Happy Halloween Month!

 

Tomorrow starts Halloween Month. I used to post Halloween related pictures and other things during the month of October and then life got hectic and in the way and I stopped. So now that things are getting back to normal, I decided to bring back Halloween Month! You can expect spooky pictures, Halloween related content and whatever else I come up with throughout the month of October along with some regular posts. Most pictures that I haven't taken myself will be from Pixabay which are royalty free. So enjoy.

Since today is Raturday, how about we change things up and I share some AI generated creatures.

Apartment Life #337

 

This is a weekly blog post that I'm calling Apartment Hell  Life. I've mentioned a few times some of the crazy things that have gone on in and around my apartment complex and in my neighborhood in the past 25 years that I've lived here and people keep telling me I should write a book. But instead of a book, I've decided to share the crazy things that have happened in and around my apartment complex in the last 25 years here in a weekly blog post.

A couple of weeks ago I noticed my toilet wasn't flushing right, it was slow and that usually means the pipes are getting clogged and the cleanout is overflowing. So I looked out my bedroom window and sure enough raw sewage was leaking out of this pipe again. Long time readers know that this happens a few times a year. 

So I went outside because those of you that remember last time, there were a couple dozen bugs on my wall and window from the sewer pipe that's right under my bedroom window and I was afraid that would happen again. I only saw two huge sewer bugs but that was enough for me. Those two black spots on the wall, lower and one higher are bugs. No thank you. So I called maintenance Friday afternoon and told them raw sewage was leaking all over the ground and the maintenance guy came out fast. 

I was actually surprised he got here so fast. 

He was mad about something though because for a few minutes he was just yelling into his phone. 

But he pulled out the electric snake, unclogged the pipe and went home. I did not want to deal with bugs and a slow toilet and backed up tub all weekend. Thankfully I didn't have to.

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I think I showed you a while back when my daughter found these unspent bullets in the alley. Strange to find bullets that haven't been fired but I just figured it was a fluke. These are .22 bullets.

Then she found a .38 unspent bullet. Still weird but ok. 

Then this month she found this, it's a .223 Remington bullet from what could be several different semi-automatic and manual rifles. Now I don't have a problem with guns. I learned how to shoot when I was 12 years old. I just find it weird that there are so many unspent rounds in my alley. Ammo costs quite a bit of money, bullets aren't cheap according to my brother. So what's happening? Are their ammo cans so overflowing when they open them the ammo is just falling out? Or do they have bullets in their pockets and they are dropping them on the ground when pulling a few out of their pockets? I just find it weird. 

Is it all from the same person? Several people? I have questions. 

The high this week was 106F/41C

The low this week was 71F/21C

So that's it for this week's Apartment Hell  Life! Be sure to come back next week for more.

Sky Pictures From This Week

 

We had a cloudy couple of days this week. These pictures are courtesy of my daughter since she was up before me and heard the thunder that I missed. 

She said there was some lightning coming out of these clouds too.

It was early in the morning. I got up at 4AM, took the dog out, saw a few clouds but nothing like this and I went back to bed and missed the thunder and lightning. 

Not one drop of rain where we live though. Other parts of Vegas got some rain but not us. 

You can even see the rain coming down in some of these pictures. 

It sure made for some good pictures though.

And then we started seeing blue skies after noon. 

How was your week?

Freebie Friday!

 

Welcome to another weekly Freebie Friday post, where I tell you what free samples and full sized products I received in the mail and how you can get them too. Someone asked me why I do a "Freebie Friday" each week, so I'll tell you.

A while back I listed all the free samples and wins that I had received that previous year and so many people didn't believe that I could have gotten so many free things. So I decided to prove it by taking a picture every week and sharing the sites that I found the links to the freebies at. So now you too can get great free samples coming to your mailbox each week.

  You can find links to great samples at Hey It's Free and Freebie Shark.

This week I received: 

A Lancome perfume sample. 

It smells good so that's always good. 

Did you receive any freebies this week?

Book Review: The Beta's Challenge by Alexa Phoenix

 

Book Description

When my brothers and I decided to start a new life inside a new pack that accepted us, when all others turned us away, I vowed never to endure the pain of a mate bond again.

However, I should have known fate always enjoys playing games with us. One look and everything I’ve built comes crashing down around me.

When I took up an extra shift, one gaze threw everything I had ever worked for out the window.

Conrad Miller, my newest pack’s Beta, was my second chance at a mate.

Blessed by the Moon goddess, he was supposed to be my perfect half. The person who was made to complete my soul, my happily ever after. From his compassion to his protectiveness, he’s everything my wolf has ever wanted.

However, I want nothing to do with him. Unfortunately, he refuses to take no for an answer.

Now, I'm torn between the mate bond and my own desires.

Will I be able to resist his charm, or will fate once again have its way?

If you like paranormal romances with fated mates, intense conflict, and strong women, you’ll love The Beta's Challenge. Recommended for readers 17+

My Review

April's first mate, Josh ended up being a cheat and jerk so April refused to be his mate and she and her brother's left. They are finally able to find a new pack who will accept them and April gets a job at a cafe as well as working at her brother's auto shop. She doesn't plan on having a mate after the horrible first one so when Conrad walks into the cafe and April recognizes him as her mate, she runs. April and Conrad are both wolf shifters and finding a mate should be a happy occasion but it's not for April, she's been through this once already and isn't going to do it again. 

But Conrad doesn't take no for an answer, he just wants her to give him a shot, get to know him a little before she rejects him completely. Conrad is the pack's Beta so either way April knows that she's going to have to see him and agrees to go out with him once to get to know him better. He's nothing like Josh and she's incredibly attracted to him. So she gives him a chance, slowly. But then there's a miscommunication and their relationship takes a backseat until Conrad realizes that April is in danger from her past. 

I loved the banter between her and her family. They were great and they loved her and it showed. Conrad is such a nice guy, I loved him. 

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. 

Amazon

Favorite Picture of the Week

 

This was the sunrise on Wednesday morning.

This was a little while after sunrise on Thursday morning. 

Book Review: The Alpha King's Mark by Anne T. Thyssen

 

Book Description

After killing his uncle, Marcos rises to be the king of supernatural creatures, but finds himself burdened by the weight of his crown. Despite wanting nothing but to avenge his family and be free, Marcos remains trapped by his duty to those who depend on him. However, everything changes one fateful night at an upper-class party when a woman, disguised as a servant, sets out to end his life. Yet, as Marcos gazes into her enigmatic eyes, he is inexplicably drawn to her, and in that moment must make her his.

Marcella lost everything as a child and was raised by the vampire Aleister, who molded her into a merciless assassin. Bound to Aleister, the King of the Underworld, she carries out his orders, always a weapon in his hands. When the call to assassinate the king reaches Aleister's ears, he dispatches Marcella without hesitation. Though she successfully plunges the knife into Marcos's chest, she soon realizes that the act cannot sever the invisible bond he has established between them.

Will Marcos and Marcella find solace in each other, or will their past and duty destroy them?

This story contains assassination, manipulation, explicit sex scenes, descriptions of death, and is rated 18+.

My Review

A powerful vampire named Aleister found Marcella when she was just a child after her family had been killed. He took her in because he sensed she would be a powerful werewolf when she got older. So he raised her to be his assassin. She is a werewolf raised by a vampire in a cold, unfeeling home. While Aleister might have some sense of familiar feelings for her, she is nothing more than a tool for his ruthless rise to be more powerful. When Aleister sends Marcella out on another assignment to kill Marcos, an alpha werewolf, she isn't expecting anything to go wrong. Boy was she in for a surprise. 

For some reason someone wants Marcos dead. When an assassination attempt goes wrong and the assassin is caught, Marcos finds himself face to face with his fated mate who is also the woman who tried to kill him. 

I actually felt really bad for Marcella because having been raised by a vampire, she knows nothing of her werewolf heritage. She can't remember her childhood with the family that was killed so she and her wolf don't get along at all. Little by little Marcos gets to her and makes her feel things she never thought possible until she no longer wants to go back to the vampire she owes her life to. 

I loved Marcos. He was so patient with her even through she tried to kill him. He slowly gets under her skin and gets to know her while showing her how it is supposed to be when you're a wolf shifter. I really enjoyed this book a lot. 

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. 

Amazon

Happy Raturday!

 

"Teaching an alien about toast, because bread is life"

"For an advanced species, I was surprised this alien didn't even know what a Lite Brite was."

"Singing with my alien friends"

*All pictures this week are courtesy of www.martymousehouse.com*

Apartment Life #336

 

This is a weekly blog post that I'm calling Apartment Hell  Life. I've mentioned a few times some of the crazy things that have gone on in and around my apartment complex and in my neighborhood in the past 25 years that I've lived here and people keep telling me I should write a book. But instead of a book, I've decided to share the crazy things that have happened in and around my apartment complex in the last 25 years here in a weekly blog post.  

I was out with Falcor and when I got back to my apartment there was a woman and her husband in front of my apartment arguing. The woman is the sister of one of my neighbors. The sister called the police. My daughter was outside and told the woman to come over to her and yelled at the husband to leave. He left when I walked up. The police came but I didn't see anyone get arrested. 

The police went to the sisters apartment and then she took them over to her sisters apartment. She also lives in my apartment complex. 

About 2 hours later the police showed up again but I don't know what for. There are two police cars side by side here talking to each other. 

Right next door one night a couple of weeks ago there was a car meet in the Cal Ranch parking lot around 11Pm. My daughter went outside to see why they were making so much noise. They were setting off smoke bombs, racing their cars, doing doughnuts and squealing their tires.

You can see a bunch of people in the background watching. There was a bunch of cars doing it. I tried to upload a video but the video wouldn't play. They all left when the police showed up. 

A fire truck showed at for an apartment across the street Friday night at 4AM. My camera doesn't take good pictures at night but you can see all the lights on it. lol I'll just use my window cameras for night time pictures from now on. They didn't stay long and nothing was on fire so hopefully whatever they were there for everyone is alright. 

The high this week was 90F/32C

The low this week was 62F/16C

So that's it for this week's Apartment Hell  Life! Be sure to come back next week for more.

Favorite Song of the Week

 

Nevertel- Losing Faith

I already like Nevertel and heard this for the first time the other day and really liked it. I hope you enjoy it as well. 

Book Review: Bloodstone by H.R. Sinclair

 

Book Description

Family secrets hold the key to buried magic. Her legacy awaits.

Katelyn Grey is a gardener in Southern California. She’s content with pruning shrubs and looking after her step-mom, the only family she has left. That is, until a lawyer shows up and tells her that her long-lost aunt died, leaving her the family home on the other side of the country.

Though Katelyn hates to travel, a weird clause in her aunt’s will forces her to visit a quaint New England seaside town. Her world changes when she discovers she’s inherited a haunted brownstone, fickle magic, and a hidden key that someone else wants. And they’re willing to kill for it.

Now, she must learn how to use magic, find the key, and figure out what it’s for before she ends up like her long-lost aunt. Dead.

My Review

Katelyn gets a visit from a lawyer who tells her she inherited a house from a relative she never knew about. She has to travel to the house and once there strange things start to happen. Most of the townsfolk are nice to her but a few treat her badly and she has no idea why. The brownstone she inherited seems haunted since she sees ghosts in it who talk to her and she finds things inside the house that seem magical. 

When other magical elements reveal themselves to her, including some ghosts she finds herself trying to find something she's been tasked with finding. I didn't like that Katie shared so much information about what she found out with her new best friend and other people she just met. I think I would have been keeping some of that to myself until I found out if they could be trusted. 

After a while Katie finds out all kinds of family secrets, some magical secrets all the while she's trying to learn more so she can keep her family secrets safe and not let the people who want to take these magical items from her. She meets a lot of interesting people along the way and I really liked how she just unveiling secrets about things she never knew. 

This story really kept me engaged in the story as more and more secrets were revealed, which I loved.

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC copy from the author but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Amazon

Book Review: Alien Claimed by Julie K. Cohen

 

Book Description

The blue horned alien says he won’t touch me. What if I want him to?

Ivy

Earth wasn’t exactly paradise, not since the Coalition took control, but it was home... until Ivy’s brother shoved her on an alien ship to be a mail-order bride. The truth be told, she is better off without the murderous psycho, but that doesn’t mean she wanted to be thrust into the universe, totally unprepared, and she certainly won’t marry some horned alien.

She’ll make her own way back to Earth and stay far away from her brother and his criminal ties. Nothing will change her mind. Not even a tall, sweet, protective warrior who makes human males look like boys and the universe look much more appealing than she ever thought possible.

Quinnov

Quinnov’s alone in the universe. Except for his planet... war torn, burned out Zyan. No one in his family survived the war, except maybe his older brother Jaizon. Quinnov’s been searching for him since the war ended. But when he crosses paths with his heartmate, his priorities shift. To keep her safe from those hunting her, he may have to return her to her world, even though she makes his heart soar and both of his cocks harden.

My Review

After Ivy is forced to leave Earth because her brother gave her no choice but to get on the ship and sold her as an alien bride to an alien, she's not very trusting anymore. She escapes the ship and her intended  mate and is free on an alien planet but the males there seem to be just as bad as all the other's she encountered until she comes across Quinnov. 

Quinnov is a big blue alien with horns and he seems to want to help her get to safety because she's not safe where she's at. He finds out what is really going on with her and wants to help but the bad guys are going to be after both of them if he does. Quinnov starts to feel protective of her but he thinks he can't keep her with him because what he's doing is dangerous and doesn't want to put her in danger. 

They quickly realize that they don't want to part ways but things get in their way and make their relationship difficult. Quinnov is looking for his brother after most of his family is killed by the same alien invaders who have taken over Earth and it's going to be dangerous. 

Even with the difficulties they had I really liked both of these characters. Quinnov was such a nice guy and Ivy was competent. When she found herself in a situation, she found a way to get out of it. This was a good read. These two were different from each other but were so good for one another. 

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. 

Amazon

Favorite Picture of the Week

 

My daughter took this picture of the rain clouds. You can see the rain coming down out of it but when it got to us, we didn't get any rain from it. Still looked so cool.

Book Review: Bren's Blessing by Pearl Tate

 

Book Description

I never thought I'd end up being abducted by aliens!

I was living my dream, rotating in space around Mars on the Mars Hope Skylab. As the first American woman this far into space, I’ve accomplished more in my twenty-eight years of life than most.

I enjoy my job, so when things go sideways and aliens board my lab, I try to stay positive and make sure that I just observe and stay alive. But I’m immediately grabbed and taken to their ship.

Unable to understand them and not knowing what they have planned for me, I have to make some hard choices about whether living is the best way to go. And how far will I go to live?

It appears that I’m now the property of the alien that grabbed me.

He’s big, possessive and seems to want to get to know me a lot better…

PLEASE NOTE: This SciFi Romance alien book contains Adult Language and Steamy Adult Bedroom Scenes. It is intended for 18+ Readers & Adults Only.

It's part of a science fiction romance series but can be read as a standalone story with no cliffhangers!

My Review

Hannah's space lab starts a self destruct after the aliens board her space it, they know it's about to self destruct and abduct her over to their ship. Bren, one of the aliens feels compelled to be with Hannah and after getting over the shock of being abducted she gets along with Bren and the other aliens. Hannah and Bren fall for each other really fast and because he was able to learn her language fast, they're able to talk and get to know each other. 

When they realize they are soul mates and his species hasn't had one of those in a long time, they have to jump through some hoops in order to make his people believe that they are meant to be together because his arranged marriage to another female of his species is getting in the way of his relationship with Hannah. 

Females rule his species so this puts Hannah in a bit of a predicament because she has to act like the females of his kind so Bren and his friends teach her how to answer the questions she'll be asked and how to act so they can be together. But Hannah is put in danger and Bren has a limited amount of time to find her and rescue her as a test. But now there's new hope for Bren's species because they realize they can find their true mates with humans. Which might be bad for human females if some of his species want to keep them as slaves just because they are compatible sexually. I guess we'll see what happens next. 

I give this book 3 out of 5 stars.

Amazon

Happy Raturday!

 

"Just stopped by the coffee house for some coffee."

"Waiting by the phone with my alien friend."

*All pictures this week are courtesy of www.martymousehouse.com*

Apartment Life #335

 

This is a weekly blog post that I'm calling Apartment Hell  Life. I've mentioned a few times some of the crazy things that have gone on in and around my apartment complex and in my neighborhood in the past 25 years that I've lived here and people keep telling me I should write a book. But instead of a book, I've decided to share the crazy things that have happened in and around my apartment complex in the last 25 years here in a weekly blog post.  

One of my newer neighbors had a couple of guys staying with her and they got into a big fight. After the fight one of the guys was taken away in this ambulance and I haven't seen him around here since. The lady that lives there has two little girls living there with her and she's fighting being evicted. So I don't know how long she'll actually be living here. 

She was heard yelling at him about doing drugs while he was supposed to be watching her kids. Those kids around 7 and 8 years old are outside by themselves all the time unsupervised. I've only talked to her a couple of times and both times she was so drunk or high she could barely talk. 

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I saw the police at the apartment complex across the street. Now sure what for. There's a lot of new people over in that complex now. I know it's blurry but that car with the trunk open is the police car.

---

It's not a great picture but there were some military helicopters flying over my place pretty low. They just kept circling for a while and then more would do the same thing. Maybe they were training or doing exercises? I don't know but they sure were loud. The walls in my place were shaking. 

---

Oh and guess who is back in the neighborhood? Drug dealer and his wife! Drug dealer's wife told my daughter that they got evicted from their apartment in the 50+ apartment community and are now staying with a friend around here. I was wondering why I was seeing him so much in the neighborhood and all the homeless people were back around here too because they seem to follow them around.

The high this week was 102F/38C

The low this week was 74F/23C

So that's it for this week's Apartment Hell  Life! Be sure to come back next week for more.