Reading Update and I’m Still Cruising!!

We’re on our second cruise now and today we dock in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. I’m still enjoying cruising, even if I’m not enjoying the ship so much. Always love visiting islands. In Amber Cove, we went to Monkeyland. Those little squirrel monkeys were soooooo cute! When I get the pictures downloaded to my computer, I’ll post some here. Because they were all over me!

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 4

Dates read: January 24-30, 2023
Title: Passion’s Potion
Year of publication: 2019
Author: Anise Rae
Genre: Paranormal romance
Series: Mayflower Mages #4
# of Pages: 321
Paper or plastic: Nook
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from Goodreads: The Not all treasures can be locked away…
    Thea Redding has finally overcome the scandal dogging her life. Her new potions shop is a success. Life is perfect. Until a handsome dragon-rider mage accuses her of poisoning his sister…Thea’s ex-best friend, the woman who ruined her reputation years ago.
    But Thea was never interested in revenge. Or poisons. Or dragon-riders. They’re a paranoid bunch, intent on protecting their infamous treasures. Woe to those who get swooped up by one.
    Nothing will stop Marcus Tavis from getting an antidote for the poison that’s destroying his sister. He thought he’d captured the culprit. But Thea is not what he expected. In fact, she may be his only hope for curing his sister. Too bad they got off on the wrong foot. Fortunately, dragon-riders are born to charm. It’s one way his type has procured their treasures for millennia, and Thea may be his greatest treasure ever. But she’s in danger. Someone is blackmailing her to conjure an impossible potion. She needs Marcus’s protection. Can he charm her into trusting him…and taking a chance on love?
My thoughts: This is book 4 in a series, but you don’t need to read the other 3 to read this one. They aren’t really connected, character-wise. It’s a series about the world. I enjoyed this book. And it was nice reading an actual romance for a change. This one has some sexy times, too!

I thought I would be reading more during this cruise, but…shocker! I’m writing! It’s going slow, but it’s going, and that’s the important part!

Hubby and I were able to watch the AFC Championship game on Sunday. Disappointed that Cincinnati didn’t win, but I like Kansas City, too. I expect they’ll end up winning the Super Bowl. I think the AFC teams are just better this year than the NFC teams.

FYI: I figured out why I don’t like this ship so much. It’s bigger, but the areas are the same as the smaller ships. So therefore, certain (popular) areas get crowded quicker. They built a bigger ship to house more people, but they should have also given these people larger areas (like the theatre and pool area) to enjoy. Hey, but what do I know. Right?

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Reading Update and I’m in Aruba!!

Warm and breezy. That’s what it’s like in Aruba. Cold and snowy. That’s what it’s like back home. Did we time this trip or what?

We took a walking tour for our excursion. I figured it would be easy. Man, I’m wiped out! I’m ready for a nap. Oh, and I can do that because…VACATION!

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 3

Dates read: January 17-23, 2023
Title: Blood Thinners
Year of publication: 2022
Author: Heather Novak
Genre: Paranormal (1st person romance)
Series: Love Me Dead #1
# of Pages: 234
Paper or plastic: Nook
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from Goodreads: The only thing more annoying than a ghost flash mob is a rogue vampire attack…
   Supernatural investigator Mina Summers is only one undercover mission away from the promotion she’s worked for her entire career. Her assignment is simple: figure out why several unregistered vampires are going rogue—including one that ruined her best suit—and attacking humans. Her investigation leads her to Thinner, a new celebrity-endorsed weight loss company that’s shrouded in mystery and promises seemingly impossible results.
    Mina’s convinced she’ll finish her mission in time for dinner, but when she face-plants into Carma Nicks, Thinner’s smart and sexy vice president, Mina’s suddenly out of her depth. Surely her heart is only racing due to adrenaline, right? Falling for—and sleeping with—a mark goes 100% against protocol, but Mina’s plans to keep her distance are as flimsy as the agency-issued ghost that resides in her apartment.
    When Thinner’s secrets disrupt the peace between supernaturals and humans—and threaten Carma’s life—Mina’s forced to choose between protecting her dream career or saving the woman she loves.
My thoughts: This was an enjoyable story. I have a hard time calling a one-sided story a romance (this is told in first person), but that’s probably what this is and it has lots of sexy moments (again, all one-sided).

At the beginning of our trip, I was thinking it might not go so well. First, on the drive down, I stop at a McDonald’s for breakfast in Charleston, WV. Of course, I pick probably the ONLY McDonald’s that doesn’t have what I’m craving: steak and egg bagel. Well, I certainly wasn’t going to find another, so I settled on something else. Then during a gas stop near Savannah, GA, we saw a Dairy Queen. We still had around 4 hours left to drive, so I figure I’d get a Moolatte. This one wasn’t making them. Figures!!

The Miami port is also the pitts. They don’t believe in signs at that place. Finding our terminal and the parking garage was a mess. You just look for your ship and hope for the best!

And the ship we’re on? Carnival Horizon. It’s the largest we’ve ever taken. Fairly new, too. I’m not so sure I like these bigger ships, though. More people. There aren’t many quiet places, either. It’s something to think about next time we book. I much prefer the smaller ships.

But hey, even a so-so ship is better than no ship at all! I’m definitely enjoying the weather. Except, now it’s time for me to take that nap.

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Reading Update and I’m Back at It

Yesterday (Monday), I woke up motivated to start stepping with the actual step again. And you know what? It wasn’t horrible. I wasn’t able to do the WHOLE routine with the step, but I probably did 80%. Not bad. Not bad at all.

I planned to do the same this morning. However, I woke up not quite as motivated. I wasn’t sore, just not interested. But, I forced my butt out of bed and got with the program. It was rougher today (motivation sure makes a difference) and I probably did more like 70% with the step. But I did it. For that, I think I deserve a pat on the back.

Oh, and the exercise (so far) hasn’t wiped out my entire day! That right there is very encouraging. Means maybe my heart valve is working and taking only one of the immunotherapy drugs (the one with lesser effects) is making a difference.

Of course, I start this exercise routine just before we leave for a cruise, but I enjoy walking for my exercise on the ship, so I won’t be slacking. Instead, I’ll be enjoying the warmer air!!

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 2

Dates read: January 11-16, 2023
Title: Rafael
Year of publication: 2021
Author: Laurell K. Hamilton
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #28
# of Pages: 258
Paper or plastic: Mass market paperback
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from book: Rafael, king of the wererats, must fight to the death to defend his crown. He wants Anita Blake, one of his closest allies, with him as he faces an opponent unlike any he’s faced before. He will ask Anita to risk everything to be at his side…
    But some of the wererats fear that Rafael depends too much on Anita and her ties to the vampires. They believe that there is only room in America for one supernatural king, and Rafael will turn them into nothing more than food for the bloodsuckers.
    Among his enemies, a new challenger has arisen who is younger, hungrier, and has dark secrets that could destroy both the wererats and the vampires. Rafael will go into the magical heart of his people to find the power and violence that he needs to save them all, or die trying.
My thoughts: I enjoyed this story well enough. It was written to showcase this one character, so I knew going in I wouldn’t get the same kind of story. I’ve never been a huge fan of Rafael, but this was a nice story about him. Of course, I’m not so sure I like the wererats any better than before.

I still haven’t gotten back into my writing, but I’m really hoping this upcoming cruise will help in that regard. I do know how to fix my story (which is the hurdle that has stopped me) and looking forward to just relaxing on the cruise and enjoying writing again. That’s my goal, anyway.

And in case you want to know where I’m going… Aruba, Bonaire, Grand Turk, Cozumel, Jamaica, and Dominican Republic (not particularly in that order). 14 days of warm-weather bliss!

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Reading Update and Good News…Finally

Last Monday I had my CT Scan. Yesterday I saw my oncologist’s nurse (since my oncologist wasn’t available). The results of my scan were good!

NO. NEW. DISEASE.

That means the treatments are working. I never realized how nervous I was about that until I felt the relief. Finally, good news without a caveat! I’m so happy.

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 1

Dates read: January 1-10, 2023
Title: Sucker Punch
Year of publication: 2020
Author: Laurell K. Hamilton
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #27
# of Pages: 572
Paper or plastic: Mass market paperback
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from book: A brutal murder, a suspect in jail, and an execution planned—but what if the wrong person is about to be killed?
My thoughts: When you get this far into a series, guess you don’t need much of a blurb on the book, huh? I loved diving back into this world. Yeah, Ms. Hamilton can get a little wordy at times, but that has never bothered me. I guess I just love her words! This story is full of conflict and suspense, and I really hated putting it down when I had to. I love this world. This series. It’s so much fun!

I exercised on Sunday: 30 minutes of step aerobics without the step. It wiped me out. Could it have been from the COVID booster I had on Friday? I mean, I had the strongest reaction to that of all the other shots (chills and a fever—I guess the immunotherapy boosted my immune system for that, too), and it’s possible I probably should have waited. The nurse said it’s okay if exercise wipes me out, though. To just take naps when needed. Now, convince my brain it’s okay to go back to exercising. It loves excuses, you know?

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Reading Update and What a Way to Start a New Year

Yep, I’m really slacking. Not exactly a good way to start a new year, huh? I just realized today, Thursday, that I hadn’t posted on my blog yesterday. And I had finally finished reading a book, too! I’m beginning to think that maybe I should just post on the day I finished reading, regardless of what day of the week it is. Or what time. Or how many days in the week I post (although, unless I’m on a cruise, I doubt there will be many multi-day posts in a week).

So, I’ll give that a try and see what happens. I mean, I’m at my computer compiling the post after I read a book anyway. It wouldn’t take that much effort to just POST it when I’m done!

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 39

Dates read: December 12-31, 2022
Title: Fairy Tale
Year of publication: 2022
Author: Stephen King
Genre: Horror
Series: N/A
# of Pages: 598
Paper or plastic: Hard cover
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from book: Charlie Reade looks like a regular high school kid, great at baseball and football, a decent student. But he carries a heavy load. His mom was killed in a hit-and-run accident when he was seven, and grief drove his dad to drink. Charlie learned how to take care of himself—and his dad. When Charlie is seventeen, he meets a dog named Radar and her aging master, Howard Bowditch, a recluse in a big house at the top of a big hill, with a locked shed in the backyard. Sometimes strange sounds emerge from it.
    Charlie starts doing odd jobs for Mr. Bowditch and loses his heart to Radar. Then, when Bowditch dies, he leaves Charlie a cassette tape telling a story no one would believe. What Bowditch knows, and has kept secret all his long life, is that inside the shed is a portal to another world.
My thoughts: Took me quite a while to read this, but I did enjoy it a lot. I hadn’t read the jacket cover, so really had no idea what the story was about. Took about half-way through the book before this Stephen King story became a Stephen King story (if you know what I mean). By then, I picked up the pace of reading. Didn’t want to put it down!

I haven’t set a goal for how many books I want to read in 2023. I didn’t reach my goal of 50 for 2022. Maybe I should set it low, like two books a month. That seems doable.

I’m trying to get back into some kind of schedule. Okay, not really trying. But thinking about it a lot! Okay, maybe only thinking about it every now and then. Am I hopeless or what?

I had my scan on the 3rd. Now I’m just waiting on the results. I never thought my life could be turned so upside down from a disease I can’t really tell I have! I feel more effects from the treatment than I do from the disease. I guess that should be a good thing. Means it was caught early. So why can’t I seem to get back into my old schedule? Why can’t I get back into writing? The brain sure is one strange organ.

Happy Reading! And Happy New Year!

Stacy