New Years Eve's Sunday/Monday Post

Welcome to the last day of 2023 and this week's Sunday/Monday Post.  I will be linking up to:

Sunday Post
Sunday Salon
Stacking the Shelves
Mailbox Monday
It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

I had a great Christmas in spite of myself.  Two weeks ago when I posted, I talked about having gotten a mild cold.  Well, it came with a cough that just won't go away.  And right after I posted, I started running a low grade fever, too.  I even went to the doctor, but what they gave me doesn't seem to have helped.  (And I was negative for Covid twice and the flu once.)  The fever left after a couple of days, fortunately, but this cough just won't go away.  I thought I was going better a few days ago, but it has been worse on Saturday than it has been.

But here's the thing, this can be normal for me.  I'll get a cough after a cold, and it won't go away until I get another cold.  So, anyone have a cold they want to share with me?

Anyway, my family told me to come on up for Christmas anyway, so I did.  And I had a wonderful time.  I got three full days up there, which was nice.  Nothing super fancy or exciting, but it was just nice to spend time with family and relaxing some.

Then it was back home and back to work.  Accounting doesn't take a holiday, and we started our month end close the last two business days of the month.  Fortunately, since we don't have a traditional fiscal year, we were just dealing with a typical month end, which is nice.

Looking for Something New for 2024?

Before I get into the rest of my typical segments, I'm going to do a little blatant self-promotion here for a couple of non-blog specific groups.

The first of these is a group I run on Facebook called First Line Monday.  Yes, it really is as simple as it sounds.  Every Monday, a group of readers share the opening line of what they are currently reading.  Or have read during the last week.  (I typically have at least two posts each week.)  This is not a place for promotion of your own stuff, either books you have written or your own blog.  I don't promote my blog in the group, either.  We'd love to have you.

The other is a Goodreads Group - Audiobook Junkies.  This is especially great for those signing up for the Audiobook Reading Challenge this year.  I was made a moderator, and I didn't really realize it.  I'm trying to breath a little life into the mostly dead group (being totally honest here), so if you want to help kick start it again, please come join us.

This Past Week on the Blog:

Sunday - Ornament Review: Radiator Springs Pals

Monday - Merry Christmas!

Tuesday - Book Review: Irish Milkshake Murder

Wednesday - Novella Review: The Dangers of Gingerbread Cookies by Laura Levine

Wednesday - Novella Review: Gingerbread Cookies and Gunshots by Leslie Meier

Wednesday - Novella Review: Nightmare on Elf Street by Laura Levine

Thursday - December Reading Summary

Friday - 2023 Reading Challenge Wrap ups (multiple posts)

Saturday - Weekly TV Thoughts

This Coming Week on the Blog:

Sunday - Sunday/Monday Post

Monday - 2024 Reading Challenge Sign ups (multiple posts)

Tuesday - Book Review: Partners in Crime by Steve Hockensmith

Wednesday - TV Show Review - Night Court (reboot) - Season 1

Thursday - Book Review: Dead and Gondola by Ann Claire

Friday - Book Review: The Burning Room by Michael Connelly

Saturday - Weekly TV Thoughts

Book Haul:

Would you believe I bought no books the week before Christmas?  I know, I was surprised as well.  I mean, yes, I had lots of books on my Christmas wish list.  But it seems like there's usually a Kindle sale I can't resist.

Not to worry, my family helped me out by giving me books for Christmas.

These Honored Dead by Thomas Desjardin is very atypical for me.  It's non-fiction about the history of Gettysburg.  I find the Civil War interesting, so I'm curious to see what I learn from this book.

My sister-in-law tracked down the final three Dorothy Gilman novels I needed to complete my collection.  These are three of her non-Mrs. Pollifax books - Kaleidoscope, Thale's Folly, and Incident at Badamya.  Considering all three books are out of print, I wasn't sure anyone would get them for me when I put them on my list.  I was thrilled to get them.

Rounding out my Christmas books, I also got Wonton Terror by Vivien Chien.  I am woefully behind on this series, and this will be a good step toward catching up.

And yes, there is another book in that picture.  I had to stop by my local Barnes and Noble when they were having their annual hardback sale.  The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman was the only book to catch my eye while I was there.  I've only read the first in his popular Thursday Murder Club series.  I have the second, but not the third.  This is the fourth.  At some point, I need to get to them since I know people love them so much.  I did enjoy the one I read.

What I'm Currently Reading:

As I write this, I am about half way through Mushroom Capped by Cathy Wiley.  This is the second in her Fatal Food Festival Mysteries.  This time, we are at a mushroom festival (obviously) in Maryland.  I'm hoping to finish the book up Sunday.  Since I don't currently have any plans for New Year's Eve (see earlier talk about my cough), I should be able to finish it up.

Assuming that happens, Monday, I will be starting Knot of This World, the eighth quilting mystery from Mary Marks.  I only have two books to go in the series, and it would be nice to finish it up this year so I can focus on other series.  (I really need to stop beginning new series, but they all sound so good!)  Anyway, I do enjoy the series, and I'm looking forward to spending time with the characters again.

That wraps it up for me this week.  Happy New Year, everyone!