Reading Update and I’m Back Home

I made it back home safe and sound.

The cruise was great. Loved being relaxed. Now I’m home and I’m stressing over Christmas. Or at least just stressing over the work I need to do. See why I cruise? Oh well… Next cruise begins in roughly two months. Yay!

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 56

Dates read: December 7-10, 2021
Title: A Gift of Ghosts
Year of publication: 2011
Author: Sarah Wynde
Genre: Paranormal romance
Series: The Tassamara Series Book One
# of Pages: 170
Paper or plastic: Nook
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from the book: Akira has secrets. But so does the town of Tassamara.
    Akira Malone believes in the scientific method, evolution, and Einstein’s theory of relativity. And ghosts. All the logic and reason in the world can’t protect her from the truth—she can see and communicate with spirits.
    But Akira is sure that her ability is just a genetic quirk and the ghosts she encounters simply leftover electromagnetic energy. Dangerous electromagnetic energy.
    Zane Latimer believes in telepathy, precognition, auras, and that playing Halo with your employees is an excellent management technique. He also thinks that maybe, just maybe, Akira can help his family get in touch with their lost loved ones.
    But will Akira ever be able to face her fears and accept her gift? Or will Zane’s relatives be trapped between life and death forever.
My thoughts: The story idea (of how Akira sees ghosts) is similar to the new series “Ghosts,” although this was written years before the series and it’s not a comedy. It’s light reading and enjoyable, but rather short (for my tastes).There isn’t a cliff hanger (yay) as this story could be read as a standalone. Seems the series has to do with the inhabitants of the town and not just one couple. Don’t know if I’ll continue to read the rest of the series, because while it was fun, it really didn’t grab me to want to read more. Heck, I’d completely forgotten I’d bought this book in the first place. I can only imagine I found it while looking for books as keywords (Amazon advertising), and checked B&N to see if it was there, since that’s the only place I buy e-books. If you’re looking for a short romance with ghosts and a little suspense, give this one a try.  

After stating on the last post that I wasn’t working on Ghostly Protector during the cruise, I went and worked on Ghostly Protector! Finally got past the part that was holding me up. Actually, finally FIXED the part that was holding me up. Boy, did that feel good.

I still have to organize my photos (stuff I need to do), so once I do that, I’ll post some pictures here on the blog. Hopefully I won’t take too long, but hey, when I get stressed to do stuff, I tend to not do it. Or other stuff gets priority. Something like that.

So… Are you ready for Christmas? I haven’t even gotten the tree up yet. But it is on my list of things to do. Probably should do it first though, huh?

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Reading Update and Still Cruising

Yesterday we spent our day on Gatun Lake in Panama. The lake that is just past the locks, since our cruise only went to the Panama Canal, not through it (like the cruise we have booked in April 2023 is supposed to do). If we were to cross to the Pacific Ocean, we would travel through the lake to the other locks. Well, I assume there are other locks. I really don’t know. But it was interesting to see how the locks on the Atlantic/Caribbean side functioned. To think they’re 107 years old!

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 54

Dates read: November 30 – December 2, 2021
Title: Naked in Death
Year of publication: 1995
Author: J.D. Robb
Genre: Romantic suspense
Series: Eve Dallas/In Death #1
# of Pages: 260
Paper or plastic: Nook
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from the book: Eve Dallas is a New York City police lieutenant hunting for a ruthless killer. In over ten years on the force, she’s seen it all—and knows that her survival depends on her instincts. And she’s going against every warning telling her not to get involved with Roarke, an Irish billionaire – and a suspect in Eve’s murder investigation. But passions and seduction have rules of their own, and it’s up to Eve to take a chance in the arms of a man she knows nothing about—except the addictive hunger of needing his touch.
My thoughts: So many friends have talked about this series and since I discovered the first book in the series was only 99 cents for my Nook, I decided to see what all the fuss was about. Okay… I may need to read some more. I still don’t care for Nora’s head hopping, but I really enjoyed the story, and the characters. And it’s set in the future. More of a future to 1995 than 2021, but 2058 is still a ways away. The Nook books for the rest of the series aren’t cheap, though (only a dollar less than a paperback), so I may check them out of the library instead.

Book 55

Dates read: December 3-7, 2021
Title: Never Say Die
Year of publication: 1992
Author: Tess Gerritsen
Genre: Romantic suspense
Series: N/A
# of Pages: 202
Paper or plastic: Nook
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from the book: Twenty years after her father’s plane crashed in the jungles of Southeast Asia, Willy Jane Maitland is finally tracking his last moves. She recognizes the danger, but her search for the truth is the only thing that matters.
    Willy knows she can’t proceed without the help of ex-army officer Guy Barnard, who knows the mysterious land well. But in a place where truth has many faces, she suspects even Guy has hidden motives. What she couldn’t have prepared for are the shocking secrets and the undeniable attraction.
My thoughts: I don’t know what I think about this book. I got it because it was on sale for 99 cents and I love Tess Gerritsen’s books, but it didn’t really grab me like her other ones. It was an okay read, I guess. One to pass the time while cruising.

I brought my computer on the cruise and hoped to become motivated to work on Ghostly Protector. But alas, that hasn’t happened yet. Still sailing for a few more days, so maybe? We’ll see. Have two more ports to visit (Isla Roatan, Honduras and Cozumel, Mexico). Already been through Jamaica, Curacao, Aruba, and Limon (Costa Rica). This has been quite the trip! And technically, I shouldn’t have to work during vacation. Right? I know… excuses. I’m full of them!

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Reading Update and I’m Celebrating 42 Years on a Cruise

Hubby and I are celebrating our 42nd anniversary today in Jamaica! That’s our first stop on our cruise. I’m so glad to finally be back cruising. I’ve missed it sooooo much!

Now, while I was able to post this on my blog, I don’t have access to the internet very often (I can use it when Hubby isn’t), and the connection can be slow or non-existent during the day, so I won’t be able to answer any comments. But I actually finished a book before Wednesday, and I wanted to share what I read. I’m hoping I’ll get several books read during this 14-day cruise. But if they’re all as long as the last one…maybe not!

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 53

Dates read: November 15-30, 2021
Title: The Devil and the Dark Water
Year of publication: 2020
Author: Stuart Turton
Genre: Historical mystery/thriller
Series: N/A
# of Pages: 449
Paper or plastic: Nook
How obtained: Purchased for free
Blurb from Goodreads: A murder on the high seas. A remarkable detective duo. A demon who may or may not exist.
    It's 1634 and Samuel Pipps, the world's greatest detective, is being transported to Amsterdam to be executed for a crime he may, or may not, have committed. Travelling with him is his loyal bodyguard, Arent Hayes, who is determined to prove his friend innocent.
    But no sooner are they out to sea than devilry begins to blight the voyage. A twice-dead leper stalks the decks. Strange symbols appear on the sails. Livestock is slaughtered. Anyone could be to blame. Even a demon.
    And then three passengers are marked for death, including Samuel.
    With Pipps imprisoned, only Arent can solve a mystery that connects every passenger. A mystery that stretches back into their past and now threatens to sink the ship, killing everybody on board.
    For fans of Steven King, The Devil and the Dark Water brings a chilling new spin to the Sherlock Holmes detective duo in a thriller of supernatural horror, occult suspicion, and paranormal mystery on the high seas.
My thoughts: I was offered a free book from B&N last month and of the four presented, this one looked the most interesting. And I was right! If you like sea-faring mysteries (a la Sherlock Holmes), with a lot of superstitious characters, this book might interest you, too. But just because it’s a historical book, don’t expect any real history. It’s all fiction. Which is the way I like it.

I’ll post next Wednesday if possible. If not, I’ll “see” you on the 15th!

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Reading Update and We’re Going to WV

Hubby and I are taking an unplanned trip to WV today. To get a copy of Hubby’s birth certificate. Seems he let his passport expire back in June and we need the birth certificate so he can get on the ship later this month for our cruise.

You’d think he’d kept his birth certificate secure somewhere. Like, where all the other certificates are kept. But nope. He got his passport while in the Army and has never needed his birth certificate (or he needed it for the original passport and promptly lost it). So we’re going to Charleston because we don’t trust we’ll get it in the mail before we leave.

He processed getting a renewed passport on Saturday, but he won’t get it back until after our cruise. However, at least we’ll have it before our February cruise. I hope.

We would have noticed the expiration date if we’d been able to go on ANY of the cruises we had booked since December 2019. But since those were all cancelled… Oh well, not much we can do about it now.

Except drive to WV and get his birth certificate. Do you think I’ll let him forget this?

No way.

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 52

Dates read: November 6-15, 2021
Title: Mercury Striking
Year of publication: 2016
Author: Rebecca Zanetti
Genre: Post-apocalyptic romantic suspense
Series: Scorpius Syndrome #1
# of Pages: 362
Paper or plastic: Mass market paperback
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from book: With nothing but rumors to lead her, Lynne Harmony has trekked across a nightmare landscape to find one man—a mysterious, damaged legend who protects the weak and leads the strong. He’s more than muscle and firepower—and in post-plague L.A., he’s her only hope. As the one woman who could cure the disease, Lynne is the single most volatile—and vulnerable—creature in this new and ruthless world. But face to face with Jax Mercury… Danger has never looked quite so delicious.
My thoughts: Man, when I started reading this, I thought… COVID? I mean, this was written in 2016 and while COVID isn’t as bad as Scorpius, there are just too many similarities, especially when they mentioned what the virus looked like. It was kind of eerie. But this is the beginning of a series, and it leaves a few threads hanging (except the romance, which is a good thing!). I’m all in now and will get the rest of the books soon.

So… is your passport still valid? Do you have your birth certificate in a secure place? Might want to check on those things now, just in case…

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Reading Update and Exercising

Exercising sucks! Unfortunately, it’s an evil necessity for me since I’m not an active person naturally.

I don’t mind walking, though. That’s fun. But not so fun when the temps drop. Then it makes me miserable (I hate being cold). Why’d we pick to live in Ohio? Oh yeah… it’s cheap here. Well, cheaper than California.

So last year I took up step aerobics during the cold weather. Which led me to realize I needed my heart valve fixed, but we know how that ended up. So far. Anyway, I pulled out the step a couple of weeks ago. Figured it was better to exercise a little than not at all (I don’t even bother putting in the risers—I can’t handle them anyway).

But now I hurt. I think I pulled a muscle in my thigh. This is what I get for all that walking? Step aerobics is way more strenuous than walking, but you couldn’t tell that from my Fitbit. Ugh.

Yeah, exercise sucks. But I need it in my life. So I hope my thigh feels better soon. I can’t afford to be away from exercising for very long. Otherwise, I may never start up again.

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 51

Dates read: October 28-November 5, 2021
Title: Driven
Year of publication: 2021
Author: Rebecca Zanetti
Genre: Romantic suspense
Series: Deep Ops #4
# of Pages: 379
Paper or plastic: Mass market paperback
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from book: Angus Force is determined to hunt down the serial killer he’d once shot dead—or so he thought. But an anonymous source reports that Lassiter is alive. Force hasn’t slept since, knowing it’s only a matter of time before “The Surgeon” strikes again. And soon, a body is found, bearing Lassiter’s same maniacal MO. It’s just the beginning of a murderous trail blazing through DC and Virginia, right to Force’s backyard…
    Nari Zhang is the shrink for the ragtag Deep Ops Unit, though she isn’t Force’s shrink—which is a very good thing. Because once they’re thrown together on the case, their attraction is explosive and irresistible. They’ll just have to fight that much harder to keep the heat between them from flaming out of control. But things are about to become far more challenging, and deadly, than they could have imagined…
    Once the killer catches a glimpse of Nari, she becomes his new obsession. She is now the focus point—for both Force and Lassiter—in a dangerous dance for survival…
My thoughts: Oooh, nice twist at the end. Great romantic suspense. I really like this series.

So… how do you keep fit in cold weather? Do you bother? I miss my old fitness center, but it got bought out by a larger company and it’s just not the same anymore so I didn’t bother renewing my membership (not that they contacted me and asked me to). I also moved farther away, so there’s that, too. Yes, I can be THAT lazy.

Happy Reading!

Stacy