WEEKLY UPDATES: LET’S HEAR THE “HO-HO-HO!”

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.

 

What a week!  As we count down to the holidays, the Christmas movies fill up my DVR, with something to watch every night.  It’s a good thing, as some of my shows are on hiatus.

As for reading, I abandoned one of the books on my list (Sing, Unburied, Sing)…and I was in the minority about that book.  But I decided that, with so many books I am loving, I won’t spend time on those with which I do not connect.  In the end, I still read and reviewed THREE books, with 119 purchased books completed for my challenge.

On Netflix, I binged on the ten new episodes of The Ranch, still annoyed with some of the characters, but the likable ones kept me tuned in.  I found out that Barbra Streisand has a new Netflix show (The Music…the Mem..’ries…the Magic), which I am eager to watch.

Coming soon!  The First Book of the Year event, hosted by Sheila, at Book Journey.  Book picks, with photos, will be on Sheila’s blog on January 1st...and my pick will also be featured on my An Interior Journey site.

So…that’s my week so far…let’s take a closer look, but first, let’s grab a cup of coffee (and another Christmas cookie!)

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Sunday Potpourri:  Savoring What You Love…

Tuesday Sparks:  “I Am Watching You”

It’s Hump Day!  A Time to Read…

Keeping Track:  TBR Progress…

Coffee Chat:  Assorted Tidbits…

Bookish Friday:  “These Violent Delights”

Review:  Snap Judgment (e-book, Samantha Brinkman #3), by Marcia ClarkReview:  Wonder Valley (e-book), by Ivy PochodaReview:  These Violent Delights (e-book), by Victoria Namkung

***

INCOMING BOOKS:  (Titles/Covers Linked to Amazon)

Empty mailbox!  But…I downloaded two e-book purchases.

The Girl in Times Square (e-book), by Paullina Simons

Eaves of Destruction (e-book, A Fixer-Upper Mystery), by Kate Carlisle

***

WHAT’S NEXT?

Since Christmas is literally around the corner, I will follow my moods this week.  Thrillers, cozy mysteries…and maybe even some unexpected choices.  I may start on my January e-ARCs, like The Girls in the Picture and Anatomy of a Scandal…

 

 

 

 

 

***

That was my week…and a peek at what is ahead.  On Thursday, I enjoyed a repast while out shopping:  Corn Chowder and a Strawberry Margarita, at Mimi’s in my neighborhood.

 

***

73 thoughts on “WEEKLY UPDATES: LET’S HEAR THE “HO-HO-HO!””

  1. Hmmm, I may go to the library today instead of waiting after Christmas. One of my possibilities for First Book of the Year is already in and I don’t know when the other will come in. I do want to get my pic in this year as I had forgotten last year. I’m reading a Kindle book that I’m iffy about. It switched back and forth from the past to the present to the past again before a quarter of the book is done. I may give it a go until 25%. What will you be doing for the holidays? Will you see the family or I know you had some family time recently, yeah?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thanks, Stefanie, my First Book is a continuation of a series I started to feature three years ago…

      I’ll be enjoying Christmas Day brunch with my daughter and her family…and for the rest of the time, I’ll be reading and watching Netflix and movies. A quiet time.

      Enjoy your holidays!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  4. Hmm… the reviews I’m seeing for Sing, Unburied, Sing seem to be more mixed than glowing. I think it’s a book I may borrow from the library if I happen to see it on the shelf, but I’m not dying to read it. I’m finishing some Christmas baking today, then will host a Christmas Eve dinner for my family. We’ll have brunch at home Christmas Day, then visit my sister. Merry Christmas!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  5. Greg Hill

    Yay for Christmas movies! And The Ranch looks kinda interesting. I just started Longmore again this week, and Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu.

    Eaves of Destruction looks fun. 🙂

    Have a great Christmas!! Your soup looks delicious…

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thanks for visiting, Greg, and this is the first year I’ve watched so many Christmas movies. I think I needed them, though.

      A Hallmark Series (Fixer-Upper) is based on Eaves of Destruction and other books in the series. I’m looking forward to it.

      I really loved Longmire…and The Ranch is okay…except for the younger guys, especially the one played by Danny Masterson….

      I’m always eager to eat soup. Have a great holiday…and week.

      Like

      Reply
  6. carolesrandomlife

    I don’t seem to be able to get any show watched lately. I enjoy them but don’t think to watch them very often. I have Anatomy of a Scandal coming up soon and hope that is a good one for both of us.

    Have a wonderful Christmas!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thanks, Carole, I feel like I’ve been waiting to read Anatomy of a Scandal forever!

      Right now I’m watching still another Christmas movie…and reading a Wendy Corsi Staub book called Dead of Winter. It’s interesting!

      Have a happy Christmas!

      Like

      Reply
  14. The Cue Card

    Merry Christmas Laurel. The new Melanie Benjamin book looks good. We’re enjoying being in SoCal this week. No snow, but cool temps in the 50s & 60s is okay with us! I’ll have to think what my first book of the year should be. Hmm. Enjoy your holidays.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Merry Christmas to you, too, Susan….I’m glad you get to enjoy visits to SoCal…I still envy you Canada…these days, especially.

      I do love California…if only it were separate from you-know-who.

      Enjoy your week!

      Like

      Reply

  15. I’m right there with you on abandoning any book that fails to make some connection with me. That’s not how I want to spend my reading time. Mimi’s chowder sounds delicious. BTW, Mimi is what my grandkids call me 🙂 Have a lovely week, Laurel. Merry Christmas!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thanks, Mary, it took me a while to feel comfortable DNF-ing a book, especially one that others really loved. But…when there are so many books I would rather read, it is definitely the way to go.

      I like “Mimi” as a name from grandkids…mine call me Nana….

      Merry Christmas to you, too.

      Like

      Reply
  16. Yvonne

    The Girl in Times Square looks really good. I haven’t gone back to The Ranch yet, but I will. I didn’t know Barbara Streisand had a show on Netflix. I will have to check that out. Have a great holiday!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  17. fuonlyknew

    Today I watched some scary holiday movies. Tomorrow is some romance and comedy ones. I tried The Ranch and just couldn’t get into it. I’m rewatching Dr. Blake now.

    Have a Merry Christmas!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thanks for stopping by, AJ; I really wanted to love that book…and maybe I should have given it more time. But when I don’t connect with characters right away, it is sometimes better to move on.

      Maybe you will enjoy it, though. Have a great Christmas!

      Like

      Reply
  21. Sam Kozbial

    I am a firm believer in DNFing. Too many books, too little time. I read for fun and entertainment. If I have to push through a book, that seems more like a job. I hope you have a wonderful holiday!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  25. May all the blessings that Christmas brings shower on you Laurel-Rain. I’ve just put The Ranch into my + list on Netflix and Barbra too even though I am not a music person but I do enjoy her. The Ranch looks a bit like a soap opera but still have the second season of The Crown. I need to spend more time viewing!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thanks, Kathryn, and my favorite show this season was The Crown. I like the older characters on The Ranch (Debra Winger and Sam Elliott). I watched (and enjoyed) Streisand’s show last night. Some familiar tunes…and some that were not so familiar.

      Have a great holiday!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  26. Kathy Martin

    I abandoned one book this week too. I’m getting better at giving up on books that aren’t grabbing me. I haven’t gotten into NetFlix yet. I don’t know how you can fit in watching and still read the amount you do. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  28. I’ve been eyeing that one from Paullina Simons. After loving The Bronze Horseman so much I definitely want to read more from her. The corn chowder looks so delicious. Might have to find me some while I’m out running errands tomorrow. Yum!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  32. I hope you had a lovely holiday! Thanks for the head’s up about the Barbra Streisand Netflix show too. I didn’t know about that but would definitely love to watch it. Sorry to hear you didn’t connect with Sing, Unburied Sing. I’ve been going back and forth about whether or not to read that one because I keep seeing so many mixed reviews. I’ll probably wait and check it out of the library instead of purchasing it.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  33. The Girls in the Picture is calling to me. I just love the title! I got Eaves of Destruction a few weeks ago and am really looking forward to reading it. I have the whole series but of course I’ve read none of htem. I hope you had the merriest of Christmases and are having a great week!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thanks, Katherine, I’m enjoying The Girls in the Picture so far…plus, I am really excited about Eaves of Destruction.

      I had a wonderful and quiet holiday…lots of time for movies and reading. Enjoy your week, and thanks for visiting.

      Like

      Reply

Please leave your thoughts. Comments, not awards, feed my soul. Thanks!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.