girlgoesgrrr:

8 easy steps. 

(Source: gegegetitout)

Starting #Tangled tonight. I just finished reading Nicole Williams’ Lost & Found, such a nice story. The plan after L&F was to read Stay With Me and then continue reading Losing Me, Finding You but since I have been waiting for Tangled, then Tangled it is! And the probably Trophy Husband and finish the rest. Tangled is being compared to The Wallbanger. I did enjoy the whole banging, yes. *wink So if you’ve read The Wallbanger, you might want to try reading Tangled. Ok, lez do dizzzzz!!!! :)))) #books #bookwhore #guiltypleasure #happiness #ilovebooks

LOST & FOUND by NICOLE WILLIAMS

It was like love at first sight. No, it was love at first read. This book, this story got me smiling from the very beginning til the end. I had a feeling that this new book by Nicole Williams will be a good one right after reading 2 chapters and I am sooooo right. And this kind story is one of the many reasons why I love to read books. I fell in love with it and I fell hard. 

Lost & Found is such a great read because it not only gives you that fluttering feeling inside your chest or the blush when you’re reading it  but this story (most importantly) teaches its readers bout life. The title is so fitting that I can’t even think of a better one.

Rowen Sterling is a city girl who happens to have issues with her mother and one day her mother decided to ship her into the countryside to ‘redeem’/ ‘prove’ herself so she can go to the expensive art school she wants to go to. Apparently, that’s her mother’s request. Work in the countryside for the summer and then I will pay for your art school. And when she arrived in Willow Springs, that’s when she met Jesse Walker. 

I’m not gonna say that the whole truck ride and conversation between Rowen & Jesse was awkward, I think it was more of a sweet and getting-to-know kind of conversation which it is but so much MORE. Reading that part was fun and I always find myself smiling like a damn Cheshire cat the whole time. Jesse Walker is a character that will make you smile, laugh and just simply swoon because he is freakin awesome while Rowen is someone who you can admire and wish that she gets what she deserves and just be happy.

“We all want to open up to someone, Rowen. The hard part is finding someone we trust enough to open up to. That person we’re not afraid to let into the darkest parts of our world.”

I think from the moment they met, Jesse saw something in Rowen that’s magical, in a way, that he was drawn to her. The ride to Willow Springs tells you more than just flirting and all that. There was something there and reading the conversation between Rowen & Jesse was extraordinary. It seems like Jesse saw right through Rowen. Behind the black/goth/sexy attire is someone who is loving and longing for someone who will care.

And for Rowen, meeting Jesse was different. She was scared coz she is feeling emotions she never felt before to anyone and Jesse just brings out emotions that are totally foreign to her. She was denying it at first, her feelings coz she’s scared but as the story progresses, she lets her guard down and she let Jesse in. 

I just love how Nicole wrote this story and especially the part where they met til they got to the Walker’s ranch. It was light but deep at the same time. It’s contradicting but that’s how I felt while reading it. 20% of the book and you feel that this story is something that’s worth reading. Nicole just lets you feel what her characters are trying to say and express without so many words that it actually became so much more. And that was just the beginning, I was not even in the middle of the story. So it’s pretty awesome.

“Sometimes we just have to cut off the dead branches in our life. Sometimes that’s the only way we can keep the tree alive. It’s hard and it hurts, but it’s what’s best.”

Rose’s character is definitely one of the best characters I have encountered. She’s a marvel and Nicole did an amazing job writing Rose’s character. Like Jesse, she just know the right words to utter and she has a big heart.

“We don’t always need to know the answers. We shouldn’t get hung up on the questions we can’t answer because life, by definition, is confusing. We’re never going to have all the answers. Never. We should focus on the questions we can answer and make peace with the ones we can’t.”

“What we’ve been denied is what we deny others. But why? Why do we fall into the same patterns of those people we always swore we’d never be like?”

What was heartbreaking for me was when Rowen finally opened up and what she revealed in the story is something that struck me the most. It was clear why was she the way she is. It was painful and sad but it also shows how brave she is and even if this is just a story (fiction or not), situations like what happened to Rowen will always leave something in me.

On a lighter side, there were a lot of sweet conversations between Jesse & Rowen and it’s so much fun to read. This is one of those books that is romantic minus the mushy part. Jesse just know what the right words to say without all the flower & hearts & all the mushy cliches. It felt real. It felt sincere. They totally compliment each other. They’re like Yin and Yang, that they fit so perfectly. 

As the story comes to an end, we see how Jesse & Rowen’s relationship grow into something that’s promising and heading to a future that’s sure & secure. Rowen eventually realized that she needs to let go and this story is telling us that, that life is something that is so complex that we all have questions and those questions will not always be answered, you just have to let life take its course and be someone that’s… YOU. Be someone better. 

“Contrary to what I’d believed for a while, Jesse hadn’t changed me. He just showed me the person I really was—the person I’d convinced myself didn’t exist. The rest was up to me.”

The ending was bittersweet. Oh God, I’m getting teary-eyed typing this part. Goodbye scenes will always be hard for me to read. But for Jesse & Rowen’s case it’s more of a beginning of something new. Something that’s positive. I think there’s more to tell. I hope there’s book 2 or 3 coz I feel like we need to read more of Jesse & Rowen. I want to read what happened after she left and the rest. And like what the line above says, it’s up to Rowen. It’s ALWAYS up to you. :)

*I recommend this book. TRULY. You will not be disappointed. 

EYES WIDE OPEN (THE BLACKSTONE AFFAIR 3) by RAINE MILLER

I know a lot of Raine Miller fans are waiting for this book and so am I. Finally, it’s here!!!! The passion, love & deep connection that the characters have, I truly cannot articulate. You have to read the book to know what I’m talking about.

Brynne & Ethan’s story continues in this 3rd installment of The Blackstone Affair right where we left them in All In and Raine Miller did not disappoint in writing for the 3rd time a story of a young couple and their passionate love for each other with the crazy situations that comes along with it. I thought I could never love/like Ethan’s character more but in this book, he’s so OVER THE TOP & fucking lovable that any girl will sure fall in love with his character. And I cannot erase David Gandy’s face as Ethan while I was reading this book. Gandy is just perfect as Ethan fucking Blackstone!

The whole dynamic that Brynne & Ethan is remarkable and I would like to  commend Raine for writing this series, especially this book in a way that the readers will truly feel the connection Brynne & Ethan have for each other. You really have to read the book to feel it. It’s indescribable and even if others will say it is, words is not enough to describe it. You have to feel it and for you to do so, you have to read the series.

Eyes Wide Open shows the growing relationship Brynne & Ethan have since Naked & All In. You get to see how stronger their relationship is and how they are compromising and as always, the intimate & passionate love making/fucking that I personally love about these 2 characters. You cannot deny the love they have for each other and as a reader it inspires me so fucking much!

We also get to see a side of Ethan that we haven’t seen in Naked & All In but it was a bit disappointing because I thought in this book Ethan will reveal what happened to him when he was in the army but we got pieces of it and not as detailed as I was expecting it to. Brynne, on the other hand, finally got to admit that he needs Ethan. Reading that part, I know it was not easy to admit that you need someone but for her to finally say it says so much more about her than Ethan. The guarded facade Brynne  is used to seems to disappear because of Ethan & it’s a good thing. I think this book series is more about Brynne than Ethan. From Naked up to Eyes Wide Open it seems the story is more focused on Brynne’s life, past & struggles. I hope in Book 4, yes there is a 4th installment (Hooray!), we get to see more of Ethan and his battle with his demons. I want to see his vulnerable side because we’re used to seeing him as a protector, a strong & powerful man but we know that there will always be a weak side to everyone and that includes Ethan. I wonder how it will be written and how the story will progress. 

There were sad moments in this book especially before the ending but there are also funny scenes. The exchange of sarcasm between Ethan and Brynne as well as the other characters are a fun read. The playful, sarcastic and Uber protective yet loving Ethan and Brynne’s compassion, love & strong determination are what excites me while I was reading the whole story. Perfection!

Raine Miller did a fantastic job in Eyes Wide Open. The ending feels like a beginning of a new chapter for our lovely characters and I cannot wait to read what Raine has in store for us in book 4.

YEY!

Have ya guys read #DeadEverAfter? The final book of The Sookie Stackhouse Novel by #charlaineharris? I know there are a lot of crazy reactions on how the story ended, I for one was sad and disappointed when I found out that the ending was not a good one but I feel like I owe it to myself to read this book for I have invested in this series and I love it since book 1 and need to know first hand why the fans of this series are devaststed. The crazy in me decided to read the last 3 pgs of the book but I can’t seem to find the courage to read the whole thing. Maybe someday… when the fuzz is over & readers no longer give a shit bout this book. For now, I welcome spoilers (please) and opinions (good or bad) bout its ending and the whole story. :)

Finished with #Allure and now back to reading #EyesWideOpen. I was so excited to read Allure by Nina Lane, I had to shelve these books to make way for Allure and it did not disappoint. If you happen to read and love Arouse (Book 1 of Nina Lane’s Spiral of Bliss Trilogy) then ya sure will enjoy Allure. :) #books #guiltypleasure #ilovebooks #romance #love #bookwhore

rdjismydrug:

Q:Your first encounter?

A: “She had to make sure that I didn’t take drugs during the filming of Gothika. Initially she thought I was a sad and pathetic person. She told me that I was a miserable, an inveterate pessimist. And I thought: bitch, tell me the number of your room ” [-]

(via suicideblonde)

ALLURE (SPIRAL OF BLISS 2) by NINA LANE

The much awaited book 2 of Nina Lane’s Spiral of Bliss series is here and I can honestly say that she did it again. She outdid herself in this book. I really thought Nina did a pretty amazing job in writing Arouse but Allure just blew me away. 

Nina Lane is one of those authors that write such arousing, provocative and heartfelt stories that you cannot simply put down. Her stories are full of heart & powerful emotions that you will so feel like you are part of it and the way she wrote every word is just amazingly wonderful. She’s fantastic and fucking brilliant!

This series is definitely something new (for me) because it tells the story of a married couple and the ups & downs of being married. And for someone like me who happens to have read lots of books, mostly I have read stories bout boyfriends & girlfriends and the married life part  is usually in the epilogue so I really don’t get to read what happens next. But this, this series is definitely something new and is highly recommended. 

“Dean, when things happen, we need to deal with them together.”

What I love most about this book is we get to see Liv grow. I think this is mostly HER story because I got to see the side of her that I didn’t get to see in Arouse. In this story, she is more mature in handling things, more passionate about their relationship and how to get past what had happened in Arouse. And she is more determined to be somebody, not for anyone else but for herself. I think what had happened between Dean and her in the past made her stronger and confident in dealing with her own demons. And I think she has definitely grown into a more mature partner, lover, wife than Dean. 

“And you don’t need me to tell you what your wife needs. You already know. You just have to stop running.”

Truly, Dean has a lot to work on than Liv. I think Liv pretty much get how to handle things than Dean. Yes, he is still this protective and passionate husband we saw in Arouse but he still has a lot to work on especially his own insecurities and fear. He needs to let go and let things happen because life is like that. You cannot control everything and he needs to understand and see it with his own two eyes and acknowledge the fact that that is what life is all about. 

The above quote is one of the lines that Helen advised to Dean. In that part, I have high hopes that Dean will realize something, that even when he was asking the wrong questions, he will get the part that HE knows deep inside his mind and heart that he knows what Liv needs that he just doesn’t want to see it or maybe acknowledge it but I ended up swaying my head (SMH) because he obviously doesn’t. His fears and insecurities are blocking it all. 

“Everyone wants to do something fulfilling, Liv. It’s just that a lot of people have a hard time figuring out what that is for them.”

Liv is finding out what she wants to be and she needs Dean to let go so she can spread her wings, on her own. But at the same time she wants Dean to also spread his wings and enjoy the things that he wants while far away from Liv… just for a little while. It’s great to see Liv stand her ground take no for an answer. And it’s also nice to see the corny side of Dean and Liv. The love notes were funny and lovely. Not too romantic, not to mushy and cliche just the way I like it. 

The journey that Dean and Liv experienced in this story is less troubled than Arouse but is still intense. I see that they both managed to compromise on things that matters and is willing to work more and give more for them to have a healthy married relationship. There were issues and some heartbreaking parts in this book but less drama compared to Arouse and I like it. As a reader, it’s nice to see the characters grow into a more mature people, as individuals and as a team. And the fact that you get to learn from them is one of the reasons why I love reading.

“I hadn’t even realized how desperately I’d wanted love. How much we both needed to know that in a world of dark corners and sharp needles, there really is a place where kisses taste like apple pie and where stars spill like sugar across the sky.”

When you think about it, Liv seems to be the kind of woman that is desperately needs love, and maybe she does but when she met Dean she saw that she is also capable of loving someone so deeply. And that she did and she has grown into this lovely woman, brave & strong for herself and for the love of her life.

I’d like to end this review with one of my favorite lines in this book. The words are so perfect to describe Dean & Liv’s relationship and this is also a perfect line to describe every romantic relationship there is. :)

“Our relationship, our love, cannot and will never be perfect. It will, however, always belong only to us in all its flawed, intense beauty. Perfect in its very imperfection.”

timemagazine:

Introducing the latest issue of TIME, featuring our cover story ‘The Angelina Effect.’

Read a preview of the story here.

(Photograph by Melodie McDaniel-Trunk)

skarsgardnews:

New True Blood season 6 poster [x]

“My father might be right. If I lost Noah, I might just lose my mind.”

(Source: lucieherondales, via michellehodkin)