Leslie Keller Books

What is a server Generally, my character Jayne posts her local restaurant reviews, but I decided to usurp her and review the tips and tricks to getting the best service from your server. I broke this post into more than one part when I realized there is so much to review. I'll start with my qualifications. I worked as a server or bartender at establishments which varied from fine dining to cowboy saloon. I opened three new restaurants in the Valley of the Sun and waited on everyone from well-known celebrities (yes, I did wait on Tom Selleck and he is as handsome as you think he is) to first time diners. I've made every kind of cocktail and I have tasted hundreds of wines.  I earned my living exclusively in the restaurant business, so I know how hard servers, bartenders, and bussers work. In most States, servers are considered semi-independent contractors. By that I mean, they earn an hourly wage but because their income is supplemented by tips the wage is very lo

Now that the temperatures are getting higher, it's time for something to cool you down from the inside out.  This cocktail is sure to be a crowd pleaser. From Geoffrey Zakarian in the Food Network Magazine, July/August 2018 issue: Watermelon Cosmo Punch 1 cup sugar 1 cup water 6 cups chopped seedless watermelon 3 cups vodka - any brand - my personal favorite is Absolut 1 cup fresh lime juice (squeezed from approximately 10 limes) Mint for garnish Heat the sugar and water until the sugar is dissolved Let cool Puree the watermelon in a blender Pour 3 cups of the watermelon puree into a pitcher and add the vodka, lime juice and 1 cup of the simple syrup (water/sugar mixture) Serve over ice and garnish with a sprig of mint I would change this up slightly by using half lemon juice and half lime juice and switch out the unflavored vodka for one which is citrus flavored. Remember to drink responsibly. Happy Trails, Leslie Visit my we

I'm not sure what prompted me to download this book because it's not a mystery and I don't read many romance novels. I'm so glad I did!  This is the first book that has literally made me laugh out loud-ever. The story flips point of view between Poppy and the very unlikeable Prince Arthur, whom we meet first. There are a number of chapters where you really don't like him based on the way he thinks about and treats women.  It's a hard road to pull the reader back to his team but the author manages to do it gracefully. Here is an excerpt from one of the first comments he makes when talking about a woman he has casual sex with, "who lets me play her back-nine whenever she's in town...". In the next sentence he explains her father owns golf courses but the reader already has formed an opinion of him. By page 42 my dislike of the prince has gone too mildly annoyed to adding the note that "He's a pig". Poppy doesn't like the p