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

Sunday, July 12, 2026

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? & Mailbox Monday - July 13

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.

We are back! Our family arrived home early from vacation, which allowed us to see the Lil' Princess, who drove down from Maine. Over the weekend, I celebrated my 58th birthday with all the kids here. Now, I am back to work. Today will be filled with appointments.

Happy birthday to me!

Hanging at the OBX house

Dinner at Miller's Waterfront

Fireworks in Manteo

Girls at The Elizabethan Gardens

Mural at The Dunes

Replica glider at The Wright Brothers National Memorial

I didn't read half as much as expected on vacation. Partially because we were dealing with some nonsense in getting the Lil' Princess' car picked up and dropped off in Maine, and also because I had an unexpected medical issue while there. Nothing too serious (I hope), but I will head to my primary care next week after some tests are done this week.

I have less than an hour left with Meditations for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman. Loving so much about it.

I have not picked up The Ladies Hall by Vanessa Miller while here, because other books need to be read first.

I am done with The Ledger by Steven Manchester, a companion to his novel The Menu. Look for my review soon.

I didn't pick up The Eyes of River last week.

I read some of Love on the Shelf by Sheila Roberts.

Staged by Caitlin Rother, which is the sequel to Hooked. I need to get back to this one.

My review of the second book of The Old Cranberry Ladies Garden Club, The Widow Murderess, appears here.

Book three is The Sparrow and the Crow. I posted a First Chapter Review of this one on July 10. You can read it here.

Massawa by Pam Weber is a book I have not yet started.

Joyce McCullough sent me a copy of Max and Her Stacks to review.

Photo credit: Freepik

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.

Got this great book that I saw in Downtown Books in Manteo for my birthday. I have already opened Andy Griffith's Manteo: His Real Mayberry by John Railey.