Category: Sunday Post

Sunday Post and Sunday Salon: Changing Seasons and Riding Trains

BonnieReadsAndWrites23 Comments

It’s November 9th, and fall colors are finally out in full force. They were quite late this year, and not as vibrant as years past. Our peak leaf season was supposed to be the third week of October, and it was still very green then. I took a ride on the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad with my friend Lyric, who was visiting, and her Mom, Dale. Although I live in a small tourist town, I don’t usually participate in the “touristy” things, but it’s nice to do that once in a while. We had a great time. We took the first class ride and were served lunch. We stopped in Dillsboro for some shopping and took in great scenes along the way.

**Picture of the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad in Bryson City, NC is from Shutterstock and was taken in 2023.

Below is a shot of a pretty fall evening at our house. The sun was setting, and the moon was out. I was standing on our porch at the time. I wanted a picture of the full moon, but my phone is just not up to it. It was so much more magnificent than that.

I was told there would be a cold snap starting tomorrow, but so far I see no sign of it. My weather app tells me we will be just above freezing for one day–not cold enough for snow–and then back to 50s and 60s, so we will see. Are you getting snow in your area? EDIT: I just got a Winter Storm Alert, but it seems to be for higher elevations.

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOG

It was all Indie last week. I love that because my heart is with Indie books and authors. I posted reviews of The Weight of Snow and Regret, Amanda in Ireland, and The Washashore. I get a lot of requests from Indie authors, and my list is long, but I try to read as many as I can. I am just one woman, so it can take a long time, but I will continue to do my best to support Indie books.

NEXT WEEK ON THE BLOG

Look for reviews of Books 2 and 3 of Beth Kanell’s Winds of Freedom series, and a review of Patricia Furstenberg’s When Secrets Bloom. I will also participate in Top Ten Tuesday if time permits.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK.

**Thank you to the host of Sunday Salon, Deb at ReaderBuzz, and the host of Sunday Post, Kimberly at Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

Sunday Post and Sunday Salon: Hello Fall!

BonnieReadsAndWrites18 Comments

The changing of the leaves has been late this year, but it’s really feeling like Fall now in the first week of November. I love this time of year–shopping for Christmas presents, baking, and eating. I’m planning to make mini pumpkin pies for myself. Doug doesn’t really like pumpkin pie but he’s currently enjoying a cherry pie I got from Sam’s. I’m also trying to get better at decorating cookies for Christmas, so I’m going to make some Pumpkin shaped and decorated cookies for Thanksgiving. I want to give them a flavor besides vanilla, so either pumpkin spice or orange, I think. I’ll post pictures when I’m done IF they look halfway decent. I had my first cup of cold weather cocoa this week too. I didn’t have marshmallows, so I used whipped cream on top.

Yesterday I was busy sending out emails for The Historical Novel Society. The November reviews were live on the website yesterday, and as a Reviews Editor, I sent links of the reviews I’m responsible for to all of the publishers or authors. Tomorrow I plan to find some end of season apples and get started on some apple butter.

Most of this past week was busy! I traveled on Monday and Tuesday to Winston-Salem to see an audiologist about possibly getting a cochlear implant because my hearing is just getting worse and worse. The result was that I tested as “borderline,” just little bit above the line for a cochlear implant. So I will go back in a year and get tested again. Right now, though, I’m thankful for my new hearing aids, which are not perfect but help more than the old ones.

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOG

I participated in Top Ten Tuesday, and today I posted a review of The Weight of Snow and Regret by Elizabeth Gauffreau. Check out Liz’s wonderful book at the link above. It was a 5-star read for me.

NEXT WEEK ON THE BLOG

I reviewed this one for The Historical Novel Society and I can post the review now that it’s been published on their website.

This is the latest in Darlene Foster’s Amanda Travels series. Although this is a Middle Grade series, people of all ages love following Amanda as she travels around the world.

These are the latest two books in The Winds of Freedom series by Beth Kanell, set in the 19th Century on the frontier between Vermont and Canada. My review of Book One, The Long Shadow, is here.

BOOK HAUL

Lynn Austin is my favorite author of Inspirational Historical Fiction, and I jumped on the chance to read this for The Historical Novel Society. I don’t need to have this read until March, but I can’t wait, so I’m starting it this week.

I don’t usually read hardboiled fiction, but I’m broadening my horizons a bit for this one, which will be in the February issue of Historical Novels Review.

A thriller set in Aspen. A step away from historical fiction for this read. I picked this one up on Netgalley today.

I’m also going to look for some lighthearted Christmas books, so if anyone has a recommendation, let me know. It must be really Christmassy! If it’s an Indie Christmas book–even better!

I hope you all have a wonderful week!

*Thank you to The Caffeinated Book Reviewer for hosting Sunday Post and to Deb at ReaderBuzz for hosting Sunday Salon.

Sunday Post and Sunday Salon: Ouch!

BonnieReadsAndWrites21 Comments

Well I had my oral surgery on Tuesday, and it still hurts pretty badly. I had a cyst removed from my jaw and a molar that the cyst had compromised taken out. I have slowly been transitioning to eating again but my jaw just aches most of the time. I’m hoping this pain goes away soon. I have a hard time sleeping because of it, and I’ve been sleeping in the reclining love seat so I don’t accidentally roll over on my left side, which hurts my “newly operated on” jaw.

The leaves are slowly starting to turn here in Western North Carolina, so I hope to be able to post some great photos soon, and maybe even some Fall inspired poetry. For now, here’s a picture of an interesting sky Doug took outside our home the other day. It was getting ready to storm.

BLOG ACTIVITY

We have had some great new Indie releases in the last couple of weeks. I did a Release Day announcement for The Weight of Snow and Regret by Elizabeth Gauffreau on October 1st. I also did a Release Day post and Review of A Bloody Banquet by Gail Meath on October 10th. Amanda in Ireland by Darlene Foster was also released on October 1st and I’m reviewing that this coming week. I’ll participate in Top Ten Tuesday if time permits. I also hope to get even more Indie reviews in.

NETGALLEY HAUL

The Valley of Vengeful Ghosts: (I hope this one isn’t too close to horror, but it looked interesting and more “paranormal” than horror. Horror can affect my dreams so I avoid it if it’s too dark and/or bloody) In the aftermath of her mother’s death, Eleanor is unmoored. For years, her mother orchestrated every detail of her life—from meals, to laundry, to finances—so that Eleanor could focus on her career as a therapist. Left to navigate the world on her own, Eleanor clings to her mother’s final directive: use her inheritance to buy a house.

Desperate to obey her mother one last time, but finding few options she can afford, Eleanor impulsively buys a model home in a valley-turned-construction site, a picturesque development steeped in a shadowy history. It feels like a fresh start, until the rain comes—an endless, torrential downpour. As water seeps in through the house’s cracks, the line between what is real and what is not begins to blur. Haunted by the stories of her clients, a stream of workmen and bureaucrats she can’t trust, and visions of ghosts from her past and present, Eleanor’s reality unravels, and she is forced to reckon with the secrets she’s buried and the desperate choices she’s made.

The Lumber Baron’s Wife: (Jumped on the chance for the forthcoming book by my favorite Christian author, Lynn Austin).

1873. After a devastating loss, Hannah Wagner never imagined she’d leave her comfortable home for the harsh, unfamiliar wilderness near Lake Michigan. But when Henry Abernathy—a friend of her husband, John—offers them a fresh start in a booming lumber town, where John’s skills as a doctor are sorely needed, Hannah reluctantly agrees. There, she meets Kate, Henry’s spirited, much younger wife. Kate’s sharp tongue and outsider status have made her unwelcome among the town’s elite, and when she begins confiding in Hannah, it’s clear her marriage is not what it seems . . . and that a secret from her past could destroy everything.

Present day. Ashley Gilbert never planned to settle in Michigan, but when her husband lands his dream job as a conservationist, she agrees to follow. While restoring their historic home—built in the 19th century for a doctor and his wife—Ashley becomes captivated by its past and its connection to the nearby Abernathy mansion, now being transformed into a museum. While volunteering with the restoration, she stumbles upon the unsolved mystery of Kate Abernathy’s disappearance. What begins as curiosity soon becomes a quest for the truth—one that will connect her to two women whose stories and struggles echo and inspire her own.

HOW WAS YOUR WEEK?

*Sunday Post is hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer and Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at ReaderBuzz.

Sunday Post and Sunday Salon: Hug Your Loved Ones

BonnieReadsAndWrites19 Comments

This past week was a week of rest, and I’m also getting prepared for a couple of outpatient procedures in the next couple of weeks.

Doug’s birthday was Friday, and I think he likes his new IPAD! Happy Birthday, Doug! I love you so much.

Book News: I’m currently doing a lot of editor and reviewer work for the Historical Novel Society’s November issue, and it has kept me quite busy. That issue comes out November 1st.

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOG

I posted about the horrific death of Charlie Kirk, which I watched online, unfortunately, not realizing what I was going to see. If you watch a man bleed out, it affects you, believe me. I will be watching his memorial service today. He was a great Christian man who will be missed.

NEXT WEEK ON THE BLOG

I will be reviewing the three books below and also participating in Top Ten Tuesday.

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BOOK HAUL

Vera always knew she didn’t fit in. When she learns that she is meant to be in another time, she leaps at the chance to embrace a new life in a world of valor, intrigue, and unexpected magic in this bold and romantic retelling of Arthurian legend . . .

22-year-old Vera is at a crossroads: waiting tables, grieving her previous relationship, and jogging aimlessly each morning as if toward an uncertain future. Then an odd man shows up at her workplace, insisting that she was once the legendary Queen Guinevere of Camelot, and that her lost memories hold the key to changing both the past and the present. Somehow, it all feels like the direction she’s been looking for. But when she asks the mysterious man to tell her more about Lancelot, Arthur, and a faithless queen, he can only say that much of what she’s heard about Camelot is wrong. The truth, he claims, is something she must see for herself.

After jumping through a portal in Glastonbury’s historic center, Vera is not prepared for what she finds. Magic is everywhere, but a curse on the kingdom means it dwindles every day. She has no idea how to perform a queen’s duties. Her fast friendship with Lancelot sets gossip flowing, and the stranger she must call “husband” often refuses to meet her eye. Arthur is a puzzle: cold, forbidding, and, while angry to her face, keeps leaving secret tokens of tenderness in her chambers. Worst of all, Vera’s memories—and the answers locked within them—show no signs of returning. If Vera is truly destined to save Camelot, she’ll have to trust her instincts. And her king will have to trust her . . .

I HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEK, and hug those close to you!

Sunday Post is hosted by The Caffeinated Book Reviewer. Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz.

Sunday Post/Sunday Salon: The Bumble is in The Building!

BonnieReadsAndWrites26 Comments

This past week the garage went in! It has been just a little over a year since we moved here, and finally Doug has his garage. He’s a garage kind of guy, and I know it’s been harder for him to get everything done around here without one. Now we have a place to put The Bumble (his Dodge Magnum) and room for a work area and storage for Doug. Every day since we moved here, he does something to improve the property, but this was a big one. We had to wait a long time for the builders because of weather and other issues, but we’ve finally got it. Doug ordered it to match the house, so we’re happily Christmassy around here!

A little update on Opie. He’s really growing! He was 9 ounces at his first vet appointment and 2.5 pounds at his second one! All his bloodwork was normal, which was a concern since his mom, who abandoned him, is a feral cat. Here he is helping Doug with the wash:

In other news, I’m going to Holden Beach with my cousins in a week, so I’m getting ready for that. Hopefully I’ll have lots of good pictures to share!

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOG

I reviewed The Judge’s Lawyer and Wolves At The Gate, an Indie book.

BOOK HAUL

This is Book 2 of the Marigold Manners mystery series.

My Netgalley shelf is down to 5 books!!!

Hope you have a great week!

The Sunday post is hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer. The Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz

Sunday Post: Cats, Dogs, and Celebrations

BonnieReadsAndWrites28 Comments

The title pretty much sums up my week. First, the integration of Opie into the family is going much better. The dogs are getting used to him–slowly, and he can be found lounging around the living room often, when he’s not in his room watching YouTube for cats!

This past week was my birthday and our 43rd anniversary. We got married on my birthday, so as we always joke, that means every year on my birthday, I have to get Doug a present! We went to Tupelo Honey in Asheville. I had my favorite–shrimp and grits. Doug got a fried chicken BLT. We also went antiquing, and I got some more jadeite for my collection. A picture of some of my jadeite collection is below. My new acquisitions are not in the picture. It was a wonderful day.

Youtube for cats is hilarious. Opie is mesmerized.

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOG

I reviewed The Empty Side of Our Bed by Bill Beckett and did an Indie #FREEBOOK spotlight of Songbird by Gail Meath. The ebook is free everywhere for the next month. I also reviewed The Secret Orphanage by Barbara Josselsohn.

NEXT WEEK ON THE BLOG

I will be posting reviews I did for the August edition of Historical Novels Review, the magazine of The Historical Novel Society, starting with Wild as the Stars by Kerry Chaput, and Those We Carry by Scott Saxberg.

I will get some Indie reviews out in the coming week. I have so many, and I get more requests every day, so I am way behind.

I will participate in Top Ten Tuesday if time permits.

I hope you all have a great week!

Sunday Post: Everything’s Peachy!

BonnieReadsAndWrites14 Comments

Lots of canning this week! First I did 10 pints and 4 quarts of green beans, and then I canned 4 pints and 7 half pints of Cinnamon Peach jam. I had peaches everywhere, and I’ve still got peaches left in the freezer. I’m going to make Amaretto Peach Jam soon. Doug likes the combination of Amaretto and Peach, but I have to go out and get the Amaretto.

I didn’t grow green beans, and I don’t have a peach tree (yet). I picked them up at a local farm (Darnell Farms). We’re almost through a half-pint of peach jam already.

I just love Fall, when all the produce starts coming in, and especially later when the leaves start changing. Expect some great pictures later when that starts happening.

I did want to share a rainbow we had a couple of weeks ago. It was so bright and complete. It’s the best one I’ve seen in a while.

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOG

I reviewed The Long Shadow by Beth Kanell and My Great Aunt’s Diary by Laura Sweeney.

NEXT WEEK ON THE BLOG

I will review The Empty Side of Our Bed, A grief memoir by Bill Beckett and The Secret Orphanage by Barbara Josselsohn.

I hope to post other reviews as well, and I’ll participate in Top Ten Tuesday, time permitting.

Have a great week!

Sunday Post: Meet Opie!

BonnieReadsAndWrites28 Comments

It was a hectic July! We had the grandkids all month, and I was busy every minute. I lost some weight just following them around. Then the last week they were here, we picked up another family member, quite unexpectedly.

Doug was mowing outside, and a teeny kitten came running up to him full-tilt, with no concern apparently for the mower or for interacting with a human. His eyes were all matted, and he was skin and bones. We recognized him as one of the kittens of a feral cat that my cousin has been feeding. We knew she had had babies and they were living in an old, unused barn. But this baby was all alone and starving, and upon checking the barn, we found Mama and the other babies had departed and ditched him.

Doug brought him in and fed him milk with a syringe, and a couple of days later, Mama and his siblings moved underneath our shed, so we tried to reunite them. Again, they all moved and left him behind, and so he became part of our family. His name is Oliver PeeWee, or Opie for short! We still need to get our two dachshunds on board, however. Hopefully, they will accept him soon. They are starting to warm up. Cautiously.

The vet said he was about four weeks old, but only weighed 9 ounces! He has quickly gained weight since then. He has his own room and a much better living situation. He’s eating solid food as well. Some eye drops are clearing up his eye condition quickly.

We are going to try to trap the mama cat and get her spayed once she’s done feeding her kittens so this doesn’t happen again. We’re hoping some shelters will take the other kittens, but who knows?

Here are photos of Opie, both when Doug first found him and after he started improving:

I’ve also been busy with my reviews editor duties for Historical Novels Review, the magazine of The Historical Novel Society. The August issue just came out, and I’ve been sharing the reviews with the authors and publishers. The next issue comes out in November. There are four issues a year, and the mission is to share recently published (and forthcoming) historical fiction novels with as many people as possible.

THIS WEEK ON THE BLOG

On Tuesday, I’ll be reviewing The Long Shadow by Beth Kanell. This is the first book of her Winds of Freedom series, which has three books so far. I’ll be reviewing the whole series. On Wednesday, I’ll be reviewing My Great Aunt’s Diary as part of a Bookouture book tour. I’ll participate in Top Ten Tuesday, time permitting. I’m also trying to get some Indie reviews out now that the hectic part of summer is over

I hope you all had a great week!

*Sunday post is hosted by The Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

Sunday Post: Summer Days

BonnieReadsAndWrites17 Comments

It’s all about the grandkids this month, as they are staying with us all through the end of July. It’s been great to see them, but I am exhausted! It’s been a long time since I’ve been this tired! Above are two of my grandchildren. The oldest is busy playing Roblox. LOL. Their Dad is picking them up the end of July, and August will be all about resting. And blogging!!!

In gardening news, my tomatoes are going crazy! I’ve been freezing them to can in August when I have time, but also eating delicious BLTs. The cucumbers aren’t doing so well, but I am getting some nice jalapenos to go in my salsa. I have a huge crop of basil, and my mint is doing well.

I did pick up some new books this week. See below

The Last Wizard’s Ball: The final book in the Gunnie Rose series. Lizbeth Rose’s sister Felicia attends the Grand Wizards’ Ball, and as one of the most powerful—and beautiful—death wizards in a generation, she is highly sought after as one of the belles of the ball.

However, war and violence are on the rise in Europe as German and Japanese wizards are also courting Felicia…and some are refusing to take no for an answer.

As the façade of genteel wizard society turns deadly, Lizbeth must learn to not only protect her sister, but also navigate the arcane world that is pulling her sister and husband into a dangerous dance with death that could change the world as they know it.

My Great-Aunt’s Diary (Bookouture book tour in August) – Heartbroken and searching for a new beginning, Emily is shocked to learn she has inherited her great-aunt Violet’s cottage. She remembers summers spent running through its rose garden, but she hasn’t seen her great-aunt in years… So why did she leave her Clifftop Cottage?

Deciding this is the fresh start she needs, Emily travels to the seaside village of Dovecote. Not long after she arrives, she bumps into her childhood love, Will. As he runs his hand through his chestnut-brown hair, she can’t help but think of what happened between them all those years ago…

When Will offers to help redecorate the cottage, Emily is unsure. He broke her heart once before; could he do it again? But she is soon distracted when she finds a leather diary dating back to the Second World War hidden inside an old desk. Turning the pages, she discovers a wartime romance she knew nothing about. Why did Violet keep this secret?

As Emily and Will grow closer while investigating her family history, she wonders if Dovecote could be the place she finally calls home. But can she trust Will to help her uncover a long-buried family secret? And, if she does, will this forgotten diary mend her broken heart, and give her the happy ending she’s looking for?

Murder in Miniature – In post-WWII Vermont, Maple Bishop has a thriving dollhouse business and a new career as a crime scene consultant for the local sheriff’s office. On the surface, she seems to be doing well, but deep down Maple is still reeling from the death of her husband. When the body of an aspiring firefighter–who was close childhood friends with Kenny, the sheriff’s deputy and Maple’s confidante–is discovered in the charred remains of a burned cabin, Maple is called in to help determine whether the fire was an accident or a case of murder by arson.

Realizing there’s more to the crime than meets the eye, she sets out to unearth the discrepancies from the scene by re-creating the cabin in miniature. The investigation leads them to Maple’s old Boston neighborhood, forcing her to confront the past she’s desperately trying to forget.

As Maple and Kenny sift through clues, they uncover dark secrets that hit close to home, unraveling in unexpected ways—and putting their lives in danger.

Next week I’ll be doing some reviews and spotlights as well, in between wrangling kids. 🙂 I’ll try to do Top Ten Tuesday if time permits.

HOPE YOU ARE HAVING A GREAT SUMMER!!!

Sunday Post: A Hundred Thousand!

BonnieReadsAndWrites21 Comments

Last week I finally hit 100,000 views on this blog! I had planned to pass that mark last year, but then retirement, moving, and Hurricane Helene held that up. I started the blog in October 2020, and I only had about 3,000 views at the end of 2020. I am pleased to hit 100,000, and I thank you all for always dropping by. I’m at about 45,500 visitors, so I’m not far from 50,000 visitors.

I just finished listening to Pride and Prejudice on audio, so my “Blogging the Classics” feature starts tomorrow. Be sure and let me know what you think of that feature. I’m happy to take suggestions for my next classic, too. What is your favorite classic?

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOG

On Monday I reviewed Tachyon Tunnel 1 and 2 by Michael Gorton.

On Tuesday I reviewed The Miniaturist’s Assistant and did a Q&A with the author.

I also participated in Top Ten Tuesday and shared how my blogging habits have changed.

NEXT WEEK ON THE BLOG

As mentioned above, my “Blogging the Classics” feature starts Monday with the beloved Pride and Prejudice.

I am going to post a lot of Indie reviews and promos this week. They will all be under the Indie Spotlight feature. I plan to start cleaning up my Indie backlog this coming week. Stay tuned. I appreciate all the Indie authors and I’m working on becoming one!

I will participate in Top Ten Tuesday if time permits

BOOK HAUL

I am concentrating on what I have on hand, so no new books this week.

Have a great week!