It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday - Jul 7

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 July! Hope you enjoyed your weekend. We had a fun-filled first week on the Outer Banks. Here are some photos.

NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island

Tried a new bakery

Visited the cat cafe

Latest visit to The Outer Banks Christmas Shop & General Store

Theo loves the beach

Visited two local farmer's markets

Fireworks in Manteo

Sunset in Nags Head

I haven't done as much reading as expected, but I finished this true crime novel and reviewed it on Thursday. Check it out here.

I also reviewed this one at The Children's and Teens' Book Connection. You can read it here.

I've read all of these before we left. My reviews should appear at TC&TBC soon. 

I also finished this one. My review should appear at Laura's Little Houses soon.

I've been reading this historical account on my Kindle.

These are next.

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. 

New additions to my Kindle thanks to Smashwords and a Christmas in July event.

Upcoming Events

• My Bully, My Aunt, and Her Final Gift by Harold Phifer Jul 8 (Book Spotlight)
• Shooting Stars Above by Patricia Leavy, PhD - Jul 24 (Author Interview)
• Arabesque by M G da Mota - Jul 31 (Book Spotlight)
• Like Driftwood on the Salish Sea by Richard Levine - Aug 12 (Author Interview)
• Like Driftwood on the Salish Sea by Richard Levine - Sep 15 (Review)

New Christmas... in the news, sharing videos of decorating trends, elegant holiday decor, and a Christmas in July thrifty decor haul. Check it out at Christmas Year Round here. 

The Children's and Teens' Book Connection has my review of Saving Piku (link above). 

Laura's Little Houses has nothing new, but I will feature my review of the Three Faces of Nellie soon. 

That's it for me. Hope you enjoy your day!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? & Mailbox Monday - June 23

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 back to Monday. We are almost to the end of the month. By this time next week, we will be on vacation. I think God took pity on me and my potential burnout. All the listings I thought were coming before we left are waiting until after we return. Though I will have things going on, with any luck, I will squeak out more of a vacation than usual. Maybe I can even catch up on my reading. 

Here are photos from this week:

The Lil' Diva's dance recital. She just finished 21 years. 

Don't let their cuteness fool you. Right after this, they attacked each other.

Theo is hanging out with me as I go through his vacation supplies. Packing makes him very anxious. 

More success with reading this past week. I posted three First Chapter Reviews. Here they are in case you missed them:

Click here to read the review.

Click here to read the review and enter for your chance to win.

Click here to read the review and enter for your chance to win. 

I reviewed this NetGalley download at TC&TBC.

I also read more of this book. Caitlin Rother is one of my favorite true crime authors. She does a spectacular job of in-depth research. 

I have a First Chapter Review of this book coming up on Friday. 

These two are next. 

I'm not sure how many books I am bringing on vacation with me yet, but I have already packed my Kindle, and I have my NetGalley app on my phone. 

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. 

This is a NetGalley download that I will review soon. It is coming out in September.

Before we leave for vacation, this book should arrive. I will likely take it with me to North Carolina. 

Upcoming Events

• Soul Stirrings by Anita Hackley Lambert - June 25 (Book Spotlight) 
• To Murder a Marquis by Arabella Sheraton - June 27 - (First Chapter Review)
• My Bully, My Aunt, and Her Final Gift by Harold Phifer Jul 8 (Book Spotlight)
• Shooting Stars Above by Patricia Leavy, PhD - Jul 24 (Author Interview)
• Arabesque by M G da Mota - Jul 31 (Book Spotlight)
• Like Driftwood on the Salish Sea by Richard Levine - Aug 12 (Author Interview)
• Like Driftwood on the Salish Sea by Richard Levine - Sep 15 (Review)

Christmas Year Round has a new Christmas... in the news post that talks about a Christmas pop-up in Texas coming in July, an animated special starring Nathan Kress (iCarly), and an article from Travel & Leisure about celebrating in Florida. You can find that all here.

Other than my review of Rosie's Ranch Rescue, I featured 10 Nesting Swallows by Tammar Stein at The Children's and Teens' Book Connection. You can check that out here.

Laura's Little Houses has nothing new. Probably won't until we are on vacation. I have ideas, just no time to dedicate to them right now.

I will be catching up on comments from last week and this post today. Hope you have a great week!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? & Mailbox Monday - May 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 and comment, and er... add to that ever-growing TBR pile! So welcome in 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 back to Monday! Hope all you mothers and mother figures who celebrated Mother's Day yesterday had a nice day. My hearts go out to all of those missing their moms and other special people on that day. 

I was blessed with a lovely weekend. My sister and I attended The SpongeBob Musical at Exit 7 Players over the weekend. We were supposed to go the previous weekend, but when things developed with the cat, we delayed our outing. It was another amazing show. The actors captured the characters in Bikini Bottom so well. 

On Sunday, four of us got together for brunch. I plan to head to North Carolina this coming Sunday to see the Lil' Princess.

Brunch at Evan's Egg House: Husband, Lil' Diva, and John Boy

Spinach and feta scramble with home fries and toast

With so much real estate work happening, it's been impossible to read. I also have a manuscript I am beta reading, and a manuscript I am editing for a client. The only thing I accomplished is to read this NetGalley download. So much fun!

Haven't touched this one in weeks, but it is on my list. 

These are next, along with a few First Chapter Reviews coming up. You can see upcoming events below. 

I would also love it if you would answer this short survey for bloggers. You can find it here.

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. 

This has not been published yet, but I downloaded it from NetGalley. Look for my review coming soon. 

A book for the coolest grandpas and grandmas everywhere!

Grandparents love to rock every way they can—whether it's by singing out loud, dancing to a song in their hearts, or just living their best lives! 

From the musical team of Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo comes a lyrical read-aloud that celebrates all kinds of grandparents from all walks of life—from plumbers to yoga instructors to…rock stars!

Upcoming Events

• Cayman Conundrum by Stacy Wilder - June 11 (First Chapter Review)
• Freedom Drop & Calypso Blue by Brian Silverman - June 18 (Showcase)
• Freedom Drop by Brian Silverman - June 21 (First Chapter Review)
• Calypso Blue by Brian Silverman - June 22 (First Chapter Review)
• To Murder a Marquis by Arabella Sheraton - June 27 - (Review)

Nothing new at Christmas Year Round, because I took the weekend off. 

Nothing new at The Children's and Teens' Book Connection. Hope to post there this week.  

Check out my analysis of On the Banks of Plum Creek versus Season 1 of Little House on the Prairie at Laura's Little Houses. You will find it here. 

Looking forward to visiting your blogs today. Might not be until later since I am heading out on the road today, and then I have a media interview. Enjoy your day!