There comes a time in every Summer’s life that she must admit she has a problem. I haven’t reached that point.

A lot of reading has been done this year and we’re only two completed months into it.

I also read a bit of variety… I think? Some rom-coms, some more serious reads, some suspense/mystery. I didn’t get all I wanted to read read, but I can only read so much I guess. I was trying to test the limits I guess in the shortest month of the year!

Probably ought to get on with it. I have a lot to recap here.

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The Kiss Class by Ellie Hall

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

A quick, fun read. I enjoyed the characters and though they had a fast falling romance, I loved it.

Cara and Pierre 🤌🏻

Third book (and I think final (sadly)) in the Nebraska Knights series.

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Uneasy Street by Becky Wade

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

I think this is my favorite of the Sons of Scandal series!!

Max’s relentless pursuit of Sloane from start to finish, even when he made mistakes, man… beautiful.

Sloane seemed a bit uptight but she was the total compliment to Max’s casual manners.

Ivy was a great addition and added so much depth to the story.

A must read for anyone, whether a Becky Wade fan or not (yet). This will make you a fan.

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The Perfect Rom-Com by Melissa Ferguson

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

Goodness!! I didn’t know if I was going to like this a quarter through because Amelia was such a horrible person 😭😭😭

Jack kept me reading. The way he was there for Bryony (this is a new name for me!) the whole time, waiting patiently for her 🥹🥹🥹 THE SWEETEST. Jack seemed like a jerk at first, but he was such a darn softie. I loved it.

I loved the side characters like Bryony’s sister Gloria and Bryony’s ESL students.

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Never Fall Again by Lynn H. Blackburn

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

I read half of this in October and then got frustrated because the book is stiff 😂 I think that’s why it took me so long. I had to use both hands to keep it open. Laaaaame.

I loved Cal (Callum)! He was so masculine and protective. 😍 Landry brought baggage, but Cal accepted it and supported her efforts, and never made her question his loyalty, even when they were only going to stay friends.

This is a romantic suspense novel with some real danger near the end. It was pretty light read over all with nothing over detailed or graphic.

This is book one in the Gossamer Falls series. The next book comes out soon so I figured I better get this read!

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Love and Memories by Mandi Blake

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

What a plot twist in this!!!

Travis is immediately drawn to Isabella when she’s run over on the side of the road and he responds to the call. As a firefighter (and a handyman/ranch hand basically 😅), he’s more than able to care for her and provide for her. Their romance takes off after he visits her as much as possible as she works through her memories and lack thereof.

There’s different forms of abuse talked about and violence described, especially at the end, so read with caution if these are triggers.

This is book FOUR in the Love in Blackwater series and I CANNOT wait until book FIVE this summer!!! 👏🏻👏🏻

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The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck by Bethany Turner

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

I was iffy on this one. 🙃 Not my favorite Bethany Turner book. I probably wouldn’t recommend this one to someone who’s never read her books before because I’ve loved her other works so much better.

This one deals with thornier topics and I think I’m just not one to want to read about it????

Felt like a lot of the book was about sex as a Christian, which would be fine if that’s what you wanted to read about. So maybe keep that in mind.

The handling of things seemed like it tracked. My personal feels on the book were like a high 3 star, so I rounded up because I really enjoy Bethany’s writing in general.

I did listen to this one on Spotify audiobook. Would have finished in a day or two (which, technically I did) but I ran out of listening credits on Spotify January 29th and had to wait for my next billing cycle. 😂

This is a standalone novel.

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Retying the Knot by Liwen Y. Ho

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

This was INTERESTING because of the complicated background, but it was pretty hilarious.

One unanswered question remains in it for me: Did Piper ever tell Peter that she had an agreement with his mother? She almost spilt the beans and he was like what? And then she changed the subject and bounced, but it never came up again. So like… did she tell Peter and what did Peter do? I need details 🙂

This is book one in the Fab Forties series by Liwen. I wasn’t sure if I’d like the books about couples in their 40s but I’m a fan of Liwen. (Not to say anything wrong with them, because that could be me someday! But I enjoy and read mostly about couples in their 20s and early 30s.)

Sidenote: I got this ebook series (the whole series!) free a while back in one of those wild emails with book deals from a whole list of authors. Finally reading this series!

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Back in the Saddle by Ruth Logan Herne

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

This was kind of slow to me at first but once I sat down and kept reading, I finished it in a couple days. I enjoyed the journey of the main characters and the three points of perspective.

I’m looking forward to the next in this series (I’ve ordered the second book so far but the third book is a different size, which drives me nuts so I guess I’ll have to order it at some point…)

This is book one in the Double S Ranch series. This is also a new-to-me author!

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What We Hide by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

When do I ever not love a Colleen Coble book?

A typical read, but first with Rick Acker as a co-author, whom I’ve never read. This novel had a couple of plot twists! I always enjoy the mysterious perspective of the actual person behind the stuff and not knowing who it is. It’s never the person you think.

This story touches on the loss of a child, divorce/separation, and alcoholism.

This is book one of the Tupelo Grove series by these two authors and this one does leave you on a cliff hanger. Next book comes out in July! So, I will be following up at that time, LOL.

Also, shoutout to Spotify audiobook for helping me get this one read while work was slow! I started I Think I Was Murdered by them, too, but then I ran out of listening hours 4 chapters in.

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Head Over Stilettos by Liwen Y Ho

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

Another cute novel, but not my favorite.

Jocie and Graham knew each other decades prior when he stayed with her family (she was 12, he was in college ~22) and she had a crush on him. Years later, age doesn’t matter and Graham is fighting feelings that have developed since learning she’s this beautiful woman and he stills seems to much older than her. Throw in some faulty plumbing and a conspiring dog named Gus, what could go wrong?

This is book two in the Fab Forties series.

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An Overdue Match by Sarah Monzon

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

I love this. I thought I would before I got it. I loved reading it. And now I love that I read it.

This story made me tear up, laugh and relate to it. It’s wholesome, inspiring and just an all around great read.

Evangeline is still working through hurt, or living in her hurt, really. Tai enters the picture and slowly teaches her lessons he’s learned through a different avenue that helps her find herself in the process. The faith he shares with her and enriching her in God’s truth is absolute goals. 🫶🏻

Here’s some quotes:

“Mr. Davis – “

“You know, the more you say my name that way, the more I like it.” Tai let his voice take on a husky, seductive tone.

He’d done too much of that growing up-first by trying to appease and lessen his mother’s fears, but no matter what he did, how small and restricted he made himself, she still worried. That had led him to rebel when he’d gotten a bit older, trying to break free of the confines of her anxiety.

He’d admittedly made some bad choices in his teen years, which had consequently soured the town’s opinion of him.

When he’d left for college, it had been that reputation that had kept him away for so long. It had only been relatively recently that he’d come to a point where he realized he couldn’t let what other people thought of him dictate his decisions.

He’d much rather enjoy every moment he had on this planet than worry about what went on in someone else’s head. That was their problem, not his. Besides, it was totally out of his control anyway.

“Now you listen to me and you listen to me well, Evangeline Victoria Kelly. Whoever told you you’re not a heroine is a liar. A heroine is determined. Compassionate. She loves unconditionally, and she doesn’t need a man to rescue her. She may be flawed, but she never stops learning and growing or making the world a better place for the people around her. You are a heroine, Angel. Don’t let anyone tell you or make you feel differently, do you hear me?”

“God is the lover of your soul, Evangeline. He woos you every single day of your life, wanting you to fall in love with Him over and over again the way He loves you. He calls you beautiful, beloved, and lavishes you with more tenderness and affection than a groom does a bride on their wedding day. And nothing can change that. Not an autoimmune disorder or physical changes in appearance. Certainly not hair loss. He loved you from the beginning, and He’ll love you for all time.”

Fortunate for me, this is only book one of a new series by Sarah Monzon (have I mentioned I’m a big fan of hers???) and her next book will be out end of this year.

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Books read this month: 11

Books read this year: 28

Book goal for the year: 100

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Feel free to share your thoughts and books you’ve read in February in the comments!