Ekta R. Garg's Blog, page 91

Book review now up!

Hello, Write Edge readers! I’ve posted my latest book review for you. Today I share my thoughts on Star-Touched Stories by fantasy author Roshani Chokshi. Here’s the opening to my review:

Death and Night take on human form as they learn to love one another. A woman granted a wish loses her self-confidence as she navigates a world unknown to her. A queen and king, on the night before their wedding, engage in the greatest challenge to their union. Author Roshani Chokshi brings back characters readers will recognize in Star-Touched Stories, a triad of novellas almost too sumptuous for consumption.

Read the full review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

Have a great day, readers!

E.R.G.

“And now back to our program…”

Hello, Write Edge readers! It feels so good to be able to say that after so long. Our family had a wonderful, albeit incredibly busy, summer, and I missed writing and spending time here online with all of you. I’m happy to be back!

In the weeks to come, you’ll probably notice a few minor changes around The Write Edge universe. If being away from the site meant I couldn’t interact with all of you regularly, it did mean I could think a little bit about how to make The Write Edge better. One of those minor changes comes right now. Instead of posting the weekly motivational quotes on a separate page, I’ll be posting them right here. So here’s this week’s little gem of inspiration for whatever goals you’re pursuing at the moment:

“Don’t run after success. Run after excellence. Success won’t have a choice but to come after you.” — Aamir Khan in the Hindi film “3 Idiots”

As always, you can find old quotes on “A Writer’s Heartbeats.”

It’s the last Monday of the month, the day I share space with other writers in my support of them. Today’s showcase offers a variety of pieces: some life advice, some writing advice, and two enjoyable pieces of fiction. Find it all know on The Write Edge Writing Workshop!

Last week I mentioned that I did a lot of reading this summer, and that continues to be the case. This Wednesday I’ll share my thoughts on a new book that released in the beginning of this month. Come back to The Write Edge Bookshelf to find out what I thought about Star-Touched Stories by Roshani Chokshi.

On Friday it’s back to my parenting adventures. With two summer birthdays, my girls are a year old and so am I. So are my parenting chops. Come back at the end of the week to see the latest with all of that on Growth Chart.

I realize earlier this year I changed the format of the blog a little bit where I posted all of a week’s content in one day. I’m still debating whether I like that format or this one better. Either way — I hope you enjoy what I’m sharing. I know I’m definitely enjoying being back!

Have a great week, readers!

E.R.G.

Mini reviews posted!

Good morning, Write Edge readers! Today I’ve posted mini reviews, quick looks at some books this summer that I didn’t think warranted a full review. There’s a good mix of genres, so do check them out.

I’ll admit, this is kind of cheating, not doing full reviews. I do read many books a year, and once in a while I’ll read something and not review it for any one of a dozen reasons: I didn’t like it AT ALL; I liked it, but it came out so long ago that it seems like a review would feel just as out of date; I had no strong feelings in any capacity; or, sometimes, I enjoy just reading a book as a reader again, without the responsibility of a review.

In wanting to ease back into blogging, however, I thought it would be nice if you got a glimpse into my summer when I wasn’t reading in a professional capacity or even writing. Hence the mini reviews. Each is about 100 words long.

Find them all now on The Write Edge Bookshelf, and have a great weekend, readers. See you back here, bright and early Monday morning, with new content and updates on the summer. Until then!

E.R.G.

Second review of the week now up!

Good morning, Write Edge readers! I hope you’ve been enjoying the bonus book reviews last week and this week. Today I’ve got a review of a book that came out last year but that I just discovered earlier this month. Gail Honeyman’s first book, Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, caught my eye. Here’s the opening to my review:

A single woman discovers her own loneliness after meeting a rising rock star, losing access to her computer, and accidentally helping an elderly person…all within a week. As these life events begin to converge, the woman will realize that not only is she lonely but she also has the means to cure that loneliness. Debut novelist Gail Honeyman delivers a powerful story with both humor and tears guaranteed in the soulful novel Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine.

Read the whole review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

Have a fantastic day, readers!

E.R.G.

Reviews and mini reviews this week!

Good morning, Write Edge readers, and happy Monday once again! This week I’m continuing to find my way back into my blogging routine by posting new book reviews instead of our full-fledged content. That’s coming next week, along with full-fledged updates of all I’ve done this summer, so don’t miss it!

This week I have two full reviews and some mini reviews on Friday. What are mini reviews? Come back at the end of the week to find out. :>

Today I share my thoughts on the children’s book The Language of Spells by Garret Weyr. Here’s the opening to my review:

A girl and a dragon team up to save other dragons who have been imprisoned. During their quest they become best friends and explore various locations in Europe, all with an evil sorcerer hunting them. Author Garret Weyr misses the mark by a wide margin in the dragging novel The Language of Spells.

Read the full review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

Have a fantastic week, readers!

E.R.G.

Third (and last) review of the week now up!

Happy Friday, Write Edge readers! I’ve posted my third review for this week. This summer I read a few books by debut authors, and Libby Page is one of them. Her book, The Lido, came out last month. Here’s the opening to my review:

Two women come together for a common cause and form a deep friendship despite the difference in their ages. One enjoys the memories of her past; the other wants to find her future. Both women will find a measure of comfort in the relationship they share in the present even as they fight to save something they love. Author Libby Page charms readers and will leave them smiling with her debut novel The Lido.

Read the whole review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

See you back here next week, readers, with new reviews. Have a great weekend, and stay safe!

E.R.G.

Second review for this week!

Good morning, Write Edge readers! As promised, I have another review for you. Today I share what I thought about Us Against You by Fredrik Backman, the sequel to his novel, Beartown. Here’s the opening to my review:

The residents of a small town must fight their egos and their loyalties to get past one of the biggest scandals in generations. As their local hockey team, the town’s only saving grace, prepares for the new season, people find new friends and disregard old ones as they decide individually and as a community where to draw the line between right and wrong. In his sequel to his previous novel, Beartown, author Fredrik Backman brings back beloved characters and continues a heart-wrenching story in the slow to start but excellent book Us Against You.

Find the full review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

Have a great day, readers!

E.R.G.

Back from summer vacation!

Good morning, Write Edge readers! I’ve finally returned from my summer hiatus. I didn’t expect it to last this long, and I missed writing for all of you. I’m glad to be back now.

Although, in the interest of full disclosure, I’m not back to our routine yet. I am going to post book reviews this week and next, to help me get back in the swing of things. We’re finishing up the last couple of weeks of summer break before school starts, so I’m pacing myself and easing back into the blogging world.

In lieu of regular posts, I’m offering you book reviews — several of them. Five full reviews, to be exact, with some mini reviews. What are mini reviews, you might ask? Come back next week to find out!

Meanwhile, I’ve got the first review already lined up for you. Early this summer readers got their hands on the newest B.A. Paris release; her latest thriller, called Bring Me Back, came my way as an Advanced Reviewer Copy. Here’s the opening to my review:

After recovering from the disappearance of the woman he loved, a man begins to receive messages that indicate she might have returned. The man is trying to move on with his life but becomes more and more convinced that someone has other plans. Author B.A. Paris returns with another thriller that will leave readers unsatisfied and shaking their heads in dismay with Bring Me Back.

Read the full review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

I’ll be back on Wednesday with another review. Enjoy these last few weeks of summer fun. See you soon!

E.R.G.

Hiatus

Hello, Write Edge readers! Life is zipping along here, and I find it necessary to take a little hiatus from the blog. I’ll be back in the coming weeks with more short stories, book reviews, and parenting adventures, however. Enjoy this first part of the summer, everyone!

E.R.G.

Almost to summer!

Hello, Write Edge readers! We’re almost to summer. In fact, today is the kids’ penultimate day of school. While having them home for a couple of months certainly poses a challenge for my writing and editing, conversely I appreciate the relaxed schedule. For the most part, then, we’re all looking forward to vacation.

It’s no vacation around here, though, from our regular schedule! I’ve posted my latest short fiction for you, and I had a lot of fun with this one. The prompt made me a think of our neighbor, a semi-retired professional landscaper. Here’s a quick excerpt:

“Turn around,” I hissed. My cheeks got hot, but I grinned. The weather didn’t really warrant Gerald taking his shirt off, but I certainly appreciated that he did.

Read the whole story now on The Write Edge Writing Workshop!

It’s another week and another book review. This week I share my thoughts on the debut novel The Glitch by author Elisabeth Cohen. Check out the opening paragraph to my review:

A high-powered executive at a critical career juncture meets a young woman claiming to be her younger self. What follows is a series of events that makes the executive question everything she thought she knew about her identity. Author Elisabeth Cohen offers readers a powerful protagonist in a lackluster story in her debut The Glitch.

Find the whole review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

Lastly, this week’s parenting adventures. Regular readers know how much my younger child loves animals. Want to find out just how much? Read the excerpt:

“Leukemia,” Eleven replied, “in cats.”

“Where did you hear about those things?”

“In Animal Inn,” Nine explained. “There’s this dog that comes into Val’s dad’s clinic…”

And like that, we were back to the books and wishing they were real.

Get the whole post now on Growth Chart!

Have a great day and week, readers!

E.R.G.