687#Love Note ~ [Book Review] The Sugar Queen

After I've got captivated by Sarah Addison Allen's The Girl Who Chased the Moon, which I read thrice, I always in search for another books written by Allen. Thankfully I found one during the previous BBW; The Sugar Queen. I also found her debut novel entitled Garden Spells which garnered much interests during its publication. But I have yet to read Garden Spells.

Read: From February 7 to 10, 2016

Rating: 4.5/5

Josey lives an uneventful life in her mother's house, her only consolation the sugary treats and paperback romances she escapes to in her hidden closet. But one day she finds it harbouring none other than local waitress Della Lee Baker, a tough-talking, tenderhearted woman who is one part nemesis and two parts fairy godmother.

Josey Cirrini is like a modern Rapunzel. Being trapped by her own mother who doesn't love her. A mother who doesn't want to let her go, befriends people just for the sake of taking care of her. I dislike Josey's mother, Margaret. It's not like as a daughter Josey cannot take care of her aging mother, but the way Margaret treats her make me despise that woman. She never tells Josey she's beautiful, even though in her heart she does admit Josey looks beautiful in her favourite red cardigan. As a chubby and low self-esteem South Carolina belle, Josey never thinks she is indeed beautiful. Poor soul :(

But everything changes when one day Josey found Della Lee Baker in her closet where she keeps her sweets and paperbacks in secret. She struggles to get Della Lee out of her way but little does Josey know that Della Lee comes to save her from being entrapped forever by her mother. In her own ways, Della Lee gives Josey advices. 

I love Josey's friendship with Chloe Finley. The sandwich shop's owner is her first friend due to Della Lee's constant requests for Josey to buy her a sandwich from Chloe. Chloe further helps Josey to step out from her small world. Step-by-step, Josey gains confidence to even ignore her mother's objection from going out late at night just to help Chloe who desperately needs her help. Sure disobey your own mother is not a right thing to do, but if Margaret's reason is just to keep Josey in her palms, I think it's not right either. 

Josey's budding romance with the mailman named Adam is cute too. For three years (or four? I forgot sorry) Adam comes to Cirrini's doorstep to deliver mails. Adam is not an ordinary mailman as he actually was a lawyer and lived in Chicago before deciding to not leave Bald Slope after the incident which costs him his adventurous life. He could not longer go skiing, but he doesn't want to leave Bald Slope which famous with its ski resort either.

I'm satisfied with the ending for both Josey and Chloe. They deserve it even though I need more explanation about Margaret. There's many quotes that I love too. If only I could have a life like Chloe. When books keep on appearing magically when you need one, without having to buy them :p

Till then.

Wassalam. 

682#Love Note ~ [Book Review] This is a Love Story

With the obvious title, I bought Jessica Thompson's debut novel. As a new author and the one I've never read before, the cover and synopsis are the important things that would encourage me to but the book. Good reviews also help in this matter.

Read: February 25 to March 23, 2015

Rating: 4.3/5

This is a love story.

Boy meets girl and girl falls for boy - that much is true.

But when Sienna meets Nick it's not the way it happens in love stories. It's because of a squirrel on water skis...

She sees Nick's dangerous brown eyes and thinks,

Don't.

Fall.

Into.

Them.

Who will be there to catch Siena when she falls? She is so fragile. She has so many secrets, and he is not that serious.

Funny and sad, this is the story of two people destined never to come together in the great love affair they crave more than anything else.

Sienna is a young lady with a secret. A secret she would definitely wouldn't want to tell. On her way to her new workplace, she meets Nick. She doesn't know that the man would be her colleague. Talking about fate. While falling in love instantly with Nick, she keeps her distance by becoming one of Nick's bestfriend. Their friendship is to be adored, while Sienna loves Nick, she doesn't know that Nick also loves her. They don't express their desire to be an item as both do not want to be hurt and risk their friendship.

I love Sienna's interaction with the homeless man. Sorry I forgot his name, has been a long time since reading it. It is Paul? Or Pete? I really couldn't remember it. She and the homeless man would talk about their love story; Sienna would talk about Nick and the homeless man would talk about his dead wife. Sienna also is a good daughter to her father. Her mother abandoned her years ago and left her with her father. Nevertheless, their bond is still strong. Sienna doesn't blame her father for her mother's departure from their life.

Thompson tackles different issues in this book. From Sienna's secret which involves her father, love and friendship with Nick and the homelessness that comes from a devastating point in life. Even though they are not the professional written ones but we still could take one or two main points from the issue. Starting from this book, I read her second and third book and were satisfied with them. Have yet to buy her latest book but I would soon.

I have a FYP workshop this evening. Couldn't get to you guys till tonight. I would visit your blogs soon :)

Till then.

Wassalam. 

672#Love Note ~ [Book Review] True Love (and Other Lies)

I received True Love (and Other Lies) as an early birthday present from one of my best friends, Najwa way back during my high school days. I read a few chapters but because I was annoyed with the protagonist, Claire Spencer, I didn't finish the book till now, even though I'm still dislike Claire.

Read: From January 25 to 30, 2016

Rating: 4.3/5

Travel writer Claire has kissed enough frogs (snakes and toads) to know, without a shadow of a doubt, that fate, love at first sight and 'The One' do not exist.

So when she ends up sitting next to sexy American ex-pat, Jack, on a flight from New York to London and he asks her out, she figures there must be a catch. Or maybe after years of dating disasters and bozo boyfriends, Claire has finally met the man of her dreams. But just as she's about to start believing in destiny, Claire discovers that someone else got to Jack first, and she can't believe who it is...

This book is hilarious and a light read so why I dislike Claire? 

I know protagonists are not to be perfect from the start. I don't have problems with protagonists who have flaws but in some cases I just couldn't ignore it. Claire has problems with her self confidence, maybe her self confidence is only within one to two centimeters range. She always underestimate herself and I do not like that.

Claire's character development is too slow. Even when Jack is being honest about his feelings and his impression about her, she only gets it when it's near the end of the book. I would love it if her character development is progressing even for a bit in the middle of the story.

The overall of the story is good and funny but I couldn't really like Claire. It's just my opinion but since I'm not in her shoes, my opinions might couldn't be received well. You could read it if you're an easy-to-please reader, more than I am.

Till then.

Wassalam.

669#Love Note ~ [Book Review] Something from Tiffany's

I bought Something from Tiffany's by Melissa Hill because I loved her since The Charm Bracelet. But because I left the book at my home, not bringing them to college so I ended up not reading it. Well since I didn't bring my to-be-read books from college, I mean the fictional ones, I managed to read Something from Tiffany's after almost three years of keeping it safe :p

Read: From January 17 to 23 2016

Rating: 4.4/5 

Doesn’t every girl dream of getting… something from Tiffany’s?

On 5th Avenue in New York City, two very different men are shopping for gifts for the women they love.

Gary is buying his girlfriend Rachel a charm bracelet. Partly to thank her for paying for their holiday-of-a-lifetime to New York. But mainly because he’s left his shopping far too late.

Whereas Ethan’s looking for something a little more special – an engagement ring for the first woman to have made him happy since he lost the love of his life.

But when the two men’s shopping bags get confused, and Rachel somehow ends up with Ethan’s ring, the couples’ lives become intertwined.

As Ethan tries to reunite the ring with the woman it was actually intended for, he discovers this isn’t that easy. Does fate have other ideas for the couples? Or is there simply a bit of Tiffany’s magic in the air…

I really enjoyed reading Something from Tiffany's due to the humour and all the fun stuffs happened in this book. Well even though I rather spend money on food and books instead of jewellery but I got the feeling of wanting something from Tiffany's too, look at what the author did to me :p

Ethan is so desperate to get his twenty thousand dollars ring back from Gary after realised about the terrible mix-up. He tries really hard but luck is not by his side. I couldn't believe Gary is so stupid to think that the ring falls from the sky and doesn't make a police report or anything about it. I know he doesn't want to upset Rachel but dude doesn't you know that you would make her more upset because you're not being honest after all the wedding charade?

My favourite character is Terri :) She's really a good friend who doesn't want her best friend Rachel being ended up with a self-centered guy like Gary. Terri also helps Ethan to retrieve the ring after knowing the truth about the ring from a seriously drunk Gary. I love it since she has her own happy ending :) She totally deserves it. 

I was amazed by how Melissa Hill could think of all the twists and turns of events. This is not a thriller or mystery book but I think it could be one. However it's still pretty much of a light read so you could enjoy it without having headache figuring what happens next. 

Till then.

Wassalam.

664#Love Note ~ [Book Review] One Hundred Names

I do not read all Cecelia Ahern's books yet, but when I did, I would be satisfied with her book. Ahern's writing has something special in it which would draw the readers into the story perfectly. Sometimes I wonder how she could get such amazing and interesting ideas?

Read: From June 16 to 19, 2015

Rating: 4.7/5

Scandal has derailed journalist Kitty Logan's career, a setback that is soon compounded by an even more devastating loss. Constance, the woman who taught Kitty everything she knew, is dying. At her mentor's bedside, Kitty asks her, "What is the one story you always wanted to write?"

The answer lies in a single sheet of paper buried in Constance's office—a list of one hundred names—with no notes or explanation. But before Kitty can ask her friend, it is too late.

Determined to unlock the mystery and rebuild her own shaky confidence, Kitty throws herself into the investigation, tracking down each of the names on the list and uncovering their connection. Meeting these ordinary people and learning their stories, Kitty begins to piece together an unexpected portrait of Constance's life... and starts to understand her own.

Her mentor, Constance helps her to get up again by going through an adventure of finding the hundred people and getting their stories. It's not an easy task, especially after Constance's death. Kitty only has a name list with one hundred names, without other clues.

Kitty is unlikable protagonist at first shall I say. I hope she owns up to her mistakes earlier but she doesn't. However she grows up from her mistakes. The people she find help her to grow and develop her story of life. And Kitty herself also help them to develop and discover their interesting stories. 

Cecelia Ahern knows how to make her touch magical. Yes. Every person has a story to tell. No matter who it is. A celebrity, a politician, a farmer, an old grandma who lives in a nursery home and even a passer-by. Everyone is special because every person is not the same and hasn't have the same experiences others have.

Till then.

Wassalam.

662#Love Note ~ [Book Review] Every Woman for Herself

After being hooked and convinced by Trisha Ashley other books; Chocolate Wishes and Chocolate Shoes & Wedding Blues, I decided to buy another book written by her. This time I read Every Woman for Herself. Unsurprisingly, I loved this funny book.

Read: January 9 to 17, 2016 Rating: 4.4/5
Charlotte—Charlie—Rhymer’s husband wants a divorce. Charlie isn’t sure what she wants, but after the incident with the frying pan, even she has to concede that their differences may be irreconcilable after all. Returning home to her native Yorkshire and the bosom of her family seemed like a good idea at the time. Even if Charlie’s father has never quite forgiven Charlie or her siblings (Anne, Emily and Branwell) for failing to live up to their more literary (as in Bronte) namesakes.

Upvale Parsonage, the family home to which Charlie has retreated, is presided over by her sister Em. Em’s hobbies are composing inspirational verses, dabbling in the Ancient Black Arts, and fighting off the incursions of Father’s latest mistress. When the current mistress actually moves in, family loyalties are sorely tried. Still, Charlie is determined to bounce back from disaster and strike a blow for deserted older wives everywhere. But when she meets brooding actor Mace North, she realizes that when it comes to dating for the over-forty crowd, female solidarity be damned—it’s every woman for herself!

After Charlie's husband spoke about the divorce, she knows she has to return to her home in Upvale. Divorcing her husband Matt doesn't seem heartbreaking enough as they have lost their love life, and without a child to consider with, the divorce progress smoothly.
I found it slightly boring when it was time before Charlie returned to Upvale. All the speaking about how her husband has becomes an alien to her is still funny but still didn't make me eager enough to read the next page. However, the excitements are there when Charlie meets again with her eccentric siblings and father, in this case with her father's new mistress and her two twins daughters. 
Both Charlie's sisters and brother; Emily, Anne and Branwell are odd, and eccentrics. Even though I could not relate with their thinking but I love how they make this book even funnier. Charlie is the only one I could consider normal in the Parsonage, what with the housekeeper Gloria and her brother Walter, Jessica the mistress and her two daughters are odd too. The siblings (plus Gloria and Walter) support each other in the worst time. Charlie comes back being a divorcee and Anne just fights against the big C.
There's some characters I kind of dislike but the dislike still comes in funny way. I just smiled and laughed while reading this book while trying hard to imagine the Parsonage. Trisha Ashley did a good job describing the views and scenes in Upvale. I hope she has another book setting in Upvale with all the weird neighbours too.
From a woman who only wears black because Matt loved it, Charlie dumps her black clothing and opts for something new and colourful. For me it kinda represents her life after being divorced since Charlie was a good wife who never failed to obey her husband's demands (including frequent trips to her hairdresser which she hated). She didn't do much in things that would bring her happiness except painting, after the divorce she starts her new life even though she has turns forty. That's where it comes, she knows now it's every woman for herself.
Age doesn't define your new turn in life. 
Gonna read Ashley's Sowing Secrets soon when I have time ;)
Till then. Wassalam.

653#Love Note ~ [Book Review] Lola and the Boy Next Door

Lola and the Boy Next Door is the second book in Anna and the French Kiss series. However, the setting is in San Francisco, not in Paris. The timeline is sets after Anna's graduation from School of America. 

Read: From September 3 to 4 2015

Rating: 3.6/5

Lola Nolan is a budding costume designer, and for her, the more outrageous, sparkly, and fun the outfit, the better. And everything is pretty perfect in her life (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood. When Cricket, a gifted inventor, steps out from his twin sister's shadow and back into Lola's life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

So basically Lola loves to wear costumes as her daily wear, including the wig. Cricket is her neighbour's son who is handsome, nice and the one Lola had a crush on before she has a boyfriend. Calliope is Cricket's twin sister who is beautiful and known for being a rising star in ice skating (or ballerina, I forgot). 

I was annoyed with Lola when I read this book. I couldn't feel or know or try to relate with her. I didn't see her as weird but what annoyed me was her low self confidence and her tendency to make lies to save herself. I have read books about characters with low self confidence but it is not the same with Lola. I just see her as a selfish, whinny teenager who thinks about her feelings first and justifies based on her kinda childish thoughts. Thank God she becomes more truthful at the end of the series.

I just hope the third book, Isla and the Happily Ever After is better than this. 

Till then.

Wassalam.

648#Love Note ~ [Book Review] Anna and the French Kiss

I was got into the hype of Anna and the French Kiss series last year. It's all thanks to my bibliophile friends on Twitter. They were suggesting and fangirling over this series and let's say, yeah, I fall into their evil temptation. I bought Anna and the French Kiss and the second book, Lola and the Boy Next Door from DeBook Room. Would buy the third book, Isla and the Happily Ever After after I've got this year book vouchers ;)

Read: From July 16 to 21, 2015

Rating: 4/5

Can Anna find love in the City of Light?

Anna is happy in Atlanta. She has a loyal best friend and a crush on her coworker at the movie theater, who is just starting to return her affection. So she's less than thrilled when her father decides to send her to a boarding school in Paris for her senior year.

But despite not speaking a word of French, Anna meets some cool new people, including the handsome Étienne St. Clair, who quickly becomes her best friend. Unfortunately, he's taken —and Anna might be, too. Will a year of romantic near misses end with the French kiss she's waiting for?

So basically Anna and the French Kiss tells the story of Anna, an American girl whose father decides to send her to Paris for her last year of high school. Anna is against the idea but she couldn't possibly against her father - even though her famous writer father makes the decision just to show her daughter is from a prestigious boarding school in City of Light. So lame.

Anna who is afraid because she doesn't speak French is determined to survive the whole year without getting a single idea about having crush on Étienne St. Clair, an American born-English speaking boy who lives in France. Cupid is on Anna's side as her roommate is Meredith, one of the member of Étienne St. Clair's circle of close friends.

If you pictured Étienne St. Clair as the hot guy who loves to be playing around girls, in a bad way - toying with them - you are wrong. What I love about all this hype of this book is Étienne St. Clair has some wicked charms and befriends other students equally. He doesn't show that he is above everyone.

I've been introduced to some movies I've never heard of. Anna dreams to become a professional movie critic so she takes the opportunity of living in Paris for a year to watch as much good old movies as possible.

Anna and the French Kiss is a light read, cheesy and full of cliches of a YA book. It's a good pick after reading a depressing book. Well, people need cliches in their life too, no?

Till then.

Wassalam.

646#Love Note ~ [Book Review] By My Side

 
By My Side by Alice Peterson is a heart-warming book. When I was reading this book, it reminded me of Me Before You and Another Way to Fall. It didn't make me cry like when I read Me Before You, but the message was the same.

Read: From September 5 to 7, 2015

Rating: 4.5/5

One step can change everything...

Cass Brooks wishes she could turn back time. She'd go back to that morning and retrace her steps. Her boyfriend, Sean, would still be with her. Her mother wouldn't be nagging her to plan a new future when all she wants is her old life back.

But when Ticket, the most loyal golden Labrador, bursts into Cass's life, she dares to dream that she can be happy again, that maybe she has a future after all?

Charlie Bell is single. Why can't he commit? Following his latest break up, he finds himself sitting next to a young woman called Cass on a flight to Colorado.

She is unlike any woman he's met before...

Cass Brook's life abruptly change within a few seconds. At first, she is cuddling with her boyfriend Sean, seconds later she finds herself could not walk any longer. 

Cass is a medical student from King's College. After the dreadful accident, she abandons her dreams of becoming a doctor. She becomes a T12 paraplegic, a wheelchair-bound. Luckily she has two supportive parents and an annoying but loving brother who has always been by her side. Her mother introduces Cass to Canine Partners, where she falls in love to a golden labrador named Ticket. Ticket's presence in her life makes Cass happy and feel alive again. Ticket helps her to regain her independence and hope.

It's not long after Cass decides to go to a Back Up course. Back Up is a wonderful organisation aiming to make people like Cass enjoys a seemingly impossible holiday like skiing. Besides boosting her confidence after she has done a great job with the skiing, Cass meets Charlie there. Charlie is a normal, ordinary guy who quickly becomes her friend despite her disability - becomes her inspiration and motivation too.

In a book with the same theme as Me Before You, maybe you would think the plot would be the same. No, it's not. By My Side has its good, own plot which I didn't read in any book before. Cass' hope to be independent again is not only a hope. She works to achieve her goals. She learns to be independent, not letting people to look at her with sympathy. She doesn't throw tantrums every time she fails. She doesn't let her disability be in her way.

But, would she go back to her love for medicine?

When Cass' thinking about being a wheelchair-bound doctor, she becomes afraid. She's afraid if she could not become a good doctor. If she would become a nuisance in a busy hospital.

This book is not in heavy genre but you could still find inspiration in it. Do check it out ;)

Till then.

Wassalam.

642#Love Note ~ [Book Review] Chocolate Wishes

  
I read this book last semester, but only got the chance to review it today :p I've been searching for Chocolate Wishes since I read Chocolate Shoes and Wedding Blues last year. Actually Chocolate Wishes came first before Chocolate Shoes and Wedding Blues. But, you can read either way, it doesn't matter because these two have completely different stories.  
I want to thank Leon from Bookalicious. Actually I was afraid you didn't have this book in your store. The moment you said I could make a pre-order, I was so happy! Even though I had to wait for a month but it didn't disappoint me :) Thank you for the great service!

Rating: 4.3/5 

Life is sweet for chocolate maker Chloe Lyon! In the picture-perfect Lancashire village of Sticklepond, Confectioner Chloe dispenses inspirational sweet treats containing a prediction for each customer. If only her own life was as easy to forecast - perhaps Chloe could have foreseen being jilted at the altar! But when a new Vicar arrives in the village, the rumour mill goes into overdrive. Not only is Raffy Sinclair the charismatic ex-front man of rock band 'Mortal Ruin', he's also Chloe's first love and the man who broke her heart. Try as she might, Chloe can't ignore this blast from her past. Could now be the time for her to make a wish - and dare to believe it can come true? A charming novel for chocoholics everywhere, perfect for fans of Katie Fforde, Jill Mansell and Carole Matthews.

Chocolate Wishes tells the story of Chloe Lyon, a chocolate maker lady in Sticklepond. Her chocolates resemble fortune cookies! She prints quotes to be placed into her chocolates. Chloe doesn't only well-known in Sticklepond but people outside Lancashire demand her chocolates too. People love her chocolates! Besides making and selling chocolates, Chloe helps typing her grandfather's books. Her life seems perfect - except her love life. Raffy Sinclair was her college boyfriend and she does not expect to meet him again, as a vicar, in Sticklepond! 
Her re-encounter with Raffy after all those years is not easy. Chloe is still can't get over him and meeting him again is not a good decision. Raffy comes back and he tries to settle their problems. Little does Raffy knows, Chloe has a big, dark secret which she keeps from him. The one that makes her sleepless and full with regrets. 
Could she tell him? Did Raffy really betrayed her years ago?
I love how Trisha Ashley describe when Chloe is making chocolates. It sounds so delicious! The story is okay but the pace is slow. You will read about her eccentric grandfather and his dark magic sort of museum at the beginning. However, you could find fun if you be patient enough :p It's not that slow, but if I want to compare Chocolate Wishes to Chocolate Shoes and Wedding Blues, I choose the latter for average pace.
I totally love the ending! 
Till then. Wassalam.

610#Ai no Kotoba ~ [Book Review] The Girl You Left Behind

[edited: Jan 3, 2015]
Another book from Jojo Moyes ;) 

Rating : 4.6/5

In 1916, French artist Edouard Lefevre leaves his wife Sophie to fight at the Front. When her town falls into German hands, his portrait of Sophie stirs the heart of the local Kommandant and causes her to risk everything - her family, reputation and life - in the hope of seeing her true love one last time.

Nearly a century later and Sophie's portrait is given to Liv by her young husband shortly before his sudden death. Its beauty speaks of their short life together, but when the painting's dark and passion-torn history is revealed, Liv discovers that the first spark of love she has felt since she lost him is threatened...

In The Girl You Left Behind two young women, separated by a century, are united in their determination to fight for the thing they love most - whatever the cost. 

This is a story of two women set in two different eras. Sophie - the one who is waiting for her husband in 1916. Liv - the one who is still grieving after losing her husband.

Sophie who stays in France is waiting for her husband's return from the war. It has been months since she last heard of Edouard. And a century later, there's Liv who is still cannot let her husband go even though it has been four years after David's passing.

Both of them has two completely different stories but their strength and passion to fight for what they love the most are the same. Even though the world is laughing at them, they are still fighting, not wanting to let the world takes away their beloved. I adore both Sophie and Liv.

This book is interesting in its own way but it's quite draggy where the parts of Liv's battle with TARP come. Liv doesn't want the portrait of Sophie - the memorable gift from her late husband - been taking away from her. She wants to keep remembering her husband and letting the portrait go is not the right decision, or so Liv thoughts.

The mystery behind the portrait is quite amusing and satisfied me.

Would Sophie meet Edourd again? What would happen to Liv? Could she properly let David go and find new love?

Between Me Before You and The Girl You Left Behind, I choose Me Before You. It's a tear-jerking read but you would be uplifted. The uplifting spirits are still here with The Girl You Left Behind though.

Till then.
Wassalam.

606#Ai no Kotoba ~ [Book Review] Little Beach Street Bakery

[edited: Dec 30, 2015] 
Little Beach Street Bakery is the newest release written by Jenny Colgan, the author of Welcome to Rosie Hopkins' Sweet Shop of Dreams. This is not a story about a sweet shop, but it tells a story of a bakery near the sea of Cornwall. 

Rating : 4.5/5

Polly Waterford is recovering from a toxic relationship. Unable to afford their townhouse, she has to move miles away from everyone, to the sleepy little seaside resort of Polbearne, where she lives alone above an abandoned shop.

And so Polly takes out her frustrations on her favourite hobby: making bread. But what was previously a weekend diversion suddenly becomes far more important as she pours her emotions into kneading and pounding the dough, and each loaf becomes better and better. With nuts and seeds, olives and chorizo, with local honey (courtesy of local bee keeper, Huckle), and with reserves of determination and creativity Polly never knew she had, she bakes and bakes and bakes . . . And people start to hear about it.

Sometimes, bread really is life . . . And Polly is about to reclaim hers.

Polly Waterford loses her business, her love life and her house. With the stresses and worries, she tries to find a house with reasonable price. After countless of searching, she chooses an old flat, barely liveable somewhere on the little known island of Cornwall named Mount Poulbearne. In her efforts to regain her life, Polly meets Tarnie the fisherman and his crews, Huckle the bee keeper and Mrs. Manse the grumpy bakery owner. Polly looks for a job but all of her applications being turned down. In the end, Polly helps Mrs. Manse to operate her old bakery under her flat. Polly always has a thing about baking but she never thinks to bake for a living. This is not the end of Polly's story. It's just a beginning.

Would Polly continue her stay or return to her roots in Plymouth?

Neil the puffling (puffin's little bird) is so cute! He makes Polly relaxes and when I imagine the little bird being so attached to Polly makes me smile ;)

What I love about this book is the way Colgan pictured Mount Poulbearne. When I read a bakery and a beach in the same sentence, I could not relate these two. Unless it's an ice cream shop and a beach. I should expect there would be a bakery somewhere in a beach but an ice cream shop makes more sense.

I wonder what would it become if Polly was to open an ice cream shop?

The plot is greatly arranged. The pace is not too fast and I understand what Colgan wants to tell in her story. Would love to read her next book ;)

Till then.
Wassalam.

604#Ai no Kotoba ~ [Book Review] The Valentine's Card

[edited: Dec 30, 2015]

Rating : 4.2/5

The Valentine's card was meant to be Orla's fairy tale ending, but really, it was only the beginning . . .

Orla adores her actor boyfriend, Sim, who's away filming a sumptuous costume drama. Although the long-distance relationship means that she can eat toast for dinner and watch as much reality TV as she likes, she misses him like crazy.

But Valentine's Day changes everything . . . The same morning Orla learns that Sim has died, she receives a card from him. As Orla travels from Ireland to London, to live and breathe Sim's final moments, can she bring herself to open the Valentine's card and read his final message?

Orla and Simeon are being apart due to Simeon's work as an actor. When their reunion is scheduled soon, Orla is looking forward to Simeon's card on Valentine's day. She wakes up with the thoughts of what would Simeon wrote to her? Simeon is a creative man so Orla is so happy to think of that. When she gets the Valentine's card moments after hearing the news of Simeon's death, she feels her world crumbles.

Orla flies to London and lives inside Simeon's apartment. She doesn't open the card. Orla is afraid with the thoughts of letting Simeon go. Could she open it? Or she would certainly never open and read the card?

Orla's character is not my liking. I know she needs time to move on but her character has such a spoiled kid fragments in it. However I have to admit Orla does grow with the helps of the people she meets in London - Maude, Marek and Juno.

When she opens the card, you would not expect something to make us the readers hate Simeon. But, what is the truth behind the card? As Orla continues her journey to reveal the mystery behind Simeon's Valentine's card to her, she uncovers the unexpected truth.

Till then.
Wassalam.

602#Ai no Kotoba ~ [Book Review] Me Before You

[edited: Dec 29, 2015]
I'm being serious here, if you want to read this book please keep a box or two of tissues to keep you company. 

Rating : 4.8/5

Lou Clark knows lots of things. She knows how many footsteps there are between the bus stop and home. She knows she likes working in The Buttered Bun tea shop and she knows she might not love her boyfriend Patrick.

What Lou doesn't know is she's about to lose her job or that knowing what's coming is what keeps her sane.

Will Traynor knows his motorcycle accident took away his desire to live. He knows everything feels very small and rather joyless now and he knows exactly how he's going to put a stop to that.

What Will doesn't know is that Lou is about to burst into his world in a riot of colour. And neither of them knows they're going to change the other for all time.


William Traynor is a C5/6 quadriplegic. From a successful man with the best career who loves extreme sports, he becomes wheelchair-bound after a terrible accident on a rainy day. He can't move freely like the old days, even to move his fingers will make him in great pain.
Louisa Clark is a worker in The Buttered Bun tea shop till the closing day. She is desperately in need of a new job since she's the one who supported her family. Lou is offered a job to be Will's carer for six months. Both Lou and Will do not know that they will learn the value of life from each other.
After working as Will's carer, Lou learns the shocking truth behind her six months contract with Will. It answers her question when she is curious to know why she only be offered the job up to sixth months. Lou wants to run away, but her attempts fail her and she returns to Will with a new determination - to make Will sees that the world is still beautiful despite his terrible condition. 
Lou knows she is responsible to make Will cancels his dreadful plan. She begins to plan adventures for Will, who dislike the idea of going out since the incident. Lou herself is not a lady who willingly going for adventure, she never think of that. But she brace herself for Will. The story unfolds carefully and I love how Jojo Moyes wrote their journey in details. 
I cannot understand Will's view of his life because me myself can't imagine being a quad. This book, especially the ending make my heart breaks, shatter to pieces. I can't believe Will still choose his first decision.  I only hope this book would have another better ending even though I have to admit it, the ending matches the story and is quite realistic even though it's disheartening. 
Till then. Wassalam.

596#Ai no Kotoba ~ [Book Review] Miracle on Regent Street

[edited: Dec 29, 2015]

Rating : 4.3/5

Evie Taylor, a girl with a big heart, gets lost in the big city. For the past two years, Evie has lived an invisible life in London. Her neighbours think she’s just moved in, her sister mistakes her for a live-in nanny, and even Evie’s manager at work can’t remember her name. But all that is about to change …this Christmas has brought a flurry of snow and unimaginable possibilities into town. Evie works in the stockroom of an old-fashioned, family-run, London fashion department store. Hardy’s is a beautiful, wood-panelled jewellery box of a building, but it’s in dire need of a makeover. 

One day Evie overhears that if the entire store’s takings don’t turn round by Dec 26th – 3 weeks’ time – the family who own it will be forced to sell to one of the big chains. Hardy’s is in need of a Christmas miracle. Determined to save her beloved store, Evie hatches a plan to secretly transform it into a magical place to shop again. But has the time come for her to be noticed too? When an accidental romantic encounter with handsome, enigmatic Joel gives her the chance of a whole new identity, she takes it.

Evie Taylor works at Hardy's as a stockroom girl for nearly two years. But it doesn't mean her colleagues know her real name. Even her so-called colleague-turned-friend Carly calls her Sarah. Evie is secretly angry with their ignorance but she doesn't stand up to correct them - Sarah was the stockroom girl before her.

Hardy's was once a well-known department store, especially in 1940s. But now Hardy's in great financial problem. Evie really loves Hardy's, the place where her father swept her mother off her feet and married her. Instead waiting for her fairy godmother to act, Evie decides to save the store by re-decorated each department of the store. Her adventure to make Hardy's relive its glory before Christmas has to be done secretly - or it would cost her job.

At first, I found it hard to understand Evie. Her extremely low self-confidence makes my feelings to her complicated. I don't know whether I want to pity her or land my punch on her face. Are you okay being called with different name when you have work there for two years? Are you?

I love the friendship between Evie and the sweet elderly dancer-turned-tea-host Lily, the nice elderly guard Felix and Sam the big-hearted delivery guy. They are the people behind Hardy's scene. Only these three know Evie's real name. And they help Evie when she needs them the most!

Evie's doesn't take credit of what she has done to save the store. Customers start flocking in with her numerous, one-by-one departments made-overs. Nobody knows who is the real Christmas elf coming to rescue Hardy's. With the made-overs, Evie gains confidence to expose her true self instead of being secretly grumpy with people's misunderstanding to her. She makes the department made-overs a success, but could she deal with the sudden blow from her family when it's time to be happy for Christmas?

Till then.
Wassalam.

586#Ai no Kotoba ~ [Book Review] Chocolate Shoes and Wedding Blues

[edited: Dec 29, 2015]

I've never heard of Trisha Ashley before even though she has more than 10 books under her name. I picked one when I went to the previous BBW since I didn't know where to find one. 

Rating : 4.5/5

When Tansy Poole inherits a run-down shoe shop tucked away in the village of Sticklepond, ‘Cinderella’s Slippers’ is born – providing the footwear to make any fairytale wedding come true…

Carrying everything a bride would want to walk down the aisle in, Tansy’s shop soon expands to carry shoe-themed wedding favours, bridesmaid gifts and even delicious chocolate shoes. It’s the dream destination for any shoe-lover!

If only everything in her personal life could be as heavenly – but with a fiancé trying to make her fit into a size 8 wedding dress, not to mention the recent discovery of disturbing family revelations, Tansy takes refuge in the shop’s success.

But one man isn’t thrilled by the stream of customers hot-footing it to Cinderella’s Slippers… Actor Ivo Hawksley, resident of the cottage next to the shop, is troubled by a dark secret in his past and has come to Sticklepond to nurse his own broken heart.

However, Ivo realises that he and Tansy have a link in their past and soon, they both find out how secrets shared can make a very strong bond indeed…

I think most chick lit I've read has the same concept - traditional shops inherited from the family, love problems, beautiful countryside village and dark secrets within the family. 

Tansy Poole has a good relationship with her great-aunt, Aunt Nan (Nancy Bright) who owns a shoe shop. Aunt Nan's old age makes Tansy inherits the family shoe shop. Tansy has problems with her two evil stepsisters and Justin, her ex-fiance. She finds solace in Sticklepond, in her aunt's company and Cinderella's Slippers success. But, Aunt Nan would not always be with her. Aunt Nan leaves Tansy her Living Archives, so Tansy knows what she has to say about her life before. 

Tansy doesn't sell any shoes, she sells bridal shoes only! And some souvenirs - shoe-shaped chocolates, shoe and bluebirds trinkets, shoe-patterned umbrella and her Slippers Monkey books!

In the meantime, actor Ivo Hawksley moves in the cottage next to the shop. He comes to Sticklepond with her late wife's diaries, to mend his broken heart with the revealings in the diaries. Ivo and Tansy have a connection, a red thread which keep on linking them years ago. 

What I love about Tansy is she is an independent and down-to-earth woman. She doesn't let her disappointment due to her ex-fiance's betrayal stands in her way. She doesn't depend on anyone to make Cinderella Slippers a success. Even though I kinda dislike Ivo in the beginning, Tansy forgets Justin's indecent revelations and Aunt Nan's shocking Living Archives in the company of Ivo. When Tansy has her own share of feeling betrayed, so does Ivo. 

I had to keep myself in check from skipped to Aunt Nan's Living Archives before I finished the rest of the stories *sigh*

Till then.

Wassalam.

581#Ai no Kotoba ~ [Book Review] Welcome to Rosie Hopkins' Sweetshop of Dreams

[edited: Dec 29, 2015] 
Truth to be told, I was attracted to this book due to its cover and the seduction of the idea of an old and traditional sweet shop. Welcome to Rosie Hopkins' Sweet Shop of Dreams was my first book of Jenny Colgan. I have become her fan since then ;)

Rating : 4.5/5

Were you a sherbet lemon or chocolate lime fan? Penny chews or hard boiled sweeties (you do get more for your money that way)? The jangle of your pocket money . . . the rustle of the pink and green striped paper bag . . . 

Rosie Hopkins thinks leaving her busy London life, and her boyfriend Gerard, to sort out her elderly Aunt Lilian's sweetshop in a small country village is going to be dull. Boy, is she wrong. Lilian Hopkins has spent her life running Lipton's sweetshop, through wartime and family feuds. As she struggles with the idea that it might finally be time to settle up, she also wrestles with the secret history hidden behind the jars of beautifully coloured sweets. Welcome to Rosie Hopkins' Sweetshop of Dreams - a novel - with recipes."

Comparing to Cupcakes at Carrington's, I found this book is more mouth-watering. The description of every traditional sweets in Lilian's old sweet shop made me craving for some sweets. You can't get enough with the sweetness!

Rosie Hopkins is a nurse in London when one day she is contacted to go to a small country village where her old Aunt Lilian live. Due to her old age, Rosie is asked to sort out her old sweet shop in Lipton. At first, Rosie only wants to quickly sell the place and return to London but the temptation of the sweet shop fails her. She begins to take over the sweet shop while taking care of her old aunt. The sweet shop has been through a lot, it is just a waste to sell it, right?

I love every character in this book, maybe excluding Gerard the boyfriend of Rosie. The village characters are quirky and I grew to love them. Aunt Lilian's grumpiness, Stephen's awful behaviour, Lady Lipton's eccentric ways and every villagers. I could not forget the time when Rosie goes to a farm. Hilarious!

Rosie's character has some flaws but she grows to be better. She knows what she wants to do even though sometimes her decisions aren't the best. Her efforts to bring back the glory of the sweet shop is no joke. She's no pro but she wills to learn.

In the meantime, Rosie learns Aunt Lilian's dark secret.

Till then.

Wassalam.

579#Ai no Kotoba ~ [Book Review] Cupcakes at Carrington's

[edited: Dec 28, 2015]

It has been a while but I still want to review this debut novel of Alexandra Potter ;) This book is not in my previous Big Bad Wolf stock but I bought it from DeBook Room. FYI, Cupcakes at Carrington's is the first book in Carrington's Department Store series. The other ones are Me and Mr. Carrington and Christmas at Carrington's. 

Rating : 4.3/5

Georgie Hart loves her job – running the luxury handbag concession at Carrington's Department store in the pretty seaside town of Mulberry-On-Sea, and treating herself (once too often!) to a red velvet cupcake with buttercream icing in Carrington's café.

But Georgie is thrown into disarray when Carrington's is plunged into a recession-busting makeover, cueing the arrival of femme fatale Maxine, who wields the axe in her immaculately-manicured hands.

It spells a recipe for disaster for Georgie and soon she is fighting not only for her job, but also for the attentions of her gorgeous boss, James. And when hot newcomer Tom arrives, who may or may not be the best thing since sliced bread, Georgie must decide where her loyalties really lie…

This mouth-watering story tells the daily life of Georgie who works at Carrington's Department Store. She loves Carrington's due to her memory as a little girl coming to the store with her late mother. Carrington's has her own share of golden days but nothing anymore in recent year. Georgie works harder when Maxine the femme fatale comes with the purpose to bring Carrington's back to her former glory. At the same time, a guy named Tom comes and works at the old department store too.

The strained relationship between Georgie and her father would be revealed sooner or later. When I was reading this book, I was wondering why her father kept a distance with her own daughter. The ending is good and I couldn't get much of sweetness of the cupcakes made by Georgie's best friend ;)

Is Maxine came with one purpose only? Who is Tom? Could Carrington's become a big name again? I was entertained enough with Alexandra Potter's writing. It was a light reading, suitable for readers who wanna switch from heavier reads for a moment.

Till then.

Wassalam.

568#Ai no Kotoba ~ [Book Review] Girl in the Mirror

[edited: Dec 27, 2015]

This was my first time reading a compilation of short stories by Cecelia Ahern. The book itself doesn't exceed 100 pages, helping me reduced the hours to finish it. There is only two stories in one book. 

Rating: 4.4/5

Girl in the Mirror :

Lila knows how lucky she is to have found the man of her dreams. But when a secret from her family's past comes to light on her wedding day, her destiny changes in the most unexpected of ways.

The Memory Maker :

They say you never forget your first love. But what happens when those cherished memories start to fade? Some people would do anything to hold on to the past and, for one heartbroken man, that means finding a way to relive those precious moments.

Cecelia Ahern still implemented her touch of fantasy in both stories. However, if Girl in the Mirror is a bit dark, The Memory Maker has gloomy feeling in it. My personal favourite? I choose The Memory Maker if Cecelia Ahern wanted to make it into a long story. 

The darkness behind Girl in the Mirror kept me intrigued when reading it, it starts from the beginning. I was thinking about Lila's grandmother, why she has one eye only? Unfortunately for Lila, the truth came to her on her wedding day. Not a good start of a marriage, eh?

The Memory Maker is quite sad. An inventor invented a machine called The Memory Maker, a machine which could create dreams. The story behind the dreams-creating machine is so sad. What a pitiful soul he is, still clinging to the past. I would love to see if Cecelia Ahern decided to make a full story of The Memory Maker ;)

If you want a quick, doesn't-take-hours-of-reading read, I strongly suggest this book to you. My copy is hardback, the cover is beautiful, no? ;) I don't know if the book came in paperback or not. 

Till then.

Wassalam.

567#Ai no Kotoba ~ [Book Review] If You Could See Me Now

[edited: Dec 27, 2015]
If You Could See Me Now was my first Cecelia Ahern's books. I love her the very instant I read this . She has convinced me to buy more of her books ;)

" You don't need me anymore, Elizabeth. You're going to stop seeing me now, Someone else will need me... I loved you the moment I saw you and I will always love you, Elizabeth..."

Rating: 4.6/5

Elizabeth Egan's life runs on order: Both her home and her emotions are arranged just so, with little room for spontaneity. It's how she counteracts the chaos of her family--an alcoholic mother who left when she was young, an emotionally distant father, and a free-spirited sister, who seems to be following in their mother's footsteps, leaving her own six-yearold son, Luke, in Elizabeth's care. When Ivan, Luke's mysterious new grown-up friend, enters the picture, Elizabeth doesnt know quite what to make of him. With his penchant for adventure and colorful take on things large and small, Ivan opens Elizabeth's eyes to a whole new way of living. But is it for real? Is Ivan for real? If You Could See Me Now is a love story with heart--and just a touch of magic.

This book is mostly about friendship and family bond, also with a touch of romance. Elizabeth Egan's life is so unfortunate. Her mother goes missing for years. Her father who is still couldn't accept her mother's absence even though time has been ticking for so long is always waiting for her return. Her wild younger sister named Saoirse and her son.

Elizabeth is a successful woman in her field of career. But, unfortunately something has happened years ago prior to present timeline which she could not ignore it. She abandoned her opportunities and returned home. In present time, she has to take care of Luke due to Saoirse's habit of going missing. I could understand why Elizabeth being so strict in her life. Her life is quite challenging. In her hometown, she meets Ivan, Luke's adult friend. 

The romance starts but... Ivan is not and ordinary guy.

When I read this book, I could feel the tension in Elizabeth's everyday life. She has to take care of everything! From the six-year-old Luke who needs maternal attention, her younger sister's frequent problems which Saoirse's faults actually to her father's sort-of hatred towards her.

I like Ivan! He is so cool and knows how to make Elizabeth happy despite her stern nature. Even though I (have to) understand Ivan's job of making people, especially kids like Luke happy, I could not totally accept the ending. The ending is quite good, but I need happier ending *sigh*

Cecelia Ahern's writings are understandable to me since this is my first English book after years of reading none. I'd love to suggest this book if you want to read something with a bit of fantasy in it. I'm gonna make her books as my priorities in the future!

Till then.

Wassalam.