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! Two out of three of the books I read and reviewed were great fiction. The third book was nonfiction, and had to be swallowed in small bites only.
I managed to start off the weekend with a wonderful 2-1/2 hour Skype chat with my eldest son, who lives in Prague. It was an uplifting experience, as we needed a major catch up on life and events. Here is a recent photo of him with Gabi, his wife (right) and Aubrey, my granddaughter (left), who just finished her Prague semester there.
The week was devoted mainly to reading and blogging…Bloggiesta begins next weekend, February 3-4, but I’ve already made progress with my blog tasks. I’ve chosen An Interior Journey as the primary blog to “fix,” but I’ve given facelifts to some of my other blogs, too.
So…let’s grab more coffee and take a closer look at last week…
LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:
Sunday Potpourri: Books, Netflix, & a Family Tree…
Rainy Day Excerpts: “Lie With Me”
Tuesday Potpourri: New Book Release Tuesday!
Coffee Chat: Books, Bloggiesta, & Netflix
Thursday Potpourri: Blogging & Reading Experiences…
Bookish Friday: “The Sixth Window”
Review: Seeing Red (e-book), by Sandra BrownReview: The Great Alone (e-book), by Kristin Hannah (NetGalley – 2/6)Review: Fire & Fury (e-book), by Michael Wolff
I’m one of the first comments, wahoo! You had a great reading week last week, wow. I thought you had already gotten to Lauren Groff’s book which is a doozy for sure. Not too likable that husband & wife & marriage, but quite an experience, ha yikes. I look forward to hearing if you like The Wife too. Enjoy your week.
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Thanks, Susan, I had my eye on Fates & Furies when it first came out, but got sidetracked…and then I was watching Grace and Frankie on Netflix and saw Jane Fonda’s character reading it! LOL. I had to download it immediately.
I enjoyed The Ex, by Burke, so I’d been waiting for The Wife. Enjoy your week!
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Ooh nice that you got to catch up with your son and family in Prague! That must have been really nice. And good luck with Bloggiesta!!
After Anna and Fates and Furies both look promising.
Key lime pie! Looks delish…
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Thanks, Greg, because of the time difference between here and Prague, our little Skype visits don’t always work out this well. Schedules, etc., so I was very happy to catch the window of time today.
After Anna was a lovely NetGalley surprise…every once in a while I’ll get an approval letter for a book I want.
I always enjoy Key Lime pie. Thanks for visiting, and enjoy your week!
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I am so glad you had a nice visit with your son via Skype. What a beautiful family! I wish I could participate in Bloggeista. I could use a big chunk of time to focus just on my blog. Maybe in mid-February. Your new books look good! I do enjoy Lisa Scottoline, Alafair Burke, and Joshilyn Jackson. I hope you have a great week, Laurel-Rain!
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Thanks, Wendy, I do miss seeing my son and his wife, and it has already been two years since they last visited. He promises to come more often from here on out.
I am very excited about the newest Scottoline, as I didn’t even know she had one coming out. That fact reminded me that I needed to bring out another of her books that I haven’t yet read.
I know that your life is a lot busier than mine, so blog improvements probably work best whenever you can manage them.
Enjoy your week!
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I need a copy of The Wife so I’m eager to hear your views on that one – sounds like an uplifting week all round!
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Thanks, Cleo, I am looking forward to the books…and also hope to get out of the house more this week and CONNECT! Enjoy your week, and thanks for visiting.
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How nice that you were able to catch up with your son! I did the same with my mom on Friday – we had a long, nice videochat, and it was almost as if we had our morning coffee together 🙂
That keylime cake looks fantastic! I love lime / lemon in cakes, it just makes them so much more interesting as those aren’t only sweet.
Have a wonderful week ahead and happy reading, Laurel-Rain!
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Thanks, Lexxie, technology can be wonderful! When my mom was still alive, we only had the telephone, but that was better than not connecting at all.
I like the lime flavor, too, and may have to have some today again! Thanks for visiting.
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My son lives in Chicago and that’s not nearly as far away from me as Prague is from you, so I feel for you. I’m glad you got to enjoy a visit. Isn’t technology amazing?!
And so many good books. That’s such a blessing in this life.
Enjoy!
https://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/2018/01/multicultural-childrens-book-day.html
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Thanks, Deb, and technology does have some wonderful uses. Even FB is a great way to connect with family and friends who live far away when we can’t video chat.
I do love my books, too, and keep my fingers crossed that my Pippa (Kindle) continues to serve!
Enjoy your week!
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How nice that you caught up with your son on Skype, what nice family photo! Have fun with Bloggiesta and hmmm I love Key Lime Pie. Enjoy your week!
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Thanks for stopping by, Nai…I was very happy to connect with my son…usually we just see each other on FB, which isn’t the same.
I am already enjoying Bloggiesta, even though it doesn’t officially start until next weekend. I tend to begin early…lol
Enjoy your week!
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Glad you got to skype with your family, and Prague seems like a fantastic place to explore!
I also have After Anna, as a huge fan of Lisa Scottoline, and read The Almost Sisters, excellent story. Now I want to read The Wife. I don’t think I could handle reading the Fire and Fury, just because…ugh. Enjoy your books– you have some nice ones ahead!
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Thanks for visiting, Kari, and I am excited about my books and my Skype chat with my son.
As for Fire & Fury, I’m just glad that the book was on my Kindle and I didn’t have to look at his face on that cover…lol.
Enjoy your week, and I’m really looking forward to The Almost Sisters, which is up next. Have a great week!
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Wow, your son lives so far away, huh! That’s a nice photo.
I am jealous of the key lime pie 🙂
Enjoy your week!
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Oh, I know, Evelina…I wish he could be here, but he loves Europe and working there. It all began in the nineties when he did one of his university semesters in London…and from there he went to Ireland, and met people going to Prague…so the expat journey began.
He has come back occasionally, one time for almost three years, but the kind of life he enjoys can only happen there. He is a writer/photographer and has many connections there.
And now he has his wife, whom he met in Prague several years ago.
I might have to have more Key Lime pie today! LOL Have a great week.
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Sounds like a delightful Skype chat! Your granddaughter is gorgeous. What a wonderful picture. You’ve got some great books coming up. I really enjoyed Promise Not to Tell and am so curious about The Wife. Have a great week!
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Thanks, Katherine, my granddaughter is the child of my #2son who lives in LA, and we were wondering if she, too, would become an expat like her uncle…LOL. But I also felt sure that she loves California too much to stay in Europe.
I am really excited about my upcoming reads. Enjoy yours and your week.
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I love the look of that pie – and the wonderful cover on Fates and Furies. It’s wonderful how modern technology allows us to keep in touch with family a long way away – my son is currently in the States, so I’m also appreciative of the likes of Whatsapp and Skype:). Have a great week, Laurel.
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Thanks, Sarah, the pie was delicious…and I loved the Skype chat. If my son didn’t live so far away, I would probably not have even learned how to Skype…LOL. Or do as many technological things as I do.
Enjoy connecting with your son…and reading your books.
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Yes – keeping track of our wandering offspring certainly is a strong motive for keeping up with modern technology, isn’t it?
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That’s great that you got to catch up with your son via Skype. I’m sure you miss him and his family.
Looks like some great reads!
Have a wonderful week!
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Thanks, Chrissy, I do love connecting with my eldest son…all of them, in fact, but he is the farthest away.
Enjoy your week and your books. Thanks for visiting.
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I’m so happy for you that you were able to Skype with your son. What a great picture, too.
Your books look so good. I want to add The Wife to my list.
Hope you have a great week!
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Thanks, Yvonne, I love seeing the photos of my son and his wife, and their niece Aubrey (my granddaughter!) who was in Prague for a semester.
I loved The Ex, from Alafair Burke, so I’ve been eagerly awaiting The Wife. Enjoy your week!
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I love how current technology can now keep us in touch with our loved ones (faster, easier and cheaper lol). I visited Prague when I was in high school and would love to visit again. The pie looks delicious and I hope you have a great week!
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Thanks for stopping by, Kathy, and I really should get over that whole “fear of flying” thing so I could visit! Enjoy your week.
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How wonderful to catch up with your son. Lovely picture too:) And some great looking new reads. Now, about that pie! LOL I can almost taste it. I love pie of all kinds. Once dreamed of opening a pie shop.
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I do love pie, too, Laura…and there is something special about Key Lime pie, IMO. Enjoy your books and your week, and I was so happy to connect via Skype with my son. My eldest, the one who seems most like me in his interests and attitudes.
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You always eat the best desserts. I’m glad you got to catch up with your son. Enjoy your new books, and have a great week!
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Thanks, AJ, and I loved catching up with him, too. I expect to love my new books. Have a great week!
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Delicious looking Key Lime Pie! Loved Seeing Red too and look forward to diving into Promise Not To Tell. Happy to see a new Scottoline book!
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Thanks, Nise, I’m excited about all of my new books, and a new Scottoline always brings a smile to my face.
Enjoy your week.
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Oooh, nothing like a good piece of Key Lime Pie! It’s everywhere down here, but I’ve only had one slice all month… such restraint 😉 Glad you had such a nice long chat with your son. I loved skyping with my daughter when she was in London… my parents still marvel at that technology. Enjoyed your review of Fire & Fury and want to read it, but I have a feeling it would further upset and infuriate me. Not sure I should subject my poor husband to that!
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Thanks, JoAnn, the wonders of Skype are a blessing.
I’m glad you liked the Fire & Fury review…the book did make me angry…and I ranted about it in my Skype chat. LOL
Enjoy your week!
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Glad you had such a nice chat with your son. Also good to have enjoyed your reading so much.
Hope you enjoy your new books too. Happy Reading!
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Thanks, Martha, books and family are the best things, and so is technology! Enjoy your week, too.
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Love your planned reading and I know you enjoy Lisa Scottoline too so good reading coming up!
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Thanks for visiting, hosting, and for stopping by. I do love Lisa Scottoline…and even found another of her fairly recent books tucked away, which I’ve now brought forward to read soon. Enjoy your week, Kathryn.
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I love that dessert as much as I like your books!
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Thanks, Harvee, dessert can make the darkest days light…and so can books. Enjoy your week!
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It’s so wonderful we live in a time when we can keep up with loved ones via Skype, isn’t it? I can’t wait to read your thoughts on The Wife – I’m thinking of downloading it when I can. Have a lovely week, Laurel!
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Thanks, Mary, it is wonderful…despite the occasionally annoying things about social media, being able to connect on FB and Skype is the best! Enjoy your week, and I’m eager to read The Wife, too.
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Thank goodness for Skype and Facetime. That’s how I keep in touch with my sister in Zurich. Enjoy your upcoming books this week!
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Thanks, Laura, I completely agree about the wonders of Skype…I haven’t used Facetime much, but I should. Stay connected, and thanks for stopping by. Have a great week.
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That pie looks delicious. Enjoy all your books!
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Thanks, Carol, and the pie was definitely delicious! I am loving my books. Have a great week.
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Yummy! Key lime pie. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.
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Thanks for the return visit, Sarah…enjoy your week!
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Sound like a great week! Have fun with Bloggiesta!
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Thanks, Pat, I always do enjoy Bloggiesta. Have a great week!
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Very nice family photo.
You can read AFTER ANNA first and let me know how it is. 🙂
You will love THE ALMOST SISTERS, Laurel. At least I think you will. 🙂
I have done a few things on my Bloggiesta too.
Have a great week. Hopefully see you on the Twitter Chat.
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Thanks, Elizabeth, and I am enjoying The Almost Sisters. I don’t like Rachel that much…maybe she will redeem herself at some point. LOL.
The little old ladies are fun.
I have three more NetGalley ARCs to read before After Anna is released, so it could be a while. But I’m looking forward to it.
Have a great week.
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I’m not sure where I have AFTER ANNA in my queue.
Yes…the little old ladies are cute.
ENJOY!!
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Looks like you had a great week.
I keep hearing great things about The Almost Sisters and I’m thinking I might have to put it on my TBR list.
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Thanks, Amelia, I do enjoy Joshilyn Jackson’s books, so I’m glad I finally picked up The Almost Sisters. Enjoy your week, and thanks for visiting.
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Fates and Furies sounds like it will be a good read. It popped up in my feed a few days ago so I’m probably going to get it at some point. Enjoy your reads this week!
Come see what I’m reading 🙂
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Thanks, Kimberly, I love having a lot of delightful books from which to choose…enjoy your week!
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My inbox this week was filled with review books. I managed not to purchase anything. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
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Thanks for stopping by, Kathy, and enjoy those books! I love having many to pick from…
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Mmm, I love pie, and that key lime looks delicious. Have a great day!
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Me, too, Jackie…I can’t resist pie. Or books. Enjoy your week!
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Prague. I would love to go there. I have read some great books set there. Interesting to see your five star review of the Donald Trump book, I hope to read it. Have a lovely week!
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Thanks, Heidi, and giving 5 stars to Fire and Fury is a measure of how much I don’t like that man…LOL.
I would also love to go to Prague…but I hate flying. A conundrum.
Enjoy your week!
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Some great reading here. Glad you enjoyed the chat with your family.
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Thanks, Mystica, definitely a good chat. Enjoy your week!
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How cool that you got to skype with your family! And that is a great photo of them all. 🙂 Prague is on the top of my list of places to see one day. 🙂
Fates and Furies looks good!
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Thanks, Erin, I am so happy that Skype is available, to bring us closer to family members far away.
I, too, think Fates and Furies looks good. Enjoy your week.
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I think Skype is the most wonderful thing, that and FaceTime. We use it to keep in touch with family and friends in the States. I remember when I lived abroad and it was letters and phone calls, not even email!
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Oh, yes, snail mail was the only thing we had in the past, back when my eldest son lived in Ireland. I loved those letters, though.
Thanks for stopping by, Emma, and enjoy your week!
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I like Lisa Scottoline. I have one of her older titles on my list. Girl Who Reads
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Oh, so do I, Donna…I have to grab all of her books as they come out. Thanks for stopping by, and enjoy your week.
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After Anna sounds fabulous. How nice you got to chat with your family. Thanks for visiting my blog. Enjoy the rest of your week.
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Thanks, Cheryl, I love my Skype chats…and I love Lisa Scottoline’s books. Thanks for visiting, and have a great week.
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Nice week, and family time too!
The Key Lime Pie looks yummy. I know, I’m always looking at the food. 🙂
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Thanks, Leslie…it was a good week, and a good pie! Enjoy your week.
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