Roark: An Enemies To Lovers Romance by Aarti V Raman

I picked up Roark: An Enemies To Lovers Romance by Aarti V Raman from the Kindle Unlimited Library.

The Blurb:

The last time they met, it was nothing short of World War Three.

Jacob Roark Jensen left his cowboy roots behind when he became a hotshot Hollywood scriptwriter.

He also left behind his best friend – tomboy and ugly duckling KC – who never ventured beyond the borders of the vast sprawling Bitterwater Ranch.

Unfortunately, Roark has to come back to the one place he’s sworn to forget: Texas.

And to KC, who’s turned into a lovely swan.

To make matters worse, he is KC’s new boss!

KC Brent knows Roark hates her for being a homebody.

But she has traumas she isn’t willing to share with anyone. Especially not her childhood love, who has brought his gorgeous girlfriend with him.

But he won’t stop kissing KC. Or making her want him beyond reason.

In fact, he even announces their pretend engagement, once he realizes her life is in danger.
What happens when the real reason for Roark’s homecoming is revealed? And KC realizes that the man she loves has been keeping secrets from her?

Roark is a sweet and steamy enemies-to-lovers romance with a heart as big as Texas. 

The story:

Jacob Roark Jensen Junior, Roark, was twelve when he came to Bitterwater Ranch in Texas after losing his parents and elder brother to a terrible tragedy and his sister to their great aunt who did not want to keep him. He was twenty four when he left Bitterwater and has never been back for more than two weeks. Now, at 32, he is a screenwriter in Hollywood.

KC Brent was eight when she was brought to Bitterwater by Jacob Roark Jensen, after she lost her mother to a brutal accident, seventeen years ago. She is not proud of her past and has spent all her time running away from her mother’s abuse in childhood. At Bittersweet, the housekeeper is her mother, father and big brother all rolled into one. She is an automotive engineer and helps at the farm as well. Now, she is 25, and knows that she is here on sufferance.

She was brutally shattered with Roark’s brutal words when she had gone to LA and also when he had come one year back at his grandfather’s funeral. He had then said that he had nothing to do with the ranch and now he is back and that is unsettling.

He had been wanted, loved. And she had never been. Not till she came here.

My take:

I loved the setting of the book, the big ranch and also the fact that KC is an automobile engineer. And she is strong. Her childhood made me cry and also defined her nature. The characters are flawed and that makes them real. The story has twists and turns and that kept me guessing. The mafia angle adds a bit of dangerous spark to the story. The descriptions are detailed.

I loved the book and would love to read more about the other characters of the story.

Reema’s Matchmakers by Sundari Venkatraman

Reema’s Matchmakers by Sundari Venkatraman is her latest book in the Romantic Shorts series. It is the story of second changes.

The blurb:

Pavitra is young, good-looking and unbelievably sexy. She’s also divorced and a single parent to a two-year old. Though she’s totally averse to the idea of a relationship, one day she connects with Abhishek through Reema’s Matchmakers—a popular haunt for singles wanting to mingle.

Except Abhishek and Pavitra have sworn to themselves that they plan on staying single, free and uncommitted. Abhishek—who has women swooning over him—simply drops by to help his cousin Reema get the party going. But then Cupid strikes unexpectedly leaving both of them joyful yet confused and vulnerable.

To construct barriers is so much more comforting than opening oneself to love…

Will they take the risk, grab a second chance and get married again?

*A brief version of this story has been published in the collection Matches Made in Heaven

The story:

Pavitra, divorced with a two year old son, lives with her parents. One day, her friend, Reema, who runs a matchmaking network, Reema’s Matchmakers, invites her to a party of single parents with the hope to get her hitched. Pavitra is not interested in remarriage but still goes to the party because she does not want to let Reema down. Reema’s cousin, Abhishek, a widower with a daughter, is also attending the party to help Reema.

My take:

A simple story of second chances with realistic characters. I loved the pace of the book. The language is simple and the story just flows.

Would love to read Reema’s story someday.

 

White Christmas: A Novelette by Sunanda J Chatterjee

I picked up White Christmas: A Novelette. A heartwarming family drama about forgiveness, acceptance, and love by Sunanda J Chatterjee from the Kindle Unlimited Library.

The blurb:

Successful lawyer Melissa, stay-at-home-mom Jessica, and Chef Dominic have not visited home for Christmas since their father died two years ago. But when their elderly mother invites them home for the holidays and shares her plan to sell the house, the three siblings plan a surprise for her. Little do they know their mother has a surprise of her own.

Meet the White family for their unexpected Christmas reunion.

The story:

Melissa White, 32, is a successful lawyer in New York. Divorced three years ago after just two years of marriage. She has a busy practice and believes in hard work. Her younger sister, Jessica, a brilliant chemist is now a stay-at-home-mom to three children and their younger brother, Dominic, is a chef in the making. The three of them have not visited their family home for Christmas since their father died two years ago.

One day, Melissa receives a call from their mother inviting them all for Christmas and she also lets her know that she plans to sell the house. The three of them talk to each other, blame each other for her loneliness and plan a surprise for her.

But they are in for a surprise.

My take:

I loved the siblings, their inter personal relationship and their relationship with their mother.

This is a sweet and warm story, perfect for the holiday season.

Would love to read a more detailed story of the three of them.

 

 

Cover Reveal: The Pearl of Immortality by Nishi Chandermun

~ Cover Reveal ~

The Pearl of Immortality

by Nishi Chandermun

A world exists that is dominated by the forces of Light and Dark magic. A world where The Sands of Time comes to life, a unique and compelling fantasy.

Xerxes discovers an ancient golden Lamp in a shop of magical artefacts and his simple life is immediately altered, propelling him into a brand-new world inhabited by powerful alien races.

On this strange and distant planet, a world so unlike Earth, Xerxes soon discovers his new identity, one that names him Dragonheart.

Presented with his ancient dragon of more than five thousand years old, a dragon with indescribable magical abilities, he is compelled to accept his destiny as Dragon Rider. A destiny that drives him into the heart of threats shadowed over by the evil Naga race.

Can Xerxes shoulder the responsibilities of a true Dragonheart? When the significance of the Lamp comes to the fore, it becomes evident that the fate of the planet lies entirely in his strength.

Goodreads

About the Author:

I was born and raised in the city of Durban, one of the sunniest places of South Africa, where I live with my husband and three kids. However, home away from home is the magnificent Cape Town, a serene laidback city where the heart and spirit of the ancient Table Mountain beckons one to return again and again.

I graduated with a Bachelor of Law degree, cum laude and went on to study psychology thereafter, both careers which held my avid interest. However, my greatest passion was always in writing, something I have been doing for as long as I can recall. So, it’s no wonder that I finally surrendered all else to become a professional writer.

I have previously written middle grade fiction as well as illustrated books for little children. The Sands of Time series is my first venture for young adults, a project that I have been arduously researching and working on for several years. If there’s a single belief I live by, it would be this:

Masterpieces are not created overnight. All that is truly remarkable requires a magical moment of growth.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram

 

 

 

The Treasure Syndicate by Jatin Kuberkar

I received the book The Treasure Syndicate by Jatin Kuberkar as a review copy from the author and am thankful to him for the same.

The blurb:

When kaliyug resolved to enter Aryavatra, and encountered the last Pandav, king a curse gave the world it’s first ‘Nidhi-Palak’ or The Guardian of treasure Troves in the form of Lord Kuber’s mortal son, Suta. In time, the Guardian bloodline scattered all over the world. Acharya Agnihotri is an astrologer. He searches for hidden treasures, to fulfill his destiny as a ‘Nidhi-Palak’. Dr. Mahesh secretly finances missions for Acharya. Kumar is favored by unfathomable luck.. Jabbar is a legendary digger, and Srikanth is just a common man. United, they form the Treasure Syndicate, always a team of five; a motley mix with an uncanny balance. Bound by the elaborate framework of coincidence, destiny, and fate, the mission of the syndicate is not a cakewalk. The danger is real, and the conditions are never favorable. A hunting past awaits Acharya’s team, as the Kaliyug threatens to turn the mission upside down.

The story:

This is a story of how five people- a combination of knowledge, wealth, skill, luck and balance- form a syndicate called the Treasure Syndicate with the mission to unearth the hidden treasure and use it for Lok-Kalyan, ie benefit of the people. The five people are Leader of the Syndicate- Guardian, Acharya, gifted, trained and well versed on the subject. Next, Mahesh, the financier; Jabbar, an expert digger; Kumar, a man with a strong, undeceiving fate-line and Srikanth, a common man for the sake of balance.

My take:

The story is a gripping thriller which became unputdownable as soon as I reached the page 50 and I read it in two sittings. The narration has suspense and is peppered with humour at times. And the twists and turns kept me at the edge of my seat. When the story started, I was a little confused as to where it is leading, but a few pages down I was hooked.

This book is a treasure hunt which includes excavations, the challenges, the fights and also the reasons why the treasure hunt is important. The author has made references from mythology which makes the premise more interesting.

The characters are well developed and well described and the scenes have been described vividly and could be visualised easily.

I’m waiting for the sequel to this book.

DISCLAIMER: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange of an honest review. I have not received any monetary compensation for the same.

 

 

A Sweet Deal by Andaleeb Wajid

A Sweet Deal by Andaleeb Wajid is a fast paced romance set in Bangalore.

The blurb:

Say hi to Rumana. A freshly minted (baked?) chef who decides to trade her powersuit for chef’s whites to live her dream of owning a café. Cut to six months later and there is Not Too Sweet, a gorgeous little café with a burgeoning clientele. This is home and heart and everything in between. But Rumana’s baker’s bliss is cut short when competition drives in not only right into her street but parks itself right next door! What the…
Enter Daniyal—rock star chef, too good-looking, and annoyingly charming. With him around, Rumana flits between being putty in his hands—giving away a cherished recipe to him when he asks nicely!—and getting mad at herself for her actions. But battle lines get drawn when Daniyal decides to present her recipe to the world with his take on it. Attracted towards the wild-haired Rumana, whose sweet kisses are a complete contradiction to her angry personality, Daniyal has no idea what’s about to hit him.

At Daniyal’s Desserts, he can’t get her out of his mind.

At Not Too Sweet, Rumana is plotting sweet revenge.

Will the two be able to strike a sweet deal?

The story:

Impulsive, Kindle addicted bookworm Rumana and level headed, doodler and sketcher Neharika had met at a software company where Rumana was a software engineer and Neharika, a quality analyst four years ago. And gravitated towards each other because of their mutual interests in food and literature and their pipe dream of opening a café.

One day, they decided to call it quits and start their café. With the help of Neharika’s mother (who gave them space), no help from Rumana’s parents (who find it an impractical decision to leave a job for a café) and all their savings, the two girls open their café in Bangalore and name it ‘Not too Sweet’. Vinod is their man Friday who helps them with the outdoor jobs and sometimes as a waiter. They are happy catering to small parties along with their routine sales.

One day, Vinod comes in holding a flyer which says that a new patisserie, called Daniyal’s Desserts is opening next door. Daniyal is a rich, experienced chef who has worked in many restaurants around the world.

Now, their café is at the risk of losing the regular customers and Daniyal’s Desserts looks more attractive. And Rumana takes it on herself to save their café because she has to prove herself to her parents and also avoid getting stuck in an arranged marriage to the NRI her parents have chosen for her.  So, she schemes and plans Daniyal’s downfall…

Daniyal is attracted to her and so is Rumana, but she tells herself to stay away from him because he is the ENEMY.

My take:

I loved the book. As a person who wanted to open a café myself, till reality dawned that I could not do a full time job and run a café too, I have kept that thought on the backburner. So I loved it even more.

The name of the café is so apt, and I loved the ambience too. The characters are life-like, relatable and so real. What I enjoyed most was the conversations between them, the jealousy and how Rumana tried to hide the blunders committed from Neharika. The descriptions of the food items are moth watering and I am looking for the recipe of a carrot cake that has apple sauce and cinnamon…this book has everything, friendship, romance, competitiveness, jealousy, stress and also independence.

The language used is simple and the story just flows, making the book unputdownable. The tense used is different and initially I took some time to get a hang of it. The chapters are short and end in such a way that I had to start the next chapter because I really wanted to know what happens next.

Milan Vohra has mentioned on the cover that “this book cannot be put down” and I thoroughly agree with her on this.

This book is a must, must read with a warning that once you start it, you will not be able to put it down till you finish it.

One question, is Neharika’s story coming up next?

 

 

The Treasure Syndicate by Jatin Kuberkar

~ Book Tour ~

18th to 20th November

About the Book:

When Kaliyug resolved to enter Aryavatra, and encountered the lats Pandav, king a curse gave the world it’s first ‘Nidhi-Palak’ or The Guardian of treasure Troves in the form of Lord Kuber’s mortal son, Suta. In time, the Guardian bloodline scattered all over the world. Acharya Agnihotri is an astrologer. He searches for hidden treasures, to fulfill his destiny as a ‘Nidhi-Palak’. Dr. Mahesh secretly finances missions for Acharya. Kumar is favored by unfathomable luck.. Jabbar is a legendary digger, and Srikanth is just a common man. United, they form the Treasure Syndicate, always a team of five; a motley mix with an uncanny balance. Bound by the elaborate framework of coincidence, destiny, and fate, the mission of the syndicate is not a cakewalk. The danger is real, and the conditions are never favorable. A hunting past awaits Acharya’s team, as the Kaliyug threatens to turn the mission upside down.

Book Links:

Goodreads * Amazon

Book Trailer:

About the Author:

For the mortal world, I pretend to be a Software Engineer who works hard (or hardly?) in the hours of a day. I am the guy next door, a hard core Harry Potter fan and a movie buff. I literally ‘live’ every movie, I have strong opinions about its content and I hate it when a movie based on an interesting concept is messed up for the sake of commercial value. I enjoy watching cartoon shows (doremon, dora and Choota Bheem) with my son. I never get bored of listen to the endless chatter of my wife. When I’m not writing, I make toys for children.

But beyond the boundaries of this ‘cholesterol rich’ coil, I am a rider of rapturous thoughts. I am a thinker, a philosopher, a seeker, a story-teller, a writer, a wanderer and every other thing that a thought can be. At times some of these figments fire out of my thoughtful bowl and command me to write, muse, create, recreate, destroy…EXPRESS!

Who Am I? I have been asking this question to myself since 33 years, and I got a different answer always. Sometimes I get confused and think, am I asking the right question to seek the correct answer? or may be that am I missing the  whole fantastic universal drama around me while I am busy finding an answer to an irrelevant question?

Does the answer even matter?

Contact the Author:

Blog * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Goodreads

 

 

The Speaking Stone by Ratnadip Acharya

I received the book The Speaking Stone by Ratnadip Acharya as a review copy from the author and am thankful to him for the same.

The blurb:

Can a piece of stone reveal a great story buried in the heart of a forgotten history?

A young man found a piece of ancient-looking stone with strange images and Sanskrit inscriptions. A quest to discover the origin of the stone brought him to the distant part of the country where he met a vivacious young lady, pursuing her dissertation proposal.

Their search began from the city museum to a far-flung rock mountain which revealed a century-old story of a seductive danseuse, her enigmatic lover, a string of her admirers, a painter with a photographic memory, a bird that could speak in many voices, a benevolent king and a gruesome conspiracy. And the most important clue to decode the final secret was with the missing part of….

The Speaking Stone

But in the process of unearthing old secrets their lives were also in danger…

The story:

In 2016, Saikat, buys a mysterious stone, which is actually only half a piece of a bigger stone from a vendor selling artefacts on a pavement in Mumbai. The stone has four faces and something inscribed in Sanskrit, cut into half. The vendor also tells him that he has named the artefact, The Speaking Stone because he thinks that the stone has a great history and that makes Saikat all the more curious to know about the other half of the stone.

Shuvashini Guha, 24, a PhD student of history of Calcutta University, is asked by her guide to find a unique topic for her dissertation. And a book fascinates her, and makes her curious about Tripura and prepare a dissertation accordingly.

After some enquiries, he starts on a journey to Unakoti, 165 kilometres from Agartala, in Tripura. It is at Kolkata airport on the way to Agartala, that he sees a girl with a book, History of Tripura: from monarchy to democracy, and is curious to know about her. He is happy to find her on the same flight as him. They meet in Agartala and start on the adventure to find the treasure.

The book moves back and forth between 2016-17 with Saikat and Shuvashini and 1900, with the old kingdom, king, conspirators, a sculptor,  a dancer….

My take:

This book is a historical thriller which kept me on the edge of my seat. Two stories run in parallel in two different centuries and sometimes, I would feel lost. There is fiction and there is reality and there is reality and fiction interwoven so many times that it was difficult to separate the two. The author’s effort and his research is visible as the story proceeds from Mumbai, to Chandannagar, to Tripura, to Kolkata and then Agartala and Unakoti.

The characters are relatable and realistic. The author has introduced the main characters, Saikat and Shuvashini in a different way, after giving a brief about them. The descriptions of scenes have been minutely detailed, like Shuvashini tucking the boarding pass inside the book when the security check is complete. We move from Mumbai to the far north eastern part of India, Tripura.

The language is simple and the story is fast paced and the twists and turns make it unputdownable. A little bit of editing would make it crisp and more interesting. The book has all the elements that make it a suspense novel with puzzles and mystery games. The book also has illustrations and pictures that help explaining the complicated parts.

 

DISCLAIMER: I received this book as a review copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. I have not received any monetary compensation for the same.

It is Children’s day today and there are books, books and books…..

Unique books to watch-out for this Children’s Day from Puffin.

 

1. Darkless by Tanushree Singh: A bittersweet picture book of love and loss

On a night when the moon shone and the little specks of light danced on the ceiling, Ani lay awake. ‘It’s dark,’ he said. Everything has turned dark in Ani’s life. Dobby, Nani, friends – he has them all by his side. But he pulls away from them. Will Ani ever find his way out of the dark?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Tanu Shree Singh is an Assistant Professor in Psychology. She completed her studies in Positive Psychology, a relatively new and promising branch of psychology devoted to cultivating contented, happy, and fulfilling lives. She extensively writes on issues related to parenting and has been published in leading online dailies and communities. Her approach to parenting, rooted in her academic background, draws heavily from her experiences as a parent and a mentor. Her passion for reading and getting more children to read led her to set up two libraries in Faridabad and Tirthan Valley. She also supports 13 other libraries in Himachal. She is the author of Keep Calm and Mommy On, DK Indian Icons: CV Raman and has contributed to the anthologies Flipped and I’d rather read.

 2.  From Leeches to Slug Glue by Roopa Pai: A roller-coaster ride through the evolution of medicine in the last 2500 years!

Did you know that it wasn’t a surgeon but a fifteenth-century Italian artist who contributed to the study of human anatomy? Or that a Dutch cloth merchant, by using a cutting-edge lens to check fabric quality, ended up discovering microorganisms? Find out all about the fascinating stories and people behind these and several other medical breakthroughs in this fun, info-packed book that traces 2500 years of human history and development in the field of health and healing. Chronicling the life journeys of some brilliant, dedicated and extraordinary men and women, this book gives us a glimpse into the glorious ways in which science and medicine have advanced through the ages, across continents. This book is a celebration and a tribute to doctors, healers and scientists whose vast curiosity fueled the innovations, inventions and discoveries that have made modern medicine.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Roopa Pai is one of India’s best-known authors for children. She has written over twenty-five books ranging from picture books to chapter books and fiction to non-fiction, on themes as diverse as fantasy, popular science, maths, history, economics, life skills and philosophy. Many of these are bestsellers, and are enjoyed as much by adults as children.

3. Flyway BoyDear Sir or Madam, by Jane De Suza: A story about embracing everything that makes you uniquely you

Kabir doesn’t fit in. Not in the wintry hill town he lives in, and not in his school, where the lines are always straight. Backed into a corner with no way out, Kabir vanishes. With every adult’s nightmare now coming true, finding this flyaway boy will mean understanding who he really is. Or is it too late? Spirited and powerfully imaginative, Flyaway Boy is a story about embracing everything that makes you uniquely you.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jane De Suza does not write normal books. The SuperZero series, Uncool, Happily Never After and The Spy Who Lost Her Head, among others, are examples of a very different, quirky and questioning look at life. She writes a humour column for The Hindu, had a parenting column for Good Housekeeping and is now co-building an app. Jane is a management graduate and a creative director. She currently lives in Singapore with her family. While travelling across various literature fests, schools and workshops, she grew fascinated by the creative potential of children, from which comes this book.

 4. Across the Line by Nayanika Mahtani: ‘Compelling and uplifting . . . lingers long after the last page is turned’ Vidya Balan

1947: New Delhi. Cyril Radcliffe’s hands are clammy, partly from the heat but mostly from the enormity of the task assigned. Mopping the sweat off his brow, he picks up his pen, draws a deep breath–and a dark line.
Rawalpindi. A barbaric frenzy of rioters fills the streets, disrupting a game of pithoo between Toshi and her brother, Tarlok, shattering their lives unimaginably.

2008: Rawalpindi. Cricket-crazy Inaya is sneaking out behind her father’s back for net practice when she discovers that she is not the only one in her family keeping a secret.
New Delhi. Jai accidentally stumbles upon an old, hidden away diary in his kitchen. The date of its last entry: 17 August 1947.

As Jai and Inaya’s unlikely worlds collide, another story unfolds. A story that started with the drawing of a line. A story that shifts the truth in their lives.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Nayanika Mahtani once harboured dreams of becoming a stage actor, but she followed the proverbial left side of her brain to do an MBA at IIM Bangalore and became an investment banker. A decade later, she followed her heart to live in Africa. Since then, she’s been following the right side of her brain and is now an author and screenwriter. Nayanika’s books include Ambushed and The Gory Story of Genghis Khan (aka Don’t Mess with the Mongols). She has also recently co-written the story and screenplay for a Hindi film based on the extraordinary life of the mathematical genius, Shakuntala Devi. Nayanika lives in London with her family, their dog, hamster and two goldfish named Sushi and Fishfinger.

5. The Golden Eagle by Deepak Dalal: Explore birds like never before!

WELCOME TO STORK-PUR, THE PLACE OF NO RETURN

One moonlit night, when Shikar, the squirrel, asks his favourite doves, Lovey and Dovey, to tell him a story, they recount their time at Stork-pur, a mysterious bird commune. A place no bird would ever want to visit. On a secret mission, the doves are taken hostage by a villainous stork whose dark plan is to rule the bird-world. Danger lurks in every corner of the caves the doves are imprisoned in, and they wonder whom they can trust? The talkative green pigeon, the mesmerizing whistling thrush or the magnificent golden eagle?

The feather-raising adventure ends finally in a story the doves dub as ‘the story of all stories’–one that deeply affects Shikar and alters his notions of himself, his past and his origins.

Return to the Rose Garden to read about the enthralling capers of your favourite feathered friends and bird-squirrel, as they swap stories of daring and wonder.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Deepak Dalal gave up a career in chemical engineering to write stories for children. He lives in Pune with his wife, two daughters and several dogs and cats. He enjoys wildlife, nature and the outdoors. All his stories have a strong conservation theme. His earlier books in the VikramAditya adventure series are set in India’s wilderness destinations. This is his fourth book in the Feather Tales series.

Krishna Bala Shenoi spends his days making things (mostly illustrations), procrastinating and exploring film. His artwork, spanning a variety of styles, has accompanied children’s literature in books produced by esteemed publishing houses. He lives in Bangalore, where he plans to continue contributing to children’s storytelling, imbuing his work with gentleness and a sense of wonder.

 6. The Daughter from the Wishing Tree by Sudha Murty: Who do the gods turn to for support when they are helpless?

Did you know that the Trinity often turned to goddesses to defeat the asuras?
Did you know that the first clone in the world was created by a woman?

The women in Indian mythology might be fewer in number, but their stories of strength and mystery in the pages of ancient texts and epics are many. They slayed demons and protected their devotees fiercely. From Parvati to Ashokasundari and from Bhamati to Mandodari, this collection features enchanting and fearless women who frequently led wars on behalf of the gods, were the backbone of their families and makers of their own destinies.

India’s much-loved and bestselling author Sudha Murty takes you on an empowering journey
-through the yarns forgotten in time-abounding with remarkable women who will remind you of the strong female influences in your life.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Sudha Murty was born in 1950 in Shiggaon, north Karnataka. She did her MTech in computer science, and is now the chairperson of the Infosys Foundation. A prolific writer in English and Kannada, she has written novels, technical books, travelogues, collections of short stories and non-fiction pieces, and six bestselling books for children. Her books have been translated into all the major indian languages. Sudha Murty is the recipient of the R.K. Narayan Award for Literature (2006), the Padma Shri (2006) and the Attimabbe Award from the Government of Karnataka for excellence in Kannada literature (2011).

 

7. 31 Fantastic Adventures in Science: Women Scientists in India by Nandita Jayaraj and Aashima Freidog: Stories about trailblazing women scientists and researchers of our country

We don’t see them on TV, in textbooks or in newspapers, and most of us can’t name a single one. But there are thousands of women scientists in India, who perform experiments in laboratories, peer through powerful telescopes and camp out in harsh and extreme conditions.

This unique book presents the stories of thirty-one of these trailblazing women who work in a diverse array of fields, from environmental biotechnology to particle physics, palaeobiology to astrophysics. Through their research, they uncover the mysteries of the universe, find more sustainable ways of living, cure life-threatening diseases and study animals and plants that are long gone.

Find out what drew them to science, read about how they deal with the difficulties and pressures of their work, and learn how they push the boundaries of human knowledge further and further every day.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS: Nandita Jayaraj is a freelance science writer and storyteller who started her career at The Hindu, followed by a stint at Brainwave, a magazine where she met her science soulmate-Aashima. Nandita spends most of her time plotting new projects whilst flitting between Kerala and Karnataka, where she is lucky enough to have places that feel like home.

Aashima Dogra is a science writer who writes for children as well as adults but always about science. When she is not travelling to laboratories around the country trying to sniff out fantastic stories, you will find her at her desk, which overlooks the snowy mountains in Himachal Pradesh, India.

8. The Incredible Adventures of Mr Cheeks by Tazmeen Amna: A wonderful concoction of courage, friendship and rebellion against society’s status quo

‘Bunneez cannot seeng,’ the goat said.

‘Not posibaal. Ze nightingales already booked!’

The Annual Carnival of Hastings is fast approaching and Mr Cheeks, a dapper tap-dancing chihuahua; Mr Grey, a grumpy Persian cat who paints; and Hopper, an anxious rabbit who sings, are super excited! All geared up to show their uniqueness, they set out to sign up for the talent shows. But little do they know that in Hastings, everyone has their set roles: only nightingales are allowed to sing and only peacocks can dance. But is that fair? Seeking to bring about a change, the oddballs hatch a risky yet brilliant plan to teach Hastings about free will and the joy of not fitting in. An exciting journey ensues, where the three friends face the challenge of following their heart -even when it isn’t the easiest thing to do.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS: Tazmeen Amna is extremely passionate about animals. She ditched a corporate career and is currently working with the Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations. When not enjoying the company of the furry ones, Tazmeen paints portraits of them-her medium being watercolour and acrylics. A bookworm and feminist, she has been painting and writing since the age of four. She studied literature at Lady Shri Ram College for Women and also holds an MBA degree. She resides in New Delhi with her family and her many pets-Bagheera, the real-life Mr Grey; a Madagascar lovebird; a Quaker parakeet; a grey cockatiel; and a Netherland Dwarf rabbit. Her future plans include adopting a kitten as well as penning down a sequel to this book.

 

PLEASE DO CHECK THEM OUT

 

Three Times Lucky (Jasmine Villa Book 3) by Andaleeb Wajid

Three Times Lucky (Jasmine Villa Book 3) by Andaleeb Wajid is the third book of the Jasmine Villa Series. This book is the story of the youngest sister Athiya, set in Bangalore.

The blurb:

Athiya Hasan didn’t believe in love. She thought it was over-rated and yet, something happened inside, every time she thought of Farhaan Ahmed, the man her sister was supposed to marry.

Farhaan can’t get Athiya out of his head and in a bid to get to know her better, he offers her a job in his office. But now, he’s her boss and it means Athiya is further away from him.

A mistake in judgment turns out to be a grave error for Athiya whose father worries about his rash and angry daughter. But Farhaan steps in like a knight in shining armour to save Athiya. Only, Athiya doesn’t want one, no matter how attracted she is to him.

Will Athiya and Farhaan get past their differences and give love a chance? Three Times Lucky is the third and final book in the Jasmine Villa series, written by Andaleeb Wajid, author of acclaimed novels such as More than Just Biryani, My Brother’s Wedding, The Crunch Factor and House of Screams.

The story:

Athiya, 24, the youngest of the three sisters is a firebrand. She is outspoken and is not scared to express her opinion. She is impulsive as well. After the marriage of her sisters, she, along with her father, moves to an apartment as Jasmine Villa was being rebuilt into six flats as a joint development project with Farhaan’s company, of which four of them would belong to the three sisters and their father. She does not like celebrating her birthday, as it reminds her of their mother’s death. The bond among the sisters is very strong and the girls meet often.

Farhaan is completely her opposite, he is mature, patient, and understanding. As a routine, he meets Luqman and Ana every Friday at their house for dinner. It is during one such dinner that Ana realises that Farhaan has a soft spot for Athiya. And then Farhaan offers Athiya, who is fresh out of college, a job in his company. And then something crops up and Farhaan offers to marry her.

My take:

I binge read the entire series and enjoyed how the author has connected the stories and created her characters. They are relatable and realistic and as the series moved from Tehzeeb’s story to Ana’s and then to Athiya’s, I felt that I was with the sisters and seeing the story right before my eyes. The girls are strong and independent and the boys are understanding.

The story takes off after the second book of the series with the characters from her previous books making regular appearances maintaining the continuity of the story line. The secondary characters also have important roles to play. The scenes as well as the emotions have been described in detail. The language is simple and the story moves fast. And once I started the series, I could not put it down.