Finished “Life is Short” and Cold Weather!

It’s been a cold and rainy cruise in the Baltic countries (Estonia, Finland, & Sweden) and I really didn’t bring any “warm” clothes (I had heard about the heat waves, which were long gone by the time we arrived). But at least I remembered my rain coat! Whew!

In two days we arrive in the port of Amsterdam. It’s supposed to be 80 (instead of the 60s). Looking forward to some warmer weather!

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 17

Dates read: July 23-27, 2026
Title: Life’s Too Short
Year of publication: 2021
Author: Abby Jimenez
Genre: Romantic comedy
Series: The Friend Zone #3
# of Pages: 276
Paper or plastic: Nook
How obtained: Purchased from Barnes & Noble
Blurb from Goodreads: When Vanessa Price quit her job to pursue her dream of traveling the globe, she wasn't expecting to gain millions of YouTube followers who shared her joy of seizing every moment. For her, living each day to its fullest isn't just a motto. Her mother and sister never saw the age of 30, and Vanessa doesn't want to take anything for granted.
    But after her half-sister suddenly leaves Vanessa in custody of her infant daughter, life goes from "daily adventure" to "next-level bad" (now with bonus baby vomit in hair). The last person Vanessa expects to show up offering help is the hot lawyer next door, Adrian Copeland. After all, she barely knows him. No one warned her that he was the Secret Baby Tamer or that she'd be spending a whole lot of time with him and his geriatric Chihuahua.
    Now she's feeling things she's vowed not to feel. Because the only thing worse than falling for Adrian is finding a little hope for a future she may never see.

Recommend: Yes
My thoughts: Another goodie. In fact, I don’t think she writes any bad books! Love the humor (because it’s not forced on you, if you know what I mean). Love the romantic tension. And I loved seeing characters from books 1 & 2.

I’m actually getting some writing done on this cruise. Figured out how to fix the vampire story I started in 2020 (which led me to finishing my alien books) and it seems to be going good…so far. I still haven’t decided if it will be a novel or a novella. Guess I’ll find out when I get there, huh?

The Smashwords July sales is still going on (through July 31). You can find ALL of my e-books at 50% off. Just click here and start buying!: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/semckitrick

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Finished Reading “Photographs” and Stuff

Got our first snowfall today and I’m cold. It’s not that the house is any colder than it normally is, but snow tends to make me feel colder for some reason. So I may bump up the heat a bit. I know Hubby won’t care. He’s always cold!

The ending with Alien Desires (which I thought was finished but was wrong) is finally coming into play in my head (I had to change it so that my hero looked heroic). Now to get it on the page. Why is that part always the hardest? At least I’m almost there. I’ll be glad when I can send it off to my editor.

This Saturday I will be in Springboro, Ohio for an author event during their annual Christmas festival. I’m one of the featured authors between 4:30-6:30pm at the Springboro Historical Museum. If I sell any books I’ll be pleasantly surprised, but I’m prepared for the best. At least I’ll be indoors. Most of the festival will be outdoors, so maybe people will come inside to get warm! One can always hope.

And if you’re in the area and are looking for Christmas ideas, check it out. Then come inside and see me.

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 31

Dates read: November 1-21, 2024
Title: Photographs
Year of publication: 2020
Author: James Garcia, Jr.
Genre: Supernatural thriller
Series:  N/A
# of Pages: 229
Paper or plastic: Nook book
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from Goodreads: One night, two exceptional women meet. Both carry broken hearts and one has been dead for sixty years.
    In 1956, film actress Allison Belle abandoned the glamour of Hollywood for Fresno, California, and an idyllic new life.
    In 1959, she disappeared altogether.
    Sixty years later, real estate agent Joanna Johnson steps unsuspectingly into the old Belle house and a story long forgotten.
    A devastating personal event opens a hidden door into the actress’s world. The mystery behind what broke Allison’s heart and what ultimately happened to her is revealed slowly by a series of long lost photographs the agent uncovers; the relationship she builds with the actress’s ninety year old husband; and through a series of “dreams” she has where she relives the moments captured by each photograph - herself a participant in them.
    The closer Joanna gets to the truth, the closer she gets to suffering the same fate.
Recommend: Yes
My thoughts: Interesting story. I thought maybe it would be horror, but it’s not really that. More like a thriller, with a ghost. Started out slow, but it did keep my attention and the ending was satisfying.

The wifi antenna (or whatever it’s called) on my laptop was starting to act wonky. I couldn’t connect to the house’s wifi, but I could connect to my phone’s hot spot. Unfortunately, when I was connected to the hot spot, I couldn’t print anything as the printers were off line. Hubby found an external antenna and so far it’s been working (I’m connected AND I can print!). What a relief. I really don’t relish replacing this computer. I like it!!

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Finished Reading “Accidental Leigh” and I’m Melting

Usually when we cruise in late October (it is late October, right?), it’s not so hot at the islands. Yeah, that’s not happening this time. I feel like I’m melting here! Probably a good thing we don’t have excursions booked and we’re just playing it by ear.

Puerto Rico (where we stopped yesterday) was 90 degrees, but the humidity made it feel like 105. We didn’t leave the ship. Today, we’re in St. Thomas (a very beautiful island, by the way), and it’s stifling humid here, too. I think the temp will also be in the 90s. We do plan on getting off the ship, but not doing much but walk around the pier and look to see if there is anything interesting to do (there are always people selling some kind of activity on the dock). But most likely we’ll just stay in the port. I’m so glad Hubby is okay with all of this, too.

Now, if we were going to an island we’ve never been to, we would have booked an excursion to check it out. But this time, we’re just saving our money as we’ve already seen the islands. It’s okay to do nothing.

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 29

Dates read: October 23-24, 2024
Title: Accidental Leigh
Year of publication: 2014
Author: Melissa James
Genre: Paranormal comedy (not a romance)
Series:  Literal Leigh Romance Diaries #1
# of Pages: 98
Paper or plastic: Nook book
How obtained: Free from B&N
Blurb from Goodreads: How does a girl become a witch? By accident, of course!
    Leigh Epstein is a grief stricken and lonely elementary school teacher that is devastated by the brutal and unexpected death of her true love at the hands of a careless writer. She overcomes her grief by taking matters in her own hands and takes up a little romance writing to resurrect her vampire-werewolf book-boyfriend. Leigh gets more than she bargained for when she discovers that every steamy erotic scene she creates is magically reenacted by her family, friends and coworkers.
    In her hilarious first diary, Leigh unwittingly sets her parents up for a weekend dinner party that they will never forget. She has two weeks to find out what her new found magic is capable of. Can she prevent a wild erotic encounter that could devastate her sweet parent’s marriage? What and who else will get caught up in her magic spells?
Recommend: Yes
My thoughts: Short and ends on a cliff hanger. Sure, the author apologizes for that and says it’s the only one in the series that does. Will I get book 2? Nope. Yeah, it’s humorous, but there really isn’t a story there. Just events. And I wasn’t in the mood for events. If you like funny things happening without an overall story, go for it. It’s easy to read and goes quickly.

I’m enjoying pizza for breakfast this morning. It’s something I do on cruises. Mainly because I’m not a big eggs and bacon (or sausage) kind of eater. Oh sure, there’s fruit and cereal, too, but why not pizza? It’s more fun and it’s not something I do when I’m home. Gotta make it fun!!

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Finished Reading “The City” and Roller Coaster Weather

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.

Are we in winter or spring? I can’t tell.

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 7

Dates read: February 24-26, 2024
Title: The City
Year of publication: 2014
Author: Dean Koontz
Genre: Paranormal suspense
Series: N/A
# of Pages: 398
Paper or plastic: Hardcover
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from Book: 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, The City 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.
    The unforgettable saga of a young man coming of age within a remarkable family, and a shimmering portrait of the world that shaped him, The City 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.
Recommend: Yes
My thoughts: 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.

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?

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Finished Reading “When a Dragon Falls” and…Stuff

Apparently when I’m writing, I’m not reading as much. I got the edits back on Ghostly Protector 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!

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.

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!

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 5

Dates read: January 21 – February 9, 2024
Title: When a Dragon Falls
Year of publication: 2023
Author: Kerrelyn Sparks
Genre: Paranormal/Fantasy Romance
Series: Embraced by Magic #4/The Embraced #7
# of Pages: 355
Paper or plastic: Trade paperback
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from Book: 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.
    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…
Recommend: Yes
My thoughts: 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.

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!

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Finished Reading “The Kept Woman” and Car Repairs

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.

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 45

Dates read: August 22 – 25, 2023
Title: The Kept Woman
Year of publication: 2016
Author: Karin Slaughter
Genre: Crime Suspense
Series: Will Trent #8
# of Pages: 461
Paper or plastic: Hard cover
How obtained: Purchased used
Blurb from Book: 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.
    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.
    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.
    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.
My thoughts: Lots of twists in this one. Kept me guessing.

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!

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?

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Reading Update and Ohio’s Screwy Weather

I’ve lived in Ohio for nearly 31 years, you’d think I’d get used to the screwy weather in April. Or at least REMEMBER that April is full of screwy weather. I’ll blame the remembering part on my old brain.

But on Monday, April 18 (half-way through the month!!), it snowed here. For half the frickin’ day! Didn’t stick to the roadways so much, but it did stick to the grassy areas, the trees & shrubs, AND my car (of which I was using because I had a LOT of errands, of course). Plus, it was cold! I’m ready for spring. It’s supposedly been here a month already, so what’s with the snow?

Oh… spring is coming Saturday. Or rather, summer is poking its head in. It’s supposed to reach 80 on Saturday. Frostbite to sunburn within one week. Yep, April weather is screwy in Ohio.

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 12

Dates read: April 5-14, 2022
Title: Hollow’s End
Year of publication: 2013
Author: Marianne Morea
Genre: YA Paranormal
Series: The Legend #1
# of Pages: 245
Paper or plastic: Trade paperback
How obtained: Purchased from author
Blurb from the book: Two hundred years of secrets and lies are bleeding into the present, and high school seniors, Hunter Morrissey and Rowen Corbett find themselves linked with unseen forces shrouded in mystery and violence. In the quaint river town of Sleepy Hollow… But the dark water of the Hudson River is not the only blackness looming in the distance. Truths, buried and long forgotten, have risen at a time when the veil between the living and the dead is at its thinnest.
    Only Hunter and Rowen hold the key to locking the past in the past. And setting old wrongs to right.
    Can justice be served?
    Can the two find a way to straddle both worlds and solve the mystery when they don’t understand the clues?
My thoughts: The copy I have had way too many grammatical mistakes that kept taking me out of the story. But the story does end and it was interesting. If you like YA paranormal, give this a try. On the book it’s labeled a YA romance, but it’s not, not really, although there is romantic elements. And in Goodreads, it’s listed as a horror, but I didn’t really find it all that horrific. It’s certainly suitable for young adults.

On Monday (during the freakish snow storm), I ordered some “computer” glasses after my eye appointment (of which my eyes haven’t changed all that much). These will be bifocals with the middle range on top and the reading range on the bottom. I normally wear trifocals with a really narrow middle range that isn’t suitable for a computer screen. At least, not for me. I’m hoping the new glasses will make it easier for me to write. At this point, I’m trying everything to make it easier to write (or at least eliminate the excuses??). Wish me luck that it works. I need something to work.

So… Do you wear glasses? How annoying are they for you?

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Reading and Cancer Update

I had this mostly ready to post on Tuesday night (Jan 4), but then I got sick (stomach bug or food poisoning—it’s hard to tell the difference) and, well, nothing got done. I’m better now and finally back at my computer and figured this was better to post today instead of waiting until next Wednesday.

On December 17th, I had a biopsy done on my left adrenal gland. Seemed that fatty tissue had grown since my July MRI. Well, I got the results: metastatic kidney cancer. Surgery to remove the adrenal gland is scheduled for February 8, but that could change.

To think I’d been worried about having metastatic breast cancer. I didn’t even know metastatic kidney cancer could happen.

I’m not sure what will happen after surgery. I make the mistake (often) of Googling the cancer, only to come away freaked out more than ever.

Needless to say… I’m just not motivated to do much lately. Except read and crochet. I’m enjoying that, so that’s where I’m putting my energy right now.

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 1

Dates read: December 30, 2021-January 2, 2022
Title: A Gamble Among Sheep
Year of publication: 2019
Author: Landra Graf
Genre: Sci-fi romance
Series: Bad Boys of Space #2
# of Pages: 275
Paper or plastic: Trade paperback
How obtained: Purchased from author
Blurb from the book: Self-made nightclub owner Akono Sweet has spent the last six months working on a plan for his early retirement. When his arch-rival Vincent Genovese claims Akono’s club and fortune belong to him, Akono’s forced to accelerate his plans.
    Caterina, Genovese’s black-sheep daughter, is forced into taking over Sweet’s club by her father and brother threatening the life she’s carved for herself outside the family business. It doesn’t take her long to see she and Akono are two of a kind—right down to being targeted by her family.
    An attraction neither Caterina or Akono can fight interferes with everything they should be focusing on. When they stumble on a bigger conspiracy that threatens everyone on Callisto, this pair of gamblers has to ensure they stay alive long enough to defeat it.
    Too bad falling in love just made the odds more difficult to beat…
My thoughts: I bought the first book in the series in 2020 from the author. In 2021 I bought the next three. I met her at Literary Love Savannah book convention (we were table mates in 2020 and 2021) and she writes the kind of sci-fi I like to read: the non-techy kind. Oh, it’s also a romance, so a big win there, too! It’s a fun book (fun series, too), so if you like sci-fi romance, give it a try.

So… it’s like in the teens out there this morning (and won’t get much warmer when the sun rises). Brrr. Not sure I want to venture out in the cold today. Which means cooking at home. Not sure I want to do that, either. What a dilemma, huh?

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Reading Update and I Fixed my Blog List

Last week I asked for help regarding the blog list on my side bar since I couldn’t get it to update or add blogs. Well… turns out I was using an old gadget (Blogger’s term, not mine). You’d think they’d automatically update the one I was using. Or let me know they updated it, right? But no… And I couldn’t just copy and paste the data over, I had to enter ALL the blogs I follow onto that list. One. At. A Time. But first, I needed to clean up my list. Why enter old blogs? And I had a LOT of old blogs on that list.

What a job!

I never realized how many people I followed had quit blogging. Not just not posting, but deleting the whole kit and caboodle! But now my list is clean. Yay! Although, I notice a lot of bloggers I follow still don’t have the https before their URL. Which meant the blog posts weren’t showing (just the blog, but not the latest post). Good thing I knew a way around THAT!

Sometimes I know too much for my own good. That usually gets me in trouble. Hopefully not this time, though.

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 49

Dates read: October 9-18, 2021
Title: Mile High With a Vampire
Year of publication: 2021
Author: Lynsay Sands
Genre: Paranormal romance
Series: Argeneau Vampires #33
# of Pages: 341
Paper or plastic: Mass market paperback
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from book: Jet Lassiter likes being a pilot for Argeneau Enterprises. Perks include traveling to exotic locations and meeting interesting people, even if they are the blood-sucking kind. He’s living the good life, until his plane goes down in the mountains and four of his passengers are gravely injured. They need blood to heal…and Jet is the only source.
    Quinn Peters never wanted to be immortal. Once a renowned heart surgeon, she was turned against her will and now she has to drink blood to survive. Before she can ask how her “life” can get any worse, she’s in a plane crash. One of the few survivors, Quinn is desperate to get the mortal pilot to safety before her fellow immortals succumb to their blood lust and drain Jet dry.
    But hungry vampires are the least of their worries—the crash wasn’t an accident, and someone is trying to kill Quinn. Will she and Jet find their happily ever after as life mates, or will her assassin find her first?
My thoughts: Still a fun series to read. I love escaping into this world.

The weather has gotten a little cooler here. And definitely way less muggy. I’m enjoying my walks, but taking them later in the day. Seeing temps in the 40s in the morning doesn’t make me motivated to get out there and walk! Eventually I’ll have to go back to my step aerobics, but so far the weather has cooperated this October. In fact, it’s been an AWESOME October. The trees are still green!

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Reading Update, Books, and St. Louis

I’ve been buying lots of books. It’s crazy. Will I ever read all the ones I currently own? Who knows. But I will be reading the ones I just purchased. I’m on a Heather Graham ghost ride right now, so will probably just binge her first. I just bought 5 of the 6 books I was missing from the Harrison Investigation series. I’ve read 1-4 and now own 6-10. Of course #5 is the hard one to find at a reasonable price! Good thing I don’t really need to read these in order.

The trip to St. Louis was fun, but hot and humid. My daughter’s Footy team won all their games (they ended up playing co-ed since there weren’t enough women to play their own game). We got hit with rain on Sunday before our trip to the zoo. Thankfully, it let up by the time we finished breakfast. Unfortunately, the rain didn’t take the humidity away. It was like a sauna walking through the zoo. I got my shirt wet from the rain and it was still damp when we got home! The humidity here felt dry compared to St. Louis. I will not complain about our humidity again. Maybe.

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book #39

Dates read: July 16-22, 2021
Title: The Vision
Year of publication: 2006
Author: Heather Graham
Genre: Paranormal romantic suspense
Series: Harrison Investigations #4
# of Pages: 410
Paper or plastic: Mass market paperback
How obtained: Purchased.
Blurb from book: When Deep Down Salvage begins the hunt for the Marie Josephine off Key West, it seems like any other dive—until Genevieve Wallace sees the vision of a dead woman in the water.
    A dead woman who opens her eyes and looks directly at her…
    Terrified and confused, Gen is haunted by the memory. But no one, including her diving partner Thor Thompson, believes she saw what she knows she saw. Then a dead woman washes up on shore, and everyone assumes this is Genevieve’s “vision.” Genevieve knows better. This dead woman is definitely not the ghost she encountered but another victim of the same brutal killer.
    Sensing that the threat of death is coming closer, she and Thor are forced to acknowledge that some things can’t be explained but simply are. Somehow they have to link a violent past with a present-day mystery… because if they don’t, the power of death will possess them, too.
My thoughts: More suspenseful than romantic, but lots of spooky goodness and I had trouble putting this book down. I enjoyed visiting Key West again, too (if only in my memories).

This week I need to gather my stuff for LLS2021, since I leave for that book convention on August 3. I have been making a list, so I know what I need. But now I just have to make sure it’ll all fit in the car!!

So... Do you own more books than you feel you'll ever read? Maybe I just need to learn to read faster? Hmmm...

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Reading Update and a Hot Weekend Ahead

On Friday we’re driving to St Louis so that we can watch our daughter play Footy (Australian Rules Football). I checked the weather so I could plan accordingly. Saturday’s high…95 degrees! Yikes! I think we’ll be melting. Better make sure to take my 50SPF umbrellas with me (and plenty of water & sunscreen). They’re all going to be needed, I’m sure.

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book #38

Dates read: July 7-16, 2021
Title: The Presence
Year of publication: 2004
Author: Heather Graham
Genre: Paranormal romantic suspense
Series: Harrison Investigations #2
# of Pages: 417
Paper or plastic: Mass market paperback
How obtained: Purchased.
Blurb from book: Toni Fraser has the ultimate moneymaking plan—buy an ancient, run-down Scottish castle and turn it into a tourist destination. Tony and her friends concoct the perfect story about the ghost of the imaginary laird Bruce MacNiall to draw thrill seekers to the castle. Suddenly when someone arrives claiming to actually be Laird MacNiall—a tall, dark, formidable Scot—the bodies of young women start to be found in the nearby town.
    But even stranger, how is it even possible this laird exists? Toni invented Bruce MacNiall for the performance…yet sinister, lifelike dreams suggest he’s connected to the recent deaths. Bruce claims he wants to help catch the murderer. But even if she wants to, can Tony trust him…when her visions seem to suggest the tempting laird might be the murderer?
My thoughts: More ghosts. More suspense. And romance. This one also includes a murder mystery. All good for this reader.

Last Sunday was my birthday. We went to see the Dragons play. Game was at 2pm. High was 81. And our seats were in the sun. Man, was it hot! After the fifth or sixth inning, we moved to seats that were in the shade (since there were a lot of open seats). I was able to enjoy the rest of the game more comfortable. And the Dragons won! After the game we had dinner with the kids at Giordano’s. It was a really fun day. Couldn’t ask for anything better. Well, except for maybe not as much sun. Good thing I brought the sunscreen (and it worked!).

So… How hot is too hot for you outside? I never thought 81 was super hot, but with the humidity, it really is unbearable. Unless you’re in the shade. I hope there is shade at the Footy game!

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Reading Update and Other News

Quick health update: I’m having an MRI on July 7 to check the mass on my left adrenal gland and I’m having a biopsy on one or two nodules on my thyroid on July 9. So glad I don’t have to wait until September to get these suspicious masses check out! The endocrinologist also ran a lot of blood work on me to double check the adrenal gland. I probably had a dozen vials taken! FYI: 34 vials = a pint. At least that’s what the lab technician told me.

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book #35

Dates read: June 21-25, 2021
Title: Forever Werewolf
Year of publication: 2012
Author: Michele Hauf
Genre: Paranormal romance
Series: Beautiful Creatures
# of Pages: 274
Paper or plastic: Mass market paperback
How obtained: Purchased.
Blurb from book: Alexis Conner, princess of the Alpine pack and pureblood werewolf, hides a painful secret—she has never shifted. If she can’t shift, she can’t mate, and so Lexi resigned herself to a lifetime of loneliness. But then a stranger arrives, and Lexi senses that her world will never be the same…
    A massive avalanche might be to blame for Trystan Hawkes getting stuck at Castle Wulfsiege, but after one look at Lexi, Trystan is not about to leave. Lexi is strong, smart and incredibly sexy. Not that it matters. Tryst is an omega—the fabled lone wolf. Even more damning is his mixed vampire heritage.
    Lexi knows that the vampire blood running through Tryst’s veins makes him off-limits, but what if he’s the one man who can rouse her inner wolf?
My thoughts: Just focusing on the couple and the romance, I liked this book very much. And thank goodness there are some vampires in it, too. I realized why I’m not a fan of werewolf (shifter) books: the leaders of the pack are assholes, the betas blindly follow their leader, and the women are treated as property (I really felt sorry for Lexi’s sister, even at the end).

It’s been nasty hot here. Not as bad as the northwest, but 90+ temps with high humidity is pretty darn close. If I don’t get my walk started before 8am, I don’t bother. It’s just too miserable out there. But I am walking up to 2 miles now. I’d probably go farther if not for the heat!

So… Watching any sports? I gave up on hockey when Vegas lost. I’m into baseball now. Reds are fun to watch this year (about time!).

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Reading Update, Doctors, and Weather

Saw my primary care physician yesterday. She thinks September is too long to wait for my “suspicious” thyroid nodule to be looked at/biopsied and will look into getting me seen on base sooner (especially since one of their endocrinologists has just returned from deployment). Fingers crossed!

EDITED TO ADD: I'm seeing the endocrinologist on base tomorrow (Thursday)!!!

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book #34

Dates read: June 14-19, 2021
Title: The Vampire’s Protector
Year of publication: 2016
Author: Michele Hauf
Genre: Paranormal romance
Series: Beautiful Creatures
# of Pages: 296
Paper or plastic: Mass market paperback
How obtained: Unsure. It’s signed by the author, though. So I either purchased it from her or got it free at a convention.
Blurb from book: For over a century, musician Nicolo Paganini had rested in peace. Until Summer Santiago’s innocent touch raised him from the grave. Awakening in a world suddenly so foreign, he needed Summer’s help. Yet his protector was a vampire…with a deep desire for Nicolo’s blood.
    Despite the raving attraction between them, the pair had something more dangerous than bloodlust to contend with. The devil had a plan for Nicolo’s eternal life. Should Nicolo play the cursed black violin, his fate would be sealed. But if he resisted Satan’s call, he would lose the woman who had made his life worth living.
My thoughts: I enjoyed this story very much. There were just a couple of loose threads I would have like answered (and have nothing to do with the series), but it didn’t distract from my enjoyment. This was a great romance with lots of paranormal characters.

Monday I got up early to walk because it was already warm and muggy by 7:30am (temps in the 70s). Tuesday I had to wait until after 9:00am for it to warm up to the high 50s. What is up with this weather? Granted, I’d prefer not to have any more humid days. I don’t like sweating that much while walking.

So… Happy belated Father’s Day to all you daddies out there. I hope you had a good time. Hubby seemed to enjoy his day. And he appreciated the new headphones I got him. I knew they’d be perfect. He’d sent me the link! Haha!

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Reading Update and I’m Losing Motivation

I’m still exercising 4-5 times a week, but I’m losing motivation to continue. Then I kind of realized part of my problem: I’ve been sleeping in too late. Each day this winter I’ve been getting up later and later. In the summer I would get up at 6:30 to go walking. Now I’m lucky to climb out of bed by 8:00. So, I’m going to start setting my alarm (starting Thursday, since I don’t work out on Wednesday and Sundays). Hopefully that will get my motivation back. And free up my morning to actually WRITE! We’ll see…

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book #10

Dates read: February 10-15
Title: The Vanished
Year of publication: 2020
Author: Brett Battles
Genre: Suspense/Thriller
Series: Jonathan Quinn #15
# of Pages: 414
Paper or plastic: Trade paperback
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from book: A missing physicist. Two botched jobs. And a world gone mad. Will this be Jonathan Quinn’s last job ever?
    It’s been nine years since Quinn last worked with Mariko. That fateful job left him with a permanent sense of guilt, and her with a life forever changed.
    Now, their paths have crossed again. Not in a way Quinn would have hoped for, but at least in one that might allow him to make partial amends.
    But a cleaner’s got to do what a cleaner’s got to do.

My thoughts: Man, I forget how sucked into these books I get. This is a really good series. Even got my husband hooked on these books.

Last Friday I got lucky and nabbed an appointment for my first COVID vaccine (state opened it up to people with certain diseases and such and my leaky heart valve got it for me—about time it did SOMETHING good). My appointment is for this Saturday. I hope it goes. The snow has delayed some shipments and anything is possible. Keeping my fingers crossed I actually get the shot.

So… It’s snowy and cold here. Got 7” of snow on Monday/Tuesday. And more is forecasted for Thursday. But first, a deep freeze (temps in the single digits with wind chills below zero). I’m so over winter!!! How about you?

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Reading Update and I’m Sick of Snow

There has been snow on the ground since… forever. Okay, not forever. Probably just last week, but still… There’s too much. It snowed on top of snow. Multiple times. I miss seeing the grass. Even between snow storms. And we’re not finished with the storms, either. More is forecasted tonight. I really hate this season.

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book #8

Dates read: February 2-6
Title: Fade Out (Morganville Vampires Vol. 4)
Year of publication: 2009
Author: Rachel Caine
Genre: YA Paranormal
Series: Morganville Vampires #7
# of Pages: 215
Paper or plastic: Trade paperback
How obtained: Borrowed from daughter
Blurb from book: Without Bishop ruling over the town of Morganville, life has changed—dramatically. The resident vampires have made major concessions to the human population. With their newfound freedoms, Claire Danvers and her friends  are almost starting to feel comfortable again, but when a filmmaker goes missing after starting work on a short documentary about vampires, Claire and her friends are feeling anything but safe.

My thoughts: Another story with an ending. I’m shocked. If this keeps up, I may have to go buy the rest of the series. Or at least look for them in the library or used book stores. :D. Myrnin is becoming my favorite character in this series and I can totally see David Tenant playing him. He’s one crazy vampire!

Book #9

Dates read: February 7-9
Title: Kiss of Death (Morganville Vampires Vol. 4)
Year of publication: 2010
Author: Rachel Caine
Genre: YA Paranormal
Series: Morganville Vampires #8
# of Pages: 213
Paper or plastic: Trade paperback
How obtained: Borrowed from daughter
Blurb from book: Vampire Michael Glass just received the call he’s been waiting for all his life. His music has attracted the attention of a heavily connected music producer who wants him to cut a demo and play some dates—which means Michael and his friends will have to enter the human world. But between a pack of hateful humans and a savage party of traveling vampires, Michael, Claire, Shane, and Eve may not make it to the show on time…or ever.

My thoughts: Very suspenseful! Now that these stories are actually ending (yes, this one had a satisfying ending), I want to read the rest of the series. Yes, I know. I’m strange.

Hubby has an appointment to get his COVID vaccine tomorrow. Unfortunately, I’m too young to get mine. Too young by two years. So I wait… At least Hubby is getting his. One less thing to worry about.

So… How’s the weather where you are? Is the ground white, green, or brown? Haha!

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Reading Update and it’s HOT

Yesterday was the 7^th straight day of 90+ degree weather. We’re expected to be in the 90s for the next three days, too. I like summer, but this is ridiculous!

Walking in the morning is almost unbearable. Thankfully there are shaded streets I can walk on. If not for that, I don’t know if I’d be able to walk as much. I’m back up to 3+ miles a day, now, too!

Shocker, huh?

Today I might not walk as far, though. I think my poor bones need a rest. But I hate breaking a streak (I’m up to 9 days), thus I’ll stick to 2 miles. Or less. We’ll see. Or rather, my bones will tell me when it’s enough.

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book #26

Dates read: June 26 – July 5
Title: Angels’ Blood
Year of publication: 2009
Author: Nalini Singh
Genre: Urban Fantasy Romance
Series: Guild Hunter #1
# of Pages: 339
Paper or plastic: Paperback
How obtained: Free from a convention.
Blurb from Book:. Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux knows she is the best—but she does not know if even she is good enough for this job. Hired by the dangerously beautiful archangel Raphael, a being so lethal that no mortal wants his attention, Elena knows failure is not an option—even if the task is impossible.
    Because this time, it’s not a wayward vamp she has to track. It’s an archangel gone bad.
    The job will put Elena in the midst of a killing spree like no other—and pull her to the razor’s edge of passion. Even if the hunt does not destroy her, succumbing to Raphael’s seductive touch just might. For when archangels play, mortals break…
My thoughts: This is not the type of paranormal romance I enjoy. The “hero” has too much power and control over the “heroine” for me to accept they could ever be equals (or that her love wasn’t being coerced). I’ve enjoyed other books by this author, but I won’t be reading any more of this series.

So… Dragon Con has officially cancelled this year. When the hotel offered to roll our reservation (and payment) to next year, we took it and figured we’d just lose out on our tickets to Dragon Con. But last week we were able to roll our tickets, too. So we did that before they cancelled, but I’m glad they were able to cancel. I can’t imagine what celebrities would have been there anyway.

Have any of your plans been cancelled or postponed? Kind of depressing, isn’t it? This year really sucks.

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Vacation Pictures, Part II

Oh my! Yesterday was quite a Halloween. We went from 50s and rain to 30s and flurries. And the wind was brutal! I’m surprised we had as many trick-or-treaters that we did. Still way more than we ever got at our last residence on a good weather night!

I was still hoping for more, though (and would have gotten them if the weather cooperated), so yeah, I have lots of candy leftover.

But was October one crazy month or what? Started out breaking records in the 90s and ended on flurries. And I thought March was bad!

Good time to post pictures of Florida, right? To think the warm weather wasn’t all that long ago.

Can you see that little creature on the walkway? That's a gecko. There were bunches of them around the hotel we were staying at in Key West. Maybe he was waiting for the shuttle. :)

On this visit to Key West, we toured Ernest Hemmingway's house. His house was the first one to have a built-in pool. Not by his choice, though. That would be his ex-wife's.

Hemmingway's favorite bar was Sloppy Joe's (not the one that's there now). When it closed down, he decided to take one of the urinals and use it here as a fountain.

This is where Hemmingway did a lot of his writing. I could easily write in there, too. It was a very nice space.

One of the many six-toed cats roaming on the premises. They allow each female one litter before having them fixed. You can tell they are all well taken care of.

Chickens and roosters like to roam Key West, too. This one managed to sneak into the restaurant. The wait staff ran after it, squirting it with water to get it to leave!

I finally had a chance to wear my swimsuit (no, I don't have a picture of me in it) and make it to the beach. The water was so warm! We only spent about an hour out there (didn't want to get sunburned, and didn't!), but it was a wonderful hour.

One of the few houses I saw decorated for Halloween. They went a little crazy, didn't they?

After our stay in Key West, we headed up to Sarasota/Bradenton to watch Daughter play Footy in the the US Australian Football League Nationals. Her team won their last game and came in fifth place. In case you're wondering about the scoring, her team had 4 goals (6 points each) + 6 behinds (1 point each) = 30 points. The other team only had 3 behinds.

We've been to Sarasota before but had never visited the beach. We were told we needed to see the Siesta Key Beach. That it is considered the #1 beach in the U.S. So we made it out there just after sunset. Wow, were we impressed! The beach is HUGE!

And the sand! It was the softest sand I'd ever felt. Powder soft!

I would have liked to have seen the sun set, but this was pretty, too!

Oh, and while the sun set, the moon was rising. It was an absolutely lovely night. I hope Nationals are held there again. I'll make a point of going back to this beach during the day! In my swimsuit, even!


So … Can you believe it’s November already? I miss summer.

Happy Friday!

Stacy

Wednesday Reads and I’m Safe from Tornadoes…so far

Storms ripped through Dayton on Memorial Day evening, including tornadoes. One came as close as four miles from our house (closer to our previous residence). Hubby’s work was affected in that they didn’t have any water or internet, and the new manufacturing plant they were planning on opening in 30 days was pretty much destroyed.

At first I was annoyed at all the weather alerts, and the fact the local NBC station took over the hockey game after the first period (yes, I was watching the Stanley Cup Finals). Why the station couldn’t scroll the information, or even show picture in picture, I’ll never know. It’s not like the information wasn’t on five other stations (the storms were still in Indiana at this time, not exactly the Dayton market)!

Once the game was over (which we were able to stream via the NBC Sports App), I paid more attention to the storms. Then again, they were almost in our area by that time (although, if we had lost power at any time, I would have headed for the closet—the only place in this house that doesn’t have a window). We were the fortunate ones, though. Never lost power. Wind barely kicked up. Lots of lightning, though and the rain was very heavy (but no hail, whereas it hailed about three miles from us).

More storms are expected as I post this, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed it ends up being a quieter night.

Here’s what I finished reading this week:

Book #25

Dates read: May 13-23
Title: Deadly Curiosities
Year of publication: 2014
Author: Gail Z. Martin
Genre: Paranormal mystery
Series:  Deadly Curiosities #1
# of Pages: 458
Paper or plastic: Mass market paperback
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from book: Welcome to Trifles & Folly, a store with a dark secret.
    Proprietor Cassidy Kincaide continues a family tradition begun in 1670 – acquiring and neutralizing dangerous supernatural items. It’s the perfect job for Cassidy, whose psychic gift lets her touch an object and know its history. Together with her business partner Sorren, a 500-year-old vampire and former jewel thief, Cassidy makes it her business to get infernal objects off the market.
    When a trip to a haunted hotel unearths a statue steeped in malevolent power, and a string of murders draws a trail to the abandoned old Navy yard, Cassidy and Sorren discover a diabolical plot to unleash a supernatural onslaught on their city.
    It’s time for Kincaide and her team to get rid of these Deadly Curiosities before the bodies start piling up.
My thoughts: I didn’t enjoy this so much. Not because it’s a bad book, because it’s not the type of book I enjoy reading. But I wanted to give the author a try since I’ve seen her at Dragon Con several years (and I am trying to read more new-to-me authors this year). Well, now I can say I read one of her books. No, I won’t keep reading the series. That’s not to say you wouldn’t enjoy the book. If you like detailed mysteries, with a lot of magic, then give it a try. It’s a very well written book. Heads up: there is a bit of gore, but absolutely no romantic anything in this book (which isn’t why I didn’t like it—it was just too detailed for my taste).  

So… What’s the closest you’ve been to a tornado? I think one went over our home while we were stationed at Ft. Rucker, Alabama back in the late 80s. It was night and very windy and I heard what sounded like a freight train. There were no reports of one touching down, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t there. Those suckers scare me.

Happy Reading!

Stacy

There’s Still Time to Vote!

The Strut Your Stuff Contest is still open for voting. Ghostly Interlude is included in the paranormal/sci-fi category. If you’ve rated it, thank you! If not, it’s not too late. Contest runs through May 3^rd.

Here’s the link again:
http://www.maineromancewriters.com/p/book-cover-contest.html.

The weather has been warm (and dry) enough to go walking outside. I’m not going far, yet, but it’s a start. I’m certainly walking faster (and farther) outside than I was on the treadmill. And I enjoy exploring my new neighborhood. Especially since it’s growing with new construction.

So… Do you plan on seeing Avengers: Endgame this weekend? I wanted to, but most of the seats are already sold out for this weekend. Have to see if Hubby can go into work late during the week and get tickets for the first showing (since it’s cheaper then). So I do plan on seeing it. Looks good!

Happy Friday!

Stacy

Wednesday Reads and I’m Sick of Snow!

Snow, snow, snow. All it seems to do is snow anymore. Especially, ESPECIALLY when I have plans. Why is that, do you suppose? And our new house is drafty. I thought something was wrong with the furnace, but now we’re suspecting the windows. I put in a warranty request right away (since the house is still under warranty). The windows should NOT be leaking. Brrrrr…

Here’s what I finished reading this week:

Book #13

Dates read: February 23-March 3
Title: Skinwalker
Year of publication: 2009
Author: Faith Hunter
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series:  Jane Yellowrock #1
# of Pages: 320
Paper or plastic: Paperback
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from book: Jane Yellowrock is the last of her kind—a skinwalker of Cherokee descent who can turn into any creature she desires—and hunts the undead for a living. But now she’s been hired by Katherine Fonteneau, one of the oldest vampires in New Orleans and the madam of Katie’s Ladies, to hunt a powerful rogue vampire who’s killing other vamps.
    Amidst a bordello full of real “ladies of the night,” and a hot Cajun biker with a panther tattoo who stirs her carnal desire, Jane must stay focused and complete her mission…or else the next skin she’ll need to save may be her own.
My thoughts: I have finally decided to start reading books by authors that I have seen at Dragon Con year after year after year. And I started with this one. It’s heavy on the descriptions and a bit more dense (meaning, hardly any white space on the page) than I like, but it was enjoyable and I can see me reading more of this series. If you enjoy Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake series but don’t like all the sex, then this book is for you. Don’t know if the other books in this series have sex, but this one does not. Just a lot of death and gore. You know… fun stuff.

Are you sick of winter, too? Warm weather cannot get here soon enough. Of course, then the bugs come. Ugh. Why can’t we have warm weather without the critters! I know, I gotta complain about everything. I’m blaming it on the SNOW!!!

Happy Reading!

Stacy