Book Review: Before We Were Yours

Rhea adalah wanita yang dikenal dengan sebutan gadis besi. Dengan kelayakan keluarga serta bakatnya, dia menjadi wanita sombong dan tidak ramah. Reputasi buruknya telah menyebar ke seluruh penjuru kota, membuat para pelamarnya mengundurkan diri. Rhea tidak peduli akan reputasinya. Dia memiliki calon suami yang setia, mereka akan memiliki kehidupan yang bahagia setelah pernikahan. Itu sebelum selingkuhan calon suaminya menampilkan diri di hari pernikahan mereka dan membuat drama. Rhea memutuskan pacarnya saat itu juga. Hanya saja pernikahan harus berjalan. Dia membutuhkan mempelai dan dengan putus asa, Rhea mengumumkan putusan. "Siapapun pria layak yang berani maju kedepan mendatangiku, aku akan menikahinya sekarang juga!" Tak disangka seorang pria yang duduk di barisan paling akhir berdiri dan berjalan kedepan untuk mengajukan diri. "Saya Hansa Adiwinata. CEO grup Prisma. Lajang. Umur 32 tahun. Apakah saya bernilai di mata anda?" Semua orang melotot tidak percaya. Bujangan yang diinginkan nomor satu, pria yang terkenal berperangai dingin, kejam, dan tak berperasaan, petinggi perusahaan raksasa yang menguasai berbagai lapisan industri, dan pria itu sekarang tengah menawarkan dirinya sendiri pada wanita bereputasi rendah di kota. Setelah pernikahan, Rhea menyerahkan surat perjanjian cerai di hadapan Hansa. "Mari berpura-pura menikah selama satu tahun lalu berpisah dengan baik-baik." Hansa menatap kertas tersebut dan tersenyum manis kepadanya. "Cerai? Jangan bermimpi wanita, kamu akan menjadi istriku selamanya."

Isang maling hakbang. Isang maling gabi. Isang maling desisyon… o baka tamang tao sa maling pagkakataon? Elara has always played it safe—until she crashes into a stranger in the most awkward way possible. Akala niya, worst moment na ‘yon ng buhay niya—hindi pa pala. Because that stranger? Theo. The new hire sa office nila. Mas malala? Anak siya ng boss. Mula sa asaran hanggang sa hindi matapos-tapos na bangayan, they can’t seem to stay away from each other. But one unexpected night changes everything. Kinabukasan, they wake up—walang maalala at walang idea kung ano’ng nangyari. Months later, Elara finds out she’s pregnant. The problem? She doesn’t know who the father is. At nang malaman ng isang importanteng tao ang sitwasyon niya, isang desisyon ang kailangang gawin—one that will tie her and Theo together in a way they never saw coming. Now, they’re stuck in something they don’t understand. But what if the truth has been right in front of them all along? Or will they stay… Cluelessly Yours?

Leslie Magtrano is a big time dreamer. She dreams to be a successful one someday, that she can provide anything to her family. A simple, realistic and sweet daughter. She is capable on doing things that anyone cannot. Ang tanging pangarap niya lang ay makapagtapos ng pag-aaral at makahanap ng desenteng trabaho na nababagay sa kanya. Ang babaeng hindi naniniwala sa salitang "forever". Naniniwala siyang ang mga lalaki ay isa lamang instrumento para manakit ng babae. Until Phillip Rosier came, a jerk and specially a stalker na siyang magpapabago ng kanyang paniniwala. Mapanindigan kaya ni Leslie ang paniniwala niya o magbabago na lang ang lahat sa isang iglap?

"Actually, I've got a much better idea." He smiled, revealing dangerous set of fangs. His eyes were already dark, and his voice had a much deadly tone. This was not the time nor the place, but I couldn't help the attraction I felt towards him in that moment. He looked so dangerous, and that was in contrast to the awkward, cringe and boring Alpha I'd always known. His hands came down to grab my waist roughly. My face was pressed up against his chest, and I could hear his steady heartbeat. My arm fell limp at my side when he suddenly brought his mouth to a sensitive spot on my neck. Something kept shouting at me to run, run as fast as I can away from this Alpha. I was never one to run away from danger, not when it's this enticing. So I indulged myself. " Alpha! What are you doing?" I heard Mark ask in a panicked voice. Aaaw! Was Big Markie scared for me?? "What the fuck are you doing?" He shouted this time. "What I should have done a long time ago." Benard replied in a gruff voice. It sent pleasurable shivers down my spine. "No." I heard Cara growl in protest, but she was no match for the Alpha. I was left in shock and agony as an excruciating sensation ran down my neck. My whole body was on fire, and hot tears ran down my tightly shut eyes. He marked me. He fucking marked me! oh shit! I'm definitely going to die of rabies. ****************************************** What happens when a huntress finds herself in a pack of hateful wolves? What more when she finds out that the Alpha thinks they're meant to be? Will she automatically submit to him? Will she make a run for it?

Clairol Tampson is a teacher and a stand-in-second mother for her students in school. She was already contented from her life. A job that meant for her, a peaceful life despite of receiving a hostility from the people whose hated her for no reason. However, her peacful life was ended when she accidentally committed a big mistake that makes everything hard for her. She got a one night stand with a stranger man and got pregnant. Unfortunately, to make it worst. She found out that the man she was spending that hot night was one of her new transfered student's father! Draven Velasquez, a CEO and a single dad. After losing his other half, he didn't believe in love and even marriage again. His daughter was the only fragments left from his late wife. Not until he will met this woman who looks alike to his deceased wife from a strange encounter. He thought his heart will never beat again and fell from one of the cupid's game. But he just found himself, uncontrollably following this stranger woman. What will happen if this two will be tied up from a contractual relationship?

Could there be anything more painful than witnessing how your best friend and your boyfriend pleasure in each other's company? That's exactly what Summer Hilton experienced when, from a mission, she accidentally found herself against the glass wall of the unit occupied by her unfaithful boyfriend and her bestfriend Wilma. Summer was born with a golden spoon in her mouth and she is princess of the Hilton’s family. Admired and envied by everyone for possessing all the good qualities, including excessive self-confidence, but in a moment, all of that vanished due to the betrayal of two precious people in her life. Hans Zimmer, a successful Hollywood actor, became entangled in a complex situation. Admired by Summer, she took a bold step to get to know him and surprised everyone with a marriage contract. Three months later, as Hans prepared to marry Scarlett, he discovered he was already married into another woman, leading to Scarlett's decision to separate. Hanz searched for his wife named Summer but was dismayed to find in front of him the plus size fan he encountered before. “Love me in three months, and I will give you back your freedom." This was the condition set by his wife, who treated him colder than ice. What if Summer completely falls for her idol, who is now her husband? Will she still be able to give up the freedom he's asking for? Or will she let her heart suffer once again for the second time?"

It's been a rollercoaster ride for Cooper. From being a player, to becoming a one-woman man and to being a first-rate gigolo, and eventually living his life like a bargain-basement rubbish. He felt that way, opposite to what other people see in him as someone who has everything on his reach; fame, wealth, and looks that anyone would kill for. But he was empty inside. He has nothing. He lost everything because he made a wrong choice. If only he could turn back time. He could have protected Zyon as what he promised to her. Yes, he could have but he was not able to as he was the reason of her heartbreak. And now, he is paying the price of his unwise decision, a price that he thought he could afford but he knows he couldn't. Zyon has been coping up with everything she had been through pretty well. With a very nice job she is very passionate about, spending all her time for it, making a huge name for herself internationally, somehow helped her big time with escaping her sorrows. Going back to Philippines was not on her choices as of the moment. She still wants to achieve more and armored herself with invincible success so she can win the battle when the right time comes. Kapag hiningi ng pagkakataon, wala siyang magawa but for now she is still enjoying everything she can grasp and won't allow bad memories to haunt her. She wouldn't! But as she set her foot back in the country, memories came flooding in for both Cooper and Zyon. Will their paths cross again? Will they give their past a final closure? Or will they be able to revive what happened before and give it a new twist with a happy ending?

(COCOK UNTUK PEMBACA YANG MAU MENYAKITI DIRI. CERITA SEDIH, MENGURAS EMOSI JIWA RAGA!) Memilikinya tabu bagiku, mencintai dirinya membuatku semakin terluka dalam. Aku tidak akan pernah menjadi miliknya, karena sebuah kenyataan sial yang menimpa hidupku!

«Find out what happens on full moon nights in October in the dark town of Hammond» Seventeen-year-old Levana Jones moves to the town of Hammond with her older sister Sara, without thinking about the darkness that ensured the place. There is a strange song that children sing around every corner that drives her crazy: «1,2,3 don't go out after sunset 1,2,3 or the wolf is going to eat you» Logan Miller is the typical arrogant and intimidating boy of all the town along with his group of friends who seem inseparable. When Levana and Miller meet there is an inexplicable connection between them, which is where Miller realizes that they are mattes. But there is a problem, Miller's pack had already chosen Levana for the October full moon ritual: a ritual where the purity of a virgin is needed. Miller will have to decide whether to follow his heart or remain that respectable Alpha that he has been all along.

Ever since high school kilala na ni Yasmin si Drake, at isa lang naman siya sa maraming nagkakagusto rito. Pero hindi naman siya delusional, alam niyang sa hitsura’t pamumuhay nito ay malayong magustuhan siya nito, tiyambahan lang ang mala-Cinderella love story sa totoong buhay. Pero magbabago ang akala niya’y imposible, hindi dahil nagkagusto na ito sa kanya, kung hindi dahil sa arrange marriage na kasasangkutan nila! Ito ang ka-arrange marriage niya dahil sa napag-usapan na ‘yon ng pamilya ng ama niyang hindi naman siya kinilala pero biglang nagkunwaring may bilang siya sa buhay nito para lang pagtakpan ang stepsister niyang dapat ay siyang mapapangasawa ni Drake, dahil ang stepsister niya’y nagpabuntis sa boyfriend nito at kasalukuyang itinatago ng ama sa ibang bansa. Iyon lamang, may longtime girlfriend si Drake nang mapangasawa niya, akala niya pagtagal maaaring magustuhan din siya nito, mahalin kahit paano, magbago ang lahat kapag naging mag-asawa na sila, pero kung gaano kahirap sa kanya ang magbuntis dahil sa PCOS niya ay siya ring hirap pabalingin ni Drake sa kanya. Limang taon, sa limang taon na ‘yon parang wala man lang siyang naging halaga rito. Nang malaman niyang buntis siya, akala niya ay iyon na ang babago sa kanila pero bago pa niya masabi rito ay nalaman nitong binayaran lamang siya ng ama para pakasalan ito.