It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday - Dec 1

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 December, everyone! Are you excited? I am. It will be nuts around here, but this is my favorite time of year. I will be cracking open my new Advent devotional to keep me focused despite the chaos. 

The Lil' Princess returned to Wilmington on Sunday, but it was so wonderful having her home for a few days. The family came over on Thursday. I cooked, which I love. Christmas decorations are slowly making their way up, and most of my shopping is done. 

Here are a few photos from my week:

Our brokerage collected peanut butter for a local food pantry 

Travis supervising me putting lights on the tree

Two of my more recent additions to the decor--I won the barn and was gifted the truck

We saw the Trans-Siberian Orchestra Saturday 

Let's get to my reading and blogging. I started this Advent devotional by Cynthia Ruchti on Sunday. I bought it over the summer and have eagerly waited to read it. 

I need to get my review of Captain LOL and Rubber Chicken by Craig Yoe posted soon.

Posted a recview of Ms. Pennypickle's Puzzle Quest by Chris Grabenstein at The Children's and Teens' Book Connection. You will find the link when you get to that part of my post. 

Cracked open The Man Next Door by Sheila Roberts. The review will be posted before the end of the year.  

My review of Singing the Forge by G. H. Mosson was posted Tuesday. Check it out here.

I am dismally behind in my reading of Crescent City Christmas Chaos by Ellen Byron, but I am reading it. This review will also be posted before year end. 

Not likely I will read Old Flames, New Beginnings by Lea Schizas during the holiday season. I have four closings this month, the last one happening two days before Christmas. Lord, give me a bit of time to read. 

No matter what, I am tackling my TBR pile after this. Instead of setting a reading goal for 2026, I might just set a goal of reading 75% from my TBR pile. Do you think I can do it? 

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. 

I grabbed The Time Keepers: Save the Pilmgrims by Jeff Trogan as a freebie on Friday. 

Upcoming Events

• Cinder Bella by Kathleen Shoop - Dec 3 (Spotlight)
• Christmas in Newfoundland 3 by Mike Martin - Dec 15 (First Chapter Review)

This week's Christmas... in the news post is up at Christmas Year Round. We are talking Hallmark movies, decorating, and greater demand for real trees. Check it out here.

Posted my review of Ms. Pennypicle's Puzzle Quest here. I have another one to post, so fingers crossed I get to it this week. 

The only thing I posted at Laura's Little Houses was a Thanksgiving message with a quote by Laura Ingalls Wilder. You can find that here.

That's it for this week. I have a heck of a day ahead of me, so likely won't visit until later in the day. See you the!