The Book Voyagers

Title: Waiting in the Wings
Author: Tara Frejas
Release date: February 21, 2017
Genre: Romance / NA / Contemporary

Book synopsis:
At twenty-three, theatre actress Erin Javier has yet to fall in love or kiss a boy offstage, away from the klieg lights. She is the perfect leading lady—whose heart men would fight for, win, and protect—unfortunately, only until the curtains fall and the lights go down. In real life, Erin is a certified NBSB whose heart has been hoping for a song to dance to.
But when two (two!) men enter from stage left and right, Erin is confused. Who deserves to take center stage in her heart—Mr. Theatre Royalty whose attention and displays of affection make her pulse race, or a good friend whose steady support has helped steer her to success and fulfill her dream?



Add on Goodreads | Amazon


Welcome to Waiting in the Wings! The show is about to start. You don't have to wait a lot of time to see (and read) this book that will for sure captivate many hearts and make you fall in love with the main leads. 

*inserts applause.gif* Tara Frejas's new novel is about the theatre world and all its dazzling things inside of it and behind scenes and maybe.... some fun people waiting behind the curtain. We have our two leads, Erin and Ramon, who became friends in college when Ramon taught Erin to dance (sobs he knows how to dance, he is a choreographer ok?!!!) They haven't seen each other for a while and the story starts with Ramon taking this new job in the company where Erin works and /he/ knows it and he wants to see her AND HE IS SO HAPPY WHEN HE DOES. 

Ramon Figueroa *hello* meet my new book boyfriend. How can someone measure up to him now? He is one of the sweetest, most supportive heroes I have read. Literally he wants Erin to be happy and if he isn't the main part of that happiness and another guy is, he just wants to see her happy. All the hearts eyes for Ramon, you win the award for the most adorable hero ever.

Erin is also a really great main character. She grows so much and she is so optimistic and shiny and she is so bright and precious hashtag please protect her ~ When you think it's a love triangle, but actually see such an amazing love story develop in front of your eyes and Tara does an amazing job to mold that story and the characters and create pretty much one of my favorite books this year. 

It has a pretty fun group of characters that just have something to offer to this book and they all support this ship just as much as me and help the main leads succeed in life and love, how cute is that. You can expect: cooking scene where the two leads cook together (yes!), a slow dance in the moonlight and kisses in the forehead, support 1000%, theatre experience and SINGING AND SONGS AND SERENADEEES (will never get over this). Pretty much, please support Tara and preorder her book, it's so cheap right now and really it's a good choice to spend your money on.

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Hello, voyagers! For this fine evening, I bring you a very special reveal. It's our very own's Charlotte Hamilton's book cover reveal, Lambs Can Always Become Lions. I hope you love it as much as I did.

Title: Lambs Can Always Become Lions
Author: Charlotte Anne Hamilton

Book synopsis:

 Robin Hood, along with her group of friends, has been aiding the poor of Nottingham for four years. They have become an hindrance to the Sheriff of Nottingham, terrorising the rich lords and ladies and robbing gold right from under the Sheriff's nose.
 Helping Robin from inside, and proving her most useful ally, is Lady Marian Fitzwalter.
 After hearing about a special shipment coming through Sherwood - filled with gold, jewels and weapons - Marian agrees to help Robin gather information so she can ambush it. It is risky and dangerous on both sides but Marian would do anything for Robin. And Robin would do anything to feed her people.
 But as the shipment draws closer and tensions rise, Robin finds herself having to decide which is more important: love or duty.

Add on Goodreads | Preorder the book {Amazon} 

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Title: Wintersong
Author: S. Jae-Jones
Publisher: Thomas Dunne
Release date: February 7, 2017

Book synopsis:
Beware the goblin men and the wares they sell.
All her life, nineteen-year-old Liesl has heard tales of the beautiful, mysterious Goblin King. He is the Lord of Mischief, the Ruler Underground, and the muse around which her music is composed. Yet, as Liesl helps shoulder the burden of running her family’s inn, her dreams of composition and childish fancies about the Goblin King must be set aside in favor of more practical concerns.
But when her sister Käthe is taken by the goblins, Liesl journeys to their realm to rescue her sister and return her to the world above. The Goblin King agrees to let Käthe go—for a price. The life of a maiden must be given to the land, in accordance with the old laws. A life for a life, he says. Without sacrifice, nothing good can grow. Without death, there can be no rebirth. In exchange for her sister’s freedom, Liesl offers her hand in marriage to the Goblin King. He accepts.
Down in the Underground, Liesl discovers that the Goblin King still inspires her—musically, physically, emotionally. Yet even as her talent blossoms, Liesl’s life is slowly fading away, the price she paid for becoming the Goblin King’s bride. As the two of them grow closer, they must learn just what it is they are each willing to sacrifice: her life, her music, or the end of the world.
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepo 

Wintersong is a luscious tale of a king and a brave maiden. The story enchants you with its characters and the winter-y setting. But also pulls at your heartstrings with some really great writing. Wintersong deserves songs and poems in its name. It is a masterpiece and it's only the first sweet melody of this world I have come to love.

It's definitely one of my favorite fantasy books of this year. And I don't think I've read a lot on these first two months? Wintersong exceeded my expectations. When you find a book that has one of your favorite tropes while having a bit of royalty in it and some sweet romance but very very angsty as well, one really is happy. With its fascinating world-building and setting, Wintersong made me fall in love. To be honest, it wasn't so hard for me to fall head over hells for this book. The writing for one is gorgeous and lyrical and simply you will sigh because you are in love. 

It talks about a Goblin King first of all. This is a legend/myth/bedtime story in this world where Elizabeth lives. The Gobliin King goes out in winter to pick a wife from the human world. Elizabeth has always been fascinated and enchanted by this figure and you get to know in the first part that once upon a time those two were friends when they were kids. Let me just tell you that the Goblin King has loved Elizabeth for so long, my heart gives out, my skin clears up, my crops are growing. 

It's sort of a hate to love story but also a bit of enemies to lovers, I guess? I saw it that way anyways. It definitely has passion. This book is A+ level of steamy and sexy. It also has some really great things in it like: Liesl mentions her period at some part of the book, which is amazing because not a lot of YA books mention periods. I literally loved this book so much ~ I just bought my copy and I cannot wait for it to arrive and reread.

I have not watched Labyrinth tho. I don't know how close this book is based on it? Either way, this book has some epic stories and characters. It definitely has a love story that will make you bleed (probably? definitely?). I definitely got destroyed by S. Jae-Jones. I was listening to my SKAM playlist and lit every song fit and every song hurt me so much??? The conclusion: This book will hurt you. But it will be worth it. You want to know what happens believe me. You want to find out how the Goblin King and Liesl's story ends in that final chapter. 

And then come running and tell me all about it so I can relive all of the emotions, please. 
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Hello!!! Today I bring another great list of books. You know how much I love making them and I enjoy doing them! This one is a BIG list of books publishing in 2017 written by authors of color. The book might not have a person of color as the main character but the book is by a POC. I hope this list is of help to someone and gets to add the all to their TBRs. Support authors of color!!!

Middle Grade




✿ The Gauntlet by Karuna Riazi | Salaam Reads 
✿ Amina's Voice by Hena Khan | Salaam Reads 
✿ The Emperor's Riddle by Kat Zhang | Aladdin
✿ My Life as an Ice-Cream Sandwich by Ibi Zoboi | Dutton
✿ Spirit Hunters by Ellen Oh | HarperCollins
✿ Love Sugar Magic by Anna Meriano | HarperCollins
✿ Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly | HarperCollins
✿ Weaving a Net is Better Than Praying for Fish by Ki-Wing Merlin | HarperCollins
✿ Midnight Without a Moon by Linda Williams Jackson | HMH Books for Young Readers





The Sweetest Sound by Sherri Winston | Little, Brown and Company ✿
The Crystal Ribbon by Celeste Lim | Scholastic Press ✿
Jasmine Toguchi, Mochi Queen by Debbi Michiko Florence | Macmillan ✿
Step Up to the Plate, Maria Singh by Uma Krishnaswami | Tu Books ✿
 Stef Soto, Taco Queen by Jennifer Torres | Little, Brown ✿
Cilla Lee-Jenkins: Future Author Extraordinaire by Susan Tan | Roaring Brook Press ✿
One Shadow on the Wall by Leah Henderson | Atheneum ✿
The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora by Pablo Cartaya | Viking ✿
Peasprout Chen, Future Legend of Skate and Sword by Henry Lien | Razorbill ✿




✿ The Harlem Charade by Natasha Tarpley | Scholastic Press
✿ Escape from Aleppo by N.H. Senzai | S&S
✿ Ahimsa by Supriya Kelkar | Lee & Low/Tu Books
✿ Clayton Byrd Goes Underground by Rita Williams-Garcia | Amistad
✿ Patina (Track #2) by Jason Reynolds | Atheneum
✿ Danny Blackgoat, Dangerous Passage by Tim Tingle | 7th Generation

Young Adult


✿ History Is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera | Soho Teen
✿ Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones | Thomas Dunne
✿ Empress of a Thousand Skies by Rhoda Belleza | Razorbill
✿ American Street by Ibi Zoboi | HarperCollins
✿ The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas | HarperCollins
✿ The Ship Beyond Time (The Girl From Everywhere #2) by Heidi Heilig | HarperCollins
✿ The Authentics by Abdi Nazemian | HarperCollins
✿ That Thing We Call a Heart by Sheba Karim | HarperCollins
✿ The Education of Margot Sanchez by Lilliam Rivera | Simon & Schuster
✿ The Inexplicable Logic of My Life by Benjamin Alire Sáenz | HMH


 North of Happy by Adi Alsaid | Harlequin Teen ✿
Noteworthy by Riley Redgate | Amulet Books ✿
This Promise I Will Keep by Aisha Saeed | Penguin ✿
 I Believe in a Thing Called Love by Maurene Goo | Macmillan ✿
When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon | Simon Pulse ✿
 Want by Cindy Pon | Simon Pulse ✿
Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman | Simon Pulse ✿
 The Library of Fates by Aditi Khorana | Razorbill ✿
 Little & Lion by Brandy Colbert | Little, Brown and Company ✿
 They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera | HarperCollins ✿



✿ Wild Beauty by Anna-Marie McLemore | Feiwel & Friends
✿ You Bring the Distant Near by Mitali Perkins | Macmillan
✿ Saints and Misfits by S.K. Ali | Salaam Reads
✿ The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco | Sourcebooks Fire
✿ Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao | Philomel Books
✿ Dear Martin by Nic Stone | Crown Books for Young Readers
✿ I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez | Penguin Random House
✿ Mirage by Somaiya Daud | Faltiron Books
✿ Rebel Seoul by Axie Oh | Lee & Low Books/Tu Books
✿ Keeping the Distance by Clarisse David


A Crown of Wishes (The Star-Touched Queen #2) by Roshani Chokshi | St. Martin's Griffin ✿
Piecing Me Together by Renée Watson | Bloomsbury ✿
Circle Unbroken (Brooklyn Brujas #2) by Zoraida Córdova | Sourcebooks Fire✿
Pashmina by Nidhi Chanani | First Second ✿
Shadowhouse Fall (Shadowshaper #2) by Daniel José Older | Scholastic Press ✿
Girl on the Verge by Pintip Dunn | Kensington ✿
Miles Morales by Jason Reynolds | Marvel Press ✿
 Into the Black (Beyond the Red #2) by Ava Jae | Sky Pony Press ✿



✿ Alex and Eliza: A Love Story by Melissa de la Cruz | GP Putnam's Sons
✿ Warcross by Marie Lu | GP Putnam's Sons
✿ Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh | GP Putnam's Sons
✿ Akata Warrior by Nnedi Okorafor | Penguin Books
✿ The November Girl by Lydia Kang | Entangled Publishing
✿ Beasts Made of Night by Tochi Onyebuchi | Razorbill
✿ Not Your Villain (Not Your Sidekick #2) by CB Lee | Interlude Press
✿ The Speaker (The Sea of Ink and Gold #2) by Traci Chee | GP Putnam's Sons
✿ Chainbreaker (Timekeeper #2) by Tara Sim | Sky Pony Press


Solo by Kwame Alexander | Blink ✿
The Epic Crush of Genie Lo by FC Yee | Abrams ✿
Along the Indigo by Elsie Chapman | Abrams ✿
A Line in the Dark by Malinda Lo | Dutton ✿
I Am Alfonso Jones by Tony Medina, illustraded by John Jennings & Stacey Robinson | Tu Books ✿
After the Fall by Kate Hart | Macmillan ✿




Adult

✿ The Art of Shifting Gears by Chi Yu Rodriguez | Anvil Publishing
✿ Sounds Like Summer by Six de los Reyes | Anvil Publishing
✿ Midnights in Bali by Carla de Guzman | Anvil Publishing
✿ Simply Joei by Clare Elisabeth Marquez | Anvil Publishing
✿ Chasing Mr. Prefect by Katt Briones | Anvil Publishing
✿ Bucket List To Love by C.P. Santi | Spark Books
✿ All That Glitters by Ines Bautista-Yao | Spark Books
✿ Serenade by Claire Du | Spark Books
✿ First to Fall by Farrah F. Polestico | Spark Books
✿ Don't Tell my Mother by Brigitte Bautista



Clean Breaks by Ruby Lang | Crimson Romance ✿
The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty | Harper Voyager ✿
 The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia | Thomas Dunne Books ✿
 Lucky Boy by Shanthi Sekaran | GP Putnam's Sons ✿
A Place I Belong by Cynthia Kadohata | Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books ✿
Home (Binti #2) by Nnedi Okorafor | Tor.com ✿
Love Will Always Remember by Tracey Livesay | Avon Impulse ✿
 An Extraordinary Union by Alyssa Cole | Kensington ✿
 Hate to Want You by Alisha Rai | Avon ✿




✿ Delicious Satisfaction by Sabrina Sol | Entangled Publishing
✿ Walking on Knives by Maya Chhabra | Less Than Three Press
✿ Flowers of Luna by Jennifer Linsky
✿ Waiting in the Wings by Tara Frejas
✿ Heroine Worship (Heroine Complex #2) by Sarah Kuhn | DAW
✿ The Refugees by Viet Thanh Nguyen |  Grove Press
✿ Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng | Penguin Press
✿ House of Binding Thorns (Dominion of the Fallen #2) by Aliette de Bodard | Ace 
✿ The Stone Sky (The Broken Earth #3) by NK Jemisin | Orbit




Battle Hill Bolero (Bone Street Rumba #3) by Daniel José Older | Roc ✿
Monstress, Vol. 2 by Marjorie M. Liu and Sana Takeda | Image Comics ✿
You Don't Have to Say You Love Me: A Memoir by Sherman Alexie | Little, Brown and Company ✿
The Prey of Gods by Nicky Drayden | Harper Voyager ✿
Mapping the Interior by Stephen Graham Jones | Tor.com ✿
The World Is One Place: Native American Poets Visit the Middle East by Diane Glancy, Linda Rodriguez, editors | BkMk Press ✿





✿ Lessons That Taught Love by GL Tomas | Rebellious Valkyrie Press
✿ Murder on the Red River by Marcie R. Rendon | Cinco Puntos
✿ Exit West by Mohsin Hamid | Riverhead Books


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Hey voyagers! Today I bring you the cover reveal of Waiting in the Wings by Tara Frejas. I'm so happy to have this reveal on the blog, because I am so frigging excited for this to come out!


Title: Waiting in the Wings
Author: Tara Frejas
Genre: Romance / New Adult / Contemporary
Release date: February 21st, 2017
Designed by: Miles Tan

Book synopsis:
At twenty-three, theatre actress Erin Javier has yet to fall in love or kiss a boy offstage and away from the klieg lights. She's the perfect leading lady—whose heart men would fight for, win, and protect—unfortunately, only until the curtains fell and the lights went down. In real life, Erin's a certified NBSB whose heart's been hoping for a song to dance to for quite some time.
But when two (two!) men enter from stage left and right, Erin is confused. Who deserves to take center stage in her heart—Mr. Theatre Royalty whose attention and displays of affection make her pulse race, or a good friend whose steady support has helped steer her to success and allowed her to fulfill her dream?
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Title: Keeping the Distance
Series: I Heart Iloilo #1
Author: Clarisse David

Book synopsis:
No bets. No fake relationships. Just a very real one that has to be kept under wraps. Seventeen-year-old Melissa wants to dye her hair cotton candy pink and focus on her ukulele instead of Physics. But she can't. As the daughter of a Catholic school principal, living up to her model student image 24/7 is a must. Something's about to give under all the pressure. She only hopes it isn't her.
Getting involved with a troublemaking basketball player is the last possible thing she needs...Lance is used to getting what he wants. With a pretty face he uses to full advantage and his role as co-captain of the basketball team, the easy way is the only way he's ever known. Until the day he notices the prim Melissa he's known forever is actually hot and decides to ask her out. He has no idea he's about to learn the lesson of a lifetime.
 Not getting what he wants might exactly be what he needs...

Goodreads | Amazon

If you are like me and enjoyed and loved SKAM especially Noora and William, KEEPING THE DISTANCE is a close proximity to this couple. Melissa and Lance reminded me so much of them that it made me so nostalgic because we all know how good Noora and William were.

Aside from the greatest  ship of all time, Melissa and Lance do these pranks to each other and there is basically the enemies to lovers trope tbh. It's a bit hate to love as well. My favorite tropes of all times. It's set in high school, so definitely young adult. Melissa wears pastel colors-clothes and it's so adorable and to be honest, expect lots of cuteness and it's just simply a perfect contemporary romance. You can also expect "bad boy" and "good girl" trope, though you'll get to know Melissa and how she doesn't really want to keep being the perfect child just because her dad is the principal of her school.  

Lance is the rich kid and somehow he is lonely. Though he has his sister, he lives alone and has no one at home. I loved his sister. He always rang her and talked to her about Melissa and express his undying love for her lmao no but Lance's sister totally knew he was whipped.

Sue put in her review that if you liked TO ALL THE BOYS I'VE LOVED BEFORE, you'll love this one and I agree. If you like that sort of cute, adorable, pastel-aesthetic YA contemporaries, I really recommend to pick KEEPING THE DISTANCE up. It is so good.


Clarisse David is a Young Adult and New Adult author from the land of epic heat waves a.k.a. the Philippines. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Literature and cannot survive without Taylor Swift songs, red lipstick, and books. When not hanging out on Twitter, she can be found working on her latest writing project.

CONTACT: Website | Twitter | Facebook
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*taps mic* Hello, voyagers! Today I bring you something that for me sounded so much fun. I have no idea how it came up to me but suddenly I really wanted to do a magazine sort-of blog post ~ BUT WITH BOOK CHARACTERS. Like if they were actual living people, among us, having their relationships and successes happen in our world. I think it appeared in my head because I remembered that regency mock-up magazine someone did a long time ago. And I thought "huh what if I did one but with contemporary romance book characters?" I thought it would be really hard, I had nothing going on tbh. It was really hard // I'm a big romance reader, but I haven't read a lot of them (but I will soon). But reading romance is like the best thing for me. (if this actually works, I'm probably going to do one but with YA characters and that'd be fun too!) 

PS: Remember I'm putting characters that are not from the same world or from the same authors. But for me, I'm imagining them that somehow they all know each other in some way, because they are in the same universe. 

PS #2: As always, I'm using Photoshop to do these mock-ups. If you want to see the image more clearly, just click it and it will enlarge the picture. Either way, I'm adding the info below the image for all of them who just don't want to click but want to read what I put and what the authors so kindly wrote. 

PS #3: Thank you to all the authors who participated on this and helped me! Thanks to Rebekah Weatherspoon and her gorgeous interview  of Michael. Thanks to Megan Erickson and her funny yet creepy post about zombies. Thanks to Jay E. Tria and her magical song playlists. Thank you to Sabrina Sol and her delicious recipes. 

Welcome to Swoons!

~ Cover of SWOONS ~ { + Contents of the magazine}
What's New | Gossip and news
Eloisa Carreon is doing the cake for her best friend's high society wedding. It's bound to be glamorous and delicious!
{Save the Cake by Stella Torres}
The Lake Lovelace Rollergirls are one game to the championship! Don't miss it!
{Roller Girl by Vanessa North}
In Washington DC, the scandals never stop and the people never sleep.
{Flirting with Scandal by Chanel Cleeton}
A new dancing competition is in the works. Two rival schools for the win. 
{Finding Your Feet by Cass Lennox}
10 women who are changing the world 
- Rose Calloway | Kiss the Sky by KB Ritchie
Fashion designer and owner of Calloway Couture. 
- Martha Aguas | If the Dress Fits by Carla de Guzman
Accountant and event planner.
- Chelsea Grant | Love On My Mind by Tracey Livesay
PR executive.
- Kaya Rubio | Beginner's Guide: Love and Other Chemical Reactions by Six de los Reyes
Molecular Genetics scientist
- Akira Mori | A Gentleman in the Street by Alisha Rai
Billionaire businesswoman and socialite
- Maria Lopez | Hold Me by Courney Milan
Has a famous apocalypse-centered blog
- Yves Santiago | In Her Closet by Tasha L. Harrison
Entertainment columnist and has a popular sex blog
- Alexis Morgan | To Love and to Cherish by Lauren Layne
Wedding planner
- Tessa Everett | Noble Love by Té Russ
Baker
- Isabel Suarez | Even Odds by Elia Winters
Design video game manager
Michael Bradbury | Interview section {Answers provided by Rebekah Weatherspoon}
*Book: So Sweet

SWOONS: Hi, Michael! We hope that you're having a nice day here in SWOONS HQ. We want to know what made you decide to create arrangement?
MICHAEL BRADBURY: I'd seen a lot of peer shelling out cash for similar services, but I wanted to create something that put the young women's safety and comfort first

SWOONS: And now you're the owner of one amazing NBA team! What does that feel like? Was it always your dream to do it?
MB: It feels pretty amazing. The dream was to play in the NBA, but I wasn't good enough. Now it's great to be part of the league in this other capacity. [Continuing from the next page] I'm learning from the guys and they've welcomed me as one of their own. Next best thing to being on the bench.
SWOONS: Now looking back at your whole life, do you regret not doing something or wish to change a thing?
MB: Not at all. I'm right where I want to be.

SWOONS: We kind of figured you are the busiest man in the world. How do you manage your time? What's your schedule for one single day?
MB: Ruben manages my time. Since I'm and early riser, I usually get the girls going in the morning so Kayla can get some sleep. I've figured out how to use them for strength training so that's how I get my workouts in. -- I'm kidding. Kayla banned from using the twins for bench presses even though they love it. -- After they're ready for the day I'm usually in my first meeting and then depending on what time of year, I head over to the practice arena, check out what the guys are up to. That's work too. It's all work. And then I try to get home before the girls' bedtime. Bethany seems to think she can wait up for me every night. It works about thirty percent of the time. Then I squeeze whatever quality time I can with my wife before we both pass out. Some days I can work from home and I spend most of that time with my kids.
SWOONS: So we've met your wife once or twice and she's probably the greatest, nicest person we've ever met. Tell us about what you first saw and what intrigued you about her?
MB: Well she's gorgeous. That was hard to miss. Looking back, it was her honesty. She always tells me what's on her mind. It's amazing to be married to someone you know you can trust because they'll always be straight with you. It's been like that with us since day one.

SWOONS: We know you love watching movies with Kayla. But if you had to choose a favorite one, which one would it be?
MB: Goodfellas. It's Holger's favorite too, but he'll tell you all that violence is beneath him. He's lying.

SWOONS: When you think about "happiness," what do you see in your head?
MB: My kids. And Kayla.

SWOONS: And lastly, we got a question from a fan, if it's okay with you. They were wondering if you prefer boxers or briefs?
MB: My wife prefers boxer briefs. She gets what she wants. 
How To Survive a Zombie Apocalypse | Interview section {Post provided by Megan Erickson}
~ special guests: Alpha of the Silver Tip pack and his mate ~
*Book: Daring Fate

Reese: Hey! So Megan asked us here -
Dare: She asked you. Just to clarify. She asked you, because you're considered "more personable" and you dragged me along.
Reese: ...
Dare: ...
Reese: Thank you for your unnecessary clarification. We'll see who has to sleep somewhere else tonight.
Dare: Ah, but you can't resist your alpha. All I have to do is-
Reese: OKAY FINE. *clears throat with a blush* So anyway, Megan asked me - and I asked Dare - to talk a little about how to survive a zombie apocalypse.
Dare: *squints at paper* What are zombies?
Reese: She had to explain this one to me. Apparently zombies is the word they used to describe undead people.
Dare: Huh, that name is kinda hokey, don't you think?
Reese: Yeah, it sounds made up. Anyway, we refer to our undead...uh.... enemies as Noweres. They are giant human/wolf hybrid who walk around on two feet and have wolf head and claws.
Dare: They are mindless.
Reese: And they stink.
Dare: Right, so they wanna know how we survive a Nowere attack?
Reese: Yeah
Dare:All right, well first of all, Noweres roam in packs. They are dormant, meaning they just kind of shuffle along, until they smell, hear or see prey. Then they are quick fuckers. 
Reese: I'd know, because one smashed me into a tree.
Dare: *flares his nostrils* And I took off his head for it.
Reese: *bats eyelashes* So romantic.
Dare: So first of all, you want to stay downwind and silent, the best strategy is if they don't notice you at all and you pass undetected.
Reese: Which is hard to do.
Dare: Right, they have a pretty good sense of smell, and we're werewolves, so they smell us.
Reese: So if they smell us...
Dare: Hide. They aren’t very smart or coordinated. They’d follow you off a cliff and plummet to their deaths. If you can avoid them and cover your scent until they move on, that’s best. 
Reese: But that doesn't always works.
Dare: No it doesn't.
Reese: Sometimes you have to fight. End game is to take their head off.
Dare: Bloody business, fighting Noweres.
Reese: So we all live in walled compounds with self-sustaining crops and livestock. It’d be a dream to roam free, but we haven’t been able to for a hundred years, not since the plague ripped through. Noweres get free rein now. And we built walls to keep them out, and us in.
Dare: It’s a dream of mine to see those walls fall. I want to run with you through the woods, little wolf, hunting prey and not having to worry about getting ripped apart by Noweres. 
Reese: *reaches for Dare’s hand* Maybe one day. And if not our generation, we’ll work to free the next. 
Dare: *squeezes Reese’s hand back* We can only hope. 
Reese: The thing to remember about Noweres is they’re not smart. They have greater numbers, but if we play it smart, a pack can be defeated by a smaller group of wolves.
Dare: Right, usually we protect the less strong within a circle lined with better fighters. Then we send the very best among the Nowere pack to take them out one by one.
Reese: And hope like hell it’s a small Nowere pack.
Dare: *grins* Yeah, that always helps.
Reese: But we’re okay within our walls now. We got good food, and we send scouts out to assess Nowere packs and patterns.
Dare: And I’m working to form more alliances with nearby packs. Maybe one day, we can convince everyone to band together.
Reese: You’re kind of turning me on right now.
Dare: *raises an eyebrow* I thought I was sleeping elsewhere?
Reese: Oh shut up, like I was ever going to go through with that. You’re in our bed or I hunt you down. Dare: Is that so, little wolf?
Reese: *glares*
Dare: *laughs, then grips his chin* Well that hunting down goes both ways.
Reese: *shivers* So is this interview over? We good? If you ever get stuck with zombies, just come to our gates, we’ll let you in. Right Dare?
Dare: Of course.
Reese: Right, so we’re uh, gonna get going…
Dare: *stands up* Yeah, we need to get going.
Reese: Important, uh, meetings and stuff.
Dare: Very important.
Reese: So, thanks for asking me to chat, come see us if you’re ever around. And one last thing, never let a Nowere—er, zombie—catch you alone! Travel in a pack. K, over and out.
Music section
{Playlists provided by Jay E. Tria} *click, redirects to spotify link
*Book: Songs of Our Breakup

JILL'S SUNDAY PLAYLIST
1. David Bowie ~ Heroes
2. Oasis ~ She's Electric
3. Eraserheads ~ Magasin
4. Gwen Stefani ~ Cool
5. Sugarfree ~ Kung Ayaw Mo Na Sa Akin
6. Yeah Yeah Yeahs ~ Cheated Hearts
7. The Smiths ~ Hand in Glove

MIKI'S BEACH PLAYLIST
1. Ransom Collective ~ Settled
2. Apartel ~ Designated Driver
3. BP Valenzuela ~ Pretty Car
4. MOONWLK ~ 20Twelve
5. Tom's Story ~ Anchors
6. Jensen and the Flips ~ Slow
7. Sandwich ~ Sunburn
SHINTA'S RAINY DAY PLAYLIST
1. Artic Monkeys ~ Baby I'm Yours
2. Apartel ~ Guijo St. (Makes You Wonder)
3. Eraserheads ~ Tuwing Umuulan at Kapiling Ka
4. Itchyworms ~ Rainy Day
5. L'Arc~en~Ciel ~ Stay Away
6. Markus Highway ~ Drivethru
7. Imago ~ Rainsong

3 SHOWS YOU JUST HAVE TO WATCH! | Entertainment section
1) 1553 {Pretty Face}
Don't miss Luc Savage's new West End play. His new play is about Elizabeth the First. It's getting great reviews from critics and it is highly recommended from us. Tickets are on sale!
2) Infini {Infini}
Aerial Ethereal is putting up a new circus in town. Las Vegas  is welcome back New York's Infini finally. With a new cast and a magical score, prepare to travel into this magnificent new world of tricks and dangerous acrobats acts.
3) Road Trip Race {More Than Distance}
New TV show alert! All of our fabulous bingers ~ we have for you a brand new reality show! A race around the country. A car. Two people. Lots of teams competing for the grand prize! Tune in on Tuesdays 9/10 EST.
A Delicious Temptation Dessert | Food section {Recipe provided by Sabrina Sol}
*Book: Delicious Temptation

CAPIROTADA 
When I’m feeling cold and miserable I tend to crave comfort food. This is good and bad given that I make a living baking nothing but comfort food. I mean, I own an entire bakery filled with sweets and carbs. And there’s nothing more comforting than butter, sugar, bread and cheese. Even better when it’s all rolled into one delicious dessert: Capirotada.

For those unfamiliar with Capirotada, think Mexican bread pudding. The sweet and savory dish is usually served during the Lenten season when most Catholics abstain from eating meat on Ash Wednesday and every Friday until Easter. But the beauty and comfort of Capirotada is that you can make it whenever the mood strikes you and it can be altered every time you make it, depending on what you're craving and what you have handy. For example, the sweet syrup that coats the dessert is typically made with piloncillo -- an unrefined Mexican sugar usually sold in the form of little "pilons" or cones. But if you don't have piloncillo on hand, regular brown sugar will do.

Capirotada is both nutty and sweet. Pecans, pralines, walnuts or almonds can be mixed with dried fruit such as raisins, pineapple, apples or even bananas. My husband Eric (side note: I still love calling him my husband!) likes gold raisins so that’s usually what I make mine with. The heartiness of the dish comes from the bread -- bolillos, French bread or any sliced bread can be used (I suggest it be at least two days old). It’s topped with some type of cheese -- cheddar, colby, jack, cotija or mozzarella – it doesn't really matter what kind you choose. All that's important is that it melts and you like it. Side note: I know it may sound strange to add cheese to something that will also be sweet, but the flavors really go together. I promise!

My recipe is more traditional and is pretty close to the version that my abuela used to bake. I know that no matter how many times I try, it will never be exactly like hers. But that’s okay because I still feel close to her whenever I make it and that’s another type of comfort right there. Besides, the end result is still an ooey, gooey, buttery, sweet, delicious mess that warms me from the inside out.

So, are you ready to bake?

Here’s what you will need. Remember if you don’t have the exact items, it’s okay to substitute.
2 cups water
2 piloncillos (about 4 oz each)
2 canela (cinammon) sticks
4 Tablespoons unsalted butter
3 stale or toasted bolillos
4 oz shredded colby jack cheese
1.5 oz chopped pecans (not crushed)
2 oz raisins

After gathering all of your ingredients, preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Now, bring the water, piloncillos and canela sticks to a boil in a medium saucepan, then simmer for 20 minutes or until piloncillos dissolve and mixture becomes more of a syrup. (Side note: I love the way this smells when it’s cooking). When it’s ready, remove the whole canela sticks.

Next, butter a glass casserole dish (8x8). Tear up pieces of the bolillos (or whatever bread you’re using) and assemble one layer of bread across the dish. Sprinkle pecans, raisins and cheese over the bread. Repeat for a second layer of bread, pecans, raisins and cheese. Then pour the piloncillo and cinnamon syrup over all of the layers.

Cut up the butter and spread across top layer. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake for another 7-10 minutes until cheese is melted and top layer of bread pieces are browned. I know I said I liked this recipe for cold days, but for an extra treat I’ve been known to serve it with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream!

And that’s how you make Capirotada. If you’ve never had this dish before, I hope I’ve inspired you to try it at least once.

Happy eating!
I hope you enjoyed this huge post lmao. I'm hoping I can make other issues, maybe more for romance books ~ or maybe I'll try my hand for some YA wink ~ 
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