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?
Nope

2. Did you start any new series? If so, what were they? Will you continue?
I started 3 new series:
The Ivy Years by Sarina Bowen (good)
Moreno & Hart Mysteries by Allison Brennan & Laura Griffin (Loved it)
Regan Merritt by Allison Brennan (Very good)
I plan to continue all of these series.

3. Did you move forward in any series (that you didn’t complete or finish)? How many?
I moved forward in 5 series:
The Ravenels by Lisa Kleypas
Troubleshooters by Suzanne Brockmann
Harper Connelly by Charlaine Harris
Lucy Kincaid by Allison Brennan
Tracy Crosswhite by Robert Dugoni

4. Any standout or 5 star books read? Why did you love it/them?
I read four 5-star books in July!!!


5. Overall summary of your reading month?
I finished eleven books in July...most of them 4.5 or 5 stars. I'd call that a great month!

Bravo, Robin! Another month of great reading.

I’m not used to you starting so many new series but they look good. And, your series reading was impressive this month. No Way Out is also on my list of standouts.

1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month?
I completed one series, Rabun County by Lisa Clark O’Neill

2. Did you start any new series? If so, what were they? Will you continue?
I started two new series and definitely continuing both:
Regan Merritt by Allison Brennan
Scoundrels of Mayfair by Anna Campbell


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

4. Any standout or 5 star books read? Why did you love it/them?
I had one 5-star book, No Way Out and a special mention for Outsider. Brennan’s short story was riveting and Castillo created a story late in the series that provided more illumination of Kate, the main character.

5. Overall summary of your reading month?
I had wonderful reading experiences this month, 13 books and only one I found so-so. They were all memorable.

Robin wrote: "I finished eleven books in July...most of them 4.5 or 5 stars. I'd call that a great month!.."

Well done, Robin!
I am so glad you are enjoying Harper Connelly. I also love our Troubleshooters series read.

Jonetta wrote: "I had wonderful reading experiences this month, 13 books and only one I found so-so. They were all memorable."

That's fantastic, Jonetta. I really enjoy Kate Burkholder as the books make you think and question everything.

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

I am up to date in two series - The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher and The Forty Proof Series by Shannon Mayer.

I also listened to the graphic audio of Court of Mist and Fury. It was a reread but the full cast and sound effects added was amazing.


2. Did you start any new series? If so, what were they? Will you continue?
I started the Crescent City series by Sarah J. Mass and will definitely continue.



3. Did you move forward in any series (that you didn’t complete or finish)? How many?
I didn't move forward in any series that I didn't finish really outside of the Crescent City series that I started in July. I did read a few standalone books with a couple little picture books to show my students.


4. Any standout or 5 star books read? Why did you love it/them?
All of them that I read were great. I am loving the Crescent City books so far and have actually just finished the second one in August. The Rivals by Vi Keeland was a great stand alone romance novel.

The Forty Proof Series was a little hard to get into at first but I am so glad I stuck with it. The series is great, fast paced and I found myself laughing out loud during numerous sections.

5. Overall summary of your reading month?
Overall, I read 9 books and all of them were fantastic.

1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month? Yes, 2.


2. Did you start any new series? If so, what were they? Will you continue?
Yes, 4.

I will continue with the first 3. The 4th is a good book but the secondary character isn't all that interesting. I might read the book if it fits into a challenge.

3. Did you move forward in any series? How many?
Yes, 13


4. Any standout or 5 star books read? Why did you love it/them?
Yes. I gave 5 stars to - I loved the tortured hero and opposites attract romance. I also really enjoyed which is such an original take on Jane Austen's works.

5. Overall summary of your reading month? I read 19 books of which 2 were novellas. I enjoyed most of them although 1 or 2 were disappointing.

Jonetta wrote: "Bravo, Robin! Another month of great reading.

I’m not used to you starting so many new series but they look good. And, your series reading was impressive this month. No Way Out is..."

LOL I'm not used to it either. I keep trying to finish some of those series, but I'm starting new ones instead.

Jonetta wrote: "1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month?
I completed one series, Rabun County by Lisa Clark O’Neill

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

Sounds like you had a great month too!

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

I am up to date in two series - The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher and The Forty Proof Series by Shannon Mayer.
[bookcover:The ..."

I love the Dresden Files. I have the two books that came out last year...I just got to fit them into my reading.

Lauren wrote: "1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month? Yes, 2.


2. Did you start any new series? If so, what were ..."

Nineteen books is fantastic! Congratulations.

1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month? Nope
2. Did you start any new series? If so, what were they? Will you continue?
Bakeshop Mystery - Ellie Alexander - I will defintely continue this series. Love it. 4/5
Hubbard's Point/Black Hall - Luanne Rice - I will defintely continue this series. 4/5

3. Did you move forward in any series (that you didn’t complete or finish)? How many?
Nope
4. Any standout or 5 star books read? Why did you love it/them?
Luanne Rice book was great, it had been a while since I read it this book but I enjoyed it just as much.

5. Overall summary of your reading month?
I only read 3 books this month but for me that is pretty good.

Good job, Viki!

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

I am up to date in two series - The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher and The Forty Proof Series by Shannon Mayer.
[bookcover:The ..."

Congrats, Tammy! I love full cast narrations, especially with special effects. That had to be a great listening experience.

Lauren wrote: "1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month? Yes, 2.


2. Did you start any new series? If so, what were ..."

Another great month, Lauren! To only have 2 books out of 19 be disappointing is just wonderful.

Viki wrote: "1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month? Nope
2. Did you start any new series? If so, what were they? Will you continue?
Bakeshop Mystery - Ellie Alexander - I will defin..."

I know that getting three books read is an outstanding accomplishment, Viki! Kudos.

Jonetta wrote: "Another great month, Lauren! To only have 2 books out of 19 be disappointing is just wonderful."

Thanks Jonetta!
Yes 2 out of 19 is a good ratio. :)

July Roundup


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

No, but I’m getting closer on a few.

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

Yes, two:

Regan Merritt
The Joe Pickett series by C.J. Box.
I will continue both.

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

Yes, seven. These were mostly of our group reads
Lucy Kincaid (the series is almost at the end) ☹
Troubleshooters by Suzanne Brockman
Tracy Crosswhite by Robert Dugoni
Alex Cross by James Patterson
The Ravenells by Lisa Kleypas
Charley Davidson by Daryna Jones
Chief Inspector Armand Gamache by Louise Penny
Maggie Hope

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

No Way Out by Allison Brennan
Flashpoint by Suzanne Brockman
The Sorority Murder by Allison Brennan
Fifth Grave Past the Light by Daryna Jones
It Happened One Autumn and Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas
The Collector by Nora Roberts
A Good Day for Chardonnay by Daryna Jones


The historical romance novels are well-done period pieces with excellent character development. The chemistry between the main characters was electric, and the support characters added a lot to the story.


The mysteries were action-packed and kept me on my toes waiting for the climax and resolution.


Fifth Grave Past the Light is a paranormal novel with a little bit of everything that I like in that genre.



5. Overall summary of your reading month?

This was another month that I enjoyed every book I read/listen. I only had one book that was 3-star book, Mrs. Roosevelt’s Confidante. The rating was because the story dragged a little, and there was a major change in one character’s personality that didn’t work for me.

Woo hoo, Sharon! That’s a lot of books to live in one month. Your series progression is fantastic, too.

Robin wrote: "I love the Dresden Files. I have the two books that came out last year...I just got to fit them into my reading.

That is awesome! I loved both of them and they go together to fit one epic story. Love to hear what you think when you finish them. :)

Jonetta wrote: "Congrats, Tammy! I love full cast narrations, especially with special effects. That had to be a great listening experience.

This was my first time listening to them. They were amazing. If you have any suggestions for some other ones or different series, please let me know. :)

I’m not sure of the genres you like, Tammy, but the first book that came to mind is Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid.


Another is Unraveling Oliver by Liz Nugent.

Sharon wrote: "This was another month that I enjoyed every book I read/listen.."

So glad you had such a great month, Sharon!
Hang in there with the series completion, you are getting closer and closer :)