By Tessa Pulyer Posted on

Sunday Post 120422 | December Jingled Its Way In

The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s 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 your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. See the rules here: Sunday Post Meme

It’s just been a very busy week. Work is crazy busy this time of year. Ada Jenkins Center is a nonprofit and so many donations come in between Thanksgiving and Christmas (which I enter into the system, send thank you notes out, and create a deposit for) not to mention grant applications which I supply donation data for the grant writer. Whew! So busy! Making things even more busy is a trip we are doing to Disney before Christmas which I crazily agreed to. I’ve been deep into preparing things and making sure we are ready for Christmas when we return.

Two positive things happened this week, in the midst of all the chaos: an interesting invitation which I talk about under Book Haul. And, I had a former student who’s graduating from college this month credit me as the reason she was able to get this far. My heart just swelled with pride at all that she’s achieved. It’s so funny, instead of calling me her counselor, she always tells people I was her mentor in high school. I think I like that ❤️.

So, that was my week – how was yours?

An interesting turn of events happened this week. A few weeks ago, in a chat I’m involved in over on IG, many people were talking about Berkley’s Influencer application that was coming due. So, just for fun, I decided to apply to both Berkley and Berkley Romance. I don’t have 5000 followers on IG yet, but when I looked at the application, it just said more than 5000 followers on social media, and I have more than that on Twitter and 4000 on IG. So, I filled it out, came up with (I hoped) a compelling “What else do you want us to know about you” statement, and turned it in. I was denied for Berkley Romance, but Berkley invited me into their influencer program – in which the books include a lot of thrillers. I was truly and honestly gobsmacked! In that chat group of 125 or more bookstagrammers – only two of us got an invitation – the other person just for Berkley Romance. What a weird relationship Berkley and I have had so far! Now let’s hope I like their books!

February 28, 2023
Brace yourself for a scorching new series from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Karen Rose, where San Diego means sun, surf, sand…and serial killers. Sam Reeves is a kindhearted psychologist who treats court-ordered clients. After one of his patients—a pathological liar—starts revealing plausible new details from a long-unsolved serial murder case, he’s compelled to report anonymously to the SDPD tip line, though his attempts to respect patient confidentiality land him facedown and cuffed by the aggressive (and cute) Detective McKittrick. San Diego homicide detective Kit McKittrick loves the water. She lives on a boat, and when she’s not solving crimes with the SDPD, she’s assisting her foster sister with her charter fishing business or playing with her poodle. But there’s nothing that intrigues Kit more than a cold case, so when an anonymous caller leads her on the path of a wanted killer, she’s determined to end the decade-long manhunt. Sam is soon released but goes home with both a newfound distaste for the SDPD and a resolve—not unlike Kit’s—to uncover the truth. Kit and Sam repeatedly butt heads in their separate investigations but are forced to work together to find one of the deadliest serial killers the city has faced in years.
March 28, 2023
A suspenseful, cutting-edge novel about two parents who finally get the daughter they’ve always wanted—it’s too bad she isn’t real. From the author of We Hear Voices. For Tamsyn and Ed, life is tough. They both work long hours for very little money and come home to their moody, rebellious daughter, Scarlett. After a tragic accident leaves Scarlett comatose and with little chance of recovery, Tamsyn and Ed are out of options until a lifeline emerges in the form of an unusual medical trial. In exchange for the very best treatment for Scarlett, a fully furnished apartment, and a limitless spending account, the family must agree to move to Switzerland and welcome an artificial copy of their daughter into their home. Suddenly their life is transformed. Tamsyn and Ed want for nothing, and the AI replacement, Sophie, makes it feel just like having their daughter back—except without all the bad parts. Sophie is engaged, happy, and actually wants to spend time with her parents. But things take a turn for the worse when Scarlett makes a very real recovery, and the family discovers that the forces behind their new life are darker than they ever could have imagined.
May 16, 2023
Graduation is only a few months away, and Rubi Ramos’s “recipe for success” to get into prestigious Alma University is already off track. When Alma waitlists Rubi’s application, Rubi will need to be distraction-free to make the grade and keep her parents—who have wanted this for her for years—from finding out. Which means falling for her cute surfer-slash-math tutor, Ryan, definitely won’t work. And neither will breaking her mother’s ban on baking—her parents didn’t leave Cuba so she could bake just like them. But some recipes are begging to be tampered with. When the First Annual Bake Off comes to town, Rubi’s passion for baking goes from subtle simmer to full boil. Add to the mix her crush on Ryan may be turning into a full-fledged relationship and Rubi’s life is suddenly so different from what it was. She’s not sure if she has what it takes to win the Bake Off, or where the relationship with Ryan is going, but there’s only one way to find out—even if it means going against her parents’ priorities. Now Rubi must differentiate between the responsibility of unfulfilled dreams she holds and finding the path she’s meant for. A joyful novel of first romance, new possibilities, and the chance to define yourself, Rubi Ramos’s Recipe for Success is a novel that will find its way into your heart and never leave.
May 23, 2023
An immortal Knight of the Round Table faces his greatest challenge yet—saving the politically polarized, rapidly warming world from itself—in this slyly funny contemporary take on Arthurian legend. Being reborn as an immortal defender of the realm gets awfully damn tiring over the years—or at least that’s what Sir Kay’s thinking as he claws his way up from beneath the earth, yet again. Kay fought at Hastings, and at Waterloo, and in both World Wars. After a thousand years, he thought he was used to dealing with a crisis. But now he finds himself in a strange new world where oceans have risen, armies have been privatized, and half of Britain’s been sold. The dragon that’s running amok, that he can handle. The rest? He’s not so sure. Mariam’s devoted her life to fighting what’s wrong with her country. But she’s just one ordinary person, up against a hopelessly broken system. So when she meets Kay, a figure straight out of legend, she dares to hope that the world’s finally found the savior it needs. As the two quest through this strange land swarming with gangs, mercenaries, and talking squirrels, they realize that other ancient evils are afoot. Lancelot is back too–at the beck and call of immortal beings with a sinister agenda. And if their plans can’t be stopped, a dragon will be the least of the planet’s worries. In perilous times like these, the realm doesn’t just need a knight. It needs a true leader. Luckily, Excalibur lies within reach–and Kay’s starting to suspect that the hero fit to carry it is close at hand.
February 21, 2023
From the Tony Hillerman Prize-winning author of Pay Dirt Road comes Hard Rain, Samantha Jayne Allen’s mesmerizing next novel set in a hardscrabble Texas town dealing with disaster. In shock and found clinging to a tree branch, Bethany Richter is pulled from thrashing floodwaters that have decimated the town of Garnett, Texas, and killed a dozen others. Six months after solving the murder of a local waitress, Annie McIntyre is working as an apprentice P.I. when she’s handed her first solo case: uncover the identity of the man who rescued Bethany before he was swept downriver. When Annie’s search turns up a different victim—shot dead, not drowned—Annie questions if the hero they seek is actually a killer. Flexing her new skills while relying on the wisdom of her eccentric, ex-cop grandfather, the case leads Annie into a web of drug dealers, preachers, and wayward drifters trying to make sense of life after a disaster. Annie’s own convictions are put to the ultimate test as long-held secrets, corruption, and violence are exposed like the ruin that lies beneath receding waters.

We watched episode 1 of Willow on Disney+ last night. I also watched The Hip Hop Nutcracker, also on Disney+. It had a lot of my and my daughters favorite dancers from So You Think You Can Dance and the Step Up movies, so I enjoyed it.

  • Monday (November 28, 2022) Book Review – Let’s Not Be Friends by Phoebe MacLeod (Rom Com that’s more of a Women’s Fiction story)
  • Tuesday (November 29, 2022) Book Review – The Personal Assistant by Kimberly Belle (Psychological Thriller)
  • Wednesday (November 30, 2022) WWW Wednesday
  • Thursday (December 1, 2022) BookReview – The Dragon Heart Legacy trilogy by Nora Roberts (Fantasy)
  • Friday (December 2, 2022) – Book Blogger Hop
  • Monday (December 5, 2022) Book Review – The Opportunist by Elyse Friedman (Psychological Thriller)
  • Tuesday (December 6, 2022) Book Review – The Ingenue by Rachel Kapelke-Dare (Psychological Suspense)
  • Wednesday (December 7, 2022) WWW Wednesday
  • Thursday (December 8, 2022) BookReview – The Widowmaker by Hannah Morrissey (Thriller)
  • Friday (December 9, 2022) – Book Blogger Hop

34 Replies to “Sunday Post 120422 | December Jingled Its Way In”

  1. Lilly says:

    Congratulations for the Berkley admission! I hope it will be a great collaboration 😉 you have a busy week ahead, good luck with your plans 😎

    Liked by 1 person

  2. CJRTB Books says:

    Oh that’s lovely that you made that impact on that students life! Enjoy Disney, will be a great time. I bet its beautiful there for Christmas 🎄 😍

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lady Tessa says:

      It is. We spent Christmas there right before Covid hit because my oldest was completing an internship there and had to work on Christmas. It’s warm but festive ❤️

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Jenny Mcclinton says:

    That must have been an amazing feeling when you heard that from an ex-student & well done with Berkley 😊 Hope it calms down soon at work & have a great week 💕

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lady Tessa says:

      Around the end of the year it calms down and then I’ll have only a little bit to do again. What a relief that will be!

      Like

  5. Janette says:

    What a lovely thing for your student to say and well done for being accepted by Berkeley. Have fun at Disney XX

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lady Tessa says:

      It’s rare the counselor is remembered. I’m not sure why. So just that she remembers and still thinks of me in such high regard just feels so good. It reminds me that I really was making a difference.

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Jonetta | Blue Mood Café says:

    Oh, Tessa, what a wonderful acknowledgment from your former student!!! You should feel so proud💜💜💜

    Congratulations on being accepted into the Berkley Influencer group! So many of their books are on my shelf and they’re tough with their approvals. In my early days on NetGalley, they gave me auto approval but they’re really stingy about that now (that ship has long sailed).

    Have a great week!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lady Tessa says:

      Oh, they always reject me on NetGalley too and early on whoever was responding to NetGalley requests insinuated that I bought followers on Twitter (I don’t even think that’s a thing. IG yes but Twitter I’ve never heard that 🤷🏻‍♀️). Now, they invite me to their influencer program. Talk about full circle.

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Aj @ Read All The Things! says:

    Aww, it’s awesome that you impacted a student’s life so much. I still remember my favorite high school teacher and sometimes wonder if she’s still teaching. Congrats on getting into the Influence group. Happy December!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lady Tessa says:

      It’s so rare for the counselor to be remembered and it just reminds me that I really did make a difference. What a great feeling!

      Like

  8. WendyW says:

    That’s so wonderful that your student credited you with their success!! I’m sure you made an unforgettable impression on them and others. Congratulations on getting into the Berkley influencer program!! I didn’t realize the Berkley influencer program was open and missed it completely, but for some reason, they have been approving a lot of books for me on NetGalley anyway. So, maybe next year for me.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lady Tessa says:

      I’ll have to let you know when I hear about things on there. It’s going to be interesting I think.

      Like

  9. stargazer says:

    How amazing with your former student, that really is something to be proud of! I look forward to follow your ongoing relationship with Berkley 😉 and well done for becoming a Berkley influencer.

    Liked by 1 person

  10. buffywnabe says:

    Congrats on the Berkley influencer! I applied for the romance one but didn’t get it. I didn’t see the thing about the 5000 followers. If I add up across my different social media I probably have that, but not just on Instagram. As a former teacher myself, I love the story about a former student! I’ve had students come back and say things that make me feel like that too! It makes all the craziness of the job worth it! Hope you have a good week.
    https://lisalovesliterature.bookblog.io/2022/12/04/weekly-wrap-up-96-december-4th-2022/

    Liked by 1 person

  12. Teri Polen says:

    Wow – you’ve got a lot going on, Tessa! What a wonderful compliment from that student – you made a profound difference in their life. Knowing how you love thrillers, the Berkley approval must have felt like an early Christmas present. I know you’ll have a fabulous time at Disney with your family!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lady Tessa says:

      I still think I was utterly insane to agree to a Disney trip this close to Christmas but oh, well! Reservations are made. The Berkley invite still feels unreal, like they are going to email and say, “sorry, we made a mistake” 😂😂😂

      Liked by 2 people

  13. Carla says:

    So many wonderful things this week. Congratulations on the Berkley Influencer Group. I hope you find a lot of wonderful books to read and enjoy. It is always wonderful to hear that you were able to guide, motivate, influence etc. a student. As a teacher I always hoped I was making a difference, but when you know there has been a success, it is a wonderful thing. Enjoy your trip to Disney! I did not know there was a Willow series. The movie was one of our family favourites. I will have to check it out. Have a wonderful week, Tessa. 😁🤗📚💞

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Anna says:

    I like the sound of Perilous Times. I’m going to add that to my tbr.
    Have a great week.

    Liked by 1 person

  15. Books Teacup and Reviews says:

    Sounds very busy week. I hope this week was better. Congratulations for your application being accepted by Berkley. I never applied for that as it and many other publisher’s influencer programs state, it’s just for U.S. readers but I’m happy I’m on their email list that sends a steady flow of NetGalley widgets of romance and other fictions on my way.

    Liked by 1 person

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