[Random] 2012 Review

A rundown of events that made my year quite interesting, along with the happenings that made me thankful for the year that passed.

*completed my 2012 Goodreads  reading challenge ~ read 150 books...and MORE.

*completed reading ALL of Agatha Christie's novels ~ I swear I feel I know Poirot better than anyone else. lol

*discovered new and exciting series to follow ~ hello Cinder, Shadow and Bone, Daughter of Smoke and Bone, and Masque of the Red Death.

*finished all of Jane Austen's novels, and even her novelette ~ even watched Pride and Prejudice (the one with Kiera Knightley) twice.

*finally started watching BBC's Sherlock ~ I know I regret not being able to watch it earlier.

*met my favorite book: Graffiti Moon.

*created this BLOG. ~ was it really this year? I just know I've been totally active this year.

*met new friends, uh, correction, online friends. ~ be it on Twitter, or in Goodreads. There's nothing that makes people closer more than shared interests

*started a fic in AFF. ~ my frustrations on writing being poured out in that sorry excuse for a fanfic (which reminds me that I haven't updated for a long time)

* traveled. Uh, in my dreams?! Haha.

*big bang had a concert in the Philippines (and Dara came too) and it's a miracle that I'm still alive and not seven feet below the ground because of absolute envy.

*went crazy over Adam Levine and Jason Mraz.

*volunteered. A lot. In fact that's what I did for the whole year. ~ this translates to, I'm always broke. But, I also have new friends and a whole new experience.

*took, and passed, the Civil Service Eligibility Exam ~ with luck on my side, I managed to snag the 2nd spot on the topnotch for our region, which doesn't change the fact that I'm still penniless. All I got from it was bragging rights which I need as much as I need a raincoat while sun bathing. (don't get me wrong, I'm absolutely thankful for it too)

*learned how to bake ~ now I want a kitchen complete with all the necessary equipment and materials for baking

*another skill I've learned this year; basic computer hardware servicing ~ from technician to baker, what's next?

*managed to learn the basics of accounting ~ even the Quickbook thingy, hahaha. (all the skills I've managed to learn are all in preparation for my future, as a spinster)

*sang along to Call Me Maybe, Gangnam Style, Payphone, and what the heck, Pusong bato. Lmao.

*memorized 2ne1's I Love You and Big Bang's Bad Boy ~ yes, I can do the rap parts. Achievement.

*fell in love more with Choi Seung Hyun

*two of my most favorite people in the world joined the Twitterverse; @krungy21 and @IBGDRGN. ~ of course they were followed by another favorite entity, @ForVictori

*started joining the Dramione and Feltson ship

*diagnosed as Tweet-holic ~ tweeted more than 3,200 tweets this year.

*pinned on Pinterest ~ great site, btw

*learned how to play 'Twinkle, twinkle little star' on keyboard ~ probably my biggest achievement this year.

*AA arrived in my life and changed a lot of things. That little guy is a bundle of joy.

*grasped a bit of Photoshop

[Spazz] SBS Gayo Daejun 2012 (Big Bang and 2NE1)

Big Bang - One of a Kind, Get Your Cray'on (With Dara), Fantastic Baby

After watching the video for the first time:
My reaction
asjhahddkjfgdkjghhfehgakbg!

The second time:

0:06 - Swag GD. One of a Kind!
1:02 - What the f***?! Dara.....my appler heart goes ka-BOOM!
1:20 - AND, I went to heaven and back! I definitely agree with the fans. Dara really wanted to pee oh-so-badly, she just passed on the stage, LIKE a BOSS. lmao. but seriously, those were the best 20 seconds of my life. Always. Always. Always. Hengshoooo forever.
2:54 - Golden Sol! lol
3:10 - WOW! Fantastic Baby. My boooys.
3:42 - and the fans goes wild, and I understand why. TABI looked so handsome, damn.
4:05 - GREEN-haired Daesung. WTF. My kept man is sorching hawt.
4:36 - melts for a while. those eyes are my kryptonite
4:46 - Panda, you're so grown up. Oh boy.
4:52 - uh, what's my name? hahaha
5:05 - did you just winked Tabi? oh for goodness' sake!
5:36 - wild and crazy audience. Gangnam Style x Big Bang. Boo yah!
5:48 - Kang Daesung, you do the best Gangnam dance.
5:57 - lmao Tabi, that's choom for you.
6:27 - and that, Ladies and Gentlemen is what I call PERFORMANCE.

2NE1 - I Love You

0:10 - Bom looked like she wanted to laugh

0:15 - dies. I swear, this lady makes me want to go lesbo, gorgeous!

0:18 - oh maknae, can you at least tone down the sexiness? you're wearing the damn jacket but your aura exudes SEXINESS!

0:20 - fierce leader, CL!

0:40 - GOOSE BUMPS.

1:42 - one of the Kwon twins. Kyaaah! (okay, not 2ne1 related, but whatever!) 

2:40 - Minzy's hips don't friggin' lie.

2:44 - Big Bang oppars. TOP, why so serious? GET YOUR CRAYON you DUMMY! Hahaha

3:16 - oh fvck! didn't see that one coming. lol

4:00 - the girls really know how to OWN the stage. 

I am so proud of my girls. They all looked so pretty and prepped up. Dara, you ARE a GODDESS. 

All videos are from SBSNOW1 on YouTube. 

Review: What Happens in London

What Happens in London by Julia Quinn

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My absolute JULIA QUINN favorite. I declare.
Even though I haven't read her Bridgertons series yet.

There is something about the book which I absolutely loved.
Maybe because it's sweet, light, funny, and romantic.
Or maybe because I find Lady Olivia and Sir Harry amusing.

What I loved most about this book?
No drama whatsoever. It was pretty straightforward.
And I think the "window scenes" were cute. ^.^






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[Listverse] January 2013 Reading List: It's a new beginning.

I want to start my 2013 with books from series which I longed to start reading. Some of these have been on my to-read shelf for a long time, while the others just came out last year. It's a mix of different genre too, to provide versatility. 

SO here, let me present, my January 2013 Reading List:

The Bourne Identity - Robert Ludlum

Who is Jason Bourne? Is he an assassin, a terrorist, a thief? Why has he got four million dollars in a Swiss bank account? Why has someone tried to murder him?...

Jason Bourne does not know the answer to any of these questions. Suffering from amnesia, he does not even know that he is Jason Bourne. What manner of man is he? What are his secrets? Who has he killed?

~0~

Darkness Before Dawn -  J.A. London

Only sunlight can save us.

We built the wall to keep them out, to keep us safe. But it also makes us prisoners, trapped in what's left of our ravaged city, fearing nightfall.

After the death of my parents, it's up to me--as the newest delegate for humanity--to bargain with our vampire overlord. I thought I was ready. I thought I knew everything there was to know about the monsters. Then again, nothing could have prepared me for Lord Valentine... or his son. Maybe not all vampires are killers. Maybe it's safe to let one in.

Only one thing is certain: Even the wall is not enough. A war is coming and we cannot hide forever.

~0~

Uglies - Scott Westerfeld

Tally Youngblood is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait for the operation that turns everyone from a repellent ugly into a stunningly attractive pretty and catapults you into a high-tech paradise where your only job is to party. But new friend Shay would rather hoverboard to "the Smoke" and be free. Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world and it isn't very pretty. The "Special Circumstances" authority Dr Cable offers Tally the worst choice she can imagine: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. The choice Tally makes changes her world forever.

~0~

Hush, hush - Rebecca Fitzpatrick

A SACRED OATH

A FALLEN ANGEL

A FORBIDDEN LOVE

Romance was not part of Nora Grey's plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how hard her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch comes along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Patch draws Nora to him against her better judgment.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is and seems to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For she is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost Nora her life

~0~

A Game of Thrones - George R.R. Martin

Long ago, in a time forgotten, a preternatural event threw the seasons out of balance. In a land where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime, trouble is brewing. The cold is returning, and in the frozen wastes to the north of Winterfell, sinister forces are massing beyond the kingdom’s protective Wall. To the south, the king’s powers are failing—his most trusted adviser dead under mysterious circumstances and his enemies emerging from the shadows of the throne. At the center of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the frozen land they were born to. Now Lord Eddard Stark is reluctantly summoned to serve as the king’s new Hand, an appointment that threatens to sunder not only his family but the kingdom itself.

Sweeping from a harsh land of cold to a summertime kingdom of epicurean plenty, A Game of Thrones tells a tale of lords and ladies, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and bastards, who come together in a time of grim omens. Here an enigmatic band of warriors bear swords of no human metal; a tribe of fierce wildlings carry men off into madness; a cruel young dragon prince barters his sister to win back his throne; a child is lost in the twilight between life and death; and a determined woman undertakes a treacherous journey to protect all she holds dear. Amid plots and counter-plots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, allies and enemies, the fate of the Starks hangs perilously in the balance, as each side endeavors to win that deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones.

Unparalleled in scope and execution, A Game of Thrones is one of those rare reading experiences that catch you up from the opening pages, won’t let you go until the end, and leave you yearning for more.

~0~

Hemlock - Kathleen Peacock 

Mackenzie and Amy were best friends. Until Amy was brutally murdered.

Since then, Mac's life has been turned upside down. She is being haunted by Amy in her dreams, and an extremist group called the Trackers has come to Mac's hometown of Hemlock to hunt down Amy's killer:

A white werewolf.

Lupine syndrome--also known as the werewolf virus--is on the rise across the country. Many of the infected try to hide their symptoms, but bloodlust is not easy to control.

Wanting desperately to put an end to her nightmares, Mac decides to investigate Amy's murder herself. She discovers secrets lurking in the shadows of Hemlock, secrets about Amy's boyfriend, Jason, her good pal Kyle, and especially her late best friend. Mac is thrown into a maelstrom of violence and betrayal that puts her life at risk.

Kathleen Peacock's thrilling novel is the first in the Hemlock trilogy, a spellbinding urban fantasy series filled with provocative questions about prejudice, trust, lies, and love.

~0~

Fallen - Kate Lauren

 There’s something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price’s attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah. He’s the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.

Even Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce – he goes out of his way to make that very clear. But she can’t let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, Luce has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret...even if it kills her.

Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, FALLEN is a page-turning thriller and the ultimate love story

~0~

Ultraviolet - R.J. Anderson

Once upon a time there was a girl who was special. 

This is not her story. 

Unless you count the part where I killed her. 

Sixteen-year-old Alison has been sectioned in a mental institute for teens, having murdered the most perfect and popular girl at school. But the case is a mystery: no body has been found, and Alison’s condition is proving difficult to diagnose. Alison herself can’t explain what happened: one minute she was fighting with Tori—the next she disintegrated. Into nothing. But that’s impossible. Right?

~0~

The Iron King - Julie Kagawa

 Meghan Chase has a secret destiny; one she could never have imagined.

Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school or at home.

When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.

But she could never have guessed the truth - that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face; and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

~0~

The Raven Boys - Maggie Stiefvater

 

“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

From Maggie Stiefvater, the bestselling and acclaimed author of the Shiver trilogy and The Scorpio Races, comes a spellbinding new series where the inevitability of death and the nature of love lead us to a place we’ve never been before.

~0~

From the TOP 100 Novels of the Century Challenge:

The Hitchhiker's Guide To Galaxy

 

Seconds before the Earth is demolished to make way for a galactic freeway, Arthur Dent is plucked off the planet by his friend Ford Prefect, a researcher for the revised edition of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy who, for the last fifteen years, has been posing as an out-of-work actor. Together this dynamic pair begin a journey through space aided by quotes from The Hitchhiker's Guide ("A towel is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have") and a galaxy-full of fellow travelers: Zaphod Beeblebrox--the two-headed, three-armed ex-hippie and totally out-to-lunch president of the galaxy; Trillian, Zaphod's girlfriend (formally Tricia McMillan), whom Arthur tried to pick up at a cocktail party once upon a time zone; Marvin, a paranoid, brilliant, and chronically depressed robot; Veet Voojagig, a former graduate student who is obsessed with the disappearance of all the ballpoint pens he bought over the years. Where are these pens? Why are we born? Why do we die? Why do we spend so much time between wearing digital watches? For all the answers stick your thumb to the stars. And don't forget to bring a towel!

[Listverse] 2012 Books That Rocked My Year

I have to admit since I am catching up on my reading, there's a lot of books I've read this year which aren't released this 2012, but, I managed to snag a few 2012 releases. So here is my list of 2012 Books that ROCKED my year. Books that made my 2012 reading life more fun, thrilling, and dramatic.

  


1. The Fault in Our Stars - John Green

A book that I would gladly recommend to anyone. Hazel and Augustus are just so lovable, the ending was so heartbreaking. But it also gave me something beautiful. Everyone with a special someone who is in delicate medical condition should read this (not that I have one), you'll learn a lot on how to deal with them in here and understand them in a way.

2. Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles #1) - Marissa Meyer

For you fairytale lovers out there, this one is definitely a must-read. Growing up loving and admiring Cinderella, I was almost sure I'd love this book...and I did. Absolutely-freaking-LOVED it! I liked how Cinder's character developed, from one naive mechanic, to a bad-assy-kind-of-cyborg. My kind of girl.

3. Wonder - R.J. Palacio

Another book that I recommend for everyone to read. This is the BEST BOOK of 2012 for me.

4. Masque of the Red Death (Masque of the Red Death #1) - Bethany Griffin

I loved the "goth" feels I get from this book. I find the characters intriguing too. Looking forward to the next book.

5. Easy - Tamara Webber

An unexpected favorite. I never really thought I'd fall for this one. Webber really knows how to play with your emotions...and LUCAS, is the BEST BOOK BOYFRIEND of 2012. lmao

6. Shadow and Bone (The Grisha Trilogy #1) - Leigh Bardugo

I love Magic. The book, along with the characters, is intriguing. The Darkling is enough reason for this book to be on the top reads for 2012.

7. For Darkness Shows the Stars - Diana Peterfreund

I am a big Jane Austen, and next to Pride and Prejudice and Emma, Persuasion comes to a close to being my top favorite. Any Jane Austen retelling is actually good for me, but this one, I just love the twist. I think Diana made the story her own. The additions made the retelling unique in its own way.

8. The Casual Vacancy - J.K. Rowling

One of my most anticipated book of the year, and fortunately, it didn't disappoint me. I will always adore the way JK Rowling creates her character. I've also heard from the grapevine that this will be turned into a TV Series, I am looking forward to it.

9.  The Mark of Athena (Heroes of Olympus #3) - Rick Riordan

What a cliffhanger. Probably one of the most beautiful and sad ending I've read this year. Sigh.

10. Days of Blood and Starlight (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #2) - Laini Taylor

Definitely as good as the first. I liked it that this one focused more on the war between the Chimaeras and the Seraphim and not on Akiva and Karou. Still as emotional as the first one though, you'd never know what hit you. You just realize your crying.

[Journal] 12-27-12

(09:31PM)

It actually pains me to think of Irene Adler as "the woman". I just hate the fact that SHE became a significant part in Sherlock Holmes' memory. Drat! I'm jealous, and I know it's unreasonable because Sherlock is just  a fictional character. But still, I can't help it. I have been fascinated by Sherlock Holmes ever since I first read about him on my "Children's Encyclopedia". See? He can actually qualify as my first love. *sigh*. And now I'm re-reading "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" for probably the 4th time. How hopeless is that? This, truly is, the perfect example of an unrequitted love.

(11:59PM)

It sucks when the only way to rest is to cry yourself to sleep. Not that I'm doing it. But I'm probably close to. No, I'm not sad, depressed, nor problematic. I just want to sleep but my insomnia wouldn't allow me. I've always believed that crying your heart out leaves you exhausted. The problem is, I can't conjure an image nor relive an experience that could bring tears to my eyes. So yeah, I guess I'd have to stick up to the traditional way of counting sheeps

Review: Scandal in Spring

Scandal in Spring by Lisa Kleypas

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



The funniest.



I stand by my word. The preceding book is still my favorite, but this one is by far the most entertaining.

When he had explained why investors who wanted low risk and moderate returns should put their capital into national debt shares, Daisy has interrupted him by asking, "Father, wouldn't it be wonderful if hummingbirds had tea parties and we were small enough to be invited?"

Hummingbirds at tea parties? Now, Daisy is fascinating. I've never thought of that.

Westcliff did not miss Matthew's fascinated gaze. "You have a unique approach to courtship," he commented. "I wouldn't have thought beating Daisy at lawn games would catch her interest, but it seems to have done the trick."
Matthew contemplated the ground before his feet, schooling his tone into calm unconcern. "I'm not courting Miss Bowman."
"Then it seems I misinterpreted your apparent passion for bowls."

Hah! I actually enjoyed the bowl game between Matthew and Daisy. Probably the longest in history.

I had fun reading the involvement of the other characters in the series. Maybe because Daisy was the last wallflower to get married, there is more "wallflower" participation in this book, along with their husbands. Nice touch to make the book more exciting.

I did like how Daisy and Matthew's relationship developed but I guess I would've enjoyed it better if there were less "love scenes" (this comment refers to the other books as well). I'm not prude, but the scenes were almost always the same...it's repetitive and I simply get bored reading the same thing over and over again.

Other than that, I'm fine with it. The series keep getting better with each addition. Great books to pick up when you're feeling romance-deprived (like me, coz the weather is cold and I could only cuddle with my pillow).




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[Bookmarked!] Ditched, Born Wicked, Shadow and Bone

"I know, Donna"

She bites at her lips. "And they're not all scumbags/"
I nod.
Her eyes were watery. "I just seem to have a way of scaring the good ones off, doll."
I squeeze her hands tighter. "You'll find a good one. If you're looking for one"

- Ditched



“No, thank you.” I walk past Finn and kneel before the tangle of roses. “I still have my copy. I just don’t have time to read anymore.”
“That’s the saddest thing I’ve heard all day,” Finn says, swiping his hands through his messy hair. “Reading is the perfect escape from whatever ails you.”

~


I’ve never once thought of it like that. “How did you get to be so clever?”
Tess giggles, falling back next to me. “It’s not clever. It’s just paying attention to people.”


“We don’t get to choose who we love. Or stop loving them when they’re difficult.”
“No.” Sachi sighs, swiveling toward me. “I knew you would understand.”


“You can’t want your son caught up in all of this.”
“Well, it does complicate things a bit, but we don’t choose who we love.”
“Oh—he—that is—he hasn’t—” I stumble.
“He may not have said the words, but I know my son. I saw the way he looked at you.”
“How?” I hate myself for wanting to quiz her on it.
“Like he’d do murder for you.”

*Probably one of my most favorite lines. EVER.

- Born Wicked

“Well,” I said with a laugh. “In Ana Kuya’s stories, they could talk, and if a hunter captured them and spared their lives, they granted wishes.”
He laughed then. It was the first time I’d ever heard his laugh, a lovely dark sound that rippled through the air. “Well, that part definitely isn’t true.”


I heard people laughing and crying. That feeling of disquiet twisted through me again. These people believed that I could save them. What would they think when they learned I was good for nothing but parlor tricks? But these thoughts were only dim flickers. It was hard to think of anything but the fact that, after weeks of ignoring me, the Darkling had hold of my hand and was pulling me through a narrow door and down an empty corridor.
A giddy laugh escaped me as we slipped inside an empty room lit only by the moonlight pouring in through the windows. I barely had time to register that it was the sitting room where I had once been brought to meet the Queen, because as soon as the door closed, he was kissing me and I could think of nothing else.


I’d been kissed before, drunken mistakes, awkward fumblings. This was nothing like that. It was sure and powerful and like my whole body had just come awake. I could feel my pounding heart, the press of silk against my skin, the strength of his arms around me, one hand buried deep in my hair, the other at my back, pulling me closer. The moment his lips met mine, the connection between us opened and I felt his power flood through me. I could feel how much he wanted me—but behind that desire, I could feel something else, something that felt like anger.
I drew back, startled. “You don’t want to be doing this.”
“This is the only thing I want to be doing,” he growled, and I could hear the bitterness and desire all tangled up in his voice.
“And you hate that,” I said with a sudden flash of comprehension.
He sighed and leaned against me, brushing my hair back from my neck. “Maybe I do,” he murmured, his lips grazing my ear, my throat, my collarbone.


I cringed at the thought. I could still feel his warm breath on my neck, hear his whisper in my ear. The problem with wanting is that it makes us weak.
How right he was. I’d wanted so badly to belong somewhere, anywhere. I’d been so eager to please him, so proud to keep his secrets. But I’d never bothered to question what he might really want, what his true motives might be. I’d been too busy imagining myself by his side, the savior of Ravka, most treasured, most desired, like some kind of queen. I’d made it so easy for him.


At some point during the night, I woke to Mal’s snoring. I jabbed him in the back with my elbow. He rolled onto his side, muttered something in his sleep, and threw his arm over me. A minute later he started snoring again, but this time I didn’t wake him.


“I was happy,” I admitted. “In that moment, I was happy. I’m not like you, Mal. I never really fit in the way that you did. I never really belonged anywhere.”
“You belonged with me,” he said quietly.
“No, Mal. Not really. Not for a long time.”
He looked at me then, and his eyes were deep blue in the twilight. “Did you miss me, Alina? Did you miss me when you were gone?”
“Every day,” I said honestly.
“I missed you every hour. And you know what the worst part was? It caught me completely by surprise. I’d catch myself walking around to find you, not for any reason, just out of habit, because I’d seen something that I wanted to tell you about or because I wanted to hear your voice. And hen I’d realize that you weren’t there anymore, and every time, every single time, it was like having the wind knocked out of me. I’ve risked my life for you. I’ve walked half the length of Ravka for you, and I’d do it again and again and again just to be with you, just to starve with you and freeze with you and hear you complain about hard cheese every day. So don’t tell me we don’t belong together,” he said fiercely. He was very close now, and my heart was suddenly hammering in my chest. “I’m sorry it took me so long to see you, Alina. But I see you now.”
He lowered his head, and I felt his lips on mine. The world seemed to go silent and all I knew was the feel of his hand in mine as he drew me closer, and the warm press of his mouth.
I thought that I’d given up on Mal. I thought the love I’d had for him belonged to the past, to the foolish, lonely girl I never wanted to be again. I’d tried to bury that girl and the love she’d felt, just as I’d tried to bury my power. But I wouldn’t make that mistake again. Whatever burned between us was just as bright, just as undeniable. The moment our lips met, I knew with pure and piercing certainty that I would have waited for him forever.


I looked down at our clasped hands. “Mal, what the Darkling said in the glade about … about him and me. I didn’t … I never …”
“It doesn’t matter.”
I looked up at him. “It doesn’t?”
“No,” he said a little too fiercely.
“I don’t think I believe you.”
“So maybe I don’t believe it yet either, not completely, but it’s the truth.” He clutched my hands more tightly, holding them close to his heart. “I don’t care if you danced naked on the roof of the Little Palace with him. I love you, Alina, even the part of you that loved him.”
I wanted to deny it, to erase it, but I couldn’t. Another sob shook me. “I hate that I ever thought … that I ever—”
“Do you blame me for every mistake I made? For every girl I tumbled? For every dumb thing I’ve said? Because if we start running tallies on stupid, you know who’s going to come out ahead.”
“No, I don’t blame you.” I managed a small smile. “Much.”
He grinned and my heart flip-flopped the way it always had. “We found our way back to each other, Alina. That’s all that matters.”

- Shadow AND Bone

[eBookWorm Diaries] December Reading List 1

12-01

20:07. Ditched

The punk Tinker Bell tattoo. Cute! Want to see that.

Am I supposed to hate Ian Clark? Coz I honestly can't.

Damn! Damn! Damn! I might be falling for Ian too. xD

P.S. At this moment, I've actually got a glimpse of the ending...and I am SO SO relieved that it was a happy one. Spoiler much.

I like how Justina mentions 'Butterflies' and 'Toe dip' every time she feels like she's on that situation.

Hailey, can you be, like, my BFF too? I'm so lovin' the attitude.

And Mike and Other Mike sounds like fun. Together with Serenity and Bliss.

12-02

16:03. Tell me, would it be wrong if I happen to like Brian too? And I think Gilda...(or was it Donna? I always get 'em mixed up) was right about Allyson being a Parasite Pal (i like the term huh). I think she was just being helpful.

Dang! I am really liking this book the more I'm reading it.

19:01. Back to reading.

'Them, ridiculously sweet.

Me, totally jealous'

19:49. That was so beautiful. Wow! I revel on happy endings.

12-07

Going Under

12:31. The similarities between Going Under and Perfect Chemistry is just too much. And Claire, there is nothing wrong in liking a guy who smokes. Trust me...or don't. Haha. Actually, I like a guy who smells like cologne with a hint of cigarette.

I can't figure out why Claire chose to be with Forbes. She obviously doesn't love the guy, so why stay? Why not leave the idiot behind?

Argh! Forbes Henderson is a dick! Woah Claire, I couldn't even stand the guy...and you lasted for more than a year. I salute you girl.

Sometimes I get confused about Claire. Is she acting? Or what she's doing is real?

I wouldn't mind dancing on a football field with a guy like Jessie Boone, in fact, I wouldn't mind dancing with him even at the North Pole.

18:47

The Selection

Taking a deep breath. I've read a lot of negative reviews about this so I'm not sure what to expect. But I do hope I like this one. I hate abandoning books.

12-09

18:34 Asking you if you're a virgin or not makes you feel suffocating? Whatever America. Lol

The rules of 'The Selection' looks exciting. Honestly, I'm warming up with the book...but not with America.

Hmmm, wait! You are not allowed to say NO to whatever Prince Maxon asks from you? As in, whatever?! Eeek. This rule is disgusting.

The drama scene (the one where Aspen helped America pack), just doesn't suit me. At all.

I feel sorry for Aspen, and I understand why he did that. Leaving America. That is probably the best thing to do. I'm not a cynic...I'm a realist. Their love wouldn't feed them.

I swear, the whole thing reminded me of the HUNGER GAMES. May is like Prim, Aspen like Gale. LOL

And now she became a champion, wtf! I am confused about her personality.

You're saying you are a champion earlier, and now you're thinking of letting them down. Oh lord!

I officially hate America Singer. Don't ask me why. I don't know. I just hate her. Period.

12-11

Easy

20:44. One of the reasons I read this book is because of Lucas. Hahaha. People who knows me would understand this.

Ohmaygahd! Another Lucas I'd probably fall in love with.

The lamest break up reason goes to you Kennedy.

Wait! Wait! Wait! IS Landon Maxfield AND Lucas one and the same?

Another Oh My Freakin God! I am so right. Landon and Lucas is the same person. OMG! OMG! OMG! I can't calm myself down. Lol

12-14

21:11. I can't take this anymore. Lucas, where can I find someone like you?

[eBookWorm Diaries] November Reading List 1

11-23

Wicked

17:47. Oh my god, I'm having a crush with this Isaac too. I felt electricity too, though I think on a lower voltage than Emily's.

And speaking of Andrew, I do like him for Spencer Hastings. They'd be the perfect pair.

Ok. That was weird. Why do I like all of their boyfies. Lucas, Xavier, Andrew and Isaac. Oh girls. You are so lucky. Please don't screw this time.

11-26

Mark of Athena

12:00. I'm starting to hate reading series. I become so attached with the characters it's getting hard to separate reality from fiction.

Chapter XX. Octavian is such a PAIN in the ASS. Percy, you will always be my love...and Anabeth, my favorite demigod.

I bet Heracles may have gotten well with Percy and Anabeth.

Percy and Anabeth, you made me love you two so much. I swear on the River Styx, you'd forever be my OTP.

Oh please. Can we please stop the Percy-Jason rivalry?! It isn't exactly fun to read, you know?!

'I am not going to die here, she told herself. I'm going to see Percy again'

Stop! Stop! Stop! All the suspense and following the Mark of Athena thingy is killing me. Wait. Need a rest. Be back. xx

16:22. My oh my. I have a nagging feeling that Anabeth isn't part of the prophecy. That it IS Nico who is supposed to be the seventh. Oh Zeus, I am so dreadfully afraid. Should I read the ending ahead? Such a spoiler.

Oh, for the love of Gods. They are at Raphael's tomb. Reminds me of Angels and Demons. Harhar.

Chapter XLIV. I'm inching closer to the end. Damn it. I am literally squirming on my seat.

Why do giants give out some sort of aura that screams 'We are idiots'. Though I have to admit, it adds to the entertainment value.

AAAH! Mr. D, I've never been more thankful of your surprise appearance. Lol. Okay, I think I have to take that back. Puh-leez! Hopefully you'd change your mind.

That. Was. Heartbreaking. Mindboggling. Tearjerking. Ending. Not to mention a cliffhanger. Percy and Anabeth, that was so endearing, and beautiful, and courageous, and stunningly stupid, but very very very touching. I AM REALLY CRYING IN HERE.

19:29

Wicked

Hanna, you really had to screw your relationship with Lucas? Gahd. You never learn your lesson.

Oh finally! Someone learned how to deal with things, and finally, learned that it is better to tell the truth. And another finally...Spencer and Andrew. What a relief.

11-27

21:33. Ian's dead. Good luck Pretty Little Liars. Looks like A is on a killing spree.

P.S. Undecided whether to read the next book...or NOT!

High Five

Stephanie Plum, we meet again. But this time, I am NOT really looking forward to it. I just don't like the Stephanie-Ranger angle, I'm betting my bottom dollar on Joe Morelli for Stephanie...and Ranger, is all mine, or maybe Lula's. That would be epic.

Gradma Mazur. Entertaining as always.

Okay, so she KISSED Ranger in this book? And what? Possibly hooked up with him in the end? NO WAY! I am abandoning this book. And maybe the whole series. Drat! Maybe I'd get back to it when Janet Evanovich finally decides to end the series, with Stephanie and Joe forever and ever. I know, I know, a lot wants Ranger for Stephanie. But seriously? No way, Jose! I want Ranger for myself. NOT for Stephanie. Besides, I have this weird sentiments for first love, and some cracky things like that.

I guess this is it. The end of my November Reading List Part 2. All in all, it was a good list even though I had to abandon one.

December Reading List, you're NEXT.

Need to wait another 2 days. But I might be dead tired for the next few days so I guess it wouldn't matter.

Ciao!

[ListVerse] The Year-End Reading List

5 Days and December comes. I've decided to pick one book published per month to constitute my Year-End Reading List. It's a mix of YA Contemporary and some series which I really wanted to start reading. Here we go:

JANUARY 

Published: January 10, 2012

High school senior Justina Griffith was never the girl who dreamed of going to prom. Designer dresses and strappy heels? Not her thing. So she never expected her best friend, Ian Clark, to ask her. 

Ian, who always passed her the baseball bat handle first. 

Ian, who knew exactly when she needed red licorice. 

Ian, who promised her the most amazing night at prom. 

And then ditched her. 

Now, as the sun rises over her small town, and with only the help of some opinionated ladies at the 7-Eleven, Justina must piece together – stain by stain on her thrift-store dress – exactly how she ended up dateless. A three-legged Chihuahua was involved. Along with a demolition derby-ready Cadillac. And there was that incident at the tattoo parlor. Plus the flying leap from Brian Sontag’s moving car… 

But to get the whole story, Justina will have to face the boy who ditched her. And discover if losing out at prom can ultimately lead to true love.

FEBRUARY

Published: February 07, 2012


Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they’re witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship—or an early grave.

Before her mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters. But with only six months left to choose between marriage and the Sisterhood, she might not be able to keep her word... especially after she finds her mother’s diary, uncovering a secret that could spell her family’s destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate starts scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra.

If what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren’t safe. Not from the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood—not even from each other

MARCH



Published: March 01, 2012


Jessie Boone is a self proclaimed bad boy and doesn’t march to the beat of anyone’s drum, but his own. Growing up in less than desirable circumstances has made him no stranger to the hard knock life and his determination to leave it behind is fierce. When he finds himself transferred to East Franklin High School, he sees his opportunity to use his athletic ability to snag a college football scholarship, but Forbes Henderson, the player Jessie means to replace isn’t giving up his spot willingly. In fact, Forbes is willing to go to extreme measures to retain his place as first string quarterback. When Forbes’ malicious plan to injure his replacement fails, Jessie is furious and determined to show him he messed with the wrong person; not only is he going to take the position of first string quarterback, he’s going to take his girl, too.

Claire Deveraux is perfection at it’s best. She is beautiful, intelligent and unaware she just became Jessie Boone’s conquest as revenge against her boyfriend, Forbes Henderson. Like her flawless performance as the perfect daughter and student, Claire’s production of being the perfect girlfriend has everyone fooled, except Jessie Boone, and she fears this tattooed bad boy will see her secret desire to explore his crude threats and promises to rock her perfect world. If she decides to give in to one uninhibited moment with Jessie, will she learn too late that it was all an act of vengeance or will Jessie learn the taste of first love is sweeter than that of revenge?


APRIL



Published: April 24, 2012


 For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

MAY



Published: May 24, 2012


A girl who believes trust can be misplaced, promises are made to be broken, and loyalty is an illusion. A boy who believes truth is relative, lies can mask unbearable pain, and guilt is eternal. Will what they find in each other validate their conclusions, or disprove them all?

When Jacqueline follows her longtime boyfriend to the college of his choice, the last thing she expects is a breakup two months into sophomore year. After two weeks in shock, she wakes up to her new reality: she's single, attending a state university instead of a music conservatory, ignored by her former circle of friends, and failing a class for the first time in her life.

Leaving a party alone, Jacqueline is assaulted by her ex's frat brother. Rescued by a stranger who seems to be in the right place at the right time, she wants nothing more than to forget the attack and that night--but her savior, Lucas, sits on the back row of her econ class, sketching in a notebook and staring at her. Her friends nominate him to be the perfect rebound.

When her attacker turns stalker, Jacqueline has a choice: crumple in defeat or learn to fight back. Lucas remains protective, but he's hiding secrets of his own. Suddenly appearances are everything, and knowing who to trust is anything but easy.


JUNE



Published: June 05, 2012


Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha…and the secrets of her heart.


JULY



Published: July 10, 2012


A sexy and poignant romantic tale of a young daredevil pilot caught between two brothers. When I was fourteen, I made a decision. If I was doomed to live in a trailer park next to an airport, I could complain about the smell of the jet fuel like my mom, I could drink myself to death over the noise like everybody else, or I could learn to fly.

Heaven Beach, South Carolina, is anything but, if you live at the low-rent end of town. All her life, Leah Jones has been the grown-up in her family, while her mother moves from boyfriend to boyfriend, letting any available money slip out of her hands. At school, they may diss Leah as trash, but she’s the one who negotiates with the landlord when the rent’s not paid. At fourteen, she’s the one who gets a job at the nearby airstrip.

But there’s one way Leah can escape reality. Saving every penny she can, she begs quiet Mr. Hall, who runs an aerial banner-advertising business at the airstrip and also offers flight lessons, to take her up just once. Leaving the trailer park far beneath her and swooping out over the sea is a rush greater than anything she’s ever experienced, and when Mr. Hall offers to give her cut-rate flight lessons, she feels ready to touch the sky.

By the time she’s a high school senior, Leah has become a good enough pilot that Mr. Hall offers her a job flying a banner plane. It seems like a dream come true . . . but turns out to be just as fleeting as any dream. Mr. Hall dies suddenly, leaving everything he owned in the hands of his teenage sons: golden boy Alec and adrenaline junkie Grayson. And they're determined to keep the banner planes flying. Though Leah has crushed on Grayson for years, she’s leery of getting involved in what now seems like a doomed business—until Grayson betrays her by digging up her most damning secret. Holding it over her head, he forces her to fly for secret reasons of his own, reasons involving Alec. Now Leah finds herself drawn into a battle between brothers—and the consequences could be deadly.

AUGUST



Published: August 07, 2012


It's all about supply and demand when a high school deals with the sudden exodus of male students.
The boy recession has hit Julius P. Heil High, and the remaining boys find that their stock is on the rise: With little competition, even the most unlikely guys have a good chance at making the team and getting the girl. Guitar-strumming, class-skipping Hunter Fahrenbach never wanted to be a hot commodity, but the popular girls can't help but notice his unconventional good looks. With a little work, he might even by boyfriend material.
But for down-to-earth Kelly Robbins, the boy recession is causing all sorts of problems. She has secretly liked her good friend Hunter for a while now, but how can she stand out in a crowd of overzealous Spandexers?

As if dating wasn't hard enough without a four-to-one ratio


SEPTEMBER



Published: September 18, 2012


I should not exist. But I do.

Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else—two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren’t they settling? Why isn’t one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn’t . . .

For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she’s still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable-hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet . . . for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything.

OCTOBER



Published: October 01, 2012


Red-hot author Miranda Kenneally hits one out of the park in this return to Catching Jordan's Hundred Oaks High.

After a scandal rocks their conservative small town, 17-year-old Parker Shelton goes overboard trying to prove that she won't turn out like her mother: a lesbian. The all-star third-baseman quits the softball team, drops 20 pounds and starts making out with guys--a lot. But hitting on the hot new assistant baseball coach might be taking it a step too far...especially when he starts flirting back.

NOVEMBER



Published: November 13, 2012


It's one thing to fall head over heels into a puddle of hazelnut coffee, and quite another to fall for - gasp - the wrong guy. Straight-A junior Julia may be accident prone, but she's the queen of following rules and being prepared. That's why she keeps a pencil sharpener in her purse and a pocket Shakespeare in her ... well, pocket. Julia also believes in fate, and that Mark, her childhood crush, is her MTB - her meant-to-be.

But this spring break, Julia's rules are about to get defenestrated (SAT word: thrown from a window) when she's partnered with her personal nemesis, class clown Jason, on a school trip to London. After one wild party, Julia starts receiving romantic texts ... from an unknown number! Jason promises to help discover the identity of her mysterious new suitor if she agrees to live a little along the way. And thus begins a wild-good chase through London, leading Julia closer and closer to the biggest surprise of all: true love.

Because sometimes the things you least expect are the most meant to be.

A list full of variety. I'll try reading this in chronological order...and I truly hope that I'd be able to finish all of them and NOT abandon even one of 'em. Harhar.

PHOTO & Description: Goodreads

[Book Rave] The Casual Vacancy - JK Rowling

Considered as one of the most anticipated and sought after book of the year, the first adult novel of JK Rowling revolves around a casual vacancy brought about by the death of Parish councilor Barry Fairbrother. The conflicts caused by his demise. To the council. To the community. To the families. To the people. To their selves.

Characters: 5/5

The best part of this novel (for me) is the characters. I have always been amazed by how JK Rowling come up with her characters. Especially in this book. The characters are very--human--there is just no other word to describe them. The characters are the type of people whom you meet on a regular basis. I don't know why, but it was the characters that made me love the book. I enjoyed putting my feet into their shoes...and trying to think the way they do.

Almost all of the characters left a mark on my head. Which doesn't usually happen. I tend to forget most of a book's character the moment I finish reading. But this one, is different. Even Pat, who only made what seemed to me a cameo, was very...uhm, remarkable.

But my most favorite character of them all was Parminder. Maybe because I find her lucky because she was Vikram's wife. No, seriously, I really did admire her...along with Samantha. Samantha may be a bit...I dunno...off, maybe. I like her because I thought she was smart even at the early part of the book.

Story/Plot: 4/5

When JK Rowling wrote the Harry Potter series, she brought us AWAY from reality. It was a get away for all of us. But when she wrote The Casual Vacancy, she brought REALITY in our door step and slapped us with it.

Truth is, what I liked about the story was that IT was something that could happen to anybody, or it might be even happening to yourself. While reading it, I didn't think that JK Rowling was trying to make a statement, she was simply telling us a story in that detached tone of her. And afterwards, I just realized that she talked about a lot of social, moral, and personal issues we all have.

Another thing I liked about it is the unobvious distinction between the protagonists and the villains. In fact, I don't think there were any good or evil sides at all. Only humans. Humans who are capable of doing good or evil depending on their principle, their belief, their situations. It's up to us, readers, to decide on who's side are we on. I like it that we are given that choice.

Entertainment: 3/5

Wondering why I gave it a 3 when I'm obviously smitten by it? Simply because it's an adult novel and it IS given that in every adult novel there are at least a few parts in it where you find it dragging...quite boring, actually--to read. It's one of those things. Rule of the universe or something. But aside from that, I'm happy with the book. The time spent reading it was definitely worth it.

[eBookWorm Diaries] Novemberrific Reading List 4

11-08

20:54 - I'm supposed to go through my Novemberrific Reading List slowly. But how can I? When I know that every book included in it is part of my Uber-fave shelf in Goodreads? I don't really care about the Sleepless nights, I'm used to that. The problem lies with the fact that November has 30 days. It's still 8, there's 22 days left and I only have 4 books remaining for my NovRL. Goodluck with that. It might not even reach Nov. 15.

Flipped - Wendelin Van Draanen

'She barged and shoved and wedged her way into my life' [Juli, you go girl]

23:37. Done with 'Flipped'. Bookmarked a lot...and I still cried over some of the scenes. Gotta love Juli and Bryce. And Chet. XD

11-09

06:00. I know I'm doing this fast. But I can't help it. I can't.

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

18:54. 'If I'm just The Guy With Norah, that's cool. Right now, that's all I want to be.' Oh Nick, that was so sweet. I'm swooning over here.

'We are making it through. Thank you, music. Damn you, memories. Thank you, present.'

11-10

11:50. Done with Nick and Norah's. I fvcking love it. Lotsa bookmarked pages. Nick and Norah are really good in words when they are not fvckin' cussing.

11-12 (happyKRUNGYday)

15:42. About to start Graffiti Moon. Eggcited much. xD

Oh wait. Pause. Let me listen first to Big Bang's EGO for inspiration.

Graffiti Moon - Cath Crowley

Still feels as good as the first time. I am so inspired by the words I am actually thinking of jotting down notes.

I need to find a place where I can read alone. Dang. It isn't a heartbreaking or emotional scene but I really feel like crying. Words, good and heartfelt words, do this all the time to me.

20:50. No doubt why it was a favorite.

Done with Graffiti Moon. Cath Crowley, you are one of the best.

21:52. The last book for my Novemberrific Reading List. This one lighter. And funnier. I want to end this birthday tribute celebration on a light mood, and romance.

Manhunting

Objective. Find Man. Must be Rich, Handsome, and Successful. [I can relate, except mine is something like: Objective. Find Man. Must be Funny, Smart, and Kind]

11-14

18:00. Last night I've finished reading Jen Crusie's Manhunting. And oh boy, oh boy. I love everything about it (of course! It wouldn't be included in this reading list if I didn't). Watched 'Sweet Home Alabama' earlier this afternoon and I can't help but feel that there is a bit of similarity between the two. The small town, both guys have more than what meets the eye, the ladies both realizing something important. Wow. Just wow. And the book inspired me to write a blog. Something about what girls need to find. XD

And THAT's it! The end of my Novemberrific Reading List! Ciao.