Physio, dry needling, and re-reading

Back at home after an early morning visit to the hospital physio department.  This week was my second session of dry needling on my Achilles to help reduce the scar tissue forming on the tendon.  Last week I had 6 needles drilled into the back of my ankle.  It felt really strange, almost like my muscles wanted to tick, and I ended up with a bruise from that - and it felt like someone had hauled off and kicked me in the back of my ankle by day 2.

Today the needles went in a lower location.  They hurt a bit more, and once they were out and I had to flex my foot up and down... oh boy.  Pointing my toes down almost sent my achilles into a spasm.  I've been assured that this is normal and a hot pack/hot foot bath later on today should help.  Fingers crossed.  Thankfully this treatment does seem like this is helping as the extreme feeling of stretching to the point of breaking isn't as intense as it has been for the past couple of months.  If it helps loosen the knot of scar tissue that seems to be forming on the tendon, then I will be happy to have the professionals use me as a pincushion.

Love this book.  A much adored guilty pleasure read ;-D

For now, I'm going to slowly go about the usual chores (laundry, how lovely) and then take it slow and put my feet up for a few hours.  I've been rereading some of my favourite Regency era mystery books - The Bastion Club plus the occasional Bar Cynster series books - and am trying to get out of the reading funk I've been having for the last 2 months.  I just can't seem to muster the energy to pick up any of the myriad of new books that are waiting on my TBR shelves.  Anyway, I'm going to try and start one tonight.  The weather is getting cooler, so perhaps snuggling under a knitted afghan will help.

Wish me luck for next week as I go in for my final session.

Unitl next time,

 

Stephanie Laurens Upcoming Releases!

And Then She Fell

Cynster Sisters Duo (Book 1)

Stephanie Laurens

 

Avon Books, Mass Market Paperback, 384 p.

ISBN: 978-0-06-206864-4

Due for release on 26 March 2013

 

 

The only thing more troublesome than a Cynster man...is a Cynster lady who belives love is not her destiny. Famously known in London society as "The Matchbreaker," Henrietta Cynster's uncanny skill lies in preventing ill-fated nuptials - not in falling victim to Cupid's spell.

 

But then she distrupts one match too many and feels honor-bound to assist dashing James Glossup in finding a suitable bride for a marriage of convenience.

 

A task infernally complicated by the undeniable, unquenchable attraction that flares between James and Henrietta, who continues to believe she will never fall...

 

 

EXCERPT

 

 

Finally, here it is. The first book in the Cynster Sisters Duo, and number 19 in the Cynster family series is the aptly named And Then She Fell.   Continuing on eight years after the last Cynster Sisters Trilogy book, The Capture of the Earl of Glencrae, we now find ourselves following Henrietta Cynster as she reluctantly finds her hero.

 

If you want to read the books in order, so you have some idea of who's who in the Cynster-verse, I'd get started now!  Start with Devil's Bride (or even The Promise of a Kiss if you want to start at the very beginning).  As the stories seems to inter-connect, I'd also recommend reading all the Bastion Club books.  However, if that's a little too much, just read Simon Cynster's story, The Perfect Lover, as ATSF continues about 2 years after this - and it's where we first meet James Glossup.

 

Oh, and for those of you who can't quite remember where Henrietta and Mary (recipient of the second Cynster Sisters Duo book) fit in on the Cynster family tree... they are the youngest sisters of Simon and the twins, Amanda and Amelia.

 

... quickly before I go, I just found out that Mary Cynster's story will be called The Taming of Ryder Cavanaugh, and will be available on the 30 July, 2013!

Cricket, Rain & Regency

Wow, it's already the 3rd of January!  How did that happen?  It seems the older I get, the quicker the days pass.  Gotta do something about that :P

Well, today is the first day of the 2nd test match between Australia (Go Aussie Go!) and Pakistan in their 5 game series.  Personally, I will be avoiding it as much as possible, but the rest of the household is glued to the couch for the next 5 days.  I don't get it?

So I'll be happily surfing the net, studying (not so happily) and waiting for the rain to cool things off here.  We've had so much rain recently that anytime the sun pokes it's head out from behind the clouds... instant sauna.  Thank god I have my trusty hand fan nearby.  Who doesn't!?

Now while I am waiting for the rain - and ignoring the cricket fueled calls from the lounge room - I'll be relaxing with a few books.  I have found a new paranormal romance author, Terry Spear, and have read her Destiny of the Wolf.  This is a good general lycanthrope romp, but not as involved or compelling as the Anita Blake series lycanthropes.  Not something that I would pre-order-and-pray-that-it-gets-here-soon list, but okay for the bus or train ride.

However, on the other end of the scale, due to my recent purchase of Temptation and Surrender (see Tea & Scandal blog), I had to rummage through the historical section of my bookcase(s) to find the other Bar Cynster books.  I even pulled out the Bastion Club series for good measure.  And of course, when reading any historical/Regency series, I have to get out some of my reference/great costume books to start drooling over.  This of course led to a Regency madness fuelled trip to Amazon.com where again I bought too much.  I did however, get 2 books that mum was wanting so... yeah me!

Now I get to sit back, make a cup of tea in my fine bone china english teacup, and kick back and get into the Regency vibe.

Happy New Years

Regency Blues

I've been feeling at a loss lately. I'm over my paranormal books at the moment, and am leaning towards more hysterical... sorry, historical titles. It's been so long since I've found a decent Regency author like Stephanie Laurens. I received the last 2 books in her Bastion Club series last Friday and spent the whole day just demolishing them. I wasn't too enthused on Christian's story. Boy mets girl, boy falls in love, boy looses love and moves on.... girl comes back to boy and needs his help to solve her husbands murder, girl fills boy in on what really happened, they forgive each other after she's nearly killed, they marry and live happily ever after. It was better than some other titles I've read, but The Edge of Desire wasn't my top Stephanie Laurens book.


Now Mastered by Love on the other hand was great! After waiting for years, we finally find out who the mysterious and dashingly dangerous Dalziel is. He is none other than a Duke! After resigning his commission, he goes home to take up the reins of the dukedom after his father's unexpected death. He overcomes past hurts and finds true love while trying to keep his private life out of the gossip of the grand dames of the ton. Especially since he now has to wed to prevent his title being resumed by Prinny! His is a story that tugs at the heartstrings, and makes you just want to keep reading more. A great strong finish to a wonderful series.

The only downside to getting these 2 books is that in the back of MbL, the author lets us all know that she has another series, The Black Cobra Quartet, that will include the characters from both the Bastion Club and the Bar Cynsters series. OMG! Just when I thought it was safe to go to the bookshop, she does this to me... I've been online and checked out the online previews available and the Untamed Bride (out 27 October 2009) looks to be quite a ride. Although it seems to be more in line with the Bastion Club vibe with ex-Whitehall agents ferrying sensitive information home. It will involve Royce, and other of the Bastion Club and will end up at Somersham Place for a Cynster gathering... is she trying to kill us?

The Bastion Club titles can be read individually, but work better when you read them in order

• Captain Jacks Woman

• A Lady Chosen

• A Gentleman's Honor

• A Lady of His Own

• A Fine Passion

• To Distraction

• Beyond Seduction

• The Edge of Desire

• Mastered by Love

So keep your eyes peeled for the new series. If they are anything like the Bastion and Cynster books, then I'll be happy.

Going Regency Today!

Well, today is the day of the 'Afternoon with Mr. Darcy' lecture at the Abbey Museum! I've been hanging out for this for a while now. The only hitch was that they would like everyone to come in costume... Thankfully I had everything BUT the dress. So it was a mad dash to my wonderful neighbour who also happened to be a wonderful seamstress. So between her and my mother, and over 4 days of 10hrs plus each day sewing and fitting, the dress and stay were done! {remind me that if I ever want to go through that again I'm an idiot!}

So this afternoon I get to don my best afternoon dress and meet with other Regency ladies and gentlemen. Should be great. I'll have to take some pics and post them later.

Ok, onto the books - and as you can imagine, my reading has been listing slightly into the Regency. So it was back to the fantastic Stephanie Laurens and her 2 delicious series, the Bar Cynster (about 14 books so far) and the intriguing Bastion Club (all 6 of them, with 2 to come). If you're looking for a bit of mystery and murder in your Regency romances, then do read her. As a homegrown author (a Melbournite) she is a breathe of fresh air into the genre.

Anyhow I must dash. Have to prepare for my afternoon with Mr. Darcy!