Sunday Post – 12/03/2023

December 3, 2023 Sunday Post 4

The Sunday Post is hosted by the wonderful Kimberly, the Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news, recap the past week, take a look ahead, and showcase our new treasures—I mean books!

This week I’m also participating in The Sunday Salon hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz, and Stacking the Shelves hosted by Marlene at Reading Reality.

Last Week

In real life: Can you believe it’s December already? I have so much to do before Christmas! I finally started my gift shopping, but I still have a long way to go. This week, I’ll be getting ready for our trip next week. We’re heading out west to spend a week in Utah with my dad and stepmom; Robin is coming too. Then we’ll go back to Robin’s house, which is in the same New Mexico town as my mom and stepdad, and my sister’s family. We’ll be there through the holidays.

Last Sunday, I got my Covid vaccine (this year’s booster, I mean.) I spent Monday feeling achy, headachy and exhausted, and although my head felt better on Tuesday, my arm was sore for several days. Totally worth it, though! And I got my flu shot yesterday. I’m glad to have both of those done before our winter vacation.

The blog: I always have grandiose ideas of catching up on reviews during the holidays, and it never happens… but we’ll see. I will be hosting The Backlist Reader Challenge again in 2024, so keep an eye out for the sign-up post.

Writing accountability: Well, I totally failed NaNoWriMo this year. After a rough start due to lack of time and mental energy, my supply of both totally tanked, and I just didn’t get any more writing done. I’m hoping to start writing again over the holidays, at least a little. Robin did complete NaNoWriMo this year, so I think we’re going to do some writing sessions together—I mean, writing individually, but together in the same room, giving each other silent support. I might ask for some brainstorming help, too. I’m struggling with my villain’s motivation, which in turn is affecting the plot.

Recent Posts

Looking Ahead

What I’ve Been Reading/Watching

Reading: I finished up Christmas at the Shelter Inn by RaeAnne Thayne (which counts for the Library Love challenge) and The Price of Lemon Cake by Jennifer Ashley, a novella in her Below Stairs series. I read The Getaway (Emily March) so I could read an ARC of the second book in the series, Balancing Act, which came out this week. I also went back and reread Silver Lady (Mary Jo Putney; ARC), which also came out this week, so I could write my review. Then I read Hex and the City, by Kate Johnson, which was delightful, so I started Hex Appeal, which is related but not a direct prequel or sequel. I’m also still reading (slowly) The Curse of Penryth Hall (Jess Armstrong; ARC.) Once again, I’m doing a lot of my reading in bed, when I can’t sleep; otherwise I wouldn’t have finished half this many. Of course, none of the books I finished is very long, and they all went pretty quickly, so that’s another reason I got through so many books.

Listening to: I started Season 8 of the Writing Excuses podcast, but I honestly haven’t been listening to much due to lack of time.

Playing: Wordle, Connections, and the NYT Spelling Bee, and a little bit of Pokémon Go, mostly while waiting for my tea to steep or my oatmeal to cook.

Added to the Hoard

For Review or Consideration

Many thanks to Bramble (Tor) for an e-ARC of The Spellshop! This book sounds perfect for me, and I can’t wait to read it. And many, many thanks to DAW, who generously (and unexpectedly) sent me a finished copy of Kristen Britain’s new novella, Spirit of the Wood. I am not caught up on the Green Rider series, having only read the first book and most of the second, but this is a prequel novella, so it works as a standalone. And aren’t both covers gorgeous?

Purchased or Free (Kindle, print, or audio)

Print:

Kindle: On sale: Unraveling; Of Manners and Murder; Marriage of Mercy; Marrying the Captain. Free: A Curse for Spring (free through FaRoAdvent); The Last Phone Booth in Manhattan (my First Reads pick for December); The Echo of Old Books (free with a Kindle credit.)

Audiobooks: Nuts & Bolts: Seven Small Inventions That Changed The World (in a Big Way)

(Click title for Goodreads page or my review.)

Stay kind and hopeful… and may your books bring you joy this week!

Related Posts

4 Responses to “Sunday Post – 12/03/2023”