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?

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All for One. One for All. ~

 Dark-Hunters united. <3

Ash: "I’m going to leave Simi here for a bit. Will you guys watch her?"

Dev: "We’re going with you."

Ash:  "What are you talking about?"

Angel: "We know what you’re planning and we’re going with you."

He was completely stunned. He saw Valerius, Talon, Kyrian, Julian, Zarek, Sin, Vane, Kyl, Katra, Fang, Tabitha and Fury. 

Ash: "What’s going on?"

Kyrian: (give him a droll stare) "There’s not one of us here that you haven’t put your ass on the line for—most of us more than once.  Alexion told us what happened with Tory and we’re here to watch your back no matter what you have planned."

Talon:  (nodded) "Wulf is on his way, too. He’ll be here as soon as the plane lands and Otto can speed him over.  And Otto plans to stand with us too."

Valerius: (pulled Tabitha back) "Tabitha won’t be fighting. She’ll be going home very shortly, but she wanted to let you know she’s here in spirit."

Tabitha: (made a face) "But for the baby, I’d be busting balls for you, Ash. You know that."

Ash: "I know, Tabby."

Talon: "The other Dark-Hunters wanted to be here but since the sun hasn’t quite set yet, they couldn’t. However, once the blazing ball goes down, they’re here if we need them."

Ash was amazed by their willingness to bleed for him. It touched him on a level he hadn’t realized existed.

Ash: (looked at Kat) "I don’t want you in this fight."

Kat: "Dad---"

Ash: "No arguments. If Simi stays out of the fight, so do you."

Sin: (gave a low evil laugh) "I’m so glad he’s your father. And that for once we see eye to eye."

Kat:  "You are out of the bedroom tonight."

Sin: (he shrugged her ire off good-naturedly)

Zarek: "This still doesn’t mean I like you, Acheron. But I owe you for my wife and son. I would lay my life down for yours because without you, I wouldn’t have shit and I know it."

Ash: "I wasn’t expecting any of you to stand with me. We’re not fighting just the Daimons in this. We’re fighting Demons too."

Sin: (snorted) "I live to tear Demons apart. Bring the bastards on."

Zarek: (nodded) "Agreed… bring on the rain. The one thing I learned from Astrid is that life isn’t about finding shelter in a storm. It’s about learning to dance in the rain. I don’t care what I kill as long as I get bloody while doing it."

Talon: (smiled) "We’re here for you, T-Rex.  Just like you’ve always been here for us."

Ash: "Thank, guys. I’m not used to people standing at my back. I know you all have families who love you so if you want to leave---"

Vane: (scoffed) "We wouldn’t be here if we didn’t want to. You and Val fought to save my sister when no one else would have bothered. I haven’t forgotten it."

Wren: "And I haven’t forgotten what the Dark Hunters did for me and Maggie."

Fury: (nodded) "Yeah, we’re family. Psychotic, bizarre, and a hodgepodge of personalities that should probably never be blended, but here we are. Now let’s go kick some ass."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Damn. I so love VANE and CELT aka TALON. Haha. Val and Zarek too! I miss them! <3

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Ash x Jaden

Convo between ASH and JADEN. <3

Jaden: "I wouldn't say all humans are vermin. They do have their uses- especially the females for brief periods of time. They're just so. . .pathetically human."

Ash: "Which is why you deal with demons."

Jaden: Who are even more pathetic than humans when you think about it. Personally, I'd rather play video games. Wouldn't it be great if we could suck the souls of the people we hated into the box, shoot them down and then dance on their entails?"

Ash: (rolled his eyes at the glee in Jaden's voice) "You woke up on the wrong side of the oak tree didn't you?"

Jaden: "Yeah.  I have my own issues to deal with and, right now, the primary issue appears to be fucking over one of my only friends. I'll do my damnedest to buy you some time with the demons, but you need to come up with a miracle quickly."

Ash: "Hey, Jaden? Thank you. I know you don't have to do what you're doing for me and I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciated it."

Jaden: "It's okay. I'm sure one day I'm going to need help bending some rules backwards. And when I ask for your help I don't want to hear any shit from you."

Ash: "Anytime, agriato."

------------

*sigh* I so love their twisted friendship. Haha. Been excited to hear more of Jaden and hopefully one day, we can all read his own dark-twisted-story. x

PS. This convo happened in DH 15- Acheron's book when Soteria was kidnapped and Ash seek's the demon broker's help. ~

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One Lucky Vampire: Review

BOOK NAME:  One Lucky Vampire ( Argeneau #19 )

AUTHOR: Lynsay Sands

RELEASE DATE:  Sept. 24, 2013

MAIN CHARACTERS:  Jake Notte, Nicole Phillips

GENRE:  PNR, Vampire
RATING:  ★★★★✰  stars

BLURB: 

Luck be a vampire tonight . . .

When Nicole Phillips agreed to hire a housekeeper, she pictured someone a little frumpy and almost certainly female. Instead, she gets gorgeous, unmistakably male Jake Colson. The man is proving indispensable in the kitchen—and everywhere else. Except Jake might not be a mortal man at all.

. . . and every night

Who wouldn't want to be a tall, dark, powerful vampire? Jake, for one. He's barely had time to adjust to his new state before he's roped into a family favor. Still, secretly playing bodyguard to sweet, sexy Nicole is turning out to be the wildest ride of his life. First he'll put a stop to whoever's targeting her. Then he'll prove that this kind of love, and luck, happens only once in an eternity.

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Bad Attitude: Review

BOOK NAME:  Bad Attitude ( B.A.D Agency #1 )

AUTHOR:  Sherrilyn Kenyon

RELEASE DATE:  July 1, 2006

MAIN CHARACTERS:  JD Steele, Sydney Westbrook

GENRE:  Romantic-Suspense
 RATING:  ★★★★★ stars

BLURB: 

BAD agent Sydney Westbrook must find the perfect sniper for a risky counter-terrorism mission. J.D. Steele, a military sniper whose attitude problem landed him in prison, seems a good candidate. But as they're dragged into a secret world of freelance killers, Sydney begins to discover the man of honor and passion beneath Steele's arrogant façade. It's a man even Steele didn't know he could be -- and a man whose mission will risk the life of the only woman he's ever loved...

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Guilty Pleasures

 

Phew. I am such a fuzz. After seeing that I had no room for the new English books I've bought, I requested to my father, my oh-so-favourite papa in the whole world to add another layer to the 2-layered shelf I have in my room. And then viola! It was realized first thing in the morning the next day. Haha. I am so happy and thankful. Lookit. I might require another one like that on the other side of my room for my future books but for now, I am contented and happy. 

The perks of being a bibliophile. <3

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Fangirl: LantheXThronos ( IAD 14 )

Like OMG. OMG. OMG. My poor poor predator loving heart is doing a somersault right now! Even after it's been 14 hours since Tita Kresley Cole announced the much awaited news about the next IAD couple, I still can't recover. I won't. Haha. I am sooo darn happy upon knowing that at last, it will be Thronos x Lanthe's time to outshine the those creatures of the LORE (Waa. My Lykae's will have a fit upon reading this! Forgave me!) I've been rooting for them since time immemorial eer since I've read Kiss of a Demon King wherein the heroine (Sabin) is the only sister of Lanthe. In there, I got a glimpse of what kind of a person Melanthe is and been liking her since then. Thronos on the other side is such a hateful character in that story. The demonic grin and his never-ending pursuit of Lanthe is unnerving yet sooo intriguing. What drives him to do so? Why is Lanthe sooo afraid of him? Why evade him? Do they have a past-romantic relationship? (I think it was mentioned!) Darn. So many questions that needs an immediate answer! Hahaha. Anyways, so I've been fascinated with those two and wishing that Tita Kresley will make a story for them. My obsession of really wanting to read their story instensified during the 11th installment of IAD (Dreams of the Dark Warrior). In that story, many of the Loreans are kidnapped and held hostage in an island managed by Declan Chase (my Berserker lover!- don't tell Regin! :P) One of them or rather the two of them (Lanthe x Thronos) we're there! Imagine? Haha. Love love love it. So when the time comes where they are able to get free, Lanthe was being dragged by Thronos I think. Uwaa. I need to re-read Declan's story to verify it. Haha. So nobody even Sabin and Rydstrom knows where Lanthe is after the commotion that happens at the island. Their whereabouts are left unknown. So I presumed that the 13th installment will be their story, but was shocked but not disappointed when it's another MaCrieve's story. But really, Tita Kresley knows how to make her fans happy. After she left us hanging, wondering what happens to Thronos x Lanthe she ends our torments and sufferings! Hahaha. At last, the countdown to their much-awaited love story has begun! I am sooo excited even if it's still next year! IAD means so much to me so every little/big thing that is being given to us by Tita Kresley is being treasured and anticipated!

Can't still believe it. Haha. Can't recover. Won't recover. FAN-GIRLING mode super activated! <3

 See the official announcement on FACEBOOK!

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How Not To Be Seduced By Billionaires Trilogy: Review

BOOK NAME:  Chased, Courted, Caged

AUTHOR:  Marian Tee

RELEASE DATE:   2013

MAIN CHARACTERS:  Constantijin Kastein, Yanna Everleigh

GENRE:  Contemporary, Erotica
RATING:  ★★★★✰  stars

BLURB:  

My name is Yanna Everleigh. I used to think that being an old-fashioned virgin would be enough to keep gorgeous, sexy billionaires away - well, at least the kind who didn't do love at least. But I was wrong. If anything, it simply made my billionaire want me even more.

His name is Constantijin Kastein. He blows hot and cold, arrogant and cynical one moment and then disarmingly sweet the next. He makes me forget all about waiting for true love and just go for mind-blowingly hot sex. But he's also Netherlands' #1 playboy, and I'm my own worst enemy. I must be on my guard.

Maybe if I play hard to get and pretend that my heart doesn't beat madly every time I see him - pretend that my body doesn't go weak when he's close - maybe he'll finally stop trying to seduce me.

Or not.

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Audiobook ♫

 

AUDIOBOOKS ~

Seems familiar? Yeah. It's what you're thinking what it is. Haha. 

It was last year when I first got curious as to what an audiobook is. I did not really want want to try it at first but the recs from audiobook listeners on twitter convinced me to try it. So I went with Sinners On Tour by OC since I am reading and loving that series at that time. I think the narrator was Jill. She's awesome. I've listened to Backstage Pass and Rock Hard and did enjoy it. So much. It was a lil different or rather felt different listening to it rather than reading the book. But after I'm done with the first 2 books of Sinners I stopped and go back to reading. I did not think that one day I would become addicted to it again. It happened early this year. As you all know (assuming you all know what I'm talking about :P) I;m into PNR reads, so after I'm done with the whole IAD series by Tita Kresley, I got this post-withdrawal-book-syndrome. What the heck is that? Haha. I did not get over (rather I don't what to get over) from the whole series. I keep on re-reading each book from time to time until a new installment comes out. LOL. I'm that addicted to this particular series. My addiction of audiobook came right after I've stumbled upon a blog, wherein the reviewers are interviewed and part of the question was about audiobooks. The all have the same answer when asked who's the best. Robert Petkoff. Narrator of the infamous IAD series of KC. As in OMG. I got hyped-up. Really? Yes. Really. Haha. So I goggled him to see if it's true. After verifying it from Simon & Schuster I sign up to audible.com and read all those amazing reviews about his narrations and it builds up my excitement all the more. So I did not waste time, I downloaded one. A Hunger Like No Other since the MacRieves are my favorite Loreans in the series. 

Opening line and WOW. Amazing. Super. I am hooked. His voice? Hot damn. I love it. It was panty-melting. The accent? Gods, it was perfect. Need I say more? Haha. Totally fan-girling over him eeer his voice. After listening to Lachlain I then declared myself as Petkoff fanatic. Oa much but it's true. I've listened to all of his IAD narrations, glad he's the only one contracted to narrate the whole series. I can't imagine anyone's voice but him. xx

Every night, I'm playing his narrations over and over again. Especially Bowen, Lothaire and Lachlain's story. Haha. Super addicted to it. I'm using it as my sleeping pill. It's so damn effective. Sleeping soundly every night with a smile on my lips. <3

You should try listening to one. Not really Petkoff but of your own choice. Maybe you'll like it. xx

Ciao. ~

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Stripped: Review

BOOK NAME:  Stripped
AUTHOR:  Jasinda Wilder
RELEASE DATE: August 16, 2013
MAIN CHARACTERS:  Dawson Kellor, Grey Amudsen
GENRE: Contemporary, New Adult
RATING:   ★★✰✰✰ stars
 
BLURB:

So how did I get myself into this situation, you ask? Simple: desperation. When you're faced with being homeless and hungry or taking off your clothes for money, the choice is easier than you'd imagine. That doesn't make it easy, though. Oh no. I hate it, in fact. There's nothing I'd like more than to quit and never go into another bar again, never hear the techno beat pulsing in my ears again, never feel the lecherous gazes of horny men again.

Then, one day, I meet a man. He's in my club, front and center. He watches me do my routine, and his gaze is full of hunger. Not the kind of desire I'm used to though. It's something different. Something hotter, deeper, and more possessive. I know who he is; of course I do. Everyone knows who Dawson Kellor is. He's People Magazine's Sexiest Man alive. He's the hottest actor in Hollywood. He's the man hand-picked for the role of Rhett Butler in the long-awaited remake of Gone With the Wind.

He's the kind of man who can have any woman in the entire world with a mere crook of his finger. So what's he doing looking at me like he has to have me? And how do I resist him when he looks at me with those intoxicating, changeable, quicksilver eyes?

I'm a virgin, and he's an American icon of male sexuality. I'm a stripper, and he's a man used to getting anything and everything he wants. And he wants me. I know I should say no, I know he's the worst kind of player…but what my mind knows, my body and my heart may not.

And then things get complicated.

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Translated Books: Thoughts

I’ve been reading tagalong pocketbooks for quite some time now. Got addicted to it way back 2004, and it was MC’s works (thanks to her I kind-a got polluted early- in a not so good way but I LOVE IT). Later I’ve discovered SF, KA, S, and my latest PF. They’re my one-click buy (if it’s amazon) without looking at the blurb. On the other hand, I also love to read English ones; sadly I didn’t own many English books. I’ve just relied on buying on thrift stores (sometimes) and borrowing from my close friends and colleague. Glad ebooks are there or I might just suffer from book withdrawal.

Now going back to the real issue, well not really an issue but more of a topic for discussion for me-  PHR Translations.  They did a major decision upon doing these. Translating best-selling English books to Tagalog ones.  I think it started on FST? Twilight Saga? Hunger Games? Don’t really know. Why did they came up with these thought is beyond me. Perhaps they did that because of the popularity of the book? Or just maybe they want to reach to those who can’t afford to buy the English ones (kind-a like myself)  Selfish or Noble, that thing has been bugging me for quite some time now. Haha. I can be OA at times. Most time actually.

 But I’ve been giving this topic a thought for a while now. Though I haven’t read yet any translated books, I’m finding it hard to convince myself to read one. It’s not that I abhorred it, or against it (why would I when it would benefit my fellow readers (including me) who can’t afford to buy the expensive English books) but I am not in favor of it also. For me, English is English. Tagalog is Tagalog. Those two exist separately. They’re both different. And translating one to another is just kind of weird (for me, I know). I just find it awkward to find books I’ve enjoyed and devoured reading in English to be translated in Tagalog. I know it depends on who’s doing the translation but still there are some words better said/read in English than Tagalog. Haha. Oa ko talaga. But that’s just how I felt, although I commend those writers who’re able to greatly translate those books and got great feedback's on it. Thanks to the original writers for creating a great book. Xoxo

And I know it’s still the reader’s prerogative if they want to buy it or not. Haven’t bought one but I have a friend who bought BD and Fantasy Lover in which I’ll be borrowing in the next few days if I feel like reading it. And I’ll sure be making a review about it. I just hope the translated version really did justice to the  original book. Well.. can't say more as I've not read one. x

Bottom-line is, I’m just expressing my pent-up scattered-no-directions-thoughts in writing before it overwhelmed me. Chos. xx

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Book-Spree

  

  

2 days book-spree. Yay.  These past two days are one of the happiest moments of my life. Why?  Because when I visited NBS (which I rarely do these days since I am so lazy that I rarely go out of the house) I was able to buy 3 books (Sept.4) and 4 books (Sept.5) which are on-sale for P50 each. English books which cost 315 on a regular day are on a big big big sale. Imagine my luck? Haha. My intention of going there was just to buy SRC Revisited or any SF reprinted available to complete my collection but rather I found those treats! I am ecstatic beyond definition. Soo fuckin’ happy. Sooo fuckin’ excited. Ugh. I felt like my heart will burst with so much happiness.  Books really made me feel this way. Those book hoarders and collectors like me will kind-of understand what I feel and what I’m saying. Geez.  

Will be checking other bookstores to find if they doing the same big sale. Haha. Will try my luck! *cross-fingers* I really want to complete my favorite writers books even if it took forever. I will ever endeavor to do my best. XDD

 

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Obsidian: Review

BOOK NAME:  Obsidian ( Lux #1 )

AUTHOR: Jennifer L. Armentrout

RELEASE DATE:  May 8, 2011

MAIN CHARACTERS:  Daemon Black, Katy Swartz

GENRE:  PNR, Young-Adult, Alien
RATING:    ★★★★★ stars

BLURB: 

Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I'd pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring.... until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something...unexpected happens.

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon's touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.

If I don't kill him first, that is.

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Daemon Invasion

I am not really into Young Adult-Paranormal stuffs, even though it is PNR. The fact that it’s YA doesn’t appeal to me. I’ve only read HP and Twilight in that genre, and even tho I like it, it’s not considered one of my most preferred.  I’m into more mature PNR reads, like DH, IAD, New Species, LOTU, and other series that’s in line with those. I so much love PNR with a lil smut in them, or Eroticism as it may popularly be known. Haha. I’m such a smutter and I’m very proud of it. xx

But then, yesterday, Aug. 27- while I was patiently waiting for the new releases of my fave authors to go live, and I was idling in DP when I saw ORIGIN by J.L Armentrout. It was one of the very most awaited book releases.  I’ve seen it being recommended by the blogs I followed on facebook and twitter but I did not pay attention to it since I am not quite familiar with the author plus it’s YA. Yes, I know I’m one of those readers who’s afraid (well, not really afraid), more on lazy to try reading books from authors am not familiar of. I always go for the ones I’ve read a few books from and from the ones I am marking as my fave.  Not a good characteristic of a reader I know. That’s just me. So I just let Origin be posted and not making an effort to check it out.  But when I read some quotes posted by Paranormal Book Club (because it’s their Quotes Day) about Obsidian (Lux #1), I find it good even for a YA-PNR. My interest is piqued and the fact that I’m not usually reading stuffs in that genre makes it more appealing to me.Then I learned that OBSIDIAN is written by none other than Jennifer L. Armentrout. Waaaaaat? Why did not not read this book sooner? Ghaad. I'm such a.... Ugh. I am so rectifying that now. As in ASAP.

 This is the exact quote that got my interest plummeting into oblivion:

"Why are you such an ass?" The words came out before I could think twice.
"Everyone has to excel at something, right?"
"Well, you're doing a great job."

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Feral Sins: Review

BOOK NAME:  Feral Sins (Phoenix Pack #1)

AUTHOR: Suzanne Wright

RELEASE DATE:  March 4, 2012

MAIN CHARACTERS:  Trey Coleman, Taryn Warner

GENRE:  PNR, Erotica, Shapeshifters
 RATING:    ★★★★★ stars

BLURB:  

If your inner wolf and your body react rather enthusiastically to a psychotic Alpha male who’s own wolf has a tendency to turn feral, it can’t be a good thing, can it? Entering into a bargain with him wouldn’t be good either. Unfortunately, Taryn Warner, a latent wolf shifter, doesn’t have many options open to her right now. Okay, she has no options. Basically it comes down to whether she’ll do what it takes to escape the arranged mating with the sick SOB that her father set up. As the answer in this case is yes, it looks as though she’ll have to agree to Trey Coleman’s deal…she’ll have to mate with him instead. Having always disliked shifter politics, Trey Coleman hadn’t bothered trying to form alliances with other packs. Now that his uncle – a wolf with many alliances – means to take Trey’s territory and his pack, he has no option but to form some alliances of his own very quickly or he’ll be easily outnumbered in the upcoming battle. He figures that the easiest way to do that would be to mate with a female who’s Alpha is powerful and influential. There’s only one problem with that – he would then be stuck with her, and the last thing Trey wants is a mate. When he hears of Taryn’s situation, he offers her a deal – if she falsely claims he’s her true mate and allows him to claim her, he’ll save her from her arranged mating and then let her leave after the battle with his uncle is over.

Sounds like a pretty straightforward deal...but soon Taryn and Trey realize they got more than they bargained for. Their mating instincts to protect and possess are weighing on them, they crave each other’s touch and company, and their inner wolves don’t like it whenever they’re apart. Add in that they’ll have to deal with this for an entire three months until the day of the battle finally arrives, and they’ve got themselves a recipe for disaster – or maybe for something quite the opposite.

Warning: This novel contains an extremely sarcastic Alpha female, a broody possessive Alpha male, bitter in-laws, voyeuristic enforcers, a whole lot of dirty talk, and steamy bedroom battles for dominance. Reader Advisory: This book also contains a graphic ménage scene - not for the faint-hearted.

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