Today is Sunday time to look back in the rearview mirror and talk about my week . I am linking up to the Sunday Post hosted for years by Kimberly@caffeinatedreviewer .
As today is the last day of July, I’ll also talk about my favorite books read in July.
In my private life
Happy Sunday!
It’s my last day of holiday today and I spent most of my morning hiking and then finishing my last read of July!
I had promised last Sunday that I’d give you some pictures of my holiday in France and here they are!
I went to the south of France with Beware of the Husband, precisely in Moustier Ste Marie, a very charming village perched in the hills close to lake St Croix.
The region’s specialty is lavander flowers and products and we had fields of lavender all around!
As we decided to travel with my husband’s roadster, a Mazda MX5, we took the scenic roads.
Our hotel was just perfect close to the village with an amazing view.
The only downside was the heat!
Like most of Europe we had a heatwave and that made hiking nearly impossible for my husband who was very tired from work and has high blood pressure! We realized it pretty quickly after I had embarked my husband to climb many steps in the heat in search of a historical chapel to visit…. His heartrate was much too fast!
So every morning, I woke up bright an early at 6 AM, and went alone for a hike around the village for 1:30 hour before breakfast!
I had the village to myself! And every morning I crossed another middle aged woman, also hiking alone. After three days, we were exchanging secret smiles that translated in “oh you too you need to burn up some energy and have time alone before the family/husband wake up?”. 🙂
Then later on, my husband and I went for a ride in Provence’s countryside, visit some charming village or we also did some canoe and kayaking in the “Gorges du Verdon”.
Canoe was funny as , with our difference in strength and having only one oar each, I had to row three times before my husband rowed once. When we looked at our GPS “trail” on the lake, you’d think we were drunk as we literally were zigzaging! :-)))))
These holiday were a time to relax, nap and enjoy beautiful landscapes and excellent French cuisine!
This past week was spent cleaning the house and reading! You’ll see below that I have read a record number of books in July!
And tomorrow is back to work!
To end that “private life” section with some humor, I am leaving you with two funny reels I made this week.
July Wrap Up
So with the holiday and a lot of free time, I have read and listened to a record of 17 books!
The last one was finished one hour ago: Rock Bottom Girl by Lucy Score (that one was a hoot!).
Some I have already reviewed, others not!
I have five favorites so far:
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Mandanna Sangu is a book that gave me similar vibes as The House in the Cerulean Sea!
The Mixtape by Brittainy C Cherry is the perfect embodiment of all the reasons why I love Brittainy’s stories: they are full of heart and great characters!
The Blood Traitor by Lynette Noni: the whole series deserves 5 stars! And what a finale!
Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater was very charming, very surprising and so endearing!
And my big winner for July (incoming review) is…
My Oxford Year written and read by Julia Whelan!
That book blew me away and will be on my top read at the end of the year!
That’s it!
Thanks for reading!
Sophie
You had a great month and those are some pretty photos!
I did indeed Kayla!
Your photos are beautiful! I’m envious. I really want to visit Europe, even during a heatwave. Congrats on reading 17 books. Have a great week!
I hope you’ll get the chance to visit one day AJ!
The pictures look beautiful, sounds and looks like you had a great holiday! I think it’s really cool that you got up that early to hike, definitely quality me-time 🙂 And an amazing reading month too! Hope you’ll have an amazing August too!
So many beautiful views! Yes the heat is definitely intense right now. Smart to have an earlier start in the day.
Take care and have a wonderful week!
Thank you! You too!
Your pictures are absolutely stunning! And oh my gosh paddling like that must have been challenging! Our kayak/canoe uses one with paddles on both side, only does our paddle boards come with a paddle on one side. Hugs! I would have been going in circles with me husband too haha! I hope you have as wonderful of an August as you did in July ♥!
Thank you Jen!!
July seemed like a good for you! Love the pictures!
It was an amazing month!
You had such a fun month in July there! I am so happy that you were able to explore more and get to see the sights and get some good hiking in. I always love hiking no matter where I travel. I hope you have a fun August and get some great books read!
And you too Renee!
What stunning photos from France! Glad it was a good getaway – even with the heat.
Me too Tanya!
Sophie, those pics are just gorgeous! Looks like you had a fabulous time. And all the reading you got done last month – woohoo!
Indeed!!!
The pictures are really beautiful, Sophie!
Thank you Stephanie!
The sight of lavender fields is one of the most beautiful vistas on Earth… And let’s not forget the wonderful smell! 🙂
The smell was heavenly Maddalena!
Sounds like a lovely vacation, and such gorgeous pics!
It was Mogsy!
I’m glad you had such a wonderful trip and that you managed to go hiking in the morning so your husband didn’t have to strain his heart. 🙂 Your pictures are gorgeous and I hope to visit Europe someday. I also love the imagery of drunk canoeing. That’s what would happen if I went canoeing with my husband too.
My Sunday Post
Maybe we launched a trend LOL
Lovely photos and I’m glad you were able to enjoy things even with the heat. I loved My Oxford Year.
Anne – Books of My Heart This is my Sunday Post
Sounds like a fabulous trip! Love the pics. Drunk canoeing lol 🙂
:-)))
Looks like a wonderful trip even though it was so hot. Glad you were able to make the most of it. I’m so happy to hear how much you enjoyed The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches and that it has similar vibes to the TJ Klune book. I can’t wait to read that one.
I hope you’ll love it Suzanne!
Beautiful pictures. Sounds like you made the most of your time there given the weather. How good was My Oxford Year? I was so mad at myself for having the ARC for year before I read it (SHAME!). I loved Whelan’s follow up too. Her books are fantastic! Seventeen books – that’s amazing! I have hold at the library for Witches. I am excited to hear you enjoyed it.
I adored My Oxford Year and ordered her next one right away Sam!
Your pictures are lovely!! Sorry it was so hot. That’s a bummer!
Wow 17 books! Looks like you had such a great time in your holiday!
Your vacation sounds amazing! And it’s so pretty there, lovely photos. And I love that you and a fellow hiker shared a bond with early morning hiking
It often happens with early hikers Tammy. The world is so peaceful at that hour!