Life Right Now #19

As I look outside my window: The sky is cloudy, but it’s still super humid. Not the best weather today.

Right now I am: Deciding on what to make for brunch today. We have eggs and bacon, but I haven’t chosen the baked good. Maybe some blueberry scones?

Thinking and pondering: Oh I do not feel ready for school to star ton Monday. I realize that we homeschool and technically I can start whenever, but I did have us scheduled for Monday. I think that we will still start on Monday, but I need to spend some time prepping today.

On my bedside table: Dark Restraint by Katee Robert; The Nice House on the Lake Vol. 2

On my tv this week: I’ve been traveling, so not a lot of television viewing. I did catch up with The Bachelorette and Below Deck. And we discovered that Plebs had a capstone movie special.

Listening to: After finishing an audiobook on the drive home, I got back into S10 of Revolutions. I will finish it at some point, hopefully soon.

On the menu for this week:

• Monday - Apple Cheddar Stuffed Chicken

• Tuesday - Sesame Chicken

• Wednesday - Prosciutto Provolone Fig Grilled Cheese

• Thursday - Lemon Butter Garlic Shrimp

• Friday - Leftover

• Saturday - Honey and Lime Jalapeño Chicken

• Sunday - Loaded Sweet Potato Nachos

On my to do list: I need to finish putting away all the travel stuff. The laundry is half done, but needs to be sorted and put away. Beyond that, I have a kitchen to get sorted and curriculum to organize.

Happening this week:

• Monday - Arthur Dentist Appointment; First Day of School

• Tuesday - Home Day

• Wednesday - Splashed Party; Pokemon Club

• Thursday - Coop

• Friday - Fontenelle Forest Hike

• Saturday - Home Day

• Sunday - Pool Party

What I am creating: Mostly lists…

My simple pleasures: My own bed. Really it’s so nice to be home and sleeping in my own bed.

Looking around the house: Obviously things are very cluttered right away after arriving home on Friday. I need to do a big pickup.

From the camera: Checking out our 4th SR-71. This one was a training plane.

The Nice House on the Lake Vol. 1

Title: The Nice House on the Lake Vol. 1

Author: James Tynion, Alvaro Martinez Bueno, Jordie Bellaire

Publisher: DC Comics 2022

Genre: Comics

Pages: 200

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: None

Where I Got It: Library

Everyone who was invited to the house knows Walter-well, they know him a little, anyway. Some met him in childhood; some met him months ago. And Walter’s always been a little…off. But after the hardest year of their lives, nobody was going to turn down Walter’s invitation to an astonishingly beautiful house in the woods, overlooking an enormous sylvan lake. It’s beautiful, it’s opulent, it’s private-so a week of putting up with Walter’s weird little schemes and nicknames in exchange for the vacation of a lifetime? Why not? All of them were at that moment in their lives when they could feel themselves pulling away from their other friends; wouldn’t a chance to reconnect be…nice? Collects The Nice House on the Lake #1-6.

How did I miss this series? Probably because it came from DC Comics. I’m definitely more of an Image reader. But I finally picked this one up and devoured it. This is a story that starts slow, but hooked me immediately. I desperately wanted to unravel the mystery presented with the inhabitants of the house. We get clues here and there and then the story takes a huge turn. I was absolutely floored and cannot wait to grab the next volume.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Lovely Corruption by Katee Robert

Title: Lovely Corruption (previously published as Undercover Attraction) (The O’Malleys #5)

Author: Katee Robert

Publisher: Forever 2017

Genre: Romance

Pages: 336

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: None

Where I Got It: Library ebook

Spice Rating: 5

Scandal. Wealth. Power. Seduction. Welcome to the world of the O'Malleys.
Ex-cop Charlotte Finch used to think there was a clear line between right and wrong. Then her fellow officers betrayed her, and the world is no longer so black and white. Especially when it's Aiden O'Malley, one of the most dangerous men in Boston, who offers her a chance for justice. The only catch: she'll have to pretend to be his fiancvee for his plan to work.
Aiden can't afford to let anyone see the man behind the mask. To run the O'Malley empire, he has to be cool and controlled at all times. But the moment he meets Charlie, they're playing with fire. Her slightest touch is enough to send him over the edge. At first their "engagement" was a way to eliminate his enemies. Now he'll do whatever it takes to keep her safe-- even if he has to destroy his own family to do it.

Thank goodness the series redeemed itself with this volume. Aiden has always been a closed book in this series, and we finally get to peel back the layers a bit. I loved seeing him become vulnerable and start to see how his actions have affected the other families members. Charlie is a great foil for his personality and strength. We get to see how Charlie tempers Aiden’s worst tendencies and creates more of a bond with the rest of the family. On the other side of the story, we get a lot of big action sequences and suspenseful moments involving the other families. And I must say that the steamy scenes in this one were really memorable.

The O’Malleys

• #1 The Marriage Contract / Dark Succession

• #2 The Wedding Pact / Heated Rivals

• #3 An Indecent Proposal / Twisted Secrets

• #4 Forbidden Promises / Beautiful Vengeance

• #5 Undercover Attraction / Lovely Corruption

• #6 The Bastard’s Bargain / Ruthless Redemption

Next up on the TBR pile:

Beautiful Vengeance by Katee Robert

Title: Beautiful Vengeance (previously published as Forbidden Promises) (The O’Malleys #4)

Author: Katee Robert

Publisher: Forever 2017

Genre: Romance

Pages: 320

Rating: 2/5 stars

Reading Challenges: None

Where I Got It: Library ebook

Spice Rating: 5

Some lines should never be crossed . . . not even for love.
Sloan O'Malley just left her entire world behind-her family, her wealth, and even her real name. For the first time in her life, she's free. She can live the "normal" life she's always wanted: A life without fear. But there's nothing safe about her intensely sexy next-door neighbor.
Jude MacNamara has no room for innocence in his life. Only revenge. Still, he's never been able to walk away from the forbidden, and Sloan--who is every inch of pure, mouthwatering temptation--has forbidden written all over her. Only after it's way too late does he discover the real danger: claiming Sloan as his puts a target on her back. To protect her, Jude is willing risk everything . . . and to hell with the consequences.

Ooof this one did not land for me at all. Right away, I was annoyed by how much of a doormat Sloan was. And she doesn’t really grow much at all throughout the book. Instead we see her stumble around until she falls into bed with Jude. There’s just not enough there to really connect to her as a character. Jude isn’t much better. He’s so drive by revenge that it becomes his entire personality. Not a fan. But my biggest complaint about this book is the accidental pregnancy storyline. I absolutely hate when a virgin has sex and immediately gets pregnant. No thank you! it’s just a tired trope and one that doesn’t allow for the growth of the romance and relationship that I actually want to see.

The O’Malleys

• #1 The Marriage Contract / Dark Succession

• #2 The Wedding Pact / Heated Rivals

• #3 An Indencent Proposal / Twisted Secrets

• #4 Forbidden Promises / Beautiful Vengeance

• #5 Undercover Attraction / Lovely Corruption

• #6 The Bastard’s Bargain / Ruthless Redemption

Next up on the TBR pile:

Music Monday - Royale Lynn feat. Danny Worsnop "Death Wish"

Really digging this collaboration.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Six by Loren Grush

Title: The Six: The Untold Story of America’s First Women Astronauts

Author: Loren Grush

Publisher: Scribner 2023

Genre: Nonfiction - US History

Pages: 432

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Nonfiction Reader; Clock Reader

Where I Got It: Library

In this account of America’s first women astronauts “Grush skillfully weaves a story that, at its heart, is about desire: not a nation’s desire to conquer space, but the longing of six women to reach heights that were forbidden to them” (The New York Times).

When NASA sent astronauts to the moon in the 1960s and 1970s the agency excluded women from the corps, arguing that only military test pilots—a group then made up exclusively of men—had the right stuff. It was an era in which women were steered away from jobs in science and deemed unqualified for space flight. Eventually, though, NASA recognized its blunder and opened the application process to a wider array of hopefuls, regardless of race or gender. From a candidate pool of 8,000 six elite women were selected in 1978—Sally Ride, Judy Resnik, Anna Fisher, Kathy Sullivan, Shannon Lucid, and Rhea Seddon.

Our book club selection for August was a nonfiction pick! I was really hoping for an engaging story of six fascinating women. We got most of that, but there were a few slow parts. I loved learning about the process of these women becoming astronauts. I was very interested in the process. And I was interested in seeing how NASA adapted and changed over the decades. I was less excited to really get into the nitty gritty of each of these missions. The details started to bog down the book a bit. Overall, I did enjoy this one, but I wonder if the Young Readers version would be better.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Summer Adventures - July

Instead of a summer bucket list, we are just taking the weeks as they come. But we ended up having many adventures this month.

Stormy weather caused us to pivot to the Mahoney Activity Center for an afternoon

Saw Trolls 2 at the theater for the cheap movies series

Pool party at a friend’s house for the 4th of July

Multiple hikes around town - Glacier Creek, Heron Haven,

Exploration at the Luminarium

Multiple pool visits

Second session of swim lessons - A passed Level 2, Q did not

Playing Pokemon at club

Ice cream at Dairy Twist

Sleepover at a friend’s house!

Visited the Omaha Zoo complete with splash pad fun

Old fashioned park playdate

Video games playdate with friends

Sushi train visit

Trip to Indiana!

We popped into the Putnam Museum in Davenport on the way. (Free admission using our Morrill Hall membership pass.)

Due to a plane delay, we found ourselves in Indianapolis for an extra day. Explored the Indiana State Museum and walked along the canal. (Free admission using our Morrill Hall membership pass.)

Next up on the TBR pile:

August 2024 Life Goals

Let’s check in on July’s goals and my progress.

• Read 18 Books ✓

• Finish Planning Indiana Trip - Considering that I am here, I’m going to say that it’s planned. ✓

• Complete Our Summer Bucket List ✓

• Prep August and September Homeschool Plans ✓

• Get Academic Coop Off the Ground - Still working on this one.

August Goals:

• Read 18 Books

• Schedule a Meeting for All of Secular Omaha

• Finish Academic Co-op Lesson Plans

• Plan the Boys’ Birthday Party

Next up on the TBR pile:

July 2024 Wrap-up

July TBR Pile (19/19):

1. Bookworms BC: The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods ✓

2. Friend BC: The Leftover Woman by Jean Kwok ✓

3. Nerdy Bookish Friends BC: The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett ✓

4. Kid Book Club: Endling by Katherine Applegate ✓

5. Kid Read Aloud: The Dragon in the Library by Louie Stowell ✓

6. Fantasy: Witch King by Martha Wells ✓

7. Romance: The Book of Scandal by Julia London ✓

8. Romance: Leather and Lark by Brynne Weaver ✓

9. Romance: The Gentleman’s Gambit by Evie Dunmore ✓

10. Romance: The Marriage Contract / Dark Succession by Katee Robert ✓

11. Romance: The Wedding Pact / Heated Rivals by Katee Robert ✓

12. Romance: An Indecent Proposal /Twisted Secrets by Katee Robert ✓

13. Science Fiction: Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff ✓

14. Science Fiction: Obsidio by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff ✓

15. Horror: Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman ✓

16. Horror: The Bad Ones by Melissa Albert ✓

17. Comic: Glass Town by Isabel Greenberg ✓

18. Nonfiction: Broad Strokes by Bridget Quinn ✓

19. Nonfiction: Raising Critical Thinkers by Julie Bogart ✓

1,000,000 Page Goal:

Monthly Total: 7170 pages
Pages Remaining: 223,089 pages

Current Read - The Six by Loren Grush; Beautiful Vengeance by Katee Robert

Books I Gave Up On (0)

Books Bought/Received (0)

UnRead Shelf Progress

• Starting Number: 315

• Books Read: 3

• Books Acquired: 0

• Books Unshelved: 2

• Finishing Number: 310

August TBR Pile:

1. Bookworms BC: I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue

2. Friend BC: The Six by Lauren Grush

3. Nerdy Bookish Friends BC: The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison

4. Kid Book Club: Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia

5. Romance: Beautiful Vengeance by Katee Robert

6. Romance: Lovely Corruption by Katee Robert

7. Romance: Ruthless Redemption by Katee Robert

Movies Watched

• Trolls

• Polite Society

• The Boy and the Heron

TV Shows Watched

• Barry S1-2

• Doctor Who

• The Boys S4

• The Big Door Prize S2

• Hit Monkey S2

• Twisted Metal S1

• A Gentleman in Moscow

Comments - Another stellar month! I didn’t get to as many Unread Shelf books as I had hoped, but I did get ahead on multiple book club schedules. And the kids and I knocked out some great reads!

Next up on the TBR pile:

Music Monday - Something Corporate "Death Grip"

New music from Something Corporate with Andrew McMahon! It’s been way too long.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Twisted Secrets by Katee Robert

Title: Twisted Secrets (previously published as An Indecent Proposal) (The O’Malleys #3)

Author: Katee Robert

Publisher: Forever 2016

Genre: Romance

Pages: 336

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: None

Where I Got It: Library ebook

Spice Rating: 5

Greed. Ambition. Violence. Those are the "values" Olivia Rashidi learned from her Russian mob family-and the values she must leave behind for the sake of her daughter. When she meets Cillian O'Malley, she recognizes the red flag of his family name . . . yet she still can't stop herself from seeing the smoldering, tortured man. To save her family, Olivia sets out to discover Cillian's own secrets, but the real revelation is how fast-and how hard-she's falling for him.

Plagued by a violent past, Cillian is more vulnerable than anyone realizes. Anyone except Olivia, whose beauty, compassion, and pride have him at "hello," even if she's more inclined to say good-bye to an O'Malley. While his proposal of sex with no strings seems simple, what he feels for her isn't, especially after he learns that she belongs to a rival crime family. Cillian knows that there is no escape from the life, but Olivia may be worth trying-and dying-for . . .

Based on the first chapters of this book, I didn’t think I was going to like this pairing of Olivia and Cillian. Honestly I thought that Cillian was too good for her. Thankfully, these two characters have some good conversations and the reader can see their growth throughout the pages. This one was much more of the Katee Robert style that I so love. We get some good conversations. We get some spicy scenes. And we get some great action sequences. I am really enjoying this older series.

The O’Malleys

• #1 The Marriage Contract / Dark Succession

• #2 The Wedding Pact / Heated Rivals

• #3 An Indencent Proposal / Twisted Secrets

• #4 Forbidden Promises / Beautiful Vengeance

• #5 Undercover Attraction / Lovely Corruption

• #6 The Bastard’s Bargain / Ruthless Redemption

Next up on the TBR pile:

Life Right Now #18

Right now I am: Prepping for the Homeschool Seminar I’m hosting today. Lots of people are planning on coming (like 25), we’ll see who actually shows up.

Thinking and pondering: Do I have everything for my trip to Indiana? Packing lists are such a pain sometimes.

On my bedside table: The Six by Loren Grush; Beautiful Vengeance by Katee Robert; Gargantis by Thomas Taylor

On my tv this week: Not a whole lot. We did jump back into A Gentleman in Moscow (we’re almost done). We also finished S2 of The Big Door Prize, S1 of Twisted Metal, S4 of The Boys, and S2 of Hit Monkey.

Listening to: I dove back into Revolutions S10 with my new AirPods. I’m about 60% of the way through that season.

On the menu for this week: We will be having leftovers on Monday night… and then we will be traveling, so no definite plans.

On my to do list: I have some random things I want to get down before leaving on Tuesday. Mostly they are little tasks and general clean-up items.

Happening this week:

• Monday - Pool afternoon (last one of the season for us)

• Tuesday - Travel Day; Pickup Alex from the airport

• Wednesday - Drive to Fort Wayne

• Thursday - Chill Day

• Friday - Coffee with a friend; Pool afternoon

• Saturday - Coffee with a friend

• Sunday - Hanging out with Grandpa

What I am creating: I made a little travel kit for my Memory Planner and regular planner. I should be able to finish July’s pages while in Indiana. And work on August-September’s planner pages.

My simple pleasures: Conchitas, returning library books (that I’ve finished), time alone to just think

Looking around the house: Things are pretty picked up prior to our trip. I like coming home to a decently clean house.

From the camera: The boys experienced Sushi Train for the first time. They loved it!

The Bad Ones by Melissa Albert

Title: The Bad Ones

Author: Melissa Albert

Publisher: Flatiron Books 2024

Genre: YA Horror

Pages: 400

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 52 Book Club - Omniscient Narrator; Library Love

Where I Got It: Library

In the course of a single winter’s night, four people vanish without a trace across a small town.

Nora’s estranged best friend, Becca, is one of the lost. As Nora tries to untangle the truth of Becca’s disappearance, she discovers a darkness in her town’s past, as well as a string of coded messages Becca left for her to unravel. These clues lead Nora to a piece of local lore: a legendary goddess of forgotten origins who played a role in Nora and Becca’s own childhood games. . . .

An arresting, crossover horror fantasy threaded with dark magic, The Bad Ones is a poison-pen love letter to semi-toxic best friendship, the occult power of childhood play and artistic creation, and the razor-thin line between make-believe and belief.

Such a disappointment. I loved Albert’s Hazelwood series and was hoping for more dark fantasy. This one started very very slow and failed to go anywhere for too many pages. Once we finally kick the plot into gear, the horror doesn’t deliver like I had hoped. It’s very lackluster. And don’t get me started on the “romance” sections. I just couldn’t buy those two characters being together and didn’t care what happened to them. Overall, I found myself being extremely bored throughout this book.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Heated Rivals by Katee Robert

Title: Heated Rivals (previously published as The Wedding Pact) (The O’Malleys #2)

Author: Katee Robert

Publisher: Forever 2016

Genre: Romance

Pages: 320

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: None

Where I Got It: Library Ebook

Spice Rating: 5

Carrigan O'Malley has always known her arranged marriage would be more about power and prestige than passion. But after one taste of the hard-bodied, whiskey-voiced James Halloran, she's ruined for anyone else. Too bad James and his family are enemy number 1.

Hallorans vs. O'Malleys-that's how it's always been. James should be thinking more about how to expand his family's empire instead of how silky Carrigan's skin is against his and how he can next get her into his bed. Those are dangerous thoughts. But not nearly as dangerous as he'll be if he can't get what he wants: Carrigan by his side for the rest of their lives.

This series is fast becoming my fun romance series that I read in between much more dense or serious books. For the second book, we get another enemies to lovers storyline. I mostly knew where this one was going, but I still enjoyed the ride. Carrigan isn’t my favorite of the O’Malleys, but she does fit nicely with James. He is much more interesting character, taking over the family after his brother was killed and father went to jail in the first book. I wanted to see more from the innerworkings of the Halloran family. Maybe we will get to see a bit more later in the series.

The O’Malleys

• #1 The Marriage Contract / Dark Succession

• #2 The Wedding Pact / Heated Rivals

• #3 An Indencent Proposal / Twisted Secrets

• #4 Forbidden Promises / Beautiful Vengeance

• #5 Undercover Attraction / Lovely Corruption

• #6 The Bastard’s Bargain / Ruthless Redemption

Next up on the TBR pile:

Odds and Ends

Here's my randomness for the week:

• Summer is winding down. Many of our places are closing (so early!) but we do have some things still on our bucket lists.

• Excited for the Museum of the Great Lakes in Toledo (in two weeks). I really like Maritime history places.

• Temperatures are back in the 90s with high humidity. I do not like.

• We met some new homeschool friends this week. Here’s hoping they come to another event soon.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Raising Critical Thinkers by Julie Bogart

Title: Raising Critical Thinkers: A Parent’s Guide to Growing Wise Kids in the Digital Age

Author: Julie Bogart

Publisher: TarcherPerigree 2022

Genre: Nonfiction - Education

Pages: 352

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Unread Shelf; Nonfiction Reader

Where I Got It: Bookworm in Omaha NE March 2024

Education is not solely about acquiring information and skills across subject areas, but also about understanding how and why we believe what we do. At a time when online media has created a virtual firehose of information and opinions, parents and teachers worry how students will interpret what they read and see. Amid the noise, it has become increasingly important to examine different perspectives with both curiosity and discernment. But how do parents teach these skills to their children?

Drawing on more than twenty years’ experience homeschooling and developing curricula, Julie Bogart offers practical tools to help children at every stage of development to grow in their ability to explore the world around them, examine how their loyalties and biases affect their beliefs, and generate fresh insight rather than simply recycling what they’ve been taught. Full of accessible stories and activities for children of all ages, Raising Critical Thinkers helps parents to nurture passionate learners with thoughtful minds and empathetic hearts.

For co-op adult book club, we followed up Julie Bogart’s The Brave Learner with her newer book. Overall, I totally see the need for this book and know that many of my fellow co-op parents really benefitted from the information presented. For me, it was a bit like being back in education classes in college. For goodness sakes, Bogart name drops Maria Montessori, John Dewey, and Paolo Freire. Many of the big explanations about critical thinking were a review from my college days. From those, Bogart tries to give some activities and examples, but they were very long and drawn out. I would have liked more practical advice on how to implement critical thinking skills into our education plans. A few of us did meet last weekend to discuss the book. Thankfully the discussion veered more towards practical applications than theory. Worthwhile read, but not going to end up being a favorite.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett

Title: The Tainted Cup (Shadow of the Leviathan #1)

Author: Robert Jackson Bennett

Publisher: Del Rey 2024

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 413

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Unread Shelf

Where I Got It: Bliss Wine and Books in Kansas City June 2024

In Daretana’s greatest mansion, a high imperial officer lies dead—killed, to all appearances, when a tree erupted from his body. Even here at the Empire’s borders, where contagions abound and the blood of the leviathans works strange magical changes, it’s a death both terrifying and impossible.

Assigned to investigate is Ana Dolabra, a detective whose reputation for brilliance is matched only by her eccentricities. Rumor has it that she wears a blindfold at all times, and that she can solve impossible cases without even stepping outside the walls of her home.

At her side is her new assistant, Dinios Kol, magically altered in ways that make him the perfect aide to Ana’s brilliance. Din is at turns scandalized, perplexed, and utterly infuriated by his new superior—but as the case unfolds and he watches Ana’s mind leap from one startling deduction to the next, he must admit that she is, indeed, the Empire’s greatest detective.

As the two close in on a mastermind and uncover a scheme that threatens the Empire itself, Din realizes he’s barely begun to assemble the puzzle that is Ana Dolabra—and wonders how long he’ll be able to keep his own secrets safe from her piercing intellect.

Oh wow! This may be my favorite book that the Nerdy Bookish Friends have read so far. I really fell into this intimate murder mystery set among a fantasy world where people can get alterations made from the blood of terrifying kaijus. That is a big strange sentence, but it really encapsulates the summary of this book. We follow Dinios Kol as he attempt to learn to be an investigator under a very unusual lead investigator. While a larger plot line is raging outside, Din needs to help Ana solve a very unusual murder. Of course, this isn’t a simple murder, but something much larger that points to other problems in the empire. I loved following along as Din reveals more clues and starts to put the pieces together. My favorite parts were the conversations that he has with Ana. She’s an amazing character and I really want to be her when I grow up. The book contains a fascinating group of characters. It reminded me of an Agatha Christie novel where you start to suspect anyone you meet could be the murderer. Even though this is the start of a series, the murder mystery wraps up nicely by the end while leaving the larger world to be explored in further adventures. I can’t wait to discuss at book club on Sunday.

Shadow of the Leviathan

• #1 The Tainted Cup

• #2 A Drop of Corruption

Next up on the TBR pile:

Music Monday - Palaye Royale "Showbiz"

New music from Palaye Royale. Very exciting!

Next up on the TBR pile:

Life Right Now #17

As I look outside my window: It’s a bit overcast this morning. Definitely rained last night. I would be fine with it as the temps are a bit cooler, but the humidity is a killer right now.

Right now I am: I’m not, but I should be making a meal plan and grocery list. Why does everyone have to constantly be eating?

On my bedside table: I have the rest of Katee Robert’s The O’Malley’s series on tap for my lighter reads. I also have The Six by Laura Grush on my nightstand.

On my tv this week: We finished S2 of Hit Monkey and S4 of The Boys. We also continued with A Gentleman in Moscow. Otherwise, it’s been a quiet week television-wise.

Listening to: I have continued with S10 of the Revolutions podcast. We finally got to World War I. only forty-some odd episodes to go.

On the menu for this week:

• Monday - Gone at book club

• Tuesday - Snack dinner

• Wednesday - Salsa Chicken

• Thursday - Balsamic Glazed Caprese Chicken

• Friday - Chickpea Curry

• Saturday - Parmesan Tilapia

• Sunday - Honey Lime Chicken with Asparagus

On my to do list: I have a list of errands for the week (before our trip to Indiana), plus I have to teach on Thursday. I want to prep a good example of the project for the kids and troubleshoot any problem areas.

Happening this week:

• Monday - Pool Afternoon; Book Club

• Tuesday - Coffee and Park Playdate; Coop Happy Hour

• Wednesday - Pool Afternoon

• Thursday - Coop

• Friday - Kids’ Video Game Playdate

• Saturday - Home Day

• Sunday - Homeschool Seminar; Nerdy Bookish Friends Book Club

What I am creating: I was working on my June MP pages and finished them yesterday. I think that I’m going to print July’s photos and make a little project case to take to Indiana with me…

My simple pleasures: A walk in the woods, checking to-dos off my list

Looking around the house: We need a serious pickup, sweep, and vacuum today. Added pressure as Tuesday is coop happy hour here. I am getting a little annoyed by all the random things laying around everywhere.

From the camera: Loving all the plants at Heron Haven this week.

Dark Succession by Katee Robert

Title: Dark Succession (previously published as The Marriage Contract) (The O’Malleys #1)

Author: Katee Robert

Publisher: Forever 2015

Genre: Romance

Pages: 336

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: COYER; She Reads Romance - Mafia Romance

Spice Rating: 5

Teague O'Malley hates pretty much everything associated with his family's name. And when his father orders him to marry Callista Sheridan to create a "business" alliance, Teague's ready to tell his dad exactly where he can stuff his millions. But then Teague actually meets his new fiancée, sees the bruises on her neck and the fight still left in her big blue eyes, and vows he will do everything in his power to protect her.

Everyone knows the O'Malleys have a dangerous reputation. But Callie wasn't aware just what that meant until she saw Teague, the embodiment of lethal grace and coiled power. His slightest touch sizzles through her. But the closer they get, the more trouble they're in. Because Callie's keeping a dark secret-and what Teague doesn't know could get him killed.

I finally started reading one of Robert’s earlier series. This is contemporary mafia romance is it not my usual genre. Still, I will try anything Robert writes. Overall we get a good spicy enemies to lovers romance with added suspense and action. I enjoyed getting to know the O’Malleys although I mustt say that Teague isn’t my favorite so far. I did enjoy Teague and Callie’s dynamic as they navigate their families. I think this will be one of those series that doesn’t stay with me forever, but is entertaining to read in between other books.

The O’Malleys

• #1 The Marriage Contract / Dark Succession

• #2 The Wedding Pact / Heated Rivals

• #3 An Indencent Proposal / Twisted Secrets

• #4 Forbidden Promises / Beautiful Vengeance

• #5 Undercover Attraction / Lovely Corruption

• #6 The Bastard’s Bargain / Ruthless Redemption

Next up on the TBR pile: