Series Challenge

[Ramla Zareen]

Hi all,
I thought it might be fun to do a Reading Challenge together :-)

The challenge is called:

SERIES CHALLENGE

In this challenge you have to complete at least one series in a year.

The following types of series will qualify for the challenge:

1) It can be a series you haven't started yet.
2) It can be a series you have already started but you need to get current on it.
3) It can be a series you've already completed but another book is expected to be published within your challenge duration.
4) It can be an ongoing series.
5) It can be a series that has ended.
6) The series should contain at least five books at the time of starting the challenge.
7) It can be of any genre.

Here's how the challenge works:

STEP #1

Set the challenge duration.

You can start the challenge whenever you like but there will be a deadline. From the date you initiate the challenge, you will have exactly one year to complete it.

Once the year is up, you would have to change the status from "ongoing" to "complete" or "incomplete"—whatever the case might be—and end the challenge.

Example:

Start Date = 16th November 2024
End Date = 15th November 2025

STEP #2

Select any of the following challenge levels:

Level 1: One to three series
Level 2: Four to six series
Level 3: Seven to nine series
Level 4: Ten or more series

Example:

Level = 2

STEP #3

Note down the number of series you intend to read.

Example:

Suppose you selected Level 2 of the challenge. In this level you have to read between four to six series. Suppose you decide to read four series. Then you can note it down like this:

Level = 2
Progress = 0/4

If you're not sure about how many series you wish to read for the challenge then you can just type a question mark for now.

Example:

Level = 2
Progress = 0/?

STEP #4

List down the names of the series you intend to read.

Example:

1) Series One

2) Series Two

3) Series Three

4) Series Four

If you're not sure about what series you wish to read for the challenge then you can just name the first one for now. The rest you can list down as you proceed with the challenge.

STEP #5

For each series, define the initial status.

Example:

Suppose, at the time you're starting the challenge, the four series you selected have 8 books each.

You've already read 1 book of the first series and 7 books of the second series. You've read all the 8 books of the third series but another book is expected to be published within your challenge duration. You haven't read any book of the fourth series.

Then the initial status will be:

1) Series One

Initial Status = 1/8

2) Series Two

Initial Status = 7/8

3) Series Three

Initial Status = 8/8

4) Series Four

Initial Status = 0/8

STEP #6

For each series, define the final status.

Example:

Suppose, by the end of your one-year deadline, you managed to read the 7 remaining books of the first series.

You managed to read the 1 remaining book of the second series plus the author published 1 more book before the year ended and you managed to read that as well.

You had already read all the 8 books of the third series when you started the challenge but the author published 1 more book before the year ended. You managed to read that as well.

You managed to read the 8 books of the fourth series but the author published 1 more book before the year ended and you couldn't read it in time.

Then the final status will be:

1) Series One

Initial Status = 1/8
Final Status = 8/8

2) Series Two

Initial Status = 7/8
Final Status = 9/9

3) Series Three

Initial Status = 8/8
Final Status = 9/9

4) Series Four

Initial Status = 0/8
Final Status = 8/9

STEP #7

Once the year is up and the challenge has ended then:

(a) update your challenge progress
(b) note down your challenge status

Example:

Series Challenge #1

Start Date = 16th November 2024
End Date = 15th November 2025
Level = 2
Progress = 3/4
Status = Incomplete

1) Series One

Initial Status = 1/8
Final Status = 8/8

2) Series Two

Initial Status = 7/8
Final Status = 9/9

3) Series Three

Initial Status = 8/8
Final Status = 9/9

4) Series Four

Initial Status = 0/8
Final Status = 8/9

Interested in participating? If yes then copy the blank template below, paste it into a new comment, and start your challenge!

Series Challenge #

Start Date =
End Date =
Level =
Progress = 0/?
Status =

1)

Initial Status = ?/?
Final Status = ?/?

2)

3)

4)

5)

6)

7)

8)

9)

10)

Wish you all the best and Happy Reading :-)

[PamG]

Series Challenge # 1

Start Date = 16 Nov 2024
End Date = 15 Nov 2025
Level = 3
Progress = 8/9
Status = Ongoing

☑️ Complete 1) Morgan Dane Series by Melinda Leigh - 6 books in series - Need to read books 3-6

Initial Status = 2/6
Current Status - 6/6
Final Status = 6/6 - Complete
✔️Read Bones Don't Lie by Melinda Leigh - 4 stars - Nov 24, 2024
✔️Read What I've Done by Melinda Leigh - 4 stars - Nov 25, 2025
✔️Read Secrets Never Die by Melinda Leigh - 5 stars - Jan 19, 2025
✔️Read Save Your Breath by Melinda Leigh - 5 stars - Jan 26, 2025

✅Current 2) Alaska Wild Series by Paige Shelton - 6 books in series - Need to read book 6
Initial Status = 5/6
Current States = 6/6
Final Status = 6/6 - Current
✔️Read Perfect Storm - 4 stars - Nov 20, 2024

☑️ Complete 3) Rockton / Casey Duncan Series by Kelley Armstrong - 7 books in series - Need to read books 1-6

Initial Status = 1/7
Current Status = 7/7
Final Status = 7/7

✔️Read - City of the Lost - 5 stars - Jun 14, 2025
✔️Read - A Darkness Absolute - 5 stars - Jun 22, 2025
✔️Read - This Fallen Prey - 5 stars - Jun 27, 2025
✔️Read - Watcher in the Woods - 5 stars - Jul 14, 2025
✔️Read - Alone in the Wild - 4 stars - Jul 21, 2025
✔️Read - A Stranger in Town - 4 stars - Jul 26, 2025

✅Current 4) Bree Taggert Series by Melinda Leigh - Need to read Books 9 - 11

Initial Status = 8/11
Current Status = 11/11
Final Status = 11/11 - Current
✔️Read Echo Road by Melinda Leigh & Kendra Elliot 5 stars - Dec 12, 2024
✔️Read Track Her Down by Melinda Leigh - 5 stars - Dec 14, 2024
✔️Read Beyond Her Reach by Melinda Leigh - 5 stars - Jun 05, 2025

✅Current 5) The Nosey Parker Mysteries Series by Fiona Leitch - Need to read Book 8
Initial Status = 7/8
Current Status = 8/8
Final Status = 8/8 Current
✔️Read The Cornish Castle Murder by Fiona Leitch - Apr 12, 2025

☑️Complete 6) Gunnie Rose series by Charlaine Harris - Need to read book 6
Initial Status = 5/6
Current Status = 6/6
Final Status = 6/6 Complete
✔️Read The Last Wizards' Ball by Charlaine Harris - Jul 06, 2025

✅Current 7) Eve Dallas / In Death Series by J.D. Robb - Need to read Book 61
Initial Status = 60/61
Current Status = 61/61
Final Status = 61/61 Current
✔️Read Framed in Death by J.D. Robb - Comp. Aug 03, 2025

✅Current 8) White Wolf Series by Terry Spear - 5 books + 1 Novella in series - Need to read books 1-3, 4.5, & 5
Initial Status = 1/6
Current States = 6/6
Final Status = 6/6 - Current

✔️Read Legend of the White Wolf - Comp. Aug 15, 2025
✔️Read Dreaming of a White Wolf Christmas - Comp. Aug 11, 2025
✔️Read Flight of the White Wolf - Comp. Aug 21, 2025
✔️Read Wolf to the Rescue - Comp. Aug 16, 2025
✔️Read Mated for Christmas - Comp. Aug 31, 2025

9)

10)

[Ramla Zareen]

Series Challenge #1

Start Date = 18th November 2024
End Date = 17th November 2025
Level = 3 (Seven to nine series)
Progress = 6/7
Status = Ongoing

✔ (1) Cold Ridge Series by Carla Neggers

Initial Status = 0/6
Current Status = 6/6
Final Status = 6/6

✔ (2) Quinn & Costa Thriller Series by Allison Brennan

Initial Status = 5/5 (I've read books 1 to 5)
Current Status = 6/6
Final Status = 6/6

✔ (3) Bridget Bishop FBI Mystery Thriller by Melinda Woodhall

Initial Status = 0/8
Current Status = 8/8
Final Status = 8/8

✔ (4) Bailey Flynn FBI Mystery Thriller by Melinda Woodhall

Initial Status = 0/5
Current Status = 8/8
Final Status = 8/8

✔ (5) Agent Tori Hunter Series by Roger Stelljes

Initial Status = 0/7
Current Status = 8/8
Final Status = 8/8

✔ (6) Mercy Kilpatrick Series by Kendra Elliot

Initial Status = 0/6
Current Status = 6/6
Final Status = 6/6

(7) Detective Ellie Reeves Series by Rita Herron

Initial Status = 0/10
Current Status = 0/11
Final Status = ?/11

✖ (8) Special Agent Ricki James Series by C.R. Chandler

Initial Status = 0/12
Current Status = 6/12
Final Status = 6/12 (I've read books 1 to 5 & book 9)

✖ (9) McRyan Mystery Series by Roger Stelljes

Initial Status = 0/9
Current Status = 2/9
Final Status = 2/9 (I've read books 5 & 7)

✖ (10) Tracy Crosswhite Series by Robert Dugoni

Initial Status = 8/10 (I've read books 1 to 5 & books 7 to 8 & book 10)
Current Status = 8/10
Final Status = 8/11

✖ (11) Off the Grid: FBI Series by Barbara Freethy

Initial Status = 11/14 (I've read books 1 to 10 & book 12)
Current Status = 11/15
Final Status = 11/15

*******

My Monthly TBR Books & Actual Reads:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

*******

My Challenges:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

*******

My Challenge Journey:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

*******

[PamG]

Ramla, I added a current status to my template to keep track of my ongoing status. I hope that's okay.

[Ramla Zareen]

PamG wrote: "Ramla, I added a current status to my template to keep track of my ongoing status. I hope that's okay."

Of course! It's a great idea! Thanks for participating :-)

[Karen]

Any series, any genre as long as it has 5+ entries through duration date.

** I will be updating for any new additions coming to these series by 12/31/25. **

Level: 4 (10+ series) | Start: 250101 | End: 251231 | Status: ✅COMPLETED (250813), but 🔴Ongoing | Progress: 10/10+ (to date 250813)

01. series: Mom and Christy's Mysteries by Christy Murphy (Mystery)
* Books in series: 08 to date 250101 | Initial Status: 07 of 08
‎ ‎ ‎ Need one to complete series:
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*08 Wedding Cake and Widows | Issued: 210122 | Finished: 250101
Status:✅Completed 250101 | Current Status: 08 of 08 (through 2025) | Final Status: 08 of 08
‎ ‎ ‎ ** My Review **

02. series: Killer Coffee by Tonya Kappes (Mystery)
* Books in series: 18 to date 250813 | Initial Status: 13 of 18
‎ ‎ ‎ Need five to bring ongoing series current:
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*14 Pour-Over Predicament | Issued: 240208 | Finished: 250112
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*15 Ice Coffee Corruption | Issued: 240905 | Finished: 250113
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*16 Steamed Secrets | Issued: 250127 | Finished: 250518
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*17 A Perk of Trouble | Issued: 250629 | Finished: 250720
‎ ‎ ‎ *18 Brewing Up Bones | Issued: 251026
Status:🔴Ongoing | Current Status: 17 of 18 (to date) | Final Status: X of Y

03. series: Library Lovers by Jenn McKinlay (Mystery)
* Books in series: 16 to date 250624 | Initial Status: 14 of 16
‎ ‎ ‎ Need one to bring ongoing series current:
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*15 A Merry Little Murder Plot | Issued: 241008 | Finished 250115
Status:✅Completed 250115 | Current Status: 15 of 15 (through 2025) | Final Status: 15 of 16; book 16 due 2026

04. series: Ghost Hunter by Victoria Laurie (Mystery)
* Books in series: 11 to date 250101 | Initial Status: 10 of 11
‎ ‎ ‎ Need one to complete series (series finale):
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*11 A Ghoul's Gotta Do | Issued: 240516 | Finished 250116
Status:✅Completed: 250116 | Current Status: 11 of 11 (through 2025) | Final Status: 11 of 11
‎ ‎ ‎ ** My Review **

05. series: Sterling Falls by L.B. Dunbar (Romance)
* Books in series: 07 to date 250214 | Initial Status: 03 of 07 (plus short prequel to book 06)
‎ ‎ ‎ Need four to bring ongoing series current:
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*04 Sterling Clay | Issued: 240919 | Finished 250111
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*05 Sterling Fight | Issued: 250130 | Finished 250202
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*05c Sterling Falls (Sterling Touch prequel) [Not GoodReads-listed] | Issued: Unknown 2024 (acquired: 250214) | Finished 250214
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*06 Sterling Touch | Issued: 250605 | Finished: 250608
Status:✅Completed 250608 | Current Status: 06 of 06 (through 2025) | Final Status: 06 of 07; book 07 due 2026

06. series: Murder in the Mix/Lottie Lemon by Addison Moore (Mystery)
* Books in series: 54 to date 250607 | Initial Status: 50 of 55
‎ ‎ ‎ Need four to bring ongoing series current:
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*51 Sweet Crepes of Wrath | Issued: 241114 | Finished 250121
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*52 Vanilla Glazed Valentine Vendetta | Issued: 250206 | Finished 250214
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*53 Twice Baked Risky Whiskey Cakes | Issued: 251121 250605 | Finsihed: 250611
‎ ‎ ‎ *54 Murder and Marzipan in Las Vegas | 251106
‎ ‎ ‎ *55 Criminal Coconut Cake | 260219
Status:🔴Ongoing | Current Status: 53 of 54 (through 2025) | Final Status: X of 54; book 55 due 2026

07. series: Coffeehouse by Cleo Coyle (Mystery)
* Books in series: 21 to date 250101 | Initial Status: 20 of 21
‎ ‎ ‎ Need one to bring ongoing series current:
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*21 No Roast for the Weary | Issued: 250401 | Finished: 250404
Status:✅Completed 250404 | Current Status: 21 of 21 (through 2025) | Final Status: 21 of 21

08. series: Haunted Bookshop by Cleo Coyle (Alice Kimberly) (Mystery)
* Books in series: 09 to date 250101 | Initial Status: 07 of 09
‎ ‎ ‎ Need two to bring ongoing series current:
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*08 The Ghost and the Stolen Tears | Issued: 221004 | Finished 250227
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*09 The Ghost Goes to the Dogs | Issued: 230502 | Finished 250310
Status:✅Completed 250310 | Current Status: 09 of 09 (through 2025) | Final Status: 09 of 09

09. series: Gilded Decadence by Zoe Blake and Alta Hensley (aka Blake Hensley) (Romance)
* Books in series: 06 to date 250101 | Initial Status: 05 of 06
‎ ‎ ‎ Need one to complete series (series finale):
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*06 Sinfully His | Issued: 241115 | Finished: 250228
Status:✅Completed 250228 | Current Status: 06 of 06 (through 2025) | Final Status: 06 of 06

10. series: Sunny Meadows/Fortune Teller by Kari Lee Townsend (Mystery)
* Books in series: 10 to date 250326 | Initial Status: 06 of 11
‎ ‎ ‎ Need four to bring ongoing series current:
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*07 Murder in the Meditation | Issued: 211228 | Finished: 250322
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*08 Cruising Into Danger | Issued: 231024 | Finished: 250324
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*09a Road Trip to Ruin | Issued: 240430 | Finished: 250326
‎ ‎ ‎ *09b Bachelors, Badges & Bad Luck (a short) | Issued: 250624
‎ ‎ ‎ *10 My Big Fat Fatal Wedding | Issued: 250812
Status:🔴Ongoing | Current Status: 09 of 10 (through 2025) | Final Status: X of Y

11. series: Kalli Ballas/Mind Reader by Kari Lee Townsend (Mystery)
* Books in series: 06 to date 250326 | Initial Status: 02 of 06
‎ ‎ ‎ Need four to bring ongoing series current:
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*03 A Touch of Malice | Issued: 221011 | Finished: 250314
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*04 An Inkling of Evil | Issued: 230418 | Finished: 250318
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*05 Mayhem on the Mind | Issued: 240206 | Finished: 250325
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*06 Trouble for Your Thoughts | Issued: 250513 | Finished: 250501
Status:🔴Ongoing | Current Status: 06 of 06 (through 2025) | Final Status: X of Y

12. series: Vintage Kitchen by Victoria Hamilton (Mystery)
* Books in series: 12 to date 250315 | Initial Status: 11 of 12
‎ ‎ ‎ Need one to bring ongoing series current:
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*12 Cat Got Your Tongs | Issued: 250318 | Completed: 250621
Status:✅Completed | Current Status: 12 of 12 (through 2025) | Final Status: 12 of 12

13. series: Boston Kings by Sara Fields (Romance)
* Books in series: 08 to date 250710 | Initial Status: 00 of 08
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎Need eight to bring ongoing series current:
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*01 Take Me, Daddy & bns | Issued: 221201 | Completed: 250705
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*02 Make Me, Daddy & bns | Issued: 230323 | Completed: 250705
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*03 Break Me, Daddy & bns | Issued: 230519 | Completed: 250706
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*04 Watch Me, Daddy & bns | Issued: 231020 | Completed: 250706
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*05a Share Me, Daddy | Issued: 240228 | Completed: 250707
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*05b Keep Me, Daddy (bonus short) [Not GoodReads-listed] | Issued: Unknown 2024 (acquired: 250705) | Completed: 250707
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*06 Tame Me, Daddy & bns | Issued: 240628 | Completed: 250708
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*07 Use Me, Daddy & bns | Issued: 250102 | Completed: 250709
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*08 Punish Me, Daddy & bns | Issued: 250626 | Completed: 250710
Status:🔴Ongoing | Current Status: 08 of 08 (through 2025) | Final Status: X of Y

14. series: Size Matters by Blake Wilder (Romance)
* Books in series: 07* to date 250725 | Initial Status: 00 of 07
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎Need seven to bring series current:
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎*several in the series reissued under new titles/authors (see more in notes post below)
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*01 Big Head | Issued: 190117 | Completed: 250725
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*02 Big Hose | Issued:190131 | Completed: 250726
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ● apa: Up in Flames by Mari Carr | Issued: 210518 | Completed: 250727
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*03 Big Balls | Issued: 190214 | Completed: 250726
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ apa: Big Player | Issued: 190621
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ● apa: Dating the Player by Erin McCarthy | Issued: 210513 | Completed: 250727
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*04 Big Rod | Issued: 190404 | Completed: 250727
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*05 Big Deck | Issued: 190509 | Completed: 250728
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*06 Big Puck | Issued: 190621 | Completed: 250728
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ● apa: Making His Play by Mari Carr | Issued: 210518 | Completed: 250728
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*07 Big Package | Issued: 191208 | Completed: 250729
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ●apa: Naughty Santa by Mari Carr | Issued: | Completed: 250729
Status:✅Completed 250729 | Current Status: 07 of 07 (through 2025) | Final Status: 07 of 07

15. series: Pepper Brooks by Eryn Scott (Mystery)
* Books in series: 06 to date 250101 | Initial Status: 05 of 06
‎ ‎ ‎ Need one to complete series:
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*06 Literally Finished | Issued: 230223 | Finished: 250813
Status:✅Completed 250813 | Current Status: 06 of 06 (through 2025) | Final Status: 06 of 06

** END PART 1—continued below in message 27 (https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

My notes regarding the challenge are in messages 06 and 28 below.

[Karen]

*** Notes for Karen's Series Challenge ***
My ups and downs facing this annual challenge. I was putting my thoughts, notes, and updates in my challenge posting, but knew I'd run out of characters before the end of the year. I split this off to its own posting.

These notes go with message 06 above (https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...).

🔸250101: I normally don't join challenges because I like reading what I want when I want. Though I see interesting challenges now and then, I've only joined a few over the years because they--obviously!--"force" me to read items to hit the challenge targets and goals, not always good for a seat-of-the-pants reader. This year I decided to shake up my reading and joined two challenges (in addition to the one I do annually--https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...), this one and a New Year's challenge (https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...). We'll see how things go.
🔸250101: Completed Mom and Christy's Mysteries to date
🔸250115: Completed Library Lovers series to date
🔸250116: Completed Ghost Hunter series to date
🔸250121: You know what's a real challenge? Finding series that have 5+ entries as of the first of the year that I want to read/catch up on. For some reason the series on my immediate "read" list look to be three-and-dones--at least right now. Now, I have to decide whether to read the rest of the "too short" series to finish out or look for series with more entries I want to start. Boo! -- The good news is that some of my ongoing series are set to get new additions this year. I should still be able to get my 10. And, I do have a whole year to get the minimum. It's that old adage, they're never handy when you want one. Jeezopete!
🔸250131: A new addition is scheduled to join the Sterling Falls series in June. ACK! Just as I thought I'd get current, a new addition--always the problem with an ongoing series.
🔸250214: Found a freebie prequel addition to the Sterling Falls series as well as a title and tentative release 2025 month for book 07. Now have two full books and the prequel to read.
🔸250220: Added mystery series Coffeehouse and Haunted Bookshop by Cleo Coyle (Alice Kimberly). Need 1 Coffeehouse book and 2 Haunted Bookstore books to bring the series current.
🔸250226: Added romance series Gilded Decadence by Zoe Blake and Alta Hensley (aka Blake Hensley) to list. Need to read one to bring the series current (or finish it; I think this might be the final book???)
🔸250228: Finished Sinfully His bringing me current with the Gilded Decadence series. I believe it's the last-in-series, but will check throughout the year just in case.
🔸250310: Finished The Ghost Goes to the Dogs bringing me current with the Haunted Bookshop series to date.
🔸250312: Added mystery series Sunny Meadows/Fortune Teller and Kalli Ballas/Mind Reader by Kari Lee Townsend. There are 6 books to read altogether, 3 each. The last 2 of the former series are crossovers with the latter's characters joining. That should be fun.
🔸250322: So, I thought I'd catch up the Mind Reader series then go to the Fortune Teller. Nope... book 05 of Mind Reader happens AFTER book 07 of Fortune Teller. I'm reading books FT 06 and 07, then back to MR 05, then returning to FT for 08.
🔸250326: Thought I'd finished (to date) both Townsend's Fortune Teller and Mind Reader series. Neither has a new entry listed on GoodReads, but Townsend's website lists a new Mind Reader books coming May 13, 2025 and a new Sunny/Kalli Crossover coming June 24, 2025. And, there's a fourth Sunny/Kalli crossover listed, too (no date as of yet). Ack! Adding to the lists above.
🔴250326: Can one ever catch up when reading an ongoing series! =o/ 🔴
🔸250404: Finished No Roast for the Weary by Cleo Coyle, bringing me current with this series. Assuming a new one won't come for anther year or two. CAN'T WAIT!
🔸250423: Looking over my list... Man, I hope new entries don't all come in the last quarter of the year. That's when my reading time gets cut by the holidays.
🔸250518: Adding to the "done" pile--Kappes' Brewing Up Bones--thinking I had one more to catch up for the year. Only to find ANOTHER book coming in October listed at the end. Added that too. Will I ever catch up this year!
🔸250530: Finished the latest (to date) Kalli Ballas book, Trouble for Your Thoughts. The next couple in series are crossovers and listed under the Sunny Meadows/Fortune Teller series.
🔸250608: Finished L.B. Dunbar' Sterling Touch and I may have another completed for 2025! Sterling Stone, which supposedly had a September publication date, is now schedule for January 2026! -- Still... a Murder in the Mix book scheduled for November was just released. That means there's going to be another come holiday season! Sheesh.
🔸250624: Updating the status of three series...
First up is Murder in the Mix/Lottie Lemon. Finished the latest; one more due in November.
Next, fisnished the latest in the Vintage Kitchen series. Series is complete to date for the year. YAY!
Finally, the Library Lovers series is getting a new addition, but not until 2026!! Series is complete to date for the year. Brings me to 8 complete series to date for the year, leaving two more to hit the minimum goal for my level.
Also, will need to check on the Sunny Meadows/Fortune Teller series. The next book due, a crossover with the Kalli Ballas characters and may be a short. Wondering if the following will be, too. This might update the status of that series to complete for the year as well.
🔸250711: Had a five-day affair with romance series Boston Kings by Sara Fields. I saw a description of one of the later books and wanted to read it. Though TBRed since 2023, I hadn't read any of them. My read-in-order OCD had me picking up book one and binging though book eight, including the bonus scenes and the bonus short. I'm current with the series to date.
🔸250720: Finished A Perk of Trouble, which should have been called Caffeine and Corpses, a line Roxy says at the end of the story. Next one due in October. Hoping that's it for this year!
🔸250729: A four-day affair with a new-to-me series... I picked up the Size Matters series in an attempt to keep me from rereading (again!) Mari Carr series I love (and reread often). Size Matters was originally issued under the pseudonym Blake Wilder, who is Carr, Erin McCarthy, and Erin Nicholas. There are seven books in the series, four of which were reissued under new titles and one specific author: McCarthy reworked Big Balls into Dating the Player for her The Legends series. Carr reworked Big Hose as the standalone Up in Flames; Big Puck as Making His Play, setting the newer version in her Wilder Irish Universe—the H also shows up in the Italian Stallions series book Wild and Wicked; and Big Package as the standalone Naughty Santa. I read the originals as well as the rewrites/reissues (to see the differences, of course!). Another series done for the year.
🔸250813: Added the Eryn Scott cozy series Pepper Brooks. Needed one to finish the series. I finished reading that today. Another series down... AND, challenge goal met!! Woo-hoo!
🔸250830: END OF NOTES PART 1 I'm continuing with the challenge, but my challenge post above has fewer than 200 characters left to use and this one's getting low, too. Part 2 of the series challenge listings is below, message 27. Notes are continued below in message 28 I'm splitting both the challenge and notes posts.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎
* Original series posting (part 1), message 06:
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

* Series posting part 2, message 27:
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ (https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...)

* Series challenge notes posting part 2, message 28:
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ (https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...).

[Ramla Zareen]

Karen wrote: "You know what's a real challenge? Finding series that have 5+ entries as of the first of the year that I want to read/catch up on. For some reason the series on my immediate "read" list look to be three-and-dones--at least right now. Now, I have to decide whether to read the rest of the "too short" series to finish out or look for series with more entries I want to start."

Hi Karen,
I have initiated another Reading Challenge where you might be able to use some of your "too short" and "three-and-dones" series :-)

You might also be able to use some of the books you're reading here for that challenge.

You can check it out if you like:

Read a Shape Challenge
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Thanks and Happy Reading :-)

[Karen]

Ramla Zareen wrote: "I have initiated another Reading Challenge where you might be able to use some of your "too short" and "three-and-dones" series :-)

You might also be able to use some of the books you're reading here for that challenge.

You can check it out if you like"

Oooooh... I'm so tempted. Thank you, Ramla!

I'm taking baby steps with multiple challenges this year. I may track my reading and enter when I see how things are falling. This finish-the-series challenge hasn't kept me from reading the "threes". I figure I may as well finish what I start--and they do count in another challenge.

Some of these series may even qualify for Shapes, too. So tempting... Eek!

[Ramla Zareen]

Karen wrote: "Oooooh... I'm so tempted. Thank you, Ramla!

I'm taking baby steps with multiple challenges this year..."

Karen, I want to say, "please be tempted into doing the challenge". Lol. It will be fun to have you join us :-) But I also want to be a supportive friend, so I'll just say, please do whatever you feel is best for you :-)

Thanks for doing the Series Challenge though. It's great to have both you and Pam here :-)

Best of luck with all your challenges and Happy Reading :-)

[PamG]

Karen wrote: "Ramla Zareen wrote: "I have initiated another Reading Challenge where you might be able to use some of your "too short" and "three-and-dones" series :-)

You might also be able to use some of the b..."

Karen, I'm trying most of these challenges even though it's going to be hard to hit all of them. I'm reading what I want (ARCs esp., favorite series/authors, and kindle backlog) and fitting them in where they can go.

For the shorter series 2-4 books long or just getting started, I'm putting them in the shape challenges, the early part of the One to Ten challenge, the A-Z challenge, or the Book Train Challenges; where ever they fit. They also fit a Series Readathon challenge in another group that I belong to so it's a win-win for me.

Feel free to try it and see how it goes.

[PamG]

P.S. I did lay out the challenges in a spreadsheet along with the books I'm reading or plan to read to see where they would work best.

[Karen]

PamG wrote: "P.S. I did lay out the challenges in a spreadsheet along with the books I'm reading or plan to read to see where they would work best."

LOL... I would expect nothing less.

Me, too BTW. =o)

[PamG]

Karen wrote: "PamG wrote: "P.S. I did lay out the challenges in a spreadsheet along with the books I'm reading or plan to read to see where they would work best."

LOL... I would expect nothing less.

Me, too ..."

LOL.

[Ramla Zareen]

Karen wrote: "Now have two full books and the prequel to read."

Hi all,
Hope you're doing well :-)

Karen's comment reminded me—

You can read prequels if you wish to but it's not necessary. Also, some series contain novellas or short stories in between the regular books. The same rule applies. You can read them but it's not necessary. Your series will be considered complete even without them.

Just thought I'd mention it :-)

Thanks and best of luck with the challenge!

[PamG]

Ramla Zareen wrote: "Karen wrote: "Now have two full books and the prequel to read."

Hi all,
Hope you're doing well :-)

Karen's comment reminded me—

You can read prequels if you wish to but it's not necessary. Also,..."

Thanks for the clarifications. I know that I have some series I want to read that have both novellas and a prequel.

[Ramla Zareen]

PamG wrote: "Thanks for the clarifications."

You're welcome :-)

[Patty]

Not sure if I totally understand all this but I'll give it a try!

Series Challenge #

Start Date = April 1, 2025
End Date = March 31, 2026
Level = 2 - 5 series
Progress = 1/5
Status = Ongoing

1) Murderbot Diaries - Martha Wells
All Systems Red by Martha Wells

Initial Status = 0/7
Final Status = 1/7

2) The Hunger Games Completed
Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

Initial Status = 4/5
Final Status = 5/5

3) Crowns of Nyaxia

Initial Status = 1/6
Final Status = 3/6
Six Scorched Roses by Carissa Broadbent
The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King by Carissa Broadbent


4) Lorien Legacies: The Lost Files
The Last Days of Lorien by Pittacus Lore
Six's Legacy by Pittacus Lore

Initial Status = 0/15
Final Status = 2/15

5) Nancy Drew Mysteries
The Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene

Initial Status = 0/175
Final Status = 1/175

6) Flight and Glory
The Reality of Everything by Rebecca Yarros

Initial Status = 0/5
Final Status = 1/5

7) Bromance Book Club
The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams

Initial Status = 1/5
Final Status = 2/5

8)

Initial Status = ?/?
Final Status = ?/?

9)

Initial Status = ?/?
Final Status = ?/?

10)

Initial Status = ?/?
Final Status = ?/?

[Ramla Zareen]

Patty wrote: "Not sure if I totally understand all this but I'll give it a try!"

Thank you for participating, Patty, I hope you enjoy the challenge! Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions. Wish you all the best :-)

[Patty]

Ramla Zareen wrote: "Patty wrote: "Not sure if I totally understand all this but I'll give it a try!"

Thank you for participating, Patty, I hope you enjoy the challenge! Please feel free to reach out if you have any q..."

Thanks very much Ramla!

[Ramla Zareen]

Patty wrote: "Thanks very much Ramla!"

You're welcome :-)

[Karen]

250813: COMPLETED!! -- YAY ME!

I was posting in another board regarding author Eryn Scott and realized that I hadn't read the last in her Pepper Brooks cozy series, which came out in 2023. I don't know how I missed it, but it's the last book in the series. I finish that book today and it gave me my tenth caught-up/finished series for the year, the minimum needed for the level I chose. I have five more series listed to date. A couple I know have books coming before year's end. The others are ongoing, but I don't know if new additions are coming this year or not. Currently (today), no other new-to-series additions are listed for them this year, but ??? I'll continue checking until all listed are finalized for the year.

My challenge list...https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

A comments posting follows. I'll continue updating both post.

Phew... Still going to try finishing all I started, but at least I can rest a bit easier now that I've hit the (minimum) goal. I'm having trouble finding the Kari Lee Townsend Sunny Meadows/Fortune Teller and Kalli Ballas/Mind Reader books in the library. One doesn't count--I found it was a short story. Still, I want to read it. The other just came out. I hope to find both soon. They're listed as Fortune Teller books, but are crossovers with the Kalli Ballas series.

Still... WOO-HOO!

[PamG]

Congratulations, Karen! Great job. I'm making progress, but I'm not there yet.

[Karen]

PamG wrote: "Congratulations, Karen! Great job. I'm making progress, but I'm not there yet."

Thank you, Pam.

I'm lucky (???) because I don't have commitments to read and review books the way you do. The fact that you commit to many different challenges amazes me because your "for fun" reading time is cut by your commitments--though, I guess that can be/is "fun reading," too. I can (basically) read what I want when I want and I have trouble with the one challenge I do annually.

I did baby steps and committed to a couple of new challenges this year. Fulfilling the minimum here feels like a big weight lifted--I know that's weird, but it does.--and I'm only doing four challenges (maybe five, I'm tracking one) this year, one of which ended in January.

I'm not sure what next year will bring.

[PamG]

Karen,

I basically just fit my reading commitments into the challenges with occasionally reading one book off my TBR to finish a challenge. That way I don't feel any pressure by the challenges. My reading commitments are mainly NetGalley ARCS and books from giveaways and publishers. I am learning that some challenges are more fun than others. I know I will be working on series again next year and several other challenges.

[Ramla Zareen]

Karen wrote:

"Level: 4 (10+ series) | Start: 250101 | End: 251231 | Status:🔴Ongoing | Progress: 10/10+ (to date 250813)"

Karen wrote:

"250813: COMPLETED!! -- YAY ME!

I was posting in another board regarding author Eryn Scott and realized that I hadn't read the last in her Pepper Brooks cozy series, which came out in 2023. I don't know how I missed it, but it's the last book in the series. I finish that book today and it gave me my tenth caught-up/finished series for the year, the minimum needed for the level I chose. I have five more series listed to date..."

Congratulations Karen :-)

[Karen]

CHALLENGE: Any series, any genre as long as it has 5+ entries through duration date.

This is part 2 of my series challenge. I hit my minimum goal on 08/13/25. Coincidentally, my original posting (message 06) will hit the max number of characters allowed very soon. So, I’m starting a new series posting. Listed below are those series I’m waiting on books to complete as well as any new qualifying series I pick up to read.

** I will be updating for any new additions coming to any of these series (or those in the earlier posting, message 06) by 12/31/25. **

Level: 4 (10+ series) | Start: 250101 | End: 251231 | Status: ✅COMPLETED (250813), but 🔴Ongoing | Progress: 11/10+ (to date 250830)

02. series: Killer Coffee by Tonya Kappes (Mystery)
* Books in series: 18 to date 250813 | Initial Status: 13 of 18
‎ ‎ ‎ Need five to bring ongoing series current:
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*14 Pour-Over Predicament | Issued: 240208 | Finished: 250112
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*15 Ice Coffee Corruption | Issued: 240905 | Finished: 250113
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*16 Steamed Secrets | Issued: 250127 | Finished: 250518
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*17 A Perk of Trouble | Issued: 250629 | Finished: 250720
‎ ‎ ‎ *18 Brewing Up Bones | Issued: 251026
Status:🔴Ongoing | Current Status: 17 of 18 (through 2025) | Final Status: X of Y

06. series: Murder in the Mix/Lottie Lemon by Addison Moore (Mystery)
* Books in series: 55 to date 250830 | Initial Status: 50 of 55
‎ ‎ ‎ Need four to bring ongoing series current (through 2025):
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*51 Sweet Crepes of Wrath | Issued: 241114 | Finished 250121
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*52 Vanilla Glazed Valentine Vendetta | Issued: 250206 | Finished 250214
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*53 Twice Baked Risky Whiskey Cakes | Issued: 251121 250605 | Finsihed: 250611
‎ ‎ ‎ *54 Murder and Marzipan in Las Vegas | 251106
‎ ‎ ‎ *55 Criminal Coconut Cake | 260219
Status:🔴Ongoing | Current Status: 53 of 54 (through 2025) | Final Status: X of 55); book 55 due 2026

10. series: Sunny Meadows/Fortune Teller by Kari Lee Townsend (Mystery)
* Books in series: 10 to date 250326 | Initial Status: 06 of 10
‎ ‎ ‎ Need four to bring ongoing series current:
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*07 Murder in the Meditation | Issued: 211228 | Finished: 250322
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*08 Cruising Into Danger | Issued: 231024 | Finished: 250324
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*09a Road Trip to Ruin | Issued: 240430 | Finished: 250326
‎ ‎ ‎ *09b Bachelors, Badges & Bad Luck (a short) | Issued: 250624
‎ ‎ ‎ *10 My Big Fat Fatal Wedding | Issued: 250812
Status:🔴Ongoing | Current Status: 09 of 10 (through 2025) | Final Status: X of Y

11. series: Kalli Ballas/Mind Reader by Kari Lee Townsend (Mystery)
* Books in series: 06 to date 250326 | Initial Status: 02 of 06
‎ ‎ ‎ Need four to bring ongoing series current:
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*03 A Touch of Malice | Issued: 221011 | Finished: 250314
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*04 An Inkling of Evil | Issued: 230418 | Finished: 250318
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*05 Mayhem on the Mind | Issued: 240206 | Finished: 250325
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*06 Trouble for Your Thoughts | Issued: 250513 | Finished: 250501
Status:🔴Ongoing | Current Status: 06 of 06 (through 2025) | Final Status: X of Y

13. series: Boston Kings by Sara Fields (Romance)
* Books in series: 08 to date 250710 | Initial Status: 00 of 08
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎Need eight to bring ongoing series current:
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*01 Take Me, Daddy & bns | Issued: 221201 | Completed: 250705
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*02 Make Me, Daddy & bns | Issued: 230323 | Completed: 250705
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*03 Break Me, Daddy & bns | Issued: 230519 | Completed: 250706
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*04 Watch Me, Daddy & bns | Issued: 231020 | Completed: 250706
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*05a Share Me, Daddy | Issued: 240228 | Completed: 250707
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*05b Keep Me, Daddy (bonus short) [Not GoodReads-listed] | Issued: Unknown 2024 (acquired: 250705) | Completed: 250707
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*06 Tame Me, Daddy & bns | Issued: 240628 | Completed: 250708
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*07 Use Me, Daddy & bns | Issued: 250102 | Completed: 250709
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*08 Punish Me, Daddy & bns | Issued: 250626 | Completed: 250710
Status:🔴Ongoing | Current Status: 08 of 08 (through 2025) | Final Status: X of Y

16. series: Montana Bad Boys by Piper Stone (Romance)
* Books in series: 05 to date 250823 | Initial Status: 00 of 05
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎Need five to complete series:
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*01 Hawk | Issued: 200706 | Completed: 250825
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*02 Scorpion | Issued: 201016 | Completed: 250825
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*03 Mustang | Issued: 201217 | Completed: 2508266
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*04 Nash | Issued: 210205 | Completed: 250828
‎ ‎ ‎ ✔️*05 Austin | Issued: 210408 | Completed: 250829
Status:✅Completed 250829 | Current Status: 05 of 05 (through 2025) | Final Status: 05 of 05

17.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎
* Original—and full!—challenge posting part 1, message 06:
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

* Series challenge notes posting part 1, message 07:
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

* Series challenge notes posting part 2, message 28:
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Karen]

My original series challenge notes posting (message 07)—now part 1—was getting low on characters. Since I was splitting my series challenge posting (message 06) for the same reason, I’m starting part 2 of my notes here so they again follow my challenge—now part 2—posting.

My ups and downs facing this annual challenge, part 2.

🔸250830: Running out of characters!! I have fewer than 200 in the series posting (part 1) and just a bit over 1700 in the notes posting (part 1). Man... It's as if GoodReads really believes people can say what they have to say in fewer than 12K characters, even when some of those are used for formatting. Sheesh! =o)
🔸250830: Completed Piper Stone's Montana Bad Boys series yesterday. Up to 11!
🔸25...

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎
* Original—and full!—challenge posting part 1, message 06:
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

* Series challenge posting part 2, message 27:
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

* Series challenge notes posting part 1, message 07:
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...