Finished Reading “Halloween Murder: Trick or Treat Murder” and I’m Home

I’m finally home. But not for long. Hubby and I leave again on Saturday for a mini trip to Chattanooga, TN. He’s always wanted to visit the city and there are some National Parks around (and on the way), so we actually found some time where we were free and are taking advantage.

Never a dull moment for us, huh?

On our drive back from Baltimore, we stopped at three National Parks (Flight 93, Johnstown Flood, and Allegany Railroad). But it was raining so bad at times, we weren’t able to enjoy them like we wanted (he got the stamps in his book, though), so we’ll probably revisit them someday. But man, when I say it was raining… Let’s just say that after our last stop we headed home and got an alert on our phones that we were driving in a Tornado WARNING area. Yikes! Luckily, we avoided that and made it home safely.

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 13

Dates read: June 6 – 11, 2025
Title: Halloween Murder: Trick or Treat Murder
Year of publication: 1996
Author: Leslie Meier
Genre: Mystery
Series:  Lucy Stone #3
# of Pages: 206
Paper or plastic: Nook
How obtained: Freebie from B&N
Blurb from Goodreads: While Lucy Stone is whipping up orange-frosted cupcakes for her town’s annual Halloween festival, an arsonist is on the loose in Tinker’s Cove. When arson turns into murder, a little digging in all the wrong places puts Lucy too close to a shocking discovery that could send all her best-laid plans up in smoke . . ..
Recommend: Maybe
My thoughts: This book dragged on for me. Too much detail in it that I didn’t care about. Not a lot about the murder mystery. Halloween Murder is a compilation of two Lucy Stone stories. I’m not bothering to read the second one. Just not what I enjoy reading. But, if you like what they call cozy mysteries, you might have a better time with it.

So… the weather has finally been great for walking. I wasn’t able to do any walking on the cruise (too cold and I forgot my blood pressure medicine), and really looked forward to getting back into some walking. So what happens? First few days home it rained. I had doctor appointments on all the perfect days! Aaaargh! Hopefully I’ll get some walking in at Chattanooga. Provided it doesn’t rain!

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Finished Reading “Girl Missing” and “Ghostly Protector” is a Finalist!

I got some wonderful news while on this cruise (yes, I’m still on it—we arrive back in Baltimore on Sunday). Ghostly Protector is a finalist in the National Excellence in Romance Fiction Awards! Winners will be announced in July. You can find all the finalists listed here: NERFA Finalists & Winners - National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award. I am extremely stoked! And extremely happy!!

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 12

Dates read: June 4 – 5, 2025

Title: Girl Missing (previously published as Peggy Sue Got Murdered)
Year of publication: 1994/2014
Author: Tess Gerritsen
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Series:  N/A
# of Pages: 185
Paper or plastic: Nook
How obtained: Purchased from B&N
Blurb from book: A beautiful young woman’s corpse is found dumped in a garbage-strewn alley. Now laid out in the office of medical examiner Kat Novak is an unidentified body that betrays no secrets—except for a matchbook clutched in one stiff hand, seven numbers scrawled inside. When a second victim is discovered, Kat begins to fear that a serial killer is stalking the streets, using a deadly drug to do his dirty work. The police are skeptical. The mayor won’t listen. One of the town’s most prominent citizens, with a missing daughter of his own, is also Kat’s chief suspect. As the death toll rises, Kat races to expose a deadly predator who is close enough to touch her.
Recommend: Yes
My thoughts: A real quick read for me. Kind of needed one after the monster books I have been reading lately. Gotta get my reading stats up! I enjoyed this book (I like most of her books, what can I say?), even though the romance was a bit on the thin side. But she did say this was more suspense than romance and kind of bridge between her two genres (she writes mostly suspense thrillers now). If you’re looking for a quick suspense, give this one a try.

Weather in both Canadian stops (Corner Brook & Sydney) was EXCELLENT! Kind of worried as we kept sailing through fog everywhere. Now we’re back on the Atlantic Ocean in overcast weather. I hear it’s been warm on the east coast. Right now, I kind of have my doubts.

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Finished Reading “Season of Gifts” and Cruising, What Else?

Yes, I’m on another cruise. The second of this year and not the last, either. This one took us to Greenland. We almost thought it might not happen. Ice was in the way (and growing!) of the two ports we had planned to stop at. But the people of Carnival found a solution: two nights in Nuuk instead. The weather was cold (in the 30s), but the views were awesome. I’m so glad we were able to visit this unique island.

I did have high hopes to write and exercise on this cruise. Boy, were they dashed quickly. Besides forgetting to pack some of my blood pressure meds (ooops), I had vertigo for a good portion of this cruise, and then caught someone’s crud. The cold temps didn’t help any, either. So no walking (at least, not yet…the cruise isn’t over and we will be back in warmer temps soon, I hope) and the writing has been spotty. But I do have the laptop out today and hope to get back to The Alien’s Change of Heart. Provided posting this doesn’t frustrate me (internet isn’t all that great).

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 11

Dates read: May 10 – June 3, 2025
Title: Season of Gifts
Year of publication: 2025
Author: M.Q. Barber
Genre: Erotic Romance
Series:  Neighborly Affection #8
# of Pages: 665
Paper or plastic: Nook
How obtained: Purchased from B&N
Blurb from book: Married in November, divorced in December?
    As newlyweds Henry, Alice, and Jay settle into their life together, an avalanche of trouble threatens to bury their dreams of a merry Christmas.
    Forced to confront echoes of his childhood, Henry leaves Alice and Jay to fend for themselves. Their dominant has never let them down before, but now he’s distracted, anxious, and forgetting the things that matter. Will his distance be the crack that fractures their marriage?
    Jay’s first holiday season after a bitter break with his family isn’t turning out the way he hoped. He’s trying to keep spirits high, but with his spouses stretched thin, the days grow bleak. When work obligations drive Alice toward her own long-overdue family confrontation, gut wrenching emotions split the triad further apart.
    Can they find their way back to one another, or will they be out in the cold forever?
Recommend: Yes (but read the series in order)
My thoughts: This is the final book in the series (or so she says). I enjoyed revisiting these characters, who I fell in love with when I started reading this series nearly 10 years ago! Yes, there’s lots of sex, but it’s more than that. It’s an emotional roller coaster, too. A very fitting end for a wonderful series.

It's no fun being sick when you’re away from home. Not that it’s fun at home, either. But the vertigo really made me queasy, and the coughing fits caused tremendous cramps in my stomach. I just wanted it to all end. Thankfully, it is ending. Just taking its ever-loving time, that’s all.

Tomorrow we dock in Connor Brook, Newfoundland. We’re taking an ATV excursion there. Looks to be fun. I just hope it’s not too cold (although I think the forecast is showing temps in the high 60s to low 70s). Might want to dress in layers anyway.

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Finished Reading “It Will Only Hurt for a Moment” and Enjoying Myrtle Beach

Hubby and I are spending a week in Myrtle Beach. He got a gift card for an AirBnB and we decided to use it here. We’re right on the beach! Pretty nice. Unfortunately, it might rain every day we’re here. So far we’ve gotten lucky. Fingers crossed it stays that way (but the radar is showing a huge storm coming our way).

Still… I love the beach. Don’t like the sand, but love the waves and the air and everything else about it. Yeah, I’m weird. But then, you knew that already, right?

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 10

Dates read: April 27 – May 9, 2025
Title: It Will Only Hurt for a Moment
Year of publication: 2024
Author: Delilah S. Dawson
Genre: Horror
Series:  N/A
# of Pages: 351
Paper or plastic: Hard cover
How obtained: Purchased from B&N
Blurb from Goodreads: Sarah Carpenter is starting over.
    She’s on the run—leaving behind her unsupportive, narcissistic ex-boyfriend and alcoholic, abusive mother—and headed for a new beginning at Tranquil Falls, a secluded artists’ colony on the grounds of a closed hotel. There, with no cell signal or internet to distract her, she hopes to rediscover her love for pottery and put the broken pieces of her life back together.
    But when Sarah uncovers the body of a young woman while digging a hole for a pit kiln, things start to fall apart. Her fellow artists begin to act in troubling ways. The eccentric fiber artist knits an endless scarf. The musician plays the same carousel song over and over until his fingers bleed. The calligrapher grins with ink-stained teeth. Not to mention the haunting dreams Sarah has night after night.
    When she discovers glass shards in her clay, Sarah wonders if someone is out to get her—or if she’s losing her grip on reality out here in the wilds, where the pounding of the waterfall never, ever fades. As she investigates the beautiful valley and the crumbling resort looming over them all, she unearths a chilling past that refuses to remain buried...
Recommend: Yes
My thoughts: Interesting horror story. Even has a haunted/abandoned hotel that was creepy. But I felt some things were not exactly wrapped up, especially since it seemed to be written in an omniscient POV. But we are only with Sarah the whole story, so…maybe not.

I kind of thought I might get some writing done on this trip, but I’m beginning to think not. But I am getting some reading and crocheting done. Oh, and walking. Can’t forget the walking!

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Finished Reading “Slay” and a Book Event

I went to a book event in the Indianapolis area yesterday. Sold 7 books. Not enough to break even, but better than I expected. And a lot of people seemed interested in Alien Desires (which I only had a postcard for). Hopefully I get some preorders. A lot of people were also interested in my other series, and I get the feeling they might buy the e-books later. Fingers crossed!

Overall, I would attend this event again, but alas, next year (Aug 8, 2026) I’ll be on a cruise. I know, you feel really sorry for me, huh? Haha!

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 9

Dates read: April 12-26, 2025
Title: Slay
Year of publication: 2023
Author: Laurell K. Hamilton
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series:  Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #30
# of Pages: 412
Paper or plastic: Mass market paperback
How obtained: Purchased from B&N
Blurb from Goodreads: Anita Blake is small, dark, and dangerous. Her turf is the city of St. Louis. Her job: U.S. Marshal—Preternatural Branch. She’s faced horrifying monsters and brutal killers and come out the other side still standing.
    Considering how things in her life tend to go, Anita never expected her walk down the aisle with Jean-Claude to go smoothly. They’ve already been confronted with naysayers and a power-hungry ancient evil, but now Anita has to do the one thing that actually scares her: introduce her very religious, very human relatives to her fiancé—the newly crowned vampire king of America.
    As Anita tries to keep the peace between the family she left behind and the family she’s chosen, dark forces jump at the chance to take advantage of the chaos. With her happy-ever-after at risk and everyone’s immortal souls hanging in the balance, Anita grapples with a hard truth: Blood makes you related, but loyalty makes you family.
Recommend: Yes
My thoughts: There were actual times I did NOT want to put the book down, but had to. Talk about frustrating. But now I’m wondering where #31 is. It’s been almost two years. She usually has the new one in hard cover by the time the latest is in paperback, but I don’t see anything. I won’t panic. Yet.

FYI: Registration for Literary Love Savannah (July 9-13) ends May 1^st, so if you’re looking to attend, don’t wait too long. This is the last LLS for a while. Which is sad, but highly understandable. Just comment that you’re interested and I’ll send you the details (or just go to their FB group https://www.facebook.com/groups/283444507738356). I really like this convention (and it is a convention, not just a book signing). I have a lot of fun with the readers.

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Finished Reading “Smolder” and I Selected a Release Date!

Alien Desires is now with my copy editor. That’s the last step before I publish it. So… I chose a release date.

July 1.

This weekend I plan to set up preorders. When I do, I will then share all the buy links. But I picked a date! That was probably the hardest thing for me to do. This book has been so long in the making, I really doubted it would be available to everyone. I’m so glad I stuck with it. Because I really LOVE this story!!

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 8

Dates read: April 3-11, 2025
Title: Smolder
Year of publication: 2023
Author: Laurell K. Hamilton
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series:  Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #29
# of Pages: 358
Paper or plastic: Mass market paperback
How obtained: Purchased from B&N
Blurb from Book: Vampire hunter Anita Blake is no stranger to killing monsters. It’s part of her job as a preternatural U.S. Marshal, after all. But even her experience isn’t enough to stop an ancient evil that is bent on destroying everything—and everyone—she loves.
Recommend: Yes
My thoughts: It’s been awhile since I read book #28. I was able to just dive in like I hadn’t read a bunch of books inbetween! I have #30, and will read it next. Somehow, I’m wondering if this is the end of the series. Guess I’ll find out soon enough. I really love this world, though.

After I set up Alien Desires at all the places I sell at, it will be back to work on The Alien’s Change of Heart. If I keep at it, that one will be released next year. Fingers crossed!!

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Finished Reading “An Enchanted Knight”

Again, I finish a book and go to blog about it and something else, but that something else never materializes. So… book it is, then.

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 7

Dates read: March 25 – April 3, 2025
Title: An Enchanted Knight
Year of publication: 2025
Author: Hildie McQueen
Genre: Paranormal romance
Series:  The Cursed Kingdom #1
# of Pages: 246
Paper or plastic: Trade paperback
How obtained: Purchased from B&N
Blurb from Book: Gwyneth “Gwen” Lockhart has a rare and powerful gift—she helps lost spirits find peace and cross over. When she takes on a job a beautiful Scottish Castle, she expects it to be like any other. But when she encounters the ghostly presence of Lord Tristan McRainey, a knight who died centuries ago, something feels different. Drawn to him in ways she can’t explain, Gwen begins to wonder if Tristan is not a ghost at all, but a man cursed and trapped in time by dark magic.
    Lord Tristan McRainey has been imprisoned for three hundred years, bound by an evil wizard’s spell along with four of his fellow knights. When Gwen enters his world, he’s certain that she holds the key to breaking the enchantment. Confident that he can make her fall in love with him and sacrifice whatever it takes to free him, Tristan has no doubt the plan will work. But what he doesn’t expect is to find himself falling for her first.
    And as their bond deepens, the cost of breaking the curse may be higher than either of them imagined.
Recommend: Yes
My thoughts: Interesting story. I enjoyed it. This is the first book I’ve read from this author because I believe it was the first paranormal-type book I’ve noticed she’s written (she has a LOT of historical & contemporary romances, if that’s your thing). Since this is a new series for the author, hopefully I remember to get book 2 once it’s written. But we all know how well my memory works… It doesn’t! :D

I got Alien Desires back from the editor (this was the second go round), so now I’m reading it out loud, fixing the minor things she found, and then after all that, will send it to my copy editor (aka my daughter—and yes, I pay her!). Publication day is almost here!

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Finished Reading “You Can Hide” and Back at Writing

Since Alien Desires is with my editor, I have been able to get back to The Alien’s Change of Heart. I made a lot of changes to Book 1 which made a lot of what I had previously started in Book 2 obsolete. But I’m having fun coming up with new stuff. It’s been so long since I actually wrote something new. I forgot how much fun it could be. Well, until I hit a dead end. At least that hasn’t happened too much this go round. But the book is young…

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 6

Dates read: March 8 – 24, 2025
Title: You Can Hide
Year of publication: 2022
Author: Rebecca Zanetti
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Series:  Laurel Snow #2
# of Pages: 341
Paper or plastic: Mass market paperback
How obtained: Purchased from B&N
Blurb from Book: Calling Laurel Snow’s relationship with her newly discovered half sister challenging is an understatement. Not only does Laurel suspect Abigail is behind the mysterious disappearance of their father, but her erratic behavior also makes life in Laurel’s small hometown interesting, to say the least. Still, when Abigail claims someone is now out to kill her, Laurel’s instinct to protect her sister goes into overdrive. Then things get even more dicey as dead bodies start turning up in the icy waters of the Sauk River and there’s only one connection among them: Abigail…
    Having Fish and Wildlife Captain Huck Rivers bringing in those bodies with his dive team only complicates matters. Huck is as impulsive and fiery as Laurel is coolly analytical, which makes their alliance risky at best. But standing up to such a demonically brilliant killer is going to take all the help Laurel can get. Because Laurel’s attempt to save her troubled sister’s life might cost her own…
Recommend: Yes
My thoughts: Parts of this dragged on a little, which made it easy for me to put down at times. I still enjoyed it, though. I like the characters very much. And while the romance is barely there, it is there, which is fine by me!

Some days interesting ideas run through my head and I think, “I should write a blog about that. Maybe after I finish the book I’m reading.” Thing is, I don’t write ANYTHING down, thus forgetting the interesting idea. Sometimes I wonder if I will ever learn!

I must remember to WRITE IT DOWN! Do you have this same problem? It’s frustrating, isn’t it?

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Finished Reading “Starter Villain” and … My Normal

For having metastatic kidney cancer, I’m one of the lucky ones. My disease seems to be in remission and the treatments to keep it that way haven’t given me horrible side effects (like losing hair). But the disease DOES kind of tie me to the oncology clinic. Every four weeks, at least.

It also comes with quarterly CT scans and the occasional MRI. And those can be a nuisance. It’s not just having the scans; it’s having the contrast with the scans. I have to drink something prior and then have some dye injected via an IV during.

I was supposed to have my last CT scan on Tuesday. I drank the contrast two hours before and checked in at radiology 15 minutes before my scheduled scan. Except the system was down. They could conduct the scan, but they didn’t have access to my lab work to see if they should DO the scan. It got so late, that the stuff I drank was no longer viable and they had to reschedule.

So now I gotta repeat the process on the 11^th. I can’t imagine drinking that stuff is all that healthy. Or even getting injected with the dye. But there’s not much I can do about that.

Like I said, it’s a nuisance. It hasn’t gotten me sick…yet. Same with the hormone-therapy pills I have to take for my breast cancer. I have some side effects, but they aren’t debilitating. Thank goodness!

I guess this is what normal is for me now. Just like getting old!

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 5

Dates read: February 26 – March 7, 2025
Title: Starter Villain
Year of publication: 2023
Author: John Scalzi
Genre: Humorous
Series:  N/A
# of Pages: 262
Paper or plastic: Trade paperback
How obtained: Purchased from B&N
Blurb from Book: Inheriting your uncle’s supervillain business is more complicated than you might think. Particularly when you discover who’s running the place.
    Charlie’s life is going nowhere fast. A divorced substitute teacher living with his cat in a house his siblings want to sell, all he wants is to open a pub downtown, if only the bank will approve his loan.
    Then his long-lost uncle, Jake, dies and leaves his supervillain business (complete with island volcano lair) to Charlie.
    But becoming a supervillain isn’t all giant laser death rays and lava pits. Jake had enemies, and now they’re coming after Charlie. His uncle might have been a stand-up, old-fashioned kind of villain, but these are the real thing: rich, soulless predators backed by multinational corporations and venture capital.
    It’s up to Charlie to win the war his uncle started against a league of supervillains. But with unionized dolphins, hyper-intelligent talking spy cats, and a terrifying henchperson at his side, going bad is starting to look pretty good.
    In a dog-eat-dog world…be a cat.
Recommend: Yes
My thoughts: This was an interesting story and I enjoyed it. Certainly different than what I normally read. But I follow John Scalzi on social media and he lives in Ohio, so I just had to try him out and that cover is kind of what hooked me. If you like humorous stories with a bunch of weird stuff, give it a try.

I finally finished watching Star Trek: Voyager. I’m still surprised at how I knew all the characters, but it was like watching the series for the first time. Bizarre, huh? Now I’m starting Quantum Leap (w/Scott Bakula). I loved that show when it aired, but I’m guessing my re-watching will be like Voyager: seeing it for the first time. I just don’t know if I can blame my lack of memory on old age or the cancer drugs. Heck, it might be both!

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Finished Reading “A Bloom in Winter” and Editing is Moving Along

Editing Alien Desires is moving along pretty well. I had a bit of a hiccup on one of the comments my editor made, but thankfully after talking to some writer friends, the fix was super easy (and I had the perfect spot for it, too). I really do enjoy this part of the writing process: finding out where my problems lie. I know I have them, but I’m just too close to the darn thing to see them.

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 4

Dates read: February 17-25, 2025
Title: A Bloom in Winter
Year of publication: 2024
Author: J.R. Ward
Genre: Paranormal romance
Series:  Black Dagger Brotherhood #22.5
# of Pages: 447
Paper or plastic: Hard cover
How obtained: Purchased from B&N
Blurb from Book: For his entire life, and especially during his century in the prison camp, Apex never believed the bonded-male vampire myths. But when he crossed paths with a sexy wolven, the assassin was done being a lone wolf himself. Tragically, fate had other plans for them, and in the decades since, the world has held little interest—and even less warmth—for him.
    He has never forgotten the male, however…
    Even after all this time, Callum remains haunted by the horrible abduction that destroyed him down to his marrow those many years ago. Living as a loner, drifting from place to place, the wolven has finally returned to upstate New York—and he is not expecting to see the vampire who has always been on his mind.
    As a plot to overthrow the King threatens the Brothers down in Caldwell, Apex and Callum find themselves face-to-face—and caught up in a deadly, treasonous plot. Can two lonely, lost souls find a way back to each other…or will destiny once again condemn their hearts to isolation?
Recommend: Yes
My thoughts: Two romances in this book. For a half book (#22.5), it packs a lot. And while it has 447 pages, it is a small hard cover and the print is larger than normal. This is no novella, though. It’s probably the length of what your average author writes. And like I said it packs a lot. I had a lot of fun reading it.

Not much else is going on right now. Our next trip isn’t until May. Shocker, huh? But that should give me all the time I need to finish Alien Desires and get that thing published. As long as I don’t come across another hiccup. And yes, I skimmed over the comments, but that doesn’t mean they hit me as a problem. The first hiccup (and hopefully only) didn’t hit me when I first read it. It’s not until I’m actually back in the story that I get the comment. And I appreciate every comment I get. I’m all for making the book better. That’s my goal.

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Finished Reading “Crescent City” and We Got Snow (ugh)

It snowed today, which was a good excuse to read. I had plans to see my grandson in the play he was starring in, but because of the stupid snow, they cancelled the last performance. I’m sad I didn’t get to see him perform. I was really looking forward to it. So I just sat and read instead. Seemed like the best thing to do.

I was kind of hoping to be done with the snow, but that’s not what Mother Nature wanted it seems.

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 3

Dates read: January 12 – February 16, 2025
Title: Crescent City: House of Earth and Blood
Year of publication: 2020
Author: Sarah J. Moss
Genre: Fantasy romance
Series:  Crescent City #1
# of Pages: 799
Paper or plastic: Trade paperback
How obtained: Purchased from B&N
Blurb from Book: Half-Fae, half-human Bryce Quinlan loves her life. Every night is a party, and Bryce is going to savor all the pleasures Lunathion—also known as Crescent City—has to offer. But then a brutal murder shakes the very foundations of the city, and Bryce’s world comes crashing down.
    Two years later, Bryce still haunts the city’s most notorious nightclubs—seeking only oblivion now, trying to put the past behind her. When the murderer attacks again and an infamous Fallen angel, Hunt Athalar, is assigned to watch her every footstep, Bryce knows she can’t forget any longer.
    As Bryce and Hunt fight to unravel the mystery, the threads they tug ripple through the underbelly of the city, across warring continents and down to the deepest levels of Hel, where things that have been sleeping for millennia are beginning to stir…
Recommend: Yes
My thoughts: Took me a little over a month to finish this behemoth. Granted, even with the cruise and stays in various Florida cities, I wasn’t always able to read it like I thought I would (for some reason I didn’t read any of it in the car). Once I returned home, I spent more time on it (read the second half much quicker than the first). It’s a good book and I will probably get the next two in the series. Although, they’re even longer than this one. A mystery I didn’t figure out and lots of suspense. And I did wonder if there was going to be any kind of romance. That didn’t come to light until about half-way, which made me happy. A lot happens in this book, that’s for sure. But if you like big books, you’ll probably love this one. Plus, NO CLIFFHANGER! Yay!

Because I thought we were going to go out today, I had cleared the driveway. Then I got the news about the cancellation. If only they had contacted me earlier. I could have saved myself all that work.

Well… maybe. I guess it DOES need to be cleared. Haven’t bothered with the cars, yet. Hoping it’ll get warmer. But with that howling wind, I don’t think that’s gonna happen any time soon.

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Next Book Almost Ready

I got the edits back for Alien Desires and I was pleasantly surprised. So much so, that I have finally added the book to Goodreads and I’m sharing the cover. And here it is…

Isn’t it pretty? This is the blurb (which I may still tweak):

An alien crashes on Earth and discovers love.

Annie’s anger and an icy walkway put a medical boot on her foot, forcing her to rely on her brother for a ride home. When he accidentally hits a giant of a man, she wants to call for an ambulance, but the phones are out and she finds out her brother’s license is suspended. The man doesn’t appear to be badly injured and her place is close, so they take him home. But man, what a hunk! If only she’d met the hot stranger anywhere other than at the end of her brother’s bumper.

Calix is from a planet that is in the path of a comet. Normally a teacher, his mission is to discover if Earth would accept his people. But his ship isn’t working, he’s injured, and he’s not sure what to do. His urge to confide in Annie is overwhelming. He’s never had feelings like he’s experiencing. Is it an effect of Earth’s atmosphere—or is it just Annie?

Annie has a hard time believing Calix is an alien because he looks so…human. Then he shows her his spacecraft. Oh great. She’s falling for an alien. 

How can they stay together and keep his people from taking over Earth?

If you’d like to add this to your Goodreads reading list, here is the link:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/227940142-alien-desires

I don’t know when I’ll actually publish the book, but if all goes well, it should be in a couple of months. Which means, I gotta get to work!

Oh, and by the way, I’m still reading that 800-page book. And yes, I am enjoying it.

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Finished Reading “One Sad Kitty” and Tired of the Snow

I’m already tired of the snow. It snowed on Monday (6”). It snowed Friday on top of that (2”). Nothing is going to melt for a good long while. I’m really looking forward to leaving on Thursday. Don’t know how warm it will be as we drive toward Florida, but it’s gotta be warmer than here. It’s expected to be in the single digits on the morning we pack up the car. Brrrr!!!

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 2

Dates read: January 6-12, 2025
Title: One Sad Kitty
Year of publication: 2017
Author: Pepper McGraw
Genre: Paranormal romance
Series:  Murrysville Coalition #2
# of Pages: 171
Paper or plastic: Trade paperback
How obtained: Purchased from author
Blurb from Book: In the aftermath of tragedy, even the mating bond Julie never knew she had isn’t enough. It will take every bond of friendship, every bond of community and Coalition to carry her into the future.
    For ten years, Brian has denied the mating bond, protecting Julie from the true nature of his love for her. Then his best friend is murdered and Julie falls apart in the aftermath. To save her, to tie her to the community and home she loves, Brian will end a decade of silence, break the promise he made her brother and finally claim the mate he’s always loved.
Recommend: Yes
My thoughts: So… this isn’t a continuation of book 1, but is taking place DURING book 1. So… a lot of the story in this book was duplicated and sort of boring (because of the duplication). I pretty much KNEW how this book would end since it was implied in book 1. Again, I expected a little more humor in this book than I thought I’d get.

Barnes & Noble was having a book sale just after Christmas (plus bonus stamps for purchasing). It was buy one paperback, get one 50% off. I already had one of the paperbacks in my wish list so I went searching for another that I might like to try. I saw this book by Sarah J. Maas. It was the first in the series and figured now would be a good time to try her out. I didn’t bother reading any of the details of the book (besides the blurb) and now I’m thinking maybe I should have. When I received my order, I gasped as I pulled this 800-page tome from the box! I’m taking it on our trip, figuring I won’t finish it in 3 weeks. Hope I like it. Just in case, I’m also bringing my Nook. Oh, and some crochet projects. Always gotta have crochet projects.

So don’t be surprised if you don’t hear from me for awhile. Especially if I like the book.

800 pages. And it’s only Book 1? I’m still shaking my head.

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Finished Reading “The Crazy Cheetah Lady” and Stuff

New year, new reading goals. I decided to stick with 30 this year since I managed to reach that goal last year. Not gonna put any stress on my reading and I don’t see this year being all that different from last.

I have started the year off right, though. I finished a crochet project before the 4^th. I had been working on it since October and realized that I wouldn’t meet with the woman I give my projects to until February if I didn’t finish it by the 4^th, because I was meeting her that day. I made it (on the 3^rd—talk about cutting it close) and she was very thankful.

I also finished revising Alien Desires! I still need to go over the last chapter I “fixed,” but that shouldn’t take long (hopefully will get to it today). I emailed my editor to see if she could start working on in next week. She can! Now I just have to get the blurb written so I can get the cover made. Let’s see if I can get that done before the 16^th, when we leave for Florida to cruise and spend time with friends.

Yep, we’ll be gone about three weeks. Some of it on a cruise. Some of it in Ft Lauderdale. Some of it with our friends in their timeshares (Titusville & Kissimmee). At least it should be warm down there. Well…warmer than here!

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 1

Dates read: December 30 – January 5, 2025
Title: The Crazy Cheetah Lady
Year of publication: 2015
Author: Pepper McGraw
Genre: Paranormal romance (MMMF)
Series:  Murrysville Coalition #1
# of Pages: 172
Paper or plastic: Trade paperback
How obtained: Purchased from author
Blurb from Book: Abby doesn’t exactly believe in the paranormal, even though she’s made a career of writing about it. Then she saves a trio of cheetah cubs from the river and everything changes.
    Alpha shifters, Marcus, Peter, and James are on the trail of their kidnapped triplet nephews. They’ve tracked the cubs to Abby’s town and heads are going to roll.
    When the men reclaim their nephews and leave Abby behind, she follows their trail, determined not to lose the cubs she saved. This is fine with the alphas since they’ve decided she’ll make an excellent shifter mate. For them.
Recommend: Yes
My thoughts: Didn’t realize that this was a male/male/male/female erotica paranormal story when I bought the two books. I thought it was going to be a funny series. It’s light-hearted, but not humorous. And very short. I thought there would be more to it, but when it's erotica, it’s all about the sex, I guess. I don’t mind reading these when I’m prepared. And frankly, with my memory, it could be I just forgot what these books were about when I bought them from the author I sat next to at a book convention.

We’re expecting a lot of snow later today. I’m hoping it’s all hype and blows over. Or maybe it just shifts away from us. I really don’t want to clean up snow. Why do I live in Ohio again? Oh yeah, family. I have so little as it is, don’t want to be away from it. So I guess I just deal with snow. Ugh.

Happy Reading!

Stacy