Reading Update and Having Issues with Stores

You ever feel like stuff happens in bunches? In my case, two, but still, it makes me wonder what’s gonna happen next.

First: Kroger. I “clipped” an on-line coupon for a 5X event (which means you can use the coupon 5 times), $1 off each item. I even got five of the item shown in the picture. Did the coupon take? No, of course not. Unfortunately, my daughter was doing the shopping for me (on my account) so she didn’t know to go to customer service while she was there. So I contacted customer service on the app instead and complained.

First they told me that I would receive $1 credit on my account. I promptly thanked them, but said I had purchased five of the items and should get $5. Then I got another e-mail saying that the coupon was for one item and that I had purchased something other than what the coupon said. I had captured a photo of the coupon (just in case), where it states clear as anything “5X Event” with a picture of the item I had purchased and sent it to them. I’m still waiting to hear back.

I know it’s only $5, but it’s the principle of the matter. And this isn’t the first time they’ve done this to me, either.

Second: Herrschners. I buy my yarn from them since there isn’t a yarn store around here that has their kind of selection (even if I were brave enough to go to one). I had decided to make an afghan for someone (for their birthday) and found the perfect yarn (the kind that changes colors after a few rows instead of after a few stitches). Unfortunately, I had miscalculated how much I would need and bought 5 cakes (which is what they are called now instead of skeins—I have no idea why). Turns out I needed 13 (yep, I really miscalculated!). They had a sale for free shipping, so I ordered the other 8 cakes which arrived rather promptly.

As I was reaching the end of one of the cakes, I started searching for another one that was closest to the color I had ended (since not all the cakes start and end on the same color). I then noticed that four of the cakes only had four colors and all the others had five.

Boy, was I steamed. This would be totally noticeable on an afghan. I contacted them. They are sending me four at no charge but they said the manufacturer said the color “varies.” Their version of varies and mine are apparently totally different. I can understand each individual color varying a bit in shade, but to lose an entire color, when they advertise FIVE COLORS? That’s not varied. That’s sloppy.

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book #4

Dates read: January 17-21
Title: Midnight Alley (Morganville Vampires Vol. 2)
Year of publication: 2007
Author: Rachel Caine
Genre: YA Paranormal
Series: Morganville Vampires #3
# of Pages: 230
Paper or plastic: Trade paperback
How obtained: Borrowed from daughter
Blurb from book: Claire Danvers has pledged herself to Amelie, the most powerful vampire in town. But being under Amelie’s protection doesn’t offer much comfort when people start turning up dead, a stalker resurfaces from Claire’s past, and an ancient bloodsucker extends a chilling invitation for private lessons at his secluded home in Midnight Alley. To what end, Clair will soon discover—and it will give a terrifying new meaning to night school.

My thoughts: If you plan on reading this series (and they are enjoyable stories with suspense and a bit of romance—all teenager-safe), you might want to plan on reading them back-to-back like I am. The cliffhangers are really annoying!

Book #5

Dates read: January 21-24
Title: Feast of Fools (Morganville Vampires Vol. 2)
Year of publication: 2008
Author: Rachel Caine
Genre: YA Paranormal
Series: Morganville Vampires #4
# of Pages: 209
Paper or plastic: Trade paperback
How obtained: Borrowed from daughter
Blurb from book: In Morganville, vampires and humans have learned to live in relative peace, but the tenuous good-neighbor policy is abruptly turned on its head with the arrival of Mr. Bishop. The ancient old-school vampire is bad to the bone, and what he wants from the town’s living and dead is unthinkably sinister. It’s only at a formal ball attended by vampires and their human dates that Clair realizes Bishop’s plan—and the elaborately evil trap he’s set for the warm-blooded souls of Morganville.

My thoughts: It’s the never-ending story! Oh yeah, I’m enjoying it, but man, can any of these books actually end for once? I’m beginning to think they won’t. I have up to Book #8 on hand. Don’t know if I’ll bother buying the next ones if it just keeps going on like this, though. And there are a LOT of books in this series.

So… Do you do most of your shopping on line nowadays? I really miss having a yarn store in town. Michael’s doesn’t have a large selection, and neither does WalMart. And frankly, shopping for yarn on line leaves a lot to be desired. I like to feel the yarn. I miss Super Yarn Mart. There was one in Santa Barbara that I frequented a lot (when I lived there). That place was huge! Sadly, it’s been long gone.

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Reading Update and Working Out Harder

I’ve been doing step aerobics 4-5 days a week (30-40 min/day) since October 4^th. All without a riser, meaning the platform is only about 4” high. Last week I added one riser, bringing the platform to 6”. You’d think I had added 6”! Was I ready for this?

Maybe not, but how else was I going to get better? Get stronger? So I’m keeping the riser and just exercising on the floor when I really run out of breath (and I tend to do that a lot right now).

I have noticed that I can walk down the stairs so much faster now (without fear my knees will give out). That tells me I am getting stronger. I just wish I wasn’t so out of breath when I exercise. I think my heart might be a little bit to blame for that. Carrying all this extra weight isn’t helping, either, but I am working on it.

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book #3

Dates read: January 12-16
Title: The Dead Girls’ Dance (Morganville Vampires Vol. 1)
Year of publication: 2007
Author: Rachel Caine
Genre: YA Paranormal
Series: Morganville Vampires #2
# of Pages: 223
Paper or plastic: Trade paperback
How obtained: Borrowed from daughter
Blurb from book: Claire Danvers has her share of challenges—like living among creatures of the night. On the upside, she has a great roommate (who tends to disappear at sunup) and a new boyfriend. Now a fraternity is throwing its annual Dead Girls’ Dance and –surprise—Clair and her equally outcast friend have been invited. When they find out why, all hell breaks loose, because this time both the living and the dead are ready to tear up the night.

My thoughts: The title and the blurb are really not what this story is about. Oh, the dance happens, but there’s a totally different reason they attend and it’s certainly not the key plotline. But, when you’re hooked on a series, do you really read the blurb? I hadn’t…until now. This was an entertaining book and quite suspenseful, too. I look forward to seeing what comes next. And I wouldn’t have needed the cliffhanger to do that. At least it was a minor cliffhanger this go round.

Are you watching the NFL playoffs? The Steelers and Rams are out of it now (boo hoo), but I’m still watching. I like Green Bay (even though they beat my Rams) over Tampa Bay, but torn between Kansas City and Buffalo. And then there’s hockey now, too! So far we’ve been able to watch ALL of the Penguins’ games on TV! Whoo hoo! I hope that continues. And I hope they play better.

I just realized as I was getting ready to post this, that today is the 45th anniversary of the day I joined the Army. Man, am I getting old or what?

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Reading Update and Writing News

I had a light bulb go off in my head regarding Evie in my current project, Ghostly Protector. In the first draft (which is finished) she doesn’t do much. And since she’s the heroine, she needed to do… something. She needed to be more involved in Adam’s life. More involved in solving Spencer’s murder (Spencer is the ghost in my story, and was her friend and roommate). So glad I figured out what those somethings should be. It sure created a lot of cutting and pasting, but that’s better than rewriting the whole story. I just replaced another character who was involved in Adam’s problems with Evie. And moved the timelines around. I still have to write some new scenes (so that it shows Evie’s involvement), but at least I have it all figured out. So far. I hope.

Ain’t writing fun? I’ll eventually get Ghostly Protector finished. Again.

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book #2

Dates read: January 5-11
Title: Glass Houses (Morganville Vampires Vol. 1)
Year of publication: 2006
Author: Rachel Caine
Genre: YA Paranormal
Series: Morganville Vampires #1
# of Pages: 222
Paper or plastic: Trade paperback
How obtained: Borrowed from daughter
Blurb from book: Morganville is a small college town in the heart of Texas that has its share of quirky characters—and some evil ones, too. When student Claire Danvers moves off campus into one of Morganville’s oldest houses, she finds that her roommates don’t show many signs of life. But they’ll have Claire’s back when the town’s deepest secrets come crawling out, hungry for fresh blood.

My thoughts: After I read about Rachel Caine’s passing, I realized I’d never read these books. And lucky me, my daughter has the first four volumes (first 8 books, actually) of this series. I was instantly hooked. Didn’t care for the cliffhanger at the end of this one, but hey, I’m ready to read the next.

So… don’t you love it when you figure out a problem that’s been hounding you? It really was a relief for me.

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Reading Update and Finding a... Present!

I’m usually pretty good at making sure all the Christmas presents have been unwrapped. But then 2020 wasn’t a usual year, now was it?

I was sliding the stockings on the buffet case so I could get to my cookbooks (I really need to put the decorations away, but that’s another story) when one of the stockings fell. I didn’t hear the hanger hit the floor so I checked inside the stockings around them figuring it had fallen inside one of them. I put my hand in one and found… a gift card! And it was in my stocking! Hubby had given me a $50 B&N gift card. It was stuck on the bottom, which is why I didn’t notice it. But you’d think Hubby would have realized I hadn’t found it. And I suppose I would have found it next year, but still…

I found a lost Christmas present!

Oh, I also found the hanger. In another stocking.

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book #1

Dates read: December 26-January 5
Title: Big Chance Cowboy
Year of publication: 2019
Author: Teri Anne Stanley
Genre: Contemporary romance
Series: Big Chance Dog Rescue #1
# of Pages: 364
Paper or plastic: Mass market paperback
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from book: After a disastrous mistake disbanded his army unit, Adam Collins has returned home to Big Chance, Texas. He just wants to sell the family ranch, set up his sister and grandfather with the funds, and then ride off into the sunset.
    Lizzie Vanhook has landed back in her hometown, heartbroken and jobless. Adding to her troubles is the unruly stray who’s claimed her as his own. Lizzie knows she’s in over her head. Enter Adam—not only does he know dogs he’s also tall, dark, handsome, and the one who got away…
    Adam wants nothing to do with other people, much less dogs. But when his old flame asks him to help her train her scruffy dog, he can’t say no. As his reluctant heart opens up, the impossible seems possible: a second chance with the woman he’s always loved in a place where he, his friends, and the other strays who show up can heal and call home…

My thoughts: There aren’t many contemporary romances I’ll read. But if it’s written by Teri Anne Stanley, I’ll give it a go. She’s a friend and I really do enjoy her books. She always throws in some humor and a little bit of danger. This one also has dogs! So if you’re into those kinds of books, you’ll really enjoy this one.

So… Have you ever found a “lost” gift? Maybe one you MEANT to put under the tree but forgot you bought it? Unfortunately, I’ve done that a lot. It’s what happens when I shop early, I suppose. Which is why I have a box to keep such presents in now. So I don’t lose them.

Happy Reading!

Stacy