Welcome to November’s Monthly Minutes at Midnight!

 Here’s the deal: I’ll share the books I’ve obtained, posts of interest from others, giveaways I have happening, and just general random shenanigans. You know I love a shenanigan.  Also, covers all link to Goodreads, because I am awesome. As always, I link up with the Wrap Up Round Up, too! 

The Books

For Review/From Publishers: 

Thanks to the publisher for this one! I read and loved it! 

eARCs:

Huge thanks to the publishers for these lovelies! I told you all progress was temporary! 

Purchased:

Throne of  Secrets ♦ Don’t Let the Forest In ♦ The Relentless Legion

Not too bad, eh?

Won/Gifted/No Idea But It Showed Up at My House:

Thanks to Amber for Half Life and Minor Bears, thanks to someone I guess for Bletchley, and thanks to my mom for Guillotine! 

Shenanigans Since Last Time:

I read 9 books this month.  Why am I so bad at reading lately!? Probably because life is collapsing, it’s fine.

Pretty good bunch, for the most part! Reviews for all coming very soon! 

Giveaways: Click Here, or on Sidebar

Blogosphere Bulletin

Here are some of the loveliest/most entertaining/super helpful/just plain interesting posts I found this month! 

Fancy & New Since Last I Saw You!

I love looking at pretty covers! So here are some new ones that I have fallen in love with since our last update!

Pretty covers are pretty. Big ol’ cover month here! 

Things we need to talk about at this juncture:

  • November 2024 has been the worst month of my life, no exaggeration. It started out hopeful, and ended with more tears than I’ve probably ever shed. Let’s recap:
    • First, the election happened. And we all know how that went. Not only did the presidential election suck and suck hard, but here in NEPA we lost every single down-ballot race too. My heart hurts extra knowing how many people voted for this, and how many of them I have to interact with on the daily. So obviously, I was worried sick about all of that, but then November said “hold my beer”. While The Orange Menace was shooting darts at a list of Megan’s Law offenders to fill his cabinet, my own life was crashing and burning.     

    • A lot of you know about the mess I have been dealing with the past several years, and it looks like it might have gotten messier. I can’t say much at the moment, but… man it is a clusterfuck. Then the trip I was supposed to take the kids on next year (aka, the one bright spot I had) was canceled. Because of course it was. And that was after I accidentally overdrew my bank account to make the deposit. I sob.

    • And if all that were not horrific enough, my dad went into hospice. On my birthday. He was dealing with terminal pancreatic cancer, which I did not discuss publicly due to his wishes. But while we knew it was a terminal illness, his decline was rapid. He passed on Sunday, and I am pretty broken. The holidays, as you can imagine, have been and will continue to be hell. I have nothing left to offer, and I am just trying to get by.

    I do hope that you have a nice holiday season, if you celebrate something! Or just have a day off or something if you do not. Some shows kept me afloat- From, The Ark, The Challenge, and now Silo are good escapes. 

Have a great December, loves! Let me know how your month was! Looking forward to anything coming up?

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Posted November 30, 2024 by Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight in Blog Recaps / 25 Comments

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25 responses to “Monthly Minutes at Midnight: November 2024”

  5. Roberta R.

    I’m so sorry. Having your dad admitted into hospice the very day of your birthday…losing him to such a bitch of an illness…plus the whole month’s worth of crap. I hope you can find solace in your kids and your books, and as for the other situation…I’m afraid I may have an inkling of what it entails, just going by intuition, and…I hope I’m being wrong. Sending bear hugs.

    Books: White Line Fever is on my list (I wasn’t approved for it, but I’m going to purchase it eventually). The Way Up Is Death was great! I’ll have my review up on pub date.

    Reply
    • Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight

      Thank you so much. It really has just been such a nightmare. And you are probably right about the intuition! I will talk more about it when I can but yeah. It is just like… can the universe NOT for a minute!? I am reading The Way Up is Death right now and I am REALLY liking it even though I just started, so I am excited that you loved it!

      Reply
  9. Beth W

    That’s too much to throw at you at once. Universe, take it back. Take it back and balance it out. Seriously. *shakes fist*

    Also, though, if this situation has a name that starts with an E, I will start practicing my aim more seriously.

    What can I say? Nothing that will make you feel any better, I think. This all just sucks, so much. I’m here, crying for/with you because it’s all Not OK, which means it’s perfectly alright for you to be Not OK as well. For as long as you need to be. Can you take a leave of absence from work for a bit, at least? I hope you got your deposit back, and can reschedule another bright spot sometime soon. I truly wish I could at least drop off a casserole or something for you. I’m here, if you need to vent or whatever, I’m here. <3

    Reply
    • Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight

      Thanks, Beth ♥♥

      Bwhahah the one situation does! Honestly if you could just… be a PI, that might be good? 😂

      Thank you, I really appreciate you, so very much. I did get the deposit back and did actually book another one after a loooot of nonsense and drama because, well, it’s me 😂😂

      Reply
  10. Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

    I’m so sorry that November has been so terrible for you. Not gonna lie, when I saw you say that it was the worst month of your life, my first thought was, “But Shannon’s been through some pretty horrific stuff.” I’m really sorry if some of that stuff is rearing its ugly head again, and I hope that it gets better for you!! And, of course, I am dreadfully sorry for your loss.

    Reply
  11. hena

    Oh no. i am so sorry to hear about all you have been going through. Especially sorry to hear about your father’s passing. Sending you hugs and positive thoughts.

    Reply
  12. Lisa Mandina (Lisa Loves Literature)

    I’m so sorry for your horrible month. I lost my stepdad, who was basically a second dad to me, back in May to prostate cancer. And his decline was so fast too, that I understand how horrible this is. I’m sooo sorry and know that I am hurting for you knowing how hard it is at the time, and continues to be afterwards. 2024 has just been a terrible year.

    Reply
    • Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight

      Thank you so much. I am so sorry for your loss, too. My dad’s was pancreatic, but man, they all suck don’t they? He fought for SO long- even in hospice, he would not let go, which really hurts. Seeing someone want to live SO freaking much, you know? I am sending you and your family all the love too, you guys are in my thoughts as well, and if you ever want to talk, I am here ♥♥

      Reply

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