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 week felt busy. I worked all day at the bookstore last Sunday. I usually spend most of my day Sunday on the computer working on the blog and trying to do some visits but that obviously didn’t happen last week. I didn’t sleep well that night and fell asleep on the couch Monday evening just as I sat down to try to do some of that computer work. I worked at the bookstore Wednesday and Friday nights, plus all day Saturday.
Juggling the two jobs and my responsibilities around the house is very manageable. The part that I start to get in trouble is keeping up with blog hopping, comments, writing reviews. I have always said that what I do as a blogger is sometimes like an unpaid job. I love it and will keep trying to do better. I really appreciate all of you!
This week has definitely felt like winter. When I got to work last Sunday, my car told me that it was -8° which didn’t factor in the windchill. One of the furnaces at my full time job wasn’t working properly, leaving the shop area around 50°-60°. You don’t even want to hear me complain about the short dog walks we endured because apparently my dogs are too cool to poop in their own back yard. We did have a few days of warmer temps before things got really cold again. I am over winter and it still only January.
How was your week?
What I’m Reading
I finished 5 books this week. Well, it was actually 4 books and a short story but you get the idea. Of course, I loved Winter Lost by Patricia Briggs! I spent time reading this book that I probably should have spent doing other things and have no regrets. Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank by Elle Cosimano was a fun short listen. I hope to be able to participate in the chat for the White Trash Zombie series so I did a quick re-read (re-listen?) of My Life as a White Trash Zombie by Diana Rowland. Only If You’re Lucky by Stacy Willingham kept me guessing until the very end. I have mixed feelings about A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft but enjoyed the story overall.
I am about a third of the way through Prima Facie by Suzie Miller and have a feeling that something big is about to happen in the story. I was in the mood for something darker so I picked up Black River Orchard by Chuck Wendig. I have read about 25% of the story and can’t wait to see what will happen next.
Books Added
Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid (Publisher); A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston (Publisher); The Hemlock Queen by Hannah Whitten (Publisher)
The Undermining of Twyla and Frank by Megan Bannen (Publisher); The Women by Kristen Hannah (Publisher); Unbound by Christy Healy (Publisher)
Favorite Instagram Post of the Week
What books do you add to your shelves this week?
I’m so impressed that you manage to juggle both jobs. It’s no wonder that blogging/reviewing falls to the side a bit. There are only so many hours in a day. I loved The Women (5 star read) and hope you will, too!
Glad to hear that you can balance the full time job and part time job with ease! Blogging itself does feel like another job entirely, but it’s just a fun one! You won’t get in trouble if you don’t get something up on time, so that’s a plus! Blogging should always be fun! I am happy to keep seeing your posts every week so you’re maintaining 3 jobs very well! Go you!!
Nice new reads! Seeing a few I can’t wait to read myself, but I have found I am taking a bit of a break from requesting too much this year. Unless there is just something I can’t help but need asap…or as asap it takes to get a request approved! lol. I’m looking forward to Bannen’s new book in the same world as her last one and Ashley Poston’s new book sounds adorable too! Hope you enjoy all the lovely new reads!
Here’s my StS
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower 🙂
You guys are getting hammered in the midwest. Stay warm, and we really need to train the dogs to go in the yard (at least when it’s that cold)
We all have to do what we can and also prioritize. I can DO everything but timewise I have trouble fitting it all into the schedule. And sometimes we just need a break. I ‘ve finished my advance setups for 2024 for the blog so now I’m working on FS Poster and creative posts like Series on Saturday or the Read-along. For reading, I’m fitting in TBR reads of freebies and other books I own, around ARCs. I got Winter Lost and some of my other most anticipated books and it is tough to stick to my plan and read current stuff rather than jumping into them.
Anyway, I think you are doing amazing. It’s no wonder your week felt busy. I am so excited to see you on the chat. I’m also happy people generally seem to have enjoyed the book since I hadn’t read the series, it’s a little scary to pick it for the Read-along.
It’s cold here this weekend but I’m grateful it will be warm again this week. It’s not Minnesota cold of course and I still have those clothes. Here’s to a warmer week!
Great week you have had there. And what a great variety of books you picked up there. I really need to get to that Patricia Briggs and want to do it soon here.
Hope this upcoming week of reading brings great rewards for you.
I am over winter too! Although our forecast says 60 on Thursday so I will take it!
I’m so jealous you’ve already read Briggs’ newest! I absolutely love her Mercy Thompson series. Hope this week is a little less busy for you. 😀
I really understand the blog feeling like an unpaid job sometimes. I lost my motivation to post much of anything for the last half of 2023. But since I posted my goals and have been back into the swing of things and have been queuing up posts, I realize how much I missed it and that I am feeling like blogging again. I will even be staring my Monday Meme and Would Your Rather…again, which I am excited about, so make sure to stop by!
Brrr… It’s been so cold everywhere! At least it’s supposed to start heating up tomorrow and reach above freezing!
I really enjoyed WTZ and look forward to continuing the series and the read-along.
My cat loves going outside, but he is getting old so I am happy he is a cat and can poop inside lol
Oooh, a new Ashley Poston book! I need to catch up on her books. I’ve enjoyed the ones I have read, at least!
I imagine that it’s hard to juggle everything all the time.
I spotted a few dog walkers when our temps were in the freezer and felt sorry for them. That wind just cuts right through you. Hopefully your office furnace will be fixed for you. Nice stack of reads. I saw the latest Mercy Thompson was available on NetGalley so I’m glad to know you loved it.
Hopefully your temps come up and you can keep up with the balanced feel you’ve got with the jobs and your life.
Have a good week, Carole!
I hope your temperatures start warming up soon, Carole. I hate the cold. I hope they got that furnace working again at your one workplace! Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank sounds so fun. I can’t wait to read it. Your new books all look so appealing! I want to read them all myself. I hope you have a great week, Carole!
Sorry you missed the chat for My Life as a White Trash Zombie, Carole! We had a good time! Hopefully you can join next time.
Man that’s cold! You need a space heater for work, yikes! Winter Lost is my most anticipated read for the year! I’m thrilled to hear you loved it.
Hope you get some down time and rest, Carole!
I’m not surprised you fell asleep on the couch! You’ve got a lot going on. -8 is not a temperature that I do not feel like should ever happen. That’s just too cold! I hope you’ve had a great week!