Sundari Venkatraman's Blog, page 42
August 5, 2015
Tornado Giveaway 2: Book No. 6: WITHOUT YOU by Preethi Venugopala
Coming soon... The Madras Affair by Sundari Venkatraman
Go to Book No. 5 Check all the Books Here
Name of the Book : WITHOUT YOU
Author: Preethi Venugopala
Read some reviews:
1. Swathi Shenoy
2. Simran Kaur
3. Tushti Bhatia
The Story :
When Ananya, a bubbly twenty-year-old engineering student, reaches her Grandmother's house in Sreepuram on a month long vacation, romance is the last thing on her mind. However, she meets Dr. Arjun there and falls head over heels in love.
As it often happens, the path of true love never runs smooth. Circumstances force them apart even though they were madly in love. She becomes a victim of depression. When everything fails to return her to normalcy, help arrives from an unexpected source. Will she ever find happiness again? Will time allow her heart to heal and forget Arjun? What indeed is true love? What is that strange secret that locks all the circumstances together?
Travel with Ananya to the picturesque Sreepuram, face the chaos of Bengaluru, and relish the warmth of magical Dubai in this heartwarming tale of love, betrayal, friendship, and miracles.
You can also buy @
About The Author
Preethi Venugopala
Preethi Venugopala is a Civil Engineer by education and an avid blogger, artist by passion.
After working in many prestigious civil engineering projects for more than a decade, she quit her job to become a full time mother.
Meanwhile, she took a Masters Degree in English literature to complete her dream of studying English literature. She tried her hand successfully at crafts, crocheting, portraiture and painting before venturing into writing.
Stalk her @Website | Twitter | Facebook
Go to Book No. 7
Now for the Rafflecopter: Gather as many points as you want to. The more points you get, the more you have a chance to win it all. Show your love for books.. Tweet, Like and Spread the Word... Thank you for being a Reader... You keep the Authors motivated... This is our way of saying a Thank you :)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
#TornadoGiveaway is an initiative of The Book Club. Click on the icon to go to the event page of the Tornado .. Lots of fun awaits you :)
Go to Book No. 5 Check all the Books Here
Name of the Book : WITHOUT YOUAuthor: Preethi Venugopala
Read some reviews:
1. Swathi Shenoy
2. Simran Kaur
3. Tushti Bhatia
The Story :
When Ananya, a bubbly twenty-year-old engineering student, reaches her Grandmother's house in Sreepuram on a month long vacation, romance is the last thing on her mind. However, she meets Dr. Arjun there and falls head over heels in love.
As it often happens, the path of true love never runs smooth. Circumstances force them apart even though they were madly in love. She becomes a victim of depression. When everything fails to return her to normalcy, help arrives from an unexpected source. Will she ever find happiness again? Will time allow her heart to heal and forget Arjun? What indeed is true love? What is that strange secret that locks all the circumstances together?
Travel with Ananya to the picturesque Sreepuram, face the chaos of Bengaluru, and relish the warmth of magical Dubai in this heartwarming tale of love, betrayal, friendship, and miracles.
You can also buy @
About The Author
Preethi Venugopala
Preethi Venugopala is a Civil Engineer by education and an avid blogger, artist by passion.
After working in many prestigious civil engineering projects for more than a decade, she quit her job to become a full time mother.
Meanwhile, she took a Masters Degree in English literature to complete her dream of studying English literature. She tried her hand successfully at crafts, crocheting, portraiture and painting before venturing into writing.
Stalk her @Website | Twitter | Facebook
Go to Book No. 7
Now for the Rafflecopter: Gather as many points as you want to. The more points you get, the more you have a chance to win it all. Show your love for books.. Tweet, Like and Spread the Word... Thank you for being a Reader... You keep the Authors motivated... This is our way of saying a Thank you :)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
#TornadoGiveaway is an initiative of The Book Club. Click on the icon to go to the event page of the Tornado .. Lots of fun awaits you :)
Tornado Giveaway 2: Book No. 5: WARRIOR by Olivier Lafont
Coming soon... The Madras Affair by Sundari Venkatraman
Go to Book No. 4 Check all the Books Here
Name of the Book: WARRIOR
Author: Olivier Lafont
Read some reviews :
1. Inderpreet Kaur Uppal
2. Privy Trifles
3. Geeta Nair
The Story :
In Mumbai, driven to its knees by a merciless blizzard, Saam the watchmender is cornered into an intolerable position. As Shiva's only earthly demigod child, it falls upon him to stop his indomitable father. Bred to war, son of destruction, Saam rides with six extraordinary companions into the horror of a crumbling world to face Shiva. He is forced to join hands with Ara, his half-brother he can never fully trust and take with him his own mortal beloved, Maya, on this desperate attempt to stop the End of Days. But his path is littered with death, danger and betrayal. Interweaving mythology, epic adventure and vintage heroism, this enthralling novel will change the way you see gods, heroes and demons.
You can also buy @
About The Author
Olivier Lafont
Olivier Sanjay Lafont is a French actor and author living in Mumbai, India. He has acted in Hindi feature films such as blockbuster hit 3 Idiots and the critically acclaimed Guzaarish, as well as over 80 television commercials for top Indian and international brands. He has written the screenplay for the award-winning feature film Hari Om. He is also a regular columnist for MW, a gentlemen's monthly magazine, and for Men’s Health magazine.
Lafont’s novel Warrior was published by Penguin in November 2014.
Stalk him @Website | Twitter | Facebook
Go to Book No. 6
Now for the Rafflecopter: Gather as many points as you want to. The more points you get, the more you have a chance to win it all. Show your love for books.. Tweet, Like and Spread the Word... Thank you for being a Reader... You keep the Authors motivated... This is our way of saying a Thank you :)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
#TornadoGiveaway is an initiative of The Book Club. Click on the icon to go to the event page of the Tornado .. Lots of fun awaits you :)
Go to Book No. 4 Check all the Books Here
Name of the Book: WARRIOR
Author: Olivier Lafont
Read some reviews :
1. Inderpreet Kaur Uppal
2. Privy Trifles
3. Geeta Nair
The Story :
In Mumbai, driven to its knees by a merciless blizzard, Saam the watchmender is cornered into an intolerable position. As Shiva's only earthly demigod child, it falls upon him to stop his indomitable father. Bred to war, son of destruction, Saam rides with six extraordinary companions into the horror of a crumbling world to face Shiva. He is forced to join hands with Ara, his half-brother he can never fully trust and take with him his own mortal beloved, Maya, on this desperate attempt to stop the End of Days. But his path is littered with death, danger and betrayal. Interweaving mythology, epic adventure and vintage heroism, this enthralling novel will change the way you see gods, heroes and demons.
You can also buy @
About The Author
Olivier Lafont
Olivier Sanjay Lafont is a French actor and author living in Mumbai, India. He has acted in Hindi feature films such as blockbuster hit 3 Idiots and the critically acclaimed Guzaarish, as well as over 80 television commercials for top Indian and international brands. He has written the screenplay for the award-winning feature film Hari Om. He is also a regular columnist for MW, a gentlemen's monthly magazine, and for Men’s Health magazine.
Lafont’s novel Warrior was published by Penguin in November 2014.
Stalk him @Website | Twitter | Facebook
Go to Book No. 6
Now for the Rafflecopter: Gather as many points as you want to. The more points you get, the more you have a chance to win it all. Show your love for books.. Tweet, Like and Spread the Word... Thank you for being a Reader... You keep the Authors motivated... This is our way of saying a Thank you :)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
#TornadoGiveaway is an initiative of The Book Club. Click on the icon to go to the event page of the Tornado .. Lots of fun awaits you :)
Tornado Giveaway 2: Book No. 4: THE CURE WAS LOVE by Reet Singh
Coming soon... The Madras Affair by Sundari Venkatraman
Go to Book No. 3 Check all the Books Here
Name of the Book: THE CURE WAS LOVE
Author: Reet Singh
Read some reviews :
1. Adite Banerjie
2. Devika Fernando
3. Ruchi Singh
The Story :
For three months, Simi Gill gets to do what she loves – train to be a doctor and learn more about medicine. As a bonus, she gets to forget about the shallow boyfriend who dumped her, and worse, who hurt her. Living it up in New York, far from her home in India, she is saved by the delicious Rudy Bhatnagar, not once, but two times in one night!
A talented surgeon with a heart of gold, Rudy can’t stop himself from thinking about Simi Gill. He tries very hard - for having had his heart broken before, he’s not sure he can risk it again. But fate has other plans. Thrown together by bizarre circumstances, they survive booze and babysitting with aplomb. Will they realize they’re perfect for each other or will they let precious love slip through their fingers?
You can also buy @
About The Author
Reet Singh
Reet has a romantic soul, partly genetic but certainly attributable to the romantic fiction she devours by the kilo. When she's not watching romcoms, or doing creative things with wool and a crochet hook, or playing Scrabble, she can be found in the kitchen putting together her 'world-famous' one-pot meals.
Married for three decades, her prototypical tall, handsome, and sensitive hero-husband still makes her heart skip a beat. Writing about love and happy endings feeds her romantic soul; hearing from her readers thrills her.
Having a mother that read to her, she paid it forward, telling bedtime stories to her sons and nieces until they grew too old too fast. As a reaction to them growing up before she knew what was happening, she began writing for older children, and has published children's books on Amazon, for Kindle.
Stalk her @Website | Twitter | Facebook
Go to Book No. 5
Now for the Rafflecopter: Gather as many points as you want to. The more points you get, the more you have a chance to win it all. Show your love for books.. Tweet, Like and Spread the Word... Thank you for being a Reader... You keep the Authors motivated... This is our way of saying a Thank you :)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
#TornadoGiveaway is an initiative of The Book Club. Click on the icon to go to the event page of the Tornado .. Lots of fun awaits you :)
Go to Book No. 3 Check all the Books Here
Name of the Book: THE CURE WAS LOVEAuthor: Reet Singh
Read some reviews :
1. Adite Banerjie
2. Devika Fernando
3. Ruchi Singh
The Story :
For three months, Simi Gill gets to do what she loves – train to be a doctor and learn more about medicine. As a bonus, she gets to forget about the shallow boyfriend who dumped her, and worse, who hurt her. Living it up in New York, far from her home in India, she is saved by the delicious Rudy Bhatnagar, not once, but two times in one night!
A talented surgeon with a heart of gold, Rudy can’t stop himself from thinking about Simi Gill. He tries very hard - for having had his heart broken before, he’s not sure he can risk it again. But fate has other plans. Thrown together by bizarre circumstances, they survive booze and babysitting with aplomb. Will they realize they’re perfect for each other or will they let precious love slip through their fingers?
You can also buy @
About The Author
Reet Singh
Reet has a romantic soul, partly genetic but certainly attributable to the romantic fiction she devours by the kilo. When she's not watching romcoms, or doing creative things with wool and a crochet hook, or playing Scrabble, she can be found in the kitchen putting together her 'world-famous' one-pot meals.
Married for three decades, her prototypical tall, handsome, and sensitive hero-husband still makes her heart skip a beat. Writing about love and happy endings feeds her romantic soul; hearing from her readers thrills her.
Having a mother that read to her, she paid it forward, telling bedtime stories to her sons and nieces until they grew too old too fast. As a reaction to them growing up before she knew what was happening, she began writing for older children, and has published children's books on Amazon, for Kindle.
Stalk her @Website | Twitter | Facebook
Go to Book No. 5
Now for the Rafflecopter: Gather as many points as you want to. The more points you get, the more you have a chance to win it all. Show your love for books.. Tweet, Like and Spread the Word... Thank you for being a Reader... You keep the Authors motivated... This is our way of saying a Thank you :)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
#TornadoGiveaway is an initiative of The Book Club. Click on the icon to go to the event page of the Tornado .. Lots of fun awaits you :)
Tornado Giveaway 2: Book No. 3: MATCHES MADE IN HEAVEN by Sundari Venkatraman
Coming soon... The Madras Affair by Sundari Venkatraman
Go to Book No. 2 Check all the Books Here
Name of the Book: MATCHES MADE IN HEAVEN
Author: Sundari Venkatraman
Read some reviews:
1. Rubina Ramesh
2. Swathi Shenoy
3. Usha Narayanan
The Story:
A collection of 13 romantic short stories based in India; a culture rich country steeped in tradition. Inspiration struck me from newspaper articles, TV shows and hearing people talk. The short stories are based on that fact that arranged marriages thrive right alongside love matches in India.
1. Groomnapped is Ameya-Surekha’s story as a light romantic take on the serious issue of groom kidnappings.
2. Dark skin on a woman puts off men in general or so says the society. Beauty Is But Skin Deep is Nitin-Simran’s story that proves it wrong!
3. Ritu is twenty-five and wants to wait for her Prince Charming but her parents are desperate to arrange her wedding. Does she find her prince in An Arranged Match?
4. Dating Agencies are doing their best to get young people together to tie the knot. My friend Diti runs an informal one; inspiring the Red Rose Dating Agency.
5. A guy’s complaint about his fiancée of a few years dumping him after becoming successful in her film career felt like a rant to me. Chahti Hoon Tumhe is an ode to the successful actress.
6. Soumya actually lives life like Soul Mates but how many have the guts to? This, incidentally, is the first short story that I ever wrote.
7. Does Madeinheaven.com help bring Menka & Jeetu together with technology driven Matchmaking website?
8. I originally wrote Rahat Mili for an anthology; Rahat means ‘relief’ and is a name too. Read the story with the word in mind and it will fall in place.
9. Reema’s Matchmakers brings Arjun and Prisha together at a get-together through a matchmaking network. But will they get married?
10. Nikita wants Krish for a friend and not her husband. As The Reluctant Bride she manages to have her cake and eat it too.
11. Shweta Ka Swayamvar is inspired by the practice of Swayamwar in ancient India of choosing a husband, from among a list of suitors, by a girl of marriageable age.
12. Pappa’s Girl is about daughters of Industrialists taking over fathers’ businesses.
13. Mythology romances intrigue me; Love Match For Velan is my take on Lord Murugan falling in love with his consort Valli.
You can also buy @
About The Author
Sundari Venkatraman
Even as a kid, Sundari absolutely loved the ‘lived happily ever after’ syndrome as she grew up reading all the fairy tales she could lay her hands on, Phantom comics, Mandrake comics and the like. It was always about good triumphing over evil and a happy end.
Soon, into her teens, Sundari switched her attention from fairy tales to Mills & Boon. While she loved reading both of these, she kept visualising what would have happened if there were similar situations happening in India; to a local hero and heroine. Her imagination took flight and she always lived in a rosy cocoon of romance over the years.
Then came the writing – a true bolt out of the blue! She could never string two sentences together. While her spoken English had always been excellent – thanks to her Grandpa – she couldn’t write to save her life.
All this changed suddenly one fine day in the year 2000. She had just quit her job as a school admin and didn’t know what to do with her life. She was saturated with simply reading books. That’s when she returned home one evening after her walk, took some sheets of paper and began writing. It was like watching a movie that was running in her head – all those years of visualising Indian heroes and heroines needed an outlet and had to be put into words. That’s how her first novel, The Malhotra Bride, took shape. While she felt discouraged when publishing didn’t happen, it was her husband who kept encouraging her not to give up.
In the meanwhile, she landed a job as Copy Editor with Mumbai Mirror. After working there for two years, she moved to the Network 18 Group and worked with two of their websites over the next six years, as Content Editor.
Despite her work schedule, she continued to write novels and then short stories and had them published in her blogs. She also blogs voraciously, writing on many different topics – travel, book reviews, film reviews, restaurant reviews, spirituality, alternative health and more.
Her first eBook Double Jeopardy – a romance novella – was published by Indireads and has been very well received by readers of romance.
In 2014, Sundari self-published The Malhotra Bride (2nd Edition); Meghna; The Runaway Bridegroom; Flaming Sun Collection 1: Happily Ever Afters From India (Box Set) and Matches Made In Heaven (a collection of romantic short stories).
2015 brought yet another opportunity. Readomania came forward to traditionally publish this book – The Madras Affair – a mature romance set in Madras.
Stalk her @Website | Twitter | Facebook
Go to Book No. 4
Now for the Rafflecopter: Gather as many points as you want to. The more points you get, the more you have a chance to win it all. Show your love for books.. Tweet, Like and Spread the Word... Thank you for being a Reader... You keep the Authors motivated... This is our way of saying a Thank you :)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
#TornadoGiveaway is an initiative of The Book Club. Click on the icon to go to the event page of the Tornado .. Lots of fun awaits you :)
Go to Book No. 2 Check all the Books Here
Name of the Book: MATCHES MADE IN HEAVEN
Author: Sundari Venkatraman
Read some reviews:
1. Rubina Ramesh
2. Swathi Shenoy
3. Usha Narayanan
The Story:
A collection of 13 romantic short stories based in India; a culture rich country steeped in tradition. Inspiration struck me from newspaper articles, TV shows and hearing people talk. The short stories are based on that fact that arranged marriages thrive right alongside love matches in India.
1. Groomnapped is Ameya-Surekha’s story as a light romantic take on the serious issue of groom kidnappings.
2. Dark skin on a woman puts off men in general or so says the society. Beauty Is But Skin Deep is Nitin-Simran’s story that proves it wrong!
3. Ritu is twenty-five and wants to wait for her Prince Charming but her parents are desperate to arrange her wedding. Does she find her prince in An Arranged Match?
4. Dating Agencies are doing their best to get young people together to tie the knot. My friend Diti runs an informal one; inspiring the Red Rose Dating Agency.
5. A guy’s complaint about his fiancée of a few years dumping him after becoming successful in her film career felt like a rant to me. Chahti Hoon Tumhe is an ode to the successful actress.
6. Soumya actually lives life like Soul Mates but how many have the guts to? This, incidentally, is the first short story that I ever wrote.
7. Does Madeinheaven.com help bring Menka & Jeetu together with technology driven Matchmaking website?
8. I originally wrote Rahat Mili for an anthology; Rahat means ‘relief’ and is a name too. Read the story with the word in mind and it will fall in place.
9. Reema’s Matchmakers brings Arjun and Prisha together at a get-together through a matchmaking network. But will they get married?
10. Nikita wants Krish for a friend and not her husband. As The Reluctant Bride she manages to have her cake and eat it too.
11. Shweta Ka Swayamvar is inspired by the practice of Swayamwar in ancient India of choosing a husband, from among a list of suitors, by a girl of marriageable age.
12. Pappa’s Girl is about daughters of Industrialists taking over fathers’ businesses.
13. Mythology romances intrigue me; Love Match For Velan is my take on Lord Murugan falling in love with his consort Valli.
You can also buy @
About The Author
Sundari Venkatraman
Even as a kid, Sundari absolutely loved the ‘lived happily ever after’ syndrome as she grew up reading all the fairy tales she could lay her hands on, Phantom comics, Mandrake comics and the like. It was always about good triumphing over evil and a happy end.
Soon, into her teens, Sundari switched her attention from fairy tales to Mills & Boon. While she loved reading both of these, she kept visualising what would have happened if there were similar situations happening in India; to a local hero and heroine. Her imagination took flight and she always lived in a rosy cocoon of romance over the years.
Then came the writing – a true bolt out of the blue! She could never string two sentences together. While her spoken English had always been excellent – thanks to her Grandpa – she couldn’t write to save her life.
All this changed suddenly one fine day in the year 2000. She had just quit her job as a school admin and didn’t know what to do with her life. She was saturated with simply reading books. That’s when she returned home one evening after her walk, took some sheets of paper and began writing. It was like watching a movie that was running in her head – all those years of visualising Indian heroes and heroines needed an outlet and had to be put into words. That’s how her first novel, The Malhotra Bride, took shape. While she felt discouraged when publishing didn’t happen, it was her husband who kept encouraging her not to give up.
In the meanwhile, she landed a job as Copy Editor with Mumbai Mirror. After working there for two years, she moved to the Network 18 Group and worked with two of their websites over the next six years, as Content Editor.
Despite her work schedule, she continued to write novels and then short stories and had them published in her blogs. She also blogs voraciously, writing on many different topics – travel, book reviews, film reviews, restaurant reviews, spirituality, alternative health and more.
Her first eBook Double Jeopardy – a romance novella – was published by Indireads and has been very well received by readers of romance.
In 2014, Sundari self-published The Malhotra Bride (2nd Edition); Meghna; The Runaway Bridegroom; Flaming Sun Collection 1: Happily Ever Afters From India (Box Set) and Matches Made In Heaven (a collection of romantic short stories).
2015 brought yet another opportunity. Readomania came forward to traditionally publish this book – The Madras Affair – a mature romance set in Madras.
Stalk her @Website | Twitter | Facebook
Go to Book No. 4
Now for the Rafflecopter: Gather as many points as you want to. The more points you get, the more you have a chance to win it all. Show your love for books.. Tweet, Like and Spread the Word... Thank you for being a Reader... You keep the Authors motivated... This is our way of saying a Thank you :)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
#TornadoGiveaway is an initiative of The Book Club. Click on the icon to go to the event page of the Tornado .. Lots of fun awaits you :)
August 4, 2015
Tornado Giveaway 2: Book No. 2 : FORBIDDEN Books 1, 2 & 3 by Mike Wells and Devika Fernando
Go to Book No. 1
Check all the Books Here
Name of the Book : FORBIDDEN Books 1, 2 & 3
Author: Mike Wells & Devika Fernando
Read some reviews:
1. Adisha Kariyawasam
2. Babus Ahmed
3. A. P. Bullard
The Story :
When Lady Eleanor Sotheby unexpectedly enters the life of Jayne Clark, a 23-year old waitress from Wichita, Kansas, Jayne's world is turned upside down. Not only is she welcomed into a family that she never knew, but she is thrust headlong into the highest strata of European society. Nothing is too grand in the fairy tale lives of the uber-rich--the spectacular seaside villas, the sleek, chauffeured limousines, the outrageously expensive designer clothes. When Jayne plays her part and learns to fit into this new world, she meets Robert Astor, the man of her dreams. But her feelings for Robert are forbidden. Jayne's heady new life begins to unravel into a dark web of deceit, domination and greed...and she ultimately finds herself confronting an evil that truly has no limits.
You can also buy @
About The Authors
Mike Wells
About Mike Wells in his own words: I'm American bestselling author of the Lust, Money & Murder series and over 20 other thriller and suspense books. I also have taught in the Creative Writing program at Oxford. I'm known for my super fast-paced, 'unputdownable' novels.
Stalk him @
Website | Twitter | Facebook
Devika Fernando
Almost as soon as Devika Fernando could write, she imagined stories and poems. After finishing her education in Germany and returning to her roots in Sri Lanka, she got a chance to turn her passion into her profession. Having lived in Germany and in Sri Lanka with her husband has made her experience the best (and the worst) of two totally different worlds – something that influences her writing. Her trademark are sweet, yet deeply emotional romance stories where the characters actually fall in love instead of merely falling in lust. She draws inspiration from everyone and everything in life. Besides being a romance novel author, she works as a self-employed German web content writer, as a translator, and as a faithful servant to all the cats, dogs, fish and birds in her home. What she loves most about being an author is the chance to create new worlds and send her protagonists on a journey full of ups and downs that will leave them changed. When she’s not writing, she’s reading or thinking about writing.
Stalk her @
Website | Twitter | Facebook
Go to Book No. 3
Coming soon... The Madras Affair by Sundari Venkatraman
Now for the Rafflecopter: Gather as many points as you want to. The more points you get, the more you have a chance to win it all. Show your love for books.. Tweet, Like and Spread the Word... Thank you for being a Reader... You keep the Authors motivated... This is our way of saying a Thank you :)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
#TornadoGiveaway is an initiative of The Book Club. Click on the icon to go to the event page of the Tornado .. Lots of fun awaits you :)
Name of the Book : FORBIDDEN Books 1, 2 & 3
Author: Mike Wells & Devika Fernando
Read some reviews:
1. Adisha Kariyawasam
2. Babus Ahmed
3. A. P. Bullard
The Story :
When Lady Eleanor Sotheby unexpectedly enters the life of Jayne Clark, a 23-year old waitress from Wichita, Kansas, Jayne's world is turned upside down. Not only is she welcomed into a family that she never knew, but she is thrust headlong into the highest strata of European society. Nothing is too grand in the fairy tale lives of the uber-rich--the spectacular seaside villas, the sleek, chauffeured limousines, the outrageously expensive designer clothes. When Jayne plays her part and learns to fit into this new world, she meets Robert Astor, the man of her dreams. But her feelings for Robert are forbidden. Jayne's heady new life begins to unravel into a dark web of deceit, domination and greed...and she ultimately finds herself confronting an evil that truly has no limits.
You can also buy @
About The Authors
Mike Wells
About Mike Wells in his own words: I'm American bestselling author of the Lust, Money & Murder series and over 20 other thriller and suspense books. I also have taught in the Creative Writing program at Oxford. I'm known for my super fast-paced, 'unputdownable' novels.
Stalk him @
Website | Twitter | Facebook
Devika Fernando
Almost as soon as Devika Fernando could write, she imagined stories and poems. After finishing her education in Germany and returning to her roots in Sri Lanka, she got a chance to turn her passion into her profession. Having lived in Germany and in Sri Lanka with her husband has made her experience the best (and the worst) of two totally different worlds – something that influences her writing. Her trademark are sweet, yet deeply emotional romance stories where the characters actually fall in love instead of merely falling in lust. She draws inspiration from everyone and everything in life. Besides being a romance novel author, she works as a self-employed German web content writer, as a translator, and as a faithful servant to all the cats, dogs, fish and birds in her home. What she loves most about being an author is the chance to create new worlds and send her protagonists on a journey full of ups and downs that will leave them changed. When she’s not writing, she’s reading or thinking about writing.
Stalk her @
Website | Twitter | Facebook
Go to Book No. 3
Coming soon... The Madras Affair by Sundari Venkatraman
Now for the Rafflecopter: Gather as many points as you want to. The more points you get, the more you have a chance to win it all. Show your love for books.. Tweet, Like and Spread the Word... Thank you for being a Reader... You keep the Authors motivated... This is our way of saying a Thank you :)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
#TornadoGiveaway is an initiative of The Book Club. Click on the icon to go to the event page of the Tornado .. Lots of fun awaits you :)
Tornado Giveaway 2: Book No. 1: ANGELS DAWN by Komali da Silva
Check all the Books Here
Name of the Book : ANGELS DAWN
Author: Komali da Silva
Read some reviews :
1. Bex 'n' Books
2. Shweta Choudhary
3. Sandra Love
The Story :
Dawn Huntington wants what every girl wants, a sweet sixteen birthday party with her friends, family, and some hot boys, but fate has other plans. On the night of Dawn's sixteenth birthday, she witnesses a crime she can't turn her back on, and the decisions she makes that night will change her life forever.
Never having been confronted with such violence, Dawn turns to a mysterious and beautiful boy named Angelo, only she can't remember what happens that night. To make things more complicated, Dawn is in a relationship with Angelo's complete opposite, Nate. Dawn doesn't want to hurt Nate, yet she can't shake her feelings for Angelo, even when she can't help but feel he's hiding something from her, and it could be something dark. Why is Angelo acting so weird around Bonita? Are they together? Are they really only friends?
Angelo may be trouble, but Dawn can't ignore her feelings for him. Dawn is at a crossroads. Should she choose love? Or friendship? Once Dawn finally finds the courage to choose, she thinks the drama is over. But Dawn wasn't expecting her choices to have such dire consequences.
Do you believe in love at first sight? But can one trust someone blindly? Can love overcome all the obstacles?
Is friendship just the beginning of love?
You can also buy @
About The Author
Komali da Silva
Komali da Silva was born and raised in Colombo, Sri Lanka. She started writing as a teenager but never took it seriously because her love for basketball and track and field sports was much stronger. At the age of seventeen she moved to Switzerland with her sister to live with their father. Komali has a degree in Insurance but is dreaming of one day owning her book cafe.
She adores reading and some of her favorite authors include Lauren Kate, Cassandra Clare, Carlos Ruiz Zafon, Cecelia Ahern, J.K. Rowling and Richelle Mead. She started immortalizing her own words on paper in June 2012.
Komali, her husband, daughter Amalia and their two cats now live in Bern, Switzerland.
Stalk her @Website | Twitter | Facebook
Go to Book No. 2
Coming soon... The Madras Affair by Sundari Venkatraman
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Name of the Book : ANGELS DAWN
Author: Komali da Silva
Read some reviews :
1. Bex 'n' Books
2. Shweta Choudhary
3. Sandra Love
The Story :
Dawn Huntington wants what every girl wants, a sweet sixteen birthday party with her friends, family, and some hot boys, but fate has other plans. On the night of Dawn's sixteenth birthday, she witnesses a crime she can't turn her back on, and the decisions she makes that night will change her life forever.
Never having been confronted with such violence, Dawn turns to a mysterious and beautiful boy named Angelo, only she can't remember what happens that night. To make things more complicated, Dawn is in a relationship with Angelo's complete opposite, Nate. Dawn doesn't want to hurt Nate, yet she can't shake her feelings for Angelo, even when she can't help but feel he's hiding something from her, and it could be something dark. Why is Angelo acting so weird around Bonita? Are they together? Are they really only friends?
Angelo may be trouble, but Dawn can't ignore her feelings for him. Dawn is at a crossroads. Should she choose love? Or friendship? Once Dawn finally finds the courage to choose, she thinks the drama is over. But Dawn wasn't expecting her choices to have such dire consequences.
Do you believe in love at first sight? But can one trust someone blindly? Can love overcome all the obstacles?
Is friendship just the beginning of love?
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About The Author
Komali da Silva
Komali da Silva was born and raised in Colombo, Sri Lanka. She started writing as a teenager but never took it seriously because her love for basketball and track and field sports was much stronger. At the age of seventeen she moved to Switzerland with her sister to live with their father. Komali has a degree in Insurance but is dreaming of one day owning her book cafe.
She adores reading and some of her favorite authors include Lauren Kate, Cassandra Clare, Carlos Ruiz Zafon, Cecelia Ahern, J.K. Rowling and Richelle Mead. She started immortalizing her own words on paper in June 2012.
Komali, her husband, daughter Amalia and their two cats now live in Bern, Switzerland.
Stalk her @Website | Twitter | Facebook
Go to Book No. 2
Coming soon... The Madras Affair by Sundari Venkatraman
Now for the Rafflecopter: Gather as many points as you want to. The more points you get, the more you have a chance to win it all. Show your love for books.. Tweet, Like and Spread the Word... Thank you for being a Reader... You keep the Authors motivated... This is our way of saying a Thank you :)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
#TornadoGiveaway is an initiative of The Book Club. Click on the icon to go to the event page of the Tornado .. Lots of fun awaits you :)
July 27, 2015
Book Review: RUDRAKSHA: When Gods Came Calling – an anthology by Readomania
I love mythology, especially Indian myths and folklore. Recently, the interest has been increasing after I did a lot of research for my A-Z mytho stories during the
April Challenge
. I came across a number of tales that I never heard off while I had been under the impression that I knew my Ramayana and Mahabharata totally. That’s also when I realised that there are too tales and characters out there to explore.So, when I heard about Rudraksha, I was keen to read this one. Luckily for me, the publisher sent me a free e-copy in return for my honest review.
THE BOOK (from Amazon.in)
Rudraksha: When Gods Came Calling is an attempt to bring together tales from across the vast length and breadth of India, a land that is steeped in mythology. It is about gods and goddesses, mythical creatures, ancient folklore and tales that abound in every village. Some of these are oft-heard stories. Some have seldom gone around. Some are spoofs. Some are parodies. They walk the ancient India or sound the chimes of modern India. From the celestial love of Shiva-Parvati, to the raging avatar of Kalki, from myths and legends of Brahmaputra to the stories of the Mahabharata, Rudraksh has it all. And there is more. Reading spoofs on present day icons provide high entertainment as do the satirical twists parodying modern issues; all through the perspective of mythology.
MY PERCEPTION
Caught in the Crossfire by Mithun Mukherjee
This story is in the first person and is a modern account of Gods. Well narrated and crisp, this had me laughing my head off. I loved Mithun Mukherjee’s take on Indra and Varuna’s competitive nature. Shiva was a breath of fresh air, while the story ended perfectly. It is a must read.
Aftermath by Suhail Mathur
This one was a confusing jumble of characters and probably would work best in a novel or maybe a novella. I also found the extensive explanations at the end uninteresting. It took away from the feeling of reading a fiction.
One Woman, Many Forms! by Sanchita Sen Das
This is a beautiful story of Parvati and Shiva. The characters are Gods that we are familiar with, but set in a modern setting. It’s how Parvati sets out to find herself in an earlier life. Imaginative and striking, the story sure pulls in the reader. Kudos to Sanchita Sen Das!
The Story of Ahalya by Riti Kaunteya
This one is a rant more than a story. Written in first person from Ahalya’s point of view, this has also been given a modern background. But it’s more in the form of an article than a piece of fiction.
Come Back As Anyone by Paulami Duttagupta
Simple and beautifully narrated, this is the story of IAS Officer Sridevi and troublemaker Guruh who rides a white horse. But are things what they appear at first glance? I love the way the myth has been woven in the modern story. Good job, Paulami Duttagupta! I so liked the way Sreedevi calls out to Lord Krishna to “come back as anyone”. I wish!
Kalki—The End of An Age by Jatin Kuberker
Okay, maybe I should have saved this for the last. This is the best of the lot, this masterpiece by Jatin Kuberker. I congratulate the author on creating a lovely story with a lot of research on Shambala, the lore of Kalki and more, bringing all the characters to life. I so loved the visual of Garud. I would love to read more from this author for sure.
The Goddam Thing by Siddhartha Yadav
This story begins with a meeting in Swarglok and takes us to earth. I couldn’t help laughing at the characters that we know from our TV shows and it is a fun piece. Well written and beautifully presented. Enjoyed reading this one by Siddhartha Yadav!
Rudraksh by Ayan Pal
This one is a hard-hitting story and superbly written by Ayan Pal. It takes the reader from Kolkata to Odisha where Rudraksh goes to research for his graphic novel. I am not going to say more for fear of letting out spoilers. But this one is a must read.
The Celestial Intervention by Sreelekha Chatterjee
I am kind of dubious about this story by Sreelekha Chatterjee. It’s well written, of course. But most of the tale is what we know from Mahabharata. There’s just a bit of a twist that’s been woven in. I wish there had been more about the twist than the story that we all know anyway.
The Chronicles of Brahmaputra by Barun Bachracharya
This story is based on a folklore. The scenes open in front of the reader’s eyes as Barun Bachracharya brings them alive with his writing skill. But somehow, I feel the humongous effort made by Raavati to escape being burned on her husband’s funeral pyre in the name of sati, for the sake of her little daughter – is wasted as the story goes along, turning and twisting away from the very purpose it started off with. Very sad indeed!
The Constant by Ayushee Ghoshal
This story by Ayushee Ghosal is of Shiva-Sati, in a different setting from the mythology. Beautifully portrayed characters, with the background suiting the characteristics of the Gods. Well done!
The Woman Who Prayed! by Deepti Menon
Yes, I had been waiting to read Deepti Menon’s story as I enjoy her writing. The author didn’t disappoint me. The story is about Savitri in a modern avatar, her prayers saving Satyavan from early death. Really good one! I have always wondered about Satyavan’s character in the mythology as he appears like a shadow beside Savitri. Deepti Menon has fleshed her Satyavan perfectly as he comes across as not a very strong person. I so loved the ending – it was perfect. I won’t say more for fear of spoilers. Deepti Menon, please keep writing!
The Curse of Alakshmi by Nitin Soni
I have never come across the character of Alakshmi, though it must have been obvious in the world of duality that we live in. This twin of Goddess Lakshmi has been fleshed out very well by Nitin Soni.
VERDICT: This one by Readomania is a must read if you like reading mythology and folklore. And I must say that the book cover is simply gorgeous and perfect for the theme.
Disclaimer: I received an e-copy of this book from the publisher in return for my honest review.
Buy here:
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July 16, 2015
Blog Tour: THE SEVENTH CUP by Nitesh Jain
Check out the Competition of The Seventh Cup by Nitesh Jain
The Blurb
A student of history in Switzerland goes missing.
A man drinks exactly seven cups of coffee everyday in the same restaurant and believes in Mind Transportation. Two newly married Swiss detective agents arrive and begin a shocking tale of love, friendship, betrayal and death. From the colorful coasts of Goa, India to the enchanting backdrop of Zurich,Switzerland, the mystery of Verona Schmidt baffles everyone. With shocking twits and turns in every chapter, The Seventh Cup might just have the addictive flavor to stir the readers mind...may be forever !!!
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Meet the Author
Nitesh Kumar Jain (1987) spent his childhood days in the beautiful state of Assam in India and pursued his schooling at Carmel School, Jorhat. Later he went to BITS Pilani, KK Birla Goa Campus. He graduated as a Chemical Engineer in the year 2010 and worked as a trainee at Aditya Birla Chemicals in Thailand for six months. He did his post-graduate work in Chemical and Bio-engineering from ETH Zurich, Switzerland, and later (2012) worked as an intern at BASF AG, Basel. During his two-year stay in Switzerland, he conceptualized his debut novel, The Seventh Cup.
Apart from writing he loves photography and travelling to new countries to explore different cultures. Nitesh has visited several countries during the past few years such as Thailand, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, France, Austria,The Netherlands. He wishes to visit Turkey, Australia and the Nordic countries in the coming years. He believes in the saying by Paulo Coelho: When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it!!!
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July 8, 2015
Blog Tour: MR. IMPERFECT SERIES by Aditi Chopra
Mr. Imperfect Series by Aditi Chopra
My Review
While the book has three novellas that are interconnected, they can still be read separately as standalone stories.
House of Love
Nikki is a strong person who has her own business. Her younger brother would rather learn the business through her than their father who is a male chauvinist, who refuses to acknowledge his daughter’s success. Nikki falls for Karan, who is a client. Will Nikki find happiness with him?
Arranged Marriage
The story is exactly what the title claims it to be. Ishan is from Dallas. Though he argues when his parents try to find a suitable bride for him when he goes to India, he falls for Sonali when he meets her. They get married and Sonali moves in with her husband. There’s a problem though. She loves to cook and is not career minded. But how will she spend time in the USA with all her friends and relatives so far away. It’s a coming of age story; Sonali’s journey of self-discovery.
Love Tango
Maya is the boldest of the three women. She falls for restaurateur Tahir Ali. But is he using her? This is the best story of the three.
My Perception
I loved the cover of the book. The language is good though a stronger hand at proofing would have made it a better read.
All the stories have interesting premises and are typically Indian. The author has highlighted the lives of NRIs in the USA through her stories. I only wish the stories flowed by themselves instead of appearing as if the author is narrating it to the reader. That took away from the reading experience.
Otherwise, the stories themselves, the settings and twists – all make for a lovely read.
Disclaimer: I received a kindle copy of this book from the author via The Book Club in return for my honest review.
The Blurb
Three intriguing women, Three Imperfect men, Three fascinating stories!
House of Love
Real estate agent Nikki Desai has a rule of not dating her clients. When she hosts an open house on a cold Dallas afternoon, she didn't know what was in store for her. Much like Dallas' unexpected weather, Karan Malhotra, a business consultant, walks into her life and challenges every belief she holds close to her heart. Karan manages to cajole Nikki, but is she making a mistake in breaking her rule by dating Karan?
Arranged Marriage
Arranged marriage - where love happens after marriage or does it? Ishan, a NRI from Dallas, Texas visits his home country, India and gets entangled in his parents' plan to get him married. Sonali is a simple girl from a small town called Meerut and has no desire to leave India. However, she reluctantly agrees to marry Ishan. But when she settles with him in a foreign country, she is completely lost and homesick. Will Sonali find love in a conventionally arranged marriage?
Love Tango
Maya Sarin is sensuous and enterprising. She runs a dance school in the suburb of Dallas. Tahir Ali is an aspiring author who owns a Mediterranean restaurant in the area. When his regular dancer bails out on him, he rushes in Maya as a replacement. Maya is the inspiration that he had been longing for; she feeds his creative soul. Do they have any future together? Explore their passion and intrigue in Love Tango.
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Meet the Author
Aditi Chopra was born in India and now lives in Texas with her family. She writes NRI (Non Resident Indian) fiction and non-fiction books.
Aditi has an engineering background but she has found her creative bone in fiction writing. Her stories range from Contemporary Romance to Women's Fiction. You might see a glimpse of Bollywood in her stories and will definitely enjoy the emotional ride.
Aditi focuses on leadership skills in her non-fiction books. Her readers get practical take-aways that they can utilize in their career.
Aditi is also a member of Women's Fiction Writers Association.
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June 26, 2015
Travel: A VISIT TO HARRISONS MALAYALAM LIMITED TEA FACTORY
Since the area in and around Meenmutty Resorts is rife with tea plantations, I was keen to visit a local tea factory. The resort people organised a jeep for us to take us to Harrisons Malayalam Limited that was about 20 km away.
Drying the leaves; there are fans underneathThe people at the tea factory were very friendly and showed us the whole process of “orthodox” way of tea production as against CTC. “Orthodox” tea is both black and green tea of different grades that are used for making tea that is had without milk.
They keep strict track of temperatureHarrisons Gold is their product that is mainly manufactured to be exported to UK, Singapore and a few other countries. The factory produces 35 tonnes of tea on an average day. Yes, my jaw dropped too.
Shredding machineTea leaves are plucked from the plantation and brought to the factory by lorry. They are spread over a huge rack with fans underneath along with a temperature gauge. This first process is to ensure that the leaves retain moisture of 58%. The process takes place over 12 hours. The drying process should neither be too fast nor too slow. This process happens on the upper floor.
Sorting into different gradesFrom here, the tea leaves fall through a chute onto a machine where it is shredded and separated into different grades.
Tea leaves browned @ 120 degrees FThen the separated tea leaves are passed through a barrel like structure where they lose more moisture.
The machine trips off the second the heat goes up by even half a degreeAfter this, the shredded tea is spread on the floor in batches and dried under fan in a room for a few hours.
The kiln runs 24/7 - water distilled and converted to steam using wood-fire and...Next, the tea is heated once again in something like a kiln. The maximum temperature setting is 120 degree F. The temperature is automated to avoid burning. The tea is dried by the heat of steam from distilled water that runs through pipes.
...and this mixture of wastepaper pulp & groundnut oil cakeThe water is distilled on the premises by heat created from burning wood and another product which is a mix of wastepaper (this is usually from cash recycled by the Reserve Bank of India is what we were told) and the residue that occurs after removing oil from groundnuts. This part of the tea-making process is the most expensive.
The tea is ready for cooling and packingAfter checking out the whole process, we got to sit with the supervisor and taste their Orange Pekoe Black Tea that was too delicious for words. We got to purchase green tea, black tea and some CTC tea (regular tea that we have at home with milk; CTC Tea is manufactured at other outlets of their factory, not in Wayanad) at less than half the market price from their recently opened sales outlet on their premises.
Orange Pekoe "orthodox" teaI was happy to find out that most of the employees have been working for Harrisons Malayalam Limited since more than fifteen years. The attrition level is almost nil. They have 40 employees working per shift with three shifts running full swing.
Employee Udaya Kumar (with Venkat) explained the whole processAll the employees have family accommodation, one day’s leave per week and nearby schools for their children. I thought that they got a good deal, working for the company.
Viggy admits that he didn't regret the trip to the tea factory ;)An interesting trivia the supervisor mentioned was that the tea plantation / factory is surrounded by forests. Wild elephants walk down to the factory compound every night once the main gates are shut. That must be some sight for sure!
