Audiobook Review: Rich People Problems by Kevin Kwan

Author: Kevin Kwan

Narrator: Lydia Look

Title: Rich People Problems

(Crazy Rich Asians #3)

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Chick Lit, Humor

Format: Audiobook

Published:  May 23rd 2017 

Where I got It: Borrowed from the library

Summary: 

When Nicholas Young hears that his grandmother, Su Yi, is on her deathbed, he rushes to be by her bedside—but he's not alone. The entire Shang-Young clan has convened from all corners of the globe to stake claim to their matriarch's massive fortune. With each family member vying to inherit Tyersall Park—a trophy estate on sixty-four prime acres in the heart of Singapore—Nicholas' childhood home turns into a hotbed of backbiting and intrigue. As Su Yi's relatives fight over heirlooms, Astrid Leong is at the center of her own storm, desperately in love with her old sweetheart Charlie Wu but tormented by her ex-husband—a man hell-bent on destroying Astrid's reputation and relationship. Meanwhile, Kitty Pong, married to China's second richest man, Jack Bing, still feels upstaged by her new stepdaughter, famous fashionista Colette Bing.

In this sweeping tale that takes us from the elegantly appointed mansions of Manila to the secluded private islands in the Sulu Sea, from a kidnapping at Hong Kong's most elite private school to a surprise marriage proposal at an Indian palace that is caught on camera by the telephoto lenses of paparazzi, Kevin Kwan hilariously reveals the long-buried secrets of Asia's most privileged families and their rich people problems.

Review:

The last of the series! Been itching to read this...but also sad because I do not want to say goodbye. 

A little time has gone by and now Su Yi, Nick's grandma, is on her death bed. He rushes to her side...but he is not alone. The entire Shang-Young clan is there too. Everyone is vying to inherit Tyersall Park and the massive fortune. As the family fights for heirlooms, Astrid is at the center of her own storm. She is in love with Charlie Wu, but her ex-husband is hell-bent on destroying her reputation and relationship and Charlie's ex-wife...well...she is causing another set of problems. Meanwhile, Kitty Pong is still being upstaged by her new stepdaughter. 

This certainly got wild. Lots of drama. Lots of backstabbing. Lots of secrets coming to light finally. Lots of laughs. Lots of tears. Everything has been building to this. Death/dying of a family member can destroy or bring a family closer. And I had no idea what was going to happen here with these guys. 

I really loved getting to know Su Yi more. More of her history and why she is so revered and how the family got to where they are. 

This still had the humor and crazy situations, but we really got to see behind the money and look at our characters at a deeper level. So many characters got a chance to grow by the end and even some became slightly better people. It made me smile. I won't spoil anything, but I am so happy things ended the way they did. 

Awwww I really want them to continue with the movies because I would love to see this become a movie. Book 1 and book 2 are good, but I really feel like this was the best of the 3. This was insightful, sad, funny, and crazy. Oooo rich folk. 

The narrator was yet again perfect. Love her voices for these characters and she really brings the story come alive. I for sure recommend doing the audio for this series. 

In the end, I think this ended up being my favorite of the 3. Didn't think that was possible because I really liked book 2. Fingers crossed they continue making movies! I want to see this one come alive. I'll give this 5 stars. 

Challenge(s):
- #12 for Audiobook challenge

- #10 for Romance Reading Challenge - Not UK/US setting

Book Review: Tea for Three by Melissa Crosby

Author: Melissa Crosby

Title: Tea for Three

(Mulberry Lane #1)

Genre: Chick Lit, Contemporary Fiction

Format: ebook

Pages: 264 

Published: September 12th 2020 

Where I Got It: My shelf (Amazon)

Summary: 

Three women. Three cups of tea. Three new beginnings.

Sarah Gardner's husband went to sleep one night in November and never woke up. At forty-years-old, the new widow is left to care for their three children, all of whom are under the age of five.

Twenty-five-year-old Filipina, Kate Morgan, thought she had met the man of her dreams during what was a perfect summer vacation. Now married to the handsome American who had swept her off her feet, and over 8000 miles away from home, Kate soon realizes that her mother was right: vacations end and people change.

Louise Delaney couldn’t ask for anything more. At fifty-nine, she had enjoyed almost four decades of blissful marriage to Warren—may his soul rest in peace. But Louise’s seemingly perfect world is upended when she gets a visit from a sixteen-year-old who says she is Warren’s daughter.

Three exceptional women—each of whose hearts are broken into a million pieces—come together in this extraordinary tale of life, love, and true friendship.

Review:

This was a freebie on Amazon that I got last year. Finally decided to give it a read. 

We follow three women who have gone through a lot but they have found each other. They meet up and have some tea and talked about their issues. There is Sarah who's husband went to bed one night and never woke up. At forty she is left alone to care for her three children. We also have twenty-five-year-old Filipina, Kate, who thought she had met the man of her dreams. He married her and brought her home to America, but she soon realizes that he is completely different. Lastly, we have Louise who has been a widow for a few years. They had been married for nearly four decades. However, everything is about to upended when she gets a visits from a sixteen-year-old who says she is Louise's late-husband's daughter.

Am I the only one who struggled with this? *scrolls through Goodreads* It looks like the average is over 4 stars. SOOOO many 5 stars. Eeee. I seem to be in the minority here. 

Okay. I didn't hate this. I did like this, but I did have my struggles. 

My main issue was that I had a hard time really connecting with ANY of the characters. Not that they are bad. I did feel so bad for them and I wanted them happy....but I just couldn't connect.  The POV would change at the end of every chapters...maybe if we got more time with each of the characters? I'm not sure. Don't get me wrong I loved the whole 3 women...3 cups of tea....etc, but I would've loved more time with each character or something. 

Another issue I had was that the story-telling did feel a little repetitive at points. Things would be repeated multiple times. Made me want to skim especially near the end. 

Besides for those two big things...I did enjoy it overall. It was beautiful watching these women become unlikely friends and get each other through these tough times over a nice cup of tea. Of course it gave me a hunkering for drinking tea so I did find myself brewing some tea while reading this in the morning. ;) But yes, it was for sure a good chick lit and would make a great Hallmark or Netflix movie. 

In the end, I had some big issues with this and I found myself wanting to skim here and there. However....I did think this was a beautiful story of friendship and love. Sad things happen but having good friends can make all the difference. I'll give this 3 stars. 

Book Review: Just a Kiss Away by Jill Barnett

Author: Jill Barnett
Titles: Just a Kiss Away
Genre: Historical Romance
Pages: 352
First Published: 1991
Where I Got It: On my shelf (Purchased on Amazon)

Arriving on a lush Pacific island, Eulalie Grace LaRue was soon to be reunited with the father she hadn't seen since childhood. Yet before Lollie's dreamed-of meeting could take place, the lovely Southern belle was caught in the crossfire of a violent revolution -- and thrown into the rugged arms of Sam Forester. On the run in the jungle, the battle-scarred soldier of fortune didn't know what to do with the pampered blonde placed in his care. Survival was his top priority, but he could not resist Lollie's seductive charm...or deny the growing attraction between them. Though Sam thrived on chance and risk, falling in love was the one chance he wasn't willing to take.

Powerless against the desire that consumed them both, Lollie surrendered to his passionate embrace. But when he dismissed her affections, she was determined to fight for him...to prove that in the steamy heat of paradise, two hearts would find the love of a lifetime....

This has been on my TBR list for quite some time now. I finally had a chunk of time to crack it open and read it. Well…..yeah…..I’m rather bummed.

I hated Sam. I wanted to kick him. 

I hated “Lollie” or whatever the heck her name was. 

Her father was an a-hole. 

The brothers are creepily protective over her. I get it…your baby sister and you love her. But 1) kinda creepy and 2) CALM down. 

The bird was HILARIOUS! It certainly entertained me. Certainly a huge boost there, because I loved him/her (not sure if it was a girl or boy). 

The beginning had promise, but it lost me once Sam met Lollie. NOT realistic. He would’ve cut her pretty little neck after speaking with her for two minutes. Sorry. Just not realistic and it lost me from there. Okay – okay – just say he doesn’t kill her, she would have killed herself someway somehow. She was a fool. But yes, there are many haters of Sam and crying out, “LOVE HER DAMMIT!” NO! NO NO NO! Sam run! RUN FOR THE HILLS!!!!! FIND A NICE GIRL WHO ISN’T A BLOOMING RICH IDIOT!

I am one for torture….so I kept reading. Granted I did a lot of skimming. Now, the ending was decent. It was the most realistic aspect of the entire novel. It was actually cute even though it was still sappy as hell.

In the end…the only redeeming quality was the hilarious bird. Loved him/her, I want a parrot! Sam was a jerk, but I don’t blame him. Lollie needed to fall off a cliff. The brothers….creepy. The father was a sorry excuse for a man. The ending was okay too, but the rest? Not so much. Out of five stars, I stamp this with 1 star.

Book Review: The War Nurse by RV Doon

Author: R.V Doon
Title: The War Nurse
Genre: Historical Fiction, Adventure, Drama and Romance
Pages: 349
First Published: Janurary 2014 
Where I Got It: My shelf (given to me for an honest and unbiased opinion by the publisher/author)

"This historical thriller begins on the eve of WWII in the Philippines. Katarina Stahl an American Red Cross nurse, is the happiest she’s ever been in her life. She’s making love and playing music with Jack Gallagher in an idyllic paradise. Their medical mission is over, the boat tickets to home are purchased, and all that remains is to fly a sick child to the hospital at Clark Air Field. 

She never expected to witness bombs falling out of planes. In those terrifying first minutes, she frees a German doctor accused of spying and saves his life. She turns to nursing the injured, unaware she’s unleashed an obsession more dangerous to her and those she loves, than the war she’s trapped in. 

Doctor von Wettin, the man she freed, finds Katarina pregnant and starving in a POW camp after the surrender. He begs her to nurse his bed-ridden wife. She knows other Americans will despise her, but wants her baby to live after surviving Bataan. Their uneasy alliance is destroyed when she discovers he exploited Red Cross diplomatic channels and contacts at the German embassy to wire money to her parents. His benevolent mask slips when he informs her that her brothers and parents are interned on Ellis Island. 

When the Stahl family is swept up in the FBI’s dragnet, Josep Stahl believes it’s all a misunderstanding. He’s interrogated like a criminal at the city jail, a military camp, Ellis Island, and then the civilian internment camps in Texas. His anger and pride blind him. One by one in this painful family drama, his wife and sons join him behind barbed wire in. There they face ostracism, segregation, and, most frightening, repatriation. 

Katarina begins an even more terrifying journey into depraved darkness as Manila descends into occupation and chaos. The doctor threatens everyone she loves: infant son, POW husband, and Filipino friends. She’ll do anything to protect them; she lies, steals, and smuggles. As the war turns against the Japanese, they withhold the doctor’s wife’s life-saving medications until he finds a hidden radio inside the civilian internment camp. If Katarina refuses to help him, her son pays the price. 

Survival has corrupted Katarina; but she’s not about to become his camp rat. After years of hell, she’s earned her nickname, war nurse. Doctor von Wettin is about to find out what that means."

This took me a while to finish, because it was dark. Very, very dark. Yes, there is romance between Katarina and Jack, but that is a small light in the mist of darkness surrounding not only her but her family back in the US. While she is being a nurse on the front lines against the Japanese, her family is dealing with the government thinking they are German spies and arresting them thanks to one letter from good ol' Doctor von Wettin and because Josep and his wife never became citizens.

Poor Katarina...poor Josep and the rest of the Stahl clan. The book truly shows that each side of the war had "evil" sides. War is bloody, nasty, and people suffer. The Japanese were cruel to their POWs and America were cruel to the people who just so happened was of Japanese or German descent. No side of the war had clean hands throughout World War II. 

Right from the beginning drama was underway; there was not a boring/slow part. The book kept you on your toes. However, there was a lot of characters and it was hard sometimes to keep track on who was who. Also, the ending wasn't very satisfying. There were a few loose ends and it was a little cliff-hanger-ish. Is there going to be a second book? Or maybe a short story? I hope so, because I would love to see Katarina reunited with her family who was sent back to Germany. 

Overall, this was pretty good. A lot going on with a lot of characters running about. This book shows the true horrors that some people had to face during WWII and the book shows the truth that each side of the war had their hands bloodied with some sort of cruelty. It annoys me how everyone thinks just the Japanese and Germans where "evil" or did "evil things", so did the US and England and France. War is a horrible thing and makes people do terrible things. There was a light, though, that made me hopeful - the love between Jack and Katarina. The ending left me with some questions and I wanted more. Maybe there will be another book? I'm not sure. I recommend this to those that like historical fiction set during WWII. It is a little dark, but it was good. Out of five stars, I stamp this with 3 stars. 

Favorite Character(s): Katarina, Josep, and Jack
Not-so Favorite Character(s): Von Wettin

Book Review: The Five People You Meet in Heaven

Author: Mitch Albom
Title: The Five People You Meet in Heaven
Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, Inspirational
Pages: 196
First Published: September 23rd, 2003
Where I Got It: Borrowed from a friend

"Eddie is a wounded war veteran, an old man who has lived, in his mind, an uninspired life. His job is fixing rides at a seaside amusement park. On his 83rd birthday, a tragic accident kills him as he tries to save a little girl from a falling cart. He awakes in the afterlife, where he learns that heaven is not a destination, but an answer. 

In heaven, five people explain your life to you. Some you knew, others may have been strangers. One by one, from childhood to soldier to old age, Eddie's five people revisit their connections to him on earth, illuminating the mysteries of his 'meaningless' life, and revealing the haunting secret behind the eternal question: 'Why was I here?'"

I approve of this book. At first I was extremely skeptical (even though I liked 'Tuesdays with Morrie) and it took me a while to actually get myself to read this. My friend really, really wanted me to read this, so I finally made myself take it to work and read it on my lunch break. Lo and behold I was already 80 pages into it by the end of my break. I had to force myself to return to work. Thus the life of a poor kid. So......Carole approves and my friend's choices of books so far (she had me read 'A Million Little Pieces' a while back, so 2 for 2)...

Just for you Reece

This book was defiantly inspirational and thought-provoking. Mitch Albom really makes you think in this one. I know I found myself musing over all the things I've done throughout my life. Also, I've been thinking about the 5 people who will be waiting for me (if this theory is correct) in heaven. However, like for Eddie (the main dude) some of the people were people that he never really knew...but both of them effected each other greatly. So there is an infinite amount of people that could be waiting for me in heaven to teach me a lesson about my life. Very interesting to muse about. Also, kind of scary. haha

Poor Eddie. I felt so bad for him along his whole journey. They had little flashbacks and he has had some REALLY crappy birthdays. hahaha. I don't blame him for not wanting to celebrate. >.< I know I wouldn't want to either. Gah! I wish I could say more about the people he actually meets in heaven, but it would totally ruin the book. MEH! So I will end my ramblings before I do something I regret.

In the end, this was really good. I breezed through it and was like 60% done in 45 minutes. I love how thought-provoking this book was. It really is a book that everyone should read even if you don't believe in God. God doesn't really exist in this version of heaven. Yes, he is there, but it's not about appeasing Him. It's about making peace with your life and understanding why things were the way they were. It's about making peace and living in your heaven. Really good. I shall stamp this with 5 stars.

Favorite Character(s): Eddie
Not-so Favorite Character(s): No one really

*CaroleRae*