Tag: 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: 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: Turtle Crossing

BonnieReadsAndWrites13 Comments

Happy Sunday! A cool but Sunny May day today! We have had rain and thunderstorms the last few days here in Western North Carolina mountains, so it’s nice to see a little sun.

It’s turtle crossing season! The turtles are crossing the roads all around here. We’ve already moved two in the direction they were crossing in order to get them out of danger. Sadly we saw one smashed and killed on the road already, so we try to get them out of danger. Here are some tips from Fish and Wildlife on helping a turtle cross the road:

https://www.fws.gov/story/tips-helping-turtle-cross-road

The most important tip is to always move them in the direction they were heading, or they will just turn around and cross the road all over again.

This past week I have been trying to catch up on reviewing and reading, as well as doing some Historical Novel Society work.

Yesterday I posted a review of Upon The Corner of the Moon.

I have been trying to get my Indie Weekend books caught up, so you will see those reviews coming out soon. Since I’m retired now, I’m thinking of changing Indie Weekend to a different title that I can post any day of the week, so suggestions are welcome for a new title!

COMING NEXT WEEK

I am going to post more reviews I did for the May issue of The Historical Novel Society, and expect a few Indie reviews.

Have a wonderful week, and watch out for turtles crossing your road!

Thank you to The Caffeinated Book Reviewer for hosting Sunday Post.

Sunday Post: Happy Easter, and an Easter Poem from #LouiseBelanger

BonnieReadsAndWrites35 Comments

I hope you are having a wonderful day as we Christians celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, who was both God in the Flesh and sent by God to die for our sins as the ultimate sacrifice.

I have a beautiful Easter poem for you by Louise Bélanger. She has permitted me to post it prior to publication. It will be part of her upcoming Christian Poetry book, Your Words, Your Hope.

If You Ask Me

Three were crucified

That day

Why Jesus in the middle?

Why not the other two

Together

Next to Jesus?

If you ask me

I tend to think

It’s symbolic

Was the one

Referred to as

The thief on the cross

On His left

Or His right?

If you ask me

The Bible doesn’t say

But I gather His right

As he was saved

Signs

Are all over the Bible

God speaks

Through signs

Jesus will separate

The people

He will place the sheep

On His right

And the goats

On His left

The sheep

Are the saved

The goats

Are not

Three were crucified

That day

Jesus in the middle

If you ask me

I tend to think

It’s symbolic

Of the future

*All rights to IF YOU ASK ME belong to Louise Bélanger. Inspired by Matthew 25:33.

*Sunday Post is sponsored by Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

Sunday Post: Timber!

BonnieReadsAndWrites8 Comments

Thanks to The Caffeinated Book Reviewer for hosting Sunday Post.

The past week we started on a long list of projects we were waiting to get done after we sold our house in Tennessee. First, being in the mountains means we are surrounded by trees, and some of them have to come down for safety’s sake. 828 Tree Removal came out and started on a big project for us. It was interrupted by weather, but they managed to get half of it done and I expect to see them back tomorrow to finish the rest of it. Below is a video of one of our trees coming down. You can’t see the top of it in this video, but it’s very tall and it was close enough to our house that if it ever fell, it would do a lot of damage. We are having a total of ten trees taken down (plus some smaller ones that were in the way). One of the trees that already came down was five feet across at the base. Tomorrow they tackle the ones by the power lines. Praying!

We also had someone from Blossman Gas come out to discuss putting gas heat in the house. Our power goes out sometimes in the winter, so this would ensure we still have heat. We are still in the “getting estimates” phase of that. We want to put in a garage, so that is another possible project, but most of our land is “uphill,” so it would require some serious grading to create a garage site, so we’re undecided as to whether we’re going to take that on.

Doug is almost finished with the inside. There are some ceiling tiles and trim left to do, and that’s about it. It will be exciting to see it all finished. He has some work to do on the outside this summer.

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOG

I reviewed Camp Babylon by Timothy Beavin and Horse Show by Jess Bowers. I did a Q&A with Jess, which I will post tomorrow.

NEXT WEEK ON THE BLOG

I will review That You Remember by Isabel Reddy and Remnant by Katie Sweeting, and hope to review other books as well. I will post the aforementioned Q&A with Jess Bowers, and I might be able to do Top Ten Tuesday, if I have time.

BOOK HAUL

I was given Netgalley widgets of The Adventures of Mary Darling and The Nazi Housewife of Queens, New York. “Nazi Housewife” has already been published so I’ll try to read that one soon.

Mary Darling is a pretty wife whose boring husband is befuddled by her independent ways. But one fateful night, Mary becomes the distraught mother whose three children have gone missing from their beds. After her well-meaning uncle John Watson contacts the greatest detective of his era (but not that great), Mary is Sherlock Holmes’s prime suspect in her children’s disappearance. (Peter Pan and Sherlock Holmes mashup)

Discover the intersection of two lives in 1950s America—an ordinary Queens housewife harboring a dark Nazi past and a survivor seeking justice. In this tense and shocking tale, their paths collide, unraveling a complex quest for truth across time. Based on actual events, this astonishing story follows the path of two women seeking to establish peaceful new lives in America and leave the devastation of WWII behind, but a shocking discovery upends their lives and locks them in a decades-long journey to confront the past.

HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEK!