The Handsome Man's De Luxe Cafe by Alexander McCall Smith

Synopsis :

A kindhearted brother and sister have taken in a woman known only as “Mrs.”—a woman with no memory of her name or of how she came to Botswana. And so it’s up to Precious Ramotswe and her new co-director, Grace Makutsi, to discover the woman’s identity. 
 
Meanwhile, motherhood proves to be no obstacle to Mma Makutsi’s professional success. As she settles into her role as partner at the agency, she also launches a new enterprise of her own: the Handsome Man’s De Luxe Café, a restaurant for Gaborone’s most fashionable diners. But even Miss 97 Per Cent isn’t fully prepared for the temperamental chefs, drunken waiters, and other challenges that come with running one’s own business. Help may come from an unexpected source, if only Mma Makutsi can swallow her pride and ask.
 And next door to the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni is all too familiar with the difficult decisions of business owners. He is finally forced to make a tough choice, one that will bring major changes to both Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors and the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency—and that will require all of Mma Ramotswe’s finesse and patience to sort out. 


This is what I say :

It seems that the last book that I read in the series of No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency was book 9 and that was around three years ago.

The Handsome Man's De Luxe Cafe is book 15 in the series so I guess I have skipped five books.   In this title Mma Makutsi has given birth to a baby boy but is still having a career as a detective.  I have to be careful here as Mma Makutsi is rather sensitive and if I am to say that she is working in the detective agency, she might take offence as she viewed herself as 'co-director' of the agency.

She has also started a restaurant business, with her husband's investment and who else but long time nemesis, Violet Sepotho is now a restaurant critic.

Other than there, time seems to have stood still and Mma Ramotswe is still the same and so is her husband, Mr J.L.B. Matekoni.

I have always enjoyed the No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Series but I don't think I have another title in my collection and unless and until I do, this would be the last book in the series for me.

The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks

Synopsis :

Seventeen-year-old Veronica 'Ronnie' Miller’s life was turned upside-down when her parents divorced and her father moved from New York City to Wilmington, North Carolina. Three years later, she remains angry and alienated from her parents, especially her father . . . until her mother decides it would be in everyone’s best interest if she spent the summer in Wilmington with him. Ronnie’s father, a former concert pianist and teacher, is living a quiet life in the beach town, immersed in creating a work of art that will become the centerpiece of a local church. 

The tale that unfolds is an unforgettable story about love in its myriad forms - first love, the love between parents and children - that demonstrates, as only a Nicholas Sparks novel can, the many ways that deeply felt relationships can break our hearts . . . and heal them.

This is what I say :

I have been wanting to read The Last Song for the longest time...every since I watched the movie adaptation years and years ago.  It wasn't until recently that I managed to get my hand on a copy of this title and so here we are! :)

The Last Song made me cry buckets!

I mean I already know the story line (from the movie) although it wasn't really the same but yes, while the movie was enjoyable, the book was certainly much more. To me anyway.  I really enjoyed it.  From babysitting the turtle eggs to making the glass window to the relationship Ronnie had with the dad, the kid brother and of course with Will.

This is not the 'best' Nicholas Sparks in my category but it's close.

Flea Market Sale - Pop Up Stall #1

It's been a while since I took part in a flea market sales.  I can actually trace back my previous post and yes, it been around two years.

Anyway, with a wee bit of time this Easter weekend and with quite a fair bit of books to clear, I decided to join one this weekend.

Held from Friday to Sunday, it will be at GHM and most probably I will be there late morning to evening only for my pop up stall.

In case any of you are wondering 'Hey, thought you said you are doing a disappearing act, so whatcha doing here?" hahah...I guess you can consider this an 'intermission'.  I will be disappearing for a while after this :)

Anyway, I did some stock take and these will be some of the  books I will be bringing with me. I hope they would be able to find new homes to go to :)

• Dreamscapes by Tamara Mckinley

• Welcome To My World by Miranda Dickinson

• Mayada, Daughter of Iran by Jean Sasson

• A Place Called Here by Cecilia Ahern

• Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffengger

• The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks

Here's to a good weekend of books sales. :)  Also, Happy Easter!

Urban Street Library - The Hanging Shelves

There's a social initiatives in my city which is known as the Urban Street  Library.

According to their Facebook page, the initiator of this project aims to promote a  culture of reading regardless of time and place by providing a free literary experience for the members of the public . The project's mission is to encourage reading, sharing and community spirit through a small-scale urban intervention in engaging public spaces of the city. They believe that a collaborative effort from us as a community will deliver a more impactful change.

Having heard of this initiative but didn't have time to check them out during their launch, I was pleasantly surprised to encounter one of the public library while at a mall recently.  I went back again the following week, bringing with me 4 novels from my collection books that I was happy to exchange for new titles.

Even though the choice weren't that good, I went away happy with four new titles that I am looking forward to reading very soon.

I don't know how long they will be in the mall, but if you're in my city, keep an eye for the hanging shelves and the treasures within.

Disappearing Act

Hello...

I have to do a quick disappearing act as assignments are due soon.  I have not been doing much reading lately as well.  I have not been doing much driving lately too so no reading while waiting for traffic to move!

I will be right back! or maybe I do periodical appearances!

In the meantime...stay awesome!

Also...a reminder that it is MARCH already!

image from web

p.s ya, I know that's random :)

Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich

Synopsis :

Trenton, New Jersey, bounty hunter Stephanie Plum has inherited a “lucky” bottle from her Uncle Pip. Problem is, Uncle Pip didn’t specify if the bottle brought good luck or bad luck. . . .

BAD LUCK:

Vinnie, of Vincent Plum Bail Bonds, has run up a gambling debt of $786,000 with mobster Bobby Sunflower and is being held until the cash can be produced. Nobody else will pay to get Vinnie back, leaving it up to Stephanie, office manager Connie, and file clerk Lula to raise the money if they want to save their jobs.

Finding a safe place to hide Vinnie turns out to be harder than raising $786,000. Vinnie’s messing up Mooner’s vibe, running up pay-per-view porn charges in Ranger’s apartment, and making Stephanie question genetics.

Saving Vincent Plum Bail Bonds means Stephanie can keep being a bounty hunter. In Trenton, this involves hunting down a man wanted for polygamy, a turnpike toilet paper bandit, and a drug dealer with a pet alligator named Mr. Jingles.

GOOD LUCK:

Being in the business of tracking down people, Stephanie, Lula, and Connie have an advantage in finding Vinnie. If they can rescue him, it will buy them some time to raise the cash.

Between a bonds office yard sale that has the entire Burg turning out, Mooner’s Hobbit-Con charity event, and Uncle Pip’s lucky bottle, they just might raise enough money to save the business, and Vinnie, from ruin.

The job of bounty hunter comes with perks in the guise of Trenton’s hottest cop, Joe Morelli, and the dark and dangerous security expert, Ranger. With any luck at all, Uncle Pip’s lucky bottle will have Stephanie getting lucky--the only question is . . . with whom?


This is what I say :

From the title, it's a dead giveaway that this is the sixteen titles in the Stephanie Plum Series and most probably the last of the series for me for now as I do not think i have anymore of her titles after this particular one.

I kinda stop buying her titles as first of all they are almost the same from one title to another and secondly the books seems to have no resale value *shy smile*. (Yes, I do resale some of my books as if not, they would take over my home and I won't have space for new titles.).

Having said that, Stephanie is a good company when I am driving as when I have to wait for the light to change during traffic, out she comes to keep me entertained and to lessen my stress.

Stephanie and Mma Ramotswe of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency Series seems to have calming effects on me!

Now that I no longer have Stephanie to keep me company, I think I still have a couple of Mma Ramotswe title to keep me company so I shall remain sane on the road!

Happy Chinese New Year 2018

Image from web. credit to the creator

It's three days into the festivity where Chinese all over the world would welcome the doggy year following the Chinese 12 animals zodiac.

image from web. credit to the creator

Out with the rooster and in with the dog and the cycle goes on for next year will be the year of the piggy!

Do you have any dog theme books?  Being trying to look through my TBR collection and only able to fine one copy of dog theme books.

This is Wolf Totem, A Novel by Jiang Rong.  Supposed to be a semi autobiography.  I bought this book about 10 years ago.  I guess there's no better time than now to read this.

In the meantime, wishing all who celebrates,

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR 

新年快乐

&

ENJOY THE CELEBRATION

恭喜发财