Scan barcode
nellesnightstand1's review against another edition
4.0
If you are looking for a true multi-cultural romance, you've just found It! This was a great debut novel! The characters were well fleshed out, and oh boy the chemistry!
so many food references... I have hunger pains! I need a vacay to Boracay!
so many food references... I have hunger pains! I need a vacay to Boracay!
adifferentreadingview's review against another edition
5.0
What a fun and light read! Absolutely love this story. It was pretty awesome to have a Filipina protagonist and have so much of our culture placed into this story. I had a wonderful time reading this and am looking forward to checking out the rest of the series.
reianb's review against another edition
5.0
**4.5 stars rounded up**
Definitely one of my top reads this year! I will be continuing with this series :))
☀️Full review coming☀️
Definitely one of my top reads this year! I will be continuing with this series :))
☀️Full review coming☀️
nellesnightstand's review against another edition
4.0
If you are looking for a true multi-cultural romance, you've just found It! This was a great debut novel! The characters were well fleshed out, and oh boy the chemistry!
so many food references... I have hunger pains! I need a vacay to Boracay!
so many food references... I have hunger pains! I need a vacay to Boracay!
melodicfate's review against another edition
5.0
Amazing Romance, Characters, and Setting
This book was so good! I loved that if there was drama, it didn't last the whole book. The setting was amazing, with great descriptions of the beach, culture, food...everything. At the start of each chapter was a Filipino word, with its pronunciation and meaning given afterward, and I found that to be a fantastic touch.
As for the characters? Blake was an American CEO, who loved his family. He liked being in control, but not in a creepy way. He just liked managing people. He was a bit arrogant, but Krista, the heroine, took him down a notch. I loved her, and saw a lot of myself in her. She started out this book very reserved and turning 30. Throughout the story, she grew more confident, stronger, and learned to really love herself. Plus, she read historical romance and was curvy, so YES!!!
When deciding what to rate this story, I had to give it the full 5 stars. There's not one single thing I would change in here. Sure, things happened quickly, but I really bought it. Blake was respectful, caring, and just generally a great guy. Krista was on the hunt for new experiences and self-discovery, which made her more open to romance. The two characters complimented each other well, too. I think if you're looking for a steamy contemporary romance with a Filipino flair, you need this in your life.
This book was so good! I loved that if there was drama, it didn't last the whole book. The setting was amazing, with great descriptions of the beach, culture, food...everything. At the start of each chapter was a Filipino word, with its pronunciation and meaning given afterward, and I found that to be a fantastic touch.
As for the characters? Blake was an American CEO, who loved his family. He liked being in control, but not in a creepy way. He just liked managing people. He was a bit arrogant, but Krista, the heroine, took him down a notch. I loved her, and saw a lot of myself in her. She started out this book very reserved and turning 30. Throughout the story, she grew more confident, stronger, and learned to really love herself. Plus, she read historical romance and was curvy, so YES!!!
When deciding what to rate this story, I had to give it the full 5 stars. There's not one single thing I would change in here. Sure, things happened quickly, but I really bought it. Blake was respectful, caring, and just generally a great guy. Krista was on the hunt for new experiences and self-discovery, which made her more open to romance. The two characters complimented each other well, too. I think if you're looking for a steamy contemporary romance with a Filipino flair, you need this in your life.
cdb393's review against another edition
4.0
This was a promising debut with a real sense of place. I loved getting a setting and look into a culture I don't see much in romance novels. Krista and Blake made a cute couple and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
nikitanavalkar's review against another edition
4.0
A beachy, foodie romance
Set in the paradise of Boracay, and teeming with delicious descriptions of food, this is a great summer vacation read!
This book brings to mind historicals, with the fairly traditional courtship and the author’s clever use of old school language in places. Blake and Krista’s story feels very real, as if it could happen to anyone. I would have loved to see some more conflict, but I loved how they communicated and dealt with their issues in a matured fashion. I found I have a lot in common with Krista, with her being on a crossroads in life age wise, her reserve, her unconditional love for her friends, her love for food, and her upbringing in a somewhat Conservative but loving Asian family is captured so well on the page.
My favorite thing was all the yummy food descriptions! I love Filipino food, and every page made me hungry! I’m already very excited to read about Aiden and Maddie, because their story promises to be sizzling if their crackling chemistry in Boracay is any indication.
Set in the paradise of Boracay, and teeming with delicious descriptions of food, this is a great summer vacation read!
This book brings to mind historicals, with the fairly traditional courtship and the author’s clever use of old school language in places. Blake and Krista’s story feels very real, as if it could happen to anyone. I would have loved to see some more conflict, but I loved how they communicated and dealt with their issues in a matured fashion. I found I have a lot in common with Krista, with her being on a crossroads in life age wise, her reserve, her unconditional love for her friends, her love for food, and her upbringing in a somewhat Conservative but loving Asian family is captured so well on the page.
My favorite thing was all the yummy food descriptions! I love Filipino food, and every page made me hungry! I’m already very excited to read about Aiden and Maddie, because their story promises to be sizzling if their crackling chemistry in Boracay is any indication.
enamored_with_books's review
5.0
I really enjoyed this book! It was a light, fun read. Krista is a conservative woman who decides to “seize the day” and take hold of what she wants. Blake is a CEO who is very kind and generous. I loved reading about the culture and now want to plan my trip to Boracay!
literaleigh's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
cakt1991's review
5.0
Review originally posted here: https://courtneyreadsromancesite.wordpress.com/2018/08/21/review-of-boracay-vows-carpe-diem-chronicles-1-by-maida-malby/
I received this book as a gift from the author. All opinions are my own.
When an author is a friend, especially the longer I know them, I often worry about their book possibly disappointing me, as tastes can differ widely, as I have found from my experience as a member of a number of book groups. But my fears with Maida Malby’s debut were unfounded. In fact, her book is one of those rare debut novels that not only shows the promise of the writer, but will instantly suck you in.
She strikes a great balance between an authentic exploration of Filipino culture, including language and cuisine, as well as family values, with which she is obviously familiar, and presenting the characters as people you can relate to regardless of ethnic or religious background. I don’t have the same religious beliefs as Krista, but I could immediately relate to her desire to live a little, and we share the common trait of NBSB (No Boyfriend Since Birth) at an age when people in our age group have gone through at least a few relationships.
And while Blake could easily have annoyed me, being yet another rich playboy ruined for everyone else after being with a virgin, the way he was so patient with Krista as she figured out what she wanted out of their relationship, and the role his family plays in his life, which I expect plays a role in the series going forward, won me over.
I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a refreshingly different romance that focuses on an ethnic group and locale that doesn’t have much of a presence in the current market, which has only started to have conversations around diversity in mainstream publishing.
I received this book as a gift from the author. All opinions are my own.
When an author is a friend, especially the longer I know them, I often worry about their book possibly disappointing me, as tastes can differ widely, as I have found from my experience as a member of a number of book groups. But my fears with Maida Malby’s debut were unfounded. In fact, her book is one of those rare debut novels that not only shows the promise of the writer, but will instantly suck you in.
She strikes a great balance between an authentic exploration of Filipino culture, including language and cuisine, as well as family values, with which she is obviously familiar, and presenting the characters as people you can relate to regardless of ethnic or religious background. I don’t have the same religious beliefs as Krista, but I could immediately relate to her desire to live a little, and we share the common trait of NBSB (No Boyfriend Since Birth) at an age when people in our age group have gone through at least a few relationships.
And while Blake could easily have annoyed me, being yet another rich playboy ruined for everyone else after being with a virgin, the way he was so patient with Krista as she figured out what she wanted out of their relationship, and the role his family plays in his life, which I expect plays a role in the series going forward, won me over.
I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a refreshingly different romance that focuses on an ethnic group and locale that doesn’t have much of a presence in the current market, which has only started to have conversations around diversity in mainstream publishing.