Auto Insurance

January 6, 2014 - Ambrosia 1 Comment

The holidays are over and I don’t know about all of you but I know some friends who got new cars for Christmas. It seems like a smart idea because the dealers offer some great deals (like everyone else) over the holidays. The only thing that I have noticed most people don’t think about is the auto insurance rates for a new car; they do tend to be higher. However if you want to look for something affordable and reliable check out these auto insurance rates, and see if any fit your post holiday budget.

Musing Monday 1/6/14

January 6, 2014 - Ambrosia 4 Comments

Musing Monday is hosted over at Should Be Reading.

Musing Mondays asks you to muse about one of the following each week…

• Describe one of your reading habits.
• Tell us what book(s) you recently bought for yourself or someone else, and why you chose that/those book(s).
• Tell us what you’re reading right now — what you think of it, so far; why you chose it; what you are (or, aren’t) enjoying it.
• Do you have a bookish rant? Something about books or reading (or the industry) that gets your ire up? Share it with us!
• Instead of the above questions, maybe you just want to ramble on about something else pertaining to books — let’s hear it, then!

I have a rant today I do my rant today is that why can’t there be enough time to READ more during the day? I always try to set time aside to read but sometimes it just does not happen. I get bogged down with work and other projects that I need to do and the book sits unread. I don’t like it but that is life right? Still don’t you ever wish we could have a magic hour or two when life would not bother us and we could just read?

Sunday Salon 1/5/14

January 5, 2014 - Ambrosia Leave a comment

The first Sunday of the brand new year and what a starting week it has been around here. I have gotten one book finished so far and started another, Eire’s Viking. I was really excited to get this one although I have to admit I have not been able to give it the attention that I want yet. I am hoping that Monday I will be able to dedicate time to it because I am going to be slammed down with work stuff again this Sunday. Sometimes being a freelance self-employed person means you don’t get a weekend off like everyone else does, and I am okay with that.

In other news I got a copy of Revolutionary in the mail as well and let me tell you I can’t wait to start reading that one in fact I ended up bumping the three or four other books I had lined up and planned to read in honor of the new fresh shinny book. I know not very fair of me those other books were for my TBR challenge and have been sitting on my shelves for years, but what can I say I am a sucker for the time period and the book looks really good.

I hope that all of my other reading friends out there have a fantastic Sunday and that they are staying warm. I am worried about my friends who are getting cold snaps. It is colder then normal here as well and I have heard we are due a little bit of snow, which people are panicking for and buying staples and essentials. We are talking 1-2 inches of snow here so my brain says “not much nope…no thanks. I am still going to do my shopping and errands as usual.”

Quoteable Sunday 1/5/14

January 5, 2014 - Ambrosia Leave a comment

Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”
― Dr. Seuss
“I’m selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can’t handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don’t deserve me at my best.”
― Marilyn Monroe
“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.”
― Bernard M. Baruch
“You’ve gotta dance like there’s nobody watching,
Love like you’ll never be hurt,
Sing like there’s nobody listening,
And live like it’s heaven on earth.”
― William W. Purkey
“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.”
― Oscar Wilde
“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe.”
― Albert Einstein
“You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.”
― Dr. Seuss
“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.”
― Mae West
“So many books, so little time.”
― Frank Zappa
“A room without books is like a body without a soul.”
― Cicero
“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.”
― Mahatma Gandhi
“In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on.”
― Robert Frost
“Friendship is born at that moment when one man says to another: “What! You too? I thought that no one but myself . . .””
― C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves
“Don’t walk behind me; I may not lead. Don’t walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.”
― Albert Camus
“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”
― Eleanor Roosevelt, This is My Story
“If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.”
― Mark Twain
“A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you.”
― Elbert Hubbard

Readers Rights

January 4, 2014 - Ambrosia Leave a comment

I found this over at Say it with Books, who found it at the website of Daniel Pennac a.k.a Daniel Pennacchioni. I found it a very interesting read to say the least and I have to say I fully agree with all of it.

1. The Right To Not Read – This is something that I have to work hard to believe.We read for pleasure. Because we love it. But sometimes we forget that there are people out there who wish to not do so.We have to learn to respect this.We have to learn that there are lots of people who do not have the time nor the love for books. Yes, books are wonderful things and personally I don’t think I’d be able to live without them but there are those who might think otherwise.

This is not just something that applies to non-readers-Some of us, book lovers go through ‘reading slumps’ where we simply don’t feel like reading. Do not feel guilty. It’s your right.The right to not read.

2. The Right To Skip Pages – There are two instances where I do this. One, when certain parts of a book feel repetitive and boring-I simply cannot bear to hear the protagonist go on and on about the eye color of that oh-so-swoony guy again. Second, when the book is so good that you simply have to know what happens between Warner and Juliette in Chapter 62. Go on take a peek. It’s your right.

3. The Right To Not Finish – Oh yeah, remember that book where the MC goes on about guy next door with the jet black hair and emerald green eyes that makes her knees go weak while the entire universe is about to blown to smithereens by some freaky meteorite thingy?Feel free to put it on your DNF pile without an ounce of guilt. You do have the right.

4. The Right To Reread – The Scottish author, Ali Smith words this particular right perfectly – “You know when you hear a piece of music once, you haven’t heard it properly, you want to hear it again. A well-made book will reward you in exactly the same way as music does, in that you will understand and love a piece. You’ll feel the cadence and depth of it and hear things in it all the time. If you pay it a little more attention, it will reward you, like all art. Like everything, actually.” So read again. Again. And Again. Until you cannot do it anymore. Remember, it’s your right.

5. The Right To Read Anything – Do you know what my favorite week of the year is? The Banned Books Week.This week celebrates the freedom to read ANY book. Go ahead and buy that censored book, take a peak at your US Weekly magazine or order a bunch of those happily-ever-after romance novels, we promise not be judgmental pricks. It’s your right after all.

6. The Right To Escapism – Virginia Wolf says it best. “These moments of escape are not to be despised. They come too seldom.” So go escape into a book and live your life as a princess,a knight,a bandit and a magician for a few hours. Laugh out loud and cry your heart out – You definitely have the right.

7. The Right To Read Anywhere – In bed, by the pool, in the tree house/tent,in your classroom , in the car(not a great idea if you suffer from motion sickness like me), here, there and anywhere. So what’s the weird-est place you’ve read in?

8. The Right To Browse – Those favorite parts in the book that you are reading right now? Go read that again. Give your buddy a chance to browse and pick out their fave parts too. That’s right-Have fun!

9. The Right To Read Out Loud – The written word has the power to make you hear, feel and to see. Read aloud and celebrate the power of words!

10. The Right To Not Defend Your Tastes – This one is related to Right #5. Sometimes we see that people are attacked for the books that they read. Don’t let anybody’s opinion dictate what you should read-there are no right or wrong books. You should not have to justify to anybody as to why you read a particular book. Read whatever you want and please do return the favor by not being a book snob.

Friday Finds 1/3/14

January 3, 2014 - Ambrosia 1 Comment

This is another one hosted over at Should be Reading

Another short one this week because it has been busy but I am looking forward to reading these books from this Author.

Booking Through Thursday 1/2/14

January 2, 2014 - Ambrosia Leave a comment

This one is Hosted at the Booking through Thursday Blog.

Although–it’s always good to look back so you know where you’ve been, so the first question for the year is an oldie but a goodie:

“What were your favorite books last year?”

A good one and one that I avoided in all my wrap up posts because there were a lot that I liked. So here we go I can no longer avoid it, lol.

Lover Enshrined by J.R Ward

Circus of the Damned by Laurell K Hamilton

Pasha my Story by Pasha Kovalev

Lily of the Nile and Song of the Niles by Stephanie Dray

Book Review: Dancer (Terran Times) by Viola Grace

January 2, 2014 - Ambrosia Leave a comment

Seduced into becoming host to an ancient goddess, will Del survive the attentions of the god of lust?

Del is taking erotic dance classes at the Companion Centre when she locks eyes with a huge, burly alien with a vivid green gaze. He has come to secure a Companion to act as a permanent host to a goddess, but when he hears Del’s bright laughter, he changes his target from Companion to dancer.

Kurat has been raised as host to two gods. Changes in his body have made it difficult for him to take a casual lover, only a mate will do. With Del’s bright soul welcoming his, he knows the moment he meets her that she will be the one the goddesses will accept.

With the god of lust and the god of war agreeing to his choice, Kurat’s entire being is in agreement. The dancer will be theirs.

First book of the year for me and this one was just alright, I almost put it down from boredom in the first pages but it managed to keep my attention for a fair amount of time. I admit I have not read the first book in the series, and that may have something to do with it. So the first thing I would say that Dancer is not a stand alone at all.

I am personally used to my Sci-fi not having casual references and wording that fit into a modern or earth society and this one did so that set me off it a little bit and just kind of made me lose the feel for it. Other than that the flow was pretty decent and the writing itself was enjoyable enough. As someone who dances I did like the different descriptions of dances and some of the way to explain why Del chose such a broad course load, but we did not stay with that to long once Kurat entered the picture.

Overall this was an okay one for me, not fantastic but not terrible, I think if you have read the first book in the series you will be a bit more attached then I was to the world and what is going on with it.

My Gemstone Rating:

WWW Wednesday 1/1/14

January 1, 2014 - Ambrosia 4 Comments

This is another one hosted over at Should be Reading

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What are you reading next?

A Very Happy New Year to everyone I hope it is going to be a great one for everyone’s reading.

What did I just finish reading?

Life has been good for Becky Bloomwood: She’s become the best personal shopper at Barneys, she and her successful entrepreneurial boyfriend, Luke, are living happily in Manhattan’s West Village, and her new next-door neighbor is a fashion designer! But with her best friend, Suze, engaged, how can Becky fail to notice that her own ring finger is bare? Not that she’s been thinking of marriage (or diamonds) or anything . . . Then Luke proposes! Bridal registries dance in Becky’s head. Problem is, two other people are planning her wedding: Becky’s overjoyed mother has been waiting forever to host a backyard wedding, with the bride resplendent in Mum’s frilly old gown. While Luke’s high-society mother is insisting on a glamorous, all-expenses-paid affair at the Plaza. Both weddings for the same day. And Becky can’t seem to turn down either one. Can everyone’s favorite shopaholic tie the knot before everything unravels?

What am I currently reading?

Seduced into becoming host to an ancient goddess, will Del survive the attentions of the god of lust?

With the god of lust and the god of war agreeing to his choice, Kurat’s entire being is in agreement. The dancer will be theirs.

Book two of the Éire’s Viking Trilogy.

Beginning ten years after the end of Éire’s Captive Moon, this is the story of how Agnarr Halvardson returns to Éire with the intention of settling there, marrying, and siring sons.

It is also the story of Aislinn, who was a child in Ragor when the Northmen raided eleven summers prior but is now a working physician in her own right. She spent a year in Bangor Monastery and became a Christian before Cowan and Charis returned to take the children to Cowan’s village in the kingdom of Dál Fiatach and returns there a decade later to finish learning all she can from the monks about their healing practices.

When Cowan brings her a patient, injured and temporarily unable to speak, she can’t help but find the strong, tall man attractive, even if such feelings unsettle her.

Although sparks fly immediately, Agnarr’s idea of wedding Aislinn—the physician who heals him when he is injured—is hampered by many factors, including language and cultural differences. There is also the matter that he is the man who kidnapped and enslaved Charis years before.

Book Review: Shopaholic Ties the Knot (Shopaholic #3) by Sophie Kinsella

December 31, 2013 - Ambrosia Leave a comment

This is my last read for 2013 and it was not a bad one, not a fantastic one but not a bad one. Once again we jump into the world of Becky Bloomwood and personally sometimes I wonder how smart the people around her really are to not notice some of the stuff that is going on with her and everything else, or if maybe Becky really just is THAT good at keeping things hidden. At any rate it was a fun and light hearted read as you would expect it to be with Becky and Luke going to get married, but Becky having to choose between two weddings and typical Becky fashion she can’t until it’s to late.

This is not an earth shattering book but it is not meant to be so it is supposed to be fun and light and fast to read I found that it was all of those things for me. I am glad that Luke finally seemed to learn the truth about his Mom and that Becky did in the end (which took a long time) seem to grow up a little bit. I do think she will of course get herself into a similar situation again (like she does) but I was glad to see her get some maturity in this one. In the end she did make everyone happy and I liked that.