Books

Finally Fall | Book Tag

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Hi friends,
Today, I’m kicking off the autumn season with the Finally Fall Book Tag! From what I’ve found, this tag was originally created by Alina Milena on Booktube. There are just ten bookish questions, all relating to fall. I’m a huge fan of fall and winter—let’s just say those are the seasons where I thrive and feel the happiest. So, this time of year always lifts my spirits. These questions were so much fun to answer, and they’ve made me even more excited that fall has finally begun!


My go-to for a book with a vivid setting has lately been the Belladonna series by Adalyn Grace. But to change things up a bit since I always talk about those books, I’m going to mention The Shepherd King duology by Rachel Gillig. I’ve only read the first book, ‘One Dark Window‘, but this gothic fantasy has such a vivid and interesting world.
Related Post: Belladonna | Book Review
Related Post: One Dark Window | Book Review


A book I recently read was ‘In an Instant‘ by Suzanne Redfearn. It was both heartbreaking and powerful. The story deals with loss, grief, and tragedy in such a raw, realistic way. The writing was fantastic, but it was definitely a tough book to get through.


I’m going to out myself here and admit that I don’t typically read non-fiction books. However, I ended up reading ‘It All Began with a Scream‘ by Padraic Maroney, which might be a weird choice. It’s a non-fiction book about the successful Scream horror movie franchise. I found it interesting to hear from the actors and learn about all the behind-the-scenes drama. I discovered a lot of things about the movies that I didn’t know before, and as a horror movie lover, it was definitely a good read.


The first group that came to mind was the friend group in the Maple Hills series by Hannah Grace. While reading ‘Icebreaker‘, I found myself falling in love with them and adoring the personalities of all the hockey guys. They’re such a great group of people who would be fun to hang out with and would always have your back.


While looking at my bookshelf, I noticed that every single book in The Stalking Jack the Ripper series by Kerri Maniscalco has very fall-colored spines. This makes sense, considering the series is quite eerie and gothic. I personally think these books make great fall reads, and I love how the color scheme fits perfectly with the autumn season.


This is one of those instances when I read the question, and a book popped into my mind immediately. The book is ‘What Once was Mine: A Twisted Tale‘ by Liz Braswell. This is a reimagining of Tangled and one of the only Twisted Tale books that I truly enjoyed. The premise is very much like *The Princess Bride*, where the story is being told to someone, and I loved that aspect of it.
Related Post: What Once Was Mine | Book Review


I found ‘House Of Hollow‘ to be creepy and dark. While it’s not too intense since it’s a YA novel, it definitely leans into horror. I thought the plot was really interesting and quite spine-chilling. I’ve heard it compared to the Brothers Grimm books, and I agree with that comparison. I don’t think this book gets enough hype.
Related Post: House Of Hollow | Book Review


I believe that ‘Pumpkinheads‘ by Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks is the perfect answer to this question. This is such a cute, cozy fall graphic novel. It takes place on Halloween night at a pumpkin farm, featuring games, train rides, and food stands. The book is a quick read that not only gets you into the fall mood but also makes you smile. This is one of those stories I read every year simply because it’s so good and heartwarming. Plus, the artwork is stunning!


I hate to say this because I feel like I mention it all the time, but I’m always honest in my answers. The book I go back to every year is ‘A Christmas Carol‘ by Charles Dickens. It’s my favorite book and a timeless story. That said, I’d really like to reread ‘Little Women‘ this year, so I hope I can get to that soon.
Related Post: Little Women | Book Review


I’m not sure if this is necessarily an accessory, but I love having a cozy ambiance video playing in the background while I read. It really helps set the mood for the season. To make things even cozier, I like to have a warm beverage as well.

I hope you enjoyed this tag, and please let me know your answers in the comments below! In case you want to read these books, you can find some on Everand, which offers a free trial when you use my link (click here). Sadly, they don’t have all the books I mentioned, but it’s still a service I love to recommend. If you’re a fan of tags, please like and share this post. Your support means a lot to me, so don’t forget to hit the follow button before you go!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Currently Reading | Update & Thoughts (September 9, 2024)

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Hi Friends,
Today, I thought I’d give a quick reading update and chat about the books I’m currently diving into. I used to be so good at sticking to just one book at a time, but now I can’t help but read multiple books at once. I think it’s because I’m such a mood reader—I always need a book from a different genre on hand so I can pick up whatever fits my mood in the moment.

A Touch Of Darkness by Scarlett St. Clair
I’m about 50% into this one, and I’m absolutely loving it. It took me a bit to get into, but once it hooked me, I couldn’t put it down! Honestly, right now it’s giving me 5-star feels, and I can’t wait to see how it ends.

We Used To Live Here by Marcus Kliewer
I’m also 50% into this one, but I’ve got mixed feelings. I know this is a super popular thriller that a lot of people are raving about—it’s fast-paced with an interesting premise—but I’m just not that invested in the plot. The writing style isn’t my favorite, and it hasn’t captivated me yet. I’m hoping by the end I’ll understand all the hype!

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
I’m slowly making my way through this book and I’m only 35% in, but I’m really enjoying it so far. I can definitely see why it’s gotten so much attention. It’s giving me ‘Divergent’ and old-school YA fantasy vibes, and I’m living for the enemies-to-lovers romance. I can’t wait for the plot to pick up even more!
Related Post: Divergent｜Book Review

Let me know in the comments what you’re reading, or if you’ve read any of these books—feel free to share your spoiler-free thoughts! And don’t forget to follow the blog for more updates!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

By The Cover | September 2024

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Hi Friends,
This is my September “Judging Books by Their Cover” post. Let me just say, the book covers coming out in September are ones I really like, so I don’t have many critiques for the covers I picked to showcase in this post. As always, please remember these are just my thoughts, and I am not trying to send any hate towards the cover designers or the authors.

Hot Hex Boyfriend by Carly Bloom (September 3rd)
This is that classic witchy, cozy romcom book cover. I’m not sure it’s something I’d be instantly drawn to at a bookstore, but I can tell exactly what type of book it is just by looking at it. I really like the cat, the cauldron, and how the text is done.

When Haru Was Here by Dustin Thao (September 3rd)
Honestly, I wasn’t a big fan of Dustin Thao’s book ‘You’ve Reached Sam,’ but it does have one of my favorite book covers. And I’ve got to say, the cover for this one is just as impressive. I really can’t find anything to criticize about the design, and I think he’ll always have some of the best book covers out there.

Nightmare Of A Trip by Maureen Kilmer (September 10th)
This cover is so much fun. It gives me a classic spooky movie vibe. I really like the design—it reminds me of those old movie posters or VHS covers from back in the day. I’m not completely sold on the color choices; they seem a little muted, but the details are awesome. From the woman’s expression to the person in the house’s window, everything catches your eye. If I saw this book while shopping, I’d definitely grab it.

So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison
(September 10th)
Do I think this cover is the most eye-catching or original thing ever? Not really. Would it be a cover buy for me? Absolutely. I’m not a huge fan of the font, and the cup design isn’t my favorite, but it does evoke Gothic horror and vampires. I think that fits the book’s description, so the cover works for the story. Plus, I love the little inclusion of the bat and moon.

Can’t Help Falling In Love by Sophie Sullivan
(September 17th)
I like this cover, but it feels a bit like a standard fall romance. The way the guy and girl are placed looks odd. The girl seems more natural, while the guy’s pose is awkward—he’s leaning back and his raised hand looks strange. However, I do love the colors and the leaves; it definitely captures the essence of autumn romance.

A Fire In The Sky by Sophie Jordan
(September 26th)
I think this is a stunning fantasy cover. The dragon is great, and I like how the text is layered over it. The small flame detail around the cover is a nice touch—it adds some fire without being too obvious, like a dragon in flames. This cover really gives off a high fantasy vibe with dragons, and I think many people would see it and be instantly interested in the book.

So, those are my thoughts on the book covers for some September releases. Let me know in the comments what you think of these covers and if any of these books are on your TBR for the fall. Your support means a lot to me, so if you could hit the follow button before you go, it really helps my blog grow.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

By The Cover | August 2024

- Bunny Leave a comment

Hi Friends,
It’s time for another “Judging Books by Their Cover” post! There are so many great books coming out this month, and a lot of them are ones I want to read. Just a heads-up: these are just my opinions, and I’m not trying to bash the authors or cover designers. We all have different tastes when it comes to books and their covers.

The Pairing by Casey McQuiston (August 6th)
I really like the color scheme of this cover and the overall concept. But, it feels a bit unfinished and odd that the faces don’t have any details like lips, noses, or eyes. The two characters’ faces sort of blend together. On the bright side, the detailing on the edges of the book, from what I’ve seen, is stunning.

Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid (August 6th)
I’m torn on this cover because I both like it and don’t like it. It’s pretty simple, which works, but I think it could use a bit more expression on the girl’s face—maybe some haunted eyes would’ve added more impact. There’s another cover for this book that I prefer a lot more.

A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher (August 6th)
I like this cover overall, but there are a few things that bug me. The black circle behind the text and the purple font don’t really match the rest of the colors. I like the trees and stars, but I wish the cover gave off more of a “sorceress” vibe since it’s a fantasy book.

The Phoenix Keeper by S.A. MacLean (August 13th)
I absolutely love this cover and would buy this book just based on it. The color scheme is great, and the way the phoenixes look like they’re woven into the trees is really cool. The feathers floating around are a nice touch too. This one really stands out to me.

Oath of Fire by K. Arsenault Rivera (August 13th)
I’m a bit mixed on this cover. I love the fiery mask and the textured background, and the ornate framing on the cover is beautiful. But, the title and author name don’t really stand out. If I saw this book in a store, I’d think the cover was pretty, but I might not remember the name of the book.

Wisteria by Adalyn Grace (August 20th)
I’m a huge fan of this series, so I might be biased, but I love this cover. It’s stunning, and I really like how all the covers in this series match so well. Everything from the title style to the girl and the Wisteria flowers around her looks amazing.

So, those are my thoughts on some of the August book covers. Let me know in the comments what you think about these covers and if any of these books are on your TBR. Don’t forget to follow the blog so you never miss a bookish post!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

August 2024 | To Be Read

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Hi Friends,
Today I am sharing my August TBR! I am excited and a little bit scared because July was probably my worst reading month of the year. To make up for my lack of reading, I have decided to challenge myself and attempt to read 20 books in August. I will be aiming to finish some books I have already started and read a lot of the summer books I haven’t gotten to yet. And, of course, I always have some ARCs to read.

Even though I have a pretty intense reading month planned, I still wanted to do some sort of TBR game. This month, I used a spinner wheel that gave me book covers instead of prompts. So, the book choices were completely out of my hands, which was terrifying and exciting at the same time.

Buy The Book

Buy The Book

Buy The Book

Buy The Book

Buy The Book

Buy The Book

Buy The Book

Buy The Book

This TBR might seem a bit short considering I said I want to read a lot in August, but the rest of the books I plan to read will likely be mood reads, review copies, and books for secret posts. As usual, I will be listening to the audiobooks for all of these books, and two of them are available on Everand, which is my favorite audiobook subscription service. Remember that you can use my link (click here) for a free trial. In the comments, let me know what books are on your TBR for the month. Don’t forget that you can show your support for my blog by giving it a follow.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

2024 Mid Year Calm Down | Book Tag

- Bunny Leave a comment

Hi Friends,
I recently did the “Mid-Year Book Freakout” book tag, which is a very popular tag that circulates in the book community every year around this time. However, I noticed that a new mid-year book tag has been created, and it focuses on peacefulness. So, I thought it might be fun to try this tag as well. The tag was created by Leandra The TBR Zero on YouTube.


Honestly, this year has brought me the most amazing bookish friends and community. Although I’ve been part of the book community for years, this is the first time I’ve truly felt integrated into it. It’s made my heart so happy.


‘Anne of Green Gables: A Graphic Novel,’ adapted by Mariah Marsden and illustrated by Brenna Thummler, was such a pleasant, easy read. The beautiful illustrations made the book stand out, and I can now understand why it is considered a classic.
Related Post: Anne Of Green Gables | Book Review


I’d choose ‘How To Plot A Payback’ by Melissa Ferguson, an ARC I was fortunate to receive via NetGalley. This refreshing and clean workplace romance was a pleasant surprise—I enjoyed it much more than I expected.
Related Post: How To Plot A Payback | Book Review


‘The Naturals‘ by Jennifer Lynn Barnes really energized me. The plot is incredibly engaging, and the book is such a fast read.


I’m choosing Chloe Gong because I finally finished her ‘These Violent Delights’ duology. I had forgotten how good her writing is and can’t wait to read more of her work.
Related Post: These Violent Delights | Book Review


I read ‘Flawless’ by Elsie Silver, a cowboy romance—definitely not a genre I usually pick up. I’m still unsure about this series, but I’m excited to explore the Elsie Silver fandom and see what all the hype is about.
Related Post: Flawless | Book Review


I’ve discovered that I’m really into magical realism and am fully embracing my romantasy era. Those are the two biggest changes I’ve noticed in my reading habits this year.


I want to stop starting multiple books at once. I used to be the type of reader who would finish one book before starting another, but now I’m juggling about five books at the same time. This is a habit I’m eager to break.


I’m not aware of any upcoming bookish events as I’m not attending any. However, I’m very excited about ‘Nothing Like the Movies‘ by Lynn Painter, the sequel to ‘Better Than the Movies,’ which is coming out later this year. I’m envious of those who have received ARCs of the book.
Related Post: Better Than the Movies | Book Review


I prefer to keep personal goals private, but related to books, I’m aiming to visit new bookstores and shop at more indie bookshops.

That’s it for my answers to this fun new tag! I’d love to hear from fellow bloggers—feel free to leave your answers in the comments below. And don’t forget to show my blog some love by following it.

Until the Next Chapter,
Bunny

By The Cover | July 2024

- Bunny Leave a comment

Hi friends,
I started a series of posts judging book covers a while ago and only did it once, back in March. So, I’m trying to change that now. Here I am, back at it for July, judging book covers and letting you know what I think about them. Please keep in mind that this is just for fun. As I said in my first post, I got this idea from a TikToker.

The Sky On Fire by Jenn Lyons (July 9th)
This cover isn’t bad, and it clearly signals that the book is a fantasy about dragons. However, I find it too generic for fantasy novels. It gives off vibes similar to Sarah J. Maas’s style, which is popular but doesn’t make it unique or stand out.

The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer (July 16th)
I think this cover could have a bit more going on, but it’s a pretty good design. I like the blue and brown color scheme, and the easy visibility of the door within the tree, with well-done detailing around it. While it doesn’t perfectly match the author’s other book, the font style and themes are similar.

I Was A Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones (July 16th)
This book sounds like one of those cheesy 80s slasher horror stories, which I sometimes enjoy. If the author and designer aimed for an 80s B-list horror movie look, they nailed it. However, if that wasn’t the intention, they might want to reconsider the cover. Personally, I’d probably pass by this cover in a bookstore. There’s nothing amazing about it, and I’m not a fan of the bulky, odd font.

Business Casual by B.K. Borison (July 16th)
Honestly, what drew me to this series of interconnected standalone romances were the covers. This one is probably my least favorite, but I still think the art style is very good. It’s clear that all the books belong in the same series. I appreciate how this one, like the others, includes flowers and avoids showing the characters’ faces; it’s a nice touch by the author.

Girl, Goddess, Queen by Bea Fitzgerald (July 20th)
My main issue isn’t with the cover itself but with the book title. It doesn’t feel like a title to me; it reads more like something you’d use to describe the main character or the story on the back of the book. Setting that aside, I don’t like this cover much. It’s unique with the crown and fire, giving the impression of the title rising from the flames. However, the font isn’t appealing to me, and I’m not a fan of the hot pink background or purple text. The border is the only thing I find nice about this cover.

The Faculty Lounge by Jennifer Mathieu (July 23rd)
I find this cover quite interesting. It gives off a teacher vibe, especially with the spilled coffee cup design. I’m not entirely sold on all the characters on the cover; some seem out of place. However, the addition of what looks like a dead character on the cover is intriguing. Though I’m not keen on the yellow background, it fits the typical color scheme for literary fiction books.

Feel free to share your thoughts on any of these covers in the comments below. I want to emphasize that I deeply respect the talent of each designer. These opinions are solely based on my personal likes and dislikes. If you enjoy this type of bookish content, remember to follow the blog!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

July 2024 // To Be Read

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Hi Friends,
I’m excited to share my July TBR post! This month, I’ll be playing my roll-the-dice game again. For a detailed breakdown of the rules, please read my June TBR post. The new rule I added is that if I don’t complete my main TBR from the previous month, I have to add an extra roll. Also, if I get any doubles, I add one extra roll. Normally, I start with 5 rolls, but a double means I’ll do 6 rolls. Since I didn’t complete my June TBR, I started with 6 rolls and got doubles, so I have seven books on this TBR.

Buy The Book

Last year for Christmas, my husband did a 24-day bookish advent calendar for me. Unfortunately, I haven’t read many of those books. For this prompt, I’ll read ‘Vespertine’ by Margaret Rogerson, a young adult fantasy book.

Buy The Book

I typically don’t read books before I buy them, but I’ve been trying to get better at that, especially with YA books and authors whose works I don’t always love. For this prompt, I’m picking ‘Heiress Takes All’ by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka. The story takes place during a wedding and claims to have an “Oceans 11” vibe.

Buy The Book

For this prompt, I had many books to choose from, but with my husband’s help, I decided on ‘The Wisteria Society Of Lady Scoundrels’ by India Holton. This is a fun historical romance with pirates, making it a good summer read.

Buy The Book

I’m very happy I got this prompt because I’ve been wanting to read ‘The House Across The Lake’ by Riley Sager for a while. I think it will be a great thriller read for this time of year, and there is clearly water on the cover.

Buy The Book

I’m going to try and read the third book in the Lovelight Farm series by B.K. Borison called ‘Mixed Signals.’ This series consists of interconnected standalone romances. The fourth and final book in the series is set to release sometime this fall.

Buy The Book

I’m shocked by how many books I have on my shelves by authors I’ve never read before. Keeping with the summer and mystery trend, I’m choosing ‘The Summer She Went Missing’ by Chelsea Ichaso. This is a YA mystery, so I’m a bit worried I might not love it, but I’m going to approach it with an open mind.

Buy The Book

I have many BOTM books that I’ve bought secondhand. Soon, I’ll have Riley Sager’s newest book to add to my collection, but first, I want to get through some of his backlist titles, most of which I have as BOTM editions. For this prompt, I’m going with ‘The Last Time I Lied’ by Riley Sager, another perfect summer thriller set at a camp.

In the comments, let me know if you enjoy TBR games and what books you plan on reading in July. I plan on listening to the audiobook for most of these books via Everand (click here). Don’t forget to follow the blog to stay updated with all my posts.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Birthday // Book Tag

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Hi Friends,
It’s my birthday! I thought it would be fun to do a birthday-inspired book tag. This is the ‘Birthday’ book tag that I found on YouTube. I don’t know who the original creator is, but the video I watched was from Lindsey From BFCG.


This one was hard, but I chose ‘What Once Was Mine’ by Liz Braswell. Most of the Twisted Tales books I’ve read seem somewhat mediocre and unoriginal, but this one was pretty good. I enjoyed the new spin on the Tangled story.
Related Post: What Once Was Mine // Book Review


There’s a 2024 release I’ve talked about endlessly, so instead, I’ll mention ‘Spectacular’ by Stephanie Garber. It’s a novella set in the Caraval world, coming out later this year.
Related Post: Caraval // Book Review


‘Weyward’ by Emilia Hart took me by surprise this year. The premise sounded interesting, but I had heard mixed reviews. However, I really enjoyed the story and its witchy aspects.
Related Post: Weyward // Book Review


‘A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder’ by Holly Jackson! When I first read it in 2021, it was incredibly hyped and still is today. The entire trilogy, especially the first two books, is definitely worth the hype.
Related Post: A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder // Book Review


Honestly, I don’t have a specific book for this. I don’t annotate my books, so I don’t always remember beautiful quotes. I just remember my favorite ones, but no single book stands out.


My husband reminded me of a book that fits this question perfectly: ‘The Golden Compass‘ by Philip Pullman. I received beautiful editions of the entire series for my birthday when I was a teenager. However, I only read the first two books in the trilogy and don’t think I fully understood or appreciated the story then. I was relatively new to reading, and this probably wasn’t the best fantasy series to start with. I think I’d enjoy them much more today.


2013 was probably one of the toughest years of my life, but it was also the year I read ‘Delirium‘ by Lauren Oliver. This book helped me discover audiobooks, which changed my reading experience forever.

In the comments, please send me some love by leaving birthday wishes. If you want to check out my book wishlist, click here, but you are under no obligation to send a gift. However, your continued support means the world to me, and the best birthday gift would be if you followed the blog.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

2024 Mid-Year Book Freakout // Book Tag

- Bunny 2 Comments

Hi Friends,
Each year on my book blog, I do the Mid-Year Book Freakout Tag, and 2024 is no exception. I’m excited to discuss the first half of my reading year with all of you.

Buy The Book

Although my favorite might change, right now, it’s ‘Happy Place’ by Emily Henry. This romance novel is an emotional rollercoaster.

Related Post: These Violent Delights // Book Review

I haven’t read many sequels yet, but I finished ‘Our Violent Ends’ by Chloe Gong, the second book in the ‘These Violent Delights’ duology. It was amazing! I loved the plot, characters, and ending.

Buy The Book

I’m really looking forward to reading ‘A Fate Inked in Blood’ by Danielle L. Jensen. It was a Book of the Month pick for me, and it sounds like an amazing fantasy. I’ve been in a romantasy mood lately, so this one is high on my TBR for the year.

Related Post: Belladonna // Book Review

I can’t wait to read ‘Wisteria’ by Adalyn Grace, the final book in the ‘Belladonna’ series. I’m eager to see how everything wraps up, but I’ll have to wait until August 2024 for its release.

Related Post: Practice Makes Perfect // Book Review

‘Practice Makes Perfect’ by Sarah Adams was a letdown. I had high hopes because of its exchange-of-services plot, but it didn’t meet my expectations.

Related Post: Daisy Jones And The Six // Book Review

‘Daisy Jones & The Six’ by Taylor Jenkins Reid surprised me. In my opinion, it’s a historical fiction novel in with a documentary aspect about a 70s rock band. It’s not my usual genre, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Related Post: Divine Rivals // Book Review

It’s hard to choose, but I’ll go with Rebecca Ross, the author of the ‘Letter Of Enchantments’ duology. Her lyrical writing style is beautiful.

Related Post: Ruthless Vows // Book Review

Speaking of the ‘Letters Of Enchantments’ duology, I have a huge crush on Rowan. He’s kind, intelligent, and has a way with words.

Related Post: Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia Of Faeries // Book Review

Wendell from ‘Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia Of Faeries’ by Heather Fawcett is my pick. He’s charming, cocky, and funny. I loved his character and his relationship with Emily.

Buy The Book

Aside from the previously mentioned ‘Happy Place,’ which had me sobbing throughout, ‘The Reappearance Of Rachel Price’ by Holly Jackson had me in tears by the end.

Buy The Book

The “Tea Dragon” graphic novel series by K. O’Neil always makes me happy. They’re cute, quick reads with lovable characters and beautiful illustrations.

Buy The Book

I’ve spent too much on pretty books this year, but “Five Broken Blades” by Mai Corland stands out. It has stunning, detailed edges. I hope the story inside is just as beautiful.


There are many books I’d like to read before the year ends, but two of my highest priority reads are “Two Twisted Crowns” by Rachel Gillig and “Breaking Dawn” by Stephenie Meyer. I really want to finish these series.

In the comments, let me know your answers to these questions. If you’d like to listen to the audiobooks of some of these titles, you can sign up for a free trial of Everand using my link (click here). Are you a blogger? Then I challenge you to do this tag. Don’t forget to hit the follow button so you never miss a post.

Until the next chapter,
Bunny