Reading Update and My Crochet Projects

Since I didn’t schedule this post yesterday (too busy watching the second season of Stranger Things—which I enjoyed a lot!), thought I’d share some photos of the granny square market bags I’ve made. These will go to some lucky readers at the Literary Love Savannah convention next July.

I call this my Halloween bag.

Used leftover yarn from a placemat project I made for my son and DIL.

This was made from leftover yarn of the placemats I made for me.

I've always wanted to try this granny square (from a pattern I had since the 80s). I need a brighter yellow, I think.

Again, leftover yarn from something. Probably more placemats or hot pads. I made a lot of those.

This was definitely made from scraps of all the yarn I had. I really like how it turned out. 

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 25

Dates read: August 15-23, 2022
Title: King of Midnight
Year of publication: 2022
Author: Lara Adrian
Genre: Paranormal romance
Series: Midnight Breed #18
# of Pages: 335
Paper or plastic: Trade paperback
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from book: As a Breed warrior and the son of the Order’s founder and commander, Darion Thorne is an exacting tactician and a lethal combatant, yet nothing can prepare him for the catastrophic act that forces him to step to the helm of the Order as its leader. With their adversaries growing bolder and more brazen with every strike, Darion knows he must take the war to them before it’s too late to stop them all.
    Yet of all their enemies, the one most dangerous for Darion is the beautiful, yet volatile, Selene, Queen of the Atlanteans. Determined to recover four powerful crystals stolen from her ages ago, Selene will go to any lengths to have them. When that goal puts one of the Order’s own in the crosshairs, she finds herself locked in a personal battle with Darion, a Breed warrior she knows she should despise, yet who stirs an unbidden desire within her.
    With the battle lines drawn between them and a diabolical evil on the rise, can Darion and Selene put aside their mistrust in time to save all they hold dear, or will they see the world plunge into a darkness that has no end?
My thoughts: This was a fitting end to the series. It was hard to see Selene as a heroine when she’d been a villain in previous books, but I came around. As did she. Haha!

So… do you think people will enjoy getting one of my market bags? Do you carry a bag with you when you shop? I have some, but I keep forgetting to take them with me! Or rather, I keep forgetting to put them back in the car. D’oh!

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Reading Update and a Writing Contest

The writing organization I belong with (which used to be a chapter of RWA, but broke out on its own in 2021) is having a writing contest. Ignite the Flame is a little bit different than other writing contests. It is geared toward romance as you submit the scene where your couple first meet. You can register and read all the details here: Contest - Central Ohio FictionWriters | Official Website (cofwevents.org). Submissions accepted through August 31.

It costs $30 and all submissions will get valuable feedback on their work. It’s why I entered contests before I was published. If you know anyone who would be interested, please share with them. Thanks!

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 24

Dates read: August 9-14, 2022
Title: Waking the Dead
Year of publication: 2019
Author: Kerry Blaisdell
Genre: Paranormal/supernatural suspense
Series: The Dead Series #2
# of Pages: 248
Paper or plastic: Nook
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from the Goodreads: Hyacinth always assumed dying would simplify her life. But when her new boss, Archangel Michael, sends her on her first official mission—to retrieve a powerful rock from a collector in Germany—things go downhill fast. For one thing, the Dead keep popping up, expecting her to guide them to the Afterlife. For another, her part-demon nephew Geordi's powers are starting to leak out, at age seven. What if Michael finds out about him? Worse, what if Satan does?
    Then there's her love life-after-death. Rooming with a dead French cop no one else can see is complicated enough. But when Jason, Geordi's lying Dioguardi Demon cousin, resurrects himself—so to speak—all Hell breaks loose. Literally. Can Hyacinth get Michael's rock back before Satan steals its powers and breaks free of his prison? Or will her single-minded pursuit put those she loves—and the rest of the world—in the path of Satan's fury?
My thoughts: This is a fun series. And they aren’t romances (if that matters to you). If you enjoy Supernatural, you’ll probably enjoy these books too. I’ve already purchased book 3.

The weather sure has cooled around here. The mornings have been awesome for walking! Don’t know if the humidity is gone for good, but I will certainly enjoy what I got while I got it.

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Reading Update and Another Surgery in October

I saw the thoracic surgeon last week and she’s all for me having the surgery to remove the tumor on my right lung. Said it’s small (8mm) and in an easy spot to remove (yay?). I still have to pass the pulmonary test (in Sep), but since I don’t have COPD or any breathing problems, I was assured I’d pass it.

So… I’m having surgery (#3 for the year) on October 11. Should only spend one night in the hospital, too. Will this be the end of my surgeries? I sure hope so!

Trying to make appointments for the surgery and for the procedures needed prior to the surgery has been interesting. We’re gone for most of September and don’t get back home until Oct 5. I was able to make the pulmonary appointment for Sep 9, just barely squeezing it between two trips. But I’m glad I was able to wait until October for the surgery. Now I can go see my mom!

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 23

Dates read: July 29 – August 8, 2022
Title: Knight Awakening
Year of publication: 2020
Author: Rebecca Zanetti
Genre: Apocalyptic romantic suspense
Series: Scorpius Syndrome #6
# of Pages: 330
Paper or plastic: Trade paperback
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from the book: The world has changed. Any rules that might’ve been in place before the Scorpius bacterium ripped through civilization and decreased its population are no longer in place. Obsession and survival are the new reality. So, Marcus Knight, after a hellish time in captivity that stole most of his memory and all of his soul, has one focus, and that’s keeping Dr. Penelope Kim safe in the aftermath. She risked her life to save him once, and she’s all that matters. For months, he’s kept his distance, protecting her from afar, because he knows that one touch—one sigh—one kiss—from her will never be enough.
    Penny Kim is one of the few doctors still living, and she alone holds the key to ensuring the human race continues. Several of her friends are pregnant, and the clock is ticking down on their survival. Her days are filled with experiments and hope, while her nights are consumed with visions and dreams of the hard-bodied and powerful soldier who’s made her safety his one and only mission. She should be wary of him; she should be terrified of him. Yet all she feels is an unreal craving for his touch that gets stronger every day. Life is short, and she’s unwilling to wait, unaware of the danger already hunting them both. Some risks are worth it, even in this new and dangerous world.
My thoughts: Enjoyed this one better than the last. And it’s the last in the series, which is very clear. I liked how it wrapped up.

I’m still walking every morning I can and noticed that my pace has increased in speed, despite the hot and humid mornings. I’m thinking that clip is really doing the job! Or maybe it’s the beta blockers. Who knows? I just know I’ve been able to push it and not feel like I’m dying out there. And the weather hasn’t been all that comfortable. Cooler weather is in the forecast (with less humidity), but I doubt I’m here to enjoy it. We leave for NJ on Friday for a family reunion on Saturday. Lots of driving and very little walking. But I enjoy the trip and seeing my cousins. I try to go every year (or at least every year they hold it).

So… do you attend family reunions? If so, do you have to travel far for them?  

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Reading Update, Passed Step #1, and a Mini Vacation

Saw my cardiac surgeon yesterday. Got the clearance to have surgery to remove the spot on my lung. That was step #1. #2 is to pass the pulmonary test (which will occur on Sep 8). And #3 is for the cardiothoracic surgeon to agree surgery is the way to go. I get that answer tomorrow. I think. I see the doctor then, anyway!

But good news! I don’t have to take the blood thinners anymore. My cardiac surgeon put me on baby aspirin instead. I’m just glad that all these pills I have to take are SMALL and I’m able to take them all at once. If I had any monster-sized pills, I’d be in a world of hurt. My throat likes to choke up on those. It’s all in my head, I’m sure, but when can we ever tell our head to STOP IT! Yeah, not so easy, is it?

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 22

Dates read: July 11-28, 2022
Title: Winter Igniting
Year of publication: 2018
Author: Rebecca Zanetti
Genre: Apocalyptic romantic suspense
Series: Scorpius Syndrome #5
# of Pages: 340
Paper or plastic: Trade paperback
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from the book: With nothing to lose, former cop Damon Winter agrees to an undercover op to infiltrate a dangerous cult in this dangerous post-Scorpius world. After one look at his new partner, he knows she belongs as far as humanly possible away from not only the cult, but from him. She’s sweet and kind and has no business being in peril, but she’s determined to help. Suddenly, the part he’s playing as her man explodes into a passion neither of them had expected.
    April Snyder has survived loss, pain, and uncertainty, and she’s ready to live again. There’s nothing left but to make a difference for others, so why not go undercover with the cult? Now all she has to do is keep it professional and ignore her handsome, deadly, overbearing partner, who’s too sexy for her peace of mind. Intrigue, risk, and danger make for an irresistible temptation—until enemies close in from every side, threatening everyone they’ve sworn to protect.
My thoughts: Took me forever to read this book. I liked it, but the alpha hero bit is starting to wear thin.

Hubby and I spent the last weekend (actually 6 days) in Grand Haven, MI visiting friends. The weather was really nice up there. Not near as hot and humid. Of course, the weather could have been nice at home, too, although I think there were some thunderstorms while we were gone. I did a lot of walking and did sooooo much better than when I was there last year (I did struggle a little with walking). So maybe that mitraclip is working. I still haven’t tried a lot of stairs. Guess I should get on that, huh?

I also found the cookies I bought last year at the Holland Windmill gift shop and fell in love with. Couldn’t find them online anywhere, and, unfortunately, I failed to write down the name of the cookies (or who made them) after I finished them. The gift shop didn’t sell them anymore, but the clerk suggested we go to Meijer and check out the Danish section. Meijer, huh? Well… it worked! I bought 15 packages (I think they’re a lot cheaper at Meijer than they were at the gift shop, but I can’t really remember). Now I wonder if our own Meijer store carries these cookies. That would be awesome! I’ll have to check it out next time I go in there.

During our visit with our friends, we all took a trip to Frankenmuth, MI for dinner and some shopping. It took us two and a half hours to drive there, but I have to admit, the dinner was fabulous. Didn’t really get to do all that much shopping since we had that long car ride home, but I can now say I’ve been in the largest Christmas store. It was a neat little town and maybe I’ll make it up there again (and do a little more exploring).

So… have you ever been to Grand Haven? How about Frankenmuth?

Happy Reading!

Stacy