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! This seems to be the winter that keeps on giving. The weather really stresses me out because I never know what my commute is going to be like. I actually don't mind when the storms come on the weekend (like last night), but we have more snow coming on Tuesday. I am afraid to look further into the forecast because my daughter is supposed to fly in on Thursday. Fingers crossed the weather doesn't keep her from coming.
I am not a sports fan but today is the Super Bowl. That means everyone will call out from work tomorrow. Not kidding! It's a fact that the Monday following is the Super Bowl has the most absences. Last week was my first time doing one of my rotations with the new procedures. I got it down by Thursday, and starting tomorrow, it's changing! Glad I am not the first person on board for that change, but I am happy that it's one of the senior work flow coordinators who will start us off. I can count on her to discuss issues and try to streamline the procedure.
Not much else going on here. Trying to get proper rest and drinking lots of wellness teas in hopes of not getting the flu. I do get the flu shot, but it's been ruthless this year. I had the flu once, over 20 years ago and just thinking about it makes me shutter. It was the worst illness I have ever experienced in my life.
Polling the audience - if you use the Goodreads Challenge widget on your blog, it is updating? Mine shows 34 books but I have read 67. Just curious if it's a thing or just me.
On the Blog
- Monday: Reviews - The Curious Kitten at the Chibineko Kitchen, Before the Coffee Gets Cold
- Tuesday: TTT - I Meant to Read That
- Wednesday: CWW - Pamona Afton Can So Solve a Murder, The Dallergut Dream Department Store
- Thursday: Reviews - Mr. Nice Spy, Poles Apart
- Friday: Five Star Friday - January 2025
- Saturday: Five on My TBR - In Translation
Let's Discuss
Stacking the Shelves
I got an approval for a highly anticipated release - Totally and Completely Fine, and I downloaded a pre-approval because I am in the mood for something warm and sweet which Johnson does so well. I could not pass up a Jimenez short. I will read anything she writes! The Rosen invite looks like a book I would enjoy. I already have eight ARCs for May, so I will have to think about it though I really want to read it.
Netgalley/Edelweiss
- Totally and Completely Fine by Elissa Sussman
- Starting Over in Starshine Cove by Debbie Johnson
Purchased
- Shotgun Lovesongs by Nickolas Butler
- The Fall Risk by Abby Jimenez
Invites
- The Safari by Jaclyn Goldis
- All the Signs by Jessie Rosen
- All the Stars Align by Gretchen Schreiber
Read Last Week
I only had two five-star books for the whole month of January, and here I am with two in one week! Bastone and Adams are both authors who earn high marks from me, and I was glad their books lived up to my expectations. I was a bit disappointed by the Oakley book. I have read and loved all her other books, but part of the storyline here just didn't work for me. It was still entertaining and there were standout parts, but it didn't hit the way her books usually do.
Find all my reviews on Goodreads
Books
- Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone - ★★★★★
- 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 - ★★★ 1/2
Audiobooks
- On Tall Pine Lake by Dorothy Garlock - ★★★★
- Callum by Sawyer Bennett - ★★★★
- A Christmas Duet by Debbie Macomber - ★★★★
Currently Reading
So far, Wedding Dashers is a lot of fun. I am eager to get back to that one.
I have been seeing a LOT of good buzz for The Favorites, and I think it is well deserved. I am utterly captivated by this book. SO MUCH DRAMA! There are things that make me think of Carrie Soto - how an ambitious woman in sports is a negative thing, but there's so much more too. There was this one reveal that broke my heart. I know Heath and Kat have had a LOT of relationship issues, but I still want them to be together. It's hard for me to erase all their history.
- Wedding Dashers by Heather McBreen
- The Favorites by Layne Fargo
To Be Read
- Better Than Revenge by Kasie West
- The Fall Risk by Abby Jimenez
- Code Word Romance by Carlie Walker
- Starting Over in Starshine Cove by Debbie Johnson
Let us know in the comments!
Two five stars in a week!? That is incredible and I'm admittedly more than a little jealous as I have yet to find one! 🤭 I hope that winning streak continues for you this week. As I've been on bookstagram more these days, I've seen quite a few people talking about The Favorites and it sounds incredibly angsty but also beautifully written but I'm still hesitant about getting a copy as I'm not good with *too* much emotional angst, haha. I'll be keen to see your thoughts on it though!
ReplyDeleteHope the weather doesn't get too wintery in the coming days and that your daughter's journey home isn't delayed! Have a good week ahead, Sam :)
Just finished The Favorites - another 5! That book was all the delicious drama. I loved it! Winter is terrible. Everything is covered ice right now from the storm last night. Waiting for the sun to come out and melt it a bit.
DeleteI know they have had a very cold winter at home. This past week they had freezing rain that made everything slick, then it snowed on top of the icy roads. The kids had no school because buses were cancelled. I sure hope you daughter is able to come and visit. I enjoyed Davida's post as well as the comments, very interesting to see everyone's POV on memoirs. My daughter used to figure skate and I was involved, being on the Board of Directors. It starts early and I'm glad she enjoyed herself, but wasn't good enough to go further than she did. It is cutthroat. I didn't want to read The Favorites due to that, but it is now on my TBR. I will read it if my library gets it. I hope you have a wonderful week and all goes good at work with the changes. Happy Sunday, Sam.
ReplyDeleteIt's not Canada winter here, but I am very winter-adverse. It is super icy right now because the snow turned to sleet last night, but it supposed to go up to 40. I cleared my car so that I am ready for work tomorrow, but I left my parents cars for now. The Favorites was so good! Emotional roller coaster filled with so much drama. I really enjoyed the audio and think it was the best way to take it in since it's in a documentary format.
DeleteGood luck with work, and I hope you have tons of fun with your daughter!
ReplyDeleteNot sure how much time she has unplanned but hopefully I get to spend a little time with the kid.
DeleteI don't watch sports at all so I didn't even know today was the Super Bowl. lol
ReplyDeleteReally? There's so much talk everywhere, I am impressed you were able to escape it.
Delete