Monday, March 20, 2017

Review- Now I Love You Now I Don't by Shoma Narayanan

Summary-

‘Umm, in case you’re wondering if I slept with your husband, no I didn’t,’ Zina offered. ‘He’s not my type.’

Now I Love You, Now I Don’t is the story of two very different women. Anjali is a traditional wife and mother. No one can guess that she and her husband have been estranged for most of their married life, and their reconciliation is a few fragile months old. Zina, on the other hand, is beautiful, ambitious and completely unscrupulous. Out for what she can get, she is perhaps more surprised than anyone else when she falls head over heels in love with a very unlikely young man. Anjali’s and Zina’s lives then get inextricably entangled by a series of events that follow.

Despite their initial dislike for each other, Anjali and Zina pull together when disaster threatens. But will they achieve their own happily ever after?
 


Release date: January 1st, 2017
Published by: Rupa Publications India
Page numbers: 154

Review-

I have read many books by Shoma Narayanan and she is one of the few Indian authors I like to keep up with if I can. So when I saw that she had a new book coming out with Rupa Publications I was excited. Now I Love You Now I Don't is the story of two women who are total opposites and how their lives connect and intertwine. I found Now I Love You Now I Don't to be an extremely average read.

Okay so let's start with the first woman, Anjali. Anjali is the quintessential home maker. Taking care of her daughter and father and overall being a good responsible mother. The only thing is that she has been separated from her husband for many years. The sudden reappearance of her husband in her life brings change into both Anjali and her daughter's life.

I liked Anjali and thought she was a nice person in general. Whom I did not like was Anjali's husband, Sushil. I found that Sushil had absolutely no personality. What I also found highly irritating was how casually Sushil's infidelity was taken during the course of their marriage. I despise how it was portrayed as if a man's needs are greater than a woman's and it was perfectly alright to cheat on your wife. What annoyed me even more was that Anjali, who came across as a perfectly intelligent woman otherwise was so comfortable with this situation.

Then talking about the second woman who is Zina. Zina is the flighty and free spirited girl who is unapologetic about her behaviour. Zina actually knows Sushil and soon finds herself going for Hindi classes to Anjali. Now when I think about it I much prefer Zina's character to Anjali's. Yes, she came off as a bit shallow sometimes but all in all her head and heart were in the right place.

Zina's romance with Ishaan was also a good one. What starts as a purely physical relationship turns into caring and soon something more. Yes it was a bit of a cliche but it worked. I also liked the older woman younger man angle going on here. The conflict in Now I Love You Now I Don't was predictable at best. Things were handled a bit childishly I feel and I wanted more depth and reasoning from the characters. I would definitely recommend picking up some other read by Shoma Narayanan over this one.

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



Friday, March 17, 2017

Cover Reveal- The Hot Shot by Kristen Callihan

the hot shot release date


TheHotShot Amazon-2

THE HOT SHOT
GAME ON Book 4
By Kristen Callihan
Release Day: April 17th
       

First we were friends. Then we were roommates. Now I want more…

What can I say about Chess Copper? The woman is capable of bringing me to my knees. I know this about five minutes after getting naked for her.

No one is more surprised than me. The prickly photographer my team hired to shoot our annual charity calendar isn’t my usual type. She’s defense to my offense, a challenge at every turn. But when I’m with her, all the regrets and darkness goes away. She makes life fun.

I want to know Chess, be close to her. Which is a bad idea.

Chess is looking for a relationship. I’ve never given a woman more than one night. But when fate leaves Chess without a home, I step up and offer her mine. We’re roommates now. Friends without benefits. But it’s getting harder to keep our hands off each other. And the longer we live together the more I realize she’s becoming my everything.

Trick is… Now that I’ve made her believe I’m a bad bet, how do I convince her to give this player a true shot at forever?

  ADD TO GOODREADS      

  Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000040_00005]  

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

     KCauthor

Kristen Callihan is an author because there is nothing else she’d rather be. She is a three-time RITA nominee and winner of two RT Reviewer’s Choice awards. Her novels have garnered starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly and the Library Journal, as well as being awarded top picks by many reviewers. Her debut book FIRELIGHT received RT Magazine’s Seal of Excellence, was named a best book of the year by Library Journal , best book of Spring 2012 by Publisher’s Weekly, and was named the best romance book of 2012 by ALA RUSA. When she is not writing, she is reading.

WEBSITE / FACEBOOK / TWITTER / AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE


Thursday, March 16, 2017

Review- Birds of Prey by Archana Sarat

Birds of Prey on Goodreads

 BOOK SUMMARY:

You wake up, parched and famished, at the bottom of a deep well—dark and dingy with the foul smell of excreta and rotting scars and no seeming way to escape—what do you do?
This is the predicament that ex-ACP Anton Pinto faces when he reluctantly joins the investigation into the mysterious disappearances of men from affluent families of Mumbai. There is an inexplicable pattern behind the abductions and all suspicions point towards an old, physically-challenged, mysterious lady. Soon, Anton discovers that the seemingly unrelated men have one common link—the most popular and expensive international school in Mumbai.
Following clues that span from schools and old-age homes to illegal dingy hospitals, Anton is led through a labyrinth of incest, abuse, torture and suffering, spanning decades.
What secret does the school hide behind its gates? What was the undisclosed crime that is thirsty for justice? Will Anton be able to save the men? Will justice be served?
 


Release date: November 1st 2016
Published by: Readomania
Page numbers: 192

REVIEW: 


It was, I believe, a year or two ago, when I probably read my last David Levithan book, that I read a book in one sitting. But once I picked up Birds of Prey and got into, I could not stop. It is such a fast-paced, engrossing, irresistible and thrilling read that I found myself finishing it in one dat itself, which is something that doesn't happen very often with me.


Posing as a contrast to what I just said, Birds of Prey was unputdownable, yes, but at the same time, every chapter, especially during the first half of the book, was so deep, depressing and devastating, that I found myself putting the book aside just to comprehend and digest what I just read. This book has so many feelings and emotions in it that it gets too much at times and all you want to do in such times is to just leave it all aside and try to understand.

There is such meticulous character-designing and development in this book that it's admirable. To top it all off, it is a brilliantly worded book. When I figured out the mystery on my own in the first quarter of the book itself, it was the writing that kept me going, because it was just so damn perfect, sharp and crisp. Author Archana Sarat delivers an absolutely well-written and flawless book.

Coming to the story of Birds of Prey, it was predictable but it was so well done and so well made. I don't really see a hero and a villain in this book, because every side was understandable. But the most interesting part of this book is that way in which it addresses an issue and a problem so important that it really makes you contemplate. Some of the gory descriptions get very uncomfortable sometimes, but this book is only trying to tell the truth.

I have barely read half a dozen books so far this year, but without any hesitation, I am able to say that Birds of Prey has been the most interesting and absorbing I've read, not only this year, but in quite some time now. I am falling short of words to describe how great this book is, which tells the story of both nice and bad people who make this world what it is.

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

Buy the book: AMAZON

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Waiting On Wednesday #192

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

The Names They Gave Us by Emery Lord
Publication date- May 16th 2017 


Goodreads Summary: 

Lucy Hansson was ready for a perfect summer with her boyfriend, working at her childhood Bible camp on the lake. But when her mom’s cancer reappears, Lucy falters—in faith, in love, and in her ability to cope. When her boyfriend “pauses” their relationship and her summer job switches to a different camp—one for troubled kids—Lucy isn’t sure how much more she can handle. Attempting to accept a new normal, Lucy slowly regains footing among her vibrant, diverse coworkers, Sundays with her mom, and a crush on a fellow counselor. But when long-hidden family secrets emerge, can Lucy set aside her problems and discover what grace really means? 

I've read Emery Lord's When We Collided and it was bloody brillaint, so it'll be cool to see what this book has to tell! 

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?




Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Blog Tour- How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days by Kerrelyn Sparks

Summary-

Luciana grew up on the Isle of Moon, hidden away because of her magical powers. But when her father arrives, he offers her a choice: remain on the island or return with him and marry the Beast of Benwick in order to save their legacy—and her father's life.

Lord Leofric, the Beast of Benwick, has not been touched since he was a child. Born with the power to harness lightning, he is a danger to everyone he touches. When he meets his betrothed, he expects a loveless, lonely marriage...until he discovers she's vastly more powerful than he realized. But is she strong enough to withstand his touch?

If they can survive, their love will alter the future of the kingdom. But will their extraordinary powers cost them everything?


HOW TO TAME A BEAST IN SEVEN DAYS:
The Embraced Series
By Kerrelyn Sparks
Published by St. Martin’s Paperbacks
**On Sale March 7, 2017**
Mass Market Paperback | $7.99

ISBN:9781250108210| Ebook ISBN:9781250108227

“As Sparks starts a delightful new paranormal-romance series…Luciana and Leo’s erotic tension ratchets up.
Readers will relish Spark’s lovingly detailed and memorable tale and look forward to the next.”
Booklist

An entertaining first entry for Sparks' new series.”
Kirkus Reviews

“Sparks…creates an intricate, layered world that’s easy to fall into without tons of backstory needed. Luciana’s gifts were unique and made for a fun read with situations that led to all kinds of trouble, making this story a joy to read. The Beast, Lord Leo, is everything you’d want, without being so dark he irks you. Readers will be fully invested in this Embraced series!”
RT Book Reviews, Top Pick!

Review-

I have read and loved Kerrelyn Sparks' Love at Stake series so I was super excited to start reading How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days. This is a new series by her and it takes place on another realm. While going in to this series I didn't have a lot of expectations. Like I knew it was going to be good but I still missed the Love at Stake gang a little bit. But I never should have doubted Kerrelyn Sparks. She is an amazing author and she comes through with this one.

Let's start with our heroine Luciana. Luciana grew up on the Island of Moon away from the mainland because of her hidden powers. But then her father returns for her due to unforeseen circumstances. Now she has a choice- either hide away on the Island forever or help save her father by marrying the Beast aka Lord Leofric. I loved Luiciana. She was such a sweetheart. She was pure and innocent where the world was a horrible place with people only wanting power. I loved how kind Luciana was and how she was with Leo.

Leo or the Beast of Benwick as he is known has not been touched since he was a child. He is born with the power to harness lightning so his touch basically electrocutes people. Leo was an amazing guy. He was strong and protective and actually cared about the people of his country unlike the King himself. Leo knows the King wants to assassinate him and his betrothed. As soon as Leo meets Luciana he is smitten. But he knows she's keeping secrets from him as is he.

How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days focuses more on the way the kingdoms operate as well as the Isle of Moon. There is a lot of backstabbing and planning and plotting along with attempts of assassination. But the romance was just as lovely with a combination of sweet and sexy. Luciana gives Leo the kindness and affection he's been craving his whole life and Leo in return protects her with his whole heart. I loved these two.

We also get to meet Luciana's sisters from the Isle of Moon who have also been hidden away for reasons unknown. I'm excited for each one of their books as I loved the bonds of sisterhood they shared. I also loved Leo's guard. His men were strong and loyal and I'm hoping we get to see more of them. Kerrelyn Sparks has created a new and unique world and with her sense of humour she made this book a very enjoyable read.

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


About the Author


KERRELYN SPARKS is the New York Times bestselling author of the Love at Stake series. Visit her online at www.kerrelynsparks.com.

Praise for Kerrelyn Sparks:
"A deeply satisfying, delightfully swoon-inducing close...full of vulnerability and tenderness."
Publishers Weekly (starred review) on Crouching Tiger, Forbidden Vampire

"Mixing paranormal romance with humor, Sparks clearly has a style all her own, one that readers love."
USA Today's Happily Ever After blog

"Sparks skillfully infuses her writing with a deliciously sharp wit."
Booklist


Monday, March 13, 2017

Review- How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days by Kerrelyn Sparks

Summary-

Luciana grew up on the Isle of Moon, hidden away because of her magical powers. But when her father arrives, he offers her a choice: remain on the island or return with him and marry the Beast of Benwick in order to save their legacy—and her father's life.

Lord Leofric, the Beast of Benwick, has not been touched since he was a child. Born with the power to harness lightning, he is a danger to everyone he touches. When he meets his betrothed, he expects a loveless, lonely marriage...until he discovers she's vastly more powerful than he realized. But is she strong enough to withstand his touch?

If they can survive, their love will alter the future of the kingdom. But will their extraordinary powers cost them everything?


Release date: March 7th, 2017
Published by: St.Martin's Press
Page numbers: 416

Review-

I have read and loved Kerrelyn Sparks' Love at Stake series so I was super excited to start reading How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days. This is a new series by her and it takes place on another realm. While going in to this series I didn't have a lot of expectations. Like I knew it was going to be good but I still missed the Love at Stake gang a little bit. But I never should have doubted Kerrelyn Sparks. She is an amazing author and she comes through with this one.

Let's start with our heroine Luciana. Luciana grew up on the Island of Moon away from the mainland because of her hidden powers. But then her father returns for her due to unforeseen circumstances. Now she has a choice- either hide away on the Island forever or help save her father by marrying the Beast aka Lord Leofric. I loved Luiciana. She was such a sweetheart. She was pure and innocent where the world was a horrible place with people only wanting power. I loved how kind Luciana was and how she was with Leo.

Leo or the Beast of Benwick as he is known has not been touched since he was a child. He is born with the power to harness lightning so his touch basically electrocutes people. Leo was an amazing guy. He was strong and protective and actually cared about the people of his country unlike the King himself. Leo knows the King wants to assassinate him and his betrothed. As soon as Leo meets Luciana he is smitten. But he knows she's keeping secrets from him as is he.

How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days focuses more on the way the kingdoms operate as well as the Isle of Moon. There is a lot of backstabbing and planning and plotting along with attempts of assassination. But the romance was just as lovely with a combination of sweet and sexy. Luciana gives Leo the kindness and affection he's been craving his whole life and Leo in return protects her with his whole heart. I loved these two.

We also get to meet Luciana's sisters from the Isle of Moon who have also been hidden away for reasons unknown. I'm excited for each one of their books as I loved the bonds of sisterhood they shared. I also loved Leo's guard. His men were strong and loyal and I'm hoping we get to see more of them. Kerrelyn Sparks has created a new and unique world and with her sense of humour she made this book a very enjoyable read.

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


Friday, March 10, 2017

Feature Follow Friday #74


This week's prompt is: 

What books have made you cry (good cry, bad cry, ugly cry)?

Okay, so I'm not a crier. I usually love my happy endings and my feel good books. Takes my mind off reality and I like it that way. But there are some books which have made me more emotional. It is definitely more because of the characters and what they've been through. I just felt a strong connection and empathy towards them.

My picks are-

   

What are your picks?

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