Twelve Bells by Bridget B Leslie - [Book Review] #NaBloPoMo #day9

Book Details:

Title: Twelve Bells

Author: Bridget B Leslie

Genre: Romance, Chicklit

Source: A free e-review copy from the author

No. of pages: 48



Blurb:

In her struggle to heal the emotional torment caused by her ex-fiancé, Lynette Frank attends a speed-dating event to give herself a psychological edge in her quest to find the right man. Each man she meets challenges her to fully resurrect her dating life. But is it all too much too soon?

My Review:

I picked this up for review as this is a short and sweet book. The story is about the speed dating event and how the conversation of Lynette with 12 men changes her life. 

When we meet different people in our lives, everyone impacts us in one way or the other. A few inspire, encourage and compliment, whereas a few judge from our looks, discourage or de-motivate us. The protagonist Lynette meets 12 different men from different socio, cultural and economic backgrounds and each one of them impress her with their unique personality.  When we meet people with an open mind without any restrictions or fear for the commitment,we observe a lot and appreciate their good qualities. Since we judge people very early and form impressions, we lose to find such good people. So,this story is all about this. 

What I liked?
This story made me introspect about how we judge people and form first impressions. I loved the characterization and the way each character is revealed in less than 50 pages. The writing style is simple and easy to follow with a tinge of humor.

I would recommend this to someone who wants to have a quick and fun read on relationships and analyzing personalities.

My Rating:
4/5

PS: I have received this free review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion on the book.

Purchase Link:
Amazon


About the Author:

Bridgett Leslie is the winner of the 2014 British-Australian Community Literary Award and also the 2015 joint winner for the SAMPAD International Writing competition. Currently, she contributes to media for the United Nations Association of Australia, an official entity of the United Nations. Bridgett is a qualified finance professional and currently based in Australia.






Until next time,




This is my Day 9 post for #NaBloPoMo. 

Date like a girl, Marry like a woman by Jessica - [Author Interview]& Giveaway

Book Description:

Navigating our romantic lives can be filled with incredible highs and unfathomable lows. Everyone enters relationships with a unique idea of what makes connection work. But even with our differences, we have a common thread running through all of us: the deep desire to love and be loved.

Based on her experiences, and with the help of her closest friends and the men in her life, author Jessica R. Bunevacz created a series of guidelines for women looking to enjoy dating and romance and avoid common pitfalls and difficulties.

Whether you're dating, getting ready to walk down the aisle, or are already married and looking to take your marriage to the next level, it's profoundly important to celebrate where you are on your journey and make every day special and meaningful for yourself and those around you.

Date like a Girl, Marry like a Woman incorporates Bunevacz's own stories of love, dating, and marriage with practical advice for today's modern relationship and reminds readers not to settle for anything less than the best.

Buy the book: Amazon


Author's Bio:

What do you get when you mix a strict Catholic upbringing, a strong curiosity for the opposite sex, and the need to grow up quickly? If you are lucky you get an outcome like Jessica Bunevacz, the vivacious first time author behind "Date Like a Girl, Marry Like a Woman: The Polished Woman's Guide to Love, Romance and Sex."
​

Jessica is a former actress and fashion model born and raised in the Philippines, and currently living in Los Angeles. A happily married mother of three, she has made the journey from MANnizer to the quintessential polished woman. Utilizing her own past experiences and a passion for helping others, she will quickly become the best friend you wish you had!

Connect with the author: Author Website ~ Book's Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest ~ YouTube

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Interview

1) Who were the hardest to write about? The easiest? 

Answer: The easiest were the men I dated. Because every single one had some sort of effect in my life. The hardest was writing about myself. It was hard going back to the past. The dating was fun and easy but the painful ones were hard. Especially the part when my husband had an emotional affair. That was tough on me going back to that situation. 

2) Is there any ritualistic thing you do during your writing time? 

Answer: None really, I just need to be in a quiet place which is my bedroom. I can incline my bed so that was helpful in writing and I made sure my phone was off. 

3) Any favorite thing to do during weekends? 

Answer: My date nights with hubby is on week days. So I make sure I have once or twice a month girls night out on weekends. I need that for myself. But most of the weekends I am with family and kids. Sundays is our church day when there are no sport games. :)

4) Why did you write this book? 

Answer: Because of my love for women. I want every woman to find the man of their dreams, to find love and once they've said their I Do’s, I want to be able to help them maintain a happy marriage.

5) Did you write every day? 

Answer: Yes, only on weekdays. When the kids were all in school. It’s very hard to write on weekends especially where we live, I feel like we drive the whole day. 

Until next time,

I don't wear Sunscreen by Kavipriya Moorthy - [Book Review]

Book Details:

Title: I don't Wear Sunscreen
Author: Kavipriya Moorthy
Publishers: Notion press
No of pages: 112
Genre: Fiction
Source : A free e-copy from the author

Blurb:

For Laksha, life is a gift wrapped in red ribbon. But that's all shattered when she falls for a misogamist. His ambivalence and vacillation always keeps her at bay, turning her into a neurotic. She gets betrayed by the most credible, loses her job, feels devastated and dejected as incidents crowd upon her corrupting her naiveté. 

Enigmas unfold revealing every glitch. Who will clear her blurred skies? What invigorates her career and life? Will she ever forgive her beloved? And how will Laksha survive? 

The story also revolves around her rapport with Pallavi, a childhood friend and the relationship she has with her silver-tongued mom. Focusing on how experiences change perception of little things, this contemporary tale gives a better meaning to friendships, relationships, solitude, pain, compassion and success. 

More often than not, Life drags you down to the adversities and thrusts outward to shine. It is your grit that truly matters when you reach rock bottom, and left with no choice other than to pick yourself up and leap forward, however arduous it may be!

My Review:

The blurb and the title of the book tempted me to read this. I like contemporary fiction. So, I expected it to be a contemporary novel with some twists and it didn't disappoint me.

The first half of the book is very casual introducing the characters of Laksha and Pallavi. I could relate to the possessiveness that Laksha has towards her best friend Pallavi. it reminded me of my best friends. The story has many things - friendship, betrayal, sacrifice, depression etc., I liked Laksha's mom and her positive attitude. Until the start of second half there are no twists in the story and it is predictable. But, the pace of the story increases all of a sudden and it led to some confusion due to the sudden changes in circumstances. I was totally confused after reading 'the end' and the epilogue was helpful to connect the dots. 

Character portrayal is a major plus for this book. The plot seemed interesting in the starting, but led to confusion at the end. The narration is good , but can be still improved.There are some typos which might have been avoided. I appreciate kavipriya for her excellent debut and wish her all the best.

A few lines from the book :

Life is never easy; there will be one issue after another to test your nerves. It might be beloved’s death, a severe health problem, career stumbles, breakups, divorces, loneliness, and anything else. Be strong and make sure your days mean something, find out what helps you grow towards fulfilling your satisfaction.

Sometimes to cry, doesn’t mean you are weak, it means you are stronger letting go of things that hurt you.

Overall, a good read with some unexpected twists in the story.

My Rating: 3.5/5


Purchase links: 
Flipkart
Amazon


Until next time,

PS: I have received free e-copy in exchange of an honest review and this is my unbiased opinion on the book.