"Wednesday's, Wonderings & Wanderings": Wanna Get Some Fro-Yo?

     So this past weekend L.A. had finally got a some warmer weather, meaning we all able to run out to grab our favorite snack Fro Yo, a.k.a Frozen Yogurt. There are sooo many frozen yogurt places now a days that you can find one basically in every outdoor shopping mall and inside every mall imaginable. 

     Now the key is finding your favorite flavor and toppings. Sure some Fro-yo places offer better enhanced flavors or even better tasting yogurt, but it's mostly about the toppings. Personally I go for nuts to compliment my pistachio yogurt and then add a lot of gummy worms. It's like I trick myself into thinking it's better for me than Ice-Cream just cause it's "yogurt", riiiiight.

     Frozen yogurt is just yummy and after reading a couple books this week that dealt with winter and continuous cold weather, it was fun to sit back and enjoy some warm weather and run out to grab some fro-yo with my family. Though the weather didn't last long since winter in L.A. is bi-polar to the max, so one day it's sunny at 85 degree by the next day or even that night it could be 50 degrees or 65 degrees. Still happy to know when I get a craving for some Fro-yo all I need do is jump in my car and drive to my local mall and get my craving sated.

"Y.A. Tuesday": King Sized Beds and Happy Trails (Beds Series Book 1) by Becca Ann and Tessa Marie

Genre: Romantic Comedy and Contemporary Y.A. Literature, 236 pages

Price: $2.99 ebook, $8.99 paperback (at time of posting)

Publisher & Date: Cookie Publishing, February 9, 2014

Book Link: Click Here

Listed Rating: .4

Price I Paid:  Zip,**I received a free copy in return for an honest review** 

My Rating:

My Thoughts: Frustratingly Sweet Y.A. RomCom

       Seriously there are those books that make you want to just jump in and shake the characters until they stop being so stupid in their decisions and yell at them "Your an Idiot!". Yeeah this book has that up the wazoo, but the characters work themselves out  . . . eventually. A reader just needs to take a chill pill, relax in bed and perhaps grab some nail polish. (I'll explain)

       Lexi Boggs, ironically is bogged down by her alcoholic mother father, abandonment issues and the white trash persona. All Lexi wants is to keep her nails coated and distance herself from it all as much as possible, which means when Lexi is finally given the chance to nab the schools hottie, who is showing some interest in her, she plots to make it all happen. Lexi makes it her mission to make him hers, so she could have the chance at a "perfect life" and find love. However Lexi doesn't realize what she has, and may lose if she doesn't wise up to what's always been in front of her, because she may already have all that she's been searching for in her amazing best friend Ryan Parker. Ryan had been there for Lexi and knows everything about her. He will also do anything for her including helping Lexi in her plans to get the man she thinks she is in love with. Ryan has only one flaw he lies to Lexi about his feelings for her and how he wishes they were more than best friends.
        Getting Ryan and Lexi to see they are meant to be is the gist of the story and though I must admit to wanting to slap Lexi for being so dimwitted for not realizing the obvious. I was later wanting to do the same to Ryan. If this book had been a RomCom film there would have been a few parts I would have made my sister fast forward, because that's what we do when we know the whole awkward moments coming and you know the couple will do something stupid, and it's gonna be like a car wreck, so you want to look away from it but you can't kind of a thing, yep this book has some of them moments. But it also has some great funny moments and the nail polish. I love Lexi's nail polish from Cha Ching Cherry to Pink Before You Leap or Houston We Have a Purple. Lexi's nail polish is more or less a mood ring for her and she has one it seems for every occasion.
       Overall I enjoyed the book and look forward to reading more from these authors. The book was perfect for a nice cloudy cold day when you have time to bundle up and read a book. This one may have been frustrating at times but you couldn't help, but root for Lexi and Ryan to get their words right or finally get their acts together and make their HEA happen. Especially since Ryan is like the perfect catch and Lexi deserves a HEA. What color of nail polish do you think that comes in?
       

"Misc. Monday": Winter's Tale by Mark Helprin

Genre: Contemporary Fiction, 768 pages

Price: $8.59 ebook, $8.96 paperback (at time of posting)

Publisher & Date: Mariner Books, September 20, 1983

Book Link: Click Here

Listed Rating: .3

Price I Paid: $0- Reason I rented the ebook using my Kindle Unlimited Subscription

My Rating:

My Thoughts: Mystifying, Complex and a Bit Enchanting

      This book was a novel, I say novel due to it's length. It's almost a triumph to say I read this book, like one brags about reading war and peace. Truly the story is complex and strange, yet a wonderful story to read. I however feel as if too many people would not make the time or don't have the time to sit and enjoy the story in its enormity. So if you thought to read it for the love story, like the movie or the previews led you to believe, it's that but so much more and then some.

      The setting of the book is of this world and yet not, the time and place is of its own place and time yet seems to parallel our world in some sense. The books world is set amidst a strange timeline with forces of a mist that changes the stories reality, time, location and people. With that in mind, the author begins his story in a time in history or place in America a reader can envision, as it seems like "our world", that's when he entwines his characters and creates this whole world and story revolving around a man named Peter Lake. He is in essence the linchpin to the entire plot line of the story and each section of the book.

      Peter Lake is a man who is a survivor, from his beginnings to his end he had to learn, adapt, and fight to survive. His moment of happiness is when he finds true love in Beverly Penn. It's from that moment on that many things fall into place and lives are intertwined, enchanted, and changed in the present, past and future. Cryptic I know, but the plot is more than just about Peter Lake. Many more characters and their lives and the circumstances of their past, presents and a bit if their futures are brought into the plot. Each character is special and represents something that is used to build the "city of the just."

       Overall this book was a good read it's deep and reflective. I caution that a reader needs to have time to truly enjoy this book and take the time to contemplate what is going on in in the story and why each event is taking place. This book, as a whole, is a literature book with it's plot complexities and imagery, it could be considered a modern classic. I'm just sad that the author didn't think to make the book into a series to make the novel more welcoming to the general public. Hence the low rating because of it's length, I know not many people will not take to the book because of the length like they could have, and it's truly a shame. Perhaps if the book is read in a book club confusion at parts can be weeded through more easily when discussed out loud and with people. I myself used my sister as a sounding board, and she in return, because this book definitely needed further discussion once finished.

"Friday Favs": Torment (Soul Savers Book 6) by Kristie Cook

Genre: Paranormal Romance, 322 pages

Price: $2.99 ebook (at time of posting) **HINT: this price won't last long**

Publisher & Date: Ang'dora Productions, LLC. January 9, 2015

Book Link: click here

Listed Rating: 

Price I Paid: $2.99 BUT **I also received a free copy in return for an honest review**

My Rating:

MyThoughts: Who's More Tormented the World or Alexis?

       OMG!! Kristie Cook had not been lying when she informed readers this book was a doozy. Thank God the next and final book Faith comes out in a month, because yikes any reader and lover of this series NEEDS the next book, like ASAP!

       Sexy Lexy and her crew are up against the apocalypse where nothing seems good or bright in the world. This storyline resounds with the contemporary world in how dark it seems dealing with the wars, death, disease, poverty and terrorism that we face today. So reading Alexis' journey in trying to fight against evil bent on destroying the world through acts of evil, while combating it with acts of good and love is a great destroyed , people get hurt and stuff happens fast.

      Oh and I must absolutely compliment Cook's brilliant writing ability in being able to describe the places the scenes occur to the point it feels as if I'm there. For example there's a scene in London, Oh I love that city, and she describes an area with a McDonald's to a tee. I can personally say I've eaten at the McDonald's, so reading that part I can vouch for Cook's accuracy. It's her accuracy in the imagery that really pulls you into the scene's moment and takes a reader through  it so dramatically the reader becomes very enraptured. Especially in an action scene where things get destroyed, people get hurt and stuff happens fast.

      Overall amazing book filled with many great moments leading up to the *sniffle, end of the series. Truly this book showed readers how much Alexis can take and how much she truly wants and is willing to work at filling the position of being the Amadis matriarch. All I can say is I can't wait till the next book, because with that last bit at the end Alexis isn't the only one tormented.

"Romance Thursdays": Party Naked (Cocktales, Book One) by Mari Carr

Genre: Contemporary Romance, 97 pages

Price: $2.80 ebook (at time of posting)

Publisher & Date: Ellora's Cave Publishing Inc. September 21, 2011.

Book Link: click here

Listed Rating:.3

Price I Paid: $0 (got it FREE on August 29, 2013)

My Rating:

 My Thoughts: A Nice Quick Romantic Read

       Well the cover and the title first made me a bit hesitant to read the story, but I decided to give this book a chance. The story turned out to be good and I was happy that I wasn't mislead into downloading a book that was labeled Romance when it should really be labeled Erotica. 

        The story and subsequently the book series is set in awesome place called the Books and Brew which is run by 4 BFFs: Jordan does the store's accounting, Sophie manages the marketing, Jayne handles the bookstore side of the business and Stephanie the Brew side meaning the bar. Books and Brew is an unique place that offers, wait for it . . . wine instead of coffee at a bookstore. Okay so not just wine is offered, but you get the idea. The girls decided to mix booze with books, and that's just brilliant actually cause I don't drink much, but I know many who do especially when relaxing with a book. 

       This is book one and it revolves around Stephanie, who is very witty, personable and sarcastic, which is probably why I found her a bit relatable. The girl is opposed to love, not for lack of options, but because of fear. Stephanie lets her mother's failed love life dictate how her's could turn out and so she subconsciously only seek superficial relationships. That is until a certain cop wiggles into her life and makes her extremely continuous of what she does in regards to love and those she lets love her. 

       Overall I enjoyed the book but it was too quick of a read for how much I liked the characters. Plus I would have really liked a bit more interaction from the friends with Stephanie and perhaps that's solved in the next books in the series. Then there was a bit of danger hinted with the whole suspect possibly being in the Books and Brew, and for it not to play out took the extra suspense out of their relationship and story for me. However, like I said it's a quick read, not over the top, but a nice HEA. There are two more books after this book, not sure I'll read them, but who knows since I might get more of Stephanie and her man. 

"Wednesday's, Wonderings & Wanderings": L.A. Traffic

My Ode to L.A. Traffic:

Oh the places one can go, 

Oh the places one can see, 

But wait! There's traffic . . .

So it's bumper to bumper I'll be.

         Seriously if you have ever been in Los Angeles for more than a few hours, or even just outside of LAX, I'm sure you can agree locals live in nothing but traffic. Getting to places we know that when we say, "Oh, it's like 20-25 mins away." What we really mean is "It's like 20 mins plus an extra 20 mins of traffic, unless the freeways are miraculously all clear, then maybe the place really will be only 25-30 mins away." Remember still got to add a few mins to account for the billion cars on the road.
         Despite all the traffic I still love driving and heading out with my friends and family to our favorite places and especially discovering new places. One of my new places to drive out too, despite the 2 hours there and back, is the 3rd St. Promenade in Santa Monica. I hadn't been back there in a while, but I've gone quite a bit these past months. There are a ton of stores along the promenade to just meander through and food places to enjoy too. So when the day is shinning and my schedule is clear, I'll usually get an itching to go somewhere a bit out of my area. That's when I grab my sister, hit play on my iPod to begin our playlist and hit the freeways passing Downtown, L.A.X and whole mess of cities on our way to towards the upper beachtown area.
        I guess no matter how much I might grip about traffic, I will always be happy for the fact I live where I live and all the places this city gives me access to. So while L.A. may be seriously over crowed with cars and traffic every day, I can with every other local at least take some pride in the fact we know how to drive in that mess we call roads. Plus any long drive can be turned into a party when you have tunes, so always make sure you have your iPod fully charged or if not make sure you know you have a radio, because its a tried a true fact by yours truly that music makes the commuting a whole lot easier, trust me.

"N.A. Tuesday": "Part-Time Princess: (Ladies in Waiting #1)" by Pamela DuMond

Genre: New Adult & Romantic Comedy, 314 pages

Price: $2.99 eBook, $11 paperback (at time of posting)

Publisher & Date: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. July 28, 2014 

Book Link: click here

Listed Rating: 

Priced I paid: Zip,**I received a free copy in return for an honest review** 

My Rating: 

My Thoughts: Absolutely Freakin Hil-lar-ri-ous!!! 

       Oh this book absolutely had me laughing out loud so many times, I was happy I was alone when reading it, or I would have looked like an absolute loon. Seriously, this writer had me busting up time and time again. The story is filled with scene after scene of funny Rom-Com moments that could easily be read like a Chick-Flick movie that you would watch with your girlfriends on a Friday night.
       The main character is Lucille Marie Trabbicio, or just Lucy, finds herself in need of a new job and in desperate need of funds to pay for her Uncle's medical bills immediately. So what does any 21 year old do to make ends meet? She looks for a job in the want ads and when that fails, it's the web she looks too. And boy does she find a job there. Lucy answers a want ad and gets flung into a world of Fredonia with royals, romance, a bit of mystery, and a life she could have never dreamt about while living her lonely life in Chicago. Lucy is a sweat heart with a sassy attitude just trying to make a living and live her life, she was just always dealt a bad hand. Any reader can't help but be instantly endeared to her and the situation she finds herself in.
       Now as for the Ladies-in-Waiting, Lady Cheryl Cavitt Carlson, Barrister Joan Brady, and Lady Esmeralda Ilona Castile Hapsburg the Fourth, readers will just LOVE them, with friends like them Lucy is able to do a lot and boy are each of her Ladies a riot! My favorite of the bunch is Esmeralda, who says she's half Spanish so she can get away with a ton, saying she's a character is putting it mildly. Those women are quite the trio, they are hilarious and perfect examples of modern day Ladies-in-Waiting.
      Overall this story is the perfect romantic NA comedy that is LOL funny. The ending is just enough to make you content as it's all wrapped up nicely an with the same flare you come to expect from the writer and stroyline. I loved this story so much, I'm telling my friends to jump on this book and I'm looking forward to reading more from this author. You won't be disappointed by this book and you will laugh a lot, so I suggest reading it amongst friends and family, or beware you may be given weird looks as those around you will hear you laugh out loud.