February 2025 Reading List

I read seventeen books in February, started and quit anther nine. I toss a lot of books. There are too many good ones for me to ever get to them all and I don't believe in wasting what time I have left on mediocre storytelling.

The Bodyguard 2022 by Katherine Center

I'm still reading Katherine Center.
Female executive bodyguard assigned to guard sexy male film star after her co-worker breaks up with her. Movie star carrying guilt of younger brother’s death by drowning. Bodyguard feels she’s unlovable. This is a classic close proximity romance. I gave it 5 stars.

Welcome to Temptation 2000 by Jennifer Cruisie

Two sisters roll into a conservative small town to film an audition tape for an acquaintance and things get out of hand. Cruisie is known for her rom-coms and Temptation is a fine example. I gave this 5 stars

Passion in Death 2025 by J.D. Robb

Anyone who reads Nora Roberts knows that she is one hell of a writer. Let me tell you, she doesn’t disappoint with her JD Robb stories either. The Robb books are police procedurals; murder mysteries with a darker, grittier edge, all centered around NYC cop, Eve Dallas. If you haven’t read any of these yet you’re in for a treat. I highly recommend you start with the first book in the series as there is an over-arching story line. She must be around book number fifty or so by now, which means if these are to your taste you have a lot of reading to look forward to. I gave this 5 stars.

Faking It 2002 by Jennifer Cruisie

This is loosely connected to Welcome to Temptation. Brother of the Temptation sisters is after money that has been stolen from him and runs into an artist trying to steal back a painting. The artist is keeping her family afloat, the brother rents a room from her mother, and love and hijinks ensue. Typical Cruisie. I gave this 5 stars.

The Book of Cold Cases 2022 by Simone St. James

Simone writes suspense thrillers that also happen to ghost stories and she does it very well. Shea has a website devoted to her research on cold cases, a way of dealing with her constant fear after escaping a child rapist/murderer at the age of nine. She runs into her town’s most notorious serial killer, asks for an interview, and is granted one. Things turn weird from there. I can’t say more because I don’t want to spoil the story. I gave this 5 stars.

Book Lovers 2022 by Emily Henry

Contemporary romance. I almost didn't pick this up because the illustrated cover makes it look like a teen romance. I'm glad I did. NYC agent has sacrificed to care for younger sister after their mother died. Lot of emotional growth on agent’s part in this story - dealing with mother’s death, sister’s needs, and romantic relationships. I gave this 5 stars.