Tea, Books, Crannies and Nooks

Saturday, October 13, 2012

From the shelf: Stranger in the Moonlight by Jude Deveraux

Jude Deveraux's "Stranger in the Moonlight"

This was the first time I would be reviewing a novel of contemporary romance. I have her "Remembrance" novel but sadly I didn't finish it. One day I may. Apparently "Stranger in the Moonlight" is the 7th novel in the Edilean series but the 2nd in the Moonlight Edilean series. Having "Moonlight in the Morning" and "Moonlight Masquarade" (to be published in 2013) completing the Moonlight trilogy.

"An enchanting new contemporary romance set in Edilean, about two childhood friends who are reunited after years apart, only to discover that the spark they felt even as kids still remains...

When Kim Aldredge was eight, she met a twelve-year-old boy named Travis who was visiting her hometown of Edilean, Virginia with his mother. Even though they were there under mysterious circumstances, that didn’t stop the children from becoming friends. For two blissful weeks they rode bikes, played baseball, and read out loud to each other. They were ordinary things to Kim, but to Travis, they were oh-so-extraordinary. And Travis helped Kim discover her love of making jewelry, the passion that became her profession. Before he left he told her that someday he’d return, and for years Kim kept the photo of her and Travis, their arms around each other and smiling, close to her.

Travis is now a successful attorney in Manhattan—but there are things in his life that he doesn’t want made public. And even though he’s traveled the world, he still thinks about that summer he spent in Edilean, and the girl he met there. Those weeks changed his life forever. When Travis learns that his mother has moved back to Edilean and is planning to remarry, he decides it’s time that he return as well—not just to investigate this future husband, but to finally fulfill the promise he made to Kim all those years before….

(cr. goodreads)

My opinion? I'm biased with plots revolving around childhood friends torn apart not seeing each other for many years only for the relationship restored by fate and in the process have fallen in love with each other. That made me interested in this book. I don't read Jude Deveraux's books that much. Heck, I even fell asleep towards the middle of her "Remembrance" novel (but I will give it justice soon). I read romance novels and I find historical romances quite entertaining *cough* Barbara Cartland *cough* and this was no exception. I find the story interesting even the male protagonists' back story although I find it creepy for him to be stalking the female protagonist when he could have just talked to her all those years but it was kind of romantic (see the irony?). Though this novel is set in the modern times there were still references on historical backgrounds such as Kim looking for the missing link in her ancestry. I breezed through the novel and I guess its a good one time read especially if you want a good past time. I found out that it was the second book of the Moonlight Edilean series. Would I read the rest? Maybe not now or anytime soon, someday...we'll see.

"Stranger in the Moonlight" gets: ★★★☆ (3.5/5)

Till the next read...

Thursday, October 11, 2012

From the shelf: 50 Shades Trilogy by EL James

This trilogy has been my reference to two of the novels I reviewed, which has a similar genre. (Beautiful Disaster, The Stranger I Married) Though both of these novels could be classified as mature, 50 Shades Trilogy has taken it a notch higher.

EL James' "50 Shades Trilogy"

I have read the trilogy (in e-book form) since April of 2012 and only reviewed it now (seriously, I was procrastinating). First I was curious as to why it is often reviewed by book lovers everywhere. I was also amazed at how it started as a fanfiction to the Twilight saga, but since its too ero-mantic the writer had to change the names and do her own story. It was then when Delamar Arias, told the listeners of The Morning Rush (My favorite morning show on radio with Chico Garcia and Gino Quillamor - a recent addition) that she has been reading an interesting book of the mature genre and that it would be on sale in the Philippines very soon. I was curious but somewhat indecisive if I should read this, after all I have never read a novel this hardcore erotic.

The trilogy has been split up into books of these titles: 50 Shades of Grey, 50 Shades Darker and 50 Shades Freed. In 50 Shades of Grey, we get to know the characters, Christian Grey a young multimillionaire oozing with charm and Anastasia Steele, a college senior. The two meet when her best friend, Katherine Kavanagh, asked her to fill-in for the interview with Grey since she was sick, that is where their attraction started. It is revealed that multimillionaire, charming Grey isn't so innocent after all. Ana who is kind of mesmerized with Grey is pulled in for a wild ride of BDSM, contracts and extreme emotions. Still not signing a contract of the dominant/submissive relationship, Steele breaks off what she has with Grey after peeking into his world; and that's where 50 Shades Darker start. In the second book, Grey copes up with the new emotions unveiled after Steele breaks it off. It is shown that even though Ana is very much attracted and there are already deep emotions involved, she would not like to settle in a dominant/submissive relationship with Grey. Christian at that moment was in a daze and rather confused on the emotions he has towards Ana. He feels jealous, possessive and caring towards her but at the same time keeps her at arm's length. At the end of the book he faces his emotions and proposes to her, loving her but doubting if she loves him too; that's where the third book picks up. In 50 Shades Freed, Ana is coping up and learning to have her happy ever after with the man she loves who has trust issues. For them to be truly happy, they have to overcome Christian Grey's past, his trust issues and him willing for that to happen. And for that to happen Ana Steele has to be firm, always let her husband feel that he is loved and she must be patient. As what his psychologist would say, he may be mature with regards to the logical side (his businesses and work ethic) but he has the maturity of an adolescent boy when it comes to emotions. In this book they will have to deal with something life-changing that would make Grey think about things.

My opinion? These books are not just mature; this trilogy has taken the word erotic into a whole new level. Popularly tagged as mommy porn (this I do agree), I think this trilogy has a lot to offer. Amidst the bondage, BDSM, erotic scenes that could make a person palpitate, I think Grey's story is deep. The story isn't just about sex. It came from a dark past which he tries to cover up. He was like that because of what happened to his mom, to Mrs. Robinson and his guilt on his adoptive parents. Finally he met someone who could be of equal standing and because its his first time to feel such emotions, he couldn't deal with them. The only thing he knows best is dominance and control, but somehow for the relationship to work he must learn to compromise. These books aren't for the minor audience. The readers should get past the erotic, out of this world sex scenes and understand the back story. That is where you'll get the essence of this trilogy.

"50 Shades Trilogy" gets: ★★★★★ (5/5)

For the record, since they are planning to make movies out of the trilogy, I would like Matt Bomer to take on the role. And yes~ I'm Greyessed.

Till the next read... (Laters baby~)

Sunday, September 23, 2012

From the shelf: Beautiful Disaster by Jaimie McGuire

The ebook I just finished last September 21, another thanks to my cousin Ate Sandy which for me is another day book (meaning I could finish it in a day) is Jaimie McGuire's "Beautiful Disaster"

Jaimie McGuire's "Beautiful Disaster"

This is a story of bringing two dysfunctional individuals who came from disastrous backgrounds brought together with the promise of eternal bliss through a bet, but they had to overcome the issues first. Abby Abernathy wanted to lay low in her new life together with the support of her best friend America escaping her dark background from Wichita to Eastern University. America, better known as Mare, has a steady boyfriend in college named Shepley who has a cousin named Travis Maddox. Travis is a popular ladies man and to top it all off, fights underground for a quick buck..he never loses that is why he is called Mad Dog. He also has straight A's (which contrasts his character). The night they met is when Shep and Mare asked Abby to watch Travis' fight resulting for her to be pushed and being sort of saved by Travis. They met and eventually became just friends to Travis' confusion; he wasn't used to that term..he was used to ladies flirting at him and throwing themselves at him just to gamble for the pleasure of the night with no promise of tomorrow. They became friends and when the girls' dorm had their heaters broken, Mare and Abby became Travis and Shep's temporary roomates. And because of a lost bet Abby had to stay with Travis for a whole month. That is where their story begins.

My opinion? I am deeply touched by how Travis loves Abby but horrified on the way he handles things. I know that this is the reality and most of the time it happens but seriously, Travis is freaking me out..stalking, hitting a person, losing it just for Abby is a weird way to cope up with things. Travis being pushy and not listening to reason most of the time puts me in the edge that I'm literally giving opinions on not letting Abby get back together with such an idiot (that made me laugh at myself). To give him the benefit of the doubt, maybe he wasn't used to having someone dear in his life other than his family (which are all male, father and brothers) that he thinks he should protect her. I hate how he becomes so possessive that it seems like he's a freaking stalker but love at how deep he loves Abby and would give the whole world to her at any cost. Their relationship is a roller coaster ride but of course..a happy ever after. I love their gay friend Finch, he was always there for her even him crawling on the dirty bathroom floor just to get into the stall and hug Abby while crying is definitely sweet *spoiler alert*. There was a time while I was reading that I was wishing he was a guy to save Abby but sadly he isn't. Oh, there's these sweet things Travis did, giving her the nickname "Pigeon" and him giving her a puppy which she named "Toto", an inside joke because she came from Kansas.

Some said that "Beautiful Disaster" is the YA version of 50 shades and I protest to that. Why does everyone connect everything to 50 shades. Although there are similarities, *cough* they had sex *cough*, it wasn't that explicit and BDSM-y. The story focused more on the confusing and possesive love Travis has for Abby and both of the protagonists has serious issues especially the female character. Would I recommend this book? I was curious, yes, that everyone called it the YA version of 50 shades but we have to remember that book reviews can be disheartening and misleading in a lot of ways that the only way to judge it is to read it yourself. So, would I recommend this book? Yes, I would if you are looking for a challenging read; challenging, meaning that you have to open-minded to enter a world of a possible dysfunctional reality.

"Beautiful Disaster" gets: ★★★★ (4/5)

I guess everyone deserves a happy ever after no matter how hard it has been...

Till the next read..

Friday, September 21, 2012

From the shelf: "The Stranger I Married" by Sylvia Day

While I was lounging on the net just to find good recommendations (via Good Reads), my cousin Ate Sandy gave me a bunch of e-books..as promised (yey~). And because reading has always been my first love, I was ecstatic and tried it at once.

Sylvia Day's "The Stranger I Married"

First up was Sylvia Day's novel "The Stranger I Married". The book would be classified as a historical-romance novel with a hint (or dash) of erotica. Okay~ so I was awakened (?) to that particular genre because of my curiosity on the 50 shades bandwagon months before (I think I read the trilogy about around May) ~more on my 50 shades infatuation later (that would be another post)

The story revolves around the lives of Lady Isabel Pelham, a widow who fulfills her sexual desires on different paramours but never willing to give her heart again and the dashing, rogue a.k.a. ladies man Gerard Faulkner, Marquess of Grayson who changes mistresses similar to changing clothes. Grayson offered her a marriage of convenience saying that this way he could get out of the other ladies' delusions of marriage and she could do whatever she wanted without letting her men fall in love with her. He, married but ecstatic that his love Emily would bear his child and she, left alone. It was the perfect setup since they agreed to stay as friends. Not until he heard the devastating news about Emily that made him disappear without a trace for 4 years...that's where the story starts.

My opinion? All stories on marriages of convenience (most of the time) would eventually drag into someone getting hurt, and this was no exception. The only redemption is how the characters would settle their differences and clean out their issues. In this case, Pel (Isabel)'s issue was that she was afraid to give her heart and be vulnerable in front of someone else again after what her late husband did to her. Grayson was afraid to repeat everything and lose someone he cares about..again. I think the story lacked of conversations between Pel and Grayson out of the bedroom (though the steamy scenes were described enough) about them talking about serious stuff. But I guess the turning point about the issue on children did satisfy me. I loved the Abigail - Rhys side story which was like a spin-off on the main protagonists story.

I would recommend this book if anyone is looking for a one-time thing, sort of a past time. This was a simple read and I sort of breezed through it. But still, it was entertaining.

"The Stranger I Married" gets ★★★ (3/5)

Till the next read...