Hope your weekend is going well. Time for a Sunday/Monday post, where I will be linking up to:
Sunday Post
Sunday Salon
Stacking the Shelves
Mailbox Monday
It's Monday, What Are You Reading?
It's been quite a week.
As I've been talking about on the blog, I had a computer malfunction last Sunday morning. After being on for a couple minutes, my computer shut down and wouldn't turn back on. I started using my last computer, which is slow (which is why I replaced it). But I hadn't scheduled my reviews for the week yet; they were on my current laptop.
So, for the first time in the 10+ years I've been blogging, I actually had days when I didn't post anything. I've even posted when I've been on vacation (thanks to scheduling ahead).
A friend took a look at it Monday, and he came back over Thursday to open it up and see if he could figure out what was going on. Meanwhile, we'd bought a cable so we could at least get stuff off my hard drive. As soon as he opened the back of my computer, it started to work again. I guess it just needed a couple of days off? I'm very paranoid with it, but it is working still, knock on wood.
Friday, I only worked half a day. We had a finance department picnic for work. I wound up winning several of the games, which was cool. And it was nice to get to meet some of my co-workers in person. That includes someone I've been working closely with for a year now. Some of them I'd met before, including when we all worked in the office.
Joke of the Week:
The penny-making machine at the mint suddenly stopped working for no reason. It just doesn’t make any cents!
This Past Week on the Blog:
Sunday: Sunday/Monday Post
Monday: We Are Experiencing Technical Difficulties.... (about the computer crash)
Friday: Friday Post featuring Mrs. Claus and the Trouble with Turkeys
Saturday: Weekly TV Thoughts
This Coming Week on the Blog:
For the record, these reviews are all already scheduled, so they will happen for sure this week.
Sunday: Sunday/Monday Post
Monday: Book Review: Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas by Vicki Delaney
Tuesday: Book Review: Mrs. Claus and the Trouble with Turkeys by Liz Ireland
Wednesday: Movie Review: Truth or Dare
Thursday: Book Review: The Right Sort of Man by Allison Montclair
Friday: Book Review: Hanging by a Thread by Dorothy Howell
Saturday: Weekly TV Thoughts
Book Haul:
First up is Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano. I've been hearing about this series for a while, and I've been curious about it. When it went on sale for Kindle this past week, I snagged it. I'm mention it now because it looks like it is still on sale, at least as of Saturday night when I'm typing this. So if you are curious, go snag it now.
Let's flash back to the end of August now. The next two books were on sale back then, so I snagged Kindle copies.
Up for is Death on Cozumel Island by Cindy Quayle. Scuba diving in Cozumel, Mexico and a murder? What's not to like. This one definitely sounds like something I will enjoy.
Code Name Edelweiss by Stephanie Landsem has been on my wish list for a while. It was on sale all of August and I finally snagged it right before it went back up to regular price. A historical spy story, it sounds like it could be great.
Next up are a couple of ARCs I've gotten recently. Both for October releases. I've mentioned how full the month is, right? Look at the upper left hand corner of my blog if you don't think I'm serious.
The first of these is Brush Up on Murder by Sybil Johnson. It's been several years since we got a release in her Aurora Anderson series, so I'm looking forward to visiting her again. Of all the books on this list, this is the one I'll be reading first since I'm due to review it as part of a blog tour on release day of October 10th.
Coming out at the end of October is A Parfait Crime, the ninth Five-Ingredient Mystery from Maya Corrigan. This book will involve an Agatha Christie play and a death in a fire. Should be fun.
Finally (for this week), my pre-order of Malibu Burning by Lee Goldberg showed up. The first in a new series from him. Honestly, I don't know much more than that. He's pretty much an auto buy for me. Not sure when I will get to it, but should be good.
What I'm Currently Reading:
I have not gotten as much reading done as I would have liked, so I'm still about 100 pages from the end of Nine Lives and Alibis by Cate Conte. This is a Halloween entry in her Cat Cafe series. I'm enjoying it, and I'm still hoping to at least make a dent in what I have left to read if I don't finish it completely by the end of Saturday. This is my only non-ARC book for October. I would have preferred to read it closer to Halloween, but if I wanted to review it before Halloween, this is when I had to read it.
Up next, I'll be switching to Christmas with Sugar Plum Poisoned by Jenn McKinlay. This is book fifteen in her Cupcake Bakery series. I always enjoy them, so I'm looking forward to seeing what Mel and the gang are up to this time. And maybe a Christmas cupcake recipe or two.
Have a great week!
Oh wow- hope the computer's problems are over! That's annoying.
ReplyDeleteI still need to watch the latest episode of Ahsoka. And the Cozumel mystery sounds like a lot of fun!
I get so paranoid about my laptop, whenever the fan starts whirring too loudly or anything like that because I'd lose my mind if I suddenly lost access to all my files and research XD So I feel your pain, but fingers and toes crossed it keeps it up after some days off! I listened to a podcast episode about 'Finlay Is Killing It', which made it sound like an insane but fun book! I hope you have a lovely week :)
ReplyDeleteJuli @ A Universe in Words
Glad it was so easy to fix your computer.
ReplyDeleteComputers are really a pain when they act up. Glad to hear yours was just being temperamental.
ReplyDeletebest, mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Oh goodness, I know that feeling about computer troubles. I would be so lost if mine malfunctioned. I am happy it is back up for you Mark. Have a wonderful week.
ReplyDeleteThat's so hard when computers go on the fritz. Mine has been shutting down for no good reason for the last several weeks. We ordered a new one for me and it came yesterday. It's still sitting in the box next to the door. It will take some work to get it set up and everything transferred. I'm not looking forward to that part, but I am looking forward to improved functionality and faster working.
ReplyDeleteOh, I hate computer problems and I'm always worried about my laptop. I hope your computer problems are over. Your books look so good. I've been wanting to read the Finlay Donovan series. I'll have to check it out. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteComputer troubles are frustrating. I'm glad your computer was just on strike. Let's hope your computer is happier now that it has had a short break.
ReplyDeleteI'm very curious about the Finlay Donovan series. I look forward to hearing more about it.
You do have a lot of review/blog tours coming up! I try not to commit to that many, but sometimes they are hard to resist. I have only heard good things about Code Name Edelweiss. I hope your computer troubles are completely fixed and you have a great week!
ReplyDeleteI feel your laptop frustration. My older Chromebook, after being knocked to the hardwood floor by the cat, now has a black screen. I can hear by the dings that it's booting up normally but I can't SEE anything. I need to figure out how I hook it up to a monitor, just long enough to get anything off the harddrive. There's probably only one or two things I want to save, but still.
ReplyDeleteUgh, hate any kind of tech issues! Hope it was all just a blip and no more computer issues. I finally read a Jenn McKinlay novel earlier this summer and it was really cute. I didn't realize she had several series so will have to check out more. Have a great reading week!
ReplyDeleteThat is impressive you've posted daily for 10+ years until last week. I hope things are back to normal now. Congrats on winning those games. How fun to get get together with everyone like that. Glad you have Death on Cozumel Island. I hope you enjoy it too! :)
ReplyDeleteYou have an amazing amount of reviews! I just love your blog. And I love that there are men in this book blogging world because my husband says there aren't, lol. I am wondering if you have any tips for reading more? I love blogging but struggle to keep to a coherent schedule. What advice do you have for getting through more reads?
ReplyDeleteThank you very much!
DeleteI read on my breaks at work and my lunch hour. I usually read some other points in the day to get in my page count for the day. It really helps that I'm single and don't have many other responsibilities outside of work. If I did, it would eat into my reading time.
Finlay Donovan is a fun book. I've only read the first in the series, but I hear good things about them all. The laptop dying on you is a nightmare but I am glad it's working again.
ReplyDeleteHope the computer behaves itself. Down time can make life challenging. Your books sound good. I am in a Christmas mood right now. Hope you have a nice week.
ReplyDeletehttps://thebookconnectionccm.blogspot.com/2023/09/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-and_24.html
I have no computer expertise so I rely on my kids who no longer live in our house. I hope your computer issues are behind you. Enjoy your reading this week!
ReplyDeleteMary @Bookfan
Sorry to hear about your computer problems. I hope everything is working now. I've just about finished by October review books but have an equally large stack for November. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteOh I hate it when a computer goes down. Fingers crossed it'll be okay, maybe some dust! You enjoy your Jenn McKinley book and I will mine. I've liked the cosy mysteries I've read of hers.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the Cupcake bakery series too and Finlay Donovan is a riot; crazy but funny.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear you are having computer troubles. It is distressing when the machine won't turn on. Hope you get it stable.
ReplyDeleteSo many good looking books. Happy Reading!
Sorry to hear your computer woes got even worse! My husband just got a new laptop for himself. I love my ancient MacBook Air, but sadly it has slowed down (like me) and can't always keep up anymore. I have to get to some of the cozies you mention. I recently listened to the new Lucy Stone mystery from Leslie Meier, but I prefer the ones that are set in Maine.
ReplyDeleteComputer malfunctions are the worst! I could use someone to come look at my long put in the box Apple laptop, but I've given up sinking money into that one.
ReplyDeleteSpy stories are always fun, enjoy!
ReplyDelete