A Game of Love: Review

BOOK NAME:  A Game of Love

AUTHOR: Maricar Dizon

RELEASE DATE:   June 12, 2012

MAIN CHARACTERS:  Arnel, Alaine

GENRE:  Contemporary Romance
MY RATING:  ★★★★✰ stars



BLURB: 

“Kahit ano ang gawin mo, kahit gaano ka umayaw, I will make a space for myself in your life.”

“Commitment is just a pain.” Iyon ang motto ni Alaine sa buhay. Sawa na siyang makita ang kanyang ina na lumuluha nang dahil sa relasyon at pag-ibig. Eh, ano kung treinta na siya at single pa rin? Wala siyang balak na tumulad dito.
But she met Arnel. Nag-iisa siya noon na nagbakasyon. Initial attraction ang nadama nila para sa isa’t isa. Hindi nila napaglabanan ang atraksiyong iyon kaya nagdesisyon silang gugulin ang bakasyong iyon nang magkasama na hindi pinag-uusapan ang kanilang mga personal na buhay. It turned out to be the most memorable vacation of her life.
Ngunit dumating ang araw na kailangan na nilang maghiwalay. Ang akala niya ay hanggang doon na lamang ang magiging relasyon niya rito; but then, fate had a different plan for them. Muli silang nagtagpo at sa pagkakataong iyon ay nais na nitong maging habang-buhay ang relasyon nila. Handa na ba siyang baliin ang paniniwala niya at ipagkatiwala ang puso niya rito?



INITIAL THOUGHTS:

This is my first ever try of reading MD's works. I was hesitant at first (yeah, I'm one of those readers who are not so apt at trying to read other Tagalog writers' works, and only go for my proven and tested writers-meaning my fave! Like SF, PF, KA.) But every time I asked (I'm always asking even though I rarely go for it) for a good rec, MD's name will always be mentioned. Many of my online friends, even my nanay AJ vouched that her works are good. So one time (it happened long time ago :P in a faraway land ) when I was in PHR bookstore and didn't find any books of my fave writers, and was busy scanning what book to buy, I've spotted this book 'A Game of Love' by MD. I picked it up and read it's blurb. The plot is promising, I was hooked at the line "COMMITMENT IS JUST A PAIN", but I hate eer pardon for my harsh word but that was what I've felt when I read the H's name. I am one of those people who is very particular and will immediately got hooked to a book if the MC's names are good and unique. It was like, their name said it all. So seeing A's name as the hero made me think of our standby neighbor who's not really good to look at. HAHA. But I shake it off and decided to give it a try thinking maybe it will be worth it. And oh boy, I was never wrong. It was life-changing. HAHA. 

ARNEL

Was his surname mentioned or not? So Arnel.. ugh. *mentally replacing his name with another name* :P  I really hate his name. Damn him. I was so glad that the heroine did not so much mention his name. *heaved out a sigh of relief* HAHA. Meanie. So, A is I think a lost soul. He may claim and proven that he's a playboy who's just after the challenge of the next prey but he's more than that. I know he'd not just met his match yet so his wandering days are forgivable. But I love him nevertheless. He's sweet in his own way. I can't really say that I find him handsome and sexy but there's something in him that makes me think he's one. I can't even recall if his looks were described but I definitely remember his SMILE. Maybe that's what makes him a hero material for me. Plus I can't scratch the nagging feeling that he reminded me so much of one hero I love that I can't seem to put a name and remember, when he said his definition of love. xx

"Love is just a game where the loser is the one who falls first."

ALAINE

I know her surname is mentioned by no other than herself but I am too lazy to scan the book again so let's just stick to the first name. I like it by the way. Unique and makes me think she's pretty, and was reinforced by MD's definition of her. I like her character as a whole. I understand her aversion to love and commitment upon seeing what it did to her mother (which I like btw, she's cool for me). She's sassy and making me smile every time she deflects the H. x

MY REVIEW:

It was insta-LOVE. It was pretty much what I've felt after I'm done reading the book. MD just made my 37 pesos worth it. I was feeling  bad and was mentally beating myself down for not trying to read her works before. Why o why? I am so rectifying that now. *insert evil laugh*.
I love the story. I know the MCs have their chemistry but I was sucked more and fell for the story itself. I find myself smiling and feeling pretty (as if I was the heroine) while reading the book. The plot is good, a lil cliche coz I've read so many books that revolves around that kind of plot but how MD did it was WOW. I'm impressed. She's goooooood. I don't mean just good but goooooood goooooood and mind you, I am not easy to please and I easily get bored but this one? It held up my too-short-too-twisted attention up to the end and I was still left craving for more. HAHA. Glutton. It was fast-paced yet I can still follow the flow. I did not get lost and side-tracked with unnecessary scenes with so many unnecessary characters. MD is consistent in the flow of events from one to another. All the scenes was beautifully written and the dialogues were awesome. Although I did not go gaga over the first meeting of the MCs and even when they did the 'thing' but I definitely fall for the H during the shower scene. It was just so sweet for me.

"Okay, I will not pushed the subject." Pumulupot ang mga braso nito sa balikat niya, dinampian nito ng magaang halik ang gilid ng leeg niya at iniyukyok ang noo sa balikat niya. "Payakap na lang." 

The conflict... wait, is there even one? Ah yes. Alaine got preggy and so after knowing that, Arnel offered to marry her. Which in turn she misinterpreted that he's marrying her only for the baby's sake. HAHA. I like how the Hero makes effort to show that he's willing to take responsibility even going to the length of offering  his name which I know is very hard since he's a playboy who hates commitment. Is he not? SO girl, can't you see that? Or are you too blinded by your fears to see? (I know I'm rambling..) What I mean to say that he's sweet and sigh-worthy. 

"Galit na talaga ako, Alaine. Bakit ba ang labo-labo mong kausap, ha? I want to take responsibility of the child. Anak ko rin 'yan. Hindi ko ipinamimigay ang sperm cells ko nang ganoon na lang. Kung ayaw mo akong pakasalan ngayon, puwes, hindi ako titigil hangga't hindi ka pumapayag."

I love it when he read articles on pregnant women all for Alaine. So even if he doesn't know it, his excitement on having a baby and becoming a father shows as well as his love for the mother of his child. Sa-weet isn't it? 

And when it's confession time? I like how frank the heroine is. Super like. x

The side characters are okay, did not as much leave an impression on me. Oh well, except for the groom. Robin. He made me think of his own story. x

 So all in all. I can say it's a great read. x


MEMORABLE LINES:

"Kung takot ka, believe me, takot din ako. Kahit kailan, wala pang taong nakapagparamdam sa akin ng ganito katinding emosyon. Ang gusto ko, palagi kitang nakikita. Ang gusto ko, palagi kang nasa malapit at nahahawakan ko, nayayakap, at nahahalikan kung kailan ko gusto. Ang gusto ko, sa akin ka lang nakatingin. Kung pwede lang kitang itali sa akin para hindi ka malayo, gagawin ko." - Arnel

"Nang tanggahin mo ang alok ko, pakiramdam ko at may dumagan na kung anong mabigat na bagay sa dibdib ko. Para mo akong sinaksak. I never thought being rejected would be hellish. I knew I should give up. Pero hindi ko iyon kaya. Ayokong mawala kayo ng anak ko sa akin kaya gagawinko ang lahat, mapapayag lang kitang magpakasal sa akin. If I have to court you every day for the rest of my life, gagawin ko. Ganyan ka kaimportante sa akin, Alaine." - Arnel


BOTTOMLINE:

Love it. Seems a lil short though. But I enjoyed and devoured it.  Must read. MD just made it to my list of fave author. x

PS. I can't seem to wonder though on the reception scene when Arnel carried Alaine to the hospital. Did her friends not worry a bit for her? They did not follow the guy who just unceremoniously carried their friend. HAHA. I know that maybe the groom assured them that Arnel was harmless but still... Not even a single one of them bothered to check her. They could have known right there at the hosp that she's preggy, right? But the friends knowing she's pregnant scene was EPIC so I guess it's okay. I can't just seem to shake it out of my mind. They all seemed pretty close to me so it was a wonder why they aren't there at the hospital with her. xx

And I know the word PRETTY is badly beaten up by me today. HAHA.