'Tis the Season: All I Want For Christmas

Whenever the holidays roll around, I'm usually in the mood for the company of my loved ones, a lot of peppermint in my food and drink, and holiday lights and decorations. One of my favorite things about this time of the year? Presents!

I love going Christmas shopping! It's so fun for me to try and come up with creative gifts to give the people I care about. Heck, even Christmas card shopping is a big deal for me. I rarely post wishlists anywhere, happy to receive whatever gifts my family and friends come up with, but I thought it'd be fun to share some things that I would love to receive this holiday season.

[Sources: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6]

1. Ever since Cassie posted about this Etsy shop, I've been obsessed with finding a new iPad case. This was my favorite design from her shop, but it's sold already, boo. I still think her designs are cute! I'd definitely get one for my iPad 2!

2. In case you guys didn't know, I am currently living without a laptop. I did have my old, beloved Macbook, but left it in the Philippines. Thanks to the generosity of my sister and my best friend, I always have a laptop to blog on (when they're not using it, of course), but I would love it if I got a new laptop of my own, preferably a Macbook Pro. (In my humble opinion, once you go Mac, you never go back!)

3. My sister owns one of these, and I'm supremely jealous of her awesome collection of photos! I'd love to own my own Instax camera, whether it's this wider version or the mini.

4. I've been in dire need of a new black bag -- and the Coach Bleecker Bistro Satchel is just one of the ones I'm coveting. (In reality, this bag is my dream bag to own one day.)

5. I'm also looking for another, neutral-colored bag -- and I'm currently lusting over the Kate Spade Cobble Hill Little Minka. It's just super cute!

6. If someone wanted to hook me up with concert tickets/Broadway tickets for all of 2014, I would gladly accept that as a gift this Christmas.

[Sources: 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12]

7-8. I am obsessed with the prints in this Etsy shop, though I don't own one of my own yet. This is definitely one of my favorite prints, mostly because it would be such a perfect piece of inspiration to hang on my wall! I also recently discovered this other Etsy shop with this awesome Harry Potter-inspired print and other cute goodies -- all of which I want!

9. I would love to own this round frame, you guys. It's so cute, and it gives me the perfect avenue to display multiple photos at once! (Fun fact: I love to collect photos and always look for ways to display them.)

10-12. One of my favorite things to do is travel and I haven't done nearly as much of it as I would like in this past year. It is my hope that I get to go more places in 2014, something that I intend to make a big part of my budget. I want to visit London for the first time (and visit the Harry Potter Studio Tour, of course), go back to Walt Disney World (which might just happen if *plans* go the way they should) and revisit Japan (which is one of the prettiest, most epic places in the world).

13. A teleportation device would come in handy for #10-12. But it would be even more useful for me, since it gives me a way to see my husband, family and friends back in the Philippines (and some in Australia and in other states) constantly.

14. I'm in the middle of a job hunt, so it's not surprising that I'm wishing for a job. It would be a dream come true to work in publishing or in a job involving books, so that's certainly what I'm aiming for. 

15. I'm not going to go into this one too much, but Macky and I are currently waiting on his visa. Until it's done processing, our lives (individually and together) are at a standstill. So guys, please pray that it gets approved soon!

So, you guys might be wondering, where are all the books? Not to worry, I've got a link to my Goodreads book wish list for you -- which I'm slowly, but surely buying/receiving my way through. I'd appreciate any of these titles or gift cards so that I could get them for myself!

Now it's YOUR turn -- what's on your holiday wish list? 

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The Hero - Robyn Carr (Review)

The Hero by Robyn Carr
Series: Thunder Point #3
Publisher: Harlequin MIRA
Publication Date: August 27, 2013
More Info: Amazon || Barnes & Noble

In a moment of desperation, Devon McAllister takes her daughter and flees a place where they should have been safe and secure. She has no idea what is around the next bend, but she is pretty certain it can't be worse than what they've left behind. Her plan is to escape to somewhere she can be invisible. Instead, an unexpected offer of assistance leads her to Thunder Point, a tiny Oregon town with a willingness to help someone in need. 

As the widowed father of a vulnerable young boy, Spencer Lawson knows something about needing friendship. But he's not looking for anything else. Instead, he's thrown his energy into his new role as Thunder Point's high school football coach. Tough and demanding to his team, off the field he's gentle and kind...just the kind of man who could heal Devon's wounded heart. 

Devon thought she wanted to hide from the world. But in Thunder Point, you find bravery where you least expect it...and sometimes, you find a hero. (from Goodreads)

The Thunder Point series, in spite of my brief hiatus from it, still feels like home - comfortable and cozy. This small town and its residents are familiar friends, easy to slip back in amongst and enjoy. Each new addition comes with a new set of characters to love, unspooling their lives into stories of courage, settling down and love. 

The Hero is my favorite of the series, simply because the story just kept me turning the pages. Apart from the familiar characters (like Cooper & Sarah, Landon & Eve, Gina & Mac, Rawley, and more), we're introduced to Devon. She might just be my new favorite character of the entire series! She's had a difficult past, particularly in the past few years, but she is determined to rise above it. Her ability to be a mother to her daughter Mercy is admirable, only eclipsed by her kind heart, optimism and willingness to work hard. 

It makes my heart flutter to think about the romance that blooms between Devon and Spencer. While I wish I'd gotten a better idea of who he was (which perhaps means I should read The Newcomer?), in the end, all that mattered was that he knew how to take care of a woman and treat her right. His connection to the Thunder Point community is so strong, and that's something that I feel like Devon truly needed in her own life.

Devon also had issues stemming from her past to deal with. In the beginning, it looks like she made her escape with her daughter Mercy - and with thanks, surprisingly, to Rawley, the silent elderly man who helps Cooper out. She starts to forge her own path, carving a life out for herself and Mercy in Thunder Point. It was only a matter of time before the issues found their way into her new world, and it is then when Devon is truly tested. 

There's quite a bit of action in the latter part of the novel. It is during these times that we witness Rawley and his incredible (hidden) abilities. It is also during these times that we see Devon rally, gather her courage and fight for her daughter and her right to live freely. It got intense fairly quickly, with things escalating to a nerve-wracking climax. 

The Hero was a wonderful visit back to the town of Thunder Point, allowing readers to see how the characters they know and love are getting along. It also provides a new addition to the town's stories, complete with new characters to fall in love with. The title of this book is pretty apt, as many times, we see various characters being heroes in their own right, in ways big and small. That's really what it's all about, in my opinion - learning how to be a hero and allowing one's self to be a hero - and Carr weaves it excellently into her tale.

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Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer - Katie Alender (Review)

Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer by Katie Alender
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication Date: September 24, 2013
Source/Format: Netgalley/e-galley
More Info: Amazon || Barnes & Noble

Colette Iselin is excited to go to Paris on a class trip. She’ll get to soak up the beauty and culture, and maybe even learn something about her family’s French roots.

But a series of gruesome murders are taking place across the city, putting everyone on edge. And as she tours museums and palaces, Colette keeps seeing a strange vision: a pale woman in a ball gown and powdered wig, who looks suspiciously like Marie Antoinette.

Colette knows her popular, status-obsessed friends won’t believe her, so she seeks out the help of a charming French boy. Together, they uncover a shocking secret involving a dark, hidden history. When Colette realizes she herself may hold the key to the mystery, her own life is suddenly in danger. (Goodreads)

If I were to think about all the books I've read this year, Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer would stand out as one of the strangest. It was incredibly weird, but also entertaining. Basically, it was like a horror B movie -- you know there's a possibility that it might be ridiculous but you'll watch it anyway, just for kicks. While it left no substantial impression on me, I can at least admit to being distracted (in a good way) by the book.

Honestly, the one thing about this book that appealed to me personally were all the French touches - the history, the language, the tourist spots. From past posts, my readers will know that I love French culture and history, and the language, and dream of going to visit Paris one day. This novel had me desiring to brush up on my French skills.

The characters were no standouts, each falling into a stereotype: geeky, popular, poor girl taken in as a popular kid, nerdy tour guide, strict chaperone, rich kid. There was no particular reason to really care about their fates. After all, this book is fairly simple. All the elements were conveniently placed within the story to guide it towards the conclusion: the characters, the famous tourist spots, the clues to this mystery. It worked out the way a typical tween movie would -- which means it was predictable.

For a book with "serial killer" in the title, it's not a surprise that there's a lot of death. Still, it remains pretty light, as the blood and gore and murder are all glossed over quite nicely. It's a little morbid in certain parts, but nothing that would induce a nightmares.

If there is one statement to sum up my feelings towards Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer, it is this: it was fun while it lasted. I won't pretend that I didn't enjoy it, but it wasn't exactly the type of story that will stay with me forever. If you're looking for something that'll be a quick read and cheap entertainment, this novel would probably be a good bet.

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