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Casey 2013

Dark Matter
Karen Memory
The Killing Moon
The Promise of Canada
A Wild Swan
The Rose & the Dagger
The Queen of Blood
The Swan Riders
The Graces
The Shadowed Sun
Labyrinth Lost
The Scorpion Rules
Giant Days - Volume 3
The Comet Seekers
The Wicked + the Divine - Volume 4: Rising Action
The Girl from Everywhere
The Natural Way of Things
The Kingdom of Gods
The Obelisk Gate
Bellweather Rhapsody
The Muse
How to Draw a Rhinoceros

Stand-Out Books in October 2016

1. I Am A Story. Dan Yaccarino. 2016. HarperCollins. 40 pages. [Source: Library
2. Duck, Duck, Porcupine! Salina Yoon. 2016. Bloomsbury. 64 pages. [Source: Library] 
3. Full of Beans. Jennifer L. Holm. 2016. Random House. 208 pages. [Source: Review copy]
4. The Beautiful Pretender. Melanie Dickerson. 2016. Thomas Nelson. 320 pages. [Source: Review copy]  
5. Board Book: Cityblock. Christopher Franceschelli. 2016. Harry N. Abrams. 96 pages. [Source: Review copy]
6. Ernie Pyle in England. Ernie Pyle. 1941. 215 pages. [Source: Bought]

5 Places "Visited" in October 2016

1) London
2) Florida
3) Prince Edward Island
4) Kiev
5) Medieval Germany

Board books and picture books:

1. I Am A Story. Dan Yaccarino. 2016. HarperCollins. 40 pages. [Source: Library] 
2. Eat, Sleep, Poop. Alexandra Penfold. Illustrated by Jane Massey. 2016. Random House. 40 pages. [Source: Review copy]
3. Board Book: Cityblock. Christopher Franceschelli. 2016. Harry N. Abrams. 96 pages. [Source: Review copy]
4. Board Book: Mustache Baby. Bridget Heos. 2016. HMH. 36 pages. [Source: Review copy]
5. Mustache Baby Meets His Match. Bridget Heos. 2015. 40 pages. [Source: Library]
6. Peppa Pig and the Little Train. 2016. Candlewick. 32 pages. [Source: Review copy]
7. Trains: A Pop-Up Railroad. Robert Crowther. 2016. Candlewick Press. 10 pages. [Source: Review copy]
8. Board Book: Hooray for Hat. Brian Won. 2016. HMH. 32 pages. [Source: Review copy]
9. Hooray for Today! Brian Won. 2016. HMH. 40 pages. [Source: Review copy]
10. What's An Apple? Marilyn Singer. Illustrated by Greg Pizzoli. 2016. Abrams. 24 pages. [Source: Review copy]
11. What's A Banana? Marilyn Singer. Illustrated by Greg Pizzoli. 2016. Abrams. 24 pages. [Source: Review copy]
12. Board Book: You Are My Pumpkin. Joyce Wan. 2016. Scholastic. 14 pages. [Source: Review copy]

Early readers and early chapter books:

1. Duck, Duck, Porcupine! Salina Yoon. 2016. Bloomsbury. 64 pages. [Source: Library]

Contemporary (general, realistic) fiction, all ages:

1. Another Day as Emily. Eileen Spinelli. 2014. Random House. 240 pages. [Source: Library]
2. Home Sweet Motel (Welcome to Wonderland #1). Chris Granbenstein. 304 pages. [Source: Review copy]

Speculative fiction (fantasy, science fiction, etc.) all ages:

1. The Singing Bones. Shaun Tan. 2016. 208 pages. [Source: Library] 
2. The Dark Talent (Alcatraz #5) Brandon Sanderson. 2016. 304 pages. [Source: Library] 
3. The Last One. Alexandra Oliva. 2016. 304 pages. [Source: Library]

Historical fiction, all ages:

1. You Can Fly. Carole Boston Weatherford. 2016. 96 pages. [Source: Library] [MG/YA Poetry]
2.   Turtle in Paradise. Jennifer L. Holm. 2010. Random House. 177 pages. [Source: Library]
3. Full of Beans. Jennifer L. Holm. 2016. Random House. 208 pages. [Source: Review copy]
4. To Stay Alive. Skila Brown. 2016. Candlewick. 304 pages. [Source: Review copy]
5. Savaged Lands. Lana Kortchik. 2016. 292 pages. [Source: Bought] [YA Romance]
6. The Secrets of Wishtide. Kate Saunders. 2016. Bloomsbury. 352 pages. [Source: Library] [Adult mystery; series book] 
7. Weighed in the Balance. Anne Perry. 1996. 373 pages. [Source: Library]
8. The Silent Cry. Anne Perry. 1998. 368 pages. [Source: Bought] [Adult mystery, series book] 
9. Case of the Feathered Mask. Holly Webb. 2016. HMH. 176 pages. [Source: Review copy] [J/MG Historical Mystery]
10. The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest. Melanie Dickerson. 2015. Thomas Nelson. 306 pages. [Source: Library] 
11. The Beautiful Pretender. Melanie Dickerson. 2016. Thomas Nelson. 320 pages. [Source: Review copy] 

Mysteries, all ages:

1. The Secrets of Wishtide. Kate Saunders. 2016. Bloomsbury. 352 pages. [Source: Library][Historical mystery series; adult] 
2. Case of the Feathered Mask. Holly Webb. 2016. HMH. 176 pages. [Source: Review copy] [J/MG Historical Mystery]
3. Weighed in the Balance. Anne Perry. 1996. 373 pages. [Source: Library]
4. The Silent Cry. Anne Perry. 1998. 368 pages. [Source: Bought] [Historical mystery series; adult] 
5. Mystery in White. J. Jefferson Farjeon. 1937/2014. 211 pages. [Source: Review copy] 

Classics, all ages:

1. Anne of Windy Poplars. L.M. Montgomery. 1936. 288 pages. [Source: Bought]
2. Anne's House of Dreams. L.M. Montgomery. 1919. 227 pages. [Source: Bought]
3. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde. Robert Louis Stevenson. 1886. 144 pages. [Source: Library]

Nonfiction, all ages:

1. Ernie Pyle in England. Ernie Pyle. 1941. 215 pages. [Source: Bought]
2. The Singing Bones. Shaun Tan. 2016. 208 pages. [Source: Library] [Folk tales are generally classified in the nonfiction section according to Dewey, and, this is an art book as well]
3. You Can Fly. Carole Boston Weatherford. 2016. 96 pages. [Source: Library] [MG/YA Poetry]
4. Why'd They Wear That? Sarah Albee. 2015. National Geographic. 192 pages. [Source: Library]
5. Fashion Rebels. Carlyn Cerniglia Beccia. 2016. 176 pages. [Source: Review copy]

Christian fiction:

1. The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest. Melanie Dickerson. 2015. Thomas Nelson. 306 pages. [Source: Library]
2. The Beautiful Pretender. Melanie Dickerson. 2016. Thomas Nelson. 320 pages. [Source: Review copy]
3. The Devoted. Suzanne Woods Fisher. 2016. Revell. 336 pages. [Source: Review copy] 
4. This Road We Traveled. Jane Kirkpatrick. 2016. Revell. 340 pages. [Source: Review copy]
5. Flirtation Walk. Siri Mitchell. 2016. Bethany House. 384 pages. [Source: Library]

Christian nonfiction:  

1. Why The Reformation Still Matters. Michael Reeves and Tim Chester. 2016. Crossway. 224 pages. [Source: Review copy] 
2. Show Them Jesus: Teaching the Gospel to Kids. 2014. New Growth Press. 224 pages. [Source: Book I Bought]
3. Questioning Evangelism. Randy Newman. 2003. Kregel. 272 pages. [Source: Bought]
4. Full. Asheritah Ciuciu. 2017. Moody. 256 pages. [Source: Review copy]
5. Gleanings in Genesis. A.W. Pink. 1922. 420 pages. [Source: Bought]
6. Be Basic (Genesis 1-11) Warren W. Wiersbe. 2010. David C. Cook. 192 pages. [Source: Bought]
7. None Like Him. Jen Wilkin. 2016. Crossway. 163 pages. [Source: Review copy] 
8. Remember and Return. John MacArthur. 2016. Baker Books. 208 pages. [Source: Free]
9. Blessed: God's Gift of Love. Mary J. Moerbe and Christopher Mitchell. 2016. Concordia. 144 pages. [Source: Review copy]

© 2016 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

The Silent Cry. Anne Perry. 1998. 368 pages. [Source: Bought]

First sentence: John Evan stood shivering as the January wind whipped down the alley.

Premise/plot: The Silent Cry is the eighth book in the William Monk mystery series by Anne Perry. (Perry has two ongoing Victorian mystery series.) While some books in the series have been disturbing and violent, this one seems even more so. Think of it as historical Law and Order SVU.

My thoughts: What can I say about the crime(s)? Honestly, I hated that aspect of this one. I will just add that it's best you don't accidentally--or purposefully--sneak a peek at the ending. In the case of this book, if you do it will ruin the entire book for you (like it did for me) and you will spend the entire book SCREAMING at the characters. That is if you keep the book in hand at all. In fact, it took me months to pick this one back up. I had been obsessively reading through one or two of Perry's books a month. Until this one. And I found myself not wanting to go on. I wanted to start the next book in the series. Part of me, was, WHAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS IN THIS BOOK TO MOVE THE HESTER/MONK STORY LINE FORWARD? WHAT IF SOMETHING IMPORTANT HAPPENS IN ONE OF THE KEY RELATIONSHIPS OF THE SERIES. Rathbone and Hester, Hester and Monk, Monk and Rathbone. What if Monk gets a few new memories back and I miss it? So I *made* myself push forward into uncomfortable territory.

I will say this. I think it probably would have been safe to skip this one after all. WITH the exception that we do get one or two lovely scenes between Hester and Rathbone!!!

© 2016 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

It is so rare nowadays that I find the time to read a book in a day and usually for a book to make me want to read it that quickly, it has got to be pretty good. Killing Kate ticked all those boxes!
A serial killer is on the loose and that in itself is dangerous and worrying, but then you start to notice that all his victims look like you and things start to take an even more sinister turn.
Starting off with a super intriguing chapter, you can't help but get instantly sucked in to this fast-paced and gut twisting story. The short, sharp chapters help to keep up the fast pace and suspense in the book, and is also one of the reasons it makes it so unputdownable.
Alex has created what is actually a very believable story; the changes in narrators and time frames keep you on your toes and the urge to keep reading on is strong, hence why I read it in one sitting. 
I may have figured out one of the twists, but there were many more twists to come in this exciting and heart-pounding thriller.
If you are looking for an easy, fast-paced and unputdownable read, Killing Kate is the perfect read!

Killing Kate is available from Foyles

Curl up with a cup of Twinings Tea!

1. What book have you been unable to finish?
~ Books that typically I start and do not finish are usually very long or short story collections. I am atrocious with both! This year there are a lot of books I have started and then not finished because my mind has been elsewhere most of the year. More recently I started The Round House because everyone seems to love it. It's good, but I haven't picked it up in like a week or more. If you are depressed to begin with, depressing books are not a good idea... I likely will put it aside for now and pick it up when my head is better.

2. Which book haven't you read yet because you haven't had the time?
~ ugh, so many. This is a complicated question when you have a TBR that is always out of control! There are many books I have wanted to read for months and just haven't got around to. I am really struggling with finding reading time... It just seems like there is always other things to do and reading takes the backseat. And, there is the mood thing. If the books are slower or depressing, I am just not interested this year. One that pops to mind is The Underground Railroad. It is a book that lots of people have loved and I just haven't had a chance to read it. And, right now, I am not sure if it will happen very soon because of my whole mood...

3. Which book haven't you read yet because it's a sequel?
~ Oh, me and sequels... I love series. I get really excited to find out what is going to happen next. And then... fizzle. I have never been good about finishing one book in a series and then immediately picking up the next one, either, so that doesn't help! One of my goals for the year was to read all of the Iron Druid Series and make a dent in my Lois McMaster Bujold books. Oh, and re-read Robin Hobb. At the beginning of the year I was all into this project... Then, it fizzled. And, it is a definitely a me issue. I just suck at series. I am trying to do the Lois McMaster Bujold on audio, so definitely won't finish that this year. And, I haven't read anything by the other two authors in months.

4. Which book haven't you read yet because it's brand new?
~ Amazingly, the newest book in my house is Promise of Canada by Charlotte Gray and I have all ready started it! It would be the newest released book I own at the moment, too. Before that, there is The Comet Seekers. I bought this on a whim because it sounded good when it got buzz around BEA, but then I really have not seen anything else about it. I still grabbed a copy, though, and it is patiently waiting for me to get around to it. (As well as so many other books...)

5. Which book haven't your read yet because you read a book by the same author and didn't enjoy it?
~ I don't read Isabel Allende anymore because I just do not like her newer stuff as much as her older stuff. Her early stuff like The House of the Spirits and Daughter of Fortune were both really good. I lost interest around Zorro and have hardly read her since. She used to be an auto-buy and I really should try some of her other stuff, but why are so many authors moving away so much from the stuff that made them famous?

6. Which book haven't you read yet because you're just not in the mood for it?
~ I suppose I should have read ahead on these questions. lol My issue is I just don't know what I am in the mood for lately. Even what could be a good pick isn't working well for me. I am also trying really hard to get caught up in reading to take my mind off everything else. It works when I have long periods of time to read, but it doesn't work so well when I am busy. I just don't make time for it. I think one that pops to mind is Homegoing. I know people really like it, but it starts kind of quiet and so I couldn't get into it. Hopefully soon, though!

7. Which book haven't you read yet because it's humongous?
~ ha. There are a few chunksters that have been hiding on my TBR for way too long... If I had to pick, I will go with Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel. (Jenny mentioned it for a different reason in her post, so it is on my mind.) I suspect that given the chance, I will really like it, but with the exception of The Fireman earlier this year, my reading has been shorter stuff...


8. Which book haven't you read yet because it was a cover buy that turned out to have poor reviews?
~ As Jenny said in her post, this is a very specific question and really doesn't apply to me... I very rarely impulse buy anymore because I own so many books to begin with! So, I am going to change this to a book I have because of the cover and the reviews, but I am not sure if it is a 'me' book. That book is Bellweather Rhapsody. It sounds good, but it also sounds way out of my normal zone. I don't read as much out of my zone as I used to because I read too widely as it is. But, it comes recommended and everyone likes music. I am not sure when I will get to it because my reading is so slow lately, but we will see how it goes!


9. What is the most intimidating book in your TBR pile?
~ Typically, I would answer some sort of classic. But, when I bought my e-reader, I got rid of all my classics because it takes me forever to get to them and I was in the land of free e-books that were classics. (I even read some back then... Those were the days...) Now, I am not so sure I am intimidated by anything on my bookshelves. It is more about time nowadays. If it takes me like two weeks to listen to a 6 hour audiobook, just imagine how long it would take me to read a longer work! I will go with The Pillars of the Earth. It used to be on my TBR, but I got rid of it at one point. When my grandmother got rid of her books, I took her copy. So, now it is back and maybe I will read it this time!

The Secrets of Wishtide. Kate Saunders. 2016. Bloomsbury. 352 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: It was a bright, windy October morning, and Mrs Bentley and I were down in the basement kitchen making a rabbit pudding.

Premise/plot: Laetitia Rodd is the heroine of Kate Saunders' newest book. Who should seek this one out? Those who love historical fiction, particularly those who enjoy books set in Victorian England. Those who love reading mysteries, particularly those who enjoy COZY mysteries. Mrs. Rodd is a widow who supplements her income by during detective work on the side, her brother helps "find" cases for her to solve. In this book, the first in a possible new series, she's hired by a very wealthy family to investigate the background of a woman, Mrs. Helen Orme. The son of her client has fallen madly, deeply in love with this woman. She'll be posing as the family's new governess....

My thoughts: I really loved this one. I'll be honest: I was in the PERFECT mood to read this one. I was craving a cozy mystery with a Victorian setting. I love historical fiction. I love mysteries. I love Charles Dickens. And the fact that the author was inspired by David Copperfield--and shares my love of Dickens--just made my day. Not every reader will have the background of loving David Copperfield. And I'm not sure you need that either.

This one might be best saved for a time when you're truly *needing* a good mystery to lose yourself in for a day or two.

© 2016 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews