WEEKLY UPDATES: DISTRACTED BY BOOKS & MOVIES…

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.

 

The week felt long and sad, with the loss of a friend’s daughter in a car accident.  Reading helped, though, and the two books I finished were great.  I’m halfway through the third one, but decided to post this anyway.  Yesterday was a day of pampering, with a mani-pedi and a freshening of the “purple” in my hairstyle.

 

 

 

 

 

I spent the week changing up some blog headers.  I do that when I need a distraction.  I also enjoyed some Amazon Prime movies, like Destroyer, with Nicole Kidman (about an undercover cop who gets too deep under).

Let’s grab another cup of coffee and peek at the details of the week.

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Creating Spaces…and Blog Headers

Tuesday Excerpts:  “Here’s to Us”

Tuesday Potpourri:  Books, Books, & More Books…

Books Purchased in 2019…and Those Read

My WWW Post…

Coffee Chat:  The Fierce Storms of Life…

Bookish Friday:  “Someone Knows”

Serendipitous Friday:  Images from the Past…and the Present

Review:  The Night Visitors, by Carol GoodmanReview:  The Editor, by Steven Rowley

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INCOMING BOOKS:

Empty mailbox!  I did download three purchases…

Someone Knows, by Lisa Scottoline

My Lovely Wife, by Samantha Downing

The Girl He Used to Know, by Tracey Garvis Graves

***

UP NEXT:

Currently Reading:  The Perfect Girlfriend, by Karen Hamilton

I have a list of “up next” books to choose from…

***

That was my week.  What did yours look like?  Yesterday, I took a slice of this pie home with me…after my pampering at the salon.

***

WEEKLY UPDATES: BOOKS, BLOGS, & MOVIES….ETC.

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 of books, movies, and some good and bad outings.  Coffee with a friend on Monday; an outing with my daughter on Tuesday to look at apartments I don’t want to move into…yet; a dental appointment on Wednesday; and hair styling on Friday.  Followed by an appointment with ATT to install a new modem.  Yay!

I read and reviewed three books, all of them excellent from favorite authors.  I finished viewing Catastrophe on Amazon Prime; saw On the Basis of Sex, also on Prime; and watched more episodes of The Act on Hulu.  Thursday brought more of The Good Fight, on CBS-All Access.  Despite my spotty Internet throughout the week, I was able to spend good viewing time.

Now I hope to spend more time testing my new modem by viewing streaming shows (so far, so good), and perhaps I’ll start reading another book.

This morning I had bloodwork done at Kaiser…and then “post-fasting” breakfast at Marie Callender’s.  Let’s have some more coffee and look into more details of the week.

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LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Hello, April: Monthly Wrap-Up

Tuesday Excerpts:  “The Perfect Girlfriend”

Hump Day Reading…

Hump Day Musings…

Coffee Chat:  Books, Movies, & Vicarious Travels…

Bookish Friday:  “The Night Visitors”

Rainy Day Musings:  Spotty Weather & Internet…

Review:  Back Stabbers (e-book, No. 8), by Julie MulhernReview:  All the Wrong Places (e-book), by Joy FieldingReview:  Before She Knew Him (e-book), by Peter Swanson

***

INCOMING BOOKS: (Covers/Titles Linked to Amazon)

Empty mailbox!

One Purchased Download:

The Editor (e-book), by Steven Rowley

***

WHAT’S NEXT?

The Night Visitors (e-book), by Carol Goodman

And then…

Never Tell (e-book), by Lisa Gardner

***

That was my week…busy, crazy, and exciting, too.  Here’s a glimpse of today’s breakfast, enjoyed after I completed my routine bloodwork.  Like a little reward, after the 12 hour fasting.

***

WEEKLY UPDATES: BOOKS, MOVIES, & INTERIORS…

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 launched the week with a wonderfully suspenseful and engaging book…and then was sidetracked for a few days with home interior stuff. I had bought some new bedding from Amazon, so I spent time redoing my bedroom.  I love recreating my space.  Here is the finished look at  Hump Day Potpourri.  Then I did some cleaning of the house, room by room, in between reading my next book, which I finally finished late last night.

Movies:  I watched Second Act on Prime, starring Jennifer Lopez.  A nice distraction.  Then I began The Act, a new show on Hulu.  More episodes come each Wednesday.  As always, I loved viewing another episode of The Good Fight.

I had another styling session with my daughter, followed by a nice lunch of Fish ‘n’ Chips with margaritas.  Yes, plural.  I didn’t photograph the lunch.  We were enjoying our chat and our laughs.  Later, you’ll see more seafood I savored this week.

Meanwhile…let’s grab another cup of coffee and check out more details of the week.

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Tuesday Excerpts:  “As You Wish”

Let’s Share Our Bookish Delights…

Hump Day Potpourri:  Books, Interiors, Etc.

Coffee Chat:  Interiors, Books, Etc…

Bookish Friday:  “All the Wrong Places”

Review:  I Invited Her In, by Adele ParksReview:  The Ash Family, by Molly Dektar – (NG-4/9)

***

INCOMING BOOKS: (Titles/Covers Linked to Amazon)

Empty physical mailbox!  I did download three new e-books.

The Night Visitors, by Carol Goodman

The Library of Lost & Found, by Phaedra Patrick

The Perfect Girlfriend, by Karen Hamilton

***

WHAT’S NEXT?

Currently Reading:  Back Stabbers, by Julie Mulhern (Book 8 in the Country Club Murders)

Then I plan to flip through the pages of my bookish notebook…and follow my whims.

***

That was my week.  What did yours look like?  As promised (above), here is another seafood meal I enjoyed this week:  a Salmon Citrus Salad, with my ubiquitous margarita.

***

WEEKLY UPDATES: BLISSFUL WEEK…

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!  Nice weather, for the most part.  I read and reviewed three engaging books, watched some movies, and spent Friday in the salon getting hair and nails done.  I was totally unplugged on Friday, enjoying the pampering and finishing my third book.  Movies viewed:  Green Book and If Beale Street Could Talk.  And on CBS All Access, I enjoyed The Good Fight. So…while March Madness took over the TV screens, it didn’t ruin my viewing.

I’m still feeling the book love from last night…so let’s grab more coffee (or tea) and take a closer look at the week.

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Tuesday Excerpts:  “The Liar’s Child”

Hump Day Reading….

Coffee Chat:  Books, Movies, & Memories…

Thursday Potpourri:  A Day to Ponder…

Bookish Friday:  “The Ash Family”

Review:  I Owe You One (e-book), by Sophie KinsellaReview:  The Liar’s Child (e-book), by Carla BuckleyReview:  Her One Mistake (e-book), by Heidi Perks

***

INCOMING BOOKS: (Titles/Covers Linked to Amazon)

Empty mailbox!  I downloaded three e-books, though.

The Things We Cannot Say, by Kelly Rimmer

Back Stabbers (Country Club Murders #8), by Julie Mulhern

Maid, by Stephanie Land

***

WHAT’S NEXT?

Currently Reading:  I Invited Her In, by Adele Parks

An April NetGalley ARC:

The Ash Family, by Molly Dektar – (NG – 4/9)

***

That was my week…what did yours look like?  Here is some comfort food I enjoyed on Friday (yummy pot roast and a glass of wine).

 

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WEEKLY UPDATES: LOST IN LOVELY MOMENTS…

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 was a great week, but I only read two books. I spent most of one day reading my second book, which was so lovely I lost myself in it.  Now my eyes are tired, but I have that satisfying feeling of time well spent.  Here I am, showing off the beautiful cover:

I enjoyed time with my granddaughter Fiona, who helped around the house while we chatted about our lives.  Here she is wearing a T-shirt I bought to show off a favorite icon (RBG):

On Amazon Prime this week:  Instant Family, and a Season 3 Episode of The Good Fight, on CBS-All Access.

Now I am ready for a nap, but instead…I’ll grab another cup of coffee and take a closer look at the week.

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Chasing Away the Blues…

Tuesday Excerpts:  “California Girls”

Tuesday Potpourri:  Bookish Events, Etc.

WWW Reading…

Coffee Chat:  Family Time, Etc.

Let’s Begin Our Fight Again…

Bookish Friday:  “Before She Knew Him”

Friday Serendipity:  Finding Common Ground…

Review:  The Next To Die (e-book), by Sophie HannahReview:  Night Beach, by Joanne DeMaio

***

INCOMING BOOKS: (Titles/Covers Linked to Amazon)

One book came in my physical mailbox!  I then received two NetGalley ARCs via my inbox.  I downloaded two purchases.

Night Beach, by Joanne DeMaio (Click for my Review)

29 Seconds (e-book), by T. M. Logan (NG – 9/10/19)

Those People (e-book), by Louise Candlish (NG – 6/11/19)

Purchases:

The Liar’s Child (e-book), by Carla Buckley

All the Wrong Places (e-book), by Joy Fielding

***

WHAT’S NEXT?

I Owe You One (e-book), by Sophie Kinsella

***

That was my week!  What did yours look like?  This week, my comfort food was soup and a tuna melt sandwich.  With a margarita, of course.

***

WEEKLY UPDATES: THIS & THAT…AND SOME BOOKS…

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.

 

 

As I sip my third cup of coffee and listen to the rain pattering on the roof, I feel good.  The world around us is still unsettled, with more chaos lurking, but I am diving into book after book.  I finished three again this week, and they all brought cheer to my life.  I wrote nine blog posts…yes, I went a little crazy.  I gave my smallest blog, Snow Sparks,  a complete facelift, and I’m loving the look of it, all sparkly and quirky.  Here, take a peek:

This week was full of movies from Amazon Prime and Netflix.  Among them were Disobedience, with Rachel Weisz and Rachel McAdam; Stuck in Love,with Greg Kinnear and Jennifer Connelly; and my lovely DVD version of The Wife, with Glenn Close.  On Netflix, I saw a movie called Deadly Switch, which was just scary enough to keep me wide awake throughout.

I did a little house cleaning…not so much that I lost sight of my true pleasures, like reading and eating out, both of which I enjoyed this week.  Today I had my weekly hair styling, which was supposed to happen yesterday…but didn’t.  I also missed last week due to my daughter’s illness.  But I’ll try not to comment on how the “weekly appointment” turned to “whenever” so quickly.  LOL.

So…let’s have more coffee…as if I need it!  And take a closer look at the week.

 

 

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Sunday Potpourri:  A Dilemma — Go Out or Stay In…

Giving in to the Book Lust…

Tuesday Excerpts:  “The Woman Inside”

Tuesday Potpourri:  Adding to My Shelves…

Reading on Hump Day…

Coffee Chat:  Books, Movies, Etc.

First Month of the Year:  Wrapping Up…

Bookish Friday:  “Come Find Me”

Sparking Some Memories…

Review:  The Liar’s Room (e-book), by Simon LelicReview:  The Suspect (e-book), by Fiona BartonReview:  The Woman Who Kept Everything (e-book), by Jane Gilley

***

INCOMING BOOKS: (Titles/Covers Linked to Amazon)

No books in my physical mailbox!  I received one review ARC…and I did download two e-books.

Review ARC:

Not Here:  A Dina Ostica Novel, (e-book), by Genevieve Nocovo (author review request)

Purchases:

Come Find Me (e-book), by Megan Miranda

The Woman Who Kept Everything (e-book), by Jane Gilley (click title for review)

***

WHAT’S NEXT?

Daisy Jones and the Six (e-book), by Taylor Jenkins Reid – (NG-3/5)

***

So that was my week.  What did yours look like?  Last night I enjoyed dinner at Marie Callender’s, with comfort food: meat loaf with a glass of wine…and my book.

***

WEEKLY UPDATES: BOOKS, BLOGGING, & A LITTLE PAMPERING…

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.

 

This past week brought eight blog posts and two books read and reviewed.  Yesterday I went in to my daughter’s salon to get my hair styled as part of a new weekly schedule.  Now I feel pampered.  We had lunch afterwards at Mad Duck.

 

Last night I binge-watched half of Grace and Frankie’s Season Five on Netflix.  I always love that show!  Last weekend, I watched On the Basis of Sex at the neighborhood theater…and I enjoyed pre-movie lunch at Yard House nearby.

I can’t believe January is almost over…and right after it comes February, the month when I go to the accountant to have my taxes done.  Not my favorite activity!

Today I have errands and shopping to do.  So, before moving forward, let’s grab some coffee or tea…and take a closer look at the week.

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Sunday Potpourri:  Weekend Tidbits…

Tuesday Potpourri:  Rainy Days with Books…

Tuesday Excerpts:  “The Red Address Book”

Rainy Day Reading…

Coffee Chat:  Keeping the Darkness Away…

Serendipitous Moments:  A Look Back…

Thursday Potpourri:  Daily Routines…

Bookish Friday:  “The Liar’s Room”

Review:  Those Other Women, by Nicola MoriartyReview:  By the Book, by Julia Sonneborn

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INCOMING BOOKS:  (Titles/Covers Linked to Amazon)

Empty physical mailbox….But I received two NetGalley Review ARCs, and downloaded two purchased e-books.

Me for You (e-book), by Lolly Winston – (NG – 3/12/19)

The Ash Family (e-book), by Molly Dektar – (NG-4/9/19)

***

Purchased Downloads:

The Liar’s Room (e-book), by Simon Lelic

Late in the Day (e-book), by Tessa Hadley

***

WHAT’S NEXT?

Currently Reading:  The Red Address Book, by Sofia Lundberg

***

I have a list of “up next” books that I will pick up…depending on my mood.  I have completed the February NG ARCs, and don’t plan to start the March ones yet.

So…that is my bookish week.  What did yours look like?  The other night, I enjoyed this baked potato soup with a margarita.

***

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM MY INTERIORS TO YOURS…

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

As I sip my morning coffee and plan for the day ahead, I send happy thoughts out to all of you.  Hoping for a wonderful day.

Yesterday I finished reading The Adults, by Caroline Hulse, and it was a story that kept me turning the pages, even as I kept shaking my head at the so-called “adults,” who were behaving badly. (Click title for my review).

I didn’t find any New Book Releases for today.  That’s probably a good thing, as I still have older books tucked away on Paige, just waiting patiently.  Last night I started reading The Affliction, by Beth Gutcheon, a favorite author.  This book is the second in her clever romp of a mystery series combining social comedy and dark-hearted murder—a novel set at a girls’ boarding school in a picturesque Hudson River town with more than its share of secrets.  I enjoyed the first book, Death at Breakfast.(Click title for my review). 

I didn’t love the first outing as much as her other books, and as I read my review again, I noticed that my only complaints were the numerous characters that added a bit of confusion.  The boarding school aspect was another negative for me.  I’m not a fan of those.  But because Beth Gutcheon wrote the book, I decided to give it a try.  Which is why I am now reading the second book in the new series.

What I love best from the author are some of the older books, one of which was made into a movie:  Still Missing became the movie Without a Trace.  I watched it again this week.

***

I love watching old favorite movies during the holidays.  This movie came out in 1983, so not “old” in the sense of Katherine Hepburn and her crowd, but old to millennials.

The newest version of the book Still Missing was published in 2005, but it first came out in 1981.

***

What are you planning on this Christmas Day?  Movies, books, games, and food?  Enjoy!

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WEEKLY UPDATES: JINGLE BELLS & FIRST BOOKS…

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 week!  Lots of activity, but not much reading.  I did read two books, finally, and wrote eight blog posts.  I did a lot of work making over my blogs…even though it’s not Bloggiesta.  I got a mani with sparkly nails and a hairstyle with refreshed purple, in preparation for posting my First Book of the Year, since photographing us with our books is part of that event.  I won’t be showing that photo here today, since the December 31 moments are the unveiling.  But I’ve sent my photo to Sheila.

This week I borrowed two audiobooks from the library…but I’ve only listened one time!  I suspect it will take a while for me to get in the groove of it.

Here are my sparkly nails…

I’m ready for another cup of coffee, so join me while we chat about the week:

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Favorite Books of 2018…So Far

Tuesday Excerpts:  “True Places”

Tuesday Potpourri:  Blog Makeovers, New Releases, Etc.

Bookish Thoughts:  Books, Audiobooks, Etc.

A Hump Day Journey…

Coffee Chat:  Sparkles & Celebratory Moments…

Bookish Friday:  “Forget You Know Me”

My Journey Through Books and Blogs…

Review:  The Perfect Liar (e-book), by Thomas Christopher Greene – (NG-1/15/19)Review:  Gone So Long (e-book), by Andre Dubus III

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INCOMING BOOKS – (Titles/Covers Linked to Amazon):

Empty physical mailbox!  I did download an author review book, and two library books (audio).  I purchased one e-book.

Sophie Last Seen (e-book), by Marlene Adelstein (Author Review Book)

Library Audiobooks:

Victoria (audiobook), by Daisy Goodwin

The Snow Queen (audiobook), by Michael Cunningham

***

Purchased e-book:

Just After Midnight (e-book), by Catherine Ryan Hyde

***

WHAT’S NEXT?

The Adults (e-book), by Caroline Hulse

Forget You Know Me (e-book), by Jessica Strawser (NG-2/5/19)

***

That was my week!  What did yours look like?  With Christmas right around the corner, here’s to a happy holiday season!  Last night, I craved French Pot Roast from Mimi’s…and here it is!  I brought half of it home for today’s lunch.  The margarita was good, too.

***

WEEKLY UPDATES: LISTEN TO THE SOUNDS OF CHRISTMAS…

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.

 

 

As I create this post today, a Hallmark Christmas movie plays in the background, and my coffee cup is brimming.  So good!

Christmas music, decorations, and shopping frenzy almost obliterate the crazy news that surrounds us in our world…but between those distractions and the books I’m reading, I am almost in a good place.  I read and reviewed three books this week and I wrote eight blog posts in addition to the reviews.  I was still reading the third book yesterday afternoon, but got my monthly wrap-up finished before the day was over.

I’ve been watching shows on Amazon Prime, including Vera, an Acorn TV offering.

I had lunch with my daughter on Thursday…and, again, I forgot to take a photo!  When I’m with someone, I am caught up in the conversation, etc.  But she and I shared a lovely BLT from Mad Duck.  It looked like this (I grabbed this photo from the website):

So…what else?  It has been raining here!  The downside, of course, is how slick the roads are.  There have been lots of accidents.

Now let’s grab more coffee and take a closer look at the week:

 

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Sunday Potpourri:  Books, Photos, Etc.

Serendipitous Moments:  First Books of the Year…

Rainy Day Excerpts:  “The Liar’s Wife”

Tuesday Potpourri:  Adding Books To My Shelves…

Engaging Reads…

Coffee Chat:  Post-Thanksgiving Activities…

Bookish Friday: “After Nightfall”

Gone November! Welcome to December…

Review:  Under My Skin (e-book), by Lisa UngerReview:  The Liar’s Wife (e-book), by Samantha HayesReview:  We Were Mothers (e-book), by Katie Sise

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INCOMING BOOKS- (Title/Covers Linked to Amazon)

Empty physical mailbox, but I did receive a library book in my inbox today!  And…I purchased four e-books.

I’ve Got My Eyes on You (e-book), by Mary Higgins Clark (Library Book)

Purchases:

Tear Me Apart (e-book), by J. T. Ellison

Sadie (e-book), by Courtney Summers

The Adults (e-book), by Caroline Hulse

Tell Me Lies (e-book), by Carola Lovering

***

WHAT’S NEXT?

After Nightfall (e-book), by A.J. Banner

And then, I have lists of books to pick from next…I will follow my moods.

***

That was my week.  What did yours look like?  I had this delicious cake and ice cream dessert a couple of weeks ago at Dai Bai Dang, my pre-movie special place.

 

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