What I Read February 2025

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Hey loves. February was a busy month with a lot of reading. I had 3 arcs (advanced reader copy) and loved them all. So many great reads this month

Total physical/kindle books: 6

Total audiobooks: 7

Total for this month: 13

Total books for 2025: 23

Goal for 2025: 120 books

Title: The Stories We Tell

Author: Joanna Gainers

Genre: memoir (maybe)

How I Read It: Libby Audiobook

My Rating: 3 out of 5

Amazon Description: Imagine if all the worn-out, untrue, painful chapters of our lives started to quiet, and the beautiful, unique pieces of who we are were to rise. Imagine if the stories we tell brought us back to our true selves, back to one another. Imagine if they spoke of how we loved and lost and tried our best. How we saw it all, even the parts that hurt.

Joanna Gaines' new book, The Stories We Tell, invites us on an authentic and deeply vulnerable journey into her story—and helps shine a light on the beauty of our own—guiding us to release the weights that hold us back so we may live and share our story in truth.

We've all dropped anchor in places that suited us for a time: a city, a perspective, a lie we mistook as truth. This book is an invitation to a kind of life where you know how to hold what you believe—about yourself and the quiet worlds behind the people you pass—with gracious and open hands. To see your story as greater than any past or future thing, but for all the beauty and joy and hope it holds today.

It’s an invitation to take stock of the chapters you’ve lived—the good and the bad, the beautiful and the ugly—glean what’s gold, and carry only that forward. Let it slow your feet and steady your life-in-motion so you can see where you stand today from a new point of view. No longer through weary or uncertain eyes, but a lens brimming with hope.

My Review: Joanne shares her truths and experiences she has been dealt with. It feels more like a self help book but repetitive suggestions but worded differently.

Title: Dumped for Valentine's

Author: J. Sterling

Genre: Romance Novella

How I Read It: Book Funnel Audiobook

My Rating: 3 out of 5

Amazon Description: What happens when you find Mr. Right after getting dumped by Mr. Wrong? New York Times bestselling author J. Sterling brings you this enjoyable romance about finding love again after getting your heart broken.

Heading off to Vail single and alone wasn't how I planned on spending the week before Valentine's Day, but here I am, in one of the most scenic places in the country, with nothing to do and no one to do it with.

Until I meet Jase Malone.
He's adventurous, charming, and sexy as hell.

It was supposed to just be one night. One night of letting go of the past and giving in to the moment.

But things never quite pan out the way you think... do they?

My Review: All books should be required to say if they are a novella. Novella ares not for me. You don't get to connect or have the full story. Dumped for Valentine's wasn't horrible. I enjoyed the storyline and the instalove I just wish there was more.

Title: Memory Making Mom

Author: Jessica Smartt

Genre: parenting

How I Read It: physical book

My Rating: 4 out of 5

Amazon Description: What will your children remember of their childhood? Calling all moms who want to break out of monotony, distraction, and busyness to a life of making lasting memories with your kids and drawing your family closer to one another and to God!

What’s the solution to gaining the balanced, meaningful life you desire with your family? Create traditions that bring joy and significance! Popular "Smartter Each Day" blogger and mom of three, Jessica Smartt explains why memory-making is the puzzle piece that today’s families are longing for.

As Jessica shares her ideas, traditions, and beautiful insights on parenting in this well-written resource guide, she highlights the tradition-gifts kids need most with 300+ unique traditions including:

Food: memories that stick to your ribs
Holidays: fall bucket lists, crooked Christmas trees, and lingering over Lent
Spontaneity: going on adventures
Faith: why you need the puzzle box

Memory-Making Mom is jam-packed with her own favorite childhood traditions, those she has started with her own children, traditions tied to the Christian faith, and additional ideas that you can take and tailor to suit your needs. Jessica also offers spiritual guidance and practical encouragement to modern parents to keep on adventuring—even when they are fighting distractions, are on a budget, and exhausted.

My Review: So many different ideas or new traditions and stuff to do to create memories for your families. The author makes it clear to not overwhelm or think you have to do everything. Motherhood is hard enough don't run yourself dry. She also points out you are probably already doing a lot that is making memories and things change in different seasons of motherhood.

Title: Lights Out: A Formula One Race

Author: K. L. Thorne

Genre: Sports Romance

How I Read It: Kindle

My Rating: 5 out of 5

Amazon Description: Ever since Maddie Michaels was a little girl, she's dreamt about being a racing driver.

When she's signed by Ferrari for her debut into Formula One, the first woman in history to ever do so successfully, it's all too good to be true... Until she meets her teammate Nick Larson.

He's arrogant, infuriating and downright rude, but Maddie is determined to hold her own and prove her worth to the racing heavyweight.

The sparks start flying between them both on and off the track, leading to a passionate and turbulent secret relationship.

Can Maddie blaze a trail for women in motorsports or will the heat of the competition prove too much for her to withstand?

My Review: Enemies to lovers racing style. I have never watched or followed along with formula one racing but as a previous NASCAR crew member wife (no ex), I loved the dynamic and adrenaline. Who also doesn't love female empowerment.

Title: The Cinnamon Bun Book Store

Author: Laurie Gilmore

Genre: romance

How I Read It: Libby Audiobook

My Rating: 4 out of 5

Amazon Description: When a secret message turns up hidden in a book in the Cinnamon Bun Bookstore, Hazel can't understand it. As more secret codes appear between the pages, she decides to follow the trail of clues… she just needs someone to help her out.

Gorgeous and outgoing fisherman, Noah, is always up for an adventure. And a scavenger hunt sounds like a lot of fun. Even better that the cute bookseller he's been crushing on for months is the one who wants his help!

Hazel didn’t go looking for romance, but as the treasure hunt leads her and Noah around Dream Harbor, their undeniable chemistry might be just as hot as the fresh-out-of-the-oven cinnamon buns the bookstore sells…

The Cinnamon Bun Book Store is a Sunday Times and USA Today bestselling cozy romantic mystery with a HEA guaranteed!

Tropes:

opposites attract
small town
forced proximity
he falls first

My Review: Cozy cute romance that would be perfect for fall. I loved the little mystery mixed in with some adventure. Very Hallmark movie vibes but with some spice. This is part two in a series, but you don't need to read book one to understand the story. I enjoyed this book more than book one.

Title: Hooked

Author: Emily McIntire

Genre: Dark Romance

How I Read It: Hoopla audiobook

My Rating: 4 out of 5

Amazon Description: From international bestselling author Emily McIntire comes a dark and delicious fractured fairy tale reimagining of Peter Pan.

He wants revenge, but he wants her more…

James has always had one agenda: destroy his enemy, Peter Michaels. When Peter’s twenty-year-old daughter Wendy shows up in James’s bar, he sees his way in. Seduce the girl and use her for his revenge. It’s the perfect plan, until things in James’s organization begin to crumble. Suddenly, he has to find the traitor in his midst, and his plan for revenge gets murkier as James starts to see Wendy as more than just a pawn in his game.

Wendy has been cloistered away most of her life by her wealthy cold father, but a spontaneous night out with friends turns into an intense and addictive love affair with the dark and brooding James. As much as she knows James is dangerous, Wendy can’t seem to shake her desire for him. But as their relationship grows more heated and she learns more about the world he moves in, she finds herself unsure if she’s falling for the man known as James or the monster known as Hook.

My Review: I can only imagine my facial expressions while listening to this book. I was sucked in from the beginning. Twists, turns, toxicity, thrilling and intense. Not a retelling of Disney Peter Pan but a twisted retelling that is dark and spicy.

Title: Love Unending

Author: Becky Thompson

Genre: Marriage

How I Read It: physical book

My Rating: 5 out of 5

Amazon Description: How can I remember how to be a wife when it takes all I've got to be a momma?

Since becoming a mom, do you ever feel like your marriage no longer receives the attention it needs to thrive? Do you ever struggle to balance your roles of being both a momma and a wife? Do you ever wonder how you're supposed to re-center your heart on your husband when you are so busy with everything else? Those feelings we experienced in the first days of love and marriage often become buried beneath hurried life, active children, and mountains of bills and laundry. We wonder where the romance went when kids became a part of our love story. Maybe you've questioned and perhaps even worried if you'll ever again experience love as you did in the beginning - that newness of what it meant to be fully caught up in one another. But what if you could rekindle that fresh sort of love? What if there was a secret to love unending?

For the next 21 days, journey with Becky Thompson to remember what life was like when you first fell in love with your husband. Each daily challenge, reflection, and prayer will refocus your attention, re-center your heart, reignite the romance, and help you rediscover your marriage in the midst of motherhood. Let Love Unending guide you step by step as you realize that sometimes the best way forward is to go back to the beginning.

My Review: I read this every Febraury, why February the month of love. The winters are rough, being at home with three kids is rough, work is ehh, and added reminder of to add that spark back into our relationship.

Title: The Royals Next Door

Author: Karina Halle

Genre: Romance

How I Read It: Libby Audiobook

My Rating: 4 out of 5

Amazon Description: An ordinary summer goes royally awry when a prince and princess move next door, bringing their handsome bodyguard with them, from New York Times bestselling author Karina Halle.

Piper Evans: elementary school teacher by day--avid romance reader and anonymous podcaster by night. She has a quiet, reclusive life, taking care of her mother, who lives with mental illness, avoiding her regrettable ex, who bartends in town, and trying to make inroads in the tight-knit island community that still sees her, five years in, as an outsider.
And she's happy with how things are--really--until British royals rent the property next to hers and their brooding bodyguard decides she's a security threat. Piper quickly realizes that one person's fairy tale is an ordinary woman's nightmare as a media frenzy takes over the island and each run-in with Harrison Cole is hotter and more confusing than the last. But beneath Harrison's no-nonsense exterior lies a soft heart, one that could tempt a woman who's sworn off attachments into believing in white knights.

But when Piper finds herself smack in the middle of a royal scandal that rocks the island she'll need more than Harrison's strong arms to shield her--she'll have to do a little rescuing herself. With careers, hearts, and friendships on the line, Piper and Harrison will have to decide what they're willing to give up for a chance at their own happily ever after.

My Review: Small towns are always into everyone's business, especially if there is a royal moving in. An unexpected romance between a teacher and royal body guard. Cute banter, with a slow burn, and some humor mixed in.

Title: Our Valentine

Author: Liz Gavin

Genre: Reverse Harem

How I Read It: Chirp

My Rating: 2 out of 5

Amazon Description: When three daring and powerful businessmen join forces to create the ultimate indulgence at Sexy & Sinful: Spa & Resort, the stage is set for unparalleled passion and intrigue. Derrick, Bryant, and Mitch never anticipated that hiring Jenny Taylor, a curvy and captivating woman for the general manager position, would ignite such intense desires.

Facing bankruptcy, Jenny takes a second job at the luxurious resort. With her background at Club Desire, she's adept at catering to the wealthy and demanding, but the seductive charm of her three new bosses takes her by surprise. A single, unforgettable Valentine’s night of passion is just the beginning. The chemistry between Jenny and the three men is electric, leaving them all yearning for more than just a fleeting affair.

This contemporary romance unfolds a tantalizing narrative of polyamory and reverse harem dynamics, packed with steamy, sexy, and seductive scenes that promise to leave readers breathless. Fans of popular reverse harem novels like Den of Vipers by K.A. Knight, Power of Five by Alex Lidell, and Lilac by B.B. Reid will discover their next book boyfriends in this standalone novella, offering a guaranteed happily-ever-after with high levels of heat and a touch of sass and wit.

My Review: The book seemed rushed. There could have been more details, depth, and descriptions. The main concept of the story I enjoyed, and the spice. Unfortunately you are left with a lot of unanswered questions and wanting more.

Title: The Valentine Billionaire

Author: Serenity Woods

Genre: Romance

How I Read It: Kindle

My Rating: 4 out of 5

Amazon Description: He’s my brother’s best mate, and he’s totally out of bounds…

It’s been a tough year.
I’m an athlete, and although I won a silver medal at the Olympics, I really wanted to win a gold for my mom. I’m determined to do it next time, but right now I’m ready for a much-needed break.
The last thing I want to do is go to my brother’s wedding.
Kai is an All Blacks rugby player, and so’s my ex, who’ll be there with his gorgeous new girlfriend.
The wedding is on Valentine’s Day. And I don’t have a date. That really sucks.
Then my brother’s geeky but gorgeous best mate, Lucas Prince, suggests we go together.
Kai’s been nagging him to get a date, and he thinks it’ll be funny if he picks his mate’s little sis.
However, Kai has given me strict instructions never to date any of his friends again.
Also, my father has a history with the Prince family, and he’ll blow a gasket if he thinks we’re together.
On the other hand, Lucas is hot as, and I’m tired of being alone.
All he’s suggesting is that we fake a relationship for a few days.
What could possibly go wrong?

My Review: The fifth book in the series and you don't have to read the previous books. I couldn't put this book down. Emotional, raw, and steamy. Some deep topics discussed in the midst of life changing events.

Title: Flock

Author: Kate Stewart

Genre: Dark Romance

How I Read It: Hoopla audiobook

My Rating: 5 out of 5

Amazon Description: Can you keep a secret?

The one thing Cecelia Horner knows about her move to Triple Falls is, it’ll be temporary. After one year working for her elusive father at his factory, he’ll hand over the inheritance she needs to help her single mother. With that, Cecelia will leave the town, and everyone in it, behind forever.

On her first day, she collides with her new supervisor, Sean. Enigmatic, charming, irresistible, Sean lures Cecelia into a new world of sex, lies, and alliances. Determined to make the most of her time in Triple Falls, Cecelia allows herself to blindly fall. But the more Cecelia is drawn in, the stronger her belief that Sean is keeping a secret. A secret that Dominic, Sean’s best friend, and the darkest, most dangerous of his crew, is determined to keep Cecelia from uncovering.

Cecelia discovers something else—a maelstrom of untapped desires within herself along with a powerful pull of first love. The more Cecelia becomes immersed in Sean and Dominic’s perilous world, the more she starts to realize that the men she’s trusted are hiding far more than she could have ever imagined. And the secret they’re hiding just might be the thing to break her fall.

My Review: I was hesitant to read with it being a TikTok booktok favorite and/or that it would be to dark. I loved this book and couldn't read it quickly enough. The characters, the heat, the spice, the twists, the connections, the OMG moments, the I didn't see that coming moments, ... It was more than I ever expected. It left me wanting more and to know what happened next and I started book 2 right away.

Title: Your Name is Daughter

Author: Amy Seiffert

Genre: Christian Inspirational

How I Read It: Advanced Reader Copy on Kindle, then Physical Book

My Rating: 5 out of 5

Amazon Description: Jesus befriended, defended, healed, and depended upon women--and He will do the same for you.

From the beginning, God created women and men equal in dignity, value, and worth. But our identity as God's daughters has been contested, both inside and outside of the church, and we're left wondering where we belong. Sharing stories of the unsung women of the Bible, beloved author Amy Seiffert empowers you to stand firm in your dignity as a Daughter of the King, exchanging fear and doubt for confidence and faith.

Without you, the fullness of God's image is incomplete. And in His Kingdom, you are seen, heard, known, and commissioned to bring His redeeming love and truth to this world.

My Review: Amy is such a brilliant writer and does story telling like no other. I loved the message of Jesus befriended, defended, healed, and depended upon women–and He will do the same for you! This book made me understand these women and dig deeper into the Bibles stories. I recommend this read for all women because YOU are his daughter.

I received an advance reader copy from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Title: The Single Dad's Guide to Recreation

Author: Karen Grey

Genre: Romance

How I Read It: Beta Read on kindle

My Rating: 4 out of 5

Amazon Description: He’s the uptight corporate VP cutting costs at her public sector job. She’s the sunny, small town toddler-whisperer in his crosshairs. It should be easier for them to keep their hands off each other.

The new guy in town may be a hot single dad–we’re talking total, mouthwatering eye candy here–but that isn’t stopping him from shuttering my favorite program here at Climax Parks & Rec.

Nor does it stop me from being blinded by lust and tripping over my own feet every time I see him, even though we are completely wrong for each other.

He’s colder than an ice storm in January; I cry at soap commercials.
He’s moved upstate from Manhattan; I’ve returned to my small town roots.
He’s overwhelmed by his two adorable kids; the doctor said I’ll never be a mother.

Oh, and did I mention that it’s his job to “re-org” (aka ruin) everything I love about my job?

Despite all this, he’s got me dreaming of something I told myself I’d given up on: a family of my own.

Warning! do not read this book unless you love:
❤️Grumpy heroes who are silly with their kids
❤️Sunshiny, Cinderelly heroines
❤️Nosy, interfering, small town bureaucrats
❤️Possibly magical, HEA-predicting clocks
❤️Parks and Recreation and Schitt’s Creek vibes

My Review: Funny, cute with small town drama. Enemies to lovers with likable characters that banter keeps you hooked. Totally recommend but be sure to read the trigger warnings.

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