Dreamland Book Blog

I have been book tagged!

Rules:

1. You must post the rules.

2. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post and then create ten new questions to ask the people that you have tagged.

3. Tag eleven people and link to them on your post.

4. Let them know you’ve tagged them!

My questions was given to me these amazing ladies : Karla, Martina and Cambria!

Juicy questions from Karla

1.- What is your Favorite book ever?
I can never pick favorites but if someone asks me that, the first series that came into my mind is the Morganville Vampires series by Rachel Caine. It was one of the series which I wouldn't get bored of.

2.- if you had to choose a character of one book to meet in real life, who would it be?
I'm torn between Claire and Shane (the main characters from the Morganville Vampires Series) but I think I'll meet Claire (because Shane intimidates me - in a good way). I adore Claire because she has the brains, she is one of the reason why I love Physics!

3.- If a thief entered your house to steal your library, what book would you try to save and why?
Obviously, The Morganville Vampire Series. All 10 of them.

4.- If you were a character on a book what type of character would you be?
I used to be the awkward one in real life so I definitely wanted to be a daredevil in the book! The kind of character who is witty, doesn't give a crap and kick ass!

5.- have you found a book that made you cheer for the bad guy to win? wich book was it and why?
Hmm...tough question, but one book certainly did came to mind. It was Water by Terra Harmony. I love the bad guy for some reason and though I love the good guys too, I was torn between them both.

6.- who is the worst character you´ve found while reading a book?
Zoey from the House of Night series. I don't hate her but I am annoyed by the fact that she changes boyfriend like she changes her clothes.

7.- Do you choose your books by the cover or the blurb?

It's a little bit of both. The cover attracts my attention and the blurb sealed the deal.

8.- Do you have any strange reading habits? if so what are they?
I don't know if this is considered as strange, but I could only read at night. That is the time where I am really reading what I am reading.

9.- Hardback, Paperback or ebook?
All 3! I wouldn't mind people giving me hardcovers, I would buy paperbacks, and I receive ARCs in form of ebooks. I'm flexible.

10.- Give a list of your top 5 book boyfriends....

Shane (MVV), Four (Divergent), Patch (Hush Hush), Travis (Beautiful Disaster), Evan (Hushed)

Question from Martina

1. Which is your favorite book/ book series?
The Morganville Vampire Series!

2. How often do you read?
Every night! Even if I am dead tired, I'll force myself to read a couple of pages.

3. Who’s your favorite characters and why?
Shane from MVV because he's the kind of guy who you would call idiot but fall in love with him at the same time.

4. What’s your favorite subjet you like to read about?
ROMANCE.

5. For how long do you have a blog and why did you started?
I think around July last year? It was not active until last November. At first I reactivated my blog for the sake of getting ARCs, but now I realized blogging is more than that. I love the blogging community!

6. Where do you live at the moment and where do you want to life in the future?
I am living in Malaysia and I want to go overseas in the future! I want to explore the world before I die.

7. Which book you like has in your opinion the best film adaption?
Without a doubt, Harry Potter. (And I'm having high hopes for Hunger Games)

8. What’s your favorite quote of a book?

“You can’t tell me what to do anymore, Travis! I don’t belong to you!” In the second it took him to turn and face me, his expression had contorted into anger. He stomped toward me, planting his hands on the bed and leaning into my face. “WELL I BELONG TO YOU!” The veins in his neck bulged as he shouted, and I met his glare, refusing to even flinch. He looked at my lips, panting. “I belong to you." --- Beautiful Disaster.

I felt the urge to cry whenever I read this part.

9. If you could life in the universe of a book, which would it be?
Definitely not Hunger Games, but I would love to live in the world of Vampire Academy. School for vampires, what else could be cooler?

10. What is your favorite TV series or favorite song at the moment?
Favorite TV series : The Vampire Diaries
Favorite Song : To Plant A Seed by We Came as Romans

Questions from Cambria

1. Name your top 5 heroines in a book or book series.
Katniss (Hunger Games), Claire (MVV series), Mac (Fever series), Rose (VA), Tris (Divergent)

2. The one thing that can ruin a book for you is___________________________.
Not a single dose of romance. I live for romance!

3. If you were going to be trapped on a deserted island what is the one thing you couldn’t live without?
Pizza!

4. Who are your favorite authors?
Rachel Caine, Veronica Roth, Suzanne Collins, J.K.Rowling, Kimberly Derting, Rachel Hawthorne and so many more!

5. What are your top 5 (or as many as you want to name) favorite book covers?
Masquerade by Cambria Hebert, Water and Air by Terra Harmony, Hushed by Kelley York, Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

6. Do you prefer Ebook, Print book or audio book?
I am flexible with all 3, but print books are definitely the right way to read a book.

7. If you could meet one author who would it be and why?
Suzanne Collins. I need to ask her where she bought her brain, I want to get one too.

8. A successful blog is a blog that __________________________.
Everybody loves to visit!

9. What is the best book to movie you have ever seen?
Harry Potter.

10. (Stealing from Maghon) Tell us something about yourself that we don’t know (not book related).
I'm a big eater and I'm hungry 24/7?

Shooting 10 questions to my book tagged victims :

1. What do you find in a book?
2. Name your top 5 favorite characters, and your favorite book couple.
3. Name a book that made you cry, or felt the urge to tear.
4. Name the worst book you have ever read.
5. Who is your favorite author? Why?
6. Where do you normally get your books?
7. Which book turn movie you love the most?
8. What is your reading genre?
9. Name a book with the best cliffhanger.
10. If you have the choice to choose which supernatural being you want to be, what would you be?

And now I'm sinking my teeth into :

1. Alexia @ Alexia's Chronicle
2. Ritesh @ Ritesh Kala's Book Reviews
3. Jennifer @ Can't Put It Down Reviews
4. Alexandra @ Words of the Worlds
5. Suzanne @ Paranormal Book Fan
6. Kristina @ Ladybug Storytime
7. Unabridged Bookshelf
8. Lacey @ The Page Turner
9. Liliana @ Lili Lost in a book
10. Claire @ Claire Reads

Thank you Karla, Martina and Cambria for the book tag!

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Friday, February 17, 2012 2 comments

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Cambria Hebert. Check out her blog and join in the fun!

Tell Me Something.......

In honor of Valentine's Day I want to know : Who are your favorite book couples?

#1 : Shane & Claire

Hail from : The Morganville Vampires series by Rachel Caine

One of the main reason why MVV is my favorite vampire series is because of Shane and Claire. Shane has this ignorant attitude and wittiest sense of humor, on the other hand, Claire is the polar opposite of Shane. She is smart and serious. However, they make a great team! My heart gets all fluttery whenever they are together because I get to see a side of Shane that he doesn't normally shows - tenderness. And Claire is a virgin when it comes to relationships, that is why it was so fascinating to read about them because they are real. Shane and Claire was so vulnerable when it comes to protecting each other. It was hard not to like them!

Best quote :

“Promise me you’ll marry me. Not now. Someday. Because I need to know.” Claire felt a flutter inside, like a bird trying to fly, and a rush of heat that made her dizzy. And something else, something fragile as a soap bubble, and just as beautiful. Joy, in the middle of all this horror and heartbreak. “Yes,” she whispered back. “I promise.” And she kissed him, and kissed him, and kissed him, while the sun came up and bathed Morganville in one last, shining day.” --- Shane (Last Breath)

#2 : Travis and Abby

Hail From : Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

Dream cast : Alex Pettyfer as Travis / Emily Browning as Abby (after watching this video : Travis & Abby (Fanmade trailer) )

The new Abby Abernathy is a good girl. She doesn’t drink or swear, and she has the appropriate percentage of cardigans in her wardrobe. Abby believes she has enough distance between her and the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college with her best friend America, her path to a new beginning is quickly challenged by Eastern University’s Walking One-Night Stand.

Travis Maddox, lean, cut, and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby needs—and wants—to avoid. He spends his nights winning money in a floating fight ring, and his days as the charming college co-ed. Intrigued by Abby’s resistance to his charms, Travis tricks her into his daily life with a simple bet. If he loses, he must remain abstinent for a month. If Abby loses, she must live in Travis’ apartment for the same amount of time. Either way, Travis has no idea that he has met his match.

That blurb covered the entire reason why I adore Pidge and Travis. Beautiful Disaster is one of my favorite love story ever told!

Best quote :

“I know we're fucked up, alright? I'm impulsive, and hot tempered, and you get under my skin like no one else. You act like you hate me one minute, and then need me the next. I never get anything right, and I don't deserve you...but I fucking love you, Abby. I love you more than I loved anyone or anything ever. When you're around, I don't need booze, or money, or the fighting, or the one-night stands...” ---Travis Maddox

“You can’t tell me what to do anymore, Travis! I don’t belong to you!” In the second it took him to turn and face me, his expression had contorted into anger. He stomped toward me, planting his hands on the bed and leaning into my face. “WELL I BELONG TO YOU!” The veins in his neck bulged as he shouted, and I met his glare, refusing to even flinch. He looked at my lips, panting. “I belong to you.” ---Travis and Abby

# 3 : Jay and Violet

Hail From : The Body Finder series by Kimberly Derting

Jay and Violet were best friends turn lovers, that is why I adore their relationship. After reading too many romance novels, a girl dumping her best friend for a new guy tends to get old. In most of the teen romance novels I read, the girl protagonists don't usually fall for their guy friend but instead for the mysteriously hot newcomer. Don't get me wrong, I love those stories too, but I value friendship and I would always be left wondering why can't they fall for their best friend instead? Jay and Violet was a very sweet couple, and I like how Jay was continually supportive and protective over Violet

Best quotes :

“I was just waiting for you to want me as much as I wanted you.” His words were quiet but carried one hell of an impact. “I knew we were going to be together; it was just a matter of time. I kept hoping that you would figure it out. But for a smart girl, you’re a little dense, Vi. I kept bringing up Lissie Adams, and showing you the notes she was leaving me, hoping that you’d get pissed enough to finally admit how you felt about me.” ---Jay

Wow, what a massive post. I'll stop with three! But before that, here are a few more that I love (and if I would elaborate on that, it will take a full page long)

#4 Tris and Four : Divergent by Veronica Roth
#5 Sam and Heven : Masquerade by Cambria Hebert
#6 Patch and Nora : Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
#7 Chris and Evan : Hushed by Kelley York
#8 Lissa and Christian : Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
#9 MacKayla and Barrons : Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning
#10 Peeta and Katniss : Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

10 will never be enough, but I'll forced myself to stop with ten.

I am wishing all the singles, coupled and married a Happy Valentine's Day! What is your plan for today?

Me : Curl up with a good book (preferably with a cute romance) while listening to some screamo or sentimental song with a cup of ice latte.

Here's a couple a pictures just for laughs!

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Tuesday, February 14, 2012 5 comments

Friday, February 10, 2012 13 comments

Hello everyone,

Thank you for stopping by my blog! On the agenda today, I have Judy Serrano, the author of Easter's Lilly doing an author appearance as part of her blog tour.

Before we proceed to the interview, here's the blurb for Easter's Lilly:

Published December 16th 2010

It was Easter Sunday; the day Lilly's life went from safe and comfortable to dangerously unfamiliar. Her transformation takes her from a small town girl having an affair with a low ranked gangster in the Montiago crime syndicate, to a woman of grace and fortitude married to the head of the organization.Easter's Lilly is an inspired journey from the idyllic to the darker side of self-discovery. Read as the over-privileged brothers embark on their journey that twists and turns down the road of unbridled passion in this first book of the series. ---From Goodreads

Hello Judy, thank you for organizing this amazing blog tour! Before we start, can you tell us a bit of your writer's background?

Hi Natasha. Thank you so much for having me as a guest on your blog. I have always loved to write. My mother found a book I wrote when I was 10 years old that was titled, “I am an author.” We all got a kick out of that. I also write songs and have written lots of poetry.

What inspired you to write Easter's Lilly?

I started out with the intentions of writing a novel about my marriage. We’ve been married for quite a while and have certainly had our share of struggles. I was hoping to share some of the tricks to simply staying married. Somewhere along the way, Lilly was born and her series grew rapidly right before my eyes.

Which character do you like to write best in the story and why?

I must admit that I am very fond of Hector. He’s quirky, silly, handsome and dangerous all at the same time. His character twists and turns on so many levels that he is consistently leaving the reader (and me) waiting with bated breath for his next move. My husband, on the other hand… not so fond of Hector. (Smile)

Do you have a favorite scene from the book?

I think this follows suite with who my favorite character is. I really enjoyed the scene where Hector comforts Lilly after Max has been taken away from her. Smolderingly steamy, yet innocent and soothing. Only Hector could pull that off and still come out looking like the good guy.

What was the most extreme thing you have done when writing this book?

Lilly is not your typical heroine. She isn’t Wonder Woman, by any means. She is very real and identifiably vulnerable. Most books have very strong and fearless female leads. Personally, I do not love books where the woman is unnaturally courageous. I just wanted Lilly to be a normal young woman.

Did you do a research on mobsters and drug dealings?

I did a small amount of research on the book. Just enough to make it believable but not so much that it lost its fantasy appeal.

If you have a choice, which character would you want to be?

Lilly, most certainly, Lilly. Who wouldn’t want gorgeous men fussing over her all the time? Admittedly, I wouldn’t want the problems that she was forced to endure but handsome men, diamonds, limousines… I don’t know, it sounds like an exciting ride.

How about a shout out to your readers telling them what should they expect from Easter's Lilly?

There are many books to come in this series. Brother Number Three is book two and Relatively Close, which will be officially released on February 9th is book three. Book four is called Memoirs of a Mobster and is told from the point of view of a grown-up Diego Jr. It is very different from the other books and I think even more of a thriller. I also have a young adult spin-off of the series called The Lost Years. It will also be told by Junior Montiago but as a teenager.

She's such an awesome person eh? And for another good part, Judy has also agreed to give out a free e-book copy of Easter's Lilly to one lucky reader!

Rules

The Giveaway is international.
Submissions will be closed on 17th February 2012.
The winner will be announced on the 18th of February.
The winner will be contacted through email and have 3 days to respond or else his/her entry will be forfeited.

Friday, February 10, 2012 No comments

Wednesday, February 08, 2012 2 comments

Tuesday, February 07, 2012 2 comments

Tuesday, February 07, 2012 6 comments

Nikki Hunt thought her night couldn't get worse when her no-good, cheating ex ditched her at dinner, sticking her with the bill. Then she found his body stuffed in the trunk of her car and lost her two-hundred-dollar meal all over his three-thousand-dollar suit. Now not only is Nikki nearly broke, she's a murder suspect.

Former cop turned PI, Dallas O'Connor knows what it's like to be unjustly accused. But one look at the sexy-though skittish-suspect tells him she couldn't hurt anyone. The lead detective, Dallas's own brother, has the wrong woman and Dallas hopes a little late-night "undercover" work will help him prove it . .

With the exception of Cecelia Ahern and Jodi Picoult, I rarely read adult chick-lits, that is why this story plot came across as something witty, carefree and interesting. However, as much as I enjoyed the story plot, there were several things lacking.

Debatable plot:

1. The story was more focused on the budding romance between Nikki and Dallas than on the case itself. Yes I adore romance, however I do also enjoy a good thriller. In my opinion, the homicide case was not intriguing enough for me to find out who the real murderer was.

2. This was the first time I came across a book where I was more interested in the secondary love story. To me, the history between Tony, Dallas' brother and LeAnn held a much more significant meaning than Dallas and Nikki themselves. It was one of the reason that kept me going. Yet, I was slightly disappointed by how it played out, I was build with so much anticipation and I was unsatisfied by the ending. I do wish LeAnn and Tony will have their own story.

3. There were too many sub-stories that made the story seemed 'crammed'.

But I still enjoyed the book:

1. Nevertheless, I think this book deserved 4 stars because I like the characters. I like when Tony and Dallas are together, they make awesome brothers, eventhough they have diverse personalities. I also like LeAnn who buried so much hurt and Nikki who is strong and independent.

2. I give the romance an A-.

3. Dallas' history with his family was heartbreaking and that's what I value in a story.

4. I like the idea of ex-framed-convicts setting up a PI agency with such an awesome name -Don't Mess With Texas. It made me think of hunky cowboys with a bad boy image.

Despite the fact that the book could've been improved in so many ways, it was still a recommended read. Looking forward to the next one!

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