Have you ever thought you knew where your path in life was going only to have the bottom fall out? Paige Kramar thinks she has it made with a role on the TV show, Charmed Lives. Then everything changes when her co-star Lance’s bad behavior gets him suspended from the network. Her role is put on hold because she was about to be revealed as his secret sister. She was already getting pressured by her family to study something in school that would lead to job security in the future. She winds up doing a journalism internship where she’s not taken seriously since she’s an actress. Then one day she steps up in a big way to help out a sportscaster named Ted who sees she has an eye for putting together news stories.

Ted gives her an opportunity to work with him and mentors her. She goes from feeling insecure about her future to believing in herself and her abilities. Along the way, she meets a hockey player named Viktor who is also dealing with his own self-confidence issues. Paige and Viktor begin to find support in one another and fall in love, but they are both fresh off of break ups and dealing with trust issues. Then her pop star ex-boyfriend comes back into the picture. Can Paige find true love and purpose?

Find the book here. ***Free in Kindle Unlimited ***

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Falling-Star-City-Hockey-Romance-ebook/dp/B0CVXHF8DL
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Falling-Star-City-Hockey-Romance-ebook/dp/B0CVXHF8DL
Amazon CAN: https://www.amazon.ca/Falling-Star-City-Hockey-Romance-ebook/dp/B0CVXHF8DL
Amazon Aus: https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B0CVXHF8DL
Add it on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/208865198-falling-for-a-star-in-the-city

Check out the playlist here

Ceilings by Lizzy McAlpine: Captures the unsure feeling of falling for someone so perfectly.
Deeper Well by Kacey Musgraves: Paige becomes more introspective as her life changes and this song really plays into that as you start to become more of yourself as you do through adversity.
Say Something by A Great Big World & Christina Aguilera: This song fits how Paige feels as things fall apart with Walker.
Without Me by Halsey (I listened to the version performed by Halsey & Kelsea Ballerini): This was how I imagined Paige feeling after Walker’s career took off after their breakup.
Let You Down by NF: I felt this song was something Walker would have been listening to after everything happened with Paige.
Style by Taylor Swift: This one reminded me of Walker and Paige.
Dreams by Jon Connor: This song encourages people to dream and Paige struggles as she sees her acting dream slipping away. Also, Paige and her friend Jake are both originally from Flint, Michigan (where I was born) and so is Jon Connor.
This is Called “Me” by Marina: A song about staying true to yourself and being resilient. It fits the journey that Paige is on dealing with staying true to herself while life throws her curveballs.
Take Your Time by Pebbles: A song about resilience and to keep going and not giving up. Fits Paige and her journey so well.

About the Author

Krysten Lindsay Hager is the bestselling author of the Stars in the City series, the Cecily Taylor Series, Star Series, Landry’s True Colors Series, and the standalone, Dating the It Guy. Cecily in the City recently won the Readers’ Favorite award for Best YA romance. She is also a guest host on the Michigan Avenue Media podcast.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Krysten-Lindsay-Hager/author/B00L2JC9P2
Website: https://www.krystenlindsay.com/

Yesterday was…interesting. I had a very strict diet to follow for the PET scan this morning (they changed the appointment from late afternoon to early morning at the last minute. Yay! I don’t have to starve for long.

There was a rush of phone calls. My sister, Elle James, is coming down to Hot Springs to sit with me while I’m getting my insides all sparkly with radiation. That’ll be nice. Everything so far has been on my daughter. I feel for her.

Then, last night, the 15-year-old came to us, pulled off her shoe, and said, “I think I got stung by something.” She was bitten while she was doing my usual job of cleaning out the pool filters. From the look of the bite, with its tiny twin punctures and purplish swelling, we thought it was a tiny snake bite. Off the emergency room, she goes. She was bitten by a brown recluse. So, she was sent home without treatment to wait to see whether necrosis sets in.  She’s the most chill person in this house, so she shrugs and says, “I can live without a toe.”

Anyway, I’m up early to get my last tiny sip of water before the procedure. While I’m there for all those hours today, I’ll be thinking of this—me in the pool with the other “water baby” of the family.

UPDATE: The winner is…Beckie!
*~*~*

I’m one of those people. I love Mondays. Monday, not Sunday, is the start of my work week calendar. It’s always a day filled with optimism. I have a countdown of items on my calendar/To-Do list and strive to accomplish as many of those items as I can during the week.

Some folks hate Mondays. The kids, once school starts, will bemoan every single Monday until the following summer. It’s a given. Even as a school kid, I loved Mondays, though. I always had my notebook cleaned out, fresh paper added, pens and pencils refilled/sharpened. I loved a weekly “fresh start” to make things better.

This week, on Wednesday, the kids will be back in school. It’s going to be hard adjusting to those early morning wakeups again, the scrambling to get the animals taken care of before everyone heads to the car. We’re good organizers, though. We manage to get everything down to a tight routine so there’s time for everything–chickens fed and released from the coop, goats and horse fed, bunnies fed and water replenished. Breakfast out of the way. Girls’ hair prettied up and outfits sparkling. Then there’s the silence when they race to the car for the trip to school. That’s my time to take a deep breath, drink a cup of coffee, and wander over to my computer to begin my day.

This Monday is a bit different. I begin a low-carb diet for the next couple of days before my PET scan tomorrow afternoon/early evening. The 20-year-old has promised me sticky notes all over the kitchen, with messages to prod me into behaving. Things like: “Only meat and veggies on Monday and Tuesday.” “No coffee past 4 P.M. on Monday.” “No food at all past 10 A.M. on Tuesday!” There are too many rules for me to follow on my own to make sure my PET scan is as accurately recorded as it can be, so they (my dd and the 20-year-old) decided to sticky-up the kitchen for me. It’s so funny, actually.

I’m hoping next Monday’s only worry is making sure all the alarms are set to get us out of bed for the morning school scramble. I like the normal hubbub. Tomorrow’s is…unsettling, but we’ll get past it.

So, that’s my bit of oversharing for the day. Let’s get to the contest!

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, tell me what your favorite day of the week is and why!

Report Card

Last week…

1. The big thing that happened last week was that I met with the oncologist. He talked to me about omental caking, told me I very likely have cancer, so I’m letting go of the hope it’s just an infection. We talked about next steps to get a more definitive diagnosis and treatment plan. I hate that I have to wait even a week for what happens next, but oh well. He did give me better pain meds. I’m sleeping well and napping quite a bit.
2. I worked on edits for one author.
3. I swam almost every day. It’s the best thing for stress and mental health.
4. I saw a lawyer to update my will. Just in case…
5. I continued working on decluttering my art room.

This next week…

1. I have a PET scan scheduled on Tuesday. They’ll shoot me up with radiation and take pictures to get a better idea of where cancer may be hiding. Then I’ll be scheduled for a biopsy. I guess they need to know what to biopsy before they go in there. Who knew!?
2. I will finish editing one author’s manuscript and edit the next one in line.
3. I’ll work on finishing the next Delta Fire novella, Ignition. I only have a couple of chapters to write, and I think I can get through it while I wait for whatever procedures I will be going through. I didn’t make any progress on it this last week, but I was too busy napping. 🙂
4. I’ll continue swimming and trying to watch what I eat!
5. I’ll continue working on some small art projects while I declutter my art room.

Open Contests

On the Delilah’s Collections website!

1. In One Picture: Michal Scott’s “My Heavenly Phantom” (Contest) — Last day to enter! Win a FREE book!
2. In One Picture: Ava Cuvay’s “What that Alien D Do” (Contest) — Last day to enter! Win an Amazon gift card!
3. In One Picture: Cameron Allie’s “Claimed by her Naga Bodyguard” (Contest) — This one ends soon! Win a FREE book (3 winners!)
4. In One Picture: N.J. Walters’ “Perfect Stranger” (Contest) — This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!

Here, on this site!

1. Gabbi Grey: What a Difference Seven Years Makes (Contest) — This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
2. Cecilia Tan: A Recipe for Steamy, Steamy Steampunk (Contest) — This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
3. Saturday Puzzle-Contest: Cottagecore Aesthetic/Trad Wife…? — This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
4. Gabbi Grey: Having a little fun… (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
5. Word Search: Back to School… (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
6. Saturday Puzzle-Contest: Peach Flower — Win an Amazon gift card!

UPDATE: The winner is…Courtney Kinder!
*~*~*

I didn’t put much thought into today’s post. I opened my favorite stock photo site, saw that they had a category called “Pantone Color of the Year for 2024,” and skimmed through all these lovely photos of peach-colored things. I found a blossom I love and decided that was enough work. It’s pretty. You’ll like it. And who can complain about a pretty, neutral peach, huh? Sometimes, their colors of the year are a bit out there (I love it when they do that!). It’s fun seeing designers try to make up rooms using the year’s color when it’s something like neon green or eggplant.

Anyway, I’m having a quiet weekend. Next week’s the PET scan so we can determine where the cancer is. I’m hoping I don’t light up like a Christmas tree. That would suck. Even better would be if I disappoint them and I’m a boring little pop of this and that. *crossing my fingers*

In the meantime, I’m working a little, playing some Fishdom on my phone, and napping a lot. Other than abdominal discomfort, I’m feeling pretty good (popping Hydrocodone at night helps a lot!). I’m even getting my daily swims in.

So, back to the contest and the flower… For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, solve the puzzle then tell me your favorite flower and color. Mine is a bright yellow sunflower. They’re so happy looking. Red is my favorite color in all its permutations (magenta to sunset orange).

I posted the next “In One Picture” blog on the Collections website, and then had to open a blank white screen for my blog. I don’t have anything to talk about today. I’ll be doing some editing, maybe take care of some administrivia, resting when my body tells me to, eating when I get hungry. Nothing ambitious for sure.

I wish everyone good health, happiness, and the love of family and friends—I say this as the 10-year-old lets out an enraged scream somewhere upstairs. I can tell a “help, I’m hurt” scream from one of her frustrated, louder screams. I’m ignoring it because mama is up there and can handle it. It’s the last week of summer for the kids. They should be chillin’ and making the most of it. Youth is wasted on the young. LOL

So, here’s a pretty blue flower for you. I looked for a calming image, something I wish I could sniff. The flowers in our yard, other than the evening primroses that bloom at the end of day, are gone for the most part, dried up by the heat. Leaves are raining down like it’s Fall because it’s so hot and dry. The one good thing is the heat is keeping the pool warm. I’ll swim after the sun is behind the trees this evening. By swim, I mean ride a pool noodle as I bob around the pool. Again, no ambition, just chillin’.

Have a lovely day, everyone!

UPDATE: The winner is…Janelle!
*~*~*

The family has been so wound up with things related to me that it’s nice that the focus is back on normal things. Today was Open House for the local schools. The 15-year-old and the 10-year-old are getting their schedules and school supplies. They’re meeting the new crop of teachers they have to endure (that’s the 15-year-old’s attitude—LOL).

In past years, the 10-year-old liked for me to make her lunch every day because I’d make it interesting. She loved pulling out hummus and veggies, leftover curry from the previous night’s dinner, Indian lentil dishes she ate with naan bread or crackers, yoghurt, fruit, and all the creative things I could think of to make her lunch interesting for her. This year, she’s moving into middle school where they have choices, so she told me she might only need one of my special lunch bags a week. I guess it makes her feel more grown-up or something. I don’t know. I enjoyed spoiling her with good food. She’s not a baby anymore. 🙁

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, tell me if you enjoy or enjoyed this time of year, getting kids ready for another school year!