Wednesday Reads and Surgery Update

I had planned on posting this last Wednesday, but my access to the internet was brief and, plus, I forgot. Haha! Here’s what I read the past two weeks:

Book #55

Dates read: October 22-26
Title: “The Magic Root”
Year of publication: 2017
Author: T.S. Hottle
Genre: Sci-Fi Space Opera
Series: The Compact Universe #1
# of Pages: 65
Paper or plastic: Nook
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from Goodreads: Kai is the governor of Essenar, a prison planet that's also a rainy, acidic hell. Along comes an alien with a plant that could solve all his problems. He calls it a "potato." When the potato fails, the alien and a general Kai doesn't like offer a more drastic solution to his problems: But is this alien trying to start a war? And why?
My thoughts: I love sci-fi, but not necessarily in book form (I have a hard time picturing strange things, but love seeing them on the screen!). However, because I was curious what my friend wrote, and since this was a novella, I felt it would be okay to give sci-fi another try. Yeah, I think I just need to stay away from this genre (it got a little too confusing for me). But if you enjoy space opera sci-fi, give this one a try. You’ll probably get it more than I did (oh, and he has lots more books out there, too!).

Book #56

Dates read: October 26 – November 3
Title: “Mortal Sin”
Year of publication: 2014
Author: Allison Brennan
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Series: Seven Deadly Sins #3
# of Pages: 426
Paper or plastic: Nook
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from Goodreads: Four months ago, a black magic coven summoned the Seven Deadly Sins from hell then quickly lost control. Former witch Moira O’Donnell and her lover, ex-seminarian Rafe Cooper, captured two of the demons, but the remaining five Sins disappeared. Now, whoever gets near the demons becomes infected with an insidious urge to act out on their deadliest sin—with horrific results.
    Moira will do anything to find and imprison the remaining demons. Unfortunately, there’s no rulebook to follow, only her gut instincts … and they’re telling her something is very wrong in Santa Louisa, the small California town where the demons were first released. Fights are breaking out day and night, friends are turning on friends, and the jails are full. She wants to stay and help Sheriff Skye McPherson find the cause of the violence, but when a demon hunter goes missing while pursuing one of the Seven, Moira’s the only one who can find him.
    While Moira is tracking one demon in Canada, Rafe and Skye battle another in Santa Louisa. With every victory comes many more defeats, and Moira quickly realizes that someone—or something—doesn’t want her to return to Santa Louisa. The body count rises, demonic hot spots pop up throughout the world, and the people closest to Moira are in the most danger. When one of their own succumbs to one of the Sins, Moira fears they’re too late … and the end of the world is already here.
My thoughts: I was happy to see another book in this series, because I wasn’t sure Allison would finish it (her publisher wasn’t interested, so she had to self-pub this one). I got confused a little (probably because it had been too long since I read the last one--so yeah, you'd want to read these books in order), but I still enjoyed the story because I really liked all the characters. It did end on a small cliff-hanger (grrr), which kind of surprised me because I didn’t think there’d be any more books in this series. So maybe there will! I do enjoy the series.

Book #57

Dates read: November 4
Title: “Love Voodoo”
Year of publication: 2016
Author: Alyssa Breck
Genre: Paranormal romance
Series: N/A
# of Pages: 52
Paper or plastic: Nook
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from Goodreads: After a chance tarot card reading in a New Orleans voodoo shop, vampire Luca is intrigued by Collette, an alluring woman with an uncanny intuition. Getting intimately involved with a human is the last thing Luca has in mind, but Collette wins his trust and their friendship grows into something deeper. When Luca’s clan learns that he has asked Collette to perform a spell to bind his psychotic sire, a deadly chain of events unravels that will change their lives.
My thoughts: I was looking for a paranormal romance and the blurb drew me in. It was just what I wanted. Unfortunately, I didn’t realize it was a novella when I bought it (B&N really should show “pages” for their Nook books), so when I started reading it, figured it probably wasn’t what I was in the mood for. It’s a very well written book, so that made me happy. Still…it just felt rushed, probably because I was looking for something deeper. It’s a very sexy book, though, and I did like the characters. If you’re looking for a new paranormal author, this is a good book to try out.

Surgery went much better on Monday than the first one did (lighter anesthesia), but started way later than I expected. Got there at 11:30, but didn’t get wheeled into surgery until after 5. I was released by 8:30, though, and very hungry (since my last meal was 24 hours earlier). I’m sore today, but not as bad as last time (only one cut vs. the two I had last time). I don’t see my oncologist until the 27th, so I won’t have any more news to share until after then. Thanks for all your well-wishes. It’s much appreciated.

Happy Reading!

Stacy

From Fun to Ouch

Had a wonderful time on our vacation. Still trying to get all organized and I have yet to download the pictures from my phone because I’m lazy like that (or maybe just have too much to do and keep forgetting?). And today I go back to surgery to have the rest of the whatever-it-is removed from my breast. That happens this afternoon.

Hopefully, it’ll be quick and I’ll recover just as fast. And hopefully I won’t hurt as much as last time.

I’m hoping a lot.

I originally planned to tell you what I learned about tequila during our tour in Puerto Vallarta, but I still need to go over what I wrote so maybe I’ll post it on Friday. And maybe I’ll have pictures to go with it.

Maybe.

I’m so decisive today…not!

So… do you find that your mind is still on vacation when you return from one? And it’s not like I actually work, you know? Ugh.

Have a great Monday!


Stacy

Wednesday Reads and Man, It’s HOT!

Made it to Santa Barbara yesterday. Normal temps this time of year is in the mid 70s. It was 98. Supposed to reach 90 today. Normally, the temps don’t bother me so much, but my parents’ house doesn’t have A/C.

I’m melting…

I know. It could be worse. It could be humid, too. Luckily, it is not.

Here’s what I read the past week:

Book #54

Dates read: October 15-21
Title: “Immortally Yours”
Year of publication: 2017
Author: Lynsay Sands
Genre: Paranormal romance
Series: Argeneau Vampire Series #26
# of Pages: 367
Paper or plastic: Mass market paperback
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from book: One hundred and twenty-five years is a long time to nurse a crush. That’s how long it’s been since Beth Argenis first met Cullen “Scotty” MacDonald and he instantly became the star of her most X-rated dreams. Back then, he was rescuing her from a rogue immortal. Now Beth’s a Rogue Hunter—and a damn good one. She doesn’t need saving anymore, despite what Scotty thinks. What she does need is the fierce, wild desire that finally erupts between them.
    Scotty has hesitated to claim Beth as his own. But one explosive kiss confirms what he’s long suspected: She’s his life mate. But Beth is tough, fearless, beautiful…and in immortal danger. Unless he wants to lose her forever, he’ll have to rethink everything he once believed about love and destiny as well as confront an enemy who’s terrifyingly close.
My thoughts: I still enjoy this world so much. A Lynsay Sands book is always an entertaining one for me (which is a good thing, because these books are an auto-buy). They’re sexy AND funny (but not in a crazy-funny way).

There’s a huge giveaway of paranormal romance & urban fantasy books going on HERE (to help generate Amazon followers). Each author is sponsoring a book. Check it out and click on any of those you’d like to win (you’ll see who’s sponsoring it, too). And if you click on Lynsay Sands’ book, you might recognize who’s sponsoring that giveaway. Hint: it’s ME! J

So… How about those Dodgers? Whoo hoo!

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Pictures Taken Over the Weekend

I found a city I could easily live in: Carlsbad, California. Of course, I'd probably have to win the lottery to afford it. I can only GUESS how much it costs to live here.

Daughter's footy games didn't go so well. They lost all four. She still had a good time and the weather was OUTSTANDING! I mean, you couldn't have asked for a better weekend. Well, except for a win. She would have liked one of those.

Today we visit an aquarium before taking Daughter to the airport. Then maybe Hubby and I will go over to the USS Midway Museum. Maybe. We haven't made up our minds yet. Anyway, here are some pictures I took over the weekend:

I'm thinking you can only find this in California.
We discovered this at our hotel.

This is where the USAFL Nationals was played at:
Surf Cup Sports Park in Del Mar, CA.
I can only imagine how much those homes must cost.

My daughter in the pink, #66.
I'll let you guess WHY she has 66.
Or you can ask in the comments and I'll tell you. :)

Beach in Carlsbad, CA

The other view of the beach in Carlsbad. We walked to the
end in this direction.

Some of the homes/apartments/vacation suites
overlooking the beach. I wouldn't mind staying at
one of them, but I'm sure I couldn't afford it.

Reached the end of the beach and took this picture.
As I was uploading it to Instagram, I stupidly turned my
back to the ocean. Yep, a wave got me. Ooops.

Sunset in California!

That's all for today. Tomorrow I head up to my parent's house. I'm not sure if they have wifi or not, so next post might be difficult. We'll see.

Happy Monday!


Stacy

Vacation, Cancer Update, and Horror Flash Fiction

My vacation starts today! Yay, yay, yay!

I can’t guarantee I’ll continue to blog during the next couple of weeks, but I will if I remember and I have something to say/share—like a good picture. I mean, I’ll be in Southern California. I’m sure I’ll have lots of good pictures!

Now here’s hoping the flight doesn’t mess with my hearing. I really hate flying because of that (it HURTS when the plane descends), but it’s just too far to drive this time around.

So… Yesterday I saw my surgeon. Yes, I need more surgery. But… it doesn’t have anything to do with the cancer. He got all of that and the margins were great (yay!). The area that is giving me problems is an area that could develop into cancer. Apparently, “the book” requires a larger margin for that than the cancer and it’s not known if radiation will get/kill it all. Since the surgery isn’t as long (about a 15-minute procedure) and I won’t need to be completely out (like I was before), it made the decision to go with another surgery a lot easier to make.

Besides, Hubby pretty much said I need to do whatever it takes for me to still be around when he turns 80. J

That means I’ll have surgery after I get back from my trip (Nov 6), and radiation will be pushed into mid December provided I don’t need chemo. Now, my lymph nodes all came back clear (yay!!), but there’s another test that’s being run to determine if I have some gene that indicates I have a higher chance of reoccurrence. I find out that answer on Nov 27th. Hopefully the answer comes back NO. I really do not want chemo (but I’ll do it for Hubby if needed).

Okay, enough of that depressing stuff. Here’s something fun. I got a question from Goodreads (in the Ask an Author section), to write a two-sentence horror story. After thinking for a bit, this is what I wrote:

She walked into the garage and the spider taunted her as it sat blocking her way to the car. But after smushing the nasty arachnid, like she had done to all the others, millions more rained down upon her head in retaliation.

Was that horror enough for you? It certainly was for me! I hate spiders!!!

So… Are you having a second summer this week? I was all set for moderate temps back home only to find it’ll be close to 100! Yikes!! That is definitely NOT fall weather for Southern California.

Happy Friday!

Stacy