Review: The Promises We Made by Rohan Jain

                                                                  BOOK SUMMARY:

Raj can’t believe his luck when he gets selected for a summer internship in Switzerland. He had always dreamed of travelling, and this was his chance to explore the world. During this internship, he crosses paths with Sofia, a German student studying in Switzerland. Little did he know that this chance encounter will alter the course of his life forever.

Raj finds himself falling in love with Sofia. But as their time together in Switzerland nears an end, Raj finds himself torn between the desire to confess his feelings to Sofia and the fear of losing her.

Will Raj be able to tell Sofia how he feels? Will they be able to sustain a love spanning across cultural and geographical boundaries?

The Promises We Made recounts the journey of two people falling in love in the most unexpected of circumstances. But destiny had something else in store – a dark twist of events that leaves the reader lamenting the vagaries of fate.

Release date: December 8th 2020

Published by: Srishti Publishers & Distributors

Page numbers: 208

REVIEW: 

Raj is a brilliant Indian student studying at IIT who strategically applies for an internship in Switzerland to fulfil his dreams of travelling and exploring what the world has to offer. During this time, he meets Sofia, a German student who Raj instantly falls in love with. Their chemistry was visible throughout and it was both adorable and hot, the manner in which the two got together in a slow burn but imperative manner.

The Promised We Made started as a really cute love story that brought back so many memories of my own teenage years spent getting to know people of different cultures, travelling to different cities, learning a few language, falling in love and just making the most of the moment by having a good time. Towards the end, however, the story took a very sharp turn that was hard to swallow and left me feeling devastated.

A book that made me smile for the most part because of how relatable everything was for me, The Promises We Made is very well written. A good writing style coupled with really good storytelling and characters that are nicely developed, this book was quick, cute and sad read that I actually enjoyed quite a bit.

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

Review: It Must Have Been Love by Jigar Prajapati

                                                                  BOOK SUMMARY:

Maan was overjoyed when he landed into his post-graduation college on the first day. It was beautiful; and since he would be staying in a hostel, it also came with a ticket to freedom.

On the very first day, he made friends for a lifetime. And he also met Naaz, who was going to change everything about his life. He knew he had a crush on her.

Wait, was it just a crush? Maybe; maybe not.

With time, he ignored his feelings for Naaz as attraction and married Kiara, the one chosen by his parents. Kiara loved him with all her heart. He tried to love her back, but somewhere, Naaz was stuck in his head and heart.

Would he be able to forget Naaz? How will Kiara accept all this? More importantly, would Maan lose himself in finding love?

It Must Have Been Love is an enchanting story of confused emotions and the purity of true love. 

Release date: December 8th 2020

Published by: Srishti Publishers & Distributors

Page numbers: 168

REVIEW: 

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Author Jigar Prajapati’s It Must Have Been Love is the story of college best friends Maan and Naaz, whose love is clearly visible but they don’t do anything about it. A very relatable recounting of their college and post-college days, this book was a wonderful and sad story of how sometimes, things left unsaid and undone really breaks not only you, but everyone around you apart.

While the author studied in a Hindi medium school and found it a big challenge to write an English novel, it didn’t seem so at all. Jigar’s writing was easy and simple to follow, which is a major advantage making this book accessible to a larger audience. I have to applaud the author for courageously taking up the challenge of not just writing but sharing this short and sweet story.

With incidents that will take the reader back to their college days, characters who seem like people you know or people you find bits of yourself in, a medley of events that bring the most unexpected people together and an unexpected ending that will leave one experiencing a plethora of mixed feelings, It Must Have Been Love is a quick sad love story that I wouldn’t have picked up otherwise, but am glad I read anyway.

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

Homeownership with Books by Sarah Hollenback

 Learn More About Homeownership With These Books

If you love to read, you likely have a favorite genre that you rarely stray from. And who can blame you! The feeling of spending your hard earned money on a book you don’t end up enjoying can be disappointing, especially if you were really in the mood for an engrossing read. But by not branching out in the types of books that you read, you miss out on learning about new topics and trying out new authors.

One of the lesser-known genres bookworms should definitely try out is the home improvement genre. And there are a lot of subcategories within this topic, anything from gardening to decorating, meaning you’re sure to find something you love.

First, consider what new hobby to want to learn more about. If you are planning to redecorate your living room or you want to start a garden, there are plenty of books on these topics to educate and inspire. Not sure what you want to learn more about? The team at Hippo has put together a great list below of popular hobby books for homeowners, check it out and find your next adventure!

Creative Ways to Display You Books!

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Review- Faceless: The Mystery of the Carved Arrow

 BOOK SUMMARY: 

A renowned scientist is sipping his drink in a five star suite when he drops dead. Was it a cardiac arrest or a well-planned murder?
When a neuroscientist is found dead a few days later, Inspector Abinay Chaturvedi is perplexed at the common evidence found at both the crime scenes – a carved arrow with a mysterious engraving.
As Abinay and his trusted man Lance set out to unravel the mystery, a young and charismatic historian hints at the possible hand of a two-thousand-year-old secret society in the killings.
Is there really a secret society working to safeguard dharma? Is Abinay ready to unravel the centuries-old secret? Will Abinay and his team reach the bottom of the mystery of the carved arrow?
Faceless: The Mystery of the Carved Arrow is an intriguing journey of an honest policeman trying to find the truth, and the nail-biting after effects of man’s challenging nature with science.

Release date: January 11th 2021

Published by: Srishti Publishers and Distributors

Page numbers: 152

REVIEW:

Faceless, a murder mystery by author Ashwin Karthik is quite an intriguing tale about the investigation done by police officer Abhinay into the death of a famous scientist that leads to many more curious events. As someone who doesn’t normally pick up such books, I found the story to be interesting but not so much that it kept it on the edge of my seat.

A meticulous mélange of history dating back to a 2000 year old secret Indian society and technology that governs our lives today, Faceless is packed with information that will leave the reader with more knowledge, which is always a huge advantage. The way the author combines the two was simply astounding.

A book that’s less than 150 pages with a story that is quite calculating, characters that are distinct and full of interesting facts and information, Faceless was a satisfactory read that leaves hope for more to come. Fans of mystery will find this to be a quick and cool read!

*Note: A copy of this book was provided by Srishti Publishers and Distributors in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.

Cover Reveal- Rivals by Jennifer Lane

Title: Rivals

Author: Jennifer Lane

Genre: Sports Romance

Release Date: March 19, 2021

Cover Design: Dan Irons, Designs by Irons

“I embrace my rival. But only to strangle him.”
~Jean Racine

After landing her dream job as head volleyball coach at Ohio State University, Lauren Chase’s career has become a nightmare. Her only hope of saving her job is to recruit a star player to her team. Too bad the player’s twin has signed a football scholarship for OSU’s chief rival, Michigan. And too bad Michigan coach, Jeremy Trent, sends sparks through Lauren every time they cross paths. But no way will she pursue an attraction to a man who represents the university she hates.

Jeremy detests his boss, and he hopes that signing the nation’s #1 recruit is the ticket he needs to become a head coach himself one day. Lauren Chase is already a head coach, and Jeremy has to admit that she intrigues the hell out of him. He wants to know why her performance has tanked after winning a national championship. He wants to see beneath Lauren’s fast pace and dirty mouth. But he can’t get with a Buckeye, right?

Maybe rivals don’t have to remain enemies. Maybe they can learn to appreciate their opponent’s strengths. And, if they’re lucky—if they excel at the game—maybe rivals can bring out the very best in each other.

Psychologist/author (psycho author) Jennifer Lane invites you to her world of sports romance and romantic suspense with a psychological twist!

Jen fell in love with sports at a young age and competed in swimming and volleyball in college. She went on to become the Honda Award Winner for Division III Athlete of the Year. She still gets high from the smell of chlorine and the satisfaction of smashing a beautiful volleyball set.

Jen’s latest novel is Rivals, a romance between coaches from rival universities. Her Blocked trilogy also explores the transformation from hate to love. Particularly in this time of division, Jen’s favorite theme is finding common ground.

A romantic suspense trilogy (The Conduct Series) and a psychological thriller (Twin Sacrifice) complete Jen’s collection of stories. She calls Ohio home and shares writing space with her two trusted feline collaborators: Tuxedo and Tessa.

Whether writing or reading, Jen loves stories that make her laugh and cry. In her spare time, she likes to exercise and visit her amazing sisters in Chicago and Hilton Head.

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Review- Blasphemy by Osman Haneef

                                                                     BOOK SUMMARY:

A Christian boy in Pakistan is accused of blasphemy―a crime punishable by death.

Haunted by a tragic past, a young lawyer named Sikander Ghaznavi returns to Pakistan after many years abroad, and takes on the defence of the boy.
He reaches out to the sharpest human rights lawyer he knows―the woman he has loved for years, but now another man’s wife.

As they deal with their unresolved feelings, the lawyers confront a corrupt system, a town turned against them, and a prophecy that predicts their death.

Will they save the boy? Or will the city of Quetta, its prejudice inflamed by religious
extremists, consume them and deliver them to a deadly fate?

Release date: April 2020

Published by: Readomania

REVIEW: 

When I first saw- let alone read the summary or even the title of the book- I knew I had to read Blasphemy as it looked right up my alley. A book set in Pakistan dealing with the trial of a Christian boy sounded like a setup I would have picked up on my own anyway, but I’m so grateful that @iamreadomania kindly offered to send me a copy of the book in exchange for a review.

Sikander Ghaznavi returns to Pakistan and takes it upon himself to defend a Christian boy accused of blasphemy, a crime punishable by death, seeking a sort of redemption. He seeks help from his former lover Sanah, a human rights lawyer. Both the well developed characters with a story so interesting that ends in the most graceful manner (a rarity, really) come to terms with the reality of their country.

A poignant tale about religious extremism, Blasphemy is an eye opener not just to that, but various other issues like domestic violence, child abuse, death threats, false accusations, blind faith and so much more that plague the streets of Pakistan. Author Osman Haneef’s writing is brilliant, from the description of the city Quetta to its people, everything was put down meticulously. His storytelling had me engrossed throughout, and left me feeling shocked, stirred and satisfied.

This was somewhat like The Kite Runner meets The Reluctant Fundamentalist, but to be very honest, the comparison is just so a reader would pick up this book if they like the two mentioned. On its own, Blasphemy stands a sharp, unique, impressive and moving read.

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