Week of June 9, 2025

• Not one but TWO 5 star reads for me this week!!! Everyone has their own rating system, for sure, and I guess I’m typically a little heavy handed with the stars, admittedly. I saw a rating system in a TikTok by @Bekah that was very similar to how I rate my own books and I thought I’d actually break it down. I’ll post my ratings in my weekly newsletters as well. Here’s how it falls for me:

  ⭐️ Did not like this book, would not recommend. Lots of errors, plot holes, not worth the effort to read, most likely didn’t finish. But I’m giving this author a single star for making the effort to publish a book. Not everyone’s even gotten that far, so yay for you.

  ⭐️⭐️ Didn’t really like it, multiple issues with style, plot, syntax or characters. Most likely forced myself to finish it. Would consider other books by the same author but I might have to be convinced.

  ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Enjoyed the book. Perhaps there were issues with plot or style but it was an enjoyable read. I could see recommending it if it were of a specific genre or trope or series. Most of what I read could easily fall into this category and I’d be a happy camper.

  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This was a good book. Like a really good book. I will think about this book when I’m finished, and there’s a really good chance I’ll buy it for my personal library if it was a KU read. I’d recommend it to other readers of the same genre or trope. I’ll definitely search out other books by this author, probably as soon as I’m finished reading.

  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Wow. Just wow. Amazing book, amazing story. If there were flaws in the book I’m completely overlooking them because in my mind the book was sheer perfection. I didn’t want the book to end and I’m immediately adding it to my favorites and my re-read pile. And if there’s an audio version I might have to buy that, too. I have a book hangover, I miss the characters, and I feel actual, physical loss in my life when this book is finished.

  Thanks for joining me this week! Let’s dive in!

Here’s my weekly disclaimer: this is simply a summary of the books I read last week. Yes, I read a lot. Yes, I read quickly. Yes, I’m primarily a retired stay-at-home Mom with time on my hands, and this is how I choose to spend it. Reading is my hobby and I really enjoy sharing it with others. It’s my favorite form of entertainment, and it’s taken me a while to accept that It’s ok if not every book teaches me a lesson or changes my life. I read for fun. So put your feet up, grab a book or grab your Kindle, and let’s read together. Enjoy! 🙂 

1. The Night Of, by Tal Bauer. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

   Kindle Unlimited, 296 pages.

   Genre: MM romance, suspense

   I love Tal Bauer. His book Whisper is one of my all-time favorite reads. I like how many of his books incorporate a really good plot and the romance is a part of the story. In this case, it’s a very Jason Bourne-esque government scandal thriller and the plot is really good. Secret Service Agent Sean Avery is first on the scene to the assassination of the President. Or is it a suicide? And his ex-lover happens to be the Vice President, now about to be sworn in as the new President, and the mystery deepens when a secret note from the president appears. There’s no one they can trust and they have to work together despite having hurt each other emotionally in the past. Lots of twists and turns in this one and I really enjoyed it.

2. Sunshine and the Sheriff, by Alina Lane. ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

   Kindle Unlimited, 330 pages.

   Genre: small town romance; single parent, he falls first

   This is book 2 in the Everette series of interconnected standalone books about a single mom, Maisie, on the run from a abusive ex. She happens to crash her camper van in a small town in Idaho and the sheriff, Harlan, is first on the scene. When her van is totaled and she has nowhere else to go, he helps Maisie and her 6 month old baby Audra out, and the sparks fly. It’s a very cute story, and Harlan is a very compelling and lovable character with 5 goofball brothers, so expect lots of books to follow. Rather predictable story line, but seeing Harlan and his brothers fall for baby Audra was worth the read.

3. Out of the Clear Blue Sky, Kristan Higgins ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

   Kindle Edition, $7.99, 496 pages.

   Genre: women’s literature

   Oh wow, I loved this book! This is going in my top 10 of 2025 to date. Nothing exceptionally profound, just highly relatable and very entertaining. Lillie and Brad had a great marriage - or so she thought. Until one day he said he was through. Right as their only child is heading for college out of state, Brad says he needs to leave her to find his joy and he’s found it with someone else. Lillie is crushed and goes a little haywire with some antics that made me laugh out loud. Her life comes full circle as she learns to depend on herself while living alone, she rediscovers her sister, forgives old wrongs, and finds a whole new life. It was a charming book.

4. The Gentleman, by Dianna Roman ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

   Kindle Unlimited, 261 pages

   Genre/tropes: MM romance, slow burn, bi-awakening, OCD, familial emotional abuse

   This is book one of two in the Carver Brothers series and it was actually better than I thought it would be. Thinking that Cameron, his boss’s son, propositioning him at the office was some sort of trap, Pete went along with it in order to figure out who was trying to set him up for failure at work. But in the process, he learned it wasn’t a trap, Cameron was a genuine man who was nothing like the rest of his manipulative family, and Pete started to catch feelings. For a man. For the first time in his life. It was an interesting path they took, and I liked the story. I’m curious about the second book in the series and may have to check that out as well, now.

5. Cause of Death , by Patricia Cornwell ⭐️⭐️⭐️

   Kindle Edition, $9.99, 336 pages

   Would I re-read this book? No.

   Genre: forensic thriller

   Patricia Cornwell is one of my favorite authors, but this book kind of left me hanging at the end in my opinion. Originally published in 1997, it’s definitely dated, especially reading it now in 2025, but actually still relevant. 98% of this book was really good - the ending was just not at all what I was hoping for. It was too blunt for my liking and she wrapped up the entire plot in about 5 pages. It needed far more closure in my opinion. But up until that point, I enjoyed it a lot, so I still have to give it 3 stars.

6. The Condition of Will, by Jessa Hastings ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

   Kindle Unlimited, 466 pages.

   Genre/tropes: contemporary fiction; familial emotional and psychological abuse;

   I heard great things about Jessa Hastings’ Magnolia Parks series which I haven’t read yet, but after reading this I’m going to look into it. When I start a book and it’s evident that the author has made a huge effort creating a personality for the characters, I’m immediately sucked in. And in this book, Georgia has such amazing depth that I knew I was going to love it when I was only about 40 pages in. And I was right. I couldn’t even begin to summarize this story, there was so much going on. But wow, did I love it. Every step of the way, I was happily along for the ride. Another top read of the year for sure.

That’s it for this week! As always, you can keep up with all of my reading on my Goodreads if you want to. https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/12921106-karen

Love, Karen