6 TV Series to Watch This October to Get in the Halloween Spirit

I don’t know about you, but the minute the calendar flips from September to October, I’m all about Halloween. Give me all the creepy, spooky things! I love rewatching old favourite TV shows and movies, as well as discovering new ones. With its shorter, cooler days and darkness falling so early in the evening, autumn seems like the perfect time to curl up and find a new favourite show or rewatch an old favourite. If you’re like me and you’re looking for things to get you in the Halloween spirit, here are 6 TV shows that are perfect for October.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Buffy is a classic for a reason. With a literal kickass heroine, a great cast of side characters, hilarious dialogue, and real emotion, this show has it all. It has a variety of monsters to satisfy those looking for a creep factor, and it also has a lot of real-life lessons about love, family, friendship, and life. 2017 is the 20-year anniversary of the show’s debut, which makes me feel ancient (I was 13 when it started, and I can still remember being obsessed and talking about it with my friends), and also makes it the perfect time to start watching it if you’ve never seen it, or to do what I’m currently doing: a series rewatch.

Supernatural

This is another show that blends scary monster real-life issues. The first couple of seasons have some downright terrifying, gruesome episodes that deal largely with urban legends. As the show continues, the Winchester brothers deal with various creatures that go bump in the night, but there are also running problems that last for several episodes or even a whole season. Supernatural is also the perfect show if you like complex sibling relationships. There’s a lot of pain and heartache in this show, but that’s part of what makes it so irresistible - it's impossible not to feel for the brothers and their issues.  

Charmed

“The power of three will set you free, the power of three will set you free.” I’ll admit I never finished watching this series because I stopped getting the channel it was on (UGH), but I loved what I saw of Charmed, and I adored the Halliwell sisters. I have a soft spot for sibling relationships, plus I loved the girls’ magical abilities and watching them struggle with their powers as well as all the supernatural circumstances thrown their way.

Sabrina the Teenage Witch

Another 90s classic. This one is completely different from the other shows I’ve mentioned in that it’s geared toward a younger audience and is much cuter and fluffier. That’s not to say Sabrina didn’t deal with her share of real-life issues. I just rewatched this show year before last, and I had a whole new appreciation for it as an adult. It’s funny and sometimes silly, which makes it perfect if you’re looking for a lighter, family-friendly show that’s perfect for Halloween.

Ripper Street

Unlike the other shows listed above, Ripper Street deals with monsters of the real-life variety: murderers, thieves, and a whole host of other criminals. The show is set in seedy, post-Jack the Ripper Whitechapel, London, which is what drew me to it initially. Like many other people, I’ve had a sick obsession with Jack the Ripper for years, and I find that time period in London (late 1800s) truly fascinating. It was like a whole different world, and many of the things that happened back then were horrifying, gruesome, and downright depressing. I also love seeing the advancements in science and medicine during that time; one of the main characters is a medical examiner, and he’s always experimenting and making interesting discoveries.

Pretty Little Liars

Like with Ripper Street, Pretty Little Liars is all about the real-life monsters. So many things about this show are wonderfully creepy, right down to the theme song. PLL is full of twists and turns, secrets and lies, and there are some episodes that will just about scare the pants right off you. Two years ago before I had Netflix, I was apartment- and cat-sitting for a friend and I stayed up until 2 or 3 every night binge-watching as much of the show as I could. It’s seriously addictive, and now that the series has come to an end, it’s the perfect time to watch it. So much happens in the show, it’s a good one to binge-watch so you don’t forget things.

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-Buffy the Vampire Slayer (7 seasons)

-Supernatural (12 seasons on DVD, season 13 is about to start airing)

-Charmed (8 seasons)

-Sabrina the Teenage Witch (7 seasons)

-Ripper Street (5 seasons)

-Pretty Little Liars (7 seasons)

What are you watching this fall? Have you watched any of these? Have any recommendations for shows you think are perfect for getting in the Halloween mood?

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2017 Love-a-Thon: X Meets Y

The Love-a-Thon is hosted by Alexa of Alexa Loves Books, Cee of The Novel Hermit, Kristin of Super Space Chick, and Mel of The Daily Prophecy. Follow along on social media using the hashtag #LoveaThon

My Love-a-Thon posts so far:
Introduction
Mad Libs: Fairytale Edition
Mix and Match Challenge

Book Spine Poetry

Sweethearts Candy Messages

Other places to find me this weekend:
Bookstagram
Twitter

♥  ♥  ♥

The idea for this challenge is for us to combine the books and TV shows/movies we love in some way, in order for other people to find new recommendations for things to check out.

I took three of my favourite TV shows and paired them with three awesome books with similar themes or characters.

If you like Doctor Who, try Jackaby by William Ritter. When it first came out, it was being advertised as 'Doctor Who Meets Sherlock', which a) excited me because I love both, and b) made me slightly wary since those are two popular shows and books advertised that way often don't like up to their hype. However, this is one of those books that totally does live up to it. It definitely has a Doctor Who and Sherlock vibe with its own unique elements and characters. 

If you like Sherlock, try Every Breath by Ellie Marney. The premise of this one is 'What if Sherlock Holmes was the boy next door?' and it is SO. FREAKING. GOOD. Set in Australia and featuring a female 'Watson' character, this is one of my absolute favourite Sherlock-related books.

If you like Supernatural, try Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake. This book is so spooky and creepy, and is totally the type of thing you'd see Sam and Dean dealing with in an episode of Supernatural.

Do you watch any of these shows? Have you read any of these books? Are there other books you'd pair with my choice of shows?

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On My TBR: Paranormal

On My TBR is a new feature here at Ramblings of a Daydreamer. One day on Bookstagram I posted a picture of the paranormal books on my TBR, and decided it would make a good blog feature. I have so many books on my shelves that have been there for years, and I'd like to read a bunch of them this year, plus I figured it'd be a good way to spotlight backlist books as well as some newer or upcoming books.

Before I started blogging and even for awhile after, I read a lot of paranormal books. I got away from them when I became obsessed with contemporary, but I'd like to branch out this year, and I have a ton of paranormal books on my shelves. These are some of the many I'd like to read this year. Note: I spaced when I took this picture and included Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock, but I've already read it (and really enjoyed it - great werewolf book).

• Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

• The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver

• Royal Street by Suzanne Johnson

• Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready

• Hereafter by Tara Hudson   

 

Do you like paranormal books? Have you read any of the ones on my TBR? What are some paranormal books on your TBR?

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Monthly Recap: January 2017

Hello beautiful people! Can you believe the first month of 2017 is already over? It alternately flew and dragged. I was busy to the point of feeling overwhelmed, and I'm hoping to find more balance in February. For now, here's what my January looked like:

What I Read:

• What Happens at Midnight by Laura Chapman

• On Broken Wings by Chanel Cleeton

• Sweet Pursuits by Pauline Wiles

• Three Men and a Maybe by Katey Lovell

• Love, Hate, and Other Lies We Told by Deirdre Riordan Hall

• Even if the Sky Falls by Mia Garcia

• Worth the Wait by AJ Pine

• Fateful by Claudia Gray 

• London Belongs to Me by Jacquelyn Middleton

• Londontown by Susannah Conway

• Skating at Somerset House by Nikki Moore 

What I Watched:

• Season 4 of Sherlock. Holy crap what a mindfuck! This season was seriously intense. I know a lot of people had issues with it, but I enjoyed it...for the most part. I feel like I spent most of the three episodes sitting on the edge of my seat screaming at the TV lol

• I started a rewatch of Supernatural. I'm several seasons behind, and it's been so long since I watched, I can't remember where I left off! Since I got season 11 for Christmas and since one of my friends is doing a rewatch, I decided to just start again from the beginning. I suck at binge-watching and don't know how some people can watch a season a day or in a couple of days. My friend and I started around the same time and I just finished season 1 and she's already on season 6 or 7!

Blog Highlights:

• I posted my 2016 reading recap and 2017 reading goals

• I shared some of my favourite books of 2016 in different lists: one for YA books, one for New Adult and Adult books, and one for LGBTQ+ books

• I reviewed 5 books: On Broken Wings by Chanel Cleeton (5 stars), RoseBlood by AG Howard (4 stars), Dreamology by Lucy Keating (5 stars), Sweet Pursuits by Pauline Wiles (4 stars), and Worth the Wait by AJ Pine (5 stars)

• I did 3 Top Ten Tuesdays: Books I meant to read in 2016 but didn't get to, and hidden gem books of the last 2 years, and books to satisfy your wanderlust.

• January was the 5-year publication anniversary of my debut novel, Blue Sky Days. I shared 5 things I've learned in my 5 years of being a published author

Bookstagram Highlights:

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Goals Progress:

• Personal Goals: At the beginning of January, I set overall goals for 2017, monthly goals for January, as well as specific daily goals (separate from my daily to-do list). I need to be more active and I need to lose weight, but I didn't want to do too much too soon and then burn out like I always have in the past. I'd like to work my way up to the recommended 10,000 steps a day, but I figured going from barely any physical activity to 10,000 steps a day would be difficult, so I set a small goal of 3,000 steps a day and an overall goal of 100,000 steps in January. I hit (and usually exceeded) my daily goal every day, plus exceeded the 100,000. Yay! I also set a goal of drinking more water every day, plus eating breakfast daily - both of which I achieved. And finally, I set a goal to drink less pop and I managed to go 22 days without pop. My reward = $22 in my piggy bank!

• Writing Goals: I didn't meet my writing goal for the month. FAIL. I'm so out of practice since I didn't write daily last year, and while I did get a fair bit of writing done, I'm still lacking in motivation and energy. I AM going to do better in February, though.

• Blogging Goals: In my yearly wrap-up post, I mentioned I was uncertain about the future of this blog. I decided to get it a few months and decide from there. I set a goal to post at 15 times in January, and I exceeded that. I started visiting and commenting on more blogs, and getting a decent amount of visitors and commenters in return, which is nice. I'm going to keep it up in February, and I even have a couple new features I'm planning that I'm excited about.

What's Happening in February:

• My youngest nephew is turning 7. I can't believe how fast this sweet, thoughtful, sensitive, smart little boy is growing up. 

• The Last of August by Brittany Cavallaro, sequel to A Study in Charlotte (one of my favourite books of 2016) is coming out on February 14th. So excited!

• The 2017 Love-a-Thon, an event for book lovers (bloggers, authors, bookstagrammers, booktubers, etc) is happening from February 18th - 20th. I missed it last year, so I'm excited to participate this year. Visit the link for more information and to sign up!

• I'm planning a blog re-design. I'll be leaving the colour scheme the same, as well as most of my graphics (like review ratings, meme graphics, etc), and changing up the main header, as well as maybe some of the sidebar stuff. I have an idea in mind for the header, I just need to time to actually do it. 

So, that's my month. How was yours? How many books did you read? Do you have a favourite? Do you have a blog post you wish got more attention in January? Feel free to leave a link in the comments. Also, if you did a wrap-up post, be sure to leave that link too so I can visit you!

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Fantastic Friday #6: Funko POPs!

Fantastic Friday is a semi-regular feature here on Ramblings of a Daydreamer where I showcase fantastic things - could be things I've done recently, places I've gone, a new song I like, a movie I've seen, books I've read, blog posts from around the blogosphere - anything at all!

It's been ages since I did a Fantastic Friday. In fact, the last one was at the end of May - oops! I was inspired by a post Wendy at A Cupcake and a Latte did a few weeks ago where she shared her POP collection.

I didn't have much interest in POPs when they first started coming out. I saw them here and there and thought a few were cute, but I didn't pay much attention to them until the Harry Potter ones released...and then a new obsession was born. 

I ordered Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Hagrid first...

Then saw that HMV had an exclusive Dean and Sam Winchester set, which was cheaper than buying them separately...

Then discovered there was a Robin Hood POP. Robin Hood has been one of my favourite movies for as long as I can remember, and it's hard to find memorabilia, apparently because it's one of the less popular Disney movies (which I don't understand). I had trouble finding him, but then Amazon finally got it back in stock and I had to have him!

Then when I went to visit my friend Krista in Kingston, I was telling her about the Loki POP and how I wanted to get it for her (she's obsessed with Loki - and Tom Hiddleston - and was the one who got me into superhero movies), but was having trouble finding one. We went shopping and guess what we found? Loki! So we each got one....

 

And finally I found Anna for half price at Carlton Cards one day (she's got a few little imperfections, but HALF PRICE, I'm not going to complain). Then I needed to have Elsa (for obvious reasons, plus my 5-year-old nephew was upset thinking about Anna being lonely)...

A little POP photography fun...

Krista's cat Loki meets Bobblehead POP Loki...

POP Wishlist:

All images taken from Funko.com

 

 

 

POPs I'd like to See:

• Anne Shirley, Diana Berry, and Gilbert Blythe from Anne of Green Gables
• Lorelai and Rory Gilmore from Gilmore Girls  (I actually had a dream about these one night; Lorelai had a coffee cup and Rory had a book - so cute!)
  
• Jareth, Sarah, Hoggle, and Ludo from Labyrinth
• Maid Marian and Little John from Robin Hood
• Draco Malfoy from Harry Potter

 

Do you collect Funko POPs? How many do you have? Which ones are high on your wishlist? What characters do you wish they'd turn into POPs? Do you collect anything else? Let's talk here or on Twitter!

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Update Thursday #12

I got the idea for Update Thursday from the amazingly wonderful Jessica from Thoughts at One in the Morning. Every Thursday, I’ll be posting an update on my reading, writing, what’s going on at the blog, and anything else I think is worth mentioning. 

 

READING

FINISHED READING:

 

CURRENTLY READING:

 

 

ON THE BLOG

I participated in Kathy Coleman's cover + trailer + prologue reveal for her upcoming novel, Sealer's Promise. Kathy's giving away a book of your choice as part of the reveal, so be sure to enter!

I shared a totally epic book haul in my Stacking the Shelves vlog this week

This week's Music Monday song was Undermine from ABC's Nashville

I shared the very first excerpt from The Game Changer, along with a giveaway for people willing to help me spread the word about the book (via Twitter, Facebook, G+, blogs, etc)

WRITING

I finally finished the final revisions of The Game Changer early this week. My alpha reader is going over it once more before I format it and send it out to reviewers. It’s such a relief to finally have it done, but I wish I had more time for pre-release reviews. It’s alright though, at least it’s done! *phew*

I signed up for NaNoWriMo yesterday (you can add me here if you're participating). A few of my writer friends kept telling me they thought I should do it, and since I’d been planning on starting book #4 soon anyway, I figured why not. I wanted to do it last year, but I was knee-deep in revisions for Blue Sky Days and didn’t have time. I’m really excited about the story I plan to write, and I’m anxious to get started. And extremely nervous, because I'm very self-competitive and when I set a goal, I need to accomplish it.

It’ll also be nice to finally have something to talk about on my author blog. It’s been pretty neglected since I started it, but I figure I’ll start a weekly update on NaNo, and maybe even talk about the story as I write…which will be new for me because I never talk about my writing as I’m working on it, and literally only two people know my plans for book #4. Since this book is going to be very different for me in a lot of ways, maybe my process should be too.

LIFE AND STUFF

My sister-in-law has been sick all week, so I’ve had a break from Logan duty (he’s back today though), which is how I’ve managed to get so much done. I’ve drafted several reviews so I can just schedule them, and I’m going to try to do a bunch more (I’m like 15 reviews behind…I don’t know how that happened), plus a few other posts for November, and a few articles for the site I freelance with so that in November I can concentrate on NaNo and the Scarlet Read-Along.

I started watching Supernatural last week (I got all seven seasons on DVD). I’m six episodes in and loving it. I usually tweet while I watch it, and I’ve had so many people strike up conversations with me over the show, so that’s a fun added bonus. 

That's it for me this week. Every time I go on the NaNo site and see that little daily/hourly countdown thingy until November 1st, I want to barf. I'm excited and nervous and just want to get started because this story is yelling in my ear night and day. I'm worried that I won't be lucky enough to be able to write two books back to back in such a short time period - it took me three weeks to write book #3, what are the odds I can write the next book in 4 weeks? That would actually be kind of cool though - book 3 in 3 weeks, book 4 in 4 weeks...hmm....

What's new with you this week?  

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Stacking the Shelves October 20th

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

***Subscribe to my YouTube channel***

 

BOUGHT

The Iron Fey Box Set by Julie Kagawa

(The Iron King, The Iron Daughter, The Iron Queen, The Iron Knight) + signed Ash and Puck poster

Iron’s Prophecy by Julie Kagawa (ebook)

Supernatural seasons 1-7

WON

Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan

Wynne Channing prize pack (What Kills Me ebook, Kindle Fire cover, signed bookmark with butterfly charm, rhinestone butterfly necklace)

KOBO FREEBIES

Madly by M. Leighton

Gravity by Abigail Boyd

FOR REVIEW FROM PUBLISHER

Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

*I start to squee even just typing that*

ALSO MENTIONED IN THE VIDEO

Molli’s ARC and publisher posts - here and here

Giselle’s ARC and publisher post - here

*Thank you so much girls for writing these posts. I meant to explain in the video that the reason I rambled on about requesting ARCs from publishers is that I want other people who are nervous to know they're not alone. It can be nerve-wracking, and you might get turned down, but you might also get to make connections with publishers and get some fantastic books. For anyone who's looking for great tips, whether you're a newbie or whether you've been blogging for a long time, check out Molli and Giselle's posts for help*

Spooktacular Paranormal Reading Challenge - Sign ups here

Scarlet Read-Along - Sign ups here

I also forgot to mention I have a couple giveaways going on:

The Book Love Giveaway Hop - win 1 of 16 ebooks

Kathy Coleman is giving away a book of your choice up to $12 to celebrate the cover/trailer/prologue reveal of her debut novel, Sealer’sPromise

  

A huge thank you to HarperCollins Canada, Kimberly from Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer, Wynne Channing, and Dark Mind Blog Tours

What books did you get this week? Tell me in the comments below or post a link to your Stacking the Shelves/Book Haul/In My Mailbox/Showcase Sunday, etc. Happy reading! <3

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