Saturday, December 09, 2017

Weekly Mews: What I Am Reading Now & December's TBR List Winner

I am linking up to the Sunday Post hosted by the wonderful Kim of Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where participants recap our week, talk about what we are reading, share any new books that have come our way, and whatever else we want to talk about. As well as Stacking the Shelves hosted by the great Team Tynga's Reviews and Marlene of Reading Reality a meme in which participants share what new books came their way recently.

I hope you all had a wonderful week. Thank you for all your prayers and well wishes for my mom. The good news is the surgeon was able to remove all the cancerous cells from her breast and none were found in her lymph nodes. The bad news is the surgeon did not get enough of a margin around the affected area and needs to go back in. She will likely have another surgery after the holidays. She had been planning to visit Greece in February with a group of friends, but it looks like it won't be happening now. Not with a second surgery and radiation treatment still to go. My mom is disappointed, but happy given the news about the cancer.

The fires in Southern California are the main focus of the local news these days. Fortunately, none have been close to us, but I do have friends and family in affected areas. Only one friend I know of has had to evacuate (because of the Lilac Fire in San Diego County). She and her family are staying in a hotel for the time being. It's all very scary. The Santa Ana winds have made these fires even more destructive, giving them strength and speed. My heart aches for those who have suffered losses, including the animals who were unable to escape. Many of the firefighters are working 42 hour shifts before being relieved. They are doing great work out there, and my prayers are with them as well.

It was a relatively uneventful week otherwise. Mouse had her first father/daughter dance and had such a fun time with her dad. My husband kept me posted with the occasional photo. Mouse had a blast dancing with her friends and her dad. She looked so adorable in her polka dot dress. My husband even put on a suit for the event!

Mouse with her corsage and cookie

This weekend Mouse has her first dress rehearsal for her upcoming holiday dance showcase. There will be one more after this before the big performances next weekend. I hear tickets are sold out for both performance dates! Admittedly, more people are probably interested in seeing The Nutcracker than the showcase performances that proceed it, but it makes me glad we secured our tickets early.

Mouse in her dance costume with her prop present 
(you can't tell, but the wrapping paper is sparkly)

Thank you for your patience with me. I am slow at visiting blogs and responding to comments both because of that thing we call life and also because I am trying to limit my time at the keyboard (and on my phone) as I dampen my most recent bout of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. I appreciate all the well wishes you have sent. I am doing much better. The rest and wearing the braces at night has helped quite a bit.

What I Am Reading: I am in the middle of Sugar Pine Trail by RaeAnne Thayne. It is a Haven Point romance about a librarian who not only takes in a rather sexy pilot as a tenant, but also fosters two young boys whose mother seems to have disappeared on them (their father is deceased). It's definitely a book that pulls at the heartstrings--not too unusual in a Christmas themed book, wouldn't you say? 

What I Am Listening To: I haven't started a new audiobook, although I did download The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena, which means when I'm tired of listening to holiday music in the car, I will start on that one. 

What I Am Watching: I am back to watching Supernatural. I finally made it to season 10! I'm only six episodes in, but am enjoying it so far. I haven't been able to binge watch any shows as of late and it will likely be awhile before that happens again. Definitely not for the rest of the year. 

What I Am Looking Forward To: My managers are taking all of us out for breakfast later this week, which will be a nice break from the usual work day. But I am most looking forward to seeing my mom at the end of the week. She will be coming into town to visit us for the holidays. She's deserving of quite a big hug right about now. 

Tell me about what you have been up to! What are you reading, listening to and watching? Do you have anything planned for this coming week?


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New to My Shelves: 

The December My Lit Box arrived this week. I am just going to share Sunura's comments about this month's box as I think she says it best:
Money, power, and influence are all it takes to convince people to ignore the obvious sometimes. Sound familiar? Our final selection of the year closely mirrors some of today's headlines and is a story about breaking the silence, getting rid of the shame, and getting justice.

I am very excited about this month's subscription box. I love everything in it. Every box has been a wonderful surprise and well worth the money. This next year, My Lit Box will be offered only quarterly, which is both sad (because it's a nice monthly surprise!), but also good because it will reach more people and be more affordable (maybe my husband won't give me any more dirty looks about the cost).

Have you read These Violent Delights? What did you think? What new books did you add to your shelves this week? 

*

Thank you for helping me decide what book from my TBR collection I should read next:

My TBR List is a meme hosted by the awesome Michelle at Because Reading. It’s a fun way to choose a book from your TBR pile to read. The 1st Saturday of every month, I will list 3 books I am considering reading and take a poll as to which you think I should read. I will read the winner that month, and my review will follow (unfortunately, not likely in the same month, but eventually--that's all I can promise). 





Seventeen of you voted for this month's winner, Death Below Stairs by Jennifer Ashley, a historical mystery. For a while there it was close, but The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn fell behind earning only 13 votes in the end. A Murder for Books by Victoria Albert made a good showing with 9 votes.

I hope to read all three books soon, but, of course, Death Below Stairs will take precedence. I am really looking forward to reading it!

Thank you again for voting! I hope you all have a great rest of the month and Happy Reading!


© 2017, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

50 comments:

  1. I love Supernatural! One of my favourite series, next to the Walking Dead.

    Glad to hear about your mom, I hope everything is going to get better and that later in the year she still can go to Greece. :)

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    1. Nina - I really enjoy both Supernatural and The Walking Dead as well. :-)

      It looks like she will be able to go to Greece with her friends after all. Her second surgery will be in mid-January, and she'll be able to do the radiation after she gets back. All our fingers are crossed that it works out!

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  2. I loved The Couple Next Door...and I've been eyeing Sugar Pine Trail, as I read the first book in the Haven Point series and enjoyed it.

    Lust and Wonder is also on my list.

    What fun for your daughter and husband!

    Here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES

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    1. Laurel-Rain - I am enjoying The Couple Next Door so far. I had to take an unexpected break from it because I got sick and my listening time went down to nil. I hope to get it finished in the next couple weeks.

      I really enjoy visiting Haven Point in RaeAnne Thayne's books. I hope you enjoy Sugar Pine Trail if you read it!

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  3. The thing called life is interfering with my blogging and reading as well. It feels like I've never as busy before in my life! I hope you'll enjoy These Violent Delights and Death Below Stairs! Have a great week, feel better soon and happy reading!

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    1. Lynn - It's been crazy! I haven't had real time to blog or even visit other blogs in a long time. :-( It's probably going to have to wait until the new year at this rate--once my mom heads home. Any me time is non-existent right now unless I'm in the shower. :-S

      Enjoy the rest of the year, Lynn!

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  4. Yayyy the book I voted for won! I hope you enjoy this month's pick :)

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    1. Sarah - I was finally able to start it right before Christmas. I'm loving it so far!

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  5. So sorry to hear about you Mom but I’m glad the result was great. I hope the second surgery goes great. I hope you enjoy your new books this week, too, and have a wonderful week. Happy reading, my friend. ❤️❤️❤️

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    1. Geybie - Thank you so much for your well wishes for my mom. She caught my cold, unfortunately, but not my strep throat--so that's the light in the dark. :-)

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  6. I am sorry your mom is going through this, but glad it was caught. How sweet mouse went to a father daughter dance. I love her Christmas dance costume, so cute.

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    1. Ellen - Thank you. My mom is a real trooper. She's in good spirits and probably more energetic than I am on any day. :-)

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  7. What wonderful news for your mom! I'm sorry she'll miss her trip but I'm sure she can go later.

    The father/daughter dance looks like a lot of fun.

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    1. Kathy - Yes! We are so happy with the news. It looks like she'll still be able to make her trip, thankfully. It's already paid for, and so I'm sure she's relieved.

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  8. I am so glad that your mom is doing well! Surgery can be scary, so I'm glad that she got through it okay. I'm also glad that the kiddo had fun at the dance! Have a good week, and happy reading! :)

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    1. Anna - Thank you! Hopefully the second surgery will go just as well. I hope you are enjoying your holidays!

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  9. Wonderful to hear good news about your mom. Maybe she can still visit Greece after she's done with her surgery and treatment. Wishing the best!
    Mouse's holiday outfit looks adorable:)

    My Sunday Post

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    1. Laura - Thank you! We're all so happy with the news. It looks like the trip is back on--which is good since her tickets and reservations are already set and paid for. She'll just have to follow up with the radiation when she gets back from Greece.

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  10. I'm glad your mum is doing better. Have a great week :)

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  11. I'm so glad the surgery went well and no cancer in the lymph nodes. Sorry to hear she has to have surgery again, and miss her trip- but best wishes going forward that this one goes well too and she makes a full recovery!

    I can't believe the fires. Absolutely crazy.

    Hope Death Below Stairs is good. :)

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    1. Greg - I am too. Thank you. It's a big relief. They were able to schedule her a new date in mid-January, which should mean she'll be able to still make her trip. She's excited about that. She'll follow up with the radiation after. I guess they don't like to start that until 6 to 8 weeks after the surgery.

      I'm loving Death Below Stairs so far. It reminds me a tiny bit of Tessa Arlen's series.

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  12. Glad that your mom is doing better! I hope you feel better too!

    Here’s my Sunday Post !

    Ronyell @ Rabbit Ears Book Blog and join in this week’s Book Photo Sundays!

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    1. Ronyell - Thank you! I ended up getting strep throat, can you believe it? I am feeling much better, although still have a little cough.

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  13. I'm glad your mother's surgery turned out relatively well. I hope everything will be well the second time round too.

    That cookie in the picture is seriously affecting me :D

    Oh, the Christmas costume! So super cuuuute!!!

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    1. Evelina - Thank you! We're all very hopeful. I know my mom is anxious to have this all behind her.

      The cookie does look good. :-)

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  14. Oh yay! I'm glad you mom is doing better. That is a bummer about her trip though. I'm sure she is disappointed. Hopefully she will have another chance to go!

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    1. Samantha - Thank you! It looks like she'll be able to go after all, if the second surgery goes as well as the first. She'll just have to do the radiation treatment after her trip to Greece. Her second surgery is in about three weeks.

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  15. I'm delighted to hear the news about your mother, though obviously it would have been ideal if she didn't have to endure another op. I'm also pleased to hear you are feeling better. Mouse's Christmas costume looks adorable - and it's lovely she had such a lovely time at the father and daughter dance. Presumably other males can go along if daughters no longer are in touch with their fathers? Have a great week:)

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    1. Sarah - Thank you! I also wish she didn't have to go through another surgery, but I guess it's not all that uncommon.

      I wondered about that with the Father/Daughter dance too--but they did allow other father-like figures to attend with their girls. Grandpas, legal guardians, uncles, and family friends, etc. I think my husband said there was even a mom there with her daughter, which I was glad to hear.

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  16. Oh I'm glad to hear your mother is doing okay though that's too bad about her trip to Greece. I imagine that is incredibly disappointing. That's so cute about Mouse's dance. I'm in charge of the one here and am kind of in a panic! It has to be well done. I just got Death Below Stairs and am really excited! It looks great! Have a great week!

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    1. Katherine - Thank you! It sounds like she'll still be able to go to Greece, after all, thankfully. The surgeon is determined to get her there. LOL

      I hope your Father/Daughter dance turns out well! It sounded like my husband and Mouse had a fun time.

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  17. That is great news about your Mom, and I'l be keeping her my thoughts as she still more of this journey ahead as well as well. I bet Mouse had a blast ad the dance! Yay for the Lit Box! Happy reading.

    My Sunday Post

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    1. Jeanea - Thank you so much. I appreciate your good thoughts. My mom's been very positive about everything, which has helped keep the rest of us feeling positive (doesn't that sound backward, somehow?).

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  18. Sounds like Mouse is having a good time. Yay for Death Below Stairs. I hope you enjoy it. Good News and disappointment regarding your Mom, I am happy to hear of the success and wish her a full recovery.

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    1. Kimberly - Mouse had a great time. I am enjoying Death Below Stairs. I am almost finished with it. I am not sure I will have time to fit in another book this year, but I'll at least make a good start on another one. Thank you for your kind thoughts for my mom.

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  19. I am relieved to hear your mom's prognosis is good and that you aren't affected by the fire. Sugar Pine Trail sounds good--maybe I'll check it out. :-)

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    1. Steph - Thank you! We are all relieved as well. Hopefully the rest of her treatment will continue to go well.

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  20. I’m glad your mom is okay and Mouse had fun at the dance. I hope your mom’s second surgery goes well so she can go to Greece. Have a great week and enjoy your new book!

    Aj @ Read All The Things!

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    1. AJ - Thank you! I hope you have a great rest of the year!

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  21. These Violent Delights does sound like a very timely selection - and the cover so evocative, the beauty and darkness. Happy reading Wendy.

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  22. Such a busy time of year! Finding enough time to read can be a challenge, especially with all the activities a Mouse might have!

    Happy to hear that your Mom's surgery went well and best hopes and thoughts for the next one!

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    1. Jenclair - It has been busy. And then being sick on top of it. I'll be glad when we're settled into the New Year, I think, and everything returns to some semblance of order.

      Thank you for your kind thoughts for my mom! She has a date for the second surgery and hopefully it will go as well as the first one did.

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  23. I hope your mom will get to go to Greece another time with her friends but I am glad she got some good news about her cancer and I pray the surgery will go well.

    Sugar Pine Trail sounds good. I've enjoyed some of her other books. I will have to give it a try sometime.

    I hear you on the wrist pain. That's why I stopped blogging as much as I used to. I ended up not having carpal tunnel to my surprise but I had to wear the wrist brace and had pain in both wrists for over a year. I cut back a lot on my computer time. Of course now I have a different laptop and it is more comfortable to use but I still limit my time since I use a computer every day at work. I hope you feel better soon and can get back to blogging as much as you'd like to.

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    1. Christina - Fortunately, it looks like she may still make her trip to Greece. She's relieved. I don't know that she would have gotten another chance as all the tickets were bought and her friends would have gone as planned. I doubt she'd want to go alone. So, as long as the surgery in January goes well, everything is still on for her trip. She'll just have to radiation treatment after she gets back.

      I'm sorry you've had issues with your wrists too. :-( I developed carpal tunnel syndrome years ago, but have managed to keep it under control for the most part, with only minor flare ups here and there--until recently when it hit me hard. I hate it. My job is behind a computer, so it really gets in the way of everything--which you know, working at a computer at work too.

      Thanks for visiting, Christina. I hope you have a great rest of the year.

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  24. I was thinking of you this weekend when we were watching the news coverage of the fires. It's horrible. And, thank you so much for the update on your mom. That is great news even if she does need a second surgery. When she does get around to her trip she's going to be able to go knowing she's done and fine! Can't wait to hear all about Mouse's upcoming performance. Is she all excited?

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    1. Iliana - They still don't have the one fire out, although it's been less in the news as of late. It's just so sad. My mom is amazing--she is doing very well. Her next surgery is about mid-month, and we're all hopeful it will go just as well.

      Mouse had a great time performing. Actually, I think it was the backstage playing with her dance friends she enjoyed most. :-) She loved all the attention too though. LOL

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  25. That's great news about your mom, Wendy. Wishing her all the best for her second surgery and that she'll recover quickly.

    I'm glad Mouse had a fun time at the dance. And I hope you've fun reading Death Below Stairs. :)

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    1. Melody - Thank you! Hopefully this second surgery will go as well as the first one did.

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