Sunday Post 40

Hello, friends!

Today and Monday I am linking with the following: 
Reading Reality, who hosts Stacking the Shelves

Sunday Post, hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer 

Readerbuzz, who hosts Sunday Salon

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

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

This last week of July is the most emotional week of the year for me. On this date five years ago, one of my closest friends that I knew since childhood passed away. On July 25th thirteen years ago, my best friend, who I also knew since childhood, passed away. It has gotten easier over the years, but healing from grief is not linear. There are good days and there are difficult days.

I always try to do something positive at this time of year, which is why I started this blog. It was started because of and in honor of my best friend. My blog turns one on Tuesday! You can read more about the background by clicking here or on Why Cozies? on the right sidebar. In honor of Caboodle of Cozies turning one, I will have a special post on Tuesday introducing something new. So I hope you'll come back for that. It's nothing mind-blowing, but it is a personal accomplishment.

IN THE BOOKS

To see how I'm doing with my 2023 bookish challenges, click on 2023 Bookish Challenges on the right sidebar. 

RECENTLY FINISHED

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I listened to Survival of the Fritters (Deputy Donut Mystery 1), written by Ginger Bolton and narrated by Emily Durante. I read it earlier this year and had given it 4/5 mushrooms. However, after listening to it this time around, I decided to increase my rating to 5. I'll post a review of this one. I definitely want to continue this series. Does anyone know what time of year the second one, Goodbye Cruller World, takes place?

IN PROGRESS

Letters from Cats, by Stacey Ritz, is one of the freebies I downloaded on Kindle a couple weeks ago. I'm slowly making my way through it. Some of the letters are very emotional, so I'm only reading a little at a time.

I started reading A Christmas Candy Killing (Killer Chocolate Mystery 1), by Christina Romeril, and I'm really enjoying it. The intro says that it's perfect for fans of Joanne Fluke and I'm finding that to be so true. It definitely has a Hannah Swensen Mysteries vibe. You can read some excerpts from it that I posted here.

UP NEXT

I am going to listen to the audiobook for Misty of Chincoteague, written by Marguerite Henry and illustrated by Wesley Dennis, on Wednesday. It is narrated by Edward Herrmann. Wednesday is the day of the annual pony swim on Chincoteague Island. I'll also be paying homage to my best friend because she used to love going to Chincoteague Island at this time of year. I have been there once and I really enjoyed it. I wasn't there for the pony swim, but I did see wild horses on the island.

I read Blackberry Pie Murder (Hannah Swensen Mystery 17), by Joanne Fluke, last year, but I didn't review it yet. So I'm going to listen to the audiobook this week to refresh my memory, then post a review. The audiobook is narrated by Suzanne Toren. I know the later books in this series have not been well-received by many, but as long as they are being written, I will read them. It's too close to my heart to let it go.

I have been wanting to read The Firefly Jar (Crickley Creek 1), by Laurie Beach, for months ever since I heard it was being released. This is her debut novel. I asked my library to purchase it and they did. So I recently borrowed it. This is definitely next on my list for print books.

I decided not to read A Dash of Magic, by Daryl Wood Gerber last week. It's on Prolific Works, which I can read on my computer, but the app is not compatible with my phone. When I try to download it, I get a message saying the app is only compatible with an older version of my phone. I thought that was strange. I don't to want to have to sit at my desktop computer and read it, so I've decided to put it off until I can access it on my phone.

ON TELEVISON

• Secret Invasion - After watching Episode 5, I was finally excited to see the next one. I'm interested in seeing how the series will end this week and how it will be a bridge to future MCU movies.
• Signed, Sealed, Delivered - I watched Truth Be Told, which I enjoyed. I am going to watch The Impossible Dream today.
• Christmas in July - Christmas in July continues. I've been making my way through Christmas movies I've had recorded for a while, in addition to watching the new ones on The Hallmark Channel. Did anyone see Take Me Back for Christmas? It premiered last weekend. If you haven't, I highly recommend it. It has received consistently high praise and rightfully so. This is my favorite movie of the year so far. My review will be posted Monday morning.

WEEKLY BLOG RECAP 

• Sunday Post 07/16 - What I've been reading, listening to, and watching
• Review 07/20 - #FollowMe for Murder (Trending Topic Mystery 1), by Sarah E. Burr
• Fun on Friday 07/21 - Plot twists, A Christmas Candy Killing, cat curling
• Puzzle 07/22 - Box of Chocolates

I didn't participate in Top Ten Tuesday last week. Some of the lists don't resonate with me, so I'm only going to participate once in a while from now on.

Have a great last week of July!