My Book Musings

2013-05-09T08:54:00.002+08:00

Hello...It's been a while.

I just want to say that I will be going on a break...for a while. I don't know how long, honestly. Due to unforeseen personal crisis that has left me a little lost at the moment. I have stopped reading and writing at the moment. Hopefully someday I'll be back.

Thank you for all the funny comments and I'm truly glad I met wonderful people here.

Goodluck with your blogs,

Review: If You Give a Rake a Ruby [Jewels of the Ton, book 2]

2013-04-28T11:36:00.000+08:00

Title: If You Give a Rake a Ruby [Jewels of the Ton, book 2]

Author: Shana Galen

Rating: ★★★★

Aha! Finally, we have the name of the Big Boss who is behind all the mess that Warrick and Pelham found themselves in. The Three Diamonds sure are intriguing; they have so many dark secrets. For the first time (I think), the ladies have darker secrets the gents. I actually like that about the series, and it feels refreshing because it's usually the men who are usually the "damaged" parties in historical romance novels. I mean, yeah, why can't it be the woman?

Her Mysterious Past Is The Best Revenge...

Fallon, the Marchioness of Mystery, is a celebrated courtesan with her finger on the pulse of high society. She’s adored by men, hated by their wives. No one knows anything about her past, and she plans to keep it that way.

Only He Can Offer Her A Dazzling Future...

Warrick Fitzhugh will do anything to protect his compatriots in the Foreign Office, including seduce Fallon, who he thinks can lead him to the deadliest crime lord in London. He knows he’s putting his life on the line...

To Warrick’s shock, Fallon is not who he thinks she is, and the secrets she’s keeping are exactly what make her his heart’s desire...

The book was pretty exciting and surprising. I think Warrick and Fallon are both great characters, although Fallon seems to be the only one who "grew" in the story. I really liked how bad ass she is, knowing how to physically defend herself against multiple enemies. That's saying something! And my oh my, she had a lot of guts and a strong instinct for self-preservation. I admire that about her.

Another things I liked about the story is that they had valid problems to their relationship instead of their own emotional confusion, which really frustrates me sometimes. However, unlike in When You Give a Duke a Diamond, I never really felt that yes, Warrick and Fallon are perfect for each other. They weren't contrasting personalities who would balance each other out. I guess only the fact that Fallon is pretty strong and steady makes her suited for Warrick instead of those simpering misses parents in those days push towards their sons. But what does imply for Warrick, eh? :p

Don't get me wrong, Warrick is a man's man and he's nice, but he's too...brusque for me. He treated Fallon unfairly, carrying her out of the ballroom over his shoulder. Some women might find that caveman attitude thrilling but for me it just reeked of disrespect for her, especially since she lived on her reputation. When he did that, he wasn't thinking of marrying her so what was she to do if her reputation ended in shatters?

The ending got pretty interesting. Lily's surprise appearance and actions have me quite excited for Sapphires are an Earl's Best Friend. It was a pretty good cliffhanger, and although it was unexpected, it was not unlikely.

Aside from that, the ending wasn't cheesy, thank you! A historical romance book is cheesy enough, but adding unnecessary oomph just makes my teeth ache. If You Give a Rake a Ruby ended with no unnecessary drama and gives us the idea that Warrick and Fallon will be living quite happily together afterwards. All twists and turns were nicely tied up, except for that bit about the Big Boss, which will feature heavily in the next book.

Toodles,

Review: When You Give a Duke a Diamond [Jewels of the Ton, book 1]

2013-04-25T22:33:00.000+08:00

Wow it's been a long time since I last wrote a review. Work was really tiring this month, and being a copy editor meant I read for hours every day, and I just felt drained every time I get home. But today I had a little breathing room and found myself shook out of my no-reading period by Shana Galen's funny book!

Title: When You Give a Duke a Diamond [Jewels of the Ton, book 1]

Author: Shana Galen

Rating: ★★★★ 1/2

I've had this on my shelf for a while but I took my sweet time choosing to read it because the plot blurb honestly didn't grab my attention. Then I wasn't even halfway into the book when I started mentally berating myself for not picking it up sooner! I literally read it straight from the time I picked it up at night until...well the wee hours of the morning. The plot was a little bit unusual, with the Three Diamonds definitely piquing my interest. This is one of those times I wish there was a movie so I can fully visualize how they look.

He had a perfectly orderly life... William, the sixth Duke of Pelham, enjoys his punctual, securely structured life. Orderly and predictable—that's the way he likes it. But he's in the public eye, and the scandal sheets will make up anything to sell papers. When the gossip papers link him to Juliette, one of the most beautiful and celebrated courtesans in London, chaos doesn't begin to describe what happens next...

Until she came along... Juliette is nicknamed the Duchess of Dalliance and has the cream of the nobility at her beck and call. It's disruptive to have the duke who is the biggest catch on the Marriage Mart scaring her other suitors away. Then she discovers William's darkest secret and decides what he needs in his life is the kind of excitement only she can provide...

Several things came to mind when I read the line of "William's darkest secret", although it wasn't so much "dark" for me. It was terribly sad, and really explains why he's so...regimented. I think anyone who went through his childhood would grow up the way he did! This is one of the few times I really sympathized with a character. The scene where he told her a bedtime story just really tugged at my heartstrings. Sigh! You couldn't even hate him for not telling her I love you, and it was all explained in that lovely scene.

I also love Juliette! My oh my, don't you wish we have schools where they teach us how to grab a man with just a smile? :P I love how sassy she was and how she wasn't a simpering miss. Well, given that she's one of the best and most alluring courtesans, I'd say it would have been totally out of character for her to be simpering and witless. It was very intriguing for me how she rode on her fame, without even verifications of her supposed notoriety. Those times sure look interesting!

There were several things in the story I totally adored, such as the sassy lines. Example: "They would never suit - her being human and he a complete ass." That just cracked me up! And I just swooned over the dresses! Does anyone know where I can get those dresses as described? I also loved the other characters, such as the "infamous" Earl of Sin who is just so in love with his Countess, and the two other Diamonds, Fallon and Lily. The Countess sounds scary and totally adorable in her own way. She's steely and no-nonsense but seems to be a real romantic. I love the twist in the story, and I can't wait to read how the other two ladies happened to be under the Earl of Sin's protection.

I felt the emotion in the story all throughout. I laughed, felt a little teary-eyed, and even felt thrilled to my toes. But the waltz at the end was too much, too corny! The scene was already perfect, and for me it just wasn't the place for a waltz. Another that I didn't like is that there was no mentioned closure between the Duke of Pelham and the parents of his dead fiancee, Lady Elizabeth. There was no discretion by William during the investigation and I truly felt bad for them. Lastly, Oliver as a threat was not much established, and there was no stated reason for us to think that he would still be after Juliette after all those years, especially since he was the one who instigated the divorce.

When You Give a Duke a Diamond was a great romance story, and Juliette and William were just great together! They definitely balanced each other out. Recommended for all historical romance lovers out there :) That's it for now; I'm just itching to grab my Nook and get started on If You Give a Rake a Ruby.

Toodles! Happy musings,

Weekend musings

2013-04-22T21:51:00.001+08:00

So I've been on this blog hang-up since April rolled around. I don't feel like reading anything but War and Peace. I promised myself not to read any other paper copies of books, so I've put aside reading War and Peace by turning to my Nook instead. Hehe, totally defeated the purpose. But I'm now back in the zone and itching to read War and Peace so I can finally get started on all the awesome paper copies I've lined up. Of course those that were requested for review are totally exempt from my self-imposed rule.

So, aside from reading, I got two bookshelves over the weekend. Buy 1 take 1 for only P995! Awesome bargain, eh?

Here's my boyfriend putting together my new bookshelves. My mom watched him for a moment to ascertain that he's doing it correctly (I think). Lol.

(Man at work!)

The next day, it took me about five minutes to put some of my new books bought so far this year. I think I need two more for the books under my bed? Sadly, we have no more space for bookshelves for now.

Lastly, I discovered an hour ago that there's a...wait for it...a Jane Austen font! So of course I used it to make my new signature. I went into over dramatic mode and insisted the boyfriend create one for me in Photoshop.

That's about it. Hopefully I will finish War and Peace soon, finish books for review requests, and get around to blogging about books again. How was your weekend/Monday? :)

Bisous,

Guest blogger review: Slammed

2013-04-15T13:30:00.000+08:00

Hello everyone! How was your weekend? Today, for the first time ever, I have a review by a guest blogger. I have been hearing about Slammed by Colleen Hoover, but I have not yet gotten around to reading it. But this blogger, Mako, from isyU, has and she wrote a beautiful review for the book, in a unique format. All words are from her, and not lifted from the book. :)

Title: Slammed

Author: Colleen Hoover

Rating: ★★★

This story is about love

and letting go

about making a choice

and sticking to it

but mostly about love.

When Lake’s father died, her family moved to Michigan to start a new life. She meets new people who play a significant role in their lives as she and her mom and younger brother tried to accept their fate and choose love over everything else.

This story is about being present

while giving space

about having faith

and living

but mostly about love.

What I like about the story is its simplicity. The plot is simple and the reactions and solutions are real. The characters had their own story to tell and at some point you find someone or something you can relate to. You can be the girl praying for her loved ones. You can be the little boy needing a friend. You can be the orphan yearning for a parent. You can be the sibling with the responsibility you’re not prepared for. Or you can be the mother whose only desire is for her family to be happy.

This story is about broken people

their fears, anguish, and yearnings

their strength and their resolves

but mostly about love

and it was love that made them whole again.

What do you think? Have you read the book?

Happy musings,

Feature & Follow #18

2013-04-12T13:39:00.003+08:00

Didn't realize it's been quite a while since I last blogged! Sorry, work caught up with me and I was just feeling drained lately.

Q: We are about to see a lot of posts & tweets about reader conventions, RT, BEA, ALA and many more are starting soon. Which one would you love to attend? Where and why?

I feel pretty bum about this question! Since I live in the Philippines, attending such reader conventions are so out of the question. I wish I had the money to jet set around the world to visit these events! Or that there would be some such happenings here in the Philippines. :)

Anyway...maybe BEA, because that's what I read about the most from the people I follow! I am so envious right now, with BEA coming up. Can't wait to read your posts, though! I'm going to "attend" vicariously, then :D

Oh, and yeah, you can follow me via GFC or Bloglovin', Twitter, Pinterest, Goodreads, and Google+! Let me know how you follow, I'll do the same.

Kisses,

Review: Once a Witch [Witch, book 1]

2013-03-31T13:30:00.000+08:00

Title: Once a Witch [Witch, book 1]

Author: Carolyn MacCullough
Rating: ★★★★

It took me a while to read Once a Witch because honestly, the start was pretty boring. After a couple of months, I picked it up again because I was looking for a book to fulfill my 2013 Witch and Witchcraft Challenge. I am actually surprised that I enjoyed it! The plot wasn't attractive for me from the start, but after a few chapters, I found myself unwilling to put the book down.

Tamsin Greene comes from a long line of witches, and she was supposed to be one of the most Talented among them. But Tamsin's magic never showed up. Now seventeen, Tamsin attends boarding school in Manhattan, far from her family. But when a handsome young professor mistakes her for her very Talented sister, Tamsin agrees to find a lost family heirloom for him. The search—and the stranger—will prove to be more sinister than they first appeared, ultimately sending Tamsin on a treasure hunt through time that will unlock the secret of her true identity, unearth the sins of her family, and unleash a power so vengeful that it could destroy them all. This is a spellbinding display of storytelling that will exhilarate, enthrall, and thoroughly enchant.

I enjoyed Once a Witch because the plot takes you through several twists and turns, the characters are likeable, the book actually focuses on the witch plot, with a dash of romance, instead of focusing on the romance, and even though it has no cliffhangers that would make you scream in frustration, it makes you want more of the story by the end of the book.

The start of Once a Witch is simple: Tamsin is expected to be one of the most powerful witches in history, but her talent never shows. She thus feels left out and wants to prove herself to her family by embarking on a secret mission with a stranger who is looking for her sister. Alas, all is not what it seems, and Tamsin's actions sets off catastrophic consequences for their family. Moreover, just when you thought you've taken the plot in stride, revelations about Tamsin start cropping up. I can't say anymore without spoiling the story for you; it's one of the best twists in the story. Needless to say, I want to pick up the next book, Always a Witch, right this moment.

But getting back to the review... the characters are pretty likeable. I'm not yet sure if I like Tamsin all that much. I do like Gabriel and her roommate/friend Agatha though. Don't get me wrong, Tamsin seems pretty nice and loyal to her family, despite all the secrets and years of feeling shunned by them. I just couldn't relate to her. I did find the bit about her being a smoker, with Gabriel being the seemingly goody boy in the story, funny. It's usually the other way around, isn't it? But then again, as she is the "outcast" of the family, I guess that whole image suits her.

I like Gabriel, although not as a potential crush. I tend to go for the 20+ men nowadays. But I do like his characterization: the nice boy who is always ready to help out Tamsin. And he is such a boy, as depicted when he is easily attracted to women. I do wonder when he fell for Tamsin. When did they fall for each other? It was so sudden, I think, especially after years of being apart. He also wasn't a jerk to her, as some guys tend to be around women they like.

Rowena is characterized almost like a stereotype, with her blond hair and perfect looks, who can get anyone she wants and is so powerful...and knows it. But I do pity her in Once a Witch, but I quickly snap out of pity when she snaps out of the spell and she goes back to being her...perfect slightly snotty self. I do think, however, that she was just being careful around Tamsin, as instructed by her parents and grandmother. What could her bond with Tamsin be if they just spoke about it?

One of the things I am confused about the story though is when Tamsin's mother, Camilla, tells her that Grandmother Althea is under a spell by Rowena. Camilla knows this because Rowena boasted this to her, but in the end it is found that Althea was under a spell...but not by Rowena. I think it's incongruent; it would have been more satisfactory if the story maintained that Rowena was the one who put her under the spell. Another part that confused me is the explanation as to why Tamsin's Talents did not manifest in her earlier years. Were they bound? I don't think it was explicitly stated in the story. And why did they just show up in her 17th year? Now that she's travelled twice, does that mean she'll be able to time travel too?

I have to give props to the gorgeous book cover! The colors are so vivid and rich, and admittedly one of the things that lured me to read Once a Witch. I think readers of paranormal books, or those looking for beyond the usual fluffy witch books might enjoy Once a Witch. It was unexpected, but I did enjoy the few hours spent with the book. The story has not steamy scenes, but it does have a few references to sex, which is also part of the reason why I state that Gabriel is such a boy. Quite a few stereotypes in this book, eh?

This is my seventh entry for the 2013 Witches and Witchcraft Reading Challenge, hosted by Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf. Hooray, I think I'm a maiden now? Just nine more books until I reach my crone goal :D I'm really enjoying the challenge so far because I love witchy stories, and I'm starting to explore more books that I previously did not know, such as Once a Witch.

Happy Easter! :)

Review: Much Ado About Magic [Enchanted Inc, book 5]

2013-03-30T13:30:00.000+08:00

Title: Much Ado About Magic [Enchanted Inc, book 5]

Author: Shanna Swendson

Rating: ★★★★1/2

Enchanted Inc is one of my favorite series because it's a mixture of my love for chick lit, a good witchy story, and magic. Plus, Owen Palmer is just so adorable, I couldn't help but add him to my book boyfriends. Thankfully, Much Ado About Magic did not lose its charm and I enjoyed the book very much. In fact, I'm aching to read the next book but I have to stop myself for Holy Week.

Katie Chandler is back in New York and at Magic, Spells, and Illusions, Inc. – and just in time. The city’s in the grip of a magical crime wave from spells that wizarding whiz Owen Palmer thinks look awfully familiar, and the rogue firm Spellworks is raising its profile in the magical world by selling protective amulets. It’s Katie’s job as the new director of marketing for MSI to fight this battle of public perception while Owen and the other wizards try to uncover what’s really going on.

What Katie doesn’t realize is that her idea to stage a showcase for MSI’s magical achievements is playing right into a devious plot more than three decades in the making. Now Katie has to do damage control that has nothing to do with marketing. To save the magical world, she’ll have to prove who the real enemy is, and doing that will require digging deeper into Owen’s mysterious past than he wants anyone to go. If she fails, she not only stands to lose a magical war, but she could also lose the man she loves.

In Much Ado About Magic, we finally find closure as to the whole mess of why Merlin was brought back in the first place. I wouldn't be telling you why but it was a very enjoyable ride. Although we already know who the real mastermind behind it is, thanks to Katie's non-magical self, it does take the magical community a while to figure it out.

Katie Chandler is still her same practical self, who goes back to MSI after a brief stint back at her home. She now finds herself the marketing head and in charge of the PR to get MSI back in the public's good graces, thanks to Spellworks' devious ploys. I really enjoy her character because it's a huge break from all the dramatic, emotional women (like myself). Plus, she's so level-headed when dealing with Owen and is just such a good girlfriend! Imagine, for example, when Owen drops off the face of the earth for a week because he was so busy at work. Unlike other women, Katie understood him and didn't get hysterical over his disappearing act. She understood his role in the magical community and was patient.

Owen Palmer was his same old self - extremely shy but capable, manly, and dependable. Why can't he be for real? Even if he is not a wizard, I think women would be scrambling for him. I like that even when he becomes a jerk under pressure, he admits it and apologizes to Katie. Plus, he's not afraid to say I love you - and actually mean it. If Enchanted Inc was turned into a movie, and I wish it would be, I can totally imagine Ryan Gosling playing his character.

Other beloved characters like Merlin and Sam were not forgotten, although they did not have much character development. Katie's friends Marcia and Gemma, were also included in Much Ado About Magic, and they played a bigger role this time as they are now aware of the magical community. One of the enjoyable parts about the story though is when Merlin finally went out in full Merlin mode and displayed a bit of his power. That was incredible, but it was had to visualize the battle between him and the bad guy, as I only have the Harry Potter battles to reference from for dueling wizards.

One of the reasons I really like this story is because I feel a little bit closer to the magical world of Hogwarts. Whut? Let me explain. I always fantasize that one day I'm going to get my Hogwarts letter and be all wingardium leviosa, but that seems a little bit impossible. Enchanted Inc, on the other hand, brings the magic right to the every day world and shows us that even if you're purely Muggle, without any drop of magic in your blood (depressing, I know), you can still interact with magical beings. In fact, you can interact with them more since you can see through their illusions! Isn't that cool? Does that make sense for you as it does for me? I hope so.

I was a little lost while reading the Much Ado About Magic because it's been a while since I last read the previous book, but thanks to the neatly placed reminders in the story, I was able to catch up after a while. But if you're new Enchanted Inc, you should really read from the start because it's a progressive kind of series. Moreover, reading the story of Katie and Owen's interaction is just too good to pass up. There's a bit of a sad part in the story, but I'm hoping so hard that the next book, No Quest for the Wicked, will change that. And I just found out there's a seventh book that will be out this year, so that's another book I'm going to watch out for.

Much Ado About Magic was pretty clean, no sizzling love scenes or descriptive make-out sessions, and I like it the way it was. The reader gets to concentrate on the magical story and the nature of Katie and Owen's level-headed relationship rather than all the passion just bursting to come out between them, though I wouldn't mind seeing them display more affection for each other.

If you're looking for a good, light read with some humorous lines in between added with great characters and a good plot, do give the Enchanted Inc series a try.

Happy musings :)

Maximizing your Twitter account

2013-03-29T20:13:00.002+08:00

Okay, so you finally have a Twitter account and you're excited to increase awareness of your blog by tweeting links to your reviews or blog posts. But does your use of Twitter actually get the word out there that your blog exists?

I've been on Twitter for about three to four years now but I only created an account for my blog about a month ago. Based on what I've seen on my Twitter feed so far there lacks an interaction between bloggers and non-book bloggers. Imagine for example that someone is following your Twitter account. When s/he opens his/her account, there are approximately 10 to 20 tweets that will be displayed, depending on where they are viewing their account. Wouldn't you like your follower to actually read your tweet and click on your link, or you see a new follower who is not following your blog but started to follow your Twitter account because of your interesting posts? If you're thinking, "I already have hundreds, thousands even, of followers", are you sure they're actually reading your tweet, or they just followed you because of a giveaway you once had?

Let me give you some tips on how to maximize Twitter to interact with your readers AND get in touch with other people who may not be book bloggers but are still interested in books or in what you have to say.

1) Don't use Twitter as your personal diary or chat room.
I have seen some turn their account into a rundown of what they eat, how they feel at every minute, or what they think of the person behind them. That does not make for interesting tweets for those who follow you for your reviews or news about books, or other book-related posts. Or say you found a Twitter buddy and from gushing about books you started gushing about men/kids/clothes on Twitter, with conversations running up to 20 tweets a day in one hour. Unless you're a celebrity and people want to read about your conversation with your best bud, get a chat room or chat on Facebook instead and gush all you want.

Of course this doesn't mean you shouldn't respond to tweets about things other than books from friends! I'm saying that if your conversation is going to be filling up your follower's Twitter/Tweetdeck/Hootsuite account, don't. If you persist on doing so, some of your followers might get irritated and start unfollowing you.

Your Twitter should focus on marketing your blog, infused with your personality, but not your life. Link your latest blog post with an interesting caption, instead of tweeting about the bread you had for lunch that was bought at the deli beside your house. Save your personal tweets for your personal Twitter account, unless you're a celebrity and everyone wants to know what you ate.

2) Socialize.
Actually follow and respond to the tweets of those you follow. You don't have to respond to all, though! But it would be nice if you respond to those who send tweets actually mentioning you (unless it's not needed after your 20th tweet saying take care).

Moreover, don't be shy to retweet! Sometimes you gain more attention to your Twitter account (and the curious will click the link to your blog to check our who you are, thereby increased traffic to your blog!). Who knows, others might even start retweeting you and gain you more Twitter/blog followers.

Also, try tweeting one of your favorite authors with a compliment. Sometimes authors (like Neil Gaiman) retweet the tweets directed at them. If this happens, people might get curious about who you are and why this particular author/celebrity/person is retweeting you. Don't forget to put your blog link in your about me part of Twitter!

3) Write interesting captions with your accompanying link.
So you want to tweet about your latest review. Write something creative that will stand out among the sea of 50+ tweets in your follower's Twitter dashboard. Don't just say "My review of : ". Sometimes your follower might skip your tweet, especially if five or so other bloggers review or tweet about the same book.

Instead of just saying "Review: ", why not say "I thought [book title] was great, read my review why ". That's just a sample, I'm sure you can come up with more interesting tweets!

4) Don't deluge your followers.
If you keep tweeting your links (and that's all you tweet), chances are people will not bother to read your tweets because you have a helluva lot. They'll probably skip to those who tweet less often, or who tweet about things other than just links or giveaway tweets. Tweeting purely links without interacting every so often makes it look like you're just using Twitter to market your blog without the social factor.

Make sure your tweets are not just retweets or tweets of giveaways, or pure blog post links. Deviate once in a while with a conversational topic and get your followers talking.

5) Use a URL shortener.
One of the things I like about Twitter is the 160-character limit per tweet. This forces me to get creative and not be wordy.

If you're linking a blog post to your tweet, it's best to use a URL shortener for 3 reasons:

You get more space to write an attention-grabbing blurb;
Other people can retweet (RT) you without going over the 160 limit (if your tweet is exactly 160 characters, not all people will be able to RT you as, including your Twitter handle, their tweet will be too long) and some might not RT you anymore.
Other people can RT you and include their thought about your link, making it more interactive and possibly more attention-grabbing.

There are a lot of URL shortener services out there, such as Google URL Shortener, bitly, is.gd, owly, TinyURL.com, to name a few. Simply copy your blog link, go to the URL shortener website, paste your link, get the shortened URL, and paste on your tweet. Some Twitter apps automatically shorten the URL. I prefer to use Google's because they keep a history of the links you shortened, which means you can repeatedly use the shortened link in other social sites as well.

6) Use hashtags.
Okay so you have a creative blurb and you're itching to share one of your blog posts and you want a lot of people to read it. How do you get the attention not just of your followers' but also of others around the world? Use hashtags.

Hashtags are those words you see in others' tweets with a number sign at the beginning of the word or sentence. For example: #Trese #MyBookMusings #ILoveHarryPotter #teenagememory. By using hashtags, you make your tweet discoverable (you see that "discover" tab in Twitter?) when other people look for "Nicholas Sparks" or when others click on a tweet with an #ILoveHarryPotter hashtag, your tweet will also come up and be displayed to a wider audience.

7) Keep your account public.
So you have an account, your blog link is prominently displayed, you've been writing interesting tweets, you're using a lot of hashtags...but how come no one is following or discovering your blog? Maybe you forgot to make it public. If your account is set to private, only the people who follow you can actually read your tweets. Which means no matter how interesting, creative, or filled with hashtags your tweets are, if they're set to private, you won't be generating more traffic to your account or blog.

8) Be careful about what you tweet.
Just like with blogging or posting in any other social site, be careful about what you tweet. You can accidentally let the whole world know that you're going to be out of town for two weeks and no one will be left at home, leaving your house wide open for attempted burglaries. Or you start bashing this author who is not on Twitter...but his family/friend/spouse/co-worker is and you just might get a lot of heat heaped upon you, which you don't want to do unless that's your target. Sure, you can delete your tweet, but in this wonderful age of technology, screen grab or screen capture is as easy as 1-2-3. Also, some have their notifications enabled, which means that if you tweet someone, they will get a copy in their email of your tweet, even if you delete your tweet afterwards.

I hope these tips help on how to maximize the social factor of your Twitter account. If you do have Twitter, holler at me @mybookmusings and do let me know if you're following so I can follow back. :)

Happy musings!

Feature & Follow #17

2013-03-29T12:26:00.000+08:00

Welcome to My Book Musings! Feature & Follow is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee’s View and Alison Can Read. It’s purpose is to gain and meet new friends and followers. I love seeing the weekly questions because I enjoy mulling over my books, or other reading-related matters.

If you're already following me via GFC and Linky, do follow me via Twitter and Pinterest if you have an account. I'm so glad to see more people following me via my Bloglovin' account! To all my followers there, thank you! If you're not yet following there, you're very welcome to do so.

This week's question brings me back to 13 years ago...

Q: Tell us about the most emotional scene you’ve ever read in a book – and how did you react?

The book that got me bawling like a baby was Nicholas Spark's A Walk to Remember. I was 12 years old then, sitting on my bed holding a handkerchief. My sister found me crying, not sniffling, doing the whole waterworks while I read the part where Jamie stood up from her wheelchair to walk down the aisle and get married to her miracle. Sadly' the movie didn't do much for me, but the book still makes me cry to this day.

That was the first and last time so far that I cried that much over a book. And it's one of my favorites to date.

Has anyone else bawled over a book like I did? Share yours!

That One Line #18 from Paulo Coelho

2013-03-28T13:30:00.000+08:00

Welcome to the That One Line meme! 'That One Line' is a weekly meme created and hosted by me, Goldie, of My Book Musings, relating a particular sentence/phrase/paragraph that you find particularly striking. I usually post on Thursdays!

Don't forget to add your link so others can check out your post and, hopefully, be inspired as I've been! I've found it so interesting to read the quotes shared by others and their insights, if any.

It should be from a book although quotes related to reading are also welcome. It doesn’t have to be a book that you just finished but can be something that you read before and just want to share it.

I have quite forgotten about Paulo Coelho, no offense. It's been years since I've read his work, because I felt like things were getting too repetitive. However, I still remember how much I truly enjoyed his books before, such as the book where I found this awesome quote:

“Life moves very fast. It rushes us from heaven to hell in a matter of seconds.”

This is from his book Eleven Minutes, which I read when I was too young and not quite able to comprehend the full extent of what I was reading until the very end. In fact, I was close to boredom until I was near the ending and I was just struck speechless by the beauty of the story.

Anyway, I think the line expresses how I feel when one minute life is just full of joy, then the next I'm wondering what I did to merit such bad karma. Or maybe I'm just highly hormonal and emotional. Sometimes, I'm not really sure!

How about you, read any good lines lately?

Happy musings. :)

Review: Entangled [Spellbound, book 1]

2013-03-27T13:30:00.000+08:00

Title: Entangled [Spellbound, book 1]

Author: Nikki Jefford
Rating: ★★★

I felt a bit out of my element and so lost when I read Entangled. I actually started reading it a few months ago but I kept stopping. And now that I just (finally) finished the book, I'm feeling a little lost and dazed.

Two months after dying, seventeen-year-old witch Graylee Perez wakes up in her twin sister Charlene’s body.

Until Gray finds a way back inside her own body, she’s stuck being Charlene every twenty-hour hours. Her sister has left precise instructions on how Gray should dress and behave. Looking like a prep isn’t half as bad as hanging out with Charlene’s snotty friends and gropey boyfriend.

The “normals” of McKinley High might be quick to write her behavior off as post-traumatic stress, but warlock Raj McKenna is the only person who suspects Gray has returned from the dead.

Now Gray has to solve the mystery of her death and resurrection and disentangle herself from Charlene’s body before she disappears for good.

I enjoyed the book a little, and it was not such a struggle to finish it, but my attention was not altogether captured by the book. I even forgot about the title, although the plot is not easily forgettable so I was able to track it down again.

I was not able to relate to the characters at all. Usually in stories about twins, there's a twin who's nicer than the other and whom everybody likes. In this case, while Charlene is more of the extreme bad girl, Graylee isn't so nice either. I don't exactly know what to feel for either of them, since I don't hate Charlene, but I don't like Graylee either. Honestly, the only person I did like in the story is poor Mrs. Perez and Mr. Morehouse who doesn't know any better.

Well, okay, Raj McKenna is also one of the better characters. I'm still feeling a little confused about the plot. Sorry. Why didn't Raj just tell his mom what happened at the start, so that instead of being vilified, he'll actually be "saved"? Instead, he becomes the coven's bad boy...when he's anything but bad. I think he's actually sweet and mature for his age. A little.

I'm still not over the make out scene between Raj and Graylee. Entangled is a bit more graphic than I thought it would be. Plus that scene where Raj becomes a peeping tom over Charlene. Did I really have to know what Charlene was doing, in detail? I really don't think so, as I already picked up on what they were doing before Raj uses his new spell and looks at what Charlene is doing. He's a guy, and that's Charlene. Shouldn't he have known what's happening?

Also, are the teachers blind in that school, or seriously lax? Most of the books I've read have serious issues about kissing or groping in school, but Charlene/Graylee gets groped and makes out in school like all the time without any repercussions.

The premise of the plot is actually very interesting, but instead of feeling satisfied and gushing about the book after reading it, I just felt confused. There were a lot of things missing in the story. What's the deal with Charlene, is she really psychotic? And how come they didn't realize Graylee was poisoned? Actually a lot of the characters in the story seem too intense and psychotic for my taste. Also, what happened to Mrs. Perez, who did the first spell?

Although I was able to finish Entangled, I'm not sure if I'm going to read the next book in the series, but based on the preview text and plot, I don't think this series is for me.

How about you, have you read the book? What do you think about it?

Review: Also Known As

2013-03-26T16:32:00.003+08:00

Title: Also Known As

Author: Robin Benway
Rating: ★★★★ 1/2

I was very intrigued by Also Known As since I saw it in Goodreads, and I'm very glad I did pick it up to read. It fits my taste perfectly, with a combination of romance, kick-ass female, humorous characters, and a good spy/detective plot.

Being a 16-year-old safecracker and active-duty daughter of international spies has its moments, good and bad. Pros: Seeing the world one crime-solving adventure at a time. Having parents with super cool jobs. Cons: Never staying in one place long enough to have friends or a boyfriend. But for Maggie Silver, the biggest perk of all has been avoiding high school and the accompanying cliques, bad lunches, and frustratingly simple locker combinations. Then Maggie and her parents are sent to New York for her first solo assignment, and all of that changes. She'll need to attend a private school, avoid the temptation to hack the school's security system, and befriend one aggravatingly cute Jesse Oliver to gain the essential information she needs to crack the case . . . all while trying not to blow her cover.

Maggie Silver certainly brought me back to my younger years, when I was impetuous and giggly over a crush, and when I was overly dramatic. I don't know whether remembering those is a good thing or not, but it amused me because I was able to connect with the character. I'm also a little envious that at such a young age, she's already such a bad-ass. And I wish I know what happened in Luxembourg.

I don't know what to make of Jesse Oliver. He sounds like one of those cool kids in high school everyone wants to date, but honestly he sounds a little wimpy. He sounds so unsure of himself when they first started dating. I thought all boys in high school try to act cocky and cool? Well, that might work for some and might find it adorable, but I like my men confident with just a bit of vulnerability. I'm surprised, though, at how quickly Maggie and Jesse fell for each other. But then again falling in love in high school just felt so easy, remember?

I love the supporting characters; they are all so wacky! Roux and Angelo seems like a match made in heaven, and Maggie's parents crack me up. The storyline when they decide that they should ground Maggie had me laughing. It kind of reminded me about Emma Stone's parents in Easy A. Also, I love that they are so supportive of Maggie, and that she still comes first. Parents are usually depicted as too busy, especially since they're spies, but they were always there for her.

The spy/detective plot was certainly interesting! I like that I didn't figure out the evil mastermind until the end, although I wish it was explained why he did that. Also, a lot of the "stereotypes" about detectives where challenged, such as the wearing of trench coats and use of night vision goggles. Although if I was a spy and Burberry would be my coat, I'd be happy to play along with the stereotype. (And can I get Prada for my shoes?)

It's not the most original plot I've read in terms of teenage spies, but I like the twist that the whole family is a spy, and that she was able to rely on non-spy friends. I enjoyed it so much I'm really hoping there will be a sequel. I want to read more about Maggie and her adventures (and what happened in Luxembourg). If you're a fan of YA books, kick-ass females, kick-ass spies with some humor thrown in, you might enjoy the book as much as I did.

Bisous,

Book pile for the week

2013-03-24T21:52:00.000+08:00

I didn't buy a lot of books last year to save up, but starting January this year, I just went loco buying so many books, and this week was no exception. All in all, I spent about P1,415 (about $35+)...and that's me already reining my buying impulses (and ignoring the other purchases I bought this month :p)

The books in my pile are the ff:

Three comics book by Lyndon Gregorio (Beerkada Off-Campus, Go-Beerkada, and Abakada) and I ordered them through Chompy!!!
A Charmed book, Lucky Be a Lady. Who else here reads books from the awesome series?
Sweet Valley University's Cyberstalker: The Return of William White Part 1. Why yes, I still read and collect Sweet Valley books.
The first book in the Sabrina book series, Sabrina the Teenage Witch.
Raggedy Ann and the Hobby Horse. I love Raggedy Ann! Are there others here who have read the books?
Katie Fforde's Wild Designs, which I got for only P25. Thank you Booksale!
Melissa de la Cruz's The Au Pairs, a series that I recently discovered, which I will hopefully enjoy.
Nina Garcia's The Style Strategy. I have her book The One Hundred, and I'm hoping I will enjoy The Style Strategy as much!
Lastly, is Melissa de la Cruz's (again) Witches of East End.

I am still crossing my fingers for an HB copy of Clockwork Angel, but no luck so far!

How about you, got any good books lately? :)

Have a great week ahead! :)

Feature & Follow #16

2013-03-22T10:32:00.001+08:00

Welcome to My Book Musings! Feature & Follow is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee’s View and Alison Can Read. It’s purpose is to gain and meet new friends and followers. I love seeing the weekly questions because I enjoy mulling over my books, or other reading-related matters.

If you're already following me via GFC and Linky, do follow me via Twitter and Pinterest if you have an account. I'm so glad to see more people following me via my

Bloglovin' account! To all my followers there, thank you! If you're not yet following there, you're very welcome to do so.

Q: What is your guilty pleasure as far as reading? Is it a genre, or is it a certain type of book?

My, my! I can really relate to this question. My guilty pleasure right now would be historical romance. I've been addicted to it for over a year and I can't stop reading books from that genre! It's one of the reasons why it's taking me so long to finish War and Peace -- because I keep choosing my Julia Quinn/Sarah MacLean/Anne Gracie/Alexandra Hawkins books over the classic novel.

Another guilty pleasure is reading until the wee hours of the morning! It's so pleasurable for me to read but I know I shouldn't read until dawn because I need to sleep, especially when I have work the next day. But I know you bookworms can relate, we just can't help it!

What's your guilty pleasure?

P.S. In relation to last week's Feature & Follow question, I went to Tagaytay for a birthday bash, and took some pictures for you international readers. It's a photo of Taal, the world's smallest volcano. It's still active. This was our view while having lunch. I hope you enjoy these photos (and understand why I don't read when I go there!).

Our view during lunch

A close up shot of Taal Volcano.

Happy weekend!

Don't forget to check out my meme, That One Line! :)

That One Line #17

2013-03-21T13:30:00.000+08:00

Let's turn this into a blog hop!

Don't forget to add your link so others can check out your post and, hopefully, be inspired as I've been! I've found it so interesting to read the quotes shared by others and their insights, if any.

My entry for this week is a tribute to one of my favorite, most memorable years in high school. It was the time I was asked to "modernize" the work of Shakespeare into mainstream English for a class play. My teacher encouraged me to not stop writing...unfortunately I didn't continue. Drat.

I'm talking about Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream, which I truly enjoyed. I was actually reading Sandman when I remembered Shakespeare's awesome work. I could really feel the emotion, the angst behind those words, even if I'm just envisioning how it is being said in my head!

Hermia: His folly, Helena, is no fault of mine.

Helena: None, but your beauty! Would that fault were mine!

Have you ever read a book wherein you can just feel the anguish based on the author's play on words? Do tell!

Since this is now a blog hop, don't forget to follow follow follow back whoever follows you from this list! :)

Review: Shadow of Time

2013-03-20T13:30:00.000+08:00

Title: Shadow of Time

Author: Jen Minkman
Rating: ★★★ 1/2

*Copy given by author for an honest review.

It took me quite a while to finish Shadow of Time, not because it was not enjoyable or entertaining; it was simply because it was my first time to read about the Navajo Nation and I am unfamiliar with their ways and history. I took the time to thoroughly read and understand the interaction between the characters and the history and practices of the Diné people.

All Hannah needs is a nice and quiet vacation after her first year of teaching French at a high school. She joins her brother Ben for the summer in their mom’s log cabin in Arizona. There, she meets Josh again, Ben’s childhood friend from the Navajo reservation. The little boy from the rez has grown up fast, and Hannah can’t help but feeling more for him than just friendship.

But fate apparently has something else in store for her. And it’s not peace and quiet. Night after night, Hannah is plagued by strange nightmares about the past of Navajo Nation and terrifying shadows chasing her. They seem to come closer – and why is Josh always present in her dreams?

Sometimes, the past has a way of catching up with you.

The story is interesting, although a bit predictable. Thankfully, we are entertained by likeable protagonists Hannah and Josh and secondary characters Ben and Emily, and by the truly interesting story about the Diné people. Part of why I love reading books is because of the new things I learn; I know these are fiction so what I tend to do is research up on the new things I learn so I'll know what is factual and not.

Hannah and Josh were quite adorable, and Minkman's characterization of how they are as a couple is so life-like. Do you still remember how you were in the initial throes of your relationship with your main squeeze? I think the description of Hannah and Josh's actions around each other were described to a T. And while some may call it too cheesy, I actually enjoyed reminiscing about my own relationship. However, I do have to say that I was a bit turned off at the start because Hannah liked Josh because he was so cute...and then she starts saying she's in love with him. And he's in love with her too. Honestly, if the book didn't end up the way it did, I'd be quite lamenting about it instead. I'm really not the type who likes the one-look-I'm-in-love story.

There were times I just felt frustrated with both of them because of the secrets they keep on hiding from each other. But then again, Minkman presents logical arguments for each side, and you can't help but agree. I felt like one of their friends who just wanted to shout at them for all the unnecessary drama between them!

Ben was genuinely nice, although it surprised me because I think this is the first book I've read where the brother-sister relationship is genuinely amiable. They get along so well, and Ben doesn't even give Hannah a hard time! I've never had a brother myself, so I can't really relate, but I'm just thinking about all the other brother-sister relationships I've read in other books and can't help but think how different Ben is. Also, props to him for not cheating on his girlfriend who's touring in Europe, even with the other girls around him.

However, there were times when I felt the story was going on too long unnecessarily. Moreover, the "battle", truly disappointed me! I was all riled up and ready to read how Josh could defeat the witches but sadly, I was thwarted.

Still, I did enjoy the book, and I think fans of supernatural and paranormal, with slightly pacifist themes would enjoy the book :)

Ciao, happy musings!

Losing Google Reader? Flipboard to my rescue!

2013-03-15T13:30:00.000+08:00

Google Reader in Flipboard in my Nook Tablet

I have actually never used Google Reader because I just read the blogs on my Blogger dashboard or go through my Linky list. As I previously mentioned, I'm a big fan of Flipboard, especially now that I've been blogging more often.

*Edit: Just in case not everyone's familiar with Flipboard!*

I love Flipboard because it is very useful for me. It is more than just an RSS reader. I can access, browse, and update my Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr accounts. I can also reply to people from right in the app. Sharing posts is also easy. You can share to your logged in accounts you saved in Flipboard or share the link via other apps on your device. Since I started using Flipboard on my Nook, I have not downloaded the Facebook and Twitter apps because it's all in there.

Furthermore, Flipboard also suggests news articles for you based on the genre that you're interested in. If you choose to follow "fashion", the latest articles about fashion will be available as a clickable icon on your Flipboard.

But today I decided to add Google Reader to my Flipboard account, only to find out that Google is terminating it! Aw shucks. I decided to look up other RSS feeds compatible with Flipboard, when I came across a post from Flipboard saying that even after the termination of Google Reader this July, the blogs you follow using the Google platform would still be retained in Flipboard as long as you sign up your account with Flipboard and add Google Reader.

I have also discovered that I cannot view the blogs I follow via Linky as easily as I can follow them in Blogger so I've added their RSS feed to my Flipboard as clickable links. This means I can follow both Blogspot and Wordpress blogs in one app.

And yes, your folders are still retained in Flipboard. The only downside that I can see so far is that I cannot on blogs on Flipboard directly. Also, when posts have jump breaks, I am redirected to the device's browser. But that doesn't bother me too much.

Click here to know more about Google Reader and Flipboard.

Source: We've Got Your RSS Covered! Save Your Google Reader Feeds Now.

How about you, what will you do to still have your RSS fix after Google Reader ends?

Happy musings and hope this helps,

Feature & Follow #15

2013-03-15T12:48:00.002+08:00

I finally have social media buttons on the right sidebar. What do you think of them? I got them from Carrieloves, who was nice enough to give them in different colors. I made the Goodreads button myself using her blank template.

Plus, I'm also now on Twitter and Pinterest! This means aside from e-mail, Goodreads, Google Friend Connect (GFC), Linky, Bloglovin', RSS, you can also follow me via those avenues. Do add me on your Flipboard account as well!

Q: Activity! Hopefully warm weather for most of us is here soon…so tell us about your favorite outdoor reading spot. Or take a picture.

A view of Tagaytay's Taal volcano

In the Philippines, we almost always have warm weather, and cold weather is actually more rare! So we don't really read outdoors, unless we're in the colder places like in Tagaytay. And even then, we don't exactly read. Instead, we shop in thrift stores or stalls, eat in restaurants with scenic views overlooking the world's smallest volcano, and take looots of photos. And if I'm out in a grassy area, I'm usually with someone and I'm too busy eating or talking or resting to read.

The water is clear, and the sand is so white in Boracay!

If you're in Boracay, believe me, you wouldn't want to read. You'd probably want to go island hopping, laze in the sand while chatting with your man or friends, playing beach volleyball, sipping cold drinks, drive an ATV up the slopes, but no, not reading. You'd just fall asleep with the fine white sand beneath you, and a masseuse expertly kneading your crying muscles.

So instead of saying an outdoor spot, I'd have to answer with an indoor one. At home, I read either in my bed or in our comfy couch. We don't have a front lawn, and our garage is filled up with the cars. And it's so hot in here, you'd be perspiring within minutes. Also, it's very polluted, unless you manage to find the city parks. Even then, it's not comfy to read there. If I'm on the go in the metro/city and I have my Nook with me, I usually end up in Starbucks or Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, always trying to snag the couch!

What about you?

That One Line #16

2013-03-14T13:30:00.000+08:00

Don't forget to add your link so others can check out your post and, hopefully, be inspired as I've been! I've found it so interesting to read the quotes shared by others and their insights, if any.

My entry for this week's That One Line is from one of my favorite books of all time, and my absolute historical romance favorite. I think it's also the one that catapulted me into the world of historical romance, and made me long to be a duchess. This is actually a dialogue between the two main characters, and I can still remember being super thrilled when I read it when I was in high school (about 11 years ago).

“Whitney: Where is your home?
Clayton: Wherever you are.”

Have you guessed from which book this thrill-inducing line is? If not, it's from Whitney, My Love by the awesome Judith McNaught. I borrowed this from my classmate who was a huge fan of Judith McNaught too back then. I smuggled it to my room because I wasn't allowed to read romance books back then. When I got to college, one of the first things I bought was a copy of the book because I just had to have it. I look forward to more books from Judith McNaught; it's been years since she published one!

Have you read Whitney, My Love? How about you, what's your quote/line for the week?

Theirs and yours: Commenting on blogs

2013-03-12T18:08:00.001+08:00

Hello book lovers! How was your weekend? Mine was pretty eventful. Today I want to share something that has been on my mind lately, especially since this is the most active I've been in the blogging world.

I love getting comments, and I usually respond to comments...in my blog. I think it's a great way to interact with other bloggers, and share your thoughts, or even have a lively discussion if you disagree. But what do you do when someone comments on your blog? Do you respond on your blog or do you duly visit the blog of the commenter and post a comment there too?

But what happens if you read a very nice post on someone else's blog and you comment, how do you keep track of their responses? Do you periodically check the poster's blog to see if they responded, or once you leave a comment and exit the browser, you forget all about it?

I admit that I don't revisit all the blogs I comment on. Sometimes, for example, in the Feature and Follow Friday meme that I do, just to keep the discussion going, I respond in my blog and visit the commenter's blog and copy-paste my response, tweaking it if needed. Or in my That One Line meme, I check out those who do the meme and respond to their posts (which are always interesting!) and sometimes check back to see if they have responded as I have found their insights delightful.

There are few posts that have kept me visiting back to see if they responded. After all, that's the point of a discussion, right? Unless it's a generic message like "Nice blog!", which means I'm not going to expect a lengthy response (or even a response at all). While we don't have all the time in the world to check back on the comments, not checking on a response seems to defeat the purpose of commenting though as your discussion with the blogger then stops.

But maybe that's just me. How about you? Do you make the effort to reply to all comments? Do you check back on other people's responses? Do you have a way to see if they responded to your comments?

Happy musings,

RIP Kenny
2013-03-09T11:04:00.001+08:00
We have three dogs: the eldest is Nana, a mongrel; the 2nd is our pure bred mini pinscher Kenny; and the 3rd is our half-Rottweiler/half Siberian mongrel.

Kenny died at 5:30 in the morning. So suddenly. He was so lively the other day then he stopped eating yesterday. We gave him medicines. The vet said if he poops and vomits, we have to bring him to the clinic. Kenny was so weak yesterday but he was still so protective of us when strangers would pass by the house. Then this morning he pooped blood and vomited.

Fiero gave a long howl this morning at 5:30. My uncle found Kenny dead.

I am so sad right now and we can't stop crying. He's our first pet to die. He's only three years old. I can't believe it hurts like this! He was so lively and super kulit.

Dogs (and other pets) go to heaven too, right? Good God, I hope so.

Feature & Follow #14

2013-03-08T11:46:00.000+08:00

Welcome to My Book Musings! Feature & Follow is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee’s View and Alison Can Read. It’s purpose is to gain and meet new friends and followers. I have a new header and button too, what do you think about it? :)

You can follow me via e-mail, Goodreads, Google Friend Connect (GFC), Linky, Bloglovin' and RSS. Do add me on your Flipboard account as well!

Q: What is a book you didn't like that all your friends raved about or what book did you love that wasn't popular?

What an interesting question! We readers usually have differing opinions about books. For example, Harry Potter is not loved by everyone in the entire planet, or was even read by everyone.

As for me, a book I really love that not everyone can relate to is Pride and Prejudice. My sister and mother tried to read the book but my sister couldn't get past page 1...and my mom fell asleep. I don't really know why. I think it's a fantastic book :))

A book I did not like (at all) was the Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan, which my sister truly loves but I couldn't even get myself to read the third book. My boyfriend bought it for my sister though :))

And please don't hate on me, but I really did not enjoy Chronicles of Narnia and Lord of the Rings!

Don't forget to check out my meme, That One Line! :)

That One Line #15

2013-03-07T13:30:00.000+08:00

I have now included a link widget for you guys to use and follow others. I've found it so interesting to read the quotes shared by others and their insights, if any.

I'm especially excited this week because two other people had started to do this meme. Shoutout to Cora Mae and Riza for doing the meme!

This week's That One Line entry pays homage to one of the best lines I've read from Neil Gaiman. It comes from his Sandman graphic novels, and it just takes my breath away.

"What power does hell hold if those

imprisoned cannot dream of heaven?"

Isn't it just particularly striking? I think this is a quote worth sharing repeatedly. Neil Gaiman, you the man!

How about you, what's your quote/line for the week?

This book obsession is draining my money!

2013-03-01T23:52:00.001+08:00

Books from the Philippines are slightly expensive. I think I spent about p1400 in just two hardbound books in one week. But I really wanted a copy of Etiquette and Espionage in HB and I've looked in 8 bookstores and 4 cities for a hardbound copy of Anna and the French Kiss. Heck, finding even one copy was hard enough!

So when I saw the books, I instantly bought them without second thoughts.

But still, it is a pretty expensive hobby! What about you guys, what's the most you've spent for books in a week?