Happy New Year 2014

image's taken from web

In another few hours, we will bid adieu to year 2013 and welcome year 2014 whether we like it or not.  Some might greet it with much reluctance or while others would be welcoming the new year with arms wide open.

It's a rather wonderful day to sleep in as it's raining rather heavily and with nothing much to do for the whole day and not feel like doing much for the whole day, it's rather nice and to curl up in bed with a book and a nice mug of coffee and I'm going to do just that shortly!

For now, it the right time to take stock of this year before it's over. Purple Queen Fairy Reads will end this year on a pretty happy note. :)

This blog managed a total of 70 posts for the year which is 5 posts less than last year but all things considered, I'm quite at peace with it.  Circumstances changed and I am aware that I am not able to maintain the momentum that I had two years ago.

For this year, I am rather pleased happy with my book sales which I took part in July, September and October.  I hope to be able to make this an ongoing venture and be able to expand further my love of reading.  It was from this interest that this blog was established so that I can share about what I read and now I can share the books that I enjoyed reading with you makes it even fulfilling (if I can use this word :)

Moving forward to year 2014, I hope that it will be the year to bring this blog a bit further. How? I don't really know yet. The spirit is willing so I hope my flesh will go along with it too.

That would be all for this year.

Thank you for dropping by.   I'm humbled that you choose to do so.  Wishing you a wonderful and joyful new year ahead. May God bless you abundantly and may you be extraordinary in His name.  God bless.

The Cross Gardener by Jason F. Wright

Synopsis :

Married and the father of a young daughter, John Bevan had finally found the traditional family he lacked as an orphaned child. But all that disappears when a fatal car accident steals away his wife-and the unborn child she carried.

Filled with sorrow, John withdraws from life and love. He erects a small cross at the scene of his wife's accident and visits daily, grieving. Then one morning he encounters a young man kneeling before the cross, touching it up with white paint. John's conversations and travels with this mysterious man-known to him only as the Cross Gardener-will forever change his world.

From Jason F. Wright comes a timeless tale that explores the questions we ask when our lives are touched by loss: How do we carry on? And who will show us the way? The answers John Bevan finds illuminate the hope that even in our darkest hours we are not alone.

The first thing that attracted me to this book is the colour of the cover.  I love this green and even the image above just look so fresh.  The second thing that attracted me was the title, The Cross Gardener and I remember reading an article somewhere at one time on planting of crosses at accidents sites.

Reading Jason Wright reminded me a bit of reading Mitch Albom although their approach are pretty different from one to the other.  The Cross Gardener is one book that you will need to read ad reflect on.  It would caused you to feel the loss of John and if you wonder who the Cross Gardener is, I am no telling.  It would just amazed you when you read this book. 

Blessed Christmas 2013

Wishing all readers

near and far 

an extremely

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Blessings be with you and your family

Wedding Babylon by Imogen Edwards-Jones

Synopsis :

Following a week in the life of a busy wedding planner, and based entirely on true but anonymous stories, Wedding Babylon takes you to the heart of an industry where emotions run high, money flows like champagne and £3000 cakes are made of polystyrene.

Why are weddings so expensive?  What makes us spend a year's wages on one Big Day?  And just how Big does your Day actually have to be?

Hilarious, shocking and full of jaw-dropping true tales of wedding days from hell, here is definitive proof that, sadly, the course of true love never did run entirely smooth....

This is as much a fun book as a sad book.  Fun because it has lots of funny tales of weddings, brides, grooms, best men, bridesmaids and so on.  Sad because if the tales are true, some people do get their priorities wrong when it comes to getting married.

The wedding planners featured here are actually two guys and readers get a glimpse of their days as they met with clients to discuss napkins, flowers, menus, etc.  The author also allowed readers to tag along to a wedding from collecting the bridal gown, wedding cake to meeting the minister or priest, setting up the party venue which includes portable loos and swearing chefs, etc.And the big bucks that couples are willing to shell out for the most perfect day of their lives can be rather atrocious. 

Like I said, rather fun read for a good laugh.

The Devil You Know by Louise Bagshawe

Synopsis :

New York...Smart, sexy Rose Fiorello grows up poor with nothing but a blistering hatred of Rothstein Realty, the developer that crushed her father's business...and a shocking plan to get even.

Los Angeles...Pampered society princess Poppy Allen wants to escape the smothering cocoon of her parents' privileged life to embrace the excitement of becoming a rock star...or rock star maker.

London...Plump, bullied Daisy Markham devours trashy bestsellers to escape her misery at boarding school...until she discovers that writing them can bring the acceptance-and man-she secretly desires.

But as each of these gutsy women goes after her dreams, a brutal act committed long ago will suddenly explode their worlds-revealing the betrayal that stole the heritage of three baby girls... uniting them now with one common passion: revenge.


I felt a tiny bit cheated by the book.  It was rather too predictable. Triples sisters by birth, three baby girls were separated and live extremely different lives.  However, they all grew up to be incredibly famous, successful and rich in their chosen fields.  They also seems to be attracted to men who are equally successful and powerful men in their chose fields.

Almost three quarter of the books were about the sisters individually.  It wasn't until almost towards the end that they met and that's when readers found out a rather interesting traits that the sisters shared and that's when readers might get an 'aha' moment that makes the book worth the predictable plot.   Just for that, I would recommend this book to you. :)

Book Fair in Hills Mall Extended

I went to the book fair again today thinking that tomorrow is the last day.

However, just found out that the fair has been extended till 22nd December 2013.  So, if you haven't been, you will have a second chance to go again and perhaps pick up a book or two for either yourself or your love ones.

Remember...Hills Shopping Mall from 10 am to 10 pm. See you there!

Summer at Willow Lake by Susan Wiggs

Synopsis :

Olivia Bellamy has traded her trendy Manhattan life for a summer renovating her family's crumbling holiday resort. Tempted by the hazy, nostalgic memories of summers past - childhood innocence and the romance and rivalries of her teens - it's the perfect place to flee after her broken engagement. But what began as an escape may just be a new beginning...

As Olivia uncovers secrets buried thick with dust, one by one her family return, their lives as frayed at the edges as the resort.

Summer at Willow Lake can be classified as a romance.  Girl met boy years ago in summer camp. Something happen towards the end of camp. They left camp and never saw each other until one day girl meet up with boy again.    The author actually used this formula for two generations of campers in this book although with a slight variation.

Being a non fan of romance, the book failed to hold my interest and I was quite lost one third into the book.  However, I was also keen to know what secrets Olivia uncovered while renovating the her family camp site so I read on.  I can't decide if it was worth the time.

If you are a fan of romance, Summer at Willow Lake might be the book to zest up your day.