Friday, August 29, 2014

Author Interview + Giveaway (IN only)- Bubble Wrap by Kalyani Rao

Hey guys! :)
Today we have with us, Kalyani Rao. She is the author of Bubble Wrap. There is also a giveaway at the end of the post who can win 2 copies of Bubble Wrap. So keep reading!

Summary-

Twelve-year-old Krishna Singh has been married off to Shyam Singh of Rokhagadh, Rajasthan. Before the wedding, Krishna's grandmother gives her a box filled with exquisite jewellery, telling her to sell it in times of trouble, but otherwise to hide it from her parents and in-laws. Accompanied by Gudiya, the fifteen-year-old widow of her cousin, Krishna realises that her cold marital home is a far cry from the loving one she left behind. The world outside has modernized and is beamed via television into her home. But she is not allowed to go to school, instead a female tutor comes home to teach her. A dubious father-in-law, a husband away at boarding school, and a mousey mother-in-law clearly show Krishna what is a woman's place in this family. An unfortunate incident leads Krishna and Gudiya headlong into a series of events that change their lives forever. As they deal with one situation after another, the girls discover each other and learn much about the world they live in. Bubble Wrap is a story about their fight for survival against impossible odds in a shallow male-dominated society.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kalyani Rao likes to describe herself as a travel junkie who writes. She believes that she has learned most of her lessons in life while traveling. Kalyani is based out of Pune where she also runs a theme-based Travel Company.

A big fan of Haruki Murakami, she also blogs and some of her writing can be found at twinklingpebbles.wordpress.com. Bubble Wrap is the debut novel of this young entrepreneur. 


INTERVIEW:

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I am a bit of a non conformist who likes to believe that I have learned most of my lessons in Life by travelling extensively. I run a theme based travel company and pursuing my passion to write.

Tell us about your book, Bubble wrap.

Bubble Wrap  is a story of our times where medieval and primitive mindsets still prevail.The story is being narrated by a twelve year old married girl who narrates this emotional roller coaster filled with nail biting suspense. Bubble wrap is also a story of friendship and love between Krishna and Gudiya,the two main characters of the story.

What inspired you to write your book?

One of my backpacking trip to northern India inspired me to write the story of Bubble wrap.

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

    I am inspired by lot of people and incidents when I wrote the characters of the book however most of it is my imagination.

    What kind of research went into writing your book?

    Well most of research was done when I was travelling across north and when I stayed with a local family.

    Did you always want to become an author or was it something that you eventually thought of or realized? If not an author, what did you want to be when growing up?

    I guess I always enjoyed putting my thoughts together and observe and somehow being an author allows that.

    Tell us why readers should pick up your book.

    One should pick this emotional book to feel warm,nudged and desperate at times.Its one of those reads which makes us put up questions.

    What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

    Travel.

    GIVEAWAY:

    Kalyani and Harlequin India have generously offered to give away TWO copies of Bubble Wrap to two lucky INDIAN readers.

    Enter through the rafflecopter below or go here.

    May the odds be ever in your favor!

    a Rafflecopter giveaway

    Thanks! Happy reading everybody :)


    Thursday, August 28, 2014

    Review- Play With Me by Ananth

    Summary-

    Not very often is one confronted with ravishing beauty. Sid is a successful photographer who works in a boutique advertisement agency. He is single and pretty much has everything he had ever wanted – a rewarding job which happens to be his passion, great co-workers and a smooth sailing life. But the one thing missing, perhaps the most important, is love. And one day, a stunning, independent, free-spirited woman called Cara walks into his life. The two get involved in a thrilling affair, sexually obsessed, which drastically changes all of Sid’s ideas about love. The relationship completely alters the way he thinks about the natural, sensual pleasure. But again, everything changes because something strange happens in Sid’s life - he discovers himself falling intensely in love with another woman. Does that mean he has to walk out on Cara? How will he deal with his new love interest? Find out the answers and more in Play with Me - a story of those emotions that are universal, timeless, and which touch everyone’s life.

    Review-

    I knew what I was getting into when I decided to pick up Play With Me. It is supposed to be an erotica for everyone who loved Fifty Shades. While I haven't read Fifty Shades, I had more expectations out of Play With Me. What happened was that I was incredibly disappointed with Play With Me. 

    Sid is our hero. He is a successful photographer who works in an advertisement agency. Then he meets Cara. She is a free spirited woman and thus begins their affair. I found Sid's character to be really flat. There was no real depth to him. I didn't get the reasons behind his actions except for the fact that he wanted to sleep with Cara because she was "beautiful".

    I actually found Cara better than Sid which is saying something. Cara did not make excuses about her behavior. All she wanted from Sid was a physical relationship and that's what she got. In the midst of this is Nat. She is a married woman who Sid finds himself falling for while his affair with Cara is still going on. I actually thought Nat was sensible until she too falls in bed with Sid. I couldn't understand what power Sid had that made women magically fall in bed with him.

    There are plenty of graphic scenes in the book because obviously it is erotica but I couldn't find any real intimacy in even a single one of them. There is no such thing as fidelity in the book. I could understand if it was only Sid but his friend Roy is sailing in the same boat cheating on his wife. I couldn't find any growth or development even by the end of the book.

    I am glad that Play With Me was a short read. There wasn't anything in the book that I particularly liked. I couldn't relate to or sympathize with even a single character in the book and it all felt very boring to me. Sadly, Play With Me was a read that I did not enjoy.

    *Note: A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.


    Wednesday, August 27, 2014

    Waiting On Wednesday #100

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

    Oh my God, guys! If you didn't realise it yet, this is out 100th Waiting on Wednesday. I mean, how cool is that! We scored a century. I feel old. But that doesn't, in any way, stop me from wanting to share with you the books I'm looking forward to. Well a nice strong 100 WoWs call for celebration! We don't have anything new to offer, but since celebrations are all around us here at The Readdicts, make sure you stop by our Second Blogoversary Celebration Giveaway Post! 

    Here's what I'm waiting on!

    Anatomy of a Misfit by Andrea Portes
    Publication Date- September 2nd 2014


    Goodreads Summary:

    This emotional, hilarious, devastating, and ultimately triumphant YA debut, based on actual events, recounts one girl’s rejection of her high school’s hierarchy—and her discovery of her true self in the face of tragedy.

    Fall’s buzzed-about, in-house favorite.

    Outside, Anika Dragomir is all lip gloss and blond hair—the third most popular girl in school. Inside, she’s a freak: a mix of dark thoughts, diabolical plots, and, if local chatter is to be believed, vampire DNA (after all, her father is Romanian). But she keeps it under wraps to maintain her social position. One step out of line and Becky Vilhauer, first most popular girl in school, will make her life hell. So when former loner Logan McDonough shows up one September hotter, smarter, and more mysterious than ever, Anika knows she can’t get involved. It would be insane to throw away her social safety for a nerd. So what if that nerd is now a black-leather-jacket-wearing dreamboat, and his loner status is clearly the result of his troubled home life? Who cares if the right girl could help him with all that, maybe even save him from it? Who needs him when Jared Kline, the bad boy every girl dreams of, is asking her on dates? Who?

    Anatomy of a Misfit is Mean Girls meets The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and Anika’s hilariously deadpan delivery will appeal to readers for its honesty and depth. The so-sad-it’s-funny high school setting will pull readers in, but when the story’s dark foreboding gradually takes over, the devastating penultimate tragedy hits like a punch to the gut. Readers will ride the highs and lows alongside funny, flawed Anika — from laughter to tears, and everything in between.

    This book sounds very interesting and I'd love to give it a try once it's out.

    What are you waiting on this Wednesday? Let me know in the comments below. Happy waiting and happy reading, everyone! 


    Tuesday, August 26, 2014

    Launch Day Blitz- It's in His Kiss by Jill Shlavis


    Book Summary:

    ONE KISS CAN LAST FOREVER

    Becca Thorpe has uprooted her life and escaped to the beach. Now's her chance to get away from city living, throw caution to the ocean winds, and live in the moment. Especially if the moment includes the deliciously sexy surfer she meets shortly after arriving in Lucky Harbor. Something about the dark intensity of Sam's eyes and the thrill she gets at his touch convinces her to stay awhile.

    Boatbuilder and investment genius Sam Brody is a self-made man who knows how dangerous it can be to mix business and pleasure. But he can't resist offering Becca a job just to hear her laugh and have her near. Yet when her brother comes to town asking for help, will he tempt her back to her glamorous life in the city? Or do Sam and little Lucky Harbor have a chance to win Becca's heart? 



    Jill's Bio:

    New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill's bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold and visit her website for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.

    You can learn more about Jill at:

    JillShalvis.com
    Twitter @jillshalvis
                                                                       Facebook.com/jillshalvis 

    I loved It's in His Kiss and I can't wait for you guys to read it!
    Happy reading! :)

    Monday, August 25, 2014

    Cover Reveal- Blocked by Jennifer Lane

    Hi, everyone! I am excited to be part of the cover reveal for author Jennifer Lane's Blocked, organised by AToMR Promotions. Let's directly get on to what lies in store for you! 

    COVER REVEAL:

    BLOCKED

    By Jennifer Lane


    New Adult Contemporary/Sports Romance

    Releasing October 21, 2014

    College freshman Lucia Ramirez has a secret crush on Dane Monroe. He’s a tall drink of water — blond, brash, and one hell of a volleyball player. Hijole. Lucia hopes her volleyball scholarship to his school will make him notice her.

    Too bad what’s noticeable is Dane’s obvious hatred for Lucia. Her family’s politics contradict everything he stands for. And politics are front and center in both their families. Dane’s mother is about to face Lucia’s father in the race for US President.

    When Secret Service throws them together, Dane can’t deny his frustrating attraction to Lucia’s athletic curves and sweet faith in the world. Amid the intense pressure of college athletics and presidential politics, can opposites not just attract, but overcome overwhelming odds to be together? Or do their differences block their match from the start? 


    If you would like to participate in the Release Event and/or Request to Review BLOCKED, you can find out more information HERE.



    GIVEAWAY:

    Jennifer Lane is giving away a $10 Amazon Gift Card and an Advanced Reader Copy of BLOCKED on her Facebook page! You can enter HERE.


    About the Author:

    Get psyched for romance with psychologist/author (psycho author) Jennifer Lane! By day she witnesses growth in her psychotherapy clients, and by night she wrangles misbehaving fictional characters as she writes sports romance and romantic suspense with a psychological twist. She can’t decide which is more fun.

    A swimmer and volleyball player in college, Jen wove some of her own experiences into Streamline—a military mystery about swimmers. And readers can dip their toes into Jen’s world of swimming romance by sampling her free New Adult novella Swim RecruitGo HERE.

    College volleyball romance Blocked is Jen’s newest release, launching 10-21-14. Peek inside big-time college sports and even bigger national politics when the offspring of two presidential candidates find out whether opposites really do attract, or their match is blocked from the start.

    Stories of redemption interest Jen the most, especially the healing power of love. She is also the author of The Conduct Series, a romantic suspense trilogy that includes With Good Behavior, Bad Behavior, and On Best Behavior. Ultimately, whether writing or reading, Jen loves stories that make her laugh and cry.

    In her spare time she enjoys exercising, attending book club, hanging out with her plus-size, “I’m not fat, I’m big-boned” Izzie cat, and visiting her sisters and their families in Chicago and Hilton Head. 


     photo AToMRPRomotionslogo_zps7a14e565.png

    Honestly, that is one hot cover for a sports book! I really like it. What do you think? 

    In other news, I'd like to thank Jennifer and AToMR for letting us be part of the cover reveal. Thank you, readers, for stopping by! 



    Friday, August 22, 2014

    Blog Tour + Giveaway- Trouble Has a New Name by Adite Banerjee


    Trouble Has A New Name 
    by Adite Banerjie




    The Blurb
    “Will you pretend to be my fiancé for the next few days?” 

    Recently-single model Rayna Dutt does not feel like flying to her friend’s big fat Indian wedding. But she does - and when a mix up with room allocations forces her to share a luxury villa on Emerald Isle with the gorgeous owner of the hotel - Neel Arora - and best man at the wedding, things begin to look up.

    Until Rayna’s ex turns up with a new girl on his arm! 

    Hitting the panic button, Rayna searches for a solution. Surely Neel wouldn’t mind being her fake fiancé…? In an instant the attraction they share is fever pitch, but when scandal comes calling, Rayna soon finds herself in more trouble than she can handle!
       
    Buy @


    Watch It 

         


    Meet the Author

    The Author's Thoughts

    Adite Banerjie has been writing professionally ever since she graduated from college. After an exciting and fulfilling career as a business journalist, she turned to freelance writing, crunched numbers and wrote reports about consumer behavior and social development issues. Somewhere along the way she got on to the screenwriting bandwagon and wrote scripts for documentaries and spec screenplays for feature films. She was hired by a filmmaker to write a feature script based on a true story. When she penned her first romantic short story she won the 2012 Harlequin Passions Aspiring Authors Contest. Two of her books, The Indian Tycoon's Marriage Deal and Trouble Has a New Name have been published by Harlequin India. And she is currently under contract to write two more for the same publisher. She lives in Greater Noida, on the outskirts of New Delhi, India, with her writer husband. She loves to connect with readers and writers.

    You can stalk her @
                   
                              


    Check out The Book Club Tour Schedule 

    By the Same Author

    This Tour is Hosted by 




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    Blog Tour: Book Spotlight- The Lover's Secret by J.C. Reed

    Hi, guys! I am glad to help author J.C. Reed with her August 5, 2014 release, The Lover's Secret. The author has some great stuff planned for readers and you'll be able to get a look at it all right below. So without much ado, let's get on to see what's in store for you. 






    Release date: August 5th, 2014


    Genre: Mature New Adult/ Adult Contemporary Romance
    Recommended for ages 18 and up.

    Full Length Novel

    ABOUT THE BOOK: 

    When a sexy encounter comes like a dream and leaves like a nightmare…

    Brooke Stewart thinks she’s finally safe. After witnessing the crime of a killer, she can move on from her past. But after one night at the Trio Hotel and meeting the sexy stranger with the green eyes that can steal one’s soul, her life is changed forever. Passions run deep. The game is supposed to be for one night with no strings attached.


    What she doesn’t know is that the sexy stranger has an agenda of his own. Brooke Stewart has something he desperately wants, something he can't admit to the woman he tries to get to surrender. A secret so deep it would upend her life if she found out too soon. He’s almost reached his goal, and then she gets a letter she was not meant to read. Suddenly, secrets get a completely new meaning.

    Is the past really ever the past?


    ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 


    J.C. Reed is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of SURRENDER YOUR LOVE and CONQUER YOUR LOVE. She writes steamy contemporary fiction with a touch of mystery. When she's not typing away on her keyboard, forgetting the world around her, she dreams of returning to the beautiful mountains of Wyoming. You can also find her chatting on Facebook with her readers or spending time with her two children.

    CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR: WEBSITE / FACEBOOK / TWITTER

    GIVEAWAY:



    Before saying that's all, I would just like to thank J.C. for the opportunity to help out with her book and I'd also like to wish her lots of happiness and succes. I sincerely hope readers thoroughly enjoy the book. 

    Thank you, readers, for stopping by! Happy reading! 


    Thursday, August 21, 2014

    Review- The Girl He Left Behind by Shilpa Suraj

    Summary-

    Can he win her back?

    Romantic fiction editor Sia Sharma knows that life is not about happily ever after. The only guy she had loved had left her six years back. 

    Suddenly Ryan Mathur is back in town as a hot shot entrepreneur. His advertising firm has been hired to create the marketing campaign for Sia’s publishing company, but Ryan has only one thing on his mind: to win back the only woman he ever loved.

    But feisty Sia has other plans and is determined to make him pay. The harder Ryan tries to win her over, the further Sia strays. Ryan seems to be everywhere she goes, and her bestselling romance author, the sultry Nisha Malik, joins the fray to pursue Ryan. It’s not long before Sia realizes she still has feelings for him.

    Will Sia let Ryan back into her life again? And will Ryan ever win back the girl he left behind?

    Review-

    I wanted to read The Girl He Left Behind from the title itself. I always love a good second chance romance if well written. Luckily, The Girl He Left Behind was a pleasurable read. It did have a few cliches here and there but I didn't mind. Overall, I really liked it.

    Sia is a romantic fiction editor. Once upon a time she believed in happily ever afters but after the only guy she had ever loved left her she has given up on the concept. I really liked Sia. She had a horrible time after Ryan left her and though she tried to move on, things just went down hill for her. I found Sia to be a capable and determined woman of modern times.

    Then we have Ryan. Ryan is back in town and now he wants Sia back. At first I wasn't all that convinced about Ryan. It took me some time to get warmed up to him but as we see his thoughts we can see his reasons. Ryan had issues to sort through and by the end of it we can see he only wants what is best for Sia.

    Ryan and Sia definitely had chemistry but I would have liked to see more. We can definitely see Sia's hesitancy through out and I liked how Ryan didn't easily give up on her. Though I did find him to act stupid where Nisha was concerned.

    I absolutely adored Sia and Ryan's friends Minty and Adarsh. Both of them were awesome best friends who got in the much needed humor and wit into the plot. Shilpa Suraj's writing is easy and engaging. It was easy to fly through the book. The Girl He Left Behind was a good read.

    *Note: A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.


    Wednesday, August 20, 2014

    Waiting on Wednesday #99

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

    Mortal Heart by Robin LaFevers
    Publication Date: November 4th, 2014


    Summary-

    Annith has watched her gifted sisters at the convent come and go, carrying out their dark dealings in the name of St. Mortain, patiently awaiting her own turn to serve Death. But her worst fears are realized when she discovers she is being groomed by the abbess as a Seeress, to be forever sequestered in the rock and stone womb of the convent. Feeling sorely betrayed, Annith decides to strike out on her own.

    She has spent her whole life training to be an assassin. Just because the convent has changed its mind doesn't mean she has.

    But across Brittany, the tides of war are drawing ever nearer, with France pressuring the beleaguered duchess from all sides. Annith’s search for answers threatens to rip open an intricate web of lies and deceit that sit at the heart of the convent she serves. Yet to expose them threatens the very fabric of her existence and risks an unforeseen chance at love, one that she can no longer deny. Annith must carefully pick a path and, gods willing, effect a miracle that will see her country—and her heart—to safety.

    I love Robin LaFevers' writing style so I am super excited for Mortal Heart.
    What are you waiting on? :)