Sundari Venkatraman's Blog, page 29

Cover Reveal: AN AUTOGRAPH FOR ANJALI by Sundari Venkatraman

Releasing on March 7, 2016
Cover Reveal:
AN AUTOGRAPH FOR ANJALI
#AAFA : a Romantic Suspense
by 
Sundari Venkatraman
Sneak Peek
     Jayant Mathur is found murdered in his bed, shot at point-blank range with his own revolver. Though she’s extremely disturbed by his death, Jayant’s wife Anjali is way more upset about something else. Who stands to gain by killing the multi-millionaire businessman?

     Parth Bhardwaj is a friend and neighbour of the Mathurs. Parth is an author who goes by a pseudonym. He appears more than a friend to Anjali; while he’s also on good terms with her son Arjun who lives and studies in the UK. What role does he play in Anjali’s life? Jayant’s relatives are curious to know.

     Jayant’s brother-in-law Rana is convinced that Parth and Anjali are the murderers. But Inspector Phadke has his own doubts about this theory. In comes Samrat, the private detective who appears as quiet as a mouse. Will he be able to find the murderer?

     Will Anjali find happiness and peace? 


About the author

An Autograph For Anjali is the sixth book authored by Sundari Venkatraman. This book is a romantic suspense. Other published novels by the author are The Malhotra Bride, Meghna, The Runaway Bridegroom and The Madras Affair – all romances. She has also published a collection of romantic short stories called Matches Made In Heaven. All of Sundari Venkatraman's books have been on Amazon Top 100 Bestsellers in India, USA, UK & Australia, many times over. 
Sundari Venkatraman would love to hear from you @

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Other books by the author
The Malhotra Bride Meghna The Runaway Bridegroom Flaming Sun Collection 1: Happily Ever Afters From India (Box Set) Matches Made In Heaven The Madras Affair


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Book Blitz: DEFIANT DREAMS: TALES OF EVERYDAY DIVAS by 24 Authors

DEFIANT DREAMS Tales of Everyday Divas
EDITORSRHITI BOSELOPAMUDRA BANERJEE

CURATED BY: Incredible Women of IndiaPUBLISHED BY: Readomania
The Stories in the Anthology are...
1. Built From The Ashes – Radhika Maira Tabrez – Life brings widowed Nikita at the doorsteps of her estranged in laws where she finds a new meaning to life.

2. It’s Not The End – Kirthi Jayakumar – A fresh start changes the foundation of what might have been the beginning of a bright future. But it’s not the end. 
3. She Chose To Live – Debosmita Nandy – She shines even when she is betrayed by love, uprooted from home and misunderstood by all.
4. Bidisha – Paulami DuttaGupta – Insurgency tore her life apart, will Bidisha be able to forget her past?

5. The Drug Addict – Santosh Bakaya – A 19 year old turns to drugs after her parents death in a Mine blast, this story shows how she turns over a new leaf.
6. Safe Passage – Sanghamitra Bose – She survives extreme betrayal and is determined not to let it happen again.
7. The Bride – Esha Chakraborty – ‘The Bride’ toasts to a new beginning!
8. Dear Rangama… – Sutapa Basu – An 18 year old bereft of family and friends, navigates her and her unborn child’s life defying all malignant forces. 
9. Unfound: Searching For Home – Vasudha Chandna Gulati – Can a child with two sets of parents still feel alone? It is Riddhi’s search for a place to belong.
10. The Journey of Two women – Deepti Menon – Two Divas on divergent paths dare to dream, defy the world and carveout their entwined destinies!

11. A Second Chance – Arpita Banerjee – A girl pays for her innocence once, but becomes strong enough to avenge a betrayal, second time around.
12. Dharmambhal – Bhuvaneswari Shivakumar Shankar – Can one ever recover from the trauma of domestic violence? A namesake finds courage from an inspirational story. 
13. The 40s – Ramaa Sonti – Story of a woman craving for love and attention, one who falters, yet takes the situation in her stride with the virtue of her wit and determination.
14. Amlanation – Anirban Nanda – An acid attack, a play of fate, the emotional trauma of both the attacker and the victim. 
15. Please Leave Your Sex Outside – Aashisha Chakraborty – What made a woman a top automobile entrepreneur of the country?
16. Tara – Geeta Negi – A simple girl from a remote hilly village discovers her womanhood while standing firmly against patriarchy.

17. Anjali Chakraborty – Tanushree Ghosh Dhall – A woman who is neither a mother nor a wife epitomises love, sacrifice and support. 
18. Yamuna Maa’s Hand – Mahesh Sowani – Two patrons, one rich another poor, use their funds to support poor women to be independent. 
19. Once, For a Change – Moinak Dutta – A fashion designer proves her mettle by taking up a challenge. 
20. Pregnant Dreams – Sridevi Datta – A woman’s dreams and desires faces trials in the real world.

21. Second Innings of Ma – Namrata Chauhan – An exceptional bond between a mother in law and a daughter in law, proving women are soft but never weak.
22. Here I Come Benaras – Avanti Sopory – Is marriage the only identity of a woman? A widow in Banaras finds her identity amidst strangers.
23. To Be Or Not To Be – Paromita Mukherjee Ojha – An act of crime, a betrayal rips her life apart, now she must rise up to the test and face the realities of life. 
24. Some Porridge and an Education – Sreesha Divakaran  – Shanta leaves behind her village and her drunken husband to earn a livelihood for herself and provide education for her son.
Grab Your Copy @
amazon.com | amazon.in
Meet The Editors 

Rhiti Bose 

Rhiti Bose is a writer/blogger/reviewer who is also the founder and Chief Editor of the e-zine Incredible Women of India. She has a first class Master’s degree in English Literature from the University of Madras. She has done her Teacher’s Training, PGCE from Manchester Metropolitan University, UK and holds a Child Psychology, Psychotherapy and Counselling Post-Graduate Diploma from The School of Natural Health and Science, London, UK. She has 6 years of experience in Education/Training. She has spent two years working with The Refugee Council, Sheffield, UK mentoring and counseling Bangladeshi and Liberian refugee children.
Her works have been published in Femina, feminafastfiction.com, learningandcreativity.com, redomania.com and she is also a part of short story collection, An Atlas of love, published by Rupa. Her poems are a part of poetry collections Kaafiyaana and Umbilical Chords: An Anthology on Parents Remembered.
When not reading, writing or curating stories for IWI, you can find Rhiti watching Bollywood masala movies, baking or playing with her children. She believes in kindness and love and hopes to spread the same through IWI. She currently resides in Bhubaneswar with her husband, daughter and son.
Rhiti also blogs at The Scattered thoughts of Mrs.Bose.
   Lopamudra Banerjee 


Lopamudra Banerjee is a writer and translator, currently based in Dallas, USA. She has a Master’s degree in English with a thesis in Creative Nonfiction from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Her unpublished memoir Thwarted Escape has been First Place Category Winner at the Journey Awards 2014 hosted by Chanticleer Reviews. She is an editor of Learning and Creativity, an e-zine for the literary and creative souls.
Her poetry, stories and essays have appeared at many print and online literary journals and anthologies both in India and the US. Her poetry has recently appeared in The Significant Anthology, Umbilical Chords: An Anthology on Parents Remembered and Kaafiyana, published by Readomania. Her English translation of Rabindranath Tagore’s novella The Broken Home is being serially published at Café Dissensus. She has received the Critics’ Award at Destiny Poets International Community of Poets, UK and also a Certificate of Merit as part of the Reuel International Prize 2015 for Writing and Literature. Her husband is an IT professional and they have two beautiful daughters, Srobona and Sharanya.



Meet The Team 
Similar Dreams
 Defying Distance 

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Blog Tour: RIGHT FIT WRONG SHOE by Varsha Dixit

Right Fit Wrong Shoe by Varsha Dixit 

My Review


Disclaimer: I received a paperback from the author via The Book Club in return for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for the same.
The story is set in Kanpur and begins with Nandini working as head of design in a private firm along with her BFF Sneha. Both are hardworking women. While Sneha is married with a little son, Nandini is unmarried and lives with her parents.
Into the scene enters Aditya, who takes over the company. He makes a few changes keeping back all the staff. At this point, the reader gets to know that Aditya and Nandini go back a long way and something’s irritated the hell out of Aditya. He’s out to take revenge, big time.
Spoiler warning from here on... read at your own risk.
In the beginning, I didn’t much like Aditya as I felt he was going overboard mistreating Nandini. As the story unfolds, I couldn’t help but fall in love with the hero. He’s oh-so-perfect. I also enjoyed the way the relationship between the protagonists developed in the past. This is shown in flashbacks and well dealt with.
The dialogues are racy and interesting. All the side characters, Aditya’s parents, his brother, sister-in-law, Nandini’s parents, her BFF and a host of others working in the office – all have perfect roles and fit in well with the story. The author has used the right kind of masala in creating the tension between characters and the story flows smoothly from beginning till end.

One thing that I felt disappointed was the way the split between the protagonists has been explained away towards the end. I wish, I so wish, the author had shown the actual flashback scene when they parted company. I had been waiting with bated breath for that scene and was extremely disappointed when it didn’t happen. It just came out as a simple narration, taking away the impact it had actually had on Aditya’s and Nandini’s lives. And then again, at the very end, the last page, the story just came to an end, without a warning. 





Blurb Right Fit Wrong Shoe, begins at a point where all love stories end. The tale weaves around Nandini and all that is important to her, with two contenders gunning for the top spot; Aditya Sarin and Sneha Verma.
Aditya Sarin, the man Nandini is madly in love with, yet compelled, for some unsolved reason to shun.  Aditya, on his part, in the past declared Nandini to be a ‘millennium bhehenji (conservative girl)’ and ‘lassi (yoghurt drink) in a wine glass’. Yet he fell for her... hard! However, some mysterious episode caused the lovers to, acrimoniously, part. 
Now, Aditya is back in Kanpur,  all his guns blazing (the real and the imagined), determined to devastate her life. Fortunately for the readers, and unfotunately for Aditya, Nandini is determined not to‘bite the dust’ oh so quietly. Wonder, in the battle royal, who wins or who loses it all?
Sneha Verma, the other contender, is Nandini’s BFF, that one friend who knows us better than we do. The one we trust more than Stayfree or Clearasil. Sneha maybe headstrong, hammer fisted and stern mouthed, but for Nandini, she will willingly stand in the path of imminent lightning bolt or a nasty tornado, even if it’s named Aditya Sarin. In standard X, Sneha took Nandini under her wing and that equation hasn't changed much. Sneha, a recent wife and even more recent mom, appears to be fighting some unknown demons of her own.
Right Fit Wrong Shoe, observes and opinionates the society, affected and amused. It fleetingly touches on issues; fleeting as watching discourses (courtesy Astha Channel), is trendier and quicker, than reading them. 
The book is an AAA (anytime, anywhere, anyone) read. It promises to make your day better, and a bad one not any worse. 
Grab your copy  amazon.in | amazon.com

About The Author 

Varsha Dixit, the best selling author of four successful contemporary romance books. Her debut book, Right Fit Wrong Shoe was a national bestseller for the year 2010. Varsha was a part of the Indian Television Industry and worked as an assistant director and online editor. She considers herself a dreamer who thinks deep but writes light. Even though creativity is gender free, Varsha feels blessed and enriched to be a woman. Currently, with her family, Varsha resides in CA, USA.
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Sharing: #HEARTHEALTH

A healthy heart is one that’s overflowing with gratitude
I must say that this is a subject close to my heart – pun intended. One thing is to keep the physical heart healthy by eating the right foods and doing regular exercise. But I strongly believe maintaining a healthy mind is more important in acquiring #hearthealth.
Bearing a grudge: Yeah, people do hurt us and we do feel revengeful. Forget about what it does to the other. It definitely brings about a downfall in our health, especially the heart. Remember the increase in BP, palpitations....? Forgive & forget. It’s worth the trouble for our #hearthealth.
Bad temper: Nothing wrong having one. But staying in a state of anger all the time promises to make your heart unhappy. Chill!
Anxiety: Worrying seems second nature to most. But when has worrying solved any problem? In fact, a panic attack freezes the brain and stops one from finding the solution from right under one’s nose. Take a deep breath, many actually!
Popping a pill: This is definitely a no-no for #hearthealth. The more pills you pop, especially painkillers and antibiotics, the weaker your heart. DO NOT take prolonged courses of medication without regular consultations with your doctor. Better yet, go for alternate therapies like Homeopathy, Ayurveda or Unani that leave no harmful side effects.  
Now that we are done with the negatives, let’s see how we can maintain #hearthealth by simple measures.
1.       Meditation: This could be Pranayam (deep breathing) for 10-20 minutes in a day, ChakraMeditation or Yoga Mudra . Many of us give up after a few tries saying that we are unable to concentrate. Let the mind flow (it will anyway) and keep at it. Over a period, you will find your senses and organs responding. One question that arises: How can meditation have an effect on the physical heart/body? My answer: When you meditate, your aura becomes strong. Every virus/disease that attacks you, has to cross your aura before touching your physical body. If your aura is strong, it can deflect the virus/disease. A good enough reason? 2.      Yoga: Surya Namaskar  is a batch of yogic positions encapsulated in one activity. This is very good to keep your body and mind healthy. If you can get a yoga teacher to teach you this or other yoga exercises, nothing like it. The effect is the same on your aura as mentioned above. 3.      An attitude of gratitude : Incidentally, this was the theme for the Filmfare award function that was televised recently. Gratitude is something that does not come to us naturally. Yeah, yeah, we do say “thank you” many times. That does not mean we feel grateful. It’s something that needs to be inculcated on a day-to-day basis. If it’s not deeply rooted, we tend to complain; which is what we do about most things. Maintaining a Gratitude Journal on a daily basis will transform not just your life, but your #hearthealth.
Sri Bhagavan: If you are in a state of gratitude, the physical heart transforms and becomes completely disease-free.
Hurray for #hearthealth
Thank you #bookclub

Book Blitz: COLOR ME RICH by Mohan Deep

Color Me Rich by
Mohan Deep

Blurb 


A sensitive love story of a handsome and talented struggling painter Akash Saigal. What happens when he marries an extremely rich and beautiful artist and art investor Zenobia Taraporevala?
Grab your copy @

amazon.com | amazon.in


Prologue ( A teaser)
J J School of Art, Mumbai.
Taking a charcoal pencil, Akash Saigal started drawing the wood-and-stone structure, popularly known as „Kipling Bungalow‟. He was sketching sitting on a bench on which, in another era, K K Hebbar, M F Husain, Syed Haider Raza, Sadanand Bakre, V S Gaitonde, even Dadasaheb Phalke had sat with their sketchbooks, sketching the house where the author of The Jungle Book was born.
Ganpat Gupte appeared along with two of his gang. Gupte was the nephew of a minister, or so he claimed, and had the arrogance that comes with power. 
“Ae Akash, kae karto?”
Akash looked up at the trio and said, “Nothing much. Just a drawing.
“Okay. What is the day today?”
“I should have known.Tere ko blue shirt hai na?”
Akash didn‟t get the connection, but Gupte‟s chamchas laughed knowingly.
The three boys sang in unison, “Monday, blue shirt. Tuesday, black shirt. Wednesday, blue shirt. Thursday black shirt. Friday, blue shirt. Saturday, black shirt. Sunday...laundry!”
If Akash was hurt, he didn‟t show it. He laughed sheepishly and continued sketching the bungalow.
But he would never forget this.


About the Author 
Mohan Deep, is an Indian author, painter and Feng Shui Master. Mohan Deep is the author of ‘The Mystery and Mystique of Madhubala’ (1996), ‘It’s My Life’ (Novel) (1997), ‘Simply Scandalous: Meena Kumari’ (1998), ‘Eurekha!’ – an unauthorized biography of Rekha. (1999), ‘Four Options’ (2000), ‘Feng Shui for the Bold & Beautiful, the Rich and Famous’ (2001) and ‘Nehru and the Tantrik Woman’ (2002). After a sabbatical of a decade, during which he touched upon the lifves of people as a Feng Shui Master, he is back with The Five Foolish Virgins, a book of fiction, to be launched in April 2013. Mohan Deep is arguably the only Indian author to write what is often described as controversial, unauthorized star biographies in India. Columnist-journalist and former editor of 'Illustrated Weekly of India', Khushwant Singh called him 'a truly gifted gossip writer'. “The maverick writer”, like columnist-reviewer-poetess Tara Patel described him has also been called William Goldman of Bollywood’s stars (By Behram Contractor, the Editor of Afternoon Despatch & Courier) (Source) Kitty Kelly of India (By R K Bajaj, the Editor of ‘The Daily’). Interestingly, almost every book he has wrote/penned has invited controversies for its bold content.
                              
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Blog Tour: SANDS OF TIME by Neelam Saxena Chandra

Sands Of Time by Neelam Saxena Chandra

Blurb  'SANDS OF TIME' is a collection of twelve interesting stories which bring out the different moods and moments in the lives of women.Watch it 

Some Facts About the Author 


Neelam Saxena Chandra, an author of thirty-two books,is a record holder with the Limca Book of Records for being the author with highest number of publications in a year in English and Hindi (2015). She works as Joint Secretary (U.P.S.C.).  She has won award in a poetry contest by American Embassy, Premchand award by Ministry of Railways, Rabindranath Tagore international poetry award, Freedom award by Radio city for her lyrics. She was listed in the Forbes list as one of the most popular seventy eight authors in the country in 2014.
Awarded by eminent poet/lyricist Gulzarji in a Poetry Contest organized by American Society on the topic ‘Poetry for Social Change’.

Received the Rabindranath Tagore International poetry award -2014

Awarded PremchandPuraskar by Ministry of Railways (II prize)

Awarded by Children Book Trust, India in 2009.

Neelam also debuted as a lyricist in Shankar Tucker's composition 'Mere Sajan sun sun' and the song has won the 'Popular Choice' award  in Folk Fusion category in Radio City Freedom Awards.

Neelam is a record holder with Limca Book of records for highest publications in a year in English and Hindi.

Neelam and her daughter hold record for being the first mother-daughter duo to write a poetry book for the book 'Winter Shall Fade' in Limca Book of Records, Miracle World Records and India Book of records.

                       
         Coming soon.......


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We leave you with a wonderful song penned by Neelam Saxena Chandra



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Book Blitz: VOYAGERS: INTO THE UNKNOWN by Ruchira Khanna

Voyagers Into the Unknown by Ruchira Khanna

Blurb 

In the historic Indian town of Agra, you can find a very unusual tour company, which is owned by a charming young man named Raj. Although Raj's official job is to show off the historical landmarks of Agra, including the legendary Taj-Mahal, his true mission is to heal the souls of his broken "birds," as he affectionately refers to his tour participants. His business operates purely upon word-of-mouth referrals, ensuring that all of his tour members arrive in Agra with their hearts in their hands, ready for the spiritual growth and cleansing that Raj is known to provide. Healing the hearts of the spiritually damaged can be a difficult job, and in this particular tale, Raj finds himself faced with his most challenging tour group yet. First, there is Ira, a stunningly gorgeous but fragile young woman on the brink of suicide. Next, we meet Darci and Lennard, a couple on the verge of divorce. Then there is Carl, an irritable, antisocial workaholic who has burned all of his bridges. Lastly, we meet Asha, an elderly widow who still yearns for the company and comfort of her late husband. When disaster strikes the tour group, everything is thrown into jeopardy, including lives, relationships, and Raj's very reputation as a tour guide. Raj must find a way to lift the spirits of these five special travelers, even in the face of death and despair. Venture into the unknown and discover how Raj Touristry heals the brokenhearted, one soul at a time.

Excerpt

Dawn had risen over the historic Indian town of Agra. Agra was a city of monuments, which stood tall, their unmatched grandeur telling of their long and fascinating history. The morning air was filled with the sounds of roosters calling, birds chirping, and morning prayers and salutations. Dogs and cows were being hustled through the streets and errand boys on bicycles hurried along to their respective chores and deliveries.

Amidst this vibrant chaos, a man in his late thirties with an athletic physique, broad shoulders, and unkempt black hair was briefing his colleague in a quiet, affable tone. He held a bunch of papers in his hand, and the other man nodded obediently as he glanced through them, making notes on the pad in his hands. “So, are you all set?” inquired Raj, the black-haired man.

“I think so,” replied the other man confidently, as he took his seat behind the wheel of a mini-bus.

“Call me if you have any questions, Albert. You know where to reach me,” added Raj as he shut the door of the driver’s seat, giving his driver two thumbs up. Albert started the engine quickly and began to roll away from the curb. He was abruptly halted by a sharp knock on the door of the vehicle. The driver slammed on the brakes and looked to see who was doing the hammering. Raj reappeared on the other side of the glass with blank boards and a sharpie. Albert opened the door and reached out for the additional items. “Write the names of my birds on these planks. It will be easier for them to spot you,” explained Raj.

“Birds?” inquired Albert with a confused expression.

“Sure, Birds. Since they will fly back to where they are coming from in a week’s time.”

“Aha! Yes, boss!” Albert winked and started his journey.

About The Author 


A Reiki Master where she passes out information about channeling universal energy and conducts sessions. The author of “Choices”, “The Adventures of Alex and Angelo” but just another soul trying to make a difference in this lifetime.

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An InLinkz Link-up

Sharing: REVIEWS OF THE BOOKS I READ IN JANUARY 2016

Books I read in January 2016With so many reading challenges flying around social media, I told myself that I should read way more than I have been doing over the past 3 years. So, I began 2016 by reading 8 books in January – two of them for The Book Club Blog Tours. I wasn’t keen to write elaborate reviews, though I could not but give my opinion. So, here goes...
Book No. 1: MAGNUS CHASE & THE SWORD OF SUMMER by Rick Riordan
This is my first book by the author and also the first from this genre – mythic fantasy. I purchased a paperback of this book when someone suggested discussing this book on The Book Club. When I started reading, I was shocked out of my wits. The language didn’t seem to fit with mythology. That was until I realised that the “fantasy” part of the genre brings a whole new layer.
Well, this book is best suited for teenagers. Though I plodded my way through the book (I can’t stop midway unless a book is truly horrible), I realised at the end that it is not my cup of tea. But apart from that, I can’t deny that the book has been brilliantly written.
Book No. 2: THE OTHER END OF THE CORRIDOR by Sujata Rajpal
I received an ecopy of this book from the author via The Book Club Blog Tour.
I wanted to read this book from the moment my eyes fell on the cover. It’s simply gorgeous. Yeah, I am like that. I so fall for an eye-catching cover. I filled the form with alacrity when the book came up for blog tour via The Book Club, without even checking out the blurb or genre.
When I started reading the book, I couldn’t understand the first page at all. After finishing the book, I feel it’s been placed wrongly, not giving the right impression of the book. It’s important that the book begins in an interesting way.
The moment I started reading the second page I was hooked. But...
Spoilers galore from here on... click here to read the rest of the review. 
Book No. 3: THE DONOVAN LEGACY SERIES: CAPTIVATED by Nora Roberts
I love reading books by Nora Roberts. She writes quite a variety – romance, romance + fantasy, romance + thriller, romance + history. She’s an author I absolutely admire and would love to emulate. I have read many books of hers and didn’t think twice before picking up half a dozen of her titles from a sale last year. Captivated is the first of this series and is the story of Morgana, a witch and Nash, a famous Hollywood scriptwriter. I so enjoyed the magic that revolves around the protagonists, though I have read better by Ms. Roberts.
Book No. 4: THE DONOVAN LEGACY SERIES: ENTRANCED by Nora Roberts
This is the story of Sebastian, Morgana’s cousin, who’s also a witch. Yeah, I was surprised that he’s called a “witch” instead of “wizard”. I loved his powerful character and the way he works with the police to solve crimes. Mel is a private eye who thumbs her nose at the occult sciences. Imagine the sparks that fly when the two of them come together. The chemistry sizzles and makes for a supremely entertaining read.
Book No. 5: SOUL WARRIOR BOOK 1: THE AGE OF KALI by Falguni Kothari
I have been asked this question in a couple of interviews and a few times on social media: “a book that I wished I had written?” I had a vague answer each time, for the sake of it if you know what I mean. Now I have a definite one. I wish I had written Soul Warrior. That’s how much I loved the book.
When I got to know that this book was a story on Karna, I immediately signed up for the review. It’s only recently that I have been introduced to the genre mythical fiction. I found out that Soul Warrior Book 1: The Age of Kali falls under Mythic Fantasy – a book that draws inspiration from mythology, but is set in present times. Uh, oh! It made me wonder if I wanted to read this one after reading 1-2 pages.
There was another reason for this. I had read Magnus Chase & The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan just a couple of weeks ago and I hadn’t been awfully enamoured. That was more because the book targeted young adults.
Gritting my teeth, I plunged into Falguni Kothari’s latest book and fell in love. I have read Bootie and the Beast by the same author (I had won this during #TornadoGiveaway 2) and thought it okay. But Soul Warrior is something else.
Be prepared for spoilers from here on... click here for full review. 
Book No. 6: THE DELIBERATE SINNER by Bhaavna Arora
This is one of the crappiest books I have read. The language can do with several rounds of editing and proofing (Rupa, do you read me?). I just could not relate to the story. Why did I read the whole book? As I mentioned above, I am determined, like that.
No, I didn’t waste money buying this one. I received a copy after winning one of the author’s books during Tornado Giveaway 2.
Book No. 7: THE DONOVAN LEGACY SERIES: CHARMED by Nora Roberts
This is one more book from the Donovan Legacy series by Nora Roberts. This one is about Anastasia, a witch who is also a healer and Boone, an author of fairy tales. He’s a widower with a little kid called Jessie. A lovely book about Ana and Boone falling in love, despite their troubled past. Will Boone be able to accept that Ana is a witch? It’s definitely worth a read. I fell in love with little Jessie and her dad.
Book No. 8: THE LAST DUCHESS by Daisy Goodwin
The copy I bought during a sale is called The Last Duchess and is a paperback. (This was published as American Heiress in hardback) Luckily, I traced it to this book. It's long, well-researched and very interesting. The book has been written from multiple viewpoints and I realise I truly like this way of writing.

I only wish that the end was more rounded off with Cora, the duchess/heiress taking better control of her household. But then, that's just my opinion. If you like reading historical novels, then this one is for you.

Blog Tour: SOUL WARRIOR BOOK 1: THE AGE OF KALI by Falguni Kothari

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Soul Warrior: Age of Kali 
by  Falguni Kothari


MY REVIEW


Disclaimer: I received a MOBI version of this book from the author via The Book Club in return for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for the same.
I have been asked this question in a couple of interviews and a few times on social media: “a book that I wished I had written?” I had a vague answer each time, for the sake of it if you know what I mean. Now I have a definite one. I wish I had written Soul Warrior. That’s how much I loved the book.
When I got to know that this book was a story on Karna, I immediately signed up for the review. It’s only recently that I have been introduced to the genre mythical fiction. I found out that Soul Warrior Book 1: The Age of Kali falls under Mythic Fantasy – a book that draws inspiration from mythology, but is set in present times. Uh, oh! It made me wonder if I wanted to read this one after reading 1-2 pages.
There was another reason for this. I had read Magnus Chase & The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan just a couple of weeks ago and I hadn’t been awfully enamoured. That was more because the book targeted young adults.
Gritting my teeth, I plunged into Falguni Kothari’s latest book and fell in love. I have read Bootie and the Beast by the same author (I had won this during #TornadoGiveaway 2) and thought it okay. But Soul Warrioris something else.
Be prepared for spoilers from here on...
The main character, the Soul Warrior is Karna from The Mahabharata. His modern avatar is all set to make women readers drool. I am fascinated with how the author has brought the epic characters to life in the 21st century, combining the right people. For example: Lavya & Ash. Hi5!
I thoroughly enjoyed Draupadi’s daughters - Satya, Lushya, Amara, Ziva, Iksa, Yahvi and their escapades.
Asht Dveep, Hidden Isle, Har-di-koon, etc. etc. formed perfect settings for the story to unfold.
The author has done excellent research on The Mahabharata, the different demons and celestials. I loved the guises she has allotted for Yama and his Dhoota. The descriptions were so brilliant that they brought all the characters to life.
I found the last few pages nail-biting and had imagined a number of endings, only to find that it was the most unexpected. It definitely left the reader in me craving for the sequel.
My question to Falguni Kothari: How many books in this series? And more importantly, when? Can’t wait to get my hands on it/them...



Blurb
Fight fate, or succumb to destiny?

In the dark Age of Kali, the Soul Warrior alone stands guard over the Human Realm, protecting its denizens from evil-willed asuras or demons. When a trick of fate appoints him guru to a motley crew of godlings, he agrees to train them as demon hunters against his better judgment. Suddenly, Lord Karna is not only battling the usual asuras with sinister agendas, but also rebellious students and a fault-ridden past. 
Spanning the cosmic realms of mythic India, here is a tale of a band of supernatural warriors who come together over a singular purpose: the salvation of Karna’s secret child. 
Buy @ amazon.com | amazon.in | amazon.co.uk | kobo |  Barnes&Noble

Excerpt
Kuru Kshetra Battlefield. 
Day 17 of the Great Kuru War, seven thousand five hundred years ago.
Death is hot. 
That surprises me. I’d imagined death as cold and brutal. Merciless. But in truth, death is hot as blood, and constant like a heartbeat. 
Thrum. Thrum. Thrum. My lifeblood ebbs to the rhythm. My head ripped from its torso by Anjalika, the arrow of death that burns even now with the energy of the sun. Struck from behind like some novice. Felled in battle by that lily-livered usurper the Heavens smile upon—Prince Arjun. Brother Arjun. 
What have I done? I harness the thought. Cease all reflection and wrench free of my mortal body. I soar up, up into the gloaming, snapping the ties that tether me to life. Dead, I have no use for ties. 
“A matter of perspective, Karna, O son of my godsire.” The unearthly words strum through the air, and I quiver like a plucked bowstring, overcome as much by the voice as its blasphemous claim. “Bonds of devotion nourish the soul, brother.” 
There is that word again. Brother. Unpleasant laughter wells up in me. Alive, I am abandoned, denied my birthright—Celestial or royal. Death, it seems, changes everything. 
A bright, nebulous light brings forth Lord Yama, the God of Death, atop his divine mount. His elephantine thighs ripple beneath a silken dhoti, ochre and crimson of color, as he guides the mammoth water buffalo to a halt. An iron medallion sways against the God’s powerful cerulean torso, its center stone an ethereal blood orange. 
Hypnotic. Pulsing with life. I am drawn to the stone. 
“Piteous waste,” Lord Yama mutters, surveying the carnage of war far below us. 
I trace the trajectory of his gaze and behold the battered remains of my army drenched in the evidence of its mortality. Is it true? Have we died in vain? 
Words form inside me and I will them out. “Shall we go, my lord?”
 “Ha! Impatient to be judged, are you? Anxious to have your fate revealed?” asks the Judge of the Hell Realm. His red-black eyes burn with intelligence and compassion in a blue-tinged face that is long and lean and hard. “Rest easy, brother-warrior. You are not bound for the Great Courtroom.” 
Not bound for Hell? Where then? Fear has eluded me for so long that I take a moment to recognize it. A hollow-bellied feeling it is, as annoying as a bone stuck in my throat. 
“My lord, I have done bad deeds…terrible deeds in my life. I have waged wars, this horrendous bloodshed, and all because my pride could not—would not abide rejection. I have sinned. I must atone for my actions.”
Lord Yama smiles in a way I do not like. “You have redeemed yourself admirably, Karna. You forfeited your life for the greater good today. The deed far outweighs any misguided ones. Be at peace, brother, and enjoy the fruits of your karma.” 
There is but one place to enjoy such fruits—the Higher Worlds. 
I’d rather burn in Hell for eternity. I say so. “I won’t live amongst the Celestials.” Coexisting with the very souls who’ve spurned me is unthinkable. Watching her—for she would surely reside in Heaven soon—will be eternal torture. 
Yama shakes his head, the horns on his crown slashing to and fro. “I thought you might say that. Relax. Your destiny lies elsewhere.”
 “Am I to be reborn then? Am I to begin a new life, and forget the past?” Pain, sharp as a blade, lances through me at the thought. Forget my past? My family? Even her? Was that my punishment? To forget all that made me human? It must be so. For have I not betrayed them as surely as I’ve betrayed my prince regent? 
“Human rebirth is not your destiny, either. You are chosen, brother. Your war skills are needed for a higher purpose.” The God slips off his mount, his garments rustling in agitation. “This unjust war has pushed the Cosmos to the vortex of a cataclysm. Tomorrow, the Kuru War will end. Fearing its outcome, the Celestials rolled the Die of Fate and have unwittingly bestowed on Demon Kali untold powers.” Lord Yama bares his fangs in disgust at the foolish gamble. “Imagine the havoc that asura and his minions will wreak on the weak if left unchecked. The Human Realm must be safeguarded during Kali’s dark reign.”
 I can imagine the horror only too well as I have battled with evil all my life. But I am done with wars. I am done with defeat. I won’t waste another lifetime fighting. 
“With due respect, my lord, I am not the man for this task.”
 “You are not a man at all,” Yama thunders, fists shaking. “You are the son of Surya, the Sun God. Accept that you are no ordinary soul.”
 I say nothing. I think nothing. I feel something but I squash it down. 
Lord Yama’s thick black brows draw together. “Demon Kali will try to pervade every particle of good that exists in the Cosmos, beginning with the corruptible Human Realm. Once he obliterates all of humanity, he’ll set his sights on the Celestials. Kali will not stop until he’s destroyed our way of life. But you can stop him. You are light to his darkness. Do you understand now why you had to betray him? Your beloved humans need you, Karna. I need you. Our father believes in you. Claim your rightful place in the Cosmos.”
 Impatiently, Lord Yama removes the iron medallion from his neck and holds it out. The vermillion sunstone glows as if its soul is on fire. Nay! It is my soul that is on fire. Indescribable energy curls through me. I gasp, though not in pain. I shudder and feel myself grow large, grow hot. Was this rebirth? 
I am strong, full-bodied and lethal once more. Then I roar as light bursts forth from my very core and I throb with glorious, blinding power. When I come to myself, my world has changed again. Bubbles of color shimmer all around me: cobalt and saffron, azure and rose. By karma! They are souls. Infinite floating souls.
“Behold the spectrum of life: the worthy, the notorious, the righteous and the sinners.” The God of Death’s soul was a worthy sapphire blue with a tinge of silver. “Your duty, should you choose to accept the office of the Soul Warrior, is to hunt down the red-souled asuras and crush them. Whatever you decide, I wish you a long and successful Celestial existence, Karna,” Yama booms out and vanishes into the purpling sky.
The parley has stunned me. The world of color holds me in thrall. I was dead. Yet, now I am not. A new path lies before me. Unwanted, unwelcome, I insist on principle. I close my eyes. Open them to stare at the medallion cupped in my hand—a golden-hued hand at once familiar and not—and know myself for a fool. I do want this. It’s what I am. 
Bastard-born. Rebel. Son. Husband. Father. Warlord. And protector. I fist the talisman, buoyed by its concrete warmth. This is who I am. 
I am the Soul Warrior.
About the Author  
Falguni Kothari is a New York-based hybrid author, and an amateur Latin and Ballroom dance silver medalist with a semi-professional background in Indian Classical dance. She writes in a variety of genres sewn together by the colorful and cultural threads of her South Asian heritage and expat experiences. She is published in India in contemporary fiction with global e-book availability, and launches her mythic fantasy series, the Age of Kali, with SOUL WARRIOR. When not writing, dancing or being a domestic goddess, she fools around on all manner of social media, and loves to connect with readers.

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Sharing: A VISIT TO KALPAVRUKSHA

Venkat had the opportunity to visit Kalpavruksha more than a decade ago and had told me a lot about the place. Right from that time, I had wanted to visit the place too.
On Friday, Vinny was keen to take a break from her hectic schedule and go somewhere for a day. That’s when the three of us – Venkat, Vinny and I – set off to Umbergaon. We left at around 3.45 pm on Jan 15, 2016 to reach Umbergaon Club Resort at 7.30 pm after stopping midway for a cup of tea and hot bhajjias.
We checked into a room and had dinner at Madhubani Restaurant. The food was yummy and I was glad to see that they served only vegetarian fare.
In the morning, we had breakfast and checked out to go visit Kalpavruksha, the nature farm set over 15 acres by Mr. Bhaskar Savé, who’s known as the “Gandhi of Natural Farming”. The farm was about 20 minutes away from the resort. Their visiting hours are from 9 am to 12 noon and later from 2 pm to 5 pm.
Baby coconut palms ready to be transplanted at a new homeWe got there at 10.30 am. Parking the car at the place allotted for visitors, we were immediately welcomed by Bhaskar Savé’s son, Mr. Naresh Savé. That’s when we got to know that Bhaskar Savé had passed away in October, 2015. Naresh Savé gave us an introduction about natural farming and let his son Abhijay take over from there.
While you will find all you need to know from the website link I have provided below, I would like to share some of my learning here.
That's a teeny weeny cauliflower sprouting on a plant at Savé's home gardenFarming is based on the following 5 important things:
1.      Tilling
This is entirely done by earthworms. Incredible though it may seem, if we recall our lessons in school, we just might remember studying that “earthworms are the farmer’s friend”. But with the advent of technology and chemical farming, this idea has taken a backseat. A single earthworm goes deep into the earth and comes out to breathe about 20 times in a span of 24 hours. Imagine the stretch of land a big batch of earthworms can till in one day. Their excreta turn the soil rich. No expense on ploughs, bullocks, tractors or manpower.
2.     Fertilising
Chemical fertiliser is a huge cost and the soil “dies” over the years. What Bhaskar Savé found after 3-4 years of chemical farming after it was newly introduced many decades ago was that he was spending more and more on chemical fertilisers to ensure he got the same yield every year. This way, his profits had dropped down by 90% in barely five years. That’s when he cordoned off a section of his own farm to get back to nature farming. Comparing the results over 4-5 years, he concluded that in natural farming, the expense was barely 10% of what chemical farming needs.
They also use everything that falls off a plant/tree as manure. These are gathered together and stored near the trenches. They don’t burn the dried up leaves and fallen twigs. Abhijay Savé told us that burning this dry stuff harms the soil. When stored next to the trenches, these decay over a period of time – no one’s in a rush here – and become mulch to provide extra richness to the soil. The cost: zilch.
Bananas thriving on a plantain tree
 3.     Watering
Bhaskar Savé also concluded from his experience that a natural farm needs about 20% of the water that a regular farmer uses. On Kalpavruksha, they have shallow trenches dug around every batch of 20-30 trees. Pipes run around these and these are watered once in every fifteen days. Yes, I was “jawdrop” surprised when I heard that. What they say is that plants require moisture more than steeped water as the fibrous roots also need an equal amount of air. Excess water will block the air and harm the plants/trees instead of helping them.
They have planted colourful crotons at the borders. These begin to wilt first when the level of water goes down in the soil; helping the farmer decide if he needs to water the area a few days earlier.
4.     Weeding
We generally look on weeds as harmful. They take away the nutrients meant for the main plants. But at this nature farm, they understand that weeds are part of nature. God has put them there for a purpose. It is the leaves that need sunshine for photosynthesis. Weeds are there to create shade for exposed roots and for speeding up decay of mulch to further enrich soil. The African Congo forest immediately came to my mind when I heard this. Plants and creepers flourish all the more in this area where sunlight doesn’t the ground in many places. Makes sense nah?


Another section of their fields
      5.     Keeping pests at bay
We all know that pesticides, while killing pests, also harm the plants – leaves, vegetables and fruits that we eat. Even if we wash them thoroughly, a part of these pesticides finds its way into our bodies creating harmful diseases.
At Kalpavruksha, they don’t use pesticides of any kind. There are pests that are vegetarian (10%) and those that are non-vegetarian (90%). The vegetarian pests have a short lifespan while they breed voraciously, as they are the food of the non-vegetarian pests. The ecosystem takes care of itself and the Savé family lets them be. This way, the harvested fruits are the healthiest in the market. Squirrels, mice, snakes and crows – and probably many more – live in harmony here on this farm. The farmers are clear that there’s enough for all of them before the products are harvested.
The lesson can’t be simpler. But are we ready to learn it?
I had some questions:
1.      Why are there so many farmer suicides if natural farming is possible? Natural farming cuts down costs drastically while the yield increases tremendously. The profit margin goes up by 80-90% as compared to chemical farming. WHY?
Abhijay Savé: Natural farming takes 4-5 years to show results. Once a farmer crosses that, he can see terrific results. But farmers who come here to learn natural farming try it for a year or two. When pressure comes from their family members and neighbours, they lose confidence and go back to chemical farming. Very few are ready to give it the time it requires.
My perspective: I felt truly sorry hearing this. Farming is supposedly the profession for the most patient of people. You really need a lot of patience to sow a seed and wait for it to grow into a tree. But obviously farmers don’t have the wherewithal to wait for things to turn around. If they are dependent on the crops to feed their families, then they are in for a tough time. Is there a way for them to get out of this vicious cycle? Is CSR the answer? I hope the right people are listening.
2.     Who benefits from the courses you conduct at the farm then?
Abhijay Savé: People from the corporate world who have made the money and are keen to invest in a farm, respond well to the courses. They are ready to follow the method as they are not dependent on the income from their farms.
My perspective: Hey people! Why don’t you help out the existing farmers? Wouldn’t it make good sense if you work along with your neighbouring farms when you apply the rules of nature farming to your new farms?
3.     What kind of education you underwent before you got into farming? What’s your typical day like?
Abhijay Savé: I haven’t gone to any college to learn farming. I finished my graduation in Mumbai before settling back at the farm to follow the natural way of farming that we have been following since Grandpa’s days. (Commendable, I must say)
I start my day at 7-7.30 am and take care of the few cows that we have here. At around 8.30 am, two labourers we have hired on a regular basis, arrive at the farm. We go around the farm section by section everyday to take care of the regular activities. We break at noon to continue again from 2-5 pm. Harvesting the fruits – predominantly chikoo, coconuts, bananas and mangoes – form the main work. We gather the dry leaves and twigs and store them near the trenches.
Then there are the students who come here to learn about natural farming. My father, uncle or I help with the lectures. And one of us shows visitors around the farm.  
My perspective: I must say that it’s a chilled out existence. They work regularly, earn well, have all their needs, comforts and luxuries provided for, are their own bosses, live amidst nature at its healthiest and in a gorgeous 5-bedroom two-storey home.
What a life!

Father of Nature Farming is a Japanese called Masanobu Fukuoka  Click here to know more  
To know more about Kalpavruksha, Bhaskar Savé farm
Wikipedia | Website |  facebook

NOTE: I lost a lot of pictures while transferring them to my PC; missing the ones of chikoo & coconut trees. 
Umbergaon Club & Resort (where we stayed)For bookings: http://www.umbergaonclub.com
A section of the garden at the resort
The reception
One of the three restaurants Our room