Life got chaotic and hectic on several fronts for me in February and March. There’s no sense in going into details… the plain fact is that I’m now catching up on overdue ARC reviews. I apologize to the authors and publishing houses, but this was unavoidable. And sometimes real life gets in the way of other, more pleasurable things.
Those reviews will be added over the next few days. I’ve read the books; writing up the reviews is what takes a bit of time.
I made a commitment to myself to whittle down my massive TBR Tower of Leaning Books this year, and the TBR 26 in ’26 Reading Challenge looks like a fun way to do that (along with other Challenges to motivate me and keep me on track).
It’s very simple to join in the fun. Simply click the link either in the text above or on the graphic to go to the sign-up page, read over the requirements, and sign up.
I’ll be creating a TBR 26 in’26 Reading Challenge page, so that I can easily list my read books for this challenge. You can find that page through the Challenges at the top of my pages, or click on THIS LINK.
My ultimate reading goal for 2026 is to whittle down my TBR Leaning Tower of Books to something more… reasonable. (I know that you know what I’m talking about because if you’re a reader, you also have a TBR pile). I’m also a series reader, often collecting titles until a series is mostly, if not totally, complete before indulging in a series-binge-read. Then, life descends, and frequently those intentions go out the window when life gets in the way of the “fun stuff”, like leisurely reading.
I came across the Finishing the Series Challenge 2026 while randomly browsing Challenges that might fit my goal for this year. It serves a dual purpose for me: getting books off my TBR and finally finishing the series taking up space on my Kindle. A two-for-one deal that I couldn’t pass by.
As to my goal: Primetime Series 17+. Yes, it’s a lot, but then I have a lot of series that I really do need to get read. I’ll be posting the series both as a post here at Happily Ever After Romance, as a listing on my Challenge page here, and on my Finishing the Series Challenge 2026 Goodreads Shelf.
I am admittedly not great at challenges. Oh, I can get the reading done, but it’s the link posting that gets me in trouble. I shall do my best to keep on track in 2026. If anyone else is doing Challenges this year… I wish you the best of luck and happy reading experiences.
2026 A time to anticipate a blank sheet of a brand new year, and a time to look forward to discovering new books, new adventures, new-to-me-authors, and revisit with older, favorite authors as well.
I don’t do “New Year’s Resolutions”, I’ve found over time that if I do so… I’m guaranteed to fail, spectacularly. However, I do believe in goals and plans… and I have several of those in mind for the coming year.
My number one priority will always be ARCs, those advanced copies of upcoming titles that publishers and authors have graciously granted me access to. Those are gifts that I will never take lightly, and I’m always grateful for the trust in me to talk about an upcoming book.
However, my main goal for 2026 is to tackle my TBR pile seriously. *sigh* Yes, that leaning tower of books that are sitting in my Kindle or on my shelves just waiting (impatiently) for me actually to read the books I’ve purchased. You, too? I cannot be the only person who picks up a book I cannot wait to dive into, only to discover that I’ve got a review due and… put off reading the new one for just a few days (yeah, right). Time is fleeting, as I’ve realized recently from my own personal health issues (I fell over my cat and broke my tailbone, resulting in a very long time away from family and reading). Tomorrow, as we know it, is not guaranteed, so since I paid good cash for those books, it’s time that I actually read the stories within them. That is my main goal after the ARC reviews.
You know that moment when reality sets in and you go…”How could I have been so stupid!?”
Yeah. I just (completely by accident) realized that I need to redo about six months of post links because I … well, screwed up. *eye roll*
*sigh*
*don’t mind me ~ I’ll just be spending the next few days fixing my stupidity* Grrrr, I hate when I do stuff like this. You, too? What’s that saying? “Misery loves company!”
Been there, done that, got the mug, the t-shirt… and the hours of extra work. Word to the wise… double-check your work, it only takes a moment to repeat a mistake that should have been caught.
I need to give a heartfelt, sincere shoutout of thanks to all the authors (and/or publishers) who put their work, whether newly released or years on the shelves, into Kindle Unlimited. Seriously. Thank you.
My book budget only goes so far… and I’m certain that I’m not alone in that reality. So, being able to binge-read a delightful series like Crimson, Colorado by Michelle Major (from Harlequin) is such a joy for me. If I could, and I had the time and money, I’d read all the books I could gather up. But the reality is that I don’t have either the time nor the money to do that (I wish!). So, having a Kindle Unlimited subscription allows me to read the books that would have to remain on the shelf, unread by me.
I love the ability to read older (especially longer) series back to back without having to wait months (or years) for the next story!
Frankly, that monthly KU subscription cost is the best book budget money I spend every month. So. Thanks, it’s greatly appreciated. 🙂
Well, folks (and fellow romance lovers), it’s that time of year again. The end of August, when the air conditioning in many parts of the world is running on high, thoughts of snow drifts are a future thing, and that Christmas gift-buying list is not quite on our radar.
And… It’s time for the Christmas season ARCs to begin to show up, while many Christmas Romances start hitting the shelves (or the one-click retail sites) right this moment. Now, for me, I can read a holiday romance at any point in the year. Between now and the end of the year, I’ll have read enough holiday romances to give the North Pole’s library some fierce competition!
You, too? Then get ready for the Christmas Romance reading to begin, and make your own list of the titles that you want to give as gifts… to yourself!
Wow! It feels so good to be back here again. How I’ve missed this place, and the reading community I’ve come to love. I love a good book, but it’s so much better when I can talk about those books with others who also simply love a good romance, in any genre!
There are two good reasons why Happily Ever After Romance and Keeper Bookshelf went missing. I’ll give a brief explanation because, in truth, my absence was not by choice.
I don’t care if you’re young or old – or your sexual orientation… when I think of true love this song says it all:
I rarely talk about my family’s private life on this blog. After all, it’s about books, book plots, book reviews, and… well, reading. So, I don’t often speak about my life outside of those books – sometimes, yes, but it’s not often.
Right now, because I’m so proud of the man my son has become – because of all the challenges he has met every single day of his life I’d like you to meet my kid (who will always be my kiddo but is now a fully grown man of his own).