The Dazzling Heights // Book Review

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Title: The Dazzling Heights (Thousandth Floor, 2)
Author: Katharine McGee
Published: 2017
Genre: YA/Sci-Fi
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Synopsis
New York City, 2118. Manhattan is home to a thousand-story supertower, a breathtaking marvel that touches the sky. But amid high-tech luxury and futuristic glamour, five teenagers are keeping dangerous secrets…

*This review contains information that might be seen as spoilers.*

After reading ‘The Thousandth Floor’, I couldn’t wait to see where the story was going to go. This trilogy follows multiple perspectives, and each character is hiding something. After book one’s insane ending, I wasn’t sure what to expect. However, the events that occurred in the first book weren’t a major plot point. It seemed that most of the characters were fine sweeping everything under the rug and moving on with their lives. Sure they were being blackmailed, but the fact that nobody considered going to the police didn’t sit well with me.

The plot of ‘The Thousandth Floor’ was incredible, and the characters’ story lines were engaging. This time around, they had far less depth. Avery was a favorite character of mine, but her love story went way too far. She borders on being possessive of her brother/boyfriend. Wyatt is one of my favorite characters, but I wasn’t a fan of him being paired with Leda. How was he was falling for her after everything she had done?

I did enjoy the addition of the character Calliope. She and her mother are con-artists, but you get to see the real Calliope behind the facade. Honestly, I would read a whole book just about her, and I’m genuinely curious to see where her story goes from here. Also, I liked that Avery had many sweet moments with Cord throughout the story and wish we could see that relationship develop more. What can I say, I love a good friends-to-lovers story.

The biggest problem with the plot was that the author wanted us to sympathize with a killer. I know it was an accident, but her blackmailing people and lying to the cops was her own doing. The character might have felt remorse for her actions, but didn’t want to take responsibility for them. The characters were way to quick too forgive and forget. In my book, they all have blood on their hands.

“Rich girls never left something expensive on the ground, unless they’d been the one to toss it there.”

Unlike the first book, a lot of the story was about how if you’re rich or have the right friends you can get away with anything, including murder. This time around no one seems to have any kind of moral compass. The characters are willing to commit crimes indiscriminately, provided it doesn’t ruin their lives, and that makes me dislike them all.

The story kind of let me down, which is probably why it took me forever to get through. I was hoping for more excitement, definitely more consequences. There was a cliffhanger ending, which is probably the only reason I’ll pick up the final installment. Things can only go up from here, right?

Leave your thoughts on this book in the comments below. Don’t forget to share and like this post, and show your support by following the blog.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Superhero Pop-Art Halloween Tutorial // Toss-Up Tuesday

- Bunny 1 Comment

Hi Friends,
I have been wanting to get into Halloween makeup for a while, so I decided to take the plunge. I created a pop-art style Wonder Woman look. The look was fairly easy to create, but does take a little bit of drawing skills to achieve. The hardest part for me was doing the star and making the lines not too thick. Over all, I think that it turned out pretty good. The only thing I would change would be using more of a bright or glittery read to fill in the star.

Products Used
Makeup Revolution Conceal & Define Foundation

Maybelline Fit Me Matte & Poreless Powder

Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer

Profusion Blush Palette

e.l.f. Highlighter, White Pearl

Urban Decay’s Naked Heat Eyeshadow Palette

Wet n’ Wild MegaLiner Liquid Eyeliner

Mascara, Blackest Blackest

CoverGirl Colorlicious Melting Pout Lipstick, Tan-Gel-O 120

Movie Checklist // Halloween 2021

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Hi Friends,
In addition to seasonal reads I’m a big fan of seasonal movies. There are so movies that I always have to watch in October. I’m sharing my Halloween movie picks for the family, teens and horror fans.


What is your favorite October movie? Leave a comment recommending me a Halloween movie to watch this year. Don’t forget to like and share this post, and follow the blog to get post notifications.

Bridge Of Souls // Book Review

- Bunny 2 Comments

Title: Bridge of Souls (Cassidy Blake #3)
Author: Victoria Schwab
Published: 2021
Genre: Middle-Grade/Paranormal
Rating:Full, star, bookmark, favorite, favourite, like, rating icon - Download on IconfinderFull, star, bookmark, favorite, favourite, like, rating icon - Download on IconfinderFull, star, bookmark, favorite, favourite, like, rating icon - Download on Iconfinder

Synopsis
Nothing can prepare Cass for New Orleans, which wears all of its hauntings on its sleeve. In a city of ghost tours and tombs, raucous music and all kinds of magic, Cass could get lost in all the colourful, grisly local legends. And the city’s biggest surprise is a foe Cass never expected to face: a servant of Death itself.
Credit: GoodReads

I was sad to finish off this trilogy, but excited to see how things would end. In my opinion, the previous books were slightly different from each other, but followed a similar format. The first book was spooky and interesting. While the second book was gripping, it was quite sad as well. I was curious to see where this book would fall.

For me, the story was a bit underwhelming. As the reader, you could tell that the author was trying hard to make the story spine-chilling and exhilarating, but something about it didn’t work. I wasn’t as invested in the plot, and characters like with the other books. In this book, we aren’t following a ghost mystery, but being chased by a soul eater. Personally, I missed the simple story of helping a ghost move on.

One of my major issues with the book was Cassidy’s personality. In the earlier books I had nothing against her, but this time around she thoroughly annoyed me. It is possible that I was more critical this time around, with it being the final book. But she acted reckless and immature throughout the book. She wouldn’t listen to anyone putting others lives in danger.

“Once, I stole from Death. I’m ready to do it again.”

I was glad to see that Lara was back, since she is my favorite character. Not only do I love her accent, but her intellect as well. As always, Jacob is a treat and adds the much needed comic relief. I did feel as if we didn’t see many of the side characters in this book. Cassidy and Jacob were alone a lot of the story until Lara joined them. I could be wrong, but I remember Cassidy’s parents being more prominent in the other books.

One thing’s for sure Schwab had a way of bringing each city to life. This time around we are in New Orleans, yet the author didn’t utilities the city as she did with Scotland and Paris. The only thing that was talked about was New Orleans cuisine.

Don’t get me wrong, the book wasn’t all bad. I do enjoy Schwab’s writing and storytelling. However, the energy in the story was off, and it didn’t read like the first and second book. The ending to the series was satisfying, but there was something missing in the plot.

These are good middle-grade ghost stories that I can see fans of Neil Gaiman enjoying. The author left the series somewhat open-ended, so she might revisit these characters in the future. If you asked me to name my favorite book out of all three, I’d pick ‘Tunnel of Bones.’

Let me know if you have read the Cassidy Blake trilogy. Did you like the final book? Please like and share this review. Don’t forget to follow my blog for more bookish content.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Thank You, Next // Decluttering My TBR

- Bunny 1 Comment

Hi Friends,
Last week, I had 378 books on my ‘want to read’ shelf on GoodReads, which is crazy. I knew that there were some books that no longer interested me. I decided it was time to do a deep clean of my tbr shelf. It was interesting to see the books I eliminated, and thought I would share some of them with you.

Starters (Starters #1) by Lissa Price
This book still sounds interesting to me, but I don’t typically like reading series. I haven’t heard anything about this book, which makes me think it is pretty underrated. Sure, I could be convinced to read it one day, but right now I am okay with axing it from my tbr.

Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles #1) by Marissa Meyer
This might come as a shock to some of you, since these books are beloved in the book community. Truthfully, this series interested me back when it was all the rage. However, I think too many years have pasted for me to care enough to read it. I’d much rather read a standalone than a fantasy series.

Genuine Fraud by E. Lockhart
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe this is YA thriller. From the synopsis, I understand that this is a dark stolen identity story. I haven’t read anything like this before, but after reading reviews it doesn’t seem worth wasting my time on.

This Adventure Ends by Emma Mills
I have heard a lot of good things about Emma Mills, which is probably why I added this book to my tbr. However, books about social-media stars aren’t really my cup of tea. Also, the synopsis now sounds kind of boring.

Mechanica (Mechanica #1) by Betsy Cornwell
Honestly, I cannot for the life of me understand why I would put this on my tbr. The plot isn’t typically what I would go for in a book. It sounds like a weird Cinderella retelling. It just seems odd and confusing.

Little White Lies (Debutantes #1) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
This sounds a little like a found family contemporary, since the main character’s estranged grandmother shows up. And, she is trying to learn more about her absent father. It is described as a thriller as well, which intrigues to me. However, I am not the biggest fan of fish-out-of-water stories, so I’m going to pass on it.

The Ravens (The Ravens #1) by Kass Morgan, Danielle Paige
This a paranormal fantasy that gives me ‘Legenborn’ vibes. It is about a sorority of witches and secrets. It sounds like other books on the market, thus I don’t think I’ll ever read it.

The Young Elites (The Young Elites #1) by Marie Lu
I have heard conflicting opinions about Marie Lu’s writing, which is probably the reason for this being on my tbr. I am big about forming my own opinion on authors and books. Nevertheless, after going through my tbr shelf this story didn’t stand out to me. I could tell it was going to take me a while to finish the book. As you probably know fantasy is one of my least favorite genres.

I wish I could say that I got my tbr down into the 200s, but that isn’t the case. After my clear out, I have 364 books on my ‘want to read shelf’. This is still a big number, yet I want to start reading more back-list titles. Hopefully that can be a goal of my in 2022. How many books are on your tbr? As always, like and share the post, and follow the blog.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Fall Bucket List 2021 // Toss-Up Tuesday

- Bunny Leave a comment

Hi Friends,
Every year I make a fall/ Halloween bucket list. Most of the time my list stays the same, but I still think they are fun to create. I wanted to share my simple bucket list with all of you. In case some of you wanted to join in on the fun!

If you want to join me in completing my bucket list let me know in the comments. You can share photos of your fall baked goods, craved pumpkins Halloween costumes and more with me on Twitter @bookswithbunny.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Little Women | Book Review

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Title: Little Women
Author: Louisa May Alcott
Published: 1869
Genre: Classic/Contemporary
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Synopsis
Generations of readers young and old, male and female, have fallen in love with the March sisters of Louisa May Alcott’s most popular and enduring novel, Little Women. Here are talented tomboy and author-to-be Jo, tragically frail Beth, beautiful Meg, and romantic, spoiled Amy, united in their devotion to each other and their struggles to survive in New England during the Civil War.
Credit: GoodReads

Being a long-time fan of the movie adaptations, I knew that I was eventually going to have to pick this book up. The story is very iconic and timeless. At a young age, my mom would compare me to Jo. At 15 years-old, I thought that this was the highest of compliments.

Each sister (Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy) had their own stories, but they were all connected. They learned to be selfless, grow-up and above all less that family comes first. Jo March is the most notable character from the book. Probably because her arc is the main focus of the story. Also, she was an offbeat girl of that time, which was refreshing. I found Jo to be a little too stubborn for my liking, but I did notice some similarities between me and her.

Jo was outspoken, strong and not afraid to be herself. Throughout the book she mentioned how marriage, class or money wasn’t her goal. She wanted to be known for her talents instead of her status in society. Meg was the oldest of the sisters, and at first wanted nothing more than to fit in. I enjoyed her journey most of all. She chose love and a family over a career, which isn’t always a bad thing. I liked that she married for love, and though she wanted expensive things, never regretted the life she picked. Out of all the sister, I found myself relating most to Meg.

Beth didn’t have a big plot in the book, but she was the glue that tied the sisters together. She was kind, shy and had a great love of music. In the book, she probably went through the most physically, and it was painful to see how her story ended. She never complained about the cards she was dealt, and wanted what was best for her family. This is something we both have in common.

Amy, like many, was my least favorite sister. I do understand that the author was trying to portray her as immature and selfish, since she was the youngest March girl. It was evident that her character development was supposed to be the most drastic.

In some ways, I get Amy’s need to marry rich and move up in society. Her desires weren’t purely for herself, but for her family. She wanted to be able to provide for the ones she loved, even if it meant marrying someone just for money. Although, I would never do that, I can see her point of view.

As for the boys, Meg and Brooke’s relationship was very wholesome and real. They started as friends and grew into something more. What can I say I’m a hopeless romantic. On the flip-side, Laurie’s obsession with Jo was a tab much. I hated that he acted poorly when she refused his proposal. His relationship with Amy started as a fallback for not getting Jo, which left a sour taste in my mouth. Does he even really love her?

“I hate ordinary people!”

For me, Jo and the Professor’s relationship was my favorite. Some people might think that Jo was better off single. Because not all women need a man to be complete. Although, I agree, it was heartwarming to see Jo fall in love. Throughout the book, she was so against marriage and being seen as somebody’s wife. It showed that you can achieve your goals, and find love too. Once you find your person, everything changes.

After reading the book, I found that I could relate to each March sister in one way, or another. We are all Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy in are own way. I will probably always ship Jo and Laurie even though his fixation was a little much.

The one final thing I learned from my reading experience is that classics aren’t for me. Yes, my favorite book is a classic, but I don’t generally enjoy classic books. I’ll continue to watch all ‘Little Women’ adaptations that are released. And, probably read a few more classics in my lifetime. But they aren’t my first reading priority.

Is Little Women one of your favorite books? Do you enjoy reading classics? Give my blog a follow, like and share this post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

To Be Read // October 2021

- Bunny Leave a comment

Hi Friends,
It’s tbr time again! September was probably my worst reading month of the year, but I’m not mad about it. I hit my reading goal, and just needed a break from reading. However, I have tons of spooky reads that I want to pick up this month. I decided not to participate in any readathons since I didn’t want to put any pressure on myself when it came to reading.


The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White
“A stunning and dark reimagining of Frankenstein told from the point-of-view of Elizabeth Lavenza, who is taken in by the Frankenstein family.”

The Final Girls Support Group by Grady Hendrix
“In horror movies, the final girls are the ones left standing when the credits roll. They made it through the worst night of their lives…but what happens after?”

Girl in the Headlines by Hannah Jayne
“The headlines say she killed her family. The truth? She doesn’t remember. Another twisty thriller from the author of Truly, Madly, Deadly that will leave readers breathless.”

Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M. McManus
“A perfect town is hiding secrets. Secrets that somebody would kill to keep hidden.”

Squad by Lisa Sterle, Maggie Tokuda-Hall
“A fast-paced and feminist horror story for every girl who’s ever felt like prey, and asks how far a girl should go to hunt the hunters.”

Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker
“A story of love and demons, family and witchcraft.”

Tell me what’s on your tbr in the comments below. Please like and share this post with others. And, don’t leave without following my little book blog.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

The Cozy Fall // Book Tag

- Bunny 1 Comment

Hi Friends,
I knew that I had to do a fall book tag to celebrate the change in seasons. Autumn is one of my favorite times of year for many reasons.The cooler weather, movies and food. This tag was originally created by The Book Belle on Youtube and combines fall and books.

1) What book always reminds you of fall/autumn?
For years, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott has made me think of fall. The story takes place throughout all the seasons. But I will forever think of this story as a great fall read.

2) What is your favorite autumnal book cover?
The Fall Changes by Marie McGrath has a simple cover that sets the tone for a cozy fall contemporary. Truth be told, I haven’t read the book, but it is on my never-ending tbr.

3) What is your favorite autumnal drink to read with?
I am a sucker for fall Starbucks drinks. Their Salted Carmel Mocha is one of my favorite autumn drinks. Additionally, I fancy a hot cup of coffee with cinnamon creamer.

4) Do you prefer to read late at night or early in the morning?
Is anytime an acceptable answer to this question? I read mostly throughout the afternoon. Sometimes I will read during breakfast, or stay up late to finish a book. I am pretty much always reading.

5) Halloween is coming! What is your favorite spooky read?
I haven’t read many thrillers or horror books. My answer is probably pretty lame, but it is Coraline by Neil Gaiman. It is a spooky children’s book, which isn’t a huge genre.

6) What is the ultimate comfort read for you?
I have to go with one of my favorite series, To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han. The book starts in fall as school is starting back up. There is baking, family relationships and fake dating. I need to do a reread of this series, because it is one of my all-time favorite contemporaries.

7) What is your favorite autumnal reading snack?
I would say slice of gingerbread, since my mom only makes it in the fall. Which is a real shame because homemade gingerbread with apple butter is so yummy.

8) What is your favorite autumnal candle to burn whilst reading?
Leaves from Bath and Body Works is the perfect fall candle. The scent notes are red apples, golden nectar and cloves. It smells like hot apple cider on a cozy fall day.

9) When you’re not reading, what is your favorite autumnal activity?
Watching fall movies! Some of my favorite autumn films include Stepmom, Little Women, Matilda and Casper.

10) What is on your autumn/fall reading list?
How long do you have? Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker and The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White are at the top of the list.
Both are books that have been on my ‘to be read’ list for an embracing long time.

This was such a fun bookish tag. I tag everyone, and looking forward to seeing your answers. Before you leave like and share the post. Don’t forget to give my bookish blog a follow.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

September 2021 Favorites // Toss-Up Tuesday

- Bunny Leave a comment

Hi Friends,
I thought it would be fun to start doing favorite posts at the end of each month. I can’t guarantee that I will do one every month, but I promise there will be more of come. My favorites include beauty, fashion and lifestyle items. I didn’t talk about any books, since most of my posts are book related.

Beauty

Makeup Revolution
This is a new favorite beauty brand of mine. Their prices are on the same level as drugstore makeup, and the product quality is awesome. They have released some great collections recently, so I can’t wait to see what they’ll bring out next.

Purlisse Pumpkin + Ginger Detoxifying Charcoal Mask
To be honest, I have only used this product once, yet I instantly noticed a difference in my skin. I could be fooling myself, but after that initial use my pores seemed smaller and skin looked all together clearer.

Fashion

Bob’s
Back in the day, I was 100% a heels girl. Now I cannot live without some comfy flats. Bobs have been my go-to shoes for a while, and match almost any outfit.

Lifestyle

Walking
Normally I’m a yoga girl, but these days I’ve been enjoying a nice walk on the treadmill. I love that I can listen to music, or watch a YouTube video while getting my workout in.

Crisp Apple Pop-tart
Pop-tarts are my weakness! This flavor is mild but tastes like a warm apple pie. I find them to be perfect for the fall. Let me know in the comments if you prefer fruity or dessert pop-tarts.

Hot Coffee
This summer I switched to drinking only iced coffee. However, lately I have been reaching for a cup of hot coffee. There’s something about a warm cup of coffee on a chilly day that is screams autumn.

There you have my September favorites! What are your current favorites? If you want to support my blog, like and share this post. Also, follow the blog to get notified about new posts.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny