Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

Last Task - Read a book 235 pages or over.

I’ve been trying to pick books thst won’t be possible for remaining SH months. So again going to my Lanyon library.

Murder Takes the High Road: A Gay Suspenseful Librarian Adventure in the Highlands and Seance on a Summer's Night

What time tomorrow is the cut off?!

Midnight Eastern Daylight Time

So that would be 9pm my time Pacific

Skye Blue ☆*~ﾟლ(´ڡ`ლ)~*☆ wrote: "Midnight Eastern Daylight Time

So that would be 9pm my time Pacific"

Thanks, I’m just north of you 😉

Seriously? I thought it would be 24 hours and close at 11 am here. Argh!!

Completion Post:

Last Task - Read a book 235 pages or over.


Book: Evil All Along
Author: Gregory Ashe
Pages: 252 pages
Finished: June 21
How it fits: more than 235 pages
Rating: 4.5 stars
Review: Oh Keme, to see him so vulnerable. This was an indepth look into one of the Last Picks, Keme, and how he became the almost adult he is. So many feels. And so glad Dash pulled his head out of his arse to be there when Keme needed him. Who really cares about the mystery after all??

Okay, plan to listen during the fair, was a fail. But I did get to listen on the walk to and from the fair.

Didn't stay long. I got my funnel cake, and a new Stanley tumbler and came home. I wanted a dumb bucket hat, and desided I could make one myself. So I made a sunflower grannysquare bucket hat. Turned out pretty cute.

I have to multitask if I do audio, so I'm off to make some eagle cup/can cozies for the 4th of July.

Hope you enjoyed the funnel cake. I haven't had one in years. Did it have strawberries and ice cream?

Completion Post
Last Task - Read a book 235 pages or over


Book Seance on a Summer's Night
Author Josh Lanyon
Pages 318 GR kindle first edition
Finished Jun 21
How it fits: 318 pages > 235
Rate ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review
I always enjoy Lanyon’s stories. This one had a very Agatha-Christie-ish feel to it. More mystery than romance, but I loved Artemus’ sense of humor. And I loved that the mystery kept me guessing till the very end. Well done.

Completion Post
Last Task - Read a book 235 pages or over

Book
Author Josh Lanyon
Pages 292 GR kindle first edition
How it fits: 292 pages > 235
Finished Jun 22
Rate ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review
I had fun with this book. I loved the mystery tour bus, for all those mystery fans heading to their favorite author. I’d love to go on one! I caught on to the first twist in the series of mystery disappearances, but I never saw the big twist at the end. What was really fun besides the twisty-turny plot, was Carter. Who is crazy enough to take the same vacation tour as their ex?! I do hope there is a sequel. Carter deserves his own series. Loved him.

I can’t help but think Lanyon based the fictitious author Vanessa Rayburn on the real life author Anne Perry. Both were convicted of murder, and served time in prison. Both became popular authors afterwards. Both had retreated in seclusion in Scotland. Coincidence? I don’t think so.

Completion Post
Last Task - Read a book 235 pages or over


Book: Racing for the Sun
Author: Amy Lane
Pages: 260 kindle earliest English edition
How it fits: over 235 pages
Date read: 21-June
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review: This is such a great hurt/comfort story about two men who meet in the military and create a shared dream. Sonny has run away from a traumatic past and finds a home in Ace. The narration by Nick J Russo is perfect and brings even more emotion to what is already an emotional read.

Completion Post
Last Task - Read a book 235 pages or over


Book: In Deeper Waters
Author: F.T. Lukens
Pages: 319 GR kindle earliest English edition
How it fits: over 235 pages
Date read: 22-June
Rating: 3 stars
Review: I should have loved this but though I appreciated the world building and the plot was fun, the characters were completely flat, making this a lot of fluff without substance. It's a shame the book couldn't live up to the stunning cover.

Completion Post

Last Task - Read a book 235 pages or over


Book: Ghostly Claus
Author: EM Leya
Pages: 238 Kindle ed
Finished: Jun 22
How it fits: more than 235 pages
Rating: 4.5 stars
Review: This was another solid story in this series. Lance gets to tell his brother about his powers, so another character is introduced, and he and Angus continue their relationship with no angst. The mystery was not central to the story, but it was interesting and still a fun read.

Completion Post
Last Task - Read a book 235 pages or over

Dead Weight 283pg only kindle edition
06/21/25

How it quaifies: Over 235 pages

4 stars
The end was kinda hard to take, but I like when authors don't play it safe.
Nice addition to the series, I'll be back for more.

~~~~~~~~~~~
Having gone forward in the series, and coming back and reading a book out of order, this was a good one to read.

Completion Post
Last Task - Read a book 235 pages or over

When Haru Was Here
First published September 3, 2024

so how is there a kindle edition before the first date of publish?
304 pages, Kindle Edition
Published
August 6, 2024 by Wednesday Books

First Kindle after September 3rd is
305 pages, Kindle Edition
Published
September 5, 2024 by First Ink

Completed 06/21/25

How it quaifies: Over 235 pages
4 stars
I enjoyed this.
I wasn't a huge fan of the ending.
I think it would have been better to leave it off without the happy ending.
To me, the start of healing was enough of a HEA.
I do think Eric needed a therapist though. Daydreaming is one thing. But he pretty much had a full break from reality.
I think instead of the ending we got, he should have been admitting he had an issue and starting his first appointment with a therapist. But seeing as it's aimed at a much younger audience I understand the need for a happy ending.

Eric falling for the a-hole rich boy was painful to watch.
Watching him go with the second a-hole was to much. At first I was so releived that it didn't turn into something much worse. But then was left still worring for Eric.

Eric's grieving hard for Daniel. I feel for him losing someone he cared so much about. I don't think they would have had that great love story that he wanted so badly, if Daniel had lived. I can't really say much more, without spoilers.

The big twists were kinda obvious, but it didn't take away from the story.
I've never read anything by this author before, and was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it.
I won't heasitate to try another.
It had such beautiful cover.

Completion Post
Last Task - Read a book 235 pages or over

The Witch and His Doctor
354pg Only kindle edition.
06/22/25

how it qualifies: Over 235pg
4 stars
This one's focus was more on the overall arch. Which is okay by me, as that's what been keeping me coming back for more.

Plus, it's hard to have a lot of relationship building when one of the main characters is pretty much locked up, and the other main character isn't allowed to visit him.

Damien isn't free to come and go as he pleases. He's locked up in his residence, due to part of the truth coming out. He's been spying on the pack the entire time. Damien can't tell them why. He can't explain that his father's live is depending on him. He can't even explain why he can't give them details, because he can't form the words due to a blood curse.

He's also been hiding that he's Carter's mate. But now that he can't use his magic Carter knows.

Carter was great. Protecting Damien, even without knowing the full truth.

It was good to finally get a conclusion to the overall arch. I see there is a spin of series, and I think I'll enjoy it also. I hope the characters of the Kincaid Pack make appearances.

It's been a good series overall, with a satisfying ending.

Completion Post
Last Task - Read a book 235 pages or over

Cemetery Boys
350pg
06/22/25

how it qualifies over 235pgs

5 stars
I haven't had a whole lot of exposure to brujx culture. It wasn't the first exposure, but I don't know a lot about it.

Yadriel is a brujo. He went though the ceramony in secret, because his entire family thought of him as a bruja and wouldn't give him the chance to complete the ceramony the way he should have. Lady Death agreed he is a true brujo, when he successfully completed the ceramony.

He tries to tell his family, but they disrgard him. They are busy with his cousins disapearance and won't allow him to help. He trys on his own to summon the spirit of his cousin but got Julian instead.

Yads, Jules and Maritza team up to find out who killed Julian and Yads cousin. Yads wants to prove to his family that he is a real brujo, so they will accept him.

I thik his father tried to understand Yads being trans, but when it came to being brujx he had trouble.

This was a wonderful story. I wouldn't have read this on my own, as I avoid YA. I'm just not the target audience. But I still enjoyed it, and I'm so glad that a challenge pointed me in it's direction.

Completion Post
Last Task - Read a book 235 pages or over


Book: The Berry Pickers
Author: Amanda Peters
Pages: 320 kindle earliest English edition
How it fits: over 235 pages
Date read: 22-June
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review: Spent the last 15 minutes of this book in tears but not quite sure what emotion I was feeling. Maybe a mix of happiness, sadness, anger and relief. I'm trying to get in the mind of the author and decide why Joe was a main character. Norma of course is the main main character and gosh that woman went through a lot, but I don't know what Amanda was trying to communicate by showing us Joe's story out of all the other family members. Was it because he was the last to see Ruthie and showing what a deep impact the guilt had on his life? After all, no one in the family was untouched by what happened, and they all carried guilt to varying degrees. I don't know but I like when a book keeps turning around in my head long after I'm done and really appreciate giving this a chance.

I'm trying to finish one more, but idk if I can make it before i need to be in bed.

Completion Post:

Last Task - Read a book 235 pages or over.


Book: Always Murder
Author: Gregory Ashe
Pages: 240 pages Kindle ed
Finished: June 22
How it fits: more than 235 pages
Rating: 4.5 stars
Review: This next book focuses a lot on Millie and her family and how they interact. No sign of a murder (Dash is looking into robbery) until the second last chapter. Everyone's relationships move forward, and it's tough seeing Millie and Keme working through some tough times after just getting together.

Starting one last book. Not sure if I will finish though.

Just finished mine! Posting shortly

Completion Post
Last Task - Read a book 235 pages or over


Book Ghosted
Josh Lanyon
Pages: 289 GR kindle first edition
How it fits: 289 > 235 pages
Finished June 22
Rate ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review
Again, I was enthralled with the mystery. Lanyon never fails to deliver a compact story that sucks me in from beginning to end. I hope there will be more of Archie and Beau, cause I’d love to see Judith get her comeuppance.

Completion Post
Last Task - Read a book 235 pages or over

Fool Moon
First published January 1, 2001
432 pages, Kindle Edition
Published
January 1, 2001 by Roc

Completed 06/22/25

5 stars
review
I just finished, and I'm now rushing to get ready for bed, so I'll make this brief.
I love this series. This isn't my first time reading this book, but I always love it.
I like that they showed different type of werewolves.
The first time I read this, I hadn't heard of werewolves from wearing something magical, like the belts in this case. So that was new the first time.
Even Harry didn't know about 1. A wolf that can turn human, instead of the other way around.
It's fun seeing Murphy before she knew everything.
Bitter sweet to see Susan, knowing the future.
But it's nice seeing their relationship from the start.
I do like the Alphas and I'm glad to know they make more appearances in future books.

Completion Post

Last Task - Read a book 235 pages or over


Book: Ghostly Target
Author: EM Leya
Pages: 238 Kindle ed
Finished: Jun 22
How it fits: more than 235 pages
Rating: 4.5 stars
Review: There was a cop killer in this one, so a lot more suspenseful than the others, and it was a brilliant use of the ghosts how they managed to catch the villain. Great series

Phew! Just under the wire!

However we finished we did amazing!
This one kept me on my toes, and pushed me. I think this year was the most fun I've had for TART.
Thank you all for allowing me to be on your team.

Oh man, second place again! Don't know how the other team read 30 books in 36 hours. They are amazing readers. Anyway, am very happy to be runners up!
It was a pleasure to race with you all again. See you in the Hunt most likely!!

Aww rats! Second place again 🫩

Sorry, I was awol yesterday. Thanks so much ladies, this is always the most fun. Hopefully we can do it again in the fall 😊