Sundays with Sam is a combination of Sunday Post hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer and Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga's Reviews.
My Week in Review
Happy Sunday and welcome November! This year seems to be flying. I hope everyone in the US is doing ok with the time change. I know the "extra" hour makes people happy, but it just messes with my clock. The jury is still out on how I feel because it normally takes a day or two to take its toll on me.
My father is turning 80 this week, so I took him and my mom out to the steakhouse. Dad got his $91 25-ounce ribeye (sides are a la carte) and really enjoyed it. We mentioned it was a celebration, and our waiter brought out ice cream with one of those sparkler fountains on it. It was fun.
I got myself a new bag. It's been a long time (over 10 years) since I got a new one. It's my birthday gift to myself. Miffy is adorable. I couldn't resist! It didn't look white in the picture. I thought it was navy and pink. Oops! No harm, no foul. It's still great.
I am sort of embarrassed to admit how excited I am that we will have our bathroom and kitchen back at work. The renovation across the hall is complete, so I won't have to hike across the building or go upstairs any longer. We will finally have an ice dispenser and one of those fancy Bevi water dispensers. The machine is pretty nice. I only get plain, cold water from it, but you can get hot, room temperature, or sparkling water and select flavors or electrolytes. We have been going up to the third floor that has already been renovation, but now, I can just go across the hall when I am thirsty. No more water jug that I have to clean. You know I will be destroyed if it's not ready on Monday, though I have heard it is good to go.
On the Blog
Let's Discuss
Stacking the Shelves
There were a lot of great deals on Amazon, so I bought a few book. Poles Apart was deeply discounted, as was This Used to Be Us, and I had to download the Backman story. His writing is always great.
I also got some invites that were great. I immediately downloaded the new Betty Cayouette. She really won me over with her last book, and I will most likely download the new Sullivan. I really liked the siblings in this series.
I have never heard of Zeta Rodgers, but the character has vasovagal syndrome which my sister was diagnosed with this year. I had never heard of it before, so it's interesting to see it in a book. First my IC, and now my sister's VS. Look at that!
Purchased
- The Answer is No by Frederick Backman
- Poles Apart by Anna and Jacqui Burns
- This Used to Be Us by Renee Carlino
Invites
- A Simple Twist of Fate by April Asher
- Tell Me How You Really Feel by Betty Cayouette
- Never Planned on You by Lindsay Hameroff
- Get Lost with You by Sophie Sullivan
- Zeta Rodgers Needs to Relax by Elanna Moon
Read Last Week
It was a solid week. I did DNF or set aside a few books, but I had two near perfect reads. Higgins just hits right for me, and this time, I am happy to report, the heroine did NOT suffer too badly.
But I think Under Loch and Key was my favorite of the week. When I was writing my review, I found all these European articles where people are in an uproar because Ferguson made Nessie male in this book. Here's a note to all if you want to mess with well known cryptids. I enjoyed the book. It had a bit of everything - family drama, mystery, romance, a curse, and it was told with a lot of humor.
Find all my reviews on Goodreads
Books
- Under Loch and Key by Lana Ferguson -★★★★ 1/2
- Unsteady by Peyton Corrine - ★★★★
- When We First Met by Cara Bastone - ★★★★
- Days of Wonder by Carolyn Leavitt - ★★★★
- Can't Help Falling in Love by Sophie Sullivan - ★★★★
Audiobooks
- Made in the U.S. A. by Billie Letts - ★★
- Always the Last to Know by Kristan Higgins - ★★★★ 1/2
Currently Reading
Both of these books are for reading challenges. Joy for Beginners is for my keyword challenge, with JOY being the keyword. I thought it was a good pick for me since I have enjoyed the other Bauermeister books I read. This has a great premise. A group of women are celebrating their friend's cancer being cured. She challenged them all to do something that scares them, but she gets to pick. Each chapter is that women's challenge. I am enjoying it so far.
My other book is for my monthly motif. I had to find a book published before 2000. You all know I am not a classics reader, but I did go with what I consider classic contemporary romance. I am listening to this one, and it's been fun so far.
- Joy for Beginners by Erica Bauermeister
- Lady Be Good by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
To Be Read
TEXT
- The Lonely Hearts Trivia Club by Lauren Farnsworth
- Royal Games by Sariah Wilson
- Poles Apart by Anna and Jacqui Burns
- Is She Really Going Out With Him by Sophie Cousens
Let us know in the comments!
That water dispenser sounds really cool actually! I'd love it if my office got one after renovations finish next year but I don't think it even exists in Indonesia 😂 I hope that things will be ready for you by Monday! Sounds like you had a great reading week. I'm keen to read Lara Ferguson's books (still haven't yet) and this sounds fun (although I did hear grumblings about the nessie thing too, lol). I've got Caroline Leavitt's book on my TBR after enjoying a previous book of hers. Glad to see you enjoyed it! I hope you have a great week ahead, Sam.
ReplyDeleteI have read and enjoyed all of Ferguson's books. The Omegaverse one was a bit out there for me, but Ferguson had her own storytelling to keep me hooked. I thought her newest was really great. That was my first Leavitt, and my goodness, so much drama. I did feel like the story could have done without one of the storylines because there was so much to unpack from the past, but I liked it.
DeleteHappy birthday to your dad! Your office sounds fancy. My office has a refrigerator, microwave, and sink. :) I hope you have a great week!
ReplyDeleteI guess it's fancy, but we are inside the whole time. I suppose they need to make it kind of comfortable.
DeleteYikes. Steaks are expensive. Thank goodness I don't like them LOL (but I love seafood, and if I wanted to eat a lobster, I guess it wouldn't come cheaper...). Happy belated birthday to your dad!
ReplyDeleteWell done with the office renovations! They're treating you well, don't they? It's fun how the water machine's brand is "Bevi" (which is the direct translation of the imperative "drink" in Italian).
Miffy is, indeed, adorable!
"I found all these European articles where people are in an uproar because Ferguson made Nessie male in this book. Here's a note to all if you want to mess with well known cryptids."
LOL, seriously? Do they realise it's (ahem) fiction?
These are high-end, aged steaks. It's as fancy as we get. Lobster is pretty scarce right now. I had been getting these boils from the market (shrimp, 2 lobster tails, potatoes, corn on the cob), and they haven't had them for months now. We asked, and they said it's because of a lobster shortage. I didn't know Bevi was Italian. I learned something today. I was shocked by all those articles. I guess local legends must be protected.
DeleteI can't believe how expensive steaks are these days! Even buying one at the supermarket is crazy, like $26 a pound! Sounds like you enjoyed the night out though. Is it Ruth's Chris that you go to? The way they prepare steaks in butter is delicious! I rarely eat steak for the most part, though. I'd be fine not to eat meat at all, to be honest. I love all the sides. I hope the work reno is all finished and you get to enjoy the closer bathroom and fancy water!
ReplyDeleteI've never given much thought to Nessie being male or female, lol! I guess don't mess with the cryptid legends! I'm looking forward to Loch & Key!
They are expensive. It's good that I am not a big beef eater (though I did get a steak sandwich yesterday). Ruth's Chris is like 40 mins from us. We have a nice steakhouse in town, Strickland's, which is comparable (and same sort of prices). My dad got some sort of butter that was $6 extra. Hey, he will only turn 80 once.
DeleteHappy birthday to your dad. I love ribeye, that's my favorite steak.
ReplyDeleteI know the bone in is supposed to make it better, but I am not steak connoisseur.
DeleteOk the water dispenser is cool!!! And I love the bag. It looks pink to me as well. Have a wonderful week!
ReplyDeleteMust be the way the light hits it because it's white in person.
DeleteThe washroom would have been a huge issue for me. I'm too old to troop up stairs to go. I hope you love your new water dispenser, enjoy. I will have to check out Needs to Relax as my daughter has Vaseovagel syndrome. She had seizures when they tried to give her an epidural before her ankle surgery, as well as when she gave blood for the first time, and the second. They told her she couldn't give anymore. I hope you have a great week and enjoy all your new additions to you TBR, Sam. BTW, that instagram post was cute. Animals are so beautiful and loving.
ReplyDeleteThe facility closure was not convenient. I never heard of Vaseovagel syndrome until this year. Look at that! My sister was passing out at school. They did the tilt table and found it.
DeleteHappy birthday to your dad! So glad he enjoyed his steak. Wow, that is a fancy water machine! We have lots of snacks and drinks at my office, but unfortunately I don't go too often so I can't partake!
ReplyDeleteI mean, I would rather stay home, save $400 a month, gain 10 hours a week from not commuting than have fancy water.
DeleteHappy 80th Birthday to your dad!! The price of beef is crazy! Yay for getting your kitchen and bathroom back at work. Sounds like they hooked y'all up with a fancy water cooler!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to read Under Loch & Key. I have an early hold on it, so I'm hoping to get my hands on it as soon as the library gets a copy in.
I am eager to hear what you think. If you liked her last shifter book, I think you will enjoy this one too.
DeleteFirst happy birthday to your dad! Second the daylight saving always messes with my inner clock too. Third the kitchen and bathroom renovation sounds good! Fourth: now I need that Backman too! And last (but not least) you cracked me up with these birds!
ReplyDeleteWhy do we need DST? They really need to eliminate it. I saw something for Backman's next full length, and it looks amazing. This short will have to hold me over.
DeleteI'm a huge water drinker, so I don't blame you one bit for being excited about convenient water! That dispenser looks super cool.
ReplyDeleteHere in Arizona, we don't bother with Daylight Savings Time. It's nice.
LOCH AND KEY sounds really fun. It's on my TBR list.
I am not jealous of your weather, but I adore the fact that you do not mess with your clocks.
DeleteHappy 80th to your Dad! That's a well-deserved feast!
ReplyDeleteWe've been sprucing up things around my husband's grandparents' lake cabin before spending Thanksgiving there. They are in their 80s, so they can't quite keep up with the place like they used to.
That's nice that you all are helping the grands out. I bet it will be lovely by the lake at Thanksgiving.
DeleteGlad you got yourself a birthday gift you love (even if the colors don't look exactly like the picture - I agree that it looks blue and pink in the light - they should have color-corrected, but I'm glad you still like it!). And the water filter does look very fancy indeed!
ReplyDeleteI took that picture, but the one online looked pink to me, too.
DeleteGlad your dad enjoyed the birthday dinner. A $91 steak and a la carte sides... sounds like a Ruth's Chris, maybe? Very cool on the Bevi machine. I would have endless fun trying out all the water types and flavors. :) I had mixed feelings for Unsteady for the whole first half. She was super prickly, and he was kind of obsessed with her (in an unhealthy way). But the last 25% or so had me doing a total 180 and I cried my way through the last several chapters.
ReplyDelete