Ellie Potts's Blog, page 8

Audiobook Review: Spark of the Everflame by Penn Cole

I enjoyed the book, the narrator, Amanda Dolan, did a good job. The story flowed pretty well. I like Diem, but hate Henri. My dislike has rolled over to book 2. The books are available on Kindle Unlimited. So I went straight into book 2 there is a cliffhanger, not a oh shit I got a read book 2. But I enjoyed the story enough to jump in. I would have liked more world building, which I hope in the next book because the concept is interesting. It is an adult book, sex is mentioned but the romance is a tease. Which I’m okay with because it works with the story.

Blurb:
When old secrets catch fire, everything will burn.

In a mortal world colonized by the gods and ruled over by the Descended, their cruel offspring, Diem Bellator yearns to escape the insular life of her poor village.

Her mother’s sudden disappearance—and the discovery of a dangerous secret about her past—offer Diem an unexpected opportunity to enter the dark world of Descended royalty and unlock the web of mysteries her mother left behind.

With the dying King’s handsome, mysterious heir watching her every move, and a ruthless mortal alliance recruiting her to join the growing civil war, Diem will have to navigate the unwritten rules of love, power, and politics in order to save her family—and all of mortalkind.

Spark of the Everflame is the first book in The Kindred’s Curse Saga, a four-book fantasy romance series.

Have you read the series? Your thoughts without spoilers.

🐶 Dogs…

Dogs or cats?

I am super allergic to cats. My mom was a cat person so when I was a kid we had cats, but I was sick all the time. I stopped having cats and my allergies got better. We got our first real dog when my baby sister was a year old. They grew up together and he was my little brother. It hurts to have him put down but at 16 he lived a long old life. I had gotten my lab Dippy as a trial and I loved that goofy dog. She was so damn smart. She got cancer at about 8. When she passed I was so sad, and my dad wanted to get me a new dog. I said no! I wanted something that lived longer like a parrot or a turtle. That year for my birthday I came home to a little turtle. He’s not little anymore my 17 year old turtle is about the size of a plate.

My hubby and I got our little Peanut, she was a brindle pug mix. She thought she was a 30 pound Mastiff. At first she hated my hubby but by 6 months the two were inseparable. She was playing with a family dog and hit her head pretty hard on the dryer. Took her to the vet and they said she had some spine swelling. But after she passed a few days later we thought it was brain swelling.

It took us 2 100 pound dogs to fill in the void of Peanut. Luna and Charlie come from the same litter. They put Luna in my arms when she was 17 days old. She was this large sleeping white bundle of fur with a little moon on her back. I fell in love with her right off the bat. Charlie came to us a little later, but I love my boy. I wanted to do right for them, and got them fixed and chipped. Sometimes they drive me crazy, and Luna’s hair gets everywhere. But I love them so much. Monday they turned 8 and they got super spoiled.

Show me your pets!

The big 3

Which activities make you lose track of time?

Writing, reading and puzzles make me lose track of time. When I’m caught in the writing vortex there is no time, and I forget to be human in general. Eating and drinking what’s that? When I read it’s gotta be good, but once it pulls me in I can be stuck in the book for hours. Coming out for snacks. Now if I get the right puzzle, and put on an audiobook it’s game over. I can start early and next thing I know my back hurts and the sun is setting. The challenge of a puzzle is satisfying in ways. I thrive to connect the pieces. Where I  can control the outcome when the world is a dumpster fire. It’s not like writing, writing is chaotic for me. The story is unpredictable as I let the characters guide me. A book is the unknown, and hoping for the plunge into a different world living out a different life.

Horror AttackAlien Attack

My puzzle wish list:

Misophonia

What bothers you and why?

I could go into a lot of things in this world that bother me. But I wanted to talk about something that many people may not know. I used to think my reaction to certain sounds was just a quirk. Chewing, dogs lapping water, coughs, and throat-clearing—nothing unusual, yet it was all unbearable. It wasn’t just annoyance; it felt visceral, like my nervous system curled up and flinched. That’s when I learned about misophonia.

What Is Misophonia?

Misophonia is a condition where specific sounds trigger intense emotional or physiological responses. These “trigger sounds” vary widely but often include oral or repetitive noises. For someone with misophonia, a simple slurp or sniff isn’t background noise—it’s a siren of discomfort.

Studies suggest it’s not just about sensitivity; it’s the brain reacting to sounds as if they’re threats. And like many neurodiverse traits, it’s often misunderstood or dismissed. The noise could make someone want to fight or run away, or even make them furious.

Living with Misophonia: The Invisible Jolt

Daily life becomes a landscape of potential ambushes. A quiet work office can be a battlefield. Coping often involves headphones, strategic seating, or avoiding certain settings altogether. But the real challenge isn’t just managing sound—it’s managing the emotional weight of being misunderstood.

Misophonia isn’t a preference; it’s a pattern of survival. And that deserves compassion.

Noise Interrupts Flow

Loss of immersion: Misophonia jolts you out of the zone, making it hard to stay engaged with your work.Mental fatigue: Repeated triggers drain energy, leaving less bandwidth for inspiration or experimentation.Defensive posture: Instead of exploring freely, you may find yourself bracing for sensory impact.

Reframing Sensitivity as Insight

For creatives like us, heightened sensitivity can be a gift. Misophonia teaches us to listen—to be acutely aware of our environments and emotional states. It encourages boundaries, self-advocacy, and rituals of restoration. That’s not weakness. That’s wisdom.

Misophonia may feel like an obstacle in a world that prizes loudness and constant stimulation. But for creatives, sensitivity is often the very thing that makes our work resonate. It’s not the noise itself—it’s the connection it interrupts.

Once we see misophonia not as a problem, but as sensitivity, new creative ideas flow.

Sound becomes sacred: You begin curating your auditory space like an artist selects their palette—choosing the tones and textures that inspire instead of overwhelm.Emotion deepens: The same depth that makes sounds feel intense can also fuel storytelling, atmosphere, and authenticity.Rituals emerge: Quiet habits like journaling in solitude, editing images in a candlelit room, or weaving intuition into creation become creative sanctuaries.

Sensitivity itself becomes part of the artistic lens—deepening empathy, atmosphere, and emotional truth in the work.

Sounding Out Your Story

If you’ve experienced misophonia, you’re not alone. Sharing your story—whether through writing, visuals, or quiet reflection—can be a powerful act of self-honoring. It’s not about fixing the response; it’s about understanding it, embracing your sensitivity, and finding tools that support your well-being.

Let’s see

List 10 things you know to be absolutely certain.

Perimenipause sucks. Why should I be woken up by a heat flash before my alarm goes off! Getting old sucks.Change is unavoidable. Why fight it just accept it and ride it out  Death. One way or another at any time we will die. So love those around you with all your heart. Mistakes. I am human you are human. We will make mistakes it’s how we react to them is how we learn and become better. Dogs are too good for us. They love us unconditionally if given the chance. And it’s a shame on how some are treated.Everyone is in some sort of pain. It can be physical, mental or emotional. And it is okay to ask for help which can be a Dr or spiritual. You are not alone. Consequences. Whether good or bad. Eventually there will be outcomes and effects. Karma is a bitch.Time. Time stops for no man or woman. It’s how we use it that slows it down. Audiobooks are books, and books are many doors into many worlds.I love procrastinating more than I should. It’s a form of self-care right?

Both…

Are you seeking security or adventure?

I guess when I really haven’t had much of either in my life I yearn for adventure but also security. This is a sour subject and that’s all I have to say about it.

Book Review: Snowed in With Mr Heartbreaker by Pippa Grant

I have mentioned how much I love Pippa Grants books. This was a short but sweet novella that was about Cash Rivers and Aspen. In the other books we didn’t get much of Cash (one of the Bro Code guys) because he was busy making movies. Aspen was introduced by Waverly. It was a sweet sexy little read, and I loved how Pippa created so much in a little short story. If you love sweet sexy romance that will make you laugh out loud I really recommend Pippa Grant.

All I want for Christmas is to be alone.

You’d think having a breakout Christmas song to take your pop career to the next level would be a good thing, but the holiday has never been good to me, and I just need to escape.

Hide away from the world until all of the lights are down and every radio station, streaming channel, and social media site on the planet gets tired of my viral holiday hit.

Unfortunately for me though, my LA landlord has followed me to the mountains.

Cash Rivers is the physical representation of every bad relationship I’ve ever had. Mr. Hollywood Heartbreaker is older, with a big ego and an even bigger misunderstanding of how much he’s welcome here.

Which is not at all. Especially since I like him far more than I should.

Ourselves

What do you think gets better with age?

As we get older I believe we get more comfortable in our skin, who we are, and learn to love ourselves better. We understand our bodies more, and accept ourselves. We know our faults, and can defend them. We have accepted our tastes and finalized our likes. We have shaken off most of the criticism and peer pressure. It’s great to say IDGAF and mean it. This love is a relief and one I wish I had 20 years ago.

💤 Where My Night Owls?

What time do you go to bed and wake up currently?

I try to sleep at normal times because I do have an 8-5 day job. But I am a night owl. I get more energetic when it gets dark. I get more creative too. I wrote better or so I think. But when I do sleep it can be a struggle bey right now I am struggling with perimenipause symptoms. So sleeping can get hard, or I wake up at 3 am for no damn reason. I discussed this with my Dr and she was very disappointed about the lack of studies in woman health around perimenipause. And I am one of those weirdos who likes natural medicine. She recommended valerian root. And I will say that it has helped a lot.

Waking up is another problem. I am not a morning person. I try. I really do. But my bed is comfy and the snooze button is too easy to hit. But the weird thing is on the weekends I wake up early which makes me slightly mad at myself.

For my ladies over 40, what helps/ed you sleep during perimenipause?

📺 I’m a comfort TV watcher…

What strategies do you use to increase comfort in your daily life?

When reading and music just don’t work. Days run into each other creating a blueness I just can’t describe, I’m not feeling well, or I just want to snuggle in without a book. My daily comfort is watching one of my favorite shows. Me and the hubby will binge the entire season, and start in another favorite after we are done.

Right now we are making our way through Archer for the millionth time. It’s really not about Archer it’s all about Pam and the other side characters. The show follows the exploits of bumbling, volatile secret agent Sterling Archer (voiced by H. Jon Benjamin) and his dysfunctional colleagues. The show’s primary setting is an anachronistic parody of Cold War-era espionage thrillers, with some individual seasons switching to milieus such as the Latin American drug trade, 1940s film noir, the interwar South Pacific, and retro-futuristic space opera.

My super-duper favorite is The Venture Bros. I go through this series at least 2 times a year. I love Brock and Gary aka Henchmen 21. He was kidnapped as a kid and pretty much forced to become a henchman for the Might Monarch. This world is so damn fun. There are super scientists and super heroes and then you have the evil bad guys and their henchmen. But there are rules and they are watched over by the OSI (Office of Secret Intelligence) and The Guild of Calamitous Intent. We follow Rusty Venture who was a child star living in his Super Scientists dads shadow, you have his super awkward home bed (not a typo) schooled twin sons Hank and Dean, and their blood thirsty bodyguard, Brock Sampson. It makes fun of Johnny Quest, Scooby Doo, the Fantastic Four, and so much more. The villains are so fun. And David Bowie is a shape shifter. Season one’s animation is not very good, but I promise if you keep to it it gets so much better. And the storylines are great. Cartoon Network cancelled it before we could get a proper finale, but the creators did a movie to close it up. It does it justice.

“Jonny Quest” gets an irreverent but affectionate spoofing in this animated series chronicling the sometimes hair-raising adventures of Hank and Dean Venture, the not-especially-bright twin sons of pill-popping “super-scientist” Dr. Thaddeus “Rusty” Venture. Luckily (for the most part), their safety is overseen by a security guard who uses his license to kill every chance he gets.

Our other favorite is Letterkenny. We do a watch through once a year. This is a completed series on Hulu. This comedy series showcases the antics of the residents of Letterkenny, a small rural community in Canada. Siblings Wayne and Katy run a small farm and produce stand, with Wayne’s friends Daryl and “Squirrely” Dan helping out. Many of the town’s inhabitants fall into one of several groups, which include the farmers, or “hicks,” the out-of-towners on the local hockey team, the local drug addicts (Skids) and the “natives,” who are members of the local First Nation.

Wayne is the toughest guy in Letterkenny. The first season usually has him fighting to keep his spot. But he has a code of honor, and you do not mess with his baby sister. The side characters in this small town make this show fun to watch.

I have other favs. South Park, Bob’s Burgers, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Sailor Moon, and Shoresy, a Letterkenny spin off.

Do you have favorite shows that have become your go to?