LIFE'S A PEARL

October was a great month in terms of fall reading! I crossed 15 books off my fall TBR and DNF’d one which leaves 11 books still to go.

I read a total of 19 books in October and have seven reviews to share with you today.

This month was full of a lot of 3-star reads but I also had 5 5-star books which is really awesome!

I’m also planning to change how I share my nonfiction reviews. I want to go back to a more in-depth review of my nonfiction pick of the month similar to how I used to do spotlights for my year of health experiment in 2021.

Be on the lookout for a review of Chatter by Ethan Kross, the October selection for Pearls of Wisdom book club, later this month.

October Reading Wrap Up:

By the Season and Reason

Fall Reads

• Muscles & Monsters by Ashley Bennett
• Feral Sins by Suzanne Wright
• Trick by Shae Sanders
• Still Beating by Jennifer Hartmann
• Haven by Claire Kent
• Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano
• Home Before Dark by Riley Sager
• Hopeless by Elsie Silver
• The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware (also one of the 12 authors)
• Threads of Evidence by Lea Wait
• A Lady of Rooksgrave Manor by Kathryn Moon
• Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison
• Captive of the Horde King by Zoey Draven
• The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Córdova

Book Club Picks

• Wolf Gone Wild by Juliette Cross
• Chatter by Ethan Kross

12 Authors from My Reading Life Bucket List

• Burying Water by K.A. Tucker

Next in Series

• Tentacles & Triathlons by Ashley Bennett
• Becoming Rain by K.A. Tucker

Recaps and Reviews

You can find my reviews for Muscles & Monsters (3.5 stars), Wolf Gone Wild (5 stars), Feral Sins (3.5 stars), Trick (3 stars), Still Beating (4.5 stars), Haven (5 stars), Finlay Donovan is Killing It (3.5 stars), Home Before Dark (3.5 stars), and Hopeless (3 stars) in my Mid October Reading Recap.

The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware

Rating: 3 stars

Bookstagram picked this Ruth Ware book for me to add to my fall TBR. Ware is also one of the 12 authors I wanted to read again from my 2023 reading life bucket list.

Book Blurb:

“When she stumbles across the ad, she’s looking for something else completely. But it seems like too good an opportunity to miss—a live-in nannying post, with a staggeringly generous salary. And when Rowan Caine arrives at Heatherbrae House, she is smitten—by the luxurious “smart” home fitted out with all modern conveniences, by the beautiful Scottish Highlands, and by this picture-perfect family.

What she doesn’t know is that she’s stepping into a nightmare—one that will end with a child dead and herself in prison awaiting trial for murder.

Writing to her lawyer from prison, she struggles to explain the unravelling events that led to her incarceration. It wasn’t just the constant surveillance from the cameras installed around the house, or the malfunctioning technology that woke the household with booming music, or turned the lights off at the worst possible time. It wasn’t just the girls, who turned out to be a far cry from the immaculately behaved model children she met at her interview. Or the way she was left alone for weeks at a time, with no adults around apart from the enigmatic handyman, Jack Grant.

It was everything.

She knows she’s made mistakes. She admits that she lied to obtain the post, and that her behavior toward the children wasn’t always ideal. She’s not innocent, by any means. But, she maintains, she’s not guilty—at least not of murder. Which means someone else is.”

My Thoughts

This book started out creepy and intriguing. The house and the property were wonderfully atmospheric. There was a constant sense of unease that perhaps something was off with this home or this family.

We knew from the beginning that something terrible happened involving one of the children Rowan was nannying for. I was so worried for the little girls especially as the story progressed and we got to know them further.

The book quickly slowed down though and became more confusing than creepy. It felt quite long.

Ultimately I didn’t enjoy the direction this book took. Many of the twists and reveals felt completely irrelevant by the end. What was actually going on seemed totally out of left field, unrelated to the story Ware told prior.

I also wasn’t happy with the ending. To be fair we knew someone died from the very beginning. It was bound to end sadly. But this one left me feeling hopeless and empty at the end.

Reading Life Insight

I know I don’t often enjoy books that end on a down note. This is another one that proves that. Unfortunately this can be hard to screen for outside of romance with its guaranteed HEA (happily ever after).

I’m realizing I enjoy thrillers where you can guess a little along the way. I don’t want to guess the ending too early. On the other hand I also don’t like when the ending is a big “aha” out of nowhere.  Of course nobody guessed that, because the author didn’t leave any crumbs for that ending along the way.

I remember loving The Woman in Cabin 10 when I read it for book club. That was years ago though and reading tastes definitely change. Thriller is a tricky genre for me.

Questions to Consider for Your Own Reading Life: Do you have a preference for a way a book ends? This could be open ended or all tied up? Happy or not so happy? Shocking or ambivalent? It could end on an upswing or a down. With thrillers do you like to guess a little along the way, know exactly what is going on, or be completely surprised at the end? How do you feel about the role the twists and reveals play in the story? 

Threads of Evidence by Lea Wait

Rating: 4 stars

This was the one cozy mystery on my fall TBR. I previously read and enjoyed the first book in this series, Twisted Threads.

I listened to this one on audio from hoopla.

Book Blurb:

“It’s hard to imagine anything bad ever happening in picturesque Haven Harbor, Maine–until a famous face rolls into town and unthreads some very dark secrets. . .

Angie Curtis and the Mainely Needlepointers are all too familiar with the Gardener estate. The crumbling Victorian mansion, known as “Aurora,” has been sitting vacant for nearly twenty-five years–and some say it’s haunted by the ghost of Jasmine Gardener, the teenage girl who died there in 1970 under mysterious circumstances…

Harbor Haven is abuzz with excitement when Hollywood actress Skye West decides to buy Aurora and sell off its furnishings. And Angie is intrigued when Skye asks her to appraise the estate’s sizable collection of needlepoint pictures. But the more she examines the pieces, the more they seem to point toward Jasmine’s murder–and the murderer–and it’s up to her to stitch the clues together. . .”

My Thoughts

This one felt a little slow and some of the Hollywood references were outdated. It was exactly what I wanted from a cozy mystery though. Throw in a famous actress, a mansion with history, and an old unsolved murder and I was definitely sold!

The Maine setting was perfect for autumn reading. I really enjoyed the small town cast of characters. I loved all the mentions of Maine culture, food, and seasons. In this town everyone works hard but lives a relatively simple life minus any murders of course.

Our main character, Angie is still finding herself and her way in life after returning home in the previous book. I adored the relationship between Angie and her Grandma. They loved and accepted one another even though they had differences when it came to religion, alcohol, and dating.

I loved that Gran found love again and was getting remarried. Any mention of Angie’s dating life or her inner thoughts on past relationships felt very awkward in their writing though.

There was also a lot of history and knowledge woven in regarding needlework. That’s something I don’t do but this series always makes me curious about.

Reading Life Insight

A Maine setting is an easy sell for me.

I’m good with mysteries being a little predictable by the end. That can be part of the fun with a cozy.

I find comfort in cozy mysteries with the small town, the quirky characters, the setting, the mentions of food, and the way they always end happy.

Question to Consider for Your Own Reading Life: What elements of a book say “cozy” to you? 

A Lady of Rooksgrave Manor by Kathryn Moon

Rating: 3.5 stars

Steam Level: 5

We’re going in the opposite direction now with a monster romance from my fall TBR. This book is also available on KU and was one that I shared in the October Edition of What’s in my Kindle Unlimited Library.

I knew this one would be outside of my usual reading zone as it’s a historical monster romance that also features the reverse harem or why choose trope. It was described by a few reviewers as sweet, romantic, and well-written.

Book Blurb:

“On the brink of losing her position as a maid and with no prospects to go on, the offer of a place at Rooksgrave Manor—a house of ill and unusual repute—sounds like a perfect fit for a young woman with Esther’s inclinations. Even better, the invitation comes by the hand of the handsome Dr. Underwood, a delicate gentleman with a ferocious alter ego who knows exactly what he wants from Esther.

Upon arrival, the men and the daily decadence of the manor feel too good to be true for a girl of Esther’s station. There are rules to be followed, expectations to meet, and Esther is afraid she might be too wicked even for a place like Rooksgrave.

Temptations lurk around every shadowy corner and Esther has never been a girl able to resist. But the risk of disappointing her new gentlemen isn’t all that’s threatening Esther’s new position. Rooksgrave Manor’s protections for its unusual patrons are failing, the wards are crumbling, and Esther’s new and exquisitely pleasurable life may all come tumbling down.”

My Thoughts

The pacing in this book was a little strange.

It had a lot of spicy content, hence the 5 for steam level.

The majority of the book is sex scenes and scenarios which I guess should be clear from the synopsis but I thought there would be some sort of storyline still. I found myself skimming a lot.

In the last third of the book, a villain was introduced. We finally got a bit of a mystery suspense plot.

I didn’t find any of the relationships sweet or romantic until the very end.

Even then I don’t really see this group forming a lasting love. But we are talking a brothel that serves monsters here so I’m not sure realistic is what the author was going for.

I’m a little intrigued because the mystery didn’t tie up at the end of this one and I’ve heard people like the other books more so we’ll see if I continue the series.

Reading Life Insight

I tried something different. This was my first reverse harem romance and I’m not sure it’s for me.

Though I like romance with spice, I still want the romance to be the main story. The best romances for me are ones where the steam complements the emotional connection building between characters.

I think reverse harem might be a hard sell because often the relationships built between the fmc and different mmc are all separate. Everyone is in love with the fmc but not necessarily one another which makes a happily ever after less convincing.

There’s been a lot of talk lately in the romance community about spice in books.

High spice is very trendy right now. Some people are questioning if spice is actually ruining romance. Some feel that authors are including more steamy scenes and random kinks to fill that demand when it has very little to do with the characters they’ve created or the relationship they’re building on page.

I wanted to share a video from Maggie’s Books and Stuff called Is Romance getting too SPICY? Plus tips on how to find the books YOU ACTUALLY WANT.

I enjoyed this video because it’s very respectful of everyone’s preferences and I found the romance spectrum Maggie created helpful for identifying where books fall and therefore where your preferences may lie.

For instance I think A Lady of Rooksgrave Manor actually falls into erotica because for the majority of the book, you couldn’t remove the spicy content and still have a story. There wouldn’t be anything left until the last third of the book.

This romance spectrum also gave me food for thought with my own steam scale whenever I finally get around to updating it.

Questions to Consider for Your Own Reading Life: When is the last time you read a book outside your reading comfort zone? Is pushing your comfort zone something you like to do in your reading life or do you prefer to keep it to genres that work for you? Do you have a preference on the amount of spicy content within a romance? Some readers prefer none, closed door, or fade to black romances. Some will only read spice. There are no wrong or bad answers. It’s about identifying what works for you as a reader and also knowing your tastes can change. 

Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison

Rating: 5 stars

This book was on my fall TBR to put me in the mood for Halloween. I read and really enjoyed Cackle (4 stars) from Rachel Harrison last October.

Book Blurb:

“Rory Morris isn’t thrilled to be moving back to her hometown, even if it is temporary. There are bad memories there. But her twin sister, Scarlett, is pregnant, estranged from the baby’s father, and needs support, so Rory returns to the place she thought she’d put in her rearview. After a night out at a bar where she runs into an old almost-flame, she hits a large animal with her car. And when she gets out to investigate, she’s attacked.

Rory survives, miraculously, but life begins to look and feel different. She’s unnaturally strong, with an aversion to silver–and suddenly the moon has her in its thrall. She’s changing into someone else–something else, maybe even a monster. But does that mean she’s putting those close to her in danger? Or is embracing the wildness inside of her the key to acceptance?”

My Thoughts

I listened to this one on audio and adored the narrator, Kristen Sieh.

This book had so many things I love! Rory and Scarlett are twin sisters with a ton of snark. They’re both dealing with their own issues but they grow, eventually coming together and coming out stronger.

Similar to Cackle, I loved how everything beautifully came full circle by the end.

There were also amazing secondary characters set against this small town. Seth, Ash, Ian, and even Mia were all lovable and relatable in their own ways.

A childhood friends to lovers love story is almost always going to be a winner for me. That was a wonderful surprise in this one. It had such a unique setting and plot to explore that trope in.

This book was definitely gory. I think that’s why Rachel Harrison is classified under horror by some. It was gory in a way I could handle though.

I’m excited to check out her most recent book, Black Sheep!

Questions to Consider for Your Own Reading Life: What are some elements in a story that make it likely you will love it? Do you enjoy full circle endings? What are some examples that you’ve read? 

Captive of the Horde King by Zoey Draven

Rating: 5 stars 6 stars!

Steam Level: 2.5

UPDATE: Upon further reflection and adding a 6th star to my rating system to designate favorites, I upped this one to a 6-star read!

This is the first book in Zoey Draven’s Horde Kings of Dakkar series. In the October Edition of What’s in my Kindle Unlimited Library, I shared that this book had officially been in my library the longest.

I hoped I would finally get to it this autumn as it’s one of the alien romances on my fall TBR. I’m so glad I did!

Book Blurb:

“She made a deal with the Dakkari devil. Now, he owns her.

On the unforgiving planet of Dakkar, I did what all the humans in our village did: kept my head down, worked to provide for my family, and I certainly didn’t break any Dakkari laws to risk inciting the alien race’s merciless wrath.

Unfortunately, the same couldn’t be said for my brother and one careless mistake brings a horde of the nomadic, barbarian Dakkari straight to our doorstep, led by their powerful horde king—a cold, ruthless, battle-scarred warrior demanding retribution.

In order to save my brother’s life, I do the unthinkable.

I sell myself to the horde king as his war prize. I agree to warm his furs, to travel with his horde across the wild lands of Dakkar, and to never see my family again.

But as I struggle with my new reality, I discover that the surly, mysterious, dominant horde king never intended for me to be his concubine…

He wants me as his queen.”

My Thoughts

I loved this book!

I adored Luna. Arokan was an amazing character between his alpha leader side and then his soft side with Luna.

I loved learning about the Dakkari culture and the way they operate. This book offered such a nice escape from the real world into a hard but kind and loving alien one.

No spoilers but there was some real emotional conflict in this one. I wasn’t sure how it would be resolved or if it could end satisfyingly but Draven did it!

I can’t wait to continue the series! If my fall TBR wasn’t so dang large, I would already have taken deep dives into a few of the series I’ve dipped my toes in recently.

Reading Life Insight

You know how some people have catnip tropes or themes they can identify for their reading tastes?

I’ve never been good at coming up with those on the spot but within the first chapter of this book, I realized this set up is one of mine!

It’s a specific take on the captor/captive trope involving a nomadic tribe leader and a fmc who has to go with him into the unknown. Her reasons are often to protect a family member or for the greater good.

I think it all started with Johanna Lindsey’s Captive Bride for me long ago. There’s a reason the Dothraki are some of my favorite characters from Game of Thrones. Even better I loved that this book took the story in a much less problematic direction than those examples.

Question to Consider for Your Own Reading Life: Do you know or keep track of your catnip tropes/themes? 

The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Córdova

Rating: 3 stars

This one is a second chance magical realism read from my fall TBR. I own the audiobook and read it in that format.

Book Blurb:

“The Montoyas are used to a life without explanations. They know better than to ask why the pantry never seems to run low or empty, or why their matriarch won’t ever leave their home in Four Rivers—even for graduations, weddings, or baptisms. But when Orquídea Divina invites them to her funeral and to collect their inheritance, they hope to learn the secrets that she has held onto so tightly their whole lives. Instead, Orquídea is transformed, leaving them with more questions than answers.

Seven years later, her gifts have manifested in different ways for Marimar, Rey, and Tatinelly’s daughter, Rhiannon, granting them unexpected blessings. But soon, a hidden figure begins to tear through their family tree, picking them off one by one as it seeks to destroy Orquídea’s line. Determined to save what’s left of their family and uncover the truth behind their inheritance, the four descendants travel to Ecuador—to the place where Orquídea buried her secrets and broken promises and never looked back.”

My Thoughts

Ok this was my bad.

I added this one to my TBR at long time ago after hearing other readers discuss it. It was described as having Encanto for grown up vibes.

I have a habit of jumping into books blind and if I’d read the synopsis again (or possibly at all), I could have adjusted my expectations.

The format of this book didn’t work for me. I enjoyed the sections involving Orquídea whether it was her past or present storyline. Those were mostly in the first part of this book. I found the rest hard to get into.

As a whole the book was sadder and heavier than I braced for. The way the magic was described and played out wasn’t for me. I didn’t like their body modifications and the way the public was aware of it.

This book gave me some vibes similar to The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern.

It was definitely a unique story and family but I didn’t care for the flow.

Questions to Consider for Your Own Reading Life: Do you always read the blurb on the back of the book before reading? Do you feel this sets your expectations up well, can be misleading, or doesn’t affect them at all?

Burying Water by K.A. Tucker

Rating: 3.5 stars

Steam Level: 1

The Simple Wild (5 stars) is one of my all-time favorite books. I reread it earlier this year.

K.A. Tucker was one of the 12 authors from my reading life bucket list and I wanted to read something new to me by her for that challenge.

Book Blurb:

“Left for dead in the fields of rural Oregon, a young woman defies all odds and survives—but she awakens with no idea who she is, or what happened to her. Refusing to answer to “Jane Doe” for another day, the woman renames herself “Water” for the tiny, hidden marking on her body—the only clue to her past. Taken in by old Ginny Fitzgerald, a crotchety but kind lady living on a nearby horse farm, Water slowly begins building a new life. But as she attempts to piece together the fleeting slivers of her memory, more questions emerge: Who is the next-door neighbor, quietly toiling under the hood of his Barracuda? Why won’t Ginny let him step foot on her property? And why does Water feel she recognizes him?

Twenty-four-year-old Jesse Welles doesn’t know how long it will be before Water gets her memory back. For her sake, Jesse hopes the answer is never. He knows that she’ll stay so much safer—and happier—that way. And that’s why, as hard as it is, he needs to keep his distance. Because getting too close could flood her with realities better left buried.

The trouble is, water always seems to find its way to the surface.”

My Thoughts

I loved that the female narrator for this book is the same one as The Simple Wild!

I did a little digging to be sure. This title is narrated by Elizabeth Louise and The Simple Wild is credited to Rebekkah Ross. Turns out they’re one and the same.

Josh Goodman is the narrator for Jesse.

This was my first book from K.A. Tucker that featured dual POV and to be honest I didn’t love it. Jesse came across as a bit of a douche bag to me with constant thoughts about Alex’s body and women in general.

If that’s the way she writes male leads, I’m really glad we only get Calla’s POV in The Simple Wild because that might have ruined Jonah for me.

I also didn’t love the use of dual timelines in this one. We knew the reveal from the beginning and it set up a messed up situation where the characters made increasingly poor decisions.

Then the final conflict was magicked away with an unbelievably convenient development.

Tucker wrote this back in 2014. Maybe it would have worked better for me then.

I did enjoy the forbidden relationship, the small town, the Welles family, the relationship between Water and Ginny, and how the community comes together around both of them. Some scenes definitely gave me all the feels and had me choking up.

I went ahead and listened to the second book in the series, knowing it was now or never since I probably wouldn’t revisit this series.

The premise of an undercover cop falling for her target was very intriguing. It wound up being ok but the romance didn’t deliver as I hoped. If you know any other romances with that set up, send them my way! I’m comfortable closing the door on this series now.

Other Books I Read in this Series Last Month

• Becoming Rain by K.A. Tucker (3.5 stars)

Questions to Consider for Your Own Reading Life: Do you pay attention to audiobook narrators? Do you make note of your favorites? How do you feel about series? If you delay jumping into the next book, how likely are you to continue the series? Does completing a series matter to you? 

---

What was your favorite book from October?