WEEKLY UPDATES: READING, BLOGGING, & MOVIES…

On By Laurel-Rain SnowIn Weekly Updates

Good morning! Today’s post will link up to The Sunday Salon, The Sunday Post and Stacking the Shelves, for weekly updates.

**Mailbox Monday is hosted at the home site: Mailbox Monday.

And let’s join Kathryn, our leader in It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?, at Book Date.

 

The week flew by, with lots of errands and various activities, and a nice visit with my granddaughter Fiona yesterday when she came over to use my computer.  I even sent her The Rules of Magic for her Kindle app.  I love this photo of her.

I wasn’t that focused on the temperatures this week, as my mind was with the wildfires in Napa, Santa Rosa, and the Bay Area north of here…and horrified by the devastation.  What a year we all have had, with hurricanes, wildfires, and mass shootings!

Great books saved me, as I read and reviewed 3 enticing ones, bringing my Read the Books You Buy total to 90.  One of the books I read was a review book, and it was just what I needed:  a feel-good story with great characters.  The others were a mystery and a drama centered around secrets and lies.

I did get in some exercise….and did some shopping, including a trip to the phone store where I upgraded my iPhone.  I’m enjoying it.  At Barnes & Noble, I used a gift card won during Bloggiesta…thanks, Laurie, at Bay State Reader’s Advisory.

I also binge-watched Big Little Lies, and seeing the episodes one after the other was powerful.  I even saw some things I didn’t quite catch the first time of viewing.  Nothing on Netflix this week, but I did enjoy some movies from my DVR, some of them “oldies,” like Sea of Love with Al Pacino and Ellen Barkin.

So…let’s grab some more coffee and talk about the week:

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Thoughts on a Monday…

Tuesday Potpourri:  “Keep Her Safe”

Another Great Hump Day of Reading…

Hump Day Sparks:  Armchair Traveling

Coffee Chat:  Savoring the Good…

Bookish Friday:  “Her Last Goodbye”

Review:  When We Were Worthy (e-book), by Marybeth Mayhew WhalenReview:  Cardinal Cabin, by Joanne DeMaio – (Review Book)Review:  Say You’re Sorry (e-book, Morgan Dane #1), by Melinda Leigh

***

INCOMING BOOKS:  (Titles/Covers Linked to Amazon)

Nothing came in my mailbox!  I did download FOUR e-books, all of which I had seen on blogs this week.  Thanks!

Sing, Unburied, Sing (e-book), by Jesmyn Ward

Best Day Ever (e-book), by Kaira Rouda

Unraveling Oliver (e-book), by Liz Nugent

And then…a FREEBIE from Prime’s Kindle First:

The Unremembered Girl (e-book), by Eliza Maxwell

***

WHAT’S NEXT?

Currently Reading:  Her Last Goodbye (e-book, Morgan Dane #2), by Melinda Leigh

Then…

Lie to Me (e-book), by J. T. Ellison

Keep Her Safe (e-book), by Sophie Hannah

Next…wherever my moods take me.

***

That was my week…what did yours look like?  And, to tempt you, here’s a dessert I enjoyed while out shopping on Wednesday:  Key Lime Pie and Irish Coffee….

***

82 thoughts on “WEEKLY UPDATES: READING, BLOGGING, & MOVIES…”

    1. Thanks, Cleo, I am looking forward to Unraveling Oliver…and I’ve been seeing it around, all with good reviews.

      As for Fiona, I think she’s beautiful, too, although she loves to spotlight her various “ghoul girl” looks as well. This one is one of her “normal” ones. LOL.

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  3. You know, I’ve been so tempted by Unraveling Oliver but the subject seems so off-putting. However, I read Cleo’s comment above and she has me curious again. I’ll watch for your thoughts on it and then decide 🙂 Lovely pic of your granddaughter!

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    1. Thanks, Mary, I had noticed Unraveling Oliver a while ago, and then forgot about it until I saw it on a blog. Then I couldn’t pass on it.

      As for my granddaughter, she and my other granddaughter Aubrey always make me smile. It doesn’t seem that long ago that they were babies, those “twin” granddaughters, both born in February 1997.

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  5. The wildfires are awful. It’s like one disaster after another lately. Horrible.

    I was going to get The Unremembered Girl, but went with one of the other Kindle First books. It does look good though. Enjoy!

    Have a great week!

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  8. Greg Hill

    The wildfires are horrifying, feel so bad for all the people affected. Unbelievable.

    I do think binging BLL would be a fun way to go. They did a great job with that series. Amd I remember sea of Love- that wasn’t a bad movie.

    The Unremembered Girl and Lie To Me both looks nicely tense! And ooh- yummy dessert!

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    1. Thanks for visiting, Greg, and in binging BLL, I was able to pause and rewind if I missed something at first sight. I like that feature about binging from the DVR. Live streaming allows pauses, but I haven’t figured out how to rewind and FF the same way.

      As for Sea of Love, I always enjoy hearing the song playing in the background during horrific scenes of violence.

      I am looking forward to my new books…and right now I’m watching the movie The Shack, for the first time (from my DVR).

      Enjoy your week!

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  11. I’m in SF and smelling the burn in the air was nightmarish, knowing what everyone north of here has to endure. I can only hope that they’ll get in under control soon, maybe some rain would be nice.

    I read Big Little Lies and LOVED, read it twice, but never finished the TV show. I loved that it was filmed south of the Bay Area, almost in my backyard so to speak. 😀

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    1. Thanks, Corina…and I hope the fires get under control soon, too. I read in your post about how you woke up to the smell of smoke. That is so frightening!

      I can’t help but remember my lovely vacation in Napa just a few years ago, and how I was hoping to return.

      Enjoy your books. I loved the book Big Little Lies, and I’m glad I saved the series on my DVR. While I watched each episode as it was airing, it was so much better to watch them one after the other…so I binged.

      The Monterey setting was wonderful.

      Thanks for visiting, and have a great week.

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      1. Thank you Laurel, and waking up to smoke was as frighten as it can get. Not knowing where it came from or what it meant – on top of not seeing anything since it was in the middle of the night – it was one scary situation. I heard that even some of the famous winery are threatened by the fire. What a huge deviation all around.

        I would have binge watched Big Little Lies as well, I’m not good with waiting. 😀 And Monterey is Gorgeous!! But the houses were over the top. Monterey is not that well off for such amazing estates. But it was gorgeous to look at. 😀

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  12. Your granddaughter is beautiful. So nice of you to send her books to her Kindle. The fires have been awful, it will take years and years to regrow and the folks who have lost everything. I hope you have another great reading week, you certainly have plenty of awesome looking books to choose from.

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    1. Thanks, Kimberly, I was happy that Fiona wanted to read a new book on her Kindle app. She doesn’t have an actual Kindle, but the app should work until she gets one. An idea for Christmas, maybe?

      I am so sad about the wildfires, too. I love the part of California that is under siege and spent a wonderful vacation in Napa just a few years ago. These things seem to come out of nowhere, but I guess the drying foliage is the first sign. We might get enough rain in the winters, but then the long hot summers seem to undo the effects.

      I am going to bury myself in books for a while. Thanks for stopping by, and enjoy your week.

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    1. Thanks for visiting, Evelina, and I don’t own that doll. I have many dolls and have been sitting on my hands to keep from “clicking to buy” this one. I might not be able to control myself, though. I think she is so cute, too.

      I enjoy spending time with Fiona, who is less available now that she is “grown.” LOL. But occasionally she needs something and comes over, and while it could annoy me, I’ll take whatever time she can give me.

      Enjoy your week!

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    1. Thanks, Deb, I do enjoy the now rare occasions with Fiona. She is officially grown and has a busy life, but she is still fun to hang out with when she has time for me. Or needs something. LOL.

      I agree about Best Day Ever and Lie to Me…can’t wait to start reading them. Have a great week!

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    1. Thanks, Sarah, she looks a lot like her dad (my son), so I guess there would be a resemblance. She used to read more, so when she saw my review of The Rules of Magic on my blog when she was visiting, and expressed interest, I couldn’t resist sending it to her app. She seemed eager for it. I think we have to encourage reading whenever (and however) possible.

      She used to read a lot more, but nowadays she has so many interests….and she’s job hunting.

      Oh, sorry about the temptation of the pie. LOL. But I am really sorry you are battling the flu virus. Hang in there, and have a good week.

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      1. Thank you for your kind good wishes. I, like you, take every opportunity I can to encourage the grandchildren to read. This is far more of a challenge for my severely dyslexic granddaughter, whose perseverence and sudden interest in books humbles and delights me. So I do understand you sending it to her:)). I hope this wretched flu eases up soon, too!

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  17. I know what you mean about all the disasters. The wildfires in California are just awful and I feel so sorry for all the people. And the death toll just keeps going higher.

    I love all the photos in your post! Are they photos you put on Instagram first or do you set them up just for your post–either way they are really nice!

    You got some good looking books and I will have to go check them out. I hope you have a great reading week.

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    1. Thanks, Jan, I don’t use Instagram…I don’t need another social media site! LOL.

      I am stunned by the wildfires, and apparently there was no real warning. If we discover that someone started these fires, I will be sooo angry. It is bad enough as it is.

      Napa, Sonoma, and the Bay Area are just a few hours away, and we’ve had our own fires occasionally in our nearby foothills…but nothing this disastrous…yet.

      Books help me escape…and so do movies. Thanks for visiting and have a great week!

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      1. They haven’t said how the fires started, but so many starting has had me wondering, Fires are so scary. I grew up in Central Oregon and we had a fire within a few blocks of our house when I was a teenager. Scary stuff. I hope the firefighters can get the fires under control. And I hope it starts raining all over the West.

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  18. fuonlyknew

    Your granddaughter is lovely. Great photo! And some great books. I’m drawn to this genre in the cooler months. Great to snuggle up and get thrilled. And fall is when all of my favorite shows return. Been binging last years episodes so I’m ready. LOL

    My Sunday Post

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    1. Thanks, Laura, I love fall for so many reasons: the new TV lineup; the leaves; the scent in the air; and the coolness.

      I am definitely enjoying Melinda Leigh’s new series, with Morgan Dane.

      My granddaughter is always fun to hang out with…and she definitely keeps me on my toes.

      Enjoy your week!

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  19. Glad you got to use your winning Barnes & Noble card right away! I’ve been seeing mentions of Unraveling Oliver and Melinda Leigh’s books a lot all of a sudden. Will have to look them up to see if they need to go on my TBR list!

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    1. Thanks, Sam, I loved the TV series of Big Little Lies, and I’m glad I saved it on my DVR. I know I’ll want to watch it again.

      Yes, definitely, a big mess out in the real world. I am counting on books and movies to help me through. Thanks for visiting.

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  21. katarguelles

    Your granddaughter is beautiful! This has been a painful year with natural disasters and the shootings. I hope the remaining year is peaceful. You got a lot of great books and I really want to read Best Day Ever. I hope you enjoy all your new books and have a great week!

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    1. Thanks, Kristen, I feel the same way about the news. When it isn’t some horrific natural disaster, it is something that people (leaders) are doing that make our lives more difficult.

      I am always grateful for the time I can spend with family, and my granddaughter is a treasure. Enjoy your week!

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    1. Thanks, Nise, I think we’re all due for some respite from disaster…let’s hope!

      I am looking forward to Unraveling Oliver; glad you liked it. I just finished the second Morgan Dane book…loved it!

      Enjoy your week.

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    1. Isn’t it horrific? I am frightened for the people who lost their homes….and some lost their lives. It feels a bit too close to home, doesn’t it? I live in the Central Valley, but lived in the Bay Area years ago and loved it.

      Thanks for visiting, and enjoy your reading, Sarah.

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    1. Thanks, Cheryl, I am feeling fortunate and hopeful that the weather and the disasters end soon! It has been horrific, and I can’t help worrying about the after effects for so many.

      I love my granddaughter’s photos, too, although sometimes she goes for the darker images…LOL.

      Have a great week!

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    1. At first I was disappointed that it wasn’t set in Australia, like the book, but soon loved every minute of it. I’ll probably watch it again down the road.

      Thanks for visiting, Kathryn, and I do love a book that holds me hostage. Have a great week!

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  27. The fires in CA are just devastating. The stories I’m seeing online and heartbreaking and I find myself having to take a step away because it becomes too overwhelming.

    I really enjoyed Unraveling Oliver. I listened to the audio version and hearing the different voices for each POV added so much to the experience.

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    1. Thanks for visiting, Tanya, and the wildfires are so overwhelming, especially coming so soon after those three big hurricanes.

      I am glad you enjoyed Unraveling Oliver…although mine will be an e-book. Someday I may actually try an audio book.

      Enjoy your week!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Kathy, I got the iPhone 7. My previous one was just a 5s, so it felt like a big enough leap for me.

      I woke up this morning worried about the wildfires…and wondering how I would cope with such an event. I guess we react and then turn to others for help.

      Enjoy your week, and I hope the storms and fires end soon!

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  31. The pie looks amazing. Yum! All the devastation in the world is so heartbreaking. I can’t even watch the news these days.
    I’ve been wanting to watch Big Little Lies. Hopefully some day I’ll get around to it. I picked the same book for my Prime book! Hope it’s good! Have a great week!

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    1. Thanks, Elizabeth, and whenever I think of life without cell phones, I am stunned at how we managed…LOL. Sometimes, though, it was nice not to be “on call” all the time.

      Enjoy your week…looking forward to my new books.

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  33. What a beautiful picture of your granddaughter. Looks like you are definitely in the mood for some thrillers. I want to try to get Best Day Ever from my library. I’m reading Rituals by Kelley Armstrong now and am loving it. Hope you have a wonderful week and you are right, the devastation this year from fires, storms, etc has been horrible!

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  34. Between the horrible news and weather-related events, it’s a wonder any of us can read any more! I sure hope things settle down soon…

    I’m curious about Sing, Unburied, Sing. Have read some mixed reviews, and also understand there is some magical realism. That does me in every time. Will be curious to hear what you think.

    That key lime pie looks amazing! A friend visited us in FL last year and tried the key lime pie at every single restaurant. Now we know where to get it 😉

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, JoAnn, and I don’t really like magical realism, but if it’s a minimal part of the book, I might be okay.

      Loved that key lime pie!

      Sometimes the reading helps me escape…and at other times, I am too distracted to lose myself in a book. That’s where movies come in handy.

      Have a great week!

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