Books, books, books: Josh Lanyon Part I

Love is a Many-Colored Thing by Josh Lanyon (Author) and Johanna Ollila (Illustrator)

Oh.my.gosh! ❤ My book Love is a Many-Colored Thing by Johanna Ollila and Josh Lanyon arrived! ❤ It’s a coloring book for adult that I won over at Q&A with Josh Lanyon at Goodreads  during the Love Is a Many-Colored Thing – A Colorful Launch Party. It’s also a sort of Christmas present from Josh and Johanna (yeah, it takes that long for a package or letter from overseas to arrive here in our country).

The book I won comes with a set of colored pencils, btw.

A coloring book for readers of Male/Male and LGBTQ romance. Art inspired by the works of Josh Lanyon and brought to life by you!

 

Paperback, 56 pages

Published November 24th 2015 by JustJoshin

ISBN

1937909840 (ISBN13: 9781937909840)

Edition Language: English

             

 

Purchase Link:

 

And here is the colored pencils:

I took a snapshot of some of my favorites (only some of it because really, I can’t post everything, not sure that is allowed.)

This particular art was inspired by Stranger on the Shore. I’ve read and reviewed this one, having received an ARC from Carina Press, and it turned out as one of my favorite books of all time.

Stranger on the Shore

 (May 2014 release) [Goodreads]

Twenty years ago young Brian Arlington, heir to Arlington fortune, was kidnapped. Though the ransom was paid, the boy was never seen again and is presumed dead. Pierce Mather, the family lawyer, now administers and controls the Arlington billions. He’s none too happy, and more than a little suspicious, when investigative journalist Griffin Hadley shows up to write about the decades-old mystery. Griff shrugs off the coldly handsome Pierce’s objections, but it might not be so easy to shrug off the objections of someone willing to do anything to keep the past buried.

Purchase links:

B&N

Click this link to read my review.

Another favorite is the one from Blood Red Butterfly. Because. I love butterflies! Come to that, who doesn’t? And the center of the artwork was butterfly shaped, I thought it was clever of Johanna. ❤

I bought a copy of this book from Amazon way back and finished it in one sitting! Admittedly I have yet to write a review (hangs head in shame). I will soon, but will have to reread it first.

Blood Red Butterfly

Published February 17, 2013

Despite falling in love with aloof manga artist Kai Tashiro, Homicide Detective Ryo Miller is determined to break the alibi Kai is supplying his murderous boyfriend–even if it means breaking Kai with it.

Words: 28,834 (approximate)

Purchase links:

My next favorite is from Winter Kill. I’ve read this book as well, having won a copy from the group although I have yet to write a proper review. Argh. This book also went straight to my all-time favorite list and its spin-off, The Mermaid Murders, is kind of on top of that list.

Winter Kill

Published May 31, 2015

Clever and ambitious, Special Agent Adam Darling (yeah, he’s heard all the jokes before) was on the fast track to promotion and success until his mishandling of a high profile operation left one person dead and Adam “On the Beach.” Now he’s got a new partner, a new case, and a new chance to resurrect his career, hunting a legendary serial killer known as The Crow in a remote mountain resort in Oregon.

Deputy Sheriff Robert Haskell may seem laid-back, but he’s a tough and efficient cop — and he’s none too thrilled to see feebs on his turf — even when one of the agents is smart, handsome, and probably gay. But a butchered body in a Native American museum is out of his small town department’s league. For that matter, icy, uptight Adam Darling is out of Rob’s league, but that doesn’t mean Rob won’t take his best shot.

Purchase links:

Okay, I’ll stop here. Will probably post at least three more of my favorite art from the book tomorrow. Meantime… the story of how I won the book and the colored pencil.

To celebrate the release of Love is a Many-Colored Thing, the moderators had thrown a launch party. Calathea, one of the moderators of the group, asked us to color a mandala. Now, I disliked coloring when I was a kid. I did it once, saw my horrible, horrible work, and sworn off drawing and coloring for life. Lol. But because there was a color picker and I wasn’t going to do any drawing, I tried it, because, why not. Surprise, surprise, I had fun doing it.

Here are a few of my favorite outputs:

I roped my SO to color one, btw, and the fourth mandala (the blue one) is his.

Naturally, the other members produced much better output than me but it didn’t matter, for the first time I had fun coloring. I even made one patterned from  our “parols” or the Christmas lanterns here in the Philippines (the fifth one in yellow, red, and greens). The image below shows the collective result of our efforts [courtesy of Calathea who painstakingly made the patchwork tile :)].

It’s awesome, don’t you think? ❤ ❤ ❤

I sincerely enjoyed this activity all thanks to the moderators Calathea, Johanna, Nicole, Josh and all the members who participated the party. ❤

Since then I bought a lot of coloring books (as gifts to my godchildren, nephews, nieces, friends last Christmas and for their birthdays). And since then, I’d been coloring in my free time.

Still not that confident in showing my works though. Lol. 😀 And I’m not sure I already have the courage to color this book but yeah, maybe someday when I’d had enough practice.

And that’s it! Thanks for reading this entry. Lastly, thank you Josh for the generosity and your talent and thank you Johanna, for your wonderful art! ❤

Books, books, books! <3 Part One

Here is the list of books I’m currently reading, about to read, have just finished reading:

Ilustrado by Miguel Syjuco

It begins with a body. On a clear day in winter, the battered corpse of Crispin Salvador is pulled from the Hudson River—taken from the world is the controversial lion of Philippine literature. Gone, too, is the only manuscript of his final book, a work meant to rescue him from obscurity by exposing the crimes of the Filipino ruling families. Miguel, his student and only remaining friend, sets out for Manila to investigate.

To understand the death, Miguel scours the life, piecing together Salvador’s story through his poetry, interviews, novels, polemics, and memoirs. The result is a rich and dramatic family saga of four generations, tracing 150 years of Philippine history forged under the Spanish, the Americans, and the Filipinos themselves. Finally, we are surprised to learn that this story belongs to young Miguel as much as to his lost mentor, and we are treated to an unhindered view of a society caught between reckless decay and hopeful progress.

Exuberant and wise, wildly funny and deeply moving, Ilustrado explores the hidden truths that haunt every family. It is a daring and inventive debut by a new writer of astonishing talent.

My copy: Paperback, Philippine Edition, 306 pages

Published 2010 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Notes: Hubby bought this book for me over two years ago but I can’t seem to get past the Prologue. Reading this with PRPB and I’m hoping I’ll get to finish it this time.

 

Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

Maybe it was a grandparent, or a teacher or a colleague. Someone older, patient and wise, who understood you when you were young and searching, and gave you sound advice to help you make your way through it. For Mitch Albom, that person was Morrie Schwartz, his college professor from nearly twenty years ago.

Maybe, like Mitch, you lost track of this mentor as you made your way, and the insights faded. Wouldn’t you like to see that person again, ask the bigger questions that still haunt you?

Mitch Albom had that second chance. He rediscovered Morrie in the last months of the older man’s life. Knowing he was dying of ALS – or motor neurone disease – Mitch visited Morrie in his study every Tuesday, just as they used to back in college. Their rekindled relationship turned into one final ‘class’: lessons in how to live.

My copy: Paperback, 224 pages

Published 2000 by Warner (first published 1997)

Notes: A reread. Bought two of this in December 2002; one for myself, one for my friend CJ as a Christmas present to her.

A Case of Christmas by Josh Lanyon

Christmas on Catalina Island–it’s just what the doctor ordered.

Injured in the line of duty, FBI Special Agent Shane Donovan is longing for a few days of peace and quiet. Some nice meals, a couple of good books, and maybe a bottle of the best. No family, no friends, no Fa la la la la…just a little time on his own to think things through.

But an offshore storm, a geriatric treasure hunter, and the guy who dumped him without a word two years earlier are about to unwrap all Shane’s carefully laid holiday plans.

My copy: ebook, 73 pages bought on Dec. 8, 2015

Published December 13th 2015 by Just Joshin

Notes: Currently rereading.

The Mermaid Murders (The Art of Murder #1) by Josh Lanyon

Special Agent Jason West is seconded from the FBI Art Crime Team to temporarily partner with disgraced, legendary “manhunter” Sam Kennedy when it appears that Kennedy’s most famous case, the capture and conviction of a serial killer known as The Huntsman, may actually have been a disastrous failure.

For The Huntsman is still out there…and the killing has begun again.

Published By: JustJoshin Publishing, Inc.
Published: Feb 29, 2016
ISBN # 9781937909826
Word Count: 68,441

Note: I pre-ordered this at Amazon:

Love is a Many-Colored Thing by Josh Lanyon (Author) and Johanna Ollila (Illustrator)

A coloring book for readers of Male/Male and LGBTQ romance. Art inspired by the works of Josh Lanyon and brought to life by you!

Paperback, 56 pages

Published November 24th 2015 by JustJoshin

ISBN

1937909840 (ISBN13: 9781937909840)

Edition Language: English

Notes: Won this over at Q&A with Josh Lanyon over at Goodreads along with a 24 piece Faber-Castell colored pencils.

I already received the colored pencils. Can’t wait for the coloring book to arrive! ❤

Purchase Link:

Perfectly Reasonable (Perfectly, #2) by Linda O’Connor

Margo MacMillan finished medical school, but in the process, her self-confidence and self-esteem took a beating. So for the sake of self-preservation, she’s stepped away from medicine to re-group. In the meantime, painting soothes her soul and pays the bills.

Trace Bennett set his sights on a medical degree and has to prepare the perfect medical school application. His big plan is to paint his condo for a little feng shui divine luck. When Margo shows up to paint, he realizes he’s found exactly what he’s looking for. He just has to convince Margo to share more than the art of medicine.

She’s got it. He wants it. It’s Perfectly Reasonable.

Purchase Link

Notes: ARC, done reading. Review to follow!

Perfectly Honest by Linda O’Connor

When Mikaela Finn agreed to be Sam’s ‘fiancée’ for a weekend, she probably should have told him that she’s a doctor.

Sam O’Brien, a.k.a. ‘Dr. Eye Candy’, is trying to shed his playboy reputation and convince a small town hospital that he’s ready to settle down. But when his ‘fiancée’ helps deliver a baby in the middle of the meet and greet, it’s a bit of a shock. If he’d known the whole truth, Sam might have done things a little differently because somehow his ‘fiancée’ ends up stealing his job and his heart. Not exactly the change he wanted.

Lies and deceit— it’s a match made in heaven!

Notes: ARC, done reading. Review to follow!

Purchase Link:

 

Books, books, books! <3

My copy of The Year We Became Invincible by Mae Coyiuto which I won from Mina V. Esguerra (thank you, Mina! Yay! :D) arrived yesterday in spite of the raging storm. My husband (who received the package on my behalf) and I were amazed by the man who delivered it. Talk about dedication. I mean I would not have minded if LBC waited for a day or two. Book lover or not, the thought that someone was out there delivering my stuff in that wind and rain made me feel guilty but I guess that’s life for you. I wish I were able to talk to him and thank him in person though. So, to you Kuya, who delivered my book, thank you so much! ❤

With that out of the way, I wanted to talk about the books I won these past months.

Mae Coyiuto’s The Year We Became Invincible was released this month. You can check it out here:

About the book:

Dear Future Reader,

If you’re reading this book, it’s either:

1. You’re my future partner

2. I’m famous and my writings have been immortalized

3. You’ve violated my privacy and these are not meant for you

Let’s hope it’s not the last one. Before this year, I had my life all planned out. This book contains the story of the year that changed my life (well, my life so far). It’s the year I learned how to be invincible. That wasn’t really specific, but I guess you have to read on to see what I’m talking about.

Love,

Camille

My package from Mina included a signed copy of Mae’s book, as well as  note that said:

Dear Jho,

Enjoy the book! Yay fast fingers.

Mina

Well, over a week ago I opened my email and saw one from her. I merely opened it, read it, and replied. Lol. The first one who replies gets the book, you see. Apparently I did it in three minutes. I wasn’t really expecting to win but there you go, I got the book! ❤ ❤

The package also has a synopsis from Mina’s book Playing Autumn and two stickers: the other merely enumerating the male characters in Mina’s books while the other said “Team Robbie” which made me happy because Mina remembered I was rooting for Robbie in her Interim Goddess of Love series.

Check out Playing Autumn here:

And the Interim Goddess of Love series here:

On the other hand, the left book seen on the picture above titled The Death of Summer by Rosario de Guzman Lingat, translated by Soledad S. Reyes is the book I won from Rise last June.

Check out this title here:

About the book:

The Death of Summer was an award-winning novel that powerfully dissects the anatomy of romantic, delusional love. Its protagonist, Victor, a firm believer in carpe diem, discovers that once the heat of passion has waned, the only thing that matters is family. The novel spans several decades—from the heyday of the carnival in the 1920s, to the horror of the Pacific War, until the great unrest of the postwar years.

Last June I also won an ebook copy of Josh Lanyon’s Winter Kill.

About the book:

Clever and ambitious, Special Agent Adam Darling (yeah, he’s heard all the jokes before) was on the fast track to promotion and success until his mishandling of a high profile operation left one person dead and Adam “On the Beach.” Now he’s got a new partner, a new case, and a new chance to resurrect his career, hunting a legendary serial killer known as The Crow in a remote mountain resort in Oregon.

Deputy Sheriff Robert Haskell may seem laid-back, but he’s a tough and efficient cop — and he’s none too thrilled to see feebs on his turf — even when one of the agents is smart, handsome, and probably gay. But a butchered body in a Native American museum is out of his small town department’s league. For that matter, icy, uptight Adam Darling is out of Rob’s league, but that doesn’t mean Rob won’t take his best shot.

When I held The Year We Became Invincible in my hands yesterday, it made me want to finish my own book—the memoir I’ve been talking about in my previous posts. I mean, I’m only five-six chapters away, how hard can that be? After all I did manage to write fifteen others before that. But I’ve been staring in my screen for these past few days to no avail and I try not to stress about it because it gives me fever and / or headache whenever I do.

I really hope I finish it by the end of this month so I can catch up on my reading. It’s really piling up. And I really, really want to reread Winter Kill. ❤

Thank you again, to everyone who gifted me with these books.

Here’s to reading, and writing! Cheers! ❤

 

Throwback Thursday: Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything

About nine, ten years ago, my friend Claude went home and gifted me with this book. It turned out to be a great read. Thank you, Claude! I should reread this one of these days.

Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything (Freakonomics #1) by Steven D. Levitt, Stephen J. Dubner

Which is more dangerous, a gun or a swimming pool? What do schoolteachers and sumo wrestlers have in common? Why do drug dealers still live with their moms? How much do parents really matter? How did the legalization of abortion affect the rate of violent crime?

These may not sound like typical questions for an economist to ask. But Steven D. Levitt is not a typical economist. He is a much-heralded scholar who studies the riddles of everyday life—from cheating and crime to sports and child-rearing—and whose conclusions turn conventional wisdom on its head.

Freakonomics is a groundbreaking collaboration between Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, an award-winning author and journalist. They usually begin with a mountain of data and a simple question. Some of these questions concern life-and-death issues; others have an admittedly freakish quality. Thus the new field of study contained in this book: freakonomics.

Through forceful storytelling and wry insight, Levitt and Dubner show that economics is, at root, the study of incentives—how people get what they want, or need, especially when other people want or need the same thing. In Freakonomics, they explore the hidden side of . . . well, everything. The inner workings of a crack gang. The truth about real-estate agents. The myths of campaign finance. The telltale marks of a cheating schoolteacher. The secrets of the Klu Klux Klan.

What unites all these stories is a belief that the modern world, despite a great deal of complexity and downright deceit, is not impenetrable, is not unknowable, and—if the right questions are asked—is even more intriguing than we think. All it takes is a new way of looking.

Freakonomics establishes this unconventional premise: If morality represents how we would like the world to work, then economics represents how it actually does work. It is true that readers of this book will be armed with enough riddles and stories to last a thousand cocktail parties. But Freakonomics can provide more than that. It will literally redefine the way we view the modern world.

Source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1202.Freakonomics?from_search=true

Throwback Thursday: The Story of Saiunkoku, Vol. 1 by Kairi Yura and Sai Yukino

Saiunkoku Monogatari

The Story of Saiunkoku, Vol. 1 by Kairi Yura and Sai Yukino

Shurei Hong, destitute but of noble birth, has always dreamed of working as a civil servant in the imperial court of Saiunkoku, but women are barred from holding office. The emperor Ryuki, however, refuses to take command, leaving everything to his advisors. Shurei is asked to become a consort to the emperor to persuade the ne’er-do-well ruler to govern.

Shurei enters the palace as Ryuki’s consort, but he has yet to seek her out. It is rumored that men, not women, share the emperor’s bedchamber. Shurei must think of a way to stop the emperor from shirking his responsibilities, but she has to find him first!

My Review

My Rating: ★★★★★

Saiunkoku Monogatari

Some three years ago, my friend Adrian gave me Saiunkoku Monogatari books as pasalubong. He knew how much I loved the anime so he gave me copies of the manga when he went home for vacation from his doctoral studies in Japan.

So I still don’t know how to read the manga (it’s in Nihongo). But I love it so much! The story is so complicated and beautiful and funny and amusing and at the same time, heartbreaking. I love Shurei Hong – the protagonist – she’s so strong and wise for her age. I love her love interests too – Ryuki and Seiran.

It’s not the usual shoujo story. The story is so beautifully-written and the characters are really lovable and fun. I can say the same for the  setting as well. Most of all, who would not love the art? It’s gorgeous! 😀

I don’t want to spoil the story for you so that’s all I’m going to say.

I recommend this series to everyone. You won’t regret it if you read it. 🙂

Happy reading! 🙂

Book Review: Embrace by Megan Derr

Embrace by Megan Derr

Embrace by Megan Derr
My Rating: ★★★★★

This is why I love Megan Derr. She can make a brilliant story out of a very simple plot/idea – and turn them into something complicated and different. That’s what sets her books apart from the others of the same theme.

Embrace is like that. At a glance, you may think that this is just another vampire story. But it isn’t. I really don’t know how she does it. But just like her other works that I’ve managed to read so far, reading a page meant wanting to turn it to the next page and not putting it down until I’m done.

And, just like her previous works, I also love the characters in this one. They made me laugh, giggle, smile, feel ‘kilig.’ The ending of this book is simple but fitting after all the issues and mystery and whatever they are called. I know it’s already the ending, and it was satisfactory; still, a part of me wanted to read more.

While I acknowledge that the book could use further editing, I don’t see why it was pulled out of the market for good. I guess I just have to be glad that I have a copy of it.

I really hope to meet her in person someday. I’m a huge Megan Derr fan. I’ll never get tired of saying how awesome she is!

Now, I’ll be off to read another book of hers. Or maybe review another.

Cheers! ^__^

View all my reviews

My copy of “Ngumiti si Andoy by Xi Zuq and Dominic Agsaway

My copy of  Ngumiti si Andoy arrived today! Yay!

Ngumiti si Andoy by Xi Zuq and Dominic Agsaway

I would like to thank the bookmakers Xi Zuq and Dominic Agsaway for my complimentary copy! Thank you so much! So happy! ^__^

Ngumiti si Andoy by Xi Zuq and Dominic Agsaway

Thank you also guys, for supporting Pinoy Reads Pinoy Books’ (PRPB) Christmas book drive for the Yolanda victims. The books you donated for the cause will go a long way!

Ngumiti si Andoy is now available in bookstores near you! 🙂 Read the book details below to learn more about the book or check out my review here:

Book Review and Giveaway: Ngumiti si Andoy

Ngumiti si Andoy ni Xi Zuq at Dominic Agsaway

Pangunahing Detalye

Kuwento ni Xi Zuq
Guhit ni Dominic Agsaway
Inilimbag ng Adarna House (2013)

Tungkol sa Aklat

Ngumiti si Andoy. Ito ang simula ng kuwento ni Andrew na nagsimula sa kanilang Heroes Park. Gusto lamang niya na iguhit ang estatwa ni Andres Bonifacio nang matuklasan niya ang ilang lihim sa buhay ng bayani.

Sa pagdiriwang ng ika-150 kaarawan ni Andres Bonifacio, inihahandog ng Adarna House ang Ngumiti si Andoy, isang aklat tungkol sa buhay ng bayani. Batay ang kuwento at guhit ng aklat sa mga nagwagi sa 2013 Philippine Board on Books for Young People-Salanga at Alcala Prize [pbby.org.ph]. Hanapin ang Ngumiti si Andoy sa Adarna House showroom at sa pinakamalapit ng book store sa inyo.

Tungkol sa Manunulat

Xi Zuq

Si Xi Zuq ay isang guro, manunulat at mambabasa mula sa Lungsod ng Heneral Santos. Kasapi siya ng Kuwentista ng mga Tsikiting (KUTING) at Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika, at Anyo (LIRA). Bisitahin siya sa www.xizuqsnook.com.

Tungkol sa Dibuhista

Dominic Agsaway

Si Dominic Agsaway ay isang ilustrador ng komiks at librong pambata. Siya ay miyembro ng Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan. Nagtapos siya sa Unibersidad de Santo Tomas (UST) at madalas rin tumambay sa parke habang naghihintay ng sundo. Maaari ninyo siyang ma-email sa agsaway@gmail.com.

Currently Reading: Embrace by Megan Derr

Embrace by Megan Derr

I never could resist a Megan Derr book. I’m glad it’s a weekend, I can read without having to feel guilty for ignoring my work. Lol.

About the book:

When Aubrey returns home after many years away, he is welcomed back with the extravagant gift of a Pet he never wanted and secrets he never dreamed existed…

Many years ago, the race of creatures once known as ‘vampires’ agreed to surrender their freedom, rather than face eventual annihilation. They exist now as Pets to the lords and ladies of high society, forced to serve forever the human whose blood they first drink.

Detesting the practice, Aubrey has always avoided taking a Pet for himself. But upon his return home from school, he is gifted with a Pet by his father. His Pet, however, is like none he’s ever known, and only the start of an old and complicated tangle of secrets.

About Megan Derr:

Megan is a long time resident of m/m fiction, and keeps herself busy reading, writing, and publishing it. She is often accused of fluff and nonsense. When she’s not involved in writing, she likes to cook, harass her cats, or watch movies (especially all things James Bond). She loves to hear from readers, and can be found all around the internet.

maderr.com
maderr.tumblr.com
maderr.livejournal.com
lessthanthreepress.com
@amasour

Elated

About 17 days ago, I received an email from Sasha Miller congratulating me for winning a paperback copy of Megan Derr‘s Embrace! ^__^ *Squeals* Lol.  I was so happy I was shouting in my head. 🙂 It was 4AM so I couldn’t really scream out loud. Haha!

Yesterday, I received a notice from the post office asking me to retrieve a package. I would’ve gone to get it except that I had no idea where the post office is. ^__^ Today, my mother-in-law went to get it for me.

I opened it and it contained, TADA:

Embrace by Megan Derr

So happy! I didn’t really know which book to expect because I was waiting for three titles from three different authors: Megan’s Embrace, Dormaine G.’s Connor, and Xi Zuq’s Ngumiti si Andoy.

Anyway, I asked Sasha if Megan could sign my book. So happy that Megan indulged me.

I’m a huge Megan Derr fan. She’s my most favorite writer. I love her works so please forgive me if I’m currently beside myself with joy. LOL! I think I have at least 135 favorite writers in my Goodreads. No, it isn’t a complete list. Apart from the published authors, I also around 100 favorite fanfiction writers. Again, that list is incomplete. When I started reading in the fandom, I didn’t have an account. I only made one so I could keep track of the works of the writers I love. There were so many I couldn’t remember them and in the end, I wasn’t able to add the others.

I couldn’t really say that I’m easy to please (though some of my friends say that I am, heh!). But as long as the book/story moved me, it will become a favorite. I also have a habit of trying to read every work that writer has ever written.

I’ve read and loved thousands and thousands of books and stories in various forms and genres since I was four. I’ve read works by authors of various nationalities it’s so hard to keep track of all of them: Filipino, Japanese, Australian, Canadian, French, Mexican, American, British, Spanish, Korean to name a few, but for me, there’s no one else like Megan. 🙂

I say this with conviction. But I’ll leave it to you to find out why. 🙂

Now, to find the time to read Embrace in peace… haha! (It meant I’ll have to finish a mountain of work first, lol. I’d hate to read this book with so many other things in my mind. I want to enjoy it thoroughly!)

Thank you, Megan! Thank you as well Sasha and Less than Three Press! ❤