I enjoyed my reads, but there are always stand outs. For me, the dramatic historical serial The Gin Lovers by Jamie Brenner definitely stood out because of the 1920's atmosphere and New York City setting, the characters, and all the delicious drama. I reviewed the first two episodes, and although a bit behind because real life got in the way, expect reviews for the rest of the episodes.
I already mentioned Occultation and Other Stories and The Light is the Darkness by Laird Barron as great reads in the speculative fiction horror category, as well as Steve Berman's Wilde Stories 2012 Gay Speculative Fiction Anthology, however Immobility by Brian Evenson is another story that stood out and stayed with me for quite a while because of the stark moodiness of the piece.
On the bright side, re-reading the Born In Trilogy by Nora Roberts when hurricane Sandy hit, proved to be the right picks. Talk about comfort reads! That was a treat I haven't allowed myself for a couple of years. It was fun spending a couple of days with Nora's great characters in that small fictional Irish village again.
As to the rest, please click on titles to read reviews or posts.
Total read: 25
New Reads: 22 Re-reads: 3
Contemporary Romance: 6 (3 romance, 2 romance suspense, 1 erotic romance)
Historical Romance: 8
Speculative Fiction/Horror: 3
Young Adult/Fantasy: 1
Non-Fiction: 1
LGBT: 6 (1 spec fic, 5 romance)
- If I Wait For You by Jane Goodger: B-
- The Gin Lovers #1 by Jamie Brenner: B-
- Little White Lies: The Gin Lovers #2 by Jamie Brenner: B+
- Society Sinners: The Gin Lovers #3 by Jamie Brenner
- Vice and Virtue: The Gin Lovers #4 by Jamie Brenner
- Dangerous Games: The Gin Lovers #5 by Jamie Brenner
- Hell Hath No Fury: The Gin Lovers #6 by Jamie Brenner
- Wilde Stories 2012: The Year's Best Gay Speculative Fiction ed. by Steve Berman: B
- The Mark of Athena (Heroes of Olympus #3) by Rick Riordan: B
- Black Ice (Ice #1) by Anne Stuart: C-
- On Thin Ice (Ice #6) by Anne Stuart: B
- Immobility by Brian Evenson: B+
- Old Poison (Dangerous Ground #2 by Josh Lanyon: B
- Everything Changes (Alex Kennedy #1.5) by Megan Hart: C-
- Pressure Head by J. L. Merrow: C
- All Roads Lead to You by Harper Fox: D+
- Heart Trouble by Josh Lanyon: D+
- Perfect Day by Josh Lanyon C-
- The Boy Kings of Texas: A Memoir by Domingo Martinez: B
- My Scandalous Viscount (Inferno Club #5) by Gaelen Foley: C+
- Born In Trilogy (Born in Fire, Born in Ice, Born in Shame) by Nora Roberts (Re-read): A-
- Occultation and Other Stories by Laird Baron: B+
- The Light is the Darkness by Laird Barron: B+
That's it for my October reads! I again hit my TBR pile throughout the month and read 11 books from there! I'm really trying to get to a few of the books I've purchased before the end of this year, which is approaching really fast! How was your October? Did you find any great reads you would like to recommend?
Yay for hitting the TBR pile and bringing it down!! You read so much, and most of it was good for what I can see!!
ReplyDeleteHopefully November will be just as good.
Alex, it feels great to pick up some of those books that have been sitting around for a while. October was definitely a a good reading month TBR and quantity-wise, now I need to keep it up. :)
DeleteWow, great numbers :) 25 reads!! I had a good month of October as well, but I was on a one-minded track: contemporary romance LOL. LOL, I think I read close to 10 of them ^_^;
ReplyDeleteWhile you did read quite a variety, there isn't much on your list that appeals to me. Well except for the Rick Riordan and Nora Roberts, but I read them already LOL.
I'm intrigued by The Gin Lovers serial, but the ending is what is stopping me. Especially given your and Wendy's reactions!
Ahh, contemporary romances! I went on that trip during the summer. I hope you enjoyed some of them. :)
DeleteThe Gin Lovers series is a good one, Nath. It stands out. The ending is good, it's just different. And the bulk of the whole is really, really good! I don't see how I wouldn't recommend it this to anyone, it was such fun reading it. But, it's all a matter of taste in the end of course.
As for my eclectic taste? LOL! I think the only other book in there I think you might enjoy from my list is If I Wait for You by Jane Goodger.