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 all went well last week. Nothing special in these parts, though I am going to see a show today. It's a premiere, and I heard they are already rehearsing for the Broadway premiere. One of the main roles is being played by one of the Cheetah Girls. Fun fact, I saw them live when my daughter was 8 or 9 (?). They were the main attraction with Aly and AJ opening (it was a very Disney Channel kind of show), but there was also an opener for the opener. They had not even released a record, and they were handing out samplers in the lobby. It was none other than the Jonas Brothers. I love that we saw them before anyone knew who they were.
The stock market is closed on Good Friday, so I get a short week. I am happy about that. I feel like I cannot catch up no matter what I do. I have two appointments though. The dentist is first thing in the morning, so they can't back up and hold me hostage, and then I have to get my car serviced. I just sit around for that one, so at least I can get some reading done. Hopefully the weather is nice enough to wait outside. I hate the TV chatter in the waiting room.
My trip summary came, since the final payment is due soon, and I was shocked! I felt like I got a good price for my round trip ticket to Heathrow, but the breakdown was crazy. Could the taxes actually be more than the flight? That doesn't seem right.
On the Blog
Let's Discuss
- Dini discusses buying books with intention
- The Orangutan Librarian shares a dystopian parody plan
- A list of 12 Readalikes for The Hunger Games at Pages Unbound
Stacking the Shelves
I got an approval for If It Makes You Happy. I was so captivated by the cover and synopsis that I neglected to check the page count. It is over 500 pages! For a contemporary book! I am hopeful it will be worth all those pages. I got an invite for Finding Mr. July which I was really excited about. I actually had a pending request because I adored Collins' last book and had to read this one.
There were a few Read Now books from authors I love (Heather Webber, Tory Henwood Hoen), so I clicked those. I am trying to see if I can fit the Lee book. It looks wonderful!
Netgalley/Edelweiss
- If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia
- Before I Forget by Tory Henwood Hoen
- The Forget-Me-Not Library by Heather Webber
Invites
- Finding Mr. July by Anna E. Collins
- Give Me a Reason by Jayci Lee
- Modern Divination by Isa Agajanian
Read Last Week
This was an excellent reading week! I loved just about everything I read. Most rated 4.5 stars which is wonderful, if you ask me. They all brought something special to the table and left me happy in the end. Pomona Afton stood out because it was a mystery, but I honestly could not pick a favorite among them.
Find all my reviews on Goodreads
Books
- Fundamentals in Flirting by Lucy Chalice - ★★★★
- Pomona Afton Can So Solve a Murder by Bellamy Rose - ★★★★ 1/2
- Hate Mail by Donna Marchetti - ★★★★ 1/2
- All the Signs by Jessie Rosen - ★★★★ 1/2
- The Love Haters by Katherine Center -★★★★ 1/2
Audiobooks
- When Life Gives You Lululemons by Lauren Weisberger - ★★★ 1/2
- The Strawberry Patch Pancake House by Laurie Gilmore - ★★★★ 1/2
Currently Reading
- Summer in the City by Alex Aster
- Tired Ladies Take a Stand by Gretchen Anthony
To Be Read
- 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
Let us know in the comments!
Taxes on everything are crazy. That's a lot of taxes for a flight. Hope you enjoy your Sunday.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised, though the total price was not bad.
DeleteThat's not possible! Taxes so high??? it's stealing! Also I love that yu got to see everyone before they got famous! And the cover of Give me a Reason is absolutely gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThat's what they sent me, but overall price was good for a direct flight from Newark to Heathrow.
DeleteI hate the dentist. I have put it off for so long now. And the taxes on the airline ticket seems crazy!
ReplyDeleteI have never had a cavity, so that is the one doctor type I am ok with
DeleteWow that IS a great reading week! And honestly, it seems very possible at this point- kind of like "convenience fees" when the only option is buying online? I also feel like I cannot get ahead, so I am VERY much looking forward to the upcoming break, and I am glad you get a day off too!
ReplyDelete"convenience fees" - that term makes me shudder. I bought my ticket through the cruise line. It's in the 800s which is over 400 less than I paid for my ticket last year. Even if the taxes are high, I feel I got a good price.
DeleteOoh definitely a bit of sticker shock on those airfare taxes. Is this the new normal now?
ReplyDeleteI've got an extra day off this week for the Easter holiday, so I plan on smoking a turkey. It should make for a fun and delicious project cook.
I had no idea about the breakdown until I got the email confirmation. The total was ok in my opinion. Crazy! Yum! I have never smoked my own turkey. I hope it all goes well.
DeleteSounds like Friday will be a productive day! I actually have the day off too, as a post-tax season holiday for our firm, so hopefully we can do something fun with Henry.
ReplyDeleteFun! I hope the weather is good so you can do some exploring together.
DeleteGood idea getting the dentist appointment early! I can't believe the taxes would be more than the flight. Something doesn't sound right with that. Although we booked flights to Italy and the cost for picking your seats was about half of the ticket price! Nuts! Pomona Afton sounds good to me. I love mysteries! I'm going to check it out. As if I don't have enough books to read right now! The cat and the donkeys! Love it!
ReplyDeleteI don't know if they are lying in the email, but the total ticket price was pretty good. I did pay to pick my seat with Lufthansa (it was maybe $30?), but the ticket was over $1000 (maybe 1200). I got United both ways, so the seats will be bigger and no fees for picking my seat. Pomona Afton was great! And it's written by Amanda Eliot. I was surprised when I found out.
DeleteWhen I saw the ticket price, I thought it must be a misprint, that's crazy. I hope you have a great trip, Sam. I always try to get my appointments early in the morning for exactly that reason. I hope you have a wonderful Easter weekend.
ReplyDeleteSo strange, but total price was acceptable. I hope you have a blessed Easter as well.
DeleteA trip to the UK - how fun! But those taxes. Yikes! That definitely seems crazy.
ReplyDeleteMaybe they flipped the numbers? Just seems wrong.
Delete