The Book Connection...: It's Monday! What Are You Reading? & Mailbox Monday

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are, and about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit, comment, and add to that ever-growing TBR pile! So welcome, everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and was then taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.

Welcome to Monday on a Sunday. I am posting this early for a few reasons: I have a hectic day; the Lil' Princess is coming home Monday; and the Lil' Diva is celebrating a birthday. Besides work-related tasks, I am spending my day with the girls and our son-in-law, who may get to come home in the next few weeks. Say a prayer.

Lots to cover today, so I will get right to it. Here are a few photos from last week. I was blessed to take most of the weekend off, which allowed me to meal plan, grocery shop, and harvest from the garden.

Took Theo for a ride Saturday evening. Paddy (husband) and I grabbed a quick to-go supper and headed for a place to eat outside and take a walk.

Dwight is playing guard cat.

I discovered this little treasure on Sunday while gardening. I guess the Lil' Diva wanted to leave her mark on the house while she was growing up.

Great harvest of potatoes, garlic (that I harvested wrong because you are supposed to keep the necks, cure the garlic, then dry upside down for two weeks), and herbs. I grab berries and tomatoes as they ripen on the vine.

Slowly transforming my pantry to herbs grown in our yard instead of buying them all.

In my reading world, I reviewed the first chapter of Gone to the Ground by Morgan Hatch. You can read the review here.

I also reviewed Mark Robert's Bolbie's New Adventure by Janice Blanchett. You can read that review at my kid's book blog here.

I've been reading Like Driftwood on the Salish Sea by Richard Levine for a September review.

I didn't read Behind the Scenes by Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley on my Kindle this week.

Still need to review The Bible Simplified by Zach Windahl on NetGalley. Maybe this week.

I didn't touch The Sea Captain's Wife by Tilar J. Mazzeo this week, but I need to finish it soon.

Need to review Generating Business Referrals Without Asking by Stacey Brown Randall soon.

These First Chapter Reviews are coming in August and September.

Father of One by Jani Anttola

What Lies We Keep by Janet Roberts

Whatever It Takes by Alan Benham

Ride a Dark Trail by Winter Austin

Need to read Old Flames, New Beginnings by Lea Schizas during the holiday season.

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books they added to their shelves the previous week. This weekly meme is now hosted by Vicki at I'd Rather Be At The Beach.

Thanks to Sarah Hamaker's Christmas in July Reader Extravaganza, I received some free books from authors whose newsletters I subscribed to. Here is what is now on my Kindle.

Marrying Abby by Melanie D. Snitker (only available to her subscribers)

A Wish and a Prayer by Robin Lee Hatcher

Escaping with You by Robin Patchen

This I Promise You by Mary A. Felkins

The Honeymoon Express by Susanne Dietze

The Sheriff and the Outlaw by Danielle Grandinetti

Grace for Christmas by Laura Ashwood (only available to her subscribers)

Seaside Christmas by Narelle Atkins

I also grabbed a copy of Diverging Roads by Rose Wilder Lane, which is in the public domain.

Upcoming Events

Like Driftwood on the Salish Sea by Richard Levine - Aug 12 (Author Interview)
Father of One by Jani Anttola - Aug 18 (First Chapter Review)
What Lies We Keep by Janet Roberts - Aug 20 (First Chapter Review)
Whatever it Takes by Alan Brenham - Sep 2 (First Chapter Review)
Like Driftwood on the Salish Sea by Richard Levine - Sep 15 (Review)
Ride a Dark Trail by Winter Austin - Sep 23 (First Chapter Review)

The latest Christmas... in the news post is up at Christmas Year Round. You can read all the seasonal good stuff here. I am also accepting interviews and guest posts from writers of family-friendly Christmas material at this blog. You can read the details here.