Monthly Reads: October 2011

Posted November 8, 2011 by Holly in Features | 25 Comments


Holly: October was a pretty good reading month for me. I didn’t meet my monthly goal (18+ books), but the quality of my reading was pretty stellar. I managed 15 books.

  1. Seduction of a Highland Lass by Maya Banks 3.75/5
  2. Never Love a Highlander by Maya Banks 4/5
  3. Heart Search by Robin D Owens 4.25/5
  4. Destiny by Carly Phillips 4/5
  5. In Bed with a Highlander by Maya Banks 3.75/5
  6. Trouble at the Wedding by Laura Lee Ghurke 4.25/5
  7. The Heart of a Killer by Jaci Burton 4.5/5
  8. Spirit Bound by Christine Feehan 4.25/5
  9. How the Marquess Was Won by Julie Anne Long 4.75/5
  10. Tempted by his Target by Jill Sorenson 4/5
  11. On Lavender Lane by JoAnn Ross 4/5
  12. How a Cowboy Stole Her Heart by Donna Alward 3/5
  13. Heart Thief by Robin D Owens (re-read) 4/5
  14. Heart Mate by Robin D Owens (re-read) 4/5
  15. Heart Journey by Robin D. Owens 3.75/5

My favorite reads of the month were The Heart of a Killer by Jaci Burton, Spirit Bound by Christine Feehan and How the Marquess was Won by Julie Anne Long. All three were stellar reads. I didn’t love Spirit Bound as much as I loved Water Bound, the first book in Feehan’s Drake Sisters spin-off, but I still enjoyed it quite a bit. The Long is the upcoming installment of her Pennyroyal Green series and it definitely lived up to my expectations. The Burton is a surprise to me, because I’ve been off romantic suspense for awhile. I think she did a credible job of balancing the romance and the suspense. I recommend it. My least favorite read was How a Cowboy Stole Her Heart by Donna Alward. While I enjoyed much of it, there were a lot of small things that bothered me.

Casee: I’m somewhat sad. I thought that I would be reporting that I got my reading mojo back. Unfortunately that just wasn’t the case. 2011 has really sucked donkey balls for me. I’m planning on making 2012 the best reading year ever. Of course I’ve had lots of plans when it comes to making things better in the last few months (ask Holly and Rowena). I have never had life get in the way the way it has this year. Blergh. I read 8 books in October. That seems to be my average.

All that Remains by Janice Kay Johnson
Eternal Hunger by Laura Wright
Sweet Revenge by Christy Reece
Serpent’s Kiss by Thea Harrison
Eternal Kiss by Laura Wright
The Darkest Surrender by Gena Showalter
Dark Predator by Christine Feehan
Silent Run by Barbara Freethy

Rowena: The month that was October came and went for me. I slipped into a bit of a reading funk that I haven’t shaken out of my system quite yet but I’m still hopeful that it’ll turn around.

It’s funny that I say I’ve slipped into a reading funk and I still managed to read 11 books. Most of my reading seems to be YA for October but I got some romance in there as well. My favorite read last month was probably Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez, that book made me want to break out the violin I don’t have and play it like I know how to (I don’t). It was a good book but I don’t think we have a YA audience here so it’s all good. My least favorite read last month was Tris and Izzie by Mette Ivy Harrison. I was so looking forward to reading that book, the cover for the book was gorgeous and I was a fan of the Tristan & Isolde movie that came out a few years ago. Sadly, that book wasn’t a good read for me at all. I hated the protagonist Izzie and Tris was strange, not in a good way either. Oh well.

Here’s what I read this month:

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins. (4.25 out of 5)
Tempted by his Target by Jill Sorenson. (3.5 out of 5)
Tris and Izzie by Mette Ivy Harrison. (1 out of 5)
Real Men Will by Victoria Dahl. (3 out of 5)
How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr. (4 out of 5)
Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez. (4.5 out of 5)
The Next Always by Nora Roberts. (3 out of 5)
The Next Door Boys by Jolene B. Perry. (4.5 out of 5)
Merciless by Diana Palmer. (2.75 out of 5)
Wish Upon a Star by Sarah Morgan. (4 out of 5)
The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa. (4 out of 5)

This month we’re giving away:

Serpent’s Kiss by Thea Harrison

The Heart of a Killer by Jaci Burton
Real Men Will by Victoria Dahl

If you want to be entered to win, leave a comment on this post telling us what your favorite – and least favorite – reads of the month were. Also, be sure to tell us what book you’re interested in reading. You can put your name in for more than one book, but you’ll only be allowed to win one, so choose wisely.

So…what was your favorite read of the month? And your least favorite?


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25 responses to “Monthly Reads: October 2011

  1. My favorite read was A Game of Chance by Linda Howard. That was a re-read actually but I still love it. My least favorite was Highlander for the Holidays by Janet Chapman. I love her and I really wanted to love the book but the main characters just didn’t seem right together.

  2. Whoops, forgot to list the book I’d like to read. It’s gotta be Real Men Will by Victoria Dahl.

    My favorite read was A Game of Chance by Linda Howard. That was a re-read actually but I still love it. My least favorite was Highlander for the Holidays by Janet Chapman. I love her and I really wanted to love the book but the main characters just didn’t seem right together.

  3. MD

    My favourite this month was Sheila Simmonson “Lady Elizabeth’s Comet”. It has been on my wish list of a long time, and I finally bought a recently released Kindle edition and really enjoyed it. The least favorite was Gena Showalter “Awaken me darkly”. I got it as an ebook at a sale, wanting to try something new, and it utterly didn’t work for me. I thought the characters were not well developed, and I totally didn’t believe in the attraction. This went right into “delete from my e-reader and library, so that it does not waste space and distract my attention from more interesting books”.

    Ah, and I would love to win “Serpent’s Kiss”.

  4. Amber E.

    Wasn’t able to get a lot of reading in for this month. My favorite book(ebook) was TREADING WATER by Marie Force. Would highly recommend it! I have no least favorite book.

    I would love for a chance to win THE HEART OF A KILLER by Jaci Burton. Thank you for having great giveaways!

    Amber
    adeversmeyer(at)hotmail(dot)com

  5. Chelsea B.

    My favorite read by far was Seduction and Scandal by Charlotte Featherstone! Gothic, dark, sexy, sexy, sexy. LOVED! I didn’t have a bad read this month–actually, haven’t read a bad book in a while!

    I would love to win The Heart of a Killer by Jaci Burton!

    justforswag(AT)yahoo(DOT)com

  6. Of my 13 October books, my least favorites were by two authors I’ve been reading for years: Janet Evanovich’s SMOKIN’ SEVENTEEN and Linda Howard’s PREY.

    My favs of the month were Lee Child’s current thriller, THE AFFAIR, and a Julia Quinn re-read, WHEN HE WAS WICKED. In current books, I also really enjoyed Jennifer Estep’s SPIDER’S REVENGE and Laura Griffin’s SNAPPED.

    If I win, I’d like THE HEART OF A KILLER. Thanks.

  7. My favorite was Serpent’s Kiss by Thea Harrison, least favorite was Rough Play by Christina Crooks.

    Would love to read The Heart of a Killer.

    caity_mack at yahoo dot com

  8. Hi all I’d love Heart of a Killer by Jaci. For my fave read so far has been Belong to Me by Shayla Black, what can I say I’m a huge fan of hers. The least fave was Comfort Food by Kitty Thomas It just wasn’t my cup of tea. Anyway lots more reading to do. I just started Fury by Laurann Dohner. happy reading!

  9. Courtney Milan’s Unveiled was my pick for the month – what an excellent book!

    Stephanie Chong’s Where Demons Fear to Tread was my least fave, a DNF for me.

    I’d love to win Serpent’s Kiss by Thea Harrison.

    hankts AT internode DOT on DOT net

  10. Anonymous

    Sorry about the sucky slump… I feel like I’m a bit of one right now, but mine usually don’t last long, at least. Am going to read some non-genre stuff to snap out, I think.

    Favorite of the month: _Romancing the Countess_ by Ashley March. Though _Enticed by His Forgotten Lover_ was also a really fun read.

    Least favorite: Lord Ruin by Carolyn Jewel. She’s usually such a great writer, I expected a lot better.

    Throw my name in for Thea Harrison, have heard so many good things about this series. — willaful

  11. I’ve been mostly on the re-read, with a couple of notable exceptions–the most notable was Shiloh Walker’s If You Hear Her, the first in her romantic suspense Ash Trilogy. I really liked it but now I desperately need February to come along (I’ll try to write a review explaining why–without spoilers, which is going to be a major, major feat!)

    I really would like to get my greedy little hands on Jaci Burton’s The Heart of a Killer

    Thank you again, ladies!

  12. patoct@yahoo.com

    (right up front so I dont forget – lol)
    Would love Real Men Will

    Favorite Read – The Best of Me – N. Sparks

    Least Fav – A Christmas Wedding by J. Patterson – did not dislike it, but you asked for a least fav – lol.

  13. My favorite read was Lover Unleashed by JR Ward. I didn’t have a least favorite.
    I would love to read The Heart of a Killer.
    Crystal816[at]hotmail[dot]com

  14. Ina

    My favorite book was Archangel’s Blade by Nalini Singh (oh my, I never would have thought I could love Dmitri so much!), my least favorite read was The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook (I couldn’t connect with the characters).

    I would love to be entered for Serpent’s Kiss and Real Men Will, both books I’m dying for – thanks so much!
    greetings, Ina

    inale87 at gmx dot at

  15. Anonymous

    Would love to win either Real Men will or Heart of a Killer.

    Best Read was Bring me Home for Christmas by Robyn Carr and least fav was A Lawman’s Christmas by LL Miller.

    gmapeony@yahoo.com
    Helen L.

  16. My favorite read was HEART’S BLOOD by Juliet Marillier & my least favorite was NOWHERE MAN by John M. Green.

    I would love to read REAL MEN WILL.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

  17. October was a pretty good reading month for me. I read 11 books in total which is quite a lot for me. One of my favourites was Black Ties and Lullabies by Jane Graves. It was my first book by this athor and I loved it. Very funny but still very emotional, too. Another favourite was Seduction of a Highland Lass by Maya Baks. It actually made me cry. I rarely cry over books but I couldn’t help myself with this one.
    My least favourite was Giving Chase by Lauren Dane. I know there are a lot readers who like this series but I so couldn’t connect with the hero and heroine. I might give the second one a try, though.

    I’d like to win either Real Men Will or The Heart of a Killer.
    Thank you for the giveaway!

    claudigc at msn dot com

  18. I would say my favorite was A Beginner’s Guide to Rakes by Suzanne Enoch. My least favorite was Prey by Linda Howard.
    Please enter me for The Heart of a Killer or Real Men Will
    mce1011 AT aol DOT com

  19. Anonymous

    My fav was
    Extra innings by debbi rawlins,
    Not fav was, cowboys like us, Vicki thompson,

    Would love, heart of a killer, jaci burton,thanks

    Kimh

  20. I really enjoyed Suzanne Enoch’s A Beginner’s Guide to Rakes (waves to Maureen!) & also Shadow Kin by MJ Scott. Both were equally awesome.

    My least fav was The Accidental Courtesan by Cheryl Ann Smith. Didn’t warm at all to the hero/heroine & the writer’s style was sadly lacking.

    I’d love to win a copy of Serpent’s Kiss. I read Dragon Bound & it was superb.

    thumbelinda03@yahoo.com

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