WEEKLY UPDATES: HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

On By Laurel-Rain SnowIn weekly 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.

This week has been an interesting mix of hot days and some cooler days with wind.  I am sick of the wind, but I guess I can wait a little while for the triple digit heat.

Looking back on the week, I was busy doing things that were not that memorable…and then I had a manicure, which I enjoyed.

I planned to have a nice relaxing day today—blogging, reading, etc., but I got a call from the management of the condos saying there was a broken pipe in one of the units attached to mine, and in order to determine if the rest of us were affected, plumbers were coming out…and the window of time involved might be the whole weekend!  I wasn’t happy, but I tried to read and not think about it.

Late afternoon:  got a call that the problem was isolated in the front unit, and mine would not need work, nor would they need access to mine.  Yay!  I remember a few years ago when a pipe was broken in my walls and three days later, after a lot of chaos, they had it fixed.  So I was not looking forward to more of that.

Feeling very relieved, I did settle in with my book.  And then thought I should go ahead and write this post, never knowing what unexpected events might come along.

I did finish reading and reviewing three books this week, and my total for the challenge is 41.  Two of the books I read were Vine and NetGalley review books, so they did not count for the challenge.

I finally set up my new patio umbrella this week, and enjoyed a cup of coffee while looking out at the new outdoor space.  It was already too warm to actually go out there.

 

 

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Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers out there in blog land. 

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Monday Sparks:  Musing About Books…

Tuesday Sparks: Changing & Rearranging…

Tuesday Potpourri:  “Not a Sound”

Hump Day Sparks:  A Week of Reading….

Coffee Morning with Photos & Thoughts….

Bookish Friday:  “Into the Water”

A Year Ago:  Revisiting Mother’s Day 2016

Weekend Sparks:  Family Mementos…

Review:  What’s Become of Her, by Deb Caletti (Amazon Vine Review)Review:  A Mother’s Confession (e-book), by Kelly RimmerReview:  Not a Sound (e-book), by Heather Gudenkauf – (NetGalley – 5/30)

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INCOMING BOOKS: (Titles/Covers Linked to Amazon)

My physical mailbox held two review books and one purchased book; my e-mail inbox brought me a NetGalley review book; and I downloaded three books that I bought.

Secrets in Summer, by Nancy Thayer (Amazon Vine)

 

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The Wildling Sisters, by Eve Chase (Amazon Vine)

 

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The Swallow’s Nest, by Emilie Richards (Author Review Request)

 

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Lies She Told (e-book), by Cate Holahan (NetGalley – 9/12)

 

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Purchases:

Fairy Tale Interrupted, by Rosemarie Terenzio

 

 

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Purchased Downloads:

Sycamore (e-book), by Bryn Chancellor

 

 

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The People at Number 9 (e-book), by Felicity Everett

 

 

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How It All Began (e-book), by Penelope Lively (I love this cover!)

 

 

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WHAT’S NEXT?

Currently Reading (about half finished) – The Night the Lights Went Out (e-book), by Karen White

 

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My List for This Week:

He Said/She Said (e-book), by Erin Kelly – (NetGalley – 6/6)

 

 

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The Widow of Wall Street (e-book), by Randy Susan Meyers

 

 

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And then I will let my moods dictate what is next.  What did your week look like?  Special adventures, books, or food?

On Thursday, after my mani, I had a pizza at California Pizza Kitchen with my margarita.  Since I usually have soup or salad, I could not eat the whole thing there.  I brought most of the pizza home with me afterwards.

 

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92 thoughts on “WEEKLY UPDATES: HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!”

  1. You sure have a good few books coming in. I went on a buying spree last week, but when I finish a book, sometimes it takes me ages to decide what to read next, so much I can choose from. Umbrella looks great and hope you get to use it many times, windy weather wouldn’t be that good for it.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Kathryn, and I think this year was the windiest since I’ve lived here, as the winds destroyed my previous umbrella, which had been up and sturdy for the previous nine years.

      I guess I should unfurl the umbrella if winds are forecast.

      Unfortunately, I add books to my stacks and then some are slighted for a while as I pick up one of the newer ones. But your challenge is helping me focus!

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    1. Thanks, Emma, I am enjoying my books….and the heat is something we take for granted, but when my son and DIL visited from Germany, my DIL could often be found sitting out on the patio, even on the warmer days. She loved the heat!

      I read a review of The People at Number 9 that led me to the “click to buy” feature.

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  3. Have a Happy and relaxing Mother’s Day weekend! Glad your pipes were not broken after all- whew!

    I am so looking forward to Not a Sound by Gudenkauf, one of my go-to authors, and I read Fairy Tale, Interrupted awhile back and enjoyed learning more about JFK Jr., behind the scenes. Bittersweet story for sure. I know you’ll like it too. Enjoy!- Rita

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  5. Greg Hill

    Happy Mothers day!! Hope it’s a great one. Sorry to hear about the heat already (triple digits and I would not get along lol) and the pipe thing- glad to hear it wasn’t anything you had to deal with. Hope you get lots of good reading in. 🙂

    Lies She Told and The People At No. 9 both look good.

    I’ve never had California Pizza Kitchen but it looks and sounds awesome. I have a serious weakness when it comes to pizza, especially GOOD pizza.

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    1. Thanks, Greg, and I have been craving pizza for a while, going to CPK and ordering soup or salad, and finally caving. But I got several meals out of that one pizza, and it was a veggie pizza…LOL.

      I read a really great review of The People at No. 9, at Rather Too Fond of Books, which led me to the “click to buy” feature. I’m looking forward to it.

      I’m very grateful that the broken pipes were not in my unit, and even though the pounding and drilling that the plumbers did next door was annoying, I kept reminding myself that I had dodged a bullet.

      Enjoy your week, and we had wind again today, so the triple digits have been avoided for a bit…but I unfurled my umbrella, not taking any more chances with that vicious wind that destroyed my previous umbrella, not to mention the skylight. Which, BTW, is holding firm…knock wood.

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  6. What a pain but glad they let you know relatively early in the window that you wouldn’t be affected. You got so many great books this week! I got The Swallow’s Nest as well and am so excited. Emilie Richards is a favorite of mine. How It All Began and The People at No 9 also look intriguing. Have a great week!

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    1. Thanks for visiting, Katherine, and I was also very grateful to learn I wouldn’t be stuck hanging around all weekend!

      I’ve never read Emilie Richards, but the book was recommended to me and I saw good reviews…so I’m excited.

      In fact, I love the anticipation of reading all of my new books…and my older ones!

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    1. Thanks for visiting, Trish, and I do love the early morning (cooler) hours for sitting out. The problem lately is windy days that threaten to bring the umbrella down, and after what happened to the last one, I’ve unfurled mine until I can be sure about the weather each day. LOL.

      Enjoy your books and your days; sorry about cold or wet ones ahead.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Cai, and I always hate when a book is not approved from NetGalley. The reasons never make sense…LOL, since my profile, etc., are all acceptable to those who do approve books for me.

      I am hoping to love it and review it soon. Enjoy your week!

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    1. Thanks, Deb, the space is pretty tiny compared to my last one, where I had a big deck, and it was challenging to get the table and chairs in, but now it is just right. And, unlike my last place, I don’t have a lot of outdoor chores to do, which works for me.

      A bathroom renovation sounds like fun. I love looking at gorgeous ones in magazines.

      Thanks for visiting, and enjoy your week.

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  12. Your new patio umbrella and outdoor space look so inviting… hard to believe it’s too hot to sit out there already. I haven’t taken my socks off since we came back from Florida, lol. I love the cover of the Penelope Lively book, too. She’s an author I want to read more. Hopefully I’ll read Moon Tiger soon. That pizza is making my mouth water – yum!

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    1. Thanks for visiting, JoAnn, and I don’t often have pizza, but this veggie one was so delicious!

      I don’t know why I’ve never read Penelope Lively, but I’m glad I found this one. I want that cozy corner from the cover, too.

      It is actually nice in the mornings here, but yesterday was actually too windy to sit out!

      I’m being very protective of the umbrella, after the winds destroyed the last one, and I’m unfurling it each night until I know what next day’s weather will bring.

      I can’t imagine being cold right now, though, so I hope your weather gets warmer. Enjoy your week!

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  14. There was a California Kitchen at one of the malls in a nearby town we go to and every time we’d walk past it I’d say “We should eat there sometime.” This went on for years. Then one day when my son and I were walking past I said “we pass by this restaurant all the time and I’ve always wanted to try it, let’s go inside and eat”, so we did. Guess what the first thing I saw when we stepped inside was. A huge sign saying they were closing and that was their last day! I loved our pizza and now they aren’t there anymore 😦

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    1. Oh, no, I hate when that happens! There have been too many favorite places that have closed down in recent years. Very sad. I’m glad you got to eat there the one time, though, Vicki.

      Now I won’t wait before trying places that look good. Tomorrow I’m having lunch with my daughter at a nearby place called The Yard. I have only been there a couple of times.

      Have a great week!

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  16. I’m glad the problem with the pipe didn’t end up affecting you too much, it’s always such a nightmare when work unexpectedly needs doing.
    I see you bought Fairytale Interrupted – I really hope you enjoy it. I found it an interesting insight into John and Carolyn. I also hope you enjoy The People at Number 9 as much as I did – I’ll look out for your review.
    Hope you have a good week ahead, and happy reading 🙂

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    1. I am always happy to read more about the Kennedys, especially the younger generation, since I know less about them these days.

      I loved your review of The People at Number 9, so I had to have it. Thanks! LOL.

      Enjoy your week, too, and thanks for visiting, Hayley. I was very happy that the pipe situation did not affect me further.

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  17. Happy Mother’s Day! The pizza and margarita look yummy. We have the same bookish taste with Amazon Vine, I was looking at the Nancy Thayer and the Eve Chase books when I was on there recently. They do look good. Happy reading!

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    1. Thanks, Naida, and I love finding books I want to read on Vine. It is much easier getting books from them than NetGalley. I’ve never heard of being rejected for a title there. LOL. Enjoy your week!

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  18. The Cue Card

    Glad the pipe fiasco ended with good news. You deserve a margarita! I’ll be interested to hear what you think of the novel Sycamore and Lively’s book How It All Began. That is a great cover, it feels relaxing. Enjoy your week and books!

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    1. Thanks, Susan, and I only wish that I could see the cover of the Lively book while reading it, but e-books do present a challenge that way.

      I hope you have a great weekend…and new week, and thanks for visiting.

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    1. Thanks, Alyssa, love the name of your blog! Today was a very strange day…just text messages from the kids, and two naps! (I’m having lunch with my daughter tomorrow; today is her husband’s birthday, so she is celebrating with him today).

      All of my other kids live too far away. But text messages work. Enjoy your week, too!

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    1. Thanks, Aleen, I especially enjoy the convenience of going there (and to The Elephant Bar), as both are right around the corner from where I live.

      Enjoy your week, too, and I had a sigh of relief that the plumbing situation was resolved.

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  22. Glad you didn’t have the hassle of the plumber. Sorry that the weather is already to warm to enjoy the new umbrella. We sit on our balcony between 7 and 8:30 and then it begins to be too warm.
    So many good looking books. The Swallows Next looks good and Fairy Tale Interrupted looks interesting. Hope you enjoy them all. Happy Reading!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Martha, and the weather has been so mercurial this year, that I might have to rethink when I can go outside! Maybe the heat will be delayed, now that we’re having all of these winds.

      I am excited about all of these books, and hope you enjoy your reading, too.

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  25. Sounds a bit up and down weather wise your way. Wind can be pain if its continuous!

    Great to hear you completed reading and reviewing three books.

    I also have He Said, She Said on my shelves. Lies She Told and The Wilding Sisters both look good, I’m going to investigate those!

    Wishing you a lovely reading week!

    Amanda @ Mrs B’s Book Reviews

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    1. Thanks, Kathy, and I was prepared to have the weekend ruined…but luckily, I found out on Friday afternoon that I was off the hook…this time.

      Enjoy your week, and I’ve read good reviews of The People at Number 9.

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  27. Beth F

    Lovely outdoor spot! It’s only just begun to warm up here, but I’m looking forward to time on the deck and porch. Secrets in Summer has a great cover.

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  29. Kathy Martin

    How nice that the plumbing problem didn’t affect you. Too bad it caused concern. Looks like you read and go some interesting books. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

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  31. Happy Mother’s Day to you, Laurel. Hope you had a lovely day with your family. Glad to hear the plumbing situation didn’t ruin your weekend. How is the Karen White book? I have heard good things. Hope you have a wonderful week.

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  32. Glad to hear you didn’t have to have any plumbing work done.

    I can’t wait for the heat to get here in Pennsylvania. I am tired of cold and rain. 🙂 It is to be in the 80’s by Wednesday. 🙂

    Ohhhh….Karen White’s book was wonderful. I KNOW you will love The Widow of Wall Street.

    The Wildling Sisters is catching my eye.

    ENJOY this week, Laurel.

    Elizabeth
    Silver’s Reviews
    My Mailbox Monday

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  34. I am glad everything worked out with your condo. That is always stressful when you don’t know if workers are coming I could see the ruining a day. I am glad it all worked out!! I love all the book covers in this post I couldn’t pick one I loved! Secrets in Summer, by Nancy Thayer looks good! I hope you have a great week!

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    1. Thanks, Erin, I love a cheerful dining area, so when I found the yellow cabinet in a shop, I had to have it. It was secondhand, the kind that is well-loved.

      I also loved the Karen White book. Enjoy your week!

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

  44. Susan @ The Book Bag

    I’m glad the plumbing mess missed you. Yikes! I am thinking about pampering myself with a pedicure. I never thought I would like someone messing with my feet but it’s always nice to have one when sandal season starts. I love all the books on your list. I am really interested in the new Karen White book. I have loved the couple of books of her’s that I have read so far. It’s almost Friday so have a great weekend!

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    1. Thanks, Susan, I am very happy that the plumbing mess did not affect me here….and I’m loving the books. I usually get one pedicure per summer and touch the nails up myself afterwards.

      I loved the newest Karen White book!

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