H.R.H.

Do yourself a favor and skip this one. It was ok at the beginning of the story, but it was just boring and really dull after a while. Toxic Bachelors doesn’t seem as bad as this one. Yet I was hoping it will get better. Lonely princess get bores and convinces her father, gets to volunteer for a humanitarian organization in East Africa and finds love along the way. Even though Christiania has a good heart, I just didn’t like her too much.

At the beginning, she mentioned she had duty to fill as a princess, how she has to sacrifice her life because her brother didn’t; Yet throughout the story I found her really selfish; it’s all about her and the bf, instead of the family. I really disliked the ending at all, I thought it was stupid and yes it could happen but still. The ending was lane and quick! Ok, it’s time to give Daniel Steel’s novels a break. Some are good and some aren’t. This is was just terrible!

Toxic Bachelors

3 bachelors (Gray, Charlie and Adam) were great friends. They would spend every August together on Charlie's yacht to party in the Mediterranean. Throughout the novel each of them learn to face their relationship phobias. Of course, it takes 3 fabulous women to set them straight! Haha.

It didn’t seem like Steel wrote this novel, the writing style seems a little different from the others. I mean, the typical Steel’s romance is there but I do not feel connected to the characters. I’m a little tired of reading about rich people-let alone 3 very immature guys and how they lived their lives, a little vain that’s all. The only part I liked was how they meet these wonderful women and how it changed their lives forever. It has a cute happy ending that I liked; yet the novel was all right for me, a bit long though.

Answered Prayers

For some odd reason I liked this novel, I guess mainly b/c it’s similar Dating Game w/out the dating part. Faith was indeed a perfect housewife and mother in a lifeless marriage that she confesses at the beginning of the story. After raising her daughter, she realizes she wanted to go back to Law school, but her controlling husband thinks it’s a stupid idea, especially at her age and tries to stop her but fails.


Throughout the whole story, you see Brad and Faith's friendship picks up from childhood and develops over again. They supported and believed in each other during hard times through emails and by phone. At the end, I’m glad to see them together. Alex on the other hand was such a jerk, cheating on his wife and blaming her for his cheating and worst turning one of the daughter against her mother. Luckily the girls found out the truth about their father.

Life has its up and downs and unexpected things do happen, but you choose what you want to do. I guess I liked the book, mainly because I learn that I don’t ever want to be like Faith! When someone betrays you and treat you like shit, why would you want that someone back? It just saddens me to see that people do stay in such a hideous marriage simply for the sake of not getting divorced.

I think everyone needs someone to support him/her whether it’s through good and bad times. I’m glad Faith and Brad had each other, I guess sometimes we don’t realize who are soul mates is until it’s too late or is it, in this case. I think it would have been a better story if they remain friends.

Amazing Grace

OK, I admit I liked the cover! This books revolves around a San Francisco bay area earth quake (this really hits home.) and how it effects the lives of 3 women, from stranger to best of friends. There are times I questioned myself (if I were Sarah) whether I would have forgiven my husband for what he did? After all he did lie but wasn’t cheating.. Trust is really important, especially between a husband and wife. Melanie somehow reminded me of Mandy Moore and somehow I thought it was weird reading about Maggie, the nun’s falling in love and trying to deny it. Overall, This book was alright, I like how it takes place in the city. =)

Kabul Beauty School

Kabul Beauty School: An American Woman Goes Behind the VeilThis book is basically about the author and her personal journey of divorcing her abusive American husband. Arriving in Afganistan and tells her story of her new Afgan husband, the different cultures, friendships, her beauty school, her students and the struggles she goes through to keep her beauty school open in Afghanistan. She did this the way she knew best, by helping to teach them to become beauticians, which would provide each with a living and allowing them to have their own business.

It’s difficult for a spoiled American girl like myself to imagine what women in many other parts of the world endure every day, day in and day out. (eg beaten, or dragged from their homes.) Husband having 3 wives or so; divorcing you as simple as saying “ I divorce you” 3x in front of a witness and you’re divorced and worst you’re not allow to take the kids-according to the laws, it belongs to the husband. I give her credit for her courage for what she has done, I know I wouldn’t have the courage as she did.

Dating game

Life is cruel! Nevertheless, Life must go on! *_~ I’m starting to love and learn from Steel’s novel, there are lessons to be learned in disappointment and joy to be found in the most unexpected places.

After 24 happy years, out of the blues without any warming the woman gets dumped by husband when he leaves her for a younger woman, and then she is left to pick up the pieces. Peter was selfish and I know it’s life and it does happen. She is devastated with the loss of the only life she's known and loves. Her friends try to help her, but sometimes I believe that it’s better to let someone figure what one wants, instead of feeling pity for someone.

It gets interesting and fun to read as we go on Paris dating experience with her. We live with her through her sadness and joys and the struggle to find her self. We live through her ups and downs, the men and women she meets and befriends and the twist of fate when her daughter marries while Paris is dating a younger man. The best aspect about this book though was all of the funny dates Paris goes on- good and bad. I wish I could have a best friend like Bix Mason, which would be so great! Still, I didn’t think Paris should have adopted Hope, because she didn’t want to lonely. At the end, it was great!

Sisters

=) This was my first Daniel Steel’s novel. I loved the beginning of the novel, the glamorous life of each sister, especially Candy. Dang! I was surprise w/ all the cussing, but I actually liked it- making it seem more real. It’s about four sisters with highly successful and interesting careers. Sabrina (34) is the oldest sister, a very hard working attorney in New York. Tammy (29) is a successful producer in LA, while Annie (26) is an artist in Florence. Lastly, Candy (21) was the youngest of the group; she was a modest but famous supermodel known all around the world.

No matter how busy they are, the sisters will always make time to return to the home the families annul 4th of July party. A tragic accident changes their lives suddenly, and they have to learn to cope with everything that's happen. They all decide to change their lives so they can support one another. Life is turned upside down. Her sisters all pull together though, and make sacrifices to live together for a year until Annie can become independent. Over the next year each of the sisters are there for each other. Candy can no longer hide her eating disorder, Annie struggles with being unable to paint, Tammy adapts to having real life relationships and Sabrina deals with her commitment phobia. While the dad is going through his own ordeal.

I loved this novel, because it’s about four sisters coming together seeking comfort from a tragedy- their heartache and family bonding.. I really don't want to say much more about the story as it would spoil it for you and I don't want to do that. Each one of these girls was great and I honestly believed I could be Tammy. The power of sister hood, I would do anything for my sisters and I know they will do the same for me. =)

A walk to Remember

Nicholas Sparks ! You’ve turn this girl who didn’t believe in love into optimism hopeless romantic. Shame on you! Even though, this is fiction. It teaches us a valuable lesson about life and how we sometimes take life for granted. If you like the movie, you’ll love the novel a lot more- it set in 1958 in a small town of South Carolina. You’ll feel for Jamie because she’s sort of the plain Jane that helps out at the local orphanage, heals wounded animals, and is kind to everyone she meets. (You don’t see that around anymore.) Landon is simply a boy with no idea what direction his life will take when he unexpectedly finds himself becoming a man with the help of Jamie. There’s part the movie left out and I wish they added it in, like how their love blossom from the homecoming dance but then again it might be too long. Despite its very bittersweet ending, this novel teaches us faith and trust and living our lives to the fullest. The movie should have added or at least mention the part about Landon’s love for Jamie even 40 years after she's gone.

Yes, I actually picture Mandy as Jamie and of course Shane as Landon. Jamie and Landon are wonderful characters that will make you laugh and cry. Especially when Jamie finally tells Landon that she has terminal leukemia and has stopped responding to treatments. Where she’s not afraid to die but to leave Landon, I was in tears. Mainly because it reminded me of an auntie who passed away from cancer a few years back, she wanted to live because she had an infant son-her only one. =( I still remember the day we visit her in the hospital, I knew how much she missed her son but didn’t want her son to see how weak she was nor how much weight she had lost. Life really not fair at time! Lastly, as always Sparks’ novel teach us about tragedy, triumph, and also teaches a real lesson about love and life-cherish one another. Sometimes all we need is that one person who can truly make a difference in our life.

Have anyone watched the movie "The Notebook" or "A Walk to remember". Since I enjoyed both movies, I decided to read “The Rescue” by Nicholas Sparks. I just got done reading “The Rescue” , it’s about finding yourself, loving and trusting others, receiving love, and enjoying companionship- and in doing so, teaching us something about our own. Also, the hardships that every person goes through at some point in their life.


The novel is about a single mom (Denise) and her 4 year old son (Kyle), whom gets into a car accident in the midst of a terrible rainstorm. As Denise is lying there, unconscious, Kyle wanders off and gets lost. A volunteer fireman (Taylor) from the town, spots the car and helps Denise, then finds her son. Basically it’s about Denise's relationship with her son as well as the relationship she and Taylor McAden have begun to develop and the struggles behind each one, become the main focus of the novel. At some point in the story, I was laughing, teary, and frustrated - all at the same time. I have to admit it was a little slow in the beginning of the novel, but the last 6-7 chapters were great!

Queen of Babble in the Big City

Easy to read! But it was a cute and relaxing novel. She’s also the author to the “Princess’ dairies”. The plot was predictable, but in a good way. I guess I liked this silly novel, simply b/c I think I would have been Lizzie in NYC! So much of what she does can be related to real life. Lizzie was moving a bit too fast--wanting to get married at such a young age and wanting to get that serious when they had only been dating a couple of months. Lizzie is such a realistic character and she is so funny and real! Lizzie now lives in New York and is living with her boyfriend, Luke, and is looking for a job. She finds one but... they don't pay. So what is she going to do for money? Then she’s homeless.

Yes! I can’t wait for book #3 “QUEEN OF BABBLE GETS HITCHED” in June 2008. I wonder if she would say yes to Luke? or give Chaz a chance. Ok, I know Chaz is the perfect guy for Lizzie, but still he was her best friends’ ex-boy friend of 4 years! And worst, Luke and Chaz are best friends. Sorry. If I was really Lizzie- Chaz will always be my good friend, regardless how much we have in common. Oh well, I guess I have to wait for the new novel. Meanwhile, I need to read book #1 “Queen of Babble book”, that way I know how Lizzie meet Luke.

Rich Dad, Poor Dad

This book did have some interesting insights and tips. Robert Kiyosaki tells the story of two fathers, a poor teacher who is highly educated, and a rich, self-taught millionaire with no college degree. I like how Kiyosaki’s perspective that we should stop working for money, and make money work for you! I also agree that it takes a change in your mindset in order for you to become rich. It has some good advice about personal finance. Personal finance was something I was never taught while growing up. Looking back, I wish I had been taught it, instead of having to learn some of these things the hard way. $38 K lesson learned! But like he say it’s never too late! Overall I would recommend it, especially to younger people.


Ok, after reading this book. It gave me some hope that it’s not too late. I guess you really you don't have to go to college to run a business, look at Bill Gates! But you do need to have some financial intelligence. I was thinking if school really helped me in life? I believe schools prepare us just to go to college and get a high paying job. That works for some people, but not everyone like me. Most of richest people in the world have knowledge of these 3 subjects: Real estate, the stock market and the business world. Why don't they teach theses subjects in high school? So, why not teach young people about real estate, the stock market, business, and personal finances on how to budget? I know, our economy depends on us to consume Real estate is another skill that will be helpful in life. Most people will purchase a home at some point. Wouldn't it be nice to have an understanding of the real estate market at a younger age, so we can learn how to save? Instead of letting a salesperson sell them something that they don't want or understand. If only I knew, I could have brought a house right after high school and be worth half a mil. Instead I’m stuck w/ a stupid timeshare. Oh, well.. I guess we learn from our mistakes!