Category: Life

What is the Sunday Salon? The Sunday Salon is a place to link up and share what we have been doing during the week. It’s also a great opportunity to visit other blogs and join in the conversations going on there. Hosted by Readerbuzz.

What is the Sunday Post? The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly or for a monthly wrap up.

Life was pretty good this past week. Had a day off of work on Monday because of all the snow and ice, so the husband and I spent the day in the living room doing our hobbies (him video games and me reading). Tuesday I had a delayed opening so I was expected into work at a later time, obviously. The work day went by so quick! Wednesday my husband had an after work meeting, Thursday he bowls after work and Friday he went to a concert with some work buddies… which means I was home after work with the dog those three days. Did I get a lot of reading done? OF COURSE NOT! :( I got a lot of a puzzle done while listening to The Golden Girls in the background lol. What a slacker if you ask me.

Saturday I was asked to work. School isn’t open on the weekend, how can you work? It’s what we call a “catering”. A school activity is taking place and they need use of the kitchen. To ensure safety someone who works in the kitchen must be present. My manager (who is the person who normally does it) could not attend due to a prior commitment so she asked me if I would like to. I agreed.

I am going to start Dead In The Water by John Marrs today. I am borrowing this ARC copy from a friend. I actually really like Marrs’ books so I am not sure why I am having a hard time starting this one.

I needed one more book to complete a category for HRCYED 2.0 and chose a book I already own that fits the prompt. I am not far into You Shouldn’t Be Here by Lauren Thoman. The premise is interesting but there’s a character already that is making me want to put the book down and never open it again. We shall see if I can get past it…

I am dual reading/listening to Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio. I tried just reading it back in November and life got in the way and the book got put on the backburner until it had to be returned to the library. The audiobook hold came in via Libby so I borrowed it along with the book again. At the writing up of this post I am 13% into the book and liking it so far.

If you’d like to be friends with me on Storygraph, this is my profile page.
I stopped using Goodreads and refuse to go back.

I am currently trying out Pagebound. This is my profile page if you’d like to be friends on the app.

Like I said above, I threw on the first season of The Golden Girls while sitting doing a puzzle. The show is on Hulu. It’s a classic and still cracks me up!

I liked another Harlan Coben TV show and Netflix has now suggested a ton of them for me to watch. This one was pretty good too!

The Sunday Salon / The Sunday Post #28

Review: Inside Man (Head Cases #2) by John McMahon

Library Stats and Savings For January 2026

Review: Two Witches and a Whiskey by Annette Marie

Books Acquired In January 2026

Monthy Wrap Up: January 2026
Stacking The Shelves #7
WWW Wednesday
The Sunday Salon/ The Sunday Post #30

What is the Sunday Salon? The Sunday Salon is a place to link up and share what we have been doing during the week. It’s also a great opportunity to visit other blogs and join in the conversations going on there. Hosted by Readerbuzz.

What is the Sunday Post? The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly or for a monthly wrap up.

I’ve been coughing since pretty much right after Christmas, then all of a sudden it got out of control on Tuesday, to where I felt like total crap! I ended up taking the day off of work on Wednesday and went to the doctor in the morning. They checked my lungs, asked me a few questions about the cough, looked in my mouth/throat, and said it’s just a post nasal drip (since I am not coughing up anything). I was given medicine to help stop my cough. The doctor said it could take up to a week to completely stop coughing. So while the meds are helping out I am still coughing most of the day. I am just completely over all this useless coughing! P.S. so is my husband lmao!

I am writing up this post on Saturday night, and we are supposed to be getting some huge snow storm around the time you will be reading this post. I checked in with the kids to make sure they were safe and situated at college. Let’s pray it’s not as huge and monumentos as the news is making it out to be so we can get on with the rest of January. P.S. I won’t know if I have to be at work on Monday until later today, depending on the roads and snow and all that.

I am almost halfway through The Invisible Woman by James Patterson and Susan DiLallo. James Patterson is a comfort author for me. His books are filled with short, fast paced chapters that keep me reading.

I picked up my Kindle finally, and dove in to The Bone Queen by Will Shindler. Will I finish it before it publishes in early February? Don’t think so, since I am reading at a sails pace lately. But, I am trying and that’s all that matters. I am currently around 20% last time I remember looking.

I put myself on the wait list on Libby for Nine Pines by Kiersten Modglin. It was my turn to borrow it the other day but I just haven’t been in the audiobook mood lately. I am only an hour in at this point.

If you’d like to be friends with me on Storygraph, this is my profile page.
I stopped using Goodreads and refuse to go back.

I am currently trying out Pagebound. This is my profile page if you’d like to be friends on the app.

None this week.

Mailbox Monday

Top Ten Tuesday: Goals For 2026

WWW Wednesday – January 21, 2025

Review: Inside Man (Head Cases #2) by John McMahon
Library Stats and Savings For January 2026
Review: Two Witches and A Whiskey by Annette Marie
Books Acquired In January 2026
The Sunday Salon/ The Sunday Post #29

What is the Sunday Salon? The Sunday Salon is a place to link up and share what we have been doing during the week. It’s also a great opportunity to visit other blogs and join in the conversations going on there. Hosted by Readerbuzz.

What is the Sunday Post? The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly or for a monthly wrap up.

Life this week has been a challenging one and I do not want to get into it right now. It’s been a very stressful new year thus far, with lots of drama and tears. Absolutely NOT how I wanted to start 2026!

I did get to spend Thursday night out with my daughter. We went to Chik-Fil-A for dinner, to help support Tim Tebow’s Night To Shine which is being held at my church again this year. My daughter is constantly online and always has the phone in her face (like most young adults do these days) and it was awesome that she put her phone away and we just spent mom-daughter time together.

But now she has to go back to college today, as spring semester starts on Tuesday. She’s been home since December 17th and I am sure it’s going to be a hard transition for both of us to deal with. I’m gonna miss her already and she hasn’t even left yet.

Currently:

My progress in The Shadow of What Was Lost mostly halted, for no real reason other than I haven’t been in a fantasy mood lately. Some of what is currently going on in the story was confusing me and I am not in the mindset for having to think hard while reading, so I didn’t pick this up this week. I may just return it to the library when it’s due and come back to it. I haven’t decided yet.

I decided to start reading The Invisible Woman by James Patterson and Susan DiLallo. James Patterson is a comfort author for me. His books are filled with short, fast paced chapters that keep me reading. I made a decent amount of progress in this book yesterday!

My Kindle has taken a backseat since every time I pick it up I cannot find a book I want to get into and just put it down. None of my ARCs are calling to me.

Just Finished:

I reached out to Macmillan to ask them for ALC of this audiobook, as I listened to the first book in the series last year. They were so nice and sent me one via NetGalley. I enjoyed the audiobook! My review is on Storygraph.

I didn’t know what to listen to once I finished Inside Man, so I borrowed The Shut-In, a Bookshots audiobook from Libby. This one was alright though. With most short stories they sometimes feel rushed at the end. I did not really care for the ending and my rating reflected that.

If you’d like to be friends with me on Storygraph, this is my profile page.
I stopped using Goodreads and refuse to go back.

I am currently trying out Pagebound. This is my profile page, if you’d like to be friends on the app.

I did not read this book but just decided to turn this one the other day. And pretty much binged it! The cast is great and I was invested in what happened to Paige and why she ran away from home. Yes, it does get a little repetitive with the “She’s my daughter I have to find her” from Simon, Paige’s dad. But I get that it moves the story along so I let it slide.

I thought it was a good show so I recommend it.

The Sunday Salon / The Sunday Post #26

Spotlight: Murder At 30,000 Feet by Susan Walter

January Mid Month Update

Mailbox Monday
WWW Wednesday – January 21
The Sunday Salon/ The Sunday Post #28

What is the Sunday Salon? The Sunday Salon is a place to link up and share what we have been doing during the week. It’s also a great opportunity to visit other blogs and join in the conversations going on there. Hosted by Readerbuzz.

What is the Sunday Post? The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly or for a monthly wrap up.

This first full week of January has been crazy busy and super stressful. I am still coughing from when I was in North Carolina, and it’s driving me batty actually.

Monday was the first day back to work since the holidays. It was uneventful, but I was exhausted when I got home. My son’s college friends came down to south Jersey to hangout with him.

The kids do not drive (this is a long story that no one cares to hear, lol) so I have to drive them places. They both had a passport appointment on Tuesday (because a vacation may be in the near-ish future). They both had a dentist appointment Wednesday for a regular check up. And my daughter had a dermatologist appointment on Thursday. So after work I had to come home, change and get them to where they needed to be.

Friday I went to work like normal. Ran a quick errand afterwards, then I finally got a chance to put my feet up and relax when I got home.

Saturday we went to my husband’s parents place to do the family Christmas thing with his side. We had a very nice time there!

I straightened up the house all morning while the boys went to church (I didn’t go because I am still coughing like a champ). My daughter slept in, but I like cleaning while no one is under foot lol.

Currently:

My progress in The Shadow of What Was Lost mostly halted, for no real reason other than I haven’t had a real chance to sit down and pick it up. I am enjoying the book though. I want to finish this trilogy this year too so I am gonna definitely make time for it this upcoming week.

I picked up this ARC of Murder at 30,000 Feet by Susan Walter. Do I have an irrational fear of flying? Yes I do. Why the hell did I sign up for this book you ask? Because I’m crazy, haha! These people are stranded up in the sky with a murderer on board as someone found a mutilated body in the bathroom. Wild!

Just Finished:

My review will be posted at the end of the month, but lets just say that I am very much into this series and liked this book a lot!

I did read this ages ago, but wanted a quick reread to finish the series up later this year. I liked the book. Definitely riding the mid 2000’s YA love triangle coat tails like all dystopian books at that time did, but overall I was into the book and read it at a quicker pace than I normally do.

If you’d like to be friends with me on Storygraph, this is my profile page.
I stopped using Goodreads and refuse to go back.

I actually listened to the audiobook of His & Hers by Alice Feeney on NetGalley when they first introduced audiobooks to their website. I gave it five stars because of the twist at the end. The audiobook MADE this book absolutely fantastic! So when I heard this was gonna be turned into a show I had to watch it. At the writing up of this post I watched three episodes.

The Sunday Salon / The Sunday Post #25

My January 2026 TBR Plans

Spotlight: We Were Never Friends by Kaira Rouda

WWW Wednesday – January 7, 2025

HRCYED2.0 – Update 3

Adding To My Main TBR List

Saturday Series: My 2026 TBR

WWW Wednesday
January Mid Month Update

What is the Sunday Salon? The Sunday Salon is a place to link up and share what we have been doing during the week. It’s also a great opportunity to visit other blogs and join in the conversations going on there. Hosted by Readerbuzz.

What is the Sunday Post? The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly or for a monthly wrap up.

We were in North Carolina visiting my family for the holidays. We arrived on December 23 and stayed till January 1. We had a good time, but all good things must come to an end. It was definitely nice to see my family and get to spend a lot of quality time with them. We probably won’t see them again till the springtime (unless we Facetime lol).

When we got to North Carolina the weather was crazy warm, then got super cold, then it got warm again… so guess who ended up with a head cold and cough? Ya girl Melissa! Been trying to fight it off the entire trip and this whole weekend too. Ugh!!!!

I straightened up the house all morning while the boys went to church (I didn’t go because I am still coughing like a champ). My daughter slept in, but I like cleaning while no one is under foot lol.

Tomorrow I have work *multiple crying emoji’s*. Definitely not looking forward to going back there.

Currently:

I am making good progress in The Shadow of What Was Lost. And I am really liking this book! It was not finished in 2025 but that is okay. I want to finish this trilogy this year too.

I stopped reading an ARC I wasn’t vibing with, and decided on a whim to borrow the eBook of Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard from Libby. I am doing a challenge in January that this book fits into, and since I wasn’t feeling another thriller ARC I changed it up. YA’s are easy reads and I think that’s what my brain needs right now…

Just Finished:

Nothing so far this year.

If you’d like to be friends with me on Storygraph, this is my profile page.
I stopped using Goodreads and refuse to go back.

Nothing so far this year.

All of my 2026 main challenge posts launched

My January 2026 TBR Plans
My Yearly Bookish Review 2025

What is the Sunday Salon? The Sunday Salon is a place to link up and share what we have been doing during the week. It’s also a great opportunity to visit other blogs and join in the conversations going on there. Hosted by Readerbuzz.

What is the Sunday Post? The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly or for a monthly wrap up.

My last day of work till the new year was on Monday. Then lots of packing and getting ready for holiday shenanigans happened. Went to North Carolina to visit family for Christmas. We are getting to spend lots of time with them also (since we are going back to New Jersey in January).

When we got to North Carolina the weather was crazy warm, then got cold, then got warm again… so guess who ended up with a dumb cold? Ya girl Melissa! Been trying to fight it off since Wednesday. Ugh!!!!

This is all I have in me for what little energy I currently have…

Currently:

I am making significant progress in The Shadow of What Was Lost. And I am really liking this book! It will not be finished in 2025 so that is what it is.

I am also reading an ARC of Such A Clever Girl. This may be finished by the new year….

Just Finished:

No update here until the new year comes.

If you’d like to be friends with me on Storygraph, this is my profile page.
I stopped using Goodreads and refuse to go back.

These are the challenges I am signing up for next year.

Christmas movies, and football has been on the TV.

What is the Sunday Salon? The Sunday Salon is a place to link up and share what we have been doing during the week. It’s also a great opportunity to visit other blogs and join in the conversations going on there. Hosted by Readerbuzz.

What is the Sunday Post? The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly or for a monthly wrap up.

My husband worked late almost every day this week, so after I got in from work I was mostly home with the dog.

Monday I did take my bests friend out to lunch for her birthday. Did I take a photo of the two of us eating our lunches like I had planned to do? OF COURSE NOT!

I took off of work on Wednesday to go pick up both kids from college, as it’s both of their winter break.

Saturday we went to Lancaster, PA because my husband got us tickets to see Noah at Sight and Sound theater. We absolutely LOVE that place and haven’t missed a show since 2016.

Currently:

I am making significant progress in The Shadow of What Was Lost. And I am really liking this book! Once my library eBook is due back I borrowed the physical copy from the library too, so I can actually finish the book!

Just Finished:

This series doesn’t feel like one of those too cheesy Hallmark Christmas stories so it was a nice change of pace in between other books I was reading. Also, if you’re trying to read a book with Hanukkah in it this is a good choice.

If you’d like to be friends with me on Storygraph, this is my profile page.
I stopped using Goodreads and refuse to go back.

These are the challenges I am signing up for next year.

The kids are home from college till the middle of January, so we threw on some Christmas movies a couple of times this week!

The Sunday Salon / The Sunday Post #22

2025 Ho-Ho-Ho Readathon #2025HoHoHoRAT

WWW Wednesday – December 17, 2025

National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day

Christmas 2025
The Sunday Salon #24

What is the Sunday Salon? The Sunday Salon is a place to link up and share what we have been doing during the week. It’s also a great opportunity to visit other blogs and join in the conversations going on there. Hosted by Readerbuzz.

What is the Sunday Post? The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly or for a monthly wrap up.

I worked all week of course, and everyday at work was something…. someone calling out and leaving us short handed, someone not pulling their weight on a crazy menu day, etc. When I got home I didn’t want to do much because the work day totally did me in. I should be doing holiday stuff, but it did not happen.

I have been working on getting the blog set up for next years challenges. I always say I will only sign up for a few and then just end up rejoining all the ones I have a good time participating in.

Yesterday my husband started a new video game so I sat on the couch reading my library eBook and drinking lots of hot chocolate. I’m really liking it, but it’s a thick book and I sort of read slow (or so I think). I may need to figure out that “put it in airplane mode” trick so the library can’t take it back when it’s due in a week, haha!!

Currently:

Just Finished:

If you’d like to be friends with me on Storygraph, this is my profile page.
I stopped using Goodreads and refuse to go back.

The husband and I love this random musical. I bought him the DVD for Christmas a few years ago because we like the movie so much and can never find it streaming anywhere. On Friday night we decided to put it on before bed.

Stacking The Shelves #5

Stacking The Shelves #6

WWW Wednesday – December 10, 2025

eBook Spotlight: Such A Clever Girl by Darby Kane

2025 Ho-Ho-Ho Readathon
WWW Wednesday
National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day
The Sunday Salon #23