Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

Completion post:

Task 25 - 125. Each teammates reads 2 books initially published in the current month of any year with an average rating of 4.0 or higher

A Mage's Guide to Aussie Terrors 255pg
completed 06/15/25

4 stars
Bell's first try at a familiar was a disaster. He got one, but he was a jerk, and broke the bond.
Now that he's happy with 2 familiars the first one shows up on their case in Austrailia. The ex familiar is still a jerk.

This is a fun series.

DeeNeez wrote: "It’s Fathers Day here as well, but we don’t celebrate. Neither of us ever had children, and nor have any fathers still living."

Yeah, it's not a happy for everyone. My mum always gets really sad on Father's day since she lost her dad young 😞 Hopefully you've had a good day anyway Dee 😁

Completion post: Task 25 - 125. Each teammates reads 2 books initially published in the current month of any year with an average rating of 4.0 or higher


Seducing a Barbarian by Amy Padilla
Pages: 169
Date read: 14-June
How it fits: Published June 3rd 2025 and average rating of 4.26
Rating: 4 stars
Review: I liked book 1 a lot but book two was disappointing. I have to say this book restored my faith in the series and may be my favourite. It's a guilty pleasure series because who doesn't love a sexy barbarian ready to throw you over their shoulder? Even if there's not much plot, this is sexy, fun while also having emotional depth.

Completion Post Task 24 - 121. Pick another team in this challenge and each member reads two books read by members of that team in the last 6 months and rated a minimum of 4 stars. No pass for this task.


Fight the Tide by Keira Andrews
Pages: 254
Date read: 15-June
How it fits: Red by Janeylou on May 18th 2025 and rated 5 stars https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Rating: 4 stars
Review: I feel stupid for how hesitant I was to read this. I thought it couldn't live up to the first book but this had me gripped from the start. A great cast of characters and interesting themes. I loved seeing the couple develop and become stronger. I'm both eager and sad to read the final chapter.

Phew, you did it!

Here is your next task!

Task 26 - 114. The last person on your team alphabetically selects a book or series and everyone reads the selected book a book in the selected series.

The last person on your team alphabetically is Skye. So Skye selects a book or series and everyone reads the chosen book or a book in the selected series. Please include the selected book/series in your completion posts.

Oh please please make it a series from The Hunt!! I am good to read any of them. The only ones I have managed so far are Fortune Favors the Fae and I am halfway through a Pandora Pine book.

Agh! why me? I hate making the choices.

My first thought was Fortune Favors the Fae, but since Diane has already done that one, I'm gonna go look at what series I still need to read for SH.
Be right back

DeeZee you have KU right?

As long as DeeZee has KU I'll chose The Undead Detective Agency to go with SH.

DeeZee if you don't have KU, I'll chose something different.

Didn't you just read those ones though Skye? Or are there more in that series for you?

And I can read another one for Fortune Favors if that works best for you.

I need Fortune Favors the most, but didn't want Diane to have to read a non SH book.

If Fortune Favors is okay with you Diane, I think the rest of us haven't read our choices for SH yet.

No problem, just only needing to read ONE book this time means I should get another one at least started!

Yeah, those with multiple books were taking a toll.
During the week I can usually swing it. But the weekends are harder.

Completion Post
Task 26 - 114. The last person on your team alphabetically selects a book or series and everyone reads the selected book a book in the selected series. —SKYE picks FORTUNE FAVORS THE FAE series


Book Smoke and Mirrors
Author Kai Butler
Pages 338 GR kindle first edition
How it fits: book #11 in the series Skye picked.
https://www.goodreads.com/series/3934...
Finished Jun 15
Rate ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review
What a love hate relationship Cassander and Damian for almost half the book! But I finally warmed up to their connection. The last half of the book really moved, and it brought a shocker. I never saw that twist/reveal coming. Awesome battle and ending

I'm done, but still have to write my review after work.
Today was a good day, almost done with a 2nd SH book for the day.

Completion Post
Task 26 - 114. The last person on your team alphabetically selects a book or series and everyone reads the selected book a book in the selected series. —SKYE picks FORTUNE FAVORS THE FAE series
Smoke and Mirrors
Author Kai Butler
Pages 338 GR kindle first edition
How it fits: book #11 in the series Skye picked.
https://www.goodreads.com/series/3934...
Finished Jun 16
Rate ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review
I'm always a little hesitant on series where each book is by a different author.
When you find that gem, the story doesn't continue on.
And a lot of the time, you have to wade through some ho hum to find those gems.
This was gem. I'm actually hopefull there are a few gems in this series.

It was a little bumpy in the beginning. But sometime after they arrived in California I was invested.
I wish there was more. The coin was interesting. Lucy or unlucky.

In the first part of the book, I thought the coin was unlucky and was pawned off on Damian to escape the bad luck.
But turns out, the coin isn't just bad luck, it's lucky also.

Love the world that was built here. I would love to read more stories in this world, by Kai Butler.

Some of the other books look pretty good, and I will be trying more in the series.

Completion Post:

Task 26 - 114. The last person on your team alphabetically selects a book or series and everyone reads the selected book a book in the selected series. —SKYE picks FORTUNE FAVORS THE FAE series


Book: Siren in the Rain
Author: Chloe Archer
Pages: 342 Kindle ed
Finished: Jun 26
How it fits: Part of the series
Rating: 4 stars
Review: Oh man, could anyone be cuter than Griff and his puppydog eyes and wagging tail? As one of the Wolfkin (not a were, but someone with wolf-like features) and his surfer-dude vibe there is just no way Shae could resist him, even though he needed time to get over his 15 years of enslavement to his ruthless dad and stepmom. Such a fun story (really amazing the author could make it fun) -- loved the hero team's name (MEOW), captained by a big bear of a guy who loves kittens. Can't wait for his story. I certainly hope there's more in this universe of Otherkin trying to live with humans and finding their fated mates!

Sorry! I had a winning Speedy Bingo call yesterday so had to finish GFY and W in the title. I'm almost finished with Smoke and Mirrors.

Completion Post Task 26 - 114. The last person on your team alphabetically selects a book or series and everyone reads the selected book a book in the selected series. —SKYE picks FORTUNE FAVORS THE FAE series


Book: Smoke and Mirrors
Author: Kai Butler
Pages 338 GR kindle first edition
How it fits: book #11 in the series Skye picked.
https://www.goodreads.com/series/3934...
Finished Jun 17
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review: This was so chaotic and I loved it. My only complaint is there was so much action and family drama going on, we didn't get much quiet time for actual bonding between our MCs. That being said I enjoyed the banter between the pair and the relationship was hot! This series in general is a bit too whimsical for me but Eliot Grayson was born to write fantasy.

Oh crap, did I misread?? Did I have to read the same book in the same series?? AAAAAh

Just re-read and it does say OR a book in the series.

Were you guys all reading the same book because it has good Hunt points?

I don't think so.
selects a book or series and everyone reads the selected book a book in the selected series.

If we all had to read the same book in the series, I don't think it would say or select a series. It would say select a book.

I think we all read the same book, due to the points for SH.

Skye Blue ☆*~ﾟლ(´ڡ`ლ)~*☆ wrote: "I think we all read the same book, due to the points for SH."

Did it have good points?

It’s the only one I scanned for points. So idk if it was the best of the choices. But it was decent points. I don’t remember how many. I’m away from my computer.
But it was the first book in the series I was drawn to.

That one. And the historical I only scanned 1 book for points. The historical I wasn’t willing to read more than 1 book for. I was lucky to find it in hoopla. Cause I wasn’t gonna buy it.

lol....home now. I was walking home and messaging a few mins ago.
I got 164 for Smoke and Mirrors with the bonus.
But I'm in California, so that's where the extra 6 points come from.

Diane wrote: "Skye Blue ☆*~ﾟლ(´ڡ`ლ)~*☆ wrote: "I think we all read the same book, due to the points for SH."

Did it have good points?"

I got 158 (with bonus) out of it. Of course, Skye got more being a California gal.

Hah! We were typing at the same time 🤣

Oh wow, mine had 149 points. I will likely stick with it though as I am pretty behind on Hunt reading right now.

Here is your next task!

Task 27 - 102. Read 8 book published in odd months and odd years.

For this task you are using the initial publication date. If there is a date listed at the top of the editions page use it, otherwise the qualification will be from the earliest dated English language edition. The books selected need to be published in odd months (January, March, May, July, September, November) and odd years. For example, books initially published in January 2019 and July 2017 will work, but books initially published in March 2020 and December 2019 will not.

Found a Lanyon one

First published January 1, 2007
Pages 191 GR kindle first edition
historical, but it’s KU …(though I own all of Lanyon’s🤣)

Two of my Hunt books qualify!! Let's hope I can read them both in time:
Keep It Together
Ghostly Claus

I have some good options.

@Skye are you reading for Book Quest?

@Diane, let me know if you need me to read three

Thanks Jessica, will keep you updated.

I passed it up, I thought it said Aug...but you're right it's Sept.
I can read that one. It's a quest book for me.

Skye Blue ☆*~ﾟლ(´ڡ`ლ)~*☆ wrote: "I passed it up, I thought it said Aug...but you're right it's Sept.
I can read that one. It's a quest book for me."

I'm looking forward to getting stuck in to some horror for a change.

I might also read for Quest for a 3rd but I really need to get read first for a different challenge

Okay, that and Ghostly Envy 3/23
I'm all set.

I already did Mad World #1, but I'll check in for the buddy read to see what you think.

Task 27 - 102. Read 8 book published in odd months and odd years.

Ghostly Envy
192pg
Completed 06/17/25
How it qualifies
First published First published March 20, 2023
Odd Month and Odd Year
5 stars
review
I'm really enjoying Lance and Angus. I'm really glad there are several more books. When I get close to the end of a series I really like, I tend spread them out to make them last. This qualifies as one of those series I'd do that with, but I'm going to try not to this time. I can always go back to the beginning.

This one delt with the death of a teenager. The mystery was good. I like that they don't get to far ahead of themselves, knowing they are going to have to explain how they solved the case. They have to get the evidence to line up with what they know.

I love the interactions with the ghosts. I'm glad that some ghosts stay around book to book.

I've read this theme, someone who works with the dead seeing ghost a few times. But it's always been interesting to see the different takes on it. They might have a similar theme, but each series has given it it's own flair. I look forward to seeing what comes next.

Completion Post
Task 27 - 102. Read 8 book published in odd months and odd years.


Book Snowball in Hell
Author Josh Lanyon
Pages 191 GR kindle first edition
How it fits: First published January 1, 2007
Finished Jun 17
Rate ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review
Of course, with Josh Lanyon the mystery was full of suspense, and the historical aspects was excellent. I loved the stylized 40's noir era storytelling.The details were great! All my senses were engaged, I was there with the times, the sense of war, the fear of exposure. Doyle and Spain's relationship have great potential for an awesome series. I want more!

Jessica I may need to take you up on your offer to read another book. Only about 40% through the first one and I have a busy evening ahead. Won't get to it till later tonight.

Rat farts!@#. Half way thru my second book and realizes it does NOT qualify as an odd number month….

Won’t be able to start another book till much later today. Have a luncheon and later a gaming event. 😵‍💫

Never mind 🤗 It does qualify! Panic attack is over. This is what happens when I try to cut back on my coffee. I can’t think straight

Diane wrote: "Jessica I may need to take you up on your offer to read another book. Only about 40% through the first one and I have a busy evening ahead. Won't get to it till later tonight."

No problem. I'm almost done with my second one and day off tomorrow :)

DeeNeez wrote: "Never mind 🤗 It does qualify! Panic attack is over. This is what happens when I try to cut back on my coffee. I can’t think straight"

Definitely a common problem!!!

Thank you Jessica!! Packing up to drive out to our cottage. I am going tonight with one son and hubby and 2 other kids joining us on Friday -- hoping to have some major reading time on the beach!!!

Completion Post
Task 27 - 102. Read 8 book published in odd months and odd years.


Book: You Killed Me First
Author John Marrs
Pages 368 GR kindle first edition
How it fits: First published March 2025
Read: 18-June
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review: I almost dnfd this a few pages in because Margo is the most insufferable book character I've ever come across, and the worst part is there are many real women like her.

Luckily we spent a lot of time in Liv's POV who while not extremely likable herself, was the better of three evils, and her subtly winding Margo up made me so happy. I might have felt sorry for Margo at times if she had even one redeemable quality but she was a trash bin.

Mystery/suspense is not a genre I read often (unless secondary to romance) so I don't have much to judge this against, however it kept me entertained and the revelations just kept coming and coming, until it maybe got a bit too chaotic, and I looked back and went...I'm really not sure what the point of all that was, but I had a good time regardless.

Completion Post
Task 27 - 102. Read 8 book published in odd months and odd years.

Summer Sons 384pg (updated)
completed 06/18/25

How it qualifies: First published September 28, 2021 Odd month and Odd year.

3 stars.
I did write a review. But it's blah. I stretching it out to 200 words. You don't want to give it away in a horror story.
But really, you could tell who was behind it all pretty quickly. Although I didn't know why. I'm sure there was a clue for that mentioned also, but I didn't catch it, so it was nice that the explanation of why wasn't something I knew the entire time.

Completion Post

Task 27 - 102. Read 8 book published in odd months and odd years.


Book: Keep It Together
Author: Shelby Rhodes
Pages: 263 Kindle ed
Finished: Jun 19
How it fits: first published March 19, 2023 (MPG)
Rating: 4 stars
Review: I can't really say that I love Octavius the way the author probably wants us to. It feels like his badass vampire and silly cute little bat characters shouldn't really mesh together. They don't turn me off the books, but I don't think they add much for me anyway. But the books are fun and very much character centred, not really mystery centred. This one has a cliff hanger, but you were kinda prepped for it, so I don't feel like I have to immediately start the next one.

I just finished one that would qualify. But I won’t be able to post the nice linked version for another 5 hours. I’m gonna make a text only one. Just in case it’s needed. If we don’t need it. That’s great. But figured I’d post it in case we do

Completion post
Task 27-102

Book
Shatter Me
357 pg
Completed 6/19/25
How it qualifies
First published
Nov 15,2011
Odd month odd year

3 1/2 stars
interesting. She could kill with a touch and had no control. That alone wasn’t enough. But once she met up with the other group the world got more interesting. I was just starting to think now I’m interested in this world and it ended. So- if a challenge has book 2 qualify I’d read more. Don’t think it was interesting enough to seal out on my own. But I would read another in the series.