WEEKLY UPDATES: ANOTHER WEEK OF READING & BLOGGING…

Good morning! Today’s post will link up to The Sunday Salon, The Sunday Post and Stacking the Shelves, for weekly updates.

Mailbox Monday is hosted at the home site: Mailbox Monday.

And let’s join Kathryn, our leader in It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?, at Book Date.

What a great week I had!  Only two books read and  reviewed, and six blog posts written, but I enjoyed some outings and lots of time relaxing in my apartment.

Today I had lunch with my youngest son, whom I hadn’t seen for more than two years!

Packages continue to arrive from Amazon, including this sweet Anne of Green Gables mug that I set atop my bookshelf.

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LET’S LOOK AT THE WEEK ON MY BLOGS:

Tuesday Excerpts: “Thief of Souls”

Tuesday Potpourri: Book Love…

WWW Reading…

Hump Day Potpourri…

Another Hidden Treasure…

Bookish Friday: “When the Stars Go Dark”

Review:  Blood Orange, by Harriet Tyce

Review:  Life & Other Inconveniences, by Kristan Higgins

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INCOMING BOOKS:

Empty physical mailbox!  I did download one e-book.

When the Stars Go Dark, by Paula McLain

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CURRENTLY READING: Too Good To Be True, by Carola Lovering

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That was my week! What did yours look like? As usual, I am struggling with Block Editor, even though I managed to work with it all week! Enjoying a glass of wine this afternoon.

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WEEKLY UPDATES: HAPPY SPRING DAYS…

Good morning! Today’s post will link up to The Sunday Salon, The Sunday Post and Stacking the Shelves, for weekly updates.

Mailbox Monday is hosted at the home site: Mailbox Monday.

And let’s join Kathryn, our leader in It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?, at Book Date.

Another week has skipped along, with not much to show for it. Except I did read and review two books and write eight blog posts.

Plus…I have been practicing on Block Editor, despite how frustrating that has been.

I finished watching the first season of Emily in Paris, which was a delightful experience.

Now let’s grab some coffee and take a closer look at my week.

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Sunday Potpourri…

Mastering the Link…

Tuesday Excerpts:  “Watch Her Fall”

Tuesday Potpourri:  Bookish…

WWW Reading…

Change & How It Affects Us…

Treasure Discovered…

Bookish Friday:  “Mother May I”

Review:  A Million Reasons Why, by Jessica Strawser

Review:  The Perfect Marriage, by Adam Mitzner

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INCOMING BOOKS:

Empty physical mailbox!  But I did download one NetGalley ARC…and two purchased e-books.

NetGalley:

Skye Falling, by Mia McKenzie (Release Date – 7/27/21)

Downloaded Purchases:

The Smash-Up, by Ali Benjamin

Mother May I, by Joshilyn Jackson

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CURRENTLY READING: Life & Other Inconveniences, by Kristan Higgins – one of my backlog books!

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That was my week.  As you can probably tell, I have not totally succeeded with image links…but some of them worked out!

What did your week look like?  Now I will enjoy some more coffee…and a mimosa.

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CHANGE & HOW IT AFFECTS US…

I am struggling. I know how to add the links to the images, but when I open the post and try to maneuver, the blocks leap around and make the task impossible. Except that sometimes it works. Sigh.

Meanwhile, however, I am thinking that links to my images are not as important as the links I apply to the book titles, etc. Right?

Has anyone else found the task insurmountable at times?

The simplest things are difficult. Like creating a “quote” of a paragraph. Finding the right block, but then discovering that it eludes me. Escapes me.

I am deciding what to focus on when I write a post. Can my images exist without links? Yes, I think they can.

As long as my book titles take us to the sites where our products are purchased and where readers can find our reviews.

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What do you think about the newest WordPress changes? Are they worth all the hassle?

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Check out Bookishly Boisterous to See What Others Are Chatting About.

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WEEKLY UPDATES: HAPPY SPRING!

Good morning! Today’s post will link up to The Sunday Salon, The Sunday Post and Stacking the Shelves, for weekly updates.

Mailbox Monday is hosted at the home site: Mailbox Monday.

And let’s join Kathryn, our leader in It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?, at Book Date.

Happy Easter, for those who celebrate it.  I am eager for a new week, since some of my favorite restaurants are now open (25%).  My granddaughter and I are planning a lunch.

What has your week brought you?

I have read and reviewed three books; written eight blog posts; and started viewing Emily in Paris on Netflix.

Let’s grab some coffee and take a closer look at my past week.

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Tuesday Excerpts: “A Million Reasons Why”

Tuesday Potpourri: One Book!

Goodbye to March!

WWW Post…

Another Backlog Book…

Coffee Chat: My Wings Have Been Clipped…

Bookish Friday: “Blood Orange”

Happy Saturday!

Her Dark Lies, by J. T. Ellison

Review:  White Palace, by Glenn Savan

Every Vow You Break, by Peter Swanson

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INCOMING BOOKS:

In my mailbox:

Jackie:  Her Transformation from First Lady to Jackie O, by Paul Brandus

The Beauty of Living Twice, by Sharon Stone

Trust Me, by T. M. Logan

Downloads:

Watch Her Fall, by Erin Kelly

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CURRENTLY READING:  Blind Spot, by Sue Miller

And A Million Reasons Why, by Jessica Strawser

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That was my week. What did yours look like?

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REVIEW: EVERY VOW YOU BREAK, BY PETER SWANSON

 

 

 

Abigail Baskin never thought she’d fall in love with a millionaire. Then she met Bruce Lamb. He’s a good guy, stable, level-headed, kind—a refreshing twist from her previous relationships.

But right before the wedding, Abigail has a drunken one-night stand on her bachelorette weekend. She puts the incident—and the sexy guy who wouldn’t give her his real name—out of her mind, and now believes she wants to be with Bruce for the rest of her life.

Then the mysterious stranger suddenly appears—and Abigail’s future life and happiness are turned upside down. He insists that their passionate night was the beginning of something much, much more. Something special. Something real—and he’s tracked her down to prove it.

Does she tell Bruce and ruin their idyllic honeymoon—and possibly their marriage? Or should she handle this psychopathic stalker on her own? To make the situation worse, strange things begin to happen. She sees a terrified woman in the night shadows, and no one at the resort seems to believe anything is amiss… including her perfect new husband.

 

 

 

In Every Vow You Break, Abigail is struggling to enjoy her honeymoon, especially since little details of her new husband’s behavior are beginning to annoy her. Additionally, the man she slept with on her bachelorette weekend has been stalking her, even showing up on the island honeymoon. He has approached her and threatened to tell her new husband about their one-night stand, insisting that they are soul mates.

The creep factor was high in this story, and I could feel it from all sides. Not just the stalker, but the husband. His honeymoon selections kept Abigail off guard, beginning to question her own choices. And when Abigail tries to leave the island, obstacles appear from everywhere. She realizes that she cannot trust anyone. As the intensity deepens, Abigail feels like she is in a bad dream being chased through the dark. A brilliant 5 star read.

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HAPPY SATURDAY!

Today I am playing around with Block Editor, and I’m hoping I can finally achieve my goals for the day!

I am trying to accomplish image links, while using the recent changes in the editing system.

Why is everything such a challenge?  Well, the good news:  WP support is just an email away, and I copied the instructions on a Word document for future reference.

Now I think I’ll have another cup of coffee.

Let’s see how I managed!

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COFFEE CHAT: MY WINGS HAVE BEEN CLIPPED…

Good morning!  Let’s gather around with our caffeinated beverages to chat about our weeks, our books, and our perspectives.  Join our host at Bookishly Boisterous to see what others are sharing.

 

• So many thoughts, including my frustrations about the newest Block Editor changes!  I simply cannot easily work around this newest version.  Can anyone steer me in the right direction?  I sent an email to WP Support, but who knows when or how they will respond?
• Meanwhile, I am enjoying my new desk chair, with its lightness and ability to move around while I work.

• To the right, notice my wicker chair by the bookshelves. 
• Meanwhile, outside my window is the noisy sound of the gardeners.  Every Thursday, they mow and use that horrible leaf blower.  Sigh.  Who knew that these sounds would follow me here?
• This week has brought some lovely books to read, however, including Her Dark Lies, by J. T. Ellison.
• Currently, I am reading a print volume of a book that has been on my shelves for a while:  White Palace, by Glenn Savan.
• I am feeling good about getting out and about a bit, but I’ve only been out twice, and can’t really think of too many places to go.  I think I am in “lockdown” mode, unable to actually leave this place.  Sigh.
• Luckily, Amazon continues to regularly deliver books and packages, and apparently these “gifts” make me very happy.
• Meanwhile, I’m bored with the dining room and prefer hanging out in my apartment.  I alternate going there every other day.  This morning I made a mimosa and really enjoyed it.

 

• This mimosa photo was taken at my last residence, when I had this lovely mug…and my Coca Cola table.  Missing that place!
• How are you managing nowadays?  I have had both vaccinations and I’m feeling hopeful.  But…something about the past year of lockdown has clipped my wings.

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How are you managing through these weeks?

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WEEKLY UPDATES: MARCH IS SLIDING BY…

Good morning! Today’s post will link up to The Sunday Salon, The Sunday Post and Stacking the Shelves, for weekly updates.

Mailbox Monday is hosted at the home site: Mailbox Monday.

And let’s join Kathryn, our leader in It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?, at Book Date.

 

Another week has skidded by, bringing our third month of 2021 close to its end!  How does that happen?  My reading is still pretty unremarkable, since I just finished my second book today.  I had spent two days on a third book that I finally had to DNF!  I wrote six blog posts, though, and created a few new blog headers.  What does that say about my moods?  LOL.

I just got a new computer desk chair from Amazon, and a technician is coming on Tuesday to assemble it.  Good thing, right?  Now I am trying to rearrange the space so that the big wicker chair I have been using (below) can still fit somewhere!

 

While I am pondering this change, let’s take a closer look at my week.

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Tuesday Excerpts:  “The Upstairs House”

Tuesday Potpourri:  A Bookish Day…

WWW Reading…

Rediscovering a Treasure…

Bookish Friday:  “Every Vow You Break”

Serendipitous Moments…

Review:  Are We There Yet?, by Kathleen WestReview:  The Upstairs House, by Julia Fine

INCOMING BOOKS:

I received a review book from an author in my mailbox:

When I Last Saw You, by Bette Lee Crosby

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Then I downloaded two e-books:

A Million Reasons Why, by Jessica Strawser

Every Vow You Break, by Peter Swanson

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CURRENTLY READING:  Her Dark Lies, by J. T. Ellison

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That was my week. What did yours look like?  This week, I added another little rag doll to my collection, and I’ve used her in my Serendipity blog header.  The new one is on the right.

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REVIEW: ARE WE THERE YET?, BY KATHLEEN WEST

Alice Sullivan feels like she’s finally found her groove in middle age, but it only takes one moment for her perfectly curated life to unravel. On the same day she learns her daughter is struggling in second grade, a call from her son’s school accusing him of bullying throws Alice into a tailspin.

When it comes to light that the incident is part of a new behavior pattern for her son, one complete with fake social media profiles with a lot of questionable content, Alice’s social standing is quickly eroded to one of “those moms” who can’t control her kids. Soon she’s facing the very judgement she was all too happy to dole out when she thought no one was looking (or when she thought her house wasn’t made of glass).

Then her mother unloads a family secret she’s kept for more than thirty years, and Alice’s entire perception of herself is shattered.

As her son’s new reputation polarizes her friendships and her family buzzes with the ramification of her mother’s choices, Alice realizes that she’s been too focused on measuring her success and happiness by everyone else’s standards. Now, with all her shortcomings laid bare, she’ll have to figure out to whom to turn for help and decide who she really wants to be.

Alice and some of her friends alternately narrate the story in Are We There Yet?, revealing the issues that are turning their lives upside down because of their children and social networking.

I felt a special connection to Alice, whose interior design career, along with her need to be a good parent, changes dramatically because of the actions of her twelve-year-old son. Other mothers react differently, and some look in judgment on Alice, even when their own children make similar mistakes. Dealing with the injustice of it kept me rooting for Alice.

Meanwhile, a secret from Alice’s mother’s past changes up the family as well.

Watching these characters navigate the turmoil of the tween years and the challenges of family life kept me turning the pages, eager for more. 4.5 stars for this delightful read.

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WEEKLY UPDATES: COMING OUT OF ISOLATION…

Good morning! Today’s post will link up to The Sunday Salon, The Sunday Post and Stacking the Shelves, for weekly updates.

Mailbox Monday is hosted at the home site: Mailbox Monday.

And let’s join Kathryn, our leader in It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?, at Book Date.

Another week has sped by, and I have read and reviewed THREE books.  A great week overall, as we have now been allowed out of the community for outings with friends and family.  I had coffee and croissants with a friend on Thursday. On Monday, I’ll be able to go out to have lunch (and a margarita) with my daughter.

On Friday night, we had our first entertainment/Happy Hour, which offered a wonderful look back into the past.

My other activities:  more viewing, including old comfort movies like The Bedroom Window and Extremities.

Let’s grab another cup of coffee and take a closer look at the week:

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Tuesday Excerpts:  “The Good Sister”

Tuesday Potpourri:  Yay for Books…

Hump Day Reading…

From the Backlog…

Bookish Friday:  “Are We There Yet?”

Saturday Potpourri:  Obsessions…

Review:  Kamala’s Way, by Dan MorainReview:  The Good Sister, by Sally Hepworth (NG-4/13/21)Review:  Unfaithful, by Natalie Barelli

INCOMING BOOKS:

I received one book in my physical mailbox…and downloaded two e-books.

Cleaving, by Julie Powell

Downloads:

Are We There Yet?, by Kathleen West

The Upstairs House, by Julia Fine

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CURRENTLY READING:

Let Her Lie, by Bryan Reardon

In New York Times bestselling author Bryan Reardon’s captivating thriller, a dejected filmmaker lets his curiosity get the best of him and plunges into a web of depravity and danger from which there might be no escape.

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That was my week.  What did yours look like?  This week I added a cute little rag doll to my collection:

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