Book Review : Lifeline by Chetan Maheshwari

 

Book: Lifeline

Author: Chetan Maheshwari

Genre: Romance

Format: Paperback

Pages: 178

Price: 225 INR

A story that will inspire you to reach your highest potential!

“Lifeline” by Chetan Maheshwari tells the story of three working professionals –Teesha, Akhil, and Rati.

In the first half of the book, the author takes time to develop these three characters so that readers can feel invested in their journeys. Akhil and Teesha were childhood school friends who met after many years. Akhil is a consultant, whereas Teesha is a marketing professional. While Akhil had to take responsibility at a young age, Teesha is battling the scars of her previous relationship. They find love and comfort in each other.

Akhil’s sister, Rati is a single mother and freelance web developer. Ostracized by society for having a child out of wedlock, her life is challenging. What makes Rati a fascinating character is her determination to change the tides of her life. When she finds the doors have closed in front of her, she decides to launch a mobile application. This brilliant idea of Rati not only changes her life but also the lives of Akhil and Teesha.

The book deals with various themes such as office politics, startups, love, and family. I am amazed at how the author has successfully managed to deal with all the themes in a 178-pages book. The story is extremely fast-paced and can be read in a single sitting. The short length of the chapters works very well for the book.

The idea of the startup in the book is quite interesting. The second half of the book deals with the startup. I liked the planning and execution of the idea. Readers planning to start something of their own will definitely get motivated by it.

I liked how Rati’s challenging life inspired Teesha to create something that will ease the pain of everyone who has been dealing with some challenges or mishaps in life. Women supporting women always bring a smile to my face. Therefore, I cherished the equation that Teesha and Rati shared.

Another thing I loved about the book is how it ended. The mention of the pandemic in relation to the startup gave a realistic touch to the story. I wish the book was better edited as I found a couple of grammatical and punctuation errors. 

Overall, "Lifeline" is a motivating book that will inspire you to reach your highest potential. 

Grab your copy here!

Book Review: Five Petals by Chinmayee Gayatree Sahu

Book: Five Petals
Author: Chinmayee Gayatree Sahu
Genre: Fiction | Short Stories
Format: PDF
Pages: 31

Five Stories of Five different flavors for a perfect monsoon read!

'Five Petals' by Chinmayee Gayatree Sahu is a collection of 5 short stories that will intrigue and entertain you till the last page. I loved the unique name and the vibrant cover of the book. 

The book begins with "Life: A Roller coaster ride" that at first, seems to be a college romance but turns out to be a story that says a lot about the unpredictable nature of life. The story illustrates what true love and friendship is. 

The next story "Quarantined with Family" is relevant and interesting. It talks about how we often take our family for granted while chasing our goals and ambitions. 

The third story "Dream or Nightmare" is a perfect read for thriller and mystery lovers. I loved the way the author has sketched the story with enough twists and turns to keep the reader on his/her toes. The revelation left me speechless. 

The fourth story, "Neetu and Aja" is a sweet and touching story of a granddaughter and grandfather. This story will make you nostalgic about your grandparents. The letter at the end of the story was very moving.

The author concludes the book with a romantic story of a resilient couple in their mid fifties "Beyond Borders" that will warm your hearts and make you believe in the power of true love. 

I enjoyed savoring all the five petals on a beautiful monsoon evening with a cup of tea. The strength of the author lies in her skillful characterization and gripping narration. In every story, there was at least one character that stayed with me after I finished reading the book. All the five stories are very different from each other and that shows the author's versatility. 

I would highly recommend the book to readers who love reading romance, drama and thrillers. You can easily finish the book in one sitting. So grab a cup of tea or coffee and savor the five petals (stories) this monsoon. 

You can download your free copy of the book here: https://www.theblogchatter.com/download/five-petals-by-chinmayee-gayatree-sahu/

(Free for a very limited time)

Book Review: Where Rainbow Meets the Sky by Vidhi Duggal

Book: Where Rainbow meets the Sky
Author: Vidhi Duggal
Genre: Romance Novella | Fiction
Format: PDF
Pages: 62

Sweet and refreshing like the morning dew on rose petals

"Where Rainbow meets the Sky" is a sweet romance novella by Vidhi Duggal. It tells the story of Rahul, Mehek, and a dreamcatcher. The author has used the dreamcatcher not as a mere object, but as one of the protagonists of the story. The dreamcatcher in the cover and the title of the book are significant. It's only after reading the story we understand why the author has chosen the title "Where Rainbow meets the sky".

Rahul, a rich and handsome guy from Delhi goes on a vacation to Manali with his friends. He works as a model. He meets Mehek in Manali who has a huge crush on him after noticing his poster outside a shop. The crush metamorphoses into love during their vacation in Manali.

Mehek is pursuing journalism and lives in Bombay. She gives her address and phone number to Rahul before leaving Manali. Rahul gifts a blue dreamcatcher to Mehek and buys a similar dreamcatcher for him. 

Once they leave Manali, they are out of touch. Despite trying his level best, Rahul is unable to reach Mehek on her number and her address. Feeling betrayed, Rahul goes into a self-destruction mode until his friends help him regain sanity. It is only after 20 years that Rahul meets Mehek accidentally.

Both Rahul and Mehek are single. 

Both of them have the dreamcatcher. 

Will they reunite? 

Why did Mehek betray Rahul? 

What is Mehek's side of the story?

How important is a closure?

Why some people cannot be forgotten, even after 20 years?

To know these answers, you have to read this short and sweet novella. 

I loved the character sketch of both Rahul and Mehek. I loved the way the author has treated the dreamcatcher as the main character of the story. The last chapter was very beautifully written that answers all the questions and leaves the reader satisfied.  

Although it is a romance novella, it has a very unconventional and philosophical ending that makes you think. I liked the freshness of the story and the profound dialogues in the last chapter. 

"Where Rainbow meets the Sky" is a sweet and refreshing story like the morning dew on rose petals. 

If you are looking for a delightful quick read, download your free copy right away at:

https://www.theblogchatter.com/download/where-rainbow-meets-the-sky-by-vidhi-duggal/

Book Review: Syra's Secret

Book: Syra's Secret

Author: Revathi Raj Iyer

Publisher: Become Shakespeare

Genre: Short Stories

Pages: 193

Price: 249 INR

Thrilling and thought-provoking!

Syra's Secret is a collection of 14 diverse short stories. Some of them are thrilling, whereas some others are philosophical and thought-provoking. Reading the subtitle of the book "Expect the unexpected", I envisioned each story to be a thriller. However, that is not the case with Syra's Secret as there are many stories that do not thrill you, but rather take you on a contemplation mode. 

Detailed analysis

The book starts with "Girl from Siliguri" which is the best story of the collection in my opinion. Right from the first line, the story grips you and keeps you wonder about the mystery. Nothing is as it seems. It is only in the last two paragraphs that you can connect the dots. 

The second story, "Syra's Secret" is another well-crafted story on the theme of online dating. Just like the earlier story, the author uses the first paragraph to grab the reader's interest. I completely enjoyed reading Syra's Secret as it depicts the bitter reality of internet dating, along with thrilling readers. 

The third story, "Charmi" is written in a clever way. You need to keep on reading in order to peel the layers and understand the plot. Centered on the protagonist Charmi, it is a compelling story about courage and justice.

The next two stories "Messenger" and "Mango Tree" do not try to thrill. In an endearing tone, they try to make the reader think about the choices of life. 

"Anonymous Caller" is another story that kept me on my toes. Viren gets calls from a mysterious woman claiming to be his wife. No one can track the mysterious caller. I enjoyed guessing who the caller can be along with the protagonist. 

The story "Village Hotel" will compel readers to think about karma and destiny. Beautifully written, it is another of my favorites from the collection. "Turmoil" is another thriller that perplexes the readers until one reaches the climax. 

Final Words 

I enjoyed the stories that were thrilling more than the ones that were contemplative. I loved the author's style of writing where she hooks you to the story from the very first line. As you turn the pages, you are given one piece of the puzzle. It was a delight reading the stories filled with suspense and mystery I am going with 4 stars. Recommended to everyone who loves reading short stories with a punch of thrill. 

Grab a copy of the book now!

Book Review: The Diary on the Fifth Floor

Book: The Diary on the Fifth Floor

Author: Raisha Lalwani

Publisher: Rupa Publications
Genre: Fiction| Philosophy

Price: 295 INR

Pages: 167

Blurb:

A woman leaves her infant at home but finds her on a busy street in an unexpected turn of events.
Another woman wakes up in a flight hours later, befuddled, in the strangest circumstance.
A fascinating tale of a twenty-five-year-old woman that takes hold of us from the moment she enters the fifth floor of a hospital; more precisely, the psychiatric ward. Visibly terrified, she clutches at her clothbound diary, caught in the horns of a terrible dilemma—whether or not to hand over the diary to the doctor. She fears that she will be declared insane if her tangled web of thoughts unspooling in dark mysterious stories is read by the dissecting eye of a doctor.
What does this diary contain? As the novel progresses, we are drawn into characters and stories that are toe-curling, strange and haunting in their raw intensity. What is the story of this woman? What secrets lie in the pages of her diary? And most importantly, what happens on the fifth floor?

A philosophical book that anyone can relate to

"The Diary on the Fifth Floor" is a philosophical book that deals with questions that all of us have contemplated about, at some point in our own lives. 

There is a beautiful quote in the prologue of the book that captures the essence of the novel:

The choices we make define the kind 

Of people we then become.

The main question here is:

Do we like who we have become?

The book starts with the protagonist, Savannah Khanna paying a visit to a renowned psychiatrist of her city, Rama Berry because she feels she is extremely depressed. The reason for her depression is the insensitivity, cruelty, and selfishness that exists in the world. She cannot come to terms with why people are so cruel and insensitive. 

She writes on her diary about the things that she witnesses every day. She thinks that people need to know that their words hurt and their actions have consequences. Savannah gives her diary to her doctor so that the latter can help her. As Rama Berry reads Savannah's diary entries, we understand the mind and the heart of the protagonist. 

The diary entries are a collection of short stories of unfortunate incidents. Some of them have happened to the protagonist, whereas others have happened to people close to her.  All the stories have one thing in common. They show the shallow and superficial mindset of people. External appearance matter more than anything else and updating Facebook status is more important than grieving the death of a family member. Trust is a misused word and selfishness has no limits. 

The way Rama Berry helps Savannah trace the silver lining behind the dark clouds is very touching. I liked the bonding of the doctor and the patient. All of us can learn something fruitful from the sessions. However, the ending of the book made me unhappy as I was really rooting for the protagonist. 

However, the unconventional plot and the brave writing made it a very special book that I read this year. If you have ever wondered what's wrong with the world and why people are so selfish, you must read this book. You will relate to it a lot and at the same time, learn how to cope with it. 

Highly recommended. I am going with 4 stars. 

The book review is in association with Vinfluencers. Check out the video review on my YouTube Channel.

Book Review: Sniper's Eye

Book: Sniper's Eye

Author: Mainak Dhar

Publisher: 4 Hour Books

Genre: Fiction | Thriller

Pages: 224

Price: 299 INR

Blurb

I was out on a date. Everything was perfect… Till that shot… a high-calibre one, no apparent sound. And, the man in front of me fell. A rifle with a suppressor? A sniper in the middle of a Mumbai mall? As the body count mounted, I was soon sucked deeper into the chaos unleashed by that shot. To survive and save those whom I care about, I have to become the man I left behind. I have no choice but to tap into a bloody past that has put me on the terror kill list. I may also have no option but to join hands with the sniper terrorising Mumbai. The problem is that the man has sworn to kill me. In a world where the young and poor kill and die in conflicts started by the old and rich, I and my unlikely companion finally discover the thin line that separates a mere killer from a hero. This is our story…

A fast-paced thriller that you can read on a lazy weekend

Sniper's Eye by Mainak Dhar is a fast-paced thriller set in Mumbai. The action thriller throws light on various important issues that you normally don't think about. The life of soldiers in the arms who are exploited by powerful people is shown through the messed up life of Aaditya. The reasons why some people are compelled to become terrorists despite having other plans is shown through the life of the sniper, Aman Karzai. 

The story begins with the protagonist of the book, Aaditya who is on a date with his girlfriend Zoya in a mall in Mumbai. A man falls dead in front of his eyes, killed by a sniper. This incident compels Aaditya to go back to his old life from which he was hiding for years. Now, he has to face his demons and deal with it. 

I loved the scenes between Aaditya and Zoya. Despite knowing Aaditya's past, the way Zoya supports him is very heart touching. The love story of Aaditya and Zoya was a whiff of fragrance in the midst of the serious action-driven plot. The book picks up momentum after 100 pages when it becomes unputdownable. Readers cannot wait to find out who is the mastermind behind the devious plot and the revelation will definitely shock readers. 

Things are not as they seem. The plotline of the book is intelligent and gripping. It establishes the fact that you cannot judge the book by its cover. The epilogue of the book left me a tad emotional. I liked the way the author evoked sympathy for Aman. 

The book is sprinkled with twists and turns. The language is lucid and the narration is fast-paced. On the flip-side, there were some typos in the book. I also felt there were some loose ends. If you love reading thrillers, you should give it a read. I am going with 4 stars. 

The book review is in association with Vinfluencers. Check out the video review on my YouTube Channel.

Book Review: Letters to my Ex

Book: Letters to my Ex

Author: Nikita Singh

Publisher: HarperCollins India

Genre: Fiction| Romance

Pages: 138

Price: 199 INR

Blurb:

'It feels like I'm on autopilot; I have no control over anything. The pain of losing you is so crippling that I can barely hold pieces of myself together. The slightest nudge could break me. But somehow, my possessed brain knows what I need. It's telling me to stick to my choice, to stay away from you, to open a Word document and bleed on paper, try to throw up all my jumbled thoughts in form of words, collect all disconnected facts, try to make sense of it all.' From the bestselling author of Like a Love Song and Every Time It Rains, a story of heartbreak and things left unsaid...

Letters full of unadulterated emotions, that seemed repetitive at times 

Letters to my Ex by Nikita Singh is an epistolary novel. We get to know the entire story through a collection of letters and online chats. The protagonist of the book, Nidhi starts writing these letters after she called off her engagement with her long-time boyfriend, Abhay. The exact reason why she called off the engagement and broke up with her boyfriend is revealed gradually through the letters. There is a letter or online chat in every month, starting from January to December. 

Although it is difficult to understand and like Nidhi in the initial chapters, we gradually understand her point of view and why she behaves a certain way. Abhay is a more likable character, but Nidhi has many layers to her personality. This is the reason the character of Nidhi fascinated me more than Abhay, who seemed to be a one-tone character. 

The letters are full of unadulterated emotions and at times, they seem repetitive. The author has tried to show the circular thought pattern of Nidhi through the letters. I liked the way the novel begins by generating a suspense around why Nidhi broke her engagement, despite being in love with Abhay.  In the middle, the novel loses the pace and I found myself trying really hard to stay glued to the book. Again in the last thirty pages, it picked up the pace and surprised me with the ending. I really liked how the author chose to end the book. 

There are a few quotes in the book that I really liked:

"You were my anchor in the little storms I seem to face constantly in my life. You grounded me when I was all over the place...I wish you were here."

"The laughter we shared was a good distraction from the pain I was feeling in the pit of my stomach."

"We are worth fighting for. When we come to that, I will always choose fight. But if I choose fight, you cannot choose flight. You cannot run away."

However, I felt "Letters to my Ex" could have been so much better. The novel couldn't totally engross me into the lives of Nidhi and Abhay. Although I tried hard to feel for the characters, I wasn't able to do so. It dealt with a very important question: Can you trust the same person again who broke your trust?

Letters are a great way to express emotions, but I felt a certain restraint here. Instead of the letters being repetitive, I wish they had a lot more depth. Having read Nikita Singh's earlier books, I feel sorry to say that this book couldn't meet my expectations. 

But it is a good one-time read especially for people who are in relationships or have recently broken up. I am going with 3 stars.

'I received a copy from Writersmelon in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.'

Buy the book here:

Book Review: Little Maryam

Book: Little Maryam

Author: Hamid Baig

Publisher: Notion Press
Genre: Fiction | Romance

Pages: 285

Price: 160 INR


A story of unconditional love and sacrifice!

"Little Maryam" is a story of unconditional love that will surely move you, especially if you are a romantic at heart. It has all the ingredients to make your eyes moist as you think about how deep a person's love can be. The book rightly demonstrates that sacrifice is the highest form of love. 

The story starts with Saadiq Haider, a renowned gene therapist taking a flight to India. He meets journalist Anne Miller in the flight, who is deeply interested in his personal life. Although Anne's curiosity at first is fuelled by her professional goals, she soon gets deeply invested in Saadiq's story and promises him that she would not write about it. 

During the course of the flight from the US to India, Saadiq tells Anne his love story. Through Saadiq's eyes, both Anne and the readers meet Maryam and get to know their beautiful love story. Saadiq met little 9-year-old Maryam at the age of 14 and they instantly hit it off and became inseparable. After being together for years, they get separated when Saadiq gets jailed and Maryam gets married to someone else. 

After getting out of jail, Saadiq moves on in life with memories of Maryam. He becomes extremely successful, but when he gets to know about Maryam's accident, he immediately takes a flight back to India. After a span of over two decades, Saadiq and Maryam meet, but is it the last meeting or the start of a new journey? Or is it a mirage of unfulfilled dreams and hopes? What is the role of Saadiq in Maryam's life? Is he born to love her? Or is he born to protect her?

The emotions of the two characters portrayed in the book by the author make you feel their pain and happiness. I especially loved the childhood moments of Maryam and Saadiq, which are beautifully written by the author. The innocence and love of the two characters will surely warm your heart. The narration is lucid and the story also maintains a good amount of suspense throughout that makes you want to keep turning the pages. 

However, as the story neared the end, it became a tad melodramatic. Certain elements were thrown into the plot deliberately to make the tragedy look like the greatest love story ever. Certain things seem a little unbelievable and forced, but it helps in making the book a tear-jerker. There are also a few typos which can be overlooked. The book ends beautifully with an excerpt from Saadiq's biography authored by Anne Miller. 

I am going with 4 stars and would like to recommend the book to anyone who wants to read a good romantic fiction. This love story will surely warm your heart and move you. Keep the tissues handy, if you are an emotional person. 

Book Review: You Came Like Hope

Book: You Came Like Hope

Author: Jyoti Arora

Genre: Fiction| Romance

Pages: 165

Price: 235 INR (paperback) | 80 INR (Kindle)

Blurb:

Peehu:
“I heard them mourn my death. I lay in the next room. Motionless, silent, and staring at the ceiling.”

Adih:
“When it comes to a broken person, some of them are expert at blinding you. Spend an entire evening with such a person, but you may still not know how he is crushing inside.”

Uday:
“Who would say no to him? He is smart, intelligent, super handsome, rich, suave and sophisticated. He’s perfect!”

Pooja:
“Pooja gave no explanation. She asked no forgiveness. She just arrived in his home, resenting him for being her husband.”

Arunav:
“He had smiled as if nothing was wrong.
He had behaved as if he still had his dreams and hopes.
He had pretended as if it didn’t hurt.
But it did.”

Does Destiny hold the key to our happiness?
Is it always the feeble that is the victim?
Love can be the embrace of heaven. But what happens when it unleashes hellfire?

Lose yourself in the intense narrative of You Came Like Hope as it unleashes a rollercoaster of emotions, uncovers some bitter truths, challenges widespread prejudices, and forces you to reconsider your beliefs.

A beautiful springtime read~ It will make you feel the beauty of spring after the cold winter

"You came like hope" starts on a very interesting note where Peehu, one of the protagonists of the book is shocked to see her parents mourn her death. From the very first chapter, the author grabbed my interest in the book. 

This book is not a regular love story. It tells the story of two beautiful yet flawed characters: Peehu and Adih. Both of them have been treated unfairly by the society and have been compelled to take refuge in lies, isolation, blaming and self-loathing. They are the embodiment of "hope" in each other's lives...the hope that was not present in their lives before they met each other. 

Author, Jyoti Arora addresses some very important issues in the book that makes it a very beautiful read. Through Adih's story, the author has shown how some women take advantage of being a woman and can spoil an innocent family. The author has shown the hypocrisy and gossiping nature of relatives. Instead of being a support system, relatives can further break a person by spreading gossip and rumors. The author has also thrown light on how some parents end up being partial with their own children, causing inferiority complex in the child that doesn't get enough encouragement. 

There is one more beautiful character in this book: Mani, Adih's niece. She is a patient of Thalassemia. Despite being sick, her zest for life and love for her uncle is heart touching. The way she realizes the unsaid words of her uncle's heart and the way Adih has devoted his entire life to taking care of her will definitely melt the heart of readers. 

The book is also rich in beautiful quotes. Here are some lines from the book that I loved the most:

"We should be careful what we wish for. Because sometimes, a wish fulfilled becomes worse than a curse."

"It is not easy to battle the greatest need of our heart, the need to love and be loved."

"Maybe, he was scared of love. Because with love comes the risk of losing it. With love, comes the risk of getting burnt with it. When love burns, it consumes even the soul."

"Sometimes, a responsibility can be the only glue that keeps a person from falling apart."

"When a decision is made only by mind, it is seldom obeyed by the heart."

The writing is lucid. The author managed to keep the reader on his/her toes in the first half of the book. Although things get predictable in the second half of the book, I did not mind because of the way the author has narrated the story. I am going with 4 stars and would like to recommend the book to anyone who wants to read a beautiful romance. A great read in this spring season!

Book Spotlight: Letters to my Ex by Nikita Singh

Nikita Singh is back with her latest book "Letters to My Ex" scheduled to release on the Valentine's Day. During Valentine's week, we feel romantic and derive a lot of pleasure reading romantic novels. Valentine's Day is the ideal time to rekindle lost love, memories, and incomplete stories. This Valentine's day, Nikita Singh brings a book that is not just about love and romance, but deals with what comes after and in between. Published by Harper Collings, this book seems to be a very promising read.

The book talks about real relationships, how they evolve and sometimes, dissolve due to ego, misunderstandings and other reasons. A romantic read with a difference, this epistolary novel will surely make you think about love and relationships.

When asked about the plot of the book, the author says, "This book is an exchange of letters between two people who have hurt each other, and are trying to recover from the heartbreak and fix their lives. It tends to get intense, and very emotional at times, which I enjoyed writing. As the girl who writes long texts and emails, I'm very excited to see how people will react to it."

If you find the plot of the book relevant and exciting, get yourself a copy of the book. As the book seems to be a roller coaster emotional ride, I am sure a lot of people will enjoy reading it.

About the book

Most love stories have their share of misunderstandings, angry tears and hurdles- only for longing and faith to save the day and make for a happily ever after. 

Most love stories - but not all. Not the ones that end with hearts left broken, their shards lost under the weight of all that is left unsaid. In these powerful yet quiet letters of looking for closure, Nikita Singh explores the what-ifs, whys and what-could-have-beens; words demanding, with grace and dignity and passion, a salve for what only time may heal. 

From the bestselling author of Like a Love Song and Every Time It Rains, here's a story of heartbreak and things left unsaid, articulated through letters, channeling in their nostalgic charm, making for a fitting medium for expression in this novel which is distinct in form and marks the author as a master of her craft. 

Blurb

'It feels like I'm on autopilot; I have no control over anything. The pain of losing you is so crippling that I can barely hold pieces of myself together. The slightest nudge could break me. But somehow, my possessed brain knows what I need. It's telling me to stick to my choice, to stay away from you, to open a Word document and bleed on paper, try to throw up all my jumbled thoughts in form of words, collect all disconnected facts, try to make sense of it all.' From the bestselling author of Like a Love Song and Every Time It Rains, a story of heartbreak and things left unsaid...

Book Review: Love Sutra: Secret to Happily Ever After

Book: Love Sutra: Secret to Happily Ever After

Author: Urvashi Pahwa

Genre: Fiction | Short stories

Format: Kindle Edition

Pages: 170

Price: 65 INR

A unique book on modern day relationships!

Love Sutra: Secret to Happily Ever After by Urvashi Pahwa is a collection of 5 short stories on relationships. What makes the book stand out from other short story collections is that the author has given solutions for problems that frequently occur in relationships.

In a unique manner, the author has diagnosed the cause of the problem and prescribed some easy solutions in reference to each story. The solutions are simple and effective. The problems that the author has talked about in the five stories are common problems in a relationship such as boredom, depression, diminishing self-worth, oppressed opinions, excessive suspicion, excessive display of love and affection, loneliness, etc. 

All the 5 stories are well narrated. These are very real stories that anyone can relate to. The first story, "Cassanova's Lover" is about a girl who unknowingly falls in love with a Cassanova and gets heartbroken and later gets repeatedly blackmailed. The second story "The Rich Wife" is about a married couple where the wife feels lonely because the husband is a workaholic. The third story "Love Birds" is about a young couple who battles with insecurity and the need for personal space. The fourth story "Miss Belligerent" is a story that shows the importance of a supportive life partner. Love is not enough for a marriage to work; it also requires understanding, respect, trust, and support. The last story "Mr. Always Right" is about a dominating husband who never cares to listen to what his wife wants. 

Love Sutra: Secret to Happily Ever After is a quick and light read. It can be seen as a self-help book for people who are in relationships. However, the book doesn't sound preachy or didactic. I believe that young couples can learn a few things by reading this book. I am going with 4 stars. 

Book Review: You Never Know

Book: You Never Know

Author: Akash Verma
Publisher: Penguin Metro Reads
Genre: Fiction|Romantic Thriller
Pages: 216
Price: 175 INR

Blurb:

There will be times when you feel you have the best relationship, ever 
There will be times when it will be the worst that has happened to you 
There will be times when you know you are getting into something terrible; something that will not stop till it destroys you 
And yet . . . 
You will be pulled into it so inextricably, unstoppably . . . 

Dhruv knew Anuradha was his true love. So, despite being married with kids, he still went ahead with their affair. He hid it from his wife and his colleagues. He told lies so he could be with her-it was that amazing! But he couldn't save himself from the dark secret she was keeping. It pulled him into a vortex of danger so deep that he lost all he had. It happened to him and if you think it can't happen to you-think again.

A romantic thriller where all the characters are shades of grey!

"You Never Know" is a romantic thriller that also delves on human psychology with subtlety. The book starts with a very interesting Japanese proverb that says:

"You have three faces

The first face, you show to the world

The second face, you show to your close friends, your family

The third face, you don't show to anyone

It's the truest reflection of who you are."

This quote sums up the book. The main characters, Dhruv and Anuradha are neither completely white nor completely black. Both of them have shades of grey and that's what makes the story worth reading. Dhruv, despite being a married man with two kids cannot help falling in love with Anuradha. He lives a dual life, keeping one separate from another. Anuradha, whose boyfriend Sid had committed suicide a few days before their engagement cannot help falling in love with Dhruv despite knowing he is married. Although at first she doesn't care about his marriage, jealousy and insecurity soon get the better of her.

Both the characters are skilled at keeping secrets and living dual lives. Dhruv conceals his steamy affair with Aruradha from his wife, Shalini for as long as he can. Anuradha conceals the truth of Sid's identity and death from everyone. She tells a fraction of the story to Dhruv when her past threatens to destroy Dhruv's family. However, it's only at the end that we finally get to know the truth about Sid's death. 

The characters of Dhruv and Anuradha are interesting. The author has done a good job in sketching these two characters. They will keep the readers invested in the book, but the mystery is not jaw-dropping. People who read a lot of thrillers might guess it midway. The cover of the book is so brilliant that I expected the mystery to be something very dark and shocking. The final revelation was startling, but not something that will linger long after the book ends. Most of the scenes in the book are set in the office and therefore, are quite mundane, apart from the conversations between Dhruv and Anuradha.

The writing is lucid. The first person narration of the three characters: Dhruv, Anuradha, and Sid make it a very engrossing read. Readers will be tempted to turn the pages to know what Anuradha is hiding. Recommended to thriller buffs. I am going with 3 stars.

   

'I received a copy from Writersmelon in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.'

Book Review: A Window To Her Dreams

Book: A Window To Her Dreams

Author: Harshali Singh

Publisher: Readomania

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 320

Price: 299 INR

Blurb:

Aruna, a young divorcee, marries Bhuvan, an averagely successful young man. Both make promises of ever after with preconceived expectations—hers, freedom from a judgmental society and validation of herself and his, unconditional love and partnership.

Despite their best intentions, life plays rogue.

On the one hand, Aruna’s learned conditioning, developed as a result of her past, keeps coming in the way of their married normalcy and on the other, Bhuvan cannot fathom the signs of her distress.

Their good intentions are tried at every step until the day when Aruna’s past revisits her. Bhuvan’s silences, Aruna’s distrust and the resurrection of her troublesome past lead to a downward spiral in their life that shakes Aruna to the core.

As she stands on the precipice of a second failed marriage, Aruna tries one last time to take control of her life, something she had willingly surrendered last time.
Does she succeed in saving her marriage? Or is she held back by her own apprehensions, choosing to stay victim? 

A poignant story that will make you introspect about your own choices

"A Window To Her Dreams" is the story of a young divorcee, Aruna who decides to marry Bhuvan for her own selfish reasons. Although she is not ready for a marriage after a failed marriage that had bruised her physically, emotionally and psychologically, she decides to marry Bhuvan because the tag of a divorced woman chokes her and she wants a respite from the prying eyes of society by marrying a man who will love and respect her. 

But if the foundation of a marriage is weak, can it sustain long? 

Can a broken person dare to love again? 

Can a relationship that starts with dishonesty, flower with the passage of time? 

Is it easy to forget the past and move on? 

Is it possible to trust again, after your trust has been shattered in the most ruthless manner?

These are the questions that the author, Harshali Singh has dealt with, in the book with deftness. I really liked the way the author has sketched a few scenes where Aruna's dilemma is palpable. She understands the depth of Bhuvan's love, but a certain voice in her stops her from accepting his love and being transparent with him. But as the saying goes, love and only love can heal the most broken soul. 

However, there are many characters in the book. And the author has added a subplot for almost each of the characters which distracted me from Aruna and Bhuvan's story. Although I liked some of the characters like Aruna's mother, Uma and her sister, Charu, some of the characters and their stories weakened my interest in the book, at times. I loved the prologue where the haveli narrates the story of the people living in it, but in some chapters, the haveli's narration seemed unnecessary. 

The book is beautifully written, with a good vocabulary. Some of the lines are so well written that it was a treat reading them. 

"There has to be a special name to this pain...the pang that squeezes a mother's heart at the sight of her despondent child. Is there ever an end to it or do mothers die with this ache? Is it universal or is it only mothers who are cursed to feel this deep agony" (Chapter 1)

It is not a fast paced book as I mentioned that there are so many characters and their stories in it. The cover does complete justice to the book. I will recommend it to the ones who enjoy reading women's fiction. Aruna's story and choices will definitely make you introspect about your own choices. 

I am going with 3.5

'I received a copy from Writersmelon in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.'

Book Review: The Wise Man Said

Book : The Wise Man Said

Author: Priya Kumar

Publisher: Books That Inspire

Genre: Fiction | Spirituality

Pages: 180

Price: 299 INR

Blurb:

Sammy is an 80 year old billionaire, who finds himself at the peak of his success built on a mountain of sacrifices. He decides to participate in a life he missed to live. Eleven months in a year he leaves behind his identity and money and allows his curiosity and his willingness to experience anything—death even, to take him on life changing adventures and experiences across the world. Loaded with wisdom, surprise, humor and an eagerness to embrace life, The Wise Man Said is a collection of twelve such adventures of Sammy, where his journey becomes his greatest achievement—a life well lived.

A book that can change your life!

I have read Priya Kumar's "Calling" which is a beautiful book on spirituality and about understanding the calling of your heart. Therefore, when I was approached to review "The Wise Man Said", I was extremely happy. I had high expectations from the book and I am glad to announce that the book was beyond my expectations. 

After reading "The Wise Man Said", I will say that Priya Kumar reminds me of Paulo Coelho. Her wise words can change something very deep within you. The best thing about her writing is that she derives the extraordinary things from the simplest of circumstances and narrates it in such a lucid way that it touches the right chords. 

"The Wise Man Said" starts with Naina, an established writer who is on a writer's block. She had been delaying the submission of her manuscript for six months. When her editor gives her a deadline of 24 hours to submit the story, she feels overwhelmed as she doesn't have a story to tell. She is lost in her life and feels clueless about penning a new story.

She goes for a walk and meets an eighty-year-old man, Sammy. His white robe and red Nike shoes make him look endearing. Naina gets bewitched by the old man's wisdom as they start chatting. She starts finding her own self as she talks to Sammy. Naina dozes off on the meadow after some time and when she opens her eyes, the old man is nowhere to be seen. However, he leaves his brown leather book on which the word "Wanderer" is engraved. 

We read the wise man, Sammy's book along with Naina. There are 12 chapters in the book which are basically Sammy's experiences as he travels the world. But, what was truly remarkable in those 12 chapters were Sammy's perception about the experience in hindsight. Each chapter has a section called "What I missed seeing then" after each experience where I read some of the best words of wisdom.

The book taught me to use the power of hindsight. When you are going through a bad or challenging experience, you might wish for the experience to end and never remember it. 

But, what if, you thought about that experience later and can see something beautiful that can be learned from it? If you write about your experiences, your hindsight can bring a karmical liberating conclusion to even the most difficult days. 

All the chapters in the book are thought-provoking and taught me something about life. My favorite chapters are "I am skipping now", "Come find me", "The lost purpose", "The Man God" and "The future that wasn't."

There are so many brilliant quotes in the book that it's hard to choose the best among them. Here are some quotes from the book:

1. "All answers are within, O' Dear One. You can travel the world twice over, you will not find the answers outside, you carry them with you, everywhere you go."

2. What we take for granted no longer serves us-our lives included.

3. Your soulmate is not necessarily your lover. Soulmates always find each other. You will know when you do.

4. Purpose leaves clues. The fact that you are alive is a clue to your purpose. 

5. Leave notes of faith for people. Leave notes of hope for people. It will make your own suffering worth it if someone else can be saved from it."

I can definitely go back to "The Wise Man Said" again and again. If you are looking for a book that can change your life in a positive way, you must pick this one. 

I am going with 5 stars. 

I got a review copy from the author for an honest review. The opinions are my own.