I heart Paris by Paris

****4 stars
This is the third and I think final book. I enjoyed it as I did the others. Once again Angela Clark is headed to a new destination for work and fun and find herself self-doubting as she is faced with some dilemmas. I actually felt my pulse pick up and stomach flip-flop at one point in this book. After reading three books about the same character, with a couple new ones thrown in on each book, you really become enveloped in the story.

Book Jacket Summary:
Angela is in the city of love- but romance is taking a nose-dive...

When Angela Clark's boyfriend Alex suggests a trip to Paris at the same time as hip fashion mag Belle asks her to write a piece, she jumps at the chance.

But even as she's falling for the joie de vivre of Paris, someone's conspiring to sabotage her big break. And when she spots Alex having a tete-a-tete with his ex in a local bar, Angela's dreams of Parisian passion all start crashing around her.

With London and her old life only a train journey away, Angela can't decide if she should stay and face the music or run away home...

Kindle???? Do I or Don't I?

I have been lately toying with the idea of getting a Kindle. I know that this isn't my normal format of how I do things. I am not quite sure that anyone actually reads this. This was more of an account of what I have read for myself. I have been a avid reader for several years now. Each fall I have gone and taken my books to the used books stores or passed them off to friends to declutter. As time has gone on and more books have been bought or read, I have noticed I have reread unintentionally. I began then to log all the book titles that I have read by author and would check to be sure that I hadn't previously read them before purchasing, but found that at times, names or authors didn't always jog my memory but usually the book jacket summary would. I thought that this blog would be a good journal or way of keeping track of what I read, as well as maybe find some readers with similar interests to give me suggestions of new books or authors to try.

I have found once again, as I read about 2 books a week at least on average that I am at a collection that is taking over my book shelves, and hate to part with them, as some I will want to go back to. I have for some time been thinking about the Kindle. I am glad that I hadn't gone out and splurged immediately when they first began as I am reading they have been making improvements with each model, what a waste of money that would have been. Although, I may not be much of a writer I am a techno geek and enjoy all the gadgets that are out there. I love my Nintendo DS, Ipod touch, and DROID (really love my DROID) I have uploaded the Kindle app to my DROID and have found it to be ok. My problems are more Droid related, such as small screen for reading with back light (which isn't good for eyes) and it really drains my battery.

I guess I am a little worried about investing in the Kindle for two reasons mainly. When I read the reviews and information about how long the battery lasts (weeks) what is the average persons reading time a day for that to be based on? Also, I am a HUGE contemporary fiction (chick lit-kinda hate that term) and even more so love British Lit. How much of a variety is there? Will I find that I am still purchasing a bulk of my books still in paper version due to inability to get them in Kindle Format?

I have up to this point been either purchasing in pre-order, due to favorite authors at Amazon, or used at Amazon, or Amazon UK (shipping kills me along with exchange rate). I have realized the perk to the kindle would be cheaper for newer books and I have always hated buying them used (but financially have to) because I know that author sees none of those proceeds when you purchase them used. At least having the kindle would be supporting the authors that have entertained me at a lower cost than the regular hardback price. At Amazon, you can buy a used book for $.01 but pay $3.99 for shipping (which we all know is over charging) but at a penny, who can argue. So I am then left with the dilemma as to the 200+ books on my shelves and taking over my room from just this past year!

Clutter? I am a stay at home mom who nanny's for a small child. I know that there are options for paperback swap and others, but who wants to lug a one year old up weekly and fight with the city post office. I find that many of the used book stores here in town don't have much of a selection to what I like to read. I hate to take my books up there and with recession only get store credit and not have a want or need to use it? I have even taken my daughter to buy books and dvd's. There are only so many she wants, and as she is now becoming a teenager is showing interest in many of my books (ones with mommy stamp of approval of course:) )I also have the one issue that all my girlfriends are more of the suspense thriller readers and not into my type of genre so there really is no trading out or passing on. I think the only over lap we have had in the past couple years was the Twilight Saga. LOL

So I guess I was looking for some input as to what others have thought of the Kindle. You see my selection of books and can get an idea from my reading list where my interest lies with genre. I would love to hear from you, whether you have one and how you are liking it? Are you able to find the titles that you want? Are you constantly googling and on the fence like myself? Worried that the next new gadget will come out as soon as you finally break down and make the purchase? Just give me your thoughts.

I heart Hollywood by Lindsey Kelk

****5 stars
Another great book by Kelk. As I stated in my previous blog, I really enjoyed I heart NY and was quick to get right into I Heart Hollywood. Kelk didn't let us down, as you sometimes see in a sequel, if anything she gained momentum. Angela Clark gets to go to Hollywood to interview a big named actor and in the process anything that can go wrong does. Jenny is there at her side, a good girlfriend to the end, and is ready to help her put everything back in order as she is dealing with her own issues. Angela, is once again faced with questioning herself and fearing that the life she has built for herself in NY is falling apart. I found myself unable to put this one down. I was sure to have I heart Paris on hand as I finished it.

I would also like to mention at the end of each book, Kelk has mentioned places and foods from the various locations of the books, as well descriptions and information on them. It is a really nice touch.

Book Jacket Summary:
Angela Clark can't believe her luck....she's living in New York with a dream job and a sexy boyfriend.
Sent to Hollywood to interview hot actor and fellow Brit James Jacobs, she's in at the deep end amid the thin and beautiful of Rodeo Drive. The only person who seems genuine is James, despite his ladykiller reputation. But then the paparazzi catch them together at Chateau Marmont, and Angela finds herself in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons...
Can she convince her boss, her best friend and - most importantly- her boyfriend not to believe all they read in the papers? And will Hollywood ever win Angela's heart?

I Heart New York by Lindsey Kelk

****4 stars
I had gotten I Heart Paris first and realized that it was a trilogy book. I am glad I waited and started with the beginning book of I heart NY. Angela Clark is a character we have seen before but more polished. She has been trampled and has decided to start over, or flee to NY. Her new NY friend, Jenny calls her "her hero and brave", where Angela is just trying to figure out who she is (told you a character we have all read about in one form or another) but she is refreshing. You will love the characters and the way Kelk brings the city alive it made me want to go and be a part of it. I think with a friend like Jenny we all could survive our worst and come out of it better for it. I really enjoyed it and as I wrapped up the first book smiling and happy, I immediately delved into I Heart Hollywood.

Book Jacket Summary:
It's official Angela Clark is in love- with the most fabulous city in the world.
Fleeing her cheating boyfriend and clutching little more than a crumpled bridesmaid dress, a pair of Louboutins and her passport, Angela jumps on a plane - destination NYC.
Holed up in a cute hotel room, Angela gets a New York makeover from her NBF Jenny and a whirlwind tour of the city that never sleeps. Before she knows it, Angela is dating two sexy guys. And, best of all, she gets to write about it in her new blog (Carrie Bradshaw eat your heart out). But it's one thing telling readers about your romantic dilemmas, it's another figuring them our for yourself...

Angela has fallen head over heels for the big apple, but does she heart New York more than home?

You're the one that I don't want by Alexandra Potter

****4 stars
This was a fresh and different plot line than you are used to with chic lit. I really liked it. I thought is was a bit on the original side and had me wondering what the lead character Lucy was going to do next. It is on the premise that a young couple meet in Venice during break from college don't want to be separated at the end of their trip. They go to a bridge, which has an old superstition to it about everlasting love and make their relationship destined, only years later they aren't the same people they were. I found myself telling my husband about this story as he was curious with the title name, he knew it wasn't the norm for me. When I described the book, I told him parts of it reminded me of disaster movie, you know, one of the spoofs of all the scary movies put together or right now the one Vampire sucks. Where they take all these ideas you have read upon previously and you find yourself having a giggle. It really was an inventive and cute book, that also had serious points as well. It had a bit of everything. I truly enjoyed it.

Book Jacket Summary:
How do you know that he's the one?
Are you getting butterflies just thinking about him?
Have you dreamt of marrying him?
Do you just know?
When Lucy meets Nate in Venice, aged 18, she knows instantly he's the one. And, caught up in the whirlwind of the first love, they kiss under the Bridge of Sights at sunset. Which - according to legend - will tie them together forever.
But ten years later, they've completely lost contact. That is, until Lucy moves to New York and the legend brings them back together. Again. And again. And again.
But what if Nate isn't the one? How is she going to get rid of him? Because foever could be a very long time.....

The California Club by Belinda Jones

****4 stars
I liked this book so much I put it down and went and ordered more by her. It was a great story with a group of friends that all were different. I think that there is at least one character anyone can relate to. It has a quick pace and you are left turning the page wondering what comes next. I really enjoyed it.

Book Jacket Summary:
When Lara Richards jets off to glamorous California, the last things she's expecting is to find her old friend Helen transformed from a clipboard-clasping frump into a shimmering surf goddess. The secret of her blissful new life? The mysterious California Club.
So the offer of guest membership-one wish, guaranteed to come true by the end of their stay- is one Lara and her friends can't resist. Could this be Lara's chance to win her best friend Elliot's heart after ten years of longing? Or does the fact that he's traveling with his brand new fiance mean that Lara will have to come up with a new dream.....?