It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday - May 22

Welcome to It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and 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 and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.       

Happy Monday! I hope you had a great week. Mine was filled with the typical appointments, meetings, and driving. At least I got a chance to listen to a good book! And I accomplished a fair amount of things. Not cleaning the house, but other stuff. :) 

The Lil' Diva and Lil' Princess attended the Taylor Swift concert at Gillette Stadium on Sunday. I am fairly certain that mom stress never goes away. Even though they are adults, I have to pray a lot while they are driving, out at crowded events without us, and pretty much not in my site or safe at home. Any one else relate? 

Here is what my reading world looks like. 

Reviewed this Bible study. You can read my review here.

Reviewed this personal growth book... well, what I read of it anyway. Read my thoughts here.

I also finished listening to this book on Audible. Loved it! Thankfully, I already own it in hardcover, because there are resources I want to check out.

Read a few pages of this one.

I finished this book. Look for my review soon at The Children's and Teens' Book Connection. 

Look for my review of this one on May 29 at TC&TBC.

I will start this one soon, but I need to complete an editing project first.

Upcoming virtual book tours:

• The Ghost Hunters Series Spotlight - May 22
• The Giving Back Tree by Tarky Lee - May 29 (review at TC&TBC)
• A Final Farwell by Marilyn Meredith - June 20 (review)
• All That Glitters by Mike Martin - June 29 (review)
• The Unempty Spaces Between by Louis Efron - July 20 (review)
• Exits by Stephne C. Pollock - August 7 (review)
• Ravage & Son by Jerome Charyn - August 21 (review)

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

My mailbox saw more action than usual because I signed up for a couple more virtual book tours, and because I ordered a used book from Amazon. 

I also requested this one from NetGalley. The phone app has certainly made using NetGalley much easier for me.

Hope you read and received some great books last week. I look forward to visiting you. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I've Wanted to Read for the Longest Time

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

This week is a freebie, so bloggers get to choose their own topics. Usually I struggle with these, but I knew right away this time what I wanted to share. So, welcome to my...

Top Ten Books I've Wanted to Read for the Longest Time

With over 650 books on my Kindle list and another 230 books in my TBR Pile, I have a plethora of books to choose from. 

So many blogging friends I know raved about The Medea Complex, so I added it to my "want to read" shelf on Goodreads in 2014. I'm not even sure I ever bought a copy, but I would still like to read it. 

Finding Dorothy has only been on my "want to read" shelf since 2019, but every time I see it, I remember how much I want to dive right in. I have a copy in one of my bookshelves, but I haven't opened it yet. 

I like history. That this part of history takes place on my beloved Outer Banks of North Carolina is a plus. The Wright Brothers has a striking cover and I've seen it used for staging purposes in homes. Maybe I will bring this one down south with me next year. 

In 2016 and 2017, PBS produced a series set during the Civil War called Mercy Street. I fell in love with the show immediately and was disappointed when they canceled it after two seasons. Heroines of Mercy Street tells the true stories of real nurses during the Civil War. I added it to my "want to read" shelf in early 2016. 

Published in 2018, Marilla is the story of a young Marilla Cuthbert after the death of her mother. I started this one, but had to put it aside because of reviewing duties. Maybe I will pick it up later this year. Watching Anne with an E has renewed my interest in this book. 

I purchased Chasing Lincoln's Killer from a school book fair when the Lil' Diva was in sixth grade. Considering she is an adult now, I have owned it a little while. Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War era of our country have always fascinated me. I hope I get to read this one. 

I met Leslie Meier at a writers conference one year. This book was added to my "want to read" shelf in 2014. I really think it is time to read it or donate it. Mother's Day Murder is the 15th book in her Lucy Stone series. 

I also met Dori Ostermiller at a writers conference. She runs one of our local writing groups. Outside the Ordinary World has been on my "want to read" list since 2011. I really need to open it up one day. It sounds amazing. 

Empty Mansions is a book I've talked about before. When it first came out, so many people raved about it that I bought a copy. On my "want to read" shelf since 2014, I need to make time for this one. 

I have also spoken about Outlander in the past. Back in my former life as a virtual book tour coordinator, I represented the 20th anniversary edition of this book. It wasn't until that time that I learned of its popularity. Everyone I spoke to told me I should read it. At 896 pages, I will need to invest a fair amount of time in this story, which is the only reason I haven't done it yet.

So, what did you think of my list? Are you familiar with any of these books? Have you read any of them? What book has been in your stacks the longest--any idea?

Top Ten Tuesday - Top Ten Books I Hope Santa Brings

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

Happy Tuesday before Christmas. Is all your shopping done? Is your brain already focused on that long weekend? I hope so. 

This week is one of my favorite Top Ten Tuesday topics. Without further ado, here are the...

Top Ten Books I Hope Santa Brings

These first two definitely top my list. 

Anything about Laura Ingalls Wilder catches my eye (need to add to my collection)

Murder, She Wrote only got better with Jon Land

Christmas anything makes me happy

Writers need to keep learning

Active listening is an area where I wish to improve

Love American history

So, what are some books you're hoping Santa will bring you this year? Merry Christmas!

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books on My Summer 2020 TBR

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

Welcome to Tuesday. This is an annual topic for Top Ten Tuesday, but I still love it. My hope is that compiling a list helps me read more. Sometimes it works, other times it doesn't. This will include some books I'm taking on vacation and a few others I want to read.

Top Ten Books on My Summer 2020 TBR

For review

Little House on the Prairie cast member 

Laura Ingalls Wilder tie-in

For review

For review

Next Tradd Street book!!!

Arrived a few weeks ago

Have had this since it first came out. Time to read it!

Kindle freebie set in my favorite place.

Kindle freebie that I really want to dive into. 

What are some books on your summer 2020 TBR list? Do we share any of the same books?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - June 8

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 and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.

Here it is Monday again. Did the week pass quickly for anyone else? The real estate market is booming (they warned us of the delayed spring market) and my head is ready to explode. It's great to be working full time again, but things have changed--just like other industries have changed--as a result of the pandemic.

As far as reading goes, I'm almost done this one. Love it so far.

These are next. The last one might have to come to North Carolina with me. We will see how much I can accomplish before then.

What's on your list to read this week? Anything exciting I should be adding to my wish list?