Rakhi Jayashankar's Blog, page 63
June 28, 2017
The Tree With a Thousand Apples by Sanchit Gupta- Review
Book Name - The Tree With a Thousand ApplesAuthor - Sanchit GuptaPublisher -Niyogi BooksNumber of Pages -284Publishing Year 2016Edition - PaperbackPrice -350Buy books from Amazon
Rating : 5.0
My Review
The book is all about the paradise on earth, Jammu & Kashmir. Through the lives of Deewan, Bilal and Safeena, author tell us how the paradise got transformed into hell.
We, as Indians will not be able to even keep the book down. It is the story of Kashmir. Every Indian's pride and pain. Author has depicted a complicated topic in a single dimension without losing the crust.
The language and narration is outstanding. Another USP of the book is characterization. Right from childhood to adulthood, the characters of the book maintains the individuality. The book has got all the qualities to become a classic. The book is historical, philosophical, futuristic, and realistic fiction.
The shift of generations is not smooth. Nevertheless, the development of characters through years is lucidly portrayed.
This review is in return of a free book from the Writers Melon
Book Spotlight - Breathing two worlds by Ruchira Khanna
About the Book:
Neena Arya, a Delhi-born goes abroad for further studies and decides to settle down there. Determined to be a 'somebody' from a 'nobody' she blends with the Americans via the accent and their mannerisms while having a live-in relationship with her European boyfriend, Adan Somoza.When illness hits home, Neena rushes to meet her ailing dad. Tragedy strikes and amidst the mingling with relatives and friends, she finds herself suffocated with the two different cultures that she has been breathing since she moved to the United States. How will she strike a balance between both the cultures as she continues to support her widowed mother? Will she be able to do justice to her personal and professional life after the loss? Amidst the adjusting she bonds with an ally and learns about ties beyond blood. On what grounds will she be able to form an invisible thread that she has longed for since childhood?Breathing Two Worlds ventures into cultures and ethnicity allowing Neena to ponder upon her foundation and priorities.Available on Amazon About the Author:
Ruchira Khanna, a biochemist turned writer, left her homeland of India to study in America, where she obtained her Master’s degree in Biochemistry from SJSU and a degree in Technical Writing from UC Berkeley.After finishing her studies, Ruchira worked as a biochemist at a Silicon Valley startup for five years. After the birth of her son, Ruchira took a job as a technical writer, so that she could work from home. Soon, she began doing freelance writing work as well.Her love of writing grew and she started working on her own books. After four years of freelancing, Ruchira published her first book, a fiction novel for adults called Choices.Then came the children’s book The Adventures of Alex and Angelo: The Mystery of the Missing Iguana. She got a thumb’s up review from Kirkus Reviews.In January 2016, she has published her second fictional novel Voyagers into the Unknown. It talks about the quest for happiness as the heavy hearted tourists travel miles from different parts of the world to Raj Touristry in Agra, India. Return to their respective home with a healed heart. This book talks about their journey!In Breathing Two Worlds, Ruchira talks about ethnicity and cultures, and helps to strike a balance via a fiction-drama novel as her characters breathe two worlds.In addition to writing books, she is a holistic healer associated with Stanford Healing Partners and also maintains a blog of daily mantras on Blogspot, called Abracabadra. Ruchira currently resides in California with her family.Find her on: Website Blog
Neena Arya, a Delhi-born goes abroad for further studies and decides to settle down there. Determined to be a 'somebody' from a 'nobody' she blends with the Americans via the accent and their mannerisms while having a live-in relationship with her European boyfriend, Adan Somoza.When illness hits home, Neena rushes to meet her ailing dad. Tragedy strikes and amidst the mingling with relatives and friends, she finds herself suffocated with the two different cultures that she has been breathing since she moved to the United States. How will she strike a balance between both the cultures as she continues to support her widowed mother? Will she be able to do justice to her personal and professional life after the loss? Amidst the adjusting she bonds with an ally and learns about ties beyond blood. On what grounds will she be able to form an invisible thread that she has longed for since childhood?Breathing Two Worlds ventures into cultures and ethnicity allowing Neena to ponder upon her foundation and priorities.Available on Amazon About the Author:
Ruchira Khanna, a biochemist turned writer, left her homeland of India to study in America, where she obtained her Master’s degree in Biochemistry from SJSU and a degree in Technical Writing from UC Berkeley.After finishing her studies, Ruchira worked as a biochemist at a Silicon Valley startup for five years. After the birth of her son, Ruchira took a job as a technical writer, so that she could work from home. Soon, she began doing freelance writing work as well.Her love of writing grew and she started working on her own books. After four years of freelancing, Ruchira published her first book, a fiction novel for adults called Choices.Then came the children’s book The Adventures of Alex and Angelo: The Mystery of the Missing Iguana. She got a thumb’s up review from Kirkus Reviews.In January 2016, she has published her second fictional novel Voyagers into the Unknown. It talks about the quest for happiness as the heavy hearted tourists travel miles from different parts of the world to Raj Touristry in Agra, India. Return to their respective home with a healed heart. This book talks about their journey!In Breathing Two Worlds, Ruchira talks about ethnicity and cultures, and helps to strike a balance via a fiction-drama novel as her characters breathe two worlds.In addition to writing books, she is a holistic healer associated with Stanford Healing Partners and also maintains a blog of daily mantras on Blogspot, called Abracabadra. Ruchira currently resides in California with her family.Find her on: Website Blog
June 21, 2017
Man Arden Day Cream - Review
Man arden is leading cosmetic brand in the world. explore your favorite men's grooming products. we ensure product safety & strict quality controls.
The spout of the bottle is designed such that only required quantity is spurred out.
The cream has an oily texture.
As shown in the pic, the cream needs a thorough massage to blend.
Pros1. Soothing and cooling sensation. 2. Moisturizers our skin really well. 3. A little quantity is sufficient4. Packaging is perfect
Cons1. Medicinal smell, though not a complete turn off.
The spout of the bottle is designed such that only required quantity is spurred out.
The cream has an oily texture.
As shown in the pic, the cream needs a thorough massage to blend.
Pros1. Soothing and cooling sensation. 2. Moisturizers our skin really well. 3. A little quantity is sufficient4. Packaging is perfect
Cons1. Medicinal smell, though not a complete turn off.
June 20, 2017
The Challenge by Tom Hoyle - Review
Book Name - The Challenge Author - Tom Hoyle Publisher - Pan Macmillan Number of Pages - 272Publishing Year - 2017Edition - Paperback Price - 399
Buy books from Amazon
Rating : 4.0
My Review
Children's book need not necessarily be fairy tales or superhero saga or moral value classes. Tom Hoyle once again proved his mettle in pulling off thrillers that can equally entertain children and adults.
The suspense element is the highlight of the book. The bullying in the school is narrated realistically, without being exaggerating. The narration is fast paced. The plot is tightly and crisply crafted. The emotional hubbub inside Ben's mind is naturally depicted.
For a children's book, The Challenge is raw and crude. For Instance, swearing is shown as a commonality. Towards the climax, the plot becomes less convincing.
This review is in return of a free book from the publisher
Book Spotlight - Dancing in the rain by Lucy Appadoo
Can she end the turmoil and escape the firmly built trap to find the freedom she craves?
Book Details:
Book Title: Dancing in the Rain (The Italian Family Series)Author: Lucy AppadooCategory: Adult Fiction, 274 pagesGenre: Historical Coming of Age/Romance/Family DramaPublisher: Lucy AppadooRelease date: March 24, 2017Tour dates: June 5 to 23, 2017Content Rating: PG-13 + M (There is physical abuse and death involved.)
Book Description:
Fifteen-year old Valeria Allegro works diligently on the family farm in Italy, where she is torn between her duty to her family and her desire to find freedom from her strict, domineering father. She finds solace in Dario, a young student who provides a blissful escape—until a neighbour’s son, Gregorio, decides he wants her for himself.
This raises an alarm for her father, which leads to family conflict and aggression. When Dario is threatened and her family is plagued by a series of suspicious accidents, Valeria is desperate to keep her loved ones safe. Can she end the turmoil and escape the firmly built trap to find the freedom she craves?
Buy the Book:Amazon.com.au ~ Amazon.com ~ Barnes & Noble Other online stores Add to Goodreads
Meet the Author:
Lucy Appadoo is a registered counsellor and wellness coach with a part-time private practice. She also works as a rehabilitation counsellor for the Australian government. In her spare time, she self-publishes or writes nonfiction and fiction texts. She previously worked as a rehabilitation consultant, caseworker, English as a second language teacher, and proofreader.
Lucy has postgraduate diplomas in psychology, education, and English as a Second Language teaching, as well as specialised qualifications in grief counselling and hypnosis. She has also completed wellness coaching courses (levels 1-3) at Wellness Coaching Australia.
Lucy enjoys reading romantic suspense, romance, thrillers, crime novels, family/historical drama, and sagas. She writes in the genres of romantic suspense, historical fiction, and romance. She has enjoyed travelling to exotic places such as Madrid, Mauritius, and Italy, and draws on these experiences in her creative writing.
Lucy’s favourite authors include Kendra Elliot, Christiane Heggan, Theresa Ragan, Tara Moss, Nicholas Sparks, Adriana Trigiani, Erica Spindler, and James Patterson (to name a few).
Lucy’s interests include meditation, playing tennis, journal writing, reading fiction and nonfiction texts about writing, coaching, and counselling, ongoing professional development, spending time with her husband and two daughters, and socialising with friends and family.
Connect with the Author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook
Enter the Giveaway!Ends July 1
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Book Details:
Book Title: Dancing in the Rain (The Italian Family Series)Author: Lucy AppadooCategory: Adult Fiction, 274 pagesGenre: Historical Coming of Age/Romance/Family DramaPublisher: Lucy AppadooRelease date: March 24, 2017Tour dates: June 5 to 23, 2017Content Rating: PG-13 + M (There is physical abuse and death involved.)
Book Description:
Fifteen-year old Valeria Allegro works diligently on the family farm in Italy, where she is torn between her duty to her family and her desire to find freedom from her strict, domineering father. She finds solace in Dario, a young student who provides a blissful escape—until a neighbour’s son, Gregorio, decides he wants her for himself.
This raises an alarm for her father, which leads to family conflict and aggression. When Dario is threatened and her family is plagued by a series of suspicious accidents, Valeria is desperate to keep her loved ones safe. Can she end the turmoil and escape the firmly built trap to find the freedom she craves?
Buy the Book:Amazon.com.au ~ Amazon.com ~ Barnes & Noble Other online stores Add to Goodreads
Meet the Author:
Lucy Appadoo is a registered counsellor and wellness coach with a part-time private practice. She also works as a rehabilitation counsellor for the Australian government. In her spare time, she self-publishes or writes nonfiction and fiction texts. She previously worked as a rehabilitation consultant, caseworker, English as a second language teacher, and proofreader.
Lucy has postgraduate diplomas in psychology, education, and English as a Second Language teaching, as well as specialised qualifications in grief counselling and hypnosis. She has also completed wellness coaching courses (levels 1-3) at Wellness Coaching Australia.
Lucy enjoys reading romantic suspense, romance, thrillers, crime novels, family/historical drama, and sagas. She writes in the genres of romantic suspense, historical fiction, and romance. She has enjoyed travelling to exotic places such as Madrid, Mauritius, and Italy, and draws on these experiences in her creative writing.
Lucy’s favourite authors include Kendra Elliot, Christiane Heggan, Theresa Ragan, Tara Moss, Nicholas Sparks, Adriana Trigiani, Erica Spindler, and James Patterson (to name a few).
Lucy’s interests include meditation, playing tennis, journal writing, reading fiction and nonfiction texts about writing, coaching, and counselling, ongoing professional development, spending time with her husband and two daughters, and socialising with friends and family.
Connect with the Author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook
Enter the Giveaway!Ends July 1
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Book Spotlight - Dancing in the rain by Lucy Aappaoo
Can she end the turmoil and escape the firmly built trap to find the freedom she craves?
Book Details:
Book Title: Dancing in the Rain (The Italian Family Series)Author: Lucy AppadooCategory: Adult Fiction, 274 pagesGenre: Historical Coming of Age/Romance/Family DramaPublisher: Lucy AppadooRelease date: March 24, 2017Tour dates: June 5 to 23, 2017Content Rating: PG-13 + M (There is physical abuse and death involved.)
Book Description:
Fifteen-year old Valeria Allegro works diligently on the family farm in Italy, where she is torn between her duty to her family and her desire to find freedom from her strict, domineering father. She finds solace in Dario, a young student who provides a blissful escape—until a neighbour’s son, Gregorio, decides he wants her for himself.
This raises an alarm for her father, which leads to family conflict and aggression. When Dario is threatened and her family is plagued by a series of suspicious accidents, Valeria is desperate to keep her loved ones safe. Can she end the turmoil and escape the firmly built trap to find the freedom she craves?
Buy the Book:Amazon.com.au ~ Amazon.com ~ Barnes & Noble Other online stores Add to Goodreads
Meet the Author:
Lucy Appadoo is a registered counsellor and wellness coach with a part-time private practice. She also works as a rehabilitation counsellor for the Australian government. In her spare time, she self-publishes or writes nonfiction and fiction texts. She previously worked as a rehabilitation consultant, caseworker, English as a second language teacher, and proofreader.
Lucy has postgraduate diplomas in psychology, education, and English as a Second Language teaching, as well as specialised qualifications in grief counselling and hypnosis. She has also completed wellness coaching courses (levels 1-3) at Wellness Coaching Australia.
Lucy enjoys reading romantic suspense, romance, thrillers, crime novels, family/historical drama, and sagas. She writes in the genres of romantic suspense, historical fiction, and romance. She has enjoyed travelling to exotic places such as Madrid, Mauritius, and Italy, and draws on these experiences in her creative writing.
Lucy’s favourite authors include Kendra Elliot, Christiane Heggan, Theresa Ragan, Tara Moss, Nicholas Sparks, Adriana Trigiani, Erica Spindler, and James Patterson (to name a few).
Lucy’s interests include meditation, playing tennis, journal writing, reading fiction and nonfiction texts about writing, coaching, and counselling, ongoing professional development, spending time with her husband and two daughters, and socialising with friends and family.
Connect with the Author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook
Enter the Giveaway!Ends July 1
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Book Details:
Book Title: Dancing in the Rain (The Italian Family Series)Author: Lucy AppadooCategory: Adult Fiction, 274 pagesGenre: Historical Coming of Age/Romance/Family DramaPublisher: Lucy AppadooRelease date: March 24, 2017Tour dates: June 5 to 23, 2017Content Rating: PG-13 + M (There is physical abuse and death involved.)
Book Description:
Fifteen-year old Valeria Allegro works diligently on the family farm in Italy, where she is torn between her duty to her family and her desire to find freedom from her strict, domineering father. She finds solace in Dario, a young student who provides a blissful escape—until a neighbour’s son, Gregorio, decides he wants her for himself.
This raises an alarm for her father, which leads to family conflict and aggression. When Dario is threatened and her family is plagued by a series of suspicious accidents, Valeria is desperate to keep her loved ones safe. Can she end the turmoil and escape the firmly built trap to find the freedom she craves?
Buy the Book:Amazon.com.au ~ Amazon.com ~ Barnes & Noble Other online stores Add to Goodreads
Meet the Author:
Lucy Appadoo is a registered counsellor and wellness coach with a part-time private practice. She also works as a rehabilitation counsellor for the Australian government. In her spare time, she self-publishes or writes nonfiction and fiction texts. She previously worked as a rehabilitation consultant, caseworker, English as a second language teacher, and proofreader.
Lucy has postgraduate diplomas in psychology, education, and English as a Second Language teaching, as well as specialised qualifications in grief counselling and hypnosis. She has also completed wellness coaching courses (levels 1-3) at Wellness Coaching Australia.
Lucy enjoys reading romantic suspense, romance, thrillers, crime novels, family/historical drama, and sagas. She writes in the genres of romantic suspense, historical fiction, and romance. She has enjoyed travelling to exotic places such as Madrid, Mauritius, and Italy, and draws on these experiences in her creative writing.
Lucy’s favourite authors include Kendra Elliot, Christiane Heggan, Theresa Ragan, Tara Moss, Nicholas Sparks, Adriana Trigiani, Erica Spindler, and James Patterson (to name a few).
Lucy’s interests include meditation, playing tennis, journal writing, reading fiction and nonfiction texts about writing, coaching, and counselling, ongoing professional development, spending time with her husband and two daughters, and socialising with friends and family.
Connect with the Author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook
Enter the Giveaway!Ends July 1
a Rafflecopter giveaway
June 11, 2017
Cover Reveal -Against All Odds by Danielle Steel
Taking chances is part of life, but when you bet your future against the odds, it’s a high-risk game …
AGAINST ALL ODDS by Danielle Steel
Featuring an exclusive foreword by the author.
Kate Madison's stylish second-hand clothing shop has been a big success in New York, supporting her and her four kids since her husband's untimely death. Now her children have grown up and are ready to forge lives of their own. They all choose to play against the odds, much to their mother's dismay . . .
Isabelle, a dedicated attorney, is in line to make partner at her Wall Street firm, when she falls for a client she represents in a criminal case. She tells herself she can make a life with him - but can she? Julie, a young designer, meets a man who seems too good to be true and falls under his spell. She marries him quickly, gives up her job, moves to LA to be at his side, ignoring the danger signs. Is all what it seems? Justin is a struggling writer who pushes for children with his partner before they're financially or emotionally ready. Will the strain on the relationship take too high a toll? Willie, the youngest, a tech expert, makes a choice that shocks them all, with a woman fifteen years older . . .
Kate - loving, supportive and outspoken - can't keep her children from playing against the odds. Can the odds be beaten? No matter how much she loves him, in the end, the risks are their own and the hardest lesson as a mother is that she can't protect them from the choices they make.
June 7, 2017
The width of the world by David Baldacci- Review
Book Name - The Width of the worldAuthor - David BaldacciPublisher - Pan MacmillanNumber of Pages - 416Publishing Year -2017Edition - PaperbackPrice -399Buy books from Amazon
Rating : 3.5
My Review
Who doesn't want to read the famous Vega Jane series, that too coming from the talented best selling author David Baldacci. I was super excited when I got the book.
Cast in a magical scenario with excitement & suspense, author has managed to hook the readers to the books by inciting the inquisitive nature. Expectations are sky high while reading a hit creation by an author who has never failed in delivering best sellers.
Grab the prequels before reading the book, otherwise you would not be able to comprehend the story. There is a lot of excitement. Vega's encounter with the enslaved people with programmed mind is the turning point and USP of the book. Eventhough the book comes under the genre of YA Fantasy or children's book, the language and narration will excite the adult readers too.
This review is in return of a free book from the publisher
June 2, 2017
Radha by Leena Saldanha-Review
Book Name - Radha Author - Leena SaldanhaPublisher - Leadstart Publishing Number of Pages - 220Publishing Year - 2017Edition - Paperback Price - 225
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Rating : 3.5
My Review
How to explain this book. If I need to say a sentence about the book, I would say that this is a monologue of Radha. But there is more into it.
Radha is talking to Krishna. Moreover Radha is spreading love everywhere. Radha tells Krishna that even if she hates milk, she makes butter everyday because she loves him that much. She wonders if Krishnas life as a God is boring. She is mesmerized by her lover who had never been with her but still remained inside her always. She wails that the world calls Radha and Krishna as RadhaKrishna to avoid every distance between them but she still don't have him by his side. There is more to the book than mere romantic utterances of a woman in the throes of love.
Since Radha and her love is immortal, authoress imagine her to be living in this millennia. She is the representative of the woman who I'd judged, exploited and trodden. Some poems point to the current scenario in the words of Radha.Many poems are the continuations of the previous ones.
The book speaks about eternal love that never changes after years, decades and centuries.
This review is in return of a free book from the publisher
Fables from India by Uday Mane- Review
Book Name - Fables from IndiaAuthor - Uday ManePublisher - Frog BooksNumber of Pages - 170Publishing Year - 2016Edition - PaperbackPrice -175
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Rating : 4.0
My Review
India is a country where there has never been any difficulty in finding a folklore. Every state has it's own collection of stories. Unfortunately our kids don't have the luck to hear most of them.Uday Mane brings forth 22 unheard fables for his readers- both children and adults.
Off late fairy tales have gained unprecedented acceptance, thanks to the cartoons and animated movies. While our kids read and tell the stories of Disney Princesses, our country's own fabulous tales remain ignored. Through the book Fables from India, author gave resurrection to the 22 stories, which in turn will begin a new culture of Indian folklore.
'The Prince of Aramadia', 'The swordmaker's last wish' a story of trust, sincerity, love, compassion and selfless love. 'The farmer and the magic objects', 'The sacred tree of Khaimur' tell the tale of selflessness. 'The best-selling book' speaks about the importance of values in life. 'The merchant's dilemma is about a lot and o ne of my favourite. It tells about the vices of prejudice, of being apathetic and selfish.
'The secret keeper's secret' , however disappointed me. An attempt to deliver a message was good but it didn't bear the fruits in the intended way.
The stories are touching and delivers a relevant messages. The irony is that eventhough the stories are based in a pre independence era, they haven't lost the relevance.
This review is in return of a free book from the publisher
About the author
Based out of Mumbai, Uday Mane is an entrepreneur, script writer, and a digital marketing professional. He started his writing career with fables, several of which are featured in this collection. His debut novel, The Helpline, was released in 2014 to rave reviews. INR 5 per book was donated towards child welfare through Rotary club and NGO Vidya. Uday Mane volunteers for Storytelling and English speaking sessions for the underprivileged through Vidya. He is an avid reader and admires the writings of Salman Rushdie, Rohinton Mistry, and Charles Dickens among others. He loves to travel and explore places, watch movies, and collect classic novels. You can connect with him on Twitter: @The_Allegorist
