30 November, 2017

November 30, 2017 0

#BookReview :: The Sweetheart Mystery (Brash & Brazen #4) by Cheryl Ann Smith


The Sweetheart Mystery
Brash & Brazen #4
by Cheryl Ann Smith
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Harper Jane Evans is so over pro cheerleading but she’s not quite ready for prison. Good thing she’s got a badass ex-boyfriend ready to go to bat for her . . .
Sure, Harper made a few unsavory threats against her team’s manager—she’d had a few drinks and she despised the skimpy uniform he expected her to wear. That didn’t mean she wanted him dead. But when the sleazy dude is found murdered in his tighty whiteys, Harper is the number one suspect—and former FBI agent Noah Slade is the one man who can help. Too bad she once told Noah she never wanted to see him again . . .
Noah may have done a number on Harper’s heart all those years ago, but he’s determined to do right by her now. Yet the fiery beauty isn’t the only demon from his past, which makes hunting down a murderer by her side . . . complicated—never mind the powerful attraction still pulsing between them. Good thing he’s willing to do just about anything to keep from losing Harper again. And an old love just might bring her a new career—assuming she can stay out of jail . . .



Harper Evans is gutsy and stubborn She doesn’t really know when to let things go and her big mouth has gotten her into plenty of trouble in her lifetime. However, this time her troubles are a bit more serious as she is now the main suspect in the murder of her sleezy boss. Noah Slade has a past with Harper and now the only person who can help her clear her name. The question is whether they can put their past aside long enough to work together? Especially since the chemistry between them is undeniable…

I loved Harper. She is one sassy girl with quite a few admirable qualities that make you like her; that is till she opens her mouth! She has this habit of shooting off her mouth without thinking which has often landed her in awkward and embarrassing situations. I admired her determination. Noah on the other hand took some time to settle in. I liked the fact that he ‘realised’ his mistake with Harper and when he gets a chance to make up for it, he goes out of his way to help her. I wished for more back story on him though. The chemistry between Harper and Noah did not really work for me as even though I was repeatedly ‘told’ about it, I never really felt it. The plot was simple and straight forward. No surprises for me in the book. But I did like the way the author handled the narrative. The language was lucid and the plot had a steady pace. Quite a few chuckles sprinkled through the story. But what is it with the goat though?


I am a bit curious about certain side characters in the book and as such I may pick up the other books in the series.



Harper dug through her closet and pulled out a little red dress that she’d been saving for a special occasion. A charity event with Noah was the perfect place to dust it off. Small crystals edged the hem and bodice, giving the dress sparkle and she needed sparkle. After his comment in the car, she wanted to knock Noah’s feet out from under him.
            Since his confession, she’d been feeling warm and fuzzy. Despite locking down her heart with a chain Noah couldn’t break, she just couldn’t completely shake him off.
            Yes, she agreed to sex, no frills, all fun, sex. But she couldn’t quite fully give him her trust.
            What if they dated, got married, and had kids? Then something crappy happened. Would Noah run for refuge with another woman? He had before. Could she take that risk?
            Equal parts of her were worried, and ready, to take the next step. She so wanted to test his lovemaking skills.
            With the tide turning away from her as his best suspect, Mignon was unlikely to interrupt her and Noah again. By the end of the evening, she hoped to be knee deep in the sheets with a warm and naked Noah.
            After showering and flat ironing her hair for a different look, she put on makeup and a barely-there red bra and matching tiny panties. Next, she slipped into the dress and loved the feel of the satin against her bare skin.
            Shoes with sparkles on the straps completed the picture. She’d just found her dress clutch when Noah arrived. She’d left the door unlocked. “You ready?” he called out.
            Taking a deep breath with her hand on her chest, she walked into the living room on high heels.
Noah went still. “Wow.”
            Dressed in a tux with a white shirt and bowtie, he was heart-stoppingly handsome. Not only had he shaved, but he’d had his hair trimmed. “Yeah, wow back.”
            She joined him. He took her hand and kissed the inside of her wrist, sending tingles up her arm. Up close, he smelled spicy and male. If not for the chance to speak to Betty Anne, and having spent too much time on her hair, she would’ve chucked their plans and taken him right to the bedroom.
            Noah offered her his arm. “Is it appropriate to be very aroused right now?”
            Laughing, she linked her arm through his. “I hear you.” She steered him to the door before she lost her resolve to behave. Going with an attempted baseball analogy, she said, “You’re pitching pheromones that I’m catching.”


National bestselling author Cheryl Ann Smith became hooked on romance at age fourteen when she stayed up all night to read The Flame and The Flower by Kathleen Woodiwiss. Her own writing journey happened much later, when one afternoon she ran out of books and decided to write her own. Previously, she has published five sexy Regency novels and one novella with Berkley in her School for Brides series.



Follow the tour HERE for exclusive excerpts and a giveaway!




29 November, 2017

November 29, 2017 0

#SpecialFeature :: An #Interview with Ishan Majumdar, #Author of The Celeritas Files


*** Special Feature - November 2017 ***


Quick Recap:

About the Book
Experience the story of Shaina Desai, who finds herself in the middle of a sinister plot to steal her prized invention, which happens to be the principal subject of valuation for a multi-million dollar cross-border investment in what could be termed as one of the most brutal attempts at intellectual property theft in the history of corporate India.

Will she be forced to give up her dream to save her son’s life? Or will she lose him to the ruthless kidnappers?

A tale of professional pride and the heart-breaking choices forced upon the individual, of love and betrayal, and the dark games ruthlessly played in the corporate world, under the veneer of professional ethics…

Goodreads * Amazon * Flipkart



Book Trailer:



An Interview:

When did you first realize that you wanted to be a writer/ a storyteller?
I have been a closet writer since many years but never really felt inspired enough to come out with my work. I guess when I started living in New Delhi, a city where I hardly have any friends and where I have enough spare time after work, I finally decided to go ahead with this.

What kind of research goes into your book?
For THE CELERITAS FILES, a large part of the research was with respect to the MaxCharge technology and its specifics. Also, I worked on understanding the patenting laws and the red-tape involved in India with respect to intellectual property registrations.

What are you working on at the moment?
I am working on my second novel which is also a crime thriller with a corporate backdrop. My genre will remain more or less consistent as the corporate world is clearly my area of expertise.

How did you come up with the idea for your current story? 
Working in an office cubicle for 10 hours a day and being fond of crime thriller films, novels and TV shows, somehow made my mind mix up the two and come up with a number of crazy plots circling around crime taking place in a corporate environment. It took some effort to actually sit down and make a concrete design of a plot that wasn’t just random ideas. THE CELERITAS FILES was the first plot idea that came to me which I believed, had good potential if it was converted into a proper novel and published.

Please share three interesting facts about the characters in your book.
Okay, here we go:
Fact 1: Amaan and his deceased wife Rehana are my two favorite characters who might continue in future books.
Fact 2: One of the Inspectors, Ajit Tyagi is given the surname “Tyagi” because one of my very good friends, Priyanka, also from the Tyagi community, often told me stories about a large percentage of people from her community becoming brave army officers and policemen.
Fact 3: The blurb of THE CELERITAS FILES comes across as that of a novel with a central character that is female (Shaina). However, when the plot was designed, it was supposed to be Amaan’s story. As the writer, the reason Shaina was eventually made the main character was purely for the impact of the climax.

If you could pick any famous author to review your book who would you pick and why?
I would pick Joseph Finder. He is easily the closest peer in terms of genre (i.e. crime fiction with a corporate backdrop). 

Have you read any books that have inspired you to improve or change yourself in any way?  
I read for benchmarking not for pleasure. The works of Lee Child and Michael Connelly really help me improve in all aspects of crime fiction writing.

Name three things that you believe are important to character development?
Clear description of the physical appearance, a good backstory (assuming the character is relevant enough) and some prominent characteristic traits which clearly distinguish the character from others.

Do you ever experience writer’s block? If so what helps you to get over it?
Luckily I haven’t experienced it as yet. Obviously there are times when I feel my pace slacken. Pushing myself really hard to get up and reach the coffee shop where I sit and write is the critical part there. Once I reach, I know I will be able to write.

What part of the writing process do you enjoy the most?
I guess it would be writing the chapters which involve confrontational scenes/ scenes with revelations which are the most fun part. The scene plays like a movie inside my head and I can’t get up until I have finished writing it.

Do you know the ending of your books before you finish writing them?
Yes, I do. I think it is the most common practice among crime thriller writers to write the end first and then build the plot backwards.

What is the best piece of advice you have received, as a writer, till date?
Focus on your creativity and your writing more than anything else. The reviews and the social media stuff will flow.

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?
Write for the love of it, not for fame or money. Write to influence the world with your words and your stories. Nothing else matters.

Anything else that you would like to share with your readers?
I plan to come out with a new release of the same genre i.e. crime fiction with a corporate backdrop/ corporate espionage etc. every year. Hopefully, I might even increase my publishing speed and churn out a new release every 9-10 months. Please follow me on facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theceleritasfiles/ and twitter - @ishanmajumdar1 for updates.

About the Author
Ishan is a qualified Chartered Accountant and holds a Master’s degree in Management from HEC Paris (Grande Ecole). Born and brought up in the suburbs of Mumbai, Ishan went on to complete his graduation from Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics and moved to Europe for further studies. He has a rich corporate exposure, having worked in investment banking and strategy roles in multinational companies such as BNP Paribas, Credit Agricole and Danone.
Ishan is fluent in six languages including French and Spanish, as a large part of his working life was spent in France and Spain. He currently works with a venture capital fund based in New Delhi, India.







Giveaway:
1 Paperback Copy of The Celeritas Files for an Indian Resident
3 eBooks of The Celeritas Files for International Winners

a Rafflecopter giveaway

28 November, 2017

November 28, 2017 0

#BookReview :: The Secret, Book & Scone Society (Miracle Springs, North Carolina #1) by Ellery Adams





The story is set in Miracle Springs, North Carolina which is a place to heal. With natural hot springs, luxurious spa, soul stirring scones and a miracle bibliotherapy, this town attracts people from around the country. People come, relax and heal themselves before heading back to their lives. Nora owns a bookshop in the town where she ‘prescribes’ books to her clients based on their experiences and needs. When an out-of-town businessman fails to keep his appointment with Nora and then turns up dead, Nora smells something fishy. She enlists the help of her friends to look into the matter.

Nora and her friends are a lovely group of people who help people while each of them try to overcome their past. Being a bookworm, I loved the fact that the protagonist was a bookshop owner which lead to the inclusion of quite a few literary references in the book. It took me a while to actually warm up to Nora, but eventually she did live up to my expectations. I think the way the author has built up her character is quite commendable and her back story helped me sympathize with her. Nora’s friends each have their own back stories (which I am hoping will be explored more in the coming installments) and unique sets of personalities. But what they all have in common is their helping nature. I loved the relationship dynamics portrayed between them. The plot of the book turned out to be more interesting than my initial expectations. For a mystery buff, there were very few surprises for me in the book, but the author has certainly tried to put in quite a few twists and turns.

A good first impression of the first book in the series and I would certainly love to continue reading them as and when they release.




Still scanning the park square, Nora wondered where the trolley passengers had gone. The lodge’s green trolley was parked in its usual place, but no lodge guests strolled the sidewalks or meandered from the row of quaint shops on Bath Street to the Pink Lady Grill or the Gingerbread House.
            Just then, a flash of red caught Nora’s eye and she groaned inwardly as a tall, shapely woman passed in front of the bookshop window. The woman yanked the door open, ignoring the riotous clanging of the sleigh bells, and settled into the closest chair like a queen awaiting the adulation of her subjects. Her pouty lips curved into a cat-with-the-cream grin. “Consider your next bibliotherapy session canceled.”
            “Hello to you too, Estella.” Nora picked up the stray paperbacks a customer had left on the table next to Estella’s chair. “I assume you’re referring to the man I met on the park bench. Why isn’t he coming? Did you scare him off?”
            “Me?” Estella pretended to be affronted, but Nora wasn’t falling for the act. “I didn’t even get a chance to meet him. I was up at the lodge wasting my time on a man I thought had some potential, but he’s already making payments to an ex-wife and needs to send three kids to college. There’d be nothing left for me.” She waved a manicured hand in dismissal.
            Nora was itching to reshelve the books and check on the coffee. Though she didn’t dislike Estella, she was rarely at ease in her company.
            Recalling the strange sensation she’d experienced as the second train whistle blew, Nora felt an inexplicable prickle of dread. She jerked a thumb toward the window. “Where is everyone?”
            Estella’s grin returned. “At the train station. They’ve been drawn there like flies to sugar. The sheriff rolled in a few seconds ago, and since he and I have never gotten along, I made myself scarce.”
            Nora, who made it a point not to look people directly in the eye, forgot her rule and gave Estella an impatient stare. “What happened? Just spit it out.”
            Crossing her arms in disappointment, Estella murmured something about no one being any fun, but eventually complied with Nora’s request. “When your man on the bench placed an order for one of Hester’s comfort scones, he asked her to box it because he was heading over here to see you. He left the bakery, box in hand, but he never made it to Miracle Books.” Estella leaned back in the chair and smoothed the skirt of her white sundress. “I’m sure he’d rather be sitting in this comfy chair than where he is now.”
            Nora knew she wasn’t going to like the answer to her question, but it had to be asked. “Which is?”
            “On the tracks,” Estella declared breathlessly. “Someone pushed him in front of the three o’clock train.”




November 28, 2017 0

#CoverReveal :: Midnight Rain by Kathleen Maree


Midnight Rain
Lakeshore University #2
by Kathleen Maree
Genre: New Adult Romance
Releases February 8th, 2018 

'It's as easy as following your heart,' they say. 'Just listen to it, and let it guide you.'



It's so simple isn't it?

Even if half belongs to one best friend, and the other half literally beats for the other... 

It doesn't matter how much time passes or how angry I am at the world, because I know without a doubt that I needed both of them. 

More than I needed to breathe.





Don’t miss Book 1 of the Lakeshore University Series!
In This Breeze
Lakeshore University #1



From the earliest age I was a born storyteller.

Ask my parents and they will tell you I had a gift for making a simple event seem like an elaborate one. Purposely? No. Innocently? Yes. It was my imaginary world that initially led me to believe I wanted to be an actor. All of that role playing and living in fantasy... it was an obvious direction for me. However, becoming quite uncomfortable with the limelight quickly saw that dream diminish.

Over the years I turned my world of fantasy into stories, and eventually began writing them down. Before I knew it, 'Cut' had been completed.

When I am not busy writing my next story, I am a working mum, housewife and sometimes hockey wag :) In other words, probably some kind of circus act who specialises in juggling ;)

I hope you enjoy my blog, where I will be posting thoughts, other books I am currently reading and even sneak peeks of my novels. I encourage any feedback, comments or direct messages via my contact page should anyone wish to get in touch.

I am so thrilled to be sharing my journey and hope you enjoy my stories as much as I enjoy writing them.

Dream often. Believe always.






27 November, 2017

November 27, 2017 0

#Interview with Jyoti Arora, #Author of You Came Like Hope

About the Book:
Peehu:
“I heard them mourn my death. I lay in the next room. Motionless, silent, and staring at the ceiling.”
Adih:
“When it comes to a broken person, some of them are expert at blinding you. Spend an entire evening with such a person, but you may still not know how he is crushing inside.”
Uday:
“Who would say no to him? He is smart, intelligent, super handsome, rich, suave and sophisticated. He’s perfect!”
Pooja:
“Pooja gave no explanation. She asked no forgiveness. She just arrived in his home, resenting him for being her husband.”
Arunav:
“He had smiled as if nothing was wrong.
He had behaved as if he still had his dreams and hopes.
He had pretended as if it didn’t hurt.
But it did.”



Does Destiny hold the key to our happiness?
Is it always the feeble that is the victim?
Love can be the embrace of heaven. But what happens when it unleashes hellfire?

Lose yourself in the intense narrative of You Came Like Hope as it unleashes a rollercoaster of emotions, uncovers some bitter truths, challenges widespread prejudices, and forces you to reconsider your beliefs.

Check out the Free Sample of the novel

Book Trailer:

Book Links:


An Interview with the Author:


When did you first realize that you wanted to be a writer/ a storyteller?
This dream first took hold of me when I studied literature. I’ve done B.A. and M.A. in English Literature. While I was studying literature, I was amazed to see how much skill and craft went into writing of novels. I knew I could write well. I decided to practice the craft of writing to try and create books people would love to read. I was also amazed at the immortality that authors of great classics enjoyed. I started aspiring for that immortality too.

What inspires you to write?
My dreams and my love of books. I dream of being read by people all over the world and to be loved by them just as I love my favourite authors. 

How did you come up with the idea for your current story?
It was actually a Twitter trolling attack on me that gave me the idea of You Came Like Hope. My second novel Lemon Girl is a Feminist Fiction. One of my tweets about it was attacked by some anti-feminist Twitter trolls. That day, I realized that there was an opposite side of the problem that I’ve discussed in Lemon Girl. Instead of getting angry by those trolls, I was attracted to the problem they were tweeting about. So, I decided to write a book about it too.


Are there some stories tucked away in some drawer that was written before and never saw the light of the day?
I wrote 7 original books for a publisher on For Hire basis. These include Science Fiction novels for kids and a YA Fiction. However, that publisher suspended his business to concentrate on other projects. And as the books were written on For Hire basis, I don’t hold their rights and can’t get them published by another publisher. 

Tell us about your writing process.
When once I have an idea, I start by developing a rough plot outline. I’m not a big Planner. So, I don’t build up a very strict plan of the book before I start writing it. I just create a rough outline indicating major points of the story. Then I decide the characters. Once I have the rough plot and the characters ready, I start writing. Once my book is written, I revise and re-revise it. I spend almost as much time in editing and revising a book as I spend in writing it.

Do you read? Who are your favourite authors and how have they influenced your writing style?
I became a bookworm the day I read my first book. My love of reading started with comics but by the time I was in class sixth, I could finish reading three Nancy Drew books in one week. I have read books by mane different authors now. But the ones I read while growing up still remain my favourites. I still love Charles Dickens, Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte best because they are the ones that inspired me to become a novelist.
I have read many classics and even abridged about 30 classics while working as a freelance writer. I think all those books left their mark on my writing. I’ve been told my writing style has the feel of the classics.

What is the best piece of advice you have received, as a writer, till date?
Don’t try to be perfect from the start. Write what you want to write and then revise, revise, revise.

How do you spend your free time? Do you have a favorite place to go and unwind?
I love reading. No matter how busy I am, I can’t give up on reading. It’s more of an addiction, than a hobby. I also enjoy listening to old Bollywood songs, watching English TV shows and Bollywood/Hollywood movies. I like travelling too but don’t indulge in it much due to various reasons. My favourite place to unwind? On my bed with my Kindle 😊

Can you share with us something off your bucket list?
I want to make a pilgrimage to see the homes or places associated with at least some of my favourite writers. 

Tell us three fun facts about yourself.
- I hate milk. If I have to drink milk, it feels nothing short of torture.
- When I was a kid, I used to be scared of trees. I had heard my mother say one must not sleep under a tree at night. I did not know the reason for this, but I guessed it was because of ghosts. And so, I started feeling scared of trees.
- When I was in school, I was a very good and obedient kid. But when I read Enid Blyton’s Naughtiest Girl in the World, I felt I was wasting my childhood. So, I did something naughty at school just because I considered it my duty towards my childhood.

What do you have in store next for your readers?
I’m not very sure yet. However, all my three novels so far have discussed a serious issue through their love stories. Now, I want to try my hand at something fun and purely romantic.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with your readers?
I love hearing from readers. I welcome all to contact me at my website jyotiarora.com. Readers can also follow my blog, sample my novels and download a free ebook of short stories at this site.
Also, readers’ reviews are precious for writers. So, I’d like to request readers to adopt the habit of reviewing the books that they love on sites like Amazon and Goodreads etc. Their one sentence can reward the writer for all the hard work that goes into writing of books.



Read an Excerpt:


Prologue

I heard them mourn my death. I lay in the next room. Motionless, silent, and staring at the ceiling.

Darkness stretched out from every direction, engulfing me in it. The heavy curtains on the window kept the sunshine away. One streak of sunlight still managed to trespass into the territory of gloom. Like a torturous, lingering hope of a broken heart. My eyes marked its path. My brain failed to recognize it.

In the next room, voices kept on rising, trembling my heart with their every word.

‘Peehu! My child!’ my mother cried. Amid the muffled murmurs of other people, I could also hear another voice of sorrow. It was my father. That was the first time I had heard him cry. It was terrifying.

‘My poor child,’ my mother wailed. ‘She always said she was my unlucky daughter. We said she was careless and rash. We scolded her so much. Now look what has happened. My poor Peehu, dead at such a young age.’

‘I’m not dead!’ I called out. My lips didn’t move, no voice came out.


Something was weighing me down, robbing me of the power to move or speak. An aching longing that screamed there had been an irreparable loss. Something had gone away from me that I would never get back. Something had ended. I just couldn’t remember what.


Mother kept on crying. I heard the word again in mother’s wails. Unlucky. Yes, I had said that to mother. Often. I had believed it too, for as long as I remember. My twin sister had all the good luck. I had all the bad luck. Or so it seemed to me, at least. My life had done a marvellous job so far in proving this to be true.

But it takes only a moment for the destiny to flip over…

About the Author:

Jyoti Arora is a novelist and blogger from Ghaziabad. You Came Like Hope is her third novel, coming after Dream’s Sake and Lemon Girl. She is Post Graduate in English Literature and Applied Psychology.
Jyoti has over five years of experience working as a freelance writer. This experience includes abridging over 24 famous English classics like Jane Eyre, Moby Dick etc.
Jyoti Arora is a patient of Thalassemia Major. But she does not let this stop or discourage her. For her determination and achievements, Jyoti has received appreciation from Ms Sheila Dixit, Ms Maneka Gandhi and the Ghaziabad wing of BJP. Her life story has been covered in various local and national TV shows, radio programs, newspapers, magazines and websites like YourStory and Inspire India. She was also one of the ‘100 Women Achievers of India’ that were invited to witness the Republic Day parade of India (2016) as special guests.
Besides reading and writing novels, Jyoti also enjoys blogging and has won several blogging competitions. She loves checking out latest technological innovations, watching movies, and listening to old Bollywood songs. Reach her at jyotiarora.com.

Contact the Author:




26 November, 2017

November 26, 2017 0

#BookReview :: The Celeritas Files by Ishan Majumdar


Experience the story of Shaina Desai, who finds herself in the middle of a sinister plot to steal her prized invention, which happens to be the principal subject of valuation for a multi-million dollar cross-border investment in what could be termed as one of the most brutal attempts at intellectual property theft in the history of corporate India.
Will she be forced to give up her dream to save her son’s life? Or will she lose him to the ruthless kidnappers?
A tale of professional pride and the heart-breaking choices forced upon the individual, of love and betrayal, and the dark games ruthlessly played in the corporate world, under the veneer of professional ethics…

Goodreads I Amazon




The book begins with a bang as we see a murder and a kidnap happen over the first few pages. What follows is a thrilling story set in the corporate world with Shaina in the bang middle of it all. When she receives a ransom call, things are set into motion as what the kidnapper wants is not something that can be handed over without second thoughts. By the time the climax rolls in, the readers are left wondering if Shaina will be able to come out on the top or will she loose much more than a piece of technology by the time it is all over.

The first thing that I liked about the book is that Shaina is a very solid character. We do not see women in position of power and standing in IWE very often, let alone in a novel that is set in the corporate world. I would have certainly liked it more if her character was a bit more rounded, but that is just my quirk – I always want and expect more and more from the strong female characters. The supporting roles were played well by the various characters – and that is all I will say for I fear I may give out spoilers on the antagonist if I start talking about the other characters.

The book is well paced for most parts; some places in the middle lagged a bit. The plot is well thought out. There is an undercurrent of emotions throughout the book and there is ample drama and action to keep the readers invested. I have to mention though that the romantic angle did not work for me at all. This is an interesting debut by Ishan Majumdar, and I would certainly like to see how he follows up this book.


Review Copy received from the Author

25 November, 2017

November 25, 2017 0

#BookReview :: The Colours of Passion by Sourabh Mukherjee

Within days of her fairy-tale wedding with Manav Chauhan, Hiya Sen, the reigning queen of Tollywood, is brutally raped and murdered. As ACP Agni Mitra investigates into the high-profile murder, he meets Neha Awasthi, with whom Manav broke his engagement to marry Hiya, Neha’s father Deepak Awasthi, who was eyeing business benefits through the alliance, Mayank Kapoor, an alcoholic model and Rituja Bose, the diva who had reigned over Tollywood over the past decade. When two more murders connected with the case make headlines, it’s time for Agni to find answers to perplexing questions and unveil shocking truths. 

The Colours of Passion breezes through Kolkata’s glamorous world of industrialists, movie stars, models and fashion designers laced with drug addiction and illicit liaisons, with a heart-wrenching tragedy at its core.


Goodreads I Amazon


ACP Agni Mitra is back after a gap. In The Shadows of Death was the first in the series which I quite enjoyed. So, I picked up this book with certain expectations.

When the sweetheart of Tollywood (Bengali movie industry) is murdered, all eyes are on the state police and they are under tremendous pressure to solve the case quickly. ACP Agni Mitra is put in charge of this high-profile case which at first seems like a case of random violence. But soon other murders are connected to the case and the pool of suspects keep increasing. Was it the husband? Or was it the husband’s jilted ex? As Agni Mitra takes charge, his tenacity is tested.

The book starts with a bang as the readers are provided with an inside look at the rape and murder of Hiya Sen. The plot then keeps evolving, right till the climax. There’s not a dull moment in the book or a place where the pace lags. As such, the book proved to be a fast read. The plot has been laid out and executed well. With bits and pieces of information being revealed slowly from time to time, the readers playing the whodunnit game while reading are kept engaged. I like how persistent Agni Mitra is. He always delves deep into a case and never takes anything at its face value. I guess that is a plus point for a good detective. 

The lucid language and smooth flow of the narrative in the book is a plus. I do think that except for the character of Agni Mitra, which is constant in both the books, the author has done a much better job in The Colours of Passion when compared to In the Shadows of Death.

Additionally, the author has taken the time to weave in a social issue as well. I will not divulge what the message is about, but I do hope that the readers will make a note of it.


Review Copy received from the Author



23 November, 2017

November 23, 2017 0

#CoverReveal - My Sister's Intended by Rachael Anderson by Rachael Anderson

 

Coming Spring 2018 

My Sister's Intended by Rachael Anderson

For as long as Prudence can remember, it has been understood that her sister will one day wed the eldest son of their nearest neighbor. Such an alliance will benefit both families and bring a great deal of joy to all parents involved. Unfortunately, Prudence has never been able to feel as joyful. She believes her sister is mad to consider marrying a man she hardly knows, even if he will one day make her a countess. Titles and wealth shouldn't factor into matters of the heart, and as an aspiring romance novelist, Prudence cannot fathom how anyone could even think of settling for less than love. She certainly wouldn’t, and she doesn't want her sister to either. Unable to stand by and do nothing, Prudence sets out to help the awkward couple discover the best in each other with the hope that they will eventually find love. What she neglected to foresee, however, was that she might fall in love with Lord Knave herself.
 

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.


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 Ends 12/17/17 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway