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.
This is our last week before Christmas, and I’m really feeling the
holiday spirit take over. We’ve had some rainy days this past week, and it was delightful. Yes, imagine that, since this blog is about “Rainy days and Mondays” making me blue. LOL. But then, remember, “books chase away the blues.”The week of reading was kind of slow at first, then it picked up, ending with a total of 3 books and 1 novella. My total for the Read the Books You Buy Challenge: wait for it! 99 books!! I
currentlyjust finished reading my 100th book, which is the goal I had hoped for.So far my ratio is: 100 books read/138 books purchased, once I read the 100th book…and if I don’t buy any more.
I might read even more…since there are still two reading weeks. Of course, the challenge is for purchased books, and I’ll also be reading some review books.
So….with rain outside, and a little more interiors work…it turned out to be a good week to stay indoors and read, watch movies, etc. I also watched Season I of Goliath, on Amazon Prime. Wow! Now I want another season.
Let’s look at the week, and have a glass of something sparkling:
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LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:
Finding Balance…Through the Forest…
Commitment Post: Read the Books You Buy – 2017
Curl up with “The Sleepwalker” – Excerpts
Goodreads Report: 2016 Books Read
Hump Day Reading: What’s On Your List?
Hump Day Thoughts: From the Foothills to the City…
Thursday Potpourri: My Book Compulsion, Etc.
Curling up with TBR Books: The Challenge
Wrapping Up the “Read the Books You Buy-2016” Challenge
Review: The Premonition (e-book, prequel), by Chris BohjalianReview: Sweet Lamb of Heaven (e-book), by Lydia MilletReview: The Mothers (e-book), by Brit BennettReview: The Dollhouse (e-book), by Fiona Davis
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INCOMING BOOKS: (Titles/Covers Linked to Amazon)
Two books came in the mail! One review book from Amazon Vine; one purchased book.
I downloaded three e-books (purchased)
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I See You, by Clare Mackintosh (Amazon Vine)
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Talking As Fast As I Can, by Lauren Graham (Purchased)
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Downloads:
Sweet William (e-book), by Beryl Bainbridge
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The Stepmother (e-book), by Claire Seeber
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Faultlines (e-book), by Barbara Taylor Sissel
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WHAT’S NEXT? (Titles/Covers Linked to Amazon)
Currently Reading: Just Finished: Scandal in Skibbereen (County Cork #2), by Sheila Connolly (Click title for my review of this 100th book).
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White Trash, by Nancy Isenberg, is a book I’ll be slowly reading, a bit at a time…
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At some point, I’ll be reading more review books, like The Sleepwalker, by Chris Bohjalian…and then, whatever my mood dictates.
By the end of the year, I’ll be participating in First Book of 2017, hosted by Sheila, at Book Journey.
I’ve selected my book, snapped a couple of photos of me holding it…and that’s all I’m saying until January 1, 2017!
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That’s what is going on here…what did your week look like? The upcoming weeks? Check out my split pea soup and strawberry margarita from last weekend!
Great post! 100 books is an awesome goal and I’m super envious. Maybe one day… So many of your books sound freaking amazing!
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Thanks, Ali, I have read a total of 160 books this year (so far), and 100 of them were books I purchased.
Enjoy your reading and gathering of books.
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That’s great! I’m definitely going to track my booky progress on Goodreads and see how far I can get this year. Happy reading and good luck with reading goals in the New Year!
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Good plan, Ali!
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Congrats on the challenge, and I like your tree on the table! It’s been snowing and COLD here so I envy you the rain a little bit. 🙂 The weather’s here been awful, but it’s december in Michigan so I shouldn’t act surprised!
I love the look of I See You (looks suspenseful) and the Lauren Graham book looks very popular- lotsa people reading it. Can’t wait to see your First Book!
Mmm soup!!
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Thanks for stopping by, Greg, and I am quite pleased that I read 100 books (well, almost, I’m on the 100th book) from my purchased stack. Now if I could learn to buy fewer books…lol. My total of all books for the year so far was 160, which includes review books.
I think I See You looks good, too. I tried to get it from NetGalley, but wasn’t approved, for some reason. Then I found it on Vine.
Today is pretty cold and it looks sunny out, no rain, so it looks like a really nice day. But it’s in the 40s. Probably much warmer than in your parts, though.
Enjoy your reading and your upcoming holiday.
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Am keen to hear what you think of I See You. I didn’t love it as much as her first but still enjoyed it.
I’ve had a couple of slow reading weeks and am not really in the mood to pick it up so expect my total reads for the year won’t change much (and December will be very low).
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Thanks for visiting, Deborah, and yes, this is a slower time of the year. I hope you enjoy whatever you do pick up, though, and have a great week and holiday season.
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Mm looking forward to the 1st book of the year. I have selected too and picked it up from the library already. And that’s all i’m saying!!
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Thanks, Kathryn, and isn’t it fun to plan that moment, the time when we reveal our First Book? It feels like we’re opening a gift. I have a page on my An Interior Journey blog dedicated to First Books.
Enjoy the week and the holidays!
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Fizz sounds good for this time of year. I am definitely in the mood for the holidays. Congratulations on 100 books. Some good ones have come in for you this week by the looks of it. I really want to read I See You. Have a good week.
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Thanks, Emma, and since my total books read is 160 (so far), that means I mostly read books I bought…sort of. LOL.
Thanks for stopping by, and enjoy your week!
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Sorry your mood’s dropping. Hopefully it gets better soon!
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Thanks, Rachel, and after reading your comment, I had to go back and check what I wrote…about the mood descending…and realized how it sounded. I meant to say that the Christmas spirit had descended upon me…sort of. Lame!
Enjoy the week, and thanks for visiting.
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I hope you feel better soon – the rain does make everything look bleak, doesn’t it? Having said that your tree and your home look amazing… I’m awed and envious! Congratulations on having read so many of the books you’ve bought – that’s a really good percentage. I’ll be posting all my reading results in early January as it takes me a while to sort out and organise my various reading statistics… Have a lovely Christmas, Laurel and look forward to continuing to talk books with you in 2017:).
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Thanks, Sarah, and I’m going back to correct what I wrote! I meant to say that the feeling of Christmas was descending upon me, or some such lame thing. LOL.
Enjoy the holidays, and thanks for visiting. I do love counting up all the accomplishments and preparing for that New Year’s post.
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Well I’m delighted to hear you are finding the Christmas spirit is descending! Nothing worse than feeling unhappy during the festive season:)).
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Rain there and snow here…both make me want to read books! Congrats on achieving your reading goal. That’s awesome. I usually get in about 100 books a year but I also read kidlit and non-fiction. Your post just reminded me about first book of the year. I got Sheila’s email and have yet to sign up! Love pea soup…
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Thanks, Laura, it always feels good to reach goals. I love the First Book of the Year event. Thanks for visiting.
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I’m feeling the Christmas spirit too, Laurel-Rain, even if it’s not reflected in my reading. It helps having a young child in the house who won’t let me forget. Haha
Congratulations on reaching 100 books for the Read the Books You Buy Challenge! That is awesome. I’m thinking of doing the First Book if the Year too. I just need to figure out which one. You are way ahead of me. 🙂
Have a great week, Laurel-Rain. Merry Christmas!
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Thanks for stopping by, Wendy, and I am glad I participated in the Read the Books You Buy Challenge, which is why I signed up again for 2017.
First Book is fun! Enjoy picking that book.
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The Sheila Connolly series is on my list to read. It looks great. Sounds like you had a great week. Hope you have another good one.
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I really fell in love with the characters in the County Cork series when I read the first one, and I’m enjoying the second one, too.
Thanks for stopping by, Yvonne, and have a great week!
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Books definitely chase away the blues. 🙂 Hope you have a Merry Christmas!! ~Aleen
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Thanks, Aleen, and I agree, of course! Enjoy your week.
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Ohh, I want to try this soup now! 😀
I am so glad you reached your goal and read 100 purchased books (or 99, but it will be 100). That is AMAZING!
At least it shows that the money you spend on books is worth it (unlike in some cases when someone (caugh, caugh, me) purchases books and then only looks at them for years and reads review and library books).
I hope you’ll have a wonderful week ahead!
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Ha-ha….Yes, but looking at the books is part of the delight, right? Thanks for stopping by, Irena, and I LOVE that soup.
Thanks for stopping by.
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Wow Laurel you have done so well and I think that is a pretty good average too! I have read three of the books on your incoming book list – pleased to see The Stepmother there, I do hope you enjoy it.
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Thanks, Cleo, and I am very excited to read them all. Enjoy your week, and thanks for visiting…and sharing books that I end up buying! LOL
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You had such a fantastic week–and SO MANY congratulations on hitting your goal for the reading challenge, 100 books is quite the achievement! Here’s hoping the rest of the month is smooth sailing and awesome reads for you!
Again, happy holidays this season to you and yours!
And thank you so much for popping by my blog earlier, it’s much appreciated! Have a great week-to-come!
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Thanks for returning the visit, Beth, and I always enjoy seeing new books to drool over. Enjoy your week, and have a great holiday.
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❤
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It rained on Thursday here in Sacramento and the streets were flooded. Even though it is hard to drive in I enjoy the rain too. It makes me want to cozy up with a warm drink and a good book. Congrats and making your reading challenge goal. That is a great challenge but I would have a hard time not buying anymore books lol. I have 4 Amazon gift cards to use but I’m trying to use them for really good sales. That way I can get more books lol. I hope you have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year!
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Well, I obviously kept buying more books, but in the end, my percentage of books read to books bought wasn’t bad. LOL. Thanks for stopping by, Kathy, and I also prefer being inside curled up when it rains.
Enjoy your holiday!
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Way to go, 100 books!! It’s snowing here, so I’ve been curled up with warm drinks and books. 🙂 Have a great week!
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I’ve been curled up, too, and reading away on Scandal in Shibbereen, which is fascinating. Thanks for stopping by, Shandy Jo.
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Yay! Congrats on reaching 100 books for this year!
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Yes, not only 100 books, but 100 purchased books, and 60 other books. Thanks for stopping by, Ronyell.
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You’re welcome!
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I still need to choose my First Book – it’s so much fun seeing everyone’s choices. I hope you enjoy I See You – I really liked the author’s first book. Have a great week, Laurel. Merry Christmas 🙂
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Thanks, Mary, I love First Book, too, and it’s fun to see all the photos and read the posts. Enjoy your pick. I loved the author’s book I Let You Go, as well.
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Congratulations Laurel on reading 100 books that you own! I snapped a picture of me and my first book too. Looking forward to the posts. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
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Thanks, Nise, when I started reading them, I wasn’t sure how it would all work out…I’m pleased, and ready for a new year to continue tackling my shelves. Enjoy your week, and thanks for visiting. Merry Christmas to you and yours, and I’m excited about seeing the First Books, too.
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I’m so impressed with how you focused on reading books you own. Good job!
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Thanks, Deb, I am certainly happy that I joined Kathryn’s challenge, as I don’t think I would have been as motivated on my own.
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Enjoyed your post about finding balance. I agree that writing is lonely (and frustrating) sometimes and blogging is fun and immediate. It’s a struggle to find that balance.
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Thanks, Roberta, and while I mostly worked on my writing for a few years, and now I seem to be focusing on blogging, I do have six novels out there…and a seventh one in its WIP form. I might not be very balanced, but I’m hanging in there. Enjoy your week, and thanks for visiting.
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Wow 100 books is great achievement – I hope you manage to squeeze some more in over the next two weeks.
It sounds very festive your way, rain means more reading time too. Our temps have been up and down but mostly very warm.
I like the look of The Step Mother and I also have I See You on my TBR pile.
Have a lovely week!
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Thanks, Amanda, and I am eager to keep reading my books….but for the rest of this week, I think it will be my review books. Enjoy your week, and thanks for visiting.
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I hope that you enjoy the new Lauren Graham book! I’ve heard that it’s pretty good, but I don’t really like those types of books. You’ve been reading a lot of books, and congrats on hitting 100 books read! Have a good week, and happy reading! 🙂
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Thanks, Anna, I’m glad that, out of the 160 books I’ve read so far this year, 100 of them were from my own shelves. Enjoy your week, and thanks for stopping by. I hope to enjoy the Lauren Graham, but probably won’t get to it this year.
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I See You and The Stepmother look like my kind of books. I hope you enjoy them!
My It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? post.
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Thanks, Majanka, I hope so, too….I have heard good things about both. Have a great week, and thanks for visiting.
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I See You looks really good to me – I want to get my hands on it. Enjoy!
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I agree, Kathy, and hope to get to it this week. Enjoy your week, too, and thanks for stopping by.
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Congrats on finishing #100!! That’s awesome! Mmmmm, I love split pea soup. I made some a couple of weeks ago when I had a leftover ham bone, but I never thought of pairing it with a strawberry margarita 🙂 I will do that next time! Enjoy all your lovely books!
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Thanks, Darlene, and just thinking about the split pea soup makes me hungry again…LOL. I need to make some soups in my Crockpot, which I’ve only used once! Enjoy your week, and thanks for visiting.
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Awesome job hitting your reading goal!! That margarita looks fantastic…I think I’m going to have one for lunch today when I meet my girlfriend for lunch! I mean, I am on vacation. 😉 Happy reading this week! I’m anxious to read I See You soon. I hope it’s good.
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Thanks, Brandie, enjoy your margarita! And your lunch with your friend. I love those get-togethers even more these days, since there is no “time clock” hovering in this post-retirement life. LOL.
Vacation is good, too. I hope to love I See You…have a wonderful week, and enjoy your reading and the holiday!
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Wow…all your books are calling my name. I am jealous of I SEE YOU. I loved Ms. MackIntosh’s first book.
The Step Mother sounds scary. The cover is ominous.
ENJOY your week, and Merry Christmas.
Elizabeth
Silver’s Reviews
My It’s Monday, What Are You Reading
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Yes, it does look scary, Elizabeth…but not horror, (I don’t think). That’s where I draw the line. LOL. Enjoy your books and the holidays.
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Glad you loved The Mothers!
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Thanks, Sarah, I am glad I was thoroughly engaged with this book.
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Congratulations on reaching your goals. I’v taken some photos my first book of the year too. Have a great week and as always thank you for stopping by my blog!
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Thanks for returning the visit, Pat, and I so loved whittling down those stacks of purchased books. Enjoy your reading, and let’s all have fun with our First Books of the Year.
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I’ve had I See You on my Kindle for review for a while. I see it is finally coming up on my calendar. I’m not doing as well as you are with reading the books I buy. I still have 187 2016 arrivals to read. Of course 30-some are review books and will get read in 2017. That still leaves more than 150 to read. I just seem to get further and further behind. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
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Thanks for visiting, Kathy, and participating in the challenge really help me whittle those books down. Enjoy reading yours, and I hope we both love I See You. Happy holidays!
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HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND ENJOY! YOUR NEW BOOKS.
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Thanks, Mary Ann, wishing you the same!
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Hi Laurel: You are on a roll reading your purchased books! What is Goliath? Is it on Netflix? I will check. I wonder if the novel I See You will be as good as I Let You Go …. hmm. You must let us know. Have a wonderful holiday! Enjoy.
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Thanks, Susan, and Goliath is a legal thriller about a small firm going up against a giant one…and there are lots of tricks and hijinks, and even some nefarious actions. It’s on Amazon Prime Video, starring Billy Bob Thornton and William Hurt, among others. Truly addictive.
I hope to start I See You this week…I also loved I Let You Go. Happy holidays!
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What kind of read is White Trash…it’s satire, right?
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Oops, seems like I typed in the wrong web address , getting way ahead of myself.
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Good question, Angela…I think it’s mostly a socioeconomic study, being nonfiction and all. But yes, the term does give one pause. Thanks for stopping by.
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That soup looks yummy! Here is my IMWAYR: http://shoshireads.weebly.com/home/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-mailbox-monday
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I definitely love that soup! Thanks for visiting, Shoshi. Enjoy your week.
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The soup and drink both look yummy! And I am loving several books on your list. I have I See You coming up on my reading list soon. And The Step Mother and Faultlines both look very intriguing. I am going to have to add them to my TBR list. Have a wonderful holiday!
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Thanks for stopping by, Susan, and yes, that soup and drink were good! More, please.
Enjoy your week, and I am excited about my new books, too. Happy holidays!
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I am feeling the Christmas spirit as well. That’s great you reached your goal of 100 books for that challenge and maybe you can add a few more to that in the last few weeks. I like that picture of your little tree, so cute! Have a great week!
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Thanks, Lola, I didn’t pick a goal in the beginning, but as I kept adding books to my list, I felt motivated. Enjoy your week, and happy holidays!
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