Rachel

August 2022 Hoopla Bonus Borrows Recommendation.

Well this was a fun little book. At first I thought the audiobook might have been a poor choice but the narrator was absolutely perfect! Sometimes it took a bit to remember the narrator was the dog but it was still such a fun little ride.

August 2022 Hoopla Bonus Borrow Recommendation

I don't quite understand the target audience for this one. The artwork and length had me thinking it's a kid's book to learn about Newton and the Laws of motion, but the verbiage and language is a little too much for the average kid.

August 2022 Hoopla Bonus Borrows Recommendation.

This was odd... I don't mind the fact that one child has antlers, another is a cat, and another has demon eyes.... but why? If this is the first in the series then where is the explanation? Where is the opening. One page introduction isn't enought to get to know or care for these characters. tbh, I found the demon eyed baby creepy. Actually they were all creepy. This was just weird. Too weird.

August 2022 Hoopla Bonus Borrows Recommendation


This was a hard one to rate. For the most part it was a page turner. Three childhood bullies are kidnapped on the eve of their high school reunion. Locked in a remote cabin guarded by men with masks, the three men are forced to revisit their terrible life decisions including who is really a murderer.


Now to the plot. The writing had me eager for more. The pacing relatively good. And it was interesting to see the imagined reflection of childhood bullies and guilt over their inaction.

But why 3 stars? The plot twist. It went for shock value and honestly felt it fell flat. I wish it had stayed the course with the original path. Instead it takes a sharp right and tbh and don't think it paid off. I went from listening to the audiobook at 1.4 speed, curious to know what happened next, to listening at 2.3 speed, eager to get to the end.

August 2022 Hoopla Bonus Borrows.


Tossing this Audiobook in the DNF pile. This book doesn't wait to jump into the mystery In the first 30 minutes the MC is dumped by her husband (he's having a baby with his mistress), left broke, must return to her Amish home (I thought that wasn't allowed??), starts at a bakery, meets a crazy man who wants to buy the bakery, then suddenly he eats a cupcake and dies!

I don't expect much of these types of books but there is absolutely no setup of the characters. It's basic at best.

I do commend the narrator because she did great at the voiceover and did her best to sell the story. Unfortunately it was the story that was lacking.

August 2022 Hoopla Bonus Borrows Recomendation

Max Max meets Lord of the Rings. Or someone saw The Shannara Chronicles and wanted to write an early history of that universe.

I didn't mind that this comic dropped us straight into the action, but it jumped around way too much. A better setup would be introducing the MC then slowly expanding to introduce the orcs and the weird vampire sorcerer.

August 2022 Hoopla Bonus Borrows Recomendation

Normally I enjoy the gritty reinvention of classic characters. In this case, I didn't know too much about Nancy Drew or the Hardy boys except that they solved mysteries. I thought I'd give a graphic novel a chance as a new way to get introduced to the characters. Unfortuantely this one doesn't do a good job at setting up the storyline. I'm thrown into a town and a mystery with no real frame of reference or context.

Oooh this one was fun. This book expands upon the world of witches, wizards, warlocks, werewolves etc that are featured in the series. In addition to the expected murder, we meet a crime boss werewolf, a band of traveling singers, and the mystery of a missing werewolf niece. Well, along with some illegal animal trade.

I was a bit hesitant after the last book. I thought the author may have been heading towards LL James route, but this book circumvents that path and brings it back to the fun series we started with.


I am a bit sad to see that this is the last book narrated by the original narrator Hollis McCarthy. I think she's part of what has sold me so much on the series. I do hope she'll be brough back for more. Especially after so many of us have found this series via the August Hoopla Bonus Borrows collection.

Book 4 in the Sweet Tea With Mysteries. This review is of the Audiobook.

This one is a bit hard to rate. There were some solid 5* moments and some solid 1-2* moments.

Overall, this one had a fun and less cliche plot. At the start we're introduced to Pepper and Rufus standing the the Familiar store. Rufus casts a spell intertwining their magic and oof it's a race against time to break the connection. There were some additional things like new shops and magical abilities, and cousin Cordelia has her own fun little plotlines. Strip the book to its core and it would have been a solid 5 of fun.

Now for the 1-2* reason... . Most prominently, Pepper and Axel need to full on hook up already (or maybe the author needs some) because the drooling and convenient half naked (and full naked) plotlines for the sake of “better magic”?? Come on! It was just awkward on all fronts. The characters were awkward, the writing was awkward and it felt like it was fulfilling some deep fantasy of the author. The most these characters have done is a little kissing, then all of a sudden they're naked for the sake of magic? No I'm not a prude. It was just too far fetched and felt unnecessary. It added nothing to the plot and actually took away from the fun.

The other issue was the murder. This book would have been absolutely fine without the murderer. Plus the motive was meh at best. It was like the publisher said “this is a mystery, we need a murderer!”. Once again, it added nothing to the story.

Still looking forward to the next book in the series. After that, I saw that the audiobook narrator changes. Hoping the series will wrap up nicely because the narrator is what helped draw me into the series and keep me going.

p.s. FINALLY someone else who understands how I feel about tomatoes.

After the incredible Book One, my hopes were high for this one. Unfortunately it was a bit of a letdown. This story was more confusing and harder to follow. The first two issues really dragged and I didn't see the importance of the datamining girl. Towards the end it picked up steam to be the same action packed, attention gripping story of Book One. There is a cliffhanger, but looks like the series might be on hiatus.

The artwork wa a commendable 5 stars.

YES! I think this might be my favorite one yet. At the beginning I wasn't entirely sure about the plot, but I was quickly won over by the creativity and fast past with my new favorite characters. Onto the next!

I was not a fan of this one. There were some clever moments around the Thanksgiving traditions, and clearly the plot was centered around Pepper trying to do things by herself, but the magic fell flat. I missed Betty and Axel. I also found the plotlines around Amelia and Cordelia's high school days and their fathers to be unresolved. Obviously it'll be a plot point for a future book. I did enjoy getting to know the aunts better, along with their struggle with chaos magic. tbh, I would have loved them to join in earlier and even more prominently. The inclusion of Rufus was giving me Twilight New Moon vibes, where Bella was using Jacob's friendship to get through while she still pined after Axel.

The new characters weren't that engaging and I absolutely hated that rabbit Collinsworth and his fake british accent. All I could envision was Mr Collins (Pride and Prejudice) in bunny rabbit form. And his constant evasion of the truth was infuriating. I hope his character doesn't return.

The snide comment about Becky Rae having a muffintop was also annoying. Most women have muffin tops. That throw away comment was really off putting.

Towards the end I started to skim the sentences to get the gist of the storyline. If I ever re-read the series, this is a book to skip.

Christmas Chaos for the Craples

This was a pretty fun read. I wasn't sure with the introduction of Axel's parents, but it was nice to see how they handle life with the werewolf transformations. Some of the bonding time with Karen and Pepper were odd but overall I like them together.

The mystery was a little more obvious in this one. I don't quite understand why Betty's powers went haywire, but overall pretty fun. I'm excited for the next book. Seems fun.

Another fun adventure with the Sweet Tea Witches

Solid. Creative entry in the series.

This time we learn about the nearby magic school, further expanding the creative world surrounding Magnolia Cove. Pepper continues to learn and grow stronger as a witch. Axel continues to grow as the supportive boyfriend and private investigator. Amelia and Cordelia get nice surprise visitors that maybe aren't so welcome after all.


The finale was a bit rushed but still a solid ending that was fun to read.

Another fun addition to the series. In this book, much of the story is set at the magic school which turns into a refreshing change for our characters. Pepper has the chance to teach a lesson on familiars and solve yet another murder that has occurred in Magnolia Cove.

Once again, the author has managed enough twists and turns that I wasn't 100% sure on the murderer until the end.

Another key point is Rufus' return to Magnolia Cove and the complications that arise. Poor novice Pepper doesn't realize what it means to accept a gift from Rufusm. Meanwhile Pepper and Axel juggle around some big questions and decisions about their future. It was a little maddening, but nice to see another side of Axel. One who actually has some feelings and emotions and isn't just the standard sexy boyfriend.

My only negative for this book was the portrayal of Burt. It is was the stereotypical cliche gay man trop that has been overdone. There is more to a gay man than his femininity and his fashion/decor sense. Reducing his character to a cliche was really disappointing.

Ok and my second was the slight moments of Pepper's insecurities about what she's eating and her obliviousness to Axel's real feelings.

A good premise brought down by a dislikeable MC.

Blissful is a ghost hunter who helps ghosts transition. She carried a grudge over not being given her dad's old job. Yes, the field may be specialized but that's not how it works. Anita takes over the role and Blissful thinks it's because of her relationship with the boss. Ok maybe, or maybe she was more qualified than Blissful. Or maybe she understands the politics of a business better.

Blissful is sarcastic, which is supposed to be part of her charm. Instead it's irritating. She'll try to push people away with her sarcasm or always has to win. She often says the wrong thing because of her sarcastic temper. Gee maybe that's the reason you didn't get the job.

Why the cute B&B guy falls for her is a mystery. So far they seem to be bebhaving angry sarcasm battles and getting on each other's nerves. Yet somehow its inst love. Nope. They seem toxic for each other. Mostly because of Blissful.

That unfortunate thing is that this series has an interesting premise. Someone talking to ghosts, helping them transition. In this book we are trying to find the killer of Neal, a guy who was set to reveal the killer of 1970s ghost Susan, aka Blissful's ghost friend.

Solving the cold case with the help of ghosts could have been fun but Bllissful makes it hard to enjoy the ride.

The next book is supposed to be the crossover with the sweet tea watches. I'm hoping that's better. Then I can officially put this series to rest and go back to Magnolia Cove, happier place with much better characters.

Finally, we've reached the crossover with the Sweet Tea Witch series.

I wasn't a fan of books 1 & 2 in this series, but the tides are turning with book 3.

Instead of focusing on a mysterious death, this story focuses on an evil ghost, and a body buried in a basement. The story is more focused on solving a mystery, which flows better with Blissful's ghost hunting abilities.

Bliss and Roan's relationship is still poorly developed and a bit toxic. Bliss is downright rude to people and says it's her sarcasm. Sorry hun, but stop hiding behind your rudeness by calling it a joke.


Pepper and Axel brought some life and stability to the story. The bonding time of Pepper and Bliss was... erh no. They just met each other and talking about Axle's mating issue? Not something you drop on a stranger about your partner.

Roan had an interesting development. Explains a lot.

I wish there was more about the ultimate ghost in Roan's basement but makes sense that's for another reason book. Still, I liked the idea of Pepper and Axel teaming up to tackle together. Maybe there will be another crossover.

I'm not really a fan of Alice and Ruth. They feel like the stereotypical comic relief and don't add much to the story except facepalms.

I may actually check out more in this series, but only after finishing with the sweet tea witches

Another fun book in the series. Clever and creative. It was nice to have Pepper and Cordelia together at the final confrontation.

My only critique was the rushed ending and abrupt insertion of Rufus. The first mention of him really came out of left field and it was a bit disappointing that Axel didn't end up in the forest with them. He never would have left Pepper alone after they discovered the ladder and even if he did, no way he'd have his phone off or not answer.

Fun!

This book further expands the world with the inclusion of a Head Witch Order, led by the nefarious Lacy.

While there is fun Pepper and Axel time, this book gives us a chance to become more acquainted with Rufus and finally get to the truth of Pepper's feelings.

Overall a solid story that had me guessing. One of the top books in the series.

I knew it would be hard to beat the previous book. Even stepping into its shadow would be tough.

Overall this book felt more like a filler episode. The mystery was really obvious and I spent most of the book frustrated at how stupid everyone was being. After solving 12 murders, you'd think they'd be a little more savvy on things like this. Even Axel, it was very out of character for him to just overlook the obvious.

The one good thing was seeing some positive for Mint and Licky. They are fun characters, though I wish we saw them just a tad more.

If I ever get around to rereading the series, this book will be in the list of books to skip

Phew! What a ride. I couldn't put this one down. As you can see I binged the entire thing in one day.

In this book, Pepper, Amelia and Cordelia all make a wish at the exact same time. It whisks them away to an alternate timeline where things are all sorts of messed up. Amelia is dating Garrick, Cordelia is dating Axel, and Pepper is marrying Rufus! Oh no.

In this book we get to play out what life would have been like if Pepper had chosen Rufus over Axel. Romantic dates and a bonding ceremony. Tense altercations between the mismatched pairs. Conflicting advice how to fix everything. Can true love survive an alternate timeline?

Pepper was being a bit stupid in this one, but the way Rufus is described, who can blame the confusion?

Started with the audiobook. Do not recommend. Made some horrible, selfish, bitchy characters even worse. Specifically the MC and her sisters. They are absolutely unlikeable.

Switched to the ebook and it made it a little more tollerable. At least the voice in my head would be a little calmer. Still the MC and her family were entirely unlikeable. By the 50% mark I had to give up and start skimming. There was nothing likeable about this family, their views, and their attitudes towards each others.

Reading this book was like sucking on a lemon. And the rest of this series belongs on my skip list.

DNF at 25%. Sorry. I tried. I really did.

Unfortunately I think the audiobook narrator had a lot to do with my low rating. She read this like one would read a fairy tale to a young child. For a short book, that would have been fine. For this book it made it drag.

The pacing was also an issue. It was both exceptionally fast AND exceptionally slow. Each scene was incredibly short. I wanted more context or substance to a page. Just as I would get drawn in, the scene would end and the MC would be somewhere else. At the same time the pacing was crazy slow. Wandering around the castle and the grounds. Yes, seems like it was beautiful. The descriptions were lush and enchanting. But even reflecting on what I had read, it felt like so much was spent on scenery and that could have been condensed dramatically.

I have no real opinion on Rose and Thorn. They seemed ok as characters.

This may have been more enjoyable in an ebook format where one could read at their own pace and jump ahead at the highly descriptive areas.

There are much better collections out there.

These stories all have a moral point. Giving completely of yourself, the abusive friendships, etc. The tales are more sad than happy. I felt they correlated with religious parables and I didn't fully agree with their messages.

I had high hopes for this book. I remember reading Haroun and the Sea of Stories in high school and loving it. The sequel falls flat. It has it's moments. I would have preferred rushdie expand on many of the little stories instead of the bigger one. He has great ideas, but the book just didn't feel right. It felt as if his publisher asked him to write a sequel and his heart wasn't in it.