Review: Lucas (Preston Brothers #1) - Jay McLean

In a sprint, every millisecond counts. 
When you’re waiting for love, those milliseconds can feel like eons. 

High school senior Lucas Preston has it all: star of the track team, a scholarship waiting for him, an apartment to himself and a revolving door of girlfriends. He also has an older sister, five younger brothers and a father who relies on him to make sure those brothers don’t kill each other. 
His saving grace? Lois “Laney” Sanders, a girl he started to fall in like with when he was just eleven.
A girl who became his best friend, his confidant, his courage. 

It took only sixteen clicks and eight seconds for Lucas to realize that his like for Laney had turned into love.  
Eight life-changing seconds. 
It’s also the exact length of time it took to lose her.  


Preston Brothers was like a spin-off from the series More Than. The Preston brothers were brothers of Lucy Preston from that series.


The story started off as a childhood love affair of Lucas/Luke and Lois/Laney. They were also called Clark Kent and Lois Lane. They had a crush with each other but very young to know what it was. Lucas and Laney started as friends but they knew from the moment they first met they're special to each other.


Lucas and Laney first decided to be more than friends between junior and senior year. They decided to have sex and finally be together after being best friends for so long. But then after the sex, which was Laney's first time, they realized Lucas still has a girlfriend which was calling nonstop the night they were together. So Lucas had to go and break things off with the girlfriend. The next day during practice, Laney found Lucas did not break up with the girl. She got mad and then decided to date this other guy, Cooper.


Long story short, Cooper ended up being a beater and violent boyfriend and Laney became his victim. All of these things she kept a secret despite fixing the friendship with Lucas.


Lucas and Laney got together again. There were a lot of things that happened in between of course. It was not an abrupt happy ending. It may seemed like a light read but there was actually some sensitive areas in it. There was a hint of rape and definitely there was physical abuse.


One of the things I like is the story development. It was not rushed. All the stages of the love story was descriptive and there was growth but not too slow to the point of getting bored.


The story was very well written by the author, Jay McLean. She was pretty consistent with her books especially with her More Than series.


Funny, very well-written, and fast-paced story. Love it!


POV: Alternate.
Cliffhanger:  No.
Cheating:  Yes (but not to each other).
Rate: 4/5

Vitamins Good for the Eyes

Ever since grade school, I 've had very bad vision. As far as I can remember, I wasn't aware at that time that I have blurry vision. I don't know if that was always the case but the only symptom that I can remember that made me go to the doctor were the headaches. Frontal headaches to be exact. I didn't know I have bad vision at that time until the ophthalmologist examined me and said I have 250 visual acuity on both eyes.


So that was bad. Starting with 250 considering my age at that time. I wish I at least started with less than 100 - you know start with those thin, fashionable eyeglasses at least - that silver lining. But no, I didn't! What I got are those thick ones right off the bat.


Now, my vision got from bad to very, very bad -- 650. So I'm always on the lookout on how to improve my vision and how to correct it somehow and not make it worse than it already is.


Aside from my bad eyes, I also have my husband's vitreous hemorrhage to think of. He used to have good eyesight so adjusting to his vision challenges both of us. I'm always on the lookout for food, supplements, or drugs that can help us with our eyesight. At first, I preferred food that I can include in our diet that are high in vitamins. I tried juicing and doing smoothies but that can be expensive and hard to do especially when busy. I have to give time for buying the right food because I can't just buy anything. I have to use the most organic that I can find. So when funds took over as well as time, I have to do the next best thing, supplements. Lately, I find supplements to just be readily available and sometimes comes out even less expensive than buying fresh organic fruits and vegetables.


I did a lot of research before buying any vitamin supplements and everything in here, we have tried. There are some vitamins that can't be produced by the body so you have to either have to include it in your diet or take a supplement. Supplements can either be from plants or animals and you have know which one has better absorption.

BILBERRY

• Also known as bog bilberries, wild blueberries, and whortleberries.
• Bilberry extracts may improve visual acuity and ability to adjust to changing light.
• They also increase retinal pigments that allow the eye to tolerate light.
• Contains naturally-producing chemicals known as anthocyanosides. Anthocyanosides are plant pigments that have powerful antioxidant properties. These antioxidants scavenge the body for free radicals, with the intention of helping to prevent or reverse damaged cells.
• The extract contains the highest percentage of anthocyanosides, making it the strongest form of bilberry.

LUTEIN WITH ZEAXANTHIN

• Studies provide evidence that lutein and zeaxanthin may play a role in preventing macular degeneration
• It is believed that lutein, zeaxanthin and meso-zeaxanthin in the macula block blue light from reaching the underlying structures in the retina, thereby reducing the risk of light-induced oxidative damage that could lead to macular degeneration (AMD).
• Lutein and zeaxanthin protect your eyes from harmful high-energy light waves like ultraviolet rays in sunlight. Studies suggest that a high level of both in eye tissue is linked with better vision, especially in dim light or where glare is a problem.

OMEGA-3 FISH OIL

• Several studies suggest omega-3 fatty acids may help protect adult eyes from macular degeneration and dry eye syndrome. Essential fatty acids also may help proper drainage of intraocular fluid from the eye, decreasing the risk of high eye pressure and glaucoma.
• Experts found that age-related macular problems are rarer in people whose diets are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in fish, including salmon and mackerel, as well as flax seeds and walnuts.

GRAPE FRUIT EXTRACT

• Study found that antioxidants in grape seeds protect cells in the retina, which are responsible for your ability to distinguish colors and to see in low-light conditions.
• Oligomeric proanthocyanins in grape seed extract may help prevent or slow the development of macular degeneration, a condition involving loss of the central field of vision.
• Anthocyanins are a group of compounds in the flavonoid family (flavonoids, isoflavones, etc.) and are what give foods like grapes, red cabbage and berries a blue, red or purple hue.  They are thought to be powerful antioxidants that help damaged cells repair themselves.

BETA-CAROTENE

• Beta-carotene converts to vitamin A.
• Vitamin A, at least when in combination with other antioxidant vitamins, also appears to play a role in decreasing the risk of vision loss from macular degeneration (AMD).
• Vitamin A helps protect the surface of the eye (cornea) essential for good vision.

SPECIFIC FOODS THAT ARE VERY GOOD FOR THE EYES:

AVOCADOES
This fruit is packed with lots of vitamins and one of the most nutritious food given to man. Very good source of vitamin E.

OYSTERS
Oysters are the highest source of zinc.


TIP!
Research say the greener they are, the better. Same goes for yellow, orange and red vegetables.


Whatever we do, vision will degenerate as we age. The only thing we can do about it is to delay it somehow. I can't do anything with my computer use because it is part of my job and the reading because I love it, so I'll try my best to have an intake of these foods to help improve my vision.


If you know any alternative to these, feel free to share! Happy eyes lovin'!

Must-Have Things When Going to the Philippines



Traveling to another country can be a hit or miss. Majority of the time you'll enjoy and love it, but there are rare cases that it ends up a disaster. I suggest making a checklist when traveling especially when going to another country. Forgetting something when you're traveling locally or domestic is okay but when going international and you forget things, that can really be a whole another level of pain in the butt-butt!

I will not include in this list the most obvious essentials one must not forget: Passport, wallets, and travel documents and the likes. Of course.

Okay, here goes..

INSECT SPRAY/LOTIONS/REPELLANTS

First order of business, this bad boy here is a must. This is a tropical country. People love to stay and live in a country where there's a variety of beaches to choose from, bodies of water left and right; unfortunately, insects love it here too. Insect and/or bug spray, lotion, repellants, in whatever form, even those bracelet and patches ones. Whatever works for you, just bring it. Now, there are lots of insect spray brands people can just buy but one can have a problem with a certain brand.  People tend to forget this a lot when making suggestions on what to bring, and you can never have too much of this.

SLING BAGS

Pickpockets can attack anywhere, so if you must bring your money and documents anywhere, better to put it where you can see it all the time. If you don't fancy this type of bag, a sturdy backpack will do, just be extra cautious in public places. 

COINS

Lot of coins. Small bills too. This can be useful when paying public transportations or buying food.

 This can save you a lot of time.

MEDICINES

Drugs for emergencies. Anti-allergy drugs being the most important. During vacation, sometimes you don't know what's in your food, there's no way of avoiding all the time and that can really be a bummer. Pills for motion sickness, diarrhea, headache, toothache, and even fever, make sure you have them available all the time, especially when it strikes you in the middle of the night.

FLIP-FLOPS

Either summer time or rainy season, flip-flops is the most practical foot wear to go around.

UNIVERSAL ADAPTER

Philippines use 220 volts.

DEODORANTS/ANTI-PERSPIRANTS

Bring the most effective brand you can find. Hot and humid.. that's the weather in the Philippines.

POCKET TISSUE/WET TISSUE

Not all public rest rooms have tissue papers. Sometimes they do have but still limited supply. 

EAR PLUGS

Unless you're staying in a high-end hotel, it's good to have this available.  You know, for roosters at very early in the morning and videoke/karaoke sessions of neighbors at night. 

SMALL FLASHLIGHTS

If you have that in your phone, then you're good.

GOOD TO KNOW TIPS:

Clothing

• Sarong that can serve as shawl and cover-ups.
• Clothes that are light colored and light weight.
• Light jackets for buses with aircon and breezy nights.  

Gadgets

• Power banks and extra batteries. There are some areas where power outages are rampant so make sure they are always full.

Personal Hygiene

• Just FYI, you can rarely - like next to nothing - see tampons for sale. So if sanitary napkin is not your thing, bring your own tampons.
• Better to just buy local shampoo/conditioner because they're designed for hair exposed to humidity. 
• Sunscreen. Lots of it and the highest protection you can have. Remember, tropical.

General

• People don't use maps. Ask for directions.
• Don't display your valuables and don't leave them unattended.
• Filipinos are generally good in English. Just speak a little slower. Keep in mind English is just the second or third language. Most of the time, they can understand but shy to speak.

Remember these small random things plus the essentials and you'll be good to go. Have these handy with you and you can save so much money and precious time.

Books with Cheating Part 2

If you want more books with cheating or betrayal, check my list. There might or might not be some spoilers!

Caught - Erika Ashby

“Guess we aren’t on speaking terms. Maybe I should have slept with her boyfriend a long time ago. Not really.”

Hero and heroine are BFFs. H has a GF, which by the way is the best friend of the h. The three ended up in an almost threesome. The GF is too drunk so she fell asleep. When she woke up, the two told her nothing happened BUT....take a wild guess! I'll leave it your imagination. A lot of things, realizations and admission ensued.

This Broken Beautiful Thing - Sophie Summers

Before anything else, this is a cliffhanger. So have the second book ready because you wouldn't want to reach the end of the first book and then not have the second. Don't do that and you'll have a great deal of hair pulling!

H cheated h with her best friend at the day she found out she was pregnant. She was going to tell him but then she was the one surprised when she caught them in the act.  Say huwwatt?! I know right!

So h ran away and got hit by the other soon-to-be man, who she found out was her father's friend. They're members of a motor bike club. So she moved on this man, all things went well at first of course, but then this other man turned out to be another cheater.

Who will she pick at the end? This book is jam packed but very enjoyable and full of angst.  No time to be bored.

Trouble Won't Wait - Autumn Piper

The story started with the heroine catching her husband in a compromising situation with another woman during Thanksgiving in a garage - if I remember it right, in their own garage! Naturally, h would want to run, literally. There, during the run, he met the H. But then h don't want to just ruin everything for her and her husband's children and would not want for things to end so drastically during the holidays so they agreed to break it slowly to the children. They even tried going to counseling. But then the husband is a natural jerk, while the Hero is a natural sweetheart, so it's a no-brainer who she'd pick.

What I like here is how the heroine evolved and the growth of the characters. Story is fast-paced and there is some sense of lightness to it in spite of all the betrayal and cheating involved.

Whatever It Takes - L. Maretta

A story of a husband and a wife's not too long marriage rocked by infidelity and betrayal. So how would you get over that really?! When you thought everything is great and dandy, and then suddenly your husband blurts out on you that he cheated while he was away on a trip. Like admitting it before getting caught will make it hurt less. Nah.

And of course, Ta-Daa - The CLASSICS...with excerpts.

Thoughtless - S.C. Stephens

“What if I don’t choose you, Kellan? What will you do?”

He looked away, a tear rolling down his cheek. “I’ll leave, Kiera. I’ll leave, and you and Denny can have your happily ever after.” He looked back at me. “You wouldn’t even need to tell him about me. Eventually, the two of you…” his voice broke and another tear fell on his cheek, “the two of you would get married, and have children, and have a great life.”

I fought back a sob. “And you? What happens to you in that scenario?”

“I…get by. And I miss you, every day,” he whispered.”

The Vincent Boys - Abbi Glines

“I can't do this Ash. It's killing me. Having you this close and not touching you is driving me insane. You're his Ash. You're his. You made your choice and I understand why you chose him. I don't hold it against you but dammit Ash it hurts.”

Undeniable - Madeline Sheehan

Mark Twain said, "The two most important days in your life is the day you were born and the day you find out why."

I don't remember the day I was born but I remember the day I found out why.

His name was Deuce.

He was my "why".

And this is our story.

It is not a pretty one.

Some parts of it are downright ugly.

But it's ours.

And because I believe everything happens for a reason, I wouldn't change a thing.

Lexi, Baby - Lynda Leeane

The Ultimate Betrayal - Michelle Reid

The Ultimate Betrayal - Michelle Reid

“I'm your husband...”

“No. You are not my husband,” she interrupted in a voice thickened with hatred and tears. “You have never been my husband. A husband loves, honours and cherishes! A husband is a lover and a champion... Look into the next room if you want to see what a real husband is, because you are no such thing!"

There are so many books out there with this kind of story line but not everything is good.  All the books listed above were read and I assure you all of them are great. Do you have your own list? Feel free to share them below!

Books With Cheating Part 1

Cheating.  Sometimes a reader look for this before starting a book. That's usually why book reviewers add the cheating factor to their reviews. Readers want to know if there's cheating involved in a book before they buy and start a book, either because they want it or they want to avoid it. There are some readers who don't want cheating in their books. For me personally, I love cheating or betrayal stories.I even specifically look for spoilers just to know.

Not all cheating books are good, so here's a list of cheating books I lurve:


True Love Story - Willow Aster

I have read this book twice but I appreciated it more the second time around and I have not forgotten it since. Until now I still remember most of the scenes and play it in my head and still remember the emotions I felt while reading it. I cried buckets of tears! It's an emotionally-charged book. Maybe one day, I will write about this book.  



Razer's Ride - Jamie Begley

Technically, what happened here was not cheating-cheating. But for me, when there's some sort of understanding between two people, and then there's a hookup with other girl/s - that's cheating, period. This is so good. So, so good, actually.   

The Mighty Storm - Samantha Towle

I know there's no real valid excuse for cheating but here I think is the most redeemable type because there's drugs involved.

Sheet Music: A Rock 'N' Roll Love Story - Ann Lister

This one, as I remember, is the most graphic. The cheating scene is too detailed for my liking, but still I enjoyed it. I know it's part of the story but dang, it's so hard to read.

The Rocker That Needs Me (The Rocker #3) - Terri Anne Browning

Another book with addiction involved. Love story so intense but still addiction found its way of ruining it. I love the groveling though. 

This is the first part of the list of books with cheating that I can remember. I've read a ton so I need to refresh my memory but these books are the most unforgettable for me. The type that you'll still remember after a week of reading it.



Review: Torrid Affair - Callie Anderson

I’m fucked.

The life I have lived for the past ten years is built solely on lies and secrets.

But I can’t help myself.

I’m in love with two different men. And one of them is my brother-in-law.

He’s my drug. My fire. My addiction.

But he’s married to my best friend. And I’m married to my husband.

I’m not ashamed. I have no guilt.

None.

I’m not fucked. I’m a fucked up person.

This is the story of how I ruined my life.

And the life of the one I loved most.


The story line started off as very promising. It's exciting and angsty on the first part that you don't really want to put the book down --- then it settled down. You know, two people meet for the first time, liked each other, felt the spark, then decided to go out on a date that ended up in a semi-kiss. The second time they see each other, girl found out he is her bff's boyfriend.. well sort of boyfriend, but still he is someone's boyfriend. So girl got angry - of course! Well, I don't want to tell the story and spoil it for other people. This is a story about second chances. Like right off the bat, it was just bad timing. What troubled me the most was the fact that it was not complicated yet when they found out, things can still be fixed if they want to be with each other. Hero and other woman were not that serious yet. I felt like almost everything is just a case of immaturity with all those decisions at the start and it continue to happen all throughout the book that ended in a tragedy. Just one immature move to the next that led them to their miserable lives all those years. It sucks too that that happened for such a looonng span of time. Like what the heck? 10 years?! I wish it was shorter, like they wasted so much time.  There was a lot of cheating - obviously- from all sides. So those who don't like cheating in their books.. skip this one! The title alone will tell you.


Overall, I think there are parts that's really good, but some parts just lacks something. I wish there's more buildup especially from books with cheating, you just can't help but to expect it.  I wish also more time with the hero and heroine when they were finally together.


Stand alone/Cliffhanger: Stand alone.
POV: Alternate
Cheating: Yes
Rate: 3.5/5 

How To Get Around Kalibo Aklan

Kalibo, officially the Municipality of Kalibo, is a municipality and the provincial capital of the province of Aklan in the Western Visayas (Region VI) of the Philippines. The population was 80,605 at the 2015 census.


It's that time again when a lot of tourists come because of Ati-Atihan Festival. So, this is a basic guide on how to go around Kalibo. Basic being the operative word, so don't expect maps.


Transportation


There are 2 airports in Aklan, one is the Kalibo International Airport and the one in Caticlan, which to this date I believe is still for domestic flights only. Jeepneys and buses here are for long distances, like Iloilo, Manila, Caticlan to those who are traveling to and from Boracay, but within the Kalibo area, tricycle is the most common form of public transportation, which can carry 8 to 9 passengers. Lately, I have been seeing some taxis too but since Kalibo is just a small town, tricycles are the way to go. To date, minimum fare every 4 km is PHP 7.50.


Malls/Restaurants


Big malls in Kalibo are just Gaisano and City Mall. They're the biggest in the area but they're actually not that big compared to other huge malls in the other parts of the Philippines. They're okay, enough for decent grocery shopping, some clothing and shoe shops, appliances, school supplies etc. There are small restaurants here and there, but foods are just mainly fast foods. If you're looking for authentic or home-cooked meals, go outside of Kalibo and ask the locals or the drivers. They know the bomb digs places to eat.


Hospitals


In case of emergencies, there are a lot of hospitals in the Kalibo area. One is the public hospital. Just say Provincial Hospital to the driver and they know where to take you. For private ones, there's St. Gabriel, St. Jude, and Mission Hospital. Generally, they have all kinds of healthcare services available, except for one -- neurosurgery. Yep, no neurosurgeon. So you can hurt any part of your body, just not the head.


Police Station


When you need police assistance, again, just inform the driver where you need to go. At this point, the driver is your BFF.


Language


Dialect is Aklanon, but locals speak fairly good Tagalog as well as English.


Is there anything specific you want to know? Just message below or better, blend in with the locals - they're the secret keepers. Lels!


Enjoy!

Envelope System Wallet

Did you ever experience having budgeting money problems?  Okay, maybe the real question is -- who didn't?!


I'm no financial expert, but I know and believe money trouble is just mismanagement.  It's truly just that. I believe no matter how small a person's income is, that person can manage to survive without having loans - may it be personal loans to family and friends or those payday loans just to be able to make it until the next payout. It happens to almost everybody even to those who have high incomes, so you're not alone.


Before I saw this on the Dave Ramsey Show, I was quite familiar with this method already. The envelope system wallet.  Putting your money in different compartments and labeling them according to your needs. There are many ways to do this aside from the envelope though as others do not want their wallets to be bulky. You can use clips or simply just use the compartments of the wallet as the separator. There are also shops online selling wallets with a lot of compartments and I'm sure even in the mall you can find one. It's doesn't matter where you get it or if it's the legit kind of wallet. For this to work, discipline to control the urge is the key. Planning too.

To do this: Plan what categories/compartments you would like. Food for groceries, utilities, gas or work expenses, fun or extra for miscellaneous expenses. Only you can decide for that, whatever categories you think would work for you personally. 


They have these wallets online like in Amazon or Etsy. If you're on a tight budget, simply just make one, the most important thing is the principle behind this method anyway.

Natural Way To Heal Head Injury

First, let me tell you the background story.


B, my husband, got into a motor vehicular accident. As a result of this, he got a fracture on his head and eyes, which scared me to death up until now when I remember it. At that time, I was working on auto-pilot. Maybe it was the paramedical person in me that I didn't panic aside from my faith, which made a huge difference and a great help in times like this.


Fast forward to us going home after 5 days in the ICU and in total 10 days of hospitalization. When we got home, of course, he is still so dizzy and still vomits. He cannot do anything aside from sitting for a few minutes. With that amount of injury people asks, and sometimes we still wonder, why the doctor discharged him from the hospital. Her basic reasoning was he can rest better at home. I truly appreciated this, I hope all doctors are like this, not only thinking of the money they can get from the patients but truly what's best for them.


When we were finally home, he still got these bruises on the face, head, neck, ears, practically all over considering that it was just how many days after the accident. A lot of people were telling us to use this plant, LAMPUNAYA, to put on his head. This is how it looks like:

I did research on this and I found out it is really for bruises. It helps the bruises heal easier. I am a science person but I also know medicines, at least the majority of them, were from plants. We tried this and after a few weeks, we started to notice a difference in the bruises. So it is true! We can honestly say that have we not tried this, healing will take more time.

This is how we did it. Take a few leaves and put in a clean bowl or any container. Wash it thoroughly as there may be dusts, dirt, cobwebs, insects, etc. After, press to take out the juice of the leaves or cut it with your hands or fingers or whatever way you can as long as you can get the juice out  of the leaves. Then put the liquid you can extract wherever part of the body you want to put it and massage it there until it is absorbed by the skin. Older people who know a lot about herbals said to just avoid the eyes as it is not safe for the eyes. Avoid it at all cost!

Research about it if you're doubtful, but I tell you this leaf really helped a lot in the recovery. In this particular case, recovery will take months, but just after a few weeks of putting it weekly, the patient already felt dramatic improvement in regard to the dizziness and bruises. I saw this first-hand. I just wish we had the liberty to apply this daily, but it is quite difficult as we cannot find this just anywhere. It is not as common as guava leaves or any other plants.

Old school, yes, but this is a practical, very effective, inexpensive, and fairly safe way to help with head injuries or any injuries for that matter, even a mild case of hitting an arm accidentally or getting a bump. If you have this in your area, give it a try and see the wonder of nature. I sure did and I wished I knew about it sooner.