I am really excited to participate in The Sunday Post hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer and Stacking the Shelves hosted by Reading Reality.
My Life
This was a super busy week. Even busier, than my normal level of crazy lately. I worked at the bookstore on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday evenings and then a longer shift on Saturday. My daughter came home from college for a visit, arriving on Friday. Saturday morning, we went to my mom’s house for our first Christmas gathering with my oldest sister and her branch of the family. Unfortunately, I had to leave early to go to work but it was nice to see everyone. On Sunday, we went to my niece’s house to celebrate Christmas with my husband’s side of the family.
I think that my schedule has finally caught up to me. I almost felt like I had a hangover on Thursday, probably from a poor diet and lack of sleep. On Sunday, I just didn’t feel well and was worried about whether I should still go to the Christmas celebration. I fell asleep on the couch for a bit (which I never do) and felt better.
We are taking the day off tomorrow to spend some time with my daughter before she has to go back to Ohio. We only have one Christmas celebration left and then things should calm down a bit.
How was your week?
What I’m Reading
I finished 8 books this week. I decided to spend most of my audiobook listening time focused on books that I wouldn’t owe a review on (I am a little stressed out about the backlog of reviews I need to write). I started the week out with Danger Zone, Need for Speed, and Classified by Brooke Blaine and Ella Frank. These 3 books should have been one book. I didn’t love the book but I liked it well enough to keep listening. I then moved on to Exclusively Yours, Undeniably Yours, and Yours to Keep by Shannon Stacey. The first two books were re-reads and I thought that all 3 were enjoyable overall. I jumped right into Chaos in Mudbug by Jana DeLeon after my Books from the Backlog post on Thursday and had a good time with it. My favorite of the week was Bride by Ali Hazelwood. I have been super excited to read this book and it lived up to my expectations.
I am about a third of the way through Summoned to Thirteenth Grave and cannot wait to see how the series wraps up.
Books Added
The Helsinki Affair by Anna Pitoniak (Publisher); Funny Story by Emily Henry (Publisher); If I Promise You Wings by A.K. Small (Publisher)
Moonlight and the Pearler’s Daughter by Lizzie Pook (Publisher); Say Hello to My Little Friend by Jennine Capo Crucet (Publisher); The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown (Publisher)
The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren (Publisher); The Art of Catching Feelings by Alicia Thompson (Publisher)
Favorite Instagram Post of the Week
What books do you add to your shelves this week?
You poor dear! I was wondering how you were faring this week when I didn’t see your post in the morning! That’s rough! Hope your schedule won’t be too chaotic this week!
Nice new reads! These are new to me ones but I hope you enjoy them once you get to read them!
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower 🙂
Oh that does sound tiring.. hope you get some rest soon.
I am eyeing that Emily Henry and Christina Lauren book.
I’m so glad you enjoyed Bride. It’s one of my most anticipated for next year. I am glad you are getting to spend some time with your daughter but I don’t know how you are doing everything you are. I’m worn out and my reading is suffering and that’s just from Christmas prep and ONE job. You are a wonder!
I can imagine 5 days at one job and 4 days at the other. I hope this week lets you take care of yourself a bit more. Good plan to read some books you want that don’t require a review. I do that this time of year also, usually, although I did a good job this month with working ahead on some 2024 ARCs. I do have a few 2023 ones left though. Happy Holidays!
Anne – Books of My Heart This is my Sunday Post
That does sound like a busy week.
Whew! You have been trotting hard between work and Christmas gatherings. Glad you got to spend some time with your daughter before she headed back to OH. Hopefully, things will slow for you after the holidays.
Way to go listening to so many! It’s always nice to get in some books just for pleasure without reviewer mind going in the background. Yay for finishing a Books from the Backlog book. 🙂
Have a great week, Carole!
Looking forward to Bride as well, so happy to hear you loved it. Yes, reading non-review books is a good plan lighten the pressure.
Nice to hear you got to spend some time with family. I hope you get some downtime to re-charge soon, Carole.
What a busy week you have had. Around the holidays in can get so crazy. Hope you get some good down time and get some rest in.
Take care of yourself, Carole. We can’t have you missing Christmas! I see two books up there I got rejected for. I know my library with get the CLo and Henry, and you can tell me how they are. I hope to get the Thompson book. Berkley is usually good to me, and she’s not as super huge as Henry, so fingers crossed.
Oh goodness, it does sound like your busy schedule has run you down. I hope you find some down time to relax during the holidays!
I imagine things at work are seriously chaotic right now! I hope you’ve had some time to get some reading and rest in – or that you’ll be able to soon! The Christina Lauren book is on my TBR. Have a great week!
I hope you have some downtime coming up and enjoy the holidays! Merry Christmas!