Some Girls Do // Book Review

About The Book
Morgan, an elite track athlete, is forced to transfer high schools late in her senior year after it turns out being queer is against her private Catholic school’s code of conduct. There, she meets Ruby, who has two hobbies: tinkering with her baby blue 1970 Ford Torino and competing in local beauty pageants, the latter to live out the dreams of her overbearing mother. The two are drawn to each other and can’t deny their growing feelings.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3urFYH4

My Rating


This is a really cute, young adult, queer romance with a lot of depth to it. I honestly wouldn’t call this a light or fluffy female/female romance, because it does cover a lot of heavy topics. That being said, I really enjoyed the story. I didn’t expect it to be so hard hitting, but I really loved the way the author went with the plot.

In the book, Morgan, a new transfer student and star athlete, meets Ruby, who is a beauty pageant queen that happens to love working on cars. Their first meeting isn’t exactly a meet-cute, but they quickly form a friendship that leads to something more. The only problem is: Morgan is openly gay, but Ruby is still trying to figure things out.

Now, I did find that Morgan was a little bit too intense, and wasn’t quite understanding when it came to Ruby’s situation. However, knowing about her path, and why she had to transfer schools, it’s understandable that she wasn’t willing to hide who she was.

“So what if she’s a mess? Maybe we all are. But what if she’s meant to be my mess, and I’m meant to be hers?”

On the other hand, I really felt for Ruby in this book. She didn’t know how she was going to pay for college. She was forced to be a beauty queen, so that her mother could live vicariously through her. And she was truly afraid that no one would accept her as bisexual.

The book was really about self discovery, and how nobody can force you to do anything you’re not ready to do. In the end, all we can do is support and be there for each other. I really loved Morgan and Ruby’s relationship, and also what they learned from each other throughout the book.

Overall, this is a really good read, and the writing was impeccable. I wouldn’t necessarily call it a fast-paced book, since books with heavy subjects seem to take longer, but I still enjoyed it. And, although this book deals with some heavier topics, it is still a contemporary romance at its core.

If you have read this book, leave me a comment telling your thoughts on it. As always, you can like and share this post with others. Before you go, remember you can get post notifications by following my blog.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Murder In The Family // Book Review

About The Book
One body. Six experts. Can you solve the case before they do? Mega-bestselling British crime novelist Cara Hunter makes her big American debut with a wholly immersive thriller like none you’ve seen before: written as the teleplay of a true-crime documentary, it has the reader puzzling away, reviewing photos, maps, coroner’s reports and other evidence as they read. Can you tell who’s lying?
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3St4EHe

My Rating


I wish I could say that this book was a roller coaster ride, but unfortunately, I predicted the ending twist right from the first chapter. However, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I really like the mixed media element. In the book, we follow a group of experts in their respective fields, such as journalism, psychology, and detective work, starring in a television show to solve a cold case.

The Director of the show has a true connection to the murder, as the victim was his stepfather. The story dragged a little bit too much for my liking. I felt as though the chapters were too long, and I kind of figured where they were going with the plot. Now there were some moments that were a surprise to me, and I really liked the format of the book.

I can’t generally say too much about the characters, because there are a lot of them, and we didn’t get to really know them personally. However, I thought that case that they were looking into was very interesting, and I liked working with them to put the puzzle pieces together and figure out what happened.

“True crime reality TV, if you like. Judging by the cliffhanger at the end of last night’s opening episode, it certainly shows promise.”

In a way, the book really makes the reader the detective as well, which I think is a very unique concept. As for the ending, like I said, there was no big shock there but I think the author took a lot of time with the plot and wrote everything to make sense at the end.

Overall, I would’ve liked the book to be about 100 pages shorter, yet it was a decent read, and I think a lot of mystery readers could really enjoy this book. Honestly, I think it would make a great book club read, since you could get together and try to solve a crime.

Let me know if you have read this book, and your thoughts on it. If you have other readers in your life feel free to share this post with them. Don’t forget to follow the blog for more book reviews and other bookish content!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Yerba Buena // Book Review

About The Book
The debut adult novel by the bestselling and award-winning YA author Nina LaCour, following two women on a star-crossed journey toward each other. At once exquisite and expansive, astonishing in its humanity and heart, Yerba Buena is a testament to the healing qualities of a shared meal, a perfectly crafted drink, a space we claim for ourselves. Nina LaCour’s adult debut novel is a love story for our time.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3SjMSpG

My Rating


This is a beautifully written story that is more than just a love story. The plot hits on some heavy topics and is really the journey of self discovery. The two main characters, Emilie and Sara, are far from perfect, but even through all their hardships in life, they continue to try to be better, and do better.

Their connection is so strong that the universe keeps bringing them back to each other. It really is a story about what commitment, and letting someone in truly means. The book focuses on the girls’ journey, not only together, but apart as well. We follow their lives, and learn a lot about them.

I wouldn’t say that one of the girls lives was more interesting than the other. However, I did find that Sara’s story was a bit more unsettling, since she was a runaway at sixteen. While Emilie still struggles, her journey was more about finding her path.

“So this was how it felt- to be dealt a blow, to pause, to keep going in spite of it. Not to start over but to continue.”

The two girls make a lot of mistakes throughout the book, and as a reader, the story felt very real. I am sure there are many people that can connect with both girls in one way or another. Although, I didn’t have a personal connection with them, I enjoyed the plot tremendously, which I was surprised about.

I am not someone that generally gravitates towards literary fiction, so my fondness for the book came as a shock to me. However, the book was very well written, and it was very fast read. I didn’t want to put it down, which is high praise coming from me! And, the fact that this is Nina LaCour’s adult debut amazes me.

Overall, the book showcases how we can sometimes meet the right person at the wrong time. And, if things are meant to be, we will find our way back to each other. It perfectly displays the ups and downs of all types of relationships, from family to romantic. I would definitely recommend this to readers who are just getting into the literary fiction genre.

In the comments let me know your thoughts on this book. Would you recommend other books by this author?  Don’t forget to like and share this post. As always, you can follow the blog to get notified whenever there is a new post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

The Island // Book Review

About The Book
Jagged Island: a private amusement park for the very rich—or the very influential. Liam, James, Will, Ava, Harper, and Paisley—social media influencers with millions of followers—have been invited for an exclusive weekend before the park opens. When the teens arrive, they’re stunned: the resort is even better than they’d imagined. But soon they’ll discover that something’s missing from their schedule: getting off the island alive.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/49igyu8

My Rating


I was really hoping that I would love this book, but unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. However, I didn’t hate it either, and it had some good qualities. However, the overall plot was missing something, and the writing felt a little lackluster.

The book follows a bunch of influencers in different niches, from books to gaming, getting invited on an exclusive trip to remote island. They are there to test out a new amusement park and promote it, for its billionaire owner.

As you can probably figure, with this being a thriller, things turn deadly. I will say that I was surprised as to how gruesome the book was. The death scenes are intense, and a lot of killing does occur. Also, it’s pretty graphically detailed, at least in terms of a young adult thriller.

“People listen to someone online they’ve never met more than they do to their parents, teachers, doctors.”

The characters were very stereotypical, when it comes to what you think influencers might be like. There wasn’t much depth to them, and although they were getting all this money and had all this attention, they had very poor attitudes. So, I didn’t really care what was happening to them.

This is definitely a page turner. It’s such a fast read you don’t want to put it down. Honestly, I could see reading this in a day, even if you aren’t normally a quick reader. The book is very addictive, despite the plot lacking a certain attachment to the characters.

Overall, this isn’t the most amazing young adult thriller, but it kept me interested. That being said, I do wish that the ending left me a little bit more surprised. And honestly, I’m not exactly sure how I feel about the final chapter. This author tends to leave things open ended, which I’m not sure I love. But, it does kind of work in this case.

In the comments, let me know if you like cliffhangers. Don’t forget to give this post a like and a share. If you would like to get post notifications, then hit the follow button.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

The January Book Tag // 2024

Hi Friends,
Today, I am doing ‘The January’ book tag, which I have done previously. This book tag helps you reflect on your last year’s reading and your reading plans for the year ahead. I am happy to continue my tradition of doing this tag every January.



Funny enough, I remember many, if not all, of my January reading in 2023. The book that I started the year reading was ‘Five Survive’ by Holly Jackson, who is the author of the ‘A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder‘ trilogy. For some reason, I could not remember the last book I read. Let me say that it was a crazy end of the year. After looking at my GoodReads I saw that my final read of 2023 was ‘Secret Santa’ by Andrew Shaffer, which is a short Christmas horror.
Related Post: Five Survive // Book Review
Related Post: Secret Santa // Book Review



In 2024, the first book I ended up finishing was actually one I started in 2023, which was ‘Lovelight Farms’ by B.K. Borison. I had initially DNFed the book but decided to go ahead and finish it on January 1st. I probably will not be posting my review until November or December of this year, but spoiler alert I was not a fan of it.



I have a whole post on my 2024 reading goals, but my top three are to read my owned TBR, read outside my comfort zone, and one that I did not mention in that post is to finish a few book series. I think that these goals are typical and that I can accomplish them.
Related Post: 2024 Anticipated Releases // January To June



Well, I just so happen to also have a post on my most anticipated releases for the first half of 2024. But, my three most anticipated releases for the entire year would have to be ‘Happily Never After’ by Lynn Painter (March 2024), ‘Wisteria’ by Adalyn Grace (August 2024) and ‘Spectacular’ by Stephanie Garber (October 2024). These are all favorite authors of mine, so naturally, I cannot wait to read their new releases.
Related Post: Belladonna // Book Review
Related Post: Caraval // Book Review



I reached my reading goal last year, which I believe is always an accomplishment. Unfortunately, I did not read much of my physical TBR. However, graphic novels were a pretty big part of my reading last year, and I do not normally read them, so I would call reading out of my comfort zone a success.



Honestly, the first book that came to mind was ‘House of Flame and Shadow’ by Sarah J. Maas (January 2024), which is the third book in her ‘Crescent City’ series. I have no desire to read the book, or anything else written by the author. Her books seem so long, and there are #7 or #8 books in some of her series. This is just too much for me. Needless to say, I will not pick this book up when it is released, and I am okay with that.



I am not sure if I have any reading habits or red flags so to speak that I would like to change this year. I know that is such a lame answer, and I think it’s one I have given in the past to this question. I try not to take reading too seriously because it is some I love to do and makes me happy.



I am not ashamed to admit that I do not keep up with book adaptations. So, I have no idea what is being adapted in 2024. Except for ‘It Ends With Us,’ which will star Blake Lively. However, I am not necessarily excited about that since I probably will not be watching it, because I have never read the book and do not plan to.



Probably joining Bookthreads! I have become so active there and Bookstagram. It has been so fun, and I am glad I discovered it last year. I hope to connect with more bookish people this year and do more buddy reading.



If you are talking about books, I started last year and still need to finish that would be ‘Furyborn’ by Claire Legrand and ‘Book Lovers’ by Emily Henry. But, if you mean 2023 releases I still need to read than the list is probably too long to mention.


Hope that you enjoyed this tag! If you have done it on your blog, let me know in the comments below, so that I can read your post. Feel free to leave a comment with your answers as well. Do not forget to share this post and follow the blog.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Borrow My Heart // Book Review

About The Book
When a girl overhears a guy getting verbally destroyed by his friends for being catfished, she jumps in to save the day—and pretends to be his online crush. Suddenly she’s fake-dating a boy she knows nothing about. And it’s . . . amazing. A young adult romance from the critically acclaimed author of Places We’ve Never Been.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3Scapc5

My Rating


I’m a big fan of Kassie West, and a young adult contemporary about a catfishing story just seemed super cute. However, this one sadly missed the mark. It just wasn’t what I thought it was going to be, and the ending made me quite angry.

In the book, we follow Warren, an animal-loving control freak that decides to do a ‘good deed’ by helping out Asher when she overhears his friend teasing him about being catfished. This sparks a cute little romance between Warren and Asher, but it does all start off as a lie, which makes things complicated.

I loved Warren, and found her to be such a great main character. Asher was a really good love interest, too. Even the side characters were likable, as well. Kasie West knows how to write really good characters. Teens that aren’t annoying, stereotypical, or immature. However, this didn’t have that same witty banter that her books normally do.

“That’s what good people with big hearts do.”

As usual, they are more to her plots than just romance. Warren has a broken home life, because her mother left her to go off and do her own thing. The fact that there are more serious elements to her stories, rather than just teen love, make them more impactful. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good straight forward teen romance, but I love the fact that her books have more substance, as well.

My biggest con for this book, and the reason that it isn’t a four or five star, is the ending conflict. There’s always some conflict in romance novels where the love interests pull away from each other, but this one made me so mad and I didn’t like the resolution. Maybe I’m petty, and I hold a grudge.

Overall, I enjoy Kasie West’s writing, and her books are such fast reads. And, I do like how she focused on social media, but how social media can negatively impact someone’s life, and affect them. Although this story wasn’t my favorite, and the ending still drives me nuts, I will continue to read any book she puts out.

In the comments, let me know if you’ve ever been catfished. Is catfishing even a thing anymore? Don’t forget to check out my Facebook page for more bookish updates. And, you’ll never miss a post if you follow the blog.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

2023 Lucky 13 // Best Books

Hi Friends,
Here, we have my best books for 2023! I had such a hard time narrowing down my best books, and 12 was not going to cut it. Therefore, I decided that 13 books deserve to be on this list. However, there is probably more that I could have added. Thus, without further ado, let us talk about my favorite books from last year.


Buy Book
Originally, I gave this book four stars, but the story was stuck in my mind for weeks. For that reason, I knew that I had to bump it up to five stars. This is a young adult romance about a long-distance relationship, which is something that is not written about much. I loved how the story went, and the character development was one of the best things in the book.


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I did not expect a cozy fantasy to make this list, but this one really pulled at my heartstrings. No, I do not think it resembles Gilmore Girls or Practically Magic, but nevertheless, I loved the characters and story. A small town, family of witches, and mystery all make for a wonderful read. However, you might also shed a few tears at the end of the book because I certainly did.


Buy Book
I never thought that I was a pirate girl, but this book had me thinking I might be. This story was so action packed, and had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I loved our female main character, and despite the romance being very typical of a young adult book, I found it enjoyable to read.


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I do not hear anyone talking about this book, which is such a shame. Although this story is probably not anything to write home about, I had such a great experience reading this book. It was a fast-paced adult romcom with a happily ever after ending. Personally, I sometimes need a feel-good love story, which is exactly what this book was for me.


Buy Book
I am so happy that I was finally able to read the first book in this mystery series because it was brilliant. I loved how we followed a cast of animal characters in a small town. The mystery was fun, although predictable. However, the slight romance plot is unexpected and entertaining. This is both an easy and enjoyable read.


Buy Book
This is one, if not the best, queer romance I have read. What makes this even better is that it is a YA story. I found that the book provides a real look at different sexualities and what it is like to struggle with one’s own sexual identity. And let me just mention that an open door spicy scene was very unexpected for a young adult novel, but I did not mind it one bit.


Buy Book
Honestly, I cannot say why this book sticks out in my mind, besides the fact that the plot was so well-done. I thought that this was going to be a simple psychological thriller, but there was so much more to it. The story was surprisingly more twisted than I expected. Still, I liked how the author showed the darker and more horrifying side of the publishing world.


Buy Book
In my opinion, this book is underrated in the thriller genre. I have heard some negative things about it, but I loved the slower character-driven plot. Although there were not many twists and turns, I found the story very engaging. I found myself unable to put the book down, which made my reading experience even better.


Buy Book
At first, I thought that this was going to be a thriller involving vampires, but I was actually very wrong. This is a difficult book to describe, but I loved the writing style, the found family element to be a nice touch, and the plot incredibly unique. The story I was so captivating that I read it in a day.


Buy Book
I knew from the synopsis that I was going to love this book, but I did not expect it to become a new favorite romcom. Everything about this book from the story to the spice is perfection. I think it is a great book for readers who do not typically love the friends-to-lovers romance trope.


Buy Book
This book has such an interesting plot and is a wonderful start for the series. I had never read anything by this author before and picked up this book because of its title alone. However, I am so glad that I read it because it was an enjoyable experience. The love story is original, and the magical aspect is fascinating.


Buy Book
I was truly surprised by how much I loved the book. This is similar to the Hunger Games but with vampires and magic elements. The world building was amazing and the characters were very interesting. However, the last few chapters take this book the extra mile and really cement it as a standout read, in my opinion.


Buy Book
Right from the first chapter, I felt that this was going to be my favorite book of the year. I loved it even more than the first book (Belladonna), and the ending has anxiously awaiting the release of what I believe is the final book in this series. I am in love with this story, the world, and characters.


I hope that you enjoyed if not all some of these books. Feel free to share your favorite books of 2023 in the comments. If you weren’t a fan of one of these books I mentioned, that’s okay too, because I still adore all of these books. Don’t forget to like and share this post with others. It would be great if you could follow the blog before you go.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

12 Letdowns From 2023 // Worst Books

Hi Friends,
Today I’m talking about my worst reads of 2023. Now this year, it is more disappointments than worst books, because 2023 was a fairly good reading year for me. I had mostly 3 and 4 stars, and I don’t consider a 3 star to be a bad book. So, with all that out of the way, let’s jump into my top 10 most disappointing reads of 2023.


Buy Book
I thought that this was going to be such an interesting YA thriller, but it was fairly confusing. I am still not sure of the plot. The book was very weird, and the writing style wasn’t my favorite. And, for a thriller, it wasn’t necessarily a thrilling book. You see what I did there?


Buy Book
Frankly this isn’t a huge disappointment since I didn’t really have high expectations going into this book. I hadn’t heard anything about it, but as someone that grew up watching ‘Buffy The Vampire Slayer’, I wanted to get similar vibes from the show. But, for a book based on Spike, the character wasn’t very reminiscent of his television counterpart.


Buy Book
This book frustrated me to no end. Besides the writing, it has no redeeming qualities. I wouldn’t even call it a romance story. Well, it might be a romance, but a messy one (that isn’t exactly romantic). Also, anyone can see where the plot is going to go? The ending was crystal clear, making me wonder what the point to the story was. Needless to say, I wasn’t a fan.


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I wish that I loved more from this author, but I just can’t seem to enjoy much that I read from her. Although, I can’t seem to stop reading her books either. This plot was very generic, and I’m not a fan of books based on snobby rich kids. This is like Gossip Girl meets Pretty Little Liars, which might appeal to some, but for me it didn’t work at all.


Buy Book
I was so disappointed in this book, because I was hoping for a cute supernatural romance but it was very slow paced and cringy. The storyline wasn’t very engaging, and the characters barely had any chemistry.


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I have a love/hate relationship with the Disney Twisted Tales books, but this one was low on the totem pole for me. I didn’t get ‘The Little Mermaid’ vibes, and truthfully, I was barely making it through reading the book. It could be that the ‘What If’ storyline didn’t work for me this time around, but the story wasn’t captivating as other books in this series have been.


Buy Book
In my opinion, this book was not good at all. It completely read like a middle grade, and the story was not compelling at all. I wasn’t a big fan of the characters or the supernatural elements. But the book cover was so pretty that I wished I liked the inside more.


Buy Book
This book sounded so appealing, but it was a struggle to get through it. The magic aspect felt weird in the story, which isn’t good when it’s the basis for the plot. And, it’s never good when you have a dual timeline story but only one of the timelines is actually interesting.


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I don’t know if it’s the fact that adult are writing teenagers but the main character in this book was so unrelated and immature. The biggest problem with this book is that it was boring. I know that’s a bit harsh but I can honestly say that I was bored throughout the whole book. That’s not exactly the reading experience I was looking for.


Buy Book
The main character drove me insane throughout the whole book. Also, I like books where things are actually happening. However, I wasn’t aware that this is a ‘Death On The Nile’ retelling, which I have heard struggles with a slow moving plot as well. Still, I cannot in good conscience recommend this book to anyone.


Buy Book
I can’t believe that I even read this book considering I had such a distaste for the first book, ‘So, This Is Christmas,’ in this companion series. Hopefully, this will be the last book because I can’t get behind the characters, the romance or the writing. It feels like I’m reading about two middle schoolers. That’s all I’m going to say.


Buy Book
I cannot begin to tell you how sad I am that this is most disappointing read of 2023. I am still a Holly Jackson fan, but this book was a major flop. It could be that she wrote it fairly quickly, but every part, from the plot to the character, was bad. I know that it might be for some people, but I am not one of those people.


In the comments, let me know what some of your disappointing reads for 2023. Remember that nobody’s reading experience is the same, so if you liked any of these books that is great! They did not work for me. Before you go, please follow my blog, so that it continues to grow.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

The Legend of the Christmas Witch // Mini Book Review

About The Book
From Parks and Recreation star Aubrey Plaza and creative partner Dan Murphy comes the long lost tale of the Christmas Witch, Santa Claus’s much misunderstood twin sister. The perfect gift for the holiday season and beyond! Gather ‘round the fire to hear a Christmas legend that has never been told before…until now.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3trjgyl

My Rating


I picked up this book because the cover is simply stunning, and I thought that it would be a quick read that would get me in the holiday spirit. But this book is so much more than a short Christmas-y graphic novel.

It tells the tale of two twins, a boy and a girl, one who ends up becoming the holly jolly Santa Claus, and the other the Christmas witch. It is such a fun, unique story that I think anyone would be fascinated by.

“I’m going to ruin this Christmas holiday once and for all!”

The author really made the story come to life, and the artwork was stunning. It was so interesting to hear this tale of this Christmas Witch, and all she goes through over the course of the book. You can read this book cover to cover in one sitting, which is what I did.

Overall, this isn’t just a lighthearted Christmas story, but has a much deeper meaning. Simply because one is different and misunderstood doesn’t mean they have to hide from the world. Also, by the end of the book, the story felt so real it made me wonder if there is some truth to this Christmas witch legend.

In the comments, let me know if you have ever heard of the Christmas Witch. Don’t forget to follow the blog before you go, because your support really does mean a lot to me.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Tis The Season For Revenge // Book Review

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