Princess Maryam by Eric Cabahug

Princess Maryam by Eric Cabahug
My rating: 5 of 5 stars


BLURB

Princess Maryam is about friendship of two young girls going over boundaries made by human laws and religion. This book has portrayed the picture of what is it like to see the cruel world throug child’s eyes. It will remind you how to be innocent at heart and how it can bring out the best out of someone’s sorrowful heart. It also give emphasis on the importance of our relationship with our Creator regardless of one’s religion. (excerpt from Goodreads)

The Witch of Duva by Leigh Bardugo

The Witch of Duva by Leigh Bardugo
Source: TOR
Pages: 43 pages
Goodreads Rating: 4.01 stars
Genre: Fantasy, Fairy Tales, Folk tales, Short Story, Paranormal
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

EXCERPT


There was a time when the woods near Duva ate girls...or so the story goes. But it’s just possible that the danger may be a little bit closer to home. This story is a companion folk tale to Leigh Bardugo’s debut novel, Shadow and Bone.
-From Goodreads~

On Isla and The Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Dutton
Genres: Young Adult, Romance
Average Goodreads Rating: 4.19
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

BLURB

Love ignites in the City That Never Sleeps, but can it last?

Hopeless romantic Isla has had a crush on introspective cartoonist Josh since their first year at the School of America in Paris. And after a chance encounter in Manhattan over the summer, romance might be closer than Isla imagined. But as they begin their senior year back in France, Isla and Josh are forced to confront the challenges every young couple must face, including family drama, uncertainty about their college futures, and the very real possibility of being apart.

Featuring cameos from fan-favorites Anna, Étienne, Lola, and Cricket, this sweet and sexy story of true love—set against the stunning backdrops of New York City, Paris, and Barcelona—is a swoonworthy conclusion to Stephanie Perkins’s beloved series. ~From Goodreads~

On Love, Rosie by Cecelia Ahern

Love, Rosie by Cecelia Ahern
Publisher: Hachette Books
Pages: 443 pages
Genres: Women's fiction, Contemporary Romance, ChickLit

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Format: Ebook
Average Goodreads Rating: 3.97

THE BLURB
Sometimes you have to look at life in a whole new way...
From the bestselling author of PS, I Love You comes a delightfully enchanting novel about what happens when two people who are meant to be together just can't seem to get it right.

Rosie and Alex are destined for one another, and everyone seems to know it but them. Best friends since childhood, their relationship gets closer by the day, until Alex gets the news that his family is leaving Dublin and moving to Boston. At 17, Rosie and Alex have just started to see each other in a more romantic light. Devastated, the two make plans for Rosie to apply to colleges in the U.S.

She gets into Boston University, Alex gets into Harvard, and everything is falling into place, when on the eve of her departure, Rosie gets news that will change their lives forever: She's pregnant by a boy she'd gone out with while on the rebound from Alex.

Her dreams for college, Alex, and a glamorous career dashed, Rosie stays in Dublin to become a single mother, while Alex pursues a medical career and a new love in Boston. But destiny is a funny thing, and in this novel, structured as a series of clever e-mails, letters, notes, and a trail of missed opportunities, Alex and Rosie find out that fate isn't done with them yet.

From the gifted author of PS, I Love You comes this charming, romantic, addictively page-turning novel that will keep readers laughing and guessing until the very last page. ~Excerpt from Goodreads~~

Rowell Holidays: On Fangirl and Eleanor and Park

Like I said on my previous post, I'm definitely posting my Rainbow Rowell holiday experience. Yes, that means Fangirl and Eleanor and Park. 

Photo from Novelsounds

DNF: Damascena - The Tale of Roses and Rumi by Holly Lynn Payne

DAMASCENA - The Tale of Roses and Rumi by Holly Lynn Payne

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

OVERVIEW:

Holly Payne’s spellbinding tale brings the unparalleled poet, Mevlana Rumi, to life, and transports readers to the enchanting world of 13th century Persia. Simply but elegantly told, the story unravels the mystery surrounding a legendary orphaned girl, who discovers her gift of turning roses into oil. Named after the flowering rosa damascena, the girl reluctantly assumes the role of a living saint for the miracles she performs—longing for the only one that matters: finding her mother. Deeply wounded by the separation since birth, Damascena undergoes a riveting transformation when she meets Rumi and finally discovers the secret of the rose. 

Imbued with rich historical research and inspired by the devastating disappearance of Rumi’s most lauded spiritual companion, Shams of Tabriz, Holly Payne has courageously opened herself to receive Rumi’s teachings and offer a timeless love story. Inspiring and magical, the story of Damascena transmits the wisdom of the heart, inviting us to transform our pain into love. ~From Goodreads~

Book Review: Instant Karma by Donna Marie Oldfield

Instant Karma by Donna Marie Oldfield
Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Source: Book Review Request
Genre: ChickLit
Published: July 19, 2014
Format: Ebook
 

THE BLURB

Do you believe in karma? Materialistic, selfish estate agent Siena Robinson doesn’t – until she hits a disastrous run of bad luck that makes her wonder if she has brought it upon herself.

In Instant Karma, Siena moves to the quiet village of Fenville, where the locals are opposing a development that will see a beloved hall and library replaced by new flats and shops. What her neighbours don’t know is that she is one of the developers and stands to make millions from the deal.

But then Siena discovers that her high-school sweetheart, Aiden, is leading the protest and she finds herself acting as a double agent who is torn between her neighbours’ plight and making lots of money.

Will Siena betray her new friends and let greed ruin a second chance with Aiden? And will she ever find out who or what is behind her run of bad karma?
~~from Goodreads~~

Book Review: Season 7 by D.F. Nightshade

Season 7 by D.F. Nightshade
Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Source: Book Review Request
Genre: Science Fiction, Adventure
Published: August 4, 2014
Format: Ebook
Goodreads Average Rating: 4 stars

THE BLURB  

Richard has been a security system salesman for about a year now. He’s good at what he does and loves his job, but doesn’t feel valued at the workplace. He’s passed up for promotions he feels he should get and is constantly second-guessed. His anger starts to affect his job performance. Stressed out Richard goes to a bar to try to calm his nerves. On his way home from the bar he is waved down by Nautilus who is nothing but trouble.

Nautilus is a seemingly normal guy who just so happens to be an alien. Nautilus believes that Richard is the “special one.” The one destined to rule his planet, but everything’s not as it seems and Richard has to find that out the hard way.
~~From Goodreads~~  

Book Review: Monster by Anke Napp

Monster by Anke Napp
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Published May 19th 2014 by Tredition Gmbh

SYNOPSIS:

In the middle of a heated election campaign for the Governor's seat of Georgia, the FBI is informed of a planned terrorist attack on Atlanta's new Conference Center. Only 24 hours remain to find and disarm the bombs, save the NATO summit and thousands of lives. In a sinister maneuver, the ex-terrorist Shadid is recruited out of prison and teamed up with the Conference Center's project manager Sarah - a woman whose husband has died in one of his former attacks. But crawling through the building's bowels, Shadid discovers more than a time fuse of perfidious ingenuity.
~~~From Amazon~~~

Children's Book Reviews: Say it Like a Snake and Where Are You Pickles

 Say it Like a Snake by Lucy Morse
My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Plot: This beautiful 32 page picture book tells the story of a girl named Sue who couldn't say her S's. With the help of Sam the snake she learns a rhyme that teaches her a great way to overcome her problem. 
 ~~from Goodreads~~



My Review:

I have a 6 year old nephew who is still having a hard time speaking fluently. It's like talking to a robot when I'm with him. It's cute but of course, his parents are still worried about his speaking problem specially with the letter "S".

When I read this children's book, I definitely told myself that this is an excellent exercise for him. I love how the authors have presented the S reading exercise in such a cute and fun read storybook that will absolutely encourage kids his age to read and learn reading "S" words.

Book Review: To All The Boys I Loved Before by Jenny Han

To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Synopsis:

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is the story of Lara Jean, who has never openly admitted her crushes, but instead wrote each boy a letter about how she felt, sealed it, and hid it in a box under her bed. But one day Lara Jean discovers that somehow her secret box of letters has been mailed, causing all her crushes from her past to confront her about the letters: her first kiss, the boy from summer camp, even her sister's ex-boyfriend, Josh. As she learns to deal with her past loves face to face, Lara Jean discovers that something good may come out of these letters after all.

~~From Goodreads~~
 

Book Review: Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Synopsis:

Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris--until she meets Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming, beautiful, Étienne has it all...including a serious girlfriend.

But in the City of Light, wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with their long-awaited French kiss?

---From Goodreads----
 

Book Review: Gone, Gone, Gone by Hannah Moskowitz

Gone, Gone, Gone by Hannah Moskowitz

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Synopsis: 

In the wake of the post-9/11 sniper shootings, fragile love finds a stronghold in this intense, romantic novel from the author of Break and Invincible Summer.

It's a year after 9/11. Sniper shootings throughout the D.C. area have everyone on edge and trying to make sense of these random acts of violence. Meanwhile, Craig and Lio are just trying to make sense of their lives.

Craig's crushing on quiet, distant Lio, and preoccupied with what it meant when Lio kissed him...and if he'll do it again...and if kissing Lio will help him finally get over his ex-boyfriend, Cody.

Lio feels most alive when he's with Craig. He forgets about his broken family, his dead brother, and the messed up world. But being with Craig means being vulnerable...and Lio will have to decide whether love is worth the risk.

This intense, romantic novel from the author of Break and Invincible Summer is a poignant look at what it is to feel needed, connected, and alive.
----from Goodreads

Stephanie Perkins in Cebu

I hope it's not too late to post about another one of my exciting book signing escapades. I got stuck with work and I've been saving my post in flash drive just waiting for the perfect time(means being free from the demands of my boss) to finally post it. This is the time.

Stephanie Perkins at National Bookstore SM Cebu

First, I have to say that I've never read yet any of Stephanie Perkins book but I already heard so much about it and I always get stranded in the shelf where her books are displayed at National Bookstore. I'm curious about her books and she looks really pretty in the picture. The books she wrote are not the usual genre I read. What I mean are young love and all the teenage scenario plots. Maybe because I'm already 23 and the thought of reading this kind of stories makes me think about the high school version of myself reading a pocketbook about romance.  The last book I read that contained teen love was Meg Cabot's Jinx and I only bought it because it has some witchy-twist and all. I was always into some kind of Dystopian setting (Hunger Games, Selection, etc), suspense and Harry Potter kind of plots. 

My hands were always itchy every time I would see Anna and the French Kiss and Lola and the Boy Next Door at National Bookstore. Reviews say that it's fantastic and hilarious  and it really makes me want it. Part of me want to buy them considering that I have read John Green's TFIOS and teenage love kind of convinced me that it's not that bad and it's a feel-good(I mean awesome) book but there was a part of me saying "You're being a bad girl in the bookstore again. You got a pile of books in your room and you are not even half done with it and now you're adding another bunch" and then that's when I would turn my back and say "Good-bye Anna and Lola".

Book Depository: Every Book Lover's Bestfriend

I am declaring Book Depository one of my bestfriends when it comes to book-related shops. Well, National Bookstore will always be the top 1, then Booksale and then Fully Booked and now, Book Depository is now one of them.

Image from TheCollective

I’ve been hearing a lot of Book Depository ever since I started looking for online book shops. It took a long time of reviewing various blog posts and reading Book Depository experience before I finally decided to try this Book Shop which delivery worldwide for free.

Mitch Albom Booksigning at Philippines

Best-selling author of Tuesdays with Morrie visited Philippines for his book signing tour last Feb. 22 and 23 at Glorietta Manila and Ayala Cebu and I was really happy to be able to attend that awesome event and have a chance to have my book signed by himself.

Photo from www.marcellapurnama.com

Mitch Albom wrote inspiring books namely Tuesdays with Morrie, For One More Day, The Five People you meet in Heaven, Have a Little Faith, The Time Keeper and the newest released "The First Phone Call From Heaven".