Goodnight Nobody by Jennifer Weiner

Summary

Kate Klein's husband decided to move the family to live in suburbia after Kate have been "Pram snatched". The city had become to dangerous for them.

In the beginning , life in suburbia was "calm" and peaceful. Nothing much happen there. Days have became routine to Kate. Her husband started working late and they seldom have time to talk.

The classy supermoms at the playground had snubbed Kate. Only one mom, Kitty Cavanaugh, had show some indication of friendship towards Kate.

Unfortunately, this friendship did not last as Kate walked in and found Kitty dead. Murdered. With the help of her best friend, Janie, and her former lover, Evan, she started to investigate the murder. The more she dug, the more "surprises" were uncovered. Life in suburbia is not more deadly than of in the city.

Comments:

This is the second Jennifer Weiner's books that I have read. The first one, "Best Friends Forever" was ordinary in my opinion. Hence I did not have high expectation of this one.

However, I was pleasantly surprised by it. The story was easy to read and page turning for me.

I don't really love the main character, Kate, as she came across to me as someone who is of low confidence of herself and that does not endear her to me. I love the most if her best friend Janie. She lighten up the story as she is bold, spritey and very much in control of every situations except when it comes to kids. That part really left me laughing all over.

What I did not like about the book is the love triangle between Kate, Evan and Kate's husband. It was a bit of a turn off when the author throw in story about Kate and her husband when I was excited to know who is the murderer.

Overall this have been a good read for me. Got it cheap too at RM9-90 plus and extra 10% discount for purchase of RM150 and above. Not bad, not bad....looking forward to more of Jennifer Weiner's books.

No Turning Back by Susan Lewis(Spoiler Alert)

Synopsis from www.Goodreads.com :-


Eva Montgomery is at the peak of her career when she is viciously attacked by a stalker. While still traumatised by the event, she makes the biggest mistake of her life - one she can never turn back from.

Sixteen years later, Eva has managed to rebuild her life in a way that seemed impossible after the attack. Her home is in Dorset, high on the cliffs overlooking the sea, is as elegant as Eva herself, but bears none of the scars. The love she shares with her husband, Don, has become the very mainstay of her existence. Her beloved sister, Patty, lives nearby. To an outsider, Eva's world seems perfect in every way. However, behind the facade there is more tragedy and deceit than even she is aware of.

It is when the past starts to invade the present that the greatest betrayal of all shatters Eva's world, over and over. Hurt, frightened and confused, she struggles desperately to put right the terrible mistake she made sixteen years ago and finally break free from a past that nearly destroyed her

My Comments:

It took me more than a week to finish reading this book. That is a pretty long time for my track record.

What I like about this book is that it is pretty "real". The issues tackled here is about loyalty and relationships between parents, siblings and kids.

SPOILER ALERT

The author also write something of karma. Eva stolen somebody husband when she was young and now somebody steals her husband. And more devastating is that the person is her own sister.

I love the way the author manipulate the emotions of Eva, Patty and their kids. Although I can't say the same about Don. He come across to me as pretty "wooden".

But one thing I don't understand near the end of the story where Patty reveal the reason and method of how their mother died; where she said for some reason that she and her dad could not understand is why Eva was in the car. At one point they speculated that Eva was in the car as the mother planned to harm her.

However, it was later revealed at the ending of the story that the mother left a note and the note clearly states that  the mother know that Patty would always take care of Eva.

This statement makes me feel that there is a contradiction in the story. First Patty speculate the mother might have planned to die with Eva but the note clearly contradicted it.

Nevertheless, I feel that it is an acceptable read though there are just too many issues being tackled here. The author did a good job in tackling the issues and yet managed to keep the plot in check. Most of the issues were resolved in a good way instead of sloppy finish.

If you ask me, yes, I intend to pick up more books by this author. Am giving it 3 stars out of 5 stars

Ascent from Darkness By Michael Leehan

Synopsis by Booksneeze.com

A life of difficulty and disappointment set 33-year old Michael Leehan up for the worst decision of his life—to make a deal with the Devil to follow and serve him. Practicing the dark arts that include ritualistic cuttings and blood sacrifices, while fine tuning his manipulation and control skills, Michael launched into a twenty year downward spiral that included job loss and detachment from loved ones, and even jail time.

But God had another plan that included a group of Christian men to love him and pray for him—even when it became evident his assignment from Satan was to kill their pastor, Craig Groeschel.

The life Michael Leehan lives today is an incredible testimony of the transforming power of God's mercy and grace, but is also a wakeup call to the church to be fully aware of the spiritual war that is going on all around them, and to the ultimate battle for their souls.

"I am sending you to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me." Acts 26:18

My Comments

I have just finished reading this book. I received it from the publisher Thomas Nelson Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

Story is about Michael Leehan and how his life spiral out of control when he renounced God and go to Satan's Camp. There he act on behalf of Satan to wreck havoc on normal Christian lives.

To be honest, this book spooks me. The way it is written was very scary. At least that was what I felt when I read this book. It's like reading the mind of a mad man. Like "seeing" how a man become so twisted and evil.

I felt very uneasy when I read about the method which Michael used to mislead Church goers when he was Satan's disciple. Makes me think and wondered how I can I trust him now? He mentioned about leaving Satanic Bibles in the churches and things like that as a way to mislead church goers and plant evil seed in their mind. Could this book also plant seed of evil in the readers mind if their faith is not strong? Won't they feel tempted to get their hands on Satanic Bible just to see what it's talking about?

Nevertheless, am glad Michael is back to the good side.

What I can say is I can read this book but am not sure it's the right book for me. I am sorry but for me this book is worth 2 stars out of 5. However, please do not be deter by my review. Others have read this book and have given it 5 stars. Maybe this book would be some help to those who needs it. After all, God works in mysterious ways.