28 February 2023

Bad Girl Gone Wicked (Bad Girl #3) by Shilpa Suraj - #Contemporary #Romance @shilpaauthor @bookreviewtours



Everyone knew that when she stepped up to the crease, she always came out swinging…

Tara Wadhwa, Captain of the Indian Women’s Cricket team, was living the dream. She got to play the sport she loved and to live close to her friends, the family of her heart. But when her friends start to fall in love, a sliver of loneliness works its way into her heart pushing her to make a reckless mistake.
Nikhil Upadhyay, owner of a pristine reputation and the nation’s best fixer, is called in to save the day. Fix Tara’s reputation and babysit her till she brings home the World Cup. A dream assignment for a man who otherwise spent way too much time cleaning up far messier situations. Until he met his newest client and the dream turned into a nightmare…
Can Tara work past her childhood grooming to see that there could be a life beyond the game? Can Nikhil see the value of the girl behind the polished façade he was working on presenting to the world? And will the two of them ever stop fighting long enough to allow their simmering attraction a chance to come out and play?

For when the Bad Girl met the Good Boy, she realised, that just this once, she wanted to let her inner ‘wicked’ out to play. And we all know what happens when Tara Wadhwa steps up to the crease…

Book Links:
Goodreads | Amazon.in | Amazon.com


Reads an Excerpt from Bad Girl Gone Wicked


She slunk out, her face set in mutinous lines, accepting the plate with her omelette from me. I served myself, deliberately keeping conversation non-existent until a few morsels of egg hit her stomach.
I’d just sat down across from her when I saw her wince and massage her temples. A killer hangover, I was sure. Reaching for my laptop bag, I pulled out a strip of over-the-counter painkillers and slipped it to her.
She stared at it like I’d handled her a rattlesnake but took it without comment, swallowing a tablet without water. The pain must be truly intense.
I picked up my own plate, thinking maybe now would be a good time to discuss my game plan. “So-”
“You’re going to die of a heart attack,” she announced.
My fork froze halfway to my mouth. “Is that a wish or a prophecy or…?”
“You can’t eat like that.” She pointed her own fork at my plate.
I glanced down at my fried eggs sunny side up with their sides of mashed potatoes and bacon. I was a relatively calm and amiable sort, but this woman seemed to have only one setting; irritating.
“You’re going to die,” she announced again, finally managing to get on even my last nerve. “Don’t eat that.”
I should stay calm, I thought, reminding myself of the fat pay packet the hot mess sitting across from me was going to earn me.
“Don’t eat that,” she repeated loudly.
To hell with it. I picked up a sliver of bacon and popped it in my mouth, holding her irate gaze. Either I’d die of a heart attack, or she’d kill me with a stroke from high blood pressure. So be it.
At least I’d go with bacon in my mouth. I made it a point to chew extra hard and extra loudly when it came to the crunchy bits. 



About the Author:
A published author with Harlequin India – Mills & Boon India Collection and Juggernaut, Shilpa Suraj’s books have hit both the Hot New Releases and Bestseller lists on Amazon. Her next novel, tentatively titled ‘Wrong,’ has been contracted by Rupa Publications and will release later this year. She is also part of the Flipped Anthology by Harper Collins and had an audiobook book Insta Reddy release with Storytel.

She is, amongst other things, currently working on ‘Frazzled and Fabulous,’ a humorous, true-to-life parenting story that is part memoir and part nonfiction.

An avid reader with a passion for creative writing and storytelling saw her participating in writing competitions at school and dabbling in copy writing for an ad agency as a teenager. Twenty years in the corporate space, including a stint in Corporate Communications for Google, India, and a spell at entrepreneurship all hold her in good stead for her multiple current roles of author, mother and Head of Human Resources & Public Relations at an architecture and interior design firm.

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22 February 2023

#BookReview A Complete Biography of Elon Musk by Abhishek Kumar

 

About The Book

Between space rockets, electric cars, solar batteries, research into killer robots, and the billions he's made along the way, Musk is basically a real-life Tony Stark - which is why he served as an inspiration for “Iron Man.”

But it wasn’t easy for Musk, his personal life comes with a lot of ups and downs initially, from being extraordinarily bright at school to getting bullied at school, and abused by his father.

Still, he never gave up and attended the University of Pennsylvania, and thrived hard in life to achieve success.

My Thoughts

Well, I am not at all an autobiography reader, especially when it comes to these billionaires.

Anyhow, here I am reviewing this book. The best thing about the book is its fast and no-nonsense approach. It offers the inside of a brilliant mind as well as his determination to make a difference.

The book covers the work life of Mr. Elon Mask, not his personal life, and not even the ethical part of the work.

Overall, this is a good book, with a lot of details about Mr. Mask’s life.

Book Links

Amazon India | Amazon USA

About the Author

Abhishek Kumar, graduated in Computer Science & Engineering from the Biju Patnaik University of Technology.

Following the completion of his formal education, he sought to mark himself in business, especially in the software industry. He is one of the founding members of the JTJ Group of Companies, held various designations, and served varying responsibilities. Under his guidance and supervision, the company has risen to a phenomenal height.

Author on the Web

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21 February 2023

#BookReview The American Outsider by Homa Pourasgari

About The Book

Tessa Walker is a veterinarian with a strong, emotional connection to animals. As a teen, she witnessed the brutal slaughter of dolphins, and as an adult, she decides to do something about it. She leaves her home in Los Angeles and travels to Japan to speak out for them, but little does she know that she is embarking on an adventure that will change her life forever. From the urban metropolis of Tokyo to historic Kyoto to the culinary city of Osaka, and the seaside town of Taiji, Tessa is determined to help Japanese activists stand up for her beloved mammals.

Along the way, the friendships and bonds that she builds with people in Japan, and the unconditional love of a stranger named Toshiro, open her eyes to a complicated society of conventions and traditions. Yet, her limited knowledge of the language and customs doesn't deter her from taking on a dangerous mission that could land her in jail.

My Thoughts

The majority of the books I read are thrillers or crime-suspense dramas. I've grown tired of any kind of love story over the years, and I'm not in the mood to save the world (it's beyond saving). And the length of the book was also off-putting. However, on a gloomy afternoon, with a runny nose and a cup of ginger tea, I started reading The American Outsider by Homa Pourasgari.

I loved Tessa’s journey through the Land of the Rising Sun. She appears to be similar to many of us, with a tough outer shell to protect the inner soft core. The book is primarily focused on her, and the author did a great deal of work to portray her as real as possible. She seems like someone I could know in real life.

There is also a sweet love story in the book, and that is a refreshing break from the main plot; however, it never distracted me from the focus of the book.

The language is easy to grasp and can be read even by readers whose first language is not English.

Overall, it’s a great read.

Book Links

Amazon India | Amazon USA

About the Author

Born in Tehran, Iran, Homa Pourasgari spent hours in her father's home office, writing, reading, and letting her imagination carry her to unseen worlds. She moved to the United States at a young age. After graduating from Loyola Marymount University with a degree in business, she left for Paris to study literature at the Sorbonne. Her first book, Lemon Curd, was nominated Forward Magazine's Book of the Year Award finalist. Her second book, The Dawn of Saudi, won Reader Views Reviewers Choice Award. She lives in Los Angeles, California. When she is not writing, she is stumbling, miming, and pointing to find her way in a foreign country. 

Author on the Web

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17 February 2023

#Bookreview Nanda Devi by Sandeep Madadi


About The Book

There are mountains, particularly in some ranges of the Indian Himalayas, that have grown taller in our minds. Many of them are made taller, tougher, and almost legendary by an intricate veil of mythology and mystery around them. Add a rich legacy of heroic explorations, epic ascents, tragic accidents, and a generous dash of romanticism to that and you have Nanda Devi. For reasons known yet unexplained -plutonium or pollution, political or practical - since 1983, Nanda Devi and its sanctum sanctorum remain out of bounds. 

This is a narrative of mountain travel and exploration set in the backdrop of the Nanda Devi Sanctuary that offers a vigorous description of men as much as the mountains. The intertwined narrative of this book attempts to take you on a voyage into the forbidden Inner sanctuary, back to those good old days, reflecting on the prior explorations, mythology, wildlife, and the native hill tribe culture.

My Thoughts

I am probably the most non-sporty person you will ever know. I am lazy. Trekking and hiking are definitely not my kind of activities. Hence, I usually don’t read books about such experiences.

A few days ago, I had a terrible day and decided to go out for coffee with Nanda Devi in my hand. For the next few hours, all I had was a flat white and a picture painted with words.

What a book it is. So informative, yet not at all boring. How author Sandeep Madadi penned his experience of the Nanda Devi expedition simply gave me goosebumps.

I have never been to the Himalayas. After reading this book, I am tempted to venture into the Himalayas - trekking or no trekking!

Such an amazing and unique read for me, and a refreshing break from my thrillers.

Book Links

Amazon India

About the Author

Sandeep Madadi is a wannabe but a never-been mountaineer because he was never good enough to be one. Like a bad workman who always blames his tools, he attributes it to his terrible sense of direction. At best, he would have become a hill walker which he did, eventually. 

But that’s not bad at all for someone who was always the last to be picked for his school’s soccer team where he lived up to the reputation as he went on to score his only goal for the other team. History and the Himalayas are his two obsessive interests. When not working on his desk job, he is daydreaming about his next remote trek in the Himalayas. Climbing may not be his forte, but writing certainly is.

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15 February 2023

#BookReview Princess Stories by Igloo Books Ltd

About The Book

Join in with Princess Harriet as she tries to get rid of her hiccups, meet Princess Lily and her new pet dragon and have fun with Princess Beatrice as she puts on a homemade ballet show.

Make story time extra special with this wonderful collection of princess stories, written especially for children aged five and under. With adorable characters and beautiful illustrations, these gentle and funny stories will make you smile time and time again.

My Thoughts

I brought this book for my 4-year-old daughter. Like any other 4-year-olds, she loves princesses.

Both I and my husband took turns reading this book to her and she loved it.

This is a nicely illustrated children's book.

This is a collection of seven beautiful short stories about little Princesses and their adventures.

I appreciate how they are doing ordinary things like dancing, baking, and wanting a pet.

Very good book for kids.

Book Links

Amazon India | Amazon USA


08 February 2023

#BookReview The Perfect Wife by Blake Pierce

About The Book

Criminal profiler in training (and newlywed) Jessie Hunt, 29, discovers that dark secrets lurk in her new suburban town; when a body turns up dead, she finds herself caught in the crosshairs of her newfound friends, her husband’s secrets, her serial killer caseload—and the secrets of her own dark past.

As her world starts to unravel, Jessie begins to question everything around her—including her own sanity. Has she truly uncovered a disturbing conspiracy buried within a sunny, wealthy Southern California beach town? Does the mass murderer she's studying really somehow know the origin of her private nightmares?

My Thoughts

As a suspense book lover, this book was OK for me.

Personally, I didn’t much like the character Jessica. Though the author tried her best to describe her, I couldn’t relate to her. At times the book is too similar to Hannibal Lecter and Silence of the Lambs.

The plot began slowly but quickly picks up speed with much tension and suspense, culminating in a shocking conclusion.

Book Links

Amazon India | Amazon USA

About the Author

Blake Pierce is the author of the bestselling RILEY PAGE mystery series, which includes seven books (and counting). Blake Pierce is also the author of the MACKENZIE WHITE mystery series, comprising four books (and counting); of the AVERY BLACK mystery series, comprising four books (and counting); and the new KERI LOCKE mystery series.

Author on the Web

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01 February 2023

#BookReview The Last Amen: (Detective Kate Murphy Mystery) by C.C. Jameson

About The Book

When a young woman is found dead on her bed, dressed in an old-fashioned nightgown with her hands clasped in a prayer position, Detective Kate Murphy is called to investigate her murder.

Before Kate and her colleagues can find the killer, another woman is found dead in the same position. Other than being Catholic, having blonde hair, and living in Boston, the women have very little in common.

But one thing is clear: the serial killer has some twisted religious beliefs.

What is his motive? Who is he? And, most importantly, can Kate stop the murderer before he strikes again?

My Thoughts

I have read multiple serial killer books and watched a number of TV series and Movies. Hence this book is nothing new to me.

The idea of a damaged religious person embarking on a cleansing quest to save souls from themselves is cliche. However, the treatment of the book is good.

The characters are well-developed and the ending is interesting.

This book is more for new readers than seasoned readers.

Book Links

Amazon India | Amazon USA

About the Author

C.C. Jameson is a Canadian author, ex-military officer, and citizen of the world. After leading a nomadic lifestyle for years, she had to stop her wanderlust ways due to the pandemic. She now lives somewhere along the west coast of Canada. Spending time on or near the ocean, learning new languages, and writing fiction are some of C.C.'s favorite activities.

Author on the Web

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