Sunday Post #193

Posted August 28, 2016 by Lola in Sunday Post / 50 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?

This was a busy and exciting week. I did a lot of work this week, I had a new idea that I started implementing, more about that later. I did a lot of normal work and work on the new idea, so I didn’t got much time for writing posts. I did got a little bit of a Lola’s Advice post written. I guess this means I am going to fall behind or maybe I’ll do a month with only reviews. We’ll see. Maybe I can write some posts next week.

Last Saturday we watched the first Jurassic Park movie. I have never seen these movies before and I really enjoyed it. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the movie, but I was pleasantly surprised. We will be watching the rest of the Jurassic Park movies soon.

We had some really warm weather this week, too warm for me. And I had a nasty headache on Wednesday, that lasted for a day or so. Oh and it was my birthday this week. And I had another headache that day too, I blame the heat. So I didn’t really have a nice birthday sadly, I worked like normally and while I planned to take some extra time off that ended up turning into an hour long nap because of my headache. I did got a nice surprise gift in the mail and my grandma send me some money for my birthday, which probably will be spend on books. I also got the game Kingdom Rush Frontier from my boyfriend, which is the sequel to a game I am currently playing Kingdom Rush. My mom and her husband visited on Saturday, it was a fun visit. They got me some new pencils for coloring, a big chocolate bar (I’ll try and photograph that for next week) and a mix to make apple caramel cookies. My sister will visit next week.

Tthis week I set-up a newsletter for authors! That’s the new idea I mentioned. At first the idea was to e-mail previous clients about my 3 year anniversary giveaway, but I didn’t want to get in to trouble by e-mailing people who didn’t want to hear from me again. After considering whether to go ahead with it anyway or to play it safe, I eventually decided to play it safe and then when I thought more about it, I got a whole new idea.
Why instead of only e-mailing them about a giveaway like this, I would make it a true newsletter for authors with tips and advice and things about my services as well. So I set-up webforms for authors to sign-up for the list and added them to my website. Then I e-mailed the authors I previously worked with to ask if they wanted to join the list. That way I know only authors who are interested will join the list. And I’ve set-up an auto responder/ automation e-mail, which will e-mail every new sign-up after 3 days with a welcome e-mail. Not yet sure about the timing, but I’ll try things out and see how it goes. I was so nervous and excited about this new idea and I really hope the authors will like it too and be interested in what I have to say. Authors can sign-up for my newsletter for authors here.

Picture of the Week

Satisfy-my-Bowl-ice-cream
The Ben and Jerry’s ice creams were discounted this week and as it was my birthday the day before I went grocery shopping I decide I deserved some birthday ice cream. I bought the Satisfy my Bowl ice cream. It’s banana ice cream with caramel and cookie swirls and chocolate peace signs. Yum! And it’s been so warm this week that all I want to do is eat ice cream. Which flavors Ben & Jerry’s ice cream do you like?

What did I read this week?

Saven DefianceDating for Decades

This was a bit of a slow reading week, but still a good one. I finished my re-read of Saven Defiance this week and I think I enjoyed even more than the first read. I reviewed it on the blog this week. And I read Dating for decades, which had a lot of things I enjoyed, but also quite some that I didn’t. I do plan to read more books by this author as I did like her writing style.

What did I cook for dinner this week?

This week I blogged about:

Review: Saven Defiance by Siobhan Davis
Review: All-Butter Short Dead by HY Hanna
Lola’s Ramblings: Impulse Purchases for Books
Review: the Immortality Cure by Tori Centanni
Review: Must Love Ghosts by Ani Gonzalez

What to expect next week on the blog:

– Review: Cracked to Death by Cheryl Hollon
– Review: Romancing the Stars
– Lola’s Ramblings: Five Games I am really Looking Forward to
– Coyer Recap
– My To-Be Read List #15: poll

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

Review Opportunities:
Summer Haikus by SJ Pajonas
Dominic’s Nemesis by D. Alyce Domain
Secret Baby Scandal by Joanne Rock
Micah by Lee DuCote
Across Borders by Lee Ducote
Don’t Call Me Kit Kat by K.J. Farnham
Before I Shatter by Mandy Peterson
Name of Ra by Kelsey Ketch
Single Chicas by Sandra C Lopez
Check the full list of open review opportunities here.

Cover Reveals:
In Every Way by Amy Sparling – 31 August
Dementia Praecox by W.O. Cassity – 9 September – New!

Tours:
Blog Tour: Here Comes the Witch by Ani Gonzalez – 7 till 20 September
Book Blitz: In Every Way by Amy Sparling – 13 till 19 September
Book Blitz: In the Line of Duty by Carolyn Arnold – 3 till 9 October – New!

Book Haul:

Conditional Probability of AttractionThe Cat, the Collector and the KillerSeptemberThe prince and the Cyborg

I got Conditional Probability of Attraction for review and I am looking forward to continuing this series. The Cat, the Collector and the Killer was a book I won in a giveaway, I mentioned I won the giveaway two weeks ago and now the book arrived. It’s a paperback copy and the cover is so adorable. And I got a review copy of How the Ghost was Won by Erin Hayes, but that doesn’t have a cover yet. Berls from Fantasy is More Fun was nice enough to lend me September. It’s a fun series so far and I enjoy reviewing one book each month. I am currently reading this one, so I can review it in September. The Prince and the Cyrbog got described by the author as a sci-fi retelling of the little mermaid and the female is the cyborg in this one. It caught my attention and I bought a copy with amazon gift card money.

Freebies I grabbed:

I grabbed the following freebies this week: The Departed (YA Dystopia) and Ever Shade (YA Paranormal).
And freebies that I already owned in another format or got for review, but also grabbed on amazon now as they were free: Tender Deceit (Romantic Suspense), Containment (science fiction), Faery Swap (MG Fantasy) and The Lockmith (science fiction). I can tell you The Locksmith and Faery swap are great as I’ve already read those two.

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50 responses to “Sunday Post #193

  1. Happy birthday! Sorry you had a headache though :-/ At least you got some great gifts! Those apple caramel cookies are going to be delicious, I can already tell lol. I want some, send some over in the mail when you make them. And that ice cream looks delicious too!

    How cool that you’re doing a newsletter for authors. I’d be nervous to do something like that, but I think it’s awesome πŸ™‚

    A sci-fi retelling of the Little Mermaid? That’s definitely catching my attention. Gonna go check that out! And yay for finding a new series to read! (The probability one.) I also found a series last/this/whatever week that I’m really looking forward to continuing. And now I’m off to check out some of those freebies!
    Kristen @ Metaphors and Moonlight recently posted…The Weekly Update: 8/28/16My Profile

    • It was a shame I had a headache on my birthday, but at least the days after that were better and I got some great gifts. I wish I could ship things like cookies, but I don’t think they would survive. I’ll try to remember to take a picture when I do make them though.

      I was totally nervous about setting the author newsletter up and I keep thinking I don’t know enough to do this or offer authors advice. But I also know that I tend to be bad at gauging what I do know (I always assume others know the same things I do). And on the other hand I also was very exciting about the idea and kept writing things down that I could include in the newsletter. I already have ideas for the next 2 or 3 newsletters. So we’ll see how it goes :).

      The Little mermaid was always one of my favorite Disney movies, so a sci-fi retelling of that sounded very promising. And I am looking forward to continuing the Probability series as the first book was good and I hope it gets even better when the series progresses. Glad to hear you also found a series that you’ll be continuing :).

    • Thanks! The headaches really are a curse and they sure had bad timing this week.

      I am glad to hear you think the author newsletter is a great idea. I am really excited about the idea :). I got a decent amount of sign-ups so far from authors who I already worked it. I haven’t promoted it much besides that, so that will be my goal for next week to mention it on social media a bit as well.

      I don’t think I have found any flavor of Ben and Jerry’s that I don’t like so far, although I did try one of their Core flavors once and wasn’t a fa of that one.

  2. Happy Birthday! Sorry you had a headache. I’m a huge fan of ice cream. It is my biggest weakness. My favorite flavors are cookie dough and cookies and cream. I do often buy vanilla at home, just because it is so versatile. I can put it on something like brownies or pie, I can put topping on it, etc. I hope you have a great week and that headahce stays away.
    Melanie Simmons @mlsimmons recently posted…Hammered Audiobook by Kevin Hearne (REVIEW)My Profile

    • Thanks! It was too bad I had a headache on my birthday.

      I haven’t had cookies and cream ice cream so far, but my mom once made homemade oreo ice cream which was delicious. And cookie dough is really good too. I also like the cinnamon bun flavor and chunky munky from Ben and jerry’s. Vanilla sure is versatile and can easily be combined with other things.

        • Sounds good! I am not sure if we have that type of ice cream over here. I’ll have to check next time.

          I have had oreo ice creams that were shaped like magnum ice creams, but then with an oreo coating and tiny pieces of oreo in the vanilla ice cream. I guess that filling would fit your cookies and cream description as well.

  3. I can fervently sympathise about the headaches – I’ve suffered with migraine and severe headaches all my adult life, although they have eased down now I’m older. Sorry you had one on your birthday. I can’t eat ice cream as I’m dairy intolerant, but I do enjoy sorbets – when it’s warm enough! Mango and lemon are my favourites… Hope your new ideas workwise are productive and this coming week is painfree! This is my Sunday Post –

    • I think mine are migraines too, but I never got it officially diagnosed, but it runs in my family. I hope they will get less once I get older as well. It was such bad timing to have a headache on my birthday.
      That must be difficult not being able to eat dairy. Mango sorbets are good! I actually have some mango sorbet ice int he fridge right now. I never had a lemon sorbet though, but want to try it.
      Lola recently posted…Sunday Post #193My Profile

    • Thanks for linking to your sunday post. Thanks for double checking your spam folder to see if any of my comments landed there. Last Sunday all my comments seemed to land in spam, it was weird.

  4. Looks like you had a busy great week. I love Jurassic Park! I read them before seeing the movies. I’m not a huge fan of #3 but the first two are awesome. I love the new one Jurassic world. I hope you enjoy all your new books. I love how you integrate food into your blog. I’m slowly trying to add more and more foodie stuff. Thanks so much for sharing!!! Have a great week.
    Mandy recently posted…The Sunday PostMy Profile

    • I didn’t realize they were based on books! I liked the first movie more than the second one so far, we haven’t seen the third one yet.

      I am glad you like how I integrate food in my blog :). I’ll have to try and do a few more food posts soon.

  5. Sorry you weren’t feeling well for your birthday, what a bummer! I sounds like you got some nice gifts and family time though πŸ™‚ I, for one, like the ice cream gift you bought yourself lol! I love Ben and Jerry’s – I forget the name of my favorite though. Happy reading and I hope the heat lays off for you!
    Berls recently posted…Sunday Post | Things are looking good!My Profile

    • It sure was a bummer to not feel well on my birthday. But luckily the days after that were fun. I thought it was a good occasion to buy some good ice cream :). Ben and Jerry’s has a lot of delicious flavors, I always have a hard time deciding what to buy.

  6. Happy Birthday! I am sorry you did feel well.

    I loved the 1st and 3rd Jurassic Park…I will never speak about the 2nd one. The new one was pretty good. My husband really liked it.

    Ben & Jerry’s CHUNKY MONKEY is my favorite. Banana Ice Cream, Walnuts and huge chunks of Chocolate. So yummy.

    That is a great idea and could be very helpful for indie authors. I think you do amazing things for them with you advise.

    Have a great week, Lola! Happy Reading! ox
    Michelle @Because Reading recently posted…Almost back to normal ~ WIR & TSPMy Profile

    • I wasn’t happy to get a headache on my birthday, but at least the days after that were good again.

      I really enjoyed the 1st Jurassic park movie, we watched the second one yesterday and I thought it wasn’t as good as the first one. I hope I like the 3rd one more again.

      I was doubting whether to pick this flavor or chunky monkey, I guess I was in the mood for banana ice cream at least. The Chunky Monkey flavor is one of my favs as well. And the cinnamon bun and cookie dough ones are good too.

      Thanks! I really hope the authors appreciate it, so far I am having fun with it πŸ™‚

  7. I’m a massive Jurassic Park fan. Loved the first two, liked the third and thought Jurassic World was mega!!! I cannot wait until 2017 for the next one, I just can’t! When I was a kid I used to tell my teachers I wanted to be a dinosaur when I grew up and I’ve never lost the love for them!
    chucklesthescot recently posted…Stacking the Shelves #146My Profile

    • We only watched the first two movies so far, i liked them both, but thought the first one was better. Next week we’re watching movie 3 and then Jurassic World. It’s fun to finally see these movies. Ah that’s awesome you told your teachers you wanted to be a dinosaur.

    • Thanks! I am really excited about the newsletter idea :). We watched the first two Jurassic park movies so far and I like them. I hope we get some cooler weather this week, that would be welcome!

  8. Happy birthday! And great idea for the author newsletter. I hope it goes well and you get lots of responses. I like Jurassic Park a lot and the second one too, that one gets more mixed reviews but it has it’s moments. After that they get a littl silly but you can never go wrong, right, with dinosaurs? lol

    We actually had a Ben & Jerry’s shop in one of the tourist towns nearby but they went out. That was a bummer, they had the best stuff. Looking forward to seeing what games you have coming up.
    Greg recently posted…Sunday Post #157My Profile

    • I am really excited about the author newsletter :). I already have some ideas for later newsletters.
      We watched the first two movies by now, I thought the first one was better, but like you said the second one has it’s moments as well.

      Ben and Jerry’s have some of the best ice cream! That’s awesome you had a Ben&Jerry’s shop close by, bummer they closed.
      Lola recently posted…Lola’s Ramblings: Five Games I am really looking forward toMy Profile

  9. Oh, that is fantastic that you got a lot of work done and had a great idea that you were able to set up.
    Bummer about the heat headaches. I hope things cool off with autumn coming. But yay for Ben and Jerry’s. I’m a Cherry Garcia fan (old school flavor, I know).
    Neat that you had lovely presents from everyone and some family visits.

    Enjoy the books you got. The Little Mermaid sci-fi retelling does sound fun.
    Sophia Rose recently posted…A Vintage Delight: Re-Read #Review: The Stanforth Secrets by Jo BeverleyMy Profile

  10. Nice book haul. Jurassic Park, wow, I’ve only seen the first two or maybe three. I don’t know now. It’s been so long, but it came out when I was in high school and once it was out it was one of the movies we watched every New Years Eve with my best girlfriend. We had a set of movies we watched each New Year’s in high school. Ah the good old days.
    Have a wonderful week!
    Angela @ Angel’s Guilty Pleasures recently posted…ARC Review: Haunted by the King of Death (Eternal Mates #11) by Felicity HeatonMy Profile

  11. I’m not really a fan of Bananas and chocolate in Ice cream because I don’t like how the chocolate gets all hard and stuff. πŸ™ But the way you explained it, it still sounds good. <3I'm glad to see that your'e getting a lot of work done though!

    • I really like this flavor, the ice cream has a good banana taste and the pieces of chocolate and caramel cookie swirls add some variation to it.

    • Yes they have gone away, they usually only last a day, but that’s still too long. It was fun to see my mom and the visit with my sister was good too. Glad to hear you like the newsletter idea!

    • Not sure if I have tried Phish Food, the name sounds familiar, so I know I’ve at least seen it.

      I hope you’ll enjoy Faery swap!

  12. Happy late birthday, Lola. The weather here has been really hot, too, and both my youngest daughter and I get headaches as well πŸ™
    Sounds like you’ve gotten some great ideas for your newsletters, good for you on working on those straight away.
    My favorite Ben & Jerry ice is the cookie dough one, and also the peanut-butter cup *sighs* so, so good!
    Have a wonderful week and happy reading πŸ™‚
    Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews recently posted…Review: Destined for a King – Ashlyn MacnamaraMy Profile

    • Sorry to hear you and your daughter get headaches as well, they are the worst. I hope it cools down a bit this week.

      It was fun to work on my ideas for the newsletters for authors.

      I also love the cookie dough flavor! I haven’t tried the peanut butter cup one yet.

  13. Happy Happy Birthday! There is nothing worse than having to suffer through a dang headache, right? Seems like everything needs to stop until it’s over and done with, and I’m sorry you had to go through it. I do have to tell you that I’ve never seen that flavor of Ben and Jerry’s and it looks totally fun! I’m with Lexxie and enjoy my Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough. Hope your week is as fab as you! Hugs…
    RO Ingram recently posted…CHOCOLATE DECADENCEMy Profile

    • I hate headaches. Although it probably doesn’t help that my usual strategy is to keep working even with a headache, just makes me more annoyed and it’s hard to concentrate. Taking a nap helps sometimes.

      The cookie dough flavor is really good too, one of my favs as well. But I was in the mood for banana ice cream this time, so I went with this one. The Chunky Monkey and the cinnamon bun flavors are good too.

  14. Happy birthday again! I’m sorry you suffered from so many headaches this past week. What a bummer. There’s nothing that makes me more irritable than a headache, so I feel for you. I really enjoyed your first email for the author newsletter! I think this is a great idea and you’re doing a great job of implementing it! I’m sure it’ll be good for your business. <3

    My favorite Ben & Jerry's ice cream is the Coffee Toffee. It's coffee ice cream with bits of toffee and chocolate. Mmmm. I had it a while back and it was as good as ever. On the plane home from Japan yesterday, I had a tiny single serving of the Chocolate Brownie Ben & Jerry's. It was good too. πŸ™‚
    S. J. Pajonas recently posted…Heading To Japan!My Profile

    • It was a bummer to have a headache on my birthday. Headaches make me very irritable as well, but I am glad I still got a lot done.

      Thanks! I am really excited about the newsletter idea and I am having fun with it so far. I already some ideas written down for future newsletters. And I hope it will be good for business too :).

      I don’t like coffee, so I am not sure if I will like the coffee ice cream. But all their flavors sound so good, yum! I always have a hard time picking only one flavor to buy.
      Oh that’s neat you got ice cream on the plane. I hope your journey back home went well. I had fun seeing your updates from japan every day while you were there :).

  15. Happy belated birthday!!!!!!

    I got sent The Cat The Collector And The Killer this month too. It was actually pretty good as long as you like cats, since there were a LOT of cats in the book! *laughs*

    Ben & Jerry’s doesn’t make my favorite ice cream anymore. They discontinued it years ago. It was called Wavy Gravy and had caramel & cashew brazil nut ice cream with a chocolate hazelnut fudge swirl & roasted almonds. It was soooo good! *lol*
    Silvara recently posted…The Cat, The Collector and the Killer (A Cats in Trouble Mystery #8) by Leann Sweeney (review)My Profile

    • I was quite happy to win the book and I like cats, so I hope that means I’ll enjoy it.

      Yum that Wavy Gravy ice cream sounds good, that’s a shame they don’t make it anymore.

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