Teduhan Kasih by Marissa

Teduhan Kasih by Marissa
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Teduhan Kasih merupakan novel pertama daripada penulis Marissa yang aku baca and I think this is her second book. First impression is very important to capture readers' interest to buy more from the same author. I don't know about her first novel, tapi novel kedua ini memang superb.

Novel ini menceritakan kehidupan yang ditanggung oleh seorang isteri mengandung yang baru kehilangan suami; kehilangan as in diceraikan. Iffa was described as an isteri yang solehah, from what we can see and apparently, that's not what her husband wanted. Di dalam diam, suaminya, Ryzal mempunyai hubungan dengan kawan baik Iffa, Ayu. Disebabkan Ayu tidak rela bermadu, she asked Ryzal to choose... and he chose Ayu. Iffa balik ke rumah ibu tirinya and she ended up being tortured. Adui... terseksa membaca part before baby lahir ne.

Ehsan used to be a womanizer and drinker. Takdir telah menjadikan dia sebagai penyelamat Iffa semasa dia sedang sarat mahu melahirkan anak. Orang-orang di hospital tu pun thought that Ehsan was the father so dia dibawa masuk ke labour room. Creepy...

Kelahiran Adam membawa makna baru dalam hidup Ehsan sampai dia mengelarkan dirinya Papa kepada Adam. He even suggested the baby's name. I suka sangat dengan perwatakan Ehsan and his character development was brilliantly written. Dari seorang yang tak ada moral kepada seorang bapa yang bertanggungjawab, dan kemudiannya menjadi suami yang pengasih... dan akhirnya sedar daripada kealpaanya sebelum mengenali Iffa.

One thing that I tak suka sangat... the part di mana Iffa membiarkan orang sekililingnya menyangka Adam adalah anak hasil perhubungan sulitnya dengan Ehsan. Hmm... Tau la dia nak menyakitkan hati orang yang berkenaan tapi cara ini, bagi I, menjatuhkan maruahnya and I don't like that. The truth was hidden far longer than it should be.

I'm really unsure how I feel about Iffa's character. I like her as a wife, tapi I tak suka at the beginning tu dia macam tak ada maruah. Merayu-rayu even setelah dimaki. Stress I baca that part. Selepas bersama Ehsan, she's becoming more likable.

Seperti yang saya baca dalam review sebelum ini, memang this novel isn't suitable for underage readers and even some yang dah cukup umur are not comfortable with the image the author dah lakar. For me, I'm not really bothered by this sebab novel Inggeris banyak yang menceritakan lebih detail... tapi bila membaca novel Melayu ne, feelnya lain and weird. Some things are acceptable, but some are not, seperti part strip dancing tu. I think this is the first Malay novel yang ada babak-babak daring dari husband and wife... well -- at least the one that I have read la.

Dan lagi... seperti yang sudah kena mentioned, terdapat satu kesilapan di dalam novel ne. Memang ketara sangat... In one of the chapters, Ehsan bantu Iffa untuk melakukan solat and in the same chapter yang I think lewat beberapa minit selepas tu, Iffa cakap dia bendera merah... Contradicting.

I have satu kemusykilan... Selepas Iffa, Adam and Ehsan balik dari Kuching, Ehsan planned nak bawa mereka overseas and mentioned something like everything dah settle, tinggal nak uruskan passport Iffa and Adam. Kalau baru nak buat, macam mana Iffa and Adam can naik flight ke Kuching? I don't know if Malaysia ada dua passports (for within Malaysia or for international use) or maybe you don't need a passport untuk naik flight within Malaysia. Confuse I...

Lagi satu kemusykilan... Dari apa yang Iffa cakap, macam tak ada apa-apa bad dalam perkahwinan diorang recently tapi selepas she was divorced, banyak flashback Iffa showed kenangan buruk bersama si bekas suami. Apa yang bahagianya kalau dia kena treat buruk macam tu. Belit-belit...

The thing that I like and enjoy the most about this novel is when the attempts si Ayu nak buat untuk sakitkan hati Iffa tu selalu gagal. It's fun and amusing. Selalunya watak baik ne senang je dimanipulate oleh watak antagonis, tapi here that is not the case.

Watak-watak antagonis dalam novel ne, nauzubillah, ramai! Semua mendapat pembalasan, tetapi tak semua sedar dengan kesilapan diorang and still stay jahat... very unusual, really...

Style penulisan, for me, ditahap average. Kadang-kadang I have goosebumps membaca certain part sebab for me seperti sedikit kebudak-budakan and banyak repitition. Despite that, it's still readable.

Highly recommended. Plot wise, amazing.

P/S: Drama novel ne dah ada! Adi Putra as Papa Ehsan. :D


Sinopsis:

"Kau ingat dengan anak ni kau boleh paksa aku ubah keputusan aku? Kau nak ugut aku dengan anak kau ni? Eh! Kau jangan haraplah aku akan ikut kehendak kau. Aku tetap ceraikan kau!" -RYZAL.

Sampainya hati Ryzal, hanya kasihnya sudah tertumpah buat Ayu teman baikku sendiri, tergamak dia menyingkirkan aku dalam keadaan begini. Ketika aku mengandungkan anaknya, dia melafazkan talak.

Dan ketika aku merasakan aku sudah tiada siapa-siapa lagi di dunia ini dan jalan yang bakal aku lalui sangat gelap, dia hadir menyuluh kegelapan itu. Sekali gus meletakkan aku di tengah-tengah persimpangan di antara keikhlasan dan kenangan semalam.

"Sebab kita ada Adam. Kita nikah sebab Adam. Apapun yang berlaku, kita hanya fikirkan tentang Adam. Lagipun abang dah bosan hidup begini. Hidup abang benar-benar kosong. Tapi sejak abang kenal Adam, seperti hidup abang terisi dengan sesuatu. Abang mahu kita hidup sebagai sebuah keluarga. Abang tahu pintu hari Iffa tidak akan terbuka untuk mana-mana lelaki lagi, tapi tolong fikirkan cadangan abang ini." -EHSAN.

Aku benar-benar terperangkap. Sedangkan lelaki yang aku cintai separuh nyawa juga dengan mudah berlaku curang. Inikan pula dia, lelaki yang aku sendiri sedia maklum akan masa lampaunya yang kotor. Kelak akan adakah bahagia untuk aku dan anakku? Namun aku tahu hanya dengan Ehsan saja kami menumpang teduh.

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Inner Harbor by Nora Roberts

Inner Harbor by Nora Roberts
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Chesapeake Bay Series revolve around the Quinn Brothers; three troubled boys who were saved by a couple. Ray and Stella Quinn, who couldn't have their own. Three boys who shared dark pasts were brought into a new environment that's filled with warmth. A new member of this family was brought into the mix shortly before Ray Quinn's death.

Inner Harbor answered every questions arose when you read the previous two books. This time, the third bad boy took the main hero part. Phillip Quinn was the sophisticated one of the whole bunch; he's the kind of guy who appreciate quality of a 3-piece suit, good wine and he's the only one who actually have a job outside of the newly formed boat-building business of the Quinn brothers.

Dr. Sybill Griffin was a well-known sociologist and had written books on Urban Life (which Phillip actually read). She resided in St. Chris to study the life pattern of a rural area... and she also had another agenda: to "spy" on Seth Quinn. I found it hard to keep up with this woman's train of thoughts... as I'm the kind that doesn't care much about all these scientific facts. I did find one scene funny in regards to this; the part where she "hired" Seth to help her with her project. I found myself laughing when the people approached Seth stopped to see what he was looking at before actually asking him.

Sybill found herself mesmerized by the Quinn; their way of life was way different than the one she was used to. They're loud, swore a lot, rough, but she could still see the love they have for one another. I do love the interactions between all the Quinns, plus the wives and baby Aubrey. They just fit!

I love the way Phillip courted Sybill. It was smooth... Apparently, he's the first person who can make her mind stop working. The funny part was when she tried to think while he was seducing her.

I love the development of Sybill's character. She was polite and well-mannered at first... towards the end, she still all those but she loosen up a bit. I didn't think that foul words would come out of that mouth of hers. The part when she protected Seth from Gloria was probably the part that I read so many times over the year. The awe Seth was feeling made me teary for some reason. Also the part when Seth had the glimpse of his past with Sybill when he was four was heart-wrenching.

If you read the first and second installment, you will surely enjoy reading this one. Every answer to the question arose is in this book, the main question would be: Who was Seth to Ray?

Everything about this novel is great. A highly recommended!


Synopsis:


#1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts presents the final novel in the captivating trilogy of three brothers who have come together in a time of need. They honored their father's wish to raise young Seth as their own. And with all of the brothers home again, the Quinn family has never been so strong. But in the months to come, their strength is tested -- once again...

Phillip Quinn had done everything to make his life seem perfect. With his career on the fast track and a condo overlooking the Inner Harbor, his life on the street was firmly in the past. But one look at Seth and he's reminded of the boy he once was...Phillip has intended to fulfill his father's dying request and considered Seth to be a duty. He never expected he would grow to love Seth, and soon his promise to his father became more than just obligation.

Seth's future as a Quinn seems assured -- until a stranger arrives in town. She claims to be researching St. Christopher's for her new book, but the true objects of study are the Quinns. Her cool reserve intrigues Phillip. He is determined to uncover her motives, but she is holding a secret that has the power to threaten the life the brothers have made for Seth. A secret that could tear the family apart... forever...

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Rising Tides by Nora Roberts

Rising Tides by Nora Roberts
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Chesapeake Bay Series revolve around the Quinn Brothers; three troubled boys who were saved by a couple. Ray and Stella Quinn, who couldn't have their own. Three boys who shared dark pasts were brought into a new environment that's filled with warmth. A new member of this family was brought into the mix shortly before Ray Quinn's death.

Rising Tides is the second part of this series. It tells a story about the second troubled boy, Ethan who was the most quiet of the three brothers. The story continues shortly after Anna and Cameron's wedding. Apparently, the "ghost" of Ray Quinn decided to "nag" Ethan after Cameron found his soulmate. If you plan on reading this book, I suggest you read "Sea Swept" first because I don't think people would get the part about Seth, the fourth troubled boy of Ray Quinn.

I love this book as much as I do the first one. The first book shows Ethan as a serious and calm one of all the brothers. It's revealed that Ethan shared Seth's past the most, however unlike Seth, Ethan had experienced what Seth had managed to avoid. It was heart-wrenching and I was trying not to flinch at the picture Ethan was projecting.

I love the fact that we get to see Anna after she married Cam. She was more easygoing here... I guess in the first book she was trying hard not to be herself when she was around the brothers. I love her playing matchmaker for Ethan and Grace. I love Cam caught on all her acts. I love that Ethan showed his genuine love for his sister in law. Well -- It's obvious that I love Anna. :P

With Cam and Anna, we've seen a direct courting... It's totally different with Ethan and Grace. It was apparent that these two shared the same feeling for ages but both hadn't act on it. I can't say I enjoy much of the slow progress they were making, but it flowed well towards the end. His proposal made me forget about the negative feelings I had for the couple.

I also love the interactions between Ethan and little Aubrey.

Highly recommended!



Synopsis:

New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts presents the second novel in the dramatic trilogy of three men who return home to honor their father's last wish—to care for Seth, a troubled boy in need of a family. Coming home has taught the brothers more than they ever dreamed about the meaning of family and responsibility. Now it is time to learn the meaning of acceptance and love...

Of the three brothers, it was Ethan who shared his father's passion for the Maryland shore. And now with his father gone, Ethan is determined to make the family boatbuilding business a success. But amidst his acheivements lie the most important challenges of his life...

There is young Seth, who needs him more than ever. And a woman he has always loved but never believed he could have. But beneath Ethan's seemingly still waters is a dark and painful past. He must learn to see around the shadows to accept who he is. Because through Ethan's past lies the future—and his one chance at happiness...

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Sea Swept by Nora Roberts

Sea Swept by Nora Roberts
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Chesapeake Bay Series revolve around the Quinn Brothers; three troubled boys who were saved by a couple. Ray and Stella Quinn, who couldn't have their own. Three boys who shared dark pasts were brought into a new environment that's filled with warmth. A new member of this family was brought into the mix shortly before Ray Quinn's death.

Sea Swept is the first of this series. It tells a story about the eldest of the Quinn brothers, Cameron. He returned to his hometown after receiving a message saying that his father was dying. He came back only to witness the death of his father... but not before he made Cameron, Phillip and Ethan promise to care for the new boy he took in.

Ray Quinn's dying wish brought the brothers back under one roof; their main concern was the new boy, Seth Quinn. Seth Quinn was rumored to be Ray Quinn's biological son from another woman, which angered the Quinn brothers. They couldn't believe that their father, a loving husband and father, cheated on their late mother. However, when they look into the kid's eyes, each of them couldn't deny the small doubt they had for their father's loyalty towards their mother.

This whole situation brought Anna Spinelli into the Quinn brothers' lives. Anna Spinelli was the social worker assigned to take on Seth's case and apparently she has the "power" to decide if the Quinn had the right to adopt the boy. Cameron found himself falling for the sexy social worker...

I love the overall story. While it focuses on the relationship between Cameron and Anna, Nora Roberts managed to bring the other three brothers into the mix and while reading, I feel like I already know them. The brothers were all good looking, rough, and they really swear a lot.

I love the transition of Cameron's character: From being a player to a very responsible head of family. I love his interactions with his brothers, and I found their awkwardness when they tried to show their love for one another amusing. I also love the development of Seth's trust for his brothers.

Anna Spinelli, on the other hand, was one tough lady. She reminded me so much of Lois Lane from Superman. She's quick-witted and she seemed to know how to take care of herself... and apparently, she shared a dark past like all the Quinn boys which made her compatible with them... I guess.

Needless to say, this novel is a must read!


Synopsis:

Cameron Quinn is a champion boat racer who travels the world and enjoys a lifestyle soaked in champagne and women. As a child, Cameron survived abuse before he was adopted by the Quinns after they caught him almost stealing their car. Now Cameron is called back to his childhood hometown of St. Christopher's on the Chesapeake Bay, his father dying from a car accident. He has to leave his reckless life of a daredevil behind and fulfill his father's wishes for him to take care of Seth, a troubled young boy who isn't unlike Cameron once was. Like Cameron and his two brothers - Ethan and Phillip - Seth was adopted by Raymond Quinn in a difficult period of his life.

Cameron has to learn to live with his brothers once again, which isn't easy for three powerful men well accustomed to their own lives. Soon the blossoming Boats by Quinn unites the four Quinns in a craft taught to them by Ray. Problems arise as it becomes apparent that Seth's fate lies in the hands of a beautiful social worker, Anna Spinelli, and while the brothers fight for the right to adopt, Cameron soon finds himself drawn to the warm, driven social worker. While at first speculative, Anna quickly sees that these three men whose murky pasts mirror Seth's are the best caretakers for the spooky, haunted boy. Her immediate attraction to Cameron, while unwelcome, isn't something she can ignore. Meanwhile, Cameron struggles to move past the rhythm of life he was forced to sacrifice and earn the trust of a battered young boy whose story has yet to be told.

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Cinta Perisa Dia by Lynn Dayana

Cinta Perisa Dia by Lynn Dayana
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Novel Cinta Perisa Dia (CPD) ini adalah novel ketiga Lynn Dayana yang I read. Before this, I've read Tarikh Luput Cinta (TLC) and Cinta Edisi Terhad (CET). I didn't like those two books, so after that, I memang avoid dari membeli novel Lynn Dayana. This time, I tergerak hati nak beli this novel sebab semasa baca sinopsis cerita, I dapati the tema is a bit unusual... but then again, her TLC and CET pun agak pelik juga.

Cerita bermula apabila seorang penyanyi terkenal, Hadif Imran didesak oleh bondanya untuk menamatkan zaman bujangnya. Oleh kerana Hadif ambil ringan dengan desakkan itu, si bonda decided to create her own reality show called "Rancangan Mencari Menantu". I guess tema ini yang mendorong saya untuk membaca novel ini... However, I'm very disappointed with the writer kerana omit most of the show. Setiap babak rancangan mostly akan berakhir dengan persoalan dan jawapannya kita dapati setelah rancangan itu berakhir. I guess writer wanted to create suspense, tetapi I feel very annoyed when a chapter ended with this sort of scene and then another chapter started with a different scene; langsung tak menjawab persoalan yang timbul di akhir babak previous chapter. Penjelasan yang didapati pun bukan yang diingini oleh pembaca seperti aku. Too short and to the point... and kinda blurry.

Penulisan LD -- memuaskan hati; penggunaan ayat sempurna dan I guess the dialogue is more powerful than penceritaan... Still -- kerana penulis seems to try very hard to keep the rahsia sampai ke climax of story, I sering menjadi annoyed dengan segala teka-teki yang ada from start. Some chapter pun I rasa very short dan ada kalanya I see it as nonsense sebab I tak nampak pentingnya some of them.

I guess, I'm not really a fan of suspens, so I guess LD's novels memang tak kena dengan I... I guess mungkin I anticipate the show scenes more than the drama yang dileraikan at the end. I dig the romantic parts (in the end) though.


Sinopsis:

Cinta itu mana boleh dipaksa. Ditolak, pasti jatuh. Dibuang, pasti sakit. Bagi Hadif Imran, cinta boleh ditangguh sehingga satu detik yang pasti. Dia sudah dewasa, biar dia yang menentukannya. Perisa vanila, coklat atau strawberi... itu haknya.

Bagi bonda, dia mahu menantu. Bonda impikan cinta berperisa iman, bersalut takwa dan dihiasi kasih sayang untuk anaknya. Hadif jadi risau bila bonda sudah naik angin! Bagaimana kalau yang dipilih bonda berwajah ratu, berlesung pipit, tetapi sengau? Atau pandai mengaji, mahir memasak, tetapi rongak giginya? Hadif buntu, bonda naik hantu! Cinta berperisa apa agaknya di akhir cerita?

Rancangan Mencari Menantu bonda rancangkan bersama TV9. Hadif resah dan kecut perut melihat calon menantu bonda. Ada yang terlebih manja, ada yang garang menggoda dan ada yang bahaya untuk dimiliki! Ketar di kaki dilindungi dengan senyuman. Bonda merencana, Hadif susun strategi. Namun kalau sudah cinta... jodoh datang juga tanpa dipaksa.

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Melodi Kasih by Hezzy Azra

Melodi Kasih by Hezzy Azra
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Melodi Kasih merupakan novel sulung Hezzy Azra; novel yang menarik saya menjadi salah seorang fans Kak Hezzy Azra! Dalam novel saya tu, ada I buat date I signed the book which I always do semasa I baru beli sesebuah novel and apparently, first time I baca novel tu was like 5 years ago. Dalam masa 5 tahun, I guess I have re-read the novel banyak kali since I memang suka re-read novels yang I minat and this novel is one of them.

Melodi Kasih mengisahkan tentang perjalanan hidup yang ditempuh oleh Zahara Inas, Edrina Julia dan Iman Syukriah. Tiga bestfriends yang mempunyai characters yang agak berbeza... Zahara seorang yang berdikari, Edrina seorang anak manja. Manakala, Iman seorang yang conservative. Tetapi ketiga-tiga sahabat ini serasi bila bersama.

Di awal cerita, Zahara Inas merupakan seorang setiausaha yang sudah serik bercinta setelah ditinggalkan oleh kekasihnya of 7 years dan dia sahaja yang stay single di antara ketiga-tiga BFF ne. Edrina pulak telah berkahwin dengan pilihan familinya. Taj, setelah berkali-kali kecewa dalam cinta dan Iman pula telah mendirikan rumah-tangga bersama pilihannya sendiri, Huzir dan telah dikurniakan seorang anak lelaki.

Firstly cerita pasal Zahara Inas. "Perlumbaan" di antara kereta Landrover Freelander dan Mitsubishi Airtrek telah menemukan Zahara Inas dengan Ahmad Fariq... dan selepas itu, ada few incidents yang menemukan kedua-dua insan yang pernah kecewa ne. Yang lawak bila Fariq sengaja tidak menanggalkan kaca mata hitamnya sebab he wanted to "stare" at her yang disangkanya sudah bersuami. hehehe. I really like the interactions between these two... I like that Zahara pada mulanya jual mahal dan I like that kemahalannya sering memalukan dirinya sendiri.

Then cerita Edrina dengan Taj... I suka pada watak Edrina tetapi menyampah sangat dengan watak Taj. I can imagine Edrina being the most beautiful one among these three bestfriend since dia ne merupakan bekas model. I really like the development yang Kak Hezzy create with these two characters. Watak yang mempunyai latar belakang seperti Edrina's sering saja dijadikan sebagai seorang yang lemah and sering dianggap seperti "airhead". However, I do like that dalam masa Edrina cuba untuk menjadi isteri yang baik, she also doesn't see things from one perspective. Pada mulanya, she seems to just accept "alasan" suaminya tetapi apabila dia sendiri yang "turun padang" she confronts him about the problem.

Kisah cinta Iman dan Huzir merupakan kisah cinta favorite I dalam novel ne. Mereka merupakan pasangan suami isteri yang sangat serasi and saling faham memahami. I guess when the husband tidak mempunyai ego yang sangat high and try to be understanding, ianya akan lebih membahagiakan pasangan. Sweet, sweet couple! I like!

Also, my favorite part dalam novel ne ialah the ending... sebab apa? Sebab surprise Fariq for Zahara. Sebab Iman dan Huzir menjadi semakin happy dan paling-paling I suka.... Sebab Edrina bertemu cinta dengan Tengku Azril, yang juga merupakan sahabat baik Fariq. I saw this coming semasa Edrina bertemu dengan Tengku Aidan dan Tengku Alisya semasa di Makkah. I tak suka pada penceraian when it comes to perkahwinan tetapi kalau ada suami macam si Taj tu, I don't mind la. Lagi I suka when si janda cantik ne bertaut dengan duda hensem... hehehe

Also, I like the fact that characters di dalam novel ne, lebih-lebih lagi the main female character, bukan seperti watak perempuan yang typically ada pada cerita Melayu dan it looks very real. :)

Kalau dari segi penulisan, Melodi Kasih nampak sedikit "kurang" jika nak dibandingkan dengan novel Kak Hezzy selepasnya sebab I can see style penulisan kak Hezzy semakin matang. However, "kekurangan" tu bukanlah merupakan suatu kritikan, bahkan ianya merupakan suatu yang positive sebab in my way of thinking, when I read this after reading Aku Pilih Dia, which I read sebelum ini, I can see that Melodi Kasih seems to have more plot tetapi penulisannya belum beberapa gah but still more satisfying when I compare to penulis-penulis baru nowadays.

Antara kesemua novel Kak Hezzy, I think Melodi Kasih yang mempunyai characters yang ramai. I applaud Kak Hezzy for creating all these characters and pandai mengaitkan from one characters to another dengan brilliantnya. Jalan cerita pun excellent!



*Whisper* I want a story of Tengku Aidan please... :P


Sinopsis:

Zahara Inas, Edrina Julia dan Iman Syukriah dilahirkan pada bulan yang sama tetapi menerima takdir yang berbeza-beza. Warna-warna cinta mereka juga tidak sejernih titisan embun.

Zahara yang pernah dikecewakan lantas mengunci jendela hati, tidak mahu bayu cinta berhembus lalu meniupkan taufan duka. Baginya hidup ini tetap berputar tanpa insan bernama lelaki. Namun sampai bila?

Setiap cinta Edrina tidak pernah kesampaian. Oleh itu dia akur pada percaturan keluarga, menerima Taj sebagai suami walau tiada perasaan cinta di jiwa. Malangnya, Taj sisipkan duri hingga tercalar pedih hatinya.

Istana cinta yang Iman bina bersama Huzir memekar bunga-bunga sayang bersama si cahaya mata. Tetapi ada jua gelora berombak menggoncang badai. Hanya pada cinta yang ikhlas mereka berpaut. Teguhkah cinta itu?

Ahh... Sukarnya mengungkapkan kata cinta. Tatkala ucapan cinta dilafazkan, bisa bergetar jiwa dan bergelora perasaan. Kalimah sakti ini jika mudah meniti di bibir, mudah juga dipersendakan. Lantas, tegakah insan-insan ini berhadapan dengan kemelut cinta masing-masing? Dalam benci, ada sayang. Akan ketemukah kebahagiaan yang didambakan?

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The Bride by Julie Garwood

The Bride by Julie Garwood
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the first novel, written by Julie Garwood that I read and until today, still one of my most often read novels. I never actually got the urge to purchase this novel but I just passed my wish (to my sister) to own it recently. I hope to get it SOON.

The story in this novel, somehow is a twisted version of "Cinderella" story in which it circulates around a main character who is a young lady named Jamie. Jamie is the youngest daughter of an English Baron who owes the crown money and in order to pay the debt, he offers two of his daughters to marry two Scots to strengthen the peace between England and Scotland.

Alec Kincaid takes an English bride only to appease his King, but when he first hears Jamie (when she was having a heated conversation with her sister Mary and her stablemaster, Beak -- who also somehow acts like her "fairygod mother"), he finds himself looking forward to wed her... and thus, the adventure begins...

When you read this novel, I can assure you that you will laugh a lot. Mrs. Garwood has an interesting way to add humor into her writing and this is probably her best so far.

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Aku Pilih Dia by Hezzy Azra

Aku Pilih Dia by Hezzy Azra
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Aku Pilih Dia merupakan novel ke-empat Kak Hezzy Azra, tapi aku sudah terlebih dahulu membaca novel ke-lima hasil tulisannya, "Semerah Red Velvet". Dah tak mengikut urutan... I don't know how this novel slip out of my mind dulu, sedangkan I memang selalu anticipate novel dari kak Hezzy. Semasa chat dengannya selepas membaca SRV, baru I perasan yang I missed one of her novels. Hezzy Azra kan merupakan salah seorang novelists favorite I, which is why I wajib ada kesemua novel-novelnya.

Anyways, on with the review.

I really like the plot of the story. Somewhat cliche, which somehow surprised me sebab Kak Hezzy selalunya akan avoid dari menulis cerita macam ne.

Unlike novel Kak Hezzy sebelum ne, heroes dalam novel ne digambarkan mempunyai kriteria-kriteria yang normally ada pada hero sesuatu cerita so I guess it can confuse readers; lebih-lebih lagi when one of these heroes muncul almost ditengah-tengah pages buku.

For the first half of the book, the author focuses more on the relationship between Johana and Raif Imran. Penceritaan yang membuatkan I suka dengan perwatakan Raif -- seorang bos yang dedikasi and a very caring friend. Dia memang mesra dengan semua kawan-kawan perempuannya dan suka flirts dengan mereka. Even setiausahanya pun siap dipanggil "dear" or "yang". I've come across a man macam ne so I can just imagine. When I read the synopsis, I have a hunch that Johana will end up with Ian Redza tetapi halfway membaca, I got a queasy feeling that Raif might be the one.

Then he came along... Selepas babak pertemuan di stesen minyak di antara Johana and Ian Redza, barulah I guarantee yang Ian is the one. Judging from Kak Hezzy's writing dari novel pertamanya lagi, I memang can guess how her damsel acts when she sees her Mr. Right. Ha! Pandai juga Kak Hezzy trick pembaca ya. Sikit lagi I nak cheat ke page akhir sebab nak tau siapa yang dipilih... :P

Cinta pandang pertama!! I like!

I really like watak Ian Redza. I especially like his respect and love for his stepmother. Semasa penulis bermain teka teki dengan pembaca tentang status hubungan Ian Redza dengan his stepmom, I memang dah agak yang Ian merajuk membawa diri sebab ingatkan ibu tiri yang sudah dianggapnya seperti ibu kandung tu dah tak sayangkan dia lagi. I got the clue semasa penulis mentioned that he became distant selepas Datin Raudhah mendesak dia untuk menyambung pelajaran di UK... and apparently, I was right! What I didn't expect was the fact that his birthmom is a nice person.

I like watak Johana. I like the fact that she's very close with her family. I like the prologue but I'm feeling a bit sad when I read that part. Any part yang mentioned Johana and her first love tu buat I feel sangat. The story somehow ada similarities with my own love story but hopefully our ending will be a happy one. We've got to see Johana in a similar situation twice in this novel, tetapi jelas nampak kematangan Johana menghadapi situasi ngeri dihadapinya buat kali kedua. I really like the character development there.

Dari first novel sampai "Semerah Red Velvet", style penulisan Kak Hezzy tidak pernah mengecewakan aku. She rarely did repetitions and she always knows just when to end a chapter. Her descriptive writing is also di tahap cemerlang; we can see every picture that she wants us to see.

Penggunaan Bahasa Inggeris Kak Hezzy memang superb. She always knows when to slip in English language in a dialogue dan tak pernah I rasa nak laugh or shake my head when I read these parts. Some other novel writers tend to overuse the language most of the time in a dialogue. I also like the fact that Ian has a Scottish slang sebab I memang suka dengar slang orang Scotland. Semasa baca, ada kalanya macam susah nak faham, but then again, if you hear the slang, lagi you tak faham. I'm quite surprise juga sebab kak Hezzy memilih Glasgow sebagai tempat tinggal Ian semasa di Scotland sebab that's the only place that I know since my brother went there for his further study few years back. Coincidence?!!

Also, what I like about this writer is the fact that she knows what she was writing. Johana is a reporter and I guess kak Hezzy did her homework on the job description of being a reporter... and she also knows what she's talking about when she deals with her two businessmen. Some writers tend to just write something like, "I want you to siapkan project itu." and it ends there. You won't find it in any of Hezzy Azra's novel. She's very peculiar about her story-telling. I always come across new business term or knowledge when I read her story.

Lastly, I noticed that when I read Hezzy Azra's novel, I tend to google the type of car she mentioned sebab mostly they're outside my knowledge. Well -- I mau jugak tau how to picture the car mentioned.

Two of Kak Hezzy's couples (from her previous novels) made their appearance in this novel, but only briefly. Wanna know siapa? Baca la novel ne.

Reading this book made me wanna re-read Kak Hezzy's first baby. I've forgotten how much I like her story. hehe

This book is a must read: highly recommended.


Sinopsis:

Pemergian Khalil tiga bulan sebelum diijabkabulkan, mengheret cinta Johana hingga ke pusara. Bertahun-tahun dia merawat duka di hati, namun pengganti Khalil tetap sukar dicari. Bila ada yang bertanya siapa Raif Imran di sisinya, jawapan yang diulang berkali-kali, lelaki itu cuma teman... tapi mesra.

Raif pula tidak pernah meluah rasa kepada Johana. Baginya, walau didampingi ramai gadis sekalipun, Johana tetap ada ruang istimewa di hati. Johana sering menduduki senarai teratasnya biarpun tidak pernah mengisytiharkan gadis itu miliknya. Kemunculan Ian Redza mula mengubah segala-galanya. Kali pertama Raif menonton kemesraan Ian dan Johana, dia dijangkiti virus cemburu.

Raif kata, Ian merampas Johana daripada aku!

Ian balas, Aku tak mencuri hak sesiapa.

Hati Johana berbisik, Hanya aku yang tahu... ada seorang sahaja yang aku cinta.

Dalam pada ingin mencintai, tidak seharusnya ada yang akan terluka.

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M.A.I.D by Suri Ryana

M.A.I.D. by Suri Ryana
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Novel ini memang sudah lama duduk dalam my bookshelf; novel yang dihadiahkan kepadaku sempena anniversary aku dengan si dia yang ke 7 tahun. Nasib he gave me this novel sebab it stays on my top 10 often read list.

M.A.I.D merupakan novel pertama Suri Ryana. Percubaan pertama yang cukup hebat. Ia menceritakan tentang kehidupan seorang penggangur yang mendapat kerja baru sebagai pembantu rumah kepada seorang anak Tan Sri yang sangat cerewet.

I remember when I first read this novel, my first expression after SR memperkenalkan watak utama lelaki ialah she must be an avid fan of Korean Drama. Perwatakan dan fizikal watak lelaki similar of those typical Korean hero; handsome, cerewet, pemarah and merungsingkan. Watak heroine pulak seorang yang clumsy, penakut, tak tau memasak and macam-macam lagi, tapi then halfway, somebody mentioned that she looks like Fazura. Lawa tu...

I can say that this story is cliche tapi I do love reading this sort of story; isu yang diketengahkan is not to heavy, dan cara penulisan Suri Ryana kena dengan jiwa I. When I mention a story being streotype, I don't mean it as a bad thing. Menulis typical story, tak semestinya novel itu boring... cuma tema yang dibawakan adalah yang sering ada dalam novel-novel sekarang; it really depends on the author's delivery to make it interesting. I, for one thing, is an avid fan of streotype novels.

Pada mulanya, Noorul seperti a person yang tak tau berbahasa Inggeris... tapi setelah kahwin dengan Mr. F, dia macam seorang yang fasih berbahasa Inggeris. Semasa first time I baca this novel, I did think watak Noorul ne tak consistent. I did not care about this when I re-read this novel lagi tapi semasa I read lagi yesterday, I tried to read every dialogue si Noorul and I found most English words yang dia pakai are those yang simple aje... and if I'm looking past the inconsistency, I say that she might pick up few words or phrase from the dictionary she bought semasa dia nak tau makna satu perkataan yang Mr. F said to her (tak ingat...).

I love the story between Harris and Noorul, and I love that the author also develop the relationship/story between Iman and Haikal. Also, part yang I paling suka ialah persahabatan di antara Noorul dan Iman.

I also like the end part with little Mr. F and Miss T. Rasa-rasanya, Suri Ryana could develop another story from this... hehehe.

Despite being a streotype novel, I still think this is one of the best Malay novel I've read. Highly recommended!

Sinopsis:

Terdesak untuk melucutkan gelaran penganggur yang disandangnya, Noorul rela dalam terpaksa menjawat jawatan sebagai pembantu rumah kepada Harris Tan Sri Hamdan. Sikapnya yang cepat gelabah sering mengundang kemarahan Harris, si cerewet tahap gaban hingga menyebabkan Noorul menggelarnya Mr. F (fussy).

Daripada berbalas-balas nota berkaitan dengan kerja pada awalnya, boleh pula mereka makan semeja.

Fitnah yang melanda menyebabkan Noorul dan Mr. F terpaksa disatukan. Siapa punya angkara ? Asyraf ? Musuh perniagaan Tan Sri Hamdan ?

Serabutnya Noorul hanya Allah yang tahu. Dia terpaksa berrhadapan dengan Puan Sri Kirana yang enggan menerimanya sebagai menantu, Elisa - perempuan 'plastik' yang tergedik-gedik memburu cinta Mr. F, Nurina - bekas kekasih Mr. F yang pulang semula ke Malaysia untuk menagih kembali cinta Mr. F dan si petualang yang mengharu-birukan hidupnya.

Apakah perisai Noorul untuk menghadapi pancaroba ini ? 'Kuali' ? 'Sudip' ?

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Kampung Girl by Umi Kalsom

KAMPUNG GIRL by Umi Kalsom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Novel ini merupakan novel pertama daripada Umi kalsom yang aku baca and I think this is her first novel, probably her only novel. Correct me if I'm wrong sebab malas nak google.

I really enjoyed reading this!

The main reason why I'm attracted to this book -- because I heard the drama adaptation of this novel is about to be aired. Tak tahu bila, tapi memang dah ada gambar yang di spread online. From the back cover, sinopsis pun not bad. I memang suka bab kahwin terpaksa ne.

Kisahnya bermula apabila Puan Mazlin memaksa Ashraf untuk mengahwini calon pilihannya, Ainnur yang juga merupakan sepupunya -- sepupu yang memang dibenci sebab Ainnur tu budak kampung. I really don't get why dia benci sangat dengan Ainnur... macam tak logik dia benci hanya kerana Ainnur tu budak kampung. I guess EGO lelaki ne memang tahap yang Nauzubillah -- yalah, kalau dah dari kecil dia hanya tau mengejek sepupunya ne, takkan nak dijilat balik apa yang sudah diludahkan.

Lain pulak ceritanya dengan si Ainnur. Sejak kecil, dia memang suka dengan si Ashraf. So dia memang terima dengan hati yang berbunga-bunga la plan Mummy si Ashraf untuk menjodohkan mereka.

Dari perwatakan Ashraf, I can see that he's really not such a bad guy... Cuma when it comes to Kampung Girl ne, dia jadi stress and gila. Aku suka part when semua ahli keluarganya menyokong Ainnur -- Mummy, daddy, abang Adamnya and kaka iparnya. Termasuk juga anak buahnya Aiman... then part hati dia yang berpaling tadah tu, HILARIOUS.

Part yang very funny ialah semasa Ashraf meminta tolong dengan Anissa untuk menyamar sebagai girlfriendnya tetapi terkantoi sebab Anissa merupakan best friend Ainnur. Brilliant I tell you! I didn't see that coming.

Bab Faisal and Ain Airina tu menjadikan this story some sort of cinta empat segi. Si Faisal suka Ainnur, Ainnur suka Ashraf, Ashraf suka Ain Airina, Ain Airina suka Faisal... And then, in the end, situasi dua couples ini serupa. Perempuan got who they want and the guys learn to love their other half.

I like how the author highlights the title of the book. Dari satu gelaran yang bertujuan untuk mengejek then end up being some sort of term of endearing. :)

Style penulisan yang okay. Cuma I tak berapa suka penulis menggunakan more than one perenggan untuk dialog orang yang sama. Kacau, in my way of thinking.

Bahasa Inggeris in this novel is okay. I'm not sure I like the way Ainnur selalu menggunakan formal way of talking sebab macam mouthful... ada wrong tense and error here and there tapi not really big deal. It still made me laugh though...

Much recommended. Tak menyesal beli.


Sinopsis:

PERKAHWINAN diaturkan oleh keluarga? Ashraf langsung tidak menyangka! Lebih memeningkan kepala, apabila dia mengetahui nama calon yang disebutkan oleh mummynya, Puan Mazlin. Ainnur! Si budak kampung itu?! Tidak mungkin.

“Orang tak nak kahwin dengan budak kampung tu… mummy jangan paksa Ash!” - Ashraf Khairi.

“Ain akan kahwin dengan abang Ash!” - Ainnur.

Dan jawapan itu cukup untuk membuatkan Ashraf kehilangan kata.

Bergaduh mulut? Itu merupakan perkara biasa bagi Ashraf jika Ainnur ada di depan mata. Pasti ada sahaja perkara yang hendak diperbalahkan.

“Dekat kampung kau tu dah pupus populasi lelaki ke sampai kau kena ke bandar nak cari calon suami?” -Ashraf Khairi.

Dan nada yang sinis itu cukup untuk membuatkan Ainnur naik darah.
Benarlah kata orang, kerana pulut santan binasa… kerana mulut? Jerat terkena diri pemangsa. Rancangan untuk menolak diri Ainnur merupakan titik tolak yang ‘menjahanamkan’ diri Ashraf.

“Ash nak ajak dia beli cincin tunang.” - Ashraf Khairi.

Lain yang dirancang, lain pula jadinya. Pertunangan yang diaturkan merupakan titik yang mengikat diri Ashraf dan Ainnur. Tapi siapa sangka, tarikh pernikahan yang semakin hampir mencemaskan Ainnur dek kerana ada ‘rahsia’ yang disimpan kemas daripada pengetahuan Ashraf. Sepandai-pandai tupai melompat, akhirnya jatuh ke tanah juga. Itulah keadaan Ainnur di saat terpaksa menghadapi kemarahan Ashraf yang sememangnya sentiasa suka memarahi dirinya.

“And what have you been thinking, doing such thing to me? Nak bagi aku nampak macam orang bodoh…” - Ashraf Khairi.

Kelu lidah Ainnur tidak mampu hendak menjawab. Terkantoi Ainnur dengan helahnya. Kesudahannya… Adakah Ashraf makin membenci? Adakah Ainnur menjauhkan diri? Tidak akan bertemukah dua hati ini? Akan wujudkah satu saat itu, di mana lelaki bandar ini jatuh hati dengan kampung girl yang dibenci?

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