Paper Wife by Laila Ibrahim ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

I don't usually write full reviews of books that I pick up for myself; I just include a short review in my monthly recap. But every once in a while I get a book that is just so great that I have to shine a little more light on it. So it was with the audiobook I listened to at the end of September. Paper Wife was so interesting and touching that I want to be sure my readers don't miss this wonderful novel.

7 Horror Novels for Halloween Reading

by MK French

Monsters come in all shapes and sizes and often make up a central element of horror novels. They sometimes arise from different mythologies eager to feast on humans or corrupt them, which is the horror element that links them all together. Monsters are the other, the things that scare us because we don't understand it and don't want to. Most of the time, monsters have horrible features, teeth and claws, scales or fur, and mystical powers that can confuse or ensnare. Humans are caught up in it, the victims in a trap they can't get out of. Some humans, however, are able to fight back. Maybe they're brave enough or have allies with powers of their own. Maybe they have special tools or skills.

Either way, it's a battle for supremacy, and only one of them will ever win.

A Spell of Murder by Kennedy Kerr ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

Long-time readers of Girl Who Reads know that I don't read horror. But in October I like to read something to get me into the Halloween season. Sometimes it is a terrifying thriller and other years it is paranormal cozy mysteries. Since I've been on a cozy mystery binge this year, I picked up A Spell of Murder at NetGalley to get me ready for Halloween.

Invisible as Air by Zoe Fishman ~ a Review

 by Susan Roberts

"She unscrewed the cap, took out one of the tiny, white discs and placed it on her tongue. With a grimace, she swallowed it whole, turned off the light and began her day." (p 5)

Cursed by Thomas Wheeler, illustrated by Frank Miller ~ a Review

by MK French

FROM HER HIDING PLACE IN the straw pile and through eyes filled with tears, Nimue thought Father Carden looked like a spirit of light. It was how he stood, back to the bleached sun, and the way the clouds poured under his draping sleeves and upraised palms, like a man standing on the sky. His trembling voice rose above the din of bleating goats, crackling wood, screaming infants, and wailing mothers. “God is love. It is a love that purifies, a love that sanctifies, a love that unites us.” Carden’s pale blue eyes passed over the piteous, howling mob, prostrated in the mud, barricaded by monks in red robes. (First chapter, first paragraph)

Donna's September Reading Round Up

by Donna Huber

It is supposedly Fall, but the record high temperatures have it still feeling like summer. I went to see Downton Abbey the movie and it was so good. I can't remember the last time I laughed so hard. For the first time, I didn't see Imelda Staunton as Dolores Umbridge (I've seen her in a few other things but could only think of her as Umbridge from Harry Potter). Maggie Smith is wonderful as usual, but there is one character that truly steals the show - don't worry I won't spoil it for those of you who haven't seen the movie yet.

Our Favorite Books of September

Here we are at the end of another month and the difficult task of naming our favorite read is upon us. Last month was especially difficult for us to narrow our choice to just one. Was September any easier?