Sundays with Sam - The Sunday Post

Sundays with Sam is a combination of Sunday Post hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer and Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

My Month in Review

I am happy to report, that the final week of March passed WITHOUT  a nor'easter. Can we get a round of applause, please. I know I was happy about that. I would like to wish everyone a Happy April. I am hoping spring is ready to be sprung this month, and to those of you who celebrate, Happy Easter!

At the end of the month, I like to take a look at how I read, and I was happy with my numbers. I finished 34 books, was able to keep my five books per week average (plus audiobooks), and I really enjoyed all the books I read this month. I had no DNFs and no books below 3.5 stars.

Once again, not too many surprises found in those plots. I did not finish ANY physical books (by the time of this posting, I was still reading Obsidio), and I only read ONE shelf book. About that, I may be cheating, because although I own the book, I actually listened to the audiobook, which I borrowed from the library. Does that still count as shelf love? I was surprised to see I read 3 mysteries, which is a little different for me.

My TOP READ for the month was Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett. It was just the best of everything I love in a contemporary YA book, and just thinking about it brings a smile to my face.

My Week in Review

Sorry to anyone I neglected last week. The train was late all week, and it was taking me two hours to get home. I was also spending a lot of time online trying to find apartments in Chicago for my daughter. This was not a fun task, in case you are wondering, and it's sort of like falling down the social media blackhole. I looked up, and hours had passed.

Not much to report from last week. We had Panera Salad day at work, but the best thing, was that they told us we could wear jeans for the next three weeks. Just think of all the ironing I don't have to do. 

On the Blog:

• Monday: Nutshell Reviews - I Have Lost My Way, The Midnights, In Her Skin
• Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday - Oh, the Places You'll Go!
• Wednesday: CWW - Things Jolie Needs to Do Before She Bites It by Kerry Winfrey
• Thursday: Discussion - How Do You Round?
• Friday: Blog Tour - Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett (giveaway still open)

STACKING THE SHELVES

I did NOT get a ton of books this week, but I got a lot of anticipated releases. The YA book I got approved for was one of my CWW picks, and my love for Shalvis knows no bounds. I just loved the last Kelly Jamieson book I read, and cannot wait to continue the Aces Hockey series. Lots of good books for me.

Edelweiss/NetGalley

• Playing Hurt by Kelly Jamieson
• Rainy Day Friends by Jill Shalvis
• My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan
• The Game Can't Love You Back by Karole Cozzo

What I Read Last Week

This was a great reading week for me. I read three books in a row, which earned 4.5 stars from me. They were near perfect, and I was actually crying as I wrote my review for Love and Other Words, because it made me so happy.

• No Filter by Orlagh Collins: I am apparently a black sheep on this one, but I loved it. I loved being in Ireland, I loved both protagonists, I loved the romance, and the ending left me a supper sappy-happy. ★★★★ 1/2
• Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren: This was another book, that made me feel so awesome! I have to say, the authors' writing has evolved a lot, because I don't remember their older books leaving me this mushy and elated. So much to love here - male/female friendship that develops into love, second chance romance, wonderful family interactions, a stupendous hero, and a slightly broken heroine, who I couldn't help rooting for. ★★★★ 1/2
• Sneaking Out by Chuck Vance: What a fabulous debut! This was a fun, boarding school mystery, and I have to say, Vance did a great job with all those red herrings. He kept me guessing the whole time, and I am eager to read more of the Chased books. ★★★★ 1/2
• China Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan (audiobook): Kwan treated me to even more delicious drama and the "tough" lives of the rich and entitled. I laughed loudly and often, and am eager to get the next book. ★★★★
• Emergency Contact by Mary H.K. Choi: I love this concept of all of us having our "person". Somebody, who it's easy with, who brings us comfort, and who will be our emergency contact, and really enjoyed Penny and Sam working out who that person was for them. They were both terribly quirky, which is my favorite kind of character, but behind all the quirks were some real deep issues, and it was wonderful to see them finally exorcising their demons. ★★★★
• Just One Night by Lauren Layne (audiobook): Have I mentioned lately how much I love listening to Lauren Layne books? Because, I do. This one had that mix of humor, steam, and drama that I love so much in my contemporary romances. I will admit, Sam made me a little nuts, but I understood it all stemmed from the emotional damage of his upbringing, and I shed tears for him. The epilogue has me yearning for the last book, because I think Emma's story will be a doozy. ★★★★

What I Am Currently Reading

I am about 75% finished with Obsidio, and it's been a tough read. I love all the artwork and can't wait to get to the end. I am more than halfway through Steal, and this one's a really painful addition to the series, but there have been a lot of shenanigans too.

• Obsidio by Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff
• Steal by Rachel Van Dyken

What I Plan to Read

Lots of good ones lined up for next week. Jordi Perez has been getting tons of good buzz, and I am a big fan of Wolitzer's books, ergo, I am very excited for those two. I have a feeling Motion Picture will delight me, and I am really going to read Other People's Houses this week. I swear!

• Other People's Houses by Abbi Waxman
• Now a Major Motion Picture by Cori McCarthy
• The Summer of Jordi Perez by Amy Spalding
• The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer

How was your week?

Let us know in the comments!