{Sunday Post} — Black Ice, Defense Protocol, and Every Moment Since

I hope this message finds everyone in good spirits amidst the hustle and bustle that the holiday season brings. Personally, I've had a challenging week. I accidentally smashed my big toe, which has made it quite painful to get around, and I also strained my lower back. To add to that, my recent attempts to tackle too many activities at once finally caught up with me, resulting in a week where I was far less productive in my reading and blogging.

What Am I Reading? 

Currently, I find myself engrossed in Becoming the Boogeyman by Richard Chizmar, and I’ve managed to make it to page 165. I’m planning to dig into a few more chapters tonight after watching Yellowstone and the KC Chiefs game. After that, I’ll dive into one of the many “to-be-read” books that are piling up on my shelf.

Song of the Week

Recently Reviewed

Books

Lost Birds

★★★✰✰

What's in the Mailbox?

I was excited when I received my copy of Tom Clancy's Defense Protocol by Andrews & Wilson on Friday. The folks at Putnam were generous enough to send it to me, and I can hardly wait to start reading it!

This morning brought an unexpected surprise: a package on my doorstep. It turns out that Amazon delivered it late Saturday night, and I had no idea it was there. Inside was an early Christmas present from a dear friend: a paperback titled Every Moment Since by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen. The cover might not suggest it at first glance, but it’s actually a crime mystery thriller, which I’m eager to explore.

What's New on the Bookshelf?

During my most recent thrift shop adventure, I came across a worn paperback edition of Dream Town by David Baldacci, which I picked up as a replacement for a water-damaged hardcover that I had previously acquired from the same store a year or two ago during a fantastic $1 bag sale. A few days later, I stumbled upon a hardcover version of Dream Town priced at $6.97; I suspect it’s likely a leftover from Black Friday sales. After some deliberation, I opted against buying it and settled on keeping the 10-cent paperback. However, I did treat myself to two hardcovers for $6.97 each: Black Ice by Brad Thor and Killing the Killers by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard.

To top it all off, my Kindle ebook collection has expanded significantly. I’ve added an exciting mix of titles, including Hangman's Creek by Matt Braun, Hellburner by Clive Cussler and Mike Maden, The Book of Lost and Found and The Invitation—both written by Lucy Foley, Marilyn in Manhattan: Her Year of Joy by Elizabeth Winder, Stephen King, American Master by Stephen Spignesi, Bitter Passage by Colin Mills, The Taken Ones by Jess Lourey, Offspring by Jack Ketchum, and finally, The Fixer: Moguls, Mobsters, Movie Stars, and Marilyn by Josh Young and Manfred Westphal. I can hardly wait to dive into these new reads!