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, and showcase books and things we have received.
Stacking The Shelves is also a weekly meme hosted by Tynga’s Reviews and Marlene from Reading Reality. It’s all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!
Don’t forget to look at my giveaways on the right sidebar.
Sunday, I tried to relax and get around to blogs. The COYER book club was awesome with more people!
Monday, I reviewed the deals available to finish up with any shopping. I confirmed my daughter’s medical appts this month. I had our prescriptions mailed to us. I started putting together the list of questions to ask when I call places for Mom. I began adding winners and emailing them for the blogaversary giveaway. After the wind and rain last night, the back yard is covered in leaves again.
Tuesday, my daughter actually got up early so I lazed in bed and read books. When I got up there was so much I wanted to do all at once. I was still picking winners and giving prizes for the blogaversary. I picked more of the herbs and lettuce and covered the broccoli as it will hard freeze tonight.
Wednesday, I spent most of the day working on gathering and organizing data to make calls on places for Mom. It’s another night where I needed to cover plants for freezing. Lulu’s outside water bowl was frozen. The impatiens in my front planters keep blooming! They were supposed to die when it got cold so I could plant the pansies I got in September. And I got my Blood Heir by Ilona Andrews eARC!!!! I updated my challenges for November, finished visiting Sunday posts and started catching up on Feedly.
Thursday, my daughter had a doctor appt so we had to leave the house. We also got our favorite Chinese takeout and cupcakes from the gluten-free bakery we like. I listened to an entire audiobook today between driving, waiting in the car during her appt and then when I got back doing chores and setting up posts for the 4 new ARCs I got this week. I got myself a “Christmas” present of an Embarck DNA kit to find out Lulu’s breed. We took the sample which is easy but she didn’t like it much.
My daughter wants to get a live Christmas tree which I haven’t figured out yet. I told her something like Lulu can help her decorate and she said no, Lulu is afraid of the ornaments. I thought that was hilarious but it makes sense because she is afraid of the Halloween decorations.
Friday I got an Instacart order and a Butcherbox order. The weather was very nice. I made calls to resident homes having to leave messages. I made calls to all 6 places on my list but had to leave messages or got no answers. I noticed the neighborhood chef was making soup Potato and Leek and thought oh my daughter likes that. So I got some but realized it also had sausage which she won’t eat and had a broth base rather than cream, and kale. So I enjoyed the delicious soup and she ate some Legal Seafoods clam chowder she likes. I heated a french baguette in the oven. The tomatoes on the counter are all red now. The last of season.
Saturday I spent the morning reading. Somehow in the last 24 hours I have broken 2 pairs of readers. I don’t think I’ve broken any others this whole year. It was nicer outside than I expected. I pulled some weeds while Lulu enjoyed the yard. I talked at length with a consultant guy about places for Mom in this area. Then before it got dark, I quickly took Lulu for a walk. Afterwards I covered plants as it will freeze again tonight. The basil died this week. The rosemary and broccoli are still ok. I listened to an audio while doing some more setup. After dinner, I tried to catchup on Feedly. I have all the Blogaversary physical prizes packaged for a trip to the post office this week.
Click the banner to go to the announcement post. I’m excited to get started!
November Reading: I had another good reading month. I managed to read 28 books. Audiobooks continue to help me read more. Some count for more than one challenge. I listened to 10 audiobooks, read 7 library books, 16 COYER reads, and 11 books which I already own. I also read 8 books for HoHoHo Read-athon.
All Library books (including ones not reviewed on the blog) 2020 Library Love Challenge
Bookish Resolutions update: I created post shells as I got ARCs. I’ve done a LOT of blog ahead during November to prepare for 2021 posts.
I did manage to read 11 books I own (goal is 3 per month):
- Ruth’s First Christmas Tree by Elly Griffiths
- A Gathering of Shadows by VE Schwab (audio)
- Trackers by Nicholas Sansbury Smith
- A Conjuring of Light by VE Schwab (audio)
- Keegan by Lori Wilde
- The Hunted by Nicholas Sansbury Smith
- Special Delivery by Lauren Blakely
- Christmas with a Spy with Cynthia Eden
- Studmuffin Santa by Tawna Fenske
- Tease Me, Baby by Katie Reus
- Mistletoe Me, Baby by Katie Reus
Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga’s Reviews and Reading Reality. These are the exciting ARCs I received this week (If you click on the cover, it will take you to the Goodreads entry):
Huge thanks to PICT tours, Elizabeth Hunter, Nancy Yost Literary Agency, Tantor Audio, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, DAW Books, Karen White.
(If you click on the cover, it will take you to the Goodreads entry)
I didn’t think I would find any but ended up with 5 from the Audible cyber Monday sale.
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.
In December, I don’t take as many ARCs and I just try to catchup on a few old ones and read some library books I want to read. Later in the month, I will do the COYER RAT to get ahead with some 2021 ARCs. What are your December reading plans?
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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- Series on Saturday: Alien Edition @mightymur @lara_adrian @CaraBristol @AnnaHackett #RubyDixon #JackCampbell #Aliens #SeriesOnSaturday - December 9, 2023
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- Lost Hours by Paige Shelton @AuthorPaige @StMartinsPress @MinotaurBooks - December 5, 2023
The garden is looking good – those roses are blooming their hearts out and your rosemary is really thriving:)). It’s a real shame the basil isn’t hardy, I always think as I love the flavour:)). I love your seasonal header for your blog, Anne – it looks wonderful! Have a great week:))
Thank you Sarah. The fall garden hasn’t produced much as the broccoli still isn’t ready. We had some in November last year but maybe it just has to be planted a few weeks earlier to establish when a bit warmer. The roses seem to bloom year round. Yes I’m sad about the basil it’s all dead or used now. The photo was early in the week.
It’s a book bonanza! I don’t normally choose books solely because of the cover but The Toybox has me intrigued.
And thanks for my Lulu fix? I’m certain she could help with that Christmas tree?
Have a wonderful week, Anne, and best of luck with the read along!
Thanks Jonetta! The Toybox is the second in the series and I enjoyed the first one. Lulu is the best. I knew she didn’t like the Halloween ones because they make sounds.
Mmm definitely soup season, my favorite! The potato leek sounds delicious! I should look into Butcherbox, I am intrigued. And I would love a live Christmas tree one year. 🙂
Your dog is so adorable. 🙂
We’ve only ever had live trees but sometimes it was a little potted thing. I will see when I go out this week what happens. I am trying to really NOT go out but I will need to mail prizes, look at a tree and do a Walmart pickup. Lulu is our best girl.
Ah, I’m so envious of Blood Heir! I’m dying to read that one but I have it on pre-order and it won’t be long now. 🙂 Hope you enjoy it!
I also grabbed All I Want For Christmas Is You as a freebie. I’ve read two of the short stories already and they’re ok… Probably about the right length for my attention span at the moment!
Live Christmas trees are interesting. My husband insists on one every year and it’s one of the things he’s precious about when it comes to Christmas so… Real tree it is. This year we went for a 7ft monster that looks wonderful but I got injured wrestling with the thing and commando crawling beneath it to get it into the stand, lol, so I’m not feeling warm and fuzzy towards it! I’m constantly muttering how this wouldn’t have happened if we’d bought an artificial one. ? Good luck with the tree shopping!
The Coyer chat was fun. I spent most of it trying to work out what was going on and who people were (and I hadn’t read either of the books!) but it was nice getting to actually see (and hear) people I’ve been interacting with for quite some time now! 🙂
I’m shocked I got Blood Heir but thrilled. I pre-ordered it in July. I read the online bits but they scrapped that and said they totally changed it. I’ll make a trip out next week carefully to mail prizes, look at trees and do a Walmart pickup. COYER is my favorite group.
Your roses are still blooming ! I love basil too, home made pesto is the best, but we’ll have to rely on supermarkets to provide it for now. Lulu is so pretty – it’s cute that she’s afraid of Christmas decorations 🙂 I hope you liked the Tawna Fenske and the Elly Griffiths ? Enjoy your sunday and your book haul – pet Lulu for me 🙂
I’m happy every day when I see those roses. The basil is dead but the rosemary is hanging in there. It’s going to freeze most nights this week. Lulu gets all the attention here. She also gets the walks. I LOVED the Tawna Fenske one; it cracked me up. It was definitely my favorite of the Christmas freebies.
I did a DNA test on my dog some years ago and it said he was 50% poodle, lol. Except he’s mostly dachshund/hound dog. I’m dying to hear what Lulu is! Have a good week, Anne?
Thank you Tammy. I’m dying to hear about Lulu too. I think she is wire fox terrier / Jack Russell but we will see. They say 2-4 weeks.
I love all the Holiday books you mentioned. So many I haven’t read before. I hope you find a place for your mom, and feel some peace.
Thank you! Most of those holiday freebies are just ok but I really liked the Tawna Fenske one I got as a freebie.
I had to stop my yard work. It is too wet outside. Wishing you good luck with finding a place for your mom. And did I mention that I envy you for being able to read so many books within a week? *smile* Stay safe and well.
Thank you Vi.. It is too wet in our yard right now also. We haven’t really had much rain either. Frost every morning I guess. I saw you read The Silent Wife – I love that one! A few of the holiday ones are shorter, closer to 100-150 pages instead of 300 so that makes them go faster. That’s true of a lot of romance freebies. I’m reading some mystery freebies for January and they tend to be more normal length.
Looks like you got plenty accomplished this week!! Your roses are blooming. Great freebies you grabbed up, Ruby Dixon is always a delight to read. I am very curious to see how the books that Lori Wilde writes with Liz are. And yay you received Blood Heir, I have been so curious about that series.
It felt like I didn’t do much this week other than make phone calls and work on blog posts. I enjoyed all the holiday freebies but now it’s on to the stuff I didn’t read yet from 2020. Blood Heir is a spin-off series from Kate Daniels abut 10 years later. I am grateful to have it.
Oh my! 28 books read??? That’s just amazing Anne! You put us all to shame LOL Have a great week!
I’m a pretty fast reader and I listen to audio most of the day while I do chores. Plus there are just so many things I want to read!
Wow 28 books! I’m always in awe of how much you read per month! I barely got 8 this month. Sigh. Oh well! Good luck finding a place for your mom-that is a tough decision.
I thought with the holiday I would fit in more reading than I did. And with less outside work. But when I do outside work I also listen to audio so more the same. Yes there is more to do on the decision for Mom.
Neat that you got some yardwork and blog ahead work done while setting up the appointments and deliveries. You and Shari are going through the same challenge of setting up a good place for your moms from a distance. Hopefully they will get back to you. The chef’s soup sounds perfect for a cold day. I made up a batch of chili for us. I didn’t know there is a DNA kit for animals. My folks have been trying to figure out their shelter dog’s breed for years.
You got a sensational book haul this week and lots of good freebies. I’m excited you got the Ilona Andrews latest. I still need to get caught up on the Hidden Legacies and still have the Hugh story and some of the Innkeeper Chronicles.
Have a great week, Anne!
Thank you Sophia! Ilona Andrews is my favorite of all favorites so I’m ecstatic. You have a lot of the best reading ahead. I was surprised how much stuff I got this week. There are several of the DNA kits but I had a friend who used this one. We only did the breed part not the genetic disease part, but with this one you can add that later for the difference. It’s normally $130 but goes on sale for $99 from time to time. I was just so curious I wanted to know.
I hope you hear back from the places for your mom and get some good answers this week Anne. I can imagine you will feel better when she’s closer to family.
LOL isn’t it crazy how you can go all year without breaking 1 pair and then 2 break in the same week? It’s how things work! And frozen water bowls! Wow. We’ve gotten chilly but nothing that cold. Thank goodness!
Yay for all the reading! I hope this week is equally productive for you. Have a great week!
Thanks K. It’s a regular freeze at night now, but it can get to 50-60 in the day. It actually snowed a little last night but didn’t stick. I only need the glasses when I read so not all the time. The optometrist at the beginning of the year said I might as well stick with readers since my need is low and I don’t need at all for distance / driving. I’ve always had really good eyesight. YAY. There is just so much I want to read. I finished reading Unwind today. I remember you saying it was a gut wrenching and it does have many complex moral issues and I love Connor and Risa and maybe even Lev.
28 books! Wow. I used to be pleased when I got 16-18 books read, but now feel lucky if I get 10 read a month although I read 19 in October, but only 9 in November. My attention span isn’t what it used to be and I think that’s why I enjoy audios so much. I can’t believe your roses are still blooming. My Dad used to have at least 25 rose bushes in our yard and I don’t remember any blooming that late. Your dog is so cute! It will be interning to see what her DNA ends up being. Amazing that they can do that now! I hope you have a good reading week and be safe if you need to go out.
Thank you Lorna. Well I did end up going out this week to mail prizes and get a Christmas tree and tomorrow a Walmart pickup and pharmacy drive thru. But then I hope to stay in for quite awhile. We mostly get deliveries but there are things we get from Walmart about once a month. There are just so many things I want to read. And I can listen to audio while I do almost everything except writing. I love the way roses bloom here almost all year, about 10 months? Have a lovely week Lorna with some time to relax and read.
Next year, I need to get busy with the plants at the new house but I just don’t have it in me now. I am pretty sure that one of our dogs would be afraid of a Christmas tree if we put one up. Yay for the Blood Heir ARC! I was invited to be a part of a blog tour for that book so I should have a copy soon and I cannot wait! Have a great week, Anne!
Exactly as me. I didn’t do anything with plants last year, well flowers, because I was too busy moving. I did do the food garden but this year we expanded the food garden and added the herb / flower garden and I planted tons of perennials on all sides of the house – daylilies, iris, azalea, gardenia, lilacs, peonies, and camelia. I’m excited to see what if any bloom next year. I have one more place I want to take out scratchy bushes and plant perennials but I had done enough this year. Yay for Blood Heir – Ilona Andrews is my favorite favorite.
Congrats on getting Blood Heir! I clicked on the link for the ARC and it comes up as “Wish For It” and I was so disappointed. Oh well, what can you do? I’ll get an audio copy when it comes out. Not too long to wait anyhow.
I’m off to check out that Cynthia Eden freebie. 🙂
I keep being amazed at how similar our tastes in reading are. Ilona Andrews is my absolute favorite but I got Emerald Blaze on audio but not ebook. I purchased both versions anyway. But I’m always thrilled to get advance copies.
I broke my sunglasses this week, though at least they are a lot cheaper to replace than my readers.
It’s amazing your garden is still doing so well given the freezing temperatures
You’ve added some great books to your shelves!
Wishing you a great reading week, stay warm
It’s wild about the freezing so I’m covering the herbs and broccoli at night. It does get to 50-60 (12-15C?) in the day so it’s only freezing a short time. We ate broccoli in November and January last year and in January it was in snow. The snow doesn’t last though. Thank you Shellyrae. My readers are just cheap ones so it’s not too big a deal.
I’m looking forward to reading Blood Heir, but I know I’ll be “addicted” and need the next one asap! I’m starting the second audiobook in Karen’s series and looking forward to it. I read the first, so I’m excited to listen to this one. Hope you all have a good week ahead.
Thank you Jen. There are just so many great things to read, so I have to keep at them. I’m really enjoying Karen’s books.
Every time I read your posts I am inspired to prepare my posts ahead of time! I like to read in bed but only at night time. In the mornings I feel like I have to get up and do stuff! Enjoy all your new books!
This is the time of year I try to do as much as I can ahead. I have already created all the Sunday posts, Series on Saturday, Library Love ones. I’m working on all the Read-along posts this week. I create the shells for ARCs as I receive them. So all I have to do is fill in the review, or the books I got this week, or what I did this week. It makes it faster and easier for me. Thanks I enjoy my December reading because I take less ARCS and read more stuff I just feel like reading.
Glad that your daughter’s appointment at least give you some audiobook listening time! I’ll be curious to see what you learn about Lulu’s breed.
I’m extremely curious so I got the test. We were told wire fox terrier mix and I think maybe some jack russell but who knows? Yes one way I read so many books is I listen to audio while I do chores, cook, run errands, craft, do yard work, etc.
You have some good books to enjoy.
I love Instacart, and order something from them every week.
Have a great week ahead, and thanks for visiting my blog.
I’m very grateful for the books I get to read. The publishers, the authors and the library are all great. And I buy stuff. I have an Instacart order almost every week, but this week (about once a month) I do Walmart pickup) They’ve done pretty well for me.
It looks like you had a good week and a productive one at that! I hope you’ll be able to find placement for your mother. As with most things COVID is adding difficulty to that situation.
I hope you have a great week this week! Happy reading!
Thank you Stephanie! So many things I want to do so I just keep at them. Luckily I am not having any trouble reading.
Many things for you this week. I was also contacted for Blood Heir so I’m curious to read it!
Yay, I’m very excited for Blood Heir and every Ilona Andrews book.
The pictures look lovely. I am glad you got so much reading done. Stay safe!
Thank you! I always try to include a couple photos. I add to my reading by listening to audio while I do almost everything.
I was listening to a podcast today and they talked about dog dna tests, I think the dog in question was quite the mix!
Yes I am very curious to see what they say about our Lulu.
You had a busy week, Anne. Sundays are the one day I can laze in bed and read if I want to, before everyone else gets up. But I’m always torn between staying in bed or getting up enjoying the quiet time for myself to get things done that are more easily done in silence. Did you decide on a live tree? I don’t remember ever having one, not even as a child. We always had an artificial tree. In high school, the choir had a tree lot and all of us in the choir had to volunteer a certain amount of hours each holiday season selling trees. I enjoyed it even if sometimes I hated having to carry the bigger trees to people’s cars.
You are so organized! I have managed to prepare some posts ahead of time into the new year, but not too many. I like to do the same–get the shells done. It sure does save time, doesn’t it?
I was going through old paperwork to file or toss and found my dog’s DNA results. He wasn’t at all what we though he was come to find out, but that didn’t change how much we loved him of course. I still miss him. It’ll be interesting to see what Lulu’s results turn out to be!
I hope you are enjoying your reading! Have a great weekend, Anne.
Thank you Wendy. I did get a live tree; it’s what we have always had, but it’s a small one. They are crazy expensive these days. Or maybe they were just cheaper in Minnesota. I just try to create the shells when I get the ARC and in November I try to set up shells for regular features like Sunday post, Series on Saturday, and the Read-along. The Read-along is the most complicated. The others I do as I go along, they just have the same sections. Wait until you see the rabbit hole I fell into this week. lol