I’m linking up with It’s Monday! What are you reading? Thank you for hosting, Kathryn!

Hi, all. It’s been a while since I’ve checked in on the blog, and I wanted to do so before Thanksgiving (next Thursday!!). Seems like every fall my reading and blogging slows down for one reason or another, and the same is true this year.

I’m getting over a bout of Covid (my first). It felt like a nasty cold, which wasn’t pleasant, but I know it could have been much worse without the vaccine. While I’ve been home sick, I’ve gotten lots of online Christmas shopping done. Add to cart!!

I did so-so with the R.I.P. XVII reading challenge. I read six books, but only really enjoyed a couple of them. Standouts were THE PLOT AND THE PENDULUM by Jenn McKinlay (cozy mystery) and THE GHOST OF DROWNED MEADOW by Kelley Skovron (middle grade horror).

Here’s a photo of my Halloween tree, which I just took down today. I love “Falloween,” it’s my absolute favorite season, but it just goes by way too quickly.

My TBR cart! I’m behind on my BOTM selections. I’ve heard wonderful things about THE CHANGE, THE CLOISTERS, and WHITE HORSE. And also VERITY and SPELLS FOR FORGETTING from the second shelf.

I’m currently reading STEEPED IN SECRETS by Lauren Elliot, the first book in the Crystals & CuriosiTEAS mystery series. I love a good paranormal cozy mystery.

It’s this sweet and silly girl’s birthday this weekend. Ginger is turning 10 years old! We’re fixing her favorite meal, grilled salmon and peas, so she can have a few bites. ♥

Until next time, take care. — 𝓓𝓲𝓪𝓷𝓪

This week I’m linking up with Sunday Post, Sunday Salon, and It’s Monday! What are you reading? Thank you for hosting, Kimberly, Deb, and Kathryn!

• We’ve been in August for nearly a week. What!?! Sorry I’ve been missing from the blog lately. I’ve had a bout of the blues and haven’t been motivated to do much of anything. It happens from time to time.

• During my down time, I decided that I’m not posting book reviews on Instagram anymore. The algorithm has totally tanked my engagement as a Bookstagrammer, so I’m just going to keep that account for hodgepodge — a few bookish things, a lot of my dog Ginger, and who knows what else! I switched my account to private, but I’d still love to connect (or stay connected) with my book blogger acquaintances there.

• Summer Fitness Plan Update: It was a success! My goal was to complete Jessica Smith’s 6 Week Total Transformation System twice, and that finally wrapped up this week. During the first six weeks, I exercised only and lost ZERO pounds! During the second six weeks, I exercised AND counted calories with the Lose It app, and I lost TEN pounds!

What I love about Jessica’s workouts is that she focuses on functional fitness, doing exercises that will help you with daily activities. I do feel somewhat stronger and more flexible. A few aches and pains I had have greatly improved. Now, onto the next 6 week plan…

Read Since Last Time:

THE LAST TO VANISH by Megan Miranda

A SUMMER TO REMEMBER by Erika Montgomery

SUMMER FEVER by Kate Riordan

Posts Since Last Time:

THE SAFE PLACE by Anna Downes [Review]

SUN DAMAGE by Sabine Durrant [Review]

A SUMMER TO REMEMBER by Erika Montgomery [Review]

Reviewed on Goodreads Only:

THE LAST TO VANISH by Megan Miranda

SUMMER FEVER by Kate Riordan

Currently Reading:

STAY AWAKE by Megan Goldin

A murder she doesn’t remember committing. A killer she doesn’t remember meeting. Megan Goldin’s Stay Awake is an electrifying novel that proves memory can be deadly.

THE PLOT by Jean Hanff Korelitz

Hailed as “breathtakingly suspenseful,” Jean Hanff Korelitz’s The Plot is a propulsive read about a story too good not to steal, and the writer who steals it.

THE HOTEL NANTUCKET by Elin Hilderbrand

“The queen of beach reads” (New York Magazine) delivers an immensely satisfying page-turner in this tale about a summer of scandal at a storied Nantucket hotel… Filled with the emotional depth and multiple points of view that characterize Hilderbrand’s novels as well as an added dash of Roaring Twenties history, The Hotel Nantucket offers something for everyone in this compelling summer drama.

Thanks for stopping by & have a wonderful week! — 𝓓𝓲𝓪𝓷𝓪

This week I’m linking up with Sunday Post and It’s Monday! What are you reading? Thanks for hosting, Kimberly and Kathryn!

My reading and posting slowed down some this month. We’ve been busier lately, doing this and that. I found out there are going to be some big changes in our classroom this upcoming school year which has me a bit stressed. It’s outside of my control, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to worry about it!

My son finished up his summer orchestra camp today with a group performance. He plays viola and was the only one in the camp. Violas are in demand! My daughter plays cello and made it into the high school’s chamber orchestra for her senior year. We’re very proud of both of them. It’s hard to believe we have a senior and sophomore now.

The cicadas are singing which means summer’s days are numbered! I know they annoy a lot of people, but I like listening to them. They seem quiet this year, though maybe it’s August that they’re louder.

Read Since Last Time:

THE HOUSE ACROSS THE LAKE by Riley Sager

SUMMER’S EDGE by Dana Mele

SUN DAMAGE by Sabine Durrant *

THE SAFE PLACE by Anna Downes *

* I’m loving the South of France setting!

Posts Since Last Time:

THE HOUSE ACROSS THE LAKE by Riley Sager [Review]

IN ANOTHER LIGHT by A. J. Banner [Review]

142 OSTRICHES by April Davila [Review]

Currently Reading:

THE LAST TO VANISH by Megan Miranda

New York Times bestselling author Megan Miranda returns with a gripping and propulsive thriller that opens with the disappearance of a journalist who is investigating a string of vanishings in the resort town of Cutter’s Pass—will its dark secrets finally be revealed?

A SUMMER TO REMEMBER by Erika Montgomery

Experience the salty breeze of a Cape Cod summer as it sweeps through this sparkling, romantic, and timeless debut novel tinged with a love of old Hollywood.

Hopefully I can do some blog hopping this weekend and catch up with everyone. Thanks for stopping by & have a wonderful week! — 𝓓𝓲𝓪𝓷𝓪

The year is half over, and so is summer vacation. Nooo! It’s going by too quickly. Even though I’m not a fan of the heat, I am enjoying the extra reading and blogging time. I’m also one month done with the 20 Books of Summer reading challenge. So far, so good! In June, I read:

• 9 books total, including
• 8 review books from NetGalley;
• 5 of those were “backlist” titles, and
• 3 of those were audiobooks.

I’m listening to audiobooks again! My ears are very sensitive, and earbuds and regular headphones don’t work for me. But luckily I found some soft headband headphones that work perfectly. I think they’re meant for sleeping, but I use them for walking. They even fit comfortably under my sun hat. :-)

On the blog, I added pages for “Books Read in 20xx,” beginning in 2010 when I started blogging. The tabs are at the top. Some of the pages are still under construction, but the project should be done this week.

Also, Bloglovin’ is working again, after I complained about it last time, lol.

Read Since Last Time:

THE FAVOR by Nora Murphy

THE ANATOMY OF DESIRE by L. R. Dorn

THE DEAD ROMANTICS by Ashley Poston

142 OSTRICHES by April Dávila

IN ANOTHER LIGHT by A. J. Banner

Posts Since Last Time:

THE GIRL IN THE MIRROR by Rose Carlyle [Review]

THE FAVOR by Nora Murphy [Review]

THE ANATOMY OF DESIRE by L. R. Dorn [Review]

THE DEAD ROMANTICS by Ashley Poston [Review]

THE IT GIRL by Ruth Ware [Review]

Currently Reading:

THE SAFE PLACE by Anna Downes

Superbly tense and oozing with atmosphere, Anna Downes’s debut, The Safe Place, is the perfect summer suspense, with the modern gothic feel of Ruth Ware and the morally complex family dynamics of Lisa Jewell.

THE HOUSE ACROSS THE LAKE by Riley Sager

Be careful what you watch for…

Packed with sharp characters, psychological suspense, and gasp-worthy plot twists, Riley Sager’s The House Across the Lake is the ultimate escapist read…no lake house required.

Thanks for stopping by & have a wonderful week! — 𝓓𝓲𝓪𝓷𝓪