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.
The Past Week
In real life: The contractors put in some trees on Wednesday, but are waiting for us to finish up the kitchen/dining room before doing any more work inside. We are working on packing up breakables and precious items from that room. I hope we are packing everything well enough to survive storage and an eventual move. It feels weird to be packing things without knowing when we’ll find a house in New Mexico. It could be months, even a year or more before I see these things again.
I pulled a muscle in my back on Tuesday, which slowed me down some this week. It’s mostly back to normal now, except in certain positions. And I had three unrelated medical appointments in three days, which also ate into my pruning/packing/sorting time.
Dad’s hospice nurse called this week to say he is experiencing more confusion and needs additional help, particularly in the evening. It’s his task processing that is affected most—he can’t always remember how to do everyday routines like getting dressed or brushing his teeth. His social processing is largely unaffected; he still enjoys interacting with people and remembers not only his loved ones but friends and even his newer caregivers. It’s hard on my stepmother, though, whose physical health isn’t great. I’m trying to get Dad’s long-term care insurance cover the additional in-home help he needs, but they are hellishly difficult to get hold of.
5 Good Things:
- I had a good call with my stepmom, and was able to talk with Dad a little bit.
- I was approved for an ARC of the next Mary Balogh book. Her books are always a treat for me.
- It rained from Thursday night on and off right through this morning! We were in desperate need of it, and it gave me a break from watering the new plants and trees every evening.
Recent Posts
- Sunday Post – 5/17/2026
- Sunday Post – 5/24/2026 – this post
What I’ve Been Reading/Watching
Reading: I finished Stay for a Spell (Amy Coombe; ARC), and started The Reimagining Of Thornwood House (Jayleigh Johnson; ARC.) I’m leaning heavily toward the cozy fantasy genre right now, especially if there’s also a romance. I do plan to get back to This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me (Ilona Andrews) at some point. It’s really good, but a little too exciting for me right now.
Listening to: I finished Valdemar by Mercedes Lackey, and started Once Upon a Tome by Oliver Darkshire.
Watching: The Late Night Show with Stephen Colbert. I’m so sad that the show is over. I know a lot of people are cancelling Paramount+ now, and part of me wants to do the same. The other part is like, “But Star Trek!” Well, we can always just buy the Blu-Rays, I guess.
Playing: I haven’t had much time for reading, let alone games, but I have managed a few short sessions of Wingspan (phone app) and Pokémon Go, plus an occasional NYT game.
Added to the Hoard
(Click title for Goodreads page)
For Review or Consideration
Many thanks to Saga Press for Valet! The publisher’s description compares the book to P.G. Wodehouse’s novels, but the Jeeves character is a robot. Sounds fun!
Many thanks to to Avon for How To Find a Romance in a Bookshop, and to Berkley for A Waltz to Remember! I’m excited to read both romances. Poppy Alexander’s book is a contemporary romance set in a bookshop, while Mary Balogh’s novel is historical romance, the sixth book in the Ravenswood series. (Note: I designed the placeholder cover for A Waltz to Remember, because the official cover has not yet been released.)
Purchased or Free
Kindle: SALE: Angels Fall; The Cyprian; After Many Years; The House on Blackberry Hill; Sense & Sensibility. (I swear, I’m not deliberately picking covers that feature blue and teal!)
Ten Years Ago I Was Reading…
I saw this idea on Lisa Loves Literature, who got it from Musings of a Bookish Kitty (who I also follow.) I published these reviews 10 years ago this week, between May 18 and May 24, 2016.
- Cruising with Ghosts: Haunted Destiny (Heather Graham)
- Great World Religions: Judaism (Great Courses)
Sarah @ Brainfluff
Sorry to hear about your back. It’s always so painful. It sounds as if you’re winning with all your packing, however. I hope your coming week is a kind one, Lark.
Nicky @ The Bibliophibian
I really liked Stay for a Spell — how did you like it? It definitely had some surprises for me, and turned out really cute.
Hope your back keeps improving!
Nicky @ The Bibliophibian recently posted…Review – Dinosaur Sanctuary, vol 2
Bree @ Bibliophilebree
Hope you have a great week!
Shelleyrae @ Book’d Out
Packing is never fun.
I tweaked my back somehow this week too but it’s much better today.
Stay For a Spell is on my TBR, cozy fantasy is really comforting right now.
Thanks for sharing your week
Shelleyrae @ Book’d Out recently posted…It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #SundaySalon #SundayPost
Anne - Books of My Heart
I need to do more of what you are doing but it will have to wait until after the funeral. I still have some things to wrap up for that. It’s wonderful you are able to move and be with them.
Juli D. Revezzo
Sorry about your back. I hate when my back goes out so feel your pain, literally! How neat though that you got approved for a Mary Balogh arc. I’m slowly making my way through her Bedwyn series and enjoying it. I hope your week gets better. If you’d like to see my Sunday post, it’s here: https://julidrevezzo.com/post/sunday-post-for-a-working-holiday
Nicole @ BookWyrmKnits
Ugh, I’m sorry to hear that your dad is not doing well. And your back being out of commission for a while sounds like no fun, either! But at least is sounds like your back is mostly back to normal now. I hope it stay that way — no more getting injured!
Nicole @ BookWyrmKnits recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday ~ My Favorite Books by My Favorite Authors
Lark_Bookwyrm
Thankfully, my back is doing better. Thank you for the good wishes!