Sundays with Sam - The Sunday Post

Sundays with Sam is a combination of Sunday Post hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer and Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

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My Week in Review

Happy last Sunday of February! I know it's a short month, but it is going quite quickly. It was such a terrible travel week for me. Usually, I work from home on Wednesdays but had to go in this week due to the holiday on Monday. After I got to the station, my train was posted as delayed. So, I waited on the platform where it was 17°F, and then they canceled it. It put me out of sorts because it broke from my morning routine. Then that afternoon, there was something wrong on the highway, so the bus driver got off to drive around to the train station. I ended up missing my train and just making the one after it. But, now I was home later, and there was no parking near my building. I was so done with Wednesday and salty because I shouldn't have even been in the office that day. 

BUT! Things are looking up. The forecast is showing 30s in the morning and almost 50 in the afternoon. I am very exciting to see above freezing temperatures in the AM. This has made me feel rather optimistic as of late. I have problems getting motivated when the weather is less than agreeable, so this is good for me. 

Last Sunday, we saw Mystic Pizza. It was jukebox show with lots of hit from the 80s and 90s. I thought it was fun. On Monday, my daughter had me take her to Joann. Most of the stores in the chain have been closed, but ours is still open. We were there quite a while so that she could stock up on fabric and notions. She picked up three cute flannels for new pajama pants for me, too. Every few years, she makes me new ones as the old ones wear out. Then we went out to eat with my parents since she would be leaving the next day. 

Other than that, I just worked this week. It's been super busy, at least for me. I fell a bit behind on blog hopping because I was really tired when I got home from work. It was probably because I had to commute three days in a row, too. I missed that work from home day that breaks it up for me. This is why I try to schedule my days off on Wednesday or Fridays. Try to keep my routine. 

On the Blog

• Monday: Reviews - Back After This, You Between the Lines
• Tuesday: TTT - Pet Parade
• Wednesday: CWW - Summer in the City, Tales from the Cafe
• Thursday: Reviews - The Memo, Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance
• Friday: Discussion - My Favorite Romance Trope
• Saturday: Five on My TBR - Romance

Let's Discuss

• Mary wonders what we should call the person recorded reading an audiobook
• Carol asks the age old question: Love Story or Romance?
• Dini talks non-romantic relationships

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Stacking the Shelves

I acquired quite a few books this week. I loved the first book in Fairbanks' series and was thrilled to get approved for the next installment, Heart Strings. I also grabbed Skye's book since it was Read Now. I love the premise, and you all know I am trash for magical realism. 

With how much I have enjoyed the other Bookstore books, I had to grab a copy of the latest short story. I said after reading the first one that it should have been a full-length book, and I think we will have that with the way Hoffman keeps writing more tales in this world. I also bought some books from my TBR that were on deep discount, and I am looking forward to reading them. 

Netgalley/Edelweiss

• Heart Strings by Ivy Fairbanks
• The Incredible Kindness of Paper by Evelyn Skye

Purchased

• The Bookstore Keepers by Alice Hoffman
• Making Sweet Music by Jeanine Lauren
• Astor Hill by Sydney Madison
• Kayaks and Kisses by Jeanine Lauren (free)

Invites

• What We Left Unsaid by Winnie M Li
  

Read Last Week

Another amazing reading week! So many great stories that made me laugh, warmed my heart, and moved me to tears. The sequel to The Light We Lost came out on top. The original book was sort of polarizing - people loved it or hated it. I was on the love side and was delighted to find out what happened after. The Love We Found had me crying, but this time, they were happy tears. It was a beautiful journey where Lucy worked through her grief, healed, and forgave herself for what had happened. I am feeling so much just writing about it. 

The Heart of Winter, Tales from the Cafe, and Lulu's Cafe were all really moving as well, and Boyce delighted me again with her latest Dungeons and Dragons release. 

Find all my reviews on Goodreads

Books

• The Heart of Winter by Jonathan Evison - ★★★★ 1/2
• Dating and Dragons by Kristy Boyce - ★★★★ 1/2
• Tales from the Cafe by Toshikazu Kawaguchi - ★★★★ 1/2
• The Love We Found by Jill Santopollo - ★★★★★
• Spring Fling by Annie England Noblin - ★★★★

Audiobooks

• Lulu's Cafe by TI Lowe - ★★★★ 1/2

Currently Reading

I am just starting Work in Progress, so not much to say though I am excited to travel the UK with these two. 

I am almost finished listening to Two Can Play. It's classic Hazelwood, so very entertaining. I like that we are in the world of gaming and that this game is based on a book. The two main characters are great, and they finally got to the nitty-gritty romance part. 

• Work in Progress by Kate McKenzie
• Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood

To Be Read

• Life Hacks for a Little Alien by Alice Franklin
• Tartufo by Kira Jane Buxton
• The Folklore of Forever by Sarah Hogle
• Any Trope But You by Victoria Lavine

How was your week?
Let us know in the comments!