Leena Varghese's Blog, page 2
February 9, 2017
A Bittersweet Reprieve by Leena Varghese
EXCERPT
There were dark shadows where there had been laughter once. His face had hardened into an indomitable mask. A long serrated scar, the symbol of courage under fire, was carved on his temple. A thin jagged line cut across an ebony eyebrow to slink into his hairline. But such imperfections only enhanced his tough persona. And nothing could reduce the beauty of his male perfection. His body exuded raw power, an alertness that could only come from having defied Death’s intentions. His thick hair, dark and wavy, was cut short, reminiscent of his days in the Army. Unbidden images came to her mind, of her running her hands through their fuzzy, spiky, texture and the way they felt against her skin as he had laid his head against her breast. Her breath locked in her throat and she crammed down the sudden burst of memories.
Suddenly, Megha understood what had stamped the bleak lines on his face. Everything had changed about him. The cruel sneer was new. He had been a warm, compassionate person once, in spite of being short-tempered. Something had snuffed out all the bright lights in his personality leaving behind a brooding darkness.
“Perhaps it was because your father finally convinced you about dumping me?” Tej was standing in front of her now.
Instinctively sensing that she needed to protect herself from getting hurt again, she turned away.
“Don’t drag my father into this,” she replied, stiff with resentment.
“Oh, yes! Ever the loyal, devoted daughter! Maybe I should just walk out and make it easy for you to continue with that silly lover boy of yours! How much is he worth? Did your Daddy dearest pick him out for you from the exclusive club of rich, pampered brats?” Tej intoned, sarcastically.
Megha swiveled around to glare at him furiously. The movement flung the shawl away from her as her chest heaved in agitation. “How dare you insult me? You don’t know anything about Neel!” she hissed, with her hands clenched at her sides, fury blinding her. She was past caring whether she loved him or not and only wanted to lash out at him. “You dare to stake a claim on something that is not yours anymore! What if I don’t want you?”
Tej watched her with hooded eyes, dark and dangerous. Rage burned incandescent, blinding him to reason. She did not want him. Damn her! He would make her want him! His arms whipped around her in a deft movement and brought her up roughly against his hard chest. Megha was terrified of the black thunderous look on his face.
But her body instantly recognized his, acknowledging its mate joyously, coming awake as if it had been hibernating for years. A series of burning, passionate snapshots, flashed across her mind when they had made love and shared love.
Tej watched her hazel eyes dilate. He knew instinctively what she felt and his body reciprocated with a surge so powerful, and long overdue, that he had no control over it. When his eyes fell on her parted full lips, every resistance blew up in a volcano of suppressed molten heat inside him.
“You don’t want me?” he growled softly. His eyes were hooked on her mouth, his arms holding her captive, tightening around her by inches.
She winced, letting out a pained whimper as she stood crushed against his chest. His mouth descended on her in one swift predatory move that shocked her into complete stillness.
*****
BLURB:
A man who comes home from battle to find that his wife has deserted him...
A woman who thinks her husband pretended to be dead and never cared enough to return home…
Maj. Tejveer Singh is an ex-serviceman from the Indian Army, decorated for his exemplary courage. After resigning from service with near fatal wounds, he returns home to the life-altering news that his wife Megha, has disappeared. A devastated Tej comes to the painful conclusion that she has deserted him for good.
Megha has a different story to tell. The news about Tej’s ‘death’ at the hands of the enemy breaks down her emotional equilibrium. She escapes to London, far away from everything that would remind her of Tej.
Three years later, Megha, now a gourmet writer, returns to India. Life grinds to a halt again, when she comes face-to-face with Tej at a party in Mussourie.
Fired by rage and betrayal they confront each other even as unresolved issues, an unequal power equation, buried suspicions and angst from their troubled marriage hover like phantoms once more.
Both want to know the truth about the other. Pride and mistrust prevents both of them from revealing it first!
Cut off from the world for a week, they become engrossed in a utopia where neither of them talks about the past or the future.However, time is ticking by…and the potent secret between them is waiting to explode.
Will they be able to resolve the deadlock without tearing away from each other?
******
I sometimes compare Life to dandelions. They thrive until the gusts of wind blow them hither and thither, their fragile tufts carrying away potent seeds to fertile grounds of the future. So delicate, and apparently destructible, and yet in the next season they flourish into thousands of new dandelions to be blown about by the vagaries of wind, for uncountable cycle of seasons.
My third book, ‘A Bittersweet Reprieve’, is the story of Tejveer and Megha who are torn apart from each other by the vagaries of Time. Like the seeds of dandelions, the love they had once shared blooms to life the moment they are brought together again. But love is not to be trifled with or taken lightly. It brings with it its own deluge of troubles. Tej’s volatile temperament and Megha’s bitter silence had caused severe damage to their once sweet relationship.
Time changes everything and experiences define people. When they meet again, they realize that everything between them has changed irrevocably…except for the love and passion they share for each other. Inexorably, they start all over again, stumbling and falling and trying to walk together again, making positive changes as they go along.
However, an unspoken truth between them still persists…waiting to be acknowledged and accepted…And neither wishes to bring it up lest it ruin the little reprieve, a bubble in time that they have painstakingly created for themselves.
A Bittersweet Reprieve
November 28, 2016
Book Review-Arranging love, contemporary way, by Poornima Dhiman
‘The more things change, the more they remain the same,’ said the French critic and novelist, Jean-Baptiste Alfonse Karr.
This is a book for today’s youth…and of course for their mummyjis and pappajis and that pados ki auntyji who has her nose stuck firmly in your business since you attained marriageable age.
It is a realistic story about the contemporary way of fixing a marriage through online portals.
Ananya is a 30 year old, software engineer working in the US. The plot revolves around her quest for true love, her desire to live happily ever after, the heartbreak she goes through. In the process of looking for a husband, she struggles to resist the restrictive definition of her identity as viewed by the people around her. Even though her parents are liberal, she feels constantly under pressure to tow the line where marriage and love are concerned.
Written as a first person account, Ananya asks pertinent questions on the popular notions about happiness and love. The core of the story is thought provoking, giving a ringside view of the marriage market, the prejudice, greed, materialism that slowly, but effectively snuffs out a young woman’s expectations of commitment, loyalty and respect.
Ananya’s story is a common tale in our country. You would find Ananyas everywhere. Most of them are carted off without a whimper of struggle, the others resist in token protests which are drowned in the sounds of ‘band baaja’ and obnoxious dowry demands. There are a lucky few who find that elusive thing called love in the spouse chosen for them by fifty odd people from the family.
Then there are those who struggle and fight and resist until their hopes bleed to death in disillusionment, torn between dreams of a career and contented life. Most people, especially women, go through the indignity of being ‘presented’ as an object to be examined, and be judged by complete strangers. Some people do benefit through the process of sifting by the society. And some are left behind to be chosen by the others who are left behind themselves. This process of selection is the prerequisite for a traditional arranged marriage everywhere in India and other similar cultures, if any.
The contemporary way to an arranged marriage is no different, even though it is touted to be more accurate and a successful means of finding a life partner in the modern times. It may seem like the perfect solution for young people who despise oppressive traditions. But does this sweeping change result in true happiness?
The portals line-up eligible candidates according to religion, caste, colour, age, qualifications, talents, interests and all the labels required of a perfect spouse. The choices are myriad and yet when you scratch the surface a bit, the true identities emerge. Only the thick skinned should enter the game, as there are bound to be sharks in the guise of respectable gentlemen who want to ‘know you better’ before taking the plunge. Some of them have a merry roll in the hay, until the invisible hands of mummyji or pappaji or even pundit-ji pull up the strings of the puppet grooms.
What I liked was that there are no perfect solutions offered in the book. In reality there are no perfect solutions to a flawed system. The system is flawed because we are flawed as a society. There are only questions in this book. Who is your perfect partner? What is the perfect age to marry? Why are the rules different for men and women? What are the qualities required for being a perfect wife? Note, that the groom is already considered beyond perfect by his family even if he has a Pinocchio nose. Does true love really exist beyond the colour of your skin, your job profile, bank balance and social or religious background? Should one expect love from an arranged marriage? And what is the difference between healthy compromise and self-effacement?
All the men in Ananya’s life in the story deserved to be lined up and shot! That was my only problem with the plot. Just like all women are not saints, all men are not evil. Couldn’t there have been one genuine guy who was interested in her as a person? I guess, that is wishful thinking and the story wouldn’t be realistic if it didn’t end like the way it did.
Here, everything starts and ends with a painful and messy break-up. And yet, it has a happy ending! Ananya’s quest does not end in finding a groom. But she does find herself…through a lot of self analysis, turmoil and castigation. Her internal journey takes her through the path of self-realization and the true purpose of living.
The description of the rapidly mushrooming matrimonial portals is hilarious and original.
It was ironical when one of the portals asks Ananya if she wished to be a lifelong member! I was in splits at that one. The language was more like a conversation than a narrative. The editing could have been tighter. A good debut book by the author for today’s youth.
I received a review copy from the author.
This is a book for today’s youth…and of course for their mummyjis and pappajis and that pados ki auntyji who has her nose stuck firmly in your business since you attained marriageable age.
It is a realistic story about the contemporary way of fixing a marriage through online portals.
Ananya is a 30 year old, software engineer working in the US. The plot revolves around her quest for true love, her desire to live happily ever after, the heartbreak she goes through. In the process of looking for a husband, she struggles to resist the restrictive definition of her identity as viewed by the people around her. Even though her parents are liberal, she feels constantly under pressure to tow the line where marriage and love are concerned.
Written as a first person account, Ananya asks pertinent questions on the popular notions about happiness and love. The core of the story is thought provoking, giving a ringside view of the marriage market, the prejudice, greed, materialism that slowly, but effectively snuffs out a young woman’s expectations of commitment, loyalty and respect.
Ananya’s story is a common tale in our country. You would find Ananyas everywhere. Most of them are carted off without a whimper of struggle, the others resist in token protests which are drowned in the sounds of ‘band baaja’ and obnoxious dowry demands. There are a lucky few who find that elusive thing called love in the spouse chosen for them by fifty odd people from the family.
Then there are those who struggle and fight and resist until their hopes bleed to death in disillusionment, torn between dreams of a career and contented life. Most people, especially women, go through the indignity of being ‘presented’ as an object to be examined, and be judged by complete strangers. Some people do benefit through the process of sifting by the society. And some are left behind to be chosen by the others who are left behind themselves. This process of selection is the prerequisite for a traditional arranged marriage everywhere in India and other similar cultures, if any.
The contemporary way to an arranged marriage is no different, even though it is touted to be more accurate and a successful means of finding a life partner in the modern times. It may seem like the perfect solution for young people who despise oppressive traditions. But does this sweeping change result in true happiness?
The portals line-up eligible candidates according to religion, caste, colour, age, qualifications, talents, interests and all the labels required of a perfect spouse. The choices are myriad and yet when you scratch the surface a bit, the true identities emerge. Only the thick skinned should enter the game, as there are bound to be sharks in the guise of respectable gentlemen who want to ‘know you better’ before taking the plunge. Some of them have a merry roll in the hay, until the invisible hands of mummyji or pappaji or even pundit-ji pull up the strings of the puppet grooms.
What I liked was that there are no perfect solutions offered in the book. In reality there are no perfect solutions to a flawed system. The system is flawed because we are flawed as a society. There are only questions in this book. Who is your perfect partner? What is the perfect age to marry? Why are the rules different for men and women? What are the qualities required for being a perfect wife? Note, that the groom is already considered beyond perfect by his family even if he has a Pinocchio nose. Does true love really exist beyond the colour of your skin, your job profile, bank balance and social or religious background? Should one expect love from an arranged marriage? And what is the difference between healthy compromise and self-effacement?
All the men in Ananya’s life in the story deserved to be lined up and shot! That was my only problem with the plot. Just like all women are not saints, all men are not evil. Couldn’t there have been one genuine guy who was interested in her as a person? I guess, that is wishful thinking and the story wouldn’t be realistic if it didn’t end like the way it did.
Here, everything starts and ends with a painful and messy break-up. And yet, it has a happy ending! Ananya’s quest does not end in finding a groom. But she does find herself…through a lot of self analysis, turmoil and castigation. Her internal journey takes her through the path of self-realization and the true purpose of living.
The description of the rapidly mushrooming matrimonial portals is hilarious and original.
It was ironical when one of the portals asks Ananya if she wished to be a lifelong member! I was in splits at that one. The language was more like a conversation than a narrative. The editing could have been tighter. A good debut book by the author for today’s youth.
I received a review copy from the author.
October 12, 2016
Book review: The Madras Affair by Sundari Venkatraman
The Madras Affair was my first choice among Sundari Venkatraman’s books, simply because of the title! The moment I started reading the story, I was hooked because it is set in the late 90s, exactly the time I went to live in Chennai with my brand new husband. I still call it Madras in my head. The book was like a trip down the memory lane for me!
The protagonists, including the minor characters are very realistic. Sangita is the quintessential Indian woman from an orthodox family who struggles with her identity and suppressed emotions. Her family seemed real to me because people like that still do exist, especially in the smaller pockets of our society where religious and social dogmas are used as tools of suppression.
Sundari has depicted Sangita as her own greatest enemy. But then, it is true for most women who are brought up from childhood on a short leash. Like the baby elephant, reared in captivity, never realizes its own mammoth strength as it grows into an adult elephant; that it can actually break the flimsy chains with just a jerk and be free.
The scenes of domestic discord are very realistic, especially with Radha patti and Gopal. I used to know some people like that and have seen this rubbish enacted many times in reality. How ironic that women should smite down their own sisters instead of providing the much needed support and affection. Who needs enemies when we have mothers like Radha who slash at their daughters’ confidence and crush their spirit? I burst into laughter when Radha patti’s partially comical lamentations end in ‘Bhagavane’ as though she were the victim! Yes, maybe she is just as much a victim who grew avaricious to protect herself from the system.
Gautam is truly the knight in shining armour who turns up to rescue the damsel in distress. The adorable English professor knows how to woo his lady with poetic earnestness. The chemistry between them was so sweet. The yearning, the passion of young love and the blossoming of friendship was all depicted very beautifully.
We need loving grandfathers like Ganapati and kind brothers like Raghavan too.
Giridhar was horrible! Again, an honest picture of an abusive, sadistic tyrant.
I don’t know if the modern, confident women of today would identify with Sangita’s character. It is so easy for most women today to take quick decisions in both professional and personal matters without being bound by archaic social rules. But a simple, shy woman from a traditional set up with a lot of baggage would understand Sangita’s predicament better.
Sometimes there is no choice because we just don’t see them as choices, but as rebellion and sin.
It was good to see her grow into a mature woman by the end of the book and not depend completely on Gautam to define her existence.
Loved this book from start to finish! I don’t know Tamil but I would still say, Romba nalla airukke, Sundari!
The protagonists, including the minor characters are very realistic. Sangita is the quintessential Indian woman from an orthodox family who struggles with her identity and suppressed emotions. Her family seemed real to me because people like that still do exist, especially in the smaller pockets of our society where religious and social dogmas are used as tools of suppression.
Sundari has depicted Sangita as her own greatest enemy. But then, it is true for most women who are brought up from childhood on a short leash. Like the baby elephant, reared in captivity, never realizes its own mammoth strength as it grows into an adult elephant; that it can actually break the flimsy chains with just a jerk and be free.
The scenes of domestic discord are very realistic, especially with Radha patti and Gopal. I used to know some people like that and have seen this rubbish enacted many times in reality. How ironic that women should smite down their own sisters instead of providing the much needed support and affection. Who needs enemies when we have mothers like Radha who slash at their daughters’ confidence and crush their spirit? I burst into laughter when Radha patti’s partially comical lamentations end in ‘Bhagavane’ as though she were the victim! Yes, maybe she is just as much a victim who grew avaricious to protect herself from the system.
Gautam is truly the knight in shining armour who turns up to rescue the damsel in distress. The adorable English professor knows how to woo his lady with poetic earnestness. The chemistry between them was so sweet. The yearning, the passion of young love and the blossoming of friendship was all depicted very beautifully.
We need loving grandfathers like Ganapati and kind brothers like Raghavan too.
Giridhar was horrible! Again, an honest picture of an abusive, sadistic tyrant.
I don’t know if the modern, confident women of today would identify with Sangita’s character. It is so easy for most women today to take quick decisions in both professional and personal matters without being bound by archaic social rules. But a simple, shy woman from a traditional set up with a lot of baggage would understand Sangita’s predicament better.
Sometimes there is no choice because we just don’t see them as choices, but as rebellion and sin.
It was good to see her grow into a mature woman by the end of the book and not depend completely on Gautam to define her existence.
Loved this book from start to finish! I don’t know Tamil but I would still say, Romba nalla airukke, Sundari!
September 25, 2016
The Secret of the Druids by Christopher Doyle
‘I realised that people weren’t going to easily give up beliefs instilled in them through long years of indoctrination in schools, even if those beliefs were not backed by data and evidence. And it is going to be a long time before people start realising, on a large scale, that absence of evidence doesn’t mean evidence of absence.’ -The Secret of the Druids by CHRISTOPHER DOYLE
You know when a writer has done a good job with a book when you begin to wish that the events happening in the book were true or hope that they are not! Of course, opinions may differ on the true worth of a book or an author!
I have always loved historicals and science fiction. These two genres require extensive research and an academician’s aptitude, diligence and tenacity. So, it was with a lot of curiosity that I bought this book by an Indian author who writes a story, straddling centuries, across several timelines from the ancient to the modern. Picking up one event or topic is easy for any writer. But taking many threads from both fact and fiction to intertwine them successfully and create a beautiful tapestry is a master’s work! And it was worth every moment of my time spent deciphering it.
The plot- Vijay Singh and his team of investigators are hunting for an ancient divine weapon, that they discover, has links to the Mahabharata and is now buried somewhere in Britain. The story takes you on a roller coaster ride across centuries from the times of the Druids (the great men of wisdom), to many rulers from the ancient to the modern times who want to control this divine weapon to satisfy their lust for power.
The book started slowly for me, since there were so many ends to grab hold of before I could get into the pace of the mystery. Initially it was a bit vague. Several events happened simultaneously. And since the events happening were not in a linear fashion, as Doyle keeps slipping back and forth in the timeline to throw us a clue, I had to flip back the pages every few minutes to check if I had missed any. Very soon I was stopping at every page, verifying facts from fiction, checking out all the names, maps and events from BC to AD.
There is a child-like simplicity in the way Doyle tells the tale and the excitement of stumbling upon clues is contagious. He weaves a mesmeric tale here playing with multiple genres. And yet it makes perfect sense when it all comes full circle in the end.
Theme- I personally believe that every legend or myth has a grain of truth in it. It is not necessary that what we believe in is the ultimate truth, or what we do not believe in, does not exist.
World history is strewn with events that go back thousands of years. But to choose the events, cut across timelines in a credible manner, and then incorporate it into the modern day scenario is most certainly a humungous task. Especially, when the event has to be corroborated with solid data. There will always be different perspectives to the same event. The vast amount of research that goes into a historical or science fiction requires painstaking work and an ability to delve deep into a historical fact that may or may not have happened in reality but is only corroborated by what someone has reported in writing.
It was clever of Doyle to have picked up events that do have thorough proof and also those that were only myths or legends. I am sure the choice would always have veered towards what to not write, as there is always the danger of digging up controversial events or appearing foolish in tagging along after the things that were merely considered hearsay.
Doyle does a fantastic job of the fine balancing act of filling in the gaps where history is missing.
Characters-Yes, the characters are one-dimensional. At some places even the physical description of a person is rudimentary. But then it was good in a way because it would have become too complex to write about the deeper levels of interaction between people which was not the aim of the author. The people in the book are commoners doing their job without the gloss of heroism.
Here the plot is the protagonist. It took me a while to realize that Doyle was giving an aerial view to the reader. The whole book was like a map with different events happening at different places and timelines. The people did not matter. Neither the rulers nor the common man. They were just caught up in the marauding juggernaut of history. Even the most powerful emperor Caesar does not succeed, proving that power is an illusion. It can change the dynamics any time, reducing the humans involved, into merely functional or even disposable.
The Secret of the Druids when revealed in the end was explosive (literally!) and so beautiful! Logic is beautiful in its symmetry! The learning experience was enriching.
The glossary and the explanation at the end of the book were very helpful and reader-friendly. I would definitely read the rest of the series.
Highly recommend to anyone who is interested in history, mythology, science and fast-paced complex mysteries.
Source: Bought
You know when a writer has done a good job with a book when you begin to wish that the events happening in the book were true or hope that they are not! Of course, opinions may differ on the true worth of a book or an author!
I have always loved historicals and science fiction. These two genres require extensive research and an academician’s aptitude, diligence and tenacity. So, it was with a lot of curiosity that I bought this book by an Indian author who writes a story, straddling centuries, across several timelines from the ancient to the modern. Picking up one event or topic is easy for any writer. But taking many threads from both fact and fiction to intertwine them successfully and create a beautiful tapestry is a master’s work! And it was worth every moment of my time spent deciphering it.
The plot- Vijay Singh and his team of investigators are hunting for an ancient divine weapon, that they discover, has links to the Mahabharata and is now buried somewhere in Britain. The story takes you on a roller coaster ride across centuries from the times of the Druids (the great men of wisdom), to many rulers from the ancient to the modern times who want to control this divine weapon to satisfy their lust for power.
The book started slowly for me, since there were so many ends to grab hold of before I could get into the pace of the mystery. Initially it was a bit vague. Several events happened simultaneously. And since the events happening were not in a linear fashion, as Doyle keeps slipping back and forth in the timeline to throw us a clue, I had to flip back the pages every few minutes to check if I had missed any. Very soon I was stopping at every page, verifying facts from fiction, checking out all the names, maps and events from BC to AD.
There is a child-like simplicity in the way Doyle tells the tale and the excitement of stumbling upon clues is contagious. He weaves a mesmeric tale here playing with multiple genres. And yet it makes perfect sense when it all comes full circle in the end.
Theme- I personally believe that every legend or myth has a grain of truth in it. It is not necessary that what we believe in is the ultimate truth, or what we do not believe in, does not exist.
World history is strewn with events that go back thousands of years. But to choose the events, cut across timelines in a credible manner, and then incorporate it into the modern day scenario is most certainly a humungous task. Especially, when the event has to be corroborated with solid data. There will always be different perspectives to the same event. The vast amount of research that goes into a historical or science fiction requires painstaking work and an ability to delve deep into a historical fact that may or may not have happened in reality but is only corroborated by what someone has reported in writing.
It was clever of Doyle to have picked up events that do have thorough proof and also those that were only myths or legends. I am sure the choice would always have veered towards what to not write, as there is always the danger of digging up controversial events or appearing foolish in tagging along after the things that were merely considered hearsay.
Doyle does a fantastic job of the fine balancing act of filling in the gaps where history is missing.
Characters-Yes, the characters are one-dimensional. At some places even the physical description of a person is rudimentary. But then it was good in a way because it would have become too complex to write about the deeper levels of interaction between people which was not the aim of the author. The people in the book are commoners doing their job without the gloss of heroism.
Here the plot is the protagonist. It took me a while to realize that Doyle was giving an aerial view to the reader. The whole book was like a map with different events happening at different places and timelines. The people did not matter. Neither the rulers nor the common man. They were just caught up in the marauding juggernaut of history. Even the most powerful emperor Caesar does not succeed, proving that power is an illusion. It can change the dynamics any time, reducing the humans involved, into merely functional or even disposable.
The Secret of the Druids when revealed in the end was explosive (literally!) and so beautiful! Logic is beautiful in its symmetry! The learning experience was enriching.
The glossary and the explanation at the end of the book were very helpful and reader-friendly. I would definitely read the rest of the series.
Highly recommend to anyone who is interested in history, mythology, science and fast-paced complex mysteries.
Source: Bought
July 29, 2016
Introduction
Hi everyone! I am Leena Varghese. I have authored two books in the Contemporary Romance genre:-
• A Perfect Mismatch (Published by Mills & Boon / Harlequin Sep2014)
https://goo.gl/4fFoNr
• A Silver Dawn (Published by Harlequin/ Harper Collins Feb 2016) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEOy8...
Human nature is dynamic and ever-evolving! Every twist and turn in the plot of our lives brings a new dimension to our personalities. I love writing stories about the various aspects of human relationships with strong multi-dimensional characters at the helm who deal with life’s struggles with guts and determination. The underdog is always my favourite character in every story!
My stories have love, loyalty and trust and all the core values that people across generations and cultures hold in high esteem. I write about passion and intrigue intertwined with every shade in the spectrum of human emotions to make the plot interesting.
A Perfect Mismatch is my debut book for Mills & Boon. The plot is woven around Zara and Armaan who have strong volatile, angst-ridden personalities and a deep-rooted aversion for everything connected with commitment in a relationship. As the story progresses, they find themselves in a short-term marriage against their wishes. The situations that arise out of their constant battles are laced with black humour. They discover that they are inexorably attracted to each other with a searing passion which transforms ultimately into abiding love that burns away all the deeply buried angst and ego.
Although it is a simple story of two deeply unhappy people finding love, it is also about trust and loyalty and the characters’ own sense of identity. Armaan’s buried rage against his own father’s infidelity, and Zara’s illegitimacy and her ultimate discovery of self as an independent entity forms the crux of the story.
A Silver Dawn (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEOy8...) is my second and most recent book. Set in Goa, it is the story of Leon and Clary and their journey of love and fight for survival. While the enigmatic Leon, a hotelier, who was an orphan once, has reached a level of prosperity through sheer hard work, the beautiful and talented Clary has lost all her fortune in tragic circumstances and is now struggling to find a foothold in the world as a choreographer. Her broken faith in the institution of marriage makes her suspicious of all men.
Igor Chekanov, a criminal who operates in the shadows of the crime-infested dark alleys of Goa brings the element of danger and intrigue to the story when his constant stalking leads Clary to Leon’s door. Leon is the ultimate man who stands by her, protecting her dignity, providing the rock-solid support she needs.
Will Leon’s unwavering love and compassion for Clary win her over, and will Clary overcome her fears as she struggles to deal with her handicap and the danger lurking around the corner?
The climax of the story depicts a deadly game set in motion by Chekanov in which Clary and Leon are caught unawares…The only way out is through courage and faith.
Thank you
• A Perfect Mismatch (Published by Mills & Boon / Harlequin Sep2014)
https://goo.gl/4fFoNr
• A Silver Dawn (Published by Harlequin/ Harper Collins Feb 2016) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEOy8...
Human nature is dynamic and ever-evolving! Every twist and turn in the plot of our lives brings a new dimension to our personalities. I love writing stories about the various aspects of human relationships with strong multi-dimensional characters at the helm who deal with life’s struggles with guts and determination. The underdog is always my favourite character in every story!
My stories have love, loyalty and trust and all the core values that people across generations and cultures hold in high esteem. I write about passion and intrigue intertwined with every shade in the spectrum of human emotions to make the plot interesting.
A Perfect Mismatch is my debut book for Mills & Boon. The plot is woven around Zara and Armaan who have strong volatile, angst-ridden personalities and a deep-rooted aversion for everything connected with commitment in a relationship. As the story progresses, they find themselves in a short-term marriage against their wishes. The situations that arise out of their constant battles are laced with black humour. They discover that they are inexorably attracted to each other with a searing passion which transforms ultimately into abiding love that burns away all the deeply buried angst and ego.
Although it is a simple story of two deeply unhappy people finding love, it is also about trust and loyalty and the characters’ own sense of identity. Armaan’s buried rage against his own father’s infidelity, and Zara’s illegitimacy and her ultimate discovery of self as an independent entity forms the crux of the story.
A Silver Dawn (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEOy8...) is my second and most recent book. Set in Goa, it is the story of Leon and Clary and their journey of love and fight for survival. While the enigmatic Leon, a hotelier, who was an orphan once, has reached a level of prosperity through sheer hard work, the beautiful and talented Clary has lost all her fortune in tragic circumstances and is now struggling to find a foothold in the world as a choreographer. Her broken faith in the institution of marriage makes her suspicious of all men.
Igor Chekanov, a criminal who operates in the shadows of the crime-infested dark alleys of Goa brings the element of danger and intrigue to the story when his constant stalking leads Clary to Leon’s door. Leon is the ultimate man who stands by her, protecting her dignity, providing the rock-solid support she needs.
Will Leon’s unwavering love and compassion for Clary win her over, and will Clary overcome her fears as she struggles to deal with her handicap and the danger lurking around the corner?
The climax of the story depicts a deadly game set in motion by Chekanov in which Clary and Leon are caught unawares…The only way out is through courage and faith.
Thank you
