Bookish Mardi : First Crime Fiction

First Crime Fiction: Elaine Coffman's Alone in the Dark

. . .first crime novel I've read with a typical yet cute lovestory ^^

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When her dying father confesses that he is not her biological father -- and that he has a twin -- Washington, D.C., morning news anchor Ellery O'Brien is desperate for answers. Plagued by a recurring nightmare in which a blood-covered woman who has been stabbed repeatedly by a killer, staggers down the staircase of a beautiful old house, Ellery travels to her late mother's hometown -- Agarita Springs, Texas -- not realizing until she arrives that she has rented the very house she sees in her dreams. No one in town wants to dig up the past, but rancher Clint Littleton begins to help Ellery and white-hot attraction sparks between them. The nightmares, however, persist. And each time, before Ellery awakes, she sees an increasingly terrifying image: just a little more of the killer's face. . ."New York Times" bestselling author Elaine Coffman switches gears with pulse-pounding results in her first novel of heart-stopping romantic suspense.





 Remarkable Lines from the Book

Control your temper or it will control you.” – Daniel

“Sometimes things happen unintentionally.”  -- Ellery

Scripture of Ecclesiastes: “In much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.” – Ellery

“They say the body has an infinite capacity for grief.” – Sam

“All my mistakes are well-thought out.” – Sam

“When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.” Clint 

“You never know what’s going on in a woman’s heart.” – Anon

Richard Nixon: “A man is not finished when he’s defeated. He’s finished when he quits.” – Ellery

Hubert Humphrey: “The heroes of the world are not those who withdraw . . . but those who stand the heat of the battle.” – Ellery

“There are people in this world who let their will override their intelligence.” – Clint 

“In making love or business, no woman wants to be on top all the time.” – Clint

“Families ought to be together.” – Ellery

“Sometimes you can stir the embers of a fire until it burns out of control.” – Clint

“Women are constitutionally stronger.” – Margie

“I may look light as a feather, but on the inside, I’m made of pretty strong stuff.” – Virginia

“Heads are better than one.” – Clint

“Understanding removes hostility.” – Ellery

“There are three motives for murder: love, hate, and greed.” – Bardwell

“When one is without a man in one’s life, one finds great comfort in good food.” – Ellery

“Comparing women could be dangerous to your health.” – Ellery

“A lot of things concerning women could be dangerous, but that hasn’t stopped me from liking them.” – Clint

“There’s always a different way of looking at things. There’s a lot of freedom of being a boat. You’re able to drift and see what lies beyond the place where you are. When roots tie you down, you can always see what’s around you.  Roots mean obligations. They can be confining, even a burden at times.” – Ellery

“The best things in life happen by chance, with no forethought or planning.” – Ellery 

“Some things were simply meant to happen a certain way and nothing could alter the outcome.” – Ellery

“Love isn’t something you decide to do and then take action, like you open a trust fund. It isn’t an empty box that you pile all your hopes into and then worry that at some point they will begin to fall out and you’ll be left with nothing. Everything will work itself out, in its own way.” – Ellery

“There is nothing as empty as the place where someone you liked had recently been.” –Ellery

“Gambling your life isn’t brave, it’s foolish.” – Clint

“A grumpy disposition is normally the result of terrorizing experience.” – Clint

“Common sense tells you one thing, but what you see cannot be explained by the placed perfection of your logical mind.” – Ellery

“We are women. We cope. We get stronger the more you throw at us. You can push us so far and then we draw the line and make a stand.” – Ellery

“I’m a firm believer of safe over sorry.” – Clint

“Men were so immodest.” – Ellery

“There were those who met every now and then, who were meant to be together.” – Ellery

“Keep pulling rabbit out of the hat.” – Clint

“No need to afraid of something that’s already happened to you.” – Roland

Gerard de Narval: “Every flower is a soul blossoming in Nature.”

“Corporations, like people, have problem from time to time.” – Daniel

“Life wasn’t beautiful. It was coldhearted and unfair. You had to grab what you could and do your best because there was someone out there waiting and scheming to take it from you. It was take-no-prisoner and give-no-quarter world. It wasn’t fair, but it was the price you had to pay if you want to survive.” – Daniel

“Money is the root of all evil.” – Daniel

“Once you know it is inevitable, you stop trying to think of ways how to save your life. You begin to think of ways to make it easier, or more comfortable, or to enjoy, at least, an honorable last moment.” – Ellery

 . . .after reading Elaine's Alone in the Dark, I did Jude's Sacrlet Nights ^^

Academic Monday : Article Writing

 First Thing First on Academic Monday

“If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.”
― Stephen King

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Articles are generally defined as short pieces of writing of a non-fiction nature. They are used widely in journalism, creative writing, publishing, and online. How to write an article is a necessary skill for anyone hoping to make an income from writing, and it is vital for those undergoing creative writing classes. It is useful to know how to write an article for a number of uses in a normal adult life.

When being asked to write an article, a writer should keep in mind a number of things: the subject, the topic, the required length, and the audience or target market of readers. Then, there is the all-important aspect of what the article’s use or intention is.

Articles are used to sell, to persuade, to inform, to furnish details, and to entertain. Their use is widespread, especially in magazines, journals, newspapers, and online. The tone of an article can be casual, academic, or technical.

Photo from Web

 Steps for Article Writing

• Make sure you know the purpose or use for the article.
• Gather all information in one folder.
• Assemble as much material as you can on the topic or subject.
• Take notes and consolidate them thoroughly, to facilitate organization.
• Start a point list to cover subject, topic, length, market, and intention.
• Check the legalities and ethical issues related to the topic.
• Draft brief paragraphs to highlight a set of relevant points.
• Write an introductory paragraph last, in order to encapsulate the topic and rationale properly.

 Points to Consider

Writing an article compatible with a brief, a topic, or a host site or magazine means you must  do some research. Make absolutely sure that:

• You do not exceed or fall short of the required length
• The topic and subject are narrowly focused
• Your researched material is up to date and current
• You check whether the article is to be casual, academic or technical
• Depending on this, make sure it is entertaining, scholarly or informative

“If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.” ― Stephen King

Dos

• Do spend some time understanding the point of what you are about to write. All articles have a purpose, and you must keep it in mind.
• Do make lists. No article writer can work without a relevant list of keywords, topics, and relevant points.
• Do cultivate a germane tone. It must match two things: the purpose, and the content of the article itself, whether technical, scholarly, or entertaining.
• Do write several drafts of each paragraph.
• Do compare your first draft copy with other material from previous issues of the journal or website. If there are differences, they can be corrected in subsequent drafts.

Don'ts

• Don’t submit the first version of any article you write. Modifications are usually necessary, and several attempts provide the best language and content possible.
• Don’t leave it too late to learn how to write an article that is appropriate for the purpose.
• Don’t try to write from memory – all research and references need to be verifiable. Fraudulence put to this use is obvious, and checks do take place in the journalistic, entertainment or business environments.
• Don’t try to re-hash someone else’s ideas. Although ideas cannot copyrighted, the persons who read your articles expect original material, every time.
•  

Common Mistakes

•  As a result of scant research, lack of specific detail is often detected.
•  It is a mistake to write an article whose topic or tone is correct, but whose content is not of the same demanding standards.
•  Hasty or unprepared writing is the sign of a writer who either does not care, or has neglected to set aside enough time for writing the article. It is a serious error not to draft and rewrite properly and with due diligence. They are just as important with this kind of writing as any other commercial or scholarly document.
• Inclusion of misleading or incorrect material is an error which often occurs. To omit something of importance or something relevant, or to include text which has little to do with the intended use for the article, might disgrace your submission.
•  Lack of aptness, or poor language skills are frequently encountered. Avoid inappropriate or irrelevant vocabulary, and syntactical weakness. Article writers often use an inappropriate tone, with punctuation and grammar

Random Formula #4: Music + Headset = ME (Reasons to Make Music Your Inspiration)

“It is good to love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is well done.”
 
― Vincent van Gogh

When we love many things we also have inspirations. It is a very variable phenomenon. It is hard to tell when it comes; hard to predict when it will leave you; but it is always a feast when you are inspired. You start to see random things in a new unexpected way; you notice the slightest details; and even the most common object can suddenly seem like a piece of art that can stir up your feelings of admiration and delight.  Inspiration is a wonderful state, since, when inspired, we are most productive, most cheerful and most happy. So, no wonder that looking for inspiration is something we all do in one way or another, whether we realize it or not. In a way, our whole life, studying in colleges and universities, going out, searching for a job, choosing a profession, and getting married – everything, is about finding that particular state of inspiration that we have come to call happiness. But, in this life-long race for something extraordinary to excite us, we sometimes get tired of running and searching. Then we suddenly stop, only to find out that nothing horrible happened and drawing brakes is a normal and necessary measure for everyone. When life has too much stress, too much noise and too much rush, it’s good to put your headphones on, put on your favorite playlist and close your eyes, giving way to music.

“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.” ― Plato

Music can be very different. There are so many musical styles and streams today that it is hard to even classify a particular song, because it may have strains of several music trends. There is an instrumental music and there are songs with lyrics; there are those classical, popular, recorded and live of its kind. To me, music is more than just a way to relax and take a break. Music is my companion for life, my indicator of mood, my best advisor and my own little world. I would never call music a hobby, for I certainly know that music hates me but I certainly can’t imagine my life without my all time favorite music. ^^ There is a playlist for when I am sad, for when I am happy, for when I am thoughtful, excited, angry, adventurous or sleepy. Music is always walking right next to me, helping me cope with the emotions that I experience every day. Sometimes, music is my way of hiding from everything and everyone. Other times, music is the best way to share my feelings with people I care about, or even with complete strangers. And for the least instance, music simply helps me sleep. So you see? Music is always there and it is the most inspirational thing I can think of, for various reasons.

First, music for me is a world of emotions and every time I hear a song I like, it shares some of these emotions with me. Music can bring up my most tender and anxious feelings. It can move me in time and space by bringing back certain very special memories for which I am craving. There were many cases when music sent shivers down my spine,so powerful, so honest and strong where the tunes  awakened all of those well-remembered mem'ries.. I am sure it happened to everyone at least once, that a very strong memory is somehow linked to a certain song or tune and whenever you hear it playing, you travel back to that situation in your thoughts, able to experience that all over again. We sometimes forget how extremely powerful music is and how inspirational its power can be.

Another reason to prove how inspiring music can be is concealed in the fact that music is able to unite people like nothing else can. Sure, sports, mutual interests and similar experiences can unite people in a greater way. But, what about those cases when people have nothing in common and are total strangers, yet they suddenly find themselves holding hands and singing along, dancing, or simply silently listening to the captivating beats. Music is able to make complete strangers feel like they have connected to a kindred soul. If you have at least once been to a great live concert, you probably know what kind of inspiration I am talking about. It is hard to describe this phenomenon with words, but isn’t it what again proves the power of music over words? It can tell so much more and in such a universal way. You do not need to speak a foreign language to connect to somebody from a different background using music instead of words. Music comes in hand in just these cases. And then, all of a sudden, you may find that music gave you much more than you expected. It will inspire us to make new friends or learn more about a foreign culture. With music, there are no borders and no limits.

Moreover, music is so different, so versatile and so multi-dimensional, that you can never get bored. While I have a number of favorite artists and bands, I also never stop exploring the musical amplitude and discovering new performers every day. Music adds flavor to my life and this flavor is different depending on '‘what dish I am eating’'. Music can be so much more than just an accompaniment – it is a full-fledged spice that can accentuate, muffle or supplement any experience. If I were to leave for a deserted island and could only take a few things, my player and a couple of sun-charging batteries would be my choice. That way, I could always adjust to the environment around me and find inspiration where others might find devastation and frustration.

Realistically speaking, music is nothing new to us. People have been creating and sharing music for centuries now and I am sure that this will never really stop. In fact, I believe that music has been around us for as long as we have existed; it has been walking next to people all along. When I say that music is everywhere, I first of all mean that music comes from nature – the sound of crackling straw in the field, rustling trees in the grove, or the magical murmur of a fast mountain stream. Music in all of its forms is around us every day and the task is only to notice it and learn to appreciate what it is able to share. Music is a source of inspiration for practically anybody, since it can find a special unique key to suite any lock, even the most complicated and tenacious. After all, music is able to just make us want to smile with every stranger walking by, simply because we are hearing a great song.

“And I thought about how many people have loved those songs. And how many people got through a lot of bad times because of those songs. And how many people enjoyed good times with those songs. And how much those songs really mean. I think it would be great to have written one of those songs. I bet if I wrote one of them, I would be very proud. I hope the people who wrote those songs are happy. I hope they feel it's enough. I really do because they've made me happy. And I'm only one person.”
― Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower

 . . . so believe me if I'll say a person's favorite music speaks fondly a lot about himself.^^

Book Review and Poignant Lines of Katie Ashley's "The Proposition" and "The Proposal"

E.L James' Fifty Shades Trilogy had reopened its gateway to the reading world to me. After being used to reading every night before I sleep for straight 3 long weeks, I felt hanging whenever I go to bed without reading first. A couple of days had passed, I found a remedy for myself. Since Fifty Shades is an adult romance, I tried looking for one which, in my simple hope, would surpass the story of Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele. Later on, I found myself drifted and hooked with Aidan Fitzgerald and Emma Harrison's love affair in Katie Ashley's The Proposition which was also followed by her The Proposal. 

". . .any relationship, especially a new one, is always stressful." --- Emma Harrison

Book 1

With her thirtieth birthday looming, Emma Harrison finds her biological clock clanging and the elusive knight in shining armor yet to appear. She’s running out of options, especially after her gay best friend backs out from being her sperm donor. Of course, there’s always a sperm bank, but Emma fears a donor mix-up might impregnate her with the spawn of Satan.

Resident company womanizer, Aidan Fitzgerald, is used to always getting what he wants, especially in the bedroom. When Emma spurns his advances at the company Christmas party, he's determined to have her no matter what it takes. After Aidan learns of Emma's predicament, he is quick to offer a proposition that will benefit them both. He will father Emma's child, but she must conceive it with him naturally. Not one for hook-ups or casual sex, Emma is reluctant to take him up on his offer, but his charm, coupled with her intense desire for motherhood, wins out.

Soon their baby-making sessions become more than just physical. Aidan can't seem to walk away from her while Emma begins to wonder if Aidan could be the one. But can Aidan leave his past behind to become the man Emma needs him to be?

 

Remarkable Lines from "The Proposition"

"I beleieve sex is something sacred and specially meant to be done between people who are really deeply committed to each other and who are in love."- Emma Harrison

". . .appearances can be deceiving. Sometimes the ones that bloom fastest fade quickly." - Patrick F.

"Dear Lord, for what we are about to receive, make us thankful." - Aidan Fitzgerald

"People can change." - Aidan Fitzgerald

"You are the one who makes you sexy, not a body." - Aidan Fitzgerald




Book 2 

In the weeks following Aidan’s betrayal, Emma has tried her best to move on. Ignoring his countless texts, voice mails, and flowers, she isn’t sure she wants to be won back by him. But Aidan isn’t going down without a fight—especially not until Emma lets him reveal the secret of his past that caused him to be so commitment phobic.

But fate intervenes when premature labor forces Emma on strict bed rest for two weeks. Aidan steps forward with a shocking proposal. To prove his love and commitment for her and their unborn son, he will take a leave of absence from work to care for her around the clock. Vowing to guard her heart, Emma reluctantly agrees.

While she is touched by Aidan’s attentiveness and tender loving care, Emma is thrown for a loop by the amorous attentions of ER doctor, Alpesh “Pesh” Nadeen. Pesh is everything Emma could ever want—successful, stable, and ready to settle down and be a husband and father. Pesh wants nothing more than to win Emma’s heart, but she is not sure she’s able to give it.

Her heart may still belong to the very man who broke it—the one who is so desperately trying to win her back.

Remarkable Lines from "The Proposition"

"God, you were and still are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen". - Aidan F.

. . .and mind you, they also got their cheesy line ^^
Emma: I knew you were hungry.
Aidan: Hungry for your company.


"My hatred for you does fuel a lot of my emotions." - Emma

"You never can admit what you should." - Emma

"I've said it in a million times in a million different ways that I'M SORRY." - Aidan

"I had a life before you, and I'm going to have one after you." - Emma

"You're here now. That's all that matter." - Emma

. . . the SINCEREST part of Aidan (while kneeling) ^^
"Fine, call me a Drama Queen. Call me any fucking name in the book! just get all the anger and hate out of your system, so you can work on forgiving me tonight. I said it on cards, in text messages and voicemails, and even in that fruity book of poetry I sent you. But I'm going to say it to your face in case it's the only chance I have.
. . .I'm sorry, Emma. I am so sorry for breaking your heart. I' m sorry for being an utter prick and being afraid of my feelings for you. Most of all, I'm sorry for screwing up the perfect life we had by pushing you away and cheating on you.
. . .Yeah, that's right. I'm one of the countless assholes who breaks women's hearts. I couldn't tell Emma (you) I love her, and I almost screw another woman trying to push her away. But from the depths of my heart and soul, I'M  SO, SO SORRY."

"Emma can use and abuse me to her heart's content.. As long as she's happy and healthy, I'll do anything she pleases.'' - Aidan F.

"I know what it is like to lose the love of your life." - Dr. Pesh

"People do move on." - Emma

"I want to do anything and everything I can to make you happy." - Aidan

". . . he's inherited the most amazing DNA from his mother. She's the strongest person I've ever known." - Aidan

". . .every man has his own fantasies." - Aidan

"I wish I knew what to say or do to make her feel better. I hate to see her cry, and it kills me to see her scared like she has been.'' - Aidan

. . .this I believe is the cutest answer to a child about pregnancy^^ 
Georgie: I was wondering how did Noah get in your belly.
Aidan: It's like this. When a man and woman love each other very much, the love grows inside the woman and makes a baby.

 "I am a full grown man. I'm fully capable of taking care of myself and my feelings." - Dr. Pesh

". . .full moon really brings out the craziness in people." - Dr. Pesh

"You can learn that there's a first time for everything." - Emma

"What would you rather have? Words that can be spoken lightly and then taken back so easily, or would you rather have actions?" - Dr. Pesh

"I will swear to you that my heart will always belong to you." - Emma

" . . .it was stupid for me to try to tempt fate." - Emma

"You are an exquisite version of perfection." - Aidan

"You can't make a promise like that. You can't be sure of what you'll do tomorrow or five years down the road." - Emma

. . .his simple yet cute proposal
"Emma Katherine Harrison, angel of mercy and forgiveness, love of my life and mother of my son, will you make me the happiest man in the world and say you'll marry me?" - Aidan

. . .my favorite above all
". . .no marriage is perfect. There's going to be good times and bad times and heartache and joy. . .It is love that goes through the hardest trials and survives that is worth having." - Grammy

"Time flies so fast when you're happy and in love." - Grammy

Book Review

As I enjoy reading the story, I found it hasn't been done with originality. It's story has a little resemblance of E.L James'.
e.g
- that just like Anastasia Steele, Emma is a strong-willed woman who is willing to risk everything for what she stands for,
-that she has a smart mouth,
-and that she works for a very rich bachelor with whom she fell in love with.
-Aidan, on the other hand also seemed like Christian Grey who is AGAIN a multibillionaire bachelor
-who happens to be a family-oriented man
-and had been to a lot of girls but haven't gotten a serious relationship
-who did a lot of things of winning back his girl
-PLUS, a scene in a hospital was also observed in the story
-and one of the main character also happened to be a music lover
 . . .probably the author herself tried to pattern her story from E.L James'. However, despite of its tiny touch of similarities, the story has this touch of its own UNIQUENESS.

Emma's eagerness of becoming a mother, or shall I say her eagerness to have a child wherein she even reached the point  of asking her "gay" best friend to donate sperms for her pregnancy triggered and made the story a whole lot interesting. Her desperate of not marrying diminished with the thought of bearing  a child. The question there is "To whom will she have a baby with if she does not  have a boyfriend?" So the last resort was her gay best friend. But then the best friend wouldn't manage having "it" with her so she was left with no choice.

Now here come's Aidan, her boss, a happy-go-lucky and the guy next door, offered himself to donate the sperms assuring himself that they'll do "it" in his own preferred way. Everything at first went smoothly and thus, I was always blown away every time a got a grip of my book.

On the later part of the story, Aidan needed a lot growing up to do.  I see it as a real challenge for him to cope with what he had done to Emma. Emma, oblivious with what had happened diverted her feelings to Dr. Pesh, a  tall, young, handsome, caring, thoughtful Indian widower. It was crystal clear in the story  that the doctor's presence really made Aidan think of what's the best thing for him to be done.

Though the story did not surpass Christian and Anastasia Steele, I never regretted sparing my time reading the books for it fattens not only my brain but my heart and values, as well.

As a whole, even though I strongly believe that it's being anchored to E.L James' it's still a splendid one. Katie Ashley's story doesn't just contain the "insta-love" story which is usually observed in some other books, her characters however, underwent a process. Hence, making it an undeniably a realistic one. It's a story wherein  changes was evident  as what people confront in our real world scenarios. It is full of emotions which made smile, laugh, cheer, and even got angry. But the most important above all, I found myself learning things about life from this book. It's indeed a story of pregnancy, lover, parenthood which all result to FAMILY. Katie herself had reminded me that all THINGS will really fall into their RIGHT PLACES in PERFECT TIME.^^

Classy Floral Plum

“A beautiful dress may look beautiful on a hanger, but that means nothing. It must be seen on the shoulders, with the movement of the arms, the legs, and the waist.” ― Coco Chanel

“...you don't have to be perfect to be pretty” ― Carson Kressley

. . .brown wedges

. . .floral brownish-yellow bracelet

. . .another red & black colored bracelet

. . .yellow infinity belt

. . .brown and purple stoned earring

“Fashion does not have to prove that it is serious. It is the proof that intelligent frivolity can be something creative and positive” ― Karl Lagerfeld

First a.k.a breakmystyle.com : Floral Plum on Beach

“Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.” ― Coco Chanel

“A respectable appearance is sufficient to make people more interested in your soul” ― Karl Lagerfeld

. . .floral see-through cover up + plum buli + blue Rayban + purple and floral dangling, shell necklace

. . .colorful bangle + metal and purplish bracelets + havaianas flip-flops ^^

Friendship Goes Vanity AGAIN ^^

“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: "What! You too? I thought I was the only one."― C.S. Lewis

After the successful photoshoot that we had last Teacher's Day, five months ago,

. . .the group decided to do another one just recently dated Feb. 11, 2013, Chinese New Year to be exact.^^

 Featuring: Beachy Beauties

 . . .and Glamorous Gals

. . .and the vice ruled the day! 

click + click +click = SMILE (our unedited pics ^^)

. . . ME Time ^^

. . .duck faces :D

. . . behind the scenes + Bloopers = FUN FUN FUN

...meeeee ^^

Teacher An ^^2

. . . jump shot or an Amazon shot? ^^

. . .our awesome photographers ;)

Ate Aids

Deo

. . .our certified model, oppps! I mean our official Photographer ^^

Jerome Lirasan

. . .until our next fun-filled shoot! :)