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 warmed up here, so my mood was definitely a bit better. Who knew I would revel in 37°F temperatures. Between the higher temperatures and rain, all the snow is gone which is fine by me.
I really did nothing this week, or at least nothing beyond the norm - reading, work. I did see something about NJ Transit hiking prices by 15%. That's a big hike and would translate to a $6 increase per day for me. I wonder if this increase will come with better service. My train was 37 minutes late the other day. They cited "congestion". I want to know where the traffic on the tracks comes from. I call shenanigans. I wonder if maybe they will improve the facilities as well because they are subpar at best for the two stations I commute between. My guess is there will just be a price hike with NJT giving the same mediocre and less than reliable service.
On the Blog
- Monday: Reviews - Even If It Breaks Your Heart, The Getaway List
- Tuesday: TTT - I Meant to Read That
- Wednesday: CWW - The Other Side of Disappearing, The Heirloom Inn
- Thursday: Reviews - Clover Hendry's Day Off, The Spy and I
- Friday: Six Degrees of Separation - The Bright Spot by Jill Shalvis
- Saturday: Sloth Goes Places - California
Let's Discuss
- Kit matched some songs to books
- Based on a True Story wants to know if books need to be relatable
- Krysta asks why people expect libraries to do it all
Stacking the Shelves
So much love this week! Getting a Jill Shalvis approval is always something that makes me happy, but I got invites for two anticipated reads, too. Lia Louis and Jen Devon are two authors I adore, and I was giddy to get those invites. One Last Shot was also on my TBR, so that was nice as well. I am intrigued by You'd Look Better as a Ghost.
Netgalley/Edelweiss
- The Summer Escape by Jill Shalvis
Invites
- You'd Look Better as a Ghost by Joanna Wallace
- No Road Home by John Fram
- Love, Lies, and Cherry Pie by Jackie Lau
- Better Left Unsent by Lia Louis
- Attached at the Hip by Christine Riccio
- Right Where We Left Us by Jen Devon
- One Last Shot by Betty Cayouette
Read Last Week
OMG! Rebecca Serle continues to flay my heart. Absolutely adored her upcoming release, Expiration Dates. Her books tend to be loved or hated, but I am team love. They always hit emotionally and are thought provoking. The characters' situations tend to be a bit complicated, and there is always something pretty gasp worthy that happens. I loved it!
Find all my reviews on Goodreads
Books
- Sweeten the Deal by Katie Shepherd - ★★★★
- Love, Naturally by Sophie Sullivan - ★★★★
- The Heirloom Inn by Olivia Miles - ★★★★ 1/2
- One Moment by Becky Hunter - ★★★★
- Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle - ★★★★★
Audiobooks
- The Prince and the Apocalypse by Kara McDowell - ★★★★
Currently Reading
I am devouring Love, Me. It's a great twist on the Celebrity romance trope, though this is not a romance. The main character finds herself reflecting on her life after pictures of her and her first love (who is now a big star) are released to the public. Flashbacks are used to show important moments between her and her first love, as well as her and her husband. I am really enjoying it.
Love, Theoretically is classic Hazelwood. When Jack was first introduced as a physical education teacher, I was sort of excited that we were getting a non-STEM hero, but it was just a misunderstanding. Oh, well. Jack being an enemy is fun too.
- Love, Me by Jessica Saunders
- Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood (audiobook)
To Be Read
- Situationship by Maria Adair
- The Exception to the Rule by Christina Lauren
- The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County by Claire Swinarski
- In the Orbit of You by Ashley Schumacher
Let us know in the comments!
"My guess is there will just be a price hike with NJT giving the same mediocre and less than reliable service."
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid you guessed right...
It's unseasonably warm here as well. But I'm sure when it's time for real spring to come, we'll pay the price with a winter backlash...
We had some cold days. Winter did rear its head here. I never fall for the early spring. March and April are so unpredictable.
DeleteI hope the rate hike translates to good things! Denver increased the train prices, but it also made the trains free during certain months, so I guess it all balanced out.
ReplyDeleteFree rides don't exist on NJT. I doubt the service will improve either. And there is still all the drama between NY and NJ over the tunnel project. It's a mess
DeleteI'm glad it warmed up a little this week, although we still have a lot of winter to get through!
ReplyDeleteUgh! I know, but I'll take what I can get
DeleteWhat a bummer about the railway hike! I know you always have so many issues with your commute. I hope they put the money to making some improvements, but I'd agree, you'll probably get the same mediocre service.
ReplyDeleteYay for the Shalvis approval! I don't even bother to request them since that publisher seems to hate me. I just request from the library and that works out. I've been seeing those short stories around Goodreads so I'll have to see how to get ahold of that Christina Lauren.
I find they often raise prices without improving service in lots of place (airlines, I am looking at you). I am shocked you don't get Shalvis' books. I can't say I get many other books from that pub, but they give me Shalvis, so I won't complain. I love all the authors who did those shorts, and I have KU, so why not check them out, right?
DeleteLooks like you had a solid reading week there. Hope you are enjoying the Hazelwood, many seem to enjoy her work.
ReplyDeleteHazelwood is always a good time. I am loving the hero in this one.
DeleteThat sheep had me laughing so hard Sam! And yes I fear you'll only get a price hike but no improved service!
ReplyDeleteThe sheep cracked me up. I always wonder about how these things are captured on video
DeleteUgh, that's lame about the transit fare increase. I guess it's too much to hope that service will improve as a result. *eye roll* Hooray for all the approvals! Good week for you. I am hopeful that I will love the Serle book as much as you.
ReplyDeleteIt's supposed to happen this summer. I hope the governor changes his mind. I was reading a piece today about how the ridership leans towards lower income people who depend on mass transit, and how they were able to keep the bridge/tunnel/toll roads from an increase which benefits largely those in higher tax brackets. They need to figure this out. I always see mixed reviews for Serle's books, but I love them all. I loved this book.
DeleteHiking transit prices is not cool. We have something called "good to go" carpool lanes where you can pay to drive in them without a carpool. It was announced you could be charged up to $15 to drive in the lane! That's one way. Crazy.
ReplyDeleteYou finally read Expiration Dates! And you loved it! You are going to hate my review. I know it. I gave it less stars...
I think if people are willing to pay the fee, let them if it can offset costs. I saw your review. Have you read and like other books by Serle? I love all her books. She always hits me in some way. I feel like she is like Katie Cotugno in that people either love them or hate them.
DeleteWow, a 15% price hike is steep! I really hope they make some noticeable improvements. I got the Lia Louis and Jen Devon invites too and was so excited to get those. I still think about the first Jen Devon book I read all the time.
ReplyDeleteI just saw the Gov is raising the Turnpike fees too. It's a lot considering we live in a state with some of the highest taxes in the US. I need to hop the boarder to PA. Jen Devon's debut was amazing. I am hoping for more of that.
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