Tuesday, October 21, 2014

[Book Review] Broken Beauty

Broken Beauty
By Chloe Adams (Lizzy Ford)
September 22, 2013
Published by Indie Inked
New Adult, Contemporary


Links:


**Contains graphic content and the sensitive topic of rape and its aftermath. Not intended for teens under the age of 18.** 
Sometimes bad things happen to beautiful people. 
When socialite party girl Mia Abbott-Renou wakes up in a garden she has little recall of the previous night -- except that she is naked...hurt...terrified. Not only has she been raped, but she knows one of her assailants: the son of a wealthy politician who happens to be her own father’s political ally. 
Mia wants and needs justice. Except this privileged boy has an alibi and her father forbids her from going to the police. It’s a critical election year, one that his party might lose if his image as a doting father is soured due to Mia being labeled a lush or worse, promiscuous. 
Devastated at not having the support of her family, Mia finds herself in a tug-of-war with her conscience over what to do, especially since she can’t remember exactly what happened that night. Worse, the men who attacked her have hurt several other girls, and Mia may be the key to stopping them.
Mia tries to forget, until the unthinkable happens, and she’s left reeling once again, faced with a new challenge that will force her to take more control of her life.
 
Originally published in October 2012 as "No Way Back" by Chloe Adams

Sunday, August 3, 2014

[Blog Tour - Book Review & Excerpt] (un)breakable


(un)breakable 
(Gezellig #2)
Author: Kesh Tanglao
Date of Publication: July 16, 2014
Genre: contemporary romance/chick-lit

About the Book:

Lorin Perez’s life is finally back on track after almost losing it six years ago. She knows meeting and dating sizzling hot professional rugby player Spence Clarke is a huge part of her healing process. But with her father starting a new family, she decides to follow her best friend Caitlin to UK–Spence’s home country–and start a new life.

However, moving to UK brings certain complications in the form of Gezellig band member Nigel Whitmore, a.k.a. the one who didn’t follow through three years ago. And even though Lorin is very clear about her no commitment rule, Nigel ignores this and pursues Lorin like never before.

Caught between the man who made her feel safe and the one who makes her feel alive, will she finally be able to set her heart free and make the right choice?

Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22694739-un-breakable
Purchase links: Amazon | Smashwords

I had the opportunity to read author Kesh Tanglao's first book in the Gezellig series, and I happened to really appreciate her brand of story-telling, so when I got an email about a blog tour for the second book, I knew I just had to join!

(un)breakable tells the story of Caitlyn's best friend Lorin and her super complicated love life. I think that most readers would agree on just how lucky Lorin is when it comes to the men who come into her life, but personally, I wouldn't want to be stuck in her position. It's too difficult to choose! haha!

Plot-wise, I love how there's a development in Lorin's character from the beginning until the end. And I really like how practical she is when it comes to decisions, even when it comes to her love life. Though sometimes I wished she would've given things a little more thought.

As for the male leads, to be honest, I'm all for #TeamSpence. Not that I have anything against Nigel. It's just that Spence has been there right from the very beginning when Lorin was all broken up and fragile. He helped her heal little by little, granted not whole, but anchored and stable. And they were together for two years - I think that this fact should count for something. 

Truthfully. there was a point in the book where I was literally torn between Nigel and Spence. That was how effective the love triangle was, but in the end, I was rooting for Spence. The guy is seriously sweet and he's not some noble idiot who just gives up the girl without a fight. 

Another thing I really loved about this story is that the songs which the author mentioned for the playlist were some of my favorites! The lyrics were very apt for the scenes and made reading all the more enjoyable.

If you want a taste of (un)breakable, scroll on for an excerpt!
“I know. I’m just feeling a bit of pressure.” I flopped onto my bed and held the phone over my head. “Cait just set such a high standard, you know?”

“Well, she was always a hard worker. Did you just get in?” Spence asked. “I was trying to call earlier, and you weren’t picking up. Or were you on overtime already on your first day?”

Uh-oh. “Yeah, sorry about that,” I said slowly. “I was at dinner with a friend.”

“Ah. Good for you that you made friends already! Who was it?”

I paused, making Spence frown. “Nigel.”

“Ah,” Spence said, as if trying to recall where he heard the name. Then, “Nigel. Like the one from Gezellig?”

“Jesus, what did I do to you? Why do you know the names of the members of Gezellig?” I said, cringing.

Spence ignored my statement and rolled his eyes. “Were you guys with Caitlin and Marcus?”

“Nope. It was just the two of us.”

“Caitlin set you guys up?”

“Um,” I said, turning to my side and propping the phone on my pillow, “that’s a yes and a no.” Spence flashed me a blank look, so I continued, “Yes, because Nigel asked her, and no because Nigel and I met before. We sort of went out three years ago.”

“Oh,” Spence said flatly. He leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest.

I rushed to explain. “He just wants to be friends, Spence. That’s all.”

“No sane guy wants to be just friends with you, Lore.”

I scoffed. “You’re exaggerating. Come on.”

“How come I never knew you went out with this Nigel guy?”

“It was a fling, Spence. A week in Sydney. That was it. I never mentioned it because nothing came out of it.”

Spence smirked. “Nothing, huh,” he said, the sarcasm in his voice evident. “I’m kind of sure he wants something to happen now.”

“And if he does, will it be an issue?” I asked, unable to stop the rise in my tone. “I brought this up before I went here, and you said it was okay to have an open relationship. You said non-exclusive, remember?”

“Bloody hell, Lorin. You’ve been there for what, three days?” Spence said in disbelief. “I only said it because it seemed like it was what you wanted. You were the first one who said non-exclusive. You were always the one wanting out of the commitment. I’ve always seen you as my girlfriend.”

“You never said anything!” I said angrily.

Spence shot up off the bed, eyes flaring. “Because I know I’d lose you if I asked you to be my girlfriend, Lore!” he shouted.

I gritted my teeth. I tried to calm myself down, breathing in and out, and waited for my heart to return to its normal pace. I saw Spence shake his head at someone off-screen. Damn it. His roommates must be present, and they were getting a front row seat to our first big fight.

“You wouldn’t lose me,” I said, more calmly now. “I would be scared big time, and then I probably wouldn’t know what to do yet because I’m not ready for that, but you won’t lose me, Spence.”

“Not ready for a relationship?! Jesus, Lore, what do you think we’ve been doing the past two years? Fooling around?”

“No!” I said, panicking. “It’s not. I thought you were okay with whatever we have—”

“A relationship. That’s what we have, Lorin. Say it. Just admit it to yourself.”

I paused, closing my eyes. I pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to think of a way out of this. Argh. This wouldn’t be complicated if it wasn’t for Nigel.

I opened my eyes, and gazed at the man I’d been with for the past two years. “Spence, I can’t, I’m sorry,” I said. “I can’t do this. You knew that this is what I have to offer. This is all I could offer. And if you can’t take that, then—”

“Right on the heels of saying I won’t lose you, huh,” he cut in, bitterness seeped his tone. “Good job on that one, Lorin.”

I opened my mouth to speak, but the he cut the video call without another word. I buried my head into my pillow, my shout muffled by the cotton as I screamed my frustration.
DON'T FORGET TO JOIN THE GIVEAWAY~!!

About Kesh Tanglao

Kesh Tanglao is a full-time market researcher. When she’s not crunching numbers, she spends most of her free time watching TV shows, listening to music, and reading. Also a self-proclaimed fangirl, she likes cheering for her favorite sports teams and supporting her favorite artists.

Blog: http://sparksfire.wordpress.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/sparksfire_
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KeshTanglao
Wattpad: http://www.wattpad.com/user/sparksfire

Monday, July 21, 2014

[Personal Update] Nothing worth doing

... is ever easy. This has been my mantra ever since I got into law school.

This thing I've gotten myself into -- it's hella exhausting. Now that I'm in my last year, the pressure is mounting, the things I need to study, learn and memorize are also mounting, and I barely have time for anything else.

If you're one of those people I've been interacting with in the interwebs within the last year or so, you'd notice the scarcity of my posts and online presence. Truth is, I've limited myself to checking Facebook on my mobile. Most of the time, I leave my laptop alone because my nose is always buried in studying materials. I need to resist temptation from checking out too many websites and wasting idle time. The interwebs is a vast fountain of knowledge and I can spend hours online. Seriously.

The only thing I do to de-stress is read books (my kind of books, not law books) but I can't read as much as I want to. I just don't have the time. I don't even write or blog anymore, which really sucks.

I'm feeling introspective at the moment and I'd be lying if I say that negative thoughts, doubts and the urge to just give up are not creeping in. They are. Every. Single. Day. The only thing I do is to live each day as it comes, and it's getting harder. I need a good cry. =(


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