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The Sunday Post #231 | November 29, 2020

Sunday, November 29, 2020

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

It's a chance to share news: a post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books,

and share what's coming up on your blog in the week ahead.

To those that celebrated, I hope you had a wonderful (and safe) Thanksgiving. Ours certainly looked different this year. There were just three of us - me, my husband, and my mom. My sisters were at their homes celebrating with their own families. Sure, it wasn't ideal, but we made the best of it, focused on all the many, many things we have to be grateful for, and had such a good, low-key day.

I was off work Wednesday through Friday so I've been enjoying five days off in a row and it's been divine. No work, no stress, time to spend the way I want... I could get used to this. :)

This Etsy commercial has been making my heart so happy. No telling how many times I've watched it but it always puts a smile on my face. Have there been any holiday ads that have caught your eye?

This week's 80's music fix is Right By Your Side (1983) by Eurythmics. Annie Lennox has such an amazing voice and I've always loved the reggae kind of feel to this one.

Tuesday, November 24

Top Ten Tuesday: Thankful Edition

WHAT I COMPLETED IN THE LAST WEEK

Read:

Queen Move - Kennedy Ryan

Listened to:

Snapped (Playbook #4) - Alexa Martin

WHAT I'M CURRENTLY READING

Reading:

Heartstopper: Volume One - Alice Oseman

Listening to:

Well Played (Well Met #2) - Jen DeLuca

KINDLE BOOKS:

'Tis the Season for Romance - Anthology

All I Want for Christmas Is You - Anthology

eARC FOR REVIEW:

Stay For Me (Arrowood Brothers #4) - Corinne Michaels

How was your week? Any new books? Any news to share?

I'd love to hear about it!

Top Ten Tuesday: Thankful Edition

Tuesday, November 24, 2020

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

THIS WEEK'S TOPIC:

WHAT I AM THANKFUL FOR

It's easy to get caught up in Life's challenges (especially this year!), the day to day annoyances, and what's going wrong at any given time. I try to focus on the positive and have gratitude every day, but Thanksgiving is the perfect time to truly recognize all we have to be thankful for in our lives.

HEALTH

This really took on a new meaning this year. Health is something I sometimes take for granted but at a time when a virus has taken over a million lives across the world, it is something I am extra thankful for this year.

MY HUSBAND

I am thankful every day for the man that came into my life almost 30 years ago. No one makes me laugh harder, feel lighter, smile more, or love deeper.

FREEDOM

This is another one that took on more meaning this year. With the country divided and so much inequality, it was a reminder than I am so thankful to live in a country where I have the freedom to voice my opinion, to peacefully protest, and, most importantly, to vote.

MY HOME

I am so thankful for a safe, comfortable home. A bed to sleep in, a pillow for my head, running water, a way to stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer. A safe haven that I love to return to each day.

TECHNOLOGY

I've often joked that I have an unhealthy attachment to my iPad, but this year has made me more grateful than ever for cell phones and tablets and computers that have allowed me to see people and stay in touch when being together isn't possible.

MUSIC

Music has always played a part in my life and been important to me. It can lift my mood, relax me, energize me, make me nostalgic, express my feelings, make me dance, and generally provide the soundtrack to my life.

A JOB I LOVE

With so many out of work this year, I am more thankful than ever for my job. I have been with the same company for many years, I work for people that I respect and admire, and I have the flexibility to work from home or go into the office.

AGING

What? Thankful for aging and growing older? Absolutely! With age comes experience and (hopefully) wisdom. The ability to see the big picture and put things in perspective. And the knowledge that most any situation (good or bad) is temporary, and life does go on. Aging is a gift that is denied to many.

THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS

I choose to believe that most people are decent, kind people. And I see evidence of that all the time, in big ways and small. Whether it's holding the door for you, the person in front of you that paid for your drink, or just a smile that lifts your spirits on a bad day, I am thankful for all the people who spread small kindnesses.

BOOKS AND THE ABILITY TO READ

And any list of what I'm thankful for has to include books. The ability to read, the authors who create beloved characters and stories, the books that provide so many hours of enjoyment and escapism... for all of those I am so thankful.

WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR THIS YEAR?

Review: Wild at Heart by K.A. Tucker

Friday, November 20, 2020

WILD AT HEART

K.A. Tucker

Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Released: February 18, 2020

Source: Purchased

Rating: 4 stars

Calla Fletcher returns to Toronto a different person, struggling to find direction and still very much in love with the rugged bush pilot she left behind. When Jonah arrives on her doorstep with a proposition she can’t dismiss, she takes the leap and rushes back to Alaska to begin their exciting future together.

But Calla soon learns that even the best intentions can lead to broken promises, and that compromise comes with a hefty price—a log cabin in interior rural Alaska that feels as isolating as the western tundra.
With Jonah gone more than he’s home, one neighbor who insists on transforming her into a true Alaskan, and another who seems more likely to shoot her than come to her aid, Calla grapples with forging her own path. In a world with roaming wildlife that has her constantly watching over her shoulder and harsh conditions that stretch far beyond the cold, dark, winter months, just stepping outside her front door can be daunting.

This is not the future Calla had in mind, leaving her to fear that perhaps she is doomed to follow in her mother’s fleeing footsteps after all.

After reading – and loving – The Simple Wild in 2018, I was so excited when Tucker announced the continuation of Calla and Jonah’s story in Wild at Heart. And I thoroughly enjoyed this look at what happens beyond the fade-to-black happily ever after.

When Calla returned to Alaska she was thrilled to be reunited with Jonah but that was quickly tempered by the realities of life in her newly adopted home. Calla was completely out of her element and began to feel resentful when she felt she was the one doing all the compromising. At times I was frustrated with her and wanted to tell her to stop acting like such a spoiled princess. While I could understand the culture shock she was experiencing, it took her a long time to engage in her new life and actually make an effort to expand her horizons. She constantly compared her new small town life to her big city background and found it lacking. Over time, sometimes even despite herself, she did meet new people, form connections, and began to make a place for herself in her new community. I really loved the growth in Calla over the course of the story and it felt like her evolution was the crux of the book.

I sensed the tectonic shift somewhere deep inside – my time in Alaska had changed me in ways I couldn’t pinpoint but also couldn’t ignore. Who I was and who I am now seem like two different people.

The secondary characters went a long way in making the story come to life. Tucker assembled a cast of characters that were bursting with personality and I could practically see strong-willed Muriel and the curmudgeonly Roy. And then there was calm and steady Jonah who was trying so hard to balance his love of flying and the long hours away from home with Calla’s shaky start in Alaska and her growing pains as she struggled to find an identity for herself outside of Jonah’s girlfriend. They hit some rocky patches along the way but I loved the journey.

YOU CAN FIND WILD AT HEART HERE:

GOODREADS | AMAZON | AMAZON UK

The Sunday Post #230 | November 15, 2020

Sunday, November 15, 2020

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

It's a chance to share news: a post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books,

and share what's coming up on your blog in the week ahead.

Tropical Storm Eta came through on Thursday and my company urged all employees to work from home (I was already working from home on Thursday so no change there). While the storm caused some damage where it made landfall (further south in Florida) it ended up being pretty anti-climactic here. Heavy rain and strong winds throughout the morning and by early afternoon the sun was out. So at least I don't have to add storm damage to the list of 2020 fails.

After much consideration, I invited my mom and sisters over for dinner on Friday. There ended up being five of us (one sister did not come) and we dined al fresco with tables and chairs set up, distanced from one another. It was good to have a casual meal (pizza take-out for the win) and just spend some time together while being safe about it.

Update: Last week I mentioned the marinara sauce that I'd made. When I used some this week I used the immersion blender to smooth it out and I liked the texture so much better (just say no to chunky sauce!). I also added a bit of Splenda and that toned down the acidity perfectly. So, thanks to anyone who had the sugar suggestion. :)

This week's 80's music fix is Lean On Me (1987) by Club Nouveau. Fun fact: At about the three-minute mark when they sing "we be jammin'", I was convinced they were saying "with pajamas." Didn't make a bit of sense but I was sure of it. It took years before I finally figured it out. :)