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 with everyone. On Friday, it will be 25 years since 9/11. I am starting to see posts on social media, and the tears were flowing. The one below shows the memorial museum. I went there one with my parents. It's beautiful but so painful and difficult. I will never visit again, but I do think it's a wonderful tribute to those who were lost and served. It's an event that I have such a strong memories. I remember them locking down the bridges and tunnels, seeing the smoke for weeks form the World Trade Center, watching my father circle the names of all the lost firefighters he knew. I also remember the positive effects, the patriotism and strength that people in this area showed.
I am going to enjoy this short work week. We have off on Monday for Labor Day, and I have a half day on Friday as I am flying to Chicago. I feel like I am in a rut, so I am really looking forward to the short trip. I have not done much lately, and because of renovations, I don't even have my Paper Mill show to see.
On the Blog
Stacking the Shelves
This was a week of surprises. I was excited to get approved for the Julia Whelan book as I loved both her previous books. I saw the next Bootleg Springs book for download on Edelweiss and had to click. I really loved Whiskey Chaser and am looking forward to returning to that world and the overarching mystery.
I one-clicked The Jump as it was discounted and one of my anticipated books this year. Downloaded a few freebies from authors I have read before as well.
The real surprise came in the form of invites from Berkley. I already have an ARC of the DeLuca book, but I was very sad to be rejected for the new Mallory Marlowe. I was giddy to get that one. I will probably download the Levine book as well, and the Sarah Fox one sounds good too. Then, when I realized Rachel Griffin is the author of The Nature of Witches, I wanted to download her new book too.
Netgalley/Edelweiss
- Casanova LLC by Julia Whelan
- Sidecar Crush by Lucy Score, Claire Kingsley
Purchased/Free
- The Jump by Natalie Heller Reiner
- Strung Along by Hannah Cowen
- Dust Storm by Maggie Gates
Invites
- Fall for a Fairytale by Isabelle Taylor
- We Are Never Ever Solving This Murder by Sarah Fox
- Your Best Chance of Survival by Mike Bockoven
- When the Woods Called Us Home by Rachel Griffin
- Well Versed by Jen DeLuca
- Love You to Death by Jenna Levine
- Entities to Lovers by Mallory Marlowe
Read Last Week
This was a good week. The first two books had me a sobbing mess for very different reasons. Star-Crossed Summer was my top read of the week. It was just second-chance perfection. It's been a long time since I was this invested in a reunion. There was a physically sensation of excitement coursing through my body as I read this story. You would think knowing this was genre romance (HEA) I could remain calm, BUT I COULDN'T!! I loved it!
I also really enjoyed Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt. This was a deep book about life and death, and there was this part that broke me, but the ending was quite surprising and well done. Falling Into Place was a hit as well. You all know how much I love grief and loss stories. This was a good one. Loved the setting, the characters, the personal journey, and the touch of mystery which added something unexpected to this tale.
Find all my reviews on Goodreads
Books
- Star-Crossed Summer by Devon Daniels - ★★★★★
- Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt by Ben Reeves - ★★★★ 1/2
- Game Over by Bella North - ★★★★
- Fall Into Place by Kristyn J. Miller - ★★★★ 1/2
Audiobooks
- Falling Like Leaves by Misty Wilson - ★★★★
- Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder - ★★★★
Currently Reading
- One For the Road by Eliot Fletcher
- Fall For Me by Camilla Isley
To Be Read
- This Story Might Save Your Life by Tiffany Crum
- A Study in Sparkling by Jodie McAlister
- Thank You For Remembering by Emily Harding
Let us know in the comments!
25 years...I can't believe that. Did your dad use to be a firefighter?
ReplyDeleteI love all that cat wisdom LOL - especially "Rest without feeling guilty" 😂.
Enjoy your very short vacation!
My father was a NY city firefighter for 25 years (before we moved to Florida). Yes, cats know what's up.
DeleteWe escaped to the Lake Cabin for the weekend, and it is exactly what we both needed. I was feeling that rut too.
ReplyDeleteNice. I love a lakeside cabin. If you asked me lake or beach, I would say lake.
DeleteWow 25 years. It doesn't feel that long ago. I hope your weekend away helps recharge and refresh you!
ReplyDeleteThat's what I was saying! Thank you!
DeleteI can't believe it's been 25 years. That is a very sombre instagram reel. Now it makes sense why so many theatres were performing Come From Away this year. I hope you enjoy your trip to Chicago. Time away should rejuvenate you. I hope you enjoy all those new additions to your shelves this week, Sam.
ReplyDeleteThat captured the mood of the museum which is appropriate. There is one room where loved ones are sharing things about the person they lost, and when we walked in, they were talking about a friend of my father's. It was eerie.
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