Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Spotlight :: 'Remember When' by Preethi Venugopala

Genre: Romance

Blurb:
On the outside, Tara leads a perfect life. A home of her own, a handsome husband, a doting son and a promising career as an author. 

But inside, she is a wreck. Her marriage is a sham and she hasn't succeeded in forgetting her one true love, Manu, the man she had wronged. The man she had almost married. 

Manu, now the senior editor with a science portal, firmly believes that he has left Tara where she belonged: in his past. But in reality, he hasn't forgotten anything. Not the love nor the hurt.

Their past and present collide when they accidentally meet in Chennai. The city has come to a standstill after facing the worst flood in a century. While nature is unleashing its fury on humans, they must make peace with their past.

Will they have the courage to do that? 
Can they fight the attraction that still burns bright?
Or will the bunch of people they are with, teach them new life lessons? 
How long can Tara hide her secret from Manu when it has the potential to tear them apart?


Excerpt:


Tara had been looking forward to the book launch since months. Yet now, when it was happening, she was in a stupor of sorts. All thanks to the man who was sitting next to her.
She was on autopilot and not fully aware of anything that was happening around her. She did what she was supposed to do. She answered the random questions that were thrown at her both by the audience and by the moderator. She also read out from her book and signed copies for those who had bought her book.
Manu had not changed much in appearance. But his attitude towards her had undergone a sea change. The lover who cherished her presence had transformed into a stranger who made her feel unwanted.
Manu’s questions during the launch had felt personal to her.
"Why do you write romance?"
"Do you believe in true love?"
Tara didn't remember her answers. She had faced the audience when she answered them. Whenever their eyes had met, Manu’s eyes asked her a thousand questions for which she had no answers. Together with guilt, regret held her heart in an icy grip.
All through the function, she prayed for a chance to ask him for forgiveness. When he left her on the stage to allow the readers to get the books signed, Tara watched him stealthily whenever she got the chance. If he had slipped away, she might have abandoned all pretence and ran after him.
Much to her relief, he didn't leave. Maybe he wanted to talk too. He kept standing, hands in his pocket staring around as if bored by whatever was happening. Next time when she looked up, he was gesturing to Aryan to go to him. Aryan pulled at her saree, asking for permission. When she nodded a yes, he ran toward Manu, clutching his angry bird plush toy.
When Tara glanced up next, Manu who was listening to Aryan's babble, burst out laughing. The sound sent a shudder of excitement through her. She had not forgotten his laugh. The deep, hearty sound always did strange things to her heart. It had been one of the first things that had endeared him to her.

                             Find the Book at Amazon

About the Author:

Preethi Venugopala is a civil engineer during the day and a writer and blogger in all her free hours. She has many short stories traditionally published on Juggernaut books but she opted to self-publish her novels on Amazon KDP.

Being a voracious reader, Preethi writes the kind of stories she loves to read.

Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Book Blitz :: 'Daffodil' by Shree

Format: Kindle Edition

  • File Size: 534 KB
    Print Length: 83 pages
    Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
    Language: English
    ASIN: B07KDDS452

  • Blurb: 
    Daffodil is a story of an ordinary girl who was compelled to lead an extraordinary life right from her childhood. Contrary to the meaning of her name, the flower which blooms in the spring, Daffodil had to brave squalls and struggle in retribution. Happiness came to her life only to obliterate it mercilessly. She witnessed darkness like nobody did but she persistently followed the light at the end of the tunnel. The tempest could not wither her roots ̶ she surfed through the ebb and flow of her life with robustness and proved her life to be worthwhile. Daffodil's story is all about how she survived beyond the season of blooming amidst deaths, crimes, corruption, prison, and vengeance.

    Ranking on amazon.in 

    Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars   2 customer reviews
    Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #79,652 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
    #15733 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction
    #34591 in Books > Literature & Fiction
    It would be great if you can add this book to your TBR


    About the Author

    Shree from Houston, TX, is an IT Pro turned author / poetess since 2015. Her works include short stories collection 'Secret Expressions: Two Stories', novella 'Silent Invaders', which has entered the quarter finals of Screencraft Cinematic Story (for Hollywood) Contest 2017, and Bengali poetry book 'Onuronon', released in International Kolkata Book Fair 2018. Her latest release is a novel titled 'Daffodil: Blooming Beyond the Season'. Shree is a contributing author of 'Flock-The Journey', 'Different Strokes', '50 Shades of Women' and 'Petals of Love'. Her upcoming anthology is 'Muffled Moans - Unleashed', where she has contributed two of her poems. She is a regular writer on several writing platforms, portals and magazines. She also works as a freelance writer / editor.

    Click here to check out all the titles by the author...


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    Monday, January 21, 2019

    Book Blitz :: 'Draupadi – The Tale of an Empress' by Saiswaroopa Iyer


    Blurb :
    Being born a princess, and raised by a loving father and three doting brothers would make life seem like a bed of roses to any woman. Born out of the sacred fire, Draupadi is no ordinary woman, and her destiny cannot be to walk the beaten path. Witnessing estrangement and betrayal within her own family makes her perceptive and intuitive beyond her years. Complicated marital relationships, a meteoric rise and a fateful loss, humiliation unheard of and a pledge of revenge, all culminating in a bloody war—her ordeal seemed never-ending. Yet she stands up to it all—never succumbing, never breaking. One of the most unforgettable characters of the Mahabharata, Draupadi shows what a woman is capable of. Told with great sensitivity and passion, this book brings alive a character of epic proportions that resonates with every reader across space and time.

    Excerpt :
    An awestruck silence overtook them, each drowned in their own memory. Uttara was remembering her association with her enigmatic mother-in-law, and Janamejaya was thinking about Rishi Vaishampayana’s narration of the exploits of his ancestors and their much-celebrated queen. He saw Uttara fiddle with her silvery white plait, still long and lustrous, despite her ripe age of nearly eighty springs.

    ‘You lost a lot in the great war, Grandmother,’ he murmured, shuddering while he imagined the dance of destruction at Kurukshetra. ‘Was there ever an occasion when you felt your life would have been better had you not married into the Pandava household?’

    ‘Depends upon how one defines the word “better”, Janamejaya,’ Uttara replied, still staring into space, as if she was viewing the incidents of her past right there.

    Janamejaya moved closer, taking his place by her feet. ‘After listening to the most learned rishis of Bharatavarsha for days, I have still not been able to come to terms with my father’s death, Grandmother Uttara. How can I even dare to imagine how it must be for you who lost…’ he could not complete the sentence, partly out of the numbness his empathy generated.  and partly because he did not want to refresh her moments of bereavement. Uttara had lost her father, brothers, and a very young husband with whom she had hardly spent a year of marital life, to the war at Kurukshetra. Her unborn child, Parikshit, Janamejaya’s father, had escaped from an episode of horrific midnight slaughter.

    ‘Everyone lost someone dear to them in the war, Janamejaya,’ Uttara sighed. ‘My marrying into this household at least gave me the satisfaction of bearing an heir to this empire. In fact, I am proud that the thought of unborn Parikshit gave the much needed hope and strength to Uncle Yudhishtira to take up the reins of this devastated land. I had the good fortune of being a daughter to Mother Draupadi when she lost everyone born of her womb to that midnight slaughter.’

    Janamejaya’s eyes filled with a sense of admiration. ‘Old men and women at Hastinapura still blame Empress Draupadi and her anger for their losses in the battle.’ With a pained shrug, he added, ‘The gap of understanding that exists between the wise and the mundane.’

    ‘As the emperor, it is your dharma to dispel misunderstandings surrounding the history of this land, Janamejaya,’ Uttara’s voice was stern. ‘The whole point of reciting the records of the past is to learn from the exploits of our ancestors, take pride in their valour, strength and courage, while gaining wisdom from the stories of their tribulations. If people judge their ancestors because of false notions about history, it is only a matter of time before the population is uprooted from the values their ancestors fought for, and falls apart.’

    Janamejaya nodded. ‘That is the reason why I have impressed upon the rishis and acharyas to impart the timeless record of Bharata to students while they acquire education from their gurus. I have also appealed to the erudite disciples of Bhagavan Veda Vyasa to conduct recitation sessions in public gatherings during the festivities.’

    Uttara smiled in satisfaction at his genuine attempts. ‘Janamejaya, lazy intellect puts the blame of the Great War on one person. Those who truly understood what led to the eighteen-day-long slaughter at Kurukshetra would reflect on the events and choices of three of the four generations that led the entire empire to war. Blaming someone like Mother Draupadi is not only foolish but also a disturbing sign of misogyny that would be frowned upon by the learned rishis who recorded history and composed the timeless story. Mother Draupadi, in fact, saved the empire from many disasters with the sheer power of her desire to protect this land.’

    Janamejaya listened to her animated discourse and smiled. ‘Grandmother Uttara, I have never seen a woman defend her mother-in-law with the passion that you did just now. Pray, tell me the story again, this time through her eyes.’

    Uttara rejoiced at Janamejaya’s undying enthusiasm to listen to the tale of his ancestors repeatedly. Very few were fortunate enough to carry the legacy that he did and even fewer realized and strived to live by it as he did. She was more than delighted to narrate the tale, especially from the perspective of the woman who had captured her respect, awe and love for this life and the lives to come—from the perspective of Draupadi.


    Find the book at Amazon



    About Author:
    An Alumnus of IIT Kharagpur and an investment professional turned satisfied writer, Saiswaroopa is the best selling author of four novels, all based on legendary female protagonists from Ancient Hindu Literature. Her second novel Avishi, based on a Rig Vedic hymn, has been acquired for screen adaptation by a major studio. Saiswaroopa is passionate about Ancient Indian history, philosophy and literature. She holds a certificate in Puranas from Oxford School of Hindu Studies. As a trained Classical Singer, she has also been awarded a Gold medal by TTD (Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams). In her spare time, she likes to search for her next inspiration in books, pravachanas and historical temples. She lives in Bangalore with her husband and daughter.



    Friday, January 18, 2019

    Spotlight :: 'Deceptive Baritone' by Reshma Ranjan



    Deceptive Baritone 

    by Reshma Ranjan



    BLURB

    Sitara Menon is eager to meet the man for whom she has been carrying the torch since her teenage years. She hopes to rekindle their love and romance.

    Giriraj Parapuram, one of the lead vocalists of the Benson Town Rock Band, considered music, their band and his friends his world. The last thing he wanted was to come face to face with the woman who had made him lose his faith in women and love.

    Sitara organizes the concerts in Denver for the US tour of the Benson Town Rock Band, eager to meet Giri, mesmerized by his baritone voice, sweet memories and an unforgettable passion.

    Giri is shocked to find the girl of his dreams changed into a woman who challenges him, infuriates and brings out his baser instincts.

    Will their past force them apart yet again or will their desires bring them together? 

    Will Sitara be able to rekindle their romance?

    Will Giri be able to trust and love her again?

    Grab your copy @


    About the author


    Here is a passionate romantic who loves literature and has created many happy ending in her imagination, for every movie or book with a sad conclusion.

    She soon began to create her own characters and situations, creating plenty of romances and happy endings to satisfy her imagination. "But for my laziness and diffidence," says Reshma "I would have penned umpteen stories of unexpected pairs meeting and falling in love, overcoming troubles and hurdles to unite for a lifetime."

    A voracious reader, Reader, Reshma is a poet as well and feels that she would be blessed as a writer if she could bring a happy content sigh on the reader's lips.

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    Book Blitz :: 'Nine' by Sweta Samota


    Nine 
    by Sweta Samota 



    Format: Kindle Edition
    File Size: 2151 KB
    Print Length: 361 pages
    ASIN: B07KWDLLZG

    Ranking on amazon.in 

    Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars   5 customer reviews
    Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #19,781 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
    #54 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Children & Young Adults > Family, Personal & Social Issues
    #153 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Indian Writing
    #292 in Books > Children's & Young Adult > Family, Personal & Social Issues


    Nine is a fast-paced nail-biting story of a compulsive decoder Ila Sharma who is chased by the evil and the good to uncover a thousand years old powerful Indian mystery that can alter the world. 

    Ila Sharma 
    A beautiful teenager, stubborn compulsive decoder, National puzzle champ, is a magnet for troubles due to her gifted skills.

    Undercover agent 
    An agent with a Bond-like talent, attitude, and skill is given the task to protect Ila Sharma from the lurking unknown danger.

    Mystery 
    Everyone is chasing to solve this eye-popping mystery to own the secret it protects.

    Read how Ila and the agent steer from one problem to another unknown danger, fighting to not fall in love and finish the fate-altering mission.

    Nine is one such journey that will have you biting your nails or gasping for breath but one that you cannot abandon till all the pieces of the jigsaw fall in place.
    Read this absolute page-turner story!

    It would be great if you can add this book to your TBR






    Sweta Samota (Ex Senior Engineer, B.E. Computers and PGDMM) is an Indian novelist who writes romance, mystery and thriller. She also conducts creative writing workshops. She is a Writer, Authorpreneur, Thinker, Speaker, Runner and a ChangeMaker. Won The Story Award by SheThePeople.Tv in Flash Fiction. 

    Click here to check out all the titles by the author...







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    Sunday, January 13, 2019

    Blog Tour & Giveaway :: Guardian Angel


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    The Man
    Security expert Nikhil Mahajan is in mortal danger. Gravely injured and unable to see, he is in the midst of hostile strangers in an unknown place. Any hope of survival is fast fading away. 

    The Angel
    Should an innocent man be left to die just because he had been in the wrong place at the wrong time? Someone has to intervene.


    Book Links:

    Read Short Excerpts:

    #1
    He walked across the few yards of the forest toward his freedom, leaving behind his guardian angel. He walked across the road to the army cantonment fence leaving behind a piece of his soul. His chest, it seemed, would explode but for the heavy weight pressing on his lungs.


    #2
    Taking the support of the wall, head bent down, he stood under the shower with the water running down his face, and wept. The adrenaline rush of keeping himself alive receded as he emptied the fears, worries, and helplessness of the past month down the drain with the bathwater. The thought of being able to see his parents soon made him more emotional. He sniffed and sniveled, and resolved to take back control of his life. And most of all, he resolved to do something about those monsters back in the Tral forest.

    Reviews for Guardian Angel:

    I couldn't have begun the New Year with a better read! Thrilling, fast-paced, edgy...Ruchi Singh is on top of her game with this unputdownable book! ~ Adite

    The build up to the culmination is fantastic - the suspense carries through to the end. The romance simmers and sparkles. ~ Reet Singh 

    Guardian Angel is a brilliant thriller set in Kashmir in which both the principal characters are in deep trouble. This sets the tone for a nail-biting story. There is no let up in the suspense and the book kept me hooked till the last page. I liked the ending immensely! ~ Jennifer Thompson



    Giveaway:
    ~ 1 winner for 500/- Amazon Gift Card + kindle copy of Guardian Angel
    ~ 1 winner for 250/- Amazon Gift Card + kindle copy of Guardian Angel



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    Friday, January 11, 2019

    Book Blitz :: 'Shweta Ka Swayamvar' by Sundari Venkatraman




    Print Length: 55 pages
    Publisher: Flaming Sun (Indie published) 
    Publication Date: October 26, 2018
    Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
    Language: English
    Available on Kindle Unlimited 
    Genre: Romance, Short Story

    When Shweta receives an irrefutable offer from a TV production house to participate in the reality show Shweta ka Swayamvar, she’s not as excited as she should be. And there’s a reason for it.

    Adi is attracted to Shweta the moment he sets eyes on the fashion model cum TV actress. But he just doesn’t get an opportunity to woo her as he rushes off to the US for his father’s heart surgery. 

    Disappointed at not meeting Adi or knowing of a way to contact him, Shweta signs up for the show, unaware of the surprise that awaits her when the shooting begins…

    Are the two of them—Adi and Shweta—meant for each other or will fate keep throwing hurdles in their path? Read the full story to know more.

    *A shorter version of this story was published before in the anthology Matches Made in Heaven
      

    It would be great if you can add this book to your TBR






    Sundari Venkatraman is an indie author who has 40 titles (36 books & 4 collections) to her name, all Top 100 Bestsellers on Amazon India, Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Amazon Canada and Amazon Australia in both romance as well as Asian Drama categories. Her latest hot romances have all been on #1 Bestseller slot in Amazon India for over a month.

    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! And Sundari Venkatraman has never looked back.

    Click here to check out all the titles by the author...



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    Sunday, January 6, 2019

    Spotlight :: 'Publishing Your Book on Amazon KDP' (The Writer's Toolkit Series 4)



    Publishing Your Book on Amazon KDP (The Writer's Toolkit Series 4)

    by Sundari Venkatraman



    BLURB

    So, you have your manuscript all written, edited, proofed and saved on your PC. The next logical step would be to publish your story.

    Read this tool kit to find out the different methods of publishing, the advantages and the pitfalls. 

    And IF, after all that, you find that you still have your book unpublished, there’s a surefire way to get your book published. And that’s Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing.

    Want to know how to go about it? Read this booklet to find out all that you need to know.

    Grab your copy @


    About the author


    Sundari Venkatraman is an indie author who has 31 titles (27 books & 4 collections) to her name, all Top 100 Bestsellers on Amazon India, Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Amazon Canada and Amazon Australia in both romance as well as Asian Drama categories. Her latest hot romances have all been on #1 Bestseller slot in Amazon India for over a month.

    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! And Sundari Venkatraman has never looked back.

    Click here to check out all the titles by the author...



    You can stalk her @
          
            


    This Tour is Hosted by 




    We Promote So That You Can Write