Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Waiting on Wednesday #286


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

Fan the Fame by Anna Priemaza
Publication Date: August 20th, 2019


Summary-

Equal parts Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl and Jennifer Mathieu’s Moxie, this fiercely crafted, feminist YA novel takes on fandom, accountability, and doing the right thing. Even when it hurts.

Lainey wouldn’t mind lugging a camera around a video game convention for her brother, aka YouTube superstar Codemeister, except for one big problem. He’s funny and charming online, but behind closed doors, Cody is a sexist jerk.

SamTheBrave came to this year’s con with one mission: meeting Codemeister—because getting his idol’s attention could be the big break Sam needs.

ShadowWillow is already a successful streamer. But when her fans start shipping her with Code, Shadow concocts a plan to turn the rumors to her advantage.

The three teens’ paths collide when Lainey records one of Cody’s hateful rants on video. Because she’s determined to spill the truth to her brother’s fans—even if that means putting Sam and Shadow in the crosshairs.

Told through three relatable voices and arriving on the heels of the author’s widely praised debut novel, Kat and Meg Conquer the World, this sophomore novel is a nuanced and timely story about followers, fame, and fighting for what’s right.

What are you waiting on? :)



Tuesday, July 30, 2019

(Late) Book Tour- Love's Remains by Jacqueline Simon Gunn



On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Book Tour Grand Finale for
Love's Remains
By Jacqueline Simon Gunn

We hope you enjoyed the tour! If you missed any of the stops
you'll find snippets, as well as the link to each full post, below:

Launch - Author Interview

What do you hope readers take with them after they’ve read it?

I hope that readers will find something of themselves, something relatable within each character that will offer insight into their own relationships and choices and/or the possibility to think about their relationships differently. So many people find themselves in difficult relationships, holding on when it’s painful, staying when they want to go, being pulled toward the wrong people, not loving those who love them. The answers to these questions are complicated and not the same for everyone. That’s why I chose a fictional format as opposed to non-fiction. Instead of telling readers what they should do or advising, I wanted to give them the opportunity to see various relationship situations in action and then show “why,” show the motivation for the characters’ actions. I hoped by revealing the psychology through the characters, readers would find their own answers upon reflection. But the book is filled with drama and tension and like any other fiction writer, I hope my readers will enjoy the story.

underneath the covers - Guest Post

What does Alex learn from moving on?

Sometimes when we love we give so much of ourselves that when the relationship isn’t working it’s very hard to let go; our sense of self is invested and embedded in the relationship. We create illusions and hold on to them to make staying make sense. We create narratives to excuse behavior towards us that makes us feel bad. . .

E-Romance News - Excerpt

I pulled her against me as we walked. We had taken our shoes off and were strolling along the edge of the ocean, the water washing in and out splashing against our feet. She loved the ocean at night, same as I do.

“Let’s go in,” she said.


“We are a little overdressed.” I raised my brow. She was always full of surprises. As self-conscious as she said she felt, she did things that reflected her freedom or her desire for it. Just like me. It was intoxicating to be with a woman who I didn’t feel like I’d be tied down by. Someone I could want to be with all the time, not feel like I had to be with.


Colorimetry - Guest Post

Do we love people forever?

Since Love’s Remains explores what’s left between two people after the relationship is gone, people have written in and asked me if I think we ever truly get over someone. Love’s Remains addresses this theme in both romantic and non-romantic relationships. So, for example, Will has an estranged relationship with his father and new issues arise for him in the context of this relationship. The story shows that although he barely talks to his dad, there are ‘remains’ of that relationship within him that affect him in ways that he might not have even realized until he’s confronted with the unresolved emotions. . .


Jess : Which usually comes first for you, the character(s), story or the idea for the novel?

Jacqueline : Before I even begin writing a book, I usually have a vague sense of the story and the underlying themes I’d like to explore. When I actually start pounding the keyboard, I begin with the development of my main characters, holding the story in the back of my mind, but letting the characters sort of take over the direction. It’s like being a passenger. I’m there, but I’m not driving once we get going.

Wishful Endings - Guest Post

Why do we love, love stories?

If you think about any movie or book, even those that aren’t in the romance genre, there’s often a subplot that involves a romance or teases us with the possibility of one. When people come into therapy, no matter what the presenting complaint is, relationships inevitably become a central topic. . .
Paulette's Papers - Guest Post

Why do you usually write from multiple points of view?


Most of my fiction books have at least three points of view. I do this because I want to understand what’s motivating each character, and I want my readers to see that choices do not happen in a vacuum. Every decision made has an impact on those close to us and then those close to them and so on. In this way, there are always webs between groups of people even when the connections are not obvious and/or the relationships are remote. . .

I'm All About Books - Guest Post

What does the relationship between Alex and Cecilia reveal?

The unfolding of the friendship between Alex and Cecilia was unexpected. At first, Cecilia was meant to be a secondary character, but the deeper I got into the story the more fascinated I became with her psychological make-up, her background and her decisions. Her unpredictability had me captivated. . .


“You’ve ruined my life.”

“I thought we were waaaay past this.”


“That’s easy for you to say. I didn’t hurt you over and over and over.”


“I hurt myself by hurting you.” His face wore a look of compassion. I hated that look, because it reminded me that he was a good person, that he had tried over and over to apologize. He unwittingly brought out the part of me that I hated, and I projected that hate onto him, because it was easier to hate someone else than to hate myself. Tears poured out of my eyes. And he wrapped his arms around me, holding me as wept.


Don't forget to enter the giveaway at the end of this post, if you haven't already...


Love's Remains

(Where You'll Land #2)
By Jacqueline Simon Gunn
Women’s Fiction, Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 250 Pages
June 4th 2019

The second year of graduate school started out as a new beginning. I felt stronger. My heart had stitched itself up. I had finally healed enough on the inside to let love flourish once again. But an ever-present ex-boyfriend made the unresolved emotions between us impossible to ignore.

Then new complications emerged: Said ex-boyfriend began dating Cecilia, who just happened to be the ex-girlfriend of my new love interest. I should have hated her. I wanted to hate her. But, I have to admit, I liked her.

As the semester progressed, the tangled web between us deepened in ways I never could have anticipated, and it spread to those closest to us. We had the same classes, the same friends, the same interests. Then, of course, there were all the secrets, some of which could ruin the love I believed I wanted, I deserved.

Once again, I got pulled into the dizzying vortex of all that remained unfinished. And doubt crept in. Had I really healed enough to make myself vulnerable again? Had I made the right choices?

But the big question is: Can we ever really leave past relationships behind?

This is the second book in the Where You'll Land series, but can be read as a stand-alone.


Other Books in the Series


Where You'll Land
(Where You'll Land #1)
By Jacqueline Simon Gunn
Women’s Fiction, Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 408 Pages
January 8th 2019

After a bad breakup, I packed up my life and moved to Miami to study for my doctorate in psychology. I made one promise to myself: Do not get romantically involved while I was in school. I needed to heal. And then Will Easton came into my life. He was warm and sweet and intelligent. And he got me. What I didn’t know was that Will was running from a tragedy of his own.

When you try to escape your past without confronting your emotions, you repeat those same past patterns over and over. And that’s just what happened to Will and me, along with a few others who got swept up into the storm that was our relationship. Then came the awful secret. The one that changed everything.

Sometimes the most painful relationships are the ones that help us grow into who we are and to find the love we had been searching for all along.

Which begs the question: Can we choose who we love?


About the Author

Jacqueline Simon Gunn is a Manhattan-based clinical psychologist and writer. She has authored two non-fiction books, and co-authored two others. She has published many articles, both scholarly and mainstream, and currently works as a freelance writer. With her academic and clinical experience in psychology, Gunn is now writing psychological fiction. Her Close Enough to Kill series, explores the delicate line between passion and obsession, love and hate, and offers readers an elaborate look into the mind of a murderer.

In addition to her clinical work and writing, Gunn is an avid runner and reader. She is currently working on multiple writing projects, including three romance novels.


Tour Giveaway-

One winner will receive:
  • A Kindle Copy of Where You'll Land
  • A Kindle Copy of Love's Remains
  • A $10 Amazon Gift Card
Open to Kindle users
Ends July 31, 2019

Grab Our Button!


Sunday, July 28, 2019

(Late) Blog Tour- Only Between Us by Sarah Fine




Bestselling author Sarah Fine presents an emotional standalone novel sure to thrill new adult romance readers everywhere.
Will they be strong enough to hold on?
Last semester, Romy escaped from an abusive relationship with the guy she’d thought was the man of her dreams. This semester she’s putting herself back together, determined to reclaim her passion for art and for life. When she signs up for a painting class at the local art co-op, the possibility of passion becomes very real — in the form of her teacher, Caleb. Both mysterious and seriously hot, Caleb bares his soul on his canvases, and Romy’s fascinated by what she sees.
Caleb is just trying to keep his head above water. Caring for his traumatized, unstable sister is getting harder every day, and his paintings are so dark and bleak that no one is buying. Teaching classes at the co-op is no longer enough, and now he’s going to have to sell more than just his art to the wealthy, sex-starved women in his classes. But when Romy comes along, she makes everything more complicated. She sees the truth in his paintings — a truth no one else has realized, until now.
Romy and Caleb might have a real shot together — one that could heal them both. But when ghosts from their pasts re-emerge, determined to keep them apart, will they be strong enough to hold on to each other?
**WARNING: This is a new adult novel and contains material which is sexual in nature. Content may not be suitable for readers under the age of 18.**

About the Book


Only Between Us
by Sarah Fine


Series
Starving Artists Book One; Standalone Story


Genre
New Adult Contemporary Romance


Publisher
Independent


Publication Date
2013


Purchase Your Copy Today on Amazon!


Available On


Tour Wide Giveaway

To celebrate the blog tour for ONLY BETWEEN US and the upcoming release of ANYTHING BETWEEN US, we're giving away four paperback sets of the Starving Artists series!


GIVEAWAY TERMS & CONDITIONS  |  Open to internationally. Four winners will each receive a paperback set of Only Between Us, Everything Between Us, and Anything Between Us by Sarah Fine.  This giveaway is administered by Pure Textuality PR on behalf of Sarah Fine.  Giveaway ends 7/27/2019 @ 11:59pm EST. CLICK HERE TO ENTER!

About Sarah Fine


SARAH FINE is the author of several books for teens, including Of Metal and Wishes (McElderry/Simon & Schuster) and its sequel, Of Dreams and Rust, the bestselling Guards of the Shadowlands YA urban fantasy series (Skyscape/Amazon Children’s Publishing), and The Impostor Queen (McElderry, January 2016).
She is also the co-author (with Walter Jury) of two YA sci-fi thrillers published by Putnam/Penguin: Scan and its sequel Burn. Her bestselling adult urban fantasy romance series, Servants of Fate, includes Marked, Claimed, and Fated, and was published by 47North in 2015, and her second adult UF series —Reliquary (and its sequels Splinter and Mosaic) was published 2016. When she’s not writing, she’s psychologizing. Sometimes she does both at the same time. The results are unpredictable.

Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads  |  BookBub  |  Amazon







Friday, July 26, 2019

Blog Tour: Guest Review + Excerpt- Daring Summer by Elyse Douglas

Daring Summer by Elyse Douglas

Daring Summer by Elyse Douglas Publisher:  Broadback (May 1, 2019) Category: Romantic Suspense, Contemporary Romance Tour dates: June 24-July 31, 2019 ISBN:978-1093138429 Available in Print and ebook, 285 pages 

Daring Summer

Description:

 Daring Summer by Elyse Douglas

A hot summer beach— A marriage gone wrong— Daring eyes and daring love, betrayed by a secret passion. Kim feels trapped in a loveless marriage to a jealous, wealthy older man. He blames her for crippling him in an auto accident that he himself caused. Kim strives to make the marriage work, despite her husband’s blame, verbal abuse, and bitterness. When she meets a wickedly handsome man on the beach, she fights not to want him, not to want a new life and not to fall in love. But Derek is seductive and irresistible—a former soldier who has recently come to town to start a landscaping business. Kim falls hard for him, as he does to her. Although Kim wants a divorce, her husband finds out about their affair and devises a plot to destroy them both. They must struggle to survive a web of lies, deceit and dangerous passion.

Praise Other Side of Summer

“5 stars, another great, emotional read from this author!! I was hooked the minute I started reading it. Be warned you will need a box of tissues to read. I really love this author!”- Melissa Mendoza, Anne & Melissa’s Book Love “I found this to be a satisfying, well developed warm and enriching read. It gave me a lot to think about. I will recommend it to readers of both genders, age high school and up, who like substance in their novels.”-Laura Reading, Laura’s Interests “The book is more than just a contemporary romance – it’s a family saga, a book about the bonds of family, about love (not just between partners but between parents and children), about life and the choices we make. It’s heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. The writing is hauntingly beautiful, and the author has a talent for crafting believable characters. An excellent book, and I look forward to reading more by this author.”- Majanka, I Heart Reading “Great story, I give it five stars.  I thought the book was wonderful and emotional, and I loved the writing style and how the words flowed.  I was happy to fantasize about being there to watch the story unfold.  I loved this story; took me back to my young beach days.”-Diana's Book Reviews

REVIEW: 

Guest Review by Nora S.
“Fog was clinging to the ocean, crawling along the dunes and faraway cliffs, obscuring the sprawling beach houses on the bluffs, creating a lonely, pensive seclusion.” 

From the first chapter of 'Daring Summer' I knew I was in for a delectable read. The above quote comes in while the main character, Kim is contemplatively staring out at the ocean from the windows of her beach house on Long Island.  She has more reason to be lost in thought than most, throughout the novel, Kim goes on a trans-formative journey that takes her from the abused wife of a rich and vicious man to a strong, self-possessed woman in her own right. 

This novel is a romantic suspense, and the romance between Kim and the man next door, Derek is beautiful, but what really took me off guard was the setting. The breathtaking descriptions of the beach and the coast line. The descriptions of the waves lapping against the rocky cove and the storms fiercely rolling across the restless sea were just lovely to indulge in as a reader. The description and setting alone really elevate this novel from an average romantic suspense to something entirely more.  I felt like I was right there on the beach with these characters and I loved every second of it. 

Setting is, of course, very important to a novel in terms of how it plays on the themes and situations that the characters are facing and the sea—both beautiful and stormy-- was a perfect analogy for Kim and Derek's romance. It was masterfully pulled off by the authors in a way that you just don't get to see very often. 

I'm not sure I've ever read another book like 'Daring Summer' or that I ever will again. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. I give it all 5 stars.

Excerpt: 

Derek released her and they lay close on the bare sand, her head resting against his shoulder, her body still quivering and warm.  The sound of the sea rose and fell, lulling them both into a dreamy contentment.
He gently kissed her ear and cheek, her closed eyes.  He wiped sand from her face and neck, feeling peace, feeling he’d come home.
“You kill me,” she whispered.  “What the hell am I going to do with you?”
He pressed his cheek to hers, whispering in her ear.  “You’re beautiful.  You’re perfection.  Let’s get out of here, Kim.  Leave him.  Let’s leave this town and run away where no one will ever find us.”
Kim’s eyes were still shut.  She sighed, still wanting more of him.  She thought, “It’s impossible.  Impossible to want him so completely and relentlessly.  Impossible.”
Kim drew in a sharp breath, her muscles finally beginning to relax “… And where will that be, Derek?  We’ll just be running from ourselves.”
“Bullshit.  We’ll get the hell out of here and away from Ben.  I have some money.  Let’s go to Central America.  I have some friends there… a couple of old Army buddies moved to Costa Rica.  We can go there and start all over.”
Kim sat up, pulled on her top, and looked him full in the face, unsure.  “I don’t know.  I don’t think so…”
“Why?”
“I have to finish this.”
“Finish what?”
“I’m married.  I have to finish that.  I can’t run away from that.  If I do, I’ll never forgive myself.”
Derek was incredulous.  “Kim, you have run away from it.  You’ve already left him.  You’re here with me.  We’re together.  We fit together.  We go together.  That’s it.  Finished.  Your marriage is over.  Can’t you see that?  What crazy daydream are you living in?  This isn’t some Broadway show where everybody sings and dances and lives happily ever after.  This is the real world, and the real world is the world Ben lives in.”
Kim gave him a long, searching look and then she stood up and finished dressing. 
“Okay, then, I have to end it, officially.  I can’t run away until I end it.  I’m not going to run away like my father did.  I can’t.   He was a coward.  He was a son of a bitch.  Okay, maybe I’m no better than my father was.  Maybe I’m just a whore, but I’m not going to run away.  I’ll face Ben, and I’ll tell him the truth about us.  I’ll finish it.”
Derek stood, knocked the sand from his body, and pulled on his shorts.  His eyes held questions, but he kept silent.  “Okay… so finish it.”
He took her hands and held them.  She looked away. 
“… And?” Derek asked, trying to find her eyes.
“And… it won’t be easy.”
“Do it, Kim.  Let’s get out of here before it’s too late.”
“Too late for what?”
“Before Ben makes his move—and he will make a move.”
Kim retracted her hands and turned toward the sea.  She thought about the yoga studio and the two million dollars.  It had all come so swiftly.  Ben’s change had been so sudden and complete.  She sighed.  “Until this moment, I hadn’t realized how scared I am of him.  He’s different.  He’s been different and changed for a long time.  Maybe I’ve always been scared of him.”
Derek moved behind her and took her shoulders.  “He knows about us, Kim.  Believe me.  You know it, too.  Finish it and let’s get out of here.”
Kim chewed on her fingernail.  “Okay, I’ll finish it.”
She turned and faced Derek, her eyes taking him in, fully, honestly, lovingly.  “I can’t stop seeing you.  I tried.  I did try, but I can’t.  I love you.”
“You’ll never get away from me, Kim.  Never.  We belong to each other.”

About Elyse Douglas:

Daring Summer by Elyse Douglas

Elyse Douglas is the pen name for the married writing team Elyse Parmentier and Douglas Pennington. Elyse grew up near the sea, roaming the beaches, reading and writing stories and poetry, receiving a master’s degree in English Literature.  She has enjoyed careers as an English teacher, an actress and a speech-language pathologist. Douglas has worked as a graphic designer, a corporate manager and an equities trader.  He attended the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music and played the piano professionally for many years. Website: www.elysedouglas.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/douglaselyse Facebook: www.facebook.com/elyse.authorsdouglas

Buy Daring Summer by Elyse Douglas  on Amazon

Giveaway Daring Summer by Elyse Douglas:

This giveaway is for 3 winners choice of one print or ebook copy of the book. Print is open to the U.S. only and ebook is available worldwide. This giveaway ends April 30, 2019, midnight pacific time. Entries are accepted via Rafflecopter only. 

Follow Daring Summer by Elyse Douglas Tour:

Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus June 21 Excerpt & Kickoff Kim Amazon June 24 Review Penny Amazon June 25 Review Jody Amazon June 26 Review Lu Ann Rockin' Book Reviews June 27 Review & Guest Post Kathleen Celticlady's Reviews June 28 Review & Excerpt Nadene Totally Addicted to Reading July 8 Review & Interview DD Amazon July 9 Review Tina/Rebecca Sassy Southern Book Blog July 10 Review & Excerpt Teaka Amazon July 11 Review Catherine Cuzinlogic July 12 Review & Excerpt Marina's Books July 15 Review Wendy Wall-to-wall books July 16 Review Author Amy Garrett July 17 Review & Excerpt Dawn Bound 4 Escape July 18 Review Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus July 19 Review Patricia Reviews by Room With Books July 22 Review                                           I Shannon L. Buck July 23 Review Ruth My Devotional Thoughts July 24 Review & Guest Post Donna Amazon July 25 Review Sarika The Readdicts Book Blog July 26 Review & Excerpt Melissa Amazon July 30 Review

  Daring Summer by Elyse Douglas


Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Waiting on Wednesday #285


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

Ever Alice by H.J.Ramsay
Publication Date: August 1st, 2019


Summary-

Alice’s stories of Wonderland did more than raise a few eyebrows—it landed her in an asylum. Now at 15 years of age, she’s willing to do anything to leave, which includes agreeing to an experimental procedure. When Alice decides at the last minute not to go through with it, she escapes with the White Rabbit to Wonderland and trades one madhouse for another: the court of the Queen of Hearts. Only this time, she is under orders to take out the Queen. When love, scandal, and intrigue begin to muddle her mission, Alice finds herself on the wrong side of the chopping block. 

What are you waiting on? :)


Friday, July 19, 2019

Author Interview + Giveaway- Destiny for Love Arranged by Vash Karuppa

Hello, everyone! On the blog today, we have with us author Vash Karuppa, who has written the book titled Destiny for Love Arranged. We have interviewed Vash who is going to tell us more about his interesting book and he has kindly offered to giveaway one e-copy of his book to one lucky reader. The giveaway will be hosted on our Instagram and being an e-copy, it is open to international readers as well. Now that you know what's in store for you, let's get to the book and the author better! 


Goodreads Summary: 

All business-no-pleasure CEO of Hotel Empire, Keshavam Industries, Aariyan Ranjan, and successful Oncologist, Varini Iyengar, have known one another for sixteen years. When she last saw him Varini was left completely shattered as Aariyan walked away from their newfound love and out of her life. He was the first man she longed for, the first man she truly desired, and the first and only man she had ever loved. Aariyan had loved her back, but fuelled by uncontrollable demons he abandoned her, ending their love in devastating heartbreak. 

In order to seal the deal of a lifetime Aariyan needs a wife. By entering into a temporary marriage, Aariyan gets a made-to-order wife to help him secure his deal, and Varini finds herself shacked up with the love of her life. Love has no place in a business deal, and no one should mix business and pleasure - the lines blur, giving them a one way ticket to a messy disaster. 

This is a gripping and angsty romance, truly an amazing debut novel by this South African-Indian author. Five stars for sure! - Author Poppet

Book links: Goodreads / Amazon (IN) / Amazon (.com)

About the author: 


Vash is a South African author of Indian origin who has been an avid reader from the tender age of five. Being a passionate romantic and voracious bookaholic, reading was a drug to which she had an instant addiction, one that only grew with time. While books in all genres interest her, it was romance that captured her heart. Even as a pre-teen, she loved the ‘happily ever after (HEA)’ syndrome leading her to fall in love with any book in the romance genre, and later as a teenager, dreams of writing her own HEA story. 

Writing a novel has always been part of her bucket list, so, after spending years concentrating on her role as a corporate executive, she eventually unleashed her number one desire and passion for writing with Destiny for Love Arranged. Vash’s writing portrays the lives and dramas of ordinary people who readers can easily relate to. The crux of her stories celebrates the power of true love coupled with the timeless bonds and inevitable drama that exist between family and friends while capturing the true essence of diverse cultures especially nuances of the South Indian culture. Her stories are inspired by Indian traditions, but set in contemporary times.

She enjoys writing and reading above all else, but when Vash doesn’t have her nose stuck in a book, she can be found cooking, watching movies and hanging out with her close-knit family. Vash grew up in Durban and resides with her husband in Johannesburg, two of South Africa’s most stunning cities. She is a member of Romance Organisation of South Africa.

Vash loves interacting with her readers so please feel free to connect with her via her various social media platforms or on email at authorvashkaruppa@gmail.com


Author interview: 

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Greetings friends. My name is Vash Karuppa and I am a South African of Indian Origin. I was born and raised in the beautiful coastal City of Durban and currently reside in another stunning South African city, Johannesburg, with my husband. I hail from a big, loving family and have three siblings. I have a twin sister and my younger brothers are also a set of twins, which is quite unique, I guess.

By day I work in the robust South African Travel Industry as a senior manager and by night I am an author of contemporary fiction in the romance/suspense genre.
I enjoy writing and reading above all else, but when I don’t have my nose stuck in a book, I can be found cooking, watching movies, travelling or hanging out with my close-knit family.

Tell us about your book, Destiny for Love Arranged.

Destiny for Love Arranged is a contemporary, gripping and angsty, second chance Indian romance that reveals the love of family and friendship bonds during trying times. The story revolves around Aariyan Ranjan, a highly successful CEO of a Hotel Empire and Varini Iyengar, an Oncologist, who are forced into a temporary marriage of convenience to help them resolve personal dilemmas. While Aariyan is determined to treat their marriage as he would any other business deal, love rarely listens to logic, and what follows is anything but business.  On the other hand, Varini soon finds herself gravitating toward and rejoicing in the love she thought lost forever with a hidden hope that their marriage of convenience will end in a union of everlasting love. The story is embedded with cultural anecdotes familiar to any family of Indian origin. It takes their family, friends and a life-threatening situation to show them the love they lost is worth fighting for.

In short, this is a story about family, friendship, and starting over, as Aariyan and Varini embark on a journey toward a second chance at love. You will get to share in their moments as they discover that vulnerability can actually be their strength and the most perplexing problems can be overcome with the support and resourcefulness of a loving family and faithful friends.

This is Book 1 of a trilogy.

What inspired you to write your book?

For many years I have read articles around the call for diverse romance novels that incorporate multi-cultural aspects into a traditional romance plot. In addition, I’m a hopeless romantic myself and always had a plot in my head around a story that integrates family and friendship bonds (which I have been blessed to have throughout my life) together with a typical romance story. When I eventually decided to put pen to paper, it all just naturally came together, giving birth to Destiny for Love Arranged. Finally, I do believe there aren’t too many novels written which share intricacies of the South Indian culture and I was determined to do this. Looking at the feedback received thus far from readers, it was well received.

Tell us why readers should pick up your book.

It is a book that will transport readers into the lives of people they can easily identify with. It will also give them a glimpse of a culture that is not often explored as part of fiction writing i.e. the South Indian culture.

Give us a glimpse into all the effort, hard work and time that 
went into writing your debut novel.

When I started writing Destiny for Love Arranged, I never intended to publish it. It was simply a way for me to put onto paper I had in my head for many years. For this reason, it was a very pleasant experience and didn’t feel like hard work at all. It took me about three months to get the first draft done, but I had fun every step of the way, especially the education I got when researching unique aspects which forms part of the story.

Who are some of your favourite authors and what are some of 
your favourite books?

Authors:
v   Brenda Jackson
v   Julie Garwood
v   KC Lynn
v   MV Kasi
Books:
v   Ransom by Julie Garwood (my all-time favourite)
v   The Promise by MV Kasi

If you could read only one book for the rest of your life, what 
book would you pick and why?

Honestly, not sure. There are so many books which are close to my heart. But if I really have to, it would be Ransom (Julie Garwood). I read this book every year like watching your favourite movie every chance you get.

·   If you were granted a wish by means of which you would be able
 to spend an entire day with a dead person, particularly a writer,
 who would you pick and why? What would you like to discuss
 with them?

That would be Judith Krantz. Her novels introduced me into the world of glitzy romance novels at a time when I wasn’t allowed to read them 😊 . I would discuss how she managed to sustain her passion for writing for over 40 years and still had the ability to fork out best seller after best seller. I would also get guidance from her on how to maintain uniqueness in every story told.

FAVOURITES!

·       Favourite cuisine?                            Indian
·       Favourite place?                               Home
·       Favourite person?                            Too many to name just one
·       Favourite time of the day?              Dawn
·       Favourite book character?              Mr Darcy
·       Favourite bookstore?                       Exclusive Books (South Africa bookstore/heaven)
·       Favourite book cover?                     Destiny for Love Arranged 😊
·       Favourite colour?                             Red
·       Favourite holiday destination?       Italy    
·       Favourite month?                             December
·       Favourite day?                                  Sunday
·       Favourite name?                               Too many to name just one                             
·       Favourite sport?                                Soccer

Giveaway: 

A big thank you to Vash for taking the time out to chat with us and for offering a copy of her book as a lovely giveaway! Do participate and help spread the word. Thank you, readers, for stopping by and happy reading!