30 April, 2014

#TourSchedule :: Starcursed by Nandini Bajpai

In the ancient city of Ujjayani, the planets align to decide the fate of two starcursed lovers. Born under the curse of Mars, brilliant and beautiful Leelavati, daughter of the famed astronomer Bhaskarya Acharya of Ujjayani, knows she can never wed. But when her childhood playmate, the handsome and rich Rahul Nagarseth, returns from sea, their attraction is rekindled under stormy monsoon skies. As Leela, forced by fate to relinquish Rahul, tries to find solace in teaching at her fathers observatory, a fleeting alignment of the stars is discovered that can help overcome her curse. But Rahul is called away on a war to defend his kingdom. Can he return in time or will she lose him forever to the will of the planets?

Set in turbulent twelfth century India, against the backdrop of the savage wars waged by Muhammad of Ghor and his band of Turkis, Starcursed is a sweeping tale of science, romance and adventure that will transport its readers to another world.


An Excerpt:

I didn’t stop running until I reached the lotus tank. The temple shone in the distance, its lights shimmering on the mirror of the water, music and laughter wafting from its crowded halls with every gust of wind. The lamp tower soared above me, quiet, inviting, deserted. I pushed open its heavy door and started to climb.
High up in the tower the sounds from the temple faded, leaving only the echo of my footsteps, and the tinkling of my silver anklets as I climbed. The steep, curved staircase could be treacherous in the dark, but tonight every niche in the tower was lit up in honour of the festival. I pushed the door open at the top and walked to the railing. There was someone there.
The clear night sky ablaze with stars framed his lithe form. His face looked serious in the glow of a single flickering lamp. I could see that the tender light of the other day still shone in his eyes—Rahul.
He’d been waiting. 
My mind went blank. I was breathless from the exertion of the steep climb and shocked at finding him there. How had he known where to find me? Perhaps he knew I would try to avoid him, and guessed I might be here.
‘Leela,’ he said, coming towards me. ‘I beg leave to speak with you.’
I looked away, trying to think of a way to stall his words.
‘I’ve wanted to thank you,’ I said, buying time, ‘for saving Loky.’
He would not be distracted.  ‘I came to see you,’ he said. ‘But you weren’t home. I sent a message through Loky, but you didn’t reply.’
I couldn’t deny it.
‘I don’t know if you are avoiding me of your own will or if you were compelled to do so…’ He took both my hands in his. ‘We started something on board that ship,’ he said, ‘and I’m determined to finish it. I can’t go away like this, not knowing.’ 
My lungs were burning before I realized I had forgotten to breathe.
A hand under my chin lifted my face to his ardent gaze. ‘You know how I feel, Leela,’ he said, ‘but do you return my affection?’
His question hung in the air unanswered.
Behind Rahul, the red glare of Mars winked at me like an evil eye, holding my tongue fast. But even its malevolent shadow could not stop my heart from pounding, yes, yes, yes.
Far below I could hear the maid panting loudly as she climbed up the stairs. Still he waited.
‘I know it’s a fine mess, with my betrothal, and you being a Brahmin and me a Vaishya, and a Jain, and a mleccha,’ he said. ‘But if it doesn’t matter to you, Leela, I promise I’ll find a way. Just say the word...’
None of that mattered. What mattered was Rahul. How could I put him in danger?
‘Shall I ask my father to speak with your Baba?’ he looked into my eyes and said, so softly I could barely hear him.
‘No!’
The word burst from my lips before I could stop it, stunning us both. I pulled my hand away and covered my lips, but it was too late.
He looked stricken.
‘Leela…’ he said, ‘you can’t mean it.’
I shook my head silently.
The maid had finally reached the door. She saw Rahul there and glared at him, but he was still staring at me disbelievingly.
 ‘In that case,’ he said at last, in a voice that broke my heart, ‘I apologize for… any misunderstanding.’ He bowed stiffly, ‘I wish you every happiness. Always,’ he added. And then he left, taking all hopes of my happiness with him.
‘Rahul,’ I whispered, but he was gone.
But I couldn’t shake off the look on his face when I had said ‘no’. I had to stop him, I had to explain. I paced back and forth on the narrow space on the observation deck. But how could I? Should I even try?
I stopped and smoothed a piece of birch bark I had carried for my notes under the light of the lamp. With my iron stylus I drew a rectangle and divided it with diagonal lines into twelve diamonds. Within them I wrote the names of the planets in the positions they had been in when I was born. I dipped my finger into the black ink, rubbed it over the bark, and then wiped away the ink so the lines stood out stark, etched against the bark. I handed my star chart to the maid.
‘Find him and give him this,’ I said. ‘Go quickly.’
‘Give who?’ she asked.
‘Rahul Nagarseth,’ I said. ‘Please, I beg you.’
She studied the desperation on my face for a moment, and left quickly.
I settled down on the cotton mat on the tower and started to write the observations, my hands shaking. Would Rahul be able to analyse the chart and realize my dilemma? I wanted him to understand, but what purpose would be served by telling him, when there was nothing he could do? My stars were what they were. I should not have sent it.
The maid came back soon enough, with the news that she had not been able to find Rahul. Did I want it delivered the next day?  I did not.
I had refused him; that was all he knew. He would probably go ahead with his engagement now. I tore the bark up silently and threw the tiny scraps from the edge of tower, watching them float slowly down to the crowds below while the conches blew and the temple bells rang, signalling that Krishna had been born.

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About The Author:

Nandini Bajpai grew up in New Delhi, India, one of four sisters and many cousins, in a family that liked to read. Although she dabbled in corporate finance, business analysis, and fostering shelter animals, her first love is writing. Her novel Red Turban White Horse: My Sister's Hurricane Wedding was published in 2013 by Scholastic India.  She lives in the Boston area with her husband, kids, their dog Yogi and cat Rakhan.

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Tour Schedule

26th May
A'ishah @ Inksugar

27th May
Namrata @ Redpillows
Victoria Deal Sharing Aunt

28th May
Stephanie @ 100 Pages a Day
Nicole Hewitt Feed Your Fiction Addiction

29th May
Maniparna @ Scattered Thoughts

30th May

29 April, 2014

#SpecialFeature :: Interview with #Author Howard Roark

Now Presenting:
*** SPECIAL FEATURE - April'14 ***

Interview With the Author

Tell us a bit about ‘Howard Roark’ at home :)
He’s a lazy, happy-go-lucky person who takes life easy; a nocturnal being; someone who likes to be of domestic help and gets to do it sometimes too, but is not bothered by his folks with too much of it. Generally a person who thinks the best vacation starts and ends at home, he wakes up late on weekends and loves to delve into the world of Internet. Sundays, in the evening, he enjoys his cricket on the street with friends and banter afterwards.

Now tell us a bit about ‘Howard Roark’, the Author
A person bent on quality, he gives importance to grammar and priority to strength in character more than strength in numbers. An introverted person, who likes to work late into the quiet of the night. A person who enjoys writing for the sheer pleasure of bringing known words together to invent something new. Nothing excites him more than to write pithy sentences that touch the heart or nail the head. Brevity is gold!

Tell us your experience of writing ‘Newton’s Law Reversed’
Newton’s Law Reversed was meant only to be a short story, at first. After writing 15000 words in two weeks, it dawned on me that it had potential to be something bigger, as I started to fall in love with the characters that shaped up. I then worked on an outline, wrote it, re-wrote it and then completely redefined it, to set scenes that I later expanded on. And, it’s not an individual’s effort as it might appear. I collaborated with Ragu, my friend for the cover design and Divya, another friend who did the surreal sketches in the book that added form to the words. I see divine grace in this effort, since in retrospect, I don’t think I could have come up with that writing. Or call it first-timer’s luck!

Do you have some unpublished work that’s lying in some old box or unopened drawers?  
Yes, I have, lying in my laptop under the folder ‘Backup’, a few short stories, which I’m planning to have published in the near future.

From conceiving an idea to marketing the book – it’s a long process. Which part of it did you enjoy the most?
The parts I liked most are: Writing and listening to feedback. There’s no joy equal to knowing you have a potential, and to have it corroborated by others is double that much.

When you write, do you get into the character and decide the course of events or do you shape them as the plot requires them to be?
I’d prefer to have a character etched (sometimes even defined in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet) before I venture into the events that define them. However, there are times when a scene brings in so much novelty that you don’t mind tweaking the character to get more laughs/smiles out of it.

Have any of your characters inherited your personal quirks? If yes, then who and which trait?
Akash is as forgetful as me, Ganga is as ‘in the moment’ as me, and Ganesan is as ‘dwelling in the past’ as me.

All writers are readers first! So who are your favourite authors and what are some of your all-time favourite books?  
I fed on the usual James Hadley Chases, Alastair MacLeans and Jeffrey Archers early on, but it was only much later I got satiated, when I read ‘The Fountainhead’, which deeply affected me, and needless to say, gifted me my nom de plume too. Over the years, the authors who inspired and influenced me are: Ayn Rand (obviously), JD Salinger, Jerome K Jerome, Harper Lee and Upamanyu Chatterjee. My favourite books are: The Fountainhead, To kill a Mockinbird, Bridges of Madison County and English August.

Do you think your favourite authors have influenced your style of writing?
Yes, they have. I feel that soon after reading a book, if I start writing, there’s a high chance that I’d write in the same style, provided I understand what was written, of course (I once picked up a Virginia Woolf book and couldn’t get past the first three pages, for the simple fact that I didn’t understand a thing!). In that manner, some of the styles of my favourite authors have rubbed off on me. However, I can’t qualify what I scrounged from where.

There is always ‘someone’ who doesn’t like your book. How do you handle it?
Yes, I have come across some such reviews as well. I appreciate and welcome such criticisms as long as they make common sense. Spelling/Grammatical errors are the highest form of errors, in my opinion, in written art. If such mistakes are pointed out, I’d be delighted. If there are logical errors in the story, as to the time, place or the occurrence of something, then I’d be glad to receive such feedback. However, any other fault comes under the gamut of ‘art’, where can anything be wrong? If people say my book is boring or that it’s too flat, I’d smile and move on, since that’s their opinion and they are entitled to it.

Some rapid fire questions:
Your favourite movie: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Your favourite genre of Music: Classic Rock
Your favourite Cuisine: Indian
Your first celebrity Crush: Asha Parekh
Top thing on your Bucket List: Attain birthlessness

What would you like to say to the people who haven’t read your book yet but are contemplating on whether to pick it up or not?
While one could tell a lot from the look and smell of a pudding, the real evaluation is in its tasting. So, if you see the book in a store, pick it up, flip through its pages and read a bit. If you are a book lover, I’m hopeful that this book won’t disappoint you.


Giveaway
3 Paperback copies of the book is up for grabs for the Residents of India, Usa and UK. Enter the Rafflecopter below to try your luck

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28 April, 2014

#Spotlight :: Dead Girl Walking by Ruth Silver

DEAD GIRL WALKING by Ruth Silver
a Young Adult Paranormal Adventure
published by Patchwork Press
Dead Girl Walking
Forget everything you know about grim reapers.
Princess Ophelia Dacre sneaks out of the castle to visit her boyfriend in secret. A perfect night cut short when she’s brutally murdered.
Ophelia is given the rare chance to become a grim reaper. She must become Leila Bele, cut ties with her old life, and follow the rules of the reapers. Her greatest adventure begins with death.
Excerpt
Forget everything you know about grim reapers, Ophelia. Humans have it wrong. It’s easier to believe in angels and demons, than to see what’s right in front of you. Who wants to believe the undead walk among us with beating hearts? It would frighten humans. It would probably send many to their graves faster,” Edon said.
Ruth Silver author photo
About the Author: Ruth Silver is the best-selling author of ABERRANT, a young adult dystopian adventure series published by Patchwork Press and Lazy Day Publishing. Silver attended Northern Illinois University and graduated with a Bachelor's in Communication in the spring of 2005. While in college, she spent much of her free time writing with friends she met online and penning her first novel, Deuces are Wild, which she self-published in 2004. Her love of writing led her on an adventure in 2007 to Melbourne, Australia. Silver enjoys reading, photography, traveling and most of all writing. She loves dystopian, paranormal, and fantasy young adult stories. Ruth has been actively writing since she was a teenager. She currently resides in Plainfield, Illinois.

26 April, 2014

#BookReview :: The Crossover Year by Bhargavi Balachandran

Meet Sri Anuprabha, aka Anu, a twenty-nine year-old banker who is terrified of entering her thirties. She dreams of quitting her job at the bank, sporting yoga pants and traipsing around the world. Her world turns upside down when things go awry and she is faced with the prospect of spending her days watching Tamil serials. She comes up with a five-point plan for reclaiming her life back before she hits the big 30. But things are never as simple as drawing up a flowchart in real life, are they? Especially with a ghastly recession rearing its ugly head…. Anu bumbles through the corridors of domesticity and travels on a funfilled roller coaster ride in a bid to discover her passion in life.Along the way, she meets new people, experiences crazy new things and learns some hard lessons in marriage, friendship, parenting and life. The Crossover Year is a funny, yet heartwarming story of a woman in search of her identity, and a chronicle of her hilarious quest for discovering her inner mojo. Bring out a platter of cookies and a steaming mug of chai, and join Anu on the ride of her lifetime.



The Crossover Year takes us on a roller coaster journey that is the life of a 29 year old modern lady. Anu, a banker by profession and she is dangerously close to hitting the dreaded thirty. We take a good look at her life as she struggles to handle various aspects of her life, namely – Work and Marriage. Like in the real world, Anu’s life isn’t perfect and as things start to go very wrong, Anu fights to get her life back on track.

Anu is a very relatable character. As a thirty something woman myself, I could feel that Anu’s story could have very well been my own. The different shades of a woman have been captured well in this book through Anu and I would like to give a special kudos to the author for that. There are various other characters that enter Anu’s life and lend colour to the story. Her husband Mukund is a true partner in terms of a husband and also as a supporting cast to her role. Well developed and very real characters always manage to elevate the quality of a story. 


The plot on the other hand, while not so unique or ‘ohmygod’ sort, is something that delivers entertainment to its readers. The author’s style of narration is very descriptive and I loved that fact as the story practically painted pictures in my mind as I read it. Touch of romance and a dash of humour added special flavor to the story.


All in all, this was a fun read that occupied my mind and a couple of hours. Recommend it to Chic-lit lovers.





About the Author

I am a part-time writer,a part-time entrepreneur  and a full time mom.

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Giveaway
1 Copy of The Crossover Year by Bhargavi Balachandran. Open to Indian Residents only



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25 April, 2014

#BookReview :: Naked Determination,41 Stories About Overcoming Fear by Gisela Hausmann


Discover this author's 41 most exciting and inspiring adventures...
If you liked the "Chicken Soup" series you'll love this life skills book. 
41 Stories about: 
#TRUST #ESSENTIALs #TIMING 
#SMILING #SHRINK #GUTS 
#AFFAIRS #SEX #LOVE #RED_SHOES
#PROFESSIONAL_LIFE #EMAILS #MONEY 
#FINANCIAL_DISCIPLINE #ELECTRIC_ENERGY 
#REJECTION #PROBLEMS #FUTURE #TREES #HOPE






Now, I am not much of a non-fiction reader but what attracted me to this book, and can also be said to be the USP of it, is the fact that the author has narrated incidents from her own life. 

From losing her husband early to losing her job during recession to handling a bully, Gisela has seen and faced a lot in her life. As she tells us stories from different chapters of her life, she leaves us with a message that she learned and ones that we can learn from her life. Gisela has dreamt the dreams and the gone ahead to do what it takes to make those dreams come true. She did not back out when times got hard or when there seemed to be too many hurdles across her path. To move ahead and to take things in her stride as she moved forward on the path to success, Gisela has done a good job.

The stories are told simply as if the author was narrating it to someone sitting across from her. Highly unpretentious and not even a little bit preachy, these stories will strike a chord in your heart and maybe, just maybe, you will decide to take the lesson away with you. Being a 31 year old Indian, my background is very different from the author’s yet I had a sense of déjà vu while reading the stories as if she was telling me my story or that of someone I know closely. That is the best part of this book – the author narrates reality instead of some fictional stories and as such readers can connect to them better than those we read at moral science class at school.

Overall, this is a fast read even if it isn’t such a light one. Give it a try…



24 April, 2014

#CoverReveal :: Bollywood Fiance for a Day by Ruchi Vasudeva

Cover Reveal for Harlequin Digital version of Bollywood Fiance for a Day by Ruchi Vasudeva to be published in North America


The man of her Bollywood dreams. 

Winning the chance to meet the ultimate Bollywood heart-throb, Zaheer Saxena, is just what Vishakha needs to take her mind off her recent humiliation—being jilted the week before her wedding! And when gorgeous Zaheer offers to be her fake fiancé, the chance to save face with her family is just too tempting… 

It’s a deal that benefits them both—Zaheer is warding off any unwanted female attention until his next film is finished—but can Vishakha trust herself not to hope that her dream fiancé for a day will be her forever man? 

To be published in North America on June 2, 2014

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About the Author
Ruchi Vasudeva is a doctor by profession, a teacher by vocation and, in her own words, an author by destiny. The writing bug has long resided in her and a contest held by Harlequin for Indian authors gave her a golden opportunity to have her dream realized. She debuted in August '13 with her book 'Bollywood Fiancé For A Day'. Her new release 'You Can't Fight A Royal Attraction' is her second book, both being published by Harlequin. She also won a contest for getting a short story published with Harper Collins which will be published in December. She writes romantic fiction with conflicted characters who come into their own in their quest of reaching out for love. She loves to write about spirited heroines getting hurtled out of their daily life as soon as they cross paths with their rather challenging heroes.
She lives with her husband and two kids. When not bent double over the laptop, she might be found with her nose in books or munching nachos at the movies or glued to the telecast of Team India or Chennai Super Kings in action! She likes to take long walks which help in brewing story ideas. 

Stalk the Author

23 April, 2014

#NewRelease under #Spotlight :: Whole Latte Love by Rachelle Ayala

Meet Dylan and Carina, lovers from Rachelle Ayala's newest romance, Whole Latte Love.

Available from:
Amazon US | UK | DE | FR | ES | IT | IN | JP | AU | BR | MX | CA
Add to your Goodreads
Investment banking intern Carina Chen doesn’t need any distractions—especially the sexy, guitar-playing barista she rooms with for the summer.

Free spirit Dylan Jewell appreciates the delightful universe of women who vie for his attention. His goal in life is to do good, make happy coffee, and help the homeless.

When Carina moves in, she insists on rules of conduct to quell her instant attraction to Dylan. But when her boss asks her to turn Dylan into a businessman, she can’t think of a reason not to take advantage of his hospitality.

Their chemistry is white hot, but Dylan refuses to play Carina’s game, unable to understand how he can fall in love with a woman who puts profits in front of people. When Carina realizes Dylan isn’t budging, she risks all to gain a single night with him. Will her gambit backfire or will Dylan discover Carina’s true heart before she runs away with his?

Set in Berkeley, California, Whole Latte Love is an opposites-attract romance mixing bluesy rock music, hot, steamy love scenes, and financial shenanigans.


Whole Latte Love (Excerpt) by Rachelle Ayala

Carina Chen had no time for nonsense.
“Show off.” She couldn’t help glaring at the shaggy-haired barista as he demonstrated the art of milk frothing to a gaggle of college girls.
Hair flipping and eyelashes fluttering, they oohed and ahhed nonstop while he spun milk underneath the steam nozzle. When he layered the milk over a cup of espresso, they squealed as if they were in the middle of a group orgasm.
Carina elbowed her way through the crowded coffee shop and ordered her cup from the female barista, whose line was much shorter. Serving lattes didn’t require sleek muscles and gem-blue eyes.
“Yummy.” Her friend Sheila checked her watch. “I come just to watch the show. Wonder which one he’ll take home tonight.”
“Only one?” Carina set her cup on the table. “Enough about him. I still haven’t found a room for the summer. Didn’t you say you had a friend needing a renter?”
Sheila stole her gaze from the demonstration of coffee-making prowess and licked her lips. “Yeah, let’s wait for his break, and I’ll introduce you.”
Carina looked toward the espresso machine. “Him? Never mind. I’m not sure I could stomach the guy. He’s got to be full of himself.”
Sheila’s eyes wandered back to the front counter and lingered. “You have to admit, he’s hotter than the Sahara.”
“That’s exactly my point.” Carina watched him hand a steaming mug to a perky cheerleader. His mischievous smile did funny things to her insides and it wasn’t even directed at her. “I need a quiet place to crash after my eighteen-hour days, not some bachelor pad with nightly orgies. I can imagine the revolving door on his bedroom. No thanks.”
Despite her hasty denial, warm flutters bubbled in her belly when the barista stepped out from behind the counter. He was broad-shouldered, but not bulky, and he moved with the easy grace of a mountain lion as he collected the empties. Heck, the man probably boosted Abercrombie & Fitch’s stock price two full points each time he bent over to wipe a table.
“You could at least meet the guy before you pass judgment.” Sheila folded her arms. “Look, the important thing is, he has a great apartment close to the Berkeley BART station.”
Easy access to rapid transit was a point in his favor, but … “You sure he’s safe?”
“I promise. Dylan’s a boy scout. Besides,” Sheila said with a sly smile, “an orgy or two might do you some good.”
While Carina struggled to close her gaping mouth, Sheila raised a hand to wave him over.
Dylan wiped his palms on his apron and pulled a stool from the next table.
“Hey, what’s up?” He greeted Sheila with a nod and trained his eyes on Carina.
Up close, he was even more swoonworthy. Wavy brown hair hung almost to his neck, and his jaw was stubbly, as if he’d forgotten to shave a day or two. His presence filled all available breathing space between them, and his piercing gaze felt like a tractor beam drawing Carina toward him.
“Dyl, this is Carina Chen. She needs a room to rent,” Sheila said. “She’s working at Mogul this summer.”
“Nice to meet you,” Dylan said. “Investment banking?”
“Intern analyst.” Carina tamped down the pride swelling in her chest as well as a more worrying heat in her lower regions. “I got the offer two days ago, last minute.”
“Cool!” He gave her a thumbs up, and the thick silver cuff on his wrist glinted in the late afternoon sunlight coming through the window. “My roommate moved out two days ago. Must be fate.”
It had to be the sun’s heat that was making her sweat under her suit jacket. Nope, it was definitely not Dylan’s sideways grin nor the way his veins moved over his large hands when he flexed his fingers.
“How much?” Carina’s voice barely squeaked past her tight vocal cords.
“Your share of the rent’s twelve-hundred a month. We split the utilities. You get your own bedroom but we’ll share a bathroom.”
Sharing a bathroom with a guy might get tricky. Where would she hide her feminine products?
“You’ll love it,” Sheila cut in. “It’s close to shopping, restaurants, and the campus.”
“That’s so much more than I paid in Philadelphia,” Carina said. “I don’t know Berkeley very well. Is that what rentals go for around here?”
“It’s much less than San Francisco, especially the Financial District.” Sheila hopped off her barstool. “I gotta hit the loo. Text me when you’re ready to leave.”
“Wait, I’m not sure.” Carina faltered. Why was she acting like this was a blind date? It wasn’t like she hadn’t lived in a coed dorm before. Besides, a guy satisfied to work in a coffee shop was not her type, so there should be no worries whatsoever about wanting him for a boyfriend.
Dylan placed his smartphone on the table. “I have to get back to the job. Call yourself from my cell so I’ll have your number.”
Zing. His killer grin hit the mark, right between her thighs. The guy knew what he was doing. Oh no, she wasn’t giving her number to that kind of man. She’d ask Sheila if she knew of any women needing roommates. She still had one more day to hit the streets and go over listings, and she most definitely was not going to be another phone number on his to-call list.
“I still have a few other places to check out.” Carina picked up her coffee cup. “Do you think I could get a takeout cup for this?”
Dylan grasped the handle, his fingers lingering a beat too long against hers. “Even better. I’ll make you a new one. This one’s cold.”
Carina’s cheeks warmed as a tingly shiver worked its way up her arm. Geez, she wasn’t usually this hormonal.
“Wait, your phone …” Carina picked up Dylan’s phone and walked toward the counter where he prepared the coffee. A poster plastered on the wall showed him strutting with his guitar onstage with a band called The Licked Blues. They had a gig at a club later this evening. Typical. Another guy wasting his life away with no prospect of financial success.
“Almost done.” Dylan layered the espresso on the bottom of the cup and dipped the milk pitcher up, then lowered it and cut across.
Carina gasped as a creamy heart floated to the top.
He handed her the takeout cup and rested one elbow on the counter. “Carina, if you room with me, I’ll have one of these for you every morning.”
His voice caressed her name like the languid beckon of a lover calling her back to bed.
Carina swallowed hard, but before she could respond, Dylan swung toward an elderly woman positioning her walker to get out of a booth. The college girls waved and vied for his attention, but he took his time helping the woman to the door before going back for their orders.
I’m a goner now.
Carina typed her number into Dylan’s phone.


22 April, 2014

#SpecialFeature :: Meet and greet Ms.Parvathy, from 'Newton's Law Reversed' by Howard Roark

Now Presenting:
*** SPECIAL FEATURE - April'14 ***


Kindly meet Ms. Parvathy, mother of Akash, the lead character of 'Newton's Law Reversed'. A woman of intensity, grit and wit, who embraces life as it unfolds and a mother who gives more than she expects.

Introducing Venkat, the father of the lead character of 'Newton's Law Reversed', the man who is a child within the father that he is - The one that grips the lead character, intrigues him yet satisfies him. The inevitable relationship is stripped of the compulsions and formalities, as the father becomes the friend, like only a father can. Child is father of the man.

Say hello to Ganesan, one of the primary characters of 'Newton's Law Reversed'. Strength, prejudices, convictions, and pithiness comprise his DNA. A person who showed Akash, the lead character, that style is a function of method and not of geography. More of Ganesan when you read 'Newton's Law Reversed'.

The main characters are Ganga and Akash, on whom I wish not to speak, only to reserve for when you read the book, the smiles, the frowns and the pupil dilations.

Giveaway
3 Paperback copies of the book is up for grabs for the Residents of India, Usa and UK. Enter the Rafflecopter below to try your luck

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21 April, 2014

#BookReview :: A Cupful of Aha by Anandaa



"...Hello," I said, “Can’t say I've seen you around here before.” She smiled again…and my heart melted. “No, you haven’t,” she giggled. “For I have come especially to meet you today. I am Death, and it is time.”What happens when Death comes for you...and you start arguing over coffee ?... a quirky tale that offers a whole new perspective into one of life's deepest mysteries… 





No. You did not read the blurb wrong. 

This book is indeed about Death, in form of a beautiful and sexy girl, meeting a boy at a coffee shop. They strike up a conversation that not only brings certain realizations for the boy involved but also leaves an impression on us the readers. Throughout our lives we struggle to meet the expectations of our parents, the relatives and the society, but to what end. We slog hard to achieve the best at academics so that we can get a good job, a successful career and earn a lot of money. Again, to what end? Especially, the modern generation always seems to be running after something with no time to stop, take a breath and just enjoy the moment. Yet, when death comes, what use is all that money or the high designation?

I absolutely love the fact a lot of IWE writers are now experimenting and moving away from the masala genre that seems to sell so well. Anandaa has taken it to a completely different level. She has taken the well-known “Yama”, the fat bellied, fat mustached man riding a bull, and morphed him into a beautiful her :) Instead of appearing as a bad omen, she comes as a welcome sight. But hey, just because death is being beautiful girl, don’t even think for a minute that this book is something that you can take lightly. The message passed through the book is something that every one of us needs to stop and give a consideration.

Well written and full of dialogues, this book invites the reader to delve into its pages for an hour of some intellectual stuff delivered in a manner that will seem less of a lecture and more of a ‘think about it’  sort of story. It is a fast read that will not take up even an hour of your time. The presentation and appearance of the book is also an added advantage. Its small, light, sweet and inviting.

Kudos to the author for the step taken to present us with something that is different, interesting, intellectual and fun at the same time!





19 April, 2014

#BookReview :: Righting a Wrong (Ripple Effect Romance #3) by Rachael Anderson










Righting a wrong


Seven years ago, Cambri Blaine fled her small hometown of Bridger, Colorado after her senior year of high school ended in a fiasco. But now her father needs help, and Cambri has no choice but to return home. So with trepidation, she takes a leave of absence from the landscape architecture firm where she works and heads home, hoping against hope that Jace Sutton is no longer around and that the past can stay where it belongs—in the past.
If only life worked that way.

Jace never expected to see Cambri again. After she walked out of his life without a backward glance, he was left with no choice but to try to forget her and move on. But now that Cambri is back and looking more beautiful and sophisticated than ever, some of those old feelings resurface, and Jace instinctively knows, for the sake of his heart, that he needs to avoid her at all costs.
If only it were that easy. 




Righting a Wrong tells us Jace and Cambri’s story. 

We have already met Jace in Silver Linings. When we start with Righting a Wrong, we already know Jace at a basic level. Jace moves on after his best friend and now ex-fiancé falls in love. He makes a complete new start as he moves into a new house and a new life – or that was his plan. But fate had something else for him in mind and situation becomes such that the only house that is available for Jace’s consideration is the house that Cambri, his first love, loved. But that’s not all… Cambri herself moves into town temporarily to take care of her father. Cambri had no intention of looking up Jace but not bumping into him in their small town would call for a miracle. Once put face to face together after years, their chemistry sparks emotions right back into a place that they didn’t dare dream of. Will they be able to put their past together under wraps or will their past together only make them come together again in the present.

Ripple Effects Novella Series have a specialty of telling stories in a limited number of words, yet leave you feeling like as if you have known the characters forever. As we follow Jace and Cambri, we become a part of their lives, we can’t help but fall in love with both of them. Sweet and loveable characters, fun situations and an effective narration style makes time fly by and the book over in what seems to be minutes. I liked Cambri’s father in an odd sort of way. But, Jace’s grandpa takes the cup for the best character in this book. He is so much fun that even with almost a cameo role he made a great impression on me. Appearance of Lydia (whose story, Lost & Found is up next in the series) was almost expected with the way all these stories are interconnected in a way. I also liked the way that Jace and Cambri remained in the spotlight, yet the author managed to portray and develop Cambri’s relationship with her father.

All in all this is a sweet love story about misunderstandings, forgiveness and the essence of first love.



Rachael

Author Rachael Anderson A USA Today bestselling author, Rachael Anderson is the mother of four and is pretty good at breaking up fights, or at least sending guilty parties to their rooms. She can't sing, doesn't dance, and despises tragedies. But she recently figured out how yeast works and can now make homemade bread, which she is really good at eating.


Updated Ripple Effect
The Ripple Effect Romance Novella Series Enjoy this exciting new series of clean novellas by six critically-acclaimed authors. "Like a pebble tossed into calm water, a simple act can ripple outward and have a far-reaching effect on those we meet, perhaps setting a life on a different course—one filled with excitement, adventure, and sometimes even love." 
Book 1: Home Matters by Julie N. Ford 
Book 2: Silver Linings by Kaylee Baldwin 
Book 3: Righting A Wrong by Rachael Anderson 
Book 4: Lost and Found by Karey White 
Book 5: Second Chances 101 by Donna K. Weaver 
Book 6: Immersed by Jennifer Griffith

Tour Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 4/28/14 a Rafflecopter giveaway  

18 April, 2014

#Spotlight & Giveaway :: The Husband Maker by Karey White


Coming July 15th from USA Today Bestselling author Karey White

The Husband Maker by Karey White

The Husband Maker Charlotte’s a girl with nicknames. She may not love being called Charles or Chuck, but the hardest nickname to take is the one she was given in college, the one that’s followed her now for too many years. They call her “the husband maker” and sadly, it fits. Every guy she’s dated since high school has become his next girlfriend’s husband. Not hers. Not three girlfriends down the road. The next. Is she doing something wrong or is she just cursed? When Kyle Aldsworth enters the picture and sweeps her off her feet, Charlotte begins to hope that maybe she's not destined to be single forever. A senator’s son with political aspirations of his own, Kyle's wealthy, handsome, and in need of a wife. Will Charlotte be disappointed yet again, or will she finally be able to make a husband for herself?

add to goodreads




karey

Author Karey White grew up in Utah, Idaho, Oregon, and Missouri. She attended Ricks College and Brigham Young University. Her first novel, Gifted, was a Whitney Award Finalist. She loves to travel, read, bake treats, and spend time with family and friends. She and her husband are the parents of four great children. She teaches summer creative writing courses to young people and is currently working on her next book.  

  



  $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Giveaway Ends 5/15/14 a Rafflecopter giveaway

16 April, 2014

#BookReview :: The Secret Cases of Sherlock Holmes (Sherlock Holmes #1) by Donald Thomas

What if Sherlock Holmes did not retire in 1903 to a life of bee-keeping in Sussex but instead returned as an occasional Consulting detective in some of the Edwardian eras most baffling, actual cases?Donald Thomas combines his expertise as a novelist and criminal historian to give a brand-new twist to the adventures of Conan Doyle's famous creation. Accompanied as ever by Dr. Watson, Holmes here investigates the alleged bigamy of King George V, the theft of the Irish Crown Jewels in 1907, the suspicious death of President Faure of France after the Dreyfus affair, and four of Great Britain's most notorious murder trials.

The Secret Cases of Sherlock Holmes provides the Great Detective's numerous fans with their first look at clandestine investigations too damaging to the monarchy, the government or the nation's security to be read until now. 



This is supposed to be the first collection of ‘Sherlock Holmes’ Cases by Donald Thomas. Unfortunately for me, I have read the later books first – but that is only because I like to read books in order. These books can very well be read in any order and also treated as standalones.

This particular book narrates certain cases that are based on true stories from Edwardian Era. Sherlock Holmes, instead of retiring and retreating to Sussex to entertain his hobby of bee-keeping, remained at Baker Street to perform his duties of a consulting detective to solve these actual cases. The cases ranged from the alleged bigamy, to the death of a president, to the theft of the Crown Jewels, to the four of England's most notorious murder trials. The authors take on these cases are really interesting and entertaining, but his delivery of Sherlock Holmes’s handling these cases were perhaps a bit disappointing.

The one thing that is constant in all the Donald Thomas books about Sherlock Holmes is the dynamics between the great detective and Dr.Watson. I am starting to believe that it has been done intentionally – to keep some distinctions from the original works. I cannot say I enjoy this new shade of their relationship as much as the original. However, when judged as an independent book, free from any comparisons, this book can stand tall on its own. Donald Thomas does a great job of narrating the mysteries and the thrills and I can’t help but think that I would have rated these books higher if he had written these as original series of a character created by him than instead of stories of Sherlock Holmes.



Review Copy from: