Masih Setia - Aisya Sofea

Title: Masih Setia

Author: Aisya Sofea

No. of Pages: 535 pages

Publisher: Alaf 21 Sdn Bhd

You won't get disappointed when it comes to novels and Aisya Sofea! Seriously!

I had read every Aisya Sofea's novels and I kept on wanting more!!!!

But I gotta say this novel, Masih Setia took a different approach than her other novels.

Miera, who is tied by traditions of Minang, was asked to go back to Bukit Tinggi, Indonesia to get to know her mum's side of family and at the same time, to introduce her to Rudi, Miera's (great) grandmother's choice of husband (for Miera).

Not to disappoint her Indonesian family, she went back to Bukit Tinggi with her family. She couldn't find a fault with Rudi but somehow her heart is not for him.

Tragedy struck when Miera went to Padang to send her family home to Malaysia and she stayed with her uncle and family.

The earthquake that stuck Padang meet up Miera with Malik, a surgeon from NGO from Malaysia and it was love at first sight. Miera knows that her heart is for him. But when she knows that Malik is engaged, she tried to cast away her love for him but couldn't. Knowing that she couldn't 'take' Malik away from his fiance (knowing how much Malik loves his fiance), Miera accepted Malik as her friend.

Back in Malaysia, Malik introduced his fiance, Mia and seeing their love for each other, Miera walked off.... until 1 day she saw Mia with another man. For the love of her friendship to Malik and her love to him, she told Malik what she saw but Malik didn't believe her, accusing her of creating conflicts between him and his fiance.

How would you feel if someone you love (and who love you in return) accused you as such?

Would you forgive him? Miera almost didn't!

I gave it 9/10.

And from this novel, now I know a bit of Minang traditions =)

Anugerah Cinta - Nurmi Syakimi

Title: Anugerah Cinta

Author: Nurmi Syakimi

No. of Pages: 493 pages

Publisher: Alaf 21 Sdn Bhd

I just bought this novel yesterday and I finished reading it last night - 8 hours straight! Now, some of you would ask me, is the novel worth it to finish it in 1 night? Is it really a page turner?

It's the first time I heard of this writer and well, obviously it was her first novel I read.

I'm not sure how to classify the storyline - love triangle? Hmmm.. not really. 4 main characters: Nur Amira, Tengku Faizal, Julia and Tengku Amirul.

On his mother's deathbed, Tengku Faizal agreed to an arranged marriage set up by his mother and her best friend, Nur Amira's mother. Amira, who just recently graduated agreed to the marriage after being persuaded by her mother and after saw Faizal's photo. Love at first sight? Maybe.

In agreeing to this marriage, Faizal broke off with his gf, Julia. Julia, who was frustrated, went away and Faizal was devastated. From that moment on, he installed himself to hate Amira and on their wedding night, he even told Amira the truth of his feeling *awwww... so cruel*

Amira, who knew that she made the right decision (to the arranged marriage) promised to herself that she would try to win Faizal's heart. While Faizal was in dilemma due to his late mother's will - half of Faizal's family wealth would go to Amira once they are married but if Faizal decided to marry other (polygamy), he would lose all his wealth to Amira except for his company and he would lose everything if he decided to divorce Amira.

Then entered Tengku Amirul, Faizal's cousin and Amira's ex-schoolmate, who once confessed his love to Amira. While Faizal tried to win Julia over, Amirul tried to win Amira. Complicated...

For his undying love to Julia, Faizal created a lie. He told Julia that he's going to divorce Amira hence he and Julia got back together. Julia even stayed at Faizal's home (with Amira) while Faizal was looking for a house for Julia and he told her that Amira is his cousin.

What would happen to this kind of relationship/marriage? Nothing good, I tell you...

After Amira told Amirul that she couldn't love other, Amirul back off - reluctantly. Faizal decided to marry Julia but intend to keep Amira too. But after his uncle and aunt's persuasion to ask him to let Amira free (coz they love Amira so much), Faizal got no choice but to divorce Amira once he married Julia.

What happened next? Oh... you gotta read it for yourself. To know what would happen next was what kept me reading until 2 am!

But of course, fictions like these always end with happy ending ;)

I gave this 7 out of 10!