Sandra C. Lopez's Blog, page 380

Escape from L.A., Part 2

I should’ve known that fateful Sunday wouldn’t turn out the way I expected. I had planned that whole weekend out perfectly—I worked myself to the bone to get everything done on Saturday just so I could have the whole day to spend at the West Hollywood Book Fair on Sunday. Everything should’ve gone as planned that day. But when I opened the door that early morning and saw that fresh heap of a turd sitting right at the foot of my doorstep, I frowned, my body instantly filling with disgust and hate for these horrible neighbors of mine. This was surely a fine start to my day.

Deciding to put that image of that brown carcass out of my mind, we stopped by at this diner for breakfast. Some nice, crispy bacon wrapped in a tortilla with beans and eggs sounded just like the right thing for us. But, alas, the bacon was not crispy; there were chunks of fat dangling on the ends. Talk about a mood spoiler. We had to return the plates in hopes that they would rectify it and not spit in our food.
After we got our plates back, we ended up enjoying a delicious breakfast. Everything was oh-so-yummy! I had just gotten my fill, having devoured every tiny morsel of my meal, when the wind suddenly shifted after a couple of bums entered the place, sending a putrid wind in our vicinity. I nearly vomited at the smell, which was like a clogged toilet. I had just downed a good meal, but this stench was bringing it back up. Ugh! So that was the end of that meal and possibly the end of food, in general, at that point.
It was about 8 o’ clock when we got on the road to Los Angeles. The traffic was mild and easy-going. Timing was going splendidly. It took less than an hour to get there, giving us more than enough time before the fair started at 10 a.m. Sweet!
If I mentioned it once, I’ll say it again: I HATE driving in L.A. In trying to look for that student Pacific Design Center, the place offering $10 parking for the event, I nearly went the wrong way making a U-turn on one of those curvy side roads that are so popular in L.A. Those damn lines were so confusing!
Traveling down San Vicente Blvd, we came across a parking lot—actually, it was more of a road block. Apparently, the street was completely blocked off. A bunch of cars were cramming into the left-turning lane in an attempt to get out of there. I’ve never seen so many middle fingers shoot up in one setting.
We tried to make several more attempts to get back onto San Vicente by going around other streets, but the end result was the same: it was all completely blocked off. Cops were trying to direct the mess of traffic packed in a no-win situation. Car horns blared in the air as one guy shouted, “How the f#* are we suppose to get outta here?” The guy was only saying what we were all thinking.
We needed to get our bearings, so we stopped at a Vons so we could ask one of the cops how to get to the book fair. I waited in the car while my mom went to go ask. As she was walking back, I saw the glum look on her face as she was shaking her head. Oh, no. Apparently, the cop told her that we weren’t going to get to the West Hollywood park. The roads were all closed off for the L.A. marathon. L.A. marathon? Didn’t we hear something about that on the news this morning during breakfast? At the moment, I really didn’t think much of it because I was sure that we would bypass it somehow. Boy, was I wrong. I guess that should’ve been our omen right there. Somebody was trying to tell us to just stay home. But did I listen?
Now, the problem was: How the hell was I gonna get out of here!? I was hot, I was confused, and my frustration had nearly blown off the top of my head. But most of all, I was pissed because I drove all the way out to L.A. for that book fair and couldn’t get there. Steam was practically shooting out of my nose and ears. I pretty much lost it. GOD DAMMIT!  
In a blind rage, I somehow maneuvered out of that disastrous pile up and found the freeway. At that point, all I wanted to do was get back to civilization and free-flowing traffic.
I guess I must have been delirious from the heat or my anger, because I convinced myself to go to the OC Children’s Book Festival in Costa Mesa. Costa Mesa wasn’t that far, and I did want to go to a book fair today. Why didn’t I just go home right then and there?
First of all, I couldn’t find the damn place—no surprise there. Second, there were just TOO MANY kids. God, I hate kids, which was why I decided not to go to this event in the first place. The only thing I wanted to see was the teen stage, and that was a big ball-buster. I think we spent about 10 minutes there before deciding to leave and forget about it. The fair absolutely sucked!
What would have been the final cherry on top of this whole fun-loving Sunday was if I had gotten a parking ticket. Walking back to the car, I saw like 3 or 4 security officers giving out tickets. Oh, shit! Panicked, I rushed to find my car, desperately hoping not to find a piece of paper fluttering beneath the windshield wiper. Within minutes, I finally found it. We quickly hopped in and peeled out of that parking lot as fast as we could. I had evaded that ticket by a small fraction. Phew!
I guess somebody decided to take pity on me in that moment.
So that was the end of a day that never started. Next time, I will look beyond the foul stench of that caca and recognize the disaster that could lie ahead.  

Review: THE FIRE by John Heldt

This is the third John Heldt novel that I’ve read. The Fire is the sequel to The Mineand The Journey.
Our hero, Joel Smith, from The Mine returns as a geology professor to Kevin Johnson, an upcoming college graduate.
Being that it was his last summer before grad school, Kevin takes a mini vacation with his family (his mother being Shelly Preston from The Journey) touring an old city that was destroyed by a fire over a hundred years ago. Then, one night, Kevin discovered something that might allude to the possibility of time travel. “As a man of science, he felt compelled to dismiss the idea immediately. Time travel was impossible.” (17)
An intellectual curiosity compelled him to seek out the old shed in the back, a portal that somehow sent him to 1910, the year of the fire. That’s like going back to the day the Titanic sank.
It was odd that Kevin could step back into his own time—something that our earlier heroes could not do. But who could pass up an opportunity to experience another time? Certainly not Kevin, that’s for sure! He just had to go back to find the girl with “the Jane Seymour face and Gibson-girl hair.” (42)
Kevin was a smart, kind, and charismatic character. He seemed to have a chivalry complex when it came to how girls were treated in 1910—he couldn’t stand that Sadie worked in a brothel, he hated the heartless brute that courted Sarah, and he expressed disappointment on how the bright female students in his science class were programmed to think that their years were chained to household and family duties. Still, being caught between the affection of two lovely ladies is never a good place to be in.
The big question was one that he must struggle with: “Would he consider the unthinkable and give her up [or] would he consider the really unthinkable and stay?” (142)
Then there was the inevitable fire. “Would [he] ride through Wallace like a turn-of-the-century Paul Revere and warn residents that the fires were coming? Or would [he] let history run its course and let people die?” (177) Kevin must make some hard choices—some hard, life-threatening choices.
Filled with scrupulous, historical detail, this book is just another top notch in Heldt’s finely crafted belt. Readers will enjoy another time-traveling adventure filled with drama and romance. Well-written and entertaining!

Review: THE UNIVERSE DOESN’T DO SECOND CHANCES by Sean-Paul Thomas

“For as long as I could remember I was never really that great with women…they were my stumbling blocks…Better to have tried and failed than never to have tried at all. Whoever came up with that phrase, I wanted his greasy head on a silver platter.” (3) Right from the start, our main protagonists lures the reader into a world of self-deprecating humor.

“My final thoughts weren't of my loving mother, my proud but stubborn father, my jolly cheery match maker sister or my average life and few friends back home in Edinburgh. Nor had I any thoughts of my dead end job, never ending bills, mortgages or my good health, my fitness, the places I'd always dreamed about travelling to and visiting one day but never found the time to do so…Instead, I found myself thinking about all those missed opportunities I'd had throughout my life with [girls].” (11)
This story is all about regret and resentment. There are no second chances in life, but what if…suddenly there were?
We follow the journey of Liam, a lonely and lovesick man, as he attempts to recapture those lost chances in fumbling ways. In part 1, we begin with Alexandra, the blonde on the bus. The two spend the day touring the Scottland landmarks while exchanging dry (and sometimes horrific) pleasantries. It was odd that so much was divulged in such a short time, like virginity loss and family death. The bulk of this segment was mainly focused on the constant togetherness of Liam and Alex, until finally their love combusts into a passionate night. Then…it’s over.
In part 2, Liam re-awakens in his 13-year old body.  Re-living his innocent days of burrowing through caves and sorting through nudie magazines, Liam reacquaints himself with his old crush, Sarah—a brave, little tomboy. Together, they experience some wild adventures.   
Written in reverse mode, this tale answers the “what if” questions in Liam’s life. I couldn’t help but enjoy Liam’s witty and naïve nature. His endearing gullibility, especially when it came to girls, was present throughout his lifespan. It was funny!
Although, at times, the various accents and expressions were difficult to comprehend, the characters were quirky and somewhat fascinating.
As I was reading, I couldn’t help but question how our hero was able to get this “second chance.” And how many was he getting? Was it just a dream? And why does he have trouble remembering?
What I liked best was the unique story line of time travel and re-living past moments. The writer definitely has a knack for stories.
The great message of the story was: No Regrets. Just go for it right NOW—not LATER—because you just never know... “That's what happens though when you sit back and don't go after what you want. You just never know what the hell might happen and what kind of adventures might pan out over that whole day in front of you, if you decide to take a risk.” (282)
 
Note: A few typos could’ve been corrected here and there. And then, of course, there’s…….the cliffhanger. Grrrrr!
 
 
 
 
 

Review: COME FLY WITH ME by Judith Whitmore

Summary: From mansions in Emerald Bay, to hilltop villas in the Caribbean, Come Fly with Me is the story of a woman coming into her own in a world where the sky is the limit. Kate Randolph is young, beautiful and rich, and her passion is flying. In the air she feels a freedom she feels nowhere else, and it’s where she dreams of escape from her marriage to a cold, distant husband. Rick Sanders, her tough flight instructor, challenges Kate to always rise to the occasion and trust her instincts. A series of unexpected events forces both to look beyond the usual facades, and as a result, Kate and Rick liberate each other––she rescues him in a harrowing mission into Southeast Asia that proves her mettle once and for all, and he releases her to be the woman she was meant to be––no holds barred.





My thoughts: 30-something Kate Randolph was stuck in a lonely marriage to a 50-year old Sam. Afraid to lose the financial stability, she continued to stay with him, suffering in silence. Kate and Sam’s marriage kind of reminded me of the rich couple in the famous novel, Rebecca—cold, distant, and kind of creepy. Sam often talked to her like she was a small child. My only question was: Why? Why did Kate put up with him?  
Then she started taking flight lessons from hot instructor, Rick. The attraction was mutual between the two. While Kate and Rick wrestle with their growing feelings for each other, the reader roots for them to give in to a “happy landing.” But “would the emotions born on the tropical island be allowed to grow, or would they wither like an untended garden?” (231)
Kate was one lucky girl! She married the millionaire and got to shack up with the flight instructor. God, it makes me want to take flying lessons!
A well-written and gripping story of what it means to “surf the clouds” and fly on your own.




 

New Book Preview: A TRICKY GAME by Seraphima Bogomolova

A Tricky Game, by Seraphima Bogomolova, is a mystery psychological thriller, published by Souliris UK Ltd, released on July 15, 2013.

A Tricky Game is a psychological novella telling the story of a young enigmatic woman, who finds herself involved in an edgy game of three men, whose genuine intents, second agendas, and secret longings become closely intertwined with her own destiny, creating unexpected twists that place her in front of challenging life choices.
In Moscow, Russia, an aluminium magnate, Kazimir Stankevitch, enters into an unwritten agreement with a seductively attractive young woman, Angela Moreaux, whom he secretly desires. Later that night, as she returns home from a nightclub, a shot is fired at her. While in the hospital she receives a visit from a silent masked incognito, whose true intentions she is yet to discover. At the same time, her unsuspecting associate meets in the Ritz with an elderly Swiss gentleman who delivers to him a mysterious letter. As the stakes in the game go higher, the young woman is confronted with life choices that will challenge her in unexpected ways. 
***
A Tricky Game is available for sale on Amazon


Seraphima Bogomolova was born and raised in St Petersburg, Russia. She is the Editor of Avantoure.com. A Tricky Game is Seraphima’s debut novella. Currently, she is working on her second novella. For more information, visit http://atrickygame.com        *** Excerpt    Through the crowd of clubbers and dancing strippers, she walks toward him. Approaching, she stops, her eyes fastened on his profile. Instantaneously sensing her presence, the man turns round. Her hand extended to him, he grabs it and, parting his lips, impresses them on it, leaving a flaming trail on her skin. She pulls it away. He looks up.

"Are you playing with me?”

“I think you enjoy being played with."

"It depends."

"On what?"

"On the game."

She sits down. His eyes on her mouth, he watches her light up a cigarillo, her lips encircled around its chocolate tip. She draws on it, releasing a blow of smoke. Motioning at a waitress, he orders a bottle of Krug. Champagne's poured into their glasses, he raises his glass.

"To our agreement."

"As you wish."

"Do you think it really matters what I wish?"

"It depends."

"On what?"

"On your wish."  

Book Giveaway: THE MAN AT THE CAFFE FARNESE by Janet Simcic

The Man at the Caffe Farnese is an adventure-filled coming-of-age-story. Julie Walden's fiftieth birthday slams her with life changes. She whisks two new friends to a penthouse in Rome.

One copy will be given away.

Good luck!



Contest subjected to those with a valid U.S. address. No international



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: HAPPY BIRTHDAY OR WHATEVER by Annie Choi

My review today is on Happy Birthday or Whatever: Track Suits, Kim Chee, and other Family Disasters by Annie Choi.

Meet Annie Choi. She fears cable cars and refuses to eat anything that casts a shadow. Her brother thinks chicken is a vegetable. Her father occasionally starts fires at work. Her mother collects Jesus trading cards and wears plaid like it's a job. No matter how hard Annie and her family try to understand one another, they often come up hilariously short.

But in the midst of a family crisis, Annie comes to realize that the only way to survive one another is to stick together . . . as difficult as that might be. Annie Choi's "Happy Birthday or Whatever" is a sidesplitting, eye-opening, and transcendent tale of coping with an infuriating, demanding, but ultimately loving Korean family.






My thoughts: Two words can only describe this book: Funny and Sarcastic.

Annie Choi compiles a wonderful collection of short stories about growing up and family dysfunction.
In “Spelling Bee,” we learn how little Annie must prove to her Korean mother that she won’t end up in the street holding a sign that reads “Will Werk for Food.”
In “Stroke Order,” Annie tries to “[reclaim] the language she once knew and then forgot and then rejected.” (pg. 75)
The family was absolutely hilarious when they tell Annie to only bring home the man she’s going to marry, which then indirectly sabotages any relationship she ever has.
If you like Las Niñas: A Collection of Childhood Memoriesby Sarah Rafael Garcia, then you’ll love this Korean version of it, which is filled with powerful and gripping stories that make you feel right at home—after all, “in the end…we are family and we should spend time together, even if it kills us.” (pg. 213)






 

Review: THE MAN AT THE CAFFE FARNESE by Janet Simcic

“The language, the gesturing, the scent of coffee, even the dreaded customs line fascinated me. I was in love with everything Italian.” (1) It was love at first sight for Julie Walden.
“There were four clearly marked lanes; yet the drivers seemed to hover on the lines, creating five lanes as they vied for space and speed.” (2) Yes! It was like I was right back in Italy!  Julie, Mary, and Liz are all 50-something women—a wacky, funny group of characters like The Golden Girls—and they’re on this exciting journey in Italy to practice the language and learn more about their roots. It was hilarious how they all loved to drool over Antonio, the landlady’s young, hot Italian lover.
Mary is the neat, old crab; Liz is the flirty shopaholic; and Julie “yearned to be surrounded by Italians, wanting to breathe in the language.” (27) The main protagonist, Julie, has disconnected from her husband and feels that escaping to Italy would somehow lead her to discover who she is again. Then temptation shows up in the man at the Caffe Farnese named Dante.
What was interesting was that all these women had baggage and were struggling with the disharmony of marriage, even the British lady, Gabby (the one dating that sexy Antonio.) The American women seemed to envy the longevity of Italian marriages. Yeah, that’s because Italians don’t divorce. They weren’t raised to divorce, and, at one point, it was even illegal to divorce. That’s why the divorce rates are low and America continues to be #1 in it. Yay, we’re #1!
It was unusual that the story was told from the POV of Julie and Gabby. Why not all four women or just Julie? Why include Gabby, who didn’t seem as essential by her brief segments throughout the book? Personally, I would’ve liked to have heard from Mary and Liz, too. Also, not much time was spent on the search for the Italian roots. It was mentioned for just one second, and then it just dropped all together.
Nonetheless, the emotional entanglements and strain continued to be a gripping notion to the conclusion. Everyone was right: Julie was too American, and it would never work with Dante no matter how “perfect” they were for each other. Still, will she give in to him or not?    
What I liked best was the acute depiction of life in Rome—how Romans don’t live by time, the late dinners that often last for hours, the long staircases, and the breath-taking views. I felt like I was right there again, treading the congested cobblestone streets of Italy.  

Review: GIFT OF SEEDS by John Clinton Gray

 
In these essays, we are strolling through 5 decades of memories starting from the 1950’s; it’s like a walk in the park.
“We were hooked [on sugar] from the time we were old enough to play outside on our town, until puberty arrived and changed the world forever.” (4)
“Little kids were exempt from their bullying, but the day came when we had grown into suitable prey.” (4)
“Row Row was a caricature kid caught in adolescent hell, random body parts maturing while others waited.” (49)
Full of honesty, this book is a captivating coming-of-age narration from boyhood to manhood. John Gray is a poignant and funny character, which is revealed in his short, quirky ruminations about life and experience.
The reader becomes a traveler in these tales—we go from the farmlands in Delaware to scouring pipes in Levittown sewers to meeting Columbo on a flight to JFK. Admittedly, however, some stories were not that interesting, like the baseball one, for example (but that’s just because I’m not really into sports.) At times, I felt that the details got a little too technical with dates and historical facts—a few too many numbers, if you ask me. And why was there a recipe?
“Companion Flier” was, by far, my favorite story—simple, quick, and hilarious!
“Maine Event” was another great one about John’s first love and first heart break at 12-years old. “Boys at that stage know all about boners, but only theory about what the equipment is for.” (250)
“Novel Idea” illustrated the pivotal essence of the whole writing experience that EVERY author goes through from the inception of an idea to the turbulent trials of developing a story. “Some successful writer wrote that writers just write. Even if we go back and delete most of what we pecked out and start over, we write. Even if we feel depressed and unworthy, we write. Even when we’re arrogant assholes, we write. Well…WTF…I’ll just start.” (266)
Even though this is a non-fiction account of a man’s life, Gray writes with the heart and skill of a story-teller.    

Review: WHEN ANGELS FALL by Manuel Meléndez

Beginning with a captivating prologue, this novel takes the reader on a journey in the life of Ferdy Muñoz as he discovers the prejudices within his own neighborhood. Ever since the tragedy of 9/11, people of Middle Eastern decent are being profiled as world bombers and terrorists, including a dear friend of 10 years. But could the detective be right? Would harassment justify as a preemptive strike against tragedy and disaster?

Mrs. Drucker, one of Ferdy’s neighbors, has distrusted immigrants most of her life and feels that they have been ruining America. Then, one day, a violent confrontation ensues between her and Raj, who has been accused of being a terrorist, sending Ferdy on a penitent journey for truth and righteousness. “His father always used to say that powerful people’s influences could easily dwarf the truth and, therefore, manipulate the media. In every story, there were always three points of view: the views of the two argumentative parties and the truthful view, which many times never made it to the front page or the six o’clock news.” (52) After all, “the world was filled with many Rajs, Annies and Nicks, swimming in hate and false accusations.” (63)
Thought-provoking and narrated by the engaging voices of earnest characters, this story takes the readers through the arduous trials of sin and redemption. Meléndez skillfully renders the gray subtleties of human emotion and combines them into a mystical masterpiece. His words eloquently depict the “devil in stolen angel’s wings.” (102)
The presence of the unknown vagrant filtered throughout the story seems minor, at first, but it is actually quite pivotal; however, I found his maniacal pleas to God odd and a bit superfluous.  Who was the “Fallen Angel,” and what was his purpose?
The intriguing development of a murder investigation beckons you to read on until every tiny morsel is devoured. You won’t want to stop until you reach the mysterious and gripping conclusion.
Well-written and vividly descriptive.