Finished Reading “Dead of Winter” and Getting Away…Again

I’m sitting in a hotel in Gainesville a little pissed because the TV in this hotel doesn’t have an NBC station so I could watch the Olympics. Last night, the hotel we were at showed the Olympics, but it was so pixelated, it was hard to watch. Guess I wasn’t meant to watch the last couple of days. Doesn’t make me feel any better, though. I was kind of looking forward to watching the ice skating gala.

Tomorrow Hubby and I will take off on another cruise (14 days long), which is why we’re in Gainesville tonight. We’ve spent the last couple of days visiting some National Parks on our way down here. The three we saw yesterday had to do with the Revolutionary War (Kings Mountain, Cowpens, and Ninety Six, all in South Carolina). Today we visited the Ocmulgee Mounds (Macon, GA), Andersonville, GA (Civil War prisoner camp), and Plains, GA to see Jimmy Carter’s National Historic Site (which was in the old High School). Planned to see the grave of him and Roselyn, but it was raining so bad, I stayed in the car while Hubby went to take pictures.

After the cruise, we plan on hitting more National Parks in North Carolina and Virginia as we drive home.

But right now I’m looking forward to this cruise and some warm (and hopefully dry) weather (although the temps in SC and GA have been pretty nice, it’s been raining a lot, too). It’s supposed to snow again back home and I’m sooooo not missing that!

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 3

Dates read: January 26 – February 20, 2026
Title: Dead of Winter
Year of publication: 2025
Author: Rebecca Zanetti
Genre: Romantic suspense
Series: Knife’s Edge, Alaska – Book 1
# of Pages: 330
Paper or plastic: Trade paperback
How obtained: Purchased at B&N
Blurb from book: Brock Osprey has spent years in the rugged Alaskan wilderness, far from civilization and even farther from his past. A former Navy SEAL, Brock is now the unwilling protector of Knife’s Edge, a remote town with more secrets than residents. But when FBI Special Agent Ophelia Spilazi arrives to investigate the unsolved murder of Brock’s guardian—and recent unexplained disappearances in the area—Brock’s carefully guarded world is thrown into chaos.
    Agent Ophelia Spilazi has one last chance to save her career, and Knife’s Edge is her shot. The isolated town is full of secrets, and she’s certain Brock knows more than he’s letting on. The town’s recent string of mysterious disappearances only heightens her suspicion, but the more time she spends with the brooding Alaskan, the harder it becomes to ignore the dangerous chemistry between them.
    As a brutal storm traps them in the isolated wilderness, Brock and Ophelia’s growing attraction ignites, even as shadows from their pasts threaten to tear them apart. But with a dangerous conspiracy and powerful enemies lurking in the shadows, their only hope is to trust each other—before the wilderness consumes them both.
Recommend: Yes
My thoughts: I love Zanetti’s books (her paranormal and romantic suspense) and this new series piqued my interest in that it is set in Alaska (and I used to live there way back when). Plus, with all the snow on the ground at home, it just felt like the right time to read something set in winter. Haha! Anyway, I enjoyed this first book in the series and look forward to reading the others (once they’re released).

So… Did you watch the Olympics this year? What was your favorite event? I always like watching the ice skating, but I also enjoy the hockey. So happy the USA women won gold. Hoping for the same for the USA men! Will check the score when we get to Port Canaveral in the morning.

Happy Reading!

Stacy

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

Finished Reading “Nightshade’s Bite” and Book Convention Went Well

I got back from hot and sticky Georgia on Tuesday. Only to come back to hot and sticky Ohio. I’m beginning to think it’s hot and sticky EVERYWHERE!

I did okay at the convention. Better than last year. Thought I might sell more of Alien Desires than I did, but a lot of people seemed interested, so hopefully they’ll get the ebook later. After they’ve read the dozens of books they purchased from the other authors (the readers that attend are HUNGRY for books, I swear!!).

This was the last year of Literary Love Savannah. For at least four years. So the ending was a little bittersweet. I do enjoy this convention and seeing the readers and other authors. But it can be expensive, too, so the break will probably be good for my pocketbook. If I’m smart (and I rarely am), I’ll have LOTS of new books to sell if the convention comes back.

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 16

Dates read: July 4-18, 2025
Title: Nightshade’s Bite
Year of publication: 2021
Author: Zoe Forward
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Series:  Blood Wars #2
# of Pages: 256
Paper or plastic: Nook
How obtained: Purchased from B&N
Blurb from Goodreads: Kiera Rossard’s secret life just got complicated. When not being a vampire aristocrat she’s leader of the Nightshade League, a rebel vampire society that rescues werewolves during the interspecies war. Everyone wants her dead—vampires and the werewolves who don’t know her secret. Starting with the wolf she just saved—Michael Durand, the most vicious killer of her kind in existence. Something about the notorious werewolf sets her blood on fire.
    She’s not good at resisting temptation. So what if vampires always bite when they’re turned on? And so what if one drop of his blood will kill her? What’s life without a little risk?
    Michael doesn’t like vampires. At all. But now he’s losing his mind over the dark desire Kiera stirs in him. He should plot her death. Only, she’s hot and mouthy. Staying near her a bit longer is irresistible. When unforgiving forces hone in on her secret identity, he must decide between duty to his people and protecting her. But if he stays, who will protect her from him?
Recommend: Yes
My thoughts: It had been several years since I read the first book in the series. And there are only two. At least nothing was left hanging, so that’s good. I ran into some irritating grammatical errors, which made me downgrade my rating a bit. If this was an indie book, I probably would have forgiven them, but not from Entangled (the publisher). So yes, I guess I rate the publisher, too. But the story was enjoyable and if not for the book convention, probably would have finished it long before now.

After the book convention (in Savannah), Hubby and I went to Cumberland Island (National Park near the Florida border). I had never heard of the place, but Hubby is trying to visit all the National Parks, so I’m learning a lot about them now. The only reason I agreed to go to this island is because they had a van (which luckily had air conditioning) to take us up and down the island (it’s about 17 miles long). No way was I going to walk on the trails there. I didn’t realize the island had wild horses. All they do is graze (because the park doesn’t do anything to feed them), but they are wild (feral) and we were warned numerous times to not get near them. It was a long day on the island, but very interesting. If you ever get a chance to visit it, I recommend it.

Happy Reading!

Stacy