It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday - Jan 12

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.

Happy Monday! Hope you all had a fabulous week. I spent my week easing into work and taking time to visit with my sisters. Here are photos from our trip.

Grand Pequot Tower 

Lunch at Jealous Monk

Ax throwing: Don't worry, you are all safe. My highest score was zero.

Ketchup cat at Johnny Rockets

Breakfast at Somewhere in Time Cafe

Advent calendars at a 

store in Olde Mistick Village

I finished two books last week: Next Is Now by Leigh Brown, and The Case for Old MacDonald and His Farm. Check out my review of Leigh's book here. The link to the picture book appears further down in this post. 

I did not read I Heard the Bells last week, but I will indulge myself tonight. 

I didn't read Hooked by Cailtin Rother last week, but it will be my focus this week. 

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 gave my physical and virtual mailboxes a break this week. 

Upcoming Events

Hooked by Catilin Rother - January (Review)

Tender Dreams, Harsh Reality by John Beilharz - Jan 26 (Interview)

Artsy Rambler by Evy and Rich Journey - Feb 3 (Spotlight)

Winter's Season by R. J. Koreto - Feb 13 (Spotlight)

Hook, Line, and Murder by GG Calpo - Mar 2 (Interview)

Agatha Christie, She Watched by Teresa Peschel - Apr 15 (Review)

Christmas Year Round

I introduced my newest feature at Christmas Year Round, "Journey through Christmases Past." This is a nostalgic celebration of the holidays we remember. You can read the first post, looking back at 1968, here. 

The Children's and Teens' Book Connection

I reviewed one of my NetGalley downloads, The Case of Old MacDonald and His Farm by Mark Teague, which will be released in March. Click here to read the review. 

Laura's Little Houses

I wrapped up my Little House favorite episodes posts by sharing my top five from Season 9. You can read about them here. 

That completes my second 2026 Monday post. I have an appointment this morning, so I will be checking in with my blogging friends later this afternoon. Enjoy your day!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday - Sep 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 September! For those of us in the States, we are honoring Labor Day today. And, believe me, all I am doing is laboring lately. I am still catching up on last week's blog comments. Burgers, hot dogs, and corn on the cob are on the menu tonight. No pictures to share because I am rushing to get this posted. 

Not much reading is going on. I am also giving up on writing that review of the book about referrals. I will need to listen to it again to refresh my mind. 

I am almost done with "Like Driftwood on the Salish Sea" by Richard Levine.

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

These First Chapter Reviews are coming in September. 

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. 

Most of these new books are from NetGalley, but I added American Prophet to my Kindle Unlimited library. 

Upcoming Events

• 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 Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall by Jaime Jo Wright - Oct 29 (Review)

The latest Christmas... in the news post is up at Christmas Year Round. Talking hot toys, Christmas music, and an annual toy drive this week. Check it out here.

Nothing new at The Children's and Teens' Book Connection.

The latest post at Laura's Little Houses shares my Season 9 rewrite link. It is very popular, so I started the next chapter. With all that is going on, writing will be slow going. 

Hope you have a great week!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? & Mailbox Monday - Aug 11

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.

The Children's and Teens' Book Connection has the review I mentioned above. 

Laura's Little Houses has the following posts:

Actor/Character Matches That Likely Wouldn't Happen Today

Five Hardest to Watch Little House on the Prairie Episodes

Expecting a busy week with the Lil' Princess home, inspections, and other appointments. Enjoy your day!