"Eye of the Storm" Review

Eye of the Storm by John  Goode
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

First impression be damned, this book wasn't the same one after the first one and by all means I meant that in a good way. Great even, because the effect of surprising the reader from a different theme to another was fluidly executed.

I'm not a science fiction fan myself but I literally enjoyed the book. It took just much willpower on my part to not give up on the book because it wasn't my thing and it did not disappoint. Half-way on the book I was enjoying it so much that I do not mind a lot of new information was being thrown at me, and amazingly, I understood them as if I knew about Realms, Lord-of-the-rings-clashed-with-Star-wars type of scenarios. The plot, the story, was real magic itself.

Plot aside, I'm really liking the character build-up not only between Kane & Hawk, but the others as well. Like Ater, Ferra, and Ruber most especially, damn even on Tatiana and Oberon. The book carried enough emotional turmoil that it wouldn't look too "action" movie of blood, guts, and war. I'm really thankful of that.

AM I LOOKING FORWARD TO THE THIRD BOOK? FUCK YES ABSOLUTELY I AM, SIR AND MADAMS. I'm so hyped up for the third book so much that you must agree with me that the book, even on the last pages, gave me so much feelings and excitement, it isn't a joke to say how awesome this book was.

John Goode's words/story on the last book was a nice touch also. It only didn't made me know about him more, but absolutely think of him of a guy who isn't really doing this wonderful books with raw writing skills, but with help and patience. Especially with cats. Cats are always a nice touch. That's why this is a perfect 5 STAR!


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"Emily's House" Review

Emily's House by Natalie Wright
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thank you for Natalie Wright, winning a signed copy from her was really a first for me. Again, thank you.

Personally, I was never into Celtic themed books. Not that I disliked them, but I had a hard time grasping the reality of it. After reading Emily's House, I can't help but wonder how blind I was like the people inside the book. Emily's House focuses on the discovery of something seemed impossible that you couldn't deny if it happened in real life, you won't know what to do or what to believe.

But that what makes Emily's House amazing is that it challenges people's realism. That we are so fed up with technologies and improbability of things; We do oversee things and take them for granted. Though the approach in telling this tale is for real young adults, it never missed the action normally readers crave for. Also, I had earned a new perspective about Celtic History and it was really never about magic and just fairy tales but it somehow resembles some people way if life (i.e. Monks) That the way of Celtic is also a simple science and a little bit of great imagination. I had found a new theme to love.

Hence, I will definitely wait and read for the sequel.

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This book is my baby: "Trust Me"

(This will include spoilers whether I am aware or not.)

This would be related to my recent blog post about Gay Romance books that had me fussing over. I would not deny that I have a total of 3 books on that theme as ultimate favorites and the book that I am about to introduce you, not certainly my number 1 but this is the only successful book that ever related Religion and Sexual preference in a flawless, smooth, and "earth-friendly" plot. Jeff Erno has what it takes to set the bar on being respectful but outright blunt on what he sees on society today. There is no downplaying and how painful it is to read such facts that could be happening and still happening at this moment, so let me indulge as to reasons why I admire this book.

Trust Me by Jeff Erno
RATED 5/5

I would advice you to read the book first because you might not follow me on this one, but nevertheless here's the synopsis via Goodreads: "Shawn Graham and Bobby Wilder couldn't be more different. Shawn is a devout Christian fundamentalist from northern Michigan; Bobby is a street-smart latchkey kid from southern Ohio. From an early age, they are both confused and troubled by their attraction to the same sex. Shawn believes that homosexuality is sinful, and a traumatic incident of childhood sexual abuse adds to his guilt and shame. Bobby has an image to maintain and flatly denies the possibility that his same-sex attractions even exist. He's just too cool to be gay. When they finally connect, their preconceptions are suddenly dwarfed by what they feel for each other. They become inseparable and fall deeply in love; however, love doesn't make life easy. Plans are in motion that will surely devastate the young couple. Painful experiences of the past overshadow happy memories, and heartbreaking obstacles loom over the possibility of a future. If Shawn and Bobby want to stay together, they will have to fight with everything they have." Give it to Jeff to rightly put the situation to a religious and innocent boy which frankly picture wholesomely a lot of kids in our time. If you think kids these days are out there doing drugs, having sex and etc. You'd be surprise that a lot more is still on the act of purity such as Shawn, be it a boy or a girl. And another reason is that you will see mostly strict religious people are condemning the same-sex relationship act. So why not hit them right where it will hurt in the words: "What if you were in their situation".

What got me really going on for this story is the difference and comparison of upbringing between Shawn and Bobby. People would start to say that "Oh, Shawn lived in a perfect family and Bobby didn't" which I am going to laugh at you because the situation isn't like those stereotype movies. (Having a hard time explaining while not giving everything out) Shawn may be like one of those boys who are annoyingly nice but there is a bit of darkness on how he downplay himself. He always thinks he's a sinner even when the situation isn't his fault. While to Bobby, he's pretty a good guy himself but only to be roughen up because he hated being rejected. Yes, he does drugs. Yes, he smokes but what I love about this more is how Shawn doesn't really and I think never openly commanded or even pleaded Bobby to stop his habits even him being so upright and all. The reality of the situation basically captures me. If you have a girlfriend or a boyfriend or just know anyone who practically lives to command people what to do with their lives, they'd be dead right now. Or worse, shunned.

Second, I loved where the moment where Shawn's mother (the perfect example of a denying parent) had to deal with Shawn's gender, though how much she loved her own son, she made some wrong choices and got the devastating results. I love also where there is no parent here that was openly and ready to shun any offspring of them just because of being gay. Because does people like that really exist? Is there some really greater evil where a parent just readily going to stop loving their own flesh and blood because of a "defect"? I don't think so. Mostly because we are humans, sure we do unforgivable deeds, but where do we really pass the border to just plain evil? Again, I think that would never happen.

Third, the issue on how many kids end up getting killed or doing suicide because of the lack understanding from people who actually matters. Sure, the internet would accept them (Head to tumblr and you'll meet open-minded people there) and other social groups that protects Gay-rights but still no matter what doesn't get the plain acceptance from the poeple who was supposedly believed that no matter what, gay or not, tall or short, they would be the same person. It's sad really, so I wouldn't deny I cried my heart out to this book.

Kudos to my man, Jeff Erno. Thank you for the awesome book. (I would kill for a sequel though) And I hope a lot of people get to read this book, because it really tackles a lot of things that probably a many of people religious or not cannot answer.

"The Expats" Review

The Expats: A Novel by Chris Pavone
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

First thing, I would love to thank the Crown Publishers for this Advance Reader's Copy that I won through Goodreads. Without them I could have missed out on this amazing book.

"The Expats" as Chris Pavone's first novel shows such an exemplary reason why we suspense, thriller, or mystery book lovers: love what we read. The story held a pretty easy to-understand plot that was built in astonishing plotting of deception and lies.

A lot of other review claimed that this wasn't mysterious enough because of the time intervals between Kate's ignorance from the past 2 years up to the present but let me clarify you that it didn't not sacrificed any big revelation and shocking truth. The timing was perfect and it did not held back until the last few pages, believe you'd be clutching to it until the ending.

Chris Pavone's writing is undoubtedly amazing, giving him a credit to be a really good editor himself. His book held a lot of imagery that few writers cannot handle putting into words, given that a lot of scenes in the book jumps from places. Especially creating his characters, each let alone has a really unique strengths, wits and admiring weaknesses. It might not be action-packed but there is action, a adrenaline rush to the words that you'd be totally shock that came out of nowhere but successfully being let on with it.

Doing this book justice and respect, I am giving it a rightfully earned 5 stars. And the wish for more Chris' books in the future.

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BOOK BOUND - LITERALLY

This would be awkward but, Hi! I have been missing from blogspot for so long while here I thought I was going to be a loyalist to my dead-serious blog. Want to see where I share other things like Cats, Sex, and everything else? Go here. (Nice sidetrack) but hence, Here I am once again. Claiming all godly things to write something that makes sense and do sense.


First and foremost, I moved. Yes, I am no longer in the Philippines but I am now a official California Girl [insert song and awkwardly end]. It has been about 7-8 months that I stayed here. If I tell you it pretty easy here, I'd be obviously lying. Settling in was a bitch and so is finding a job. (And I won't talk about it because it'd be only sidetracked to my family issues). I have been doing different kinds of things from then on. I do not have school, so I literally have zero friends that isn't related to me in any way. And you all know that one of my hobbies is reading a book, and boy did that thing grew into a magnitude!


It all started with Goodreads, blame it sure but I wouldn't because it's particularly my life. If you have a lot of free time in your hands, it's in no way pretty and awesome. If you are like me, you'd be bored in the next 5 minutes. In the first few months, we didn't have a laptop or a internet in the apartment. Boy that was a killer. We spent our free time going to malls and such, then I saw the lovely haven of the Dollar Book Store. Jesus Christ, I felt like I was saved. I was quite a loyalist to Thriller, Suspense and Mystery novels: So I ended up buying a lot of John Grisham, Lisa Scottline, Heather Graham and many more. My reading habit from then on was in level 5. I had books to read between hours but it wasn't eating me ... yet.


After a couple, 3-4, months: We got a laptop! It was a hell party in the cramp apartment house and no later than 2 days we got a internet connection. OK, got the laptop and the internet. And what is a girl to do? Facebook? Sure, I'd be staring at that page for a full 10 minutes and I'm done. Tumblr? Sure, it ate a lot of my time back in high school and some time of my college years but not that much anymore. The laptop was there and it still seemed I didn't have anything to do. I downloaded games (L4D, Half Life, FATE, Sims 3, etc.) and still it gets pretty dull.


Let's talk about then how I started this BOOK BOUND craze. Everyone is particular going crazy about the *drumroll* Hunger Games. Yeah? yeah? You know I'm right. Dystopian books doesn't exist in my vocabulary then and I decided to try reading ... I discovered Goodreads in the middle of the craze for book readers and it lead me to ... 271 books ... with 91 to-read. It's pretty shruggable (Lol on the term) but I always and always torture, if not killing, myself into reading 10 books a week. Where the hell do I get those kind of numbers and books to read? Goodreads. I am now one reading machine. No kidding.


I always find the time to read from 8 am to maybe 4 pm with breaks in between and internet thrown in there, and my personal time of 8 pm to 12 am. No wonder I finish books a day and I cannot seem to stop now. I even made a goddamn schedule on this things! "Schedule", can you believe it? I can, that's for sure. I always have books 'on-the-ready' to be read and they keep compiling until I get a total of 10 or lesser to finish in a week. Sure it didn't start like that right away, but if you're thinking I spent a day here in California without reading a book since last 4 moths? You be kidding. I always, always, have something to read.


... Do you feel awkward yet? No? I bet it isn't that much of a creepy habit, I mean ... Psh! It's just books! With a lot of sexy males to drool over and sex scenes to imagine and .. and .. things to fantasize.
... Until next time!