Reading Roundup: February 2025
February had a spate of snow and then three days of rain so no more snow. Yay! The inclement weather provided plenty of opportunities to read and so I did. Here are the five star books for the month of February:
The Light Over London by Julia Kelly
A dual timeline story between WWII London and contemporary England which focuses on Louise and Cara, who face betrayal and then cope how to recover from it.
Eddie Winston Is Looking For Love by Marianne Cronin
If the ending makes me cry it’s an automatic five star.
The Women (#19) by Joan Swallow Reiter
An entry into the Time-Life series about the West. While the focus is on the women of the West, due regard is given to the men which provided a balanced portrait of this pivotal time period of American history.
Most of the books I read rate a four star which means I enjoyed the book, yet it didn’t totally resonate with me. I’m surprised how harsh some readers are when it comes to rating a book.
Rarely do I go below a four. A three means I often contemplated setting it aside in search for another book.
Books that rate a two or even a one aren’t worth the effort of a review. In fact, I apply the Thumper rule of review if I come across such a book in that if I can’t say anything nice I don’t say anything at all.
Here’s a thumbnail of my rating system. What’s your rating system?
5= a really good read
4= a good read
3= a problematic read
2/1= back into the book bag
Pam Webb 
Well, it’s pouring here. Have you read Prophet Song? I started it, and I’m a bit unnerved by how it resonates with our current distress.
I tend to avoid novels that echo current news. These days it’s Golden Era mysteries where there is a solution to the chaos.