You Are A Good Friend

You're always willing to listen Or lend a shoulder to cry on You're there through thick and thin Many people consider you their "best friend"!

OMG, you should read this book with gloves! It is HOT with a capital H! (Not to mention an eye candy alpha male gracing the cover. Note: This is an erotic romance suspense.)

Clint McIntyre, otherwise known as "Iceman" amongst his Navy SEAL mates is a tough warrior. He has destroyed a drug cartel in Columbia and now he is back for a break, but he never expects to run into Morganna Chavez, whom he has lusted for years and also happens to be his best friend's younger sister.

Morganna has been in love with Clint ever since she was sixteen, at that time he was only twenty-five and although Clint discourages her from getting too close to him, she never gives up and wishes one day he will come to accept her. On the other hand, Clint knows he can't give a life she wants for he had experienced a difficult childhood with an abusive father and a selfish mother whom doesn't care about him. He doesn't want to shatter her hopes so he keeps his distance, although it hurts him to do so.

Now Morganna is working with the DEA to uncover a thriving date-rape drug and no one knows her job except her best friend Raven. When Clint sees her mixing around at a BDSM club, he demands her to leave but Morganna refuses to succumb to his "threats". He gets furious when he later finds out Morganna is working in a dangerous mission, but she refuses to back out, saying this is what she has been wanting to do. Then there is a shot of gunfire outside the club and Clint isn't sure if it is aimed at Morganna. He has lost his two SEAL mates before and he wouldn't allow it to happen to Morganna, thus he will do anything to protect her at all costs.

Lora Leigh succeeds in creating an emotional intense and action paced romance suspense story, and other than that I like the characters too. Although Clint gives me the impression he is stubborn and dominant, he does has his soft side when Morganna is concerned. And I think Morganna is a strong heroine who isn't afraid to speak up and follows her mind. I could actually feel their love for each other and have enjoyed the emotional intense while reading it. You may also wish to read the story of Morganna's brother - Reno's Chance in Honk If You Love Real Men anthology, which begins this wonderful series.

Hello, everyone! I hope you have a great time at the Ultimate Blog Party last week which was hosted by 5 minutes for mom. It has been fun and it is a pleasure to know bloggers around the world.

Susan (one of the hostesses) asked if I was interested to have an interview to be featured on their Readers' blog (Readers' Book Reviews and Clubs), so how could I turn down this offer?! Of course I said yes! (Not to mention I have a fun time reading other interviews too.) :)

I have read the reviews from B&N before picking up this book, and I admit I was skeptical at first when I noticed most of them seem to give low ratings. But I told myself I am not going to miss reading it just because of that, so I went on and I wasn't disappointed. I enjoyed the book thoroughly, and it wasn't as bad as some of the reviewers indicated. Judith McNaught's writings still shine in my opinion, and I like her characters. Anyway, back to the review...

Mitchell Wyatt never knew his family when he was young and assumed he was an orphan, while actually he belongs to the prominent Wyatt family, but Cecil Wyatt wouldn't acknowledge him as his grandson for he was the 'result' after his father had an affair with the secretary. Mitchell's mother demanded the child to be a legitimate Wyatt member, and Cecil sent Mitchell to exclusive board schools throughout the world, until he was a grown man and now a self-made millionaire.

Then William Wyatt disappeared; he was the only grandson whom Cecil acknowledged and everyone turned their attention to Mitchell since they were half-brothers. Mitchell cared for William and his family, but to the outsiders they thought he had an agenda of his own.

Mitchell met Kate Donovan in a restaurant on the Caribbean Island of Anguillia, when she accidentally splashed wine onto his shirt. He was attracted to her and asked her out. Kate had a lawyer boyfriend Evan who knew the Wyatt family, but he was too busy in his work and neglected their relationship. Kate thought she would enjoy the vacation with Evan, but he disappointed her. On the other hand, she was intrigued with Mitchell and after a few dates with him, she was attracted to him. Both of them were unaware that the detectives were following them, until they found a lead and had Mitchell return to Chicago for some queries about the murder of William. Evan told Kate that Mitchell might use her to get revenge on him as his father played a part in sending Mitchell away when he was younger. Then things go awry and misunderstandings and complications got in between Mitchell and Kate... And I was glad the suspense (plus the tension between Mitchell and Kate) led me to flip through the pages quickly. Finally, I hope Judith will go back to writing historicals again (maybe she does), because I find them a joy to read, and I can't forget her phenomenal bestseller Whitney, My Love.

Again, I got these from a forwarded email. I can't imagine what went wrong with them ... just look at the last picture! *shudders*

I received this from a forwarded email and have no idea who shot it (perhaps with a little help from Photoshop or airbrushing) but I am simply enchanted by this picture. Reminds me of a fairy tale with a handsome prince and a beautiful princess that live happily ever after in this castle.

I found this just this morning - a blog party! Who will resist?! ;P And you are cordially invited to join in this party which is hosted by 5 Minutes For Mom. If you have a blog and would like to get to know everybody, this is it!

Come on in and make yourself comfy, and don't forget to leave your link or comments so we can visit! Thanks and have fun!

You Should Be a Film Writer

You don't just create compelling stories, you see them as clearly as a movie in your mind. You have a knack for details and dialogue. You can really make a character come to life. Chances are, you enjoy creating all types of stories. The joy is in the storytelling. And nothing would please you more than millions of people seeing your story on the big screen!

Sheesh, I wish I have a knack for screenwriting! This result is just overrated...but yeah, I do enjoy creating stories. You feel great when the readers tell you they enjoyed reading your stories (especially those that are inspiring), and that's what matters the most.

I was so excited that I got the final volume of Hanazakarino Kimitachihe on Saturday! I was glad I made a reservation with a video shop so that they would give me a call when it was released. I wasn't surprised when I stepped into the shop and saw the shop assistant holding a long list of names and was busily calling up their customers to collect the DVDs. From this you can tell how popular this drama serial is. You may read my previous review here.

*** WARNING: SPOILERS!*** (well...except the ending)

Anyway, in this final episode, Rui Xi was thrilled to learn they were going for a vacation, especially when she learnt there will be a spa pool, but she was also vexed she couldn't enjoy it with the others since it was an open pool and that meant her identity would be exposed unless she had to do it in the middle of the night when everyone was sleeping.

So there she was, thinking she had the pool by herself when she stumbled upon Quan, who also thought there wouldn't be anyone around at that time. Both of them were equally stunned to find each other in the pool, but Quan was the first to "recover" from the surprise and not trying to embarrass her further (as well as himself), he left the pool first. Rui Xi was worried if Quan had found her behaviour unusual, but banished the thought as she was most worried about her identity being exposed, which to her relief Quan didn't appear to have known anything about it.

On the other hand, Quan was vexed and worried that Rui Xi's identity would be exposed under the scrutiny by the the famous photographer Yuan who felt they (Quan, Xiu Yi, Nan and Rui Xi) have the potential of being great models, and also commented Rui Xi have a unique feminity looks for a guy. Yuan hinted to Quan and Rui Xi that photos wouldn't lie, since any small actions/gestures would be captured on the films and his remarks further made Quan and Rui Xi uneasy. Quan didn't want to be Yuan's model initially, but Yuan promised he won't tell Rui Xi about him (Quan) knowing her true identity if he agreed to model for him. Trying to be protective of Rui Xi, Quan agreed.

When the films were developed, Yuan was positive that Quan and Rui Xi behaved like a couple more than roommates. To further prove his theory was right, he asked Rui Xi out and shared with her his 'sad' family history (which he made it all up). Being a girl, Rui Xi was sensitive to his feelings and blurted her thoughts. Yuan was very satisfied (not to mention proud) that his guess was correct; while Rui Xi was horrified to learn Yuan was testing her but what worried her most was Quan had known her identity all along and kept mum about it!

Meanwhile, Quan was comfy about his current relationship with Rui Xi although he knew his thoughts was a little selfish and unfair to Rui Xi (he wasn't sure what would happen if he confessed to Rui Xi that he knew she was a girl and worried their relationship would change). He just wanted to be with Rui Xi and protect her quietly in his own way, but he feared that has to be changed.

After that encounter with Yuan, Rui Xi decided to confess her feelings with Quan. So they met up a place to talk, but was disrupted by their classmates until they accidentally stumbled into the school's broadcasting room. At that time, the DJ was out for his toilet break and had left the door unlocked. Not knowing that they had accidentally hit the 'broadcast' button in a haste, they confessed to each other that they had things to tell to the other party. But before they had a chance to do so, the DJ walked in, followed by a bunch of school mates who were all dying to find out what they had to say to each other. Mortified that the rest of the school had overheard her conversation with Quan (although she hadn't confessed yet), Rui Xi scurried off.

Rui Xi decided to return to the States, but the mates stopped her from doing so, including Quan and Xiu Yi. So what would happen in the end? This is the only part which I won't tell...

I LOVE this drama serial! And I was sorry that it ended...Especially eye candy like Wu Zun and Jiro Wang. *sigh*

This belongs to one of Vicki Lewis Thompson's Nerd series, beginning with Nerd in Shining Armor which Kelly Ripa picked it for her "Reading with Ripa Book Club" at one time.

Amanda Rykowsky is a psychology major, and besides also interning with Dr. Gloria Tredway, a sex therapist, she is also bartending at Geekland - a drinking club that patron by...you guess it, nerds. Amanda meets William Sloan, a stockbroker with Cooper and Scott when she accidentally spills her bag of sex toys, which she bought it for Gloria's therapy sessions. To add in her motification, William offers to pick them up for her and ask her for lunch. Before meeting William, she has vowed never to get involved in a relationship and moreover she doesn't have time for it.

On the other hand, Gloria thinks William is cute and tries all ways to make him interested in her, including sending him gifts (you should know what kind of gifts they are considering her occupation) and flashing him her, ahem, assets which to nerdy William means other thing relating to the stock. Then Amanda begins to receive anonymous valentine cards, and thinks William has sent them. She confronts him after receiving a few more cards, but William insists he didn't send them and fears a stalker might do her harm, so he decides to fake a relationship and acting those kisses seems not so difficult for them...when Amanda starts to see William in a new light and slowly let her guard down.

I enjoyed reading this contemporary romance...you would find that nerds aren't what they seem from outside and there are also a few hilarious scenes that made me laugh out loud, especially the loud and daring Dr. Gloria and her outrageous dialogue/behaviour that makes you wonder if a true sex therapist behaves that way. Too funny.

How time flies! If I didn't recall wrongly, it was 1980 when I was in Primary One. Let me share some of these memories with you...

• My school was nearby (maybe about 15 - 20 minutes walk) but my mom will still arrange for a 'school car' service for me. I remember it was a middle-aged lady who drove the car, and we loved calling her 'Kaya' (maybe it was the colour of her car!), and the thing is she wasn't even angry when we called her by that name. Come to think of it, we were rude and didn't show any respect for her.
• There was a subscription for fresh milk in school (optional). They came in triangular packets and we were always looking forward to the different flavours everyday (e.g. chocolate, strawberry etc)
• I love the sardines puff (a small pie with sardines fillings and are deep fried) which costs only 20 cents then.
• After meal during recess time, my then good friend and I would patronize the school bookshop for cute letterpads and stickers (I remember the bookshop was small and crammy) and the owner (an elderly uncle) was very patient with his little customers
• There were these brushing sessions after the recess time and we would squat down by the drain and brushed our teeth with a mug.
• I was addicted to Nancy Drew and thought she was one cool lady detective, and had read most of her books from the school library.
• There were always rumors that some cubicles in the toilets were haunted. (Very 'believable' when they used light bulbs).
• We were most happy whenever National Day arrives because that was the time we would go home early, watch the performance on stage and receive free stationery.
• Autograph books were circulated amongst the classmates during Primary Six (that's Final Year) and poems were often written (e.g. Birds fly high, hard to catch. Friends like you, hard to forget.)
• Most of us would wear raincoats and slippers to school during rainy days, and would slip on our socks and shoes once we were in class.
• Every class there would be one or two Prefects (they wore a tie over their school uniforms and they would list down your name if you were late in class or whatever).
• Tissues were seldom used at that time. We used handkerchiefs with various printed designs.
• To top it all, I was exhilarated when my two essays were published in the local newspapers! I think I got about $10 fee for each essay. (I was in Primary Six then, and those $$$ meant a lot to me! LOL.)

Well, those were the days...

Yikes! It's Monday...what can I say? And this bulldog picture says it all about my mood today...grouchy and sick. I didn't really sleep well last night, it's bad enough to have a sore throat and feeling feverish, and to top it all, my daughter isn't feeling too well either; she has been having flu since last week. Must be the viruses in the air...

So there she is, asking us to bring her to the playgroup just this morning (has been absent since last Wednesday), so of course we didn't bring her. And that tells me another thing, what am I reporting to work today anyway? Good question. (What am I trying to prove anyway?! Haha.) Oh well... doctor, here I come... Grrr...I hate Mondays!

I am a Snapdragon What Flower Are You?

This is interesting...so what flower are you?

I have never read anything by Thomas H. Cook, but this book had "wowed" me. It is no wonder that Mr. Cook received six Edgar Award nominations to date, most recently in 2006 for this novel, Red Leaves, which was also shortlisted for the Duncan Lawrie Dagger and the Anthony Award.

You Are Pretty Logical

You're a bit of a wizard when it comes to logic While you don't have perfect logic, you logic is pretty darn good Keep at it - you've got a lot of natural talent in this area!

Wow, is this really me? LOL.

Ten on Tuesday

1. Liver


2. Brussel sprouts


3. Crab sticks (I love crabs, but definitely not in sticks! Moreover, they aren't 100% crabmeats anyway!)


4. Raw celery


5. Jellyfish


6. Clams

Hmm...I wish I can list more but I can't think of any, moreover I love food! LOL.

Hmm...I love eating these! Bak Kwa (or otherwise known as "barbecued pork") is one of the 'must-have' items for the Chinese New Year. It is also considered as one of the popular gifts to friends or families during this festive period. (In fact, we bought a 1-kilogram bak kwa to the in-laws last weekend).

Besides pork, there are also beef or chicken but pork remains the most 'sellable' amongst all. The pork meats are marinated with sugar and spices and cut into square pieces (for the festive period, they are also cut into bite-sized pieces to resemble coins) before they are barbecued. There are even some outlets who sell crocodile bak kwa, although I haven't tried them...yet.

Ten on Tuesday

So I have classifed them in dialogues and in general, hehe.

Dialogues

1. “I’m late!!!” (If the alarm clock doesn’t go off)
2. “Can you stay late today?” (Uh oh...not some last minute stuff)
3. “I’m sorry, but you have got to go.” (In other word, you are being laid off!)
4. “OMG, I have forgotten to pay the bills/taxes!” (Don't happen often...but I do tend to have a short memory at times)
5. “They are fighting, again!” (The in-laws will complain about my 3 year-old daughter and her nephew who's 8 months older squabbling over toys and food; there are times they will bite each other on the arms!)
6. “I don’t want to go to school!” (Some years down the road, I worry my daughter will shriek about this)
7. “I’ve flunked my exams!” (Some more years down the road when she is schooling...and the list goes on)

General

8. Health problem (You can never take health for granted, even though you are healthy!)
9. Environmental problem (One of the major problems we face around the world)
10. Terrorists Attacks/War (Ditto)

This belongs to one of the older releases by Linda Lael Miller.

Week of Feb 11: Love Is In the Air

Well with Valentines Day coming up soon, lets talk about it.

1. Cupid, man or myth? Man
2. What do you want for Valentine's Day? Spending time together, just the two of us (our 3 year-old daughter tags along whereever we go now, although we aren't complaining!)
3. Who was your first Valentine? Believe it or not, it's the hub!
4. Do you even enjoy Valentine's Day or do you think it's a made up holiday? Although I enjoy Valentine's Day, I also think it's more like a commercialized holiday
5. Any bad Valentine's Day experiences? Nope

till next time....

Mo Hayder has done it again! Hayder has a unique voice that gets you hooked to her stories and never let it go till you have reached the end. I am glad to say Pig Island is no exceptional. I first read Tokyo (otherwise known as 'The Devil of Nanking') and it has left me a deep impression; from then I began to look out for her books. Her stories are darker as compared to some authors I have read; a colleague even told me her books made her depressed, so if you belong to the faint hearted one, I suggest you should give her books a pass.

Joe Oakes is a journalist, and he goes out exposing supernatural hoaxes and the likes. He has a bad history with Malachi Dove, who is a leader of Psychogenic Healing Ministries, and also a strong believer of faith healing. Joe blames him for causing his aunt’s death indirectly, and especially making him believing he had a deadly tumor. He then published an expose on Malachi, and Malachi threatened him with a lawsuit but it fizzled because everyone presumed he was dead.
Some time later, Joe visits a remote Scottish island after seeing a video that captured a glimpse of a creature roaming in the island by some tourists. The locals believe it was Malachi's doings and warn him that he shouldn't cross the border and provoke him. Joe is fascinated with the island's electrical fencing, gargolyes blocking some pathways, the toxin-filled oil drums and even the smell of dead pigs but he is not going to let these barriers stop him from investigating.

In the mayhem of doing so, he later learns from a local's daughter that she has tried to trap the "creature" by digging and camouflaging a manhole but it was an unsuccessful attempt. She then offers to show him the place and stumbles upon a young woman whom is Dove's mysterious daughter Angeline. Joe wins her confidence quickly and she began to tell him what his father is capable of doing, although she wouldn't say what he has done to her in the past.

Joe believes they are in danger, and with his wife they left the place and brought Angeline with them, but they didn't know that danger has the capability of following them no matter where they go.

I wish I would write this review in details, but then it would be spoilers. I was totally blown away by the ending. What a twist! You can say I am now an official fan of Mo Hayder.

What kind of care do you take of your books? Let's review, shall we?

1. Are you careful with the spines? Or do you crack your books open to make them lay flat?

I'm very careful with the spines. Call me fussy or anything, but I cringe whenever someone cracks them.

2. Do you use bookmarks? Or do you dog-ear the corners? If you do use bookmarks, do you use those fashionable metal ones? Or paper?

I use paper bookmarks and never dog-ear the corners!

3. Do you write in your books? Ever? If you do, do you make small marks, or write in as much blank space as you can find? Pen or pencil? Highlighter? Your name on the front page?

Never, I don't write in books unless I want to give this as a gift to someone and I will scribble some personal notes (in pen) on the first page after the cover.

4. Do you toss your books on the floor? Into bookbags? Or do you treat them tenderly, with respect?

I treat them tenderly.

5. Do you ever lay your book face-down, to save your place?

Yes.

6. Um--water? Do you bathe with your books? Hold them with wet hands? Read out in the rain? Anything of that sort?

Big no-no.

7. Are your books lined up on a bookshelf? Or crammed in any which way? Stacked on the floor?

Most of my TBR pile are kept in the bookshelf, but it is overflowing lately so I have stacked them neatly on our study desk.

8. Do you make a distinction--as regards book care--between hardcovers and paperbacks?

I don't buy hardcovers.

9. And, to recap? Naturally, you love all of your books, but how, exactly? Are your books loved in the battered way of a well-loved teddy bear, or like a cherished photo album or item of clothing that's used, appreciated, but carefully cared for?

I definitely love my books, and always handle them with care. I don't eat when I'm reading, and even if I have a drink next to me, I will make sure my hands are dry. Well, I can say I love my books like a cherished photo album as there will be time I will re-read them if I find the stories are good.

10. Any additional comments? -

Don't forget to leave a link to your actual response in the comments--or if you prefer, leave your answers in the comments themselves!

This is thought provoking... thought I would share (Received from a forwarded email).

"Decision Making

A group of children were playing near two railway tracks, one still in use while the other disused. Only one child played on the disused track, the rest on the operational track. The train came, and you were just beside the track interchange. It was not possible to stop the train but you could make the train change its course to the disused track and save most of the kids. However, that would also mean the lone child playing by the disused track would be sacrificed. Or would you rather let the train go its way? Let's take a pause to think what kind of decision we could make...

Most people might choose to divert the course of the train, and sacrifice only one child. To save most of the children at the expense of only one child was rational decision most people would make, normally and emotionally. But, have you ever thought that the child choosing to play on the disused track had in fact made the right decision to play at a safe place?

Nevertheless, he had to be sacrificed because of his ignorant friends who chose to p lay where the danger was. This kind of dilemma happens around us everyday. In the office, community, in politics and especially in a democratic society, the minority is often sacrificed for the interest of the majority, no matter how foolish or ignorant the majority are, and how farsighted and knowledgeable the minority are. The child who chose not to play with the rest on the operational track was sidelined. And in the case he was sacrificed, no one would shed a tear for him.

To make the proper decision is not try to change the course of the train because the kids playing on the operational track should have known very well that track was still in use, and that they should have run away if they heard the train's sirens. If the train was diverted, that lone child would definitely die because he never thought the train could come over to that track! Moreover, that track was not in use probably because it was not safe.

If the train was diverted to the track, we could put the lives of all passengers on board at stake! And in your attempt to save a few kids by sacrificing one child, you might end up sacrificing hundres of people to save these few kids.

While we are all aware that life is full of tough decisions that need to be made, we may not realize that hasty decisions may not always be the right one. "Remember that what's right isn't always popular... and what's popular isn't always right."

Everybody makes mistakes; that's why they put erasers on pencils."

This is originated from a Japanese manga series. I have never read the manga but the movie is entertaining in my opinion.

The protagonist, Light Yagami is a University student and life seems normal to him, until he finds a mysterious notebook with the title 'Death Note' on the ground one day. He is a righteous fellow and he resents the crime and corruption in the world, given that his dad works in the police field. Feeling curious about the book, he opens it and learns that if someone's name is written on it, the person shall die. He is skeptical at first and think it is all a joke, but decides to try it on the criminals who have escaped from their penalties. The next thing he knows, they are dead. After he meets Ryuk, who is the master of the Death Note and doesn't seem to be unfazed by the 'new' owner, Light seeks to hold righteous by eliminating all the baddies in the world.

I started reading Dean Koontz when I was still schooling (can’t remember if it was High School or thereafter), anyway I was hooked. I can still remember the first book I read by him, the title is Shattered. It was such a thrill reading that book and from then onwards, I began to look out for his books.

Mitchell Rafferty is a landscape gardener. Life is simple for him and his wife Holly, until one day he receives a call on his cell phone, the other party informing him that they have got his wife and they wants him to raise two million dollars cash within sixty hours, or else Holly will be dead. Mitch tells them he is only a gardener, and he hasn’t had that kind of money in his account, but they just don’t care and assure him that he will know what to do.

To prove to Mitch that they mean business; they killed a man who walks his dog across the street after the phone call. Mitch is shattered, although he wants someone to help him badly, he has no one to turn to, especially not the police.

Not only the kidnappers are ruthless, but Mitch knows they are professionals also, because they manage to bug his house, follow him around discreetly when he is driving without leaving any trails. Mitch is desperate, and doesn’t understand why he is chosen for this extortion, but he will do anything to save the life of his beloved wife, including risking his life and that of others.

There are lots of tensions in this story as it moves along. Fast paced and filling with twists, fans of Dean Koontz will love this thriller.

Your Career Personality: Practical, Easy-Going, and Determined

Your Ideal Careers: Airplane pilot Civil engineer Fire fighter Forensic pathologist Graphic designer Marine biologist Police officer Professional athlete Race car driver Software engineer

I simply LOVE this pic! Such a cute little thing... and not to mention it takes time and patience to capture that special angle. You did a wonderful job, Jen! I am so proud of you; one day you will make a GREAT photographer! ;)