Hello-Hello! Summer is finally here in the Northern hemisphere. (Sorry not sorry South but it's your turn to deal with winter ^-^.) Life is blooming everywhere. People meet and people part... It's a constant cycle moving forward and never backwards. An ending is the start of a new beginning... So... We just have to enjoy the moment and be happy that we exist in this moment. Believe it or not you are part of the Universe's history.
There's no day like today! And without further ado... Music!!!
Imagine Dragons - Believer
Topic ft. Nico Santos - Home
Sia - I forgive you
Julia Michaels - Issues
Camila Cabello - Crying in the Club
It feels like compensating for all the time I missed to post the song pick of the week!
Serena has a bright future etched in stone. Tristan has a dark past that haunts him. Together, they have a love that can never be. Sheltered, and unable to escape her bloodline, Serena St. Michael has spent the last two years training at the Royal Protector Academy. Struggling with a dark past, Tristan Gallagher’s current assignment is to protect a lifetime of secrets. One chance encounter will change everything. Serena must decide if she will follow her heart, forsaking all she’s ever known and risking a future worse than non-existence. Tristan will break every rule to save Serena, even if he can’t keep her. In their world of darkness, one love will ignite an ancient war. When pasts collide with the present, and secrets are revealed, will love be enough? Or will one lie destroy it all? When you’ve hidden behind a mask for so long, would you reveal yourself for love? Vernal, the first novel in The Royal Protector Academy series is a dangerously exciting and darkly romantic tale that will take your breath away. Vernal - Goodreads
My Opinion
2.75/5.00 Stars
I should just post my rough draft as it is because I am out of words. Ha-Ha-Ha!
Moving on to the actual review...
I requested this book from NetGalley a long time ago. The premise sounded promising but I got lost along the way. I had to face the same problem I usually find in books like this one. The romance took over the entire plot. :/
While reading Vernal, I learn that it is a spin off series starter. Nothing wrong with that; although, for a new comer like myself, things were not 100% clear. Little details were offered regarding the world and plot. From what is presented, the setting, the magic system and its background seemed interesting. And this is unfortunate because, just like the characters, the story had a lot of potential.
Speaking of characters... I thought there is going to be more about exploration and build up when the romance element entered the scene. As in, how the protagonists connect and try to figure out this inexplicable connection/attraction they feel about each other. Instead... Bam! Everything ruined by the sex. They spend more time talking about and being intimate than knowing each other. Then, that whole "I am super possessive and inexplicable jealous alpha male. Everything you do is wrong and I own you" and "I am a strong woman capable of anything but I cannot live without you and I am owned by you and you are the only male who can tame me" was not my style. They looked like decent characters and had good qualities here and there but.... In the end, they got overshadowed by the romance and nonexistent plot. Also, there was not a concrete reason why Serena is special and has to become the next ruler.
All in all this book was not for me. Like I use to say, this was not my cuppa tea because of too much sugar was added. It was not what I expected at all.
[I gave it such a high rating because it had enough to keep me entertained and not DNF (do not finish) it.]
This is my sole opinion. ^_^
I would like to say thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Genre: New Adult, Paranormal Romance, Fantasy, Urban
Hello-Hello! Lately, I was absent from my blog cause... life. When life is calling, you have to drop everything and go change in your superhero costume.
Anyway... Let's talk about something else. France for example. The country of everything French:
French Toast
French Baguette
French Fries
French Vanilla
French Cheese
French Wine
French rolled "Rs"
French Fashion
Paris
A famous antenna called The Eiffel Tower
Louvre
Fleur-de-lis
Beauty and the Beast (original story)
French (of course)
French people (obviously)
Paris Climate Agreement
Alexandre Dumas
Victor Hugo
And last but not least, Liberté, égalité, fraternité (liberty, equality, fraternity).
This list can go on for ever and ever... If you ask me or Wikipedia.
What's the point of this crush course about France, you ask? Well, blame the post title and my pen - more like keyboard - pal, Remy. Shoutout to you, French reading... human!
Thank you for introducing me to the beautiful voice of Marina Kaye! This girl has an amazing voice. So do yourself a favor and listen to her music on repeat. ^_^
Hello-Hello! Today I planned to post a book review - do not worry it's in a rough draft form - but... Music it is. Ha-Ha-Ha! I am too energized for that. Gosh, I wished I had a pen and paper instead of a keyboard. Yes, I write faster than I type. A total shocker in these day and age - not really. ^-^
So... my super-fast thinking brain is impairing my typing ability by shooting too many ideas at me in the same time.
A shot of cold water for you, Brain!
Brain: Cheers! Aaaah!
(I literary just had a glass of clod water.)
Music is about harmony and order 99.99% of the time. (That .01% is for the exception to the rule and the fact that I am not a music expert, thus, do not take my words for granted. Wink-Wink!) As I was saying, let's take some time and think about Hydrogen and Oxygen. Two explosive gases came together to form one of the most harmless chemical substances of them all, water. Without you, water, life on Earth would not exist. Because of you, I can dance today to exhaustion on my favorite rhythm. You are my favorite drink despite the fact that you are a necessity of my existence.
Special thanks to gif-Thor for showing support. (Yeah, I know it was about coffee but... Shhh!)
Now, let's dance and sing and liberate the music beast and without further ado... The song!
I Luv it!
Happy Dancing!
And stay hydrated! Don't forget to check out my previous song pick -->Here<-- And my latest book-post -->Here<--
Just shy of fifteen years old, and during a fake and impromptu wedding ceremony, Lily Scott married her best friend's brother, Henry Dalton.
It seemed harmless enough until he leaned in and whispered to her his true feelings, amorous words she has been unable to forget: Now you’re mine, forever and always.
Unfortunately, growing up pulls them apart and transforms Henry into a pompous scoundrel. When they meet again at a house party hosted by Henry’s sister, will Henry remember his once faithful promise to Lily? Mine, Forever and Always - Goodreads
My Opinion
5.00/5.00 stars
Just read it if you are into romance. This is a lovely story about the love of two people which has to pass the test of time and society. Life forced them to go on their separate ways regardless of what their hearts wanted. And, now, they meet each other again. There is angst and there is tension. Question is: Does the love between them still exists? Or is it just a beautiful memory of the past? What can I say? The feelings... are so overwhelming. I do not have enough words to praise this novella. Despite it's length, we get a lot of content about the main characters and the other players in the story. It is a torturous, genuine love. Your heart will melt, ache, get butterflies, mushy, and - finally - teary. I do not want to say too much about the plot cause... spoilers. Obviously! The author has a beautiful writing because everything floated nicely. No boring part. No excessive descriptions. Right words were used to ensure the reader that there are a solid background to the narrative and well-rounded characters which are not just flat instruments of yielding a romance. I wished this was a full novel because there is so much room for expanding and exploring; although, I am afraid it might cut the beauty of the novella in some parts. Sometimes the short length might give a writing work a feel of unresolved or anticlimactic endings. Like, there has to be more to it than what's already published. Thus, I understand why some readers may give this one a lower rating. But for me, a strong impression on my mood while reading it's enough sometimes. Not every good piece has to be lengthy. The information is there only not in so many words as you may like it to be. Now, I am waiting patiently for the next story in the series. The author promised a new story in the future regarding other characters who were introduced in the book. She said that time is of the essence for her inspiration to come and the final product be good. This was definitely my cup of tea. And, it might be yours too. Do not get mislead by the cover. Ah... Just read it!
This is my sole opinion. ^_^
I would like to say thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
"You should not have kissed me," she replied breathlessly. "I do a lot of things I shouldn't. It does not mean I won't do them again." Gently bred Emma Chadwick always assumed she'd live and die the daughter of a gentleman. But when her father's death reveals a world of staggering debt and dangerous moneylenders, she must risk her good name and put her talent for mathematics to use, taking a position as bookkeeper at London's most notorious gambling hell. Surrounded by vice and corruption on all sides, it is imperative no one discovers Emma's shameful secret or her reputation-and her life-will be ruined. But Roderick Bentley, the hell's sinfully wealthy owner, awakens a hunger Emma cannot deny. Drawn deep into an underworld of high stakes gambling and reckless overindulgence, she soon discovers that in order to win the love of a ruthless scoundrel, she will have to play the game...and give in to the pleasure of falling from grace. Luck Is No Lady - Goodreads
My Opinion
4.5/5 stars.
I picked up this book last year. I read a good portion of it then I put it down. Why, you ask? Because:
School;
I've lost interest.
During the school time, a slow burning romance is not a good way to entertain yourself. You need adrenaline. Action. Something that keeps you going. (So that is my excuse.) In other words, I was not in the mood anymore.
Putting my reasons aside, I was 100% sure I will return to this book. And not surprisingly, I did. Oh, boy! I so enjoyed the story. It was a historical, regency romance just up my alley. The romance does not monopolize the narrative and we have conflict. Yes! Three noble orphaned girls in need of money in times when a good marriage is the only solution for young women. Deceased parent with gambling addiction who caused those three girls to be in danger from a bookie. A noble bastard who owns a "gambling hell" becomes a means to an end for the girls to get out of dept. The oldest of the sisters risks her family name and reputation in an era where status is everything to save her sisters. Falling in love is out of question but it may happen in the darkest of times.
A perfect recipe for an intriguing story despite the cheesy cover. (Please, ignore it!)
The romance is slow burning. Tension is built up for our characters. We have chemistry at first. Then, we have period of flirting, personal exploring, and creating trust. No dominant and overly exaggerated alpha male. No weak female who appears to be strong only because the author tells us so. The main characters feel like real people, relatable people. Both are strong and weak in their own ways. They complete each other like puzzle pieces.
I realized lately that I need meaning and story in my romances not jut plain romance and steam. This was definitely my cup of team. I am going to follow the author and continue the series.
Yes, this is still a read for a more mature audience.
Hello-Hello! I am going to be direct with you. For weeks, I've been planning my next melody obsession post. I was planning this big inspirational post about humanity and humans and blah blah blah... Then it hit me. Or should I say... my ear drum? There is too much seriousness in the world. We know things are bad but better than they were a thousand years ago. We know we strive for equality, justice, and perfection. Although, we often forget the human nature. Humans are creatures of habit sooo change is not up our alley and I am citing the scientists from the world of psychology here. Sometimes is better to just enjoy the moment.
Forget the bad.
Eliminate those negative words and views of the world.
AND. JUST. SMILE.
With that comes the laughter.
Yeah!
Today I want to put a smile on your face to make you feel better even if it's just for a fraction of a second.
As you can see, I upgraded my post logo. I Photoshoped the original picture I created in Photoshop using the App Bamboo Paper. Now, it really looks like music madness.
Brain: Wait! Wait a minute! WAIT-A-Minute! Aren't people usually use Photoshop to Photoshop other pictures created in other apps?
Me (the other side of the brain):Yes, and?
Brain: Then... How? You... It doesn't make any sense.
Me: It doesn't always have to be that way. >--Clap-Clap--< Keep up, Brain! Keep up!
Brain: Now, you got me confused. Pretty picture thou!
Me: Thank you! You help me make it.
Brain: I know! >:] >B]
So, without further ado or any interruption from my highly evolved cerebral cortex from the animal kingdom...
Brain: I know what you did there...
I present to you:
MINIONS
Brain: ...And, it's not fair.
I dare you to sing along and try to take this tune out of your head after you listened to it!
Mwahahahahaha!
Happy listening!
Play it on repeat. ^_^
Brain: That's just pure evilness.
Me: I know. >]
Bye! For real, now! Bye!
Oh! And enjoy the music!
P.S. If you are curious about my last song pick, feel free to check it out -->HERE<--.
