Book Review of Milan

Book Review of Milan (A Wedding Story)

About the Book:

When a daughter turns marriageable age, what should a responsible father do? Easy--wed her to the most suitable boy who comes knocking on the door. Jai Bharadwaj, Mili's father and owner of The Serenity Tea Estate in the idyllic Nilgiris would've probably liked to do the same, but being who he was, he had to ask her first. What would she say?

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My thoughts:

It is a typical story of an Indian marriage and describes the celebrations that accompany prior to the wedding ceremony. The setting of the story is perfect as it shows the adrenalin rush in the two love birds have, before their marriage date. Dinning and laughing at small things with each other and enjoying each other differences and appreciating them. The fear of being separated and the joy of being united, taking vows never to part and at the same time teasing each other, thereby creating a healthy relationship is the quite vividly described in the story.

All the emotions of fear and anxiety have been described in a beautiful way by the author. The expectations the society has from the love birds and how they mould themselves to make everyone around them has been the spotlight of the story.

Great story that you can read to float into the world of imagination.  

About the Author:

Simi K. Rao was born and grew up in both northern and southern India before relocating to the U.S., where she has lived for several years. She is the author of multicultural contemporary romantic fiction.

The inspiration for her books and other creative projects comes from her own experience with cross-cultural traditions, lifestyles and familial relationships, as well as stories and anecdotes collected from friends, family and acquaintances.

Rao enjoys exploring the dynamics of contemporary American culture blended with Indian customs and heritage to reflect the challenges and opportunities many Indian-American women face in real life.

Much of Rao's down time is devoted to creative pursuits, including writing fiction, poetry and photography. She is an avid traveler and has visited many locations around the world.

A practicing physician, Rao lives in Denver with her family. Her published works include Inconvenient Relations and The Accidental Wife. She is currently at work on her next release.

Contact the Author:
Website I Blog I Facebook I Twitter I Goodreads

The First Life of Vikram Roy

Book Blitz of The First Life of Vikram Roy

About the Book:

His family is being held to ransom by a deadly mastermind. 

Vikram never should have left his family, but when Vikram's father brings his half-brother Vishal home, life will never be the same. Vikram thinks things will be better now that he's gone. He's met the love of his life, his future looks bright and then everything is shattered. Now, his family's life is hanging in the balance, and only Vikram can do what needs to be done to save them. From the bestselling dystopian fiction author with over 200 reviews and ratings of her dystopia books across Goodreads, Amazon and other retailers. 

If you’re looking for books like Hunger Games, then this dystopia romance series, The Ruby Iyer Series is it.




Book Links:

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An exclusive excerpt and GIVEAWAY from The First Life of Vikram Roy

The Ruby Iyer Series—by Laxmi Hariharan

Ash and I have agreed whoever shows up late for cricket practice has to roll out the pitch—and roll it back up after practice. And so, here I am, on the pitch— just rolled out by Ash—ready to bat. I watch her run in for the next ball. When she raises her arm her shirt stretches firmly across her chest, outlining her breasts. I can't see the shape of her nipples at this distance, but torture myself for a second imagining what they would look like, if she wasn't wearing that shirt. The ball hits the uneven pitch and bounces at me. I manage to duck just in time so it flies over me rather than at my face. I look up to find Ash grinning. 

"Well played." She gives me a thumbs-up sign.

"You mean well avoided, right?" I walk across the pitch to hand over the bat and the batting pads we wear to protect our legs. "I don't get why we don't wear helmets during practice?"

"Scared, Vik?" She dares me to contradict her. 

She likes pushing me to my limit. Constantly testing me. As if she's seeing how much I can take before I hit back. It turns me on. Or maybe I just like being tortured by her. 

"No. Just being careful," I reply.

I take the ball from her and grip it between my fingers the way she's been teaching me. 

"Wow, you sure like to live by the rules, don't you?" Her voice is bored.

"No, just don't want to be stupid." I try to raise an eyebrow at her. It's something I have picked up from Tenzin. I've seen him use the same expression with great effect. It makes him look cool and aloof, yet sexy. Or so I've heard the girls whisper.

"What are you trying to do?" She looks confused.

"Uh! Nothing." I obviously need to practise more in front of a mirror. I walk to the end of the clearing in preparation for my run-up. "Ready?" I yell to where Ash is taking guard. 

When she nods, I run onto the pitch and bowl. The ball bounces off a rough patch and goes full tilt at her. Ha! Ash is getting a taste of her own medicine.

The next moment, I am running towards her fallen figure. The ball has grazed her head, before flying over the wickets and into the woods beyond. No. No. I didn't mean for that to happen. I hope she's okay. Please, please let her not be hurt. My heart is beating so fast now I can hear the blood pump in my ears. 

"Ash!" My voice comes out all choked. 

Dropping to my knees, I pat her cheeks lightly. Is she unconscious? She's not dead, is she? A thin stream of blood trickles from her temple. I bend closer, bring my face parallel with hers and place a finger below her nose. When I feel her warm breath brush over my skin, I heave a sigh of relief. 

"Ash. Ashley, can you hear me?" I ask again, with more urgency, patting her cheek again. She doesn't move. 

Should I try giving her the kiss of life? Not that I know how to do that. Or perhaps press down on her chest? I place the heel of my right hand in the centre of her chest. 

"What are you doing?" I feel the rumble of her voice through my palms.

"Ash!" I cry in relief. 

She looks at my face, then down to where my palm is still resting on her chest.

"Oh!" I remove my hand. "Sorry, I thought you were dying."

"You are such a pussy, Vikram."

"What do you mean?" My face warms at her words. 

"Here I was hoping for some mouth-to-mouth … You know?" She blinks her eyelids at me coyly.

It only maddens me further. "You mean like this?" I touch my lips to hers, and desire slams painfully into my groin. 

Giggling, she pushes at me, so I sit back on my heels. 

"Too late now, dummy." So saying, she springs to her feet, dirt clinging to her jeans, her white T-shirt splotchy with grass stains. Bits of mud stick to her braid. That's when I completely, utterly, crush on her. 

"Ash …" I whisper.

"Come on." Still smiling, she holds out her hand, and taking it, I rise to my feet. "Let's head back, shall we?" 

We're still holding hands as we enter the school building.

Dad was right. I really do need to work on my timing.

Want to find out what
happens next? Click here

About the origins of Ruby Iyer:

Growing
up in Bombay, my daily commute to university was inevitably nightmarish. It's
just how public transport is here. The man behind you on the bus will brush up
against you. You know you are going to be felt up on a crowded train platform.
All you can do is accept it and get on. Or so you think. I did too, until, a
young photojournalist was raped in the centre of Bombay in broad daylight.  It made me furious. Nothing had changed in
this city in all these years. Then, I had a vision of this young girl who would
not back down; who would follow her instincts, stand up for herself regardless
of consequences.  Thus Ruby Iyer was
born. Make no mistake, Ruby’s her own person. She leads. I follow. You can
download the RUBY IYER DIARIES, the prequel novelette in the series free HERE

About The Many Lives of Ruby Iyer

2015 Readers' Favorite (Bronze) YA Action

 YA
Finalist 2015 IAN Book of the Year Award

Finalist 9th Annual Indie Excellence Awards

When
her best friend is kidnapped, Ruby will stop at nothing to rescue him. 



Criminals run the streets of Bombay. Jam-packed
with the worst degenerates. The city is a shell of the pride and joy it used to
be. Ruby knows something must be
done, but it isn’t until her best friend is kidnapped by the despotic Dr
Braganza that she knows that she and she alone must save city, save her best
friend, save the world from total destruction. Armed only with Vikram, a
cop-turned-rogue they are about to embark on a road they may never return from. If you’re looking for fast-paced books
like Hunger Games or dystopia fiction like Angelfall,
the Ruby Iyer series is perfect for you. 

DOING MY BIT

All SEPTEMBER earnings
from the RUBY IYER SERIES will be donated to SAVE THE CHILDREN: SUPPORT
CHILD REFUGEES OF SYRIA. All the RUBY IYER books with their brand new
covers, are on SALE all this month at 99p/c & Rs 69/49. Click HERE to buy them. 



YOU can also donate to SAVE THE
CHILDREN directly HERE 

About the Author:

She almost died. But when dystopia romance author Laxmi Hariharan had a near death experience, she was told to write. Laxmi is the creator of dystopian romance series, RUBY IYER SERIES (The MANY LIVES OF VIKRAM ROY - FINALIST Indie Excellence Awards, the bestselling The RUBY IYER DIARIES , The FIRST LIFE OF VIKRAM ROY, The SECOND LIFE OF RUBY IYER & VIKRAM ROY, PANKY's FIRST LIFE), and the Amazon bestselling, eLit Gold winner, The Destiny of Shaitan (Bombay Chronicles, 1). If you're looking for books like Divergent and Angelfall, you'll love the RUBY IYER SERIES.

Laxmi writes books similar to Hunger Games while listening to electronica & progressive rock, and downing innumerable cups of extra sweet ginger-chai. She is also an avid photographer of street art and believes she was a tree -- a redwood -- in her past life. London is where she creates. Bombay is what fires her imagination. 

Receive a free copy of THE RUBY IYER DIARIES when you sign up to her Newsletter 

GIVEAWAY

The First Life of Vikram Roy, The THIRD book in the RUBY IYER Series, launches this month. To celebrate the launch of the FIRST LIFE OF VIKRAM ROY I am giving away a $30 gift card. Winner will be drawn, Oct 1, 2015, and announced in my next newsletter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Karna’s Alter Ego

Book Review of Karna’s Alter Ego

Book Blurb:

Karna, the ill-fated hero of Mahabharata. Many feel he deserved to win. If only luck 

had favoured him…..

5000 years later, we have a man named Vasu, who is much like Karna- born illegitimate, very talented but denied all credits in life, rejected in love, missed a medal in the Asian games, gets caught telling an innocent lie, overlooked for promotion. He begins to identify himself with Karna, and interestingly Karna appears to him after every debacle to assuage and encourage him.

It seems Vasu is Karna’s alter ego.

My Review:

Surendra Nath has done a great job in characterizing the protagonist of the story Vasu Sen with Karna. In the process he has depicted how their lives are entwined. Like Karna he faces misfortunes and is in the losing side most of the times. But having Karna by his side gives him the strength to fight against all odds and to move forward in life.

The author has tried to share important life lessons though the characters and the circumstances that engulf them at various situations. I wonder if the situations are imaginary or his life experiences, either way I had a great time reading the book.

I wish I have my Mythological Friend Krishna, by my side at times of need like Vasu had Karna in the book.

I would recommend all of you to read the book and find out how Karna helps the protagonist in rising above the problems and have a different angle of view of life.

I was given the book in exchange of an honest review and I would like to thank Surendra for giving me the opportunity.