Even though we don't start getting Fall weather here in the Phoenix area until oh, around December, I still love this time of year.  It reminds me of autumn in the beautiful Columbia River Gorge (Washington/Oregon), where I grew up—I loved the crispness in the air, the golden colors of the changing leaves, the smell of ripening apples, and the feel of soft sweaters and flannel against my skin.  None of those things are happening around me at the moment, but here's one sign of the season that remains the same no matter where I live:  the start of the R.I.P. (Readers Imbibing Peril) Challenge over at Stainless Steel Droppings.  I get excited about this reading challenge every year, even though I haven't participated in awhile.  Things have been a little slow around old BBB lately, so I thought, why not liven things up with a little challenge?  This one, which is in its ninth year (wow!), celebrates things that go bump in the night, particularly horror stories, dark fantasy, mystery, suspense, supernatural, gothic, etc.  I'm a little late to the party this time around, but I'm going to go for broke and sign on for Peril the First which requires me to read four books that fit in with the RIP Challenge genres.  Here's what I'm planning to read:




1.  Contaminated by Em Garner -- This YA novel about rehabilitating zombies sounds like ... fun?

2.  Her Dark Curiosity by Megan Shepherd -- The second book in a YA series starring 16-year-old Juliet Moreau, daughter of H.G. Wells' famous mad scientist.

3.  Needful Things by Stephen King -- I think I read this waaayyyy back in high school.  What better time for a re-read?

4.  Sweet Unrest by Lisa Maxwell -- This book, which comes out in a couple of weeks, involves a teen girl who's trying to solve the mystery of the troubling dreams she's had all her life, which are becoming even more strange since her family moved into an old Louisiana plantation house.

What do you think?  Can I handle it?  We shall see, we shall see ... What about you?  Are you brave enough to imbibe?  Want to join the challenge with me?  Click here for all the details.  Also, don't forget to show some love to the talented Abigail Larson, who designed the challenge banners.

Happy haunting reading!