Sundari Venkatraman's Blog, page 24

Blog Tour: WITH YOU I DANCE by Aarti V Raman

Book Tour

With You I Dance
byAarti V Raman




My Review

The story is about Meera Sagar, the elder child of Ashok and Sarita Sagar. The parents find their daughter unreasonable and stubborn, especially her mother. In our society, it’s expected of a girl to prepare herself to become a housewife all through her growing years. She may study, go to work – yeah, we have evolved that much – but at the end of the day, she’s meant to get married and reproduce. The ultimate goal of a woman!
Meera doesn’t care for that. It’s not that she’s against marriage. It’s just that she wants to make something of herself. Being stubborn, she gets her own way when she insists on moving to New York to study ballet at Juilliard School. She ekes an existence for herself there, getting to be an understudy of an understudy. As luck would have it, with both the artiste playing the main role in Swan lake and the understudy falling ill, Meera gets the opportunity of a lifetime, getting to be under the limelight.
But what does Meera do with this chance? She freezes on stage before throwing up her lunch. That’s it! Her career is over. Finito! She rushes back to India with her tail between her legs. At this point she’s not only messed up her career but also her love life. Yeah, her relationship with Abeer!
Abeer Goswami is a hotshot lawyer and in love with the difficult Meera. But when she disappears from New York, he believes she’s dead to begin with. Later, he finds out that he’s been dumped without a bye-your-leave. That too, immediately after he proposed marriage. The shattered Abeer moves to Mumbai to continue to build his career, working long hours.
Meera’s back and her parents want her to get married. But is the headstrong woman ready to listen? Not at all. She wants to set up a ballet school in Mumbai. Sarita loses it while businessman Ashok makes a deal with his daughter in the pretext of helping her. Then there is Niketu aka Bullet, her younger brother whose actually the wiser one.
Abeer and Meera’s paths cross again, but it looks like he’s in a relationship with her best friend Zoya. At every point, Meera’s life seems to get worse than before. Will she bounce back and find herself? Will she ever live a happy life?
The book is all about Meera’s journey in finding herself and has been beautifully narrated. I liked the way the author has touched upon ballet, a young girl’s dream to learn this uncommon dance form. Well-researched and presented, I must say. Not saying too much or too little, it’s just right.
I liked Meera’s characterisation the best. Abeer was her perfect partner. Zoya’s character was well drawn, as were Sarita and Ashok. Bullet brought with him many light moments and he’s a wonderful brother, even while being his wild self.
The title is perfect for the book. The language is excellent and the proofing is near perfect. What more can a reader ask?
No, I couldn’t think of any negative points in this one. I finished reading it with a wide smile on my face. A beautiful romance indeed!
VERDICT: I loved the book.


Disclaimer: I received a paperback of this book from the publisher via The Book Club in return for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for the same. 
Blurb

Meera Sagar had everything—the perfect job as a principal ballerina (for a prestigious New York ballet company) and a man who loved her as much as she loved him. But tragedy struck on the night before her biggest performance, forcing her to do the one thing she never wanted to do—come back home. To Mumbai.

Now, a year later, Meera is still trying to pick up the pieces, while fending off marriage proposals from her well-meaning but traditional Gujarati family, and figure life out all over again. By starting a ballet school in Mumbai. But she has two problems. One, she doesn’t know anything about running a business. And two, she can’t dance. Not anymore.

Enter . . .
Abeer Goswami. Hotshot junior partner at a South Bombay law firm and a man nursing a broken heart. When he meets Meera again, the woman who left him, he tries his hardest to be her friend, to help her . . . and not let the past get in the way.

And then . . .
There is the sexy Zoya Sehgal. Meera’s only friend in the city and the woman Abeer is currently seeing. They say triangles have pointy edges, for a reason. Will Meera find a new dream in her ballet school? Can Abeer and Meera find their way back to each other again? And, most important, has Meera danced for the last time?

With you I dance is a warm, funny, at times heart-rending, love story of second chances, true love, and finding yourself when your dearest dream has vanished.

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About the Author





Aarti V Raman is an established novelist in the romantic thriller genre (White Knight, Kingdom Come) with her third book, a contemporary romance titled “With You I Dance” out soon with Fingerprint Publishing.

29 years old, she graduated from Mumbai University in 2007 with a degree in Mass Media focused on Journalism, which provided her the perfect background for conducting sound research on any project. She then went on to study Creative and Professional Writing at Deakin University in Melbourne for post-graduation in 2008. It was there that she learned to hone her craft and lifelong ambition of writing romances that had strong characters and stronger stories that remained etched in the reader's minds.

While waiting for her big break, Aarti pursued commercial writing and gained a vast amount of knowledge (from fishing tackle to soft toys) that she claims have helped her with molding better stories. Her first novel "White Knight" was published by Leadstart in 2012 and gave her the impetus to continue writing. In 2013, her work was excerpted in the Tamil Edition of Mills and Boon novels. And in 2014, her short story "Post-Coital Cigarette" was chosen to be part of the Rupa Romance Anthology "An Atlas of Love" curated by bestselling author Anuja Chauhan.

Her latest novel "Kingdom Come" (Harlequin MIRA) has enjoyed a brief stay at the bestseller lists in Amazon India. Her work is represented by Red Ink Literary Agency, Delhi. And very recently, she was a speaker and panellist at the Goa Arts and Literary Fest 2014, Vth Edition.

She is currently expanding her skill set to include copy editing, content marketing, and creative writing workshop that help her explore the wonderful world of words in various forms.


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Book Review: KNITTED TALES: A COLLECTION OF EMOTIONS by Rubina Ramesh

Congratulations Rubina Ramesh! I am sure this is the first of many more to come. Looking forward to reading more and more of your writing.


The title drew me right in. I am a sucker for emotional drama. What’s the worth of a story if it doesn’t make one emote? I need to either laugh, cry, love, hate or whatever. And so I delved into the book that promised a whole collection of them.
The cover goes perfectly with the title and even more so with the stories that have been knitted within.
I have read the author’s writing on and off and have always believed she’s an excellent story-teller, especially shorts. Rubina Ramesh has her own style of presenting a story – THUD – like a slap on one’s face. The scenes make you sit up and take notice as she weaves words into sentences that stir you up.
The book begins with a tale called “A secret in their closet”. Curiosity tickled, I read on, goose pimples standing out on my skin. The story of Anjali and Payal is sure to make you bite your nails.
I never expected “Betrayal” to end the way it did. Hard hitting! The writing is so powerful that you want to kick the antagonist, hard.
“Chiclets” is a sweet little story that absolutely touched my heart – simple and beautiful.
“Forgive Me, for I have sinned” touches a bold theme. I liked Sharda’s character – the wife who accepts her husband Abhijit for exactly what he is. Nicely penned with crisp dialogue.
“Lolita” is one of the best stories. I so loved the way Lolita is brought to life by the author’s words. I want more. Is there a full novel in the making, Rubina Ramesh? (Please say ‘yes’)
“No Regrets” is another cutesy story about NRI life in the USA. I loved the way Raima dealt with her situation as an undervalued housewife.
“SuvarnaRekha” has a surprising setting, interesting story, unexpected ending. I felt sad while reading it, but I don’t think the lovers really cared. What attitude!
“The Little Godmother” is heart touchingly beautiful. A lovely must read for young parents.
“The Missing Staircase” – I could so relate to Christie’s beautiful relationship with her grandfather. The title is perfect and the second half startlingly unexpected.
“The Other Woman” – I cried for fourteen-year-old Aru. Touched me deeply. I still don’t know if I should be angry with Aru’s parents or feel sorry for them.
“Daddy, Hear me out” – I went back to my children’s school days. My daughter used to hate exams and the pressure they brought with them. Jaspreet’s situation will touch a chord among many youngsters. The story is a clarion call for us to wake up to reality and let our children live their lives. The scene where the author has described Jaspreet’s thoughts as she sits at the examination table brings the anguish of a student to life.
“I suck at examinations. I hate them. My mind stops working when the question paper lands on my desk and all I see is a black abyss. I can see the answers at the end of the black tunnel. Often I run towards them, hoping I can hold them in my two hands and put them down on the paper. But they escape me. Like small angels, naughty ones, who have just come to torment me and then flutter away. Mocking me with their presence, yet escaping me and leaving me behind, parched.”
“Cliff Notes” is in first person (as many of the above stories) and is the best of the lot. At the end of it, I wanted to hug this ‘person’ who was telling the story.
Other quotes from #KnittedTales that stayed back with me:
“If silence had a sound of its own, then there would be a cacophony of screams.”
 “Her heart soared when trembling hands held an umbrella over her, lest the angry sun peeled away the layers of her beauty.”
VERDICT: You can’t afford to ignore Rubina Ramesh’s words or her writing style, if you are an avid reader. You’d miss something truly valuable.



Buy your copy @
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About the author

Rubina Ramesh is an avid reader, writer, blogger, book reviewer and marketer. She is the founder of The Book Club, an online book publicity group. Her first literary work was published in her school magazine. It gave her immense pride to see her own name at the bottom of the article. She was about 8 years old at that time. She then went to complete her MBA and after her marriage to her childhood friend, her travel saga started. From The Netherlands to the British Isles she lived her life like an adventure. After a short stint in Malaysia, she finally settled down in the desert state of USA, Arizona. Living with her DH and two human kids and one doggie kid, Rubina has finally started living the life she had always dreamed about – that of a writer. 

Blog Tour: NO SAFE ZONE by Adite Banerjie

NO SAFE ZONE byADITE BANERJIE



Blurb

Qiara Rana will do anything to save her mentor and their non-government organization from ruin. Even if it means visiting the city she had vowed never to return to. But within a few hours of landing in New Delhi, she is being chased by a gunman and is a potential suspect in the murder of a high-profile businessman. 
The only person she can turn to for help is Kabir Shorey, the man who stood her up ten years ago. Past and present collide in a deadly plot of crime and greed that moves from the cosmopolitan streets of Delhi to the bazaars and villages of Rajasthan. 

Excerpt from #NSZ


Kabir couldn’t take his eyes off the game in progress. The sight of the polo players astride their horses, moving as a seamless entity, while steering the ball away from
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About the author





Adite Banerjie discovered the wonderful world of books at an early age which sparked her interest in writing. After a fulfilling and exciting career as a business journalist she turned her attention to fiction. Her latest book is a romantic-thriller No Safe Zone, published by Harper Collins India. She has penned two books for Mills & Boon (The Indian Tycoon’s Marriage Deal and Trouble Has a New Name) and written several screenplays. When she is not grappling with her current work-in-progress, she enjoys spending time with her writer husband and watching back-to-back movies. 

Media Mentions:

Click Here to read the article in The Hindu Metroplus

Click Here to read a book review of No Safe Zone in Millennium Post

Click Here to read the article in The Big Thrill magazine






                     


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Cover Reveal: KNITTED TALES: A COLLECTION OF EMOTIONS by Rubina Ramesh

RELEASING ON THE 10th OF OCTOBER Knitted Tales: A Collection of Emotions 
By 
Rubina Ramesh
Every tale has a path to follow to reach its destination.. but it may not exactly be the one we should follow.
WHAT IS THE ANTHOLOGY ALL ABOUT?
What forces an innocent girl to become a sex symbol? Her desires? Or cruel fate? 
Is a lifetime enough—for avenging a betrayal? How do you hide secrets that never stopped haunting you? 
Can vengeance and secrets of your past devastate your present? How can long-buried crimes of yours suddenly raise their head? Can sinning be saving?
Is your spouse your soulmate? What if they never understood your feelings? Can you still live with them?
Lastly, does life give only two options? Live or die? What if there is a third?
In her debut anthology, Rubina Ramesh tries to find answers to these questions that are often from the heart and yet makes the mind ponder over the solution. Or is it the other way round? Either way, Knitted Tales is a bouquet of emotions that is bound to touch both your head and your heart.

WHAT INSPIRED ME TO WRITE THIS ANTHOLOGY...
Dear Friends and Aspiring Writers,

My journey as a writer started after I joined Wrimo India. It’s a group of aspiring authors where all members are challenged to write, by the NaNoWriMo ML for India region and the Founder/Admin of Wrimo India, Sonia Rao.  Along with the other admins, Neel Ina and Dola Basu Singh, she made our lives pretty tough if we did not submit on time.

Our work was critiqued, broken to pieces and then mended again by all the Wrimo members. I laugh now, whenever I reminisce about those days. We writers are so passionate about our work that even a little bit of criticism makes us want to hide our baby. But in this group, we trained ourselves to accept all types of honest criticism. We sculpted our stories and life continued. This happened around 2 years ago.

Then, one fine day I found that I had gathered around 17 stories and forgotten all about them. As I dusted away the layers of neglect, I fell in love with my own stories. I am a narcissist. :)  But then, all writers are, aren’t they? I do hope what I have written from my heart, touches you. Here are the stories of a writer who aspires to always write from her heart. With NaNoWriMo just around the corner, here’s raising a toast to inspiration!



Releasing on 10th of October 2016Add the cover of 
Knitted Tales: a collection of emotions 
by 
Rubina Ramesh
to your 



Edited by Inderpreet Kaur UppalProofread by Nikita Jhanglani Cover Designed by Sachin Venkatesh
About Rubina Ramesh

 Rubina Ramesh is an avid reader, writer, blogger, book reviewer and marketer. She is the founder of The Book Club, an online book publicity group. Her first literary work was published in her school magazine. It gave her immense pride to see her own name at the bottom of the article. She was about 8 years old at that time.  She then went to complete her MBA and after her marriage to her childhood friend, her travel saga started. From The Netherlands to the British Isles she lived her life like an adventure. After a short stint in Malaysia, she finally settled down in the desert state of USA, Arizona.  Living with her DH and two human kids and one doggie kid, Rubina has finally started living the life she had always dreamed about – that of a writer. 
Her other published works include'Home is where Love is’ a short story in the anthology Writings from the Heart. Ed. by Beth Ann Masarik ‘You Stole My Heart’ and ‘Let me Go’. Short stories as a part of the anthology ‘Long and Short of It’ by Indireads'Wake Me Up' as a part of the anthology ‘Marijuana Diaries’ by Fablery Publishers

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Sharing: WHY AM I AN INDIE AUTHOR?

#PoweredByIndie
I began to write suddenly in December 2000. Yeah, you read that right. It was a sudden lightening strike. I have been an avid reader since I was a kid. I remember thinking of the stories that I had read for a long time, weaving multiple endings to it in my mind – especially if the story had a sad ending.
In my imagination, I hit Mr. Bumble (of Oliver Twist notoriety) hard on his head when he refused to feed Oliver even when the child begs, “Please Mr. Bumble, may I have some more?” This was every time I read the book and I must have done so at least half a dozen times and cried copious tears every time.
And the same was true of the umpteen books that I read. I did magic with Mandrake and I beat up goons along with Phantom. Life was truly fun! But writing? It was never my cup of tea until that day in December 2000.
And what did I start writing? A novel, no less. I fell in love with the romance genre after reading my first Mills & Boon when I was barely thirteen. By the end of the book, I was hooked for life. I used to always imagine love stories set in India. It had been obviously deeply embedded in my subconscious and had finally burst forth as The Malhotra Bride – the first book I ever wrote.
It took 14 years and a number of rejections from publishers around the world when I finally indie published this book on Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing. I have never looked back after that.
Today, I have nine ebooks indie published – all Top Amazon Bestsellers – in India, USA, UK, Australia and Canada. I am both proud and humbled by the response from my readers. Those novels that I had published as series on my blog are now being read by people around the world and I get paid for this – month after month.
The best part of Kindle Direct Publishing is KDP Select. This is Amazon’s exclusivity for using only their platform to publish our books. I am simply loving it and I will tell you why.
1.       To begin with, the percentage of royalty doubles when using KDP Select.2.      Internet users/buyers around the world know Amazon. We should find most ebook readers on this platform for sure.3.      The best is KENP that is the latest introduction. This option enrols my book for #KindleUnlimited where a member can borrow my ebook to read and I get paid for every page read. This is like manna from heaven for an author as it shows that her books are actually being read. And yes, this has made my royalty shoot through the roof.
Imagine having 10000 to 16000 pages of one’s books being read every 24 hours, around the world! Yes, that’s what’s happening to mine.
I am thrilled to be an indie author, all thanks to Amazon. Yeah, and getting rich too while doing what I love best!
#PoweredByIndie  

Click here to check my Amazon Author Page
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Blog Tour: CABBING ALL THE WAY by Jatin Kuberkar

CABBING ALL THE WAYbyJatin Kuberkar


Blurb
Twelve people agree to an idea of running a shared transport service from a common residential locality to their out-of-civilisation office campus. Twelve different minds with equally diverse personalities gel with each other to fulfil a common need. At first, the members collide on mutual interests, timings, priorities and personal discipline, but in the course of their journey, they become best friends, make long-lasting relationships, mentor and help each other on various mundane matters. The journey goes on fine until one day some members try to dictate terms over the group. The rift widens with each passing day, the tension surmounts and finally all hell breaks loose... Will the journey continue? Fasten your seatbelts for the journey is about to begin...
Read an excerpt @
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About the author





Take an ounce full of imagination and a scoop of humour. Mix them well. Now put a few teaspoons of feelings and emotions and simmer until it smells good. Add spices for taste. Put the mixture on the platter of dreams and garnish it with a few peanuts of desires and some herbs of passion – that’s all it takes to be Jatin Kuberkar. Jatin is a software engineer by day and a passionate writer by night. When not tangled in software codes, Jatin likes to express his inspirations in the form of poetry, short stories, novels and essays.
He lives in Hyderabad and adorns polymorphic forms in his personal life as a son, a husband, a father, a friend, a mentor, an observer, a criticand the list goes on… He is an ardent lover of Hyderabadi biryani and is a worshipper of chaai. If granted a boon, Jatin would love to learn magic from Hogwarts and fly around on a broom stick. 
Jatin is the author of two other books. Rainbow Dreams, a collection of poetry and While I Was Waiting, a collection of short stories. This is Jatin’s third book.
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Blog Tour: FIGHTING FOR TARA by Sunanda J. Chatterjee

FIGHTING FOR TARAbySunanda J. Chatterjee


CLICK HERE to read my review of this book
BlurbHow far will a mother go to save her child?“I have no use for a baby girl. Get rid of her tonight!” He towered over her as she cringed in fear.But Hansa, a thirteen-year-old child-bride in rural India, refuses to remain a victim of the oppressive society where a female child is an unwanted burden. Instead of drowning her baby, Hansa escapes from her village with three-month-old Tara.Hansa soon discovers that life as a teenage mother is fraught with danger. But a single lie opens the door to a promising opportunity far from home.Just seven years later, Hansa finds herself fighting for Tara’s life once more, this time in an American court, with a woman she calls ‘Mother.’Will the lie upon which Hansa built her life, defeat its own purpose? How can she succeed when no one believes the truth? A story of two mothers, two daughters and a fight to save a child, Fighting for Tara explores the depth of love and motherhood.Read an excerpt of #FFT here:

The soft light of the lantern flickered, casting a dim golden glow in the tiny hut, as shadows danced on its windowless mud walls. Thirteen-year-old Hansa squatted on the floor beside a metal bucket and stared at the glimmering water, dreading the task before her. Her baby whimpered on the floor, struggling in the hand-sewn cloth blanket. Beside the door stood the terracotta urn that held the ashes of her husband.Hansa heard the grating snores of her drunken brother-in-law Baldev, soon to be her husband, as he slept outside on the wood-framed coir cot in the moonless night. She shuddered.Just an hour ago, Baldev had yelled at her. “I have no use for a baby girl. Get rid of her tonight!” He towered over her as she cringed in fear.She’d begged him. “I can’t do it!”That’s when he’d slapped her. No one had ever hit her before… not even her elderly husband.Hansa touched her cheek, which still stung from the humiliation and fear.She doubted her courage to extinguish the baby’s life. Squeezing her eyes shut, she took a deep breath, hoping that dawn would bring her luck.Tomorrow morning Hansa would travel with Baldev and all the goats they could load into his bullock-cart, and leave the village forever. She would go to a distant land, become Baldev’s second wife, learn the household chores from his first wife, and bear him male heirs… Hansa shivered, apprehensive about her future.But before her new life could begin, she and Baldev would take a detour to the river to disperse her husband’s ashes and discard her beautiful daughter’s body.Somewhere deep in her heart, Hansa knew none of this was fair. It wasn’t fair that in a country with a rich heritage of brave queens, young girls were still forced into marriage, sometimes to men older than their grandfathers. It wasn’t fair that she’d been born to poor parents in rural Rajasthan, a state rife with archaic traditions. It wasn’t fair that she had matured early and was given to sixty-year old Gyanchand Rathore from the neighboring village of Dharni, whose first wife and child had died in a fire.She turned her face away from the bucket, her heart refusing to carry out Baldev’s orders just yet. A shiver ran through her body as she tried not to imagine life without her baby. Think of something else! Think about Gyani!Gyani’s absence filled Hansa with a dark desolation, a sense of doom, as if his death itself was a living, breathing, overbearing entity.She thought of his kind eyes, his missing teeth and graying beard, the massive orange turban which she’d tied for him every morning, and the long kurta he wore, which never looked clean no matter how many times she washed it…But Gyani was gone. Two nights ago, his heart had stopped beating in his sleep, while she slept under the same blanket, her baby right beside her. When she awoke at dawn to the rooster’s call, she had found his cold still body. She shuddered to think she had slept with a corpse, oblivious, in the comfort of her own youthful warmth. Her first encounter with death. And if she did as Baldev asked, there would be another. Tonight.Gyani’s death had stunned her, and grief hadn’t sunk in. She had not wept for his departed soul, and her neighbor warned her that if she didn’t mourn his passing, she would never move on. But did Hansa really want to move on into a future that included Baldev but excluded her baby?According to the custom of karewa, Hansa knew that a young widow would be married off to her brother-in-law, so that the money remained in the family. Her neighbor had told her it was her kismet, her fate.Hansa was brought up not to challenge the norms of society, but to follow them. If the combined wisdom of her ancestors had determined that she should move to Baldev’s village and begin a new life, who was she to argue? She had no family left, no other place to go.Baldev choked on his spit and coughed outside, jarring the stillness of the night, reminding her of the task ahead.But while it was her duty to follow Baldev’s orders, she would trade the impending task for eternal damnation.Her neighbor had said that killing a baby was an unforgivable sin, even though she’d herself drowned two of her daughters the day they were born. Women are the form of Goddess, she’d said, crying at the fate of her own rotten soul.But it was a matter of survival. Produce a male heir or be turned out on the streets to beg. A female child was a burden. Even Hansa knew that; her father had reminded her of that every day of her life.That prejudice was her reality.Hansa was terrified for her own soul, but Baldev said, “A mother can’t be a sinner if she takes a life she brought into this world.” And then he had gone and got drunk on tharra.Gyani had been unlike most men in the village. He had allowed her to keep the baby, to give her a name. The baby’s eyes glittered like stars on a moonless night.She called her Tara. Star.Hansa looked at her baby with pride and with remorse, as every fiber of her being protested, and her stomach turned and her throat tightened.Outside, Baldev stirred.Time was running out.Tara whimpered again, and Hansa turned to look at her chubby fists cycling in the still air, throwing outsized shadows on the walls. Hansa’s hands shook and her mouth turned dry. She bit her lip, forcing herself to focus on the imminent task.The water in the bucket shimmered black and gold, reflecting the dancing flame of the lantern, mesmerizing, inviting. Water, the giver of life…
She made up her mind. It was now or never.
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About the author




Freelance author, blogger, and ex-Indian Air Force physician Sunanda Joshi Chatterjee completed her graduate studies in Los Angeles, where she is a practicing pathologist. While medicine is her profession, writing is her passion. When she’s not at the microscope making diagnoses, she loves to write fiction. Her life experiences have taught her that no matter how different people are, their desires, fears, and challenges remain the same. 

Her themes include romantic sagas, family dramas, immigrant experience, women’s issues, medicine, and spirituality. She loves extraordinary love stories and heartwarming tales of duty and passion. Her short stories have appeared in short-story.net and induswomanwriting.com. 
She grew up in Bhilai, India, and lives in Arcadia, California with her husband and two wonderful children. In her free time, she paints, reads, sings, goes on long walks, and binge-watches TV crime dramas.


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Book Review: A SILVER DAWN by Leena Varghese

The author approached me for a review of this book. After reading the blurb, I immediately agreed and I am glad that I did.
The story opens with a teenage Clarissa who’s the only child of the super rich Milagres family in Goa. The lovely Clarissa is keen to become a ballerina while her parents aren’t for the idea. An orphan, heart-broken boy sees Clarissa dancing by herself in her garden and finds solace in the joy and peace surrounding her. He gets to meet her too. But after that, their lives take them down different paths.
The story continues ten years later. The Milagres family isn’t rich any more. Clarissa has escaped a violent marriage and runs a dance school along with Tony. Igor Chekanov is keen to buy the Milagres estate and also eyeing to bed Clarissa. And then there’s business tycoon Leon Rodriguez, who offers to marry her. Will Clarissa agree to the proposal? She believes that Leon is also after her property and doesn’t trust him at all. And then there is her aversion to marriage...
I like Leena Varghese’s style of writing as it flows freely along the pages, pulling the reader into her story. With every page, I wanted to know more. Yes, I could second guess some of the story, but that is absolutely beside the point. The language is perfect while the book is well-edited and proof-read, which goes a very long way in its favour.
The build up of the relationship between the protagonists, the conflict, the way Clarissa’s desperate attempt at rescue brings forth a solution to her, all make for a wonderful story. I liked Leon’s brooding character and the chemistry he shares with Clarissa. Then there’s Tony for the light moments. I would love to read the story if Leena Varghese writes one with Tony as the main character.
There’s a lot of heart in this tale and I could truly connect to it.
VERDICT: A must read!


The Blurb:
Talented choreographer Clarissa Milagres Silvera is beautiful, young and widowed – and intensely mistrustful of men. With a violent marriage behind her, she is now fiercely determined to be independent, both emotionally and financially.
Leon Rodriguez, hotelier tycoon with less than humble beginnings, has been drawn to her since he was a teenager. Now successful, he approaches Clary’s family for her hand in marriage. Even as he patiently woos his stoic love, Leon realizes he must protect her from the sadistic mafioso Igor Chekanov, who is eyeing Clary’s family estate.
Will Clary trust Leon enough to accept his love? Will Leon keep her safe regardless? What is Igor’s motive? Is time running out for them?
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Disclaimer: I received a paperback version of the book from the author in return for my honest review. I didn’t receive any monetary compensation for the same.  

Blog Tour: THE SECRET OF GOD’S SON by Usha Narayanan

THE SECRET OF GOD'S SONbyUsha Narayanan

My Review


I had read Usha Narayanan’s first book in the series called, Pradyumna, Son of Krishna and had been mighty impressed by the same.
So, I sat down to read The Secret of God’s Son with great enthusiasm and I must say I wasn’t disappointed. The writing flows comfortably in the author’s perfect language that’s absolutely suitable for the genre she’s written. This is a major plus in the book’s favour.
Though my knowledge of Indian mythology is pretty wide, I haven’t read anything much after Lord Krishna’s death. Usha Narayanan has written a lovely fiction that talks about the state of the world after The Blue Lord passes on. Kudos for that!
Spoiler alert from here on!!!!
Some of the highlights in the book that really touched me:
1. The scene where the spirits of all those who perished in the Kurukshetra war arises to communicate with the living ones. Beautifully described.2. Pradyumna’s meeting of Lord Ganesha in the cave at Kailasa. I so loved the interaction between the two of them.3. When Pradyumna goes to Yamaloka to rescue Vikarna, he calls upon Lord Shiva’s Trishul for help. The scene describing the Trishul’s arrival is awesome.4. I cried when I read about Lord Krishna leaving the earth. Yeah, I have heard the story many times, but that didn’t stop me. Well written.5. Lord Vishnu goes back to Vaikunta. The scene where he is welcomed by all the Gods and Devas is beautifully described.6. I got goose bumps when I read the chapter where Pradyumna discovers that he is Sri Sudarshana. Amazing! So was the scene at the second Kurukshetra war when Pradyumna takes the form of Vishnu’s chakra and fights shoulder-to-shoulder with Lord Narasimha.7. Loved Pradyumna’s appeal to Lord Ganesha when Maya lies dead. Towards the end, when Pradyumna addresses his people, after the death of Kali, he begins well, but gets rather preachy. 
VERDICT: A must read if you like reading mythological fiction.





Blurb
‘The seas will devour the glorious city of Dwaraka. People will forget your name and your Gita. May the world perish! May the world perish!’

With this cruel curse on Krishna, Queen Gandhari plunges mankind into the unspeakable evil of the Kali Yuga. 
It is up to Pradyumna to try and reverse the dire prediction. To journey into terrifying realms, confront Yama and Shiva, and to vanquish the Kali demon. In order to do so, he must shed all that holds a mortal back—his arrogance, his fears, his baser instincts… He must lead his people out of the swirling vortex of greed, disease and misery. And there is one powerful weapon still…the secret surrounding Pradyumna’s origin.  
Will he uncover it in time to fight off the cataclysm? 
In the answer lies the destiny of all humanity! 

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About the author

USHA NARAYANAN
Usha Narayanan had a successful career in advertising, radio and corporate communications before becoming a full-time writer. She is the author of The Madras Mangler, a suspense thriller, and Love, Lies and Layoffs, a light-hearted office romance. The Secret of God’s Son is the sequel to her bestselling book, Pradyumna: Son of Krishna, which was published in July 2015. 
When she’s not juggling travel, writing and interviews, Usha reads everything from thrillers to romances, provided her cat isn’t fast asleep on her Kindle. She would love to hear from her readers here: author@ushanarayanan.com 
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Media mentions

Praise for Pradyumna: Son of Krishna: 
“Usha Narayanan has taken a quantum leap . . . to the outright spine-tingling narrative from the leaves of a time before. This book is Indian writing coming of age" Femina
"Like the best of our mythological tales, this too, is a multilayered one . . .There is valour, there is cowardice, there is glory, there is shame, there is sex, lies and deception" The Hindu
"This engrossing tale takes readers on a mythological saga" Times of India

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Blog Tour: THE SMITTEN HUSBAND (Marriages made in India Book #1) by Sundari Venkatraman

Marriages Made in IndiaBook #1THE SMITTEN HUSBANDbySundari Venkatraman



Blurb
Ram Maheshwari is a successful jewellery designer who has a huge showroom on MI Road, Jaipur. He’s tall, dark, handsome and a billionaire to boot. He’s twenty-nine and falls in with his parents’ wishes when they try to arrange his marriage.
The lovely, stormy-eyed Sapna Purohit is from Pushkar. She’s managed to finish school and makes a living by doing mehendi designs during weddings. She’s always dreamt of a Prince on a white horse, sweeping her off her feet.
One look into Sapna’s grey eyes and Ram is lost. Only, Sapna’s unable to see her Prince in Ram. Being from a poor family, she has no choice but to go along with the tide when the Maheshwaris offer to bear all expenses of the wedding. 
Does that mean that the feisty Sapna is all set to accept Ram as her husband? She puts forth a condition, after the wedding. Will The Smitten Husband agree to it?
*MARRIAGES MADE IN INDIA is a five-novella series that revolves around the characters you have met in The Runaway Bridegroom.
Read an excerpt...

“Good morning!” said a sleepy voice. “What are you doing so far away?” called out Ram, before reaching out with a long arm to pull her to him. A startled Sapna gave him a shocked look that was lost on her husband, whose eyes were still closed. His arms went around her waist like steel bands, his breath hot against her cheek. “Sapna...” he whispered in her ear as his hard lips pressed into her petal soft cheek.Sapna tried to pull out of his arms, only to have them pull her closer. Her breasts were flattened against his solid chest. Her traitorous body seemed to enjoy the pressure as her nipples perked up. She did her best to hold on to the control that was slipping fast.“Ram,” she called out loudly, hoping to wake him up. She couldn’t free her arms that were trapped against her own body, as he held her in a crushing grip. His mouth was busy exploring her face, moving inexorably towards her lips. His eyes continued to remain closed, while his hands moved restlessly at her waist. “Ram...” her voice came out in a whisper, as she felt his tongue trace the edge of her lips. Tortured, she made the final move to capture his roving lips, breaking free her hands to hold his face steady.“Sapna...” sighed Ram, kissing her gently, his tongue first tracing her upper lip and then her lower one. He gently bit the luscious curve. Sapna instinctively opened her mouth to let him explore the velvety cavern with his tongue. Shyly, her tongue reached out to mate with his, making Ram groan with need.His hands moved restlessly on her body, her nightie bunching up. His muscular legs tangled with her slim ones, making her sigh with pleasure as his hard and hairy skin brushed against her soft and silky one. His hands cupped her lush bottom, caressing it lovingly.Sapna suddenly became aware of his hardness pressed against her belly. Coming to her senses, she turned her face away, breaking the kiss. “No Ram.”His wet lips continued to caress her, his tongue exploring her shell-like ear. Even as her heart thudded loudly, Sapna pushed against him. “Ram, please, will you stop it?”His black eyes opened a slit, desire and slumber at war in them. “Sapna?” If he hadn’t been fully awake before, he was now, as he stared at her lovely face that was so close to his. He slowly recalled what had been occurring over the past few minutes. He had at first thought he was dreaming about kissing the luscious woman in his arms. How had she landed there in the first place?

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About The Author

The Smitten Husband is the eighth book authored by Sundari Venkatraman. This is a hot romance and is Book #1 of the 5-novella series titled Marriages Made in India. Other published novels by the author are The Malhotra Bride, Meghna, The Runaway Bridegroom, The Madras Affair and An Autograph for Anjali—all romances. She also has a collection of romantic short stories called Matches Made in Heaven; and a collection of human interest stories called Tales of Sunshine. All of Sundari Venkatraman’s books have been on Amazon Top 100 Bestsellers in India, USA, UK & Australia many times over.





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