ZOE CHANT
Jasper Heartwell has five days to win his mate’s heart. If Jasper doesn’t claim his mate by Christmas, he’ll lose his inner dragon. If Abigail never hears another Christmas carol again, it will be too soon. How can Jasper convince Abigail they’re meant for each other, when for her, the happiest time of the year is the one thing she hates most?
Heat Level: Hot ***
I love making lists and tracking all of the things. For the past few years I’ve done this in a bulletjournal, combining all of my ‘stuff’ into a single book – however – for 2025 I’ve decided to go ahead and make a dedicated reading journal, just for books (well, sort of, it’s for books, tv shows, movies, and tracking things that I enjoy like knitting).
I figured I’d post a few pages here on the book blog to showcase how I’ve got it set up this year. I’m taking a lot of inspiration from other reading journals out there, and just customizing it a bit to suit my own needs / designs. In the picture above, is my TBR pile (to be read) for the year, along with my rating system. Whether or not I actually make it through all of these books will be another story. I plan on crossing them off as I read them (if I read them), and then of course further on in the book I’ll have the actual reviews written.
Since I’ve joined a book club, it will also give me space to track challenges and events with that. I’m excited! It’s nice to have it all in one place, physically, besides just keeping it around on GoodReads (which I have been trying to move away from a bit).
Do you keep a reading journal? Let me know in comments!
ELVA BIRCH
A rare white hart shifter who was imprisoned in a cruel shifter zoo, Robert returns to the rebuilt Shifting Sands Resort to prove that he’s put his demons to rest and his memories of captivity behind him…only to meet a mate who doesn’t recognize him. Is he more broken then he knows?
Heat Level: Hot ***
KATHRYN ANN KINGSLEY
Prince Valroy, heir to the Unseelie throne, must marry to claim his crown. Desperate, he abducts Abigail, a human witch, plunging her into a deadly maze with the promise to fulfill her deepest wish—if she survives. Dark, seductive, and laced with enemies-to-lovers tension, this fantasy romance explores love on the edge of danger.
Heat Level: Smoldering **
LISETTE MARSHALL
Hythra has a plan. To avoid the suitors her mother sends after her, she’ll spend the Midwinter ball with the last man who’ll ever try to marry her: a drunkard who has made his dislike of her abundantly clear. Except it turns out Cai is no common drunk at all. Worse, he doesn’t seem to dislike her all that much…
Heat Level: Hot **
As I mentioned before, I recently joined the BBBC (Bujo Buddies Book Club) run by Jess (known as JashiiCorrin over on YouTube) to inspire and motivate myself a bit more when it comes to reading and book related things. I’ve never been a part of a book community before, and so far it has been lovely. I participated in my first book club meeting, and had a lot of fun discussing the read.
There are also challenges and read-a-thons that happen throughout the year, one of which is called ‘A Year of Goober‘ which is sort of like a new take on reading bingo. Ghosty Goober is the name of a ghost mascot the group uses, and basically each month you have the choice between two prompts, which are also tied to two types of flowers. Each month you build a bouquet of flowers up, depending on your monthly reading choices. The video I linked goes into resources available and how to sign up if you’re interested. I’ll be adding this to my reading journal, so I’ll share my progress here once I get that up and running.
I didn’t intend on getting so involved with the reading club once I joined, but I’m having a good time and it’s really nice to be surrounded by a possitive non toxic community who have similar interests. Even if we do spend a lot of time defending differences in opinion about books, there’s room for every sort of reader.
MALLORY DUNLIN
Fleeing a dangerous wizard, Safira takes a job at a remote, sorcerous Spire in the center of a water-horse’s lake. She expects to be alone, but the elemental creature strikes a bargain with her: he’ll water her garden if she’ll talk to him. He’s beautiful, naive, and hungry for companionship—but behind those ice-blue eyes is a merciless immortal. To touch a water-horse is to become his possession. If she lets herself follow the forbidden lure of his voice, not even a sorcerer can save her. He says all he wants is the sound of her voice. The stories tell a different tale. Words won’t ever be enough. And one way or another, he’ll have her.
Heat Level: Hot **
S.A. HEIDEN
Hugh Baum is tasked to get approval from the Kingdom to expand the Baum Bowyer business, but the magistrate in charge holds a 50 year grudge against the Fae. Hugh could have found a way to work around it, but when Lisette, the beautiful and fierce baker comes to town, both males are distracted by her presence. The rivalry between Hugh and Acworth intesifies as Lisette tries to dodge their advances and establish her family bakery. She has no interest in a courtship and is having a hard enough time keeping the business afloat. Unfortunately, Magistrate Acworth is a cruel and corrupt Fae, and when his sights are set on Lisette, only trouble ensues.
Heat Level: Smoldering **
VELA ROTH
Phoebe, a widow in her thirties, feels like a princess every time fanged, immortal Alethas spirits her out of her father’s castle for dances under the full moon. After years of making sacrifices for her eleven sisters, she’s tempted to let him fulfill all her secret desires. But loving him could get her killled.
Heat Level: Scorching ****
The Nomadic Reader 