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 New Year has brought some interesting moments, and, of course, the First Book of the Year, which I finished on New Year’s Day. I’ve read and reviewed three books this week, and as for challenges, I am not participating in any formal ones. I’ve taken a look at my older TBR and selected several books on which to focus this year.
Since my new One Word is CONNECT, I am searching for a local book club to join, as one of my ways of expanding my connections.
The year of family events started off with my youngest grandson’s birthday party on Friday. He is now fifteen!
After taking down my Christmas decorations, I started off the week by cleaning my spaces…and finishing up the Christmas movies on my DVR. Let’s take a closer look at my week, but first, grab some coffee with me:
LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:
First Book of 2018: Following a Tradition…
Rainy Day Excerpts: “Eaves of Destruction”
Tuesday Potpourri: First 2018 Book Release Day…
A New Year and a New Week: Hump Day Reading
Hump Day Potpourri: A Young Girl Says Goodbye…
Coffee Chat: Going with the Flow…
Attacking the TBR: Books Languishing on My Shelves…
Bookish Friday: “Now That You Mention It”
Connect! Starting the New Year…
Review: Every Breath You Take, by Mary Higgins Clark & Alafair Burke (First Book of Year)
Review: Be Frank With Me (e-book), by Julia Claiborne Johnson
Review: Eaves of Destruction (e-book, Fixer-Upper Mystery), by Kate Carlisle
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INCOMING BOOKS: (Titles/Covers Linked to Amazon)
Empty mailbox! I did download two purchased e-books…
The Woman in the Window (e-book), by A. J. Finn
Promise Not to Tell (e-book), by Jayne Ann Krentz
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WHAT’S NEXT?
Currently Reading: I Am Watching You (e-book), by Teresa Driscoll
Currently Reading: Jane Fonda: The Private Life of a Public Woman, by Patricia Bosworth
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Then…some e-ARCs from NetGalley:
Anatomy of a Scandal (e-book), by Sarah Vaughan (NG – 1/23)
Watch Me (e-book), by Jody Gehrman (NG – 1/23)
***
That was my week. What did yours look like? Earlier in the week, I enjoyed this dessert with my reading…
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SERENDIPITY 
The woman in the Window and Watch Me both look like books I might like.
Yummy looking dessert! 🙂
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Thanks, Greg, I am very excited to read both books…and the dessert was definitely delicious.
Enjoy your week, and hopefully the New Year is off to a great start.
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Wow, looks like a nice haul! ANd seems your celebrations were fun 🙂 I hope you enjoy all of your reads!
My STS: http://flippingthruthepages.com/2018/01/stacking-shelves-14-first-book-haul-2018/
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Thanks, Sim, I definitely had a good time over the holidays…and now I’m happy to start my routines again! Enjoy yours.
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I’m liking your new books. And now I have a sweet tooth! LOL
My Sunday Post
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Ha, sorry about that, Laura (the sweet tooth, anyway); I am loving the new books, too. Have a great week!
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Yummy ice cream. You are reminding me. I need to pick out a word for the year. I started trying out face-to-face book clubs for the same reason. It is taking me awhile to find a good fit so I am continuing to try a couple more this year.
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Thanks, vvb32, and I am sure I’ll have to visit a few before I find one that clicks. The last time I thought I had a great fit, the group disbanded as everyone moved, one by one.
While I’m searching, though, I’ll also be making some kind of connection. Enjoy your week!
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Oooooo, your dessert looks delicious! I hope that you enjoyed your books, and happy birthday to your grandson!
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Thanks, Anna, my grandson loved his gift cards (he always likes picking out new video games), and it was a nice get-together.
Loving my books…and I hope you are, too.
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Looks like you’ve got off to a productive start in 2018. Good luck in making those connections- great book haul too!
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Thanks, Cleo, I haven’t searched for new connections in ages…it is long overdue. Finding a book club might be a real challenge, though.
Enjoy your week and your New Year.
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I know I should be taking down the decorations, but I really don’t want to yet 😀 we put them up quite late… Maybe we can still keep them xD nothing wrong with a little cheer, haha 😀
Have a happy weel, Laurel-Rain 🙂
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Thanks, Evelina, and there aren’t any rules about when to take them down. I use artificial trees, so there are no fire hazards. One year, I left mine up until March! That was in the 80s and life sucked, so I needed all the cheer I could get…LOL.
Enjoy your books and the spirit of the holiday that lingers.
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I like your work CONNECT, it’s a good one. And something I should do more of too. Hope it enriches your life in 2018, and that you make lots of new friendships from it.
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Thanks, Trish, I love my online connections, but I do know I need to expand them to face-to-face ones, too. My RL connections have decreased since retirement, although I still maintain some of them.
Enjoy your week and the New Year.
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Lots of buzz about The Woman in the Window – I hope you love it. The dessert pic has me almost drooling! Have a good week.
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Thanks, Mary, I can’t wait to read The Woman in the Window…and that dessert was definitely delicious. I’m trying to have dessert less and less…let’s see how that works out. LOL.
Enjoy your week!
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Happy birthday to your grandson and enjoy your books. I keep seeing The Woman in the Window around blogland, it looks good. Now I’m craving dessert, happy weekend 😉
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Thanks, Nai, and I should probably stop showing dessert! LOL.
I’m loving the prospect of my new books. Enjoy yours!
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That pudding is far too delicious – especially as I’ve grown over Christmas and not in a good way… Have a great reading week, Laurel:).
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Thanks, Sarah, the holidays do play havoc with our routines in many ways. Enjoy the New Year and your books.
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Thank you, Laurel – yes I’m finding it quite difficult to resume my daily round. Hopefully next week when I’m back at Northbrook life will seem more normal.
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I have been wanting to read the new Jayne Ann Krentz book! I hope its good. Have a great week!
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Thanks, Samantha, I am excited about it, too. Enjoy yours, and have a great week!
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I’m not participating in any formal challenges either this year. My next task is to look at my TBR pile and do some cleaning up and reading books that have been languishing on my shelves. Woman in he Window has been getting some good reviews. Enjoy your reading week!
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Thanks, Laura, that’s what I’m doing, too…working through my OLD TBRs, but also reading a few new ones.
Enjoy! I also want to read The Woman in the Window…soon!
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Sounds like you had a great week. That dessert looks awesome and your grandson is so handsome.
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Thanks, Barb, I had a wonderful birthday party with him…and he is letting his hair grow longer again, which shows the curls he used to have as a baby…LOL. I won’t say that to him, though.
Enjoy your week!
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You have done all the things you should do to start off a new year. I wish you great luck with your word of the year; I hope you find a wonderful book club to enjoy.
https://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/2018/01/2018-wildly-imperfect.html
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Thanks, Deb, I haven’t been in a REAL LIFE book club since the 70s! The last one didn’t end well, which kind of kept me from joining another. But…I can do better now, I believe. LOL.
Enjoy your New Year!
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I picked The Woman in the Window for my Book Of the Month pick, if it would just get here! Anatomy of Scandal is great and I hope you enjoy it. 🙂 Happy Birthday to your Grandson. 🙂 Happy reading.
Thanks for stopping by earlier.
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Thanks, Jenea, we have some awesome books to read!
My grandson’s birthday was great, with video game gifts…sigh. I remember when he loved to read! Maybe he will again.
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Looks like you had a great first week of the year. A few of the books on your list are either in my TBR or on my wishlist. Happy birthday to your grandson! Have a great week!
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Thanks, Yvonne, it feels impossible that my youngest grandson is 15! The older ones are in their twenties, and there are two more in their teens still.
It was a great reading week, although I didn’t read any more books than usual. I just finished them in the first part of the week…and then got sidetracked by other things.
Enjoy your week!
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I just come for dessert. But seriously, you do have the best desserts. Yum! I would love to find a local book club, but the ones I found here always read NYT books. I sometimes read those, but not often. Good luck finding a book club!
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Thanks, Sam, and that is my fear about a book club…that I won’t enjoy the book picks. Sigh.
I will look for one, though, and see what happens. Enjoy looking at the dessert!
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Happy New Year, Laurel-Rain! I hope you find the perfect book club to join. Our local indie bookstore has a bunch of different book clubs, and I’ve been toying with the idea of joining one. I haven’t quiet decided yet though. The one I’d really like to join is during the week and impossible for me to attend, so that one is out. Our Christmas stuff is still up. I had hoped to start taking it down this weekend, but it seemed everyone else isn’t ready . . . Happy Birthday to your grandson! I am looking forward to reading The Woman in the Window. That may be my next one.
I hope you have a great week!
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Thanks, Wendy, and I am also eager to read The Woman in the Window very soon! I should read at least one of those ARCs first, though.
Enjoy your week, and I am feeling a bit anxious about finding a book club, since it has been many years since I belonged to one.
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Wow, you sure go to places with great looking desserts! I am looking forward to Promise Not To Tell.
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Thanks, Nise, I do love my neighborhood restaurants. I make the rounds of them regularly. I am also eager to read Promise Not To Tell.
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I’ll be wanting to read the latest JAK too, although think I might have missed her latest and I do have a number of her older ones on my shelf waiting….! Happy reading for the week.
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I have probably missed some of her books, too, Kathryn, but I’m eager to read this one. Thanks for stopping by, and happy reading!
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What do you think about the Jane Fonda one so far? I really am interested in reading more biographies.
Hope you have a Happy New Year!
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I am really enjoying it, Aleen…although the first few chapters, about her parents and her infancy, were a bit of a snore. Now I can’t put it down, as I’m reading about her theater and movie work; her relationships; and her eating disorder.
Enjoy the New Year!
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Good luck connecting w/ a book club. I love mine. It is a great way to connect w/ others and the world. When I retired in 2013, I read posts about starting a book club, then asked three neighbors to join me. They were delighted. We’ve consistently had our limit of 8 people ever since. It’s the connections that have kept it going.
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Your book club sounds good, Pat; I like a fairly small one, so everyone can get to know one another. Thanks for the tip…and enjoy your week!
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I’ll have some of that dessert! I have Woman in the Window on my list … I just need to make time.
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Ah, yes, making time….enjoy the read, Candace, I’m eager to plunge in as well. Thanks for stopping by.
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Your grandson is so handsome!
I’ve heard a lot of good things about The Woman in the Window and hope you love it.
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Thanks, Kathy, I think so, too.
I can’t wait to read The Woman in the Window. I hope to love it…and thanks for stopping by.
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Happy Birthday to your grandson!!
I like your word…I hope you can CONNECT with a local book club. Keep us updated on what you find.
ENJOY WOMAN IN THE WINDOW.
Have a good week, Laurel.
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Thanks, Elizabeth, I suspect I will have to visit a few of the book clubs I found online…to see if I can CONNECT….
I’m excited about The Woman in the Window. Enjoy your week!
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I enjoyed Promise Not to Tell. I hope you do too. Last week was our week to put away the Christmas tree for another year. I haven’t formally done challenges for a few years now. I am hoping to take part in a couple of readathons this year though. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
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Thanks, Kathy, I am eager to read Promise Not to Tell…enjoy your week!
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I still have to finish taking down Christmas decorations. At least we have our tree down.
I may have to pick up The Woman in the Window.
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Thanks for visiting, Carol, and I can’t wait to read The Woman in the Window.
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Your deserts always look so yummy. I personally think it is nice to start the New Year with a clean house, and new goals. Here is to a year full of joy and less drama.
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Thanks, Heidi, I am all for a clean house, new goals, more joy and less drama!
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Your books and desert look good,enjoy!
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Thanks, Mary Ann…I am loving both!
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The house always seems so empty after the Christmas decorations are put away, but we readjust quickly. Your dessert looks delicious and happy birthday to your grandson. 2018 is off to a great start!
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Thanks, JoAnn…I am hoping for 2018 to be a better year.
I still can’t get over my youngest grandson being 15! He is taller than us all…except for one of my other grandsons who is 6’6″.
My house doesn’t seem that empty without my decorations…as I think I have too many things anyway…and didn’t bring out many decorations this year.
Have a great week!
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Happy birthday to your grandson. Thanks for stopping by earlier.
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Thanks for the return visit, Sarah, and I loved celebrating Noah’s birthday. Enjoy your week!
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Happy Birthday to your grandson. Looks like 2018 started off with good reading! And your new purchases are good ones too. Hope you are safe during the rains.
Happy Reading!
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Thanks, Martha, I am enjoying the books…and the rain is a gentle one so far.
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Happy birthday to your grandson and the dessert looks yummy. Great books. Will need to look more into them. The Woman in the Window sounds superb. Thanks for visiting my blog.
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Thanks, Cheryl, I am very excited about the books…and enjoyed the birthday celebration. Have a great week.
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The Woman in the Window sounds like a great read!
Have a great week!
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Thanks for visiting, Chrissy, and enjoy your week!
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I did not want to take down Christmas this year. I wasn’t ready.
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I have had years like that, too, Serena…thanks for stopping by.
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What a good-looking young man. I like how he spent his birthday with you. I also like how you treat yourself to dessert a lot.
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Thanks, Stefanie, and I do need to cut back on the desserts…just a little. LOL
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A birthday party is a great way to start the year! And now I want cake. 🙂 Lol. Have a great week!
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Thanks, Erin, I love a good birthday party, too, even if the cake is actually brownies (Noah’s choice). LOL
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Oh I love your pictures. Happy birthday to your grandson. I hope he had a great time celebrating. I hope this week is great for you, too. I hope you enjoy all your new books and have a great reading week. 😁❤️
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Thanks, Geybie, it was fun celebrating, and it seems impossible that he is already fifteen. Like most teens, he always has his nose in a video game. LOL
Enjoy your week, and thanks for visiting.
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Both The Woman in the Window and Anatomy of a Scandal are on my radar. Quite a bit of hype on those two. Happy New Year if I haven’t already told you!
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I agree, Susan…definitely enticing books. I’m loving Anatomy of a Scandal, and plan to start The Woman in the Window soon. Happy New Year to you, too! Let’s hope 2018 is better than last year.
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