Vanessa’s Comments (group member since Jun 15, 2017)

Vanessa’s comments from the Read, Reading, Planning to Read and More group.

Lisa... What a Joy! A very happy congrats to you and your family. That's wonderful.
Because we have been isolated for so long I haven't been able to see my nephew's only boy, (3 big sisters), who was born at the end of March.
My friend came up here, (CT), in February to be with her daughter who gave birth on April 6th. Sadly, she couldn't be with her for her last couple of weeks and has only held her granddaughter 2 times. (She quarantined for 14 days before). The first time she held her she wore garbage bags, a mask, and gloves over gloves and the second on Thursday she wore a tyvek suit like the ones we wear when our job gets messy and all of the other stuff. She went home to FL yesterday.

Again Lisa Congrats! :-)

Lulu... I agree with you! I do hope that people use masks on planes and trains. I try to travel to see my family quite frequently and have seen just about everything, people can be awful.

Doug... I hope that you and yours are safe and healthy. Does you Grandson live nearby? He is such a cutie in his custom mask.
I have asthma myself. I haven't had an asthma attack since 1992, but I am wary. I take medicine and it is under control and I'd like to stay that way, Thank You! :-)

If you have never read Juliete Marillier's Blackthorn & Grim series, book 1 is on sale for $1.99.
Dreamer's Pool

https://www.amazon.com/Dreamers-Pool-...

I don't always either. I'm just happy to have a place to list my books. That's why I am so glad to have the book cover entry.

I haven't been doing much reading myself. I continually seem to find things to clean or things to cook around my house. I go to physical therapy for my shoulder, which was just upped to twice a week. I occasionally go to the drive thru at the bank, and either the pharmacy drive thru or the actual grocery store. That is my life in a nutshell. It has been either raining, windy as all get out, or freezing. I hope that we actually have a spring. We have had 2 nice days, and a couple that were pretty to look at but cold as heck in the last month and a half.

I am making an attempt to watch all of the series that I have DVR'd over the last year or so. I am currently watching the Cinemax show "Warrior". Set in the 1800's, an immigrant from China arrives right off the boat, and is harassed by the local Irish/White cops. He surprises everyone with his martial arts skills and his ability to speak English. He is immediately sold into one of the local Chinese "gangs". He is on a mission to find someone, and doesn't know about the implications of his "employment". Add in San Francisco's corrupt mayor and his cronies, back stabbing gang members, cops on the take, etc... and you have quite a mix. I'm trying to watch last season before next season starts soon.

In book news, I just saw that Ann Aguirre's 5th book in her Ars Numia series just came out.
The War Priest

If you are an Audible listener, The next book in Molly Harper's Mystic Bayou series, Always Be My Banshee
is in the Audible Escape for free. (If you subscribe).
I am still reading T. S. Joyce's series Behind the Beginning She has a couple of these out now.

On audio I am listening to Someone to Wed There were a couple of these books in this series for free or a small price recently, so I figured that I should catch up.

Happy Reading Everyone!

Frisco... I'm with you, buh bye winter! I banish you! Luckily I only have dusting of snow, then rain, and now just plain old cold. My herbs that are perennial are all coming up and probably freezing in place.

Ilona Andrews has another "Ryder" installment up.

https://ilona-andrews.com/ryder-part-...

Faith Hunter just released her latest newsletter. The next Soulwood book, Spells for the Dead will be released in July. She has the first couple of paragraphs in the newsletter.

Because of her health problems Jane Yellowrock # 14 won't be released until later. She has a title, True Dead. Also, if things go well, there may be a Jane Yellowrock #15! Yay!

She is releasing a compilation of almost all of the stories in the Jane world including the ones that were on her site for only a day. These are stories that have appeared in other publications except for one brand new one. I've probably read most of those but it would be nice to be able to read them all again, all in one place. There is no date for publication for these either.

And finally, novella # 2 of Junkyard Cats is finished, no publication date on that one either.

She sure had a lot to say! And... She gave us the last paragraph of the last Soulwood book, Nell and Occam I love them together! :-)

LAB... I'm with you, I am tons of books behind in this year's challenge. You would think that I would at least listen to more books but no, I think that I prefer the silence of the house. Which is interrupted by the meows of my two extremely spoiled cats. I don't know what they will do when I return to work. They are the Rum Tum Tuggers of my life. (T.S. Eliot poem)

I'm reading a T.S.Joyce book that she has re-released with some editing. She recently acquired some of her previous books that were owned by a publisher. Behind the Beginning

My husband has a small business. Fortunately he has a salvage yard which falls under the automotive cloak and he is open. He just hopes that every week he can make payroll for his guys. Life as a small business owner is tough enough without all of the burden of corona virus. I hope that life gets back to normal for all of us soon! I wish you all Peace and lots of time to Read and Rest!

Tiger Lily wrote: "Sorry...The Wind's Call...my computer keeps changing it to wine, like it is reading my mind or something☺"

I think that is a Freudian slip! LOL :-)

HBW.... I live in a more rural/poorer section of CT, I fear that many of the local businesses won't be able to survive this loss of income. I hope that your fav is able to come back.

A lot of older folks are having a hard time with this. Some have regular visits from people that have been cancelled for now. I hope that everyone has a wonderful Easter. Happy Easter to our friends in Australia!

Ilona Andrews has posted another "Julie" segment, and has named these "Ryder".

https://ilona-andrews.com/ryder-part-4/

Has anyone read The City of Brass ?
It is Audible's Daily Deal and I have seen it "recommended for me" on Amazon before.

I think that a lot of people are thinking comfort food/soup. I went to the grocery store and I was going to purchase a bag of green split peas for my annual after Easter ham and split pea soup and there wasn't a bag to be had. There are 3 different places that I could have found them and I did finally find one lone bag of yellow split peas. It is so weird the things that the stores can't keep in stock. I make ham stock from the bones and freeze it for soup. My grandmother and my mother traditionally made split pea soup every year so I continue the practice.
What do you folks do for Easter? Is there anything unusual or traditional that you make?

On the book side I am actually reading a cookbook, Poilâne: The Secrets of the World-Famous Bread Bakery.
I'm trying something different for me. I have purchased the kindle edition instead of the hardcover version. There is a deal if you buy the kindle version you get an ebook credit of $14.99, which you have a month to spend. No worries there I can spend that in 1 minute, LOL! The cookbook costs $19.99 US.

And let's not forget Salad!

I don't think I can find anything different for a meal-- toast is starting to win the brain freeze. Yay.. Peanut Butter and Jelly

You made me laugh at that one Frisco. I know what you mean. I've been out of work for 2 months and the lunch, (and sometimes dinner, poor hubby :-0 ), choice is always the same. Soup or sandwich?

I finished Doing Time It was good, the Jane character made me a bit crazy with her inhibitions, (guess that's the sign of a good writer).
I was especially happy to see some of the St Mary's crowd, (of course they'd be a part of something the Time Police were investigating so to speak). Overall I would give it a 3.5*- 4* review. Amusing, good writing, just a touch off IMHO.

melindeeloo... I felt the same way about Plan For The Worst, I do those in audio. I started the series that way and I want to continue with those in audio. The Time Police books not so much because I don't have their voices in my head, except for Mathew, and Ellis. I know that this virus thing has a lot of schedules upset but I do wish that the kindle/DT versions and the audios would be a bit closer. Jana DeLeon does the same thing, the audio comes out right before the next book. so you are always behind by a book.

I texted Liz, (Fogarty), she is doing well and asked that I say Hi to everyone for her. She said that she has been so busy that she hasn't read a book in almost 2 months. GASP!

HBW... I'm betting that you are happy with a sinus infection, who'd a thought that we would actually be happy for a sinus infection? LOL! I hope that you feel better.

Now, what to read, what to read.....

Whoops, I forgot to add that the first 4 books of the Virgin River series are on sale as a boxed set for $2.99.

https://www.amazon.com/Virgin-River-C...

This is a series on Netflix now. (1 season so far). I liked it, but some here hated it. I must admit that it is slow going, and I hope that next season will pick up the pace.

Anyone know when the Julia Quinn series The Bridgertons will be out on Netflix? I thought that they were done filming.

You know in my attempt to amuse myself in this quarantine world, I was thinking about some of my favorite funny writers and Jennifer Crusie came to mind. It doesn't look like she has written anything in a while either. Have I missed anything about her? She used to be good for a book about every year to year and a half or so. I haven't seen anything else about her in a long time, has anyone else?

I read the Asil story in Fantastic Hope.
Boy, I don't know who is setting him up on these dates, but wow he has some interesting ones. kind of a spoiler, was there a story about date #2, Must Like Cats? It is alluded to in this book.
I wonder if the secret person/people who are arranging these "dates" are finding a way to eliminate threats and to keep Asil and his wolf amused so he doesn't go rogue in his old age? Or, are these completely innocent and the proverbial sh*t happens? Anyway it was a great story, perhaps I will take the time to get back to the other stories at some point. Thanks again, Demetra for the heads up on these date stories.
Shannon I didn't know that the next Undead story was out. Thanks for that.
If anyone is interested the first Veronica Speedwell Mysteries book by Deanna Raybourn A Curious Beginning is the daily deal on Audible for $3.95.
This is a wonderful tale of a very modern woman in Victorian time. A scientist by nature and a daring person in general, Veronica is finally on her own and can't wait to travel the world. Of course that is not how it goes at all. There is a romantic connection, but both act as if it is akin to touching a live wire. It is one of my favorite series and I listen to these as soon as the next one comes out. It has very good narration by Angele Masters.

I hope that everyone feels better. My hubby appears to be snuffling from seasonal allergies which has me worried about him. He still goes to work, (we have an American truck part salvage yard, so it isn't affected by the quarantine status), which always has me wondering about his health and that of his few employees.

I am reading Doing Time The 11th book in The Chronicles of St Mary's series will be out next week, April 16th. Plan for the Worst

For those who are fans of David B. Coe's, (writing as D.B. Jackson), Thieftaker series, he is finally writing another book in the series. It was just in his newsletter. Some people may have read his collaboration with Faith Hunter in the Everheart witch and his Thieftaker character, Ethan Kaille crossover. Chapters were posted on both of their sites one alternating with the other. The Thieftaker series takes place in Colonial Boston. He is a conjurer. He can activate spells by cutting himself, (blood), and by using herbs, which help him solve crimes. (Thieftaker= Private Detective). I listened to most of these and the narration by Jonathan Davis is excellent.
Thieftaker

Weirdest thing has happened, all of my book covers no longer show up under this topic on my android phone. Goodreads has got to fix this app. It's gone from bad to worse. Bummer! ☹

Feel better soon Paula. If your chest is tight have they given you any kind of inhaler? Also, believe it or not hot, black, coffee will help do the trick. The caffeine and heat help open up your lungs. An over the counter inhaler might do to get you over the hump. Take care and think about getting the pneumonia shot. I used to get bronchitis which would sometimes turn into pneumonia every couple of years. I received the pneumonia shot and it's been many, many, years since I have had any problems. Take it slow if you can. We're pulling for you.

I have been bouncing between the Sinclair and Raven series and the paranormal women's series.
I finished Betwixt I liked it very much once the MC finally stopped asking a slew of questions and did as she was requested for her own safety. It was amusing, a good world build, and an interesting take on witches, (it is set in Salem, MA after all).
I would give it 4*'s. The initial stubbornness of Defiance Dayne, (MC), was irritating to me so I knocked a bit off for that. I thought that she should have taken things as they were not constantly arguing about them. I do look forward to the next book, Bewitched.

I read 2 of the next Sinclair and Raven novels and I'm on the 6th novel in the series, Tempting Danger
Scent of Danger and Vision of Danger are about the younger adult Sinclair Cambridge, and their cousin, Captain "Wolf" Sinclair respectively. These books are free on KU, and are historical reads with a paranormal twist. Each Sinclair has an ability whether vision, sense of smell, healing, taste, hearing, etc. which are all enhanced and these abilities help them protect the Raven family and each other. As the overall story goes on, we find more Ravens and more Sinclairs and they are inclined to marry into each family. It is a boisterous mix with an 18th century background. So far all of these books have been 4* reads for me.

Also, I loved the Asail story in the A Fantastic Holiday Season: The Gift of Stories He is such a bad ass but yet he was kind to his "date". I can't wait for the next "date". Thanks DemetraP that was lots of fun. I love Brigg's Alpha and Omega World.

Good Luck Carol and Kristi and everyone else who have to work from home. I'm not sure that I would have the discipline required to do my work.

Re: The Sinner
Wow, Ward has a lot going on. I did love the relationship between Jo and Syn. He, (like many of the Brothers), has a terrible background, and hers isn't all sweetness and roses either. For those who don't know, Syn is one of the Band of Bastards, and Jo is a reporter who has been rather skillful at finding evidence that the supernatural world does exist. She is also a half-breed ready to transition.
In the overall story line, one big event does occur and the circumstances and enemies will change. We have lots of Butch and V in this book too.
There are cameo's of Rhage, Tohr, Quinn, and even the Doggen Fritz.
Nearly at the end of the book is a very touching scene with Wrath, Little Wrath, Beth, and George the dog.
The last scene however forecasts the theme for the next books.

I really enjoyed this latest book and I would give it 4.5*'s. It took a while to take off, and had so many directions to go, so I knocked a bit off for tedium and chaos, LOL.

Ward also has a book coming out August 11th.
The Jackal
the series calls it Black Dagger Brotherhood: Prison Camp Book 1.
This latest book, (The Sinner), didn't give a nod to anything about this series so I guess we will be all surprised at the story line when it comes out this summer.

edited for clarity.

Carol are you considered essential? Or, do you work from home?