Happy Monday and happy new week! 🙂 My weekend was plentiful again, but also relaxing, which I loved. Movies, home cooking, visiting with friends, and of course a weekend of family. I love my new makeshift family (mine being all the way in Canada and due to Covid, has been very hard to see them. But I’ve been “adopted” by my boyfriend’s family, and I feel so welcome. They already feel like home to me. <3
THREE THINGS:
1.) This weekend I had meatloaf that was cooked ON A SMOKER! Smoked, bacon-wrapped 🥓 yummyyyyy meatloaf!!
2.) I watched a super-crazy horror movie on Hulu. I actually really liked it, because it delivered all of the shock, and crazy scenes (some gross), and was so freaking original that I will never forget it. It’s called “Fresh“. Great reviews overall, even on Rotten Tomatoes, but trust me… you better like “out there” dark movies, ’cause this one is that. P.S. Interesting undertones/messages I picked up on, during this movie: 1.) Vegetarianism… LOL!! Or at least that’s what I felt like becoming at a certain point. 😉 2.) 1% of the 1% super-rich are super-deranged. 3.) Dating strangers is frustrating, and at times… beyond dangerous. Who wants to risk it?
3.) Did I tell you guys I watched the latest Top Gun: Maverick on opening day? IT. WAS. INCREDIBLE!!!! MUST SEE IT, one and ALL!!
And in the meantime I get to hear about your 3 things (hopefully 😉 ) check out…
LOOK WHAT JUST WENT LIVE !!!
- My Killer Vacation by Tessa Bailey <— TESSA BAILEY’S LATEST!! THE BOUNTY HUNTER & THE SCHOOL TEACHER (that really LOVES Crime podcasts!) “...It was supposed to be a relaxing vacation in sweet, sunny Cape Cod—just me and my beloved brother—but discovering a corpse in our rental house really throws a wrench into our tanning schedule. Now a rude, crude bounty hunter has arrived on the back of his motorcycle to catch the killer and refuses to believe I can be helpful, despite countless hours of true crime podcast listening. Not to mention a fulfilling teaching career of wrangling second graders...”
- Forgotten Secrets (Vanishing Ranch Book 1) by Christy Barritt
- My Perfect Enemy: A Small-Town Single Dad Romance (Whitecap Book 2) by Jessica Prince
- Playing Dane: A Secret Romance (Florida East University Book 1) by Hannah Gray <— SHE RAN FROM HIM… “…Running away is the only thing I know how to do. And in my twenty years on this earth, it’s worked for me. They say you don’t know what you have until it’s gone. They’re wrong. I knew what I had all along. I just couldn’t accept it. And now … he might be gone for good...”
- The Dragon and the Watcher: Scottish Paranormal Romance by L.L. Muir
- Townshipped: A small town, bride on the run, amnesia romcom (Getting Shipped! Book 3) by Savannah Scott
- The Alpha Wolf’s Enemy (The Wolves of Anchorage Book 2) by Brittany White
- A Most Excellent Understanding by Wade H. Mann
- Doctor Playboy: A Second Chance Age-Gap Romance (Boston’s Billionaire Bachelors Book 4) by J. Saman <— AGE GAP ALERT!! HE ONCE BROKE HER HEART… “…That summer I was young. Innocent. And forbidden to him. I knew when we succumbed to the explosive passion between us that he would inevitably ruin me. I wasn’t wrong. Four years later, fate decides to step in again. I’m offered my dream job as a first chair cellist for the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Only I know what comes with it. Luca Fritz…”
- Edward and Amelia by Karen Thornell
- Obsession (Temptation Series Book 4) by T.K. Leigh <— MUST BE READ IN ORDER!
- The Dragon King’s Fate (Burning Kingdom Book 3) by Lola Glass
- Scars and Stripes: A Second Chance/Scarred Hero/Curvy Girl Romance (Heart of a Wounded Hero) by Kat Baxter
- Little Ballerina (Candella Sisters’ Heroes Book 3) by Jane Blythe
- Stepbrother (Bad Boys of Redwood Academy Book 1) by Emilia Rose <— SHE’S TRYING TO LAY LOW… “…Keeping up a perfect image is hard, especially when my stepbrother is the notorious Jace Harbor. With my head buried in books and the haunting memories of my father’s death, I want nothing more than to end my senior year on a high note, so I can get out of this shitty town. But my stepbrother has other plans for me…”
- Sociopath’s Boy (Psychopath Hitmen Daddies Book 3) by Aster Rae
- The Seduction of Lord Sin: Regency Second Chances Romance (The Bachelorette Series Book 2) by Bronwen Evans
- Love Me Sweet: A Charming Second Chance Medical Romance (Jackson Hole Book 12) by Cindy Kirk
- Can’t Take Moore by Rochelle Paige <— OLYMPIC SKATER IN A SMALL TOWN!! “…Desperate for a change of pace, she bought a house sight unseen in a small town she’d never been to. Vienna didn’t know anyone in Mooreville except her real estate broker, Dean Moore. But his emails didn’t tell her how sexy he was. Or the instant attraction she’d feel when they finally met. Dean had one rule: never mix business with pleasure. Until Vienna skated into his life, with walls built around her icy heart…”
- Blood On His Lips: An Enemies to Lovers Fae Fantasy Romance (The Fae Prince of Everenne Book 2) by Alisyn Fae and Emma Alisyn
- Love Out Loud (Animal Attraction Book 3) by Marissa Clarke
- Break by Mila Crawford
- The Shifting Sands Beneath Us: A Billionaire Beach Romance by Giulia Lagomarsino <— SHE KNOW LONGER RECOGNIZES HIM... “…I’ll never forget the smooth talker who shared my cab that day—so carefree and full of life. Stuck in a loveless, arranged marriage, I was out of options. Until he came along and flipped my world upside down. But that was then, and this is now. The man I knew is gone, and all that’s left is a shell where his heart used to be...”
- F*cked by the Sinner (Russian Torpedo Book 4) by Hayley Faiman
- Ransomed (Kings of the East Book 6) by Charity Parkerson
- Skeletons of Society: Toxic Paradise Book #1 by Marie Maravilla
- Face the Music: a K-Pop Drama (a Series of Falling Stars Book 2) by M.L. East
- Sweet Prey: An Enemies to Lovers Dark Fantasy Romance by Jane Darkspire <— SHE’S ON THE RUN FROM A VAMPIRE!! “…I didn’t know what I was getting into when I was hired to slay a vampire. He’s stronger than all the legends say, my tricks and weapons are useless. Now the tables have turned and I’m on the run. Unfortunately, this gorgeous predator wants to teach me a lesson…”
- The Vampire Legacy: A YA Vampire Romance (The Amarant Book 3) by Tricia Barr
- Seashells and Wedding Bells (Carolina Cove Book 2) by Kay Lyons
AUDIOBOOK LVERS!
➔➔ Audiobook Matchmaker!! <— Find out which of YOUR Kindle books are available as audiobooks at a BARGAIN-PRICE! This is how it works. Click on that link & Amazon will show you all of your Kindle books that are also available as an audiobook at a seriously discounted price. This way, you can switch back and forth, seamlessly between your ebooks and your audiobooks. VERY COOL!
PREORDERS (going live soon!!! 😀 )
- Mr. Notting Hill by Louise Bay – June 7th 2022
- A Week of Warm Weather: A Novel by Lee Bukowski | Jun 7, 2022
- Butter-Side Up: How I Survived My Most Terrible Year and Created My Super Awesome Life by Jane Enright – June 7th 2022
- The Backpack Years: Two Memoirs, One Story by Stefanie Wilson & James Wilson
- The Friendship Pact: A Novel (The Sunrise Cove Series Book 2) by Jill Shalvis – June 14th 2022
- The Life We Almost Had by Amelia Henley | Jun 14, 2022
- Crash With Me by Allie Everhart | Jun 16, 2022
- I Let You Fall: A Romantic Drama by Sara Downing – June 20 2022
➔➔➔ Looking for more book releases? Check out the upcoming new releases here or check out the latest new releases here.
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Wow Maryse, that meatloaf sounds scrumptious!! And I can’t wait to see Top Gun – I’ve heard so many good things. Did you see it on a mega screen?
3 things:
1. I had my hip replaced three weeks ago today and I’m feeling so much better! It’s like night and day!! It was definitely aging me beyond my years.
2. We’ve had a lot of home projects going on which stresses me out. New concrete around our pool and a new driveway are the latest. Really boring stuff to spend money on…but needed. I’m ready for fun stuff like an update to my bathroom.
3. I’m finally getting back in the swing with reading. I had a tough time concentrating for a while but it’s better now.
I am SO happy you are feeling better, my friend!!! Just the recovery must have already been tough, but having pain like that in the first place? You are a rock star!
Oh yesssss… the last year and a half at my old house (the one I just sold) was all sorts of repairs and upgrades. It is a gorgeous house, and still one of my dream homes for sure, but boy was the money it needed for the upkeep a pain in the butt!
My life has been hectic in the last year, so my reading has taken a beating too. I will be soon back to my books also.
I can’t wait to see Top Gun!! And I’ve had smoked meatloaf once but it was so smoky I couldn’t eat it. I think there’s a real art to it, and the guy who made ours had never done it before. He just threw it on the pit and let it go forever.
1. I got my Franklin BBQ yesterday and it is every bit as good as they say! The brisket anyway. The sausage is whatever, but the brisket is life changing. I’d happily stand in line 4 hours for it!
2. I had nigiri for the first time over the weekend and I survived! I think I liked it, but I’m not sure I’d order it again. I think I’d rather just get a roll.
3. We have a contractor coming this evening to quote us on work we need done on our house and I am so overwhelmed. We need soooo much done but my budget is very prohibitive. Our first quote came back more than double our budget and now I’m frantically deciding what I can live without. 🥴
Is nigiri eel? *looks up nigiri*
Ugh… don’t I know it. There was so much I wanted to do to my house when I first bought it (even though it was next to perfect for me), I wanted to take out the carpet in the bedrooms and make it all wood floors like the rest of the house was. My carpet was my biggest pet peeve. LOL!
Ohhhh okay, Nigiri (like sashimi but on rice). I actually like it (though somewhat bland tasting), but also prefer the rolls. But I always prefer the raw rolls (salmon or tuna is usually my choice). I love fire rolls (raw salmon and paper thin lemon slices – including the peel- & sriracha & fish eggs sprinkled on top for the “fire”) and Tempa rolls (also raw salmon, but with mango and avocado – sweeter but just as yummy!!)
Or a spider roll (deep fried panko encrusted soft shell crab). That’s just bad for you but OMG YUM!!!
I use a lot of wasabi so mine definitely wasn’t bland, but I don’t know that I actually tasted any fish. 😆 I haven’t tried a roll with raw fish yet. I already have to change the seaweed out for soy paper. And I tend to like something crunchy inside. I might try one next time with raw tuna on top. I’m pretty sure if I can’t do seaweed, I probably can’t do fish eggs.
Wait what??? You can change the seaweed out for soy paper????? GASP!! *now goes to research that*
OMG yes!! Soy or rice paper! I think soy is more common though.
I never knew you could do this either!!
Yes! I typically get a tempura or lobster roll because they’re always cooked, and if there are eggs (masago) n top, I ask them to leave them off. But next time I’m trying something raw.
Oooooh this is where you and me are opposites. I ask for a raw quail egg. 😉
Eeeeeep! I’m weird.
Maryse, so happy you are enjoying your new family. I’m sure you are a blessing to them as well. ❤️
Thank you Lisa!!! That is so sweet. ❤️
I saw Top Gun also, at the drive in, recently. I looooved it!! Was on the edge of my seat. Well, van. 😉
1. I’m currently watching The Rookie on Hulu. It’s been a long time since I’ve watched a cop show.
2. I finished a couple books I’ve been working on for too long, The Cartographers and Part of Your World. Loved POYW, will definitely check out more of her books. Currently reading Book Lovers. I’m participating in summer reading with the kids for the library this summer. Extra motivation to pencil in even just a little time daily. It’s been a struggle. I am exhausted.
3. We have also been heavy into construction of our home this year. The porch patio was laid, then the tree came down, the grass seed is dying 😭, the neighbor’s tree that overhung on our driveway (falling branches made me nervous for my 🚗) was trimmed, the stone was laid for the new shed, that was delivered, and now the construction of our porch roof has begun. They worked on electrical and more today. The frame is up. After that, I’m hoping to be able to at least do stone landscaping to the front and sides of the house and around the shed for now. We’ll see if we have any money left. Nothing fancy, I’d like a simple rustic no maintenance type thing. It overwhelms me thinking of that in particular, so am talking to a landscaper this week to see what we can do. I hadn’t planned last year on ripping all the old hedges out, but since we now have a blank slate, and the porch now has a gap of earth and concrete, I have to fill it there anyway so might as well do the sides too. And definitely know I want stone rather than mulch. Thinking of fountain grass for sure. And then I hope to be done doing any type of house work for a year or 2. I have a bathroom with the tub in pretty bad shape, but I want to wait. I don’t think we’ll be doing any real vacations this year bc of this, but I think it’ll be worth it. And heck with the prices of everything, gas especially, this is probably a good year to take a break.
It’s been the year of construction (or at least house repairs) for so many of us!! You’re going to have so much fun landscaping!! That was my favorite thing to do every spring.
We also had Top Gun at a drive-in, but we went to a movie theater to watch it. A movie theater with wine and beer! GASP! I had no clue you could drink wine and watch a movie in a place like that!! LOL! 😂
My new house, luckily inspected in excellent shape *phew* (it’s a 2016 build) so at least I won’t (or hopefully won’t) have to worry about it for awhile.