Finished Reading “Run to Me” & “Lie Close to Me” and Happy Mother’s Day

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers out there! Tonight I’m going to see Mrs. Doubtfire (the musical) at the Schuster Center in Dayton. Should be a fun night.

And yes… I’m home! Came home last night and went to bed early (although I had been up for 21 hours—that 6-hour time difference is a killer!), which meant I woke up early. Oh well, just meant I got a head start on the laundry!

Our trip consisted of staying in the following cities: Berlin, Munich, Rothenberg, Stuttgart (all in Germany), and Paris, France. We also visited Salzburg, Austria. I liked the smaller cities better and I really enjoyed visiting Zugspitze (highest point in Germany). You could see the Alps from there!

But man, did we do a lot of walking! At least 10K steps a day (one day I hit 20K). I actually lost weight from this vacation. I need to keep up the work. I just hope I can. But today… I’m taking a break. I mean, it is Mother’s Day!!

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 7

Dates read: April 22-May 4, 2026
Title: Run to Me
Year of publication: 2018
Author: Cynthia Eden
Genre: Paranormal romance
Series: Lazarus Rising #4
# of Pages: 174
Paper or plastic: Nook
How obtained: Purchased at B&N
Blurb from Goodreads: He’s used to getting what he wants…
    Jennings “Jay” Maverick is a tech billionaire. He has the world at his feet, and he thinks he can buy anything…but he can’t buy her. One look at the mysterious Willow, and Jay knows that he is a goner. He wants to give her anything and everything she desires, but he’s the man responsible for the pain in Willow’s life, and getting close to her—well, that’s not going to be easy.
Her life is a nightmare that she can’t escape.
     Willow woke up in one of the “Lazarus” research facilities. She now has increased strength, incredible speed, and some scary psychic bonuses. Because of the danger associated with her new gifts, she’s afraid to touch anyone. One touch from her, and a man’s darkest fears will seemingly turn into reality. But Jay isn’t afraid of her touch. Instead, he seems to…crave it. To crave her.
She can’t trust him, and he won’t let her go.
     Willow knows that Jay has been involved with Lazarus in the past, but he swears he only wants to help her. She never expects the white-hot desire that burns between them, a desire that grows more with every moment that passes. Thrust together as allies, Willow finds herself wanting to put her faith in Jay, wanting to find someone she can rely on, but Jay may still be keeping secrets from her. Secrets that could get them both killed.
Recommend: Yes
My thoughts: While the books are shorter than I usually like to read, it’s still a good read. Great for traveling, too!

Book 8

Dates read: May 4-7, 2026
Title: Lie Close to Me
Year of publication: 2018
Author: Cynthia Eden
Genre: Paranormal romance
Series: Lazarus Rising #5
# of Pages: 197
Paper or plastic: Nook
How obtained: Purchased at B&N
Blurb from Goodreads: He’s Lazarus, and so is she. What happens when their worlds collide?
    He’s hunting her. Maddox Kane has one goal—track Luna Ashton. He’s the best hunter on his team, finely honed and designed by Uncle Sam to be an unstoppable killing machine. He’s a super solider—faster, stronger, and deadlier than anyone else. Maddox keeps his emotions under careful lock and key because he can’t afford to feel. Feeling is too dangerous, and the attraction Maddox feels for Luna is positively lethal.
    Luna has no memory of being in the labs with Maddox. She doesn’t remember the connection they shared when they were trapped in hell. She doesn’t remember escaping the facility. She doesn’t remember him. So when Maddox hunts her down, she’s terrified of him…and of the strange psychic and sensual connection they seem to share. Surely she shouldn’t want him so much?
    Luna is different from the other Lazarus subjects, and Maddox isn’t the only one hunting her. She’s a dangerous threat to Project Lazarus, and Luna isn’t going to be allowed to just slip away from the U.S. government…or from the other super soldiers who are also desperate to find her.
    Every Lazarus subject has incredible psychic gifts. Some Lazarus subjects can make people see their worst fears, some can control minds…but Luna’s gift—she can show people their memories. Luna has the ability to restore memories to all of the other Lazarus subjects, yet she can’t see her own past.
    And if you can’t see your past…then you never know what danger is coming, what killer is standing right next to you, touching you, lying to you…not until it is too late.
Recommend: Yes
My thoughts: Still enjoying the series. Which is good, since I bought all the books (and I’m reading the last one). If you’re looking for a short series to read, and you love paranormal stuff, you’ll enjoy this.

I didn’t get any writing done on this trip (not that I would have had time if I had brought my laptop), but I did write some notes in my notebook to help me get back into my story. Which will probably be tomorrow. I can’t think about writing right now, although I am surprised I was able to get this blog post written! So glad I’m retired. I can recover from traveling without worrying about going into work!

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Finished Reading “Stay With Me” and I’m Going Quiet for a Bit

This Friday I leave on a trip to Germany and France. When we took a trip to Italy in October 2024, I took my laptop. And never really used it. So I’m not bothering to take it with me this time. I don’t need to have my websites taken over in German or French and I really don’t see time to write. But… I will take a notebook. Just in case.

Because I’m really starting to get into the end of The Alien’s Change of Heart. I kind of know what’s gonna happen; what the dark moment is. So I will try and write it out long hand. It’s been AGES since I did that (back in the 2010s, before publication and while writing during my lunch hour, when I had an actual job). I’d like to get the first draft of this thing done so I can concentrate on editing it and getting a cover. I still have so much to do to get this thing published.

All that to say that I will not be posting anything for a while (not that I have been posting all that frequently as it is, huh?). And I’m sure I’ll return from that trip exhausted. In a good way, I hope, though. I got sick during that Italy trip. Sure hope that doesn’t happen again. Fingers crossed!!

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 6

Dates read: April 13-21, 2026
Title: Stay With Me
Year of publication: 2017
Author: Cynthia Eden
Genre: Paranormal romance
Series: Lazarus Rising #3
# of Pages: 131
Paper or plastic: Nook
How obtained: Purchased at B&N
Blurb from Book: Shelly Hampton intends to spend the holidays alone in her family’s mountain cabin, but when a snow-covered stranger appears on her door-step, her plans are shot straight to hell. The man before her seems oddly familiar, and he stirs a dark need within her.
    It’s soon apparent that John Smith is far more than a normal man—he’s too strong, too fast, and she could swear that he seems to read her thoughts…and know her most secret desires.
    But is John a man that she could love…or is he someone she should fear? Because even as the snow fall deepens, a deadly threat is closing in on her little cabin. And soon, Shelly will be trapped on the mountain with a dangerous man…a man who swears that he has come back from the dead, just to be with her.
Recommend: Yes
My thoughts: This series is really good. Nice suspense. Nice romance. Nice paranormal stuff. I would have finished this book sooner (it is shorter than the others), except stuff happened (as it usually does). But I got the rest of the series to read during the travel days of our upcoming trip. Wouldn’t have bothered if I didn’t like it, right?

So, yeah, I was reading a book of short stories set in the world of The Stand, but our trip was coming up and I was NOT going to carry that tome with me. Plus, I went somewhere recently where I wanted a book to read, so I just started reading this book, thinking it would last me until at least the flight to Germany. Nope. It’s short. But it was still good. Guess I’ll go start on the next one.

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Finished Reading “The Stand” and Waiting for Things to Settle Down

It never fails. I leave on a trip and when I get home I have appointments out the wazoo! If it’s not for me, it’s for the cars. Plus, the weather has been wild, too. I think things will lighten up a little next week. I sure hope so. I’ve been home for a week!!

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 5

Dates read: February 22 - March 18, 2026
Title: The Stand
Year of publication: 1978/1990
Author: Stephen King
Genre: Horror
Series: N/A
# of Pages: 1235
Paper or plastic: Nook
How obtained: Purchased at B&N
Blurb from Goodreads: This is the way the world ends: with a nanosecond of computer error in a Defense Department laboratory and a million casual contacts that form the links in a chain letter of death.
    And here is the bleak new world of the day after: a world stripped of its institutions and emptied of 99 percent of its people. A world in which a handful of panicky survivors choose sides - or are chosen. A world in which good rides on the frail shoulders of the 108-year-old Mother Abagail - and the worst nightmares of evil are embodied in a man with a lethal smile and unspeakable powers: Randall Flagg, the dark man.
Recommend: Yes
My thoughts: This was the third or fourth time reading this book. Probably third. First was in the late 70s when I saw the book in Safeway indicating it was going to be a movie (it wasn’t, not then, anyway). Fell in love with it. Then I bought the updated version when it came out. I don’t think I read that hardcover twice (although with my memory, it’s possible I just forgot). But for the cruise, I wanted to read something that I already knew and loved, so I bought the e-book for my Nook (of which I could not get on my Nook being away from home so I was stuck reading it on my phone). Still as good as the first time I read it. And believe it or not, I remembered most of it. I guess reading a GOOD book really makes a difference in remembering.

I bought the anthology of short stories written by lots of different authors, all tales of The Stand. I think that was another reason I wanted to read The Stand again. Plus, I want to watch the miniseries, too (the one with Gary Sinese). But I’m making that my reward for finishing The Alien’s Change of Heart. I need something to motivate me to finish!!

FYI: I will be at a book signing in Columbia, SC on March 28^th at The Market on 701 Whaley. 12-5 pm. It’s free for readers to attend. If you’re in the area, stop by and say hi! And maybe buy a few books while you’re at it. I’ll be sharing a table with Jeanne Oates Estridge (writing also as Opal Mason). We're driving down together. Should be fun!!

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Finished Reading “Keep Me Close” and I Think It’s Back!

What’s back, you ask? My writing mojo. At least it seems that way. I’ve been doing a lot of writing on this cruise. Something I haven’t done in a long time. Heck, I even wrote over 1000 words on one of the days! Wish I could do that every day, but my system seems to usually peter out after 500 words (which is the goal I try for anyways). As long as I can keep that up, I’ll get The Alien’s Change of Heart finished in no time!

Well, I can dream, anyway.

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 4

Dates read: February 21 – March 3, 2026
Title: Keep Me Close
Year of publication: 2017
Author: Cynthia Eden
Genre: Paranormal romantic suspense
Series: Lazarus Rising, Book 2
# of Pages: 194
Paper or plastic: Nook
How obtained: Purchased at B&N
Blurb from book: Flynn Haddox is a dead man. Literally
    As a highly trained Navy SEAL, Flynn once worked covert missions for the U.S. government, but then his life was stolen away. Killed and placed in a secretive “Lazarus” program, Flynn was brought back from the dead and turned into a super-soldier. Now he has increased strength, enhanced senses, and a few psychic bonuses that he fights hard to keep hidden from the rest of the world. He also has no memory of his past…and a new, twisting darkness seems to be growing inside of Flynn.
    Cecelia Gregory escaped death once. Can she do it again?
    Dr. Cecelia Gregory was supposed to help the Lazarus test subjects. They didn’t have control of their emotions after the experiment, and her job as a psychiatrist was to break through the walls that the men had created. Too late, Cecelia realized that the Lazarus subjects were far more dangerous than she could ever imagine. The men came back from the dead, but some of them came back…wrong. Now one of the subjects has a dark obsessions with Cecelia. The man known as Subject Five is hunting her. And he wants her dead.
    One man want to kill her, but another just…wants her.
    Flynn feels a connection to Cecelia that he can’t deny. Not some sweet, innocent attraction—a consuming lust that makes him crave her all the time. Flynn knows that his feelings aren’t normal, but protecting her is his mission now. The man hunting Cecelia is just like Flynn—all the same enhancement, all the same strengths. And no weaknesses. One big difference, though—Flynn doesn’t plan to lose Cecelia. And he’ll fight his own darkness to prove his worth to her.
Recommend: Yes
My thoughts: This is turning out to be a good series. I had it in my wish list at B&N forever (it seems) and bought it to read on the cruise. Now I want the others, but I’ll have to wait until I get home (can’t get the internet on my Nook, or rather can’t figure out HOW to get it). I marked this paranormal, but there aren’t any vampires or ghosts. Just enhanced people. They’re fun to read about, too. At least for me. If you like romantic suspense, you’ll probably enjoy this.

In case you’re interested, you can find My Sunny Vampire and Ghostly Liaison for free in the Smashwords sale (which ends on March 7, I believe). You can also get Alien Desires for $1.49. Don’t know if it’ll do any good, but it certainly can’t hurt. Right? You can find the links in each of their book tabs above (I'm still on a cruise and adding links is not something I want to mess around with--I feel I'm lucky to be able to post this at all!).

Happy Reading!

Finished Reading “Dead of Winter” and Getting Away…Again

I’m sitting in a hotel in Gainesville a little pissed because the TV in this hotel doesn’t have an NBC station so I could watch the Olympics. Last night, the hotel we were at showed the Olympics, but it was so pixelated, it was hard to watch. Guess I wasn’t meant to watch the last couple of days. Doesn’t make me feel any better, though. I was kind of looking forward to watching the ice skating gala.

Tomorrow Hubby and I will take off on another cruise (14 days long), which is why we’re in Gainesville tonight. We’ve spent the last couple of days visiting some National Parks on our way down here. The three we saw yesterday had to do with the Revolutionary War (Kings Mountain, Cowpens, and Ninety Six, all in South Carolina). Today we visited the Ocmulgee Mounds (Macon, GA), Andersonville, GA (Civil War prisoner camp), and Plains, GA to see Jimmy Carter’s National Historic Site (which was in the old High School). Planned to see the grave of him and Roselyn, but it was raining so bad, I stayed in the car while Hubby went to take pictures.

After the cruise, we plan on hitting more National Parks in North Carolina and Virginia as we drive home.

But right now I’m looking forward to this cruise and some warm (and hopefully dry) weather (although the temps in SC and GA have been pretty nice, it’s been raining a lot, too). It’s supposed to snow again back home and I’m sooooo not missing that!

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 3

Dates read: January 26 – February 20, 2026
Title: Dead of Winter
Year of publication: 2025
Author: Rebecca Zanetti
Genre: Romantic suspense
Series: Knife’s Edge, Alaska – Book 1
# of Pages: 330
Paper or plastic: Trade paperback
How obtained: Purchased at B&N
Blurb from book: Brock Osprey has spent years in the rugged Alaskan wilderness, far from civilization and even farther from his past. A former Navy SEAL, Brock is now the unwilling protector of Knife’s Edge, a remote town with more secrets than residents. But when FBI Special Agent Ophelia Spilazi arrives to investigate the unsolved murder of Brock’s guardian—and recent unexplained disappearances in the area—Brock’s carefully guarded world is thrown into chaos.
    Agent Ophelia Spilazi has one last chance to save her career, and Knife’s Edge is her shot. The isolated town is full of secrets, and she’s certain Brock knows more than he’s letting on. The town’s recent string of mysterious disappearances only heightens her suspicion, but the more time she spends with the brooding Alaskan, the harder it becomes to ignore the dangerous chemistry between them.
    As a brutal storm traps them in the isolated wilderness, Brock and Ophelia’s growing attraction ignites, even as shadows from their pasts threaten to tear them apart. But with a dangerous conspiracy and powerful enemies lurking in the shadows, their only hope is to trust each other—before the wilderness consumes them both.
Recommend: Yes
My thoughts: I love Zanetti’s books (her paranormal and romantic suspense) and this new series piqued my interest in that it is set in Alaska (and I used to live there way back when). Plus, with all the snow on the ground at home, it just felt like the right time to read something set in winter. Haha! Anyway, I enjoyed this first book in the series and look forward to reading the others (once they’re released).

So… Did you watch the Olympics this year? What was your favorite event? I always like watching the ice skating, but I also enjoy the hockey. So happy the USA women won gold. Hoping for the same for the USA men! Will check the score when we get to Port Canaveral in the morning.

Happy Reading!

Stacy