Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Wednesday Reads and I'm an Idiot!

Well, I went and did it. Really messed up my knee. I could kick myself (if I was able to bend my knee, that is!). Whatever made me think I could walk fast? I should have known better, but my knee was feeling great. No pain. Well, no pain until after I passed the 1 mile mark. Shortly after, my knee pretty much gave out.

I quickly turned around and headed home, limping. About half-way there, my knee was feeling a little better (I wasn’t limping as much), so I walked over to the polls and voted. Figured I was already out and it wasn’t really all that much out of the way. Probably a good thing I did, too. Once I got home and sat down? Yeah, there was no getting up. Not easily, anyway.

Stupid, stupid, stupid!

I only hope I didn’t sabotage the rest of my exercise routine. But if my knee isn’t feeling better by the end of the week, I guess I’ll go back to the doctor and see about that cortisone shot. It certainly couldn’t hurt.

Here’s what I read this week:

Oct 31: “Let the Dead Sleep” by Heather Graham, first book in the Cafferty and Quinn series, a supernatural thriller/romantic suspense at 331 pages. Blurb from book: It was stolen from a New Orleans grave—the centuries-old bust of an evil man, a demonic man. It’s an object desired by collectors—and by those with wickedness in their hearts. One day, its current owner shows up at Danni Cafferty’s antiques shop on Royal Street, the shop she inherited from her father. But before Danni can buy the statue, it disappears, the owner is found dead…and Danni discovers that she’s inherited much more than she realized. In the store is a book filled with secret writing: instructions for defeating evil entities. She’d dismissed it as a curiosity…until the arrival of this statue, with its long history of evil and even longer trail of death. Michael Quinn, former cop and now private investigator, is a man with an unusual past. He believes that doing the right thing isn’t a job—it’s a way of life. And the right thing to do is find and destroy this object weighted with malevolent powers. He and Danni are drawn together in their search for the missing statue, following it through sultry New Orleans nights to hidden places in the French Quarter and secret ceremonies on abandoned plantations. Cafferty and Quinn already know that trust in others can be misplaced, that love can be temporary. And yet their connection is primal. Mesmerizing. They also know that their story won’t end when this case is closed and the dead rest in peace once again. Well, I guess getting this book as a freebie at RT worked. I liked it and I’m interested in reading more (there are two more in the series now, no idea how many to expect). It’s got a bit of a supernatural bent, but mostly some kind of thriller/suspense thing (and I’m a sucker for those!). There is some romance going on, but it’s not really a “romance” (no happily ever after or happy for now ending—where it concerns the couple, at least). Still, I like the characters a lot and I want to read more, so I guess I have another series on my radar now. J

Nov 3: “Bared to You” by Sylvia Day, first book in the Crossfire series, an erotica romance at 319 pages. Blurb from book: He was beautiful and brilliant, jagged and white-hot. I was drawn to him as I’d never been to anything or anyone in my life. I craved his touch like a drug, even knowing it would weaken me. I was flawed and damaged, and he opened those cracks in me so easily… Gideon knew. He had demons of his own. And we would become the mirrors that reflected each other’s most private wounds…and desires. The bonds of his love transformed me, even as I prayed that the torment of our pasts didn’t tear us apart… I got this book free at RT. I don’t read a lot of the freebies I get, but I’ve been curious to read something by Sylvia Day and I now had a book. But as I was in Goodreads to mark it as my current read, I saw a friend mention it had a cliffhanger (and we know how much I loathe those). Then I noticed it was in first person (ugh!). I seriously wondered if I should read it. Well, I’m glad I did. I enjoyed it a lot. In fact, I had a hard time putting it down. And that cliffhanger? Well, there really wasn’t one (thank goodness). I still wasn’t crazy about the first person (doesn’t make it a real romance for me anyway, I like to know what the guy is thinking/feeling), but it’s not that off-putting to keep me from the next book. If you like steamy books with two damaged characters, this book is for you. Hot stuff!

So… Have you ever picked up a book and almost let the reviews keep you from reading it, but read it anyway then found out it was pretty darn good? I think this was a first for me.

Happy Reading!

Stacy

13 comments:

JeffO said...

I tend not to read reviews until after I've read the book. And then I say, "Right on, brother!" to the people who agree with my opinion and shake my head at those who don't. (Not quite true)

I do find review reading especially interesting when the book (or movie, or TV series) is either universally acclaimed or panned, and my opinion is vastly different.

Sorry about your knee, I hope you make a quick recovery.

Maria Zannini said...

If you can try to avoid cortisone shots. If the doctor misses the affected area even by centimeters cortisone can weaken tendons, thin bone, and cause nerve damage.

Yes, it relieves the pain, but in truth, it's only masking it. I made the mistake of overestimating its value and it only made things worse for me. (I felt great so obviously I was back to normal. So wrong.)

Rest your knee. Ice it if it's swollen. Keep it elevated under a pillow if you can. Continue to strengthen the muscles around the knee with exercise. It took two years of yoga just to improve my knee. There are no quick fixes.

Stacy McKitrick said...

Jeff - I usually don't read reviews until after I read the book, but in this case, I wasn't sure if I wanted to read this book, so I took a look. I don't think I'll do that again.

Maria - I don't think my knee is swollen (I had to measure both to see if there was difference between the two and there isn't). I didn't go to the gym today, because I still can't put all my weight on that leg, but it's a lot better than it was yesterday. Hopefully it's even better tomorrow and I can go to the gym. I notice I don't have knee issues when I work the weights. Just when I walk. Grrr...

Jennette Marie Powell said...

I don't usually read reviews until after I read the book, unless I'm really not sure it's for me. Then it's more likely for the bad reviews to make me buy! As in, if someone else hated something that I really like, I pick it up.

Ouch on the knee - hope it's better soon!

Stacy McKitrick said...

Jennette - I think I was hoping the reviews would help me decide TO read the book, since I was a bit on the fence. Instead, it almost backfired.

Unknown said...

At one time, I never read reviews, until I heard a couple of authors say THEY would never purchase a book without first reading the reviews. At first I was startled and disappointed. As a reader, I had taken a "chance" with one of their books at one time.

Today, however, when you have at your fingertips an infinite number of reads, and time is sparse, reviews have become one way us readers narrow our selections. Now, we have to become excellent, discerning review readers.

Heather Graham is a favorite author of mine. I may like one story or series better than another, but I think she's one of the best in the business. But then, I like her books no matter what name she is using.

I agree with Zannini about icing the knee, even if it doesn't appear swollen, and keep it elevated, but not overextended. I would see a doc, though (I am not one) and get his diagnosis and hear all the options, the pros and cons. (I'm shocked how many people go to a doctor and when given certain options, never ask about possible side effects short and long term, yikes!) Surgery and shots would not be my first choice ever. Hope it heals fast.
--Tanja

Stacy McKitrick said...

Tanja - Only four things need to occur for me to BUY a book. 1) Like the cover enough to read the blurb. 2) Like the blurb enough to read the first few pages. 3) Get hooked reading the first few pages. 4)Make sure the price is reasonable per length of book (I won't pay $4.99 for something under 100 pages, especially if the author is new to me). Reviews don't have anything to do with it. BUT, when I get a book for free (like at a convention), from an author I've never read but have been curious about, then review reading might come into play. MIGHT. Now... I'm not so sure. I already have the book. If the blurb and few pages don't pull me in, then maybe it's not worth reading, regardless of what people say. I'll have to remember that next time. :)

Michael Seese said...

Having been through two shoulder surgeries, it SUX, but it's nice to get it FIXED. (If that's an option for you.)

dolorah said...

I never used to read reviews before reading a book, but I've started to lately. Sometimes I still pick up the book because what one person did not like might be the thing that intrigues me.

Hope the knee gets better on its own.

Stacy McKitrick said...

Michael - I certainly HOPE it doesn't come to surgery. I want to do the exercise bit and get it stronger. Of course, it's hard to exercise when it hurts so bad! Can't seem to win.

Donna - I've only read the reviews of books from authors I'm not familiar with. And sometimes those 1 and 2 star reviews are a hoot! Heck, I've got a few on my own books (it's nice I got a reaction, because why go to all that trouble posting a negative review with GIFs?). With my favorite authors? I don't even bother reading reviews (except maybe after I've read the book). Heck, I don't even read the blurb. They're an instant buy.

The Happy Whisk said...

Why, why, why did you push it that far? Oh my gosh. Stop that silliness and get back to healing, right.

Stacy McKitrick said...

Ivy - Why? Because I was trying to follow my cardiologist's orders to get more cardio in. I really didn't think I would hurt it that bad. So much for thinking, huh? Oh well...

The Happy Whisk said...

That's a hard balance to reach. Understandable.