Far Too Quiet

I have been far too quiet for far too long and I really need to get back into the habit of chatting with everyone.  This year has definitely been an interesting year so far and a lot of my normal was sideswiped.

As I have mentioned on Facebook, and perhaps here, I started out this year back in March by being laid low with vertigo attacks that were hitting me three to five times a day and lasting up to forty-five minutes.  Yeah I spent a lot of time flat on my back because I had NO idea when they would hit.  Pooka pretty much became my constant companion during this time.

Finally managed to determine that I have been blessed with Meniere's Disease.  The symptoms have really backed off though I do get random dizzy spells and have had vertigo attacks out of the blue.  Not a lot of fun when you get hit by one when driving as nausea is always part of the parcel.  Anyways I was able to get back to work after six weeks.

This summer was actually pretty nice though the problem with the tendonitis in my elbow is still hanging about.   I was supposed to go get some physical therapy done right about the time the vertigo was hitting hard.

Our household has grown by two.  One is Conal's girlfriend, Mavis, who has been a very pleasant addition to the house though it is strange that even though I never had kids, I seem to be putting the finishing touches to them.

The other is a permanent addition.  One of my coworkers' cats had kitten and I told her that I would take one if there was a polydactyl. And there was.  Almost like I put in an order for one.  Meet Diablo's Echo.  We actually tried to name him Echo since he loves to chat with you but he refuses to answer to it.  And yes, he does answer to Diablo.

And now I am back off work again until at least November.  Having a lot of issues with constant exhaustion.  Getting up and making breakfast is enough to send me back to bed for a nap.  But that doesn't phase me as much as how my brain shuts down when I am the slightest tired or stressed.

There's been more happening but I don't want to make this post too long.  Just wanted to let everyone know that yes I am still alive.

Book Review: Desperate Girls

Defense attorney Brynn Holloran is right at home among cops, criminals, and tough-as-nails prosecutors. With her sharp wit and pointed words, she has a tendency to intimidate, and she likes it that way. She’s a force to be reckoned with in the courtroom, but in her personal life, she’s a mess.

When a vicious murderer she once helped prosecute resurfaces and starts a killing spree to wipeout those who put him behind bars, one thing becomes clear: Brynn needs to run for her life.

With no help from the police, Brynn is forced to take matters into her own hands, turning to a private security firm for protection. But when Brynn defies advice and gets involved in the investigation, even the former Secret Service agent assigned to protect her may not be able to keep her safe. With every new clue she discovers, Brynn is pulled back into the vortex of a disturbing case from her past.

As the clock ticks down on a manhunt, Brynn’s desperate search for the truth unearths long-buried secrets and reignites a killer’s fury.

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I have to admit that I am a sucker for a well written romantic suspense and that I can't believe that it has taken this long to discover Ms. Griffin.  DESPERATE GIRLS has everything needed to keep you glued to the pages and holding on tight through all the twists and turns.

I just love Brynn!  She is a tough as nails defense attorney with her low-cut shirts and high heels.  And she's not a bit happy with being assigned a bodyguard team by her boss.  Erik is an utter professional.  His job is to be alert at all times to anything that might endanger his client.  He just didn't plan on Brynn who refuses to be cooperative unless he talks everything out with her first especially as she doesn't feel that she is in any real danger.

DESPERATE GIRLS is one of those books that I just couldn't put down.  There was danger coming from a new direction every time they turned around.  And the heat between Brynn and Erik was combustable.  The tension continues to build up until the shocking conclusion.  I highly recommend this book to any of my readers who enjoy the romantic suspense genre.  It's well worth the read!!

***I received  this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.  All opinions are my own and not influenced by the publisher or author. 

Book Review: The Little Shop of Found Things

New York Times bestselling author of The Witch's Daughter Paula Brackston returns to her trademark blend of magic and romance to launch a new series guaranteed to enchant her audience even more.

Xanthe and her mother Flora leave London behind for a fresh start, taking over an antique shop in the historic town of Marlborough. Xanthe has always had an affinity with some of the antiques she finds. When she touches them, she can sense something of the past they come from and the stories they hold. So when she has an intense connection to a beautiful silver chatelaine she has to know more.

It’s while she’s examining the chatelaine that she’s transported back to the seventeenth century. And shortly after, she's confronted by a ghost who reveals that this is where the antique has its origins. The ghost tasks Xanthe with putting right the injustice in its story to save an innocent girl’s life, or else it’ll cost her Flora’s.

While Xanthe fights to save her amid the turbulent days of 1605, she meets architect Samuel Appleby. He may be the person who can help her succeed. He may also be the reason she can’t bring herself to leave.

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I really wasn't quite sure what I was getting into when I started to read THE LITTLE SHOP OF FOUND THINGS.  I have seen it compared to Outlander but with the exception of the time travel, I didn't really find them to be similar. I just didn't get the same depth of being immersed in the past.  Now that being said, I have to admit that I throughly enjoyed reading this book.

There were a couple things that gave THE LITTLE SHOP OF FOUND THINGS gold stars.  I really enjoyed getting to know the characters.  Xanthe is a strong woman who would do anything to protect er mother including willingly going into the past to save another woman's daughter.  Not being really close to my own family, Xanthe's bond with her mother was something that I treasured about her character.  

All of the secondary characters are as well drawn as Xanthe.  Her mother Flora is a also a very strong women despite her disability.  I also really like Liam who happens to own the local garage for classic cars and really hope to get to know him better in the next book in this series,

Now while I don't feel immersed in 17th century England, I did feel that way about the small town that Xanthe and Flora had recently moved too.  The warmth of their new neighbors radiate from the pages and  make me want to head there on vacation.

I do think that my readers who enjoy time travel mixed with an interesting mystery will really enjoy this book.  This is the first book in the series and I am looking forward to the next part in this series.  There is some talk of violence and sex but nothing in your face so this book is safe for all ages.

***I received  this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.  All opinions are my own and not influenced by the publisher or author.