Sunday, September 8, 2019

Sundays with Sam - The Sunday Post



Sundays with Sam is a combination of Sunday Post hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer and Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

My Week in Review

Did you ever notice how shorter work weeks seem longer? That's how this week felt. I don't normally feel that way, but maybe it is the anticipation of my vacation at the end of the month. Not sure, but this week lasted FOREVER! Though, we did get into the planning stages for our CANgineering challenge at work. It's a really fun event, where we used non-perishable items to build something, and  then all the food is donated to a local food bank. When you google it, you find these massive structures, but it's hard to get that much food with not even our whole work group (23 people) participating. Last year we built a lighthouse, and his year, we are doing a slice of pumpkin pie. I will, unfortunately be on vacation during the event, but I know they will take pictures for me.

School started back by us, and last night heralded the return of my Friday night band concert. I live pretty close to my daughter's high school, and can hear them playing on game nights and when they practice. They sounded pretty good for the first game back.

My daughter is flying back in a day early for work, so I will get to spend the day with her, which is always a treat for me. Other than that, I continue my streak of not doing much.

Wait for it. He's a very dramatic doggo.

KARMA!

I struggled with my fave hedgie this week, but there's just something about wigs on pets (and babies), that gets me every time.
Let's Discuss!
  • Briana talked about the circularity of book blogging
  • Veronika shared her sadness of losing interest in a favorite author
  • Rukayah discussed growing up without diverse books

On the Blog:
  • Monday: Blog Tour - Have a Little Faith in Me by Sonia Hartl (giveaway)
  • Tuesday: Blog Tour - She's the Worst by Lauren Spieller (giveaway)
  • Wednesday: CWW/BRTBL - Winterwood, Queens of Geek
  • Thursday: TTT - Not My Zone
  • Friday: Five Star Friday - August 2019
STACKING THE SHELVES

I was pretty excited about the approvals I got this week. Both A Love Hate Thing and Don't Read the Comments look like a ton of fun, and I am fan of those Mila Gray books. I can't wait to read all of these.

Edelweiss/NetGalley


What I Read Last Week

I DNFed two more books this week, but I was really happy with all the books I finished.

My top read was Suggested Reading. As a voracious reader, it is always fun reading about other readers, and this was a love letter to books. I really enjoyed it a LOT.

Books

Audiobooks


What I Am Currently Reading

I am really enjoying The Survival List. It's heartbreaking, and Sheinmel is doing a magnificent job drowning me in Sloane's grief, but I am eager to get to the root of this mysterious list.

I checked out Teen Idol for my 50 States Challenge, I am really determined to complete it this year, and wow! It's a real sort of blast from the past. I think it was first published in the early 2000s, and there are a bunch of old references. I was really jealous that they were at Chi Chi's, because I loved, and totally miss, that place.


What I Plan to Read

Looks like a middle grades heavy week for me. After reading After Zero, I will have completed my A to Z Challenge. I was searching for a Z-book, and I saw a lot of people just using books with a Z-word in the title. I guess there is more leeway when it comes to certain letters, but I'll take it, because I was struggling with that letter.

How was your week?
Let us know in the comments!

58 comments:

  1. Oh that cat one is awesome! Talk abou turning the tables. :)

    Yay for band! Last night (well, Friday night now lol) was our first football game too, so the band was performing. That time of year again!

    These short holiday weeks always feel longer to me! I don't know what it is...

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    1. I keep waiting for a throwback to when my daughter was in HS, and the band used to play "Rock Me Like a Hurricane".

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  2. That engineering event sounds so nerdy! I love it! I'm sad you're going to miss it though,but vacation! Are you planning on anything fun? I'm glad you get to see your daughter! :)
    I'll be keeping my eye out for your review of Love Hate Thing. I wanted to download it but I'm trying to limit the books I download for review.
    Have a good week, Sam!

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    1. I will probably be reading Love Hate Thing in December. I like to be within one month of publication (normally).

      I love the whole idea of the CANgineering event, and the stuff people build is AH-mazing. One team last year, built a truck filled with food, and the best part? It all goes to a local food bank. We are close to Trenton, and there is a lot of need there. I think most of our collection type drives benefit that community.

      I am going on a Disney Halloween cruise for vacation. We booked it last year, while we were sweltering in Disney World last year. This time - Maine and Canada. It should be a LOT cooler.

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  3. I had a big week for both reading and DNFing which made a big dent in my TBR pile! Very satisfying!

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    1. I want to cry when I DNF. First, I am disappointed I had not chosen well, and then, I am mad about the time I will never get back. I have been DNFed 2 again this week, both review books. I hate writing that feedback too.

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  4. For me, the week went buy super fast! The engineering event sounds so freaking cool! Post pictures when they send them to you! Ooh which were the books you DNF'd??
    I'm so interested in A Love Hate Thing and The Comments one. I hope you enjoy them!
    Genesis @ Whispering Chapters

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    1. I won't be there, but I will ask my teammate to send me pictures. She's a good egg like that. I DNFed The Perfect Date and Dear Haiti, Love Alaine. Date is a total nope, but I might try Alaine again. Sometimes it's just poor timing for me, but Date was a really poor fit.

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  5. Replies
    1. The Daily Hedgehog is one of the best parts of my day.

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  6. Yeah this week felt slow. Any short week or week leading to time off feels slow. I decided to take Monday off as I'm dogsitting our pooches and they're old and are used to my mom coming home for lunch to let them out. And ironically I decided to plan a vacation for November this weekend, so I'm hoping I've enough hours for that, plus another few days I wanted to take. I have yet to figure out where I can check the status of my built up PTO with this company. Hoping for a new job soon so it won't be an issue! Lol.

    Nice new reads! Totally new to me ones as usual. I hope you enjoy them once you get to read them!

    Here's my StS

    Have a GREAT day!

    Old Follower :)

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    1. Have fun with the pups, and hopefully your vacation plans work out.

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  7. It is great that your daughter is coming a day early to visit. I saw that fainting doggie this week. It is funny how dramatic they can be. It looks like you had another great reading week. I hope this week feels shorter for you. Waiting for vacation is tough!

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    1. We had a fun day. I love having her around. That dog is hilarious. I never knew dogs behaved like that. Waiting for vacation is the WORST, and I know it's going to be magnificent, so that makes it even harder to wait for

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  8. That brave hamster! The dramatic dog video is awesome. I'm happy your daughter is coming for a visit as I know you miss her lots.

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    1. That dog needs to be nominated for an Oscar or something. Stupendous!

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  9. Short work weeks always seem longer! Maybe because we're trying to cram more work into fewer days. The CANgineering things sound so cool! That dog was hilarious. Such a drama queen! LOL Hope you have a fantastic visit with your daughter. I've been meaning to read those Mila Gray books for ages and even have a few on my shelves. I hope you enjoy your MG reads this week!

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    1. We had a fun day. We went to the mall, Target, Bonefish, and Rita's. I find it amusing, that my daughter brings her laundry with her every time she comes. I thought that was a college thing. I liked the two books I read in the Gray series and am excited to read more.

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  10. I was just saying I think short weeks feel so much longer. I saw that dog video earlier in the week and its hilarious! At least he lets her cut his nails. My dogs try to yank their paws back!!

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    1. They always felt worst at school, because more than two days off, and the kids get out of routine. Your dogs need to just manipulate you like drama-dog, then they can avoid having their nails cut too

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  11. You are so right. This short week did feel longer -- and more exhausting! I'm glad to see you enjoyed Overruled. I listened to that one and found it to be so fun!

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    1. The whole premise of Overruled is so wrong. The way Stanton was trying to keep both women in a holding pattern, but Chase wrote it in such a way, that it was ok.

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  12. That's such a creative work event, that's too bad that you have to miss it!

    (Amber Elise @ Du Livre)

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    1. I know. I really wanted to help too. You know, I could have been the resident engineer on the team, but I will be on a boat with Mickey, so, there's that.

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  13. Honestly Sam you have me in fits of laughter every Sunday with your animals vid!!! That dog is a real comedian and the cat ...karma indeed :-)))))))
    I wonder what the school band is playing on Friday nights! Are they as creative as Theo's band in The Guy on the Right?

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    1. That dog is too fabulous. I love him! I didn't recognize any of the music I heard, but when my daughter was there, they always played The Final Countdown. As far as fictional marching bands, I loved the fact that the band played Love Spit Love in Angus.

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  14. This week was slow for me but probably because I caught a summer cold. That dog is awesome. Wish mine would do that!

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    1. I hope you are able to get some rest and the cold runs its course quickly

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  15. Yes, short weeks always feel longer!! Especially when the holiday is on a Monday.

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    1. I think the week feels longer, when the holiday is Friday too, because of the anticipation

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  16. I saw that dog video earlier this week and I laughed at how dramatic he was about getting his nails trimmed.
    You've got some great books this week!!

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    1. Too dramatic, and I am happy that video was shared on the internet, because it's too fabulous

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  17. I don't know why last week felt so long with being off Labor Day! I wonder if it's because it's more hectic at work when you get back. It is at my work, anyhow. Hilarious drama llama dog! So cute. Hedgehog cuteness, too!

    I hate DNF-ing books, but I do have to think of my personal time, it's precious to me and I (like you) have to work so I don't have a ton of it. I don't want to spend it reading a book I'm not enjoying.

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    1. I don't have trouble deciding to DNF, but I go through these stages, where first, I am angry at myself for misjudging my taste, and then I am angry that I wasted my time.

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  18. I still need to read Overruled but I loved Sustained.

    Karen @ For What It's Worth

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    1. I read Sustained by in 2016, and I loved it. I was excited to see the audiobooks on Hoopla, and want to finish the series.

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  19. I was so messed up this week! I never had any idea what day it even was! XD I hope you enjoy your new books. I've heard great things about Don't Read the Comments!

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    1. You all had a LOT going on, or at least were waiting to see what happened, down there. I can understand.

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  20. Oh god yes, shorter weeks somehow always feel like THE LONGEST ever haha, you're not alone in feeling this way.
    Congratulations on the great books approvals, I can't wait to hear your thoughts on Don't Read The Comments, that one sounds great :)
    Happy reading and have a wonderful week <3

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    1. I am so eager to jump into Comments. I just think it will be perfect for me.

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  21. Those hedgehog photos are always so cute!

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  22. I totally get what you mean about shorter weeks lasting longer, even though last week was a super short week for me it felt like it took FOREVER! That's so awesome that you were able to spend more time with your daughter, that's always fun! I'm excited to see you gave Love on Lexington Ave four stars, because I'm planning on reading that one soon. Hope you have an amazing week!

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    1. I love LL. Her books always work for me. I especially loved the hero in Lexington, and the dog. The dog was awesome.

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  23. I feel the same way about short work weeks. I don't know what it is about them, but they just seem to drag. Yay that you'll get to spend more time with your daughter this visit!

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    1. We only had the one day, but I cleared my schedule, so I could just be with her.

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  24. Anticipating a vacation always makes the days leading up to it feel long for myself as well. I would have .loved to see the lighthouse you guys built last year. What a neat event! I can't wait to end up seeing what you think of A Love Hate Thing and Golden! Both of those books caught my eye. Have a great week and visit with your daughter Sam :)

    Lindy@ A Bookish Escape

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    1. I am reading Golden this week, but Love Hate will probably be put off until December. Fingers crossed, I love them both.

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  25. Oh my goodness, that dramatic dog. I love it!! I hope you have a great vacation - I'm going on one at the end of the month and I cannot wait to just relax.

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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    1. That dog is fantastic! I read something that he actually passed out. Poor pup. We will be vacationing at the same time!!! Yee haw!

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  26. Yes! Shorter working weeks are like ten days long, we always comment on how much longer they feel at work so you're not alone. And that work thing sounds like fun (even if you'll miss it) I hope you'll share their photos. Teen Idol is such a blast from the past! I remember reading and loving that, but I loved everything Meg Cabot wrote during that time. I kind of want to try and find a copy and read it now just to see if it's like I remember.

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    1. I will tell my co-worker to send me pics. She likes me, so I think she'll do it. Teen Idol was fun and cute. I enjoyed it.

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  27. I hope you enjoy the extra day with your daughter!
    After the busy summer, I'm joining you in a streak of not doing much. I really would like some time of just not doing anything...

    I'm glad you enjoyed Don't You Forget About Me! I've had Mhairi McFarlane on my TBR for a while now. :)

    Hope you've had a good week (so far), Sam!

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    1. Not only did I get Sunday, BUT she came home last night, because her flight back to Chicago was canceled. What a treat! Don't You Forget About Me is women's fiction, so I first, I was like, "where's the romance?", but it was really good.

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  28. Aww I hope the entire time your daughter's with you will be great. The animal posts are always such a treat. Thank you for sharing!!

    I'm excited to read A Love Hate Thing, it's one of the books that caught my attention while I was roaming around in Netgalley. AND LOVE ON LEXINGTON AVENUE! I'M MOST EXCITED FOR THAT!!

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    1. This is the last visit until the end of the month. It's always so easy spending time with her. Animal posts keep me going. I live to share them. Love on Lex was good, but maybe I am biased, because I love Lauren Layne books.

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  29. How to Be Remy Cameron, Suggested Reading, Queens of Geek and also the new Mhairi McFarlane books are all ones I want to read. Happy you enjoyed them all! Agh, sometimes it is so weird how shorter weeks feel longer ;.;

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    1. Well, all were really good. Suggested Reading was my highest rated, but Remy, QoG, and Forget About Me all delighted me as well. I think some people were disappointed, that McFarlane's book was more women's fiction than romance, but it was funny and touching and I enjoyed it.

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