Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella

Synopsis :

Lexi wakes up in hospital, thinking she's twenty five with crooked teeth and a disastrous love life.  But, to her disbelief, she learns its' three years later - she's a super-toned twenty eight year odl, her teeth are straight, she's the boss of her department - and she's married! To a good-looking millionaire!

She can't believe her luck - especially when she sees her stunning new loft apartment. and she'll definitely have a fantastic marriage once she gets to know her husband again. He's drawn up a 'marriage manual' which should help.

But soon she realizes her perfect life isn't all it seems. Her old colleagues hate her. A rival is after her job.  Then a disheveled, sexy guy turns up  and lands a bombshell.  What actually happened to her? Will she ever remembers? and what will happen if she does? or doesn't?

I decided to re-read Remember Me? right after reading Undomestic Goddess.  It was the right move as I was feeling down and this book certainly perks me up.  Any book by Sophie Kinsella will have that effect on me. Certainly cheaper and healthier than any 'perk-me-up drinks'.

I remember thinking if there will be something magical in this book and at the end of it, Lexi will discover that it's just a dream that she had after bumping her head. But no, she really had amnesia and 'lost' 3 years of her life and it was a rather bad 3 years as she discover that her nickname is 'cobra' and although she's the boss of her department, her secretary spit into her coffee.

I can't imagine losing 3 years of memories but Lexi did and she can't believe that she changed so much in these 3 years.  It wasn't until what happened at her dad's funeral was finally revealed to her that she began to understand why she is so different, why she changed so drastically into someone totally different. And in case you're wondering, the sunflowers on the cover do mean something

This wasn't the best work of Sophie Kinsella. There seems to be something missing but yet the book does capture the charm and wit of what Sophie offers to her readers.  A rather feel-good chic lite book to curl up with on a rainy afternoon with a mug of coffee or chocolate. 

On another note, I wonder what will happen when all of Sophie's characters get together - Becky, Samantha, Emma, Lexi.  What would their conversations be like :) and best of all what would they say about Sophie :) I wonder.....

The Jury by Steve Martini

The Jury is a suspense thriller published almost 10 years ago.

In The Jury, defense lawyer, Paul Madriani represents a respected geneticist named Dr David Crone who is accused of murdering a young colleague. An incriminating note left behind by a dead key witness seems to confirm his innocence – until Madriani hits upon a loose end that dangles an ethical nightmare in front of his face – the possibility of defending a guilty client.

I have no idea how this book came about to be in my possession. Could I have bought it but forgot about it or could it be part of what was given to me years ago but didn’t make an impact on my mind.

Anyway, fans of court room thriller would lap this up because things are always not what it appears to be. While I enjoy the story, I find the font of the book a bit of the smaller side and thus contribute negatively to the enjoyment factor. Also, I don’t really like the style of writing of this author.

However, I do think it would make into a good movie. I might enjoy that better.

The Kalahari Typing School for Men by Alexander McCall Smith

Synopsis :

In this forth volume of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, the ever-popular Precious Ramotswe - Botswanaa's leading, and only, female private detective - faces a new and unwanted problem : competition.

'Ex-CID, Ex-New York, Ex-cellent' reads the sign outside the Satisfaction Guarantee Detective Agency. Cephas Buthelezi certainly talks the talk, Previous discovers, but would he have the wherewithal to deal with her current case - a man who has been attacked by ostrich rustlers and is eager to reassess his life?

This is the follow up book from Morality for Beautiful Girls.

There's nothing much to say about this book.  Even though Precious Ramotswe faced competition, it wasn't really much a competition as it was mentioned in the beginning of the book and the end only.  The entire book was rather mellow other than the case of the ostrich man, Precious Ramotswe was asked by a wife to check on her husband whom she think is cheating on her.  Mma Makutsi started a typing school for men (hence the title of the book) and went dating too.  There are part of the book dedicated to the two apprentice of Mr J.L.B. Matekoni that was pretty funny and also on the two orphans that's staying with Precious Ramotswe.  

I would say the saving grace for this book came from the story of Mma Makutsi, of her determination to earn more money for herself and to have a better future for herself and her family.  I really admire her guts. 

If you are looking for a tender, calm and slow reading with an insight into another culture, you will enjoy this series.  Although it's slow and calm, it doesn't mean that it's boring. In fact, it's rather refreshing. I don't have the next book - The Cupboard Full of Life.  If you read it, do let me know if you enjoy it.

The Book of Names by Jill Gregory & Karen Tintori

Synopsis :

Within every generation, there are 36 righteous souls, whose existence holds the key to the fate of the world.  Now someone wants them dead...

An ancient religious text known as the Zohar claims that the Book of Names, an operating manula for creation, does exist.  The Gnoseos, a power-hungry elite who want to get rid of mankind and remake the world, are desperately trying to locate this mystical script.

But one man stands in their way.  David Shepherd, a professor who has been haunted by the sacred names in the book since a near-death experience as a child.  He must find the book before the Gnoseos in order to save mankind.

Based heavily on the Jewish belief that at any generation, 36 righteous souls in the world that balanced any evil in the world and when these souls are killed, the scale would tip towards eventual destruction of the world as we know it.  In this book, more than 30 of such righteous souls known as the Lamed Vovniks have already been killed by the Gnoseos.

One of such righteous soul is Stacy, the step daughter of David Shepherd who is now bent towards stopping the Gnoseos but how can one person stop an entire troupe of such warriors.  This is very much similar in context of David from the old testament (who is also a shepherd :) vs Goliath. Assisting David is Yael HarPaz, an Isrealite who is extremely knowledgable in this area and it helps that she's pretty too.

I didn't think I would enjoy this book but I did.  The storyline is not new.  I read something similar in The Righteous Ones written by Sam Bourne but this is slightly more interesting and certainly more intriguing.

Sticks and Stones by K. J. Larsen

With a name like Cat De Luca, I guess, you can't help but be sassy and zanny at the same time, especially if you are the owner of Pants On Fire Detective Agency.  I take it also that you have something to prove especially if your dad and brothers and uncles and cousins are all in the police force.  I guess it doesn't help too that your mum doesn't approve of what you do and is forever trying to get you to change your job and not to take 'dirty pictures' all the time.

Sticks and Stones is a funny detective who-done-it book with a female lead character, Cat De Luca.  This is her second mystery, the first being Liar Liar which I didn't read.  However, that doesn't stop me from enjoying the book as they are basically stand alone titles.  You will love Cat and her assistant Cleo who is being accused of murdering her husband in this book.  You will also like FBI agent, Chance Vincent who is Cat's love interest and Max and Toni who are spies that seems to be helping Cat all the time.

This is similarity between Cat and another such female character who is a bounty hunter by another author.  In fact, there's a lot of similarities but because it was so interestingly written, it doesn't really bother me.  The authors (K J Larsen is the pen name for 3 sisters who wrote this series) doesn't waste words and the writing is fast and snappy. Anyway, not very imaginative in terms of title but everything else gets an 'A' from me.


I am so glad I review this for Netgalley.com.  Stick and Stones is published by Poison Pen Publishing. Go and get your copy and be charmed by Cat De Luca, PI.

Have books will travel

I have more than a couple of trips coming up this month and next. With one exception of a trip to visit a friend, the rest are all business trips with some being just day trip and a couple being overnight.

The thought of being bored out of my mind in airport lounges and waiting halls is terrifying so this weekend, I went through my shelf for some possible books to bring along with me to help is de-stress while on the road or in the air.

These include :

The Kalahari Typing School for Men and In the Company of Cheerful Ladies.  Both books are by Alexander McCall Smith and part of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency Series.  They are great for day trips as I can complete one book over two flights (into the city and out of the city).

I have decided start on The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien as I have this book in my shelf for quite a while and with the movie coming out soon, it would be good to quickly finished it and decide if I would like the movie when the time comes.

I have also decided to scare myself silly with House by Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti.  This is a horror book and if I chicken out at the last minute, I will have to quickly decide on a back up.

Looks like I'm all good and ready to face the stress of work travel.

Bookends by Jane Green

Synopsis :

Total opposites, always together and both unlucky in love. Cath is scatty, messy and emotionally closed and Si is impossibly tidy, bitchy and desperate for a man of his own. They live near each other in West Hampstead, close to their other best friends, Josh and Lucy – who are married, with a child called Max and a terrifying Swedish nanny, Ingrid.

When Portia steps back into their lives – beautiful Portia, the undisputed queen of their group at university, who broke their collective hearts one night and from whom they have all gradually silently, grown apart – her reappearance sets off a chain of events that tests Cath and her friends to the limit.  Does Portia have a hidden agenda, or is she looking for happy endings all round?  Whatever the answers, none of them could have predicted the outcome....

Jane Green writes fairly good novels. She’s not the best there is but she’s up there among some of the key players of such female fictions. Her books are not the type that you would be dying to complete in one sitting but can take your time over. They are not that memorable but a good read that give you a satisfying buzz.

I enjoy Bookends which is also the name of the bookstore Cath opens with Lucy.  I really enjoy the the closeness these friends have with one another and they consider each other their ‘family of choice’. The story is told from the perspective of Cath and you can read of her love and concern she has for her ‘family’ but having commitment phobia herself.  Si (who reminded me of Finton of Last Chance Saloon) is really cute and upbeat and adorable.  I love Lucy too (pun intended :) but Josh has no impression on me at all.   I aslo felt that Portia’s part in this whole scheme of things is slightly overated and too much credit is given to her for the part that she played.  The story is about all of them and the things they go through in one period of their lives and the fairy tale ending they are after.

Overall, it’s an enjoyable book.