Booking Through Thursday - 08042016

Do you keep a list of the books you’ve read? Books you want to read? 

My answer:

I used to when I was still in school. Now, I am goodreads. :) Apart from that, I take pictures (book covers) of books I wish to have. That way, I control my impulse book purchase.

p/s: Add me up! https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4016128-ruz

Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma

Title:

Forbidden

Author:

Tabitha Suzuma

Rating:

4/5

How can a love to pure be so sinful?

Two siblings, Maya and Lochie fell in love with one another. They had to step up to the role of a pair of parents to their younger siblings. Their father walked out of their lives and their mother was too busy with her new boyfriend and being an alcoholic, she is in no state to look after her children.

Troubles with school. Trouble with personalities. Struggles to keep the family together and home straight. They support each other. Their love grew deeper with everyday that passed by. Their only problem is: They came from the same mother. They had to keep their relationship discreet. They studied the options they have. Where they can possibly go in the future.

They live in hopes that their love would remain.
It does remain but not in the way the planned.
p/s:
If there is anything I would like to say about this book, it is tragic.
I would have given is 5/5 if it weren't because of the ending. I can't help being a sucker for a happy ending. Happy ending for this book is probably if they eventually found out they are not actually siblings that they can just continue loving each other and have children together. Tragic tragic tragic. It is all I can say about this book.

My first read by Tabitha Suzuma. Definitely a page-turner. :)
On the downside, I finished reading this book on a Friday morning before I went to work. I was sooooo low the entire day. Another book hangover..... :|

 

Steal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon

Title:

Steal Like An Artist

Author:

Austin Kleon

Rating:

5/5

Bite-size tips and guides on getting the brain juice flowing. This book is not limited to only aspiring artists. From my point of view, it could help anybody who wishes to create or craft something. Be it writing a novel, sewing, music writing, cooking..anything at all. Anything that involves the activity of creation will benefit from this book.

10 tips given. There are few that many have subconsciously been applying in creation process. 

1. Steal like an artist

2. Don't wait until you know who you are to get started

3. Write the book you want to read

4. Use your hands

5. Side projects and hobbies are important

6. Do good work and share it with people

7. Geography is no longer our master

8. Be nice (the world is a small town)

9. Be boring (it's the only way to get work done)

10. Creativity is subtraction

My favourite tip is the analog and digital segregation at the work desk(Use your hands.). Analog is way to go. It lets one be free. Sketch something. Erase it. Move it. Cut it. Paste it. Digital is just too rigid. It confines ideas. Stealing is an art of its own. 

Get inspired. Be you. Create what you want. ;)

[Release Day Blitz] Autumn and Summer by Danielle Allen

It is always awesome to have another author to love. In my case, I have fallen in love with Danielle Allen's since her first book Back To Life. I just couldn't wait for more! Previous reviews on 2 of her books:

Back to Life
Back to Reality

Earlier this month, her fans are greeted with another good news; new book release.
Here it goes, AUTUMN & SUMMER!

~ Synopsis ~

Is it better to have loved and lost or to have never loved at all?

Sexy, successful and stylish, Autumn Jones believes in love. She believes in the all-consuming, mind blowing enormity of love. She believes in the euphoric state of loving and being loved. She believes in it because she’s had it once. And when it was lost, she was devastated, but she never stopped believing in the existence of love. Unwilling to settle, she learned from the past and moved on with the expectation that she’ll love again. 

Beautiful, talented, and slightly jaded, Summer Wilson believes in sex. She believes in the all-consuming, mind blowing enormity of good sex. She believes that love exists, but Prince Charming does not. At least not for her. She’s seen the downside of love—insanity, heartbreak, infidelity, divorce—and she dates with the expectation that she won’t ever subject herself to that type of vulnerability. Instead, she chooses to love her family, her friends, and her work. And although she enjoys the company of men, her heart is hers and hers alone. 

Best friends since elementary school, Autumn and Summer kick off the summer by embarking on a dating experiment. Unfortunately, expecting the unexpected doesn’t prepare them for what the dating world has in store.

~ Teasers ~

~ Dreamcast ~

~ Autumn and Summer Playlist ~

“Back to Black”

Amy Winehouse

“Light Years Away”

Mozella

“Ready For Love”

India.Aire

“We Might Be Dead By Tomorrow”

Soko

“Everything Has Changed”

Taylor Swift

“Can’t Be Love”

Laura Izibor

“Hometown Glory”

Adele

“The Worst”

Jhene Aiko

“Turning Tables”

Adele

“Sweet Thing”

Mary J. Blige

“Take Away”

Missy Elliott

“Sunday Afternoon”

Rachael Yamagata

“My Heart Still Beats For You”

Anna Ternheim

“The Love We Had (Stays On My Mind)”

Joss Stone

“Un-Thinkable (I’m Ready)”

Alicia Keys

“I Shall Believe”

Sheryl Crow

“The Words”

Christina Perri

“I Will Be There”

Odessa

“For Real”

Amel Larrieux

  ~ Author Bio ~

Life is good! 

I am a married event planner and life coach. My awesome friends and family and my amazing husband make my life sweet. I love to have fun and enjoy the life I’ve been blessed with. I love shopping and football with equal fervor. I’m an amateur movie critic (i.e. my husband and I watch and critique a lot of movies for fun). I love to read and I enjoy sharing my love of books with anyone who will listen. I love music. A good lyric with a good melody can paint a vivid picture and invoke such a range of emotions. I have a soft spot for most mediums of creative, artistic expression.

With degrees in psychology, human services, and marriage and family counseling, I have a unique perspective on life, love and the pursuit of happiness. As an author, I combine an active imagination and life experiences to create stories that are easily relatable and intentionally intriguing. I want to offer you a peek into someone else’s life and for you to get lost in their story, their trials, their triumphs. My ultimate goal is to create a character or a story that stays with you long after you’ve put the book down.
So in a nutshell: I plan. I teach. I read. I write. I watch. I critique. I shop. I play. I love.
To know me is to love me.

XOXO

~ Social Media Links ~

Website: www.authordanielleallen.com

Twitter: www.twitter.com/XOXO_DAllen

Facebook: www.facebook.com/DanielleAllenAuthor

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/XOXO_DAllen

Click here for Giveaway!!

Panic by Lauren Oliver

Title:
Panic
Author:
Lauren Oliver
Rating:
4/5

Bestfriends Heather, Natalie and Bishop were at the panic game. The annual game with a jackpot of $50,000. Natalie was determined to play while Heather and Bishop gives support. The game started with a jump from a cliff. Rage and frustration triggered Heather to make the jump. Plus, she could use the money to bring her sister Lily a better life. 

Bishop was frustrated that Heather decided to join but he supported his bestfriends anyway. The game has gotten more attention this year as the jackpot is $75,000; the highest in history of the game. The game itself is a mystery. No one knows who the judges are. No one knows who holds the jackpot but one thing they know for sure is someone is watching them.

Most participants had to face a near-death experience. They kept on playing with 1 player eliminated in every round. Everyone has their own objective being the game. The game unfolds what's underneath a friendship, family and other people in their surroundings. There were broken hearts and kids who ran away from their mother. There are also newfound love. Or rather, an acknowledged love.

The judges had to keep going with the challenges. The players keep daring themselves into facing their fears. Cops and hospitals were involved. There were fire and deaths. Will the players keep playing til the end?

p/s: If there is anything I love about Lauren Oliver, it has got to be the realism elements and how love, family and friendship intertwines in her story. This is one of her standalone novel. My previous reads were her Delirium trilogy. I will most probably move on to Before I Fall when I'm done with a few books in my TBR pile. More about panic? Think fear factor. Think teamwork. Think maybe...Hunger Games? A little bit of all but in a very real settings. It is not called realism if it is not real . ;)

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

Title: 
Me Before You
Author: 
Jojo Moyes
Rating:
5/5

Lou thought she had her life sorted out. Everything seems stable until she was laid off her job. Her world turned upside down when she couldn't get a job suitable for her. To make matters worse, she will soon become the breadwinner for her family. She was left with no choice but to take up the job offer to be Will Traynor's companion. Her only motivation is the rate per hour.

Arrogant Will had all one would ever wished for. He lived in the big city with even big dreams until he met an accident. He was unable to come to terms of his condition that he decided to just end his life. Over the time, Lou and Will eventually accepted each other and learned from each other. Lou's life took a complete turn with Will's determination to get her to live a fulfilling life like he did before the accident. 

Her mission is to keep Will happy and belief in life. What she did not know is the love that is budding between them. Will has somehow accomplished his mission but will Lou ever meet hers?

p/s: Picked this up from my favourite local bookstore. Been on my wishlist. Love reading it. It took about 2-3 chapters to get into the story and then, to never putting the book down. I love the characters, the storyline and how everything seems to real but as always, I prefer a happier ending. ;) Ending of this story is very bitter and very sweet at the same time that I can't decide which is more. Anyhow, still a good book!

The Book Depository

Overview

Online bookstore based in UK which offers free shipping worldwide and best of all, they ship available books within 48hours. :) To read more or to make a purchase, go to http://www.bookdepository.com/

How To Purchase

1. Assuming you have added your desired books to the cart, view the cart.

2. Verify the books in the cart and its quantity.

3. Click the Checkout button. For this example, I am checking out using my PayPal account. Instead of clicking the purple Checkout button, I clicked on the yellow "Check out with PayPal" button.

 4. The link will take you to PayPal login page. Key in your credentials and click on the "Log In" button.

5. Verify the items listed in the order summary pane on the left and the shipping address for the order. Click "Confirm" button when done.

6. PayPal will proceed to process the payment to The Book Depository. Page similar to the following will be displayed.

7. When done, you will be redirected to The Book Depository page. Reconfirm the delivery address and click "Place your order" button. This will confirm your placed order.

8. The following will be displayed upon confirmation. Order number is displayed as well. This can be used to track the status of the order in future. You are done with your purchase at this point. Well done!

9. You will receive emails on your confirmed order as well. One from The Book Depository and another one from PayPal.

How To Track Order
1. To track order, take note of the order number. Click on the "Track order" link at the top of the page.
The following will be displayed. Key in the Order number and the email address you have used in the order. Click "View".

2. Related order and its' status will be displayed.

Hope this is clear enough. Have fun bookshoppping! :)