Snow Balled by Stephanie Brother

Snow Balled by Stephanie Brother

Snowballed by Stephanie Brother was everything I hoped for! Compared to her other reverse harem books, Snowballed is more innocent and exploratory, which hits the mark perfectly considering Sierra’s personality and unpleasant life experiences.

Visualizing that scene when Sierra first sees Carter stepping out of the steamy bathroom in just a low-slung towel made my jaw drop. Her playacting sesh with Drew was just adorable, and her bouncing off ideas with Tristan was refreshing! The attraction was apparent from the start, especially with Drew who is the most approachable.

I liked the fact that the three men are not in the biz … to me, this meant liberation for Sierra later, and she would have the opportunity to decide to do what she wants rather than have people tell her what to do all the time.

Their first time together was just so beautiful it made me sigh. It was perfect! The entire scene was romantic and gentle while still managing to be very sensual and lip-bitingly hot!

Later when they are officially together, their encounters are all implied, rather than explicitly described. For anyone who is being introduced to the concept of reverse harems for the first time, this is a good story to start with as you don’t get slapped in the face with sex, sex, sex!

Snowballed is gentle and loving … and will get a reverse harem virgin curious about the other characters introduced who appear in this book. And, perhaps, will get him/her/them to read the rest of the Roommates series.

Grab your copy of Snow Balled by Stephanie Brother on Amazon. If you’ve read Snowballed and are hungry for more, you can read a bonus chapter about Sierra and her yummy men here.

Angkas: PH poised to leap forward in tech and start-up space in 2022

Angkas: PH poised to leap forward in tech and start-up space in 2022

Manila, Philippines – Despite the global pandemic, the Philippines is poised to be one of five ASEAN countries to become tech powerhouses in the next fifteen years, according to the Center for Economics Business Research (CEBR).

George RoyecaAngkas CEO George Royeca, believes the country is ready for a big leap forward in the tech and startup sectors. These industries and their continuous growth in recent years will be the primary focus of this year’s IMMAP DigiCon Valley 2022, which will be co-presented by Angkas, the leading motorcycle taxi, and delivery platform. “While the pandemic has been the worst global crisis of the millennium undeniably opened new avenues for rapid growth in the country, particularly in the tech sector. Overnight, e-commerce, online payments, e-wallets, telemedicine, online gig employment, digital banks as well as delivery and logistics services experienced exponential growth which then had to be supported by faster internet speeds,” points out Royeca.

“The pandemic and the restricted mobility it necessitated primed the market in terms of tech literacy and a willingness to adopt tech-based solutions. There are products and services the market is ready for now that would not have been viable pre-pandemic, and that might have otherwise taken another 5-10 years for the country to be ready for,” adds Royeca. “We have had, and continue to have an ideal and unprecedented climate for both developing and funding tech startups. The kind of businesses that offer innovative products and services we couldn’t have even imagined pre-pandemic,” he concludes.

The road less trafficked

Angkas was itself an innovation, far more unconventional than it seems on the surface. Motorcycle taxis were already in wide use for public transport all over the region at the time of Angkas’ inception in 2015. Despite the crippling traffic in Metro Manila and its staggering economic cost, motorcycle taxis were not a solution being considered by anyone at the time, because motorcycles had an appalling safety record.
The Metro Manila Accident Recording and Analysis System (MMARAS) Traffic Accident report for 2015 indicated that motorcycle accidents comprised 39.6% of all vehicular accidents and 33.6% of all fatal accidents in Metro Manila. In each case, they were by far the single largest contributors. Filipino motorcycle riders were regarded as too undisciplined for such a service to be reasonably safe.

Angkas’ innovation was in actually believing that with training, motivation, and support, Filipinos could be the backbone of a safe and professionalized app-enabled motorcycle taxi service. “We shoulder the training of all rider applicants, then we carefully select only the top 30%. We also hold regular company events that serve as refreshers, and venues for more training in soft skills, and even things like anti-sexual harassment education,” explains Royeca. “The result is that after literally millions of rides booked, our safety record is 99.997%,” he concludes.

Sense of purpose, grit resilience

“I think the number one thing that potential startups should begin with is seeing the bigger picture: are you solving a real problem?” asks Royeca. “Any business venture is always going have a money-making aspect, but in this day and age, it is businesses that have an innate sense of purpose and that offer real solutions to real problems that are embraced by the public,” Royeca points out.

Royeca had specific advice to would-be startups on failure: “Don’t be afraid of failure or adversity, these build grit. As long as you are imbued with a sense of purpose, you will overcome failure and adversity and come out stronger, and with more grit.”

In Angkas’ short history, they were ordered to cease operations twice, their rider pool was capped, and just when they seemed in the clear, the pandemic hit. Showing true resilience, it was then that Angkas launched a courier and buying assistant service, allowing more people to do errands and business safely from home. Angkas also formed a partnership with the Red Cross to assist with the delivery and administration of COVID-19 test kits. When it became reasonably safe to do so, Angkas also offered free rides to medical frontliners.

Co-creation Breeds Innovation

Community building begins when everyone contributes to the welfare of everyone, and that is exactly what resonated with Angkas to sign up and be a co-presenter for this year’s IMMAP DigiCon Valley 2022, one of the most anticipated digital conferences in the industry which gathers professionals from marketing, advertising, and digital sectors to hear and learn from world-renowned and celebrated local keynote speakers.

Internet and Mobile Marketing Association of the Philippines (IMMAP) is an organization that works toward educating and providing the necessary digital tools for advertising and integrated marketing professionals to make better communication decisions. One such effort is the yearly DigiCon.

Royeca explains, “When you have a business that serves many, it is impossible to innovate without co-creation. Angkas would not have been possible without the coming together of technology innovations, government regulators, customers, and of course our rider partners, to create a “winnovation”, an innovation in which everyone has a stake, and in which everybody wins.”

angkas and immap

From L to R: Brian Go (Angkas Chief Marketing Officer), Denise Haak (IMMAP DigiCon Co-Chair), Janelle Barretto (IMMAP DigiCon Ways & Means Head), and Trish Elamparo-Esteban (IMMAP DigiCon Co-Chair).

After two years of purely virtual connections, this year’s IMMAP DigiCon Valley 2022 will finally bring back face-to-face networking through the DigiCon After-Hours, which will be held during the evenings across the city, promising to provide cocktails and entertainment and allow delegates to physically reconnect with other industry players.

“I think what Angkas is excited about is this live interaction; a lot of the best collaborations and partnerships happen because of these more spontaneous, in-person things, and human interaction is what makes all the creativity and innovation grow more,” muses Royeca.

As co-presenter for this year’s IMMAP DigiCon Valley 2022, Angkas hopes that this can be a great model to induce new SMEs in the tech and startup sector, while also introducing a community mindset that can hopefully solve daily problems for Filipinos.

DigiCon Valley 2022 is happening on October 10-14 from 9 AM to 1 PM PST using the ViVYD platform, with all new tracks that tackle the different stages of innovation: Launchpad, Hypergrowth, Breakthrough, and Enterprise.

This year’s prestigious keynote speakers include one of the most influential women in the world and Huffington Post founder, Arianna Huffington; Rappler Founder and the first Filipino Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Maria Ressa; internationally acclaimed marketing expert and academic, Mark Ritson; co-founder of Character ventures and Design Sprint inventor, Jake Knapp; and Global CMO of Dole Sunshine Company, Rupen Desai.

Buy tickets now and learn more about IMMAP DigiCon Valley 2022 at www.digicon.com.ph and follow their social pages on FacebookTwitter, and Instagram.

IMMAP DigiCon Valley 2022 is co-presented by Angkas, and would like to thank Platinum Sponsors: Manulife Philippines, Share Treats, and TikTok; Gold Sponsors: Investing in Women, an initiative of the Australian Government, Grab Ads, Kroma Entertainment, McDonald’s Philippines and Meta Philippines; and Silver Sponsors: Digital Turbine, Hepmil Philippines, and Metrobank.

A special thanks to IMMAP’s event partners: Creators and Influencers of the Philippines (CICP), Endeavor, and Kickstart Ventures.

Be an IMMAP Member today! To know more about IMMAP, please visit: www.immap.com.ph or contact us at: co*****@*******om.ph or
SMS/Viber (0917) 6310206 / (0918) 577 2357.

Investors Summit to promote QC as a top business destination

Investors Summit to promote QC as a top business destination

The highly-anticipated “Quezon City Investors Summit: Future Ready” will promote Quezon City as an ideal destination for investors and businesses as they continue to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mayor Joy Belmonte

QC Mayor Joy Belmonte

“The summit will put the spotlight on Quezon City as a top business destination for local and international investors. We hope to attract many investors who can help further stimulate the economy and provide employment for QCitizens,” Mayor Belmonte said.

Scheduled on Oct. 7 at Novotel Manila at the Araneta City, the event will engage investors, business leaders, business associations, chambers of commerce, foreign dignitaries, and Quezon City government officials in discussions on key areas for investments, public-private partnerships, and opportunities for expansion and growth.

Margarita Santos

Margarita Santos, head of the Business Permits and Licensing Department (BPLD) of Quezon City

“Quezon City is future-ready, ready for investors, ready to build a better and more prosperous city so that our QCitizens will be able to enjoy the resulting benefits,” said Margarita Santos, head of the Business Permits and Licensing Department (BPLD) of Quezon City.

Aside from its strategic location, Quezon City also has the homegrown QC E-Services platform that makes business processes such as permit and license applications easy for investors, according to Santos.

“The LGU has automated and digitized 95 percent of the city’s services through its QC E-Services platform. This means potential investors can apply for business permits online,” said Santos, adding that “the permit will even be delivered to the applicant’s business or home address free of charge.”

As a matter of principle, the Quezon City government constantly consults and coordinates with the business sector, which has enabled both sectors to build a relationship of mutual respect and support. “This continued dialogue with the private sector helps all stakeholders to address various challenges and issues, and to think up ways to create a free, fair, and fertile business environment,” Perry Dominguez, head of the Local Economic Investment Promotions Office, points out.

The local government is known as an ardent supporter of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), providing them with incentives from tax breaks, and tax payment extensions to changing the validity of business permits and licenses to help businesses, especially during the pandemic.

Soon, Quezon City will launch its Start-Up QC program to further strengthen and develop the city’s start-up business ecosystem. “This program is calibrated to provide financial gains to innovative, creative, and promising business models that can help provide solutions and recommendations to social issues and challenges,” Jay Gatmaitan, Investment Affairs Office head, explained.

The city’s commitment to good governance saw results when the Quezon City government received its second straight unqualified opinion from the Commission on Audit for its annual audit report for the year 2021. An unqualified opinion is the highest audit rating that can be rendered by COA to a government agency.

Recognized for its quality public service, Quezon City has increased its social services budget over the past three years, enabling the local government to provide livelihood opportunities and create more jobs, support education, and provide permanent housing, better healthcare, and social safety nets, among others.

Earlier, Margie Santos, head of the summit’s organizing committee, said this gathering of business leaders aims to build investor confidence in Quezon City; generate investments and public-private partnerships and make Quezon City the top-of-mind preferred investment destination.

My Body Swap With Candi by Jane Doe

My Body Swap With Candi by Jane Doe

My Body Swap With Candi by Jane Doe is a part of the Forced Feminization series. It is only 49 pages long but is it worth $9.99 to buy? That is too steep (thank goodness for Kindle Unlimited) … especially considering that the story feels unfinished and rushed. Pixi gave Chris the same conditions but he somehow didn’t end up getting stuck in Candi’s body. Instead, our main character, whose name I don’t recall being mentioned, ends up swapping bodies with “Candi” and the former host, Chris, ends up in his.

So … what did Chris do differently that allowed him the opportunity to transfer to a new male body? I don’t think it is consistent with the rules and is unfair to the main character.

So after what Chris does intentionally after, our main character is now stuck in Candi’s body and that is it? She has no choice but to service men every 30 minutes for the rest of her life and just live with it. That’s it? End of story?

I don’t need a happy ever after. That isn’t necessary for every story. But it is necessary to go through all the steps of Freytag’s pyramid for it to be a GOOD story: exposition, initial incident, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution, and denouement.

This story missed the last two. It just isn’t right. I feel cheated. This could have been more meaningful than just a parade of blowjobs and fucks.

Jane Doe has written so many better stories than this so while I did not enjoy this, I am not giving up on her yet. Read this if you have a KU subscription, otherwise, don’t bother getting it as you won’t get value for money. 🙁 ⭐⭐

Alpha Logan by Bryant

Alpha Logan by Bryant

Alpha Logan by Bryant is the first book of the Bloodmoon Pack series. Logan Kinsley is not the firstborn. In any other pack but Bloodmoon, he would not be the Alpha. At the Bloodmoon Pack, the Alpha is selected by whichever of the Alpha heirs manifests the Bloodmoon wolf. This means that despite his elder brother, John, receiving all the training, Logan ended up the Alpha.

For many years he searched far and wide for his mate, traveling to gatherings all over the country and overseas. Little did he know that he didn’t need to travel far for his mate, he just needed patience as she just wasn’t old enough yet.

I could understand Logan’s frustration and longing, especially since wolves believe in “forever” … Bloodmoon, specifically, revere the mate bond so much that they have a law against rejection unless the mate is abusive.

Logan and Aurelia’s first encounter was magical. When Jericho, Logan’s wolf, noticed Aurelia as she got off the bus I got the shivers and I eagerly turned the pages to see how quickly they will meet and how soon they will both acknowledge the mate bond. Every touch spark the bond and their first “sexual” encounter was so hot, I thought my iPad would burst into flames, lol! I put quotes because I’ve seen that many authors only count penetration as sex, so if it is cunnilingus or fellatio it’s … foreplay?

In any case, the main reason I love this story is that Aurelia is such a strong character. Despite only being 17 at the beginning of the story, I could already see what a badass Luna she was going to be and a perfect foil for Logan.

Alpha Logan by Bryant is definitely on my top shelf of book recommendations! You can read this at Goodnovel or grab your copy on Amazon available in Kindle format and paperback.

The Alpha’s Girl by Ashley Breanne

The Alpha’s Girl by Ashley Breanne

When I read the first chapter of The Alpha’s Girl by Ashley Breanne I was instantly enamored and felt compelled to read the whole story. I just thought that Olivia and Gabriel’s first meeting was the cutest thing! How was it possible that a young girl and a wolf cub were able to hear each other’s thoughts? Was it the mate bond manifesting very early? It surely was!

But this leads to people thinking she is crazy. A few years later she and her sister go and try to find proof that it wasn’t a delusion and she “stumbles” into a pack and discovers that her little wolf is now the Alpha of the pack.

Alpha Gabriel and his pack have been watching over Olivia from afar for years so they knew who she was when she showed up. Everyone knew she was his mate and, therefore, their Luna. They also knew that she is human.

Can a werewolf-human relationship work? Will Olivia survive being marked by Gabriel? Will she turn into a werewolf? Can she become Luna if she remains human?

I enjoyed every moment of reading this book. It isn’t all lollipops and roses and that is what makes this story great! Between Olivia and Gabriel, barely any drama … from outside forces, though … lots!

Try out The Alpha’s Girl by Ashley Breanne. It is available on Goodnovel and currently contains 2 books … The Alpha Girl, and its sequel, Warrior’s Woman.

A Boss with Benefits by Sarwah Creed

A Boss with Benefits by Sarwah Creed

Sarwah Creed, you have redeemed yourself in my eyes with A Boss With Benefits. Unlike Naughty #TeXXXt, this story is more story than sex, but what there is, is hot, hot, hot! This is a story I can truly get behind.

To Ross Hamilton, young secretaries are little more than sexual harassment cases waiting to get filed. While he is never mean to women, he also makes it known that all he is after is sex, and only sex. With his parade of secretaries, they would have the added bonus of actually knowing how to do secretarial tasks.

Olivia is his virtual assistant and he asks her to come and work at the office for the next 6 weeks as he closes an important deal. He thinks she’s a spinster with cats and discovers on her first day that she is sex on legs.

But his reaction to her is different. Yes, he wants her, but he also appreciates her mind and wants to get to know her better. Gasp! Has Ross fallen in love?

In 18 chapters we are witness to their romance and passion as it blossoms as they both don’t fight too hard to resist the attraction. My one regret is that 2 Macs had to sacrifice their lives as they expressed their lust for each other at work. I would categorize this as light reading with a helping or 3 of raw sex and a happy ending.

You can find A Boss With Benefits by Sarwah Creed on Goodnovel.

Shopee’s 1010 sale is the biggest sale of 2022

Shopee’s 1010 sale is the biggest sale of 2022

MANILA, SEPTEMBER 29, 2022 – Shopee is collaborating with the country’s leading brands to bring Filipinos bigger, better, and mas mura deals on brand favorites with the 10.10 Brands Festival. From October 1 to 12, official brand stores are working with Shopee to offer eager shoppers 50% off brand deals, 15% off daily discounts, and free shipping vouchers with no minimum spend.

The 10.10 Brands Festival is the second in Shopee’s series of year-end shopping events, giving Filipinos more exciting deals to look forward to and get a head start on their holiday shopping. Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines enthused, “The 10.10 Brands Festival continues to enliven the promise of offering mas mura prices to Filipino shoppers. We have worked closely with our partner brands in bringing the best of brand deals to create a more meaningful year-end shopping experience.”

Toni Gonzaga joins the Shopee Fam as the newest brand ambassador

Tony Gonzaga

To drum up anticipation for its 10.10 sale, Shopee welcomes Toni Gonzaga as their newest brand ambassador. Dubbed the Ultimate Multimedia Star, shoppers can look forward to watching the talented performer belt out the “Mas Mura sa Shopee” jingle as she stars in Shopee’s latest TV commercial. Fans will also be treated to entertaining content when they visit the app and Shopee’s official accounts on Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Exciting, mas mura brand deals from October 1 to 12

The 10.10 festivities begin as early as October 1, with a wide assortment of official brand stores on Shopee offering exciting discounts for shoppers. The sale kicks off with back-to-back Super Brand Days from October 2 to 9, where users can enjoy up to 50% off on products from leading brands in fashion, electronics, beauty, and home & family essentials.

Unbeatable offers from top brands also await early-bird shoppers with the Big Midnight Sale from 12 midnight to 2 AM on October 10. Users can get a jumpstart on their holiday shopping with limited deals on bestselling wearable devices like the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live and OPPO Band B1, as well as trendy fashion and lifestyle items such as the Crocs Crocband™ Flip and Insulated Water Bottle from the widely popular brand Aquaflask.

Shoppers can also expect more exciting deals from other leading brands including Tiny Buds, Realme, Platinum Karaoke, INSPI, Johnson & Johnson, Huggies Philippines, Uni-Care, Cetaphil, Garnier, Unilever, Enfagrow, Nestlé, Lovito, SACE LADY, Adidas, Infinix, GameXtreme, TP-Link, Ace Hardware, and Huawei.

The Big Midnight Sale also allows new parents to enjoy big savings with ₱1 deals on these Pampers Baby Dry Taped Diapers. Meanwhile, beauty lovers can score fan favorites like the Maybelline Superstay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick and this Issy & Co. Brow Refiner, both at 50% off.

Download the Shopee app and discover mas mura deals from leading brands at the 10.10 Brands Festival. Head on to Shopee’s 10.10 page to know more about the latest promos or share your memorable 10.10 moments with the hashtag #ShopeePH1010BrandsFestival.


About Shopee

Shopee logoShopee is the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia & Taiwan. Shopee promotes an inclusive and sustainable digital ecosystem by enabling businesses to digitalize and grow their online presence, helping more people access and benefit from digital services and uplifting local communities.

Shopee offers an easy, secure, and engaging experience that is enjoyed by millions of people daily. Shopee is also a key contributor to the region’s digital economy with a firm commitment to helping homegrown brands and entrepreneurs succeed in e-commerce.

Shopee is part of Sea Limited (NYSE: SE), a leading global consumer internet company. Sea’s mission is to better the lives of consumers and small businesses with technology through its three core businesses: Shopee, Garena, and SeaMoney.

Naughty #TeXXXt by Sarwah Creed

Naughty #TeXXXt by Sarwah Creed

I rarely post negative reviews so I will try my best to give some pros and cons about Naughty #TeXXXt by Sarwah Creed.

Pros:

  • only 24 chapters but each chapter is long enough that you don’t feel cheated
  • the men in the story are not abusive

Cons:

  • large jumps in the story
  • lots of sex, but not enough story

Bianca’s dad is a conman who is using her to get money from a rich former classmate. They meet him and his triplet sons, well-known as rich playboys in their school who have little respect for women.

These three decided a long time ago that they will only be involved with one woman only to keep their family together since the last time one of them had a relationship on his own almost ruined their relationship with each other. She avoids them.

Somehow as the story progresses she ends up being accused and threatened by Alessandro before he pushes her against the wall and kisses her passionately. Then Carlo decides to woo her and they go out on a few dates. To cut to the chase, she loses her virginity to him in a locker room. And they continue dating. Then, the story fast-forwards in the next chapter and she encounters Adolfo at the bar she works at while closing up and she goes down on him behind the bar. After, she invites him to her place and tells him Carlo could join in.

At some point in the story, Alessandro joins in, and all three end up in a relationship with her. There is some mention made about their dad’s mafia connection, her dad dying, etc, but most of it is just sex, sex, sex. In the end, she is pregnant and proposed to by one of the three but is still in a relationship with all of them.

If what you are in the mood for is porn, smut, or something for your spank bank, then this is probably up your alley. But if you like the heat and want more substance, then I have a few excellent authors to introduce you to … some of whom I’ve already posted reviews on over the last few months here.

So … this is not amongst my favorites but it isn’t the worst I’ve read.

Shopee partners with charities to support Typhoon Karding victims

Shopee partners with charities to support Typhoon Karding victims

To help the Filipinos devastated by the torrential rains and fierce winds brought about by Typhoon Karding across Central, Northern, and Southern Luzon, Shopee launches its Shopee Bayanihan: Typhoon Karding Support initiative wherein users can buy donation vouchers from Shopee’s partner charities on the app. This initiative is part of Shopee Bayanihan, the company’s umbrella CSR arm that seeks to provide support for communities in need through partnerships with various humanitarian organizations.

From September 28, 2022, to October 9, 2022, Shopee users can purchase the donation e-vouchers that will be used for water kits, health, and sanitation stations, and other essentials such as food and clothes from partner charities GMA Kapuso Foundation, UNICEF, Habitat for Humanity, and Waves for Water. Users can view Typhoon Karding Support vouchers through https://shopee.ph/m/shopee-bayanihan and purchase them via Shopee’s integrated mobile wallet, ShopeePay.

Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines, said, “We are incredibly saddened by the immense devastation that Typhoon Karding has brought to our fellow Filipinos across Central, Northern, and Southern Luzon. Shopee remains committed to using our platform and resources to benefit the local communities we operate in. Through this initiative, we hope to support our kababayans in times of need.”

To donate to those affected by Typhoon Karding, users may:

  1. Head to the microsite https://shopee.ph/m/shopee-bayanihan.
  2. Choose the e-voucher of your preferred charity.
  3. Click “Buy Now” to purchase the donation vouchers using ShopeePay.

Typhoon Karding is the 11th tropical cyclone to hit the Philippines this 2022 affecting major areas in Central, Northern, and Southern Luzon such as Quezon, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, and more. With Shopee Bayanihan, Shopee is committed to making e-commerce accessible for everyone by helping communities benefit from the power of digital transformation wherever they are in the Philippines.

To know more about Shopee Bayanihan: Typhoon Karding Support, visit https://shopee.ph/m/shopee-bayanihan.

About Shopee

Shopee is the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia & Taiwan. Shopee promotes an inclusive and sustainable digital ecosystem by enabling businesses to digitalize and grow their online presence, helping more people access and benefit from digital services and uplifting local communities.

Shopee offers an easy, secure, and engaging experience that is enjoyed by millions of people daily. Shopee is also a key contributor to the region’s digital economy with a firm commitment to helping homegrown brands and entrepreneurs succeed in e-commerce.

Shopee is part of Sea Limited (NYSE: SE), a leading global consumer internet company. Sea’s mission is to better the lives of consumers and small businesses with technology through its three core businesses: Shopee, Garena, and SeaMoney.

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