Good morning, readers! It was a crazy reading month for me. I honestly didn’t have a lot of time to sit and read, even while I was camping. I did listen to more audiobooks (5) than reading with my eye balls (2)
If you’re not following me on Storygraph, you should! I live on that app and update it every single day. This is my page.
What is the Sunday Salon? The Sunday Salon is a place to link up and share what we have been doing during the week. It’s also a great opportunity to visit other blogs and join in the conversations going on there. Hosted by Readerbuzz.
What is the Sunday Post? The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly or for a monthly wrap up.
Can you believe I’ve had ANOTHER busy week? My husband hurt his back at work and he was put on light duty for a week. So I’ve been helping my husband get things done, like the soccer club’s Halloween goody bags that needed to be made, and then making food for his work event that is later on today. Yesterday I had to take my son to his friends Halloween party so I spent a good amount of the day in the car… So now my back hurts, LOL!
I am off of work this week, and I am actually excited to not have to set my alarm for the mornings. I am hoping that the weather will be continue to be nice and I can sit outdoors and read during the day! I may also go for a non-strenuous hike with the dog, but it really depends on how the week is going.
I am currently reading these two books.
I have finished listening to these two audiobooks this past week. Reviews will be posted on the blog in November.
I requested the large print edition through my local library branch, and it was available for me to pick up the other day. This book will be included in my November library stats instead of Octobers.
Monthly Wrap Up: October 2026
Review: This Jury Is Guilty by Laurie Blake
Netgalley November 2026
Getting Set Up For A Successful 2027 Reading Year Via Spreadsheet(s)
Review: The Magician’s Nephew (The Chronicles of Narnia 1) by C. S. Lewis
The Sunday Salon / The Sunday Post #67
What’s up with the first two books in a series matching, and then the third one goes totally random? I do like the third cover but it doesn’t match so that’s annoying!
Synopsis:
At a frozen lakeside crime scene, a corpse carries an accusatory note: “If anything happens to me, arrest Brendan Holmes.”
Mysteries trail Brendan Holmes, Margaret Marple, and Auguste Poe wherever they go. At a remote lodge in upstate New York, the embattled private investigators have taken refuge from the assailant who bombed their sleek city headquarters. When the discovery of a body in the lake puts the detectives back in the headlines and under suspicion, the elusive killer issues his despicable orders: stop solving crimes—and start committing them.
I have a paperback ARC thanks to James Patterson Street Team, and it will be the next physical book I read.
Good morning readers! These are all of the books that I acquired/received/borrowed onto my shelves, virtual and/or physical, for the entire month of October:
I borrowed all of these from Libby.
I borrowed these from my local library.
I chose this book for my First Reads choice this month.
I was approved for these two this month!
I signed up for Dervla’s newsletter and she was giving away her Novella for free.
Acquired: 10
Total spent this month: $0.00
Total spent this year: $0.00
I absolutely LOVE using my library for all my books and audiobook needs. I do not have a lot of money to blow on a hobby, so I found a good way to support my community, my library and my reading habit! The library has a ton of resources and I always check there first for audiobooks I want to listen to or books I want to read. Libby is my friend and I have multiple library branches hooked up to my account for maximum borrowing.
I thought it’d be fun to post monthly updates about my library stats, on top of keeping up with my official challenge page.
Angel and Anne hosted a Bingo board through Library Love Challenge for the months of September and October. This is my final board!
Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings to spotlight the books we’re excited about that we have yet to read. Generally, they’re books that have yet to be released. It’s based on Waiting on Wednesday that was hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.
I was sent the widget for this one through Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse via NetGalley. I am reading this one in November, for sure!
Succession meets The Guest List in Darby Kane’s newest novel where rich people are doing terrible things, including murder. There’s no telling how far these weekend guests will go to be the next heir of the Benedict estate…
For the second time in ten years a body drifted in the water at Waverly…
Ten years ago, someone who supposedly loved Walter Benedict murdered him during a party at Waverly, the family’s Rhode Island estate. His body was found floating in the pool, and his wife, the Amery Aberdeen Benedict, was immediately named the suspect by law enforcement and every true-crime fan on the internet.
Amery being Amery, she spent less than a day in jail and did so with her usual spare-no-expense flair. Then…nothing. The years ticked by without an arrest or any new information. Whispers about Amery’s involvement continued but closure never came.
Now on the tenth anniversary of the tragic event, Amery has called her children and their partners home for a “Walter is still dead, so let’s celebrate” soiree. But her true motivation is quickly revealed. With rumors of an impending explosive documentary about the family, Amery wants the murder solved and offers a challenge to make it happen: Waverly in exchange for the truth.
A twenty-eight-million-dollar oceanfront estate is a lot of incentive. The kind some people would kill for.
Amery knows someone might be tempted to get a little nasty. To break the rules. To eliminate the competition. You might even say she secretly hopes all of those things happen. See, Amery likes games. She’s been planning this for a long time and it’s time to play.
One weekend. One answer. One heir to the estate. Huge money. A new murder. Winner takes all.
This will teach people to blame the wife.
PUBLICATION DATE: JANUARY 12, 2027
I do not watch a lot of television in general. But every now and then I’ll get into a show, and I thought it would be fun to share with you all shows I am currently watching.
The Chosen is a historical drama series that tells the story of Jesus Christ through the eyes of the people who knew Him. It follows Jesus as He begins His ministry, calling ordinary people, including fishermen, tax collectors, and others, to become His disciples. The show explores their personal struggles, relationships, doubts, and growing faith as they witness His teachings and miracles. It brings the people and events of the Gospels to life in a personal and emotional way.
I am currently doing a rewatch of the entire series, in preparing for season 6 which comes out in the middle of November.
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a place to meet up and share what you have been, and are about to be reading over the week. It’s a great post to organize yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment and er… add to your groaning TBR pile!
This meme started on J Kaye’s blog and then was hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at The Book Date.
The plan is to make progress in all of these books that I have already started last week. Last week was a stressful one and I did not read as much as I would of liked… story of this month, apparently.
This Jury Is Guilty (an Edelweiss eARC) *I’m 22% in
The Magician’s Nephew (a library book) *I am on page 88
Damned Souls and A Sangria (a library audiobook) *I’m 21% in
These books are on my radar for next month, as all are sitting on my NetGalley shelf.
What is the Sunday Salon? The Sunday Salon is a place to link up and share what we have been doing during the week. It’s also a great opportunity to visit other blogs and join in the conversations going on there. Hosted by Readerbuzz.
What is the Sunday Post? The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly or for a monthly wrap up.
It’s been a slower week, but nothing has really changed in the “I’ve been busy” department. After work I was getting our camper back in order (since it rained every weekend we were there we needed to dry out and air out everything), which took over two days. Then the belt on the dryer snapped on Thursday afternoon!
My brain is just mentally drained from this entire month. I am looking forward my much needed time off of work the first week of November, I can tell ya that!!
I am currently reading these two books.
I have finished listening to these two audiobooks this past week.
No books were added this week.
*subject to change
It’s Monday, What Are You Reading?
TV Tuesday: Shows I Am Currently Watching
Can’t-Wait Wednesday – October 28, 2026
Library Stats and Savings For October 2026
Books Acquired In October 2026
The Sunday Salon / The Sunday Post #66
The Shadow synopsis:
The world’s #1 bestselling author reimagines one of America’s iconic thriller heroes.
Before Alex Cross, before Michael Bennett, before Jack Reacher, there was The Shadow!
Only two people know that 1930s society man Lamont Cranston has a secret identity as the Shadow, a crusader for justice. One is his greatest love, Margo Lane, and the other is fiercest enemy, Shiwan Khan. When Khan ambushes the couple, they must risk everything for the slimmest chance of survival … in the future.
A century and a half later, Lamont awakens in a world both unknown and disturbingly familiar. The first person he meets is Maddy Gomes, a teenager with her own mysterious secrets, including a knowledge of the legend of the Shadow.Most disturbing, Khan’s power continues to be felt over the city and its people.
No one in this new world understands the dangers of stopping him better than Lamont Cranston. And only the Shadow knows that he’s the one person who might succeed before more innocent lives are lost.
Circle of Death synopsis:
In this action-packed story from the world’s #1 bestselling author, a ruthless killer is seeking to overturn the world order—and our only hope is vigilante justice.
Since Lamont Cranston—known to a select few as the Shadow—defeated Shiwan Khan and ended his reign of terror over New York one year ago, the city has started to regenerate. But there is evil brewing elsewhere. And this time the entire world is under threat. Which is why Lamont has scoured the globe to assemble a team with unmatched talent.
Only their combined powers can foil an enemy with ambitions and abilities beyond anyone’s deepest fears. As their mission takes them across the globe and into the highest corridors of power—pushing them beyond their limits—can justice prevail?
The President’s Shadow synopsis:
One of America’s most iconic heroes recruits his lasting love, Margo Lane, and his great-great-granddaughter, Maddy Gomes, to join an international investigation in this thriller from the world’s #1 bestselling author, James Patterson.
For over 150 years, Lamont Cranston and his alter ego, The Shadow, have possessed an array of mental and physical powers: scientific skills, shape-shifting abilities, and mind control. When a series of deadly natural disasters strike the planet, The Shadow immediately sets out to identify who’s responsible. Is it …
A disgruntled graduate student?
The power-hungry president of the Americas?
Or could it be Shiwan Khan, the Shadow’s fiercest enemy?
The Shadow’s latest adventure is also his, Maddy’s, and Margo’s most dangerous. Triumph or perish, they’ll rise or fall … together.
I haven’t read this series yet, but I think I will aim to read it next year. I like how the first two covers match and give the same vibe… book 3 looks out of place. Let’s hope that’s not the case for the series!
Friday Book Snippets is a weekly blogging event co-hosted by Anne@HeadFullofBooks and Olivia at Bemused and Bookish. Share two snippets (a sentence or short paragraph) from the book’s beginning, and page 56 (or another page) in the book you are currently reading. No spoilers, please.
“This is a story about something that happened long ago when your grandfather was a child. It is a very important story because it shows how all the comings and goings between our own world and the land of Narnia first began.”
And on page 56 of the hardcover copy I borrowed from the library it says, “”We’ve come from another world; by Magic,” says Polly, who thought it was high time the Queen took some notice of her as well as of Digory.”
I listened to this audiobook back in 2020. This is the review I posted on NetGalley.
NetGalley introduced a new app and audio books on their website last week. I went to check it out and saw His & Hers by Alice Feeney was a ‘Listen Now’ book. I’ve been hearing great things about it on Instagram, so I downloaded it. This book did NOT disappoint! It’s told from the point of view of Jack Harper, a detective, and Anna Andrews, a reporter. There’s a murderer in town and the past keeps coming back up for Jack and Anna and it’s not pretty. What secrets are they hiding? The narrators Richard Armitage and Stephanie Racine are really good, too. I can listen to a British accent all day long, ha! There voices capture the character so perfectly and really get you hooked into the story. I totally recommend this book to anyone who enjoys suspenseful detective stories. Thank you to NetGalley, Alice Feeney and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to read and review this title.
Welcome to WWW Wednesday! This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived on Taking on a World of Words.
The Three Ws are: What are you currently reading? What did you recently finish reading? What do you think you’ll read next?
I am reading an ARC I accepted through Edelweiss, from debut author Laurie Blake. It’s titled This Jury Is Guilty. It’s gotten a lot of rave reviews already which is always promising.
I will be starting Alison Must Die by A.M. Strong and Sonya Sargent today after work. This is an audioARC I received through Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse.
I have been wanting to actually read The Chronicles of Narnia so when I was at the library I grabbed the hardcover copy of The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis. I am only 30 pages in so far (as I’ve been prioritizing my other reads) but I am hoping to finish this one by the end of the month.
I DNFed two books this week…
These are in the running to be read next. Both of these publish in early November.
Don’t forget to link up with Taking On A World Of Words to share your WWW!
Title: William
Author: Mason Coile
Format: audiobook
Length: 5 hours 1 minute
Narrators: Honey St. Dennis
Rating: 3.5 stars
Publication Date: September 10, 2024
William was a creepy and unique read with a really interesting premise. I really enjoyed the isolated setting, the unsettling atmosphere, and the combination of technology, psychological suspense, and horror made this a very different kind of thriller. There were several moments that kept me guessing as to what the heck was actually going on, and I liked the way the tension continued to build throughout the story. I thought the overall concept was incredibly creative and the story kept me interested. The twists and darker elements added to the suspense, and I was definitely curious to see how everything would unfold. Overall, William was a creepy, atmospheric, and entertaining read/listen.
I borrowed this book from Libby.
I am apart of James Patterson’s Street Team and I was sent a hardcover copy of The Family Cross. Happy Publication Day to the 36th book in the Alex Cross series!
Alex Cross investigates a series of baffling murders while balancing a family crisis that threatens to upend his entire world in this thriller from the world’s #1 bestselling author, James Patterson.
Alex Cross is a brilliant psychologist—and a relentless hunter of killers for the FBI and DC Metro Police.
To his beloved Nana Mama, he’s still the boy she raised—and every morning, as he straps on his service weapon, she’s reminded just how dangerous his world has become.
But in Washington, DC, there are places even the police don’t go—an unseen underworld where violence thrives and rules don’t apply. And this time, Alex is stepping straight into it.
Each move pulls him deeper into the dark—and closer to a case that could shatter the promise he made to Nana … and cost him everything he holds most dear.
What is the Sunday Salon? The Sunday Salon is a place to link up and share what we have been doing during the week. It’s also a great opportunity to visit other blogs and join in the conversations going on there. Hosted by Readerbuzz.
What is the Sunday Post? The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly or for a monthly wrap up.
It’s been NON-STOP around here, and I’m actually over it!
From October 9 to October 11, I was camping with my husband, son, niece and nephew. Two days of beautiful weather followed by crazy amounts of rain. What else is new!
On October 12 I took my daughter to an outdoor art museum. We had such a great time and even better weather!
From October 15 to tomorrow, my parents are visiting. They had a wedding to attend here in New Jersey and came up to “use my house as their hotel” haha. They will be leaving to go home Monday morning.
Then we can get back to our regularly scheduled programming lol.
Because of ALL the craziness that has been going on this month, my reading has been suffering so bad! Barely read anything, and DNFed two books.
*subject to change
#SpooktasticReads2026
Review: William by Mason Coile
WWW Wednesday – October 21, 2026
The Sunday Salon / The Sunday Post #65
I read books as a child, but stopped reading when I was a teenager. When I got back in to reading the first book I picked up was a James Patterson book my mom had sitting on a coffee table. I blew through that book! It made me WANT to read, and read more books by him. Little did I know that he publishes a bagillion books a year, haha!
Anyway, in 2023 I saw that his Street Team was looking for people and I applied, not really thinking I’d be chosen… but THEY DID CHOOSE ME!
These are most of the books I currently own that I have received through his Street Team over the years.
Next year I probably need to focus on reading a good amount of these, LOL!
Have you read any of these?
Title: Rogue Ghosts and Other Miscreants
Author: Annette Marie & Rob Jacobsen
Format: audiobook
Length: 7 hours 48 minutes
Narrator: Iggy Toma
Rating: 4 stars
Publication Date: October 19, 2021
Another great installment in The Guild Codex: Warped series! I really enjoyed following Kit Morris and Lienna Shen as they investigate a series of kidnappings involving teenagers. What starts as a troubling case quickly becomes more complicated when their boss keeps the investigation off the books, the evidence doesn’t add up, and their prime suspect is Vancouver’s notorious rogue known as the Ghost. Kit and Lienna must figure out who is behind the disappearances while navigating conflicting orders, suspicious motives, and the possibility that someone within the department is hiding something.
With dangerous magical criminals, unexpected alliances, and plenty of twists, the investigation kept me engaged. I also enjoyed seeing familiar characters from the wider Guild Codex universe make appearances. The combination of humor, action, magic, and character development made this another entertaining read, and I’m looking forward to continuing Kit and Lienna’s adventures!
For the group read-along, this is the last book we’ll be reading for Kit’s series. I will probably end up finishing The Guild Codex: Warped series on my own next year.
Title: You’ve Killed Me First
Author: John Marrs
Format: paperback
Length: 381 pages
Rating: 4 stars
Publication Date: March 11, 2025
You Killed Me First was such a wild and twisted thriller! The story centers around three very different women: Margot, a former pop star whose life revolves around appearances; Anna, the quiet and seemingly innocent neighbor with a much darker side; and Liv, the glamorous newcomer who seems to have the perfect life. When Liv moves into the neighborhood, the complicated relationship between these three women quickly turns into a tangled web of jealousy, secrets, revenge, infidelity, and murder.
I really enjoyed how John Marrs slowly revealed more about each character and their pasts. None of these women are exactly what they first appear to be, and I constantly found myself questioning who I could trust. The story jumps between their perspectives and gradually connects their lives to the mysterious events surrounding Bonfire Night. Just when I thought I had figured out where the story was going, another revelation completely changed things. The characters are messy, flawed, and often completely unlikable, but that made them even more interesting to read about. Another addictive and seriously twisted read from John Marrs!
Welcome to WWW Wednesday! This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived on Taking on a World of Words.
The Three Ws are: What are you currently reading? What did you recently finish reading? What do you think you’ll read next?
I am reading a random book I found on Prime Reading titled Reverence by Raena Rood. The cover drew me in so I figured I’d try it out. This is book 1 in the Reverence trilogy.
I am listening to In His Wake by Chad Zunker. Chad Zunker is an auto-read author for me, so I am not sure why this book kept getting put off this year.
I have been wanting to actually read The Chronicles of Narnia so when I was at the library last week I grabbed the hardcover copy of The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis. I am only 30 pages in so far (as I’ve been prioritizing my other reads) but I am hoping to finish this one by the end of the month.
Reviews will be posted on the blog at a later date.
These are in the running to be read next. Both of these publish in early November.
Don’t forget to link up with Taking On A World Of Words to share your WWW!
