WEEKLY UPDATES: RAINY DAY READING…

On By Laurel-Rain SnowIn weekly updates

picmonkey-image-february-updates

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.

 

We had quite a bit of rain again this week, and yesterday it pounded so hard that I kept checking the skylight in the kitchen…so far, so good!  It was a good week for reading, though, and I read and reviewed FOUR books.  I have now added THIRTEEN BOOKS to my Read the Books You Buy Challenge.

Today I am going to find a place to have a new passport photo taken…the ten years have gone by, and it’s time to renew!  How did that happen?  It seems as though I just got it.

I settled down last night to watch some Netflix, but kept skipping from show to show, not finding anything I wanted to binge-watch…and then I remembered my Amazon Videos, some of which I added this week.  I started watching Z:  The Beginning of Everything, and several hours later (1:00 a.m.) I had finished!  Whew.  Since it is based on the novel Z:  A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald, by Therese Anne Fowler…I grabbed my iPhone and ordered it!  Yes, I am impulsive like that.  I’ve read other “Zelda” books, but none that were set in the early years.  Looking forward to reading it!

 

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But I woke up late this morning, as a result…and I’m not yet fully caffeinated.  Here’s a photo that might help!

 

coffeemimosa-morning

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Let’s look at the past week….

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Monday Sparks:  Musing About Books…

Let’s Curl up with “Pretty Little World”

Tuesday Potpourri:  Celebrating with Books…and a Martini?

January Wrap-Up:  A Great Reading Month

Hump Day Sparks:  A Delightful Week So Far…

Bookish Friday:  “Rainy Day Women”

Coffee & Family Moments:  Savoring Them…

Weekend Potpourri:  A Switcheroo…

Review:  The Red Car (e-book), by Marcy Dermanskyratings-worms-4-croppedReview:  The Dry (e-book), by Jane Harpercropped-again-5Review:  Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk (e-book), by Kathleen Rooneycropped-again-5Review:  The Bad Things (e-book), by Mary-Jane Rileyratings-worms-4-cropped

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INCOMING BOOKS:  (Titles/Covers Linked to Amazon)

Nothing in my mailbox this week…but I downloaded four books.

A review book came on Saturday!

Slightly South of Simple, by Kristy Woodson Harvey (Author Review Request)

 

 

review-book-in-feb-framed

 

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Downloads:

 

Right Behind You (e-book), by Lisa Gardner

 

 

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Behind Her Eyes (e-book), by Sarah Pinborough

 

 

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My Husband’s Wife (e-book), by Jane Corry

 

 

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After She Fell (e-book, Alex Devlin Book 2), by Mary-Jane Riley

 

 

 

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Now…what’s up next?

Currently Reading:  Pretty Little World (e-book), by Melissa DePino & Elizabeth LaBan

 

 

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Then….who knows?  Maybe one of these…

 

The Princess Diarist, by Carrie Fisher

 

 

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Rainy Day Women (e-book, Book 2), by Kay Kendall (I love this cover!)

 

 

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That was my week…what did yours look like?  Here’s a tease from midweek….a breakfast at Mimi’s…with a Bloody Mary and an omelet.

 

breakfast-at-mimis-framed

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98 thoughts on “WEEKLY UPDATES: RAINY DAY READING…”

  2. I’ve been wondering about Z both the book and the series though I wasn’t sure they were related. I’m glad to see that they are and that you enjoyed the show. I’ll definitely have to add that to my watch list. Looking forward to your thoughts on Pretty Little World. I enjoyed it though no part of me wanted to live in their world!

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. I definitely enjoyed the series….and can’t wait to read the book. The beginning of Zelda and Scott’s relationship is something I haven’t seen (or read) before.

      Thanks for stopping by, Katherine, and I definitely wouldn’t want to live like the folks in Pretty Little World, but I’m enjoying the book.

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  3. Greg Hill

    Rainy this week huh? We got a bit of snow but not too bad- got a little slippery but didn’t last too long. I’d prefer rain but too much rain can be gloomy. 🙂 I’ having the same problem with Netflix- what to watch? Colony? No idea if it’s good. there are so many shows, but nothing jumping out at me. I need more Marcella, Bloodline etc lol.

    Behind Her Eyes looks good.

    Breakfast! I have a serious weakness for bacon… and cheese.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Yes, I need more seasons for some of my favorite Netflix shows, like Marcella, Bloodline, House of Cards, etc.

      I love eating breakfast out, but I don’t get out of the house early enough most days. This breakfast was more of a brunch…around 10-ish.

      Thanks for visiting, Greg…enjoy the snow…Today it is sunny, with no sign of rain. Yay!

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  4. Wow, lots of great new books there Laurel.

    You’ve got me intrigued about The Beginning of Everything. I’ll need to check if it’s on Netflix here.

    And I could use some of your rain if you could send it our way! (Thanks in advance!) 😉

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Here I go, sending you the rain…did you catch it? LOL

      I am really excited about those new books with “behind” in the title (there’s another one that I almost got, called Don’t Look Behind You). It reminds me of the trend last summer of books with the word “girl” in the title.

      I hope you find The Beginning of Everything…I don’t know if it’s on Netflix, but I found it on Amazon Prime Videos.

      Thanks for stopping by, Deborah, and have a great week.

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  5. It was a little rainy here too, though more windy than anything else! I hate taking passport pictures – I’m one of those people that are always smiling, and it’s hard for me to keep a straight face for the photo. Just thinking about taking passport photos makes me shudder and giggle at the same time. 😀 Your new books are all new to me! I hope you enjoy all of them!

    Have a fantastic weekend, Laurel. =)

    Check out my STS post!

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    1. I hope to love the books, Alyssa, and I’m with you on passport photos. It ended up looking like a mug shot!

      I hope they don’t change the DMV photos to be more like the passport ones! LOL.

      Thanks for stopping by, and have a great weekend.

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    1. Thanks, Anna, and when I am up late like that, it’s usually a series I’m binge-watching. It is so hard to stop, and I’m always thinking “one more episode!”

      Enjoy your week…and I try to avoid scary shows (or books) at night, but I’m not always successful.

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    1. Thanks, Ronyell, and I almost decided not to do it, since I didn’t go anywhere in the past ten years that required it. (My fear of flying is a great hindrance!). But then I tell myself that I might find a way…since my eldest son is living in Prague.

      I loved all of my books this week…and I’m enjoying my current read. Happy reading!

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  9. There are some fine looking books there, Laurel:). Glad you’re not having any leaks with the skylight – we have also have just had the wettest week of the winter so far and a dreary damp one it’s been. I suppose I should just be grateful it’s not snow. Hope your weather soon improves and you have a great week:).

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Yesterday was nice and sunny, Sarah! I almost talked myself into thinking “spring!” But I know the rain is not long gone…and that’s a good thing. I think.

      Thanks for visiting, and I hope your weather improves and you love your books.

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    1. Thanks for visiting, Olivia, and I am terrified of leaks, too, ever since I lived in a place that sprang leaks on a regular basis. The landlords were not very good about fixing the roof, so eventually I moved.

      Enjoy your week…..

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  18. fuonlyknew

    After She Fell is on my list. So many more here that look so good. Looks like you have enough to hold you over until spring:) I did the same thing on Netflix. Couldn’t settle on anything. I can’t wait for The Walking Dead to return.

    My Sunday Post

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  22. Rain seems like a common theme this week. We also have had our fair share even though its summer, with more to come. It has been our wettest summer for many years!

    I’m so glad to see you rated The Dry highly, I loved this book.

    I also have Behind her Eyes to read, it looks good. So many great new thriller releases made their way into the world this week, they are sending me broke! Anyway I’m keen to hear your thoughts on this book.

    Best wishes for a great reading week!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I do love thrillers, and there are definitely a “slew” of them coming out. I didn’t even get all the new ones. I loved The Dry…and I’m eager to read Behind Her Eyes and Right Behind Her. (Is “behind” the new trending word in titles now?).

      Thanks for stopping by, Amanda, and enjoy your week.

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  23. Glad to know your skylight has been fixed and is holding on good in the harsh weather!

    I also got Behind Her Eyes this week. I’ve heard a lot about its ending so I’m really looking forward to reading it.
    Happy reading!

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    1. I am happy about the skylight holding, too. They put in a stronger one this time. I suspect the previous one had been the original, from back in the eighties when they build this place…LOL.

      Thanks for visiting, Kay, and let’s both enjoy Behind Her Eyes. Have a great week!

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    1. I read some great reviews about the book, and planned to buy it…but seeing the Amazon Video sealed the deal for me. I ordered it in paperback so I could see any photos that might appear. As for the video, every once in a while, Amazon will float some titles before me in an e-mail, so I added that one to my Watchlist. When I was bored on the weekend, I thought I’d give it a try. Several hours later, I had finished all 10 episodes!

      Thanks for visiting, Kathy, and I hope you enjoy it if you watch it.

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  26. I’m about half-way through the Zelda Fitzgerald show – started watching over the weekend. I had to stop after episode 4 because it was almost getting to be too much for me, ha. I’ll watch a couple each day until I finish though. I love some of the shows coming from Amazon these days!
    Also, my grandkids call me Mimi. I think I need to visit Mimi’s next time I’m near one. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Oh, I love the “Mimi” name for a grandmother…mine call me Nana. Unless they are trying to get my goat, and call me “Grandma” in a mocking tone. LOL. They know I don’t like that term.

      I am happy to be around the corner from Mimi’s, but I don’t go there as often as I could. I am also next to The Elephant Bar, California Pizza Kitchen, and Pismo’s. Yes, so many places!

      I’m glad you are enjoying Zelda…and your way of watching is more sensible than staying up half the night to binge. Ha.

      Have a great week.

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  27. My husband surprised me with The Princess Diarist a few days ago, I can’t wait to read it! Also, you’re probably the 3rd person I’ve seen this week currently reading Z. I’m thinking that Z is starting to move up my TBR list.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Oh, yes, I am excited about Z…and The Princess Diarist. Last night, I watched Carrie Fisher’s show on HBO: Wishful Drinking. I loved the book and I’ve seen the show before, but in light of her passing, I was especially glued to it.

      Thanks for visiting, Chandra, and enjoy your week.

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  29. Z sounds intriguing. Glad you enjoyed it so much. It looks like your received some terrific books this week. Looking forward to your thoughts on Slightly South of Simple. Have a great week Laurel.

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  32. Nice on the number of books you read this past week, but no fun on all the rain. We are having unusually warm temps for February and supposed to have warm temps tomorrow too. I can handle this until spring and summer arrives. 🙂

    Lots of good-looking books here, but SLIGHTLY SOUTH OF SIMPLE is definitely catching my attention.

    Have a wonderful week.

    Elizabeth
    Silver’s Reviews
    My Mailbox Monday

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. The rain we’ve had has not been the soft kind I enjoy. It is loud and scary at times. But today there was no rain…just wind.

      I’m looking forward to Slightly South of Simple, too. Enjoy your week, Elizabeth, and thanks for visiting.

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  33. We are getting more rain today. A few days of sunshine and back to wet. I would like to wash the drought away completely, but I imagine it won’t happen that way. Z: The Beginning of Everything must have been very good for you watch straight through! I love it when that happens. I hope you have a great week, Laurel-Rain. Happy reading!

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    1. Thanks, Wendy, and when I started watching Z, I thought I might enjoy two or three episodes…and suddenly I couldn’t seem to stop.

      Today was a rain-free day, but the wind nearly blew me across the parking lot when I went to the university to apply for my passport renewal.

      Enjoy your week!

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  34. After the third image and saying out loud “I want that” when scanning your books, lol, I just took out paper and jotted the titles down. A few were already on my wishlist but some I hadn’t heard of yet.

    Slightly South of Simple sounds wonderful for a gloomy rainy day! I have The Dry on my kindle now, so I only skimmed your positive review of it.

    Re: Zelda, I’ve been seeing the ads and the actress is said to be great in the role. I remember way back in the ’60s, my mother raving about a book she read on Zelda’s life and explaining to me who she was. This unexpected memory makes me think I should give my mother more credit for starting me off reading so young and so frequently. She must’ve had a hand in developing my love for books (though she had a shelf in her room with her “naughty” books that I wasn’t allowed to read: with Valley of the Dolls, Love Story, Harold Robbins’ books, etc. Lol!

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    1. Ha! I had to giggle a little at your mother’s “naughty” bookshelf….I remember Harold Robbins! Haven’t thought of him in years. And, of course, John Updike was another, along with Jacqueline Susann. I read Valley of the Dolls back then, and recently ordered a copy to reread at some point.

      My copy of Z came in the mail today, which I ordered promptly after being taken in by the video. Christina Ricci did a great job as Zelda.

      Thanks for stopping by, Rita, and I love making lists of books to buy after visiting blogs. Enjoy your week!

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  35. Kathy Martin

    Nice assortment of new books. All are new to me. I’ve only binge-watched one series – True Blood. A friend and I would get together each summer and watch the previous season on DVD. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

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    1. I couldn’t believe it was time to renew the passport already! I got the current one when I first moved from the foothills to this condo. Having lived here almost ten years, I guess it is not surprising that things always seem to need repair these days, from kitchen and bathroom fixtures to skylights.

      Enjoy your week, and I am not in the car enough to enjoy audio. But who knows? It could happen if I take another road trip.

      Thanks for stopping by, Nise.

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  40. I like Lisa Gardner but haven’t read her books in a LONG time! I must remedy that 🙂 Behind Her Eyes is on my Wishlist. Can’t wait to see what you think of it! The Dry is also on my Wishlist, so I will have to check out your review! Have a great week!

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. I try never to miss a Lisa Gardner book….and I’m looking forward to Right Behind You, which brings in additional characters that I met in a novella recently (Rainey and Quince). I am also excited about Behind Her Eyes.

      Thanks for visiting, Darlene, and have a great week.

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  41. Whew! What a busy week you’ve had. So many great books on you post today. I’m supposed to be getting Kristy Woodson Harvey’s new book to review too. I hope it comes soon! And I also have Z on my Amazon watchlist. I just wish there were more hours in the day, to get through all this awesomeness. 🙂

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  42. Drangonfly

    My Husband’s Wife is in my TBR. Can’t wait to get to it. I’m gald you found something you like that much in Netflix. NOW I’M CURIOUS ABOUT THAT BOOK! LOL!

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  43. You are on a roll Laurel, with your reading. I hope it stops raining there in Calif. I’m supposed to meet two friends for a reunion this coming weekend in San Fran, so I’m hoping for a reprieve from the monsoon. I’m excited to go! Enjoy your books this week, and I cross my fingers that your skylight holds. LOL

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    1. Thanks, Susan, I need every distraction I can get! I can’t stand seeing those news flashes in the sidebar of whatever page I open on the Internet….trying to stay away from social media as much as possible.

      It sounds like a great reunion for you in SF…I love that city!

      As for the rains, it is flooding in our foothill areas…I wonder how long before we are submerged? LOL.

      So far so good on the skylight.

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  45. Pingback: Books That Caught Our Eye | Mailbox Monday

    1. I know! They flew by….and as I look back, I realize that I’ve been mostly staying home, and didn’t go anywhere that required a passport! But…I can’t take the chance that I won’t need one in the next ten years. Thanks for visiting, Leslie.

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