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
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
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.
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!
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.
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?
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!
One weekend. Fifty singles. Endless secrets. From the beloved author of The Golden Spoon comes another seductive, high-stakes thriller, this one set at an exclusive matchmaking retreat at an historic Newport hotel.
When fifty influencers and celebrities gather at an historic Newport estate for an exclusive matchmaking retreat, the weekend is billed as a dreamy escape—sunlit yoga, champagne by the sea, and the legendary Magnus McBride, a matchmaker with a near-mystical reputation. But behind the marble halls and ocean views, something darker lurks.
Tegan Reyes, a once-famous artist, hopes the trip will revive her stalled career. Ruby Valenti, a disgraced socialite, longs for redemption. Omar Abebe, a trivia champion haunted by loss, wants a fresh start. And Lacy Bryant, a glamorous YouTuber, is chasing more than love—she’s hunting a secret treasure rumored to be hidden in the hotel’s depths.
Then the hotel’s owner is found dead at the base of a cliff.
As a storm closes in, alliances form and fracture, old scandals resurface, and the matchmaker’s final pairings may prove fatal. Because at Windmist, everyone has something to hide—and someone will do anything to keep the past buried.
Seductive, atmospheric, and laced with shocking twists, The Last Match is a gripping tale of desire, deception, and the dangerous games we play for love.
Hollywood’s biggest movie star, Danny Scott, stands accused of trying to murder his wife, starlet Hope Harrison, in a case that has taken the world by storm. Everyone is asking: What led to the events of that night, and what darker truths simmer beneath the surface of Danny and Hope’s marriage? As the world watches, twelve sequestered jurors must decide Danny’s fate. But even a jury has its secrets…
Juror 6 is risking everything for this trial. Even her life.
Juror 2 is playing games. But can he keep one step ahead of his own lies?
Juror 13, the alternate, will do anything to be on that jury. Anything.
Juror 7 is hardly noticed by anyone. Just as she planned.
As each juror vies for the verdict they want, secrets, obsessions, and plots for revenge will come to light in the stands. Because everyone is lying. Everyone is guilty. And one of them might be planning a murder of their own.
With shocking twists and propulsive pacing, This Jury Is Guilty is a thought-provoking, locked-room thriller exploring our obsessions with true crime, the blurry lines between fact and fiction, and the lengths we’re willing to go to seek justice. For fans of Amy Tintera, Steve Cavanagh, and Ellery Lloyd.
Books from the Backlog is a fun way to feature some of those neglected books sitting on your bookshelf unread. If you are anything like me, you might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in your stacks. Don’t forget to link up with Carole’s Random Life!
This week’s neglected book
Title: Mark The Fire
Series: The Endarian Prophecy (Book 1 of 6)
Author: Richard Phillips
Format: eBook
Length: 304 pages
Publication Info: 47North / November 1, 2017
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 Creep by L. Taylor, a book I found through a random Stuff Your Kindle Day that popped up on my Facebook page. The story takes place on Halloween and isn’t a lot of pages, so I decided to read it this week.
I am listening to William by Mason Coile. I heard good things about this book and borrowed the audio through Libby. Seems like a creepy story right off the bat!
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 need a palate cleanser from all the mystery/thrillers I’ve been reading lately.
Reviews will be posted on the blog at a later date.
All of these are in the running to be read/listened to next. But this month is looking like it’ll definitely be a mood reading month!
Don’t forget to link up with Taking On A World Of Words to share your WWW!
A Killer for Christmas: A Novel
Cozy Mystery
Stand-Alone Novel
Setting – Maine
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Publication date: September 22, 2026
Print length: 320 pages
Hardcover ISBN-13 : 979-8892425025
Paperback ISBN-13 : 979-8892425032
Digital ISBN-13 : 979-8892425049
Wrapped in red has a bloody new meaning in this contemporary holiday romance with a murderous twist, perfect for readers who enjoyed The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year.
Christmasville, Maine, is the only place where Kelsey Hendricks has ever felt happy. When she loses both her job and her boyfriend, the move is a no-brainer, especially when she sees a listing for a position as Christmasville’s social media manager. Surrounded by twinkling lights and candy canes and with the perfect job, this tinsel town is working its magic on Kelsey. With two heartthrobs vying for her attention, her life is now just like a Christmas movie.
Except for the murders.
The first one is dismissed as an accident. But after the second, and definitely the third, it becomes abundantly clear that Santa is leaving coal in someone’s stocking this year.
Determined to bring back the holly jolly spirit to the town before tourists begin canceling their reservations, Kelsey must sleuth her way out of a chilling murder mystery and back to a holiday rom-com.
This charming and clever mystery-romance where a cozy winter wonderland warms the heart while suspense chills the bones is the perfect read for the holiday season.
About The Author, Kim Harrington
Kim Harrington is the author of A Killer for Christmas, her debut adult mystery, as well as Clarity, Perception, The Dead and Buried, and Forget Me for teens and Revenge of the Red Club, the Sleuth or Dare series, and Gamer Squad series for younger readers. Her books have been sold to ten countries and optioned for television. She lives in Massachusetts with her family, where she’s hard at work on her next mystery novel.
Author Links
Website: https://kimharringtonbooks.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimharringtonauthor/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorkimharrington
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/kimharringtonbooks.bsky.social
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3111339.Kim_Harrington
These are all the books I would like to read this autumn season. Some are thrillers, some are horror, a few are for a read-along I am participating in, and some just have fall whimsy. Talk about a mood readers list, LOL!!!!
Have you read any of these?
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 September:
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. Not my usual genre but I’ve been in a autumnal mood lately.
I was approved for these two this month!
I was sent the widget of this one thanks to Tonya at Thriller Book Lovers!
Acquired: 10
Total spent this month: $0.00
Total spent this year: $0.00
Thank you to Rebecca from Bookish Beck for hosting this year!
These are the short stories I ended up reading in September. All of these are great books and I enjoyed reading them!
Title: On The Ice
Author: Keaton McGruder
Format: eBook
Length: 352 pages
Genre: Thriller
Publication Date: February 2, 2027
A chilling, complex mystery about a screenwriter’s feverish search for her missing brother on an Antarctic research station by debut author Keaton McGruder.
Ellie Best wins a coveted grant to write a screenplay while staying in Antarctica at McMurdo Station, and the best part is that her brother Leo, a climate scientist, is leading a research expedition there. But when she arrives, Leo has gone missing . . . and no one can survive for long out on the ice.
Desperate to find out what happened to Leo, Ellie begins to investigate. Everyone is a suspect in the isolated, claustrophobic research station. The scientists and support workers Leo knew were changed by the months of darkness, forming a tangled web of relationships, lovers, enemies and secrets. And when there’s a deadly fire on the base that echoes the script Ellie is writing, she realizes that danger is still lurking in the station—and she could be the next target.
Told in dual perspectives, in Leo’s polar winter in pure darkness and Ellie’s austral summer in constant light, On the Ice is a chilling debut mystery about isolation, survival, and the need for human connection and love—set against the breathtaking, and deadly, landscape of Antarctica.
Kat White over at St. Martin’s Press sent me a widget through NetGalley.
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 still reading an Amazon First Reads backlog eBook titled Falls To Pieces by Douglas Corleone. I hope to make really good progress on this one over the weekend.
I am listening to He Sees You When You’re Sleeping, the first book in the Naughty or Nice series.
I borrowed the large print edition What Have You Done? from the library and only read a little bit of it so far.
Since I last posted all of the books pictured above have been finished, and rated &/or reviewed on Storygraph.
These books are the ones I plan to read next, but I’m a mood reader so we shall see what happens, LOL!
Don’t forget to link up with Taking On A World Of Words to share your WWW!
I my be doing this a little early this year, but I thought I would share the ten books I want to read before the end of the year. This list isn’t set in stone because we all know that I am a mood reader and that I read slow.
When I got back into reading during the Pandemic, I did not own a lot of books from my childhood (some, but not many). I slowly started building up a small library here at home. My house is small and I don’t have the space for a bookshelf anywhere. I ended up buying a narrow one to shove next to my nightstand in my bedroom. And I also bought a book cart with nowhere to really put that either (also shoved into a corner in my bedroom).
Then we all know that I stopped spending money on books in 2023. The only physical books that come in to my house are ones I am sent for free, find in a Little Free Library, or acquire with credit from the used bookstore from turning in books to them.
I moved my bookshelf and cart into the room we call the kids playroom two years ago when we needed room for the dog’s stuff in my bedroom. This is my shelving situation as of today…
There is no real organization with these books whatsoever! Many of these books are up for sale on PangoBooks (most of those are on the cart) and I have all the James Patterson books shoved together on the bottom two shelves.
I don’t know how else to deal with all these books, so this is what it’s gonna be until all the books I am selling on PangoBooks get sold.
Samhain sweeps magic into Gracie’s cosy Irish hometown, and with it the boy who broke her heart ten years ago…
Sunny librarian Gracie isn’t looking for love. After dumping her cheating ex, she’s living the life she’s always dreamed of as a small-town librarian – surrounded by books, knitted pumpkins, and the cosy magic of Samhain.
Then Flynn Anderson walks back into her life.
Not only is Flynn her childhood best friend, he’s the boy who broke her heart ten years ago, disappearing to New York with no explanation. Now he’s back, annoyingly handsome and somehow roped into helping her organise the village’s Halloween festivities. Even worse? They’re forced to share his family’s cottage. With only one bed.
Between sweet, funny notes, stolen glances, and far too many moments that make her pulse race, Gracie finds her feelings for Flynn are more complicated than she thought. And when a spicy fake kiss feels all too real, she faces an impossible choice.
Will Gracie be heartbroken again? Or will the magic of Samhain, and the support of their cosy small-town community, help Gracie and Flynn find their way home – this time, for good?
