Welcome to The Weekend Post #142! The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted at Caffeinated Reviewer. Itās a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme. I will also be joining Deb at Readerbuzz for the Sunday Salon and Marlene of Reading Reality in her meme Stacking The Shelves.
My Week:
Winter has fully settled in here in Vancouver, bringing colder-than-normal temperatures and intermittent snowfall throughout the week. We tested the snow thrower, and Iām happy to report it works well. The forecast for the coming days suggests continued cold but with more sunshine. Spring cannot come soon enough.
Itās been a tough week, from the tragic plane crash near Washington to the U.S. presidentās persistent and disrespectful comments about making Canada the 51st state. The threats of massive tariffs have left many Canadians feeling betrayed and anxious, but Iām choosing to support Canada in the ways I can. To my American friends who have reached out with kindness, I truly appreciate itāour community remains strong, no matter whatās happening politically.
Books Iāve Added to My Shelves This Week:
From Publishers, Netgalley, Edelweiss+ & Libro.fm:
Hendrix Barry has it allāphenomenal friends, a loving family, and a thriving business that keeps her at the top of the entertainment industry. Focused on her goals and caring for an aging parent, she sees little value in romanceāuntil she meets tech mogul Maverick Bell. From their first electrifying encounter, Hendrix feels an undeniable connection, but Mav is off-limits if she wants to stay on track. Yet, as he relentlessly pursues her, showering her with attention and truly understanding her, sheās forced to question whether itās finally time to let herself have more.
From The Library:
A destination wedding in Italyās Lake Como reunites best friends Ava, Madison, and Chelsea, giving them one last chance to mend their fractured bond. Once inseparable, their friendship was torn apart by a past betrayal, and now, as they return to the place where it all began, old wounds resurface. Ava, preparing for her dream wedding, wrestles with past mistakes; Madison, a successful influencer, faces a scandal that could upend her career; and Chelsea, despite having the perfect family, grapples with unfulfilled professional dreams. When Madison unexpectedly reunites with her college sweetheart, the three women must confront their past and decide if they can move forward together.
From Amazon Originals:
On Valentineās Day weekend, romance is the last thing on Charlotte and Sethās minds. Charlotte, wary and in self-imposed isolation after dealing with a stalker, is armed with emotional-support bear spray, while Seth, a newly divorced arborist, is grappling with trust issues. But when an unexpected disaster traps them together with no way down, their forced proximity begins to chip away at their defenses. As tension turns to connection, the girl next door and the tree-loving guy might just find themselves on the edge of something neither saw comingāfalling in love.
What Iām Watching:
Sweet Magnolias Season 4 has dropped on Netflix this week! For those of you who are not aware the series is based on the novels by the same name written by Sherryl Woods. Hereās the trailer for Season 4:
On The Blog This Week:
Itās All About Travel For January 2025: Where Books Have Taken Me
Book Review: Never Planned on You by Lindsay Hameroff
Canāt Wait Wednesday #124: To Sicily With Love by Jennifer Probst
Book Review: Eddie Winston is Looking For Love by Marianne Cronin
Celebrity Book Club Picks for February 2025
This Post: The Weekend Post #142
Next Week On That Happy Reader:
Fall In Love With These Eight Valentineās Day-Themed Books!
Book Review: Come Fly With Me by Camille Di Maio
Canāt Wait Wednesday #125
Book Review: Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams
Who Wears it Better In February 2025?
The Weekend Post #143
Thatās a wrap on The Weekend Post #142. How was your week?
I wish you a wonderful week ahead!
ER LeVar
Having an international leader harassing an ally is disgraceful! Canada doesn’t deserve any of this nonsense.
I’ve snagged the Abby Jimenez, too!
thathappyreader
Thank you ER. I hope we both enjoy the book!
Harvee
I’ve never visited the Pacific NW or Vancouver. We plan to visit Vancouver in the spring and wonder what we should see as first time visitors.
Harvee
thathappyreader
I can make several recommendations if you like Harvee!
Harvee
Thanks! Would love your recommendations for mid May thus year. My email is ha******@ya***.com or you can certainly leave your recommendations here in the comments!
thathappyreader
Vancouver is very food centric and expect lots of fusion options. Stanley Park (including the seawall), Grouse Mountain or Whistler Moutains, Gastown and the waterfront are all great choices. I hope you have a great stay here!
Harvee44
Thanks. Iāll look into those places for sure
thathappyreader
Have a great time!
Cindy's Book Corner
Without too many details, our week was HIGHLY stressful because of some of the things the president is doing as well. Thankfully, it’s the weekend! A chance to breathe and relax. I hope things settle down for us all, but there is no telling what’s next. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
thathappyreader
Oh no Cindy! I hope you have a great weekend too.
mae
Around half (or more) of the American population is not in favor of the antics of the current admin. which can only hurt us in both the short and long term, and can do terrible, unconscionable damage to our friends.
bestā¦ mae at maefood.blogspot.com
thathappyreader
Thanks for your understanding Mae.
Jonetta | Blue Mood CafƩ
There are no words for this disgraceful period in our US history. I donāt think we will ever recover given that the majority of the country voted for this fool. I love and respect my Canadian neighbors and am in utter shock daily. Cruelty, inhumanity and greed seem to be our new characteristics. Pray for us because we are not coming out of this whole.
I plan to watch the new Sweet Magnolias season. Nice distraction.
thathappyreader
It is a nice distraction. I do pray for us all Jonetta and I believe scary times are ahead of us.
Teri
I just grabbed the Abby Jimenez from Amazon a few minutes ago, am looking forward to reading it
thathappyreader
I hope that we both enjoy it Teri!
Marg @ The Intrepid Reader
It is disheartening to watch what is happening in the US and feel the effects in other countries.
I read the Abby Jimenez last night and liked it! It made me smile!
Have a great week
thathappyreader
Thanks Marg. Iām glad to hear the book made you smile.
Carla
Although we are not as cold here in the Midwest, I totally agree that Spring cannot come fast enough. I really like the cover of all the books you acquired this week. I really enjoyed the travel post. Have a wonderful week!
thathappyreader
Thank you Carla.
Erin @ Cracker Crumb Life
I am miserable over the news these days. I live just across the Detroit River from Canada and we have such a good relationship in my area with Canada and Canadians. š
The Fall Risk might be the book that gets me to read Jiminez!
thathappyreader
Thank you Erin! I live in a border town as well and have family in Washington State. I hope you enjoy The Fall Risk!
Tina
I say stay strong Canada! It’s embarassing for those of us who do not support trump and I would hope other nations know he does NOT speak or act for all Americans. I blame the 90 Million registered voters who did not turn out and could have made a difference.
You gave gotten so much snowfall, I would like to see a snow blower or thrower in action. Good reading you’ve gotten in.
thathappyreader
Thank you Tina. I know that he does not speak or act on behalf of many Americans. Itās sad that the better person for the job did not win the election.
Lisa Mandina (Lisa Loves Literature)
That Abby Jimenez book looks good! I love that you call it a snow thrower when we’ve always called it a snow blower. I like the snow thrower name better! We are having the winter temps here, and getting more snow this week I think in a few different storms coming through. I hope you have a good week!
https://lisalovesliterature.bookblog.io/2025/02/09/weekly-wrap-up-210-february-9th-2025/
thathappyreader
We have electric snow shovels, throwers and blowers here Lisa!
Aj @ Read All The Things!
Stay strong! Trump doesn’t deserve any help or attention from Canada. I hope you have a good week!
thathappyreader
Thanks AJ.
Anne - Books of My Heart
I love Canada and hate what the current government is doing in pretty much everything. I’m so sorry. We are warmer this month, a bit although this week we will get rain and nights around freezing which is more normal winter for us. I do have the cool season veggies planted and will be watching them. Enjoy your new reads!
Anne – Books of My Heart This is my Sunday Post
thathappyreader
Thank you Anne. Good for you to have your cool season veggies planted. We will need to wait here for another 6 weeks or so. Have a great week.
Anne - Books of My Heart
I mean the US government not the Canadian government to clarify.
thathappyreader
Thanks Anne.
Vicki
I haven’t watched Sweet Magnolias, it looks good so I’m adding it to my watch list.
thathappyreader
I hope you enjoy it Vicki.
Deb Nance at Readerbuzz
Jodie, please accept my apologies for the statements made by the person who is currently our president. It’s embarrassing.
A Wedding in Lake Como sounds like a very fun book. Enjoy!
thathappyreader
Thank you Deb.You do not have to apologize for his actions or comments.
Carla@CarlaLovesToRead
I didn’t realize you got that much snow to need a snow thrower, Jodie. Spending 3 months in Florida is not easy with the political climate the way it is. I have contemplated leaving a few times. I have a group of about 12 people that I spend my time with and we try not to talk politics at all. They are all Democrats, but there are others here that are not. I want to grab that Jimenez book, so off I go. I also want to watch the new season of Sweet Magnolias, but a few days ago, they kicked me off Netflix as I am using my son’s and they are still watching in Windsor. I think it is time to get my own, but will have to wait until I get home to do it.
thathappyreader
It must be very challenging Carla. I have my parents on my Netflix account for a minimal charge ($7 or 8?) which allows them to have the same account type as I do. I did this through Netflix.
Her Digital Coffee
It’s been an exhausting few weeks with what’s been happening on the news. I’m glad that so many of us are coming together and discovering new places to shop and to support local. I hope you have a great week Jodie!
thathappyreader
It has been exhausting Winnie. I hope youāre having a great week too.