Finished Reading “Immortal by Morning” and Back on the Road

I’m currently in Indiana, near the Indiana Dunes. Hubby and I are visiting some sort-of local-to-us National Parks. Drove through a lot of Indiana and Illinois country. Or rather…farmland. Saw Lincoln’s boyhood home (in Indiana) and his first home (in Springfield, IL). Also visited the George Rogers Clark Memorial. I never realized that the American Revolution came all the way out to Indiana (at the Illinois border) and Clark (who is the older brother of the Clark from Lewis & Clark) was responsible for getting Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, and part of Minnesota added to the U.S. without a single person dying. See? I learn something new every time I visit a park!

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 18

Dates read: August 1-14, 2025
Title: Immortal by Morning
Year of publication: 2025
Author: Lynsay Sands
Genre: Paranormal romance
Series:  Argeneau Vampires #37
# of Pages: 360
Paper or plastic: Mass market paperback
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from book: Crispinus Delacort is an immortal rogue Enforcer and a homicide detective. But in his quiet city, he’s more likely to be found rounding up truant teens than investigating murders. So when he learns that human bones have been found in the garden of a sprawling rural home, it’s unexpected to say the least.
    Abril Newman can’t believe her bad luck when she discovers a body buried on the grounds of her boss’s home while chasing after Gina’s mischievous lab, Lilith. She was just supposed to be house-sitting for a few days! And then Detective Delacort arrives. She knows she shouldn’t be thinking about love when there’s a crime scene outside the door. But ignoring her attraction to gorgeous Crispin is easier said than done.
    When Crispin realizes that a rogue is involved, he knows this won’t be a simple investigation. Especially because he’s so distracted by Abril’s presence that all he wants is to kiss her senseless in every room of the manor. But he can woo her, solve the case, and stop a dangerous rogue by morning…right?
Recommend: Yes
My thoughts: It’s hard to believe I’ve just finished the 37^th book in this series! And I still love them. So easy to step back into this world.

Tomorrow we will visit the Pullman Historical Park in Chicago and then drive up to Racine, WI to pick up the Kringles we ordered from the O&H Bakery before we head back home. Yum yum!!

FYI: It’s cheaper for us to buy a bunch for the freezer when we’re in the neighborhood (yes, Chicago is considered in the neighborhood). If bought online, they cost $22-25, plus shipping (of over $20). In person? $9. We get enough to last at least a year.

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Our Weekend in Chicago (In Pictures!)

I spent the weekend in Chicago and actually took some pictures!

We rode the "L" to the museum area and walked along the lake to Navy Pier. The Chicago River looked nice. Well, except for that big TRUMP building staring at me. Ugh.

Proof I made it to the Navy Pier!

I have yet to ride the new Ferris wheel, mainly because it was kind of dreary out. Maybe another time.

The Tall Ships were visiting the Navy Pier, so we decided to check them out.

I love taking pictures of the masts!

More masts!

Thought this was a cool perspective.

Hubby and me!!

 

This ship came from Norway!

 

After all the ship viewing (we actually got to get onto the ships and check them out), we ate dinner at Giordano's. I've been there a couple of times, but this was the first time I actually got the Chicago style stuffed pizza (ours was stuffed with cheese, pepperoni, mushrooms, and onions). Oh. My. God. I think that was the best pizza I've ever eaten! Will definitely have to go back. Maybe the one in Indianapolis (since it's the closest!).

And of course, a trip to Chicago means a trip to Racine and the O&H Danish Bakery. We bought TWENTY Kringles. Yep. 20. They're nicely packed in our freezer.

Actually, they're stuffed in there!

All in all it was a wonderful weekend. It had been too long since our last getaway.

So... Did you do anything fun this past weekend?

Have a great Monday!

Stacy

Ohio Expo, Finding Treasure, and a Music Video

Tomorrow I’ll be in Akron at the Ohio Readers and Writers Expo. I’ll even be on a panel!

Hopefully I’ll talk, too. At least they gave me some questions ahead of time, so I’m somewhat prepared.

As long as I don’t lose that piece of paper…

I’m driving up there with my author-friend, Donna MacMeans (she writes historical romances, some with a paranormal twist) and she’ll be on the panel with me, so it shouldn’t be all that bad. In fact, it should be fun. That’s right. Fun! It’s all in the attitude, right?

Now, to figure out what I’m gonna wear… Aaack!

On Sunday my friend is coming over to cook. Which means I have to clean the house before I leave here tonight. Yesterday I started with the front of the fireplace. Would you believe I found an unregistered $35 Visa gift card in that mess? My husband got it at work for Christmas. I must have put it on the raised hearth to register and then it promptly got buried (magazines pile up quickly, as do books). So glad I found it before the expiration date.

Yep, that puppy is now registered and ready to spend. I’m thinking it’ll come in handy when we go up to Wisconsin later this month to buy our Kringles. The freezer is pretty much ready for them, too! J Don’t know what Kringles are? Here’s a picture.

Mmmmm… Kringles. Can’t wait!

We get ours at the O&H Bakery in Racine. We’ll actually be staying in Chicago for that weekend, but the detour home isn’t all that inconvenient. Not for those yummy goodies!

I just love the Backstreet Boys, but never really watched any of their videos before (it’s not like MTV actually shows music videos anymore, right?). The “Larger Than Life” video played on the big screen before the Dragons game on Monday. Thought since the new Star Trek movie was releasing today (which I won’t be able to see for awhile L), this would be a fun video to share. Sure, it looks more like Star Wars than Star Trek, but it’s all science fiction, right? Enjoy!

So… Which boy band from the 90s did you enjoy listening to? Ah, come on. There had to be one!

Have a great weekend! If I take any pictures today, I’ll be sure to post them on Monday.

Stacy

I'm a Rising Star!

I was notified by Kensington that I was a Rising Star for paranormal romances on iBooks. I had no idea what this meant until a friend on Facebook posted THIS.

 

Well, hell. Ghostly Liaison is listed FIRST! Color me shocked.

I know that Bookbub ad helped tremendously. That, and the fact it’s drawing lots of positive reviews. And boy, does that make me happy!

Maybe I do know how to write! J

On Saturday, the hubby and I went up to Chicago. Not for any particular reason. Just for fun. We used our freebie hotel, stayed at a place near the Midway Airport, which had free parking and a free shuttle to the airport, and thus the subway/train station. We walked all over and had dinner at Giordano’s. No, we didn’t get deep dish pizza (one of these days we’ll have to, I think), but their sandwiches are pretty awesome, too. At least mine was.

But man, I sure got a good workout. I wanted to stay at the Navy Pier until the fireworks show (at 10:15), but I just ran out of juice. Thankfully there was a FREE shuttle to the subway (I love these free things), so I didn’t have to walk anymore. Well, I had to walk, just not as far. J

My body is still trying to recover. We’ll see if I’m up to going to the fitness center in the morning.

Oh, and then on Sunday, we jaunted up to Wisconsin and bought a LOT of Kringles!!!! Are we crazy? Sure! But our freezer is full of some yummy Danish. And who knows when we’ll make it back up that way.

So… how was your weekend? Do anything fun?

Have a great Monday!!

 

Stacy

Gotta Catch Up!

Got home later than I expected on Sunday, so I didn’t get around to download the pictures from my camera, so no pictures of Racine to show you yet. Don’t have much of anything to say in this post, either.

Well, except… I’m hosting the Sizzle and Sass Facebook Page this week. Some stupid voice in my head said that it would be fun to have the week before my birthday so I could celebrate it longer. I think I need to shoot that voice.

Ah, but it will be fun. I think. Once I get organized. Of which I’m not. Because, you know, PROCRASTINATOR here! Argh!

Oh, I will say this about Racine: I bought a raspberry Kringle. From O&H Bakery. It only cost $8.50 (not the $20 they charge in their mail order catalog). And I had a tiny piece last night (okay, maybe NOT so tiny). YUM YUM!

This isn't the Kringle I bought, but it is a raspberry
one from the O&H Catalog. Just thought you'd like
to see what one LOOKS like!

So… How was your weekend?

Stacy