Leslie Keller Books

Lately everywhere I go people are ordering a Moscow Mule. This drink has been around since the 1950's and, until recently, no one ever ordered it.  My guess is that most people haven't heard of ginger beer, let alone crave it. Although I am a fan of ginger ale, I've never developed a taste for beer. My exception to this rule is that it must be at least 110 degrees outside, there needs to be an even hotter guy offering it to me AND there must be no other options. The secret of a perfect Moscow Mule is that you must drink it from a copper mug. If you drink it from a plastic (red solo?) cup or even from a glass something gets lost in the flavor. 1 1/2 oz vodka 1 oz ginger beer 1 oz lime juice or the juice of a 1/2 lime - freshly squeezed juice is always better Pour your lime juice into the bottom of the copper mug. Add a few cubes of ice Using a high quality vodka, pour it over the juice Pour in the ginger beer Garnish with a lime slice or wedge Enjoy in...

This is part three of my review of the three act structure - the trigger. This is the event in the story which finally pushes the main character over the edge and into the epiphany. In Menu for Murder, the trigger was Jayne's arrest for murder. Up to this point, Jayne could have fumbled along without a second thought to who killed the mayor. Once she was charged, she then had to cowgirl up and decide how to get out of her predicament, which moves the story into Act Two. The trigger is an event which attacks the protagonist's flaw (Jayne's lack of self confidence) and causes a crisis. In a plot driven storyline, the trigger might be when the hero has to decide if he is willing to sacrifice himself to save others. Up to this point, he may have spent his life in selfish pursuits, but suddenly he is thrust into a crisis where he has to put someone else's needs ahead of his own. Let's think about four people in a high rise complex. Our hero has been working late i...

Having thoroughly enjoyed the sister restaurant, Arrowhead Grill, I corralled some friends into dining at Preston's Steakhouse in Scottsdale. This relatively new restaurant (opened in early 2015) takes the space once occupied by Michael's of the Citadel. I'm not sure when Michael's closed but I hadn't dined there in many years. The location has an upstairs and downstairs, which in the case of Preston's, only the lower level is used. I found this to be odd but coming from a server point of view it is much easier on the staff not to have to run food and drinks up and down. We ate in the bar on a Friday night, not quite cool enough for the patio to be open. The bar and main dining area décor was lovely, slightly dark but certainly had ambiance for a romantic dinner date. The food was as good as at Arrowhead Grill but the service was horrible. It's true that sometimes the service in the bar by a cocktail person is not on the same level as that in the dining...

A close up shot of one of the Monarch butterflies who pass through Arizona on their migratory path. Happy Trails, Leslie Visit my website

This is the second book I've read by this author and it will not be the last. I love her writing style, her characters and voice. She grabs me on the first page and lingers with me after I've read the last. I can't believe I hadn't heard of her before - even though she should be well known as the author of the book-to-movie "Pay it Forward". This story begins with Rusty who worked in the World Trade Center but was late for work the day the towers came down due to the terrorist attacks. Saved by a phone call at the last minute advising him that his mother had passed away unexpectedly he watches as the towers fall. If that event was not traumatic enough, he has lost his mother and now is responsible for his brain damaged brother, Ben. Leaving everything behind in New Jersey he goes home to his small town to try to bury his mother and deal with his brother. Unexpectedly he meets the local baker Nazir and his daughter Anat, who are Egyptian. I remember how s...

For a change of pace, and because I had been craving a nice cup of tea, I visited the English Rose Tea Room in Carefree, AZ. I hadn't been here in a very long time and I must say I didn't know what I was missing. The cozy inside is delightfully decorated with pictures of the Queen, lovely china tea cups and the place settings were inspirational. If you don't wear your own hat, there is a trunk of options from which you may select - to further put you in the mood for the true English experience. I ordered the Formal Afternoon Tea which included three tiers plus a pot of tea of my choosing. I couldn't resist trying the Rose Petal Tea which smelled and tasted like I was walking through an English rose garden. My tea included crunchy fresh cucumber, chicken with walnuts and smoked salmon sandwiches, scones with an addictive Devon cream and jam and a selection of bite-size desserts. Two of my friends ordered the Cottage Pie and the soup of the day. No one left hungry a...

When you decide which movie to go to do you read the reviews first or watch the trailer? If you want to try out a new restaurant do you immediately scroll through Yelp to see what other diners thought? Would you read a new author who had only a few reviews posted?   If everyone else likes something does that guarantee you will too?  I ask these questions because I am wondering how much other people's opinions matter. I am guilty of this to a degree. I always read the reviews first to see if I think I will like something before I invest my money or my time. However, I loved the remake of the Lone Ranger with Johnny Depp, even though it was panned by critics. I have hated some written work that others have loved, and vice versa. Think about something - an activity, a film, a restaurant, or a book - that you loved despite how others felt about it. Was it freeing or scary to spit into the wind of what was not popular or trending? I like to imagine that my opinions...

Tequila and I have a love/hate relationship. I love to drink it but hate the way it makes me feel in the morning after one too many yummy margaritas.  This drink is a mix that might tempt you to wear hot pants, even if you shouldn't! Hot Pants 1 1/2 oz tequila 1/2 oz peppermint Schnapps (keep this on hand for pouring into your hot chocolate in the winter) 1/2 oz grapefruit juice 1 teas fine sugar Combine ingredients in a shake half filled with ice. Shake well and strain into an old fashioned glass with a salted rim. If you don't have an "old fashioned glass" which is a type of cocktail glass you can improvise and use any glass that is handy, even a plastic cup will work. Enjoy anytime of year, with friends or alone but always drink responsibly and remember to tip your bartender or server. Cheers,  Jayne