Amazing. Heart-wrenching. A little bit sad. Confusing. Maddening. Fantastic. Magical, but realistic (now that's confusing). Funny. Emotional. Riveting. Gripping. Captivating. Beautiful.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="358"] Source: QuickMeme[/caption]

Okay, done with the adjectives. I just finished reading Landline, and I have to be honest, I'm still reeling from all the emotions and the thoughts that had me walking to the office like a dazed zombie (because I slept late reading and then continued reading while inside the bus this morning). So forgive me if this goes a little incoherent along the way.

I've love Rainbow Rowell since I read Fangirl. Loved her even more when I read Eleanor & Park. And then totally made me wish I was friends with her when I read Attachments. After three books and months of waiting, I finally got my hands on Landline. I was a little bit scared for Rainbow because I'm sure she knows that a lot of people loved her first three books and are expecting nothing but the best from her. How's that for pressure? But she is Rainbow Rowell and she is awesome so she came up with another gem.



Georgie is a mess, literally and figuratively. Her relationship with Neal is obviously not perfect. It's also clear that they love each other. But is love enough? Isn't that always the question? I should tell you now (and I think being in a romantic relationship myself makes me certain of this) that it's not. It rarely is.

Through flashbacks and weird phone conversations, Rowell shows us that Georgie and Neal's relationship is flawed. I'd go as far as saying that it's unhealthy. Yes, unhealthy. Georgie is too busy. Neal doesn't know what to do with his life. They don't talk about big decisions. They are both unhappy. These go against some of my principles in life (communication is key, you shouldn't stay if you're unhappy, etc.) but I am not saying that I'd rather see Georgie and Neal get divorced. Because this is still me, I still want things to work out and I still need a happy ending.

There were some parts that I found too slow... or maybe that's just because I wanted Georgie to get her shit together and start acting fast. That's why by the end of Chapter 23, I was smiling. Man, this book is like something out of a holiday movie, like Love Actually and Home Alone and The Holiday. (I just spouted random Christmas-themed movies to drive my point.) The best part, besides the ending, is the red truck with a girl and a boy. If you've read the book, you'd know what I'm talking about. ;)

I love that Rainbow Rowell showed me a flawed marriage and why it's that way and how it can be saved. Being in a 5-year relationship, yes, I do think about these things and I think I need more books like this one. But this book is not for everyone, certainly not for people who loved Rowell's YA novels. The themes in this book are mature and big and deep.

While this is not my favorite Rowell book (I'm torn between Eleanor & Park and Attachments), it does not disappoint. It's all the adjectives I mentioned above and I would have given it 5 stars if I wasn't confused with the magic landline and its powers. Confusion aside, the magic landline didn't stop this book from being realistic and beautiful so hell yeah, I recommend this to all of you. (And I think you should read it now before someone turns it into a movie, which is highly possible.)





As a reader and reviewer, I aim to write fair and honest reviews, both on this site and on Goodreads. Please read my Review Policy here.
4:29 AM
Slam Book With Cindi Madsen

I'm super excited about this, you guys. This is my first slam book post and in the spotlight is the author of several romance and YA books, including Cinderella Screwed Me Over, Falling For Her Fiance, and An Officer and a Rebel. If you haven't read my reviews yet, go check them out. And read the books! I swear by their awesomeness. :)

So without further ado, here's Cindi Madsen!

Cindi Madsen is a USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance and young adult novels. She sits at her computer every chance she gets, plotting revising, and falling in love with her characters. Sometimes it makes her a crazy person. Without it, she’d be even crazier. She has way too many shoes, but can always find a reason to buy a new pretty pair, especially if they’re sparkly, colorful, or super tall. She loves music, dancing, and wishes summer lasted all year long. She lives in Colorado (where summer is most definitely NOT all year long) with her husband and three children. [Source]

NICKNAME: Cin
AGE: Oh jeez, do I have to say? Lol. 34
ZODIAC SIGN: Sagittarius
DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN 3 WORDS: Hyper funny author

FAVORITES
COLOR: Purple (Ohmigod, we have the same favorite color! - Joy)
ACTOR: Tough choice… I’m gonna go Jensen Ackles on this, because, well, look at him.
ACTRESS: Rachel McAdams
SONG: Another hard choice. I hate choosing only one song because I love so many! I’m gonna go Over and Over by Three Days Grace
BAND/SINGER: Paramore/Haley Williams
BOOK: Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
MOVIE: Pitch Perfect (Good one! - Joy)
BOOK-TURNED-MOVIE: The Book Thief (Great choice! I love this movie. :) - Joy)
BOOK/MOVIE QUOTE: Angry people are not always wise – Pride and Prejudice
FICTIONAL CHARACTER: Tucker Avery
FOOD: Pizza
HOBBIES: Dancing
GUILTY PLEASURE: Vampire Diaries
PET PEEVES: Wet socks

LET’S GET PERSONAL! *aka obligatory cringe-worthy questions*
(Note: I don't know how other countries do it, but in the Philippines, these questions are always, always included in a slam book. :) - Joy)
DEFINE ‘LOVE’: Accepting someone for who they are
WHO IS YOUR CRUSH?: My hubby
WHERE/WHEN DID YOU MEET?: In college
WHO IS YOUR FIRST LOVE?: A summer romance from just after high school
UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: When my book hit the USA Today Bestseller list
MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT: When I forgot my money at a restaurant
IF YOU COULD BE ANYTHING/ANYONE/ANYWHERE RIGHT NOW, WHAT/WHO/WHERE WOULD YOU BE?: Honestly, I’d be an author and a mom, so I’ve got that, but I wouldn’t mind a bigger house & more shoes.

You were right! Those were the hard questions! - Cindi

THE REAL STUFF...
1. Where do you get your ideas/inspiration for your books?
Different things make me start to build characters in my head. Music is a big inspiration for me.
2. You write both YA and Adult Romance novels. Which is easier for you to write? Which do you enjoy more?
There are aspects about both that I enjoy, and that are easier/harder. I know that’s a non-answer, but that’s the truth. I really like that I can switch it up and write both.
3. I love the soundtrack on your site! Did you choose all of those songs?
Yes! I have to have music to write, so I make playlists for all of my books that fit the mood, story, & characters.
4. Does your husband read your books? What does he think of them?
He used to, back when I needed feedback before sending them out. The last one he read was All the Broken Pieces, and he told me that he thought it was amazing.
5. What's your favorite among your books?
Now that’s like picking a child! I really can’t pick. Each of them have taught me something, and I love them in different ways. But usually, whatever I’m working on becomes my favorite because it’s where all my energy lies at the time.

Isn't she nice? Truth be told, the fact that Cindi allowed me to interview her was wonderful... but when she actually answered all of those questions (including the ones that make me cringe), I was super duper happy!

To stalk know more about Cindi, visit her website , Facebook page, Twitter, or Goodreads page.

'Til the next Slam Book post! :)
4:00 AM
I declare this week the Cindi Madsen week! :D

Over the weekend, I read two adult romance books written by Cindi Madsen. The first one's Falling For Her Fiancé and the second one, which is a novella and is part of the Stranded with a Hero anthology, is An Officer and a Rebel. So here goes...



Title: Falling For Her Fiancé
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC (Bliss)
Release Date: January 14, 2013
Synopsis:
Danielle and Wes have been best friends since college, so when Wes needs a date for his sister’s wedding and Dani needs a partner for her company’s retreat, they devise the perfect plan: a fake engagement to get through both events unscathed. Adrenaline-junkie Wes can prove to both his ex and his family that he’s well and truly moved on, and serious-minded Dani can prove to her boss that she’s worthy of the promotion he seems to only want to give to a family-oriented employee.

But amid the fake swoons, fake kisses, and forced proximity, neither expects the very real feelings that develop. There’s nothing more dangerous than falling for your best friend…but what if the landing is worth the fall?
[Source]

BUY THIS BOOK



 

Review:
Cinderella Screwed Me Over was the first book by Cindi Madsen that I read. And I loved it so it set the bar high for the next Cindi Madsen books that I planned to read. Falling For Her Fiancé (FFHF for short) didn't quite made me feel what I felt towards CSMO but it was enough to satisfy me. For one, it was shorter. CSMO was unique because it was so different from the usual happily-ever-after stories we all know so well... But that's not to say that FFHF was not in good. There were lots of good things about it.

It really isn't so hard to sell to me the best friends-turned-lovers story because well, I dig this kind of stories. So there's that. But I also liked that this book tackled the issue of career vs. personal life. Both Dani and Wes had to decide whether their relationship was worth ditching their career goals to. They're miles away, and if they wanted to be together, one of them has to quit their job and move closer to the other one. This was an interesting twist and I think it was the best thing about this book. If you ask me, I think that's a touchy subject. Family should come first, I think, but I also believe that no one should force you to quit your job or pass up on an important promotion just so you can be together (unless your job sucks). I'm glad though that Dani and Wes were able to figure things out in the end. It also helped that the story was told through alternating POVs so it felt like I knew both Dani and Wes.

Overall, Falling For Her Fiancé was fun to read, like a good rom-com movie that will make you feel all fluffy inside.

4star



 

Title: An Officer and a Rebel
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC (Bliss)
Release Date: November 11, 2013 (as part of Stranded with a Hero anthology; to be released as a stand-alone novel today!)
Synopsis:
Doing the wrong thing has never felt so right...

The last person police officer Nate Walsh expected to discover stranded in a snowstorm is his brother's ex—and former town rebel—Kelsey Cooper. His complete opposite in every way, Kelsey’s the girl he never allowed himself to want. But when she agrees to stay with him until the storm passes, he definitely finds himself wanting the gorgeous, tattooed woman. Too bad Nate’s sure his brother is still in love with her…

Kelsey had only meant to drive through her tiny hometown, not end up spending time there. With a cop. But despite her issues with authority figures, even she can admit Mr. Serious looks pretty hot in his uniform. Unfortunately, she’s sworn off relationships—and she’ll never be the girl for a nice guy. [Source]

BUY THIS BOOK



 

Review:
Novellas are tricky pieces. They're short and the author has limited space to work with. They have to cram everything and make it seem unhurried and still meaty like full-length novels. It's tough but because Cindi Madsen is amazing, she still managed to pull off a win with An Officer and a Rebel.

Nate is Wes' cousin and like Wes, Nate is a hunk and nice guy. Definitely not as adventurous as Wes but falling in love with the town's rebel is a risk in itself so you can't say Nate isn't gutsy. Plus, he's responsible and cares for his family a lot.

Kelsey's brave and has a kind heart. I love that she's different and doesn't try very hard to please other people. You gotta love someone who's confident of who he/she is.

Everything happens in just a week, and I'm pretty sure you'd think that's fast but no, this is not another case of insta-love because Nate actually fell in love with Kelsey years ago when she was still dating his brother.

I'm amazed that even though this was short, Cindi was able to raise some questions that are very common in relationships: Should you date someone even if your friend/sibling/cousin used to date that person? Should you give up your job and/or move to another town just to be with the one you love? Is love worth the sacrifice?

An Officer and a Rebel was a quick, nice read and plus points for it being a holiday book as well. I adore Christmas-y books. :)

4star



These books proved once more that Cindi Madsen is a gem. I'll probably read more of her books just so I can experience her fantastic writing style.

Watch out tomorrow for my super fun interview with Cindi Madsen herself. Ciao! :)



As a reader and reviewer, I aim to write fair and honest reviews, both on this site and on Goodreads. Please read my Review Policy here.
8:12 AM
This Week on The Bookshelf Intruder

This Week on the Bookshelf Intruder rounds up everything that happened on the blog, share-worthy links from around the web, my current reading list, and some offline happenings.

This week's schedule was a little bit shaken up (because -- can you believe it?! -- we still don't have power at home). I didn't have my usual Monday Inspiration, Wishlist Wednesday, and Stacking the Shelves posts... But I did post two reviews and one discussion post so I'm still feeling great. :)

Reviews:


Discussion:

I was supposed to read Landline next... but then decided to read Falling For Her Fiance and An Officer and a Rebel because Cindi Madsen granted me an interview. Yay, yay, yay! I'm super excited to post the reviews and the interview next week. It was a fun interview (you can count on it!) and I'm sure it'll be fun for you to read. :)

Enough about me and my stuff. Let's see what else has been happening in the wonderful world of books:


  • When you pre-order Isla and the Happily Ever After, you get a signed copy of the book, beautifully designed buttons, a chance to get a tote bag (which is amazing!), and some really, really nice stickers. How is that for a deal? But even though I say I can't wait for Isla, what I really mean is I can (and I've been waiting) so no, I won't be pre-ordering (it's expensive!). It's less than a month anyway... But those are really cool free stuff!


[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="550"] Source: Stephanie Perkins' blog[/caption]

  • Speaking of Isla, if you haven't read Anna and Lola yet or if you want to re-read them before Isla arrives, then you should totally join this readalong hosted by awesome book bloggers. I'm certain that this is going to be super fun!


[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Source: Meg Morley, cuddlebuggery.com[/caption]


  • What's your book shelfie style? Based on Huffington Post's list, mine's a cross between stacked and color.


[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="421"] Source: Huff Post Books[/caption]

All for now. 'Til next week! :D
4:00 AM
Musings of The Bookshelf Intruder

Recently, I finished reading Gone, Gone, Gone by Hannah Moskowitz.

I admit that I wouldn't have read this book if it wasn't the book of the month for the July challenge of Read Philippines. The challenge was simple: read the book, post a review of it, and answer some follow up questions. If your review gets picked, you win beautifully designed bookmarks courtesy of Laila, the awesome moderator at RP. Easy peasy, right? Uhm, not if you shy away from LGBT books.

I have nothing against the LGBT community. And it's not like I consciously avoid reading books from the LGBT genre. But I when I checked my shelf for book I've read that had LGBT themes or characters, I found out that there were actually very few such books on my shelf (Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green, The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, Every Day by David Levithan). And I began to wonder why...

Do I avoid it? Again, no. After finding out that a book has LGBT characters, do I decide to not read it? Not necessarily. It discourages me a little bit, or makes me hesitant. Not because I don't like such books. I guess what I realized after a bit of retrospecting is, LGBT books kind of dispirit me. I know a lot of gays and lesbians but no one I'm actually close to. I like to read books that I feel would resonate with my life, books I can connect with. But since I *assume* that I wouldn't be able to relate to the LGBT characters, I tend to not read them.

I know that sounds like BS. After reading Gone, Gone, Gone, I realized that my fear of not connecting or understanding LGBTs was unreasonable. I liked the novel. Lio and Craig are gay teenagers who are trying to make sense of their lives and what's happening around them. They have issues with love, their parents, and they're angsty and confused, like most teenagers we know or we've read about.

Maybe it also helped that before going in, I psyched myself into thinking that I am about to read just another YA novel and not focus on the gender issue or whatever. And I think moving forward, that's what I'm gonna do when I come across another LGBT book -- forget the prejudice, drop the unwarranted fear, and just remember that LGBTs are human beings first and foremost. Love, war, heroism, teenage hormones -- these are all universal and not gender-specific.

So now, it's your turn. Do you read LGBT books? Why or why not? Share your thoughts on the Comments. :)
3:00 AM
Reading this book wasn't as hard as I thought it would be.

I don't consciously shy away from LGBT books but I did notice that I've only read a few and in those books, the romance isn't the central theme. But LGBT books do intimidate me a little, or at least makes me hesitant. Not that I have anything against LGBTs. I know a lot of gay people but no one that I'm actually close to so you can say I don't fully understand how they think or act or feel.

That said, it was surprisingly easy to go into this book once I psyched myself into thinking that it was just like any YA romance novel I've read -- except the characters are gays. So I read it... and I enjoyed it.

Both Craig and Lio are confused. I think being gay doesn't have much to do with that. Being a teenager has a LOT to do with that. Lio's confusion, I can understand. I mean, he's in love and has a dead brother and a mother who left her family. But Craig, ugh, I felt frustrated with him several times. He talks too much and thinks even more! His thoughts are a jumble. A few times I felt like he overcomplicates things. He has this need to protect Cody and Lio and I thought it's unhealthy. Lio was the one taking therapy but it felt like Craig should be the one doing it.



But see how affected I sound right now? Yeah, that's because Hannah Moskowitz is a good writer. Writing alternate POVs is not an easy task but she made it seem so seamless. You'd easily know whether it was Craig talking or Lio, just by how they *sound*. The voices, the characterization, were very distinct. I was slightly miffed at Craig, and felt more connected to Lio because he sounded more normal, in a way.

And then there were the 9/11 and sniper shootings. Total BUZZKILL. But writing that couldn't have been easy, especially since those things actually happened. So props to Hannah Moskowitz for being able to put into words how scary that time had been.

When it comes to the pacing, I'd say it was good enough, although there were some slow parts. You can read this in one seating, if you're not easily bored (or annoyed by Craig's drama). During the latter part of the book, I was just hurrying up to get it over with and see who Craig ends up with.

Overall, Gone, Gone, Gone is a good and enjoyable book.



As a reader and reviewer, I aim to write fair and honest reviews, both on this site and on Goodreads. Please read my Review Policy here.
7:58 AM
The premise behind The Girl He Knows (TGHK for short) is a common theme in books and movies: two good friends agreeing to a "no strings attached" relationship and one of them falls in love with the other. Yes, there are some twists in TGHK but it basically follows that theme. So what is special about TGHK?

For one, this tried and tested no-strings-attached formula works. Still does, at least for me. I guess that's because these things actually happen and because at one point in our lives we found ourselves falling in love (or at least crushing on) with our close friend. Tell me I'm wrong. I know I have! And I'm a sucker for love stories between friends because I think friendship is a great foundation for any relationship. :)

But it also helps that The Girl He Knows is a fun but realistic story with interesting characters. Paisley (I love her name) is not your usual happy and carefree girl. Instead, she's broken and struggling to bounce back from her divorce. She married at a young age and got divorced just after a few years and as a result, she lost her self-esteem and fighter attitude.

Hank, on the other hand, is this great military man who's the exact opposite of the man Paisley has dated. He's sweet, thoughtful, and a true friend to Paisley. He's always there for Paisley and anyone who reads the book will immediately realize that Hank loves Paisley. Of course, Paisley is clueless to that.

Kristi Rose did a good job with characterization. Aside from Paisley and Hank, the supporting characters were also good. Both Paisley and Hank have fun-loving friends and interesting families. I loved Gigi (Paisley's best friend, Hank's sister), she reminded me of my old friends.

I loved that the pacing of the story is just right -- not slow, not too fast. There was just enough time to develop the characters and the plot. It didn't feel too hurried, but I guess that's also because Paisley and Hank were friends, almost like family, since they were kids. There were some parts where I felt a little bit frustrated with Paisley because of her self-deprecation tendencies and her obliviousness to Hank's feelings. But I try to think where she's coming from and I realize, it's not as easy as it seems when you've gone through what she went through. That said, it's a good thing that this novel is not just about two friends having sex and falling in love but also about one woman's journey to healing and self-actualization. Time and time again, we hear people saying that you must love yourself first before loving somebody else. And that's the lesson I took away from this book. You can't be part of a whole unless you're whole yourself. If that makes any sense.

For a debut novel, Kristi Rose's The Girl He Knows is an enjoyable read, perfect whether you're relaxing on the beach or curled up in bed on a rainy day. I enjoyed it a lot and I think you will, too. :)

Note: This was an early review for The Girl He Knows. But I'm also part of Jen Halligan PR's blog tour for TGHK on August, so you should watch out for more TGHK-related posts next month. :)



As a reader and reviewer, I aim to write fair and honest reviews, both on this site and on Goodreads. Please read my Review Policy here.
1:10 PM
This Week on The Bookshelf Intruder

This Week on the Bookshelf Intruder rounds up everything that happened on the blog, share-worthy links from around the web, my current reading list, and some offline happenings.



***I was about to post this last Friday but then power went out because of the rotating brownout... and guess what? We still don't have electricity at home. :( Sigh...***

Despite my complaints on Twitter regarding the lack of electricity and power supply on our house, I am truly grateful that we weathered typhoon Glenda and that no one in my family was hurt. Glenda was strong and scary. The winds were insane! It was like listening to a whistling giant. A part of our roof almost flew away (we had to tie it to the window). But yes, my family and I are safe and thankful. A little bit sad and frustrated because of the current situation, but safe nonetheless. Fortunately, our office has electricity and I’m able to take advantage of the Internet connection. :)

Excluding Glenda, my week was pretty awesome. I reviewed two books:
•    Cinderella Screwed Me Over
•    City of Heavenly Fire

There were also other bookish posts:
1:39 AM
Feel like shopping for books this weekend? Check these out!

Recto
July 11 to 20, 2014, 9 am to 8 pm


SM Baguio
July 15 to 20, 2014, 9 am to 8 pm

SM Sta. Rosa
July 15 to 20, 2014, 10 am to 9 pm





5:34 AM
In case you haven't heard, yes, Proxy author Alex London will be visiting the Philippines next month. Pulled out details from the National Book Store fan page...

7:35 PM

“Freely we serve
Because we freely love, as in our will
To love or not; in this we stand or fall.”




[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="349"] Source: Tumblr[/caption]

I spent two weeks reading City of Heavenly Fire -- a long time for me -- because I had to squeeze in other books and because there were so many characters that I was overwhelmed several times. It was a long time ago when I read City of Lost Souls (book 5) so I already forgot or only semi-remember some characters. Halfway through the book, I finally got in the groove and excitement shot through me. This is it, I said to myself. This is the end.

Warning: Some vague spoilers below. It won't ruin your experience but if you haven't read it yet and don't want to get ideas, stopping reading this NOW.

I haven't read The Infernal Devices trilogy yet but I was aware of the TID character references in CoHF. Which then made me want to read TID. I like being fully acquainted with the characters and I was really intrigued about Brother Zachariah, who I'm guessing is Jem from TID. Am I right, TID readers?

I've said in the past that this series should have ended with City of Glass (book 3), that the characters deserved to be happy then. But I am happy that CoHF did a great job at finishing off all the plot lines. Which is also sad because I have seen these characters grow and I loved love them.

I never minded Alec and Magnus much in the previous books but CoHF showed me Alec in a new light. He changed, he matured. His occasional show of emotions to his parabatai and his friends surprised and made me silently root for him. I felt so bad about Magnus, too, because he's super old and he's been through a lot and lost a lot. I kinda wished that his suffering would finish because a man can only take so much. Then again, Alec deserved to be happy, too, and being with Magnus made him happy.

Clary and Jace were nothing short of awesome, as usual. We already know that Jace is a hero, physically strong and also strong-willed. The Heavenly Fire within him was an added bonus because it's the only thing that can kill Sebastian. Clary, on the other hand, was probably the strongest of the bunch in this book. Alec, Jace, Simon and Isabelle relied on her and her powers when there's nothing else they could do.

Speaking of Heavenly Fire, Clary and Jace did something with the Heavenly Fire but they didn't share it with Alec, Simon, and Izzy. The readers were left to guess what they actually did and I really thought my theory was right! But no. Did you guess right?

Also, how strange is it to bring a condom with you on a demon realm?! I mean, really? Were you thinking of having sex before you decided to plunge into hell?!

But probably the most surprising character here was Simon. And I've always liked Simon. I actually like him more than I like Jace. In CoHF, Simon proved once again that he's not mundane anymore and that he's just as valuable as his Shadowhunter friends are. He's become strong and more confident of himself in a way that vampires are. His moments with Izzy were sweet, honest, and heartbreaking. Very, very heartbreaking.

Fans of The Mortal Instruments can expect to feel every emotion with this book: sadness, fear, adrenaline rush, happiness, pain, anger, and pity. I felt all that with CoHF. This book also felt like goodbye in so many ways. Even as they were celebrating a special occasion, it still felt like a farewell to these beloved characters and the beautiful, exciting Shadow World.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"] A lot!!![/caption]

But the beauty of books is that even after you close it, you know that it's not really finished. In your mind it goes on. You continue their stories. Or not. It's totally up to you to think when and how it ends. So how did it end for me? Well, I'd like to think that whoever's still alive is happy right now, a little bit sad because of their losses but trying to move on. But Cassandra Clare might have hinted through Magnus (or it could be just my imagination) that the story might not be over yet, or at least another story might begin many years later. I do hope CoHF is the last of these books because our Shadowhunter and Downworlder friends deserve to rest.

Have you read City of Heavenly Fire? What did you think about it? How did you feel? Share your thoughts below. :)



As a reader and reviewer, I aim to write fair and honest reviews, both on this site and on Goodreads. Please read my Review Policy here.
1:30 PM
Stacking The Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga’s Reviews that is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual, including books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

Before Typhoon Glenda took away our electricity and our water supply along with it, I was able to add more ebooks to my already huge pile of to-reads.
8:48 AM
Wishlist Wednesday is a book blog hop hosted by Pen to Paper where we will post about one book per week that has been on our wishlist for some time, or just added, that we can’t wait to get off the wishlist and onto our wonderful shelves!

This week, I chose Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="314"] Source: Goodreads[/caption]
Lara Lington has always had an overactive imagination, but suddenly that imagination seems to be in overdrive. Normal professional twenty-something young women don’t get visited by ghosts. Or do they?

When the spirit of Lara’s great-aunt Sadie–a feisty, demanding girl with firm ideas about fashion, love, and the right way to dance–mysteriously appears, she has one last request: Lara must find a missing necklace that had been in Sadie’s possession for more than seventy-five years, and Sadie cannot rest without it. Lara, on the other hand, has a number of ongoing distractions. Her best friend and business partner has run off to Goa, her start-up company is floundering, and she’s just been dumped by the “perfect” man.

Sadie, however, couldn't care less.

Lara and Sadie make a hilarious sparring duo, and at first it seems as though they have nothing in common. But as the mission to find Sadie’s necklace leads to intrigue and a new romance for Lara, these very different “twenties” girls learn some surprising truths from each other along the way. Written with all the irrepressible charm and humor that have made Sophie Kinsella’s books beloved by millions, Twenties Girl is also a deeply moving testament to the transcendent bonds of friendship and family.

4:31 AM
Cinderella Screwed Me Over. The title itself tells you what the central theme of this book is. If you are the type who loves fairy tales and is eternally looking for Prince Charming, you may want to think twice about reading this book.

I love Darby Quinn. She's smart, funny, tough, and has a pretty unique name. And she's kind even though she has every reason to hate the world. When I read her stance on relationships, I kind of saw it as something too cynical, negative and just impossible. But then she lays out her "case studies" (comparisons of her exes to popular Disney princes and even generic rom-com leading men) and who wouldn't be as jaded as she is when you go through all that? I would have fled to a convent and spend the rest of my life there. There were parts that I was frustrated with her and her ideals but she's just so relatable that I just couldn't hate her.

Jake, on the other hand, is this mega swoon-worthy guy who's not only handsome but also kind, knows how to cook, funny and very, very patient. Like Darby, I was waiting for Jake to make a mistake and I kept getting surprised by how patient the man is. Before the book ends though, Jake unveils his past and well, that's another surprising part of the book.

Reading this book gave me a whirlwind of emotions. It made me laugh and made me cry on the last few chapters (even on the happy parts). I was an emotional mess by the end of the book.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Basically...[/caption]

Cinderella Screwed Me Over is a gem. It's sweet and light. A quick read.It's funny, highly entertaining and has just the perfect amount of romance -- not too cheesy but not bland either.

Despite being a quick read, this book contains valuable life and love lessons especially for women, which is why I'm giving it 5 stars. I think every girl/woman can relate to this. All our lives, we are subjected to gender stereotypes: we get pink cribs and pink rooms and our storybooks are mostly fairy tales. There are all these standards on how we should act or dress or what our job should be. But really, we're more than just princesses waiting for our own Prince Charming.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="478"] Girl power![/caption]

Some other lessons/quotable quotes from this book:
“We're not puzzle pieces, Steph. There's 'no you complete me' guy out there, and the beauty of this day and age is I don't need one.”

"I once heard this statement that women marry men hoping to change them while men marry women hoping they'll never change."

"There are a few guys who aren't complete jerks. But it doesn't even matter. Because Fate can be a bitch."

"You can't fix people. They have to learn to fix themselves."

"The hardest lesson: Sometimes love's just not enough."

"I'm so crazy about you that if you asked me to give up watching sports for the rest of my life, I would. Except maybe the world Series, 'cause that's more religion than sport."

"The truth is, fairy-tale beginnings are easy. It's what comes after that's hard. Life doesn't have a clean-cut ending."

I haven't read Cindi Madsen's other books but I loved this book so much (it's one of my favorites now) that I might just pick another one written by her soon. And I definitely recommend this to anyone who wants a light and entertaining but realistic read. :)

Have you read Cinderella Screwed Me Over? What can you say about it?



As a reader and reviewer, I aim to write fair and honest reviews, both on this site and on Goodreads. Please read my Review Policy here.
4:00 AM
Hey, guys! How was your weekend? Mine was pretty great. :) I started watching Suits (better late than never!) and unsuccessfully attempted to finish City of Heavenly Fire. I also kinda worked and got lots of sleep. So yeah, I had a good weekend.

Anyway, I chanced upon this photo as I was scouring the net for a possible Monday Inspiration post.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="550"] Our friend Neil Gaiman was onto something. [Source][/caption]
It is an impossible task, isn't it? With all the books we bookworms/book bloggers/reviewers devour every day, how can we possibly pick just five? And that's when it hit me. Becoming a book blogger is just... totes amaze. :)
4:00 AM
This Week on The Bookshelf Intruder

This Week on the Bookshelf Intruder rounds up everything that happened on the blog, share-worthy links from around the web, my current reading list, and some offline happenings.



Last week was spent re-reading and reviewing Stephanie Perkins' books, tweeting about her, and basically daydreaming about the day that I'll finally meet her. All that, just to get sick on the exact same day of the book signing. But you know that already, if you've read my Monday Inspiration post.

What else happened this week? Well, besides my Stephanie Perkins (non)experience, I also read and reviewed Children of Na. It's A. L. Burgess Jr.'s first novel that's a combination of sci-fi and historical fiction and it was an amazing read.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="267"] Want a break from YA, romance or dystopian novels? I recommend this.[/caption]

And then there's Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn which I featured on my first ever Wishlist Wednesday. I'm getting pressured now. I have to read it before October because that's when the movie version (starring Ben Affleck) is coming out. So, yes, I will squeeze it in my long list of to-reads.


It's been a week of firsts, as I also posted my first Stacking the Shelves entry. I've always loved hoarding books but sharing my haul to the world -- to you! -- is even more fun. :) I'm sure I'll look back at these posts a year or two from now and I'll marvel at how fun this all has been. And yes, this is my first weekly recap, too! :)

In other news, book tweeps have been celebrating because of Marie Lu and Colleen Hoover's recent announcements: they're coming to the Philippines!





I haven't read Marie Lu's books but they're on my list. Colleen Hoover though -- I have to see her. I absolutely, definitely, completely love Slammed. (But that picture above, is that really Manila? I've never seen it looking like that before.)

And oh, there's a new teaser video for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay!!! :D



So there. Next week, I'll be posting my review of Cinderella Screwed Me Over, which was fantastic and beautiful. I gave it 5 stars on Goodreads and landed on my Favorites shelf so you should watch out for the complete review. :)

I'll be spending the weekend at home, probably reading, cooking, and binge-watching (again). Whatever your plans are, I hope you have a great weekend! :)
9:00 AM
Stacking The Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews that is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual, including books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

Hoarding ebooks is my guilty pleasure. I buy physical books when I have the cash to spare, but ebooks are definitely easier to get.

And so this week, the hoarding continues. The haul includes mostly chick-lit and YA stuff:
4:00 AM
Wishlist Wednesday is a book blog hop hosted by Pen to Paper where we will post about one book per week that has been on our wishlist for some time, or just added, that we can't wait to get off the wishlist and onto our wonderful shelves!

For my first ever Wishlist Wednesday, I chose Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="315"] Source: Goodreads[/caption]

4:00 AM
In case you were wondering, Na is a universe from far, far away and a long, long time ago. Silas is an i-Na, which means "created for the Na".

Now, that's out of the way. Let me tell you what I think about this book.

When I started reading this book, I had low expectations. The previous self-published book that I reviewed wasn't good and I didn't enjoy it so I psyched myself to not expect too much from this one. And so I was surprised when I got to the first few chapters. Man, it's good. Really good.

Children of Na is a combination of fantasy, science and historical fiction, spanning the Civil War era in Georgia and World War II times in Russia and Germany. It was like watching 12 Years a Slave and Enemy at the Gates at the same time. Which is great. I love World War II films. Civil War-themed movies, not so much because it upsets me. But having two of these themes in the book makes it exciting, gripping (really gripping, I tell you), awe-inducing, and well, depressing.

When you combine two very different genres into one book or one movie, it seldom succeeds. Most of the time, it doesn't blend well. The amazing thing is, this is one of the few times that it does. I didn't have a problem with the alternating voices of Silas and Yakob or the fact that a Negro slave can invent a space and time traveling machine. Burgess just makes it believable. He makes it fun to read, to discover how these two characters were going meet and save each other.

There were parts of the book that I skimmed a little -- the parts where Silas was making the machine which he used to teleport through time/space. I couldn't picture it in my mind because it's so bizarre and freaking high technology. But that's just me. Anyone who enjoys science fiction or is a chemistry/physics/biology nerd will highly enjoy this book.

But Children of Na not only excites or amazes. It can also be heartwarming. I love Yakob's friendship with the German doctor, Wernher von Braun. It's unlikely for a Russian and a German to struck a friendship during World War II but being both men of science, they found common ground. Von Braun was sympathetic and condones slave labor and the whole idea of Aryans being the supreme race. And having read a few history books and watching Valkyrie, I know that men like Von Braun existed. (Found out from my boyfriend that Von Braun actually existed in real life and he's credited as the Father of Rocket Science. So, Burgess actually included a few true-to-life details here and there.)

Of course, Children of Na is also a sad story. A Negro slave's life can never be fun, right? But Silas's life, it's even more depressing. I won't tell you how his story ends though. You have to read it and I think you'll enjoy it.

For a debut novel, Children of Na was really a surprise. A. L. Burgess did a great job. I hope he continues to write great, unconventional stories like this.

Check this out to see how you can get your own copy of Children of Na.



As a reader and reviewer, I aim to write fair and honest reviews, both on this site and on Goodreads. Please read my Review Policy here.
4:00 AM
I am so bummed out right now.

Practically everyone who's into YA knows that Stephanie Perkins (it even hurts to say her name) came to visit the Philippines for a one week media blitz and book signing. She stopped by Cebu last Saturday and Manila last Sunday (yesterday).

And since last week, I have been posting and tweeting about her and I was super excited to see her and get my books signed. So imagine my *sorrow* when I got sick on the exact, same day of the signing. What kind of fate is this?!

I got colds and was a little feverish. I was sneezing all morning and I figured, man, I don't want to sneeze on Stephanie. So even though my mind and heart wanted to go, my body decided to stay home. I resorted to reading #StephaniePerkinsinPH tweets, which I thought would make me feel better. But no, I felt worst after seeing all those book nerds and Perkins fans fulfilling their dream. I felt sooo bad. I knew that being there meant going home really tired (because the crowd was so big, you really had to wait a long time for your turn) but still, no matter how you look at it, it will always be a great experience for those who were there.
5:17 AM


From time to time, I share articles from around the web -- articles about books, reading, and writing -- that I found insightful, useful, and inspiring. I hope you benefit from it, too. :)

The other day, I was browsing through my Twitter feed and I saw a tweet that says something along the lines of "why you should write anywhere & everywhere", something like that. I clicked on the link and I found this article.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="516"]Write anywhere and everywhere 7 Things I've Learned So Far, by Carolyn Marsden[/caption]

7:34 AM
This is a bit late, I know. Scratch that, these books were published and released in 2010/2011 so this is really late. But I re-read and am reviewing Anna and the French Kiss and Lola and the Boy Next Door because 1) there are people out there who haven't read them yet (I hope I can convince said people); 2) Isla and the Happily Ever After, the 3rd book, is coming out this August; and 3) Stephanie Perkins (a.k.a. my imaginary bestfriend) is coming to the Philippines this July!!!

[caption id="attachment_380" align="aligncenter" width="553"]Anna and the French Kiss & Lola and the Boy Next Door, Published by Dutton Anna and the French Kiss & Lola and the Boy Next Door, Published by Dutton[/caption]

I will do my very best not to spoil the ones who haven't read the books yet. But please forgive me if I gush too much; I just really, really love these books.
5:14 AM
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