A while

I have to remind myself

for the thousand times

that life is short

This is only a while

nothing last forever

There is an end for everything

Why takes something seriously

if nothing is belong to me

I will leave everything at the end

I should end my tears

Yet I couldn't

life is getting hard each day

I always get what I don't expect

The one that I wanted always hiding

I really need your help to free me 

I should be grateful 

even for only one good thing in my life

Forgive and forget all the bitterness 

-Selene

Book Review: The Chase (2018)

Synopsis: 

Summer drawn to Colin Fitzgerald. Their characteristics are very the opposite. Colin is buddy with her brother and until she need place to stay which her brother put her as Fitz' s rommate.

Review:

Summer is someone that dows not fit in Fitzy' s girl criteria. She is pretty, sexy, brave and always catching everyone's attentions. While Fitzy likes to stay in shadows. while Summer had learning difficulties and her own insecurities of being stupid. Fitzy help her to overcome her problems while he'd also need her to express his own feeling and emotion. Its definitely a must read book of Elle Kennedy. Especially if you are a fan of 'The Deal" like I do.

This book tell the whole a lot story about what kind of university life in America and hockey player as well as Summer's extravagant life as a kid of rich lawyers. The sexual tension between Summer and Fitzy is strong. Somehow I am not so sure if Summer attract to Fitzy because he is a man that hard to get or because she's too drawn to his mysterious attitude. Either way, I hope that as they can make the best out of each other, this good trait is strong enough to make their relationship strong and lasted for the long term.


Rating: 4 stars/ 5.


Regards,


Selene.

Game Review : Fate/Hollow Ataraxia

                                                                  Japanese trailer

                                                                   Last Piece OST


Dear All, 

It has been a long time since I really enjoy playing visual novel games. Today I want to review one of the best game that I play. The game is Fate/Hollow Ataraxia. Maybe you know that this game is sequel from the famous game Fate/Stay Night. I already watch the anime long time ago. I can say that the anime is good. First I want to say that I don't finish the game because I think there's something wrong with the game or with my play through so I cannot continue with the last chapters. Anyway, I only watch the last chapters on youtube so I know about the ending and I can say that I am really satisfied with the endings. But the epilogue itself is ordinary. Spoiler beware. I will try to minimize the spoiler as much as I can.

For the synopsis you can read on Wikipedia. Basically, this game happen half year after the event at Fate/Stay Night. Somehow someone try to reproduce Holy Grail War again but only the first four days, after that the time will come to the first day again. So they are in time loop for every 4 days. Our main characters have to solve the mystery behind it. 

The main characters are still have the same personality with Fate/Stay Night. Emiya Shirou being Emiya Shirou, Rin Tohsaka being Rin Tohsaka. But it was quite refreshing to see the servants become normal human and good guy, especially with their back story, except it was quite strange. One of the servant that I find change so much is (spoiler). I mean how the heck that he can change so much with the personality, age, and appearance. Still he is badass at the end so I can kind of forgive it a little. Anyway, don't expect many action because the SOL really dominate the game. I really mean it. So for people who cannot stand SOL, better to leave this game.

  

I can say the game is top notch from the music and the art. Unfortunately, I don't get the voice acting. I think only the Japanese edition have voice acting or what I don't know. It is big let down because many Slice of life is very boring. I am only interested with the main story but have been forced to play SOL a lot because I am stuck and even then I still cannot continue with the last chapters. The story itself is very good except I still don't quite grasp what's real and what's not real. Some mystery are not explained though. Still I really like the ending. One of the best bittersweet ending that I know and the BGM also amplify it multiple times. Really like BGM last piece. 

I also like the opening. Really catching. I imagine without that kind of opening, I will stop playing quickly. At first I thought it was horror game (unrelated with Fate/Stay Night) but fortunately it is just the opening. For a moment I thought it was Red is for eyes game. Both games have similar feeling for opening. Anyway, sadly you cannot make multiple saves and you also cannot fast forward SOL scene. It is really boring and that's coming from me who like to play visual novel games. Cannot imagine how first timer gamer will survive until the end with that boring SOL. This game also have the same theme with Fatal Twelve which is about defying death and accepting fate; but different ending. Still I like both ending. Both ending really make your heart break (prepare tissue guys). 

Personally I recommend this game for Fate/Stay Night fans and fans of chuunige visual novel. For first timer I suggest play lighter game before to adapt more before playing this game. 

Rating : 8 of 10 (I will give nine if not because of boring SOL)

Best Regards, 

Angela

Book review: All your perfects (2018)

Synopsis:

Two peoples tried to save their marriage regardless of all their flawless

Review:

I am sorry to review this in here later than I did in our bookstagram, if you don't know our bookstagram, you can check this our instagram at @ourpassionforbooks.

Anyway, this book is good as Coho' usual books, the writting keep me going because its so addicted to read. Yet, I find this story is too fairy tale because Graham is too perfect as husband, even he did kissing with other girl, he still tried hard to win Quinn' heart back. Even Quinn is can not give him baby, he still love she as the way she is. It is so touching yet too fairy tale for me.

Rating: 4/5 stars

Regards,


Selene.

Goodbye

I have nothing to say 

But to offer silent words and smile

To convey whats really in my hearts

For we both know the cruel reality

Silence is golden

Because words can hurt so much

You don't need words to express your feelings

Actions speak louder than words

We cannot change what have happened

We can only regret that things don't turn out like what we want

But regret and sadness can be change into happiness

As long as we have the courage to leave the past behind

Everything can begin 

Everything can also end

But that's not the end of our journey

We have to cherish each memories

And move on with our life

Regards, 

Angela

Sin

I want you to know

I am sinner

To fulfill my dreams
I cast aside my conscience
Close my eyes to not see the reality

Everthing I did
I did it out of love
I want you to be happy
Even if I have to live this unbearable life
Suffering until the end

I choose the evil path
Sold my soul to the devil
For my wish to be granted
I wonder whether it's worth it
I wonder what you think about it

Several times I want to stop
Walking this treacherous road
Only to continue
Because I cannot turn back
Stopping is not an option
We don't have that privilege

No one at fault
For not able to live happy life
That's just our fate
Something we cannot control
No amount of regret can change

We do what we have to do
Not because we believe it's right
But because that's what we know
How to continue our life
We live in this world after all

Right or wrong
This is our life
Not an ideal one
Still cannot be left behind
We can only dream for better one
Someday in the future

What goes around comes around
We cannot always be right
Much less win in this life
As long as we do our best
God will do the rest


Regards,
Angela

Book review: Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine (2017)

Synopsis:

Eleanor Oliphant feels everything in her life is fine until she meet an IT officer named Raymond and both of them save Sammy and both of them has a lot to share about.

Review:

I think this book is more about friendship between Raymond and Eleanor instead of romance itself. While in the end, it is clearly that Raymond invited Eleanor to attend the concert together and both of them seem to see each other regularly and completely enjoying each other company. Raymond always help Eleanor for her well being and Raymond always give her emotional support.

This book give me another insight about romance. Romance isn't always about sexual things. Yet, there are a lot of connections we can see between Eleanor and Raymond. How they support each other emotionally and enjoying each other company. How they just make each other life towards better than before. I think that is what love is all about.

I really enjoy this book and I take sometimes to indulge myself in reading this novel and feel hard to say good bye to this book. This book definetly is a must read fiction/friendship book.

Rating: 4/5

Kind regards,

Selene.

Ace Water Spa

Dear All,

It have been a long time since I write my last review. I am sorry for that. It's because of my new job. Hope you guys don't mind. Anyway, now I want to write a different review. I want to review one place that I really like and enjoy right now. Yes, maybe you can guess from the name. It's Ace Water Spa. The location is in Pasig and Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines. The place is clean and organized. There are guards and you have to use proper swimming attire and caps. So don't worry about out of "nowhere" people ^^. You get 4 hours to play in the water. But for me, it's more than enough. Even if you get over time, the over time price is just 100 php per hour. The price is the same for weekday or weekend. But I suggest you go on weekday so there's less people.  

Ace Water Spa is premier hydrotherapy massage according to their websites. I really like it because it feels like you are going to spa but instead of someone massage you, you use the water to massage you. You can choose from soft, medium, and hard jet pump water to spray your body. Personally, I really like their rainfall accupunture and bubble bed. It's really relaxing. Besides, what I also really like is their hot herbal spa. There are Jasmine, Rose, Mint, and Lavender. The hottest one is Lavender with 40 degree Celcius. It's really hot but at the same time relaxing. It was suggested to use the spa for 1-2 minutes. After that you throw into cold pool for about 30 seconds for cold immersion therapy experience. So, you subject your body to very hot and very cold water in order to make your body stronger. At first maybe you thought it's an unpleasant experience but no, it's really enjoyable. But if you are sick, maybe you should not do this. 

Besides the jet pump, there's also lazy river where you can just lay down with mattress and let the water carry you forward. They also have lap pools for people who want to swim properly. Last but not least, the price itself is not too cheap but also not too expensive. With metrodeal, you just need to pay around 385 php or about $10. For me, it's worth it. Unfortunately, the location itself is quite far from my place, especially with every time surge pricing Grab. The total cost is around $25 including transport. Of course it could be cheaper if you use public transport. 

I just remember that there's Ace VIP card that you can buy for around 1385 peso or about $40. You get many benefits with this card. For me, maybe it's not the right time to buy this card since I don't know how long I will stay in Philippines. But maybe someday in the future because I really like this place. 

Update

If somehow by miracle, I will stay longer in Philippines. I will definitely buy this card. But for now, I think I may have to move to another country. But I will always remember about this place and memory I have during my stay here.



Regards,
Angela

Book review: Turtles All The Way Down (2017)

Synopsis: 

Sixteen year old Aza Holmes together with her best friend Daisy tried to solve the dissapearance of billionaire Russell Pickett. They aim to get the $100,000 rewards for finding the billionaire whereabout. 

Review:

This book is really beyond my imagination, in the good way. I never read John Green novel before and this one definitely my favorite. I watched 'The fault in our stars and that movie also touch me as well. 

Aza Holmes, an anxious high school girl who tried to be best in everything she's done. She wants to be a good daughter, a good best friend to Daisy, a good girlfriend and maybe a good detective too. This book really has a good plot and I really enjoy reading it. Even I was sobbing while reading it. I mean Aza' character will touch your heart because that kind of anxiety really happens around us. I like the love connection between Aza and Davis too. I think the ending implying that two of them somehow will end up together, I hope that too.

This book is definetly a must read fiction book of this year. I really recommend it. I hardly put down this book, because this book just so touching and emotionally deep. 

Rating: 4.5/5 stars.

Kind regards, 

Selene.

Book review: The Fragile Ordinary (2018)

Synopsis: 

Comet Caldwell is ordinary girl who loves book very much and likes to experiment with her clothes. She just feel her life is as boring as she is until she meet Tobias King, who makes her life and her feeling upside down.

Review:

I understand the world of Comet Caldwell, I've been there when I was a teenager. It's like turn back time to where all I was thinking is just fiction books and clothes. Comet always wonder how kisses and hugs and intimate with guys feels like, will those be similar to romance books she read? I think almost every girl has that kind of curiousity.

Since she'd met Tobias King, she felt her world rocked upside down. Tobias befriend with Stevie who is drug addict and his fellows who did the same. They did not care about study and act as rebellious students, like mocking the teachers and made dirty jokes. Since Comet loved Tobias so much, she tried to befriend with Stevie, until she felt that she can't accept the drug habit of Steview, she wants to  cut her friend relationship with Stevie and his crew. Apparently they dislike the act of both Tobias and Comet. So they keep torment both of them with nasty acts and words. Comet and Tobias tried their best to endure their nasty behaviours.

Comet herself has problem with her parents. She felt her mother had jealousy issues towards her and treating her like a stranger. She never care about Comet. All her mother care just her husband, Kyle. Even her parents asked Comet to call them by name directly. So when Comet met Tobias, she felt that he is her source of love, the only one who can fully love her. Until oneday, something bad happens to Steview and they lost him and this changed the life of others who ever know Stevie, including Tobias and Comet.

This book has a good plot and writes the emotion of Comet towards Tobias beautifully. I always liked Samantha Young' writting, including this one. I like Comet's poetries. Anyway, I never see something like Comet' parents issue, where a mother is always asked her husband attention very much and Kyle as her husband follow what she wants and they are very romantic until they forget about Comet. It's sound surreal for me. Most of what we see these days is parents who loved their kids too much until they forget to be together again and become distant with each other.

Overall, this is a good book if you're looking into romance or high school romance books or even just family romance books, you definitely have to grab this one.

Rating : 4.2/5

Best regards,

~Selene.