Sparkles by Louise Bagshawe

Synopsis from the back cover of the book :

From the U.K. mega-bestselling author Louise Bagshawe comes a delicious story of a diamond heiress in Paris

Fabulously wealthy, internationally adored, the aristocratic Massot family owns one of the last great jewelry firms in Paris. But seven years have passed since the disappearance of the patriarch, Pierre Massot. With hope of his return all but extinguished, his beautiful young widow, Sophie, reluctantly declares her husband dead and takes control of the family business. But even as Sophie begins to look to the future, forces are conspiring to destroy the Massots by unearthing the devastating secret from their past that Pierre may have died trying to protect.

Bagshawe's sweeping story takes readers from the murky diamond mines of Soviet Russia to the cultural whirl of modern-day Paris, unraveling the mystery of Pierre Massot's fate and the scandal and deceit that lies behind the Massot family fortune. Spanning continents and decades, Louise Bagshawe's Sparkles is an addictive tale of ambition, betrayal, and romance.



My Comments :

Does anyone know if there is a connection between Louise Bagshawe and Tilly Bagshawe? Are they the same person? I tried to google it but without much result.

Anyway, books from both authors are pretty similar though I would love Louise Bagshawe more currently as  I feel that the story have more depth to it and her books are more consistence in terms of reading pleasure for me.

This books is not excluded. It was fun to read how the weak Sophie Massot turned into someone strong and able to put her presence forward after her husband was declared dead. It was quite amazing to see her transformation.

I love the way the author slot in the story about Sophie's husband alternate life in between of the chapters. In the beginning I did not know what the connection is but it was later explained fully near the ending.

I didn't really like the ending as it was too perfect. But then let's just say everyone got what they have just deserved.

Am looking forward to read more of Louise Bagshawe's books.

The Mummy or Ramses The Damned by Anne Rice

Synopsis :-

 Ramses is doomed to walk the earth after he drank the elixir of life. He decide to retreat from life after his doomed romance with his beloved Cleopatra.

All was fine till one day his "tomb" was dug up by Lawrence Stratford. Awaken in the modern era, he became Dr Ramsey an expert in Egyptology and the constant companion of Julie Stratford who is Lawrence daughter.

He thirst of learning can never be quenched. But as he awaken, memories of his past affair with Cleopatra came to back to haunt him. As during a visit to the museum he came across the mummified Cleopatra and there he made a horrible mistake that would changed the fate of many.

My comments:-

Many years go I love Anne Rice books. I love her Witching Hour and Lasher. But when I tried reading her Vampire series, I found that it's hard to understand. Hence I stopped buying her books.

Then I saw this book up for 50% discount at BookXcess the last round that I went there. Well, who says people won't buy books? if the price is low enough, people like me would buy. No harm buying if it's less than RM10.

Am glad to say that I liked this book a lot. It's easy to read very a page turner.

What I like about this book is that the pace is quite fast. It kept me wondering what would happen to the "bad guys" of as the heroine had ban Ramsey from "taking care of him".

Then comes to his relationship with Cleopatra of the old days and the new Cleopatra...it was interesting. The author managed to rise some point of concern on what is happening to Cleopatra now as a result of Ramses' action.

What I dislike about this book is the ending. It was a bit abrupt. Could is be due to editing and trimming off the excess wording in the book? Am not sure what is the reason but I feel that a slightly longer explanation of the ending would have been nicer.

Overall, it's a good read for me. Am giving it 4 stars out of 5.