Wandering About: Los Angeles (2006)

WOW, look at that! 2006! The first time I was ever in the USA was almost 10 years ago… WOW! Time flies! – OK, freak out moment over…

The first time my mom asked me if I wanted to go with her to the US, I jumped at the opportunity. It was a really rough time in my life, probably one of the toughest in my (then) 21 years of life, so I was super on board to just go and get out of my head for a bit. I was working at the time, but my boss was super nice about it and let me compensate my days with my due overtime, I did skip a few days of class, but at that point I didn’t really care. I was on my way to LA! (and Las Vegas and Palm Springs, but that’s for another day)

This was also when I discovered the Cheesecake Factory and all the goods that come with it :D.

And Hollywood!

And Universal Studios :D.

In general, I really liked LA, even if we caught a few terrible days of cold and rain – I hasn’t packed for that. Still, it was pretty freaking amazing. While my mom worked, me and her business partner wandered around Hollywood and took photos of around 100 stars and prints, lol. I even I had an unforgettable experience riding the buses in the city, under rain… never to be repeated again.

More Than Fashion (Chasing the Dream #3) (Elizabeth Briggs)

They’re enemies who will do anything to win…including each other.  

When pre-med student Julie Hong wins a spot on a fashion design reality TV show, she celebrates by picking up a hot English guy in a hotel bar. But too many drinks leads to a night of embarrassment and a major hangover, and wow is she glad she’ll never see him again.

Until the show starts, and he’s on it too.

Julie quickly realizes she’s out of her league among the other designers, and Gavin Bennett, with his cocky grin and sexy accent, is her biggest competition. Julie can’t decide if she wants to kiss him or kill him. Or both.

After she’s almost kicked off, Julie convinces Gavin to pretend they’re sleeping together for the camera. The ploy works, but as they get closer to the show’s finale their fake relationship starts to become too real. But only one of them can win the show—and they might both end up heartbroken.

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I’ve now officially read all the books in this series that are out yet – now I’m waiting for Carla’s story… when will that come out? I need it! In case you’re wondering, I absolutely love this series! Eheh. You can read the other reviews here:

#0.5 More Than Exes – Kyle & Alexis’s story
#1 More Than Music – Jared & Maddie’s story
#2 More Than Comics – Hector & Tara’s story
#4 More Than Once – Becca & Andy’s story

I love how each main character in these books feel so different, but so connected at the same time. This book is about Julie, and if you haven’t read the other books, she’s Maddie’s BFF (More Than Music) and she designed the gang’s costumes for Comic Con in More Than Comics, which lands her on the Behind the Seams reality show. Every books ends up being connected, but you can pick each one and still totally follow the story. Heck, I read them all out of order.

I had already liked Julie in the other 2 books, but here we finally get to really know her. Julie believes that she doesn’t want or need a relationship. She’s afraid to follow her dreams and disappoint her parents. Basically she’s scared shitless, while wearing a brave and cold facade. I really liked her character development in this story, though I could have slapped her a few times for the way she treated Gavin.

Now, Gavin… oh boy… what a man! I really liked that he’s the one who’s always pretty sure of what’s going on between them and that he’s not afraid to call her on on it. Also, he grows so much too. It’s kind of incredible how such a small book about a few week’s worth of a reality show, packs so much character growth within it. And people, they actually talk about stuff! They get man and they talk! No unnecessary drama there.

The show itself was fun, and I absolutely loved all the descriptions of the dresses and challenges, and the dynamic between each of the participants. The chemistry between Gavin and Julie is off the charts, still not on Becca and Andy’s level, but pretty damn close. And if you think you know how the show will end, you don’t. There’re a few good twists in there, much like More Than Music.

I loved it! I wish this series wouldn’t end, I need updates on all these couples because they’re beyond cute. And the geekiness? WOW! When they start discussing in which Hogwarts houses they would be in, … just WOW!