April 22, 2015

Wicked Review: Fake Boobs by Ryan Ringbloom


Published: February 1, 2015
Acquired: Digital copy



Tori Albert is eighteen, her confidence level is zero. Her life experience…also zero. She’s a girl lost in the shuffle, hiding in the shadows, craving attention. If only someone, anyone, would notice her, maybe life would improve. 

Grant Donovan can’t stop noticing Tori, but she is young, inexperienced and naïve. She is also his best friend’s younger sister. Grant knows the best thing he can do is just walk away. So why the hell isn’t he walking away?

When a late night knock lands across her bedroom door, Tori knows what stands behind it could end in disaster…but how many time does opportunity come knocking?

Just when she thinks her luck is finally changing, the assurance Tori believes she has finally found is taken away. With new assets and a new goal in sight, Tori will soon learn her new found confidence isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Unfortunately, some things you just have to learn the hard way. 


The minute I saw this on Netgalley, I knew I have to have this book. I loved this book so much. This had me on the edge of my seat laughing and crying at the same time.

Tori grew up with thinking that she's Plain Jane. She graduated from high school a virgin and she's never had a boyfriend. People are envious of her because she's thin and she never gains a pound when she eats. What they don't know is that, she's more envious of others, especially those with a huge bust.

I felt Tori's insecurities and I almost felt sad for her. She considers herself as invisible and ugly when I know she's not and she doesn't see it. But now, she's starting college and things are about to change. With the help of her roommate Kenna, she's slowly starting to feel like a normal girl. She wears make-up and she feels good about it.

Then there's Grant. How often have we seen a younger sibling falling for his or her older sibling's friend? Such relationships are either destined for greatness or they go down the drain. Grant cares for Tori in a brotherly manner. But obviously, that's just his excuse. They spent the holidays together in each other's arms before it all ended.

Grant is very thoughtful to a fault. He values his friendship with Tori's brother, Jim, as well as Tori's well being. As much as he wanted to be with her, he can't. He has life planned out for him. He'll go to aviation school in Florida and finish college and then start working. Tori wasn't a part of his plan but he definitely wants her there, he just doesn't know where.

Tori began to revamp herself. Because Grant rejected her, she's got herself fake boobs and men lined up for her...and her new chest. She's not satisfied. She wants Grant to notice her. She wants Grant to love her.

I just want to say that this is a must read for everyone. Not only is it a really nice contemporary romance but it makes you think about the really important things in life.




Ryan Ringbloom is a YA/NA author who lives for anything Romance. The passion, love, angst, awkwardness… she loves all of it. When Ryan needs a break from reality she sneaks off to read a romantic story or write one of her own. Drinking coffee, reading Tweets and hugs from her five year old are the best part of her day.


April 17, 2015

Wicked Review: Forever Now by Elise Sax


Published: November 29, 2014
Series: Forever #1
Acquired: Digital Copy
Amazon




When Tess's mother abandons her during her senior year at high school, she must find a way to keep the secret and survive until graduation. She's surprised when Cruz, her crush and an aspiring model, moves in to help. Tess has dreams of studying in Paris, France and becoming a writer...impossible dreams without money or family. But as Tess and Cruz's relationship grows closer, Cruz will do anything to make sure Tess's dreams come true. But at what price? 

Forever Now is the first book in the Forever young adult / new adult trilogy about finding love, living dreams, and overcoming great odds. 

Forever begins now.


I managed to finish this earlier in the day and I was in a daze when I swiped the screen after the last page of this book. My mouth was hanging open. My eyes are wide. My heart is beating erratically. It was that good.

Tess grew up with dreams of becoming a writer. She considers herself invisible. Her mother is treating her really bad. High school is a pain for her. Then comes Cruz, the good looking boy who managed to sweep her off her feet. Her mother leaves her with Cruz and the two find ways to survive while both of them chase their dreams.

Tess meets her only friend in the world, Dahlia. In the eyes of Tess, Dahlia is her savior. High school isn't painful to her now that she has Dahlia. She even helped her secure her first year in Paris. A friend who goes the extra hundred miles for you without asking for anything is friend to keep.

The only problem Tess has is that she's falling in love with Cruz. I wasn't really that drawn to their love story. I mean, it was all so fast. Tess is just seventeen and Cruz is a high school dropout. Yeah sure he's good looking. I feel like there's something lacking with Cruz. Then there's Tess' mother. She's bitter and annoying. I felt so angry with her. I wanted to rip her apart like how she ripped Tess' dreams for Paris.

BUT! There's a big BUT that I did not expect. Just when I thought that Cruz and Tess' relationship is superficial, I thought wrong. What Cruz did for Tess was unreal. I don't think any guy would be able to do that. It scared the heck out of me. I'm not going to put what Cruz did just Tess can get back on track to Paris but one thing is for sure, you will be blown away.




Elise Sax worked as a journalist for fifteen years, mostly in Paris, France. She took a detour from journalism and became a private investigator before trying her hand at writing fiction. She lives in Southern California with her two sons. An Affair to Dismember is her first novel.


April 8, 2015

Camp NaNoWriMo 2k15: That One Summer

HALLO! Oh my God, you guys! I missed you all! Did you miss me too? It's officially summer here in the Philippines and it is scorching hot with at least 35 degrees Celsius per day. It's enough to fry an egg on top of my head.

So anyways, I haven't read anything yet. I'm so behind my Goodreads Reading Challenge because of school and with this novel I'm writing. Yes, you heard it right. I'm writing again after 123456789 years. I feel the need to go back into writing because after all, I plan to make a living out of it so what better way to let my creative juices out than writing it. I am joining Camp NaNoWriMo for the first time in my life. I've had a lot of friends joining this and they've been telling me to join. Usually, the standard word count goal is 50,000 words but since I am newbie, I'm gunning for 10,000. I feel like if I set a goal that high I won't be able to reach it. But with 10,000, I think I can.



All I can tell you right now is that this story I'm writing is about romance, loss, summer and life. I can't really give you the exact plot yet because I want it to be a surprise and I suck at writing summaries if I haven't finished it yet. But just know this is something close to my heart and something I want to share with you guys.

COVER:


Photo is not mine though. I found this on Tumblr and tweaked with the saturation and added this really nice font.

INSPIRATION:




This is Mats Hummels. He's the captain of Borussia Dortmund and a defender for the German National Football Team. If you're into football, you'd know that he's a World Champion. I am currently immersing myself with everything football but mostly focusing on the Germany league, Bundesliga. His face got sort of stuck in my head and then he became the inspiration for my male protagonist, Kyle Donovan. Isn't he just gorgeous? *brb swooning*





So, there's Nina Dobrev, Zoey Deutch, and Marie Avgeropolous. All three are gorgeous ladies and are my picks for my female character, Sara Hudson. I couldn't pick between the three. They're all very beautiful and play very strong women on TV and on film.










The following photos are from Tumblr. I was mindlessly scrolling down and reblogging when I saw these photos that remind me of summer. Credits to the owners!

MUSIC:

19 You + Me by Dan and Shay


Dakota by A Rocket to the Moon


Summer by Calvin Harris


The City by The 1975


Waves by Mr. Probz (Robin Schulz Edit)



I was supposed to make a Spotify playlist for this to post here but there's something wrong and I have about 60 songs on that playlist. I know. I listen to a lot of music ranging from alternative rock to EDM. Not only are the songs on my playlist remind me of summer, but they are also my companion whenever I'm writing.

So there you have it guys. My journey to reaching my 10,000 words goal has started and I can't wait for it to finish. I know I have you guys on my back so wish me luck!

April 5, 2015

{Blog Tour:Giveaway + Review} Love, Lucy by April Linder


Welcome to the last day of the Love, Lucy Blog Tour. This tour is brought to you by the Fantastic Flying Book Club. Today, I'll be sharing with you my review as well as a giveaway.


Publisher: Poppy
Published: January 27, 2015




While backpacking through Florence, Italy, during the summer before she heads off to college, Lucy Sommersworth finds herself falling in love with the culture, the architecture, the food...and Jesse Palladino, a handsome street musician. After a whirlwind romance, Lucy returns home, determined to move on from her "vacation flirtation." But just because summer is over doesn't mean Lucy and Jesse are over, too. 

In this coming-of-age romance, April Lindner perfectly captures the highs and lows of a summer love that might just be meant to last beyond the season.


This book is perfect since it's already the summer season here in the Philippines. Italy is a place that has been in my bucket list for years. I have five places in Italy that I want to go to: Milan, Florence, Rome, Venice and Lake Como. When I found out that this book is set in Florence, I knew I had to read it. I may not visit it now but soon I will.

The romance in this book is definitely what you'd expect in those totally-cliche movies that admittedly we find annoying but we watch them anyways because we're in love with the male protagonist. YES? YES.

Lucy goes on a tour of Europe and her last stop is Italy where she meets Jesse. Lucy is an actress and it has been her passion. But her father disagrees. He doesn't believe that acting will land her a stable job. This made me cry for Lucy. Having your parents not support what you love, may it be art or dancing or a sport you like, is heartbreaking.

Jesse is a street musician. The moment that Lucy and Jesse sang together on the streets of Italy, it was the most romantic thing ever. Jesse was no nonsense. He sticks by what he believes in. He chose to be a street musician instead of being in college like Lucy. He chose to stay in Italy.

All summer romances, admittedly, end during the summer. Theirs ended as well with Lucy moving on to another guy she met in college. Just when you thought things are going well for the two of them, Jesse comes barging in. Now Lucy has to make a choice.

This whirlwind of a romance swept me away. I really love how easy and light this book is. I definitely recommend this to add to your to-read pile for the summer.



(US ONLY)



April Lindner is the author of three novels: Catherine, a modernization of Wuthering Heights; Jane, an update of Jane Eyre; and Love, Lucy, due out in January, 2015. She also has published two poetry collections, Skin and This Bed Our Bodies Shaped. She plays acoustic guitar badly, sees more rock concerts than she’d care to admit, travels whenever she can, cooks Italian food, and lavishes attention on her pets—two Labrador retriever mixes and two excitable guinea pigs. A professor of English at Saint Joseph’s University, April lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two sons.