Welcome to October’s Monthly Minutes at Midnight!

 Here’s the deal: I’ll share the books I’ve obtained, posts of interest from others, giveaways I have happening, and just general random shenanigans. You know I love a shenanigan.  Also, covers all link to Goodreads, because I am awesome. 

The Books

For Review/From Publishers:

Belle Révolte by Linsey Miller

I Know You Remember by Jennifer Donaldson

The First 7 by Laura Pohl

Sick Kids in Love by Hannah Moskowitz

Find Me Their Bones by Sara Wolf

Oasis by Katya de Becerra

Bent Heavens by Daniel Kraus

Late to the Party by Kelly Quindlan

If You Only Knew by Prerna Pickett

The King’s Questioner by Nikki Katz

28 Days: A Novel of Resistance in the Warsaw Ghetto by David Safier

Black Girls Unlimited by Echo Brown

The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller

Huge thanks to Sourcebooks Fire,  Macmillan, Entangled, and Penguin

eARCs:

Huge thanks to Author Erica Cameron, Abrams, Penguin, and Random House!!

Purchased:

Only one sequel that I kind of needed upon finishing its predecessor. Less than $7.  Pretty good job, Past Shannon. 

Won/Gifted/Traded:

Nothing this month! 

Shenanigans Since Last Time:

I read 11 books this month. Which frankly is impressive as hell, considering the month!

Most of these were awesome, so that’s a big win. A couple disappointments but… reviews are coming! I read All the Bad Apples for #ReadForGrace and… she’d have loved it. We miss you ♥♥

Giveaways: Click Here, or on Sidebar

Blogosphere Bulletin

Here are some of the loveliest/most entertaining/super helpful/just plain interesting posts I found this month!

Fancy & New Since Last I Saw You!

I love looking at pretty covers! So here are some new ones that I have fallen in love with since our last update!

Pretty covers are pretty. 

Things we need to talk about at this juncture:

  • Life has been really rough this month. Lena has been in the hospital. To say it’s been hellish is an incredible understatement. She wasn’t doing well in the beginning of the month, and she just… spiraled. She is doing better though, and came home tonight! So I know I am wildly behind on returning comments and such (especially for Shattering Stigmas) but I quite literally haven’t had a full night sleep since September, so. Bear with me, yeah? As always, good thoughts are welcomed- especially since I know they’d make Lena feel great ♥♥
  • There have been a couple of good things, though! My brother got married (and his wife is kind of my favorite, so that’s cool). My parents went to the wedding (well- they and her parents were the only guests, so) and it was lovely! Also, I finally, finally have a functioning kitchen!!
  • Crickets on The 100 News, but apparently we’re going to get a prequel series? At first, I was scared and not sure how to feel, tbh. But then the more I thought about it… how could it go wrong, really? Even if it sucks, it doesn’t change anything that happens in my beloved series. And it won’t suck, obviously. Plus, Grounder backstory!? Cadogan connection!? Reaper origins!? Yes, yes, YES!
  • #ShatteringStigmas was really great! Thanks so, so much to everyone who participated, guest posted, commented, read posts, whatever! You guys are fabulous! Read all the posts here!!  
  • The Bookish Games are happening! It’s Day 4 currently, and my ridiculous ass is still somehow alive, but I can’t imagine it will be for long- the odds just aren’t ever in our favor in the Games! 

Have a great November, loves!

Posted October 31, 2019 by Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight in Blog Recaps / 29 Comments

29 responses to “Monthly Minutes at Midnight: October 2019”

  3. Molly Mortensen

    I’m sorry to hear about your daughter. That must’ve been scary. I’m glad she’s doing better. And yay for a kitchen!

    Reply
  5. Sammie @ The Writerly Way

    Man, I don’t think I heard of any of those books before, and I sort of love it, although I don’t think my TBR does. xD I think I definitely need to read Black Girl Unlimited.

    The Damned has SUCH a gorgeous cover!

    I’m so sorry to hear about your month, but I’m glad Lena is back home. That’s super scary, but hopefully the worst is past. Sending all my best wishes to her and hope she gets better quickly!

    And thank you so much for sharing my post. :3

    Reply
    • Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight

      Bwhahha right? Our TBRs are just… they need to be quiet 😂 Black Girl Unlimited does look really good- and I would be happy to send it your way! DM me or email me if you’d like!

      The Damned is seriously gorgeous, I need to read the first book just to have an excuse to buy the thing 😂

      And thank you SO much! I really appreciate the well-wishes, and she does too ♥♥♥

      Reply
      • Sammie @ The Writerly Way

        Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry I didn’t reply to this sooner! The comment notification somehow got buried in my inbox and I didn’t see it (I can’t imagine how that’s possible, as I’m soooo neat and tidy, obviously /s). I would absolutely LOVE Black Girl Unlimited, if the offer still stands (I realize it took me so long to respond and it might not and I’m cool with that, because that was my bad lol). Thank you even just for the offer. :3

        Reply
  6. Sam@wlabb

    Did you know, Grace and I became friends, because I had two copies of Fowley-Doyle’s last book, and sent one to her? I consider Fowley-Doyle “our” author. I love that you read that book for her. I am happy to hear the kitchen has been restored. Wow! That took a while. ((HUGS)) to you and Lena. I hope all is going well for the both of you (and Sam too).

    Reply
    • Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight

      GAH Sam now I am crying! All I could think as I finished it is that Grace would have LOVED how family-oriented it is. My heart is still so broken. I hope her family is doing as well as they can be, too.

      The kitchen took FOREVER. It is still not even done, though it’s functional, so I can live with it hah. The insurance money took ages to get here, but I am glad it did! And thank you! Lena is doing… okay. Better than when she went into the hospital of course, though not quite herself yet either. Sammy is doing better now that she’s home- he was SO upset, he kept crying, it was rough. Thank you SO much for your concern ♥♥♥

      Reply
  7. Beth W

    Welcome home, Lena! That’s gotta be more comfortable than staying at the hospital, where you never get a full night’s rest and the walls are devoid of a personality/color and it’s always cold. I applaud you and she both for seeing there was a problem and being proactive in ensuring her safety. The timing (during Shattering Stigmas) is also VERY meta- well done, you. 😉
    And congrats to your brother and sis-in-law, AND on having a functional kitchen (effing FINALLY). Now that we’re in November, it’s going to be a smoother month. Colder, and yes, holiday stress, but nothing you can’t handle. Speaking of, nobody wants to suffer through hardship but, looking back, what resilience you (now know) you have!

    Book-wise: Hunted by the Sky looks amazing (Medieval India? Yes, please!). And look at all those other amazing books being published in….oh, holy cats, 2020. Well, adding all of them to my TBR list anyway. 😀
    I can’t wait to read your reviews of those books you tackled, and well done not overdoing things!

    Reply
    • Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight

      Thank you SO, so much, Beth. You are seriously the best ♥♥♥ She is enjoying being back in her comfortable room (we bought her a whole new bed while she was gone, so it’s extra comfy hahah) DUDE right, the timing was pretty bananas! I was trying to schedule these posts and then Lena’s losing it, it was… meta, you nailed it 😂

      And thank you! They are having a party of sorts at the end of the month, so hopefully I will get to go to that (it’s always touch and go finding someone to watch the kids!) so that’ll be fun! And thanks- the resilience… some days I don’t know if it’s a blessing or a curse, but alas!

      Yeahhh 2020 seems really far away but then it isn’t which is kind of upsetting because wow it makes me feel old! But looks like a good book year, anyway!

      Reply
  8. Marie @ Drizzle & Hurricane Books

    This is a wonderful haul you have there! Wildfire sounds AWESOME, I really can’t wait to read that one and I love the cover. I hope you’ll enjoy it 🙂
    Thank you so, so much for sharing my post, means a lot!! <3
    I'm sending you and Lena all the love for this November <3 <3 <3

    Reply
  14. ShootingStarsMag

    I’m so sorry to hear about Lena – being in the hospital is not fun. I’m glad they are home and hopefully doing better. Congrats to your brother; I’m glad you like his wife. 😉

    Great reading month! I’m loving the cover for Mayhem.

    -Lauren

    Reply
  16. Olivia Roach

    Books: I have been seeing such good reviews for Sick Kids in Love so I hope you’ll love it! And I kind of need to read the sequel to The Thousandth Floor as well because I very much enjoyed book one. I hope you have just as good a reading month in November and yay for reading so much 🙂

    As for life, it sounds so busy all the time. I am so impressed you managed to host Shattering Stigmas simultaneously. I hope Lena has taken a turn for the better and recovers well <3 And yay for the married brother and the functioning kitchen!

    Reply
  17. Vlora

    I’m sorry you’re having such a rough time, Shannon! I hope Lena feels better soon, that must be scary AF. But good news on the new sister-in-law! Hope November turns out better. <3

    Reply
  18. Danielle Hammelef

    So sorry to read about Lena! I’m hoping she is even better now as I’m reading this and that you’ve been able to sleep properly. Sleep is not overrated! I’m on the Crown of Oblivion street team, but didn’t get an ARC, so I’m happy to see you read this book and I’m hoping you loved it.

    Reply

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