My Thoughts on Binibining Pilipinas 2021 Coronation Night!

I absolutely loved this edition of Binibining Pilipinas and it may actually be the one of the best editions for me. What’s freaking insane is that it is the first time it was actually televised in real-time! And with no live audience too well…because Covid. Ahem. So, I have to talk about a few things this edition has offered us.

The Binibining Pilipinas 2021 was supposed to be the year 2020 edition but due to the pandemic, it was moved a year later which is the very first time the pageant was not held since it’s inception in 1964. However, Samantha Mae Bernardo, Binibining Pilipinas 2019 Second Runner-up and was a contestant of the supposed 2020th edition was appointed the Philippines’ representative to the 2020-2021 Miss Grand International earlier this year making her the only title holder to wear a 2020th sash! So many fun facts!

Another first for this edition is its all-female hosts with two former Binibining Pilipinas queens – Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray and 2016 Binibining Pilipinas Grand International and 2016 Miss Grand International First Runner-up, Nicole Cordoves. Catriona and Nicole not only made a Binibini history last night, they also did an incredible job that it’s hard to imagine them not doing this every single year moving forward!

The Stage: It looks amazing! It was simple and classy looking with its three gigantic led screens! Easier

The Opening: Donning yellow, orange and lime-green cocktails dresses, the girls dances a to a new Binibining Pilipinas song! It was catchy and they all looked absolutely amazing! The introduction was a sight to behold too, showing each Bibibini in their respective National Costumes! It was marvelous! The costumes are simply to die for! Why are we not seeing these kind of costumes in the international level though? Hmmm…

The board of judges are also a batch of impressive panel that includes Rajo Laurel, Maria Garcia, Dioceldo Sy, Benito Bengzon Jr, Pinky Webb, Enrique Gil, Miss International 2016 Kylie Versoza and the ever-so-beautiful actress Liza Soberano! Can I just say that Liza looked like a goddess last night!

First two set of awards:

Best in National Costume: Nueva Ecija, Marian Ruth Erika Quin


Miss Friendship: Tagum City, Lesley Anne Ticaro
Miss Talent: Bocaue, Bulacan, Vianca Louise Marcelo
Miss Photogenic: Manila, Patrizia Mariah Garcia
Miss Alagang Silka: Angeles, Pampanga, Ma. Francesca Taruc
Jag Denim Queen: Masbate, Hannah Arnold
Miss World Balance: Olongapo, Alexandra Faith Garcia
Miss Ever Bilena: Batangas, Maureen Montagne
Miss Piza Hut: Iloilo, Karen Laurrie Mendoza
Manila Bulleting Readers Choice Award: Batangas, Mica Rosal

Last batch and some major awards:

Bb. Araneta City: Angeles, Pampanga, Maria Francesca Taruc
Miss Creamsilk: Batangas, Maureen Montagne

Best in Swimsuit: Valenzeula, Meiji Cruz
Best in Long Gown: Eastern Samar, Gabrielle Basiano

The proceedings was fast! The top 12 were announced right away plus a Top 13th people’s choice voted via the Binibining Pilipinas app, and they paraded in Swimsuit and their beautiful Evening gown! It was such a glorious sight!

My favorites for the swimsuit round are: Maureen Montagne, Hannah Arnold and Meiji Cruz.

As for the Evening Gown, it was obviously Gabrielle Basiano with that presentation that totally nailed the round! Another one of my favorite for this round is Hannah Arnold with her baby pink gown ensemble and Graciella Lehman with her effortless pasarela!

As each finalists is called into the top 12/13, she will deliver a short message about her pandemic experience (this is almost similar to the opening speech in the Miss Universe during its 2018 and 2019 edition)

Here are my on the spot notes last night for each finalists!

  1. Eastern Samar, Gabrielle Basiano – too short, prolly got nervous but very beautiful face.
  2. Manila, Patrizia Mariah Garcia – reminds me of Aya Abesamis. Very simple message. Challenging governance…
  3. Iloilo, Karen Laurrie Mendoza – Loved her accent! talks about mental illness is not a sign of weakness, you are heard, you matter – a really thoughtful and relevant message.
  4. Oriental Mindoro, Graciella Lehman – talked about being a cabin crew and to be in the service of fellow Filipinos.
  5. Angeles Pampanga, Francesca Taruc – to be more grateful and appreciate little things in life. Quick. Message was okayish.
  6. Valenzuela, Meiji Cruz (Cat said Venezuela – a cute mistake) – loved her Pinoy accent, very good message. Unity, compassion together we can heal!
  7. Albay, Jashmin Dimaculangan – very on point message!!! talks about Typhoon Ulysses during the pandemic
  8. Cavite, Samantha Panlilio – very good communication skills, her family are from the tourism industry and how in perseverance we can survive this pandemic.
  9. Quezon Province, Patricia Babista – being a frontliner, aims to face a new world with a healthier, braver and kinder human
  10. Rizal Province, Honey Cartasano – loved her styling! regain her purpose thru volunteering in helping her kababayan!
  11. Masbate, Hannah Arnold – As a forensic science graduate she wanted the country to invest on science and prevent another pandemic. Very good.
  12. Batangas, Maureen Montagne – I witness firsthand the true beauty and strength of community. Siargao community pantry, together we can overcome any obstacle. Lovely messaging too!
    People’s Choice / Fan Vote
  13. Cagayan de Oro – Misamis Oriental – Cinderella Fae Obeñita very good messaging! With her personality, I wonder why she missed the first cut in the first place…

Another segment is an interview with Miss International 2013 Bea Rose Santiago who’s battling a end-stage renal failure and she delivered a lovely message of hope to the girls and to us viewers! Get well soon, Bea!

Can I just talk about how amazing the Evening Gown presentation was? I mean, that’s international level of production! Each girl in the top 13 talks about their chosen gown and the symbolism it represents! So powerful!

Moving on to the ‘dreaded’ Q&A, it’s obvious that a lot of girls were nervous. Overall, I thought they all gave amazing answers! It just boils down to presentation and how confident they are with their answers!

The one that top this segment is surprisingly Miss Cagayan de Oro – Misamis Oriental Cinderella Fae Obeñita. She just sealed her win with that answer!

Winners!

Second Runner-up: Meiji Cruz, Valenzuela

I loved Meiji. She’s such a stunner but I didn’t expect her to place this high after the Q&A but overall, she’s probably in the upper tier of the scoreboard to nab this title.

First Runner-up: Gabrielle Basian, Borongan Eastern Samar

Her Q&A wasn’t that bad. I thought she gave an apt answer to the question even though she faltered a bit. It’s obvious that her performance there affected her overall placement. I thought she’d get one of the major titles if I’m being honest pegging her to win the Bb. Pilipinas-Intercontinental title.

Binibining Pilipinas Globe 2021: Maureen Montagne, Batangas

I really thought that Maureen would either win the International or the Grand International title so I was very surprised that she got Globe! It’s still a crown after all and she very much deserved a crown, regardless of the title! She was unstoppable last night!

Binibining Pilipinas Intercontinental 2021: Cinderella Fae Obeñita, Miss Cagayan de Oro – Misamis Oriental

As I’ve mentioned above, her gift of gab is her major strength that none of the girls probably expected! She was such a revelation and she should thank her lucky stars that she won the fan vote! Tonight was her destiny fulfilled!

Binibining Pilipinas Grand International 2021: Samantha Panlilio, Cavite

Samantha is definitely one of the best speakers in this batch and I was also on the lookout for her during the first few months of the competition but that excitement died down as the other girls started to peaked so I was very much surprised that she was named to follow suit Samantha Bernardo in Miss Grand International. Samantha reminded me of the Binibining Pilipinas-Universe prototypes of the early 2000’s. I’m excited to see her transformation on her quest to win the first ‘golden crown’ for the Philippines.

Binibining Pilipinas International 2021 – Hannah Arnold, Masbate

Binibining Pilipinas International 2021: With the Miss Universe pageant no longer affiliated with Binibini, Miss International takes center stage as the premier crown for the most prestigious pageant in the country! Hannah Arnold rightfully and deservedly won this major crown last night with her flawless performance emulating a doll and humble demeanor which the Japanese couldn’t seem to resist! She’d definitely do well in Japan later this year!

Overall, I am just in awe of the level of production, the girls, the hosts, the judges – they just set a new standard on how to stage a pageant in the new normal!

Congratulations, Binibining Pilipinas!

Watch the full show of the Binibining Pilipinas 2021 Grand Coronation Night on their official Youtube Channel.

All images are courtesy of Binibining Pilipinas Official Facebook Page.

Book Review: The President is Missing by Bill Clinton and James Patterson

I’ve recently received a copy of this as a gift, and I wasn’t expecting much from it. I am not that familiar with Patterson’s style. However, I’ve read his Women’s Murder Club series and a couple (I think) from his Alex Cross, ages ago and I seem to remember generally liking his writing. And with President Bill Clinton as a collaborator, I thought this would be an interesting read given the premise of the book.

I do find the beginning of the book a bit slow and unexciting. I thought there are just too many details that won’t affect the plot without being too verbose. The title, by the way, was a catchy one. I mean, it’s the ‘President trying to save the US’ premise but with twists and turns that was quite compelling.

I find the President’s characterization a bit too much, If I’m honest. He is a former marine and a prisoner of war in Iraq who has lost his wife to cancer and has a blood disease too! I mean, the dude just couldn’t get a break in life. But hey, he’s the President, and it’s his responsibility to stop a virus from destroying the country!

Over time, I find myself not wanting to put it down! Hah! It’s admittedly quite engaging because it’s the state of affairs in the US and the entire world nowadays. Everything is online, and cyberterrorism is a critical issue facing particularly powerful nations such as the US.

I think it’s interesting to see a scenario like this and see what the President would do in such a situation, and with Bill Clinton at the helm of this story, it makes it more believable. We get insights into what a ‘good’ president / or good people in the government are willing to do for the common welfare of the country.

Overall, I thought it was enjoyable. I find the poignancy of the message from the President at the end quite touching, although it could get a bit preachy too, but hey, this is politics at the end of the day. I’d recommend this for people looking to read an excellent political thriller!

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Kindle Edition, 513 pages
Published June 4th 2018 by Little, Brown and Company and Knopf

About The Authors
James Patterson is one of the best-known and biggest-selling writers of all time. His books have sold in excess of 375 million copies worldwide. He is the author of some of the most popular series of the past two decades – the Alex Cross, Women’s Murder Club, Detective Michael Bennett and Private novels – and he has written many other number one bestsellers including romance novels and stand-alone thrillers.

James is passionate about encouraging children to read. Inspired by his own son who was a reluctant reader, he also writes a range of books for young readers including the Middle School, I Funny, Treasure Hunters, Dog Diaries and Max Einstein series. James has donated millions in grants to independent bookshops and has been the most borrowed author of adult fiction in UK libraries for the past eleven years in a row. He lives in Florida with his wife and son.

William Jefferson Clinton was the 42nd president of the United States. After leaving the White House, President Clinton established the William J. Clinton Foundation with the mission to strengthen the capacity of people in the United States and throughout the world to meet the challenges of global interdependence. His Clinton Global Initiative brings together global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing issues. He served as the UN Envoy for Tsunami Recovery and is now the UN Special Envoy to Haiti.

Please also note that this blog is reader-supported. When you buy through links on my site, I may earn an affiliate commission.

My Most Anticipated LGBTQIA Book Releases for July 2021!

Since it’s my birthday month, I thought I’d share with you guys some of the books I’m looking forward to get a hold of this month. Without further ado, here’s are my top picks in no particular order!

Sleight of Hand (The Kings: Wild Cards, #3) by Charlie Cochet

Blurb: Former Special Forces Green Beret, Sacha “Joker” Wilder, is well-versed on the subject of demolitions. As a silent partner of Four Kings Security, Joker spends his days working alongside his brothers-in-arms and his best boy, Chip—a bomb-sniffing Belgian Malinois with sass. Years of military and private security experience have prepared Joker for almost anything, except the explosive attraction between him and Giovanni Galanos.

When Gio returns from his travels abroad, everyone is charmed by the handsome billionaire philanthropist, but in Joker’s experience, anyone who’s too good to be true usually is. Gio is hiding something, but the more time Joker spends around Gio, the more his walls start crumbling, leaving him exposed and at risk of losing his heart, something he swore he would never do. Love is for suckers, and that’s not him.

For years Gio has dedicated his life to his charity work, helping people around the globe, but when things go horribly wrong during one particular trip, Gio decides it’s time to come home for good. The desire for family, and a certain ex-Green Beret with a chip on his shoulder, has Gio eager to restart his life Stateside. For all of Sacha’s blustering and griping, no one makes Gio feel safer. If only Sacha could see how right they are for each other.

Danger lurks in the shadows as someone sets their sights on Gio, and secrets are forced into the light. If Gio and Joker are to have any kind of future together, they’ll have to face difficult truths, because where love is concerned, it’ll take more than sleight of hand to make things work.

The Kings: Wild Cards series is a spin-off of the Four Kings Security series.

Love Springs Eternal (The Beacon Hill Sorcerer #5) by S.J. Himes

Blurb: Apprenticed to the infamous Necromancer of Boston, Daniel Macavoy has seen a lot of upheaval in his life since that fateful day. Rescued from an abusive father and the monster he was once enslaved by, Daniel has struggled with every trauma that scarred his heart and mind.

Yet with the love and support of his found family, Daniel has become stronger than he ever imagined. A capable sorcerer, he’s been entrusted with the ancestral family seat of the Salvatores, the legendary site of the Massacre, the culmination of the centuries long Blood Wars between the Salvatores and the Macavoys. The huge mansion is a testament to old school magic, high sorcery, and comes with a history almost as impressive as the enigmatic fae warrior who calls the gardens home.

Rory Brennan is immortal. A member of the nearly extinct High Court Sidhe, Rory remembers when humans climbed down from trees and learned to stand upright. His long life has been spent hand in hand with his identical twin, Cian, who happens to be locked in prison, sentenced to a thousand years for heinous crimes committed while Rory slept for centuries in stasis, hovering at the edge of death. Rory wakes to a modern world after his resurrection at the hands of the Necromancer of Boston, only to lose Cian to a mortal prison.

Once worshipped as a god, Rory Brennan is learning what it means to exist in a modern mortal world. Rory finds that for the very first time, true love has found its way into his immortal heart.

Daniel and Rory grow closer, love springing to life in the narrowing space between them. Daniel has concerns about Cian, the serial killer twin brother of the man he loves, and the repeated attempts of strangers trying to break into the Mansion. He’s got no idea what these strangers are after, and Rory is certain that Cian is in ever-growing danger locked up in Blackguard Prison.

With the danger increasing from all sides, Daniel and Rory struggle to balance surviving with falling in love. A dragon with a growth spurt isn’t helping matters, and his mentor’s watchful eye makes things both more awkward and potentially lethal.

LOVE SPRINGS ETERNAL is the fifth book in the bestselling Beacon Hill Sorcerer series and should not be read as a standalone.

Out of Character (True Colors #2) by Annabeth Albert

It’s friends-to-enemies-to-friends-to-lovers in this LGBTQIA+ Romance for fans of Red, White & Royal Blue and The Pros of Cons who enjoy:

Ex-best-friends falling in love
• Gaming, conventions, fandom & cosplay
• Nerd culture at its finest
• Learning how to be true to yourself

Jasper Quigley is tired of being everyone’s favorite sidekick. He wants to become the hero of his own life, but that’s not going to happen if he agrees to help out his former best friend turned king of the jocks, Milo Lionetti. High school was miserable enough, thanks, and Jasper has no interest in dredging up painful memories of his old secret crush.

But Milo’s got nowhere else to go. His life is spiraling out of control and he’s looking to turn things back around. Step one? Replace the rare Odyssey cards he lost in an idiotic bet. Step two? Tell his ex-best-friend exactly how he feels—how he’s always felt.

Jasper may be reluctant to reopen old wounds, but he never could resist Milo. There’s a catch, though: if Milo wants his help, he’s going to have to pitch in to make the upcoming children’s hospital charity ball the best ever. But as the two don cosplay for the kids and hunt for rare cards, nostalgia for their lost friendship may turn into something even more lasting…

Wildfire by Toni Draper


Blurb: After a difficult breakup, a wildland firefighter and university professor have parted ways, but neither has moved on. When a life threatening accident reunites them, can a love that once burned so bright be rekindled?

The Mastermind by Amy Lane

Blurb: Once upon a time in Rome, Felix Salinger got caught picking his first pocket and Danny Mitchell saved his bacon. The two of them were inseparable… until they weren’t. Twenty years later Danny returns to Chicago, the city he shared with Felix and their perfect, secret family, to save him again. Felix’s news network—the business that broke them apart—is under fire from an unscrupulous employee pointing the finger at Felix. An official investigation could topple their house of cards. The only way to prove Felix is innocent is to pull off their biggest con yet. But though Felix still has the gift of grift, his reunion with Danny is bittersweet. Their ten-year separation left holes in their hearts that no amount of stolen property can fill.

Body at Buccaneer’s Bay (Secrets and Scrabble, #5) by Josh Lanyon

Blurb: Dead Men Tell No Tales

Mystery Bookshop owner Ellery Page and Police Chief Jack Carson are diving for the legendary sunken pirate galleon Blood Red Rose when they discover an old fashioned diver’s suit, water-damaged and encrusted with barnacles. Further examination reveals the 19th Century suit contains a 21st Century body.

Who is the mysterious diver? No one seems to be missing from the quaint and cozy town of Pirate’s Cove. Was he really diving for pirate’s gold? And if not, what exactly did he do to earn that bullet hole in his skull?

The End Zone (Atlanta Lightning, #2) by Riley Hart

Jeremy
Seeing my best friend West, happy with his fiancé opened my eyes to things I’ve been missing in my own marriage. My divorce, which was amicable, followed. Strangely, at West’s wedding, I find myself confiding in Darren, the straight, confirmed bachelor and star quarterback of the Atlanta Lightning. Darren is a full-steam-ahead kind of guy, and one talk leads to hanging out, swapping phone numbers, and pranking West and Anson while they’re on their honeymoon. When I head back to California, I expect our chats to end, but I couldn’t be more wrong.

Darren
I still can’t say how it happened, how a random decision to strike up a conversation with Jeremy turned into…whatever this is. All I know is, months later, my days aren’t complete until we tell each other good night. Whether it’s on our calls or when he flies to Atlanta, we talk about everything, lying awake together half the night. Jeremy’s got me feeling…different. If it was just my newly discovered bisexuality, that’d be one thing. I’m not one to stress about being into a man for the first time. It’s the other stuff, the way he makes my pulse race and my heart swell, that’s throwing me for a loop.

I didn’t think I was made for relationships, thought something inside me was broken, but I want it all with him. Except, it feels like as soon as we make it past one obstacle, there’s an even bigger one waiting for us. We just have to keep our heads in the game and our eyes on the prize, to make it to the end zone, before one last tackle takes us down for good.

There’s actually a lot of releases this month, but they’re mostly part of a series which I have not read or didn’t like that much so here are my current list now!

Book Review: The Prince and His Bedeviled Bodyguard (Paranormal Princes #1) by Charlie Cochet

This was a cute little read. There’s this cute world building, almost like a cutesy version of Once Upon A Time but where there is a fairy tale world and the real life merging. Did I say cute? lol Okay, so it’s just over a hundred pages, with Owin, an ocelot shifter and his assigned bodyguard Grimm, a wolf-shifter exchanging banter all throughout the story.

At first, I was just annoyed with Owin’s acting like a little diva towards Grimm every now and then but I appreciate his growth over the course of his whole ‘quest’ – something that he needs to fulfill to show his worth as one of the crowned Princes of this Shifter World led by the naughty king of all shifters, Alarick.

What I loved most about the story is that it’s cute and quick. Initially Owin and Grimm’s banter felt a bit too much but since everything feels like happening simultaneously, there’s no room to overthink it. It isn’t as memorable as the other stories and characters from the author but I guess, not everything is on THIRDS level.

I do love the epilogue though. It was sweet and funny. I’d still recommend this one for some light and fun reading and I’d most likely be reading the next story in the series.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Kindle Edition, 154 pages
Published September 19th 2019

About the Author
Charlie Cochet is the international bestselling author of the THIRDS series. Born in Cuba and raised in the US, Charlie enjoys the best of both worlds, from her daily Cuban latte to her passion for classic rock.

Currently residing in Central Florida, Charlie is at the beck and call of a rascally Doxiepoo bent on world domination. When she isn’t writing, she can usually be found devouring a book, releasing her creativity through art, or binge watching a new TV series. She runs on coffee, thrives on music, and loves to hear from readers.

Please also note that this blog is reader-supported. When you buy through links on my site, I may earn an affiliate commission.

AmiAmi English Twitter’s 10th Anniversary Campaign!!!

July 2021 is the start of AmiAmi English Twitter Account’s 10th year and they are giving away 10,000 AmiAmi Points (10,000JPY worth) to 10 lucky winners in a campaign draw! Below are the rules on how you can participate while the campaign is still running!

AmiAmi is one of my trusted online shop for anime figures and other merch, and if you haven’t read my review / tips on how to use their website, do read it here: Ordering Anime Figures from AmiAmi. Best of luck!

Book Review: Pretenders by Alexa Land

Okay, so let me tell you first that I love me some fake boyfriend trope, and if there’s one author who could deliver it for me, it’s going to be Alexa Land. Her Tinder Chronicles is probably one of the best in the genre, and her First and Forever series is such a comfort read for me. Pretenders is no different. This is classic Alexa Land.

Wes needed someone to go to the wedding of his ex-boyfriend who’s marrying his big brother *gaspI know! I’m like –why would you do that to yourself? Anyway, so he decided to hire an escort to play the part. Then comes Ash, who’s not an escort but is the escort’s friend who decided to offer the job to him instead.

I just loved this couple. From their very first meeting, there’s already that spark between them, and the way they’re the opposite of each other made their ‘pretend relationship’ even sweeter in the face of Wes’ nasty family. ‘Loved that Ash played the part well and is always on Wes’ defense. I was just a bit annoyed by how passive Wes’ was towards his family, but yeah, that’s just me.

This was an easy read. It will not spoil anything, but you’d love how Wes and Ash’s relationship didn’t get too complicated throughout their agreement because they acted like the adult they are. It’s just fun, it’s funny, and it was so good seeing Nana and her crew too! I thought I was long over her whole gay shenanigans, but apparently, I still find the gang extremely adorable! If you’re looking for a quick and entertaining read, then this book should do the job.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Kindle Edition, 222 pages
Published May 29th 2021

About The Author
I write and independently publish M/M love stories. My best-selling Firsts and Forever series includes: Way Off Plan, All In, In Pieces, Gathering Storm, Salvation, Skye Blue, Against the Wall and Belonging etc…

I’ve also published Feral, a paranormal M/M romance, and The Tinder Chronicles, a paranormal trilogy.

For more information, please visit my blog at:http://alexalandwrites.blogspot.com/ Follow me on Twitter @AlexaLandWrites or find me on Facebook athttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?…

Please also note that this blog is reader-supported. When you buy through links on my site, I may earn an affiliate commission.

Book Review: Code Red by N.R. Walker

Code Red follows the story of Maddox Kershaw, frontman for the mega superstar band Atrous. It is narrated by Roscoe Hall, one of the band’s managers (Maddox’s “personal” manager), who happens to be in love with Maddox and vice versa.

The book mainly focuses on the behind-the-scenes of one of the most famous acts in the world, the pressure of always being on top, of always being perfect, and delivering the goods to their fans. It also touched heavily on the mental health of Maddox, who happens to be the Beyoncé of the group.

The book was written in a single POV, which was very surprising, rather refreshing because it’s been ages since I’ve read something with a single POV character, much more from the author. I don’t hate that it was just narrated by Roscoe, but I would’ve liked to know what Maddox was thinking or really get a feel of his voice.

I loved that the author focuses heavily on mental health. What’s happening to Maddox was quite harrowing, so that’s a bit difficult to read. (This book came out when the #FreeBritney movement was finally vindicated after Britney Spears herself revealed to the world how awful her conservatorship has been for the last 13 years and is a big fan, I was horrified to no end, and I could only imagine the fame and this whole brouhaha taking a toll on her mental health) It’s the reality. No one is exempted from suffering from mental health issues.

Another thing that I liked about the story is that there are no villains here and no unnecessary drama concerning our main characters. The development of their relationship was relatively quick since it happens in the first part of the book, so it feels secondary to Maddox’s issues.

If there is something I didn’t like much about this, it’s probably Maddox’s interaction with his bandmates because it was pretty repetitive. Their group dynamics were very positive but not exciting. Outside of Maddox, I didn’t get a feel for the rest of the band. They’re secondary characters if you know what I mean.

I loved the epilogue, and I thought it’s sweet. I loved the less-to-no conflict structure of the story, and I appreciate the subject matter very much because it’s very relevant. It’s not one of my top five favorites from the author, but I thought it’s a good read overall.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Kindle Edition, 404 pages
Published June 24th 2021

About The Author
N.R. Walker is an Australian author, who loves her genre of gay romance. She loves writing and spends far too much time doing it, but wouldn’t have it any other way. She is many things; a mother, a wife, a sister, a writer. She has pretty, pretty boys who live in her head, who don’t let her sleep at night unless she gives them life with words.

She likes it when they do dirty, dirty things… but likes it even more when they fall in love.

She used to think having people in her head talking to her was weird, until one day she happened across other writers who told her it was normal. She’s been writing ever since.

Please also note that this blog is reader-supported. When you buy through links on my site, I may earn an affiliate commission.

Pride News: History Maker Kataluna Enriquez, first Trans Woman to represent Nevada in Miss USA 2021!

There are so many groundbreaking things that happened this year within our community but since I am also a big fan of beauty pageants, I thought I should share the history-making feat of Kataluna Enriquez – the first transwoman to win the Miss Nevada title, and is set to represent the state in the Miss USA pageant later this year.

Filipino-American Transgender woman Enriquez wore this rainbow-inspired gown and bested 21 other candidates from the state to win the coveted title!

If she wins the Miss USA title in November, she will become the second transgender woman to participate in the Miss Universe beauty pageant after Spain’s Angela Ponce competed in 2018. Way to go sis!!! Congratulations!

Book Review: Upside Down by N.R. Walker

Blurb: Jordan O’Neill isn’t a fan of labels, considering he has a few. Gay, geek, librarian, socially awkward, a nervous rambler, an introvert, an outsider. The last thing he needs is one more. But when he realises adding the label asexual might explain a lot, it turns his world upside down.? ?
Hennessy Lang moved to Surry Hills after splitting with his boyfriend. His being asexual had seen the end of a lot of his romances, but he’s determined to stay true to himself. Leaving his North Shore support group behind, he starts his own in Surry Hills, where he meets first-time-attendee Jordan.?
?A little bewildered and scared, but completely adorable, Hennessy is struck by this guy who’s trying to find where he belongs. Maybe Hennessy can convince Jordan that his world hasn’t been turned upside down at all, but maybe it’s now—for the first time in his life—the right way up.

Upside Down is another delightful story from N.R. Walker and we get asexual characters in it – yasss representation! Maybe I’m not just reading enough books with asexual characters, but I loved it when one of my favorite authors does it!

The characters here are all-so-interesting. We’re all given little backstories, including the supporting characters that do not distract us from the main characters themselves.

Here, we have the adorable, geeky, not-in-a-annoying-way-no-filter funny Jordan O’Neill. He also happens to be cute and loves wearing matching outfits! Did I say adorable?! He’s just so squishy! Do you get what I mean? He’s just so cute and ADORABLE!

Hennessy, on the other hand, is the perfect opposite of Jordan. They complement each other so well. I loved his calm demeanor and how he’s so patient and understanding with Jordan. I think we all need a Hennessy in our lives when we’re trying to decompressed and not worry about anything in the world.

I do love the cute bus meet-ups and the Soup crew – it’s just so freaking adorable! I mean, that’s a rom-com movie scene right there, and I’d be eavesdropping the hell out of them too!

I do love the author’s sensitivity here, what with Jordan’s freak-out on whether he is asexual or not. I loved how the author addresses Jordan’s issue here. From the get-go, it was apparent that he’d freak out sooner or later, but it was just very nice how the author paced it.

The epilogue is just pure love. Where can I get someone like Jordan or Hennessy? Love the conclusion of the story and their friends’ ménage à trois too! I’m wondering if the author would have the time to write something about them too because that’d be very interesting to read(I won’t be dropping the characters’ names, but they are amazing too).

This is another solid story from N.R. Walker – just entertaining, charming, and very enlightening in a way. Just read it y’all! ❤

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Kindle Edition, 251 pagesPublished March 19th 2019

About The Author
N.R. Walker is an Australian author, who loves her genre of gay romance. She loves writing and spends far too much time doing it, but wouldn’t have it any other way. She is many things; a mother, a wife, a sister, a writer. She has pretty, pretty boys who live in her head, who don’t let her sleep at night unless she gives them life with words.

She likes it when they do dirty, dirty things… but likes it even more when they fall in love.

She used to think having people in her head talking to her was weird, until one day she happened across other writers who told her it was normal. She’s been writing ever since.

Please also note that this blog is reader-supported. When you buy through links on my site, I may earn an affiliate commission.

Book Review: Farview by Kim Fielding

Blurb: Ravaged by a horrific experience, Oliver Webb flees the smog-bound city of Greynox for a quiet seaside village and the inheritance he’s never seen: a cottage called Farview. He discovers clear skies, friendly imps, and a charming storyteller named Felix Corbyn.

With help from Felix’s tales, Oliver learns surprising secrets about his family history and discovers what home really means. But with Felix cursed, Oliver growing deathly ill, and an obligation in Greynox hanging heavy around his neck, it seems that not even wizards can save the day.

Still, as Felix knows, stories are the best truths and the most powerful magic. Perhaps the right words might yet conjure a chance for happiness.

This story is simply beautiful! This is the 24th Kim Fielding story that I’ve read and loved! I just loved the imagery this story conjured up; I could see the vivid landscape of the cottage and its glorious view of the sea, smell the sunshine, feel the storm, hear the chirping of the imps. This book was magical, poetic, and haunting altogether.

I loved the character the author created in Felix, so charming that you’d want nothing hurting him. His whole demeanor also feels magical, which is ironic because his ‘curse’ is supposedly an anti-magic one.

Oliver’s character, on the other hand, isn’t like Felix. His disposition was shaped by his surroundings growing up with an absent father (and mother since she died when he was two), a slew of nannies by his side, and a life that isn’t going anywhere until he decided to claim a cottage he inherited near a fishing village.

I adored watching Felix and Oliver’s relationship develop; though Oliver was resisting at first due to his illness, I thought it was sweet, it was heartbreaking at times, and you’ll root for them. You see, they’ve gone through a lot, individually. You can feel their sadness, but they are still hopeful, especially Felix, who is the “spirit” of the village.

I also loved the people of the village. They all have unique characterizations as they add more flavor to the story. I loved the stories of Felix recounting the history of the town and its people. I also loved Julian and Kit, the main character from the first book of the series, Treasure. I haven’t read the first book, but I am now very excited to read it because they seem to be very interesting and the whole vibe of the setting is just absolutely fantastic.

Farview is a beautiful contemporary story, which I would categorize in the fairy tale genre. The writing, as usual, was very descriptive and consistent with the mood of the book, which I’ve already expected from one of my favorite authors. It is a definite must-read!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Kindle Edition, 268 pages
Published June 10th 2021 by Tin Box Press

About the Author
Kim Fielding lives in California and travels as often as she can manage. A professor by day, at night she rushes into a phone booth to change into her author costume (which involves comfy clothes instead of Spandex and is, sadly, lacking a cape). Her superpowers include the ability to write nearly anywhere, often while simultaneously doling out assistance to her family. Her favorite word to describe herself is “eclectic” and she finally got that fourth tattoo.

Please also note that this blog is reader-supported. When you buy through links on my site, I may earn an affiliate commission.