Sunday Post (32) / It's Monday, What Are You Reading

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. It's Monday, What Are You Reading is a fun weekly meme now hosted by Kathryn at Book Date, where we share what we've read and reviewed over the past week and what we plan to read next.

I had kind of a quiet week of just playing catch up before the end of the year. I went to Barnes & Noble on Thursday to buy books for the library's teen collection since I still had a lot of money left over in the teen budget. I ended up buying mostly graphic novels with some replacement copies of popular books and a few new novels. I still have quite a bit to spend so I might make a trip to Wal-Mart this week.

I also finally sent out a couple of Christmas cards and put up one Christmas decoration (a jingle bell doorknob hanger). It didn't make sense to do more as I am leaving this Friday to visit family for the holidays and I won't be back till after Christmas. I am really looking forward to spending time with my parents and my sister. We are going to her house on Christmas day to celebrate with her husband's family and the next day we'll have our low-key family Christmas at an Indian restaurant.

This week I have to pack and pick up a few Christmas gifts for people at work. We are having a white elephant gift exchange at our holiday staff breakfast on Friday so I have to wrap my stuff for that. After the breakfast I have the rest of the day off and I am seriously contemplating going to see The Force Awakens before I head to my sister's house. I really want to see the movie as soon as possible to avoid any accidental spoilers at Christmas! I found some really cute BB-8 merchandise online this week including a purse I'd love to have but probably wouldn't use enough to make the price worth it (I could totally take it to the movie though) and this really cute BB-8 plush. Of course what I really want is this overpriced BB-8 robot from Sphero... Are you going to see the movie this weekend?

#Fitreaders Weekly Check In

#Fitreaders is hosted by Felicia at The Geeky Blogger and Jen at That's What I'm Talking About 

This past week was much better in terms of exercise but I did finally cave and eat some holiday treats. I know the next couple of weeks are going to be rough! We are having a Biggest Loser contest at my workplace though so that should help get me back on track and as long as I keep walking it's okay to eat those Christmas cookies, right?

Sunday--walked 1 mile
Monday--nothing
Tuesday--walked 1 mile
Wednesday--walked 1 mile
Thursday--walked 1 mile (and carried heavy stacks of books at Barnes & Noble) :)
Friday--walked 1 mile
Saturday--walked 1 mile

Last week on my blog:

Top Ten New to Me Authors Read in 2015 (post)

Ana of California by Andi Teran (review)

Books read:

Until We Meet Again by Renee Collins

To my mild surprise, I liked this "time travel" YA romance. Cass is annoying at first (she whines about spending her summer at a beach house with her mom and stepdad and little brother) but then once she meets Lawrence on the beach she loses the sulk. I liked that there is a bit of mystery and the concept the possible consequences of time travel is explored. 

Star Wars: Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn (reread)

I decided to listen to this audio book again before the new Star Wars movie comes out. These stories are now considered "legend" but in a way I'm glad as we won't see Mara Jade on the screen. She is particularly annoying in this book. The rest of the story is fantastic though. I remember how I used to wish that this trilogy had been made into movies instead of the "prequels".

Their Fractured Light by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

I liked this final book in the trilogy though it isn't as good as the first two. I thought it wrapped everything up and answered questions about the mysterious creatures known as "the whispers".  

Currently reading:

Star Wars: Lost Stars by Claudia Gray

I only just started reading this so I don't know if I'll like it yet but I have read some positive reviews from other bloggers. I wanted to try to read it before the new movie comes out. Supposedly there are some hints in it about The Force Awakens.

What I might read next:

My Kind of Wonderful by Jill Shalvis

I thought I might take a break from science fiction and pick up a romance next. I liked the first book in the Cedar Ridge series. I'm not sure if this book is set at Christmas or just in winter but I like the cover :)

The Great Christmas Knit-Off by Alexandra Brown

This Christmas novel just sounds like fun. Sybil has just been stood up at her Star Wars-themed wedding (see it ties in with this week!) when her fiance chooses her twin sister instead. She goes to visit a friend in a charming town where she gets to knit and maybe sell her creations and she meets the handsome town doctor. Sounds perfect for this time of year!

The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald

I have heard so many good things about this book. It was originally published in Sweden and this translated version will be published next month. The main character is a young Swedish woman who travels to Iowa to meet her pen pal Amy only to find out Amy has passed away. She decides to stay and opens a book shop. I've seen comparisons of this book to The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry which I loved.

New books received:

Sword and Verse by Kathy MacMillan  (for review)

The Shadow Queen by C.J. Redwine (for review)

Come Back to Me by Mila Gray (for review)

The Things We Keep by Sally Hepworth (for review)

My Kind of Wonderful by Jill Shalvis (for review)

His Right Hand by Mette Ivie Harrison (library book)

The Great Christmas Knit-Off by Alexandra Brown (library book)