Glitter and Gloss - Book Review

Title: Glitter and Gloss 

Author: Vibha Batra

Publisher: Bloomsbury

ISBN: 978-93-85936-36-4

Number of Pages: 183

Price: 199 [INR]

Genre: Fiction/ Chicklit

The Blurb:

       Imagine if you truly, madly, deeply loved a boy. And he loved you back. Imagine if the only obstacle standing in the way was his hard-to-please older sister. What would you do?

a. Crib and bear it

b. Care a damn

c. Undergo a personality change

d. See a shrink

Meet M.A.C Misha.  The lovestruck Laila who does all the above (in that particular order). She is (according to her Didi-in-law) everything a Bahu shouldn't be: garrulous, geeky, gawky, gainfull employed (especially the last bit). 

The apple of her friends' eyes. The love of Akshay's life. The up and coming bridal make-up artist. Misha is so many thins. But all she wants is to be accepted. Will Misha win Didi over with her Stepford Wife Act? Will she continue to be the poster child for the inherent evils of the Bahu Brigade? Or will she learn to love herself before the whole world and its wife can do the same?

My Review:

Characters:

       Meet M.A.C Misha. Misha is a makeup artist who works at M.A.C store in a mall. She knows this is what she wants to do in life and her biggest dream is to do brides. According to her its the most beautiful thing to make a bride look perfect on her biggest day. Misha also has a masters in getting into awkward situations and no one can beat her in this. Love struck laila, Misha's character is the one that will have you rolling with laughter.

       Meet Akshay, the heir of Agarwal Jewellers. Akshay is tall, lean, handsome (Young Kamadev - the God of Lust, if you ask Misha) and successful young businessman. 

Plot:

       The story begins with Misha bumping into Akshay at a fashion show where she is the make up artist and Akshay is the sponsor. And they both end up meeting in a very hilarious way. In the very beginning we learn two things about Misha - she has to help those who are in trouble and she has a tendency to get into 'Foot in Mouth' situations easily.

       When Misha meets Akshay, sparks fly and she acts as the perfect love struck Laila. But then Akshay also seems to be interested in our heroine and thus begins the love story (that will make you ROFL thanks to Misha). Now that Misha and Akshay have both declared their love for each other and want to tie the knot, comes our Didi. 

       Akki is more like a son to Didi as she is the one who brought him up. Didi is in search of a Bahu and Misha is everything she doesn't want her bahu to be like. Now Misha does so many things to convince Didi, things which may not be right. But will Misha ever be able to convince Didi? Does her love has enough power to overcome every obstacles that come in her way? Read the book to find out.

Things I Liked:

• The Humor!! Totally loved the way Vibha has mixed romance with humor, making sure the reader will never lose interest.
• The story starts right from the very first word, engaging the reader. The fact that you don't have to wait for the story to build up till it gets interesting makes it a perfect read.
• Though Misha is portrayed as a blabbermouth and someone who gets into trouble often, there is a side of Misha which I found very likeable. Her dreams, her determination to fulfill them and Akshay's support - I loved these parts even more.
• Definitely a page turner. With Misha and her never ending ways to get into an awkward situation, thanks to her blabbermouth, you will only want to keep reading to know what happens next.
• I loved Vibha's writing style. It will never let you get bored even the tiniest bit. The fast pace of the book suits perfectly for the story line.

Things I Disliked:

      There are way too many hindi phrases used. While most of the readers would love it because it makes it more realistic, some may not. And also, the book is definitely not for grammar nazis!! It has extra letters added to the words for effects which some people may not like! Also, the story line is a bit predictive. If you have watched enough Bollywood movies, then you will definitely have an answer but nonetheless, the book has the potential to keep the readers engaged till the end.

Verdict:

       I have read some of Vibha's previous books and I loved her writing style, the way she effortlessly mixes humor in her narration. So I was naturally curious when I received this book. I decided to read it while travelling to office. As soon as I boarded the bus, I used to pick a seat, take the book and start reading. And thanks to Misha, many a times I giggled and Guffawed in the bus while reading, earning 'is-she-crazy' looks from those around me! Also, I was so immersed in the book that I almost forgot to get down when my stop came.

       Yes, this book is that hilarious and engaging. You will love it! Fast and quick read, it will definitely have you rolling with laughter.

My Rating:

Until the next review,

Keep Reading :)

Love,

Starry Eyed Reader :)

My Fantastic Failures - Book Review

Title: My Fantastic Failures 

Author: Shreya Upadhyaya & Siddhartha Upadhyaya

Publisher: Srishti Publishers & Distributors

ISBN: 978-93-82665-41-0

Number of Pages: 255

Price: 250 [INR]

Genre: Fiction

The Blurb:

It is a book about – College courage. Dreams. Failures. Entrepreneurship. And a ....Relationship

A work of fiction 'My Fantastic Failures' is based on a real life story of a brother and sister who entered an interesting pact to safeguard each other’s dreams in face of all failures.

This powerful and fast paced story brings out a beautiful relationship of the two and how far they went to finally fail the failure.

Set in the backdrop of college life, this inspiring, dramatic, daring and yet humour filled story has the ‘what next element’ to keep you hooked.

A roller coaster ride in itself, the story deals with managing expectations when one is born and brought up in an IIT campus, entrepreneurship, braving countless failures and also facing the threat of getting dropped out of college (India’s no. 1 fashion institute). 

My Review:

       Money is the ultimate goal for many people. What crossroads can one take to earn more? How much greed can a person have and to what extent will this be satisfied?

       Vijay and Paul, back in their college days, invented a machine which they called God or Noek. It had the capability of earning huge profit for them at the cost of jeopardizing the whole nation's financial market. But what happens when Paul kicks out Vijay out of his own machine?

       Akram, JASON's head is facing some fluctuations in their trade and he has no idea what or who it is responsible for the loss he is suffering from. Rahul, the young to-be entrepreneur is found dead as soon as he signed his contract with JASON.

       When Sahil connects the dot and finds a link with all these incidents, will he be able to take his revenge? Could he bring justice or will he fall prey to his own trap?

Things I Liked:

• The chapters are short and precise.
• The author has narrated the story in a no-nonsense manner.
• The language was simple and the narration quite engaging.
• The whole idea of Noek and MemoryWall was fascinating to read. 
• Sahil's plan and the way he executed it was something I liked.

Things I Disliked:

• The pace was too quick. The dots were getting connected sooner that I would have liked. It gives the reader little time to get into the mystery cracking mode but the story ends very soon.

Verdict:

       A fast paced book in which the dots get connected soon and the game is over even before you have realized it. It will leave you asking for more.

My Rating:

Until the next review,

Keep Reading :)

Love,

Starry Eyed Reader :)

Guru with Guitar - Book Review

Title: Guru with Guitar 

Author: Vikrmn

Publisher: Srishti Publishers & Distributors

ISBN: 978-93-82665-53-3

Number of Pages: 252

Price: 250 [INR]

Genre: Fiction

The Blurb:

“Life is like a guitar. Tune. Play. Repeat,” says Viktor, a US based financial professional of Indian origin. He was rich, smart, intelligent, witty and emotional too, but still was lost in finding the purpose of his life. In spite of his great job and hefty pay package, he didn't feel the sense of contentment. 

Then he met Kim, his lady luck. She helped him realize his dream life, sparking a love story. Despite his failure in pursuit of his dream, Kim stood by him…till she decided to move on. Viktor is heart-broken, lost again, and struggles to balance his aspirations and office life. 

This story is his journey through life-changing experiences in India and USA – ranging from writing his first book to becoming a coach for cancer fighters, and then a motivational speaker, to finally becoming the Guru with Guitar.

My Review:

       We are always running after something or the other in our lives. First it is good grades, then it is good job and then it is a good lifestyle where you get a comfortable salary. But only once you reach this stage will you realize that life is not as easy as you expected it to be. The hectic schedule takes out all the fun from life and what you are left with is disappointment.

       It is in this stage, we meet Viktor. He has achieved that good position job and money wise but when it comes to his personal satisfaction, he realizes that he is far off from the mark. Confused and frustrated, he tries to find the purpose of his life, to balance between work and his dreams. Then he meets Kim, his lady luck, who stands by his side through thick and thin and gently guides him in finding his true calling. From Viktor's confused state to the time where he finds happiness, from finding inspiration to inspiring others to achieve their dreams, from rejections to gaining world wide popularity and from budding love to heart breaks, it is a story worth reading. 

Things I Liked:

• There are many things one can learn from Viktor's story.
• More than anything, I loved the quotes in the book. The way Viktor and Kim conversed using quotes was something I enjoyed reading.
• The poems too (some in English and some in Hindi) were good.
• Viktor's confusion with life, his desire to do something great, his pursuing of dreams, Kim's never ending support, Amber's sweet nature are all blended perfectly to make the story appealing.
• I loved the sweet love brewing between Victor and Kim. It was all good till the point where the story takes a drastic turn.
• The way the chapters were named and how the same was incorporated in the story was interesting.
• The narration was good. The language in which this story is written is simple and easy to understand. The pace was neither fast nor slow making it a balanced read.

Things I Disliked:

• The ending seemed like it was written in a hurry. It didn't have the appeal as the previous chapters had.
• Editing: The last two chapters seemed to be swapped. I was really confused when I came to the last chapter and found Kim still in hospital when I had read something different in the previous chapter.

Verdict:

       A book with good beginning which makes you evaluate what you have achieve so far in life and how happy are you with it. The story flows smoothly till it reaches the end where everything happens so abruptly. All in all, this book is worth reading for there are many lessons you can learn from it.

My Rating:

Until the next review,

Keep Reading :)

Love,

Starry Eyed Reader :)

When the Heavens Smiled - Book Review

Title: When the Heavens Smiled 

Author: Ritesh Arora

Publisher: Srishti Publishers & Distributors

ISBN: 978-93-82665-52-6

Number of Pages: 157

Price: 195 [INR]

Genre: Fiction

The Blurb:

Sarthak Arora is a good looking and intelligent engineering graduate from Delhi who has recently bagged a high paying job with an IT company in Kolkata. 

Sarangi Sen is a beautiful, vivacious Bengali girl working as a front office manager at The Grand Vilas, a luxury hotel in Kolkata. Opposites in every way, the attraction is instant and mutual; so is their falling in love, though it remains unprofessed for long. When things seem to be falling on track, like a bolt from the blue, 

Sarangi is diagnosed with a medical condition that leaves her with only three months to live. With no visible solution at hand, nothing but fate seems to be holding power. Would Sarthak be able to alter Sarangi's destiny and save his love? Or would he let Sarangi succumb to the design of the mighty invisible script of fate? When the Heavens Smiled is a heart-stopping spiritual, heroic, tender and intense love story that will open up your mind to new and uncharted realms of life.

My Review:

       Sarthak is a smart person (looks and intellect wise) who is working for NetCon Consulting. His life comprises of working hard in office and enjoying with his two jobless best buddies post office. He somehow has the knack of getting into most embarrassing situations most of the times. Life was pretty normal (or as much normal as it could be for Sarthak) until that evening in Hotel Grand Vilas. When Sarthak meets Sarangi for the first time, it was love at first sight. And what happens from here is a roller coaster ride for them both.

       From the point where they both experience ecstasy in their new found relations to when Sarangi is diagnosed with a medical condition, it leaves them all shattered. It is at this condition that Sarthak has to decide how far he can go to save his love. Sometimes there comes a situation in our lives where everything seems to be going against us. Will Sarthak be able to stay strong in such a situation? When things which challenge his beliefs happen and he has to make a choice, will he be able to choose wisely? Can he fight destiny to save his love or will destiny tear apart this blooming love? Read the book to know more.

Things I Liked:

• Sarthak's go-get-it attitude was something that I liked a lot. His confidence and never give up mantra earned him brownie points.
• The numerous oops situations that Sarthak finds himself in were hilarious. 
• It is always the unknown that we fear and it is the unknown that we battle against. The human mind refuses to accept anything that it doesn't know. There were many situations which makes you question your belief. Though some of them are difficult to believe, its all about our faith. 
• I liked how the author has depicted 'No matter how hard life gets, there will always be a way out' 
• A few incidents where people forget their differences and come forward to help one another were heart warming.

Things I Disliked:

• The author hasn't done justice to the story between Sarthak and Sarangi. The story was so much centered around Sarthak that sometimes it felt like Sarangi was a side character.
• The characterization could have been better. Many characters were just introduced but soon they were forgotten.
• The flow could have been smoother.

Verdict:

       Not particularly awesome but not bad either. It was a slow paced, thought provoking tale with a dash of humor and spirituality. All in all, advised for a quick and one time read.

My Rating:

Until the next review,

Keep Reading :)

Love,

Starry Eyed Reader :)

Keeping the Promises - Book Review

Title: Keeping the Promises 

Author: Dhruv Gajjar

Publisher: Srishti Publishers & Distributors

ISBN: 978-93-82665-51-9

Number of Pages: 185

Price: 195 [INR]

Genre: Fiction

The Blurb:

No one, not even god can write a perfect end for you! Unless he is dying. 

Mighty and irreplaceable as they are, words are lethal weapons that change lives… by sometimes linking two hearts and sometimes shattering everything irreparably. 

But when they are woven into promises, the change lasts forever. 

He had almost lost himself when she brought him back to life with her promises. Dying from a dreadful tumour, every night before they went to sleep, she took a portion of his heart and soul as promises. For better or worse, he'd have to keep the promises for the rest of his life. 

On his journey of fulfilling those promises, his bond is strengthened with all those who, like him, are keeping their promises. 

What were those amusing, surprising and painful promises they all kept? 

Can you live and die…both at the same time? 

Meet the girl who changed the lives of the people she loved, and those who find their true selves in Keeping the Promises.

My Review:

Characters:

       Meet Dhruv. An MBBS student who got admission purely because of his dad's money, fitness freak, nerd and a cool guy with a devil-may-care attitude. He can go to any length to help his friends. Bound by promises he made to his dying girl friend, he is on a mission to bring his life back on track.

       Meet M, the cheerful and bubbly girl, who puts her friends and family's needs before her own happiness. On her death bed, M wants to leave behind her loved ones in a state from where they can carry on with their lives without brooding.

Plot:

       To what lengths will you go to ensure the happiness of someone you love? What would you do if you are left with no choice but to watch the love of your life die in front of your eyes even though you could save them? This is the story of M and Dhruv. M, who is suffering from Neurofibrosarcoma, makes everything in her power to ensure that her loved ones remain happy even after her death and Dhruv, even though belongs to a family of doctors, couldn't get his girl friend treated because she refuses to.

       Dhruv's life changes drastically when he discovers M has Neurofibrosarcoma. He would have lost himself if not for the promises M takes from him every night. Though some of them seem absurd, they does make sense in the end. Discover their journey together as Dhruv narrates their story to her everyday and as they relive those magical moments once again. It is a beautiful love story that will touch your heart and makes you both happy and sad.

Things I Liked:

• The narration is what caught my attention first. Narrated through Nirali's view and then through Dhruv as he writes the novel, it flowed pretty smoothly.
• The suspense as to how Nirali is associated with M kept me curious till the end.
• The small notes with which Dhruv woke M everyday were my favorite. I loved reading these sweet notes.
• The characterization was done well and the side characters were also given equal importance. The way Ansh and Angie's story developed and the way it ended (no I am not including spoilers!) was a treat to read.
• I loved the way emotions were handled throughout the story. There were also many LOL moments in the story which I enjoyed thoroughly.
• From M's stubbornness to her love, from Dhruv's carelessness attitude to his tender nature, M's parents' bonding with Dhruv, Ansh and Angie's love and break up, from Badepapa's threats to Rishi's love for his sister, it made an awesome read.
• There were many flavors to the story - friendship, love, mystery, humor and yes, break ups too and it was a perfect blend of all these.

Things I Disliked:

• I was expecting something more about Nirali and M's association considering how Nirali was scared about Dhruv not talking to her when he finds out the truth. I must say, this was where I was a bit disappointed.
• I couldn't help but hate M sometimes for being so stubborn about the treatment. Though it was for the good, there were some times, when I just hated her for putting Dhruv and others through so much.

Verdict:

       It's not just another cancer patients' lover story; this much I can guarantee you. The story is written and narrated so beautifully that you wouldn't want to stop reading it till the end. One of the most beautiful tale I have read recently. Highly Recommended!

My Rating:

Until the next review,

Keep Reading :)

Love,

Starry Eyed Reader :)

Adhira - Love: Lost & Found - Book Review

Title: Adhira - Love: Lost & Found 

Author: Aditti Gaur

Publisher: Author's Ink Publications

ISBN: 978-93-85137-13-6

Number of Pages: 211

Price: 250 [INR]

Genre: Fiction

The Blurb:

What will you choose between your life and death? 

Who would you give preference, yourself, your family or your friends? 

She achieved everything she wanted. She gave way to who wandered away from their path or had no opportunity by founding a music studio and exploring her own love for music. Her life was perfect until the day her world went upside down. She quietly surrendered to the situations and stood brave for rest of her world. Her friends also wanted her to move on. But then HE arrived. HE was her admirer and the only one, she was comfortable with. Still, she pulled her feet back when love bloomed in her life again instead of indulging into HIS life. So, what troubled her? 

That was not the end of her story, but was it the beginning or she just had a pit-stop? 

Come let’s discover the destination of her story.

My Review:

       Adhira is someone, who all her life, has put the dreams of others' ahead of her own. She is strong and independent yet fragile somehow. She is a successful woman who has achieved great heights in her life all by herself. The story begins with a shocking news where we get to know that Adhira is suffering from Bone Marrow Aplasia. Things start to get complicated when she refuses to take treatment. But Adhira being the selfless person, once again puts her friend's happiness in front of her own and starts to plan and prepare for her best friend and soul sister Riddhi's wedding in full swing. But as much as she tries to remain happy, things have a way of getting out of her hands and soon she finds herself at a juncture from where she couldn't get back. Her world is shattered totally and her smile seems to be lost. What will happen from then? Will she be able to find her way back? Will she find love again and if she does, will she be able to give it another shot? Read this beautiful journey of Adhira to find out more.

Things I Liked:  

• Adhira's character is sketched really well as a girl who cares about her friends more than herself.
• Her selflessness and stability of thoughts were worth appreciating. It is hard not to like her after you read about her.
• The picturesque beauty of Manali, the enjoyment of the friends' gang, the preparations for the dream wedding, the mischief and the brewing love were some of the WOWs of the story.
• The bonding between Adhira and Siddharth was woven so beautifully that it was a treat to read.
• The ending hasn't been done with a happily ever after. It is written in a way where hope is visible at the end of the tunnel but the journey till there is left to the imagination of the readers. That, somehow, seemed realistic.
• The title suits well with the story line. Finding the lost love is depicted well in Adhira's story. 
• Also, the cover picture is beautiful and somehow manages to capture the beauty and innocence of Adhira well.

Things I Disliked:

• The third person narration gets confusing sometimes. Especially when 'I' is used, it takes some time to realize it's not in reference to the protagonist but to Riddhi.
• There were many typos and grammatical errors. The book would have been really good if the editing was done well.
• The flow wasn't quite smooth.
• Attention wasn't given to the side characters much. They were introduced and brought into the picture but soon their presence would be ignored completely.

Verdict:

       A nice book but could have been lot better with some good editing and stabilized narration. Nevertheless, the story is quite good and makes a quick read. Recommended for those who like to read love stories.

My Rating:

Until the next review,

Keep Reading :)

Love,

Starry Eyed Reader :)

Only Wheat Not White - Book Review

Title: Only Whet Not White 

Author: Varsha Dixit

Publisher: Penning Publishing

Type: eBook

ASIN: B00KQNNHVA

Number of Pages: 262

Price: 63 [INR]

Genre: Romance

The Blurb:

What if the one you completely love is the one you simply can't! Twenty-six-year-old Eila Sood moves to America to mend fences with her estranged older sister, Sheela. Eila and the rest of the family in India had cut off ties with Sheela after she married Steve Jacobs, 'out of caste, and out of color'. Elia soon realizes that Sheela's marriage is on the rocks. To help pay Sheela's household bills, Eila takes a second job at an afternoon strip club. When she crosses paths with the owner, the handsome Brett Wright or 'blue-eyed ogre' as Elia calls him, he both infuriates and fascinates her. Brett turns out to be her reluctant and unquestionably sarcastic knight in shining armor. As Eila and Brett spend more time together their desire for each other builds. However, when Brett discovers the true reason for Eila's refusal he storms out of her life, accusing her of being a prejudiced coward. Will Eila find the courage to break stereotypes and embrace her love? Will Brett find solace in the arms of his ex-girlfriend Cate? Will Sheela and Steve divorce? All of these questions and more are answered in Varsha Dixit's latest and humorous and steamy love story.

My Review:

       The title of the story made me curious. 'What might actually be the story behind it?' was what prompted me to pick up this book. And I am glad I did. It was such a wonderful and hilarious read.

      When Eila leaves India to work in New York, there is only one rule her mom sets for her - Only Wheat Not White. Eila agrees readily because she had never imagined meeting a handsome blue eyed ogre, who though irritates her to no end at first, later makes her go weak in the knees and make her want to stop time just so that she could be with him. While Eila set out to New York, it was only to mend the broken ties of her family. Sheela was outcasted for marrying Steve, a foreigner, against her family's wishes. After years when Eila comes to meet her sister, her only goal is to bring her family together. But things start to get complicated when she realizes Sheela's is not a happy marriage. When things get difficult, Eila goes an extra mile to support her sister but what will happen when she falls for Brett Wright? Will she be able to ignore her feelings for long and abide by her mother's rule or will love overpower her fears of suffering the same feat at Sheela?

       In a country where love marriages still raise eyebrows, marrying someone from a different country is out of questions. Love, quarrels, hatred, heart breaks, friendship, craziness - the story has it all. The NRI life style has been portrayed perfectly. The unexpected turn of events, the steaming hot love story between Eila and the handsome Brett, Steve's soft side, Eila's uncanny ability to fall into trouble all made the story all the more interesting. 

Things I Liked:

• I loved Brett Wright! The handsome, drool worthy male protagonist made sure I never lost interest in the story.
• It wasn't just Brett, the narration, the pace and the articulation, everything is mixed perfectly which makes the book a big success.
• I loved the subtle sense of humor which was sprinkled throughout the story.
• Eila's clumsiness, her bouts with the most embarrassing situations and her actions makes you laugh.
• Eila's habit of putting someone's happiness before her's, the way she helps her sister even though she had to step out of her comfort zone, made her an endearing person. (But when she refuses to see sense when it came to Brett, I wanted to shake her up)
• Even the side characters were sketched well. I loved Megan the most. Eila's role of cupid in Megan's love story and her tips were sometimes hilarious. 

Verdict:

       Pick up the book without second thoughts. It is a funny and fast paced read and definitely a page turner. It will leave you rolling with laughter and will make a good weekend read. Highly recommended.

My Rating:

Until the next review,

Keep Reading :)

Love,

Starry Eyed Reader :)