Author Interview + Giveaway (India Only)- Legacy by Mohan Prasad

Hey guys! :)

Today I have a very interesting book up for grabs on the blog. But before that, we also have an interview with the author himself. Mohan Prasad is the author of the book called Legacy. Keep on reading ahead for the interview and giveaway!

Summary-

Legacy is the story of Anita and Darshan, two teenagers in love, set up in the chaotic post Independence India. Their search is on, not for something concrete but abstract, while they explore the land they love and the people they live among. But fate betrays them. Their ideologies diverge and the road forks. Love, both presence and absence of it, runs through the tale, while Indian story unfolds for a free, but confused generation.Summary: Legacy is set in post Independent India, and weaves together the stories of Darshan and Anita, ambitious rural teenagers from Bihar; Darshan's father Shankar, an RSS supporter from a freedom fighter family; and Subhash, the son of the protagonists.Darshan, proud resident of an exotic village, is inspired to leave his adventurous hostel life to join the student movement of 1975 under the firebrand Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan. Grounded in an Anglo Indian village during the repressive Emergency, he falls in love with his free-spirited senior Anita. Wading through teenage love and exciting college adventures of 1970s Delhi, they forsake education on JP's death to explore Bihar. Disgusted by the traumatic Sikh riots and saddened by his father's death, Darshan finds a guide in a swami rumoured to be Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. While fate turns Anita into a Naxal strategist, Darshan, seeking solace, turns into an acclaimed mystery healer.The old love sparks again while violent communal events keep shocking India. Sadly, Anita forsakes the world of Maoist violence and hypocritical civil society, sending their five-year-old son Subhash away. The estranged son, now an adult, tries to fathom his parent's lives and unfulfilled dreams while an exhausted yet optimistic Darshan entrusts the baton of social revolution to the next generation.Legacy shows how the chaotic story of 1960s to 1990s India gave rise to real heroes, though flawed in their own ways. While we keep looking for ways to improve the lives of our fellow beings, the boundary between a hero and a criminal often fades. Brief reviewsThe inspiring and exciting story of India. An incredible debut.

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Author Interview:

·        About the Author:

Mohan was born in a small village of Bihar adjacent to the river Baghmati. He grew up to be the Bihar ICSE topper and went to graduate from IIT Delhi and IIM Lucknow. His love for Indian as well as world history, culture and human stories led him to explore evolution of societies and revolutionary movements across the world. The only village boy in his MBA class at IIM Lucknow, he has fortunately experienced firsthand two different Indias with their similarities and differences.

He has been a regular contributor to print media through articles on Education sector and has been a speaker at many seminars. He has been associated with Manisha Mandir, Lucknow – a home for destitute girls – and has also been awarded twice by the Governors of Uttar Pradesh for his social services. With a reading habit bordering on crazy, Mohan delved deeper into Indian history - post and pre Independence. He now wants to present the story of India to a curious new generation with a fresh and interesting perspective through inspiring tales of young and ambitious individuals.

·         Tell us about your book, Legacy.

Legacy is meant for the adults (young to middle age); every patriot and curious person who is interested in knowing the story of India post independence, but finds History books not engaging enough to read. It is the inspiring and exciting story of India, as she stumbles again and again since independence, but always gets up to move on. The protagonists, Darshan and Anita, lend the readers their eyes to witness the unfolding of the story, and their lives to live vicariously in those chaotic decades. India overcomes upheavals like the Emergency, the Naxal movement, the anti Sikh riots and the demolition of the Babri Masjid, carrying along her crores of children, their dreams and their hopes. The adventurous and exciting love story of the protagonists, waving between delight and agony, is woven in this tale of an electrical circuit called society. It's a unique period epic delving into how and what has become of India in the 21st century. 

·         What inspired you to write your book?

My grandfather was a freedom fighter. He used to tell us a lot of stories of India of the 1940s as well as folk tales from all across the country. My mother also used to narrate stories to me and my siblings. This created in my young heart, a love for human stories with their intricacies, emotions and details. Later in life, I took to reading extensively books from different genres. In fact I would have read at least 700-800 books since my college days. For quite some time, I have nurtured this urge to present to the younger generation a glimpse of the turbulent, yet decisive times in the recent history of India. Legacy does just that. The stories almost compelled me to put it all out to the young generation in an engaging story that they can relate to. History books can be boring, but historical fiction is quite loved.

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

The characters are figments of imagination, however their different aspects are inspired by different people. Every character in the book is made up of some qualities of an entire group of personalities. A lot of stories are inspired by my personal experiences or experiences of my relatives as well as college seniors.

·         What kind of research went into writing your book?

A lot of time has been spent for primary as well as secondary research of the book. I have travelled to almost all the places mentioned. Moreover, most of my time went into talking to people from these regions to get their views on various events as well as get to know history through their eyes.

Besides, reading books on every possible topic related to the book as well as newspaper cuttings etc of those periods have helped a lot. 

·         Do you prefer e-books or physical copies? Why?

I would prefer physical copies. E-books are definitely the future and I have read a lot of them, yet physical copies somehow connect more. They are not abstract, but concrete. You can touch them or feel them and you can fall in love with them. 

·         If you could read only one author’s works for the rest of your life, which author would you pick and why?

I would have to choose between Munshi Premchand and Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Reading Premchand saddens you, so I may have to leave him after a while but one can keep reading Marquez for the entire life.

·         What are the three things you’d like to have with you on a deserted island?

It has to be a thick romantic comedy book, a mobile phone with solar chargeable battery and a pen. I love talking and spend a lot of time connecting with friends and relatives from all across. I love to read and can read 3-4 books in a day. And obviously I love to write as well.

·         What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment?

Toughest criticism has come from my cousin, who also acted as my sounding board as well as proof-reader. He became critical of my mistakes and initially was even critical of a lot of my ideas and views that are in the book.

The best compliment has come from my English Writing professor at IIT Delhi who wrote on her facebook wall, “After a long time I have closed a book with a sense of regret that it is over and with a satisfaction that I have read a good book. It is unlike any written by the students of India’s elite institutions so far.”

·         Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?

India needs writers and thinkers, who have the zeal to inspire young minds and who can stay real with content. Back your writing with ample research. Travel around the country or just read about our people. We are a big country, one of the oldest civilizations and we have an amazing diversity. This land is full of mind-boggling stories, ready to be brought out and told to everyone, who may not have had enough opportunities to explore. Play that role.

Giveaway:

Mohan has generously offered to give away TWO SIGNED copies by Legacy to two lucky Indian readers. All you have to do is complete the entries in the rafflecopter.

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May the odds be ever in your favor!

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Thank you so much guys and happy reading! :)

Review- Incendies (Scorched) by Wajdi Mouawad

Goodreads Summary (Incendies):

Lorsque le notaire Lebel fait aux jumeaux Jeanne et Simon Marwan la lecture du testament de leur mère Nawal, il réveille en eux l'incertaine histoire de leur naissance: qui donc fut le père, et par quelle odyssée ont-ils vu le jour loin du pays d'origine de leur mère? En remettant à chacun une enveloppe, destinées l'une à ce père qu'ils croyaient mort et l'autre à leur frère dont ils ignoraient l'existence, il fait bouger les continents de leur douleur: dans le livre des heures de cette famille, des drames insoupçonnés les attendent, qui portent les couleurs de l'irréparable. Mais le prix à payer pour que s'apaise l'âme tourmentée de Nawal risque de dévorer les destins de Jeanne et de Simon.

Goodreads Summary of English edition (Scorched):

Twin children Jeanne and Simon want to solve the mystery of their origins. In retracing the bitter history of their mother, who is about to die, other characters come into the story—witnesses or key players able to assist in the investigation. Carried aloft by poetic language, the inquiry pursued by Jeanne and Simon unfolds in a dreamlike atmosphere.

REVIEW:

Wow. It's been a really long time since a book made me go wow. Seriously, I have nothing else to say but wow. Generally, I don't review books that I have to read for literature class. The only exception has been The Stranger by Alber Camus because, well, it's Camus. The reason I decided to write a review for Incendies is simple: I felt the need to do so. I had heard that this play is really, really great. But trust me, that is an understatement. Incendies is disturbing, mind blowing and absolutely astonishing; everything I love in books. Also, when it comes to Incendies, unlike Camus, I am reviewing the original French version. The English edition is called Scorched, and I do hope to read it sometime. 

Incendies is a play that is the second instalment in a saga called Le Sang des Promesses that has a total of four books. It is the story of one single family. It is the story of blood and promises, as the series title righty says. Sang means blood, and promesses is promises. I don't know what the actual, proper translation of Le Sang des Promesses is, but you get the point. Anyway, Le Sang des Promesses is also the subtitle of Incendies. And it is so apt. I didn't get it at first, but once I did get it, wow. I was blown away. 

The characters in Incendies are all so well developed and unique in their own way. The play starts off with the death of a mother who leaves letters to her daughter and son asking them to find out about their father and brother. And my God! If I say anything else, I may end up spoiling the whole story, so that's the only gist I can give. That brings me to the story itself. It is absolutely, truly, thoroughly brilliant. Half the stuff that happened, I never saw coming. I was at the edge of my seat throughout. I was so very interested in knowing everything that I read this play like mad. I am sincerely so glad and grateful for my Canadian literature classes, thanks to which I got to read this marvel. 

The most important aspect and the one aspect that deserves all the credit for the brilliance of this play is author Wajdi Mouawad. His characters, his story, his writing... Just the way his mind must be working... Wow. I am so shocked in the most astonishing and thrilling way possible. I loved loved loved this play. It could possibly be my most favourite play ever, and I would love to watch the movie (even though it won't be as great as the book, I can already tell) and dream to see the play in action sometime. 

RATING:

Blog Tour + Excerpt + Giveaway- Up in Smoke by Tessa Bailey

Meet Ex- Navy Seal Connor in UP IN SMOKE!

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Summary-

Never start a fire you can't control...

Connor Bannon is supposed to be dead. Dishonorably discharged from the Navy SEALs, he's spent the last two years working as a street enforcer in Brooklyn for his cousin's crime ring. Through a twist of fate, he's now in Chicago, working undercover to bust criminals. But when a cute little arsonist joins the team-all combat boots, tiny jean shorts, and hot-pink hair-Connor's notorious iron control slips.

Erin "she's getting away" O'Dea knows two things. She hates authority. And... Nope, that's it. When she's forced to operate on the "right" side of the law, her fear of being confined and controlled blazes to the surface. The last thing she expects is a control freak like Connor to soothe her when she needs it most. Worse, something behind the sexy ex-soldier's eyes ignites a dangerous inferno of desire. One that invites Erin to play with fire. And one that could get them both killed...

Excerpt 

As if her thoughts had made him appear, Connor strode into the courthouse. Her pulse started beating double time, her stomach muscles tightening. Good Lord, the man was a fucking panty dropper. She’d only been away from him for a few hours and it felt like years since she’d experienced his presence. In jeans and a fitted gray T-shirt that molded to his muscles like her hands itched to do, he personified confidence and authority. Hot, rugged male. His gaze connected with hers immediately and darkened. She thought back to that morning when he’d dressed in the early morning light, his abs flexing as he pulled the shirt over his head. His erection barely contained by his boxers. She’d never been one to beg for anything, but she’d been seconds from offering him her mouth. Pleading for the privilege of sucking him off.

Conner shook his head at her with a sexy half smile on his face, as if he could read her thoughts across the room. He stopped at the metal detector and walked through after the security guard beckoned him forward. When the woman grabbed her wand and instructed him to raise his hands in the air, something ugly reared its head deep inside her. The detector hadn’t even beeped. There was no reason for the personal service. When the woman smiled at Connor and ran a hand down her ponytail, Erin propelled herself forward, boots echoing on the polished marble.

Erin hissed as she drew even with the guard. “If you’re done feeling up my boyfriend, I’d love a turn. We were in a rush this morning.”

The guard dropped the wand, letting it dangle near her thigh. “Did you just hiss at me?”

Erin hissed again.

“Okay.” Connor stepped between them, winking down at her. “We should go. Don’t want to keep the clerk waiting.”

Appreciation spread in her belly like honey. He hadn’t chided her for her behavior or apologized to the woman on her behalf. Instead he’d given the impression they were on their way to get married, appeasing her jealousy in one fell swoop. “That’s right.” She sauntered toward the elevator. “There’s vows to be exchanged. Rings to put on fingers. Shit like that.”

She glanced behind her to find Connor staring at her ass as she walked, so she put a little swing in her hips and savored his groan. Damn. She’d definitely never had this much fun at a courthouse.

A moment later, she and Connor stepped into an empty elevator. She hit the button for the top floor even though the clerk was on the first, and leaned back against the wall, looking up at him through her eyelashes. “How was your morning, baby? Was it worth leaving me in bed, all hot and bothered for you?”

“Fuck no, it wasn’t.” He crooked a big finger at her. “Climb on up here.”

About the Author:

Thank you for your interest in my books! I'm Tessa and I live in the crazy, loud, overcrowded borough of Brooklyn, New York. I love it here. This city is a constant source of inspiration, which is why I've decided to set my most recent books in the Line of Duty Series here.

I moved to New York when I was eighteen, the day after I graduated high school. Threw my suitcase in the back of a Chevrolet Cavalier and drove across the country to find my adventure. I'm still finding it, little by little.​Thank you for being a part of it.

Stalk Tessa: Website |  Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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Blog Tour: Excerpt + Giveaway- Repaired by Melissa Collins

Presents

A Man without a past meets a man without a future in Repaired by Melissa Collins

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GOODREADS SUMMARY:

Liam Davis is a man without a past. That’s what he wants everyone to believe, anyway. Hell-bent on erasing any memories of his previous life, he knows that starting over is all he can do. Hiding who he is, where he’s from, why he’s running, and especially who he’s left behind, Liam has run away from everything he’s ever known. His plan works perfectly until one day when Parker Ryan threatens to expose his carefully concealed world.

Parker Ryan is a man without a future. Sure, he’s a partner in one of New York’s most prestigious law firms, but he’ll never be more than a failure in the eyes of his boss, his father. Rather than break away from his father’s standards, he finds himself mindlessly pursuing them, in turn sacrificing anything that would actually make him happy.

When Liam’s and Parker’s lives collide, the ugly truth about who they really are, and who they hope to become reveals itself when they least expect it. As both of their lives become wrecked beyond all belief, they’ll learn how to rely on each other in their journey to become Repaired.

EXCERPT:

The loud bang on the garage doors scared the shit out of, making me jump out of my skin. “Shit,” I yelled after hitting my head on the bumper. Despite calling out, “One second,” the banging continued. More than a little dizzy, my anger mounted as I walked toward the door. “Chill the fuck out,” I muttered as I wiped my hands on a work rag. The row of windows stretching through the mid-line of the door was tinted so that only someone on the inside could see out. They were designed that way so anyone peering into the shop wouldn’t be able to see what kind of cars were parked inside—a security tip I offered to Paulie after I’d started working here.

The man standing on the other side must not have heard me because he continued his relentless banging. At this rate, I’d be surprised if his knuckles weren’t all bloody and cut up.

Knowing he couldn’t see me did nothing to stop me from staying to the side. My initial intention was simply to check out who the hell was trying to break down my door. The last thing I needed was some psychopath ruining my night, but as I peered out the window, the last thought running through my mind was that he was a psycho.

Dressed in a modern grey suit, he was the epitome of class. The baby blue shirt underneath made his eyes pop, of course the anger simmering there amplified them as well. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he looked like he was trying to ward off some massive headache. Either he really was a psychopath, playing his part of the deception perfectly, or he was in a bind and genuinely in need of help. Watching him run his fingers through his thick dark brown hair, he let out a deep huff of breath. The door muffled his words, but I swear I heard him say, “Just my fucking luck.”

Having uttered that phrase more than a few times in my own life, I decided I’d let him in and see what he needed. The fact that my dick was twitching in my pants at the mere sight of him didn’t hurt his case much either.

He stood at attention as he listened to me unclicking the locks. The doors rolled open revealing his long, lean frame. This guy was money. It was written all over him, from his shirt to his shoes, from his shiny cufflinks to the BMW key dangling from his finger.

“Can I help you?” My voice was gruff, and I hoped he thought it was from his less than polite request to be seen, rather than the reaction I was having to him.

He eyed me, scanning my body from head to toe. Annoyance was written all over his face and my attraction quickly morphed into annoyance. “Excuse me,” I prompted when he still hadn’t spoken a single word. “You knocked on my door. Is there something I can help you with?”

“Uh, yeah,” he answered, running his hands through his hair once again. “Hit a pothole down the road,” he explained somewhat distractedly. He pointed in the direction in which I assumed his damaged car sat.

“Let me grab the keys to the tow truck.” Walking away from him, I felt his stare on my back.

By the time I walked back out of the office, he was gone. “What the hell?” I mumbled to myself, wondering where the hell he’d gone. For a split second, I actually wondered if I’d conjured him up from thin air to keep myself occupied as I closed the shop by myself. But the smell of his cologne still hung in the air, his heat like a shadow lingering in the open space.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Melissa Collins

Melissa Collins has always been a book worm. Studying Literature in college ensured that her nose was always stuck in a book. She followed her passion for reading to the most logical career choice: English teacher. Her hope was to share her passion for reading and the escapism of books to her students. Having spent more than a decade in front of a classroom, she can easily say that it’s been a dream.

Her passion for writing didn’t start until more recently. When she was home on maternity leave in early 2012, she read her first romance novel and her head filled with the passion, angst and laughter of the characters who she read about it. It wasn’t long before characters of her own took shape in her mind. Their lives took over Melissa’s brain and The Love Series was born.

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P.S: Review coming soon!

Review- Shards of Hope by Nalini Singh

Summary-

Awakening wounded in a darkened cell, their psychic abilities blocked, Aden and Zaira know they must escape. But when the lethal soldiers break free from their mysterious prison, they find themselves in a harsh, inhospitable landscape far from civilization. Their only hope for survival is to make it to the hidden home of a predatory changeling pack that doesn’t welcome outsiders.

And they must survive. A shadowy enemy has put a target on the back of the Arrow squad, an enemy that cannot be permitted to succeed in its deadly campaign. Aden will cross any line to keep his people safe for this new future, where even an assassin might have hope of a life beyond blood and death and pain. Zaira has no such hope. She knows she’s too damaged to return from the abyss. Her driving goal is to protect Aden, protect the only person who has ever come back for her no matter what.

This time, even Aden’s passionate determination may not be enough—because the emotionless chill of Silence existed for a reason. For the violent, and the insane, and the irreparably broken…like Zaira.

Review-

I am a HUGE fan of Nalini Singh's Psy-Changeling series. Shards of Hope is the fourteenth book in the series and it shows no signs of stopping. I would highly recommend getting to this series from the first book because there is so much world building and so many threads and a lot of character growth throughout the series. It is no surprise that I thoroughly enjoyed Shards of Hope.

Shards of Hope is about a psy-psy couple. Let's start off with Aden. Aden is a nice guy and that is the simplest way to describe him. He is the leader of the Arrow squad and he cares for his people and is willing to do anything for them. The only place where he is a tiny bit selfish is Zaira. I loved Aden. He was an amazing guy who didn't let many people see his power. I loved the way he was with Zaira and all the other Arrow kids.

Then we have Zaira. Zaira herself, is a member of the Arrow squad and she is fiercely protective of her friendship with Aden. Even though Zaira loves Aden she thinks that she is too damaged inside to actually share a relationship with him. Zaira was unlike any other heroines in this series. She was hard core and ruthless and I loved that about her. The possessiveness and protectiveness she felt for Aden was what made them perfect for each other.

The main focus was not the romance in Shards of Hope but what romance we get was amazing and sweet and real. Aden is determined to be with Zaira, come what may. I cannot even begin to tell how many other things are going on in this book. There are several sub plot lines and we get to meet a ton of new characters. Many story threads from before get tied up while opening up new ones.

I am especially curious about the sea changelings and Remi's pack. I do hope we get a book for everyone in the future. While Shards of Hope concludes a part of the story arc it also opens up a new one. I am highly curious to see how Nalini will take forward the series because it is obvious she knows what she is doing. With excellent writing and characters Shards of Hope was an amazing read.

Waiting on Wednesday #128

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

A Million Miles Away by Lara Avery

Publication date- July 7th 2015

Goodreads Summary:

Perfect for fans of Nicholas Sparks, this breathtaking story of love and loss is guaranteed to break your heart and sweep you off your feet.

When high school senior Kelsey's identical twin sister, Michelle, dies in a car crash, Kelsey is left without her other half. The only person who doesn't know about the tragedy is Michelle's boyfriend, Peter, recently deployed to Afghanistan. But when Kelsey finally connects with Peter online, she can't bear to tell him the truth. Active duty has taken its toll, and Peter, thinking that Kelsey is Michelle, says that seeing her is the one thing keeping him alive. Caught up in the moment, Kelsey has no choice: She lets Peter believe that she is her sister.

As Kelsey keeps up the act, she crosses the line from pretend to real. Soon, Kelsey can't deny that she's falling, hard, for the one boy she shouldn't want.

This sounds just like the kind of story I devour, so I'm excited for it. 

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?