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! Hope all is well. One week to go until Christmas. Is everybody ready? I have not wrapped yet, but at least I have all the gifts I am giving. I had already bought and given my mother a few things, but I got a little something for under the tree. Last Thursday, I took dad out to the steakhouse. He's very hard to buy for, but I found a little something he needs. Everyone will have something to open!
My daughter is coming in on Wednesday. The weather forecast looks ok by me. Hoping her travels go well. Work has been, something I don't normally say, stressful. Like me, everyone is using the last of their vacation. Unfortunately, in my role, we cannot leave things undone. I worked extra hours on Friday (since I was working from home), and I logged in yesterday too. The smart thing would have been to cancel my day off when I saw how many of my peers were going to be out, but I didn't. Add another poor choice to my life list. They don't seem to care at work, but it stresses me out. I am really looking forward to those two days off next week.
But, hey, I got this email which shows I did accomplish something this year. So, a victory lap for something, right?
On the Blog
- Monday: #AmReading - Love Just In, Picture Perfect Autumn
- Tuesday: TTT - Winter TBR
- Wednesday: CWW - Clover Hendry's Day Off, The Strangers on Montagu Street
- Thursday: Nutshell Reviews - The Bloom Girls, Slightly South of Simple
- Friday: Six Degrees of Separation - December 2023
- Saturday: Sloth Goes Places - Washington
Let's Discuss
Stacking the Shelves
I was pretty happy about my approvals this week. I love Emma Lord and had previously been rejected for this book. A total win for me. Both my approvals are adult debuts by young adult authors I have enjoyed. Obviously, I have high hopes for these books. The Heirloom is on my TBR, and I welcomed that invite.
Netgalley/Edelweiss
- The Spy and I by Tiana Smith
- The Break-Up Pact by Emma Lord
Invites
- The Heirloom by Jessie Rosen
- Ladykiller by Katherine Wood
Read Last Week
A solid week even if I had to do some rearranging as I knew I could not read the longer books I had planned (and a DNF). White's series continues to thrill me. This was, in my opinion, the creepiest installment yet, and it seemed like the romance might also take off too (though there will be more waiting).
I also really enjoyed being back in Molly the maid's world. Though this book felt less found-family centered, I learned a lot about Molly's past and it seemed there could be changes in the future for her should Prose write any more Molly books.
Lord's book was also a hit. It was a rollercoaster with it being so fun and humorous in the beginning and stuff getting much more serious in the middle. It was worthy of the starred reviewed it earned (in my opinion).
Find all my reviews on Goodreads
Books
- The Strangers on Montagu Street by Karen White - ★★★★ 1/2
- The Mystery Guest by Nina Prose - ★★★★ 1/2
- The Mistletoe Bargain with the Billionaire by Cora North - ★★★★
- The Magic All Around by Jennifer Moorman - ★★★★
- The Getaway List by Emma Lord - ★★★★ 1/2
Audiobooks
- Silver Linings by Debbie Macomber - ★★★★
Currently Reading
I have not gotten too far into either of these. Not much to say, but I am enjoying the magical touches in the audiobook a lot.
- Take Two, Birdie Maxwell by Allison Winn Scotch
- The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic by Breanne Randall (audiobook)
To Be Read
I am trying to work a holiday book in each week. Been hitting up KU and found Single All the Way which is by a YA author I have read before. It sounds super sweet, but it's funny that it's a billionaire romance just like the holiday book I read last week. Seems billionaires are everywhere (where's mine?)
- Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman
- Single All the Way by Kate Watson
- Technically Yours by Denise Williams
- Clover Hendry's Day Off by Beth Morrey
Let us know in the comments!
I'm not ready for Christmas! I still don't have a gift for my sister and have no idea what to get her. Good luck with work, and I hope you have a great time with your daughter.
ReplyDeleteGift giving can be so hard, especially when you want it to be a great one. Good luck with the shopping. I am sure you will find something fantastic!
DeleteLOL, I heard about the cow on the tracks! How weird. I'm not quite ready for Christmas yet, have to get a couple more gifts and then this week I'll do the wrapping. Still keeping everything hidden because Henry likes to open everything!
ReplyDeleteBut look, he was from the slaughterhouse and now, they are letting him retire out on the island. Henry is no slouch. He knows there's good stuff in those packages.
DeleteWork is always crazy at the end of the year! I hope your daughter will arrive safely and on time! Also that bull has very impressive horns!
ReplyDeleteYou don't often see steer in Newark. Crazy!
DeleteSorry work is so stressful! Hopefully you are able to enjoy your time with your daughter.
ReplyDeleteI am just salty because I always help out, and it would be nice if people could do the same for me every once in a while. Oh, well.
DeleteWow, a bull on your train route?! That's crazy! Sorry to hear your job has been stressful. I hope you get some rest and decompress with some days off, Sam! I can't believe were so close to the end of the year. I have a lot to do.
ReplyDeleteThis was up north in Newark which is an urban city. So, I could imagine people were shocked to see a bull running on the tracks. It's unreal to think there are only two weeks left in the year.
DeleteIt sounds like you had a great week, Sam. I love that bull video, poor guy. I see you just read an Emma Lord book and have another ready to go, good for you. Enjoy your upcoming books Sam. I sure hope that week is less stressful than last.
ReplyDeleteAt least the bull is no longer being slaughtered. Something good happened for him. I enjoy Lord's books. She has a great sense of humor and really witty too.
DeleteI been wanting to read a book by Alice Hoffman.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week.
My sunday post: https://snapdragonalcoveblog.wordpress.com/2023/12/16/a-very-dickens-christmas-2/#comment-4913
I found the short story a great way to sample her writing. I highly recommend it
Delete"Seems like billionaires are everywhere (where's mine?)" had me giggling cos SAME? 😂 I'm sorry to hear work has been stressful lately but I hope that it eases soon and yay for two days off next week—very exciting! Have a great week ahead and I hope you enjoy all your reads as well.
ReplyDeleteAm I wrong? I think we both deserve our billionaires too.
DeleteMy shopping is finished too, just have to wrap. And I have a white elephant gift that is somewhere in Amazon delivery limbo haha
ReplyDeleteOh, no! I hope you get your delivery in time. I have wrap too. I am really bad about that
DeleteI got that 25% thing, too! I was like, what does this mean??? Just a kudos I guess. I hope your daughter gets there safely and work chills out so that you can enjoy your time.
ReplyDeleteIt means we are ranked above 75% of other readers. *high five*
DeleteI'm all ready. We really cut back on gift giving this year. Shipping is SO expensive. Kevin was home visiting his family and picked up a few things the needed while there and that's their gift. His sister - her Christmas tree, repaired several things on his parents vehicle so they could drive it again.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a visit from Kevin is a great thing. It's very sweet of him to take care of all those things.
DeleteI'm almost done, but still have a bit of shopping to do. Before the weekend I didn't have ANY done. Thank goodness for online.
ReplyDeleteThat NORAD story is neat.
You like to wait, huh? My grandmother (maternal) use to go out to 86th street in Brooklyn on Christmas eve and do all her shopping before we came over for dinner. She really liked a challenge. I never knew that NORAD story. Very sweet.
DeleteHooray for your daughter arriving this week (today I think!). I know you'll love that. I've wrapped exactly one gift. Ha! Yeah, I really need tp up my game this week. I've read that story about NORAD before... so funny how that came to be. :)
ReplyDeleteYes. She's here. The airport was chaotic, but we had a lovely lunch together. I was fascinated by the NORAD story. So sweet.
Delete