Bookmas

Books I Wish I Read In 2024!

- Bunny Leave a comment

Hi Friends,
Happy Bookmas Day Eleven! Twenty-twenty-four was one of my best reading years. I read so many good books this year and pretty much stayed on track with my reading goal. However, there are only so many hours in the day to read, which means I didn’t get to every book I would have liked to. For this Bookmas post, I decided to talk about 10 books I wish I had read this year.

Quicksilver by Callie Hart
I’m going to be real and admit that I didn’t actually know about this book until closer to the end of the year. Also, the audiobook just recently came out, so there was a slim chance I would have read it sooner. But I hear this is one of the best adult romantasy books, and there’s a movie adaptation coming next year. I wish I had made it more of a priority in December, but unfortunately, I won’t be able to get to it until 2025.

Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli
I’ve been wanting to read this book since it was released, but something always seemed to get in the way. I know the sequel is coming out early next year, so I have to move this up my TBR. I’ve seen a lot of mixed reviews, which is probably why I didn’t push myself to read it this year. But it’s definitely one I really want to get to.

Hooked by Emily McIntire
Everyone always recommends this book to me, and I’ve put it on so many TBRs this year. I think my fear is that I won’t love the series as much as others. Sometimes, when a book or series is very popular, it doesn’t tend to live up to the hype for me. However, I really want to love this series, and I’ll be so sad if I don’t. But I won’t know unless I try!

When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker
I’m going to be honest here and admit that I know nothing about this book, but it was very hyped up, and it has dragons, so I wanted to read it this year. It was another one of those very popular romantasies that everyone was talking about. Did I get to it? No. But in my defense, this book is very long.

A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen
This was a Book of the Month pick for me, and yes, I am still heartbroken that I didn’t get the copy with the beautiful silver book edges. I know some people loved it and some didn’t like it at all, but as you can probably tell, a theme with most of these books is that I’ve become a romantasy girlie, so I needed to read all the romantasies. Somehow, though, this one just never made it onto my TBR, which is really unfortunate.

Reckless by Lauren Roberts
I’m only adding this one to the list because it’s the last book in the series that I need to read. If I had read it this year, I’d be caught up on the series. I’m not exactly sure when the next book comes out, but I know it’s sometime in early 2025. The problem with this one is that I didn’t actually love the first book, Powerless, but I was still hoping to read the sequel before the year’s end. I just don’t think that’s going to happen.

The Games Gods Play by Abigail Owen
This is another book I didn’t find out about until closer to the end of the year, so it makes sense why I didn’t pick it up. Still, everyone is loving this book, so I wish I’d known about it a little sooner. I’m getting major FOMO hearing about how good it is. It’s definitely going on my TBR for early 2025.

Bloodguard by Cecy Robson
I actually haven’t heard many things about this book, and what I have heard isn’t great. I pre-ordered it back when its original release date was March 2024, then it got pushed back to summer, but it didn’t actually come out until the fall. I thought I’d get a chance to read it as soon as it arrived, but that didn’t happen. I’m still looking forward to it, but I’m a little hesitant now.

The Bodyguard by Katherine Center
I’ve had this book on my “want to read” list since it came out in 2022. I know it’s a clean romance where the girl is the bodyguard for a famous celebrity. I really think I’m going to love Katherine Center’s writing, and for the life of me, I don’t know why I didn’t read it. I kept telling myself I’d get to it this year, but I just never did.

Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez
I’m so upset that I didn’t read—or even attempt to start—this interconnected standalone romcom series this year. I thought 2024 was going to be the year I became an Abby Jimenez girlie, but that didn’t happen. I own all of her books, and I haven’t read a single one. If I don’t start my Abby Jimenez journey next year, can I even call myself a romance reader?

In the comments, let me know if you’ve read any of these books and which ones I should make a big priority next year. Don’t forget that you can like this post—your likes really help me understand the type of content you want to see. And hitting the follow button ensures you never miss out on a new post!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Best Book Covers Of 2024!

- Bunny 2 Comments

Hi Friends,
Happy Bookmas Day Ten! I can’t believe how fast Bookmas is flying by—it’s crazy! In this post, I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite book covers of 2024. As you might know by now, I’m a huge cover buyer, so if I see a beautiful book, chances are I’m going to buy it. Whether I actually read it is another story. I tried to keep this list short, so here are eight 2024 book releases that I think have absolutely stunning covers.

Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3D7HvpI

Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/4iuwuyJ
Related Post: Belladonna | Book Review

Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3Bpw38j

Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/4gqMn7M

Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/4it7esD

Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/4faIm64

Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/4iuCdoj

Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3OM5Gwf

In the comments, share your favorite book cover of the year! Don’t forget you can also follow me on Instagram and TikTok. Plus, if you subscribe to the blog, you’ll get notified whenever there’s a new post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Candy Cain Kills | Book Review

- Bunny Leave a comment

About The Book
When Austin’s family retreats to a remote cottage for Christmas, he’s dreading the forced holiday bonding. But the cabin’s dark history brings a chilling twist, as a legendary killer named Candy Cain emerges with a deadly agenda. Now, surviving the season means staying off her sinister naughty list.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/4fenRFM

My Rating

This book might not be for everyone because it is a bit cheesy; however, I found it to be a really fun, classic ‘90s and early 2000s horror story. If you’re a lover of horror movies, I think you’ll really enjoy this book. I love how it ties in the holiday aspect, and it was such a quick read.

In the book, we follow a family spending Christmas at a rental home in a small town. But once they arrive, they learn that the house has a gruesome history. Years ago, a family died in a fire there, although some townsfolk believe the family was actually murdered.

The plot is so engaging, and there’s never a slow moment, even though this isn’t the most intense horror story, nor is it an example of elevated horror. I really enjoyed the storyline and the characters—they felt like a real family with struggles and issues but still loved each other. Their reactions to everything that was happening was very normal.

“Why don’t we have one more cup of cocoa. . . then go to church and raise some hell?”

There was a twist that I didn’t see coming, and I loved it. I really enjoyed the nostalgic feel of the book, and the writing style was also a highlight for me. It wasn’t too gruesome or scary. If you’re looking to dip your toes into the horror genre, I think you should give this one a try.

Overall, this is an easy and creepy read that’s perfect for readers who want a holiday story that isn’t your classic Christmas romcom. You can easily finish it in a day! It has made me want to pick up more books from this author, especially since I know this book is part of a horror holiday novella series. It may not be the most original or intense horror I’ve ever read, but I would still recommend it to other horror lovers like me.

In the comments, let me know if this book has been on your radar. If you enjoy book reviews and other bookish content, go ahead and hit the follow button so you never miss out on a new post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Cozy Christmas | Book Tag

- Bunny Leave a comment

Hi Friends,
Happy Bookmas Day Eight! Today, I thought it would be fun to do the Cozy Christmas book tag. I believe this tag was created by a YouTuber, but I’m unsure who the original creator is. The tag features some fun holiday-themed bookish questions, and I had such a great time answering them.

I own many books that I personally think are beautiful, but right now, The Stars Are Dying by Chloe C. Peñaranda— a recent addition to my collection— has to be the prettiest. The crazy thing is that it isn’t even a special edition, so it wasn’t too expensive. Yet, it’s absolutely stunning!

Yes! I will 100% pay (probably too much) to get a gorgeous copy of a book I love or think I’m going to give 5 stars.

I decided to fully embrace the Christmas spirit and create a red-and-green book stack!

I have to go with Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol. Not only does it perfectly embody everything about the holidays, but it’s also my all-time favorite story.
Related Post: Mr. Dickens And His Carol | Book Review

This year, my longest read was Eclipse, the third book in the Twilight saga. I tend to stay away from longer books because they intimidate me. However, being in my romantasy era has made reading longer books feel like a bit of a requirement!
Related Post: Eclipse | Book Review

Please keep in mind that this is just my opinion. Reading is subjective, and so is cover artwork— we all have our own likes and dislikes. For this, I’m picking a series I read this year, The Chestnut Springs series by Elsie Silver. I own all the traditionally published editions, but I don’t like the covers at all. I think the ones with actual people on them are my favorite, which I know that’s an unpopular opinion!
Related Post: Flawless | Book Review

For this question, I’m going with a holiday horror novella I read last year called Secret Santa. It was my first-ever holiday horror book. It’s kind of cheesy, but still a fun, dark story set at Christmas.
Related Post: Secret Santa | Book Review

Besides my favorite book (see question 4), which I reread every year, I’d say The Afterlife of Holly Chase. It’s a Christmas Carol retelling (no shocker there), and such a good YA spin on the classic story. I’ve been rereading it during the holiday season for the past few years, and the ending always warms my heart.
Related Post: The Afterlife Of Holly Chase | Book Review

I hope you enjoyed this book tag! Feel free to share your answers in the comments below. Don’t forget to hit the follow button so you can stay up-to-date whenever there’s a new post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Books I Couldn’t Finish | 2024 DNFs

- Bunny Leave a comment

Hi Friends,
Happy Bookmas Day Seven! I can’t believe we’re already a week into Bookmas. Today, I’m talking about the books I DNFed this year. Honestly, I didn’t DNF many books this year, which I’m very happy about! Still, there were a few that I just couldn’t get through.


Mistakes Were Made by Meryl Wilsner
I got about halfway through this book before I had to stop reading. It’s an adult queer romance where a divorced woman falls for one of her daughter’s college friends. The plot sounded interesting, but I wasn’t a fan of the characters. Also, the way they both handled the situation wasn’t great. Both the friend and the mom seemed to show little care for how the daughter might feel about their relationship.


Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica
This is a mystery thriller that I’ve heard nothing but good things about. However, I didn’t know before starting it that it comes with a trigger warning for child abuse. Let me just say—that’s a hard no for me. I can handle mentions, but I can’t deal with scenes where it’s described or a central part of the story. Unfortunately, the first few chapters were just too much for me, and I had to DNF for that reason alone.


Never by Jessa Hastings
I’ll be completely honest—this was a cover buy. Let me keep this short and to the point: the chapters were too long, the story was boring, and I was totally wrong in thinking this book would be spicy. Also, I hate Peter Pan, so why I thought I’d enjoy a retelling is beyond me!


A Dark and Drowning Tide by Allison Saft
I had such high hopes for this book because it sounded so good. But calling it a romantasy is a bit of a stretch. I would categorize it as a fantasy with some mystery thrown in. I got 40% in and was still waiting for the romance. Unfortunately, the mystery wasn’t compelling, and the story as a whole just didn’t hold my interest.


The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston
This one hurt to DNF because it’s so popular. However, I felt like the story dragged and just wasn’t capturing my attention. I was going to push through it, but that plan went out the window when the main character’s jerk of an ex referred to her as “Bunny.” Maybe hearing it once would’ve been okay, but every time she thought of him, that nickname came up. I couldn’t handle it—for obvious reasons (my amazing husband calls me Bunny, hence Book With Bunny).
Related Post: The Seven Year Slip | Book Review

So, there you have it—my DNFs of 2024! Even though I didn’t DNF many books this year, there are still a lot of books I’ve started but haven’t yet finished. Leave me a comment and let me know: are you pro- or anti-DNFing? Don’t forget to come back every day for more Bookmas content, or hit the follow button so you never miss a post!

Leaving Goodreads In 2025!

- Bunny Leave a comment

Hi Friends,
Happy Bookmas Day Six! Today, I’ll be sharing why I’m officially leaving Goodreads in 2025—or at least, mostly leaving. There are several reasons behind my decision to step away from the popular reading tracker and personal library site, but here are the main ones.

Amazon
I don’t love that Goodreads is owned by Amazon. There’s so much about the company that I don’t agree with. While I can’t completely cut ties with Amazon (it’s often the only viable option for many indie authors), this felt like one small way for me to show less support for the company.

Outdated Features
Compared to other book-tracking platforms, Goodreads feels outdated. Its interface looks clunky, and the features are limited. Forums aren’t widely utilized, the giveaways don’t appeal to me, and aside from adding books to your shelves and tracking your reading, there’s not much else to do. It just doesn’t feel engaging.

Recommendations
I’ve found Goodreads’ recommendations underwhelming and heavily skewed toward popular titles. Their “Most Read” lists and personalized recommendations almost always spotlight the same mainstream books. And don’t even get me started on the Goodreads Choice Awards! It’s purely a popularity contest. I’ve even heard some readers speculate that publishers pay to get their books nominated. Some winners and nominees just don’t make sense to me.


So, what’s next? Moving forward, I’ll be using StoryGraph to track my reading—and I’ve been loving it so far! Not only is it women-owned, but it also offers so many fantastic features. You can still set a reading goal and join an interactive challenges. Plus, when you add a book, you can mark whether or not you own it. One of my favorite features is half-star ratings, which Goodreads still doesn’t support.

StoryGraph also provides amazing stats, like your most-read authors and fun pie charts about your reading habits. The only downside is that its database isn’t as extensive as Goodreads’. That said, I haven’t run into a single book I couldn’t find yet!

Let me know in the comments how you track your reading! If you’re on StoryGraph, feel free to friend me—my username is BooksWithBunny. The only thing I’ll keep up with on Goodreads is their yearly Goodreads Choice Awards, purely because if I didn’t, I’d probably have major FOMO! And before you go, don’t forget to follow the blog so you’ll be notified whenever I post something new.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

The Nightmare Before Kissmas | Book Review

- Bunny Leave a comment

About The Book
Nicholas “Coal” Claus, heir to Christmas, finds himself stuck in a PR-driven holiday spectacle, including an arranged marriage to Iris, the Easter Princess. Things spiral when Coal’s mysterious one-night fling, Hex, the Prince of Halloween, becomes his rival in a competition for her hand. Amid chaos, forbidden chemistry, and holiday drama.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/4ihyH0p

My Rating

I had high hopes for this book, especially since people compared it to Red, White & Royal Blue and The Nightmare Before Christmas. While I haven’t read Red, White & Royal Blue, this felt like how I imagine that book would be. Unfortunately, I didn’t get much of a The Nightmare Before Christmas vibe—it’s more of a reimagining than a retelling.

The story is a fun M/M romance with a bit of a marriage-of-convenience twist (but not with who you’d expect). The main trope is forced proximity, which was enjoyable, but I struggled with the main character, Coal, the Prince of Christmas. He’s supposed to be rebellious and carefree, but he came off more as a sensitive prankster. The author seemed to want him to be emotionally closed-off, but he didn’t come across that way to me at all.

On the other hand, I really liked Hex, the Prince of Halloween. He’s serious but has a playful side that made him really interesting. Honestly, I think the story would’ve worked better from his point of view—or, even better, a dual perspective. Coal’s narration didn’t quite do it for me, and I think seeing Hex’s side would’ve added more depth to the romance.

“Ah-ah, no arguing, Christmas Prince. You are the one who sought me out for Halloween’s undeniable better qualities.”

One part I really loved was Coal’s relationship with his brother Kris and their friend Iris. The sibling dynamic between the three of them was one of my favorite parts of the book. I do wish we got to know Iris a bit better, but the three of them shared such great moments. Honestly, their friendship and banter was probably my favorite aspect of the book. It even topped the romance for me.

As for the plot—it was fine but nothing special. It felt a bit too long in places, and I was hoping for a more standout story. That said, the world-building was really well done. The author took the essence of The Nightmare Before Christmas and made it their own, which I thought was very creative. However, keep in mind that it might not give you those nostalgic Nightmare Before Christmas feelings.

Overall, it wasn’t a bad book, but it didn’t wow me either. I wanted more from the characters, the story, and especially the banter. And yes, if you’ve read any of my book reviews before, you know that me wanting more banter is a crazy thing to say. Still, if you’re looking for a queer holiday romance with a fantasy setting, it’s worth checking out. Just don’t go in with too many expectations either way.

In the comments, let me know if you watch The Nightmare Before Christmas at Halloween or Christmas. Don’t forget to hit the follow button so you can stay updated on book reviews and other bookish posts!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Holiday Books | KU Edition

- Bunny Leave a comment

Hi Friends,
Happy Bookmas Day Four! Today, I’m sharing a post all about new holiday book releases! I could easily tell you about the many amazing traditionally published holiday books that have recently come out. Or, I could tell you about just as many that are set to be released this winter. But today, I want to focus on supporting indie authors, instead. So, here are some holiday releases I’m excited to dive into this winter—all of which are available with a Kindle Unlimited subscription. Let’s show our love for indie authors!


Santa’s Coming by Serena Pier
Released: October 24, 2024
This is the first book in a series of novellas, and it’s a single mom romance—definitely not something I usually read. It features an instant-connection, strangers-to-lovers holiday romance with playful banter and plenty of Santa role-playing. And yes, it’s spicy! I think this will be a quick, steamy read that I’ll absolutely love.


Pine Creek Lodge by Lynette McCornan
Released: November 10, 2024
First off, the cover of this book is stunning, which immediately caught my attention. But when I found out it’s a sapphic Christmas romance, I knew I had to add it to my TBR. The tropes include rich-meets-poor, forced proximity, and (I believe) grumpy-sunshine vibes. I can’t wait to dive into this one!


When the Fake Snow Falls by Heather Garvin
Released: November 15, 2024
I love a good old-fashioned fake dating story, and when you add winter magic into the mix, you’ve got the makings of an amazing read. In this book, Chase enlists Candace to be his fake girlfriend for the holidays. There’s witty banter, an open-door romance, and while it’s a slow burn (not my favorite), it ticks off so many of my favorite romance trope boxes that I’m sure I’ll enjoy it!


Naughty Or Nice by Sophie Snow
Released: November 19, 2024
This holiday novella was one I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of! It features some of my favorite tropes, including age gap, small-town romance, and—yes—a Santa kink. At under 200 pages, it’s quick and spicy. Oh, and the male love interest? He’s her best friend’s uncle. Could this plot get any better?

In the comments, let me know if you’ve read any of these books, or if you’ve downloaded any of them to your Kindle library. There are so many more indie/KU romances I could recommend, so like this post if you want to see a part two. Don’t forget to show your support for my blog by hitting the follow button!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

My Christmas Wishlist | Holiday 2024

- Bunny Leave a comment

Hi Friends,
It’s Bookmas Day Three! I thought it would be fun to share my holiday wishlist. While I do have many books on my wishlist, I also have a few bookish items as well. Keep in mind, this isn’t a comprehensive list—it’s just the highest-priority items.

Also, I know this goes without saying, but I am incredibly grateful for every gift I receive and feel so blessed to get anything at all.


Shop My List
Fourth Wing Bag:
https://amzn.to/49kYKzZ
Kindle Page Turn:
https://amzn.to/3ZjkAPr
Hexed (Never After, 6) by Emily McIntire:
https://amzn.to/49nHD0b
The Hurricane Wars (The Hurricane Wars, 1) by Thea Guanzon:
https://amzn.to/4eU49Py
Forgive Me Father by Katerina St Clair:
https://amzn.to/3D5YmJf
A Pirate’s Life for Tea (Tomes & Tea, 2) by Rebecca Thorne:
https://amzn.to/4eYrEa3
Given Our History by Kristyn JJ Miller:
https://amzn.to/3Zg3ORw
Off to the Races (Gold Rush Ranch, 1) by Elsie Silver:
https://amzn.to/4f1NdGX
The Complete Briar U Series Set by Elle Kennedy:
https://amzn.to/4ijcEGU

There you have it—my holiday wishlist! I’d love to know what you’re asking for this holiday season. Do you write a Christmas list every year, or are you like me and just share your Amazon wishlist with family and friends? Let me know in the comments! Before you go, don’t forget to click the follow button so you’ll be notified whenever there’s a new Bookmas post!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Lovelight Farms | Book Review

- Bunny Leave a comment

About The Book
Stella Bloom enters a contest with influencer Evelyn St. James to save her struggling Christmas tree farm, hoping the publicity and $100,000 prize will solve its financial troubles. The catch? She lied, claiming to own the farm with her boyfriend—who doesn’t exist. Enter her best friend, Luka, who steps in as her fake boyfriend, turning their holiday charade into something unexpectedly real.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3CO7MsQ

My Rating

I’m not gonna lie—at first, I really hated this book. I even put it down for a while, thinking I was going to have to DNF it. But I will say, one thing this book has going for it—even though I didn’t love it—is that it’s a fairly quick read, and the plot moves at a decent pace.

This is a friends-to-lovers, fake-dating story. Our main character owns a failing Christmas tree farm and enlists her best friend, Luka, to pretend to be her boyfriend while a social media influencer visits the farm. It has small-town vibes and is definitely a slow burn.

However, the writing was super cringey. Some of the things the characters said—especially our female protagonist, Stella—were just plain cheesy. People don’t actually talk like that, at least not in my experience. On top of that, Stella and Luka gave off serious teenager vibes. They acted like they were in high school, even though they were supposed to be in their late 20s or early 30s.

“I guess I thought owning a Christmas tree farm would be romantic.”

Maybe it’s just where I am in life now, being in my early 30s, but I don’t want to read an adult romance where the characters feel like teenagers. I might as well pick up a young adult contemporary instead. Stella overthought everything, even when Luka clearly told her what he wanted, and it was so frustrating.

The whole story felt unrealistic and overly dramatic. The ending conflict, which boiled down to denial and miscommunication, was resolved within a single chapter. What’s the point of a big blow-up if it’s going to be fixed immediately? It came off as lazy writing to me, but that’s just my opinion.

Overall, you can probably tell this book wasn’t for me. The characters were immature, the small-town setting was very stereotypical, and I wasn’t a fan of Luka’s jealous streak. I also don’t enjoy slow-burn romances, and the intimate scenes here were pretty basic. That said, it’s an easy read, and the Christmas tree farm setting does give it some holiday charm. If you’re looking for a light festive romance, it might work for you.

In the comments, let me know if you think it would be fun to own a Christmas tree farm. Don’t forget to follow the blog and like this post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny