Book Review: The Marriage Trap

Review: 5/5

This is my favorite book among the 3 currently published Marriage to a Billionaire series.

I love Michael, not just because he's hot, but also because of his sense of responsibility which he took seriously since his father died. He gave up his dream of becoming a racer, and focused on both his family and the family business. He wanted his family to be happy and have everything that they want, so when his sister called crying, telling him she could not get married according to their mother because he should be the one walking to the altar first - he device a plan to deceive his mother: he brought a woman home and introduced her as his fiance. Only that, the plan backfired on him, and he didn't realize his mother has her own plans too.

Maggie wants to be in control of everything. She once lost control and it ended up badly. She swore it won't happen again. So why did she agree with Michael's proposal after he rejected her once? Growing up with a dysfunctional family (except for her brother, Nick), she'd do anything to save what Nick has with Alexa. It includes sacrificing herself to be Michael's faux fiance. But then she didn't expect to be welcome in his family and to belong to them.

How will this charade end, when emotions (not just theirs) are already involve?

Once again Ms Probst gave us another amazing contemporary romance - just enough sweetness, coupled with steamy scenes and moderate family drama that will keep you glued to this book until the last page.

Jennifer Probst: You're name is on my list of favorite contemporary authors. Can't wait for more of your books!        

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Book Review: While He Was Away

Book Details

Author: Karen Schrek

File Size: 905 KB

Print Length: 256 pages

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire (May 1, 2012)

Summary:

One year—he'll be gone for one year and then we'll be together again and everything will be back to the way it should be.

The day David left, I felt like my heart was breaking. Sure, any long–distance relationship is tough, but David was going to war—to fight, to protect, to put his life in danger. We can get through this, though. We'll talk, we'll email, we won't let anything come between us.

I can be on army girlfriend for one year. But will my sweet, soulful, funny David be the same person when he comes home? Will I? And what if he doesn't come home at all...?

Review:

Rating: 4/5

While He Was Away had me at its blurb. I wanted to see how the author will make out of this supposedly long-distance relationship between two young people who shared an intense love and are about to part ways because of the war.

David and Penna were so much in love with each other. It all started when the both of them knew they share the same passion for art. Penna is a quiet 18-year old and the only child of a single-parent mom whom she shared a somewhat edgy and strained relationship with. But their all-consuming love and devotion to one another is put to test when David is called to Iraq for a year of military service.   

There are a lot of things I like about this book, despite the fact that I thought this was a cover-to-cover love story. First, is the change in the character – especially with Penna. How readers see her maturity grows everyday and how she tries and finally learn to live her life with David away from her. While He Was Away also depicts reality – that lovers really don’t live inside a fairytale. The real world is tough and heavy with problems. A lot of couples, especially military girlfriends and wives have gone through and survived it. But you can’t help to root for them, I wanted them to be together badly, I feel that they long for each other every time they have the chance to talk. That’s why the ending surprised me.

Another thing I like about this book, is that this is more than just Penna and David’s love story. It is covered with a lot of twists and turns in its subplot that will make you read it until the every last page.

While He Was Away perfectly depicts the strain of the wait, as well as the changes and shifts in the relationships in complex way. There is no fairytale happily-ever-after to finish up the open-ended conclusion of While He Was Away. But the main character Penna, showed an amazing growth of character which is truly inspirational.

I sincerely hope that Penna and David will have their happy ending (either together or with another person). Yes, I’d love to read a sequel!

Favorite Quotes

We shouldn’t wait too long for anything or anyone that we really care about.

David and I were big. Are big. But the broken, beat-up, warring, loving, beautiful, truthful world is bigger than us by far.

10 nice restaurants where I soooo love to eat

I am an oral person and I love to eat. The whole family loves to eat, even when I go to places, I try to eat on restaurant or fast foods which I couldn’t find at home. However, of course, there is no place like Iloilo. Besides the churches, tourist or newbie here should try to eat at several restaurants found in the city. They’d be craving for more, I am sure. Try out the famous La Paz Batchoy first, a choice from the two famous here: Ted’s La Paz Batchoy and Deco’s (trust me, the instant La Paz Batchoy in cups could not compare). I once saw in Cebu their version of batchoy with cabbage – what the?!!! Even those instant cups don’t have cabbage, right? Anyway, after trying out the sinful batchoy, off you to several others.

Gerry’s Grill – I so love their sisig. It’s sinfully delicious, especially with the chicharon, I couldn’t have any egg to go with my sisig, thanks to the allergies. There is no Gerry’s Grill in Iloilo, but every time I go to Manila or Cebu, I make sure I get to have a stop here.

Afriques – Never leave Iloilo without dropping by this Italian Restaurant. Their pizzas are fantastic with their very own Afrique’s sauce. The ambiance is quite homey for the Jaro branch, the rest – well definitely commercial but still they tried their best to make it look like their original branch. I love their pizza especially the Afrique’s special. Their carbonara is to die for, as well as their penne.

Mooon Café. I love Mooon Café’s steak and sisig. This is my 2^nd favorite sisig. This Mexican-inspired restaurant is awesome. Their prices are reasonable enough because their servings are big. The service is superb.

Pork Belly

Ramboy’s – What I love about Ramboy’s is their Liempo. It is super crispy and delicious. It might cost over 200, but it is big enough for five people.

Liempo

Sisig

Pueblo de Alicia’s. This sanctuary is just a step outside of home. At night, it might look like a place to drink, but don’t be deceived. They serve the best Tuna belly and Managat Sinugba (grilled) I have ever tasted.

Grilled Managat

Tatoy’s. An ancient restaurant where several Philippine presidents have dined in when they went  to Iloilo. It is a little expensive (for my taste, I guess), but they do have very delicious native chicken inasal.

Buto’t Balat. The ambiance is garden-like, they have nice landscapes and dimmer lights for a restaurant. Their foods are very nice, ranging from their crispy pata down to their sizzling gambas. The prices are just great, it is cheap, especially when you are with a group, and you get to share the tabs.

Nato and Helen. I have been here twice, but their grilled squid always left me at awe, not to mention, in need of my antihistamine tablet. Well, the place might look like any local carinderia but again, it is pretty clean and the foods are nice. They serve a lot of fresh sea foods including talaba.

Cabugao (I forgot the rest of the name). If you are coming from the Iloilo airport, this place is nearer since it is in Pavia, but if you are coming from the city – you really need a time to travel. They serve sea foods at a very affordable price and they are even far from the sea (I think so). They have nice cottages where you and your friends can eat in private (and take pics without minding the rest of the world)  

Esca’s They have the same owner as Afriques, the only difference is the setting. If you don’t like the ‘homey ambiance’ of the latter, try the garden ambiance of Escas. Dine under the stars, I think the place is romantic, and of course, they do serve nice food as well.

And for dessert: I usually choose between coffee or cakes or both :D

Bo's Cafe @ SM City

Dulgie's @ Delgado

Nothing but Dessert 

Many thanks to Ron Ron & Des for allowing me to post some of their shoots here.