by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jun 11, 2023 | Book Reviews
I am so glad I discovered Rejected Mate by Sam Crescent. I have read many rejection stories but this one stands out. It is not about a rejected she-wolf being stronger than she thought she was. It isn’t about a bully who rejects a she-wolf changing his mind and deciding to accept her again. It isn’t about finding a second-chance mate.
This story was so well-written that I was captivated from page 1! It takes popular tropes (shifter romance, rejection, and age gap) and puts a unique spin on them. I hesitate to even call this a bully romance as the bullying part is incidental to the story.
Constance is a late bloomer. Where everyone else she knows shifted at 18, she didn’t shift until she turned 21. Tanner is the Alpha’s son. He has been bullying Constance for many years, calling her fat, ugly, and disgusting. Constance and Tanner realized they were mates on the day of her shift. Oh, horror of horrors! Constance hates his guts!
At this point in other books it would go one of two ways … Tanner would realize how he has been stupid all these years and would do his damnedest to win her or outright reject her. In this book, he chose the latter … Tanner rejected Constance and he did it publicly. Since he is the Alpha’s son, the pack took his rejection as a sign that they should all reject her, so they did. Her parents threw her out, she lost her job, and the rest of the pack turned their backs on her.
Rejection is painful, as we know from shifter lore, but this is the first time that I know of where the effects of the rejection go beyond chest or belly pains or pains caused by infidelity. Instead, the rejection is described as feeling very cold from the inside. Being rejected by one’s mate is bad, but imagine being rejected by the entire pack.
The entire pack, except for one … Gage, the Alpha, and Tanner’s father. In an emergency pack meeting, he announces that according to scripture, when a wolf is rejected, a relative of the one who did the rejecting can step up and accept the rejected wolf in their place. And that is what Gage did.
What a twist! Is it just custom or does Gage really want her for himself as a mate? Will Tanner change his mind and decide to take her back? Will Constance fall in love with Gage and decide to take him as her mate?
If you’ve never read any of the books from Sam Crescent’s Alpha Shifter Collection, this is a good book to start with. It isn’t in Kindle Unlimited but it won’t cost you an arm and a leg. You can get Rejected Mate by Sam Crescent on Amazon for $3.99. All the books in the Alpha Shifter Collection are $3.99 a piece.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jun 9, 2023 | Business
HP recently launched the HP GCash ‘back-to-school’ promo, an annual tradition eagerly anticipated by parents and students alike as the new school year looms. Small wonder since shoppers get an incredible opportunity to earn up to P6,000 in GCash cashback when they purchase selected HP Laptop PCs, including the powerful and cutting-edge Victus 15 laptop.
Through the years, HP has recognized the importance of providing top-quality devices to students as they gear up for a new school year. This exclusive promotion allows families to reinvest their substantial cashback rewards into other essential back-to-school items, such as textbooks, stationery, and school uniforms.
State-of-the-art Victus 15 laptop
At the heart of the promotion lies the state-of-the-art Victus 15 by HP laptop—a sleek and powerful device designed to tackle heavy academic workloads while delivering an exceptional gaming experience. Equipped with an AMD Ryzen™ processor and NVIDIA graphics, the Victus 15 by HP can effortlessly handle even the most demanding applications and games. Meanwhile, its large, high-quality display makes it perfect for educational videos, school projects, and occasional online classes.
The Victus 15 by HP laptop offers more than just impressive hardware. It boasts a long-lasting battery, ensuring students can rely on it throughout the day. Its comfortable keyboard and trackpad are ideal for composing assignments and working on research papers. Additionally, the Victus 15 by HP provides a range of ports and connections, enabling seamless integration with other devices such as printers, external storage, and extra monitors.
Other HP laptop PCs on tap
While the Victus 15 by HP takes center stage, the HP GCash Back-to-School Promo extends to a wide selection of other HP laptop PCs. Whether students require lightweight models for their on-the-go lifestyle or high-performance machines for graphics-intensive projects, HP has them covered. Some of the best-selling models of the HP Smart Tank printer are likewise included in the promotion, ensuring students can achieve seamless integration and maximize productivity throughout the new school year.
To participate in the HP GCash Back-to-School Promo, interested individuals can check out the official HP website or visit authorized HP retailers in nearby malls. Detailed information about participating products, the redemption process, and the terms and conditions can be found on the dedicated promo page.
To learn more about this promo, please visit the HP Philippines Facebook page for details.
Promo is from May 25 until July 31, 2023. Per DTI Fair Trade Permit No. FTEB-167737 Series of 2023.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jun 8, 2023 | Art and Science
Manila Vice Mayor, public servant, accomplished actor, and multi-talented artist, John Marvin “Yul Servo” Nieto, is set to captivate art enthusiasts with his highly anticipated solo exhibit, Directions II, at the exclusive Art Gallery of The Manila Hotel.
While widely recognized for his acting prowess, Yul Servo Nieto’s passion for art extends beyond the screen. This exhibition showcases the artist’s unique vision and exceptional creativity, where he masterfully transforms discarded metal scraps into stunning works of art. “We are honored that Vice Mayor Yul Servo Nieto granted our request for him to hold his second solo exhibit in our art gallery,” says Marvin Kim Tan, Director of Sales and Marketing of The Manila Hotel.
Following the resounding success of his debut exhibit, Yul Servo Nieto pushes the boundaries of artistic expression even further in his latest endeavor. Directions II serves as a testament to his unwavering commitment to environmental consciousness and the power of art to evoke meaningful conversations.
Yul Servo Nieto draws inspiration from his father, Martin Nieto, an architecture graduate and a visual artist, who became one of the enterprising pioneers of the giant billboard advertising industry in the Philippines. While his father’s media of choice are oil and acrylic, Nieto explores the world of metal sculpture. Despite their divergent artistic paths, their love for arts is a common ground of support for each other’s endeavors.
Embark on an inspiring artistic discourse at Yul Servo Nieto’s Directions II exhibit as he showcases masterful pieces on the walls of The Manila Hotel’s Art Gallery starting June 12, 2023.
Net proceeds from the sale of Servo’s works will go to selected beneficiaries and charitable organizations.
For more information, please contact +632 852700111 or +632 53015500.
About The Manila Hotel
The Manila Hotel is situated in the heart of the City of Manila. Defined by its history, elegance, and world-class service, The Manila Hotel maintains to be the choice hotel of the most distinguished clientele. Over the years, The Manila Hotel continuously provides the best services and amenities for a truly memorable experience. It has more than 500 well-appointed rooms and 22 function rooms including three (3) ballrooms.
Apart from these, the hotel offers five-star relaxation and wellness experiences with the Manila Hotel Spa, adult and children’s pools, and Manila Hotel Health Club. The hotel is home to the Heritage Museum, a treasure trove of priceless memories that narrate its illustrious past. It also has an Art Gallery which offers a window into a contemporary world, captured through the objective point of view of different artists.
It has six (6) dining outlets, each offering a unique culinary adventure: Café Ilang-Ilang which is a favorite spot for its extensive selection of International buffet delights; Champagne Room with its Old European style fine dining and also hailed as the most romantic room in Manila—it features European cuisine in a posh, fine-dining setting; Tap Room, an Old English pub-inspired outlet where one can enjoy an evening of live music; Lobby Lounge which is ideal for casual dining, aperitif, post-dinner nightcaps, or leisure meetings; Red Jade, a fine dining restaurant that serves authentic Chinese cuisine; and Delicatessens that offers the hotel’s signature pastries, breads, chocolates, and pralines.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jun 7, 2023 | Book Reviews
If I could only use one word to describe Grand Slammed by Stephanie Brother it would be sweet. This may come as a surprise to some of her readers who are more exposed to her steamy books, but yes, Stephanie can and has written romantic tingle-inducing books. It isn’t always about the heat, although there is definitely enough heat in this book to get the blood pumping.
We met Naomi in Roommates 8: Power Drilled as the massage therapist hired by Great-aunt Evelyn to provide massages for the wedding guests. Towards the end of the story, we know that she hired Naomi for 1 week to give massages to her nephew and friends in Florida. This is where the story picks up.
Dominic is Great-aunt Evelyn’s nephew. He and his friends Justin and Tyler are professional baseball players who have recently retired and are studying for the LSATs in preparation for entering law school in Georgia. This seems like a drastic career change for these young men (who are possibly in their late 20s or early 30s) until she learns why. It just made my heart melt. Philanthropy is just so hot!
Interestingly, in this story, Naomi does not give any “special” massages. If at all, she finds herself on the receiving end of a 6-hand special massage. I don’t know if this story is shorter or if I just read it really fast. The way it was written flowed so smoothly that I didn’t notice the transition of chapters except to note whose POV it was already. Also … not much drama to worry about. There wasn’t even any hullabaloo about Naomi having 3 boyfriends.
Absolutely HEA guaranteed! You can find Grand Slammed by Stephanie Brother on Amazon for $2.99 or FREE with Kindle Unlimited. Don’t forget to read the bonus chapter by clicking HERE.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jun 6, 2023 | Book Reviews
I discovered Bullied Mate of the Lycan Kings by Deenma on Dreame while looking for something new to read. I didn’t see the preview blurb on the app, just the first chapter, and it was an intriguing start.
Everyone in school hated Lily, a wolfless Omega, because of her father, who was executed for being a traitor. Despite that, she has always been a good student and mostly kept her head down and tried her best to ignore everyone’s bullying. One day she just reached her breaking point and tried to take her own life by slashing her wrists. She would have become successful, too, if not for Cade.
Cade became her only friend and later her boyfriend. When asked why he saved her he told her that they are mates. But things are not as they seem as it turns out, he was playing a long game and plotted with his friends to pull the ultimate prank on her which ended with a rejection.
In despair, she pulls out of school and decides on homeschooling. A couple of years later she enters Shadow Cove Academy, an elite school in hopes of graduating with flying colors so that she could enter an ivy league school after and improve her and her mom’s lives. It is there that she meets the three most powerful Lycan Alphas … Aiden, Ren, and Zac.
On her first day, she accidentally bumps into Aiden … that was all he needed to green-light the bullying from everyone on campus. She also meets Ren who becomes her guardian angel. Then there’s Zac who has a deep dark secret only a few people are aware of. She finds herself strongly attracted to Ren but unfortunately, he has a mate, Mauve. As the book progresses her only friends are Ren, Rhea, and Chelsea.
The title and the blurb imply that this is a reverse harem. It also shows 4 males. However, 68 chapters in and there are no signs that the story is going anywhere in that direction. Also, if I had read the blurb first (which I only saw a few minutes ago when I visited Dreame from the computer) I probably would not have opened this so soon as it is way too graphic for me for a blurb. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for steamy scenes per se, but I think the build-up to those scenes matters.
That aside, many parts of the story are quite compelling. I confess I found chapters 65 to 68 difficult to read because I don’t like seeing Ren suffering or in pain. I only wish that the story moved a little faster so that we could see how Aiden, Ren, Zac, and I assume Cade, find themselves mated to Lily which will lead to the contents of the blurb.
If you think this is something you might want to sink your teeth into you can check out Bullied Mate of the Lycan Kings by Deenma on the Dreame app.
While the Victus 15 by HP takes center stage, the HP GCash Back-to-School Promo extends to a wide selection of other HP laptop PCs. Whether students require lightweight models for their on-the-go lifestyle or high-performance machines for graphics-intensive projects, HP has them covered. Some of the best-selling models of the HP Smart Tank printer are likewise included in the promotion, ensuring students can achieve seamless integration and maximize productivity throughout the new school year.
Yul Servo Nieto draws inspiration from his father, Martin Nieto, an architecture graduate and a visual artist, who became one of the enterprising pioneers of the giant billboard advertising industry in the Philippines. While his father’s media of choice are oil and acrylic, Nieto explores the world of metal sculpture. Despite their divergent artistic paths, their love for arts is a common ground of support for each other’s endeavors.
We met Naomi in 
Everyone in school hated Lily, a wolfless Omega, because of her father, who was executed for being a traitor. Despite that, she has always been a good student and mostly kept her head down and tried her best to ignore everyone’s bullying. One day she just reached her breaking point and tried to take her own life by slashing her wrists. She would have become successful, too, if not for Cade.
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