Book Review: The Ugly Stepsister by Aya Ling

Title: THE UGLY STEPSISTER
Author: Aya Ling
Published: June 10th, 2015
Length: 452 pages [ebook version]
ASIN: B00ZFYITWC
Rating: 3/5 stars

This book was given free by the author in exchange for honest review.

When Kat accidentally rips apart an old picture book, she's magically transported into the world of Cinderella--as Katriona, one of the ugly stepsisters! Life turns upside down now that she’s a highborn lady and must learn how to survive the social season, including how to get through the door in a huge metal hoop skirt. To get back, she'll have to complete the story, right to the end of happily ever after. But the odds are huge: the other stepsister is drop-dead gorgeous, the fairy godmother is nowhere to be found, and the prince, despite being insanely hot, openly dislikes balls. Can she ever return to the modern world?

I didn't expect to love this book. I mean, I knew I was going to like it based on the synopsis 'cause it's my kind of light reading. And there are already a lot of re-telling version of Cinderella. "Why would I love this best?" That's what I thought. I don't really like the cover either. It's less a fairy tale. I won't pick up this book on bookstore if I judge it by the cover. But still, I think the title is quite strong. The Ugly Stepsister. Who would've thought that the stepsister can build an interesting story? Yup, don't expect too much of Cinderella when you read this.

Nganggur Galau

Judul: NGANGGUR GALAU
Penulis: @rach_char
Penerbit: nulisbuku.com; Tahun Terbit: 2013
Tebal: 143 Halaman
Harga: Rp 35.000 (Nulis Buku)

This book was given free by the author for an honest review.

"Tetangga itu adalah tokoh antagonis paling jahat disinetron kehidupan gue, kalo loe misalnya jadi kisanak yang sering naek elang, mereka pasti jadi penyihir yang sukanya naek naga gede. kalo toh loe mau lebih jahat misalnya jadi pencuri, mereka jadi perampok, kalo loe jadi waria, mereka bisa aja berubah jadi pemerkosa waria" itu pernyataan dari seorang sarjana pengangguran. buku konyol ini menceritakan pengalaman seorang fresh graduate untuk masuk ke dunia kerja.

[Blog Tour Review] Play With Me

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Title: Play With Me (Grover Beach Team #1)

Author: Piper Shelly; Number of Pages: 239

ISBN: 1481182013; ISBN13: 9781481182010

Synopsis:

Note from the author: Please be aware that this is a NOVELLA (a really short book). You will probably read it within 3 to 6 hours.

Ryan Hunter's parties are legend. And tonight she's going to be there.

Liza Matthews anticipates the return of her best friend and only love since kindergarten from soccer camp. But when Tony finally shows up, his mind is more focused on another girl. And worse, she's a soccer player. Fighting for the attention Liza craves, she's just a hairbreadth away from making a very stupid decision. But when extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures, she's prepared to play ball to get her man.

The tryouts are hell, the first match ends bloody, and the morning after the selection party she wakes up in the worst place possible—in the arms of the captain of the soccer team. The hottest guy in school. Ryan Hunter.

BUY THIS BOOK:

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FREE TODAY ON AMAZON!!

Mermother

Title: Mermother: An Account of What Happened in the Sea

Author: Elizabeth Jane Wolf

Publisher: CreatSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Year Published: 2013

Pages: 190

Rating: ★★★

A young woman explores the ancient mysteries of the sea in an unforgettable adventure of friendship and family. Escaping from an abusive past, she finds solace in an underwater world full of beauty, wealth, and power. Discover how her life is transformed as she struggles to find true love in a world that forbids it. This novel has been published as a fundraiser for the International Ocean Institue.

*****

Mermother is a new stuff for me, definitely. The last mermaids story that I've read is The Little Mermaids and I can't remember the exact story anymore. Thanks to Elizabeth Jane Wolf, the author of Mermother, for giving me a signed paperback for an honest review. I was thrilled when I received the package from Canada.

I was breathing the sea. I could barely believe it. How was this possible? But for some reason, it was. I was doing it.

The journey of Briony started when she found herself laying naked in a tide pool--a big one, right at the water's edge. She remembered she was having a party with her boyfriend, Lazarus. While her mind was wandering around, a beautiful perfect looking girl showed up in front of her, trying to make conversation. That girl named Sylvie. She was there everyday and watched Briony every night when she was sleeping. Briony was curious where that girl lived because it must not far. When Briony accepted Sylvie's invitation to her house, Briony found out what kind of creature her new friend was.

Autumn

Title: Autumn (Dog Days #1)
Author: Sierra Dean
Publisher: Sierra Dean
Published: June 2013
Purchase: Amazon / Kobo / Nook
Rating: ★★★★

Cooper Reynolds's life is going to the dogs...literally.As if being a high school senior in a small Texas town wasn't hard enough, Cooper has bigger things to worry about than who he'll take to prom and whether or not the Poisonfoot Padres will win homecoming. He has less than a year before his eighteenth birthday, when a curse placed on his family will doom him to live in coyote form forever.The last thing he needs to complicate his already messed-up life is a girl, but fate has other plans in mind for him when it brings Eloise "Lou" Whittaker to Poisonfoot. She's grouchy, sarcastic and has no love for her new Texas home, but she might be exactly the right person to help Cooper break the curse.The clock is ticking, and Cooper will have to decide if he's willing to let Lou in on his dirty little secret before it's too late.

The Cookies of Life (Review + Interview)

Judul: The Cookies of Life
Pengarang: JT. Waliyadi
Penerbit: Indie Publishing
Tahun Terbit: 2013
Halaman: 195
Harga: akan segera rilis
Rating: ★★★

Sinopsis:

Kuche Gesaft, sebuah bangunan yang terletak di penghujung Braga 45 adalah sebuah toko kue, dindingnya mengeluarkan beragam aroma adonan dan jika menyentuhnya terasa lembut seperti mentega. Aroma adonan menghantarkan aku pada sebuah kamar besar di lantai atas tepat dalam walk in closet, sebuah buku bersampul kulit bertuliskan Herbst Milch tersimpan. Semua tulisan menunjukkan bahan-bahan untuk membuat kue cokelat, Herbst Milch adalah sebuah buku resep.

Perlahan tapi pasti aku mulai mempelajari resep-resep yang tertulis, mulai dari yang paling simple untuk dijual di sekolah hingga yang paling rumit untuk seorang gadis. Kini semua anak di sekolah mengenal Yuda Hueber, semua anak lelaki ingin menjadi teman dan semua gadis ingin menjadi pacar.

Setiap resep membawa cerita tersendiri, mulai dari roti sebuah gulung yang membuat anak-anak satu sekolah kehilangan kendali, sampai Honey Chocolate Mouse yang membuat Bandung terbakar gairah. Sedikit demi sedikit resep-resep itu menguak dari mana Mami berasal dan siapa aku sesungguhnya, ketika kenyataan telah tiba semuanya sudah terlambat. Hueber Kuche telah menyelimuti SMA 3 Bandung dengan aura kegelapan, membuat Bandung menjadi lautan asmara terlarang, membutakan sahabatku Radine Putera hingga akhirnya membuat diriku mati dalam rasa penyesalan. Ini adalah bagaimana aku Yuda Hueber tewas dalam menemukan jati diri melalui warisan delapan resep kue, hingga membuat aku menjadi The Last Hueber Schokolandenhersteller.

The Last Boyfriend

Title: The Last Boyfriend
Author: J.S. Cooper
Publisher: J.S. Cooper
Year Published: 2013
Pages: 223
Price: $2.99 (iBook)
Rating: ★★★

I was hypnotized by the cover at the first place. Who doesn't think that the man is so hot! Many people on Goodreads agree with me :) So I finally had someone bought this for me. Thank you! This book is written by an indie british author who live in US. This is actually an adult book, but I will skip telling you about the "adult" scene.

This story is about Lucky, a college student who had a part time job at a diner. She had been single for a year. She had gone from boyfriend to boyfriend when she was a freshmen. After the last break up, she decided that she wasn't going to date just to date anymore. She wanted to make sure that any guy that she dated had the possibility of being her last boyfriend that had to fit these criteria:

1. He had to be honest.
2. He had to be good-looking, but not too hot, or he would've too many women after him, something she knew from experience.
3. He had to be looking for a serious relationship, but not be too old or too desperate to settle down.
4. He had to be financially secure, but not too rich, or too many women would be after him.
5. He had to be funny, loyal, faithful, and modest.
6. He had to agree to wait for sex until they were married or engaged.

Her decision was ruined by a guy named Zane. He was came to diner every Friday with a different girl each week. Lucky couldn't deny that he was so cute, sexy, and of course very nice because he left a big tip for her. One day, Lucky went to a movie release party where she saw Zane outside the diner. She had a little conversation with him. She couldn't get him out of her mind! When Lucky met a hollywood star, Braydon Eagle, seemed to have interest in her, Zane turned out over protective.

The story continued with Lucky worked as Zane assistant. He took her to LA for a documentary project. They lived together and had 'fun'. Lucky knew she would never be together with Zane because Zane told her that he didn't do love. He didn't want commitment. As they lived together, Lucky discovered a bigger problems on Zane. He kept telling her to stay away from Braydon but all she could know was a jealousy. On the other hand, Braydon kept telling her that Zane was insane. Zane must had been crazy because of his brother, Noah. Lucky felt like she was trapped between the story of Zane's and Braydon's version.

What happened to Noah? Where is he now? Why Zane and Braydon hate each other? And why Zane is so care about Anglique while he told her there's nothing to do about her?