#TornadoGiveaway Book No. 39 - Shikhandi and Other Stories They Don't Tell You by Devdutt Pattanaik

Glad to host another Devdutt Pattanaik book on my blog! 

Go to Book No. 38 Check all the Books Here ​ Name of the Book: SHIKHANDI AND OTHER STORIES THEY DON'T TELL YOU Author: Devdutt Pattanaik Read some reviews: 1. Anupama Ma 2. Arun Diwakar 3. Sukanto The Story: Patriarchy establishes men as superior to women. Feminism views women and men as equal. Queerness questions what constitutes male and female. Queerness isn’t only modern, Western or sexual, says mythologist Devdutt Pattanaik. Take a close look at the vast written and oral traditions in Hinduism, some over two thousand years old, and you will find many overlooked tales, such as those of Shikhandi, who became a man to satisfy her wife; Mahadeva, who became a woman to deliver his devotee’s child; Chudala, who became a man to enlighten her husband; Samavan, who became the wife of his male friend; and many more . . . Playful and touching—and sometimes disturbing—these stories, when compared with their Mesopotamian, Greek, Chinese and Biblical counterparts, reveal the unique Indian way of making sense of queerness. You can also buy @ About The Author  Devdutt Pattanaik  Dr. Devdutt Pattanaik (born December 11, 1970) is an Indian physician turned leadership consultant, mythologist and author whose works focus largely on the areas of myth, mythology, and also management. He has written a number of books related to Hindu mythology, including Myth = Mithya: A Handbook of Hindu Mythology, a novel, The Pregnant King, and Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata (2010). He is the Chief Belief Officer of Future Group, one of India’s largest retailers, bringing the wisdom of Indian mythology into Indian business, especifically in human resource management. He also writes a column for the newspaper MID DAY. He has also written a novel based on a tale from the Mahabharata titled 'The Pregnant King' published by Penguin Books India. Stalk him @ Website | Twitter | Facebook Go to Book No. 40 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. 38 - You're Trending in My Dreams by Sudeep Nagarkar

Go to Book No. 37

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Name of the Book: YOU'RE TRENDING IN MY DREAMS
Author: Sudeep Nagarkar

The Story:

Four friends . . . four lives . . . one decision.

Four college students, who couldn’t be more different from each other, move into a flat in Mumbai. While Varun is sloppy but lovable, Ahana is gutsy and reckless; Malvika is the group’s selfie queen and Garima is the most reserved in the group. Yet, all four get along like a house on fire. Although each of them is battling personal demons, their commitment to the bond of friendship they have built over time holds them together. Things, however, take a turbulent turn when one of the four finds herself caught in a mess. Will they stick together or fall apart? You’re Trending in My Dreams is a true story that will reaffirm your faith in the magic of love and friendship.

You can also buy @

About The Author 

Sudeep Nagarkar 

Sudeep Nagarkar has authored five bestselling novels:

Few Things Left Unsaid 
That’s the Way We Met
It Started with a Friend Request 
Sorry, You’re Not My Type
You’re The Password to My Life 

He is the recipient of the 2013 Youth Achievers’ Award and has been featured on the Forbes India longlist of the most influential celebrities. He also writes for television and has given guest lectures in various renowned institutes and organizations.

Stalk him @

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Go to Book No. 39

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. 29: Maya's New Husband by Neil D'silva

Here's another interesting book from the #TornadoGiveaway.

Go to Book No. 28 Check all the Books Here Name of the Book: MAYA'S NEW HUSBAND Author: Neil D'Silva Read some reviews: 1. Mamatha Kamireddy 2. Alcatraz Dey 3. Shane Fernandes The Story: In the suburbs of Mumbai, the atmosphere is grim. There is an evil shadow lurking around, stalking and snatching able-bodied people. The hapless victims are never found again, all their bodily traces lost forever. In the midst of this is Maya Bhargava, a schoolteacher trying to forget a past personal tragedy. Her career looks promising though. She is learning to pick the broken pieces of her heart and move on. While still trying to cope, love comes her way. It comes from the most unexpected of quarters, from a man named Bhaskar Sadachari who is despised and even feared for his weird ways. The sensible and cautious Maya has her head in the right place, but it is her heart that refuses to obey. She chooses her new husband. And the horrors begin to unfold. The first draft of Maya's New Husband was written during NaNoWriMo 2014 and was a winner of the same. Maya's New Husband was a winner at The Literary Awards 2015 in The Entertainer category. You can also buy @ About The Author  Neil D'Silva  About the author in his own words: The writing bug bit me quite early in my life. It was when I was in my Standard VII that I wrote a book, initially on a writing pad and then on my father’s typewriter. As I bound those rough pages with a stapler, I saw a book taking shape; and as its pages unfolded I saw how a figment of my imagination had taken a concrete shape. There is rarely another joy that compares with seeing your creative thought taking a concrete shape. Some have likened this joy to what a mother experiences when she holds her firstborn for the first time. But, all I can say was that was one of my greatest pleasures, and it set me onto a path of no return. Life had other plans en route, and I found myself indulging myself with my other passion — teaching — for over two decades. I still teach, and with a similar passion as I began with, but I need to showcase my other side to the world as well. For a number of years, I dabbled with freelance writing as well. Though I won numerous accolades from my clients from all over the world, I found myself speaking someone else’s voice. At a point, the dam burst, and I could continue no longer as a freelance writer. I resolved that if I would ever write again, it would be only for myself. Having lived in this wonderful metropolis called Mumbai all my life, I have been fortunate to meet a huge variety of people, and partake of several experiences. The city is always on the move, and though that’s a cliché, it’s quite true. There’s never a silent moment when you are in Mumbai. Even in the dead of the night when I sometimes find myself writing, I sense things stirring outside. Stories are being made here at every instant, so many stories that will be lost for want of someone to give them a voice. I tried to create a blend here, a blend of my penchant for writing and my astute sense of observation of the things that go around me, and weave my yarns. Stalk him @ Website | Twitter | Facebook Go to Book No. 30 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. 30 - Unsettled by Neelima Vinod

Glad to host the spotlight of the work of a person I am acquainted with! 

Go to Book No. 29 Check all the Books Here Name of the Book : UNSETTLED: THE SEARCH FOR LOVE AND MEANING Author: Neelima Vinod Read some reviews: 1. Sundari Venkatraman 2. Inderpreet Kaur Uppal 3. Dola Basu Singh The Story: The hundred-room house is a rich tapestry of memories and hidden secrets, a dark, forbidding place rumoured to be haunted by a vengeful Yakshi. Propelled by a desire to save their marriage, Divya and Raghav journey to the haunted mansion in search of the mythical Scrolls of Love. Written five hundred years ago by the banished court poet Shankara, they are fabled to have the power to heal and reignite lost love. Is this just a legend, or are the couple heading towards a chilling destiny? You can also buy @ About The Author  Neelima Vinod  About the author in her own words: I’ve been writing poems for a long while and I’ve majored in Literature- so I know some of the greats. Poetry is the way literature began and although it has had its ups and downs( Who hasn’t? Even the economy shakes up every once in a while), it is a great medium to understand the world around you. I’ve taught English and seen poetry boredom strike young minds. No matter what people say about poems,I believe that good literature is simply an extension of the poetic mind. So I’m a heart poet and on this blog I share my journey toward understanding poetry. My first book 'Unsettled: The Search for Love and Meaning' is a literary take of the paranormal romance. Stalk her @ Website | Twitter | Facebook Go to Book No. 31 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 Book no. 21: Marijuana Diaries compiled by Paulami Duttagupta

Book no. 21 - what a relevant topic.

Go to Book No. 20 Check all the Books Here Name of the Book : MARIJUANA DIARIES Compiler : Paulami Duttagupta Edited by : Nethra A. Read some reviews: 1. Sundari Venkatraman 2. Nikita Jhanglani 3. Ruchi Singh The Story: Marijuana Diaries, an anthology on addiction and obsession, has 17 stories by new and established writers. As writers introspect and celebrate addictions of various forms, the pages of this diary fill up. You can also buy @ About The Authors   Contributors: Gulzaar, Raghuvir Shekhawat, Deepali Junjappa, Meera Bharadwaj,Priyaa Trippayar Sahasranaman, Subha N Nivedita and Dr. Tahmina Khaleel Rochelle Potkar, Paulami DuttaGupta, Reshma Ranjan, Rubina Ramesh, Nehali Lalwani, Nethra Anjanappa, Janaki Nagaraj, Aparajita Dutta, Brindaa Lakshmi and Ahana Mukherjee. About the Editor Paulami DuttaGupta  Born in Shillong, many moons ago, with schooling at Loreto Convent, and an English Honors from St. Edmunds College, Paulami Duttagupta started her career with All India Radio Shillong. She had written and also given her voice to a few shows there. Later she came down to Kolkata and got a post graduate degree in Comparative Literature from Jadavpur University. She had also taken up a fancy to learning Spanish, but today confesses that she has forgotten most of it. She has written for ‘The Times of India’ in the ‘Guwahati-Shillong plus Edition’ and also ‘The Shillong Times’. Television had always attracted her and was connected to the Bangla TV industry for about 6 years. She was associated with ETV- Bangla, Akash Bangla and Sony Aath in this period. Having left her day job in 2012, Paulami took up full time writing. Her first novel, “Pinjar” released in early 2012. Her second novel “Unplanned Destiny” released in 2014. She is also the screenplay writer of the national award winning Khasi film – “Ri Homeland of Uncertainty”. “Ri” has been adapted into a novel and is releasing in Sepember’14. She is currently working on her next project as movie script writer. Apart from writing full length novels, she has written several short stories and articles. She has also contributed to the “Minds@work Anthology” and the “Family Matters International Anthology” in 2013. Recently she has contributed to the “Learning and Creativity Anthology” , “Her Story Anthology”, and “Celebrating India – Love across Borders Anthology”. When she is not writing or watching movies, Paulami is either reading biographies or classic pieces of literature. Cricket, food, cinema, books and music are an integral part of her life. Stalk her @  Twitter | Facebook  Go to Book No. 22 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 Book No. 20: Sita's Curse by Sreemoyee Piu Kundu

Here's yet another #TornadoGiveaway book!

Go to Book No. 19 Check all the Books Here Name of the Book : SITA'S CURSE: THE LANGUAGE OF DESIRE Author: Sreemoyee Piu Kundu Read some reviews: 1. Rubina Ramesh 2. Sridevi Datta 3. Priyanka Batra Harjai The Story: Somewhere, behind closed doors, in her solitary world; somewhere, under the sheets with an indifferent lover; Somewhere, is a woman who will not be denied. Trapped for fifteen years in the stranglehold of a dead marriage and soulless household domesticity, the beautiful, full-bodied and passionate Meera Patel depends on her memories and her flights of fancy to soothe the aches that wrack her body; to quieten an unquenchable need. Until one cataclysmic day in Mumbai, when she finally breaks free... Bold, brazen and defiant, Sita's Curse looks at the hypocrisy of Indian society and tells the compelling story of a middle-class Indian housewife's urgent need for love, respect, acceptance and sexual fulfillment. You can also buy @ About The Author  Sreemoyee Piu Kundu  Sreemoyee Piu Kundu is an ex lifestyle editor and PR vice president, and now a full-time novelist based in Delhi. She is the author of Faraway Music and Sita's Curse. Stalk her @ Website | Twitter | Facebook Go to Book No. 21 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

Spotlight on Jaya by Devdutt Pattanaik: #TornadoGiveaway Book 11

I already own this book, thanks to my dear friend and fellow reading enthusiast Ashutosh. Excited about hosting Pattanaik's book on my blog!

Go to Book No. 11

Check all the Books Here

Name of the Book : JAYA: AN ILLUSTRATED RETELLING OF THE MAHABHARATA
Author: Devdutt Pattanaik

Read some reviews:

1. Tnahsin Garg
2. Abinav Agarwal
3. Dippy

The Story :

High above the sky stands Swarga, paradise, abode of the gods. Still above is Vaikuntha, heaven, abode of God.

The doorkeepers of Vaikuntha are the twins, Jaya and Yijaya, both whose names mean 'victory'. One keeps you in Swarga; the other raises you into Vaikuntha.

In Vaikuntha there is bliss forever, in Swarga there is please for only as long as you deserve. What is the difference between Jaya and Vijaya? Solve this puzzle and you will solve the mystery of the Mahabharata.

In this enthralling retelling of India's greatest epic, the Mahabharata originally known as Jaya, Devdutt Pattanaik seamlessly weaves into a single narrative plots from the Sanskirt classic as well as its many folk and regional varians, including the Pandavani of Chattisgarth, Gondhal of Maharastra, Terukkuttu of Tamil Nade and Yakshagana of Karnataka.

Richly illustrated with over 250 line drawings by the author, the 108 chapters abound with little-known details such as the names of the hundred Kauravas, the worship of Draupadi as a goddess in Tamil Nadu, the stories of Astika, Madhavi, Jaimini, Aravan and Barbareek, the Mahabharata version of the Shakuntalam and the Ramayana, and the dating of the war based on astronomical data.

With clarity and simplicity, the tales in this elegant volume reveal the eternal relevance of the Mahabharata, the complex and disturbing meditation on the human condition that has shaped Indian thought for over 3000 years.

You can also buy @

About The Author 

Devdutt Pattanaik 

Dr. Devdutt Pattanaik (born December 11, 1970) is an Indian physician turned leadership consultant, mythologist and author whose works focus largely on the areas of myth, mythology, and also management. He has written a number of books related to Hindu mythology, including Myth = Mithya: A Handbook of Hindu Mythology, a novel, The Pregnant King, and Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata (2010).

He is the Chief Belief Officer of Future Group, one of India’s largest retailers, bringing the wisdom of Indian mythology into Indian business, especifically in human resource management. He also writes a column for the newspaper MID DAY.

He has also written a novel based on a tale from the Mahabharata titled 'The Pregnant King' published by Penguin Books India.

Stalk him @

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Go to Book No. 13

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 :)

Spotlight on Soldier and Spice by Aditi Mathur Kumar - #TornadoGiveaway Book 10

An Army wife's story. Now THAT will be exciting!

Go to Book No. 10

Check all the Books Here

Name of the Book: SOLDIER & SPICE: AN ARMY WIFE'S LIFE
Author: Aditi Mathur Kumar

Read a review:

Inderpreet Kaur Uppal


The Story :

A hilarious, heart-warming and one-of-it's-kind story of a complete-civilian-turned-Army Wife. This story takes you behind the closed and guarded gates of a military station, giving you a fat-piece of the grand and mysterious life of the Indian Army Wifes.

“An Army wife is probably the only woman in the world who knows and readily accepts that she is the mistress, because, let’s face it, the Army is the wife and the wife gets all the damn attention!”

Pia is a regular, civilian girl with no connection to Army whatsoever. Then she marries Arjun, an Indian Army Officer.

For Pia, regular life is a thing of the past. She is now an Army wife. From ‘just Pia’ to an Aunty, a memsaab and – her favorite words in the whole wide world – Mrs Pia Arjun Mehra.

At twenty six, Pia finds herself having to suddenly be more ‘lady-like’; focus on themed ladies’ meets, high teas and welfare functions; and deal with long (unexpected) separations from her husband, extraordinary challenges, a little heartache, and, well, growing up.

In the mysterious and grand world of Army wives, Pia learns that walking in high heels is okay as long as you don’t trip on combat boots. She learns that ‘civil’ is also a noun, that JCO and GOC are (very!) different, that snacks are ‘shown’ and WTF is better explained as Whiskey Tango Foxtrot. Yes, it really is a new world!

Let this quirky, hilarious story of the first year of Pia’s Army-wife life show you that the spice to a soldier’s life is most definitely his better, very strong, bloody extremely elegant, never-cussing, witty, warm and passionate half, his Army wife.

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About the author 

Aditi Mathur Kumar 

Aditi was born on February 14th and since then it has all been awkward for her.

A book-hoarder, an ex-advertising girl, a once-upon-a-time blogger, a fanatical Army wife and a real-life social person, She has now decided to write more.

So far, so good.

Stalk her @

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Go to Book No. 12

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 Book 3 - Matches Made in Heaven by Sundari Venkataraman

So this year, I'm participating in this awesome books giveaway by The Book Club called The Tornado Giveaway. 'Matches Made in Heaven' by Sundari Venkataraman is the third book in the giveaway. 

Go to Book No. 2 Check all the Books Here  Name of the Book: MATCHES MADE IN HEAVEN Author: Sundari Venkatraman Read some reviews: 1. Rubina Ramesh 2. Swathi Shenoy 3. Usha Narayanan The Story: A collection of 13 romantic short stories based in India; a culture rich country steeped in tradition. Inspiration struck me from newspaper articles, TV shows and hearing people talk. The short stories are based on that fact that arranged marriages thrive right alongside love matches in India. 1. Groomnapped is Ameya-Surekha’s story as a light romantic take on the serious issue of groom kidnappings. 2. Dark skin on a woman puts off men in general or so says the society. Beauty Is But Skin Deep is Nitin-Simran’s story that proves it wrong! 3. Ritu is twenty-five and wants to wait for her Prince Charming but her parents are desperate to arrange her wedding. Does she find her prince in An Arranged Match? 4. Dating Agencies are doing their best to get young people together to tie the knot. My friend Diti runs an informal one; inspiring the Red Rose Dating Agency. 5. A guy’s complaint about his fiancée of a few years dumping him after becoming successful in her film career felt like a rant to me. Chahti Hoon Tumhe is an ode to the successful actress. 6. Soumya actually lives life like Soul Mates but how many have the guts to? This, incidentally, is the first short story that I ever wrote. 7. Does Madeinheaven.com help bring Menka & Jeetu together with technology driven Matchmaking website? 8. I originally wrote Rahat Mili for an anthology; Rahat means ‘relief’ and is a name too. Read the story with the word in mind and it will fall in place. 9. Reema’s Matchmakers brings Arjun and Prisha together at a get-together through a matchmaking network. But will they get married? 10. Nikita wants Krish for a friend and not her husband. As The Reluctant Bride she manages to have her cake and eat it too. 11. Shweta Ka Swayamvar is inspired by the practice of Swayamwar in ancient India of choosing a husband, from among a list of suitors, by a girl of marriageable age. 12. Pappa’s Girl is about daughters of Industrialists taking over fathers’ businesses. 13. Mythology romances intrigue me; Love Match For Velan is my take on Lord Murugan falling in love with his consort Valli. You can also buy @ About The Author  Sundari Venkatraman  Even as a kid, Sundari absolutely loved the ‘lived happily ever after’ syndrome as she grew up reading all the fairy tales she could lay her hands on, Phantom comics, Mandrake comics and the like. It was always about good triumphing over evil and a happy end. Soon, into her teens, Sundari switched her attention from fairy tales to Mills & Boon. While she loved reading both of these, she kept visualising what would have happened if there were similar situations happening in India; to a local hero and heroine. Her imagination took flight and she always lived in a rosy cocoon of romance over the years. Then came the writing – a true bolt out of the blue! She could never string two sentences together. While her spoken English had always been excellent – thanks to her Grandpa – she couldn’t write to save her life. All this changed suddenly one fine day in the year 2000. She had just quit her job as a school admin and didn’t know what to do with her life. She was saturated with simply reading books. That’s when she returned home one evening after her walk, took some sheets of paper and began writing. It was like watching a movie that was running in her head – all those years of visualising Indian heroes and heroines needed an outlet and had to be put into words. That’s how her first novel, The Malhotra Bride, took shape. While she felt discouraged when publishing didn’t happen, it was her husband who kept encouraging her not to give up. In the meanwhile, she landed a job as Copy Editor with Mumbai Mirror. After working there for two years, she moved to the Network 18 Group and worked with two of their websites over the next six years, as Content Editor. Despite her work schedule, she continued to write novels and then short stories and had them published in her blogs. She also blogs voraciously, writing on many different topics – travel, book reviews, film reviews, restaurant reviews, spirituality, alternative health and more. Her first eBook Double Jeopardy – a romance novella – was published by Indireads and has been very well received by readers of romance. In 2014, Sundari self-published The Malhotra Bride (2nd Edition); Meghna; The Runaway Bridegroom; Flaming Sun Collection 1: Happily Ever Afters From India (Box Set) and Matches Made In Heaven (a collection of romantic short stories). 2015 brought yet another opportunity. Readomania came forward to traditionally publish this book – The Madras Affair – a mature romance set in Madras. Stalk her @ Website | Twitter | Facebook Go to Book No. 4  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 :)