Showing posts with label Love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Love. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 07, 2021

Review- Art, Text, Love by Ajith Siva

  BOOK SUMMARY:

This book is dedicated to you. Yes, you.
If you love to have coffee when it is raining. If you get excited about seeing a sky full of stars. And if you ever fell in love at first sight with a complete stranger.

"First love isn't something that happens first in a life. It can happen, even after a few love bonds"
A coffeeholic aspiring writer,Jay realized this paradox when he met a comic artist, Cassy. No, it's not a story of boy seeing girl. It's a story of art and text falling in love with each other.
- Ajith Siva


Release date: February 26th 2020
Published by: Self published
Page numbers: 89 (Kindle)

REVIEW: 

The idea of poetry in a romance novel is what had me intrigued when I first got to know about Art, Text, Love from its author Ajith Siva. When the book finally got to me, I couldn’t help but appreciate how simple, adorable ans detailed the book cover is. It sums up what the book holds quite well.

Jayan, or Jay, is a writer who finds himself inspired by rain, coffee and love. After a series of relationships with no end, he finally comes across Cassy, a comic artist who steals his heart from day one. The rest, as they say, is history. Jay and Cassy had their share of ups and downs and while both characters were obviously different and admirable in their own ways, the connect one has with characters as a reader was missing.

A short and nice story about falling in love along with all that comes with being in love, Art, Text, Love wasn’t the greatest read out there. But it wasn’t bad at all. Author Ajith Siva’s writing was mediocre and with some polishing, he is bound to be a promising writer.

Overall, I did have fun reading this book, but I honestly wouldn’t pick it up again. You could, however, pick it up if you’re in the mood for something quick and fun.

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




Thursday, May 17, 2018

Grand Finale Blitz- Love, Unexpected by Virginia McCullough


On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Book Tour Grand Finale for
Love, Unexpected
By Virginia McCullough

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

Launch - Note from the Author

Dear Reader,

Welcome to this book tour for LOVE, UNEXPECTED. I hope you’re happy to be back for the third visit to Two Moon Bay, Wisconsin. Book 3 of my Two Moon Bay series finds us on the waterfront again. Back when I wrote GIRL IN THE SPOTLIGHT, I knew Andi Sterling, Miles Jenkins’ former wife and Brooke’s mom, needed her own story. She told me so many times. You may remember Zeke Donovan and his dad, Art. They own Donovan Marine Supply and they made a couple of appearances in Book 2, SOMETHING TO TREASURE. They’re now front and center is this story, and Zeke gets a chance to expand his world—and his heart...

Heidi Reads... - Drifting Dreams

Like Andi says in LOVE, UNEXPECTED, someone (they don’t yet know who) named the wooden motor yacht Drifting Dreamer for a reason. For me, the name brings to mind the old song “Moon River,” with “two drifters off to see the world.” As Zeke observed, in 1939 no one built a 50-foot yacht if they didn’t have some big dreams.


"There's a lot to like in this sweet romance by Virginia McCullough, and I thoroughly enjoyed the story of Andi and Zeke in Love, Unexpected...

I loved how everything comes together, making the story’s restoration theme not only about Drifting Dreamer, but Andi’s dreams as well."


He let Teddy take him to the woman, who was tall and slender, and wore jeans and a red T-shirt. When she saw him coming, she lifted her sunglasses and perched them on her head. In her other hand, she held a giant-size Bean Grinder to-go cup.

“Good morning,” she called out, smiling. “I suppose I’m trespassing.”

He was tongue-tied. By a pretty smile and long legs. He raised his hand in protest. “Probably so, but we won’t call the sheriff, at least not yet.”

“I see. I have to prove myself first.” She held up the cup. “I’m armed only with the Bean Grinder’s morning mix.”

“In that case, we’ll…” Zeke watched Teddy sniffing the woman’s sneakers. “I was going to say we’ll call off the dogs, but, too late.”

I Am A Reader - Does Zeke Keep his Promises?

Early readers have remarked that Zeke is a likeable guy. What’s not to like? He’s very attractive, friendly, a successful owner of a marine supply store, smart, and he even has a sense of humor. But he’s in his late thirties, and he’s never been married and doesn’t have kids. And it looks like he lives with dad. Really? Could be Zeke is a guy afraid to make a commitment. Here are the facts. You be the judge...


"Love, Unexpected by Virginia McCullough takes us back to two moon bay. I love this little town. I always enjoy each visit. In this visit we get to restore an old yacht as well as get to know the lovely Andi and Zeke. The are both very humbling and sweet. I enjoyed getting to know both of them."


Andi stretched her arm to get deep inside a hard-to-reach cubbyhole behind the navigation table to check for damaged wood. Her hand hit a divider with a finger grip, but the first tug didn’t budge it. The second and third tries didn’t move it, either. Determined now, she took a breath and gave it one more hard pull. Bam…she captured the graying piece of wood, but jerked backward with the force of the movement.

When she righted herself, she shined her flashlight inside to have a look inside the narrow space. The beam caught the corner of something that looked like paper.

“Well, well, what’s this all about?” she said to herself, curious and excited. Secret papers? That could be an overstatement, but these pages weren’t left out in the open. Someone had stashed them out of sight.

Colorimetry - Andi’s Tips for Single Moms

Andi laughed in my ear when I ask her about tips for single moms, but once I got her started, she didn’t hesitate to give me her list, starting with:

Luck out and have a good ex-husband...


Andi tilted her head and looked where he was pointing. “Stars. Imagine that. It’s been ages since I’ve seen more than a few of the brightest ones.”

Zeke exaggerated a sweeping gesture to take in the boat. “So happens we have a boat. I guess when we get her put back together some, she could take us far enough out to see some stars, huh? This fall, before it gets too cold.”

Andi responded with a quick slap of her palms. “See? You inherited a floating stargazer. She’s only slightly torn apart.”

Zeke laughed. Drifting Dreamer wasn’t exactly ready for even a short cruise. It wouldn’t be long, though. Andi was making progress.


"Love, Unexpected was a fun read. I recognized some of the characters, since I'd read the first book in the series, Girl in the Spotlight, last year. I definitely think this book stands on its own, but it was fun seeing how those characters lives have continued...

I definitely recommend this novel to all fans of contemporary romance. I'm looking forward to reading more by this author."

E-Romance News - Excerpt

“I’m probably speaking out of turn,” Joy said, grimacing, “but I had a peculiar kind of bond with Zeke because of his mother.”

“Oh?” Andi’s heart pounded as she waited for the information. She was impatient for it, whether she’d like what she learned or not.

“My mom was a teacher, too,” Joy said. “One afternoon I was waiting outside for her after school. Zeke was there, too. I remember how he was kicking a stone around the gravel schoolyard while he waited for his mom to pick him up.”

Call it intuition or simply picking up Joy’s somber tone, but Andi began to feel a little queasy. “This story ends badly, doesn’t it, Joy?”

“Yes.” Joy paused, but Andi didn’t fill the silence.


"Heartwarming is definitely the right category for this sweet romance. It's such a subtle one, which is a breath of fresh air in a market saturated by fast love and lust. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy a lot of those books as well. But a story like this one feels so much more realistic to me and leaves me feeling a bit more peaceful and nostalgic.

...I have fallen in love with Two Moon Bay and its inhabitants. I hope more stories are yet to come from this beautiful place."


"I thought it was sweet, inspiring and heartwarming. Andi and Zeke had wonderful chemistry and their story were relateable to me. I love the beautiful setting of Two Moon Bay..."

Wishful Endings - What’s So Special about a Wooden Yacht?

Zeke and Andi have become attached to Drifting Dreamer. I understand why. I’ve been lucky enough to own a classic wooden sailboat, and later, a fiberglass boat with gorgeous wood trim. What was the difference between the two boats? Why do Zeke and Andi have such special feelings about the classic wooden motor yacht?...

Bri's Book Nook - Review

"I haven’t read a sweet romance novel in a while, and this was definitely a nice refreshing one. I read this book almost entirely in one sitting even though the book is almost 400 pages long, and was engaged for every single page."

underneath the covers - Restore? Or Accept “as is?”

When Zeke hires Andi to work on Drifting Dreamer, he has no doubt that the boat can be restored, meaning made wonderful and operational again while preserving the original beauty from its era. Zeke’s confident about this because at one time he was well known for restoring many local historical sites...


Zeke opened a cabinet where they stored things they almost never used and spotted a couple of vases on the top shelf. He pulled one down and arranged the flowers inside it before adding water.

Art let out a low whistle. “I haven’t seen you bring flowers to a woman in a long time.”

“It’s been a long time. That’s a fact,” Zeke said.

“Look, Zeke, you can tell me if you’re interested in Andi.”

“I know, Dad.”

He didn’t know how to respond. He was getting serious, but he didn’t know about Andi. With his back to his dad, he said, “I like her for lots of reasons, Dad. I think she likes me, too. That’s all I can say right now.”



"In this entertaining new novel by talented Author, Virginia McCullough, a woman and her 10 year-old-daughter move to a new, smaller town to be nearer the girl's father and his new wife...

This is a relaxing read with a few twists. However, it is mostly predictable but written with a flair and well-utilized literary skills. It keeps the reader's interest."

Don't forget to enter the giveaway below, if you haven't already...

Love, Unexpected
(Two Moon Bay #3)
By Virginia McCullough
Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 384 pages
May 1st 2018 by Harlequin Heartwarming

Moving to a new place isn’t easy…

Until a neglected ship and its owner make her feel at home

After spying a boat in need of some TLC, single mom Andi Sterling strikes a deal with its owner, Zeke Donovan, who shares her passion for restoring old things. Uncovering the legendary ship’s secrets draws them closer. Is it too soon for Andi to open her heart to the chance to build new dreams?

Other Books in the Series

Girl in the Spotlight
(Two Moon Bay #1)
By Virginia McCullough
Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 384 pages
June 1st 2017 by Harlequin Heartwarming

The daughter they never knew

When Miles Jenkins sees the graceful young figure skater on TV, he can't believe how much she resembles Lark McGee, the girl he dated briefly in college. Could this aspiring star be the child Lark gave up for adoption eighteen years ago? He has to find out.

Locating Lark ignites conflicting emotions in Miles—including regrets for what might have been and romantic feelings that take the two single parents by surprise. As they prepare to meet their daughter, this deeper connection between the two just might be the chance at love they never got.

GoodreadsAmazonBarnes & NobleHarlequiniBooksKoboGooglePlay

Something to Treasure
(Two Moon Bay #2)
By Virginia McCullough
Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 384 pages
January 1st 2018 by Harlequin Heartwarming

If anyone can save him, she’s the one

Jerrod Walters hopes relocating to the coastal town of Two Moon Bay can be the fresh start he and his young daughter need. But the single dad is caught off guard when a beautiful PR professional offers to promote his diving excursions to legendary shipwreck sites. There’s so much he admires about Dawn Larson, starting with the woman’s upbeat, can-do personality. Dawn’s boundless capacity for joy might be the only thing capable of bringing him back to life after his tragic loss…


About the Author

A writer all her adult life, Virginia McCullough has had the opportunity to write the stories of her heart in her novels, including Girl in the Spotlight, the first book in her Two Moon Bay series for Harlequin Heartwarming. (Book 2 is scheduled for release in January 2018). Her award-winning romance and women’s fiction titles include The Jacks of Her Heart, Amber Light, Greta’s Grace, The Chapels on the Hill, and Island Healing.

Born and raised in Chicago, Virginia has been lucky enough to develop her writing career in many locations, including the coast of Maine, the mountains of North Carolina, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and currently, Northeast Wisconsin. She started her career in nonfiction, first writing articles and then books as a ghostwriter and coauthor. She’s written more than 100 books for physicians, business owners, professional speakers and many others with information to share or a story to tell.

Virginia’s books feature characters who could be your neighbors and friends. They come in all ages and struggle with everyday life issues in small-town environments that almost always include water—oceans, lakes, or rivers. The mother of two grown children, you’ll find Virginia with her nose a book, walking on trails or her neighborhood street, or she may be packing her bag to take off for her next adventure. And she’s always working on another story about hope, healing, and second chances.

Tour Giveaway


1 winner will receive a $50 Amazon Gift Card and the pictured Handfelted Wool Bowl and Gemstones (US only):

Description: A beautiful handfelted wool bowl filled with colorful gemstones to add a little beauty to your home. The bowl contains a small amethyst cluster from Uruguay which is generally used in rooms where people tend to congregate such as kitchens and family rooms. It is said to bring about peace and open communication. The bowl also includes a pink chunk of rose quartz from Brazil as a reminder of love and healing, a candle quartz crystal crystal from Madagascar said to make anyone who enters your home feel welcome, a pretty piece of blue lace agate from Southwest Africa to help create relaxing and accepting energy near your front door, a deep blue apatite heart from Sri Lanka to encourage the sharing of feelings and tangerine quartz from Brazil for information retention and perfect for your office, study or a student's room.

Ends May 16th

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Grab Our Button!



Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Author Interview- Ann Herrick (Life, Love, and Surviving High School)

Guys, today we have with us author Ann Herrick. I really liked her book, The Perfect Guy. Click here for my review of the same. This time, we are featuring Ann's latest Young Adult Contemporary Romance, Life, Love, and Surviving High School, which sounds super interesting and even if I couldn't do it myself because of a tight college schedule, I hope you are looking forward to read the book and can do so soon. Alright then, let's get onto the post we have for you! There's a really great interview we did with the author for you to read along with some basics about the book. 


GOODREADS SUMMARY: 

Becca secretly lusts after Brent, Claire's boyfriend--then Claire makes Becca an offer about Brent that she can't resist.

Becca's in high school, but she hasn't been on the same page as her best friends since just before the start of middle school and she doesn't know exactly how things got so different. Not different in some edgy, gritty, she's-a-rebel way. More of a Yes-she's-a-dork way. Which makes it all the more amazing that while other friendships have crashed and burned all around them the four of girls have managed to stay Best Friends Forever. She doesn't need to share in her friends' spotlight. Becca's happy to follow along in the shadows, as long as she's not totally cast aside.

She's definitely not ready for guys. In fact, she just wants to skip right over high school and jump straight to twenty-two. By then she figures she will have gotten through her first date, first kiss, passed her driver's test, taken the SATs, filled out all those college applications, somehow survived living in a dorm and gotten her college degree without all the anxiety and drama.

Instead, just after silently deciding to not even think about guys and concentrate on school work for the next four years, she is instantly mesmerized by Brent, a seriously great-looking senior who also happens to have a long-time girlfriend, Claire. Not one to be the "other woman," Becca imagines creative ways for Claire to be out of Brent's life. 

Meanwhile, Becca forms a strictly friends-only relationship with Colt, who she first thinks of as "Farmboy." Becca and Colt turn out be good partners when it comes to studying, taking pictures for the school newspaper and working on a term paper together. But when one day Claire makes an offer about Brent that Becca can't resist, that changes everything.

BOOK LINKS: 


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Ann Herrick is the award-winning author of several books and short stories for kids and teens. Included in the awards her books have won are the ALA Recommended Book for Reluctant Readers, IRA/CBC Children’s Choice and EPIC Best YA Novel Finalist.
Ann grew up in Connecticut, where she graduated from The Morgan School and Quinnipiac University.  She now lives in Oregon with her husband, who was her high-school sweetheart.  Their wonderful daughter is grown, married and gainfully employed, and has given Ann her only grand-dog, Puff, a bloodhound-rottweiller-beagle mix and six grand-kitties.  While she misses the East Coast, especially houses built before 1900, she enjoys the green valleys, fresh air and low humidity in the Willamette Valley of Oregon.  Ann loves cats, walking, the Oregon Ducks and working in her back yard.  In addition to stories and books for children and young adults, Ann also writes copy for humorous and conventional greeting cards. She loves to hear from her readers and can be contacted through her website

AUTHOR LINKS: TWITTER / FACEBOOK 

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: 

Hi, Ann! Welcome to The Readdicts! It’s great to have you on our blog today and we hope you have a nice time answering our questions.

1) Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I grew up in Connecticut, and also lived in New York and New Jersey before moving to Oregon. When I was a little girl, I wanted to be a nurse but changed my mind as I got older. I worked as an administrative assisant for a few years before I turned to writing.

2) Tell us about your book, Life, Love, and Surviving High School.

Becca's in high school, but she hasn't been on the same page as her best friends since just before the start of middle school and she doesn't know exactly how things got so different. Not different in some edgy, gritty, she's-a-rebel way. More of a Yes-she's-a-dork way. Which makes it all the more amazing that while other friendships have crashed and burned all around them the four of girls have managed to stay Best Friends Forever. She doesn't need to share in her friends' spotlight. Becca's happy to follow along in the shadows, as long as she's not totally cast aside.

She's definitely not ready for guys. In fact, she just wants to skip right over high school and jump straight to twenty-two. By then she figures she will have gotten through her first date, first kiss, passed her driver's test, taken the SATs, filled out all those college applications, somehow survived living in a dorm and gotten her college degree without all the anxiety and drama.

Instead, just after silently deciding to not even think about guys and concentrate on school work for the next four years, she is instantly mesmerized by Brent, a seriously great-looking senior who also happens to have a long-time girlfriend, Claire. Not one to be the "other woman," Becca imagines creative ways for Claire to be out of Brent's life.

Meanwhile, Becca forms a strictly friends-only relationship with Colt, who she first thinks of as "Farmboy." Becca and Colt turn out be good partners when it comes to studying, taking pictures for the school newspaper and working on a term paper together. But when one day Claire makes an offer about Brent that Becca can't resist, that changes everything.

3) Tell us about the characters in the book. Are any of them inspired by someone you know in real life or they complete works of your imagination?

There are bits and pieces of personalities of people I’ve known in many of the characters, but mainly they are works of my imagination.

4) As you know, I really liked your book, The Perfect Guy. Do you prefer writing contemporaries? What other genre(s) would you like to explore with your writing?

I mostly write contemporary, but one of my books is set in 1959, mainly because of an indirect connection to real events. Otherwise, while I enjoy reading historical ficiton, I wouldn’t want to do all the research necessary to make the story realistic and accurate.

5) If a movie or TV series were to be made out of the book, which actors would you like to see being cast as the main characters?

It’s hard to say, since by the time a movie would be made there would be a whole new crop of actors and actors, but maybe Zac Efron, Robert Patterson, Kristen Stewart, Jennifer Lawrence, to name a few.

We have a fun This or That lined up for you. You just get to pick one of the following two choices!

1) Day or night? Day. I love to get up early, I think morning is the best part of the day.

2) Beach or mountain? The beach. I grew up along the shoreline in Connecticut (USA), close to the water. I loved to go to the beach and go swimming.

3) Coke or pepsi? I don’t drink soda too often, but when I do I choose Pepsi.

4) Tea or coffee? Tea. I love green tea and chamomile.

5) Novels or novellas? Both! 

Thank you so much for stopping by the post and I'd like to thank Ann for stopping by the blog today and I wish her lots of love and success. Happy reading! 




                         

Friday, October 18, 2013

Blog Tour + Giveaway: Love, Films and Rock 'n' Roll by Swayam Ganguly

Summary-

Fate throws together three young men travelling on a train from Jamshedpur to Kolkata. 
Sunil is a graduate from FTII who wants to make a mark in Tollywood by directing his first feature film. 
Sameer aka Sam, is a software professional working in Silicon Valley. 
Dipankar aka Dipsy, decides to focus on music after being expelled from IIT on a false charge of peddling drugs.
Dilemmas, disillusionments and desires blend to tell their tales in this delightful novel,which although reflective of the carefree ways and the fun loving spirit of the younger generation also attempts to encourage them to incorporate the sense of values which are synonymous with our Indian culture.
And they bind one and all through Love, Films and Rock n Roll!

Review-

Love, Films and Rock n Roll is the story of three young men who unexpectedly form a friendship while travelling together on a train from Jamshedpur to Kolkata. The story shows what's happening with each person and moves forward. I really enjoyed the book as it was different from what I usually read.

Sunil is a graduate from FTII. He wants to direct quality films in Tollywood. We see his journey where he learns from his experience on the sets of a movie. I really liked Sunil. He was a nice, hardworking guy trying to work in the business. I loved his story with Tanya. The long distance relationship they have in no way deters them from being together in the end.


Then there's Sam who's come back to get an arranged marriage. I think I liked his story the best of all. Sam was a fun guy with wit and sense of humor. It just so happens that he falls in love with Sonali, the matchmaker who's supposed to find him a bride. Sonali and Sam were great together and independently. I wish we'd gotten more of them.


And last but not the least there's Dipsy. He's a musician trying to make big with his band. There is ton of stuff about the Baul culture in his story. Here is where I have a slight complaint. The author has gone very in depth where this is concerned. It was interesting but the too many details dragged his parts a bit for me. I wanted to know more about Dipsy himself and his issues.


Love, Films and Rock n Roll is filled with abundance of all three. I loved how the author incorporated song lyrics in the way the guys thought and spoke. That was fun. The pace of the book is nice. The writing is easy and engaging. Though a little predictable, Love, Films and Rock n Roll made for an enjoyable read.


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



About the author:

Swayam Ganguly is a media professional and creative consultant who has worked extensively in Bangalore and Mumbai and is currently based in Kolkata. Apart from writing fiction, the author has also worked on abridged versions of novels and other content for different publishers. He is also the Creative Director, Content, for the website of the Mumbai-based online toy store called Yellow Giraffe. He has an avid interest in music and films and has directed the popular award-winning, regional band hunt reality show called ‘Band E Mataram’.


Buy Links:


Alchemy Publishers Links:


GIVEAWAY:

Now for the giveaway guys, Alchemy Publishers has been super generous. They're giving away FOUR copies of Love, Films and Rock 'n' Roll by Swayam Ganguly to four lucky winners from India.

So, go forth and participate from the rafflecopter below. May the odds be ever in your favor!



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks guys!
Happy reading :)


Review- Love, Films and Rock 'n' Roll by Swayam Ganguly

Summary-

Fate throws together three young men travelling on a train from Jamshedpur to Kolkata. 
Sunil is a graduate from FTII who wants to make a mark in Tollywood by directing his first feature film. 
Sameer aka Sam, is a software professional working in Silicon Valley. 
Dipankar aka Dipsy, decides to focus on music after being expelled from IIT on a false charge of peddling drugs.
Dilemmas, disillusionments and desires blend to tell their tales in this delightful novel,which although reflective of the carefree ways and the fun loving spirit of the younger generation also attempts to encourage them to incorporate the sense of values which are synonymous with our Indian culture.
And they bind one and all through Love, Films and Rock n Roll!

Review-

Love, Films and Rock n Roll is the story of three young men who unexpectedly form a friendship while travelling together on a train from Jamshedpur to Kolkata. The story shows what's happening with each person and moves forward. I really enjoyed the book as it was different from what I usually read.

Sunil is a graduate from FTII. He wants to direct quality films in Tollywood. We see his journey where he learns from his experience on the sets of a movie. I really liked Sunil. He was a nice, hardworking guy trying to work in the business. I loved his story with Tanya. The long distance relationship they have in no way deters them from being together in the end.

Then there's Sam who's come back to get an arranged marriage. I think I liked his story the best of all. Sam was a fun guy with wit and sense of humor. It just so happens that he falls in love with Sonali, the matchmaker who's supposed to find him a bride. Sonali and Sam were great together and independently. I wish we'd gotten more of them.

And last but not the least there's Dipsy. He's a musician trying to make big with his band. There is ton of stuff about the Baul culture in his story. Here is where I have a slight complaint. The author has gone very in depth where this is concerned. It was interesting but the too many details dragged his parts a bit for me. I wanted to know more about Dipsy himself and his issues.

Love, Films and Rock n Roll is filled with abundance of all three. I loved how the author incorporated song lyrics in the way the guys thought and spoke. That was fun. The pace of the book is nice. The writing is easy and engaging. Though a little predictable, Love, Films and Rock n Roll made for an enjoyable read.

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