Thirsty Thursday and Hungry Hearts - 7.7.16

Thirsty Thursday and Hungry Hearts
hosted by (un)Conventional Bookviews (details)
A meme to share some food and/or drink quotes found in current reads.

First Comes Love
by Emily Giffin
-ChickLit
Amazon | Goodreads
In this dazzling new novel, Emily Giffin, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Something Borrowed, Where We Belong, and The One & Only introduces a pair of sisters who find themselves at a crossroads.

Growing up, Josie and Meredith Garland shared a loving, if sometimes contentious relationship. Josie was impulsive, spirited, and outgoing; Meredith hardworking, thoughtful, and reserved. When tragedy strikes their family, their different responses to the event splinter their delicate bond.

Fifteen years later, Josie and Meredith are in their late thirties, following very different paths. Josie, a first grade teacher, is single—and this close to swearing off dating for good. What she wants more than the right guy, however, is to become a mother—a feeling that is heightened when her ex-boyfriend’s daughter ends up in her class. Determined to have the future she’s always wanted, Josie decides to take matters into her own hands.

On the outside, Meredith is the model daughter with the perfect life. A successful attorney, she’s married to a wonderful man, and together they’re raising a beautiful four-year-old daughter. Yet lately, Meredith feels dissatisfied and restless, secretly wondering if she chose the life that was expected of her rather than the one she truly desired.

As the anniversary of their tragedy looms and painful secrets from the past begin to surface, Josie and Meredith must not only confront the issues that divide them, but also come to terms with their own choices. In their journey toward understanding and forgiveness, both sisters discover they need each other more than they knew . . . and that in the recipe for true happiness, love always comes first.

Emotionally honest and utterly enthralling, First Comes Love is a story about family, friendship, and the courage to follow your own heart—wherever that may lead.

QUOTE:
"So ol' Willy gave you a hall pass tonight?" Gabe asked over fish tacos, guacamole, and a couple of ice-cold Coronas. -chapter 9, page 100, ARC

=====> Tacos are always yummy ;-)
Mahi Mahi tacos from Bonita Taqueria (here) are delish!

Thirsty Thursday and Hungry Hearts - 6.16.16

Thirsty Thursday and Hungry Hearts
hosted by (un)Conventional Bookviews (details)
A meme to share some food and/or drink quotes found in current reads.

The Tumbling Turner Sisters
by Juliette Fay
-Historical, Women's Fiction
Amazon | Goodreads
Set against the turbulent backdrop of American Vaudeville, four sisters embark on an unexpected adventure—and a last-ditch effort to save their family.

In 1919, the Turner sisters and their parents are barely scraping by. Their father is a low-paid boot-stitcher in Johnson City, New York, and the family is always one paycheck away from eviction. When their father’s hand is crushed and he can no longer work, their irrepressible mother decides that the vaudeville stage is their best—and only—chance for survival.

Traveling by train from town to town, teenagers Gert, Winnie, and Kit, and recent widow Nell soon find a new kind of freedom in the company of performers who are as diverse as their acts. There is a seamier side to the business, however, and the young women face dangers and turns of fate they never could have anticipated. Heartwarming and surprising, The Tumbling Turner Sisters is ultimately a story of awakening—to unexpected possibilities, to love and heartbreak, and to the dawn of a new American era.

QUOTE:
She dropped onto one of the mismatched chairs and Nell put a mug of hot coffee in front of her. Mother took a sip, and we waited—for the solution to this seemingly insurmountable problem, or for her to howl like a wounded animal and throw her mug against the wall.
-chapter one

=====> Nothing like a mug of coffee for moments that need thinking on.

Thirsty Thursday and Hungry Hearts - 6.9.16

Thirsty Thursday and Hungry Hearts
hosted by (un)Conventional Bookviews (details)
A meme to share some food and/or drink quotes found in current reads.

Radio Girls
by Sarah-Jane Stratford
-Historical
Amazon | Goodreads | my review
The Great War is over, and change is in the air, in this novel that brings to life the exciting days of early British radio…and one woman who finds her voice while working alongside the brilliant women and men of the BBC.

London, 1926. American-raised Maisie Musgrave is thrilled to land a job as a secretary at the upstart British Broadcasting Corporation, whose use of radio—still new, strange, and electrifying—is captivating the nation. But the hectic pace, smart young staff, and intimidating bosses only add to Maisie’s insecurity.

Soon, she is seduced by the work—gaining confidence as she arranges broadcasts by the most famous writers, scientists, and politicians in Britain. She is also caught up in a growing conflict between her two bosses, John Reith, the formidable Director-General of the BBC, and Hilda Matheson, the extraordinary director of the hugely popular Talks programming, who each have very different visions of what radio should be. Under Hilda’s tutelage, Maisie discovers her talent, passion, and ambition. But when she unearths a shocking conspiracy, she and Hilda join forces to make their voices heard both on and off the air…and then face the dangerous consequences of telling the truth for a living.

QUOTE:
A steaming plate of fried glory was soon laid before her. The mingled smells of fish in batter and plump chips with crisp skins infused with oil worked on her like barbiturates. It may not have been the elegant meal of her dreams, but she nonetheless ate with gusto.
-chapter 5, location 1077, kindle, ARC

=====> After reading this passage, getting a plate of fish and chips was a given.

Thirsty Thursday and Hungry Hearts - 6.2.16

Thirsty Thursday and Hungry Hearts
hosted by (un)Conventional Bookviews (details)
A meme to share some food and/or drink quotes found in current reads.

Don't You Cry
by Mary Kubica
-Mystery, Thriller
Amazon | Goodreads
In downtown Chicago, a young woman named Esther Vaughan disappears from her apartment without a trace. A haunting letter addressed to My Dearest is found among her possessions, leaving her friend and roommate Quinn Collins to wonder where Esther is and whether or not she's the person Quinn thought she knew.

Meanwhile, in a small Michigan harbor town an hour outside Chicago, a mysterious woman appears in the quiet coffee shop where eighteen-year-old Alex Gallo works as a dishwasher. He is immediately drawn to her charm and beauty, but what starts as an innocent crush quickly spirals into something far more dark and sinister than he ever expected.

As Quinn searches for answers about Esther, and Alex is drawn further under the stranger's spell, master of suspense Mary Kubica takes readers on a taut and twisted thrill ride that builds to a stunning conclusion and shows that no matter how fast and far we run, the past always catches up with us in the end.

QUOTE:
The sun is up, and all along Farragut Avenue people scuttle to and from the coffee and bagel shops for breakfast, or lunch, or whatever it is that people eat and drink at 10:00 a.m.
-chapter Quinn, page 14

=====> Everything bagel with cream cheese are my go to for bagel flavor. A coffee or mocha is also a must pairing.

Thirsty Thursday and Hungry Hearts - 5.26.16

Thirsty Thursday and Hungry Hearts
hosted by (un)Conventional Bookviews (details)
A meme to share some food and/or drink quotes found in current reads.

~*~

The Assistants
by Camille Perri
-Humor, Satire, Women's Fiction, New York
Amazon | Goodreads | my review
A wry and astute debut about a young Manhattanite whose embezzlement scam turns her into an unlikely advocate for the leagues of overeducated and underpaid assistants across the city.

Tina Fontana is the hapless but brazen thirty-year-old executive assistant to Robert Barlow, the all-powerful and commanding CEO of Titan Corp., a multinational media conglomerate. She’s excellent at her job and beloved by her famous boss—but after six years of making his reservations for restaurants she’d never get into on her own and pouring his drinks from bottles that cost more than her rent, she’s bored, broke, and just a bit over it all.

When a technical error with Robert’s travel-and-expenses report presents Tina with the opportunity to pay off the entire balance of her student loan debt with what would essentially be pocket change for her boss, she struggles with the decision: She’s always played by the rules. But it’s such a relatively small amount of money for the Titan Corporation—and for her it would be a life-changer...

The Assistants speaks directly to a new generation of women who feel stuck and unable to get ahead playing by the rules. It will appeal to all of those who have ever asked themselves, “How is it that after all these years, we are still assistants?”

QUOTE:
"And look at this." She reached across the floor to a copy of Millennium Foodie and turned to a page she'd marked with a glitter pen. "This is the FleurBurger 5000," she said. "It's a hamburger they have in Las Vegas that contains foie gras and a special truffle sauce. It's served with a bottle of Château Petrus, poured into Ichendorf Brunello stemware. It costs five thousand dollars, but we'll be able to afford it!"
-chapter 12, page 114

Books and Burgers:
at The Counter
Corte Madera, CA | website
=====> Can't afford a $5,000 burger so went out and got "the classic" burger at the Counter instead. Love burgers and usually must have one at least once a month ;-)

Thirsty Thursday and Hungry Hearts - 5.19.16

Thirsty Thursday and Hungry Hearts
hosted by (un)Conventional Bookviews (details)
A meme to share some food and/or drink quotes found in current reads.

Once Upon a Zombie
Book One: The Color of Fear
by Billy Phillips
-Zombies, YA
Amazon | Goodreads
Unexplainablenews.com is reporting strange phenomena in cemeteries in Scotland, Germany, Italy, and America. Only one individual knows what's happening - and why! This person also knows the one girl who can prevent an unspeakable and imminent catastrophe from taking place. But will she? When Caitlin Fletcher's mom disappeared (or left?) four years ago, Caitlin began suffering from breathless bouts of anxiety. Her new move to London, with her Dad and her brainiac sister, threatens to lead to more situations that will trigger panic. Now, she's having anxiety over the possibility of having anxiety! Caitlin's life takes a turn for the bizarre when she's tricked into climbing down a "rabbit hole", landing in a wondrous fairy tale universe - except it's crawling with savage, starving blood-eyed zombies. But what's scarier - a blood thirsty zombie, a panic attack....or the painful truth?!

QUOTE:
Then they'd spun bottles, binged on frozen yogurt and went to the movies together through middle school. -chapter 1, page 11

Yoppi Yogurt
101 California Street
San Francisco, CA
=====> I usually like to get a split of two flavors when getting frozen yogurt with minimal toppings - fave is little mochi thingees ;-)

Shake Shack
66 E Ohio Street
Chicago, IL
=====> When in Chicago, I went to the Shake Shack and got a frozen custard. Surprisingly is tasted just like frozen yogurt.

~*~
* image source: yoppi swirl, Shake Shack Frozen Custard

* part of zombie month (schedule)

Thirsty Thursday and Hungry Hearts - 5.5.16

Thirsty Thursday and Hungry Hearts
hosted by (un)Conventional Bookviews (details)
A meme to share some food and/or drink quotes found in current reads.

Love is Come
by Heather B. Moore
-Romance
Amazon | Goodreads
From the Power of the Matchmaker series: LOVE IS COME
Nelle Thompson lives a life of privilege during the turn of the century New York City. When her parents are killed in a terrible accident, she’s forced to live with her aunt’s family in a small town in Connecticut, and treated as a poor relation with no financial independence. Broken hearted and riddled with insomnia, Nelle’s health begins a downward spiral. When a locked part of her heart blossoms around her cousin’s fiancé Mathew Janson, Nelle doesn’t know if she can endure one more heartbreak. Miss Pearl, owner of the local apothecary shop, becomes a mother figure to Nelle, but a fateful summer day has Nelle questioning everything she's ever believed and wondering if she’ll ever love again.

Quote:
With great ceremony, his mother opened the envelope that was no longer sealed and took out the neatly lettered card, reading it aloud, "You are cordially invited to tea on Friday to celebrate the return of Alice and to meet our niece, Nelle Thompson, who will be staying with us for a short time."
-chapter 9

=====> Victorian romances are bound to have a tea social of some sort. And, I am always up for tea ;-)

Lovejoy's
1351 Church St
San Francisco, CA 94114
website
=====> IF you are in San Francisco, Lovejoy's is a wonderful cozy place to have tea and all its goodies. I love the scones and devonshire cream!

~*~
* image source: tea and goodies

Thirsty Thursday and Hungry Hearts - 4.28.16

Thirsty Thursday and Hungry Hearts
hosted by (un)Conventional Bookviews (details)
A meme to share some food and/or drink quotes found in current reads.

Hello, I Love You
by Katie M. Stout
-Music, Romance, YA, Korea
Amazon | Goodreads | Website
A teen escapes to a boarding school abroad and falls for a Korean pop star in this fun and fresh romantic novel in the vein of Anna and the French Kiss.

Grace Wilde is running—from the multi-million dollar mansion her record producer father bought, the famous older brother who’s topped the country music charts five years in a row, and the mother who blames her for her brother’s breakdown. Grace escapes to the farthest place from home she can think of, a boarding school in Korea, hoping for a fresh start.

She wants nothing to do with music, but when her roommate Sophie’s twin brother Jason turns out to be the newest Korean pop music superstar, Grace is thrust back into the world of fame. She can't stand Jason, whose celebrity status is only outmatched by his oversized ego, but they form a tenuous alliance for the sake of her friendship with Sophie. As the months go by and Grace adjusts to her new life in Korea, even she can't deny the sparks flying between her and the KPOP idol.

Soon, Grace realizes that her feelings for Jason threaten her promise to herself that she'll leave behind the music industry that destroyed her family. But can Grace ignore her attraction to Jason and her undeniable pull of the music she was born to write? Sweet, fun, and romantic, this young adult novel explores what it means to experience first love and discover who you really are in the process.

Quote:
He studies the list. "Do you like fish?"
"Umm..."
He smiles. "You don't"
"Well, if that's what they specialize in here, that's fine. I'll be brave. Make memories and whatnot."
-chapter 4, page 45

=====> FISH is one of "those" that I would like to incorporate more into my diet - being known to be brain food. I have been meaning to explore beyond the usual salmon.

=====> Here is a South Korean popular fish dish, Hongeo, that I would like to try some day. They say it is a smelly fermented skate with a texture of chewy flesh and crunchy cartilage served sashimi style.

=====> And to put a twist on fish...

I also want to try the Korean sweet ice cream treat version pictured above - Bungeoppang known as “crucian carp cake/bread”. Bungeoppangs are prepared using an appliance similar to a waffle iron. The batter is poured into a fish-shaped mold, red bean paste is added, then more batter to encase the red bean paste. The mold is then closed, and roasted. -per wikipedia

~*~
* image source: Hongeo, Bungeoppang

Thirsty Thursday and Hungry Hearts - 4.21.16

Thirsty Thursday and Hungry Hearts
hosted by (un)Conventional Bookviews (details)
A meme to share some food and/or drink quotes found in current reads.

Meternity
by Meghann Foye
-ChickLit
Amazon | Goodreads
Quote:
"Hey, I'm thinking of hitting the ramen spot for some takeout on my way home now. Wanna join me? You look like a girl who could use some soup."
-chapter 3, page 41

=====> In San Francisco, I love going to Genki Ramen. Although I grew up with the store bought Top Ramen (DIY soup mix), I did not truly appreciate a good ramen until last year. Getting it fresh is the best. The broth can be amazing.

My favorite (to date): Garlic Tenderous Rib Ramen

~*~
* image source: Rib Ramen

Thirsty Thursday and Hungry Hearts - 4.14.16

Thirsty Thursday and Hungry Hearts
hosted by (un)Conventional Bookviews (details)
A meme to share some food and/or drink quotes found in current reads.

The Invisible Guardian
by Dolores Redondo
-Mystery, Thriller, Spain
Amazon | Goodreads | my review
Quote:
The flour had not led them anywhere, and if the suspect had not bought the txantxigorris locally, where did that leave them? Flora had told her they they were definitely baked in a stone oven, but that wasn't much help either. Almost all the restaurants and rotisseries from Pamplona to Zugarramurdi had one, and that was without counting those that were still found at bakeries and the older farmhouses, albeit sometimes unused.
-chapter 35, page 266 (ARC)

The sweet treat, txantxigorri, plays an important role and is mentioned numerous times in this story. I had to google it as I was unfamiliar with it.

One of the ingredients includes pork rinds which is curious for a sweet treat. So, now I am craving it and wanting to give it a taste. I may have to take a trip to Spain for a sample ;-)

~*~
* image source: txantxigorris from The small world of Esti (here)