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?
I got up to date in two series:
DI Kim Stone by Angela Marsons
Quinn & Costa by Allison Brennan

2. Did you start any new series? If so, what were they? Will you continue?
None

3. Did you move forward in any series (that you didn’t complete or finish)? How many?
I moved forward in one series, Orphan X by Gregg Hurwitz

4. Any standout or 5 star books read? Why did you love it/them?
I had three 5-star standouts: The True Love Experiment, an unexpected delight and a sequel to The Soulmate Equation; Deadly Fate, which I inhaled; and, Into the Fire, a series that surprises with every book.

5. Overall summary of your reading month?
I’m still trying to regain my momentum and believe I just about there. I finished 11 books and read more standalones, needing a break from my intensive series reading the past months. I’m satisfied with my reading enjoyment.

May 2023 Roundup

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

Yes.
I finished 2:
The Shape of Love series with The Circle. I love the writing duo.
The Boonsboro Trilogy ( a re-read for the group read)

I’m UTD on 2:
The Gaslight Mysteries by Victoria Thompson
The Wrexford and Sloane mysteries by Andrea Penrose

Hopefully I will get up-to-date on more series next month.



2. Did you start any new series? If so, what were they? Will you continue?
No

3. Did you move forward in any series (that you didn’t complete or finish)? How many?
No

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

Murder at the Serpentine Bridge is the first 5-star in the Wrexford and Sloane series. I was a little worried that Charlotte would change now that she is married to Wrexford. While protective, Wrexford doesn’t fight her when she continues her satirical political drawings as AJ Quill. She also continues to help with the investigations.

Crazy Stupid Bromance is my favorite book in this series. Everything about this story worked for me.

Dark Water was fantastic. I am still crazy about the Erika Foster series. I love her character even when she turns a lot of people off.

Finally, The Circle. I love the way Jonathan ended this series. He is the primary writer for this last book. Julie was behind on some of her deadlines and didn’t contribute like the previous books. I am a big fan of this team and can’t wait for the audio.


5. Overall summary of your reading month?

I didn’t read as much as I had planned, mainly because of unexpected visitors from out of town at the end of the month. At the beginning of the month, I was still on meds, making me sleep too much to read. Next month will be a lot better.

Michelle, You may like the Shape of Love series for some of your challenges. It is a good romantic suspense, but there is a lot of MM, MF, and MFM scenes to keep you interested through the suspense.

Sharon, you made a lot of progress during the pause! Well done.

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 3 new series:
The Last Hours by Cassandra Clare (trilogy)
Bird Box by Josh Malerman (duology)
New World by Jennifer Wilson (trilogy)

3. Did you move forward in any series (that you didn’t complete or finish)? How many?
I moved forward in the Lucy Stone series by Leslie Meier (#2). I also read books 1 and 2 in The Last Hours Trilogy and the New World trilogy. I'll have both of those done soon.

4. Any standout or 5 star books read? Why did you love it/them?
As usual I am loving my Cassandra Clare series. She really needs to continue writing in the Shadowhunter universe.

5. Overall summary of your reading month?
7 books read and 2 ahead of my yearly goal. It was a good month with some good books. I'm going on vacation in a few weeks, so I'm glad that I am ahead of my yearly goal. I haven't seen my family in 2 years, so I'm looking forward to my 3 weeks with them.

Jonetta wrote: "1. I’m still trying to regain my momentum and believe I just about there. I finished 11 books and read more standalones, needing a break from my intensive series reading the past months. I’m satisfied with my reading enjoyment."

Well done. Jonetta. I know you've had a lot on your plate recently. It's great that you are getting back on track with your reading.

Sharon wrote: "I didn’t read as much as I had planned, mainly because of unexpected visitors from out of town at the end of the month..."

Vistors are fun, but they can get in the way of reading time, lol!
Glad you are recovering well!

Melissa wrote: "17 books read and 2 ahead of my yearly goal. It was a good month with some good books. I'm going on vacation in a few weeks, so I'm glad that I am ahead of my yearly goal. I haven't seen my family in 2 years, so I'm looking forward to my 3 weeks with them..."

That's great, Melissa!
Hope you have a wonderful time with your family - 2 years is a long time.

1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month? Yes, 3.


2. Did you start any new series? If so, what were they? Will you continue?
Yes, 1.
- I will continue

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 although finishing the Hidden Legacy series was satisfying

5. Overall summary of your reading month? I read 12 books. A couple were lackluster but it was a good month overall.

Lauren wrote: "Sharon wrote: "Visitors are fun, but they can get in the way of reading ti..."

I love when my family comes to visit, but I do send them out on their own to explore. It gives me a minute of peace. LOL

Thanks Jonetta. I feel like I'm getting back to normal.

Melissa wrote: "2 ahead of my yearly goal. It was a good month with some good books. I'm going on vacation in a few weeks, so I'm glad that I am ahead of my yearly goal. I haven't seen my family in 2 years, so I'm looking forward to my 3 weeks with themr..."

Congrats on your reading. I love when I'm ahead of my yearly plan.

Enjoy your vacation.

1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month?
I finished the Sawyer Bennett series by T.R. Ragan.

2. Did you start any new series? If so, what were they? Will you continue?
None

3. Did you move forward in any series (that you didn’t complete or finish)? How many?
I moved forward in 4 series:
Black Dagger Brotherhood by J.R. Ward (2 books)
Troubleshooters by Suzanne Brockmann (2 books)
Orphan X - Gregg Hurwitz
Buchanan - Renard series by Julie Garwood

4. Any standout or 5 star books read? Why did you love it/them?
I had a bunch of 5-Star books in May:


5. Overall summary of your reading month?
I finished 10 books. Half of them were 5-Stars!!!

You are doing so well with your series reads, Robin!
So glad you had such a great month with those 5 star reads.