Books in Progress – What I’ve Been Reading Lately – October 2022

It’s fall, y’all! Last week I went on vacation to the Bahamas for fall break and two things happened.

First, as we traveled home I realized that fall had happened while we were gone. When we left things were still mostly green and fairly warm, and by the time we returned the leaves were very much changing colors and the temps are decidedly cooler.

Second, I didn’t have a lot of time to read while I was gone. When you share a stateroom with three other people it can be hard to concentrate, and we also had a lot of family activities going on that took up most of our time. The result is that my list today is a little shorter than normal, but now that I’m home I plan to double down and really sink in to some fall reading. So be ready next month, my friends!

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Just Finished:

The Inheritance Games

If you are my book twin and generally like what I like, then drop what you are doing right now and get this book. It was 5 out of 5 stars for me with lots of twists, potential romances, and witty dialogue. The story starts when unremarkable teen Avery is summoned to the will reading of an old man named Tobias Hawthorne. She has no idea what her connection to this man could possibly be, and his two daughters and four grandsons are bewild as well, especially when he names her as his heir, leaving each of his relatives with a pittance of an inheritance. The only catch is that she has to live in sprawling, mysterious Hawthorne House for one year. Some of the Hawthorne brothers warm up to her and endeavor to help her solve the puzzle of her link to Tobias Hawthorne, but not all of the family is welcoming. I couldn’t put this book down! It’s so clever and fun.

The Hawthorne Legacy

The follow-up to The Inheritance Games, I loved this one just as much. It picks up right where the first book left off and the puzzles continue as Avery works to uncover her connection to the Hawthorne family. I can’t wait to read the third and final book and see how it all turns out! By the way, if you’ve read any of these books I’d love for you to drop me a comment and let me know if you are Team Grayson or Team Jameson (no spoilers, please!). I started out TG on the first book but I think I’m TJ now that I’ve finished the second book.

In Progress:

Body of Evidence

This is a romantic suspense story about a forensic pathologist, Grace Reilly, who finds a potential link between several seemingly unrelated deaths. She enlists the help of Sheriff Nate Cox, who is happy for any excuse to be near Grace, even though he knows he should probably steer clear and ignore his attraction to her. But as the investigation progresses, so does the danger as they uncover a shocking crime. This is the third book in the Triple Threat series that follows each of the three Reilly sisters. I loved the other three and this one could be my favorite yet. I especially love the cover and title!

Cress

This Rapunzel retelling is a continuation of the Lunar Chronicles, a YA sci-fi series following a cyborg princess on the run from a queen who wants her dead so that her plan to takeover Earth will go unhindered. An unlikely team that includes a wolf-man hybrid, an roguish fugitive, and now a lunar programmer who had been held captive in a satellite for seven years, works together to deal with the threat to Earth by concocting a dangerous plan to dethrone Queen Levana. This series is really interesting and the world-building is first rate. There’s a reason why it’s so popular, and I wish I’d heard about it sooner!

Up Next:

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

I grabbed this one from the library a few weeks ago when I was in the mood for something a little bit spooky. The fact is that I am a little bit of wimp though, so hopefully it doesn’t freak me out too much! I like the idea of a creepy old building and photos that go along with the story so hopefully I’ll like it as much as all the other people that have rated it so highly on Amazon and Goodreads. If you have any thoughts on the scare-factor on a scale of 1 to 10, feel free to warn me in the comments.

Shatter Me

I don’t know much about this YA fantasy other than that it follows a girl named Juliette who possesses a mysterious power that allows her to kill with a single touch. One review I read said that if you enjoyed Kristin Cashore’s Fire, Lauren Oliver’s Delirium, and the Twilight series that this will be a hit, and I did like all of those so I’m excited to see what this one is all about.

Child of the Mist

Are you a fan of Scottish Highland romance? Me too, which is why I grabbed Child of the Mist from my library for a re-read. I remember liking it when I read it the first time some seven or eight years ago, and I was in the mood for an arranged marriage story with a side of intrigue in Niall’s family and accusations of witchcraft for healer Anne. Here’s hoping it’s as satisfying as I remember.

Don’t forget to check out Modern Mrs. Darcy’s monthly quick lit post for more great book recommendations!