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. I actually did continue with 1 series! I read the second book in the series This Woven Kingdom, and now I'm up-to-date (until the third book publishes in a week).

2. I didn't start any new series.

3. --

4. --

5. I mostly read for my courses, which is usual, but I'm excited to be going back to some of the series I've left hanging. I also decided to drop a few series that I don't feel like returning to.

1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month?
I finished Kathryn Shay's O'Neil Family series and the Cody Hoyt series by C.J. Box.

2. Did you start any new series? If so, what were they? Will you continue?
I read In the Shadow of the Glacier which is the first book in Vicki Delany's Constable Molly Smith series. It was OK. I'll give the next book a try. I also listened to The Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow & Liz Lawson. It's the first book in a 2-book series. I've already downloaded the next book.

3. Did you move forward in any series (that you didn’t complete or finish)? How many?
I moved forward in 4 series:
Fatal series by Marie Force
Kate Burkholder series by Linda Castillo
Buchanan-Renard series by Julie Garwood
Blackbird Beach series by Maggie Miller

4. Any standout or 5 star books read? Why did you love it/them?
Only one 5-star book for me in January.


5. Overall summary of your reading month?
I finished 12 books in January. They were a mixed bad. Some great, some not so good.

Ezgi wrote: "1. I actually did continue with 1 series! I read the second book in the series This Woven Kingdom, and now I'm up-to-date (until the third book publishes in a week).

2. I didn't start any new seri..."

Good choice to not continue some series, it does clean up my tbr a bit when I do this. Might be time to do that again :)

Ezgi wrote: " I also decided to drop a few series that I don't feel like returning to."

Sometimes you just have to call quits on a series if it isn't working for you.

Robin wrote: "I finished 12 books in January. They were a mixed bad. Some great, some not so good."

Good job, Robin!
Hopefully February will have more great and less not so good ones.

1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month? Yes, 1.
- I'm kind of annoyed with this one. The storyline doesn't end and the author never wrote the fourth and final book.

2. Did you start any new series? If so, what were they? Will you continue?
Yes, its January so time for new beginnings. I started 3 new series and will continue them


3. Did you move forward in any series? How many?
Yes,8


4. Any standout or 5 star books read? Why did you love it/them?
Not this month, but I had a couple that had fantastic themes - and

5. Overall summary of your reading month? I read 15 books, and enjoyed most of them. It's a great start to the year and I hope to keep up the momentum

Ezgi wrote: "1. I actually did continue with 1 series! I read the second book in the series This Woven Kingdom, and now I'm up-to-date (until the third book publishes in a week).

2. I didn't start any new seri..."

Kudos for getting some pleasure reading in, Ezgi!

Robin wrote: "1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month?
I finished Kathryn Shay's O'Neil Family series and the Cody Hoyt series by C.J. Box.

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

Congrats on your series progress, Robin! Got my eye on that Barclay book.

Lauren wrote: "1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month? Yes, 1.
- I'm kind of annoyed with this one. The storyline doesn't end and the author neve..."

15 books read is great, Lauren! And, you rocked in your series reading.

FYI, I hate when an author doesn’t finish off a series.

1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month?
I got up to date in two series:
Fitzpatrick Christmas by Catherine Walsh
Steinbeck & Reed by Jess Lourey

2. Did you start any new series? If so, what were they? Will you continue?
I started three new series (not counting Lucas Davenport):
Improbable Meet-Cutes by various authors, which I don’t plan to continue. I read the one by Christina Lauren, loved it but it was the only one I was interested in.
Redwood Coast Rescue by Tonya Burrows and will definitely continue.
In the Wild by Molly O’Keefe, will definitely continue.

3. Did you move forward in any series (that you didn’t complete or finish)? How many?
I moved forward in two series:
Fatal by Marie Force (reread)
Lovelight by B. K Borison


4. Any standout or 5 star books read? Why did you love it/them?
First Lie Wins & Tom Lake were both outstanding. They lived up to the hype and Meryl Streep was just wonderful as a narrator…no surprise there.

5. Overall summary of your reading month?
I finished 11 books and am thrilled with that. Most were really satisfying reading experiences with one disappointment. Hope to keep this up!

January Wrap up

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

I finished 1 series The Cousins O'Dwyer Trilogy. I loved it. I’m thinking about getting the audios the next time they are on sale. I would love to binge the series. I think I missed some things (even with my notes) because there was so much time in between each book.

I’m up to date on:
In Death.
I love this series. I know a lot of people aren’t happy with some of the stories, but I find wonderful nuggets in each book. I worry that Roberts will call it quits soon. I want her to be like Barbara Cartland and keep writing until she is in her nineties.

Finlay Donovan
Another series I love. Great characters! I laugh, get anxious, get pi$$ed, etc. It has it all.

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

I started Lucas Davenport. It's a buddy read. I will continue. Besides I know I'm going to love the comments about Davenport.

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

Yes five series.

 Julie Garwood’s Buchanan-Renard
 Marie Force’s Fatal Series
 CJ Box’s Joe Picket
 William Kent Kruger’s Cork OConnor
 Robert Bryndza’s Erika Foster

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

Yes I had 4

What a way to end the series.


This was an unexpected “Christmas story” and my first book by Lisa Unger. I loved it because it wasn’t a “normal” holiday story with all the feels. It made me anxious and worried, but I enjoyed it from beginning to end.

by CJ Boxer was another unexpected 5* story. My favorite in the series so far. I loved the mystery, the home problems, and the characters. I think it was Anita who said something about Joe being a annoying character. I agree but his annoyance isn’t off-putting, it makes him lovable.

I purchased after several group members gave it high praise. I loved it. This is a more traditional holiday story (compared to The Christmas Presents) and I had a great time listening to it.

5. Overall summary of your reading month?

January was a great way to start the year. I read or listened to 16 books this month. I enjoyed every book. I want more months of the same.

Lauren wrote: "1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month? Yes, 1.
- I'm kind of annoyed with this one. The storyline doesn't end and the author neve..."

Lauren, I purchased a few books you reviewed last month. I plan to start the Bellamy sisters next month and I'm back to Kay Hooper with Michelle.

Thanks.

Jonetta wrote: "1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month?
I got up to date in two series:
Fitzpatrick Christmas by Catherine Walsh
Steinbeck & Reed by Jess Lourey

2. Did you start any ne..."

I have First Lie Wins. I hope to get to it next month. I do get some great book ideas from this group. Three of my five star books this month were from you and Sandra's reviews.

Thanks.

Jonetta wrote: "I finished 11 books and am thrilled with that. Most were really satisfying reading experiences with one disappointment. Hope to keep this up!."

Well done, Jonetta!
You've had such a hectic time lately. I am so glad you are doing so well with your reading.

Sharon wrote: "I would love to binge the series. I think I missed some things (even with my notes) because there was so much time in between each book.."

16 books is amazing, Sharon!

I would totally binge listen to this series with you. Scribd (now called Everand) has them if you don't want to purchase them to keep.

Sharon wrote: "Lauren, I purchased a few books you reviewed last month. I plan to start the Bellamy sisters next month and I'm back to Kay Hooper with Michelle..."

That's fantastic!
I am always happy to add to other people's TBRs 😉

Lauren wrote: "Sharon wrote: "I would love to binge the series. I think I missed some things (even with my notes) because there was so much time in between each book.."

16 books is amazing, Sharon!

I would tota..."

I will binge any time you want. It is a great series.

Sharon wrote: "I will binge any time you want. It is a great series."

I will let you know when I'm done with my current audio - The Ape Who Guards the Balance. It might take a few days as its pretty long and I'm only 1/3 of the way through.

Lauren wrote: "Sometimes you just have to call quits on a series if it isn't working for you."

yeah. i had hope for a few series (that i would come back to them). it turns out i don't care, so instead of wasting my time & energy here, i really should focus on the series i actually care about :)

Lieke wrote: "Good choice to not continue some series, it does clean up my tbr a bit when I do this. Might be time to do that again :)"

thank you! i hope this will be helpful.

Jonetta wrote: "Ezgi wrote: "1. I actually did continue with 1 series! I read the second book in the series This Woven Kingdom, and now I'm up-to-date (until the third book publishes in a week).

2. I didn't start..."

thank you! i'm looking forward to doing more in february & march :)