The BER Months are here and I have a Cold --The Sunday Post!

 

The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog an
d showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. you can write about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme.

A good month of reading. I highly enjoyed Down to a Science, Let's Give Em Pumpkin to Talk About, and Bass-Ackwards. How was your reading month? 

So I kicked off September by taking a sick day because the little gremlins at work gave me some sort of virus. It ridiculously hot this week and on Thursday and Friday we had indoor recess. No one likes indoor recess, and it makes me cranky that we had to have it because of excessive heat in September! 

I've been staying indoors away from the heat and ragweed working on feeling better and trying to manifest Fall. (so far it is not working LOL)

I broke out the big guns yesterday. Pumpkin Bonfire smells so good. Today I might make pumpkin bread. 

How was your week? 

Lower Humidity. The Sunday Post

 

The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog an
d showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. you can write about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme.

This past week we've enjoyed low humidity—which is my favorite summer weather. We had some rain, but overall the daytime weather has been nice. Hopefully, this doesn't mean September will be in the nineties. Our school has been under construction, and I'm in one of the new classrooms where it is freezing cold. I've been wearing a sweatshirt, and it's still cold!

I'm working on edits and the cover for Of Lockers and Love. This week I found a local graphic artist who will be making some character art for me at an affordable price--without AI. 

I finished reading a few books that I enjoyed. How was your week? Read anything good? Or watch something new?

Here is my cover teaser graphic-- I struggle with marketing my books through tropes. I feel like the more I write, the less my books fit in neat trope boxes, and I think that's a good thing. 

I read this via KU

I'm a lucky girl and I own a signed copy of this one.

I used an Audible credit and it was worth it!

Against The Chords by Heather Young-Nichols

 

Rockstar romance lovers rejoice!  Get your hands on the first book in the Reckless Saints series! I love that it's part of a series but is read as a standalone. I love interconnected standalones!

Here's the blurb: 

A steamy, SECOND CHANCE, coming home, rock star, STANDALONE romance. He was my first love. And my first mistake. Jagger Hunt was supposed to be forever–first love, first time, first…everything. Until one mistake blew it all apart. I’ve spent the last ten years pretending I’m fine. Acting like what happened didn’t still affect me. Working for my father’s company, building a quiet life, locking my heart behind walls no one could touch. But now Jagger’s back in Hawthorne Hills, and the boy who broke me? He’s a full grown rock star with a voice that soothes me and eyes that don’t let me forget a thing. He says he never stopped loving me. Still wishes he could undo all of it. But I’m not the same girl who believed in forever. Loving him once broke me. Loving him again might ruin me. Against the Chords is the first standalone in the Reckless Saints series featuring a rock star drummer haunted by the one who got away, the woman whose heart he broke, steamy second chances, emotional tension, and all the “it’s always been you” heartbreak you crave.

Grab your copy here: https://geni.us/Chords

About the author:

Heather Young-Nichols is a USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary and paranormal romances. She writes swoony heroes and snarky heroines with a heap of romance. When she's not writing, she's binging a show with her kids, watching baseball, or snuggling with her cuddly animals.

Chosen to Be Monsters --Romantasy by J. Von Tobel

 

What a cover right?  Looks like there is danger ahead! Here is the blurb:

War turns us all feral. The loyalists bend, but do not break. Casualties pile higher and victory is just out of reach. Anca shields Eugen from the war as the Household’s feuding alliance reaches its limit. Worst of all, Anca fears that she is not cruel enough to end this war. Her love for Eugen cuts as much as it soothes. The shadow of House Furloc looms large as he explores who he is without the Blood Flame. When a legend from his past returns, Eugen is forced to reckon with a legacy he chose to leave behind. An unlikely ally offers her a way to end the war at the cost of Eugen’s life. Caught between duty and love once again, her choice will bring the old order crashing down around them. Unseen enemies move to topple House Sulia once and for all. Legend becomes reality and Households will burn. In the thrilling finale to the Fated Hunters duology, Anca must face if she is really any better than the monsters she hunts.

Buy it here: https://jvontobelauthor.com

More about the author: With a preponderance towards Dungeons & Dragons, sexy vampires, and Lovecraftian nightmares, it isn't surprising she ended up writing romantasy. A Chicagoan for ten years, she is an active member of the Chicago North Romance Writers.

J. Von Tobel is the author of the Fated Hunters Duology, the first in the series being Fated to be Monsters. Curse of Flame, her debut novel, is a dark fantasy novel which acts as the first chapter in a new trilogy. She hopes to write more in this world and others beyond. https://jvontobelauthor.com

Back to School! #TheSundayPost

 

The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog an
d showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. you can write about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme.

Tomorrow is my last day of summer break; and it's also my birthday. Am I ready to go back? Noooo. Am I looking forward to seeing the kids and being in my new classroom?  Yes. 

This summer, for whatever reason, I never got into the habit of staying up late and sleeping in—so I have that going for me as we transition back to school days. 

This week, after weeks of stalking the ticket resale sites, I got tickets for me and my eldest kiddo to go see BTS! I justified spending on the tickets because when am I going to have a chance to see them again? Since I love live music, seeing BTS is like a bucket list item.  

We also went and saw Spider-Man this week. I loved it! 

This week I'm finishing a few books. Each one is very good in its own different way!

How was your week? 

Oh No! August is Here! #TheSundayPost!

The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. you can write about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme.

Audrey Hobart

Between Friends at Lollapalooza 

I went with my daughter and her friend to Lollapalooza. We had a good time, saw all the musicians we wanted to see. My daughter said we should go see Audrey Hobart and I'm glad she did. She is a quirky singer-songwriter. Since I'm part of the oldest cohort going to Lollapalooza, I notice all the old people like me and this year there was quite a few of us!

And now it's August and going back to school is right around the corner!Ack! I have my first day of school shirt ready, so there is that. 

Writing-wise, I'm making good progress on my revising, and I have my boxed set ready for release this Thursday! Yay!

I've been using Pinterest to make boards of books I want to read, recipes I want to try, and shows I want to see. The process makes me feel organized. 

How was your July month of reading? Here is what I read:

 

The Sunday Post--The End of July, Already?

 

The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. you can write about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme.

We got to enjoy some cooler weather this week and no smoke, so it was a lovely time to be outside. We finally got our gazebo put up and now have a place to sit outside and enjoy our back yard w/o worrying about sunburn.

This week I finished my rough draft and now it's time to revise, revise, revise. 

I've been trying very hard to cook at home and to avoid carry out--especially since I'm on summer break. But now going back to school looms and I'm looking for recipes that are easy to prepare or can be prepped the night before. Do you have any go to dinner recipes?  Please let me know!

My gazebo and my dog:

My heirloom atomic grape tomatoes are ripening! They will be purple when ripe!

Books and Produce

Produce I've been giving away. I hope my garden continues to produce into the fall. My tomato plants are starting to have tomatoes, the question is how long will it take for them to turn red.

Like my garden, my book reading has also been plentiful. Here are books I've read recently with a super short description!

An allergy related death. A light dusting of magic. I enjoyed the sleuth and her boyfriend. I would read more in this series!

First book in new urban fantasy series. I liked the narration. I think this book is pretty dark. Teenagers dying in the book. Even though it's a first in series, it has a satisfying ending. I found myself more interested in side character than our main character--but more growth will certainly be hand in book two.

I love the cover. This is the 7th book in the series. It was I liked the magic system. I didn't understand something the MC does, like I needed more of a reason. I also didn't like her somewhat estranged boyfriend who thinks she committed a murder. What kind of boyfriend is that? 

I listened to the audio. I like the narrator! This is set up as the first book in a series. I liked that I learned something new about science and paintings. It's worth adding to your TBR. 

Newsflash Arizona in July is Hot! The Sunday Post

  

The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. you can write about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme.

I hope you had a nice week. Today we are back under an air quality alert. We have had our air running basically 24/7 this whole summer between the excessive heat and now poor air quality. I'm very glad we got solar a few years ago. Because of that our electric bill was $20. I don't even want to know what it would be if we didn't have the solar offset. 

Speaking of heat. I was in the Phoenix, Arizona area with my husband this week. He had a work trip so I got to go with. It was ridiculously hot. Like the surface of the sun hot. Like it was too hot to walk 10 steps to the pool barefoot. LIke it was too hot in the pool by 2pm hot.

It sure is pretty in Arizona. When you are inside it's hard to believe how hot it is outside. Living in the desert is not for me. 

August is quickly approaching. I got myself a new planner and set up a school year countdown. LOL 

How was your week? I finished a few books on vacation!

I'm ready to start the school year next month.

I Don't Even Want To Think About It! The Sunday Post

 

The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. you can write about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme.

This time next month I'll be back to school. YIkes! This week I'm going on a business trip with my husband. I haven't flown in ages. The passport I got earlier this year is going to be put to use.

This past week I read some books, did writing sprints, used my pool, and went on a charity garden walk. How was your week? 

I'm working on this cozy mystery challenge for 2026 

Here are a few pictures from the garden walk!