In My Mailbox [23]

In My Mailbox [23]

hosted by The Story Siren

...Okay so I'm a little bothered by my IMM post number. It's 23, add the fact that last friday I just turned 23 (January 27)... Rubbing it in much? Grr!  

Anyway, before I get into the books I got, let me share how I had an absolutely blissful but busy week. Here's what happened:

JAN 23 (MONDAY) - Chinese New Year: I thought the holiday was my chance for some rest and relaxation but I somehow ended up running errands since my cousin's wedding was on Wednesday. Luckily I was able to stop by a bookstore and bought a book. Yay!

JAN 24 (TUESDAY) -  Work day: Work, work, work...

JAN 25 (WEDNESDAY) - My Cousin's Wedding: Hair & Make-Up in the morning, Wedding at 3PM, then reception until 8PM. My family and I got home around 9 afterwards.

...Here's what I wore during her wedding:

JAN 26 (THURSDAY) - Work day: Work, work, work...

JAN 27 (FRIDAY) - My Birthday: Ah yes... my special day has come. By any chance can I keep my age the same every year? LOL. 

AM: Coffee treat at Starbucks

NN: One of my officemates gave me a cake for my birthday which I absolutely hate her for ruining my diet and loving her for giving me one of the best tasting chocolate cakes I ever had! 

Chocolate Cake from my officemate, Ria

PM: My boyfriend picked me up from work and off we went to celebrate! Woohoo! 

I told him that my only wish for my birthday was to visit the Fully Booked store at Bonifacio Global City and true enough, he took me there and I had a BLAST!!! so many books! and a Starbucks and Whitehat shop inside. Yummy!

So here's what I splurged on:

Unison Spark by Andy Marino
Void by Rhiannon Lassiter
The Diamond Secret: A Retelling of "Anastasia" by Suzanne Weyn
The World Above: A Retelling of "Jack and the Beanstalk" by Cameron Dokey
 Violet Eyes: A Retelling of "The Princess and the Pea" by Debbie Viguie

The Best of Chico and Delamar's The Morning Rush Top 10 by Chico Garcia & Delamar Arias
- this is a book based on the radio show I listen to every morning, Mondays to Fridays

Enchanted Ivy by Sarah Beth Durst (JAN 23 Purchase)

Then off to dinner at T.G.I.Friday's!

Dinner at T.G.I.F, Bonifacio Global City

...and last but not the least, aside from the shopping spree of books above, he got me this cute book holder:

...testing how it works:

Awesome!!!

JAN 28 (SATURDAY): Well, since my dad didn't get the chance to buy me a birthday present, he gave me cash to buy myself what I want as a gift. So I went shopping for new clothes. 

So that's all for me! Sorry for such a long post. I felt I needed to make up for the fewer posts I've had the past few weeks.

Now I'd like to know... What did you guys get this week? ^_^

Midnight Pearls: A Retelling of "The Little Mermaid" by Debbie Viguié

        

Midnight Pearls: A Retelling of 
"The Little Mermaid"
by Debbie Viguié

Summary from Goodreads:

"In a quiet fishing village seventeen years ago, one lone fisherman rescued a child from the sea. He and his wife raised the girl, Pearl, as their own daughter, never allowing themselves to wonder long about where she came from -- or notice her silver hair, usually pale skin, and wide, dark blue eyes.

Pearl grows from a mysterious child into an unusual young woman, not always welcomed in the village. As all the other girls her age find husbands, she has only one friend to ease her loneliness. One very special, secret companion: Prince James.

But their friendship is shaken when trouble erupts in the kingdom -- a conspiracy against the royal family combines with an evil enchantment from beneath the sea. Now, just when Pearl and James need each other most, bewitching magic and hints about Pearl's past threaten to tear them apart...forever."

Rating:

Two happily-ever-after tale endings. 

I’ve made presumptions that Pearl and James would be the couple in this tale but the author mixed in two characters that twisted this tale into a whole new level.

I love the concept and how sweetly this tale was retold. My only problem was the climax. I was anxiously excited to know how Pearl and the Sea Witch would end up when they faced each other, but the event was rather too abrupt and short; one moment it was happening then, like with a snap of your fingers, it was finished. 

This tale was entirely simple and nothing that enwrapping but either way, I enjoyed it.