Heat Wave

Heat Wave by Richard Castle is his first book in his new Nikki Heat series. From the inside cover flap.~

A New York real estate tycoon plunges to his death on a Manhattan sidewalk. A trophy wife with a past survives a narrow escape from a brazen attack. Mobsters and moguls with no shortage of reasons to kill trot out their alibis. And then, in the suffocating grip of a record heat wave, comes another shocking murder and a sharp turn in a tense journey into the dirty little secrets of the wealthy. Secrets that prove to be fatal. Secrets that lay hidden in the dark until one NYPD detective shines a light.

Mystery sensation Richard Castle, block-buster author of the wildly bestselling Derrick Storm novels, introduces his newest character, NYPD Homicide Detective Nikki Heat. Tough, sexy, professional, Nikki Heat carries a passion for justice as she leads one of New York City’s top homicide squads. She’s hit with an unexpected challenge when the commissioner assigns super-star magazine journalist Jameson Rook to ride along with her to research an article on New York’s Finest. Pulitzer Prize-winning Rook is as much a handful as he is handsome. His wise-cracking and meddling aren’t her only problems. As she works to unravel the secrets of the murdered real estate tycoon, she must also confront the spark between them. The one called heat.

I wanted to read Heat Wave because I love ABC’s Castle. I did enjoy Heat Wave, but really think it is because I’m such a huge fan of the show Castle. It really felt like I was reading an episode of Castle. I love Rick Castle and Kate Beckett and I could see and feel their characters in Jameson Rook and Nikki Heat. I borrowed this book from the library and have to say while I enjoyed the book, I like the television show much better. I will probably read future books put out by Richard Castle, but my biggest hope is that ABC doesn’t cancel one of my favorite shows.

I'm finally catching up on some of my blogging today. I still need to post about Slow Heat by Jill Shalvis, and hope to get it posted no later than tomorrow.

Too Hot to Handle

Too Hot to Handle by Robin Kaye is the second book in her Ronaldi series. From the back cover.~

Dr. Mike Flynn sure would LOVE to have a woman to take care of…To Dr. Mike, there’s nothing like vacuuming or doing a few dishes to help a guy relax.

Annabelle Ronaldi would never cook if she could order takeout. When they meet at her sister’s wedding, Mike is sure this is the woman he wants to take care of forever. While Mike sets to work wooing Annabelle, she becomes determined to sniff out the truth of the convoluted family secret that’s going to turn both their lives upside down…

I really loved Too Hot to Handle! It is such a fun and sexy read. Mike and Annabelle were so perfect for each other and it was fun to watch them figure it out. They hook up at Nick and Rosalie’s wedding and find they will be in each other’s life since Mike is Nick’s best friend and Nick married Belle’s sister, Rosalie. Belle has some emotional baggage to get past before she will totally trust her feelings for Mike. Mike knows Belle is the woman for him, but has to decide if he wants to stay on the same career path and if he can have a real relationship while working so many hours with his career as a doctor.

We get to spend more time with the Ronaldi family and they always bring a smile to my face. They seem almost too much, but add humor to this sexy story. I already have Breakfast in Bed, the next book in the Ronaldi series in my TBR pile and I can’t wait to read Robin’s next book soon.

Update & Results from the doctor

So, first I have to give everyone the great news I just got from my doctor's office. The lump has no cancer in it!!! He didn't really have me too worried based on my first visit, but I feel so much better getting the actual results from pathology that confirm no cancer. I still have an appointment on 3/3 for a check up and then will go back for periodic appointments to have ultrasounds to make sure the lump doesn't come back.

I'm still pretty tired and sore, but have been able to manage my pain just taking Tylenol and resting as much as possible. I actually only made it about half a day at work yesterday. I was told this morning that at least I had some color in my cheeks today, where as yesterday I was the color of paste. I left work about lunchtime, picked up something to eat on the way home and then slept for about 4 1/2 to 5 hours yesterday afternoon. Since I did make it the entire day today, I have Lost recording on my dvr, no chance I'll miss an episode of the final season. Wanted to make sure I got this up as soon as I found out from the doctor.

Recovery and other updates

I'm starting to feel almost normal now. Found out from talking to my sister that the size of the lump was about the same size as an egg yolk, per the doctor. I should have the test results back on Tuesday, and will post once I know something from the doctor. The incision is bigger than I thought it would be and also not exactly on the bra line as the doctor told me. I go back to the doctor on March the 3rd and really hope everything looks back to normal by then. Right now I'm really swollen and am only comfortable if I wear a sports bra. I've managed to not take any prescription pain pills today and have done pretty well.

I plan on going back to work full time on Monday, but might end up only working half a day. At this point I'm really tired after being up for just a little while, so I'm not sure how long I'll actually make it at work. My family will be heading out in the morning, but they have been really helpful. I have 2 quiches for meal this week and some leftovers too. All of my clothes are clean and put away, and my sheets and towels are all clean too. After they head out in the morning, I plan on resting as much as possible and catching up on Lost, Grey's Anatomy, and 24.

Home from Surgery

So I made it home from surgery about 7:45 tonight. I actually left the hospital about 5:30 and then we went to eat dinner and pick up my pain medicine. I'm doing pretty well right now, just really sore and tired. I'll post more information tomorrow, but wanted to get an update up tonight.

Happy Fat Tuesday!!!

Happy Fat Tuesday everyone! I've always given up something for lent each year(always fast food in college and even red meat for a few years) and this year will be no different. Tonight I get to celebrate at 55 South for their Fat Tuesday party before giving up something this year. I've always tried to eat all my favorite fast food dishes on Fat Tuesday. Since I'm doing Weight Watchers now, fast food really isn't a huge problem for me anymore. I will be having more food than normal tonight, but since I have to eat really light tomorrow(surgery on Thursday), I'm not too worried about it. However, I have noticed the only fast food I've really been getting on a regular basis is McDonald's Egg McMuffins and sugar free vanilla iced coffee...like 2-3 times a week. So I had my last Egg McMuffin and iced coffee this morning until Easter morning.

I fell down on the job of updating my blog this weekend. However, in my defense, I came down with the cold everyone in my office had and really didn't do anything beyond going to see The Drowsy Chaperone with my family on Sunday. So my goal is to post about both books tomorrow night before my sister and youngest niece arrive. If I don't get to post before they arrive, it will be over the weekend before I'll post about any books. However, I will log on to the computer to update everyone after I get home from the hospital on Thursday night.

Way Behind...again

So I'm so far behind on my blog post once again. I've finished 2 books this week I need to post about. My plan is to post an individual post for each book this weekend. The 2 books I've finished are Too Hot To Handle by Robin Kaye and Slow Heat by Jill Shalvis. I loved both and will talk more about them this weekend. I also started reading 2 new books. I'm reading Heist Society by Ally Carter and Savin' Me by Alannah Lynne and really enjoying both, even though I just got started reading them this week.

This weekend I also must get my house picked up and ready for my family to be here for my surgery next week. My sister and youngest niece (6) will be here on Wednesday night, so they can drive me to surgery early Thursday morning. My dad will be staying at my aunt and uncle's house and meet us at the hospital. Not sure how many people will be in over the weekend, so I want to make sure my house is "company ready". Also going to see "The Drowsy Chaperone" at TPAC on Sunday afternoon with family. Should be a crazy but fun weekend.

RIP Lizzie B...

My family lost the sweetest dog in the world on Thursday night, my Dad's lab Lizzie. Lizzie met you at the door anytime you came to the house and really never met a stranger she didn't want to love on...BTW, so not a watch dog. She was the runt of her litter and almost didn't make it, but her spirit was so strong, almost nothing ever kept her down. Right before Christmas, she had a lump removed from her left hind leg and after testing, we found out it was a very aggressive form of cancer. The doctor told my dad the only thing we could do was to remove her leg to keep the tumor from growing back. Unfortunately that was never an option, since her right hip was in very bad shape. My dad decided to take her to see the doctor weekly until she started to show signs of pain. On Monday the tumor came back and by Wednesday, Lizzie couldn't walk anymore. My dad held her all day on Thursday and they spent their last day together on the sofa watching movies. The vet came to the house and my dad held his sweet Lizzie as she went to doggie heaven(yes I believe there is a heaven for pets).

Much like my nieces, brother, and sister, I cry when I think about my next visit home with no barking greeting at the door. In fact, I couldn't even type up the blog without crying. So, rest in peace sweet Lizzie and know your family will miss you forever!

Breast Doctor Meeting and Lost

So I met with my breast doctor this afternoon(along with one of my best friends) and I will be having surgery to remove the lump on February 18. I really liked the doctor and felt much better after meeting with him. The lump isn't a fibroadenoma(always benign), but most likely a "cousin" to it called a phyllodes tumor(normally cancer free). Recovery time is almost zero, as I'm only going to miss 2 days of work and will be up and back to normal after 2 days. I won't know for sure that the lump is a phyllodes tumor until the doctor can do a biopsy on a larger portion of the lump. He did tell me if it is a phyllodes tumor, it will grow back. So I'll have to have regular check-ups and ultrasounds to see if it comes back(luckily ultrasounds don't hurt like mammograms do). My sister, dad, aunt, and all my friends are going to be with me for the surgery (at various points over the weekend), so I will be well taken care of during my recovery time. Thanks for every one's prayers and please keep them coming.

On a fun note, one of my favorite shows ever is back tonight. On a sad note, it is the final season...ever! Lost, how I've missed you and how I can't wait to find out what the hell is really going on with the island! I will be recording every episode so my brother can have a Lost marathon when he comes back in March (no cable where he lives right now). I plan on watching and re-watching the episodes each week to make sure I miss nothing (yeah right). Really hope Juliette and Sawyer some how find a way to end up together. Other than that, I just can't wait to find out what has really been going on.

The Lightning Thief

The Lightning Thief is book one in the Percy Jackson & The Olympians series by Rick Riordan. From the back cover.~

Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school…again. And that’s the least of his troubles. Lately, mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy’s Greek mythology textbook and into his life. And worse, he’s angered a few of them. Zeus’s master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect.

Now Percy and his friends have just ten days to find and return Zeus’s stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the true thief: he must come to terms with the father who abandoned him; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him to betrayal for a friend; and unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves.

So I had seen the Percy Jackson books everywhere, but really didn’t think it would be a series I would want to read. Then I actually picked up the first book and realized it was full of Greek Mythology and I knew I had to give this series a shot. I’m so glad I did! I really enjoyed the first book in the series and am so glad that I picked up the next 3 in the series when I was out book shopping one day. I hate to start a series and not have the next book waiting (might explain my TBR bookshelf). I would say for the most part the Percy Jackson series is perfect for any age reader who loves a great story, although I really think it is meant for children or YA. I plan on seeing the movie next week, so I had to finish the book first (not a hard rule for me, but I prefer to read the book before seeing the movie). I really like Percy and his friends Annabeth and Grover and especially love that the Half-Bloods are sent on quest to prove themselves.

Rick Riordan gives the reader a really great story and I look forward to reading more in this series. The Sea of Monsters is the next book in the series and I plan on reading it soon. My reading had taken a serious hit in the past week, but I’m really hoping to get my reading mojo back this week.