Author Archives: paddylastinc

Book Review: Cronin’s Key II (Cronin’s Key, #2) – N.R. Walker

Posted on June 9, 2015 | Leave a comment

I’m such a big fan of the author and I thought this book was a total comfort read any fans like me would totally enjoy! I would’ve enjoyed it MORE though if it actually has more grit into it. I feel like each scene were a bit too rushed and there’s not enough drama going on. I’m still not totally on board with Alec’s characterization – he’s charming alright but he really does talk too much and it gets really annoying at times.

The whole incubus thing was a good twist into the story but it rendered the whole “turning” of Alec anticlimactic.

Cronin was the one character in the series that totally amped-up the book’s likeability. This was his book more so than Alec – with all that “mine, mine, mine” attitude and all the growling! I just wanna sexed him up! Lol. Let me also give special mention to Jorge – just precious! I’d really love to see more of him from this series and perhaps have another character like Jacques take center stage in the next book (?)

This is definitely a fun solid book which I will be recommending for fans of the series and the author.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Published May 22nd 2015 by N.R. Walker

Leave a comment

Posted in Books

Tagged Book Review, Cronin's Key 2, Cronin's Key Series, N.R. Walker

Author Dylan Saccoccio And His Tirade Over Book’s One-Star Review

Posted on June 8, 2015 | Leave a comment

So I was checking out my online feeds and received a tweet from a friend about a certain issue over Goodreads about an author named Dylan Saccoccio who apparently had a “meltdown” over a low rated review of one of his books entitled The Boy and the Peddler of Death. I immediately checked out the Goodreads page of the book and was in total awe by the whole “conversation” between the author and a reader/reviewer named Cait. It was like Kathleen Hale all over again but this time, the author really went all out about the merit of giving out a one-star rating. I’m like, “is this shit even for real?”

Seriously though, if you cannot handle criticism, then you are definitely in the wrong business buddy. And it’s not like if somebody (like myself) gave a lone-star review, it doesn’t mean that they’re out to get you or “ruin you financially” or something. I started reviewing books over a year ago and has been a member of Goodreads for a good four years now and trust me when I say, I’ve read far worst reviews by readers who sometimes are also fans of the author themselves – a one or two star ratings are not available for readers to just throw in just to fuck with authors – it simply shows that the readers does have reasons to NOT like the book. PERIOD.

I myself have given one-star reviews and I’m lucky that I was not “attacked” for it.

some of the books that I’ve given a lone-star ratings

One of the authors that I’ve given a single-star review was Lisa Henry and I loved most of her works but that one book didn’t work for me. Another is Veronica Roth’s Allegiant, then there’s Amy Bartol’s Indebted..so there…

Unless you personally know that “reviewer” and there’s some shade throwing in there but a few one or two star reviews won’t really “hurt the author” and “destroy one’s dreams” – way too dramatic. It may even increase the interest about your book. Remember what they say about publicity. Or perhaps, that review should’ve been be a way to analyze things and perhaps be better next time or maybe always keep in mind that YOU CANNOT PLEASE EVERYONE. The book may be a really awful experience for one reader but I bet it would be the best read for another. Seriously, Dylan – chillax.

from a Book Blogger and a Goodreads member.

Leave a comment

Posted in Books

Tagged Dylan Saccoccio

Book Review: Cronin’s Key (Cronin’s Key #1) – N.R. Walker

Posted on June 8, 2015 | Leave a comment

This is the first major foray of N.R. Walker into the world of supernatural and it’s all about the undead! Yay! I’m a sucker for vampire stories and it’s from N.R. Walker so I’m doubly excited when I first heard about it and couldn’t be more eager to get my hands on it. Alec is a New York police detective who got himself tangled into the world of the undead after a weird encounter while on patrol. From there, he met Cronin – an elderly vampire who happened to be his “fated” one – uhm, soulmate. Things started happening faster than Alec could even comprehend and finds himself leading the fight against mummy vampires who are out to get the key to some mysterious shit – and that key happens to be him.

I maybe expecting a lot from this novel because as I’ve said – Vampires and N.R. Walker. Like, ugh. I loved 90% of the book but my main criticism was about Alec. You see, Alec loves to talk. Like not just talk, but talk non-stop and at some point in the book – I was like – shut up already! There’s something annoying about his overall characterization that it grates on my nerves but there are times that I also find him extremely funny and adorable. It’s a good thing that Cronin’s stoic demeanor was rather charming which is clearly the opposite of Alec.

But hey, that’s just me fretting over some minor details. The story almost feels like watching some sort of National Treasure only with Vampires. I also loved the secondary characters with the covens and all and their powers almost feel like Twilight-ish. What? B!tch please don’t give me that look. I fucking loved Twilight.

In short, I loved it because it’s well written, exciting and it has a lot of good looking ^_^, quirky and funny creatures with superpowers!

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Leave a comment

Posted in Books

Tagged Book Review, Cronin's Key, Cronin's Key Series, N.R. Walker

Book Review: KAGE (KAGE Trilogy #1) – Maris Black

Posted on June 6, 2015 | Leave a comment

I’m usually checking out books to read through recommendations and ratings and this one immediately got my interest when I found out it’s about MMA fighters. I’m like – Whoot! Hoot! I want me some Travis Maddox from this genre – lo and behold – I got a way better deal. I got Michael Kage Santori aka Kage ( Ting! Ting! Ting!) And it’s coming from Maris Black – a new author for me and by god it feels like I hit a jackpot with this novel. It’s abso-fucking-lutely amazing! I’m like OMG (no.1), this was like the first book I’ve read this year that totally affected me so much because I’m just so into the MCs.

It’s not just about Kage though, it’s also about Jamie Atwood and his aspiration to become a publicist. Little did he know that his coverage of an MMA fight for a project at uni and his first encounter with Kage will land him an internship as the publicist of the guy himself? And OMG (no.2) from the start, their chemistry was just EXPLOSIVE. See, people Jamie’s straight. He’s got a girlfriend and he’s all too focus on becoming a great journalist. At first, it feels like him having feelings with Kage were like out of nowhere and totally WTF but overtime, it just came naturally. Like it was meant to happen the way it was written. OMG (no.3) worthy right?

Kage meanwhile has no qualms whatsoever about his sexuality. Although not entirely out from the closet (due to his UFC aspirations,) he’s also very much open to having a relationship and with Jamie – he’s willing to do everything. Only thing is, Jamie’s only open about it in the privacy of their bedroom.

Now at the beginning, I was thinking that I’d see a lot of Kage fighting his opponents and getting all bloody and brute on us but nope – if you’re looking for some MMA action here, you’d be hella disappointed. There’s only two major fights here – the first one was the first fight that Jamie was able to witness from Kage and the second one was their fight about their relationship at the end. Do not fret though, because it’s all good. It feels like in this very first book we get to meet these two guys who are still in the process of accepting things about themselves and revealing something about them that will make you more curious and yearn for more up to the last page. For some reason, the slow burn in the story between these two makes it more exciting and when it finally happened it was like OMG (no.4) – that was like the hottest thing ever!

Now this may sound too much but it’s just perfection for me. Every chapter and every page were thoughtfully written – it’s just simply worth your time reading it word per word. My problem right now is the almost three months wait for the sequel (Arrrrggghhh), I feel like having a withdrawal (not that I knew exactly how that feels unless you count my catatonic state after the final season of Fisica O Quimica) and OMG (no.5) people, git your copy NOW!!!! Just fucking Get.It.Right.Now!

Rating: Fucking Perfect Five Stars out of Fucking Perfect Five Stars!

Published May 25th 2015 by Maris Black Books

Buy now:
All Romance eBooks | Amazon | Barnes and Noble
iTunes | Kobo | Smashwords

Leave a comment

Posted in Books

Tagged Book Review, Jamie Atwood, KAGE, KAGE Trilogy, Maris Black, Michael Kage Santori

Book Review: To Say I Love You (Another Way, #3) – Anna Martin

Posted on June 5, 2015 | Leave a comment

[Book 3 of Another Way Series]

Blurb: After six years of romance and kink, Jesse Ross and Will Anderson have had their ups and downs and come through them stronger and happier. But when Jesse’s mother dies unexpectedly, Jesse is forced to return to his childhood home in Georgia to help his family cope. Will transfers from Seattle to his company’s Atlanta office, but love their way is out of the question while they’re staying in Jesse’s parents’ home. So Will buys a small house for them to fix up and find some privacy.

When their lives start to settle back into something like normality, Will and Jesse resume their recently neglected BDSM relationship. Along with the security of Jesse’s submission comes trouble, as a local man tries to lure a lonely, grieving Jesse away from Will, and one of Will’s coworkers causes tension between them. Both men are forced to reassess what really matters, and where their romance is heading

***

This is the perfect conclusion into Will and Jesse’s love story. I loved that it stayed true to the theme and the whole vibe of the rest of the series. This is the first BDSM series that didn’t make me uncomfortable at all because it’s not just all about the kinky stuff; it actually has a wonderful story with amazing characters. This third book totally cemented Will and Jesse as one of my favorite couples in this genre. The book has all the elements you would expect for a series finale. It has ample romance, sex, drama and the attack with each character was nothing short of perfect!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Published May 19th 2014 by Dreamspinner Press (first published April 19th 2014)

Buy now:
Dreamspinner Press | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About The Author
Anna Martin is from a picturesque seaside village in the south west of England. After spending most of her childhood making up stories, she studied English Literature at university before attempting to turn her hand as a professional writer.

Apart from being physically dependent on her laptop, she is enthusiastic about writing and producing local grassroots theatre (especially at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where she can be found every summer), travelling, learning to play the ukulele, and Ben & Jerry’s New York Super Fudge Chunk.

Anna claims her entire career is due to the love, support, pre-reading and creative ass-kicking provided by her closest friend Jennifer. Jennifer refuses to accept any responsibility for anything Anna has written.

Leave a comment

Posted in Books

Tagged Anna Martin, Another Way Series, Book Review, To Say I Love You

Book Review: Of Being Yours (Another Way, #2) – Anna Martin

Posted on June 4, 2015 | Leave a comment

[Book 2 of Another Way series]

Blurb: It’s been three years since Jesse Ross had to choose between his Master and his girlfriend-three years he’s spent living in a loving relationship with Will, his Dom, and finally being open about his sexuality. To the outside eye, Jesse and Will’s relationship is settled, solid, and romantic: people expect them to settle down, get married, have a family. It takes a car crash to expose the papered-over cracks in their life together.

Traumatized by the crash, Will finds his confidence shattered. After unintentionally causing Jesse pain during the accident, Will finds it impossible to hurt him in the bedroom, and suddenly he has to reassess his ability to be Jesse’s Dom. The emotional and physical deadlock leaves Jesse struggling to hold the pieces of their tattered relationship together. The physical scars may heal with time, but the emotional trauma has left more damage than either man could have anticipated….

I really loved the progress of Will and Jesse’s relationship. I loved the sweetness of it all and how the author showed their vulnerability especially with Will. I also loved the timeline of the story – pacing wise. I loved that we get to see them as they navigate deeper into their relationship. Although the “accident” was somehow an important plot point, I find it a wee bit stretched out which apparently became the game changer in their relationship. I also almost wished that they accepted Maddie’s offer but in hindsight – it’s very transparent that they are not yet ready for it. I really loved that the focus of this second installment was still inside Will and Jesse’s little bubble. There are some characters that I thought will stir shit up but I guess that would happen in the third book. Again, this is an exceptional read. Rarely I enjoyed reading a BDSM themed story and this one’s definitely up there!

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Published September 1st 2012 by Dreamspinner Press

Buy now:
Dreamspinner Press | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Leave a comment

Posted in Books

Tagged Anna Martin, Another Way Series, Book Review, Of Being Yours

Asia’s Next Top Model Cycle 3 Episode 11 with the Final Four Models and Season’s Recap [June 3, 2015]

Posted on June 3, 2015 | Leave a comment

Last week’s episode left us hanging with Barbara and Amanda facing the chopping board pre-final four. Monika yet again killed the Subaru motion editorial shoot getting her fourth first call out while Amanda and Barbara failed to deliver. So the girl who will not be continuing her journey in the competition is none other than Amanda… it was a great run for my homegirl and I couldn’t be any prouder!!! I’m pretty sure you’ll have a bright future in modeling!

So this week’s episode is basically a recap of the whole season pre-finale with never before seen footage from the girls.

The big question is – who among Aimee, Barbara, Gani and Monika will make it through the final runway?

L-R: Aimee, Barbara, Gani, Monika

The finale will be airing on 06.17.2015 at 0845PM.

via Asia’s Next Top Model

Leave a comment

Posted in Brands, Models, TV Shows

Tagged Aimee Bradshaw, Amanda Chan, Barbara Katsuki, Gani Ayu, Monika Sta. Maria

Asia’s Next Top Model Cycle 3 Episode 10 The Girl in the Driver’s Seat Part 1 [May 27, 2015]

Posted on May 31, 2015 | Leave a comment

Fab Five – Barbara, Monika, Gani, Amanda and Aimee

After Tahlia’s departure from the show, we are now down to five girls battling it out to becoming Asia’s Next Top Model!

For their challenge, the girls met Joey and Alex at the Mariner of the Sea cruise ship where the girls will be showing off their runway skills (again) and are given three looks to model with a minute to change each look.

The two pinays (Amanda and Monika) were unable to walk one of their looks. So with the other three girls walking the three outfits – Aimee won the challenge! Yay!

Gani’s (especially) and Barbara were throwing shades towards Amanda citing Alex Perry always saving her from the getting the boot. Uh – girls – jealous much? I totally loved the cattiness though! LOL

At the shoot, the girls are doing motion editorial for Subaru! Acting! Acting! Aimee looks wonderful as a businesswoman and she did wonderful. Gani’s arhitect portrayal was rather dismal at the beginning but finally got it in the end. Barbara was a baker and it was just all kinds of awkward to be honest. She looks awesome but it feels like she doesn’t know what she’s doing! Amanda’s a tennis coach and it was just all over the place. Then there’s beauty queen-ish Monika killing the shoot!!! Damn girl!

Aimee easy demeanor at the commercial was beautiful obviously! She was amazing at the shoot!

Amanda’s shot was lackluster at best IMO. I loved baby A but I think at times her age goes against her. And dang! The client doesn’t like Amanda’s shot at all.

Barbara has got it all and she needs to have that confidence which is such a shame because she totally looks great despite the awkwardness of the shoot!

Gani’s “Not bad but not the best” and I’m in total agreement with the panel.

Monika. Need I say more? *clap* *clap* *clap*

First Call Out: Monika YAY! KILLIN’ IT!

Aimee
Gani

Bottom Two: Barbara and Amanda

To be continued…

I loved both girls and I dunno who I think should leave but at the end of the day, I’d save my homegirl anyday.

(was that a spoiler I saw at next episode’s preview when Amanda was crying while hugging Georgina? Arrrhhhggg!!!)

via Asia’s Next Top Model

Leave a comment

Posted in Brands, TV Show

Tagged Aimee Bradshaw, Amanda Chan, Asia's Next Top Model, Barbara Katsuki, Cycle 3, Gani Ayu, Monika Sta. Maria

Book Review: Another Way (Another Way #1) – Anna Martin

Posted on May 27, 2015 | Leave a comment

Blurb: On the surface, Jesse Ross is an average guy in an average relationship with his college sweetheart, Adele. But what his girlfriend doesn’t know is that he’s having an affair—with a man—and exploring his sexuality in ways she never could imagine. His compartmentalized life suits Jesse just fine, and he has no intention of coming out of the closet either as a bisexual or as a submissive.

However, Jesse takes a tumble when his Master, Will, admits to wanting more, wanting Jesse as his partner, not just his submissive. Suddenly Jesse’s conveniently pieced-together life isn’t quite so comfortable. In the end, Jesse has to lay it all on the line—for his girlfriend, for his lover, and for himself.

***

I’m not really big on BDSM and there are only few stories out there that could lure me to read one – much more a series. Anna Martin has that power over me so I went on and dived into this world with Another Way.

I really enjoyed the dynamics between Will (the Domme) and Jesse (the Sub). They have such great chemistry especially when they progressed into a romantic relationship. I loved how the author thoughtfully crafted Will and Jesse’s characterization making them very much relatable.

I’m docking half a star from this book because I feel that it doesn’t need too much BDSM scenes to fully emphasize the theme. I mean their characterizations were so on point that extra dialogues wouldn’t hurt the story. Nonetheless, this was an amazingly written story that let its readers dissect the dynamics of such relationship on and off the bed.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Published September 30th 2011 by Dreamspinner Press

Buy now:
Dreamspinner Press | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Leave a comment

Posted in Books

Tagged Anna Martin, Another Way, Another Way Series, BDSM, Book Review

Asia’s Next Top Model Cycle 3 Episode 9 – The Girl Who Flew To The Top

Posted on May 21, 2015 | Leave a comment

We’re halfway through the season and with six girls still vying for the title of Asia’s Next Top Model, emotions are definitely running high. Right Gani???

So after KB’s elimination last week, Gani find it unfair that Amanda get to stay over the Hong Kong rep citing Amanda’s third time trip at the bottom. Yup, that’s Gani people eversince the Close-up photoshoot where she was pitted against Monika for the Best Photo. She became the girl who bitched the most. And Tahlia – yeah, yeah – you get the drift people.

For the challenge, the girls had a sparring session with Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion, Bruno Pucci – and oohhyeahhh. Barbara’s all over the guy and won the challenge for being so focused. LOL

At the shoot, the girls wore gowns by resident judge Alex Perry and can I just say how amazing they are??!!! Arrgghh and the concept of the shoot was amazzzzzziiinnng!

At panel, after a few of not so great weeks – Amanda finally got the praises of everyone! Well deserved girl!!! I’d say this was her second best photo IMO next to the first episode.