Books I Read in October

 I read some really great books this month!  I found quite a few fall books and mixed in a good variety of other stories too.  



1. Pumpkin Everything by Beth Labonte-- When Amy Fox learns that her grandfather has quite literally driven through Dunkin Donuts she packs her bags and heads home to help care for him.  Not having stepped foot in her hometown since leaving for college, Amy is uncertain about the welcome she will have from local townspeople who have been featured in her book series.  Set in an idyllic New Hampshire town in fall it was the perfect book to give me all the fall feels. I thought it was a cute story with fun characters. (and was set in a town right near where my husband and I went hiking!)

 


2. Eight Hundred Grapes by Laura Dave-- After finding some upsetting news about her fiancée, Georgia heads home to her family vineyard for some rest and refuge.  Only to find out that her fiancée has not been the only one keeping secrets from her. With everything changing around her, Georgia has no idea what to do or who to turn to. I thought this was just an average book.  



3. Happy Ever After by Joanne Tracy-- Kate and Neil have been happily separated for over 4 years and helping their daughter to plan her perfect wedding when Neil announces he wants an official divorce. Soon though both Kate and Neil realize that they actually want to be together and hope that their third time round will be the charm.  Hesitant to tell their family and friends that they've begun reconciling Kate and Neil have a few things to work out before they can live happily ever after. I really enjoyed this story even with it's unexpected twists and turns. Plus I now want to go hiking in New Zealand! 

 


4. The City Baker's Guide to Country Living by Louise Miller-- Such a cute story!  When she accidentally starts a fire at the club where she's working, Livvy heads up to Vermont to stay with her best friend.  She begins working at the local Inn and soon finds herself immersed in the small town life and is surprised to find that she's actually enjoying it.  The story is a bit more complicated than I'm making it out to be so it kept my interest and I loved the story of these sweet and sometimes quirky characters.  



5.The Tower of Nero (Trials of Apollo book #5) by Rick Riordan-- My boys and I began listening to this series on CD what seems like ages ago! We'd listen whenever we went anywhere together in the car.  With Alec in school now and so many things being closed last year it has been a very slow process but we were so happy to wrap up Apollo's trials.  When Meg and Apollo and their friends have to face Meg's step-father Nero and the giant snake Python at Nero's home base, it is believed that Apollo will have to sacrifice himself to save everyone else.  It was a very fast paced last book that wrapped up the series quite nicely.


6. Ground Zero by Alan Gratz-- I'm not normally one to read middle grade fiction but something told me I'd really enjoy this story told in two parts. One story line deals with Brandon who is in one of the twin towers with his dad on the day of the 9/11 attacks trying to survive and find his father whom he was separated from. The second story told from Reshmina's point of view many years later living in her small village caught between Taliban and American troops. A very powerful story that I plan to read aloud with my son once we are finished with our Harry Potter series. 


7. Dying for Devil's Food (Cupcake Mystery book #11) by Jenn McKinlay-- Mel and Angie are providing cupcakes for their class reunion.  When Mel's high school nemesis turns up dead everyone thinks Mel did it. Of course she takes it upon herself to investigate and try to find out who the real killer is.   


8. The Wish by Nicholas Sparks-- Maggie has been battling cancer for a few years now and finds herself at home in New York City for what will be her final Christmas.  She makes friends with Mark, the man who works in her art gallery.  As they spend more time together Maggie reveals her life story starting with the year she was 15 and sent away to live with her aunt on a remote island off the coast of North Carolina.  It was such a sweet story about love and loss and unexpected moments in life. 


9. Not a Happy Family by Shari Lapena-- What a delicious story full of family drama!  When their parents are found murdered all three children immediately become suspects.  I was honestly thinking the book was going to end without resolving who did it or how! 


Linking up with:






















Comments

  1. My youngest is a real Rick Riordan fan. He misses recreational reading during these busy college years.

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    1. I have really enjoyed listening to all of Rick Riordan's books with my boys.

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  2. I felt the same way about "Not A Happy Family"- so good- LOVE her books! Just added "Pumpkin Everything" to the queue- thanks for your suggestions as always!

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    1. It was such an adorable story; you'll love it.

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  3. Currently reading Not a happy family! Oh my goodness, pumpkin everything sounds just precious!

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  4. Replies
    1. It was a great month of reading for sure. I'm going to have such a hard time picking yearly favorites.

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  5. Your list gave me all the feels! I have got to take more time for fiction! Visiting from the good, random fun link up.

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    1. I love reading fiction; it's a great escape from real life.

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  6. What a great selection of books. There is quite a few that I like the sound of x

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  7. These all sound like good books and I will be adding these to my book list.

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  8. Dang, you did a lot of reading this month. I always love hearing about new book recommendations, so thank you for this.
    OXOX
    Jodie
    www.jtouchofstyle.com

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  9. I just started Not a Happy Family. Can’t wait to get into it

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    1. I honestly thought that they all did it and then that none of them did it and then just had no ideas at all... it was really well written though and I couldn't wait to see how it was all going to play out.

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  10. Thanks for the book reviews Joanne, I see several that look good to me!
    Jenna

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  11. Just finished Not A Happy Family...It was captivating and the ending was great!

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  12. Could literally devour the covers of a couple of these books. Mmm. Thought Not a Happy Family sounded good when I suggested it to the book club. My 11 year old granddaughter's 4th grade teacher just reconnected with us this weekend and we asked her for book suggestions...she recommended Alan Gratz. This book sounds so good. Just finished a couple of middle school 9-11 themed books. Going to put this one on my to-read shelf.

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    1. I haven't read anything else by him but I really enjoyed Ground Zero (and learned so much!).

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  13. Have you read the latest Laura Dave? I liked that much more than Grapes!

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    1. Yes, that's actually what led me to Grapes! And I totally agree that The Last Thing He Told Me was much better.

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  14. I am really curious about Ground Zero. I loved his book Refugee.

    Lauren @ www.shootingstarsmag.net

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  15. Okay, Pumpkin Everything sounds so cute :)

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  16. I read Eight Hundred Grapes awhile ago and thought it was okay. I thought Not a Happy Family was just okay as well. I think that I've realized that I'm just not a Lapena fan.

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    1. I've only ever read one other book by Lapena; suspense just isn't a genre I tend to read.

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  17. Isn't it bizarre seeing 9/11 stories go from current event into historical fiction? Pumpkin Everything sounds adorable!

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  18. I loved Laura Dave's most recent so I am looking forward to trying Eight Hundred Grapes at some point. I enjoyed Not a Happy Family!

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  19. Thank you for linking up with us at #WOYBS. I love the diversity of books that you have shared here. The only one I have (yet) read on your current list is Joanne Tracey's Happy Ever After. I love that book so much that I have read it a couple of times and have shared it with my local book club. Have you read Jo's recent release, The Little Cafe by the Lake? If not, I highly recommend that one too!

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    1. Yep, I read that in November! I loved it too. Joanne is a great author.

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  20. Hi Joanne, thanks for joining us for the #Whatsonyourbookshelfchallenge this month. Except for Happy Ever After written by my good friend, Jo Tracey, I've not read any of your suggestions. I now have some more to add to my list in particular City Baker's Guide to Country Living and Pumpkin Everything. It is wonderful that you are sharing your love of reading with your children. I look forward to see what you are reading over the next month. Have a great week!

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  21. This is a great list Joanne, I'm tempted by a few of them especially Not a Happy Family. Joanne Tracey's books are all wonderful reads too! Thanks for joining us for #whatsonyourbokshelfchallenge this month. I've updated my post to include a link to yours :) Have a great weekend.,

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    1. It was a real page turner! Thank you for adding my link to your post.

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  22. Thanks so much for the shout-out and for linking up with us this month. I'm yet to read any Nicholas Sparks (and think I'm the only person in the universe who hasn't) & really must. Not a Happy Family sounds like it should be on my list.

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