Sunday, February 28, 2021

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.

My Week in Review

Another month is the books! I am really looking forward to March. I am excited to finally see the Grand Canyon and to be reunited with my little Sloth after three months. We got our Adventure package, which one always gets close to departure. I am too lazy to take pictures, but Kiersten did (since she got her's first). The small white bag is what I like to call the COVID touch. It's contains masks, hand sanitizer, sanitizing wipes, and a digital thermometer. Good times! 



I think I was out more this week then I have been any other time in the past year. My sister's father-in-law passed away, so we had the wake on Thursday and burial on Friday. We were blessed with such a lovely day to say farewell. It was low 40s, and I was able to be at the service in a just a sweater. The melting snow made it a bit of mess and made it hard during the soil throwing part (it was really muddy), but I couldn't have asked for a better day in February. Then, Saturday, I did my weekly shopping. I think I am all worn out from three days outside in a row. 

I report to my new job Monday, which will be a mix of what I have been doing and some new stuff. There will be training and working on my open cases. It's weird leaving my old position, as it's been about a year since I performed those duties. I didn't really get to properly say goodbye either, but I feel a bit less guilt. I always felt a little bad that my team was in-office, while I was lucky enough to be accommodated for work from home. My team is currently all work from home, so I am not dealing with feeling like I am putting them out, you know? 









Let's Discuss!
  • Jen talks about social media and driving traffic to your blog
  • Catherine wonders about the bad boy trope 
  • Elley talks about romance sub-genres


On the Blog:
  • Monday: #AmReading - Some Other Now, Love is for Losers
  • Tuesday: TTT - Make 'Em Laugh!
  • Wednesday: CWW - Where the Road Leads Us, Operation Prom Date
  • Thursday: Review - Destination Anywhere by Sara Barnard


STACKING THE SHELVES

I have been anticipating Jen Frederick's new book forEVER! It was delayed by a year, so getting that approval was really exciting. Having the new RLS book in my hot little hands was a thrill too. I mean, all S&S approvals are sort of exciting for me, because they are hit or miss. I also won a book of choice from Shannon and Nicole via the Discussion Challenge. It was wonderful surprise, and I am very grateful. Great week of new books!


Won
Edelweiss/NetGalley
What I Read Last Week

It wasn't a terrible reading week. I DNFed two audiobooks that just weren't working for me and set a books aside, as it was too dark. I was looking for a bit more uplifting, fun reads with the funeral and all. I could very well revisit it. 

The "best" for this week was the new Brown Sisters book. This didn't really surprise me, since the series has been a rock solid delight for me. What did surprise me was how much I enjoyed Ancestor Approved. Anthologies always tend to just be ok for me, but I really enjoyed this one. All the stories were tied together by the Pow Wow and included bits from the other authors stories, which was fun to look for. I didn't even feel like any of the stories were weak, which is something I usually find in a short story collection. There were some I would have loved to see fleshed out to full-length stories, but all were satisfying and I think really great for their target audience. 

Books
Audiobooks

What I Am Currently Reading

I am just starting Five Ways as I write this, so I have exactly zero input at this time, but I am loving my Jenn Bennett book. Yep, it's the end of the month and I am out of borrows, so doing a re-listen of a book I loved, and yes, I still love it. 


What I Plan to Read


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

36 comments:

  1. I hope you'll have an amazing time in the Grand Canyon! Should definitely share some pictures <3

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    1. I am really looking forward to it. I have hardly been off the east coast and am also looking forward to visiting a few new states.

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  2. How exciting to get your Adventure package! That makes it feel more real. :) I hope the transition into the new position goes well. I plan on starting the Intimacy Experiment soon. Hope we both enjoy it!

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    1. It does! Now I just need to not get COVID so I can go on the trip. I have no plans of going anywhere, but I was at the funeral. It was a really small group, many vaccinated, so hoping for the best. I liked last book a LOT, so I anticipate really enjoying Intimacy Experiment. I am starting it like now.

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  3. Ooh a trip sounds like fun! I miss those! I'd like to say I'm hopeful for this fall being better and maybe I can take a trip, but at the moment I'm feeling doubtful about it. I guess because everyone is saying it won't be "better" until 2022 sometime. I'll just play it by ear I guess!

    Nice new reads! Those are all new to me ones but I hope you will enjoy them all!


    Here's my StS

    Have a GREAT day!

    Old Follower :)

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    1. My daughter has made three trips home and felt safe. The trip is pretty much all outdoors too. My sister goes to the casinos. I think you just have to be as smart as you can about it.

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  4. That's so exciting you get to go to the Grand Canyon! I can't wait to hear all about it! I'm going to read The Secret Recipe for Moving On by Karen Bischer in the next week or so, I can't wait to hear your thoughts on that one. :)
    Jen @ Star-Crossed Book Blog

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    1. Secret Recipe was really cute. The romance was pretty adorable, but it was the little cooking group that really won my heart.

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  5. "The small white bag is what I like to call the COVID touch."
    LOL. I mean, it's...not nice, but nice of them to provide such a thing. I hope you'll have a marvelous, safe, COVID-free trip! Also, good luck on the new job!

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    1. I mean, this is a Disney trip. They always have little extras. Thanks for all the luck. It should be interesting learning all the ins and outs of my new position

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  6. Knowing a trip is coming up soon is the BEST feeling!

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    1. I thought I would be more anxious, but I am not. I am ready to get out of my home.

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  7. I read Moonshot a while ago and it wasn't quite what I'd hoped. So are you going to Disney? Or is that stuff for your Grand Canyon trip? We're thinking about going to some parks like that over the summer maybe. I'm ready for my family's annual Memorial Day weekend trip to Branson this year for sure! Have a great week!
    Lisa Loves Literature

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    1. We are doing a trip with Adventures by Disney. We will tour Utah and Arizona. We went to the parks back in 2018 and will probably wait a while to go again. My sister and niece are going for a girls weekend in May, but the last time I was there, I felt like they had scaled back quite a bit. It felt like an ordinary theme park to me, and I never felt like that before (and we have been to 4 different locations with over 75 visits.) My mom loved Branson. I hope it works out and you all have an amazing time.

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  8. I really need to get Brown Sisters series sooooon. But I just rechecked Kindle and I'm gonna have to wait for a price drop. hahaha. I still haven't gotten the hang of DNF-ing books. I still usually consider going back to books I don't finish at some point.
    Hope you have an amazing time on your trip, Sam!

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    1. If you follow the authors on Amazon, you get alerts when their books go on sale and whatnot. I also keep wishlists of books, so I can quickly see when the sales happen. There have been some really good ones lately for new releases. I was impressed.

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  9. I am sorry for your sister's loss Sam! Now, the Grand Canyon is amazing! It's gorgeous and oen of our best memories while in the US!

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    1. Thanks, Sophie. There are so many states I have never visited, and I am happy to be checking a bucket list item off the list.

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  10. I'm so glad you'll get the visit with your daughter! The grand canyon is such a neat sight to take in. The scope of it is just mind blowing!

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    1. I am excited to finally see it. I haven't been horseback riding in like 30 years, so I am looking forward to that too.

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  11. I'm looking forward to March too! Finally- spring! And ooh sounds like you have a fun trip coming up. The grand Canyon- cool!

    I love those pics! :)

    The Korea books look fun.

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    1. I am not only excited to see the Grand Canyon, I am excited to leave my house. It's been too long.

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  12. Good luck starting your new job! How exciting that you will be able to go on your trip soon. I hope that you enjoy all of your new books and have a great week!

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    1. Already have tech problems - lol! I hardly remember what it's like to go places.

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  13. I hope the Grand Canyon is tons of fun! And good luck with the new job. That’s exciting and scary. :)

    Aj @ Read All The Things!

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    1. Being as it's not a totally new job, it's not as scary

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  14. I hope you have a great time on your trip!! Good luck with your new job too; I hope you love it. I'm sorry to hear about your sister's father-in-law. I'm glad the weather was mostly nice to have a good service.

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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    1. Thank you, it was a nice sendoff. Two more weeks till my trip. So excited!

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  15. What a cool adventure pack! I hope you guys have so much fun on your trip!

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    1. They always give us cool stuff, but I always use the first Adventures by Disney backpack I got back in 2007.

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  16. Yay, I'm so excited that it sounds like your trip is a go! I hope you'll have an amazing time. I've been wanting to try one of those Disney Adventure trips so I look forward to hearing about your experience with them. :)

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    1. This is our 4th adventure. All the trips were great and well worth the price.

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  17. Wow! You read a lot in a week. I hope you have a great trip to the Grand Canyon! That sounds amazing. I am so sorry for your loss. I hope your sister and their partner is doing alright. Lots of changes for you last month. Good luck with the new job (:

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    1. I read or listen to audiobooks instead of watching TV, so I knock out a bunch of books every week. I hate starting over, but at least I am not starting completely over with this job, since I have been doing parts of it for while now.

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