hello 2013

2012 has been a fruitful year for me. I received a lot of blessings and love from people around me and from people who hardly knew me.

This year, I intend to make it more fruitful and blessed by being more attentive to everyone's needs, especially to my family. I really hope I can achieve this goal this year, among other resolutions.

Hello 2013. Cheers to the wonderful year ahead!!!

Centaur Legacy

And here's my last book review for the year. Save the best for last :)

Title: Centaur Legacy (Touched #2)
Author: Nancy Straight
Kindle / ebook
Published November 22nd 2012

Camille and Drake are on the run from the head of the Centaur Council, seeking the mythical pasture of Thessaly and a family heirloom that may keep them safe. As their journey progresses from the rolling hills of Ireland to the snow covered forests of South Dakota, Cami learns more about her mother’s secrets, including a twin brother and a Centaur legacy that puts a death warrant on her entire family. 

Camille and Drake don't know who to trust or where to hide. Camille’s family is quick to come to her aid, but who among them can be trusted?

Cheers to another great masterpiece from one of the best storytellers of our time. Yippee!!

The story about the Centauride Camille continues as she and her betrothed, Drake, embark on a quest in the mystical Ireland.  As they search for her elusive uncle and the arrow touched by a powerful god, Camille came to know more about her long-lost twin brother and her family's legacy.

I liked that Nancy Straight have expanded more on the other characters such as Drake's and Beau and Daniel. OMG, I was kinda surprised with Daniel. He had his funny moments in Book 1 but here in Book 2, he was a little arrogant and possessive, but that's what made him more adorable. And Zandra.. Let's not talk about Zandra. I might just kill her.. LOL.

But Drake's transformation?? That was what caught me off-guard. Kudos to Nancy, you never fail to surprise me :)

Once again, I am grateful for this wonderful opportunity to read Nancy Straight's Centaur Legacy. This is by far her best book and I know her next would be as great. Hope to read her latest novel soon!!!

Happy Holidays everyone! :)

Deadwood Mysteries

Title: Nearly Departed in Deadwood
(Deadwood Mysteries #1)
Author: Ann Charles

  

Deadwood Mysteries  

from my new favorite author - Ann Charles

After reading the first few chapters of Nearly Departed in Deadwood, I knew I was hooked. I was immediately drawn to Violet Parker who is a funky, fierce and lovable character. All throughout the series (Nearly Departed in Deadwood #1, Optical Delusions in Deadwood # 2, Dead Case in Deadwood # 3)

A single mom with two adorable kids, Violet Parker is a determined woman who would do anything to keep her job on real estate, even if she has to face her ass of an office-mate every single day. Fortunately, there's a string of men who would gladly buy or sell their houses through her: Old Man Harvey, Doc Nyce, Jeff Wymonds, Wolfgang Hessler, Detective Cooper  and an Abraham Lincoln look-alike.. Of course, there are also those creepy villainous characters, such as her despicable co-worker Ray Underhill. Top it up with ghost-hunters, chicken feeders, haunted houses,  weird home-owners, adorable  naughty kids, peeping-tom neighbor, and gorgeous BFF who also have the hots for her boyfriend, you've got three hilariously awesome Deadwood mysteries you'd surely love to uncover. Like the case of missing girls, the haunted house which has a long history of murders, and a funeral parlor that moves crates which may  be containing chopped body parts... uh-oh!!!

Ann Charles is indeed an exceptional talent. Her stories make me want to go to the nearest bookstore and grab all her other works (I have yet to try the Jackrabbit Junction mysteries). She's now part of the list of my favorite authors of 2012. Yay!

I can't really wait for the 4th book. Now that her Calamity Jane boss was found dead and her BFF Natalie already knew about Violet & Doc's steamy secret relationship, what would happen next to Violet's career & family? Well, I guess I have to find out SOON.

xmas

xmas reads...

Here are just a few books I've been reading in the spirit of Christmas.. And New Year...

Three short stories and one book containing inspirational quotes for every day of the year...

Ethereal

Title: Ethereal (Celestra Series # 1)
Author: Addison Moore
Kindle Edition; 162 pages
Published March 2011

Sixteen-year-old, Skyla Messenger is a dead girl walking.
When her newly remarried mother moves the family to Paragon Island, to a house that is rumored to be haunted, Skyla finds refuge in Logan Oliver, a boy who shares her unique ability to read minds.

 Skyla discovers Logan holds the answers to the questions she’s been looking for, but Logan’s reluctance to give her the knowledge she desires leaves her believing Logan has a few secrets of his own.

Skyla’s bloodlines may just be connected to the most powerful angelic beings that roam the earth, and the more she knows, the more danger she seems to be in. 

Suddenly an entire faction of earthbound angels wants her dead, at least she still has Logan, or does she?

oh angels! It's been a long time since I last read a book about angels. So I was kinda ecstatic to learn that Skyla was one of the Celestrals which is the highest and purest rank among earth angels. What's cool is she could also read minds, much to the chagrin of her mom and stepdad. Although her relationship with her family is strained, she found new friends who were willing to help her.

Anyway, there are also these two angelic beings - Logan and Gage, which I am having a hard time choosing (for Skyla's benefit, of course). One time, I was on team Logan. But when I got to read more, I was definitely rooting for Gage.

One thing that I kind of disliked: Skyla's name. Everytime I read her name, Skyla, it just reminded me of this cartoon series in the 90's (The Sky Dancers - featuring 5 flying students of High Hope Academy under the stewardship of Queen Skyla).. Ha ha ha.. If you don't know what I am talking about, just Google it. It might even tell you how old I am.. oops!

Okay, just to inform you, Ethereal is a good read. I recommend this to YA Fantasy readers and angel lovers. It was quite enjoyable, really. I'd love to read book 2 immediately so I know how the story commences. Overall, my rating for this Addison Moore bestseller: 4 stars!

the phenomenal loss

Time and time again, it has been proven that boxing is a game. You win some, you lose some. You will not always be the winner. You also have to lose and accept defeat.

Today, the most celebrated boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao lost his 4th match with Juan Manuel Marquez. Via technical knockout. At 6th round. All I can say is... It was Phenomenal.

Yes, I was stunned when I read the tweets of my friends.. ( I wasn't able to watch the Live Streaming so I settled with Twitter. Man, oh Man.. Boy was I really shocked!

That deadly punch JMM delivered ended the controversial battle between these 2 matadors. The world has gone crazy. A lot of people blame Manny's lack of training due to his political career. Others blame his religion.

What the fcuk people??

Pacquiao won 8 world titles.. Manny had given a lot for his countrymen. He made us all proud not once, not twice, not thrice but 8 times! I really don't care now how much more fights he loses .. For me, he is still the best boxing champ in the world. And after he admitted defeat, all I have is my respect for him.

I am a Filipino.. and I am still proud of Pacquiao!

Mabuhay ka Manny!

picture courtesy of DailyMail

And I just want to quote what the famous Bob Ong tweeted: "Keep your head up Pacquiao. I know you gave all your best! You're still our champion!" #FilipinoPride

Tuesday Teaser - December

December!!! The most joyful month there is. My favorite month of the year. I can already feel the cold wind and jolly tidings. What an awesome feeling..

And now, here's to another amazing Tuesday! Check out my first Teaser Tuesday for the last month of the year!  This is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.

To participate you:
* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
(Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

The girl came out of the barn. She had dark hair like the hippie woman, so he figured it had to be Lil. She wore jeans rolled up at the cuffs, and high-top sneakers, and a red baseball cap over the hair done in two long braids. 

She looked scruffy and stupid, and he immediately disliked her.

- page 8 -
Black Hills
by Nora Roberts

coming soon...

Next year (2013), the number of books turned into movies is growing! I’m really excited to see these books on the big screen.

I'm happy to say that I'm fortunate to have read all these books and I loved all of them, so I can't wait!!

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

Beautiful Creatures

Catching Fire (sequel to Hunger Games)

Percy Jackson (Sea of Monsters)

The Host by Stephanie Meyer