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Sunday, March 25, 2012

book.fave.rave: SOMEBODY TO LOVE







I fell in love all over again


This novel not only revolved around love. It also revolved around friendship, parenthood, forgiveness and second chances.

Parker may not be the perfect writer but she definitely tries hard to be a perfect mother. Her character has been through many patches in life. Catching your father with your babysitter when you're ten and then not having him in your life after that, having a baby with her best friend's husband and now losing your house because your father was a scum...Surely those things would hurt you. Parker soldiered on. She's a fighter. She's the rich-but-not-anymore that i would like to be if this thing happens to me someday. I like her because she's strong and confident. I love how she cares for her son. They have a really good bond here in the book. I would forgive her not-so-good treatment of James at the start of the novel since they eventually become sweet to each other.

James's life hasn't been all hearts and flowers too. He'd been most definitely attracted to Parker from the start, but because of an incident, their relationship has been halted. His character is such a lovable one. I was having a hard time not to pull him out of the book and make him a real man. Oh, the tragedy of having fictional crushes. I honestly love James because of his sweetness. His thoughts are just so sweet it's like eating candies. I wanted to shake Parker at some point but decided not to since of course, i figured she'll realize her mistakes in the end. I hated his parents because hello?? it's not your 12 year old son's fault that a freak accident happened and screwed up the brain of your princess (harsh? sorry, i seem to have developed a strong protective feeling for James haha!) .. but anyway, all's well that ends well on that part. I also thought Nicky would not like James until the end, thank God the author is such a genius!! And the grand gesture in the end?? TOTALLY NOT LOST TO ME. I ate it all up.

I am so happy for this happy ending.

This one most definitely is a 5 for me. =)


Big thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC

Saturday, March 24, 2012

QUOTE.FAVE.RAVE: Date a Girl Who Reads

I'd like to share a beautiful quote that i found in goodreads. This one says it all about readers like me. =)




“You should date a girl who reads. 
Date a girl who reads. Date a girl who spends her money on books instead of clothes, who has problems with closet space because she has too many books. Date a girl who has a list of books she wants to read, who has had a library card since she was twelve. 


Find a girl who reads. You’ll know that she does because she will always have an unread book in her bag. She’s the one lovingly looking over the shelves in the bookstore, the one who quietly cries out when she has found the book she wants. You see that weird chick sniffing the pages of an old book in a secondhand book shop? That’s the reader. They can never resist smelling the pages, especially when they are yellow and worn. 


She’s the girl reading while waiting in that coffee shop down the street. If you take a peek at her mug, the non-dairy creamer is floating on top because she’s kind of engrossed already. Lost in a world of the author’s making. Sit down. She might give you a glare, as most girls who read do not like to be interrupted. Ask her if she likes the book. 


Buy her another cup of coffee. 


Let her know what you really think of Murakami. See if she got through the first chapter of Fellowship. Understand that if she says she understood James Joyce’s Ulysses she’s just saying that to sound intelligent. Ask her if she loves Alice or she would like to be Alice. 


It’s easy to date a girl who reads. Give her books for her birthday, for Christmas, for anniversaries. Give her the gift of words, in poetry and in song. Give her Neruda, Pound, Sexton, Cummings. Let her know that you understand that words are love. Understand that she knows the difference between books and reality but by god, she’s going to try to make her life a little like her favorite book. It will never be your fault if she does. 


She has to give it a shot somehow. 


Lie to her. If she understands syntax, she will understand your need to lie. Behind words are other things: motivation, value, nuance, dialogue. It will not be the end of the world. 


Fail her. Because a girl who reads knows that failure always leads up to the climax. Because girls who read understand that all things must come to end, but that you can always write a sequel. That you can begin again and again and still be the hero. That life is meant to have a villain or two.


Why be frightened of everything that you are not? Girls who read understand that people, like characters, develop. Except in the Twilight series. 


If you find a girl who reads, keep her close. When you find her up at 2 AM clutching a book to her chest and weeping, make her a cup of tea and hold her. You may lose her for a couple of hours but she will always come back to you. She’ll talk as if the characters in the book are real, because for a while, they always are. 


You will propose on a hot air balloon. Or during a rock concert. Or very casually next time she’s sick. Over Skype. 


You will smile so hard you will wonder why your heart hasn’t burst and bled out all over your chest yet. You will write the story of your lives, have kids with strange names and even stranger tastes. She will introduce your children to the Cat in the Hat and Aslan, maybe in the same day. You will walk the winters of your old age together and she will recite Keats under her breath while you shake the snow off your boots. 


Date a girl who reads because you deserve it. You deserve a girl who can give you the most colorful life imaginable. If you can only give her monotony, and stale hours and half-baked proposals, then you’re better off alone. If you want the world and the worlds beyond it, date a girl who reads. 


Or better yet, date a girl who writes.” 
― Rosemarie Urquico

Saturday, March 17, 2012

book.fave.rave: MAKING YOU MINE (Moreno Brothers #5)




OMG.OMG.OMG.OMG.OMG!!!!!

I actually do not know how to review this. I was so engrossed with Angel's POV that i almost forgot Sal's story. Haha. I think i will just cut this review into half.

Sal and Grace's story:

I was expecting Sal to be the boring brother. I should've known better. Ms. Reyes doesn't make a boring character. Oh well. Sal isn't far from Angel's and Alex's character. He's protective, serious and hot too... he's just too much into details. Gracie on the other hand, is so young and vibrant. Yes, that's my decription of her. She's just so full of life, dreams and spunk. I like it that she aims high in life. She did not dwell on her failings but focused on what she's good at. Their love story is sweet and also based on trust issues. I love it because i never know what's gonna happen next (of course i assumed that they were gonna end up together right, or i'll be devastated at the end). The plot is pretty good. I fell in love with their family all over again. I love the Morenos. They are forever in my list of fave fictional families list. The roles they played to get Sal and Gracie back together again are just so awesome that i wanna see it in real life. I love how the two got together and eventually started their family. I'm happy for their very own happily-ever-after.


ANGEL'S and SARA'S story:

I have mixed feelings with this story. Just like their book, i don't understand how Sara can love Sydney and not be "in love" with him.. but when i look past that, this pov is just so perfect i could just cry. I love what happened to them! I am so touched by their baby's story. I was a NICU nurse for a while and i know what it's like to see babies hooked on tubes. It's heartbreaking to watch them. I can just imagine what it's like for parents. Ms. Reyes probably was spot on when it came to their emotions. Angel and Sara's story is inspiring especially since Sara had a hard time getting pregnant. The frustration, pressure and emotional rollercoaster of trying to get pregnant was so easy to see in this pov. Anyway... they also had their happily-ever-after.. and for that.. i'm happy for them.. ^_^


Perfect!

Please give me more from Ms. Reyes! ^_^

BOOK.FAVE.RAVE: UNLAWFUL CONTACT (I-Team #3)




BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL AMAZINGLY PERFECT STORY!!!

Where do i start? Well damn, this has got to be my most emotional action - suspense romance novel so far. Sitting here right now at 1am thinking of what to type.. my mind is still in scrambles. The story left my brain foggy. I am one happy reader.

First of all, this is one good getting-back together story. The main characters knew each other waaayyy back and rekindled the flame. That rarely happens and in fiction, rarely works for me.. and yet.. this novel just wormed it's way into my heart. Hunt and Sophie met when they were still teenagers and then went on separate ways. After 12 years, circumstances make their worlds clash again and then things got hot, heavy and action packed. Hunt is one great hero! He sacrificed his own freedom for his sister. He's always thinking of others before himself. He had lots of bad experiences during the time that he was imprisoned and yet, in the end, he was willing to go back. Sophie on the other hand.. i admire her for her courage and faith. She always believed in Hunt. The plot had so many twists and turns but one thing remained constant, the story is interesting! I was never bored. Not one bit. I sweeaarr i'm so happy about the ending right now i could just die. I wasn't surprised that Julian and Hunt became close! I mean, they kinda have the same background. I love it that they all welcomed Hunt and gave him a second chance(yeaaahh everything's all about Hunt! I love Hunt! Go Team Hunt!!!).


This is one helluva novel! i admit to crying at some parts (uhuh sappy sappy sappy me) and to also to jumping for joy at some especially the ending!! WHAT AN ENDING! I can't help but set high expectations for the next book....

book.fave.rave: CALLUM & HARPER




AWWWWWWW invoking

Callum and Harper's childhood may not have been the best, but they surely had a lucky streak ever since they met each other.. well, kind of if you don't count being robbed, mugged or their house burning down.

I will forever remember how sweet i found this novel to be. From the very beginning down to the last page.. it never failed me. Okaaayy.. so i love hearts and flowers and fluffy scenes.. is that a problem? LOL. Their constant flirtation was heaven in my eyes. I love that after everything that happened to them, they stayed with each other. I found the repetitive conflict scenes with John Bell truly annoying. I know it's all good cuz that's part of the story.. but i wish there were less of those scenes. I actually whooped when i read about how that guy died, ugh.

Callum is a very ideal guy. He's smart and even though he's been through a lot, he straightened out and believed that he can make it. I thought Harper was super tough at first.. but then i noticed that she's soft on the inside really. I guess the tough part was just bravado brought about by her situation in life. While reading the book.. i can't help but feel like i want to be Harper.. or maybe one of their friends. Am i crazy for wanting to be a fictional character? Well.. if i am.. i don't care.haha.

I'm soooo glad i gave this one a chance. I love it!! =)

BOOK.FAVE.RAVE: LADY LUCK (Colorado Mountain #3)




BEST.STORY.EVER

Yes, i think Lady Luck has the best story for Colorado Mountain Series so far. Ty is just the man!!! He's my kind of guy! Man of few words.. but when he speaks, he's either intense or seriously sweet. I love how he is with Lexie. They're just MFEO (MADE FOR EACH OTHER!! ^_^ ).. Lexie is definitely someone that i wanna be friends with! She knows when to fight back but she's also not afraid to cry sometimes. That's what girls do! She's creative, fun, sweet and really lovable. Like i said, MFEO!

I also enjoyed the plot. This one's got more action and a wicked web of conspiracy. I like how it ended .. safe to say i like everything about it!

Way to go Team WALKER!!!

BOOK.FAVE.RAVE: THE DARKEST SEDUCTION (Lords of the Underworld #9)




HOT! GREAT STORY! LOVELY CHARACTERS AND ALL THAT JAZZ!!

I knew it. I knew i would love it!


Warning.. lots of EXCLAMATION POINTS BELOW!!!

Paris is the holder sex so no doubt the book is friggin hot!! I have been waiting for the story of Paris for like forever and once i got it.. well, there's no turning back! 4 hours of grinning, laughing out loud etc etc.. it was all worth it! I was so afraid that this one would fall short of my expectations.. but oh!! i should have trusted Ms. Showalter for a happily ever after!

I like how the story became more vast and meaningful since all sides were already presented. The two main characters Sienna and Paris are perfect for each other. I know that they are tailored to suit one another but damn they took to it to another level! I had my doubts about Sienna since she died and all.. i thought she was going to make it hard for Paris. Turns out, she wants him badly too so no problem there. Paris on the other hand.. oh my sweet, sexy and smart man... he's too good to be true. He battled his way to Sienna so i think he deserved her all the more. I am so glad that things worked out for him.. jumped for joy when he found out his married! haha! I'm sooo happy for all the Lords. I didn't expect the ending! NOT AT ALL!! I was so dumbfounded!! It is totally a game changer AND SOOOOO PERFEFECT!!! ^_^

Is there going to be another book for LOTU? I hope so. But i couldn't think of a better finale for this series other than this book.. hmm..


So thereeee 5 STARS!!!!

Saturday, March 3, 2012

book.fave.rave: BECAUSE OF LOW







Can't count my ooohh's and ahhhh's

I really love how Ms. Glines weaves a story. This one's definitely a must-read!

I liked Marcus from Breathe.. but in this book, I LOVE HIM. He's such a sweet, sweet guy! .. a gentleman and a based on the book, dang hot. Low suited him well in the story. He's soooo sweet to her and I love their house-moments. Low has her issues but i'm glad they got past that. Her relationship with Cage bugged me a lot. I honestly thought that they will have some sort of love triangle. Anywayyy.. everything went well and let me just say, i didn't see that one coming! I mean, the conflict in the end made me think that i was about to read a bad ending again. Thank God it wasn't!! ^_^

I feel so happy and satisfied and ready to move on to another feel good book.