Welcome to this week’s Sunday Post. This feature is brought to you by The Caffeinated Book Reviewer, so swing by after you are done here and get the full list of participants!
What I Reviewed:
- [11 Jun] Ocean Light by Nalini Singh ★★★★
- [12 Jun] Relentless by Elizabeth Dyer ★★★★
- [14 Jun] Claimed by Gods by Eva Chase
- [16 Jun] Oh, My Dragon by Lani Lynn Vale ★★★★
What’s Coming Up:
- Whiskey Sharp by Lauren Dane
- Shelter for Blythe by Susan Stoker
This Week’s New Releases:
Open Giveaways:
- a #ForeverSummerReading tote bag!
- a $50 Amazon Gift Card
What I Found Online:
- UTC Book Blog gives us the top 5 romantic suspense series! I love romantic suspense and haven’t read a single one of these so I am checking them out for sure!
- EyeHeartRomance gives us her favorite romance audiobook narrators!
This Week’s Book Haul:
ARCs thanks to the authors and publishers:
Non-Bookish News:
Happy Father’s day! My dad is also a reader and he and I have shared many books over the years. When I was young (late elementary/middle school aged) he and I read the JRR Tolkien books. We also both loved The Princess Bride. So, thanks Dad for encouraging my love of books!
I made it home from Jamaica early Wednesday morning. It was a rough day of travel. It was a 90 min bus ride from Negril to Montego Bay. The roads in Jamaica? Not good. Then we made it to the plane with maybe 15 min to spare, so we couldn’t grab lunch. Our flight landed in Baltimore at 8 and we spent forever in customs. One of the kids got detained because they thought he had ‘agricultural products’ (he didn’t and we have no idea WHY they thought that!). By the time we got through customs and security again, it was past 10 and the food places were closed for the night. I had some cranky teenagers on my hands! Then our flight to Cincinnati had to fly around a thunderstorm. Serious turbulence! I got through 2 decants of the rosary before we were cleared to land! Crazy! But, we made it back home just fine and I am very thankful for that.
Jamaica was an amazing, eye opening experience. We did some great work with the Franciscans there. Jamaica has some serious infrastructure problems though. The transportation issues, the education issues, the health care issues…its all systemically bad! We spent time in several different schools which I loved. The kids are so joyous. It was hot, there was no AC, they are working with less supplies and yet the kids are joyous. We also helped paint a woman’s new house. Her entire house is smaller than my book room. It was unbelievable that multiple people lived there. Yet, they were so happy to have it! Everyone we met was very content with their lives. Things don’t go their way? No problem, mon. I am hoping to work with one of the priests to get some Kiva.org projects going for people in the area. If you want to see some of the amazing work that Fr. Jim of Mary, Gate of Heaven church and/or Fr. Colin of St. Mary Revival does, check out the facebook and website! They do amazing things in Jamaica and I am so humbled to have worked with them.
Now that I have successfully brought all 12 kids home from Jamaica, I am on summer break! No students to monitor until late August! Whooohooooo!
So, whats new with you this week? Did you read any of the same books I did? Did you find any great book deals I need to grab ASAP? Let me know in the comments!
Man, The Princess Bride has been on my TBR list for a loooong time. I’ve been waiting for so long to read this classic. Thank for reminding me ahaha! Enjoy your summer!
I still have two more weeks before summer break is official. I don’t have any teaching these days, just lots and lots of meetings 🙂
It sounds like your trip to Jamaica was a huge success, even if you ended up with cranky teenagers due to not enough food on the way home.
Have a wonderful week ahead and happy reading 🙂
The trip sounds amazing. The trip home not so much. LOL Enjoy all of those new reads and Yay for summer break!
Happy Fathers Day to your dad, and hope it’s a great day. 🙂 Your flight back from Jamaica DOES sound rough- that would be no fun. But glad the trip was so rewarding- that’s awesome news. And it’s amazing how people with so much less can be so thankful- it’s a good lesson for all of us I guess. Plus I can’t imagine how hot it must get, with no AC, and yet they deal with it!
Thanks for sharing about your trip, it’s kind of inspiring.
Aww that’s so sweet that you and your dad are both readers and have shared books like that! Yikes, that does sound like a rough trip home. It does seem like it was an eye-opening trip though, and I’m glad it went well. Hope you’re enjoying summer so far!
That’s great you guys made it back. Have a wonderful summer. Happy Reading!
Sorry your return trip was such a struggle, but glad you made it back safely. I almost requested the new Jaci Burton book, but I have so many review books. I am a Hope fan, but I will just have to wait to read it from the library. Can’t wait to see what you think.
You are a brave woman – 12 kids – Jamaica. WOW, that was some trip and all the problems with getting food. It must have been a nightmare. Glad you are all safe and yes – you need a vacation now! Have a wonderful week!
Mary
I love seeing the world, but I hate traveling. It’s always stressful. I’m glad your time in Jamaica was productive. Enjoy your summer! Have a great week!
Your trip to Jamaica sounds like such a learning experience and I bet it was just gorgeous there too. Happy start to summer vacation. Have a great week and thank you for stopping by. 🙂
Sounds like the trip to Jamaica was such a rewarding experience. Eye-opening and rewarding. But what a stressful trek back home. Ugh. And now hooray for summer break! Color me envious. 🙂
Thank you so much for the mention 🙂 and hope you enjoy the books if you check them out