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. It was fairly uneventful in my neck of the woods. I had Friday off, and tried to find some shoes at the mall. It was a big fail. I have discovered that if I liked the shoes, the insole could not be removed and then my orthotics did not fit. I found one pair that were pretty comfy, but they were too big and slipped when I walked. I struggle with slip on shoes which is why I have only really been wearing sneakers. Oh, well. I can try again at a later date. I can only deal with so much defeat.
The weather has been pretty mild, and I think I finished my holiday shopping. That was a good thing. As predicted, I didn't do much with my day off. I guess my beige flag is my propensity to underutilize my time off. I have Thursday off this week. I may actually make it out to the store to exchange some shirts I ordered by mail. I thought I would get there Friday or Saturday, but it never happened. Like I said, I waste my days off if I have nothing scheduled.
On the Blog
- Monday: Isn't It Romantic? - This Spells Love, The Deja Glitch
- Tuesday: TTT - Tis the Season
- Wednesday: CWW - The Getaway List, The Girl on Legare Street
- Thursday: Isn't It Romantic? - Raiders of the Lost Heart, The Fake Mate
- Friday: Spell the Month in Books - December 2023
- Saturday: Five on my TBR - Titles Starting with "C"
Let's Discuss
- The Orangutan Librarian talks about the science of writing
- Krysta discusses when you don't feel like a bookworm
Stacking the Shelves
I was so excited to get my Netgalley approvals. I have LOVED all Jane L. Rosen's books, and her new release looks like it will be another winner for me. Bilow's book sounds great too.
Netgalley/Edelweiss
- Seven Summer Weekends by Jane L. Rosen
- Effie Olsen's Summer Special by Rochelle Bilow
Invites
- Valley Verified by Kyla Zhao
Purchased/Free
- The Summer Proposal by Vi Keeland
Read Last Week
I had another five-star read this week, and it should come as no surprise that it's from an author I always have great success with. Shalvis really leaned into the found family trope that she does so well in The Bright Spot, and she upped the animal antics too. I had such a good time reading this book!
Find all my reviews on Goodreads
Books
- The Girl on Legare Street by Karen White - ★★★★
- Dealbreakers by Lauren Forsythe - ★★★★
- Anger Bang by Avery Flynn - ★★★ 1/2
- Principles of (E)motion by Sara Read - ★★★★ 1/2
- The Bright Spot by Jill Shalvis - ★★★★★
Audiobooks
- The Graham Effect by Elle Kennedy - ★★★★
- Zane by Brenda Jackson - ★★★ 1/2
- Van by Sawyer Bennett - ★★★★
- A Fake Girlfriend for Chinese New Year by Jackie Lau - ★★★ 1/2
Currently Reading
Look at me, reading a romantasy. I never read any of Evelyn Skye's young adult books, but this adult book called to me. Romeo ages slowly while Juliet dies every time they fall in loves and is later reincarnated. Sort of a little like Fallen, a little like How to Stop Time. I am intrigued.
I needed a book for my December keyword challenge. When I searched the eLibrary, I saw the Macomber book and thought it would be worth a listen. It's weird for me because I read a different book in this series. I didn't realize Jo Marie and Mark's story continues in each book. It's a little deja vu, but I am entertained and involved.
- The Hundred Loves of Juliet by Evelyn Skye
- Silver Linings by Debbie Macomber (audiobook)
To Be Read
- The Mystery Guest by Nina Prose
- The Mistletoe Bargain with the Billionaire by Cora North
- The Magic All Around by Jennifer Moorman
- Take Two, Birdie Maxwell by Allison Winn Scotch
Let us know in the comments!
I hope you're able to find shoes! I'm also bad at using my time off. I make a ton of plans, and then just watch Netflix and sleep.
ReplyDeleteGetting that break from the grind makes me want to do nothing. At least I am not alone
DeleteUgh, I still need to finish my shopping! I always leave the hardest people for last - my parents and Tom!
ReplyDeleteYou would think that after all these years, Tom wouldn't be too hard. My mom is hard because she buys everything she wants.
DeleteYes, that's why he's so hard to shop for, too!
DeleteHaving an uneventful week would be a blessing for me at the moment Sam! Let's see if you'll go to the store on your next day off LOL
ReplyDeleteI really want to make the store happen.
DeleteI wouldn't say you wasted your days off... you relaxed at home. I love those weekends sometimes.
ReplyDeleteI really let myself get distracted and didn't even shower until 2 pm.
DeleteI am the queen of not utilizing my time off. Its a badge of honor in my book!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was teaching, I would burn almost the whole summer. I need structure.
DeleteI hate trying to find shoes! I am always either in sneakers or Birkenstocks (which are ugly but don't hurt). I feel like my shoes really limit what I can wear. I am thrilled to hear that The Bright Spot was another winner from Shalvis!
ReplyDeleteI used to love shoe shopping (unlike clothing), but since all my foot issues, it's no longer fun. Birkenstocks do not have removable insoles. I cannot wear my orthotics with them (and I need to).
DeleteChristmas shopping is a pain lol I have finished mine though. So sorry to hear about the pain in trying to find decent good shoes. Love seeing that you had such a great time with that Jill Shalvis! Love that.
ReplyDeleteI think I am done with Christmas shopping. I only buy for three people. Shalvis is always a good time for me
DeleteI'm sorry to hear your trip to the mall didn't pay off with shoes. Especially since this is the busiest time of year to go. Very brave of you. And who says you have to be productive on your day off? I think getting some rest and decompressing is productive, so if you did that, good for you! I probably won't request an ARC copy of The Bright Spot, but I will request from my library when it comes out. Glad to hear it's a hit!
ReplyDeleteThe mall wasn't too bad during the day. There was a line at Pandora though. Are they big again? My library tends to get Shalvis' books, but she is such a sure thing for me, I like to try to get an ARC, so I don't have to wait.
DeleteThat's nice to be done with shopping. I have a ways to go yet. And The Maid looks good. Or Mystery Guest, rather. I need to get those.
ReplyDeleteThe Mystery Guest was a great follow up to The Maid. Not as much the family feel as the previous book, but Molly has definitely grown over the five years since the last book.
DeleteI've had a pretty uneventful week too. I definitely relate to not using my time off. I find I'm just so exhausted that I don't want to do anything. I did get my flu shot and Covid booster this week, so it wasn't a total wash :)
ReplyDeleteI did the flu shot on one of my other days off earlier this year. I don't know if I will do another booster. I still have to get the pneumonia and shingles vaccines. There really is a limit to how many needles I can withstand.
DeleteY'know, I always struggle with feeling like I'm wasting my days off cos I never end up doing anything but... We all like to do different things to relax and if that means doing nothing, then it's totally fine! At least, that's what I like to tell myself and I'm still working on convincing myself it's true 😂 Lots of great books in the pipeline. I hope you enjoy the romantasy—it's on my radar and it sounds so good! Hope you're having a great week, Sam!
ReplyDeleteI get that point. It's your day to use as you please. I just feel like I never have enough time, and then I don't care of things when I have that extra time. I already gave up on Juliet. There was something about the voice and the story not really going anywhere. It could have just been my mood too. Sometimes I can be patient, but other times, I cannot
Delete