Sunday Post 72

Happy Weekend, friends!

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. 

I'm back! Yes, I was on a break. I didn't plan to do this, but I was juggling too many things and found it difficult to focus. I had to prioritize, knowing I'd eventually come back to blogging when other things were done. I should be back for about another month, then I'll need to take a blogging break again.

I finally got my computer completely set up. It was a bit of a challenge, as nothing was straightforward. But it's done and I can finally just enjoying using it.

Both winter and spring are in the air. We had some snow the morning of the spring equinox. Nothing stuck and it happened before sunrise, so I didn't get to see much of it - just the flurries falling near the lit lamp posts. It was nice.

This morning we had a chilly rain, then in the afternoon the breeze started to pick up. It's a little chilly, but I don't mind it. I'll be crying when the summer heat and humidity arrive. I function much better in cooler weather.

Meanwhile, the daffodils and cherry blossoms are beginning to bloom in my neighborhood. The tulips are also starting to emerge. There are two types of cherry blossoms in my neighborhood. The puffier ones bloom about two weeks after the others, so they'll be around for a while. Usually this happens in early April. Hopefully they make it through the cool weather we've been having.

While I was on a break, I did get some reading, listening, and television-viewing in. So without further ado, here's the summary from the past two weeks.

IN THE BOOKS

Click on 2024 Bookish Challenges on the right sidebar to see how I'm doing with this year's goals.

DID NOT FINISH

I made it through about 42% of Murder in an Irish Village (Irish Village Mystery 1), by Carlene O'Connor, then decided this book just isn't for me. I know this is an unpopular opinion, but I just couldn't get into it. The audiobook narration is good, but the story just wasn't resonating with me. There's also a sprinkling of cursing throughout the book. Yes, it's in Irish, but I can still tell what they're saying. So I decided to DNF it and move on.

RECENTLY FINISHED

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I read Four Leaf Felony (Holiday Cozy Mystery 1), by Tonya Kappes, and I loved it! It had all the St. Patrick's Day feels in a cozy village, along with a side of murder. I will definitely be continuing this series, and I want to check out other books by Tonya Kappes. I will be reviewing this book on my blog, but in the meantime, you can read some excerpts here.

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I listened to Atomic Habits, by James Clear, on Libby. It is narrated by James Clear himself. This is a very clear (as his last name suggests!) and concise book with practical tips on how to develop and maintain small habits that can lead to big changes. It's one that I can see myself reading or listening to again in the future.

IN PROGRESS

I'm still reading Magus of the Library, Vol. 1, by Mitzu Izumi. I'm almost halfway done and I'm really enjoying it. The format (a graphic novel that reads from right to left) does take some getting use, but it's worth it. I tried reading it on my Kindle, but I have found that I feel more comfortable reading the physical book instead. 

I started reading My Lucky Charm (Holidays with Hart 2), by Courtney Walsh, and so far I'm loving it. The St. Patrick's Day theme is very light, almost non-existent, in this hockey romcom. This is only the second book I'm reading by Courtney Walsh, but I'm quickly learning that her books do not disappoint!

UP NEXT

My audiobook listen for this week will be The Ducal Detective: A Court of Mystery Novella, by Sarah E. Burr. I was given a free audio code for all of the novellas in this series in a giveaway and I'm excited to finally start listening to them. I've enjoyed all other books by Sarah E. Burr and I don't think this series will be any different.

Next up I'll be reading Brie Careful What You Wish For (Grilled Cheese Mystery 4), by Linda Reilly. This is a series I've been enjoying from the beginning. I'm so glad the wait is over for book 4. It releases on April 9th. I received an e-ARC through NetGalley. This was the first ARC that I had to request on NetGalley and was approved for.

And I have something very cool to tell you about this book. While Linda Reilly was writing it last year, she asked fans to submit ideas for a title. I submitted my idea, and that was the one that was chosen by Linda's team! It feels amazing to see the title I came up with on the cover of this book! 

The day I found out my suggestion was chosen was on January 29th - my best friend's birthday (she passed in 2010). It's because of her that I read so much these days, especially cozies. What's more is that my birthday is on National Grilled Cheese Day. That's how I discovered the series in the first place. Lol. I'm so grateful for Linda and her team. I think book titles are so important and I'm honored my suggestion was chosen.

ON TELEVISON

• Wedding of a Lifetime - This was a 2022 Hallmark movie. It was about to expire on my DVR, so I decided to watch it. I really enjoyed it.
• A Little Daytime Drama - I was disappointed in this 2021 Hallmark movie. It was okay, but not great.
• Crimes of Fashion: Killer Clutch - This was the first new movie to air on the newly branded Hallmark Mystery channel.  I really enjoyed it. It's one of my top 5 favorite movies so far this year. As soon as I get my act together, I'll review it in more detail (but still spoiler-free).
• Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour - I wouldn't call myself a Swiftie, but I do enjoy Taylor Swift's music. I've been following her since she was just starting out as a country singer. I expected to fast forward through a lot of this movie, but I ended up watching all three and a half hours of it. Minus the sprinkling of swearing, I really enjoyed it. I don't follow her music closely enough to realize she even had swearing in her lyrics. 
• True Love Blooms - I watched this 2019 Hallmark movie on the first day of spring and I really enjoyed it.
• Sense and Sensibility (1995) - This was a longer movie than what I'm used to watching (2 and a half hours), so it took me two days to finish it. It was worth it, though. This was my favorite movie that I watched over the past two weeks. I'd definitely watch it again sometime because I know there are elements I missed the first time around. I also want to read the book.
• A Tail of Love - To celebrate National Puppy Day, I watched this 2022 Hallmark movie. It was a lovely spring movie that I enjoyed.
• Murder, She Wrote - I watched a couple more episodes of season 3 and I continue to enjoy them. I may have to start taking notes when I watch these episodes so I can hopefully get better at solving the whodunnits!
• The Way Home - This series has been renewed for a third season! YAY!! I saw it coming, though. There's no way they can wrap up everything in the two episodes that are left in the second season. It seems they are setting up another storyline to take place in a different time period. I sure hope so because I'm getting tired of the storylines in the 1800's.
• Friends - I started watching season 9 where Rachel has had her baby, nobody proposed, and Chandler has just accidently accepted a job in Tulsa. Oops! This is the storyline that was created so that Matthew Perry could go into rehab. It's also the only season where he was sober. the entire time. I love how everyone supported him and they didn't just write him off of the show. It wouldn't have been the same without him.

WEEKLY BLOG RECAP 

• Sunday Post 03/10 - Weekly Recap

I hope to have more posts up in the coming week. Have a great week!