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! Not much to report. Here in NJ, it rained, and rained, and rained, until Friday. The sun came out, it was a beautiful day, and THEN! An earthquake. Now, you must understand, I live in the northeast, we get snow, hurricanes, and maybe a tornado, we don't get earthquakes. When you don't expect something, it's very unsettling. I was working at home, and all of a sudden, the floor and walls were shaking, the windows were rattling, and my mother was screaming. They were doing some construction work outside. I thought that maybe they hit the house, but I found out it was a 4.8 magnitude earthquake. I live about 30 miles east of the epicenter, but people as far as Maine and Pennsylvania felt it. It cracked the ceiling, but other than that, things were fine.
On the Blog
Let's Discuss
- Beth wants to talk about AI
- Heather asks if you binge read authors
- Krysta wonders if it's time for libraries to get personal or use AI
Stacking the Shelves
I think the greatest thing that happened this week was that I was approved for the new Marianne Cronin book. I have sung the praises of The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot and am over the moon to get an ARC of the author's upcoming release.
Netgalley/Edelweiss
- Eddie Winston is Looking for Love by Marianne Cronin
Invites
- Collide by Bal Khabra
- A Different Kind of Brave by Lee Wind
- The Ballad of Darcy and Russell by Morgan Matson
- Three Keys by Laura Pritchett
Purchased/Free
- One Frosty Pucking Meet Cute by Penelope Bloom (free)
- The Summer House by Hannah McKinnon
Read Last Week
This was a great reading week! I may not have had any 5-star books, but almost all were *this* close. I don't even know which was my favorite. Maybe Savor It. It was sweet and fun. There was great food, sibling antics, and adorable animals. There were quite a few scenes that had me laughing so hard I shed tears, too. BUT all the books have their merits.
Find all my reviews on Goodreads
Books
- Once Persuaded, Twice Shy by Melodie Edwards - ★★★★ 1/2
- The Someday Daughter by Ellen O'Clover - ★★★★
- The Other Side of Disappearing by Kate Clayborn - ★★★★ 1/2
- Savor It by Tarah Dewitt - ★★★★ 1/2
- One Last Shot by Betty Cayouette - ★★★★ 1/2
Currently Reading
I really didn't have a chance to listen to my audiobook, but I should this week. I am starting another library book. The synopsis said "heartwarming" and the title has the word bookshop in it. I had to add it to the TBR. As with my luck, the library hold came through (along with EIGHT others). Some, I deferred, but there were a few I was NOT getting back in line for.
- Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum
- Dakota Home by Debbie Macomber (audiobook)
To Be Read
My TBR is going to be library heavy for the next two weeks. I try to read library books as soon as possible. I am in an ok place since I have only one more May ARC after the Fortune book. BUT I have way too many June releases. Seriously, I need help. I apparently could not turn down any June books.
- Mrs. Quinn's Rise to Fame by Olivia Ford
- Just for Summer by Abby Jimenez
- Lonely Hearts Day by Kasie West
- This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune
Let us know in the comments!
I'm glad to hear you're doing okay after the earthquake, Sam. As someone who lives in a country that's a hotspot for earthquakes and such, I can tell you it never gets any less unsettling. I've experienced so many earthquakes since I've moved back to Indonesia and each time I am shook by how much the walls/ceiling shake. Very scary! 😨 It looks like you've had a great reading week though and I had no idea Cronin was coming out with another book but I'm immediately adding it to my TBR! I love that title 😍 A few others on here I'm hoping to check out. I hope you have a great week ahead and enjoy all your reads!
ReplyDeleteI know there are a LOT of quakes over in your part of the world. It must be terrifying. I was surprised when I saw the new Cronin. Another cross generational friendship, but they are not terminally ill. I am ready for it be very heartwarming.
DeleteWe also had an 4.8 earthquake out in Northern Cal this last week (Thursday), but the epicenter was farther out. I was sitting doing a puzzle while listening to an audiobook and so I felt it pretty good. They don't have as many earthquakes out here (so I'm told) as Southern California, but we've already had 2 in the last two years. Glad you didn't have much damage! I have a lot of books for May and this month as well. It's tough to say no, but then it's hard when you have so many to get through and review! I passed on the Carly Fortune, because I just have way too many books right now!
ReplyDeleteIt must be nice to be in a part of the state that does not get as many earthquakes. Is two in two years a lot? I always imagine they come more often (maybe smaller). Nonetheless, it was not a great experience. I had that Fortune book for a long time, but I was doing well with all my other months, sticking to 8 per month, but June got out of control.
DeleteI don't often binge read an author, but sometimes I pick up something that fits me so perfectly I just have to drop everything else to read everything that author's written, you know?
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I have ever dropped everything, and I largely get my books from the library (they are not always available), but I do explore their backlist if I enjoyed a book by an author.
DeleteI'm glad the earthquake wasn't worse for you. They are definitely unsettling.
ReplyDeleteIt's been over 130 years since Jersey felt a quake like that. It just doesn't happen in these parts.
DeleteI have to admit, that earthquake scared the heck out of me! I was in a store very close to Henry's school, had no idea what was happening, and all I could think was if I could get to his school.
ReplyDeleteThat's scary and I totally understand wanting to get to your wee one.That's how I felt on 9/11. I just wanted to get to my kid's school and pull her out.
DeleteEarthquakes are scary. The first one I felt, I thought a car had crashed into our garage because of the boom I heard. The second one was that big Nisqually quake and that one was so big I saw the parking lot at work rolling. I hope you enjoy West's and Jimenez's books. Those were good!
ReplyDeleteThat's what a lot of us thought (especially after the Baltimore bridge disaster). I thought something hit my building. Jimenez's book is so wonderful! I missed her. So glad she puts one out each year.
DeleteCompletely crazy about the earthquake. That had to be beyond unsettling. And that was a lot of library holds to come in at one time!
ReplyDeleteIt's just not very NJ, you know. I got more library holds, too. Doesn't matter how long the wait is when I place the hold, they all come in together.
DeleteI totally thought of you when I heard about the earthquake and lifted up a prayer for y'all! I can totally relate to what you said. We got our first earthquake a few years ago, and it's super bizarre when you've never experienced one firsthand.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ali! Appreciate it. Thankfully, there was minimal damage throughout the state. It just shook us up literally and figuratively). Aren't you in Louisiana? I know they get hurricanes and whatnot, but I didn't realize you got earthquakes too. Yeesh!
DeleteI can only imagine how unsettling the earthquake must have been for you! I've never experienced one being here in Texas, but I bet our day is coming, too. I've been in several Tornadoes, though. Happy to see you enjoyed Savor It. I have that one coming up!
ReplyDeleteI saw a few tornados, but not big ones. Those are scary, too. So much scary weather. I hope you savor Savor It (I am corny!).
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