Book 13 of the Huge Series, Pucking Huge by Stephanie Brother
Pucking Huge by Stephanie Brother is book 13 of the Huge Series and was just a joy to read! As soon as I received my ARC copy, I put my iPad on a stand, snuggled under the blanket, and read until my eyes dried out … or I lost consciousness, lol! Then, I resumed as soon as I woke up.
What did I like about it?
Triplets … because why not? They’re brothers, and there are three of them. I think my eyes just crossed, lol!
Guys into sports – there is just something sexy about watching them skating on the ice (in my head) and the excitement and adrenalin rush when they are up against a good team. Hockey can get rough, but so can they. Meow!
They’ve got history. They aren’t new to the concept of being steps, which means that the physical attraction has been there for some time but suppressed.
The drama of the socials! This was not an issue that would even have been possible back in the day.
It all made for a titillating story that had me holding my breath, laughing at times, and quickly turning pages to know what would happen next.
Grab your copy of Pucking Huge by Stephanie Brother soon on Amazon. Free with Kindle Unlimited.
Montesa Medical Group, a leading name in the field of dermatology and aesthetics, brings its expertise and cutting-edge technology to the Manila Hotel.
The group’s state-of-the-art clinic, located within the hotel’s premises, offers a comprehensive range of services, including:
Advanced Dermatology: Addressing skin concerns such as acne, eczema, and pigmentation disorders.
Anti-aging Treatments: Utilizing innovative techniques to combat the signs of aging, including wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging skin.
Cosmetic Procedures: Enhancing facial features and body contours through minimally invasive procedures.
Wellness Programs: Promoting overall well-being through personalized treatments and lifestyle advice.
The synergy between the historical grandeur of the Manila Hotel and the modern approach of Montesa Medical Group creates a unique and luxurious experience for guests. The clinic’s elegant ambiance, coupled with the attentive and professional staff, ensures a serene and rejuvenating environment.
This partnership not only benefits the hotel’s guests but also contributes to the growing demand for high-quality aesthetic and wellness services in the Philippines. By combining the heritage of the Manila Hotel with the innovation of Montesa Medical Group, this collaboration sets a new benchmark for luxury and holistic well-being.
I’ve heard of the Montesa Medical Group before, partly through social media but also from seeing their signage not too far from my place at the CTTM Building on Tomas Morato. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to experience their services at the recently opened branch at The Manila Hotel.
Asking the hotel staff for directions to Montesa is very helpful in finding the aesthetic clinic, as it is not visible from the lobby. But once you find your way to Cafe Ilang-Ilang, it is just a hop, skip, and jump away.
The Vibe
The shared lobby with the hotel spa lives up to the standards of The Manila Hotel: old-world elegance. Going in further reveals that the aesthetic clinic itself continues this elegant vibe while adding the modernness of the latest technology.
White-and-gold is the color scheme they employed, with shades of gold used as accents. The logo and signages on the walls are gold mirrors perfect for an aesthetic center.
The treatment rooms are spacious, and their equipment is state-of-the-art. They have specific rooms for specific types of services, so rather than the equipment changing rooms, it is the client who needs to move from room to room depending on the service they are availing of.
Available to all
With the Montesa Medical Group located deep in the Manila Hotel, it is not surprising that most people would assume that their services are exclusive to hotel guests. Just as with other amenities of the hotel, such as the restaurants, Montesa’s services are available to both check-in guests and hotel visitors, with no difference in their published rates.
The interview
Dr. Anna Marie Montesa personally interviewed me. In our interview, I liked that she did not make any assumptions or immediately make suggestions on treatments. She asked me first what I would like addressed.
Besides the obvious, a need to lose weight and possibly look slimmer, my only real challenge is thumbing my nose at the signs of aging, so, yes – sagging skin and wrinkles.
She gazed at my face and told me that she noticed I was flushed. She asked if this was normal. I looked at her and had to think about it. I know I’m usually flushed when it’s warm or if my blood pressure shoots up.
She asked me if my cheeks are always rosy that I tend to skip putting on blush when I do my makeup. I looked back at her with surprise and realized it was true! Still staring at my face closely, she tells me that I have a condition called rosacea (row-zay-shuh) , which, according to the Mayo Clinic, is a common skin condition that causes flushing or long-term redness on your face. And here I thought it was just because I had fair skin.
Things we needed to consider when it came to the treatments I would try:
I have urticaria, which translates to me being allergic to so many things. This meant that I couldn’t do any of the facials because I might be allergic to them; I couldn’t just do any treatment that needed to be injected for the same reason.
I have a titanium implant. This meant, no RF treatments.
This left us with only non-invasive, non-surgical procedures, which I was all for, definitely.
Montesa Cutera Laser Genesis
Her recommended treatment for rosacea is a procedure called the Montesa Cutera Laser Genesis. After lying down on the treatment bed, they placed protective goggles over my eyes and applied lotion or cream to my face.
Dr. Montesa herself treated me and explained what she was doing and what this treatment was for. The Montesa Cutera Laser Genesis addresses skin flushing, removes fine lines, whitens skin, and minimizes pores. I perked up at the last one as enlarged pores on my cheeks were something I’d been bemoaning for some time.
The wand she hovered over my face produced a steady heat that was borderline uncomfortable yet soothing at the same time. Every now and then, it would zap like one of those bug killers, and Dr. Montesa said that those were facial hairs getting zapped. I could feel my skin tightening under the laser and visualized my pores closing in fear. Hyuk! Kidding aside, when later asked if the procedure was painful, I could honestly tell them that since I have my eyebrows threaded every month, the Montesa Cutera Laser Genesis was no big deal. The procedure is quick, at only 10 to 15 minutes.
Special year-end promo
The price for this procedure is ₱6,000 per session. The recommended treatment is once a month for three months, followed by maintenance every 6 months. That sounds reasonable, right?Right now, they have a special offer! If you pre-purchase three treatments, you get one additional treatment free!
Buy 3 get 1 additional treatment free!
Montesa Cold Lift
One other thing I mentioned to Dr. Montesa was that I recently had meso done on my face because I’m resigned to the fact that at my age, no amount of exercise will make my chin reappear without making my skin sag from weight-loss. Let’s face it, as we get older our skin just loses the elasticity of youth.
For this, Dr. Montesa recommended the Montesa Cold Lift – a non-invasive, non-surgical procedure used for jaw contouring, skin lightening, fat lysis, and removing the dreaded double chin.
To prove its effectiveness, Dr. Montesa did the left side of my jaw and chin first. After a few passes with that magic wand (I call it a magic wand because it is literal magic to me) she handed me a mirror and I was shocked at the difference. OMG, was there a difference!
It was a subtle difference, but it was enough to make me a believer. My jawline, which used to be oval and became round over the last 10 years has started to regain its shape. The point of my chin reappeared and the angle of my jaw made a reappearance.
The bottom of my chin which has started to develop a double chin shrank back. Amazing! Now I just need to remember to keep my chin up or my face level at least, to discourage its return.
Of course, she works on the other side as well and treats my entire jawline.
Special year-end promo
Compared to the Montesa Cutera Laser Genesis the Montera Cold Lift is more pricey at ₱25,000 per session. Just as with the former, the recommended treatment is once a month for three months, followed by maintenance every 6 months.
I shudder at the price but with results like what I described above, I can’t help but give it serious thought.
Buy 2 get 1 additional treatment free!
Same day results
I kid you not, the results are immediately visible. It isn’t just some placebo effect. My only questions after were:
How long will it last?
Do I need a special regimen to maintain it?
What should I remove from the products I currently use?
Dr. Montesa recommended some changes such as using products that are designed for babies as they are less likely to trigger my allergies. In addition she also said one thing that I keep forgetting … sunscreen! Lol!
Comparing the two
The Montesa Cutera Laser Genesis is a hot treatment with the occasional zap to keep me on my toes. On the other hand, the Montesa Cold Lift is cool and relaxing.
Comparing them based on how they make me feel, during and after, the Montesa Cold Lift is easily what I would recommend if not for the cost. A friend of mine even said “Mag-exercise ka na lang, mas mura pa (just exercise, it’s cheaper).” While that may be true, exercise at my age does not have the side benefit of tightening my skin and firming up my jawline.
But we really shouldn’t be comparing them at all since each one has a different purpose and possibly, like me, you need both!
Avail of the promos!
You want more bang for you buck? Then, avail of the promos!
Buy 3 get 1 free of the Montesa Cutera Laser Genesis at ₱6,000 per session
Buy 2 get 1 free of the Montesa Cold Lift at ₱25,000 per session
In addition, use the promo code MONTESA001 to receive an additional 20% discount at the Montesa Medical Group at The Manila Hotel!
HUGE discount with the promo code provided:
Buy 3 get 1 free of the Montesa Cutera Laser Genesis at ₱4,800 per session
Buy 2 get 1 free of the Montesa Cold Lift at ₱20,000 per session
Now’s your chance to try their services! Make your way to the Montesa Medical Group at the Manila Hotel and don’t forget to use the promo code! It will work with ANY of their services.
Two Times the Trouble by Stephanie Brother is different from the other stories she’s written that I have read. Identical twins are nothing new, but identical twins pretending to be one person to help a gal out by pretending to be her boyfriend … that’s new.
When a hot, grumpy, silent man entered her yoga class, Callie didn’t know what to expect. She certainly didn’t expect him to keep coming back! Then she encounters him again at the sandwich shop she also works at and encounters him again, but with his personality dialed the opposite way. How can he be so different in yoga class and outside of it? Turns out that the explanation is simple.
Dealing with the Pruitt twins must be like having a relationship with Jekyll and Hyde, except that Max and Miles really are two separate people! It boggles the mind how polar opposite their personalities seem, and yet whenever they switch places, Miles plays Max to a tee that in Callie’s shoes, I would get whiplash! Then there’s the added layer of mystery… what are these twins plotting? It’s clear that their machinations are unrelated to Callie and have everything to do with the family her sister is marrying into. The impending revelation is a source of dread. Hearts will be shattered, feelings will be bruised, and misunderstandings will run rampant.
I’d recommend this book, if only because it is different from most of Stephanie Brother’s stories, and yet it still hooked me! The unique storyline, the complex characters, and the element of mystery make it a compelling read. I think you should give it a shot as well. 🙂
Two Times the Trouble by Stephanie Brother on Amazon in paperback and Kindle format. Get your copy now! I enjoyed it, I think you will, too.
As I was going through my Facebook notifications, I encountered a post from an author named VictoryAnne Vice, who was asking for people to try out her story called The Alpha and the Rental Luna. She already has several books under her belt, and this is her latest ongoing story. Since the title intrigued me, I thought I’d give it a shot.
If you’ve been reading shifter romance as much as I do, then you are familiar with the werewolf concept of fated mates and chosen mates. For Alphas, that translates to their Luna, who is usually a fated mate in stories. But what if you only wanted a Luna part-time, no commitment outside of a contract? That’s where the Rental Lunas come in. The thought that Alpha females would actually choose to go into training to be a rental Luna is mind-boggling! These ladies aren’t looking to marry, even though it is a possibility. They are there to fulfill ALL of the Alpha’s needs while they are in the contract.
The Characters
The main characters are Sylvester “Sly” Sterling and Apple LeRoux.
The story opens from the POV of Apple LeRoux. She is introduced to us as a human from a small town who moves to Crescent City to pursue a college degree and to get away from her cheating boyfriend and abusive family. She is broke and homeless and desperately needs a job. She sees a notice for a job opening, not realizing that it is for a werewolf company.
In a case of misinformation and misdirection she ends up being interviewed by the Alpha who thought she was a Rental Luna. She wasn’t … but somehow, he ends up trying to convince her to accept the job of being his Rental Luna.
Sylvester “Sly” Sterling is the Alpha. Unlike in most stories, he did not inherit his title from his father. He earned it through hard work. It didn’t hurt that his former Luna was the former Alpha’s daughter, Alexis.
The Story
If Apple accepts the job, it will entail a lot of subterfuge as werewolf/human relations are frowned upon. A human Luna will definitely not be acceptable to the pack! The only ones who know are Sly, Apple, Beta Rudy, and Apple’s new friends with whom she shares an apartment.
Here’s the challenge … should Apple agree to this crazy scheme and become his Rental Luna?
On the up side it means financial security and being able to go to school and enroll in her chosen degree. In addition, being the helpful and caring person that she is, she doesn’t really mind helping the pack.
On the downside, she needs to hide her humanity and pretend to be a werewolf while at the same time fight her growing attraction to Sly..
My Take
As the story progresses, I keep waiting to get bored and move on. However, I am 48 chapters in, and it hasn’t happened yet. It helps that the author usually posts 1 to 2 chapters a day and tries her best not to leave us hanging.
I LOVE the daily updates! It keeps me interested and excited for the upcoming chapters. The story is fast-paced, which definitely kept me interested, and I occasionally went back a few pages just to reread something that caught my eye in the story.
Will they, won’t they? VictoryAnne Vice is good at edging us and making us want more. And what’s with Apple’s very vocal inner voice? My guess is she has a wolf but doesn’t know it. Maybe she’s a late bloomer. I’m on tenterhooks!
This story is something I highly recommend as it is fun, with its witty dialogues and humorous situations, and lighthearted, with its optimistic and feel-good vibe. There’s not too much drama, which I appreciate, and I can hardly wait for Apple and Sly’s first full intimacy. Here’s hoping it happens soon.
Start reading The Alpha and his Rental Luna on Goodnovel.
Recently, Ladbible posted about 9 songs, which are known for having real, unchoreographed, spicy scenes. The actress didn’t want her name in the credits of the movie because of all the flack the movie got, but Ladbible put her name not just in the article but in the title of the article itself.
I confess to going incognito and skimming through the movie posted somewhere online, and I agree with those who said it wasn’t very good as far as the dialogue, the cinematography, etc., are concerned.
As for the spicy scenes, there is something to be said about it being real and graphic. I personally don’t even know how the ML and FL were able to perform with all those cameras moving around them, zooming in as often as they did.
To be fair, I have to admit that the realness of the steamy scenes probably portrayed how we see those scenes in our heads when we read a spicy book. I can even unabashedly say that what made me laugh and clap was probably not something any guy would want a girl to laugh and clap about.
It was the scene mentioned in the Ladbible image, specifically the start when the ML went from slack to ramrod in five seconds! Yes, I timed it, lol! I even made slow “woop” sound effect while timing it.
You might be wondering why that scene, in particular, caught my eye. Am I some sort of perve? Of course! Just kidding, lol! To be completely honest, I find the human body so fascinating. I know that women have something similar happen but on a (physiologically) smaller scale but it isn’t something we get to see unless we watch porn.
Is 9 Songs porn?
I think that 9 Songs straddles the line. It isn’t just sex, there is an actual story, although I confess not paying too much attention to it. While the spicy scenes are very explicit and do show close-ups of the ML’s and FL’s genitalia, it didn’t feel as though the director interrupted them at any time to get a better shot, he just kept shooting and fixed it later in editing. The spicy scenes felt real as if the actors were not acting at all but rather in the moment.
For the audience, it feeds on a kink … voyeurism. Because that is what it was … us watching a loving couple in the throes of passion over and over again in many different ways.
Is 9 Songs any good?
I can’t really say it is awful since I didn’t watch enough of it to form that opinion. It is supposed to be a rock and roll movie, but I confess to skipping all those parts. I won’t even be able to tell you the names of the characters without looking it up as I don’t recall hearing their names mentioned.
However, despite focusing mostly on the multiple controversial scenes I was able to follow their love story, and it is a love story.
People should take off their blinders and realize that this is what romantic, passionate love looks like.
Given how graphic it is, this kind of movie is probably not something I would want to watch in the cinema, but it is probably on-brand for streaming services like HBO.
Is it worth a watch? Not for the kiddies, this definitely comes with an adult rating. For mature adults, though, I probably wouldn’t recommend it for mixed company unless you are that intimate with each other. The spicy scenes may cause libidos to rise.
A few weeks ago, I was searching Goodnovel for a new story to read. It’s always Alpha this, Alpha that. Then, I encountered a couple of stories that piqued my interest.
The Luna Choosing Game by Jane Above Story
The Luna Choosing Game by Jane Above Story
The Luna Choosing Game by Jane Above Story is a story about Piper, a woman who was working as a waitress to raise her twin sister’s daughter. Unbeknownst to her, her friend entered her into a contest by the royal family for all unmated women of eligible age. Whoever wins will become the Luna for one of the three Princes, meaning there will be three winners … one for each Prince. She discovers that one of the Princes is her ex, Nicholas. At the time they were dating, she had no idea of his identity.
She gets chosen as a candidate, and as the story progresses, the candidates go through different challenges where one or more will be eliminated. She brings her niece, who everyone thinks is her daughter, with her. Things are more difficult for her as she has the added challenge of being wolfless and not being high-born. However, she does not really let that stop her. She knows she will get eliminated early, but while she competes, her niece gets the medical care she needs.
Most of the other candidates hate her, some of the servants hate her, some of the guards hate her, and the King and Queen hate her. It seems like only Princes Nicholas and Julian like her. What will her fate be in The Luna Choosing Game?
How she lost her wolf when Nicholas was sure she had one before is part of the mystery of this story. Why are more and more people losing their wolves? Where is Piper’s sister? Why did she leave her daughter with Piper?
Luna Battle: The Game by Billiejo Priestley
Luna Battle: The Game by Billiejo Priestley
Luna Battle: The Game by Billiejo Priestley is about Elara, a slave to Alpha Draven’s pack who secretly entered The Luna Battle in hopes of escaping the torture of her everyday life. She lost her wolf at four years old, has lived her life as a servant, and when she was old enough, she became a sex slave and was made to service Alpha Draven, his betas, and his guests. She was bitten and claimed by Alpha Draven when she was twelve years old and had no mate.
The Luna Battle is a competition to select the Luna Queen for King Darius and the Luna Princess for Prince Kellan. Each candidate will be asked to perform various challenges. At the end of each challenge, one or more of the candidates will be eliminated and sent home.
Magic selected her as a candidate, and when she arrived at the Palace, most of the other contestants hated her and called her “mutt,” but that didn’t stop Elara from being the bigger person and reminding them of how a Luna is supposed to behave. After all, she didn’t really expect to stay in the competition for long. But what happens when Prince Kellan starts to show her favor, and the King seems to do so, too?
The Luna stories go head-to-head.
I started reading The Luna Choosing Game first and then paused at Chapter 102 because I, quite honestly, got bored with the minutiae. More than a hundred chapters in, and it feels like only a little has happened. Some scenes could have been removed, and chapters could have been compressed. You know those telenovelas that seem to go on forever? That’s what it felt like when I was reading this book. It was interesting, but it was taking forever to get to the point.
In addition, as of this posting, The Luna Choosing Game has 460 chapters and counting! For crying out loud! Know when to stop! If you must, then serialize it, book one and book two, etc.
At the point I was getting fed up with it, I encountered Luna Battle: The Game, and the first thing I noticed was the parallels:
wolfless
no family
forced into a life of servitude
Even the challenges were similar, but then, you know what they say, there really is little that is original as we all build off what other people have done in the past. There’s a big difference, though. Luna Battle is fast-paced and engaging and, more importantly … ONLY 151 CHAPTERS!
YES! The author was able to tell THE WHOLE STORY (COMPLETE!) in just 151 chapters. Value for money? Check!
Will I go back to finish The Luna Choosing Game? I am unsure. At this point, as I see the chapter count climbing higher and higher, it doesn’t seem very certain. Maybe I will wait until the book makes its way to Amazon, hopefully, KU, and then read it there. I’ve already spent way too much on it, as it is.
Two Times the Trouble by Stephanie Brother is different from the other stories she’s written that I have read. Identical twins are nothing new, but identical twins pretending to be one person to help a gal out by pretending to be her boyfriend … that’s new.
I can’t really say it is awful since I didn’t watch enough of it to form that opinion. It is supposed to be a rock and roll movie, but I confess to skipping all those parts. I won’t even be able to tell you the names of the characters without looking it up as I don’t recall hearing their names mentioned.
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