October was another month of exhaustion - work was the busiest I've ever been and I've literally been to exhausted to do much of anything. Plus between ghost tours, musicals, and traveling across the country - reading has been at a low. I'm still reading every single day, just not at my usual pace. I've been enjoying the season, though, so I'll commit to not being angry at myself with not reading as much as I'd like to. Check out what I read in October.






Dracul by J.D. Barker & Dacre Stoker ★★★★☆
POPSUGAR Reading Challenge Prompt: N/A
Brief synopsis: Bram Stoker was an ill child who hardly left his bed during the first seven years of his life. Luckily, his nanny Ellen Crone had an odd way of making Bram feel better from the moment he was born. But when Bram and his sister Matilda find some odd items in Ellen's room one night, they decide to follow her out to the old Artane Tower - and what they see is nothing short of terrifying. Then they don't see Ellen again. Years later, Bram and Matilda, alongside their brother Thornley go in search of Nanny Ellen, only to find mysteries much more disturbing than they could have imagined.
See full review here.







The Shining by Stephen King ★★★★☆
POPSUGAR Reading Challenge Prompt: A book mentioned in another book
Brief synopsis: After losing his job over a scandalous incident, Jack Torrance picks up a caretaker job at the fancy, high-end Overlook Hotel during the harsh winters of Colorado. His wife Wendy and son Danny come along, and for many months will not be able to leave the hotel. Danny's peculiar. He's got a way of knowing things that he shouldn't know, and sometimes sees things that others can't. And hotels, especially big, old hotels, have their secrets.
See full review here.







The Gates by John Connolly ★★★★☆
POPSUGAR Reading Challenge Prompt: A book about or set on Halloween
Brief synopsis: Samuel Johnson thought it would be a good idea to go trick-or-treating a few days early. Just to get a head start, ya know? Unfortunately, when Samuel and his dachshund Boswell stop by a neighbor's house and get the door shut in their faces, they see something terrible instead. The neighbors have opened a portal to Hell - yes, that Hell- and now it's up to Samuel to stop it.
See full review here.