Adult

Tis The Season For Revenge // Book Review

- Bunny Leave a comment

About The Book
Abbie Keller thought that Richard Bartholemew Benson the Third would be her forever. So she does what every girl does when she’s broken up with: she calls her friends, gets drunk, dyes her hair, and formulates her plan for revenge. It just so happens that the universe supports her efforts and gives her the perfect match to prove to her ex that he made a huge mistake: his boss.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/48tEY3m

My Rating

If you’re looking for a bingeable, smutty holiday romance, then you will most likely enjoy this book. I found the book to be very easy to read, and the spicy scenes were done very well. I would give it a 3.5 spice rating. This isn’t a closed door romance at all.

In the book we follow Abbie, who gets dumped by her (jerk) boyfriend that bordered on emotional abuse. Drunkenly, she and her friends decide to create her a dating profile, but when she matches with he ex’s boss, Damien, she decides the sweetest revenge would be to date him.

Honestly, the book gave me Legally Blonde vibes and you could tell that Elle Wood’s was a big inspiration behind Abbie’s personality. It was interesting to see Abbie rediscover herself and take back her power. She let her ex take part of herself, so it was very different look at an abusive relationship.

“A relationship is like the law. It needs balance. If it’s out of balance, if one person sees themselves as less valuable, if another sees themselves as more valuable, the balance isn’t there.”

The romance was fantastic. It was an age gap romance, since Damien is much older than Abbie. And, it is clearly a ‘he falls first’ plot. I liked how they communicated a lot throughout the book, and talked about things such as kids and the future. For a plot that is pretty far fetched their relationship felt very realistic.

The thing I liked most was that the plot wasn’t drawn out, and the story moved at a good pace. The ending conflict was handled really well. I hate when adult romances have characters that act like they’re teenagers. But, I am happy to say, that wasn’t the case in this book.

Overall, this isn’t the most well written book, but I am excited to read more from this author. However, I do wish that we had gotten a longer epilogue, but that isn’t something I’m going to hold against the book. I do think that it makes for a fun holiday read for anyone who is looking for spice, rather than fluff.

In the comments, let me know if you have read this book. It would be amazing if you gave this post a like and share. And, follow the blog before you go.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Secret Santa | Book Review

- Bunny Leave a comment

About The Book
Lussi must find the next horror superstar to compete with Stephen King, Anne Rice, and Peter Straub. It’s the ’80s, after all, and horror is the hottest genre. The Office meets Stephen King, dressed up in holiday tinsel, in this fun, festive, and frightening horror-comedy set during the horror publishing boom of the ’80s, by New York Times best-selling satirist Andrew Shaffer.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3NsoNLN

My Rating

If you love thriller and horror books, but still want a holiday read, then this is the perfect read for you. I loved the plot, characters, and how fast the book was paced. It is a good, short, palate-cleanser Christmas horror novel that is not too gory.

When I first read the synopsis, I was nervous that this book would be gruesome and cheesy. However, I was hooked on the first page, and found the writing to be really good. Who doesn’t love a good horror story set during the holidays? In particular, one that takes place in a publishing house.

The book was set in the 80’s, and we follow Lussi, who is tasked with finding the next big name in horror novels in her new publishing job. However, during the company’s annual Secret Santa, she receives a demonic doll. That is, when things start to get a little weird, accidents start happening to her coworkers.

“Authors are God’s neediest creatures, eclipsed only by actors and puppies.”

The 80’s vibes were on point, and I loved all the nods to horror as a growing genre in the book industry. This makes sense, considering that the book is set during the time when Stephen King and Anna Rice were becoming big name authors. It is a really fun read for a horror and thriller reader like myself.

This book is not a feel good Christmas story, and there are not many traditional holiday aspects to the narrative besides the Secret Santa plot. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed it, and the storyline as a whole was intriguing. I liked Lussi as our main character because she was smart and did not ignore all the unusual things that were happening. I think her knowledge of horror novels and movies really helped her.

Overall, this is not a five-star read by any means, but it is a really good horror novella. I would recommend it if you are looking for a book to break up all the romance novels, you might be reading this time of year. I would categorize it as ‘Child’s Play’ meets ‘Rosemary’s Baby.’ For me, this was a one-sitting read, and the ending was fantastic.

In the comments, let me know some of your favorite horror holiday novellas, because now I want to read them all. Don’t forget that you can always like and share all of my posts, and give the blog a follow before you go, because it really does help me grow.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

One Day In December | Book Review

- Bunny 2 Comments

About The Book
Two people. Ten chances. One unforgettable love story. What follows for Laurie, Sarah, and Jack is ten years of friendship, heartbreak, missed opportunities, roads not taken, and destinies reconsidered. One Day in December is a joyous, heartwarming, and immensely moving love story to escape into and a reminder that fate takes inexplicable turns along the route to happiness.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3RBLkYS

My Rating

Unfortunately, this book has a lot of my pet peeves when it comes to romance novels. I wanted a cute, winter love at first sight romance, with a few obstacles. However, this wasn’t a traditional romance, and they weren’t actually together for much of the story. Also, only some of the novel is based at Christmas time, so keep that in mind.

In the book we follow Laura, who, one December day, is instantly drawn to a young man she sees out of the bus window. She spends a year searching for who she calls bus boy. Then, her best friend introduces her to her new boyfriend, Jack, whom, as you could’ve guessed, is bus boy.

Thus years of pining follow, as the two try their best to move on from their connection. But does this actually work? No, because throughout the book, there is seriously this emotional pool between them. As the reader, I would get so frustrated that they just wouldn’t admit their feelings and attempt to be together.

“If anyone ever asks if I’ve ever fallen in love at first sight, I shall say yes. For one glorious moment on the 21st of December 2006.”

The biggest con is that we watch them try, and fail, to fall in love with other people. Or in Jack’s case, randomly hook up with other women. For being a romance novel, I wanted them to actually be together, which isn’t the case. We never get to actually view them as a couple, which is frustrating to me.

However, the books most redeeming quality is the writing. I loved Josie Silver’s writing style. Although the plot wasn’t my favorite, and I didn’t really enjoy 75% of the book, the writing is what kept me reading, and I would probably pick up more of her books in the future.

Overall, the one thing that is desperately missing from this book is an epilogue. If you were going to give me an almost 400 pages romance novel without actually any romance. I’m gonna need an epilogue so that I get a tiny glimpse of the love interests actually being together. Nevertheless, I did like the message that home isn’t a place, but a person, which is a very romantic sentiment.

Sorry, if this review was a little bit spoilery. I didn’t know how to write it without adding my actual thoughts, which could be considered spoiling the book. But, if you are a fan of book reviews usually spoiler free ones give my blog a follow.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Read Or Not // Holiday Edition

- Bunny 4 Comments

Hi Friends,
Today is day 6 of Bookmas, and I’m going to be talking about holiday reads. Specifically, the ones I think are worth reading, and the ones that aren’t.

Buy Book: https://amzn.to/3taqfva
Related Post: Eight Nights Of Flirting // Book Review

Let’s start this off on a high note and talk about my favorite holiday read of 2022. This is the cutest YA Hanukkah romances that I have read. I completely recommend it, and love that it isn’t a Christmas book, since that’s what people typically read this time of year.

Buy Book: https://amzn.to/3tbDnjF
Related Post: In A Holidaze // Book Review

Honestly, this book wasn’t for me – from the romance, to the plot, I just couldn’t get into it. However, the writing was decent, but I will say that this is a book I would pass on. It really isn’t anything special.

Buy Book: https://amzn.to/483IbXd
Related Post: The Holiday Swap // Book Review

If you love Hallmark Christmas movies (which I know aren’t for everyone), then you will love this book. This seriously feels like you are watching one of there cheesy but heartwarming holiday movies, and I loved every second of it. I think that you should definitely give this book a read.

Buy Book: https://amzn.to/4ajmODo
Related Post: So, This Is Christmas // Book Review

I don’t want to go on a tangent about how much I dislike this book, so I’ll keep it short. This is a young adult contemporary that I was not a fan of whatsoever. Enough said.

Buy Book: https://amzn.to/418Epd0
Related Post: A Merry Little Meet Cute // Book Review

This book was a pleasant surprise because not only was it a cute holiday romance it is super steamy. I loved all the funny moments and it had great bipolar representations. I think it is good holiday read for someone that doesn’t mind a good amount of spicy.

Buy Book: https://amzn.to/3RuoQJb
Related Post: All I Want For Christmas // Book Review

If you are looking for a super cheesy and ridiculously Christmas read, then this is the book for you. As for me, it didn’t really work. In my opinion, I am going to have to say that it isn’t worth the read.

I hoped that this helped you plan your December TBR a littler better. Don’t forget to like and share the post. And, you can always support my blog by giving it a follow.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

The Family Game | Book Review

- Bunny Leave a comment

About The Book
A confession to a grisly crime. A murder. And, suddenly, the game is in motion. Harriet Reed is newly engaged to Edward Holbeck, the heir to an extremely powerful American family. When Edward’s father hands her a tape of a book he’s been working on, she is desperate to listen. But as she presses play, it’s clear that this isn’t a novel. It’s a confession to murder.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/47AZWNM

My Rating

This was a very slow moving thriller that focused mainly on the main character. We get to learn a lot about her, and the story is told through her eyes. And although it wasn’t a quick paced story, I really enjoyed it and think that it’s a great winter time thriller.

In the book, we follow Harry, a novelist, who is newly engaged to Edward. Her fiancé comes from a very wealthy family. But Harry soon learns that the family not only has money, but secrets as well. Although she finds herself drawn in to her new family, she’s starting to wonder if they can truly be trusted.

Harry as a main character was great. I found her to be likable and for the most part smart. And I love that she was a thriller author, and used the knowledge she gained from writing her books to help her uncover some of the family’s secrets. However, Harry has a secret of her own, which shows the darker side to the character, but also very human side.

“Damaged people are dangerous. They know they can survive.”

No, I won’t say this book is full of twists and turns, but there were a few moments that shocked me. I enjoyed the slower pace of this book, and I loved that it was at Christmas time. I haven’t read many thrillers that take place during the holidays, so it was a nice change for me. And the mention of Krampus, although small, was pretty interesting.

I have heard others say that they wished that the book focused more on the family game part, which is understandable, considering it’s the title. However, that didn’t lessen my enjoyment of the book. And the ending was fantastic! It started off as a four star, but was bumped up to five because those last few chapters.

Overall, the writing was excellent, the plot was amazing, and my reading experience was great. I will 100% be reading more from this author, and I would recommend this book to others who are looking for a thriller to read in the winter time. But please check trigger warnings before picking up this book.

In the comments, let me know if you will be reading this book. Don’t forget that you can stay up to date with the blog by giving it a follow.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Did I Read My 2023 Anticipated Releases?

- Bunny Leave a comment

Hi Friends,
For day 2 of Bookmas, I am going to be taking a look back at my most anticipated book releases of 2023. I have done 4 anticipated releases post this year, so I am hoping that I have at least read half of the books that I was excited for this year. If not, I am going to try and make it a priority to read some of them before the year is over.

I did a post talking about my most anticipated YA romances, and I am happy to say that I read 3 out of the five books I mentioned in that post. I read ‘Never Vacation with Your Ex’, ‘Margo Zimmerman Gets the Girl’ and ‘Borrow My Heart.’ But, I wasn’t able to pick up ‘Promposal’ and I completely forgot about ‘The Borrow a Boyfriend Club.’ However, I am still interested in both of those books.
Related Post: 2023 YA Romances // Anticipated Releases

My next release post was talking about 2023 summer books. I read 5 of the books in that post, which were ‘The Only One Left,’ ‘The Seven Year Slip,’ ‘One of Us Is Back,’ ‘Delicate Condition,’ and ‘Foxglove.’ And, all of these books were between 4 and 5 stars for me. As for the ones I didn’t read we have ‘Summer Rental,’ ‘Business or Pleasure,’ and ‘Ghosted: A Northanger Abbey.’ All of those books still sound so good. There were two other books in this post, ‘The Trap‘ and ‘Good Bad Girl‘ that I didn’t read, but started. And, since putting down ‘Good Bad Girl’, I haven’t heard the greatest thing about it, so it might be a DNF.
Related Post: Anticipated Releases // Summer 2023

Moving on to a post I did recently, my October anticipated releases. I am going to keep this short and sweet by saying that I have yet to read any of the six books I mentioned. Still, I am very interested in all of them. Lastly, is my November book release post and, like October, I haven’t read any of these books. I might try and get to one out of six books in that post, which will most likely be ‘Iron Flame’ or ‘Betting On You.’
Related Post: Anticipated Releases // October 2023
Related Post: Anticipated Releases // November 2023

Honestly, I don’t think I did too badly this year when it came to reading books I was excited for. It doesn’t shock me that I did poorly in October and November, since I’m a mood reader and like to read certain books during those months. In the comments, tell me if you have read any of my anticipated releases, and if they are worth the read. Don’t forget that it is completely free and makes me smile when you follow the blog.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

You, Again // Book Review

- Bunny Leave a comment

About The Book
Can they stop hating each other long enough to fall in love? When Ari and Josh first meet, the wrong kind of sparks fly. They hate each other. Instantly. Ari and Josh never expect their paths to cross again. But years later, as they’re both reeling from ego-bruising breakups, a chance encounter leads to a surprising connection: friendship.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3MVvm98

My Rating

If you are looking for the perfect fall romcom, then this is the book for you. This is a ‘When Harry Met Sally’ retelling, which is a plot I don’t actually know very well, since I’ve never seen the film. However, the book follows Ari and Josh, who couldn’t be more different.

Ari and Josh meet multiple times throughout the years, and when they are both at their lowest, they once again encounter each other and strike up unlikely friendship. This is marketed as a friend without any benefits story. And it was the chef’s kiss if you had read the book, then you know that this is a pun.

I loved Ari and Josh’s dynamic throughout the book. One can see the chemistry between them from a mile away. They both had things they needed to work through, and I loved how the story was told. Their relationship never felt rushed, and yes there were times when I wanted things to progress a little more quickly. However, I completely understood the characters’ thoughts and actions.

“No one should marry the person who makes them happy. Marry the person you want by your side at your absolute lowest point.”

I had such a great time reading this book, and although it was not a super fast-paced read, I was so invested in the story. It is a romance book for readers that do not typically read love stories, because we are following two characters that are not actually in a relationship and have no desire to be together. Or, so they think.

Overall, the writing was fantastic, the characters are amazing, the slow burn was done perfectly and that ending made me cry. In addition, the fact that Ari was bisexual and talked about throuples was something that I was not expecting, but it added a fun element to the story, and I love the diversity. Also, there isn’t a whole lot of intimate scenes in the book but the sexy scenes we do get are very steamy.

In the comments, let me know if I should watch ‘When Harry Met Sally.’ Do not forget to share this post with others. And, if you like book reviews, give my blog a follow.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Legends And Lattes | Book Review

- Bunny Leave a comment

About The Book
After a lifetime of bounties and bloodshed, Viv is hanging up her sword for the last time. The battle-weary orc aims to start fresh, opening the first ever coffee shop in the city of Thune. But old and new rivals stand in the way of success — not to mention the fact that no one has the faintest idea what coffee actually is.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3QIZgPa

My Rating

If you’re looking for a cozy fantasy with a not much depth to the plot than this book is for you. I had such a fun time reading this book and it put me in the fall mood. I can see people who don’t really like heavy fantasy stories enjoying this book. Also, Liking coffee isn’t a requirement of having a good time reading the book but I think it’s necessary.

The plot follows Viv, a newly retired orc bounty hunter, who decides to open a coffee shop in a small town. Along the way, she makes some friends, introduces people to the wonder that is coffee, and falls in love. The mix of fantasy and cozy charm in this plot was perfect.

The characters in the book were all great, and they all had their own unique personalities. I loved the found family aspect that this book had. Viv made real connections with these people, and they wanted to help her succeed. It was all very wholesome. But my favorite character was Thimble, who became the shop’s baker.

“Well, shit. Milky bean water. I’ll be damned.”

There is, of course, a romance that develops between Viv and Tandri, who practically becomes the assistant manager at the shop. It was so sweet, watching them go from coworkers, to friends, to more. Their relationship grew and developed very naturally, and I loved it. I also enjoyed that Viv listened to Tandri, and the other people that she trusted. She didn’t have an “I’m the boss” mentality, and was open to suggestions.

Of course, there is a fantasy plot, but it was honestly very minimal. I did feel like there wasn’t much to the action side of things, which I’m not sure I loved. However, I knew going into this book that the plot was more low-key and it really is just a cozy fall read. Still, the fantasy elements are there. Obviously, the story is about an orc, and we also have some other equally fantastical characters.

Overall, the writing was great, and the story was interesting. There is also the message that you don’t have to forget your past to start over or take a new path, which I really liked. I can see fans of fantasy video games, like World of Warcraft, The Elder Scrolls, or other similar games, really getting a kick out of this book.

In the comments, let me know if you enjoyed this book. Don’t forget you can follow me on Instagram and Facebook too! Before you leave, hit the follow button to get notified whenever there’s a new post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Anticipated Releases // November 2023

- Bunny Leave a comment

Hi Friends,
Let us talk about some November book releases! As a shameless book buyer, I wanted to share book releases that I am most excited about this month. Spoiler alert, I might have pre-ordered some of them. I do not know what has gotten into me, but I was a pre-ordering queen this year.

Iron Flame/Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (November 7th)
I put these two together because they are part of the same series. Also, one is just a rerelease, so I do not think it needs much explanation. If you are in the book community at all, then you know that ‘Fouth Wing’ became an overnight sensation. Well, even though I already owned a copy of the book, I pre-ordered the new edition, with spread edges, being released this month. Of course, I had to pre-order the sequel as well.

Vengeance of the Pirate Queen by Tricia Levenseller (November 7th)
This is the third and final book of this young adult female pirate series. I am loving these special editions, because they are stunning. So, to make sure that I got this book, I pre-ordered it too.

The Once and Future Fling by Leigh Heasley (November 7th)
I am not sure that I am entirely sold on the plot of this book, but the concept does intrigue me enough to anticipate its release. The book includes time travel, a matchamaking agency, and a love triangle. I know that all sounds a little crazy, but it will ultimately make for an interesting read.

Night Shift by Annie Crown (November 14th)
Technically, this book is already available for reading on Kindle Unlimited, but the paperback version is finally being released. This sounds like the cutest opposites attract romance. I hear that it is steamy, which I love, but I am not sure how spicy it is actually going to be. Either way, I am excited to read it.

Betting On You by Lynn Painter (November 28th)
This is an auto buy author for me, so I will 100% read this book when it comes out. That said, I know absolutely nothing about this book. However, based on the cover, I guess that it is a young adult romance, which I am always down to read.

There you have five, well six, of my most anticipated November book releases. I might not be able to read them all this month, but I can still share my excitement for them. Let me know in the comments what releases you are looking forward to. Do not forget to follow the blog, so that you never miss a post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

The September House // Book Review

- Bunny Leave a comment

About The Book
A woman is determined to stay in her dream home even after it becomes a haunted nightmare in this compulsively readable, twisty, and layered debut novel. Every September, the walls drip blood. The ghosts of former inhabitants appear, and all of them are terrified of something that lurks in the basement. Most people would flee. Margaret is not most people.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/46QSe1K

My Rating

This book surprised me in a good way. The book follows Margaret, a woman who moves into a haunted house with her husband. However, when her husband goes missing, their daughter is determined to find out what happened to her father. Her mother is desperate to keep all the supernatural things that go on in the house a secret from her. Does that not sound like a recipe for a good haunted house mystery?

The book is told from Margaret’s perspective during her fourth September in the house. It is widely mentioned throughout the story that September is when shit hits the fan. We get chapters from previous years throughout Margaret’s life. Many of these chapters described what it was like when they first moved to the house. We also learn a lot about Margaret and her life with her husband and daughter.

Margaret is a very unreliable narrator, because there is a mention that her father had a mental illness. Her marriage was unhappy. She mentioned a lot about rules and rules to cope with many things, such as her husband’s drinking and anger and her deadly house.

“Thank you for coming but kindly remove your crazy asses from our holy ground.”

The writing was good, but it did not keep me engaged as much as I had hoped it would. I felt that there were many instances when I wanted the story to progress much faster than it did. I felt that it was just lacking something in the way the author told the story that kept them from becoming a new favorite thriller author.

This plot is interesting. I kept trying to guess what was going to happen. You think the author is going to take you in one direction, but then they do a complete 180, and take you in an entirely different direction. The last few chapters were not incredibly action-packed, but they were very intense.

Overall, it was a decent haunted house story. Will there probably be better options in the future? Sure, but is this one that I will remember? Definitely, yes. Please keep in mind that this book heavily dives into domestic violence and what it is like to be a woman in that situation, especially one with a child.

You can always check book trigger warnings on the StoryGraph app or at Book Trigger Warnings. Please leave me a comment letting me know if you are interested in this book. Do not forget to hit the follow button, so that you never miss any of my posts.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny