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Nanay. Fifth Year. Forever.

Posted on July 26, 2015 | 5 comments

Arch Bala Photography 1It’s been five years since Nanay left us. She had kidney failure due to diabetes and was very adamant about taking her home after a week of staying at the hospital. We did. The morning of July 26, 2010 at around four, she took her last breath… and my laptop was playing this song…

“Goodbye’s (The Saddest Word)”

Mamma
You gave life to me
Turned a baby into a lady

Mamma
All you had to offer
Was the promise of a lifetime of love

Now I know
There is no other
Love like a mother’s love for her child

And I know
A love so complete
Someday must leave
Must say goodbye

Goodbye’s the saddest word I’ll ever hear
Goodbye’s the last time I will hold you near
Someday you’ll say that word and I will cry
It’ll break my heart to hear you say goodbye

Mamma
You gave love to me
Turned a young one into a woman

Mamma
All I ever needed
Was a guarantee of you loving me

‘Cause I know
There is no other
Love like a mother’s love for her child

And it hurts so
That something so strong
Someday will be gone, must say goodbye

Goodbye’s the saddest word I’ll ever hear
Goodbye’s the last time I will hold you near
Someday you’ll say that word and I will cry
It’ll break my heart to hear you say goodbye

But the love you gave me will always live
You’ll always be there every time I fall
You are to me the greatest love of all
You take my weakness and you make me strong
And I will always love you ’til forever comes

And when you need me
I’ll be there for you always
I’ll be there your whole life through
I’ll be there this I promise you, Mamma

Mamma, I’ll be
I’ll be your beacon through the darkest nights
I’ll be the wings that guide your broken flight
I’ll be your shelter through the raging storm
And I will love you ’till forever comes

Goodbye’s the saddest word I’ll ever hear
Goodbye’s the last time I will hold you near
Someday you’ll say that word and I will cry
It’ll break my heart to hear you say goodbye

‘Till we meet again…
Until then…
Goodbye

Mahal na mahal kita Nanay.

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Book Review: Winter Kill – Josh Lanyon

Posted on July 25, 2015 | Leave a comment

Winter KillIt’s should not come as a surprise how good this one would turn out. I mean, it’s Josh Lanyon and he’s like one of the best writers in the MM genre and shall I say, in general.

Winter Kill centers on Special Agent Adam Darling who is trying to resurrect his career after a high profile case set a dent on his professional record. Now handling a new case with a new partner, Adam finds himself in the midst of a quiet mountain resort in Oregon searching for a serial killer.

He then meets Deputy Sherriff Robert Haskell – the closeted and very efficient cop townie who isn’t too thrilled about the FBI’s involvement despite their initial attraction towards each other. Now, it’s up to them to work well together and bring the case down to a close and their budding romance – well, one has got to give.

Now this one, I really did enjoy to bits. This is only the fourth book I’ve read from Josh Lanyon and I can already tell his style from other authors, which promise so much for me in the future since I am planning to read a lot off  his catalogue!

I just loved the whole feel of the story. There’s this melancholic vibe at the beginning about the guy who got murdered by his (apparently) lover and that angle of the story alone already set a precedent on how the mystery of the story will go about and to discover the reason behind it in the end. Ugh. I’m like, damnittohell! That was totally heartbreaking!

The boys are equally likable. Adam reminds me so much of Ty Grady from the Cut and Run series or maybe it was just a different version of J.X. Moriarity from the author’s Holmes and Moriarity series. I also loved that Rob’s such a *whispers* slut. The term casual sex totally defines his lifestyle. Of course, there’s a turn around with our two MCs who can’t seem to get enough of each other and now I am so thrilled about how it ended because it seems to be that we’ll be getting one more book out of these two! I sure can’t wait to have that one!!!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Published May 31st 2015 by Just Joshin

About The Author
A distinct voice in gay fiction, multi-award-winning author JOSH LANYON has been writing gay mystery, adventure and romance for over a decade. In addition to numerous short stories, novellas, and novels, Josh is the author of the critically acclaimed Adrien English series, including The Hell You Say, winner of the 2006 USABookNews awards for GLBT Fiction. Josh is an Eppie Award winner and a three-time Lambda Literary Award finalist.

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Book Review: Blame the Fireworks – Riina Y.T.

Posted on July 24, 2015 | 1 comment

Blame The FireworksThis story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group’s “Love is an Open Road” event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.

Dear Author,

My roommate’s brother is visiting again and sleeping on our couch. I tiptoe around and pray I don’t run into anything or cause a clatter that would wake him. All knees and elbows, that’s me— while he’s all strength and grace. Looking at him, I can’t help my wistful sigh. He’s beautiful, but that’s not it. It’s his gentle smiles and kindness. Unlike everyone else, he doesn’t treat me like I’m one stumble away from being declared a walking disaster zone.

Unfortunately, he also treats me like a kid brother. He ruffles my hair and calls me ‘kiddo’. I wish I wasn’t so awkward. I wish I was sexy so he’d want me the way I want him. I wish I was the one he dreamed about as he slept on the couch.

§§§

I was already expecting this story to be all mushy and stuff based on the given prompt and I wasn’t wrong. Harlie and Tabby are just all kinds of adorable!

Harlie’s totally into his roommate’s brother Tabby. The latter is gorgeous, graceful and kind while he’s alright in the looks department, a total klutz and totally not like Tabby. But that’s not how Tabby sees him.

When Tabby unexpectedly dragged Harlie for a little summer road trip, both discovered something they shared in common and harboring for the longest time…

This quick read is all kinds of bright stars, unicorns and butterflies that I’m positive that it will make you giddy pre and post-reading it. I know I did because I’m a sucker for – well unicorns and butterflies (?) hahaha. Nah – just one solid word to describe it though all – TOOFUCKINGCUTE. Oops!

I wished the ending was longer and not rushed but I’ve a feeling that there’s more to these two waiting for us.

I wouldn’t mind getting it sooner 😉

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Published June 13th 2015 by M/M Romance Group @ Goodreads

Download your FREE COPY at
http://www.mmromancegroup.com/?p=277074

About The Author
Riina currently resides in Germany. She spent countless exciting days in the UK and US and lost her heart in Tokyo.

She would be thrilled if one day her stories could brighten someone’s day in the way those beautiful romances always lighten up her dull everyday life. Riina is looking forward to sharing many more stories with the world.

When she doesn’t daydream about boys in love, and isn’t glued to her Kindle, Riina loves to travel the world and explore the unknown.

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Book Review: Penn’s Woodland – David Connor

Posted on July 23, 2015 | Leave a comment

Penns WoodlandDuring his eighteenth birthday, Penn’s family blamed him for his lover’s attack in the woods that led to his imprisonment at the confines of his room with only his mind as his companion and his sister Georgia as his sole caretaker. When Ewan Parrish, a world-renowned architect was contracted to build a secure walkway through the woods, Penn finds himself drawn to the man.

Ewan who also got intrigued by the whole set up is determine to find all the answers to his questions especially now that he’s developed a burgeoning feelings towards the young recluse.

Based on the blurb, I didn’t peg this to be an historical romance set in the 1920’s. Let me tell you, I’m not a big fan of historical fiction and I seldom read those types of literature but there are some books that really gets to me and this is one of them. I loved a writer who could keep my interest about something I’m not really fond of in the first place. Penn’s Woodland is so full of purple prose that at times I almost get lost in it. That’s not a bad thing though, I loved the consistency of the dialogues here. It makes me feel like living in that era myself.

There’s also a whole vibe of terror in this book. It’s subtle but very effective. You know there’s a monster in there masquerading him /herself and there will come a point in the book that you just find yourself reading faster to get to that part.

There was insta-love here that may or may not work for some people and somehow Penn and Ewan didn’t get much shit about their relationship given the era they’re living in. Still, I find myself enamored by how they both complemented each other. Both are very likable and the author obviously did a good job in providing ample connection between the two.

This is the first book I’ve read by David Connor – a great first read at that and I can totally see myself reading more from his catalogue in the future.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Expected publication: July 29th 2015 by Less Than Three Press

This title is available for preorder and will be available at approximately 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time on July 28, 2015.

About The Author David lives in a small, rural town in New York with a cat, Molly, and his vivid imagination. It refuses to shut down, even when he sleeps. “Penn’s Woodland” started as a dream–literally, as do many of David’s works. David can be found on Twitter at @DannyCinicic and has a Facebook page with his writing partner: https://www.facebook.com/mmromcomsinprint

The ARC is provided by the publisher via Netgalley for an exchange of fair and honest review. 

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Book Review: Lucky Linus – Gene Gant

Posted on July 22, 2015 | Leave a comment

Lucky LinusThis is the first book I’ve read by Gene Gant and I am not disappointed at all. Lucky Linus is one good book that I’ll probably recommend to all of my friends because it speaks volume despite the simple storytelling. I loved that the drama was heavy, and very much so (realistically) for a 14-year-old boy yet the writing isn’t too complex.

Fourteen-year-old Linus Lightman has bounced through the foster care system since he was six-years-old when he was taken away from her neglectful mother. With his newest foster family, the Nelsons, Linus didn’t really want to get too close because he’s very much sure that they will let him go once they found out he’s gay. Building a friendship online with Kevin Mapleton, young love blossoms between them until a sex scandal involving the two was discovered that may very well cost Linus’s new home and sense of belonging.

You just got to love how the author delivered the story in such a way that is more telling than showing. I think the style was very apt with the age of our main protagonist Linus. Here, we watch Linus as he goes with the flow of the system with a foremost aspiration of getting adopted – finally belonging. There is a line that cause me much a bit of heartache when Linus was  narrating it.

“The chances of finding forever parents shrank as foster kids got older, especially for those of color or with disabilities.”

The kid just wanted to belong and I feel like giving him a warm hug and adopting him myself. So obviously, there’s a lot of heartbreaking details about our little Linus but perhaps, it could only get better in time…

When the storm passes and Linus thought that it’s the end for him, we’re gifted something that is so beautiful. In a rather hopeful tale albeit heartbreaking at the beginning – we see Linus getting his own personal rainbow.  Despite everything that he went through his young life, Linus discovered how strong he was more than he could hope for to be… Linus is lucky to finally be granted his wish and readers will be lucky to be on a journey with him.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Expected publication: July 23rd 2015 by Harmony Ink Press

About The Author
I’m Tennessean by birth, a resident of Memphis for most of my life. I tried living in a few northern cities after graduating from college, but I couldn’t take the brutal winters, and I missed good ol’ southern barbecue. Now I make my home on a country lane outside of Memphis. When I’m not reading, working out, watching movies or spending time with family and friends, you can find me tapping away at my computer.

The ARC is provided by the publisher via Netgalley for an exchange of fair and honest review. 

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Book Review: In Memoriam – Cari Z.

Posted on July 21, 2015 | Leave a comment

In MemoriamThis short story will definitely tickle your mind regarding the twist in the end. It was sort of somber all throughout about a gardener named Lee Summers who is past expecting to find love. In short, he was just drifting through life until one fine day while checking out a farmer’s market in Colorado; a dog stole his lunch that led him to meeting its owner Felix Clymenos.

Felix is the exact definition of enigma especially after he started appearing in Lee’s dreams. Now, as they explored their blossoming feelings – things started to unravel right in front of Lee’s eyes that could mean something big for their future but first, he’s got to make a choice for himself.

I am a total fan of Cari Z. I loved most of the works that I have read from her and this one is no different. Here, I see a more fluid storytelling from her. In Memoriam reminds me so much of Heidi Cullinan’s writing style in The Devil Will do but I liked this way better.

The story will definitely lull you into a certain subdued mood until you discover its twist. I don’t know why I’m expecting vampires to jump off its pages but I was sure glad that no “undead” materialized from it. Now, before I divulge what the twist is – I recommend you getting a hold of the book ASAP. It’s a neat short story that you won’t regret buying.

Again, thank you Cari for this amazing story!!!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Published July 8th 2015 by Dreamspinner Press LLC 

About The Author
Cari Z. is a Colorado girl who loves snow and sunshine. She has a wonderful relationship with her husband, a complex relationship with the characters in her head and a sadomasochistic relationship with her exercise routine. She feels like Halloween should happen every month, which is why you get this picture of her, and hopes that you enjoy reading what she’s put out there as much as she enjoyed writing it in the first place.

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Book Review: Victim Of Love – Darien Cox

Posted on July 20, 2015 | Leave a comment

Victim Of LoveUsed to long hours of work and a deluge of monotonous musings about his life, young lab scientist Olsen Westergard believes that his life does not need any complications and he’s very content with what he has.

When he goes on a summer holiday vacation with his friends, he didn’t expect to stumble upon a drunken stranger with a surprise identity to awaken something in him that overwhelms even him. Only, problem is – the stranger, Beckett Turner claims that he isn’t real. With a dark secret keeping Olsen in the dark about Beckett, will they be able to get past it and be what they need for each other?

I really enjoyed this one. It’s fun, easy, a wee bit dramatic here and there but yes, very much enjoyable. This is my second book from the author. The first one didn’t work for me well so I was a bit hesitant with this one at first but I’m glad I listened to my fellow Goodreaders here because it’s such a delightful read.

I’ve only two light criticisms – one was the insta-love Olsen felt towards Beck. Hmm, I dunno why I find that odd and not very Olsen – I guess he’s just really lonely. And what he mentioned at first about abandonment issues and all – I guess I’m just being anal about details ^^

The second one would be the massive reveal of Beck’s secret which isn’t that secret at all apparently and not that “shocking” at all…at least for me. That scene though – I just wanna cuddle with Beck forever…

Overall, this one more than made up with my disappointment over Fit For The Job and definitely see myself reading more of Darien Cox in the future.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Published July 11th 2015 by Dusk Notes

About The Author
Darien Cox lives in New England, bouncing back and forth between the mountain and the ocean states, anywhere there’s a wave or a ski slope. A nature lover and thrill seeker, he enjoys exploring the intensity, insanity, humor and chaos that accompanies cupid’s arrow, whether it’s love at first sight or just the overwhelming power of lust.

Website: http://dariencox.com

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Book Review: Eagle Man and Mr Hawk – Dawn Sister

Posted on July 18, 2015 | Leave a comment

Eagle Man and Mr HawkThis story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group’s “Love is an Open Road” event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.

Dear Author,
I have never been good at first impressions. This fact has not been much of a problem until the neighboring farm house was purchased by a beautiful, bookish man and all of a sudden I found myself with someone I wanted to impress.

The first time he wandered from his house to mine he found me in a terribly unflattering padded suit, being attacked by a German Shepherd, and today he stumbled across me half naked while training Rupert, a hawk needed for a new adventure film, with either a dislike of me, or of my clothing. It wasn’t my most shining moment.

See, I train animals for use in movies and commercials, and while I am good at my job, this lovely man seems to just think I am a lunatic. And unlike everyone else I have ever met, I can’t change his mind by impressing him with my credentials. He thinks movies and television will be the downfall of society. But still, everything about him draws me to him, even has he wants nothing more than to push me away.

§§§

Okay, so I’m kinda on the fence with this one. I super loved both MCs and the story was real cute but I’m really not sure about the latter part.

It felt that the Kelly angle came out of nowhere and didn’t get resolved in any way or maybe I was just waiting for Ethan to smack her into oblivion.

Alex was adorable and so as Ethan. Gah, they’re perfect book boyfriends but seriously, second guessing themselves almost all throughout the story like it was a tennis match between them was a bit too much for me.
But like I’ve said, I really adore this couple and wished the ending was far stronger or perhaps a bit more than that.

Thank you Dawn Sister for this wonderful story with such wonderful characters and gaaahhh Ethan’s crew = just too adorbs!!!

Cover Art: Phil Rose (the author’s hubby) ^_^

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Published July 11th 2015 by M/M Romance Group @ Goodreads

About The Author
Dawn is from the North East of England. Her life is spent juggling: the juggling balls are: children, husband, work (occasionally), voluntary work, professional knitting (notice she doesn’t class this as work), and writing. When she has time she actually sleeps.

For a long time nothing she wrote was shared, even with her husband. Nothing seemed to be right. Then she discovered M/M through a very dramatic encounter with the movie Brokeback Mountain. She became desperate for those characters to have a happy ending, and through this desperation (ie frantically searching the internet for happier ending fan fiction) she discovered a wealth of original M/M fiction. She’s never looked back since.

Her favourite quote is by Philip Pullman of “His Dark Materials” fame, who said: ““If you want to write anything that works, you have to go with the grain of your talent, not against it.” This is the quote she churns out every time someone asks her “Why gay romance?” The other quote she gives is her own (or maybe she might have heard it somewhere else as well) and that is “Why the hell not?”

The whole point of writing for Dawn is not to publish and be read but just to get it all off her chest and out of her head. If she doesn’t write it down then she ends up having long conversations with the characters out loud and her husband thinks she’s nuts.

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DawnSister1

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Free Download: Hope (A Short Story) – epub, text and pdf.

Posted on July 17, 2015 | Leave a comment

HOPEHere’s another one of my free short stories you can download. Written in multi-lingual dialogues namely English, Kapampangan and Tagalog – Hope tells the story of a boy pursuing his dream until one awful experience turned that dream into a nightmare.

He was the most brilliant child to ever come out of Barrio San Simon.

They have big dreams for him and so was he.

He was their hope.

FREE DOWNLOAD HERE: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/560667

You can also rate or leave your review at
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25919180-hope

or download my other stories – > at the right side of your screen.

Again, salamat!

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Book Review: Treble Maker (Perfect Harmony, #1) – Annabeth Albert

Posted on July 16, 2015 | Leave a comment

Treble MakerLet me start by saying I totally loved the cover of this book! Of course, it’s the first thing that made me interested to get a hold of it (most of us do that yeah?). Lucky me because Netgalley has it available for request. Anyway, this is my first book by Annabeth Albert and having heard so much about her well-received participation in Goodreads M/M Romance Group’s “Love is an Open Road” event, my expectations prior to reading this was probably way off the charts.

To easily picture Treble Maker, think of NBC’s The Sing-Off and put two cute guys in the limelight who got together because of their intense attraction and well, they always say that opposite attracts right? So that is where Cody Rivers and Lucas Norwood’s characters comes into play.

Cody’s determined to win the a cappella reality show and is using the show as a springboard to finally hit it big. He’ll do everything in his power to win. Lucas however is content to sing his heart out as long as he’s making his parents and school proud and maintaining his “virtue” of being a model gay citizen. As Lucas pointed to Cody, “I’m gay but I don’t act on it.”  Okay.

There’s one big problem for me when I am unable to connect with the main characters when I know that I’m halfway through the book. I’ll start asking myself why am I still not tossing this into oblivion and heading to read another book. The main answer to that question is that the author’s writing is not bad. It kept me glued to finish the book. Her style is very easy to grasp but somehow lacks consistency here. It’s also way too long in my opinion for such a clichéd premise, I would’ve thought that it’d be shorter by at least fifty to a hundred pages.

Don’t get me wrong though, it’s not just about the show right? It’s about Lucas finding his own voice and standing up on his own with Cody being his guide. I loved their monkey-hot sex and the whole kink (probably) stemming from being repressed juxtaposing what Lucas tried to hold firmly when he started “something” with Cody. And that is one of the reasons I didn’t connect well – it felt like the story’s all about Lucas petty drama of being out yet acting like he’s in the closet despite having dual POV all throughout.

The romance was almost nil albeit the hot steamy sex and it pains for me to say that I really didn’t get much enjoyment from reading this story. Let me remind you though, what’s not so great for me may be the best read of your life so do try to check this out for yourself.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Expected publication: August 4th 2015 by Lyrical Press

About The Author
Frequent tweeter, professional grammar nerd, and obsessive reader, Annabeth Albert is also a Pacific Northwest romance writer in a variety of subgenres.

Emotionally complex, sexy, and funny stories are her favorites both to read and to write. In between searching out dark heroes to redeem, she works a rewarding day job and wrangles two toddlers.

The ARC is provided by the publisher via Netgalley for an exchange of fair and honest review. 

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