Finished Reading “After Death” and the Joy is Back

The other night I barely got three hours of sleep. Why? Because my book wouldn’t shut up! Or rather, my characters! They wanted to let me know what direction they were headed. Yeah, I needed to hear them, but man, I really wanted to sleep, too. But…

The. Joy. Is. Back!

I never thought I would enjoy crafting another novel again. Heck, I wasn’t sure I’d craft another novel! But I am and the story is flowing. Yay!

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 12

Dates read: April 4-14, 2024
Title: After Death
Year of publication: 2023
Author: Dean Koontz
Genre: Horror
Series: N/A
# of Pages: 369
Paper or plastic: Hard cover
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from Book: Michael Mace, head of security at a top-secret research facility, opens his eyes in a makeshift morgue twenty-four hours following an event in which everyone perished—including him and his best friend, Shelby Shrewsberry.
    Having awakened with an extraordinary ability unlike anything he—or anyone else—has ever imagined, Michael is capable of being as elusive as a ghost. He sets out to honor his late friend by helping Nina Dozier and her son, John, whom Shelby greatly admired. Although what Michael does for Nina is life changing, his actions also evoke the wrath of John’s father, a member of one of the most violent street gangs in Los Angeles.
    But an even greater threat is descending: the Internal Security Agency’s most vicious assassin, Durand Calaphas. Calaphas will stop at nothing to get his man. If Michael dies twice, he will not live a third time.
    From the tarnished glamour of Beverly Hills to the streets of South Central to a walled estate in Rancho Santa Fe, only Michael can protect Nina and John—and ensure that light survives in a rapidly darkening world.
Recommend: Yes
My thoughts: Interesting story. Not as horror-ish as some of his other novels, but is quite violent. Not that that has ever stopped me from enjoying a book.

I’ve pretty much finished reading Dean Koontz for awhile. I’m all caught up! Well, except for his latest which I haven’t purchased yet. It can wait. J.R. Ward’s newest should arrive in my mailbox tomorrow. I’m all ready to dive into that one.

I love her books!

Besides writing daily (yes, daily!!), I have started up step aerobics again. Boy, am I out of shape! But Hubby and I are taking a trip in May to visit several National Parks in California and I realized I need to up my stamina a little. It’s slow going, but I’m aiming for 30 minutes, 5 times a week. I did 4 times last week and it about did me in.

Frankly, I hope the weather warms up so I can start walking again. Although, I think step aerobics has a little more cardio involved. I should probably do both, huh?

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Finished Reading “The House at the End of the World” and MRI is GOOD!

Yep. My chest CT scan and brain MRI scan are both clear. No sign of disease! Don’t know if that means I’m in remission, but it does mean that my immunotherapy treatment doesn’t change. Yay!

Sometimes it seems strange that I could be considered SICK, yet I don’t feel sick. Have never felt sick. It’s scary to think how oblivious I was to it all. Three years ago I posted on Facebook that I had a surgery date to fix my leaky heart valve. That surgery never happened because the chest scan showed a whole bunch of other stuff going on without my knowledge. That’s how NOT SICK I was feeling.

I’m so thankful for that scan, though. Thankful to have removed all the cancer that could be removed and thankful my treatments have destroyed what remained. I’m still here today, enjoying life. Can’t get any better than that, now can you?

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 11

Dates read: March 23-April 3, 2024
Title: The House at the End of the World
Year of publication: 2023
Author: Dean Koontz
Genre: Horror
Series: N/A
# of Pages: 406
Paper or plastic: Trade paperback
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from Book: In retreat from a devastating loss and crushing injustice, Katie lives alone in a fortresslike stone house on Jacob’s Ladder island. Once a rising star in the art world, she finds refuge in her painting.
    The neighboring island of Ringrock houses a secret: a government research facility. And now two agents have arrived on Jacob’s Ladder in search of someone—or something—they refuse to identify. Although an air of menace hangs over these men, an infinitely greater threat has arrived, one so strange even the island animals are in a state of high alarm.
    Katie soon finds herself in an epic and terrifying battle with a mysterious enemy. But Katie’s not alone after all: a brave young girl appears out of the violent squall. As Katie and her companion struggle across a dark and eerie landscape, against them is an omnipresent terror that could bring about the end of the world.
Recommend: Yes
My thoughts: Lots of twists and turns in this one. Some back and forth in time, too—which only added to the suspense because it would occur when I wanted to know what was going to happen next! Very good horror read.

In May we plan on being in California to see my mom and to visit some National Parks. For 24 days. So what do I get in the mail? A jury summons for…May! Really? They could have picked almost any other month and I wouldn’t have had an issue. So I sent them a letter, along with a copy of the flight receipt (made back in July), asking to be excused (and moved to another month). Now I just wait and hope for the best.

Happy Reading!

Stacy