Never too late By Robyn Carr - Book Review

Listened July 2015

See other book reviews here

This is a story about Clare finding life after divorce. There are no major twists or page turners, just a very nicely written sorry about life. I was pleasantly surprised by the hot and steamy romantic acts.

Although Clare is the main character you also meet Maggie, and Sarah, Clare's sisters. Toward the end of the book the story is about all of the sisters lives not just Clare's, which I like in a book. The children in the book are endearing and funny.   

As a writer I like the way the author described the love scenes, descriptive but not sleazy and you could really relate to how the characters lust for each other. Fifty shades move over. And all the men were hot and streamy. 

The narrator Therese Plummer has a pleasant reading voice and I enjoyed the way she read the story. 

       

My sum up word: Pleasurable 

Star rating: *4

Los Angeles Horseback Riding - Topanga, California, USA

Visit Date July 2015

My sum up word: Horsespitable      

Average star rating: *5

Full summary:

Los Angeles Horseback ridding was established in 1996. I booked an hour’s ride for my brother who is an experienced rider, my husband who has never ridden before and myself a confident rider, but not ridden in ten years.

We arrived at the ranch and were greeted by our guide. He was very nice and put my nervous husband at ease by making jokes. We did not have to wait long as all but one of our houses where saddled up and ready to go. The horses looked well kept and happy. The day before our ride it had rained and the horses that were not saddled up seamed to be really enjoying the mud. One was having great fun rolling in the mud and trotting around the pen he was in.

My horse was not overly friendly and a bit shy when I was waiting to mount her, however once I was on she was so well tempered. Her name was Tiffany and responded to all my commands with little to no hesitation. My husband was riding Jango who was really friendly and loved the attention and being fussed over before the ride. Jango was lively and also very well tempered. My husband told me that he liked riding him and he responded to all his commands with out hesitation. My brother was on a very big dark brown draft horse but sadly we have all forgotten his name. He was a quite powerful sole and my brother said he was a lovely to ride. It is lovely to see that this stable have very big draft horses because they are expensive to keep but rare to see at ridding schools.  

My over all experience was a very good one. The owner was very polite, the guide was fun and knowledgeable, the horses were well spirited and pleasant to us. I would definitely go there again.   

Customer Experience – *5

Customer Service – *5

Average * rating – *5

Complaints made – None

Complaint Outcome – N/A

What do you think of this review, have you experienced the same or different

Click here for Los Angeles Horseback Riding

BOA Steakhouse - Santa Monica, California, USA

Visit Date July 2015 

My sum up word: Buzzing 

Average star rating: *3.5

Full summary:

BOA Steakhouse, Santa Monica is part of the Innovative Dining Group (IDG). The first BOA Steakhouse Santa Monica was opened in 2004. Other IDG restaurants include, Sushi Roku, Katana, and Robata Bar

I choose my restaurants firstly on the occasion, then by looking at the photos to see how flash or casual it is and then the reviews. I set out to find a nice restaurant to take my brother out who is over from England visiting. I chose BOA Steakhouse because it looked like the type of place where I could get dressed up on a little black dress and heals. After looking at the pictures I was happy to move on and look at reviews, which all seamed good. I am not a food critic and the food cuisine is in the name BOA Steakhouse so I booked a table for three for 7.30pm.

On arrival the restaurant was super busy and the staff welcomed us with pleasant smiles. We had a small wait at the bar and then we were seated. I liked that all the staff were dressed smartly in suits or waistcoats. Our server was very pleasant and friendly, she knew all the type of steaks and advised me which one had the most fat on. Yes that right, I said most fat.

For starters I chose the Pan Seared Foie Gras, and for my main, the 21 Day Dry Aged Bone-in Rib Eye and baked potato’s with sour cream & chives. The Pan Seared Foie Gras was very tender and I enjoyed it very much. My husband had Pan Seared Scallops and gave one to me, and it was very tender, slightly seared and very tasty. My steak was cooked medium rear as I requested. I love stake fat so for those who are like me, this part of the steak was perfectly fatty. My husband and brother ate the Porterhouse steak and said it was really good. My Baked potato was ok, nothing special, just a baked potato with cream cheese and chive on the top. My brother had the Lobster mash potato, which we all agreed was superb, and I LOVE mash photo. My husband had truffleed chesses fries, which came out cold to start with but our server swiftly took them away for fresh ones. Again, they were nothing-special just fries with cream cheese on top, but I enjoyed them a lot. We were all quite full after so many carbs so did not have a desert. I did however enjoy two cosmopolitan cocktails and my husband enjoyed two perfect storms.  

Over all customer service was friendly and really made my experience pleasant from start to finish. The restaurant was extremely busy, which probably impact on cold food being served. My critic would be that the décor could do with a touch up, and the restrooms were not kept as clean as I would expect from a $$$ yelp rated restaurant.

Customer Experience – *3

Customer Service – *4

Average * rating – *3.5

Complaints made – None

Complaint Outcome – N/A

What do you think of this review, have you experienced the same or different

Click here for BOA Steakhouse website

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Imogene in New Orleans By Hunter Murphy - Book Review

Read July 2015 

This is a light murder mystery with some southern humour. The story is about Ms. Imogene who visits New Orleans and a friend of hers is murdered. An unlikely group find themselves solving the mystery, and you learn more about the secrets of Glenway’s life. The characters were all fun and quirky and that includes the dog Goose.

I like to read all types of books for fun and also for my own writing development. For me I enjoyed the dialogue format in this book. You can really hear the New Orleans accent, which is a nice touch.  

My Sum up word: Deadfunny

Star rating *5

Big Girl by Danielle Steel - Cover Review

Don't Judge A Book By Its Cover!

Click here for all cover reviews 

Before reading

Judging this book by its cover only, and before reading its synopsis, I think that this book is going to be about a big girl who ends up skinny. The pink cover tells me it is a girly book and I think the cover looks quite modern, so I expect it to be set in present day. I’m thinking that this book maybe about bitchy girls and a big girl that is bullied by them, and I hope, that if it is, she ends up empowered.  

After reading the book

So now I have read Big Girl I can see what the cover means. Victoria is a big girl and she struggles with her weight all her life, but she is not fat. She has a beautiful womanly, full hourglass figure, but her parents made her believe that if she was not stick thin then she is fat. I think the girl on the front cover is Victoria because she is beautiful. The spoon of sugar I think represents her constant struggle with dieting, and the cute smile I think represents her accepting herself for who she is. The pink cover is a nice touch because it is a girly book; it’s a perfect colour. I really like this book cover, as it is very simple and modern. 

My sum up word: Cute

Star rating *5 

Virgin Upper Class - Heathrow Virgin Lounge

Services Used Date 2014

My sum up word: Aerotastic

Average star rating: *5

Full summary: 

This way to travel is somewhere in-between business class and first class. Using Virgin Upper Class from Heathrow in my experience is the best. You have your own entrancing into the airport, a Virgin staff member greeted me as my car pulled up to the private door and helped me with my bags. I the checked in and walked straight to the Virgin Lounge, (hassle free) my Holiday literately starts the moment I get to the airport.

Once in the Heathrow Virgin Lounge I found a restaurant and all food and drinks are complementary and very good, from curry to eggs benedict. The décor is modern light and airy and different places to sit, work and relax. There is a large TV with seats to recline and watch TV with headphones. There are pool tables and computer game tables, with jars of free toffees and sweets, (I’m in heaven here), another room is designed to look like a library or reading room, while another is on a mezzanine level and looks like a modern state of the art lounge. There is also an outside smoking patio at Heathrow. (Good if you’re a smoker). There is a hairdresser’s but this is not free, however I can tell you that they do a good blow dry. There is also a spa with a complementary head massage, and other paid for treatments, my massage was very relaxing. 

When my gate was announced in the lounge I walked to my gate and boarded the plane before anyone else. It is very stress free. Every Virgin flight I have taken (an older plane or an airbus) the experience and service is the same. Once on the plan and seated you are offered a glass of Champaign of orange juice. My seat was like a cocoon that takes up three normal seats so that my chair could turn into a bed. Once we took off I was given a small bowl of kettle chips with a fresh drink and my food choice from the menu was taken. My food was served on a table that was dressed with a tablecloth and silver wear. (Very posh) There is a footstool so you can eat at the table facing your travel partner if you want to eat together. I had my own TV screen and control panels with headphones. I was given a bag with earplugs, eye masks, socks, toothbrush and toothpaste, and a pen. For night flights I was given pajamas. The air staff helped me turn my chair into a bed when I was ready to sleep, and they have always been tentative and friendly whenever I have flown. There is a bar at one end of the section if you wish to sit at the bar and have a drink and chat with a crewmember. On the airbus plane there are no window blinds, there are buttons on the windows to dim the glass, it is so cool. And the TV is touch screen.

At the end of the flight we were let off the plane first which can really speed up the time it takes to get through customs. If I could afford to fly this way every time I would. My holiday really did start the moment I got to the airport.

However be warned not all airport lounges are as good as Heathrow. See my LAX Virgin Lounge experience.

Customer Experience – *5

Customer Service – *5

Average * rating – *5

Complaints made – None

Complaint Outcome – N/A

What do you think of this review, have you experienced the same or different?

Click here for Virgin Upper Class website  

Virgin Upper Class - LAX Virgin Lounge

Services Date Used 2015

My sum up word:  Airsome

Average star rating: * 5

Full summary:

Virgin Upper Class is somewhere in-between business class and first class. The Virgin Upper Class check-in at LAX does not have its own privet check in like Heathrow. The lounge there is newly built and opened in June 2015. Before this you used the Air Newzeland lounge, which is a lounge that leaves a lot to be desired from. So luckily the LAX Virgin lounge is now open. It is very nicely decorated with modern units and seating, it has a relaxing airy feel similar to Heathrow but a lot smaller in comparison. There is a restaurant with extremely good complementary food and drink and the staff are very friendly. The lounge is very relaxing.  

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At the end of the flight you are let off the plane first which can really speed up the time it takes to get through customs. If I could afford to fly this way every time I would. My holiday really did start the moment I got to the airport.

However be aware not all airport lounges are the same and in some airports Virgin may not have a lounge and so you have to use another airlines lounge. See my Heathrow Virgin Lounge experience.

Customer Experience – *5

Customer Service – *5

Average * rating – *5

Complaints made – None

Complaint Outcome – N/A

What do you think of this review, have you experienced the same or different?

Click here for Virgin Upper Class website  

Four Seasons Biltmore Spa – Santa Barbra, Californian, USA

Visit Date June 2015

My sum up word:  Disillusion

Average star rating: 2.5*

Full summary:

While staying at the Four Seasons Biltmore Hotel for our honeymoon my husband and I booked into the hotel spa. When we arrived at the spa and my first immersion of the reception was not what I thought a five star hotel spa at the four seasons would be. It looked more like a hotel pool shop. I picked up some of the scented candles and they had dust on them. I felt the swim cloths and pool wear gave the spa entrance a slightly tacky feel. The changing rooms where clean and relaxing. There was tranquil music playing in the changing room, it was clean and tidy with complementary hairbrushes and toiletries. In my opinion the carpet and units, while being in keeping with Mediterranean feel, where old and could do with being updated.

Before our appointment with the therapist we had to wait in a waiting room. The views from the waiting room were truly breathtaking. There were three other people in the room and I could not relax here. I felt like I was in a posh dentist awaiting room.  

We were having a couples massage so both therapists came out to collect us at the same time. I was pleased when the therapist congratulated us on our honeymoon as this was yet another good example of the good hotel communication for special occasions. 

We were taken into the treatment room and shown a list of head messages to choose from and also a list of oils. I would have expected the therapist to have guided us and explained the options rather than showing us a list to chose from. I found my massage relaxing. I even drifted off to sleep at one point. I did however at times feel slightly agitated with the way I was being massaged. I felt that my therapist was rushed with me. I also felt that my therapist could have been more gentle with me. He put the heat pad over my back rather than gently placing it over me and when he wiped my hands clean of the oils I felt like I was getting a bed bath.

This was my husband’s first massage so I asked my husband what his therapist was like and he seamed to be happy. He said that she used rubbing and kneading techniques and was genital when placing things on his back and removing the oils from his hands.

Customer Experience – 1*

Customer Service – 4*

Average * rating – 2.5*

Complaints made – None

Complaint Outcome – N/A

What do you think of this review, have you experienced the same or different?

Click here for Four Seasons Biltmore Spa website

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Big Girl by Danielle Steel - Book Review

Listened July 2015

Click here for cover review 

I loved the way the story was written and the fluidity of the story line. It is a story that follows a family and young girl from baby to woman and her struggles to fit into her families privileged LA life style. It follows Victoria throughout happy and hard times. The relationship with her mother and narcissist father moved me and angered me. But the relationship she shared with the younger sister is admirable to say the least. (Your will need to read the book to find out why I say that.) You really find yourself rooting for Victoria during the story as she is a lovely character that deserves a better life than the one she got.  

As a writer myself I enjoyed the way that the author moves her narration of the story line over so many years. This book was easy and enjoyable to read. It touches on todays issues of appearance and the struggles of wight that many girls in LA, and around the world, are facing today.

The narrator Kathleen Mclnerney has a lovely reading voice and narrates the story and characters parts very well. 

My sum up word: Sugarlicious 

Star rating *5 

Love At First Sit - Santa Barbra, Californian, USA

Services used Date 2015

My sum up word: Fabulousness 

Average star rating: 5*

Full summary:

I am so glad I found Love at First Sit. I moved to Santa Monica in January from London with my cat poppy and no family here to look after her. Carmen from Love At First Sit came over to meet me and Poppy and took notes down about the food she eat and where things were kept like cat litter, trash bins and my cat carry cases. She also took emergency contact numbers and my vet details. Carmen even asked if I wanted her to water any pot plans on her visits.

The website is very easy to use for booking appointments and making payment.

I have used Love At First Sit twice and was very pleased. I have now given them a door key because I will not be using another sitter. On each visit I was sent a picture every day with a little bio on how Poppy was doing which really put my mind at rest. I came home to a clean litter try, empty bins and a happy cat.

My cat Poppy is very nervous so I’m fussy about who looks after her. But she really seamed happy when I came home and not distressed in the slightest.

Customer Experience – 5*

Customer Service – 5*

Average * rating – 5 *

Complaints made – None

Complaint Outcome – N/A

What do you think of this review, have you experienced the same or different

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