This was a sweet little book, with a heap of snowy romance and just enough cuteness. It did fall on the wrong side of too many misunderstandings, but you can see why they happen. Both MCs have a lot of baggage, but they manage to battle through it—with help from each other, of course. The serious themes of homophobia, foster care, and the scars we grow up with all helped keep the book from being too twee, and were handled with delicacy and care.

Reading goal met!! I feel quite chuffed, AND there were a few real standouts that I still think about. I‘ve really liked having this record of everything — my first full year really tracking things.

This was really enjoyable — Sunny and Isaac had so much depth as characters, and their relationship developed really naturally. So much spice (🥵) but it didn‘t take over the plot or the development of the story. This was a study in grief and different ways of working through it, and how it affects the lives of the affected. It was actually quite thoughtful and insightful in a lot of ways. Also, MR TUMNUS.

This was a cute romance with a hearty side of spice, perfect for the holiday season. The affectionate send up of the “Hallmark” Christmas movie and all its trappings was pretty funny, and the characters were likeable and authentic. A quick and easy read, but not less fun for it. Soft pick.

I feel like these books are getting better and better as we go along! I loved the characters in this book, as well as the holiday setting and the DOGS. Maybe I‘m just a sucker for a Christmas story, but I just loved this book and the little romance that bloomed. The communication was solid, and the “crisis” was more believable than they often are. A fabulous holiday read😍

Possibly an odd take — I liked this better than the first book. I really felt like we got to know the characters better, and that they had more depth than in the first book. The book-led scavenger hunt is a cute premise, and was an interesting way to get the two mains interacting. Another cute read for the holidays!

This was a cute enough romance. I feel like I didn‘t get to know the characters well enough, especially the FMC Jeanie, to really but into their supposed back stories and root for them, though. I did like the town as the third main character, which was clever, and the supporting cast was strong and engaging. Good enough that I‘ll read the next one, anyway.

Possibly in keeping with the season…

Just a little short story, a wee fable for the time of snow. Still, it echoes with truth and also magic, with questions about the meaning of love and who we are and how we think. A beautifully illustrated book, whose pages sing the solitude of snowfall.

Oh, it‘s such a pretty little book😍

Picking this up to keep the vibe that this week‘s snow brought…

Was this a shameless Hallmark-style rom-com, with all the cheesiness and silliness that implies? Definitely. Did I love it? I certainly did — in spite of or because of that cheerful unashamed sugar sweetness, I‘m not sure. Doesn‘t matter lol. A great read to get you in the holiday spirit if, like me, you don‘t mind the cheese. ❤️

Going a little lighter for the holiday season…epic tales are wonderful, but I need a break!

What a fantastic conclusion to a truly epic trilogy. As a fantasy, the world building is top notch and immersive, with splendour and grittiness in equal measure. Each and every character is carefully and richly drawn, and you can‘t help but empathize, even with the villains. This story of feuding gods and warring clans is brutal and delightful and everything in between, and even the ending is a bittersweet dichotomy. I genuinely loved this story.

Finished after a slight delay in comfort reading due to a wicked cold, BUT not less good because of it! A satisfyingly complex plot, lots of action, intrigue, and just a smack of romance, all wrapped up in pleasing world building with forbidden magic and a stewing rebellion. Was a v good read and I‘ll definitely pick up the next book.

Next up, another fantasy — not sure how I ended up with so many Indigenous authored fantasies on my TBR, but it‘s quite delightful…

This was such a good read, raw and searching, solid and seeing, compelling and quiet. It is storytelling in the most real sense of that term, like a history being imparted rather than a novel being written. And I guess it is, for all that the characters are fictional, their stories have real cousins out there that also need to be heard. I was deeply affected by the characters and the journeys they each traveled in order to find home.

I feel like the tone of this will be markedly different than my previous couple of reads, but I expect it will be a good one…

Second up in my Nov Indigenous reads — what a truly unique story it presents. A mirror of world, if dragons were real and the Norse had remained the main power in the world. Anequs‘ experience in this world, so different from her home and family, and so ripe with both casual and directed racism, is a sharp reminder of how far we still have to go. That said, the writing is somehow both simple and direct, and also lovely. There‘s a current of… 👇🏻

This story is sweet and sugar and twice as nice—but irresistibly readable all the same. I‘ve never met a toddler as consistently charming and well-behaved as Bea, but I‘ll forgive it because she‘s cute. Saiorse is relentlessly cheerful to Miles‘ grump, and the Christmas backdrop is perfect for their burgeoning relationship. Does it all happen ridiculously quickly? Yes. Is it entirely inappropriate? Definitely. Is it an absolute delight? ENTIRELY.

This was a sweet rom-com, wrapped around the serious issues of traumatic brain injury and chronic illness. What it can mean to a relationship and how people deal with even the potential of a life-altering illness, along with anxiety and depression, are topics dealt with with sensitivity and a deft hand. I really enjoyed watching Ben and Ella becoming friends, and then finding something deeper with each other. Clumsy editing kept this a soft pick.

This is an absolutely excellent read — a penetrating look at the very real issue of MMIW, while at the same time a fantastically woven mystery. The frustration and desperation over the missing and murdered in the story felt very real, visceral, and the need for answers was entirely believable. The teens took on a bit more than I think they actually would, but I get that‘s for the purpose of storytelling… 👇🏻

This was a fantastic wrap up to the series, although it came a lot sooner than I thought it would! Cin learns so much, and grows a great deal as a character, and most of the minor characters are strongly drawn and as vibrant as she is. Ofc there‘s a HEA, but getting there is a TRIP, and there‘s enough action and derring do to satisfy just about anyone. And of course, there‘s Havoc…😏 A quick read, but a good one.

This was a cute romance, although I found Clem a little overly prickly. We find out more about the magic systems and the world of this series, with a couple of big surprises. Overall a satisfying read.

I wasn‘t really wowed by this book — I found it predictable and not particularly original. The characters seemed to have more going on than the reader knew about, which was too bad, since they could have used more dimension. It was a quick read, though, with nothing particularly objectionable about it. Just left me sort of meh.

This is a lovely cozy, all about finding the courage to be your true self, out loud. The MC is anxious to the point of reclusiveness, and watching her inch out of her shell is rewarding. I also loved that a number of the supporting characters are magical animals, with robust personalities of their own. Throw in a sweet, tentative, enemies to lovers, and I‘m sold.

This book is almost entirely a story within a story, with a nod and a wink as if the reader, along with the MC, is in on the plot. A very clever way to experience the “travel to another world” scenario, with a lot of secrets, surprises, and wtf moments. The world is lushly imagined and the characters, from MC to the most minor, are richly developed and well written. The end left me gasping, and def waiting for more…

Mini book haul from the sweetest bookshop, The Same Page, in Claremore, Oklahoma. Just a lovely place, and I could have bought many more if I didn‘t have to schlep the home on a plane😂

This was an intense read. A mix of classic fairy tale and modern darkness, with a stalwart hero to lead the way. While it had truly horrific moments, the story was more deeply rooted myth and magic, good and evil, and the battle we all fight within. Not a quick read, but one with beautiful imagery, strong themes, and a robust cast of characters of all stripes. King‘s prose is really compelling, and his characters boldly drawn. Plus, the dog lives!

This is about as close to horror as I‘m willing to get. Hoping it won‘t be too much for me…😬😨

I can‘t describe this book, so I won‘t even try. Sinister and creepy, yet lovely and enticingly-shaped, it wanders through all kinds of stories to get to its own heart. The language is compelling and vivid, creating a tapestry of images that you can‘t avoid and can‘t forget. The characters are Stories themselves, and the whole thing binds together with blood and bone and the wonder of a new tale. Gah, I loved it.

Spooky wins it! Tis the season…

Which fantasy is my next read — cozy, high, or spooky…I can‘t decide…

This was a light hearted magical rom-com with all the best bits — enemies to lovers, forced proximity, humour and silliness and spice. And yet…somehow also managed to be a very insightful look at abusive relationships, self-awareness and working to be a better person, and racial politics. This book was a bit of a ride, but I enjoyed every second of it.

After all the build up — for NINE books — it all kind of…came together super neat and tidy with no real climax? I mean, they defeated the big bad (sort of), and everything turns out (more or less), but…it left me feeling pretty flat. Maybe it‘s just me, but I expected more after such a long road. Maybe I‘m just sorry it‘s over, idk. Still happy with the series, and recommend if you like this kind of supernatural adventure/romance.

This book just powered through test after test for our heroes, right until the end which…I don‘t know, came kind of easily? With a twist that ended up not being a twist which I didn‘t understand the need for, and then a blow up into a cliffhanger. Then I saw the not-twist was necessary for the cliffhanger to happen, but I feel like there may have been other ways to accomplish the same thing that weren‘t as much of a stretch. Still quite keen tho!

Another installment with things moving at a breakneck pace. The overarching plot is really starting to come together, and there are a LOT of surprises. Bree gets in touch with the true depth of her powers, and trouble ensues. Nothing is what it seems in this book, and I think our little group of jerks is really in for it in the next volume. I can‘t wait to see what happens!!

This was a fun read — but what an underbelly in this small town! It‘s a bit dated, but that‘s to be expected. Hannah is frank and funny, and the mystery unwinds in a neat and tidy way that keeps you guessing but still more or less holds together. I didn‘t love all the sly pokes at people‘s looks and character, although the mother-hating cat was pretty funny. I‘d probably read another one in the series, just to see what happens to everyone.

I legit can‘t get enough of this series. Bree continues to grow into herself and discover new strengths, even as the outside world fights her every step of the way. The way ALL of the characters change and grow and develop is really rewarding to read in a series. This book‘s plot was a little more intense, and it feels like the stakes are getting higher every time. I‘m so invested in this world and I can‘t wait to see what happens next.

This was another fast-paced, action-packed adventure! Bree faces up against an army of zombies, and things get, as you might expect, a little hairy. A LOT happens in a very short period of time, and the stakes seem to be getting higher with every book. False fronts and hidden allegiances are everywhere, and Bree is left with very few people to trust. A little spice just to keep things lively, and this is a great read — lots of fun, as usual.

This felt less like a sequel and more like a whole new story with the same FMC, with a host of new characters and new intrigues. Hazel learns a great deal throughout the book, about herself and about the world, and her happy ending does come at a cost. All in all, strain on my suspension of disbelief and all, I loved this creepy little duology — well written and plotted, with compelling storylines and a sweet love story. A definite pick.

The fun continues as the gang heads for New Orleans with an army of the undead on their trail… Bree continues to be a delight as she beats down every challenge and learns more about herself and her past. Alan-the-ghost finally gets a lesson, and he‘s not the only one — Corb also gets schooled, and it‘s about time too. A great time to read, and a solid entry in the series, and as always, ending on that perfect note to leave you wanting more.

This book…did not end the way I thought it would. At all. So, kudos for that, because I was super invested in Hazel and Jack and now I don‘t know what to do with myself. Read the sequel, I expect😂 A compelling story that I felt really gave a picture of Victorian Edinburgh, and the struggles of women in that Regency society. Hazel is an FMC we can all love, clever and thoughtful and reckless in all the right ways. Definitely a pick for me.

Spooky season read and a nice cuppa on a Sunday afternoon — life is good…

This was a very interesting read, if a tad repetitive—forgivable in the name of hammering a point home, I guess? The author‘s claims that insulin/sugars are the key to controlling body weight aren‘t entirely new, but he does go further and more in depth than other things I‘ve read. Mostly it‘s common sense, although intermittent fasting is a new thought for me—not sure I could do it, but I might try and see how it goes. A pick? I guess?

Just bombing through this series, which works with the fast-paced storylines. They‘re just so much fun, and the supernatural elements make them good spooky season reads, too. Things really ramp up for Bree in this book, on all fronts, and she has to make a couple tough decisions. The end is a banger of a cliffhanger and I rolled right into the next one! Mayer‘s writing is light and funny, but also cutting when it needs to be, and the pace is wild.

What an absolute blazer of a sequel! This book started out a bit slow, but consistently gained momentum until it was breakneck. An interesting twist to see the flip side of the characters from the first book (some more literally than others), and the good and bad within them fighting it out. Ciara is a sympathetic devil, probably more so than the angelic Niamh. The twist at the end is clear, but that won‘t stop me from reading the third book!

These books are just a joyous amount of fun! I‘m enjoying the way there‘s a twisty little mystery at the heart of each book that fits neatly into the overarching mystery of the series. Bree is a heroine for the rest of us, with midlife aches and pains, but also that don‘t-give-a-duck attitude, smarts, and determination that come with experience. The cast of characters is an appealing bunch, and the side plots are peak. Loving this series.

This book was an absolute scream, a romp through the supernatural world, with high stakes and a couple of surprise twists. Also some sharp commentary about aging and the “usefulness” of a person as they get older. Will definitely read more of this series.

This book was satirical and funny, even silly, but also sharp and incisive and pulled no punches whatsoever. A hard look at humanity with all its faults, with anthropomorphisized rabbits. This here, about humans, “You‘re trying to run a twentieth-century world on Paleolithic thoughts and sentiments.” That one will stick with me. The narrator, Peter Knox, is the Everyman, and is as flawed and troubled as we all are. A surprisingly thoughtful read.