April 29, 2014

Wicked Review: Champion by Marie Lu


Published: November 5, 2012
Publisher: Putnam Juvenille
Series: Legend #3
Acquired: Paperback





The Republic has fallen down. June is back at the good graces of the Republic as one of the Princeps-Elect while Day is assigned in a high level military position. They are working together to save the Republic from the Colonies from taking over.

But neither could have predicted the circumstances that will reunite them: just when a peace treaty is imminent, a plague outbreak causes panic in the Colonies, and war threatens the Republic’s border cities. This new strain of plague is deadlier than ever, and June is the only one who knows the key to her country’s defense. But saving the lives of thousands will mean asking the one she loves to give up everything.


April 27, 2014

Wicked Journey: Tahereh Mafi, Ransom Riggs and Veronica Rossi in Manila!


HAPPY MONDAY EVERYONE! It's been two days since I got to be face to face with Tahereh Mafi, Ransom Riggs, and Veronica Rossi. I am still shaking from the experience. This is my second book signing too. So, I arrived at Glorietta at around 7 am and the line was pretty long already. I was praying that I could get a seat at the venue. Luckily, I found a friend of mine, Alia, while waiting in line. I got to convince her to save me a seat in return that I register seven books since I only have one book and National Bookstore set a limit for eight books per person.

After I registered, I quickly got to my seat and set up camp. I met my Twitter friends there and met new ones as well. It was sort of a meet up of everyone. My inner talkative goddess came out because of them.

By 3 pm, they came out to meet us! (Sorry for like super unHQ pictures. TT_TT)


(This was the crazy crowd. Credits to National Bookstore for this picture!)


(Credits to National Bookstore for this photo)

The screams were deafening when they took on the stage. I was shaking and screaming and taking pictures and videos at the same time. Tahereh was so beautiful and she wore these neon colored heel less pumps that looked so pretty yet so scary to wear and walk around with. But she handled it gracefully. But Veronica Rossi was much beautiful in person. I haven't read her series yet but now I am currently reading Under The Never Sky. I just, like, fell in love with her face. I think I found myself an author crush. :)

Ransom was adorable with his little camera taking videos and pictures of everyone. Like Tahereh, he's one snappy dresser. So, the interview started. Under The Never Sky is slated for a movie under Warner Brothers. Shatter Me is also slated for a movie under 20th Century. And Miss Peregrine is also going to be a movie with Tim Burton as directed. How awesome is that?! Ransom also said that auditions are open for any male aged 18 who wants to play Jacob, the lead in Miss Peregrine. I wonder if the guys in the crowd ever considered auditioning for the role. :) Tahereh also shared that she knew from the first book who Juliette was going end up with. TEAM WARNER RAISE YOUR BANNERS! :) Veronica also shared that there ain't any love triangle in the Under The Never Sky series.

(Credits to National Bookstore for this photo)

In case you didn't know, Tahereh and Ransom got married last year. Everyone ships Ransereh because they are just the cutest, most awkward author couple ever. Tahereh shared to the crowd how she and Ransom met and Ransom was looking at her lovingly and I think I just died on the spot. And to add to that, the crowd screamed for a kiss, which of course they did. *cue FANGIRL SCREAMING*

(I'll post videos on the interviews later on. As I'm writing this, videos are currently uploading. Sucks right?)

Thanks to the books of my friends I got to have a picture with Veronica and Ransom because technically I only have Ignite Me with me. I know, loser me. Haha! I was number 156. At my first book signing, I was number 342. It pays off when you're early. There were three girls who literally camped out though. They were there in front of National Bookstore at Glorietta at around 2 AM! Crazy, right? Booknerds, take cue!


My picture with Tahereh was like a family picture because Ransom's face was in the background. <3 I didn't get to say anything to her because I was just so starstruck because this was the lady who created Aaron Warner for me to fall in love with. <3


Look at Veronica! She is just so pretty. We had a little conversation.

Veronica: Hi!
Me: Hi!
Veronica: How are you?
Me: I'm good.
Veronica: Are you having fun?
Me: Yes! This is so cool!
Veronica: Is this yours? *as I handed her the copy of Into The Still Blue*
Me: No, it's for a friend.
Veronica: Oh, I see.

And then we posed for this picture. *__*


Another incident happened with Ransom Riggs. The girl in front of me was chatting him up while he signed the four books I have. And then when she was done, it was my turn. But then the two of us got like confused with which book belonged to who and Ransom was like: "Oops! Tsk! Tsk!* He crossed his arms ad his face had this fake angry expression. It was so adorable!

I was in cloud nine when I got back to my seat and I was like so stunned after that. When I got back to my senses, I took my chance and selfied with all of my friends. :)

(Me with Jayvee of Writer For Misfits.)

(Me with Alia of Pondering of Psyche.)

(Me with Raine who is also a fan of 5 Seconds of Summer.)

(Me with Neil. He's so tall and he's wearing a 'Tider and Proud' shirt. I'm very jealous.)

(Tahereh Mafi doll! This came along with a Ransom Riggs doll but unfortunately I didn't get to take a picture with it. Credits to Joan of @DanahYumi on Twitter for the doll!)


I went home with my arms throbbing but it was all worth it. I was so so happy that I got to meet three authors all in the same day. I am thanking my lucky stars for this. Here;s to more book signings.

Do follow National Bookstore on Twitter (@nbsalerts) and on Facebook and on Instagram for more updates on upcoming book signings and releases of new books.


April 23, 2014

Wicked Review: This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith


Published: April 2, 2013
Publisher: Headline
Acquired: Paperback




Graham Larkin accidentally sends an email to Ellie O'Neill about his pet pig. They began sending witty emails and formed a friendship over the Internet. But they don't know each other's real names.

Ellie lives in Henley, Maine. She's oblivious about who's she corresponding with until he drops by her hometown to film a new movie. Graham wants to take their online friendship in person.

Can Graham succeed into taking their relationship to a new level?


April 17, 2014

Wicked Review: Prodigy by Marie Lu


Published: January 29, 2013
Publisher: Putnam Juvenille
Series: Legend #2
Acquired: Digital copy

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13414446-prodigy?from_search=true




It's been seven days since June Iparis and Day escaped Los Angeles. They find themselves in Las Vegas where the Patriots are. Headed by Razor, leader of the Patriots disguised as a commander for the Republic, he takes in June and Day and suggests that they join the Patriots in exchange for curing Day of his injuries. The Patriots is a secret group living under the guise of Republic military soldiers that is funded by the Colonies.

News travel all over the Republic that the Elector Primo is dead and his son Anden is the new Elector Primo. Under the Patriots, June and Day pledge their allegiance to them and in exchange for their safety, they must participate with the Patriot's plan: assassinate the Elector Primo.


April 12, 2014

Wicked Review: Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover


Published: March 18, 2013
Publisher: Atria Books
Acquired: Digital copy

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17788403-maybe-someday?from_search=true



Sydney Blake is an aspiring musician and she has everything in life a twenty year old could ask for; a job, a handsome boyfriend, and her best friend. She finds out on her birthday that her boyfriend and her best friend are cheating on her behind her back. What a birthday gift. She's homeless, jobless, and everything in her life came crashing down. If it weren't for Ridge Lawson.

Ridge Lawson is a computer dude who works at home and writes songs for Sounds of Cedar, the band that he and his brother formed. He's born deaf but that didn't stop him from writing music. He became enamored by Sydney and her lyrics. Sydney became enamored by his melody. A perfect combination.

Wicked Review: Lola and The Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins


Published: July 9, 2013
Publisher: Speak
Acquired: Paperback

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9961796-lola-and-the-boy-next-door?from_search=true



Lola Nolan has everything she wants. She has amazing parents, she has a job, a great best friend  and she has a hot rocker boyfriend. Until one day, her neighbors the Bell family, moves back to their neighborhood.

You see, Lola had feelings for Cricket Bell, the tall inventor with a figure skater twin. Lola couldn't believe her eyes that she's seeing him again. And that after all these years, Cricket has feelings for her too.

If this happened two years ago, then things would've been different. But it's not. She has to choose obviously.

April 8, 2014

Wicked Review: The Statistical Probability of Love At First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

(That's probably the longest title of a 200+ pages book I have ever seen.)

Published: January 2, 2012
Publisher: Poppy/Little Brown
Acquired: Digital Copy

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10798416-the-statistical-probability-of-love-at-first-sight?ac=1





Of all the things that could go wrong the day before her life changes, Hadley Sullivan is four minutes lates for her flight. FOUR MINUTES! She has to be in London the next day for her father's second wedding to a lady she has never met in person and she doesn't really plan to meet her in person.

Stuck in the JFK airport, she meets Oliver and just like her, he is bound for London. And they even get to sit in the same row at the airplane.

The night passes with them talking about mayo and flies. Suddenly, Hadley doesn't want to land in London if it means parting with Oliver.


April 6, 2014

Wicked Review: Anna and The French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins


Published: August 4, 2011
Publisher: Speak
Acquired: Paperback






Anna Oliphant is shipped off to Paris, the City of Lights, because her best selling author father thinks it's a good idea. All alone in the City of Lights, she wants to go home. She then meets Meredith, a fellow American, who lives next door to her and offers her choco chaud or hot chocolate and it the homesickness becomes bearable.





Enter Étienne St. Clair (Eh-t-yen), the beautiful half American, half French with a French name and British accent. Only, he's a few inches shorter than her. And she has a gorgeous boyfriend.

Étienne takes her around the City of Lights on her first weekend. Anna is in love with the city. And with him too.

April 2, 2014

Wicked Review: Legend by Marie Lu


Published: February 29, 2011
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Series: Legend #1
Acquired: Digital copy

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9275658-legend?from_search=true




Legend is set a hundred years in the future where United States of America is divided into two, the military Republic of America and corporate owned Colonies of America. Daniel Altan Wing, aka Day, is the Republic's number one criminal. Having failed his Trials and having his body experimented, he is believed to be dead.

Day is fifteen years old and he can climb buildings taller than him. He moves fast like he's flying making him very impossible to track. There is a plague spreading in the slum sectors, where he is born. And unfortunately, his family has been hit by the plague. He is desperate to save his family.

Enter June Iparis, the Prodigy. As the name suggests, she is the only one who scored a perfect score 1500 in her Trials at age 10. A known troublemaker at school, she is the youngest Republic agent at age 15.

Their lives become intertwined when June's brother, Metias, is murdered and everyone believes that it was Day who killed him.

But not everything is what it really seems to be.

April 1, 2014

Wicked Journey: Becca Fitzpatrick in Manila

Wicked Journey is a feature is where I recount the times I actually went out of my comfort zone and went to different places. This includes book signings, travels, and other posts related to journeying.


Good morning. It's April 2 already. OH MY GOD. I totally missed posting yesterday for #BandTuesdays because I was on vacation with my family. :-) But yeah, I'm back. But I still can't believe that it's April already. O.O