Fall is here and apparently, so is my reading mojo. If you thought I meant it another way, I’ve done that too, but that’s another post – if I ever get over the embarrassment.

I just can’t get over how many books I read last month. I read more in October than I did the entire summer.

Here is a list of what I read and no, I didn’t plan on it coming to exactly thirteen books. Just a spooky coincidence.

• Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris (Book 6 – Southern Vampire series)
• All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris (Book 7 – Southern Vampire series)
• From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris (Book 8 – Southern Vampire series)
• Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris (Book 9 – Southern Vampire series)
• Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris (Book 10 – Southern Vampire series)
• Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris (Book 11 – Southern Vampire series)
• When She Woke by Hillary Jordan
• Matched by Ally Condie (Book 1 – Matched)
• Crossed by Ally Condie (Book 2 – Matched)
• Bitten by Kelley Armstrong (Book 1 – Women of the Otherworld)
• Stolen by Kelley Armstrong (Book 2 – Women of the Otherworld(
• Chime by Franny Billingsley
• Ganymede by Cherie Priest (Book 4 – Clockwork Century)

[FTC Disclosure: Of all the books listed above, eight of them are digital editions downloaded from the public library, the others are ones I purchased.]

For those looking for books that are great for traveling, beach reading, weekends at the cabin, etc. I highly recommend Sookie Stackhouse (Southern Vampire novels) and any of the series by Kelley Armstrong.

Be aware that in both the Sookie books and Kelley Armstrong’s, there is some strong language, violence, and sex. But it’s never gratuitous and sometimes it is a comedic element that adds fun in an otherwise dark story.

What I like best is how each author creates and develops her female leads. Flaws and all. She is also fair to the men, who run the gamut from downright bastards to knights in somewhat dented armor. Even with supernatural powers, the characters see their fair share of hardships that even their special natures cannot protect them from or solve.

Matched and Crossed are part of a Dystopian young adult series by Allyson Condie that had me hooked from the beginning. They aren’t as deep as the social science fiction of Ursula le Guin or as theme-driven as Philip K. Dick, but for a anyone wanting something to read after The Hunger Games trilogy, I’d say give this one a try.

When She Woke is another Dystopian tale that is a re-imagining of The Scarlet Letter. Funny thing is, another book remained strong in my mind while reading this book and it wasn’t Hawthorne’s. I kept thinking of The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. I’ll leave it up to you, when you read it, if you feel the same. If you like re-imaginings, I highly recommend Cinder by Marissa Meyer – a modern Cinderella story that teens and adults will enjoy immensely.

Chime is a historical fiction novel with elements of the paranormal. My only complaint is that the main character’s angst and self-hate were wearing me out by the time I got to the end of the book. However, the story itself (a mystery) and the author’s skill with language, kept me involved until the end to see Briony finally grow enough that she finally becomes likable.

The last book I read in October was Ganymede. Combining elements and characters from the first couple of novels in the series worked for me. Not every character was brought back, but just enough that the connection was immediate. New characters were integrated seamlessly, and the storytelling is forthright and flows well. I love the Clockwork Century books. As with Armstrong, Charlaine Harris, and Gail Carriger, many of their main characters are women who are flawed but likable and are balanced nicely against their male counterparts.

Whew! What a month, and November is on track to do the same:

• The Anatomist’s Apprentice by Tessa Harris (finished 11/02)
• Dime Store Magic by Kelley Armstrong (finished 11/4)
• Industrial Magic by Kelley Armstrong (in progress)
• Divergent by Veronica Roth (on deck)
• Forever Odd by Dean Koontz (on deck)
• The Passage by Justin Cronin (on deck)
• Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay (on deck)
• The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong (on deck)
• Haunted by Kelley Armstrong (on deck)

How is your Fall going? Do you have a list together or is reading on a whim more your style? Either way, you can never go wrong with keeping a book handy at all times. Never.