Welcome to my first Sunday/Monday Post of 2026. As always, I will be linking up to:
Sunday Post
Sunday Salon
Stacking the Shelves
Mailbox Monday
It's Monday, What Are You Reading?
Happy 2026!
I got to spend Christmas week with my family in Northern California. I worked remotely the first three days, but then was around for fun in the evenings. And then I took the day after Christmas off. I drove back last Sunday, stopping along the way to visit some friends.
That means I missed the horrible storm we had before Christmas. Yes, it rained where I was, but nothing like we had down here. I spent much of the week worrying about how much my garage might flood, which happens upon occasion, but nothing like it used to. Fortunately, when I got home, my garage was dry. I could tell a little water got in, but nothing I had in there got wet.
After procrastinating for a couple of days, I finally started taking my Christmas decorations down New Year's Eve. Everything is down and the living room put back together. Plus, I've taken extra stuff out of my spare room so the plumber can get in there on Monday. Meaning, my living room is pretty crowded at the moment. Can't wait to put everything back. And maybe I should sort through/get rid of some stuff at some point, too. But, you know, these books aren't going to read and review themselves.
Joke of the Week:
This Past Week on the Blog:
This Coming Week on the Blog:
Book Haul:
It's been two weeks with Christmas in there. Of course, I have plenty of books to tell you about.
I got three books for Christmas this year, two of them from my wish list.
The first of those is Murder on the Marlow Belle by Robert Thorogood. It's the fourth in the Marlow Murder Club series. I haven't read book three yet, but I have it, and I'm looking forward to this one.
Next was Lost and Clowned, a stand alone cozy from Dana Mentink. I really enjoyed her Shake Shop Mysteries, so I'm looking forward to this one set in a circus.
And the book that wasn't on my wish list? My nephew loves the Fablehaven series by Brandon Mull. So, he gave me the first one. He's told me multiple times that I need to read it. As I often say, I read mysteries because I fell into them and can't get out - not that I'm trying too hard. So I'm anxious to check out this book. In fact, I'm planning to get to it sooner rather than later.
Of course, that didn't stop me from getting some ebooks that went on sale this past week.
The first of those was Great Party! Sorry About the Murder by D.B. Elrogg. I just love that title. The party in question is a New Year's Eve party, so now was the time to put it on sale, right? Looks like it is back to full price.
I also snagged Cozy Up to Danger by Colin Conway. My patience finally paid off! I've been waiting for this book to go on sale for three and a half years. The later books are on sale as well, but a dollar more. I'm not quite ready to spring that much for more (don't think the series is worth spending too much on). But I might change my mind before the prices go back up.
This last one wasn't on sale, but I had some Kindle points set to expire at the end of December, so I used them to get Reckoning at the Riviera Royale by P.J. Fitzsimmons. This is book five in his Anty Boisjoly series, which I always enjoy.
What I'm Currently Reading:
Friday night, I finished up Lime and Punishment by Cathy Wiley. It's book five in her Fatal Food
Festivals series. I really enjoyed it, but that's no surprise since I always do. I need to work on my review, but it won't be up until the 13th.
As I'm typing this, I'm only two chapters into my next book, Heaven Has No Rage by Liz Milliron, the second in her Laurel Highlands series. I want to try to read a few of these this year since I'm so far behind and I enjoy her books. I'm hoping to get a little more reading time in this afternoon, so I will be further along soon. The plan is to finish it on Monday.
Hope you have a great week!
When someone recommends a book so much that they actually give me a copy, I feel compelled to read it.
ReplyDeleteI hope you are able to get your decorations back up soon and that, perhaps, you are able to weed a bit in the process.
Glad you got the books you wished for this holiday season. Enjoy the new year.
ReplyDeleteI hope the plumber works quickly to resolve the issue.
ReplyDeleteYay for book gifts!
Wishing you a happy new year
I'm visualizing walking into the room and catching my books reading themselves without me. I'd be stunned and upset, so it's a good thing that doesn't really happen. Happy reading and have a great week! :)
ReplyDeleteHope you have a good week!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
ReplyDeleteYou are absolutely right that these books don't read themselves!
What is it about starting a new year that bring thoughts of getting rid of things? I've been having the urge to prune my TBR pile since New Year's Day. I'm glad you had a good time with family even if you had to work remotely during part of it. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteI need to get a page a day calendar like that. The cheesy jokes always make me laugh. So glad your garage didn't flood and fingers crossed the plumbing issue gets resolved quickly. I hate having everything out of sorts. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteThanks for reminding me about the Anty Boisjoly series! I discovered the series from reading your blog. The audiobooks are hard to find from the library, but I can get some of them that way, at least.
ReplyDeleteWe stayed home and had company stay with us this year. Last year we traveled after Christmas, but this year I was sick over New Year's after our company had gone home. I got some reading and audiobook listening in, but missed out on three parties!
Happy New Year. Good news about your garage.
ReplyDeleteJill
https://www.allthebooksihaventread.com/blog-1/2025/11/1/on-my-nightstand-november-1-2025-fnpxy-cajms-tb8nn-kpgdp