My Monday tradition, including a look back and a look ahead — what I read last week, what new books came my way, and what books are keeping me busy right now. Plus a smattering of other stuff too.

Life.

What a difference a week makes! The week before last, I was basking in the sun with good books and fruity frozen drinks, enjoying a vacation with my husband… and this past week, it was back to work, back to the daily routine, and back to running around non-stop. I finished four books on vacation… and this past week, barely made it through one. Clearly, I need to plan another vacation ASAP!

On the bright side, I went to a great dance workshop over the weekend, and came home with sore feet and a happy heart.

Plus…

Got my COVID and flu vaccines! Doing my part for myself, my family, and the community.

And wrapping up the week, here’s a picture of the kitty just being his cute self. Love the eyes!

What did I read during the last week?

As I mentioned, I only finished one book during the past week, but I did manage to catch up on writing and posting reviews:

Reviews from books finished earlier:

The Austen Affair by Madeline Bell and Emma of 83rd Street by Audrey Bellezza & Emily Harding: Check out my two-fer review, here, of these two cute Austen-inspired romances.

A Pirate’s Life for Tea (Tomes & Tea, #2) by Rebecca Thorne: A so-so second book in a cozy fantasy series. My review is here.

Green Rider by Kristen Britain: Terrific first book in a long-running fantasy series. My review is here.

New this week:

Lucy Undying by Kiersten White: This Dracula retelling took me all week, even though I was very into it. I finally finished late Sunday. Review to follow.

In audiobooks, I started out the week with a DNF:

Where You’re Planted by Melanie Sweeney: I borrowed the audiobook from the library, listened to the first hour and a half, and decided I just wasn’t in the mood. My first impressions: A fairly predictable enemies-to-lovers setup, plus a bit too much crassness for my taste. (A description of nipples in the opening paragraphs probably should have been my first clue that I wouldn’t like this book.) It’s possible that I’ve just listened to too many contemporary romances lately… in any case, I stopped, returned it to the library, and moved on to…

… a much better choice!

I adored my audio re-read (re-listen) of Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen, narrated by the incredibly talented Juliet Stevenson! Just what I needed.

Pop culture & TV:

I did a bit of catching up on my usual reality competition shows this past week, including Survivor, The Amazing Race, and Dancing with the Stars. Don’t mock me for enjoying DWTS! Yes, they use the term “stars” pretty loosely. (I’m sorry, but “influencers” (gag) are not “stars”! — well, not for me, anyway.) Still, I enjoy watching people learn to dance, and also, watching this show is a sweet sort of tribute to my dad, who loved ballroom dancing and kept at it well into his 80s. He always loved to show me ballroom videos when I’d visit, and so watching DWTS makes me think of him every time!

Over on AppleTV+, I decided to check out The Studio to see what all the fuss is about. I’m about halfway through, and yes, it’s worth watching! My free trial of AppleTV+ ends soon, and since I still have a long list of shows I want to check out, I plan to keep my subscription going, at least for now.

Fresh Catch:

No new books this week… but a wonderful work friend gave me a birthday gift of an Amazon giftcard and this amazing book lamp:

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

The Haunting of Paynes Hollow by Kelley Armstrong: Getting back to ARCs! I’ve just barely started, but since it’s by a favorite author, I have very high hopes.

Now playing via audiobook:

My Friends by Fredrik Backman: I’ll be starting this audiobook today! Really looking forward to it.

Ongoing reads:

My longer-term reading commitments (current and coming up):

• Villette by Charlotte Brontë: Group classic read, two chapters per week. Progress: 76%. Up next: Chapters 33 and 34. The end is in sight! We’ve got about a month to go (and honestly, I’m ready to be done).
• The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien: Another book group read, continuing our LOTR adventure. Progress (relative to the entire LOTR opus): 46%.

What will you be reading this week?

So many books, so little time…