Wednesday 23 December 2015

#2016ReadingChallenge by Namitha and Meryl

Themed Reading Challenge 2016

Rule: You have to follow the theme of the month in reading at least 3 books that month. You are free to continue reading more books of the theme of each month, or stop after the third one, or read anything else during the month. 

January:     New writers
February:   Romances
March:       Women writers
April:        Plays
May:        LGBT writers
June:        Award-winning books
July:         South Asian writers
August:     Memoir/Bio/Autobiographies
September: Regional books
October:    Books you’re scared of reading
November:  Graphic novels
December:  Mysteries or thrillers

This means you'd read at least 36 books in a year, which is neither too much nor too less! 

#2015ReadingChallenge by Popsugar

2015 was a great year in terms of reading. My Goodreads account clocked 189 books at the end of the year. While most of it was random or impulsive reading, especially a lot of cosy mysteries and new writers, I also participated and completed the 2015 Reading Challenge set up by Popsugar.

Well, I modified a few of the categories to suit myself - for example, 'A book your mom loves' had to be changed because I've already read the books she loves (meh). I did not do 'A book that scares you' because I am not fond of horror per se; the only horror writer I've enjoyed is Stephen King; and I couldn't lay my hands on one until two weeks ago (I'm keeping that - Pet Sematary - for next year). I also had to skip 'A book you were supposed to read in school but didn’t' because I actually read everything that was prescribed as text in school/college.

The original challenge is this:



My 50-book challenge is as below:

1. A book with more than 500 pagesA Game of Thrones by George RR Martin, 806 pages. Read from June 28 to July 21. My thoughts on the book here.

2. A classic romanceThe Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Read from November 26 to 29, after at least 3 false starts earlier. Here's my review.

3.  A book that became a movieThe Fault in Our Stars by John Green. Read on October 27, during a journey from Ahmedabad to Bangalore. Here's what I think of the book.

4. A book published this yearBrailling for Wile by James Zerndt. A new writer, with 5 books to his credit. I also read his The Korean Word for Butterfly and liked it. Read from April 18 to 21, just weeks after its release. My thoughts on the book here.

5. A book with a number in the titleSix Years by Harlan Coben. A pacy crime thriller, but I'm not impressed. Read on January 23-24, on a train journey from Ahmedabad to Mangalore.

6. A book written by someone under 30The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger. She wrote this in 2003, when she was 26 years old. (I know, perhaps this is a bit of cheating, but I got tired of checking out writers' ages!) Read from June 10-12, and did not like it much.

7. A book with nonhuman characters: The Story of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting. So racist that I was shocked. Read on February 20-21.

8. A funny bookPiccadilly Jim by PG Wodehouse. Do I even need to explain myself for this one? Of course I loved it! Read from April 21-23.

9. A book by a female authorWhen God is a Traveller by Arundhati Subramaniam. Now, I read so many women authors, that this selection is purely because it was poetry, and I loved it SO much. Read from July 5-9.

10. A mystery or thrillerA Quiet Life in the Country by TE Kinsey. The first book I read this year, having carried it forward from 2014 (read from Dec 28 to Jan 2). This is Kinsey's first book, and a thoroughly entertaining cosy mystery at that!

11. A book with a one-word titleAirport by Arthur Hailey. Read from February 23 to March 7.

12. A book of short storiesNaked Voices by Saadat Hassan Manto. Poignant and insightful, a true master. Read from July 12-21.

13. A book set in a different countryIn Other Rooms, Other Wonders by Daniyal Mueenuddin, based in Pakistan. Read from March 9 to April 12 (yeah, it was a bit of a dragging read).

14. A nonfiction bookHow to Be a Woman by Caitlin Moran. Another long read - February 6 - April 28. Review here.

15. A popular author’s first bookNot a Penny More, Not a Penny Less by Jeffrey Archer. Archer was in Bangalore to promote his latest book Mightier Than Sword and my friend got me a copy of this one - his first - signed by the author. Read from August 12-21.

16. A book from an author you love that you haven’t read yetSomething Fresh by PG Wodehouse. The first Blandings book. Read from August 6-12.

17. A book a friend recommendedDante’s Wood by Lynne Raimondo. Recommended by my book group friend Rajesh Nair. Read from May 16-20. The premise of an almost blind person investigating a murder was too good to let go!

18. A Pulitzer Prize-winning bookThe Color Purple by Alice Walker. The best book I read this year. Read from December 10-18. My thoughts on the book here.

19. A book based on a true storyBlack Tornado by Sandeep Unnithan; based on the 26/11 Mumbai attack. Read from November 2 to 27. This category took me a long time to figure out. I didn't want to read a memoir or autobiography, and I'd already read In Cold Blood by Truman Capote, which was the only book based on true story that I could think of. And then one of my friends Venu Gopal Narayanan posted about this one in our book group, and ta-da!

20. A book at the bottom of your to-read listLittle Women by Louisa May Alcott. Read from November 29 to December 9. This was highly recommended by Meryl Garcia, and has been in my to-read list for more than five years now; but unfortunately, this turned out to be just not my kind of book. Or maybe I should have read this in my teens.

21.  A book more than 100 years oldLove Among the Chickens by PG Wodehouse (yes, I read a lot of him!). First published in 1906, read on January 2 &3.

22. A book based entirely on its coverThe Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder. I saw the cover on Scribd and was enchanted. I am into Fantasy and Children's literature! Read from May 5 to 8.

23. A memoirAnd Then One Day by Naseeruddin Shah. One of the most honest and insightful (on acting) autobiographies I've read. Read from June 25 to July 7. My review will tell you more.

24. A book you can finish in a dayDouble Shot by Cindy Blackburn. A cosy mystery, read on February 3. I read a lot of books in a day this year, but chose this one as a representative. Blackburn's Cue Ball Mysteries are something to look out for!

25. A book with antonyms in the titleThe Prince and The Pauper by Mark Twain. I never thought I'd enjoy a classic written in old English so much, though I took a long time to complete it. Read from November 2 to December 10.

26. A book set somewhere you’ve always wanted to visitGolden Bats and Pink Pigeons by Gerald Durrell, set in Mauritius. Islands are such a nice place to vacation, arent' they? Read from May 22 to June 2.

27. A book that came out the year you were bornThe Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett, read from Oct. 29 to Nov. 2. Came out in 1986. I'd also shortlisted Stephen Kings It, but preferred fantasy over horror thriller finally.

28. A book with bad reviewsOne Life, One Love by Rochak Bhatnagar. Bejeezus! Horribly written book, thin, cliched plot. More thoughts here. Read from July 25-27.

29. A trilogy: The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot, books 3-5: Princess in Love, Princess in Waiting, Princess in Pink.

30. A book from your childhoodThe Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene. Began reading this adorable Nancy Drew series that I first read in high school. Read this book in August, with my sister Anju.

31. A book with a love triangleThe Fifth Man by Bani Basu, translated by Arunava Sinha. Read from Sept. 23 to Oct. 23. It was enchanting!

32. A book set in the futureThe Hitchhiker’s Guide to Galaxy by Douglas Adams. The funniest science fiction I've ever read. Read from January 10-14. I hope to read more of the series in 2016.

33. A book set in high schoolThe Princess in The Spotlight by Meg Cabot, read on Feb. 5 & 6. My apologies, but I read a lot of the Princess Diaries at the beginning of this year!

34. A book with a color in the titleBlack Beauty by Anna Sewell. Read from Feb 1-3. I loved it!

35. A book that made you cryJohnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo. Read, with tears streaming down my eyes, from May 27 to June 1. A long review, but one that I wrote pretty emotionally.

36. A book with magicA Hat Full of Sky by Terry Pratchett. The second of the Tiffany Aching sub-series within the Discworld series. Man, I can't come tp terms with the fact that this man is no longer with us, and the Discworld isn't going to be expanded! Read from May 18-22, review here.

37. A graphic novelLucille by Ludovic Debeurme, originally written in French. I read quite a few graphic novels this year, and this was one of the first in the real "novel with graphics" category. Read in May.

38. A book by an author you’ve never read beforeCongo by Michael Crichton, read from Jan 6-10. Always wanted to read Crichton - hopefully I'll read the Jurassic Park in 2016. My twopennies on the book here.

39. A book you own but have never readSnehichu Theerathavar by ONV Kurup, a collection of Malayalam poems. Owned for over 5 years, read from Sep. 2-19, and though this was the great lyrical master Kurup, I did not enjoy the collection. The repetitiveness of meter and the patriarchal images annoyed me.

40. A book that takes place in your hometownEzhamathe Poovu by M. Mukundan. A set of 11 short stories that blur the lines between reality and dream-world. But I had to cheat a little in this category, because I couldn't find any book set in Thrissur; so I had to settle for something based in Kerala. Read from July 21 to 28.

41. A book that was originally written in a different languageSelected Poems by Gulzar , translated by Pavan K. Varma, read from September 25 to October 5. This collection contains both the original Hindi poems and their translations, and is an absolute treat. The translations do full justice to the originals, and people like me, who aren't sure of meanings of certain Urdu-influenced words in the original, will find this collection most satisfying.

42. A book set during Christmas: Death of a Dapper Snowman by Angela Pepper. I wasn't sure which book to read in this category, and this was an accidental read rather than a planned one. A quick, fun cosy mystery. Read from June 4-6.

43. A book written by an author with your same initials: Falling For Rachel by Nora Roberts. I couldn't find anyone with the initials NV, so I settled for NR and chanced upon Nora Roberts. And thus this became the first Mills & Boons.The story was quite good, some unexpected twists there. It even had me choking up in places. Considering I am not a regular M&B or Romance girl, I quite liked this one. Read on February 4 & 5.

44. A playOedipus Plays of Sophocles, translated by Paul Roche, read from August 24 to September 6. This could even have fitted in the trilogy section, but I hadn't read any other plays this year. The reading was not at all cumbersome, and I quite enjoyed it. Reminds me to pick up a couple of Shakespeares next year.

45. A banned bookPersepolis by Marjane Satrapi. American Library Association lists this as being banned due to "gambling, offensive language, political viewpoint; 'politically, racially, and socially offensive', 'graphic depictions'". Chicago Public Schools apparently banned this from students' reading in March 2013, followed by challenges by several other schools and colleges to this day. I read this from October 23-27 during an Ahmedabad trip, and loved it SO much. The beautiful artwork, a narration that weaves together the personal, the social and the political narratives effortlessly, and honest depiction of the self - these help Persepolis become an outstanding piece of literature.

46. A book based on or turned into a TV show: Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman. This was my first Gaiman, read from May 22-27, and I'm a convert. This is a novelisation of the series of the same name that appeared on BBC Two in 1996. Gripping, fantastical and thoroughly enjoyable.

47. A book you started but never finished: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, read on February 16 and 17, after two failed attempts at reading it years ago. I found the language too roundabout and boring at the time, but this time I thoroughly enjoyed it! I admit I had the help of the BBC mini series on Sense and Sensibility, and Pride and Prejudice itself, to help me orientate myself to the language and imagine its enunciation and expression properly.

Now come the three categories that I substituted into the list, for convenience, mostly.

48. A comic book/manga: Lumberjanes by Noelle Stevenson. I wanted to separate the genres graphic novels and comics, with the main distinguishing factor in my head being that of audience. Lumberjanes is a children-to-teen focused work of artistic literature, with adventure, pranks and superheroism, based loosely on Greek mythology. Read from April end to May 1st week.

49. A book you didn’t likeThe Book of Nonsense by Edward Lear. Pure rubbish limericks. Can't say how the average rating on Goodreads is 3.5. Read on August 6. All I have to say is:
There was an old poet named Lear
He wrote verses that were unclear,
He thought they were funny
And delightfully loony,
That stupid old poet named Lear.

50. A travel bookFive Weeks in the Amazon by  Sean Michael Hayes, read from October 5 to 23. My review of the book here.

For the next year, my friend Meryl and I created our own reading challenge, which I hope would be easier and more flexible for a normal reader to follow. Check it out here

Sunday 13 September 2015

#TornadoGiveaway 2 - Book 84: Tell a Thousand Lies by Rasana Atreya







Name of the Book: TELL A THOUSAND LIES
Author: Rasana Atreya

Read some reviews:

1. Ruchi Singh 
2. Carol Kean 
3. Jane 

The Story:

In a land where skin colour can determine one's destiny, fraternal twins PULLAMMA and LATA are about to embark on a journey that will tear their lives apart. Dark skinned Pullamma dreams of being a wife. With three girls in her family, the sixteen year old is aware there isn't enough dowry to secure suitable husbands for them all. But a girl can hope. She's well versed in cooking, pickle making, cow washing -- you name it. She's also obliged her old-fashioned grandmother by not doing well in school. Fair skinned and pretty, her twin sister Lata would rather study medicine than get married. Unable to grasp the depth of Lata's desire, the twins' Grandmother formalizes a wedding alliance for the girl. Distraught, Lata rebels, with devastating consequences. As Pullamma helps ready the house for her older sister Malli's bride viewing, she prays for a positive outcome to the event. What happens next is so inconceivable that it will shape Pullamma's future in ways she couldn't have foreseen. TELL A THOUSAND LIES is a sometimes wry, sometimes sad, but ultimately realistic look at how superstition and the colour of a girl's skin rules India's hinterlands.

You can also buy @

About The Author 


Rasana Atreya 

Rasana is the author of Amazon bestseller 'Tell A Thousand Lies', which was also shortlisted for the 2012 Tibor Jones South Asia award. UK’s Glam magazine calls this novel one of their five favourite tales from India (June 2014). Her other works are 'The Temple Is Not My Father' and '28 Years A Bachelor'.

Now on to more personal stuff – Rasana would like to be able to tell her readers that she once stopped a robbery single-handedly, except she’s terrified of robbers. And geckos. And two-year-olds who throw tantrums. When she’s not running scared, she’s mother to a girl and a boy who were respectively six and eleven years-old when they wrote and illustrated 'The Mosquito and the Teapot'. She lives with her husband and children in Hyderabad, India, where a lot of her stories are set.

Stalk her @
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Now for the Rafflecopter: Gather as many points as you want to. The more points you get, the more you have a chance to win it all. Show your love for books.. Tweet, Like and Spread the Word... Thank you for being a Reader... You keep the Authors motivated... This is our way of saying a Thank you :) 

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#TornadoGiveaway 2 - Book 83: The Ray Synchronicity by Lata Sony






Name of the Book: THE RAY SYNCHRONICITY
Author: Lata Sony

Read some reviews:

1. Silvia Villalobos
2. Madhavi Kuppachi 
3. Noshi Chadha 

The Story:

In a busy market place, Major Vohra spots a suicide bomber from his eBombVest. He whispers his suspicion to a stranger near him. The stranger takes out a gun and shoots the bomber between his eyes. To Vohra’s surprise, instead of keeling over the bomber visibly changes and confesses.

That’s the Bioray gun at work. No one knows from where the gun and the other Bioray weapons arrived and why. The military maintains a dignified silence. The politicians reveal nothing.

But it's no use trying to keep these weapons a secret. Because nothing is hidden from the powers that really matter -- the Rays and the Shadows.

At a place where metaphors turn literal, where feelings take shape and come alive, reside the Universe's oldest powers. Assisted by Time, they create a series of events to bring in a new age.

The powers believe that mortals Ketu and Arnavi are the best bet to bring in the future. If their past doesn't kill them first, that is.

You can also buy @

About The Author 


Lata Sony 

Lata Sony's mantra is to go along with life until something different comes along. Like the average software professional, she merrily went about her life in the quest to attain the ultimate rating of outstanding performance next appraisal, when along came a famous palmist who foresaw her future as a novel writer. So she participated in a contest with a publisher and won the first round for a publishing contract, when along came India's most successful self-published author Rasana Atreya. Lata got so sold on Rasana's posts and talk at an Amazon event that she abandoned the contest and the traditional marketing bandwagon to jump into the self-publishing one. Does it come as a surprise then that her debut book is titled after synchronicity?

Spiritual at heart, Lata Sony likes to convert mythological Gods and demons into extra-terrestrial beings and their blessings and curses into thought-missiles that trigger destructive or constructive actions in humans. Read her books to unravel spiritual mysteries the science-fiction way.
Stalk her @
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a Rafflecopter giveaway 

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#TornadoGiveaway 2 - Book 74: Wrong for the Right Reasons by Ritu Lalit








Name of the Book: WRONG FOR THE RIGHT REASONS
Author: Ritu Lalit

Read some reviews:

1. Rubina Ramesh 
2. Inderpreet Kaur Uppal
3. Nikita Jhanglani  

The Story:

Shyamoli Verma’s timing is wrong. In her late twenties, she finds that her marriage is irrevocably broken. She comes back to her parents with her pre-teen son and an infant daughter, only to find that she is unwelcome.

Independent and brash, she decides to bring up her children and also get a divorce without any support from friends and family.

Written with wry self deprecating humour, this is the story of a divorced woman's quest for love and security.


You can also buy @

About The Author 


Ritu Lalit 

Ritu Lalit is a corporate slave turned fiction writer. A voracious reader, she is a gold medalist post graduate in English Literature who spent most of her childhood in remote areas in the northeastern parts of India, lying on grassy hillsides daydreaming and reading books.

She loves spinning tales, but no longer has her captive audience as her children grew up and flew away from the coop. Her three dogs don’t pay much attention. She began writing in the vain hope that the characters she creates will listen to her, even do her bidding.

She has five books out in the market, A Bowlful of Butterflies, HILAWI, Chakra, Chronicles of the Witch Way and Wrong, for the Right Reasons. Her fifth novel, His Father’s Mistress is coming soon.

Stalk her @
Website | Twitter | Facebook 


Now for the Rafflecopter: Gather as many points as you want to. The more points you get, the more you have a chance to win it all. Show your love for books.. Tweet, Like and Spread the Word... Thank you for being a Reader... You keep the Authors motivated... This is our way of saying a Thank you :) 

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

#TornadoGiveaway is an initiative of The Book Club. Click on the icon to go to the event page of the Tornado .. Lots of fun awaits you :)


#TornadoGiveaway 2 - Book 73: To Catch a Killer by Lindsay Downs




Name of the Book: TO CATCH A KILLER
Author: Lindsay Downs

Read a review:

Amy E. Baggott 

The Stories:

The Masked Lady and The Murder

When Lord Robert Markson, Viscount of Hampshire, is force to return to England to find out who murdered his father and older brother he’s in for a surprise.

It comes in the guise of Lady Kristina Rosewood, daughter to the Earl and Countess of Crossington. To many she’s quartz but to him a multifaceted diamond.

While recovering from an attempt on his life which thrust them closer together they work through emotions for each other while sorting through letters sent to his mother years ago. Slowly, they’re able to discover the one man who could have set the murders in motion. The only problem, he’s been dead for years so who could it be and more importantly why now.

Once all the evidence is compiled the answer is something neither could believe as the threat comes from within the late viscount’s house.

The Guilty Countess 

Accused of murdering her husband, Lady Donna Kersey turns to the only people who can prove her innocence, her brother and his new bride.

As Robert and Kristina start their search for the real killer they learn the murder might be more complicated than first thought. Uncovering evidence sends the three in pursuit of a possible suspect only to find this person is innocent, or is he not guilty of the murder but not something else.

When Robert and Kristina learn Lord Kersey might not be exactly who they believe him to be that’s when the facts become murky. It takes a surprise visit by Kristina’s brother to help set the record straight which only adds more confusion to the facts.

Will Robert and Kristina find the killer of Lord Kersey before the authorities take Lady Kersey away in irons?

Highland Gold

When Lord Robert and Lady Kristina Markson arrive at their estate in Scotland they find that not everything is as it should be. Questions are left unanswered and a mystery unfolds.

Once they start investigating further, they realize the castle and the grounds are in shambles. Then people start to die, and Kristina fears the worse.

Her older brother, Lord Ethan Rosewood, shows up and makes unreasonable demands upon her and Lord Markson. Kristina and Ethan have never been close, and wherever Ethan is trouble seems to follow.

When missing pieces come together and the puzzle is forming, Kristina and Robert realize people aren’t as they seem and they must figure out who can be trusted.

Who is the killer? Does he walk among them, or are the clues to the mystery leading them down the wrong path?

You can also buy @

About The Author 
Lindsay Downs 

Stalk him @
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Now for the Rafflecopter: Gather as many points as you want to. The more points you get, the more you have a chance to win it all. Show your love for books.. Tweet, Like and Spread the Word... Thank you for being a Reader... You keep the Authors motivated... This is our way of saying a Thank you :) 

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

#TornadoGiveaway is an initiative of The Book Club. Click on the icon to go to the event page of the Tornado .. Lots of fun awaits you :)


Tuesday 1 September 2015

#TornadoGiveaway 2 - Book No. 66: Choices by Ruchira Khanna





Name of the Book: CHOICES: A NOVEL
Author: Ruchira Khanna

Read some reviews:

1. Rubina Ramesh 
2. Ruchi Singh 
3. Privy Trifles 

The Story:

Leonardo is a young man who is standing on a crossroad of life, facing choices. One road leads to a high stress career that brings in big bucks; the other is a chance to make a real difference in lives of others. He has a few questions, questions that all of us have faced when facing choices that can change our lives. Does fate make a man, or do his desires? Do ambitions and desires actually lead a person to true happiness and fulfillment, or does providence and life changing events actually show a person the true path to follow?

‘Choices’ raises these questions, and attempts to answer them. It is a slice-of-life, a book written from the heart.

You can also buy @

About The Author 


Ruchira Khanna

Just another soul trying to make a difference in this lifetime by juggling between my passion and responsibilities.

A Biochemist turned Writer who draws inspiration from various sources and tries to pen them down to create awareness within her and the society.

Published a novel in 2013, which peeps into every one's daily life named, "Choices"

Her children's book came out in 2014, The adventures of Alex and Angelo for which she got thumbs up from Kirkus Reviews.

One of her story got included in a published anthology, The Turning point of Life, in 2014

The Lonely Wish Giver, a novel that includes work of ~299 writers from 27 countries. We all got together to write a group novel for NaNoWriMo.

Frozen by Fire, a novel written by ~ 499 writers from 54 countries.

Another fiction novel coming up this year.

A Reiki Master in her spare time where she passes out information about channeling universal energy and conducts sessions.
Stalk her @
Website | Twitter | Facebook


Now for the Rafflecopter: Gather as many points as you want to. The more points you get, the more you have a chance to win it all. Show your love for books.. Tweet, Like and Spread the Word... Thank you for being a Reader... You keep the Authors motivated... This is our way of saying a Thank you :) 

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

#TornadoGiveaway is an initiative of The Book Club. Click on the icon to go to the event page of the Tornado .. Lots of fun awaits you :)


#TornadoGiveaway 2 - Book No. 65: His Father's Mistress by Ritu Lalit







Name of the Book: HIS FATHER'S MISTRESS
Author: Ritu Lalit


The Story:

Sumit is the heir to a huge inheritance, but has been in disgrace since his youth when he had a torrid affair with an entirely unsuitable woman. When his father dies, he inherits not only the wealth, but also the hostility of his family members and his father's enemies.

When he suffers many life threatening attempts on his life he realises that his father's death was not an accident either.

Intrigues and counter intrigues of the plot are finely interwoven with suspense and speed. Read to find out how he catches his father's killers to save his own life and empire.



You can also buy @

About The Author 


Ritu Lalit 

Ritu Lalit is a corporate slave turned fiction writer. A voracious reader, she is a gold medalist post graduate in English Literature who spent most of her childhood in remote areas in the northeastern parts of India, lying on grassy hillsides daydreaming and reading books.

She loves spinning tales, but no longer has her captive audience as her children grew up and flew away from the coop. Her three dogs don’t pay much attention. She began writing in the vain hope that the characters she creates will listen to her, even do her bidding.

She has five books out in the market, A Bowlful of Butterflies, HILAWI, Chakra, Chronicles of the Witch Way and Wrong, for the Right Reasons. Her fifth novel, His Father’s Mistress is coming soon.
Stalk her @
Website | Twitter | Facebook


Now for the Rafflecopter: Gather as many points as you want to. The more points you get, the more you have a chance to win it all. Show your love for books.. Tweet, Like and Spread the Word... Thank you for being a Reader... You keep the Authors motivated... This is our way of saying a Thank you :) 

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

#TornadoGiveaway is an initiative of The Book Club. Click on the icon to go to the event page of the Tornado .. Lots of fun awaits you :)


#TornadoGiveaway 2: Book No. 57 - Love, Again by Sumeetha Manikandan and Shrruti Patole Clarence






Name of the Book: LOVE, AGAIN
Authors: Sumeetha Manikandan & Shrruti Patole Clarence

Read some reviews:

1. Book Reviews & Promotion 
2. Shree Janani
3. Preethi Venugopala 

The Story:

Life is tough, and it becomes tougher when you need to make life changing decisions. Would you dare to love again? Would you allow yourself to be loved and to be cherished again? Many of us turn away from life, thinking that it is not for them but some take a leap of faith rewrite their story for the sake of love? Love, Again is a double header book bringing you two stories about chancing love again - These Lines of Mehendi by Sumeetha Manikandan and A Tulip in the Desert by Shrruti Patole Clarence.


You can also buy @

About The Author 


Sumeetha Manikandan 

Sumeetha Manikandan is a freelance writer and an author who loves to write and base her plots on the tambrahm community of Mylapore, Chennai. She is the author of ‘The Perfect Groom’ that has been a bestselling ebook on the top 50 charts of Amazon India ever since publication.

An avid reader, she loves to read across different genres – romance, historical fiction, non-fiction, mystery, fantasy etc. A history buff to the core,
she is currently translating Ponniyin Selvan – the evergreen tamil classic epic history by Kalki Krishnamurthy into English.

Married to film maker K.S. Manikandan, Sumeetha lives in Chennai, along with her six year old daughter.

Stalk her @
Website | Twitter | Facebook


Now for the Rafflecopter: Gather as many points as you want to. The more points you get, the more you have a chance to win it all. Show your love for books.. Tweet, Like and Spread the Word... Thank you for being a Reader... You keep the Authors motivated... This is our way of saying a Thank you :) 

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

#TornadoGiveaway is an initiative of The Book Club. Click on the icon to go to the event page of the Tornado .. Lots of fun awaits you :)


#TornadoGiveaway 2: Book no. 56 - Exodus by Varun Vithaldas Prabhu






Name of the Book: EXODUS: BOOK ONE OF THE MAHABHARATA SIMPLIFIED SERIES
Author: Varun Vithaldas Prabhu

Read a review:

  Neil D'Silva


The Story:

The Pandavas have come to Hastinapura, seeking family and love, but are instead greeted with animosity and hatred from the Kauravas, their cousins. Schemes and plots are hatched by a vile statesman, who happens to be uncle to the Kauravas, to either kill them or drive them away as part of his goal to destroy the ethics of the Kuru family.

Meanwhile, in Mathura, the Yadavas face a constant threat from Jarasandha, the one who calls himself The Emperor, as part of his desire to have revenge since his son-in-law was killed by two mystical cowherds. As the Yadava dynasty seeks to escape the tyranny of Jarasandha, the three siblings, Krishna Govinda, Balarama Vaasudeva and Subhadra must take it upon themselves to save the city from the tyrannical king.

Will the cunning uncle succeed in breaking up the rising alliance between the Pandavas and the Yadavas? Will Jarasandha be able to sack the city of Mathura? Will their schemes and wars result in an exodus of Dharma from Aryavarta?

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About The Author 


Varun Vithaldas Prabhu 

In the author's own words: I would like to introduce myself, hoping to connect with like-minded peers and cultivate relationships with them so as to advance our career. I am an author (Self-Published) who writes fantasy, horror and mythology, with a deep interest in historical period drama and science-fiction. I write both novels and screenplays. Right now, I am working on a retelling of the Mahabharata (the first book available on the Amazon Kindle Store as well as Createspace) which spans 18 books in total. I am also working on a standalone cross-genre fiction which I intend to publish soon and another epic fantasy series which has been my baby for a long while. On the screenplay front, I am currently working on 3-4 scripts, hoping to pitch at least one of them this year.

My hobbies include reading, writing, playing chess and billiards, and watching TV Shows...I am an addict, you can say. What do I not watch? He he. Anyway, I hope to make contacts with those who wish to pursue screenwriting as well as novel writing.

I am also a freelance ghostwriter and a copy-editor.
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#TornadoGiveaway 2: Book No. 48 - The Activist and The Capitalist by Vibha Batra







Name of the Book: THE ACTIVIST AND THE CAPITALIST
Author: Vibha Batra

Read some reviews:

1. Inderpreet Kaur Uppal 
2. Book and Ink 
3. Priyanka Batra Harjai 

The Story:

“I’m not drunk – just a litt-le high.”

On a magical moonlit night, Jai and Anusha meet and fall in love. When they meet again however, they discover that Jai is the crass capitalist developing Rasa Vihar, the heritage building that Anusha and her NGO are fighting to protect. Inevitably they clash, with neither willing to concede to the other. The problem is that although publicly they are enemies, in private, they are wildly attracted to each other. – but when secrets and betrayals enter the equation – things really begin to get out of control.

Will the Activist and the Capitalist ever be able to find common ground?

An exciting love story, set in Chennai from the best-selling author of Sweet Sixteen.

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About The Author 


Vibha Batra 

Vibha Batra is a copywriter by profession and fiction writer by passion. Her literary pursuits took off when she translated her grandfather Late Shri Vishnu Kant Shastri’s book on the Ishaavaasya Upanishad. Among her recent titles are Sweet Sixteen (Yeah, Right!) and Seventeen And Done (You Bet!), published by Penguin, Tongue in Cheek, a collection of poetry, and A Twist of Lime, a collection of short stories.
Stalk her @
Twitter | Facebook


Now for the Rafflecopter: Gather as many points as you want to. The more points you get, the more you have a chance to win it all. Show your love for books.. Tweet, Like and Spread the Word... Thank you for being a Reader... You keep the Authors motivated... This is our way of saying a Thank you :) 

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

#TornadoGiveaway is an initiative of The Book Club. Click on the icon to go to the event page of the Tornado .. Lots of fun awaits you :)