Happy October Bookish Friends :)
To quote one of my favorite literary characters (Anne Shirley), "I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers."
I'm definitely not happy that here in my part of Canada we're already experiencing winter conditions, including lots of snow 😩😩😩😩, but I'm hopeful that we'll still get to experience some gorgeous fall temps, and many fun things during one of my favorite months.
September ended up being kind of a crazy reading month for me. I didn't expect to finish nearly as many books as I did. Unfortunately, I took a bad tumble near the start of the month, and ended up having to be off of work for a couple of weeks to recuperate. While it wasn't exactly how I planned on spending the month, I did make lots of progress on my never ending tbr stack.
Thankfully, I also discovered many amazing reads this month, with only a few that failed to live up to my expectations.
Here's all the books I finished last month, in the order in which I finished them.
Love Defined by Kristen Clark and Bethany Baird:
I didn't end up enjoying this one as much as I did these sister's first book, Girl Defined. However, I think that was mainly due to the fact that I felt I couldn't relate to this one personally as much as I did with the first one, and doesn't really reflect on the book itself. I definitely recommend this to any single gals out there who are trying to follow God's vision for dating and marriage. Final Rating: 4/5
A Christmas Secret by Katherine Spencer:
I didn't get the chance to read the newest Cape Light title when it released last fall, so I read it last month so I'd be ready for the next book to release in a few weeks. I really enjoyed this particular installment, especially the fact that it was told in a timeslip format. It was a heartwarming, holiday tale and I love getting to have my yearly visit to this favorite fictional town. Final Rating: 4/5
Better Than the Best Plan by Lauren Morrill:
Lauren Morrill has always been one of my favorite contemporary authors, but I was a little leery going into this one as I hadn't heard the greatest things about it. While I did enjoy certain parts of the story, it definitely felt lackluster when compared to the vibrancy present in her earlier novels. I'm glad I read it, but it's definitely not my favorite by her. Final Rating: 3/5
Living Hope by Mandi Blake:
I can honestly say that Mandi Blake has become a new favorite author for me. Natalie and Jake's beautiful story was heart wrenching, and had me both tearing up and smiling big while reading it. I'm so thankful I got the opportunity to advance read it! Final Rating: 5/5 You can check out my full review here.
Back Roads to Belonging: Unexpected Paths to Finding Your Place and Your People by Kristen Strong:
I was really excited to get to be a part of the Revell Reads Blog Tour for this particular title, and I found it resonated so much for me in my own life. Anyone who's ever questioned their place, or let their anxiety ridden fears leave them feeling they don't belong, then this lovely Christian non-fiction title is for you. Final Rating 4/5 Check out my full review here.
Finding Lady Enderly by Joanna Davidson Politano:
I was lucky enough to be a part of the Revell Reads Blog Tour for this hidden gem of a story as well, and it was a fantastic read. I loved the sinister mood that seems to overlay much of the story, and the fact that the reader is constantly questioning where the author is next going to take the story. Final Rating 4/5 You can check out my full review here.
Mandie and the Long Goodbye by Lois Gladys Leppard:
I loved this particular Mandie title, and especially enjoyed the fact that it includes a lot of Mandie's beloved friends within the same story. Final Rating: 4/5.
Escape From the Isle of the Lost by Melissa De La Cruz:
I'd really been enjoying the Descendants books and movies, but I have to say that I found the third movie a bit of a disappointment when compared with its predecessors. I was hoping I wouldn't end up feeling the same about the final book, but unfortunately that's just what ended up happening. I really didn't end up feeling like this title added much, and that it honestly wasn't really a necessary read. It was still cute, just not what I was expecting. Final Rating: 3/5.
Mandie and the Buried Stranger by Lois Gladys Leppard:
This particular Mandie title had a really great mystery woven into it. I loved that it once again featured Mandie and Joe trying to solve a mystery together, and that most of it takes place back in Swain Country where Mandie grew up. Final Rating: 4/5 You can check out my full review here.
When We Collided by Emory Lord:
This ended up probably being my most disappointing read of the month. I was expecting to love this one, especially since I absolutely adored Emory Lord's first two novels, but this one was a bit of a hot mess for me. I applaud Emory Lord for tackling mental illness in a young adult contemporary novel, but her protagonist was completely insufferable. One of the only redeeming qualities in this one for me was Jonah's character, as he was amazing, but Vivi grated on my nerves right from the book's opening sentences. Final Rating 2/5 You can check out my full review here.
The Story Peddler by Lindsay A Franklin:
I was really in the mood for a fantasy read last month, and I decided to pick up this one that I'd been hearing nothing but great things about since its release. I'm not going to say too much about it, as I did review it fully here, but I will say that everything I'd heard about it was spot on, and the world building was amazing. Final Rating 4/5 I can't wait to read the next book.
One Foot In The Grave, Two Feet Under, and Three Heartbeats Away by C. C. Hunter:
I know that The Mortician's Daughter series is nowhere close to my normal kind of read, but I was intrigued by the synopsis, and I wanted to give it a try. I do think they were written really well, and that they had great plots, and really fantastic character development. However, I really can't stand the unnecessary content that C.C. Hunter always seems to include in her YA novels, including sexual content, drinking and partying and etc. I appreciated the fact that she tackled some tough issues in this one including alcoholism among others, but the content wasn't something I was comfortable with. Also, the ghost factor was okay in some of the books, but super creepy in others, and overall, I think the ghost story side of the paranormal genre is just not something I'd see myself enjoying in the future. They were a decent read, but definitely had a few strikes against them. Final Ratings: 3/5 for each installment.
The Painted Castle by Kristy Cambron:
This was a beautiful finale to the Lost Castle trilogy, and I honestly think this may have ended up as my favorite of the three. I really enjoyed all three individual stories, and the way they all ended up weaving together in the end. I'm excited for you all to get the chance to read this one when it releases on October 15th, and you can read my full review here. Final Rating: 4/5.
The Possibility of Now by Kim Culbertson:
I adored this one, and it was definitely one of my favorite reads of the month. I'd previously read a couple of other books by Kim Culbertson that I'd really enjoyed, but this one takes the cake. I loved the Lake Tahoe setting, I adored the budding romance, all of the teen issues present were portrayed realistically and authentically, and I really liked Mara as a main character. Final Rating 5/5. I'll be sharing a full review of this one with you all shortly.
A Sweethaven Summer by Courtney Walsh:
This gem of a story was another of my favorites for the entire month. This was my first time picking up a Courtney Walsh novel, and I don't think I was quite prepared for just how amazing of a storyteller she truly is. I love when authors can write a story from multiple POV's and yet never make it confusing to the reader. I'll be sharing a full review of this one with you all shortly as well, but this one was a definite favorite, and I loved it. Final Rating: 5/5.
Mandie and The Seaside Rendezvous by Lois Gladys Leppard:
This is definitely not one of my favorite Mandie titles, as I found she acted a little more bratty within this story. However, it was still a cute story, and the mystery was definitely intriguing. It was also nice to see Senator Morton feature prominently in another Mandie title. Final Rating: 3/5.
Winter by Marissa Meyer:
Guys September 2019 is the month that I finally finished Winter! All 823 glorious pages of it! I've been putting off reading this one for years, as I didn't want one of my favorite series to come to an end, and also, I was worried I wasn't going to like how everything wrapped up. I needn't have worried though, as Marissa Meyer definitely delivered another amazing read, and I think this may have ended up being my favorite of the entire series. I'm so sad to finally say goodbye to the Rampion crew, but I'm happy I have yet to read the novellas, as it gives me one last thing to look forward to. Final Rating: 5/5.
Mandie and the Dark Alley by Lois Gladys Leppard:
I finished the month off with one last Mandie title. I have to be honest and state that Mandie kind of grated on my nerves in this one. She outright goes against all of the adults instructions, and puts herself, Celia and Tommy into some pretty dangerous situations in the process. However, she does also learn that there is severe consequences to severe actions, and I did enjoy that part of the story. Final Rating 3/5.
Those are all the books I finished last month! I'd love to hear about your favorite and least favorite reads for the month! Let me know in the comments about the books you finished in September 2019. Thanks so much for reading guys! Have a great rest of your day. :)
This is not a sponsored post. All thoughts and opinions are my own. The photos do not belong to me, and all rights to the respective owners.
To quote one of my favorite literary characters (Anne Shirley), "I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers."
I'm definitely not happy that here in my part of Canada we're already experiencing winter conditions, including lots of snow 😩😩😩😩, but I'm hopeful that we'll still get to experience some gorgeous fall temps, and many fun things during one of my favorite months.
September ended up being kind of a crazy reading month for me. I didn't expect to finish nearly as many books as I did. Unfortunately, I took a bad tumble near the start of the month, and ended up having to be off of work for a couple of weeks to recuperate. While it wasn't exactly how I planned on spending the month, I did make lots of progress on my never ending tbr stack.
Thankfully, I also discovered many amazing reads this month, with only a few that failed to live up to my expectations.
Here's all the books I finished last month, in the order in which I finished them.
Love Defined by Kristen Clark and Bethany Baird:
I didn't end up enjoying this one as much as I did these sister's first book, Girl Defined. However, I think that was mainly due to the fact that I felt I couldn't relate to this one personally as much as I did with the first one, and doesn't really reflect on the book itself. I definitely recommend this to any single gals out there who are trying to follow God's vision for dating and marriage. Final Rating: 4/5
A Christmas Secret by Katherine Spencer:
I didn't get the chance to read the newest Cape Light title when it released last fall, so I read it last month so I'd be ready for the next book to release in a few weeks. I really enjoyed this particular installment, especially the fact that it was told in a timeslip format. It was a heartwarming, holiday tale and I love getting to have my yearly visit to this favorite fictional town. Final Rating: 4/5
Better Than the Best Plan by Lauren Morrill:
Lauren Morrill has always been one of my favorite contemporary authors, but I was a little leery going into this one as I hadn't heard the greatest things about it. While I did enjoy certain parts of the story, it definitely felt lackluster when compared to the vibrancy present in her earlier novels. I'm glad I read it, but it's definitely not my favorite by her. Final Rating: 3/5
Living Hope by Mandi Blake:
I can honestly say that Mandi Blake has become a new favorite author for me. Natalie and Jake's beautiful story was heart wrenching, and had me both tearing up and smiling big while reading it. I'm so thankful I got the opportunity to advance read it! Final Rating: 5/5 You can check out my full review here.
Back Roads to Belonging: Unexpected Paths to Finding Your Place and Your People by Kristen Strong:
I was really excited to get to be a part of the Revell Reads Blog Tour for this particular title, and I found it resonated so much for me in my own life. Anyone who's ever questioned their place, or let their anxiety ridden fears leave them feeling they don't belong, then this lovely Christian non-fiction title is for you. Final Rating 4/5 Check out my full review here.
Finding Lady Enderly by Joanna Davidson Politano:
I was lucky enough to be a part of the Revell Reads Blog Tour for this hidden gem of a story as well, and it was a fantastic read. I loved the sinister mood that seems to overlay much of the story, and the fact that the reader is constantly questioning where the author is next going to take the story. Final Rating 4/5 You can check out my full review here.
Mandie and the Long Goodbye by Lois Gladys Leppard:
I loved this particular Mandie title, and especially enjoyed the fact that it includes a lot of Mandie's beloved friends within the same story. Final Rating: 4/5.
Escape From the Isle of the Lost by Melissa De La Cruz:
I'd really been enjoying the Descendants books and movies, but I have to say that I found the third movie a bit of a disappointment when compared with its predecessors. I was hoping I wouldn't end up feeling the same about the final book, but unfortunately that's just what ended up happening. I really didn't end up feeling like this title added much, and that it honestly wasn't really a necessary read. It was still cute, just not what I was expecting. Final Rating: 3/5.
Mandie and the Buried Stranger by Lois Gladys Leppard:
This particular Mandie title had a really great mystery woven into it. I loved that it once again featured Mandie and Joe trying to solve a mystery together, and that most of it takes place back in Swain Country where Mandie grew up. Final Rating: 4/5 You can check out my full review here.
When We Collided by Emory Lord:
The Story Peddler by Lindsay A Franklin:
I was really in the mood for a fantasy read last month, and I decided to pick up this one that I'd been hearing nothing but great things about since its release. I'm not going to say too much about it, as I did review it fully here, but I will say that everything I'd heard about it was spot on, and the world building was amazing. Final Rating 4/5 I can't wait to read the next book.
One Foot In The Grave, Two Feet Under, and Three Heartbeats Away by C. C. Hunter:
I know that The Mortician's Daughter series is nowhere close to my normal kind of read, but I was intrigued by the synopsis, and I wanted to give it a try. I do think they were written really well, and that they had great plots, and really fantastic character development. However, I really can't stand the unnecessary content that C.C. Hunter always seems to include in her YA novels, including sexual content, drinking and partying and etc. I appreciated the fact that she tackled some tough issues in this one including alcoholism among others, but the content wasn't something I was comfortable with. Also, the ghost factor was okay in some of the books, but super creepy in others, and overall, I think the ghost story side of the paranormal genre is just not something I'd see myself enjoying in the future. They were a decent read, but definitely had a few strikes against them. Final Ratings: 3/5 for each installment.
The Painted Castle by Kristy Cambron:
This was a beautiful finale to the Lost Castle trilogy, and I honestly think this may have ended up as my favorite of the three. I really enjoyed all three individual stories, and the way they all ended up weaving together in the end. I'm excited for you all to get the chance to read this one when it releases on October 15th, and you can read my full review here. Final Rating: 4/5.
The Possibility of Now by Kim Culbertson:
I adored this one, and it was definitely one of my favorite reads of the month. I'd previously read a couple of other books by Kim Culbertson that I'd really enjoyed, but this one takes the cake. I loved the Lake Tahoe setting, I adored the budding romance, all of the teen issues present were portrayed realistically and authentically, and I really liked Mara as a main character. Final Rating 5/5. I'll be sharing a full review of this one with you all shortly.
A Sweethaven Summer by Courtney Walsh:
This gem of a story was another of my favorites for the entire month. This was my first time picking up a Courtney Walsh novel, and I don't think I was quite prepared for just how amazing of a storyteller she truly is. I love when authors can write a story from multiple POV's and yet never make it confusing to the reader. I'll be sharing a full review of this one with you all shortly as well, but this one was a definite favorite, and I loved it. Final Rating: 5/5.
Mandie and The Seaside Rendezvous by Lois Gladys Leppard:
This is definitely not one of my favorite Mandie titles, as I found she acted a little more bratty within this story. However, it was still a cute story, and the mystery was definitely intriguing. It was also nice to see Senator Morton feature prominently in another Mandie title. Final Rating: 3/5.
Winter by Marissa Meyer:
Guys September 2019 is the month that I finally finished Winter! All 823 glorious pages of it! I've been putting off reading this one for years, as I didn't want one of my favorite series to come to an end, and also, I was worried I wasn't going to like how everything wrapped up. I needn't have worried though, as Marissa Meyer definitely delivered another amazing read, and I think this may have ended up being my favorite of the entire series. I'm so sad to finally say goodbye to the Rampion crew, but I'm happy I have yet to read the novellas, as it gives me one last thing to look forward to. Final Rating: 5/5.
Mandie and the Dark Alley by Lois Gladys Leppard:
I finished the month off with one last Mandie title. I have to be honest and state that Mandie kind of grated on my nerves in this one. She outright goes against all of the adults instructions, and puts herself, Celia and Tommy into some pretty dangerous situations in the process. However, she does also learn that there is severe consequences to severe actions, and I did enjoy that part of the story. Final Rating 3/5.
Those are all the books I finished last month! I'd love to hear about your favorite and least favorite reads for the month! Let me know in the comments about the books you finished in September 2019. Thanks so much for reading guys! Have a great rest of your day. :)
This is not a sponsored post. All thoughts and opinions are my own. The photos do not belong to me, and all rights to the respective owners.
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