Sunday Post 122

Hi everyone!

Through Monday, I am linking with the following: 

Reading Reality, who hosts Stacking the Shelves

Readerbuzz, who hosts Sunday Salon

Caffeinated Reviewer, who hosts Sunday Post

The Book Date, who hosts It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

On the above blogs you will be able to see links to the posts from others who are participating in those blog hops, and if you're a blogger, you can join too. 

Happy New Year!

I hope your year is off to a great start. If it isn't, there's still plenty of time for improvement!

Unlike on Christmas Day, I was able to eat dinner on New Year's Eve. It's nice not being sick, you know? My family got together that night, but I was home and asleep 30 minutes after ringing in the new year. And just like that, 2026 is off to the races!

In the non-fiction book I just started reading, The Comfort of Crows, by Margaret Renkl, she talks about the first bird of the year you see being a symbol of things to come. I thought my first bird sighting of 2026 would be a crow. But no. It was a black vulture in flight. 

Now, black vultures have dual symbolism. They can symbolize decay and endings, but they can also symbolize rebirth and transformation. I choose to see them as symbols of the latter. Black vultures are very common in my neighborhood and I happen to love them. I've always seen them as something positive. They clean up the environment, which makes them a necessary part of our world. I know that some people have had less than pleasant run-ins (or fly-ins...) with them, but I have never once heard of them hurting people in my neighborhood. I often see them on my walks, and while they can certainly look intimidating, they're actually quite docile. Trust me when I say, it's the smaller more feisty birds you have to watch out for. The vultures tend to mind their own business and leave the humans and their pets alone. (With pets, I'm referring to the dogs who walk their humans.) I love how after rainstorms, they spread their wings. I guess they're drying them. I love observing their behaviors. It's not uncommon to see a couple dozen of them on the roof of the condos across the street from where I live. I know that they hang out on my building's roof too.

So, with the vulture in mind, I am looking forward to a year of new beginnings and positive transformation. Have you noticed your first bird sighting of the year?

In other news, I finally finished a puzzle I started in the early fall. I love the picture on the puzzle, but this was a tough one! I don't think I'll ever buy a Bits and Pieces brand puzzle again. It was too much of a challenge, and at times it wasn't even enjoyable. I had planned on doing the winter one in this set next, but that looks even more challenging than this one was. The winter one has a lot of white on it with the beards and the snow. I will definitely start another one soon, but it will be an easier one.

Onto the books.

I started using the NetGalley Reading Journal last year and I stopped around May. I'm going to attempt it again and try to keep up with it every month through December. I'm not sure how well you can read the screenshot, but here's what I have for January so far. I really want to increase my NetGalley percentage. Out of 24 books, I've reviewed 12. I want to get that up to at least the recommended 80%, or even better, 100%. The reason I chose In Farms Way, by Amanda Flower, for my most anticipated book this month is because I've been wanting to read it since it was published four years ago. I can't believe how much time has passed since then. I will probably end up listening to the audiobook, but somehow I want to get it done.

IN THE BOOKS

RECENTLY FINISHED

None

IN PROGRESS

I'm reading  Public Anchovy #1 (Deep Dish Mystery 3), by Mindy Quigley. I've had this book from the library for nine weeks. It was due today with no option to renew online since I've had it for so long already. So I went to the library and renewed it again. I was a little embarrassed, but life happens. I started reading it much later than I thought I would, but I want to finish it! I am enjoying it.

I'm listening to A Killer Christmas (Murder, She Wrote 59), written by Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Farley Moran and narrated by Laural Merlington. There are a lot of characters in this book to keep track of and the murder hasn't happened yet. Is it wrong to say, I'm looking forward to the main event? I need some action, which I think is going to pick up soon.

I already mentioned The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year, written by Margaret Renkl and illustrated by Billy Renkl. As someone who loves birds, I'm curious to see how her observations progress.

UP NEXT

I have some ideas, but I haven't quite decided what will be next.

ON THE SCREEN

All of these are Hallmark movies.

• A Newport Christmas - This is one of the new ones. I love time travel movies, but this movie missed the mark for me. The leads were great, but the plot needed more time to develop. Also, the green screen in some scenes was painfully noticeable. I like the idea of the story, just not the execution of it.
• The Christmas Baby - What a beautiful story! This movie has LGBTQ representation with the two moms taking care of the baby. I didn't like the premise - the baby being left on the doorstep. Also, they returned the baby multiple times. However, everything else about this movie was great. It was a beautiful combination of humor and heart. Some of you may be familiar with Paralympic medalist, Tatyana McFadden. She was born with spina bifida, which is the same disability I was born with. She was an orphan in Russia and was adopted by two American moms who made so many opportunities possible for her. Tatyana grew up in the neighborhood where I now live. This movie made me think of her.
• A Perfect Christmas - This movie is from 2016 and I recently watched it for the first time. Hmmm...it was okay. I liked the premise, but it was a little slow for me.
• We Met in December - This was in the new crop of movies in December and it is my favorite from 2025! I can't ever remember rooting for a couple as much as I did for these two. I loved the method of storytelling with the flashbacks helping them to remember clues as they searched for each other in present day. I loved it so much!!
• A Suite Holiday Romance - This was also in the new crop. Again, I loved the method of storytelling. I also loved the secondary romance with the older couple, but the main one not so much. The misunderstanding really took me out of the story. If they had re-worked that part, it could have been a perfect movie. Unfortunately, it was a significant part of it.
• Noel Next Door - This one is from 2022 and I finally watched it. While the leads were great in their roles, I wish a disabled actor was hired to play the role of the disabled character. Otherwise, though, I thought it was a pretty enjoyable movie. 

ON THE BLOG

• Sunday Post - 12/27 - Weekly Recap
• Golden Gratitude - A through Z
• Book Review - 12/30 - Vampires, VCRs, and Violence (Bewitcher's Beach Mystery 5), by Emily Fluke

Have a great week!

Golden Gratitude - Z is for Zip Lock Bags

To see an explanation of how Golden Gratitude works, click here. To see a list of all Golden Gratitude posts, click on the label on the right sidebar or click here.

Z is for zip lock bags. I especially love the ones that slide closed so you don't need to line it up just right. I rarely use them for food (I try to use as little plastic as possible in the kitchen), but they work great when storing puzzle pieces. After I finish a puzzle, I first take apart the edge pieces. I put those pieces in a small zip lock bag. Then I take apart the rest of the puzzle and store those in a larger bag (or the same size bag if it's a smaller puzzle). Then I put both bags of pieces in the box.

Your turn!

And that concludes Golden Gratitude 2025-2026! Thanks to everyone who participated. While it lasted longer than usual, I don't think that's a bad thing. What better way to ring in the new year than with an attitude of gratitude? May it last through the entire year.

Golden Gratitude - Y is for Year

To see an explanation of how Golden Gratitude works, click here. To see a list of all Golden Gratitude posts, click on the label on the right sidebar or click here.

Y is for year. I'm grateful that a shiny new year has begun. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Your turn!

Golden Gratitude - X is for Xenomenia

To see an explanation of how Golden Gratitude works, click here. To see a list of all Golden Gratitude posts, click on the label on the right sidebar or click here.

X is for Xenomenia. Xenomenia is the appreciation and celebration of diverse customs. (Yes, I did a Google search to find this.) How beautiful it is when we can celebrate in harmony each other's differences.

Your turn!

Vampires, VCRs, and Violence (Bewitcher's Beach Mystery 5), by Emily Fluke

🍄🍄🍄🍄

I am always excited when a new installment in the Bewitcher's Beach Paranormal Mystery series is released. I've been reading them from the beginning and watching the series develop into deeper, more complex plots. Vampires, VCRs, and Violence is another strong installment.

Noema is a single mom of werewolf pups. The series is set in the 1990s and she owns Mockbuster, a video rental store. Over the course of the series, she's been searching for her long lost family, while also solving a few too many murders. In this installment, it isn't long before Noema is bitten by a bat. As if that's not enough trauma, a dead body is found in her rental shop. Are the two incidents connected? If so, how? Noema is determined to get to the bottom of these mysteries.

I really enjoyed this book, even more so than the previous one. I loved that we were back in Bewitcher's Beach, which is the setting where it all began. There are references to 90s pop culture that brought back some fun memories for me. For example, it is mentioned that the movie Armageddon was just released. There is a sprinkling of these kinds of references throughout the series and I am here for it.

Noema continues to use her sense of smell to detect emotions. For example, if she smells pineapple pizza, it indicates confusion. I love that the scents and the emotions they symbolize have been consistent throughout the series. So when I come across them, they feel like a natural part of the world the author has built (at least for Noema, since it is her gift).

I appreciate that Detective Sett is open to having Noema work with the authorities on this investigation. The events surrounding the mystery involve her, so it makes sense that she is accepted as a consultant. I love it when the amateur sleuth can work in harmony with the authorities.

The mystery in Vampires, VCRs, and Violence is strong. There are so many layers to it that I did not figure out everything. I enjoyed reading how the pieces fit together. And while there were many layers, it never felt overwhelming. 

Throughout the series, there is a love triangle like no other I've ever read and there are some new developments in this installment. It made me both sad and hopeful at the same time. You'll have to read the books to see how relationships are progressing as characters are more developed.

The one thing that brought this installment down a bit for me was the scattered foul language throughout the book. I'd say the foul word used is mild, but I came across it too many times for me to fully enjoy the book. This won't bother everyone, but if you're familiar with my taste, you'll know I'm not a fan of foul language, even the mild variety. Especially for a cozy mystery, it doesn't work well for me.

I really missed Squeaks, the mouse. He is mentioned, but he is not involved in this story. Squeaks was featured much more prominently in earlier installments and I really came to love him. He's such a unique cozy companion and I thought he really added some fun to the series.

Other than these two minor complaints, I did really enjoy this installment overall. Emily Fluke's style of writing is strong and that's what keeps me coming back to this series. Quotes like "summer melted into fall" keep me engaged. Her descriptions of the setting make it feel like its own character.

I look forward to visiting Bewitcher's Beach again in the next installment, which is set to be released in 2026. As with most cozy mysteries, each installment in the series contains a standalone mystery. However, I highly recommend starting from the beginning with Magic, Movies, and Murder and reading them in order. It's fun to follow the subplots over the course of the series.

Thank you to Emily Fluke for providing me with an ARC of this book.

Golden Gratitude - W is for Winter

To see an explanation of how Golden Gratitude works, click here. To see a list of all Golden Gratitude posts, click on the label on the right sidebar or click here.

W is for Winter. I love when winter actually feels like winter. I'm grateful for highs in the 30s that we have this week. I just wish it would snow!!

Your turn!

Golden Gratitude - V is for Vendors

To see an explanation of how Golden Gratitude works, click here. To see a list of all Golden Gratitude posts, click on the label on the right sidebar or click here.

V is for vendors. I'm grateful for all the vendors who consistently sell their locally made or locally grown products at various markets. Farmers market and Christmas market seasons are over, but a nearby farm has a winter market for the first time. I'm planning to check it out sometime in January.

Your turn!