Finished Reading “Girl Missing” and “Ghostly Protector” is a Finalist!

I got some wonderful news while on this cruise (yes, I’m still on it—we arrive back in Baltimore on Sunday). Ghostly Protector is a finalist in the National Excellence in Romance Fiction Awards! Winners will be announced in July. You can find all the finalists listed here: NERFA Finalists & Winners - National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award. I am extremely stoked! And extremely happy!!

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 12

Dates read: June 4 – 5, 2025

Title: Girl Missing (previously published as Peggy Sue Got Murdered)
Year of publication: 1994/2014
Author: Tess Gerritsen
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Series:  N/A
# of Pages: 185
Paper or plastic: Nook
How obtained: Purchased from B&N
Blurb from book: A beautiful young woman’s corpse is found dumped in a garbage-strewn alley. Now laid out in the office of medical examiner Kat Novak is an unidentified body that betrays no secrets—except for a matchbook clutched in one stiff hand, seven numbers scrawled inside. When a second victim is discovered, Kat begins to fear that a serial killer is stalking the streets, using a deadly drug to do his dirty work. The police are skeptical. The mayor won’t listen. One of the town’s most prominent citizens, with a missing daughter of his own, is also Kat’s chief suspect. As the death toll rises, Kat races to expose a deadly predator who is close enough to touch her.
Recommend: Yes
My thoughts: A real quick read for me. Kind of needed one after the monster books I have been reading lately. Gotta get my reading stats up! I enjoyed this book (I like most of her books, what can I say?), even though the romance was a bit on the thin side. But she did say this was more suspense than romance and kind of bridge between her two genres (she writes mostly suspense thrillers now). If you’re looking for a quick suspense, give this one a try.

Weather in both Canadian stops (Corner Brook & Sydney) was EXCELLENT! Kind of worried as we kept sailing through fog everywhere. Now we’re back on the Atlantic Ocean in overcast weather. I hear it’s been warm on the east coast. Right now, I kind of have my doubts.

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Finished Reading “Season of Gifts” and Cruising, What Else?

Yes, I’m on another cruise. The second of this year and not the last, either. This one took us to Greenland. We almost thought it might not happen. Ice was in the way (and growing!) of the two ports we had planned to stop at. But the people of Carnival found a solution: two nights in Nuuk instead. The weather was cold (in the 30s), but the views were awesome. I’m so glad we were able to visit this unique island.

I did have high hopes to write and exercise on this cruise. Boy, were they dashed quickly. Besides forgetting to pack some of my blood pressure meds (ooops), I had vertigo for a good portion of this cruise, and then caught someone’s crud. The cold temps didn’t help any, either. So no walking (at least, not yet…the cruise isn’t over and we will be back in warmer temps soon, I hope) and the writing has been spotty. But I do have the laptop out today and hope to get back to The Alien’s Change of Heart. Provided posting this doesn’t frustrate me (internet isn’t all that great).

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 11

Dates read: May 10 – June 3, 2025
Title: Season of Gifts
Year of publication: 2025
Author: M.Q. Barber
Genre: Erotic Romance
Series:  Neighborly Affection #8
# of Pages: 665
Paper or plastic: Nook
How obtained: Purchased from B&N
Blurb from book: Married in November, divorced in December?
    As newlyweds Henry, Alice, and Jay settle into their life together, an avalanche of trouble threatens to bury their dreams of a merry Christmas.
    Forced to confront echoes of his childhood, Henry leaves Alice and Jay to fend for themselves. Their dominant has never let them down before, but now he’s distracted, anxious, and forgetting the things that matter. Will his distance be the crack that fractures their marriage?
    Jay’s first holiday season after a bitter break with his family isn’t turning out the way he hoped. He’s trying to keep spirits high, but with his spouses stretched thin, the days grow bleak. When work obligations drive Alice toward her own long-overdue family confrontation, gut wrenching emotions split the triad further apart.
    Can they find their way back to one another, or will they be out in the cold forever?
Recommend: Yes (but read the series in order)
My thoughts: This is the final book in the series (or so she says). I enjoyed revisiting these characters, who I fell in love with when I started reading this series nearly 10 years ago! Yes, there’s lots of sex, but it’s more than that. It’s an emotional roller coaster, too. A very fitting end for a wonderful series.

It's no fun being sick when you’re away from home. Not that it’s fun at home, either. But the vertigo really made me queasy, and the coughing fits caused tremendous cramps in my stomach. I just wanted it to all end. Thankfully, it is ending. Just taking its ever-loving time, that’s all.

Tomorrow we dock in Connor Brook, Newfoundland. We’re taking an ATV excursion there. Looks to be fun. I just hope it’s not too cold (although I think the forecast is showing temps in the high 60s to low 70s). Might want to dress in layers anyway.

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Finished Reading “It Will Only Hurt for a Moment” and Enjoying Myrtle Beach

Hubby and I are spending a week in Myrtle Beach. He got a gift card for an AirBnB and we decided to use it here. We’re right on the beach! Pretty nice. Unfortunately, it might rain every day we’re here. So far we’ve gotten lucky. Fingers crossed it stays that way (but the radar is showing a huge storm coming our way).

Still… I love the beach. Don’t like the sand, but love the waves and the air and everything else about it. Yeah, I’m weird. But then, you knew that already, right?

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 10

Dates read: April 27 – May 9, 2025
Title: It Will Only Hurt for a Moment
Year of publication: 2024
Author: Delilah S. Dawson
Genre: Horror
Series:  N/A
# of Pages: 351
Paper or plastic: Hard cover
How obtained: Purchased from B&N
Blurb from Goodreads: Sarah Carpenter is starting over.
    She’s on the run—leaving behind her unsupportive, narcissistic ex-boyfriend and alcoholic, abusive mother—and headed for a new beginning at Tranquil Falls, a secluded artists’ colony on the grounds of a closed hotel. There, with no cell signal or internet to distract her, she hopes to rediscover her love for pottery and put the broken pieces of her life back together.
    But when Sarah uncovers the body of a young woman while digging a hole for a pit kiln, things start to fall apart. Her fellow artists begin to act in troubling ways. The eccentric fiber artist knits an endless scarf. The musician plays the same carousel song over and over until his fingers bleed. The calligrapher grins with ink-stained teeth. Not to mention the haunting dreams Sarah has night after night.
    When she discovers glass shards in her clay, Sarah wonders if someone is out to get her—or if she’s losing her grip on reality out here in the wilds, where the pounding of the waterfall never, ever fades. As she investigates the beautiful valley and the crumbling resort looming over them all, she unearths a chilling past that refuses to remain buried...
Recommend: Yes
My thoughts: Interesting horror story. Even has a haunted/abandoned hotel that was creepy. But I felt some things were not exactly wrapped up, especially since it seemed to be written in an omniscient POV. But we are only with Sarah the whole story, so…maybe not.

I kind of thought I might get some writing done on this trip, but I’m beginning to think not. But I am getting some reading and crocheting done. Oh, and walking. Can’t forget the walking!

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Finished Reading “Slay” and a Book Event

I went to a book event in the Indianapolis area yesterday. Sold 7 books. Not enough to break even, but better than I expected. And a lot of people seemed interested in Alien Desires (which I only had a postcard for). Hopefully I get some preorders. A lot of people were also interested in my other series, and I get the feeling they might buy the e-books later. Fingers crossed!

Overall, I would attend this event again, but alas, next year (Aug 8, 2026) I’ll be on a cruise. I know, you feel really sorry for me, huh? Haha!

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 9

Dates read: April 12-26, 2025
Title: Slay
Year of publication: 2023
Author: Laurell K. Hamilton
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series:  Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #30
# of Pages: 412
Paper or plastic: Mass market paperback
How obtained: Purchased from B&N
Blurb from Goodreads: Anita Blake is small, dark, and dangerous. Her turf is the city of St. Louis. Her job: U.S. Marshal—Preternatural Branch. She’s faced horrifying monsters and brutal killers and come out the other side still standing.
    Considering how things in her life tend to go, Anita never expected her walk down the aisle with Jean-Claude to go smoothly. They’ve already been confronted with naysayers and a power-hungry ancient evil, but now Anita has to do the one thing that actually scares her: introduce her very religious, very human relatives to her fiancé—the newly crowned vampire king of America.
    As Anita tries to keep the peace between the family she left behind and the family she’s chosen, dark forces jump at the chance to take advantage of the chaos. With her happy-ever-after at risk and everyone’s immortal souls hanging in the balance, Anita grapples with a hard truth: Blood makes you related, but loyalty makes you family.
Recommend: Yes
My thoughts: There were actual times I did NOT want to put the book down, but had to. Talk about frustrating. But now I’m wondering where #31 is. It’s been almost two years. She usually has the new one in hard cover by the time the latest is in paperback, but I don’t see anything. I won’t panic. Yet.

FYI: Registration for Literary Love Savannah (July 9-13) ends May 1^st, so if you’re looking to attend, don’t wait too long. This is the last LLS for a while. Which is sad, but highly understandable. Just comment that you’re interested and I’ll send you the details (or just go to their FB group https://www.facebook.com/groups/283444507738356). I really like this convention (and it is a convention, not just a book signing). I have a lot of fun with the readers.

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Finished Reading “Smolder” and I Selected a Release Date!

Alien Desires is now with my copy editor. That’s the last step before I publish it. So… I chose a release date.

July 1.

This weekend I plan to set up preorders. When I do, I will then share all the buy links. But I picked a date! That was probably the hardest thing for me to do. This book has been so long in the making, I really doubted it would be available to everyone. I’m so glad I stuck with it. Because I really LOVE this story!!

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 8

Dates read: April 3-11, 2025
Title: Smolder
Year of publication: 2023
Author: Laurell K. Hamilton
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series:  Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #29
# of Pages: 358
Paper or plastic: Mass market paperback
How obtained: Purchased from B&N
Blurb from Book: Vampire hunter Anita Blake is no stranger to killing monsters. It’s part of her job as a preternatural U.S. Marshal, after all. But even her experience isn’t enough to stop an ancient evil that is bent on destroying everything—and everyone—she loves.
Recommend: Yes
My thoughts: It’s been awhile since I read book #28. I was able to just dive in like I hadn’t read a bunch of books inbetween! I have #30, and will read it next. Somehow, I’m wondering if this is the end of the series. Guess I’ll find out soon enough. I really love this world, though.

After I set up Alien Desires at all the places I sell at, it will be back to work on The Alien’s Change of Heart. If I keep at it, that one will be released next year. Fingers crossed!!

Happy Reading!

Stacy