Book Review: Wanting – Piper Vaughn

via Goodreads

via Goodreads

Free short fiction. Written for the M/M Romance Group’s “Hot Summer Days” anthology.

Jonah Beckett has been in love with his older brother’s best friend, Laurie, since he was thirteen-years-old. When his boyfriend, Dirk, breaks up with him for refusing to put out, Jonah uses his heartbreak over the situation as an excuse to ask Laurie to teach him all about sex before he starts college in the fall. Problem is, he made Dirk up, and Jonah has no idea what will happen when Laurie finally finds out the truth. Via Goodreads

Reading this makes me feel like watching an episode of “Dawson’s Creek”. I loved the relaxed vibe of the story. And c’mon what is more beautiful that young love? I just have some issues about the lack of stronger conflict. It’s there but it wasn’t really felt – know what I mean? But yeah, this shortie is still a very good effort from the author J

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Book Review: Drama Queers – Frank Anthony Polito

Bradley Dayton. Band Fag. Drama Queer. President of Thespian Troupe #4443. He’s gay. Err… He’s not a fag. I mean he is but…

via Goodreads

via Goodreads

I wished I could appreciate this more because it definitely reminds me so much of my high school days and most of my years in College doing student productions and all but sadly, it took me a bit of effort to last until the end. The book’s the companion of Frank Anthony Polito’s coming of age novel  Band Fags! released in 2008. Drama Queers centers on Brad Dayton (the best friend of Jack Paterno – who’s the central character in Band Fags!) and it chronicles the senior year of Brad in high school as he navigates his way through life from friendship, love and his aspirations.

I totally adore Brad and there are moments in the book that I’ve to stop because I was laughing too hard but most of the time, I feel like drowning with all the pop culture references. I find myself getting annoyed following the sequence of the story. Nonetheless, I thought it was real honest and the writing was really, really good. Can’t say I enjoyed it a lot but there’s something to chew on in it.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Book Review: Billy Jean – Al Stewart & Claire Davis

23198869Billy Jean is a product of the Love’s Landscapes promotion offered by the Goodreads MM Romance Group. I love the quirky fetish involved here that was supposed to be the secret of the dance student Niall to his very butch cop boyfriend Dan. ‘twas a cute story to say the least. I thought Niall reminded me of Eli (from Bad in Baltimore series by K A Mitchell) who’s been keeping a secret from his boyfriend and has a very low self-esteem. It was short so the story was rather condensed in a good way but it felt really rushed. I was hoping the story would offer more about the Dan as a regular gay guy other than being a bad-ass cop. But het, there’s not much to complain here, it was a short read and I’d enjoy passing the time reading it.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Download the story HERE.

Prepping For Miss Universe 2014 – MJ Lastimosa Is The Girl On Fire!

via Leo Almodal's IG account

via Leo Almodal’s IG account

Just recently, Miss Universe Philippines 2014 Mary Jean Lastimosa donned a Leo Almodal number in a photoshoot posted via Almodal’s instagram which garnered tremendous positive feedbacks from pageants fans netizens who are all hoping for Lastimosa to do well in the upcoming Miss Universe pageant in Miami January of next year. The fiery evening gown silhouetted Lastimosa’s enviable figure and accented her beautiful bone structure.

Lastimosa is considered a favorite for the crown this early on and a lot of Filipino pageant pundits are hoping that she’d actually be donning a Filipino designer-made ensemble come Miss Universe season. And personally, her dress and styling here spells WINNER. Well, hope springs eternal guys… let’s just really hope for the best O_o

Who’s Your Winner Of America’s Next Top Model Cycle 21?

pictures via cwtv.com

pictures via cwtv.com

Four models remains in the hopes of winning America’s Next Top Model – Cycle 21. Who’s it going to be this time? At last week’s episode, Lenox Tillman almost got the boot when she was pitted in the bottom two over fellow season’s favorite Shei Phan but managed to join the three guys in the finale becoming the last girl standing. Adam Smith snagged the first call out with Keith Carlos and Will Jardell getting the second and third call-outs respectively. Will Lenox be able to make her presence felt over the testosterone-filled two part finale next week? IMO, Lenox is the strongest model amongst the four and she kinda reminds me of Cycle 16 winner Brittany Kline in terms of modeling but I’ve a feeling that a guy will be on top this season – I love Will but my gut feel tells me that it’s either Adam or Keith who’s going to take the top plum. That’s just for me though, but do tell me who you think will win the title of America’s Next Top Model O_o

Catch the part one of the finale on  December 5, 2014 (8/7c) and the part two on the same day at (9/8c) on CWTV

Jurassic World’s Hybrid Dinosaur (?)

I’ve just been watching all of the trailers I’ve missed over the last few weeks and of course, the fourth installment of the Jurassic Park film series, Jurassic World got me all pumped up since I first saw its teaser – then its trailer [and got to see it first on TV over the news – mind you] I’m like, OMG. Tis’ makes me feel really old though. 🙂

Here’s the official trailer

I was kinda wondering though about the hybrid dinosaur they were talkin’ about and saw this “alleged” leaked image of the hybrid dinosaur called the D-REX (?)

DRex

via comicbookmovie.com

But really, more than anything else…I’m just really excited for the whole thing. I still remember my amazement the first time I’ve seen Jurassic Park and The Lost World on VHS! Yay! Now this…its gonna be a crazy 2015 with all these movies coming up!

Valerie Weigmann For Miss World 2014 Top Model Event

Val during the Top Model Event

Val during the Top Model Event

via The Emerald

Here’s what Miss Philippines Valerie Weigmann wore during the Top Model fast track event of the on-going Miss World 2014 in London.

via missworld.com

Val for the World Designer Award representing a creation from Michael Cinco via missworld.com

This yellow ball gown was designed by Michael Cinco. Reigning Miss World Megan Young won this fast track event last year in Bali.

Trivia: Back in 2012, Michael Cinco’s creation for Queenerich Rehman won the World Designer Award.

Update: Unfortunately, Val was not part of the Top 20 finalists for the Top Model Event. Based on recent Miss World trends, making an impression in this fast track event is a good indication of making it very far in the competition but I think it’s too early to tell that this would prevent Val from getting ahead since there are still fast track events in store for the girls plus the all-important judges one-on-one interview. Let’s just keep supporting Valerie and pray that she’d do all throughout the competition 🙂

Book Review: Indebted (The Premonition #3) – Amy A. Bartol

via Goodreads

via Goodreads

It must have been my initial reaction to the series that made me decide to give its third book a shot. I mean, I loved most of the characters in the series but as it progresses, It somehow became repetitive with Evie, the main protagonist becoming so overbearing.

In this installment of The Premonition series, Evie find herself questioning the loyalty of her heart amongst the three “love interest” and between her “two families” [the Angels & The Gagcanagh’s].

Let me be totally honest here. Evie’s the one bringing all the trouble to begin with. Why can’t she just freaking stick to one thing! At least for once! She’s lucky people she’s messing up with keeps on forgiving her. Why can’t they just be mean to her just for once? While reading this, I was thinking that she’s the single most annoying heroine I’ve ever read of all time!

It’s also interesting to note that Russell yet again tried to become the hero but to no avail. Why do we even need his POV? Like seriously? He wasn’t even born half-angel and he’s getting all-Evie like whilst evolving. I was like, what’s up with that? Suddenly, he’s powerful and all. Evie should at least have some superior power over her “creation” right?

Okay, so I’d stop bitching about this now but surely, you can tell that I really didn’t enjoy this book. I’m not even sure I’d read the fourth book sooner (which I’ve already bought prior to reading the first book) especially after learning the fifth book is slated to be release next year. Oh, please – NEXT!

Rating: 1 out of 5 stars

Book Review: Intuition (The Premonition #2) – Amy A. Bartol

via Goodreads

via Goodreads

The first book of this series got me all excited to read its second installment and it raised the bar pretty high that’s why I end up a bit disappointed with this one. I just really want to mention something about the three main characters here – Genevieve, Reed and Russell.

Genevieve – There’s something seriously wrong with this half human – half angel. She’s like the most inconsiderate /selfish heroine I’ve ever known in this genre. In the first book, I love how she’s carrying the girl power banner and how she’s like an overachiever and is supposed to be smart. Here though, everything went spiraling down for her character. It was like a character assassination / suicide – whatever you wanna call it. She became too emotional, irrational and to put it simply – dimwit. And for geez sake! She’s flirting with three other guys and can’t seem to make a decision – a rational one for that matter. She’s actually the one abusing the trust of people around her and is also very abusive to Reed if I may say so. I just hate the fact that during the first book, she was this strong, amazing woman and here, she became a wimpy half-angle when she’s supposed to be evolving into something superior – well, she did evolve physically at least.

Reed – I love Reed’s character from the very start and I find it weird that the author didn’t try to tell the story or at least have chapters in this book through his POV. His age and history would’ve been sufficient enough to tell something more about him. Instead, he became the martyr lover who think that it was his entire fault [yeah, yeah I get that it was in his nature to protect] for being unable to protect the thick headed Evie.

Russell – Really? The way he speaks was inconsistent. Gosh, I hate the way I could hear that accent in my head. It was annoying as hell and I don’t really see the point of giving him more than a couple of chapters [POV-wise]

I really thought that this second book lacked focus and became a bit self-indulgent midway till the end. I didn’t like the way the author made Evie’s character like she’s got a multiple personality disorder. She was such a kick-ass in the first book which is ironic because here, she keeps on getting physically stronger along with her supernatural powers but her personality isn’t developing at all. She’s becoming an emotional wreck. I guess I’m just totally disappointed with the whole thing – it really dwindled down for me big time but I’m hanging in there for the next book.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Book Review: Fighting Dirty – Olley White

21955382I haven’t read anything written by Olley White until I saw this on MM Romance Group’s Love’s Landscapes event and I’m sure glad that I downloaded it [for free! yay!]

With less than twenty-five page to tell this story, the author was able to deliver vibrancy with her characters. Ethan Reed is fighting for a chance to better his life – by winning a “fighting” tournament to become part of the King’s Army. For his final opponent, he was fitted against Charlie Fitzwilliam who came from a ruling class and whom he’d been pining since he was a young boy. With him winning said tournament, he wondered if there’ll be a chance for them now that they’re almost equal.

Coverwise – the book is probably one of the best I’ve seen this year. I love an enticing cover paired with an equally stunning story! I really wished though that this was a full on novel. I could very well imagine some really good plot lines for this couple. With a longer version, the author would be able to tell more about the two – although given the length of her story, I thought she did extremely well in providing some backstory for both Ethan and Charlie. This short story without question is a gem and people should go ahead and download it right now! Hello people! It’s free!

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Download the story HERE