Mrs MisMarriage by Noelle Chua

This is a little bit of light reading that I pick up from Subang Jaya Book Exchange Programme.

The story is about Audrey Lee who is a Singapore girl, studying in Harvard and have a terrific boyfriend, Paul. She had no intention of getting married.

But one day, Paul, unexpectedly pop the question to her. On top of that he got a good job position in Singapore.

She know that Paul and her goes well together and yet she was unprepared for marriage. But refusing him, may lead to them breaking up. In the end, she married him and they moved to Singapore.

Unfortunately for her, Paul had become engrossed with his work after their marriage that they had no time to talk at all.

Suddenly, Audrey found herself lonely. To complicate the matter, many attractive men pop into her life during this period.  This seems to be a recipe for disaster.

I have no high expectation of this book . However, I was not disappointed.

This book is well written. The issues discuss was not far fetched and it could happen in real life. The neglected wife, the suspicious text messages, the online chatting and the non communication, it's all so real.

It's written with much humour too. I can't help laughing when Audrey end up flashing Paul's Boss.

Yes, I like this book.

The Diplomatic Corpse by Anne Marshall Zwack

Synopsis from http://www.goodreads.com/

When Maggie's husband, smooth, silver-haired, patrician Jeremy, the British Ambassador to Vienna, drops dead unexpectedly of a heart attack, she is stunned.

But her shock soon turns to fury when she discovers that he died in the arms of a beautiful blonde Viennese hostess - and that moreover while she, Maggie, was expected to make all sorts of domestic economies on behalf of the British tax-payer, Jeremy and the athletic Mausie had been indulging in expensive sea-food dinners, skiing trips and all manner of luxuries. But Mausie turns out to be, as it were, only the tip of the iceberg.

As Maggie uncovers a trail of infidelities conducted under her nose in every one of the European cities she had so dutifully made her home in Jeremy's majestic wake, she determines to exact her revenge.

With Zoltan, Jeremy's mournful Hungarian driver, she embarks on a magnificent Grand Tour of their former postings, wreaking a pleasurable havoc wherever she goes.

Along the way, Maggie undergoes her own transformation and learns to re-evaluate her marriage, her own abilities - and just who her friends really are!

My Comments:

Picked up this book from the Big Bad Wolf (BBWS) 2011. I thought it would be just another mindless Chick lit.

However it turns out to be quite different. For me it was entertaining full of humor.

The story like is funny and witty. Maggie is a genius in thinking up uncoventional plans to extract revenge against those who had wronged her.

It's something like Olivia Goldsmith's "The First Wives Clubs" less the heavy discussion stuff.

I guess, it's a good read if one is in need of some cheering up.

The Two Lives of Miss Charlotte Merryweather by Alexander Potter

Synopsis from www.goodreads.com


From the "fantastically funny" (Elle), "sharp" (Salon) author of the international bestseller Me and Mr. Darcy, an enchanting drive down the road not taken, in the most surprising company

At age thirty-one, American Charlotte Merryweather has spent ten years in London pursuing personal and professional perfection. Yet her present-day success- heading her own PR company, owning a gorgeous apartment, planning a future with her devoted boyfriend- only heightens the shock of a visit from the past.

"Lottie," Charlotte's twenty-one-year-old self, drives onto the scene at the wheel of a rusty, orange Volkswagen Beetle identical to Charlotte's first UK ride. Charlotte pursues a friendship aimed to bestow upon Lottie a decade of wisdom. Yet Charlotte's prosperous polish proves a pale substitute for Lottie's innate, youthful graces- openness, passion, and kindness. Will the student become the teacher in this witty turnabout?

The clever plotting and winning characterization that made Me and Mr. Darcy a bestseller are on full display in these pages.

My Comments :

I finished this book in four hours.

This is a pretty easy read . Plot were rather smple. Not much surprise there.

Charatcher wise was pretty much ordinary. For the first part of the book, I find it lack of challenge. Nothing much to chew on. Things only git better when Olly the bartender was introduced.

However, the ending was rather clever. Love the twist that the author added there.

Angels by Marian Keyes

Synopsis by www.goodreads.com

A new Marian Keyes novel is always something to celebrate, and her sixth novel, Angels, will have you cheering. From the first couple of sentences: "I'd always lived a fairly blameless life. Up until the day I left my husband and ran away to Hollywood, I'd hardly ever put a foot wrong" to the hugely satisfying last page, you're immediately involved in the story of Maggie Walsh's life; of how it went wrong, and then went right again.

The Walshes starred in a previous Keyes novel, the delightful Rachel's Holiday; Maggie is Rachel's older sister, (one of five) and the only one who "never did any of that nasty sleeping around business". Instead she got married to her first boyfriend Paul Garvan and everything was fine, until they suffered a couple of "setbacks".

Unable to face sorting out the difficulties, Maggie hightails it to Los Angeles to stay with her old pal Emily. Emily is a script writer, her short film A Perfect Day was a big hit in Ireland, but her working life is a little tougher in the land of sunshine and fat-free Pringles.

My Comments

When I pick up this book, a lady told me it's quite dry. She can't get pass page 5 of the book. I did managed to get beyond page 5. Read it till the end and I agree with her opinion.

The main character, Maggie, was weak. I find it that it's hard for me to love her despite her pitiful plead that her husband is two timing her by going out with another woman. For one thing, who is she to complain as she was pining for a "closure" from her ex-boyfriend who ditched her without a word.

The plot was rather tame. Nothing much in terms of surprising twist or things like that.

However, this will not deter me from reading other books from this author as a friend told me this author have some real good books.

The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes by Jennifer Crusie, Anne Stuart, Eileen Dreyer

When Lizzie and Mare were still young, their eldest sister Dee kidnapped them. They ran away from their Aunt Xan who is a source of danger to them though only Dee knows what sort of danger it was.

The three sisters have special powers though they can't control their power properly yet.

Dee have the power of shape shifting. Lizzie turn things like forks into rabbits and she is aiming to turn straws into gold to help the sisters financially.

Mare have power to move things.

One day, the sisters true loves came into their life out of the blue. It was the work of their evil Aunt Xan. It caused a lot of havoc. And they have to battle it out with their Aunt in the end.

Personally, I don't like this book. It's magical but lack of the page turning power for me.

Please don't let my review affect your opinion in this book. Many others have read it and liked it. In terms of books, there is just no right or wrong. Each person have different taste in books.

Italian for Beginners by Kristin Harmel

I guess I am getting hooked with the Little Black Dress books.

In this book, Cat is younger sister is getting married and at the reception tongues are wagging about her. She is the eldest daughter and yet she is still single. Some aunts commented that she is too choosy and stuffs like that.

That is totally not true. She just had too many responsibility to deal with. Moreover, something happened in the past with her mother had affected her greatly as compared to her younger sister and father.

Deep down inside she was lonely and had wanted to have someone to love and to be loved too. Then a chance came. She was invited to go to Italy. Still she doubted. Her dad and bestie urged her on and a disastrous date gave her the umph that she needed to pluck up her courage.

Everything was confirmed and booked that is until her younger sister acted up.That was how she end up in Italy without much money in her name and no place stay after a blow up with her ex-boyfriend.

With no money and too ashamed to turn back home with her tail between her legs, she journey on.

It was a fun adventure reading this book. It gives a fresh and happier outlook in life. Gives hope that there are still some people out that who truly cares about you instead of just using you. And that all broken heart can be mended. And that bad things that happen are actually a blessing in disguise.

Yes, this is a good book to read when you are feeling down.

I think, among the 3 Little Black Dress book that I have read, this is the best.

Book Lover by Jennifer Kaufman & Karen Mack

Dora is a divorcee who is currently separated with her second husband. She is unemployed and tend to drown herself in books whenever she is unhappy.

The only time she leave the house is to refuel in bookstore. It was during one of these trips which she met Fred, a Tennyson qouting Adonis. He seems to be the perfect guy. That is till tragedy strikes. He was not what he seems to be.

It took me a week to finish this book. I keep hoping that this will get better. Unfortunately it did not.

I find that Dora is a tad too plain and pathetic. Her ex-husband and sister tried to help her out. Unfortunately Dora was too into feeling sorry for herself that she ignored their efforts.

No doubt the main character is Dora, but the whole books seems to be about Dora, Dora and more Dora. Dora the pathetic bookworm, Dora the financially unstable, Dora the loser, Dora the lover and etc.

First divorce she blames the first ex-husband who was too immature. Second divorce she blames the husband who is a society climber. And now Fred, the uncaring man. Makes me think what about herself? She is the one who choose them for all the wrong reason. Who is she to judge them?

She doesn't seems to know what she want out of this life. At first a macho husband. Then when that does not work, maybe a husband with an ambition. And when that doesn't work, she runs away again.

It is very tiring reading how she moan about everything...about how some people read their books, about her financial situation, about what some of her friends did and about how heartless of Fred. It was like she blame everyone except for herself for things that goes wrong in herself and her depression. It was not written directly in the book but that was the impression that I get when I was reading it.

This is my personal opinion only. I am sure there are others who love this book. Each person taste in books are different.

The Gap Year For Grown Ups by Annie Sanders

Sarah Lewis is married with a predictable husband, David and two grown kids who are twins. They have just moved out to go to college.

Now Sarah is having a sort of empty nest syndrome. She felt bored and frustrated of doing the same thing daily. She got married to early and had not enjoyed life before being saddle with a family to take care off. Now the kids have gone, she felt there must be something more to life than this.

One day, she just can't take it any more and she told her husband that she is leaving. She left and went to France. She stayed with her bestie. Before long, she had her music and the company of a gorgeous man. But soon, disaster struck.

This books is not your typical chit lit as it dives into issues regarding family like her daughter Claire hanging out with the wrong crowds, extra-marital affairs and the result on the family and children.

However, this book did not click with me as I find that Sarah is a very shallow woman. A rather selfish one. Although she have blabber that she have made a lot of sacrifice in the marriage, but who did not?

For me, the emotions expressed by the characters in this book were lacking of authenticity. Nothing outstanding that makes me cry or makes me laugh.

The ending was too perfect.

This may be a good read for others as each person have different preference in books

The Ivy Chronicles by Karen Quinn

Ivy Ames seems to have everything. Two lovely daughters in private school, a handsome though out of job husband and holds a high position in a corporation. Her life is near to ideal.

But in a blink of an eye, she lost almost everything. She have been retrenched from her high power position. Came home , found her husband in the arms of another woman.

With no job and no husband, her funds is running out fast. They have to make drastic adjustment. The girls being pulled out of Private School. They moved to a cheaper rent rate neighbourhood.

Ivy went for interview but the job still did not materialise.

As she was chatting with her best friend Faith, they discover a niche for Ivy. She is going to go into business. What business is that? To help upscale New Yorkers get their kids into the most exclusive kindergartens in the city.

For the first season, she selected 7 candidates. The job should have been manageable. Simple enough. Just need to coach the parents and the kids what to do and what not to do in order to get the kids accepted into the Kindergarten which they have selected. But that is where the hard part being.

Ivy unknowingly is turning into a person which she can barely recognised. She lies and she cheated. Would she wake up in time to mend her ways?

I  can't connect with the character, Ivy. At times she was a responsible mother trying her best to make ends meet but then she jumps into bed with the first guy that catches her eyes. When she was dump by one guy, she would go to another. 

The issue on getting kids in to exclusive or private school is a hot issue in many country now. Yes, the scenario portrayed in this book is pretty much believable. Parents would go to any lenght to have their kids studying in a good kiddy.

Well, there is still room for improvement in this book.

Forget Me Not by Isabel Wolff

Bought this book from Bookxcess not long ago for RM9-90.

The story is about Anna. At the sudden death of her mother, she realises that life is too short. She need to be doing something which she loves. She gave up her job at the share market to become a Garden Designer.

That very night when she gave up her work to start a "new Life" she had no idea that the new life comes with a baby .

That night she met a handsome man, Xan(Short for Alexander) and they got drunk and a new life was made.

Xan is not one who is into being tied down. At first theirs were the open kind of relationship. That is until Anna discovered that she is pregnant. Xan have news also. He was going to break up with Anna coz he was given an opportunity to go for an overseas posting. When he knew about the pregnancy, he wanted her to have an abortion. Even said that the baby might not been his.

During her pregnancy, she went for the pre-natal class alone. There, she met some interesting ladies. Most have a husband and partner. Only she and another lady, Jenny who is a single mother also. They got on well together.

When Anna gave birth, Xan was not around. Through the stages of the baby(Milly) growing up, Anna continued to e-mail Xan to up date him on Milly progress. Xan have to admit that the baby is his as she has his features.

After birth Anna had to start working again and she met some one new, Patrick. Romance blossom. But the Xan came back and seems to have taken intense dislike to Patrick. Hence start another round of dilemma. Patrick seems to be a "perfect" man but somehow, she still have some feelings towards Xan

Not a bad read. Not your typical Chit-lit also. However, there is room for improvement. Wish she had elaborate more on the part of her father and about Anna's brother, Mark. The explanation at the end was quite abrupt. There was not really anything much that build up to the grand finish.

The Stepmother by Carrie Adams

3 main characters. Bea - the ex -wife, Tessa-the future wife and James-the man

Bea and James used to be the perfect couple. In fact everyone called them Jimbean. But then Bea divorced James for some reason. In everyone eyes, she is the perfect mother. Volunteers in school and totally devoted to her kids and husband. She is the SUPERWOMAN. Then why did the perfect marriage failed?

Tessa nearing 40s and still single. She is a successful lawyer. She fell in love with James who is a divorcee with 3 kids, one which is a teenager. James seems to be the perfect man.

James,seemingly the most attentive ex-husband. In fact Bea had hopes of getting back together with him. But the suddenly James burst her bubble. He found himself a girlfriend, Tessa. Bea wanted to hate Tessa and so does her kids. In their opinion, Tessa is the evil stepmother.

Tessa, young, slim and beautiful and have a successful career as an entertainment lawyer but she is totally at lost on how to deal with the kids and the "clinging" ex-wife.

Meantime, James seems to be not taking any sides and in fact look to be running away from responsible.

But somehow, the three of them managed to find away around all the emotions.

There is really no right and wrong in this book. It depend on ones perception. At first, I hated Bea for divorcing James and then wanting him back But then later on she gave good reason.

Then I hated James for not being there when Tessa needed him and when he refuses to see reason when Tessa tried to reason with him. However, he managed to admit his mistake and he was doing what he had thought is best for everyone.

As for Tessa, she seems so childish at times. Bearing grudge against her eldest step daughter. And she have a reason to dislike the step daughter.

At first I thought this book is just another Chic-lit book. No need to use brain. But I was wrong. A lot of emotional stuffs in it. Not a book to be read when you are tired or emotionally drained.

I give this book 3 out of 5.