Friday, January 29, 2016

Author Interview- Super Women by Prachi Garg


Summary-

SuperWomen –Inspiring Stories of Women entrepreneurs

“I am Every Woman. It’s all in me.” The song by Chaka Khan clearly says it all. As women, we are special, and all the power is within us.
Entrepreneurship in women is inherent. They have the tremendous capacity to risk everything in their life, to reach that one goal they aspire for. All they need is a trigger, and they will work their way to create history. There is a secret ingredient behind their success – their experiences in life… the good, bad and the ugly. And the more these experiences are shared with others, the more our lives shall be enriched. It is the best form of inspiration for someone – to hear from the horse’s mouth what made it run to win.
Superwomen brings together the stories of these twenty women entrepreneurs who nurtured their innate quality of entrepreneurship and turned to reality what remains a far-fetched dream for many. These women are all between twenty and thirty years of age. But isn’t that the most crucial age band, when women go through tremendous social pressure to get married, or have children, or make it big in their profession? Yes! And that – along with their dream of taking an altogether different route and succeeding on that road – has made these women so special.  
This book shares their journey, as told by these daring women through the words of the author. They were driven by the passion to do something different. The experiences and thoughts that have been shared here reveal the drive, the balance between their personal and professional lives, the challenges they faced, and much more.
We see that they did not want to confine themselves to the four walls of the house, and dared to dream. They also tell us how they broke those walls and came out with flying colours. That too without compromising on any role that they play in their lives.
The aim of this book is to encourage entrepreneurial thinking and motivate more women to take the plunge, gently inspiring them to come out of their shell.

Interview-

·         Tell us a little bit about yourself

 Academically, I am post graduate in computer science from University of Delhi & MBA from Great Lakes of Management, Chennai. I hail from a small place Bulandhshahr, and spent my childhood there. I came to Delhi for my graduation from Miranda House, which let me explore another facet of mine. I love traveling, and tasting cuisines and experimenting cooking.

·         Tell us about your book, Superwomen.

Superwomen is a collection of stories of 20 women entrepreneurs who started their difficult journey at the age of 20 to 30 years. I started this book when I was pursuing my MBA and started ghoomophiro. As a female, I always felt that many of us are unable to pursue our dreams, because of societal pressure etc, so I thought to speak to few fellow entrepreneurs, who did things differently and achieve their goals, and gave their voice a medium in the form of superwomen. I feel this book is a must read for college students and aspiring entrepreneurs. Book has catered enterprenurs from e-tailers, services, social services and some interesting start-ups. It also let people aware that every idea has potential.

·         Are any of the characters in your book inspired by someone you know or are they complete results of your imagination?

Book is completely non-fiction. It is based on several rounds of interaction with them 

·         What kind of research went into writing your book?

I did good research to figure, which all could fit in my chapters for the book.

·         What is next in store for you? Do you plan on writing more?

Yes, my book on couple entrepreneurs “Better Halves of Start-ups” is already completed and should be out this year itself. It is the story of couples who committed themselves both in professional and personal lives to each other. Book talks about challenges and fun to work with your spouses.

·         According to you, in today’s day and age, how important a role does social media play in spreading the word about a book?

Word of Mouth/Social Media plays an important role, as these days, folks like to pick up books, after reading about its concept, reviews online. 

·         Favourite book?
Alchemist

·         Favourite author?
Paulo Caleho, Subroto Bagchi

·         Favourite singer?
WestLife , Arijit Singh and so on..

·         Favourite song?
Tuta tuta ek Parinda by Kailash Kher and many more.

About the Author-


Prachi Garg is a writer, avid traveller and entrepreneur. She started www.ghoomophiro.com, an enterprise where the team organizes corporate tours based on the customers’ requirements and budget, providing them with a bouquet of options to choose from. This was her initiative back in her college days. She also delivered workshops on entrepreneurship and has been a part of numerous panel discussions on the same.
Ghoomophiro.com has been covered by Your Story, Indian Express, Femina and many others for its services. Recently, she has been featured by Exhibit magazine as a part of “Women who made it big online”. She also takes up queries related to entrepreneurship at yourdost.com
Not just that, she has also kick-started a journal called Managing Minds, that caters to the need of Tier II & Tier III MBA aspirants. She has been associated with EET India group, DD News and has been freelancing for HT Horizons for quite some time.
A computer science graduate from Miranda House, University of Delhi, and an MBA from Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai, she lives in Delhi and can be reached at prachi.iic@gmail.com

Buy the book- 

Infibeam

            

Thank you so much, Prachi! Hope you guys check her book out :)


Thursday, January 28, 2016

Review- F*ck Love by Tarryn Fisher

F*ck Love on Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Helena Conway has fallen in love.
Unwillingly. Unwittingly.
But not unprovoked.
Kit Isley is everything she’s not—unstructured, untethered,
and not even a little bit careful.
It could all be so beautiful … if he wasn’t dating her best friend.
Helena must defy her heart, do the right thing, and think of others.
Until she doesn’t.


Release date: December 31st 2015
Published by: Self-published
Page numbers: 257 

REVIEW:

After having tried to put down my thoughts about Tarryn Fisher's F*ck Love by almost writing two reviews for it, and changing my mind about both later, I have finally decided to divide my review in five parts, which will hopefully help both you and me understand exactly what my thoughts about the book are. 

MY THOUGHTS BEFORE READING F*CK LOVE:

TARRYN FISHER IS WRITING ABOUT LOVE!!! 

The title is on point. It has one of my most favourite and frequently used words. The cover is so gorgeous. Look at it! An almost bleeding heart held in a hand that has nails painted to black perfection with rose petals strewn across. Wow. Tarryn Fisher is on the back cover showing her middle finger and looking fine AF. 

TARRYN FISHER IS WRITING ABOUT LOVE!!! 


MY THOUGHTS WHILE READING F*CK LOVE:

Oh, my God! Tarryn Fisher is a Potterhead. Tarryn Fisher's writing is so beautiful and lyrical. Helena is amazing. She reminds me so much of myself. She is me. No, wait. She is Tarryn Fisher. This is so totally nothing but Tarryn Fisher's Instagram put into words. Why do the titles of the chapters have a hashtag? Is this Twitter? 

MY THOUGHTS TOWARDS THE END OF F*CK LOVE:

This book is called F*ck Love. Why is love happening then? Don't do this to me, Tarryn Fisher! Would it really end like this? Too many coincidences and that's something coming from Tarryn Fisher. I expect reality and not fucking roses from you, Tarryn Fisher. 

MY THOUGHTS AFTER READING F*CK LOVE:

Was I reading a book or stalking someone's phone? 

Helena is the most amazing character Tarryn Fisher has ever written about. Tarryn Fisher's wonderful description of Port Townsend has made me wanting to visit the place. Why couldn't this book end in a different way?

Was I reading a book or stalking someone's phone? 

MY THOUGHTS A FEW DAYS AFTER READING F*CK LOVE:


I may not like the story, but I get it. I may not get the story, but I appreciate it. I may not appreciate the story, but I understand it. I may not understand the story, but I think about it. I may not think about the story, but... but I can't. It has been on my mind since I was done with it, and I've started to realise that even though it didn't end in a way I would have liked, it was still very good. 

Now that we've gone through my stages of F*ck Love, it's time to summarise my final thoughts and I feel that's not going to happen because I don't have final thoughts. 

Would I ever forget this book? No. 
Would I reread it? Maybe. 
Would I recommend it? Yes. 
Was it worth writing three reviews for the book? Did I nail it? I don't know. You tell me. 



Buy the book: AMAZON (COM) AMAZON (IN) 


Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Waiting on Wednesday #152

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. 

The Great American Whatever by Tim Federle
Publication date- March 29th 2016


Goodreads Summary:

★ “A Holden Caulfield for a new generation.” —Kirkus (starred review)

★ “Whimsical, wry, and unfailingly funny.” —Booklist (starred review)

From the award-winning author of Better Nate Than Ever comes a laugh-out-loud sad YA debut that’s a wry and winning testament to the power of old movies and new memories—one unscripted moment at a time.

Quinn Roberts is a sixteen-year-old smart aleck and Hollywood hopeful whose only worry used to be writing convincing dialogue for the movies he made with his sister Annabeth. Of course, that was all before—before Quinn stopped going to school, before his mom started sleeping on the sofa…and before Annabeth was killed in a car accident.

Enter Geoff, Quinn’s best friend who insists it’s time that Quinn came out—at least from hibernation. One haircut later, Geoff drags Quinn to his first college party, where instead of nursing his pain, he meets a guy—a hot one—and falls hard. What follows is an upside-down week in which Quinn begins imagining his future as a screenplay that might actually have a happily-ever-after ending—if, that is, he can finally step back into the starring role of his own life story.

This sounds SO interesting and unique, and I'm sure it'll be great, as well. Plus, that cover looks so cool. 

What are you waiting on this Wednesday? Link me to your posts in the comments below, so I can check it out. Happy waiting, and happy reading! 


Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Launch Day Blitz- Duke of my Heart by Kelly Bowen



Summary-

Scandal can be handled...

Captain Maximus Harcourt, the unconventional tenth Duke of Alderidge, can deal with tropical storms, raging seas, and the fiercest of pirates. But he's returned home from his latest voyage to find a naked earl—quite inconveniently deceased—tied to his missing sister's bed. And he has only one place to turn. Now he's at the mercy of the captivating Miss Ivory Moore of Chegarre & Associates, known throughout London for smoothing over the most dire of scandals. 

Miss Moore treats the crisis as though it were no more serious than a cup of spilt tea on an expensive rug. As though this sort of thing happened on the job every day. Max has never in all his life met a woman with such nerve. Her dark eyes are too wide, her mouth is too full, her cheekbones too sharp. Yet together, she's somehow...flawless. It's just like his love for her, imperfect, unexpected—yet absolutely true.

Buy the book-

Excerpt-

He tipped his chair forward on two legs, bringing himselfcloser to her. She held her ground. He was closeenough to kiss her. He braced his elbows on his knees, thebottle dangling from his fingers, his ice-grey eyes searchingher face. There was a sheen of liquor on his lowerlip, the moisture visible in the flickering lantern light. Shecould taste it on her own tongue, imagined tasting it on his.
Her heart seemed to be crashing in her chest louder than itshould, and her stomach felt as it would have on heavingseas. Her control was slipping, and taking with it her judgment and her wits. “Do you think differently of me? Nowthat you know who I am? The things I’ve done?” The questions
slipped out of their own volition.
“The things you’ve done?” His forehead creased.
“I sold myself, Max.” There. She’d said it. “Before I hadenough power to control my own destiny.”
He stared at her. “I know who you are. You are IvoryMoore. You are the woman who redressed a corpse to savemy sister. Thewoman who kissedme to saveme from myself.You are the only one who understands why I can never be putin a prison that was built for me by fate and circumstance.”
She swallowed, emotion clogging her throat.
“You are the woman I trust.” He pushed himself away from her abruptly, and the chair came back down on fourlegs with a thud. He stood and set the bottle back on the tablewith great care. Reaching down, he caught her hands inhis and pulled her to her feet. He studied her hands beforebringing them to his lips. “The woman I want more thananything.”
Desire streaked through her and settled somewhere deepin her belly. Time seemed to have slowed. His lips grazedthe insides of her wrists.
“Max.” It came out like a plea, when she had meant it asa protest.
“I lied,” he said. He pressed his mouth to the flesh of herpalm, and her knees nearly buckled.
“What?” It was hard to follow the thread of conversation,what with the feel of his lips on her skin.
“I said I wasn’t sure of anything anymore,” he said quietly.
“But that’s not true. I am sure of you.”
Ivory searched his eyes, seeing only a raw vulnerabilityin those clear grey depths.
“You’ve more courage than anyone I’ve ever met,” hewhispered, pulling her closer to him, their hands stilljoined.
“You’re drunk.”
“Not nearly enough. But I wish I was.”
“What?”
“If I were drunk, it might excuse what I’m about to do.”
Ivory didn’t have time to even respond before he kissedher.

About Kelly Bowen

Kelly Bowen grew up in Manitoba, Canada. She attended the University of Manitoba and earned a Master of Science degree in veterinary physiology and endocrinology. But it was Kelly's infatuation with history and a weakness for a good love story that led her down the path of historical romance. When she is not writing, she seizes every opportunity to explore ruins and battlefields.
Currently, Kelly lives in Winnipeg with her husband and two boys, all of whom are wonderfully patient with the writing process. Except, that is, when they need a goalie for street hockey.


Giveaway-

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Share link- https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/26635ce2292/

Thanks everyone! :)

Blog Tour: Excerpt + Giveaway- Cogling by Jordan Mierek

COGLING
Young Adult Steampunk-Fantasy


The beautiful cover is thanks to Mandie Manzano

When fifteen-year-old Edna Mather tears an expensive and unfamiliar pocket watch off her little brother's neck, he crumbles into a pile of cogs right before her eyes. Horrified, Edna flees for help, but encounters Ike, a thief who attempts to steal the watch before he realizes what it is: a device to power Coglings—clockwork changelings left in place of stolen children who have been forced to work in factories. 

Desperate to rescue her brother, Edna sets off across the kingdom to the hags' swamp, with Ike in tow. There, they learn Coglings are also replacing nobility so the hags can stage a rebellion and rule over humanity. Edna and Ike must stop the revolt, but the populace believes hags are helpful godmothers and healers. No one wants to believe a lowly servant and a thief, especially when Ike has secrets that label them both as traitors.  
Together, Edna and Ike must make the kingdom trust them or stop the hags themselves, even if Ike is forced to embrace his dark heritage and Edna must surrender her family.



###

Excerpt:

Green smoke snaked up the side of the tenement and drifted over the sill of an open window. A breeze blew the vapor into a column before it solidified into the shape of a stout, young hag. She shook her crimson curls away from her face and straightened the hood of her cloak to keep her kohl-lined, silver eyes shadowed.
The scent of lavender clung to her robes, washing over the small room. Two brass-framed beds crowded the floor. Blankets covered sleeping children. A little boy wheezed against the head of his stuffed bear, drool dripping onto the wool.
The hag squinted to see the goldenrod dream cloud above his head—a dream about seeing his father again. She frowned at the other bed, where a sleeping teenager lay with a threadbare blanket tugged around her chin. Even squinting, the hag couldn’t make out a dream cloud. The girl was too old to be of any use.
The hag slithered to the boy’s bed and, from the folds of her cloak, drew out a rectangular box four inches long, with a circular indentation on one side. She set it on the floor to remove a vial and rag from her skirt pocket, the rough wool of the rag irritating her fingertips.
“Do it, Simone,” the hag muttered to herself as she willed her hands not to tremble. “Make the Dark Mother happy.” She couldn’t fail at her first mission.
Holding her breath, Simone dribbled three drops onto the rag, yanked the teddy bear away, and shoved the drugged cloth against the boy’s mouth. His eyes opened, his gasp muffled, and his body jerked. Simone stiffened.
The girl moaned. Her mattress rustled as she rolled over to face the wall, brown curls shifting over her pillow.
Simone’s heart thudded. By the seven Saints, she should’ve cast a sleeping spell over the girl. The Dark Mother preferred humans to think hags were harmless healers, not thieves who kidnapped children.
The boy writhed, squeaks emerging from behind the rag. Simone pressed harder. She needed his breath in the wool to disguise and fuel the machine.
The potion took hold and the boy collapsed. Simone’s thick lips curved over her broken teeth. She lifted a pocket watch from around her neck and positioned it into the crevice in the metal box. As the two pieces connected, a chime rang out. She set the box beside the limp little boy and draped the rag over it. Even though she should wait to make sure his breath stuck in the machine, she couldn’t risk waking the girl.
The metal stretched to become his replica as if it were made of putty. With a second chime, the metal shimmered and dulled into the pale peach of his flesh, becoming an exact duplicate of the child.
“Mine.” Simone hefted the little boy into her arms, leaving the duplication on the bed, and transformed to smoke before the chimes awoke the girl.

###

Check out COGLING on GoodReads and Amazon.

About the Author:


Jordan Elizabeth, formally Jordan Elizabeth Mierek, writes down her nightmares in order to live her dreams. She is the author of ESCAPE FROM WITCHWOOD HOLLOW, TREASURE DARKLY, and BORN OF TREASURE. Check out her website, JordanElizabethMierek.com, for more information on her books, contests, and bonus short stories.

###



Monday, January 25, 2016

Review- Cold-Hearted Rake by Lisa Kleypas

Summary-

A twist of fate...

Devon Ravenel, London's most wickedly charming rake, has just inherited an earldom. But his powerful new rank in society comes with unwanted responsibilities . . . and more than a few surprises. His estate is saddled with debt, and the late earl's three innocent sisters are still occupying the house . . . along with Kathleen, Lady Trenear, a beautiful young widow whose sharp wit and determination are a match for Devon's own.

A clash of wills...

Kathleen knows better than to trust a ruthless scoundrel like Devon. But the fiery attraction between them is impossible to deny—and from the first moment Devon holds her in his arms, he vows to do whatever it takes to possess her. As Kathleen finds herself yielding to his skillfully erotic seduction, only one question remains:
Can she keep from surrendering her heart to the most dangerous man she's ever known?


Release Date: October 27th, 2015
Published by: Avon
Page numbers: 416

Review-

After reading the recent contemporary romances by Lisa Kleypas I was feeling a little let down by her so I was really excited to see that she had a new historical romance. Cold-Hearted Rake is the first book in The Ravenels series by Lisa Klepas. I thoroughly enjoyed myself while reading Cold-Hearted Rake.


Devon Ravenel is a wicked rake who ends up inheriting an earldom. What he doesn't expect is to inherit three cousins with it. Nor does he expect to be so fascinated with his cousin's widow. I really liked Devon. He was a rake and he could be cruel and harsh when he wanted to be but his heart was always in the right place. I also found it charming that he was so smitten by Kathleen.


Kathleen is our heroine. She's just lost her husband but she can't bring herself to mourn about a person whom she didn't love. Kathleen had a history of her own but all she wanted to do was take care of her sisters-in-law. I really liked Kathleen. I liked how she stood up to Devon and wasn't afraid to speak her mind. She wanted to be loved for who she was.


Kathleen and Devon's romance was a slow burn. It was definitely one of those love-hate relationships in the beginning but they soon start understanding each other. I just love the way Lisa Kleypas writes romance. There is so much depth and complexity and intimacy in every scene. We also get to see the start of Helen and Rhys' story.


We get to see many characters in Cold-Hearted Rake. Lisa Klepas has set up the foundation for a great series. That is the reason that the love story some times took a bit of a back seat. But I enjoyed it none the less. I loved the twins and I'm so excited for Marring Mr.Winterborne which is the next book. I highly recommend Cold-Hearted Rake.



Friday, January 22, 2016

Blog Tour: Spotlight + Giveaway- Soul Warrior: The Age Of Kali by Falguni Kothari


WIN THE MEDALLION. TAKE PART IN THE RAFFLECOPTER

Soul Warrior: Age of Kali by Falguni Kothari



Blurb

Fight fate, or succumb to destiny? 
In the dark Age of Kali, the Soul Warrior alone stands guard over the Human Realm, protecting its denizens from evil-willed asuras or demons. When a trick of fate appoints him guru to a motley crew of godlings, he agrees to train them as demon hunters against his better judgment. Suddenly, Lord Karna is not only battling the usual asuras with sinister agendas, but also rebellious students and a fault-ridden past. 

Spanning the cosmic realms of mythic India, here is a tale of a band of supernatural warriors who come together over a singular purpose: the salvation of Karna’s secret child. 

Excerpt

Kuru Kshetra Battlefield. 

Day 17 of the Great Kuru War, seven thousand five hundred years ago.

Death is hot. 

That surprises me. I’d imagined death as cold and brutal. Merciless. But in truth, death is hot as blood, and constant like a heartbeat. 

Thrum. Thrum. Thrum. My lifeblood ebbs to the rhythm. My head ripped from its torso by Anjalika, the arrow of death that burns even now with the energy of the sun. Struck from behind like some novice. Felled in battle by that lily-livered usurper the Heavens smile upon—Prince Arjun. Brother Arjun. 

What have I done? I harness the thought. Cease all reflection and wrench free of my mortal body. I soar up, up into the gloaming, snapping the ties that tether me to life. Dead, I have no use for ties. 

“A matter of perspective, Karna, O son of my godsire.” The unearthly words strum through the air, and I quiver like a plucked bowstring, overcome as much by the voice as its blasphemous claim. “Bonds of devotion nourish the soul, brother.” 

There is that word again. Brother. Unpleasant laughter wells up in me. Alive, I am abandoned, denied my birthright—Celestial or royal. Death, it seems, changes everything. 

A bright, nebulous light brings forth Lord Yama, the God of Death, atop his divine mount. His elephantine thighs ripple beneath a silken dhoti, ochre and crimson of color, as he guides the mammoth water buffalo to a halt. An iron medallion sways against the God’s powerful cerulean torso, its center stone an ethereal blood orange. 

Hypnotic. Pulsing with life. I am drawn to the stone. 

“Piteous waste,” Lord Yama mutters, surveying the carnage of war far below us. 

I trace the trajectory of his gaze and behold the battered remains of my army drenched in the evidence of its mortality. Is it true? Have we died in vain? 

Words form inside me and I will them out. “Shall we go, my lord?”

 “Ha! Impatient to be judged, are you? Anxious to have your fate revealed?” asks the Judge of the Hell Realm. His red-black eyes burn with intelligence and compassion in a blue-tinged face that is long and lean and hard. “Rest easy, brother-warrior. You are not bound for the Great Courtroom.” 

Not bound for Hell? Where then? Fear has eluded me for so long that I take a moment to recognize it. A hollow-bellied feeling it is, as annoying as a bone stuck in my throat. 

“My lord, I have done bad deeds…terrible deeds in my life. I have waged wars, this horrendous bloodshed, and all because my pride could not—would not abide rejection. I have sinned. I must atone for my actions.”

Lord Yama smiles in a way I do not like. “You have redeemed yourself admirably, Karna. You forfeited your life for the greater good today. The deed far outweighs any misguided ones. Be at peace, brother, and enjoy the fruits of your karma.” 

There is but one place to enjoy such fruits—the Higher Worlds. 

I’d rather burn in Hell for eternity. I say so. “I won’t live amongst the Celestials.” Coexisting with the very souls who’ve spurned me is unthinkable. Watching her—for she would surely reside in Heaven soon—will be eternal torture. 

Yama shakes his head, the horns on his crown slashing to and fro. “I thought you might say that. Relax. Your destiny lies elsewhere.”

 “Am I to be reborn then? Am I to begin a new life, and forget the past?” Pain, sharp as a blade, lances through me at the thought. Forget my past? My family? Even her? Was that my punishment? To forget all that made me human? It must be so. For have I not betrayed them as surely as I’ve betrayed my prince regent? 

“Human rebirth is not your destiny, either. You are chosen, brother. Your war skills are needed for a higher purpose.” The God slips off his mount, his garments rustling in agitation. “This unjust war has pushed the Cosmos to the vortex of a cataclysm. Tomorrow, the Kuru War will end. Fearing its outcome, the Celestials rolled the Die of Fate and have unwittingly bestowed on Demon Kali untold powers.” Lord Yama bares his fangs in disgust at the foolish gamble. “Imagine the havoc that asura and his minions will wreak on the weak if left unchecked. The Human Realm must be safeguarded during Kali’s dark reign.”

 I can imagine the horror only too well as I have battled with evil all my life. But I am done with wars. I am done with defeat. I won’t waste another lifetime fighting. 

“With due respect, my lord, I am not the man for this task.”

 “You are not a man at all,” Yama thunders, fists shaking. “You are the son of Surya, the Sun God. Accept that you are no ordinary soul.”

 I say nothing. I think nothing. I feel something but I squash it down. 

Lord Yama’s thick black brows draw together. “Demon Kali will try to pervade every particle of good that exists in the Cosmos, beginning with the corruptible Human Realm. Once he obliterates all of humanity, he’ll set his sights on the Celestials. Kali will not stop until he’s destroyed our way of life. But you can stop him. You are light to his darkness. Do you understand now why you had to betray him? Your beloved humans need you, Karna. I need you. Our father believes in you. Claim your rightful place in the Cosmos.”

 Impatiently, Lord Yama removes the iron medallion from his neck and holds it out. The vermillion sunstone glows as if its soul is on fire. Nay! It is my soul that is on fire. 
Indescribable energy curls through me. I gasp, though not in pain. I shudder and feel myself grow large, grow hot. Was this rebirth? 

I am strong, full-bodied and lethal once more. Then I roar as light bursts forth from my very core and I throb with glorious, blinding power. When I come to myself, my world has changed again. Bubbles of color shimmer all around me: cobalt and saffron, azure and rose. By karma! They are souls. Infinite floating souls.

“Behold the spectrum of life: the worthy, the notorious, the righteous and the sinners.” The God of Death’s soul was a worthy sapphire blue with a tinge of silver. “Your duty, should you choose to accept the office of the Soul Warrior, is to hunt down the red-souled asuras and crush them. Whatever you decide, I wish you a long and successful Celestial existence, Karna,” Yama booms out and vanishes into the purpling sky.

The parley has stunned me. The world of color holds me in thrall. I was dead. Yet, now I am not. A new path lies before me. Unwanted, unwelcome, I insist on principle. I close my eyes. Open them to stare at the medallion cupped in my hand—a golden-hued hand at once familiar and not—and know myself for a fool. I do want this. It’s what I am. 

Bastard-born. Rebel. Son. Husband. Father. Warlord. And protector. I fist the talisman, buoyed by its concrete warmth. This is who I am. 

I am the Soul Warrior.

About the Author


Falguni Kothari is a New York-based hybrid author, and an amateur Latin and Ballroom dance silver medalist with a semi-professional background in Indian Classical dance. She writes in a variety of genres sewn together by the colorful and cultural threads of her South Asian heritage and expat experiences. She is published in India in contemporary fiction with global e-book availability, and launches her mythic fantasy series, the Age of Kali, with SOUL WARRIOR. When not writing, dancing or being a domestic goddess, she fools around on all manner of social media, and loves to connect with readers.

Stalk Her @            
         
Check out The Book Club Tour Schedule 

Follow The Tour @ Pinterest 


Win This Beautiful Medallion. Take part in the Rafflecopter

Thursday, January 21, 2016

(Mini) Reviews- Srishti Quickies by Amit Nangia

Daring Daroga: Killer in the Shadows! on Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

"Naam: Inspector Abhay Pandey, Uttar Pradesh Police, sheher Allahabad. If you read newspapers, naam toh suna hee hoga. 

Kaam: Maintaining public order, ordering the hawaldars, patrolling in my jeep and giving rides to women in need. 

Shauk: Haseeno ko bachaana, gundon aur politicians ki bajaana. Fir chhamiya party mein nachnagana. I like murder investigations the way I like my women - mysterious, complicated, and with a (killer) body.

A threat: Naina Sinha received a threatening phone call, followed by an attempt to kill her. I found Naina with a bloodstained knife at her house. Has she killed someone? 

A murder: An unidentified body is found in the public toilet with Naina's photograph and a huge sum of money. Was he out to kill her? 

A secret: There is a dark secret from her past that Naina is unable to remember. Does the secret hold the key to solving the case? As new secrets are unravelled, I begin to realize that everybody from her past has something to hide. This is much more than a simple murder case. Come, let's find the Killer in the Shadows!"


Release date: February 2015
Published by: Srishti Publishers and Distributors
Page numbers: 124

REVIEW:

Amit Nangia's Daring Daroga: Killer in the Shadows! is a Srishti Quickie which makes it so easy to read because the book is short and entertaining. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this mystery that revolves around the life of Naina, a girl who can't escape her past, mainly because she barely remembers it and inspector Abhay Pandey, a hot shot police officer who is good at whatever he does. This short story had everything from romance to action to comedy to politics and some Bollywood thrown in here and there. The latter had me annoyed sometimes, but the story was very good. Like I said, I wasn't expecting this to be such a good read, because sexism and objectification in books makes me cringe. And it did with this as well. But if I put that aside, Daring Daroga: Killer in the Shadows! was a thrilling and enjoyable read. Not much into mysteries, this one had me at the edge of my seat because I couldn't figure out who the killer was until the very end, and although as a whole, it was really mediocre, the journey was fun, and that's what matters anyway. 

*Note: This book was provided by Srishti Publishers and Distributors in exchange for an honest review. We thank them for the book. 

Buy the book: AMAZON / FLIPKART

Catch Me? No You Can't! on Goodreads


BOOK SUMMARY:

Raja Tiwari is freshly out of jail and not for stealing hearts and killing with his looks. Audacious, handsome and dangerously charming, he is looking for a new job when he meets the suave and beautiful Silky Sinha. To add the cherry on the cake, she takes him home.

Why would a hot girl take an ex-convict, a stranger home?
Did she want something from him? Did she want him?

Wouldn't the story be too simple that way? Enter ex-cop Thakur, unruly and wild. He has a job for Tiwari which would either make him filthy rich or land him behind bars again. His plan leads to a dramatic verdict, unforeseen consequences and a web of lies and deception.

Tiwari always has an angle to everything, but he would need something more to be a step ahead in this game - assuming his own allies don't end up killing him before the police get the chance.

The question is: How far is he willing to go?


Release date: April 10th 2015
Published by: Srishti Publishers and Distributors 
Page numbers: 108

REVIEW:

Catch Me? No You Can't! is another mystery/ thriller by Amit Nangia that is a quick read of about hundred pages. This is the story of Raja Tiwari, who is freshly out of jail and who helps a beautiful girl from a street goon and lands in a soup. Or so it seems. Tiwari's character was very well developed and portrayed. Although the book takes place over a couple of days alone, it was fun reading about his journey and how his rather smart ass mind works. There were so may times while reading the book when I asked myself exactly what was happening, and there were also times when the book seemed very rushed, but it all came really well together in the end and ended up being a very thrilling ride. Although the use of Hindi in Indian Writing in English annoys me, Amit Nangia's humour was on point and had me laughing hard. For a story that revolves around barely three characters, this book was very entertaining and gripping. Overall, Catch Me? No You Can't! was an entertaining read whose end was really good, unique and difficult to predict. 

*Note: This book was provided by Srishti Publishers and Distributors in exchange for an honest review. We thank them for the book. 


Buy the book: AMAZON / FLIPKART