⭐️⭐️⭐️ Another Hillier read for the week. What can I say? She flows. Gritty and dark, as usual. Touch of ick, to be expected. This is my 3rd book by this author and I can tell she will be a go-to!

⭐️⭐️⭐️Jar of Hearts is pretty dark and gritty with a few shocking twists. Some parts were super icky, so be warned! I enjoyed the duel POV‘ s in this story and felt it kept the pace going. I wouldn‘t have minded a third POV from Calvin tbh. But the story wove nicely throughout and kept me entertained. Decent thriller for sure!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️CUUUUTE. Just like the first book. You don‘t have to read Part of Your World to enjoy Yours Truly, but I would bc it‘s fun to have the character glimpses. TBH I enjoyed Bri‘s story almost a little more! Super quick read despite the page number! Romcom vibes!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️I can see where some would find this to be a slow moving, maybe even dull story. I loved it. But I have a deep love for herbalism, plant medicines and a splash of magic 💫 not so much a fantasy as a historical fiction with a hint of magical realism. Told in dual timelines London 1791 and Present day. #botm #thelostapothecary

⭐️⭐️The Wishing Game did not hit the spot for me. I expected to love it, bc of the reviews & it was recommended by a reading buddy & we normally have same taste. But I found the MC Lucy to be childish & immature, so her drive to win this contest at 26 years old is to adopt a 7 year old child, when she herself behaves like a child & it left me annoyed from the start. I couldn't get over it and thus could not fully vibe with the story.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Beautiful and well-written fantasy. This thick book reads quickly, and I found the characters to be honest and likable. It was a unique setting and I loved the lore of the isle! Highly recommended. So happy I already have the sequel in my possession! #ariverenchanted

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️This book is the Hallmark movie my soul was craving. 😊If you love hallmark, and you love love, and happy endings make you cry, then you should read this book. It's super cute. #botm

This will be an important book to read. As I native of Poughkeepsie, NY, I have followed this sad and tragic case 💔

⭐️⭐️⭐️ This book moved super fast and is packed with catty, horrible women. It's not a twisty mind-bending thriller, but reads like a reality show with murder. I liked it. It was a good in between book to cleanse the palate. Quick and easy. #botm

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I really loved this book!!! As someone intimately familiar with grief, I found myself inspired throughout this cute story. Grief never leaves us, but we find a way to live with it, and sometimes when we feel that pang of sadness at odd moments it comes flooding back. But this story gave such a positive outlook on the process in general. About death, letting go, mourning, love and hope. Also, I've been to a death cafe 😁 I recommend!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️I really enjoyed this #botm debut and will def be on the lookout for this authors next work. I love nature and magic. This book was smooth and was an easy read. I was invested in each woman's story. I think it's going to be a favorite for many this year. Especially for us witches 😉

I love BOTM!!! What a great haul for me this month!!! If anyone would like to look into this monthly subscription service check out this referral link!! https://www.mybotm.com/fq3jr2g8kzaug14i #botm

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I started this book soooo many times. Almost swore it off. Not for me. But I tried one more time, & finally it stuck. Slow burn!!! Page 114 is when I became officially invested. It's a mysterious story and intriguing and I've already added book 2 to my BOTM box!

Anyone else refreshing their Book of the Month page all weekend😅??

Indie wrestling in the Catskills with a feminine twist?? Yes please!!! #wearemayhem available for preorder! 💫💪

This debut author is a dear friend of mine! I Cannot wait for it to be released❤️⭐️🥹 pre-ordering available now!!!! I mean, look at this cover!!?? Can we PLEASE talk about it!? 😍#wearemayhem

⭐️⭐️⭐️ An enjoyable thriller that is a fast read and easy to follow. The kind of book that you don't try and guess the ending, you just sit back and enjoy the story. #botm

⭐️⭐️ This book has a promising start. I love doppelgänger stories and multi-verses. But about 1/2 way through, the story completely dies. All of a sudden I was confused, didn't understand what I was reading or who the characters were. Complete lack of execution. I would feel dread when I picked it up to read. I tried to backtrack, thinking I missed something, but no, it just lost its way. #botm

⭐️⭐️.5- I loved the setting of this book, but I do have issues w/ the overall flow to this story, & major inconsistencies w/ the main characters personality. Amaya was confusing, & not in the dark unreliable narrator way, but written in a genuinely confusing way. I feel so much about her was hidden for “twists” & she ultimately fell flat. Her random violent thoughts felt out of place & I‘m not sure what the intention was. Just messy. #botm

March coming in strong with those gorgeous book of the month covers 🤩#botm

⭐️Ouch. This was not good. Slow, boring and random. I tried too. “It‘s got a great atmosphere” I kept saying, “like Mexican gothic!” No…it was messy, editing wise and craft wise. Random plots thrown in without any outcome or growth toward the story. Just bad. The MC was a mess. How is this lady 35? Should have been made younger to make it believable that this behavior is acceptable. I hate that I hated this. Makes me question BOTMs standards…

I have not heard one thing about this book, but I am digging it so far at 50 pages in!! Not much has happened, but the creep factor gets turned up with each chapter! #botm also Kevyn says happy weekend! #dogsoflitsy

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ another fun thriller that I thought I guessed the “who dunnit” early but then it took me on a little journey full of twists and turns. I didn‘t trust a single character in this book. Including Chloe. But there was an interaction I felt was left out of the plot that I was anticipating! Which was a bit of a let down and the reason for a star loss! #botm #thriller

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ this was great. It moved, kept me guessing. I made a huge declaration at the start, claiming to have solved the mystery by page 50, but then the book starts adding suspects with each chapter, and it could have gone a dozen ways so I eventually just sat back and enjoyed. Quick read! Botm pick! #botm

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ very sweet and fun read. Low stakes, whimsical and fun ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I didn‘t get to finish my last read of 2022. The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches will be traveling into 2023. Thanks for the bookshelf support! I have 3 boxes that still need their home, but I was able clean out the packed closet & get a good chunk on here! I know there are bookshelf design debates, and double stacking is probably 😱, but Idc! I‘m gonna stack my books like I stack my 💵 and ❤️ in 2023 😂 Abundance 🫶 Happy NYE🪩

When I was 23, my husband and I bought a trailer. It was a 5 year plan at the time to save for a new home. 1 recession later and a lot of serious life changes turned those 5 years to 15. This November we finally got the home and land that we‘ve craved. At 38 years old, this is my first “real” bookshelf. It‘s such a small thing probably to most. But I am so proud of us and the team that we are! Decorating this shelf seems almost symbolic!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Loved this magical story! This could be a movie! So atmospheric, the island mysteries kept me turning the pages. I enjoyed both Emery and August‘s characters. Was very nervous my heart would be broken. But I closed the book a happy girl!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I was tempted to give this 3 stars. I loved the 1st, but felt the second started…off? It was a libby read, and as the return date loomed, I started to panic. Once I hit the last quarter of the story I was once again hooked! Ended on a terrible, dramatic cliffy!!! (cliffhanger. what? I‘m trying it out) so I will be waiting impatiently for the 3rd. I know some are put off by Garber‘s magical trill to her writing, but I love it. #fantasy

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I didn‘t realize this would be the perfect read for me at this time in the year. Like a lot of people, autumn brings with it the smell of falling leaves, life leaving plants, & a blanket of grief that kind of just hugs your shoulders. I can‘t explain it, but if you know what I‘m saying, then you know. This book in the end was about letting go & being happy. Moving on. In this life & in the next. #otherbirds #botm

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I really enjoyed this book. This was a super fast read for a 400 page book. It starts in a quick-paced desperate way that kept me swiping (kindle book read!) I‘m a Garber fan and can‘t help but become intertwined with her magical way of writing. I‘ve been struggling with YA Fantasy, what used to be my favorite genre has become predictable and eye rolling. This book was fun! And I could easily overlook Evangeline‘s stupid choices!

⭐️⭐️not for me. This will probably be my last Feeney book. I can see why she has a huge fan base, but her books always leave me feeling sick, sad, disturbed, never good. I think a lot of readers will enjoy this story. I personally need a happier ending. I also think this is better suited for a Halloween read. #daisydarker #botm

Currently reading #DaisyDarker. Not sure how I feel, as you‘ll see in previous posts, I don‘t trust Feeney. She‘s thrown some messed up curveballs at me in the past. 🫣. Just did a review dump. After struggling to get through the discovery of witches trilogy 😞(why can‘t I do it?? Whyyyy??? Damn youuuuuu!! Why??)I had to put the second book down and dive into newer territory to get over the slump!

⭐️⭐️⭐️ A difficult book to rate. As a lifelong resident of the Hudson Valley, when I read the setting & the word cult I was in! But this book does not match the description. It‘s ICKY! Pretty Girls/Butterfly Garden level. To sum it up the cult is an underground violent BDSM sex club for wealthy men who abuse broken women. Lucky you! You got a heads up! But it‘s well written, intense, & the plot moves! I did enjoy it, I just wish I was prepared.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I LOVED this book! A refreshing take on middle-age and fantasy. A serial killer on Long Island is no match for 3 brilliant women with magic powers. The plot moves, the character‘s individuality really shines through in each chapter. It was fun and at times a little spooky. Very cool and different from anything I‘ve read in a long time. Highly recommend! #thechange #botm

⭐️⭐️.5 This was not as enjoyable as the authors previous books. I found it slow and I found Shay to be lacking in character development. The paranormal edge just wasn‘t working for me. I found myself in a rush to finish and was left kinda meh… I am still a fan of the author, but this one just wasn‘t my cup of tea. #botm #bookofcoldcases

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️This was a different spin on fantasy and really fun. I would say it‘s high on the comedy scale, and the banter between these middle-aged retired characters is smooth and entertaining. I love the way the mercenary bands were treated on a rockstar level, giving the word “band” an entire different meaning in fantasy! Highly recommend! It was adventurous and a quick read. #kingsofthewyld #fantasy

#BOTM TIME!!! Soooooo….I skipped picking Riley Sager for the first time since Final Girls. Which I LOVED, then I loved his next one a little less, and then the next less than before, and the next less than before, and then I‘m trying to convince myself that I‘m still a fan. Couldn‘t get into his last book…still unread. From the Goodreads reviews, I don‘t seem to be alone. But pumped for Blake Crouch! His books are always a wild trip!

🆘 It has been YEARS since I let myself re-read the Riyria Revelations. This is HANDS DOWN one of the most fun and satisfying fantasy series you will EVER read! YES! CAPS!EVER! I‘ve just finished and am left with the familiar ache and emptiness left behind. I need recs similar to these books (a task that is impossible I‘ve found) ASAP! I want fun, fantasy, adventure, amazing characters and a well rounded story!!!! 🆘🆘🆘🆘 😫😫😫 I need rogues!!

Ever have a series that you can read over and over like watching reruns of your favorite TV show? This is one of mine. Like an old friend, a favorite movie. I‘m in the middle of a new thriller and the All Souls Trilogy, one‘s quick, one‘s dense, but neither was what I needed right now. I needed comfort, familiarity, and a story I know I already love. Which books do you read over and over again? #theftofswords #riyria #comfortbooks #reread

This has been the best book while learning to make cold process soap. Clear and thorough, with easy to follow directions and wonderful advice and recipes. Highly recommend to anyone who wants to dip their toes into this amazing craft! This is my 6th and most successful batch yet! Attractive and skin healthy Chaga soap! #allnatural #diy #soap #herbalism

I misspoke in my review! Release day is NOT December first! It‘s today!!! #supportindieauthors

And just like that, 9 months have flown by. I was so busy making my own herbal apothecary beginning in March of this year, that I actually have not read this March BOTM pick that I have tagged throughout the process. The next time you see this book tagged, there WILL be a review with it 😜

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Kate Sparkes deserves more attention as an author. I found her way back when I was heavy into indie authors & she is beyond consistent with her storytelling. I received an early copy in exchange for an honest review. I would never actively search for a Jack & the Beanstalk retelling, but do not skip this on Dec 1st! It‘s a fresh & creative take on a largely unexplored fairytale. Super fun, action oriented & great MC‘s.➕ Magic beans🙌!

Home Apothecary Update: WOW! What an Incredible season & journey it‘s been. We have medicinal tinctures from St Johns Wort to Ghostpipe, oils & salves, mint, rose, plantain, comfrey, you name it. Yarrow & lavender. Flower essence for ❤️ healing. Dried herbs for tea 🫖 foraged with love & cured with patience. A few tinctures & oils still in the making but wow! I am beyond proud to have received this wonderful gift! Can‘t wait to plan next season!

🎃🎃🎃🎃/5 Super cute #botm pick for spooky season! The Ex Hex is the perfect read if you want something that is light, easy, fun and quick. Humorous and sexy with tolerable main characters that you root for.

Who has ridiculous book rules made for themselves 🙋🏻‍♀️ I read Discovery of Witches 5 years ago, & did not continue due to their girth, BUT I want to read the trilogy, so I set myself up for a book 1 re-read & another 1500 pages of book 1 & 2 for the spooky season. But then…The Ex Hex came in the mail. Under 300 pages & letters the size of my head…do I A: stick to my plan and have a long book affair with the trilogy! OR B: Divert to a quickie?

DNF- this book starts great, but quickly dies plot-wise and character-wise . At 50% I am struggling to even want to pick it back up. Life is short. I quit.

Whenever Reese Witherspoon decides she loves a book, I see that book everrrryyyywhere. There is no escaping a Reese Book Club pick! There are MANY things I cannot be brainwashed by, but books, nope. Show me the same book over and over and eventually….I‘m reading it lol so Reese (and big tech who constantly promote it) I‘m reading this one for you. #botm

Lord help me, an Alice Feeney book! Her books always disgust me and she always takes her plots just sliiiightly too far. And after I‘m done, I‘m always left wondering wtf did I just read and whyyyy??? And here I am choosing her next book for my BOTM 😂 proof I can‘t be trusted 😉 #botm