The Sunday Post/It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

 

Check out the The Caffeinated Book Review for the Sunday Post! 

It's Monday What Are You Reading is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey - while she is on break you can share your post by tweeting with the hashtag #IMWAYR

I hope everyone has a wonderful Father's Day!

We went on our first family adventure outing yesterday to celebrate Father's Day a little early. We went to Belle Isle in Detroit, and bumbled around checking stuff out with the little guy. The Detroit Boat Club was open to the public. This building was so cool! It has been around since 1839 and has a long and varied history. It is in need of serious repairs but you can still see its beauty in its bones. I hope to get back there soon with my camera! We also stopped into the Nature Zoo. One of the showcases had a few stacks of books of recommended reading, so I had to grab a photo of them, to add a few to my TBR. Lol.

The husband and I also went on our first date since having Wyatt! We went to see Jurassic World, which was amazing!! Interestingly, the very first date we ever went on was to see Jurassic Park!

Read Last Week:

Day Shift by Charlaine Harris: I didn't love the first book in this series, but gave it another chance. I am glad I did, because I really enjoyed this book!

Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen: This was a reread for me. I picked it for book club, and I loved it just as much the second time around.

Reading This Week:

  

Redemption Bay by RaeAnne Thayne: I am participating in the blog tour for this book! Be sure to check back July 1st for my review and your chance to win a free copy!

Watching:

We have been watching Aquarius, Wayward Pines, and Game of Thrones. Holy moly, the last few episodes!!! Some scenes required me to close my eyes and cover my ears even!

The Sunday Post/It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

 

Check out the The Caffeinated Book Review for the Sunday Post! 

It's Monday What Are You Reading is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey - while she is on break you can share your post by tweeting with the hashtag #IMWAYR

Last Sunday I was busy with the baby shower for my sister-in-law! It was such a bright and cheery day, and I loved the pre-celebration before my niece gets here! I can't wait to meet her. She and Wyatt will only be a few months apart! 

In Wyatt news, my little 2 lb 15 oz preemie has made it to 9 lbs, and he is 20 3/4 inches long! He seems so big now! He is doing so well that we no longer have to wake him at night to feed him, and can let him feed on demand overnight. We are able to get some semi-decent sleep finally! Hallelujah!

It's been so humid and rainy around here that my yard looks like a jungle! I haven't had time to do any gardening this year, but I do hope to at least plant some flowers in front soon. Our apple tree is covered in little apples as well- it is so heavily laden that some of the branches almost touch the ground. 

Read Last Week:

 

Ice Kissed by Amanda Hocking: I enjoyed this second book in the Kanin Chronicles!

Up at Butternut Lake by Mary McNear: This was an enjoyable, light read for summer. I plan on reading the second one in the series soon. 

Reading This Week:

  

Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen: My book club pick for the month.

Day Shift by Charlaine Harris: So far it's interesting!

Watching Right Now:

We are watching Aquarius, which is awesome, Wandering Pines which is riveting, and Orange is the New Black, which is so far ok. Lol. We are also watching So You Think Can Dance, always a summer fave of ours!

Reviewed Last Week:

The Silenced by Heather Graham

Book Review: The Silenced by Heather Graham

Title: The Silenced
Author: Heather Graham
Source: NetGalley

Goodreads Summary:

Lara, a congressman's media assistant, suddenly quits her job—and disappears on the way to her Washington, DC, apartment. 

Novice FBI agent Meg Murray, a childhood friend of Lara's, gets a message from her that same night, a message that says she's disillusioned and "going home." To Richmond, Virginia. Meg discovers that she never got there. And bodies fitting Lara's description are showing up in nearby rivers… Could she be the victim of a serial killer? 

Meg is assigned to work with special agent Matt Bosworth, a hard-nosed pro in the FBI's unit of paranormal investigators—the Krewe of Hunters. They trace the route Meg and Lara took more than once in the past, visiting battlefields and graveyards from Harpers Ferry to Gettysburg. Places where the dead share their secrets with those who can hear… As Meg and Matt pursue the possibility of a serial killer, they find themselves in the middle of a political conspiracy. Is there a connection? And who—besides each other—can they trust?


My thoughts:

I was so excited to read this new installment in the Krewe of Hunters series! I haven't been reading much due to my schedule these days, with a newborn at home and all, and this is one of the first books I had time to read. Unfortunately, it did not live up to my excitement.

This is the first in the series that I haven't enjoyed. I was in love with the setting of the civil war battlefields, especially Gettsyburg, a place I have visited many times, and I was looking forward to a book set in the area.  Alas, this book just felt a little flat and boring to me. The romantic aspect felt blah, like something was missing. There also wasn't enough of the supernatural element at all, which I feel is an important part of these books! As for the actual mystery, it was ok. I didn't feel like I got enough of an explanation on the motivations of one of the characters but otherwise it wasn't too bad. At least it was better than the rest of the book.

Sadly, this book just didn't do it for me this time. I expect these books to be formulaic to a certain extent, but maybe this was just one book too many in the series for me.

Sunday Post/It's Monday What Are You Reading?

 

Check out the The Caffeinated Book Review for the Sunday Post! 

It's Monday What Are You Reading is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey - while she is on break you can share your post by tweeting with the hashtag #IMWAYR

I have figured it out, this whole reading with a baby thing. Wyatt unfortunately has acid reflux like a lot of preemies, and I have to hold him upright for at least 30 minutes following every feeding. He also needs to eat every three hours. So, after every feeding time when I am holding him upright, I read. It works perfectly. He always is asleep by the time he is done eating anyway, so these moments have become very peaceful for the two of us.

The rain this week!! I know most of the US is underwater right now, and Michigan, while not flooded in my area, has been getting rain like crazy! Everything is going to be so lush when it finally stops though; my rose bushes are about to bloom and my apple tree has little tiny apples growing! I have to admit, I miss the apple blossom stage - it is gorgeous. I am excited though too for the fall, when our tree is heavy with apples that we can eat. 

  

Read Last Week:

The Silenced by Heather Graham: This was a NetGalley book. I usually really enjoy this series, but this one was meh. Review soon.

Reading This Week:

  

Ice Kissed by Amanda Hocking: I have been looking forward to this book since I finished the first in the series, Frostfire

From Beginning to End by Robert Fulghum: I used to read this author all the time! I am kind of excited to revisit him.

Watching:

Wayward Pines, which is freaky deaky. I can't wait for the new season of Orange is the New Black!

The Sunday Post/It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

 

This is my first time linking up at The Caffeinated Book Review for the Sunday Post! 

It's Monday What Are You Reading is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey - while she is on break you can share your post by tweeting with the hastag #IMWAYR

Things are still exhausting on the baby front - which I know will last quite a while! Now that the weather has finally shifted to something resembling spring, I have been able to get out of the house with him more. We have been going on walks and little rides and visits, enjoying the sunshine, which has been a lot nicer than just holing up in my house! I plan on going to yoga at least once this week as well, although I am sure my skill level has completely changed! Lol. 

I am anxious to get back to my garden. I am definitely scaling back this year, but I am having fun planning out the new layout and deciding on plants. Hopefully I get out there soon!

Read Last Week:

 

Watership Down by Richard Adams: Hallelujah, I finished a book! Review to come this week, although, this is my favorite book ever and I always have a hard time writing reviews for my favorite books. Does this happen to anyone else?

Reading This Week:

Ice Kissed by Amanda Hocking

The Silenced by Heather Graham: A Krewe of Hunters book from NetGalley

We are also still reading The Wind in the Willows together.

Listening to:

Yes Please by Amy Poehler: This book is hilarious!! I am almost finished listening to it.

Watching:

We started watching Wayward Pines starring Matt Dillon, who looks the same as ever! How did that happen? This show is pretty freaky honestly, and I am really enjoying it. I also didn't know that it was based on a series of books by Blake Crouch. 

Posted Last Week:

Nothing here except my Monday post, but I did post on my other blog, The Magpie Mom. 

The Frustration and Fear of Feeding Time

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey, that is guaranteed to add to your reading list.

Read Last Week

and

Reading This Week:

This hasn't changed much since the other week, unfortunately. I have however, been able to actually read sometimes! Yay! I just don't have the same amount of downtime to read in, but I have some!

 

The Wind in the Willows I am reading out loud to my son and to my husband - it is a fun evening ritual right now. I had also forgotten how well written it is, not to mention how advanced the vocabulary!

Watership Down is an annual read for me. I love to read it in the springtime when baby rabbits are bounding through my yard.

I also really love the Krewe of Hunters series, and while I haven't started this one technically, I am looking forward to it. 

Listening to:

The other day Lark @ The Bookwyrm's Hoard suggested listening to audio-books, and I thought that was a great idea!! 

I am loving this book so far! 

Waiting For:

 

Ice Kissed by Amanda Hocking

Beach Town by Mary Kay Andrews

They couldn't look more different, could they? 

Watching:

Everything is ending for the summer, and in the case of some of my favorite shows, were even cancelled! I loved The Mindy Project and Hart of Dixie, and neither were renewed by their respective networks to my sadness. Grimm had a great finale, as did The Vampire Diaries! We are getting ready to start watching Wandering Pines, and Aquarius - both look really interesting.

Posted:

Nothing here, but I did post about my First Mother's Day on my other blog, The Magpie Mom.

Playing Catch Up - It's Thursday (?)! What are you reading?

My days are a bit of a blur and all run together now that Wyatt is home from the hospital. Without a good solid 8 hours of sleep to separate my days from each other, it's like living one big day. Lol. I had wanted to post this on time but didn't quite make it. Maybe next week!He is in a food coma right now and I am taking advantage of this moment.

I have also been dealing with the loss of my sweet, beloved Penny girl. We had to say our sad goodbyes to our beautiful, gentle girl and my heart is still broken over her. She was the best furry friend and companion a person could have, and I will miss her forever. I can't even think of her without crying, so I am going to talk about books and Wyatt again.

Read in the past three months:

Not much! It's the first time in my life I haven't really read anything and it feels weird. I am beginning to figure out some sort of balance though, I hope. If not, Wyatt is going to be hearing me read lots of books to him that I want to read, that are not necessarily picture books. We do have a few picture books that are read over and over right now though; these are a few that I am loving!

The Babylit books are very simple, but I love them for the illustrations! Jabberwocky and Huckleberry Finn are my favorites in that series.

Reading Now:

 

I don't have much time, or haven't found the balance yet, but when I do get a few chance moments to read, I pick up one of these. I am reading The Wind in the Willows to Wyatt, so that book is getting read the most often. I am enjoying revisiting it myself!