Bookish Indulgences

09 November, 2012

Debdatta Dasgupta November 09, 2012 1

#BookReview :: The Bankster by Ravi Subramanian

The uneasy calm in Greater Boston Global Bank (GB2) is shattered when a series of murders rock the façade of the compliant and conforming bank that GB2 has built up over the years. Who is to blame? Who is driving these intriguing and bone chilling murders? What is the motive behind these gruesome killings? No one has a clue.

And when Karan Panjabi, a press reporter and an ex-banker digs deeper, he realizes that he has stumbled on a global conspiracy with far reaching ramifications - a secret that could destroy not only the bank but cast a shadow on the entire nation. With only thirty-six hours at his disposal, he is running out of time and must trust no one if he wants to stay alive and uncover the truth.

In the racy build up to unraveling the mystery, stranger than fiction characters emerge, faith get shattered and ivory towers come crashing down. Bankers build their careers on trust, or so everyone thought - till the day the truth within GB2 gets revealed. Is the banker at GB2 fast turning into a Bankster? Or was he always one?

Spinning an intricate web of lies, deceit and treachery, bestselling author Ravi Subramanian is back. A master storyteller of financial crime, this is his most chilling thriller yet.

The book cover said, “Meet the John Grisham of Banking – Wall Street Journal.” That put me on alert mode immediately because I love John Grisham. He is THE BEST when it comes to legal thrillers. So obviously the quote on the cover raised my expectation from the book and at the same time it also made me a bit vary. I haven’t read any of his previous books and so I kept wondering whether it would really be that good? I have to admit that I dilly-dallied a bit only because I did not want to be disappointed.

I need not have worried…

The story starts in Angola and swiftly shifting to Kerala giving us a glimpse of diamond racketeering. Then the focus shifts onto the Head Office of Greater Boston Global Bank (GB2). A number of deaths within a short span among the employee ranks of GB2 break the calm. The seemingly normal deaths – suicide and road accident – seems just that till one person, and ex-employee turned journalist, digs deep and comes up with a theory that makes these deaths look not so random or natural. On the other hand there’s a social activist who may have more to his character than what it seems.

The plot is a multi-faceted, complicated web that manages to entangle its readers completely. There are three parallel stories going on that keep you in the loop with the complete picture yet successfully blind you from the main culprit. You will keep guessing and trying to work your way through. The story ties in a variety of industries, objects, locations and people with scoop on the banking industry, blood diamonds, social activists and what not. From murder to politics to racketeering to money laundering, this novel has it all with a top up of some very interesting characters. On one hand we have spicy characters like the present employees of Greater Boston Global Bank – Vikram, Zinaida, Tanuja and Indrani. On the other hand we have colourful characters like social activist Krishna & my favourite character - Journalist Karan.

The story is pretty fast paced and at no point does it give a chance to put down the book. There’s a sense of originality and the writing style of the author is smooth and easy to accept. It is not overly flowery or too internationalized. I really appreciated this book a bit more than I generally would have because my recent experience with Indian Writing in English is hasn’t been so good. I have been spotting way too many IIT/IIM campus stories with magnified superficialness, cheap sex and shallow emotions for my taste. This was really a refreshing experience in terms of plot, characterization, story build up and language. Mr.Subhramanian, if you happen to stumble upon this review and read it, Thank You for restoring my hope in IWE. I now have an option to read a good Indian thriller.

Ravi Subramanian has indeed delivered one of the best Indian Thriller of recent times. I will be sure to pick up his other books and I recommend that you do too.

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08 November, 2012

Debdatta Dasgupta November 08, 2012 5

#SpecialFeature :: A Day in the Life of Rachelle Ayala

Now Presenting:

*** SPECIAL FEATURE - November'12 ***

"In the past few years I have become a fan of Biblical fiction and Ayala's novel does not disappoint! This story is well-written as it is filled with vivid details, well-developed characters ... creating a complete picture of life as lived in Biblical times."

★★★★★ 5-Stars to Michal's Window by Kristie I. for Readers Favorite

A Day in the Life of Rachelle Ayala

I spent Election Day, 2012 away from TV, social media and the Internet. It was a beautiful, sunny day in Northern California, and I decided to fill in more research on the setting of my latest novel, Hidden Under Her Heart. Besides, my sister was visiting from the East Coast, so it was a perfect excuse to get away from my computer and go on an outing.

Hidden Under Her Heart is a poignant love story between a young nurse, Maryanne Torres, and a professional triathlete, Lucas Knight. While some of the setting is indoors, inside of a hospital or at a club, a lot of scenes take place outdoors. And nowhere in the world are there more beautiful outdoor scenes than the Northern California coastline.

Pescadero State Beach is a beautiful and relatively remote location a mere forty minutes from populated Palo Alto. We took the winding La Honda Road starting just outside of Woodside, California. It is hard to believe that Silicon Valley is only a few miles away. Oak trees soon gave way to towering redwoods that spire to the skyline.

It was a bright and sunny day, but as we navigated the hairpin turns we lost sight of the sunlight. Dark brown tree trunks, dark green leaves, and dark shadows transported us into an ancient forest. Very narrow shoulders made biking extremely treacherous, and we only passed one brave soul pedaling furiously up the hill.

The road continued through incredibly gorgeous vistas to La Honda, California. After passing the fire station, we came across an old fashioned shopping center and stopped off to take a picture of a payphone nestled on a community bulletin board with actual pieces of paper and tear-off stubs. Yes, this was how people advertised garage sales and rental units before Craigslist.

Rather than continuing on Hwy 84 toward San Gregorio State Beach, we took a sharp left turn toward Pescadero Creek Road. It twisted and turned through Sam McDonald State Park, giving us more beautiful forest views and exciting turns. This was a thrill for me because my family gets car sick and I cannot usually take this route. Fortunately my sister was game for it and only opened the windows to let the fresh, mossy and piney scent in.

Conifers gave way to oak trees as we descended toward the ocean. Soon enough, we were met by a few eucalyptus trees and other alien species, particularly the large stands of invasive pampas grass on the hillsides. Pescadero is an actual farming community. On the one side were rusted old equipment and broken barns, while the facing side held well cultivated crops and storage structures.

Pescadero Creek Road ends at Pescadero State Beach. Words fail me to tell how gorgeous it was. I found every scene of Hidden Under Her Heart that takes place on the beach. There were the footsteps in the sand, the foamy line as water met the sand, the tidepools where disaster almost struck, and even a rock wall with tiny caves and a bench to sit and view the sunset.

The setting was both beautiful and romantic. I could easily imagine Lucas and Maryanne kissing into the sunset and letting their final goodbye balloons float into the brilliant blue sky among the lulling churn of the waves. Even the cute pink outhouses with their two “scent stacks” completed the detailed picture. And yes, I did visit it and confirmed that it was clean, stocked with toilet paper but did not have any plumbing.

If you are writing a story with outdoor locations, I strongly urge you to visit or at least drive by. For example, anyone who has driven through Los Angeles knows about the curly rolls of barbed wired on the freeway signs. Yet these details cannot be seen from a Google Satelite view. If you want to immerse your reader into an environment, there is no substitute in visiting the locations. Besides, it makes for a fun filled day.

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Giveaway

Now for the Giveaway... There's going to be 3 winners this month. Yeah you heard me right - 3!!

First Winner: Will get the Complete eBook Collection... Yes all 12 of them!

Second Winner: Will get to choose any 6 eBooks out of the 12 listed

Third Winner: Will get to choose any 3 eBooks out of the 12 listed

Check out what's up for grabs:

The Winners have been selected and contacted. They are:

Lauren

Nasyrah

Trisha

Debdatta Dasgupta November 08, 2012 0

#BookReview :: Worst Case (Michael Bennett #3) by James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge

Best case: survival
The son of one of New York's wealthiest families is snatched off the street and held hostage. His parents can't save him, because this kidnapper isn't demanding money. Instead, he quizzes his prisoner on the price others pay for his life of luxury. In this exam, wrong answers are fatal.

Worst case: death
Detective Michael Bennett leads the investigation. With ten kids of his own, he can't begin to understand what could lead someone to target anyone's children. As another student disappears, one powerful family after another uses their leverage and connections to turn the heat up on the mayor, the press--anyone who will listen--to stop this killer. Their reach extends all the way to the FBI, who send their top Abduction Specialist, Agent Emily Parker. Bennett's life--and love life--suddenly get even more complicated.

This case: Detective Michael Bennett is on it
Before Bennett has a chance to protest the FBI's intrusion on his case, the mastermind changes his routine. His plan leads up to the most devastating demonstration yet--one that could bring cataclysmic devastation to every inch of New York.

This is the first book that I have read in the Michael Bennett series. Like every other James Patterson book, this too can be treated as a stand-alone novel even though it is in a series. I am sure that Michael Bennet’s character has grown over the three books; however, I did not feel as if I have ‘missed’ something by reading the third book first.

A lunatic is on the loose and he is kidnapping rich kids in order to test them. You pass the test and you go free. But if you fail the test the results are drastic. You do not get grounded for failing his test but you pay for it with your life. Michael Bennet is put in charge of the case and he notices certain irregularities in the pattern. Things heat up for Bennet, both at home and at work, with the entry of Emily Parker, a FBI Agent. With the rich parents using their resources and influence to pressurize the high-ups, and the criminal calling and taunting, the pressure builds on Bennet & Parker to solve the case before another body turns up.

My first impression of Michael Bennet is that he is a ‘BRAVE’ man. Well, obviously he has to be in order to be in the law enforcement. But not only that, Bennet has ten, yes that’s right, t-e-n children. A person has to be beyond brave to take on that amount of challenge and responsibility. In his professional life he is organized only to an extent and has a record to back up his reputation. I like the way he works. Emily Parker is a thorough professional at first glance. But then as the plot progresses, we see a completely different side of her. I am not sure whether I like or not like her yet. I am hoping she will turn up in a future installment and give me a chance to make up my mind completely. Francis Mooney is, in one word, a psycho. Not in ‘Hannibal’ category, but a psycho nonetheless. Like many other Patterson novels, ‘Worst Case’ too has chapters written in the POV of the criminal. The insight was illuminating even though I felt as if the characters lacked complexity in order to bring up the plot.

This book has a lot of action and even some romance. As usual, it turned out to be yet another page turner. A good book worth investing your time in.

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07 November, 2012

Debdatta Dasgupta November 07, 2012 1

#BookReview :: Flash by Barbara Morgenroth

She’d been pretending to be 18 for so long, it felt like the truth.
When the only way for 15 year old Kip Chanin to earn a living is as paparazzi, she can’t say no.
Kip’s first photo is of Alex Milne, the handsome and volatile young actor. That one photo changes both their lives.
Lesson One--You do what you have to in Hollywood to survive.
Flash. You’ve been pap snapped.

Kip & her mother have recently moved to the city of Hollywood to follow Dew’s silver screen dreams. Kip is used to feeling like the grown up when compared to her single mother and she herself almost believes that she is ‘eighteen’ years old. When through a lucky break, Kip captures the attention of Alex Milne, her world is turned upside down. Brush in with the police, identity of her father and the mystery behind an eighty year old murder are just a few things that she now has to deal with. Not to forget Gabriel Milne.

Kip, named after Rudyard Kipling by her father, is the first non-eighteen year old that I had no trouble believing in. She is talented, sharp, smart and very independent. I would gladly accept this character as a twenty year old because of the maturity she has shown throughout the book. Given that her mother, Dew, never grew out of her college-partying phase, Kip is used to not only taking care of herself but also her mother. Alex Milne is an interesting character – and I loved is unique sense of humour and the certain shadow of darkness in his character. He is not really the dark-broody type but one who has been influenced by his family history. I am not sure what to make of Gabriel yet, but I absolutely loved Bay. She took Kip under her wing and matched with her strength of character.

The strength of the plot is also its characters that endorse it uniquely. Budding romance with a murder in the background is what this book is all about and it certainly held my attention. Yes, it has that boy meets girl moment, it has that ‘OMG’ moment, it has that ‘what is going on’ moment too and it has that ‘what?!’ moment too. My only complaint is that the book ended so abruptly! I was pretty sure that there was more to come when I turned (or scrolled) over to the last page. There’s a sequel coming up and I will be sure to pick it up when it hits the market.

A pretty fast read and I would recommend it to the people who like their romance – not too mushy or A rated, with a touch of intrigue.

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06 November, 2012

Debdatta Dasgupta November 06, 2012 1

#Spotlight :: North Pole High: A Rebel Without a Claus by Candace Jane Kringle

MEET SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD CANDYCANE CLAUS. She's the most popular girl at North Pole High. Her father is world-famous. And every day is Christmas. What more could any girl want?

BOYS! And the new boy, Rudy Tutti, is hot chocolate. But he hates anything to do with Christmas!

When Candy and Rudy are forced to work together on a school Christmas-tree project, her world is turned upside down: Her grades start to suffer, she loses her taste for ice cream, and now the two North-Star-cross'd teens must contend with her overprotective father — Santa Claus — before Christmas is ruined for EVERYONE!

Publisher: elfpublished books

ISBN: 978-0615681917

Release Date: October 2, 2012

Formats: Kindle, Paperback

Available at: Amazon.com

Genre: YA teen romance/humor/fantasy

Ages: 12 and up

Number of pages: 302

Word Count: 80,000

Cover Artist: Jessica Weil

Early Reviews

“Engaging from the first page to the last, this book is funny, dramatic, serious at times and overall, an absolute delight! North Pole High has the makings of a Yuletide classic.” - aobibliophile (aobibliosphere.blogspot.com)

“Sheer genius. Filled with genuine teenage angst and drama, yet set in a fantastical land that every child would want to visit. I have never laughed so hard. I hope there are more adventures at North Pole High in the future.” - Margaret Kerr, The Book Hoard

“Absolutely one of the best YA books, of any sub-category, I have ever read!” - Susan Mary Malone, co-author of Five Keys for Understanding Men: A Woman’s Guide

About the Author

Candace Jane Kringle is a junior at North Pole High. She likes candy canes, unicorn races, and making snow angels. Her father is the most well-known and beloved toymaker and distributor in the world. Her memoir, North Pole High: A Rebel Without a Claus, is her first book. After high school, she plans to enroll at North Pole University and write more books.

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05 November, 2012

Debdatta Dasgupta November 05, 2012 0

#BookReview :: A Wanted Man (Jack Reacher #17) by Lee Child

Four people in a car, hoping to make Chicago by morning. One man driving, eyes on the road. Another man next to him, telling stories that don’t add up. A woman in the back, silent and worried. And next to her, a huge man with a broken nose, hitching a ride east to Virginia.

An hour behind them, a man lies stabbed to death in an old pumping station. He was seen going in with two others, but he never came out. He has been executed, the knife work professional, the killers vanished. Within minutes, the police are notified. Within hours, the FBI descends, laying claim to the victim without ever saying who he was or why he was there.

All Reacher wanted was a ride to Virginia. All he did was stick out his thumb. But he soon discovers he has hitched more than a ride. He has tied himself to a massive conspiracy that makes him a threat—to both sides at once.

In Lee Child’s white-hot thriller, nothing is what it seems, and nobody is telling the truth. As the tension rises, the twists come fast and furious, keeping readers guessing and gasping until the explosive finale.

You know how your parents tried to teach you a few things as a kid? Things like, don’t run while crossing the road, don’t talk to strangers and specially, never get into a car with people you do not know… Well, it doesn’t really apply in Jack Reacher’s case. First, because he travels mostly by hitch hiking and secondly, even if he gets into trouble because of it, he can handle the situation very well. How do I know it? I know because I just finished reading ‘A Wanted Man’.

While heading to Virginia, Reacher hitches a ride in a car with two men and a woman. At first they seem like a team traveling together but soon Jack realizes that not everything is as it seems. It is obvious that two of them are on the run from law enforcement and they are using the third person and Reacher as a cover in case of roadblocks. The woman in the car tries to communicate with Reacher showing the brave side of her character. The identity of the victim is not revealed until the very end, but it is apparent that he was an important person as not only the local law enforcement is working on it but also the state Department, CIA and the FBI are involved. I liked the character of Goodman – he was truly a good-man.

This is yet another Lee Child novel where I had no idea right up to the end about how things are going to play out. That did not stop me from playing the guessing game and fail miserably a number of times. Every character has something to hide and every character has lied at some point or the other. There are twists that are completely unexpected to keep uou wondering who has got the final Ace up their sleeves. The plot build up was great and though I had to wait till the end for some actual Jack Reacher action, it was well worth the wait.

There’s a line that described Reacher trying to look friendly… A huge gorilla like man with a broken nose – trying to look friendly… Am still smiling away!

Thoroughly enjoyable!

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02 November, 2012

Debdatta Dasgupta November 02, 2012 1

#Spotlight :: The Last Supper Catering Company by Michaelene McElroy

The Last Supper Catering Company is the heart-warming and humorous story of B. Thankful. Turned out with red corkscrew hair, one eye brown, the other green, and gifted with the power to hear the voices of the departed, B. Thankful is cast aside by the town as the devil's child and lives an isolated upbringing in the woods. Tragedy, followed by the discovery of a long-forgotten paint-by-number picture of the Last Supper, thrusts B. Thankful from the safety of everything she has ever known. Beyond the boundary of her sheltered life, B. Thankful discovers the world’s hard edges as well as its beauty. More importantly, with the help of a cast of tender-hearted souls (earthly and heavenly), she discovers why the world needs her special gift.

Raves & Reviews

“This book will also take you through many phases of life and death and cause you to think more about situations in your life that have ever caused a smile or a tear.” ~~ Breeze

“I am still stunned by the impact of McElroy's writing.” ~~ Shelley Hartle

“This book had me hooked at the first page - and that's only the beginning of an extraordinary story!” ~~ Donna Cushman

Five Lesser Known Facts about the book

1. The idea for The Last Supper Catering Company came to me while walking on a treadmill in my home office in California. I was listening to an NPR piece on death row inmates and their last meals when I heard a young girl’s voice, steeped in the way of the South, ask me, “What would you want for your last supper?” I immediately stepped off the treadmill and she began to tell me her story.

2. I started writing The Last Supper Catering Company while living in California, but finished the book after I moved to an island in the Puget Sound. I was at a point in my manuscript where my heroine, B. Thankful, must make a life-changing decision about whether or not she’ll leave the comfort of everything she has ever known. I was at the same juncture in my own life, so I sold my home of thirty-three years, quit my job and left the comfort of my everyday life for the unknown.

3. People think the towns of Majestic and Beauty mentioned in the book are fictitious, but they really exist.

4. The only music I listened to during those periods before I would start writing (I write in silence) was filled with the strains of Appalachian Blue Grass – mandolins, fiddles, Acadian accordions; the music handed down from Ireland and Scotland, that in the hands of the folks of Appalachia takes on a life of its own; the music that can lift your spirit and break your heart in a single refrain.

5. I actually prepared the recipe for jellied pig’s feet that appears in the book. My father, in the final days of his life, and knowing how my mother loved Gram’s jellied pig’s feet, asked me to prepare them to make her happy. And knowing that seeing her joy would get him all the way to heaven with a smile on his face, I was happy to oblige.

About the Author

Michaelene McElroy makes her debut as an author with The Last Supper Catering Company. She lives on four acres in the woods on an island in the Puget Sound of Washington State where magic is ever present.

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You have 2 chances to grab a copy all for yourself - for FREE... Yes, Ms.McElroy has kindly donated 2 Print copies of her book. Click here to Enter the Giveaway - its open internationally!

01 November, 2012

Debdatta Dasgupta November 01, 2012 14

#SpecialFeature :: Rachelle Ayala

Under "Special Feature" every month I feature a Special Author.

During this month I put up 4/5 posts about the Author/Book, including Interview / Review / Excerpt / Guest Post / Author Bio / Fun Facts or whatever else we can come up with. Also on the first day of the month we will launch the Giveaway contest along with the first post and will announce the winner on the last day of the month.

So be sure to check out my blog every 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th of every month for something new :)

Now Presenting:

*** SPECIAL FEATURE - November'12 ***

Rachelle Ayala :: Author Bio

I hate bios. That's because I don't want anyone to know what I've done or how crazy and lunatic I am. My real life is actually quite boring. That's why I do fiction. Oh yeah! So the short version. I'm a software engineer and my favorite language is Java. I'm a certified chocolaholic and I wanted to be a comedian when I was a child. Failing that, I became a software manager. I do wonder parodies of my bosses and coworkers and have always loved to entertain and make people laugh. So if you think my books are silly, that's by design. I write in any genre I fancy and love characters who are flawed but kindhearted. I believe in helping others and reaping friendships.

Her Books

Michal's Window :: In ancient Israel, where women are property, Princess Michal loves her father's worst enemy, the future King David. She sacrifices everything to save his life, but will her heart survive war and separation?

Michal's story comes to life in this powerful and emotional journey through love and heartache to self-realization. Her intense love for King David coupled with tragic circumstances causes her to do the unthinkable. Too strong for her time, Michal's story resonates with women today.

Broken Build :: Jen Jones hides a horrible secret behind her new degree, toned body, and exciting job at Silicon Valley’s hottest startup—until a man linked to her past is killed in a hit-and-run.

CEO and founder Dave Jewell is about to land a huge deal. He doesn't need blood on his car, threatening phone calls, and Jen wrapped in broken code and blackmail.

A gang of thugs hunts Jen, and she takes refuge in Dave’s protective arms. Together, they must thwart a killer and rescue an innocent victim from their past. Love blossoms, but a damaging revelation points straight at Jen, threatening to tear them apart forever.

Your Daily Bible Verse :: Bible Verses correlated by Month and Day to Chapter and Verse starting from January 1 and Genesis 1:1 to December 31 and Mark 12:31. Need a memory verse? or a life verse? Curious which verse correlates to your birthday or anniversary? There's a special verse for each of the 366 days of the year. Includes Bible Verse Memorization tips.

Raves & Reviews

"It's easy to cheer for the tenacious Michal as she fights for the man she loves."
- Chantel Rhondeau, Reader

"The heroine of Michal's Window embodies the heated determination of Outlander's Claire. Coupled with the equally intense hero, David, the sparks fly."
- Taylor West, Reader

“Shocking twists... amazing chemistry, yummy with an edge."
– Christina McKnight, author of Only In Her Dreams

“A mind-teasing mystery and captivating romance where forgiveness is the key.”
– Christine Raggio, writer

“When truth collides with hope—another riveting tale sure to keep you guessing!”
- Melisa Hamling, bestselling author of Twenty Weeks

5 Funny Facts about Rachelle Ayala