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 hope everyone had a great week. We had more winter, so you know what I have to say. The highlight was my daughter's visit. She is here until Tuesday, so I have a bit more time left. Today we are going to Paper Mill to see Mystic Pizza. It's a new musical based on the film, and I am super interested in how they adapted the movie.
It's snowing as I write this (Saturday), and my daughter is in the city. She is seeing Urinetown matinee, meeting the fellow WLABBers for ramen, and then they are all going to see Maybe Happy Ending. You cannot say that my daughter does not maximize her day in the city.
Lots of weather, lots of work. I am happy to have a three-day weekend. I was supposed to go to the eye doctor, but they rescheduled, but I am still getting my hair done. Otherwise, I just want to try and catch up on stuff. I feel like a boss with all my reviews written, but I did let them pile up this week but I read so many great books last week, the reviews were easy to write.
On the Blog
- Monday: Reviews - Get Lost With You, Can't Help Falling in Love
- Tuesday: TTT - LOVE Stories
- Wednesday: CWW - The Big Fix, Better Than Revenge
- Thursday: Reviews - Anything For You, Puppy Love at Mistletoe Junction
- Friday: Spell the Month in Books - February 2025
- Saturday: Sloth Goes Places - New York
Let's Discuss
Stacking the Shelves
Some great new and new-to-me books came my way this week. I am looking forward to Marlowe's new release. Her last book was fun. Last time was cryptids, this time it's aliens. I have no doubt she will do a great job with that element.
Slipstream looks promising to me as does The Frequency of Living Things. Both authors are new-to-me, but the books sounds like something I would enjoy. I already had the new Hogle which is getting mixed reviews, but I tend to like her books, so I am staying optimistic about that one.
Netgalley/Edelweiss
- Love at First Sighting by Mallory Marlowe
Invites
- The Folklore of Forever by Sarah Hogle
- Blood Beneath the Snow by Alexandra Kennington
- Slipstream by Madge Maril
- The Frequency of Living Things by Nick Fuller Googins
Free
- All Romance, All the Time by Multiple Authors
Read Last Week
I don't know if it was mood or the amazing books that came my way, but I had an outstanding reading week. I loved everything! I had THREE five-star reads which is unbelievable.
As expected, The Favorites was a favorite. I was so there for everything from page one. That book went over the top, and I went there with it. It lived up to the hype in my head, and I absolutely suggest the audiobook. I think it enhanced the experience given the documentary format.
I also loved Code Word Romance. It was another fun action/adventure rom-com from Walker which charmed me to no end. And, of course, I loved Abby Jimenez's short. I don't think she can write anything that I wouldn't adore.
Find all my reviews on Goodreads
Books
- Wedding Dashers by Heather McBreen - ★★★★ 1/2
- Better Than Revenge by Kasie West - ★★★★ 1/2
- The Fall Risk by Abby Jimenez - ★★★★★
- Code Word Romance by Carlie Walker - ★★★★★
- Starting Over in Starshine Cove by Debbie Johnson - ★★★★ 1/2
Audiobooks
- The Favorites by Layne Fargo - ★★★★★
- Summer at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews - ★★★★ 1/2
Currently Reading
I am just starting The Heart of Winter. I had not heard anything about this book nor am I familiar with the author, but it called to me.
After reading Lowcountry Lost, I vowed to read more from TI Lowe. Lulu's Cafe starts out in a horrifying way. It's about a woman in an abusive marriage, and there are quite a few graphic scenes in the beginning. I cried for this women. It was awful. But she found Lulu and a circle of friends who gave her a home, cared for her, made her feel loved. I have a few hours left, but it's been very good.
- The Heart of Winter by Jonathan Evison
- Lulu's Cafe by TI Lowe
To Be Read
- Dating and Dragons by Kristy Boyce
- Tales from the Cafe by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
- The Love We Found by Jill Santopollo
- Spring Fling by Annie England Noblin
Let us know in the comments!
The musical sounds fun! Great job getting your reviews written! I’m still reading books I need to review this week. So glad you had a great reading week! I hope this week is as successful.
ReplyDeleteIt was fun! It was a jukebox musical with all hits from the 80s.
DeleteI am so happy that you got to enjoy your daughter's stay! Also that the Favorites was a hit for you too Sam!
ReplyDeleteIt's been nice seeing the kid.
DeleteOh how adorable is Dave and his ice cream!!! Glad you daughter is getting to do so much! Have a wonderful week!
ReplyDeleteThat face melted my heart!
DeleteSounds like a good week.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't bad, other than the weather.
DeleteGlad you're having a great visit with your daughter - you guys always do so many fun things, so I guess she gets that habit of maximizing her visits from you. :-)
ReplyDeleteThe author of Slipstream is a fellow 2025 debut author, and I chose her name in a book exchange thing we did for Christmas, so I bought that one. Seems like a fun read! I always love Kasie West books, so I'll have to get Better Than Revenge.
That's a fun story about Slipstream. I think it's a good fit for me. My daughter definitely maximizes her visits here. One weekend, three plays. That's a lot.
DeleteI'm waiting to see if my library will get an audio copy of The Favorites!
ReplyDeleteI hope they do. It was excellent on audio.
DeleteSo happy to hear you're getting more time with the daughter! I was thinking about my kids when you were talking about your daughter maximizing a day. A couple of my kids threw in a movie amongst our very busy Sunday. I was just ready for a rest! LOL!
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't be able to keep up with her in the city, but I admire how much she crams in when she visits.
DeleteI used to try to cram a lot on whenever we went to NYC too but I would need a week (or two) to recover after lol
ReplyDeleteMy niece is here for the week and it' s been nice too.
It's nice when the young-ones visit. My schedule gets messed up but it's worth it.
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