Book Review Request: Learning to Fall (Addison Hill #3)

Title: Learning to Fall (Addison Hill #3)

Author: Mina V. Esguerra

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Date read: October 14, 2015
Dawn Rates: ★★★★★ (5/5)

Summary (cr: goodreads)

“Go out with a stereotypical romance novel hero WHO ISN’T YOUR TYPE.”

Avid reader and art student Steph is participating in a monthly blog challenge to Live Like Fiction, and this was the task for October. When Grayson, former co-captain of her university rugby team, walks into her class, she knows it’s meant to be – she has to go out with this guy. Even if she’s never been attracted to big, hunky, athletic types. With Grayson’s “player” reputation off the field, Steph thinks he’ll be good for one date that’ll be worth blogging about, and that’s it. 

But you know how it goes: Soon, it becomes more than just one date – and Steph and Grayson are caught up in “living like fiction.” How long can they keep playing their roles before reality steps in?

My Review: (also in goodreads)

It's always an honor to receive a book from the author asking you to give an honest review about it. It means they value your review and your ability to review without any pretense. Therefore, I'm going to give this an honest review:

I got this ARC...yay! I enjoyed this book. I am excited to buy my physical copy. I even did a cover reveal of this.

Having a female blogger (book blogger to be exact) as the protagonist hits close to home. Steph is an art student who currently resides out of her hometown to pursue her dream while fixing the setbacks that happened just before she graduates. She is an avid (book) blogger who is currently doing the Live like Fiction book challenge, and for October she is willing to date someone who is not her type. To fulfill that challenge she has to ask Grayson, the typical jock, to be her date. Their then deceit will pile up. I know that the basic frame of this story might be cliche: girl meets boy, gets into a 'pretend' relationship with boy and eventually they get together but what made me like this is because of Steph's ideals. I can definitely relate with Steph...definitely. This is the problem with book worms. They tend to overthink and follow their ideals closely. This is most definitely the problem with FEMALE bookworms, female being the operative word. The more we read, the more we want something perfect. Especially with FEMALE HOPELESS ROMANTIC bookworms (I know some). Ouch. Crazy but true. It takes a lot to get out of the comfort zone. It takes a lot to courage to get past the ideals and just take the leap. This story made me think about things. LOL. But the truth is, what I loved about this, is that I could definitely relate to Steph.

Mina Esguerra is one of my favorite Filipino authors (support local!). Her first book that I read is "My Imaginary Ex" around 2009 or 2010? It was a long time ago. Oh, Zack *still swooning* I definitely recommend that book.

Till the next read...

Book Review Request: First Year (The Black Mage #1)

Title: First Year (The Black Mage #1)

Author: Rachel E. Carter

Genre: YA, Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance
Date read: September 9, 2015
Dawn Rates: ★★★★ (4/5)

Summary (cr: goodreads)

Before the age of seventeen, the young men and women of Jerar are given a choice-follow tradition, or pursue a trial year in one of the realm's three war schools to study as a soldier, knight or mage...

For 15-year-old Ryiah, the choice has always been easy. Become a warrior and leave the boring confines of her lowborn life behind. Set to enroll in the School of Knighthood on the eve of her next birthday, plans suddenly shift when her twin brother discovers powers. Hoping that hers will soon follow, she enrolls with Alex at the Academy instead -the realm's most notorious war school for those with magic. 

Yet when she arrives, Ry finds herself competing against friend and foe for one of the exalted apprenticeships. Every "first-year" is given a trial year to prove their worth -and no amount of hard work and drive will guarantee them a spot. It seems like everyone is rooting for her to fail -and first and foremost among them Prince Darren, the school prodigy who has done nothing but make life miserable since she arrived. 

When an accidental encounter leads Ryiah and Darren to an unlikely friendship, she is convinced nothing good will come of it. But the lines become blurred when she begins to improve -and soon she is a key competitor for the faction of Combat... Still, nothing is ever as it seems -and when the world comes crashing down around her, Ry is forced to place faith in the one thing she can believe in -herself. Will it be enough?

My Review: (also in goodreads)

It's always an honor to receive a book from the author asking you to give an honest review about it. It means they value your review and your ability to review without any pretense. Therefore, I'm going to give this an honest review:

This is a review long overdue. I received this copy from the David Estes R&R group and I am too ashamed to have to read this only now. But I am glad, I am glad because I found a gem in this. The story begins with Ryiah and her twin brother Alex off to the Academy to train in becoming a mage. Alex who has his heart set on becoming a restoration mage already knows that he has magic within him, in which his sister Ryiah is still struggling with her magic. She is already panicking since she wants to be a Combat mage. And just when she found her magic she finds that hers is an unpredictable sort. Her life at the academy wasn't all rainbows and butterflies, while she was living her dream, her stay was tough: Darren, the non-heir prince not liking her and treating her as a lowborn trash, Priscilla who is out to make her life miserable and not to mention her very difficult training life. The only consolation aside from having her twin brother with her is gaining a new friend in Eve, a highborn who isn't good terms with the non-heir prince. Having to train for one of the five spots as the Black Mage's apprentice may be a long shot but she is fighting to win that spot.

This book is the mix of young adult romance, magic and adventure and that academy plot rolled into one. Having that kind of adventure while at school or at camp (*ahem* Harry Potter and Percy Jackson) is pretty cool. It makes boring school life a bit more interesting. Ryiah is an interesting character. She is stubborn, headstrong and independent as well as unpredictable. If she wants something she will work hard for it with all her might and that makes her a relatable character. What I liked is the relationship between Darren and her. Though I think that the boy she met at the solstice ball will be a recognizable character in the next book. I liked how the book ended, it wasn't dragging and it didn't have that excess plot...it ended just the way it did, like you would be asking for more. I can't believe that this would be the author's debut series, I liked it and I am now a fan. This series has potential. I will be happily devouring the sequel. I hope though that this would be available in the local bookstores from where I'm from. 

Till the next read...

Book Review Request: Rarity from the Hollow

Title: Rarity from the Hollow

Author: Robert Eggleton

Genre: Science Fiction, Reality
Date read: July 7-14, 2015
Dawn Rates: ★★★ (3/5)

Summary (cr: goodreads)

Lacy Dawn is a little girl who lives in a magical forest where all the trees love her and she has a space alien friend who adores her and wants to make her queen of the universe. What’s more, all the boys admire her for her beauty and brains. Mommy is very beautiful and Daddy is very smart, and Daddy’s boss loves them all.

Except.

Lacy Dawn, the eleven year old protagonist, perches precariously between the psychosis of childhood and the multiple neuroses of adolescence, buffeted by powerful gusts of budding sexuality and infused with a yearning to escape the grim and brutal life of a rural Appalachian existence. In this world, Daddy is a drunk with severe PTSD, and Mommy is an insecure wraith. The boss is a dodgy lecher, not above leering at the flat chest of an eleven-year-old girl.

Yes, all in one book.

Rarity From The Hollow is written in a simple declarative style that’s well- suited to the imaginary diary of a desperate but intelligent eleven-year-old – the story bumping joyfully between the extraordinary and the banal.

The central planet of the universe is a vast shopping mall, and Lacy Dawn must save her world from a menace that arrives in the form of a cockroach infestation. Look again and the space alien has made Daddy smart and happy – or at least an eleven year old girl’s notion of what a smart and happy man should be. He has also made Mommy beautiful, giving her false teeth and getting the food stamp lady off her back. (excerpt)

My Review: (also in goodreads)

It's always an honor to receive a book from the author asking you to give an honest review about it. It means they value your review and your ability to review without any pretense. Therefore, I'm going to give this an honest review:

Instead of chapters, this was portrayed as mini-adventures in the life of Lacy Dawn. During the first half of the book, I was interested. It tackled the hard life in the hollow, how Lacy Dawn lost her best friend due to being killed by her best friend's father and how she came to meet DotCom (a robot from another planet who teaches her). This book tackled a lot about domestic abuse and living in a dysfunctional family. The mother has low self-esteem and gets often beaten by an abusive father who has PTSD. Choices made the life the way it was and because Lacy Dawn's mother got pregnant early it ended her father's bright future resulting to his violent streak. Going through the second half of the book that is where I got a bit confused. After getting 'treatment' from DotCom to cure her parents she know has to save the world from cockroach infestation. In which they become rich by being a shopper at the center of the universe (Shptiludrp which I would guess would be a shortened 'shop till you drop'). There were times in which I was confused and hooked at the same time. The ending was a bit abrupt but I guess that it is a satisfactory one. In conclusion, I had a myriad of different emotions while reading this at the same time it was quite a struggle in the end. But despite that, there are still parts I liked here and there especially the first half.

Till the next read...

Book Review Request: It Ain't Easy

Title: It Ain't Easy

Author: Kesia Alexandra

Genre: Short stories, Reality
Date read: July 5-7, 2015
Dawn Rates: ★★★ (3/5)

Summary (cr: goodreads)

"It Ain't Easy" is a collection of short stories on growing up in Washington, DC. If you think it's all memorials and museums, you're mistaken. This collection explores the every day lives of those who reside in the city— from the around the way girls and boys in the hood to the private schools on the privileged side of town. "It Ain't Easy" shows one of America's most talked about cities in a way it is rarely seen; through the eyes of the people.

My Review: (also in goodreads)

It's always an honor to receive a book from the author asking you to give an honest review about it. It means they value your review and your ability to review without any pretense. Therefore, I'm going to give this an honest review:

This is a collection of short stories which revolves around the everyday life in the city. Different walks of life, different problems: that is what makes up this book.

Taxes

In this short story, the female protagonist is getting by everyday living with her boyfriend with her child. She then gets tricked by the boyfriend's brother in taking her money. 

It ain't easy girls, it ain't easy

Wanting to escape her life the girl is in a relationship with a friend till she eventually gets knocked up. The problem is if the guy would take the responsibility or flee making her life even harder

Triangular truth

This happens in a private school where the plot is that: my story vs. your story about a rape incident. They guy is in as a scholar and the girl is a rich spoiled one.

Fulfilled

A shocking event shakes the school as a girl suddenly died. This is the story of how that incident created ripples through out the people who know her

Felt like you held me

Seeing your first love once again after quite some time could either disgust or entrance you. Sometimes, the things that made you fall in love with them in the first place would come back only for it to hit you hard enough that because of the years in between and how you grew in different directions, everything you're feeling is a mere memory.

All of this events happens in everyday life. The author captured that idea and put it in writing as short stories. I think it was a great idea. The readers could get hooked and it could also be a cliffhanger in that short amount of time. Although there were times where I was confused with the plot because of the amount of slang words used: not that I don't understand them, but because it made it feel out of the place. Among the short stories, what I really liked is: Triangular truth and Felt like you held me.

Till the next read...