to be left alone.

On a visit to a nearby wharf the next day, Les notices a boy with what appears to be the other half of the gold locket. What’s up with that?

The fog and the plot thicken when Wick, Rindy, Les, and their new pal Joe visit a museum. They find a mannequin there with a gold locket that looks just like Joe’s! What’s up with that 2.0? The plot – and the fog– thicken some more when some old letters are discovered inside the Gingerbread House. And also… Oh, wait. You’ll have to read the book yourself to find out what happens next. But lemme tell ya, it’s one humdinger of a story. It also makes history fun!

6. Death by Pitbull – Richard Morris

Are pit bulls aggressive, unpredictable dogs with the potential to kill anything that moves? Or are they loyal and lovable family pets who are too often misunderstood, the victims of bad press and unfounded fear?

Attorney Richard Morris takes an in-depth look at the pit bull controversy in his new and highly engaging book, Death by Pitbull: Bred to Kill. Powerful, articulate, and persuasive, this highly readable book takes a close look at a “high-risk” dog and its dangers. Intense and riveting!

7. Library of Lost Souls – Ransom Riggs

Library of Lost Souls serves up a fantastical smorgasborg of plucky heroes and heroines like Jacob and Emma, stubborn ymbrenes like Miss Peregrine, dastardly, double-crossing siblings (Caul and Bentham), and incredible  adventures amid a riveting plot peppered with alternate realities. It packs a wallop from start to finish. The prose is also top-notch, with enough dry humor and rapier wit to thaw the chilliest Yeth-faru or wake the worst ambro addict.

This may be the best book in the entire “Peculiar” series.

8. The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia – Candace Fleming

Almost Shakespeare-eque in its scope, depth, and sense of tragedy, this is a history that reads like a novel. Meticulously researched and thoroughly documented, this intriguing look at Russia’s last tsar and his family may be the definitive work on the subject.

Candace Fleming pierces the veil of mystery and secrecy surrounding the final, tragic fate of the Romanovs with primary source material, a generous amount of photos, and great dignity. If you want to better understand what happened to Russia’s last family dynasty and why, this book is for you.

9. Partners in Time – Nicholas Hodgson

Time travel can have unintended consequences. Just ask Harry or his friend Jett. Both step into alternate histories with horrifying implications when they discover a mysterious door. Now the boys must muster all their courage and wits to go back in time and prevent an unthinkable future from taking place in the high voltage, rip-roarin’ page-turner, Partners in Time.

When investigating a mysterious door in a basement of the British Museum in 1941, Harry suddenly finds himself in New Zealand – in 2022!

When the boys return to London 1941, they find a Nazi swastika flag flying over Buckingham Palace. And New Zealand is a colony under Nazi administration.

Now Harry and Jett must go back in time and set things right. All they have to do is find a secret tunnel under Westminster Abbey, break into one of the most secure places in the world, and steal an ancient artifact. Without getting caught by Nazi guards who are swarming all over the place. What could possibly go wrong?

10. Hudson’s Piratey Summer – Mason Bell

Ahoy, me hearties! Is your middle schooler buried in Boringsville, USA? Stuck in Snooze City? Then grab a copy of Hudson’s Piratey Summer and join Hudson Bell as he sets sail for a pirate adventure brimming with scoundrels, scallywags, traitorous scum, relatives, and an evil mermaid queen.

A potent blend of magic, time travel, adventure, hidden treasure, evil queen mermaids, and pacts between pirates, this fun-loving frolic also includes rapier wit, plenty of action and double bacon cheeseburgers. Ahoy! Cuz this rip-roarin’ fantasy read is up to its crow’s nest in ayes and args. Besides. “How often does a kid get to swim with mermaids, much less be kissed by one?”

What would you add?

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Now if I can just remember where Mom stashed that steak. Hmmm.