#FeelsFest: Spending Saturday in My Happy Place

video © Chi Yu Rodriguez

I’m not sure where to start with this blog post, to be honest, because I feel like I haven’t fully recovered from what happened last Saturday. But first things first: October 22nd was #FeelsFest day, a #romanceclass event held at the Glorietta 5 Atrium from 12 noon to 6 in the evening. There were books (lots of them–20 NEW TITLES in total!), cute merch (stickers, bookmarks, shirts, bags, mugs, decals), fun games, and, most importantly, the live readings.

The live readings.

*stares dreamily into the distance*

Right. Where were we?

*clears throat*

Continue Reading

ON-AIR: #RomanceClass Podcast, Season Finale

So I thought it would be a great idea to share the last two episodes of the #romanceclass podcast the day before #AprilFeelsDay–because what better way to anticipate tomorrow’s live reading session than with excerpts from Chrissie Peria’s The Kitchen When it Sizzles and Anne Plaza’s In Over Her Head?

Without further ado, here are episodes 9 and 10 of this season’s #romanceclass podcast:

The Kitchen When it Sizzles by Chrissie Peria

SYNOPSIS

Olivia Nadal is an almost perfect girl with an almost perfect life. She has stunning good looks, an exciting job that pays well, men lining up to date her, and a homey little condo she calls her own. The only thing keeping her from perfection is her utter inability to cook.

Enter Nate Olivarez, a hotshot chef who’s filling in for Olivia’s cooking instructor. Sparks fly when they meet, but a fling with the visiting hottie is the last thing Olivia needs. But as things keep heating up in the kitchen, she can’t help but wonder. Can things work out between her and Nate? Or is the sizzle all set to fizzle?

The Kitchen When it Sizzles is available on Amazon and print. You may also find it at National Bookstore outlets nationwide.

Click on the Read More button for In Over Her Head by Anne Plaza.

Continue Reading

ON-AIR: #RomanceClass Podcast, Part 4

Right, so I kinda slacked off for a few weeks and forgot to put up this update, sorry! It’s here now–the next two episodes of the #romanceclass podcast featuring The Boyfriend Backtrack by Dawn Lanuza and Finding X by Miles Tan.

Incidentally, both episodes were recorded live from the live reading session held during last year’s Filipino Reader Con at De La Salle University, Manila. If you want to have your own #romanceclass live reading experience, it’s your lucky day! #AprilFEELSDay is on April 17, 2016 at Pegi Waffle (San Juan Manila) and, you guessed it, we’re having another live reading sesh! More about that exciting event in the following days, but do save the date!

Anyway, here are this week’s episodes:

The Boyfriend Backtrack by Dawn Lanuza

SYNOPSIS

If they say that life flashes right before your eyes when you die, do you also get a flashback of your exes when your perfect boyfriend is proposing to you? At least that’s the case for Regina Cortez. There’s her dramatic high school boyfriend, her first college crush, the irresistible heart breaker, and the ever elusive one. By backtracking to her past, will Regina make it to ‘I Do’? Or will she just keep running away?

Dawn Lanuza’s The Boyfriend Backtrack on Amazon and at National Bookstore branches nationwide. You may also order the book straight from the author.

My review of The Boyfriend Backtrack is found here.

Click on the Read More button for Miles Tan’s Finding X.

Continue Reading

ON-AIR: #RomanceClass Podcast, Part 3

Two more #romanceclass podcast episodes are out, featuring Chris Mariano’s Cover (Story) Girl and Six de los Reyes’ Just for the Record. We are now more than halfway through the first season of the podcast, but it’s never too late to subscribe to our channel for updates or purchase the entire first season on Gumroad!

And so without further ado, here is

Cover (Story) Girl by Chris Mariano

SYNOPSIS

1) She has amnesia.
2) She’s on the run from her father’s creditors.
3) She’s enjoying her last days on earth.

Ever since Jang Min Hee walked into Gio’s small museum, she’s given him one excuse after another about why she’s vacationing at scenic Boracay Island. Rarely has Gio’s neat and organized world been shaken like this. Soon he finds himself scrambling over rocks, hiding in dressing rooms, and dragging her out of bars. But how can Gio tell what’s true from what isn’t? Their worlds are getting unraveled — one story at a time.

Cover (Story) Girl is available on Amazon in digital and print versions. You may also find the Visprint edition of this book at local bookstores, or order directly from the publisher.

Click on the Read More button for an excerpt of Six de los Reyes’ Just for the Record.

Continue Reading

ON-AIR: #RomanceClass Podcast, Part 2

Get ready for the feels again! The #romanceclass podcast has two new episodes up, and it features Kristel S. Villar’s Blast from Two Pasts, and Jay E. Tria’s Songs of Our Breakup. Just like the previous episodes, the excerpts are interpreted by theatre actors Gio Gahol and Rachel Coates.

Blast from Two Pasts by Kristel S. Villar

SYNOPSIS

Fate’s been playing tricks on Cara Nicolas lately. She agrees to go on a blind date with her best friend’s fiancé’s cousin, only to discover that the guy is her first love from high school, Lucas Lobregat. Now that would have been a charming story, except that the date turns out to be one of the worst ever. And they can’t even pretend it never happened, because they’re both suddenly part of the wedding preparations.

Just as she is starting to get to know more about the boy she used to love, Oliver Sta. Maria, an old flame who owes her some closure, surprisingly shows up. With two pasts resurfacing, which will Cara choose to rekindle? Or can she have the chance to choose at all?

Blast from Two Pasts is available on Amazon, and print copies may be ordered directly through the author.

Click on the Read More button for episode #4 and links to subscribe and purchase the entire first season of this podcast. Warning: Episode #4 has rain, wet shirts, and abs. 😛

Continue Reading