| Book #, Information & Link | Mini Book Review |
Book #1 of 2025:
Powerless by Elsie Silver
(Chestnut Springs 3) | Childhood friends who’ve been secretly in love with each other and a runaway bride situation meet our friends in Chestnut Springs. Still loving this series and I’ll be so sad when I run out of Elsie Silver books to read. If you enjoy a bit of an angsty romance with some extra spicy bits, you’ll love this series! |
Book #2 of 2025:
Reckless by Elsie Silver
(Chestnut Springs 4) | Book 4 in the Chestnut Springs series and this one had me in tears within the first 1/3 of the story. I absolutely loved Winter and Theo’s story. I can’t really my favorite parts without spoilers, so let’s just stick with it was absolutely swoony. |
Book #3 of 2025:
Hopeless by Elsie Silver
(Chestnut Springs 5) | Ahhh the end of the Chestnut Springs books and I’m not ready! I’m so happy we finally got to Beau’s story and that by the end of this books we not only got his Happily Ever After, but were able to enjoy the after of the Happily Ever Afters for the rest of the characters I’ve grown to love over the series. Wonderful series and it gave me all the warm fuzzies. |
Book #4 of 2025:
Hate Hex by Gina LaManna | Trixie has spent a lifetime repressing her magic, until one night, she meets a grumpy, devilishly handsome vampire in a dark alley, and she accidentally activates her powers. After Trixie puts a teeny, tiny hex on her new nemesis, Dom retaliates in a big way. It’s all clever enchantments and witty curses, until Dominic’s brother suddenly returns, hellbent on revenge. A nice little paranormal romance to shake things up! I enjoy this author and other books in her connected series. This was a fun stand-alone book and is currently free on Kindle Unlimited. |
Book #5 of 2025:
Fourth Wing (The Emperean Book 1) by Rebecca Yarros | I hardly ever do it and definitely not this quickly, but with the 3rd book in the series coming out this month I decided to do a re-read of the first two. I actually enjoyed it more upon the second reading, knowing some of the twists and recognizing the breadcrumbs dropped along the way. It is a very satisfying book with interesting world building. Of course, I hate a cliffhanger ending (which is why I wanted to throw the second book at the wall when I realized I caught up to real time). With that being said, on to (or back to) book 2! |
Book #6 of 2025:
Iron Flame (The Emperean Book 2) by Rebecca Yarros | The second book of my re-read to get ready for the newly released third book. Once again I enjoyed a second look and seeing all the clues scattered around that I overlooked the first time. With that being said, knowing about some of the difficult parts made me dread getting through them all over again. With the shocking cliffhanger, I’m so happy that I can start the next book now! |
| Book #7 of 2025: Onyx Storm (The Emperean Book 3) by Rebecca Yarros | The third book in the series and I’m so glad I re-read the first two before jumping into this one. This one was a book of growth, for all of the main characters we have grown to love over the series. There were some battles that left me hanging on the edge of my seat and some pretty hilarious moments that had me giggling. This was the best in the series so far, even though I hate yet another cliff hanger that makes me want to throw my book at the wall. This is also the first time in quite a while when I’ve read a popular book series as it has come out and I am loving all the social media reactions content surrounding this book! |
Book #8 of 2025:
Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez | Justin has a curse, and thanks to a Reddit thread, it’s now all over the internet. Every woman he dates goes on to find their soul mate the second they break up. When a woman slides into his DMs with the same problem, they come up with a plan: They’ll date each other and break up. This is not a sweet and sappy beach read. It was so freaking good and OHMYGOD the feelings. I was either in love with Justin or ready to sob my face off. Absolute perfection. Highly recommend and currently free on Kindle Unlimited! |
Book #9 of 2025:
Part Of Your World
By Abby Jimenez | Once I finished Just for the Summer (and loved it), I realized it was actually the second book in the series. So, obviously I had to go and read this one, since it was book 1. Loved this opposites attract love story and the peeks of characters from the other book. In fact, I went back and re-read the end of the other book too so now I’m ALL caught up. A great little series and I highly recommend it. And apparently I read the third book in the series last year. |
Book #10 of 2025:
Ink of Copper by E.M. Meyers | Celebrating her recent divorce, Ellie Whitmore books a cruise to the Greek Isles where she meets Evander. Thrust into a mythical world, Ellie soon finds nothing is as it seems as she struggles to control the one thing she fears most. This Olympian-centered retelling of The Odyssey is a lot. It’s got a ton of Ancient Greek characters and super long and pops back and forth between times and people. While I did enjoy it, I do feel like a couple more rounds of editing would have been helpful. For Ancient Greece lovers, it’s like a grown up Percy Jackson adventure. |
Book #11 of 2025:
Rebel Homemaker by Drew Barrymore | In her first lifestyle and cookbook, Drew shares recipes, stories from her life, and personal photos that show how she lives a healthy, delicious, and joyful life through her own rebellious brand of homemaking. A mix of stories and recipes and I found the stories more engaging. I especially liked her 30 meal memories, which makes me want to write down meals I have had that have stuck with me. Like the filet mignon served at our wedding reception that we ate in the happy fog of getting married in front of our friends and family. It was delicious. |
Book #12 of 2025:
First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison | A hopeless romantic meets a jaded radio host in this cozy, Sleepless in Seattle–inspired love story. I absolutely loved the Lovelight Farms series, so when this book came out I immediately had it on my Must Read list. I love the Baltimore setting and the slow burn of our main couple. The author not only writes love stories well, but her spicy scenes are believable AND hot. Loved the book and can’t wait for the rest of this new series. |
Book #13 of 2025:
The New Rules of Menopause | Dr. Stephanie Faubion from the Mayo Clinic brings her expertise on current treatments and research together with an honest, real-world approach to help people understand how the rules of their bodies are changing – and what they can do about it. No new info here, but a good overview and refresher for those approaching peri. I find it fascinating that GenX is going through peri now and not silently suffering but TALKING about it. |
Book #14 of 2025:
Hot Hex Boyfriend by Carly Bloom | Delia doesn’t believe magic exists, however, when she accidentally breaks a hex and restores her family’s powers, she’s forced to accept a new reality: she is a witch. Just when Max thinks he’s done keeping an eye on the bumbling Merriweather women, now he must help his neighbors learn to control their magic before they out witches everywhere. A cute little RomCom in the vein of Practical Magic with just a small amount of spice. A fun and quick read and a nice stand-alone magical romance. |
Book #15 of 2025:
The Fall Risk by Abby Jimenez | Currently a free book for February for Prime members and I recommend you RUN to download it! You guys, I LOVED this couple so much. And their best friends. And the romance. And the part I can’t talk about because I don’t want to ruin it. I was laughing out loud. I was cheering. So, so good! |
Book #16 of 2025:
Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez | Yup, another re-read. After reading the 2 other Part of Your World series books out of order, I figured I might as well re-visit the 3rd book in the series. Especially because it was one of my favorite books of 2023. In this one we have a misunderstanding/enemies to lovers/pretend boyfriend/crazy family spectacular. It’s laugh out loud funny, so incredibly sweet and has parts that absolutely caused me to cry. Again. |
Book #17 of 2025:
Zero Stars Do Not Recommend by MJ Wassmer | A man and his girlfriend find themselves trapped on an island resort after the sun explodes. And that’s what happens on the first 2 pages. There is class wars, quickly dropping temperatures and the chaos of trying to make it off the island alive. I thought it was entertaining, funny, honestly a little sad at how shitty people can be to each other. |
Book #18 of 2025:
Wild Side (Rose Hill book 3) | I love Elsie Silver and her connected series, especially the Rose Hill series! This latest book is a wonderful, perfect, sexy, hilarious addition and I enjoyed every chapter. If you haven’t tried her yet, I highly recommend her books (and this one is currently free on Kindle Unlimited!) |
Book #19 of 2025:
Right Where We Left Us by Jenni Devon | Described as “Perfect for fans of Lucy Score, Right Where We Left Us is a searing and unforgettable romance.” And nope. They need to get Lucy Score’s name out of their damn mouth. This is an absolute DNR for me because I got about 100 pages in and gave up. It was so wordy and overblown and full of every cliche. And just annoying and irritating, rather than romantic. Add this to the nope pile. |
Book #20 of 2025:
Right Man, Right Time by Megan Quinn | A college girl finds herself in a fake relationship with a professional hockey player ten years older than her, but as they become fast friends and start staying the night together, the lines between fake and real start to blur. I cannot for the life of me figure out why this book is so highly starred on Amazon. I’ve enjoyed Megan Quinn’s books before, but this one is just kind of terrible. It feels kind of immature, like a high schooler is writing a romance and just throws a lot of abrupt spicy scenes into it. I mean, did the author really write this book, or was it a lonely man with AI…? |
Book #21 of 2025:
Will they or Won’t They by Ava Wilder | As the stars of the hit paranormal TV show Intangible, Lilah and Shane spent years pining for each other onscreen . . . until Lilah ditched the show at the end of season five in hopes of becoming a movie star. With no such luck, she’s back to film the much-hyped ninth and final season. But coming back means facing one of the biggest reasons she left: Shane. If you love enemies to lovers and second chance love, this is the book for you. A slow burn and a fun look at ‘behind the scenes’ of a TV hit. |
Book #22 of 2025:
An Accidental Odyssey by KC Dyer | Gianna Kostas is on the cusp of a fairy-tale life. Sure, she’s just lost her job, but she’s about to marry one of New York’s most eligible bachelors. On her way to taste wedding cakes, though, things go sideways. Shocking news sends Gia off on a wild journey halfway around the world in pursuit of her ailing—and nearly estranged—father. A fun father and daughter adventure of traveling and eating through the Mediterranean. This book made me crave both a plane ticket… and all the amazing food that Gia was eating! |
Book #23 of 2025:
The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks | When Maggie Banks arrives in Bell River to run her best friend’s struggling bookstore, she expects to sell bestsellers to her small-town clientele. But running a bookstore in a town with a famously bookish history isn’t easy. To help save the store, Maggie starts an underground book club, running a series of events celebrating the books readers actually love. But keeping the club quiet, selling forbidden books, and dodging the literary society is nearly impossible. Especially when Maggie unearths a town secret that could upend everything. This book just didn’t do it for me at all. I found it just too slow and really didn’t care about the characters |
Book #24 of 2025:
The Summer Guests (Martini Club book 2) by Tess Gerritsen | A second adventure with our group of retired CIA agents (I read the first one in 2022 and loved it!). In this one after a teenager vanishes and Maggie’s neighbor becomes the prime suspect, she joins the investigation, determined to prove her friend’s innocence. A really good murder mystery and a great visit back to the Martini Club! |
Book #25 of 2025:
Mr. Fixer Upper by Lucy Score | This is marked as a standalone, but it’s actually followed by The Christmas Fix which I read last year. This one is HGTV meets Hallmark channel with a little bit of spice. Loved the couple and loved the grand gesture. This was a good one to just disappear into for a few hours. |
Book #26 of 2025:
Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun (book 3) | Finlay Donovan has been in messes before — after all, she’s an author and single mom who’s a pro at getting out bloodstains for rather unexpected reasons — but none quite like this. The third in the series and while it took me a bit to get back into it, this was a fun adventure. A mix of suspense, mob bosses, and some Lucy and Ethel energy! |
Book #27 of 2025:
Story of my Life by Lucy Score | Hazel Hart was a successful romance novelist until a breakup drives her straight into writer’s block. Desperate for inspiration, Hazel impulse-buys a historic home online and flees Manhattan to tiny Story Lake, PA. I LOVE Lucy Score books and this one is fantastic! Lots of grumpy love interest and small-town shenanigans. I can’t wait until the next book in the series comes out! |
Book #28 of 2025:
Off to the Races by Elsie Silver (Gold Rush Ranch 1) | I love Elise Silver and haven’t read this series yet, so I downloaded it to read on the plane. This series looks like it’s set around a horse racing family, which isn’t my typical thing as I’m not a horse girl, but we will see. This book is a grumpy vs sunshine enemies to lovers situation. All in all, I enjoyed it and it made a 4.5 hour plane ride fly by. I didn’t love the main couples dynamic, but I’m open to the next book in the series. |
Book #29 of 2025:
Kills Well With Others by Deanna Raybourn | This book is the sequel to Killers of a Certain Age and I loved revisiting our retired assassins for another adventure.Together the foursome embark on a wild ride across the globe on the double mission of rooting out the Museum’s mole and hunting down the gangster who seems to know their next move before they make it. Loved this book and it was a great continuation of the series! |
Book #30 of 2025:
Every Move You Make by Sloan Spencer | A ‘why choose’ throuple romance. It had a lot of promise and then just kind of burnt itself out for me. It went from 0 to fully spicy with little warning and my pet peeve of everyone immediately falling in love with each other was out in full force. Be warned: for readers with a very high spice tolerance. |
Book #31 of 2025:
Atomic Habits by James Clear | This book draws on the most proven ideas from biology, psychology, and neuroscience to create an easy-to-understand guide for making good habits inevitable and bad habits impossible. Atomic Habits will reshape the way you think about progress and success, and give you the tools and strategies you need to transform your habits. I’ve actually started this book twice, but it’s not because I didn’t enjoy it. I actually find it fascinating and love all the different ways to build new habits. My problem is that after reading a particularly resonating chapter, I need to sit with it a bit. Also, I read it on my kindle and really need to buy my own hardback copy so I can highlight all the pages! Love it, recommend it. But buy a physical copy. |
Book #32 of 2025:
A Photo Finish by Elsie Silver (Gold Rush Ranch 2) | Book 2 in the Gold Rush series. In this one, A former soldier moves to a small town and is forced to live under the same roof as the woman he’s been anonymously chatting with online, and their chemistry is undeniable. So we’ve got some grumpy/sunshine and some forced proximity. All in all, it’s a good medium burn book with some secrets and a good relationship with a needed therapist. |
Book #33 of 2025:
The Front Runner by Elsie Silver (Gold Rush Ranch 3) | Book 3 in the Gold Rush series and this one is my favorite so far. We’ve got a rich, misunderstood bad boy and a take no crap vet. There’s some fake dating trope and some misunderstood villain. Loved the story and can’t wait to finish up the series with just one more book. |
Book #34 of 2025:
A False Start by Elsie Silver (Gold Rush Ranch 4) | The last book in the Gold Rush series and I’m sad to say goodbye to the characters that I have grown to love. This one is a grumpy/sunshine/best friends sister romance. I loved the two main characters and the fact that they had to figure their own crap out in order to get together. A great finish to the series! |
Book #35 of 2025:
Wizard of Most Wicked Ways by Charlie N. Holmberg (Whimbrel House Book 4) | I read the Whimbrel House series last year and thought it was completed with the 3 books. I was surprised to see this one pop up on Kindle Unlimited — but according to the acknowledgements, so was the author! This addition to the series is set 4 years after book 3 and centers around Owein and the final fight with bad guy Silas Hogwood. It took a bit for me to get back into it, but the writing was magical and now I’m hoping for a surprise book 5. |
Book #36 of 2025:
Rewind it Back by Liz Tomforde (Windy City Book 5) | You guys. The way I SOBBED at the end of the book. I’ve loved the whole Windy City series, so I’ve been waiting for the 5th book to come out for a while. I was so happy to finally get to Rio’s story and OHMYGOD it was my absolute favorite of the entire series. If you’re looking for a really well written romcom series with low to medium spice and super strong friendships, download this one ASAP. It’s currently free on Kindle Unlimited and I highly recommend it! |
Book #37 of 2025:
Maggie Moves On by Lucy Score | House-flipping sensation and YouTube star Maggie Nichols can’t wait to dig into her next challenge, restoring a crumbling Victorian mansion in four months or less. She has her to-do lists, her blueprints, and her team. What she doesn’t have is time for sexy, laid-back landscaper Silas Wright. I knew going into this book it would be good because Lucy Score is an amazing author, but holy guacamole it was SO GOOD! Hilarious and sweet with a strong willed female lead and dreamy love interest. I want to jump into the pages and live in it. 6 out of 5 stars! |
Book #38 of 2025:
Forever Never by Lucy Score | Brooding, protective Brick falls for free-spirited Remi, his brother’s ex, who returns home with a dangerous secret, igniting an irresistible, slow-burn romance. I love Lucy Score and honestly this was my least favorite book of hers. Which still makes it better than a lot of other authors books. It was the grumpy, pining overprotective dude and the wild child chick. But I guess they were just too combative with each other for me to really enjoy them as a couple. Also, the random murder mystery suspense bit just was a bit too much going on. Meh. |
Book #39 of 2025:
Born in Fire by KF Breene (Demon Days, Vampire Nights Book 1) | I love a good KF Breene series and this one has been on my list for awhile. I just had to be in the right mood to start a new magic/fantasy world building saga. In this first book, a supernatural bounty hunter teams up with a vampire to solve a top secret case and kick some ass. Not as strong of a start as some of her other books, but enough promise to have me looking forward to the next book. |
Book #40 of 2025:
Raised in Fire by KF Breene (Demon Days, Vampire Nights Book 2) | The second book in the series and building on the world and characters we met in the first book. This one revolves around an out-of-town murder mystery, as well as growth of the main story and relationships. This one was better than the last, and I’m fully invested in the series now. |
| Book #41 of 2025: | …Coming soon… |
