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.



Let's cut to the chase. As of writing (August 14), I don't have a copy of Isla and the Happily Ever After YET. I have pestered National Book Store and Fully Booked on their Facebook and Twitter pages and even called them on the phone (I am that desperate, yes) but nooo. Isla is not yet available for selling. Now I regret not pre-ordering it on The Book Depository. :(

But it's technically here. Not just here with me. I hope that I get my hands on it this weekend because darn, I've been waiting too long.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"] To NBS or Fully Booked...[/caption]

So for you, lucky ones who already have copies of Isla, no spoilers please!

Now, back to business. It's been a pretty busy two weeks both online and offline. Here's what happened on the blog:

And some bookish updates from the web:

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="475"] MINE!!![/caption]

Offline, things have been crazy, too. We finally moved in to a new house. And it's still messy. I went to work the other day with my pants hanging loose because I couldn't find my belt in all the chaos. Sigh. But hey, I finally got to arrange the bookshelves.

And oh, before I forget, I won a signed copy of Lola and the Boy Next Door from Lyn Ching! It's surreal! As some of you know, I was sick on the day of the signing so I couldn't come but this... I even forgot that I joined the contest. So thank you, Lyn Ching! Since I have an extra copy of Lola (unsigned), I may have to do a giveaway soon. Stay tuned!



On a sad note, and you know this already, Robin Williams died last August 11. I was really saddened by this news because I've watched so many of his films and I can't remember a single one that I didn't like. He was an amazing actor. I especially love him in Dead Poets Society, where he played the unorthodox and inspiring John Keating, English professor at an all-boys boarding school. That movie made me cry and Robin Williams' death is a terrible, terrible thing.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="342"] Oh captain, my captain![/caption]

To end this already long entry, I leave you with the words that were immortalized by Robin Williams' John Keating: "Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary."

Boys and girls, let's seize the day. Ciao!
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!

A couple of days ago, I hoarded more ebooks from Amazon and NetGalley and loaded 'em up on my Kindle. I don't know when I'll get to read them but who cares? I know, I know, it's probably not healthy... but man, I was on ebook heaven and I went nuts!



Anyway, here's my haul from Amazon:

And from NetGalley:

Now, the challenge is read ALL OF THAT. Um, can I sleep?

YOUR TURN. What's your recent bookish acquisition? Spill!
11:00 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!

This week's wish is Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness by Susannah Cahalan.
4:00 AM
Review:

The Giver is one of the first dystopian novels written. It is the first book in the quartet series and has received various awards and recognition. Needless to say, this book is highly acclaimed and received a lot of good reviews. I rarely see a bad review of it.

I've read Gathering Blue years before (because I didn't know it was part of a quartet) and I remember liking it. So I expected The Giver to blow me away. Sadly, it didn't. Now, before you mob, let me tell you that I didn't hate it either.

What's interesting about The Giver is that Jonas's society seemed utopian at first. It has rules, yes. For example, a public apology is required every time you come in late for school. There are rituals like sharing of feelings every night and sharing of dreams every morning. When someone is too old, he or she is sent to "Elsewhere." Ok, so maybe some of the rules were weird. But everyone seemed contented. Maybe not happy, but contented. Unlike the districts of Hunger Games, people in this society were not lacking or starving and were generally equipped with everything they will ever need. Or so they think. *cue evil laughter*

As I continue reading, I realize that the society has secrets and with each session with the 'Giver', the old man who trains Jonas to be the next "Receiver of Memory" (that title made me cringe), I learned that this was not a model society at all. I'm glad that it doesn't exist and if it ever will, I hope I don't live to see it.

Without spoiling peeps who haven't read The Giver yet, let me share what I learned from this book: memories are very, very important. They affect the way we think, the way we feel, the way we live. And without those memories, who are we?

Again, I didn't hate this book. I liked it. I just didn't find it great, like I expected I would. If I read this when I was younger, maybe I would feel differently. After all, this was meant for children. The writing was really good and simple though. The one thing that I didn't like about it though was the ending. For a minute there I was just dumbfounded, thinking, WTH was that ending?! I have read some spoilers though, so I kind of know what happens next. I will reread Gathering Blue and read Messenger soon. :)

Have you read The Giver? Did you like it? Planning to watch the movie? Share your thoughts!



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
Musing of The Bookshelf Intruder

More than a week ago, I read Landline by Rainbow Rowell. I loved it. It was good, although it's not my favorite Rowell book. For the 4th time in less than a year, Rainbow has managed to amaze me with every book, every character. The girl simply can't do no wrong.

For those who've been living under a rock and don't know what Landline is about, here's the blurb:

Georgie McCool knows her marriage is in trouble. That it’s been in trouble for a long time. She still loves her husband, Neal, and Neal still loves her, deeply — but that almost seems beside the point now.

Maybe that was always beside the point.

Two days before they’re supposed to visit Neal’s family in Omaha for Christmas, Georgie tells Neal that she can’t go. She’s a TV writer, and something’s come up on her show; she has to stay in Los Angeles. She knows that Neal will be upset with her — Neal is always a little upset with Georgie — but she doesn’t expect to him to pack up the kids and go home without her.

When her husband and the kids leave for the airport, Georgie wonders if she’s finally done it. If she’s ruined everything.

That night, Georgie discovers a way to communicate with Neal in the past. It’s not time travel, not exactly, but she feels like she’s been given an opportunity to fix her marriage before it starts . . .

Is that what she’s supposed to do?

Or would Georgie and Neal be better off if their marriage never happened? [Source]

The landline is a mystery (and it's the reason why instead of 5, I gave the book a rating of 4 stars -- still high but could've been better). Without giving anything away (I hope) let's just say that a X is able to call Y through the landline. But the Y that X is talking to is not the real Y, but the Y from the past. Present time X is not really X, but future X for past Y -- wait! I lost myself there. I swear that it's not as confusing as it is in the book (only a little bit). So let's just call it the MAGIC LANDLINE. It has this power to call someone from the past. Equal parts fantastic and creepy. You want? I do!

Yes, a magic landline would be awesome, wouldn't it?

So here's a little game for you with easy peasy instructions! Just answer the following questions:

  1. Who will you call if you have a magic landline? (From the past or from the future? Up to you!)

  2. Why?

  3. What will you say?


I know, I know, I find it tricky myself. But I want you to share your thoughts (and humor me) so here I go...

  1. My English teacher back in high school, Ms. Platon

  2. We used to be really closed, even when I was already in college. Our conversations go beyond school-related things. We talk about her life, but mostly we talk about my crushes. She used to tell me that she saw herself in me. But by sophomore year in college, I already lost contact with her and I learned that she migrated to the US. And I can't find her anywhere online. I miss her!

  3. It will go something like this:


I'm calling from the future and you probably think I'm nuts but that's okay... It's just that I miss you! Yep, in the future, we lost communication because you left and you didn't even give me your email address!

I think about you, here in the future, whenever I hit a milestone in my life and I know you would've been proud. I miss the days when you used to leave comments on my diary (a school requirement, guys) and I'd pore over them. It didn't seem much then but now I realize how right you were about boys. We're so much smarter than them. Hahahaha!

And I really wish we get to talk as often as we did before. There's so many things I want to tell you. Like how I think I've found The One. I'm still crossing my fingers but you know the guys I liked in high school, right? Well, they're nothing compared to him. :)

And so on...

I realized just now how hard this is, since I'm writing (or typing). But it'll most likely be easier if I do have a magic landline and I can chatter away. Wouldn't that be nice?

Okay, so YOUR TURN now. Tell me how your call goes by leaving a comment (or by tweeting me). Or, if you blogged about your phone call instead, do share the link to me. :)
4:00 AM
Hello, boys and girls! :D

I know that I'm slightly late to the party but hey, it's still (technically) the first week of August, right?

If you've been reading my blog, you probably know that I'm a huge fan of Stephanie Perkins. Which is why I can't wait for August. So, without further ado, let me list down the ten new releases this month that I'm really excited about:

1. Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins - Isla is coming!!! Of course, this is on top of my list and I've marked August 14 on my calendar a looong time ago. Isla is the 2nd companion book of Anna and the French Kiss, one of my all-time favorites. This time, the shy Isla Martin finds true love in Josh Wasserstein (this is not a spoiler, ok? We all know this will happen, we just don't know how). I'm very excited about this one because I love Anna, Etienne *faints*, Lola, and Cricket *faints again* and I am positively sure that they are in this book.

2. Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover - Came out a couple of days ago (August 5). I am a fan of the Slammed trilogy. And this one's been getting positive reviews, too. Plus, did you know she's coming to the Philippines next year? :)


3. The Rule of Thoughts by James Dashner - This is the second book of The Mortality Doctrine series, which comes out on August 26. I haven't read book 1 yet (The Eye of Minds) and technically, I'm looking forward to that but hey, after I read The Eye of Minds, I'll be reading this next. Right? Right.

 

4. Percy Jackson's Greek Gods by Rick Riordan - I don't know how Rick Riordan does it. Every year he comes up with a new book and a mini-book, which not only requires TIME but also immense knowledge on the subject. So far, he's not disappointing me. This one comes out on August 19.


5. The Girl From the Well by Rin Chupeco - Also came out on August 5. I'm not a fan of horror and paranormal. It scares me and gives me nightmares. But The Girl From The Well sounds really good and very Japanese (which should scare me more) so I'm giving it a chance. I should read it in daylight though. And grab a friend/family member to stay with me while I'm reading.

6. The Beautiful Ashes by Jeaniene Frost - Saving a sister who's stuck in a parallel realm? Sounds great! Although I'm not a fan of the cover, this does seem like a good new series.

7. The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton - Another one that's coming out on August 26 (what is up with that date?). I have to admit that it's the cover that caught my attention. But the blurb is equally intriguing. A cabinet sized replica of a house with miniature furnishings? Give me that!

 

8. Let's Get Lost by Adi Alsaid - Came out on July 29, but putting this in my August list, ok? Pfft, technicalities. Let's Get Lost has been getting mixed reviews, although so far there are more good reviews than bad. I'm still holding out hope for this one and wishing that it won't be as bad as We Were Liars (some say they have lots of similarities) was for me.


9. A Little Something Different by Sandy Hall - The blurb sounded so funny and unique... and FUN! And the cover, it looks literally sweet like cotton candy. It comes out on *guess when?!* August 26.

10. The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer Holm - I like books with peculiar-sounding names. I like them better when they have nice covers and great storylines. The Fourteenth Goldfish sounds like it has all three. It's a Middle Grade Sci-Fi fantasy so I think it'll be a fun, light read. I don't even have to say when it comes out.

*All cover photos from Goodreads*

Do you have an August releases list, too? Share it in the Comments section! :)
4:00 AM
Hello, lovely booknerds! I'm sorry for being MIA these past few days. There's too much happening in my life (heavier workload, moving to a new house) and sadly, the blogging had to take a backseat, at least for a short time.

Aaand, I also went through a short reading slump after reading Landline. I was reading too much romance and I thought maybe, I should give Gone Girl a try now. But the slump hit me and I couldn't get past the first 2 chapters of the book. Then I tried reading something else, and then another... It was so frustrating and inconvenient (especially since I try to follow a blogging schedule). This isn't my first time to experience this, but I wasn't blogging before so it felt okay to not read for weeks or even months at the time. But now that I'm blogging, I wanted to get over it as fast as I can. So I looked for a book that's short enough so I won't feel overwhelmed. Ta-da!!! I chose The Giver by Lois Lowry. It was short, generally reviewed as a great book, is one of the first dystopian novels ever (and I haven't had a good dystopian in a long time), and has a movie version that's showing this month. PERFECT!

I'm through 60% of the book and I'm not rushing. So far, so good. I've read Gathering Blue before so I'm kind of aware of the weirdness of Lois Lowry's world. I hope after I finish this, I'll be ready for another book.

Now, for the pretty news... I won Read Philippines' YA July Challenge! The prize? 14 bookish bookmarks with my chosen designs. Laila gave me a sneak peek of the printed bookmarks last weekend but I still squealed with delight when I saw them.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="515"] Basically...[/caption]

Because how can you not be giddy with happiness when you see these babies? They're sooo beautiful!



Thank you so much, Laila, for coming up with a great challenge and equally great prizes! You're awesome! :)

Speaking of awesome, apart from the bookmarks (I still can't get over how pretty they are), I also received a London postcard from this amazing lady from Google, Lindsay, who had a short visit in the Philippines last May. The postcard made me go awww... I can't wait to visit London and see these beauties in person! It also reminded me of The Geography of You and Me. How cool is this?



This weekend will still be busy because of the moving, but next week will be better, I promise! Don't forget to visit soon for my review of The Giver and possibly, new discussion posts.

Ciao! :)
12:30 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.



These last two weeks, I struggled with my blog content and you probably know why. This week came with some good news. I am so happy to announce that finally, power was restored in our house. So I don't have to worry about my tablet and mobile phone's batteries anymore.  Yay! :)

And there's more! (wow, that sounded like a TV home shopping ad.) I posted two reviews this week (technically, three):

You should check those reviews out because these books are written by two cool women whose works so far have done nothing but amaze me. :)

Speaking of cool, I also posted a Slam Book Q & A with the very cool and very nice Cindi Madsen. Read her answers!

As if the week wasn't good enough, I also bought some books by Jennifer E. Smith (who I heard is coming to PH this September. Is that true?), John Green, and Sophie Kinsella from National Book Store. Check out my stack, okay? Okay. :)

More news from the world of authors and books:



  • Another book-turned-movie that I'm looking forward to is The Maze Runner. I loved that book so much (and like Divergent, I hated the last book) and I'm kind of excited to see Thomas, Newt, and Minho outside of my imagination. Do you agree that the trailer is breath-taking?




  • Fan of Stephen King and you wish to write half as good as he does? You should follow his tips and advice.


All for now. Tell me how your week was and what you're currently reading. Leave a comment, guys!
4:00 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!

The best thing about paydays? Having the money to buy more books!

Truth be told, I suck at choosing books to buy. I spent more than an hour last night, going around in circles in National Book Store. I consider so many things: the cover, the blurb, the author, the reviews, the price. This is because even though I love books, I also have bills to pay and other expenses. So I make sure that the book I'm buying is worth the cash. I know I'll probably pick someone that seemed good based on all the said factors, but ended to be not a good fit for me. But still, those are my standards.

I was not fully prepared though. I can't remember all the books in my TBR so I ended up buying some books that I already have in ebook format (just so I'm sure that I'm buying the good ones).



  • The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith- I have an ebook of this but I wanted the physical copy because I've seen so many great reviews of this.

  • Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle - Also have an ebook of this. It's one of my favorite holiday books and I should have both this a long time ago.

  • Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella- The first book I picked yesterday. I simply can't go wrong with Sophie Kinsella.

  • The First Crush is the Deepest/Secrets & Saris - There was a pile of Harlequin Mills & Boon books in the middle of NBS and they're worth 50 pesos each so I thought, why not? The covers looked the same, so I just picked the one that doesn't sound too sexy.


I was so happy to be getting new books that I forgot that we're moving to a new house and we should be bringing less stuff with us. Uh-oh.

On the ARC front, here's what I got:

So there's my haul. What about you? What did you get this week?
4:00 AM
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
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