To immediately follow up my last review in Marian Tee Mania, Kellion, I bring you my take on Yuri, the 7th installment in the Heart Racer series. 

I cannot tell you how excited I was when the author sent me an ARC of this book, because Yuri is one of my favorite characters in all of Marian's works. If you haven't yet read the other 6 parts of this series, there's a great chance you won't have any idea of who Yuri is. But if you've been following the journey of the Afxisi men, then you'd know how intriguing this reserved man is. 

In this review, you WILL have an idea of who Yuri is. Prepare yourself because there will be some spoilers, so if you're not into that, please do skip this one out.

Title: Yuri (Heart Racer #7)  

Author: Marian Tee 

Publication Date: August 27, 2015

Published by: Jaded Speck Publishing

Source: ARC Given by the Author

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26184222-yuri

SYNOPSIS:

His name was Yuri Athanas.

They called him the golden boy of the Afxisi, a college org during the day and an underground racing club at night.

Like his brothers, Yuri was rich, powerful, gorgeous, and devastatingly sexy.

Unlike his brothers, Yuri did not leave a trail of broken hearts behind him.

Yuri was the angel amidst all the other Greek devils, they said.

I liked hearing that about him. It gave me hope that when we do meet again, he would remember his promise, and he would keep it.

He would take one look at me and he wouldn’t mind that I wasn’t…okay.

He wouldn’t mind I wasn’t…normal.

If he was everything I prayed he would be, he’d take one look at me and love me, like he had promised.

CHARACTER BACKGROUND:

Yuri is a considerate, caring, and well-mannered gentleman; he won't ever say bad things to you and will never purposefully offend anyone ... At least that's what he leads people to believe. Inside, he's cold-hearted, distanced, and in control. He never lets his real emotions show, and he only allows people to see what he wants them to see. But the biggest ass-move he probably did in life is to let a certain woman believe that he loves her, even though he's not really capable of that.

Kalliope knows not what love is or what it means. She was raised not to believe in it and to forget whatever emotion she can associate with it. Her upbringing is the definition of messed-up; physically abusive, emotionally draining, and mentally destructive. Now, she doesn't know what to feel or what those feelings mean--she's good at keeping people at a distance and being cold without even meaning so. But ubderneath all that lies a kind and loving heart, one that must be cherished forever. 

REVIEW:

I know the character description I presented above is quite lengthy--it goes to show just how fascinating and complex both Yuri and Kalliope are. 

With all of Marian's books, I don't think I know of one female lead who is naturally cold, distant, and insensitive from the get-go. Most female protagonists she create are lively, expressive, a bit timid but full of spunk--that's why I found Kalliope captivating; she's broken, obviously, and if I went through what she did, I'm sure I'll even come out worse. But in spite of being ripped of her identity, beaten repeatedly for having emotions, and losing [almost] everyone who cares about her, she's still determined to trust people. To give "living" and "feeling" a shot--which leads to her affection for Yuri. Yuri *sigh*, I had no idea he can be so ... Unfeeling. I mean, he was controlled and refined in other parts of the series, but NEVER a manipulator, a liar, and a user. I guess you can't really judge a character unless you're reading their story, eh? 

The story moved at a steady pace; it wasn't dragging and there weren't a lot of unnecessary scenes. I don't like novels with a lot of "fillers"--scenes that offer nothing in the books entirety--that takes up a number of pages, and I felt like the author avoided that which I appreciate and approve of. 

I can't really say much about the highs of this story, but the lows were VERY good. I share the author's masochistic/sadistic tendencies, and so I loved seeing both Yuri and Kalliope struggling and in pain because of their mistakes--and by "their", I mean Yuri. The love scenes didn't really standout and I'm bummed about it because I was expecting Yuri to be rough, demanding, and wild in the bedroom because he's so poise outside. But we all don't get everything we want, so...

SUMMARY:

I really did like this book a lot; there may have been a few things I wanted to see, but as a whole it's a well-written book for Yuri and Kalliope's love story.

RATING: 

Book image from Goodreads

This review has been a long time coming! So freaking long that I quite forgot what happened in this standalone novel from Marian Tee, meaning I had to read it again which was NO hardship at all.

I’m thrilled to get back to writing reviews for books penned by Ms. Tee, because I am so far behind. But enough with the ranting and let’s proceed to checking out Kellion, part 6 of the Heart Racer series. 

Title: Kellion (Heart Racer #6) 

Author: Marian Tee 

Publication Date: December 12, 2014

Published by: Jaded Speck Publishing

Source: Bought

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23823219-kellion

SYNOPSIS:

This is a full-length standalone biker romance novel with a HAPPY-EVER-AFTER ending.

His name is Kellion. Beautiful. Wicked. Dashing. Alive. That’s what attracted me the most about him – that he’s so full of life, it makes me feel like I’m not dead inside.

I thought he was just like all the other bikers of the Afxisi, America’s most popular and exclusive underground racing club. Someone too rich, too gorgeous for his own good, someone too full of himself to be human.

But then I saw a secret side of him. Realized that he had just been pretending all along. Realized that he needed me, and that broken part of him drew me in, like a moth to a flame.

Now, I want to be the one to make him smile. Really smile, and not like all those fake smiles he used to make the girls around him fall in love.

I want to make him think of me, just me. I want to belong to him, just him. But most of all, I want him to know I love him. Not the biker, not the billionaire’s son, not the hot guy. But him. Kellion.

Even if his smile tells me he’ll end up tearing me apart, I need him to know he’s not alone. I’m his to love or destroy. Whatever he wants – I’m his.

CHARACTER BACKGROUND:

Kellion just wants to be seen. It’s a ridiculous request coming from an exquisite-looking billionaire who EVERYONE sees – but he’s not being noticed for the right reasons. He doesn’t want people to look at him and see a guy swimming in money or a man who can have anything done in a snap of his finger, he doesn’t want people to know him because of his influential last name – he just wants someone to notice him for him. Just Kellion.

Aria has an angelic voice – that she hasn’t used for years. She was dealt a rough hand in life, which resulted to her vowing never to speak again ... until she met Kellion. She wants to make him smile, and she yearns to make him laugh and feel loved. She will do anything to see him happy – even if it causes her a lifetime of loneliness.

REVIEW:

I’m not 100% sure, but I think Kellion is the first full length standalone novel I’ve read from Marian Tee. I was so used to reading a 70-80 page book by her that getting into this story got me all excited. All the ups and downs between our main characters WILL take place within this 170-190 page book, and knowing that there won’t be a cliffhanger at the end really got me worked up because I knew that I will be crying a whole lot – which is a normal thing for me when I’m reading Marian’s works.

Kellion is the kind of story you can’t summarize so easily; you can’t just say, “In a nutshell, this is what happened...” There are predictable things that happened in this book – which is a normal call for someone who has read hundreds of other romance novels – but there are twists in this book that will make readers go, “What?” I won’t give much away, except the reason behind Aria wanting to abstain from speaking is deep and will break your heart.

Is this the most dramatic book written by this author? No. Is the love story of Aria and Kellion the most romantic? No. Are their steamy scenes the hottest from all of Marian’s books? Maybe. But despite of all these, this has been an awesome read for me. I thoroughly enjoyed it, not just because it is penned by one of my favorite authors, but because it offered something different. It talks about matters that aren’t being addressed as much but deserves to be. It puts to light how most people treat people who are even slightly different, and how easy it is for people to judge someone based on what’s on the surface.

SUMMARY:

Kellion is a romantic novel that has a lot of underlying pain and heroic attempts of selflessness. If you want to have a good cry over a glass of wine or a cup of good hot cocoa, grab a copy of this book and get to reading. I doubt you will regret making the purchase because you WILL be shedding a few tears, I guarantee it. 

RATING: 

PURCHASE LINK:

Amazon

Book image from Goodreads

SPOILER ALERT if you haven't read Damnation Marked

So Elise died and came back to life as a black-haired, smooth-skinned, physically-perfect supernatural creature. Yes, she's now a demon. But she's no ordinary demon because she's now known as "Father". How did that come to be? Well that happened around the same time she humped the real father demon and they exchanged blood. Awesome, eh?

Title: Dire Blood (Descent #5)

Author: S.M. Reine

Publication Date: December 28, 2012

Genre: 

Source: Bought

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16209489-dire-blood

SYNOPSIS:

Elise Kavanagh died while killing the mother of all demons, and her fight should be over. But nothing is ever that easy where the Godslayer is concerned. Elise has been resurrected--and she came back as a demon.

Now the most powerful witch in the world, James Faulkner, has been dragged to Hell and accused of violating an ancient treaty. The punishment is eternity in Hellfire. Elise is the only one who can save him. But it means following him into Hell to face inhuman urges, the secrets in her past, and the horror in her future.

The Godslayer's fight isn't over yet. It's only just beginning...

PURCHASE LINKS: 

Amazon

CHARACTER BACKGROUND:

Elise Kavanagh is now the very thing she's sworn to kill. However, other demons see her as something more--they see her as their "Father". But she doesn't care about that. All she's interested in doing is rescuing the love of her life and ending the reign of the current leader of one of the most powerful places in hell.

James Faulkner is sad, confused, and desperate. He lost the woman he has sworn to protect, and there's nothing he can do to fill the gaping hole in his heart. But he's taken on a very unwelcome ride and now he must fight... and do what he is destined to from the very beginning.

REVIEW:

I loved Elise in all the other books but I love her all the more now! She's stronger, fiercer, and frankly, more important. Dire Blood is told in different POVs but there's a lot of James time here. I liked that because we get to see the side of him that is madly in love with Elise. The part of him that feels empty without his "other half". 

There are also new characters introduced in this book--characters who are very important in the entirety of the story. We have Nathaniel, James' son and Belphegor, the... I'm not allowed to say just yet, to name a few. Elise's parents are also here, finally! Let me tell you though, you might not like them all that much. 

As usual, this part of the series offers lots of action and gore, just like all the others. We also begin to learn more about the truth behind Elise's story. A bit of a spoiler, we will get to see something that we've all been waiting for since book 1. I'm sure you already have an idea of what it is, but before you start rejoicing, the end will just. Break. Your. Heart.

What didn't I like? Well, it's more of who didn't I like. There are a lot of characters in this book I'd very much like to personally kill in a very brutal way. I won't name names but there are a lot.

SUMMARY:

I give Dire Blood 5 stars because, for me, this is where the real story begins. Trust me, people, you will not want to miss out on the next parts.

RATING: 

Book image from Goodreads

Have you read Dire Blood? We'd love to hear your thoughts! Share it in the comment section below.

How's it going booksnakes? The weekend is fast approaching and it's time for some well-deserved RnR. Or in bookworm language, Read and Relax. But before we go into our batcaves, I'd like to share somethig with ya'll real quick.

Denise from I Am Shelfless (Yes, I agree that it's an awesome name) sent me a message on Goodreads the other day, telling me that she tagged me in the "Would You Rather Only Book Tag". So of course I had to check it out because I NEVER say "no" to awesome things like this. It's relatively easy; I just answer the same set of questions the person who tagged me answered, then I tag 3 other bloggers to answer them as well! Let's begin! 

Would you rather only read trilogies or only read standalones?

I like reading series, but there's just something about a book that gives you closure when you flip to the final page that attracts me more.

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Would you rather only read male or female authors?

Yikes. I like reading books by male authors because I get more insight on how a man thinks. But they don't normally write romance books, so I'll stick with my ladies. *grins*

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Would you rather shop at Barnes and Noble or Amazon?

I haven't really tried shopping in Barnes and Noble. Always have been a solid Amazon shopper. (Though I really like B&N's blog. They have really cool posts.)

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Would you rather books were made into TV shows or movies?

It depends on the length. If it's a standalone, then a movie should be its route. But if it's a really long series, (meaning longer than a trilogy) then I'd like to see it on TV. 

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Would you rather read only 5 pages per day or 5 books per week?

I CANNOT read just 5 pages in a day. I can't even do that in one sitting! I need at least a chapter every time I hold my e-reader. So 5 books per week it is.

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Would you rather be a professional author or reviewer?

Oh goodness me. I'd LOVE to be an author, since I believe I have some pretty good stories brewing in my noggin, but I'm a copywriter/copyeditor. I'm good at giving information, not telling stories. Also, editing other people's work and breaking things down is one of the things I think I'm good at. With that said, it's quite obvious as to what path I ought to take.

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Would you rather be a librarian or a bookseller?

Uhm. Uhm...Librarian, I think. I'd like to believe that they actually have a deeper relationship with books, as well as greater passion for reading and gaining knowledge.

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Would you rather read only your favorite genre, or every other genre but your favorite?

Favorite genre. I'm normally a very adventurous person...just not with books. I mean, I read a few creations from different categories every now and then, but I still go back to my romance novels and all its sub-genres.

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Would you rather only read ebooks or physical books?

There are advantages to having both. I love the authenticity that a physical book offers; the paper smell, page-flipping sound, and even the bookmark you use. But the thing is, there are MANY talented authors who only gets published digitally. If I limit myself to paperbacks, I won't have the chance to know them. I've always been keen on indie authors and newbies anyway, so if I had to be exclusive, I'll go with my ebooks.

Thanks so much Denise and everyone else who took the time to read my answers. I believe I have to nominate three other bloggers now, but i'd like to deviate from the plan a bit. I'll be nominating 5 fellow bloggers, and here they are:

Floryie of Travelogue of a Book Addict

Melissa of Around the World in Books
Danielle of Reading, Writing, and What Not
Aneesa of A Book Lover
Claudia of Pen Markings

While I was at work the other day, a man who apparently works for the postal service came to my house to tell me (my fiancee actually since I wasn't home) that I need to pick something up from the post office. It's such a curious thing since I wasn't expecting anything. Earlier today, (1pm Philippine time) I went and got the package. Wondering what it was? This!

This is one of my favorite books in the entire series. To say that S.M. Reine came back from the small disappointment caused by Dark Union is a huge understatement. This...this...this...GAH! I just loved it! The confusion, heartache, loneliness, love, pain, and loss. It's just a roller coaster ride of horrible feels and I loved it!

SPOILER AHEAD!

Title: Damnation Marked (Descent #4)

Author: S.M. Reine

Publication Date: November 3, 2012

Published by: Red Iris Books

Source: Bought

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13007263-damnation-marked

SYNOPSIS:

There's something in the earth deep below Elise Kavanagh's territory. A shadow is falling upon local demons to devour their flesh and harvest their souls. And it's coming for Elise next.

The Union has an easy way out. They want to send Elise into hiding again with her former partner, James Faulkner. All she has to do is surrender the territory and trust that they can protect the ethereal ruins, the dark gate, and the city she's come to know as home.

Greater powers have other plans for Elise and her fabled power as Godslayer--plans that mean surrendering her life and blood to the most powerful demon alive. But if she descends, there's no turning back. Once she gazes into the abyss, it will gaze back into her... and Elise will be damned forever.

PURCHASE LINKS: 

Amazon

CHARACTER BACKGROUND:

Elise Kavanagh now holds more responsibility than what she bargained for. Now in charge of keeping things on the up and up in Reno, she's always making sure that everyone is protected from "the shadow". She's also starting to get kind of tired from...everything. She might have many people helping her succeed now, but she still feels so alone and lost. But her need to save mankind wins over and gives her the strength she needs...even if it is for the last time. 

James Faulkner's past and present is starting to collide and he's not sure if that's a good or bad thing. What he does know is that he must convince Elise to leave Reno if they want a chance to survive. He's both very worried and frustrated with Elise now, especially since she's pushing him away. If only he can hold on to her...before it's too late. 

REVIEW:

Okay. First things first, Elise is DEFINITELY KICKASS HERE!! That's what I was talking about. The no b.s. and no-nonsense woman who is willing to go deep deep down the earth to protect the people of this world. But more of me gushing about her later. For now let me talk about the "people" (and I use that word lightly, considering...) I loved more in this book. 

Neuma, the ever so loyal nightmare who just wants to protect their territory and help Elise as much as she can. She's just such an awesome character, and the dynamic that she has with Elise is just fan---tastic! She's probably the only part-demon who can give Elise crap without losing her life. 

Nukhail. Ah. The confused angel who hates Elise just as much as he loves her. He would do anything she asks without even batting an eyelash, even give his life away...and all he asks for in return is to see her smile. 

Thom -- oh, Thom. Why art thou so devilishly irresistible? Oh wait...that's because you are grandpa demon. But seriously, there's a scene that he shares with Elise and it was just...*KABOOM!!

Going back to my Elise obssession; she really made up for the lack of kickassery in Dark Union. We get to really see her in action, fighting big bad demons and stuff. There were also moments where we see her soft side, which is totally loveable. She tries to save someone who she considers important in her life, but when she fails, she just decided to grant (secret) wish. We also see her as a woman with needs and loneliness that she tries so hard to fill. The dynamic between her and James have also shifted, but when push comes to shove, she shows her love for him without any reservation. 

"Still?" -- "Always."

Onto the story; we get to [officially] meet the father and mother demon. They're not married, no -- they're siblings. And they're really powerful. Elise is really no match if she were to fight the battle alone, which she prefers now, to be honest, because she doesn't want more people who mean something to her to die. Thom helps her out, but only because he has an agenda -- which is not at all hidden. I loved how dark and dangerous this book is. It has drawn me from the very first page and refused to let me go until I've finished it. I felt loads of sadness, heartbreak, pride, and fear. 

When this HUGE thing happened to Elise, I feel like people didn't exhibit the proper emotions. It hurts me to think they didn't give her the credit that she deserved especially since she did prevent the demon queen from killing everyone.

SUMMARY:

I absolutely loved Damnation Marked. I give it 5 stars, no questions asked. This book changes everything from this point on, and things won't ever be the same again. I can't wait to share my review of the remaining books with you guys.

RATING: 

Book image from Goodreads 

Have you read Damnation Marked? We'd love to hear your thoughts! Share it in the comment section below.

James - 1 and Elise - 1. What am I counting? The number of times they've died. But in terms of who's saving who, James is obviously losing. A quick recap of some things that happened in The Darkest Gate: Elise and James, along with Anthony and Betty, had to fight two opponents; one a giant spider who rules Las Vegas and the other an aspis-kopis pair with a need for vengeance. On the process, Betty died, Anthony avenged him by killing her killer, Elise also dies because He almost got her, Thom brought her back to life, Elise and James suddenly shared this weird and intimate connection, and Elise is even more dedicated to protect the world.

So basically, nothing much happened, eh? So what of the Union? Let me introduce you to the group of people I hate the most. Oh, by the way, there is not a lot of James in here. Probably for the best though.

Title: Dark Union (Descent #3)

Author: S.M. Reine 

Publication Date: July 21, 2012

Published by: Red Iris Books

Source: Bought

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15776452-dark-union

SYNOPSIS: 

Every fifty years, the most powerful ethereal and infernal beings convene on Earth to resolve conflicts with mediation by kopides--humans born to police relations between Heaven and Hell. They're meeting in Elise Kavanagh's territory this year, and she used to be the greatest kopis in the world. But she's not invited. 

An old friend, Lucas McIntyre, asks her to attend the summit in his place. But when she arrives, she discovers that a human faction called The Union has taken charge of the summit, and they're not playing nice. Worse yet, someone has killed a prominent Union member, and now they're demanding blood.

 

Elise has to bring justice to the summit in DARK UNION, a 33,000-word (120 page) urban fantasy novella featuring a decrepit ghost town, angry men with guns, and even angrier angels.

PURCHASE LINK: 

Amazon

CHARACTER BACKGROUND:

Elise Cavanagh is more emotionally distant than ever because she just can't process the pain that comes with them. She pushes people away, and quite frankly she doesn't care anymore if they leave or stay. She tries to shut down the connection he has with James because it pains her to see -- or rather feel -- that James is doing okay without her. 

 

Anthony Morales has just lost his cousin, and his girlfriend is acting like it doesn't even matter. He feels neglected and taken for granted because of the way Elise treats him. He's given everything up for her if only she can see that. 

REVIEW: 

We get to meet new people in Elise's life. We also learn about the Kopis-Aspis bond. 

"More permanent than marriage, more fatal than family, closer than the oldest friends."

For me, this sheds a whole new light on the relationship between the two. After the emotional turmoil Elise suffered from the loss of her best friend as well as the wall James built between them, it's nice to see Elise finally learning to shut James out. There were times -- namely when she's in pain -- wherein the connection strengthens and we "hear" the genuine concern James feels for Elise. I know it's very sadistic of me, but I like knowing that James gets all worked up and worried about Elise. Coz like dude, you sort of left her hanging first. We also get to see how much Elise actually values the people in her life. She's hell-bent on proving the innocence of Lucas, even if that means putting herself in so much trouble. 

I felt like Elise was weak in this book. We all know how kickass she truly is, but here, she seems to be of no importance to most people. Also, she seemed to be too cold, and it's kind of upsetting the way he treats Anthony like trash. I mean, I get that he's kind of annoying, but he does support her every step of the way. 

SUMMARY:

I found it okay, it's just that Elise seemed a bit weak here. Like she's not destined to kill Him or anything. The story also didn't progress well, and the strain between Elise and Anthony is really starting to get frustrating. But still, a good book. We get to meet more people. Some we'll love more in future books, while others...well, you'll just hate them and wish them death. Can't wait to continue to the next installment, Damnation Marked. Ooohhh, it's going to be awesome.

RATING: 

Book image from Goodreads

Have you read Dark Union? We'd love to hear your thoughts! Share it in the comment section below.

Click is one of those books that I cannot and will not forget..EVER. On my review of Burn, I did warn readers that your tissue box will come handy. What would you expect in Click? Kidnapping, human trafficking, rape, death, sex clubs, lots of pain, unraveling of families, and a lot more. Sounds interesting? You don't even know half of it yet. 

Title: Click (Heart Racer #5)
Author: Marian Tee
Publication Date: August 20, 2014
Published by: Jaded Speck Publishing
Source: Bought

CHARACTER BACKGROUND:
MJ Cartwright is not who people thinks she is. Apparently, she's the daughter of a really rich Greek billionaire and she has two other siblings, one of them is her best friend. But just when these things started to unravel, it becomes too late. She tries to hold on to hope, but with everything happening, she might just let go of the pain...and her life. 

 

TO LOVE:
OH GOSH THE DRAMA!! Gaaah!! I warned you about spoilers, because there is no way at all to review this book without giving anything away. What don't I love about Click? Absolutely nothing. MJ and Helios tries their darnest to find each other again. MJ does everything to prolong her life, hoping that eventually she would be found. She endures the intense pain that she is given..repeatedly, all the while detaching herself from the things going on around her. Helios fuck women and give them pain to earn a reputation that will get him noticed by the woman who will serve as his ticket to find MJ. He ignores the disgust and self-loathing that he feels in order to save MJ, while trying to keep his sanity in the process. 

 

 

SUMMARY:
I loved, loved LOVED Helios' story. This has actually been converted to be one book instead of three different installments. Those who hate cliffhangers, ya'll should check this out. There is no doubt about the score I would give this. 7 out of 5 stars. *grins* Think that's enough? Read this everybody; it's dark, dangerous, and deadly. Oh, it's very heartbreaking too.

 

 
Note: There may be some spoilers ahead.

MJ and Helios' story continues in Burn, after leaving them in such a painful -- physically and emotionally -- situation in Swish. A recap of the last few pages in the book: Helios becomes insanely jealous of MJ and Yuri causing him to hurt her by flaunting a beautiful woman, who's a wonderful motorcycle rider and very much into him, in front of her face. But MJ being MJ, she wanted to prove to Helios just how much she loves him. She challenges Hottie McGee (not her real name) in an exhibition, all the while trying to overcome her fear of the two-wheeled beast. She fails, almost killing herself in the process, then Yuri clarifies to Helios that there is nothing going on between them, he feels bad then tries to reconcile with MJ. When she awoke, she declared that she lost and she's giving him up.

Ooohh, tension...me likey! *rubs hands together*

8000 page views? SAY WHAT?! 

I know it's not really a big deal...for others, but for me THIS IS AWESOME!!!

I can't thank ya'll enough for visiting my website and following me on different social media platforms. I look forward to chatting with you and talk about books! 

P.S. I'm also open to movie, TV shows, and food conversations. *wide smile*

Hey Booksnakes! For those of you who don't know -- meaning all of you --I actually celebrated my 22nd birthday yesterday, June 13! *clap clap* 
So today, I'm going to be answering questions by my fellow bloggers who nominated me for the Liebster Award. I already did the complete process of nominating and stuff, so now I'll just share some stuff about me through these very good queries. 
Ready?

 *****

These are questions from Amanda Lowery of Feed Your Head:

1. What is the first book you remember reading that left you in awe?

Harry Potter series, no doubt. You simply cannot be more in awe than when you immerse yourself from book one to the last.

2. When a friend asks you for a good book to borrow, how do you judge what to recommend, or do you have a 'go-to' recommendation?

I do have a "go-to" recommendation, but I still make it a point to know what they're actually interested in.

3. Have you ever developed an attachment (be it a crush or fascination) with a particular character from a story? If so, who?

I have. I think I tend to get attached a little too quickly, because I like imagining myself in a character's shoe. At the top of my head, I can say that I have a huge girl crush on Elise Cavanagh of the Descent series by S.M. Reine, Melody Callahan from Ruthless People trilogy by J.J. McAvoy, and Cat Maverick from Hooked by Christine Manzari. For the male characters, there are simply too many to mention. *wink*

4. What made you start blogging about books?

I started reading books (aside from school-related ones) when I was 14 years old. When I began my Harry Potter-binge, I realized that I'm a really fast reader. Like REALLY fast. Like 700-pages-in-3-hours fast. This kind of speed continues until now. But last year, I discovered a major problem with my Speedy Gonzales-like reading...I forget 60-70% of what I've read in about a week's time, unless that book really stamped itself in my brain and heart. I was truly bothered by this because it feels like such a waste. So I decided that I needed an outlet -- a diary perhaps -- wherein I can log the books I've read, what it's about, what the characters were like, and whether I liked them or not. Hence, The Booksnake Etc. was born.

 5. Do you think that there should be a book bloggers symposium of some kind, where bloggers can meet up with their network and with writers?

 Would that not be the coolest thing ever? *jumps up and down*

 6. Do you plan to write a book of your own? If so, would you self-publish or go the traditional route?

 I would love to. I already have story ideas and such, but I don't exactly know how to go about doing it. I'ma copywriter/copyeditor so I really do write. But there's a huge difference with giving information to the masses and telling a story. I'm good with the former (not to brag or anything) but I'm not sure how I'll tackle the latter.

 7. If you could spend the day with one writer, throughout all history, who would it be?

 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. He'll be cool to hangout with, I think.

 8. What book have you read the most?

 I don't really make a habit of going back to books that I've already read, no matter how much I've loved them. I don't know why. It's the complete opposite with movies, because I have a record of watching a movie 16 times. I won't say what that is though.

9. What author have you read the most?

 I would have to say Marian Tee. She has less than 40 books out now i think, and I've read about 97% of them. S.M. Reine is second, with her Descent and Ascension series, that would be 14 books I've read from her.

10. What is it about books that makes them so special? In your opinion, of course.

 You can be whoever you want, be anywhere at any time. There are no rules and no boundaries. Your limitation is your imagination.

*****

And these are questions from Danielle Smith of  Reading, Writing, and What Not:

 1. What world from a book would you want to live in?

 Harry Potter, without a doubt.

2. What draws you to your favorite genre of books? (If you have several you love, pick one)

 Romance is my favorite, and all its sub-genres. I love happy endings and the idea that not every relationship fails, you know? You hear about too many negative things about love in real life that you just need to get lost in the happiness that can be offered by books.

3. Do you have a preference, real book or e-reader?

 I like both. Paperbacks because it feels different when you're holding a book, flicking its pages while breathing in that paper-y smell, and e-books because there are too many good stories out there that only gets published online. It's such a waste if I miss out on wonderful talents.

4. How do you feel about books that are made into movies?

 I have mixed emotions about it. First, of course I'd love to see if the movie would turn out like how I pictured it would be. Second, it's because of my expectations that I am often disappointed with the result. That's why I don't watch a movie if I've already read the book, and I don't read the book if I've already seen the movie. There are a couple of exceptions of course; Harry Potter and Twilight.  

5. If you could be any main character from a book, who would you be?

 There are too many!! Oh my goodness. I can't possibly name them all. I'll update this and add a list, I promise.

6. Do you have a favorite series that you would love to see made into a movie/tv show?

 Yes. I have a lot of books I'd love to see on screen, but since we're only talking about series;

Descent and Ascension series (Yes, I am obsessed with this right now.)

Ruthless People trilogy (Also obsessed with this.) and I'd love for Jamie Dornan to play the male lead since he's Irish.

Beautiful Bastard series by Christina Lauren

Tangled series by Emma Chase

Buckhorn Brothers by Lori Foster

Bird of Prey Saga by Danielle-Claude Ngontang Mba

The Publicist series by Christina George

 These are all I can think of right now.

7. How do you go about picking what books you want to review on your blog?

 Lately, I've been reviewing books that are part of blog tours more often. I squeeze in a few reviews depending on what my latest finished book is.

8. How do you feel about reading self-published books?

For me, it doesn't make any difference if a book is self-published or housed by some company, just like I don't care about clothing brands.

 
 9. If you had to pick one book as your favorite of all time, what would it be?

 I seriously can't do it. *sobs* I can't choose. I'm sorry.  

 10. Where do you do most of your reading? (bed, couch, at a desk, etc.)

I can read just about anywhere. Seriously. But my favorite would have to be...reading on the bed. So vanilla of me. The reason behind this is also pretty simple -- I can roll around if need be.