Book Review

Our Violent Ends | Book Review

- Bunny 1 Comment

About The Book
In 1927 Shanghai, Juliette must make Roma believe she’s guilty of murder to protect him from the Scarlets, while Roma, still grieving his best friend’s death, is determined to set things right. Amidst rising political tensions and a monstrous new threat, they must team up to save the city. But as they battle danger and secrets, their tangled feelings for each other become the greatest challenge.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/4hjcxK9

My Rating

This is the exciting sequel and conclusion to the These Violent Delights duology. For some context, it’s a Romeo and Juliet retelling set in 1920s Shanghai, and this book picks up right where the first one left off. It’s packed with just as much action and excitement, so be warned there are spoilers ahead!

We once again follow Juliette Cai and Roma Montagov. After everything that happened in the first book, they’re not on the best terms, but their feelings for each other are still there. This creates a lot of tension in the story as they try to navigate their personal drama while dealing with political and dangerous situations.

I actually liked the plot of this book even more than the first one. The slow-burn romance between Juliette and Roma is still there, keeping all the tension and angst without feeling repetitive. I’m honestly amazed at how Chloe Gong kept me hooked, especially since I usually prefer faster-paced romances.

The world-building in this series is so interesting, and all the characters are fun to read about. There’s also another romance in this book that I loved, adding even more to the story. Gong does such a great job creating an immersive world and characters that feel real.

“In this life and the next, for however long our souls remain, mine will always find yours.”

The plot kept me just as engaged as the first book. It builds on everything from book one and ties things together really well. I was hooked from start to finish, enjoying all the twists and surprises.

There was never a dull moment for me. There were some really heartbreaking parts that made me feel so much for the characters, and the ending hit me hard. I’m a sucker for a happier ending in Romeo and Juliet retellings, even though I know their story is always meant to end tragically.

Overall, this was an amazing and satisfying conclusion to Chloe Gong’s duology. I can’t wait to read more of her books, as she’s quickly become one of my favorite authors. If you haven’t started this series yet, I definitely recommend it!

Please let me know if you’ve read anything by this author! It would mean a lot if you could like this post, leave a comment, and share it with a friend. If you’d like to go the extra mile to help my blog grow, please consider following it.

Until the next chapter,
Bunny

A Touch Of Darkness | Book Review

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About The Book
Persephone, the Goddess of Spring, has always caused flowers to wither at her touch. After a fateful card game with Hades, the God of the Dead, she’s bound by a contract to create life in the Underworld or lose her freedom. As she battles her own limitations and spends more time with Hades, she begins to wonder if her freedom isn’t the only thing at risk—but her heart as well.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/4jeBlVd

My Rating

I want to gush about this book and say how amazing it is, but I’m having a hard time putting my thoughts into words. This doesn’t usually happen with my book reviews, so please excuse this one if it isn’t the most articulate. The main takeaway is that I absolutely loved this book and the romance. It’s one of those stories that isn’t particularly fast-paced, but you simply cannot put it down.

In the book, we follow Persephone and Hades, and if you couldn’t already guess, it’s a Persephone and Hades retelling. I didn’t know much about these two going into the book, but I want to mention this in case you’re really into Greek mythology. Persephone is a college student who gets lured into Hades’ world after unknowingly making a bet with him. Persephone isn’t naïve, nor is she afraid to stand up to Hades, which I loved about her.

Hades was very protective of Persephone early on. I adored how it almost felt like he fell in love with her first. Despite his feelings, he didn’t try to control her. He wanted her to see his softer side and understand that he wasn’t the evil god she initially believed him to be. There’s always a reason behind the choices he made and the things he did. I really enjoyed seeing this side of him while he still maintained his strong, intimidating god-like presence.

“Darling, that’s only the start of what I want to do to you.”

The plot was so engaging, and the conflict throughout the book was very understandable. There wasn’t much miscommunication, and let me just say—the spice was amazing! If you’re a closed-door romance reader, you could probably enjoy this book by skipping the spicy scenes, but for me, it was about a four out of five on the spice scale. That said, the book isn’t overloaded with spicy moments—it definitely prioritizes the story over smut.

The writing style was fantastic, and I felt the book ended nicely. I’m curious to see where the next book in the series will go. I especially loved how we got a few chapters from Hades’ perspective at the end. There’s also a book series that tells the same story solely from his perspective. While some might find it odd to read the same story twice, that’s just how good this book was—I’m honestly dying to see the story through his eyes.

Overall, this is such a good book—it’s seriously addictive. It’s a retelling, somewhat romantasy, and spicy read, which are all things I gravitate towards. I honestly don’t think I have any cons for this book, which is rare! It wasn’t too dark or overly insta-lovey—it had more of an ‘attraction at first sight’ vibe, which I found to be a nice touch.

In the comments, let me know if this book is on your TBR—do you enjoy mythology retellings? If you love book reviews and all things bookish, don’t forget to hit the follow button before you go!

Until the next chapter,
Bunny

The Kingdom of Sweets | Book Review

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About The Book
Twin sisters, cursed by their godfather, lead starkly different lives. One Christmas Eve, an enchanted Nutcracker transports them into the magical Kingdom of Sweets, where one makes a dangerous bargain with the mysterious and powerful Sugar Plum Fairy.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/4guBouk

My Rating

This is a standalone fantasy and a retelling of The Nutcracker. I really enjoyed the author’s original take on the story and how fast-paced it was. The plot follows twin sisters Clara and Natasha, whom I found to be very interesting. Clara is cursed to embody light, while Natasha is cursed as the dark twin. Both sisters bear heavy burdens because of their gifts, and the story explores how these curses shape their lives and choices.

The plot was quite dark, but I found it fascinating. It really delves into how envy can fuel a person’s actions and the lengths someone will go to when they feel wronged. Natasha, the protagonist, was such a complex character. Although she’s initially portrayed as understanding and deeply loving toward her sister despite her dark curse, her actions throughout the story reveal that she does have some real darkness within her.

The worldbuilding in this book was incredible. The magical realm Johansen created was vivid, immersive, and at times even creepy, which added to the darker tone of the story. I also appreciated how the theme of forgiveness was explored—though forgiveness is offered in some cases, one can never truly forgive someone who has wronged them. As for the ending, it was intense, shocking, and very well done. It kept me guessing right up until the last page.

“Who really knew, after all, how the old fairy tales died, or where the story might end?”

That said, my biggest issue with this book is that it didn’t leave a lasting impression on me. While I enjoyed it while reading, and there were so many strong elements, I don’t think it’s a story I’ll remember a year from now. For a book with such compelling characters and themes, it’s a bit disappointing that it doesn’t stand out more in my memory.

Even so, I think this story will appeal to many readers, especially those who don’t usually gravitate toward Nutcracker retellings. One of my favorite aspects was how the author took inspiration from The Nutcracker but turned it into something completely original. The darker, more complex direction she chose to take really brought new life to the story.

Overall, I did enjoy the book while I was reading it. It really is a story that shows how we are made up of both light and dark parts, and that no one is truly all light or all dark. While it might not have made a lasting impact on me, I still think it was a wonderful retelling and would recommend it to anyone looking for a fresh twist on a classic holiday tale.

In the comments, let me know if you have ever seen the actual ballet production of The Nutcracker. Sadly, I have not, but I have read some great retellings of the story. Don’t forget to like this post and share it with other readers. And if you would be so kind as to hit the follow button, that would be amazing.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Merry Ever After | Book Review

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About The Book
Evie, a single mother seeking a fresh start, has no room for romance—until rugged farmer Luke tempts her to break her no-dating rule. While Evie is set on keeping things casual, Luke is determined to prove he’s in it for the long haul. In this steamy holiday short story, opposites attract as they explore whether love is truly worth the risk.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3P7Bs7d

My Rating

This is one of those fast and easy holiday novellas that you can read in one sitting. It’s part of the Amazon Originals Under the Mistletoe collection of short winter romance stories. Unfortunately, this one wasn’t my favorite. I had high hopes because I’ve heard amazing things about Tessa Bailey’s books, but the plot just didn’t work for me.

The romance felt very insta-lovey, and we didn’t get to know the characters well. Of course, it’s a novella, so it’s challenging to include significant character development or show a deep connection growing between two characters in under 100 pages.

“Maybe it’s the holidays that have me wishing for . . . more out of this simple life of mine.”

Still, I wanted more from the story, and I didn’t get much of a holiday vibe from it. That said, I did enjoy the writing style and appreciated the single mom aspect of the story. However, everything felt rushed—it was basically, “I like you, you like me, let’s be together forever.”

Overall, I’d probably pass on this one since there isn’t much substance to the story. That said, the spice was pretty good—I’d give it a 2.5 out of 5 on the spice scale. And as always, I’m a fan of books that include an epilogue, so I appreciated that the novella wrapped up with one.

In the comments, let me know if you’re a fan of holiday novellas! Don’t forget to like this post and share it with all your bookish friends. Please hit the follow button so my blog can continue to grow.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Resting Scrooge Face | Book Review

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About The Book
Nola dreads Christmas in her charming hometown of Bright Harbor, but a mysterious letter from a fellow holiday Scrooge might change everything. Unbeknownst to her, the pen pal is Caleb—the boy who broke her heart—sparking a secret, flirtatious correspondence. As old wounds and new feelings surface, can they overcome their past to write a love story worth keeping?
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/406LdIY

My Rating

I was not a fan of this book at all. I hate saying that because I could see how much potential the story had, but the delivery fell completely flat. This is a first-love, second-chance, holiday romance novella. It’s a very quick read, and the plot initially captures your interest.

Unfortunately, I hated the direction the author took with the story. I wanted so much more for the female main character. I understood that they were both teenagers when they broke up, but the male main character’s excuse for breaking her heart and essentially ghosting her was that he was immature (valid) and that he thought she deserved a life outside their small town while he was meant for small-town life. That reasoning felt so lame.

“I can’t imagine that someone who despises Christmas as much as I do would have gold stationery.”

I hate when characters make decisions for other characters. And now, suddenly, she’s “the one that got away”? No, she’s the one you pushed away. It also felt like he only wanted to rekindle their relationship because she was staying in town. So, would he have wanted to be with her if she were leaving again after the holidays? If you love someone, here’s a thought: go with them. Home isn’t a place—it’s who you’re with.

Overall, this book was a no for me. I completely apologize for this rant of a review, but you can probably tell I had a lot of issues with the story. On a lighter note, I did enjoy the secret pen pal aspect of the plot, and there were quite a few funny moments throughout the story.

In the comments, let me know if you’ve read this book. If you didn’t know, it’s available on KU and Audible! Don’t forget to like this post, and you can make my holiday by giving the blog a follow. Your support truly means the world to me.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Cruel Winter With You | Book Review

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About The Book
Pediatrician Jamie Malek finds herself snowbound with Marc, her best friend’s younger brother turned tech billionaire—and the one she let get away. As a blizzard rages outside and sparks fly inside, old wounds and buried feelings resurface. What starts as a simple request for a roasting pan becomes an unforgettable winter’s night of rekindled connection.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/49PfSha

My Rating

This is a fun, Christmassy novella that you can read on a single (and preferably snowy) winter’s night. It’s part of an Amazon Original collection called Under the Mistletoe. As a huge fan of Ali Hazelwood’s work, I knew I’d probably adore this book—and it came as no surprise that I was right.

Despite being under 100 pages, this story was very well thought out. I felt like I got to know a lot about the characters in such a short period of time. The plot was engaging, and I really enjoyed the romance.

This is a forced proximity, best friend’s brother romance, with an age gap where the female main character is older. I loved the connection between the two characters, and let me just say, the male main character was such a green flag! Although the Christmas vibes weren’t very prominent, it still felt like a delightful winter romance.

“Next year, when we fly home for the holidays, we’re going to do it together.”

Overall, I loved everything about this story, and the ending was so satisfying. While it does include a bit of the miscommunication trope, I didn’t mind because it felt realistic. There is some spice in this book, but it’s not overly steamy—I’d give it about 1.5 out of 5 on the spice scale. If you’re looking for something quick and enjoyable to read this winter, I definitely recommend giving it a chance.

In the comments, let me know if you’ve read this book! Don’t forget to follow the blog so you never miss any of my bookish posts. Also, if you could take a moment to head over to my Facebook page and give it a like, I’d really appreciate it.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Three Holidays And A Wedding | Book Review

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About The Book
Seatmates Maryam and Anna bond over a turbulent flight to Toronto, sharing their deepest hopes and fears—unaware that Maryam’s longtime crush, Saif, overheard everything. An emergency landing leaves them snowbound at the whimsical Snow Falls Inn. As Maryam connects with Saif and Anna discovers unexpected love, both women find the magic of the season in the unlikeliest of places.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3P3iui3

My Rating

This was a sweet winter romance that followed two young women with very different lives and struggles. When their worlds collide, they form an unexpected friendship and create some holiday magic. I found this book to be a heartwarming holiday read that offered more than just romance—it contained a surprising amount of depth.

In the novel, we follow Maryam, a Muslim woman traveling to Toronto with her family for her younger sister’s wedding. She is strong and level-headed, always putting others first. While snowbound in a small town, she begins to reevaluate her life and take steps to heal from past heartbreak. I especially enjoyed watching her personal growth throughout the book. She reminded me a lot of my mother, who, coincidentally, has the same name

The story also follows Anna, who is traveling to Toronto to spend the holidays with her boyfriend and his family. Although she tries to put on a positive and optimistic front, she is still grieving her father’s death. She is also struggling with feelings of loneliness. While snowbound, she starts to realize that she may have been merely playing a role in her own life. I loved watching her emotional journey unfold.

I found the bond between Anna and Maryam to be wonderful. It was clear that this friendship was something both of them needed. It was nice to see how protective Maryam was of Anna. I liked that Anna appreciated everything Maryam did for her family. It was kind of Anna to offer help whenever she could, even to people who were essentially strangers. The relationship Anna had with Maryam’s grandfather, along with his close bond with Maryam, was really touching. He served as a wise voice for both of them.

“Who doesn’t secretly love holiday movies?”

In the story, Ramadan, Christmas, and Hanukkah all happen around the same time, which offered great representation. I especially liked how open Anna was to learning about Ramadan and her fond memories of celebrating Chrismukkah. One of the highlights of the plot was how it seamlessly included three different cultures and holidays. The authors did a great job incorporating these holidays into the story.

As for the romance, it was really well done. I enjoyed both love stories. They were somewhat predictable and had a Hallmark-movie vibe, but they were sweet and satisfying. Maryam’s romance follows a second-chance, childhood-friends trope. Anna, on the other hand, finds herself attracted to someone unexpected.

Overall, this story is about love, family, faith, and the joy of the holiday season. One aspect I didn’t love as much was that, at times, the story felt like two separate narratives. They were connected only by being set in the same town and featuring overlapping characters. However, the authors did a great job of blending the plots together seamlessly in the end. While it wasn’t a standout book for me and the story didn’t feel as engaging as I had hoped, I truly appreciated how it celebrated multiple cultures, making it a unique and diverse holiday read.

In the comments, let me know if this book is on your winter reading list. If you’d like to help my blog grow, please like this post and share it with other readers. Another way you can support the blog is by following it, which is completely free to do.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Kiss Her Once For Me | Book Review

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About The Book
After a year of struggles, Ellie Oliver agrees to a marriage of convenience with her landlord, Andrew, to solve their mutual problems. But when they spend the holidays with Andrew’s family, Ellie discovers his sister, Jack, is the woman she fell for the previous Christmas Eve. Now, Ellie must decide between the safety of a fake relationship and risking her heart again.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3BEwbkj

My Rating

This is a fun twist on the classic fake dating trope. In this holiday romcom, the main character is still somewhat hung up on the woman she spent last Christmas with. This Christmas, things aren’t looking great, but when she strikes up a bargain with a wealthy man to be his fake fiancée for the holidays, she ends up coming face-to-face with the woman she gave her heart to last Christmas—and she just so happens to be his sister. Tell me that doesn’t make for a messy, good time!

The main character, Ellie, had so many layers to her. She was bi and demisexual, had an anxiety disorder, and was afraid to try new things or put herself out there. She tried to keep people at arm’s length and was hesitant to cut toxic people out of her life. Deep down, she just wanted to be loved. Her character development throughout the story was one of my favorite parts.

As for the love interest, Jack, I did enjoy her to a point. At times, I completely understood her, but by the last chapter, she really kind of upset me. However, I understand she had a lot going on in her life and was just as afraid of failure as Ellie. Despite this, I do think they complemented each other well. Although I didn’t love the miscommunication trope in this book, I still really enjoyed their relationship.

“Some of us have to fight to let ourselves be vulnerable enough to fall in love.”

That said, I found it a little weird that Ellie essentially wrote online web comics about everything that happened in her life. Not only did she create a comic about her first meeting with Jack, but she also started a new one about the fake fiancée arrangement. On top of that, she wrote another comic that was essentially about her everyday life. This level of oversharing online felt like something more suited to a personal diary than for everyone to see.

However, I really enjoyed Andrew, Jack’s brother, and liked all the other side characters as well. There was so much more to this book than just the romance, but the romance served as the main plot that held the story together. Regarding the writing, I found it a bit slow at times and not as engaging as I would have liked.

Overall, this isn’t my favorite queer or holiday romance, but it’s still a fairly cute read. My biggest con, though, is the ending. At one point, it truly broke my heart for Ellie. I don’t want to give too much away, so I’ll leave it at that. Now, this book does have some spice, but I believe there are only one or two chapters of actual spice. You can skip those without missing any important context. I’d rate the spice level a 2 out of 5.

In the comments, let me know if you’ve read this book and enjoyed it, or if you have any other recommendations from this author. Don’t forget to like and share this post with other readers. If you’d like to help my blog grow, please give it a follow—it’s completely free to do so!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Mistletoe Season | Book Review

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About The Book
Step into the magic of Christmas with three heartwarming romances. From dodging mistletoe disasters, to reconnecting with an old flame, and a prince finding love in a small town, these stories are full of charm and holiday cheer.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/4g6SDSj

My Rating

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me an ALC of this book.*

This is a short story collection featuring three very different holiday romance stories. Each story is written by a different author and is a fairly quick read. They all have that cheesy yet feel-good Hallmark Christmas movie vibe. I want to mention that upfront because I know some people don’t enjoy those types of holiday romances. Honestly, the stories lack much depth, but they’re cute and fluffy winter romances.

The first story follows Emmy, a single mom who runs an antique shop in Mistletoe, Missouri. When her best friend’s brother, Kieran, returns home after years spent abroad for his mother’s birthday, the two start a winter romance. Honestly, I didn’t love this story at all. The plot felt rushed, and the romance just kind of happened without much buildup or chemistry. They were thrown together and immediately fell in love. Also, Christmas wasn’t really central to the story—it’s just a romance that happens to take place during the holiday season. Needless to say, this story wasn’t for me.

The second story was definitely my favorite in the collection. We follow a prince who is sent to a small town in North Carolina as a punishment by his parents for his not-so-royal behavior. There, he meets a charming, beautiful woman with a troubled family history. They form a friendship, which eventually turns into something more as they team up to help with the town’s annual Christmas charity fundraiser, the Mistletoe Wish.

This one gave me Princess Switch vibes all the way and I absolutely adored it. If you’ve seen that Netflix movie, you’ll know exactly what I mean. I’m not typically a fan of the “royalty falls for regular person” trope, but this one worked so well. I loved how they started off as friends and gradually became something more. The story also had a lot of character development, which I didn’t get in the other stories in this collection.

“I am smart, I am strong, I can conquer any situation, and I can resist mistletoe.”

The last story follows Hailey, who believes mistletoe is her kryptonite. Every time she kisses a guy under the mistletoe, it ends in disaster. While home for Christmas, she vows to avoid mistletoe, but when she runs into her high school crush (the first guy she kissed under the mistletoe all those years ago), old feelings resurface. I thought the premise was good, and I didn’t mind the characters. The ending conflict was well done, but unfortunately, I felt like the romance was too insta-lovey. Also, there was a subplot that reminded me of the movie You Again starring Kristen Bell, which felt a bit odd.

Overall, I would say that only one of these stories was a win for me, so it isn’t necessarily a holiday romance collection I’d recommend. However, I’m not typically one to enjoy many short story collections, so take this review with a bit of caution. I did like how each of the stories had a mistletoe connection, though—it was a cute way to tie them together without directly interconnecting the plots.

In the comments, let me know if you’ve heard of this book and whether you’d recommend it. Don’t forget to like and share this post with others. Once again, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read the book early. Please hit the follow button before you go, so my blog can continue to grow.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Candy Cain Kills | Book Review

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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