The Sunday Post #13: Early to Bed

It’s been a busy week at work, and even though I have a desk job, I found myself exhausted and asleep by 7:30 p.m. most nights. That means very little “required” reading got done (a.k.a. ARCs, tours, etc.) Instead, I devoured two Amish romances and then started on a historical romance.

This weekend I found myself in a knitting mood so that’s what I’ve been doing. The only reading I got done was when I took Kid #2 to urgent care last night. He’s fine. I also picked up Gkid #2 for her birthday weekend. She wanted to go skating so I was able to give the skates a little workout. As usual, she wanted to leave way before I did. now here I am, getting up at 3:00 a.m. to write this post. Such is life when you fall asleep so early.


Last Week On The Blog

The Sunday Post #12: Looking My Age:

-See more Sunday Posts-

10 Books to Read When It’s Stormy. Looking for the perfect reads for a stormy day? This list of ten storm-themed books pairs turbulent tales with tempestuous covers. From romance to mystery and survival, these stories, including Christmas Storm and Firestorm, promise to keep you captivated as the rain pours and the winds howl outside.

See more Top Ten Tuesday Posts

How & Why I’m Changing How I Book Blog in 2025. Blogging after a ten-year hiatus is like starting over—but with a twist. Join me as I share why long-form book reviews are out, mini wrap-ups are in, and why I’m adding cozy updates on cooking and knitting. This candid reflection blends books, hobbies, and life’s quirks—because blogging is better when it’s personal.

Rescued at Christmas Book Review & Giveaway. When Devon Fairchild heads to Maple Glen to fulfill a promise, she plans to leave within the week. But an injury lands her in firefighter Finn McAllister’s care, surrounded by holiday warmth she never expected. Will she risk her guarded heart for love, or will fear send her running again? GIVEAWAY OPEN THROUGH 12/18/2024. Prize: (1) winner will receive a $10 Amazon gift card, a print copy of A Small Town Fourth of July (first book in series), and maple syrup/sugar treats!

See more reviews


This Week On The Blog

12/17/2024 My Winter 2024-2025 Reading List. Looking for the perfect reads to cozy up with this winter? My Winter 2024-2025 reading list is here! From heartwarming Amish romances to captivating dual timeline historical tales and edge-of-your-seat romantic suspense, these books promise to transport you through time and tug at your heartstrings. Whether you’re craving small-town charm, historical intrigue, or a touch of mystery, there’s something for every romance readers mood.

12/19/2024 2025 Fiber Arts Goals. After an hour of frogging a blanket and organizing my craft space, I feel inspired and ready to tackle my 2025 fiber arts goals. From using up my stash to learning new skills and finally diving into long-dreamed projects, this year is all about creativity, intention, and making space for what’s to come—like treasures from the Midwest Fiber Festival. Ready to set your own goals? Let’s embrace the joy of crafting and turn our aspirations into reality!

12/22/2024 The Sunday Post: weekly wrap-up of life updates, bookish chatter, and blog highlights. Dive into last week’s posts, get a sneak peek at what’s coming, and explore clean, closed-door romances. It’s your perfect Sunday read to stay in the know and inspired!

See more Sunday Posts


New Arrivals

My first bit of mail was from the very lovely @absolutelyabby.reads She writes some wonderful reviews and keeps me up to date on the best giveaways. Abby sent me Christmas at Sugar Plum Manor. It’s been awhile since I’ve read a historical fiction and I love all the holiday reads so I had put out this one on my TBR (a.k.a wishlist). It has Lady Mariah, her childhood friend (and crush), and a Danish Lord wanting her hand. I just started reading this and it is just what I was looking for. Thank you, Abby!

I received What I Left for You from Barbour Books as part of JustRead Publicity Tours Bookstagram tour that will take place January 14- 16, 2025. This one has dual timelines. Helena Kostyszak is a progressive woman who during the outbreak of WWII rushes to save herself and a friend’s infant from ethnic cleansing. McKenna Muir is experiencing a rough time as a social worker when a 2-year-old is murdered in 2023. She and a friend travel to Poland on sabbatical to spend time diving into McKenna’s family history. This could be shocking.


Tell me something good.

Thank you to the following bloggers for their excellent link-ups!
Caffeinated Reviewer hosts The Sunday Post and Readerbuzz hosts Sunday Salon.


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43 responses to “The Sunday Post #13: Early to Bed”

  1. Snapdragon Avatar

    Going to check out your post: How & Why I’m Changing How I Book Blog in 2025.

    Have a great week.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar
  2. Samantha @WLABB Avatar

    Look at that! Kids still roller skate. I did a lot of skating at United Skates of America back in the day. Sounds like a fun time.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      We all skate! Or at least me and most of the grandkids.

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Marg Avatar

    I was always mentally exhausted at the end of every work day! It was just a question around the level of exhaustion!

    Have a great week.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      That’s true! Lately the exhaustion has been pretty high.

      Like

  4. Anne Bennett Avatar

    I’ve gone back and forth on my book reviewing practices. I enjoy rereading blog post reviews I’ve written in the past, so I want to continue writing them if for no one but me, But then I wonder if I should blog about bookish things and family doings and transfer my blog reviews to Goodreads. So far I am stuck in the past, doing what I have always done.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      It doesn’t matter what you do as long as you get enjoyment out of it. Just focus on the joy!

      Like

  5. Tammy Avatar

    We go to sleep pretty early too, so I feel you. Skating with your grandkid, how fun!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      The problem is that my husband is on a totally different sleep schedule.

      Like

  6. Claudia Riley Avatar
    Claudia Riley

    Well, what can I say, early to bed usually means you get up early. I would love to go skating! I remember skating as a girl, with the skate key around my neck, throughout our neighborhood, which was one of those with actual sidewalks.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      I don’t care for skating outside that much. Luckily the rink is five minutes away.

      Like

  7. Jodie | That Happy Reader Avatar

    I’m shying away from the required reading Carla. Deadlines are zapping my enjoyment for reading and I love my local library.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      Yes, that’s what I’m feeling. The thing is, I would read these books regardless. I would never sign up to get it otherwise. It’s just the fact that a timeline gets put on it. I need to figure out how not to focus on the timeline.

      Like

  8. Vicki Avatar

    Glad Kid 2 is ok! I love purple and used to ice skate. I wish I had those back then.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      Purple is my favorite color!

      Like

  9. henatayeb Avatar

    We have dinner at 7:30. My husband doesn’t come home till 7 and my eldest doesn’t get home till 7:30 so I am usually waiting with the table set and the food warm.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      How nice for your family!

      Like

  10. yvonne473 Avatar

    When I was still working, I had a desk job. I always felt so exhausted after an 8 hour day. It really does wear on you. Enjoy your books. They look so good. Have a great week!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      I hope you had a good week!

      Liked by 1 person

  11. Jinjer Avatar

    Mental stress for us desk jobbers is real, yo. Especially if we have a project we’re concentrating hard on for hours on end. That with the cold and the dark…yah. I’ve been to bed super early myself a few nights last week. Good news is, that means it’s a lot easier to get up when the cat starts yowling for food at 5am.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      My cat hollers about food at 5 am too. The only issue is that he never has been fed that early. He always gets food at 6:30 am.

      Like

      1. Jinjer Avatar

        I would consider ignoring my cat’s early demands and make her wait until a more acceptable hour except I’m in an apartment so I try to shut her up quick before she wakes my downstairs neighbor. LOL

        Like

  12. Sophie @BewareOfTheReader Avatar
    Sophie @BewareOfTheReader

    Having a desk job doesn’t mean it’s not exhausting! And when you are tired, you don’t want to do anything you d’ont “have” to so I get why you chose to read these romances instead of ARCs!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      That’s such a good strategy! I’m trying to slip more because I want to reads in.

      Like

  13. Northwoman Avatar

    I find it easier to go to sleep earlier and get up later in the winter because it is dark more. But I have to get up early anyway when we have our neighbor’s dog. I don’t want them to bark and wake my daughter. Going to sleep early is hampering my reading time though.

    Anne – Books of My Heart   This is my Sunday Post

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      It does impact the reading. Maybe that’s my real problem.

      Like

  14. buffywnabe Avatar

    Even the weeks when I’m just “sitting at my desk” at work I end up exhausted. Especially this past week when I didn’t have the evenings to just relax and watch tv. It’s also so much easier to go to bed early when it is dark earlier. Sounds like an okay week otherwise. I need to check out some of your blog posts, hoping to get more commenting done this week!

    Have a good week!

    https://lisalovesliterature.bookblog.io/2024/12/15/weekly-wrap-up-202-december-15th-2024/

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      I focus on commenting on other blogs before replying to my own comments. That’s why I never respond to anyone here until Saturday!

      Like

  15. Erin @ Cracker Crumb Life Avatar

    I tend to conk out so early these days! I am just so busy all day. Lol.

    I am looking forward to everyone’s winter TBR’s this Tuesday!

    And I 100% agree about short reviews and mini wrap ups. I tend to review in little chunks and they are just short little book reviews. I am hoping to do some this week actually!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      Oddly when Friday comes around I can stay up a little later. The TBR’s were fun lists to see!

      Liked by 1 person

  16. Tina Avatar

    Those skates are gorgeous! Hope you have some relaxation and rest soon.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      Thank you, Tina!

      Like

  17. Deb Nance at Readerbuzz Avatar

    I want to post more about the baking I do—I’m not sure why I got away from that. I also love to blog about traveling and taking photos. I don’t think I posted about any of that last year.

    This time of the year is always busy. I remember trying to keep up with my blog when I was working—how did I do that?!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      I would love to read about all those things on your blog, Deb!

      Like

  18. WordsAndPeace Avatar

    When I have time, I love doing things with my hands (painting, which I haven’t had time for 4 years, lol; gardening; jigsaw puzzle – hopefully during my Christmas break; house chores) while listening to audiobooks.
    https://wordsandpeace.com/2024/12/15/sunday-post-125-devouring-mode/

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      I would love to garden but I can’t seem to grow anything. My husband loves jigsaw puzzles and I often jump in and help him.

      Liked by 1 person

  19. shelleyrae @ Book'd Out Avatar

    Glad the her Kid#2 is ok.

    Love the purple roller skates!

    Wishing you a happy reading week

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar
  20. the bookworm Avatar

    Your new books have pretty covers. I have a desk job also and it can be mentally exhausting. I’m the same, I’m usually in bed early then randomly wake up at 3am.

    Enjoy your week ahead and that’s good the trip to urgent care went ok.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      Mental exhaustion does take a toll.

      Like

  21. mjeanpike Avatar

    I often go to bed that early in the winter, sometimes you need that, but yes it does make for a long day when it starts at 3 am, lol. The knitting, reading and skating sound lovely.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      Maybe it’s just that we like to be snuggled up in bed when it’s cold.

      Like

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Welcome to Carla’s Book Crush where I share my favorite clean, Christian reads. I review everything from Amish and historical romance to suspense, contemporary fiction, nonfiction, and the occasional devotional. If it has heart, hope, and a message that points back to Christ, it’s probably on my shelf. I also love chatting with authors and featuring interviews that give you a peek behind the pages. Whether you’re looking for a new release, a cozy weekend read, or just something uplifting and well-written, you’re in the right place. Clean stories. Encouraging faith. Books worth reading.

5 Stars – Overwhelmed me in a good way!
4 Stars – Strongly moved me
3 Stars – Entertaining, worth the read
2 Stars – Meh, take it or leave it
1 Star – Nails on a chalkboard