Monthly Favorites - FEBRUARY!

1. BOOKS: The Edge of Never  by J.A. Redmerski

Another one of those characters that I related to so much! A great story from beginning to end. And the guy was not a bad boy, just tough and sexy and sweet! Even though you're left with a fairly satisfactory ending, there will be a second book. I can't wait to read that!

2. BEAUTY:

• Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation (I am in the color Nude. Love this foundation. The lightest I've ever used and it doesn't start feeling heavy by the end of the day. I have oily, acne prone skin and though  this is light to medium coverage, it smoothes out and evens out my skin tone!)
• Clearasil Ultra Rapid Action (I had stopped using this for awhile and couldn't remember why... until I opened the bottle. It smells soo strong like men's cologne. But it works really really well for me, so I'll get over it!)
• As I Am Coconut CoWash - (This stuff is awesome. It cleaneses your hair without stripping it, but doesn't leave it feeling heavy and limp. In fact, my hair hasn't looked so full and voluminous in a very long time. It's supposed to be for ethnic hair, but my mom [who is white] uses it and loves it as well. You don't need a conditioner with it, but I use one anyways, which only adds to the benefits! You can get it at Sally's.)
• Sinful Colors Nail Polish in Amethyst - (These colors don't last very long and I'm not a fan of the brush, but I love the variety of colors. Especially this one. I got in purple, but it's kind of awesome that it's called Amethyst since that is my birth stone.... ^_^" The website is a bit misleading, the color is more true to purple.)

3.DRAMAS:

• Substitute Princess - (A Taiwanese drama that has completely won me over! I highly recommend this one. Not too heavy in the comedy, but not a sad/sappy drama either! Super fun theme song that I fear if I download, I'll never stop listening to it.)
• Level 7 Civil Servant - (I talked about this one and why I loved it here. Yet another Korean drama I can't pull myself away from!)

4. FOOD:

• Oranges - (Seriously, I've probably had a billion this past month & I'm still eating them like crazy. I've had 2 today of the Cara Cara variety.)
• Lipton Iced Tea in Pomegranate Blueberry - (I hate tea unless it's premade and fruit flavored. Love this kind!! It has just enough of the tea taste without being over powering. I hate tea.... hate.)
• Red Velvet Cupcake Coffee - (My  mom got it for me for my birthday and I've had it almost every morning. I mix it with regular coffee to not use it up and you can still taste it. It's true to name... sooo good!! No link, sorry. I can't find id on the interwebs.)

5. MUSIC:

• "BizzyTigerYoonMirae" by MFBTY  - (Yo! The beat, the lyrics... TASHA... Just perfect! Add this to your workout playlist!)
• "Ring Ma Bell' by Two-X - (Fun, girly, a bit too girly at times. But I like it. I LOVE LOVE the colors in this music video, their hair, makeup and outfits. Everything. I enjoyed their debut song "Double Up" which was less girly, something I usually like, but for some reason, I like this one a little better.)
• "Thrift Shop" by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - (I'm late on this train. But I hate this song. I love this song. I can't help it. I love the lyrics, the beat and the flow of the rap. So, yeah... I'm addicted. I think Macklemore looks like Jeremy Scott's little brother.)
• "있다 없으니까 (Gone, Not Around Any Longer)" by SISTAR19 - (I didn't love this song as much as their other, "Ma Boy", but it is still a beautiful song. Though the dance is predictable. I love Hyolin's voice and Bora's subtle/sexy rapping! And can I please have their legs & shoes? Please? 제발?)

I recommend you check any and all of these things out asap!! I'll try to think of all new things for March.
What are your favorites from February?!

Drama of the Week - Level 7 Civil Servant

» Level 7 Civil Servant | 7급 공무원 «

I tried to watch the first episode of this drama and gave up because it bored me. I wanted to like it because I liked the lead female, Choi Kang Hee, in Protect the Boss. But after about 20 minutes I gave up. Being addicted to Tumblr and following a few Kdrama related blogs means I get gifs, photosets and screencaps from a lot of dramas. There were plenty that kept showing up for this one, so I decided to give it another shot and ended up watching the first 8 episodes in just about 3 days! It is seriously hilarious and adorable. I thought the NIS aspect was going to be too much. Too much action, drama, yawnnn... but it actually adds to the comedy and sometimes, the drama is a nice break.
Definitely a win, and I'm going to continue watching this one!

There is romance, comedy and just enough action and drama to balance it all out. I don't necessarily see a lot of connection between the actors, but it's so adorable that I end up looking past that and just enjoy the show.
If you're a fan of the Kpop group, 2PM, you'll be happy to know the member Chansung is in this drama as well. I'm not in love with his character, but I don't mind looking at him. ;-)

Summary of the drama:

Love and espionage collide in this drama of the National Intelligence Service’s rookie agents. Han Gil Ro (Joo Won) realizes his dream of becoming an international man of mystery, after a childhood spent pouring over James Bond films. Kim Seo Won (Choi Kang Hee) spices things up as a goofy, yet determined agent, but it's not all 007 glamor. Both Gil Ro and Seo Won must learn what it takes to uphold their sworn duty, even at the sacrifice of their happiness — and lives.

If you'd like to watch too, and get totally hooked, check out these websites with English subtitles: Dramafever | Hulu

REVIEW: Fallen Too Far by Abbi Glines

Fallen Too Far by Abbie Glines
Published: 14th December 2012
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary
Format: Kindle
Series: Too Far, book one.
Goodreads | Amazon | Author

To want what you’re not supposed to have…
She is only nineteen.
She is his new stepfather’s daughter.

She is still naïve and innocent due to spending the last three years taking care of her sick mother.

But for twenty-four year old Rush Finlay, she is the only thing that has ever been off limits. His famous father’s guilt money, his mother’s desperation to win his love, and his charm are the three reasons he has never been told no.
Blaire Wynn left her small farmhouse in Alabama, after her mother passed away, to move in with her father and his new wife in their sprawling beach house along the Florida gulf coast. She isn’t prepared for the lifestyle change and she knows she’ll never fit into this world. Then there is her sexy stepbrother who her father leaves her with for the summer while he runs off to Paris with his wife. Rush is as spoiled as he is gorgeous. He is also getting under her skin. She knows he is anything but good for her and that he’ll never be faithful to anyone. He is jaded and has secrets Blaire knows she may never uncover but even knowing all of that…
Blaire just may have fallen too far.

My thoughts:
I'm not going to rehash the plot and just get straight to the review. 

I have almost every book Abbie Glines has written on my Kindle, and this was probably the worst book to judge the author by. I haven't read any of her books before this one, and a part of me doesn't even want to bother with the rest.

Aside from it being so poorly written, it had absolutely no foundation to their attraction to each other. I didn't understand why she wanted him so badly when she rarely ever spent time with him. And because she never spent time with him, you don't get to know anything about him. Nothing about the book felt substantial or real.

I thought I was going to like the Blaire's character; she seemed so bold at the beginning, but she was just another weak, submissive girl who does whatever she's told by some guy who is a jerk whom she believes is absolutely perfect for no reason. Her obedience went beyond her fear of being kicked out, especially after she had enough money to move out. She was borderline obsessed with this guy she put unfairly on a pedestal he didn't belong on.

He puts her in a room under the stairs and I could do nothing but laugh. And did nothing but picture her as Harry Potter when she mentioned it.

I spent more time laughing than actually being in a serious state of mind.

She believes he is perfect, he believes she is perfect... Neither of them have any reason to believe so. At all.

There was a "revelation" towards the end that is meant to be a shocker, but honestly, I saw it coming. It was one of the three theories I had in mind. Nothing about it was shocking.

At the end she seemed to develop a backbone and hold her own, and then she quickly let that go for a "proper goodbye" that was just completely idiotic in my opinion.

I don't know why authors have this need to write about girl's who are just strong minded enough to somehow make them a protagonist that we like, but then tear it all down when she falls for a guy? Why can't she be strong, strong willed, strong minded, independent, smart and fall in love without losing that part of her. Without getting weak kneed every time he speaks or touches her? Submission isn't cute. At all. And I'm 100% over bad boys.

I will read the second one in hopes that I learn more about Rush and possibly get more of the other characters I actually liked, such as Woods, Grant and Bethy.

I'm super glad to see that Woods and Grant will be getting their own books as well!

[Cover: I absolutely love the colors and scenery, but that is the most awkward cover kiss. And her hair is too blonde for us to believe that's natural.]

I sincerely hope that her other books are better and they're not just taking up space on my Kindle.
Teasers: one | two

½

REVIEW: The Edge of Never by J.A. Redmerski

The Edge of Never by J.A. Redmerski

Published: 15th November 2012
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary
Format: Kindle
Series: The Edge of Never, book one.
Goodreads | Amazon | Author

Twenty-year-old Camryn Bennett thought she knew exactly where her life was going. But after a wild night at the hottest club in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, she shocks everyone-including herself-when she decides to leave the only life she's ever known and set out on her own. Grabbing her purse and her cell phone, Camryn boards a Greyhound bus ready to find herself. Instead, she finds Andrew Parrish.
Sexy and exciting, Andrew lives life like there is no tomorrow. He persuades Camryn to do things she never thought she would and shows her how to give in to her deepest, most forbidden desires. Soon he becomes the center of her daring new life, pulling love and lust and emotion out of her in ways she never imagined possible. But there is more to Andrew than Camryn realizes. Will his secret push them inseparably together-or destroy them forever?

My thoughts:
I have been obsessed with New Adult, and lately (and probably for quite some time) that's all I want to read. This is one of the books I have loved in this genre probably my second favourite, next to The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden.

This is one of those books that captivate you from the beginning and keep you on your toes as to what happens next. You know they'll be together in the end, but you don't know how, or what exactly their journey will entail. And you never expect it to be so beautiful!

This book is mainly set from Camryn's POV, but it does go back and forth between the two. You get into the minds...the very complicated minds of these characters, their emotions, their demons, their love, their fights, and their resolutions.
It's a journey that makes me want to live. It makes me want to get up and go after something. I'm not exactly sure what that thing would be, but reading someone else's story, though fictional, makes me want to just live. And I believe that is what this story was supposed to leave with you.

I was a little scared for Camryn when she decided to just go with Andrew wherever he wanted to go when their road trip began, but at the same time I was so gald she did. The people and places they ended up, especially New Orleans (my home in my heart), I loved every second.

Though the content is a bit mature, it isn't sex, sex, sex right away. They build up to romance, trying to figure out what they're doing in this journey and with their lives.

Andrew was never pushy, just very very protective. I'm not the biggest fan of bad boys, but I like guys who look like bad boys, and luckily that is Andrew.

One of my favourite scenes was when they laid on the hood of the car and let the rain fall on them. It's actually on my bucket-list to lay on the ground, in the bed of a truck or on the hood of a car while it's raining, with someone I love.

This book is a gorgeous journey that is sweet, a tiny bit of fluff, serious, heart-wrenching (especially the ending), funny, cute, just....beautiful.

I highly recommend this read. I cannot wait for the sequel. Even though this book ended in a way that was satisfying enough, the next book will be mostly from Andrew's POV, but still alternate back and forth.
I wish that I had a memorable quote. But I was so into the book I forgot to pick one!