1. Shopaholic to The Stars - Sophie Kinsella
First of all, the first ever Shopaholic - Confession of a Shopaholic is one of my fave books, it's easy-reading, funny, witty and also full of heart. Becky Bloomwood - as addicted to shopping as she can be - is endearing, and I can say that I understand why she did what she did in the book.
Then come the second book, third, fourth, fifth... I could still proclaim my love for Becky this far.
And then sixth book came - Mini Shopaholic - and I almost couldn't finish it - it saddened me that once my beloved series has become a book that took a huge effort just to finish it.
So when Shopaholic to The Stars came, I did not rush to get it from library. I took my sweet time until one day, I saw it when I was browsing through the book shelves and picked it up just for the sake of being a loyal follower of the series.
I finished the book in few days, and after I finally closed the book, I have come to a conclusion that though this book is not as grating as the previous book, suffice to say that my dear Becky Bloomwood - I still love her - she is still the same selfish, self-centered, inconsiderate girl in the first book even though at this point of her life, she shouldn't be anymore! I loved her when she was a shopping addict with a lot of heart, now she is just being a bitch around people who love her - sure she feels guilty here and there, but she barely does anything about it. Sigh...
I know there will be 8th book and I know I will read it, but I wish that will be the last book of this series.
Please pretty please~~~
2. Remember Me - Mary Higgins Clark
I can't remember the last time I read a Mary Higgins Clark's novel, and I picked this up on a whim few weeks ago and it did not disappoint.
I always love a good suspense and this book does it right.
Along the time I was reading it, I came to care about the main character, Menley and her little family - caring about the main characters are the main draw of a book.
Set in a small charming town Cape Cod, Adam and Menley Nichols, with their only few months old baby girl are spending their summer in a rustic and historical house. During their time there, there is a murder mystery and also Menley experiences strange things happening around the house which then make her question her own sanity.
The book slowly reveals the true faces of residents in the small town, which make us keep guessing who is the real culprit.
Mary Higgins Clark is really a queen of suspense and I really love the bits of history of sailors, houses - I have a hidden history buff side in me!
3. The Shadow of Your Smile - Mary Higgins Clark
Another novel by Mary Higgins Clark - I just couldn't wait to get another one after finishing Remember Me - and it also did not disappoint. In this book, the main character is a modern and caring pediatrician who has magic touch when it comes to children. Her father was adopted and in the years before his death became very obsessed in finding his real parents. Little does she know how complicated her lineage is, and regardless her lack of enthusiasm in finding her real grandparents, she is dragged into a conspiracy filled with people with too much greed.
I find that the main character did not do much compared to Menley in Remember Me, however still the story unfolds in a nice pace and I'm always happy when all questions are answered by the end of the book.
4. Saving Grace - Jane Green
After 2 suspense novels, it was time for an easy reading, and I picked a Jane Green novel.
I was a fan of Jane Green earlier books,like Jemima J, Babyville, etc. And from stories about single girls finding their ways in the world, Jane Green now tells story about families, women in late 30s or early 40s, but it seems her books are always a hit-or-miss.
Saving Grace is a miss.....
This book tells a story about Grace (obviously) and her husband Ted, an almost has-been author with manic behaviors, how Grace is desperately looking for an assistant to 'handle' his husband's (as she is not able to do it gracefully), and when a plain-looking and eager-to-please woman came into their lives, she has no reason to say no to. Things are looking better at first, until it is not. Betrayals come into play. Lies, infidelity, self-doubt, everything you can find in soap opera is in this book.
And I have to say I have very little sympathy to Grace. I feel that she has it coming. It may sound cruel, but I really have less or almost no patience for people who rely on others for approval or help, and Grace is one of them.
PS: I love the cover though!
