Review-A-Thon: Female President 여자대통령 by Girl's Day

Genres: K-Pop, Dance, Pop
Released: 24 June 2013
Members: Sojin, Minah, Hyeri, Yura
Dream Tea Entertainment

Girl's Day have come back again! I didn't expect a new release so soon after their last release Expectation. Either way, I'm not going to complain because I absolutely love their new single. Female President. It's a part of the repacked Expectation album. The music video is really racy with strip teases and the lot but there isn't actually anything explicit. Despite the super sexual video, the song is actually really catchy.
Song:
The song begins with a nice array of synths. It's the perfect beginning. Though some say it's really similar to Little Mix's Wings, I really don't care because I like the way it sounds. The drums and guitar strums in the background are the perfect base the the beautiful vocals. My absolute favourite in this particular song is Minah's extremely powerful voice. In some of Girl's Day's past songs, Minah's voice seemed to forced and strained. Sojin's voice which I can't describe as anything other than 'whispery' was wonderful as well. Lots of the song was 'chant-like' which made Hyeri and Yura's rapping fit in effortlessly.
Lyrics:
I don't know if I like the song or the lyrics more. They were both so good. The lyrics express the fact that sometimes the girl has got to make the first move. I think this is a really great message to be sending. My favourite lines translate to:
"You go first and say you love him,
Now is the time, you can start first."
Summary:
Definitely worth the time. Again, the music video is really hot but if you get offended by anything sexual, maybe just listen to the song without the video. I really love this song though. One of my favourite in a long time. Super powerful vocals, super catchy tune, super meaningful lyrics, super super super! Give it a go!


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Review-A-Thon: Entwined with You by Sylvia Day

The worldwide phenomenon continues as Eva and Gideon face the demons of their pasts, and accept the consequences of their obsessive desires…
From the moment I first met Gideon Cross, I recognized something in him that I needed. Something I couldn’t resist. I saw the dangerous and damaged soul inside–so much like my own. I was drawn to it. I needed him as surely as I needed my heart to beat.
No one knows how much he risked for me. How much I’d been threatened, or just how dark and desperate the shadow of our pasts would become.
Entwined by our secrets, we tried to defy the odds. We made our own rules and surrendered completely to the exquisite power of possession…

Before anyone judges me, yes this is an 18+ book, yes it's Erotic but no, it's nothing like Fifty Shades of Grey. Okay so, I'll be honest, it's pretty similar to Fifty Shades but there are a lot of differences. I don't want to make this a comparison review so I'll make it clear from the start, Fifty Shades of Grey is nothing compared to the Crossfire series. I thought this was going to be a trilogy but I guess I was wrong because apparently the story hasn't ended just yet. I'm eagerly anticipating the next book. I gave Entwined with You  a 4.4 STARS. As always, don't stop reading just yet. Continue to see my thoughts on the this book and the series as a whole.
Characters:
Now I love Eva and Gideon. Of course I do. They are seriously super intriguing characters. If you've read any of my previous reviews, you know I love stories where the guy and the girl work out all the messed up lives together. This book is definitely a perfect example. They work out their past and present together. Though of course there are setbacks, it all works out in the end. I also loved Cary, Megumi and Eva's dad. I kind of hated all the other characters but you have to have some evil characters in there somewhere. The only character that really pissed me off was Brett. More on what I think about him later.
Pros:
This book was really entertaining. I know what you're thinking, but not that entertaining. I loved how even under all the drama, there were still parts where I could giggle. I also enjoyed the minor story lines that went along with the major story lines. This book hooked me in with drama and mystery right from the start. There is so much suspense that builds up throughout the story. Sylvia Day definitely has experienced writing. It fit Eva's point of view and character effortlessly.
Cons:
So there aren't that many bad parts to this. The only things I hated are things that are completely personal. Firstly, I hated Brett. I hated him so much. His annoying ass character was completely unnecessary. I get that the author was trying to create some kind of love triangle but it doesn't work when Brett is down right annoying. I also hated the ending. Endings need to be perfect for me and Entwined with You had a pretty bad ending. It wasn't a major cliffhanger and it didn't really end.
Summary:
All in all, it was definitely an enjoyable read. Good writing, good stories, good humor. I can't wait until the next book comes out. This series as a whole is spectacular. It doesn't matter how you felt about Fifty Shades of Grey, it doesn't matter if you haven't even read it, I recommend this series over it.

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Review-A-Thon: Heart Hypnotic by Delta Goodrem

 
 
Genres: Dance-Pop, Pop, Music
Released: 17 June 2013
℗ 2013 Sony Music Entertainment Australia Pty Ltd.

Delta Goodrem never fails to amaze me. Heart Hypnotic is a new pop song with lots of EDM elements. It's a fresh new dance song that's ready to hit the radios and clubs all over Australia and possible internationally. As a judge/coach on The Voice Australia, Delta Goodrem has released this new single at the perfect time. Fellow judge Ricky Martin also released a new song. My review of his song can be found here. But back to Heart Hypnotic, it is an amazing song with an amazing title.
Song:
I love how this song starts slow and then builds up. The piano at the beginning of the song creates a very peaceful atmosphere. Then it becomes a really upbeat dance song. Once the chorus comes around, the song has a really strong bass. The instrumentals are super fun as well. Closer to the end of the song, the tempo slows again. It really accentuates Delta Goodrem's amazing vocals.
Lyrics:
Heart Hypnotic was co-written by Ryan Tedder. He's worked with people like Zedd, Far East Movement and Gym Class Heroes which you can see is where some of Electronic Dance Pop has come from. I absolutely love the lyrics in this song. All the fancy symbolism really fits the mood of the song. My favourite lines:
"Dark nights under the setting sun,
Bright lights, come we're the only one."
Summary:
I'm so glad that after a decade, Delta Goodrem is still making music. Heart Hypnotic definitely beats Sitting on Top of the World and I'll listen to it for a long time. I hope you'll check it out. It only takes a few minutes.

 
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Review-A-Thon: Vain by Fisher Amelie

If you’re looking for a story about a good, humble girl, who’s been hurt by someone she thought she could trust, only to find out she’s not as vulnerable as she thought she was and discovers an empowering side of herself that falls in love with the guy who helps her find that self, blah, blah, blah...then you’re gonna’ hate my story.
Because mine is not the story you read every time you bend back the cover of the latest trend novel. It’s not the “I can do anything, now that I’ve found you/I’m misunderstood but one day you’ll find me irresistible because of it” tale. Why? Because, if I was being honest with you, I’m a complete witch. There’s nothing redeeming about me. I’m a friend using, drug abusing, sex addict from Los Angeles. I’m every girlfriend’s worst nightmare and every boy’s fantasy.
I’m Sophie Price...And this is the story about how I went from the world’s most envied girl to the girl no one wanted around and why I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

 
As soon as I read the synopsis of this book, I completely fell in love. I had to read it and I knew I'd enjoy it. For once, the synopsis was the thing that sucked me in. It wasn't the cover and it wasn't because someone else told me that it was good. This is what you call a spectacular synopsis. I gave this book a straight up 5 STARS and it easily went straight into my favourites. I can't wait until the next book in the series comes out. See why I loved Vain.
Characters:
If you start reading it, you'd think the main character is a complete bitch. I thought that too but for some reason I just couldn't hate her. I loved the character development as she and Dingane worked their problems out together. All the characters had so many different layers that were slowly unveiled. I love how there wasn't that one stupid and annoying character trying to screw up everything. Sometimes I get why the author would put in an annoying character but all it does is pisses me off. They're completely unnecessary and I'm so glad Fisher Amelie didn't put one in.
Pros:
I always enjoy love stories with a moral and Vain definitely fits that category. It wasn't just love at first sight, it was way more deep. It was so extremely cute at some points and I just couldn't stop giggling. It also left me crying which is always good. I also loved her writing and how she incorporated so many different metaphors to enhance the meaning.
Cons:
Well the only con is that I don't have anything to write in this section.
Summary:
Hurry up and read this! Or at least go add it to your to-read list. This book blew my mind away just like I knew it would after I read the synopsis. It received a well-earned 5 STARS in my books.

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Review-A-Thon: Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

Abby Abernathy is a good girl. She doesn’t drink or swear, and she has the appropriate number of cardigans in her wardrobe. Abby believes she has enough distance from the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college with her best friend, her path to a new beginning is quickly challenged by Eastern University’s Walking One-Night Stand.
Travis Maddox, lean, cut, and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby wants—and needs—to avoid. He spends his nights winning money in a floating fight ring, and his days as the ultimate college campus charmer. Intrigued by Abby’s resistance to his appeal, Travis tricks her into his daily life with a simple bet. If he loses, he must remain abstinent for a month. If Abby loses, she must live in Travis’s apartment for the same amount of time. Either way, Travis has no idea that he has met his match.

Please forgive me for this super delayed review. I read this book over a month ago and I'm not doing a review until now. But after all, this is the point of this Review-A-Thon. Beautiful Disaster is right up my alley. Even though I haven't read much in the New Adult genre, the classic and cliche love story portrayed in this book is my type. I've said this before and I'll say it again. I have a complete love/hate relationship with this book. I really didn't know whether I should've given it a  2 STARS or a 5 STARS. In the end I gave it a 3.8 STARS. Or if you want to be all mathematical and round it up, I give it a 4 STARS. Keep reading to see why I loved and loathed it.
Characters:
Well first of all. I absolutely HATED the main character Abby. It's me and this thing where I hate it when girls keep pulling away. I get that that's the whole reason Travis fell in love with her in the first place but sometimes, these girls really got to get a grip. Sure, at first, go ahead and judge them but once they fall in love with you and you fall in love with them, why do you keep pushing them away? Also, I feel like some characters were there just because the story needed more characters. Abby's gay best friend, I don't even remember his name, was such an amazing character but he wasn't delved into. I did however like the subtle character development.
Pros:
Now for some good things. Though I hated how they fell in love, I love what happened once they were together. Bad boy meets good girl stories are the best. I love stories where a guy meets a girl and then they work they're problems out together. You'll see that these are my favourite kind. I loved Jamie McGuire's writing and how the point of view fit the character. Her writing was amazing and there was a lot of foreshadowing which I also enjoyed.
Cons:
Alright so, if this book ended half way through, I swear it would've been the best book ever. I'm not going to spoil anything but unnecessary dramas and problems came back even though they were already solved. I hated this so much. I was so happy for a moment there and then BAM! something bad comes back. I had a full on WTF moment. I really wish this could've ended at the half way mark. If you've read it, you'll know which point in the story I mean.
Summary:
Ultimately, this was a good read if I ignore all the parts where I got super duper annoyed. I really can't wait until I read Walking Disaster which is in Travis's point of view. Maybe then, I'll be able to appreciate the book more. I want to see how the hell Travis fell in love with a girl that made it seem like she hated him.

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Review-A-Thon: Come With Me by Ricky Martin

Genres: Pop, Music
Released: Jun 14, 2013
℗ 2013 Sony Music Entertainment US Latin LLC

Come With Me is an Australian release that will blasting through out country's radio stations. I'm pretty young so I haven't heard much of Ricky Martin but I do now that he's a very respected artist. He's been a judge on The Voice Australia which means that this was the perfect time to release a new single. Delta Goodrem, a fellow judge, also released a new single recently. I also plan to review her song but I'll see if I can squish it in. Come With Me is a mix of lot's of different genres. In my opinion, I'd say it's mostly dance-pop.
Song:
I really love songs like this. Songs that I can just imagine being played at a club. It's super catchy and fun. I've read a few things that other people have said and they've said it has Latin undertones. I completely agree and I think it adds a really nice element to the song. The kind of song it is is hard to describe. It's a variety of so many different genres. At first I think it reminds me of Enrique Iglesias and then I think it sounds like David Guetta but then it also sounds like Jennifer Lopez. Let's just say that it sounds mainstream but in a good way. I love the way it was produced. I can tell that if it was done any other way, it may not have sounded as good as it was. Of course Ricky Martin's voice does play a big part in how good it was but the producing plays a massive part too.
Lyrics:
The lyrics surprised me. I never thought that a dance-pop song could have such powerful lyrics. Sad lyrics, uplifting beat. My favourite line:
"Don't save your love for some elusive dream."
Summary:
Well obviously, I'm just going to say that I love it. I feel like this 'Summary' part of my reviews are getting too repetitive. I'll keep doing it though because people who don't want to read the whole review can read this. I love how it was produced and I love the strong and deep lyrics! Check it out guys!

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Music Plus Books Review-A-Thon!

 If you've seen my last post, Blogging Things I Suck At  (a tag you must do), you know that one of my favourite things to do is slack on reviews. What I'm planning to do is a Review-A-Thon. I'm going to do a week of a review each day. It might be a music review, it might be a book review. You just have to wait and see. If you've been slacking on reviews too, feel free to join in. I'm excited and I hope you are too. For once, I'm actually hyped up about writing some reviews and getting them over and done with. If you have anything particular you'd like me to review, feel free to ask me. Seven reviews may not seem like a lot to others but it's quite a lot for me so I'm open for suggestions. Wish me luck guys. Let's get this Review-A-Thon started! Are you ready for 7 back-to-back reviews?
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Thursday 20th June 2013 - Wednesday 26th June 2013