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 completed 1 series: The Sisters Grimm series by Michael Buckley
I completed The Dark Artifices trilogy by Cassandra Clare

2. Did you start any new series? If so, what were they? Will you continue?
I started the Goddess in the Machine series by Lora Beth Johnson. I can't wait to read book 2.

3. Did you move forward in any series (that you didn’t complete or finish)? How many?
I moved forward in the Max Revere series by Allison Brennan. I finished reading books 3 & 4 this month.

4. Any standout or 5 star books read? Why did you love it/them?
Queen of Air and Darkness (The Dark Artifices #3) by Cassandra Clare. Her books are always 5 star for me. I love the friendships, adventure, suspense, humor, etc.

5. Overall summary of your reading month?
5 books down, not bad. I have to read 6 this month to reach my yearly goal, so I have my fingers crossed.

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

Happy Days! I completed Karen Rose’s Romantic Suspense series. I enjoyed the books a lot. My biggest problem was committing to the time required because of the length of the stories. All though once I started reading a book I couldn’t stop.

I also completed The Sign of Seven trilogy and Reindeer Falls Christmas series.

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

I started The Anna Albertini Files by Rebecca Zanetti as part of the Deadly Author challenge. I will continue with this series and her other books. Loved it.

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

I moved forward with all our group read series. I will continue.
I’m also reading the Maggie Hope and the Troubleshooters series. I will continue with both of these.

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

My favorite book this month was Volume One of Paul McCartney’s The Lyrics. I am a huge Beatle fan, I loved reading about his life as told through his lyrics.

Some of the best books this month are the ones I read/listen with my granddaughter. It is fun to discuss the books from a middle grader’s perspective.

and were 5 stars.

I love the historical information in the Maggie Hope series. There is a lot about WWII that I didn't know. It is a shame that women didn't get the recognition they deserved at the time.

I loved almost every book in the Romantic Suspense series. I found myself wrapped up with each couple, their trials, past, and their romances.

5. Overall summary of your reading month?

I read 16 books in November. That isn’t as much as I normally read as a lot were novellas, but this is a busy time of year.

For the most part, I was very happy with my choices. A couple stories were a little disappointing, but I chalk that up to me and/or my state of mind at the time. I’m moving forward with my challenges which makes me smile. I think I'm going to complete a few.

1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month?
I got up-to-date on Debbie Baldwin's Bishop Security series.

2. Did you start any new series? If so, what were they? Will you continue?
I started 5 series, mostly because I needed those books for challenges:
Richmond Rogues by Kate Angell (not continuing)
Nikki Boyd by Lisa Harris (will continue)
Deep Ops by Rebecca Zanetti (loved it - will continue)
On Dublin Street by Samantha Young (will continue)
Chanel series by Donna Joy Usher (will continue)

3. Did you move forward in any series (that you didn’t complete or finish)? How many?
I moved forward in 2 series (both group reads):
Max Revere by Allison Brennan (2 books)
D.I. Kim Stone by Angela Marsons

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 finished 15 books in November which is a new high for me. Most of my books were great reads.

Melissa wrote: "1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month?
I completed 1 series: The Sisters Grimm series by Michael Buckley
I completed The Dark Artifices trilogy by Cassandra Clare


LOL That Cassandra Clare book is huge. You could count it as three normal sized books.

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

Happy Days! I completed Karen Rose’s Romantic Suspense series. I enjoyed the books a lot. My biggest problem was committing to th..."

I'm a huge Beatles fan too, Sharon. I've never heard of the Paul McCartney lyrics book. I'll have to see if it is available at the library.

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

Happy Days! I completed Karen Rose’s Romantic Suspense series. I enjoyed the books a lot. My biggest problem was c..."

It was just released. It is a set of two books. They cover his career from age 14 to present. John Eastman, his brother in law, talked him into telling his autobiography through his songs. Apparently, he resisted all requests to write an autobiography in the past. It is a really interesting concept, and reveals a lot about his personality. His love and admiration for his parents, family, and the Beatles is throughout the book.

It took me a little longer to read the book because I pulled out my albums and listened to each song then read the story behind it. He is so talented.

Robin wrote: "Deep Ops by Rebecca Zanetti (loved it - will continue)
On Dublin Street by Samantha Young (will continue).."

Looks like you got sucked in Rebecca Zanetti too. I love the series I started. When I finish, I plan on starting Deep Ops too."

I have a friend who loves Samantha Young. She asks me to start this series, but I haven't gotten to it yet.

Yes, I'm hooked on Rebecca Zanetti. I'll be working on her backlist.

If you read the Samantha Young books, I'll be interested in hearing what you think. I'm picky about contemporary romance. It's just not my favorite genre. I ended up liking this book and hope the other books in the series are as good.

Melissa wrote: "5 books down, not bad. I have to read 6 this month to reach my yearly goal, so I have my fingers crossed."

You can do it, Melissa! Crossing fingers for you.

Sharon wrote: "Happy Days! I completed Karen Rose’s Romantic Suspense series. I enjoyed the books a lot. My biggest problem was committing to the time required because of the length of the stories. All though once I started reading a book I couldn’t stop

Well done, Sharon!
That is an incredible achievement considering the length of both the series and the individual books!

Robin wrote: "I finished 15 books in November which is a new high for me. Most of my books were great reads.."

That's great! So glad you enjoyed so many of the books :)

Robin wrote: "If you read the Samantha Young books, I'll be interested in hearing what you think.."

On Dublin Street is also the only one of hers that I've read and I enjoyed it. To be honest, I wasn't interested enough in the secondary characters to continue but I'd love to hear your and Sharon's perceptions.

1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month? Yes, 1.
- I really enjoyed this series (and the first one of which this is a spin-off).

2. Did you start any new series? If so, what were they? Will you continue?
Yes, 4.
- they are all pretty short reads and series. So I will continue all.

3. Did you move forward in any series? How many?
Yes, 9


4. Any standout or 5 star books read? Why did you love it/them?
Again, not 5 stars but I did enjoy and very much. I'd forgotten just how much Amelia Peabody and her husband, Radcliffe Emerson make me laugh..

5. Overall summary of your reading month? I read 17 books. Some of them were standalone and I finally finished Rachel Gibson's backlist with . It has been a delightful experience.

Melissa wrote: "1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month?
I completed 1 series: The Sisters Grimm series by Michael Buckley
I completed The Dark Artifices trilogy by Cassandra Clare

2. D..."

Congrats, Melissa, on a really good month! I know you’ll meet your yearly goal.

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

Happy Days! I completed Karen Rose’s Romantic Suspense series. I enjoyed the books a lot. My biggest problem was committing to th..."

Sharon, your reading month sounds wonderful! As I told you before, I’m very envious of you finishing Karen Rose’s Romantic Suspense series. I’m definitely going to listen to at least one this month.

Robin wrote: "1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month?
I got up-to-date on Debbie Baldwin's Bishop Security series.

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

Fantastic that you reached a new reading quantity high and enjoyed most of what you read, Robin! I laughed when I saw how many new series you added. That’s a new high for you, too, I reckon😏 I’m also glad you’re participating in our group reads.

Lauren wrote: "1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month? Yes, 1.
- I really enjoyed this series (and the first one of which this is a spi..."

Congrats Lauren on having a great month! I know you were worried about keeping up now that you’re back in the classroom. Well done!

1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month?
Yes, I got up to date in three series:
Silver Springs by Brenda Novak
A Scandal in Mayfair by Anna Campbell
Wishing Tree by Susan Mallery

2. Did you start any new series? If so, what were they? Will you continue?
Yes, I started two, one listed above because I also got up to date (Susan Mallery) and will continue. The other is Joe Talbert by Allen Eskens and I’ll definitely be continuing.

3. Did you move forward in any series (that you didn’t complete or finish)? How many?
I moved forward in four series:
DI Kim Stone by Angela Marsons
Max Revere by Allison Brennan
Kate Burkholder by Linda Castillo
Rock Chick by Kristen Ashley

4. Any standout or 5 star books read? Why did you love it/them?
I had several standouts, two from my series reading and two standalones. Shattered was the book I’d been waiting for in Max Revere and it exceeded my expectations. Twisted Lies was another great story in the series. We Are Not Like Them and For Your Own Good were simply outstanding and hard to put down.

5. Overall summary of your reading month?
I finished 13 books and was happy with my quantity. But, I was even more satisfied with the quality of all of the stories I read this month. Felt like I was in reading heaven.

Lauren wrote: "I read 17 books. Some of them were standalone and I finally finished Rachel Gibson's backlist with It Must Be Love by Rachel Gibson. It has been a delightful experience."

Looks like you had a very good month!

I still have a handful of Rachel Gibson's backlist to read. Hope to get through them next year.

Jonetta wrote: "Fantastic that you reached a new reading quantity high and enjoyed most of what you read, Robin! I laughed when I saw how many new series you added. That’s a new high for you, too, I reckon😏 I’m also glad you’re participating in our group reads."

LOL. I try not to start too many new series. I went a little crazy in November.

Jonetta wrote: "I finished 13 books and was happy with my quantity. But, I was even more satisfied with the quality of all of the stories I read this month. Felt like I was in reading heaven.
Shattered (Max Revere, #4) by Allison Brennan Twisted Lies (DI Kim Stone, #14) by Angela Marsons We Are Not Like Them by Christine Pride For Your Own Good by Samantha Downing"

Woohoo! Four 5-Star reads is a good month!

Lauren wrote: "Robin wrote: "If you read the Samantha Young books, I'll be interested in hearing what you think.."

On Dublin Street is also the only one of hers that I've read and I enjoyed it. To be honest, I w..."

Robin & Lauren, I'm not a big fan. I read a few of her books, but mostly they were misses for me. A close friend loves them all though.

Jonetta wrote: "1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month?
Yes, I got up to date in three series:
Silver Springs by Brenda Novak
A Scandal in Mayfair by Anna Campbell
Wishing Tree by Susan..."

Jonetta, I completely forgot about Shattered. I read it early in the month. It was a big 5 star for me too. Updated my post.

1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month?
Completed: Deadly, Calm, and Cold - Collectors #2, Free - Chaos #6, No Escape From War, Don't Play With Odin, Jinx, You're It, Remember Ramsey - Trouble for Hire #1-4
Up to date: The Devil You Know - Mercenary Librarians #2,
2. Did you start any new series? If so, what were they? Will you continue?
New Series - will be continuing: Grave Reservations - The Booking Agents #1
3. Did you move forward in any series (that you didn’t complete or finish)?
Twisted Lies - DI Kim Stone #14
4. Any standout or 5 star books read? Why did you love it/them?
Twisted Lies by Angela Marsons - Well-researched, twisty mystery with exceptional pacing
5. Overall summary of your reading month? Read 13 books - 11 were part of a series. I didn’t read as much as I usually do. Nothing has grabbed my attention or made me excited to read.

Sharon wrote: "Robin & Lauren, I'm not a big fan. I read a few of her books, but mostly they were misses for me. A close friend loves them all though"

Thanks Sharon. The New Adult sub-genre is not really my cup of tea and I usually only read one when it fits a challenge. Perhaps I will read another of hers sometime, but it is not a priority.

Sharon wrote: "Jonetta, I completely forgot about Shattered. I read it early in the month. It was a big 5 star for me too. Updated my post..."

I thought so!

Lynn wrote: "1. Did you complete and/or get up to date in any series this month?
Completed: Deadly, Calm, and Cold - Collectors #2, Free - Chaos #6, No Escape From War..."

Lynn, that’s some real progress on your series reading! Congrats.

Fingers crossed that you find something that excites you this month.

Lynn, you had a great month. I hate when I get in reading slumps it throws me off until I get back on track. I hope you find something to pull you out of your slump.