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! I am glad to see January in the rearview mirror and starting a new month. Next week is my daughter's birthday, and I am in shock that I will be the mother of a 30 year-old. How did that happen???
Another quiet week. I had Friday off to get more bloodwork. My platelets are still coming up high. Not sure what too high is, but I guess the doctor will let me know. This was not a successful visit to Quest. I was definitely unconscious at some point. When she started the draw, there was one person in the room with me and then there were two. Still got me out in 10 minutes, and the rest of the day was mine.
Don't you hate when you were there, at the beginning, for an author who has since taken off, and now, you cannot get approved for their ARCs? I stopped requesting Emily Henry, Christina Lauren, and Abby Jimenez because I cannot get approvals for their books, but now, I must add Carley Fortune to the list. I was pretty broken hearted to get that email, but hopefully I will be able to get the book from my library.
I booked my ticket to Chicago for my daughter's performance. I am just doing a short trip since she is so busy, but I got a pretty decent price. Fingers crossed there is no drama. This was a pretty scary week for aviation up in these parts.
On the Blog
Let's Discuss
Stacking the Shelves
I don't know what I am going to do with all these invites. There are so many books I want to read but I already have a bunch of ARCs. Decisions, decisions. I did already download Storybook Ending because it was on my TBR but so is Roll For Romance, though I have too many ARCs for that month, and the Jackie Lau book looks good too. Not sure what I am going to do.
Purchased
- The Magnolia Sisters by Alys Murray
- The False Flat by Melissa Collings
Invites
- Time Loops & Meet Cutes by Jackie Lau
- Roll For Romance by Lenora Woods
- Storybook Ending by Moira Macdonald
- Joy Moody Is Out of Time by Kerryn Mayne
- Didn't You Used to Be Queenie B? by Terri-Lynne DeFino
Read Last Week
Look at all those stars? I was quite pleased with my reading week. Started great with Kristy Woodson Harvey's story featuring a fantastic female friendship, and ended with a fun and touching trek through the Highlands. Ali Brady's holiday book made me very happy, and TJR's multiverse book was great. I was crying at the end because both endings were so fabulous.
Find all my reviews on Goodreads
Books
- Feels Like Falling by Kristy Woodson Harvey - ★★★★ 1/2
- Pick-Up by Nora Dahlia - ★★★★
- Love in Translation by Joss Wood - ★★★★
- One Night, Two Holidays by Ali Brady - ★★★★ 1/2
- Scot and Bothered by Alexandra Kiley - ★★★★ 1/2
Audiobooks
- Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid - ★★★★ 1/2
Currently Reading
I am almost done with On Tall Pine lake. I selected it for a reading challenge (water words) AND it is set in Arkansas. That is a tough state for me, so again, so nice to have it checked off this early in the year. This has a heavy suspense element, and it's at the climax where the bad guys are a bit too violent. Not my cup of tea, but I did like the romantic subplot (of course).
Promise Me Sunshine is well on its way to being a five-star read. It's so good. It's an interesting grief story where the female main character is trying to live again. There is a list written by her best friend who died from cancer, and she has a "list buddy" who is helping her along (and who she is clearly falling for). I am enjoying it so much.
- Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone
- On Tall Pine Lake by Dorothy Garlock
To Be Read
- Jenny Lopez Has a Bad Week by Lindsay Kelk
- Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams
- The Dallergut Dream Department Store by Miye Lee
- Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley
Let us know in the comments!
I have a few authors like that myself. Riley Sager, Peter Swanson, and Paul Tremblay come to mind. That being said, John Grisham's publisher still sends me his latest every time they become available, so I guess it just depends.
ReplyDeleteI like when I get on a list because the pubs don't seem to update, but they have lost that loving feeling for me on Netgalley. I can only hope to be sent some invites.
DeleteSorry about Carly Fortune! That is a bummer. It's happened to me a few times to and it always stings. I hope they figure out why your platelets are high. Have a good week!
ReplyDeleteOnce they reject me for an author, I just stop asking. I don't take rejection well, and they are usually major enough that I know my library will have their books.
DeleteLast comment before I go into hiding for the month LOL. Happy birthday Kiersten! I hope the doctor figures out your blood issues. Also so that at least you can stop drawing blood so often...
ReplyDelete"Don't you hate when you were there, at the beginning, for an author who has since taken off, and now, you cannot get approved for their ARCs?"
Oh yes. That happened to me with Josh Winning. I beta-read his modern fantasy The Shadow Glass, and the publisher approved me for an ARC; then he proceeded to write slasher horror with a different publisher, and this one seems to hate my guts LOL.
The elk story was heart-warming.
Have a nice month!
I really hope I don't have to get more bloodwork. It's so stressful for me. That stinks that the new pub showed no love. Boo!
DeleteSorry to hear the blood draw was hard. Good thing they got you out of there pretty fast though. My daughter is 33 years old, I know what you mean. My grandson just turned 12.
ReplyDeleteI staggered out of Quest. I had to sit in my car until I felt up to driving. You have an almost teenaged grandson. Oh my! Where does the time go.
DeleteThirty years already? Wow! And I am sad that you are no longer approved! That happened to me with Rebecca Yarros that I supported for years!
ReplyDeleteMy kid is old. Boo to the pubs! I will still read the book, I will just have to wait.
DeleteI hate getting one of those rejection emails! It really sticks with me, but then I really think about it, the fact I can get both the audio and e-copy from the library AND I don't have to write a proper review if I don't want to and I'm okay again! Not only that, I usually have too many ARCs I'm juggling anyhow, lol! I'm sorry you don't get approvals for those authors anymore! I agree, it feels weird to have a kid that old! I have two and grandkids, but I don't feel older than 30 myself! On Tall Pine Lake looks good. I'm going to check that one out, and I am going to download Joy Moody as I loved Lenny Marks so much. I have Jane and Dan, too, but won't be reading it just yet, overloaded with ARCs again! Hope we both love it!
ReplyDeleteI definitely feel older than thirty. It's been all downhill since I turned 50. Things are just falling apart. I am just not one for the violence in suspense books. They were rough in On Tall Pine Lake. It ended on a nice note with the romance taking center stage though. They were a fun pairing. I have been doing well since capping my ARCs (downloads and requests) to 8 per month. It gives me a lot of freedom with my weekly TBR.
DeleteIt’s shocking when they get to be that age! My youngest will be 30 this year. I’ll probably cry like I did when I sent him off to kindergarten. Sorry your blood draw did not go well. I love the elk video! I hope you have another wonderful reading week this week!
ReplyDeleteThose animal videos are always so heartwarming. I love them. It's the only reason I really go on Instagram.
DeleteI've probably mentioned this time a couple of times but it's different as an international reader (or at least for me as an international reader), as I have less access to popular titles. But I do feel that way for certain authors, especially ones that started off as indie and then have no moved on to PR companies or became trad pubbed like Chloe Liese and Jaqueline Snowe. Looks like you had a great reading week. You've made me want to re-read Maybe In Another Life cos that was my first TJR and was a big favourite for me! I hope that February kicks off strongly for you and that you enjoy celebrating your daughter's birthday 😃
ReplyDeleteI am a fan of those multiverse books, and TJR did it well. Do all those books get released in your country? I know I have been rejected for books with Canadian and UK release because they were not being released in the US.
DeleteHappy early birthday to your daughter! I'm getting a physical on Friday and now I am nervous about the blood draw! Pretty sure my husband passed out at one of this last year, too.
ReplyDeleteI am lucky with the way my job takes the physical. This one will last for two years. Good luck! I am sure it will go well for you.
DeleteI absolutely loved that elk story - but when I watched it the second time, I realized it was almost definitely fake. (I started thinking, "Wait a minute, this is all a little too coincidental, and these are all just separate videos that they put together.") Oh well, they got me and it was still entertainment with interesting elk interactions. LOL!
ReplyDeleteNOOOOO! I hate that internet makes fake things. *crying*
DeleteAww, sorry the blood draw was traumatic. I got really dizzy during one of those, but I was conscious the whole time. Happy birthday to your daughter! I hope you have lots of fun together.
ReplyDeleteLast time, I just got woozy, but this tech did not have the best bedside manner. I need someone who will talk to me and baby me. She was not having that.
DeleteOhhh, I got Roll for Romance also!! I'm really excited to dive into it. I hope we both love it.
ReplyDeleteI hope I can fit it in because it sounds great.
DeleteI can't believe they would turn you down for any arc's. You are very good at reading and reviewing on schedule and have been around for ages. RUDE!
ReplyDeleteThat elk video is pretty incredible.
The ARCs serve a purpose and they want bigger reach. I get it but I am still sad.
DeleteI hope you enjoy The Magnolia Sisters, Sam. I loved the whole series. I understand your frustration. I have read and reviewed every book by Karin Slaughter and Lisa Gardner, but no longer get approved for their books. Maybe because they know I will read them anyway. There are others who are hit or miss. Might get one, then not the next. I saw that elk video before and I love it. I am the mother of a 40 year old, and have no idea where the time went, so enjoy those next ten years, Sam. I hope this week was a good one.
ReplyDeleteI know nothing about series, but I was drawn to The Magnolia Sisters. Glad to hear you enjoyed it. I mean ARCs are given for promotional purposes. I know I have a small blog, so when someone gets too big, I can expect the rejection. It's why I have stopped requesting a lot of authors. I know I won't get access.
DeleteI still ask and sometimes I am surprised. If I don't get it, I wait for the library or a sale to buy it. I also get it, my blog doesn't have a huge following.
Delete