It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - June 24

Welcome to It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

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.   

Welcome back! Here we are at the last Monday of the month. How is that possible? I know last week flew by for us. Dealing with insurance since the car accident took forever, but I hope everything will be resolved today. This week will be hectic, since we leave Friday for our favorite place.

Theo is ready for the beach!

Dance recital for the Lil' Diva was this weekend. She is such a beautiful dancer, and we have enjoyed watching her grow up there. She also teaches part-time. My photos aren't great, but they all looked lovely on stage. 

The blog was mostly quiet last week. Without my car, I haven't listened to anything on Audible. I did, however, read through some of this one. I need to finish it soon.

I am done with this biography from Melissa Gilbert. This was much more to my liking than her first one.

I ended up enjoying this book, too. Need time to write a review. 

The vacation book list is growing. The last two are new arrivals. 

Upcoming events:

• Interview with Leo Daughtry, author of Talmadge Farm - June 24
• Is Truth Stranger Than Fiction? You Decide... by JB Miller - July 3 (Review)
• The Righteous Arrows by Brian J. Morra - July (Review)
• Knowing by Mark Cox - August 22 (Review)
• Death in St. George's by M. A. Monnin - August 23 (Review)
• Hollywood Underworld by Lindy S. Hudis - August 30 (Review)

You can read the latest Christmas news at the Christmas Year Round blog. Check it out here!

Looking forward to your comments and to visiting your blogs. Enjoy your week!

Audible Book Review: The 5AM Club by Robin S. Sharma

 

If you like your self-help and personal development delivered through fictional storytelling, you might want to read The 5AM Club by Robin S. Sharma. 

Touted as "part manifesto for mastery, part playbook for genius-grade productivity and part companion for a life lived beautifully," this book is meant to empower you to embrace early-rising habits to change your life.

I tried to like this book, but it just isn't for me. What I thought was a nonfiction title outlining a practice to owning your morning, turned out to be a fictional story of annoying characters who meet an eccentric tycoon who becomes their mentor explaining the concept.

The narrator was great, capturing the characters' unique personalities, but after six chapters I couldn't even think how I would complete this 11hr audio book.

I've seen this style of book done before, and it can be done well. This story just wasn't for me despite my belief that owning your morning makes a huge difference in your performance and productivity.

Listening Length	11 hours and 4 minutes
Author	Robin Sharma
Narrator	Adam Verner
Whispersync for Voice	Ready
Audible.com Release Date	December 04, 2018
Publisher	HarperAudio
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B07KRM53PR

I used an Audible credit to purchase the book. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday - Apr 17

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.      

Χριστός ἀνέστη - Christ is Risen, my fellow Orthodox Easter friends. I hope you had a wonderful holiday. 

When we lost my father-in-law three years ago on Easter Monday, I didn't really think about how glorious it was to be welcomed home during the holiest week of the year. Now, having lost my mother-in-law during the same season, that thought is more front and center. 

Though we didn't celebrate with family this weekend (one daughter was working and the other is back at college, plus the nephew had double header baseball games), I spent Saturday and Sunday poring over family photos to prepare for my in-laws' celebration of life we will hold on May 13, which would have been their 67th wedding anniversary. On Sunday, our son took us out to dinner at a local Italian restaurant that we had never tried, which was outstanding. We will definitely be back. 

I had a rare weekend off. Though I answered texts, I didn't really work much. It will be a busy four days before Paul and I head to North Carolina to see the Lil' Princess' dance show at UNCW. Then we will return the first weekend in May to pack her up and bring her home for the summer. I am so excited to have her back!

Because I didn't work, I managed to get a good amount of reading done. I am totally engrossed in The Vanishing at Castle Moreau. The author easily moves this dual-time period tale of two women who find themselves surrounded by the darkness at Castle Moreau. I am sure I'll be giving it a 5-star review on April 24. 

I didn't read from this book during the week, as I've been spending more time in prayer. 

I posted a review of this personal growth book last week. You can read that here.

This has been a captivating read as well.

There is an e-book giveaway that runs through April 27th for a copy of An Accomplished Woman by Suzan Lauder. Please leave a comment here for your chance to enter and win. 

These two are next for May 1 and May 29 tours. 

Upcoming virtual book tours:

• The Vanishing at Castle Moreau by Jamie Jo Wright - Apr 24 (review)
• The Shade Under the Mango Tree by Evy Journey - Apr 27
• The Not So True Adventures of Brandon, Josh and Adam by Barry M. Fellinger - May 1 (review at TC&TBC)
• Crossing A Fine Line by W. L. Brooks - May 9
• The Giving Back Tree by Tarky Lee - May 29 (review at TC&TBC)

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.

No new books this week, but I added this one to my Goodreads Want to Read List recently.

A riveting story of World War II and the courage of one young woman as she is drafted into Churchill’s overseas spy network, aiding the French Resistance behind enemy lines and working to liberate Nazi-occupied Paris… 

 London, 1941: In a cramped bunker in Winston Churchill’s Cabinet War Rooms, underneath Westminster’s Treasury building, civilian women huddle at desks, typing up confidential documents and reports. Since her parents were killed in a bombing raid, Rose Teasdale has spent more hours than usual in Room 60, working double shifts, growing accustomed to the burnt scent of the Prime Minister’s cigars permeating the stale air. Winning the war is the only thing that matters, and she will gladly do her part. And when Rose’s fluency in French comes to the attention of Churchill himself, it brings a rare yet dangerous opportunity. 

Rose is recruited for the Special Operations Executive, a secret British organization that conducts espionage in Nazi-occupied Europe. After weeks of grueling training, Rose parachutes into France with a new codename: Dragonfly. Posing as a cosmetics saleswoman in Paris, she ferries messages to and from the Resistance, knowing that the slightest misstep means capture or death.

Soon Rose is assigned to a new mission with Lazare Aron, a French Resistance fighter who has watched his beloved Paris become a shell of itself, with desolate streets and buildings draped in Swastikas. Since his parents were sent to a German work camp, Lazare has dedicated himself to the cause with the same fervor as Rose. Yet Rose’s very loyalty brings risks as she undertakes a high-stakes prison raid, and discovers how much she may have to sacrifice to justify Churchill’s faith in her . . . 

That's it for me this week. I will be out and about this morning, but will check in later in the afternoon. Hope you have a great week!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday - Apr 10

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 Easter Monday! I hope you had a glorious weekend. I missed posting last week because we had been away. Here are a few photos from our trip to NY.

Upstate Bar & Grill in Cooperstown, NY

Gift shop outside the Baseball Hall of Fame

National Comedy Center in Jamestown, NY

Luci Desi Museum in Jamestown, NY

On the drive home

This past Friday, we brought Yia-Yia to our home to live with us. Her room came out lovely, and we were prepared for her arrival. We had a great day, laughing, watching the Gaithers, and getting her settled in. She was good with the transition from one house to another, and other than the occasional, "How old am I?" questions, she acclimated well. So, imagine our surprise, when I found she passed away in her sleep overnight. 

We are saddened we didn't have more time with her, but God's timing is always perfect. She had a good day. She was happy to be here. And she knew where she was going when she left this world. Reunited with her parents, husband, and dozens of friends and loved ones, how glorious for her to be welcomed home by her Savior on Easter weekend. 

Needless to say, not a ton of reading going on lately. While in New York, I read this one for my April 24 review.

After prayer time, I read from this John Maxwell book in the morning.

I ended up finishing this one. In the end, though I felt it dragged on, this book had a ton of excellent insight. I will post a short review soon.

These two are next for May 1 and May 29 tours. Not sure why I thought signing up for three review books made sense, but at least one of them is small. 

Upcoming virtual book tours:

• The Vanishing at Castle Moreau by Jamie Jo Wright - Apr 24 (review)
• The Shade Under the Mango Tree by Evy Journey - Apr 27
• The Not So True Adventures of Brandon, Josh and Adam by Barry M. Fellinger - May 1 (review at TC&TBC)
• The Giving Back Tree by Tarky Lee - May 29 (review at TC&TBC)

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.

I grabbed this book in Cooperstown from the Hall of Fame gift shop.

I also downloaded this one on NetGalley. 

I have errands to run this morning, but I will be checking in with my blogging friends this afternoon.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday - Mar 27

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.      

Welcome to the last Monday of March. I hope the month has treated you well. It flew by in a blur for me, but life has been good. 

Today would have been my mother's 88th birthday. So hard to believe she has been gone nearly 41 years now. 

I mentioned last week that we are remodeling the front room. Here is the progress so far.

The husband loves those pillars.

Pillars now gone. As you can see by the wagging tail, Theo likes to be in the thick of things.

Green room turned to gray and French doors installed.

This week, they will install the door handles, put on another coat of paint, and install the curtain rods. Then I just have to move the furniture in and set everything up. It will be good to get the dining room back. A lot of what was in this room moved into the dining room so they could paint. 

As far as reading goes, I've started this one for my April 24 review.

After prayer time, I read from this John Maxwell book in the morning.

I've been listening to this one in the car. I'm trying to decide if I will continue. I feel like I have been listening forever, but still have 2.5 hours left. Just when I think I will stop, it provides some great insight. I will continue through the next chapter, but not sure if I will go on. 

These two are next for May 1 and May 29 tours. Not sure why I thought signing up for three review books made sense, but at least one of them is small. 

Upcoming virtual book tours:

• The Vanishing at Castle Moreau by Jamie Jo Wright - Apr 24 (review)
• The Shade Under the Mango Tree by Evy Journey - Apr 27
• The Not So True Adventures of Brandon, Josh and Adam by Barry M. Fellinger - May 1 (review at TC&TBC)
• The Giving Back Tree by Tarky Lee - May 29 (review at TC&TBC)

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 remained empty, and I didn't download any freebies because I have so many books here. 

That's it for me this week. The husband and I are planning a little trip this coming weekend before my mother-in-law arrives. I'm not sure how much blogging I will be doing this week as I prepare for her arrival. Let's hope there are some down times over the next few days.