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 Kathryn at Book Date

Last week flew by! We had a pretty good week, on the home front here. Today we are throwing a party for my mom's birthday - she is turning 70 this week! I spent much of last week gathering things together and ironing out last minute details with my sister-in-law and aunt. It's a small gathering but I think it will be really special. It's also why I am up early on a Sunday, typing up this post! I know I will be pretty busy the rest of the day, and wanted to get this finished while I could.

Read Last Week:

We Stood Upon Stars by Roger W. Thompson: I read this book before bed every night, a chapter here, a chapter there. It was a nice way to end the day. This book also had cool hand drawn maps by the author from his favorite parks, with little details thrown in, tips and info about coffee houses and people and whatnot. I am a map nerd so I am going to go back and really peruse those soon. Review soon.

The Ridge by John Rector:  This was a very fast read for me. It was pretty good, but felt a little underdone when it came to the characters, although, that might have been intentional, honestly, as the MC is isolated from her community, and therefore doesn't really know the other characters. It was good but I wouldn't say I completely loved it.

Still Reading:

Still reading about my rabbit friends on the Down.

Reading this Week:

The Night the Lights Went Out by Karen White

Posted Last Week:

Book Review: Any Day Now by Robyn Carr

Saturday Snapshot

And I posted the winner on my In Farleigh Field Giveaway Post 

Watching:

Riverdale, The Path, Bletchley Circle, 13 Reasons Why, iZombie (yay!). We also found the show Powerless and we are in love with it! Just the right amount of cheeseball humor and it is so fun. Plus, Abed from Community is in it! 

So what about all of you? What have you all been up to this week?

Saturday Snapshot ~ April 22

This guy. My #cpwarrior. Stubborn, strong, determined, so loving. He turned two at the beginning of March; his actual due date was April 19th. This week on what would have been his actual 2nd birthday, he sat up all by himself for the first time. And hasn't stopped. He is so proud and so are we. He works so hard he should be proud. 😊 Love him more than anything.

Saturday Snapshot is hosted by West Metro Mommy Reads

Book Review: Any Day Now by Robyn Carr

Title: Any Day Now
Author: Robyn Carr
Source: Little Bird Publicity in exchange for an honest review

Goodreads Summary:

The highly anticipated sequel to #1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr's What We Find transports readers back to Sullivan's Crossing. The rustic campground at the crossroads of the Colorado and Continental Divide trails welcomes everyone—whether you're looking for a relaxing weekend getaway or a whole new lease on life. It's a wonderful place where good people face their challenges with humor, strength and love.

For Sierra Jones, Sullivan's Crossing is meant to be a brief stopover. She's put her troubled past behind her but the path forward isn't yet clear. A visit with her big brother Cal and his new bride, Maggie, seems to be the best option to help her get back on her feet.

Not wanting to burden or depend on anyone, Sierra is surprised to find the Crossing offers so much more than a place to rest her head. Cal and Maggie welcome her into their busy lives and she quickly finds herself bonding with Sully, the quirky campground owner who is the father figure she's always wanted. But when her past catches up with her, it's a special man and an adorable puppy who give her the strength to face the truth and fight for a brighter future. In Sullivan's Crossing Sierra learns to cherish the family you are given and the family you choose. 

My Thoughts:

I have to say, I have never read a Robyn Carr book before this one, and I am glad that I finally did. When I received the inquiry email, I fell in love with this cover, as well as the idea of a quirky campground owner and an adorable puppy. Those were the hooks for me apparently! I am glad that I followed my curiosity to this series set in the town of Sullivan's Crossing.

I loved the characters - Sierra in particular appealed to my bleeding heart for all underdogs. And when she finds her own underdog ~ heart melt. I found Sierra's journey to be very believable, and I commended her for realizing she had some issues that needed to be addressed, and addressing them. When the big looming "What If" that dangles over her is finally faced, you know that she is going to be ok. She has some serious demons in her closet, including a very dangerous one, a few plaguing huge questions as well as some hard trauma from her youth and even more recently, a new trauma to overcome. She is a determined and tough woman, knowing that her path is going to be one full of hard work, but she is unafraid to put in the time and do what she needs to do.  And of course, there is the matter of a certain fireman..

Overall, I love where she landed! The place, the people, the community- all were endearing to me, and I loved reading about them. I plan to read the first in this series very soon!

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 Kathryn at Book Date

Happy Easter, to those who celebrate! It was a beautiful day in our neighborhood, and we celebrated the day with a delicious family brunch followed by a small trip to the zoo. We had a great day and are now exhausted! 

I am also an aunt again! My brother-in-law and his wife had their little girl Friday - 7 lbs 7 oz of awesome! I love her little self so much already!

Read Last Week:

   

Silence Fallen by Patricia Briggs: I've said it before, and I will say it again, I really think this series gets better and better every book, with the exception of River Marked, which I actually really didn't like. Lol. This one however was hands down my favorite in the series - I loved it! Review soon.

Reading This Week:

I'm left with a few "slow reading" books, those books that you take your time with and read a little here, a little there. It's also time for me to read my annual spring read of my favorite book!

  

Watership Down by Richard Adams: I was so sad to hear of Adams' passing last year. This book has been my favorite for most of my life, and I read it every year in the spring. 

We Stood Upon Stars by Roger W. Thompson: I read a chapter from this every night, and it is the perfect end to the night. Calming, zenlike. 

Life Among the Savages by Shirley Jackson: I am enjoying this look at Jackson's life through her work. I am also enjoying taking my time with it. 

Watching:

Riverdale, The Path, Victoria, Grimm, Supernatural, 13 Reasons Why

Posted:

Book Giveaway Post: In Farleigh Field by Rhys Bowen 

How about you? What's been going on in your world?

Book Giveaway: In Farleigh Field by Rhys Bowen

I meant to post this with my review the other day, but me being me, I forgot until I was moving stacks of books around today! Better late than never though, I say!

This giveaway is for a brand new hardcover copy of In Farleigh Field by Rhys Bowen, that was provided to me by the publisher. 

To enter:

1. Must live in the U.S. or Canada

.  You don't need a blog, just an email.

2.  Enter using rafflecopter below.

3.  Contest is open until April 20th at 12 am.  Rafflecopter will choose the winner!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

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 Kathryn at Book Date

The weather was cold and icky and rainy all week, then boom - beautiful for the weekend. I can live with that! It was good weather for sleeping, according to my son, who took great naps this week. Lol. Usually I catch up on housework or other work while he naps, but this week I decided to read instead. I am glad that I did, it was nice downtime for me too. 

Read Last Week:

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson: I loved this book! I immediately requested a few more Jackson books from the library, I loved it so much. At 160ish pages, it is a good short read too.

In Farleigh Field by Rhys Bowen: I enjoyed this one as well! I don't usually read books set during wars, but this one I really liked. My review is up if you are interested. 

Reading This Week:

I went to the library and came home with a ton of books, between my stack and the boy's. I think I have narrowed it down to these two.

   

  

Life Among the Savages by Shirley Jackson

Silence Fallen by Patricia Briggs (so excited!)

Delivered:

I received two books this week, yay for book mail!

  

The Ridge by John Rector

Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan

Watching:

Riverdale, The Path, Big Little Lies (although, now it is done! noo), Trial and Error. iZombie started again but we are going to let the episodes build up before starting it. We also added 13 Reasons Why, which is amazing, but I had to take a break, espeically with watching Big Little Lies too. So much violence toward women, it was almost overload. Both shows are excellent though.

Posted:

Book Reviews: Let's Talk Hygge

Book Review: In Farleigh Field

How about all of you? What have you been up to?

Book Review: In Farleigh Field by Rhys Bowen

Title: In Farleigh Field
Author: Rhys Bowen
Source: Little Bird Publicity/Lake Union Publishing in exchange for an honest review

Goodreads Summary:

World War II comes to Farleigh Place, the ancestral home of Lord Westerham and his five daughters, when a soldier with a failed parachute falls to his death on the estate. After his uniform and possessions raise suspicions, MI5 operative and family friend Ben Cresswell is covertly tasked with determining if the man is a German spy. The assignment also offers Ben the chance to be near Lord Westerham’s middle daughter, Pamela, whom he furtively loves. But Pamela has her own secret: she has taken a job at Bletchley Park, the British code-breaking facility.

As Ben follows a trail of spies and traitors, which may include another member of Pamela’s family, he discovers that some within the realm have an appalling, history-altering agenda. Can he, with Pamela’s help, stop them before England falls?

Inspired by the events and people of World War II, writer Rhys Bowen crafts a sweeping and riveting saga of class, family, love, and betrayal.


My Thoughts:

I will be honest - I don't normally read books that are set during the war. I'm a history buff, but there is something about WWI and WWII books that don't usually appeal to me. However, unlike other wartime setting books, I ate this one up!

I loved this book. I loved the characters, the plot, the mystery, all of it. Of course, the two English Setters helped a bit, as my beloved dog who passed away was a beautiful setter. Not that they were a major part in the book, just mentioned a few times. Anyway, I digress. I was prepared to not be overly wowed, so imagine my surprise when I couldn't put it down. I found it very readable, not overly taxing with battle scenes, or a plethora of exposition about the war itself. It begins with the finding of a soldier who had fallen from the sky, right into Farleigh Field, at the home of Lord Westerham and his family. His home has been appropriated by a regiment of soldiers, and the Sutton family occupies one wing. His five daughters are scattered here and there - Pamela, who works at Blectchley Park as a codebreaker, Margot, who is trapped in Paris, and then Diana, a restless 19 year old living at home, Phoebe, just 12, and finally Olivia, who is described as matronly, a mother, and whose husband is stationed in the Bahamas with the Duke of Windsor. Poor Olivia. The story centers mainly on Pamela Sutton, and her two childhood friends, Ben Cresswell, and Jeremy Prescott, and their various involvements in the war. There is intrigue, scandal, romance, mystery, and a dramatic finish! I am not sure if there will be a sequel but I am hoping that there will be - I would love to read more about these characters and their wartime exploits and heroics!

A little about the author:

Rhys Bowen is the New York Times bestselling author of over thirty mystery novels. Her work includes the Molly Murphy mysteries, set in 1900s New York City, and the Royal Spyness novels, featuring a minor royal in 1930s England, as well as the Constable Evenas mysteries about a police constable in contemporary Wales. Rhys’s works have won fourteen awards to date, including multiple Agatha, Anthony, and MacAvity awards. Her books have been translated into many languages, and she has fans from around the world, including the 12,000 who visit her Facebook page daily. She is a transplanted Brit who now divides her time between California and Arizona. Connect with her at rhysbowen.com.