Once again I’ll be linking this up with the Sunday Post (hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer) and with Stacking the Shelves (hosted by Reading Reality).
As you’re reading this, I’m probably driving home from the big Book Bonanza convention! So be patient with me getting back to you if you comment, I will probably be exhausted when I get home late tonight, so won’t do a lot of commenting back or even checking comments till Monday.
Monday was the 4th of July and I spent most of the day at home relaxing. I did finally cook on my new stove, some already seasoned pork chops I’d bought at the grocery store the week before and needed to use before I went out of town. Then I had to make my usual food for our get-together at my brothers, Velveeta and Ro-tel cheese dip. Usually I cook ground beef and add it, but I decided to skip that for a change. My day lilies are starting to bloom!
I did not take pictures of the fireworks because there’s a meme about how no one is going to look at any of the videos you take of fireworks, and it’s true. But I did have to take pictures of my 10 year old niece’s annual 4th of July art show.
And here is the one I bought from her show. Her dad said she had to sell some because she did some of her painting in some new shirts and ruined them with paint. lol
Tuesday was miserably hot, and I had to mow. I also went and got a manicure and pedicure to look good for the book convention!
Wednesday I felt like I was rushing around trying to get everything ready before I left. I got my hair cut and colored, and had her put some curls in the hope they’d last at least till Friday enough that my hair would look cute in pictures. I can usually get one or two extra days out of a hairstyle if they put enough spray in it, lol.
Thursday was driving all day, and then got to the Gaylord Texan resort in Dallas where Book Bonanza was. I got there and got my registration taken care of then went to the SmartyPants Romance little get-together the first night. I got to meet several authors there, but it wasn’t a time for book signing, that was for Friday and Saturday only. I’ll do a separate post just for all the Book Bonanza stuff when I get back in town and share all those picture then! But here is a shot of my room at the Gaylord-Texan.
Friday was crazy! Loved seeing favorite authors again and meeting new ones. I’ve got so much to talk about, but I’m saving it for a special post because I’m so busy enjoying Book Bonanza.
Saturday was also a crazy day! My feet were killing me by the end of the day, and while I got to meet all my big authors, I ended up just barely missing two of my newer authors by like minutes. They left their tables early, like 45 minutes before the end of the signing. Again I’ll share more when I do my BB post.
Books Finished
Not as many this week as last week since I was trying to be caught up before the convention and then with being busy at the convention! Since I had a friend staying with me in the hotel, I didn’t just sit and read when I was alone either. We Made It All Up was an ARC I read and the review should be posted tomorrow. The second one was for a blog tour review next week. The third one I finished while sitting in line waiting to get into the signing at Book Bonanza.
New Additions
ARCs:
I got to go the panel with Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone and so I got a copy of their ARC for A Merry Little Meet Cute with a special book beau for attending! So cool!
One of the panels I went to at Book Bonanza was for a new publishing imprint, that is part of Sourcebooks from what I learned. It is called Bloom Books. They were giving books away to those who attended at the end, and these are the two I picked.
Audiobooks:
I used my monthly Audible credit on this one. I only wish I’d bought and listened to it before I went to Book Bonanza since the author was there!
Bookish Stuff:
Lots from Book Bonanza! Stay tuned for a post just about the event!
E-galleys:
This is a new favorite author of mine, and this is for an upcoming blog tour!
Free E-books:
None
Physical books:
I think this one I won from YABC. If I don’t get to it soon, I’ll donate it to my school library where I know it will be when I’m ready to read it, and that way my students can enjoy it as well.
Again I’ll have a LOT more to share from my Book Bonanza trip in a special post!
What I’m Watching
So I saved the last part of the 9th episode of Stranger Things for last Sunday night. I didn’t think I was going to cry, but I did. Now I have to wait soooooo long for the 5th and final season! I also started watching the series Heartstopper and the first episode was so good!
Giveaways
- Summer 2022 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop – This giveaway goes clear until September, and I will also have a few smaller giveaways after I go to Book Bonanza pulled from the rafflecopter before September too!
- The Looooong and the Short of It with a Giveaway: June 2022 Wrap-Up Post and What to Expect in July
Final Thoughts
How was your week? Did you read or watch anything good? Get any good books?
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Big book Bonanza sounds great. I used to collect books from people book mail boxes during the pandemic. it gave me hope and things to look forward to. I hope you enjoyed yourself.
It was a lot of fun! But I am also glad to be back home now. Thanks for visiting!
I can’t wait for your post on the big Book Bonanza convention! It sounds amazing.
It was neat! And I was stressed ahead, but once it actually got going it was all good!
I can’t wait to hear more about Book Bonanza! I loved the ending of Stranger Things and I watched Heartstopper when it was first released and loved it too. Hope you have a good week😁
I’ve only watched the first episode of Heartstopper, but need to go on! Thanks for visiting!
Can’t wait to hear more about the book event! The Holiday Trap is on my wish list, so that’s exciting you got an ARC. I love the author.
Lauren
Yeah, I was excited to see them giving away ARCs! Thanks for visiting!
OOh nice! Book Bonanza sounds like fun! I think I’ve looked at that one but there’s only ever a few authors I read in attendance, or that’s what it is when I check in! Lol. Usually try to have a bigger number in order for me to make the trip. But it’s one I’d like to try one day, that and Apollycon! I’m trying to quickly debate the merits of trying to attend next year. But alas, I just don’t know! The authors there are ones I’ve met over the years and I’ve plenty of unsigned books and there’s 1 author who I have not met who will be there…so I’m not sure if it’s worth the cost.
Nice new reads though! Lots of new to me ones but I hope you enjoy them all!
Here’s my Monday Wrap-up
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower 🙂
BB is mostly just romance authors, but there are paranormal ones there too. I know JLA had to pull out this year, but is supposedly going next year? Although since it is in Texas, she might not want to go, as I saw her post on Facebook about some authors not wanting to go to certain states now. I may or may not go again. I love it, but it is so expensive! I went to Apollycon just once, but would love to go again! It is always near DC though now I think, and it seems like hotels there are expensive too. I went when it was in Florida and that was so much fun because then I went to see the Harry Potter stuff at Universal. lol Like you, I’ve met most everyone at BB now, so that’s another reason maybe the money should be spent on different trips. Thanks for visiting!
Oh wow. I can barely remember when Apollycon use to take place in different cities! I had always hoped she’d come closer. Then it decided to stay in DC. I had hoped the “mini” Apollycon (was called The Origin Event) that I went to would’ve taken off better. It was meant to be a smaller scale version of the big con and that one was going to be the “traveling” con. But alas, the first one was the last one. I think it was in 2018, so pre-Covid. Would’ve thought we’d have another in 2019 before the shutdown, but I guess not.
I hope you had fun at the Big Book Bonanza. I’ve always wanted to go to a book convention, but I’ve never had the opportunity. Someday. 😀
It is fun, always enjoy the book conventions! You should definitely plan to go to one!
I’m now craving that Velveeta-RoTel dip, so thanks for that. lol I haven’t had it in years. Sounds like Book Bonanza was a success. I’m considering going next year. My 77 year old mother actually told me she wanted to go. Well, okay then. Haha! I binged Heartstopper a couple weeks ago and I can’t stop gushing about it. Total perfection! 🙂
Lol! We have it every time we have a family get-together where everyone brings a dish, because that’s my “specialty”. You should totally go to Book Bonanza! There were people of all ages and even husbands there with their wives! It was a blast. I’m debating if I need to go again or save money for something else next year. I adore Heartstopper so far, and am going to have to just buy the books at a Barnes and Noble for my library because the place I order books from seems to be out of it every time I try to order it!