For the week of September 28th through October 3rd:
Miss R’s birthday is this week. She turns 13!! We had a party for her on Sunday with her best friends and family.
I also took Miss R to an orthopedic doctor this week. I don’t remember if I mentioned it in last month’s post, but she had injured her knee while getting off a ride at a carnival. Three weeks later, it was still hurting her, and I took her to Urgent Care, and they referred her to the orthopedic doctor. He is almost certain that she tore her meniscus (or partially tore it) and has referred her for an MRI. She is also on complete rest, which means: no riding, no climbing stairs, no running until after the MRI.
Miss B’s car broke down while she was driving to work in SC (she travels all over GA, SC, NC, and part of TN). BK and I drove 2 hours to help her install a part.
Miss B’s car kept breaking down, even though what we installed should have fixed it. She took it to Miss J’s grandfather (who works on cars), and it turned out to be her water pump. He replaced it for her, and just in time, she has a 4-hour drive to Georgia (just outside Atlanta) for this week’s job.
I ended up getting sick with an awful head cold.
For the week of October 4th through October 10th:
And the school fundraiser starts. Miss R brought one home for chorus (puff pastry). The teacher has a goal of $3,000 for supplies, and she told the kids that they need 16 sales each (which realistically won’t happen). So far, 3 people bought from her (her dad and two neighbors). Maybe 3 more people will buy, so we probably did a little better than most… lol.
Also, school-related: Miss R was chosen to go to a chorus competition with two other girls. She is thrilled.
For the week of October 11th through October 17th:
BK went to Texas for a work meeting. Since moving up in the company, he doesn’t travel that much. At one point, he was traveling every week (Tues-Thursday).
I went to IKEA with my bestie, Mrs. H, on the 11th. It was a blast, and I found a kitchen table that I am going to buy before Christmas.
During the same trip, we also hit up World Market (which I had never been in before), TJ Maxx, and Marshalls.
Miss R also went to the barn this week, and it didn’t go as she expected. Her knee was killing her by the time we got home (so we elevated it, alternated ice and heat, and she put her brace on). She also got very sad that she couldn’t ride with her friends.
Miss B and Miss J’s apartment ceiling was having issues (it was soft and bulging after an intense rainstorm thanks to Isasias). So, they brought their cats here, and we are keeping them while repairs are made. Their landlord doesn’t know when the drywall or roof people will be there, so we might have them a while. My cats were not happy (lots of hissing, growling, and hiding the first three days).
I ended up with a migraine for most of this week. They are getting more common, and I think I need to bring it up with my Dr.
First-quarter grades ended this week, and Miss R is on the A/B honor roll.
They also gave the kids their first good-grades/good-behavior reward this week. To attend, kids need a grade above a C and no trouble on the bus or at school that resulted in ISS or OSS. Miss R said it was boring, just hanging out in the gym.
For the week of October 18th through October 24th:
Miss R had her MRI. There was no tear to her meniscus!! We still don’t know whether she’ll need to go to PT or continue with the brace a little longer. But it was very good news!!
I took one of my brown tabbies, Vinnie, to the vet on Friday. It was his yearly appointment, and I also wanted advice on some behavioral issues he was having. He got his 3-year rabies shot and had a bad reaction to it. He threw up continuously for 30 minutes (about 20 times) after we got home and then continued puking off/on for the rest of the day. I did let my vet know, and she is making a note in his chart about the reaction. I have never had an animal (cat or dog) react to the rabies shot before.
Week of October 25th through October 31st will be on the November post
Books I Read:
The Without series by Aubrey Bondurant: Another quick turnaround with my reading. I went from Regency England to present-day Texas. I have the entire series (3 books) downloaded and cannot wait to read them!!
The Emergence series by JT Sawyer: Another quick turnaround. I went from romance to post-apocalyptic zombie horror. So, sorry for the whiplash. I got almost all the books on KU (two free). And talk about perfect timing because I started this series on October 1st!!
The Gesa’s Menagerie series by Kaye Draper: And yet another quick turn to a different genre, paranormal romance. I got the first book for free, but I need to buy the rest. So I’m waiting for them to either go on KU or become free.
The Night Drop: Resistance in the Wetland by Ian D. Wright: This book takes us back to WWII France and 1960s France in the same area. I haven’t been reading much WWII fiction. Update: I got stuck on this book for a week. Because I was reading it for a challenge, I refused to DNF it. But man, it was very dry and a little boring.
Above All Things by Deborah Raney: Another reading-challenge book, and another book I didn’t love. This was a Christian contemporary fiction book. It wasn’t overtly preachy. I also didn’t get closure at the end. Part of the storyline was left unanswered.
The Unnaturals series by Jessica Meigs: And we switch to paranormal. I mean, who doesn’t read a paranormal urban fantasy right after a Christian contemporary book… lol. I got the first book in the series (not the prequel, but book 1) for free. I was fortunate that the other 4 books were on KU. I am also reading one of the books for a reading challenge.
Cover Featuring Movement: MARCH PROMPT ( Something/someone moving in the image. Some sort of action is highlighted. Examples: people dancing, an animal jumping, liquid dripping, etc).
Helicopters flying, zombies attacking, guy shooting a semi-automatic weapon.
Cover featuring wings: JUNE PROMPT Animals, creatures, and objects that have wings. Examples: birds, butterflies, bees, dragons, fairies, angels, pterodactyls, airplanes, etc.
MFC is a gryphon shifter
Cover featuring doors & keys: OCTOBER PROMPT Any type of door, keys and locks, or keyholes.
Here is what I am reading, what I recently finished, and what I plan to read from Thursday to Wednesday.
Let me know if you have read or plan to read any of these books!!
What I am currently reading:
Following the destruction of their two vessels near Cuba, Reisner and his weary band of survivors take refuge on a small island where they plan their next move to eliminate the alphas using Selene’s recent scientific discovery. With Connelly, Ivins, Runa, and the old crew reuniting in a daring effort to obtain the West Nile Virus samples from Mexico City, the eclectic group of operators put into motion a plan that will hopefully turn the tide of the war.
Meanwhile in the Yucatan jungle, the super-alpha, Nick, has shifted his focus from eradication of the human species to a gruesome plan, that if it unfolds, will allow for cultivation of the Others as a long-term food source while the hybrid creature, Abby, becomes a pivotal figure in the evolution of the brood.
What I recently finished reading:
With Will Reisner recovering from his near-death encounter with Roland while battling his own demons, the remaining elements of the U.S. fleet in the Gulf are undertaking last-ditch efforts to secure the remaining fuel supply for their vessels amidst growing hordes of Paras along every seaside port. Unknown to them all is the presence of a new, hybrid alpha living in their midsts and watching their every move.
Doctor Selene Munroe is heading to a new facility in the Bahamas to continue large-scale development of the bioweapon when she learns of a potential method for eliminating the alphas, leading General Dorr to consider crossing a line that he never imagined possible.
With Nick’s powers increasing daily and exceeding Roland’s, the ambitious, young super-alpha lays out his plans to strike a devastating blow against the humans that could alter the course of the war and forever change the future of mankind.
What I plan on reading Thursday through Sunday:
Five months after the release of the West Nile Virus designed to eliminate the alphas, the human race seems like they may have turned the tide and regained a foothold on survival. Only strange developments along the East Coast’s dead zone may prove otherwise as the super-alpha has formulated a plan that will bring devastation on a massive scale. With new special operations teams and international alliances, Will Reisner and his crew take the fight to the enemy once more in this explosive follow-up to The Alpha Solution.
Not your typical reverse harem…
Gryphon shifter Gesa Lionheart isn’t your typical heroine. Screwed over by her family—a stunningly medieval gryphon clan that is supposed to value loyalty and truth—the former bodyguard sets out on her own to a remote city growing in the Michigan wilderness. With little in the way of life skills outside her clan training, and no one to depend on, she becomes a bounty hunter—chasing down low-level supernatural criminals for the local human police department.
Gesa knew life would be hard outside the clan, but she had no way of predicting just how strange her life would become, all thanks to a beautiful but dangerous male fae and a simple missing person’s case. Now she’s over her head in a world that isn’t what it seems, where humans can almost see the truth, rich supe philanthropists make people disappear with ease, and harem lion prides aren’t just for males….
Gryphon’s Pride is a reverse harem romance novella with an urban fantasy feel. Starts as a medium burn romance in this first book (ie: fewer sex scenes), and increases from there. Suitable for mature readers (and those with a sense of humor) only. If swearing, sex, or talk of past trauma are offensive to you, this might not be your thing.
Author’s Note I was tired of reading the same old thing over and over again in reverse harem. Sick of all alpha male and fainting female all the time—and desperate to be able to tell the male characters apart—I tried to infuse some variety into my story. Gesa might not be your cup of tea, and that’s okay—she doesn’t care. Her lovers are as varied in physicality and personality as they are in supernatural race. And the characters all have their own definition of sexuality. I know reverse harem is all about the fantasy, and my fantasy is a bit outside the norm. You’ve been warned.
* Gesa’s Menagerie books are novellas of between 30,000-40,000 words. * This is a series. There will be unresolved plot threads at times/ occasional cliff hangers. * Do NOT read this series if you are easily offended. Contains: mentions of past trauma/rape, adult language (that’s cursing kids, lots of it), and sexual content (including male/female, male/male, female/female, male/male/female, female/female/male and any other combination you can think of. Oh, and probably some tentacles and diphallia).
The remote marshland villagers did not want them, but if their mission failed, the Allies could lose the war! The summer of 1943 and Jack Ross, a talented young recruit to the British special forces, was flown into a marshland village near St-Omer, France, along with Roland Keene, an Irish-American volunteer to the British forces. Their mission was to find out how successful the Allied bombing raids had been on the massive V2 flying bomb installations, which had been built under a giant concrete dome near St-Omer. The Nazi V2 project could have had a devastating effect on England and changed the future of the war. Jack and Roland joined with the local Resistance cell and quickly established a good working relationship. But incidents occur that point to a mole in the ranks. Two feuding brothers, one in the Resistance, the other with the Partisans, make identifying the traitor almost impossible. Jack’s primary source of information was Sofia, a young girl who was one of the most active members of the group. She was brave, smart and tireless, and Jack found himself falling in love. Twenty years later, in 1965, and one of the suspects decides to go back to the village to clear his name. His arrival immediately triggers a murder. Two investigative journalists agreed to help Jack tackle the job of finding the real mole but find themselves in a battle with a group of fanatical Nazi sympathisers.
They were on their way to being a real family…until she came into their lives.
Expecting their first baby, Judd and Evette McGlin are thrilled at the prospect of becoming parents. But their marriage faces the ultimate test when Judd learns he already has a child: a six-year-old bi-racial daughter, born amid secrets and lies. Now, Evette must decide if she can accept the child—and forgive Judd. She thought she was open-minded—until hidden prejudices threaten the future of an innocent little girl, Evette’s marriage, and the very notion of the woman she’s believed herself to be. Above all things, this child needs acceptance and love. Needs Evette to discover what being a mother truly means. Needs Judd to face his past. And needs them both to discover what it truly means to be a family.
This novel was originally published in 2009 under the same title by Steeple Hill.It has been updated from the original edition.
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet and share what you have been reading and what you are about to read this week. It’s a great way to get organized. It’s an opportunity to visit, comment, and add to your growing TBR pile! So welcome, everyone. This meme started on J Kaye’s blog and was then hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at The Book Date.
What I am Reading Now
With the Paras relocating to numerous nuclear bases around the U.S., Will Reisner and Doctor Selene Munroe are in a race against time to complete the new bioweapon and employ it against the growing legions of mutant creatures bent on exterminating the human race. Little do Reisner and his team of elite operators know that this battle is only the beginning as the emerging leader among the Paras has a broader plan for invasion that will put all of the country’s remaining military units in the crosshairs.
What I plan to read Tuesday and Wednesday:
After the grueling battle at MacDill AFB, Reisner and his elite team of operators are on the hunt for the super-alpha known as Roland. With all eyes focused on the Southeastern U.S., Reisner and Selene string together a series of puzzling intel that will enable the military to zero in on the creature and deliver a crippling blow to the Paras worldwide. Unknown to all of them is Roland’s plan to increase his alphas in a macabre undertaking that will further twist the laws of nature and unleash creatures even more terrifying than anyone can imagine.
With Will Reisner recovering from his near-death encounter with Roland while battling his own demons, the remaining elements of the U.S. fleet in the Gulf are undertaking last-ditch efforts to secure the remaining fuel supply for their vessels amidst growing hordes of Paras along every seaside port. Unknown to them all is the presence of a new, hybrid alpha living in their midsts and watching their every move.
Doctor Selene Munroe is heading to a new facility in the Bahamas to continue large-scale development of the bioweapon when she learns of a potential method for eliminating the alphas, leading General Dorr to consider crossing a line that he never imagined possible.
With Nick’s powers increasing daily and exceeding Roland’s, the ambitious, young super-alpha lays out his plans to strike a devastating blow against the humans that could alter the course of the war and forever change the future of mankind.
Here is what I am reading, what I recently finished, and what I plan to read from Thursday to Wednesday.
Let me know if you have read or plan to read any of these books!!
What I am currently reading:
Do you know what I got for always being the good girl? A cheating ex, fake friends, and now a scandal that has even my own father ashamed of me.
No one believes it isn’t me on the video. My new bodyguard is no exception. Mason is not only my brother’s best friend, but my newly assigned babysitter who wishes he was anywhere but here.
He’s both hot and judgmental. It’s a maddening combination that has me wanting to push all his buttons.
With his bad boy vibe, alpha demeanor and the way he calls me princess, I’m convinced my draw to him is crazy. Until I learn under the tattoos and piercings there may be more than meets the eye. Turns out I may not be the only one fighting the attraction.
I’m determined not to be the helpless girl everyone thinks I am, even if it means taking drastic measures.
The question is whose side will Mason be on in the end?
*** Without Judgment is a standalone romance for mature audiences due to steamy bedroom scenes that are in no way contained to just the bedroom.***
What I recently finished reading:
Rejection and I have an understanding: I don’t put myself out there and it doesn’t screw with my life any more. I keep my feelings hidden, and my heart locked away. It was working well until he came along and threatened my impenetrable armor, one honeyed word at a time.
With his clean cut looks, and southern manners, I’m convinced he’s not my type. Until I learn Trevor isn’t the same gentleman in the bedroom as he is in the boardroom.
But once he learns my secrets, and my carefully constructed facade starts to crumble, it’s my turn to do the rejecting.
I only hope he doesn’t listen.
*** Without Regret is a standalone romance for mature audiences due to steamy bedroom scenes that are in no way contained to just the bedroom.***
What I plan on reading Thursday through Sunday:
An epic struggle for survival between humans and a twisted mutation of undead begins in Emergence—the first book in a pulse-pounding post-apocalyptic series by author JT Sawyer. When a CIA bioweapons ship goes dark, operative Will Reisner and his team are sent to the South China Sea to investigate. As their mission unfolds, a deadly parasitic virus takes hold in cities around the globe, turning its victims into worm-riddled creatures bent on infecting others to increase their numbers, linked by a mysterious mental connection. After barely making it out alive, Reisner reluctantly joins forces with epidemiologist Selene Munroe, who has been trying to discover the origins of the virus to prevent humanity from being completely consumed by the horrific fiend that has been unleashed upon the world. Emergence is a bold reinvention of the well-worn zombie theme that will have you gripping the edge of your seat.
In the aftermath of the pandemic, humanity is on the cusp of extinction as the mutant undead sweep throughout the world. The deadly virus has created a new predator that is far more intelligent and ruthless than anything mankind has ever faced. And the threat from the alphas is increasing as they evolve. Epidemiologist Selene Munroe comes up with a daring solution for gaining a foothold against the deadly virus, but will it be enough to save the human race before it’s too late? On another front, CIA operative Will Reisner and his team need to join forces with an unlikely ally to prevent another cyber-attack that could thrust the entire country into the dark ages. Battling legions of parasite-ridden creatures to get to their objective, Reisner finds his resolve stretched to the limit. Loyalties are tested and he must come to grips with a shocking reality that could jeopardize his team’s already uncertain future.
The battle against one enemy from abroad has just ended while another on the ravaged streets of L.A. has just begun for Will Reisner and his team. A deadly game of pursuit is underway as Reisner and his fellow operators evade the Paras hunting them as they make their way through the burned-out shell of the city while awaiting a rescue that may never come. Volume 3 in the pulse-pounding Emergence Series picks up immediately after the events of the second book and will have you clutching the edge of your seat.
With the Paras relocating to numerous nuclear bases around the U.S., Will Reisner and Doctor Selene Munroe are in a race against time to complete the new bioweapon and employ it against the growing legions of mutant creatures bent on exterminating the human race. Little do Reisner and his team of elite operators know that this battle is only the beginning as the emerging leader among the Paras has a broader plan for invasion that will put all of the country’s remaining military units in the crosshairs.
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet and share what you have been reading and what you are about to read this week. It’s a great post to organize yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit, comment, and add to your growing TBR pile! So welcome, everyone. This meme started on J Kaye’s blog and was then hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at The Book Date.
What I am Reading Now
Do you know what I got for always being the good girl? A cheating ex, fake friends, and now a scandal that has even my own father ashamed of me.
No one believes it isn’t me on the video. My new bodyguard is no exception. Mason is not only my brother’s best friend, but my newly assigned babysitter who wishes he was anywhere but here.
He’s both hot and judgmental. It’s a maddening combination that has me wanting to push all his buttons.
With his bad boy vibe, alpha demeanor and the way he calls me princess, I’m convinced my draw to him is crazy. Until I learn under the tattoos and piercings there may be more than meets the eye. Turns out I may not be the only one fighting the attraction.
I’m determined not to be the helpless girl everyone thinks I am, even if it means taking drastic measures.
The question is whose side will Mason be on in the end?
*** Without Judgment is a standalone romance for mature audiences due to steamy bedroom scenes that are in no way contained to just the bedroom.***
What I plan to read Tuesday and Wednesday:
An epic struggle for survival between humans and a twisted mutation of undead begins in Emergence—the first book in a pulse-pounding post-apocalyptic series by author JT Sawyer. When a CIA bioweapons ship goes dark, operative Will Reisner and his team are sent to the South China Sea to investigate. As their mission unfolds, a deadly parasitic virus takes hold in cities around the globe, turning its victims into worm-riddled creatures bent on infecting others to increase their numbers, linked by a mysterious mental connection. After barely making it out alive, Reisner reluctantly joins forces with epidemiologist Selene Munroe, who has been trying to discover the origins of the virus to prevent humanity from being completely consumed by the horrific fiend that has been unleashed upon the world. Emergence is a bold reinvention of the well-worn zombie theme that will have you gripping the edge of your seat.
In the aftermath of the pandemic, humanity is on the cusp of extinction as the mutant undead sweep throughout the world. The deadly virus has created a new predator that is far more intelligent and ruthless than anything mankind has ever faced. And the threat from the alphas is increasing as they evolve. Epidemiologist Selene Munroe comes up with a daring solution for gaining a foothold against the deadly virus, but will it be enough to save the human race before it’s too late? On another front, CIA operative Will Reisner and his team need to join forces with an unlikely ally to prevent another cyber-attack that could thrust the entire country into the dark ages. Battling legions of parasite-ridden creatures to get to their objective, Reisner finds his resolve stretched to the limit. Loyalties are tested and he must come to grips with a shocking reality that could jeopardize his team’s already uncertain future.
Here is what I am reading, what I recently finished, and what I plan to read from Thursday to Wednesday.
Let me know if you have read or plan to read any of these books!!
What I am currently reading:
A hopeless romantic… Veronique Daventry absolutely believes in true love. When the baron she’s corresponded with for years over long distance suggests they elope in Scotland, she eagerly assents. Perhaps she’s never met him, but she’s certain their souls are meant to be joined for eternity.
A notorious rogue… Lord Miles Worthing is surprised when he is ushered to a chapel on a visit to Scotland and finds a beautiful woman. His happiness halts when her family discovers them in a compromising position.
A mistaken identity… Veronique is devastated to have mistaken this stranger for her fiancé. She needs to find the correct baron at once, but the only person who can help her is the man who makes her heart race as it absolutely should not.
What I recently finished reading:
A Scottish rogue…
Gerard Highgate, Marquess of Rockport and the ton’s most aloof rake, knows better than to wed an Englishwoman, especially one as prickly as Lady Cordelia. But when his mother dies and he finds himself saddled with her debts, he needs a wife and he needs one fast.
An exacting Englishwoman…
Lady Cordelia knows that hastiness in husband hunting leads to mistakes. But when she visits an aristocrat to warn that his life might be in danger, he misinterprets her suggestion to flee to Scotland.
An unexpected elopement…
Most elopements are born of love, not misunderstanding. Cordelia and Gerard have already broken that rule, but perhaps they can still make their marriage one of love.
What I plan on reading Thursday through Sunday:
He’s neat, always on time, and a professed workaholic. I’m chaotic, always running late, and looking for more from life than just my job. Yet our mutual attraction is undeniable.
The last thing I expected after our first date was to have Simon show up at my office. The warm and funny guy I’d met was now gone, replaced by the cold and calculating man in an impeccable suit. While my professional future is in his hands, I can’t stop thinking about how his hands felt on my body.
Whatever had started between us can’t possibly happen now, but that’s easier said than done. Because the more I try not to think of his sexy smirk or delicious accent, the harder it is to stay away. And if our forbidden office kiss is any indication, his resolve is slipping too.
I’ve sworn I’d never fall for a man who puts his job first. Too bad my heart isn’t listening.
*** Without Apology is a standalone romance for mature audiences due to steamy bedroom scenes that are in no way contained to just the bedroom.***
Rejection and I have an understanding: I don’t put myself out there and it doesn’t screw with my life any more. I keep my feelings hidden, and my heart locked away. It was working well until he came along and threatened my impenetrable armor, one honeyed word at a time.
With his clean cut looks, and southern manners, I’m convinced he’s not my type. Until I learn Trevor isn’t the same gentleman in the bedroom as he is in the boardroom.
But once he learns my secrets, and my carefully constructed facade starts to crumble, it’s my turn to do the rejecting.
I only hope he doesn’t listen.
*** Without Regret is a standalone romance for mature audiences due to steamy bedroom scenes that are in no way contained to just the bedroom.***
Do you know what I got for always being the good girl? A cheating ex, fake friends, and now a scandal that has even my own father ashamed of me.
No one believes it isn’t me on the video. My new bodyguard is no exception. Mason is not only my brother’s best friend, but my newly assigned babysitter who wishes he was anywhere but here.
He’s both hot and judgmental. It’s a maddening combination that has me wanting to push all his buttons.
With his bad boy vibe, alpha demeanor and the way he calls me princess, I’m convinced my draw to him is crazy. Until I learn under the tattoos and piercings there may be more than meets the eye. Turns out I may not be the only one fighting the attraction.
I’m determined not to be the helpless girl everyone thinks I am, even if it means taking drastic measures.
The question is whose side will Mason be on in the end?
*** Without Judgment is a standalone romance for mature audiences due to steamy bedroom scenes that are in no way contained to just the bedroom.***
An epic struggle for survival between humans and a twisted mutation of undead begins in Emergence—the first book in a pulse-pounding post-apocalyptic series by author JT Sawyer. When a CIA bioweapons ship goes dark, operative Will Reisner and his team are sent to the South China Sea to investigate. As their mission unfolds, a deadly parasitic virus takes hold in cities around the globe, turning its victims into worm-riddled creatures bent on infecting others to increase their numbers, linked by a mysterious mental connection. After barely making it out alive, Reisner reluctantly joins forces with epidemiologist Selene Munroe, who has been trying to discover the origins of the virus to prevent humanity from being completely consumed by the horrific fiend that has been unleashed upon the world. Emergence is a bold reinvention of the well-worn zombie theme that will have you gripping the edge of your seat.
