Tuesday 23 June 2015

Departing Point - Book Review

Name: Departing Point 
Author: Santosh Avvannavar, 
             Jyothi Byahatti, Raghunath Babu Are
Publishers: CreateSpace Independent Publishing                    Platform
ISBN: 978-1508964124
Number of Pages: 65
Price: 281.14 [INR]


The Blurb:

       A physicist says ‘Biologically, love is a powerful neurological condition like hunger or thirst, only more permanent’. A psychotherapist says 'Love has many guises'. A philosopher says 'Love is a passionate commitment'. A romantic novelist says 'Love drives all great stories', A nun says 'Love is free yet binds us'. The authors try to find out what is love from the people who have experienced it. From common people like us. Based on true love experiences, The Departing Point brings seven exciting journeys of love showcasing different situations and circumstances where the travellers for some reason are unable to complete the journey to reach the “happily lived together ever after “ station.

My Review:


      If you are a sucker for happy endings, this book is not for you! But if you are wondering what might result in failed relationships, maybe this can help you.

       This book is a short read (65 pages) and it consists of 7 short stories. This book is all about love stories that remained incomplete due to some or the other reasons. What makes a love story incomplete? Why does people who seem so crazy about each other drift apart? Well, this book is all about such answers.

     Of all the 7 stories, I liked the first one a lot. Cute and intriguing, it set a standard to the book which the other stories failed to meet. The language is simple. When you are reading these stories, you will feel like one of your acquaintances is narrating you the story instead of you reading it. Some are sweet and some are a bit exaggerated (the last story) but all in all, it makes a quick read. It makes you ponder over the factors that results in a failed relationship. 

       I just loved the cover pic of the book where two people are looking for different things in search of love, leaving love in between. 

          This book is advised for one time read for those who are wondering about failed relationships.

My Rating: 2.5/5 Stars!

PS: This book was sent to me by the author but the views expressed are my own.

Until the next review,
Keep Reading :)

Love,
Swathi :)

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Wednesday 17 June 2015

Surrogate Author - Book Review

Title: Surrogate Author 
Authors: Santosh Avvannavar and Shilpa Patil
Publisher: Hoffen
ISBN: 9383701153
Number of Pages: 66
Price: 175 [INR]

My Review:

       In other countries, if you want to be an author, you will be one. But in India, you will forced to pursue engineering/medical first and then you will be an author, that too if luck allows. This book is a humorous take on the Authdas of India. Writing a book, that too the first one, is always a special feeling to every author. The uncertainties, the difficulties and the pitfalls are many that makes the author give up on the idea. But the desire lives on. Join Authdas on his journey to write Paro, his first book. 

       Authdas is an engineer who has returned from London after his studies. He is expected to join the family business and contribute to the society but Authdas has his own fantasies. He wants to pen a book. It has been his dream from a long time. While his parents never understand this passion of his and try to divert his mind, there are a few people who actually help him in his journey, like our Chandramukhi.

       Overall, it was a funny story. I liked the introduction where the author says There is no writer out there who gets up one morning and says, 'Let me write a bad novel' This is a short and quick read. The book, while humorous, contains many truths that only us, authors will understand. The writing style is simple. Many can connect with the story line easily. I liked the devdas theme and how it is connected with authors here. Also, I loved the cover page, which is what made me pick this book first among the other titles.

       Beyond the main plot, there is a brief guide to aid the newbie authors which consists of manuscript ideas, manuscript keywords and sample manuscript writing tool, which will be helpful for aspiring authors. 

      *I received a review copy from the author. (A signed one, yay!) But the review above is my honest opinion*

My Rating: 3/5 Stars

Until the next review,
Keep Reading :)

Love,
Swathi :)

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Saturday 13 June 2015

Without You - Book Review

Title: Without You 
Author: Preethi Venugopala
Publisher: Write India Publishers
ISBN: 978-93-84180-19-5
Number of Pages: 198
Price: 150 [INR]
Genre: Romance


The Blurb:

When Ananya, a bubbly twenty-year-old engineering student, reaches her Grandmother's house in Sreepuram on a month long vacation, romance is the last thing on her mind. However, she meets Dr. Arjun there and falls head over heels in love.

As it often happens, the path of true love never runs smooth.. Circumstances force them apart even though they were madly in love. She becomes a victim of depression. When everything fails to return her to normalcy, help arrives from an unexpected source. Will she ever find happiness again? Will time allow her heart to heal and forget Arjun? What indeed is true love?

Travel with Ananya to the picturesque Sreepuram, face the chaos of Bengaluru, and relish the warmth of magical Dubai in this heartwarming tale of love, betrayal, friendship and miracles.

My Review:       

Characters:

      Meet Ananya, a bubbly twenty-year-old engineering student, who loves nature, painting and reading. 'Tomboy' - that is what people call her back home. She loves spending time with her dear ones and Ammamma is her favorite person. But there is a secret that no one knows yet - a crush that she has been harboring on a person she hasn't even met!

       Meet Dr. Arjun, the scion of the 'Shine' group which has branches all over the globe. But Arjun is passionate about serving people and loves his profession. Twenty six year old, he has girls falling for him but Arjun has eyes only for one girl - Ananya, who stole his heart at the first glance.

Plot:

       Sweet and unsuspecting Ananya reaches her grandmother's house in Sreepuram on a month long vacation, barely having the idea of what life has in store for her. When she meets Dr. Arjun, about whom she has heard a lot about from her cousin Vishal and grand mom and whom she has harbored a crush on, she cannot help but fall head over heels in love, again! Soon she finds out that Arjun harbors the same feelings towards her and her joy has no bounds. With everything going smoothly, she feels like she is on top of the world!

       But life doesn't work that way! Soon things take an unexpected turn and Arjun and Ananya are separated. The bubbly girl is now at the verge of depression. She barely manages to keep up with the help of her friends - Khushi and Poornima. But then, the real help comes from an unexpected source. Will Ananya be able to get over Arjun? Or will life give her another chance? Does miracles really happen in real life? You have to read this amazing story to find out more.

Things that worked:

       I loved the depth given to each characters. I love how they are portrayed in a way that makes you feel you know them in real. Or maybe, you are one of them. The way Preethi has handled emotions in this novel is commendable. I was in Ananya's shoes throughout the story, finding love through her, crying with her and then rejoicing with her. The mischievous Ammamma, the caring cousins, the ever-so-faithful friends, they all balanced the story perfectly.

       The narration barely gives you the feeling that this is the work of a debut author! The language is eloquent and I loved the flow of the story. The very beginning of the story, which goes as follows, kept me hooked.

Every night, when I put my pen to paper, I wish to rewrite our story. I yearn to begin it where it ended.

I want to re-script the end, the middle and the beginning. Then I realize that I love the beginning of our story, I cherish the moments at the middle, and the end, have we written that yet?

       I loved these lines and instantly had felt a connection with Ananya and I couldn't wait to explore her world with her. An awesome job done by Preethi.

Things that didn't work:

       The only thing which didn't work for me was the way Colonel's story turned out. Though Preethi has managed to put it in a way that fits with the story line, I was still skeptical about his reality. Apart from this, no complaints!

Verdict:

       If you are looking for something to keep you busy over the weekend, pick this book up. If you are a romance reader, you will love it for sure. 

My Rating: 4/5 Stars

Until the next review,
Keep Reading :)

Love,
Swathi :)

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Thursday 11 June 2015

Scion of Ikshvaku - Spotlight




Read the first chapter Here 

RAM RAJYA. THE PERFECT LAND.BUT PERFECTION HAS A PRICE. HE PAID THAT PRICE.

Scion of Ikshvaku 
by 
Amish Tripathi 

Preorder @
Amazon.in






Blurb 


3400 BCE. INDIA
Ayodhya is weakened by divisions. A terrible war has taken its toll. The damage runs deep. The demon King of Lanka, Raavan, does not impose his rule on the defeated. He, instead, imposes his trade. Money is sucked out of the empire. The Sapt Sindhu people descend into poverty, despondency and corruption. They cry for a leader to lead them out of the morass. Little do they appreciate that the leader is among them. One whom they know. A tortured and ostracised prince. A prince they tried to break. A prince called Ram.

He loves his country, even when his countrymen torment him. He stands alone for the law. His band of brothers, his Sita, and he, against the darkness of chaos.

Will Ram rise above the taint that others heap on him? Will his love for Sita sustain him through his struggle? Will he defeat the demon Lord Raavan who destroyed his childhood? Will he fulfil the destiny of the Vishnu?

Begin an epic journey with Amish’s latest: the Ram Chandra Series.

Watch the trailer


Excerpt


Nilanjana sighed. She wasn’t even sure if the child would be a boy. But she wouldn’t risk the merest flagging of her mistress’ spirits. She administered some herbal pain relievers to the queen and bided her time. Ideally, the doctor wanted the birth to take place before midday. The royal astrologer had warned her that if the child was born later, he would suffer great hardships throughout his life. On the other hand, if the child was born before the sun reached its zenith, he would be remembered as one of the greatest among men and would be celebrated for millennia.

Nilanjana cast a quick glance at the prahar lamp, which measured time in six-hour intervals. The sun had already risen and it was the third hour of the second prahar. In another three hours it would be midday. Nilanjana had decided to wait till a half hour before noon and, if the baby was still not born,
she would go ahead with the surgery.

 Kaushalya was stricken with another bout of dilatory pain. She pursed her lips together and began chanting in her mind the name she had chosen for her child. This gave her strength for it wasn’t an ordinary name. The name she had picked was that of the sixth Vishnu.

 ‘Vishnu’ was a title given to the greatest of leaders who were remembered as the Propagators of Good. The sixth man to have achieved this title was Lord Parshu Ram. That is how he was remembered by the common folk. Parshu means axe, and the word had been added to the name of the sixth Vishnu because the mighty battle axe had been his favourite weapon. His birth name was Ram. That was the name that reverberated in Kaushalya’s mind.

Ram… Ram… Ram… Ram… 

Read the First Chapter @



About 
Amish Tripathi

Amish is an IIM (Kolkata)educated, boring banker turned happy author. The success of his debut book, The Immortals of Meluha (Book 1 of the Shiva Trilogy), encouraged him to give up a fourteen-year-old career in financial services to focus on writing. He is passionate about history, mythology and philosophy, finding beauty and meaning in all world religions.

Amish has most recently written the Shiva Trilogy (The Immortals of Meluha, The Secret of the Nagas & The Oath of the Vayuputras), which have sold over a million copies in the Indian subcontinent since 2010. The books that he plans to write in the future are also in the areas of mythology & history.

Amish lives in Mumbai with his wife, Preeti and son, Neel.

Stalk him @


Book Launch by:


Until the next review,
Keep Reading :)

Love,
Swathi :)

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Sunday 7 June 2015

The Girl He Left Behind - Book Review

Title: The Girl He Left Behind 
Author: Shilpa Suraj
Publisher: Harlequin India Pvt. Ltd.
ISBN: 978-93-5106-494-7
Number of Pages: 180
Price: 150 [INR]
Genre: Romance


The Blurb:

Can he win her back?

Romantic fiction editor Sia Sharma knows that life is not about happily ever after. The only guy she had loved had left her six years back.

Suddenly Ryan Mathur is back in town as a hot shot entrepreneur. His advertising firm has been hired to create the marketing campaign for Sia's publishing company, but Ryan has only one thing on his mind: to win back the only woman he ever loved.

But feisty Sia has other plans and is determined to make him pay. The harder Ryan tries to win her over, the further she strays. Ryan seems to be everywhere she goes, and her bestselling romance author, the sultry Nisha Malik, joins the fray to pursue Ryan. It's not long before Sia realizes she still has feeling for him.

Will Sia let Ryan back into her life again? And will Ryan ever win back the girl he left behind?

My Review:

       After reading Rescued by Love by Shilpa Suraj as a part of 'The Book Club' blog tour, the first thing I did was to search the other novels written by her. The Girl He Left Behind has been on my wishlist ever since. I would have read it sooner but (no) thanks to flipkart for they don't deliver this book to my location! I got lucky recently and won this book as a part of a giveaway the author had conducted on her birthday. And that too a signed copy! Yay!! I am happy happy :) And did I like the book? Well, the review will tell you that ;)

Characters:

       Meet Sia Sharma, Romantic fiction editor of Trends Now. In her late twenties, Sia is trying hard to put her past behind and move on with her life. Scarred from her broken marriage, Sia isn't ready to let anyone in her life again. Her days are spent at the office, working and chatting with her best friend Minty while her lone times are spent missing the only guy she ever loved - Ryan.

       Meet Ryan Mathur, the hotshot entrepreneur, who at the age of 28 had put 'Hope' on the global map and made it a company to watch out for on the national scene. Success becomes him and he has achieved everything he dreamt of. But he isn't happy. Though Ryan has carved out a successful career, his heart still beats for the girl he left behind - Sia.

Plot:

       How is one supposed to stay calm when the love of their suddenly make a reappearance in their life after six long years? Sia has no idea! She is totally freaked out when one fine morning she discovers Ryan standing in her driveway like he belonged right there! Just when she is recovering from the shock of seeing Ryan back in town, she finds out that his advertising agency is hired by her publishing company and she is supposed to work close with him for the next few weeks. Ryan isn't making it easy for her by the way he keeps pursuing her. But she couldn't let him in - not after all that happened in the past six years.

      Ryan is back in town after six years and he couldn't take Sia off his mind, no matter how hard he tries. Leaving was a mistake but what would you do when you find out that your whole life itself was a mistake? Now that he is back, Ryan has only one thing on his mind - to get Sia back. But the harder he tries, the further she resists. There is something about Sia's past that is bothering her, which he cannot put a finger on.

      They both love each other but still they deny it. But as the attraction grows, will they finally give in to their love? Will Sia be able to let go of the ghosts of her past and give Ryan a second chance? Will Ryan be able to convince Sia that he still loves her? Will there be a happily ever after or are they meant to part ways again? 

Things that Worked:

        I loved the characters. They all seem very real. The way Shilpa has described him, I couldn't help but fall for Ryan Mathur. Reading it, I felt like I was standing there and watching the story happen in real. I so wanted to shake Sia and Ryan and make them see reason! I wanted them to know how much the other persom loved them! I just couldn't wait for the happily ever after to approach soon. And when it did (with a little drama like it happens in bollywood) I finally breathed a sigh of relief.

       The story line is engaging and well articulated. It draws the reader right in from the very beginning. The language is simple. The narration is gripping and you just cannot put the book down until you finish reading it. I also loved the light humor which is weaved in the story. It definitely earned a few brownie points.

Things that didn't Work:

       Save for the few (very few) typos, there is nothing about this book that I didn't like! It was perfect!

Verdict:

       A well brewed romance story with a touch of humor that keeps the readers hooked. I just loved reading this book! I had started it late at night and couldn't put it down till I finished reading it. It was 4 am when I finished it! The book certainly had me hooked right from page 1! Recommended to all romance lovers; no second thoughts! 

My Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Until the next review,
Keep Reading :)

Love,
Swathi :)

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Thursday 4 June 2015

Siren's Call - Book Review

Title: Siren's Call 
Author: Debbie Herbert
Publisher: Harlequin
Type: eBook
ASIN: B00UATVF3W
Number of Pages: 297
Price: 243.88 [INR]
Genre: Paranormal Romance


The Blurb:

Mermaid mythology meets Native American lore. 

She was irresistible to every man…except one 

Lily Borsage is the ultimate siren: gorgeous, aloof and irresistible to all the men in Bayou La Siryna. All of them, that is, until Nashoba Bowman comes back to town. The Native American kid whose innocent first kiss Lily remembers fondly is now all grown-up, hot as an Alabama summer—and immune to Lily's charms. What self-respecting mermaid could resist finding out more?

But Nash has a dark history that puts any woman he loves in grave danger, and a heritage of power he isn't ready to accept. And Lily has a secret that no mortal man can ever know. When a mysterious enemy starts menacing Lily, they will both have to risk everything—and embrace their deepest destinies—if they want to survive.

My Review:

       I read the review of this book on Goodreads and it instantly piqued my interest. I just HAD to read it! So happy that I could be a part of this tour. 

Characters:

       Meet Lily Borsage, the beautiful Mermaid, whose Siren's voice makes every man lose his heart to her. But Lily isn't just beautiful; as they say, she is beauty with brain. Talented but insecure and the one in search of true love among human men - that is Lily for starters.

       Meet Nash - the irresistible man whom every woman fancy. Mysterious, powerful, confident and go-getter Nash has a secret which can change his life.

Plot:

       Lily can get any man she want but her heart beats for the one whom she cannot have - Nash. When Lily meets her childhood friend Nash, she couldn't help but fall head over heels for him. Never been the one to face rejection, it isn't easy for Lily to cope up when  Nash refuses to show any interest in her.

       Nash on the other hand has a troubled past which holds him back from getting into a relationship. But when the beautiful Lily makes advances towards him constantly, it is difficult for him to stay aloof. 

       Sparks fly soon and Lily and Nash realize they cannot live without each other. But a happy ending is a far call. With a killer who singles out every woman who gets involved with Nash, with a mother who forces Lily to return to the Mer world and find a match there, with Lily's little secret hidden from Nash and then Nash's own secret that he is struggling to expect, their love is anything but cake walk. How long will they go to keep this love alive? Read the novel to find out.

Things that Worked:

       The way the story is built around various factors is something that I liked a lot. Though beautiful, Lily has an insecurity when it comes to her talent. Though gifted, Nash isn't sure he wants to accept his abilities. Then their love - which fights all the odds. The part of Opal adds an interesting dimension to the brewing love story, always making the reader curious as to what might happen next. 

       I loved reading about Sam and his stories. The native American legends are new to me and though it took just a small part in this book, I enjoyed reading them. The narration was also gripping and I just couldn't stop reading until I completed the whole book (which was around 3 am!) The story is narrated from different characters' viewpoint and I liked it as it gave me an insight to the thoughts of more than one person.

Things that didn't Work:

       Apart from a very few typos, there wasn't anything that I didn't like about this book!

Verdict:

      An awesome novel with a lot of romance with a mix of thrill and mystery. Paranormal romance being my favorite genre, I absolutely love reading this one. Being the third in the series, this book can be read without reading the first two books but having read this one, I am definitely looking forward to reading the other two. If you love paranormal romance novels, then you will definitely love this book.



Until the next review,
Keep Reading :)

Love,
Swathi :)

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Delirium - Book Review

Title: Delirium 
Author: Sowmya Aji
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers India
Type: eBook
ASIN: B00K4QM2KQ
Number of Pages: 224
Price: 169.10 [INR]
Genre: Romance


The Blurb:


I was addicted. 
To him. 

Anjana Narendra just can’t keep her head straight when it comes to the nation’s heartthrob,cricket vice-captain Avinash Katagi.The mere sight of him sets the heart of this thirty-one-year-old television journalist pounding, and fills her stomach with butterflies. He seems smitten too – taking her out for romantic walks in the botanical gardens, appearing by her side when she has a road accident,knocking on her door in the middle of the night. Even as Anjana is swept off her feet into a whirlwind romance,the reporter within her sniffs out the biggest scoop of the season. all too soon, she is neck-deep in trouble with her bosses and the cricket board, struggling to make sense of the sordid world of steroids and celebs. Will anjana give up the delicious young man she is hooked on to? and does she even want to? Sinful and alluring, Delirium is a heady cocktail of intrigue, temptation and betrayal.

My Review:

Characters:

       Meet Anjana Narendra, who works as a journalist with the National TV, Bangalore. In her early thirties, she is intelligent, fun loving and isn't scared of adventures. Married to Naren and in love with the Indian cricket team Vice-captain Avinash.

       Meet Avinash Katagi, Vice captain of the Indian cricket team and the nation's heart throb. In his late twenties, he has achieved a lot of success but is caught in the drug scandal which has the potential to destroy his image. Silent in front of the world, he couldn't stop himself from falling for the National TV's journalist.

Plot:

       Anjana, who is desperately trying to catch some exclusive news for her channel, crosses path with Avinash who takes an instant liking to her. She thinks he was just flirting but when he keeps on appearing in her life again and again, she is not sure about that anymore. And what's more shocking is, Anjana discovers that she has feelings for Avinash too, despite being married to Naren, who is a caring and loving husband!

       Things are bound to go against them when Anjana gets an exclusive interview about the drug scandal from a senior cricketer on the promise of anonymity. What first appears as the scoop of the year, soon turns to be the beginnings of a series of frightening events for both Anjana and National TV. The BCCI is set on proving her news as fake and Anjana's job and reputation is at stake. And to add more to her pile of worries, Avinash's image is jeopardized too! Will Anjana be able to clear the mess her life has become? Will she be able to stop herself from falling more for Avinash? 

Things that Worked:

       I loved Anjana's character. She isn't scared of adventures. When the BCCI threatens her, she doesn't just cower up under their threat but she faces them head on and counter strikes their threat with her witty remarks. I liked the fact that she kept her source's anonymity even when she was at the brink of losing job. I loved Ratan's concern for his friend and the bold step he takes to help them out.

       I loved the pace of the story. It keeps you hooked right from the beginning. There are so many layers to the story and it gets more and more interesting as the story progresses. The cover page is designed beautifully and it goes perfectly with the story line.

Things that didn't Work:

       I didn't like Avinash. Sometimes cold and sometimes sweet, he really wasn't the ideal hero! But again, it is this very behavior of his which takes the story forward. I felt sorry for his fiancee who wasn't given much importance here.

Verdict:

       I usually don't like cricket but for a change, I loved reading this book. It is different and it is engaging. The emotions are handled very well and the book makes a great read. Highly recommended if you are looking for a fast paced novel with romance, suspense and mystery all rolled into one.

My Rating: 4/5 Stars


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Until the next review,
Keep Reading :)

Love,
Swathi :)

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