Legendary: Marie Lu's (much awaited) Book Signing in Manila! (11/23/2014)

There's an introductory fact that I should impart to you right away and it's that I LOVE MARIE LU. No kidding, I really do. She's part of the "Elyssa's Authors to camp out for" list. Having said that, we arrived at the venue at 8AM, if I'm not mistaken, and we walked from PowerBooks to National and vice versa just to kill time (and my feet as well). The registration for Marie Lu's signing was around 9 o'clock, so Celine and I, together with the other bloggers, waited outside PowerBooks for it to open. I, honestly, had sweaty hands while standing outside (TMI?) because, damn, I was so excited to meet Marie Lu. Like I said earlier, I'm a big fan and so is Celine. Thanks, National for making the dreams of hundreds of bookworms come true!

Blog Tour: The Young Elites by Marie Lu (Review + Giveaway)

The Young Elites

by Marie Lu

Genre: Young Adult, Sci-Fi, Dystopia, Romance
Release Date: October 7, 2014
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
Source: Borrowed
Links: Goodreads 

SYNOPSIS

I am tired of being used, hurt, and cast aside.

Adelina Amouteru is a survivor of the blood fever. A decade ago, the deadly illness swept through her nation. Most of the infected perished, while many of the children who survived were left with strange markings. Adelina’s black hair turned silver, her lashes went pale, and now she has only a jagged scar where her left eye once was. Her cruel father believes she is a malfetto, an abomination, ruining their family’s good name and standing in the way of their fortune. But some of the fever’s survivors are rumored to possess more than just scars—they are believed to have mysterious and powerful gifts, and though their identities remain secret, they have come to be called the Young Elites.
Teren Santoro works for the king. As Leader of the Inquisition Axis, it is his job to seek out the Young Elites, to destroy them before they destroy the nation. He believes the Young Elites to be dangerous and vengeful, but it’s Teren who may possess the darkest secret of all.  

Enzo Valenciano is a member of the Dagger Society. This secret sect of Young Elites seeks out others like them before the Inquisition Axis can. But when the Daggers find Adelina, they discover someone with powers like they’ve never seen. 

Adelina wants to believe Enzo is on her side, and that Teren is the true enemy. But the lives of these three will collide in unexpected ways, as each fights a very different and personal battle. But of one thing they are all certain: Adelina has abilities that shouldn’t belong in this world. A vengeful blackness in her heart. And a desire to destroy all who dare to cross her. 

It is my turn to use. My turn to hurt.

Esoteric and Pure Genius: I Wrote This For You by pleasefindthis (Iain S. Thomas)

I Wrote This For You

by Iain S. Thomas

Genre: Poetry, Romance, Contemporary, Young Adult
Release Date: December 14, 2011
Publisher: Central Avenue Publishing
Source: Bought from iTunes
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Author's Blog

SYNOPSIS

I need you to understand something. I wrote this for you. I wrote this for you and only you. Everyone else who reads it, doesn’t get it. They may think they get it, but they don’t. This is the sign you’ve been looking for. You were meant to read these words.

Blog Tour: Free to Fall by Lauren Miller

Free to Fall

by Lauren Miller

Genre: Young Adult, Sci-Fi, Dystopia, Romance
Release Date: May 14, 2014
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Gifted by NBS (Thank you, NBS!)
Links: Goodreads | Amazon |Author's Blog

SYNOPSIS

What if there was an app that told you what song to listen to, what coffee to order, who to date, even what to do with your life—an app that could ensure your complete and utter happiness? What if you never had to fail or make a wrong choice?

What if you never had to fall?

Fast-forward to a time when Apple and Google have been replaced by Gnosis, a monolith corporation that has developed the most life-changing technology to ever hit the market: Lux, an app that flawlessly optimizes decision making for the best personal results. Just like everyone else, sixteen-year-old Rory Vaughn knows the key to a happy, healthy life is following what Lux recommends. When she’s accepted to the elite boarding school Theden Academy, her future happiness seems all the more assured. But once on campus, something feels wrong beneath the polished surface of her prestigious dream school. Then she meets North, a handsome townie who doesn’t use Lux, and begins to fall for him and his outsider way of life. Soon, Rory is going against Lux’s recommendations, listening instead to the inner voice that everyone has been taught to ignore — a choice that leads her to uncover a truth neither she nor the world ever saw coming.

Blog Tour: Say What You Will by Cammie McGovern

Say What You Will

by Cammie McGovern

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Release Date: June 3, 2014
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: ARC given by the publisher (Thank you, HC!)
Links: Goodreads | Author's Blog

SYNOPSIS

John Green's The Fault in Our Stars meets Rainbow Rowell's Eleanor & Park in this beautifully written, incredibly honest, and emotionally poignant novel. Cammie McGovern's insightful young adult debut is a heartfelt and heartbreaking story about how we can all feel lost until we find someone who loves us because of our faults, not in spite of them.

Born with cerebral palsy, Amy can't walk without a walker, talk without a voice box, or even fully control her facial expressions. Plagued by obsessive-compulsive disorder, Matthew is consumed with repeated thoughts, neurotic rituals, and crippling fear. Both in desperate need of someone to help them reach out to the world, Amy and Matthew are more alike than either ever realized.

When Amy decides to hire student aides to help her in her senior year at Coral Hills High School, these two teens are thrust into each other's lives. As they begin to spend time with each other, what started as a blossoming friendship eventually grows into something neither expected.

Blog Tour: Infinite Sky by C.J. Flood

Infinite Sky

by C.J. Flood

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Coming of Age, Family, Romance
Release Date: May 20, 2014
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers 
Source: ARC provided for the blog tour (thank you, Dianne!) 

Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Author's Blog

SYNOPSIS

A truly beautiful book about the summer that changed one girl's life, as her mum leaves home, travellers set up camp in the family's field, her older brother goes off the rails, and she falls in love for the very first time. Opening with a funeral, Iris is mourning the boy in the casket - but who is it? Sam, her tearaway brother, or Trick, her tentative boyfriend? Over one long hot summer, we find out just how their three lives were turned upside-down.

Review: Prisoner of Night and Fog by Anne Blankman

Cruel Beauty
by Anne Blankman

Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Romance
Release Date: April 22, 2014
Publisher: Balzer+Bray

Source: ARC received from the publisher
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Author's Blog

SYNOPSIS

Based on the classic fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, 
In 1930s Munich, danger lurks behind dark corners, and secrets are buried deep within the city. But Gretchen Müller, who grew up in the National Socialist Party under the wing of her "uncle" Dolf, has been shielded from that side of society ever since her father traded his life for Dolf's, and Gretchen is his favorite, his pet.

Uncle Dolf is none other than Adolf Hitler.

 And Gretchen follows his every command.

Until she meets a fearless and handsome young Jewish reporter named Daniel Cohen. Gretchen should despise Daniel, yet she can't stop herself from listening to his story: that her father, the adored Nazi martyr, was actually murdered by an unknown comrade. She also can't help the fierce attraction brewing between them, despite everything she's been taught to believe about Jews.

 As Gretchen investigates the very people she's always considered friends, she must decide where her loyalties lie. Will she choose the safety of her former life as a Nazi darling, or will she dare to dig up the truth—even if it could get her and Daniel killed?

From debut author Anne Blankman comes this harrowing and evocative story about an ordinary girl faced with the extraordinary decision to give up everything she's ever believed . . . and to trust her own heart instead.

Stacking the Shelves (7.2)

Stacking The Shelves, hosted by Tynga’s Reviews, is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

Event Recap: Veronica Rossi, Tahereh Mafi, and Ransom Riggs' signing in Manila! (04/26/2014)

The day we've been waiting for has finally arrived. A huge thank to National Book Store for bringing not 1, not 2, but 3 authors here in the Philippines. To say we were excited is an understatement—we were thrilled. We were able to meet Tahereh Mafi, and Ransom Riggs for the second time, and—last bust not the least—Veronica Rossi for the first time.

Event Recap: Becca FItzpatrick's Signing in Manila! (03/29/14)

Let me start by saying that March 29 was one of the happiest days of our lives! We were able to meet Becca Fitzpatrick. In case you don't know her (which I highly doubt, but here's an introduction nonetheless),  she's the New York Times bestselling author of the soon-to-be-movie, Hush, Hush series. 

We were invited to join the blogger's forum with Becca. During the blogger's forum, we, along with the other book bloggers, got to ask questions, touch amazing her hair, and take wacky selfies with her. Haha! 

Here are some of the photos taken at her signing:

Becca on the hot seat. (because it was literally a hot seat)

Becca really has great hair! LOL

Becca interacting while signing some books.

Ate Kazhy's (of My Library in the Making) book.

Ate Dianne of Oops! I Read A Book Again asking Becca a question. 

Louisse of The Soul Sisters trolling. LOL!

Ate Kai of Amaterasu Reads with Becca.

Celine and I carrying tons, well not really, of books. Including Black Ice! Thanks, NBS. We can't say thank you enough!

*All photos are from Hazel Ureta of Stay Bookish! 

Here are 10 facts about Becca that were answered during the forum:

1. There’s a bad boy in Black Ice who is kind of similar to Patch.
2. The only time Becca cried while writing the Hush, Hush saga is when she wrote Scott’s death.
3. Out of all the characters in the Hush, Hush series, Becca is closest to Vee because Vee was based on two of her childhood best friends. In addition, she never struggled when writing Vee.
4. Patch was based on a guy she knew from high school, and he wasn’t a fallen angel on the first draft of Hush, Hush. He was just a normal guy with a deep, dark secret.
5. Becca’s a fan of Twilight, and she doesn’t mind people comparing Nora to Bella from Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight.
6. Becca’s favorite book of hers is Sapphire Skies, but if she were to choose her favorite out of her publisher books, it would be Finale.
7. If Hush, Hush were to be adapted as a movie, Becca wouldn’t probably be that much involved in it because she says it’s not her talent. Though she would want to visit the set.
8. According to Becca, Crescendo was by far the most difficult to write because there was the pressure of making it as good as the first book.
9. Becca hasn’t read any other YA books about fallen angels.
10. Black Ice was originally a paranormal book, but her editor suggested that she make it a straight realistic contemporary book, and so Becca did.

So that's it for the recap! Hope you enjoyed the facts. Lastly, we would like to thank JB of National Bookstore for the chance to have met Becca more intimately. And as usual, thank you *awesome* NBS for bringing authors here! We will be forever grateful. :-)

Stacking the Shelves (7.1)

Stacking The Shelves, hosted by Tynga’s Reviews, is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

(The Lost One Release Day Blitz) Review + Giveaway

The Lost One (End of Days #2)

by Meg Collett

Genre: New Adult, Romance, Paranormal

Source: eARC (Thanks, Meg and Sinful Thoughts!)

Links: Goodreads | Author's Blog | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | B&N

SYNOPSIS  

They say some things must be broken before they can be fixed. But when Michaela hoped to cast doubt on the Aethere, she never thought things would fall apart like they did. Now the Aethere have turned their attention to the End of Days, and they won’t rest until they obtain the tools of Earth's final destruction: the Seven Seals. 

The world is falling apart at the seams, and Michaela finds herself clutching the threads. She alone understands what will happen if the Aethere ever get the seals, and it’s the one thing she will fight to the death to prevent if she has to.  

Even amidst the devastation on Earth, Michaela struggles to restore her faith in Gabriel. Together, they'll need to decide if their love is strong enough to erase the line she had fought so hard to draw between holy and fallen. 

Michaela said she wanted a war, but when the End is looming, what will she fight for?

Dark and Entrancing: Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge

Cruel Beauty
by Rosamund Hodge

Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Mythology, Retelling
Release Date: January 28, 2014
Publisher: Balzer+Bray

Source: Own Copy/Bought
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Author's Blog

SYNOPSIS

Based on the classic fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, Cruel Beauty is a dazzling love story about our deepest desires and their power to change our destiny.

 Since birth, Nyx has been betrothed to the evil ruler of her kingdom-all because of a foolish bargain struck by her father. And since birth, she has been in training to kill him.

 With no choice but to fulfill her duty, Nyx resents her family for never trying to save her and hates herself for wanting to escape her fate. Still, on her seventeenth birthday, Nyx abandons everything she's ever known to marry the all-powerful, immortal Ignifex. Her plan? Seduce him, destroy his enchanted castle, and break the nine-hundred-year-old curse he put on her people.

 But Ignifex is not at all what Nyx expected. The strangely charming lord beguiles her, and his castle-a shifting maze of magical rooms-enthralls her.

As Nyx searches for a way to free her homeland by uncovering Ignifex's secrets, she finds herself unwillingly drawn to him. Even if she could bring herself to love her sworn enemy, how can she refuse her duty to kill him? With time running out, Nyx must decide what is more important: the future of her kingdom, or the man she was never supposed to love.

Cover Reveal: Lux: Beginnings by Jennifer L. Armentrout

The Lux Series: Beginnings

by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Paranormal

Release Date: June 3, 2014

Publisher: EntangledTeen

Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Mind-blowing and Heart-wrenching: Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover

Maybe Someday
by Colleen Hoover

Genre: New Adult, Romance
Release Date: March 18, 2014
Publisher: Atria Books

Source: Own Copy/Bought
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Author's Blog

SYNOPSIS
At twenty-two years old, aspiring musician Sydney Blake has a great life: She’s in college, working a steady job, in love with her wonderful boyfriend, Hunter, and rooming with her good friend, Tori. But everything changes when she discovers Hunter cheating on her with Tori—and she is left trying to decide what to do next.

Sydney becomes captivated by her mysterious neighbor, Ridge Lawson. She can’t take her eyes off him or stop listening to the daily guitar playing he does out on his balcony. She can feel the harmony and vibrations in his music. And there’s something about Sydney that Ridge can’t ignore, either: He seems to have finally found his muse. When their inevitable encounter happens, they soon find themselves needing each other in more ways than one…

(Lover, Divine Blog Tour) Excerpt + Giveaway

Lover, Divine
by A. Star
Genre: New Adult, Romance, Mythology
Release Date: February 25, 2014
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Author's Website

SYNOPSIS

Born into one of the wealthiest families in Ireland, Siobhan Law has status, privilege, and a secret: The Greek gods of Olympus and their kingdom in the clouds are real, and her family acts as one of their agents on Earth.

When the beautiful immortal celeste Liam Argyros shows up claiming to have come to Earth to deal in the affairs of the divine, Siobhan finds herself unable to resist his charms. New to the game of passion and seduction, she quickly ends up in over her head, sinking deeper with every attempt Liam makes to win her over.

But Liam’s divine mission is far more complex than she ever imagined and nothing is truly as it seems. Because Liam has a secret of his own: He is Apollo, Olympian god of the Sun, and his mission will never be complete until he has claimed Siobhan’s heart forever.

Tune of Two Ends (4)

Tunes of Two Ends is a weekly meme hosted by none other than Two Ends of a Bookshelf, wherein we share our  playlist that calls to mind a book or series that we have recently read and is currently the focal point of our thoughts. 

This week's playlist is dedicated to:

1. Say When by The Fray (!!!!) 

2. All I Want by Kodaline

3. Stubborn Love by The Lumineers

4. Crash by You Me At Six

5. High Hopes by Kodaline
6. Change My Mind by One Direction (!!)
7. Down To Earth (Acoustic) by Justin Bieber
8. Half A Heart by One Direction
9. I Can Wait Forever by Simple Plan
10. Iris by The Goo Goo Dolls (!!!)

*btw, the highlighted ones are the songs that struck me the most! 

So that's it for this week's Tunes of Two Ends, hope you liked it! What do you think of my mix? Comment below!

I Want A Taste of Bambi (Review + Giveaway): White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrout

First of all, I want to say thank you to Louisse of The Soul Sisters and JLA Fans PH for lending me her ARC of WHK and being just plain awesome-sauce! ♡ 

White Hot Kiss

by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Genre: Paranormal, Young Adult, Fantasy

Release Date: February 25, 2014

Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Author's Website

SYNOPSIS

One kiss could be the last.

Seventeen-year-old Layla just wants to be normal. But with a kiss that kills anything with a soul, she's anything but normal. Half demon, half gargoyle, Layla has abilities no one else possesses.

Raised among the Wardens—a race of gargoyles tasked with hunting demons and keeping humanity safe—Layla tries to fit in, but that means hiding her own dark side from those she loves the most. Especially Zayne, the swoon-worthy, incredibly gorgeous and completely off-limits Warden she's crushed on since forever.

Then she meets Roth—a tattooed, sinfully hot demon who claims to know all her secrets. Layla knows she should stay away, but she's not sure she wants to—especially when that whole no-kissing thing isn't an issue, considering Roth has no soul.

But when Layla discovers she's the reason for the violent demon uprising, trusting Roth could not only ruin her chances with Zayne…it could brand her a traitor to her family. Worse yet, it could become a one-way ticket to the end of the world.

REVIEW

“I lost myself the moment I found you.”

I have been a fan of Armentrout's for as long as I can remember so you could probably imagine the glee I felt upon knowing that she'll be writing another series with hot demons. And gargoyles. And snakes. Oh gods, snakes. After reading this, trust me, snakes would never be the same. Never ever. Ever ever.

Wow, I got majorly sidetracked, anyway, the story starts off with a half garygoyle, half demon girl Layla. She's pretty and everything, but the thing is, she can't be touched. Why? Because she'll suck you soul dry. That's why she's never had her first kiss. And, there's one last introductory thing that I should impart to you, she's in love with her swoon-worthy best friend, Zayne. And Zayne has a soul. Talk about bad luck. Haha. And then she meets Roth.. Hmm, tasty Roth. And then her life changed forever.

I honestly was so excited to read this because of the hype that comes with its name. Surely, WHK did not disappoint! Although I finished it after two weeks (school, you are to blame), I can say that it wasn't at all a tedious read. Every bit of it was enjoyable—especially their banters! I absolutely loved everything about this book—the writing, the plot, the characters, and the ending.

The writing. There's this hidden thing about JLA's writing that makes her pieces extraordinary. I don't know about you, but I have always been drawn to her creations. I don't know why and how but hey, I'm not complaining! Reading her works are absolutely effortless. You don't even have to try, it's like the books read themselves for you. I'm not even kidding.

The plot. As I have been saying, like all other JLA books, this plot is faultless as well. THE ENDING THOUGH AHHHHH. I love how they met instantly, so I don't have to be bored and wait for the hot guy to come up. Hahaha. I also love how the book portrayed perception. What you have known for years may not be right at all. Hmm. ARE YOU TEASED? GO READ WHK. NOW.

The characters. To be perfectly honest, I shipped (keyword here is shipped) Zayla at first because Zayne is uber frickin hot and he's the sweetest around Layla. He knows her like the back of his hand. Tell a lie? He'll know. Pretend that you're okay? He'll notice. He's like the epitome of the gentlemen that you only find in books. Enough of Zayne and more of Roth! Arghh, Roth. Even saying his name makes does funny things to my stomach. I wasn't that fond of Roth at the first part of the book because he was so... intense? He may not seem intense to you, but I really don't know if there's just something wrong with me. Anyway, I loved every character in this book. All but one: Danika. I'm not bitter or anything, but she's just too flirty for me. Err

The ending. Holy demon babies, the ending. I just. I can't right now. That is all.

And if you're still having second thoughts on reading WHK, please reevaluate your life.

RATING

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Stacking the Shelves (6)

Stacking The Shelves, hosted by Tynga’s Reviews, is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

These are the books I've bought/was given to me/traded from the span of December up until today. These books are so last year. I know, I know. I've only posted them now because these past few weeks had been hell. Our examination week coincided with the book signing and our intramural practices. I imagine having to go home at 8:00 and still have to study for a test the next day, so please forgive our inactivity. So with that, here are the books I got from December to January (although I forgot to take a picture of the other books plus swag):

BOUGHT/GIFTED/TRADED:

1. The Beautiful and the Cursed by Page Morgan (Won from #DianneTurns20. Thanks Ate Dianne!)

2. Allegiant by Veronica Roth (Got it from an Event by NBS. Thank you!!)

3. The House Girl by Tara Conklin (Also got this from NBS!)

4. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

5. Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake

6. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver (Bought this from Fully Booked.)

7. Mila 2.0 by Debra Driza (Traded from Ate Michelle of Michelle the Escapist.)

8. The Host by Stephenie Meyer (Got this beautiful baby from Book Sale!)

9. Ask Again Later (ARC) by Liz Czukas (Got this from NBS!)

10. In the Shadow of Blackbirds (ARC) by Cat Winters (Got it from the PBT Christmas Party)

11. Steadfast (ARC) by Claudia Gray (From NBS again! Seriously, I love you NBS)

12. Eve and Adam by Michael Grant and Katherine Applegate (From Celine!!)

13. Carnival of Souls by Melissa Marr (Got this from the PBT Christmas Party!)

14. Reckless by Cornelia Funk (From the Christmas Party as well.)

15. We Are Water by Wally Lamb (Got this from NBS!)

SIGNED:

16. Champion by Marie Lu (Harassed Fully Booked's telephone number just to get my hands on this.)

17. Just One Day by Gayle Forman

18. Just One Year by Gayle Forman

19. If I Stay by Gayle Forman 

20. Where She Went by Gayle Forman

21. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin (THANK YOU SO MUCH CELINE MWA)

NON-BOOKISH:

I decided to buy a planner because i'll try (the keyword is try) to be organized. And so that I may never forget blog tours! Haha. Here's what's inside. 

Me with Louisse of The Soul Sisters! :-)

Drums. Aren't drummers hot?

Lastly, I would like to thank National Bookstore for being awesome, my parents for continually satisfying my bookish cravings, and Fully Booked. 

What do YOU think I should read next? Comment below!