Sunday Post #123

Posted April 26, 2015 by Lola in Sunday Post / 38 Comments

sunday post

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer.
It’s a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

What happened this week?

I did some more cleaning and found a whole lot of candies in one of our cabinets that were about a year or longer past their expiration date, oops. The cabinets in our kitchen are pretty deep so we didn’t realize we had so much left. Beside that I got a lot fo work done and new authors I am organizing tours for, so a busy, but good week.
And if you stopped by my blog you probably have already noticed it, I have a new blog banner! I really love it and I like how it’s in the same style as the banners for my posts. And the pony is still there, but it still gives my blog a new and fresh look! Thanks so much Michelle from Because Reading is Better Than Real Life for the awesome header! There also will be a new blog button to match the new header soon.

MY boyfriend and I watched a few more Star Wars Clone Wars episodes. It feels a bit like the plot is jumping aroudna dn we get to see different sections of the war and it’s aspects, but the movie as start of the first season was really good, the Hutlet was adorable. And I just like seeing Annakin in action, he’s one of my favourite characters of the series. And seeing Yoda in action in oen of the episodes was cool. My boyfriend and I are getting a bit star wars obsessed again, we’re considering rewatching all the movies or starting a Star Wars Fate campaign, but no idea with whom to play, maybe we’ll look into online rolelay options. I try not to get too excited, but I did found a homebrew Star Wars fate rulebook online. Who’s your favourite Star Wars character and why?

Sadly I didn’t got a lot of blog commenting done this week as by the time I was done with work I only had time to reply to comments and comment back. I am hoping to do better next week. I also had some issues with my sites this week, so if anyone had trouble accessing my blog last week, it should be fixed since thursday. I updated my sites to the newest wordpress version on monday I think and since then my sites were super slow or didn’t load at all and jetpack kept e-mailing me my site was down and then up and then down again. It was frustrating. Then thursday there was a new update and just got Lola’s Blog Tours to work long enough to get it to update and after that everything worked again and I could update Lola’s Reviews as well. I’ve had no problems after that anymore. It’s so weird as everyone always recommend to update wordpress as soon as there is a new version and that’s actually what seemed to cause problems this time.

Last week I mentioned I decided to start offering cover reveals for free on Lola’s Blog Tours. You can read more about that in this post. So far the response has been great, some authors who normally don’t cover reveals mentioned they might do one of rtheir upcomng release and people really seem to like the idea. I’ve been tweeting about it like crazy, hoping to attract new customers. And I already am organizing two new cover reveals and this makes me really happy!
Also I have a question for you, I now list all the open tours on Lola’s Blog Tours in my sunday post, but I am not sure if people like to see this. An alternative would be to only list tours that are new and only went open for sign-up in the previous week. What do you think?

My mom had her surgery for her tonsils last week and this monday she got the results of the tests they did. It was good news and there’s nothing wrong with her beside the fact that there was a hole behind her tonsil that they didn’t expect and it might take double the time to recover, but that’s good news compared to what we were afraid for.

My sister and her cat Mimi moved out last weekend and it has been bliss this first week. Although I keep expected her to come home or Mimi to walk in my way. It’s really weird, but we’re slowly getting used to it being just the two of it. The house suddenly feels empty, in the summer we’ll receive a cupboard from my boyfriend parents to fill in some empty space in the living room.

mini blogahead
Like I mentioned two week ago I am joining the Mini Blog Ahead which takes place in the first two weeks of May. The goal is to end the challenge with 14 more scheduled posts than you started. I am not sure if I am going to make that amount, but even if I only end with a few more scheduled posts than I started it’s more than worth. I am currently around 32 scheduled posts, I really hope to get back to at least 40. I’ll share my updates in my sunday post, like I did with Coyer instead of creating a sign-up post.

What did I cook for dinner this week?

  • Sunday: Mashed Potatoes with red bell pepper and onion in soy sauce and vega safari nuggets for me and chicken for my boyfriend
  • Extra: Brownies
  • Monday: leftover Mashed Potatoes with red bell pepper and onion in soy sauce and scrambled egg
  • Tuesday: Risottto with apple and corn
  • Extra: Pecan Coconut Cookies
  • Wednesday: Sajoer Beans
  • Thursday: Masala/ curry red bell pepper and potatoes casserole
  • Friday: Lasagna Soup
  • Extra: Brownies
  • Saturday: Lasagna Soup Leftover

Random Picture(s) of the Week

Blossom trees
Last week Lexxie shared a picture from the cherry blossom in her garden on her blog Unconventional Book Views. I mentioned we had blossom trees in front of our appartment complex and as they are fully in bloom now, I thought I would share a picture. Ofcourse the one right in front of our house looks really sad and is less beautifull as the other trees, so I photographed the other trees instead.

This week I blogged about:

Blog Tour: Tara Nikkel and the Shaman of La’la Eek
Review: Washing Statue Wanderlust (Kami No Sekai short stories #2) by SJ Pajonas
Review: Nights Under the Tenessee Stars by Joanne Rock
Lola’s Ramblings: Settings in Books
Lola’s Kitchen: Egg Salad Recipe
Review: Midnight Frost by Jennifer Estep

What to expect next week on the blog:

– Review: One Good Cowboy by Catherine Mann
– Review: Dragons are People Too
– Blog Tour: Runaway Brides by Catherine Mann and Joanne Rock – review of book #0.5 and #1
– Lola’s ramblings: Settings in Books Part Two
– Lola’s Kitchen: Potatoes and Peas Curry Recipe
– My To-Be Read List #9: poll

Tours open for sign-up on Lola’s Blog Tours:

Review Opportunity: Chills: a short story collection by Sahar Sabati – sign-ups open till further notice
Review Opportunity: Flawless by Jennifer McGill – sign-ups open till further notice
Review Opportunity: The Luthier’s Apprentice by Mayra Calvani – sign-ups open till further notice
Review Opportunity: Daughter of Isis (Descendants of Isis #1) by Kelsey Ketch – sign-ups open till further notice
Review Opportunity: Cross Roads by Donald Wilson II – sign-ups open till further notice
Review Opportunity: Last House Burning by Katy Scott – sign-ups open till further notice
Review Opportunity: Click Date Repeat by K.J. Farnham – sign-ups open till further notice
Review Opportunity: Calling California (Hunter Hill University #1) by J.P. Grider – sign-ups open till further notice
Review Opportunity: Mending Michael (Hunter Hill University #2) by J.P. Grider – sign-ups open till further notice
Review Opportunity: True Calling (True Calling #1) by Siobhan Davis – sign-ups open till further notice
Review Opportunity: Nights Under the Tennessee Stars by Joanne Rock – sign-ups open till further notice
Review Opportunity: The Ghostcrow: A Tale of Andor by M.K. Theodoratus – sign-ups open till further notice
Review Opportunity: Cutlass and Flintlock by Ashley Nixon – sign-ups open till further notice

Cover Reveal: Mail-Order Groom by Cindy Flores Martinez – sign-ups open till 5 May
Cover reveal: The Sky Child and Otehr Stories by Danielle E. Shipley – sign-ups open till 11 May

Book Blitz: Bound by Blood by Scott Springer – sign-ups open till 20 April
Book Blitz: Suspected by Rori Shay – sign-ups open till 21 April
Blog Tour: Regina Shen by Lance Erlick – sign-up open till 17 May
Book Blitz: Love Overcomes by Angela Schroeder – sign-ups open till 18 May
Blog Tour: Beyond Reach by Siobhan Davis– sign-ups open till 30 April
Blog Tour: All for Love by Susanne Matthews– sign-ups open till 25 May
Book Blitz: 3volve by Josefina Gutierrez -sign-ups open till July 5

Book Haul:

the rearranged lifeThe Rearranged Life
by Annika Sharma

Format: e-copy
Source: for review for a blog tour
You can find The Rearranged Life on Goodreads

Blurb:
Nithya, a vivacious, intelligent and driven college senior has always known what she has wanted: a successful career in medicine and the love of her family. She’s even come to terms with the idea of an arranged marriage, a tradition her conservative Indian family has held up for thousands of years.

When a night of partying puts her on a collision course with danger, Nithya’s entire life changes.

Enter James St. Clair, the smart, challenging and heartbreakingly handsome American.

As Nithya and James fall in love, she questions the future she and her parents have always planned. Now, Nithya has a choice to make: become a doctor and a good Indian bride, or step away from her family and centuries of culture to forge her own path.

The decision she comes to takes her on a journey that transforms how she sees her future, her relationships with loved ones, and how she learns to put herself back together when even her best-laid plans fall apart.

This sounds like such a fun and interesting book with a main character from an indian family. So happy I got picked for the blog tour!

Pregnant by the Cowboy CEOPregnant by the Cowboy CEO (Diamonds in The Rough #3)
by Catherine Mann

Format: e-copy
Source: for review through netgalley
You can find Pregnant by the Cowboy CEO on Goodreads

Blurb:
From one-night stand to one huge secret! Only from USA TODAY bestselling author Catherine Mann;

Jewelry designer Amie McNair would do anything for her dying grandmother, including promise to travel with the outsider chosen to run her family’s business empire. Simple. All she has to do is keep her hands to herself and find a way to let the sexy new CEO know she’s pregnant with his child.

Preston Armstrong has secrets of his own. But spending a week with Amie has this tight-lipped cowboy longing to open up. Even if his past threatens their future as a couple, and a family.

I really enjoyed the first two books in this series, so I can’t wait to read the last book!

small town secretsSmall-Town Secrets (Scorpion Ridge, Arizona #4)
by Pamela Tracy

Format: e-copy
Source: for review through netgalley
You can find Small-Town Secrets on Goodreads

Blurb:
One particular secret could tear them apart

Yolanda Sanchez had never been a “follow your bliss” type of girl, always preferring to make practical choices. But since her mom’s will stipulated that she had to fulfill a dream with her inheritance, here she was, opening a used book store. With consummate dreamer Adam Snapp, an artist and childhood friend, as her handyman. So much for her comfort zone.

But she needs help, and Adam needs the work. It’s strictly businessuntil they discover a mysterious book about Scorpion Ridge history. One that reveals not just secrets of their families’ pasts, but how deeply intertwined their futures really are.

Oops didn’t realize this was the fourth book in a series O_o

havocHavoc (Havoc #1)
by Autumn Grey

Format: e-copy
Source: bought with amazon gift card
You can find Havoc on Goodreads

Blurb:
Selene Michaels is determined to never let anyone make her feel inferior again. After a painful divorce, she finds herself in Paris on a working holiday, hopeful that this will be the opportunity she has been waiting for. She intends to have fun and maybe find someone to flirt with; someone who will show her a good time, treat her right, and awaken her to all she has been missing. What she does not expect to find is Remington St. Germain and his adorable son, Adrien. Remington is intense, devastatingly hot and a Prince Charming on the outside, but a dirty talking, insatiable devil behind closed doors—the opposite of the man she has been hoping for—and not the type to give up on something that he wants. Selene soon realizes that life with Remington is not only interesting, but adventurous. It’s dangerous, and she’s about to find out how dangerous. . . if she is brave enough to take a chance.

***Havoc is the first installment of a three-part serial, each approximately 36000 words. (110 pages)***

Love this cover! I saw this book over at Bookworm Brandee her blog awhile and it sounded really good so I added it to my to-read list. This book came to midn when I was thinking what to buy with my won amaozn gift card.

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38 responses to “Sunday Post #123

  1. I like putting Cover Reveals up on my blog. Especially if I like the covers! I haven’t had much chance this year to join any tours or stuff as I am very busy around the house. My dad and I are trying to get the house and garden fully sorted-a lot of jobs were left undone last year and getting all that done plus the general housework and blogging has kept me too busy to get involved in blog tours and things. I like the cherry blossom trees-nice photo!
    chucklesthescot recently posted…Book Review: Blood Noir by Laurell K Hamilton (Anita Blake #16)My Profile

    • That’s one thing I always found tricky as a blogger, when I sign-up for a cover reveal and then I don’t like the cover. I’ve seen your weekly updates and you have been busy indeed. I just love it when these trees blossom, it’s so pretty. So sad it only lasts a few weeks.

  2. Love the new blog banner Lola, it definitely matches your blog really well! Glad to hear that you guys are really enjoying Clone Wars, in preparation for the upcoming movie. I’m not really the right audience for the blog tour thing, so I tend to skip past that section. Anyway, it’s a good idea to include them in your weekly posts or do a separate post.
    Jeann @ Happy Indulgence recently posted…Indulgence Insider #26 – Age of Ultron & Fantasy LootcrateMy Profile

    • Thanks Jeann, I am really happy with the new blog banner :). Actually we started watching the Clone Wars series after we watched the first season of Star wars Rebels and found out there was another animated movie. I am really exicted for the new star wars movie later this year!
      I guess for those who aren’t interested in the blog tour thing it’s easy to skip past it as well.

  3. Your new blog-banner is awesome, Lola! Michelle did a great job once more 🙂

    I’m glad you’re adjusting to life with your sister and her cat out of the house, even if it’s still a little strange. And you’ve been very busy with both blogs, even if they were down for a while. I always panic when that happens, because I’m not very savvy when it comes to things like that. And I haven’t gotten a reminder to download the new WP version either…

    The blossoms you see from your windows are gorgeous. Thank you for sharing 🙂

    Your new books this week all look great, I want to read all of them, and hope you’ll enjoy them.

    Have a wonderful week ahead, happy reading.
    Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews recently posted…The Sunday Post #29 – Time is Flying!My Profile

    • I really like her design style and I am happy with the new banner, she really did a great job!

      We’re so used to having my sister and her cat around, that it taken some time gettign used to their absence. I certainly panicked when my sites kept being down or slow, it was frustrating. One of my sites automatically updates, else you can go to the dashboard to see the updates.

      It so pretty to the blossoms, sadly it only lasts a few weeks.

      I am really happy with my haul this week, they all are books I am looking forward to.
      Lola recently posted…Sunday Post #123My Profile

  4. I love your new blog banner and wow! You have a lot going on in the blog tours side of your business! That’s a huge list! I don’t really have an opinion about what you list out but I usually look it over each Sunday just to see what’s going on. You ate a lot of mashed potatoes this week and now I want some. I’m really impressionable when it comes to food 🙂
    S. J. Pajonas recently posted…WASHING STATUE WANDERLUST Is Now Available!My Profile

    • Yeah last week has been busy with new authors and requests, I am really happy with that. Another review opp went live today and a new tour will be live later this week probably. I hope this trends continues!
      I like potatoes and it’s been awhile since we had good mashed potatoes. It’s nice to be able to read leftovers the next day.

    • We hand’t cleaned out those cabinets in a while, it’s sad to find so many expired food. And with candy it often still looks good, but better not risk it and just throw it away.
      I always feel a bit bad throwing my tours in everyone’s faces, but I want more people to sign-up. And I am glad to hear that most people don’t mind the links.
      I am happy with my Star Wars fix, but on the other hand it brings my obsession back in full force. Sometimes avoidance is better.

        • We often did that with my sister as she usually still likes it even if it’s old ;). My stats on Lola’s Blog Tours say some people click from this site over to that one, so I guess it must be working a bit. It’s just hard to find the right line between being too pushy and promoting right. I might have to list the genres as well one day, makes it easier for people to see if there is something they like.

    • I didn’t get around to taking any rat pictures this week, I hope I’ll have a rat picture again next week ;). I cook all days here and it’s fun to share what I cook. Salt is difficult to get right, I usually use low salt bouillon cubes instead of salt. They still give the food a richer taste, but it isn’t too salty.

    • Me too, I just love seeing all the trees blossoming and having flowers. I always feel like I am being a nuisance putting my tour links there, but like you said if someone doesn’t like it they can skip over that part.

    • Thanks! I hope she recovers soon as well, we were all very relieved when we got the good news monday. The cover of Havoc is so pretty and it is the reason it caught my attention.

    • I’ll consider what to do with the tours, I like the idea of only featuring the new tours, but then I don’t have anything to share in slow weeks.
      And yeah the candy was so far back in the cabinet we didn’t realize it was there, oops.
      Lola recently posted…Sunday Post #123My Profile

  5. I like the way you include your meals in your weekly summary.

    When it comes to the Lola’s Blog Tours announcements/links in your Sunday Post, I think it’s a good idea to list *all* the tours which are open to participation. If you restrict it to just the newest ones, then a new reader of your blog might miss out on a Tour or Review opportunity that they’d have enjoyed participating in.

    • I am glad you like it, it’s fun sharing what I eat. Food is important to me and who know someone might get a good idea for what to cook.

      Thanks for your feedback! I always am afraid people might find it too much when I share all the tours, but like you said I also wouldn’t want anyone to miss out on a great tour. Maybe I should mention the age category and genre too, then it’s easier to see if there’s something you like.
      Lola recently posted…Sunday Post #123My Profile

  6. Glad it was a good week and you got lots of stuff done.

    I like Star Wars, but I prefer the original three b/c Han Solo is my favorite character. I watched a few of The Clone Wars with my brother when I visited him last year. They were good too.

    As to your tours, I don’t mind seeing them posted each week. I’ve actually done one of your tours for a Karen Rock book after seeing the listing.

    Was glad to hear about your mom’s results. Lovely Cherry trees!
    Sophia Rose recently posted…Collide by Ashley C. Harris #YAReview #YoursAffectionatelyMy Profile

    • I watched the prequel movies first so I wonder if that’s why I like them more. I hear a lot of people prefer the original three. The clone wars episodes we’ve seen so far were fun, they are a bit random and the plot isn’t as straight as in Star Wars Rebels, but it’s fun.

      Oh I didn’t realize you joined the tour for Karen Rock thanks to seeing it on my blog, thanks for letting me know! I was afraid that peoepl might fidn it annoying, glad to hear that isn’t the case.
      I think that is how I met you through that tour. And then I couldn’t visit your blog at first, but luckily Shari changed the settings, so I can visit now :).

      Yeah we were really relieved with the good news about my mom. And I will enjoy the blossom trees these weeks until the blossosm are gone again.
      Lola recently posted…Sunday Post #123My Profile

    • I was the same when I first saw the cover for Havoc on another blog, it’s just so pretty and makes me want to read it! It sounds really good, so I am hoping to read it soon.
      I am hoping to cook the potatoes and peas curry again soon, it’s delicious!

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