October Round-Up!

Please excuse this brief introduction to my October round-up - I've started National Novel Writing Month! But I still took a break from typing madly away at my new novel to let you know what sorts of books I read in the last thirty-one days:

*October Winners*

To Have and To Hold, by Patricia Gaffney. Romance, Historical. A+

Pros: Gorgeous language, nuanced characters, beautiful relationship. Cons: Rape scene. Hero's an ass for the first half.

Burn for Burn, by Siobhan Vivian and Jenny Han. A+

Pros: Excellent developed heroines, great continuation of story, well-established but subtle paranormal element. Cons: Doesn't really stand on its own.

*October Dud*

This is W.A.R., by Lisa Roecker and Laura Roecker. YA, Contemporary. C

Pros: Revenge. Cons: Cliched, unlikable characters. Badly constructed plot.

*The Best of the Rest*

In This House of Brede, by Rumer Godden. Fiction, Contemporary (circa 1960). A

Pros: Diverse cast of female characters, eye-opening examination into monastic life. Cons: No real plot.

Thieftaker, by D.B. Jackson. Mystery, Fantasy, Historical. B

Pros: Interesting setting, colourful characters. Cons: Repetitive plot, so-so mystery.

Trial by Desire, by Courtney Milan. Romance, Historical. C+

Pros: Awesome heroine, interesting dramatic plot. Cons: Condescending jerkface hero.

The Postmistress, by Sarah Blake. Fiction, Historical. DNF

Pros: Historical detail, decent writing. Cons: Utterly boring and a complete lack of plot.