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?

I completely forgot to post my round-up for February!

1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month? I am caught up with one series. The next book comes out in May 2024.


2. Did you start any new series? If so, what were they? Will you continue?
I started 2 new series and won't be continuing with either - just not my cup of tea


3. Did you move forward in any series? How many?
Yes, 7


4. Any standout or 5 star books read? Why did you love it/them?
No standouts but I enjoyed getting back into Monica McCarty's series. I spend an equal amount of time reading up on the history as the actual book.

5. Overall summary of your reading month? I read 10 books. Not bad considering I was back at work.

Lauren wrote: "I completely forgot to post my round-up for February!

1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month? I am caught up with one series. The next book comes out in May 2024.
[boo..."

I admire your ability to walk away from a series. Congrats on all the series progress!

1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month?
I completed one series, The Thompsons of Locust Street by Holly Bush

2. Did you start any new series? If so, what were they? Will you continue?
I started one series, Cormac Reilly by Dervla McTiernan and definitely plan to continue.

3. Did you move forward in any series (that you didn’t complete or finish)? How many?
I moved forward in one series, Lucas Davenport by John Sandford, though I’m continuing the reread of the Fatal series by Marie Force.


4. Any standout or 5 star books read? Why did you love it/them?
I loved The Earl's Match and how the series ended. Frank and Red managed to far surpass my already high expectations. And, my reread of New York to Dallas turned a previously disappointing reading experience to one I absolutely loved. Go figure.

5. Overall summary of your reading month?
I had a great month as far as enjoyment is concerned. Not a single disappointment in the ten books I read.

Jonetta wrote: "I admire your ability to walk away from a series. Congrats on all the series progress!"

It's hard but sometimes it just has to be done, lol!

Jonetta wrote: "1. I started one series, Cormac Reilly by Dervla McTiernan and definitely plan to continue.."

I've been eyeing this series. I'm going to start it...

I think you’d enjoy it. The two novellas are a great intro into her writing style.

Lauren wrote: " Overall summary of your reading month? I read 10 books. Not bad considering I was back at work."

I don't think I ever finished 10 books in a month when I was working. Good job, Lauren!

Jonetta wrote: "1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month?
I completed one series, The Thompsons of Locust Street by Holly Bush

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

Isn't it strange how our experiences change when we're re-reading some books? Reading tastes definitely change over time. I've picked up books that I loved the first time around, only to find that I'm not much of a fan the second time around.

1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month?
I finished Julie Garwood's Buchanan-Renard series and The Agathas series by Kathleen Glasgow & Liz Lawson.

2. Did you start any new series? If so, what were they? Will you continue?
I've started Lisa Regan's Det. Josie Quinn series. Loved it.

3. Did you move forward in any series (that you didn’t complete or finish)? How many?
I moved forward in three series:
Cormac O'Reilly - Dervla McTiernan
Blackbird Beach - Maggie Miller
Tall, Dark & Dangerous - Suzanne Brockmann

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

5. Overall summary of your reading month?
I only finished 7 books in February. It felt like as soon as I opened up my book in the evening, I fell asleep. Didn't seem to matter that most of the books were pretty good.

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

Completed 1 and Up to Date with 1 Completed: Julie Garwood’s Buchanan-Renard series. The books in the series were hit or miss, but the hits were big for me. I enjoyed the discussions which makes all the books I read in the group more enjoyable.

I’m up to date with Orphan X. Lone Wolf was a five star addition to the series.

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

Yes Kay Hooper’s Stealing Trilogy. I will continue.

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

I moved forward with the Alex Cross, Joe Picket, and The Troubleshooters series.

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

While I enjoyed most of the books I read this month, there are 2 standouts.

Lone Wolf Orphan X #9 was my big 5-star book for February.

Evan meets his birth father, who messes with his head. His mission this time starts with a little girl (who is she to Evan) asking him to find her dog. The dog search leads him to a murder and a need to protect which is resolved in typical Evan fashion. The ending asks a question that made me a little sad. Evan will need to deal with this in the next book.

The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell
My other 5-star book is The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell. This was a study of how a young boy with a disability was taught by his parents that he could be extraordinary. He didn’t believe it. He questioned a lot at times, but he went about striving to please his parents regardless of the way people treated him and bullied him into adulthood. It was very moving.

5. Overall summary of your reading month?

I had a good month.

I read 15 books and completed challenge directives.

Robin wrote: "Isn't it strange how our experiences change when we're re-reading some books? Reading tastes definitely change over time. I've picked up books that I loved the first time around, only to find that I'm not much of a fan the second time around...."

Yes! It’s happening with higher frequency these days. I know my tastes have “evolved” and it feels weird.

Robin wrote: "1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month?
I finished Julie Garwood's Buchanan-Renard series and The Agathas series by Kathleen Glasgow & Liz Lawson.

2. Did you start any ..."

First, congrats on doing so well with your series work!

I was hoping we would selected that Lisa Regan series. I’ve wanted to start for quite some time.

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

Completed 1 and Up to Date with 1 Completed: Julie Garwood’s Buchanan-Renard series. The books in the series were hit or miss, b..."

You had a great month, Sharon! Thanks for that feedback on Orphan X. That’s one of my biggest regrets from my issues in 2023. I love that series and so wanted to discuss!

Jonetta wrote: "I think you’d enjoy it. The two novellas are a great intro into her writing style."

Thanks Jonetta

Robin wrote: "Isn't it strange how our experiences change when we're re-reading some books? Reading tastes definitely change over time. I've picked up books that I loved the first time around, only to find that I'm not much of a fan the second time around."

Yes. I've re-reads several books that I used to adore only to discover that they have not withstood the test of time.

Robin wrote: "I moved forward in three series:
Cormac O'Reilly - Dervla McTiernan."

I see you are also reading this series, Robin. I'm definitely moving it up the TBR.

Sharon wrote: "Completed 1 and Up to Date with 1 Completed: Julie Garwood’s Buchanan-Renard series. The books in the series were hit or miss, but the hits were big for me."

You did better than me with it, Sharon. I couldn't get past book #1.

Jonetta wrote: "I was hoping we would selected that Lisa Regan series. I’ve wanted to start for quite some time."

I'm reading the series with the Nancy Gideon group on Goodreads. Love it! It's my favorite series at the moment. You need to read this one.

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

Completed 1 and Up to Date with 1 Completed: Julie Garwood’s Buchanan-Renard series. The books in the series were hit or miss, b..."

I'm glad you liked the latest Orphan X book. I'll have to get on the library wait list for this one.

Lauren wrote: "Robin wrote: "I moved forward in three series:
Cormac O'Reilly - Dervla McTiernan."

I see you are also reading this series, Robin. I'm definitely moving it up the TBR."

It's a good series, Lauren. The audio narrator is fantastic. I think you'll like this series.

Lauren wrote: "Sharon wrote: "Completed 1 and Up to Date with 1 Completed: Julie Garwood’s Buchanan-Renard series. The books in the series were hit or miss, but the hits were big for me."

You did better than me ..."

I kept going because I dropped out of a couple group reads. I didn't want to drop out of another.

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

Completed 1 and Up to Date with 1 Completed: Julie Garwood’s Buchanan-Renard series. The books in the series were..."

I'm so grateful that we started this group read. It is one of my favorite series. Lone Wolf is a really good story. There is a lot going on in Evan's head that it messes with his performance sometimes.

Robin wrote: "Lauren wrote: "Robin wrote: "I moved forward in three series:
Cormac O'Reilly - Dervla McTiernan.".."

I noticed several people reading this series too. I put it on my book calendar for April.

Sharon wrote: "I noticed several people reading this series too. I put it on my book calendar f..."

I will read book #1 in April too.

Sounds good Lauren. Maybe we can do it together.

Sharon wrote: "Sounds good Lauren. Maybe we can do it together."

That would be great.
Let me know when you are starting.
My library has both the ebook and audio. The narrator is Aoife McMahon who I've enjoyed listening to in the past.

I've been so stressed/busy with my coursework that I completely forgot to post an update for February & I was super excited to do so.

1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month?
I got up to date with one series: Monsters by Vanessa Len. I read the second installment in the series, Never A Hero. It was pretty fun and I'm glad I got around to reading it! I wish the third book was out already, but there's no news about it yet.

2. Did you start any new series? If so, what were they? Will you continue?
I didn't start any new series.

3. Did you move forward in any series (that you didn’t complete or finish)? How many?
I moved forward in one series: Wayward Children by Seanan McGuire. I read two books in the series: Where the Drowned Girls Go and Lost in the Moment and Found. I was hoping to read more and be completely up to date with it, but real life intervened and I wasn't able to continue in February.

4. Any standout or 5 star books read? Why did you love it/them?
Not really.

5. Overall summary of your reading month?
In addition to the three 'series' books I've read three more for my courses. A total of six book is a great month for me in the last few years.

Congrats, Ezgi! It’s remarkable when you can get some pleasure reading in while in school.