WEEKLY UPDATES: HEAT, SPARKLES, & BOOKS…

On By Laurel-Rain SnowIn weekly updates

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.

 

It’s going to be another hot day, but should “drop down” to 99.  Right now it is 77 degrees, and I think I should hurry out to the patio to sit with a cup of coffee…and write this post there.  But no, I’m already settled in here.  Sigh.  Do you do that?  Think of great plans that you dismiss because it’s easier not to change up the routine?

There is one routine that seems to continue, however: reading and blogging.  So far I enjoy the comfort of this pattern.  This week I read and reviewed three books, and I’m almost halfway through my fourth one…because it is sooo good!  I stopped at midnight, though, mostly because my eyes were tired.

I found no special movies to watch this week, but I am still enjoying Sharp Objects on HBO.  Also, I hope to see the new Mama Mia movie tomorrow…don’t judge!  LOL.  I love that music, and I’m a Meryl Streep fan.  My daughter and her family are moving into their new house this weekend…and it’s going to be a challenge in this heat!  I always seem to move in the summer months, too.  So glad I’m not moving now, though.  Maybe later…in ten years or so.  LOL

Yesterday I got a new mani….”sparkly” seemed to call to me.

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

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Rainy Day Excerpts:  “Our House”

Coffee Chat:  Anxiety, Relief, & More Books…

My WWW Wednesday…

Friday Potpourri:  My Girls, Various Versions…

Bookish Friday:  “All Your Perfects”

Review:  Castaway Cottage, by Joanne DeMaioReview:  Our House (e-book), by Louise Candlish – (NG-8/7)Review:  Left:  A Love Story (e-book), by Mary Hogan

***

INCOMING BOOKS: (Titles/Covers Linked to Amazon)

Empty physical mailbox…BUT I got one NetGalley ARC to download:

The Lies We Told (e-book), by Camilla Way (NG – 10/9)

***

Purchased Downloads:

All Your Perfects (e-book), by Colleen Hoover

Her Pretty Face (e-book), by Robyn Harding

***

WHAT’S NEXT?

Currently reading (and loving) The Death of Mrs. Westaway, by Ruth Ware

Full of spellbinding menace and told in Ruth Ware’s signature suspenseful style, this is an unputdownable thriller from the Agatha Christie of our time.  So true!

Then my moods will lead me to another review book, perhaps…

***

That was my week. What did yours look like?  Today I’m sharing my great-niece Margaret with her birthday cake.  She just turned three!  She looks pensive…or maybe underwhelmed?  My niece Emily is cheering her on. 

***

71 thoughts on “WEEKLY UPDATES: HEAT, SPARKLES, & BOOKS…”

  2. Yvonne

    I’m watching Sharp Objects, too. It’s pretty good. Eventually I want to read the book.

    Your great niece is adorable. Happy Birthday to her!

    I hope you have a great

    My post is here.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thanks, Yvonne, my great-niece is likely to be very spoiled, if not already. She is the ONLY grandchild, and has four aunts to pamper her. But her mom probably won’t let her become a little diva. LOL.

      I also love Sharp Objects…and enjoyed the book, but I’m actually liking the miniseries better. Have a great week.

      Like

      Reply
  4. The Cue Card

    Cute bday photo! So how good is Sharp Objects? I need to check it out. So far we are watching Season 7 of Homeland which is good as always. I think your Ruth Ware & Robyn Harding books will be quite fast & good reads! Enjoy your week but stay out of the Heat. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thanks, Susan, I went out on the patio to sweep up for a little bit this morning…and that’s all the outside activity for me today!

      I am really loving Sharp Objects…especially because of Amy Adams and Patricia Clarkson.

      Enjoy your week!

      Like

      Reply

    1. Thanks, Patty, I did a little patio cleaning up after I wrote my blog post, and then, more reading. Later I did some laundry and some dusting. Least favorite activities: dusting and vacuuming. Vacuuming tonight…or tomorrow morning. LOL

      Enjoy your week!

      Like

      Reply

  7. Moving when it’s really hot is such a pain. Best of luck to them and I hope they don’t suffer too much! I’ve been there- although maybe not in that kind of heat! We get humid and muggy but not usually close to 100…

    Glad you had a good reading week. I have heard good things about sharp Objects. I don’t have HBO at the moment but I do hope to catch it down the road…

    The Lies We Told looks great, and the new Ware book seems to be getting lots of love! I should get it…

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. My last three moves have been in June, and in the extreme heat. Poor planning? My daughter texted me that she had a lot of help and is finished moving in. Just needs to clean the former house, which belongs to my youngest son…and which he is selling. Hence the move.

      I think I should plan to move in the fall…next time. Or never move again…LOL.

      Thanks for stopping by, Greg, and I’ve been really glued to the pages of The Death of Mrs. Westaway.

      Sharp Objects is great. I think I saw it on Amazon Prime, too.

      Enjoy your week!

      Like

      Reply

  8. Love the sparkly nails. They look awesome. We are having somewhat of a cooler weekend and I’m not upset one bit. I also got approved for The Lies We Told. I don’t remember requesting it but I’m sure I did. I haven’t watched Sharp Objects but I plan on doing so. Do you think Flynn will ever write another full length novel. Seems like it’s been forever. Have a wonderful week!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thanks for stopping by, Barb, and I hope Flynn writes more. She does seem to get involved in the productions of her books-into-movies, though, so maybe that’s her focus now.

      All of her full length books so far have been made into movies.

      Lately I’ve been writing down my NetGalley requests, so I can be ready for them. I’ve had a couple land in my inbox that I didn’t request. One I decided to read anyway, and another one, no. I don’t like reading review books that I might not like.

      Enjoy your week!

      Like

      Reply

    1. Oh, yes, I’ve noticed those “lies” in the titles, too. Sometimes I have to stop and think: do I have that one already? Luckily, I keep a list. LOL.

      There are those other trends, too, like “mother” or “girls.”

      Thanks for stopping by, Angelica, and enjoy your weekend.

      Like

      Reply

    1. Thanks for visiting, Kathryn; it is lovely to have more little kids coming up, with my sister’s granddaughter and possible other future ones, since my grandchildren are up in their teens and twenties!

      I was so happy to have a book that kept me glued to the pages all day! Enjoy your week….

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  13. Love the sparkly nails – I was wearing shimmering silver for last week’s premiere but it was a horror to get off! And of course I wouldn’t judge your film tastes – I’m usually to be found watching the latest Star Wars offering… Have a great week, Laurel:)

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thanks, Sarah, lol; I know my blog visitors don’t judge!

      I think I see more people watching Sci-Fi and action movies, but those aren’t my thing. I did watch several of the Star Wars movies, though. Not the latest one yet.

      Have a great week!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. Thanks, Harvee, I have so many yet to read, too; I keep lists on my Curl up and Read blog….and in a notebook! I don’t want to take chances that I’ll forget which ones I have. LOL.

      Enjoy your weekend and the upcoming week.

      Like

      Reply
  15. StackingMy BookShelves

    Oh my I hate moving whether it is hot or not but hot – YUCK! I hope all goes ok with it tho. I love your nails. I just got a pedi with pink sparkles (it was calling to me too). Have a wonderful week!

    Mary my #SundayRoundup #28!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thanks for visiting, Mary, and on one of my moves, I had movers who just dumped everything in the middle of the living room and left. And then I realized that the evaporative cooler wasn’t working (poor choice of a cooler to have in June!). We sweat profusely, and then figured it out!

      Last time, I had movers that placed everything in the proper rooms…but that cost quite a bit. My daughter had young friends that helped. At my age, my friends are all older, too. Sigh.

      Enjoy your week!

      Like

      Reply

  16. Good luck to your daughter and family as they move. That’s something my husband and I are considering because the market is so good but I lack motivation so we’ll see what lies ahead.
    The Colleen Hoover book is good – the first I’ve read of hers. I suspect her fans will love it. I love your new mani color!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thanks, Mary, I hadn’t planned on this color, but the manicurist pulled out her charts and my eyes landed on it. LOL.

      I keep thinking that I should move again before I get too old…LOL. But the more I think about it, the less I want to do it.

      My daughter texted yesterday that they are all moved in…but just have to clean up the home they left, which belongs to my youngest son…it’s on the market, hence the move.

      Like

      Reply

  17. I got so many books last week and I see yours and I think I want to read those! But I have to be realistic, a bit. I love the cover on the Ware book. I’m considering All Your Perfects on audio for review. I have to make some decisions today and tomorrow about what I will and won’t review from my email requests. Does Margaret like chocolate? I much prefer caramel or fruit desserts. Have a wonderful, coooler week. It’s going to rain all week here which means 80s instead of 90s but more humidity? Anne Books of My Heart

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thanks for visiting, Anne, and I loved the Ware book. Finished it last night.

      Next I’m reading another NetGalley ARC, Sister of Mine.

      I haven’t ever met Margaret IRL…sigh. But I think she probably loves chocolate…I’ll bet the shape of that cake is not what she’s used to seeing. Hence that look on her face.

      It’s hard having family spread all over the country, and even in Europe…but FB and Skype are wonderful.

      Enjoy your week!

      Like

      Reply

    1. Thanks for visiting, Cheryl, and I sat and read The Death of Mrs. Westaway until I was finished…on Saturday. Loved it! My review is on my Serendipity blog.

      Enjoy your week…I love my sparkly nails!

      Like

      Reply

    1. Thanks for visiting, Candace, and you do need to watch Sharp Objects! Did you read the book? I read it in 2012 and went back to read my review. It gave me the chills, remembering the book…just as the show does now.

      Like

      Reply

  25. I’m going to see Mama Mia tomorrow so I won’t judge. 😉

    We had record heat when we moved into our current home and I felt so bad for the movers that day. Good luck to your daughter.

    Her Pretty Face looks good.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Ha! I hope you enjoy it, Kathy…it was different from the first version, but with the same great music…and some fun surprises.

      Thanks for visiting. My daughter was lucky…she had lots of strong men to help her, including her husband. She always has a collection of helpers for anything she does. LOL. She texted in mid-afternoon that she had finished, and last night, she sent me a virtual tour. I used to be a really good and organized mover, and she seems to be following suit. I am now out of practice (my last move was 11 years ago!). I am not eager to make another move…and why should I? I love my little neighborhood of restaurants, movies, etc.

      Enjoy your movie!

      Like

      Reply

  27. It seems like years since we’ve had such unbroken hot weather here in the UK – I’m fine in the daytime but the nights are not so good. I came home from work today and read for a bit in the garden before eating… I’m so glad you are enjoying (or maybe have enjoyed) The Death of Mrs Westaway and I do like the look of the Camilla Way book

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thanks, Cleo, it sounds like your hot nights are brutal. I’m feeling grateful for the AC, but I don’t leave it on at night, though, so that’s the challenge for me.

      Enjoy your week, and I loved The Death of Mrs. Westaway, and I’m looking forward to The Lies We Told…another title that is very similar to other books I’ve read.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  29. Aw Happy Birthday to Margaret! So cute!!

    I am digging the sparkles! And I am a huge Mamma Mia fan!! ( Colin Firth!!)

    I am looking forward to starting Sharp Objects. We want to finish up one of our current shows before starting something new. And that Ruth Ware book sounds excellent!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a reply to herding cats Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.