Gale Reads: Psy Changeling Series Book 8-12 by Nalini Singh

I decided to read the whole series for March & I did! I'm so happy to be able to accomplish my March To-Be-Read list. Its quite hard because I can only read a few pages at a time since I was quite busy at work. Anyhow, here's part 2 of my review of the Psy-Changeling Series!   

Click here to read part 1 of my review.

TITLES: Bonds of Justice, Play of Passion, Kiss of Snow, Tangle of Need, Heart of Obsidian
AUTHOR: Nalini Singh
GENRE: Urban fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Shapeshifters
STATE OF SERIES: Ongoing.

Cover Talk:
As with my previous review, I'm not a fan of any of this book covers. I haven't found any of them to be in my liking, I guess Heart Of Obsidian is the most passable just because of it's mysterious aura. I hope they release a new version for the whole series when the time comes that I will buy them for my bookshelf.

*I hope my new room will be done sooner so that I can make a wall full of my books :)




MY REVIEW:

The last 5 books are awesome! It's so full of action & happenings that it's so hard to sleep at night when it's time for bedtime because I still want to continue reading. Really a page turner. Kudos to Nalini Singh for making the story flow as smooth as possible because it's really hard to create 1 whole story divided into many books and for it to be told in different point of views. I love how she created this society by showing it through the eyes of the different Psy designations & the Changelings. It really created depth to the story & provided a clearer picture since it's not biased from just looking at it from one perspective. 

My favorite among the 12 books is definitely Heart of Obsidian. It's a perfect ending to begin a new chapter of how Psy and Changelings alike will live. There's so many twists in this book & I love how she created the character as both powerful & vulnerable at the same time. I so love Kaleb and I'm so excited to see more of him in the next books ahead.

My least favorite is Tangle of Need. I can safely say that this is a "bridge" book in the series because even though it is meant for Riaz & Adria, the whole book didn't focus on them. It had a lot of scenes w/Sienna & Hawke & the other important people and it seems this book is created to make the transition from Kiss of Snow to heart of Obsidian. Don't get me wrong, I love those 2 & enjoyed every part where they appeared in Tangle Of Need but I hoped Nalini created a more focused story on Riaz & Adria's love story since they both are broken in a way & I would love to see more interactions between them. Aside from that, everything is superb :)

OVER-ALL RATING: 5/5

I really love this series & the last 5 is awesome since it involves a lot more complex situations. I hope Nalini will continue making this series. And more novellas too please!

P.S. I can't wait for Vasic's story in the next book titled Shield Of Winter. It will be out in June 3, 2014.

Thanks for dropping by!

Gale Reads: Psy-Changeling Series Book 1-7 by Nalini Singh

I have been on a reading marathon all March. It's been quite some time since I had the urge to read & read so I rode it. I started the popular Psy-Changeling Series by Nalini Singh, the same author of one of my fave Guild Hunter Series. The first book is published in 2006 & the 13th book will be out on June 2014. I have finished reading 7 books & 2 novellas. I am currently halfway in of book 8 Bonds of Justice. I only have time to read during my MRT ride to the office in the morning & an hour or 2 at night before I sleep (if I'm not too tired) so it's taking me quite a few days before I finish 1 book. It's frustrating sometimes because I want to read them continuously hehe.


GENRE: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Shapeshifters, Romance
SERIES STATUS: On-going, 12 already out  

COVER TALK:
I'm not actually fond of the cover. No offense meant but I personally prefer my books to have ambiguous or mysterious covers without the face of the cast. I really enjoy imaging the face & built for each them so I hope they can release some new covers. Luckily, I'm reading this series on my tablet so I don't get to see the covers that much hehe. Please please Nalini, do release new covers like the one in the Guild Hunter series.. 

MY REVIEW:

I really love Nalini Singh! I can't believe I just started reading this series this month. I should've started it a long time ago! I love how each & every character is unique in some way from the others even though they should have the "same traits" because they came in the same group/pack. I also liked how each book is connected with each other but still separate at the same time. You can actually see hints & glimpses of the lives that previous (& even future) characters had as time goes by. It's like this series is one big story then each main character was given a book to tell their own story. Even the connecting people outside of the packs are given their own stories like how Max Shannon (the Dark River pack human police friend) was given his own book so that it can connect the dots & tell the story from the side of the Psy. 

I am so in love with all the characters but Lucas & Sascha is still my fave because if theirs is not good, I wouldn't read the 2nd book, then the 3rd & so on. 

I have decided to cluster this series for review because I felt like they should be viewed as a whole story instead of separate. Although you can definitely read any of it without reading the others (I tried jumping to the 10th book hehe), I would suggest you go & invest some time to read it from book 1 so that you can appreciate the wonderful world building & can follow the story as smoothly as possible.

OVER-ALL RATING: 5/5

This is really a page-turner & if only I have all the time in the world, I can definitely finish 1 book per day. No negatives for this series yet and I hope it won't end any time soon coz I would love to read the story of their kids too :)


Thanks for dropping by!

Movie Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

Hello! How's everyone doing? I'm so glad I have a free time today so I can upload my review of the last movie I've watched :)

I have been waiting for this movie to come out for so long because I am a fan of the book. if you want to read my book review, you can read it here. I also liked how the trailer showed how "dark" it is and that the producers & director didn't made it a PG 13 movie like what they did to Vampire Academy (that's so disappointing). I watched this with my fiance (who haven't read the book) and his sister (another fan of the book) on the 1st weekend airing. 

And I am so glad Veronica Roth is a co-producer because this movie really came out right off the book! Just like a live-action version :)

Synopsis:

"In a world divided by factions based on virtues, Tris learns she's Divergent and won't fit in. When she discovers a plot to destroy Divergents, Tris and the mysterious Four must find out what makes Divergents dangerous before it's too late." -IMDB

CASTS:

Shailene Woodley as Beatrice "Tris" Prior

Theo James as Four

Ashley Judd as Natalie Prior

Kate Winslet as Jeanine Matthews

To view all the cast click here.

MY REVIEW:

I'll make this review sweet & short. This movie is awesome! I can't believe how good it is, really. It's like how Hunger Games the movie is made, with the right emotions & "reality" that the story has in the book. It also contains majority of the important scenes to create the story and I think it's enough for those viewers who have not read the book itself. I asked my fiance if he enjoyed the movie & if he understood the story, and he said yes to both. Even my officemates (both gender) who watched it w/o any background of the book enjoyed it too! 

The side of me that is a fan of the book? I really had no problem with any of it. I hoped there are more scenes included but I understand that they can't fit everything in the movie. Hey, it's already over 2 hrs hehe I shouldn't be complaining anymore :) 

I also have no complaints with the casts. They really did a great job in hiring everyone because they did a fantastic job in putting life to the characters that I loved so much in the book. I especially love Theo as Four (he's such a total hunk hehe) & Shailene as Tris (doesn't she look like Kate Winslet on some angle?) because they have a believable on-screen chemistry and I love how their characters developed throughout the story. I'm excited to see more of them :)

Over-all Rating: 5/5

The best book to movie translation so far in my opinion. The acting is great, the fight scenes are awesome & the setting/props/production is superb! I can't wait for Insurgent next year and my then hubby already agreed to watch it with me again. This is really a must see movie so do watch it with your special someone or friends and I promise that you won't regret any minute of it :)

Thank you for dropping by!

Gale Reads: Magic Rises [Kate Daniels 6] by Ilona Andrews

Hello! How's everyone's weekend so far? I hope all of you are doing great :)

Guess what?! I was able to get an ebook copy of the newest Kate Daniels book! Yipee! I didn't expect to be able to read it in just 2 days after it got released because Ilona Andrews books don't get released here locally and I need to pre-order it through Powerbooks and then wait for 5 weeks before I can get a hold of the book. I am really so ecstatic about Magic Rises and I have been waiting for this since last year. 

MY REVIEW:

OMG! This book is awesome! It was so full of action and surprises from start to finish that I easily got caught in the Kate Daniel's world and was unable to put the book down. I finished it in one seating and I am planning of re-reading all the books again while waiting for book 7. 

The husband and wife tandem really did a great job in this installment because everything flowed smoothly and all the scenes have an important part in the wholeness of the story. I think this is one of the best book in the series so far because the story itself with all the details involved made the reading experience so good. Everything is well described that I was able to visualize each happening and I also felt I'm part of their post-shift world. There was no dull moment because every time I turn the page something interesting is happening.

Ilona Andrews is so good in writing that I hope they could release more books. I am actually wishing that they could make a whole novel for Derek, Jim and Dali, and the other characters of the Kate Daniels Series because I really enjoyed the one they made for Raphael and Andrea in Gunmetal Magic. 

OVER-ALL RATING: 5/5

I'm really satisfied with Magic Rises. I can reread this book over and over without getting bored because I love how Ilona Andrews made it relateable even with it being an urban fantasy. I can't wait for the next installment in the series! I really wanted to see where Ilona Andrews will take this series because there's still 4 more books to be written (I think).

P.S. There's another Curran POV on their website and even though the writing is roughly made and in need of a proof reader, it was still a good read. I really hope Ilona Andrews can write more Curran POV because it gave a different view of what really went down and I so love reading Curran's thoughts hehe.

[Spoiler alert]

There were so many twist and turns in the story that I don't know what to expect anymore. I keep on trying to guess what's gonna happen next but I always get it wrong. I also loved the fact that Ilona Andrews showed a different side of the relationship between Kate and Curran. I almost believed that they're gonna separate for good because of what happened. But it made their relationship stronger so it's for the best. But I still got sad that there were casualties and not everyone got a happy ending. I know there will be more surprises for these characters and I am really excited to read them soon.  

Guys, this is a must read so go get a copy and read the whole series. I promise you all, you won't get disappointed because it's full of action and the storyline is great :)

Thanks for dropping by!

Review: Aroma Resort Body Milk in Happy Sweet Peach

I've been on the roll today haha this is already my 3rd post. I will be doing a review on a body lotion that I received as a gift last year from a Japanese friend. I have been using it for a long time and I can now give my final verdict.

Aroma Resort Body Milk in Happy Sweet Peach

It comes in a big squeezable tube which stands. I liked this packaging because it's easy to dispense the product and I can definitely finish up all the contents.

NET WT: 220g

 It has a flip cap lid that is perfect in dispensing the body lotion. It has the perfect size of hole because it doesn't squirt even if I accidentally squeezed too hard on the tube.

As you can see, except for the brand and the scent, everything is in Japanese so I can't show you guys the ingredients list.


WHAT I LIKE:

- I love the formulation! non-sticky, lightweight and very fluid.

- Absorbs fast on the skin. I just need to wait for a minute or two for it to get absorbed which is awesome because I can put on my clothes fast after shower.

- I love the scent of in this one because it doesn't give me any headache and it lingers. Plus, it's not too sweet like other artificial peach scents so that's definitely a thumbs up for me.

- Packaging is sanitary and easy to use. And since it stands on the cap, you don't need to work hard for the product to be dispensed.


WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:

- Not travel friendly. Aside from being too big, I'm worried that it will burst on my bag.

- Can't be bought locally. There are no local online sellers that sells this too.

- I can't find any info if it is cruelty free or not.


OVER-ALL RATING: 5/5

I really love this body lotion! It is perfect for our humid weather here in the Philippines. The scent also lingers for a while especially if I use a body wash with the same peach scent. I really can't think anything bad about this product. Totally worth it trying :)


Thanks for dropping by!

JDrama Review: Itazura Na Kiss Love In Tokyo

The Japanese drama Itazura Na Kiss: Love In Tokyo ended its run this Friday and I have already watched the English subbed video last night. I'm so thankful to Drama Fever for the fast subbing and for Good Drama for uploading it.

I'm not sure if you know this but I really love the story of Itazura Na Kiss. Although I haven't read the manga yet because I'm not fond of the drawing style, I did watch the anime and have loved it. I have also watched the different live action versions: the Taiwanese, It Started with a Kiss/They Kiss Again, and the Korean, Playful Kiss. Japan have made the first live action version in 1996 but I didn't watch it so this remake is my first Japanese version. I will definitely make a comparison review next week to compare all 3 versions to the anime so watch out for that :)

TITLE: Itazura Na Kiss
EPISODES: 16
GENRE: Romantic Comedy
BROADCAST NETWORK: Fuji TV

AIRING PERIOD: March 29 - July 19, 2013

AIRING TIME: every Friday
PLOT:
During the high school entrance ceremony, Aihara Kotoko from Class F had experienced love at first sight with the handsome boy from Class A named Irie Naoki. Kotoko loved him from a far for some time but when she got enough courage to express her feelings to Naoki, he rejected her.publicly.
One day after that event, Kotoko's house got destroyed because a meteorite hit it. This event resulted to them living with her father's best friend's house which in turn is where Naoki lives.

CAST:
Honoka Miki as Aihara Kototko
Yuki Furukawa as Irie Naoki
Yuki Yamada as Ikezawa Kinnuske


MY REVIEW:

This is definitely one of the best version that I've watched because it really followed the original storyline. I really liked how they showed the innocence of first love that the story is asking for. I also commend the director of Love In Tokyo for the scenes he chose to include in the drama. This story have a lot of highlights and events and for the director to be able to include only a few but still be able to make the story feel complete is really an achievement. 
 
I liked the way Aihara Kotoko is portrayed in this version the best because they did not exaggerate her stupidity like with the others. She is still stupid but it's just the right amount of stupidity that is actually believable and is not irritating to see. Although the acting of Honoka Miki is just okay for me, nothing extraordinary to make her memorable.

Going to the lead male, Yuki Furukawa, now that's a definite hit for me. He was able to portray the cold hearted Irie Naoki very well without sounding monotonous. I really liked his way of acting and it fits perfectly with the anime Naoki very well. I especially love how he can show his emotions for Kotoko with just his expression.

Another good casting is Yuki Yamada because his version of Kinnuske is perfect. No exaggerated actions and words needed because his expression can say it all. His portrayal is my favorite among the 3 versions I've watched.

I love how concise the story is and they were able to fit everything into 16 episodes. They just chose to include scenes that have a direct impact on the story itself and removed "fillers" like the scenes about other people liking the main characters and making them jealous. I think the way they ended this drama is perfect because it is just right if they ever will create a season 2 which I hope they would do. I personally think that the married life of Naoki and Kotoko is much more exciting than their student days just because we can actually see the change in Naoki and their relationship.


OVER-ALL RATING: 5/5

I really love this version! It still made me fall for them even though I already know the whole premise of the story. My favorite part is the finale. I just love the rain-kiss and the confirmation of feelings scene the best. If you are a fan of Itazura Na Kiss, I really urge you to watch this version because you will definitely appreciate the purity of the story. 


Watch out for my comparison review for all 3 versions plus the anime too.

To watch the ENGLISH SUBBED VIDEOS, just click the link :)


Thank you for dropping by!

Movie Review: 4 Sisters and a Wedding

Happy Monday everyone! I was planning to write this post last night after the movie but I was so sleepy that I decided to do this today instead. I watched 4 Sisters and a Wedding with my family (and family friends) and we got home around 11pm already. All of us have the same reaction with the movie so I guess it's no wonder that this film already have Php120million under its name in just 2 weeks of showing in the cinemas.

TITLE: 4 Sisters and a Wedding
DIRECTOR: Cathy Garcia- Molina

STUDIO: Star Cinema
GENRE: Romantic comedy, family
PLOT:
This is a story about 4 sisters who united after many years of separation and went home to try and stop the wedding of their one and only brother CJ to his girlfriend of 3 months.  During the process of thinking a plan to accomplish their goal, the sisters were faced with their own personal problems.

*photo credit: starmometer.com*

CASTS:
Toni Gonzaga as Theodora "Teddie" Salazar
Bea Alonzo as Roberta "Bobbie" Salazar
Angel Locsin as Alexandra "Alex" Salazar 
Shaina Magdayao as Gabriella "Gabbie" Salazar 
Enchong Dee as CJ "RebReb" Salazar


Connie Reyes as Grace (mother of Salazar siblings)
Sam Milby as Tristan (boyfriend of Bobbie)
Janus Del Prado as Frodo (co-worker of Teddie)
Angeline Quinto as Princess Bayag (fiancee of CJ)
Carmi Martin as Jeanette Bayag (mother of Princess)
Boboy Garovillo as Honey Boy Bayag (father of Princess)
Bernard Palanca as Chad (boyfriend of Alex)


MY REVIEW:
I so freaking love this movie! I can't stop laughing since scene 1 until the end credits. And I can say that I am not the only one laughing my ass off because all of the audience in the cinema were laughing and clapping together. This movie is really a feel good movie because even though it is comedy, it's not full of corny jokes. I believe it really is due to the execution because the casts have comedic timing when delivering their lines so it's more effective. Toni Gonzaga and Carmi Martin were exceptional in their acting and they were so believable that I laugh every time they say a line LOL ~

And since this is a Filipino film, a crying scene is a "necessity" and the confrontation between the Salazar sisters are spot on. It made me cry (and my sis and mom too) because the dialogue plus the great acting made it really reach the audience's hearts. I myself were able to relate to Teddie because I'm the eldest and her concerns were like mine. I guess the relate-ability of the scenes were the main reason why people liked these too.

I really love Cathy Garcia-Molina's works because I never got disappointed in them. I'm looking forward to more films from her :)

On a side note, Sam Milby is so hot in this movie! Even though there are a lot of speculation about his masculinity, no one can deny he is gorgeous. I really can't remove my eyes from him during the film because his role fit him well even though it's just a supporting role. Just a little fangirling for an eye candy like him haha.


OVER-ALL RATING: 5/5

I really, really love 4 Sisters and a Wedding! I am so glad I watched it because it has everything I want in a film: comedy, drama, love story. It is so balanced that my emotions were able to follow the flow of the scenes from comedy to drama to comedy so I was able to go out of the cinema with a light heart. I really recommend you all watch it. It's really worth the money and the time :)



Thanks for dropping by!

KDrama Review: Flowerboy Ramyun Shop

I had finished watching another Kdrama and I am really digging tvN right now. I have learned to watch cable TV Korean dramas because they are a little less restricted and will most definitely have a better approach to the story :)

TITLE: Flowerboy Ramyun Shop / Flowerboy Ramen Shop
EPISODES: 16
GENRE: Comedy, Love Story
BROADCASTING NETWORK: tvN
BROADCAST PERIOD: October 31-December 20, 2011
AIRING TIME: Monday-Tuesday
PLOT SUMMARY:
Yang Eun Bi is a 25 year old college student preparing for her civil service exam so that she can become a PE high school teacher. She encounters Cha Chi Soo, the arrogant son of the biggest food conglomerate in Korea. Both of them end up working at a ramyun shop run by the lazy Choi Kang Hyuk.


*source of info: drama wiki*

CASTS:
Jung Il woo as Cha Chi Soo
Lee Chung Ah as Yang Eun Bi
Lee Ki Woo as Choi Kang Hyuk
Park Min Woo as Kim Ba Wool
Jo Yoon Woo as Woo Hyun Woo

* for the list of the complete cast click here*


MY THOUGHTS:

OMG! I love this drama! I think I have re-watched this so many time within this week especially my fave scenes. It's so funny and there are some scenes that are really so romantic and "nakakakilig". I know this is not a new drama but I just got attracted to it after watching one episode from a re-run at tvN last weekend. And I don't think I will forget that Kimchi Kiss scene because it's so memorable especially if you will put it beside other dramas in that genre. Even without me knowing the premise of the story and even though it's just that scene that I saw, I got so attracted to it that I went ahead and watched the whole drama in 2 days :)

*the KIMCHI KISS*

This drama is also full of handsome young men and it's really an eye candy even to me who is already 27 y/o haha. I also love how they made them have something quirky in their personality just so they won't appear too perfect and unrealistic. I really would like to give a shout out for the casting director because ALL the cast have done a great job in portraying their parts on top of their good looks which I'm pretty sure is the main criteria why they became part of the cast hehe.

The storyline itself is not that unique (a high school student falling in love with his teacher), but the way they portrayed that is what made Flowerboy Ramyun Shop special. The way they showed how Cha Chi Soo's emotions developed and how he became more mature towards the end is what made it meaningful. Also, Yang Eun Bi is not your typical girl either which is why the whole drama became so fun to watch. She really have a temper  and a very unique charm that attracts guys to her.

I don't want to give out a lot of details as to not give spoilers to those of you who haven't watched the drama, so this is my last one. This drama contains two of the best kiss scenes ever! Jung Il woo really knows how to kiss and he do it so manly that it will make your knees weak if you're the girl he did that to. If you searched in Google and at Youtube "best Korean drama kisses", his kisses here at Flowerboy Ramyun Shop will definitely be included in the top 5 hehe. And having an actress that responds well to the kiss is also one of the major points this drama have. And that is one of the reason why cable TV drama is special because kissing scenes doesn't become a peck with the girl's eyes open and lips not moving with the camera going merry go round LOL.

OVER-ALL RATING: 5/5

I really can't find anything I don't like in this drama. I really really enjoyed it! This is definitely in my drama list that I will re-watch often and still get the same giddy feeling every time. Definitely a must-see drama if you love Asian dramas like me.

To watch the English subbed videos of this drama, go to DRAMAFANS website or click the link below.

FLOWERBOY RAMYUN SHOP

Thanks for dropping by!

Review: Belo Antiperspirant Deodorant Roll On

Hello everyone! This post will be about the Belo Antiperspirant and Deodorant roll on that I have been testing for 2 months now. I have used this throughout summer and I think I've road tested it enough to formulate a review for you guise :)

Before we start, I wanted to give you all a brief background. My underarms were victims of harsh deodorants that were very famous when I was still in high school. I really hated how Secret and Rexona made my underarm darker and they never went back to their natural color even though I had stopped using it long time ago. I was also fond of shaving and then plucking so it added to the darkening and the chicken skin. I really don't have the confidence to wear sleeveless tops because I'm not fond of my underarms' appearance. I have tried a lot of whitening products but I guess I'm not that patient to continuously use whitening creams for long periods of time. Luckily, I underwent laser hair removal last year and it was the first step in dealing with my UA problem.

I also sweat a lot but I rarely use deodorant because I'm afraid my UA will get even darker. My default deodorant was Milcu but it doesn't work as antiperspirant so it's kind of useless when I wear colored shirts. But since I started exercising in the gym, I needed to pick up a real antiperspirant product because I don't want to be smelly haha. I have decided on this Belo product because it's new in the market and it's meant for whitening so I wanted to give it a try. 

NET WT: 25ml
PRICE: Php49.75


MY REVIEW:

YAY!

- It didn't cause any allergic reaction to my skin

- It did a wonderful job in keeping me smelling fresh the whole day.

- It lessened the sweating in my UA. I can confidently wear colored shirts now because I'm not worried I'll have sweat marks when I perspire.

- I felt like it helped in lightening and smoothing my underarms. I can now wear sleeveless tops because using this after I had finished my laser hair removal really did a good job in lightening the darkness of my UA.

NAY!

- I hope it comes in a stick format instead of a roll on. I hate waiting for it to dry before I put my clothes on especially if I'm on the rush. 

- It's hard to totally remove. I need to use either my cleansing water or toner at night before I take a shower so that I will know it's completely off. I really don't like the idea of leaving even a trace of antiperspirant on me when I sleep.

- It's a little pricey.

- I don't know if Belo is cruelty free or not. I had emailed the company to inquire but they haven't replied yet. I am really hoping that they don't test on animals.


OVER-ALL VERDICT: 5/5

I'm totally satisfied on the performance because it withstand the heat of the summer and have kept up with me whenever I go to the gym to exercise. I will continue to use this product unless Belo is not cruelty free.


Thank you for dropping by! Have a great week ahead :)

Gale Reads: Chosen at Nightfall by CC Hunter (Shadow Falls Series #5)

Happy Tuesday! It's been raining again these last few days and I think a typhoon will come again soon. Since I can't go out, I stayed at home and read a book from my To-Read List.

The last installment for the Shadow Falls Series by CC Hunter has already been released last April 2013. I have reviewed the first 4 books so you can read those first if you're new to the story :)

Book 1-3

Book 4

Chosen At Nightfall is the end about the story of Kylie Galen, a chameleon teenager who had struggled in learning who she really is. Kylie thought she was just a normal teenager dealing with a broken family and psychiatric problems (she sees ghosts) until she got enrolled at Shadow Falls Academy and learned about her supernatural capabilities. After accepting the fact that she is a supernatural being, she then struggled in finding out which specie she belongs to because her brain pattern is very unique and it changes frequently. Book 4, Whispers at Moonrise, solved her identity question and it ended with a big question mark about her decision to stay with her clan and also who she really wants between Derek and Lucas.

My thoughts:
I loved Chosen At Nightfall! It's the perfect ending for this series because it solved all the conflicts of Kylie and had a happy ending. CC Hunter proved true that she can really write Young Adult stories that involves different kinds of love and relationships while still incorporating lessons for teenagers. She was also able to insert the importance of self preservation and safe sex throughout the series. I didn't like her initial approach of "sex is bad and gross" because I thought it's over the top, but after reading book 5, I get to understand that she wants to show a more realistic view about the topic. She wants her readers to see how Kylie and the gang developed and mature not only physically but also on their beliefs and actions. For me, the way CC Hunter ended the story is commendable because she created a balance between the different species and also between family and friends. She also showed how teens can become independent and decide for their own while still respecting their family especially their parents. 

RATING: 4.5/5

Chosen At Nightfall is a great final installment for a good series. I have seen a lot of series that ended badly but CC Hunter were able to keep the quality until the last book which made me really happy and content. I gave this 4.5/5 rating because the author could have made this story a little longer or more detailed. The last 1/3 of the story felt a little rushed and she could have placed some more details and importance about the problem solving process instead of just saying this is what we did and this is the result, everyone is happy. But aside from that, I am glad it does have a happy ending for everyone :)



OVER-ALL RATING FOR THE SHADOW FALLS SERIES: 5/5

I am so in love with this series! It has a fresh approach wherein the author incorporated the popular groups of supernaturals and created a boarding school for them to interact with each other like in Xmen. If you love paranormal stories, you will definitely love this because it have vampires, werewolves, shapeshifters, faeries, witches and warlocks, and even chameleons who have a little of everything, all in one story. This also have a lot of lessons that will benefit teenagers because a lot of the conflicts involved were the problems encountered by teens like divorce/infidelity, long distance relationship between friends and family, unsupportive parents, breakups, jealousy, friendship, being the odd man/unique in class, and dealing with authority figures like teachers and family. I recommend this to anyone and I believe even kids can read it as it doesn't have romance involved so parents can relax.

FYI: According to CC Hunter, she will start a spinoff series where the vampire friend of Kylie, Della Tsang, would be the main character! I will definitely read that because I would still be able to see the rest of the gang even if they are just glimpses. Also Della is really fun and seeing the Shadow Falls Academy through her eyes would be amazing!


Thank you for dropping by and I hope you all have a great week ahead!

Review: Purederm Baby Wipes

Happy Sunday!

I'm so happy that I'm feeling a lot better today.. I got sore throat since Friday and it hurts to swallow but now I'm okay and I can post something for the weekend Yay! :)

I wanted to share with you all my favorite baby wipes/wet wipes because it is the best I have used out of so many brands that I've tried -- It is Purederm Baby Wipes with Olive Oil.

BRAND: Purederm
# of SHEETS: 80 pcs
PRICE: Php99.00

INGREDIENTS:

PUREDERM SAYS:

MY REVIEW:


YAY!!!

- I love the quality of the wet wipes. It is so soft that it doesn't scratch my sensitive facial skin (and even baby's skin) and it is durable enough that it doesn't rip quite easily. To tell you honestly, I haven't rip this yet even when I used it for my body.

- I also love the packaging. The sticker seal and the lid keeps the whole pack moist upto the last piece which is great because it saves you money!

- Multi-purpose. Can be used for cleaning babies, wiping pets or for personal use. This is effective in removing face makeup and it's the best tool to use with your eye makeup remover as it doesn't absorb too much product like cotton pads.

- Hypoallergenic. I didn't get any kind of skin problem from using this.

- Contains no alcohol which can dry out the skin.


- Affordable and locally available. 80 decent sized wipes for a hundred bucks? That's a steal!
I got this at Landmark Trinoma which is very near to my place so it's convenient.

NAY!

- As with all wet wipes, this can cause the pH of your skin to change and can cause dryness and irritations. 

- Not enough to be a substitute for washing your face with a cleanser but for times that you are really tired and just want to crash to bed using this is still better than not cleansing at all.

- Easily gets out of stock in stores.


OVER-ALL RATING: 5/5

I can't find a better alternative for this because this brand is the most sturdy wet wipes I have used ever and it is one of the softest and mildest too. No breakouts so far even after almost a year of using this almost every night to remove my makeup.Love this product and will continue using this!


What's your favorite makeup remover? :)


Thanks for dropping by and have a great week ahead!

Review: Hada Labo Gokujyun (Red) Lotion

Happy Hearts Day! ~

Today I will be reviewing the Hada Labo Gokujyun Lotion. Gokujyun is their red line (lifting + firming) which contains retinol as an active anti-aging ingredient. I have been using this 2x a day since the first week of December and I believe I have tested it enough to give a review.

*Lotion - this is the term used for a facial toner that have a gel texture instead of the usual liquid form.

That being said, having a flip cap is the best way to dispense the product because it gave me control on how much to use every time. Also, this very hygienic :)

This product also came with a free face mask from the same line. I haven't used the mask yet so I don't know how it fares.

HADA LABO is a Japanese brand of skin care that is very famous for being mild, simple and yet very effective. The active ingredient in all of their lines is the Super Hyaluronic Acid which is meant to hydrate the skin better than regular hyaluronic acid.


MY THOUGHTS:

YAY!!!

- This did not broke me out like other anti aging products that I have tried.

- No allergic reactions too.

- Very gentle on the skin. No stinging feeling when applied and I can use this around the eyes too. 

- No strong scent. Hada Labo is very famous for having no irritants on their products.

- This tones and moisturizes my skin at the same time.

- Not sticky at all which I am very happy with.

- Dries quickly so I can apply my moisturizer after a minute or so.


NAY!!!

- Not available locally. Buying from local resellers is quite expensive.

- I did not see any anti aging benefits yet even after 3 months. I guess, I should have bought the serum version too so it's more effective since toners are not meant to be treatments.


TIPS:

- Apply 2-3 drops on your hand, warm the product first and then apply it on the skin with patting motion for faster absorption.

- Can be stored inside the refrigerator for a more refreshing feel. 

- Best to be used with other moisturizer as this is not enough even for oily skin.


OVER-ALL RATING: 5/5

I love this toner! This did not irritate my skin and it helps my moisturizer get absorb better. I just hope I can buy it easily since this is quite affordable if bought in Japan.


WILL I REPURCHASE? Definitely! I will probably get the serum too so that it is more effective :)


Have you tried any Hada Labo products? Which one is your favorite? I am intrigued with the shiroyjun (whitening/blue) line and will probably get those next to test out.


Thanks for dropping by!