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 Happy Easter to those who are celebrating. We are keeping it low-key and just going out for brunch today. I almost never go to brunch, so I am pretty excited. It's a fact that I do not indulge in breakfast foods too often either. It will be nice to each such things.
I feel like I didn't get much done on my day off. I went to the dentist (still no cavities!), and then I went to the mall. I needed to stop by Lush and get some shampoo bars and go to Sephora to claim my full size fragrance from my sampler pack. For the third year in a row, I attempted to search for a spring/fall jacket. I went to so many stores, but still. NOTHING! That was time wasted. I ended up finding a barn coat online that I liked. Hopefully it fits the way I like. It's so frustrating being old. I like to shop in stores where I can feel the material and see if it fits right. The good thing is the store is nearby and won't be too difficult to return.
On the Blog
- Monday: Reviews - Tell Me How You Really Feel, Time Loops & Meet Cutes
- Tuesday: TTT - Fictional Podcasts
- Wednesday: CWW - Beach House Rules, A Christmas Memory
- Thursday: Reviews - Life Hacks for a Little Alien, Lulu's Cafe
- Friday: Spell the Month in Books - April 2025
- Saturday: Five on My TBR - Foodie Fiction
Let's Discuss
Stacking the Shelves
I downloaded too many books this week. There were a few Read Now that were high on my TBR, and then I got two approvals from Berkley. I am happy these authors are not "too big" and that I can still get their books. A Matthew Norman book was on sale, so I grabbed that. I hope to read his backlist though my library only has his last two books.
I got an email with a whole lotta widgets. Some I had received before, but per usual, they are outside my reading taste. Many have high marks on Goodreads though.
Netgalley/Edelweiss
- The Secret of Orange Blossom Cake by Rachel Linden
- Ghost Business by Jen DeLuca
- The Bookstore Family by Alice Hoffman
- We Met Like This by Kasie West
- Love Walked In by Sarah Chamberlain
Purchased
- All Together Now by Matthew Norma
Invites
- A Treachery of Swans by A.B. Poranek
- Our Last Wild Days by Anna Bailey
- Fifty Fifty by Steve Cavanagh
- Dead of Summer by Jessa Maxwell
- The Devil's Advocate by Steve Cavanagh
- One Dark Night by Hannah Richell
Read Last Week
So many stars this week! I was not surprised that Jimenez and Rosen earned high marks from me. They consistently dazzle me with their wonderful and touching stories, but the Capote short stories were also wonderful and touching. They were all based on holiday celebrations from his youth when he lived with his mother's extended family in Alabama. The stories are set during the depression with the time period and southern setting being captured so well. The best part of all three stories was the friendship between him (7 - 8 years old) and his cousin Sook (60s). Their bond was amazing, and I adored spending the holidays with them.
Find all my reviews on Goodreads
Books
- Summer in the City by Alex Aster - ★★★★
- Say You'll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez - ★★★★
- Songs of Summer by Jane L. Rosen - ★★★★★
- Storybook Ending by Moira McDonald - ★★★★
- A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote - ★★★★★
Audiobooks
- The Forbidden by Sawyer Bennett - ★★★★ 1/2
Currently Reading
Both books are going well. Fake as Puck is a fun sports romance. I love when a hero turns his romantic life around for the right woman. Love and Other Paradoxes is soooo good! Shannon was one of the only bloggers I follow who featured the book, and I am so glad I read her review. The concept is so fun, and I am all in at this point.
- Love and Other Paradoxes by Catriona Silvery
- Fake as Puck by Sarah Smith
To Be Read
- Pride & Puppies by Lizzie Shane
- Fan Service by Rosie Danan
- Mansion Beach by Meg Mitchell Moore
- The Bookstore Family by Alice Hoffman
Let us know in the comments!
Happy Easter, Sam! I hope you had a nice low-key day :) That barn coat is very cute and hopefully, it fits you the way you like when you receive it! It looks like you had a great reading week as well. Capote's book sounds interesting but I also can't wait to check out Jimenez's book. I hope you continue enjoying your current reads—curious to see your final thoughts on Love and other Paradoxes (cute title)! Have a great week ahead :)
ReplyDeleteI never knew much about Capote, so it was interesting to learn more about his early life and share these memories. A nice, warm holiday read. I liked Love and Other Paradoxes. It was a time-travel rom-com, and there was a fun twist near the end. The whole time, I couldn't understand why this one thing was mentioned so ofter, but then the author showed me why.
DeleteI also prefer to try clothes on before buying. Buying clothes online rarely works for me. I hope your jacket will fit Sam!
ReplyDeleteSo, you and I are the two people left in the world who want to try on clothes. LOL! My daughter will order two sizes and then return the stuff that doesn't work. I get annoyed when I have to repack and ship it back.
DeleteI like the coat. Happy Easter
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mary. Happy Easter to you too!
DeleteOh my gosh that is a lot of books!!! I love the Eddie Flynn series by Steve Cavanagh! So great! I hope the coat works out for you!
ReplyDeleteThere were so many widgets in that email. A lot of thrillers which I don't really read, but I guess it's nice to be asked.
DeleteYay for no cavities! I think a long coat would be good for you if you have to wait at the train stations in the cold. I end up ordering my coats as well because I hate going into stores. Sometimes I'll order more than one size and keep the one that fits best. I read reviews and usually guess pretty well, though. I bought a super warm long coat with a hood from Lands End on sale in the middle of winter. It was perfect for the freezing temps of Montana. I hope your coat works out!
ReplyDeleteI downloaded Our Last Wild Days and One Dark Night. Steve Cavanaugh is an author I'd like to try. I'll look that one up. Happy to hear you enjoyed Say You'll Remember Me. I have the audio and hope to get to it soon.
I do hate going into stores, but I hate doing returns by mail more, and if it's not as it appears on line, I am crushed by the disappointment. The Jimenez book was a bit different but still very Abby. A lot heavier throughout.
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