Devika Fernando's Blog, page 67

Featured - Review Tour for Siren's Call by Debbie Herbert

Welcome to my stop on the Review Tour for Siren's Call by Debbie Herbert. Come take a look at this paranormal romance with mystery, suspense, lots of drama and a sensual romance and also enter the Giveaway to win cool prizes! :)

About the Book:
Title and Author: Siren's Call by Debbie Herbert 
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Harlequin Nocturne
Publication Date: 1st June 2015
Publisher: Harlequin
Tour Dates: 30 May- 1 June 2015

Blurb:

Mermaid mythology meets Native American lore. 

She was irresistible to every man…except one 

Lily Borsage is the ultimate siren: gorgeous, aloof and irresistible to all the men in Bayou La Siryna. All of them, that is, until Nashoba Bowman comes back to town. The Native American kid whose innocent first kiss Lily remembers fondly is now all grown-up, hot as an Alabama summer—and immune to Lily's charms. What self-respecting mermaid could resist finding out more? 

But Nash has a dark history that puts any woman he loves in grave danger, and a heritage of power he isn't ready to accept. And Lily has a secret that no mortal man can ever know. When a mysterious enemy starts menacing Lily, they will both have to risk everything—and embrace their deepest destinies—if they want to survive.

*This book can be read as a standalone and has no erotic content.



~Buying Links~

 Amazon US | B&N | Kobo | Harlequin | Google Books

~Other Books by Debbie Herbert~



Buy From: Amazon US | Amazon IN


Buy From: Amazon US | Amazon IN
~About the Author~


Debbie Herbert writes paranormal romance novels reflecting her belief that love, like magic, casts its own spell of enchantment. She’s always been fascinated by magic, romance and gothic stories. 
Married and living in Alabama, she roots for the Crimson Tide football team. Unlike the mermaid characters in Siren’s Secret, and Siren’s Treasure, she loves cats and has two spoiled feline companions. When not working on her upcoming books, Debbie enjoys recumbent bicycling with her husband as well as spending time with her two adult sons. 
A past Maggie finalist in both Young Adult & Paranormal Romance, she’s a member of the Georgia Romance Writers of America. Debbie has a degree in English (Berry College, GA) and a master’s in Library Studies (University of Alabama).

Website | Twitter | Facebook fan page | Pinterest | Goodreads | Amazon author page |Google +
~Giveaway~ 1) 1 Kindle copy of Siren's Secret, Siren's Treasure and Siren's Call each (US only). 
2) 1 signed, print copy of Siren's Secret (US only). 
3) 1 digital copy - either e-pub or PDF of Siren's Secret, Siren's Treasure and Siren's Call each (Open Worldwide).
Ends 15th June.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~Tour Schedule~ Drop by these cool blogs and read their verdict of Debbie's book and Enter the Giveaway to win!
30th May Books You Read Kristin Un-Ravelle'd All About A Book Reviews Maureen's Books Njkinny's World of Books & Stuff Book'd
31st May Books and Authors Lilac Reviews Amiabooklover Devika Fernando - Author of Romance Novels Kara *the* Redhead Musings In Fiction Alley
1st June Books and Warpaint Of Words and Sentences Random$ life experiences... bus journeys... book reviews... random thoughts... !!! Eloquent Articulation My Bookshelf is yours! Obsessed by Books charline's blog and more... Koala Reading Den Through Raspberry Colored Glasses


~Hosted by~

TSU | Pinterest | FB | Twitter | Become a Tour Host

My Review
I love all kinds of mythological creatures, and mermaids are especially fascinating. There is something about their life underwater that intrigues me to no end (and spurred me to write my WIP, the paranormal romance novel “In Deep Water”). So I was overjoyed to take part in the ARC Review Tour for “Siren's Call” by Debbie Herbert.

The cover is simply gorgeous (as are her other covers), and the story is just that too, gorgeous.

At the heart of the plot is the beautiful Lily with her tempting voice that makes her a true siren. She’s determined to find true love instead of following the rules, and that simple concept is enough to leave the reader with a wealth of fascinating facts, swoonworthy scenes and imagination running wild. Lily wants the one thing – or man – she can’t have and who at first doesn’t seem to want her, but there are more layers to the story, like finding herself, fighting prejudice, battling an unknown evil, and coming to terms with the expectations of her family.

What made the story even more complex and gripping is the fact that the hero isn’t just a gorgeous hunk of an alpha male, and charismatic to boot, but a Native American with a secret of his own. Nash is hotter than hot, and I fell for him just as hard as Lily. The two knew each other before, but now everything is different. It was interesting to see how Lily portrays herself and how and who she really is deep down; something that probably rings true for a lot of young women who don’t have the siren problem. Seeing some things from Nash’s point of view helped to get the bigger picture.

I really enjoyed the modern, crisp, at times also sensual, style of the author, it fit the paranormal romance novel well. I’ll definitely read the other two books of the series!

Rating: 4/5

Featured - Blog Tour - Pandora's Prophecy by Julie Ryan

About the Book
‘Pandora’s Prophecy’ is the third in the Greek Island mystery series but can be read as a standalone although some characters from the previous books do make an appearance.

Lisa and Mark are going through a rough patch, Vicky is seventeen and has just discovered that the man she thought was her father really isn’t, Ruth is getting over her husband’s betrayal after nearly twenty-five years of marriage. On the surface they have nothing in common except that they are all staying in the same hotel on a Greek Island. As they each come into contact with the mysterious Pandora, their lives will change forever. Bodies begin to pile up as a serial killer is on the loose who might just be targeting the hotel. The Island’s Police Chief, Christos Pavlides, tries to solve the puzzle but he has problems of his own to resolve. It seems that the local celebrity author is the one who holds the key.

Jenna’s Journey www.amazon.com/dp/B00EXPDZD2

Sophia’s Secret www.amazon.com/dp/B00LFJGCWA

Pandora’s Prophecy http://amzn.to/1LeurJ7

About the Author
Julie was born and brought up in a mining village near Barnsley in South Yorkshire. She graduated with a BA (hons) in French Language and Literature from Hull University. Since then she has lived and worked as a Teacher of English as a Foreign Language in France, Greece, Poland and Thailand. She now lives in rural Gloucestershire with her husband, son and two cats, a rescue cat and a dippy cat with half a tail.  She is so passionate about books that her collection is now threatening to outgrow her house, much to her husband’s annoyance, as she can’t bear to get rid of any! They have been attempting to renovate their home for the last ten years.

She is the author of the Greek Island Mystery series, Jenna’s Journey, Sophia’s Secret and Pandora’s Prophecy, each of which can be read as a standalone. She considers Greece to be her spiritual home and visits as often as she can. This series was inspired by her desire to return to Crete although there is a strong pull to revisit the Cyclades too.

www.facebook.com/Julieryanauthor

Twitter  @julieryan18

Blogsite www.allthingsbookie.com

www.juliesworldofbooks.blogspot.co.uk



GIVEAWAY

Ecopy of the book (International)

£5 Amazon voucher (UK only)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Featured - Cover Reveal - The Breaking of Bonds by Alina Popescu

Synopsis

A human sacrifice throws vampires of two worlds, trueborn and baseborn, into an escalating conflict. One side pushes for revenge, the other for freedom. The trueborns stubbornly hunt for Anthony and Louis, pushed by Hesrah’s desire to avenge her human best friend, Alexa. The baseborns are divided between rallying with those challenging the rule of Ankhsis and obeying the trueborns.

What emerges from the portal between Earth and Ankhsis in the middle of the turmoil rocking both worlds is more dead than alive. Neither human, nor baseborn, and certainly not trueborn. This new being will either damn them all or be their race’s most powerful weapon. Will they trust it not to destroy them, or will Ankhsis decide putting it down is the only solution?

In the end, who is guilty? Who will pay? Will anyone survive its wrath?

Pre-order Links

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Y4P5C5U
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00Y4P5C5U
Amazon AU: http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00Y4P5C5U
Amazon DE: http://www.amazon.de/dp/B00Y4P5C5U

Excerpt

Hesrah was growing impatient; she wanted to return to the portal, so she decided she needed to push them to finally share their information with her.

“What is it that you have discovered that needed my immediate attention?”

Anhubis took out an envelope from the inside pocket of his jacket and threw it on the table. She reached out to it and found a few photos in it. Louis, strapped down to a chair, all bloody and beaten. Good for him!

“What is this?” she asked, looking at Anhubis from under knitted eyebrows.

“One of our baseborn friends – we still have a few of those – followed Anthony after the events in Juliana Park. He managed to send these over before being caught.”

“Do you know where he was?”

“Yes, but they are long gone.”

“Why would Anthony do this to his partner in crime?” she asked, tilting her head.

“God knows,” Anukh stepped in. “Maybe they were never partners. Maybe he found out who Louis really was.”

“Can you find them again? Or do I have to bring an Inner Sanctum squad over here?”

“Don’t you dare!” Anhubis said in a thundering voice, pointing a threatening finger at her. “The Inner Sanctum will not meddle on Earth. I will find them again.”

“Make sure you let me know the moment you do,” Hesrah said, her eyes boring into him.

“Won’t you be too busy guarding the portals, waiting for your precious human friend?”

His mocking smirk, more so than his sarcastic words, got to her and in a blink of an eye her fist raced through the air, connecting to his face. As he fell to the ground, she lunged and got on top of him, her fangs piercing the skin of his neck. Her nostrils flared at the spicy cologne he was wearing and she managed to squeeze a few drops of his blood before Anhubis threw her off of him. The fight would have surely escalated if Anukh wouldn’t have stepped in to stop them.

“Are you both crazy?” he hissed, a deep frown line marring his forehead. “Anhubis, you are the head of the High Council. Surely you can tell how ill-advised being inconsiderate towards humans is. And you, Hesrah! You are a part of the Inner Sanctum and your mother’s daughter. You should both be ashamed.”

When they moved away from each other, Anukh, with a half sad, half disgusted smile, said a hurried good-bye and left the room.

“If you ever talk about her like that, I will kill you with my bare hands,” Hesrah said through clenched teeth. To her, that was not a threat, it was a promise, and she suspected Anhubis knew it, as he nodded quickly and took a step back.

The Edge of Hope (Bad Blood I) by Alina Popescu

Everyone she loved betrayed her. She felt lost and broken. Getting away from the pain and embracing a new path, Alexa decided to leave her old life behind and chase a long forgotten dream in Malta. There she met a gorgeous man, bearing the scent of fresh love. He led her to a new city to explore, Amsterdam. Is the tall, dark, and delicious man a dream come true or just a risky gamble?

Alexa chose hope and new beginnings over fear and warning signs only to be brutally dragged into a world she never really thought existed. Vampires, their feuds, and her future held tightly in their hands.

Trapped in a mysterious world, Alexa gives love chance after chance. Following her quest of self-discovery in a blood bound world, will she survive the journey?

Ebook

Take advantage of the sale for book 1 – 99c on Amazon.

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JEBJXDQ
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00JEBJXDQ
Amazon AU: http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00JEBJXDQ

Paperback

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/The-Edge-Hope-Blood-Volume/dp/1497436303/
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Edge-Hope-Blood-Volume/dp/1497436303/
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-edge-of-hope-alina-popescu/1119064391
CreateSpace: https://www.createspace.com/4729236

About the author

Writer, traveler, and coffee addict, Alina Popescu has been in love with books all her life. She started writing when she was ten and even won awards in local competitions. She has always been drawn to sci-fi, fantasy, and the supernatural realm, which explains her deep love for vampires and is also to blame for this trilogy.

Social Links

Site & Blog: http://alina-popescu.com
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/authoralinapopescu
Twitter: http://twitter.com/alina_popescu
Instagram: http://instagram.com/alinapopescuwriter
Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/alina-popescu
Google+:  https://www.google.com/+AlinaPopescu
Amazon:  http://amazon.com/author/alinapopescu

Featured - Blog Tour - The Duelist's Seduction by Lauren Smith

The Duelist's Seduction by Lauren Smith Series: Seduction, #1Genre: Historical Romance (Regency)
Cover Designer: Fiona JaydeRelease Date: May 12, 2015


Helen Banks is going to die. When her twin brother gambles away their fortune, she must save his life and take his place in a duel to satisfy the honor of a man her brother couldn’t pay. Disguised as her brother, Helen faces the one man she’s admired from afar, a widower with a dark past and eyes that scorch her very soul.

Since Gareth Fairfax lost his wife, the darkness in his heart continues to grow. Lashing out at anyone who opposes him, Gareth is stunned to face a lovely young woman opposite his dueling pistol. After discovering Helen’s deception, he offers her a choice: become his mistress or her brother dies.

Their devil’s bargain turns into a slow, sweet, intoxicating seduction. With each passing hour, Helen uncovers Gareth’s secret heartbreak and yet she can’t help but fall for the man who has ruined her. With Helen in his arms, Gareth wonders if he might yet be saved. All it takes is one passionate embrace, a kiss from the depths of his soul and a night of wild abandon.





Gareth looked at her, her blue eyes gazing at him in pity. Did she not know what she was asking of him? Love was hard to find, hard to earn, and hard to keep. He reached up to tug one of her curls playfully, wanting to rid his mind of the thoughts she’d put there. His actions made her wrinkle her nose in disapproval. The urge to hold her was too strong to resist. He tugged her into his arms, relishing the feel of her body flush against his.

She was growing ever more receptive to his kisses. He let her mouth guide his, let her explore his chest, his arms, his back before she locked her hands around his neck. Her fingertips brushed the back of his neck and stroked his hair. He loved how quickly she opened up to him, how she let him instruct her in the ways of seduction.

The feeling of her touch on his skin made him shiver. She was a quick learner. Gareth wanted to part her legs again, like he’d done in the meadow, but the stables were no place for such an activity. Instead he teased her breasts through the fabric of her gown until he felt her grow breathless. He hardened, his groin aching with need, but he could not take her, not until she asked for him. He could have kissed and touched her for hours.

“My apologies, sir!” A groom, who’d walked into the stables, apologized profusely as he scrambled away, overturning a bucket of feed in his haste to depart.

Helen stifled an embarrassed giggle and buried her face in his chest as though to hide herself from the world. Gareth found himself laughing, too. It was a loud, rich laugh, one he hadn't made in years. What was she doing to him? In a mere matter of a day, she had turned his world upside down. She was open and honest about herself and her life. And brave. He couldn't forget that, either, the way she’d risked her life to save her brother’s knowing she would die. What woman of his acquaintance would have dared to risk her life? None that he knew. Helen was different. She was real and beautiful and so full of life. Each time he looked at her, something inside him seemed to shake off a century’s worth of dust and awaken. Being around her made him feel alive.

“Let’s get the horses ready. We should get a ride in while the day is young.” Gareth reluctantly pried her away from his chest and set about saddling the horses.

They rode at a nice canter for nearly an hour, over the meadow, down the hill, and through the neighboring lands. Gareth chuckled as Helen rode her mare through a flock of panicked sheep. They both nearly fell out of their saddles with laughter as they watched the wooly creatures bolt in all directions to avoid being trampled by her horse. The sheep gathered rebelliously into a flock several yards away, bleating melodramatically at having been attacked.

“Heavens! That was quite a ride,” Helen said as she watched the sheep shifting restlessly as her horse stomped and huffed.

“I daresay, the farmer, Mr. Pennysworth, won’t be pleased to find we've been scaring his beasts. Come, let’s away, Helen,” He chuckled and lightly tugged the reins of his horse, guiding it to turn around.

Gareth watched Helen the entire time they were out riding. He could not keep his eyes off the halo of her golden hair or the mischievous grin as she drove towards the sheep. Her little laugh was music to him, music he’d been missing for years.

Sing my little thrush, please sing to me. She was beautiful, she was perfect, and he would have to let her go. That brother of hers would eventually show up, and Gareth would have to deal with him when the time came. Damned if he knew what to do with Martin Banks. The fool might still insist on the duel, now over Helen’s honor. What a mess he was in. His eyes strayed to Helen, and her easy smile made all of the problems with his choice to have her fade. She was worth the trouble. He knew he could not keep her for long. Ambrose’s words came back to him. He was ruining her for her brother’s debts. Debts she shouldn't have to pay, and he’d destroyed all chances of her making a good match. On the field after the duel that hadn't mattered to him, in fact he’d relished the thought of hurting Banks by saddling him with a sister who would never make a match. But now…now he saw he was only hurting Helen, a brave, innocent woman who didn't deserve any of this. Yet there was no way to undo the damage he’d done.

Marriage was out of the question. He had nothing to offer her besides his name and his body, and he knew only too well that a woman like Helen would need his heart to survive a marriage. For him, it was seduction, plain and simple. He had no right to anything else. He’d lost his right to love a long time ago. God would not give him a second chance, not after blessing him with Clarissa. That sort of love, he was sure, came only once. He had his turn and lost. Helen was nothing more than a cruel reminder of what he could never have.





*Note: The Duelist's Seduction was previously released as part of the Captivated by His Kiss Anthology, which is no longer available.

Lauren Smith is an attorney by day, author by night, who pens adventurous and edgy romance stories by the light of her smart phone flashlight app. She’s a native Oklahoman who lives with her three pets: a feisty chinchilla, sophisticated cat and dapper little schnauzer. She’s won multiple awards in several romance subgenres including being an Amazon.com Breakthrough Novel Award Quarter-Finalist and a Semi-Finalist for the Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Award. Lauren loves hearing from readers and can be reached through her website www.laurensmithbooks.com.





a Rafflecopter giveaway

Featured - Blog Tour - Another Rebecca by Tracey Scott-Townsend

About the Book
On the cusp of adulthood, Rebecca Grey has no idea where her life is headed. Like many of us, she struggles to build a sustainable identity, a task made even harder by the fact that her mother is engaged in an extended breakdown and her absent father has another family to worry about. Dealing with their problems leaves little time for her own, and pretty soon, something has to give. As she toils under the weight of a tragedy that was never hers to begin with, Rebecca faces the impossible task of carving out a future for herself, all the while shadowed by the mistakes of her parents. Told with an experienced voice through the eyes of three characters.

Another Rebecca tells the story of one family’s moving inability to let go of the past, of love lost and found, and a young woman’s determination to pull herself out of disaster.


Buy Links:

AMAZON UK
AMAZON.COM
THE LAST TIME WE SAW MARION

About the Author
Tracey spends her writing time in her much-loved shed. It’s a world of her own making, like her stories. She says that stepping inside and closing the door behind her induces a feeling like the one you get in the hushed atmosphere of a church. 

She is the mother of four children, three of whom have now left home: one of them particularly far away. Still, she’s sure that Australia will provide as much inspiration for her writing as Iceland has done, (another place she was introduced to by her son). She’s really hoping to witness a full show of the Northern Lights next time she is there.

Closer to home, Tracey enjoys travelling in the bus-with-a-woodstove with her husband and their Labrador, Riley. They are always on the lookout for a scenic layby in which to sleep. Last year they spent time all over the British Isles, including the Outer Hebrides, which will be the setting for a future novel. In a few years they plan to set off on the road (by way of the sea) for an extended period of time: after all, writing can be done anywhere.


Social media links:

Website http://traceyscotttownsend.com/
Facebook Author page https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTrace
Twitter @authortrace https://twitter.com/authortrace
about.me http://about.me/traceintime
Tumblr https://www.tumblr.com/blog/authortrace
Instagram  https://instagram.com/authortrace/

GiveawayGIVEAWAY The prize will be 2 ecopies of Another Rebecca. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mother's Day Poem

Although I firmly believe that mothers should be honoured and cherished every day of the year, I decided to use this opportunity to write a poem about them. Happy Mother's Day!
MOTHERS Masters of all trades
Offerers of solace
Thinkers of deep thoughts
Healers of deep wounds
Earners of non-given rewards
Receivers of reproach
Savers of lives

Makers of a living
Openers of eyes
Teachers of survival skills
Helpers in need of help
Empresses of the household
Riders of the storm
Soothsayers par excellence

Mentors of future mothers
Organizers of chores
Tutors of good manners
Holders of hands
Enders of wars
Rulers of snacks
Silencers of doubts

Managers of everything
Oracles of truths
Tamers of lions
Heroes without names
Explainers of mysteries
Raisers of nations
Sufferers in silence

Versatile Blogger Award

I have been nominated for the VERSATILE BLOGGER AWARD by the wonderful friend and equally wonderful author Marie Lavender… quite some time ago, actually, but I was too busy with daily posts for the Blogging from A to Z Challenge to acknowledge it.

First of all, here’s a huge thank you to Marie Lavender for nominating me. I certainly enjoy her many blogs too. You can find out more about her below.
Marie Lavender
Bestselling author of UPON YOUR RETURN and 19 other books. 2014 BTS Red Carpet Review Nominee. Finalist and Runner-up in the MARSocial's Author of the Year Competition. Honorable mention in the January 2014 Reader's Choice Award. Liebster Blogger Award for 2013 and 2014. Top 50 Authors on AuthorsDB.com. Winner of the Great One Liners Contest on the Directory of Published Authors.

Marie Lavender lives in the Midwest with her family and three cats. She has been writing for over twenty years. She has more works in progress than she can count on two hands. Marie has published twenty books in the genres of historical romance, contemporary romance, romantic suspense, paranormal romance/fantasy, mystery/thriller, literary fiction and poetry. Lavender just released Second Nature, a paranormal romance/urban fantasy, in December of 2014. She released Magick & Moonlight, a romantic fantasy, back in March. Upon Your Honor, released in late April, is her second historical romance. Her current series are The Heiresses in Love Series, The Magick Series and The Blood at First Sight Series. Feel free to visit her website at http://marielavender.com/ for further information about her books and her life. Marie is also on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn.

A list of her books and pen names are as follows:

Marie Lavender: Upon Your Return; Magick & Moonlight; Upon Your Honor; Second Nature
Erica Sutherhome: Hard to Get; Memories; A Hint of Scandal; Without You; Strange Heat; Terror in the Night; Haunted; Pursuit; Perfect Game; A Touch of Dawn; Ransom; Leather and Lace
Kathryn Layne: A Misplaced Life
Heather Crouse: Express Café and Other Ramblings; Ramblings, Musings and Other Things; Soulful Ramblings and Other Worldly Things

Author Links

http://marielavender.com/
http://iloveromanceblog.wordpress.com/
http://marielavenderbooks.blogspot.com/
http://marielavender.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/marie.lavender.58
https://www.facebook.com/MarieAnnLavender
https://twitter.com/marielavender1
https://plus.google.com/u/0/+MarieLavender/posts
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/marie-lavender/27/187/10a
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6938764.Marie_Lavender
http://authorsdb.com/authors-directory/1578-marie-lavender
http://www.pw.org/content/marie_lavender
http://www.amazon.com/Marie-Lavender/e/B00C10Q94I/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJu8HjRVYCFOqcIoX6ZxdqQ/videos The Rules
The Versatile Blogger Award is given in recognition for the great commitment, diverse talents and generosity shown by bloggers here in our community. There is so much creativity on show that it is difficult to reduce a list to only a few but for those nominated it is hoped that it will motivate them as well as celebrate their work to date.

Here are the rules:

– Show the award on your blog
– Thank the person who nominated you
– Share 7 facts about yourself
– Nominate up to 15 blogs
– Link your nominees’ blogs, and let them know

7 Facts about Me
1. I write all my stories and books on the computer and all my poems with pen and paper.

2. My first book came out almost exactly one year ago. ‘When I See Your Face’ is now a free download.

3. Romance is definitely my genre. But one day I want to venture into dystopian (science fiction) and maybe even fantasy too.

4. I work as a content writer for German customers.

5. Although I love interacting on social media, I’m an introvert and a preferred loner in ‘real’ life.

6. It’s been my dream to become a writer since I started school (if you disregard the short phase during which I wanted to become a brain surgeon or an archeologist).

7. The highest word count I ever managed on one day was a little more than 10,000 words (fiction and non-fiction together).

My Nominations
I know so many wonderful bloggers, now more than ever thanks to the A to Z Challenge… and I also know how busy you all are... Anyway, here are some amazing people I nominate, in no particular order. Whether you participate or not is of course your choice. Just know that I appreciate your blog posts a lot. (And for those I forgot to mention: Sorry, I love your posts too, please feel yourselves nominated!)

1) Inderpreet Kaur Uppal

2) Ina Tales

3) Sundari Venkatraman

4) Njkinny's World of Books

5) Ruchi Singh

6) Swathi Shenoy

7) Christina Cole

8) Deepti Menon

9) Carly Compass

10) Jami Gold

11) Shanaya Tales

12) Stephanie Lennox

13) Alina Popescu

14) Liza O'Connor

15) Ananya Tales

Review - The Sheikh's Princess Bride by Annie West

I was lucky enough to win a free paperback copy of "The Sheikh's Princess Bride" by Australian author Annie West. I had read an excerpt and was already in love with the book long before it reached me through the mail. And what a wonderful read it proved to be!

Tariq is one of the hottest heroes I’ve recently stumbled upon, and I’m sure he’ll haunt my dreams for quite a while. He makes for a perfect modern-day ruler with just the right mix of regal bearing, fierce determination, power, and charisma. He practically oozes confidence without seeming cocky. At first he might come across as a bit cold and harsh, but we soon learn that the hard shell holds a soft core, and that he has his reasons for behaving how he does. It was absolutely fascinating to learn about his past, to witness his development and changes, and to fall head over heels in love with him.

Samira fascinated me just as much, and not all heroines manage to do that. I loved her hidden and not-so-hidden strength, her streak of stubbornness, and her intelligence. The way she handled Tariq’s children was heart-warming, and every single step she took made a lot of sense to me. Big kudos to the author for portraying her as a beauty with brains, and for making her so authentic and credible. She made a perfect match for Tariq, and I laughed and cried along with her.

Annie West has chosen to present the story from the point of view of both protagonists, and I think that’s the perfect choice. It made many things much clearer while at the same time intensifying the conflict and keeping me on my toes. Sometimes the book read like a movie playing out in my head, and I love it when that happens. The sensual scenes were really steamy but also very tasteful.

I had first heard about 'Sheikh romances' a couple of years ago and immediately thought that’d be my cup of tea. A dozen downloads later, though, I was bitterly disappointed. Many of the romance novels were more lust than love and more "macho alpha male makes helpless heroine swoon" than a real story with a plot. I don’t mean to go on a criticizing spree here, but I can honestly say that this book has reinstalled my faith in the genre. Now I’ll need to grab myself a copy of "The Sheikh's Harem Bride" because apparently Samira makes her first appearance in it – and because I’m definitely hooked on Annie West’s books now!

Rating: 5/5

Blogging from A to Z Challenge - Reflection Post

Reflection on the Blogging from A to Z Challenge April 2015
This is the first time that I participated in the yearly Blogging from A to Z Challenge. It sounded like fun and a great way to get more blog traffic, but at the same time I was anxious because April is usually one of my busiest months. I’m glad I took part, and I did make it all the way through the alphabet. Here’s my reflection post.

I learned quite a few things while blogging (almost) every day to write a post corresponding to one letter of the alphabet. My overall theme was LOVE because I’m after all a romance novelist, and I tried to portray all aspects of it through blog posts, poems and short stories / flash fiction. The results?
-    I realized again how complex love is.
-    Some of my commentators said I should become a marriage counselor. ;-)
-    I made some new friends.
-    I realized I haven’t lost my poetry touch, although the days are gone when I used to write a poem almost every day.
-    I got a new idea for a novel.
-    I finally wrote some vampire fiction.
All in all it’s been a really positive experience. I just wish I had more time to read the many posts by the other bloggers. I’ll definitely give it a try again next year.

My Love Alphabet
Here’s an overview of all my A to Z posts. Do you have a favourite? How was the experience for you?

A – Attraction (poem) http://www.devikafernando.com/blog/blogging-from-a-to-z-challenge-letter-a-attraction

B – Broken Heart (blog post) http://www.devikafernando.com/blog/blogging-from-a-to-z-challenge-letter-b-broken-heart

C – Crush (flash fiction) http://www.devikafernando.com/blog/blogging-from-a-to-z-challenge-letter-c-crush

D – Desire (poem) http://www.devikafernando.com/blog/blogging-from-a-to-z-challenge-letter-d-desire

E – Embrace (blog post) http://www.devikafernando.com/blog/blogging-from-a-to-z-challenge-letter-e-embrace

F – Forbidden Love (blog post) http://www.devikafernando.com/blog/blogging-from-a-to-z-challenge-letter-f-forbidden-love

G – Good Enough (blog post) http://www.devikafernando.com/blog/blogging-from-a-to-z-challenge-letter-e-embrace

H – Honesty (blog post) http://www.devikafernando.com/blog/blogging-from-a-to-z-challenge-letter-h-honesty

I – Intimacy (book excerpt) http://www.devikafernando.com/blog/blogging-from-a-to-z-challenge-letter-i-intimacy

J – Jealousy (blog post) http://www.devikafernando.com/blog/blogging-from-a-to-z-challenge-letter-j-jealousy

K – Knight in Shining Armour (poem) http://www.devikafernando.com/blog/blogging-from-a-to-z-challenge-letter-k-knight-in-shining-armour

L – Love (poem) http://www.devikafernando.com/blog/blogging-from-a-to-z-challenge-letter-l-love

M – Marriage (blog post) http://www.devikafernando.com/blog/blogging-from-a-to-z-challenge-letter-m-marriage

N – No Limits (blog post) http://www.devikafernando.com/blog/blogging-from-a-to-z-challenge-letter-n-no-limits

O – Obsession (vampire short story, part 1) http://www.devikafernando.com/blog/blogging-from-a-to-z-challenge-letter-o-obsession

P – Perfect Partner (blog post) http://www.devikafernando.com/blog/blogging-from-a-to-z-challenge-letter-p-perfect-partner

Q – Quotes (blog post) http://www.devikafernando.com/blog/blogging-from-a-to-z-challenge-letter-q-quotes

R – Romance (blog post) http://www.devikafernando.com/blog/blogging-from-a-to-z-challenge-letter-r-romance

S – Soul Mate (vampire short story, part 2) http://www.devikafernando.com/blog/blogging-from-a-to-z-challenge-letter-s-soul-mate

T – True Love (poem) http://www.devikafernando.com/blog/blogging-from-a-to-z-challenge-letter-t-true-love

U – Unrequited Love (blog post) http://www.devikafernando.com/blog/blogging-from-a-to-z-challenge-letter-u-unrequited-love

V – Vow (poem) http://www.devikafernando.com/blog/blogging-from-a-to-z-challenge-letter-v-vow

W – Wedding (book excerpt) http://www.devikafernando.com/blog/blogging-from-a-to-z-challenge-letter-w-wedding

X – Xtra Effort (blog post) http://www.devikafernando.com/blog/blogging-from-a-to-z-challenge-letter-x-xtra

Y – Yearning (vampire short story, part 3) http://www.devikafernando.com/blog/blogging-from-a-to-z-challenge-letter-y-yearning

Z – Zing (blog post) http://www.devikafernando.com/blog/blogging-from-a-to-z-challenge-letter-z-zing

Celebrating Vesak in Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan Buddhists celebrate the religious festival of Vesak every year in May. Many consider it a festival of light(s), and it is, in the literal and figurative sense.

Why do Sri Lankans celebrate Vesak?

Some people see the festival of Wesak / Vesak / Vesakha as some sort of birthday celebration for Lord Buddha, but that is only partly true. The full moon day in the month of May stands for Lord Buddha’s birth, his enlightenment and his great passing away into Nirvana (more bluntly and wrongly: his death). The name stems from the fact that the commemoration always falls on the month of Vaisakha in the lunar calendar of the Buddhists. While Vesak is sometimes internationally called Buddha Day, Sri Lankans use the term “Vesak Full Moon Poya Day”. Each full-moon day of the year is also a poya day, a Buddhist holiday reserved for religious observances.

How is Vesak celebrated in Sri Lanka?

Vesak is not only about celebrating Lord Buddha, his life and his teachings, but also about spreading kindness and happiness and bringing some light into the dark. Hence, giving alms is closely linked to the Vesak celebrations in Sri Lanka. In most villages and in all cities, people will get together to cook huge meals and erect tents where everyone can sit down and eat their fill. This is called a dansala, and it takes place on the actual holiday as well as afterwards. More often than not, Sri Lankans will refrain from cooking at home on those days and don’t mind coming a long way and waiting in endless queues to receive their share. Some people offer free meals with rice and curries, others offer roasted or boiled snacks, yet others hand over tea cups, soup, Maggie noodles or ice-cream to every passer-by on foot or in a vehicle. It is also possible to offer other things for free, like a service (car wash e. g.) or non-food items like petrol. All meals have to be vegetarian. In tune with that, the week reserved for Vesak usually sees a ban on selling alcohol and fresh meat.

Religious observances play an important role too. Many Sri Lankans go to the temple, offer alms or donate money. Television and radio focus on religious themes, especially on the story of Lord Buddha’s life and also on historical dramas and Indian as well as Sri Lankan royalty. Around town, children or adults in special trucks or on daises and stages will sing devotional songs in the evening.

Feast your eyes on light, colours and splendor

So why is Vesak also deemed the Festival of Lights for Buddhists? Because it is customary to light the house with small colourful bulbs on a string, much like Christians do it during Christmas. People also make and buy intricately designed Vesak lanterns and ‘buckets’ to decorate their home and garden. On the streets you will find huge pandols – the Sinhalese term for this is thorana – that depict a scene / story from the 550 Jataka Katha that pay homage to Lord Buddha’s past life. On the evening of Vesak as well as on the evening of the following day (also a public holiday), people throng the streets to look at everyone’s decorations, enjoy free treats at the numerous food stalls, and gape at the beautiful pandols / pandals.

I’m sharing some of my own photos to illustrate what I just described (read the captions to know what is what).

Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy Vesak decoration in Colombo elaborate Vesak kuuduwa (bucket-like lantern) self-made Vesak bucket self-made Vesak bucket singing devotional songs (bhakti gee) decorated buildings in Kandy Mesmerizing pandal