Beyond Secrets

Book Review No. 16 -

Book Name - Beyond Secrets
Author - Alka Dimri Saklani
Publisher - Blue Rose Publishers
Pages - 220

The Story Unfolds :

Main Characters -
1) Noel
2) Nidhi
3) Appu

Blurb:
Noel is a counselor who risks his career for volunteering in an orphanage. Nidhi is an engineering student on the surface, but deep down a broken girl in search of some unanswered questions. Appu is a sweet little orphan, unaware of the cruelties of the world. Despite being miles apart their stories interweave in Aashiyana- the orphanage. Their little journey together changes their lives in a way they never imagined.
One recurring nightmare, one expected phone call, one stolen diary, many lies and secrets, and the calling from the past are just the highlights. And when they depart, they are not the same anymore. They didn't hurt each other, it was a game of destiny. Will they ever be able to rediscover themselves and more importantly, will their paths ever cross again?
"Beyond Secrets" is a novel with layers of suspense and different nuances of relationships and one question that can't have just one answer: how long does it take for a scar to heal?

This book is a story of love, life, patience, faith, hope, sadness, feelings, emotions and truth. One thing is for sure that lie cannot sail smoothly forever, it has to come down in front of the boat name "truth". Secrets can be hidden, but when it gets revealed, it creates a tsunami of emotions and sadness. Reading this book, i can feel the pain, hurt, love between noel and nidhi.

Things i liked the most-

1) The Nature of lead characters i.e Noel and Nidhi. Noel has a very helping nature and also was a emotional person. He could not see any person sad and tries to bring smile in his/her face.
Nidhi has a very large heart. She does orphanage work, as it is her own home still after knowing nothing about the orphanage.
2) Clear and crisp writing.
3) Emotional connect with the readers.
4) How a 'diary' can become a bridge for someone to cross the hurdle.
5) Good suspense build up.
6) Plot is interesting, language is simple.

My rating for the book is 3.8/5
Book cover reveals some secret- 4/5

#gograbyourcopiesnow
Available in Amazon, Flipkart, E-books and Blue Rose Publisher.


Know Your Author-

Alka Dimri Saklani is the author of "45 days in a cancer hospital" and " A Promise that changed everything". Her debut novel "45 days in a cancer hospital" was longlisted for crossword Books Award 2015. She holds MBA Degree in HR and worked with a leading MNC before turning to a full time writer. Born and brought up in Vadodara, a city in Gujarat, her roots hail from "Dev Bhumi" Uttarakhand.

Love Inc.

Book Review No. 15-

Book Name - Love Inc.
Author - Shuchi Kapoor
Publisher - Srishti Publishers
Pages - 200

The Story Unfolds -

Main Characters - Gayatri, Aaryan, Nakul

Blurb:

Aaryan is a true cynic, trying to establish his identity, independent of his father. He has no time for love or its trappings.
She is the brightest spark in Nakul's ambitious yet pragmatic existence. She owns his heart, now and forever.
Gayatri has found the love of her life. He is what she needs - a sharp sense of humour and a heart of gold. She cant wait to spend her life with him !
But is he the one ?
In a world where love is confusing and friendship, treacherous, Gayatri has to face her own imperfections head-on. Her pre-conceived notions mock in her quest for happiness.
Love Inc is Gayatri's story as she discovers that it's easier living with a bruished heart then to risk giving it to someone who may trample all over it with his arrogance and indifference.

Gayatri and Nakul are in relationship, Gayatri works in Noida and Nakul works in Mumbai. Gayatri comes over to mumbai in search of new job so that they could get more time to spend together.
Meanwhile, Nakul had to shift to singapore for some business purpose, which gets gayatri pissed.
 Gayatri gets attracted to her boss Aryan kapoor (AK). Some intimate moments gets exchanged between them. but ? what's next ? Read the whole book to unfold the further plot.

What I liked -

1) Plot is interesting.
2) Characters are well written, I could visualize all 3 characters.
3) Narration is good. Crisp writing.
4) The Dillema of Gayatri choosing between Nakul and Aryan is beautifully penned.
5) Good twists and turns.
6) Good Bollywood style masala.

As a Debutant author, Shuchi has done a commendable effort.

My Rating for the book is 3.5/5
Book cover is good as real life models are used- 4/5
Plot - 3.5/5
Characterization - 3.5/5

#gograbyourcopiesnow

Available in Amazon. Flipkart, Srishti Publishers.

Know your Author -

Shuchi is a dreamer who has been spinning epilogues for her favourite books since childhood. Married to her own version of a superhero, she transcended from an ardent reader to a fervent writer unexpectedly.
She journeyed through a B.COM(H) from SRCC, Delhi and Post Graduation from XLRI, Jamshedpur, before settling into Mumbai's fast-paced and unpretentious vibe. Her life has been shaped by the presence of resilient, effervescent women in it. She is a cricket aficionado and loves to explore different cultures.

Reach her out at-

Facebook- Shuchi-kapoor
Instagram - @shuchikapoor

A Glance At The Unknown

Book review No. 14 -

Book Name - A Glance At The Unknown : Sometimes answers to life come from unusual sources
Author - Sangeeta Shankaran Sumesh
Publication - Notion Press
Pages - 169
Genre - Spiritual Fiction

The Story Unfolds :

Main Characters - Sid, Shiva, Shilpa

Blurb:

A Glance at the Unknown is an intriguing suspense thriller involving murder, rape, extra-marital affairs, treachery and tragedy. Each short story eventually converges into main story.
Sid needs to find answers to his father's untimely and unfortunate death. He goes in search of the infamous goons, veerargals, to avenge his father's death.
Soon he realizes that he's not the only one marching toward the unknown and seeking answers to the mystery of life. Now, in a group of five, sid and his acquaintances-turned-friends, want to unearth the enigma in their life.
They want revenge, do they find it? will they be spared? what was the invisible truth? Were they able to unravel it? Read this captivating story to discover more.

Do you all believe in karma? Ever heard Karma haunts you or Karma is a bitch?
This book is a Perfect example of all karma believers -  ' What you sow, so you reap in this birth and your next birth". Karma has been defined as a boomerang, the farther you throw, the faster it will come back to you. Well I am a big Karma believer.

The book starts with the life's of Shilpa, Shiva, Sid and Sid's Father. Initial chapters was like trailer of a film. There are 4 different stories going on, but slowly and eventually each story converges into the main story. As its a suspense thriller, so revealing much would work as a spoiler.
As it is very well said by the author that 'Why do certain things in life happens the way they happen?
At times, there is no obvious answer. And sometimes it is baseless, meaningless and defies logic."

What I Liked : 

1) It is a nicely written story. I could not keep the book down and finished it in one sitting. (Perks of being a CA CS Student)
2) The book has everything from life lessons of karma to knowledge, spiritualism, relationship and many more.
3) Crisp and clear writings.
4) Ability to narrate the story with twists and turns and keeping the suspense element alive.
5) Initial chapters have some violence but gradually it picks up the pace.
6) I could even visualize some scenes, its like a film's screenplay narration.
7) A Message giving book, which can turn your tables back to realize what you do today will have its effect on you tomorrow.

Just wanted to say Beware, Be aware of your thoughts, words and actions as they contribute to shaping your life.

My Ratings -
Book- 4/5
Cover - 4/5
Characterization - 4/5
Storyline and Plot - 4/5

Being a debut novel, its a commendable effort and i m looking forward for her next book.

#gograbyourcopiesnow

Available in Amazon, Flipkart, E-Book and Notion Press.

Know Your Author -

Sangeeta is a Chartered Accountant and Cost Accountant by Profession and is the Executive Director and CFO in a multinational. Sangeeta is fascinated by spirituality and is into oneness and Art of living. She is a seeker and explorer of life who is open to learning. She is also an enthusiast traveler, passionate artist and is an Olympic distance triathlete.

You can reach her on-
Facebook - Sangeeta.S.Sumesh
Instagram - SangShanSum 

The Murder of Jay Shekhar

Book Review No. 13 -

Book Name = The Murder of Jay Shekhar
Author = Shalini P Sawkar
Publisher = Srishti Publishers
Pages = 19
Main Characters = Jay, Amisha and Hitesh

The Story Unfolds:

Blurb:

Jay Shekhar is a travel buff, has an insatiable hunger for adventure and a strange quality of befriending men thirty years older than him. He lives in the suburbs of Bangalore. From encountering a surfing accident on the shores of Goa, to trekking the hills of Ramnagara, Jay is a tough nut to be cracked down.

Who is lurking in the woods of Ramnagar? will jay's habits ultimately cost him his life? is love rekindled when two old fames come face to face? Does your fate depend on the company you keep?
Find out in this murky tale of loss, love, jealousy, and murder.

What I liked :

1) In just 15 Minutes you can read the whole story.
2) Keeps you at the edge of the seat at every moment.
3) Narration and Characterization are perfect.
4) Crisp and clear writing.
5) An Abbas-Mustan Suspense Thriller, where you cannot guess the ending.
6) A gripping plot.
7) The climax is truly unpredictable.
8) One of the best short stories I have ever read and that too a murder mystery explained in the least number of words possible.

As it's a murder mystery more insights cannot be revealed, as it can work as spoilers.

#gograbyourcopiesnow

Available as E-Book in Amazon in your pocket-friendly prices.

My rating for this book is 4/5
E-book cover is average - 3.5/5

Know your Author :

Shalini P Sawkar is a fiction and fantasy writer from Bangalore, India. A Potterhead for life, she began writing at the age of 11. Her Book 'The Murder of Jay Shekhar' was recently published. She loves to travel and has visited parts of Europe including London, Paris, Switzerland, Belgium, and Italy.

Connect with her on-

facebook - shalinipsawkar
Instagram - shalinipsawkar
blog- www.shalinipsawkar.wordpress.com

My Experiments with Love

Book Review No. 12 -

Book Name - My Experiments with love
Author - Anshu Pal
Publication - Gayatri Printing Udyog
Pages - 20

The Book Unfolds :

This Book is about the life of a beautiful girl named "Angel", who has been waiting to find the love of her life.
Surprisingly she found her love and felt like on the top of the world. But as life is unpredictable she lost her love and still wish, waits, hope and pray to have him back in her life again....
This books consists of 16 heart touching poems. Author has actually described a whole life into different poems. She has expressed feelings in short poems, which will make you fall in love with the poems. Each and every words of the poem has been written in a manner that it is her own story. The words are so soathing to your ears that it temptes you to read more and more.

Following is the crux of the Poems :

Poem 1 : Where are you ? = In this poem, Angel is "Searching for her soulmate".
Poem 2 : My Fortune = In this poem, Angel is searching for the fortune, and hoping that fortune  makes her meet the love of her life.
Poem 3 : I Wish.. = Angel has defined herself that, she wishes to be every possible attire from rings  to bracelet, from jewel to clothes, from anklet to make-up and lastly but not the least "smile".
Poem 4 : Dreaming about You!! = Angel is dreaming about all the happy moments which they       enjoyed and suddenly a wind blew all the happiness away from her.
Poem 5 : The Weather = Here, Angel wants to enjoy the nice weather, she is even ready for a sip of  coffee also but she just wants to meet him desperately. May be for few minutes will also work.
Poem 6 : I Am in Love = Angel accepts she is in love. She has defined love beautifully. "Love can   be a gesture, a smile...sometimes just a simple smile can turn gold for uh".
Poem 7 : My Heart ! =  Angel has defined her heart's situation. It can dance, sing, jump, bump and  can even sink. Her heart works according to his mood.
Poem 8 : You are my world = Angel has described that even if god comes down and say to write    down all the wishes, i will only write your name in my every wish because you mean the world to me.
Poem 9 : I love You more = Angel has described her pain for loosing him and hopes that she meets    again in every birth to him.
Poem 10 : Looking Beyond = Angel says, no matter what people think, let us always be in each     other's heart and swear that we will never be apart.
Poem 11 : Love effects = Angel explains that, love is a medicine which can heal every disease, and  can make someone from better to best.
Poem 12 : You and Me = Angel has just described all the feelings, which she has for him. She wants  to spend each and every minute with him. She never wants to let him go away.
Poem 13 : I Promise = Angel is in tears by remembering the moments when they were together and  how happy they were, but now everything has changed, they are far apart, but no matter, she promises to be with him always.
Poem 14 : Power of love = Angel has described both as love birds. She says that with the power of   love she can come out of all the bad things of world and can turn into a good soul.
Poem 15 : I Need You = She has described all the phases of life with him. Past, Present and Future.   He was her strength and weakness both. She just wanted to be loved by him like he loved him yesterday, today and tommorow.
Poem 16 : Please come back = Angel remembers the day when there hands were in hand. She urges  that life always give a second chance, please come back to her life.

As an Debutant author, she promises to be the next big thing to watch out for.

My rating for the book is 4.5/5.
Book Cover is good with a beautiful bookmark 4/5.

#gograbyourcopiesnow

Available at amazon, flipkart.

Connect with the Author - Instagram Handle @authoranshupal
                                         

Anshu Pal is an Indian author passionate about writing poems. Her genre is love, relationships,nature etc. She has been writing since her childhood.
She also enjoys cooking and listening to Indian music.
She starts her journey as an author with "My Experiments with Love", which has released in November, 2017.

My Personal Views on her = She is a beautiful soul, the purest you can ever have a talk to.

The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A Fuck

Book Review No. 11 -

Book Name - The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A Fuck
Author - Mark Manson
Publisher - Harper Collins
Pages - 212

When I first picked up Mark Manson’s The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck, I was a little thrown off. After all, when’s the last time you picked up a self-help book with an F-bomb on the cover? 

But, as the subtitle of Manson’s book proclaims, this is “a counter-intuitive approach to living a good life”.And that’s exactly what Manson aims to share with his readers.

By flipping our conventional definitions of success, happiness, growth, and truth on their heads, Manson’s manifesto forces us to reexamine what’s really important in our lives. This read is a surprisingly fresh and honest perspective on discovering what we value, finding courage in the face of fear, and embracing our faults as opportunity for change.

Manson begins with an explanation of the book’s namesake: “There is a subtle art to not giving a fuck. And though the concept may sound ridiculous and I may sound like an asshole, what I’m talking about here is essentially learning how to focus and prioritize your thoughts effectively- how to pick and choose what matters to you and what does not matter to you based on finely honed personal values”.

To be clear, not giving a fuck is not the same as being indifferent. As Manson stresses throughout his book, it’s important to recognize that there are a million and one things we can care about in this world. Not giving a fuck is the refusal to spend time involved with things and people that don’t promote our best self. Not everyone has a profound loss or moment that rocks them to the core and gives them a crossroads. So, how do we filter out that which is no longer working for us and focus on what we truly care about?

How we tend to think too much on the matter we should not, and how we do not think on the matter which matters the most.

we take tension on small things, we get scared, we cry, we commit suicide etc, this book exactly tells us the situation of present-day life, how people give a fuck on small things. This book shows us the key to being stronger, happier. 

In life, we have a limited amount of fucks, so choose your fucks wisely"

This book will help you think a little more clearly about what you're choosing to find important in life and what you're choosing to find unimportant.

Ultimately, I found myself not wanting to put this book down. Manson’s witty dialogue and brutally honest truth-telling is a breath of fresh air when it comes to prioritizing what we care about in life. After all, it’s really all about “prioritizing better values, choosing better things to give a fuck about. Because when you give better fucks, you get better problems. And when you get better problems, you get a better life.”

My rating for the book is 4.5/5

Book cover is very tempting - 5/5 

#gograbyourcopiesnow

And We Walked Away

Book Review No. 10 -

Book Name - And We Walked Away
Author - Subrat Saurabh
Publisher - Notion press
Pages - 188

The Story Unfolds :

Main Characters - Abhimanyu, Naina, Dev and Aarush.

Blurb -

And we walked away revolves around the friendship of three friends in college, with a love story blooming in their hearts. It connects to the kind of boys who are in love and keep trying to convince the same girl in different ways for a believe in love but also, don't want to take advantage of a boy's feelings. The girls who are not conservative but don't want to pursue love.

Abhimanyu, a well known author returns to his engineering college in bangalore after a decade and notices a lot of changes in the college over this period. It reminds him of how he met his ladylove, Naina on the first day of college and fell in love with her at the first sight. Abhimanyu, being an impulsive, stubborn and impatient guy decides to propose her in a rush. She doesn't believe in love and has her own reasons for it. Abhimanyu with the help of his friends Aarush and Dev proposes and tries to convince Naina many times in unusual ways but he fails miserably. However, a trick helps to melt her heart, but destiny has a different plan.

Storyline and Plot-

The Story was simple, yet interesting. It is a college life romance which many of us have witnessed. It defines the saga of friendship, family and love. The storytelling binds you with the book. Scenes are well written, humour are good. A guy named "Abhimanyu" visits his college in bangalore after a decade. The story goes to flashback and story begins. He came across a girl named - Naina Grover. He fall for her, it was like love at first sight. Naina on the other hand does not believe in love and love marriages. Present and Past life have been balanced nicely. The author has also showered knowledge about life, as he has correctly depicted " Life is not lived based on philosophies, it is lived on facts, let us accept it". The Twists in the end gives a interesting read.
One should always know that "Being in love and assuming to be in love are two different things".

What I liked -

1) Drama, fun and other elements are added by the author which connects readers to the book.
2) Hindi punchlines and shayris are well written and they add as an advantage to the story.
3) The writing is crisp.
4) The author has showed jealousy factor- which can be a parameter to judge the other's love.
5) The plot is good. Characters are defined in depth.

What I did not liked :

1) The story goes with a slow pace.
2) The Story is predictable, which u can predict midway.

My Rating for the book = 3.5/5
Book cover is really attractive, it goes for 4/5
Plot = 3.5/5

#gograbyourcopiesnow

Available in Amazon, flipkart, Ebook and Notion press.com .