Winter Book Haul | 2022 #1

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Hi Friends,
It is finally time for me to share my first book haul of 2022! My husband has been horrible, and amazing, at feeding into my book addiction. However, I did purchase a good chunk of these books with a gift card I received for Christmas. I usually don’t buy this many books over a two month period, but apparently retail therapy has become my thing. Hopefully, I will have more self control in the coming months, but can one ever have too many books.

Little Women by Louisa May: The timeless tale of four sisters – Meg, Jo, Amy and Beth – experiencing both hardship and adventure in Civil War New England. Though the March family may be poor, their lives are rich with colour, as they play games, put on wild theatricals, make new friends, argue, grapple with their vices, learn from their mistakes, nurse each other through sickness and disappointments, and get into all sorts of trouble.The Accident Season by Moira Fowley Doyle: For fans of We Were Liars and The Ocean at the End of the Lane comes a haunting magically realistic debut about a family caught between a violent history, a taboo romance, and the mysteries lurking in their own backyard.

Bunnicula: Harold the dog and Chester the cat must find out the truth about the newest pet in the Monroe household—a suspicious-looking bunny with unusual habits…and fangs! Could this innocent-seeming rabbit actually be a vampire?

The Smoke Thieves by Sally Green: Unforgivable betrayals, devious motives, and forbidden love collide in the first installment of internationally bestselling author Sally Green’s epic new fantasy series, perfect for Game of Thrones fans.

My Almost Flawless Tokyo Dream Life by Rachel Cohn: My Almost Flawless Tokyo Dream Life is about learning what it is to be a family, and finding the inner strength to be yourself, even in the most extreme circumstances.

Together We Caught Fire by Eva V. Gibson: A forbidden attraction grows even more complicated when the guy Lane Jamison has crushed on for years suddenly becomes her step-brother in this sexy and gorgeously written debut novel about the lines between love, desire, and obsession.It’s a Whole Spiel: Love, Latkes, and Other Jewish Stories by Various Authors: Get ready to fall in love, experience heartbreak, and discover the true meaning of identity in this poignant collection of short stories about Jewish teens, including entries by David Levithan, Nova Ren Suma, and more!

Layoverland by Gabby Noone: From debut author Gabby Noone comes a darkly hilarious and heartfelt twist on the afterlife about finding second chances, first loves, and new friendships in the most unlikely places.

It Sounded Better in My Head by Nina Kenwood: A compulsively readable love letter to teenage romance in all of its awkward glory, perfect for fans To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and Emergency Contact.

Throw Like a Girl by Sarah Henning: With lovable characters and a charming quarterback love interest, Throw Like a Girl will have readers swooning from the very first page.

We Are the Wildcats by Siobhan Vivian: A toxic coach finds himself outplayed by the high school girls on his team in this deeply suspenseful novel, which unspools over twenty-four hours through six diverse perspectives.River of Dreams by Jan Nash: Draped in themes of first love and family, secrets and malevolence, and swirling through an exhilarating dream world full of danger, violence, and love, Jan Nash’s exciting debut is a high-stakes adventure full of suspense, romance, and magic, perfect for fans of Stranger Things and Supernatural.

The Best Laid Plans by Cameron Lund: High school senior Keely Collins takes on firsts, lasts, and everything in between in this sweet, sex-positive rom-com for fans of Meg Cabot and Jenny Han.

Geekerella by Ashley Poston: Cinderella goes to the con in this fandom-fueled twist on the classic fairy tale romance.

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood: When a fake relationship between scientists meets the irresistible force of attraction, it throws one woman’s carefully calculated theories on love into chaos.

Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur: The book is divided into four chapters, and each chapter serves a different purpose. Deals with a different pain. Heals a different heartache.The Sun and Her Flowers by Rupi Kaur: Divided into five chapters and illustrated by kaur, the sun and her flowers is a journey of wilting, falling, rooting, rising, and blooming. A celebration of love in all its forms.

Malice by Heather Walter: Once upon a time, there was a wicked fairy who, in an act of vengeance, cursed a line of princesses to die. A curse that could only be broken by true love’s kiss. You’ve heard this before, haven’t you? The handsome prince. The happily ever after. Utter nonsense.

By Your Side by Kasie West: An irresistible story from Kasie West that explores the timeless question: What do you do when you fall for the person you least expect?

Maybe This Time by Kasie West: Beloved author Kasie West brings her signature witty banter and rom-com fun to a bold, fresh format. Think Four Weddings and a Funeral for YA.

Seven Dirty Secrets by Natalie D. Richards: I know seven dirty secrets: One caused the fall. One did nothing. One saw it all. One didn’t care. One used their head. One played the hero. One was left for dead.The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys: Master storyteller Ruta Sepetys once again shines light into one of history’s darkest corners in this epic, heart-wrenching novel about identity, unforgettable love, repercussions of war, and the hidden violence of silence—inspired by the true postwar struggles of Spain.

Cupcake by Cookie O’Gorman: This new swoon-worthy, feel-good #OwnVoices YA romance from the author of Adorkable celebrates body positivity in all its forms, as well as lifting each other up every day.

Beauty and the Beast by Editors of Studio Fun International: This fresh retelling of Beauty and the Beast follows the story of the classic animated film and includes paintings, sketches, and concept art from the original Disney Studio artists

Happy Dreams, Little Bunny by Leah Hong: This stunningly illustrated debut is The Runaway Bunny for a new generation—a captivating flight of fancy that also helps children lull themselves into dreamland.

This book haul was surprisingly bigger than I originally thought it would be. Sorry not sorry. I would love to know what books you have recently bought or pre-ordered. Also, did you know following my blog really helps it grow? By following you will get notified about all my posts, which I work so hard on. You won’t want to miss any of my upcoming bookish posts!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Book Club and Read Alongs // February 2022 Update

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Hi Friends,
I have so many announcements coming at you. One of them I still can’t say, but I will be announcing it next month. The first is that I am going to be starting a book club! I have been wanting to do this for a while. I don’t know if anyone will actually join in, but I thought I would give it a shot. There will be a GoodReads page for the group, and it will be the ‘Hop It To Reading’ Book Club.

On the GoodReads page, we can discuss the book, and possibly set a date for a live discussion of the book. I will post a poll for us to pick the book for each month. The first poll is up now! I also might do reading sprints once a week on my Twitter (@bookswithbunny). I really hope some of you will join in on the book club.

Next, I want to host a Vampire Academy read-along, or maybe a buddy read. There is a VA series coming out soon, so I would like to read the books. I know that many people have already read this series, but if you haven’t, or are planning to reread it, please join in the read-along!

Those are all the updates I have for you guys this month. Please check back in March for my other exciting announcement! If you want to buy me a coffee or donate to my blog you can visit my Ko-Fi. All your support means the world to me!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Valentine’s Day Sweetheart Book Tag

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Hi Friends,
Today, I am doing a Valentine’s Day inspired book tag! I wouldn’t say that I’m a V-Day fan, but I don’t hate the holiday either. Chocolate and flowers are nice, and YA contemporary is my favorite book genre. The tag that I will be doing is the ‘Valentine’s Day Sweetheart’ Book Tag, created by Pampered Pages.


What is your favorite Valentine’s Day-themed candy?
This is probably the most boring answer, but Reese’s hearts. I don’t normally like peanut butter, but I do like a good Reese’s.


Do you enjoy reading romance?
Yes! I love YA romances the most, but lately I have become a fan of adult romances as well. There is nothing like an adorable and over-the-top fictional romance.

Do you tend to read romance books throughout the Valentine’s Day season?
Not really, I am kind of a mood/planned reader. I am a seasonal reader at times, but with contemporaries being my favorite genre I read them all throughout the year despite the holiday.

Your fictional sweetheart shows up at your door with a Valentine’s Day gift. What is it?
The most romantic gift would be a love note or a song the especially wrote for me. I don’t need shiny things, because I’d marry my true love with paper rings.


How many romance books do you have that are written by the same author?
I have no idea at all, but I do have a few Jenny Han, Kasie West and Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka books.

What is a romance book that made you cry?
Five Feet Apart by Mikki Daughtry, Rachael Lippincott, and Tobias Iacon! It was my favorite book of 2021, and it broke my heart.


If you could choose any place (fictional or real) to escape to for a Valentine’s Day date with your sweetheart, where would you like to go?
I want to go somewhere snowy, like to a cabin in the snowy mountains. Somewhere I can go ice skating, make a snowman, or curl up by a fire and read.

Distance Makes the Heart Grow Fonder: What anticipated book release do you know in your heart you will absolutely love?
Austin Siegemund-Broka and Emily Wibberley’s 2022 release ‘With and Without You’, which is a YA romance about a long distance relationship. This touches my heart already, because my husband and I were in a long distance relationship at first.

Do you have any favorite love-themed quotes from any of the books you have read?

All’s Fair In Love And War: Do you have more books with red or pink spines?
Definitely a pink spines. I don’t know if I have any books with a red spine.

I hope that you enjoyed this book tag. In the comments, let me know if you are a Valentine’s Day fan or not. Please follow the blog via WordPress, so my little blog can grow.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Friday Reads #1

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Hi Friends,
Today, I am doing my first Friday reads post. I might not always have one of these post every week, but I do enjoy sharing my weekend reading plans with you. So, I will be letting you know what I plan on reading throughout the weekend.

Bunnicula by James and Deborah Howe
I have about two hours left on the audiobook. I am confident that I can finish it by Friday night.

The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
I have been wanting to read this forever! I have the audiobook and plan on starting it on Saturday.

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
In between, Saturday and Sunday I will be trying to finish Twilight with my husband. We are 40% of the way through the first book in the series.

Caraval by Stephanie Garber
I will most likely not get to this book until next week, but I still have hopes that I can pick it up before the weekend is over.

Those are all my weekend reading plans. I would love to know what you are currently, or planning on, reading over the next couple of days. Please support the blog by liking and sharing this post. Also, it would mean a lot if you’d follow me. It really helps withmy blog’s growth.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

The Holiday Plan // Book Review

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Author: Emma Lyndon
Published: 2022
Genre: Adult/Romance
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Synopsis
A heartwarming romance that will whisk you away to a magical winter wonderland and have you reaching for the hot cocoa and box of chocolates long after the holidays.

*I want to thank Hapeth Road Press for sending me a copy of the book for review.*
I was unsure to make of this book, because adult romance and I have a very love/hate relationship. In the beginning, we are introduced to our female lead, Verona, who is a down on her luck author. She is also recently single, and having the worst Valentine’s Day ever. Skip forward a year into the future, where we meet Troy, who is a single father and professional match maker. The two come face to face during Valentine’s Day weekend, at Troy’s biggest match making event of the year.

This is a Hallmark style dual-perspective story. It is filled with romance and predictability, and I ate it all up. It was very cute, and had some witty banter between Troy and Verona. They were both struggling with their own personal issues that went far beyond just work and Valentine’s Day.

Verona was dealing with the feeling of loneliness, due not only to the fact that her romantic future fell apart the previous Valentine’s Day, but she is still reeling from the loss of her best friend and biggest supporter, her aunt Teoni. Troy can’t move past the death of his wife, nor all the guilt he carries from of it. Not only that, but his business is crumbling around him, thanks to a PR nightmare.

“Magic in the mistakes.”

The two weren’t super complex characters, but they felt real. Like everyday people with everyday problems. As you read about these two characters and watch them grow closer, you get butterflies in your stomach. Anyone who has ever been in love should know that feeling pretty well.

The writing was good, and it was an easy read. A straightforward romance, which was neither messy nor over the top. The book sparked a lot of thought provoking questions, one being simply why do we make such a big deal about Valentine’s Day? Is it really necessary to celebrate a holiday that makes others feel even more lonely than they might already? Shouldn’t we tell people we love them and do romantic things all year long? Do you think the whole celebration of Valentine’s Day is an antiquated idea?

Another question the book indirectly asks, is if one should go looking for love. The entire book centers around a Valentine’s Day ‘looking for love’ event. Basically, a giant week long singles mixer. People pay tons of money in hops of finding their other half, which, in Verona’s opinion, is ridiculous. Is it better to let love find you? Or to go searching for it?

By the end, both Verona and a Troy learn that you don’t have to go actively looking for love – you just have to be open to the possibility of it. And, you risk the chance of getting hurt, but some people are worth that risk. Honestly, the book couldn’t get anymore sappy, but in a good way. I am not by any means calling this book’s sweetness a bad thing, because I was all for it.

However, there was this small found family side plot that didn’t really fit in with the rest of the story. I understood what the author was trying to do by including it, but the story would have worked just as well without it. I would have preferred it without, actually. Nevertheless, the ending wrapped everything up with a neat little bow, and was very delightful.

If you are a fan of Hallmark movies and your stereotypical adult romance books (think Debbie Macomber) then I would give it a read. Also, if Hallmark does adapt it into a movie, I would make the perfect Verona, just saying. Before you go, share and like this post. Also, don’t forget to follow the blog so you will never miss a post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Some Girls Do // Books Meet Beauty // Toss-Up Tuesday

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Hi Friends,
Valentine’s Day is is just around the corner, so I thought I would do my first ‘Book Meets Beauty’ post. I picked a book and created a makeup looked based off the cover. I choose my book cover with Valentine’s Day in mind. I loved the purples and pinks in the cover, so I played off of them. I think that the look turned out nice, and it reminds me of the cover. But, keep in mind that I am know makeup professional and just do makeup for fun.

Face
elf Superhydrate Gel Moisturizer
Cate Watermelon Burst Setting Spray
Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Glow
Essence Pretty Natural Hydrating Foundation
Wet n’ wild Concealer Make-Up Stick
L.A. Colors Translucent Setting Powder
Almay Smart Shade Blush (Coral)
Mac Extra Dimension Skin Finish Highlighter

Eyes
Elf Putty Eye Primer
I Heart Revolution Eyeshadow Palette (Strawberry Cheesecake)
* Creased Shade: Syrup
* Lid Shade: Drizzle
* Outer Corner Shade: Juicy
*Brow Bone Shade: Butter
L.A. Colors Auto Liner (Black)
Maybelline ‘Sky High’ Mascara (Black)

Lips
Revlon Sheer Lipstick (820 Pink Cognito)

If you like these type of post combining my love of beauty and books please like and share this post with others.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny
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Read More Books // Tips and Tricks

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Hi Friends,
In the past, my reading wasn’t where it is today. Here’s a little secret: in 2020, I only managed to read 5 books. In 2014, sadly, I only read only 2 books. Until recently, the most I had ever read in a year was 15 books. However, 2021 was a turning point in my reading. I was able to read 50 books. I thought that I would share some of my tips on how to read more books in a year. Now, this isn’t a guide on how you can read 100 books in a year. And, these tips might not work for you. But they did help me in my effort to read more.

Reading Time
One of the biggest tips is to set aside a time to read. If we can be on our phone for hours, or watch a two hour movie, then one can certainly read for an hour a day. Pick the best reading time for you, and give yourself a goal of reading for 30 minutes or an hour.

Finish The Chapter
This is something I do often. I will pick a chapter that I want to get to and won’t stop reading until I reach it. It’s like a little competition with yourself, and once you reach your goal chapter, you get a feeling of accomplishment.

Audiobooks
I think this is a no-brainer when it comes to reading more. These days, I solely read audiobooks and I am not embarrassed by that fact. This has improved my finished book count and reading experience significantly. There are many audiobook services to choose from; even libraries offer audiobooks.

DNF
I am trying to get better at this, but DNFing can be very beneficial. Continuing to read a book you don’t like can put you in a reading slump that could last for weeks, or even months. This can hinder your reading a lot. You shouldn’t be ashamed to put down a book that you aren’t into. Reading should be fun, not a chore.

Book Clubs and Readathons
Something else that helped my reading grow was participating in readathons. One of my first posts happened to be a TBR for a ‘Taylor Swift’ inspired readathon. Joining that event kicked off an amazing year of reading. Book Clubs are another great option, since it will motivate you to read at least one book a month in order to engage with other book club participants.

I am pretty sure those are all the things that helped me step up my reading game. Leave any tips you might have in the comments below.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

The Toymaker’s Apprentice | Book Review

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Title: The Toymaker’s Apprentice
Author: Sherri L. Smith
Published: 2015
Genre: Middle Grade/Fantasy/Retelling
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Synopsis
Based on the original inspiration for the Nutcracker ballet, Sherri L. Smith brings the Nutcracker Prince to life in this fascinating journey into a world of toymaking, magical curses, clockmaking guilds, talking mice and erudite squirrels.

A lot of the middle grade books I read usually fall some where around the 3-star range. However, this book exceeded my expectations. I learned about this book from BookTube, and the storyline piqued my interest. I had recently read ‘The Nutcracker’, so finding out that this was a retelling of that story made me even more interested.

When we meet the protagonist, Stefan, his mother has just passed away, and he is thinking about his next steps. He questions being a toy maker is his destiny, as it was for his father. Grief has left him confused about the future, and made him guarded. When his estranged cousin, Christian, shows up Stefan immediately finds him suspicious. However, they quickly form a connection and bond while reminiscing about Stefan’s deceased mother.

Stefan accept Christian’s offer to be his apprentice, and become a clock maker. More than anything, it seemed like he desired to forge a new path, due to his mother’s death. Stefan wasn’t necessarily a complex character, but he was clever. He easily combined his love of toy making with his fascination with clock making, which made him unique.

“True survivor swallows is his pride.”

The other characters, such as Christian, Stefan’s father, and Christian’s companion were well rounded characters. However, I found Stefan to be the most enjoyable character. Still, every characters had their own place in the story, even all the mice, and I don’t think the plot would have been complete without all of them. As I mentioned, there are mice characters, because it wouldn’t be a Nutcracker retelling without mice.

I liked how we got a look into the mice kingdom and the evil Mouse Queen. Her mice babies were all different in personality, but you could see how much their mother’s influence affected them. Their thoughts and emotions were very human like, which is an odd thing to say about mice.

The story is slow at first, but around the third chapter, it picked up. There wasn’t a point throughout the story that I was bored, or wanted to put it down in favor of something else. There was so much mystery and excitement within every chapter. Stefan goes on this adventure that changes his life forever, and you can see how it helped him come to terms with his mother’s passing.

There were so many twists and turns throughout the book, that you almost couldn’t tell where the story was going, or what to expect next. Right when you think the ending is near, and everything is wrapping up, the author throws you for a loop, and you are left needing to know how it all turns out.

I couldn’t put down the last few chapters, because the plot was so enticing. The ending was fantastic, while being somewhat sad. I wanted these characters’ journeys to continue. In my opinion, the author needs to write more books that include this cast of characters. Also, if you are new to the fantasy genre, this would be a good book to pick up. It is a gripping fantasy, but it isn’t intimidating. More of a lighter fantasy, in essence.

If you haven’t read this book yet, I really don’t know what you’re waiting for. I would also recommend it to any tween, 12+ years old. Please leave me a like, and share my reviews with others. Remember, something as little as liking my blog means a lot to me.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

These Books Will Self Destruct // Unhaul TBR

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Hi Friends,
I have been seeing people do these self destruct or unhaul TBR posts and videos for a while. This year, I have made it a goal of mine to read more of my own books. So, I have picked 8 books from my shelves that must be read before the end of the year. If they don’t get read than they must be sold or donated. This is a good way to In courage me to read some books I’ve had forever, and remove unwanted books from my bookshelf.

Renegades by Marissa Meyer: I have a few unread Marissa Meyer books, but this is the first in a YA superhero series that sounds pretty interesting. If nothing less, I will discover whether or not I want to continue with the series.

Long May She Reign by Rhiannon Thomas: I read 40% of this book a couple of years ago. However, I put it aside and never picked it back up. I read liking the story, but I’m unsure if I really care to read it anymore.

Evil Librarian by Michelle Knudsen: In 2014, I received this book from the publisher. It interested me back than, but my reading taste has changed a lot since than. Still, I want to give it a chance.

The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger: I am pretty positive that I won’t be picking this book up. Still, I could be wrong. The only reason I got the book was because I saw the move version, and wanted to read the book to compare it too.

Looking for Alaska by John Green: This book has been on my shelves for a long time now. However, I am hesitant to read it since I haven’t been a fan of any John Green book I have read. Yet, I want to read it before watching the new Hulu series based on the book.

Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson: I tried reading this YA mystery, but I couldn’t get into it. Hopefully, the second time is a charm and it will keep me intrigued enough to want to keep reading. This book series is highly praised, so I want to learn what all the hype is about.

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith: This is actually a short read that I didn’t hate. Yet, the plot was slow moving and the romance was definitely a slow burn, which I don’t typically like. But, I still own it so I would like to finish it.

One Day in December by Josie Silver: This is another book that was sent to me that I haven’t read. I have been reading more adult books, so I think this is the perfect time for me to try to read it.

There you have the eight books that must be read by twenty-twenty three and like them, or must be unhauled. Please, share and like this post, and show your love for my blog by giving it a follow.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Pretty Little Liars Fashion Inspiration // Toss-Up Tuesday

- Bunny 2 Comments

Hi Friends,
Today, I am doing another fashion inspired by books post. But, this one is also Valentine’s Day inspired. I decided to go with ‘Pretty Little Liars’ since the outfits are very wearable high fashion. I used a mix of their style from the television show, and their book personalities to create these looks. I noticed that on the show there wore a lot of prints, bold colors and boots so I played on those things quite a bit.

I hope that this post gave you some great V-Day style ideas. I am sure you will looks amazing in whatever you choose to wear. Let me know which outfit was your favorite in the comments below. Give this post a share and a like, so I know that you enjoy these fashion posts.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny