Finished Reading “The Stand” and Waiting for Things to Settle Down

It never fails. I leave on a trip and when I get home I have appointments out the wazoo! If it’s not for me, it’s for the cars. Plus, the weather has been wild, too. I think things will lighten up a little next week. I sure hope so. I’ve been home for a week!!

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 5

Dates read: February 22 - March 18, 2026
Title: The Stand
Year of publication: 1978/1990
Author: Stephen King
Genre: Horror
Series: N/A
# of Pages: 1235
Paper or plastic: Nook
How obtained: Purchased at B&N
Blurb from Goodreads: This is the way the world ends: with a nanosecond of computer error in a Defense Department laboratory and a million casual contacts that form the links in a chain letter of death.
    And here is the bleak new world of the day after: a world stripped of its institutions and emptied of 99 percent of its people. A world in which a handful of panicky survivors choose sides - or are chosen. A world in which good rides on the frail shoulders of the 108-year-old Mother Abagail - and the worst nightmares of evil are embodied in a man with a lethal smile and unspeakable powers: Randall Flagg, the dark man.
Recommend: Yes
My thoughts: This was the third or fourth time reading this book. Probably third. First was in the late 70s when I saw the book in Safeway indicating it was going to be a movie (it wasn’t, not then, anyway). Fell in love with it. Then I bought the updated version when it came out. I don’t think I read that hardcover twice (although with my memory, it’s possible I just forgot). But for the cruise, I wanted to read something that I already knew and loved, so I bought the e-book for my Nook (of which I could not get on my Nook being away from home so I was stuck reading it on my phone). Still as good as the first time I read it. And believe it or not, I remembered most of it. I guess reading a GOOD book really makes a difference in remembering.

I bought the anthology of short stories written by lots of different authors, all tales of The Stand. I think that was another reason I wanted to read The Stand again. Plus, I want to watch the miniseries, too (the one with Gary Sinese). But I’m making that my reward for finishing The Alien’s Change of Heart. I need something to motivate me to finish!!

FYI: I will be at a book signing in Columbia, SC on March 28^th at The Market on 701 Whaley. 12-5 pm. It’s free for readers to attend. If you’re in the area, stop by and say hi! And maybe buy a few books while you’re at it. I’ll be sharing a table with Jeanne Oates Estridge (writing also as Opal Mason). We're driving down together. Should be fun!!

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Finished Reading “Keep Me Close” and I Think It’s Back!

What’s back, you ask? My writing mojo. At least it seems that way. I’ve been doing a lot of writing on this cruise. Something I haven’t done in a long time. Heck, I even wrote over 1000 words on one of the days! Wish I could do that every day, but my system seems to usually peter out after 500 words (which is the goal I try for anyways). As long as I can keep that up, I’ll get The Alien’s Change of Heart finished in no time!

Well, I can dream, anyway.

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 4

Dates read: February 21 – March 3, 2026
Title: Keep Me Close
Year of publication: 2017
Author: Cynthia Eden
Genre: Paranormal romantic suspense
Series: Lazarus Rising, Book 2
# of Pages: 194
Paper or plastic: Nook
How obtained: Purchased at B&N
Blurb from book: Flynn Haddox is a dead man. Literally
    As a highly trained Navy SEAL, Flynn once worked covert missions for the U.S. government, but then his life was stolen away. Killed and placed in a secretive “Lazarus” program, Flynn was brought back from the dead and turned into a super-soldier. Now he has increased strength, enhanced senses, and a few psychic bonuses that he fights hard to keep hidden from the rest of the world. He also has no memory of his past…and a new, twisting darkness seems to be growing inside of Flynn.
    Cecelia Gregory escaped death once. Can she do it again?
    Dr. Cecelia Gregory was supposed to help the Lazarus test subjects. They didn’t have control of their emotions after the experiment, and her job as a psychiatrist was to break through the walls that the men had created. Too late, Cecelia realized that the Lazarus subjects were far more dangerous than she could ever imagine. The men came back from the dead, but some of them came back…wrong. Now one of the subjects has a dark obsessions with Cecelia. The man known as Subject Five is hunting her. And he wants her dead.
    One man want to kill her, but another just…wants her.
    Flynn feels a connection to Cecelia that he can’t deny. Not some sweet, innocent attraction—a consuming lust that makes him crave her all the time. Flynn knows that his feelings aren’t normal, but protecting her is his mission now. The man hunting Cecelia is just like Flynn—all the same enhancement, all the same strengths. And no weaknesses. One big difference, though—Flynn doesn’t plan to lose Cecelia. And he’ll fight his own darkness to prove his worth to her.
Recommend: Yes
My thoughts: This is turning out to be a good series. I had it in my wish list at B&N forever (it seems) and bought it to read on the cruise. Now I want the others, but I’ll have to wait until I get home (can’t get the internet on my Nook, or rather can’t figure out HOW to get it). I marked this paranormal, but there aren’t any vampires or ghosts. Just enhanced people. They’re fun to read about, too. At least for me. If you like romantic suspense, you’ll probably enjoy this.

In case you’re interested, you can find My Sunny Vampire and Ghostly Liaison for free in the Smashwords sale (which ends on March 7, I believe). You can also get Alien Desires for $1.49. Don’t know if it’ll do any good, but it certainly can’t hurt. Right? You can find the links in each of their book tabs above (I'm still on a cruise and adding links is not something I want to mess around with--I feel I'm lucky to be able to post this at all!).

Happy Reading!