28 January, 2016

The Last of the Firedrakes by Farah Oohmerbhoy - Book Spot Light

Welcome to the world of fantasy.
Win Amazon gift vouchers by participating in the raffle copter giveaway at the end of the post. 

Happy Reading :-)

★.•**•.★★.•**•.★ The Avalonia Chronicles Book Tour ★.•**•.★ ★.•**•.★


About the Book:

16-year-old Aurora Darlington is an orphan. Mistreated by her adopted family and bullied at school, she dreams of running away and being free. But when she is kidnapped and dragged through a portal into a magical world, suddenly her old life doesn’t seem so bad.


Avalonia is a dangerous land ruled by powerful mages and a cruel, selfish queen who will do anything to control all seven kingdoms—including killing anyone who stands in her way. Thrust headlong into this new, magical world, Aurora’s arrival sets plans in motion that threaten to destroy all she holds dear.


With the help of a young fae, a magical pegasus, and a handsome mage, Aurora journeys across Avalonia to learn the truth about her past and unleash the power within herself. Kingdoms collide as a complicated web of political intrigue and ancient magic lead Aurora to unravel a shocking secret that will change her life forever. 


Book Links:

Goodreads I Amazon I Flipkart




World of Avalonia





Read an Excerpt:

Chapter 3
Kidnapped

For a second that felt like a
lifetime, everything stopped; I felt like I was floating in nothingness. Then I
blinked, and, when I finally opened my eyes and focused again through the tears,
I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.
I found myself standing at the
mouth of a small cave situated on a hill and overlooking a quiet, moonlit
valley. On my left, a dark forest stretched out as far as the eye could see,
treetops glistening silver in the light of the full moon. The hills around us
undulated into wildflower-filled meadows that lay sleeping in the dewy night.
Far down in the valley, I could see
a little village, its lights twinkling in the distance. To my right, a
waterfall splashed playfully into a small river that ran down into a lake, next
to which the little village was built. The moon here was fuller and larger than
I had ever seen it, and the night sky was awash with a fantastic array of
glittering stars.
Had I passed through the tapestry?
Where was I?
I looked around, disbelief clouding
my judgment. I was still trying to get my bearings after that strange moment
when I had been inside the tapestry and nowhere at the same time. It gave me a
funny feeling, as though I had been lifted out of my own consciousness and then
put back into my body.
A warm breeze brushed past my face
and played with my hair. Gone were the cloudy grey mist and the cold, nipping
wind of the English countryside. I drew in a sharp breath—the air was crisp and
clear, sweet smelling, and fresh. The moonlit valley was filled with fruit
trees, wildflowers, and rolling meadows.
“How did we come here? Where are
we?” I asked, still confused.
“You really are ignorant,” said
Oblek, glancing at me. “I take it your uncle didn’t tell you anything?”
I shook my head and looked down.
Oblek had tied my hands with a rope he had with him while I was still dazed and
looking around. It was humiliating, and the rough ropes cut into my wrists,
rubbing them raw every time he pulled me forward.
I had to find some way out of this.
And, at the moment, the only thing I could do was discover more about where I
was. Then, when I got an opportunity, I could escape and find my way back up to
the cave on the hill, where we had arrived out of the tapestry.
But then what?
Christopher was probably dead, and
Aunt Arianna would doubtless blame me for everything since I had disappeared at
the same time. I had no idea what to do. I didn’t really want to go back, and,
now that my adoptive parents were dead, I had nothing to return to.
I was starting to panic. I had
nowhere to go, and my mind was imagining an array of horrible outcomes of my
kidnapping. My palms had become sweaty, and my racing heart was thundering in
my chest as I half-walked and half-ran, desperately trying to keep up with
Oblek’s giant strides.
“Why are you doing this?” I pleaded
with my kidnapper.
But Lord Oblek said nothing. He
didn’t even look at me. He just kept walking ahead and dragging me along behind
him, with no more explanations as to what he was planning to do with me.
I was terrified, and I had no idea
if I was going to survive this. But I tried to be brave. Maybe I could talk my
way out of this?
“You do know that this is called
kidnapping?” I said, trying to reason with Oblek.
He didn’t bother to answer.
“What will happen to me now?” I
squeaked, my voice breaking, as I tried not to cry.
“Queen Morgana will decide what is
to be done with you,” said Oblek, finally.
Queen Morgana! The woman from my
dream? It was not possible that this, too, was a coincidence. It must be the
same Morgana, the one who had tried to kill my real mother.
Who the hell was she?
Suddenly all of this seemed
extremely scary. I hoped that I was still dreaming and that there was no way I
had actually traveled through a magical tapestry into some strange land. It all
seemed very exciting in books. But actually being kidnapped and then hauled
around like an animal, traveling deep into a land I knew nothing about, was not
my idea of fun.
I had to get away from this
horrible man, and fast.

About the Author:

 

For Farah Oomerbhoy, writing is a passion and reading her solace. She is a firm believer in the fantastic and magical, and often dreams of living in Narnia, Neverland, or the Enchanted Forest.

When she was pregnant with her first child ten years ago, a story popped into her head she could not ignore. “I was at my grandmother’s house, and as I looked at the image of a beautiful forest with a castle in the distance on a tapestry hanging on the wall, I imagined myself being whisked away into another world,” she said. It was at that moment the world of Avalonia, with its powerful mages and fae and the evil Queen Morgana, was born. Farah Oomerbhoy’s debut novel, The Last of the Firedrakes, was released in the summer of 2015.


Farah lives with her husband and three children in their family home in Mumbai, India. She has a Master’s degree in English Literature from the University of Mumbai. Her first novel is The Last of the Firedrakes, Book 1 of the Avalonia Chronicles.

  

Contact Farah:





Giveaway:
One Amazon Gift Voucher worth 1000INR
One Amazon Gift Voucher worth 500INR

Three Signed Paperback Copies of The Last of the Firedrakes


a Rafflecopter giveaway










Until next time,

Gratitude List - Jan 2016

What a great month to start this year.. More family time, More books, not hectic and interesting work in the office.

I missed writing my gratitude list for December. December was very hectic both in personal and professional life and I felt, time quickly flew away. Thank God, I am back to normal mode now.
Thanks  to Vidya Sury, You inspire me to write Gratitude post every month :-)

Here are a few things for which I am grateful in my life this month:

1. My Father's 60th birthday
I feel fortunate to celebrate this special moment. Very good family time. Soo much shopping, planning and fun time with family. We reminiced old days by creating a video(from old photos) of his journey of 60 years.

2. Book Reading
There are many books waiting for my review this month. I have pushed many book reviews from December to this month and I am very much tempted to lock myself in the room for days with minimum food and water ofcourse :p and complete reading those books. Sigh! But, things wont work in that way :-) I could complete 2 books so far and planning to complete one more by this weekend.

3. Good times ahead
I have a hunch that I am going to have great time ahead, be it an intuition or something. So, welcomed this new year with bang and planning for the coming months on how I can pursue my old hobby 'classical dance' once again. I know, I have to go through tough time practicing dance again as I have to improve my stamina as well for that.

4. New Direction
I took a new turn in my perosnal life which gave more clarity on future. Unsure how easy it is to adapt with new changes, but taking a new route this time.

5. My Family support
I am so fortunate to have my family support. Else, it would have been a difficult journey with kids and work.

Linking this to Gratitude Circle hosted by Vidya Sury. Join the circle and be grateful for every little thing and spread the Joy :-)

Also, Linking this to #MondayMusings hosted by Corinne of Everydaygyaan.


#MondayMusings



Until next time,


PS: Image courtesy: From Google images labeled for non-commercial reuse.

27 January, 2016

A Thousand Unspoken Words by Paulami Duttagupta - [Book review]

Book Details:

Title: A thousand Unspoken words

Author: Paulami Duttagupta

Publisher: Readomania

Genre: Fiction/ Romance

No of pages: 252

Source: A free copy from the author for review




Blurb:

A hero, a person who displays great courage for the greater good, can also fall. But what happens to a fallen hero? A Thousand Unspoken Words is the unique journey of a hero who falls.

The champion of the underdogs, the writer who uses the nom de plume Musafir is famous in Kolkata. His incisive criticism of the injustices around him earn him many enemies but he holds his ideals above all else. Scathing attacks at his books and a night of hide and seek from political goons leads Musafir unto a path he never liked, faraway from his ideals. He runs away and chooses the comforts of money over the travails of following one’s ideals. The hero falls.

But Tilottama, a passionate fan’s hopes don’t. When he comes back after many years, emotions, love and lust take charge and an affair brews. Will she bring back her hero? Will he rise again? Or will the thousand untold words, the many stories of the ideal writer be lost forever?

My Review:

This is my second book by the author. I loved the first one - Ri-Homeland of Uncertainty and here is the review. 


This is the story of a famous young writer, Ridhiman who writes revolutionary books with pen name 'Musafir' and influenced many people with his writings. His books are pulped for his controversial ideologies and he escapes his death from very nearer due to his writings. This incident changes him forever and he hates his ideals and wants to run away from Musafir and make more money. But, his love interest Tilottama, an independent woman who works in the NGO run by his mother is a devoted fan of Musafir's ideologies. This is the story of Ridhiman's struggle between something he loves to do and something he has to do to earn money.

Paulami plays with words magically to create that romantic aura. I loved the subtle romance between Ridhi and Tilottama. Characterization is a major plus for this novel. Characters are very deep and novel displays different layers in a person. The character of Tilottama's father and lively Krishnakoli (Ridhi's mother), always enthusiastic Deep etc., are very naturally portrayed by the author. I got to know something about Bengali culture, cuisine to some extent through this novel :-) I loved the way the author touches upon the issues during the division of Bangladesh from India and the plights of refugees.

Mischievousness and sometimes the arrogant behaviour of hero with ego reminded me of the famous novel 'Devdas'. Tilottama with her beauty and intelligence compliments Ridhi. 

Overall, a good read, but I felt bored in the last few pages as the pace became slow. 

My Rating: 4/5

I would recommend this to everyone who love subtle romance and deep, complex characters with different layers.

About the Author

Paulami DuttaGupta is novelist and screenwriter. She shuttles between Kolkata and Shillong. She has worked as a radio artist, copy writer, journalist and a television analyst at various stages of life, having been associated with AIR Shillong, The Times of India – Guwahati Shillong Plus, ETV Bangla, The Shillong Times, Akash Bangla and Sony Aath.

As an author, her short stories have appeared in various anthologies and literary magazines. A Thousand Unspoken Words is her fourth book. Paulami also writes on politics, social issues and cinema. Her articles have appeared in Swarajya, The Forthright and NElive.

Paulami is associated with cinema and her first film, Ri- Homeland of Uncertainty was awarded the National Award for the Best Khasi Film. Her second film Onaatah- of the earth is at post production stage and will release in 2016. She is currently working on her third screenplay. A short film tentatively titled ‘Patjhar’ is also in the pipeline.

Paulami is a complete foodie and is almost obsessed with watching one film every day. She also loves reading- political and social commentaries are her favourite genre. Literature classics and books on cricket are also a part of her library, apart from a huge collection of romances. Jane Austen’s fictional character Mr. Darcy is her lifelong companion. She is an ardent fan of Rahul Dravid and has been following all news about him for almost twenty years now.

Until next time,







PS: I have received the book from the author in exchange of an honest review and this is my unbiased opinion on the book.

26 January, 2016

Joyce Proell - Deadly Series Blitz

A Mystery Novel series with Romance. Read more about these 3 books and win the e-books by entering the rafflecopter.







Historical Romantic Mystery
Date Published: 5/25/2015

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When Doyle Flanagan finds two strangers in his library—one dead and the other the beautiful but meddlesome Cady Delafield, his life begins to unravel as all clues point to him for the murder. As the sexual tension sizzles and Victorian conventions crumble, Cady risks job, reputation and family ties to help him clear his name. But even as his life hangs in the balance, his passion for her drives him on, but will the truth about him be the one thing to scare her away?







Historical Romantic Mystery
Date Published: 5/25/2015

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In 1881, the air in Chicago is rife with worker discontent, yet business titan Doyle Flanagan is hopeful for the future. He looks forward to a lifetime of peaceful bliss with Cady Delafield and leaving the wretched past behind. But his life is once again thrown into disarray when his office is vandalized and the night watchman viciously murdered. Clues lead to a powerful organized labor movement. Targeted in the press as anti-labor and with a big rally staged next door to his offices, Doyle must uncover the culprits before his wedding plans and his livelihood go up in smoke.

Plagued by memories of four brutal deaths, school director Cady Delafield is determined to drive the recent tragedies from her mind and enjoy being courted.  Although his commanding personality threatens to overshadow her, Doyle Flanagan is the most dynamic man she’s ever met. When another tragedy unfolds placing him at the center, she takes action—action that could shatter her future dreams.








Historical Romantic Mystery
Date Published: 9/27/2015

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The wedding date is set, and life is magical for Doyle Flanagan and Cady Delafield. Honor bound to repay an old debt, Doyle agrees to help an old friend find her sister. As he searches for the girl, painful memories surface, stunning Cady when she discovers facts about Doyle’s hidden past.

In spite of incredible odds, Cady and Doyle’s love has flourished. But in the midst of a life threatening accident, murder, and Doyle’s secrets, their wedding date and happiness are in jeopardy. Mired in tragedy, can they overcome the turmoil with a fateful decision that changes their future forever?







About the Author

Joyce grew up in Minnesota and attended college and grad school in Chicago. After working in mental health, she retired at a young age to write full-time. Her first book, Eliza, was published in 2012. The Cady Delafield mystery series followed next with A Deadly Truth, A Burning Truth and the last, A Wicked Truth published in September, 2015. When she isn’t writing mysteries or historical romances, she loves to swim, walk and is a crossword puzzle fanatic. She and her husband live in Florida and Minnesota, in her very own little house on the prairie.

 photo readingaddictionbutton_zps58fd99d6.pngContact Links





Purchase Links




Giveaway

One ebook each of: A Deadly Truth, A Burning Truth and A Wicked Truth

Until next time,

23 January, 2016

Shadow of the dark soul by Sukhmani Gandhi - Book Review

Book Details:

Title: Shadow of the dark soul

Author: Sukhmani Gandhi

Publishers: Cypher publishers

No of Pages: 80

Source: A free review copy from the author




Blurb:

The Shadow Of The Dark Soul is the story of Zayesha who is a twenty-something journalist working in Delhi. Sensitive and compassionate she is a league apart from her contemporaries, who believe in the mantra of manufacturing or milking news. Cornered by her boss, she fights against time to work on the Nirbhaya case in order to save her job. Synchronicity plays a crucial, life- altering role in her life when a series of events make her question herself. During this phase, Zayesha comes across The Shadow of The Dark Soul, thanks to her next door neighbor. Nothing stays the same afterwards as Zayesha is made to reassess everything. Will she manage to finish her report on the Nirbhaya case on time? How far will she go to step from armchair activism into the realities of life? Will she win in the end? The questions are many, but the answers lie within The Shadow of the Dark Soul, the maiden novel of Sukhmani Gandhi, a budding Delhi based writer.


Purchase link:



My Review:

The story is about Zayesha, a journalist doing a research for 'Nirbhaya' case. The novel covers the series of events during her research on the case and number of questions that come to her mind after she gets associated to a team 'Shadow of the dark soul' which is formed for the benefit of rape survivors.


Prologue itself is wonderful. It covers the points on the actual society's perspective on rape victims. Author cleverly touches on other issues like LGBT and some feminist opinions.

The narration is interesting, easy to follow. But, there are many spelling and grammar mistakes, which i didn't like about the book. Editing might have been better.

We are living a secured happy life with option to study and freedom to work and live life in our own way, we see the bubble burst when someone mentions about the rapes, sexual assaults on children/ women/men. This scares us to realize about the dangerous society we are living in. Mostly we try to deny these kind of incidents and run away from these problems. We need inner courage to accept the reality and think about the support that we can give to rape survivors. Rape survivors don't need sympathy and they dont want to be called as victims. They want the society to change their perspective of treating them.

The novel ends with the quote -

"Humanity is within us. Don't search for it in other people. Be Human."
Book is very small, so it is a quick read. I felt, there is something missing in the book - how Zayesha brings about the change herself and what actually the organization 'Shadow fo the dark soul' does to rape survivors is un clear. But, I appreciate the efforts of the debutant author my wholeheartedly.

My Rating: 3/5


Until next time,



PS: Received the free copy from author in exchange of honest review and this is my unbiased opinion on the book.

22 January, 2016

Republic day - Q&A Post to explain kids

I had many doubts as a child on the differences between Independence day and Republic day. I questioned teachers and my parents on this and discussed with friends, but until some point of time in my life, I didn't get a clear understanding on the differences. Even now, I am thinking how I can explain Republic day to my 5-year-old. Thus, came up with a Q&A post so that it can be helpful to Parents in explaining kids in a simpler way.


Tri colours of Indian Flag


What is Republic Day?

India celebrates Republic day every year on 26th January and it signifies that India became a sovereign country on that day. 

It means, India actually implemented it's ruling power on that day. Indian constitution was formed on that day in 1950.
Our Indian Flag

What do you mean by Constitution?

India became an Independent nation in 1947 on August 15. But, Our Country needs our own set of rules, principles on which our government can run. 

So, A committee was formed to draft the constitution which was led by Dr. B R Ambedkar in 1947. This committee has drafted fundamental laws on which Government can run and the authorities and rights of both the government and its citizens. 

You will be surprised to know that our Constitution is the longest in the world!

This document has 395 articles, 22 parts and 8 schedules. Oh, Such a big book :-)

Are we following the same old constitution even now?

No way. People change, circumstances change, so some old principals and laws might not be relevant now. Constitution provides an option to make changes to these laws by amendments. These amendments can be done if 2/3 of both houses agree (Lok sabha and Rajya sabha). 

How do we celebrate Republic Day?

Our President hoists the Indian flag in Delhi on that day. Millatary parade is the main attraction. This parade showcases India's defence capability and its cultural heritage. 

Governers in their respective states hoist the Indian flag. Even in schools, colleges and Universities, people hoist the flag, salute and show respect to our nation.


Picture of Republic day parade 2015

India is celebrating its' 67th Republic day on 26th of Jan, 2016.

I wish all Indians a happy Republic day. 

Happy to be part of the bloghop #RepublicDay2016 hosted by Shruthi from ArtsyCraftsyMom. Check these links to read more on recipes, crafts, art, food and other fun activities for Children on Republic day. 


Until next time,

19 January, 2016

5 books recently added to my TBR list #TopTenTuesday

Came across this weekly meme hosted by Broke and the Bookish. Looks interesting! Topic for this week's meme is the list of books that I have recently added to my TBR (to be read) list.

Actually, I have many books that are waiting to be reviewed and many books that I was wishing to read from long time. But, let me share top 5 books in my TBR list :-)

Jaya by Devdutt Pattanaik

This has been in my wish list for soo long time. I have won it in a giveaway and it is ready to be read in my book shelf. Will definitely read this in 2016.


Blurb:

Richly illustrated with over 250 line drawings by the author, the 108 chapters abound with little-known details such as the names of the hundred Kauravas, the worship of Draupadi as a goddess in Tamil Nadu, the stories of Astika, Madhavi, Jaimini, Aravan and Barbareek, the Mahabharata version of the Shakuntalam and the Ramayana, and the dating of the war based on astronomical data. With clarity and simplicity, the tales in this elegant volume reveal the eternal relevance of the Mahabharata, the complex and disturbing meditation on the human condition that has shaped Indian thought for over 3000 years.





The Temple Is Not My Father by Rasana Atreya

Reading the blurb and reviews, I felt, I would love this book. I am slightly rebellious from childhood about religious rituals. I love to learn about various cultures, customs and the reason behind using them. This book is just Rs.60/-.

Blurb:

Ensnared by a tradition hundreds of years old, a woman fights for her daughter’s happiness.

From the author of 'Tell A Thousand Lies,' which was shortlisted for the 2012 Tibor Jones South Asia award. UK's Glam magazine calls 'Tell A Thousand Lies' one of their 'five favourite tales from India.'

If you like Rohinton Mistry or Shilpi Somaya Gowda,you might like this short story of 40 pages.




A Minute To Death by Ganga Bharani Vasudevan

There is no specific reason to add this in my wish list other than the author. I heard many good reviews about the author and would love to read this book. It's a suspense novel, which is my favourite genre too.

Blurb:

Young, vivacious and an aspiring writer, Riya wants nothing more from her longtime crush/boyfriend than to let her in on one of his exciting investigations. After all, what better source material for a book than a real life tragedy? No-nonsense veteran cop, Rohan picks a case of probable suicide to satisfy Riya's needs. Little does he know that there is more to this case than meets the eye. What made the victim hang herself at the break of dawn? What is the secret that her group of friends is hiding? Will Riya be able to salvage a workable plot for her upcoming novel out of this case of seemingly simple suicide?





The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

I am a fan of Dan Brown and this was in my wish list for long time. Oh God, I need one uninturrepted full day to read this novel. Have to buy yet. I think, no one needs an introduction to Dan Brown after Davinci Code.

Blurb:

The Lost Symbol brilliantly captures the veiled histories, arcane icons and enigmatic codes that seem to be hidden right before your eyes. This book is an intelligent, electrifying thriller and you will find unexpected events occurring at every turn of the page.



The Girl on the train by Paula Hawkins


I added this to my TBR after reading the blurb and reviews on the book. It's one of the best sellers in 2015 and my favourite genre too.

Blurb:

Rachel catches the same commuter train every morning. She knows it will wait at the same signal each time, overlooking a row of back gardens. She’s even started to feel like she knows the people who live in one of the houses. ‘Jess and Jason’, she calls them. Their life – as she sees it – is perfect. If only Rachel could be that happy.

And then she sees something shocking. It’s only a minute until the train moves on, but it’s enough.

Now everything’s changed. Now Rachel has a chance to become a part of the lives she’s only watched from afar.

Now they’ll see; she’s much more than just the girl on the train…



So, here goes my list. Link up to this weekly meme and also let me know in comments what books did you add in TBR?

Until next time,


PS: This post has affiliate links from amazon.in and I receive some part of commission if you purchase through these links.

18 January, 2016

Best Books that I read in 2015 #BooksIReadIn2015

I have read 21 books in 2015. Fortunately, I could cover many genres like Fiction, Non fiction, Horror, Mythology, Mystery and Romance.



Here are the top 5 books that I liked:

The Curse of Brahma by Jagmohan Bhanver
Genre: Fiction, Mythology
My Rating: 4/5



The story covers the incidents and circumstances before the birth of Lord Krishna. The story is not preachy and very informative. Being a person who knew Bhagavatham from childhood, it's a pleasant read for me.

Pupil's President Kalam - Edited by Satyam RoyChodhury
Genre: Non fiction
My Rating: 5/5



This is a collection of articles, speech and real life experiences of our beloved Ex-President, Missile-Man, A scientist, Philosopher, Artist and a great teacher. A motivational book to get inspired.


The Thread that binds by Alice Hayes
Genre: Fiction, Women's fiction
My Rating: 5/5



A wonderful book which combines the stories of 5 different women, their lives, their problems and their approach towards life. The title of the book is very apt and it is interesting to know how all these stories are bind at the end.

The Silent Scream by Siddhartha Garg
Genre: Non Fiction
My Rating: 4/5



This book is a guide to parents on the preventive measures that they can take to provide a safe environment for their kids. Unlike other books that I have read earlier, this is not a fictitious story. There are many real stories in the book which melt your heart and make you scared of the environment our children are living in. This book also contains some suggestions and pointers given by psychologists on securing our children from sexual abuse.

Ramayana - The Game of life (Part 2) by Shubha Vilas
Genre: Mythology
My Rating: 4.5/5


This part of the Ramayana Series covers the story from the decision of Dasaratha to crown Rama as King to Rama's exile to forests with Sita and Lakshmana and the way how different people react to this and cope up with the situations. There are many wonderful lines in the book mentioned in the footnotes section. I want to note these lines and remember them always. I love this book for the wonderful analogies that author mentions.

So, here is my quick list of wonderful books that i read and loved in 2015. I wish to read many great books in 2016. 

Until next time,

Happy reading!






Image courtesy: Google image labeled for non-commercial reuse.

16 January, 2016

Partially Broken never destroyed by Nataisha T Hill - [Book Review]

Book Details:
Title: Partially Broken Never Destroyed

Author: Nataisha T Hill

Genre: Chicklit/ Woman Fiction

Source: A free review copy from author

Book Blurb:
Kayla feels that a man named, Jeremy is the man of her dreams. He winds and dines her as well as buys her anything she wants. Further into the relationship, Kayla discovers that Jeremy is not the enduring man she thought he was. Jeremy is very controlling and abusive. Kayla decides to try to get Jeremy back in line, but Jeremy ends up having a few tricks up his sleeve. Once Kayla realizes that Jeremy is a liar and deceiver, she confides in Jeremy’s roommate and things get out of control. Kayla then attempts to leave, but Jeremy doesn’t want Kayla out of his life.

Attempting to move on from the relationship with Jeremy, Kayla decides to discover the night life by going out with co-workers and her best friend Brandy, who is always there for Kayla. Kayla then meets someone who she finds intriguing name Richard at one of the parties they attend. Richard turns out to be a hassle more than a help. She cannot seem to get him to act right either, so Kayla rebels against him as well. After putting up with his faults, Kayla begins spinning out of control into deception of her own. Kayla eventually leaves him and decides to get out of town with skeletons still in her closet. Before leaving town, she gets involved with a man that she falls in love with named, Michael. Michael is a charmer who literally sweeps Kayla off of her feet.

Against her beliefs, Kayla attempts to work out a long distance relationship with Michael. She moves out of town with a co-worker while attending school at a University. Things were going okay until Kayla notices jealousy issues with the roommate who becomes a never-ending nightmare. She tries to move on in her life without drama, but trouble seems to follow her even at her successes. Kayla is carrying a huge secret that haunts her and she knows she will have to deal with it at some point. Her life is in danger as she continues to associate herself with people who carry demons. In a crazy twist, she ends up discovering she has her own demons. Kayla’s unresolved issues lead to part II “Partially Broken Never Destroyed 2”.

Purchase Link:


My review:

This is the story of a 20 year old Kayla, her love life, problems and the lessons she learnt from each relationship. Relationships are very difficult to understand and maintain. This is waht exaclty we feel after reading about each character Kayla comes across. Jeremy is a protective boyfriend and dominant. Travis is too hasty in taking decision and decides to marry Kayla and go into a commited relationship without giving time to know each other. Richard looks handsome and polite, but has his dark side. He behaves very differently while drunk and dont trust Kayla and can't approve her living an independent life. Michael is a charmer and Kayla attempts to maintain a distance relationship with him. 

Story is based on some real life incidents. The characterization is very good. It is easy for teenagers to relate to this book and understaand different mentalities before venturing out on new relationships. There are many spelling mistakes in the book which was a major putoff for me. 

My Rating: 3/5

I would recommend this to teenagers.

Until next time,





PS: I hvae received this book from author in exchange of an honest review. This is my unbiased opinion on the book.

13 January, 2016

The Quest for Integrity by Jaswinder Singh - GiveAway

Here is a contemporary fiction by Jaswinder Singh in today's Book spotlight. You can win a free Kindle copy by entering the raffle copter giveaway with just 2 clicks before 21st of January .

Book Details:
Title: The Quest for Integrity
Author: Jaswinder Singh
Publisher: CreateSpace
Genre: Fiction

About the Book:

The Quest for Integrity, by Jaswinder Singh, is a work of literary fiction dealing in the socio-political climate of modern-day India.

A novel of ideas in the spirit of Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead, The Quest for Integrity pits the heroic Purshottam Gill against the forces of greed plaguing modern society.  As Purshottam diligently works to improve performance and raise morale at the Bank of the Nation’s Amlawar branch, his attempts are hindered by an intricate conspiracy involving trade union officials, politicians, and some of the bank’s senior officers, whose ambitions are threatened.  Among those who align against the reformer is Neki Lal, whose rise from a life of poverty to become a union leader and vicious attack of Purshottam vividly illustrates how success all-too-often comes to be valued above ethics and morality in Indian society. 

A riveting tale of power, corruption, and the need for social change, The Quest for Integrity is a thought-provoking and inspiring story that illustrates the importance of dignity, morality, and social responsibility.

The Quest for Integrity takes philosophical fiction to the cross section between banking and politics, a vicious environment where ambitious rivals use deceit and manipulation as their route to success.

“Powerfully written, Singh aptly states: ‘This novel expresses the strong view that we must stop considering corruption as a value and recognize that through it, we are only torturing each other.’ Kudos to Singh for creating an eye-opening debut novel!” – Red City Review

Excerpt:

Chapter 1

Purshottam mused about the crowd below. Well-­‐dressed people shopped in the bazaar—rich people got proper nourishment, good medical facilities, and a good education. They were active and intelligent and therefore more productive. They aspired to and achieved success.

The industrialists of Amlawar were well known in the commercial circles of the country and their products, primarily hosiery, bicycles, machine tools, and machinery parts had a reputation for high quality all over the world. Chartered accountants, company secretaries, and engineers contributed greatly to the growth and prosperity of this industrial city.

He’d always taken an interest in Amlawar and had spent two years in the city during his college days, fifteen years earlier, when he’d received his master’s degree in English from Government College. Back then, he’d lived in a rented room along with a fellow student.

Looking down on the city now, Purshottam thought back to the time he’d once spent in this city and contemplated his future in Amlawar—to spend the next several years here among the fortunate and unfortunate, the good and the bad, the workers, preachers, saints, pickpockets, and armed dacoit thugs.

I am now part of this city and all its diversity. I must share my life with people who have different sets of values, who believe in different religions and worship different gods. I will live with and interact with these people, happy or sad, high or low. I am now part of the crowd.

Lost in his thoughts, he went back to his room and switched on the TV. A few minutes later, he heard a knock at the door, opened it, and beckoned the visitor inside.

A dark man, frail and wrinkled, stepped into the room. “Sahib, I am your room servant. I have come to tell you that whenever you need anything, press this button.” He pointed to a switch on the wall near the head of the bed. “I will immediately come to serve you, sahib.”

Purshottam switched off the TV and asked, “What is your name?” “Ram Chander, sahib.”
“Ram Chander, where are you from?”

“I am from Ayodhya, sahib. It is in the Uttar Pradesh state.”
“How long have you been in Amlawar?”

“I have been in Amlawar for the last thirty years, sahib. I was sixteen years old when
I first came to this place and started to work as a casual laborer. After ten years, I began pulling a rickshaw. I pulled the rickshaw for eighteen years before I fell ill and it became difficult for me. By God’s grace, I got this job. It is very comfort-­‐ able. God is very kind, and I am happy now. Pulling a rickshaw is also very nice, sahib, but now my body does not cooperate with me enough to pull it. I worked very hard and made a lot of money by rickshaw.”

Surprised, Purshottam quickly did the math. If the man had come to the city at age sixteen and that was thirty years ago, he must be forty-­‐six. From Ram Chander’s appearance, Purshottam would have guessed seventy. He suppressed a sigh.

“What did you do with that money?” Purshottam asked.

“Sahib, I go to home almost every year and take so many gifts for my children.” A spark of excitement lit up Ram Chander’s face, and he gave Purshottam a wide smile. “One time I bought a radio for them, the next time a bicycle and then a watch. I gave them so many things, sahib. This city of Amlawar has given me so much money. All these thirty years, I have been supporting my family. Now they have a bicycle, a radio, and a watch. God willing, I will buy a TV for them one day.”

Though his eyes rested on Ram Chander’s beaming face, for a moment Purshottam pictured a stooped gardener he’d known here during his college days. About ten migrant laborers lived near his room then, and Purshottam often sat and talked with them in the evening. After a year’s hard work, a migrant laborer would be overjoyed when it came time to go back home on vacation. He’d dress in his best clothes and spend his entire year’s savings on gifts for the family. Bicycles, radios, and watches were important possessions and made the families happy, at least for a while. All workers aspired to buy at least one such treasure after a year of hard work.

During a recent business trip to California, Purshottam had come across some Mexican laborers who worked in the strawberry fields. They earned more than a hundred dollars a day, at a time when the cost of a decent brand-­‐ new bicycle was
$139.99. An ordinary day laborer could buy a bicycle, a radio, or a watch from two days’ pay. What was the difference between laborers in the United States and these laborers? Was it a difference in productivity, or could it be some kind of exploitation? Or was it merely fate?

After Ram Chander left, Purshottam turned the TV on again and channel-­‐hopped but found nothing of interest. He tried reading a book but couldn’t get interested in that,
either. He went to bed, then found it difficult to sleep.

About the Author:


Jaswinder Singh worked as a senior manager of a bank in India for over eighteen years. He holds a Master’s Degree in Mass Communication and Journalism, and currently resides in Edmonton, Canada.

His debut novel The Quest for Integrity was published in November 2015 and is available for sale on Amazon.

Readers can connect with Jaswinder Singh on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

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