tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59173161724883294642024-03-17T23:03:53.377-04:00Stacy's Rantings and WhatnotStacy McKitrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898731847653710759noreply@blogger.comBlogger1525125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5917316172488329464.post-54433253080807725312024-03-13T14:02:00.000-04:002024-03-13T14:02:16.193-04:00Finished Reading “Elsewhere” and I’m Writing!<p>I sent <i>Alien Desires</i> to my editor and decided to write the next book in
that series. But what to write? I know who the male main character is, but who
would be his love interest? Did the story take place on this Earth or his
planet (also called Earth)?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">I don’t usually brainstorm with
myself when it comes to stories, and I certainly don’t plot (tried that once—not
fun), but I wanted to start writing. I just didn’t know what to write about. So
I wrote down questions. Basically, “what if” questions.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">I don’t have a lot of answers to
those questions, but at least I came up with a title: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Alien’s Change of Heart</i>. This Saturday my writing group is
having a huge brainstorming event. I got my questions ready and hopefully
someone will trigger something in me that says: THAT’S IT! It’s happened in the
past (with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ghostly Interlude</i>), so I
am confident it will happen this time, too.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">But I loved that a great “what if”
question came to me and it was from a tiny scene in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Alien Desires</i>. I basically had it all set up in that book and didn’t
realize it. Don’t you love it when that happens?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">In the meantime, I have started
writing something. Whether or not I keep any of it doesn’t matter. I’M
WRITING!!!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">Here’s what I read since my last
update:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Book 9</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-odDv71luIhwyt_erhavpOfqkyMqaFTfeKYeAE__1mlByTiI0-sXJseU_gabacU9lZy0HwNvJQlyY3Fz4SDIuYYagZt25BKuw7x4nmhIPFNbo1iapcM7ikCgtrMhziX1ILRBuyyqX16OTYzuwnhPJbvDfps4L7hb8quEs5LEy_nRvMBkqQZuZsfR-Nq4/s540/elsewhere.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="337" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-odDv71luIhwyt_erhavpOfqkyMqaFTfeKYeAE__1mlByTiI0-sXJseU_gabacU9lZy0HwNvJQlyY3Fz4SDIuYYagZt25BKuw7x4nmhIPFNbo1iapcM7ikCgtrMhziX1ILRBuyyqX16OTYzuwnhPJbvDfps4L7hb8quEs5LEy_nRvMBkqQZuZsfR-Nq4/s320/elsewhere.jpg" width="200" /></a></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Dates read:</b> March
7-13, 2024<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Title:</b> Elsewhere<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Year of publication:</b> 2020<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Author: </b>Dean Koontz<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Genre:</b> Horror<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Series:</b> N/A<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"># of Pages: </b>353<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Paper or plastic:</b> Trade paperback<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How obtained:</b> Purchased<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Blurb from Book:</b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"> Since his wife, Michelle, left seven years
ago, Jeffy Coltrane has worked to maintain a normal life for himself and his
eleven-year-old daughter, Amity, in Suavidad Beach. It’s a quiet life, until a
local eccentric known as Spooky Ed shows up on their doorstep.<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ed entrusts Jeffy with hiding a
strange and dangerous object—something he calls “the key to everything”—and tells
Jeffy that he must never use the device. But after a visit from a group of
ominous men, Jeffy and Amity find themselves accidentally activating the key
and discovering an extraordinary truth. The device allows them to jump between
parallel planes at once familiar and bizarre, wondrous and terrifying. And
Jeffy and Amity can’t help but wonder, could Michelle be just a click away?<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jeffy and Amity aren’t the only ones
interested in the device. A man with a dark purpose is in pursuit, determined
to use its grand potential for profound evil. Unless Amity and Jeffy can outwit
him, the place they call home may never be safe again.<br />
</span></i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36672379-the-emerald-lily"></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36046438-the-white-lily"></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Recommend: </b>Yes<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />
My thoughts:</b> This book made me so tense at parts that I had to stop
reading. A truly horrifying story. Yeah, I loved it.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"><o:p></o:p></span></i><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Today is expected to get up to 70. It’s nice and sunny out,
too. I think I’m gonna go for a walk. It’s been awhile and the nerve pain in my
chest has been fading. I wish it was gone, but I’ll settle for fading…for now.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Happy Reading!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Pristina; font-size: 20.0pt;">Stacy<o:p></o:p></span></p>Stacy McKitrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898731847653710759noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5917316172488329464.post-19994187325177367452024-03-06T13:42:00.002-05:002024-03-06T13:42:42.581-05:00Finished Reading “Devoted” and my Dental Nightmare<p>Do you trust your dentist? I had a
great dentist for over 30 years. Then he retired in 2022 (didn’t have anyone to
take over his practice). While I mourned that, I went to the place he
recommended. While they liked to charge me for stuff my other dentist did for
free (like a cancer screening test, where they feel around your mouth), I wasn’t
having too many issues until this past November. That’s when I was introduced
to the third dentist there (I later discovered this practice is owned by a
corporation, not a person).</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">This dentist proceeded to tell me
that I have a cavity, all my fillings are failing, and that I’ll need crowns on
all my molars! Now, this news did not go over well, since I was told by my
oncologist that I needed to make sure my teeth were okay so he could start me
on Prolia (a drug for osteoporosis, or in my case osteopenia). My insurance is
lucky to cover one crown. Not 7! But Hubby said if we had to pay, we had to
pay. My health was more important. Only one tooth was really bothering me, so I
went along with getting the root canal on that one (and the subsequent crown),
until I could calm down and think about it. However…</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">The day I went in to get the
permanent crown, I met the fourth doctor at this practice. Apparently #3 was
away on emergency leave. She did the work, then asked if there was more work
that needed to be done. I explained that I needed to go ahead and make
appointments for all the work I was told needed to be done because my oncologist wanted to start me on Prolia in June. She looked at my
teeth and told me everything looked fine.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">What???</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">Needless to say, I was
flabbergasted. I was also ready to quit this practice once and for all. I told
my oncologist what was going on. I didn’t know who to believe! My oncologist
asked if I wanted to be seen by the dentist on base. I didn’t think I was
entitled (they only see active duty personnel), but because of my cancer (lucky
me!), he could get me in. I got an appointment for March 4.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">Well, I got good news from the
dentist on base. My fillings are fine. I don’t need any more work done on them
(especially since I’m not having any issues in my mouth). Plus, I don’t have
any cavities. I am going to go fire my other dentist, once I get a refund (they
overcharged me on the crown work according to my insurance statement—figures!).
I do have another dentist in the works, who I will visit for the first time in
July (for a cleaning). Keeping my fingers crossed that he works out. I hate
deceitful dentists!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">Here’s what I read since my last
update:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Book 8</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvy9vEYBdMeWZgspGTEE0LACN2tFohiEu00sWclJQRSurwhO4zhvi-VAmxXMj98RsMR_sSPhExckOR5jMEfjzhx2Ft8itR_daSdK6CFxlQ7QliTgfBlVXU3pJBRToHI3Dm-40MthGf_ipAt6vvEMVHx1_h-Hr24BPSzzOKUeMbdTnqE9O_H2gvKdCMh-k/s990/devoted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="990" data-original-width="660" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvy9vEYBdMeWZgspGTEE0LACN2tFohiEu00sWclJQRSurwhO4zhvi-VAmxXMj98RsMR_sSPhExckOR5jMEfjzhx2Ft8itR_daSdK6CFxlQ7QliTgfBlVXU3pJBRToHI3Dm-40MthGf_ipAt6vvEMVHx1_h-Hr24BPSzzOKUeMbdTnqE9O_H2gvKdCMh-k/s320/devoted.jpg" width="213" /></a></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Dates read:</b> February
27-March 6, 2024<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Title:</b> Devoted<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Year of publication:</b> 2020<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Author: </b>Dean Koontz<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Genre:</b> Horror<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Series:</b> N/A<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"># of Pages: </b>369<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Paper or plastic:</b> Hardcover<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How obtained:</b> Purchased<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Blurb from Book:</b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"> Woody Bookman hasn’t spoken a word in his
eleven years of life. Not when his father died in a freak accident. Not when
his mother, Megan, tells him she loves him. For Megan, keeping her boy safe and
happy is what matters. But Woody believes a monstrous evil was behind his
father’s death and now threatens him and his mother. And he’s not alone in his
thoughts. An ally unknown to him is listening.<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A uniquely gifted dog with a heart as
golden as his breed, Kipp is devoted beyond reason to people. When he hears the
boy who communicates like he does, without speaking, Kipp knows he needs to
find him before it’s too late.<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Woody’s fearful suspicions are taking
shape. A man driven by a malicious evil has set a depraved plan into motion.
And he’s coming after Woody and his mother. The reasons are primal. His powers
are growing. And he’s not alone. Only a force greater than evil can stop what’s
coming next.<br />
</span></i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36672379-the-emerald-lily"></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36046438-the-white-lily"></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Recommend: </b>Yes<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />
My thoughts:</b> I love his dog stories. Reminded me a little of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Watchers</i>, but then it became a different
story altogether. Which is probably a good thing. Nice little horror story. I
enjoyed it very much.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So… How well do you like your dentist? I really hope I found
one I can trust. It’s such a crap shoot out there. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Happy Reading!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Pristina; font-size: 20.0pt;">Stacy<o:p></o:p></span></p>Stacy McKitrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898731847653710759noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5917316172488329464.post-38000192400303877512024-02-26T14:27:00.000-05:002024-02-26T14:27:57.118-05:00Finished Reading “The City” and Roller Coaster Weather<p>The weather has been a roller
coaster lately. Snow and cold on Saturday (high 30). Warm today (mid 60s). Rain
is due tomorrow, which might end in some more snowflakes, and the cold weather
will return. But then it gets warm again.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">Are we in winter or spring? I can’t
tell. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">Here’s what I read since my last
update:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Book 7</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtuLtIh7nqOfz9Oiga1KoNDwzNEn3VD3FwSyi8eEyZ0MXLtENOeX4zYCPq6knuOPo1nGb0CaM3cziOaLox2PUkPNnsQ4aCJXawLciVGTxOAz5jIM7Ie-9Vs9a_lYBYhnAUZy_wzTZOuIAsAR6t8SdByQoZXzAnSwgoIvAaCnKEGvvK2lBdPUke9BjlUkM/s475/thecity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="313" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtuLtIh7nqOfz9Oiga1KoNDwzNEn3VD3FwSyi8eEyZ0MXLtENOeX4zYCPq6knuOPo1nGb0CaM3cziOaLox2PUkPNnsQ4aCJXawLciVGTxOAz5jIM7Ie-9Vs9a_lYBYhnAUZy_wzTZOuIAsAR6t8SdByQoZXzAnSwgoIvAaCnKEGvvK2lBdPUke9BjlUkM/s320/thecity.jpg" width="211" /></a></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Dates read:</b> February
24-26, 2024<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Title:</b> The City<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Year of publication:</b> 2014<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Author: </b>Dean Koontz<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Genre:</b> Paranormal suspense<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Series:</b> N/A<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"># of Pages: </b>398<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Paper or plastic:</b> Hardcover<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How obtained:</b> Purchased<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Blurb from Book:</b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"> Here is the riveting, soul-stirring story of
Jonah Kirk, son of an exceptional singer, grandson of a formidable “piano man,”
a musical prodigy beginning to explore his own gifts when he crosses a group of
extremely dangerous people, with shattering consequences. Set in a more
innocent time not so long ago, </span></i><span style="color: blue;">The City<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> encompasses a lifetime but unfolds over
three extraordinary, heart-racing years of tribulation and triumph in which
Jonah first grasps the electrifying power of music and art, of enduring
friendship, of everyday heroes.<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The unforgettable saga of a young man
coming of age within a remarkable family, and a shimmering portrait of the
world that shaped him, </i>The City<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> is a
novel that speaks to everyone, a dazzling realization of the evergreen dreams
we all share. Brilliantly illumined by magic dark and light, it’s a place where
enchantment and malice entwine, courage and honor are found in the most
unexpected quarters, and the way forward lies buried deep inside the heart.<br />
</i></span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36672379-the-emerald-lily"></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36046438-the-white-lily"></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Recommend: </b>Yes<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />
My thoughts:</b> Not what I expected. What did I expect? Horror of some sort,
of course. Oh, there were some horrific things that took place in this book, but
the same kind you would read in a regular suspense. And there was a little bit
of “woo-woo” in it, but not the horror kind. Still, it grabbed me and I read
with abandon. <p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So… the weather is really rather nice today. I haven’t taken
a walk in what seems like forever ago. I might venture out after I post this.
Don’t know how far I’ll make it, but it’s better than not trying. Right?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Happy Reading!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Pristina; font-size: 20.0pt;">Stacy<o:p></o:p></span></p>Stacy McKitrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898731847653710759noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5917316172488329464.post-54053942556853881372024-02-23T14:38:00.000-05:002024-02-23T14:38:56.273-05:00Finished Reading “Mine” and Progressing Slowly<p>I have my good days and bad days.
Today is leaning toward a bad day. Only because it’s laundry day and moving
around and lifting stuff aggravates my chest (or rather, the area inside where
they shoved in a camera for surgery). My incisions are healing fine. They don’t
hurt. Not itching as much, either. But this one spot on my chest… yeah, that
can hurt when I overdo it. And apparently it doesn’t take much for me to overdo
it. Healing in that one spot is really progressing slowly.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">I really hate the after effects of
surgery.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">But I do have some good news. I’m
another step closer to publishing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ghostly
Protector</i>. I finally finished with the fixes and it’s back with my editor
to re-read, making sure I, 1) fixed it okay and 2) didn’t screw something else
up. When I get it back from her, then it’s off to my copy editor (actually, my
daughter) to clean it up. I’ve decided not to put it up for a pre-order. Once
it’s all finished and formatted and ready to go, I’ll just put it up for sale.
I can’t judge when the book will be done, so instead of picking a date way far
into the future, I’d rather have it available when it’s actually ready. I think
my readers will appreciate that more, anyway.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">Here’s what I read since my last
update:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Book 6</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuT4UtUEovSD0rbtrWIb4f4tEqxkH2V53Ix4x3nvGczJHruZ6DtyylbzlIl9ljGZKtkaDPI_ufpkCSdsK3nVkbHaewgU4XY_7bpi8DzytDb8JxDDuTycaw7skbBeiwWdLA3ZyYZAFXp6dWgLzXmeZdZU48RSDmoJNEsVPVR1oKvfNQAYlckenSbbgsMvY/s2546/mine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2546" data-original-width="1400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuT4UtUEovSD0rbtrWIb4f4tEqxkH2V53Ix4x3nvGczJHruZ6DtyylbzlIl9ljGZKtkaDPI_ufpkCSdsK3nVkbHaewgU4XY_7bpi8DzytDb8JxDDuTycaw7skbBeiwWdLA3ZyYZAFXp6dWgLzXmeZdZU48RSDmoJNEsVPVR1oKvfNQAYlckenSbbgsMvY/s320/mine.jpg" width="176" /></a></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Dates read:</b> February
11-23, 2024<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Title:</b> Mine<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Year of publication:</b> 2024<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Author: </b>J.R. Ward<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Genre:</b> Paranormal Romance/Suspense<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Series:</b> The Lair of the Wolven #3<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"># of Pages: </b>478<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Paper or plastic:</b> Mass market
paperback<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How obtained:</b> Purchased<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Blurb from Book:</b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"> Lydia knows time is running out. Daniel’s
terminal diagnosis has doomed her to grief, and she just wants to spend as much
time as she can with him. When his doctor goes missing, however, their secret
lab’s location is compromised and suddenly she is at war with an enemy she
doesn’t understand.<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a former black ops soldier, Daniel
is very familiar with the danger they’re in, and he’s determined to keep his
beautiful wolven safe. This means he must turn to his former boss—and relying
on a </span></i><span style="color: blue;">sympath<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> for anything is a worst-case scenario on a good day. But what choice does
he have?<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With Daniel’s sixth sense telling him
there’s more to the kidnapping, he and Lydia must work with their allies to
defend the underground facility. Little do they know that the </i>sympath<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> has something even more valuable offer them…but
at what cost?<br />
</i></span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36672379-the-emerald-lily"></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36046438-the-white-lily"></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Recommend: </b>Yes<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />
My thoughts:</b> Nice ending to this trilogy. It took me awhile to read it but
not because it was bad. I just had a lot of stuff going on. Today just seemed
like a good day to finish it, since it’s laundry day and I need to rest between
loads.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So… do you pre-order books? I rarely do (only if the book
seller is offering some kind of sale or deal to pre-order the book). It’s not
like I read the book as soon as I buy it (if only!), but then I guess I’m not
the typical reader. In fact, I’m finally getting to my Dean Koontz collection.
It’s been awhile since I read one of his books, but it certainly hasn’t stopped
me from buying them. I got six of them to read (and I think I still have one in
my B&N wish list).</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Happy Reading!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Pristina; font-size: 20.0pt;">Stacy<o:p></o:p></span></p>Stacy McKitrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898731847653710759noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5917316172488329464.post-79491446151003413222024-02-09T15:08:00.001-05:002024-02-09T15:08:19.996-05:00Finished Reading “When a Dragon Falls” and…Stuff <p>Apparently when I’m writing, I’m
not reading as much. I got the edits back on <i>Ghostly Protector</i> and have been
working on that. I can’t believe how close I am to getting that one published.
It’ll be my 9th book. Whoo hoo!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">But I’ve also had some medical
issues…again. I had surgery on Jan 26th to remove the lymph node from my chest.
That’s when they found some tissue behind the node (which is what the CT scan
saw). The node came back normal, but the tissue came back as kidney cancer. My
oncologist wants to put me on another drug, but I saw the side effects on that
and need more answers. I see him on Tuesday. In the meantime, I’m a bit sore in
the side and chest (also really itchy from the glue!). I’m getting around
slowly, but at least I’m getting around. Eventually I’ll get back to some
exercise. I really need to get back into that.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">So my reading has slowed. So has
my crochet. But my writing is continuing, so that’s a good thing. Haven’t
started anything new yet, but I’ll get there. Just too much other stuff to do!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">Here’s what I read since my last
update:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Book 5</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4YHMFFRzKXpP4KnboCN1CJgUKr9IrT-QSWHmAoGniWqVK4cg9pz_WKYhXqhyYv_3N-vcQHmYQOlIFz6uxxWHhr2ykw2uvvqAg72ul9EoUdNMkgQAz4x9yaA3r1gm-vGK0M3FVxmC6Wl85xnGYZJhNbWApi2DI4DsxF5qDjlOgGX5DBhyphenhyphenhFcFq7HiOYhk/s499/whenadragonfalls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="333" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4YHMFFRzKXpP4KnboCN1CJgUKr9IrT-QSWHmAoGniWqVK4cg9pz_WKYhXqhyYv_3N-vcQHmYQOlIFz6uxxWHhr2ykw2uvvqAg72ul9EoUdNMkgQAz4x9yaA3r1gm-vGK0M3FVxmC6Wl85xnGYZJhNbWApi2DI4DsxF5qDjlOgGX5DBhyphenhyphenhFcFq7HiOYhk/s320/whenadragonfalls.jpg" width="214" /></a></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Dates read:</b> January
21 – February 9, 2024<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Title:</b> When a Dragon Falls<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Year of publication:</b> 2023<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Author: </b>Kerrelyn Sparks<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Genre:</b> Paranormal/Fantasy Romance<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Series:</b> Embraced by Magic #4/The
Embraced #7<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"># of Pages: </b>355<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Paper or plastic:</b> Trade paperback<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How obtained:</b> Purchased<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Blurb from Book:</b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"> Princess Lenushka of Norveshka prides herself
on her courage. She’s faced down the doubters who think a woman dragon shifter
is worth less than a man. She will marry to secure the support of her nobles—and
ensure she’ll hold the Norveshki throne. A battle-hardened soldier, she’s
prepared to destroy the Brotherhood of the Sun, who threaten all Aerthlan. But
she can barely look at Bran Morris, the Raven. His dark, brooding beauty is
off-limits for a princess who must wed for advantage. And he has far too many
secrets of his own for Lennie to trust him with hers.<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bran’s quest is for vengeance,
against the Brotherhood monsters who killed his brother and abused his sisters.
He can’t dream about the sharp-eyed woman warrior whose memory haunts him, not
even when she appears to rescue him from an unknown dragon shifter. But when
Lennie and Bran discover they’re Aerthlan’s last defense against a powerful,
murderous mastermind, they can no longer afford to deceive each other—or themselves.
And when a dragon’s passion is freed, anything is possible…<br />
</span></i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36672379-the-emerald-lily"></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36046438-the-white-lily"></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Recommend: </b>Yes<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />
My thoughts:</b> Took me a bit to get back into this world. I like the series.
Don’t know why it takes me so long to remember past books. I blame it on my
medication. Or old age. Or maybe the combination. This is a fun series, though.
Highly recommend.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Weather has been really wonderful the last few days. Into
the 60s today. I know winter isn’t over yet, but nothing wrong with enjoying
the warm sunny weather while we got it!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Happy Reading!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Pristina; font-size: 20.0pt;">Stacy<o:p></o:p></span></p>Stacy McKitrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898731847653710759noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5917316172488329464.post-44476605912140708322024-01-21T09:24:00.000-05:002024-01-21T09:24:31.983-05:00A Book I Couldn’t Finish Reading and Some Wonderful News<p>Made it home safely despite all
the snow. Had over 4” of the stuff on our parked car, but I think it was two
storms’ worth. Maybe. But it pretty much snowed all the way from Baltimore to
Dayton and we made it without incident. Best kind of driving trips, right?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">But that’s not my wonderful news.
Nope, it has to do with my writing projects.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">While on the cruise, I sent <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ghostly Protector</i> to my editor (boy, did
that lift a weight off my shoulders—I never felt so free!). Which meant I was
free to work on something else.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">Now, I had a couple of projects
that I started years before. One is in the Bitten by Love series. I stopped
because I didn’t think what I had would cover a whole book. But a novella?
Yeah, that seemed possible. So I opened up my document from four years ago and
read the 15 pages I had written. Came upon a character I didn’t even remember
writing about. But the bad thing about it is I had written something that
contradicted what I had in <i>Blind Temptation</i> (at least, according to my notes).
I had no way of checking while on the cruise, so I decided not to work on the
novella. Instead, I went to my other project. My alien story. Just to see if I
could get inspiration as to what the next book in that series should be.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">The last time I had looked at <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Alien Desires</i> was back in 2018. Didn’t
publish it because I thought it was a mess. Well, apparently I had fixed it
sometime ago (don’t remember when) and what I read, I LOVED. This book is ready
for an editor! Not only that, I got an idea of how to start the next book.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">So, the wonderful news is that I’ll
have two new books published in 2024 (after a 4-year drought). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whoo hoo!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">Now for the book I couldn’t finish
reading…</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">Here’s what I attempted to read
since my last update:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Book 4</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNMVL_PsJn99Kbu60JhwQt0YuAOhbVXviDcHngUmEblewIiS5MbEGR6hyphenhypheneO1S_NO5ODwkgXOtIFhcEEOEp-AYgI1GS7Hp4u0jYOX80cqoS9_xiTHLh_9S0NXiHwx1CohfWVVTnjdORrg72C9QSBcXsm6_Tb_0qPrMiksQCO-qx6wFq8SWD8IJ-2d8ImUQ/s2560/hidden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1694" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNMVL_PsJn99Kbu60JhwQt0YuAOhbVXviDcHngUmEblewIiS5MbEGR6hyphenhypheneO1S_NO5ODwkgXOtIFhcEEOEp-AYgI1GS7Hp4u0jYOX80cqoS9_xiTHLh_9S0NXiHwx1CohfWVVTnjdORrg72C9QSBcXsm6_Tb_0qPrMiksQCO-qx6wFq8SWD8IJ-2d8ImUQ/s320/hidden.jpg" width="212" /></a></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Dates read:</b> January
16-21, 2024<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Title:</b> Hidden<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Year of publication:</b> 2021<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Author: </b>Fern Michaels<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Genre:</b> No idea<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Series:</b> Lost and Found #1<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"># of Pages: </b>368<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Paper or plastic:</b> Nook<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How obtained:</b> Free from B&N<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Blurb from Goodreads:</b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"> At first glance,
few would guess that Luna and Cullen Bodman are siblings. Cullen is efficient
and serious while his younger sister Luna is a free spirit. When the two launch
their furniture restoration shop/café—an offshoot of the family’s longtime antique
business—in an up-and-coming arts center, little do they know their unique
talents may be their only defense against a dangerous betrayal.</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="color: #2b00fe;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Luna gets a strange sense about
a piece Cullen just acquired, the two find themselves uniting to solve a mystery
that has far-reaching consequences—never knowing there are some who’ll stop at
nothing to claim what they believe is theirs. No matter what, Luna and Cullen
know they can rely on each other—and this time, their lives may depend on it…</span><br />
</i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36672379-the-emerald-lily"></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36046438-the-white-lily"></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Recommend: </b>No<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />
My thoughts:</b> I got as far as page 47 and had to stop (and I rarely do not
finish a book). Not worth my time. If this is a mystery, I couldn’t tell. It
certainly isn’t a suspense. All I ever got was back story, and boring back
story at that. So glad I didn’t waste any money on this one. I don’t usually mark
DNF books as books read, but in this case, I feel like I wasted precious
reading time trying to get through this one and said, I’m marking it READ!<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This week is one busy week. Tomorrow I get a colonoscopy
(which means I gotta prepare for it today—ugh!). Tuesday I have a pre-op
appointment and an ultrasound on my thyroid. Wednesday I have my treatment and
a dentist appointment to get a crown on my molar. And Friday I have surgery to
remove a lymph node from my chest (because the biopsy I had was inconclusive).
But hey! I’m excited about my writing. I think that wins!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Happy Reading!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Pristina; font-size: 20.0pt;">Stacy<o:p></o:p></span></p>Stacy McKitrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898731847653710759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5917316172488329464.post-55176811296776309662024-01-16T20:09:00.000-05:002024-01-16T20:09:32.743-05:00Finished Reading “Valentine Murder” and Sailing Home<p>Our cruise is almost at an end. Overall I had a good time. Will I go
on another Royal Caribbean cruise? Probably. Hubby likes going to new
places and RC does go to more places than Carnival. But...we have
three upcoming Carnival cruises in our future (Caribbean in October,
Greenland in May 2025, and another Caribbean that has a stop in
Grenada in February 2026). So while I thought my cruising with
Carnival was coming to an end, seems I’ll be doing it for the next
few years anyway. But I won’t begrudge Hubby if he finds a RC
cruise he wants to take. I just hope it’s not on one of those
monster ships. Too many people! This one was small (about 1800
passengers) and that made this cruise better for me. Still don’t
like how RC does certain things, but I’ll get over it.</p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Here’s
what I read since my last update:</p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Book
3</p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDwPYlwyYZZbCVJA3_Efgi1AtHfkmC5I_UNY8nk2xXNBzYojbAW897Xne0jY_wk7iCA9m19XMYh3OYKmP5mQeyCDukZTqjV2N7lAYjKHL1EvdjbbXb61jiTO5vVXlpWK8vxn1O8Td1LHFmCGTpzmarnm5cN1DyE3fyCk81UeSAIVwoU5IR61IxKwfXGg0/s475/valentinemurder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="281" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDwPYlwyYZZbCVJA3_Efgi1AtHfkmC5I_UNY8nk2xXNBzYojbAW897Xne0jY_wk7iCA9m19XMYh3OYKmP5mQeyCDukZTqjV2N7lAYjKHL1EvdjbbXb61jiTO5vVXlpWK8vxn1O8Td1LHFmCGTpzmarnm5cN1DyE3fyCk81UeSAIVwoU5IR61IxKwfXGg0/s320/valentinemurder.jpg" width="189" /></a></b></div><b>Dates
read:</b> January 9-16, 2024<br />
<b>Title: </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Valentine
Murder</span><br />
<b>Year of publication:</b> 1999<br />
<b>Author:
</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Leslie Meier</span><br />
<b>Genre:</b>
Mystery<br />
<b>Series:</b> Lucy Stone #5<br />
<b># of Pages:
</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">200</span><br />
<b>Paper or
plastic:</b> Nook<br />
<b>How obtained:</b> Free from B&N<br />
<b>Blurb
from Goodreads:</b><span style="color: blue;"><i> </i></span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><i>It’s
Valentine’s Day in Tinker’s Cove. And while the cupcakes Lucy
Stone is baking for her children will have pink frosting and candy
hearts, Lucy’s thoughts aren’t centered on sugary sentiments.
She’s barely arrived at her first board meeting of the
newly-renovated library when Bitsy Howell, the new librarian is found
dead in the basement, shot only minutes before story hour was to
start. The agitated board members assume that Bitsy was killed by an
outsider, until Detective Lt. Horowitz arrives on the scene and
announces that the killer is among them. Lucy was already aware that
Bitsy’s uppity big city ways rubbed some people in Tinker’s Cove
the wrong way. But she has a hunch that motives for the librarian’s
violent death run a lot deeper. From Hayden Norcross’s elegant
antique shop to Corney Clark’s chic kitchen, Lucy relentlessly
snoops into the curious lifestyles and shocking secrets of Tinker’s
Cove’s most solid citizens—secrets that will plunge her into a
terrifying confrontation with a conniving killer...</i></span></span></span><span style="color: blue;"><i>
<br />
</i></span><b>Recommend: </b>Yes<b><br />
My thoughts:</b> I get
free e-books from B&N monthly. I don’t always like what’s
offered, but sometimes I find something interesting. This one looked
interesting, but I didn’t realize how OLD the book was (1999), so
as I was reading it, I thought the main character was pretty stupid
not knowing how to use a computer! Aside from that blunder (and I did
check—Goodreads listed it published in 2013, but that was way
incorrect), I still thought this book had a lot of filler that didn’t
pertain to the story. But I guess that’s what cozy mysteries do? I
don’t know. Not about to read another in this series to find out,
either. For a mystery, I kind of figured out whodunnit early, so no
surprises for me. I guess people like these kinds of books, though,
since this is #5 in the series (I don’t know how many there are
total, but more than 5).
<p></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">So, it looks like we might be driving in some snow on Friday. Hopefully,
it’s not a lot. We brought my Xterra anyway, just in case. It has
4-wheel drive. We know better driving during winter. Always be
prepared!!</p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Happy
Reading!</p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Pristina, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Stacy</span></span></p>Stacy McKitrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898731847653710759noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5917316172488329464.post-63700989675887511932024-01-09T16:25:00.000-05:002024-01-09T16:25:48.205-05:00Finished Reading “The Spy Coast”, “Darkness: The Shark” and Other Stuff<p>So… I’m on a cruise (surprise, huh?) and using a new computer. I
bought a smaller one for travel purposes and I’m still getting used
to it. Especially since I don’t have Word on it...yet. That will be
remedied when I get home. LibreOffice works in a pinch, though. At
least I can write!</p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Big
Red (the laptop I usually use) is getting kind of heavy for me, and I
don’t like traveling with ALL my files (if you know what I mean).
This new one is only about 3 lbs and smaller (making it easier to
tote around). I call it my travel laptop. Hey, whatever works, right?
And I only have the files I need on this one.
</p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Here’s
what I read since my last update:</p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Book
1</p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBq2Q1Zzvg3XoNyDAGMT5Kpw2LcxdgfX_BNsO7xQusGeMcLxAjie09NUl4TuoML2KnW7xSzOA3byqWb-YR-0mPiasoZCXsUCMy2abfXO4p700z9JTvKEuLDeA21sCyvcGTX-2Iq6PA2gAziT1HrOBkj1PmcizXjlbFGQnjtcmbOIujLGkj67xsaknfqEk/s491/thespycoast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="491" data-original-width="316" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBq2Q1Zzvg3XoNyDAGMT5Kpw2LcxdgfX_BNsO7xQusGeMcLxAjie09NUl4TuoML2KnW7xSzOA3byqWb-YR-0mPiasoZCXsUCMy2abfXO4p700z9JTvKEuLDeA21sCyvcGTX-2Iq6PA2gAziT1HrOBkj1PmcizXjlbFGQnjtcmbOIujLGkj67xsaknfqEk/s320/thespycoast.jpg" width="206" /></a></b></div><b>Dates
read:</b> December 27, 2023 – January 5, 2024<br />
<b>Title: </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
Spy Coast</span><br />
<b>Year of publication:</b> 2023<br />
<b>Author:
</b>Tess Gerritsen<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Thriller<br />
<b>Series:</b>
N/A<br />
<b># of Pages: </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">347</span><br />
<b>Paper
or plastic:</b> Hard cover<br />
<b>How obtained:</b> Purchased<br />
<b>Blurb
from Goodreads:</b><span style="color: blue;"><i> </i></span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><i>Former
spy Maggie Bird came to the seaside village of Purity, Maine, eager
to put the past behind her after a mission went tragically wrong.
These days, she’s living quietly on her chicken farm, still wary of
blowback from the events that forced her early retirement.<br /> But when a body turns up in Maggie’s driveway, she knows it’s a
message from former foes who haven’t forgotten her. Maggie turns to
her local circle of old friends—all retirees from the CIA—to help
uncover the truth about who is trying to kill her, and why. This
“Martini Club” of former spies may be retired, but they still
have a few useful skills that they’re eager to use again, if only
to spice up their rather sedate new lives.<br /> Complicating
their efforts is Purity’s acting police chief, Jo Thibodeau. More
accustomed to dealing with rowdy tourists than homicide, Jo is
puzzled by Maggie’s reluctance to share information—and by her
odd circle of friends, who seem to be a step ahead of her at every
turn.<br /> As Jo’s investigation collides with the Martini
Club’s maneuvers, Maggie’s hunt for answers will force her to
revisit a clandestine career that spanned the globe, from Bangkok to
Istanbul, from London to Malta. The ghosts of her past have returned,
but with the help of her friends—and the reluctant Jo
Thibodeau—Maggie might just be able to save the life she’s built.
</i></span></span></span></span><span style="color: blue;"><i><br />
</i></span><b>Recommend:
</b>Yes<b><br />
My thoughts:</b> I liked the story, just not the way
it was delivered (first person for some points of view, third person
for others). Just make it all third and I’m happy.
<p></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Book
2</p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsHf2ubCMFBDtifziuvLCPRfhmh0vux_z56gnyzASHLJPb1PMkiwtSIYRPHvSHQhp0zoT3hHe6AhqOchYiGmSil4_1YkYH4pOnHSeiD4YW_laGACboG_t-bcZulcGV3sMYkqp0L3IGeQZ3-TQr11n6IXnst-dXZlxVhBVwAWXKtYNc1XbNIxbUyshZ9x4/s987/indarknesstheshark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="987" data-original-width="648" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsHf2ubCMFBDtifziuvLCPRfhmh0vux_z56gnyzASHLJPb1PMkiwtSIYRPHvSHQhp0zoT3hHe6AhqOchYiGmSil4_1YkYH4pOnHSeiD4YW_laGACboG_t-bcZulcGV3sMYkqp0L3IGeQZ3-TQr11n6IXnst-dXZlxVhBVwAWXKtYNc1XbNIxbUyshZ9x4/s320/indarknesstheshark.jpg" width="210" /></a></b></div><b>Dates
read:</b> January 6-8, 2024<br />
<b>Title: </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">In
Darkness: The Shark</span><br />
<b>Year of publication:</b>
2023<br />
<b>Author: </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">L. Diane
Wolfe</span><br />
<b>Genre:</b> Paranormal romance<br />
<b>Series:</b>
In Darkness #2<br />
<b># of Pages: </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">61</span><br />
<b>Paper
or plastic:</b> Nook<br />
<b>How obtained:</b> Purchased<br />
<b>Blurb
from Goodreads:</b><span style="color: blue;"><i> </i></span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><i>Souls
shrouded in darkness…<br /> Focused on her studies and duties at
the aquarium, Jewels prefers her solitary life. Burned many times and
short on trust, she has more in common with her aquatic friends than
the people around her. But she never imagined coming face to face
with a shark named Clarence…a shark who talks!<br /> As their
friendship grows, Jewels must overcome her deep set mistrust. There
are dangers, both in the Australian ocean and on dry land. Can Jewels
depend on the great white or will his animal nature betray her?</i></span></span></span></span><span style="color: blue;"><i>
<br />
</i></span><b>Recommend: </b>Yes<b><br />
My thoughts:</b> I got
this because I saw it was a paranormal romance. But it read more like
a children’s book. The romance kind of showed up at the end, but it
was all very...young-like. I don’t know how old the protagonist is,
but she was in school and an intern at an aquarium. She just seemed
way younger than she was portrayed to be, I think. But if you you
like short (VERY SHORT) sweet stories, you might enjoy this. It was
written well.
<p></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">We’re
sailing on Royal Caribbean this time around. A first for us. Frankly,
I miss Carnival. Not any one specific thing, just a lot of little
things. Dinner, for one. This is a smaller ship and even though we
were told we’d get the early seating (at 5:15), the day before
we’re notified that we have Your Time Dining. Sounds fine, until
you realized the earliest you can eat is 6:30. And that’s if you
call in early enough to get the reservation (their app won’t let me
reserve on line). Not a fan.</p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">First
full day on the ship was pretty awful, too. Seas were really rough
and I got sea sick. That’s never happened to me before, so I wasn’t
prepared. Well, I did bring my anti-nausea medicine (that I take for
my treatments), but even they didn’t work. Luckily, we hit calmer
seas about two hours before our dinner and I was able to eat. Can’t
blame that on RC or the ship. It happens. Just wish it hadn’t
happened to me!
</p><p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">FYI: Now that I see how this is posting with LibreOffice, I will DEFINITELY be getting Word on this computer. I don't like what it's doing (I'm very OCD when it comes to my posts, what can I say?).</p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Happy
Reading!</p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Pristina, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Stacy</span></span></p>Stacy McKitrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898731847653710759noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5917316172488329464.post-21167510037816029592023-12-26T15:09:00.000-05:002023-12-26T15:09:33.531-05:00Finished Reading “Mommy Dommy Minotaur” and More Health Issues<p>Doesn’t it always seem like the
bad stuff just piles on top of bad stuff?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">In November, I was told I had
osteopenia (which is the precursor to osteoporosis). My oncologist wants to put
me on Prolia, but first I needed to get my teeth looked at. Apparently Prolia
helps my bone density, but does something totally different to my jaw and
healing can be really slow. So I saw my dentist. The news there wasn’t all that
great.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">It seems the fillings in most of
my molars are huge and are failing. They can’t just put in new fillings. I need
crowns instead. And one is so bad, it needs a root canal first (which I’m
getting this Thursday). </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">Now, I don’t see how I’m going to
get all this work done quickly, and I wasn’t sure when my oncologist wanted to
start Prolia. So I asked him this month and he said to shoot for six months. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">I see $$ going to the dentist
during this six months, because my insurance will be lucky enough to cover one
tooth. Not seven! Yep, seven (one molar already has a crown).</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">So, if that wasn’t enough, my
December scan showed a lymph node between my lungs enlarged (it was normal back
in September). I had a cold in October (of which I’m still coughing), so it’s
possible it’s enlarged because of that, but with my history he wanted to get a
sample. I had that biopsy last week and I’m still waiting on the results.
Fingers crossed it comes back negative (or whatever is good news)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">And to add the cherry to all that
mess, I’m getting my 5-year colonoscopy on January 22. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">Hubby and I leave on Jan 5 for a
two-week cruise. I think I need it!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">Here’s what I read since my last
update:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Book 58</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwYONp77ezUffAWGIwyliy8dTUYdQIzZUnGCltKpdnUPOZMmUGkfmvVqZGlf1-npsYkugK0ENaNfaqdwat8UKbgOcBrrmvg28eB5w6C0OzfpWhBf-O35S1qAo1o5LijA-WdHgITPmhZjVYYQIV0al936MWgFg0B5HGwtetKmm87g8EmT1Eo4RSMyk3yW8/s500/mommydommyminotaur.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="334" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwYONp77ezUffAWGIwyliy8dTUYdQIzZUnGCltKpdnUPOZMmUGkfmvVqZGlf1-npsYkugK0ENaNfaqdwat8UKbgOcBrrmvg28eB5w6C0OzfpWhBf-O35S1qAo1o5LijA-WdHgITPmhZjVYYQIV0al936MWgFg0B5HGwtetKmm87g8EmT1Eo4RSMyk3yW8/s320/mommydommyminotaur.jpg" width="214" /></a></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Dates read:</b> December
11-26, 2023<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Title:</b> Mommy Dommy Minotaur<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Year of publication:</b> 2023<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Author: </b>Thundertail Slapbush<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Genre:</b> Paranormal erotic romance<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Series:</b> N/A<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"># of Pages: </b>176<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Paper or plastic:</b> Trade paperback<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How obtained:</b> Given by author<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Blurb from book:</b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"> From the moment Voss Wolfeson laid eyes on
the tall drink of minotaur milk, he knew he wanted to do something he’s never
done before: lose himself in her.<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Voss likes control over all things in his life—his
business deals, his impeccable designer clothes, and the alpha wolf side of him
that constantly threatens to break free. He’s locked his urges down tighter
than a rabbit snared in a steel trap—or in a wolf’s claws—until a trip to the
library brings him face to face with a certain shy and alluring Minoan
researcher and unleashes a new set of desires.<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moumi Gloryhorn lives a double life,
and she’s happy that way. By day, she spends her time figuratively and
literally hunched over in a library basement, digging up old books and
documents. By night, she indulges her minotaur instincts and desires by
pursuing willing participants through the Labyrinth and punishing them—for their
pleasure and hers. That is, until she finds herself the one pursued—by a
certain tall, dark, and annoyingly handsome werewolf who threatens to destroy
the carefully crafted walls she’s put up between her day job and her night
life.<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What’s a wolf to do, when he can’t
decide whether he wants to sink his claws into his prey or be spanked by her?
And what’s a lady minotaur to do when she finds herself running full tilt at a
predator she should be running away from?<br />
</span></i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36672379-the-emerald-lily"></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36046438-the-white-lily"></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Recommend: </b>Yes<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />
My thoughts:</b> The author gave me this book in the hopes he would get some
more reviews. I don’t always do this, but he is also a friend and a co-member
of my writing organization and to be honest, the book looked interesting (I don’t
do this if it’s not in a genre I won’t normally read). The book is well written
and I liked the storyline over all. The rest of it is a bit much…for me. I’m
not one who gets a lot of puns, and this one is full of them. I didn’t laugh
out loud reading this book (I enjoy a different kind of humor, I guess), but I
did enjoy the story. If you like the bizarre, with a lot of erotic stuff in between,
give this book a try. <p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I got stuck in my editing of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ghostly Protector</i>. Thought I needed another love scene. Thing is, I
couldn’t write it. Now I’m thinking maybe the story doesn’t need it (because it
wouldn’t have been hard if it did), so I’m leaving it out and will send it to
my editor as is. I’ll let her tell me if she thinks it needs another love
scene. I just need to move on right now and this is the best way to do that!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Happy Reading!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Pristina; font-size: 20.0pt;">Stacy<o:p></o:p></span></p>Stacy McKitrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898731847653710759noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5917316172488329464.post-24077566760135665332023-12-11T14:11:00.000-05:002023-12-11T14:11:05.061-05:00Finished Reading “Bad Luck Vampire” and I Have a Deadline<p>Reading has really slowed for me.
Not because of the book I was reading (I enjoyed it very much), but because I
have a deadline.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">Deadline for what, you ask?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">A deadline to get <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ghostly Protector</i> to my editor! That’s
right. To. My. Editor. She can start working on it Jan 10, I leave on a cruise
on the 5th, so I need to get it to her before I leave. And frankly, I think she’ll
get it long before then. That’s how close I am to being ready for her. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">Yes, I’m Happy Dancing here!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">Here’s what I read since my last
update:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Book 57</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMFZ08fNQ3SaI30L3-AzTM3MUG_ubkxB-KgXogsIGoHugFGIfmDgcpV6p1QOqEGFOR4Om__26ldc3CyLSiVf4voTC2Qr9b5THmzvAS_cHAGujqMVJqjOw0DpHYrkxeykcDdCHHEGkL7vdFIujbH2ko8attHlsRHTDStXcSSTN7XnxctlVJUJK7v8zwHMk/s400/badluckvampire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="264" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMFZ08fNQ3SaI30L3-AzTM3MUG_ubkxB-KgXogsIGoHugFGIfmDgcpV6p1QOqEGFOR4Om__26ldc3CyLSiVf4voTC2Qr9b5THmzvAS_cHAGujqMVJqjOw0DpHYrkxeykcDdCHHEGkL7vdFIujbH2ko8attHlsRHTDStXcSSTN7XnxctlVJUJK7v8zwHMk/s320/badluckvampire.jpg" width="211" /></a></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Dates read:</b> November
20 – December 11, 2023<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Title:</b> Bad Luck Vampire<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Year of publication:</b> 2023<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Author: </b>Lynsay Sands<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Genre:</b> Paranormal romance<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Series:</b> Argeneau Vampires #36<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"># of Pages: </b>373<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Paper or plastic:</b> Mass market
paperback<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How obtained:</b> Purchased<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Blurb from book:</b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"> Alasdair MacKenzize has never once considered
himself unlucky in all the centuries he’s been an immortal rogue Enforcer. Not
until he meets Sophie. Finding the beautiful, smart, and funny woman who is his
life mate is great luck, actually. But meeting her at a wedding full of
Argeneaus, not to mention his own busybody uncles determined to “help him claim
his woman,” is bad luck. And the fact that Sophie is someone else’s date? Well,
that’s just the next level of unlucky.<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From the way her gaze travels over
his body like a caress to the electric zing whenever they innocently touch…he
has to have her! He’ll keep his hands off Sophie until her date is over. After
that, all bets are off and he’ll pull out all the stops to win her for
eternity. Great plan—until he gets hit by a car. And then he’s poisoned. Is his
luck </span></i><span style="color: blue;">that<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> bad or is someone out to stop this immortal from claiming Sophie as
his life mate?<br />
</i></span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36672379-the-emerald-lily"></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36046438-the-white-lily"></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Recommend: </b>Yes<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />
My thoughts:</b> 36th book in the series and I’m still enjoying it. I love the
humor in them, too. <p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I am very slow at getting ready for Christmas. Oh, I got
most of the shopping done, but haven’t put up the tree yet. I just don’t look
forward to that. It’s just so much work. But it’ll get done. Eventually. And
then I’ll have the job of wrapping the gifts. Not looking forward to that,
either!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So, do you love decorating and wrapping or is it a chore for
you, too?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Happy Reading!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Pristina; font-size: 20.0pt;">Stacy<o:p></o:p></span></p>Stacy McKitrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898731847653710759noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5917316172488329464.post-49666310493739484102023-11-19T08:59:00.000-05:002023-11-19T08:59:30.426-05:00Finished Reading “Darius” and Cleaning Up<p>For years, we’ve had two DVR boxes
in the living room. Mainly because we watched so many series, that sometimes
two would be recording and we’d want to watch some sporting event. Or we wanted
to record a third and it wouldn’t do it.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">But a lot of the series we watched
are no longer airing. One DVR is hardly used, we didn’t need two. And when the main
box acted up (couldn’t fast forward through the commercials on some of the
recordings—annoying), we figured we didn’t need to pay for two DVRs. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">So yesterday we finally
disconnected that unreliable DVR and moved the backup to its place (after a
long time of testing to make sure the backup didn’t also act up). Never
realized how many wires were no longer needed (because we didn’t need the
splitter). It looks…cleaner! On Monday I’ll return the unreliable DVR and start
saving some money, too. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">Here’s what I read since my last
update:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Book 56</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlmVyjAHGKxiZeEdp2O83y5DnDHkOnw1-kbx8bjl6wF5M_EMalsyhctGLk_dCcIaHRWnU7rgMyGCrPq8_F2DDA6wmBSi1Yig4revh_tTkyo5kyjw_oty9Me6uwvRwNjuj_1c_isO_X-v93V_1beAi3eHhnQTO4SGxOFSSil0r8ptznN3mnGII2VNWrmV4/s2152/darius.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2152" data-original-width="1399" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlmVyjAHGKxiZeEdp2O83y5DnDHkOnw1-kbx8bjl6wF5M_EMalsyhctGLk_dCcIaHRWnU7rgMyGCrPq8_F2DDA6wmBSi1Yig4revh_tTkyo5kyjw_oty9Me6uwvRwNjuj_1c_isO_X-v93V_1beAi3eHhnQTO4SGxOFSSil0r8ptznN3mnGII2VNWrmV4/s320/darius.jpg" width="208" /></a></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Dates read:</b> November
16-19, 2023<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Title:</b> Darius<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Year of publication:</b> 2022<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Author: </b>J.R. Ward<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Genre:</b> Paranormal romance<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Series:</b> Black Dagger Brotherhood #0<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"># of Pages: </b>295<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Paper or plastic:</b> Hard cover<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How obtained:</b> Purchased<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Blurb from book:</b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"> Darius, son of Marklon, isn’t looking for
love the night destiny comes to claim him. He’s also not interested in crashing
his new car. But when a human runs out into the road and he must swerve to
avoid killing her…everything goes off course.<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Disillusioned by his King’s lack of
leadership and the losses in the war against the Lessening Society, Darius
finds purpose in protecting a woman he cannot make his own. Love finds a way,
however—until the truth of what he is comes out and she leaves him in horror.<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unbeknownst to them both, Anne is
carrying his young, a female who is destined to be Queen—and after a tragic
reunion, he vows to protect their daughter. Resigned to perpetual sadness, he
is determined to serve the memory of his beloved no matter the cost…unless, by
some miracle, fate sees fit to once again bring them together.<br />
</span></i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36672379-the-emerald-lily"></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36046438-the-white-lily"></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Recommend: </b>Yes<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />
My thoughts:</b> Darius died in book 1 of the series (practically the first
chapter!) and I’ve always wanted to know more about him. So glad she gave us
this story. Yes, I cried at the end!!<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I was reading the Epilogue of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Darius</i> yesterday when I had to leave for my COFW meeting. I was
hoping to just squeeze in those last pages, but nope. Then I got home, watched
the OSU game, had dinner, and never sat back at the table where the book was to
remind me to finish it! Not that I had the time to savor it then. Glad I waited
until this morning, where nothing rushed me and I could just enjoy it.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Editing has slowed a tiny bit. Not due to anything except…doctor
appointments. Plus, I’ve gotten to the point in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ghostly Protector</i> where I actually added stuff (actually, the part
that kept me baffled for two years), so I need to pay more attention and beef
it up with more emotion and description. And being disrupted with appointments
is quite annoying. Not to mention that the appointments themselves are quite
annoying.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This week is pretty free, though (aside from Thanksgiving).
I have hope I’ll finish soon.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Happy Reading! And Happy Thanksgiving!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Pristina; font-size: 20.0pt;">Stacy<o:p></o:p></span></p>Stacy McKitrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898731847653710759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5917316172488329464.post-54870146768818285502023-11-16T11:36:00.000-05:002023-11-16T11:36:53.495-05:00Finished Reading “Democracy Awakening” and It’s a Lazy Day<p>I had my treatment this morning,
which makes me lazy the rest of the day. I figure it’s my right. Not that I’m
all that active on other days. But no shopping, no laundry, no chores. I’ll read
or watch TV and crochet instead.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">Treatments don’t seem so bad (mentally) now
that I’m in remission, but it can still mess with my body if I don’t watch out.
Especially with a headache. I try to avoid those as much as possible.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">Here’s what I read since my last
update:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Book 55</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9mcYCWjYGaa0SqqdKRfBeHqaVQi2i7D1owor32Ms7G6iEtCqLsZ9QoXqrVwsIrMbf_lkL-eS5dvIpeqn9qADQ9xbWbwaze38veYfqV-bDI0s0qr60Z0IBXh9ZZw_4hHZx4uz8YS6oH03TVLsCYPw1l5nV_NbAXAS3Gb2q3neEnJaUh-oDp1XQxNCSBwU/s400/democracyawakening.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="265" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9mcYCWjYGaa0SqqdKRfBeHqaVQi2i7D1owor32Ms7G6iEtCqLsZ9QoXqrVwsIrMbf_lkL-eS5dvIpeqn9qADQ9xbWbwaze38veYfqV-bDI0s0qr60Z0IBXh9ZZw_4hHZx4uz8YS6oH03TVLsCYPw1l5nV_NbAXAS3Gb2q3neEnJaUh-oDp1XQxNCSBwU/s320/democracyawakening.jpg" width="212" /></a></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Dates read:</b> November
10-15, 2023<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Title:</b> Democracy Awakening<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Year of publication:</b> 2023<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Author: </b>Heather Cox Richardson<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Genre:</b> Non Fiction<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Series:</b> N/A<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"># of Pages: </b>253<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Paper or plastic:</b> Hard cover<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How obtained:</b> Purchased<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Blurb from book:</b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"> In the midst of the impeachment crisis of
2019, Heather Cox Richardson launched a daily Facebook essay providing the historical
background of the incessant torrent of news. It soon turned into a newsletter,
and its readership ballooned to more than two million dedicated readers who
rely on her plainspoken take on the present and past in America.<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, in </span></i><span style="color: blue;">Democracy Awakening<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">,
she explains how, over the decades, a small group of wealthy people have made
war on American ideals. By weaponizing language and promoting false history
they have led us into authoritarianism. In this compelling and original book,
Richardson reminds us that it is up to us to reclaim the principles of which
the nation was founded, principles that have been repeatedly championed by
marginalized Americans. Their dedication to the promises embodied in our
history has renewed our commitment to democracy in the past. And it is in that
commitment where we will find the road map for the nation’s future.<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Richardson’s talent is to wrangle our
giant, meandering, and confusing news feed into a coherent story that singles
out what we should pay attention to, what the precedents are, and what possible
paths lie ahead. In her trademark calm prose, she is realistic and optimistic
about the future of democracy. Her command of history allows her to pivot
effortlessly from the Founders to the abolitionists to Reconstruction to
Goldwater to Mitch McConnell, highlighting the political legacies of the New
Deal, the lingering fears of socialism, the death of the liberal consensus, and
the birth of “movement conservatism.”<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many books tell us what has happened
over the last five years. </i>Democracy Awakening<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> explains how we got to this perilous point, what our history really
tells us about ourselves, and what the future of democracy can be.<br />
</i></span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36672379-the-emerald-lily"></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36046438-the-white-lily"></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Recommend: </b>Yes<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />
My thoughts:</b> I follow Heather on Facebook and also get her letters via
e-mail (in case I can’t get to Facebook). They are usually the first thing I
read every morning. I love the way she explains it all. I think if I had her
for a history teacher, I might have paid more attention! She makes history
interesting reading. And this book is no exception.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I can’t believe Thanksgiving is next week! With the way my
reading has slowed (because I’m writing/editing—yay!), I doubt I’ll post before
then. So… I hope you all have a wonderful holiday and that you get to spend it
with the people you love (or like).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
try not to eat too much. I know, it can be a difficult thing to do. But I’m
gonna try. I’ll probably fail, but I’ll try!!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Happy Reading!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Pristina; font-size: 20.0pt;">Stacy<o:p></o:p></span></p>Stacy McKitrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898731847653710759noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5917316172488329464.post-33156141907685667362023-11-09T09:09:00.000-05:002023-11-09T09:09:24.656-05:00Finished Reading “Binding Their Hearts” and Redraft is Done!<p>Would you believe it? After
starting the redraft of <i>Ghostly Protector</i>
in September 2021 (over two years ago!) and wondering if I would ever write
again, I finished! And the best part? I had fun fixing it! Whew! This was truly
a day I never thought would come.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">Next up: read it, add some more
details or clues (if needed), and then send it off to my editor. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ghostly Protector</i> is ALMOST READY!!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">I should probably send out a
newsletter and share the news, huh?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">Here’s what I read since my last
update:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Book 54</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGxBI-bx1KmYFWVki6JB7COxuGEv9mqI64gLSIqEmV7xLIFzRC1a7K8tTvp1LC6uXubbBtApXgmwKbYyANdO3qCj7CHPy-P2sERe7WgcXoi934bLVWxgTINCVAswRvGnG0lEgRwNIGleCI0-RgxrZDxbSl72N7DHXi0WZhSZDWIBNZ5Jx5XjESPLxD_Us/s2560/bindingtheirhearts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1707" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGxBI-bx1KmYFWVki6JB7COxuGEv9mqI64gLSIqEmV7xLIFzRC1a7K8tTvp1LC6uXubbBtApXgmwKbYyANdO3qCj7CHPy-P2sERe7WgcXoi934bLVWxgTINCVAswRvGnG0lEgRwNIGleCI0-RgxrZDxbSl72N7DHXi0WZhSZDWIBNZ5Jx5XjESPLxD_Us/s320/bindingtheirhearts.jpg" width="213" /></a></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Dates read:</b> October
26 – November 9, 2023<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Title:</b> Binding Their Hearts<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Year of publication:</b> 2023<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Author: </b>M.Q. Barber<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Genre:</b> MMF Erotica<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Series:</b> Neighborly Affection Book 7<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"># of Pages: </b>350<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Paper or plastic:</b> Nook<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How obtained:</b> Purchased<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Blurb from Goodreads:</b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"> Planning a wedding
for three is the least of their problems.</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Since nearly losing Jay, Henry is
driven by an inescapable urge to collar his submissives. Jay's certain to be
all in, but Alice has fled from commitment before. Negotiating their needs is a
treacherous tightrope. Can he sketch a path to forever?<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Alice's career takes off, the new
demands steal time from Henry and Jay. The stress is crushing when every
decision hurts the ones she loves. She'll have to rig a solution before she
cracks under the strain and takes her lovers down with her.<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After years of resisting, Jay is
learning big lessons in therapy. Loosening his family's stranglehold leaves him
free to explore what—and who—he wants in his life. But with Alice at work all
the time and a deadline looming for the trio to vacate their apartment,
stability is hard to find.<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can Henry, Alice, and Jay hold
themselves together when the world keeps pushing them apart?</span><br />
</i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36672379-the-emerald-lily"></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36046438-the-white-lily"></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Recommend: </b>Yes<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />
My thoughts:</b> I love this series. It’s not a typical genre read for me, but
the characters really grabbed onto me from the beginning and I really want to
know how they turn out. Last book in the series comes out soon and I’ll be
ready.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A couple of ideas are actually bouncing around in my brain
as to what I’ll write next (another thing I thought I lost). I had started Book
7 in the Bitten by Love series, but stopped when I realized it really wasn’t
good enough for a book. But now my brain is thinking…novella! Yeah, that would
totally work. I think. Anyway, that’s one thing. The other is my alien series
(which book 1 is still in my computer and not the store). I’m thinking if I
finally clean up book 1, then an idea for book 2 will come. I really want a
second book ready before I release book 1. Or… I re-write book 1 to be a stand
alone without any hint that the story could continue on. That would be an
option, too. Something to think about. And I have plenty of time to do that. It’s
not like I’m in a rush or anything!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Happy Reading!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Pristina; font-size: 20.0pt;">Stacy<o:p></o:p></span></p>Stacy McKitrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898731847653710759noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5917316172488329464.post-67565807365674361812023-10-25T11:12:00.000-04:002023-10-25T11:12:02.548-04:00Finished Reading “Tuesdays with Jay and Other Stories” and Still Writing!<p>Well… it seems when I write, I don’t
read as much. And I’ve been writing—or rather, re-writing—a lot. I’m almost
done with the fixes to <i>Ghostly Protector</i>.
Then I get to start over, read from the beginning, and maybe stick in some clues
(since this is sort of a mystery—it was to me!). But I can see the end from
here and I’m so happy!!!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">Here’s what I read since my last
update:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Book 53</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2dfl-LM3lu-Hnp4nUoVtNeVasMIyUORG-gu1nydZZjFLy_dE9NAr-Se6R9j2uk5X2C6QOAsyEGOJOxX47kmjozBRovGpC-z_lbqK639ZsPuCPNJKe5BJ_tlA4hZC6krpGKylksHubdQNFpiYomlGty8DWQNxvUhxyqU5ALqOaZncGAh_MyNvW6bYX4bc/s648/tuesdayswithjay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="432" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2dfl-LM3lu-Hnp4nUoVtNeVasMIyUORG-gu1nydZZjFLy_dE9NAr-Se6R9j2uk5X2C6QOAsyEGOJOxX47kmjozBRovGpC-z_lbqK639ZsPuCPNJKe5BJ_tlA4hZC6krpGKylksHubdQNFpiYomlGty8DWQNxvUhxyqU5ALqOaZncGAh_MyNvW6bYX4bc/s320/tuesdayswithjay.jpg" width="213" /></a></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Dates read:</b> October
4-25, 2023<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Title:</b> Tuesdays with Jay and Other Stories<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Year of publication:</b> 2020<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Author: </b>M.Q. Barber<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Genre:</b> MMF Erotica<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Series:</b> A Neighborly Affection
Companion<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"># of Pages: </b>327<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Paper or plastic:</b> Nook<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How obtained:</b> Purchased<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Blurb from Goodreads:</b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, readers of the Neighborly Affection
series get the other side of the story...</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Jay Kress knows his lover is into the
girl next door. As a polyamorous bisexual guy, he’s cool with that. And he’s
pretty sure the gal is into Henry, too, if their explosive dinner party is any
clue.<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But now he'll have to tackle a
submissive’s toughest job: getting his lovers to make the leap from occasional
sex to the permanent triad relationship he knows they deserve. Their hearts are
made for each other—and the sexual perks ain’t bad, either.<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With an overcautious dominant on one
side and a newcomer to the lifestyle on the other, Jay knows he has to tread
lightly, but he can't help pushing for more. Can he bring Henry and Alice
together before their fear of losing each other dooms them all?<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Read Tuesdays with Jay and Other
Stories side by side with </span></i><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Playing the Game<i> and </i>Crossing the Lines</span><i><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> to see the bigger picture of how Henry,
Alice, and Jay found their forever love.</span><br />
</i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36672379-the-emerald-lily"></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36046438-the-white-lily"></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Recommend: </b>Yes (for readers of the
series)<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />
My thoughts:</b> I had read these shorts from the newsletter M.Q. sent out
quarterly, but thought it would be good to read them again to get ready for book
#7 in the series (since it’s been awhile). It was fun reading. I love Jay.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Cruise News: It was great. While the weather was a bit hot
and humid at every island we visited (Grand Turk, Aruba, Curacao, Barbados, St
Lucia, St Maarten, and St Thomas), we explored some new places and created some
memories. Not all great, though. I ended up getting a cold (not COVID) and while
I was looking for a tissue on the way back to the ship in Barbados, I tripped
over a pothole and really skinned my knee good. And then it took several
people to help me up (since I couldn’t get on my knees to do that). At least I
didn’t break anything! </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Also on the cruise, it turned out that one of our table
mates at dinner had read my books! We were just talking about Facebook and
social media and I mentioned that I was only on Facebook because I was told
that’s where my readers are. The next day she asked what kind of books I wrote.
I mentioned the series and her eyes lit up. Did I make her cruise? I don’t
know, but she sure helped make mine better!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Who knew that diving back into <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ghostly Protector</i> would get the characters to start talking to me
again? Who knew? I didn’t. Although, I really don’t think I was ready to hear
them before. Some people think it was getting that clear CT scan that did the
trick. Maybe it was the cruise. I really don’t know what did it. But I’m glad
it happened. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Happy Reading!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Pristina; font-size: 20.0pt;">Stacy<o:p></o:p></span></p>Stacy McKitrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898731847653710759noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5917316172488329464.post-30904932767537702832023-10-04T14:18:00.000-04:002023-10-04T14:18:23.569-04:00Finished Reading “Grave Secrets” and Writing Again<p>Well… it’s happened. I’m writing
again. And with <i>Ghostly Protector</i>!
Man, if I can get this thing finished, I might just sign up for next year’s
Literary Love Savannah. I got until January 1 to decide, but I’m hoping I’m
finished long before then. I’m feeling pretty good about it.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">And I haven’t felt like that in
YEARS!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">Here’s what I read since my last
update:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Book 52</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCA6PTFIOEKGAcF5YDs8uWPXzHa2N1u5byklwC8HCTRmPjYUofTXzpqbdN6BRFikfybdSumdIucPXD1FM0i2GywM8fZPzaJa89S8EuPPsyky17DC-sCmaV0UoQZXGjvweIIUmJVfc0Gk7TYqBHebeE7lZmAnekp1qxegHGoiX5bmS9IMd328E_JE-tx3k/s346/gravesecrets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="223" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCA6PTFIOEKGAcF5YDs8uWPXzHa2N1u5byklwC8HCTRmPjYUofTXzpqbdN6BRFikfybdSumdIucPXD1FM0i2GywM8fZPzaJa89S8EuPPsyky17DC-sCmaV0UoQZXGjvweIIUmJVfc0Gk7TYqBHebeE7lZmAnekp1qxegHGoiX5bmS9IMd328E_JE-tx3k/s320/gravesecrets.jpg" width="206" /></a></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Dates read:</b> September
29-October 3, 2023<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Title:</b> Grave Secrets<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Year of publication:</b> 2020<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Author: </b>Alice James<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Genre:</b> Paranormal mystery<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Series:</b> The Lavington Windsor
Mysteries<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"># of Pages: </b>251<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Paper or plastic:</b> Nook<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How obtained:</b> Free from Barnes &
Noble<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Blurb from Goodreads:</b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An adventure with zombies. And vampires. And
romance. And croquet.</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Toni Windsor is trying to live a quiet life
in the green and pleasant county of Staffordshire. She’d love to finally master
the rules of croquet, acquire a decent boyfriend and make some commission as an
estate agent...<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>...but first she’s got to deal with
zombies rising from their graves, vampires sneaking out of their coffins and a
murder to solve.<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s all made rather more complicated
by the fact that she’s the one raising all the zombies - oh, and she’s dating
one of the vampires. Really, what’s a girl meant to do?</span><br />
</i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36672379-the-emerald-lily"></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36046438-the-white-lily"></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Recommend: </b>Yes<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />
My thoughts:</b> I thought this book had ghosts (don’t know where I got that
because the blurb clearly doesn’t mention them), but got vampires instead. Win
for me! While the graphics were a bit wonky on my Nook, the typeset wasn’t
(thank goodness). This was a cute read. There is apparently more in this
series, so I may check them out. But fair warning… this isn’t a romance (as the
blub suggests). It has romantic elements (as a lot of cozy mysteries do—at least
the ones I’ve read).<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It’s been a bit warm on this cruise. I’m not used to it
being hot over water. At night. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Spent the day in Aruba today. Took a walking tour that we’ve
taken before. I don’t think I ever want to take another walking tour.
Especially when it’s hot and humid. Too much work!! Tomorrow is Curacao and we’ll
be visiting an ostrich farm. No walking! But it will be hot. Probably 90.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Happy Reading!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Pristina; font-size: 20.0pt;">Stacy<o:p></o:p></span></p>Stacy McKitrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898731847653710759noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5917316172488329464.post-68773700853293641752023-09-28T21:09:00.000-04:002023-09-28T21:09:06.720-04:00Finished Reading “Unclean Spirits” and Going Cruising Again<p>I’m leaving on another cruise
tomorrow. Fifteen wonderful days. We’ll be hitting Grand Turk, Aruba, Curacao,
St. Thomas, St. Maarten, St. Lucia, and Barbados (not in that order). We’ve
never been to St. Lucia or Barbados, so some new territory to explore!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">Here’s what I read since my last
update:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Book 51</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzVea-TLHoxsLSA10CNr97wA8YGuJgHBjuwfdtr33ZHKKVL1iCy2v5c5N3lcMVfivSWel5fsthtmm7pdzrl6O6yc-pBbD8lK96dAXSqwXh2chQ6Msy3iCnXAC696nq0XzPosQB6s0f71S_HE0CIPmbxBJuwB5Z00WVAsQCwDfxkAFNjVJVX-tJj0e0eK0/s300/uncleanspirits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="199" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzVea-TLHoxsLSA10CNr97wA8YGuJgHBjuwfdtr33ZHKKVL1iCy2v5c5N3lcMVfivSWel5fsthtmm7pdzrl6O6yc-pBbD8lK96dAXSqwXh2chQ6Msy3iCnXAC696nq0XzPosQB6s0f71S_HE0CIPmbxBJuwB5Z00WVAsQCwDfxkAFNjVJVX-tJj0e0eK0/s1600/uncleanspirits.jpg" width="199" /></a></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Dates read:</b> September
16-28, 2023<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Title:</b> Unclean Spirits<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Year of publication:</b> 2013<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Author: </b>Chuck Wendig<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Genre:</b> Horror?<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Series:</b> Gods and Monsters #1<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"># of Pages: </b>248<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Paper or plastic:</b> Nook<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How obtained:</b> Free from Barnes &
Noble<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Blurb from Book:</b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Five
years ago, it all went wrong for Cason Cole. He lost his wife and son, lost
everything, and was bound into service to a man who chews up human lives and
spits them out, a predator who holds nothing dear and respects no law. Now, as
the man he both loves and hates lies dying at his feet, the sounds of the
explosion still ringing in his ears, Cason is finally free.</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="color: #2b00fe;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The gods and goddesses are real. A
polytheistic pantheon—a tangle of divine hierarchies—once kept the world at an
arm’s length, warring with one another for mankind’s belief and devotion. It
was a grim and bloody balance, but a balance just the same. When one god
triumphed, driving all other gods out of Heaven, it was back to the bad old
days: cults and sycophants, and the terrible retribution the gods visit on
those who spite them.</span><br />
</i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36672379-the-emerald-lily"></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36046438-the-white-lily"></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Recommend: </b>Ummm…<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />
My thoughts:</b> This book did not grab me enough to want to pick it up and
read it. It was just…bizarre (I can’t even tell what genre it is). I’ve always
wanted to read one of his books and now I have. I’m kind of disappointed. I don’t
think I’ll pick up another of his. <p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">I don’t know if I’ll get any
writing done on this cruise, but stranger things have happened. Sometimes I
think I need to write something else and forget about <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ghostly Protector</i> (for now). I just don’t know what to write about.
No one is talking to me! And that’s what is really disconcerting. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Who knew I’d miss the voices in my head?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Got any suggestions on how to get them back?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Happy Reading!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Pristina; font-size: 20.0pt;">Stacy<o:p></o:p></span></p>Stacy McKitrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898731847653710759noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5917316172488329464.post-56602426732366772442023-09-15T20:56:00.000-04:002023-09-15T20:56:44.814-04:00Finished Reading “After That Night” and Got GREAT News!<p>On Tuesday I saw my oncologist to go over my last CT Scan.
Seems my treatments are working great. There wasn’t any evidence of cancer.
Anywhere. The spot on my lung has disappeared!!!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I asked if I still needed the treatments. He said to be
safe, to stay on them for another year. Then I can quit and just be monitored
after that. I think I can handle another year. Especially with the GREAT news I
got on Tuesday! I’m a happy camper!!!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">Here’s what I read since my last
update:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Book 50</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAaXdB8Z1jbNMNXVElxBbkTR-ELSvx5A77D4yYhELLTmomEuwa3XU5DY3wmiJoyeLbji6VFgSLDekz7qymrpWG7fWX1WbYUyavZ3FSLH1_eRLvKgX5VCUvmQJNbhTOuRgNo1Ot41DlRL76Xi3ijrvHcKhjJ4UJ0XsuMEr4oQ-BaKIgx62S9-WGqCWr4M4/s400/afterthatnight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="264" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAaXdB8Z1jbNMNXVElxBbkTR-ELSvx5A77D4yYhELLTmomEuwa3XU5DY3wmiJoyeLbji6VFgSLDekz7qymrpWG7fWX1WbYUyavZ3FSLH1_eRLvKgX5VCUvmQJNbhTOuRgNo1Ot41DlRL76Xi3ijrvHcKhjJ4UJ0XsuMEr4oQ-BaKIgx62S9-WGqCWr4M4/s320/afterthatnight.jpg" width="211" /></a></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Dates read:</b> September
11-15, 2023<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Title:</b> After That Night<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Year of publication:</b> 2023<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Author: </b>Karin Slaughter<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Genre:</b> Crime/Suspense<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Series:</b> Will Trent #11<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"># of Pages: </b>421<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Paper or plastic:</b> Hard cover<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How obtained:</b> Purchased<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Blurb from Book:</b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fifteen
years ago, Sara Linton’s life changed forever when a celebratory night out
ended in a violent attack that tore her world apart. Since then, Sara has
remade her life. A successful doctor, engaged to a man she loves, she has
finally managed to leave the past behind her.<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Until one evening, on call in the ER,
everything changes. Sara battles to save a broken young woman who’s been brutally
attacked. But as the investigation progresses, led by GBI Special Agent Will
Trent, it becomes clear that Dani Cooper’s assault is uncannily linked to Sara’s.<br />
</span></i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36672379-the-emerald-lily"></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36046438-the-white-lily"></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Recommend: </b>Yes<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />
My thoughts:</b> I love the twists. <p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Tomorrow my daughter plays Australian Rules Football (Footy)
in the Minneapolis/St Paul area and we decided to drive up here with her so we
can watch (especially since we haven’t been to any of her games this year). She
was going to drive by herself, but I said I’d go with her. Then Hubby said he
wanted to go, too. So, here we all are! The weather for tomorrow’s games seems
to be pretty decent: sunny, high low 70s. I think we lucked out!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Happy Reading!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Pristina; font-size: 20.0pt;">Stacy<o:p></o:p></span></p>Stacy McKitrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898731847653710759noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5917316172488329464.post-76248497050775137492023-09-11T10:21:00.000-04:002023-09-11T10:21:34.758-04:00Finished Reading “Can’t Let Go” and Recovering from a Migraine<p>I spent all weekend suffering with a migraine. Yep, all weekend.
Saturday AND Sunday. Don’t know if it came on because of the contrast I drank
(or was injected with) for the CT scan on Thursday. I do know it wasn’t COVID.
It’s been a rough weekend, that’s for sure and I hope to never have another
like it. Keeping my fingers crossed that it doesn’t reappear today.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">Here’s what I read since my last
update:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Book 49</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigdXChLc8cgKuzgAv-U-iJ9tEds2qX1b7cb8kT2gVrHtUpYarwt0PYssIMWF8pyWjMLWk06Gab3ICVr7TRiz9S_utPWiBII4c-fBpZYQqPS8CbkK0RILDqRFmFsmnFg3-P7mEbICmn-GFUMRSIvgRluejEiE95mq2AGa7PAKktoiujrvEgQP8Lqh8EmNI/s475/cantletgo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="295" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigdXChLc8cgKuzgAv-U-iJ9tEds2qX1b7cb8kT2gVrHtUpYarwt0PYssIMWF8pyWjMLWk06Gab3ICVr7TRiz9S_utPWiBII4c-fBpZYQqPS8CbkK0RILDqRFmFsmnFg3-P7mEbICmn-GFUMRSIvgRluejEiE95mq2AGa7PAKktoiujrvEgQP8Lqh8EmNI/s320/cantletgo.jpg" width="199" /></a></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Dates read:</b> September
7-11, 2023<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Title:</b> Can’t Let Go<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Year of publication:</b> 2013<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Author: </b>Jessica Lemmon<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Genre:</b> Prequel to a contemporary romance<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Series:</b> Love in the Balance #1.5<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"># of Pages: </b>100<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Paper or plastic:</b> Mass market
paperback<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How obtained:</b> Purchased from author<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Blurb from Book:</b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> <span style="color: blue;"> </span><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Sadie
Howard would never admit there's such a thing as love at first sight, but she
can't deny the connection between her and sexy Adonis Aiden Downey. She also
can't deny she loves to kiss him-his mouth might be his most precious asset.
Despite every promise to herself not to get involved any deeper than a first
date, she can't keep from seeing more of Aiden . . . in more ways than one.<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aiden Downey had no idea the hot
blonde from the club would trigger his protective, gentle nature, but the
moment she drops her guard and he sees the real Sadie Howard, he's a goner.
When a family crisis puts the brakes on their budding romance, can Aiden find a
way to hold on to her? Or will he lose the best thing in his life just as
quickly as he found her?</span><br />
</i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36672379-the-emerald-lily"></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36046438-the-white-lily"></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Recommend: </b>Only if you have Book #2 to
read next<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />
My thoughts:</b> I thought this would be a fun novella to read between Will
Trent books. I was wrong. It would have been fine if I was ready to read the
next book in this novella’s series, but I’m not. No happy ending to this story.
In fact, it leaves you hanging. I’m not a happy reader.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Not sure what I’m going to do today. I’m almost afraid to
move because I do not want that migraine to return. Are you like that after a
looooonnnnng migraine?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Happy Reading!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Pristina; font-size: 20.0pt;">Stacy<o:p></o:p></span></p>Stacy McKitrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898731847653710759noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5917316172488329464.post-60560473936974495292023-09-07T14:58:00.000-04:002023-09-07T14:58:53.868-04:00Finished Reading “The Silent Wife” and Being Peeved<p>Survived the roaches at the Courtland Grand Hotel in Atlanta
(and got $500 knocked off my bill for my troubles). Was almost afraid to book
for next year, then the CGH made it easy for me. They linked the booking
information publicly (instead of sending it to those of us who had stayed
during Dragon Con—like they said they would) and it sold out before I had a
chance to make a reservation. So I’m not sure I’ll even go to Dragon Con next
year. We’ll see what October brings (when two of the other host hotels open up
their rooms to book).</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Is it a requirement for us to stay at a host hotel? Not
really, but the group rate for the con is better than their normal rates. I’m
just really peeved at the CGH right now.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">Here’s what I read since my last
update:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Book 48</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbmjJoZg0x31EAqAC-ZCieFVrBiT9gEIYXZ28qNl-Y4ZQP4hCBEqB_IaHKvfqYK5SwI3tzFVFjrTQ8Bc6aj9qEYX1f7GYsbas2iTsqRGURIJremmaKKwIjHirhr9ODO98M9d-PEzYDUoXXOzIDKAGX7RH741fsj8I5EOaopb5_XlytSL06MjZztFm94Is/s500/thesilentwife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="331" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbmjJoZg0x31EAqAC-ZCieFVrBiT9gEIYXZ28qNl-Y4ZQP4hCBEqB_IaHKvfqYK5SwI3tzFVFjrTQ8Bc6aj9qEYX1f7GYsbas2iTsqRGURIJremmaKKwIjHirhr9ODO98M9d-PEzYDUoXXOzIDKAGX7RH741fsj8I5EOaopb5_XlytSL06MjZztFm94Is/s320/thesilentwife.jpg" width="212" /></a></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Dates read:</b> September
2-7, 2023<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Title:</b> The Silent Wife<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Year of publication:</b> 2020<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Author: </b>Karin Slaughter<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Genre:</b> Crime Suspense<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Series:</b> Will Trent #10<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"># of Pages: </b>476<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Paper or plastic:</b> Hard cover<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How obtained:</b> Purchased used<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Blurb from Book:</b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"> Investigating the killing of a prisoner
during a riot inside a state penitentiary, GBI investigator Will Trent is
confronted with disturbing information. One of the inmates claims that he is
innocent of a brutal attack for which he has always been the prime suspect. The
man insists that he was framed by a corrupt law enforcement team led by Jeffrey
Tolliver and that the real culprit is still out there—a serial killer who has
systematically been preying on women across the state for years. If Will
reopens the investigation and implicates the dead police officer with a hero’s
reputation of wrongdoing, the opportunistic convict is willing to provide the
information GBI needs about the riot murder.<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only days ago, another young woman
was viciously murdered in a state park in northern Georgia. Is it a fluke, or
could there be a serial killer on the loose?<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Will Trent digs into both crimes
it becomes clear that he must solve the cold case in order to find the answer.
Yet nearly a decade has passed—time for memories to fade, witnesses to vanish,
evidence to disappear, and lies to become truth. But Will can’t crack either
mystery without the help of the one person he doesn’t want involved: his
girlfriend and Jeffrey Tolliver’s widow, medical examiner Sara Linton.<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the past and present begin to
collide, Will realizes that everything he values is at stake…<br />
</span></i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36672379-the-emerald-lily"></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36046438-the-white-lily"></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Recommend: </b>Yes<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />
My thoughts:</b> Another one that goes back and forth in time, but at least it’s
clear (once it starts). Pretty much read the bulk of this book in two days
(driving from Atlanta and a quiet day at home). Didn’t want to put it down!<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Today I had another CT scan. Usually they go pretty
smoothly, but not today. I needed an IV for the contrast and it took the techs
four times to finally get it done. Four times. I think that’s a record for me.
I just hope that’s not a sign of things to come. I want good results from the
scan like last time!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I have one book left to read in the Will Trent series, but I
ordered it too late and won’t get it until the 11th. So I found a novella to
hopefully last until Monday. We’ll see… It is a football weekend, so it’ll
probably last.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Happy Reading!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Pristina; font-size: 20.0pt;">Stacy<o:p></o:p></span></p>Stacy McKitrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898731847653710759noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5917316172488329464.post-51323275415560632282023-09-02T21:01:00.000-04:002023-09-02T21:01:12.939-04:00Finished Reading “Cleaning the Gold” and Bugs<p>The weather in Atlanta is…pleasant! Well, it has been so
far. I think the heat and humidity return tomorrow, so I’m enjoying the good
weather as much as I can, because it’s never been this cool and comfortable
during Dragon Con.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We’re enjoying the convention (as usual), but our room, not
so much. It has bugs. More specifically, cockroaches. They sprayed, but it hasn’t
really helped. And if the hotel wasn’t full up like it is, they would have
moved us.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So be warned, if you ever stay at the Courtland Grand Hotel
in Atlanta, make sure you don’t have a room by the pool. We’ve stayed at this
hotel every Dragon Con since 2010 (when it was owned by the Sheraton) and we’ve
NEVER had bug issues like this. But then, we’ve never had a room by the pool,
either (it’s an indoor pool, so we don’t have any access to the outdoors from
our room, and it’s very humid).</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">Here’s what I read since my last
update:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Book 47</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh62gHtvQDYhZYg0nPVeqi812kjhD6JpbfXAInpjfnL48IVaNr-8KcAVrNkLZwNZ6Xx-lmfi79s41RVtNT4CSd517ulJLpsrhaf9bqGPFV8bsMovLLsCmcrP7WwSxV_rpbjmha9ERDJkbJD4DXpbZD5aeiVm2fwjK--sU33_kwzGITyuEozB8v2Fie1Vhk/s400/cleaningthegold.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="265" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh62gHtvQDYhZYg0nPVeqi812kjhD6JpbfXAInpjfnL48IVaNr-8KcAVrNkLZwNZ6Xx-lmfi79s41RVtNT4CSd517ulJLpsrhaf9bqGPFV8bsMovLLsCmcrP7WwSxV_rpbjmha9ERDJkbJD4DXpbZD5aeiVm2fwjK--sU33_kwzGITyuEozB8v2Fie1Vhk/s320/cleaningthegold.jpg" width="212" /></a></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Dates read:</b> August
31 – September 2, 2023<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Title:</b> Cleaning the Gold<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Year of publication:</b> 2019<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Author: </b>Karin Slaughter & Lee
Child<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Genre:</b> Crime Suspense<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Series:</b> Will Trent #8.5; Jack
Reacher #23.6<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"># of Pages: </b>79<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Paper or plastic:</b> Trade paperback<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How obtained:</b> Purchased new<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Blurb from Book:</b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"> Will Trent is undercover at Fort Knox. His
assignment: to investigate a twenty-two-year-old murder. His suspect’s name:
Jack Reacher.<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jack Reacher is in Fort Knox on his
own mission: to bring down a dangerous criminal ring operating at the heart of
America’s military. Except now Will Trent is on the scene.<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But there’s a bigger conspiracy at
play—one that neither the special agent nor the ex-military<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>cop could have anticipated. And the only
option is for Jack Reacher and Will Trent to team up and play nicely. If they
can…<br />
</span></i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36672379-the-emerald-lily"></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36046438-the-white-lily"></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Recommend: </b>Yes<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />
My thoughts:</b> Again, I read this novella out of order. But it didn’t seem to
matter. The story is kind of left hanging a bit, but not for Will. For Jack. I
confirmed with Hubby that the story was told in one of those novels (probably
#24).<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"><o:p></o:p></span></i><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let me tell you, having a room by the pool is really not all
that great. Besides the bugs, it’s noisy as all get out. Thankfully, the pool
closes around 10pm, but man, until then, it’s one party after another out
there. I prefer my hotel rooms to be quieter during the day.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Happy Reading!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Pristina; font-size: 20.0pt;">Stacy<o:p></o:p></span></p>Stacy McKitrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898731847653710759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5917316172488329464.post-12841587546027927972023-08-30T20:54:00.000-04:002023-08-30T20:54:32.928-04:00Finished Reading “The Last Widow” and I’m in Atlanta!<p>Our trip to Atlanta was…uneventful. Which is exactly what
you want when you’re driving for 8 hours. Right? We made it safe and sound.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">However… check in at the hotel was crazy! We’ve never seen
this many people check in on a Wednesday for Dragon Con. It’s possible that
some people just arrived a day early to miss the hurricane, but I’m beginning
to think that Wednesday may becoming the new Thursday for Dragon Con.</p><p class="MsoNormal">FYI: They're capping attendance at 80,000 this year. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">Here’s what I read since my last
update:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Book 46</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyBDVEZ9Jm2Ns4uvVWAIlUymkog6PpepIygSRalRAddbchvZ1T4hFcZRYa72W2E7ZhXQkau8ZlQ45vq7Ea-0x6wwrfoFROGRkhEaz9ko8rpK_LtYlsqaPrwxPVho0LBI4SutU3GKj1TxwE9XzeVTfx0lLj_2x1gXk1rown25ZHdfRAJcIb6GEsK-TrSpU/s499/thelastwidow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="331" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyBDVEZ9Jm2Ns4uvVWAIlUymkog6PpepIygSRalRAddbchvZ1T4hFcZRYa72W2E7ZhXQkau8ZlQ45vq7Ea-0x6wwrfoFROGRkhEaz9ko8rpK_LtYlsqaPrwxPVho0LBI4SutU3GKj1TxwE9XzeVTfx0lLj_2x1gXk1rown25ZHdfRAJcIb6GEsK-TrSpU/s320/thelastwidow.jpg" width="212" /></a></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Dates read:</b> August
26 – 30, 2023<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Title:</b> The Last Widow<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Year of publication:</b> 2019<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Author: </b>Karin Slaughter<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Genre:</b> Crime Suspense<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Series:</b> Will Trent #9<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"># of Pages: </b>446<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Paper or plastic:</b> Hard cover<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How obtained:</b> Purchased used<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Blurb from Book:</b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"> On a hot summer night, a scientist from the
Centers for Disease Control is grabbed by unknown assailants in a shopping
center parking lot. The authorities are desperate to save the doctor who’s been
vanished into thin air.<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One month later, the serenity of a
sunny Sunday afternoon is shattered by the boom of a ground-shaking blast—followed
by another seconds later. One of Atlanta’s busiest and most important
neighborhoods has been bombed—the location of Emory University, two major
hospitals, an FBI field office, and the CDC.<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Medical examiner Sara Linton and her
partner, Will Trent, an investigator with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation,
rush to the scene—and into the heart of a deadly conspiracy that threatens to
destroy thousands of innocent lives. When the assailants abduct Sara, Will goes
undercover to save her and prevent a massacre—putting his own life on the line
for the woman and the country he loves.<br />
</span></i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36672379-the-emerald-lily"></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36046438-the-white-lily"></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Recommend: </b>Yes<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />
My thoughts:</b> I know this is fiction, but there are parts of this book, the
parts about the assailants, that scare me (and make me sad, too) because I know
there are actual people out there that think just like them.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"><o:p></o:p></span></i><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’m on two fan panels this year at Dragon Con and even got my name listed for each event (whoo hoo!). The panels are: Nancy Drew and Reginald the Vampire. I brought one copy of Ghostly Liaison, one copy of My Sunny Vampire, and two copies of my short story collection. I figure I'll display the ghost book during Nancy Drew and the vampire book during Reginald the Vampire. And I'll give away one copy of my short story collection at each panel. I also have some swag to hand out. Don't know if it'll do any good, but at least I'm trying!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Happy Reading!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Pristina; font-size: 20.0pt;">Stacy<o:p></o:p></span></p>Stacy McKitrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898731847653710759noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5917316172488329464.post-43205258080029648362023-08-26T12:19:00.000-04:002023-08-26T12:19:06.194-04:00Finished Reading “The Kept Woman” and Car Repairs<p>Next Wednesday we head down to Atlanta for Dragon Con. Last
Tuesday, my car conked out on me (the car we plan on taking to Atlanta). $1374
later, it’s fixed. I guess I can’t really complain. This was the first major
repair (it has 129,500 miles and turns 13 this month), and it involved a new
alternator and something to do with the cam shaft. I’m just glad it conked out
before the trip and not during! That would have been a bummer.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">Here’s what I read since my last
update:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Book 45</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlXbvmNq_HRdrlB04N7SPpohg0Ld00PPaG-ksK3id53OHRcvZzD9LrhxoiJtxLwZZnqguoFonJOPzTOPjvpUPgviywwxP2AvEzvho952r0jo-0FRCcUKZS_sGXn2aZ6imIrHGJIjcMHDMsrgnrjnpHLePlZ8z4c2tGboFSzkbyr315TlL4y6YhEphcCWE/s499/thekeptwoman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="333" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlXbvmNq_HRdrlB04N7SPpohg0Ld00PPaG-ksK3id53OHRcvZzD9LrhxoiJtxLwZZnqguoFonJOPzTOPjvpUPgviywwxP2AvEzvho952r0jo-0FRCcUKZS_sGXn2aZ6imIrHGJIjcMHDMsrgnrjnpHLePlZ8z4c2tGboFSzkbyr315TlL4y6YhEphcCWE/s320/thekeptwoman.jpg" width="214" /></a></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Dates read:</b> August
22 – 25, 2023<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Title:</b> The Kept Woman<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Year of publication:</b> 2016<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Author: </b>Karin Slaughter<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Genre:</b> Crime Suspense<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Series:</b> Will Trent #8<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"># of Pages: </b>461<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Paper or plastic:</b> Hard cover<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How obtained:</b> Purchased used<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Blurb from Book:</b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"> With the discovery of a murder at an
abandoned construction site, Will Trent of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation
is brought in on a case that becomes much more dangerous when the dead man is
identified as an ex-cop.<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Studying the body, Sara Linton—the GBI’s
newest medical examiner and Will’s lover—realizes that the extensive blood loss
didn’t belong to the corpse. Sure enough, bloody footprints leading away from
the scene indicate there is another victim—a woman—who has vanished…and who
will die soon if she isn’t found.<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will is already compromised, because
the site belongs to the city’s most popular citizen: a wealthy, powerful, and
politically connected athlete protected by the world’s most expensive lawyers—a
man who’s already gotten away with rape, despite Will’s exhaustive efforts to
put him away.<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the worst is yet to come.
Evidence soon links Will’s troubled past to the case…and the consequences will
tear through his life with the force of a tornado, wreaking havoc for Will and everyone
around him, including his colleagues, family, friends—and even the suspects he
pursues.<br />
</span></i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36672379-the-emerald-lily"></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36046438-the-white-lily"></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">My thoughts:</b> Lots of twists in this
one. Kept me guessing.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"><o:p></o:p></span></i><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The forecasted “hottest day of the year” turned out not to
be. Lots of storms in the morning kept it from reaching 90, no less 96. Yay!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Of course, I wonder if our abnormally cool summer will turn
into an abnormally cold winter. You know you can’t have one without the other,
right?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Happy Reading!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Pristina; font-size: 20.0pt;">Stacy<o:p></o:p></span></p>Stacy McKitrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898731847653710759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5917316172488329464.post-70954734253707220162023-08-22T13:45:00.000-04:002023-08-22T13:45:08.025-04:00Finished Reading “Unseen” and “Busted” and Summer’s Back<p>I know most of the country is suffering from heat
exhaustion. Fortunately, it hasn’t been as brutal here, in Ohio. In fact, the
grass is still GREEN outside. But this week summer has decided to come back in
full force. 90-degree days every day this week. But, by the weekend, it should be
back down below normal.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This has been one strange summer. Not that I’m complaining.
We usually get 20 90-degree days. I think we’ve had 4 before this week. Not too
shabby. For once, I’m happy living where I am.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Shocker, right?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">Here’s what I read since my last
update:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Book 43</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggjtPFDvcTZxlz5Ie80oCGlOgPkXLl5oBXZAJ6G7GyBxeFHyauyYF4C85B89yUqX22bmR7_PhRUJFO7pq_Kew7FiyjEW2ttHuiCnsgfKCt2jEDsIglHK-IhmQJ6MavKT-vIXssYzSDgt_nPI7S8fQj-E1hodTLaI0PtJqLrrtWgtxCZhx3Ic5GlZQpuNk/s400/unseen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="223" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggjtPFDvcTZxlz5Ie80oCGlOgPkXLl5oBXZAJ6G7GyBxeFHyauyYF4C85B89yUqX22bmR7_PhRUJFO7pq_Kew7FiyjEW2ttHuiCnsgfKCt2jEDsIglHK-IhmQJ6MavKT-vIXssYzSDgt_nPI7S8fQj-E1hodTLaI0PtJqLrrtWgtxCZhx3Ic5GlZQpuNk/s320/unseen.jpg" width="178" /></a></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Dates read:</b> August
15 – 21, 2023<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Title:</b> Unseen<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Year of publication:</b> 2013<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Author: </b>Karin Slaughter<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Genre:</b> Crime Suspense<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Series:</b> Will Trent #7<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"># of Pages: </b>394<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Paper or plastic:</b> Mass market
paperback<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How obtained:</b> Purchased<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Blurb from Book:</b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"> Will Trent is a Georgia Bureau of
Investigation agent, working undercover in Macon, Georgia, posing as Bill
Black, a scary ex-con who trails an air of violence wherever he goes. The cover
has worked and he has caught the eye of a wiry little drug dealer who thinks he
might be a useful ally. But there’s a problem. Cut off from the support of the
woman he loves, Sara Linton, Will finds his demons catching up with him.
Although she has no idea where Will has gone, or why, Sara herself has come to
Macon because of a cop shooting. Her stepson, Jared, has been gunned down.
Suddenly, without even knowing it, Sara finds herself involved in the same case
that Will is working—with danger swirling around both of them. A novel of
fierce intensity, shifting allegiances and shocking twists, Unseen pits
detectives, lovers, and enemies against one another in an unforgettable
standoff between righteous courage and deepest evil.<br />
</span></i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36672379-the-emerald-lily"></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36046438-the-white-lily"></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">My thoughts:</b> Had some slow parts, but
toward the end I didn’t want to put it down.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"><o:p></o:p></span></i><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Book 44</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwzZauDJmfHefr3bRQ9Q8hnTVBeGnx-h1FYlRnVClTKLrzgkhAUjmJwpZeeB1huqqdsUz-v-GFli9sV3VTJ3It6YNPvSB6PqDSBHRBIZkW3oFHIC1dVjL6XvnFg4eBejQVe5_f99JEUNefZESWUl5twm56Y91__y1M5_xM8CYDUmqkCXFumGTpD6mMVUw/s226/busted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="226" data-original-width="170" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwzZauDJmfHefr3bRQ9Q8hnTVBeGnx-h1FYlRnVClTKLrzgkhAUjmJwpZeeB1huqqdsUz-v-GFli9sV3VTJ3It6YNPvSB6PqDSBHRBIZkW3oFHIC1dVjL6XvnFg4eBejQVe5_f99JEUNefZESWUl5twm56Y91__y1M5_xM8CYDUmqkCXFumGTpD6mMVUw/s1600/busted.jpg" width="170" /></a></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Dates read:</b>
August 21, 2023<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Title:</b> Busted<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Year of publication:</b> 2013<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Author: </b>Karin Slaughter<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Genre:</b> Crime Suspense<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Series:</b> Will Trent #6.5<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"># of Pages: </b>68<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Paper or plastic:</b> Mass market
paperback<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How obtained:</b> Purchased (at end of
the book, Unseen)<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Blurb from Goodreads:</b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"> Detective Will
Trent is standing in a Georgia convenience store, waiting on an obstinate Icee
frozen drink machine. To the surveillance cameras and bored staff of the Lil’
Dixie Gas-n-Go, however, Will appears to be someone very different—the menacing
ex-con Bill Black. Going undercover as Bill, the Georgia Bureau of
Investigation agent is about to infiltrate the most corrupt town in the most
corrupt county in the new American South. But first: his Icee.</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Everything changes in one horrific
instant, as all hell breaks loose at the Lil’ Dixie. A cop is shot. A bag of
cash goes flying across the floor. A young woman disappears while a killer
takes off in a battered pick-up truck. Within seconds, Will is in pursuit.</span><br />
</i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36672379-the-emerald-lily"></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36046438-the-white-lily"></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">My thoughts:</b> Again, I should have read
this short before Unseen, but I didn’t. Not that it matters, story-wise. But
still, things happen in this short that kind of breaks into the beginning of
Unseen. Lesson learned. Good short, though. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"><o:p></o:p></span></i><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hubby and I started watching Star Trek: Picard. It started
out a little slow (quiet, actually), but we only have two episodes left in season
1 and we’re both anxious to see how it all ends (or if it leaves us hanging for
season 2). After Picard, we’ll probably watch Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and
finish Star Trek: Discovery (we’ve watched through season 3). As for Star Trek:
Deep Space Nine, I’m watching season 7. I’m enjoying them this time around. So
little I remember from watching when they first aired on TV, though. I had my
son bring over Star Trek: Voyager and will get started on those after I finish
DS9. I guess I’m just on a Star Trek kick for now.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Happy Reading!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Pristina; font-size: 20.0pt;">Stacy<o:p></o:p></span></p>Stacy McKitrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898731847653710759noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5917316172488329464.post-20728762637285208352023-08-14T14:10:00.000-04:002023-08-14T14:10:34.352-04:00Finished Reading “Criminal” and “Snatched” and Planning a Trip<p>Planning a trip. Like I don’t do that all the time, right?
Well, this trip will be to Italy. Maybe. It depends on when it is next year (still
in the planning stages) because we already have a cruise scheduled around the
same time. But a friend of my daughter’s (who she went to Italy with a few
years ago), plans these trips as a business. And ever since Daughter went,
Hubby has wanted to go. So… we’ll see. Right now we’re just in the planning
stages. But if the dates are right, we’ll be going.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">Here’s what I read since my last
update:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Book 41</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghseUIPTOKu6jgG4hOc6-tOfNvs6USoiqHtHBY4jkMWYsaS5wQazqPt7Rc7ZjvfZmXPS-wOlcCeIwVLuEltR482GdYGWd5MXeDTIFVMMQutaTqP7McGeFWo9H5UEpJm5ievyyzCfMmcZOUH5ZlRRKSBqCquX5a_MIwQLyl7ICUQiHFti7RNHw0wP_Wsow/s400/criminal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="223" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghseUIPTOKu6jgG4hOc6-tOfNvs6USoiqHtHBY4jkMWYsaS5wQazqPt7Rc7ZjvfZmXPS-wOlcCeIwVLuEltR482GdYGWd5MXeDTIFVMMQutaTqP7McGeFWo9H5UEpJm5ievyyzCfMmcZOUH5ZlRRKSBqCquX5a_MIwQLyl7ICUQiHFti7RNHw0wP_Wsow/s320/criminal.jpg" width="178" /></a></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Dates read:</b> August
5 – 14, 2023<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Title:</b> Criminal<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Year of publication:</b> 2012<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Author: </b>Karin Slaughter<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Genre:</b> Crime Suspense<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Series:</b> Will Trent #6<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"># of Pages: </b>462<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Paper or plastic:</b> Mass market
paperback<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How obtained:</b> Purchased<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Blurb from Book:</b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"> Will Trent is a brilliant agent with the
Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Newly in love, he is beginning to put a
difficult past behind him. Then a local college student goes missing, and Will
is inexplicably kept off the case by his supervisor and mentor, deputy director
Amanda Wagner. Will cannot fathom Amanda’s motivation until the two of them
literally collide in an abandoned orphanage they have both been drawn to for
different reasons. Decades before, when his father was imprisoned for murder,
this was Will’s home. It appears that the case that launched Amanda’s career
forty years ago has suddenly come back to life—and it involves the long-held
mystery of Will’s birth and parentage. Now these two dauntless investigators will
each need to face down demons from the past if they are to prevent an even
greater terror from being unleashed.<br />
</span></i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36672379-the-emerald-lily"></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36046438-the-white-lily"></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">My thoughts:</b> The back and forth from
past to present could probably get to some people (like Hubby), but I was able
to follow well enough in print (it’s clearly marked when is when). Hubby
listened to the audio book, which might have made it hard for him. Another good
read, though.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"><o:p></o:p></span></i><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Book 42</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRUjfIKjNycYF-hmFals5eotGaA8UAax3vOb6oCNDSdSUjd_Egt4hLwV2CTLLOyIOh9ygoS3gS7Ubepj5FqfCY-NJOwZqOR1PeKFKgMxYXj7RX1w4Tqsnjycn1ntR3NLMk-0TOwmiYSETPyNBNzRNNSWHWiLwMvkahT0j7Cz5RJgxtkKhgViHrBIm2NS4/s475/snatched.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="309" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRUjfIKjNycYF-hmFals5eotGaA8UAax3vOb6oCNDSdSUjd_Egt4hLwV2CTLLOyIOh9ygoS3gS7Ubepj5FqfCY-NJOwZqOR1PeKFKgMxYXj7RX1w4Tqsnjycn1ntR3NLMk-0TOwmiYSETPyNBNzRNNSWHWiLwMvkahT0j7Cz5RJgxtkKhgViHrBIm2NS4/s320/snatched.jpg" width="208" /></a></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Dates read:</b> August
14, 2023<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Title:</b> Snatched<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Year of publication:</b> 2012<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Author: </b>Karin Slaughter<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Genre:</b> Crime Suspense<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Series:</b> Will Trent #5.5<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"># of Pages: </b>69<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Paper or plastic:</b> Mass market
paperback<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How obtained:</b> Purchased (at end of
the book, Criminal)<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Blurb from Book:</b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"> Will Trent, a dedicated agent with the
Georgia Bureau of Investigation for fifteen years, knows that there’s
definitely such a thing as a cop’s intuition. Which is why he should have
listened to his own.</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span><span style="color: #2b00fe;">While in an airport restroom at
Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International, Will overhears a girl’s pleading,
plaintive voice: “Please, I wanna go home.” Something isn’t right
here, <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">thinks Will. He feels it in his gut. But he waits
too long to act, and now the girl and the anxious, angry man she’s with have
disappeared into the crowds at the busiest passenger airport in the world.</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a desperate search and with
time running out, Will makes a call to his supervisor, Amanda Wagner. Will’s
partner, Faith Mitchell, immediately sends out an abducted child alert. The
entire airport will soon be grinding to a halt: Almost 100 million passengers a
year. Five runways. Seven concourses. Six million square feet of space that
sprawled across two counties, three cities, and five jurisdictions. All shut
down on a dime because Will has a hunch that he is certain is true: a girl,
maybe six or seven years old, has been snatched from God knows where. And he
intends to bring her back—no matter what it takes.</span><br />
</i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36672379-the-emerald-lily"></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36046438-the-white-lily"></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">My thoughts:</b> I almost read this one
first (since it was at the end of the paperback of Criminal), but thought it
wouldn’t matter. Well, it sort of did. Just glad I was able to get a copy. And
basically free! Haha! <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"><o:p></o:p></span></i><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With all our travels, you’d think Hubby and I have been to
Europe. But we haven’t. Came close in 2020, but that trip was cancelled (gee, I
wonder why?). When asked what I was interested in seeing or doing in Italy, I
couldn’t name a thing. It’s not really a place I’ve dreamed of visiting. I’m
going because Hubby wants to and I figure I’ll see some neat stuff. Like I told
our tour guide, “I don’t know what I don’t know.” </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Have you ever been to Italy? </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Happy Reading!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Pristina; font-size: 20.0pt;">Stacy<o:p></o:p></span></p>Stacy McKitrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898731847653710759noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5917316172488329464.post-41976789373962633992023-08-04T18:12:00.000-04:002023-08-04T18:12:21.275-04:00Finished Reading “Fallen” and Feeling Like a Jinx<p>We like attending Dayton Dragons games (they’re the single A
baseball team of the Cincinnati Reds). We have season tickets and see about 6-8
games a year (we share the season with other people). So far this year we have
yet to see them win a game.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Yesterday was our second to last game (our last game to see
them is on Aug 26). They had a four game winning streak, had won 10 of their
last 11, and just moved into first place in their division. And then we went to
the game.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They lost…again. My husband told the workers at the
information booth that they should pay him not to come to the games!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I do hope they win on Aug 26. I’d hate to think we were a
jinx to the team!!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 222.0pt;">Here’s what I read since my last
update:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Book 40</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhivrNMFzYW4ZE-1rW3qscmm8yOzsEui96JO9Rn0rgEb1uwV5R1hS2aIi8DIpYvwXeXpQR-WC5YpN5LrJjN_AoSez7FIU5wNXHRsqLwrN5kFnzEGj6thtsKCcjydfvjQ88J-d5fyb8YLP9vTQKCMIzIuQSNnKJSEp0ohk9kYtKjk6H5ud-9HBiHjfe4EGw/s400/fallenbyKarinSlaughter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="223" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhivrNMFzYW4ZE-1rW3qscmm8yOzsEui96JO9Rn0rgEb1uwV5R1hS2aIi8DIpYvwXeXpQR-WC5YpN5LrJjN_AoSez7FIU5wNXHRsqLwrN5kFnzEGj6thtsKCcjydfvjQ88J-d5fyb8YLP9vTQKCMIzIuQSNnKJSEp0ohk9kYtKjk6H5ud-9HBiHjfe4EGw/s320/fallenbyKarinSlaughter.jpg" width="178" /></a></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Dates read:</b> July 28
– August 4, 2023<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Title:</b> Fallen<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Year of publication:</b> 2011<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Author: </b>Karin Slaughter<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Genre:</b> Crime Suspense<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Series:</b> Will Trent #5<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"># of Pages: </b>426<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Paper or plastic:</b> Mass market
paperback<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How obtained:</b> Purchased<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Blurb from Book:</b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"> There’s no police training stronger than a
cop’s instinct. Faith Mitchell’s mother isn’t answering her phone. Her front
door is open. There’s a bloodstain above the knob. Everything Faith learned in
the academy goes out the window when she charges into her mother’s house, gun
drawn. She sees a man dead in the laundry room, a hostage situation in the
bedroom. What she doesn’t see is her mother. When the hostage situation turns
deadly, Faith is left with too many questions. She’ll need the help of her
partner, Will Trent, and trauma doctor Sara Linton to get some answers. But
Faith isn’t just a cop anymore, she’s a witness—and a suspect. To find her
mother, Faith will have to cross the thin blue line and bring the truth to
light—or bury it forever.<br />
</span></i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36672379-the-emerald-lily"></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36046438-the-white-lily"></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">My thoughts:</b> Hubby warned me that the
characters in the book aren’t anything like the characters in the TV series,
and he wasn’t wrong. I still try to picture them, but sometimes it’s just too
darn hard. This book made it more difficult. Still enjoyed the story and wanted
to find all the answers at the end. This is a really good series.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I still hate our new DVR. While I was glad to get one with a
clock, the display is blue and really hard to see from our couch (plus, the
menu stuff wasn’t any different than the one without a display). So… I went and
bought a new clock with a larger display and put it on top of the DVR. Works so
much better. Too bad it doesn’t fix the DVR issues. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Happy Reading!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Pristina; font-size: 20.0pt;">Stacy<o:p></o:p></span></p>Stacy McKitrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898731847653710759noreply@blogger.com3