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. I took a vacation day on Monday, so I appreciated the short week. I used the day to run errands and get my flu shot. I was really impressed that I was calm for it. I get super anxious with needles and medical stuff, but the pharmacist did a great job. The same thing with the nurse who did my yearly health screening at work. There was no drama for once.
I do have a bone to pick with my company about the screening though. Since I have been with the firm, we got a discount on our health insurance premium ($500) if we completed the onsite screening (finger prick for sugar/cholesterol, height, weight, waist measurement, and blood pressure) and a questionnaire. One year, when they were trying to get more people back to the office, the Covid vaccine was added. Well, this year, we get a $250 credit for the screening and questionnaire and $250 credit for an annual physical. I was really annoyed. Why do I need the screening if I had a physical? That includes all that stuff PLUS the blood work is fasting (unlike at work). I am salty about it. Seems like they are making me jump through hoops probably hoping people won't do it.
Since I don't drive much, I lease my car, and I got clipped in the back. It's a two line scratch on my rear bumper. My father claims it can be buffed out, but I am stressing. I never had damage on my car before. So, I schedules a pre-turnover inspection to see what they say. I have no idea what the charges are like for wear and tear because I have never had an issue before. --sigh-- Here's hoping the scratch is considered small enough.
Saturday, my cousin and his wife took us out to dinner. My dad's family is so small with his parents and siblings all gone. It's nice to connect with my relatives from that side. I last saw him at his wedding in the summer. It was fun to catch up.
On the Blog
- Monday: #AmReading - Penelope in Retrograde, The Sweet Gum Tree
- Tuesday: TTT - Making Headlines
- Wednesday: CWW - Every Time You Go Away, The Bloom Girls
- Thursday: Nutshells - The Christmas Orphans Club, Wrapped with a Beau
- Friday: Spell the Month in Books - November 2023
- Saturday: Five on My TBR - Titles Starting with "E"
Let's Discuss
- Renee talks romance trends
- Author Adriana Mather pairs books with holiday movies
Stacking the Shelves
I got a LOT of invites and approvals this week. I had the 96% ration on Netgalley for a short time, but I am back to 95% with this new batch. No regrets since I got some books I am really excited about. I am not sure if I will download any of the invites, but some sounded interesting. I simply have a lot of 2024 books already, and I really want to stick with my 8 ARCs per month rule. It worked really well for me this year.
Netgalley/Edelweiss
- One Moment by Becky Hunter
- Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan
- Birding with Benefits by Sarah T. Dubb
- What's in a Kiss? By Lauren Kate
Invites
- Happily Ever Alaska by Patience Griffin
- The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish by Paula Brackston
- In a Not So Perfect World by Neely Tubati Alexander
- Where the Dark Stands Still by A.B. Pornaek
Purchased/Free
- Half a World Away by Mike Gayle
- Lies and Other Acts of Love by Kristy Woodson Harvey
- Blind Pass by Tegan Hunter (free)
Read Last Week
I finally had a 5-star read again, and interestingly enough, it was another time travel/alternate life type book. These books have been very, very good to me this year. I should definitely continue to read them.
This Spells Love surpassed my expectations. It was a lot of fun, but really used the trope well. It was also a friends-to-lovers romance which is one of my favorite types of romances. I also loved The Bloom Girls and The Twelve Dogs of Christmas. Holiday books continue to please me, and they were not lying when they name dropped Gilmore Girls in The Bloom Girls Synopsis. This mother-daughter duo were a delight.
Find all my reviews on Goodreads
Books
- The Twelve Dogs of Christmas by Susan Wiggs - ★★★★ 1/2
- Picture Perfect Autumn by Shelley Nobel - ★★★★
- The Bloom Girls by Amy Pine - ★★★★ 1/2
- This Spells Love by Kate Robb - ★★★★★
- The Fariytale Life of Dorothy Gale by Virginia Kantra - ★★★★
Audiobooks
- A Match Made for Thanksgiving by Jackie Lau - ★★★★
Currently Reading
I loved White's latest series so much, I decided to go back to the beginning. I am not too far into Tradd Street, but it's good, as expected.
Blades is new to me, but I am enjoying Looks Good on Paper. I checked this one out to fulfill a reading challenge prompt. It's always a plus when the book is entertaining. The paper making aspect is interesting. Makes me think about that Kate Clayborn book, Love Lettering.
- The House on Tradd Street by Karen White
- Looks Good on Paper (audio book) by Kilby Blades
To Be Read
- Prairie Winter by Bonnie Geisert
- Playing the Witch Card by K.J. Dell'Antonia
- The Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson
- Raiders of the Lost Heart by Jo Segura
Let us know in the comments!
I mean, "height, weight, waist measurement" - what for? And wait...waist measurement, really? Is this a Miss America context?!? Anyhow, yeah, it sounds like an unnecessary hassle...
ReplyDeleteI hope the car damage doesn't amount to much, and they take into consideration all the time you've managed to keep your car pristine...
I did chuckle at the sight of that video with that caption.
There's a number of witches in your latest haul (for lack of a better word - I know these are mostly approvals/library loans). Witches are fun 🙂.
I do like witch books. Not sure why, but many of them incorporate some interesting magic/powers. If your waist is too big, it's not healthy. That was one I was actually ok and in the healthy range.
DeleteI tried to get new life insurance this year. I got so frustrated with the process and hoops that they were making me jump through that I decided to cancel the whole thing. I hate things like that. I have never leased a car but I hope that you get good news. I am at 97% on NetGalley right now but that is only because Edelweiss has become my go to. Nice that you were able to spend time with family. Have a great week and enjoy your new books.
ReplyDeleteThis isn't life insurance (which I think they make hard because they don't want to pay, like it most insurance). This is my health insurance at work to get a bit of a discount. I will never read the old books on my NG shelf. I have lost interest, and really, what's the point years later, unless I really want to read them. It's not like I am creating buzz for a book that is a decade old.
DeleteYeah, I definitely think they are making it harder for people to earn their credit! Probably had too many people "taking advantage" of it. But it's a nice perk! I'm sorry about the car and hope it's not too much of a hassle with the lease.
ReplyDeleteIt's part of our compensation package that my company brags about, but then they keep moving the goal post. I am nervous about the car. I wonder if I should just get the scratch fixed on my own. It's stressing me out
DeleteI'm sorry about the car. I've let my insurance lag...hoping to rectify that soon.
ReplyDeleteHope you get that worked out
DeleteIt does seem like they are making you just through hoops to get that. Needles don't bother me since I have to give myself insulin shots now.
ReplyDeleteI guess if I needed needles to live, I would be better with it. You are brave, Mary!
DeleteOur insurance makes us go through screening (blood test) and a questionnaire or they charge us $75 extra a month. We didn't do it in time last year with moving and everything, but we got it done this year. Yes, I do think they hope you won't do some of it so they can charge you more. I agree, super annoying. I think the scratch won't be a big issue. I think you could take it to a body shop and they could buff it out and touch it up with paint.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to Raiders of the Lost Heart too. I should go to the beginning of the Karen White series! It does sound good. I'll look it up at the library. If it's the same narrator, I'm definitely in!
My dad said the scratch could be buffed out, but I have no idea how much that costs. I don't normally have issues like this. I don't drive much, and the way I park in the deck maximizes the space between me and the next care. I saw a few highlights for Raiders on IG today. I am intrigued. I finished the White book today. It was good. It's interesting seeing Melanie and Jack in the "before". Good mystery too.
DeleteThe stress of the car and health insurance is hitting home this week. I finished enrolling in my insurance and was shocked by how much more I have to pay for the same coverage as last year. Something's gotta give!
ReplyDeleteWe took a road trip this weekend to the Dallas area for my SIL's wedding, so I took my car in for service. They wanted to do an additional $1200 in regular maintenance that seems crazy expensive to me. I just stuck with my regular oil change and tire rotation and will have to get a second opinion.
That stinks! I am lucky that my company charges based on your salary. I am paying a bit more this year since we got two raises last year, but it's still not terrible compared to what other people have to pay. The last car I owned (a Jeep) became a money pit. That is why I lease now. I know not everyone drives as little as me, but I never pay big auto service bills. I hope you are able to get a better price/better news about your car.
DeleteI hate those health things companies offer. They're annoying and I would be irritated by the way they changed things too. My husband's plan went up this year. That was frustrating.
ReplyDeleteHealth care just keeps going up and up and up. Before ACA passed, I had great insurance. It's been downhill since then. I guess I should be happy I am relatively healthy, right?
DeleteI hope the scratch won't cost you anything! I lease my car too and I am always nervous at the end of my contract!
ReplyDeleteI hope you are right, Sophie. I lost sleep after it happened because I was twisted up about it.
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