Monday 20 June 2016

#BookReview ; Ancient Chants For Modern Living by Aatmanika Ram



The modern world is inundated with problems connected to emotional, mental and physical health. Some problems are brought on by a combination of genetic make-up being passed on from generation to generation and the environment, but most others are brought on by the lack of a strong mind. Stress and anxiety seem to be playing an important role in everybody’s life. Vicious cycles of hectic lifestyle, bad diet, lack of exercise and no commitment to relationships seem to contribute to this ever growing pandemic. This book would help provide practical and easy suggestions to people to become emotionally stronger and stress-free in the longer run. It would serve as a guiding light for the younger generation and help to make conversations with the Almighty more rewarding and pleasurable.

Ancient Chants For Modern Living is written by Aatmanika Ram. The contents in this book are based on her interaction & interviews with knowledgeable individuals who have studied Hinduism since a long time. One of them is Smt. Subashini who has visited more than five hundred temples & interacted with many saints & gurus for 15 years to understand the nuances of Sanathana Dharma.

The author in the beginning of the book describes life as a roller coaster experience and from then onwards the book just soared high. The book speaks about the various problems people face in today’s time due to stress & other such mental & physical adversities. It not just acknowledges the problem but also gives a path which can help people to get rid of their problems & live a healthy life. It professes spirituality as a tool which can be very helpful to people suffering from mental frustration which ultimately leads to physical ailments. The book educates its readers about shlokas & chants & also how they need to be correctly pronounced. This book is a must read for all, whether it is a student or someone working, it will prove itself to be useful for everyone.


While I am an atheist but I won’t deny that this book is a help guide needed for everyone to attain peace in their lives. It has been written in very simple language hence it won’t be much work to understand it, also the explanations given will cover all doubts. The title & cover is soothing too. I urge everyone to just pick it up.


Thursday 16 June 2016

#BookReview ; From Where I See by Ajay Yadav



Ajay meets his childhood friend Shruti on a social network site. He finds her to be struggling with intrapersonal, interpersonal, inter-social and inter-religious conflicts. Eventually the conflicts killed her. Police could solve the case but will it prevent hundreds of Shrutis from getting killed? How long will we aim ‘who’ killed, more important is to find out ‘what’ killed. Till we don’t address this issue and work on it, many Shrutis will keep on getting killed. We need to cure the disease not only the symptoms. 
This book is an effort of the author to find the root cause and probable remedies of these conflicts, exploration of hundreds of pertinent questions like “why in one religion it becomes so easy to get volunteers to blow themselves and others for the sake of religion? Does the religion divides or unites? What precipitates extramarital affairs? Does the immature and wrong interpretation of female emancipation the reason for 13 times rise in divorce rates in last 5 years?  
It’s not only a book; it’s the path to revolution, it’s a journey towards utopian world. Accepting truth and hypocrisy is the toughest job on this earth. If you feel that you are open minded, have courage to accept truth and have a desire to change the world then be the part of change. Let’s take our first step to build a road to the utopian world. 

From Where I See is written by Dr Ajay Yadav & it is his debut work. The author is a consultant anaesthetist, intensivist & pain specialist. His textbook of anaesthesia is most saleable textbook for undergrads in India, South East Asia & Africa. It had always been his dream to write a book which can honestly unfurl the other side of curtain.

The story is about two childhood friends Ajay & Shruti, their childhood has been intricately described by the author but as they grew up their paths got diverted because of several reasons. After many  years he finds her through a social networking site & she was already married by then. As they catch up Ajay came to know about the struggles Shruti was facing & he tried to console her. But then one day he receives a call from Shruti’s husband Aslam that she has committed suicide. But is it suicide? As you read the mystery will be solved..

The plot is quite fresh & enjoyable, the author has used facts & figures in his favour to question various practices in religions. While the premise of the book was good but it was somewhat stretched as well as sometimes it appeared that the protagonist was a bit sexist. Apart from that I liked this book, the cover is beautiful as well as the title is decent. Readers should give it a try..





Tuesday 14 June 2016

#BookReview ; 6 Degrees - Game of Blogs



As part of their #CelebrateBlogging initiative, BlogAdda.com, ran the first edition of Game of Blogs in September 2014. Five characters and their descriptions were provided. The objective was to write a fictional story revolving around these characters. Bloggers came together as teams and after three rounds filled with its own set of twists and turns, three stories made it to the end.
The three stories in this book are a fascinating example of how one set of characters can have interesting lives with completely different dimensions. Six Degrees is a result of how collaboration can truly breed creativity in the modern day world of connected living.
 

Six Degrees is the outcome of the Game of Blogs initiative by BlogAdda. It was a one of a kind collaborative blogging effort in fact first of its kind in India where 300 people worked in 30 groups to write different stories but with five same characters which were decided by BlogAdda Team. After the announcement the Indian Blogosphere put their thinking caps on to compete for the Game of Blogs trophy. Famous authors like Ashwin Sanghi, Natasha Badhwar, Ravi Subramanian, Meghna Pant, Raksha Bharadia & Kiran Manral were the judges on this initiative but they too had to work hard to choose winners & at the end they chose 3 teams as winners. It has been published by Leadstart Publishing House.

The first story is The Awakening which is the collective work of team ‘By Lines’ which had the following bloggers Anmol Rawat, Preeti Venugopala, Soumyaa Verma, Tina Basu, Ashutosh Bhandari, Paresh Godhwani, Prerna Maynil & Ramanathan P. A nuclear but loving family of three members were living happily in the city of dreams Mumbai & then two unexpected guests enter their lives from thin air. As the story progresses new mysteries are unearthed & revealed which ultimately dawns as a threat to humanity & may lead to the ultimate annihilation. Only some superpower intervention can stop it to happen. But will it? Read the book to know..

The second story is Entangled Lives written by team ‘Potliwale Baba’ which comprises of bloggers such as Shoumik De, Srilakshmi I, Sneha Bhattacharjee, Hemant, Shamim Rizwana, Nirav Thakker, Tushar & Ritu Pandey. The plot is about a happily living family of three with a house help, but then a out of the blue there’s a murder in the house that too when there are two strangers there. While the criminal is unknown but a confession during the investigation solves the mystery. But does it? Is catching murderers ever easy? Read to know.

The third & last story is Missing- A Journey Within penned by team ‘Tete -a- Ten’ with bloggers Sharon D Souza, Oindrila De, Anupriya Mishra, Vaisakhi Mishra, Tinu Menachary, Gauri Kamath, Ritesh Agarwal, Aayan Banerjee & Raghu Chaitanya. Two different characters from two different families, the female goes missing from her family while the male character left his house since he felt devoid of any hope but destiny had something else in its mind & they became friends eventually. But what the future holds for them can only be known if you buy & read it!


This book is a commendable effort of BlogAdda, the judges & most importantly the bloggers who were determined to write that too with given characters which made their job even more difficult. Since the stories are an outcome from common bloggers like us the language is simple & quite relatable, each story gives a different taste to the book & hence makes it even more interesting. I liked the cover & I hope BlogAdda team keeps on coming with such innovative initiatives. This book surely be widely read by Indian readers to inspire & learn from this work of fellow Indians.

This review is a part of the biggest Book Review Program for Indian Bloggers. Participate now to get free books!  *


    6 Degrees is India's first book published through collaborative blogging, written completely by bloggers for the Game of Blogs activity at BlogAdda. Know more about Game of Blogs here . You can buy 6 Degrees: Game of Blogs if you liked the review. :)


Sunday 12 June 2016

#BookBlitz: Tales of Sunshine by Sundari Venkatraman




BOOK BLITZ

TALES OF SUNSHINE
(A collection of short stories)
by
Sundari Venkatraman



Blurb

TALES OF SUNSHINE is a collection of ten short stories that bring hope.
“A Ray of Sunshine” is about young Raj who’s terribly upset when many people in his team lose their jobs. But is he able to do anything about it?
“A Promise Given” is about Sachin, the poor, rich, young man; and the pregnant Aparna.
“Life Goes out of Control” is the story where Preeti, an only child, is a bone of contention between her parents.
Rakesh Nath has slogged throughout his life to become rich, to suffer a massive heart attack at 57. Read “Rakesh Nath’s Recovery” to find out more...
“Exam Fever” is about Renu and her anxious mother, Maya.Renu wants to play truant from studies while Maya is terribly worried about her daughter’s exams.
“Until Death us do Part” is the story of Rekha, the 35-year-old COO of an MNC. She finds love or does she?
Ansh adores his grandfather. But his mother Anu is scared of her son spending time with the Alzheimer patient in “Is Grandpa Home?”
The “Daydreaming Mercenary” is Reema. She blows up her sister Rita’s hard-earned money. But are things what they actually seem?
“Breaking Free from the Mould” is the most difficult thing as a human. With so much pressure from his Grandma, will Aarush pursue his calling?

“The Elephant in the Room” is in the first person where the poor Nandita talks about her friendship (?) with the rich Shruti.

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About the author


Tales of Sunshine is the seventh book authored by SundariVenkatraman. This book is an anthology of human interest stories. Other published novels by the author are The Malhotra Bride, Meghna, The Runaway Bridegroom, The Madras Affair and An Autograph for Anjali—all romances. She also has a collection of romantic short stories called Matches Made in Heaven. All of SundariVenkatraman’s books have been on Amazon Top 100 Bestsellers in India, USA, UK & Australia many times over.

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Other books by the author


                                                           
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#BookReview ; Panorama by Shilpi Chaklanobis



A turbulent relationship between a mother and a daughter takes a sudden turn when the daughter stumbles across a past that she never knew.....
The golden period of a professor’s life is tainted by questions about his purpose until one night gives him all the answers he needs........
Desperate times test us all but when hunger drives a girl to do the unthinkable, her life changes forever..........
Woven around the lives of the people around us – the shy girl on the metro, your domestic help, your neighbors and perhaps even you – this collection of short stories will take you on a bittersweet journey that explores the spectrum that is part of any human relationship and all the complexity and chaos that secretly dwell within the homes and hearts of India.
Often laced with an element of introspection, the stories are sure to change the way you see the world around you…

Panorama A Collection of Short Stories is the debut work of Shilpi Chaklanobis. Originally from Kanpur but has spent the majority of her adult life in Delhi & currently heads the Digital Marketing division at an MNC. The author is also is an ardent reader which makes her writing even better.

This book contains 15 short stories & covers diverse topics. Each story depicts a story of a complex human life. From the struggles of a poor family of mother & daughter for whom having curry is even a dream, to waiting for your true love to come back even after several years & many such stories which will move readers to their core.

The language used is simple & automatically connects with the reader. The writing is quite refreshing, title is good but the cover could’ve been better. Readers shouldn’t miss this one..




Thursday 9 June 2016

#BookReview ; Ponytail The Love For Revenge by Pradip Chauhan



Ponytail is the story of a man, who has spent his life for making money and becoming powerful. He has his own motives of life and to achieve his goals, he falls in love; that changes his life...

Ponytail The Love For Revenge is written by Dr. Pradip Chauhan, a Gujrat born lad who started with writing in Gujrati & even got some of his work published by local Gujrati publishers which was enough appreciated by readers. He also has two books published by his pen name ‘Prajwalit’. Other than this he has also written two small parts of a book series ‘On the Earth: In Light of the Sun’. Other than writing he also delivers lectures on anatomy in a medical college.

The story is about an ambitious man Prabuddh whose sole aim in his life is to be the richest man in India, everything else is secondary. This ambition of his roots from an uneventful part of his life where his mother died of an accident because they didn’t had the money to save her & then he lost his father too due to heart attack. This made him take an oath to never keep his hair short. His determination showed in the success story of his textile company which he planned to extend for which he partnered with the daughter of the richest man of India, Kaumudi & they started their new venture of woman apparels which was named Ponytail. And then he falls in love with one of his employee Tapasya but some things aren’t just meant to be & she committed suicide doubting Prabuddh. But is this it? Is it all what it contains in the life of Prabuddh? Read it know..

The romantic thriller written by author is quite an intriguing attempt. The language is easy, also its a quick read. While the title has significance with the story I still didn’t liked it as well as the cover isn’t impressive either. Readers interested in this genre should surely pick it up!



Tuesday 7 June 2016

#BookReview ; Destiny of Shattered Dreams by Nilesh Rathod



An insider’s view into what goes on behind the glittering facade of corporate stardom, DESTINY of SHATTERED DREAMS is a fast-paced
tale of a brilliant young man’s meteoric rise. It is also a moving portrayal of the fallibility of love.
Ambition, passion
and raw courage are Atul Malhotra’s key aides to realizing his dreams as he learns the art of gambling for high stakes. What follows is a game of treachery, infidelity and murder.
The book lays bare the sordid corporate-politico nexus that compels this once middle-class boy to deftly learn the ropes and negotiate a world where dirty deals and power plays can make or break lives, where one wrong choice could be fatal.
A tale of yachts and hidden Swiss accounts, sordid affairs of lust, intrigue and exhilarating highs, Nilesh Rathod’s Destiny of Shattered Dreams is also the story of innocence forever lost.

Destiny of Shattered Dreams is the début work of Nilesh Rathod. A Graduate in commerce and a Chartered Financial Analyst by education, he is also the co-founder of Ensemble Infrastructure India Limited which started in the year 2002. The author is also an able poet & writes in both English & Hindi.

This book portrays the life of Atul Malhotra, a brilliant & straightforward young man whose dream was to start his own company hence after working a company for sometime he gathers some dreamers & able partners like himself & laid foundation of Transmech Telecom Limited (TTL) making him the chairman of the board & founder CEO at just 35. Married to Roshni Sinha & living a happy simple life. But as they say every good thing comes to an end. His life becomes a roller coaster of events both personal & professional affecting everyone around him. Will it destroy him completely or will he come out of it as a winner? Read it NOW to know..

The novel speaks about how an honest venture gets muddied because of the demons it had to embrace just to survive in the market. How a rising start up had to bow down to the pressure which politicians generally apply in real life too. The story line of the book is racy & keeps you glued to it. Genre of the book is contemporary fiction & covers many facets of life. While I believe the title could've been a little better but the cover is awesome! Also his poems were a breath of fresh air & gelled well with the chapters. I believe we should encourage such Indian writers more so that we can get such quality work hence it shouldn't be a miss. As Shobhaa De said “Nilesh just maybe the desi Jeffrey Archer India has been waiting for.” 




#CoverReveal ; The Prince's Special Bride by Devika Fernando


Cover Reveal

ROYAL ROMANCE, BOOK 1
THE PRINCE'S SPECIAL BRIDE
by
DEVIKA FERNANDO

Sneak Peek

Marie doesn’t believe in fairytales and needs no handsome prince to rescue her from misery – but everything changes when she falls in love with Crown Prince Christian of Taragonia. When his sister invites Marie to the palace, their lives collide and leave them both fighting their forbidden attraction.

Prince Christian has no place in his life for love or for a woman who doesn’t fit into the royal scheme of things. But vivacious Marie steals his heart and puts all he has lived for at stake. When the media gets wind of their affair, he has to make a difficult decision. 

Will the unlikely couple have a chance at a happy ending?


About the Author


Almost as soon as Devika Fernando could write, she imagined stories and poems. After finishing her education in Germany and returning to her roots in Sri Lanka, she got a chance to turn her passion into her profession. Having lived in Germany and in Sri Lanka with her husband has made her experience the best (and the worst) of two totally different worlds – something that influences her writing. Her trademark are sweet, yet deeply emotional romance stories where the characters actually fall in love instead of merely falling in lust. She draws inspiration from everyone and everything in life. Besides being a romance novel author, she works as a self-employed German web content writer, as a translator, and as a faithful servant to all the cats, dogs, fish and birds in her home. What she loves most about being an author is the chance to create new worlds and send her protagonists on a journey full of ups and downs that will leave them changed. When she’s not writing, she’s reading or thinking about writing.


You can follow the author here:
Facebook | Twitter | Website | Goodreads

Excerpt from the book


Marie blinked some more, her feet automatically carrying her close. “What…what are you doing here?” Belatedly, she curtsied and added a weak “Your Highness”, remembering that they were not alone. 

His smile widened. For a moment, he seemed to be drinking her in, his gaze roving appreciatively over her body clad turquoise capris and a white polo shirt. She felt his gaze like a physical caress, driving her out of her mind, increasing the heat.


“This is my family’s property. Surely I have a right to be here,” he joked mildly. For a moment, it looked like he wanted to touch her, but his hand fell back down to his side, clenching into a fist once.

“Yes,” she replied, still dazed. “But you’re a crown prince, not a winemaker.”

He laughed, and the sound traveled straight to her heart. “That is correct, but I do know a thing or two about wine. My duties encompass everything concerned with my kingdom.”

She nodded. Of course. And wasn’t that what made him the perfect regent? His interest in anything and everything, his willingness to learn and his readiness to get his hands dirty?

He ushered her into the building, her entourage trailing behind and exchanging looks.

“I came here this morning with the dignitaries from England and Germany to give them a private tour.” Christian raked his hands through his hair, as if the time spent with them hadn’t exactly been fun. “My sister told me you’d end up here sooner or later, otherwise I’d have traveled through the region, visiting some other vineyards and villages.”

Marie swallowed. So he’d stayed behind because of her. She felt thrilled and anxious at the same time. As keen as she was on every minute spent with him, this would lead nowhere and should not even get a chance to bloom. Why nurture something that was doomed to be cut off at the stem before it could blossom?

Are you ready?????

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Thursday 2 June 2016

#Spotlight ; Kaleidoscope Colors of Life by Inderjit Kaur



KALEIDOSCOPE - COLOURS OF LIFE 
A LIVING SERIES: BOOK 3
BY
INDERJIT KAUR


Blurb

"Patience helps you endure all the troubles and issues that bother you. When you reach a stage, where the only remaining option is to release the things that are clinging on to you and pause your life, you feel enlightened and feel the positive impact of the change, and you no longer see yourself a victim of life. 

Kaleidoscope - Colours of Life is a of inspiring stories, suggestive poignant thoughts and ideologies that serve as a guide in every stage of life. Interlaced with threads of experiences of life and the lessons learnt from them, the book depicts seven inspiring stories weaved into the magnificent array of a rainbow. Charting the various shades of life, the book further highlights the ups and downs of each of the characters, who are embedded here as a metaphor for a rainbow, in the patio of a plethora of circumstances. 

By sharing wisdom, experiences and insights, Kaleidoscope - Colours of Life intends to deliver a message that will inspire and empower the readers to sense happiness and contentment, and help them to navigate life as a truly confident individual."


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ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Inderjit Kaur

Inderjit Kaur is an author, motivator with a powerful voice of spreading positive words through her writings. A highly influential blogger and inspirational guide who with her tag line ‘Keep smiling, keep shining’, has brewed up with the original concept of living through her books of A living series.



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