KEEPING MISS KALILA - Tara Frejas {Reaction Review}

"But what I'm sure of now is this:
I want to keep choosing you."

Waaaay overdue but here we are!

This has been my last read for 2020 and 2 months later, I still have difficulty expressing everything without just being 😭😍💕 All I can say is I loved every single page of this and I can't recommend it hard enough!

Keeping Miss Kalila is part of Tara Frejas’ Lakambini Universe, along with Waiting in the Wings and Like Nobody’s Watching - both which I absolutely adored as well.

See my live tweets here and read more quick feelings below! 

BREAK-UP ANNIVERSARY - Dawn Lanuza {Filipino Friday Review}

#FilipinoFriday [10]

Break-Up Anniversary
- Dawn Lanuza

TITLE: Break-Up Anniversary
AUTHOR/s: Dawn Lanuza
PUBLICATION DATE: 8th of April, 2016

*this is actually a late-post. I've written this review a day before we came back from the Holy Week break but I was easily swept in with class activities and I never really got the chance to post it in between tours and reviews. But here it is now! :) *

April 18, 2017

So last day of the Holy Week break and I did not do anything quite productive over the vacation. What I did though, is to make my heart so happy before returning back to reality which I can already foresee as something full of stress – last two weeks of undergraduate school yaaas! 

How did I make my heart happy, you ask? Well I got caught up with my series (iZOMBiE’s back, you guys! And I finally got to see the Supergirl x The Flash episodes I’ve missed, aaaand finally went through Netflix's 13 Reasons Why. I’ll get back to you on that one though, still reeling from it) Also, got to catch up with a couple of reads (yay!)

Anyway, instead of readying my stuff for the coming week, I lie in bed procrastinating and scrolling through my files (do not do this kids. Procrastinating is not good for you) As I go through some of my books, I saw Dawn Lanuza’s Break-Up Anniversary sitting there, waiting to be read. I remember getting a copy of it through instafreebie (yay thanks Miss Dawn) and getting quite excited because the plot was actually intriguing but I never really quite got into it.

A while ago, though, I impulsively opened it and read the first few pages. Before I knew it, I’m through! It was actually a very short read but a good one, I can say! Should’ve read it sooner lol Here are some of my thoughts!

Promdi Heart - #romanceclass authors {Filipino Friday Review}

#FilipinoFriday [9]

Promdi Heart
- #romanceclass authors

TITLE: Promdi Heart (Hometown Love Stories)
AUTHOR/s: Georgette S. Gonzales, Agay Llanera, 
Chris Mariano, C.P. Santi, Jay E. Tria, Ines Bautista-Yao
PUBLICATION DATE: 29th of March, 2017

AVAILABLE AT: AMAZON

Back at it again with the anthologies! When I first heard about Promdi Heart and the fact that a tour is opening up, I excitedly registered. That witty title hooked me (Promdi Heart = From the heart? Gettit? LOL!) and that pretty cover reeled me in more - because, why not? Just look at all those cutesy postcards and typography and that pastel-y color palette! *hearts*

But what really made me stick is the line up of authors contributing! So excited to read new content from my favorite authors and to meet new ones too! I was pretty sure I'd love them - and I did!

So excited to share my reading experience AND to encourage you to get your own copy! Details below :)

ALL THAT GLITTERS - Ines Bautista Yao {Filipino Friday Review}

#FilipinoFriday [8]

All That Glitters
- Ines Bautista-Yao

TITLE: All That Glitters
AUTHOR/s: Ines Bautista Yao
PUBLICATION DATE: 2017

AVAILABLE AT:  PRINT COPIES (from the author)

AMAZON!

Happy e-book birthday All that Glitters! In celebration of it, I want to share my thoughts with you guys (even though I've first read it in a physical copy - available with other Sparks Book on bookstores nationwide!) 

WAITING IN THE WINGS - Tara Frejas {Filipino Friday Review + Excerpt + Giveaway}

#FilipinoFriday [7]

Waiting in the Wings
- Tara Frejas

TITLE: Waiting in the Wings
AUTHOR/s: Tara Frejas
PUBLICATION DATE: 21st  of February, 2017

AVAILABLE AT: AMAZON

A week back, I've shared with you guys the cover for Tara Frejas' latest work - Waiting in the Wings! And now, for the second part of the tour, I'm so excited to share my thoughts AND a sneak peek on what you can expect in this beauty!

Without further ado, here's my review! (Thank you so much, Miss Tara Frejas for this opportunity!)

*curtain rises*

Do go around and check out others' tour stop of Tara Frejas' Waiting in the Wings!

KEEP THE FAITH - Ana Tejano {Filipino Friday Review + Excerpt + Giveaway}

#FilipinoFriday [6]

Keep the Faith
- Ana Tejano

TITLE: Keep the Faith
AUTHOR/s: Ana Tejano
PUBLICATION DATE: 31st  of July, 2016

AVAILABLE AT: AMAZON | SMASHWORDS 
BARNES & NOBLES | KOBO | IBOOKS

Important note: It's already Saturday but I originally scheduled this post to go up yesterday for my tour stop (+ as part of Filipino Friday.) Unfortunately, blogspot's been glitch-y lately and a couple of tech problems came up *cries* but better late than never, eh? :) 

______________________________________________________

I first saw the title while browsing through the online #romanceclass catalogue. Upon reading its blurb, I knew that I'll like it and immediately added it in my continuously growing TBR pile. Then, as if the Universe had planned it all along, Miss Ana Tejano wanted to put up her own blog tour for this one and I was more then eager to join! 

Keep the Faith was a quick read for me and I finished it within a day (I may or may not have been munching on fries while reading haha!) It may have been my first Ana Tejano read but it will most definitely not be the last (especially since her first work that I knew of, Fall Like Rain ft. of course, Rain, is also stuck on my TBR for a while now. Sadlyf.) I may be ~dense~ but typing that up just made me realize how the author actually incorporates her MC's names on her titles. Cool!

Would definitely try to start on the other one soon but for now, here are some of my thoughts for Keep the Faith! :)

Do go around and check out others' review of Ana Tejano's Keep the Faith!

SOMEDAY WITH YOU AND OTHER STORIES - Ines Bautista Yao {Filipino Friday Review}

#FilipinoFriday [5]

Someday With You 
and Other Stories
- Ines Bautista Yao

TITLE: Someday With You and Other Stories
AUTHOR/s: Ines Bautista Yao
PUBLICATION DATE: 22nd of October, 2016

AVAILABLE AT:  PRINT COPIES (from the author)

+ Ebook version will be up on Amazon by February 1st!

Back at it again with #FilipinoFriday and my never ending love for anthologies! Recently, last December to be exact, I rekindled my passion for binge-ing on compilations. It did not only cure my reading slump but also, reminded me how much I enjoy reading short stories.

That is why when Miss Ines Bautista Yao (AKA my fave PH author ever) proposed having a street team for her anthology Someday With You and Other Stories, I did not hesitate to say yes! Aside from simply being in love with her writing, I am actually excited to see more of her short stories since Plain Vanilla (which I've heard would be available in paperback soon eep!) 

For now, here are some of my thoughts and feelings for Someday With You, One Last Thing, and Things I'll Never Say!

MAYBE THIS TIME - C.P. Santi {Filipino Friday Review}

#FilipinoFriday [4]

Maybe This Time
- C.P. Santi

TITLE: Maybe This Time
AUTHOR/s: C.P. Santi
PUBLICATION DATE: 3rd of June, 2016

AVAILABLE AT:  AMAZON

I honestly feel guilty for this late, late review! I got a free copy of this anthology from the author herself (the birthday girl that time hihi hello Ms. Santi! *waves*) and was actually looking forward to diving into this but unfortunately, I wasn't able to until just recently :(

Anyway, I first read the author back when I participated in the tour for Buqo YA bundle 3: Finding Fairytales and read When Cocoy Became Kikay. Since then, I knew her works would be an auto-read for me not only because her writing is such a beauty but also because she's really nice (plus points too 'cause co-Thomasian!) 

Oh well, better late than never! And I'm really glad that Maybe This Time isn't just part of #FilipinoFriday but also, is my first review that is related to #BuwanNgMgaAkdangPinoy yay! Loving that my birth month is also a month of celebrating something I really enjoy *hearts*

THE BYE BYE BOUQUET - Chi Yu Rodriguez {Filipino Friday Review}

#FilipinoFriday [3]

The Bye Bye Bouquet

- Chi Yu Rodriguez

TITLE: The Bye Bye Bouquet
AUTHOR/s: Chi Yu Rodriguez
PUBLICATION DATE: 14th of February, 2016

AVAILABLE AT:  AMAZON | PRINT

Yay for another dose of some Filipino luvin' <3 And for today, we have here on the blog Chi Yu Rodriguez' The Bye Bye Bouquet!

For those who don't know: Most local authors and readers (including myself) have 'pledged' to boost their support of Filipino-authored books this 2016 and thus, the burst of little projects that could help Filipino writers get their works out there (click the Share The Love banner to know more!)

One of them is #FilipinoFriday which I learned from Miss April. The experiment is quite simple: You- yes, you- can have the opportunity to read works of Filipino authors under the romance class catalog (http://romanceclassbooks.com/) in exchange of an honest review and a little social media blast. Click the #FilipinoFriday banner to know more!

*Thanks to Miss April (@iambinibini) for providing a review copy! Receiving one did not affect my views on the book.

UNA & MIGUEL - Lilledeshan Bose {Filipino Friday Review}

#FilipinoFriday [2]

Una & Miguel 
- Lilledeshan Bose

TITLE: Una & Miguel
AUTHOR/s: Lilledeshan Bose
PUBLICATION DATE: 2012

AVAILABLE AT:  Amazon

A couple of months ago, I received an advanced Valentines' Day gift from a friend (shoutout to my fab bookish friend, @WalkinLibrary!) It was a book he's been recommending to me because he knows how much I support locally published works (and he said that the lead character reminds him of me lol) Since it fits the theme of the annual celebration (and it was a gift for that event), I decided to spend Valentines reading this beauty :)

So today, although it seems waaaay overdue, I'm sharing my thoughts about my Feb. 14 read: Lilledeshan Bose's Una & Miguel :)

THE BOYFRIEND BACKTRACK - Dawn Lanuza {Filipino Friday Review}

#FilipinoFriday [1]

The Boyfriend Backtrack 
- Dawn Lanuza

TITLE: The Boyfriend Backtrack
AUTHOR/s: Dawn Lanuza
PUBLICATION DATE: 3rd of October, 2014

AVAILABLE AT:  AMAZON | SMASHWORDS | BUQO | KOBO

Hooray for my first ever #FilipinoFriday post! A little infoblast here: Most local authors and readers (including myself) have 'pledged' to boost their support of Filipino-authored books this 2016 and thus, the burst of little projects that could help Filipino writers get their works out there (click the Share The Love banner to know more!)

One of them is #FilipinoFriday which I learned from Miss April. The experiment is quite simple: You- yes, you- can have the opportunity to read works of Filipino authors under the romance class catalog (http://romanceclassbooks.com/) in exchange of an honest review and a little social media blast. Click the #FilipinoFriday banner to know more!

And for my first post on this project, I've read - and LOVED! - Dawn Lanuza's first book, The Boyfriend Backtrack :)

*Thanks to Miss April (@iambinibini) for providing a review copy! Receiving one did not affect my views on the book.