2016 my books Reading Challenge

2016 my books Reading Challenge

If you love books, you'll love reading. And vice versa. Book and reading are two things that cannot be separated. 

I have books that I owned -not really many, unfortunately- but I'd love to read this year. And I'd love if you would do it with me. You don't have to have a blog, you could update the book that you had read at instagram or twitter using #2016mybooksreadingchallenge. 

2016 my books Reading Challenge is only for the printed books that you have. E-copy or audiobook aren't counted. Any genre book doesn't matter. You may read any genre, fiction or non-fiction, manga (Japanese comic), comic, biography, and etc. The most important thing is that the book you read belongs to you. 

Duration: 1st January - 31st December 2016 

Target of Books: set your goal own goal. My goal is 30 books. 

List of Books:

1. Firelight by Sophie Jordan ( Jan 19th)
2. Wake (Terjaga) by Lisa McMann (Jan 22nd)
3. Fade (Pudar) by Lisa McMann  (Jan 23rd)
4. Gone (Tiada) by Lisa McMann  (Jan 26th)
5. Dua Cinta Negeri Sakura by Irene Dyah (Feb 23rd) 
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Let's open the box. Let's get away with books.  

Review: Bound by Hatred by Cora Reilly

Bound by Hatred (Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles #3) 

Penulis: Cora Reilly 
Release: 28 April 2015
Format: E-book
Tebal: 196 halaman 
Bahasa: English  
Genre: romance-suspense, contemporary, arranged marriage, mafia 
Rating: 4 of 5 stars 

Sinopsis from Goodreads

When Gianna watched her sister Aria getting married to a man she barely knew, she promised herself she wouldn’t let the same thing happen to her. 

Matteo – The Blade – Vitiello set his eyes on Gianna the moment he saw her on his brother Luca’s wedding, and Rocco Scuderi is more than willing to give his daughter to him, but Gianna has no intention of marrying for any other reason than love. A few months before the wedding, Gianna escapes her bodyguards and runs away. She has enough money to flee to Europe and begin a new life. But staying undetected when the mob is searching for her is a challenge that takes everything, especially as one of their best hunters and assassins is after her: Matteo Vitiello. 

After six months on the run, Gianna finally settles into a tentative routine in Munich, but then Matteo and a couple of her father’s soldiers find her with another man. 

Despite her pleads they kill her boyfriend, and Gianna is forced to marry Matteo. Her emotions alternating between guilt over having dragged an innocent into her world and hatred toward Matteo, Gianna is determined to make life hell for her husband. But Matteo is a master at mind games and their struggle for power soon turns into hate-fueled nights of passion. 

My Review

"God, no wonder Father didn't want us to be around men. Now that I knew how good kissing felt, I never wanted to stop doing it."  - Gianna

Matteo and Giana's relationship is so hilarious. Dari pertama ketemu saja sudah seperti kucing dan anjing. Saling cakar dan menggoda. Matteo seperti bad-boy yang suka menggoda dan sedangkan Giana seorang tsundere (if you know what I mean :D). 

Tapi seiring berjalannya cerita Giana makin menyebalkan. Gengsinya setinggi skyscrapper. Pengen aku jitak saja rasanya saking gemesnya. Dibalik sikap menyebalkannya sebenarnya Giana itu hatinya lembut, tidak bisa melihat darah alias fobia, sayang banget sama kakak dan adik-adiknya. 

Matteo, well, I don't know but.. I like all hero in this series (Luca, Dante, and Matteo) they always protective of their women. 

Overall, cerita romance mereka kayak anak SMA yang dikemas dalam kehidupan mafia penuh darah. Tetep saja kalau bukan Matteo yang jadi hero dan Giana jadi heroinnya, ceritanya gak akan roller coster seperti ini :D 

"I want to pull him closer and push him away at the same time, wanted to hide and open up to him, wanted and not wanted." - Gianna

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Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles series: 
1. Bound by Honor (Luca dan Aria) 
2. Bound by Duty (Dante dan Valentina) 
3. Bound by Hatred (Matteo dan Gianna)
4. Bound by Temptation (Romero dan Lily) 

Review: Bound by Duty (Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles #2) by Cora Reilly

Bound by Duty (Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles #2) 

Penulis: Cora Reilly 
Penerbit: Smashwords Edition 
Release: 9 Februari 2015 
Format: E-book
Bahasa: English 
Genre: romance-suspense, contemporary, arranged-marriage, mafia 
Rating: 4 of 5 stars 

Sinopsis dari Goodreads

Dante – The Boss – Cavallaro’s wife died four years ago. On the verge of becoming the youngest head in the history of the Chicago mafia, Dante needs a new wife and Valentina was chosen for the role.

Valentina lost her husband, too, but her first marriage had always been for show. When she was eighteen, she agreed to marry Antonio in order to hide the truth: that he was gay and in love with an outsider. Even after his death, she kept his secret, not only to preserve the honor of a dead man, but also to protect herself. But now that she’s about to marry Dante, her castle of lies threatens to crash. Dante is only thirty-six but already feared and respected in the Familia, and he’s notorious for always getting what he wants. Valentina is terrified of the wedding night that might reveal her secret, but her worries prove unfounded when Dante shows her the cold shoulder. Soon her fear is replaced by confusion and indignation. Valentina is tired of being ignored. She’s determined to get Dante’s attention and desire, even if she can’t get his heart that still belongs to his dead wife.

My Review 

"So I'm not just going to manage a casino, I'll also be a bordello queen." 

I like Valentina, she's strong and independent. 

Sama seperti novel sebelumnya, aku suka cerita novel ini yang tidak terlalu banyak drama. Dante meskipun sering dingin dan menyebalkan ke Valentina tapi dia sangat toleran dan loyal banget ke Valentina. 

I hate their first night part. My heart breaks for Valentina. She deserves better that just cold-treatment from Dante. 

buuuut, he always protects his wife. Or maybe you could say, protective husband.

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Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles series: 
1. Bound by Honor (Luca dan Aria) 
2. Bound by Duty (Dante dan Valentina) 
3. Bound by Hatred (Matteo dan Gianna)
4. Bound by Temptation (Romero dan Lily) 

Review: Wake - Terjaga (Dream Catcher #1) by Lisa McMann

 Wake - Terjaga (Dream Catcher #1)

Penulis: Lisa McMann  
Penerbit: Gramedia Pustaka Utama 
Terbit pertama kali: 4 Maret 2008 
Format: Paperback 
Tebal: 216 halaman 
Bahasa: Indonesia (Terjemahan) 
Genre: romance-fantasy, young adult, dream catcher  
Rating: 4,5 of 5 stars

Sinopsis dari Goodreads

Janie, gadis berusia tujuh belas tahun, sudah biasa tersedot ke mimpi orang lain. Terutama mimpi tentang jatuh, telanjang, dan seks.

Ia tidak bisa memberitahu siapa-siapa tentang "kelebihannya" ini---takkan ada yang percaya. Mereka bisa-bisa malah mengira ia gila.

Lalu ia terjatuh ke dalam mimpi buruk mengerikan, mimpi yang membuatnya ketakutan sampai ke tulang sumsum. Untuk pertama kalinya, Janie bukan lagi sekadar saksi. Kali ini ia terlibat.... 

My Review

Jujur, aku tak berharap banyak pada buku ini saat mulai membaca. Tapi ketika membacanya aku benar-benar ikut hanyut dalam ceritanya. Pengalamannya.

Dan ini bukanlah cerita tentang tokoh hero/heroine yang perfect. Well, mereka dari kalangan bawah. Cabel yang diawal digambarkan sebagai seorang gelandangan. Serta tokoh utama yang terpaksa harus dewasa sebelum waktunya. Ini tuh complicated banget lah. Cerita YA fantasy dengan sedikit tema dark di dalamnya. 

Harus kuakui, aku lega banget waktu tahu tentang kebenaran dari Cabel. Dan aku langsung jatuh cinta saat itu juga. lol. 

Janie meskipun cemburuan, tapi dia bisa mengendalikan dirinya. Dan waktu dia memutuskan untuk mengetuk pintu rumah cabel -setelah berantem sebelumnya- aku memberinya dua jempol. Terlalu banyak tokoh heroine lain yang lebih memilih lari. 

4,5 stars untuk sang pengontrol mimpi. Well, aku tak mau menyebutnya penangkap mimpi karena itu punya Janie dan Martha. Tapi untuk semua tokoh disitu yang mampu mengubah mimpinya. 

“Once you read something, you can't erase it from your brain.” 

*

*

“But then you slammed a door handle into my gut. And when a girl does that to a guy; it means she likes him.”

2016 A to Z Female Character Challenge

2016 A-Z Female Character Challenge 

Duration: January 1st, 2016 - December 31, 2016

The Goal: 
✩ Read 26 books in which the female character's names (either first or last) begin with the letters of the alphabet. 

The Guidelines: 
✩ For the letter "X", any female character with the letter "X" in her name is acceptable. 
✩ Feel free to join the challenge any time during the year. As long as the books were read in 2016, you can go ahead and backdate. 
✩ Have fun! Be sure to check out the lists of other players...it's a great way to find new TBR's! 

This is one of a few reading challenge that I was joining this year. This is a reading challenge from Romance Readers Reading Challenges  group in Goodreads. And then, I decided to post it on my blog too. You can check it out in here. I was also joining in 2016 A to Z Male Character Challenge. 

Now, this is my 2016 A to Z Female Character Challenge goes so far. 

A: Andrea  (Scorched by Jennifer L. Armentrout), 5 stars, finished January 8th

B: Bronwyn Palmer (The Husband's Regret by Natasha Anders), 4 stars, finished: February 2nd

C:

D: Dani Kohen (Caught In Us by Layla Hagen), 4,5 stars, finished: February 9th

E:

F:

G:

H:

I:

J: Jacinda Jones (Firelight by Sophie Jordan), 3,5 stars, finished: January 19th

K:

L: Lila Bailey (Easy With You by Kristen Proby), 4 stars, finished: January 15th

M:

N: Nora (Voyeur Extraordinaire by Cora Reilly), 3 stars, finished: February 20th

O:

P:

Q:

R: Roxanne Ark (Fall With Me by Jennifer L. Armentrout), 4,5 stars, finished: January 21th

S: Sydney Bell (Frigid by Jennifer L. Armentrout),  5 stars, finished January 6th

T: Theresa de Lucci (The Unwanted Wife by Natasha Anders), 5 stars, finished: January 30th

U:

V:

W:

X:

Y:

Z:


Tell me what are you thinking about this 2016 A to Z Female Character Challenge or if you are interested in the comment bellow.

Feel free to ask any question!

Happy Reading, guys! :) 

2016 A to Z Male Character Challenge

2016 A-Z Male Character Challenge 

Duration: January 1st, 2016 - December 31, 2016

The Goal: 
✩ Read 26 books in which the male character's names (either first or last) begin with the letters of the alphabet. 

The Guidelines: 
✩ For the letter "X", any male character with the letter "X" in his name is acceptable. 
✩ Feel free to join the challenge any time during the year. As long as the books were read in 2016, you can go ahead and backdate. 
✩ Have fun! Be sure to check out the lists of other players...it's a great way to find new TBR's! 

This is one of a few reading challenge that I was joining this year. This is a reading challenge from Romance Readers Reading Challenges  group in Goodreads. And then, I decided to post it on my blog too. You can check it out in here. I was also joining in 2016 A to Z Female Character Challenge. 

Now, this is my 2016 A to Z Male Character Challenge goes so far. 

A: Asher Smith (Easy With You by Kristen Proby), 4 stars, finished: January 15th

B: Bryce Palmer (The Husband's Regret by Natasha Anders), 4 stars, finished: February 2nd

C: Cabel Strumheller (Wake by Lisa McMann), 4,5 stars, finished: January 22th

D: Damon Cooper (Caught In Us by Layla Hagen), 4,5 stars, finished: February 9th

E:

F:

G: Gabe Braddock (His Unlikely Lover by Natasha Anders), 3,5 stars, finished: February 6th

H:

I:

J:

K: Kyler Quinn (Frigid by Jennifer L. Armentrout),  5 stars, finished January 6th

L:

M:

N:

O:

P:

Q:

R: Reece Anders (Fall With Me by Jennifer L. Armentrout), 4,5 stars, January 21st

S:

T: Tanner  (Scorched by Jennifer L. Armentrout),  5 stars, finished January 8th

U:

V:

W: Will Rutledge (Firelight by Sophie Jordan), 3,5 stars, finished: January 19th

X:

Y:

Z:


Tell me what are you thinking about this 2016 A to Z Male Character Challenge or if you are interested in the comment bellow.

Feel free to ask any question!

Happy Reading, guys! :) 

Review: Firelight (Firelight #1) by Sophie Jordan

 

Firelight (Firelight #1) 

Penulis: Sophie Jordan 
Penerbit: Penerbit Atria
Terbit pertama kali: 7 September 2010
Format: Paperback 
Tebal: 426 halaman 
Bahasa: Indonesia (Terjemahan) 
Genre: romance-fantasy, young adult, draki/naga 
Rating: 3,5 of 5 stars 


Sinopsis dari Goodreads

Jacinda adalah gadis yang unik. Dia tidak hanya draki—manusia keturunan naga—tetapi juga jenis draki penyembur api pertama sejak empat ratus tahun. Karena kelangkaannya, sang ketua kelompok hendak menikahkannya dengan sang putra mahkota, Cassian, supaya menghasilkan draki-draki penyembur api lainnya. 

Ibu Jacinda yang merasa keberatan anaknya hendak “dibiakkan” membawa kabur Jacinda dan saudara kembarnya, Tamra, dari perkampungan draki untuk menjalani kehidupan normal sebagai orang biasa. Ibunya berharap, naluri draki Jacinda perlahan-lahan 

akan padam seperti halnya dirinya.

Namun, ternyata naluri draki Jacinda tidak semudah itu dimusnahkan. Dia ingin sekali kembali ke kelompoknya, di mana udara sejuk dan kabut pegunungan menyegarkan kulitnya. Diam-diam, dia sering menyelinap pergi ke hutan terdekat untuk memelihara kemampuan terbangnya. 

Hingga akhirnya dia bertemu Will, pemuda yang bisa menghidupkan naluri drakinya, bahkan di gurun gersang sekalipun. Tetapi Will ternyata adalah orang yang sangat berbahaya, dan Cassian berhasil menemukannya serta mengklaimnya untuk kembali …. 

My Review 

First thing first, 3,5 stars for the twin redhead. Why oh why? For a starter, because I like redheaded heroine.  Jujur saja ya, aku sudah tertarik dengan novel ini waktu pertama kali lihat covernya. Cover yang English version maksudku. Yang mana gambarnya cewek berambut merah dan beberapa kulit kasar atau sisik naga di sekitar mata kirinya. Dia kelihatan berani dan tangguh. Seperti yang bisa kalian lihat di gambar sebelah. Nah, kalau yang gambar di atas itu cover versi Indonesianya. Sayang banget covernya beda.  Anyway, kita langsung bahas saja isi bukunya. Baca buku ini bikin aku gregetan saja sama Jacinda yang kelihatannya seperti korban, yang selalu merasa tertidas dan tersakiti karena ibu dan saudara kembarnya Tamra. Tapi kalau diperhatikan lagi, menurutku lebih menderita Tamra. Memang Tamra kelihatan egois ketika mereka bertiga sudah berada di dunia manusia, tapi itu merupakan hal wajar menurutku. Setelah sekian lama berada di kelompok draki dia hanya dipandang sebelah mata, akhirnya dia dapat diterima dan dianggap sebagai manusia 'normal' sama seperti yang lainnya.  Untuk romance-nya aku tidak terlalu tertarik karena, well, ini cinta segitiga. Dan aku sebisa mungkin menghindari segitiga. Apalagi dengan endingnya yang how-dare-you leave me.  Terlepas dari itu, alurnya tergolong lambat tapi ya gitu-gitu saja.  Sedikit cuplikan dari Will dan Jacinda.  "Kau mau pergi bersamaku?" tanyanya tiba-tiba.  Aku berkedip. "Maksudnya berkencan?"  "Ya. Itulah yang biasa dimaksud cowok ketika dia mengajukan pertanyaan itu."  * * Jacinda: "Mengapa kau ada di sini?"  Will: "Aku sudah selesai." Jacinda: "Selesai apa?" Will: "Selesai membiarkan kau menghindariku."  * * Well, that was a few sweet moments of them. Seri ini sebenarnya ada tiga novel dan satu novella yang menceritakan tentang sahabatnya Jacinda, Az. Tapi aku tidak yakin apa aku akan melanjutkan membaca seri atau tidak. #shrug

Review: Bound by Honor (Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles #1) by Cora Reilly

 

Bound by Honor (Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles #1)

Penulis: Cora Reilly 
Penerbit: Smashwords
Release: 14 Desember 2014 
Format: E-book
Tebal: 323 halaman 
Bahasa: English
Genre: romance, contemporary, suspense, mafia, arranged-marriage
Rating: 4,5 of 5 stars 

Sinopsis dari Goodreads 

Born into one of the leading Mob families in Chicago, Aria Scuderi struggles to find her own path in a world where no choices are given. Aria was only fifteen when her parents betrothed her to Luca – The Vice – Vitiello, the oldest son of the head of the New York Cosa Nostra to ensure peace between the two families. 

Now at eighteen, the day Aria has been dreading for years is looming dangerously: her wedding to Luca. 

Aria is terrified of marrying a man she hardly knows, especially someone like Luca who got his nickname ‘the Vice’ for crushing a man’s throat with his bare hands. Luca might be one of the most sought after men in New York thanks to his good looks, wealth and predator-like charisma that radiates power, but the society girls throwing themselves at him don’t know what Aria does: that the bad boy aura isn’t just a game; blood and death lurk beneath Luca’s striking gray eyes and arrogant smile.

In her world a handsome exterior often hides the monster within; a monster who can just as easily kill as kiss you.

The only way to escape the marriage to Luca would be to run away and leave everything she’s ever known behind but Aria can’t bear the thought of never seeing her family again. 

Despite her fear, she decides to go through with the marriage; Aria has grown up among predators like Luca and knows that even most cold-hearted bastards have a heart and she has every intention of working her way into Luca’s.

My Review

Aku gak nyangka bakal suka dengan kisah Luca dan Aria. Awalnya aku mengira kalau ini sama saja seperti novel perjodohan antara hot-soon-to-be-leader-mafia dengan gadis yang hampir sederajat dengannya. Yah, paling laki-lakinya yang playboy atau dingin dan tidak peduli dengan istrinya gitu. 

Tapi aku keliru. Damn, Luca bisa sangat sweet dan pengertian dan lembut ke Aria meskipun kadang he's a jerk. :D 

Kemudian Aria, yang seperti gadis 18 tahun pada umumnya.. masih muda man untuk nikah umur segitu. Tapi Aria sabar dan sangat penurut (ini tipe istri para dominan :D). Dan dia bisa berpikiran sangat dewasa, *spoiler* misalnya saja waktu dia memergoki Luca dengan Grace di apartemen. *spoiler* Seriously, I really hate Luca at the moment! 

Aria memang sempat kabur, tapi setelah kepalanya agak dingin dia memutuskan kembali ke penthouse. See? She's not TSTL!! Fighting Aria!! 

“Just because I'm wearing revealing clothes doesn't mean 

I'm inviting them to look.” -Aria

Aria dengan santainya bilang seperti itu ketika dia dan Luca latihan martial art di salah satu gym-private-nya mereka, dan waktu itu di sana banyak soldier yang sedang latihan. Kemudian keluarlah sisi posesif dan protektifnya Luca.    

I love them together. They made a sweet couple. 

Series ini, khususnya novel ini recommended banget buat yang suka romance dengan suspense berbumbu mafia dan perjodohan. Paket lengkap deh.

“Maybe love is a risk, but it’s a risk I’m willing to take and as you said, it’s not a choice. I never thought I would, never thought I could love someone like that but I fell in love with you. I fought it. It’s the first battle I didn’t mind losing.”  -Luca

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Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles series: 
1. Bound by Honor (Luca dan Aria) 
2. Bound by Duty (Dante dan Valentina) 
3. Bound by Hatred (Matteo dan Gianna)
4. Bound by Temptation (Romero dan Lily) 

Review: Bellamore A Beautiful Love To Remember by Karla M. Nashar

Bellamore A Beautiful Love To Remember 

Penulis: Karla M. Nashar 
Penerbit: Gramedia Pustaka Utama 
Release: 2007 
Format: Paperback 
Tebal: 264 halaman 
Bahasa: Indonesia 
Genre: metropop, romance, contemporary 
Rating: 3,5 of 5 stars 

Sinopsis dari Goodreads

"But  what do you do if you get horny?" 

Demi Zeus dan para dewa Yunani lainnya!!! What is it with this man?!!!
Pria dihadapanku ini, yang kukenal belum sampai sebulan, bukan pacarku, bukan sahabatku, tidak juga punya hubungan darah apapun denganku, hanya rekan bisnis, tapi ingin tahu apa yang kulakukan jika libidoku sedang naik?!?!?!
He's got to be kidding me!!!!

Awalnya nama Fabian Ferdinandi bagiku sama artinya dengan kejengkelan tak berujung. Pria Italia itu sangat tahu bagaimana membuat seluruh syarafku menegang cepat dan membuat setiap percakapan kami berakhir dengan kemarahan dipihakku. Namun yang paling menyebalkan adalah, Fabian sangat tahu bagaimana membuatku tampak seperti alien karena usiaku yang sudah 27 tahun ini, aku memutuskan untuk tetap mempertahankan VIRGINITY-ku.Sesuatu yang menurutnya sangat absurd untuk wanita seperti aku.

Setidaknya begitulah. Sampai akhirnya waktu memisahkan dan mempertemukan kami lagi pada suatu pagi yang beku di Time Square. Namun seiring musim berganti di New York, aku pun harus menghadapi kenyataan mengejutkan tentang Fabian. Dan perasaanku sendiri terhadapnya.

My Review 

“Some things better left unspoken” 

Awal cerita yang ringan, menggugah, dan penuh humor. Lana seorang wanita karir yang baru saja single, karena baru saja putus dari pacarnya Tristan dengan alasan Lana memegang prinsipnya, 'sex after married'. Kemudian Fabian, laki-laki Itali yang menjadi perwakilan dari perusahannya di Itali yang bekerja sama dengan perusahan tempat Lana. 

Singkat cerita Fabian yang tahu kalau tentang Lana pun tak pernah bisa mengerti bagaimana bisa ada wanita yang sudah menginjak 27 tahun dan masih virgin, yang berakibat Fabian selalu menggodanya. Well, seperti yang tertulis di awal sinopsis.. hampir semua godaan Fabian selalu menjerumus ke obrolan dewasa a.k.a sex. Dari semua godaan-godaan yang selalu membuat Lana jengkel dan membuatnya Fabian tak pernah absen dari pikirannya. Sampai Lana tak mengerti lagi apakah perasaannya masih tetap benci atau sudah menyeberang menjadi suka. 

Seperti kisah cinta kebanyakan yang bermula dari saling membenci ini, ketika Lana menyadari perasaannya semua sudah terlambat. Fabian sudah tidak berada di Indonesia lagi. 

Kemudian ketika takdir mempertemukan mereka lagi di New York semua sudah tidak sama lagi. 

Apakah mereka bisa bersatu? Apakah cinta cukup untuk mempersatukan mereka? 

“I guess god simply wants me to meet many wrong people before I meet the right one.” 

*

*

“I won't cry because it came to an end, but I will smile because it happened”

A Simple Introduction

Hey, guys!

Ini adalah blog ke-sekian yang aku buat. Aku harap aku akan betah dengan blog ini dan aku juga berharap akan rajin untuk meng-update-nya.

Blog ini aku khususkan untuk hal-hal yang berhubungan dengan hal-hal yang aku sukai khususnya buku. Why? Because I love books. And I love reading.

Anyway. nice to know you, guys.