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.
I had another busy and productive week, with a mix of activities, reading, and blogging. I only read and reviewed two books, but they were both engaging; I wrote five blog posts.
On Thursday night, we had a Country Christmas party in the dining room, with a lovely setting…and delicious food. There was also music, line dancing, etc. Most of us just enjoyed watching the dancers…lol.
In the evenings, I savored movies on Netflix and Prime: Marriage Story, and older productions like The Mirror Has Two Faces. I also rewatched My Week With Marilyn, starring Michelle Williams.
Today I’m going out for a mani and lunch, via Lyft. Last week I took myself to lunch and shopping, so I’m finding my way out more often. Not just doctor’s appointments, like in the past few months. In fact, those appointments are few and far between these days, thankfully.
Let’s grab some coffee and a closer look at my week.
LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:
Tuesday Excerpts: “Meg and Jo”
Coffee Chat: My Life These Days…
Bookish Friday: “The Look-Alike”
Review: Marilyn Monroe: The Private Life of a Public Icon, by Charles Casillo
Review: Tell Me Everything, by Amy Hatvany
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INCOMING BOOKS:
Empty mailbox! But…I did download two e-books.
The Empty Nest, by Sue Watson
Home Truths, by Tina Seskis
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CURRENTLY READING: (I am reading the paperback version from my stack of print volumes. After I read each one, I add them to my shelves, which I am slowly filling up!).
Meg & Jo, by Virginia Kantra
Here are my fiction stacks, next to my nonfiction hardcover versions of books to read soon. Of course, the First Book of the Year, not shown in these photos…will be brought out to start reading on New Year’s Eve.
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That was my week. What did yours look like? Below is a slice of Key Lime Pie that I enjoyed on my outing last Saturday.
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I read two books this week and liked both of them. The first was “The Bromance” by Lyssa Kay Adams it was a light fluffy romance but well done next up I read Mrs. Everything by Jennifer Weiner which was a long book but very interesting and also well done by the end of it I really felt for both Jo and Bethie. Then, I decided to switch genres completely and read the newest Star Wars book :Star Wars Resistance Reborn” by Rebecca Rounhorse it is the bridge story between “The Last Jedi” movie and ” The Rise Of SkyWalker” and so far it is very good and a surprisingly fast read! I am really looking forward to seeing the newest movie in the long running saga.
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Thanks, Susan, I really enjoyed Mrs. Everything, too; I read it a while ago, but it was a memorable read.
Enjoy your week, and those books and movies on your list look tempting.
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Sounds like you had a busy and fun week. I just finished Nancy Thayer’s Let it Snow – nice story, I recommend it.
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Thanks, Diane, I always enjoy Nancy Thayer, so I must download Let it Snow! I’m glad you liked it.
Have a great week.
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That key lime pie sure looks good. I hope you have a very Merry Christmas. We will be Southern Calif. for the holidays, leaving soon. We finished watching the movie of Downton Abbey which was fun to see. Enjoy your reading over the holidays!
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Thanks, Susan, I loved the Key Lime Pie…but I felt a little overstuffed afterwards. Too soon? LOL.
Enjoy your holidays…and I might have to see that Downton Abbey movie.
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It sounds like you’ve been busy. I also wrote a bunch of posts this week. I’m hoping to get ahead on blogging so I don’t start 2020 with scrambling to get posts up. Have a great Christmas!
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Thanks, AJ, I never seem to write my posts ahead…I have to be hit by an obsession of some kind to do more than one at a time…LOL.
Enjoy your week and your plan for posting.
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I saw Marriage Story and really liked it.
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Thanks, Joanne, I was pleased that they had such good actors in Marriage Story…I liked it a lot.
Enjoy your week.
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Will be so interested to what you think of Meg & Jo as others have liked it and I think it will be for me. So good that you are getting out and about. I love the idea of a mani, but I never do, my nails are atrocious and break easily. Sob!
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Thanks, Kathryn, I seldom had manis until I retired and started pampering myself. It was only when I finally tried gel polish that I loved getting them. The polish doesn’t chip with the use of gels.
Enjoy your week and the holidays.
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Love the sound of those gels. You are educating me!
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Sounds like you had a good week, as did I. I tried to limit myself to “one big thing a day, Rae,” but failed dismally. One day I had three “big things.” I did lots of Christmas baking in preparation for company visits, and I finished my Cybils reading–hooray! This was my first time to be a first round reader, and was it ever fun! Downright exciting when the actual discussion took place Thursday night. I hope you and yours have a wonderful Christmas and a prosperous NEW YEAR!
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Thanks, Rae, I do love the idea of those Cybils, but haven’t tried them yet.
For me, going to breakfast in the dining room is a big thing…and then I stay in my apartment for lunch and enjoy reading and watching TV/movies. No baking for me…we don’t have an oven! I do have a microwave, though.
Enjoy your holidays.
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I don’t know if I could make it without cooking/baking “therapy.” LOL
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It sounds like you had a very nice week Laurel. And good for you that you’re going out more. 😉
That Key Lime Pie looks delicious.
I hope you’ll have a great Christmas. 😉
Have a great week and happy reading!
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Thanks, Maureen, I am loving my outings….and my reading. Enjoy your holiday with that precious baby.
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I’m glad you’ve had such a lovely week, Laurel-Rain! And your new books look so good, too!
Merry Christmas to you and yours.
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Thanks, Linda, I am looking forward to the holidays…and to the First Book of the Year event.
Enjoy your week and your Christmas.
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The Country Christmas Party sounds fun!
I hope you might consider joining my Nonfiction Reader Challenge In 2020 and you can share those reads on your shelf.
Wishing you a great reading week, and a very Merry Christmas!
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Thanks, Shelleyrae, the party was fun, with lots of goodies, most of which I just looked at, lol; the music was nice.
Enjoy your holidays and your books! I may have to check out that nonfiction challenge, as I am adding more of those books to my stacks lately.
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In amongst all the chores, it’s nice to start to look forward to the Day with some gathering excitement, isn’t it? Have a lovely Christmas Day, Laurel – and maybe a chance in the coming week to put up your feet and tuck into a book, or two…:)
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Thanks, Sarah, I am enjoying outings and reading, too; I’m spending more time with movies on Netflix and Amazon Prime.
Enjoy your week and your Christmas!
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A great week with 5 heart reads and Key Lime pie. I’m thinking of making some mini cheesecakes for Christmas desserts with lime and lemon and maybe caramel or raspberry toppings / flavors.
I wish you a Merry Christmas and a wonderful holiday season with family, friends, good books and yummy food!
Anne – Books of My Heart Here is my Sunday Post
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Thanks, Anne, I am eager to spend more time with family and friends over the holidays…and read through the stacks of books I’ve been buying.
Enjoy your holidays!
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I am reading, but not finishing books until 2020. I like to start a new year off with a bang, and I generally finish the last chapters of about ten books on January 1 or 2.
I’m glad to see you are getting out more and that you are spending less time at those old busybodies, the doctors. It looks like you are eating better, too. Love the look of that pie.
Have a lovely week. Merry Christmas!
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Thanks, Deb, I am definitely loving outings that are not doctor visits, although I’m grateful they were there when I needed them!
Enjoy your reading plans. I also love curling up with books (and movies) on New Year’s Eve and Day.
Have a great holiday.
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You’ve had a productive and enjoyable week Laurel! That’s good to hear. Merry Christmas already!
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Thanks, Sophie, have a wonderful holiday, with lots of good books.
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Sounds like a fun Christmas party! Last week found me watching Virgin River on Netflix. That’s based on Robyn Carr’s Virgin River series (at least 20 books!). It was announced that season two will air in 2020. I loved seeing Tim Mathison and Annette O’Toole in the cast (as well as the two main stars).
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Thanks, Mary, I will check it out! I enjoy those stars, too. I’ve only read a couple of the books, but now I know I have to read more.
Enjoy your week!
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The Country Christmas party sounds like fun! Your books look good. I hope you enjoy them and have a great week!
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Thanks, Yvonne, it was a nice party…and a good week.
Enjoy your books and your week!
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Glad it was a good week! And merry Christmas to you this week. Hope you hav a nice week and yay for getting out on outings. And pie 🙂
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Thanks, Greg, I do love outings mixed in with good books.
Enjoy your week and have a great Christmas.
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Glad you had a good week both on and offline! For me I felt a bit muddled and only did one book meme and no reviews but I did finish two books yesterday! Here’s to a good upcoming week!
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Thanks, Tina, sounds like your reading is picking up. Have a great holiday week!
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It sounds like you had a good week. Happy holidays. My weekly update
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Thanks, Sarah, I’m loving the anticipation of good books and a great holiday.
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Yum, key lime pie! I’m dreaming of getting a mani soon – gift to self. Have a great week.
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Thanks, vvb32, it’s great to dream of good things!
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I’m glad your outings are more fun these days! The Empty Nest looks good to me. Merry Christmas!
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Thanks, Kathy, fun outings make all the difference for me.
I am looking forward to The Empty Nest.
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I’m glad the doctor’s appointments are tapering off and you are getting out and about more. I’ve become something of a couch potato since we got 4 feet of snow but, with my brother going back to work next week, I’ll have to start driving again. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
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Thanks, Kathy, I’m glad you and your brother are getting back to normal, too.
Enjoy your week and your books.
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I am glad you are getting more settled into a new lifestyle.
Merry Christmas and Happy Reading!
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Thanks, Martha, I’m glad about that, too.
Enjoy your week and your holidays.
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Is Amy Hatvany book good? I was surprised to learn thst my sister also likes that author…I never read anything by her.
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Thanks, Svetlana, I do enjoy Amy Hatvany’s books; some I enjoyed more than this one, but then again, the themes and issues were important ones.
Enjoy your week.
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