What's On Your Nightstand - October

While writing this post I was surprised at how much I read. I know I had at least a week that I didn't get anything read and seeing the final results I am in shock. A few books I had been reading on for a while and just happened to get them finished this month, so please understand I didn't start everyone of these books in October and finish them before today. I took a trip earlier this month which gave me quite a bit of time to get some audio books in also. I am not too sure what November will bring, but I want to make a good attempt at my Nightstand pile. I am pretty sure I won't get through Gone With the Wind, but I want to start it.

For November:

From September's Nightstand I read:

• The Life Ready Woman: Thriving in a Do-It-All World by Shaunti Feldhahn - This book really surprised me. I had almost donated it before reading it, but decided since I bought the book I should read it and I am glad I did. The title is misleading, but the main focus is how a woman needs to know what her core values are and how to line them up with God's Word rather than what our culture says woman should do. There were a few points in which I couldn't support, but overall a worthwhile read.
• Practicing Hospitality: The Joy of Serving Others by Pat Ennis & Lisa Tatlock - Recommended by Carrie at Reading to Know. This book just fell flat for me. The writing style was very dry and since the kitchen is not where I shine it was hard to get excited about anything. (This year I have done more entertaining than I have ever done and I have one more big event to go, which the thought of it makes me want to go run and hide.)
• Hatteras Girl by Alice J. Wisler - 3rd book in the Heart of Carolina Series. I didn't like it as well as the first two.
• Tears of Pearl (Lady Emily Mysteries) by Tasha Alexander - I enjoyed the previous Lady Emily books, but this one was disappointing. I was particularly annoyed and saddened at the attitude portrayed by Lady Emily at finding herself pregnant and all she could think about was how it was going to tie her down at home, etc, etc, etc. I really struggle with author's who tell their story in another time in history, but makes them think and act like how our world today.
• A Bitter Truth (Bess Crawford Mysteries) by Charles Todd - This series is becoming a favorite. Engaging from beginning to end.

I also read:

• The Cherry Cola Book Club by Ashton Lee - I found this book while browsing last month's nightstand posts. I like southern fiction, but this book just seemed to be missing something and was almost boring.
• Miss Julia's Marvelous Makeover by Ann B. Ross - I always enjoy Miss Julia, but this book didn't do much for me. Miss Julia's dilemma (and she always has one) wasn't very engaging or interesting.
• An Unmarked Grave (Bess Crawford Mysteries) by Charles Todd - After reading a couple of duds I was glad to dig into a Bess Crawford Mystery. So glad in fact that it only took me two days to read it.
• A Wedding Invitation - Alice J. Wisler - The last book in the Heart of Carolina Series. Overall, I liked this series even though the author's writing style is different (she writes in the first person) and then that may be why I liked them.
• Wouldn't It Be Deadly: An Eliza Doolittle and Henry Higgins Mystery by D.E. Ireland - I found this book at the library and my curiosity got the better of me. This book had potential, but I didn't care the crass language included and the mystery was pretty lame.
• 52 Scrapbooking Challenges by Elsie Flannigan - Reading through my Reading Goals for 2014. Like I have said before I like to read about scrapbooking, but never put into practice.
• Old Testament iWitness, New Testament iWitness, and iWitness Biblical Archaeology by Doug Powell - (Review)

I listened to:

• Beauvallet by Georgette Heyer - This story is a very different Heyer novel. It included pirates, the Spanish Inquisition, sword fighting, and a lot of suspenseful and fun moments.
• Cotillion by Georgette Heyer - Another Heyer book that doesn't follow her typical format. This was a re-read though I didn't realize it when the story began, but the more I listened the more I realized that I knew what was going to happen. Fun read!

See what others have read over at 5 Minutes for Books.