Hello, friends! Spring is always a busy time of year, and this year was no exception. Between the Houston Rodeo and a quick trip home to Indiana, it was harder than usual to squeeze in extra reading time. Also this month, I attended a reading by the amazingly talented Margaret Atwood during her visit to Houston. While she couldn’t share details of her follow-up to The Handmaid’s Tale, it was definitely the highlight of the month!

Rosewater by Tade Thompson: Set in Nigeria, Rosewater is a futuristic town built along the edges of a mysterious alien bio-dome with healing powers. Part science fiction, part spy thriller, Rosewater is as engaging as it is intriguing, promising readers an atmospheric look into first contact and delivering far beyond any reader’s wildest dreams. (5 Stars)

Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood: Barely a teenager and serving a life sentence, Grace Marks has become a murderess of notoriety, but is she truly guilty of the crime? Her account takes center-stage when a young, and eager, doctor is hired to prove her innocence. Alongside the doctor, readers are forced to decipher fact from fiction as Grace depicts herself as both innocent and devious alike. Having read both The Blind Assassin and The Handmaid’s Tale, I’m in awe of Margaret Atwood’s ability to write a character so profound, she truly lives and breathes. (5 Stars)

Atmospheric Disturbances by Rivka Galchen: On a maddening, quixotic journey across the streets of New York to the southernmost reaches of Patagonia, renowned psychologist Dr. Leo Liebenstein will stop at nothing to find his precious Rema, but when her doppelganger joins the chase, he’ll find himself at a loss for action. Does he stay the course, or make peace with his wife’s replacement? There’s nothing I love more than an unreliable narrator, and Dr. Leo is one of the best I’ve read. Exceptionally convincing, I struggled to distinguish what was perceived, and what was truly a dark, and despairing descent into madness. Perhaps his wife really was replaced by the nefarious Royal Academy of Meteorology? (4 Stars)

The Binding by Bridget Collins: A creative new take on the mysticism of literature, The Binding is, at the very least, intriguing. From the start, Collins’ imaginative world pulled me in as I tried to understand the binder’s role in society and the stigma surrounding their work. But, after a sudden change in narration and a long, drawn-out twist, the pace slowed dramatically toward the ending, which felt somewhat unfinished. (3 Stars)

What are you reading?

Congratulations friends, we finally made it to fall! Tis the season for pumpkin spice and everything nice, including, I hope, a good book. Being my favorite season, I’ll gladly admit I kicked off my fall TBR the minute Pumpkin Spice Lattes were back at Starbucks. If only the Houston weather would catch up… 😊

The Hollow of Fear (Lady Sherlock, #3) by Sherry Thomas: Set at Lord Ingram’s country estate, the latest installment of Lady Sherlock takes a dark turn when his own wife is found dead in the ice house. With wicked wit and a slew of plum cakes, Charlotte stops at nothing to prove his innocence. I can’t wait to see where the next book takes these characters! (5 Stars)

The Castle of Kings by Oliver Potzsch: On the hefty side of 600 pages, A Castle of Kings proved to be the perfect start into my fall TBR. Full of magic and knightly intrigues, the novel instantly transports you to medieval Germany as lifelong friends Agnes and Mathis are trapped amidst lore and legend. (5 Stars)

Bellewether by Susanna Kearsley: A charming fall romance countered by the unlikely pairing of a young girl and a gallant, although very French, soldier during the Seven Years War. The modern-day romance made this a delectable read as the male counterpart is perhaps the sincerest suitor I’ve ever read, but sadly, the ending to this one felt rushed and unfinished. (4 Stars)

Nightbooks by J.A. White: For fans of Neil Gaiman, Nightbooks conjures a magical middle-grade adventure full of courage and creativity. I’ll most definitely be adding The Thickety to next year’s fall TBR, also by J.A. White. (5 Stars)

The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon: Set amidst the wilds of Vermont, The Winter People sets the stage for Halloween as an old legend comes to life, begging for its next victim. If you’re looking for chills, this is the book for you! (4 Stars)

Escaping from Houdini (Stalking Jack the Ripper, #3) by Kerri Maniscalco: Voyaging across the Atlantic Ocean, Audrey Rose and the cunning Mr. Cresswell take centerstage as a murder takes advantage of the cruise line’s entertainment to hide his mischief. Though eerily like the last installment (just insert Houdini for Dracula and a boat for a castle), I can’t help but fall for the couple’s witty banter as their cat-and-mouse game continues. (4 Stars)

What are you reading this fall?

December was a great reading month for me – I finished a few last-minute reading challenges and found a new favorite series. I’m so excited to kick off a new year of reading, and this month’s favorites were a great head start!

A Conspiracy in Belgravia (Lady Sherlock #2) by Sherry Thomas: Now a raving success, Charlotte hardly has the time to celebrate when trouble strikes close to home. Balancing work, love, and cookies, Charlotte is more than a speculative Mr. Holmes in this not-to-be-missed sequel. (5 Stars)

Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance: A revealing account of growing up in a poor Appalachian town, Vance offers a broader look at the struggles of the working class while sharing his own pursuit of the American Dream. (5 Stars)

A Curious Beginning (Veronica Speedwell #1) by Deanna Raybourn: If I were to recommend just one of my December favorites – this would be it!!! Except it’s really a recommendation for three books. Known for her lack of propriety and quick-witted tongue, Ms. Speedwell is a rare breed amongst her Victorian counterparts, but after a near kidnapping, she’ll find herself in the arms of a handsome stranger and joining the circus, all to elude her mysterious captors. A curious beginning indeed to a must-read series! (5 Stars)

The Wolves of Winter by Tyrell Johnson: If the Maze Runner and Hunger Games had a baby in the snow-covered Yukon, you’d probably get something along the lines of The Wolves of Winter. I sincerely hope this makes it to the big screen! (5 Stars)

The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood: A classic example of metafiction, I chose The Blind Assassin to fulfill a reading challenge at the last minute, and I’m so glad I did! Clocking in at 600+ pages, it’s not an easy read, but the end is well worth the effort, for only after the story within the story concludes do we truly realize the narrator’s motives for a life spent sequestered by wasteful wishes and regret. (4 Stars)

The English Wife by Lauren Willig: Set amongst the glitz and glamour of the New York Gilded Age, an old-money heir brings home an unexpected souvenir from his trip abroad, stirring up gossip and intrigue alike. Still a connoisseur of romance, Willig’s latest novel is far darker than her Pink Carnation Series with a surprise ending you’ll never guess (I sure didn’t!). (4 Stars)

Daughter of the Pirate King (Daughter of the Pirate King #1) by Tricia Levenseller: Pirates, hidden treasure, and an ancient legend – what’s not love!? I can’t wait for the sequel, Daughter of the Siren Queen, to come out this February! (4 Stars)

Kill Creek by Scott Thomas: For years, the legacy of the Finch House has pervaded the Kansas countryside as the abandoned house lies in wait of its next victim, until a chilling expose threatens to wake the long-forgotten beast. A celebration of the horror genre, Kill Creek brings the classic haunted house to life as four authors delve past the pages to unlock the mysteries left behind. (4 Stars)

What did you read in December?

This month I’m linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy’s Quick Lit. For more short reviews, click here!