Book Review of Ability on Wheels…Enabling Drivability

Ability on Wheels… Enabling Drivability by Harish Kumar is a motivational book, not only for the disabled people but also for us. This book is really informative and a guideline for the people who are handicapped and have the desire to drive the car.

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The cover is apt as it has a car and a man who is disabled. The captions are inspiring and also the way with which the colours are used.

The title is crystal clear and gives you all the vibes of positivity. At times, the readers are curious to know more about the book.

This book is a non fiction and it is all about the thought process of Harish Kumar who happens to be diabled but did the act of ability. Through this book he has given everyone a lesson that disability doesn’t matters. It matters to those who feel it. He is the record holder and through his struggles, guidelines he has not only encouraged others but also gave us the way to ahead. While I was reading this book I was reminded of my teacher’s words,” Never let your disability come in your goals.” Harish through his success stories gave us enough information about driving tests for handicapped. After reading this, I never felt that Harish Kumar is a handicap. He can drive a car and do all the activities then how can he be a handicap? Infact he is a winner who has defeated his disability as well.

I am glad that I decided to review this book after a session that I had attended on drugs. The person who gave us lecture about it was a handicap. His name is Vivek Joshi. This man is an alumini of my college and the way he handled the audience was spectacular. I felt like mentioning about him. He has spread drug awareness in almost many schools and colleges. Harish Kumar and Vivek Joshi have been an inspirational figures for me. Hence, for the first time in my book review, I got carried away.

This book will make you inspired and it can help you guys in knowing many facts which we often are unknown to. I will strongly recommend this book to everyone as we all have that one person who is handicap, we can help them and help ourselves also, so that we don’t judge such people.

Grab your copies from : Amazon 

Interview with Vandana Shanker

Hello Lovelies,

I am back with an interview session. Today we have Vandana Shanker, who is the author of 1857 Dust of Ages.

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When did writing happened to you?

It is difficult to put down a specific moment or a time period that writing happened to me. I wrote poems and short stories in schools but being a writer was never a serious goal. It was during the time I was pursuing my research in literature, that I became familiar with this very interesting and dynamic field of fan writing and I dabbled there. From there on, it became a part of leisure activities. But 1857 Dust of Ages was the first attempt at serious writing, and it took nearly a year and half of disciplined writing to complete the book. So serious writing is fairly recent.

 
What made you choose Historical topic?

As I was pursuing my research at IIT Delhi, a friend of mine was writing a thesis on 1857 novels. She had lots of British novelists in her list and not a single India. It was the first time we became aware this gap. Not many Indian fiction writers of have explored the 1857. As we read, I became more fascinated and wanted to write a story from an Indian perspective, especially an Indian warrior woman’s perspectives because the first stories I heard of 1857 were of women like Lakshmi Bai, Hazrat Mahal and it is very different from the Indian woman I found in British literature.

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What type of genres you generally like and why?

Of course, the historical. A book well-grounded in history is the most fascinating read for me. Then come the spy thrillers, romances and mysteries. Some years ago, I was completely obsessed by fantasy fiction, but a PhD in the genre cured me of that.

 

How was your experience with your publishers?

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That’s a trick question, isn’t it?J. The experience has been mixed. My earlier book which was a very formulaic romance found a publisher and was published in a jiffy. It was an interesting experience. But for Dust of Ages, I did not want to get into compromising on things that traditional publishing asks of you – the length, insertion and deletion of scenes and endless waiting etc. So I decided to keep it free of such demands and self-publishing gave me that freedom. So yes, the experience with the publishers has been a mixed. But I would say we are lucky that today we have the option of going indie.

When can we expect your other works?

Second and third instalments of Dust of Ages are already out on Amazon. Last two parts release in March. Once that is done, perhaps another historical next year.

 

Book Review of Dangle

Dangle by Sutapa Basu is a typical instance of contemporary fiction. This book is roller coaster ride of events, emotions that will keep you glued till the end. I really loved the combination of stream of consciousness technique in it. This reminded me of Mrs. Dalloway by Virgina Woolf though the story is nowhere near to it.

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The cover is crystal clear and neatly done. The bluish colour adds flavour to it and this cover is the best for a photoshoot. The title is dangling as it says our life keeps on dangling. Honestly speaking, I did a lot of photo session with this book.

The title is to the point ‘Dangle’ but still we are in thoughts like what will happen next. The title reveals everything but doesn’t reveal an inch at the same time.

Stunning, svelte, smart Ipshita is a globetrotter. She treks across the world to gather bytes for the travel chats she designs and hosts for TV channels. Despite being a self assured and sophisticated entrepreneur, Ipshita is haunted by a nameless fear. Social interaction with men unleashes psychotic turmoil inside her, making her wary of male attentions. Yet, the cold and aloof Ips is inexorably drawn to the three men she meets at different points in her journey. Her arousal to the overtures of these men catches her unawares. Well-built defenses break as her dormant sexuality go into overdrive until she discovers the horrifying truth about them…and herself. Life puzzles. Secrets tumble out. Will she be able to reclaim her life or let it dangle.

The blurb seems to say alot but again it doesnt reveal the story. It just introduce us to the protagonists. Ipshita is the protagonist who seems to be around a lot of name and fame. The plot construction is superbly done. I really loved the way the author maintains a certain balance throughout the story.

I really loved the locations. I felt I was also travelling with the author through the reading process. The city of Delhi and Chicago along with the scenic locales of Manipur adds spice to the novel.

The story is fast paced and you feel you are feeling and experiencing the incidents. The story sounds really realistic and the thrill part is exceptional. I just couldn’t stop admiring the author.Furthermore, it cleverly throws light on women emancipation, insurgency in the north-east, domestic violence, sexuality and women, our changing mindset while travelling outside India, the scars from a disturbed childhood that remain within us and much more.

The charactersketches are beautifully done. Ipshita is the main figure of focus and the way her thought process, struggles are delineated is fabluous.She herself dangles in between courage and vulnerability, the past and present, her family and other relationships. We see the novel through her eyes.

The style of writing is mindblowing. The descriptions and narration is fantastic along with perfect editing skills. Kuddos to the author and the team. This book is a perfect package.

Grab your copies from :Amazon

 

 

Book Review of Bogus Read

Bogus Read by Divyamaan is a political satire. Honestly speaking, I have not read this sort of book and genre but when I read this, I wasn’t bored, infact, I ended up laughing. If you want to make yourself laugh,then this book is the best choice.

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The cover of the book is intriguing as the pictorial delineation and the remarks makes you hooked to the book. The white colour of the cover signifies a newspaper where we read all those news.

The title is even more enthralling and you are more curious to know the content inside the book.

“In a galaxy far, far away from Earth there were two countries. India and Pakistan. Both countries somehow remained in a perennial state of conflict since their independence. After badly losing thrice to India, Pakistan has now come up with the ultimate conspiracy – attack the minds of the Indian masses and capture the nation. In a partially successful attempt, it captures some portion of India. The Indian Government, led by its highly patriotic PM, Narendar Mody and His Royal Highness, Arnub Gooswamy, takes charge of the situation and comes up with a master plan of defeating Pakistan, using some of India’s most potent weapons – corruption, political-hooliganism and annoying celebrities. They are supported by five engineering students who, inspite of their otherwise mundane lives, get embroiled in the mess. They set themselves on a perilous journey only to discover how deep the whole conspiracy is and how dangerous are the brains behind it. Will they succeed in revealing the conspiracy to the Army? Will the lost territories be recaptured by India? To find out read ‘The Bogus Read’, an illogically-logical take on Indian politics, mainstream media, cinema and the television industry.”

The blurb is interesting and after reading it, I instantly fell in the love with the book. The blurb had so much information but that was just a start. The entire book is full of surprises.

Through this book, the author wanted to highlight the mind sets of so called Indians including us. These days we are more bothered about politics, politicians, actors and moreover, thos crazy tv serials that has taken away our ability to think logically. Not only this, a wierd imagination which sounds really absurd that our stars being kidnapped by Pakistan. There is an element of absurdity with loads of drama and mockery. I was impressed by the thought of the author, like how he came up with this concept? This book is a must read.

The combination and situation between Indian army and Pakistan army which seems to be linked with some students. These two are poles apart and when they are brought together, this made me realise, anything can happen in a novel and Divyamaan has proved it right. We writers have that ability where we can see those which are not possible in practical world. Kuddos to the author for being an exceptional.

The narration is simple and this simplicity kept us hooked and glued till the end. I completed this book in one go and couldn’t stop laughing. I won’t quote the sentences as every sentence is worth quoting and this might come up as a spoiler. This is the only book which you can pick up anytime and if you read and read again you will just end up lifting your mood.

Grab your copies from : Amazon

 

Book Review of Her Secret Husband

Her Secret Husband by Sundari Venkatraman is the book 3 in the series Marriages Made in India. This book again is about the well known Maheshwari Family whom we met in the book1. Sundari perfectly delineates the emotional as well as sensual element in the novella.

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The cover of the book always catch the attention of the readers when it comes to the marriage series. I have read her previous two novellas and her covers are just amazing.

The title is intriguing as the reader is really curious to know about whose the Secret Husband and what the story is about. This title gives us many ideas about the story but again the author surprise us with her own unique concept.

The Maheshwaris are back, a little secretly this time!

What do you do if you find a man who looks like chocolate, speaks like warm syrup, looks at you like you were the most precious cake ever created, and he can bake too? You marry him, even if in secret.

Ruma Malhotra falls head over heels and a little more in love with Lakshman Maheshwari, but her parents insist that she marry a rich businessman of their choice. When Ruma’s only option is to marry Lakshman in secret, she is left torn between her love for her parents and her passion for Lakshman. Is a secret marriage the solution or will it lead the way to a public disappointment?

Lakshman Maheshwari falls in love with Ruma Malhotra the first time he sets his eyes on her in Ranveer’s office. Will he agree to marry Ruma in secret even if it means betraying his parents?

Psst… Those who have read THE MALHOTRA BRIDE might be happy to reconnect with Sunita & Akshay Malhotra in this one.

*MARRIAGES MADE IN INDIA is a five-novella series that revolves around the characters you have met in The Runaway Bridegroom.

The plot is beautifully woven around Ruma Malhotra and Lakshman Maheshwari. They seem to have a breathtaking chemistry but face many problems as Ruma’s father fixes her marriage with someone she doesn’t want to marry.

Sundari seems to me a skilled artist who has amazingly crafted her characters. Ruma and Lakshman’s characters are the most loved. They are round characters. They are madly in love. The chemistry they share is phenomenal.

The best part of Sundari’s books is her writing style which is simple yet elegant. Those who want to read as a starter base can easily pick up her novellas as they are best way to know more about Indian culture and the delicate aspects she delineates though not focussing on them yet just touching it. Her writing makes her magnificent. She knows how maintain a balance when it comes to writing an intimate scene. The next best part is, her work is devoid of editing errors. This book is A major shoutout for romance lovers.

Grab your copies from : https://www.amazon.in/Secret-Husband-Marriages-Made-India-ebook/dp/B01LXLH317

Book Review of State V/S Amrit Kumar

State vs Amrit Kumar by Dr. Govind Sharma is a story of a police officer Amrit Kumar who is held responsible for a crime. He has been honest throughout the years of his service. He has been framed by the corrupt people. Will lawyer Sukumar be successful in helping Amrit Kumar win this battle that life has thrown against him?
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The cover and the title seems perfect and complimentary to each other. The title perfectly justifies the story whereas the ouer appearance of a police officer and a lawyer adds soul to it.
Blurb: 
Amrit is an honest and aggressive police officer who is driven by a desire to rid society of criminals. His virtuous campaign is impeded when he is charged with the murder of a man he tried to arrest. Harvard-educated lawyer Sukumar pleads Amrit’s bail, and learns interesting details about Amrit’s family and friends. He also contests Amrit’s friend Ajay’s case, and here an abundance of wealth works like a poison in the absence of values. 
Set in the fictional town of Rajapur, the novel tells the story of two generations from 1990 to 2016. There are situations where villains disguise themselves as innocent individuals to take advantage of the unsuspecting nature of credulous people. Advocate Sukumar frequently quotes from Hitopadesh to emphasize the importance of being careful to avoid being deceived by the wolves in sheep’s clothing. Will he be able to swing a verdict in Amrit’s favor? 
The novel also raises an important issue on the accountability of the police. Are honest police officers justified in overstepping the boundaries of the law for good reasons? 
The plot is neatly woven. The story revolves around a police officer Amrit Kumar who is held reponsible for a crime. He has been loyal throughout the year. Will Lawyer Sukumar save him?
The author has taken the risk of multiple point of views and multiple characters. If any of these fails to touch the hearts of the readers, it is a flop show for the author but luckily, both these risks have been proven right. The characters help in the plot construction. Further, The multiple views can be seen in different set of stories. It is amazing to see that all these separate stories look incompletely complete. This is because when they all get merged and meet together it sounds as if a territory is meeting the main river. It is quite relatable.
The themes of love, relationships, friendships, corruption can be noticed. It aches my heart to see how can corruption and greed  of a person can change him so much.
The style of writing of the author is languid. it has alacarity in it. The way the quotes from Hitopadesh have been quoted makes it stand out. The fictional town makes it a regional novel. Further, the multiple point of views, apt mystery and suspense makes it loveable. It you are looking for a crime related novel then grab this book surely.

Book Review of A Walk in the Rain

A Walk in the Rain by Udai Kumar Yadla is a romantic fiction blended with socialistic factors. The book is full of twist and turns which keeps you glued till the end. Plus, the name of the characters are somewhere relatable. The author depicts the simplest emotions to the darkest miseries in this novel.

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The cover of the book gives us a glimpse of a couple who are walking in the rain with hands in hands. This picture gives us a clear cut idea of a romantic fiction.

The title perfectly fits the cover of the book. A Walk in the Rain is a sort of journey of two lovers whose destiny is decided by rain. Thats what we can make out from the title but here plays the role of author who always surprises his readers.

Love is elixir that keeps you alive. Love is poison that kills you. Unreciprocated love keeps you alive but kills every day.

Heartbroken Sunny lives a reclusive life, trapped in the past, living in his memories. He has no complaints about his life but refuses to embrace the present.
Saloni is a prostitute who is desperate to earn money by any means. She does not care about exploiting others to fulfill her purpose.
Fate unites the loner and the prostitute to embark on a life changing journey of retribution and self discovery.

Lovelorn Sunny turns misogynistic after Sandy, the only girl he loved walks away from his life, unannounced. He suffers painful solitude for almost two decades with the relentless haunting of her thoughts. A distressed friend Imran, vows to change his life forever. A surprise planned for his birthday turns into a tragedy that claims the life of his dear friend, triggering a series of unbelievable events. As Imran gets killed by a stranger, Sunny’s calm life suddenly turns into a turbulent storm. With nothing left to live for, vengeance becomes his ultimate mission. His reluctant alliance with a prostitute to trace the killer sets him onto a nerve racking adventure of life and death.

Both are bound to a common goal with different motives but destiny has its own motive. A walk in the rain is an intricate tale of intense emotions, driven by hair raising twists and turns.

The plot is knitted well but it was predictable. Although the meeting, separation, drama and everything was at the right place. The characters also helped in the plot construction.

This book talks about Human Trafficking, prostituition. These two issues are a blot on the society we live in. But circumstances force people to indulge in these activities and the sufferers have to go through so much because of this.

Saloni and Sunny are the protagonists of the novel. Sunny is a bitter, misogynistic man who hates the world. Even when he needs Saloni’s help, he can’t bring himself to trust her. Life has been hard on Saloni. In spite of her desperate straits, she manages to hold on to her small shred of self-respect. It is hard for Sunny to trust on someone as he had taken so much.

The writing style is simple, lucid and condensed. The use of flashbacks and prologue has made it beautiful. The thought process is loved by the readers. Its hard to believe that its author’s debut as he has comprehended the thoughts so well. This book deserves to be converted into a movie.

Grab your copies from : http://www.amazon.in/A-Walk-Rain-Udai-Yadla/dp/9381841543

Book Review of Soulless

Soulless by MV Kasi is a stream of consciousness novel. The book deals with serious issues like child abuse, drugs, alcohol and depression. Since its a serious issue type book but the author has balanced the seriousness with wit and humour.

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The cover of the book is dark. The chess game gives us a glimpse that it has mystery and suspense in it. At times, it seems unmatchable with the title and the theme of the book.

The title is Soulless which stands for a person who doesn’t care about anyone and their emotions. The title is apt as the protagonist has heartless traits. Still, there are many reasons behind this title which are uncovered as the reading proceeds further.

The format of the book is an ebook. I wish the author could have converted into a paperback, it would have a different essence.

This novel can be categorised in many ways. It is a social novel as the social issues like child abuse, drug addiction, sex addiction, alcohol addiction are concerned. Further, we can call it a psychological novel as it is difficult to deal with Sia’s psychology who seems addicted to many things and the way she behaves. We need to know psychology a bit if we are analysing her character. This can come under young adult or dark romance category as we say many intense love making scenes. Not only this, it can be further categorised a stream if consciousness novel as we come to know about the thought process of various characters.

They say when you take revenge you lose a part of your soul.

But Sia hadn’t felt her soul in a very long time. She only knew the soul-crushing fear and helplessness. Especially during the nights, when she fought an invisible enemy that terrorized her during the nightmares.
Her days weren’t any better either. She spent most of them trying to desperately gain control of her life while battling her various fears and addictions.
She was only twenty three, but she had resigned herself to live the rest of her life that way. Fearing the unknown.

Until it all changed one day…

Now she knew. She knew that the monster from her nightmares was real. And also that her soul had been ripped apart from her.
The memories had brought in fear, rage and pain, along with a strong craving for a swift payback.
But revenge was a dish best served cold. And it required a complete absence of emotion.
So now?
Now she plotted. And she schemed. She prepared herself in every possible way to hunt and destroy her enemy.
But every mission, however well planned can go awry. Sometimes it’s because even though one can be soulless, there is always the heart. A very weak and desperate heart that was being stolen by a man.
A man who was like a bright spark of vivid colors in her otherwise dark and dreary life.
A man…who was only supposed to be collateral damage.

The plot is neatly woven and is really crisp. The story revolves around Sia, who is a mysterious girl with so many secrets in her bag. She has a big motive of revenge which we come to know at the end of the book. The story is written in her voice and at times we hate her and at times we feel sympathetic towards her.

The characters are beautifully delineated. Sia’s character seeks a lot of attention as she is mysterious, bit cranky, rude and soft at the same time. She wants to avenge someone, for which she plans and plots. During this course she comes across a man who changes her life. She is a tormented soul and when things began to heal slowly, her past knocks at the door. The story ends in such a way that it makes a way for the next part. I feel Sia’s portrayal have been the toughest task for the author as she had to create a heartless character who was soft at some point.

The style of writing is simple, lucid and creative. The thirs person narrative along with vivid descriptions makes it poignant. The way the point of views is used, its mind blowing. The author surely confuse our minds at various points. It further has an episolar as well stream of consciousness technique in it. This book can be converted into a movie and I am sure, it will be a hit. There were minor errors in the editing as I could find some missing words, yet the subject matter cannot be ignored. The author has done a tremendous job in highlighting the serious issues which are often ignored.

Grab your copies from : https://www.amazon.in/Soulless-MV-Kasi-ebook/dp/B01MFDEERI?ie=UTF8&keywords=Soulless&qid=1485778233&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1

 

Book Review of The Icelandic Voyage

The Icelandic Voyage Where Fire and Ice Meet by Dr.Amit Gupta is a travelogue. Honestly speaking, I have never read any travelogue so at times I have a notion that travelogues are boring and exaggerated but when I picked up this book,all my notions came to a halt. This book gave birth to a new perspective in me.

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Cover- The cover is breathtaking and you will instantly fall for it. The color scheme is kept in mind about the place the author wants to talk about it, ie, Iceland. The hardcover looks dazzling and to add more, this is my first ever hard covered book.

Title- The main title The Icelandic Voyage purely makes sense while the sub title gives us a glimpse of a unexpectable thing, where fire meets ice. As it denotes the ice and volcanic eruptions.

Travel books strive on cliches. And mostly it is a single man on a ‘journey of self-discovery’, phew. Well, not this one. The author along with his family decides to take a trip to the outlandish Iceland. It was a huge task first of allto convince his family to side-line a trip to the sandy beaches of Italy or France and linger upon the idea of a country which has active volcanoes. After a delayed nod, they set on a road trip to discover the most unusual tourist destinations in the world. So, what sets Iceland apart, the black beaches, or a crashed plane turned into a tourist spot, or the city where the population of people can be counted on your fingers? Or the non-existence of mosquitoes & McDonalds. They don’t coincide but you cannot find one in Iceland. Read their journey about how the author faces his family’s indolent behaviour and how he deals with it throughout the whole trip. And also, take a glimpse of a rendition of ‘Gerua‘, Gupta family style.

The person who wrote this travelogue is a Doctor who is not a writer but a traveller who conveyed his journey beautifully. The way with which he described about the incidents, places and even the safety rules makes it amazing. The traveller surprised us as he took his family to Iceland. It is difficult to handle kids at such a place but the traveller managed it. I loved the witty dialogues in between. The scene where the family refuses to get up and at the safety rules, he remarks, “This place is really safe, if you leave your wife in the  car, you will find her there.” This made me laugh out loud.

The descriptions were fantabulous and the use of pictorial form is the main highlight of the book. The pages flow fantasmagorically like a river. The language is simple and easy to understand. The use of guidelines, pre planning and a lot of research makes it enjoyable for the family. The other fantastic feature of this book is when the traveller mentions about Gerua Song by Shahrukh Khan. This can surely attract us and even the readers to grab this piece. The book is written from soul hence, I just couldn’t look at the technicalities.I wish all the best to the traveller and maybe it gives birth to a traveller in many others including me.

Grab your copies from :http://www.amazon.in/Icelandic-Voyage-First-2016/dp/9386148145/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_pdt_img_top?ie=UTF8

Book Review of The Unpredictable Heart

The Unpredictable Heart…You May be a Victim by Moksh is a romantic tragedy. This book has the aura of love, friendship and relationships. The concept of Flashbacks is beautifully delineated.

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The red and white contrast of the cover along with a girl blowing the flowers which are in a heart shape. We notice a broken heart. This small indication gives us an idea of incomplete love. Maybe it is a tragedy. The back cover has a small story at a glance while it also has author’s intro. This part is written so small that you will need a magnifying glass to read it. It could have been written using some normal or large fonts.

The title is intriguing as the main title and the sub title totally contrast with each other. The Unpredictable Heart gives us a positive vibes and a notion that our heart can choose anybody to fall in love. On contrary, You May Be a Victim gives us a negative vibe and leave us with a question ‘Who will be the victim?’ ‘Will the protagonist find his love?’

The story of the book revolves around Mrinav, a young employee of an IT sector who is caught between the clutches of crush and love. Neeti being his crush and Ankita, his love, both, shatters him into pieces. Life takes a new turn when friendship of Jiya enters his heart and this completely heals his soul. Will Mrinav feel the same for Jiya? Are they meant to be together. The plot construction is way too simple and somehow we can predict the story hence, making a common story.

The theme revolves around love and only love. It becomes difficult to distinguish between crush, love and a friendly love. At times these three overpower you and you tend to make some mistakes which breaks your heart only. We also find traces of friendship but not for a longer time.

The characters play a significant role in the story. Mrinav is the protagonist who is young and bit underconfident about himself. His life becomes miserable, therefore he becomes numb and tries his best to hide his feelings. Neeti and Ankita almost smash his heart into pieces. When Jiya enters his life, it takes her sometime to heal him. But there is word called ‘Destiny’ which has some other plans in it.

The best part of the story is its ending. The author doesn’t finish the story, infact, he makes a way for the next part and we are left in thoughts in the mid air. This particular line might take away your sleep for sometime until the author comes up with the second part:

What I saw was unbelievable and the unexpected; the lady standing at the door was Ankita.

The style of writing used by the author is simple, condensed and limited. The use of simple sentences makes it way too simple. The predictability of the plot makes it monotonous at the time but the author surprise us with his ending. We can notice hindi jargons in between which adds flavour to the story. Furthermore, the flashback style of writing made the story beautiful. I could trace some grammatical errors, missing words and wrong spellings. This could have been avoided. It is an average and one time read, but I would surely love to know about the suspense which the author has left for us to guess.

Grab your copies from : http://www.amazon.in/Unpredictable-Heart-You-May-Victim/dp/1482857561