June 2025 Wrap-Up

Personal Highlights from this month:

• Summer vacation got off to a rainy start. It rained Memorial weekend, with a pause on the following Wednesday, and restarted on Thursday and Friday. Miss R was beyond bored.
• Miss R ended her elementary school year with a consistent “A” average, including her K-2 grades, which were rated “S.”
• Mr. Z accomplished what we thought was impossible. He raised his art grade from an “F” to a “B” for the quarter and ended the semester with an “A.“

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Reading Highlights from this month:

• I finished the Scars of the Wraiths series with Take. Out of the entire series, this book was the one to wreck me. I cried at the end. Mainly for Max and what she did to free herself and Jasper. And for Jasper, whose survivor’s guilt turned him into a monster for years. I hope that the author writes more in the series. There are people I want to see get their happy endings (Damien, for example!).
• I finished the first book in The Magestone Chronicles (Stones Unbound). I had a tough time getting into it. I actually fell asleep while reading it twice. It got to the point where I brought it to Miss R’s riding lesson (twice) to finish it. It was boring. However, once the book picked up around 70%, it ended with a bang. Because of that, I will read the rest of the series once the books become free or are added to KU.
• I finished book 1 in the Dark Universe series (Into the Dark). Although I wasn’t a huge fan of the book at first, the characters and storyline grew on me.
• I finished Someone to Remember Me, but I’m not entirely sure how I liked it. Halfway through the book, the author revealed a couple of significant twists that threw me off.
• I finished The Nevada Brides series. This was a cute series to read, and I enjoyed not having to think too much about the storyline. It did get a little preachy in Abigail’s book, but even that didn’t bother me.
• I started and DNF’d Mightier Than the Pen. It was one of the most boring books I have read.
• I read the first book of the Bionics series (Bionics). It was interesting, and with the cliffhanger ending, I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series when it becomes available on KU or the books become free.
• I started and finished the Men of Mercy series. Oh, baby, was this an intense and sexy series!!
• I read The Orb of Wrath and was pleasantly surprised by it. The storyline revolves around a party of D&D-type characters, and it didn’t fail. I was totally engrossed by it.
• I read the first book of the Logic series (Spell Checked). It was an interesting book that explored reincarnation, the paranormal, and romance. I will finish the series if it ever goes on KU.
• I read the first book in The Surgical Strike Unit (Vengeance) series. It was excellent and heartwrenching. I can’t wait for the rest of the series to become available on KU.
• I read the first book in the Love in Bloom: Seaside Dreams series (Seaside Summers). It was a cute but predictable read. I am waiting for the rest of the series to go on KU.
• I also read the first book in the Reckless & Real series. I am on the fence with this book. I am not sure if I like it or not. However, regardless, I will read the rest of the books if they become available on KU.
• I started the first book in the Jessica Brodie Diaries (Back in the Saddle). So far, I am liking it. The rest of the series will be on next month’s wrap-up.

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Books I Read:

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Books I bought (unless otherwise stated, books were free at the time of purchase):