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? 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 got up to date in three series:
Black Dagger Brotherhood by J. R. Ward
Bow Street Bachelors by Kate Bateman
HORNET by Tonya Burrows

2. Did you start any new series? If so, what were they? Will you continue?
I started one series, Scarlet Falls by Melinda Leigh. It’s a group read and I definitely plan to continue.

3. Did you move forward in any series? How many?
I moved forward in three series:
Lucy Kincaid by Allison Brennan
Detective D. D. Warren by Lisa Gardner
Mercy Kilpatrick by Kendra Elliot

4. Any standout or 5 star books read? Why did you love it/them?
I had three 5-star reads: The Bear, High Noon and Always the Last to Know. All three managed to captivate me for different reasons.

5. Overall summary of your reading month?
While I read fewer books (12), it was a spectacular reading month in terms of experience. I participated in six group reads, read three books that were 500+ pages and enjoyed everything. Again, a nice mix of series titles and standalones.

Congratulations on a great month, Jonetta. You have a great month considering you read some long books.

1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month?
No

2. Did you start any new series? If so, what were they? Will you continue?
I started Melinda Leigh's Scarlet Falls series and plan to continue.

3. Did you move forward in any series? How many?
I moved forward in four series:
Phoenix Rising by Joan Swan
Mercy Kilpatrick by Kendra Elliot
Lucy Kincaid by Allison Brennan
Ginger Gold by Lee Strauss

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


5. Overall summary of your reading month?
I read eleven books in July which is a lot for me. Most of them were very good. There were just a few books that I didn't care for.

1.Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month?
I’m up to date on one series Counterfeit Lady by Victoria Thompson. I messaged her about the series. Her plans are to continue, but she couldn’t give me a release date except “hopefully 2021,”

2. Did you start any new series? If so, what were they? Will you continue?
a. Scarlet Falls series with the group. I will continue for sure.
b. Julie Huss’ Bully King Series is a duet. I will continue. Sometimes when I read her books I think she isn’t right in the head, but I never tire of her stories.
c. I started Ink & Bone (The Great Library series) by Rachel Caine. I started and stopped three or four times since May. I finally stopped reading the book about 25% in. It did not hold my attention. I don't have any plans to continue.

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

Shayla Blacks More Than series. I love this family series set in Hawaii. She sent me the ARC of More Than Dare You right before I had to go to Michigan. I will read and purchase the audio this month.

4. Any standout or 5 star books read? Why did you love it/them?
I have a few that I really enjoyed. First Blood, City of Schemes The Rivals and Bully King.

5. Overall summary of your reading month?
July was a good reading month for me; especially our group / buddy reads. Except for Ink & Blood, every book and I read / listened to hit all my buttons. I very happy for the recommendation / group read of the Mercy Kilpatrick series. I love every book.

Robin wrote: "Congratulations on a great month, Jonetta. You have a great month considering you read some long books."

Thank you, Robin!

Robin wrote: "1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month?
No

2. Did you start any new series? If so, what were they? Will you continue?
I started Melinda Leigh's Scarlet Falls series and..."

Wow, Robin, 11 is a high for you! Congrats on your series reading, too💜

*sigh* One of these days I’ll resume Dresden Files.

Sharon wrote: "1.Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month?
I’m up to date on one series Counterfeit Lady by Victoria Thompson. I messaged her about the series. Her plans are to continue, bu..."

Sharon, it’s been great having you join our group reads. You add so much to the discussions.

Congrats on a really solid month💜 Kudos to you for having the will to quit a book when it was clear you weren’t enjoying it. Wish I had that in me sometimes.

1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month?
I got up-to-date in 1 series: An Ember in the Ashes series by Sabaa Tahir. I was going to use this book as one for the groups up-to-date count, but the author moved the last book release date to December.

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

3. Did you move forward in any series? How many?
I moved forward in 3 series:
The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher - #15.1
Lucy Kincaid series by Allison Brennan - #2
Finished School series by Gail Carriger - #2

4. Any standout or 5 star books read? Why did you love it/them?
I really enjoyed Magic Lessons by Alice Hoffman. The story was intriguing and you learn so much about the family from Practical Magic.

5. Overall summary of your reading month?
I enjoyed the books I read and look forward to moving on in my series reads. I only read about 10% of The Stand by Stephen King, so I hope to get more that read in August.

1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month?
Didn't complete any series. But got up- to-date in 3
Straight Guy's Alessandra Hazard
Hunter Lexi Blake
Sacred Hearts MC: Pacific Northwest A. J. Downey

2. Did you start any new series? If so, what were they? Will you continue?
Not new series but new authors. Why then don't I say yes. Because it was a series and duet by the one author and the others was for challenges (pesky letter to be filled) and I don't think I will continue with the series it is from.
OH yes I did start a new series. by Alessandra Hazard. And yes I'll be getting up to date in that in August, hopefully.


3. Did you move forward in any series? How many?
2 ~ that's besides the ones mention in up to date
In Death JD Robb
Montana Daddies Laylah Roberts


4. Any standout or 5 star books read? Why did you love it/them?
Not really. One worth mentioning was The Surrender trilogy by Lydia Michaels. I really enjoyed the writing and story arc. It had me in tears because of all the feels. It was a solid 4.5*. The other .5 was I don't do well with angsty and cliffhangers. Also I'd just finished a book that was brilliant ( a reread) and made this feel like it was over discribing and repeating ever so slightly. Coming from a read that didn't do that it was noticible when I started the trilogy. Might be petty but if I noticed it then I feel it needs to be marked down.

5. Overall summary of your reading month?
I had a great months. Filled a fare few slots in challenges. Visited some old friends. Met new authors and series. All in all I read 20 books.

Congrats on having such a successful month, Jonetta!

I loved you 5 star reads as well, Robin. I can't wait to read the new Jim Butcher.

Sharon, isn't it great when an author replies? :)

Melissa, Stephen King can be heavy at times. His books are so long.

20 books is wonderful, Melissa. Well done!

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 2 and of those, one is actually a spin-off series

- will not continue

3. Did you move forward in any series? How many?
Yes, 4 -


4. Any standout or 5 star books read? Why did you love it/them?
- Not a series book but this non-fiction written by legendary FBI profiler John Douglas is amazing.

5. Overall summary of your reading month? I read 12 books, which is on average for me.

1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month?
Nope. Not sure I ever will!
2. Did you start any new series? If so, what were they? Will you continue?
Nope
3. Did you move forward in any series? How many?
Shopoholic series by Sophie Kinsella

4. Any standout or 5 star books read? Why did you love it/them?
Silver Girl by Elin Hilderbrand. I always love reading her books in summer. It was a great book.
Shopoholic Ties The Knot - I am currently rereading this series, and I am enjoying it as much as the first time.

5. Overall summary of your reading month?
This month wasn't the greatest, I only read two books. But I have to remember that is not how many books I read , it is how much I enjoy them. I am still doing good on my goodread challenge!

That is so true. Sometime one can read 10 books and they are all solid 3* reads. As long as I enjoy my reading I'm happy.

Melissa wrote: "1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month?
I got up-to-date in 1 series: An Ember in the Ashes series by Sabaa Tahir. I was going to use this book as one for the groups up-..."

Congrats on a great month, Melissa💜 I’ve had an author add another book to a series I thought was complete this year! Hate when it happens but love that I get another book in a series I enjoy.

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

Didn't complete any series. But got up- to-date in 3
Straight Guy's Alessandra Hazard
Hunter Lexi Blake
Sacred Hearts MC:..."

Wow, Michelle!!! Twenty books is amazing and congrats on your series work💜 And, I like that you felt the reading experience was a good one.

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..."

Lauren, you are rocking your series reading💜

FYI, I had issues with the Parable, Montana series. The first book was disappointing but the later books got better. However, I never got to the last book because there were too many other more interesting books to read.

Viki wrote: "1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month?
Nope. Not sure I ever will!
2. Did you start any new series? If so, what were they? Will you continue?
Nope
3. Did you move forwa..."

Viki, I’m just happy you enjoyed what you read this month💜 Congrats on keeping it going!

Jonetta wrote: "FYI, I had issues with the Parable, Montana series. The first book was disappointing but the later books got better. "

Yes, I just didn't care enough about the secondary characters to want to continue. There are so many books on my TBR that I want to get to so I'm ok with DNFing this series.