Sundari Venkatraman's Blog, page 52

Blog Tour: RESCUED BY LOVE by Shilpa Suraj

Rescued by Love  by  Shilpa Suraj



My Review
It was a lucky day for me when I received a copy of Shilpa Suraj’s RESCUED BY LOVE via The Book Club. I love reading Mills & Boon romances and I must say Shilpa Suraj has weaved an awesome tale.
Naina is the feisty daughter of a Supreme Court Chief Justice. She’s gone on a holiday by herself without informing her parents as they are trying to arrange her wedding to a guy she doesn’t like. Unfortunately, she is kidnapped when away from home. In exchange for her safety, the kidnapper wants her father to give a judgement in favour of his criminal boss Hussain. 
Lt. Col. Arjun Rathore and his team including Venkat, Ratan and Kishore set out to rescue Naina. They get her out of the kidnappers’ clutches quite easily. The tough part is to keep her safe over the next few days. They all pretend to be trekkers as they climb their way down to Leh to safety. While Naina falls for Arjun and he’s immensely attracted to her, he refuses to get involved as she is already engaged and also the daughter of a big shot. But the tenacious Naina decides to get her own way. Will she get together with the love of her life? Read the book to see the many complications that set in, barring the path of true love.
“I’d rather die than marry him,” begins this tale of romance. Got your attention, didn’t it? It caught mine too, immediately. Naina is a lovely character that one can relate to. Only child of an old-fashioned court judge and his wife, she wants to fly free. She’s never known the love of her parents as she’s been a disappointment to them, being a daughter instead of the son they had hoped to have. It could be the story of many young women all over India and she is so realistic. 
Arjun made my heart throb along with Naina’s. His protective attitude towards her; his helplessness in the face of her problems and the war he wages within himself about choosing between right and wrong – every aspect of Arjun touches one deeply. The scenes between the hero and heroine sizzle hot. 
The story is superbly written as narration and dialogues flow smoothly in excellent English. The side characters of Arjun’s team and a host of others (don’t want to divulge spoilers) have been sketched very well.
One other character beside Naina and Arjun that I liked very much is Aryan. Are you planning to use him as a hero in one of your books Shilpa Suraj? Fingers Crossed! Looking forward to reading more from you! 



The Blurb
When Naina Ahuja is kidnapped as hostage days before her father, a Supreme Court Chief Justice, must sentence a terrorist, the stakes are very high. Lt Col Arjun Rathore and his team are the only ones who can be trusted with the mission of saving her. 
During their arduous trek back through the hostile terrain of Ladakh, Arjun and Naina spend days in danger of losing their lives - and their hearts. Back in safety, the real world and its very real problems threaten – as do their own perceptions of the differences between them. 

They must separate – but will life rescue their love?

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Meet the Author





Shilpa was a year and a half when she was first introduced to the world of books. Her mother would park her with a picture book on the floor of the kitchen while she finished her cooking for the day. While it’s no longer the kitchen floor, you can still find her tucked away in a cosy nook somewhere with her nose buried in a book. While books in all genres interest her, it was romance that captured her heart. While racing through every romantic fiction book she could beg, borrow or buy, her over active imagination started to work overtime and weave its own stories. Years in the corporate world followed by a stint of entrepreneurship crystallised her belief that all she really wanted to do was give life to the stories bubbling inside of her. She briefly managed to tear herself away from the world of fiction to find her own personal happily ever after and now spends her time happily focusing on the two loves of her life – family and writing romances. 



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Cover Reveal: MATCHES MADE IN HEAVEN by Sundari Venkatraman

Cover Reveal:
MATCHES MADE IN HEAVEN
Romantic Short Stories by
Sundari Venkatraman
Sneak Peak
Swayamwar on TV reality show; Dating Clubs; Matchmaking websites; parents setting up their children with one another; friends getting married and more – there are many ways that couples get together for hopefully a “Happily Ever After” experience. MATCHES MADE IN HEAVEN explores the various premises in the form of short stories that one can relate to in everyday life. There is even one based on Gods falling in love. Shh! I am not going to say anything further. It’s for you to find out.

And there are thirteen of them. While many insist that “13” is an unlucky number, I am quite fascinated by it. I absolutely believe that it’s a lucky number for me. That’s why I decided to publish this anthology with 13 romantic stories. 



About the author
Sundari Venkatraman has authored four novels and a short story anthology till now, Matches Made In Heaven (anthology) being the latest. The Malhotra Bride; Meghna; The Runaway Bridegroom; Flaming Sun Collection 1: Happily Ever Afters From India (Box Set) and Matches Made In Heaven have all been self-published on Amazon under the banner of Flaming Sun. The three novels are regularly seen on Amazon’s Top 100 Bestsellers’ Contemporary Romances list. The Box Set and Anthology are bound to catch up soon. 



A great fan of Mills & Boon romances over the past four decades, Sundari has always believed in ‘Happily Ever Afters’ and all her books promise happy endings. 

Matches Made In Heaven is a compilation of thirteen short stories – all romantic – based on many situations anyone can come upon in their day-to-day lives. The stories revolve around the different ways a couple can get to meet and tie the knot in a culture rich country like India. Those reading the stories will definitely be able to connect realising that one of the situations has definitely been a part of their lives. 


So here you go........
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Blog Tour: AGAINST ALL ODDS by Jazz Singh

Against All Odds by  Jazz Singh 


My Review
Sanjana is a small-town girl who has moved to Delhi as an Interior Designer. While she’s slowly gaining a reputation, she slips and falls in front of millionaire industrialist Abhimanyu’s car. He’s convinced that she’s out to get what she could out of him, while she’s certain that he is an arrogant snob. She lands up with a hairline fracture.
Not long after, they meet again and yet again. While Sanjana finds herself falling in love with Abhimanyu, she is sure that she would never fit into his world. His mother is also positive about this. And what about Abhimanyu himself? Is he in love with Sanjana or is he just playing with her?
This juicy romance by Jazz Singh is an absolutely fun read. Sanjana is creative, hardworking as well as a cheerful young lady. Abhimanyu is a suave businessman who has been brought up to be protective about his wealth and status. The author weaves a lovely story around the small-town Sanjana and city-boy Abhimanyu that’s very endearing. Good language, interesting dialogues and realistic situations make for a good read. Congratulations, Jazz Singh! Way to go!
My only peeve is the last scene was a tad abrupt. But I suppose good things don’t last forever.



The Blurb

The first time they collide, he thinks she’s a con artist, she believes he’s an arrogant snob.

It takes several meetings to change their minds about each other, but eventually, Abhimanyu and Sanjana strike up a friendship that seems destined to turn into something more. He’s a rich successful businessman, however, and she’s a small-town girl who doesn’t fit into his glittering world; a fact that Abhimanyu’s mother has taken pains to point out.

Will they ever overcome the odds, or are their lives on parallel tracks, never destined to cross?

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Meet the Author



Dear Readers,

Jazz Singh is one of the most elusive writers I have met. So respecting her need for privacy we have not asked her for a profile picture or a writeup. Long back, when I had first interacted with her.. I had asked her the reason behind this. Her answer was... I want to be known for my work. All I can say to that is... She will be...

Regards,

Rubina Ramesh 
The Book Club



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Nostalgia: Pottery @ Periyar Road, Chennai

When we were in school and later in college, my sister Jayashree and I used to grow a garden on our second floor terrace at Ranganathan Road, Numgambakkam. It was a mind-blowing experience watching tiny shoots sprout out of seeds and grow into young plants. It was fascinating to watch flowers turn into brinjals, ladyfingers, tomatoes, ribbed gourd and more.


While it wasn’t easy lugging huge mud pots and soil up to the second floor while watering them every day; carrying buckets of aqua from the first floor, we wouldn’t have missed the experience for anything.


The closest point where we could get pots from was Periyar Road where resided a pottery colony. They still do actually. We used to take a walk of approximately 2 km one way and lug pots, probably two on each trip, back home. Auto rickshaws were not too plenty those days while cycle rickshaws not always agreed to go in our direction. More than that, Jayu and I felt we would buy an extra pot or two rather than spend on conveyance.

The full stretch of Periyar Road from near Valluvar Kottam to the end of Arcot Road used to be filled with pots of different shapes and sizes.


A few days ago, I took one more trip down nostalgia lane when I walked through Periyar Road. This was the same walk I took to Numgambakkam High Road from North Usman Road. The number of pot vendors has reduced while the variety has gone up. There were dolls and statuettes along with diyas and other decorative curios. I also found some flower pots amidst the lot and couldn’t help recall our terrace garden.

Blog Tour: PLAYING WITH FIRE by Devika Fernando

Playing With Fire by  Devika Fernando


My Review
This latest novel by Devika Fernando is Book 1 of the series, “4 Elements of Love” and is all about Felicia who represents Fire. But there’s one more person in the love story – Joshua, who represents Ice. 
Felicia is unable to deal with herself as she has been fighting the strangeness – a fascination with fire to the point that she is able to create her own from thin air – within her since she was a child. Her parents never understood her and soon she is estranged from them. She shares an apartment with Cindy and works at the local library.
Into her life steps Joshua, a handsome stranger. He insists that he is a private investigator. But is he what he says he is? Then there is this oddity that makes him different from the people she meets at the library. Why would he try to teach her to control the fire element? What does it matter to him? What about the sparks the two strike off each other? You will need to read Playing With Fire by Devika Fernando to find out. 
The story begins with a bang, making the reader sit up and take notice. That’s a great way to catch one’s attention for sure. I have to congratulate the author on that. 
Nature has been described in a number of places in the novel. It has been done with great taste and has turned out in an excellent fashion. I especially loved reading those sections. 
The scene when the baby dragon breathing fire unleashed by Felicia has been very well written. It’s cute as well as dangerous which is exactly how it should be.
All that said, I have a few holes to pick in the story. 
Felicia and Joshua come across as too young and immature despite having super powers. What disappointed me was – I don’t know what right I have to expect something from this but then I do have an opinion – that the two of them decide to just take off by themselves instead of doing something useful with their power to help people or at least make it work for themselves. As regular human beings, there is nothing wrong with their decision. But they are the protagonists of a story. I wish they had done something more impactful. 
Once the hero becomes a member of the library, Felicia should start thinking of him by his name instead of “the man” or “mysterious saviour”. He must have given his name on the form. She goes on calling him “the man” for a little longer than one more chapter. 
The story gets nowhere even in Chapter Three. Whenever Joshua and Felicia meet – the dialogue is only about lessons, teacher and student OR they are kissing. It kind of gets repetitive. 
For a fiction, there’s more of narration than scenes and dialogues. A story should want one to rush to the next page. That happens when scenes unfold in front of one’s eyes. That’s not happening here. The author has narrated what’s happening and there’s no opportunity for visualisation. 
When Joshua talks about his life as a kid, it would have been way better to let the scene unfold in flashback instead of his explaining it in so many words. It kind of takes away the charm of the story. 
After the running race, the dialogue turns preachy. It reads like the author is lecturing the public. Why is it that Joshua always tells Felicia what to do? As if he’s way too intelligent and she’s completely dumb. The equation between hero and heroine could have been more stylish in this 21st century, especially considering that they both are extraordinary beings with magical powers, is what I feel. 
This is a fiction – an imaginary story about Felicia and Joshua. I think a strong editor would have set the story right. And I could not help but notice a number of proofing errors that definitely need to be corrected. 
Devika Fernando has the ability to spin a good story. But only an excellent editor can polish the gem and give it the perfect setting that will make it glow. 


The Blurb If you’re playing with fire, prepare to get burned – or to fall in love.

Sparks fly when Felicia and Joshua meet. Discovering her inner fire and unleashing unimaginable powers makes her realize that all her life, she has been hiding her true self. When buildings burn and people are in danger, the tempting game of playing with fire becomes serious. Will their love and desperate struggle for control save her life, or will the fire magic turn itself against its mistress?

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Meet the Author





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.



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Nostalgia: VALLUVAR KOTTAM @ Nungambakkam, Chennai

Pic Courtesy: http://4.bp.blogspot.comI went on a trip to Chennai in the last week of November. The best part was that I got to go around Nungambakkam where we used to live when I was in school and college. It was truly a trip down nostalgia lane.

Near the entrance to Valluvar Kottam (November 2014)I took a walk from North Usman Road to Nungambakkam High Road via Valluvar Kottam . I was amazed to see the tall structure (39 metres in height) hidden behind trees that had grown so high over the past few decades.

The side terrace outside our home on Ranganathan Road from where we watched the cavalcade (1976)
Pic Courtesy: Lakshmi RanganathanI recalled the time before Valluvar Kottam was built. We used to live further down on Ranganathan Road opposite Nungambakkam Police Station. In those days, the area where the building stands used to be called Lake Area, probably because there used to be a lake. What I remember is that it was a large concave piece of land and used to act as a dump yard. We have seen many a corporation lorry unload waste on that ground throughout the day. Probably the total waste of Chennai city was dumped there.

The entrance to Valluvar Kottam (November 2014)The ground was made flat over the years and Valluvar Kottam was built over it, opening to the public in 1976. It’s a famous monument dedicated to Thiruvalluvar who wrote Thirukural – yeah, 1330 couplets, no less – and is in the form of a Temple Chariot. The structure looks gorgeous along with a huge auditorium where you find all 1330 couplets displayed on stone.

A view from the road (November 2014)While the construction was made possible by then Chief Minister Kalaignar Karunanidhi, President’s rule had been declared in Tamil Nadu at the time of inauguration. The President of India, Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, came down to inaugurate it. (Thank you for the information Jayu.) I remember the hullabaloo as the whole road from before our home, all the way to Valluvar Kottam was chockablock with traffic – so rare in those days.

Another angle to the same view as above (November 2014)On my trip last week, I tried to catch a glimpse of the structure from outside and found a number of trees blocking my view. Not that I am complaining. I feel so good that the area that once housed a dump yard has given way to a lovely monument such as Valluvar Kottam with a big garden around it consisting of many plants and trees.

Jewels of Mumbai: GLOBAL PAGODA @ GORAI

Lord Buddha in front of Global Pagoda @ GoraiAccording to Global Pagoda website :

The Global Vipassana Pagoda is declared as one of the "Seven Wonders of Maharashtra" by Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) in partnership with ABP Majha, a Marathi news channel; after they reviewed 350 destinations. The results of this selection were declared on 6th June 2013. You must visit Global Vipassana Pagoda to witness the developments and its unique nature for getting selected as one of the seven wonders of the state.

Lakshmi & Ranga on the ferryI read about the Golden Global Pagoda before it was completed in 2009 and had been wanting to visit it since then. Finally, I got an opportunity to go there with my sister Lakshmi and brother-in-law Ranga last Wednesday when they had come for a visit to Mumbai.

Yours truly on the ferryWe left by car at around 11 am. Luckily, Venkat has found a driver who comes when we call and we pay him on a day-to-day basis. It took us about an hour and a half to reach the Gorai canal to catch the ferry. While it’s possible to drive directly to the entrance of the Global Pagoda, we wanted to experience the ferry ride. Tickets cost Rs. 50 per person for both ways. We waited for about 15 minutes for the ferry to fill up and left along with many people who were on their way to Water Kingdom.

From the ferryThe moment the ferry turned towards the sea, we could see the Golden Pagoda that stood majestically on the other shore. The ride lasted for about 15 minutes and we got off to walk to the Pagoda. We had to walk up a slight incline to reach the entrance. This took us about 10 minutes.

The ferry leaves after dropping usThe pictures that I have posted here will show you the grandeur of the place. It was too gorgeous for words. One has to climb up a number of steps to reach the Pagoda. There is a pillarless meditation hall that has enough space for 8,000 people to meditate at one go. Only those who have done the 10-day Vipassana Meditation Course are allowed to enter this hall to maintain sanctity. I was a mite disappointed as the place appeared so peaceful and we weren’t eligible to go inside. We just stood outside and absorbed the atmosphere.

On the way to the PagodaWe weren’t in time for the lecture and hence didn’t take part in it. We went to another A/C hall where they showed us a video of how the Pagoda came about.

Nature at its bestThe Buddhists of Myanmar (Burma) wanted to show their gratitude to Lord Buddha’s country of birth, i.e., India and hence got the idea of establishing the Pagoda here. Mumbai was lucky enough to be chosen as the right place for this. The architecture of the Pagoda leans more towards the Orient with a lot of red and gold.

Almost thereWe also visited the art gallery that houses more than a hundred lovely paintings depicting scenes from Lord Buddha’s life beginning with the strange dream his mother had when the Lord was in her womb. It took us more than half an hour to browse through the paintings.

The top of the Global PagodaWe left the gallery to see Lord Buddha’s statue that is right at the front of the Pagoda but away from the main staircase. Soaking in the beauty and taking pictures, we finally went to the food court to have sandwiches and lemonade before stepping out.

At the entranceWe walked back to the jetty but had to wait for 40 minutes before we got a ferry back to Gorai. It was an enjoyable visit indeed.

Gorgeous Burmese architectureMore info:

• Timing: 9 am to 7 pm
• No charges for entry to Global Pagoda
• Donations are welcome
• Clean toilets with water facility available
• Food Court is available
• You can reach by road as well as ferry
• BEST buses go to the Pagoda entrance
• Vipassana Meditation Courses are conducted here

The long climb up to the Pagoda
Almost there. Isn't it beautiful? Up the staircase





Entrance to Pillar-less hall


On the way down Lord Buddha in meditation Visitor's Guidelines


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Jewels of Mumbai: GLOBAL PAGODA @ GORAI

Lord Buddha in front of Global Pagoda @ GoraiAccording to Global Pagoda website :

The Global Vipassana Pagoda is declared as one of the "Seven Wonders of Maharashtra" by Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) in partnership with ABP Majha, a Marathi news channel; after they reviewed 350 destinations. The results of this selection were declared on 6th June 2013. You must visit Global Vipassana Pagoda to witness the developments and its unique nature for getting selected as one of the seven wonders of the state.

Lakshmi & Ranga on the ferryI read about the Golden Global Pagoda before it was completed in 2009 and had been wanting to visit it since then. Finally, I got an opportunity to go there with my sister Lakshmi and brother-in-law Ranga last Wednesday when they had come for a visit to Mumbai.

Yours truly on the ferryWe left by car at around 11 am. Luckily, Venkat has found a driver who comes when we call and we pay him on a day-to-day basis. It took us about an hour and a half to reach the Gorai canal to catch the ferry. While it’s possible to drive directly to the entrance of the Global Pagoda, we wanted to experience the ferry ride. Tickets cost Rs. 50 per person for both ways. We waited for about 15 minutes for the ferry to fill up and left along with many people who were on their way to Water Kingdom.

From the ferryThe moment the ferry turned towards the sea, we could see the Golden Pagoda that stood majestically on the other shore. The ride lasted for about 15 minutes and we got off to walk to the Pagoda. We had to walk up a slight incline to reach the entrance. This took us about 10 minutes.

The ferry leaves after dropping usThe pictures that I have posted here will show you the grandeur of the place. It was too gorgeous for words. One has to climb up a number of steps to reach the Pagoda. There is a pillarless meditation hall that has enough space for 8,000 people to meditate at one go. Only those who have done the 10-day Vipassana Meditation Course are allowed to enter this hall to maintain sanctity. I was a mite disappointed as the place appeared so peaceful and we weren’t eligible to go inside. We just stood outside and absorbed the atmosphere.

On the way to the PagodaWe weren’t in time for the lecture and hence didn’t take part in it. We went to another A/C hall where they showed us a video of how the Pagoda came about.

Nature at its bestThe Buddhists of Myanmar (Burma) wanted to show their gratitude to Lord Buddha’s country of birth, i.e., India and hence got the idea of establishing the Pagoda here. Mumbai was lucky enough to be chosen as the right place for this. The architecture of the Pagoda leans more towards the Orient with a lot of red and gold.

Almost thereWe also visited the art gallery that houses more than a hundred lovely paintings depicting scenes from Lord Buddha’s life beginning with the strange dream his mother had when the Lord was in her womb. It took us more than half an hour to browse through the paintings.

The top of the Global PagodaWe left the gallery to see Lord Buddha’s statue that is right at the front of the Pagoda but away from the main staircase. Soaking in the beauty and taking pictures, we finally went to the food court to have sandwiches and lemonade before stepping out.

At the entranceWe walked back to the jetty but had to wait for 40 minutes before we got a ferry back to Gorai. It was an enjoyable visit indeed.

Gorgeous Burmese architectureMore info:

• Timing: 9 am to 7 pm
• No charges for entry to Global Pagoda
• Donations are welcome
• Clean toilets with water facility available
• Food Court is available
• You can reach by road as well as ferry
• BEST buses go to the Pagoda entrance
• Vipassana Meditation Courses are conducted here

The long climb up to the Pagoda
Almost there. Isn't it beautiful? Up the staircase





Entrance to Pillar-less hall


On the way down Lord Buddha in meditation Visitor's Guidelines

Blog Tour: SCORCHED BY HIS FIRE by Reet Singh

Scorched by His Fire by  Reet Singh 



MY REVIEW
I bought a copy of Scorched By His Fire by Reet Singh at Crossword, Sion as I love reading romances, especially in the Indian setting. 
Twenty-six year old Mita lives with her mother and grandparents in Mauritius. Her uncle is keen to get her a suitable husband while she’s dead set against the idea. Her best friend is Sammy who is married to Laxmi. Laxmi is rather insecure about her husband’s relationship with Mita. That’s why her brother decides to intercede on Laxmi’s behalf. Tanay is tall, dark and handsome and meets Mita at a house party. He is extremely rude to her believing that she’s out to break his sister’s marriage. Sparks fly between the two from the first meeting. Will they get together is for  you to find out after reading the book.
The novel is written in excellent English and moves easily – beginning in Mauritius and moving on to West Bengal. 
While Mita is beautiful, she also tends to put on weight with her mom’s delicious cooking. Realistically portrayed! I liked the heroine. She’s desperate to see the world and opportunity knocks on her door when she finds a letter that takes her to India. Tanay is a private detective and also has a project in India creating the perfect setting for the two to spend more time together. 
I found Tanay quite overbearing. While that kind of suits the circumstances, I can’t imagine a modern girl putting up with a guy’s tantrums nowadays. Why would Mita tolerate his obnoxious behaviour? Is it because he is good-looking? Later, of course, he becomes his well-behaved self and we are able to accept Tanay for what he is. 
The sizzling romance between the couple along with peppy dialogues keeps the story moving and makes for an interesting read. 
I will go with 4 stars out of 5 for SCORCHED BY HIS FIRE by Reet Singh. 

The Blurb Mita Ramphul can't face another family set-up with a 'nice young man'. What she needs is to divert her family's attention so introducing the devastatingly handsome Tanay Devkumar as her new boyfriend is a stroke of brilliance. Until Tanay's scorching hot kisses threaten to shatter her plans for the perfect pretend date. 

He might drive her crazy, yet spending time with Tanay sparks a passion Mita never knew she had. It's only meant to be temporary, but when Tanay looks at her with that smoldering fire in his ebony eyes Mita can't help but surrender to the temptation of her fake boyfriend.

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Meet the Author





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.



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Meet the Creator: REET SINGH, author of Scorched By His Fire

Reet SinghWelcome to my blog Reet Singh. Your second book The Cure Was Love was released on 1st November 2014 by Mills and Boon, India. Congratulations!

Thank you so much, Sundari!

Sundari: Your first novel Scorched By His Fire happened because you won the Passions Contest held by Harlequin Mills & Boon. What was your reaction when you first learned of the result? Were you expecting it or was it a surprise?

Reet: Gosh! You've taken me back, Sundari, to one of the most exciting times of my life. This was my third Passions contest. The one that Ruchi Vasudeva and Adite Banerjie walked away with – I also participated, and read the shortlisted entries to look for clues to what worked for them. The next year was my year because all the research paid off!
After submissions closed, all I could do was twiddle my thumbs and dream. Then, without warning, I got a phone call from Mills and Boon where a very nice lady asked me if I was indeed Reet Singh. She said she had called to verify my contact details. The penny dropped then, and I just knew I had made the shortlist.
Voting began, to choose the best three stories out of five, when – again – I got a phone call asking if I was alright with public appearances. By then, I had become clairvoyant, so I knew I had made it to the top slot.
So to answer your question, it was a surprise, kind of, but I was prepared also, sort of!
Haha, I know! My brain got all jumbled up then with excitement at the possibility of becoming a Mills and Boon author, and it is scrambled now, probably forever, because the excitement is nowhere near dying away!

Sundari: That is quite a story and a super success at that. Kudos! They say that the first novel usually has traces of the author’s biography. How far does that apply to your book?

Reet: A tiny bit, I won't lie! For instance, I've been to Mauritius, so it was a natural, picturesque location for the setting of “Scorched by His Fire”; I am impulsive and passionate – as was Mita; I have a partiality – ahem – for tall, dark and handsome men, which is why Mita couldn't resist Tanay.
But that's about it. The rest is all a figment of my vivid imagination. Some of the things Mita did, I wouldn't dream of doing - like asking a veritable stranger to pretend to be my fiancé! The idea!

Sundari: Now we know. Could you please present the blurb of your novel as a tweet to my readers, in 140 characters.

Reet: Meet Mita's hot fake fiancé–can enmity in Mauritius become passion in India? #ScorchedByHisFire http://www.reetsingh.in/for-18-and-above.php

Sundari: Good one. I was going to ask you if you plan to come up with a book that has a medical background before I saw the gist of The Cure Was Love. Rudy is a surgeon from New York while Simi is a medical student. So what plans have you for your next one? Would you like to share a glimpse of it?

Reet: I could write medical romance, and maybe I will some day, but for now I'm enjoying the freedom to invent. My next one is going to be based wholly in India – my characters are getting no foreign junkets this time – specifically, I have chosen vibrant and colorful Punjab for the setting. If Mohini and Sameer behave, I might weave a short visit to Mumbai into the plot. Sundari, I might ask you for help with locations etc, you being a Mumbai Gal!

Sundari: You are most welcome! Will be glad to be of help. You have written a book for teens called The Zaken Takeover. Do you have another book planned along those lines in the near future?

Reet: I sure do! The Mystical Amitree is an adventure story. I am currently in the process of completing it; during NaNoWriMo 2014, so expect it to be available in December or January, on Amazon KDP. The story starts in Delhi and moves rapidly to Africa as Arjun, a ten year old boy, goes looking for his missing uncle.  There are all sorts of mysteries to solve on the way, and I am having great fun writing it!

That’s simply awesome Reet Singh. It was lovely having you here on Flaming Sun. I absolutely enjoyed reading your answers. I wish you all the best with all your writing (ad)ventures. Keep up the great work!