What I Read In October

November is here already, the second half of the year always seems to go by so much quicker than the first. I think this shows with how many books I manage to read each month as the number significantly reduce. Here's what I managed to read in October.

Songs About a Girl by Chris Russell

Charlie Bloom never wanted to be 'with the band'. She's happiest out of the spotlight, behind her camera, unseen and unnoticed. But when she's asked to take backstage photos for hot new boy band Fire&Lights, she can't pass up the chance. 

Catapulted into a world of paparazzi and backstage bickering, Charlie soon becomes caught between gorgeous but damaged frontman, Gabriel West, and his boy-next-door bandmate Olly Samson. Then, as the boys' rivalry threatens to tear the band apart, Charlie stumbles upon a mind-blowing secret, hidden in the lyrics of their songs... 

This was actually one of my eldest daughter's books that I happened to borrow, in-fact I managed to read it even before she did. A perfect showcasing of the YA genre, my only complaint is that it is part of a trilogy so I now have to wait to find out what happens next!

Dirty Shame by Tess Oliver

A coal miner’s son, Kellan Braddock always knew he’d follow in his late dad’s steel toed boots. He also always knew that he’d never love anyone as much he loved Rylan Merritt. But sometimes love isn't enough.

Seven years ago, Rylan Merritt left Bluefield Ridge with her heart in tatters. Now she’s back. And Kellan Braddock, the boy from the wrong side of the tracks, the boy who she loved beyond anything has grown into a man. Will she risk her heart again?

I'll admit I struggled to read this one, giving it a 2 star rating on Good Reads. It was all a bit too cheesy for me, no real storyline to connect with. An easy read if you don't want to have to think but I like a bit more feelings to the books I read.

The Broken Road to Forever by Rhonda R Dennis an LK Owen

As the daughter of a hard working single mother, Mallory James is very familiar with struggle. Loneliness becomes a common theme in her life, especially because she suffers with issues such as low self-esteem, poor body image, and a lack of confidence. She’s more than happy to be the wallflower who hides away from the world that intimidates her, especially when in high school.

Brent Grayson is a wealthy, bold, sexy, and confident star athlete who can land any woman he wants. However, outward appearances can often be deceiving. Though he’s a bully with a bad attitude, an odd and seemingly unlikely bond begins after they meet in kindergarten, and continues well into adulthood.

Then everyday life happens… 

Their paths split and a decision must be made. Will Brent and Mallory successfully navigate the roads they’re on, or give up and search for a different route all together?

This story was by no means perfect but I liked the subject matter that it touched on, in the form of body shaming as it is quite current in this day and age. I felt there could have been a bit more detail to the story at the end but over-all an enjoyable read, one that will actually get you thinking.

Nineteen Letters by Jodi Perry

Nineteen. There’s something about that number; it not only brought us together, bonding us forever, it also played a hand in tearing us apart.

The nineteenth of January 1996. I’ll never forget it. It was the day we met. I was seven and she was six. It was the day she moved in next door, and the day I developed my first crush on a girl.

Exactly nineteen years later, all my dreams came true when she became my wife. She was the love of my life. My soul mate. My everything. The reason I looked forward to waking up every morning.

Then tragedy struck. Nineteen days after we married, she was in an accident that would change our lives forever. When she woke from her coma, she had no memory of me, of us, of the love we shared.

I was crushed. She was my air, and without her I couldn’t breathe.

The sparkle that once glistened her eyes when she looked at me was gone. To her, now, I was a stranger. I had not only lost my wife, I had lost my best friend.

But I refused to let this tragedy be the end of us. That’s when I started to write her letters, stories of our life. Of when we met. About the happier times, and everything we had experienced together.

What we had was far too beautiful to be forgotten. 

I can't say too much yet, I will be adding a full review hopefully this month but all I can say is bring the tissues. Oh so emotional but in the most beautiful way, one of my favourite reads from this year.

So there we have it, only four books managed last month but I'm actually enjoying not rushing through them. How long does it normally take you to read one book?