Sunday Post #133

Posted July 5, 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?

Wow it was a warm week here in the Netherlands. Really warm. We’ve had mild weather so far this summer, but this week the temperatures got pretty high. I am happy to have a job working from home as I just didn’t want to move. It was a good productive week. I just wish it was less warm, the warm weather always makes me a bit annoyed and I sleep less well.

And Anna from her Herding Cats and Burnign Soup her annual Support the Troops Auction took place. It ran till July 3th, so it has ended now. I had donated a book blitz and it was fun to check the bids throughout the week and I am excited to organize a book blitz for the author who had the highest bid! Anna did a great job organizing the auction and I had fun participating.

Monday Snickers had her surgery. I was a bit worried, but it went well. the vet did say it was a bit harder surgery this time as the tumor was bigger, and so was the price. He’s not sure if the tumor was a malicious or not, but he was pretty sure he got most of it removed, so let’s hope for the best. Most rat tumors aren’t malicious though, but it is a bit suspiscious when they get tumors almost on the same place and they grow as fast as this one did. Snickers had a burst of energy when she got home, probably due to the painkiller. After that we both took a nap. I bought lots of yummies for her to eat during her recovery and it seemed to work. She ate lots of avocado and baby food. She seemed to love the baby food and didn’t even noticed when I mixed in her painkillers. I bought some extra baby food and frozen mango this week. Smarties also seemed happy with the frozen food and baby food especially with the warm weather. The extra fluid and cool food is good for them.

Remember how last week I did a post about netgalley on my blog. And one of the things I mentioned how it was a bit too easy to request books on netgalley and it required only one click? I am sure it’s enitrely coincidental, but last week when I was over on netgalley I hit that request button for a book and instead of sending my request another question appeared asking me what about the book appealed to me with 4 things you could click on: author, description, cover and I keep hearing about this book. Then you could clik on those that apply and had to hit the request button another time. Have you seen this extra question on netgalley already? What do you think of it?

Beside that not much happened. I got a bit blogging done, one Lola’s Kitchen posts drafted, I didn’t got much commenting done beside commenting back. I did read, but as both books I am reading are pretty long I still haven’t finished them. I am really enjoyed them though.

COYER-ScavHuntLogo
I finished Love Games this week and started Led Astray on my ipad. I’ve been making my way through Vision as evening book. I am really enjoying both of them, but it’s been slow going as both are pretty long books. They will both count towards the scavenger hunt as well.

Random Picture(s) of the Week

Smarties in the Sputnik
Smarties in her clean cage in the Sputnik

Smarties pancake
Smarties pancaking. I think she was a bit warm. I gave her some frozen advocado to cool down

Snickers drinking
Snickers spends most of ehr days on the couch where I set up a sputnik for her and a toilet and fleeche to give protection. Here I am giving her some water with a syringe.

What did I cook for dinner this week?

  • Sunday: leftover Korma
  • Monday: leftover Korma
  • Extra: Chunky Monkey Brownies
  • Tuesday: Mashed potatoes with corn and fish/ vega meat
  • Wednesday: leftover Mashed potatoes with corn and vega meat
  • Thursday: Mie and sereh curry
  • Extra: Crumb Cake
  • Friday: French Bread Pizza
  • Saturday: Dal Dhokli with naan

This week I blogged about:

Review: What Happens in London (What Happens #1) by Jen McConnel
2015 New Release second quarterly recap post
Book Resolutions Challenge: June recap
Blog Tour: When Faults Collide by Claire Granger
Lola’s Ramblings: What do you think of Series and Standalones?
Lola’s Kitchen: Red Curry with Pineapple Recipe
My To-Be Read List #11: poll

What to expect next week on the blog:

– Review: Bride on the Run (Runaway Brides #4) by Joanne Rock and Catherine Mann
– Review: Pregnant by the Cowboy CEO (Diamands in the Rough #3) by Catherine Mann
– Cover Reveal: Destiny Rising (True Calling #3) by Siobhan Davis
– Lola’s Ramblings: How do you Decide Whether to Continue a Series?
– Lola’s Kitchen: Spinach Masala Quiche Recipe
– My To-Be Read List #11: chosen book

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

Check the full list of open review opportunities here.
Review Opportunity: The Other Side of Summer by Elyse Douglas – sign-ups open till further notice
Review Opportunity: The Case and Hard Case by Marc Hirsch – sign-ups open till further notice
Review Opportunity: Love Spell by Mia Kerick – sign-ups open till further notice
Review Opportunity: Son of Set (Descendants of Isis #2) by Kelsey Ketch – sign-ups open till further notice
Review Opportunity: The Cursed Ground by A. Roy King – sign-ups open till further notice – New!

Cover Reveal: To Be Honest by TC Booth – 7 July
Cover Reveal: Destiny Rising by Siobhan Davis – 8 July
Cover Reveal: Kenna’s Reverie by Claire Granger – 13 July
Cover Reveal: The Coming of Arabella by Joanne Guidoccio – 14 July – New!
Cover Reveal: Hard case by Marc Hirsch – 15 July
Cover Reveal: Tight Laced by Roxy SoulΓ© – 16 July – New!
Cover Reveal: Summer Haikus by SJ Pajonas – 17 July
Trailer Reveal: The Silent Treatment by Melanie Surani – 21 July – New!
Cover Reveal: Destiny of the Queen by Jacqueline Patricks – 30 August

Book Blitz: 3volve by Josefina Gutierrez– runs from 6-12 July
Book Blitz: Heir of the Blood King by W.O. Cassity – runs from 20-24 July
Book Blitz: To Be Honest by TC Booth – runs from 21-27 July
Blog Tour: Kenna’s Reverie by Claire Granger – runs from 1-14 August
Blog Tour: The Dating Intervention by Hilary Dartt – runs from 1-14 August
Blog Tour: Miles Apart by Rhona L. James – runs from 1-21 August
Blog Tour: Guardian by Katy Newton Naas – runs from 3-16 August
Book Blitz: Love, Defined by Leila Tualla – runs from 4-10 August
Book Blitz: Love Easy and Love Hard by Roe Valentine – run from 17-23 August

Book Haul:

I didn’t receive any new books this week.

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38 responses to “Sunday Post #133

    • Thanks! I did fall a bit behind with scheduling posts though, so I am hoping I can get a few more posts written this week.

    • It’s not really a pop up screen, it shows up below the request bottom and I think answering it is optional. I answered it because I don’t mind, but I also think you can hit request without clicking on any of them.

  1. I saw that on NetGalley. I guess publishers are interested in why we choose certain books – how much the cover entices us vs the author etc… Will be interesting to see if it sticks around.

    Glad Snickers is on the improve.

    Deb
    Deborah recently posted…Weekly check-inMy Profile

    • Yeah I am realy curious if it sticks around and I wonder if publishers get to hear the information or if it’s more for netgalley themselves. I hope Snickers fully recovers this week, she is always a bit grumpy when she had surgery and doesn’t want to eat and drink as much as normal, although I gues that’s understandable. I still worry about her.
      Lola recently posted…Sunday Post #133My Profile

    • I only learned about advocado and baby food when our rat Pita (Rip) was sick and she didn’t eat as much. Snickers and Smarties both love fruit and baby food. Snickers still doesn’t each as much as she should, but at least she eats a bit now.
      Lola recently posted…Sunday Post #133My Profile

  2. I saw that too! It made me wonder if there had been too many low reviews or no reviews for that publisher. But if it’s on all the books, that’s still pretty interesting. Maybe they’re trying to weed through and pick the requests that sound like they will be better fits for the books?

    Glad to hear Snickers is doing well after the surgery! Hope she’s back to her usual self soon and no more tumors.
    Silvara recently posted…Jaclyn’s Ghost by Dorlana Vann (review)My Profile

    • I am not sure if it’s on all the books. I only saw it on one. I didn’dare try it on other books, in case it didn’t happen and I would request them instead. I do wonder what their reasoning behind it is and whether they use it to judge the review requests or just to understand their audience better?

      I really hope this is the last tumor we’ve seen for a while, we now rats with tumors for three months in a row, first Smarties had a tumor and now Snickers two times in a row. I am hoping that at the end of this week Snickers is back to her normal self.

  3. Aw glad the herd babe did well! Always gets a mama nervous. That’s interesting about NG. I rarely request over there (usually I just accept invites or go through my pre-approved ones) but I may have to check it out and see what happens. That’s kinda nice they’re doing that and probably helpful to authors as well to know.

    THank you so much for joining in on the auction πŸ˜€
    anna (herding cats & burning soup) recently posted…Tasty Delights– Pizza DipMy Profile

    • I am hoping she will be able to get back into the cage with Smarties later this week. Snickers is still a bit grumpy and not eating as good as she should, but her wound looks good, so that’s a relief. Now hoping the tumor doesn’t return.

      I don’t get as many invited, so I usually just go to NG a few times a week and request when I see something interesting. I also think it’s nice they added the extra question. I am thinking it’s for all the books now, but as I onyl tried one, I am not 100% sure.

      It was fun being part of the auction and I am hoping I can join again next year. And I am looking forward to organizing the book blitz for the author who won :).

    • Snickers is still a bit quiet and off, but I hope at the end of this week she’s back to her normal self. I think all books have the extra question now then? I think it will give them some nice insights on why we want to read a book, although I wonder if only netgalley sees what we answer or also the publisher?
      Lola recently posted…Sunday Post #133My Profile

  4. Hmms, that is it odd that you’re suddenly getting more questions when trying to request books. Can’t say that I’ve noticed a change but I didn’t request anything the last few weeks. Maybe their pulling an Amazon and switching things up so they get better feedback?
    Lanie recently posted…My TBR List Meme:#1 Choose It For ME!My Profile

    • Yeah I think it’s something like that. They porbably will use the feedback to get better insights in why we request a book. Other people commented they also saw the question, but I think it’s a recent change made somewhere last week. So you migth notice it next time.

    • Thanks! I hope the rest of her recovery will go well too.

      I was thinking the same thing about the change on netgalley. Will be interesting to see if they keep it like that or remove it again.
      Lola recently posted…Sunday Post #133My Profile

    • Being prepared with lots of yummies certainly helped, although she’s still not eating and drinking as much as I would like. I wodner what netgalley will do with the info they get from us answering those questions. I thought it was a fun coincidence as last week I talked about netgalley and hearign that other people also saw the question makes me think all books have this now.

  5. Glad Snickers is doing well. I did see that extra question on Netgalley, they are always upgrading something so I never know what is going to happen..lol. NO books..well you did a lot better than me..come over and find out…lol.
    Stormi recently posted…The Week In Review #44My Profile

    • I was actually surprised I got no new books this week. I actually got one from netgalley that I forgot to write down. It’s nice to have no new books for a week. I like the extra question so far, although I dow onder what they will do with the information they collect.

  6. I’m glad to hear Snickers’ surgery went well. I’m not usually a fan of rats but your two are really cute, and that Sputnik thing is, too!

    We’ve heard about the European heat wave. I’m glad you’re doing all right. I feel for everyone who is dealing with that heat without air conditioning. It’s just so draining to be hot all the time.

    About that NetGalley question – I’ve seen it on some books I’ve requested, but not all of them. It may be a publisher option, something they can choose to use or not.

    Have a great week and I really hope things cool down for you all!
    Lark @ The Bookwyrm’s Hoard recently posted…The Bookwyrm Turns Six!My Profile

    • Thanks! I never really considered rats as pets, until my boyfriend mentioned it and after doing some research on internet I quickly changed my opinion when I noticed how cute they are. They are rgeat pets to have. They love their Sputniks we have three of them in total. Snickers like having it on the couch while she recovers.

      Here most houses don’t have aidconditioning, the only thing we can do is put on the fan and open all the windows. It’s draining indeed to be warm all the time. If I am correct it will get a bit cooler this week, so that’s good πŸ™‚

      That would make sense the publishers themselves can choose that option or not. I wonder if they also get to see the answers blogger give on the question when you send in a request?

        • Well I was thinking maybe it’s something that netgalley only sees, but I agree it would make mroe sense if the publishers sees it as well. Although whether they see it with the requests or just as general stats would be interesting to know.

    • She did oull out one of her stitches tonight, but luckily it’s still closed. Giving her water or honey water with the syringe is the easiest way to get ehr to drink, although she’s pretty stubborn and refuses to drink sometimes.
      I don’t mind when it’s a bit warm, but not a fan of the too warm temperatures we have here at the moment. It’s too hot in my opinion.
      Lola recently posted…Review: Bride on the Run by Catherine Mann and Joanne RockMy Profile

  7. I hope Snickers is feeling better soon! When our dog was a puppy she ate part of a toy and had to have surgery to remove it. It cost a lot of money but it was so hard to see her in pain. Our pets are our family so we do whatever it takes to keep them healthy and happy.

    I haven’t requested anything new on Netgalley but I like that idea. I’m trying to catch up on my ARCs so this would have helped last year when I first started going on Netgalley. I wouldn’t have requested so many.

    I hope you have a great week!
    Kathy recently posted…Audiobook Review – Twice TemptedMy Profile

    • It’s so hard to see them in pain. Surgeries can costs a lot, but it’s worth it if it means having them around longer. And that must have been so hard to see your dog in pain.

      I am also trying to get catched up with my netgalley ARC’s, but I can’t stay away for long. It is nice to have that extra question to prevent impulse requests. I do hope it’s for all books now, but don’t dare click on a random book, just to find out.
      Lola recently posted…Review: Pregnant by the Cowboy CEO by Catherine MannMy Profile

    • Thanks :). It always takes a time for them to recover from a surgery like this, but so far she’s doing well. We even put her in the cage for a little while today and hopefully tomorrow she can be back in the cage full time again.

  8. Your what I ate this week thingy always makes me hungry. πŸ˜€ I don’t really use netgalley, so I can’t tell you anything about that. I CAN emphasize on the hot weather though – it’s ridic at the moment. I hope it wasn’t a malicious tumor and that you and your pets have a wonderful week. πŸ™‚
    Vlora recently posted…Melting MeMy Profile

    • I am sorry for making you hungry! It’s fun to share what I cooked for dinner. It’s getting a bit cooler here luckily, I can’t stand the heat. I really hope it wans’t a malicious tumor, rat tumors usually aren’t, but as this one grew pretty fast and came back slightly below the previous one. I hope you have great week as well!
      Lola recently posted…Review: Pregnant by the Cowboy CEO by Catherine MannMy Profile

    • I requested a few more books this week and all had the question, so I think it’s like the voting if you like the cover or not. Would be interesting to know what the publishers do with the information.

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