It’s actually been a pretty fruitful week for a change. I’m not sure I was more diligent than usual but a few reviews I’d written some time ago were scheduled for publication so I’ve been able to fool my readers into thinking I’m vaguely on top of things. When – of course – I’m not. 🙂
What I read
As for my weekly reading… I kicked off the week with JD Robb’s Brotherhood in Death. I love this series and will undoubtedly continue to read them while Nora Roberts keeps them coming.
And then I read a book which blew me away. I’d put it off for a week or so as I just wasn’t sure what to make of it. I suspect I worried it’d be too ‘literary’ for me (and yes, I must stop selling myself short in that respect!). Anyhoo, Be Frank With Me is an amazing debut novel from Julia Claiborne Johnson.
And finally I randomly chose Dead Pretty by David Mark, as I needed something gritty to grab onto after the brilliance of Frank…
What I wrote
Like I said, it seems like I was incredibly productive but a couple of these were written weeks ago!
Missing Pieces by Heather Gudenkauf – my first book by the author
Be Frank With Me by Julia Claiborne Johnson – enchanting, delightful… etc!
All That is Lost Between Us by Sara Foster – an author interview about motherhood, a key theme of the novel (Side note: I accidentally closed comments on this post, but have now rectified that, so feel free to drop by again and share your thoughts!)
The Girl You Lost by Kathryn Croft – an enjoyable read by the author of The Girl With No Past
Brotherhood in Death by JD Robb – the 42nd in the series!
What I did
In all honesty I used our humid and stormy weather as an excuse to do SFA. Although some more adulting was required as I had to get a broken windscreen fixed which involved finding repairers and getting quotes and all of the usual annoying crap.
So… it’s a good thing I start my new job this next week given all of the adulting-related expenses I’ve had of late. I’m actually really looking forward to it. But, be warned… I don’t actually ever talk about my job in any detail on the blog and it’s something I’m particularly aware of when I’m working for government.
And finally as this gets published I’ll have just had a couple of nights with my brother, sister-in-law and niece. Well, they actually visited my mother in my nearby childhood hometown so I gatecrashed the visit to spend some time with them all.
What I plan to read
I’ve sorted my TBR pile in chronological order using my faithful ol’ Trello app. For some reason I received a lot of books published in January after or around publication date, so I’m a tad behind and have a wealth of options to catch up on over the coming weeks.
From @the_wine_gallery on instagram!
And that’s it from me this week. What’s on your agenda – reading or otherwise?
As usual I’m linking up with Kimberly the Caffeinated Reviewer for the Sunday Post and Kathryn from The Book Date for ‘It’s Monday!’
February 7, 2016
42 in the series by JD Robb! I’m in awe. I’m with you re the exchange of info regarding partition jobs. I’m constantly editing myself in that regard. I don’t even like to say it’s been a bad week in case the client reads that! My euphemism is instead “busy”…
February 7, 2016
Same Jo. I’m careful on FB etc as well… although I’ve never even been FB friends with colleagues while we’ve worked together!
February 7, 2016
I must get hold of Be Frank With Me. Frank sounds adorable. A bit like another character from To Kill a Mockingbird, Dill.
February 7, 2016
He (both Frank and his character) could easily be a smart arse, but he’s completely innocent in what he’s doing.
February 7, 2016
Whohoooo a new job next week!! It’s understandable that u don’t talk about you job in detail but I do hope you’ll let us know how how you like it 🙂
I hope you had a good time with your folks. Nothing like a mini vacation before you start a new job 🙂
February 7, 2016
Thanks Daniela and I had a lovely time with the family on the weekend. My niece goes to work o/s soon so it’ll be the last time my mother sees her and one of the last times I do (for a while).
February 7, 2016
“fool my readers” LOL. They’ll never know ha ha. Glad you had some good reads- I liked your review of Missing Pieces. I’ve been wondering about that one, and I’m really curious to know what he kept secret all these years! I may tackle this one- just so I can find out. 🙂 I like the whole how well do you really know someone angle.
Good luck with the new job, and enjoy your family time! Sounds fun. And thanks for that quote- I laughed out loud when I read that.
February 7, 2016
I loved that quote too Greg! Very much appealed! Enjoy Missing Pieces if you get to it!
February 7, 2016
Deb I thought I was doing pretty well – I had read all but one of my January books in January – and then a deluge of January books arrived in the last week of January…so now I am behind. It was nice for a few days to be on top of it all.
February 7, 2016
Hi Carol, thanks for dropping by and yes… I think I got 5 or 6 books from Hachette at the end of January and all out in a week or two of each other. I usually try to read and review before publication date, but there was no way that was happening!
February 7, 2016
Be Frank With Me looks brilliant – could one of the few books I buy this year 🙂 Interestingly, all sorts of readers have been giving it full marks – starting to think it’s one of those rare books with vey broad appeal (like The Rosie Project and A Man Caled Ove).
February 7, 2016
I think I’ve seen it likened to The Rosie Project Kate. Am sure you would enjoy it!
February 7, 2016
Good luck with the new job and adulting..lol. When I think back on my childhood and how I couldn’t wait to be an adult..stupid, stupid, stupid..I should have been reading and enjoying the good life!!
February 7, 2016
I know… We’re so keen for responsibility when we’re young and then suddenly we have it and we no longer want it!
February 7, 2016
I just saw that my library has Be Frank With Me on their digital site and I was thrilled because I very much enjoyed your review. It sounds like you’re pretty on top of things with all you’ve got going on. Full time adulting can be exhausted especially when you throw in a new job. Have a great week!
February 7, 2016
I’m single as well Katherine and I realise that means I don’t have a partner or kids to chase after but it also means there’s no one else to make calls and do stuff. *Sigh*
Oh, I hope you enjoy Be Frank With Me! As you could tell, I just loved it!
February 7, 2016
Yeah me too for wanting now to take a peek at Be Frank With Me your review has intrigued me. I have Brotherhood in Death to read and even though I am not up to there I think at this point I can skip then return to where I was seen as Hachette were kind enough to send me a copy. All the best for the new job and do hope you love it.
February 7, 2016
It’s wonderful Kathryn. I’m assuming it’s out in NZ now too!
February 7, 2016
I absolutely love that last quote, lol ! And what could I do but add Be Frank with me to my list ? Fingers crossed for the new job – and fooling more readers 😉
February 7, 2016
Hee hee… I do try to pretend I have everything under control and am vaguely sane… when that isn’t usually the case!
February 7, 2016
Adulting can be OK, but sometimes it really sucks! I’m glad you have a new job to help with the adulting expenses 😉
YAY for scheduling posts in advance! I love having at least three weeks more or less done ahead of time, that way, even if I have a slow reading week the blog continues.
I’m glad you’ve been able to spend some time with family, too 🙂
Have a wonderful week ahead and happy reading (and adulting).
February 7, 2016
Wow Lexxie, I’ve usually just got the odd post scheduled here and there (dependent on its publication date). I TRY to wrote the review as soon as I’ve finished the book and then schedule it in advance, but am not always as organised as I should be!
February 7, 2016
Haha, see, when you prepare posts ahead of time, the key is to not tell anyone and to just let them marvel at your time management skills 😛 Glad you found some great books, but yeah, the adulting sucks. At least you’re getting stuff done!
February 7, 2016
Kristen I thought about deferring a couple of those posts to this coming week when I start work in case I’m ‘exhausted’ but I’m like a kid… I struggle with delay instant gratification!
February 7, 2016
Sometimes adulting is the worst! Especially when it gets expensive. Good luck with the new job!
February 7, 2016
Thanks Kimberly I’m actually really looking forward to the new challenge and doing something different.
February 7, 2016
Haha laughing at the to sound more photosynthesis. Sounds like a nice week! I hope you enjoy your job (and the money). I need to check out some of your weeks reviews. This last week some how flew by and I did very little blog reading.
February 7, 2016
I’ve been a bit the same lately and have tended to blog-read in binges. A couple of days will pass and my reader gets up to 70 unread blogs and I panic but then I do some reading and it’s manageable again. (Until the next time!)
February 7, 2016
I’ve been doing good at blogging ahead. The funny thing is, some weeks I feel like I didn’t do much because the posts were already done and scheduled. LOL It does free me up to go visit other blogs more. I like that.
My Sunday Post – http://fuonlyknew.com/2016/02/07/whats-new-on-my-bookshelf-146-and-the-sunday-post/
February 8, 2016
Oh yes, it’s good if it frees up your time for other things. I need to get a bit more organised in that respect!
February 8, 2016
I wish I could be organised to plan blogs in advance. I may try Trello – I haven’t heard of it but I need something to get me sorted – work / life balance is out the window at the moment! Have a good week.
February 8, 2016
Trello’s really simple but it’s great to have that list of where I’m at with my reading and reviews Emma… particularly when my TBR pile grows (and I try to read chronologically!).
February 8, 2016
That is nice to spend time with the family. Sounds like you have had too much adulating as of late. Hope you get a break from it!! Love that list little funny there – Have a great week!
February 8, 2016
I love this little meme too. I saw it on Instagram and shared it on my FB page, but can’t get enough of it! It very much appeals to my sense of humour Grace!
February 8, 2016
I am getting myself back organized, just taking more time than I would like 🙂 Its good to get stuff done makes things more relaxed! Have a great week, Deborah! Happy Reading! ox
February 8, 2016
I can completely relate as I keep saying I’m still getting back into things after taking a few weeks off – but that was a month ago. On the other hand I guess it’s good I still feel like my ‘holiday’ was just yesterday!
February 8, 2016
I’ve heard really good things about Be Frank with Me. So glad you enjoyed it…and I enjoyed The Girl with No Past, so The Girl You Lost is on my list. Enjoy your week…and thanks for visiting my blog(s)…lol.
February 8, 2016
Be Frank With Me wasn’t really on my radar Laurel so it came as a huge surprise! Which is good!
February 8, 2016
Interesting reads this week!! Good luck with your new job! 😀
Here’s my Weekly Recap!
February 8, 2016
Thanks Tracy!
February 8, 2016
I’ve seen that a lot of bloggers use Trello. I just checked it out, and think it will work for me. I need to organize things better at work and home, and I don’t want to care my ECLP around with me. Thanks for the tip!
February 8, 2016
THe good thing is that Trello is simple AND you can download an App so you can have it on your iPad or phone etc…
February 8, 2016
HA! I need to get ahead a little so I can fool people into thinking I’m on my game too! lol
February 8, 2016
Of course, it probably doesn’t work if you confess that’s what you’ve done… #oops. Am too honest!
February 8, 2016
I rarely know what I’m reading any more now I’m reading on a Kindle. I see the title when I buy the book. I see it when I open the book. Then I never see it again. It’s not like having a book beside your bed whose title you read every time you open it, or make your bed or tidy your bedside table (yeah, don’t know who I’m trying to fool with that last comment – that table rarely gets tidied). So the book I’m reading ATM is about a girl who’s survived being murdered. Do you know it?
February 8, 2016
I’m sure I’ve read that one Char. (Or at least one of the gazillions which is similar!)
I was the same before reviewing which is why I started using Goodreads. I struggled to remember new authors I discovered and borrowed the same damned books again and again – so joined Goodreads so I could check off my reading. It meant the (not remembering titles) wasn’t as much of a problem!
February 8, 2016
I always feel more accomplished and productive when I can schedule ahead. Unfortunately it doesn’t happen as often as I like. I’m lucky to get a week done in advance. I am glad you enjoyed Be Frank With Me. Missing Pieces is one I want to read.
I hope your first week on your new job goes well! I cannot really talk about my work either. I may mention it, but I am very careful about what I say.
Enjoy you week!
February 8, 2016
In many ways I don’t mind that I can’t / don’t talk about work as it keeps that part of my life separate and it’s kinda nice to be able to compartmentalise. I’m prone to oversharing about personal stuff, but would NEVER do that on the work front. I’ve worked in Gov a lot and was a diplomat at one point in my past so really conscious about it.
February 8, 2016
I haven’t read the J.D. Robb series in a long time. I should really get back to it. It’s very good. The Be Frank With Me book looks really good.
Hope you have a great week!
February 8, 2016
The In Death series is consistent Yvonne – which is what I like about it. The characters are great and continue to really carry the series.
February 8, 2016
I hope to get to Brotherhood in Death this week. Be Frank With Me is getting great reviews. Enjoy your time with family.
February 8, 2016
I’m yet to read any other reviews of Be Frank With Me Nise’. I must google some! Hope you enjoy Brotherhood in Death!
February 8, 2016
The photosynthesis meme made me giggle too. I am amazed and envious at how many books you manage to get through! I wish I had more time to read. I always feel inspired though after visiting your blog. Vowing (again) to carve out some time 🙂
February 9, 2016
Ah yes… it’s a bit like most things Shauna – a matter of getting into a habit. Of course there are MAY other habits I need to work on. Like exercise… :-/
February 8, 2016
There are lots of good parts of being a grownup, though. I wouldn’t change back into a child.
http://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/2016/02/a-tech-of-week-technology-conference-in.html
February 9, 2016
Oh, I don’t know… it would (of course) be nice to go back KNOWING what we know now… 🙂
February 9, 2016
Deb, it seems you had an excellent reading week and just about every book you named I am interested in reading or at least doing more in-depth checking on.
Good luck with the new job and we understand that you can’t chat about it.
I like to switch up genres though crime fiction suspense is always my mainstay. Lately I’ve been checking into cozies or nonfiction to keep it fresh.
February 9, 2016
Oh… I don’t think I could go down the nonfiction route Rita – that’s just a bit too extreme for me! (Am joking. Kinda!)
February 9, 2016
42 books in a series? That’s somewhat terrifying, lol. Now I feel silly for getting upset when I found out a series I started is going to have 10 books. That’s quite the commitment! Glad to hear they are still going strong though.
Adulting is stressful, and I’m behind on pretty much everything. I always have plans to do things, and then I get out of bed and all I can think about is getting back in it, lol!
I hope you have a great week this week!
February 9, 2016
Michelle, it’s even worse as there are a few novellas as well. I haven’t read some of those (didn’t know most existed)… so.. things like #12.5!
February 9, 2016
Adulting is for the birds sometimes. It’s so frustrating sometimes. It makes me hate talking to people on the phone during those periods. It’s exciting that you’re starting your job soon! Like how your readers vaguely think you’re on top of things with scheduled posts, I try to deceive myself in the same way, like “Oh, everything’s taken care of. I can relax for a week.” Pfftt. I’m a bad liar, yet I keep telling myself it’s all good!
February 10, 2016
I’ve started my new job this week and the first day involved 90mins of travel each day to a nearby town for some induction sessions etc… so it was a long day.
It also made me wish I’d perhaps saved a post or two from last week to schedule for this week as I’ve got nothing up my sleeve!
February 10, 2016
Good luck at the start of your new job! Hope you enjoy it.
February 10, 2016
Thanks so much – am two days into my first 3-day week and so far so good!
February 21, 2016
I love using big words they make me sound so much more grandiloquent! Yay for the new job, hope all has gone well!
February 23, 2016
Thanks Heather…. And good word!