Hello, again!

Ha! I thought August and September were fast? I still have no idea where November went, and before that, October was a charging bull. It was good, but as par for the whole year, it seems the time flew by, and I can’t seem to keep up. I just think I’m finally there, and a new twist shows up, and I’m starting to feel like a character in some of my current reads! Plot twists, galore, I tell ya.

The last time I shared a wrap-up post was for September. October was crazy with the government shutdowns and all the chaos that brought, and now we’ve reached the part of the year that always flies by. If it was not already a quick year, this time always seems to make up for it with holidays and a rush to finish things before the new calendar year begins.

I didn’t share a wrap-up or hopefuls at the start of November because well… I haven’t read any of the books I needed to read in October or for November. I have several new releases that I was supposed to have read and reviewed by now, but that didn’t happen. Not for a lack of trying, and I still really want to read them, but I got behind around the end of August and never really managed to come back up for air. (Thirty-one is starting off rough, ya’ll! 😅)

So, yeah. I did get some books read (a few of which I really needed to read too), but overall, I still feel behind, and if I happen to owe you a review, I’m sorry! I really did think that come October I was catching up, and somewhere around the first week it became clear that instead of solid grown I was very much sinking back into the quicksand… Yikes!

What I Read in October:

I read five books in October, if I count the one I finished right at the beginning. That means I read one more than in the previous month, but also didn’t have all the beta reads. (A mercy in itself!) I love beta reading, but trying to read six stories in four weeks? Yeah, I strongly recommend against it whenever possible, lol. I had no idea that they would all land that way and truly believed that they would be a bit more staggered in their deadlines, but somehow (by the grace of God) I survived and managed to get them all finished.

In some ways, the cost has been my health, though. I’ve felt drained and fatigued since then, and never really bounced back. I have been trying to take time to rest and have been stepping away from the screen and the responsibility of keeping up with posts and social media demands lately, but I’m still pretty worn out.

I’m so thankful for all of it, and I know God has a plan and a purpose. While I’m worn out, I’m also so very blessed to have been a part of these wonderful stories, and it is always so amazing to be able to beta-read for authors. I’m tired, but I know God’s got me. And for that I am forever thankful.

October Reads:

October saw some changes of its own, including the fact that, apparently, I crochet now. Didn’t see that one coming, but I also went all out and bought some knitting needles since I’ve always wanted to learn to knit as well. My grandma spent years trying to teach me to crochet, so I’m thankful that this skill is yet another new thing that I’ve learned and tried this year. Knitting was always more of a ‘me’ thing, since I don’t personally know anyone who knits, at least not that I’m aware of. I think my great-great-grandmother on my other side may have done both, but I never met her and can’t remember much about those relatives at all since they were all very old, or already gone, by the time I came around.

Not book-related, but worth mentioning since I’m waiting on another fun crafty order to arrive in the mail (hopefully sometime this week), since I’ve been crocheting while I wait, when reading isn’t an option. I still try to squeeze in as much reading time as I can, too, but this gives my hands something to do and allows my mind to rest a bit more since I’ve been pushing to meet deadlines, and it just makes it harder for me to actually read when I do that. This is a good balance and seems to be helping me recover, even if slowly, after pushing so hard in September.

Oh yeah, I also forgot the mention the mad dash to participate in FFF (Five Fall Favorites) this year in September. Alongside the weekly interviews I was conducting at the time, haha. No wonder I’m still tired, but I am so glad I got to do both!

(If you haven’t yet, be sure to check out both sets of posts! There’s a little something for everyone, and I had so much fun doing these thrilling posts for you all!)

Okay, onto the books. The Wayfaring Widow by Casey Cline was such an interesting read! The author is LDS, so I don’t consider this one Christian fiction, but it is a clean historical read.

I loved the banter and tension in this one as the two main characters slowly become unlikely friends as they travel around the US. The series is based on Isabella Bird and her travels, which added another exciting element to their journey.

I did not really plan to read a ‘ghost’ story during the month of October. I also didn’t plan to read this series starting from the latest release, but here we are. Just a slight spoiler, there were no actual ghosts in this story. (I checked.)

After reading Kukla’s adult mystery series, I was curious about this one. My brother also really enjoys mystery books, and I wondered if this might be something he could read and enjoy. I’m not sure he would have really liked this one, but it did turn out to be a fun read, and suitable for teens and adults alike.

By this point, I had officially read 3/4th of this book TWICE. I beta read three of the four stories in this anthology, then read them again as an eARC so that I could review them and talking about how much I loved them with you all!

While I did read them, I haven’t talked about them very much simply due to being exhausted and still struggling to know what to expect from day-to-day between my health and constantly changing schedule lately. Wyatt though! If nothing else, I need to tell you all about him at some point! (Or you could just read it, and tell me what you think when you finish. That works too!)

I loved this story! It’s a short WWII historical fiction novella by April Barcalow, and I highly recommend it! (You can purchase s copy, or get a free ecopy by signing up for her newsletter.)

I had wanted to read it before, and had already been subscribed to her newsletter, but after having the privilege to talk to her some and interviewing her a few months ago, I knew I just had to read this one! I am so glad that I did! These two are seriously some of my all-time favorite characters, and this whole story is absolutely delightful.

This story, whew! This was a difficult one, but one I loved at the same time. It also reminded me a bit of one of my September beta reads, which I found interesting.

This is a Christian romantic suspense that deals with human trafficking. It’s also supposed to be the first in a trilogy, but is so far the only book available, which makes me sad. I found it on a review site, so hopefully, a sequel is in the works? Either way, I loved reading this story, and these characters were some of the best I’ve found in a while. The book is a few years old, but still very relevant to today’s time, and is definitely a good one if this sort of story is something you’d enjoy reading.

(I know trafficking is a touchy subject, and for good reason, but this book also looks at a lesser-know side of the efforts to stop this disgusting trade, and I found that interesting and unique since I’d known a little about it but don’t think I’ve seen this aspect in a story before. The story also talks about Rahab’s Rope, an actual ministry that helps women find freedom in India.)

(Each title listed is directly linked to the corresponding review post for that book, well it would be…but I haven’t written any of the review for these yet.)

  • The Wayfarer’s Widow by Casey Cline
    • 4/5
  • The Lady in White (MotoMysteries #5) by Sherri Kukla
    • 5/5
  • Fall Through Time anthology by Emily Ann, Eva Cedarland, Shanea Rinn, and Jessika Caruso
    • 4.5/5
  • The Letter by April Barcalow
    • 5/5
  • The Shadow: Someone is watching by Kimberly Rae
    • 4.5/5

The Wayfarer’s Widow and Fall Through Time were eARCs. The Shadow was a review copy book. The Lady in White was on KU. And The Letter was a newsletter freebie.

October Alpha/Beta Reads:

I took October off, intending to rest for a while. I am still supposedly part of a beta read, but I think the author is also ‘on break’ as she figures out where she wants the story to go since it’s as-of-yet ongoing. She was one of the anthology authors, and that was the big push for this month, officially marking them all as published authors, since two of the four had not previously published anything. This beta read is the one author’s expected debut novel, and the other Shaena Rinn now has a novel out as well (Never Alone), which I am looking forward to reading!

  • None

Books I Received in October:

Book Mail:

Actually, I did get one! Heather Thompson sent me a copy of her novella Cross Rhodes along with some fun swag for being on her ARC team. 🥰

Books I Bought/Ebooks:

Well, I did manage to figure out the bike seat that I bought with my book money in August, lol. It’s not perfect, but it does do the job for now, so I’m happy.

  • None

Free ebooks I got this month:

  • Killer in the Margins by Eliza Floretta
  • Remembering the Cowboy by Mandi Blake
  • Reach for Me by Jan Thompson
  • Dereliction of the Heart by Hannah Hood Lucero
  • The Rescue by Tanya Eavenson
  • The Marshal’s Surrender by Wendy Galinetti
  • Protecting the Cowgirl by Martha Hutchens
  • Gold Digger by Skylar J. Kent (read)
  • The Designated Friend by Drew Taylor
  • One She Never Expected by K. Leah
  • The Light Keeper’s Wife: by Jennifer Mistmorgan
  • Hearts in Harmony by Traci Summeril
  • Heart’s Journey by Linda Hoover
  • Hearts Unknown by Dienece Darling
  • Leaving Oxford by Janet W. Ferguson
  • Like Stars that Shine by Jenny Glazebrook
  • Tropical Kiss or Miss by Liwen Y. Ho
  • Roads of Love by Abigail Kay
  • Oh, The Fallen by Abigail Kay
  • Misgivings by Anne Gibson
  • Cornerstone by Nancy J. Farrier
  • Collision Course by Jorgia Yates
  • Never a Hostage by Jan Thompson

Audiobooks:

N/a. Still haven’t tried to get back into audiobooks so far.

eARC and Review Copies:

This includes books received in October.

  • It’s Always Been You by Rachel Chamberlayne (eARC)
  • The Royal Artesian by Tessa Afshar (eARC)
  • Riders on the Storm by Sherri Kukla (eARC)
  • From Ice to Grace by Ann J. David (eARC)
  • Every Captive Freed anthology (eARC)
  • Never Alone by Shanea Rinn (eARC)
  • A Secret Infatuation by Jennie Goutet (eARC)
  • A Brilliant Match by Jennie Goutet (freebie/review copy)

What I Read in November:

I only managed to read four books in November. Still, I’m a quarter of the way or more through a couple of other stories, and I even ended up taking on another beta read this month.

While I didn’t read as many in number, I think I probably read a few more pages this month, but I’d have to check to be sure. All things considered, between the fact that I was also trying to work on some crochet projects, attempting to teach myself knitting, and trying to earn a little spare change to fund my new sewing habit and get me started… It was time well spent, even if it was a bit all over the place for most of the month. I made enough to buy the two kits I wanted, and now I can (hopefully) save up any change I make while also trying to finish some of my current reads this month.

November Reads:

This has been an interesting month. I’ve learn to appreciate yet again why the ox is worthy of his wages, and how good stewardship plays into all aspects of our daily lives. I know working full-time hours in a retail job did a number on my health, and I’ve appreciated the change of pace these last few years. That said, I also know it’s time for me to learn and begin using some of the more practical skills that I have been learning, and this month was a step in that direction.

I’m a long way from being self-sufficient, and I’m honestly not sure I ever will be. But I’m willing to put in the effort and apply my skills for His glory, and end the end, that’s what counts. I go where He sends me, following His lead all of my days. I trust that He has a plan for it all, and that these changes fit into that perfect plan of His. I don’t understand, but I don’t have to. I trust Him and know it will all work together in His perfect timing, and I take comfort in that promise.

I didn’t love this one, but it was an enjoyable cozy mystery. I tend to skip the ‘cozy’ mysteries since often I find them to be cheesy and unrelatable, but this one did a good job o holding my attention.

It’s more of an inspiration read than a Christian Fiction, but it was nice to find a clean read that offered something a little different from my normal picks.

This was another ‘beta read’ story! I happened to stumble across this one when on IG one day, and saw the author was looking for beta readers.

I wasn’t sure what to expect, and this it the author’s first attempt at a contemporary story, since her other books are supernatural. I took a chance and signed up anyway, and ended up loving these characters. She writes slice-of-life domestic scenes so well, and I’m not eagerly awaiting a sequel!

Yes, I finally finished this. It took me around two months, but it was worth the wait! I loved reading Tucker’s story, and now I’m even more excited for Dylan’s story and the last of this thrilling series!

I also read this one. I had a review copy for this and the sequel, but the author ended up switching things around, which actually worked out better.

I actually thought this was a story about a dog when I started reading (I had read the blurb, but forgot about it before I started reading). In case you’re wondering, yes, there is a dog, but this story isn’t about the dog, but rather the orphan boy we meet who happens to have a dog. Still, it was a fun story, and I’m curious about the other two now, as well.

(Each title listed is directly linked to the corresponding review post for that book. Except, again, no reviews right now. )

  • Dockside Secrets (The Finley Burke Mysteries #1) by Terry Overton
    • 4/5
  • Cross Rhodes: Into the Light by Heather Thompson
    • 4.5/5
  • Tango (Hunt Brothers’ Search and Rescue #4) by Jessica Ashley
    • 4.5/5
  • Lucas (#2) by Alison Bellringer
    • 3.5/5

Tango and Cross Rhodes were eARCs. Dockside Secrets and Lucas were both review request books from the same site. I also finished a short mystery beta read at the beginning of the month.

November Alpha/Beta Reads:

I did end up reading one beta read this month.

  • A Contemporary suspense story with fun a surprise twist.

I stumbled on another beta read. I suppose this one would be counted as a novella? This one I found on Facebook, which was a surprise since nearly all of my beta reads, and most of my eARCs, are from IG, but it proved to be an interesting story and definitely had an interesting twist at the end!

Books I Received in November:

Book Mail:

None? I’m pretty sure I didn’t get any book mail this month. I might have gotten a bookmark or something, but I don’t think so. The last few weeks have been kind of a blur, but I know I didn’t buy any new ones this time. I do have a few blog tour books that should be coming in the next couple of months, but I haven’t received those yet. I also got a collection of knitting needles that I ordered this month, and have a few more sewing surprises on the way that I’m looking forward to, but no book mail right now.

Books I Bought/Ebooks:

I didn’t buy any books (although there is one I really wanted to buy) but I also didn’t get bike parts this month, haha. I instead spent the little bit I earned on sewing supplies, and as much as I wanted to buy some yarn on sale, but decided to just work with the old yarn we had stored up from past projects for now. Should time go on long enough, I’ll get more when I need it, but for now I can still practice on what we have.

  • None

Free ebooks I got this month:

  • Deep Blue Sea by Valerie Howard
  • Picking Daisy by Valerie Howard, Alex McGilvery
  • Saving Faith by Valerie Howard, Alex McGilvery
  • Second Chances by Valerie Howard, Natalee E. Stotz
  • Last Wish by Valerie Howard, Alex McGilvery
  • Voyage by Valerie Howard, Alex McGilvery, Bethany Fehr
  • Character Traits from A to Z by Valerie Howard
  • Helpful Adjectives for Fiction Writers by Valerie Howard
  • Character Reactions from Head to Toe by Valerie Howard
  • Strong Verbs for Fiction Writers by Valerie Howard
  • My Imagination by Valerie Howard, Tiffany Petitt
  • Chickaboodle: Poems for Kids by Valerie Howard
  • Badlands Escape by Kari Trumbo
  • The Dressmaker’s Secret by Kellyn Roth
  • Ivy Introspective by Kellyn Roth
  • At Her Fingertips by Kellyn Roth

Audiobooks:

N/a. Still haven’t tried to get back into audiobooks so far.

eARC and Review Copies:

This includes books received in November.

  • Elusive Evil (Task Force SEAR #2) by JJ Samie Myles (eARC)
  • Fatal Invitation by S.F. Baumgartner (blog tour/eARC)
  • Every Voice Heard anthology (eARC)
  • Fatal Past by Sarah Hamaker (blog tour)
  • Detecting Deadly Threats by Carol Post (eARC)

And that it for this month’s wrap-up. October and November were both busy months for me. I look back and am amazed by just how fast things are changing, and how much happened, even though it seems I can never keep up, those same months pave proven to each be very productive in their own way.

Have you read any of the books I shared here?
Are any of this month’s books on your TBR?
What was your favorite of the books you read in last month?
Feel free to comment about them below!

You Might Also Enjoy:

Discover more from Books Less Travelled

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.