Witch Of Wild Things | Book Review

About The Book
Sage Flores returns to her hometown eight years after her sister’s death, resuming her job at Cranberry Rose Company. She’s forced to work with Tennessee Reyes, her high school crush who she never fully got over. While juggling a ghostly sister, a stormy sibling, and an old flame, Sage navigates the tangled roots of her past and the new growth of her heart.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3BBsStZ

My Rating


This book is perfect for bridging the gap between summer and fall, with a mix of witchcraft and a touch of magic. Think Practical Magic meets Encanto and I loved every minute of it. The plot, characters, and unique twist on a second-chance romance make it a really engaging read. The romance involves secret high school pen pals—or AIM friends—which adds a fun twist to the typical second-chance story.

Sage Flores, the main character, is incredibly well-developed. She’s dealing with guilt over her younger sister Skye’s death, a tough relationship with her other sister Teal, and still holding on to her anger that when they were growing up, she had to act like a mother figure to her siblings and wasn’t able to be a kid herself. Despite these challenges, Sage’s protective nature and her journey to stand up for herself make her a character you’ll root for.

Even though second-chance romances usually aren’t my thing, this one stood out because it’s different from the usual plot. The reasons for the original conflict make sense, especially considering the characters were teenagers. Tennessee, the love interest, is fantastic and definitely falls first. There is something about the guy falling first in a romance that I just love.

“They needed to break. So now the roots and leave can come out and everything can bloom again.”

The side characters, especially Sage’s sisters Teal and Skye, add a lot to the story. Teal might come off as a bit harsh at first, but there’s more to her character than meets the eye. I also enjoyed Skye’s fun and adventurous personality. The magic tied to the Flores family is really interesting and make the plot even more compelling. I’m a sucker for a good witchy story, and this one didn’t disappoint.

The writing is great, balancing fast-paced action with slower, more thoughtful moments. Even when the plot slows down, I stayed hooked on the characters and their journey. The ending is satisfying and leaves room for more stories with these characters.

Overall, I wouldn’t call this a romcom but more of a magical realism or paranormal romance. If you’re interested in or new to romantasy, this is a good place to start. It’s a lighter take on the genre, with less world-building but a similar feel, making it an enjoyable read.

If you enjoyed this review or have read the book yourself, I’d love to hear your thoughts! Please like, comment, and share this post. Don’t forget to follow the blog for more reviews and bookish content.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

By The Cover | September 2024

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

Eclipse // Book Review

About The Book
As Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob — knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation quickly approaching, Bella has one more decision to make: life or death. But which is which?
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3wHH1nb

My Rating


This book is a bit of a rollercoaster for me, within the Twilight series. Let’s dive into the good and the bad. Starting with the downside, I have to say I wasn’t too keen on Jacob or Edward in this installment. Edward’s controlling behavior towards Bella in the first 30% of the book really put me off.

Jacob’s attempts to impose himself on Bella were just uncomfortable to watch. Their interactions lacked any romantic appeal, and I can’t fathom how anyone could root for Team Jacob. Now, if we’re discussing the movie adaptation, that’s a different tale altogether. His disregard for Bella’s boundaries, followed by apologies, felt manipulative and immature to me.

Now, onto the positives of the book. I liked that halfway through, Edward changed his behavior and gave Bella more freedom because, let’s face it, no one should be treated like property, no matter how much you love them. It was also intriguing to delve into the backstories of Rosalie and Jasper, particularly since Jasper happens to be one of my favorite characters in the series. Although the Cullens didn’t have a major role in this book, I enjoyed learning more about their pasts.

“There are no rules that can bind you when you find your other half.”

Another aspect I really enjoyed was delving deeper into the werewolves’ history. Even though they were introduced in “New Moon,” we didn’t get much backstory then. Seth is definitely a standout character for me. He brings such a fun energy, even though we haven’t fully explored his personality yet. Hopefully, in the next book, we’ll get to see more of who he is. My heart goes out to Leah a bit, because of the whole situation with Sam and her cousin Emily. It’s truly heartbreaking.

I’d say the main reason why this is my favorite, of all the books I’ve read so far, is because the plot was so fast-paced. Even though it’s longer than the first two books in the series, there wasn’t much downtime or what I like to call ‘filler’ chapters. Every chapter had something happening to push the story forward, and I really liked that the chapters were super short. I’m not a fan of long chapters. They tend to make a book feel more intimidating to me.

Overall, this is a highly bingeable paranormal romance series. Despite the writing not being the best, and most of the characters getting on my nerves, the plots lack depth, making them very easy to read. I wish I could discuss this book more individually than the series as a whole, but being the third book, it’s hard to avoid spoilers. Nonetheless, it was a solid read, and I’ll definitely continue with the series. Although I do feel like the plots have become a bit repetitive, with Bella constantly yearning to be a vampire and someone always trying to harm her.

Let me know in the comments if you’ve read the Twilight saga. Don’t forget to like and share the post with others. If you enjoy bookish content, be sure to follow the blog so you never miss a post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

The Sun Down Motel // Book Review

About The Book
The secrets lurking in a rundown roadside motel ensnare a young woman, just as they did her aunt thirty-five years before, in this new atmospheric suspense novel from the national bestselling and award-winning author of The Broken Girls. Every small town like Fell, New York, has a place like the Sun Down Motel. Some customers are from out of town, passing through on their way to someplace better. Some are locals, trying to hide their secrets.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/4aB8HZy

My Rating


I had a feeling that I was going to love this author’s works, and I wasn’t wrong. This plot was so engaging and fast paced, and the writing was phenomenal. Now it does lean more towards mystery/thriller, but that didn’t hinder my enjoyment.

The story is told in two timelines. In 1982, we follow Viv who is the night clerk at the eerie Sundown Motel. 35 years later, her niece, Carly, works her same shift at the same motel. However, Carly is there for a purpose – to uncover what happened to her aunt Vivi, who seemingly disappeared all those years ago.

I’m not normally one to enjoy dual timeline stories, but this book was written so well that I was engaged equally in both the girls stories. Now I did prefer Viv’s plot a little bit more, since I felt that it was a little more exciting. However, the whole story worked so well, and there really wasn’t a dull moment.

“How it didn’t matter how afraid or how careful you were—it could always be you.”

The setting for the book was great, and really played into the thriller vibes. I mean a creepy hotel in a small town that’s been known for women being murdered? I’d probably be on the next bus out of there. And, the fact that there was a haunting aspect to the story was awesome and unexpected.

However, my only con, and the reason it isn’t a five star read was that I didn’t feel as though Carly understood Viv. After spending all of this time trying to figure out what happened to her by the end of the book she didn’t seem to understand Viv’s choices. It was a bit frustrating to me, but not something that truly hindered my enjoyment of the book.

Overall, I will continue to pick up more from this author. This book was a fantastic read, that I think a lot of readers will enjoy. But please, check trigger warnings before reading it, as some of the content matter can be upsetting to certain readers. You can find a list of trigger warnings at Book Trigger Warnings.

In the comments, let me know if you have read anything by this author. Don’t forget that you can like and share this post with others. Before you go, hit the follow button so that you never miss a post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

2024 Anticipated Releases // January To June

Hi Friends,
Today, I am going to talk about my most anticipated 2024 book releases. I will only mention books released in the first half of the year, so from January to June. If I mentioned every new release that I want to read in this post, it would be far too long. So,I decided to narrow it down to two books per month.

The Breakup Tour by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka (Jan. 24, 2024)
I read every young adult novel written by this author duo. However, I did DNF their first adult book and did not even attempt to read their second one. This adult romance was clearly inspired by Taylor Swift. And, being a Swiftie, I know that I must give it a chance.

Canadian Boyfriend by Jenny Holiday (Jan. 30, 2024)
This is an adult romance with a fairly original plot. It takes the fake dating trope to a new level. In addition, it is a hockey and a single dad romance that should make for a pretty good time. Although I do not know how much I love the single-parent trope, I look forward to reading it.

Bride by Ali Hazelwood (Feb. 6, 2024)
This is Ali Hazelwood’s first paranormal romance, which apparently contains vampires and werewolves. So, essentially it’s an adult version of ‘Twilight.’ I own all of Hazelwood’s books but have yet to read any. However, this is the most interesting to me.

I Hope This Doesn’t Find You by Ann Liang (Feb. 6, 2024)
I had been seeing this cover for a while, and after reading the synopsis, I became very excited about this release. Truthfully, young adult books haven’t been hitting the way they used to for me, but this one is bring me back to my ‘To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before’ roots – and I could not be more happy about it.

Murder Road by Simone St. James (Mar. 5, 2024)
I have read only one book by this author, but it was a fantastic paranormal thriller. This book takes place in the 90’s, when a young married couple finds themselves suspects in a string of murders that occur on the Atticus Line. However, while trying to clear their name, they found that there might be a more supernatural cause for the killings.

Happily Never After by Lynn Painter (Mar. 12, 2024)
I’m a Lynn Painter stan! I seem to rate her young adult novels highly. In my opinion, she has some of the best plots and characters. Although I did not love the only adult romance I have read by her so far, I am still very interested in picking up this book. Honestly, I will most likely read anything that she releases.

The Reappearance Of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson (April 2, 2024)
Unfortunately, ‘Five Survive’, which was this author’s 2022 book release, was a total letdown for me. But, I hope that she will redeem herself with this book. The story contains many amazing parts. There is an unsolved mystery, a true crime documentary, and the reappearance of the long missing and presumed dead Rachel Price.

Funny Story by Emily Henry (April 23, 2024)
I want to be an Emily Henry girlie, and I feel that this might be the book to make me one. The plot is about two jilted exes that find themselves not only roommates but also hatch a plan to mislead people about their relationship. In particular, they’re exes, who happen to be engaged.

The Dare by Natasha Preston (May 7, 2024)
I have a complex relationship with this author, but I will say that her book plots continue to improve each year. This is a YA thriller about a game of truth or dare that turns deadly. I hope that it will be full of twists and turns that have me on the edge of my seat.

The Lamplighter by Crystal J. Bell (May 21, 2024)
This is a gothic fantasy with a captivating premise. It’s giving me ‘Stalking Jack The Ripper’ vibes and I’m very intrigued if it lives up to the hype I have created for it. I have been loving gothic fantasies lately, and the synopsis mentioning a lamplighter and monsters had me immediately add it to my TBR. I hope to pick up this soon after its release.

Heiress Takes All by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka (June 4, 2024)
I love how this book takes revenge plots in a new direction. This book is giving me ‘Catch That Kid’ meets ‘Heist Society’ by Ally Cater. I am all for a young adult action adventure about a sneaky and badass former heiress. Will this be the most insightful read? No. Am I going to love every second of this book? Hopefully.

Two Sides To Every Murder by Danielle Valentine (June 4, 2024)
I am going to be 100% honest and say that I know absolutely nothing about this book besides the fact that it is a YA thriller. However, I binge every one of Danielle Valentine’s books. I am sure that this is going to be a super-fast-paced and possibly a campy thriller, and I am going to read it the minute it is released.

In the comments, let me know what your most anticipated book releases are for the first half of the year. Don’t forget to like and share this post with other readers. Feel free to follow the blog before you go.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Bridge Of Souls // Book Review

Title: Bridge of Souls (Cassidy Blake #3)
Author: Victoria Schwab
Published: 2021
Genre: Middle-Grade/Paranormal
Rating:Full, star, bookmark, favorite, favourite, like, rating icon - Download on IconfinderFull, star, bookmark, favorite, favourite, like, rating icon - Download on IconfinderFull, star, bookmark, favorite, favourite, like, rating icon - Download on Iconfinder

Synopsis
Nothing can prepare Cass for New Orleans, which wears all of its hauntings on its sleeve. In a city of ghost tours and tombs, raucous music and all kinds of magic, Cass could get lost in all the colourful, grisly local legends. And the city’s biggest surprise is a foe Cass never expected to face: a servant of Death itself.
Credit: GoodReads


I was sad to finish off this trilogy, but excited to see how things would end. In my opinion, the previous books were slightly different from each other, but followed a similar format. The first book was spooky and interesting. While the second book was gripping, it was quite sad as well. I was curious to see where this book would fall.

For me, the story was a bit underwhelming. As the reader, you could tell that the author was trying hard to make the story spine-chilling and exhilarating, but something about it didn’t work. I wasn’t as invested in the plot, and characters like with the other books. In this book, we aren’t following a ghost mystery, but being chased by a soul eater. Personally, I missed the simple story of helping a ghost move on.

One of my major issues with the book was Cassidy’s personality. In the earlier books I had nothing against her, but this time around she thoroughly annoyed me. It is possible that I was more critical this time around, with it being the final book. But she acted reckless and immature throughout the book. She wouldn’t listen to anyone putting others lives in danger.

“Once, I stole from Death. I’m ready to do it again.”

I was glad to see that Lara was back, since she is my favorite character. Not only do I love her accent, but her intellect as well. As always, Jacob is a treat and adds the much needed comic relief. I did feel as if we didn’t see many of the side characters in this book. Cassidy and Jacob were alone a lot of the story until Lara joined them. I could be wrong, but I remember Cassidy’s parents being more prominent in the other books.

One thing’s for sure Schwab had a way of bringing each city to life. This time around we are in New Orleans, yet the author didn’t utilities the city as she did with Scotland and Paris. The only thing that was talked about was New Orleans cuisine.

Don’t get me wrong, the book wasn’t all bad. I do enjoy Schwab’s writing and storytelling. However, the energy in the story was off, and it didn’t read like the first and second book. The ending to the series was satisfying, but there was something missing in the plot.

These are good middle-grade ghost stories that I can see fans of Neil Gaiman enjoying. The author left the series somewhat open-ended, so she might revisit these characters in the future. If you asked me to name my favorite book out of all three, I’d pick ‘Tunnel of Bones.’

Let me know if you have read the Cassidy Blake trilogy. Did you like the final book? Please like and share this review. Don’t forget to follow my blog for more bookish content.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny