Broken Forest Blog Tour Teaser & Giveaway!

Hopeless he'll never be more than the boy who didn't save his brother, 17-year-old Avikar accepts his life as the family stable boy, trying to forget the past. But when his sister, Jeslyn, is kidnapped, the thought of losing another sibling catapults him on a desperate quest. With his best friend by his side, and using the tracking skills he learned from his father, he discovers Jeslyn has been taken, kidnapped by one Lucino, the young lord of Daath, a mystical place thought only to exist in fables.

And Lucino has plans for Jeslyn.

BUY:

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / KOBO

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Teaser

I puffed out my cheeks and crossed my eyes. She giggled, and I jumped to my feet and ran, taunting her to chase me. I could hear her high-pitched laughter catching up to me, and I turned around. There, creeping towards her, were three unfamiliar men.

       Three men that should not have been this deep in the forest, so far from the local routes.

       “Calli, come here, now,” I said in a stern voice, trying to hide my fear. A worried look crossed her face, and she hurried to me. I grabbed her as soon as she was close and wrapped my arms around her. No one was touching my sister. 

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Eliza graduated from Dowling College with a BS in Visual Communications. When she’s not arguing with excel at her day job, or playing Dragon Age 2, again, she’s writing. Her stories hold a bit of the fantastical and there’s always a romance. She resides on Long Island with her husband, two kids and one very snuggly pit bull.

Twitter / Tumblr / Website  / Pinterest / Facebook

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Giveaway

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Teaser Tuesday - THE LONG WAY HOME by Andrew Klavan

 Then I  heard it again. A deep, complaining moan. It was coming through the window. It was coming from outside. It was coming from the direction of the cemetery.
I stopped breathing. Long seconds passed.I told myself I was imagining things.I told myself to lure back down, to close my eyes,  go to sleep, forget about it.
 But there was no way. No way. 

- pg. 109

The Never by Kristina Circelli Book Blast!

The Never by Kristina Circelli
Genre: Fantasy for 18+

“Out of nothing, we create something.”
Arianna has spent her entire life being called a dreamer, an artist who created a world no one else can see. And for her entire life, she has taken the medication that keeps that world – and the one who brought her there – at bay.
Now an adult, Arianna reawakens that part of herself kept locked away in the darkest corners of her mind. When she hides her medicine from her fiancé’s ever-watchful eye, he returns – the shadow in the night who collects her for an adventure known only in her fantasies.
But something is different about this world called The Never. It is no longer the cheerful place filled with light and laughter that she knew as a child. Now, the sea creatures drag their visitors into the depths of murky waters. The natives battle to the death against the tribe of children. And the pirates, led by the feared captain called The Hunter, seek out Arianna for their own sinister plans.
As Arianna goes deeper into The Never, she discovers just what her connection to the land means – and must choose between her life rooted in reality, and the world where anything is possible.

The Never is currently FREE on Amazon, from now until the 20th!! Head over to Amazon to take advantage of the deal!

Chapter 4 - No Longer a Child

      She saw him off, making earnest promises to always remember her medication, putting on the happiest face she could manage until his car disappeared down the driveway. Lily the puppy pulled on her new leash, eager to explore her surroundings. Although the sun was setting, Arianna allowed the dog to pull her into the woods, taking her on an evening stroll before they settled in for the night. Lily sniffed at the plants as she passed them, pouncing on flickering shadows and barking at nonexistent figures.
      Arianna laughed softly as she watched the puppy play, giving her plenty of room on the leash to wander and explore. She’d always wanted a dog as a child, only to be told by her mother that animals were dirty and not meant to be kept as pets. The refusal only fueled her desire, as did the promises that maybe, if she was good and took her medicine, then a puppy would one day be hers to hold and cherish.
      The sun slipped below the horizon, casting the woods in shadows. Arianna glanced over her shoulder and was comforted by the glow of lights in the cabin not too far in the distance. She tried not to wander too far from home at night, knowing what dangers lurked in a forest of heavy brush and wildlife. John didn’t  like her strolling through the woods at dark – or during the day, for that matter – so she tried not to upset him by staying close to home.
      “A gift of life, to keep death at bay.”
      Arianna turned about, searching for the familiar voice. She saw only night and darkness instead. Her heart beat wildly, both at the surprise intrusion and the possibilities of what the voice’s return may mean. “What…what death?”
      “Death of love, of heart, of soul.”
      She took in a deep breath, grip tightening on the leash. She wanted to see the figure’s face, needed to see it. Lily sensed her new owner’s hesitation and barked once, taking a stance at her master’s feet. “Who are you?” Arianna asked, narrowing her eyes.
      “You know who I am. You have known me since you were a child.”
      “I knew a child as a child. You sound like a man.” She felt a brush of fingers against her neck, as though a hand was pulling her hair back. She turned but saw only empty air.
      “I have watched you, Arianna of the Stars. I have watched you, dreamed with you, grown up with you.”
      Lily pulled at the leash and scratched at Arianna’s ankles, eager to get away from whatever was agitating her master. Arianna let the leash slip through her fingers, not noticing the dog as she ran back for the cabin on four wobbly legs and waited on the back steps, whimpering quietly.
      Free to wander on her own, the enraptured woman began to walk, slowly passing tree after tree. Her hands grazed over tree trunks, eyes grazed over leaves and shrubs. Moonlight streamed in through the canopy, creating a white glow that softened the night setting. “Who are you?” Her repeated question traveled a light breeze, laughter echoing back at her.
      “I am the one you dream of, the one you seek.”
      She saw something then, an outline moving through the trees. The figure was watching her, moving with her. If she looked hard enough, she could almost see a face, eyes. Not bright eyes, but seeking, piercing nonetheless. “Who are you?”
      Those eyes, dark green and ever watchful, latched on to hers. They followed her as they walked, peering around leaf and branch, staring through the moonlight. “I am the dream. I am the reality,” he answered, voice like a secret spoken in hushed whispers. “I am the eternal. I am the forgotten.” They moved closer together in the woods, yet still at a distance. “I am the always. I am the never.”
      Something inside her mind clicked. Arianna paused between two trees, one hand on either trunk. She knew that name. In the farthest corners of her mind, she remembered, and the memory hardened in her gut. Oh yes, she knew, and wished that her mind wasn’t suddenly filled with recollections of salted shores and pale pink skies. “You are not The Never. The Never left me. The Never forsook me. The Never forgot me.”
“No,” came the soothing, reassuring croon. “The Never did not forget you. The Never could not reach you, Arianna of the Stars.”
“Stop calling me that,” Arianna snapped, taking a step back. “Stop pretending to be him. Tell me who you are.”
“I have told you. You must believe me”
She heard the desperation in his request, but ignored it and instead slipped a hand in her pocket. “Have it your way. I know how to get rid of you.” She swallowed the blue pill and he reacted fast, exploding into her line of vision and grabbing her wrist.
“What was that?” he demanded. “What did you take?”
Unable to respond, Arianna simply stared up at him. This was not the boy the remembered, the boy who spoke to her as a child and led her on exciting other-worldly adventures. This was a man, perhaps a year older than her, perhaps even a year or two younger. There was something innocent about his forest green, almond-shaped eyes, and yet, something very sinister in the way he pressed his full lips together in a knowing smirk. His jawline was strong, as were his cheekbones, strong enough to take one of many hits she suspected he was used to enduring, and maybe even encouraged.
      He was tan, the tan of a man who spent his days in the sun, with wild hair the color of the setting sun. For the briefest of moments she longed to run her fingers through those thick locks, which hung down to his ears in messy strands. Bamboo pieces decorated his ears, pierced through twice in each.
His clothing, if that’s what it could be called, matched his eyes. His torso was wrapped in a soft, thin shirt that clung to his skin, with wide straps that crisscrossed at his shoulders to reveal finely toned muscle. The deep green of a material Arianna didn’t recognize covered his legs with leaf-shaped designs, ending just below the knees. He was barefoot, which only added to his mysterious aura. Strapped around his waist was a leather belt, with a dagger sheathed at his side.
Boy had most certainly become man.
“What did you take?” he asked again when she only gazed at him. His grip tightened on her wrist, causing her to wince.
“Um…just, just my medicine.”
“Medicine.” He said the word quietly, as though trying to understand it. Then he took her by the shoulders, almost too urgently. “Medicine! You must never take it again.”
Her brow furrowed. “I have to. It keeps me well.”
“No. You must never take it, my Arianna. It is why I could not find you for so long, why we could not be together.”
Arianna hesitated, savoring the feel of his rough hands on her bare skin. She had never known this figure in her dreams as a man, and was fascinated by the creature he had become. “We…we had adventures together, as children?”
He smiled, gently brushing back a strand of her hair. “Yes, we did. You cannot remember them all now, but you will. Promise me you will not take your medicine again. Promise me, and I will return tomorrow to show you what you have forgotten. We will fly from this place, and have our adventures again.”
An internal alarm was triggered, a familiar word, a familiar worry. Arianna ignored it and smiled up at him just before he faded into the night. “I promise.”

A lover of the written word since the time she first picked up a pen, Kristina Circelli shares her passion for fiction in her multi-genre novels.
Circelli is the author of several fiction books, including The Sour Orange Derby, a young adult novel about family and childhood imagination steeped in southern traditions; Beyond the Western Sun, Walk the Red Road, and Into the Shadow Realm of The Whisper Legacy, which centers on Native American cultures and the legends that come to life in the spirit realm; and The Helping Hands, a book that follows a gang of friends who rescue abused children. 
Currently, Circelli works as a copywriter, author, book editor, and creative writing professor at the University of North Florida, where she received her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in English. She resides in Florida, with her husband and two kittens.

Website | Twitter | Blog

Saved by Lorhainne Eckhart Book Blast & Giveaway!

Saved by Lorhainne Eckhart
Genre: Adult romance
Published May 11, 2013

Growing up I had dreams that one day I'd fall in love, get married and start a family. Then one night I was taken. But I survived, I escaped and I was saved. Eric didn't see me as  damaged. He didn't see my baby as a monster. He protected me, he kept me safe ... he saved me.

BUY:

Amazon

     “Thank you, Captain,” was all she said, but he could feel her stiffen even though he was no longer touching her.
     “I’ll be back later to see how you’re doing.” He didn’t know why he did it when he reached down and smoothed back the stray wisps of hair that dangled in her face.
     “Remember what I said, Abby: You’re safe here. If you’re hungry, you say something. If you’re scared, tell me. If you’re hurting, you have to speak up. No one is going to hurt you here. I don’t know how to make you believe it.”
     She was staring at him now, but for the life of him he couldn’t figure out what was going on in her head. He let out a sigh because there was nothing more he could do here. His hand was on the door, and he was about to yank it open when she said, “Captain, could you do me a favor?” He turned around and faced her and was nearly undone by her eyes, swimming with a sheen of tears.
     “Could you keep telling me I’m safe? I think if I hear you tell me over and over, I’ll start to believe it. I think I will.”

2012 was an amazing year in the publishing world for me, and it started with The Forgotten Child, which landed on the Amazon bestseller list for western romance and romance series. With the publication of each novel and short story, each one made its way to the top ten for its respective genre. 2013 has seen me posted in the top 100 authors on Amazon for romantic suspense and mystery/thrillers, police procedural.

Where did it all begin? In 2008, I published my first novel, The Captain’s Lady, a contemporary military romance, through The Wild Rose Press. This year I have a crazy writing schedule with four books scheduled for release and six short stories.

I write three genres, edgy romantic suspense (Walk the Right Road Series), western romance (Finding Love ~ The Outsider Series), and young adult mystery, and I warn my readers to expect the unexpected. I’m the mother of three children, one a special needs child. We live on a small Island in the Pacific Northwest, where I advocate for the environment and the rights of special needs children. Somewhere in my busy schedule, I do find time to write. I encourage you to contact me by email; I do answer every email I receive.

Stay tuned. There is more to come from the Walk the Right Road Series and Finding Love ~ The Outsider Series. 

And to my readers and all of you who have shared my stories with your family and friends, a big heartfelt thank you.

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RUNAWAY by Lorhainne Eckhart Book Blast & Giveaway!

Runaway by Lorhainne Eckhart
Genre: Adult contemporary romance
Kindle edition published May 29th 2013

"Where's my wife..."
Andy Friessen has been looking for Laura for six months. After she walked out with her son, no goodbye, with no money and leaving everything he bought her, behind. But he knew she'd come crawling back, she needed him. After all he married her to protect her. And any woman would give their right arm to be his wife.
And then for six months his conscience poked at what an ass he'd been: Until he's served...for divorce.
 Even though Andy is the first man she's every truly loved, and the first to break her heart, Laura plans to never see him again. After all to him she was nothing but a nuisance, someone he could order around, just another woman to warm his bed at night.
But Laura is hurt and she's thought nothing through including the fact she's keeping the biggest surprise from him yet.
She's pregnant.
And when Andy finds out ... all hell will break loose.

Buy:

Amazon

     Just watching the scene had something disturbing squeezing deep inside her. It wasn’t sudden; it had crept up throughout the day and through each second that Andy had spent with Gabriel tonight. He could be the perfect father, the perfect man and role model for her son. She cleared her throat but nearly choked when she whispered, “Goodnight, Gabriel. Have a good sleep.”

     This was all so confusing. What did Andy want? Why hadn’t he left, and why was he taking such an interest in Gabriel? Her throat felt all scratchy and tight, but that was only because she wanted to tuck her face in the pillow and cry those thousand tears she’d cried almost every night for Andy. All she’d ever wanted was to be loved.

     What he’d done today was horrible, cruel, and she wanted to scream and yell “Why?” He had stayed, caring for her tonight and today at the hospital in a way that made her feel important, special, but she also knew she wasn’t any of that to him, not in the way she wanted to be. It was the babies. She was just the vessel, a warm cocoon for a rich man’s babies, and that was something she could not allow herself to forget. He was powerful, he was rich, and his family was dangerous.

     “Are you all right?” He brushed his finger across her brows.

     “Yeah, fine,” she blurted as she pulled back, her skin burning from the spark of his touch.

     “You look worried about something, upset.” He was watching her, studying her as if he knew what she was thinking, and she couldn’t have that.

     “No, I’m just...” She couldn’t think of what to say when her brain suddenly blanked out. That always happened when Andy stood so close to her and watched her with compelling blue eyes that could set her soul on fire, so she shut her mouth and shook her head.

     He sat right beside her on the bed so his hip pressed into hers. She knew all too well what those slim hips and tight abs looked like naked and pressed against her hips, nestled between her thighs. It was almost too much heat for her, so she squirmed and tried to slide over and away from him.

     “You all right? You look uncomfortable.”

     He wouldn’t even look away. Uncomfortable, hell yeah. And it was all his fault. “Just stiff is all.”

     “Can I?” He rested his hand over her swollen belly, where the babies had been kicking furiously for the last hour.

     He was connecting with her babies. She wanted to scream and yell at him, “Hell no! Keep your hands off!” but her body was betraying her. The reality was that she wanted him to touch her, to run his hands over every square inch of her.

     He didn’t wait for her to say anything, but then, she couldn’t get her tongue to move. The damn thing had thickened, and her throat had completed dried up as he invaded her space. My God, he even smelled good, and his scruffy jaw...she longed to reach up and run her hands over it.

     His touch sent shockwaves through her, and the babies responded in kind. She’d swear they jumped from his touch, as if they knew that Andy was their daddy. He smiled that charming, boyish grin she’d only seen a few times. Never once had he smiled just for her.

     “Wow, that’s amazing. Did you feel that?”

     For a moment, she felt herself being pulled into his joy, just like a little boy’s first Christmas, but she had to look away, to move away from his touch, because she’d never again be treated as if she was nothing. Andy Friessen could turn on a dime, and she’d never play second again. “Yeah, I did. Listen, I’m tired.” She scooted over and lifted his hand off her belly. She couldn’t look at him even though she could feel the sharp change in him as if she’d just ripped away all his joy. So why was she feeling guilty? She wasn’t the bad guy here.

2012 was an amazing year in the publishing world for me, and it started with The Forgotten Child, which landed on the Amazon bestseller list for western romance and romance series. With the publication of each novel and short story, each one made its way to the top ten for its respective genre. 2013 has seen me posted in the top 100 authors on Amazon for romantic suspense and mystery/thrillers, police procedural.

Where did it all begin? In 2008, I published my first novel, The Captain’s Lady, a contemporary military romance, through The Wild Rose Press. This year I have a crazy writing schedule with four books scheduled for release and six short stories.

I write three genres, edgy romantic suspense (Walk the Right Road Series), western romance (Finding Love ~ The Outsider Series), and young adult mystery, and I warn my readers to expect the unexpected. I’m the mother of three children, one a special needs child. We live on a small Island in the Pacific Northwest, where I advocate for the environment and the rights of special needs children. Somewhere in my busy schedule, I do find time to write. I encourage you to contact me by email; I do answer every email I receive.

Stay tuned. There is more to come from the Walk the Right Road Series and Finding Love ~ The Outsider Series. 

And to my readers and all of you who have shared my stories with your family and friends, a big heartfelt thank you.

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Drama of the Week - Monstar

» Monstar | 몬스타« 

It has been far too long since I've seen a Korean drama focused on teens in high school that I LOVED. 

 So thankful for this one!! I like to think of it as a mix of the dramas School 2013 &  Dream High!
 The lead male (pictured left), Yoon Seol Chan is played by Yong Jung Hyung, a member of the kpop group, BEAST (aka B2ST)! I  had my biases within that group prior to this drama... now he may very well have taken that place!! I love him!  I'm surprised it's his first drama.
I love the sweetness, yet strength of the lead female's  character, Min Se Yi.
 I'm not the biggest fan of  the second lead male, Jung Sun Woo yet I can't bring myself to hate him.  Another actress in this drama  is a singer in one of my favorite girl groups, GLAM.  And probably my bias in GLAM; Da Hee.
 Sadly there will only be 12 episodes.  The scene of last week's episode...  crazy!  is it Friday yet!?  I'm ready for the next episode!!
Episode 9  will be aired this Friday.


Summary of the drama:

"Monstar" depicts the lives of ordinary teens who are injured psychologically and heal themselves through the power of music.Yoon Sul-Chan (Yong Joon-Hyung) is the vocalist for the group "Man in Black". He carries deep wounds within his mind, but doesn't express his feelings. Because of his hot temper, he causes trouble. His management company then orders him to carry himself as an ideal student. He joins a music band at school, while facing unexpected events.

If you'd like to watch too, and be totally hooked, check out these sites with English subtitles: Dramafever | Viki


 If you're watching this drama to,  tell me what YOU think about it!!!

Waiting On Wednesday - Wild Cards by Simone Elkeles

 "Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

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 Wild Cards by Simone Elkeles 

 YA Contemporary |  Walker Books | 288 pages

 Expected Publication:  24th September 2013

goodreads |  author

After getting kicked out of boarding school, bad boy Derek Fitzpatrick has no choice but to live with his ditzy stepmother while his military dad is deployed. Things quickly go from bad to worse when he finds out she plans to move them back to her childhood home in Illinois. Derek’s counting the days before he can be on his own, and the last thing he needs is to get involved with someone else’s family drama.
Ashtyn Parker knows one thing for certain--people you care about leave without a backward glance. A football scholarship would finally give her the chance to leave. So she pours everything into winning a state championship, until her boyfriend and star quarterback betrays them all by joining their rival team. Ashtyn needs a new game plan, but it requires trusting Derek—someone she barely knows, someone born to break the rules. Is she willing to put her heart on the line to try and win it all?

I have read every other book by Elkeles and loved them!! The "How to Ruin" series is my favorite!

It has been far too long since she has released anything and I got curious; I was pleasantly surprised to see a new series from one of my favorite authors!! I cannot wait to get this one in my hands!! :-)

 Are you excited about Wild Cards?!

K-Pop Break - 2NE1

After over a year 2NE1 has finally comeback!! And I have to say I'm rather excited about it and luckily... I love the song. It's such a fun summer song. I'm used to a lot of their songs being all about breaking up and the bad guy. But this one is about.... Falling in Love... hence the title. Heh.

Enjoy the video below and be sure to download the single via iTunes.

Drama of the Week - Love Around (+Giveaway*)

» Love Around | 真愛黑白配 «

As I've mentioned before in a previous "Drama of the Week"  post, I love Taiwanese dramas!! I started this one simply because Substitute Princess ended and I was craving another Taiwanese couple!! 

 So far there are 4 episodes released and I love the chemistry of these two.  It  could be due to the fact that this is their 2nd drama together (Love, Now is the other one, & I plan on starting it very soon)!  But in the drama,  they become friends first.  They haven't been forced into any situation,  they're simply keeping their relationship because they want to and enjoy the presence of each other's company.  

 They're initially drawn together because of their recent breakup to the partners they thought were "the one."  Now,  of course with any drama,  there will be love between the two,  but I'm loving that it's more of a  natural/ realistic approach. 

*Spoiler Alert*  With the preview to next week's episode,  I'm thinking someone had already developed feelings.  Color me excited!! :-P 

Summary of the drama:

While still reeling from the shock of his breakup, Zhou Zhen witnessed a girl, Liang Xiao Shu, getting dumped by her cheating boyfriend and didn't know how to fight back. Zhou stepped in and helped Liang exact revenge. They became friends over the incident. But their budding relationship soon suffered a great blow when Liang inadvertently made enemy with Zhou's father on a radio station. Could their relationship survive parental disapproval or die in its infancy?

If you'd like to watch too, and be totally hooked, check out these sites with English subtitles:
Dramafever | Viki

Thank you so much for stopping by!!
*To learn more about the giveaway, click here!!

Tune Tuesday -KPOP!!

 Today is one of my new fave girl groups in Kpop, Chocolat.  Pronounced sha-koh-la... like the French,  Their debut with a rather less than impressive song.  But with the release of their first mini album &  second single, "I Like It",  they grew on me!!  I'm glad to see they've kept it up and had come back with another song I enjoy.
 This four member group;  Melanie, Julianne, Soa & Tia  have 3 biracial members,  half Korean & half American(white).  My bias happens to be Melanie.

 Their latest single, " Black Tinkerbell"  features water dances, story lines and addictive beats.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE MV!!!

Teaser Tuesday - THE STORY OF US by Deb Caletti

"In the hall I ran smack into him. Ash.  He was just out of the shower too,  same as Dan.  His hair was wet.  He took my arms.
"Well," he said. "How's that for timing."
 God,  he smelled good."
-pg 210

(I'm currently paying on my phone,  so sorry for any m mistakes!!)

Monthly Favorites - JUNE!

1. BOOKS:  The Keep by Veronica Wolff
I have read and loved all three previous books in The Watchers series by Veronica Wolff. When I received the book in the mail with a paper insert saying this was the final book, I prepared myself for an epic finale... but was left with a very very open ending with too many questions for it to be the end. So I turned to Twitter to ask the wonderful Veronica Wolff herself about a next book and she responded with this...[click here]! So yeah.. I'm pretty excited! :) Read my review here.

2. BEAUTY:

•  Wet n Wild Megalast Polish in "I Need a Refresh-Mint" (I don't think I've ever used a nail polish as frequently as this color! It is the perfect minty color without being too bright. It's subtle and perfect for the summer. I have it on along with the their polish in "On a Trip". The brush is wide and flat which is only a bonus. I hate skinny brushes!
• Wet n Wild Fergie Centerstage Collection Shimmer Palette in "Champagne Glow" (These names are ridiculous. Anyways... Though this claims to be highly pigmented, I find that you really have to get a good amount on before it starts to show. Even with that, I love the slightly rose gold color it gives for a highlight. So it looks like you have color as well as a nice glow.)
• Neutrogena Clear Pore Cleanser/Mask (I've mentioned before that I have oily very acne prone skin. I have used many cleansers, but have recently learned that salicylic acid doesn't work as well for me as benzoyl peroxide. I loved the premise of this being both a cleanser and mask. I have only used it as a mask once, but a cleanser every morning and love the feeling. Sometimes--for a little extra oil control, I'll use my Olay Fresh Effects Shine Shine Go Away Cleanser with it and I feel my skin is perfectly balanced all day.) 
• Neutrogena Skin Clearing Oil Free Makeup Foundation (This foundation is perfect for me. It doesn't clog my pores, feels light on the skin,is super matte, and because it has salicylic acid in it--it's fighting acne as it's hiding it. Though this specific bottle is a little too orange & dark for my skin, I mix it with my Revlon Nearly Naked foundation to get the perfect color.)
• Garnier The Radiance Renewer Cleansing Gelée (I bought this on a whim. It was in a pump bottle, had a lot on the cover, but what drew me in was the promise of renewing dull skin and the fact that it had citric extract and hydroxy acid in it. It also says the cleanser is a "cushion-gel technology." Well, I didn't understand it until I used it. It comes out as a gel and becomes a very latherous foam that smells and feels so good. I really feel like it has been helping with the dark spots and bringing...light back to my skin!
• Formula 10.0.6 Seriously Shine Free Matifying Oil-Free Moisturizer (This stuff smells strongly [but I like it] of aloe and bamboo...because they're both ingredients. I believe that this is the first lotion that has given me moisture and actual kept me matte. I'm a sucker for packaging, and the bold yet simple box is what drew me in. I had never heard of this brand before and bought it on a hunch... plus WalGreens had it marked down to $3! I don't think they'll be selling it anymore and I wish I bought another while they had some left. But I believe that ULTA will be selling it. *crosses fingers* I'm super intrigued to try other products from this brand. The only let down is that there isn't any SPF.
• Alpha Hydrox Cream (I read that Alpha Hydroxy cream was very good for preventing fine lines and wrinkles as well as helping scarring and dark spots. So, I bought this. I know that it's helping my acne scars heal clearing, but very very old scars and dark spots are taking longer. I will say that this stuff kind of burns when I put it on... but I don't mind. Because anything with AHA makes your skin more sensitive to the sun, you must apply a sunscreen. [I add some when I'm going outside to my Formula 10.0.6 lotion.])

3. DRAMAS:

• Nail Shop Paris (This drama just finished, so expect a review sometime this week! By far the weirdest drama I've ever seen!!!!!!!)
• Monstar (Ugh...!! So so good! Joon Hyung from BEAST/B2ST plays the lead, and before this drama I didn't think twice about him in B2ST... now he very well may have become my bias! He is perfect!! *currently airing* Pic to the right of Yong Joon Hyung and Ha Yeon Soo, leads.)
• Love Around (Yay...!! Another Taiwanese drama to love. Of course, with any drama I love in the beginning... somewhere they lose steam and fall flat, but I'm crossing my fingers with this one. I love the two leads chemistry! That could also because they were in a previous drama together called Love Now....I think I need to watch it for their chemistry alone!)

4. MUSIC:

• "하.니.쁜. ADTOY" by 2PM (Best song from these boys since "Hands Up"... hands down. Heh.)
• "LOVE" by EvoL (Mannnnn I love these girls. Soo fun and addictive!)
• "Tarzan" by Wonder Boyz (Can I just say how horrible their debut song was... yeah well, this one is far from. Even my little brother plays this song over and over!)
• "Hold on For Dear Love" by Bridgit Mendler (After watching Good Luck Charlie, I was surprised this girl could sing! And I love the whole album, but this is by far my favourite song.)
• "Love Will Tell Us Where to Go" by Bridgit Mendler (Again... love this album and love the vibe of this. I feel like it's in the middle of pop, r&b and jazz... but more pop. If that makes sense!)

Soooo that's it. I know it's a lot, but I haven't had enough for one month since March, so I decided to combine them in this month. Next time, I'll narrow it down a bit, but this is that. ^_^"

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? Jazzy July & A Giveaway!

Good morning! And happy July! I love when the first day of a new month falls on a Monday. I have no idea why. :)
This week is a busy one, as I'll be packing to move, cleaning and introducing a feature this month called Jazzy July, where I'll [try to] post every single day--sometimes multiple times--and at the end of the month have two separate giveaways! Whoo! But I kind of ask for ONE* thing; you guys get me to 200 followers by August 15th! Why that day?.... I just like it. ^_^"  Even if I don't make it to 200, I'll have one giveaway starting July 29th. I'll have a form for you to fill out then and it will run for two weeks.
Spread the word and let them know about the giveaway [facebook, your blog, twitter, instagram, keek, vine, whatever you use]. What will you be winning? Either a $10 iTunes e-giftcard or $10 on Book Depository. I may also throw in some books off of my own book shelf I need to get rid of. One [1] person will win one of the prizes for a total of two [2] winners. (There may be more if I choose to give away books of my own in this giveaway!)

Now... on to It's Monday! What Are You Reading? A weekly post hosted by One Persons Journey Through a World of Books.

I have been in a weird reading slump where it's very rare  for a book to grab my attention and make me want to read, so these are what I've completed, am currently reading and hope to read soon!

Recently Finished:

1. Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt - 4/5 stars
2. The Keep by Veronica Wolff - [5/5 stars review] 

Currently Reading: 

1. The Story of Us by Deb Caletti
2. Viral Nation by Shaunta Grimes [2nd July 2013]

Up Soon:

1. Second Rate Chances by Holly Stephens
2. Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone