Reading Update and I’m Back to Exercising—Finally

I have really been slacking in my exercise. I just couldn’t seem to get back to step aerobics and the cold temperatures kept me indoors (I hate walking in the cold). Then other stuff just happened and my motivation kind of took a nose-dive. But on Monday I decided to finally get off my butt and do something. And I did it on Tuesday, too! Let’s see if I can stick with it.

I know, I have some really strange timing. I wait until three weeks before my surgery to start exercising again. Am I crazy or what?

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 3

Dates read: January 10-17, 2022
Title: A Mercenary to Love
Year of publication: 2021
Author: Landra Graf
Genre: Sci-fi romance
Series: Bad Boys of Space #4
# of Pages: 250
Paper or plastic: Trade paperback
How obtained: Purchased from author
Blurb from the book: When computer genius Sampson Morales’ latest security measures fail to prevent the kidnapping of an Allied Planetary Union Ambassador’s child, he has no choice but to track and save the kid himself…especially if he wants to be paid.
    Zasha Gustaf believed fighting with the Humans First movement could redeem her mercenary past, but when they use her intel to kidnap an innocent, she starts to have her doubts. Running into the only man she’s ever loved and who’s on the same trail is a sign. She commits to helping Sampson stop this group from sacrificing another blameless person, but she has another motive.
    Sampson and Zasha have been down this road before, except last time it led to betrayal and heartache. He can’t trust her, and her attempts at redemption are met with constant rebuke, but when everyone, even the universe, is in danger, relying on each other is the only way forward.
    Is a second chance possible for either of them…or will the past repeat itself?
My thoughts: Thoroughly enjoyed this one. It appears this may be the end of the series as the next series is about the AI in this one (and I'm just not sure about that...yet). But this was a fun series, so if you like non-techy sci-fi romance, give this a try!

Forty-six years ago today I was enjoying my last day as a civilian. You see, forty-six years ago tomorrow, I joined the Army. Man. That’s a long time ago! But it doesn't feel like it. My brain still thinks I'm young. My body...not so much!

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Reading Update and I Don’t Have COVID

My daughter tested positive for COVID on Saturday (after exhibiting cold symptoms). She works from our house and spent the night Friday (like she usually does).

To say we were nervous, is an understatement, even though neither Hubby nor I were experiencing any symptoms. But Hubby had a doctor appointment coming up, so we got tested just to be sure.

NOT DETECTED.

Whew. What a relief.

We still don’t know how our daughter got it (and thankfully she had a very mild case). She’s the most careful of all of us (we’ve all had shots and boosters) and when she goes out, she’s usually out with us (and always wearing a mask). Just shows you how strange this disease is, I guess.

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 2

Dates read: January 3-10, 2022
Title: The Body Collector
Year of publication: 2020
Author: Landra Graf
Genre: Sci-fi romance
Series: Bad Boys of Space #3
# of Pages: 224
Paper or plastic: Trade paperback
How obtained: Purchased from author
Blurb from the book: Alexander ‘Big Al’ Smith signed on as a government body collector to get away from his parents and determine his own future. Illegal black marketing of body organs was supposed to be his path to early retirement…until he got caught.
    Loyda Miles, government investigator, seeks the truth—against the wishes of her boss—and she’ll blackmail Al over his illegal ventures to help her capture the culprits behind the disappearances of thousands from the Saturn ring jails.
    When Loyda finds herself wanted for her boss’s death, the tables turn and Al’s the one in a position of power. In exchange for protection and his help in getting the people responsible, she’s willing to help clear his name. Exploring the attraction between them during seductive nights and danger-filled days is an added incentive.
    In a deadly race against time, Al and Loyda must outrun government forces and discover the mastermind behind this conspiracy…if they don’t want to ‘disappear’ like all the others…
My thoughts: People who enjoy the “enemies to lovers” trope will probably eat this one up. It’s not a favorite trope of mine, but the action and adventure in this book helped me get past the enemies thing. I do like how characters from previous books show up in later ones.

So... We had to wait unusually long for our test results. We were able to get tested on base on Monday, but the Tricare website was down Monday night through Tuesday night! Doesn’t it seem like the case when you really want a website to work and it doesn’t? So we don’t know if our results just took a long time, or if we got notified late because the site was down. But it was a relief to see NOT DETECTED on the results!

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 Happy End of Year!

This is most likely the last post for 2021. Probably last book finished, too. I don’t see me reading a lot this week. At least not enough to finish something. I didn’t do too bad at 58 books this year, huh? And I couldn’t even say that was because of my cruise, because I had already reached my goal before that started. I mostly read during breakfast and lunch. And if I’m not in the mood to do something else, I’ll read. My eyes curse me on those days, but it is what it is: I love stories. Especially good ones.

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 58

Dates read: December 20-28, 2021
Title: The Wolf
Year of publication: 2021
Author: J.R. Ward
Genre: Paranormal romance
Series: Black Dagger Brotherhood Prison Camp #2
# of Pages: 418
Paper or plastic: Hardback
How obtained: Purchased (I also won a copy)
Blurb from the book: Rio Hernandez-Guerrero has been working undercover to bring down Caldwell’s worst drug lord, the elusive and sadistic Mozart. She knows she’s finally getting close to him when she’s ordered to negotiate a massive deal with a shadowy supplier. But what shows up at the meeting…is nothing she expects.
    Betrayed by his clan, Lucan was locked up decades ago for the crime of being both wolven and vampire. Forced to engage in drug dealing by the prison camp’s despot, he is not looking for anything more complicated in his cold and isolated life. But then a human woman with a stare that tames him, crosses his path…
    Rio captures a predator’s heart, but they both have secrets that threaten not only their fate as soulmates but their very lives. Will they find a way to win at the deadly game they’re both playing…or will their inner natures shatter their love?
My thoughts: Love, love, love this series. Or actually, this world. It’s the same thing, right? Seems like it to me. The next book can’t come out soon enough. I could have read this book a lot quicker, except I wanted to make it last. But once I got really involved, I couldn’t stop reading. And now I’m sad it’s over.
    FYI - I won a copy of this book (Goodreads giveaway) after I had pre-ordered a copy, that I don't remember pre-ordering. I don't usually pre-order books, so that's why I entered the giveaway (and is it strange that the last two time I won a giveaway was a J.R. Ward book???). So now I have two copies. Might have to give one of them away.

So… how many books have you read this year? Did you reach your goal? Did you set one? I’ll set my goal for 2022 to be 50 again. Why ruin a good streak?

Happy Reading and Happy New Year!

Stacy

Reading Update and Merry Christmas!

If you celebrate the holiday, Merry Christmas! If you celebrate something else, Happy Holidays! Yesterday was the first day of winter and now I can expect the days to start getting longer again. Of course, I have to suffer through snow and cold before the longer days bring warmer weather, but I have to look at the positives here!

Our Christmas should be warm and wet this year. Warm being near 60 degrees. And that’s a lot warmer than it is today (at 30). Doesn’t matter if it rains, it’s way better than snow, so I’ll take what I can.

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 57

Dates read: December 10-20, 2021
Title: The Way You Bite
Year of publication: 2017
Author: Zoe Forward
Genre: Paranormal romance
Series: Blood Wars #1
# of Pages: 223
Paper or plastic: Nook
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from the Goodreads: When King Werewolf shows up in veterinarian Vee Scarpa's ER, she's livid.
    Her father, North American head honcho vampire, has threatened a chilling or else if she "accidentally" helped a wolf again, especially since they're at war. But she's tempted by the sexy wolf. And his deadly blood calls to her in a way that should set off warning bells...
    A promise to his brother in arms obliges Lexan Dimitrov to rescue the aristocrat vampire before her family discovers her secret—a secret Vee herself isn't even aware of. What he didn't expect was to find her sexy-as-hell. He's not into vamps, yet the inescapable heat building between them is a delicious temptation guaranteed to end in total disaster.
My thoughts: This is book 1 in a series, so there are some loose ends to the overall story (basically about the war between vamps and wolves), but the romance is contained in this book with a satisfying ending, so all’s good there. I enjoyed this for the most part. I had a few issues with the plot, especially at the end, but others might not even realize the issue. Will I get the next book in the series? Probably.

So… do you go to the movies on Christmas day? It’s a good possibility we may, but finding a movie everyone wants to see will be the issue.  I know what I want to see, but not everyone is into football movies (Kurt Warner fan, here). Got any recommendations?

Happy Reading!

Stacy