2-3-4 Challenge discussion

1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month?
2. Did you start any new series? If so, what were they? Will you continue?
3. Did you move forward in any series (that you didn’t complete or finish)? How many?
4. Any standout or 5 star books read? Why did you love it/them?
5. Overall summary of your reading month?

1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month?
I read Rise of the School for Good and Evil (The School for Good and Evil #0.5) by Soman Chainani, so I guess yes? I had already completed the series before this one came out, but it is considered part of the series.

2. Did you start any new series? If so, what were they? Will you continue?
I did. I started reading The Dark Tower series by Stephen King and will definitely continue it.

3. Did you move forward in any series (that you didn’t complete or finish)? How many?
I moved forward in 3 series:
In Death series by J.D. Robb (#13)
Fever series by Karen Marie Moning (#2)
Lucy Kincaid series by Allison Brennan (#16)

4. Any standout or 5 star books read? Why did you love it/them?
All were great books. I highly enjoyed Rise of the School for Good and Evil because it told the beginning of the story. I also read Fever 1793 and found it very interesting.

5. Overall summary of your reading month?
6 books completed and 3 books ahead of my yearly goal. I'm happy since I'm on vacation for a few weeks this month and won't get much read.

1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month?
I finished The Coroner's Daughter series by Jennifer Graeser Dornbush and the Smythe-Smith Quartet by Julia Quinn. I am now up-to-date on Gaslight Mysteries by Victoria Thompson and Bishop Security by Debbie Baldwin.

2. Did you start any new series? If so, what were they? Will you continue?
Nothing

3. Did you move forward in any series (that you didn’t complete or finish)? How many?
I moved forward in 7 series:
Eve Dallas series by J.D. Robb (#28)
Kate Burkholder series by Linda Castillo (#11.5)
The Ravenels by Lisa Kleypas (#3)
Troubleshooters by Suzanne Brockmann (#6)
Lucy Kincaid series by Allison Brennan (#16)
Tracy Crosswhite series by Robert Dugoni (#6)
Hannah Swensen series by Joanne Fluke (#2)

4. Any standout or 5 star books read? Why did you love it/them?
I had two 5-Star Books in June:


5. Overall summary of your reading month?
I finished 12 book in June...most of them very good.

1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month?
Yes, I completed one series:

Deep Ops series

I’m up to date on 4:

The Guardians Trilogy
DI Kim Stone
Sunshine Vicram
Lady Darby Mysteries

2. Did you start any new series? If so, what were they? Will you continue?.

I started the Sunshine Vicram series. I will continue reading this series aggressively.
I will continue with The Brighton Mysteries slowly. I need to read a couple more books to see if they will pull me in for the long haul.

Sunshine Vicram series
The Brighton Mysteries series

3. Did you move forward in any series (that you didn’t complete or finish)? How many?

I moved forward with all the buddy reads.

I moved forward with:

Charley Davidson series I enjoy Darynda Jones’ writing style and plot.

4. Any standout or 5-star books read? Why did you love it/them?

Kim Stone and Tracy Crosswhite continue to be my 5-star reads. I love these two very different law enforcement heroines. The secondary characters are excellent and add to the very complex plots and characters.

5. Overall summary of your reading month?
This was another excellent reading month. I love all our buddy reads and the books/series recommended by others in the groups.

Melissa wrote: "6 books completed and 3 books ahead of my yearly goal. I'm happy since I'm on vacation for a few weeks this month and won't get much read.
"

Glad you had a good month. Enjoy your vacation!

Robin wrote: "I finished The Coroner's Daughter series by Jennifer Graeser Dornbush and the Smythe-Smith Quartet by Julia Quinn. I am now up-to-date on Gaslight Mysteries by Victoria Thompson and Bishop Security by Debbie Baldwin."

Wow! That's fantastic progress on your series, Robin!

Sharon wrote: "This was another excellent reading month. I love all our buddy reads and the books/series recommended by others in the groups."

Congrats on such a great month, Sharon. I love our buddy reads too :)

1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month? Yes, 3.


2. Did you start any new series? If so, what were they? Will you continue?
Yes, 1.


3. Did you move forward in any series? How many?
Yes, 6


4. Any standout or 5 star books read? Why did you love it/them?
Not this month although most of my reads were 4 starts and I really enjoyed . Grace Callaway is becoming a favorite author.

5. Overall summary of your reading month? I read 12 books. This was a quieter month for me. I spent the last week doing a re-read of the first 11 books in the Jane Yellowrock series so that I could continue with it now that the final installment is coming out.

Lauren wrote: "This was a quieter month for me. .."

Lauren, I like quiet months every once in awhile. I've read a couple of Amelia Peabody books. I picked them up a the flea market, but they weren't in order. I keep telling myself to go back to the beginning.

Sharon wrote: "I've read a coupe Amelia Peabody books. I picked them up a the flea market, but they were in order."

They are light and fun!

Excuse my typos. I have a terrible time when I use the phone app.

1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month?
Yes. Completed Rocky Mountain K-9 series by Katie Ruggle with
4 Stars and the Kinsman series by Ilona Andrews with 4 Stars Characters were just Meh in the Andrews conclusion but the action was top notch. Moved forward then finished the Guardian Dragon series by Aiden Bates and Jill Haven by reading both 3.5 Stars and 4 Stars I really liked this M/M paranormal series. Some were better than others but overall good (and all borrowed with KU)

2. Did you start any new series? If so, what were they? Will you continue?
Yes Started...
The Games series by Jessica Clare with will continue but not soon. It had a reality competition theme like Survivor, and I dislike those based solley on the conniving and manipulating that goes on. But overall, an OK book. 3.5 Stars (offered on KU but was a kindle freebie years ago so a kindle freebie winner!)
The Book Retreat Mystery cozy series by reading 4 Stars and will continue.
The Cursed Candy cozy mysteries with 4 stars. A nice little paranormal cozy that surprised me a lot with how I didn't think it sucked as it was a kindle freebie.
A La Mode cozy mysteries with the first book 3 Stars. An OK start to the cozy series. I'll pick up the second and decide from there.
The Pink Cupcake cozy mysteries with the first book 1 star Horrible. Cliche after cliche after cliche and I absolutely hated the heroine. I'm not even going to read the second book even though I usually give new to me authors at least 2 tries.
The Giver YA series with its first book 4 Stars. I liked the dystopian setting and enjoyed the way the entire book played out but I'm struggling about the ending. It confused me as it's open for interpretation as to what happened with Jonus at the end. I also didn't care for the audio of this book. I listen to books at 2X the speed and there was music that started playing at the ends of each section/chapter. It was loud and distorted at my chosen speed. Will have to actually read the next 2 books instead but will not hurry to pick them up.
The Northern Waste series by Eve Kennin with 4 stars I loved the hero, and the heroine was kickass. My favorite combination! Will definitely pick up the rest.
The Shattered Pack paranormal M/M series with its first 3 stars. It was ok enough to pick up the next book.
The Devine Dragon paranormal M/M series with its first 2.5 stars rounded up...I'll continue but this first one really failed to deliver the charm of the other Dragon series I read by the same author (co-author rather). The world building is a bit different with I find a bit strange with the same theme by the same author.

3. Did you move forward in any series (that you didn’t complete or finish)? How many?
Moved forward in 3 series that I didn't finish, and 2 books were 5 star reads and one was a solid 4

4. Any standout or 5 star books read? Why did you love it/them?
Book 9 in Dianne Duvall's Immortal Guardian series. Finally, Seth's book and it didn't disappoint. I love Seth and Leah as perfect for him. Plus, she's an older female lead (in her 40s which you don't see a lot of.)
Book 3 in the Ravenels. So, something you might not know about me....If a hero goes onto my Book Boyfriend list most likely the book goes on my 5 Star list as well. Pandora was simply a wonderful character and Gabriel was amazing (how could he not be with who his parents were?) He didn't want to change her or tame her. He accepted her for her. Plus, I loved Dragon. Love love love. Honestly the audiobook was so good, but I hate that I can't highlight passages like I can on my kindle. So many good things happened during that book. I may have to read it again. I love this series.


5. Overall summary of your reading month?
I read 18 books in June. other than a couple of stinkers most of the books were above average for me.

In addition to the books I mentioned above I also read...
not one of my favorite Christina Lauren books...the prank wars between two adults almost killed a really great meet cute. 3.5 stars
and M/M paranormal erotic anthology 4 stars (3 of the stories were definitely 4 stars but one was only 2.5 so it balanced out to 4 for me)
this was the other move forward in a series book I read. I struggled a bit with the relationship built on lies theme in addition it read very modern. That in itself is a catch 22. The modern feel makes it easier for me to get sucked into the writing itself but some things my brain called FOUL. oh well. Still 4 stars...what can I say? I love Julia Quinn LOL.

My apologies! I forgot to change this to all emails and have missed the notifications.

Melissa wrote: "1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month?
I read Rise of the School for Good and Evil (The School for Good and Evil #0.5) by Soman Chainani, so I guess yes? I had already ..."

Well done, Melissa! I’m so impressed by your series progressions and of course that newly released prequel counts as getting up to date.

Robin wrote: "1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month?
I finished The Coroner's Daughter series by Jennifer Graeser Dornbush and the Smythe-Smith Quartet by Julia Quinn. I am now up-to..."

Excellent work, Robin! I’ve also enjoyed your reviews of these books, too. And no new series starts either!

Sharon wrote: "1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month?
Yes, I completed one series:

Deep Ops series

I’m up to date on 4:
..."

Another great month, Sharon! You’re a reading/listening machine these days and I love that you’re enjoying what you’re reading.

Lauren wrote: "1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month? Yes, 3.


2. Did y..."

Congrats on a productive quiet month, Lauren! It’s still great. And, I really want to read Jane Yellowrock.

Christina T wrote: "1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month?
Yes. Completed Rocky Mountain K-9 series by Katie Ruggle with
4 Stars and the Kinsman seri..."

I’m amazed at your reading, Christina! Nicely done and it’s wonderful to see you enjoying the stories so much. I’m loving The Ravenels, too.

1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month?
I got up to date in two series:
Colorado High Country by Pamela Clare
DI Kim Stone by Angela Marsons

2. Did you start any new series? If so, what were they? Will you continue?
I started two series and definitely plan to continue both as they were great:
Sunset Cove by Jill Shalvis
Finlay Donovan by Elle Cosimano

3. Did you move forward in any series (that you didn’t complete or finish)? How many?
I moved forward in 5 series:
Lucy Kincaid by Allison Brennan
Rabun County by Lisa Clark O’Neill
Kate Burkholder by Linda Castillo
The Ravenels by Lisa Kleypas
Tracy Crosswhite by Robert Dugoni

I’m also re-reading two series:
Troubleshooters by Suzanne Brockmann
The Guardians Trilogy by Nora Roberts

4. Any standout or 5 star books read? Why did you love it/them?
I had four outstanding listening experiences: Finlay Donovan Is Killing It, Six Graves, Out of the Clear Blue Sky and Gone Too Far. I listened to all of them and the narrators made wonderful stories even more outstanding.

5. Overall summary of your reading month?
Another month where I loved everything I read, 14 books total. Special shout out to Kristan Higgins for never failing. That book delivered. And, thanks to all participating in the group and buddy reads. Those discussions just make the reading experiences richer.

Christina T wrote: " read 18 books in June. other than a couple of stinkers most of the books were above average for me."

That is a fantastic number of books, Christina! WTG!
Sorry about the stinkers though :(

Jonetta wrote: "Special shout out to Kristan Higgins for never failing."

I've only ever read one Kristan Higgins and enjoyed it. I need to give another one of her books a try.

So. glad you had a great month!

Thanks, Lauren! Higgins is an auto read for me. Her more recent books are contemporary fiction with romantic elements. Her earlier works are contemporary romance.