Reading Update and Today’s the Big Day

Today is my surgery day. Since I’m posting this the night before, I can’t tell you how well it went. Only that I have to report to surgery at 6:30am.

I won’t have my computer, so unless I’m able to comment via my phone (and last time I tried to do that I ran into issues—which always seems to happen with my phone), don’t expect to hear from me until after I get home (which I hope will be Thursday, but could very well be Friday).

Well, unless you follow me on Facebook. I will have access to that.

Of course, who knows how “with it” I’ll be after a 2-4 hour surgery. I’m sure I’ll want to do a lot of sleeping. Although… the Pens play at 6:30pm. If the hospital gets NBC Sports Network, I’ll have it on to watch the game. And I’ll definitely try to stay awake!

Go Pens!

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book #29

Dates read: May 17-21, 2021
Title: The Slaughtered Lamb
Year of publication: 2020
Author: Seana Kelly
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Sam Quinn, Book 1
# of Pages: 272
Paper or plastic: Trade paperback
How obtained: Gift from friend
Blurb from book: Welcome to The Slaughtered Lamb Bookstore and Bar. I’m Sam Quinn, the werewolf book nerd in charge. I run my business by one simple rule: Everyone needs a good book and a stiff drink, be they vampire, wicche, demon, or fae. No wolves, though. Ever. I have my reasons.
    I serve the supernatural community of San Francisco. We’ve been having some problems lately. Okay, I’m the one with the problems. The broken body of a female werewolf washed up on my doorstep. What makes sweat pool at the base of my spine, though, is realizing the scars she bears are identical to the ones I conceal. After hiding for years, I’ve been found.
    A protection I’ve been relying on is gone. While my wolf traits are strengthening steadily, the loss is leaving my mind vulnerable to attack. Someone is ensnaring me in horrifying visions intended to kill. Clive, the sexy vampire Master of the City, discovers how to pull me out and designates himself my personal bodyguard. He’s grumpy about it, but that kiss is telling a different story. A change is taking place. It has to. The bookish bartender must become the fledgling badass.
    I’m a survivor. I’ll fight fang and claw to protect myself and the ones I love. And let’s face it, they have it coming.
My thoughts: Some might call this a paranormal romance, but I don’t label first person stories in that genre. For a romance, I need the details from both points of view. So I’m calling this an urban fantasy with romantic elements. And for that, it was a very good story. I enjoyed it.

Book #30

Dates read: May 22-24, 2021
Title: The Dead Don’t Drink at Lafitte’s
Year of publication: 2021
Author: Seana Kelly
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Sam Quinn, Book 2
# of Pages: 326
Paper or plastic: Trade paperback
How obtained: Gift from friend
Blurb from book: I’m Sam Quinn, the werewolf book nerd owner of the Slaughtered Lamb Bookstore and Bar. Things have been busy lately. While the near-constant attempts on my life have ceased, I now have a vampire gentleman caller. I’ve been living with Clive and the rest of his vampires for a few weeks while the Slaughtered Lamb is being rebuilt. It’s going about as well as you’d expect.
    My mother was a wicche and long dormant abilities are starting to make themselves known. If I’d had a choice, necromancy wouldn’t have been my top pick, but it’s coming in handy. A ghost warns me someone is coming to kill Clive. When I rush back to the nocturne, I find vamps from New Orleans readying an attack. One of the benefits of vampires looking down on werewolves is no one expects much of me. They don’t expect it right up until I take their heads.
    Now, Clive and I are setting out for New Orleans to take the fight back to the source. Vampires are masters of the long game. Revenge plots are often decades, if not centuries, in the making. We came expecting one enemy, but quickly learn we have darker forces scheming against us. Good thing I’m the secret weapon they never see coming.
My thoughts: Lots of action in this book. Very entertaining.

I always seem to have lots of news on those posts that have more than one book read. Today is no different.

My Sunny Vampire is on sale at Amazon for the Kindle for $.99 until June 1st. If you have a friend who likes paranormal romances and reads on a Kindle (or Kindle app), let them know about this deal. I call it the Memorial Day/Surgery Day sale. Here’s the link:

https://www.amazon.com/Sunny-Vampire-Bitten-Love-Book-ebook/dp/B0769MBPWQ/

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Reading Update, LLS2021, and Surgery News

Do you miss attending book conventions? Are you ready to go to one again? Well, one is still open for registrations, and it’s not virtual! Literary Love Savannah 2021: Summerween is being held August 4-8, 2021 at the Savannah Marriott (right there on the river!). The convention is $200 (plus fees) and includes 5 meals, as well as parties, panels, and book signings. Rooms cost $167/night (get a friend to go with you and you can share a room). It’s quite a deal and tons of fun, that’s if you like to talk to readers and authors about books! Gotta hurry, though. Registration closes on the 25^th (and you’ll need to book the room, too, but won’t have to pay that until you arrive). Here’s the link: LiteraryLove Savannah 2021: Summerween Tickets, Wed, Aug 4, 2021 at 7:00 PM |Eventbrite

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book #28

Dates read: May 10-16, 2021
Title: Lover Unveiled
Year of publication: 2021
Author: J.R. Ward
Genre: Paranormal romance
Series: Black Dagger Brotherhood #19
# of Pages: 495
Paper or plastic: Hardback
How obtained: Borrowed from daughter who purchased new
Blurb from book: Sahvage has been living under the radar for centuries—and he has every intention of staying “dead and buried” But when a civilian female sucks him into her dangerous battle with an evil as ancient as time, his protective side overrides his common sense.
    Mae has lost everything, and desperation sets her on a collision course with fate. Determined to reverse a tragedy, she goes where mortals should fear to tread—and comes face-to-face with the Brotherhood’s new enemy. She also discovers a love she never expected to find with Sahvage, but there can be no future for them.
    Knowing they will part, the two band together to fight against what Mae unknowingly unleashed—as the Brotherhood closes in to reclaim one of their damned, and evil vows to destroy them all….
My thoughts: Another series I absolutely love. It’s like fuel for my muse. And it worked. I’m back at my own book. Yay!

I realized the other day that I failed to tell you the results of my last doctor appointment. Well… I’m having surgery on the 26^th to remove the tumor from my kidney. It’s situated in a way that the doctor believes she can remove it and save the kidney! I was happy to hear this news. I won’t know what kind of cancer it is until after surgery though. If it’s kidney cancer, I may be done (although I still have some other spots that need to be monitored) and can start planning the heart surgery (again). If it’s from my breast cancer (meaning it traveled to another organ), then I’ll probably need chemo. Let’s hope for the first, okay?

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Reading Update, Babies, and Cicadas

Haven’t seen any baby ducks around the pond, but we’ve seen baby geese! This picture shows momma and daddy, but only 3 of the four babies.

Soon we'll see the cicadas, but I’m not looking forward to that. I remember them in 2004. Didn’t like them then, won’t like them now.

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book #27

Dates read: May 4-8, 2021
Title: Meant to be Immortal
Year of publication: 2021
Author: Lynsay Sands
Genre: Paranormal romance
Series: Argeneau Vampires #32
# of Pages: 372
Paper or plastic: Mass market paperback
How obtained: Purchased new
Blurb from book: Mac Argeneau knows all too well: immortals can be killed. Not with holy water or silver crosses, but by decapitation or being set on fire. So when Mac’s new house bursts into flames—nearly incinerating him inside—he’s sure it was no accident. But who would want to kill a scientist specializing in hematology? There is a silver lining: a blonde investigator appears on the scene and sparks feelings in him that have been dormant for centuries.
    CJ Cummings is in town on a special investigation, but she’s been waylaid by the local police to deal with this arson case. The biggest mystery is how this strapping scientist with silvery blue eyes has emerged from a blazing inferno without a burn mark on him. He’s clearly hiding something. Sure, she’d love to see him without his lab coat, but she’s got a job to do—despite his insistence that he needs a bodyguard and…he wants her.
    But when a second attempt on their lives put CJ in harm’s way, it’s Mac who will do anything to safeguard the woman who’s destined to be his life mate.
My thoughts: Breezed through this one. I love this series.

So… Are you expecting the cicadas in your part of the world? I really hope they don’t bother our house. We only have the one tree, and it’s only 3 years old and not in all that good of shape as it is. I also don’t think the lots around here had trees 17 years ago, so hopefully they don’t crawl out of the ground here. Lots of trees behind the houses across the street, so hopefully those bugs all stay over there!

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Reading Update and Do You Subscribe to My Blog?

Way back after my first book became published, I added a little widget on the sidebar of this blog for you to enter your e-mail address to follow my blog. It appears that service will end in July.

I never knew I had access to subscribers e-mails addresses before, but it seems I do! And it tells me I have 8 subscribers . Wow! Thanks for signing up. I just wish I knew how to use those e-mails so you can keep getting my blog into your inbox, because it doesn’t appear that Blogger has a replacement. Figures.

I send out my author newsletter via Mail Chimp, but since I use the freebie service, I can’t even set up a second e-mail list. Yes, I could opt to get a paid version (that most likely can send out an e-mail when I update the blog), but my sales (and lack of subscribers) don’t warrant that kind of expense. Not yet, anyway. And I’m not even sure it’s possible. If anyone knows better, please inform me!

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book #26

Dates read: April 28 – May 4, 2021
Title: Fall of Night
Year of publication: 2021
Author: Lara Adrian
Genre: Paranormal romance
Series: Midnight Breed #17
# of Pages: 238
Paper or plastic: Trade paperback
How obtained: Purchased new
Blurb from book: Breed warrior Micah is one of the Order’s best, his reputation for cold justice and lethal skill rivaled only by that of his formidable father, Tegan. So, when a mission Micah’s leading in an off-limits area called the Deadlands goes terribly wrong, leaving him the sole survivor of an apparent Atlantean attack, he won’t rest until he has answers…and vengeance for his fallen team.
    Phaedra thought it was only a dream, a hideous nightmare. Yet somehow, she had been transported from her life in Rome to a stretch of barren forest when it suddenly lit up with unearthly fire, obliterating everything in its path—including the fiercely handsome Breed warrior she’d encountered in the dream. Or so she believed, until their paths cross again and Phaedra finds herself, and her Atlantean people, at the center of Micah’s wrath.
    With tensions between the Breed and the Atlanteans already edging toward war, and another powerful nemesis growing bolder by the day, uncovering the stunning truth about what happened in the Deadlands will force Micah and Phaedra to work together in an alliance forged by fate and an undeniable desire neither of them can resist.
My thoughts: So… this is the second to last book in the series. I love this series, and I liked this story, but I had some issues between the end of Chapter 21 and the beginning of Chapter 22. Seemed a lot was missing—stuff I would have liked to read about. I just felt a little disappointed/cheated since the missing stuff involved the romantic couple in this book, especially that late in the story. I’ll have to wait until this Fall to see how the series ends, though.

So… I had my CT scan on Monday and I see the urologist on Thursday. Guess I’ll find out what’s what then, regarding that tumor on my kidney. Hoping for good news, but preparing for the worst.

Happy Reading!

Stacy