Rex Rising - Chrystalla Thoma

This was one of those free books I got from Pixel of Ink. 

It started off a bit boring

(I read 2 other books in between)

but half way through,

when stuff started making sense

and things started happening,

I got into it. 

Undecided if I'll read the second one. 

Rex Rising is the story of Elei.

He's confused. 

He is slowly remembering where he is and why.

And since he has no idea where he is and why,

we don't either. 

We know he's been shot,

but not why, how or by whom.

He's infected with a parasite (cronion) to fight the other parasite (telmion).

Following?

Elei starts getting his memory.

He remembers his boss.

Oh, she's the one who shot him, 

and sent him to find Kalaes.

He meets Maera.

They try to help him. 

The Gulturs, who rule everything,

are after him.

Elei starts having dreams, 

telling him what to do.

As the story unfolds,

he gains his memory,

and the courage

to set Rex free. 

There is a second book,

but I'm happy with the ending,

and not too invested in the characters,

that I don't feel like I'm missing anything

by being unsure about the second book.

Conversations with Ethan

Ethan and I left Lusaka,

yesterday morning,

for a little R&R in Dar.

We flew from Lusaka to Nairobi,

had about an hour and half layover

then on a flight to Dar.

We get on the Dar flight, 

and I lean back and close my eyes.

E: Mama, are you sleeping?

Me: No luv, just resting my eyes.

E: How about I hold your hand and wake you up when we go in the air?

Now if your hand moves this way, it means I'm looking out the window, 

so you don't need to worry. And don't let go.

Maybe I can let you sleep and wake you when we get to Dar.

Oh, mama, 

how about I wake you if they bring something to eat?

Maybe we should put the pillow here,

so your hand is on something soft.

Mama, why are you not sleeping?

Me: Because you keep talking!

As we are landing,

Ethan tells me how excited he is about seeing all his mates.

But he will miss Cara.

Me: Is Cara your new girlfriend?

E: (very sheepishly) Yes.

Me: Are you going to marry her?

E: Well, if she says yes. If not, I know I'll marry Connor's sister in Chicago,

because she is also very cute.

Me: What about Brit? (Ethan's teacher's 16 year old daughter.)

E:  Well, she's much taller than me, so I don't think she'll like that.

Lover Reborn - JR Ward

Yes I know I already blogged about this book.

But seriously,

you know you've got your hands on a good book when you consider,

and I mean truly consider,

calling in sick just so you can read the book.

I've waited a year for this one.

Yes, you heard me.

One whole year!

The main storyline in Lover Reborn

is that of Tohrment.

His shellan

was killed

"fifteen months, twenty-six days, seven hours. I'd have to check a watch for the minutes." ago.

He learns his beloved Wellesandra is not,

 in fact in The Fade,

but stuck In Between. 

And it's up to him to set her free.

Can he?

Will he?

Will No'One help?

We also get my favourites, John Matthew and Xhex.

They weren't around much in the last book,

so I was thrilled JM got more than 3 lines this book.

Their marriage has hit some bumps.

JM has issues with Xhex fighting alongside with the Brotherhood.

And, well, Xhex...

really, 

did everyone think she'd become all cuties and wear make up

just because she was mated?

Blay and Quinn once again, 

had me giddy.

"Our future has come."

(Thank you JR Ward for announcing their time has come in 2013.)

The lessers are still around,

but the new Band of Bastards,

those not-so-nice-want-to-kill-Wrath

vampires are back.

I started to like Throe,

but then didn't.

I don't like Xcor,

and can't wait to read what happens to him!

Am I speaking like these are actual people and not just characters in a book?

Well,

doesn't that tell you right there this is fantastic!

The sign of a truly fabulous book,

is when the characters are people

(or vampires)

you care about.

Shoes, Glorious Shoes

I love shoes.

Almost as much as I love handbags.

Shoes are fantastic.

Seriously.

Have you ever asked,

Do these shoes make me look fat?

Feeling blue?

Get a new pair of shoes. 

You could eat chocolate,

but once you eat it,

it's gone.

The shoes,

they're still there.

Gained weight?

Can't fit into your favourite jeans?

Bet you can still fit into your favourite pair of shoes!

Got a new outfit?

It's almost perfect.

Just needs one more thing to make it complete.

Yup, that's right,

a great pair of shoes.

My dearest, darling cousin, Faiza,

introduced me to Shoedazzle.

Every month,

I'm given a showroom with gorgeous shoes they know I'll love.

I've spent almost a year window shopping.

And then...

after a rough day...

I headed over for some cheering up.

Today,

I'm singing

Shoes, Glorious Shoes

over my new shoes.

Writer's Workshop - How the Affair Began

3) How did your love affair with Coffee begin?

I was never a coffee lover.

In fact,

I hated it!

I remember a time in university,

my mate treated me to breakfast.

It included a coffee.

I put seven sugars in it,

and it still tasted horrid.

Tea was always my drink of choice.

Upon my return to Dar from Canada

after Ethan was born,

I started going to a little cafe with some mates. 

Getting tea was often a bore,

so I started ordering mochachinos. 

I remember asking the waitress to put more chocolate

and less coffee.

Then a year after Ethan was born,

we went on vacation to England.

My brother, a bunch of cousins and I all headed to Starbucks.

My brother ordered a vanilla latte.

Being a vanilla fan, 

I thought I'd try it.

I was hooked!!!!

The next time we went,

I ordered my own latte.

Upon my return to Dar,

I switched from mochachinos

to lattes.

Ah, my lattes.

Oh, think I should get one now.

The Lesson

Ethan is spoilt.

Yeah, I know that's no news to you.

I admit it,

I spoil him.

Utterly.

A few months ago, 

everytime we'd go out,

Ethan would want something.

Toy Story soap,

a transformer,

a plastic dinosaur.

Didn't matter.

He felt the need to have something

each and everytime we went out.

Over Christmas,

he opened present at home.

Then Santa brought him presents in Cape Town.

And yet, 

he still wanted stuff.

It really bothered me.

Temper tantrums would occur.

Seriously! 

The boy is 5.

Aren't tantrums suppose to end?

I cleaned out some old clothes and toys.

He was not happy that I was giving away a toy he'd played with

once since receiving it six months ago.

Another tantrum appeared.

Ethan and I had a chat.

We actually had many chats.

The main idea,

was everytime he wanted something new,

he'd have to give away something old.

A couple of weeks ago,

we cleaned his box of Legos.

He had a huge box with big and small Lego.

We separated them.

I asked if he was willing to give the large Lego away.

NO!

He hasn't played with the large Lego since.

This week,

Ethan received the Lego Sort and Store.

The plastic bag carrying all his Lego was annoying me.

We placed his Lego in.

He loves it.

I then asked,

"So Ethan, what's the deal when you get something new?"

"I have to play with it?"

Gotta love the attitude.

"Aren't you also suppose to give something away?"

I expected a pout or argument.

I got none.

Ethan agreed, 

that since he's got a great new storing case for his small Lego,

and he no longer plays with his big Lego pieces,

we could give the whole basket of large Lego pieces to Mary

for her children.

No arguments.

I'm so proud he learnt a lesson. 

52 Weeks of Happiness - Week 3

We've had a great weekend.

We got some new neighbours.

Ethan loves having a classmate in our compound.

We hardly ever see him.

Weekends are spent our with her,

he comes home with her afterschool,

instead of waiting for me.

He's utterly happy.

Then,

this weekend,

we took him to see The Lorax.

I'm not sure who enjoyed it more;

Ethan or I.

But if I'm truly honest.

I have to say,

this week's ultimate moment of happiness arrived at 6:50am.

Happiness is receiving the new JR Ward book on your Kindle.

(No more waiting weeks for the book to come)