Book Review: Slammed – Colleen Hoover

Posted on May 22, 2014 | 1 comment

13372690I am totally in love with this book! (I feel like I’ve been saying this line after every book I’ve finished! LOL). But hey, I guess that means I’ve gotten myself some great reads then. This book is so original and fresh and I love that there are no millionaire / billionaire / uber-handsome demigod characters or something of the sort here.

Following the unexpected death of her father, 18-year-old Layken is forced to be the rock for both her mother and younger brother. Outwardly, she appears resilient and tenacious, but inwardly, she’s losing hope.

Enter Will Cooper: The attractive, 21-year-old new neighbor with an intriguing passion for slam poetry and a unique sense of humor. Within days of their introduction, Will and Layken form an intense emotional connection, leaving Layken with a renewed sense of hope.

Not long after an intense, heart-stopping first date, they are slammed to the core when a shocking revelation forces their new relationship to a sudden halt. Daily interactions become impossibly painful as they struggle to find a balance between the feelings that pull them together, and the secret that keeps them apart. (source)

First off, It was written in such a way that would make you relate more with the characters. In Slammed, it was Layken’s character who narrates the story and boy, the book have this heavy emotional premise that you’d think it’d drag along the story but it didn’t! It was beautifully written and the whole thing about the Slam (poetry performance of some sort) was just as beautiful as the story. I am in love with Will’s character – His virtue’s admirable and being responsible and all – my heart’s breaking for him but I’m also proud of him. Layken on the other hand acts like a typical teenager but I enjoy getting to know her character more because she’s really a strong-willed person and does know what she wants in life. I like that the characters aren’t as perfect as they are written in some books like they have superpowers of some sort.

In Slammed, we readers are thrown into a situation where most would crumble and break down and it was nice how Layken and Will were able to cope up with life and become responsible despite their very young age. I even cried in this book several times. Oh well, I’m such a crybaby. Or perhaps I could just easily relate since both my parents have passed away as well.

After reading the whole thing, I feel like revisiting the old me who loves writing poems, copla and even songs. Yes, I was inspired by the idea of the book but more than anything else, I got inspired by the character themselves. Will and Layken are totally hard to forget…

 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

 

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Book Review: Stars & Stripes (Book 6 Of Cut & Run Series) – Abigail Roux

Posted on May 22, 2014 | Leave a comment
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This book would have to be the sweetest and funniest in the series! This was also the book where both of our character finally came out to their respective families! Yay! Exciting times!

Special Agents Ty Grady and Zane Garrett have managed the impossible: a few months of peace and quiet. After nearly a year of personal and professional turmoil, they’re living together conflict-free, work is going smoothly, and they’re both happy, healthy, and home every night before dark. But anyone who knows them knows that can’t possibly last.

When an emergency call from home upsets the balance of their carefully arranged world, Ty and Zane must juggle family drama with a perplexing crime to save a helpless victim before time runs out.

From the mountains of West Virginia to a remote Texas horse ranch harboring more than just livestock and childhood memories, Ty and Zane must face their fears—and their families—to overcome an unlikely enemy and bring peace back into their newly shared world

From the beginning until the end, I find myself grinning from ear to ear. The text jokes their sharing at the office was just HI-llarious I’m laughing my a$$ of for real! I also loved how they now have Smith & Wesson (the two evil cats of Julian Cross) in their care and “conspiring” against Zane. LOL. That was just funny! Oh, you just gotta love Ty’s grandpa right? The coming out scene with Ty’s family quite touching to be honest! I love how they totally accepted Zane in the family and I was tearing up because Ty have been keeping that secret for like the longest time now!!! I’m so glad for both of them!

Then we have Zane’s wealthy family in Texas and his Monster Mom! I just love how everyone (except his Mom) notices how Zane’s so happy with Ty! Ty’s just hilarious and gave some of the best punch lines here! Gosh, I’m totally waving Team Ty’s flag here yeah? LOL. I just love how both of them complimented each other so much! I somehow wished that they were actually real!!!!!!! Or yes, please – I’ve been dying to post something here about it – they have to make this series into a film! I swear. Oh hell, If I have the money in the world. I’d do it in a heartbeat! This book’s a complete package of some sort. It’s funny, romantic, action-packed with a very nice finish! Oh, I love you Abigail Roux!

 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars!

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Book Review: Armed & Dangerous (Book 5 Of Cut & Run Series) – Abigail Roux

Posted on May 21, 2014 | Leave a comment
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This is the first solo effort of Abigail Roux in the Cut & Run series and I’ve to say that she’s done a damn good job on keeping the fans hungry for more Ty and Zane adventure! This book was LOVE! We meet new characters – a version of Ty (if I may say) by the name of Julian Cross! And some big revelations as well as some sweet-sweet moments from Meow Mix and Lone Star!

Left alone in Baltimore after his unpredictable lover bails, Special Agent Zane Garrett takes his frustration out on everything in his path until he is ordered to Chicago to back up an undercover operative. When he gets there, though, he finds himself face to face with his wayward partner, Special Agent Ty Grady. They have to deal with the uncertainty lingering between them while they work to retrieve their intended mark, a retired hit man and CIA wet-works operative named Julian Cross.

Ty, once a marine and now an FBI hotshot, has a penchant for being unpredictable, a trait Zane can vouch for. Zane is a man who once lived for his job but has come to realize his heartbreaking past doesn’t have to overshadow his future. They’re partners, friends, lovers, and the go-to team for unusual cases. With Cross and his innocuous boyfriend, Cameron Jacobs, in tow, Ty and Zane must navigate the obstacles of a cross-country trek, including TSA pat-downs, blizzards, their uncooperative prisoners, CIA kill teams, a desperate lack of sleep or caffeine, and each other. Ty and Zane are determined to get Julian Cross to DC in one piece, but it’s starting to look like it might be the last thing they do.

Now this effort of Abigail Roux’s crazy good! First, can I just say how relieved I am that Zane was finally part of Ty’s black ops (even as a mere back up) and he was able to finally give the gift he bought for Ty in Book 3.  Awwee… that compass pendant!!! Yes!

“Why a compass?” Ty asked. He hadn’t taken his eyes off Zane’s yet.
Zane smiled and ran his thumb across the pendant. “Because you gave me direction when I was lost. You showed me the way.” He looked up to meet Ty’s eyes. “You’re like my very own compass.”

Ty’s still my man here – the crazy, the sweet man I’ve come to know and Zane’s still the understanding guy who gladly tolerated his lover. Gosh, I swear these two are dynamites! The confrontation between Nick O’Flaherty and Zane went smoothly though and what a revelation from Nick! I was aghast upon learning one of Ty’s secret. Oh, my heart broke from what they’ve been through. I’m also glad that Zane’s all very understanding and Ty loving him was just awwee-worthy.

The other couple (Julian Cross & Cameron Jacobs) was  getting on my nerves especially Julian but after reading Warrior’s Cross (their story in the Cut and Run network) I think I finally understood them.

Now Ty’s always delivering the funny banters here and the hot sex’s still there! Yay! I’m just glad that they are really getting to know each other more – I love the progress in their relationship and Zane being sweet and all like Ty. *sigh* I just love these two.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars!

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Book Review: Walking Disaster – Jamie McGuire

Posted on May 20, 2014 | Leave a comment

Published April 2nd 2013 by Atria Books

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Walking Disaster narrated everything that happened in Beautiful Disaster but this time, it was told from Travis perspective. Both books are nearly identical (except for this book’s epilogue) so if you want to start reading the series – you can start with either although I highly suggest you start with Beautiful Disaster.

I actually find Travis’s perspective more interesting than Abby’s ( although I was totally raving about the first book after reading it). Here, we see everything through the mind of Travis and his rough, bad-ass boy facade. And of-course, we don’t have Abby’s quite annoying habit of being stupid. It’s also a given that we see more of the Maddox Family – learn more about them especially the things that made them stronger. In this book, you will also discover the history behind Pigeon (Travis’s nickname to Abby).

You see, I’ve raved about Beautiful Disaster like crazy but If I’ve read this one first, I think I will find this much more fun. As  interesting as it was, it gets kinda repetitive but I still enjoyed it. So if you’re like uber-addicted now with these two – you better get a copy of this book.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

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Book Review: Divide & Conquer (Book 4 Of Cut & Run Series) – Abigail Roux & Madeleine Urban

Posted on May 20, 2014 | Leave a comment
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This is the last book that both Abigail and Madeleine co-authored and as usual, the book still has its magic! In Divide & Conquer, Baltimore, Maryland, is a city in alarming distress. Rising violence is fanning the flames of public outrage, and all law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, are catching blame. Thus the FBI’s latest ideas to improve public relations: a municipal softball league and workshops for community leaders. But the new commitments just mean more time Special Agents Ty Grady and Zane Garrett have to spend apart when they’re happily exploring how to be more than by-the-book partners.

Then the latest spate of crime explodes in their faces—literally—throwing the city, the Bureau, and Ty and Zane’s volatile partnership both in and out of the office into chaos. They’re hip-deep in trouble, trying to track down bombers and bank robbers in the dark with very few clues, and the only way to reach the light at the end of the tunnel together requires Ty and Zane to close their eyes and trust each other to the fiery end. [source]

Here, we see a lot of conflicts amongst our characters and we meet the Sidewinder team (Ty’s Recon team). The duo’s affection for each other is growing each day with them being assigned to deskwork after their successful undercover job from the last book. Here, the two are always on the brink of dying after getting the ire of the group terrorizing the city of Baltimore. This was also the part of the series when Ty finally came out to his team and getting the shock of his life when his bestfriend (Nick O’ Flaherty) in the team admitted loving him for a long time now and the sucker kissed him and Ty kissed him back and enjoyed it! WTF?! You see, (now this is getting spoiler-ish) Zane went blind for a time due to an explosion and Ty took care of him and in all fairness to Ty, he admitted the incident to him. Now would this be the reason for Zane not to say I LOVE YOU back to Ty? Now, you’ve got to read the whole thing! It’s maddening, it’s still swoony and you’d learn more about Ty and Zane and the Sidewinder team. Ugh, I’m still upset about the kiss but I guess I’m quite glad it happened…you gotta check it out peeps.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars!

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Book Review: Something Like Summer – Jay Bell

Posted on May 19, 2014 | Leave a comment

Published January 5th 2011 by Smashwords (first published January 1st 2010)

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I truly enjoyed reading this book. I loved all of its characters and its storyline. It started in 1996 as told by Benjamin Bentley, a gay high school student and his young love with the rich, “still in-denial” Tim Wyman.

Love, like everything in the universe, cannot be destroyed. But over time it can change.

The hot Texas nights were lonely for Ben before his heart began beating to the rhythm of two words; Tim Wyman. By all appearances, Tim had the perfect body and ideal life, but when a not-so-accidental collision brings them together, Ben discovers that the truth is rarely so simple. If winning Tim’s heart was an impossible quest, keeping it would prove even harder as family, society, and emotion threaten to tear them apart.

Something Like Summer is a love story spanning a decade and beyond as two boys discover what it means to be friends, lovers, and sometimes even enemies. (source)

The whole high school setting was really well-written. There wasn’t much conflicts in that aspect aside from the ones coming from our main characters themselves (Ben and Tim).

Overtime (in a span of 12 years, ) Ben and Tim broke up, found someone else, they meet again and someone actually got married!

I don’t know why but all throughout this book, my heart’s breaking for Tim’s character. His character was mostly sad, scared and vulnerable mainly because he’s an unwanted child to begin with despite his wealthy family. He practically raised himself. I totally understand why Ben felt the need to protect him.

The whole vibe of the latter part of the book gave me that odd sense of de javu as if I’m watching the movie P.S. I Love You all over again. I just wished though that the ending was a bit longer. I felt that it was rushed (though it works well) because I’m like WTF? So they’re not getting back together???! I’m on the last few pages!!! OMMMMGGGG!!!!!! I’m literally on panic mode!

Written with sincere honesty and relatable characters, you’re sure to enjoy this book and take the journey with Ben and Tim.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

(Now this was the first book of what the author called “Season” / “Something Like…” series. The second book called Something Like Winter was written in Tim’s perspective and his own life journey. I’ve to see if I’d have the heart to read it since I’m still heartbroken for some reason – mainly for Tim – which is odd. Yeah, I guess I’m Team Tim )

And right now, I’m feeling totally giddy after finding out that Something Like Summer will have its own movie adaptation! OMG!!! #hyperventilating #jumping #screaming #crying #dying #Icant

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Book Review: Beautiful Disaster – Jamie McGuire

Posted on May 19, 2014 | 1 comment

 Published May 26th 2011 by Jamie McGuire

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Can I just tell you guys how I totally adore this book? I’ve read it non-stop in a day and I just couldn’t get over it – not just yet. The story was narrated by Abby Abernathy as a freshman college student in a new place and finding herself getting involved with Travis Maddox – a guy who’s everything that she was trying to escape from her past.

Abby Abernathy is a good girl. She doesn’t drink or swear, and she has the appropriate number of cardigans in her wardrobe. Abby believes she has enough distance from the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college with her best friend, her path to a new beginning is quickly challenged by Eastern University’s Walking One-Night Stand.

Travis Maddox, lean, cut, and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby wants—and needs—to avoid. He spends his nights winning money in a floating fight ring, and his days as the ultimate college campus charmer. Intrigued by Abby’s resistance to his appeal, Travis tricks her into his daily life with a simple bet. If he loses, he must remain abstinent for a month. If Abby loses, she must live in Travis’s apartment for the same amount of time. Either way, Travis has no idea that he has met his match

Travis is such a character. He’s very relatable, funny, charming, romantic and obnoxious at times. He’s what “realistic- boyfriend characters” are made of. Abby Abernathy on the other hand was a very annoying biatch. Don’t get me wrong though, I loved her character but most of the times – she’s borderline annoying because she’s so dense! At some point of the book I’m like, “WTF? Do you even have a brain girl?” I gotta love her back-story though but ‘am quite disappointed that that part of the book was way too short.

The story was almost on a normal scale – reality wise. The secondary characters are also well-written. The most exciting amongst them are the Maddox Brothers themselves (which I’ve already know that a book was about to be released starting with Trenton! Yay!)

This was overall a very good read. It was mostly romantic that sometimes its borderline cheesy but hey when it comes to the business of love, who isn’t?

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

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Book Review: Fish & Chips (Book 3 Of Cut & Run Series) – Abigail Roux & Madeleine Urban

Posted on May 19, 2014 | Leave a comment
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Now, this is easily my favorite amongst the series because this is the part of the series where, finally, one of them (it’s our sweet Ty) uttered those stupid words. Fish & Chips may also be the funniest among the series when the duo was assigned to do an undercover assignment posing as a married couple! Yay! How exciting is that?! Ty especially has to go under some drastic makeover sporting platinum blond hair—whoot hoot! We also learned more about Tyler’s ability to mimic accents! I would love to hear that sexy British accent.

Special Agents Ty Grady and Zane Garrett are back on the job, settled into a personal and professional relationship built on fierce protectiveness and blistering passion. Now they’re assigned to impersonate two members of an international smuggling ring-an out-and-proud married couple-on a Christmas cruise in the Caribbean. As their boss says, surely they’d rather kiss each other than be shot at, and he has no idea how right he is. Portraying the wealthy criminals requires a particular change in attitude from Ty and Zane while dealing with the frustrating waiting game of their assignment. As it begins to affect how they treat each other in private, Ty and Zane realize there’s more to being partners than watching each other’s backs, and when the case takes an unexpected turn and threatens Ty’s life, Ty and Zane will have to navigate seas of white lies and stormy secrets, including some of their own.






 





Ty’s such a character here, and I love how the two could easily be affectionate with each other (of course with the undercover thingy and all), but it was fun seeing them able to do that without having to worry about the people around them. Ty’s such a sex kitten here, and he’s very funny as well, especially with that “beefcake” question. LOL. That got me rolling on the floor, to be honest. We also see here the sweet side of Zane. C’mon, man, stop over-analyzing everything. Goodness!





It’s ridiculous how both authors could come up with such a good story line! It was concise, yet you won’t ask for more because there was enough stuff going on with our characters. The Italian biatch was really funny as well, and Ty was just hilarious, being crazy and all. Oh, how I totally adore these two. Fish and chips is pure magic! I can’t wait to reread it! Ciao!

							

	
			

				
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Book Review: Sticks & Stones (Book 2 Of Cut & Run Series) – Abigail Roux & Madeleine Urban


			

				Posted on May 18, 2014 | Leave a comment
			


				

				


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Okay, now we’ve established that I’m totally obsessed with this series, which, by the way, I’ve already finished and am on my way to reading titles under “Cut & Run Network.” Let me tell you a little bit about this second book in the series, though. It’s called Sticks & Stones (yes, from the old adage, sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me). It was yet again another swoony novel from our two lovely FBI agents, partners, lovers, and f-buddies. Here, we witnessed how Ty Grady’s kind of falling in love with his partner, Zane Garrett, especially after what happened in New York.





Six months after nearly losing their lives to a serial killer in New York City, FBI Special Agents Ty Grady and Zane Garrett are suffering through something almost as frightening: the monotony of desk duty. When they’re ordered to take a vacation for the good of everyone’s sanity, Ty bites the bullet and takes Zane home with him to West Virginia, hoping the peace and quiet of the mountains will give them the chance to explore the explosive attraction they’ve so far been unable to reconcile with their professional partnership. Ty and Zane, along with Ty’s father and brother, head up into the Appalachian mountains for a nice, relaxing hike deep into the woods… where no one will hear them scream. They find themselves facing danger from all directions: unpredictable weather, the unrelenting mountains, wild animals, fellow hikers with nothing to lose, and the most terrifying challenge of all. Each other. [source]





So Ty took Zane home to take some time off from their traumatic New York adventure. Here, Zane was introduced to the uber-funny Grady family. Oh, I love Ty’s grandpa! And her mother is such a quirky character. His brother Deacon’s so cool, and his dad—agh. I want to punch that guy! Anyways, so they went hiking (which the Grady boys are regularly doing), and they found themselves in danger from treasure hunters and lions! Yikes! This was funnier and more intense than the first one, if I may say so. The chemistry between the two is undeniable, and their feelings are blossoming. Oh, and Ty told Deacon that he could love Zane if the guy would let him. How sweet is that? There’s still the rather steamy sex scene (the one in the wood’s rather hawt), and in this book, Zane celebrated his birthday in that hot, hot scene! LOL. More of Ty’s behavior here was also established—his loyalty, his vulnerability, and just how much he cares for Zane. Sticks & Stones was more of a Ty book, to say the least, but it was still awfully good with Zane just adding the right love-jabs!





“I like being able to wake up with you. I like knowing you’ll be there if I need you,” he continued, obviously uncomfortable with what he was saying but refusing to be deterred now that he’d begun. “I like being with you, Zane. And I’d like to keep that up now that you’re here,” he admitted shakily. He met Zane’s eyes determinedly. “I want you.” Who could even resist this guy after saying this?





So there, folks, Sticks & Stones is the continuation of a beautiful series, and you really need to catch up with it. It’s totally addicting! They are totally my new favorite book couple!





Rating: 5 out of 5 stars!

							

	
			

				
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Review: The Odd Life Of Timothy Green (2012)


			

				Posted on May 17, 2014 | 1 comment
			


				

				
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The Odd Life Of Timothy Green is a magical story of a boy who mysteriously showed up in the doorstep of a loving couple (Jennifer Garner & Joel Edgerton) who have been trying to get pregnant but couldn’t get a break. As if an answer to their prayers, Timothy showed up and brought something in their small town – the realization about the wonderful gift of life itself.


The film obviously poses the big H-O-W question but does it really matter? The tenderness of the story was a valid enough reason to disregard the utterly unrealistic and unexplainable apperance of the sweet, good-spirited Timothy. What transpired in the film was how Timothy’s existence proved to be some sort of a miracle to the people around him.


No extraordinary performances here but you’ve got to adore CJ Adams (Timothy) here. It struck you sometimes how an actor could easily lure you to watch their work regardless of its merit. Sometimes it all boils down to a great casting agent.


‘twas a feel good film that’s perhaps forgettable but while on it, you find yourself warming to it, being moved by it and oddly, smiling widely from ear to ear.


Director: Peter Hedges


Cast: Jennifer Garner, Joel Edgerton, Dianne Wiest, Odeya Rush, CJ Adams, Rosemarie DeWitt, Ron Livingston, David Morse, Common, Shohreh Aghdashloo, M. Emmet Walsh, Lois Smith


 Rating: 7.5/10

							

	
			

				
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