Review : Commander in Chief (White House #2) by Katy Evans

Commander in Chief (White House #2)
by Katy Evans

Goodreads | Amazon | iTunes

Blurb from Goodreads:

The sizzling second installment of the White House series, by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Katy Evans.

We fell in love during the campaign.
The stakes were high.
Reputations could have been ruined.
Scandal hovered over us like a cloud.
Now the man I love is the President of the United States of America.
And its not my vote he is after.
He wants it all.
My heart. My body. My soul.
He wants me by his side.
In the White House.
Normalcy will be gone from my life, privacy forgotten.
I am only twenty three. I just wanted to play a part in history. But it seems like history wasn't done with me. The part where I lost my heart to Matthew Hamilton? It was only the beginning...

2017 - The Year of of Persevering

Hi guys! You may have noticed my 11 month hiatus from blogging. Well as it turned out university life is just so hard.

It was a matter of choosing what I had to prioritize first, which was academics, organization duties and most importantly sleep. 

Don't want to sound braggy, but in our school its a common scenario to receive failing grades. It has been a greater challenge as the years pass by to try and pass the subjects that I've been taking. Some, that I don't even really want to study intensively. Despite it all, I am a year away from graduating and I honestly can't wait for what 2017 has to offer.

In terms of blogging, I haven't been able to go out and read a lot of books lately. I've been sticking to cliche romances and new adult titles to cope with the stress of school. So yeah, I haven't been really reading in a diverse manner.

Another factor of why I haven't been able to blog is because of my duties of the student council of School of Multimedia and Visual Arts. I recently decided to run as Marketing Head for the council, with the hopes of being able to give service to my fellow students, and our annual SMVA Night and the revived SMVA Week was held this year. It took months of planning to get the events on going. And it took a lot of my time to balance academics, organization duties as well as the family events and things to handle with friends.

Few of my artworks for 2016 and a picture from my art idols from the Philippines, Mimi Camile and Pat Abella

The SMVA Student Council, Design Deconstruct and my Dorm family

Local indie music scene in PH

2016 has been a really wild ride for me, and I don't regret anything that happened. But I am saddened by the fact that I had to sacrifice my blog in order to achieve my success for 2016. This is why I decided to fully work on having this blog up and going.

If you've seen my rant on twitter, I had the realization that this blog has contributed to my affirmation of life choices. It made me realize that I wanted to work on the design business. It has given me the edge I needed due to the fact that I've read numerous books and those books has given me great perspectives and ideas needed in my studies. I'm not going to give up easily on the one thing that made me realize what my goals are in life.

So yes, you'll be seeing more of me in the next weeks. Tho yes, I still won't be as frequent as I was three years ago, but the blog posts will certainly come more frequently and I'll try hard to avoid dipping into hiatuses.

I'll be reviewing more songs and artists this year

I've decided that music is a great part of my life, and I want to share it with you guys. I've fallen in love with these local indie music and I know that you guys will be able to find some of these people as amazing and just plain magnificent.

Movie  & Series Review .... Maybe Theories as well?

Being a multimedia student, I've been exposed to different kinds of films these days, and I just know that a good film is meant to be shared. I'm also opening the idea of having theory posts about the series I'm watching, which is something that I'm still working on.

Edgy Topic Tuesdays/Fridays

I'm still deciding on the day, but I'm hoping to  put up this frequent posts starting this year. Which is a series of topics that I think the youth need to talk about. Something to keep us aware.

So far, these are the ideas I'm building. Hopefully it will be a success and we'll work on having the university not swallow me whole, lol.

I can't wait to share my new posts and ideas with you guys! To a more happy and productive new year!

So how about you? What happened to last 2016? Any exciting plans for 2017?

January Roundup : A month of artsy adventures!

So this month is a good month for me. Aside from doing another blog revamp that I adore, a lot of opportunities opened up for me and new experiences as well.

So yeah, you guys might've noticed that I also wasn't so active for the month of January which I will explain later on. Hihi

Review: The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

Find them at:
Goodreads | The Book Depository

Seventeen-year-old Caymen Meyers studies the rich like her own personal science experiment, and after years of observation she’s pretty sure they’re only good for one thing—spending money on useless stuff, like the porcelain dolls in her mother’s shop.

So when Xander Spence walks into the store to pick up a doll for his grandmother, it only takes one glance for Caymen to figure out he’s oozing rich. Despite his charming ways and that he’s one of the first people who actually gets her, she’s smart enough to know his interest won’t last. Because if there’s one thing she’s learned from her mother’s warnings, it’s that the rich have a short attention span. But Xander keeps coming around, despite her best efforts to scare him off. And much to her dismay, she's beginning to enjoy his company.

She knows her mom can’t find out—she wouldn’t approve. She’d much rather Caymen hang out with the local rocker who hasn’t been raised by money. But just when Xander’s attention and loyalty are about to convince Caymen that being rich isn’t a character flaw, she finds out that money is a much bigger part of their relationship than she’d ever realized. And that Xander’s not the only one she should’ve been worried about.

Jules de Aventura

 

Welcome to Jules Bookshelf a.k.a Jules de Aventura

I just noticed that I did a lot of blog revamps for Jules Bookshelf. I had 3 blog designs before this one, and I pretty confident that I love this one better. Studying in an art school made me more aware of little things that I can do to make my blog “look” like my personality. And that’s mainly why I’ve decided to change the look, again for Jules Bookshelf. I had changed a lot from who I usually am a year ago. Other than celebrating my 18th birthday, I also became more aware of how ,my reading books, has molded my way of interacting with friends. And as the year passed, I realized how I don’t just love reading books, but I’ve grown to appreciate indie music , art and games. So, yes my interests just became wider. And this is where the biggest revamp comes into place.

I’ve decided to not only revamp the blog, but to also REBRAND it. And Jules Bookshelf is now, Jules de Aventura. I can’t just talk about books, I want to be able to share some bands I’ve been listening to, games I’ve started to play and art I’ve been addicted to. So I decided to not limit my blog to just “book blogging” category. You’ll be seeing some personal posts popping up more often than before. Here are some posts I’ve been thinking about

• Chill Blues Sundays (Posts of Music I recommend)
• Game Review
• Art Galore
• Le Adventures (Places I’ve been to)
• Love Stor y of the Month
• Author Appreciation Monthly
• And some other posts I’m still thinking of,

I'm still adding up some things in the blog (like the follow button for GFC, bloglovin and RSS) so you'll see some things pop up in the blog.

I can’t thank you guys enough for staying with me despite my long 2 and a half hiatus. I was a bit scared that I can’t even get back to my blogging vibe, but thankfully you guys have been incredibly supportive and I thank you guys for that. Till the next post guys! :D


    

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Hi guys! I'm back from the dead

I AM BACK BABY!

 

This is such an informal post, and I am so sorry for that but I just wanted to say that. I'M BACK!!

This has got to be the most stressful term EVER in my college day so far. And I fear that it will only get worse. I WAS SWAMPED with school work. Apart from doing 2D animations and vector classes the whole 2 and a half months that I was gone. I was also very busy helping out the student council as part of an Adhoc Comittee. (Yes I was a busy woman lately haha).

But being away for a whole term. WITHOUT EVEN OPENING MY BLOG
at all is the most depressing term of my life. I would often think of it and would want to just wallow in misery over not having time at all to open it. This is why I've been thinking of a regular blogging schedule that works with my school schedule to make sure that I won't let my blog go stale. I may not post regularly that much, but I promise to bring new content more often that I do.

And one of my announcements will be: "JULES BOOKSHELF WILL BE A HAVING AN INTENSE RENOVATION"

I've thought hard about what I've been planning for this blog and I've decided to make one big step for change in the blog itself. I'll give you a hint, it will involve a lot more than a new blog design. (wink wink)

As for blog hopping and other activities, I'll definitively be more active in that, I've missed reading your blog guys! And you'll be seeing me soon in your comment section!

Well that's that for now! Its good to be home.

Blog Tour Stop : Review : Playing the Player by Lisa Brown Roberts + Giveaway

YA Bound Book Tours is organizing a Blog Tour for: Playing the Player by Lisa Brown Roberts from Entangled Teen: Crush. This tour will run from September 14th to September 25th. 

Add to Goodreads

Playing the Player by
Lisa Brown Roberts (5 Stars)

Release Date: 08/18/15

Entangled Teen: Crush

Summary from Goodreads:

Trina Clemons needed the money. Why else
would she—the most organized, prepared student in school—spend the summer as a
nanny and partner with the biggest slacker ever? Now she's ready to tackle
nannyhood with her big binder of research and schedules. Just don't ask her
about the secret job of “fixing” the bad habits of a certain high school
player…

Slade Edmunds prefers easy hook-ups, and Trina is definitely not his type.
She's all structure and rules, while Slade wants to just have fun. Fortunately,
Trina has no idea about the bet Slade made with his best friend that he can
totally get her to unwind by the end of summer

Then the weirdest thing happens. There's chemistry. A lot of it.

But nothing gets between a boy and a girl like a big, fat secret…

Book Review: The Zeuorian Awakening by Cindy Zablockis

The Zeuorian Awakening by Cindy Zablockis (1 star and a half)

Lexi’s no ordinary teenager. She was born with the ability to read minds and sense danger. But on her seventeenth birthday, she realized how different she was after transforming, literally that is. Now she’s developing powers stronger than a superhero. But she’s no superhero.

Far from it.

She has no control over her abilities and causes accidents every time she’s nervous or upset, which being a teenager is hard to avoid, especially when the most popular boys in school are fighting to be with her.

If that isn’t bad enough, a stranger is following her. She doesn't know who he is or what he wants, yet he knows all about her abilities and that she’s developing more. And . . . he’s her only hope of understanding why she’s changing and others are after her. What she learns will send her life into overdrive.

A romantic and suspenseful story with several unexpected twists, The Zeuorian captures the struggle between wanting to survive and longing to know the truth even if it means risking death.

Are you an out or in the closet book blogger?

Idle Chit-Chats is where @ Jules Bookshelf talks about bookish and non-bookish topics that is related to a bibliophile

 

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Sorry for that really really weird title hahaha! But really let's talk bout' this haha.

When I first started blogging, no one ever knew about it. Not even my parents or classmates knew about it. I did share it to my bff since highschool. Tho she doesn't really understand it, she's happy that I'm happy haha, (Mostly tho we fangirl when the fave author we love responds to me/her/our tweets ) my mom only found out when she saw me typing a blog post. (She's a big fan now haha, in a cute/embarrassing kind of way, she even tells her co-workers about it haha) and gradually people knew about it as well.

Mom? You told them?

Tho I have always tweeted my reviews on my account on Twitter, but I never imagined anyone I know even thinking of clicking it. But yes, eventually a lot of my reality friends knew about it until it became common knowledge that I was indeed a blogger.

It was a cute experience to be honest. I was always seen as the reader kind of girl so they weren't really that surprised about it haha. They were a bit surprised about having a blog in itself. They thought I was this bigshot famous blogger when I really wasn't haha. But yes when blogging became "part" of my life it was easier for my parents to understand my complete love for books (so when bookish events come up, they totally understand that I'd want to go :D ).

Let me welcome some of my friends who are here to write about their experience on this topic :D

First person to share is a personal friend of mine. And she shares her first opinion on me. She's also a blogger, more lifestyle in genre. Dyanne of  D-Ture

1. What was your first impression of me?

I seriously have NO idea. HAHA. But I kinda think it was that I sorta sensed some leader type in you.
(Seriously tho, I have an OCD when it comes to projects, so I tend to be bossy and my friends know this so I only say sorry to compensate haha) 

I was a leader type? hahaha didn't think people would see that in me haha. I'm quite lazy but I do take responsibilities seriously.
 

2. Was it obvious that I was a really big avid reader?

No, not really. You probably seemed one but I never imagined you to be that big of a reader until you mentioned about your book blog! And I was actually like, Ohmaygahd, someone understands me!

I do. I do. Haha, I was glad I could influence you to love Rose and Connor too ;) 
 

3. Were you able to relate to me? Did I influence you in anyway when it comes to anything bookish or blogging wise?

I sure did! Especially on the blogging aspect. A lot of people haven't really accepted the fact that blogging is now a young industry. Most people still see them as nothing but a hobby. It was nice to know that at least 1 of the thousands of people in Mapua, understands me in this way.

Hm, I've long been into reading since I was but a little child. I think it kinda helped that I have some friends in Mapua who's really into reading as well. (who actually turns out to be waaaay more into reading than me) I've kinda detached myself from books since I started college but it's good to know that I could have a sort of reading buddy to gush about all things reading.

AND GUYS WE DID GUSH. I SWEAR WHEN SHE FINISHED KISS THE SKY ALL WE COULD TALK ABOUT AT THE TIME WAS HIM. AND ONLY HIM HAHA.

this is how we were when we talked about Connor Freaking Amazing Cobalt! :D hahahahha

So you see it wasn't a really big big thing, but I guess them knowing about my book blog made them understand me more and they always take that into consideration. (They know that I always stop when we go through a bookstore hahaha). Inah of The Bibliophile Confessions also shares her firsthand experience about blogging on our "real life"

When I decided to start blogging about books, I didn’t want my friends to know about it. I was a bit shy, I guess and I didn’t want to them to read my reviews about the books I’ve read, although I’m pretty much eager to share book recommendations to them, of course! Maybe I didn’t want them to judge me and well, writing my reviews in English because I don’t casually speak in that language when it comes to talking to them. I’m not good when it comes to handling compliments. I get too flustered and all red, which is pretty funny.

When I created my blog, I made a separate Twitter account for the blog and to share all my book love. It was kind of fun living with two identities. I told my closest friends, my roommates that I do blog and review books. But since I have a lot of friends and most of my friends know how much of a bookworm I am, the word got out that I am a book blogger. I was kinda nervous they would look at me in a different way, most of them didn’t. Some treated me like I’m someone famous. It was embarrassing and funny at the same time. I was shy about it at first but I decided to shake it off and be proud of that fact that once I ramble about books, I could go on for hours. My friends love that about me.

About a week ago, one friend discovered my blog-related Twitter and decided to follow me. I was surprised and I freaked out a little at first because she was the only one from my school, besides my co-blogger Jem, who knows about my Twitter. The thing is, after I realized that it’s cool for me for people to know that I’m a book blogger, I put a link of my blog related Twitter account on my personal one. I just didn’t think people would actually click it.

A friendly advice, unless you’re not comfortable with people finding out you’re a book blogger, I think it’s totally okay for your friends or family to know. Besides, isn’t our love for books is what pushed us to become a book blogger? There’s nothing wrong in sharing and proclaiming our love for books to other people. Last thing, always be proud to be a book blogger!

I agree with Inah here :D I wasn't really a big blogger, but I am proud that I am able to share my love for books and converse with other book bloggers as well. That I think is the best thing about this. So whether you're an in/out of the closet book blogger. It doesn't matter because we all love books all the same and we are so proud of that :D

So yeah that's my discussion today! I hope you guys had fun reading it and hope to see you soon. *here's a gif of Loki winking :D

How about you? Does your family know? Maybe your bestfriend? Tell me your story :D

DNF Reviews (1st Edition ft, The History of Glitter and Blood, Riot, & The Concequence of Loving Colton)

DNF REVIEWS (FIRST EDITION)

Lemme tell you I just DNF’ed a lot of books. And this is a surprise because I don’t ever DNF as much as possible. But this one is just too much for me.

The Consequences of Loving Colton by Rachel Van Dyken

When I saw that this was available to request at Netgalley, I immediately got excited because I loved this certain book from Van Dyken. So I wasn’t hesistant to try this. But then the characters gaaah. It made me want to bang my head at the nearest cement wall and at the same time hurl the book as far away from me as possible. THESE CHARACTERS ARE THE BANE OF MY EXISTENCE. The girl, is just to indecisive and feels too much like a marie-sue character. Then the guy who is also indecisive. And just ends up making a fool of himself and does nothing but do stupid decision which was really obvious by the way. Its just overall annoying and hard to read.

Flex by Ferrett Steinmetz

I remembered that the main reason why I wanted to read this book is because I loved what I read from the summary. Very sci-fi and it looks different compared to most of the sci-fi books that I’ve read. But it all just felt too much for me. There was a part in the beginning that felt too much like an info-dump which almost made me want to stop reading it entirely. I’m stopped by half of the book, and as much as I want to try to finish this book, I don’t think I can.

 

The History of Glitter and Blood by Hannah Moskowitz

I’ve read a book from Hannah before. But I have no interest in completing this book at all. I tried to continue it since I do have a big interest about faes and faeries and everything fantasy. But this one, I don’t really have a big interest in. It’s a a bit early for me to stop at 10% or so. But this book just doesn’t do it for me at all. As sad as that is.

Black Wolf Release by JA Redmerski

If you guys know, I am so so so addicted to JA's very intense novels. Andrew and Fredrik are in my line of book boyfriends for life. So I am happy to tell you guys that the latest installment for the Company of Killers series is finally out!

HI GUYS. I'M ALIVE!

Hi guyssssss!

*waves like maniac*

Did you guys miss me? ahaha

Mini-Review: Decaying Empire by Laura Thalassa

Mini-Review: The Decaying Empire by Laura Thalassa (The Vanishing Girl #2) (3.5 stars)

I received this book via netgalley in exchange for a review, my receiving a copy does affect opinion and rating.

When eighteen-year-old teleporter Ember Pierce wakes up in a Los Angeles hospital, she remembers only the basics: she’s been trained by the government as a spy, she’s sent on dangerous missions, and her last assignment—the one that landed her in the hospital—was a setup.

Caden Hawthorne has spent the past ten months of his life grieving Ember’s death. So when she shows up in his room like an apparition, he can’t believe his eyes. But this Ember is different. Her hair is longer, her skin is paler, her gaze is haunted. She tells him what he’s already begun to suspect: someone he trusted betrayed her.

Now, uncertain who is friend and who is foe, Ember and Caden face the toughest mission of their lives—to stay together and survive, as they run from danger toward an unknown future.

Top Three's: What Bloggers Do Behind the Laptop

Top Three's is a feature here @ Jules Bookshelf where I list three bookish or non-bookish things from my mind.

Book Review: Confess by Colleen Hoover

Confess by Colleen Hoover (3 Stars + 1 Star because the last chapter broke me)

Goodreads | TBD

Auburn Reed has her entire life mapped out. Her goals are in sight and there’s no room for mistakes. But when she walks into a Dallas art studio in search of a job, she doesn’t expect to find a deep attraction to the enigmatic artist who works there, Owen Gentry.

For once, Auburn takes a risk and puts her heart in control, only to discover Owen is keeping major secrets from coming out. The magnitude of his past threatens to destroy everything important to Auburn, and the only way to get her life back on track is to cut Owen out of it.

The last thing Owen wants is to lose Auburn, but he can’t seem to convince her that truth is sometimes as subjective as art. All he would have to do to save their relationship is confess. But in this case, the confession could be much more destructive than the actual sin…

Idle Chat: YA Withdrawal

My lack of interest with YA

Idle Chit-Chats is where @ Jules Bookshelf talks about bookish and non-bookish topics that is related to a bibliophile

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JULES BOOKSHELF 3.0

Hi guys! Yes, you are looking at this right. This is in fact, Jules Bookshelf!

To plain white, to very colorful :)

I actually personalized my blog back then (I think 2014? or 2013?), my first design was very dark, like black and red (I had a big fascination with black and red then) and the next year, I wanted it to be more simple and clean, and this was the result. It was really just a few alterations on the previous design, but this year, I wanted to add a pop of color to my blog, and at the same time, show out my style in art.

Thing is, I didn't want it to be too simple, and very template ish? So I took the courage to revamp almost everything in the blog. From the colors, the CSS, the new graphics, and of course the fonts.

                         

You see, after starting college, I started developing this style when it comes to painting. And I wanted to apply that kind of style on my own blog.

I wasn't able to apply everything that I wanted because it would look weird if I did everything I wanted but overall, I am very happy about the outcome of the blog. :D

I hope I get the chance to design other blogs as well.

Hope you guys have a good day :D

Release Event: 12 Hours by Hannah Harvey + Excerpt

12 Hours, A Novella by Hannah Harvey

Hi guys! Hannah Harvey has just published a new novel! Go ahead and check it out!

Idle-Chat: The good guy that got away

Idle Chit-Chats is where @ Jules Bookshelf talks about bookish and non-bookish topics that is related to a bibliophile

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#CONFESSRELEASEPH | FILIPINO COHORTS UNITE

A HAPPY DAY FOR US COHORTS

Today was a very happy day for bookworms who love Colleen Hoover. It has been a long while since I was able to attend an event that is specifically for bookworms like me (the last was the Tahereh-Ransom-Rossi signing event, april last year. So, as you see it has almost been a year since I went to an event dedicated on bookworm activities if I may say so freely.