The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received.
Don’t forget to look at my giveaways on the right sidebar.
We spent Sunday and Monday driving home from Maine. It was 45 (7C) and raining when we left 95 (32C) at home! The traffic was not as bad as I expected but it was long days of driving, 14 hours and 9 hours. I didn’t like after dark near NYC much, as it was the worst traffic and after 10pm! I did love stopping to meet Jen from That’s What I’m Talking About in New Hampshire. She is always so great on Twitter and supporting me as I got started blogging on my own. It was such a gorgeous day there and I would loved to talk longer.
The first day of driving back home, I didn’t plan meals which made my daughter grumpy. 
She doesn’t like to look up places on her iPhone, but heck I was busy driving. I planned the second day which included dinner at a favorite place in Virginia which has a gluten free lava cake dessert we like. Overall we had a good food vacation with lots of seafood but more sweets than usual and more carbs like potatoes / rice/ corn with less veggies (other than salad). My daughter had salmon with steamed broccoli one night and was disappointed with it because it is something we fix at home and “mine is so much better.” lol
After the Comic Con in Michigan, we went over to Maine to eat seafood and see Acadia National Park. We loved the carriage ride and we were on the very first one of the season! I’m so glad we were able to go and that the weather was nice. It rained the day before and the day after it. It gave us a few days of relaxing. I did get to listen to many audiobooks while traveling. Now home, there are many reviews to write, laundry, grocery shopping, and the medical appointments start again. My daughter is feeling better with the latest adjustments to diet.
Back home there is so much to do, I did laundry, wrote 3 of 6 book reviews. i think because I was gone things were kind of all wonky. I got an eARC on Wednesday for a blog tour review stop on Friday. Blog tours have caused me to rejuggle my posts over the next month 4-5 times. I broke down Tuesday night though and just couldn’t read anything but Sapphire Flames by Ilona Andrews. It will be one of the best books I read this year. I’m working to catch up on blog hopping too.
So the rest of the week had the typical medical appointments. I scrambled to catch up on blog stuff, emails, and to move fully into the process of moving. I wanted to get out in the yard but it has to wait to the weekend with mid 90s all week. Friday night we got rain and hail! At least now it looks like we will have more 80s.
Saturday I finally did some real packing. I did MORE laundry, email cleanup and wrote reviews. I tried to figure things out for the COYER Treasure hunt. There were also all the May challenge updates to do, which I hope to finish updating on Sunday.
May Reading: I had another good reading month. I read a reasonable 28 books, same as last month but I was out of town for 10 days. Some count for more than one challenge. I listened to 14 audiobooks, read 15 New Releases, read 10 library books, and read 13 Beat the Backlist books.
My Series in a Month reading challenge for May was successful with 3 ebooks and 2 audiobooks. I did a post on this yesterday. I need to do this challenge EVERY month to try to finish up or read series I have always wanted to read. But next up is COYER which has just started.
Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga’s Reviews and Reading Reality. These are the exciting ARCs I received this week:
Tracking Game Hot Under the Collar Tangled Threat
Oh I am so happy about some of these books! Thank you so much Crooked Lane Books, InkSlingerPR, Harlequin Intrigue, and two wonderful print ARCs from AceRoc / Berkley Publishing.
Shades of Wicked Brothers Sinister box set
A couple of Kindle deals caught my eye this week. Jeaniene Frost is a favorite for $1.99. I don’t read much historical romance but I liked the first book in this Courtney Milan series. All 4 books plus 3 novellas was $2.99.
Now the really scary one. This is all the Kindle and Audible freebies I grabbed this past week. You can see why I need to do Thrifty Thursday to be sure I read a few at least one each month.
I really meant to cut back on freebies BUT they are free so I guess that won’t be happening.
I’m not including things like reviews posted or upcoming as they are always in the right sidebar. And, my challenge status is also there.
If you like this and want to see me do the Sunday post, as often as I can manage, leave me a comment and let me know.
Anne
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Your week sounds so much fun!! That road trip sounds great. I’ll be driving down to Florida in two weeks so I’m excited but already tired thinking of the drive down ? Hey, it’s great that she likes your broccoli’s better than a restaurant’s LOL!
It was good except I don’t like moving to a new place so many nights in a row. We took care to take small suitcases and leave the rest in the car. Well my broccoli is organic and fresh but I think it’s my marinade for the salmon she loves most.
Sounds like you had a great vacation, despite the night driving in New York (been there, done that, never again). Congratulations on another stellar reading month, too? Looking forward to reading those reviews.
Thanks Jonetta! So many things I REALLY want to read. But with moving the next 2-3 months might be slowish. I’m trying to work ahead a bit and haven’t taken as many ARCs for July.
It seems to me that you had a lot of fun Anne! Now time to go to business as usual but on the bright side, eating gluten free should be easier! I wish you a happy Sunday!
Thank you Sophie! It was a good change of pace. I like seeing new places and trying new things, including different foods. But I can’t eat all that fried or sweet food all the time. It’s fine on vacay for a short period.
Your trip sounds wonderful! I am so glad you got to eat all that yummy food. Laundry is like forever! That’s one thing no one ever tells you as a kid. Laundry is the definition of adult lol
I hope you have a great week, Anne! Happy Reading! xx
Thanks! I wish I could have stayed in NYC to go to BookExpo only a couple days later. Maybe next year. I’ve always wanted to go.
I actually enjoy doing laundry; I always have. But vacuuming is a whole other thing. I don’t like vacuuming or dusting.
Love that you had a good time on your trip with good eats, meeting a friend, lovely sites, and a break from the heat. Whew! You hit the ground running when you got back. Way to go, Anne! 🙂
I need to get caught up on those Night Huntress spin-offs, but I should snag Shades of Night while its $1.99.
Have a great week!
Thank you. That was my thought. I’ve been buying some of those Jeaniene Frost books but I haven’t read them since Night Huntress. I don’t have any good reasons. Have a great week Sophia!
Your vacation sounds wonderful. Thanks for sharing the lovely photos. And good luck with the moving. I don’t know how you find time to do all of the things you’re doing!
Thank you Laura. I don’t ever seem to have enough time. But some things are easier for me to do fast because I’m experienced at them; other things seem to take forever. I hate the packing / moving but I enjoy the unpacking and organizing.
Sounds like you had a good time and found some good food. But I bet you’re glad to be home. It’s been in the 90’s here lately too. Not looking forward to the Summer here. It gets too hot.
Yes I’m not looking forward to heat and humidity while I am schlupping boxes and furniture up and down stairs or in / out of vehicles. I hope you stay cool.
Oh many nice things for you! Have a lovely week and happy reading!
Thank you. I hope your week is lovely and you enjoy all your new books.
sounds like a good time. glad you enjoyed your trip, even with some not so fun moments.
Yes, thanks. I thought it was important to have a break before the real work starts.
Sounds like you guys had a great vacation! Hopefully you are able to catch back up and get everything packed up for the move!
I hope I get it all done too. Right now I just do all the packing etc I can every day and hope it will be enough. I keep trying to pick out things to toss or donate. It’s hard. I always think I will use something later.
Sounds like you had fun on your trip. The carriage ride sounds like fun. I’m from IN and we have hay rides and other fun fall stuff, so that’s something I’d love to do agin. Great book haul. Have a wonderful June and happy reading!
52 miles of carriage trails were built in the Acadia park by the Rockefellers in the early 1920s which they and their friends used until they turned it over to the park. It’s beautiful. Thank you! Have a wonderful week!
You’ve been busy! And well traveled! What did you think of the Michigan con? I didn’t make it over there for that. And Maine sounds fabulous.
I hope it cools down some. That’s too hot. 🙂
The con was crazy busy with lots of stars. The check in was well handled compared to some I’ve attended, specifically for those with advance tickets. You could literally spend thousands of $$$$ on autographs and photo ops or merchandise. I was there to see the Sons of Anarchy guys and I didn’t even see all of them. I caught a peek of Henry Winkler and Felicia Day and too many others to remember them all. Many were tv stars who I recognized the names but wouldn’t know if I saw them since I watch less tv. Of course I know David Tennant and George Takai and Jonathon Frakes(?). I had a 3 day pass but only went one day. It’s expensive to park, eat or anything. After an hour of looking, I did find the Pojkemon items my daughter requested. lol
Maine was beautiful and cool. It’s going into the 80s this week which is MUCH better.
Sounds like a good trip and glad you made it home safely. And you got to some books so that’s always nice. I’m doing the treasure hunt and it’s exciting see where books can go on the hunt. Hope you manage to catch up. While vacations are fun, they can really leave you feeling behind at times.
Exactly. I finally have gotten my emails down to a more usual level and trying to catch up on review writing. June is challenging with lots of ARCs and time shuffling. July is more laid back – thank goodness.
Good luck with COYER and Happy reading!
Wow, your trip sounds like quite the adventure. I’d love to travel to Maine some day. I’ve always heard it’s beautiful.
I love Maine. I last went there 25 years before my daughter was born. I like the ocean and mountains and the seafood. Lobster and blueberries are in better supply. They have blueberry soda which I enjoy.
Sounds like you had a great time! I hope this is a good week for you.
Thank you! It was a good time. A friend of mine went to Boston / NYC this past week and it’s like she said this morning. I need a vacation from my vacation.
I’ve always wanted to visit Maine. Great photos.
Enjoy your week, and thanks for visiting my blog.
I’ve been to Maine 3 times and I always want to go back. It took 25 years to get back but at least now I live on the east coast so it is closer.
Sounds like you had a great time. I know what you mean about laundry etc. after a trip, no matter how short or long.
We did have fun but combining it with an existing long weekend made for lots of driving.
Hey! That’s Me! Haha! It was go great meeting up IRL and meeting your daughter. I too wish we had more time. Glad you made it back safely and are ready for your next adventure!
Thank you for having us! There were so many things to talk about but so little time. Plus my daughter was going to be antsy. You have a beautiful home and family.
Sounds like a great trip overall! It’s always fun to loosen up the diet a little while away and indulge a little. And it’s great that you got to meet up with a blogger friend! I have that Corinne Michaels book (We Own Tonight) but haven’t read it yet. Hopefully we’ll both enjoy it!
Yes it is. I like trying new restaurants and different foods but we have to watch the gluten-free. It was really fun finding some places which were all GF because the owner or his wife or children or something are GF so the whole place was, or had very good options.
What a busy week! Roadtrips are always fun, but can be stressful!
It sounds like you had a good time. 🙂
Thanks for stopping by! *^-^*
It was good and we did get to do the fun things we planned.
Argh! 2 days to read the book and then have your review up for the hop on the Friday?! It’s outrageous. This is the reason I’ve all but stopped with the tours and the other promo bits like cover reveals and blitzes. I’m so tired of things coming in so late and having to scramble. Well done you for taking it in stride and accommodating!
I enjoyed reading about your travels. The only thing I dislike about the travels is having to catch up on all the home things and laundry when I come back! Hopefully, you got caught up quickly. 🙂
IKR??? I only do the blog tour if I really love the author and want to promote them but it does get difficult. I try not to do the reveal things at all. I am finally caught up with my emails, blogging and scheduling summer medical stuff. But gah I need to pack!
What fun vacation time 🙂 Enjoy settling down again with your new batch of books.
I am so lucky to get GREAT books and this week is another big haul. A bunch of September books or even later got to me.
Sounds like you’ve had a busy (and fun!) week, Anne. You have some lovely new books there. I’m especially interested in The Harp of Kings. I’ve heard great things about Juliet Marillier’s works!
Congrats on reading so much in May. I hope June goes just as well if not better!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE Juliet Marillier. This one has been on my list for 8 or 9 months. I don’t think it is even on Netgally yet but a print ARC showed up in my mail!!!
I am truly worried about June & July reading with moving. So we will see how things go.
WOW! It sounds wonderful! I love food adventures when I travel too. A comic con sounds like a ton of fun. I would love to try one sometimes. ❤️
I have been to a few ComicCons, either for Sons of Anarchy stuff or for Fantasy SciFi writers. This one was SOA. I’d love to go to Emerald City ComicCon and see Robin Hobb, Anne Bishop, Katherine Arden, Patricia Briggs, Devon Monk and others who are west coast authors.
i have enjoyed the Timber Creek K-9 books and will look for this new one.
They are seriously one of my absolute favorite if not my favorite of the K9 books I read. It is on Netgalley but doesn’t release until November.
Awesome road trip! I love it when I get to explore new places. I’ve enjoyed meeting fellow book bloggers. Great set. of books you get to read! I heard Heather Graham is a great author, and I’ve been wanting to try Jeaniene Frost!!! Happy Reading Anne!
Thank you! I’m lucky to get access to so many wonderful things to read.
I also hate looking up restaurants on my phone! Comic Con sounds like a blast. I’ve always wanted to go, but it’s never worked out. Have you been to BEA? If you have, how do the two compare?
Lindsi @ Do You Dog-ear? ?
I have not been to BEA but want to go now that I live closer. I think BEA would be more book focused and have less tv /movie celebrities and a wider range of topics in their books. The comic cons tend to focus on scifi / fantasy type books (if they have a book track at all) and then tv / movie celebrities, manga and gaming. The other cons like RT, Book Bonanza, Apollycon, etc tend to have the largest concentration in romance authors. I’m fairly selective about my romance selections I think I’m more interested in meeting more scifi, fantasy authors in the future. Or maybe mystery / crime / thriller. I don’t know where those authors attend cons. Maybe BEA?
So what I am saying is it depends on which books / authors you prefer to see. I enjoy romance authors but after Book Bonanza I will have met most of my favorites. NOLAStorycon was perfect for me because it had a perfect blend of UF, PNR, romance with Ilona Andrews, Jeaniene Frost, Kelley Armstrong, Molly Harper, Kevin Hearne, Melissa Marr, Rachel Vincent. Rachel Caine and Jaye Wells were supposed to attend and I love them too.
DragonCon was huge but it had scifi , fantasy authors I wanted to meet and I had a great time there.
BEA is a blast! At least it was in 2011 and 2012, haha. 😉 I love Ilona Andrews (cannot wait for August!), Kelley Armstrong, Mellissa Marr, and Rachel Vincent! I would love to meet them in person, and it’s awesome you were able to!!