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?
No, but I will in September.

2. Did you start any new series? If so, what were they? Will you continue?
I did. I started a The Glass Sisters series by Laura Griffin, but it only has 2 books. Book #2 is on my shelf waiting for me.

3. Did you move forward in any series (that you didn’t complete or finish)? How many?
I moved forward in 2 series:
Lucy Kincaid by Allison Brennan - #17
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas - #3.1

4. Any standout or 5 star books read? Why did you love it/them?
I absolutely loved Dark Roads by Chevy Stevens. She was a new author for me and one that I will stay a fan of.

5. Overall summary of your reading month?
I completed 5 books and enjoyed them all. I also added 3 more authors to my new authors for me list. I'm pretty happy with that.

Congrats on a good month, Melissa! I like your new-to-me authors goal and Chevy Stevens is a really great one to add.

1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month?
Yes, I finished the Harper Connelly series by Charlaine Harris.

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

3. Did you move forward in any series (that you didn’t complete or finish)? How many?
I moved forward in seven series:
Ginger Gold by Lee Strauss
Fallen Angels by J.R. Ward
Troubleshooters by Suzanne Brockmann
The Ravenels by Lisa Kleypas
Tracy Crosswhite by Robert Dugoni
The Ivy Years by Sarah Bowen
Lucy Kincaid by Allison Brennan

4. Any standout or 5 star books read? Why did you love it/them?
I had four books that I rated 5-stars:


5. Overall summary of your reading month?
I read ten books in August. Lucky for me, the lowest rating I gave was 4 stars!!! That's what I call a good month.

Wonderful, Robin! I think this is the second month in a row where all of your books were good reading experiences. Congrats on all that series work, too.

1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month?
Yes - 1 series - Crescent City by Sarah J Mass

2. Did you start any new series? If so, what were they? Will you continue?
I started 1 new series - Demigods of San Francisco by KF Breene and will definitely continue.

I am also rereading a series that I read about 24 years ago - Sword of Truth There was a couple of spin off series that I would like to read but am going back to the beginning to freshen my memory.

3. Did you move forward in any series (that you didn’t complete or finish)? How many?
I moved forward in two series:
Sword of Truth by Terry Goodkind
Demigods of San Francisco by KF Breene

4. Any standout or 5 star books read? Why did you love it/them?
All of the books below, I rated 5 stars - and I cannot wait till the new Crescent City book comes out! Highly recommend - especially if you liked her series Court of Thorns and Roses.



5. Overall summary of your reading month?
Overall I read 4 books, (2 of them were over 800 pages each). With all rated 4 or 5 stars, it was a good month. :)

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

I’m up to date with The Anna Albertini series. I thought I would complete two or three more series last month, but what started with a reading bang ended with a fizzle. Too much life got in the way.

This month doesn’t look much better. I’ve been sick for the last week with strep throat and a terrible sinus infection. I was too ill to even listen to audiobooks.


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

I started Open Season, book 1 of the Joe Pickett series. It is a good start, and I plan to continue.

I started and finished the Red Queen series. Book one was perfect. I liked the story and the characters. Book two, Glass Sword, is too YA for my taste. I’m not going to continue.

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

I moved forward in five of our group reads:
Tracy Crosswhite
Lucy Kincaid
Troubleshooters
The Ravenels
Alex Cross

I moved forward on two other series.

The Brighton Mysteries
Charley Davidson

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

Except for this month’s Alex Cross, I loved our group reads. Our discussions add to the enjoyment of these stories.


5. Overall summary of your reading month?

I can’t complain except that I didn't have enough time to read, but quality family time made it worthwhile. Almost everything I read I enjoyed. Even the stories I didn’t jump for joy over, I found they had good qualities that I focused on.

Melissa wrote: ""

Sounds like a good month Melissa.

Robin wrote: " I had four books that I rated 5-stars:
Cold as Ice (Lucy Kincaid #17) by Allison Brennan Hot Target (Troubleshooters, #8) by Suzanne Brockmann Devil's Daughter (The Ravenels, #5) by Lisa Kleypas ."

I agree with you on these books. I loved them.

Tammy wrote: "5. Overall summary of your reading month?
Overall I read 4 books, (2 of them were over 800 pages each). With all rated 4 or 5 stars, it was a good month. :)

Nothing like a good long book in my opinion. Sounds like you found two.

Sharon wrote: "This month doesn’t look much better. I’ve been sick for the last week with strep throat and a terrible sinus infection. I was too ill to even listen to audiobooks...."

I'm so sorry to hear this. Sending you prayers and good wishes on a speedy recovery. Hope you feel better soon.

Aw yay! You guys are awesome and inspiring!

@Sharon - I'm so sorry you've been sick. Strep throat HURTS!! I'm such a baby with even the slightest sore throat. I seriously wouldn't wish strep on my worst enemy. I hope you're on the mend and back to reading quickly!

My August was all over the place with reading. I didn't put any focus on series completion, but I did end up reading 8 books - my best reading month to date. I'm very happy about that. And I'm excited to see what September has in store for me! And for us all.

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?
Sisterhood series - by Fern Micheals. I might continue but not sure.
3. Did you move forward in any series (that you didn’t complete or finish)? How many?
I move forward in two series
Murderbot series by Martha Wells
Lucy Kincaid by Allison Brennan
4. Any standout or 5 star books read? Why did you love it/them?
I had two books that I love this month which were both from series I love.
. This was just a novella but it still had a lot of action in it. Can't wait to read the next one
- Great book. Can't wait to read more of this series.
5. Overall summary of your reading month?
I had a great month reading three books. Two of the books were 4 stars, so that is good.

Tammy wrote: "1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month?
Yes - 1 series - Crescent City by Sarah J Mass

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

Congrats on a great month, Tammy! Those two 800-page books should count as more😏

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

I’m up to date with The Anna Albertini series. I thought I would complete two or three more series last month, but what started ..."

I hope you’re feeling much better, Sharon. It’s hard to concentrate when you don’t feel well.

You still had a very productive month and quality family time always surpassed everything else.

TheresaW wrote: "Aw yay! You guys are awesome and inspiring!

@Sharon - I'm so sorry you've been sick. Strep throat HURTS!! I'm such a baby with even the slightest sore throat. I seriously wouldn't wish strep on m..."

So glad you enjoyed what you read, Theresa! In the end, that’s what matters.

1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month?
I got up to date in four series:
Rizzoli & Isles by Tess Gerritsen
McKinney/Walker Brothers by Claudia Connor
Buchanan-Renard by Julie Garwood
The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

2. Did you start any new series? If so, what were they? Will you continue?
I started two new series and plan to continue both:
Dogwood County by Elysia Wheeler
Northern Rescue by Tonya Burrows

3. Did you move forward in any series (that you didn’t complete or finish)? How many?
I moved forward in five series:
Kate Burkholder by Linda Castillo
Lucy Kincaid by Allison Brennan
Black Dagger Brotherhood by J. R. Ward
Tracy Crosswhite by Robert Dugoni
The Ravenels by Lisa Kleypas

4. Any standout or 5 star books read? Why did you love it/them?
I had three 5-star reviews: The Family Remains, Cold as Ice & Hot Target were all outstanding in different ways. But, they all had me riveted to the story.

5. Overall summary of your reading month?
I had a really good month on all fronts, including quantity, quality and series productivity. Not a bad reading experience for any of the 14 books read.

Finally posting my August books (I was in the Netherlands without access to GR):

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, 3. I will continue with all


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?
No 5 stars but I gave 4.5 to Hot Target - Adam's character made me deduct 0.5 stars, lol!

I also really enjoyed the Rebel Bride. The author's historical research is top-notch.

5. Overall summary of your reading month? I read 12 books in total. I always seem to slow down in the summer.

Lauren wrote: "Finally posting my August books (I was in the Netherlands without access to GR):

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

I hope you had a great time in the Netherlands, somewhere I hope to see one day. Welcome back.

Congrats on a great month despite the downtime. I had to laugh at your comments about Adam in Hot Target. He’s deliciously evil.

Jonetta wrote: "I hope you had a great time in the Netherlands, somewhere I hope to see one day. Welcome back.."

Thanks Jonetta.
I had a great time visiting my brother and sister-in-law. I hadn't seen them in 3 years because of Covid so it was a very happy and tearful reunion and then parting 😀😢

Oh, how absolutely wonderful!