Sunday Weekly Update June 5th

During this past week, I posted the last of my challenge reviews and a few book-related posts. Now, the real challenge begins -- maintaining the discipline of reading, reviewing, and posting. Don't get me wrong, I still want this experience to be fun. That's what I learned this past month, it is still fun to share.

Monday, May 30th
Photo: Pink Hydrangea Bush

• This pink hydrangea bush is right outside of my brother Alex's place. It was blooming and bursting with color and breathtaking beauty. The bees agreed!

Book Recommendations: Military Content

• May 30th was Memorial Day, and I celebrated the day by posting a favorite list of books, with military content, heroes and/or heroines, read and reviewed throughout that past few years.
• Unfortunately, my favorite SF/Romance series, Dock-Five by Linnea Sinclair, was missing from my recommendation. BUT, I realized that I did review the last book of the series, Rebels and Lovers (Dock Five #4), as well as her fabulous stand-alone book Games of Command. I edited and added both books to my initial list. Now, I'm happy! 

Tuesday, May 31st
Review: Only Beloved (Survivor's Club #7) by Mary Balogh

• This is the last book of Mary Balogh's Survivor's Club historical romance series. I missed two books in this series that I will go back and read now, but I found at least two books I seriously loved! 
• Only Beloved capped off the series quite nicely, with a giving man and a joyful woman willing to reach out to each other to achieve happiness in their lives. Romantic and beautiful. 

Wednesday, June 1st
30 Day Blog Challenge: Done!

• A wrap-up post for the 30 Day Blog Challenge, with a huge thanks to Ames who began it all! 
• Here, a big thanks to every one of you who added your support. Believe me, that made the past month of daily posting worth it! 

Thursday, June 2nd
Highlighting: Homo Superiors by L.A. Fields

• A new June release by Lethe Press, Homo Superiors by L.A. Fields, grabbed my attention as soon as I read the summary! It's a modern day retelling of the 1920's real-life case of Leopold and Loeb. Check out their picture (Leopold on the left, Loeb on the right). 

Friday, June 3rd

• Reading Day 
• Caught up with a few short stories in Tom Cardamone's anthology, Night Sweats.
• Began reading Sleepless in Manhattan by Sarah Morgan.

Saturday, June 4th

• Family Day: Attended my niece's 1st Communion! Afterwards, there was a big friends and family party to celebrate. It was a joyful day, and a fun, late, exhausting evening! Loved it! 

Sunday Weekly Update May 29th

This is the last complete week of the 30 Day Blog Challenge and my last real update. I still have two days left, Monday and Tuesday, since I began the challenge on the 2nd of May.

Monday, May 23rd
…On Vander: The Magnificent Tool 

• A sort of review I wrote last year right after I read Four Nights with the Duke by Eloisa James. I say sort of review, because my main focus was placed on the male protagonist as the reason behind my issues with the book. I decided to let the post percolate for a while before posting it to see if maybe there was more there for me to say. That never happened, and unfortunately the post lingered forgotten with my drafts until this past week. 

Tuesday - May 24th
@my brother's poetry reading

• This is a short, personal, but bookish post I prepared for earlier posting. On Tuesday, a headache that later turned into a crushing migraine hit. This was the perfect backup post! 
• The post is all about my brother Noel's poetry reading at NYU and the release of his poetry book this summer. 

Wednesday - May 25th

• Could not post because of migraine, however, I posted my prepared post on Thursday. 

Thursday - May 26th
Highlighting: Weaving the Boundary by Karenne Wood

• This small poetry volume has a fantastic summary that hits the nail on the head. I wanted to include it with my short review, but the post would have been way too long since I also wanted to include an excerpt from a poem. So, I split the post in two. This was supposed to be my Wednesday post. 

Poetry: Weaving the Boundary by Karenne Wood

• This Native American poetry volume was part of the Spring Catalogue at the University of Arizona Press and I received an early ARC. I read it early and it immediately became one of my favorite books of the year! I decided not write a long review for this book, and instead to post short impressions and an excerpt from one of Wood's poems, and to highlight the summary. I believe that should be enough to give the interested reader a sufficient idea as to Weaving the Boundary's impressive content and true value. 

Friday - May 27th
SF Mini: The Telling (Hainish Cycle #8) by Ursula K. Le Guin

• I've collected the whole Hainish Cycle series by Le Guin, and I'm in the process of reading it slowly. This is a mini-review of a book I highly enjoyed for Le Guin's humanistic (sociocultural) approach to science fiction, as well as the linguistic / language interplay she utilizes. I am loving Le Guin's work, and savoring each and every book as I move along her back list.

Saturday - May 28th
Break: Memorial Day Weekend

• This is self-explanatory: Remembering the reasons we are off this three-day weekend before going away to enjoy a few days with family and friends. 
• My plans for the weekend are fluid; pool party, barbecue with family and friends, getting away from my apartment, enjoying the weather.   

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Edited: I scheduled the above to post yesterday, Sunday. Unfortunately, for some unknown reason, it did not. Soooo, you all get my Sunday post on Monday!

Sunday Weekly Update

It's Sunday and time to do an update for my 30 Day Blog Challenge, and some commentary about last week's posts. I missed posting an update last week, but then, it was Mother's Day. :)

Monday
Update & Impressions of a Reader Turns 7!

• My 7th blogiversary and a commentary on the current status of my reading and blogging woes. 

Tuesday
…On the 2016 Locus Award Finalists List

• I loved this list of Locus Award Finalists. I posted my list of books read, but most importantly, a list of books I already own and WANT to read.
• Update: I have already read one book on that list, and began reading a second. See? It works! 

Wednesday
Tonight: Reading vs. Reviewing

• Struggling to choose between writing a review and picking up a book I desperately wanted to read. Everyone agreed that I should read! I did!

Thursday
I missed posting on Thursday, so I'm behind one post for the 30 Day Blogging Challenge. Reason? Worked late, fried brain! I deemed it best not to even try posting a picture! :)

Friday
Want to Read: Romance, Fantasy, LGBT Spec Fic, UF

• May releases I want to read. I already downloaded Only Beloved by Mary Balogh because I'm a huge fan of the author, and I've enjoyed a few books from this series. Also downloaded The Summer Dragon by Todd Lockwood. This fantasy was a random pick on part mainly because well… Dragons! I'm hoping it will be a good choice.
• In the meantime, I'm really looking forward to Tuesday and the release of 'Nathan Burgoine's new novel, Triad Blood. I loved his first novel Light, plus, he is a favorite LGBT author whose works (short fiction definitely included) I try not to miss. 
• Then there is All Fixed Up by Linda Grimes, another random pick on my part. I chose this book because it is urban fantasy with humor. I need humor in my life, so why not?
• And last, but not least, Sleepless in Manhattan by Sarah Morgan is part of her "From Manhattan with Love" contemporary romance series. Romance set in New York? Enough said! 

Saturday
Review: Ancillary Mercy (Trilogy #3) by Ann Leckie

• And finally on Saturday, I wrote and posted a complete review (no mini). This is the science fiction book from the Locus list that I finished this week. Also the book that I was reading Wednesday night! So worth it!!