In This Life: Book Review and More!

 

*No. of pages: 382

 *My Rating on Goodreads: 4/5

*Date of Publish: January 22, 2016 by Christine Brae

*Format: eARC (Provided by Christine Brae for the blog tour)

Via Goodreads

 SYNOPSIS:

“Lovers don’t finally meet somewhere,

They’re in each other all along.”

Rumi

 

They say that life is full of choices. When you’re young and idealistic, you believe that the path you choose is the road that will lead you to your destiny.

But what if, along the way, fate decides to step in, and no amount of logic or rationality or even prayers can save you from your fortune? When the sacrifices you make, the love that you find, and the bright promise of the future are all snatched away from you, you’re left alone to pick up the pieces of your life.

This is a story about love, found in a faraway place by two very unlikely people. It is also a story about friendship and loyalty and fighting for what you have despite the illogical mystery of fate. It is a story of faith and acceptance, and learning that even the best-laid plans are powerless against the alignment of the universe.

From the beaches of Thailand to the streets of New York, three friends, Anna, Dante, and Jude will learn the hard way that once providence steps in, there is nothing in the world that can change what is truly meant to be.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

 

Christine Brae is a full time career woman who thought she could write a book about her life and then run away as far as possible from it. She never imagined that her words would touch the hearts of so many women with the same story to tell. Christine is the author of The Light in the Wound, His Wounded Light and Insipid. Her new book, In This Life, is set to release in January 2016.

 

When not listening to the voices in her head or spending late nights at the office, Christine can be seen shopping for shoes and purses, running a half marathon or spending time with her husband and three children in Chicago.

 

Christine’s Social Media Sites

Website || Goodreads || Twitter || Facebook || Instagram

Here are some amazing quote edits by Sayyeda of Christine Brae Philippines!!!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

—–

Review:

 

Have you ever looked forward into a huge plan of yours? Where everything is set and you are working hard day by day to make it all come true? Have you ever had that plan and you were just waiting for everything to fall into place when all of a sudden, it all crumbles down instead? If this happened to you just like most of the people in this world, then this is a book that you should really grab and read.

In This Life is a story about three protagonists, each having their goals and dreams that they are determined to reach. But when life gets in the way, they realize that fate and destiny are stronger than all these perfectly laid-out plans.

This is one among my tons of favorite quotes in Christine Brae’s In This Life:

“We were burglars in the night, stealing someone else’s laughter for our own and replacing it with tears.”

While reading this book, you will see the beauty of life, and of course with it, is all of its nasty, disgusting, and filthy parts. Yet despite its entire flaw, life maintains all of its glorious. However, each person, just like what the characters in the story symbolizes is that we are nothing but mere pawns in this chess game in the so-called life. We struggle to be happy and there are times in which others must suffer for us to get that joy. One being hurt for another’s happiness is inevitable—the art of life in its oddest form.

Anna is a woman who is running away from a problem bigger than hers; little did she know that running away would only cause her more trouble and more pain. She was bold, has so much passion in her yet at the same time she is filled with anger and guilt resulting to her need of something grand and spontaneous. Yet as the story develops, she turns into a woman who is no longer running away from the past, but holding on to it. She cannot settle down in her life and keeps yearning for something that she could not grasp. Dante is fierce and wild; he is a true friend and a great man who would give anything for the one he loves unconditionally. Jude is a passionate man who has his plans laid out perfectly for him, little did he know that it would only take a perfect and irresistible woman to sway his unwavering faith.

These three characters are helpless against time and love—so little time yet so much love to give. In the end, they must decide what is best for their lives, what would make them truly happy. I must say, dear readers, that this book has shocked me to no end! Every turn of the event was unpredictable, just like life itself. You’ll never know what’s coming for you.

Christine Brae’s new novel is her best so far, her writing has not only improved together with her technique, but she made a story that anyone could relate to—because we are all experiencing or have experienced what is happening on the pages of this book one way or another. For this novel tells a lot that is so beyond the story of the three protagonists: it shows life’s cruelty, of time’s way of giving us so much and taking it, of losses, of dealing with grief, and how it seems so hard for joy to find us. And love, life is full of so much love.

If you want a book that will teach you a lot of lessons about life, how to deal with a loss, how to accept life’s many challenges, or a book that teaches you to voice out what you feel before it’s too late—or if you simply just want to cry, then this book is highly recommended.

 

“In this Life, it is only through sadness that one could truly experience joy.”

 

—–

BUT WAIT, THERE’S SO MUCH MORE IN STORE!!!

Excited for In This Life yet? Wait until you read below what is in store for all the fans and readers out there on the release date of In This Life which is set on January 22, 2016!!!

PLANNING FOR BOOK RELEASE:

PRE RELEASE DAY:

Christine Brae PH Only:

1. Trivia Questions – Gift of 3 books a day from January 11 to January 21 – total 33 books to be gifted on Release Day
2. January 20 – Grand Trivia or Contest – Win a T Shirt
3. January 21 – Grand Trivia or Contest – Win Book Marks and 3 signed copies
4. January 22 – RELEASE DAY – Grand Prize (Trip)

 

BLOG TOUR PRIZES:  RELEASE DAY

 Christine Brae PH Blog Tour

1. 3 Signed Copies of In This Life
2. GRAND PRIZE:

Trip for 2 to Cebu from anywhere in the Philippine – up to a P10,000 value

Two (2) night stay at any resort in CEBU – up to a P15,000 value

• Philippine Residents Only
• Dates to be Chosen by Winner

 

LOGISTICS: GRAND PRIZE

• Copy and paste your gift links and purchase links on Googledoc with number of books
• Enter your name in Rafflecopter – a tweet will be required that says – “@christinebrae I have your book!”
• Entries will be checked against purchase links

 

Rafflecopter Link:

<a class=”rcptr” href=”http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/2ebcda956/&#8221; rel=”nofollow” data-raflid=”2ebcda956″ data-theme=”classic” data-template=”” id=”rcwidget_dryy2v0d”>a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>

https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

 

 

—–

Pre-order Christine Brae’s In This Life to get a chance to win these amazing giveaways from Christine Brae herself!!! Do not forget to read the wonderful novel entitled In This Life set to to be released two days from now!

Xoxo,

Bookstore Bug

 

 

 

Giveaway Winner!!!

Hi everyone!!!

I have the winner for the signed copy of His Wounded Light by Christine Brae!!!

And the winner is… *drum roll*

Dohn Meñale!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations!!! 🙂

Win a signed copy of His Wounded Light by Christine Brae!

Hi everyone! Win a signed copy of His Wounded Light by Christine Brae!!! Giveaway ends on October 3, 2015. Check out the link below to find out how to get entries! 🙂

https://www.facebook.com/bookstorebug/app_228910107186452

His Wounded Light (The Light in the Wound #2)

Synopsis via Goodreads:

The perfect life.

The perfect marriage.

The jilted lover.

Their worlds collide.

Fate intervenes twelve years later and their paths intersect once again. All three will question whether the heart is truly capable of dividing and being divided; each will decide whether it matters who you loved first or who you love last.

Together they will learn that in the end, there can always only be one.

Ratings via Goodreads:

Average Rating (Goodreads): 4.41

My Rating: 5

About the Author via Goodreads:

Christine Brae

Christine Brae is a full time career woman who thought she could write a book about her life and then run away as far as possible from it. She never imagined that her words would touch the hearts of so many women with the same story to tell. She is currently working on her third book which she hopes to release in June,2014.

When not listening to the voices in her head or spending late nights at the office, Christine can be seen shopping for shoes and purses, running a half marathon or spending time with her husband and three children in Chicago.

His Wounded Light: Book Review + Excerpt

This blog tour is organized by the Bookish Diaries Book Tours managed by Amanda of Fandomly Bookish and Jothee of The Bookwhore Diaries!

An epub material was provided for free by the author, Christine Brae, for review purposes in helping her promote her book, The Light in the Wound, here in the Philippines. Christine Brae is set to visit the country on September 2015 along with two other authors, Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher.

His Wounded Light (#2) by Christine Brae: Book Review

*Warning: May contain spoilers*

 

  *No. of pages: 344

 *Average Rating on Goodreads: 4.44/5

 *My Rating on Goodreads: 5/5

 

SYNOPSIS via Goodreads:

The perfect life.

The perfect marriage.

The jilted lover.

Their worlds collide.

Fate intervenes twelve years later and their paths intersect once again. All three will question whether the heart is truly capable of dividing and being divided; each will decide whether it matters who you loved first or who you love last.

Together they will learn that in the end, there can always only be one.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Christine Brae is a full time career woman who thought she could write a book about her life and then run away as far as possible from it. She never imagined that her words would touch the hearts of so many women with the same story to tell. She is currently working on her third book which she hopes to release in June, 2014.

When not listening to the voices in her head or spending late nights at the office, Christine can be seen shopping for shoes and purses, running a half marathon or spending time with her husband and three children in Chicago

—–

Review:

The first book, entitled The Light in the Wound, started off with an intense prologue that bothers you all throughout the story. It makes you grip the book as you turn every page, waiting to see if the hypothesis you’ve thought about would be true. And yet every possibility that you have guessed comes across wrong. In His Wounded Light, we already know who the characters are, we know their personality, their principles, their story. Some readers may have been hurt with the ending of the first book, but we must admit that it was indeed, a happy ending. But a happy ending followed by a sequel screams: “The happy ending is not meant to last!” and the fear accompanied with it as you read on, praying that the story of the characters won’t be a tragedy. And with Christine Brae’s prologue, she already confirmed our fears, building the tension even more.

What I loved the most about the book following The Light in the Wound is that we seem to be meeting the new characters in a different light. They are older, much more mature and their experiences mold them into a completely different person. I, on the other hand, loved what I saw with the characters on this book more than I loved them on the first book. In The Light in the Wound, readers got to know them, and with a fully understanding on how each characters think and act the way they do, you can’t help but feel as if every happiness and every struggle they’re going through is happening to someone close to you. But you see, no matter how challenging the characters lives are already in the first book, don’t forget that their lives are just beginning. The challenges get harder, the road gets bumpier and now more than ever, they have more to lose.

Christine Brae proves to us once more how effective her writings are and how it can affect you no matter what you’re going through—whether your life is carefree or rough at the moment, you’ll feel the heaviness of life. Christine once again teaches us a lot of life lessons and it is very inspirational, a good and wise read for teenagers and adults alike.

The characters are stronger; characters who you would aspire to be—and while you’re at it, you would aspire to be as an amazing writer as Christine Brae is.

EXCERPT

“I don’t want him to regret. I want him to get better so he can move on and be happy. It hurts to accept that I wasn’t enough for him. Just like I wasn’t enough for you.”

“No, Issy. I’ve spent twenty years of my life loving you. You were always enough. I took you for granted and lost sight of what we had. When I lost you, I lost my focus. My sole purpose was to get you back and I lost so much time. I should have realized that you chose him because you wanted to. Because you belong to him.”

TEASERS

The Light in the Wound: Book Review + Excerpt + Giveaway

This blog tour is organized by the Bookish Diaries Book Tours managed by Amanda of Fandomly Bookish and Jothee of The Bookwhore Diaries!

An epub material was provided for free by the author, Christine Brae, for review purposes in helping her promote her book, The Light in the Wound, here in the Philippines. Christine Brae is set to visit the country on September 2015 along with two other authors, Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher.

The Light in the Wound (#1) by Christine Brae: Book Review

***Warning: Spoilers ahead***

 

 *No. of pages: 372

*Average Rating on Goodreads: 3.9/5

*My Rating on Goodreads: 4/5

 

SYNOPSIS via Goodreads:

Affected by her parents’ highly publicized divorce, Isabel grows up isolated and alone, with a resolve to never fall in love and repeat their mistakes.

When Jesse Cain enters her life, she falls hopelessly in love with him, and every sadness she’s ever felt is washed away by his intensity and passion. But people change as they grow up. Things can never stay the same forever.

Jesse and Isabel fight to stay together, determined to hold on to what they once had. Isabel wonders if a second love can ever be enough to make her forget her first.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Christine Brae is a full time career woman who thought she could write a book about her life and then run away as far as possible from it. She never imagined that her words would touch the hearts of so many women with the same story to tell. She is currently working on her third book which she hopes to release in June, 2014.

When not listening to the voices in her head or spending late nights at the office, Christine can be seen shopping for shoes and purses, running a half marathon or spending time with her husband and three children in Chicago

—

Review:

The Light in the Wound started off with an interesting beginning, the readers are aware of whose point of view it is but the other character that is in the prologue is a mystery. With a very short prologue that is set ten years ago, Christine Brae managed to spike the curiosity of the readers on how the course of the story would be. We would come to know that the protagonist, Isabel, is about to get married—but she just spent the night with another guy. By the last page of the prologue, Isabel left this poor guy and broke his heart to be wed to another man. Then came the first chapter that is set on the present, giving the readers the details on what happened—Isabel got married and already has a child. But the interest spikes up even more because the author did not provide a name on who Isabella ended up with. Is it with the guy she left ten years ago or with the guy she was really about to get married to? There are a lot of questions, making you read even more, giving you the need to turn the page on and on to get the answers you seek as we, readers, are taken back years away from the present.

Isabel was still young when she learned how complicated and painful life could be; she saw it through her parents’ divorce and through her separation with her sisters. Isabel would make you feel something—she’ll make you feel sympathetic and understanding, it is as if she’s reaching out to you without even trying; she’ll make you understand her situation and a lot of people could even relate to her situation of having a broken family. The first few parts focuses on where Isabel came from, the story of her family and how she became who she is before the arrival of her first love.

As the story progresses, we meet Jesse Cain, Isabel’s first love and to whom she gives all that she’s got. It was a puppy love at first, with all the butterflies and knees turning into Jell-O, but of course, reality strikes again and normal issues consumed their relationship. Jesse Cain, being the young man who is so ambitious, took advantage of Isabel’s love for him as they graduate from high school and goes into the real world in their college life. Insecurities devoured Isabel, long had gone the girl who has great self-esteem and strong confidence; replaced by a girl too vulnerable, alone, and dominated by a boyfriend that’s more of a dictator. What I love about this story is that Christine Brae does not sugarcoat anything; she shows what’s real, what’s really happening, and how one gets so drunk in love that they forget to love themselves, because that’s how it really works most of the time. Jesse just wants to be the right man for Isabel, she is rich and everything is handed down to her on a silver platter, while he works hard to get even the smallest things that he wants. In doing all that he can to prove to Isabel’s family that he is right for her, he lost control of all his priorities and ended up neglecting the reason why he is really working hard—Isabel. That’s why it is not really a huge shock when another hot guy has finally been noticed by Isabel, a guy who loved her way back in high school, Alex.

The phase of the story, however, is slow phased. But the way a lot of unexpected things are occurring chapter per chapter makes you grip your copy of the book or the arm of the chair you’re seating on as you read! And since you already got a glimpse on how things would progress, you come up with tons of hypothesis on how the story would lead to that course and yet again, something would happen just right on the next chapter that would make you think otherwise!

Isabel is not really your ideal protagonist—she makes a lot of mistakes and you’ll definitely find yourself wanting to strangle her because of her decisions and the way her mind works. Yet, you’ll feel for her. Even if you go against everything that she stands for, you’ll understand where she’s coming from. Isabel becomes so real because her actions makes her seem true, thus proving that Christine Brae’s writing is very effective because it will capture the hearts of the readers. Brae manages to make you indecisive yourself, for example you are rooting for Team Alex instead of Team Jesse but at some point in the book, you’ll find your heart breaking for Jesse (geez Christine, you’re driving me crazy!). Take note that this story does not contain the typical love triangle dilemma!

This story does focus on romance, but it also has a lot of aspects that teaches the readers a lot. It teaches you how to become independent, how to see your self-value, how to take risks, and how to discover who you really are and what you should do with it. The Light in the Wound is a story about love, family, friendship, discovery, character development, choices, and independence. However, I don’t recommend this book to people who could not handle such painful stories because like I said, this is not only a love story, it is about a lot of things. If a chill read is what you are looking for, then you should let this pass. Also, for those who are too young to read this novel (not commendable for readers below 16 years old), I suggest that you ask your parents or guardians first before losing yourself in the pages of this book for it indeed has a lot of intimate and sexual scenes that may not be appropriate for young readers. But overall, at the end of the first book, along the journey of Isabel, Jesse, Alex, and everyone else, you’ll come to realize that you yourself have learned a lot.

This book is a story about life—how it molds and shapes you, how it consumes and devours you, and how it brings you joy and sorrow. This book is a story about society—how you lose yourself in it, how one is forced to conforme to its desires, and how it still gifts us of new possibilities and discoveries.

Go ahead, pick the book up and find yourself learning a lot about life from The Light in the Wound and at the same time, adore Christine Brae’s astounding debut novel.

After you read it, go and proceed on reading the second novel entitled, His Wounded Light.

GIVEAWAY!!!

There are 3 signed copies of The Light in the Wound up for grabs for Filipino readers! Just go and click the link below to find out how to get entries! Hurry!

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/389df0601/

EXCERPT

“I’ve always been honest with you about how difficult it has been to let go of the past. But you are my present and my future. From the first time we were together, you saved my life. You saved my soul. You made me want to make you proud. You made me realize that I deserved better. You made me unafraid to love you. My wounds are healed because of you.”

He lifted me up, placed me on top of his lap and held me close as I leaned my head on his chest. He stroked my hair lightly as he spoke.

“Baby, I’m so sorry I left you that night. More than being filled with jealousy, I was afraid that you might have never really loved me. I know I told you long ago that it was okay if you didn’t love me just yet, that I had enough love for the both of us. I should have understood then that you never lied to me about your true feelings for him. You were always honest with me. And even now, at this very moment, I’d rather have a part of your heart than none of it all.”

Stay tuned for my review of Christine Brae’s second book, the sequel to The Light in the Wound, entitled His Wounded Light.

The Light in the Wound Blog Tour

Organized by the Bookish Diaries Book Tours managed by Amanda of Fandomly Bookish and Jothee of The Bookwhore Diaries!

To honor and promote Christine Brae’s work entitled, The Light in the Wound, I have participated in this blog tour and I couldn’t be any more excited to post my review of her book!

This tour begun yesterday, December 15, and would last until the 19th. Please do take the time to read my post and of course, posts of my fellow bloggers as we share our thoughts about the book through reviews and/or excerpts.

I’m set to post my review + excerpt of The Light in the Wound on December 18, so please stay tuned as we encourage you to read Christine Brae’s work!

Christine Brae is set to visit the Philippines on September 2015 along with Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher.