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
It has gotten really cold here too. I was *this* close to bailing on the market yesterday. It was 21°F and windy. BRRRRRR! I heard there is some storm creeping up on us too. More reasons why I am grateful to be work from home.
Since my child will be all alone for her birthday this year, I was looking into sending her a cake or something. I stumbled upon lobster roll kits. Anyone ever order one of those? They had good reviews, but they were pricy - $108 + $45 shipping. If it's good, it's worth it, but I don't know how good it is.
I was happy to see so many interesting comments regarding my first discussion post of the year. I am shooting for one per month, so, gold star for me! I enjoyed everyone's points and counterpoints, and it was really energizing for me. Thank you!
that is why snowmen have carrot noses
— Humor And Animals (@humorandanimals) December 29, 2020
(jukin copyright management) pic.twitter.com/0KiyhJOM07
Let's Discuss!
- All the positives with Negative Reviews - The Orangutan Librarian
- What is the Weirdest/Most Random Reason You've Read a Book - Shooting Stars Magazine
- Goodreads vs. Storygraph - Addicted to Romance
On the Blog:
- Monday: #AmReading YA - Love in English, Wider Than the Sky
- Tuesday: TTT - I Meant to Read That
- Wednesday: CWW - Things That Grow, Girl Overboard
- Thursday: Isn't It Romantic? - The Ex Talk, Then There Was You
- Friday: Discussion - Things That Make Me Go Hmmm
STACKING THE SHELVES
Slow week of approvals, but Amazon tempted me with the spend $25, get a $6 credit. Obviously, I had to buy some books. These have all been on my wishlist for a while and most are sure hits for me.
Bought
I was just thinking, that I have been reading good books, but nothing ah-mazing, and BOOM! Two 5-star books, and one that I believe will also get all the stars, if the author doesn't shank the ending. Spectacular week! So many feels and tears and warm fuzzies. It was good.
Books
Random thought - What are the chances of me reading two books by authors named Sara(h) at the same time?
- The Romantic Pact by Meghan Quinn
- Dominik by Sawyer Bennett
- The Revenge Pact by Ilsa Madden-Mills
- Forever Wild by K.A. Tucker
- Please Don't Hug Me by Kay Kerr
- To Sir, With Love by Lauren Layne
What I Read Last Week
Books
- Happy Girl Lucky by Holly Smale - ★★★★
- Love is for Losers by Wibke Brueggemann - ★★★★★
- Like You Love Me by Adriana Locke - ★★★★
- Destination Anywhere by Sara Barnard - ★★★★★
- Girl Overboard by Justina Chen - ★★★★
- Lux: The New Girl by Ashley Woodfolk - ★★★★
- The Girl from Summer Hill by Jude Deveraux - ★★★
- The Story of a Girl by Sara Zarr - ★★★★
- Mouthful by C.R. Grissom - ★★★
What I Am Currently Reading
Random thought - What are the chances of me reading two books by authors named Sara(h) at the same time?
Back to business, Some Other Now is absolutely exquisite! My heart keeps exploding, and I break out in spontaneous tears. I am loving it! I will absolutely seek out more books by Everett, because this is the type of contemporary I adore.
- Some Other Now by Sarah Everett
- Hard Pass by Sara Ney (Audiobooks)
What I Plan to Read
- Going Rogue by Robin Benway
- Amelia Unabridged by Ashley Schumacher
- Prepped by Bethany Mangle
- The Anti-Prom by Abby McDonald
How was your week?
Let us know in the comments!
Let us know in the comments!
Aww those are so cute! And happy birthday to your daughter! I hope you find just the right thing to send, whether it's the lobster rolls or something else (I'm not familiar w/ those).
ReplyDeleteYou're not alone- I always feel like short weeks go by slower than regular weeks! I'm not sure what THAT'S all about lol!
Hope you have a fabulous weekend. :)
When we went on our New England/Canadian cruise in 2019, my daughter's priority was to eat lobster rolls. This the first time she is not living on the coast, and she was always accustomed to sea food.
DeleteLibrary card renewal is totally a priority! :) Do you ever do curbside pickup or delivery for groceries or do you just prefer to do it yourself? Two five star books in a week is amazing!
ReplyDeleteEarlier in the pandemic, I did takeout curbside, but that's it. I go to the market right when it opens and it's practically empty. Especially now that it is SO cold and dark in the AM
DeleteWell, I didn't have a short week and I think it felt like it was a 6 or 7 day work week. I enjoy the after work time but those hours at work felt very long. I have never heard of a lobster roll kit you could send someone. Interesting! Yay for some 5 star reads this week! I hope you have a great week and enjoy this week's reads, Sam!
ReplyDeleteI feel like the lighter workload days last forever. There is some consolation to being at homes vs the office, as I have diversions here, but still makes the days feel long. Hope next week goes by quickly for you
Deletelove the pics. i saw that bunny before and it is so darn cute. wonder if they planned that, seeing how the snowman is so short. :)
ReplyDeletesherry @ fundinmental
Hmmm, don't know if the bunny interaction was planned, but it's too cute
DeleteI have heard good reviews for please don't hug me and that one is on my tbr list as well! It's been getting so much colder here as well. And yay for one discussion post! I am going to have to go and check that one out as well. I am glad you got the library card renewed. Important indeed ;)
ReplyDeleteSame for Please Don't Hug Me. It really motivated me to buy it. I only use my library card for electronic borrows, so I only find out it's expired when I have a problem.
DeleteWhat is it with short weeks seeming longer than the normal ones? It's insane! It honestly didn't help that I was overwhelmed at work some days. You'd think that would make the day go by faster but for whatever reason it did not help me. Lol.
ReplyDeleteNice new reads! Those are all new to me ones but I hope you enjoy them all!
Thanks for visiting my StS!
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower :)
Sorry to hear you were overwhelmed at work. I feel like it's fast or famine at work these days. Either so busy or so bored.
DeleteI hear you, libraries are always priorities, and I would be doing the same if my library card was to expire. Can't go without access to library books. And congrats to reading so many amazing books!!! I also already read my first 5 star book of 2021 and I couldn't be more happier with it.
ReplyDelete~ Corina | thebrowneyedbookworm.com
It's always a good omen when you find a 5-star book so early in the year. I haven't been to the library since the last time my card expired, so, two years, the system was interesting. They had a guy sitting behind a plexiglass shield near one of the doors. They blocked the two ramps to force you to this entry. He then gave you a slip of paper with the time you had to leave, one hour from when you arrived. I was gone in about 3 mins, but looks like a decent way to keep the main branch open at 25% capacity. All other branches are curbside.
DeleteHaha, priorities, of course. But 21° F! AAARGH! I hope it lets up soon!
ReplyDeleteYay for more discussion posts! I was missing those 😉.
I just looked and it's -8°C with the windchill. I lived all by 6 years of my life in the northeast. You would think I would have acclimated to this weather by now. Never gonna happen
DeleteWe are getting cold weather in here this week I think. It was pretty nice this past week. But possible snow tomorrow! I love the Sara Ney book, Hard Pass, hope you read it. I also loved The Revenge Pact and The Romantic Pact. You got some good books this week, a lot on my TBR!
ReplyDeleteLisa Loves Literature's Weekly Wrap-Up
I am listening to the audiobook of Hard Pass. I am not too far into it though.
DeleteOh no, that weather sounds awful! Stay warm!! I hope you enjoy your new books. Amelia Unabridged has such a nice cover!
ReplyDeleteI am definitely happy I am work from home with how cold it is. I would be a popsicle at the bus stop
DeleteBwahahaha the reason why snowmen have carrot nose LOL
ReplyDeleteCracked me up too
DeleteIt’s so cold here, not quite as cold as you but still freezing. It’s nice though everything has a lovely sparkly look to it.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week.
Here it is just cold and windy, no snow. So, no sparkles, but I don't mind. Snow makes it hard to get around (if I was going anywhere these days)
DeleteOh that temp with wind would be cold! That would make me think hard about a grocery store run, too! I've never heard of a lobster roll delivery, but that does sound pricy. Hope it's good.
ReplyDeleteI think I gave The Girl On Summer Hill 3 stars, as well. I don't even remember the story now. Forever Wild is on my TBR but I have to read book 2 first. I have it both on audio and e-version. Just need to carve out some time. Enjoy your books!
Lobster is expensive, so if I knew it was good, it would be worth it. Not sure if I want to spend that kind of money and then it's not, you know. Summer Hill had a few too many things going on that kind of broke the flow for me. I know it was trying to be a P&P retelling while they were putting on P&P in the book, and some parts were really good, while others seems pointless to me. Not terrible, but not amazing. I loved Simple Wild and liked Wild at Heart. I heart the novella was a great ending to Jonah and Calla's story and am looking forward to it.
DeleteI thought this short week was long as well. So long!
ReplyDeleteI love Red Pandas! They are just so cute and expressive! And that is a LOT of money for lobster rolls. But, I'm sure it would make spending her birthday alone more special!
A single lobster roll is pretty pricy. When we were in Maine, back in 2019, I think I paid $30 for one, and the kid really loves them. I just don't want it to be terrible.
DeleteOh, I loved Forever Wild! I hope you enjoy it when you get to it. And I have an ARC of Prepped, as well. I'll be anxious to see what you think--and what we agree on. ;)
ReplyDeleteI heard it was a good ending for Jonah and Calla, so I am excited to read it. Some bloggers I know really enjoyed Prepped, so I have high hopes for it.
DeleteIt was SO COLD this weekend! I didn't even leave the house - but if I had to renew my library card, I definitely would have! I love food items as gifts - $108 plus shipping sounds like a lot, but I guess it would also depend on how much you would get?
ReplyDeleteIt is a kit to make 4 lobster rolls and I think it comes with chips. It's on lists of best kits, so, it could be good.
DeleteI’m glad your first discussion post went well! I need to come up with one of those for February. I have no idea what to talk about. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
Same. Stressing about what to talk about in Feb now that I was salty in Jan. Hope we both get some inspiration
DeleteI hope you can find something amazing to send your daughter for her birthday. I always love looking at Goldbelly - great items from around the country and a lot of them have free shipping, so the price doesn't feel TOO high.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing my discussion post!! I'm trying to do more of them this year. haha
-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
Good to hear you have used the service. I am always looking for input. Thanks!
DeleteI'm glad it's not quite so cold here. That would not be fun! I hope you find just the right gift of food for your daughter. Maybe there is a nearby restaurant she loves that would deliver?
ReplyDeleteI got her a new bag for her birthday. I just also wanted to send a treat since she is alone. I never got to visit her much. I have no idea what's good there, other than the cupcake place. Might do that.
DeleteIt has gotten really cold here too and I'm hating it, haha. It's actually sleeting right now as I'm typing this post. That's such a bummer that your daughter is spending her birthday alone but I hope you're able to find her a special treat to send her way.
ReplyDeleteI guess I am lucky we haven't really had any precipitation. Last year was the first time since my daughter was in high school that I was with her close to her birthday, because her current contract is in Newark. Maybe her aunt will reach out.
DeleteI've been eying Prepped. I hope we'll both enjoy it!
ReplyDeleteI would probably enjoy it more if I didn't have to read a PDF, but you know, nothing I can do about that.
DeleteOh that bunny!!! Sooo cute!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely can't let that library card expire. I went so many years without a card until they went digital. Now it's my primary way of getting books.
Karen @ For What It's Worth
I always kept my card current, because I would check out craft books and stuff like that, but now, I am all digital from the library.
DeleteLibrary cards can expire?! Oh my gosh, out here they don't. I have had the same one from back home for 30+ years, I just had to update with an online pin years ago, and the ones here are 14+ years old and they don't have expiration dates on them. That's so awful, hugs hugs hugs! I can't wait to see what you think of Hard Pass by Sara Ney, she's an author I'm wanting to read this year.
ReplyDeleteJen @ Star-Crossed Book Blog
Every two years, I need to show up in person and prove that I still live in my township. When my daughter was away at college, her's expired, and they would not do anything remotely for it. She was so mad, because she had waiting months for a hold to come through at the eLibrary and she lost it. I liked Hard Pass, but I liked Hard Fall even more. Buzz is a trip!
DeleteOh wow, so different. And noooooooo, your poor daughter, I would be so frustrated. Hugs!
DeleteMy library card would have expired this year too, but my library is currently automatically extending all cards, so I didn't have to deal with it. I also listen to almost all my audiobooks via Hoopla.
ReplyDeleteNicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
I chatted because they said something about contactless renewals online, and it was only temporary. I would have to come in person within a few weeks. I am all about the audio on Hoopla. They have a lot of romance, which is my go-to for audio
Delete