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! How this past week was a good one. Don't know how it was by you, but we had some frigid temperatures this week. Super glad I did not have to commute into work when the wind chill had it feeling like 17F - brrrrr.
Sunday, we went to see White Christmas at Paper Mill. I had only ever seen the film, so it was a nice treat. It was another short work week for me since I had Thursday and Friday off for my niece's wedding. It's official, I am very old. I could not wait to leave the reception. The music was so loud that I had to scream to have a conversation. Not a lot of fun. A bus was provided to and from the hotel, but I was not going to last two more hours, so I got an Uber.
The best part about the wedding was that the hotel was next to a Cracker Barrel. It's been over a year since I had me some hash brown casserole. We live like an hour away from one, so you know I got breakfast there Friday morning before we drove home.
I drove my daughter to the airport Friday night. Always sad to see her go. It took me 20 minutes to get to the airport but over forty to get home. There was all sorts of drama on the Turnpike, so I took the highway (Route 1), but it has a lot of lights and apparently a lot of people at 6:30 pm on Friday.
On the Blog
- Monday: Reviews - Is She Really Going Out with Him?, Joy for Beginners
- Tuesday: TTT - Cry, Cry, Cry
- Wednesday: CWW - Beg, Borrow, or Steal, The Lantern of Lost Memories
- Thursday: Reviews - Wish You Were Here, This Used to Be Us
- Friday: Five Star Friday - November 2024
- Saturday: Sloth Goes Places - Massachusetts
Stacking the Shelves
This was such a wonderful week! First, Penguin showed me so much love and approved all three of my requests. These are all authors I adore and their upcoming releases are highly anticipated. But the BEST email I received was for the new Katherine Center. I wasn't sure I would get an ARC, so it was extra nice to be invited. I am not on top of young adult releases these days, but I got an invite for the new Dahlia Adler. The book sounds great, so I may actually download it.
I clicked a bunch of widgets I had previously been sent. I think I added another four books. There was one that came out last week, but I kept seeing glowing reviews, so I caved and downloaded it. I showed little restraint this week for sure.
Netgalley/Edelweiss
- Anywhere With You by Ellie Palmer
- The Spirit of Love by Lauren Kate
- It's a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan
Invites
- Come as You Are by Dahlia Adler
- The Love Haters by Katherine Center
Read Last Week
It was a GREAT week for me. I wasn't sure how Pictures of You would be for me given the subject matter, but I LOVED it! It was emotional, as expected, but Grey did a wonderful job balancing the heavy and light making this a fabulous read for me. I maybe wanted a bit more at the end, but it was so solid that it had little effect on my enjoyment.
Find all my reviews on Goodreads
Books
- Temple of Swoon by Jo Segura - ★★★★ 1/2
- Pictures of You by Emma Grey - ★★★★★
- Lone Wolf in Lights by Stacey Kennedy - ★★★★
- We'll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida - ★★★★
- The Lantern of Lost Memories by Sanaka Hiiragi - ★★★★ 1/2
Audiobooks
- Games Untold by Jennifer Lynn Barnes - ★★★★ 1/2
- The Cat Who Taught Zen by James Norbury - ★★★★
Currently Reading
As I write this, I have not started Rewitched, but I am about halfway through The December Market. It's sweet and fun, what I have grown to expect from Thayne, but has some weighty issued blended into the story. I am enjoying it a lot.
- Rewitched by Lucy Jane Wood
- The December Market by RaeAnne Thayne
To Be Read
- Pickleballers by Ilana Long
- How to Save a Life by Kristin Harmel
- The Lodge by Kayla Olsen
- Into the Woods by Jenny Holiday
Let us know in the comments!
Weather here is typical Midwestern.. freezing cold one day and only need a light jacket the next. Makes it hard to wardrobe plan. The cat video is cute! Congrats on getting Theo books you wanted!
ReplyDeleteCats are my only reason for having social media accounts. I am addicted to the fun vids. I find the whiplash weather tough too. I have been working from home right now, but there were times when the temperature in the morning would be 40 degrees cooler than the afternoon. Really gave meaning to layered dressing.
DeleteSounds like an eventful week! Also looks like you had an amazing reading week—so many high rated reads. I haven't heard of a lot of these new releases you mentioned but a few of them look like something I'd enjoy so on the 2025 radar list they go! I hope you have a great week ahead :)
ReplyDeleteI was happy to read so many great books since I felt my reading was off last month. December is off to a great start.
Delete"the wind chill had it feeling like 17F"
ReplyDeleteThat would be around -8C°...yikes.
"It's official, I am very old. I could not wait to leave the reception."
"Very old" cracked me up.
Will Kiersten be back for Christmas?
"Penguin showed me so much love and approved all three of my requests."
Yay!
The cat video was a lot of fun.
The two times a year my daughter always comes home is Thanksgiving and Christmas. So, I don't have long to wait to see her again. It's warming up a bit. It will be almost 50F today, but I saw some colder days in the 10-day forecast.
DeleteI'm curious about We'll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida. This week I haven't read so much, I think I need a break from Christmas romance. I've read a couple already.
ReplyDeleteIf you like cats, I think you would enjoy the idea of them having these healing powers, and that is pretty much the core of We'll Prescribe You a Cat.
DeleteI think I would feel old too Sam! I can't stand loud ,noises for a long time either! And that cat experiencing snow videao had ma laughing so hard!
ReplyDeleteI was lucky. I had a pair of earplugs in my coat pocket, but I couldn't be social. It was not much fun for me. The cats were fun to watch.
DeleteI'm with you on the loud music! I hate having to shout to have a conversation. I'd have Ubered out of there, too. We have a Cracker Barrel about 30 minutes from us. I've never eaten there, but I'll have to try it sometime. It is sad to part with family. Glad you had a nice long visit though! I'm excited about the new Katherine Center!
ReplyDeleteI have never gotten anything but breakfast at Cracker Barrel, but they are in my top three for pancakes - light and crisp. Center's books are always a treat. I am sure this one will be a hit.
DeleteOne of these days I will go to Cracker Barrel. I've never been there.
ReplyDeleteAre there any out your way? I only know them from along the east coast.
DeleteWe had some very cold weather here last week too. I am not happy that I have already had to break out my winter hat. I hate being anywhere with music so loud you can't talk. I need that Katherine Center book! I didn't get an invite so I hope that list it on the site soon so I can request it.
ReplyDeleteI will never turn down reading a Center book. They make me happy. Looks like I am not quite the grumpy old person I thought I was. LOL.
DeleteLOL we left our niece's wedding (earlier this summer) early, too! It was pretty loud and more of a dance party vibe, which is not us. She's only about 10-11 years younger than me, but I definitely felt like a little old lady!
ReplyDeleteGlad it's not just me who doesn't want to be at an up-in-the-club wedding.
DeleteWe've finally had some colder weather here in Texas, though it has also brought rain with it. I've had a fire in the fireplace, so that is very cozy!
ReplyDeleteI am jealous! Love sitting by a fire.
DeleteYeah, that wedding does not sound like my cup of tea either. I'm sure it was fun for the "kids". LOL!
ReplyDeleteNicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
I think the young people had a good time
DeleteI feel the same about pretty much all events any more-its too loud and its too late (even when its only 8:00)! I've decided to just embrace my cranky old lady vibe!
ReplyDeleteI really don't enjoy going out at night. I am a cranky old lady with you.
DeleteIt got really cold here last week and I was miserable. I told my husband that I was so over the winter and he rudely reminded me that winter isn't even here yet, lol. Looks like you got some pretty great approvals, especially Katherine Center's book! And OMG, Cracker Barrel. So good! We have them here but I can't remember the last time I ate at one because they're always so crowded.
ReplyDeleteI was just thinking that winter has not even started. LOL! *High five* to another CB lover.
DeleteHaha, I'm old too! I left my work's end-of-season party early because too many people were talking, and the room was too small. Everything was just getting on my nerves.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to be here, among my people, who understand.
DeleteHow wonderful that we both saw White Christmas last weekend. I absolutely loved it. I know how you feel about weddings. I find them loud and get frustrated with people who get drunk, yes I am old. I loved that cat video, what a hoot. I hope you enjoy all those books you added, Sam.
ReplyDeleteFunny coincidence, right? I just saw another reel of animals enjoying snow. It almost makes me like the white stuff.
Delete