WEEKLY UPDATES: HOLIDAY WEEKEND

On By Laurel-Rain SnowIn weekly updates

PicMonkey Collage-MAY 26 UPDATES LOGO

 

Good morning! Today’s post will link up to The Sunday Salon, The Sunday Post and Stacking the Shelves, for weekly updates.

**Mailbox Monday is hosted at the home site: Mailbox Monday.

And let’s join Kathryn, our leader in It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?, at Book Date.

 

Happy holidays, for those who are celebrating.  The week has been lovely, allowing some time out on the patio to work on my laptop or read.  I read and reviewed THREE books this week, and brought my total to 35 for the Read the Books You Buy Challenge. 

I’ll be reading some review books next week, so I’m excited to finally be able to enjoy some of my NetGalley ARCs, as well as a Vine book.

I started watching Season II of Bloodline last night…and plan to binge-watch some more today.

Let’s grab some caffeine and get started on the weekend!

 

 

may 24 another look at the patio

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LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Tuesday Potpourri:  Excerpting “Blood Defense”

Coffee Mornings:  Indoors & Out

Bookish Wednesday:  Waiting for “Commonwealth”

Bookish Thursdays #15:  Serendipitous Moments

Bookish Fridays:  Excerpting “The Blue Bath”

Coffee Morning:  Purging & Rearranging

Review:  Born with Teeth:  A Memoir, by Kate Mulgrew

Review:  Breakdown (e-book), by Jonathan Kellerman

Review:  Better Off Without Him (e-book), by Dee Ernst

 

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INCOMING BOOKS: (Titles/Covers Linked to Amazon)

Nothing came in my mailbox…but I received an eARC from NetGalley, bought two books at Barnes & Noble, and downloaded two e-books (purchased).

So…not a bad week.

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Small Great Things (e-book), by Jodi Picoult (NetGalley – 10/11/16)

 

 

 

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Let’s Just Say It Wasn’t Pretty:  Memoir, by Diane Keaton

 

 

 

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Unsinkable:  A Memoir, by Debbie Reynolds

 

 

 

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Downloads – Purchased:

 

Some Women (e-book), by Emily Liebert

 

 

 

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My Husband’s Wives (e-book), by Faith Hogan

 

 

 

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WHAT’S UP NEXT? (Titles/Covers Linked to Amazon)

Currently Reading:  The Girls in the Garden (e-book), by Lisa Jewell (NetGalley – 6/7)

 

 

 

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Ink and Bone (e-book), by Lisa Unger (NetGalley – 6/7/16)

 

 

 

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I Almost Forgot About You, by Terry McMillan (Amazon Vine)

 

 

 

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That’s it for my week.  What did yours look like?  Enjoy the long weekend…and I started enjoying mine yesterday with this lunch from California Pizza Kitchen:  Pea soup and a Strawberry Margarita.

 

 

soup, bread, margarita

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90 thoughts on “WEEKLY UPDATES: HOLIDAY WEEKEND”

  2. I had a good week that was capped off yesterday with the birth of our 5th grandchild! Look for a pic on my blog tomorrow 🙂 Have a great weekend and enjoy your new books, Laurel.

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  3. The Cue Card

    Love the strawberry margarita! I thought you’d already read the Diane Keaton memoir but perhaps that made the rounds with others. I haven’t read it yet, but wouldn’t mind the dirt on all her leading men flings. 🙂

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    1. I read her other memoir, Then Again. I hope to enjoy this one, which I suspect will be more about her own life…the other one was mostly about her mother.

      I loved that strawberry margarita…a nice change from martinis. Thanks for stopping by, Susan.

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  4. Glad the weather was nice! It’s been nice here too- 80’s all week and supposed to stay that way until next week. Yay! How are you liking Bloodline II so far? I’m kind of embarassed to admit I just finished- yes I binged them all last night and today. Sad, huh?

    I’ll bet Diane Keaton’s memoir is interesting!

    Mmm California Pizza Kitchen (any pizza kitchen lol) sounds good to me!

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    1. I love the nice weather, Greg, and I’m loving Bloodline, but I’ve only finished half of Season II; mainly because I’m also engrossed in my book The Girls in the Garden. Equal pull. I’ll be back to it again tomorrow.

      I am looking forward to Diane Keaton’s memoir….and although CPK is right around the corner from me, I usually go to The Elephant Bar. But I’m thinking I will change that pattern!

      Thanks for stopping by.

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  5. Mm I am sure the Jodi Piccoult new book will be her usual intriguing one. I really like Diane Keaton in movies so now I want to read the memoir too when I see it here! I have yet to read a Lisa Jewell book but now have a few gathered for my TBR, so must sample. Enjoy the week of reading.

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    1. I only discovered Lisa Jewell’s books in recent years, but I’ve been a fan ever since. And, of course, I’m a Jodi Picoult fan from way back.

      I’m not crazy about that cover, though…

      Diane Keaton movies are favorites of mine; I have several DVDs of some of hers, starting from way back in the day (Annie Hall!).

      Enjoy your week, Kathryn…thanks for stopping by.

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  6. Keen to see what you think of The Girls Laurel – I’ve seen it in a few places but nowhere in Australia or on publisher’s lists here. I’ve requested the latest Unger though and hope that arrives soon!

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    1. I am loving it so, far, Deborah….the kind of book I have trouble putting down, even when a Netflix show is beckoning. Hope you get a copy soon, and have a great weekend.

      The Lisa Unger is going to be hard to set down, too.

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  10. The Girls has been on my wish list for ages and I’ll definitely be reading Jodi Picoult, one of my favourite authors. I am jealous of your being able to work in the garden.

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    1. Thanks, Emma, my patio is tiny, and often covered with leaves from the annoying gardeners and their leaf blowers…but it doesn’t take long to spiff up. Some weeds grow in there, as if they are trees, so I also clipped them back. And I have scratches on my arms!

      I am loving The Girls…Lisa Jewell has not disappointed me yet. Thanks for stopping by.

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    1. I wasn’t sure what to expect from The Girls in the Garden, but an eerie feeling has been hovering overhead throughout my read so far, and I’m anxious about what will transpire. But loving it! Thanks for stopping by, Sofia, and enjoy your week.

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    1. Thanks, Stacy Renee…I found the cute raccoon (and the bird) in one of my favorite shops that has since gone out of business…but not for lack of my trying to buy up everything…lol.

      I am loving the weather and my books; enjoy your week.

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    1. I will probably finish The Girls today, so then I’ll start on Ink and Bone. I have (so far) loved every one of Unger’s books that are set in The Hollows, a creepy upstate New York haven (coven?). Enjoy your week, Sarah, and thanks for visiting.

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  14. Lillian @ Mom With a Reading Problem

    Oh I love Diane Keaton! I need to read this one! Hope you enjoy your new books 🙂 You’re the 3rd person I’ve seen to mention Bloodlines this morning. I haven’t heard of it….think I’m going to go find it now though! Have a great week 😀
    My Sunday Post

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    1. I actually started watching Bloodline originally because of Sissy Spacek and Sam Shepard, who portrayed the matriarch and patriarch. I continued watching because it is an awesome story of family secrets, rivalries, drug running, and flawed, very flawed characters. Season II is more of all that, but with some answers to my earlier questions.

      I also love Diane Keaton and have DVDs of a number of her movies, going way back to the 1970s. Her first memoir, Then Again, was more about her mother, so I’m eager to read this one that will (hopefully) reveal more about her.

      Thanks for stopping by, Lillian, and enjoy your week.

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  15. A margarita?!? I’m shocked. 😉 Today my wife and I are planning on finishing up Season 2 of Bloodline, which we’re enjoying. Tomorrow’s a picnic with neighbors and tonight a NASCAR race with the neighbors. Hope you’re continuing to have an enjoyable weekend.

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  16. Sounds like a great week! I have the Diane Keaton book on my wishlist at the library. They have it in audio and I think it’d be great. The Lisa Jewell looks appealing. I’ve really been wanting to read The House We Grew Up In (I think that’s what it’s called) and The Girls looks really good too. I love the cover for Some Women! The stacked teacups gets me every time. Have a great week!

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    1. Yes, those teacups grabbed me, too, and The House We Grew Up In was my first by Jewell, and I was then hooked. Loving The Girls so far.

      Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you enjoy the Diane Keaton book.

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  18. All of those books look so good. I’m sure the Diane Keaton one is good. That might work for me as an audio.

    I’m probably going to start Bloodline soon. That sounds like a good one. Have a great week!

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    1. I’m looking forward to reading the Keaton memoir…I still don’t like listening, so it will be a long while before I do audio. But whatever works.

      I just finished Bloodline Season II, and all I can say is WOW! They’d better bring a Season III. But it always seems to take a while.

      Thanks for visiting, Yvonne, and enjoy your week.

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  19. Nice books! Though I keep being surprised by the cover of Ink and Bone, since the title the same as the title of an SF/F book by Rachel Caine (first in the “Great Library” series.) I’m glad you got to enjoy the beautiful weather this week. Ours was sunny, but we went from the cool 60s to the hot and humid mid- and upper-80s overnight, so I’m still in shock.

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    1. Thanks for visiting, Lark, and I’ve noticed another book with the Ink and Bone title….I’ve never read Rachel Caine.

      I’m hoping to go to the beach soon (my youngest son lives on a Northern California beach); it is already getting too hot for me.

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    1. Thanks, Christine, and it had been a long time since I’d gone to CPK…and I don’t know why, since I realize that I love it! I suspect I’ll visit again soon.

      I hope to start Ink and Bone soon.

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    1. Thanks, Nise, after being stuck in the foothills for thirteen years, I am now luxuriating in the neighborhood where I’ve been for the past nine years, with its wonderful shops and a lot of restaurants, a movie theater, etc. And Barnes & Noble. So I am very happy with the selection…lol.

      I am starting Ink and Bone now…I finished The Girls in the Garden and loved it! Enjoy your weekend, too.

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    1. I finished Season II of Bloodline yesterday, so I want another season…now! I also finished The Girls in the Garden. I loved it. I have a feeling I’ll also enjoy Some Women, but it may take a while to get to it…review books and all. Thanks for stopping by, Grace.

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    1. Yes, I love the patio when it’s cleaned, and it’s not that hard to do. I just dread going out there and clearing out the weeds and feeling my allergies flare up. LOL.

      Thanks for visiting, Elizabeth, and yes, the characters were odd in The Girls….especially those teenagers, who were pretty much all unlikeable, IMO.

      I did love the book, though….and had a sense of darkness hovering overhead throughout. Enjoy your week.

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  34. Kathy Martin

    I’ve seen a lot of people mention Bloodlines today. I haven’t heard of it but then I don’t watch much television. Maybe this summer…. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. It is a Netflix show, and now that I can access Netflix easily (BluRay), I watch more Netflix than I would have imagined possible….lol. Binge-watching.

      Thanks for visiting, Kathy, and enjoy your week.

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  35. You are really doing well on Read What You Buy! I am jealous of your book totals. I must need to find one that I just can’t put down. Haven’t read on like that in awhile. Enjoy you week.

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    1. I went through a bad patch a while ago, Judy, picking up first one than another book and not engaging. But when I decided it was okay to DNF a few, I soon found myself immersed in my books again. Thanks for stopping by, and have a great week.

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    1. Thanks, Laura, I don’t know when I read my first Picoult book, but it was many years ago, long before I started blogging. So I guess we could call her an “old favorite” author.

      I loved that pea soup, which seemed especially good that day. Thanks for visiting and enjoy your week.

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  38. I’m so happy it’s finally patio weather and it looks like you have a perfect spot! Most of the books you mention this week are new to me, so I’ll look forward to hearing all about them. Enjoy the rest of the long weekend 🙂

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    1. Thanks, JoAnn, I am excited about the books and I’m reading Ink and Bone right now (after finishing The Girls in the Garden).

      I stayed indoors today because it’s pretty hot already. I need to get out on the patio early, with my laptop. Tomorrow, maybe.

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  41. katarguelles

    You have a nice book haul for this week. The Lisa Unger book sounds good. I read one of her novellas and plan to read more from her. I hope you have a good week!

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  45. Pingback: Books That Caught Our Eye | Mailbox Monday

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