October was holiday month. Getting out of the country for the first time since the panini was magical. I’ve been so lucky that I can work from home during the whole thing but it means you never really switch off. Well a week in Portugal really helped with the switching off.





Little bit of rereading again though because I needed zero stress and worry! 😀
Chasing Serenity (River Rain #1) by Kristen Ashley – 4⭐
This was my first holiday read and it was nice but not a favourite. I’m looking forward to the other characters books though and there is a mysterious character in the background who I’m particularly looking forward to learning more about.
Slave to Sensation (Psy-Changeling #1) – 5⭐, Caressed by Ice (Psy-Changeling #3) – 5⭐, Kiss of Snow (Psy-Changeling #10) – 5⭐, Tangle of Need (Psy-Changeling #11) – 5⭐, Heart of Obsidian (Psy-Changeling #12) – 5⭐, by Nalini Singh
As I was sitting on my balcony one night after a few glasses of wine I felt the perfect accompaniment would be Lucas and Sascha and then that started a whole thing. 😀 Pretty sure these are my all time favourites in this series.
Queen Takes Knights (Their Vampire Queen #1) – 3⭐, Queen Takes King (Their Vampire Queen #2) – 4⭐by Joely Sue Burkhart
I was in the mood for some smut and this reverse harem really scratched the itch. 🤷
A Madness of Sunshine by Nalini Singh – 5⭐
Started this on the beach and finished at home.
Is anyone surprised that I loved a Nalini Singh book?
I was a little nervous going in because no Psy/Changelings or Angels/Vampires and I knew it wasn’t going to be much on the romance. I need not have worried.
So more of a mystery/thriller but also a love letter to New Zealand and what a letter. There were times I could smell the sea in the air. I did start reading it on a beach but that’s besides the point. She wrote rural New Zealand perfectly and I felt like I was there.
I rather enjoyed the mystery element and loved the characters.
The Checklist by Addie Woolridge – 4⭐
Super cute!
I really liked Dylan, I’m convinced she is a Virgo because that list making is for sure Virgo energy.
There is romance and most importantly a HEA/HFN but it wasn’t super heavy on the romance so I’d keep this on the bookshelf for when you are feeling like some lovely character development, fun family dynamics, Seattle as an extra character (those museums?!?!), crazy CEO subplot and a sweet relationship buildup that’s part of the reward Dylan gets for the reams of growth she goes through.
Looking forward to more from this author.
Rock Chick Regret (Rock Chick #7) by Kristen Ashley – 5⭐
I was in a weird mood and couldn’t land on anything to read so did a KA roulette kind of thing and I wasn’t upset with the result! 😀
The Creak on the Stairs (Forbidden Iceland #1) by Eva Björg Ægisdóttir, Victoria Cribb (Translator) – 5⭐
My first ever Nordic Noir and I am a convert. This was just amazing and I’d never have picked it up if it wasn’t for the Goldsboro Pr1mer subscription. I’m also now obsessed with Icelandic photo accounts on Instagram.

I mean it just looks like something out of a high fantasy book. Iceland is a total show off.
Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark – 5⭐
Wow!
Small but mighty.
Gorgeous writing. A really fleshed out story and body horror that gave me some nightmares.
I’ve heard amazing things about A Master of Djinn which also by this author and Ring Shout has made me move that up the TBR.
Read for my Bookstorians bookclub.
I liked this. I loved the historical part of it and I really enjoyed Little’s story.
I felt the end was very rushed though, which was odd after as her first 30 years were rather dragged out.
The writing was lovely and at times very lyrical but it lost that near the end. It was a pity but I’m glad I read it and I was invested Little’s life.
Chase Darkness with Me: How One True-Crime Writer Started Solving Murders by Billy Jensen – 4⭐
October’s non-fiction and it was read poolside. A great way to read True Crime in my opinion! 😀
