Wednesday Reads and I’m Still on Vacation!!

The cruise was AWESOME. I’d go to Alaska again in a heartbeat. It was so beautiful and we really lucked out weather-wise. Warm for the residents, perfect for us. I’ll post pictures once I’m home and have a faster Internet. The ship’s Internet was a joke and hotel’s aren’t that much better. It’ll probably take me forever to post this.

I read more than I wrote on the cruise. Reading was easier, that’s for sure. But unfortunately, I got stuck on my WIP (gotta find out where I went wrong). Also, it was kind of cold to sit outside while the ship was moving, and I always did my best writing on a covered deck with a nice WARM breeze. Yeah, I’ll use the cold ocean as an excuse. Sounds better, doesn’t it? Here’s what I finished reading this week:

Book #25

Dates read: July 14-18
Title: Sex, Lies, and Online Dating
Year of publication: 2006
Author: Rachel Gibson
Genre: Contemporary romance
Series: Writer Friends #1
# of Pages: 352
Paper or plastic: Mass market paperback
How obtained: Someone gave it to me (possibly someone named Cyndi since Ms. Gibson signed it to her).
Blurb from book: What is it about men anyway? Bad cars, bad jobs, even bad teeth—nothing convinces them that they can’t snare a Size Two Babe with a D-cup chest. And after way too may internet dates with men named “luvstick” and “bigdaddy182,” Lucy Rothschild should know.
    But sitting across from her now is “hardluvman,” and he seems different—sensitive, honest, and hot! He says he’s a plumber, while Lucy claims she’s a nurse! She’s really a mystery writer, dating online while researching her next book. Hey, everyone lies a little, don’t they?
    But Quinn’s really an undercover cop hunting down a serial killer, and he sees Lucy as his top suspect. And while he could really go for this smart, sexy woman with the killer bod—if that’s the only thing “killer” about her—he knows he needs to wine and dine her and discover the truth. Hey, he realizes the dating scene can be deadly—but this is ridiculous!
My thoughts: Why does 2006 not seem that long ago? But it’s really 12 freakin’ years ago and I can see that show through in this book (only because businesses are mentioned that are no longer around). I had read another book by Ms. Gibson back in 2011 and it was funny and cute (got it free at RWA Nationals back in 2011), but for some reason never got around to reading this one…until now. Yes, it’s funny and cute, too, but it’s a little more. A little more dangerous. And that danger made this book more enjoyable than a straight contemporary romance. Yes, it also made me laugh (and not just from the dated references). I’m glad I took this one with me on our cruise.

Book #26

Dates read: July 19-23
Title: Her Darkest Nightmare
Year of publication: 2016
Author: Brenda Novak
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Series: The Evelyn Talbot Chronicles #1
# of Pages: 407
Paper or plastic: Mass market paperback
How obtained: I don’t remember!!
Blurb from book: Evelyn Talbot knows that a psychopath can look perfectly normal. She was only sixteen when her own boyfriend Jasper imprisoned and tortured her—and left her for dead. Now an eminent psychiatrist who specializes in the criminal mind, Evelyn is the force behind Hanover House, a maximum-security facility located in a small Alaskan town. Her job puts her at odds with Sergeant Amarok, who is convinced that Hanover is a threat to his community…even as his attraction to beautiful Evelyn contradicts everything he believes.
    Then, just as the bitter Alaskan winter cuts both town and prison off from the outside world, the body of a local woman turns up. For Amarok, this is the final proof he needs: Hanover has to go. Evelyn, though, has reason to fear that the crime is a personal message to her—the first sign that the killer who haunts her dreams has found her again…and that the life she has so carefully rebuilt will never be the same…
My thoughts: I really can’t remember if I bought this or got it free. I just remember wanting to read a Brenda Novak novel. I enjoyed this one even though certain little things bugged me. And apparently it’s the first of a series featuring Evelyn and Amarok, although this one does end with a happy for now. Will I read the next one? I don’t know. I love romantic suspense, but have found other authors I like better and they have tons of books I haven’t read yet. Okay, maybe not tons…

Last night we stopped in Spokane on our trek home. Thought we might spend more time in Seattle, but pretty much saw what we wanted before the cruise, so we arrived in Spokane earlier than anticipated and took the opportunity to visit the Spokane Falls. Very impressive. I look forward to seeing states I haven’t been in yet, though. After this trip we can both say we’ve been in all 50 states. I have Montana and North Dakota (and maybe Minnesota) left. Hubby has Montana, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Minnesota left. Onward ho!!

Happy Reading!

Stacy