
The Romanov Cross by Robert Masello
(Started: April 09, 2013; Finished: May 16, 2013)
Summary/Description:
Nearly one hundred years ago, a desperate young woman crawled ashore on a desolate arctic island, carrying a terrible secret and a mysterious, emerald-encrusted cross. A century later, acts of man, nature, and history converge on that same forbidding shore with a power sufficient to shatter civilization as we know it.
Army epidemiologist Frank Slater is facing a court-martial, but after his punishment is mysteriously lifted, Slater is offered a job no one else wants—to travel to a small island off the coast of Alaska and investigate a potentially lethal phenomenon: The permafrost has begun to melt, exposing bodies from a colony that was wiped out by the dreaded Spanish flu of 1918. Frank must determine if the thawed remains still carry the deadly virus in their frozen flesh and, if so, ensure that it doesn’t come back to life.
Frank and his handpicked team arrive by helicopter, loaded down with high-tech tools, prepared to exhume history. The colony, it transpires, was once settled by a sect devoted to the mad Russian monk Rasputin, but there is even more hiding in the past than Frank’s team is aware of. Any hope of success hinges on their willingness to accept the fact that even their cutting-edge science has its limits—and that the ancient wisdom of the Inuit people who once inhabited this eerie land is as essential as any serum. By the time Frank discovers that his mission has been compromised—crashed by a gang of reckless treasure hunters—he will be in a brutal race against time. With a young, strong-willed Inuit woman by his side, Frank must put a deadly genie back in the bottle before all of humanity pays the price.
The Romanov Cross is at once an alternate take on one of history’s most profound mysteries, a love story as unlikely as it is inevitable, and a thriller of heart-stopping, supernatural suspense. With his signature blend of fascinating history and fantastic imagination, critically acclaimed author Robert Masello has once again crafted a terrifying story of past events coming back to haunt the present day . . . and of dark deeds aching to be unearthed.
Robert Masello is an award-winning journalist, a television writer, and the author of many other books, most recently the supernatural thrillers Vigil (which appeared on the USA Today bestseller list) and Bestiary. His articles and essays have appeared often in such publications as the Los Angeles Times, New York Magazine, People, and Parade,and his nonfiction book, Robert’s Rules of Writing, has become a staple in many college classrooms. His produced television credits include such popular shows as Charmed, Sliders, and Early Edition. A longstanding member of the Writers Guild of America, he lives in Santa Monica, California. (From Netgalley)
Review: 4 stars
Source: Random House Publishing Group--Bantam through Netgalley
Released on: March 05, 2013
Romanov. Whenever I heard that name, I always remember Anastasia. The duchess who we thought was alive and we were all hoping she was. Stories and faux Anastasias came out just to claim the fame and attention the mystery has been getting. Mind you, I have always been fascinated with the whole story, the Romanovs, Rasputin, etc. I am in a point of my life wherein it somehow became my obsession to google all things related to the Romanovs. Now that I know the whole story and that Anastasia's body was already found, the possibility of her being alive even just in a fictional context still allures me.
Seeing this book, I immediately requested for this book. But first, I have to explain why it took me so long to read it. I was preoccupied with different family trips and personal errands during the summer. I also took a breather for reading and writing so it was not the book's fault. Though I had to admit, since the book was narrated in both past and present views--sometimes alternately--I experienced slow paced moments especially in the modern setting. I guess it was because the author had to explain some technicalities which I thoroughly appreciate since there were a lot of medical verbiage that you have to learn and adapt in order to further understand what is happening. With the plot, I have to be honest that at first I was getting somehow confused on where some of the chapters would lead to. I was looking forward to the parts in the past setting more than the present. The said chapters were able to captivate me and grab my full-on attention that I was able to savor such history. I feel like I was also in that moment. But eventually, I experienced a light bulb moment and I was able to connect and patch everything. Then and there I was enlightened. Robert Masello's writing was also amazing. It was like watching a movie and I was able to play the scenarios inside my head. Like I said, I was hooked with the chapters Anastasia and Rasputin was in. It felt so real that the fictional contexts may even pass as part of our world history. It was no fiction, I tell you. He was able to lead me to a world of possibility despite knowing what's real. I also like the CSI-feel in some chapters. You'll know what I mean when you read it. The twist that was revealed towards the end was also surprising though I have already suspected it. It still had an impact and I was still thrilled. Plus, I was totally mind-blown by the ending. It was brilliant and has a really strong cliffhanger that I am expecting for a sequel despite knowing that it won't have one. Ahh! You know it was a good ending when you let the reader create different conclusions on his/her own. Oh it was an amazing read!
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For the quotes I got from the book, please visit my Tumblr:
Happy Reading Everyone!

Baroque is something I'm really fascinated with, regardless if it's about fashion or art. There's just something about the style that captivates me. So when I was asked what to get in Love Lila's collection, I knew I had to get something baroque. And voila!

dress Love Lila • earrings gift from a friend • bag vintage

heels Rubies Rising

The prints were somehow mismatched but still it worked and created a much stronger impact as a dress. It can stand alone on itself and needed no accessories.

The fit of this dress was really tricky since it was slightly loose on me but I have to commend how it accentuated my curves which I thought I didn't have. LOL.




A Shade of Vampire by Bella Forrest
(Started: April 06, 2013; Finished: April 10, 2013)
Summary/Description:
On the evening of Sofia Claremont's seventeenth birthday, she is sucked into a nightmare from which she cannot wake.
A quiet evening walk along a beach brings her face to face with a dangerous pale creature that craves much more than her blood.
She is kidnapped to an island where the sun is eternally forbidden to shine.
An island uncharted by any map and ruled by the most powerful vampire coven on the planet. She wakes here as a slave, a captive in chains.
Sofia's life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn when she is the one selected out of hundreds of girls to join the harem of Derek Novak, the dark royal Prince.
Despite his addiction to power and obsessive thirst for her blood, Sofia soon realizes that the safest place on the island is within his quarters, and she must do all within her power to win him over if she is to survive even one more night.
Will she succeed? ...or is she destined to the same fate that all other girls have met at the hands of the Novaks? (From Goodreads)
Review: 3 stars
Source: Sent by the author, Bella Forrest
It was my first time to read a full-on vampire story and with romance in between. I have read some before but vampires were just plain creatures and not the main focus of the story. It was a good tale, nothing too grand. It can be easily understood and has a clear path on where the author wants to lead the plot. I'm realizing that I might not be really a fan yet of the vampire romance hype unlike the others who can easily grasp such stories. It could have been better but I think it lacks depth which what I was looking for in every story. Though I really love the element of romance, I don't want a story to only revolve with it especially with books in fantasy genres like this. But I have to say that thank God it was not the erotic type because when I read the word harem, I was afraid that it might go to that direction. Fortunately, it does not because I might cringe to death since I think I am--eighty percent--a YA reader. Anyhow, I think the length was also somehow short that it left me hanging and I was aware that it will end while I was reading since I already noticed that the pages were thinning. So I was thinking maybe it will have an explosive twist towards the end that will shock me out of my wits. But it did not occur. I wish there was more to the ending than what had transpired.
Anyway, I think I will still read the next book to know what will happen next to the Shade. I'm looking forward to more conflicts--whether from an external force or from the Shade itself--and more action since they are vampires! Duh! They need to do some fight scenes every now and then, plus twists that could create more drama that will definitely excite the readers more.
Plus, GFC will be gone soon so please do not forget to subscribe via Bloglovin, which is a great alternative.
For the quotes I got from the book, please visit my Tumblr:
For the quotes I got from the book, please visit my Tumblr:
Happy Reading Everyone!
See what I did there! Haha! Hi everyone! It has been a month since my last post and I apologize for that. I had been pre-occupied with random trips this summer and other personal errands. Being back with vengeance and as a sorry gift to my readers and blogger friends, I'm hoping to post another giveaway soon so stay tuned for that!
Now here's an outfit post that has been long overdue--which is a phrase I know you guys are getting used too haha but I promise to be a better blogger and writer now that I'm back. I wore this one Sunday with the family wherein it was one of those days when you the sun scorch us with it rays. So what better way to match the sun is to where its colors: orange and red (with yellow's minimal appearance).

top Smart Buy (SM Department Store) • pants Mango

earrings New Look
DETAILS:

bag Alviero Martini • wedges Sorridere (Japan)

(L-R) trinket bracelets gift from a friend (Singapore) • watch Gucci • yellow glass bangle borrowed from my sister • orange beaded bangle bought in Palawan

In light of the summer season, I think such an eye-catching statement by the use of bold colors is a must. No one can stop you for lighting the room and sporting neon colors as well. Colors are such fun to mix and match that I wish I could have more bold pieces to showcase.

Aside from the summer hues, stripes are such a big hit this season and will always be a staple piece for every girl's closet. So I think I hit two birds with one stone in this look, don't you think? Oh plus, remixing old pieces is a funner thing to do and at the same time, more challenging. It is something I encourage girls to do so that we can save and value money even more and so that we can be more creative when it comes to styling. These last two photos were obviously taken after my sister and I shot everything inside our house. The heat was unbearable that we can't even muster to go out for a minute. But after a few hours, I asked her to capture a photo or two so I can still have a photo with natural lighting. #bloggerproblems

Hope it turned out well! In other news, I'm stoked to post all of my other fashion-related articles and book reviews soon. Plus, GFC will be gone soon so please do not forget to subscribe via Bloglovin, which is a great alternative.











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