Was in California last week visting the parents (sunny Southern California was anything but sunny - it was downright dreary, and don't just take my word for it, that's what the weather guy on the LA TV station called it). Anyway, we decided that this was the perfect opportunity to give my kids that oh-so-required rite of passage all children are supposed to enjoy - Disneyland.

Now, I'd never been to Disneyland, only DisneyWorld, but I expected it to be just like I remembered the park in Florida. Maybe it's true that things look bigger to you when you're a child, but the whole place just seemed less than imposing to me. The castle in FL is definitely grander, no Sleeping Beauty would be caught dead (or sufficiently poisoned by her evil stepmother or whatever) in the little castle in Aneheim.

Granted, it was spring break, but I must say that there isn't much I'd stand in line for 45 minutes to do - no less take a 30 second ride on Dumbo's back. But I did. And I also waited 45 minutes for a 1.2 minute train ride. And another 45 minutes for a 45 second tea cup ride. And, of course, over an hour for lunch. My kids, who complain if there's a single person ahead of us in the line at Target, were horrified at first, but after plunging down and up and around the Matterhorn, they got over it. And at the end of the day they got their $40 worth of stuffed Disney animals and I got to finally rid myself of the guilt I experienced every time they used to ask me, "Why haven't we ever been to Disney?"

I'm always on the lookout now for a really good teen read. And, luckily, Tanya Lee Stone has one! A BAD BOY CAN BE GOOD FOR A GIRL is Tanya's debut novel. But, before we get to a description, here are a few little-known tidbits about Tanya:

1. - Tanya has a passion for Wild Berry Skittles.
2. - And chocolate-covered pretzels.
3. - She hates the word "tasty." Don't say it, especially when out to dinner with her. Appetite-gone.

- Like Aviva in BAD BOY, Tanya was a Criss-Crosser in high school. She likes to think it's because she was irresistibly popular, but really it was because she spent half the time at MHS and half the time at performing arts high school--so nobody had time to get sick of her!
One of her favorite sounds is an orchestra warming up before a show.

- She likes winter because she gets to wear her favorite purple (faux) leopard coat. Well, duh! Who ever heard of a purple leopard!

And now, more about the book:
Why are so many women attracted to the “bad” boy? You know him—you went to high school with one, and maybe were involved with that boy yourself. He’s the golden boy, maybe a star athlete, and always in the “in” crowd. And he is BAD with a capital B. But can being involved with the wrong guy end up being good for you? In this provocative debut novel, Tanya Lee Stone explores this idea and takes an honest look at love and sex. A Bad Boy Can Be Good for a Girl is the story of three very different girls and their relationships with one bad boy.