Blog Tour Schedules

Friday, September 12, 2014

When Hari Met His Saali by Harsh Wardhan





Name of the Book : When Hari Met His Saali 
Author: Harsh Wardhan
Publisher: Harlequin India 
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #20,274 in Books
No. of Pages: 336 pgs.

Disclaimer: I got this book from the Author  in exchange for my honest opinion.

Blurb 
The only magical thing missing from her life… happened to her sister!
His idea of romance is that it is unnecessary.

Tia was in love with her career and her lifestyle in America. And she was madly in love with Hari. But where was the romance she craved?

Simi was the young girl left behind in a small town in India who hadn’t seen her sister for years. She was a dreamer. But what did she really want out of life?

And then there was Hari. Straight-forward and uncomplicated, it felt like nothing he did was ever good enough for Tia. But didn’t every man want an ambitious and successful wife no matter how demanding they were?

Theirs was a love story that was never going to be conventional. But what happened to Hari and Tia was something that nobody would have predicted.

Mix two sisters with bad history between them and one clueless man, to form one whacky triangle, and you get a cautionary lesson in how you should be careful of what you wish for in the name of love?

Set in Los Angeles and Nagpur, India, ‘When Hari Met His Saali’ is a funny, fresh, and outrageous look at young people and their dreams, longings, aches and heartbreaks. It is a fascinating take on the grand idea of love and the reality of romance. In a breezy, humorous narrative anchored around a magical twist, the story of Tia, Simi and Hari unfolds from romantic comedy into a climax full of suspense

Buy@
Review
Harlequin India is sure going through many changes – good ones. When I read WHMHS, the first thing that struck me was now the doors for many writers have opened up. How often I have heard writers crying out –‘who is an alpha hero?” “do such Heros really exist. For the cynic in me- a definite no and for the Romantic in me – Please lord, let this one wish of mine come true!
Hari is really a funny character. Funny is maybe not the right word. Let’s just say I know that guys like Hari do exist. His insecurities, his idiosyncrasies and his goof ups all add up to create the species we call MALE. Tia and Sim Sim – oops, sorry!.. Simi are also very realistic characters.
When I started reading the novel, I had my doubts. A male’s perspective in Mills and Boon – after Victoria Gordon I did not think we would see this day. But I suppose now it will be interesting to see what else Harsh Wardhwan will pull out in the near future.
Tia and Simi are sisters. While Smi in in India looking after her mother, Tia had left home for greener pastures in the US. She has a life to be envied, a good salaried job and a rich and loving fiancé, Hari. Well, loving being debatable. But they both live in the bubble of a happy life and being perfect for each other.
That was till Hari hadn’t met Simi, his would be Saali. But here again, it is nothing like alpha heroes meets a damsel in distress. In fact, I was wondering if I have missed a line or two where the heroine blushes and the hero looks deeply into her eyes and smiles sardonically. I hadn’t. In fact the Hero was scratching his ….. (Me shaking my head in utter surprise!)
Now Hari is caught between the sisters! Now, as a writer or reader, please don’t think ordinary. Harsh came out with an ‘out of the box’ idea- Hari is hypnotized into falling in love with Simi.
So, what does Hari do after he comes out of hypnosis ?
Tut tut.. don’t let your jaws drop !
Any novel, which makes the reader to ‘want’ to reach the end deserves a five star. The language is not perfect, but it is exactly like Indians in the USA speak. It is so damn relatable. The Indian family life in the USA or the Nagpur counterpart both are brought out well. In fact, I have experienced two of the incidents mentioned by Harsh Wardhwan.
1. The Itinerary
2. The Taxi :) Read to find out more !

The best thing I liked about the characters – all the characters are the gray shades. Even Simi is no good two shoes. Hari is no knight in the shining armor. They are ordinary people like you and me. Making mistakes, being bitchy and naughty and not shy in showing their emotions.
A FAIR WARNING:
After reading this book some of you might be off certain flavors of ice-cream!

. 
Rating





Kingdom Come by Aarti V. Raman





Name of the Book : Kingdom Come 
Author: Aarti V. Raman
Publisher: Harlequin Romance 
Amazon Best Sellers Rank:  #92,414 Paid in Kindle Store 
No. of Pages: 336 pgs.

Disclaimer: I got this book from the Author  in exchange for my honest opinion.

Blurb 

How do you kill a man with no Achilles heel? You cut off his foot Tom Jones. 
Set against the serene beauty of Kashmir, Ladakh and Tibet, Kingdom Come is a gripping story of death and loss, vengeance and retribution, love and life. Krivi Iyer is an embittered former spy and bomb defusal expert with only one regret. That he couldn't catch The Woodpecker, a dangerous, mentally unstable bomber who ended his partner's family. He has a second chance to go after his arch enemy with the arrival of Ziya Maarten, the manager of 'Goonj Business Enterprises' in Srinagar, Kashmir, who is alleged to be The Woodpecker's sister. Except, Ziya is a beautiful distraction and not a terrorist's sister. When a tragedy in London tears Ziya's life apart, she can only rely on Krivi to give her the absolution and vengeance she needs to move on. Between training to be an anti-terrorist squad member and finding The Woodpecker, Ziya uncovers the secrets of Krivi's tormented past. But will two tortured souls find the courage to love?

Buy@
Review
Kirvi ( uff! ) is a hunk who is trained by the military, burning with revenge, and man of many secrets. He arrives at the Goonj Estates and gets the job of a manager. But of course, our hero has an ulterior motive. Does it involve Ziya in any way?

Ziya Maarten. After finishing her tenure at the London School of Business, she comes out of it it wealthier. In Knowledge and friendship. It is her friendship with the gorgeous Noor Saiyed which lands her in Kashmir at the Goonj Estate, where she finds what she has always missed in her life. Family, friends and love.

The Relationships….

As with any relationship cloaked under hidden truths,the attraction between Ziya and Kirvi too undergoes many ups and downs. Kirvi is on a mission. But how is it related to Ziya who is an orphan? The attraction between them is very palpable, very very hot. The chemistry between them oozes sensuality. But this story has more to offer. Lives haunted by terrorism, relationships destroyed due to the debris of terrorism. It also gives us a peep on how the character of a terrorist came into being.

The wheels that keep the story moving in the direction where the reader can’t even think of going are also the characters besides the main protagonists.

Nooriya or Noor Saiyed, her bubbly nature is a pleasure to read even though I shed a few tears for her.
Sam,a Major in the army. Totally in love with Nooriya. An eternal kinda love.

Woodpecker, will make you forget Mokambo or Shakkal.Mr.Joshua of Lethal Weapon or Norman Stanfield in Leon. This guy gives me the creeps. A real dastardly character I have come across after a long time.

(This is not the exams of my English paper which demands characterizations to be done :) but, this story is such that without the mention of these chars, it won’t be a complete picture).

What I liked…..

1) The story line. Clean ,clear, driven. I wanted to reach the end. No, make it …I needed to reach the end. The twists (I found 3 actually),will make you sit up, just as you reach your comfort zone.

2) The characters. Perfect hero with the right amount of weakness. Strong female character- not the damsel in distress kind, but a fighter who is ready to walk at par with any man in combat to protect her loved ones, to avenge her loved ones. A villain, whom you will love to hate.

Aarti has done a fabulous job weaving the characters together. Each character leaves a mark, even if they have a small part to play. Her authority over the English vocabulary is evident even though I feel she has compromised in some places with the grammar to keep the voice young and trendy.

She creates a vivid picture of few of the heaven on earth places- Kashmir, Ladakh….each etched beautifully. The best part has been her research on the bombings and the military lifestyle. The scene that has truly left a mark on me-to the extend that I had to keep my kindle down a few times is the scene between Ziya and Woodpecker. I felt a bile rising in my mouth and I did shed a few tears. This young author sure knows how to pull her punches.

1) I love Nooriya. How could I not? She has been described so many times. Even in the scenes with Kirvi, her beauty has been gushed about. And since she is not the main protagonist, it went a bit overboard.

2) Ziya’s military training. Even if the author has justified it, it is too, for a lack of a better word, Bollywoodish. (taken from my own inventory of non existing words.:))

3) Mosquito Repellent…. :) Why? That is for you to find out after reading Kingdom Come.

Will I recommend this book to my readers….

Definitely. The story has a unique voice.A young and fresh voice. It captures the fear of terrorism, hatred for terrorism and above all salutations to the brave souls fighting against terrorism. The best part is that it shows terrorism as a global evil against which every human being has to stand against. Kudos Aarti V. Raman.

. 
Rating






Tails of Sweetbrier by Deanie Humphrys-Dunne





Name of the Book : Tails of Sweetbrier 
Author: Deanie Humphrys-Dunne
Publisher: Avid Readers Publishing Group
Amazon Best Sellers Rank:  #1,374,423 Paid in Kindle Store
No. of Pages: 37 pgs.

Disclaimer: I got this book from the Author  in exchange for my honest opinion.

Blurb 
This is a true story about a little girl who dreams of becoming a champion horseback rider. Deanie was born with a handicap, which made walking difficult. What does her dad do when the doctors say she would never be able to walk? He decides to teach her to ride horses. Will she give up when things don’t go well? What happens when she falls off her horse? Even if she prevails, she will need just the right horse so they can become a winning team. This inspirational story will show you that nothing is impossible if you don’t quit.

Buy@
Review
Cleo Sinclair represents all women who are trying to live their lives in their own terms. She grew up in a farm and her whole family was involved in that. But she knew she wanted more. She wanted to see the world and make a mark for herself. With her childhood sweetheart already gone in pursuit of his dreams, she had nothing to stay in the small town for. But her action caused a family tragedy and even if she was not to be blamed for it, she bore the shame of being ‘the accused.’

Cutting off from her family, she started working at one of Las Vegas’s most luxurious establishments. She knew her family would not approve of her work and she never told them. But fate had other plans for her. She came face to face with Jax Monroe – her childhood sweetheart. Much to her surprise, he insisted on using an alias. Fearing the worst, she soon found out that his life was in danger. In more ways than one.

Jax on the other hand, tried his best to keep away from the girl whom he knew from back home. Things had changed for him ever since. It was not that he was not attracted to her, but he knew his life could be cut short anytime.

But when love is meant to be, nothing can stop the Fates from working towards the goal of bringing the lovers together. But could the Fates work against Death ?
Both Cleo and Jax are very well defined character. Cleo is strong, determined and possesses just the right amount of vulnerability. Where as Jax is strong, protective and inspite of being the alpha hero of Mills and boon- has his own fears and drawbacks. This makes the characters very relatable.

I love the way both of them support each other. A perfect ingredient for a successful couple. Here I have a favorite scene. The way Jax tries to patch up between Cleo and her family, especially her mom. His sensitivity and his humane nature are laudable.

After a long time I have come across a hero had more than just brawn to offer. His ‘problems’ has been handled very without making the reader feel sorry for him. This story reminded me of one of my first Mills and Boon – Blind Man’s Buff by Victoria Gordan.

Waiting for your next one Jennifer Faye !Tales of SweetBrier is an autobiographical non-fiction.. A story of Deannie Dunne, the writer herself.

Born with cerebral palsy, it was declared by the doctors that she would not be able to walk properly – ever. Instead of giving up, her dad decided on that day that Miss. Deannie would be a horsewoman.

This starts a story of grit and determination of Deannie’s ride to success. It was instilled in her from childhood that the Humphreys never gives up. She herself was a staunch follower of this motto.

There were a number of times she would fall down, only to get up and ride again. During the course of her training, she underwent surgeries too. She could not ride for a year. But as soon as her father declared that her legs were stronger, she was back on the saddle – this round gathering acclaims as she jumped over the posts and won many shows.

Deannie’s love for horses is evident in every line she writes. She understands them and as a reader what I understand is that the horses are therapeutic for her. They are not only her love but also her identity. Her synchronization, her body language and the way she personifies a horse, I can’t imagine her in any other role to play –but that of an equestrian.

Dear Ms. Dunne,

When you asked me to review your book, you never told me it was autobiographical.. I took it up, thinking it was just another book written by a horse lover, will manage a quick read because horses have always interested me. What took my breath away were, those were those goosebump moments, when you fell off your horse and got up again. The way you understand your riding partner. This is one story I would like my little girl and boy to read. Whenever they are down in life, this is one of those stories which would make them face the future with determination and without angst of what had gone wrong.

A special mention for your Dad. You’re one lucky girl! God bless the man who not only motivated you to get up and ride but also for penning such a wonderful story for the future generations.

It was a pleasure and honor to read your story.

Yours truly,
Rubina Ramesh

PS. My mom too had the same maxim in life. [spoiler alert!!!] ….. Aspirin!! 

. 
Rating