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! A shout-out to all those dads and father-figures out there. I am lucky enough to still have my dad around, and so, I will take him to Ruth's Chris Steak House for dinner. I am convinced that my father is trying to support the beef industry all on his own. I have been to Ruth's Chris maybe two times. It's very good and very expensive, but we're celebrating, right.
I feel like the whole week has gotten away from me. I had my ultrasound Tuesday. They couldn't tell me much about the nerve. Apparently, it's small and hard to see, but they did find a neuroma. I have an appointment on Monday to talk about treatment. I had to stop googling because it was stressing me out. I will just have to wait and see what the doctor has to say.
Speaking of the week getting away from me, so has the month. I am scrambling, once again, to get my monthly reading challenge prompts completed. There always seems to be more time until there isn't. Lucky for me, I have the long weekend due to the Juneteenth holiday on Monday, and then I am off to Chicago. Should be a good time.
Saturday, today, we are driving all the way to the Hamptons for my cousin's wedding. It is at a horse sanctuary. If I have any good pictures, I will post next week. My dad's family is very small. My aunt Ilse and uncle Dieter passed away pretty young (under 60), so I feel we have to make the trip. Even my sister is coming. It looks like it is going to be a beautiful day too.
On the Blog
- Monday: #AmReading - The Dane of My Existence,
- Tuesday: TTT - Summer is Here!
- Wednesday: One Old, One New - The Rewind, In Twenty Years
- Thursday: Nutshell Reviews - Summer Stage, The Summer That Made Us
- Friday: #AmReading - The Love Scribe, The Library of Lost and Found
- Saturday: IIR? - Ruby Spencer's Whiskey Year, In Love with Lewis Prescott
Let's Discuss
Stacking the Shelves
I got a bunch of interesting invites this week. Arya Khanna sounds like something I would enjoy. The cover is so bright and inviting too. I was thrilled to get approved for the new Kinsella. Sorry to any haters out there, but I love her books. They are always fun and warm and put a smile on my face.
Netgalley/Edelweiss
- The Burnout by Sophie Kinsella
Invites
- Arya Khanna's Bollywood Moment by Arushi Avachat
- The Star and the Strange Moon by Constance Sayers
- Whalefall by Daniel Kraus
- Where Concrete Meets the Sun by Chantal Celeste
Read Last Week
I struggled with following my TBR this week, but by skipping around, my reading was successful. My favorite was the upcoming Webber book, At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities. Found family, a quaint small town, a bit of romance, and a touch of magic made this a winner for me. I smiled so much as I read this book, and those last few chapters threw some serious curve balls. Very unexpected and wonderful stuff.
Phaedra Patrick's new release was also a win for me. I loved the idea of these strangers experiencing all different types of heartbreak going to Italy and helping each other heal. There was a part of the storyline that kept it from being 5-stars for me. I am still not sure if this particular thing was resolved or not in the end, but it delivered many warm-fuzzies which is always a good thing. (I may have to go to a bookstore and re-read that bit at the end, maybe I missed something.)
I finished the week with one of the Dove Pond books as I should have the upcoming release on my TBR soon. It was a very sweet novella. I must ask - is anyone else singing this, or is it just me? (Love in the Afternoon)
Find all my reviews on Goodreads
Books
- The Little Italian Hotel by Phaedra Patrick - ★★★★ 1/2
- The Keeper of Stories by Sally Page - ★★★★
- Drake by Sawyer Bennett - ★★★★
- At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities by Heather Webber - ★★★★★
- Love in the Afternoon by Karen Hawkins - ★★★★
Audiobooks
- Family for Beginners by Sarah Morgan - ★★★★
Currently Reading
I am already in love with You Me Everything. I have cried multiple times. It's just such a lovely story. The Sister Effect is really good too. There are some very complicated family dynamics at play, and I am curious to see how it all works out. There is this one character who seems to be leaning towards a love interest. He is divorced because his wife was having an affair with his brother. Rough stuff, right? But then they ask him to be the best man at their wedding!! I liked that he retold this tale to one of the sisters and she was appalled. I would worry otherwise.
- You Me Everything by Catherine Isaac
- The Sister Effect by Susan Mallery (audiobook)
To Be Read
- Without Further Ado by Jessica Dettman
- Unfortunately Yours by Tessa Bailey
- Confessions of a Canine Drama Queen by Stefanie London
- Change of Plans by Dylan Newton
Let us know in the comments!
Yum on the Ruth's Chris dinner! I'm not a huge steak eater (even though theirs are phenomenal) but their sides are heavenly. And the creme brulee. Hope you had good weather for the wedding. I really enjoyed Drake and Brielle's story.
ReplyDeleteWe had a bit of a shower in the middle of the wedding, but otherwise, weather was great and it was fun seeing all the animals.
DeleteI love Sophie Kinsella! Now I hope you had a great time at your cousin's wedding yesterday (every time I read Hampton's I think posh ;-) ) and I also hope that neuroma will turn into nothing serious Sam!
ReplyDeleteMention going out to the Island to anyone from my area, and they will cringe. It took about 4 hours to get there and there was so much traffic. We did see a police chase at one point, so some excitement
DeleteHappy Fathers Day and yay for a long weekend. We haven't implemented that holiday at my work yet but it will probably be next year. Yay for Ruth Kris. I will be taking my dad to dinner and a movie when he gets back from celebrating in Disneyland with the grandkids. I don't know if I ever said this, but love how you put your Sunday Post together, I know how much work it takes haha
ReplyDeleteMy company gave us the floater last year for Juneteeth. They were onboard early. Thank you, Renee. It took me a lot of iterations to find a format for this post that worked for me and didn't take me forever.
DeleteIt sounds like the wedding will be really nice! My husband's family is quite small too, so we always try to go to the gatherings that we can make. My family is the opposite. I'm not sure they even notice when I'm not there. There's just so many of them!
ReplyDeleteIt was a neat place. It's a horse sanctuary, and they had a bunch of other animals too. It was a good time
DeleteRuth's Chris is supposed to be sooo good. I haven't been there yet.
ReplyDeleteItalian Hotel looks nice, and I like that cover of Everything.
Hope the wedding went well!!
It's one of my dad's favorites, and you know, it's his day. Italian Hotel was good though I was a little frustrated with the ending.
DeleteOoh, have a great dinner out! I hope the wedding was lovely - June is usually very good for weddings!
ReplyDeleteThere was a small shower, but then the sun came back out and the temperature was comfortable. Can't complain
DeleteGoogle Dr can get us into some scary thoughts. I hope it's nothing invasive for treatment. I also hope you have a great time at the wedding!
ReplyDeleteGoogle Dr is never a good idea. Really need to calm down until I talk to my real doctor.
DeleteSo sorry to hear you're still dealing with foot issues! Crossing my fingers they get it sorted and you can be pain free.
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy yourself at the wedding! I've never been to the Hamptons, but it sounds like a wonderful place to visit! Yes, please, share some pictures! I'm not a big steak eater, but I love Ruth's Chris! The way they prepare the steak, in butter and high heat makes it so delicious! Not to mention the sides. Yum! Enjoy, Sam!
I have learn to set my expectations low when it comes to things in general but especially when it comes to healthcare. It's pretty out on the Island. We passed a lavender farm which intrigued me, and the site of the wedding was a house sanctuary with goats and cows and chickens too. Got to channel my inner farmer.
DeleteRuth's Chris is good but I've only been there once. I would rather cook my own steak at this point. lol Hopefully the doc has some good news for you.
ReplyDeleteIt was great. Dad was very happy with his meal.
DeleteI hope the wedding was nice, and that you get some good news from the doctor today!!
ReplyDeleteThe wedding was nice. Very long trip - 4 hours out, 2.5 home, but it was nice to see my aunt who I hadn't seen since my grandmother's funeral back in 2014? I think.
DeleteI am so glad you were able to take your dad somewhere nice! That is very sweet! I also hope you are able to get some answers from the doctor appointment, that is so very frustrating, I am sorry! Hope the wedding was nice, too! Are you doing ALA in Chicago? If so I am so jealous but also hope you have a great time! Actually have a great time regardless because Chicago is lovely!
ReplyDeleteNo ALA. My daughter got us tickets to see Fall Out Boy. Just visiting the kid.
DeleteI'm a Kinsella fan, too! I've requested this one, but it's still pending. I hope you enjoy it!
ReplyDeleteHer books are always great for me. I hope you get approved!
DeleteHope you're having a wonderful time in Chicago!! One of these times, we'll have to arrange to meet up if you have extra time.
ReplyDeleteWho dis? Amber? Nicole? Trying to think of who I know in Chicago.
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