Over the last weekend, National Book Store and Raffles Makati sponsored The Philippine Readers & Writers Festival 2016. It’s a simultaneous-events thing featuring different people from local publishing industry. There were also book signing events from international authors, Adam Johnson, Anna Todd and Paula McLain.

Photo: National Book Store FB page

Book Spine Poem #1

I know I haven't been posting on the blog lately but today I am struck with great inspiration to try book spine poetry for the very first time. I am not a first class poet and my photography skills are very amateur but I hope the message of the poem connects to you, my fellow book wanderers! Here it is, have a look.

Book Blast + Giveaway: Girl Against The Universe by Paula Stokes

If you fell in love with The Art of Lainey or got hooked to Liars Inc., then maybe you are also anxiously waiting for Paula Stokes' latest book, Girl Against the Universe. To ease all our pains while waiting, Paula is here to takeover this post to talk about all things GATU. Take it away, Paula!

Review: The Incredible Adventures of Cinnamon Girl by Melissa Keil

The Incredible Adventures of Cinnamon Girl
by Melissa Keil

Summary:

Alba loves her life just as it is. She loves living behind the bakery, and waking up in a cloud of sugar and cinnamon. She loves drawing comics and watching bad TV with her friends.

The only problem is she’s overlooked a few teeny details:

Like, the guy she thought long gone has unexpectedly reappeared.
And the boy who has been her best friend since forever has suddenly gone off the rails.

And even her latest comic-book creation is misbehaving.

Also, the world might be ending – which is proving to be awkward.

Guest Post + Excerpt : Parent Quest The Search For The Twin Mystery by Gabriel Ammah

Hello, fellow book wanderers! Currently searching for a book to dig in? Today, you might want to consider checking out an exclusive guest post by Gabriel Ammah and an extract from his debut YA book, Parent Quest: The Search For The Twin Mystery.

About Parent Quest: The Search For The Twin Mystery

Synopsis: 

A tragic accident and lightning strike changes the lives of two best friends in a magical way. After both of their parents go missing under mysterious circumstances, Neil and Cherron enlist two of their schoolmates on a journey to uncover the mystery - using social media, clue hunting and spying techniques - they uncover hidden secrets and conspiracy in the small English town of Ipswich.
(Add to your Goodreads TBR here)

Genre: Young Adult, Action/Adventure

Release date: December 26, 2015
Published by: Chontama Publishing
Purchase link: Amazon

Review: Beyond the Red by Ava Jae

Beyond the Red
by Ava Jae

Summary:

Alien queen Kora has a problem as vast as the endless crimson deserts. She’s the first female ruler of her territory in generations, but her people are rioting and call for her violent younger twin brother to take the throne. Despite assassination attempts, a mounting uprising of nomadic human rebels, and pressure to find a mate to help her rule, she’s determined to protect her people from her brother’s would-be tyrannical rule.

Eros is a rebel soldier hated by aliens and human alike for being a half-blood. Yet that doesn’t stop him from defending his people, at least until Kora’s soldiers raze his camp and take him captive. He’s given an ultimatum: be an enslaved bodyguard to Kora, or be executed for his true identity—a secret kept even from him.

Guest Post + Excerpt + Giveaway: The Hometown Hazard by Dawn Lanuza

If you're searching for a romance title to feel snug with this love month, check out The Hometown Hazard by Dawn Lanuza. In this post, Dawn will grace this humble blog to share five books that inspired and helped her in writing The Hometown Hazard. There's also an extract and a chance for you to win one of the 3 e-books of this title, open INT. It's raining bookish goodies over here, fellow book wanderers! Thanks to Bookish Diaries for organizing this event.

Review: How Hard Can Love Be? by Holly Bourne

How Hard Can Love Be?
by Holly Bourne

Summary:

All Amber wants is a little bit of love. Her mum has never been the caring type, even before she moved to California, got remarried and had a personality transplant. But Amber's hoping that spending the summer with her can change all that.

And then there's prom king Kyle, the guy all the girls want. Can he really be interested in anti-cheerleader Amber? Even with best friends Evie and Lottie's advice, there's no escaping the fact: love is hard.

Teaser Tuesday: How Hard Can Love Be? by Holly Bourne (TT #1)

Photo: Kaboompics

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm. Grab your current read, flip to a random page, share two teaser sentences, but avoid spilling spoilers!

I am currently halfway reading through How Hard Can Love Be? by Holly Bourne. It is Book # 2 of the Normal series. This continuing story of the Spinster Club girls focuses on tall and ginger, Amber.

Review: What We Saw by Aaron Hartzler

What We Saw
by Aaron Hartzler 

Summary:

Critically acclaimed memoirist Aaron Hartzler, author of Rapture Practice, takes an unflinching look at what happens to a small town when some of its residents commit a terrible crime. This honest, authentic debut novel—inspired by the events in the Steubenville rape case—will resonate with readers who've ever walked that razor-thin line between guilt and innocence that so often gets blurred, one hundred and forty characters at a time.

The party at John Doone's last Saturday night is a bit of a blur. Kate Weston can piece together most of the details: Stacey Stallard handing her shots, Ben Cody taking her keys and getting her home early. . . . But when a picture of Stacey passed out over Deacon Mills's shoulder appears online the next morning, Kate suspects she doesn't have all the details. When Stacey levels charges against four of Kate's classmates, the whole town erupts into controversy. Facts that can't be ignored begin to surface, and every answer Kate finds leads back to the same questions: Who witnessed what happened to Stacey? And what responsibility do they have to speak up about what they saw?