29 November 2014

Review #93: The Evolution of Emily by Kate Scott



My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Kami Garcia, the NY Times bestselling author, has quoted about "teenagers" as:

“Teenagers. Everything is so apocalyptic.”

Kate Scott, the American author, who once enchanted us with her debut book, Counting to D, has once again left us mesmerized by yet another YA tale called, The Evolution of Emily . They say high school is one of the most bizarre periods of a person's life and getting and coming through it is one of the biggest challenges in life. Likewise, Kate's protagonist, Emily is one of teenager, who is going through the most bizarre periods of her life and Emily's decisions and life-altering changes will not only make you like her but will also enlighten you in a way.

Synopsis:
Emily Charles knows how to run away. Away from her overprotective, agoraphobic mother. Away from her biology-obsessed, autistic sister. Away from her quiet sheltered claustrophobic home schooled life. When Emily's escape plan involves starting her junior year at Kennedy High School, she realizes she's no longer running away. Now she's running towards. Towards her quiet thoughtful cross-country teammate, August. Towards her zany enthusiastic lab partner, Miles. Towards friendship, love, independence, and life.

Review #92: If You Were Me by Sheila O'Flanagan



My rating: 5 of 5 stars


While I was reading If You Were Me by Sheila O'Flanagan, it reminded me of a Katy Perry's old, cheesy, heart-breaking love-song:

In another life
I would be your girl
We'd keep all our promises
Be us against the world

In another life
I would make you stay
So I don't have to say
You were the one that got away
 The one that got away

Sheila O'Flanagan, an International Best-Selling author, has spun a terrific heart-breaking as well as deeply moving love-story named, If You Were Me who took me on an emotional roller-coaster ride.

Synopsis:
Carlotta O'Keefe is happily engaged, and the wedding plans are coming together. She's clear about her future path, both personally and in her busy career. Maybe Chris doesn't make her heart race every time she sees him, but you can't have that feeling for ever. Can you? Then, on a trip to Seville, Carlotta runs into Luke Evans. Luke broke her heart so long ago she'd almost convinced herself she'd forgotten him. Now, he's not that boy any more, but an attractive and intriguing man. And he can explain everything that happened way back when. Suddenly Carlotta's not so sure of anything anymore.

28 November 2014

The 10 Best Christmas Stories

Another random post! I promise you this post will not bore you to death, instead it'll enlighten and inspire you. In this Holiday season, I'd like to rule out my all time 10 favorite Christmas read books. Obviously, there are millions of books that portray the Christmas spirit in a very remarkable way, but among those million books, I feel the following 10 books are the most incredible Christmas read, according to me!  So scroll down below to know which are the best Christmas books and why!



1. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens


Since on this very post I'm going to list about those "Who hasn't read it?" books, which bring out the very spirit of Christmas among us, I must admit that Charles Dickens was the only author who showed us the real spirit behind a Christmas Day and they say the he is " the man who invented Christmas". On a bitterly cold, English winter day, to be specific on December 19th, 1843, Charles Dickens gifted us with his most noteworthy work of his life, A Christmas Carol that not only wowed us, but still leave us speechless even after reading for the gazillion-th times. I read it when I was in school since this story was a part of my school board curriculum. I'm pretty sure, everyone felt/feels the same way, when they read (present- reads) this book, like you want to do something, something good for the less privileged human being! Yes, and that's the real Christmas spirit that only Dickens can bring out among us every time we read this book. So with a hot mug of coffee, under your warm blanket with an old paperback copy of A Christmas Carol, I think there cannot be any better way to spend your cold, lazy December morning! Uncle Scrooge and his way of saying "Humbug" to everything still remains very much alive in our hearts!

Favorite quote from the book:

“There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.” 
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2. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis


Sometimes, surreal stories can touch us so deeply. C.S.Lewis gifted us with his greatest creation of work on the year of 1950. And it was the only book in the Chronicles of Narnia series that will leave your soul amazed and enchanted by Lewis's master story-telling. Although all the seven books of the Chronicles of Narnia series are utterly brilliant, but this is the only Narnia book which made me feel the purity behind a Christmas spirit. When I was a child, this book made me realize that families are very important part of one's life and very valuable and we must respect and trust one another to have a nice life. Yes, this book manages to make a grown-up human being feel very nostalgic. Oh how we lost touch with our only brother/sister! Oh how I wish I could be home with my only sweet brother/sister for the Christmas holidays! This is the real feeling that this book brings out among us! Love for our siblings! It's not only a story about family values and love, but it also gifts us with an mystical adventure that is only filled with intrigue, darkness, danger, fear and a deadly war! I feel Lucy, Susan, Peter and Edmund are going to be your best friends on your random, boring December days!

Favorite quote from the book:

“Once a king or queen of Narnia, always a king or queen of Narnia.” 
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3. Miracle on 34th Street by Valentine Davies


Wow, now that sounds like a classic, epic holiday movie! Yep, you're right there, buddy! Valentine Davies wrote the story for the movie, Miracle on 34th Street and after writing the story for the film, he novelized the story which was published as a 120-pages novella in the year 1947. Who haven't watched this epic movie and I bet many people grew up watching the movie. In this case both the movie and the book are equally touching and leaves us with a feeling of hope and faith in our heart. Valentine Davies tried to depict how sometimes believing in the impossible can bring miracle in our lives and has miraculously captured the true spirit of Christmas in his book and movie. Both Kris Kringle and Susan Walker leaves an impression upon our minds with their remarkable demeanor. It is one of the beautiful story about Santa Claus that leaves you feeling happy and one of the most greatest Christmas book ever. Trust me, after reading short story, it'll uplift will gloomy mood like anything. Knock, knock, there's a miracle in this book that will see you stuffs with much better perspective!

Favorite quote from the book:

“Faith is believing in things when common sense tells you not to.” 
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4. The Gift of Magi by O. Henry


Love stories are a treasure during the Christmas time and The Gift of Magi is one of the greatest selfless love story ever told that teaches us about the joy of giving gifts on Christmas day to your loved ones, and there can only be one man behind such a classic love-story- O. Henry. He gifted us with one of his sweetest and enthralling love-story on a cold December day in the year 1905. When I first read the book, of course, when I was in school, I felt even if you are poor and have no money, Christmas is the only festival that brings out the spirit  of compassion and kindness within our hearts. This couple, Della and Jim, each had only one true possession in their lives- Della had her beautiful, lustrous, long hair and Jim had his ancestral pocket watch, which was kind of an heritage to him. And it's that time of the years, bells ringing everywhere and they both wonder how to give one another gifts despite of being so poor. O.Henry enlightens us with a noteworthy love-story that is only about joy and sacrifice and gifts. He showed us that the joy behind giving gifts one of the greatest forms of happiness in one's life. After all Christmas should be spent with your loved ones with happiness and laughter. And Della Na Jim's story is the perfect epitome of that. This book brings out the best feeling when it is read it along with your boyfriend/husband or with your girlfriend/wife on the night before Christmas.

Favorite quote from the book:

“Life is full of sniffles sobs and smiles. With sniffles predominating.”
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5. Little Woman by Louisa May Alcott


There are some stories which never lose it's charm even after reading it for the uncountable times. And Little Woman falls into that category. Not exactly a Christmas time story, but this
19th century story about 4 indifferent sisters when their father was sent off to war, will always remain one of my personal favorite Christmas time read. Tomboyish Jo, beautiful Meg,
fragile Beth, and romantic Amy will spin you away from your present day into an old English village where poverty and death are a common in almost every household. It was a surprise for me to find out that Louisa has portrayed her own story and painted herself into Jo in this book. The story might me about hardships faced by women back then, but it is also about unity and trust among your siblings and they held on to each other. This story might not strike to the children of 21st century, but I think, every child must read it to understand how hard life is when you don't have your parents to take care of your needs and demands. Little Woman still manages to make me see life in a much better perspective every time I read it. This is a must-read novel during the Christmas time.

Favorite quote from the book:

"Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents," grumbled Jo, lying on the rug. 
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6. The 101 Dalmatians by Dodie Smith

The 101 Dalmatians is any child's favorite story/movie ever read/watched while growing up. But I feel the animated movie that was adapted on the book was not as enthralling as the book itself. Dodie Smith, born as Dorothy Gladys Smith, is one of the most remarkable English female author who spun a classic story about canines and their masters. It was very mystifying for me when I read it as a little girl. Even if you're not a big fan of domestic animals, especially dogs, this book is bound to make you fall for them especially for their spots! A beautiful story about two dogs, Pongo and Missis when their puppies go missing in the suburb of London. Well there's a human bitchy character named Cruella who you'll love to hate kidnaps those helpless puppies and hides them somewhere even the Scotland Yard couldn't find it, to make the most beautiful far coat in time for Christmas. And it's really unraveling to see when Pongo and Missus try to find their puppies along the streets of London all by themselves. A perfect bed-time read on a bitterly cold, December night!

Favorite quote from the book:

“Like many other much-loved humans, they believed that they owned their dogs, instead of realizing that their dogs owned them.” 
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7. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling


That's not a Christmas tale!! Well, I agree to that, but any holiday doesn't complete for me, if I don't get to read a Potter book. They always have a way to make you feel so young, alive and full of happiness and Harry Potter series is the best epitome that light is the only weapon to win over darkness. I consider Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone as the best book in the whole series and it completely brings out the good spirit among us and shows light into the darkest corners of our mind. After all, cold wintery Decembers are meant for something magical and full of surprising adventures. And J.K.Rowling spins magic in such a way that even the greatest magicians on earth become speechless because of her creation. This is a book that drives us through the cold, darkness and pain into the magical kingdom of Hogwarts where freedom has no boundary and where friends are your only family and where some lessons become the greatest of your life. Read this book sitting by the fireside on your cozy chair with a hot mug of coffee on a very stormy, wintery evening.

Favorite quote from the book:

“One can never have enough socks," said Dumbledore. "Another Christmas has come and gone and I didn't get a single pair. People will insist on giving me books.” 
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8. The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding by Agatha Christie


Agatha Christie's short story collection was first published in the year 1960 and it is the only book which contains stories of Christie's two most famous detectives- Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. It is quite amazing to see that Christie has written the very first story in the book about Christmas and mystery by bringing out the Christmas spirit with her words and setting and feel. This is the one story which, if read at any time of the year, will always make you feel very Christmassy! Poirot is invited to join a countryside Christmas celebration in order to find a missing ruby. Although, no doubt, Christie's mystery are "The Best", but still this is the one book that not only rattles your mind, but it also makes your heart fill with hope and joy  of celebration with closed ones. Christie's descriptions about places and people are very striking, sharp and makes you feel like a part of the story. And who would miss out to read about Poirot's usual grumpiness and an old fashioned English Christmas dinner on a chilly Christmas night!

Favorite quote from the book:

“A weak man in a corner is more dangerous than a strong man." 
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9. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl


I know it's not a Christmas read, but this is yet another family story that doesn't make any holiday reunion complete. No matter whatever the celebration be, it doesn't end without indulging into a chocolaty ride into Wonka's chocolate factory along with the sweetest kid in the world- Charlie! Roald Dahl gifted us with the best-ever-present with his extraordinary and impressionistic children's story- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on the year 1964. There's not a soul that I know of who hasn't ever read Charlie's chocolatey adventure. This story also brings out a feeling of togetherness within out parents and grandparents and teaches us how a child like Charlie never leaves behind his family even he is offered the most prestigious job in the world. And with Dahl's enchanting narrative style, he makes his readers see right through his fantasy world of chocolate factories and strange little creatures named Oompa Loompa. Make your Christmas more delicious by bringing out the worn-out copy of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory from your bookshelves and reading it out loud on a cold December morning.

Favorite quote from the book:

“I've heard tell that what you imagine sometimes comes true."
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10. The Nutcracker by E.T.A. Hoffman


What better way to end your Christmas by reading Hoffman's The Nutcracker, which is not only a delightful read, but also leaves your heart filled up with a musical tune. All the spirit and the magic of Christmas pour out from every pages of this book. And with Maurice Sendak's eye-catching and poignant illustration, the whole story makes a more joyful read for it's readers. Marie's unusual Christmas present from her Godfather opens up a window to a whole new world, and after reading the book, when I close my eyes, I feel like I can see The Nutcracker ballet right in front of me. So enchanting filled up with magic and beauty, so thrilling, so enlightening, no other tale can be compared to this one!
PS: Even if you don't read the story, just look at the illustrations, that will cheer up your heart.

Favorite quote from the book:

"Snow was falling gently on the streets, and people were hurrying home, their arms filled with gaily wrapped boxes and paper parcels from toy stores, candy shops and bakeries". So begins the story of The Nutcracker, and with it the dreams of thousands of ballerinas. 
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So Happy Holidays People!! 
Read On!








27 November 2014

Review #91: An Appetite for Violets by Martine Bailey



My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Michael Foley, an English author, has quoted about "servants" as:

“The perfect servant is the one who attends to all the master's whims - anyone can do that - but the one who anticipates the whims.”

Martine Bailey, another English author, has penned her debut novel named, An Appetite For Violets about the miserable lives of servants and how sometimes, by a simple stroke of luck, they are born with a new identity.

Synopsis:
“That's how it is for us servants. No one pays you much heed; mostly you're invisible as furniture. Yet you overhear a conversation here, and add a little gossip there. Then you find something, something you should not have found.”

26 November 2014

Review #90: Becalmed by Normandie Fischer



My rating:
4 of 5 stars


“You don't love someone because they're perfect, you love them in spite of the fact that they're not.”
----Jodi Picoult, My Sister's Keeper

Normandie Fischer, an American writer, penning her novel from on board her sailboat or from on shore in coastal NC, has spun another remarkable story in her new book, Becalmed which is not a perfect story yet it is beautiful in a way. Sometimes, falling in love with a match fixed by someone else is quite undeniable.

Synopsis:
When a Southern woman with a broken heart falls for a widower with a broken boat, it's anything but smooth sailing.
Tadie Longworth doesn't mind acting the maiden aunt in Beaufort, North Carolina. She has a gift shop full of her own jewelry designs and a sweet little sailboat to take her mind off the guy who got away. But now he’s back . . . with the fashion-plate wife he picked instead of Tadie . . . and he’s hitting on her again.

25 November 2014

Review #89: Unmasking Juliet by Teri Wilson



My rating: 5 of 5 stars


“My only love sprung from my only hate!
Too early seen unknown, and known too late!
Prodigious birth of love it is to me,
That I must love a loathed enemy.”

----- William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

Teri Wilson, an American author, has spun a remarkable modern-day tale based on Shakespeare’s famous play, Romeo and Juliet, named, Unmasking Juliet. I warn you, this enchanting tale is bound to arrest your soul into the high ride of emotions and confusion.

Synopsis:
Ever since she was a little girl learning to make decadent truffles in her family's chocolate shop, Juliet Arabella has been aware of the bitter feud between the Arabellas and the Mezzanottes. With their rival chocolate boutiques on the same street in Napa Valley, these families never mix. Until one night, when Juliet anonymously attends the annual masquerade ball. In a moonlit vineyard, she finds herself falling for a gorgeous stranger; a man who reminds her what passion is like outside of the kitchen. But her bliss is short-lived when she discovers her masked prince is actually Leo Mezzanotte, newly returned from Paris and the heir to her archenemy's confection dynasty.

Review #88: Dolls Behaving Badly by Cinthia Ritchie



My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Woody Allen has said,

The talent for being happy is appreciating and liking what you have, instead of what you don't have.

Carla Richards, who is in her late 30s, is one such woman, who had to learn this fact of happiness from a giant woman who was the guest in Oprah's talk show and by following the giant's advice to maintain a diary. Well wonder who Carla is? Carla is the main protagonist in Cinthia Ritchie's novel, Dolls Behaving Badly. The name is quirky and has a really interesting meaning to it name. Cinthia Ritchie has pen down this tale in the form of Carla's diary entry, hence the book's pace is quite good.

Review #87: Limoncello Yellow by Traci Andrighetti



My rating:
4 of 5 stars


Christian Louboutin, the world-famous French footwear designer, has quoted about "heels" as:

The higher the better. It's more about an attitude. High heels empower women in a way.

You must be wondering that I'm going to tell you about a book which portrays about women and their high-heels. Well, you're wrong! Traci Andrighetti, an Italian author, has penned her debut book, named, Limoncello Yellow which is about female private investigators with a lot of Italian flare, glamor, glitz and some bad-ass actions.

Synopsis:
Francesca "Franki" Amato is a tough-talking rookie cop in Austin, Texas—until an unfortunate 911 call involving her boyfriend, Vince, and a German female wrestler convinces her once and for all that she just isn't cut out for a life on the police force. So Franki makes the snap decision to move to New Orleans to work at her friend Veronica's detective agency, Private Chicks, Inc. But Franki's hopes for a more stable life are soon dashed when Private Chicks is hired by the prime suspect in a murder case to find out what really happened to a beautiful young boutique manager who was found strangled to death with a cheap yellow scarf. When she's not investigating, Franki is hoping to seduce handsome bank executive Bradley Hartmann, but most of her time is spent dodging date offers from a string of "good Italian boys"—make that not-so-good aging Italian men—that her meddlesome Sicilian grandma has recruited as marriage candidates. As Mardi Gras approaches and the mystery of the murdered shop girl gets more complicated, Franki must decipher the odd ramblings of a Voodoo priestess to solve both the murder and the mystery of her own love life.

24 November 2014

Author Q&A Session #7: With Bianca Sloane

In an all new session of Author Q&A Session, I present you the author who writes thrillers with such passion that those stories will completely pull you into their darkness. Bianca Sloane- the author who's debut book bagged the Thriller of The Month award by e-thriller.com. So scroll down below to know more about this wondrous author.

Read the review of Live and Let Die here

Review # 86: Murderous Little Darlings (A Tale of Vampires #1) by John Hennessy



My rating: 5 of 5 stars


William Francis "Bill" Nighy, an English actor, has quoted about the 'vampires' as:

The phenomenon of vampires have always appealed to me. Everyone kind of likes a vampire story because it almost could be true.

Once again, my very dear friend and my favorite English author, John Hennessy, has come up with a tale about a vampire folklore, in his latest release, Murderous Little Darlings which happens to be the very first book, in yet another thrilling series named, A Tale of Vampires.

Synopsis:
Three siblings. An endless list of victims. A whole lot of time to kill.
With two specimens of the undead on either side of her, Juliana knew there was no escape. Kill the one they had selected for her, or be killed, and become of them. What had the neighbors in the road called them, back when their childhood pranks were just that?
Oh yes, she remembered now. Murderous Little Darlings. They had the faces of angels, but possessed the very soul of the Devil.

Author Q&A Session #6: With Ellen Allen

I hope that your coffee mugs are on your hand, because, in an another Author Q&A Session, we have Ellen Allen, the debut author, who has enthralled us with her YA thriller, The Sham. So get comfortable and read on about this brilliant author. 

Read the review of The Sham here

Author Q&A Session #5: With Susan Kietzman

Today in another new session of Author's Q&A, I present you the wonder woman behind those life-inspiring family drama fiction- Susan  Kietzman. She is the author of two books, The Good Life and A Changing Marriage, which are both equally touching and deeply moving and reading those books will let you see the love for your family and for your husband/wife in an all new perspective. So without wasting a minute, let's chat with Susan and get to about her better and about her upcoming release.
  • Read the review of A Changing Marriage here
  • Read the review of The Good Life here

Review #85: Five Days Left by Julie Lawson Timmer



My rating: 5 of 5 stars


According to Wikipedia:

Huntington's disease (HD) is a neuro-degenerative genetic disorder that affects muscle coordination and leads to cognitive decline and behavioral symptoms. It typically becomes noticeable in mid-adult life.

And after reading Five Days Left by Julie Lawson Timmer, who is a Canadian author, I can't stop myself from penning down the following spectacular and moving poem written by an anonymous boy for his "Huntington's-stricken" mother: 

21 November 2014

Review #84: The Lodger: A Novel by Louisa Treger



My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Kami Garcia, a New York Times bestselling author has been quoted while saying:

“We don't get to chose what is true. We only get to choose what we do about it.”

Louisa Treger, an English author, has portrayed the life and times of a writer named, Dorothy Richardson, who was the peer of Virginia Woolf, lover of H.G. Wells, and ultimately got stuck between the crossfire’s of her past and a new era of unconventional world where she desires to be a writer of modernist fiction, in her debut novel, The Lodger.

Synopsis:
Dorothy exist just above the poverty line, doing secretarial work at a dentist's surgery and living in a seedy boarding house in Bloomsbury, when she is invited to spend the weekend with a childhood friend. Jane recently married a writer who is hovering on the brink of fame. His name is H.G. Wells or Bertie as he is known to friends.

20 November 2014

Review #83: Portrait of Stella by Susan Wüthrich



My rating: 5 of 5 stars


“Often the right path is the one that may be hardest for you to follow. But the hard path is also the one that will make you grow as a human being.”
----Karen Mueller Coombs, author

Susan Wüthrich, an English author, has envisioned a heart-touching story in her debut book, Portrait of Stella, which is about the journey of a young woman, named Jemima searching for her real identity and roots.

Synopsis:
A fake birth certificate! No record of her existence in the UK data base. Jemima Ashton is desperate to discover her real identity.
With scant information and the burning question 'who am I?', she embarks on an incredible journey of detection.

Author Q&A Session #4: With Kwei Quartey

Today in an all new session, we have the man behind the greatest and incredibly thrilling novels of Darko Dawson series which are all based in a not so explored land called Ghana. Kwei Quartey is the author of  Wife of the God Children of the Street and  Murder at Cape Three Points and many other tasteful and intriguing novels. We are all so glad to have him between us for a little chat. So what are you waiting for, scroll down to know more about Kwei Quartey. 

Read the review of the book, Murder at Cape Three Points, here

Review #82: The Sham by Ellen Allen



My rating: 5 of 5 stars


After reading The Sham by Ellen Allen, I can't stop myself from quoting Arthur Conan Doyle’s remarkable words:

“The world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever observes.”

Ellen Allen, an indie YA author, who has woven a spectacular story in her debut book, The Sham about simple unexplained mysteries surrounding us, and which will force you to stop and think before trusting anyone so blindly.

Synopsis:
Eighteen-year-old Emily Heath would love to leave her dead-end town, known locally as "The Sham", with her boyfriend, Jack, but he's very, very sick; his body is failing and his brain is shutting down. He's also in hiding, under suspicion of murder. Six months' ago, strange signs were painted across town in a dialect no one has spoken for decades and one of Emily's classmates washed up in the local floods.
Emily has never trusted her instincts and now they're pulling her towards Jack, who the police think is a sham himself, someone else entirely. As the town wakes to discover new signs plastered across its walls, Emily must decide who and what she trusts, and fast: local vigilantes are hunting Jack; the floods, the police, and her parents are blocking her path; and the town doesn’t need another dead body.

19 November 2014

Review #81: & Sons by David Gilbert



My rating: 3 of 5 stars


John Robert Wooden, a retired American basketball coach, quoted about "fathers" as:

“Being a role model is the most powerful form of educating...too often fathers neglect it because they get so caught up in making a living they forget to make a life.”

David Gilbert, is one such American author, who has spun an incredible tale which explores the whole dimension of a father-son relationship in an all new angle, in his latest release, & Sons .

Synopsis:
Told from the first person narrative, Philip Topping unfolds a story about the life and times of his favorite author, A.N. Dyer, who also happens to be his father's best friend. The Manhattan funeral of Charles Henry Topping would have been a minor affair but for the identity of the eulogist: reclusive author A.N. Dyer, whose novel Ampersand stands as a classic of teenage angst. Now Andrew Newbold Dyer takes stock of his own life, the people he’s hurt and the novel that will endure as his legacy. He realizes he must reunite with his three sons before it’s too late. Eldest son Richard is a screenwriter in Californian exile. In the middle is Jamie, who has spent his life capturing the sorrow that surrounds him. And last is Andy, now a pupil at the boarding school that inspired Ampersand. It is only when the hidden purpose of the reunion comes to light do the sons realize what’s at stake – for their father, themselves and three generations of Dyers.

18 November 2014

Author Q&A Session #3: With Ted Galdi


In an all new Author Q&A Session, I present you the author whose plots are so vivid that you can almost take a trip inside the story land. Ted Galdi, author of his debut book, Elixir, which is based on the most deadly disease killing America right at the moment, is here to talk about Ebola, his passions and his thrilling journey being a writer. So grab a mug of coffee and scroll down to know more about this amazing author.

Read the review of the book, Elixir, here.

Review #80: The Magdalene Mystery by Christine Sunderland



My rating: 4 of 5 stars


"Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means."
----Luke 8:1-3 (English Standard Version), Mary in the New Testament

Christine Sunderland, an American author has portrayed the most notorious and most debated theory about Mary Magdalene's life and truth in her new thriller, The Magdalene Mystery , which is a subtle tale about a middle-aged woman trying to live up to her late god father's last wish in order to bring the truth of Mary Magdalene's life in front of the whole world.

17 November 2014

Author Q&A Session #2: With John Hennessy

Well this is the second Author Q&A Session. And this time, I present you the author who creates fear naturally like magic from his meager pen. He who has the power to turn all his plots into an enthralling one for his readers. John Hennessy is here to talk about his books, coffee, witches and paranormal presence in his life. So read on! And find out what's hidden behind the man who created one of the most scariest series ever- The Dark Winter series. And please do check out the book reviews of:


Review #79: Roadrage by M.J. Johnson



My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Nenia Campbell, an American author, has been quoted while saying:

“It takes many sheep to satisfy one wolf.”

M.J. Johnson, an English author, has spun a spectacular psychological thriller in his new book, Roadrage . And honestly, if you ask me how the book was, I'd rather say that I never ever read anything so dark, vulnerable and so sick!! M.J. Johnson has not only written it from the view point of creating a sick trauma and fear in the minds of his readers but he has delivered the whole book with a hell lot of compassion, thus it made me completely hooked to the story till the very end, and after reading this book, I'm now an official fan of Martin and will be looking forward in reading his next book.

Synopsis:
Gil Harper is traveling home in severe weather conditions when he encounters another car on a deserted motorway. The other driver provokes him into a dangerous race at high speed. Although deeply shaken by the experience, Gil eventually gets away and completes his journey safely. A short time afterwards there begins a series of apparently unrelated events. What seems at first to be a vindictive game escalates into a terrifying ordeal with lethal consequences, not only for Gil, but for all those he loves and cares about. Trouble isn't always personal.

Review #78: Poison Pill by Glenn Kaplan



My rating: 2 of 5 stars


“An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind.”
----Mahatma Gandhi

That's incredibly correct. What will be left of us, if we all start to do that "eye-for-an-eye" thing- the world will be certainly doomed. But in this 21st century, we've clearly and proudly chose the road to doomed future rather than a better future- courtesy: thanks to revenge.

Well, sorry for drifting away from the topic, I mean that's what I was literally feeling after reading, Glenn Kaplan, a New York Times bestselling author's latest book, Poison Pill . Although my initial reaction after reading the book was WTF!?!! , still I felt it was something worth reading to have a reading-Robin-Cook-kind-novel-experience only till the mid-way of the book. And the ending was drastic, so w\out-of-the-world, and really crappy! End of story!

Synopsis:
Caught in a war that pits greed and ambition against conscience and love, Emma Conway faces the fight of her life—to save her family, her company, and everything she treasures.
Emma is finally living the dream—a happy second marriage and a great career. She has built Percival & Baxter’s painkiller, Acordinol, into a huge success. But her dream becomes a nightmare when a Wall Street raider threatens a hostile takeover. Worse, the raider is no ordinary cutthroat but her ex-husband Josh Katz, father of their teenage son.

16 November 2014

Review #77: The Return of the Rebel by Jennifer Faye



My rating: 4 of 5 stars


They say, "Without a bit of Drama, life is way boring". Although I'm not a great believer of dramas in a relationship, but then again, whom can I blame after all Harlequin Books scream DRAMA!


Synopsis:
The narration is done by the two protagonist of this book, Cleo and Jax. Cleo is working as Host in a posh Las Vegas Casino. One day she finds her long-time crush, Joe Monroe from her small hometown, Wyoming. Back then, Jax was famous for his troubles and was thus called the Bad Boy. Seeing him after all those years, certainly Cleo wells up with all her past emotions. And as by luck, she ends up being Jax's casino host. Certainly they had a lot of catching up to do. But the more Cleo gets closer to Jax, the more Jax pushes her back by shutting the windows of his heart as tightly as possible. Since Jax had a dark past and some grave secrets about himself, so he doesn't want Cleo to end up with him. Suddenly, a killer shows up on the Casino, and Cleo ends up being hurt very badly. So they take off and hide themselves in a movie-star's condo. But things get dangerous, and you really need to find out if the high was the worth the pain for these two lovers.

Review #76: A Princess by Christmas by Jennifer Faye


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Tell me which girl doesn't dream about a fairytale ending in her life- that impossibly handsome prince sweeping you off on your feet! Even after growing up, you still cherish that dream, but keep it aside because we become so wise. Well I also did kept the thought aside and moved on, but I never stopped myself from reading one and losing into it.



Well, to be honest, I know many people do not like this kind of cheesy love-stories, but since I read Jennifer Faye's previous book, titled, The Return of the Rebel, I turned into a complete fan of her, and started rooting for reading more of her books. Maybe because I love way too cheesy and emotional love-stories, which takes me into an unreal world filled with promises and trust and LOVE-unlimited! Who doesn't need a break and for me- a good romantic book is a total getaway! No matter whomever the publisher is! I have never learnt to judge a book by its publisher or author!

15 November 2014

Author Q&A Session #1: With Sameer Kamat


Well, this is the very first Author Q&A Session on my blog. When I came up with the idea, I was feeling little delirious mostly because this is a new kind of experience for me too. But after approaching the authors with this whole Q&A idea, I feel really confident and lucky enough to have this whole new thing to feature on my blog. And I bet in this very session you might sometimes go into ROFL mode. So hold your seats and grab your mouse tighter to have a roller-coaster session with the author of Business Doctors - Management Consulting Gone Wild,, Sameer Kamat

And do check out the book review here.

14 November 2014

Review #75: Venice in the Moonlight by Elizabeth McKenna


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


“This was Venice, the flattering and suspect beauty - this city, half fairy tale and half tourist trap, in whose insalubrious air the arts once rankly and voluptuously blossomed, where composers have been inspired to lulling tones of somniferous eroticism.” --Paul Thomas Mann, German novelist, penned these words in his book Death in Venice.

Turn back the clock to 18th century and find Venice as a lover's paradise, where every men end up with more than 1 lover in their lifetime in Venice and those carnivals where the masked men and women find each other equally. All these beauty has been strikingly portrayed by the author, Elizabeth McKenna, in her new novel, Venice in the Moonlight. This book portrays a beautiful love-story wrapped in a dark and terrifying thrilling mystery.

Synopsis:
A young widow, Marietta Gatti, was shunned from her in-laws house after her husband's death, and soon finds herself travelling back to Venice to her father, where she belonged. But en-route, she discovers that her father has died very recently and because of her evil mother-in-law, she never ever once could contact her father for once after her marriage. But reaching Venice, she finds out from her father's lover that her father was murdered by some powerful men. Meanwhile, Nico Foscari, the most famous womanizer and playboy of Venice, tries all his means to woo Marietta. But being reluctant and determined to find her father's killer and not to end up with a man like her deceased husband, she never pays heeds to his conquest. As Marietta digs deeper into her father's past, the more she invited danger to herself. After almost getting killed and losing Nico, she finally uncovers the real villain.

13 November 2014

New Feature- Author Q&A Session very soon!



So it's almost a month now and I'm still featuring only book reviews on my very first blog which is getting very monotonous, well yeah I can certainly self-patronize about myself and say that those reviews are actually pretty engagingly written- no complaints there, but right now, I need lots of readers- not just sometime-to-hop-by readers, but dedicated ones. Well aiming for that is certainly not a crime. Hey I'm the first time blogger here, and as I already mentioned before and on my very first blog post that this blog is all about books and I think I forgot to mention that those books are created/written by humans- specifically authors, and it's not a good thing if I only keep paying tribute to their hard work instead of talking/bragging about them a bit!

Yeah, I consider myself guilty for that! Honestly, my blog was simply in the test mode for a month and now I'm so glad with such a huge audience traffic, that I think it's time to start an Author Q&A session, which will not only include MY favorite authors, but will also feature YOUR favorite authors too.

Review #74: Business Doctors: Management Consulting Gone Wild by Sameer Kamat



My rating: 4 of 5 stars


While reading this book, I cannot help myself from quoting my favorite author, Sidney Sheldon's remarkable words:

“Business is a game, played for fantastic stakes, and you're in competition with experts. If you want to win, you have to learn to be a master of the game.”

But for every business to run smoothly, a business consultant is certainly required to keep the business running. Even those underworld businesses require a business consultant sometimes, to keep the money flowing! Yes Sameer Kamat has shown us the first-hand images to the underworld businesses, how they run, what are the wild cards to run such a business and all those nitty-gritty details about the business, in his new book called, Business Doctors. Yeah the name might sound little confusing and out-of-the-box, but this book promises to be quite scary, dark and wild and simultaneously quite hilarious at some times. All-in-all, he gives us to take peek into the world that we dare to think about!

Review #73: Murder at Cape Three Points by Kwei Quartey




My rating:
4 of 5 stars


Rick Riordan, the #1 New York Times bestselling author, has quoted about families in his book, The Sea of Monsters ;

“Families are messy. Immortal families are eternally messy. Sometimes the best we can do is to remind each other that we're related for better or for worse...and try to keep the maiming and killing to a minimum.”

Kwei Quartey, an American crime fiction writer and physician, has penned his third novel in the Darko Dawson series called, Murder at Cape Three Points , which is not only a mind-blowing story about messy families and instances of blood running deep but it also takes you to places which are exotic and less-traveled. Yes, this novel is set in Accra- the capital city of Ghana, Sekondi-Takoradi and Cape Three Points- a beautiful coastal town in Ghana and the author's vivid description of Ghana will completely transport you there and you can watch Darko investigating the most famous murder case of Ghana right in front of your eyes.

12 November 2014

Review #72: The Amazing Crystal: Revelations by Gerald Lizee, Robert Dykes (Translation)




My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Is human evolution really triggered by some powerful nano-robots of some other galaxy? Is Charles
Darwin really wrong? Should we stop believing in God? The Amazing Crystal by Gerald Lizee is the book which will promptly take you on a journey into the unknown, a journey into the future where we will see things with more clear perspective, a journey into a galaxy, which we thought never existed, a journey into the secrets of human evolution on Earth. A book which will intrigue you to know more about those subjects about which we never ponder upon! This book might disturb your belief over God. But I don't know why everything sounds so real and factual with all those logical and scientific explanations, I think, for a fleet second you'll bound to forget that this book is fiction!

Review #71: The Black Hour by Lori Reader-Day




My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Malcolm X (born Malcolm Little), also known as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, who was an American Black Muslim minister and a spokesman for the Nation of Islam, has quoted "violence" as:

“Sometimes you have to pick the gun up to put the Gun down.”

Lori Rader-Day, an American author, has spun a spectacular tale about violence in her debut book, The Black Hour. The author has extended the horizon to let us see through the very lives behind the campus corridors and classrooms and playground, where every day without our any knowledge, a student-teacher relationship blossoms which might sound very significant from their perspective but we never get to know the end of those relationships. And the author has not only focused on those forbidden closed-door relationships, but has also made us enlighten with the reasons behind the petty violence occurring every single day!


Synopsis:
A sociology professor named, Amelia Emmet, who gets shot, be one of her fellow student and after shooting her, that boy shot himself to death. Now a year has passed, Amelia Emmet is back into her teaching profession, but it seems adjusting with her old curriculum sounds quite challenging. It's getting hard for her to handle those weird stares in the hallway, sinister looks in the staffroom, etc. Then comes, Nath Barber, who is her new Teaching Assistant and wants to do his dissertation on the attack on Amelia. Two human beings, searching for the same answers, and hence they find themselves on the crossroads where they need to learn to trust and believe each other to move on the same path, which is not only excruciating, but also dark, challenging and infernal. Will their journey be fruitful and be able to find all the hidden pieces to the puzzle?