Wednesday Reads and I'm a Guest Poster!

I’m being featured on Gemma Brocato’s blog today. If you would like to see a snippet of my current WIP, please stop on by and say hi. J When I get the direct link to the post, I’ll add it HERE. 

So nice to get writing and reading accomplished (well, except for yesterday--see below). Here’s what I read this week:

Feb 23: “Shadowed” by Rebecca Zanetti, #6 of the Dark Protector Series, a paranormal romance at 270 pages long. Blurb from book: Danger signs rise off Jase Kayrs like steam—the scars, the secrets, the strength. He’s got a mission, and he’s not interested in much outside of it. Except Brenna Dunne. Brenna was an ass-kicking, name-taking witch—before the poison that’s killing her sapped her powers too. She knows there’s more to Jase than a handsome face and an ugly history. But there’s no time to find out what. Taking him as her mate might save her life. But once she unleashes the force of his desire, there will be no turning back… I am enjoying this series, and looking forward to seeing how it all ends.

Feb 24: “Tamed” by Rebecca Zanetti, a novella in the Dark Protector Series (#6.5), a paranormal romance at 100 pages long. Blurb from Goodreads: Caleb Donovan was never meant to be a prophet. At heart he's a conqueror, his appetites far more carnal than spiritual. He's not inclined to repress his passions and surrender to fate. After all, that's what cost him Lily—three centuries ago. She married another, because it was ordained. Now that he's in the same benighted calling—and forced into proximity with her—all the old desires are roaring back to life. . . After widowhood and centuries of celibacy, Lily is eager to explore the wild side of life, except now she's vulnerable to another forced relationship, with an enemy. But this time she's determined to choose her own path. And if hot, furious Caleb comes charging to the rescue, it might just change both their destinies. . . Love is about to start conquering. . .  Sometimes novellas between series books are fluff, but this one isn’t. Granted, nothing happened to move the overall story forward, but it was a good setup for the finale. And I’ll be reading that one next.

While I have been getting a bit of writing done, yesterday was the pits. My whole schedule was off (due to a doctor appointment and a trip to the commissary), that I didn’t get anything written. Plus this cold is really bugging me. I’m hoping I’m over the heavy-duty stuff, though. Keeping my fingers crossed!!!

So… Have any of you watched the new Odd Couple? What did you think? I’m thinking television executives can’t think of anything new to create. Still, it had its funny moments and I expect I’ll see a few more episodes before I make a final yay or nay.

Happy reading!

Stacy

Wednesday Reads

Well, what do you know? I finally finished reading some books! Here’s what I read:

Jan 17: “Forgotten Sins” by Rebecca Zanetti, the first in a series, a romantic suspense. Blurb on back of book: From the moment Josie laid eyes on sexy, mysterious Shane Dean, she was in love. Their desire ignited a passionate affair, and within weeks, Shane had slipped a ring on her finger. It seemed her every fantasy was coming true…until her new husband disappeared without a trace. Now, two years and one broken heart later, Josie is shocked when the hospital calls. Shane has been found…at a crime scene with no memory of how he got there. Shane can’t remember the blue-eyed angel at his bedside—or who he even is—but he knows something isn’t right. His hearing is razor sharp, his physical strength incredible, and the urge to protect Josie overwhelming. For powerful enemies are hunting him, and Josie is the key to discovering why. As Shane struggles to unravel his past, dangerous new truths come to light. Can he protect the only woman he’s ever loved? And can Josie trust a man she thought she knew—one who carries such a deadly secret? I’m becoming a junkie on romantic suspense. And on Rebecca Zanetti’s writing. I love her vampire series and now I love this series. This was a book that I wish I wasn’t working. I would have sat and read it straight through if I could. Lots of yummy suspense and danger! Good reading.

Jan 19: “One Sinful Night in Sao Paulo” by Amber Belldene, a contemporary romance novella. Blurb from Goodreads: Cassie Wilson has traveled to Brazil for her brother’s wedding; yet she’s the one with cold feet. She’s all set to begin seminary, but she’s sick and tired of being treated like a saint, especially by the best man. What she really needs is one sexy night with him to ease her jitters and give her a taste of normal life. Adam Forrester crashed and burned at his dream job, screwing up all his hopes for a better life. Now he’s moved home to start over, but first he must confront the irresistible Cass, apologize for whatever happened on that drunken night he can’t remember, and make damn sure it doesn't happen again. Only she has other plans. He has typecast her as the good girl in his heart. Can she force him to see her as a real woman, desires and all? I love Amber’s books, whether they be paranormal or contemporary romance. Long or short. She tells a good story. This one was fun, too. So much so, I walked on the treadmill way longer than I had intended. See...she's good for my health, too! J

Now, I know I wasn’t going to read novellas just to up my word count, but in this case I needed something short because…

On Monday I received nine books that I have to read in the next six weeks. I can hear you now: “What???” Yeah, that’s what happens when you judge a book contest. You gotta read books. And in my case…nine. I sure hope I make it.

Somehow I’ll figure out a schedule. I still have to get Blind Temptation done editing!

So…for the next few Wednesdays, I’ll probably post about something else, since I’m not supposed to discuss what I’m reading. Doesn’t mean I won’t keep track of them, or count them toward my goal (because I am). And you’ll probably see the book cover of the current book I’m reading listed on the side (as usual). But I won’t be giving stars or any comments here or on Goodreads (too bad for the author if I loved her book). That’s the only thing I really don’t like about the contest, but there’s nothing I can do about it. The rules are the rules. Then again, maybe I’ll go back and add all that AFTER the winners are announced. We’ll see if I even REMEMBER to do that. J

So… Do you think you could ever judge a contest? If so, what kind?

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Wednesday Reads And a Day Shot to Heck

Yesterday I filed our federal taxes. Took all gosh-darn day! And if H&R Block software didn’t charge $19.99 to file the state tax, I would have filed that, too. At least it’s done, so I only have to insert the numbers into the state e-file form (which is free--go figure!). I’ll be so glad when I can get back into writing. Maybe today??

Anway, here’s what I read during the week:

Mar 12: “Twisted” by Rebecca Zanetti, a paranormal romance novella. Blurb from Goodreads: Maggie is a wolf shifter who was captured and experimented on by the Kurjans. Now that a cure has finally been found for shifters (although not for vampire mates or witches), she can concentrate on creating a new life for herself and finally accepting that her memories are gone forever. Most memories, that is. Sometimes in the hazy world between dreams and dawn, she hears a Scottish voice, dark and deep, that sounds suspiciously like wolf-shifter Terrent Vilks. A man she happened to anger by kidnapping a few years back. Hey, it was for a good cause. Terrent Vilks knows more than he’s let on for the past several years. After digging for answers, he knows exactly why the demons want Maggie dead. And he remembers his past with Maggie…very well. She is finally where he wants her. Now all he has to do is discover what exactly the Kurjans did to her, beat the demons into so much submission they leave her alone, and get her to fall in love with him. Again. Good thing he’s used to wrangling monsters. This series is becoming a “must read” one for me. That, or I was really hungry for a paranormal romance. I gave it 5 stars on Goodreads.

Mar 16. “Fashionably Dead” by Robyn Peterman, a comedic paranormal romance. Blurb from Goodreads: Vampyres don’t exist. They absolutely do not exist. At least I didn’t think they did ‘til I tried to quit smoking and ended up Undead. Who in the hell did I screw over in a former life that my getting healthy equates with dead? Now I’m a Vampyre. Yes, we exist whether we want to or not. However, I have to admit, the perks aren’t bad. My girls no longer jiggle, my ass is higher than a kite and the latest Prada keeps finding its way to my wardrobe. On the downside, I’m stuck with an obscenely profane Guardian Angel who looks like Oprah and a Fairy Fighting Coach who’s teaching me to annihilate like the Terminator. To complicate matters, my libido has increased to Vampyric proportions and my attraction to a hotter than Satan’s underpants killer rogue Vampyre is not only dangerous . . . it’s possibly deadly. For real dead. Permanent death isn’t on my agenda. Avoiding him is my only option. Of course, since he thinks I’m his, it’s easier said than done. Like THAT’S not enough to deal with, all the other Vampyres think I’m some sort of Chosen One. Holy Hell, if I’m in charge of saving an entire race of blood suckers, the Undead are in for one hell of a ride. I labeled it a romance, but there’s no HEA or HFN, so probably more like romantic elements??  And the reason there isn’t any happy ending is because it’s the first in a series, so there’s this huge cliff hanger. I did enjoy the story, though. It started slow, but once Ethan showed up, I became hooked. Hot, hot, hot! I knocked a star off due to that cliff hanger and gave it 4 stars on Goodreads.

 

So...have you filed your taxes? Does it take you all day to do yours, too?

Happy reading!

Stacy

 

Wednesday Reads - Getting Close to my Goal

At the beginning of the year I set a goal to read 90 books. Today is number 88. Only two more to go!! And let me tell you, I WILL reach this goal, even if I have to stay up late into the night to get it done (I know, what a sacrifice, huh?). Anyway, here’s what I read since last Wednesday:

Dec 10: “Provoked” by Rebecca Zanetti. This is the fifth book in the Dark Protectors series, a paranormal romance. Blurb on back: A casualty of the war between the demons and the vampires, Jase Kayrs has been missing for six long years. His older brothers want answers--but they’re going to have to get them from an unlikely source. For when Kane Kayrs tracks down Amber Freebird, what he finds is a blonde, vegan pacifist who has no intention of using her skills in his war… Amber enjoys her life of chaotic freedom and has no intention of falling in line just because a sexy-as-sin vampire insists on order. Unfortunately, he discovers she may be the only hope they have of finding his brother, and there’s no way he’s going to let her go--even if it means mating her to gain her cooperation. The two are as different as can be, yet when the dominant Kane and the untamed Amber finally unite to rescue Jase, they just may find that opposites really do attract… Kane is the first vampire brother I’ve liked from the start. But then I was introduced to him five books ago, so that may have something to do with it. I really liked this book and look forward to seeing how the series ends, because I’m sure there will be one, just not in the next book - there’s still another brother and I don’t believe his book will be the last. I gave this book 5 stars on Goodreads.

Yesterday my actual book count was off from my Goodreads account because one book wasn’t showing up. I checked for it again and there it was. Well, surprise, surprise! So I added it to my reading list.Now it won’t look like I didn’t make my goal if Goodreads only showed 89, but I had actually read 90! That’s if I only read two more books this month. I might read more. Guess it depends on my writing (which is going well, by the way).

So, how many books have you read this year?

Happy reading!

Stacy

 

Wednesday Reads -- My 500th Post!

This is my 500th post. Can you believe that? It only took 3 years and 8 months to do it. First, I’m surprised I stuck with it that long. Second, I’m surprised I remembered to say something. I don’t usually see the post number until AFTER I’ve posted. But no special celebration from me, though. Just another Wednesday post. Here’s what I finished reading this week:

Jul 18: “Gabriel’s Ghost” By Linnea Sinclair. This is a sci-fi romance. Blurb on back: Captain Chasidah Bergren, onetime pride of the interstellar Sixth Fleet, is framed for a crime and exiled to a prison planet from which no one escapes--until a seductive ghost from her past shows up to rescue her. Gabriel Sullivan, alpha mercenary and scoundrel, is supposed to be dead. Now he offers her a ticket to freedom--for a price. Someone in the Empire is breeding uncontrollable killing machines, and Gabriel needs Chaz’s help before hundreds of innocents die. Their own lives are on the line--but the long-held attraction that heats up between them may be the riskiest part of all… Not a fan of sci-fi (I hate names I can’t pronounce) or first person, but I’ve taken classes and workshops from the author and thought it only fair I buy and read one of her books and this one seemed interesting. Well, it was more than interesting. I thoroughly enjoyed it (even with my little break in there - this is the book that was missing the 50 pages). I’ll definitely check out more of her work. I gave this book 4 stars on Goodreads.

Jul 19: “Tempted” by Rebecca Zanetti. This is a novella, book 2.5 in the Dark Protector series, a paranormal romance. Blurb from Goodreads: On the run from a mental institution and her vindictive half-brother, it’s safe to say that Sarah Pringle’s happy life as a schoolteacher is on hold. Too bad that as far as self-defense goes, “run and hide” is the best she’s got. And with the monsters that started her escape hot on her heels, that’s not going to cut it for long… That is, unless Sarah has a bigger, badder, hotter monster on her side. Max Petrovsky is right at the top of the list of alpha male ass-kickers. And he knows exactly what Sarah’s up against. Good thing, because the minute he sees her something primal kicks in, turning everyday attraction into red-hot desire. As long as they’re cooperating, why not mix some pleasure with business? Of course, Max should probably tell Sarah he’s a vampire himself… I really don’t enjoy novellas (they’re just too damn short), but I like to know all that goes on in a series. I like Max and Sarah. Just wish there was more. I gave this 4 stars on Goodreads.

Jul 21: “Becoming Quinn” by Brett Battles. This is a novella in the Jonathan Quinn series, a thriller. Blurb from Goodreads: Most careers begin with an interview and a handshake. Others require a little … something more. Meet Jake Oliver. The day will come when he's one of the best cleaners in the business, a man skilled at making bodies disappear. At the moment, however, he's a twenty-two year old rookie cop, unaware his life is about to change. In a burning barn a body is found; and the fire isn't the cause of death. The detectives working the case have a pretty good idea about what went down. But Officer Oliver thinks it’s something else entirely, and pursues a truth others would prefer remain hidden, others who will go to extreme lengths to keep him quiet. Every identity has an origin. This is Quinn’s. Most novellas I read I find too short. This one was longer than most, but just about right for this story. I had a hard time putting it down, too, even though I KNEW how the character turned out. Because of that, I gave it 5 stars on Goodreads.

I’ve had a minor set-back in my latest submission. I have to figure out how to cut 10,000 words before my ms will even be read. Heavy sigh. Somehow I’ll find those words and cut them. I just hope I don’t ruin the story to do it!

I think I know how directors feel when they have to cut scenes to make the movie the correct length. They feel CRAPPY!!!

Happy Reading!

Stacy

 

Wednesday Reads

BITE ME, I’M YOURS is with my daughter for a final review, which I've timed perfectly since I must clean my house this week. My friend is coming over, and while she’s seen my messy house, it has been awhile since her last visit and well, yeah, the place is a mess. Figured if I take it slow and do a little bit each day, I won’t feel so overwhelmed. So far, so good. But, in between cleaning, I’ve been reading (and trying really hard NOT to write my next novel - if I started it now--and I want to very, very much--I’d never get the house clean). This is what I finished this week:

Jul 7: “The Shadow Tracer” by Meg Gardiner. This is a stand-alone thriller. Blurb: Can a person ever really disappear for good by going off the grid? And what happens when vanishing is no longer an option? Sarah Keller is a single mother to five-year-old Zoe, living quietly in Oklahoma. She’s also a skip tracer, an expert in tracking people who’ve gone on the lam to avoid arrest, prosecution, or debt--pinpointing their location to bring them to justice. When a school bus accident sends Zoe to the ER, their quiet life explodes. Zoe’s medical tests reveal what Sarah has been hiding: Zoe is not her daughter. Zoe’s biological mother--Sarah’s sister, Beth--was murdered shortly after the child’s birth. And Zoe’s father is missing and presumed dead. With no way to prove her innocence, Sarah must abandon her carefully constructed life and go on the run. Chased by cops, federal agents, and the group responsible for Beth’s murder, Sarah embarks on a desperate journey. Can her knowledge as a skip tracer help her stay off the grid, remain one step ahead of her pursuers, and find a way to save her daughter? I love Meg’s books. Both of her series and her stand-alones. They grab a hold of me and won’t let go. I was so glad to finish my writing project on Friday so I didn’t feel guilty not putting this book down! If you love suspense, you’ll love this book. I gave it 5 stars on Goodreads.

Jul 9: “Consumed” by Rebecca Zanetti. This is the fourth book her Dark Protector series, a paranormal romance. Blurb: Katie Smith is the best of her class, part of an elite hunting race trained to eliminate werewolves from the hills of Western Virginia. She’s good at it because she has the kind of focus an drive that won’t back down no matter how steep the odds. Call is southern sass. Whatever it is, there’s no denying her willingness to risk everything for the only man she’s ever cared about--a man on the verge of losing his very humanity… For the past ten years Jordan Pride has dedicated his life to protecting his people form a deadly shifter virus. But in a rare moment of distraction, Jordan’s guard drops just long enough for his fate to take an irreversible twist. Unless the woman he loves surrenders everything to him, again and again, under a full moon rising… The first three books of this series dealt with vampire brothers. I liked them okay, but thought the heroes were a bit on the mean side--her vampires tend to be a bit on the mean side. But I really like her shifters and love Jordan and Katie. No meanness! This is my favorite of the series so far. I gave this book 5 stars on Goodreads.

So, when do you clean your house? If you’re a cleanaholic, wanna come over? J

Happy Reading!

Stacy

(turning **mumble, mumble** years old in 8 wake ups!)

 

Wednesday Reads and Other Stuff

I did it! I bought new shoes. After walking 6.5 miles (round trip) on Monday (destination: lunch with my husband), my feet said, “Enough!” That’s what I get for using older shoes (which are still fine for bumming around the house). So I gave my feet a break on Tuesday and stayed inside. I wore the new shoes only to get used to them. It was hard, too. Tuesday morning was warm enough to walk and today it’s raining (figures). Oh well…I did enjoy that Monday walk, though. It was an absolutely BEAUTIFUL day!!!

Now on to what I’ve read in the past week:

Apr 19: “Hunted” by Rebecca Zanetti. This is book three in the Protector series, a paranormal romance. Blurb on back: Moira Dunne is a witch--the quantum physics kind. Time and space are her playthings. Which might explain why her one-night stand from a hundred years ago has burned up to “claim” her--and request her family’s assistance with the war he’s brewing. But the more she learns about Connlan Kayrs, the more she comes to think this is normal behavior for him… When Conn and Moira tumbled on the moonlit grass, Conn hadn’t meant to mark her as his mate for all time. She was only twenty! But it wasn’t easy to wait for her. It was even harder to forget her. So when he finally returns for his wicked-hot witch, he’s ready to let the sparks fly. Even if he burns up in flames… Funny thing: I had this book on my shelf to read and was given it to judge! I enjoyed the previous two books (there is a novelette out there, too--book 2.5--but I haven’t read it), even though the heroes in those books were a bit on the mean side. Alpha bad boy to the extreme, I guess. However, I didn’t get that same vibe from Conn and I liked him a lot more. And the couple for the next book has been featured a bit in the past two, so I won’t have any problems picking up the next one in the series. Once I own it, that is. I gave this book 4 stars on Goodreads.

I’m now in round 3 of my content edits. Doesn’t appear to be anything major, so I expect to get it done in the next day or so. Still puts a hold on my revision project, and ultimately my writing project, since the edits aren’t all that taxing to my brain. At least, not YET.

 

Happy Reading!

 

Stacy