[MPOV] Lead Change Heart Way: A Regenerative Journey Travelling Inwards

My review: 5/5

Goodreads review: 5/5

Published: January 15, 2024

Author Koo Lily

Editor: Chuah Ai Jou

Genre: Non-fiction, self-help, motivational, inspirational, self-care

A very BIG thank you to the author and editor for the opportunity to read and explore this bright and colourful book! 

I am glad to have taken on this book review as it is unlike any other self-help books. The concept is different, so different that had me enjoying it so much! It truly is a refreshing and delightful read, not at all boring especially with the many beautiful art projects and I could participate the many action items at my own pace :-)

The book is about the author's perspective during the Movement Control Order (MCO) here in Malaysia when Covid started to spread. As we were restricted from going far then, we have all the time in the world to do whatever we want at home. 

"Koo Lily is the founder and principal consultant of  mq Training Coaching Consulting. She is an energetic, engaging, and passionate facilitator by profession."

Lily had time to indulge in her hobby and ponder on her life. The end result is this awesome book, Lead Change Heart Way: A Regenerative Journey Travelling Inwards, incorporating both her art and her written thoughts. 

Whilst reading, I can also imagine her facilitating and coaching from the book! Though I have not met her, I can sort of hear Lily as though I am in a class albeit an invisible one LOL! I honestly liked the way it was delivered which I find interesting and inspiring with the little questions at the end of each chapter. It had me pondering on the said topic and I would look back after a while to answer it. I will not divulge too much so you will have to read it to know what I mean :-)

"Shift your mind to explore the qualities which inspire you, and not solely be driven by their successes."

I do believe this book came at the right time. With so much negativity from soc-meds and life, I was a little frustrated, a little let down with a negative mindset. I was also on a crossroad, pondering on my future with retirement looming ahead. Slowly but surely, I could sort out my chaotic mind and set my sight a little better positively. Questions like "Do you have any tips for staying present in the process of change?" and "What's your outlier story?" are great action items. I'm inspired by her 3 SEEDology mindsets, among others, which helped me think positively. "Who are you grateful for?" sets the ball rolling for me, my first action item!

"We do not live just to survive, but to be alive."

If you are interested to get the book, Lead Change Heart Way is on a discounted price from now until the end of November 2024! It is going for RM60 now!!! The normal selling price is RM75. You will also be doing a good deed as 50% of the proceeds will go to a breast cancer charity!

You can click on the link below to purchase:
Lead Change Heart Way

You can also buy the book from the below platforms:

Amazon

Amazon Singapore

The Inspiration Hub

You can follow Koo Lily at: -

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/koolily

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/koo.lily

Instagram:

[MPOV] The Crooked Little Pieces: Volume 4

My rating: 3/5

Goodreads rating: 3.75/5

Published: September 2, 2024

Author: Sophia Lambton

Genre: Historical fiction, family drama

Curiosity can be a killer.

The clock begins to tick on Anneliese’s moral compass as the sleuth-psychiatrist delves deeper into London’s social dregs – encountering a playbook too subversive for her tastes. While Isabel belittles the idea of jealousy Charles Anthony views his obsession as a Jezebel. Susanna’s (other) indiscretions are hard-pressed to rest in peace as torments old and new distort her life. Headmaster Richard on the other hand sparks strife when he reviles his troublesome subordinate… again.

Repression treads with clumsy thumps on both the sisters’ souls in this suspicion-rousing feast of silent dreams: a gallery of scintillating scenes where passion and possessiveness still lurk beneath the surface.

Envy, pride, wrath and desire light a fire in The Crooked Little Pieces: Volume 4: the part inviting you to pick your poison.

Thanks to the author and publisher for this copy of The Crooked Little Pieces: Volume 4. 

It picked up from where it has left off in volume 3, with both Anneliese and Isabel single again. The former so obsessed with her client, CA Remington and the latter looking for a new challenge. Anneliese's mentor, Susana, is still in denial and Isabel's headmaster, Richard, has moved on. With the story alternating between the sister's plots, it is easy to read and navigate through their lives. 

It truly is a sibling saga of their own accord with a mix of Downtown Abbey and Dynasty, in my opinion, hence like a soap opera :-) I guess in another term, it is a family drama. I am amazed that at volume 4, the author is still able to weave more meat into the story, going in and out with the different point of views and plots. So much has happened and yet, with more to come too!

[MPOV] Queen of his Heart (Crown & Heart #2)

My rating: 4/5

Goodreads rating: 4.59/5
Publish: May 1, 2024
Author: Nikki Davenport
Genre: Romance

When dark secrets threaten the Queen he loves, betrayal is the only choice.

Why didn’t I have the good sense to walk away when I learned Khara was the Queen?

I should have said goodbye.

Stayed away.

I damn sure shouldn’t have touched her.

Now I’m in so deep I can’t imagine my world without her. Even knowing guys like me with black marks on their souls don’t get happy endings. She deserves better than the likes of me.

She’s making me yearn for things I have no right to want.

It’s a mistake to give in to the magnetic pull between us. And yet just a single taste of the sweetness that is Lytua’s Queen seals my fate.

Maybe I never had a chance.

But when dark secrets from my past threaten her life and her standing as Queen, I have to take swift action.

There’s nothing I won’t do to keep Khara safe.

So I betray the woman who’s come to mean all to me. And I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Queen of His Heart is the exciting second half of the Queen’s Desire duet. Khara and Riddick's epic love story began with Book 1 of the Crown and Heart series, International Incident.

Trigger Warning: memories of cancer and childhood trauma; profanity, graphic content; mention of SA and substance abuse; kidnapping.

Thanks to the author and LibraryThings for this copy! I hadn't realized this was book 2 but then I didn't get lost either, thankfully!

It is definitely a well written feel-good love story. From the moment Khara and Riddick met until the end, it was filled with adventure, like a roller coaster ride. It may be predictable (I had guessed the ending to be that), yet it was as emotional and full of surprise at times. I have enjoyed Khara and Riddick's journey until the end which made me felt that I've actually watched a Diva movie instead of reading it LOL! With such a lovely and warm ending to boot! If you are looking for an easy read, give this title a try but be warned that it is filled with 'lovey-dovey' stuff ya! 

[MPOV] The Girl Who Dreamed: A Hong Kong Memoir of Triumph Against the Odds.

My rating: 5/5

Goodreads rating: 4.20/5
Published: October 1, 2024
Author: Sonia Leung
Genre: Memoir

At the age of 14, Sonia Leung was raped by her ping-pong coach.

 

She had moved from China two-and-a-half years earlier to join her family in Hong Kong, but she could not fit in. The family of six lived in a cramped subdivided hut in a Kowloon squatter village but rarely communicated with each other. The difficulties of adjusting to colonial Hong Kong heightened the tensions between her parents. Feeling trapped and unloved, Sonia was too afraid to tell anyone about the rape. She saved money by working part-time at McDonald’s and, a year later, she bought a one-way plane ticket to Taipei and ran away from home.

 

The Girl Who Dreamed is a memoir of her childhood in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan – and how, through work and further education, she found her way to an independent life away from the family and world from which she needed to free herself.

Thanks to the publisher, Blacksmith Books, and the author, Sonia Leung, for this ARC in return for my honest review. It truly was an eye-opening read for me and I could not fathom what this girl has gone through and endured most of her young life!

"I became non-existent to them. If I could vanish into the air, I would not feel so empty and hungry for food, attention, validation, and love."

Interestingly, the author has made many references to famous Chinese authors and poets that somehow shaped her thoughts and life. Just a mere few sentences can be enlightening, making a good impression on someone as young as the author then. TBH, I do believe that literature can make or break someone, depending on how it was understood. 

"Only when I was a grown woman did I learn that the daughter's names would not enter the book of Leung's family genealogy."

Having brought up in an Asian family, I get it. I understand that Asian parenting is so different from way back then. However, I guess with what we have endured then, our perspective changed in bringing up our children hence Asian parenting has evolved, and some children are more entitled these days LOL! Anyhow this is just my opinion lah!

I have enjoyed yet agonized reading through this memoir. Definitely a harrowing experience at the start and I applaud her for being so brave to remember, write it down and published it. This is not an easy feat. Also, who would have thought that a teenager could travel alone to Taiwan without her chaperone?!!! I am amazed with her will power, her positive mind and gutsy personality! I do empathize especially when she could have been with Jeremy, have a ''HEA'' with their baby too. On the other hand, I am glad that her life turned out well and I do wish her the best in her future undertakings. 

Sonia, 

Thank you for sharing your story with the world.

"Writing had empowered me once. It brought on profound changes."

[MPOV] Lies and Weddings

My rating: 4/5

Goodreads rating: 3.83/5

Published: May 21, 2024

Author: Kevin Kwan 

Genre: romance, adult fiction, Asian literature, humour

"A forbidden affair erupts dramatically amid a decadent Hawaiian wedding in this hilarious, sophisticated, and thrillingly plotted story of love, money, murder, sex—and the lies we tell about them all.

 

Rufus Leung Gresham, future Earl of Greshambury and son of a former Hong Kong supermodel, has a problem: his family fortune, the legendary Gresham Trust, has been depleted by decades of profligate spending. While magazine covers and Instagram stories display impeccably designed manors and shiny new yachts, the secret reality holds nothing more than a gargantuan mountain of debt. The only solution, put forth by Rufus’s scheming mother, is for Rufus to seduce a woman with money, thereby securing the family's precarious financial future.

Should he marry Solène de Courcy, a French hotel heiress with honey-blond tresses and a royal bloodline? Should he pursue Martha Dung, the tattooed venture capital genius who passes out billions like lollipops? Or should he follow his heart, betray his family, squander his legacy, and finally confess his love to the literal girl next door, the humble daughter of a doctor, Eden Tong?

When the Gresham family descends on the Big Island of Hawaii to host a veritable who's who of sultans, barons, and oligarchs for the wedding of the decade, Rufus must merely flex his famous abs to bewitch the heiress of his choice. But instead a hot mic exposes a secret tryst, a volcanic eruption burns through the nuptials, and the Gresham family's plans—and their reputation—go up in flames.

Can the once-great earldom rise from the ashes? Or will a secret tragedy, hidden for two decades, reveal a shocking twist? Spanning the black sand beaches of Hawaii, the red city of Marrakech, the Los Angeles bachelor pad of a billionaire playboy, and the inner sanctum of England’s oldest family estate, Lies and Weddings reveals an enthralling family saga that is as scandalous and satirical as it is full of heart."

It's my first read from this author and I was surprised with the entertaining storyline! I've not read nor watched Crazy Rich Asians ya... so I was amazed with the overall outcome of this story, more so from a male author perspective.

It's about the relationship between Rufus and Eden on how it has grown and blossom. They were best of friends since small, growing up together with Rufus's sisters. Their family and friends are either their frenemy or their support. With a splash of typical Asian parenting and diva drama, it definitely adds pizzazz to the book and made it chaotic, Asian style!

"Chinese mother's show love through criticism."

TBH, the plots were predictable that I could even guess the ending, but it was still an entertaining read that it kept me flipping the pages! I do like the way it was written so it was a breeze reading this novel and it did remind me of Dynasty in Asian setting LOL! It's like a mash between Sophie Kinsella, Jesse Q Sutanto and Jackie Collins.

"He took a deep breath and gazed deep into Eden's eyes. "It's just that I'm in love with you."

The plot building and the characters in this novel, though may seemed common in reality, was relatively enthralling to say the least. With the way it was written, it sure was engaging to boot! I might look for the remaining books by this author when I have the spare time to read. If you like Asian family drama with some comedic excitement, do pick Kevin Kwan's Lies and Weddings! 

Thank you so much to Times Books and Penguin Random House for this signed copy!!!

[MPOV] Edge of Divergence (The Alliance #3)

My rating: 4/5

Goodreads rating: 5/5

Published: July 24, 2024

Author: Stefanie Chu

Genre: Fantasy fiction

"If judgment is by how I see it, I would plunge your world into chaos."

As tensions rise and friendships fracture, the bonds that once held Mirari and her comrades together are tested to their limits. In a race against time, they must navigate treacherous paths, confront their deepest fears, and commit sacrifices that will determine the future of their world. Will they find the strength to forge a new destiny or succumb to the chaos that threatens to consume everything they hold dear?

In the epic conclusion of the Alliance series, one wrong choice will forever alter the fate of the world.

Finally, I have my closure, so to speak. Edge of Divergence is the third and final Alliance series by Stefanie Chu. It continued where Mirari and the Knights left off in Birth of Resilience (The Alliance #2). Mirari has been hurt and severed ties with Gaven. An old friend (or is it foe?) suddenly appears out of the blue. The Defiant is killing more innocent civilians and The Blessed is getting the blame. The Knights are getting the bad rep and slowly Fangbane's reliability is in question too. How will it all ends?

The world being built so methodically is slowly crumbling down. I'm just glad that it all has to end somewhere and this was just one of it. I was looking forward to finish reading it but when the time comes, I sort of didn't want it to end. I wasn't expecting such ending so I was a little flummoxed and sad. Sigh!

The author has a knack with words as she could write down all those exciting moments especially the fighting scenes and not get lost of the plot! She can just weave her wand easily and her saga is complete 😂 I'm glad as I didn't get lost with the many plots and characters that entails! But the many kingdoms nearly confused me at times!

What an epic fantasy! What an ending! If you like Grishaverse or Shadowhunters, then this saga is up your alley! Thanks to Canari Publishing and the author for this awesome trilogy 😘

[MPOV] The Language of Thorns

My rating: 4/5

Goodreads rating: 4.29/5
Published: September 26, 2017
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Genre: Fantasy fiction, magical realism

Travel to a world of dark bargains struck by moonlight, of haunted towns and hungry woods, of talking beasts and gingerbread golems, where a young mermaid's voice can summon deadly storms and where a river might do a lovestruck boy's bidding but only for a terrible price.

Inspired by myth, fairy tale, and folklore, #1 New York Times—bestselling author Leigh Bardugo has crafted a deliciously atmospheric collection of short stories filled with betrayals, revenge, sacrifice, and love.

Perfect for new readers and dedicated fans, these tales will transport you to lands both familiar and strange—to a fully realized world of dangerous magic that millions have visited through the novels of the Grishaverse.

This collection of six stories includes three brand-new tales, all of them lavishly illustrated with art that changes with each turn of the page, culminating in six stunning full-spread illustrations as rich in detail as the stories themselves.

Zemeni: Ayama and the Thorn Wood --

Ravkan: The too-clever fox --

The witch of Duva --

Little knife --

Kerch: The soldier prince --

Fjerdan: When water sang fire

Love speaks in flowers. Truth requires thorns. 

This book is so damn good! There are 6 short stories about Grishaverse as mentioned in the summary above. Of all 6, I liked The Witch of Duva best! It somehow resonates with me the most :-) 

Firstly, the lovely art cover caught my eye and then there's Grishaverse mentioned. With Leigh Bardugo, I assumed nothing can go wrong but I did get worried as most of the times, authors tend to drag and drag their popular series extensively until it is high and dry. Thank goodness, this wasn't it. The short stories turned out to be interesting, unique and engaging. I was so into the stories, imagining the fantasy and enjoying it every single bit. 

I totally liked the way it was written, so simple and melodious, entertaining from the start to the end. I do find that the prose here is a little better than Six of Crows duology, the only other books I've read by Leigh Bardugo. Maybe the short story concept differs from the lengthy novels or maybe my mindset has shifted LOL! It sure was a fast read for me! Either way, if you like fairy tale, fantasy and magic, do give this book a chance. 

[MPOV] Whispers of the Wind

My rating: 4/5

Goodreads rating: 4.38/5

Published: May 24, 2024

Author: Jeyna Grace

Genre: Fantasy fiction

Aithan is now the king of Zeruko. He, and his twin sister Myra, ascended the throne after their father had died. According to many, King Daemon—ruler of Tentazoa and archenemy of Zeruko—murdered the late king. Despite the claims, Aithan refuses to believe in his father’s death.

With the desire to bring his father home, Aithan leaves Zeruko in the hands of Myra. Alongside his trusted friend Spion, Aithan travels to the realms of the universe through the magic of raindrops. From the hazardous trip behind enemy lines to the festive East Asian-esque Meihua; from the kingdom hovering above the clouds to the military-driven Bevattna; from the heterogeneous society of a tunnelled realm to Aithan’s duel with the heir of Tentazoa, every step in his journey uncovers a gem of his past, present, and future.

And in one foresight, Aithan learns the daunting fate of Zeruko that recharts his quest and redefines his role as king.

My utmost gratitude for the opportunity to read and review this awesome fantasy! It sure is another eye-opening fantasy that had me imagining a new world.

Twins Aithan and Myra rule Zeruko together after their father's disappearance/passing. However, Aithan does not believe that and decided to look for his father. He visited the many realms according to his father's journal with his loyal guard, Spion. Leaving behind Myra to rule Zeruko on her own, Aithan discovers many truths and secrets unfold. A journey both the twins hadn't anticipated that heralded this exciting novel.

I liked the various realms that was created and made the story more exciting. It sure is awesome thinking of such fantasy and wonders how it will fare on the big screen! This author sure has a huge imagination coming up with such many realms! Some of the realms do sound like the real countries we live in!

It has been written in a straightforward prose which is a huge plus due to the many characters in the various realms. I didn't get confused or lost and I did enjoy the journey Aithan ventured on. I did expect such ending so I 'm glad the author has let it end in such a manner so that she could pick it up and continue if she wants to. Overall, it was a creative awesome adventure!

[MPOV] Birth of Resilience (The Alliance #2)

My rating: 4/5

Goodreads rating: 4.47/5
Published: September 21st, 2023
Author: Stefanie Chu
Genre: Sci-fi fantasy, romance, epic fiction, young adult

Betrayal strikes deep in bonds forged in friendship and loyalty.

 

Five years after the Knights unified the empires, rebels rise from the ashes of the Althaean Siege, and Mirari and Gaven are thrust into a world of treachery and uncertainty. Gaven will stop at nothing until all members of the Blessed are captured. However, when Mirari discovers the truth about the Blessed, she is torn between her duty as Gaven’s partner and her desire to help the oppressed. Suspicion and secrets swirl, and as the weight of past regrets consumes Gaven, Mirari is forced to make heart-wrenching decisions that will forever alter her destiny.

Their loyalties are tested, bonds on the brink of shattering — will they find resilience in the face of haunting echoes, or succumb to the encroaching shadows?

I've totally enjoyed this, now knowing the past - how they have met - and eventually what happened that led to their fallout. I'm glad to have read this copy, thanks to the author!

Birth of Resilience is book 2 of The Alliance series. It's a continuation from where the Knights left off in book 1. There are more backstory and understanding of how they came to be. More of Mirari's past on how she was orphaned, how she met Salathiel and Gaven, eventually realizing her own strength and power. Her awesome journey from being a noble born and giving it all up to be a nobody, learning the ropes to survive until Salathiel went missing. Among others, there's also an insight on Mecate and Shiba's relationship which was definitely eye-opening and all. So many gaps answered in this novel!

Book 2 has more action, it's packed with loads of fighting going around with more insights of the Blessed, the Defiant and how Althaean Siege began. I began to understand more of what's going on and enjoyed the light banter/ communication/ disagreement amongst the Alliance. The Empires of Althaea, Minetta and Valenia sort of relates to the current political turmoil as in trying their best to stay neutral as one and yet trying to be the ONE to conquer the world.

Stefanie does know how to tweak and tell the story in her own signature, bringing about the new Empire in her own way. Though with many plots, it's easy to read and I didn't get lost in all those magic and war! I have so enjoyed it from the start until the end. It is so sad that it has to end that way. I sure hope more would be revealed and the conclusion would be one in my favour. I can't wait to delve into the last of the trilogy!

[MPOV] Knights of the Alliance (The Alliance #1)

My rating: 4/5

Goodreads rating: 4.37/5
Published: October 19, 2021
Author: Stefanie Chu
Genre: Sci-fi fantasy, epic fiction, young adult

Nineteen-year-old Mirari fears her magical powers more than anything else in the world. They are the reason she ran away and concealed her identity.

But when her childhood best friend, Gaven, is framed and sentenced to death, Mirari must strike a deal with the only man who can save him — Lord Fangbane.

Fangbane strongly believes that all it will take to end centuries of passive disdain is to establish a nonpartisan selection of fighters whose mission is to enforce unified peace. His efforts lead to the recruitment of elite fighters known as the Knights.

Meanwhile, Mirari and Gaven only desire to live their lives in peace, far away from the chaos of the world. Fate, however, has other plans for them as they are forced to reunite and thrust into the midst of Fangbane's quest.

As they gather a motley crew of misfits to join their cause, bonds form, and secrets are revealed. The Knights must come together not only to protect the Alliance but also the lives of their new friends.

Trust, friendship, and revenge collide in this epic tale of magic, loyalty, and bravery as our heroes fight for their survival and the greater good. Will they rise up as legends or fall as pawns in a dangerous game?

This is book 1 of The Alliance series. I have read Echos of Enmity awhile back, so I knew a little background of this series. Reading this sort of filled up the gap, understanding more of the conflict and where it all begins. My utmost gratitude to the author for this copy! Apologies for taking a while to complete it and I'm glad that I can move on to book 2.

Overall, this novel was easy to grasp even though it is thick with plots and revolved around many characters. I liked that it has been indirectly sectioned and arranged in such a way that I don't get confused. Moreover, this novel is about magical abilities that truly reminds me of Leigh Bardugo's Grishaverse that I liked!

I'm quite enthralled with the world created in this novel as the story progressed. It is fit to be on the big screen too IMO since it is sort of like an epic fantasy. I would think fresh faces would blend in perfectly as when I am reading it, I kept imagining faces I've not seen with handsome Asian-Eurasian features. I know it sounds crazy but that's just me lah!

I especially liked the little intro in the middle about Fangbane and Starlight, how they have met and why Fangbane wore a full-face helmet. It actually gave me goosebumps and made it more humanly, felt more real. 

It's quite eventful with a dash of humour and it made the novel not as bland and serious. The chaotic ending definitely would be big screen worthy with all the magic and fighting. I liked how it ended with a little promise of book 2 coming up. If you are into magical epic fantasy novels, you should pick this one up!

[MPOV] Jundi

My review: 3/5
Goodreads review: 3.78/5

Publish: June 4, 2024

Author: Ella Walker Henderson

Genre: Historical romance

My utmost gratitude to the author and LibraryThing for this e-ARC!

Firstly, I was starting to have a reading slump and couldn't get on with a sci-fi in hand. Then this novel came, just in time, as time and again has proven that a historical romance is always able to boost my reading mojo!

Jane Austen meets The Jungle Book in the midst of a colonial rebellion.

Jundi is a land of mystery and wonder. Deep in the jungle, legends of the White Tiger swirl. Some say he is a beast who rules the other animals. Others claim he symbolizes the rebels who refuse to come under colonial rule.

Gillian has lived in a colonial villa on the edge of the jungle her entire life. She has never known another home beyond the land of Jundi. When her mother decides to leave because of the stirring rebellion, Gillian will return through the only means that she can find, marriage to an officer in the military.

Max, burned by love in the past, will only consider marriage if it enhances his military career. When the old colonel’s daughter shows interest, he will gladly secure Gillian as a means to further his chance of promotion. But he doesn’t expect his heart to become entangled with his ambition.

Gillian seals her future in Jundi, but even that will not be enough to answer the call of the White Tiger within the jungle’s beating heart.

Will Gillian’s and Max’s paths align, or will the rebellion tear their lives apart?

The overall premise reminds me of a strong-willed female version of Tarzan with Alice in Wonderland vibe but with Miss Marvel and her mom in mind LOL! Don't get me wrong... it is the way they communicated sure reminds me of them LOL!

I've enjoyed the story from the start to the end and liked that this historical romance is a little different from the usual suspects. As such, it sure felt like a breath of fresh air! More context and less sex! The journey from the moment Gillian and Max meet to their rushed wedding and the eventual understanding of each other, falling in love and all... it was such a lovely happy ever after! 

Now, back to that half read sci-fi!!!

[MPOV] The House of Doors

My rating: 5/5
Goodreads rating: 4.15/5
Published: May 4, 2023

Author: Tan Twan Eng

Genre: Historical fiction, Asian lit, LGBT

From the bestselling, Booker Prize-shortlisted author of The Garden of Evening Mists, a spellbinding novel about love and betrayal, colonialism and revolution, storytelling and redemption.

The year is 1921. Lesley Hamlyn and her husband, Robert, a lawyer and war veteran, are living at Cassowary House on the Straits Settlement of Penang. When “Willie” Somerset Maugham, a famed writer and old friend of Robert's, arrives for an extended visit with his secretary Gerald, the pair threatens a rift that could alter more lives than one.

Maugham, one of the great novelists of his day, is beleaguered: Having long hidden his homosexuality, his unhappy and expensive marriage of convenience becomes unbearable after he loses his savings-and the freedom to travel with Gerald. His career deflating, his health failing, Maugham arrives at Cassowary House in desperate need of a subject for his next book. Lesley, too, is enduring a marriage more duplicitous than it first appears. Maugham suspects an affair, and, learning of Lesley's past connection to the Chinese revolutionary, Dr. Sun Yat Sen, decides to probe deeper. But as their friendship grows and Lesley confides in him about life in the Straits, Maugham discovers a far more surprising tale than he imagined, one that involves not only war and scandal but the trial of an Englishwoman charged with murder. It is, to Maugham, a story worthy of fiction.

A mesmerizingly beautiful novel based on real events, The House of Doors traces the fault lines of race, gender, sexuality, and power under empire, and dives deep into the complicated nature of love and friendship in its shadow.

My utmost gratitude to Revitalize Books for the chance to read and savour this awesome book! It was such a pleasure reading every single chapter of this novel. I was fully transported back to the 20's... the swinging time when Penang was in its prime with many "angmohs" calling it their home.

There are many stories about Penang in the market, but this one was exceptional in my opinion. I liked how the story was told and the many characters that brought the story to life. Lesley and Robert, Willie and Gerald, even Sun Yat Sen made a cameo appearance. When Lesley decided to bare her soul to Willie, it was truly bizarre yet melancholy, a ''expect the unexpected'' moment for me. 

Mr. Tan truly knows his ways with words. Every prose so meticulously penned and yet the story flourished easily. I liked the extra touch where some Bahasa Melayu was added. It definitely localized the story more, giving it more depth and realistic. It was definitely an easy read even with the many incidents that transpired with the many characters involved.  

I am so happy to have finished this novel, one that I was looking forward to as I have enjoyed the previous 2, The Garden of Evening Mist and The Gift of Rain, a lot!!! I just hope that I don't have to wait another 8 years for the 4th one to be out LOL! If you like historical romance in Asian setting, do pick this one up. In case if you are not aware, there are some LGBT elements to the story so be forewarned ya...

[MPOV] Tuesday's Gone (Freida Klein #2)

My rating: 3/5

Goodreads rating: 3.96/5
Published: January 1, 2012
Author: Nicci French
Genre: Mystery, thriller, crime fiction

A London social worker makes a routine home visit only to discover her client serving afternoon tea to a naked, decomposing corpse. With no clues as to the dead man’s identity, Chief Inspector Karlsson again calls upon Frieda for help. She discovers that the body belongs to Robert Poole, con man extraordinaire. But Frieda can’t shake the feeling that the past isn’t done with her yet. Did someone kill Poole to embroil her in the investigation? And if so, is Frieda herself the next victim?

Nicci French used to be one of my favourite mystery crime authors. I still have a few unread titles on my bookshelf, so I thought to revisit this author. Maybe I have aged, or my palate has changed, as it has turned out to be an average read for me now.

Tuesday's Gone is the second book from the Freida Klein's series. I have not read any from this series and it can be read as a standalone as I didn't feel the gap. It somehow reminds me of the many female detective series like Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta or Ann Cleeve's Vera Stanhope, though on a different setting / premise. It definitely suited as a TV miniseries with the way it was written with all the extra fillers / subplots. Hence, I just couldn't wait to finish the book, to get to the end. The ending though, was kinda confusing for me as it sort of did a round robin and then the killer was found... so much for the anticipation. I do think that it will pan out nicely on TV though. 

Anyway, there are many new cozy mysteries popping up, I am spoilt for choice now! So, I plan to pick up books from my TBR piles on and off with the hopes to finish it all and not hoard any more books *fingers crossed* So, here's 1 of the many...

[MPOV] Finding Chika: a little girl, an earthquake, and the making of a family.

My rating: 5/5

Goodreads rating: 4.46/5
Published: November 5, 2019
Author: Mitch Albom
Genre: non-fiction, memoir. inspirational

" Mitch Albom has done it again with this moving memoir of love and loss. You can’t help but fall for Chika. A page-turner that will no doubt become a classic.” --Mary Karr, author of The Liars’ Club and The Art of Memoir From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Tuesdays With Morrie comes Mitch Albom’s most personal story to an intimate and heartwarming memoir about what it means to be a family and the young Haitian orphan whose short life would forever change his heart.  Chika Jeune was born three days before the devastating earthquake that decimated Haiti in 2010. She spent her infancy in a landscape of extreme poverty, and when her mother died giving birth to a baby brother, Chika was brought to The Have Faith Haiti Orphanage that Albom operates in Port Au Prince.

With no children of their own, the forty-plus children who live, play, and go to school at the orphanage have become family to Mitch and his wife, Janine. Chika’s arrival makes a quick impression. Brave and self-assured, even as a three-year-old, she delights the other kids and teachers. But at age five, Chika is suddenly diagnosed with something a doctor there says, “No one in Haiti can help you with.”

Mitch and Janine bring Chika to Detroit, hopeful that American medical care can soon return her to her homeland. Instead, Chika becomes a permanent part of their household, and their lives, as they embark on a two-year, around-the-world journey to find a cure. As Chika’s boundless optimism and humor teach Mitch the joys of caring for a child, he learns that a relationship built on love, no matter what blows it takes, can never be lost.

Told in hindsight, and through illuminating conversations with Chika herself, this is Albom at his most poignant and vulnerable. Finding Chika is a celebration of a girl, her adoptive guardians, and the incredible bond they formed—a devastatingly beautiful portrait of what it means to be a family, regardless of how it is made.

I had recently loss my furkid, Minnie, hence it was kinda hard and yet somehow it felt right to read this memoir. Life is a cycle from when you were born to when you die. Yet at times we tend to ponder on what if's or if only's, signs of regret at times, melancholy at others... the signs of grieving. 

The most precious thing you can give someone is your time, Chika, because you can never get it back. When you don't think about getting back, you've given it in love.

Anyway, I do find that it was truly well written, much better than Morrie's, maybe experiencing it first-hand brings out the best in the author, so to speak. Infused with many details to remember Chika by, in all her finest and hoping to never forget. It sure triggers the same with my mind wandering thinking of my dad and my furkid. My dad has passed away more than 10 years ago and to this day I still misses him though it isn't as raw as Minnie's as it has eased over time.

She broke down, sobbing, and my heart snapped in two, because I knew how hard that was to say. And I knew that you would listen to her. Two breaths. One.

A book I would highly recommend but do expect lots of sadness especially towards the end. If you are like me, a tissue box should be placed next to you. Some might not like the many treatments Chika had to endure to stay alive so do skip if you are not on the same page. 

[MPOV] The Inmate

My rating: 4/5

Goodreads rating: 4.10/5

Published: March 5, 2024

Author: Freida McFadden

Genre: Mystery, thriller, adult fiction

A gripping, twisty thriller from Freida McFadden, the New York Times author of The Housemaid and The Coworker!

The guiltiest people aren't always the ones behind bars…

As a new nurse practitioner at a maximum-security prison, Brooke Sullivan is taught three crucial rules: 

Treat all prisoners with respect.

Never reveal any personal information. 

Never EVER become too friendly with the inmates.

But nobody knows that Brooke has already broken the rules. Nobody knows about her intimate connection to Shane Nelson, one of the penitentiary's most notorious and dangerous inmates.

They certainly don't know that Shane was Brooke's high school sweetheart—the star quarterback, the golden boy who's serving a life sentence for a series of grisly murders. Or that Brooke's testimony was what put him there.

But Shane knows. He knows more than anyone. And he will never forget.

The Inmate is a propulsive, mind-bending thriller about how we define guilt—and who has to pay for it, from New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden.

Tons of gratitude to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for this awesome e-ARC!!! I'm so glad for this chance and I've truly enjoyed the novel! Such an awesome ride to the unbeknownst!

It was an anxious start that had me felt nerve-wrecking and thinking what I have gotten myself into. The desire to stop is there as well as the anticipation on what is to come. As I flipped the pages, I slowly find it to sound a little like Sarah Michelle Gellar's 'I know what you did last summer' LOL!!! However, the more it progressed, the more confused I was on who did it?! Thankfully it's the e version so I couldn't just flip to the back to know how it ends :-)

I liked the clarity of the story, how it was written and identified past or present day. This novel does go back and forth in order to know what happened before and after. The author sure knows how to keep us guessing and guessing, without giving much away, only little nibling bits here and there! I am surprised at how it ended, not knowing who to believe from when it happened and then the unexpected suddenly pop-up! I was pleasantly surprised with the actual outcome!

I liked the overall premise of this novel though it isn't as dark or sinister, yet it was troubling and scary. I have only read her other novel, The Coworker, so I can't compare this with any of the author's work, but I did enjoy this one with a different depth to it. If you are looking for a mindboggling read, The Inmate is a good one to try from Freida McFadden.

[MPOV] Secrets of Castle Rowley (Rowley Family #1)

My rating: 3/5

Goodreads rating: 4.43/5
Published: October 31, 2023
Author: Matilda Lockwood
Genre: Historical fiction, romance, mystery

Annabel Barlow isn’t interested in handsome princes or fairytale weddings—all she wants is to curl up with a good book.

When unexpected events turn her world upside down, she enlists the help of new friends— a clever one-eyed woodcarver, a confident laundress, a sullen baron’s son, and a cheeky maid. A romance blossoms, and amidst the unfolding adventure, the group uncovers dark secrets lurking in the castle’s past.

Overall, it was a historical romance fiction that is filled with many secrets and adventures. With a mix of exuberant and melancholy feels, the storyline is not the usual girl meets boy type and it did get complicated in between. Also, the many characters involved and the many things going on truly had me thinking of a Diva Channel series LOL! If not for the romance trope, I would have thought it's a Young Adult novel. I did wish for a faster pace though as it was kinda dry and slow in the middle.

If you are looking for a refreshing romance read, do give this novel a try. 

I've received this e-copy from LibraryThings with much gratitude.

[MPOV] The Dutch House

My rating: 3/5

Goodreads rating: 4.1/5
Published: September 24, 2019
Author: Ann Patchett
Genre: Historical fiction, family drama

At the end of the Second World War, Cyril Conroy combines luck and a single canny investment to begin an enormous real estate empire, propelling his family from poverty to enormous wealth. His first order of business is to buy the Dutch House, a lavish estate in the suburbs outside of Philadelphia. Meant as a surprise for his wife, the house sets in motion the undoing of everyone he loves.

The story is told by Cyril’s son Danny, as he and his older sister, the brilliantly acerbic and self-assured Maeve, are exiled from the house where they grew up by their stepmother. The two wealthy siblings are thrown back into the poverty their parents had escaped from and find that all they have to count on is one another. It is this unshakable bond between them that both saves their lives and thwarts their futures.

Set over the course of five decades, The Dutch House is a dark fairy tale about two smart people who cannot overcome their past. Despite every outward sign of success, Danny and Maeve are only truly comfortable when they’re together. Throughout their lives, they return to the well-worn story of what they’ve lost with humor and rage. But when at last they’re forced to confront the people who left them behind, the relationship between an indulged brother and his ever-protective sister is finally tested.

This novel has won many literary awards. One would wonder why which is why I have bought it to satisfy my curiosity. Also, it has an attractive cover to boot. The story is narrated by Danny, which is about his family, the Conroys, from dad Cyril, mom Elna, sister Maeve and eventually stepmom Andrea with her daughters Norma and Bright. It revolves around the house they live in namely the Dutch House. 

Though the pace is a wee bit slow for me, I can see why it was nominated and has won many awards. The author took the time to describe the scenarios with clarity, making sure the readers understand it perfectly. The plot itself was methodically placed with care that everything falls into place neatly. Truth be told, it was like a family biography or legacy being told which happens to be surrounded around where they live in. 

If you like family dramas, then you should try The Dutch House. It was just too slow for me, slower than the usual movies on Diva channel so I tend to yawn more. It did feels like reading something educational and yet it is fiction, so to speak. 

[MPOV] Spirits Abroad

My rating: 3/5

Goodreads rating: 4.20/5
Published: June 21st, 2014
Author: Zen Cho
Genre: ghost stories, magical realism, short stories, sci-fi fantasy, anthologies

"If you live near the jungle, you will realize that what is real and what is not real is not always clear. In the forest there is not a big gap between the two."

A Datin recalls her romance with an orang bunian. A teenage pontianak struggles to balance homework, bossy aunties, first love, and eating people. An earth spirit gets entangled in protracted negotiations with an annoying landlord, and Chang E spins off into outer space, the ultimate metaphor for the Chinese diaspora.

Straddling the worlds of the mundane and the magical, Spirits Abroad collects ten science fiction and fantasy stories with a distinctively Malaysian sensibility.

This is a collection of 10 short stories about the Malaysian spirits, folklores and the likes written by Zen Cho. There is no doubt that she writes pretty well but I just wasn't into some of the stories. I seemed to be reading this in the wrong month too LOL! Overall, it was entertaining to a point, but such spirits/ghosts' stories are just not my cup of tea.

I've listed the 10 titles here so that you know what to expect lah.

1. The First Witch of Damansara

2. First National Forum on the Position of Minorities in Malaysia

3. The House of Aunts

4. One-day Travelcard for Fairyland

5. Rising Lion - The Lion Bows

6. The Mystery of the Suet Swain

7. Prudence and the Dragon

8. The Earth Spirit's Favorite Anecdote

9. Liyana

10. The Four Generations of Chang E

I've enjoyed a few like no 2, 3 and 7. If you like stories by Tunku Halim or Ee Leen Lee, then you should give this book a try.

[MPOV] Where the Crawdads Sing

My rating: 5/5

Goodreads rating: 4.39/5
Published: August 14, 2018
Author: Delia Owens
Genre: historical fiction, romance

For years, rumors of the “Marsh Girl” haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet fishing village. Kya Clark is barefoot and wild; unfit for polite society. So in late 1969, when the popular Chase Andrews is found dead, locals immediately suspect her.

But Kya is not what they say. A born naturalist with just one day of school, she takes life's lessons from the land, learning the real ways of the world from the dishonest signals of fireflies. But while she has the skills to live in solitude forever, the time comes when she yearns to be touched and loved. Drawn to two young men from town, who are each intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new and startling world—until the unthinkable happens.

In Where the Crawdads Sing, Owens juxtaposes an exquisite ode to the natural world against a profound coming of age story and haunting mystery. Thought-provoking, wise, and deeply moving, Owens’s debut novel reminds us that we are forever shaped by the child within us, while also subject to the beautiful and violent secrets that nature keeps.

The story asks how isolation influences the behavior of a young woman, who like all of us, has the genetic propensity to belong to a group. The clues to the mystery are brushed into the lush habitat and natural histories of its wild creatures.

This book reminds me of Tarzan, a female version with a different premise. It may sound unrealistic at the start but as the story progressed, it turned out to be an amazing one! Indeed, a great book to kickstart my first read of the year 2024!

In summary, Kya was abandoned by her family when she was young and has been surviving on her own in the marsh. As she grew older, Tate comes along and befriended her, teaching her how to read since she didn't attend school. When Tate did not return as promised during his university breaks, Kya was devastated as she had been abandoned again. Along came Chase who tried to woo and eventually bedded Kya successfully. Unfortunately, another sad turn as she found out that Chase was getting married from the newspapers. As the story unfolds progressively, it shows the strength and will power of a young girl who survived her childhood to adulthood on her own.

Go as far as you can - way out yonder where the crawdads sing.

The overall story was bizarre and there were gaps initially but as the story progressed once she hits adulthood, it definitely felt relevant. The little flaws do not maketh the story poor and it sure was an engaging journey learning how a little girl survived on her own. It may not sound as logical, similarly to Tarzan, and yet it was intriguing enough. I am just glad of the outcome at the end, though I had my own suspicions, I was still amazed at how it ended albeit a little rushed/short. 

I have read lots of rave reviews of this novel, so I was a little skeptical initially as I didn't want to be disappointed and felt that it's overrated. I have experienced such sad outcome of late, so I have lowered my expectations lah. Thankfully, this novel just got better and better! I liked how the author has written and paced the journey which do keep me interested. I was anxious to know how it ends and yet I did not want to flip the pages. I wanted to read it continuously until the end, not wanting to miss a thing! I'm just glad to have completed it and rated it 5/5 according to my satisfied palate. 

And I'll hide the maid in a cypress tree, when the footstep of death is near.

I understand that it has made it to the big screen, but I have yet to watch it. If you have read the book and watch the adaptation, was it as good as the book? I have gotten my copy from Revitalize Books, an online books-for-rent shop. I'm happy to be able to read more and not own as many books. The lesser the hoarding, the better lah LOL! My reading target for this year is 30 books, an increase of 5 from 25 last year. I sure hope to read more from my TBR this time and not buy any more books *fingers crossed* LOL! What is your reading goal this new year?

[MPOV] Piranesi

My rating: 2/5

Goodreads rating: 4.23
Published: September 15, 2020
Author: Susanna Clarke
Genre: magical realism, mythology fiction, sci-fi fantasy

Piranesi’s house is no ordinary building: its rooms are infinite, its corridors endless, its walls are lined with thousands upon thousands of statues, each one different from all the others. Within the labyrinth of halls an ocean is imprisoned; waves thunder up staircases, rooms are flooded in an instant. But Piranesi is not afraid; he understands the tides as he understands the pattern of the labyrinth itself. He lives to explore the house.

There is one other person in the house—a man called The Other, who visits Piranesi twice a week and asks for help with research into A Great and Secret Knowledge. But as Piranesi explores, evidence emerges of another person, and a terrible truth begins to unravel, revealing a world beyond the one Piranesi has always known.

I'll admit it, I am not a fan. I practically speed read through it! Definitely one that I nearly DNF but continued just to see how it ends. At the start, I thought it's a Circe (Madeline Miller) kinda story but as it progressed, I find it a little confusing and it got me yawning mostly. This book reminds me of Tom Hank's Cast Away, a movie which I have not watch until today. It truly isn't my cup of tea. 

In a nutshell, this is my take btw, it's a story about Matthew who has been missing for more than 6 years and the police was still trying to locate him after getting a tipoff. He has been kidnapped and brainwashed into thinking he's from a different world. When he was found, he was reluctant to go home to his family thinking that the real world was not real. He sorts of becoming like Jekyll and Hyde i.e.  having 2 personalities in one body.

The author does have a way with words, as such I have rated it a little better. I would have thought that Piranesi is real until it got weirder and weirder. The story was mostly from 1 narrative until he discovers there are others in his world. That's when it slowly digressed away and I wasn't as interested, only wanting to know how the story ends. If you had enjoyed Cast Away and I am Legend, then this novel might suit your tastebud.

''The Beauty of the House is immeasurable; it's Kindness infinite.''