Wednesday Reads and Happy Birthday to my Sister

Today is my sister’s birthday. My Dad always said it was easy to remember because she was born on Pearl Harbor Day. Wonder how he remembered mine? Hmmm… Anyway, if you’re reading this, Happy Birthday, Karen!

I decided to change the layout of my Wednesday reads for 2017, but then thought: Why wait? I’m hoping this new layout is easier to read (or at least easier for you to find whatever it is you look for in these).

Here’s what I read the past week:

December 6:

• Title: “Risking the Vine”
• Author: Gemma Brocato
• Genre: Contemporary romance
• # of Pages: 240
• Paper or plastic: Trade paperback
• Blurb from book: Jacqui Bishop’s dating life is dead in the water, but her professional prospects look outstanding. Promised a management position, she embarks on a team building course at a northern California winery. Shocked when her boss promotes a less qualified rival, Jac opts to chuck her job and revive the family farm. Luscious Luke Rossi has been banished to Team Vino to learn how to be the team player his boss wants. Once there, he finds he’d rather play on Jac Bishop’s team. But a labor dispute and boss who only wants a yes-man forces him to leave Jac’s side. As the daytime exercises give way to nighttime passions, Jac learns there’s more to life than a nine-to-five existence. But resigning her job and moving to a farm hundreds of miles from Luke could spell doom for the couple. Their affair will require teamwork of a different kind. For Jac, the looming question is whether her budding relationship with Luke will thrive or die on the vine.
• My thoughts: I have to start by saying: If you love contemporary romance, there is nothing wrong with this book. It has a nice romance and some sexy parts. But for me it was just…too simple. I’m beginning to realize that I need more (like more danger or conflict or something), even if I know the author (I do) and loved her other work (I did). Ms. Brocato has some paranormal and sci-fi books out there that I would probably enjoy, but right now they’re only available on Amazon (Kindle) and I don’t buy my books there (and not just because I own a Nook).

Sometimes I want to scream at authors for not selling wide. Or not selling in paper, which can be sold wide even if the digital is exclusive to Amazon. Maybe they won’t make a lot of sales, but then again, maybe they will. You just never know in the publishing business. My books are offered wide. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

My next few reads will be on my Nook, since I’ll be leaving on vacation soon. I double-checked and have lots of books on there to read. I don’t see them piling up (like I do the paper ones), so I forget what I have digitally. Now I just have to hope my Nook doesn’t fail in the next week or so. I hate depending on electronics, even if they do save luggage space.

So… Are you mostly a paper or plastic (e-book) reader? If plastic, what do you do when you adjust the formatting (font & spacing) on your device and it does NOTHING to the book? It doesn’t happen all the time, so when it does I know it’s an issue with the author’s (or publisher’s) formatting and not with my Nook. And people wonder why I dislike ebooks. Grrr…

Happy Reading!

Stacy

How 1 Hour Turned into 6

Interesting day I had yesterday. I went in for an 8:30 a.m. doctor appointment, thinking it would last thirty minutes, tops, and I'd come home with a mammogram appointment. Instead, I don't make it home until 2:00 p.m. and I come home with two appointments (neither one for a mammogram).

So what took so long? My mammogram. When I was making that appointment, I was told it was a light day and asked if I wanted to wait an hour.

Sure, I thought. What's an hour? It would give me a chance to use my Nook (see, I'm always prepared and have some kind of book in my purse). And boy, did I ever!

Seems, one mammogram turned into another, which turned into an ultrasound. At noon, I could wait around for the technicians to come back from lunch, or go somewhere and eat (which, by the way, I never did have breakfast, thinking I would just have it late) and come back at 1:00 p.m.

So I went to lunch (yeah, I know, no-brainer!). I found the dining hall in the basement and only paid $3.95 for lunch (pork chop, mashed potatoes, soup, and a Diet Coke). Ain't the military great? Some other place I might have paid that much for the soda alone (okay, maybe the soup).

While I still have to go back and get my cholesterol checked, and some other ultrasound (checkup from last year's surgery), at least yesterday's tests came back okay. Yeah, I have cysts (in fact, one doctor called me "Cyst City"), but nothing malignant (thank God!!).

I go through this on a regular basis, unfortunately (have been since 1975). And while I'd love to think it will always be the case, it just might not, so I always go to the doctor when I find a new lump.

I certainly hope if you ever find one, you do the same. Peace of mind beats wondering all the time!

And did you know they no longer use film for those x-rays? I did not know that. Too bad the machines didn't change, though. OUCH!!! The ultrasound was soooo much nicer!

Here's to a good weekend. We'll be spending part of it with our friend, since we postponed our New Year's Eve party (due to bad weather). Might not be ringing in the New Year, but we'll be eating well and having fun!

 

Oh – and how did my Nook reading go? Not too bad, actually. It was easier to read while eating, I'll give it that!

 

A Mini Rant

I got a Nook Simple Touch with Glow Light for Christmas. I was all set to rant about this device, but decided to try and be less ranty. Yeah, I'm not completely satisfied with it, but it has nothing to do with being a Nook and everything to do with e-readers in general. So, I'll wait until I've gotten used to it before I go off the deep end. That's if I ever get used to it. Let's just say that right now e-reading is a last resort for me.

This past weekend was a productive one. I attended my local RWA chapter meeting and while there were only eight of us there, came away with motivation to finish two short stories I had started awhile back. I like when that happens.

Hopefully, I'll get lots of writing and editing done this week. The husband starts teaching (four nights a week), so I'll not only have the days to myself, but most of the nights, too. Of course, I'll be spending some of that time watching Season 3 of Torchwood (but apparently there are only 5 episodes) and I'll also be reading JR Ward's "Rapture" (which, by the way, I have the hardback copy). If it's like her other books, I may have difficulty putting the thing down.

Have you got any plans for the week?