Happy Halloween, my darlings! If you don't know me well yet, I'm going to be completely upfront and tell you that I don't like super scary stuff. I don't spend this time of year (or any time of year) watching horror movies (I'm much more likely to watch Hocus Pocus or Practical Magic). But, I do love books that immerse me in autumn atmosphere and the paranormal and sometimes are a bit spooky too. Here are a few favorites:

A Little Familiar by R Cooper (M/M cozy witch romance)
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness (M/F paranormal romance)
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas (YA Trans M/cis M paranormal romance)
Hainted by Jordan L Hawk (M/M paranormal romance)
Darke Passion by Rosanna Leo (M/F paranormal romance)
Vespers by Irene Preston and Liv Rancourt (M/M vampire romance)
Payback's a Witch by Lana Harper (F/F witch romance)
Once Upon a Haunted Moor by Harper Fox (M/M paranormal romance)
The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling (M/F witch romance)

What are some of your favorite books for spooky season?

It's October and my favorite time of year, and I've thrown myself into all the cozy things—cooking and baking favorite fall recipes with lots of pumpkin and butternut squash and apples and soups, fall decorations and candles, happily pulling out the sweaters and tights and boots. I also love that it's spooky season. I'm not into horror or anything too scary, but I do love my books to be witchy or otherwise paranormal this time of year (or just cozy autumn reads), so I thought I would do a few book rec posts this month. I'm writing this one while drinking apple cinnamon herbal tea out of my witch mug and eating a pumpkin muffin.

Today, I have a list of witchy (mostly romance) books for you. I have always loved witch stories in books or other media from reruns of Bewitched when I was a kid through Charmed and Sabrina the Teenage Witch to reading The Witching Hour and the other Mayfair Witches books when I was fourteen or so to Practical Magic, which is still one of my favorite movies (and maybe the only time I've ever said the movie is better than the book), and of course Nora Roberts's various witch series. I'm currently in the beginning stages of writing a witch series of my own and putting the love of those stories to use. I'll share more about that when I can, but for now, here's my list for you (which took ages to narrow down).
​

Happy Halloween, my darlings! I adore Halloween and Autumn, which you probably know if you've been around here for a while, but I'm not a fan of horror. This time of year, I love to read something a little spooky or creepy, something witchy or with all the cozy fall vibes. So, for Halloween, I thought I would share some of my favorite books for this time of year with you.

A Little Familiar and Nothing More Certain by R Cooper: Witchy m/m paranormal romances with all the fall feels and all the pining. A Little Familiar is out in audio as well—it's been keeping me company on my walks the last few days. It's set leading up to and at Halloween, so it always feels perfect for this time of year.

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness: A forbidden romance between a witch and a vampire in a story filled with an intriguing blend of magic, history, and science. This first book in the series takes place between Mabon and Samhain, so again it's perfect for this time of year. I also really love the audio.

Once Upon a Haunted Moor by Harper Fox: An incredibly atmospheric story with a mystery and some spooky elements and the beginning of a lovely romance between a village police officer and a psychic. It's short but an excellent read and a great beginning to the series.

Payback's a Witch by Lana Harper: I read this in ebook last fall and reread it this year in audio. A witch reluctantly returns home at the start of the book, which continues with a vengeance pact between her and two other witches, a magical tournament, and a lovely f/f romance. And, again, all the fall vibes here. (The second book in the series is also fantastic, though without the fall vibes!)

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas: A paranormal YA in which a trans brujo tries to bring back the ghost of his cousin to find out what happened to him and prove himself to his family—and ends up with a difference ghost entirely. Who he falls in love with while finding out what happened to him. The sweetest romance, magic, ghosts, and the traditions of Dia de los Muertos fill this book. The audio is fantastic too,

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling: This book was apparently pitched as "Hocus Pocus but they fuck" and it does have that vibe. A heartbroken witch fake-curses her ex—but when he returns to town years later, she realizes that the curse is real as bad things keep happening to him and magic goes haywire all over town. A second chance romance, a fall festival, an absolute romp as they try to put the magic right...and a delightful talking cat. I haven't read the second book in the series yet, but I'm very much looking forward to it.

Prince of Death by Sam Burns and WM Fawkes: This book might be a semi-odd choice for this list because it's centered around Greek gods in the modern world, but it's also set in fall in Washington, DC (which brings back memories of my college days there) and there's an actual Halloween costume party in the underworld. A professor of magic is lured to the underworld with the promise of being able to find his dead mother and meets the son of Hades instead. The two fall in love while also stumbling into a plot to end humanity.

Widdershins by Jordan L Hawk: I love this book (and the series it begins), but I'm not entirely certain why I associate it with this time of year. It's set in early winter, just before Christmas. But there's something about the magic and monsters, I guess. And, of course, I adore the beginning of the relationship between Whyborne and Griffin. There actually is a book in the series set around Halloween—Bloodline, which I love too and am probably due for a reread of, but the series is best read in order.

Hainted by Jordan L Hawk: Yes, another Jordan L Hawk (and I could absolutely add more to the list!). This one is a standalone, though I wish there were more books set in this world. A young man is trying to keep the family farm afloat while raising his siblings and haint-working—helping ghosts cross over. When another haint-worker comes to town looking for his help catching a necromancer, he doesn't want to get involved, with the search or the guy but I think we can guess what happens there? Romance, ghosts, graveyards, and some bleeding walls make for a just creepy enough but not too much for me Halloween read.

As for my own books, none are explicitly Halloween books. But, if you're looking for a cozy fall/winter fantasy romance, you should curl up with The Merchant's Love. Or if shenanigans at a masquerade ball intrigue you, give The Spymaster's Secret a read.

What are some of your favorite fall or Halloween reads? (And how badly will they scare me?)

Happy October, my dears! If you know me at all, you know this is my favorite time of year. And with the state of the world over the last year and a half, I'm very happy to wallow in the joy this season brings me (that fall wreath has been up on my door since just after Labor Day!). I'm ready for pumpkin treats and cozy cardigans, the glorious colors of fall and crackling leaves underfoot, crisp mornings and reading curled up with a blanket and a cup of cocoa. I'm ready to hang up the Halloween lights and paint a pumpkin. I'm also ready for my favorite autumn stories. I don't like horror, but I do love atmospheric reads and witchy books and a bit of spookiness and just the wonderful cozy feel of autumn. I'll be watching Practical Magic and Hocus Pocus and doing rereads of some favorite books that just feel right this time of year:

A Discover of Witches by Deborah Harkness: I listen to the audio of this book every autumn now (and usually end up rolling right into the books that follow in the series after). It's the story of a spellbound witch and a vampire and a mysterious manuscript and has a blend of romance, science, history, and magic that I loved. It's also set at this time of year.

A Little Familiar and Nothing More Certain by R Cooper: These two books are just lovely. All the yearning romance and witchiness and cozy fall feeling. I adore them.

Once Upon a Haunted Moor by Harper Fox: This short is the start to a wonderful series (which I have not read the latest couple of books in because my reading has been a mess lately) with a wonderful romance and a supernatural mystery out on the moor. But I love it this time of year because it's atmospheric and a bit melancholy and just spooky enough for me. 

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas: I read this for the first time last year, and it is an absolute delight. A trans boy trying to show his family he's a brujo like the other men summons the ghost of his cousin, but ends up with the wrong ghost. And then ends up falling in love with him as they try to find out what happened to both Yadriel's cousin and Julian. The narration in the audiobook is wonderful too.

Widdershins by Jordan L Hawk: I started listening to this on my walk this morning for the...I'm not sure what time. I love the whole Whyborne and Griffin series, a wonderful historical paranormal romance series with fantastic characters and world building. 

Hainted by Jordan L Hawk: Hainted is a standalone with lots of creepy supernatural stuff and a lovely romance between two men who know how to lay the restless dead and are in a fight for their lives against evil.

​Do you have any favorite autumn books?

October begins my favorite time of year—autumn is my favorite season, but really, I love the whole time straight through Christmas. It's definitely not time to think about Christmas, though, not with Halloween a day away and lots more fall still on the horizon. I love watching the leaves change color and smelling woodsmoke on the crisp air. I love pulling out my boots and cozy sweaters and walking with the leaves crunching under foot. I love baking pumpkin muffins and cookies and all sorts of autumn treats. I love dressing up for Halloween, though I don't always have the opportunity anymore. And I love reading books that put me into the feel of the season.

I thought I'd share some books recs for this time of year with you. Just so you know, I am not a horror fan at all. I'm good with spooky and eerie and a little scary at times, but horror and I don't get along. Most of the recs I'm sharing aren't super scary, but most are paranormal and because of that or because of a seasonal feel, they seem appropriate for this time of year and Halloween.

A Little Familiar and Nothing More Certain by R Cooper: I love these little gems. They're paranormal, and they feel so autumnal and warm and cozy, just the perfect mood for this time of year. The romances are lovely and sweet too. I probably read them every year.

Once Upon a Haunted Moor by Harper Fox: This book has all of the atmospheric and lyrical writing I expect from Harper Fox. It's seasonal and a bit scary and the beginning of a wonderful romance and series centered on Gideon and Lee.

Hainted by Jordan L Hawk: Actually lots of Jordan L Hawk's books would be good for this post, maybe all of them. I'm actually doing an audio reread of the Whyborne & Griffin series right now, which lined up well with October, though I've been doing it because the last book was just released. They're all paranormal romance, some contemporary, some historical, all really good.

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness: Vampires, witches, daemons and a mix of romance, mystery, and history that is really compelling. This first book in the series is set around this time of year, so it feels even more appropriate to me. There's also a television show of the book now, which I really enjoyed even though it's a bit different from the book.

Vespers by Liv Rancourt and Irene Preston: I really enjoyed this vampire romance (which is the beginning of a series!), and I love the atmospheric setting of New Orleans.

Spindrift by Amy Rae Durresson: A really lovely romance and a seriously creepy ghost story all in one book.

Trick or Treat by Sydney Blackburn: This is such a sweet, adorable Halloween-themed short. Not a paranormal, but a meet cute romance set at Halloween.

I'll stop there, or I'll go on forever! Do you have any favorite books for autumn or Halloween?

When autumn arrives, I get excited for so many reasons, some of which I've already shared with you, but a huge one is autumn baking. I love to bake, but what I bake is often seasonal. I bake lighter treats (and less often) in the heat of summer, for instance, and in autumn much of my baking involves pumpkin. Not all of it - I like apple cinnamon muffins in the fall too, and some things, like brownies and chocolate chip cookies, defy seasons - but I do love pumpkin baked goods. I probably make pumpkin bread most often (and I'm talking maybe a loaf each week). So I thought I would share my favorite pumpkin bread recipe with you today. The original recipe comes from the Williams-Sonoma Thanksgiving Entertaining cookbook, but I don't exactly follow the recipe from the book. This is what I do:

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup white or yellow cornmeal
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 large eggs
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/3 cup olive oil
1/3 cup fat free plain yogurt
1 cup pumpkin puree 

Preheat oven to 350. Lightly butter a 5x9 inch loaf pan (or spray with cooking spray).

Whisk together the flour, cornmeal, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. In a separate bowl, combine eggs, both sugars, oil, yogurt, and pumpkin. Beat with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the dry ingredients in two batches, mixing until just blended after each. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.

Bake for about 1 hour, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for about ten minutes, then remove from the pan and cool completely.

The recipe is pretty simple, and the results are delicious. Plus the whole house smells amazing while the pumpkin bread is in the oven, which I adore. I love to eat the pumpkin bread warm with butter or maybe a little nutella like in the picture above (but then, nutella is pretty fabulous on anything!). It makes a lovely treat on a chilly fall day while I'm curled up with a book.

​Do you have any seasonal foods you enjoy making?

Autumn is my favorite time of year. Well, October through Christmas, because I really love the holiday season too, but mostly autumn. It snuck up on me this year somehow (I say somehow, but really it was writing and editing and revising and The Prince's Consort coming out) so I'm playing a bit of catch up and also trying to slow down and appreciate it too. There are so many things I love about autumn - the crisp air, the vivid colors, the scent of woodsmoke on the breeze, the crackle of leaves underfoot. The sweaters and boots and tights. The pumpkin muffins and pumpkin bread baking.

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays too. I love dressing up, though I don't get as much of a chance to as I used to, and I love handing out candy to trick-or-treaters. I'm not a fan of scary things, though. I don't watch scary movies or read horror stories. I know it sounds a bit strange that I like Halloween and hate scary things, but I do. And I do like to read things that feel vaguely seasonal around the holiday, which mostly means I turn to paranormal romances. Which can have some creepy elements, but don't generally scare me. Here is a totally random list of some that I enjoy, because if I gave you all of my favorite paranormal romances, this post would be far too long!

A Little Familiar by R. Cooper - I just read this one this week and loved it. It was wonderfully seasonal and had witches and familiars and I adored Bartleby.

The Tutor by Bonnie Dee - Another that I read and enjoyed recently. It's a historical with a Gothic feel and ghosts and a creepy old house. 

Once Upon a Haunted Moor by Harper Fox - Harper Fox's writing is always lovely and really evokes the eerie moor. It's also the beginning of a series about these two wonderful characters. I love the every book in it and am hoping for another.

Fish and Ghosts by Rhys Ford - I always enjoy Rhys Ford's books, and this one involves a hotel for ghosts, including one that is pretty scary. The sequel is Duck Duck Ghost and it's great too.

Spirit by John Inman - Another with a ghost but with lots of humor thrown in too.

Kick at the Darkness by Keira Andrews - Zombies and werewolves, and this book did scare me a bit - I should not read zombie books, and I will remember this in the future. But the romance is wonderful, and I loved it anyway.

Iron & Velvet by Alexis Hall - I just read this and I'm wondering why it took me so long. A paranormal investigator, vampires, werewolves, demons, witches, some creepy monsters, and it was thoroughly entertaining.

The Darkest London series by Kristen Callihan - Magic, werewolves and other supernatural creatures in a Victorian setting. Loved the characters and the romances and the writing.

The Whyborne & Griffin series by Jordan L Hawk - Really any of her books fit and I'll reread them any time of year. They all have wonderful characters fighting creepy monsters.

The Charm of Magpies series by KJ Charles - This is another of my favorite series that I'll reread at any time. Another historical setting with characters I love. The second book has seriously creepy giant rats.

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness - Witches, vampires, demons, and it all starts with a book in the Oxford library.

That turned into a longer list than I planned! What do you like to read at Halloween?