Wicked Review: Since Forever Ago by Olivia Besse

Published: May 13, 2014

Publisher: Wunderland Press

Acquired: Digital copy

Amazon

{Blog Tour: Review + Excerpt} Understudy by Cheyanne Young

Welcome to the Understudy Blog Tour brought to you by Oops I Read Again!

Title: Understudy

Author: Cheyanne Young

Publisher: 336Love

Date of Publication: February 14, 2014

Genre: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

Amazon || Barnes and Noble

#JennyHanInPH Recap

Hey guys! Here's my recap of #JennyHanInPH. There's so much that happened that day, I don't even know where to start. I know being early has its perks. During the #VTRinPH event, I was number 120. Last Saturday, I moved up a notch. I was number 41!

My friends were earlier than me though. They were their since 3 AM. I was still asleep by then. So waiting ensues. We talked about Jenny Han's books and I gave out the bookmarks I made, which are just chosen quotes from the Summer trilogy and To All The Boys I've Loved Before.

At around 10, we went in and got ourselves registered and ate brunch. After that, we ran to Powerbooks where the blogger's forum was held. A bit of magic and I was in. I was hoping that I could get an ARC of Ashes to Ashes but unfortunately that didn't happen. But this happened.

My friend, Godwin, owns this shirt and is designed by Jasmin. We were joking about this earlier that it should be Alex Limp instead of Alex Lind. When I asked Jenny Han to sign it, she laughed and took a picture of it. And now, I'm on her Instagram. It's one thing to get to talk to an author on Twitter or have them follow you there, but it's another thing when they take a photo of you and post it on their Instagram. Though I wish I didn't look so flustered in this photo.

We went back to National Bookstore to wait a little bit more. While we waited, we took a bunch of pictures.

At around 3PM, she arrived!

She was so happy to be here even if she has been doing rounds, being on TV and talking since last Tuesday. She talked about how she started the Burn for Burn trilogy with her co-author and best friend, Siobhan Vivian. They wrote the whole thing together, even if the books had three POVs in them. She also shared that she once had a 'Conrad' but she didn't end up with him. Someone from the audience asked if she's planning to write a spin off for Jeremiah but she said that she's not planning any. Which is pretty sad, seeing as I want to know what happened to Jeremiah. The poor dude.

The really really early birds were given ARCs of Ashes to Ashes because they had been there since 11 PM! It was crazy.

The signing event started. They gave out bookplates to the first 20 or 30 people. I don't remember. Which is very sad because I wasn't part of the first 20 or 30. </3  I ready my gift for her. It's just a bookmark that I made and attached a cellphone charm that I got from Korea. I hope she uses it! *crosses fingers*

Ticking this one off of my bucket list! <3 I have yet to read her other books so stay tuned for that. Till then, see you on the next book signing! P.S Thanks to Godwin and Charm for all the pictures. <3

{Cover Reveal + Giveaway} Forever Sheltered by Deanna Roy

Welcome to the Cover Reveal of Forever Sheltered by Deanna Roy, designed by Casey Shay Press.

Forever Sheltered by Deanna Roy

(The Forever Series #3)

Publication Date: July 23, 2014

Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

SYNOPSIS:

Tina would rather sew up her girl parts with dental floss than go on a second date with a man. She's been dumped enough to know not to get attached.

But when Dr. Darion Marks comes into her art therapy room to ask a favor for a special patient, Tina recognizes the haunted look he buries beneath his stoic professionalism. So rather than be forced to ditch the handsome doctor after a single night, she decides not to date him at all.

So how exactly DO they end up half-naked in Surgical Suite B?

Dr. Darion has a lot to hide. His baby sister is the only family he has left, and he’s not leaving her treatment to some incompetent hack.

But now he’s breaking every hospital rule imaginable. He lied about his sister so he can manage her care, and now he’s banging the art therapy teacher between patient rounds like a fraternity boy at a keg party.

Nobody believes this can end well, not Tina’s friend Corabelle, who is overcoming a tragic history much like Tina’s, or even pink-haired Jenny, who thinks sex with strangers is good for your metabolism.

But Dr. Darion and Tina have one thing going for them – a fierce passion for each other that just might obliterate all their doubts, and solve all their problems.

Forever Sheltered includes many favorite characters from Forever Innocent and Forever Loved, as well as the much-anticipated wedding of Gavin and Corabelle.

It is a standalone HEA that does not require reading any other parts of the Forever series.

GIVEAWAY:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Deanna Roy is a passionate advocate for women who have lost babies. She founded PregnancyLoss.Info in 1998 and runs many online and in-person support groups. She is the author of several two-hankie reads, including Forever Innocent, Stella & Dane, and Baby Dust.

Goodreads || Website || Twitter

Book Blogger Test

Thank you to Yani for tagging me. (c) Yani

What are your top three book pet hates?

• Dog eared pages
• Creased spine
• Books that are too short and yet it deals with heavy topics (i.e sexual abuse)

Describe your perfect reading spot:

• My favorite reading spot would be on my bed. My bed is the most comfortable place ever. I love my bed <3

Tell us three book confessions:

• I usually don't buy physical books unless I read them on my iPad.
• I kind of prefer digital books. For the reason that I bring my iPad anywhere I go and I read on the go.
• I have a hard time reading full on fantasy novels.

When was the last time you cried while reading a book?

• Wow...uhm, last March 26 when I finished Champion by Marie Lu. I can't even with that ending...

What is your favorite snack while you're reading?

• When I'm at school, I usually eat banana chips or doughnuts. At home, I just have a bottle of water or coffee with me.

Name three books you would recommend to everyone:

• Just One Day by Gayle Forman (Still reeling from the feels...)
• Legend by Marie Lu (Damn, the awesomeness that is this book!)
• Anne Frank's Diary by Anne Frank (I love Anne Frank to bits!)

Show us a picture of your favorite bookshelf on your bookcase:

Write how much books mean to you in just three words:

• Changes my life...'nuff said

What is your biggest reading secret?

• One big reading secret would probably be when I was in high school, I was in the library and I was reading one of the books from the Maximum Ride series by James Patterson during lunch. When the bell rang, I snuck it out of the library and read it at home.

Tagging:

• Godwin of Machinations of My Muddled Mind
• Karrel of Karrel May Reads
• Amanda of Fandomly Bookish
• The Undomestic Fangirl of The Bookwhore Diaries
• Eriele of This Is Not Your Book Blog
• Ads of Bookabulary
• Sharmaine of Bookworms Avenue
• Mighta of The Bookish Bookkeeper

Wicked Review: Just One Day

Published: August 20, 2013

Publisher: Speak

Series: Just One Day #1

Acquired: Digital copy

Amazon || Barnes and Noble || The Book Depository || National Bookstore (for PH readers)

Wicked Review: The Selection by Kiera Cass

Published: April 24, 2012

Publisher: HarperTeen

Series: The Selection #1

Acquired: Digital copy

Amazon || Barnes and Noble || The Book Depository || National Bookstore (for PH readers)

Why I Love: The 1975

Why I Love is a feature on my blog. This is where I share the things I am currently obsessing on and still obsessed with. Note that future posts are highly over the top and crazy because I am a crazy fangirl.

(c) neattshirt

This band is composed of Adam Hann, Ross Macdonald, Matt Healy and George Daniel. They're from Manchester, England and has been together for 10 years. Their debut album, The 1975, has 39 tracks. Yes, 39 tracks and it shot up in the UK and US charts.

Here are my favorite songs from this band.

Girls

They're just girls, breaking hearts

Eyes bright, uptight, just girls

But she can't be what you need if she's 17

They're just girls

They're just girls

The City

If you wanna find love, then you know where the city is

Chocolate

Hey now, call it a split 'cause you know that you will

Oh, you bite your friends like chocolate

You say, we'll go where nobody knows, with guns hidden under our petticoats

No, we're never gonna quit

No, we're never gonna quit it.

Pressure

You've seen so many faces that I've never seen before

I left an unrewarding message telling you to come on

Over dramatic, automatically assume I'll stay the same.

Robbers

I'll give you one more time

We'll give you one more fight

Said no more line

Will I know you

Settle Down

And you're sure that I'd learn

I'm pushing through bodies

Avoiding me and walking 'round you

And you're cold and I burn

'Cause I stay another hour or two

Just listening to their songs gives you this very calming vibe. Some of the songs on their debut album are very electronic, and sometimes those kinds of songs can get very annoying. It's too auto tuned, but theirs isn't. It's perfect for road trips or for background music at like coffee shops and stuff. And their lyrics are very wonderful.

Check out their cover of Rather Be by Clean Bandit feat. Jess Glynne on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge. This is, like, the coolest cover I've ever heard of.

If you're looking for the next band to cheer you up, or just looking for new music to listen, listen to The 1975. You will not regret it. I swear.

See you on the next episode/segment/whatever I'm supposed to call this lol!

Wicked Review: Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

Published: April 12, 2012

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Acquired: Digital copy

Amazon || Barnes and Noble || The Book Depository || Fullybooked || National Bookstore

Wicked Movie Review: The Fault In Our Stars

Directed by: Josh Boone

Screenplay by: Scott Neudstadter, John Green

Cast:

Shailene Woodley as Hazel Grace Lancaster

Ansel Elgort as Augustus Waters

Nat Wolff as Isaac

William Dafoe as Peter Van Houten

Sam Trammell as Michael Lancaster

Laura Dern as Frannie Lancaster

Lotte Verbeek as Lidewij

Running Time: 165 minutes

Rating: PG-13

WICKED REVIEW:

WARNING: THIS IS A SPOILER INDUCED REVIEW. DO READ WITH CAUTION. SORRY. I KNOW THIS REVIEW VIOLATES ALL OF THE PRINCIPLES OF WRITING A GOOD MOVIE REVIEW AND THAT MY CINEMA PROFESSOR WILL HUNT ME DOWN AFTERWARDS. BUT YEAH. SORRY AGAIN.

I don't even know where to begin. I can still feel the effects of the movie. I am so happy with the movie. I knew that this will be a hit. Book turned into movies don't really fly off well in the market these days.

Shailene and Ansel were perfect as Hazel and Gus. The lines were spot on. They really did bring Hazel and Gus to life. 165 minutes is really not enough to squeeze in 300+ pages of goodness. Although, I didn't cry while watching the movie. (Please do not kill me.) I am actually sobbing while I am typing this. I can't help but remember that flashback Hazel had, when she was first diagnosed with cancer and her parents were crying beside her, telling her that she can let go. It's hard for parents to see their child go through something like cancer. I don't even want to imagine what would my parents, especially my mother, would feel had I been diagnosed with cancer. *knocks on my table*

My mom, my brother and I were laughing when Hazel dropped by Gus' house when Isaac's girlfriend, Monica, broke up with him and he was smashing Gus' trophies and they talked about An Imperial Affliction. Those pop ups in the movie weren't distracting at all.

The way Ansel delivered his speech while they dined at Oranjee warmed my heart. I can see in his eyes the love Gus has for Hazel. He loves her no matter what. Hazel's eulogy for Gus broke my heart. Their love story is truly theirs. It wasn't similar to anyone's, fictional or otherwise. They are the epitome of what love should be. Love that is real and true.

I think that concludes my feels induced review. Please do watch it. You will absolutely love this, even if you haven't read the book yet. But you can read the book afterwards.

WICKED RATING:

{Cover Reveal} Go With Me by Elyssa Patrick

Welcome to the Cover Reveal of Go With Me by Elyssa Patrick, designed by Pickyme Artist.

Go With Me by Elyssa Patrick

(With Me #2)

Publication Date: July 1, 2014

Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

SYNOPSIS:

I, Daphne Fox, have a few things to confess:

1. I hate Nick Brady. Loathe. Abhor. Can’t stand him 95% of the time.
2. That other 5%? I’m not talking about that at all.
3. People think I’m lucky for surviving the car crash. I disagree.
4. Nick is the only guy who makes my nightmares go away.
5. I won’t love him, though. Love is not worth the pain.

I, Nick Brady, have a few confessions of my own:

1. I don’t hate Daphne Fox. At all.
2. I find her scar sexy. Just like the rest of her.
3. I may be her older brother’s best friend, but that’s not going to stop me.
4. I love her.
5. And I’m going to do everything I can to have her.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Elyssa Patrick is a former high school English teacher who left the classroom to write contemporary romances and New Adult. She is currently hard at work on her next novel.

Want to know when Elyssa's next book comes out? Sign up for her newsletter by just pasting the link in your browser's address bar: bit.ly/1lYYvi9

She loves to hear from her readers! You can email her at elyssa@elyssapatrick.com.

Website || Facebook || Twitter

{Book Blitz: A Guide To The City + Giveaway} The Artful by Wilbert Stanton

Let us take a look at New York City in this post apocalyptic novel, The Artful by Wilbert Stanton.

A GUIDE TO THE CITY:

New York City 2025 isn’t the place of glitz and glam that it used to be. The city that never sleeps is pretty much the city that never breaths. No more tourists blocking up Times Square, taking pictures of God knows what. No longer are the trains filled with both late passengers and uncomfortable smells. There’s no more hustle and bustle… there’s rarely a bustle. But most noticeable is the silence, the silence that fill the city streets is quite unsettling. That being said, if you, dear reader should still choose to visit New York City, here is a handy guide of things to avoid and sites to see… before you die of sickness, or scavenger attack.

Grand Central: Grand Central was once a busy station where people came in and out of the city. Travelling on business or pleasure, it didn’t matter, this was a mecca of diversity and you could see it all here; people from all walks of life as they travelled about their day. Now, Grand Central is a shanty town made up of people who were lucky enough to find its safe dwellings. Only accessible from the subway stations and treacherous tunnels of the underground, it offers a great sense of security. It is also said to be where the Gutter Punks make their home.

Central Park: What was once a beautiful park situated in the center of the city is now a wild land. Over grown with unkempt vegetation and reckless abandonment the park is not what it once was. It is overrun by the ferocious beasts that were once confined to cages of the Central Park Zoo, but now prowl the shadows looking for a human feast. The park is also the home of the Runts, a group of feral children who live like a pack of wolves. Their alpha, a boy named Peter, is said to be a child prodigy who protects his cubs, not with strength but intellect.

 Union Square: It was where all the artistic people hung out. Skaters, artists, people competing in games of chess while street entertainers played instruments behind their hungry tip jars. Now it is home to The Tribe, modern day hippies, who flock to the flag of their leader Red, a woman who can wield a sword as easily as a smile. The Tribe spends their days passed out in drunken heaps while their nights are filled with paryting, music and storytelling. They are a fun bunch but when the call to war is upon them they will easily pick up arms and protect their own.

The Cathedral of Eden: The vast cathedral takes up a number of city blocks; the place of worship is now host to the Sons of Adam, a religious cult that follows their leaders Adam and Eve with a sick ferocity. Followers of the faith are known as Angels, mostly reformed criminals seeking salvation during the end of times. This is a place one must steer clear at all costs. If you are not quickly indoctrinated and seen as a follower, your death will not be pleasant.

Beyond the Brooklyn Bridge: There are many rumors as to what waits in Brooklyn. Lord Chrysler rules the borough with an iron fist. The well-to-do live at its center but to get there you must first pass through savage lands run by Skinlickers, heavily pierced and tattooed men and women who relish the taste of human flesh. If you should be so lucky to make it past them, you’ll have to deal with the Slavers who make sport of catching errant men, women and children to sell into slavery or for unwilling contestants in the Barclay Center arena. Once you have made it past them, what waits is a land of beauty and wealth. A land not seen by many who live outside of Brooklyn.

These are only some of the places that await you in New York City. Tread lightly though, because there is danger around every corner. And if you should be so lucky, perhaps you might run into the Gutter Punks. These modern day Robin Hoods who steal from the rich and give to the poor are wise cracking, quick witted and brave boys, who are making a difference. Know their names well, because their names will one day go down in history.

The Artful by Wilbert Stanton

(Shadows of The City #1)

Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press

Publication: May 27, 2014

Genre: Young Adult, Post Apocalyptic

Amazon || Barnes and Noble

SYNOPSIS:

New York City, 2025: Everything is changed. The city that never sleeps is now a land of death and decay. A rampant virus has taken over and the survivors have become carriers, quarantined from the rest of the world.

Twist and Dodger grew up in the streets, the sewers and underground tunnels – their playground. They aren’t heroes. They just like attention; and stealing meds from the rich and giving them to the poor is their golden ticket.

On their latest raid, they unknowingly steal a cure that puts them square between the ailing Emperor of Manhattan and the war hungry Governor of Brooklyn and forces them on a quest into the darkest shadows of their putrefying world.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Wilbert Stanton was born and raised in New York City. From an early age, Wilbert decided he would either write books or take over the world; everything else was just a precursor to his end game.

Along the way, he has studied Psychology, English, and Computer Science. He’s held jobs in a wide range of fields and met people from all walks of life. Wilbert is constantly learning and growing as a person, in order to solidify his dreams.

In the end world domination was a bit tedious, so he decided to focus on writing books.

Goodreads || Twitter || Facebook

GIVEAWAY:

Enter to win a signed copy of The Artful!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

{Cover Reveal} Love Strung by Jamie W. Matlock

Welcome to the Cover Reveal of Love Strung by Jamie W. Matlock, designed by Fiona Jayde Media.

Love Strung by Jamie W. Matlock

(The Love Series #2)

Pulication Date: June 2014

Genres: Contemporary, New Adult

SYNOPSIS:

Country music hopeful, Kennedy Masters is a leap-before-you-look type of woman. Live in the moment, the here and now. That’s her policy – anything other than that is boring, and she’s never been particularly interested in boring. So, when she makes the irratic decision to join country music’s reigning star, Mick Callahan, on his tour bus after a show, she’s just living right up to her life’s motto.

The only problem? Her snap decision making lands her on the front page news and it’s for less than desireable reasons. Even worse is the fact that Mick decides she’s his next conquest, irratically announcing to the public that they’re engaged.

Her only option? Hiding out at the Callahan Ranch until the storm blows over – a decision that she’s not altogether pleased with, but one that she must follow considering the circumstances. When unexpected sparks fly upon meeting Mick’s mysterious older brother, Griff Callahan, Kennedy’s left sorting through matters of the heart – something that’s not exactly her forte.

And her career? Well, it’s been labeled TBD.

Kennedy must figure out a way to deal with her heart and her career, all while fighting her own feelings and fending off someone else’s.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jamie W. Matlock is the author of Love Aced, her romantic novel debut. She attempts to infuse a good mix of humor and drama into her stories, believing that it makes for a better story when you can add a little of both. A sucker for flawed protagonists, strong male characters and incredible sex scenes, she intends to provide a lot of all three into each of her novels. 

Outside of writing, Jamie enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter, yelling at a television screen during sporting events and coupling a good book with a glass of wine.

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