• manga,  Uncategorized

    MANGA: 11:59

    11:59 – Bopul

    After living in December 24th, Christmas Eve on endless repeat- Mokhwa seems to be the only one who’s aware of the existence of the time loop. And on this repeated day, he spends time with his childhood friend ‘Choi Gyun’ despite having cut ties with him a long time ago.

    Simple but so warm and cozy

  • book,  Uncategorized

    Review: Falling Sky Duology by L.A. Witt

    I didn’t have much expectations when I went into this, other than it’s L.A. Witt. Her specialty is stacking the odds so high it seems impossible for the MCs to be together. Then by some miracle she brings them together in the most delicious way.

    In the Falling Sky Duology, betrayal was what kept Liam Lansing and Daniel Harding apart. The need to survive and change the world was what bought them together. Everything in between was bullets, explosions, death-defying heights and one father hell-bent on having his son killed.

    The books are a seamless blend of action, sci-fi and paranormal. They’re a great example of unputdownable reads that hit the ground running full speed. It’s pretty much guaranteed you’ll be picking up that second book right after the first.

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    1. A Chip In His Shoulder – L.A. Wit

    โ€œContract killerโ€ is a fitting job for a vampire, and it suits Liam just fine. Cast down from the wealth and status of the Sky for taking a human lover, Liam lurks in the poor and pollution-choked Gutter, killing to survive. Between his natural strengths and his Cybernetix mods, no mark has ever escaped him. 

    Liamโ€™s ex-lover Daniel is the heir to Cybernetixโ€”and its greatest threat. Horrified by people less man than machine and the exploitation of Gutter factory workers, heโ€™d rather destroy Cybernetix than inherit it . . . if his father doesnโ€™t destroy him first. 

    Years of anger and a heap of mods have kept Daniel and Liam apart. When Liam is hired to slaughter a man in his glass Sky tower, he walks right into a Daniel-shaped trap. Danielโ€™s father has betrayed them both, and only by working together can Daniel and Liam survive the coming day. They have no reason to trust each other, but as the dawn looms, a bargain that began with the simple urge to live soon reminds them of the love they once shared. Can they find each other again, or will the Cybernetix assassins find them first?

    A Chip In His Shoulder is told from Liam’s POV. He receives a call from Daniel’s father contracting him to kill his son. Liam does not want to pass up on the opportunity to kill the ex-lover who betrayed him so he said yes.

    The thing is, the blurb for the first book is spoiler-ish. I’m glad I went into this blind so the twists were quite effective. Obviously, had I known about the set-up beforehand I would have different expectations but I would still be curious how L.A. Witt would make it work since we all know Liam and Daniel would get back together again. It wouldn’t be MM if they didn’t.

    I loved how she did it!

    There was a standoff and words were exchanged.

    โ€œOh, fuck you Daniel. Why don’t you come down off your goddamned high horse for a minute. I mean, do you have any idea what it’s like to be in hell and hold that person who fucked you over might give enough of a shit to at least try to save you?โ€

    โ€œProbably feels a lot like finding out the man you still love is willing to fucking kill you.โ€

    Bam! Crackle and zing all over the place!

    And then Daniel shot Liam.

    Thankfully, it’s didn’t end there. More shots were fired, a heart pounding car chase and suddenly Daniel found himself somewhere he thought he would never be.

    This is a short book so things happened fast. The tension was tight from the get go and the suspense never let up. The world building flowed smoothly along with the action with just the right amount of details to feel complete and build the foundations for the next book. I was completely hooked on the story. Daniel and Liam’s second chance romance was a beautiful thing to witness and they’re now up there on my fave couples list.

    Rating:
    4.5 Stars โ€“ perfection is only half a step away

    Soundtrack: Falling Sky
    Artist: Red
    Album: Of Beauty And Rage

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    2. Something New Under The Sun – L.A. Witt

    Liam Lansing is heir to a prominent family of bio-modified vampires. That is, until he chooses the wrong lover and is cast down to the Gutter to scrape for his life. 

    Daniel Harding is heir to Cybernetix and a prince of the corporate Sky. That is, until his ideology drives his father to put a price on his head, forcing him into the Gutter. 

    But Daniel and Liam wonโ€™t vanish meekly into the smog. Together, they plan to rip open the hidden corruption that runs the Skyโ€”for vengeance, for justice, and for hope. They strike against the corporations in a daring raid. When everything goes wrong, Daniel must betray his core beliefs to save the man he loves and protect his dangerous secret. Only through courage in the face of deathโ€”or worseโ€”might he and Liam change the world they live in and create something new under the sun.

    Something New Under The Sun continues Liam and Daniel’s struggle to take down Daniel’s evil father. It picks up 24 hours after the events of the first book. Liam takes Daniel to meet his friend, Gizmo, the tech genius who gives him his mods and Daniel takes Liam to meet other members of his anti-mod movement, Venus and Felix. With their help they plan a strategy to obtain the UV mod and other evidence of Cybernetix’s corrupt practices.

    The UV mod is something that can give vampires immunity to sunlight. The company is withholding its release in order to get more research funding from the vampires. They are also creating a virus that is harmful to vampires and then plan to create a solution to a problem they invented. All of these to bleed vampire wallets dry.

    There is also the problem of unethical working conditions of workers from the Gutter who work in mod factories that the anti-mod movement wanted to stop. Since Cybernetix is one of the biggest tech factories, taking them down is the way to go.

    This was as thrilling as the first book, perhaps even more so. The stakes are higher, the couple will need to infiltrate the company headquarters. They needed to sneak into Cybernetix not just once but a couple more times. First to steal the UV mod, second to get a passcode and third to rescue a hostage close to Daniel’s heart. It was one heart pounding moment after another and the close calls were too damn close.

    I loved that this is written in Daniel’s POV because we can see how badass and cocky Liam really is. Daniel, who has fear of heights, struggled to keep up, but he came through 101% when Liam needed his help.

    This was almost non-stop action from start to finish so their downtime was even more precious. I usually skip sex scenes but Liam and Daniel’s moments were short but beautifully written and you can really see their love for each other shining though. I like that their romance was compelling but didn’t take over the story.

    Like most LAW stories, it felt like our MCs would never get peace, much less an HEA with all the explosions and mayhem she threw their way. But Liam and Daniel were nothing if not resilient and they manage to claw their way into a position that can bring Cybernetix down. It was one hell of a fight and the peace that followed made it all worth it.

    Rating:
    4.5 Stars โ€“ perfection is only half a step away

    Soundtrack: Begin The Begin
    Artist: R.E.M.
    Album: Life’s Rich Pageant

  • song,  Uncategorized

    SOUNDTRACK: Falling Sky by Red & Begin The Begin by R.E.M.

    Soundtrack to Falling Sky: Chip In His Shoulder by L.A. Witt

    Soundtrack to Falling Sky: Something New Under The Sun by L.A. Witt

  • Uncategorized

    Now it falls all around me
    Did I think I could run away?
    Now it’s coming to find me
    This world that I deserve
    Now it burns across this shadow
    I lift my eyes to fire

    Under a falling sky
    Hopeless, there’s nowhere to hide
    The terror is real this time
    Under a falling sky
    I’m under, I’m under
    A falling sky

    There you are, so far away
    Did you think I was fighting you?
    I only wanted to carry you
    So far away from here
    The nightmare bleeds
    The poison seeps
    I hear you call
    You’re screaming, screaming

    Under a falling sky
    Hopeless, there’s nowhere to hide
    The terror is real this time
    Under a falling sky
    I’m under, I’m under
    A falling sky
    My fate it rains, it rains like cinders
    The cadent drums, the war it comes
    Growing thunder, terror, wonder
    Falling, falling
    It’s falling, falling

    Under a falling sky
    The terror is real this time
    It’s over now, it’s over
    NOW!
    The terror is real!I’m under, I’m under
    A falling sky

    Under a falling sky
    I’m falling, I’m falling
    The terror is real this time
    I’m falling, I’m falling
    Under a falling sky
    I’m falling, I’m falling
    I’m under.

  • book,  Uncategorized

    REVIEW: Gotta Catch Her by Kelly Haworth

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    Gotta Catch Her – Kelly Haworth

    Who says phone games are only for kids? Sometimes they give just the respite you need from a hectic life. At least, thatโ€™s the way Ann feels about Ani-min Move, an AR mobile game full of cartoon animals caught with nets. Legendary raids have just launched, and Ann arrives at a nearby park to find it full of people of all ages playing the game, including Rachael, a kind, attractive single mom. And sweet! Rachael is more than willing to teach Ann the proper way to spin her nets to snag the raid boss.

    Back in reality, Ann has a lot on her plate: a full workload as a project manager, finding the energy to walk her dog, Franny, and now trying to figure out if Rachael is queer. And how does Ann converse with Rachael about her six-year-old son when she doesnโ€™t know a thing about parenting?

    Ann is lost as to how to proceed until Rachael takes the guesswork out of the equation by proclaiming sheโ€™s biโ€”right when Ann gets a massive work assignment that consumes way too much of her time. Life/work balance was never Annโ€™s forte, but between caring for her sweetheart dog and figuring out how to navigate a relationship with a single parent, Annโ€™s determined to make it work, especially before Rachael gets cold feet and leaves Ann playing by herself.

    So, collect those ultra-nets, Ann. Can you catch her?

    Remember Pokemon Go? Fun times!

    I loved the anime but my ultra paranoid ass don’t want no GPS tracking my locations so I didn’t jump on the bandwagon. I settled for riding the secondhand high from people who lived for the game. Pathetic, I know.

    Gotta Catch Her is a meet cute novella centered around Ani-min, a PokeGo-like game. The set-up is a dream! Two avid female gamers bonding over said game, one, an introverted accountant with an adorable dog and the other, a sweet, beautiful single mom. This would have been all quirky and fluffy and funny except that it felt flat.

    I echo other reviewers who mentioned the lack of personality between the MCs. I couldn’t connect with either Ann or Rachel. The conversations lacked spark. Add to this Ann’s office woes which were dull and I ended up skimming.

    However, I liked the way the game was incorporated in the story and how it shows you can be a responsible functioning adult while still indulging in hobbies other people consider immature. I also liked how dedicated Ann and Rachel were to the game. Who else but a fellow gamer can understand the itch to catch a few Ani-minis while on a date? Relationship goals right there!

    All in All, I wanted to like this more so I’m kinda bummed Gotta Catch Her’s awesome premise didn’t quite live up to my expectations.

    P.S.

    Thank you to IndiGo for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

    Rating:
    2.5 Stars โ€“ far from hate but not quite a like

    Soundtrack: Closer
    Artist: Tegan and Sara
    Album: Heartthrob

  • Uncategorized

    All I want to get is a little bit closer
    All I want to know is, can you come a little closer?

    Here comes the breath before we get a little bit closer
    Here comes the rush before we touch, come a little closer

    The doors are open, the wind is really blowing
    The night sky is changing overhead

    It’s not just all physical
    I’m the type who won’t get oh so critical
    So let’s make things physical
    I won’t treat you like you’re oh so typical
    I won’t treat you like you’re oh so typical

    All you think of lately is getting underneath me
    All I dream of lately is how to get you underneath me

    Here comes the heat before we meet a little bit closer
    Here comes the spark before the dark, come a little closer

    The lights are off and the sun is finally setting
    The night sky is changing overhead

    It’s not just all physical
    I’m the type who won’t get oh so critical
    So let’s make things physical
    I won’t treat you like you’re oh so typical

    I want you close, I want you
    I won’t treat you like you’re typical
    I want you close, I want you
    I won’t treat you like you’re typical

    Huh, huh
    Huh, huh
    Huh, huh, oohoo
    Huh huh

    Here come the dreams of you and me
    Here come the dreams
    Here come the dreams of you and me
    Here come the dreams

    It’s not just all physical
    I’m the type who won’t get oh so critical
    So let’s make things physical
    I won’t treat you like you’re oh so typical

    I want you close, I want you
    I won’t treat you like you’re typical
    I want you close, I want you
    I won’t treat you like you’re typical

    I won’t treat you like you’re typical
    I won’t treat you like you’re typical

    All I want to get is a little bit closer
    All I want to know is, can you come a little closer?