The Fourth Book

On February 25th I'll be releasing Going for Four, the fourth book in my Counting On Love series.

It's a story about couple number four in this new world I've created. It's their love story, their time for the spotlight. But these characters have been around for three books already and all of the characters from the first three books make appearances in book four.  This makes it a lot of fun to talk about as my readers are gearing up for this book's release!  We have some history here. There have been peeks and hints about this couple. They've played supporting roles in the other stories, so readers already feel a connection.

It's awesome! Because it can be hard to keep the momentum of a series going. You want to keep the same "feel", the flavors that have made people love the series to this point, but you also want to keep it fresh, make this book it's own story, give these people their moment to be the stars.

 Which made me start thinking about other series that I love and the fourth book in those series....






One that comes immediately to mind is Julia Quinn's Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, the fourth book in her Bridgerton's series.  I don't read a lot of historical romance, but JQ is an exception I always make!  And I do love watching Colin Bridgerton fall for his little sister's best friend (no wonder I love it... one of my favorite tropes!)

http://juliaquinn.com/books/mister.php





Another of my favorite sort-of series are the Chicago Stars books by Susan Elizabeth Phillips.  The fourth in that series doesn't technically involve one of the Stars players like the other books, but it's fourth chronologically and is one of the two that first come to mind for me when I think of SEP's books.  Dream A Little Dream has always stayed with me.

http://susanelizabethphillips.com/dream-a-little-dream/





Another favorite of mine (along with most of the romance reading community! :)) is Jill Shalvis' Lucky Harbor series.  Book four, Lucky In Love happens to one of my favorites in that series... and I'm not just saying that! I love book three best, then this one... then all the rest! :)

http://jillshalvis.com/books/lucky-in-love/






And I have a couple of other Book Fours of my own! :)  Just for Fun is book four in the Bradfords series and Hitched is book four in the Promise Harbor Wedding series!


http://www.erinnicholas.com/books.html





Now there are a couple of book fours in a series that *aren't* my favorites.  For instance, book four in the Harry Potter series is not my favorite of those books. But it's an important books. Pivotal things happen. The series would be incomplete without it.

And there are a couple of series that I wish had a fourth (or more) book too!




Susan Andersen's Sisterhood Diaries Triology, for instance.






Or Erin McCarthy's Ohio's Most Haunted Town (I don't consider the novellas really part of the series :) )






So, I personally think fourth books can be great!  I hope everyone agrees on February 25th! :)

What series do you love?  Any book fours that stand out?

It’s either true love…or the biggest mistake they’ve ever made.

Blurb:

Counting on Love, Book 4

Hot firefighter Cody Madsen has stayed away from Olivia Dixon for almost two years—technically. Even though he talks to her every day and sees her every weekend. But there’s no kissing, touching, or telling her how he really feels. Because they’re just friends.  Anything more than that would mean crossing the line that Olivia’s older brother has firmly drawn between them.

Olivia wants what her three sisters have—true love. She could almost believe she’s found it with Cody, if it weren’t for the fact that he’s her older brother’s best friend and her brother won’t have it. And he’s never steered her wrong before. Her head is telling her to trust her brother, but her heart won’t let go of Cody.

Her solution? A dating site where she and Cody can each find their “Perfect Pick” once and for all.

But when the site yields some unexpected results, their real feelings come front and center. And they have to decide if it’s worth the risk to cross the line from friendship to love after all.

Warning: Contains a starry-eyed romantic, a wannabe knight in shining armor, and chocolate chip cookies. A lot of chocolate chip cookies.

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