Month: May 2018

Book Review: It’s Got to be Love

Author: Prashant Kaul

About the Author: Prashant Kaul a vivid thinker and dreamer. He started writing four years ago, and this is his first novel. His love for cinema inspired him to write this beautiful love story. He loves to blog and has written several short stories too. He works for an NBFC in Chandigarh. Besides writing, he loves to read books and watch movies.

Blurb: Meet Dev Sharma, a young student, who has a unique ability – he has nightmares that unfortunately come true.

It’s Got to Be Love weaves around Dev and his friend Vikram. Dev is initially smitten with Carol, a college girl, but due to various reasons, they part ways. He meets Vaani through Facebook and a steady friendship develops between them, which soon blossoms into love. However, Vaani turns down Dev, for reasons known only to her.

Will Dev win back his love?

Will Carol come into his life again?

Join Dev on his emotional roller-coaster ride in Chandigarh, Delhi and Mumbai.

My Review: The very pretty book cover and the lovely title attracts one to read it. Narration was in first person, which is always my favorite. It was and scary at the same time that the nightmares come true. Dev, the main lead has nightmares and they unfortunately come true. Dev is a person of strong will power, which made him hero from zero. He’s character is truly inspiring, as he loves so deep, he made friendship very strong. Amrish and Vikram proved to be the best friend to him. The description of Dev’s parents ignite a fantasy in every teenager’s mind to have parents like them. They are the coolest parents of the world. The always supported their sdoubtani and Carol, both were the girls of very different natures nature. Yes, I liked Carol, but I loved Vaani. It was amazing how Vaani came in Dev’s life from online to offline and been very well known to Dev from complete stranger. Overall all the characters are described in a very real manner.

Animals need love and they will prove to be your best friend. This learning is taught in the story by the description of Buddy, the lil puppy. There are many good things to be learnt from the story, which I’ll not describe here, as you’ll read this all in book.

Language was very easy and word selection was fantastic too. The story is something like I was watching it as a movie.

I just have a doubt- Why Dev, Amrish and Vikram went to college, after the farewell party, that too when their exams were already done? It’s still okay to go to college, but how come they attended lecture that very day?

Rest it was a very cute story, which has many cute sub plots with it.

Conclusion: Fabulous story of dreams, friendship, love and emotions.

Star Rating: 5/5

Book Link: It’s Got to be love .

Stay connected.

-Arti Manekar

Book Review: Aashiqui

Where there is love, there is life…

Author: Abhishek Mohta (Callre)

About the Author: Abhishek Mohta, who goes by his pen name “Callre”, is a novelist, a screenwriter as well as a synopsis writer who lives and works in Mumbai.

He’s a Fellow Member of Screenwriters Association (Indian Member No. 35993).

Originally from New Delhi, Callre now lives and works I’m Mumbai, India.

He’s also a significant team member at Saffron Broadcast & Media Ltd.

He’s the author of ” Scent of an Undiscovered writer” (English) and “Aromaa de un escritor desconocido” (Espanol).

His primary focus of interest is in writing script for TV, films and novels of different genres such as romance, humor, mystery and suspense.

Apart from writing, Callre loves painting on his free time.

You can connect with him on www.artistcallre.com or iamcallre@gmail.com .

Blurb: Rahul Bedi’s college dreams include an education, meeting new friends and hopefully launching a successful music career. With the notes in his soul, he feels the rhythm in his rhymes and the beat of the instruments even when he closes his eyes m when he meets Sia Lannox, her voice and her form inspire that music and some through every interaction they have. There is something about her that pulls him and calls to him… An underlying feeling that maybe she is the one who will complete him and be partner he needs.

However, sorority princess Priya wala and talks as if Rahul is already hers, a fact that seems surer by the day. While Sia is not exactly looking for a relationship, there is something about Rahul that makes her catch her breath and ensure that a confrontation with Priya is inevitable.

My Review: The title Aashiqui is quite interesting and mind attracting. The book cover is also fascinating. Reading the title, it eventually comes in mind that the story must be a super amazing love story.
There is a very sweet and beautiful poem on the very starting of the story, which pleased my heart. The story starts from ‘the end’, interesting! It’s mainly a love story, a story of deep and devoted love, but as you read the story, it seems like more a story on college life and less a story of love. The description of first day in college, lectures, hostel life, parties, is interesting and well penned too. It was nice reading a diary and since the story was written in a diary style, hence it has been unique. But it could be better if the author could mention dates on the diary pages.
Sia, Rahul, Kate, Vrinda, Charles were friends and the lead character of the story. Priya, Jose, were the other characters. Sia and Rahul loved each other. Sia’s love was unconditional, where Rahul loved her, but forgot once he got his dream come true and moved on with Priya, his college time friend. He realized the love for Sia after her death, which he repented later. Character description was fine.
The story could go a lil more longer and the author could add more love in the story. So that the mean of the title could fulfill.
Language was easy, but I think author was sort of words, but even then the words were all beautiful. There were many editing mistakes in the book, which I wish not to be there in the next edition. I was a lil disappoint and wish the author to write best in the next book.
Some poems can be read in the book and believe me they are awesome. Author must try his next book as a poetry collection.

Conclusion: Love is the devotion one can do in life.

Star Rating: 3/5

Book Link: Get your book here- Aashiqui- where there is love, there is life… .

Stay connected.

-Arti Manekar

Book Review: College Days

Author: Devayu M.

About the Author: Devayu is an IIM- A graduate and an electronics engineer from NIT, Surat. Currently, he works as Manager- Strategy at India’s leading FMCG company. He’s an author of two novels: 1)College Days and 2) Crazy Vazy 4-Love. You may contact him on Facebook Devayu M .

About the Book: A Long Distance Relationship Story in the backdrop of an engineering college.
Few Details:
1) PROXY: Filled for five friends but forgot one’s own
2) VIVA: Smoked and drunk but still cracked it
3) Group Discussion: Topic- ‘Woman on the Top’
4) DROPOUT: Still invited as a motivational speaker at his college
PLOT:
Neil met Avani- the girl who saved him from committing suicide few years back.
Soon they were connected through Facebook.
On day one, she revealed her plan to leave India for higher studies.
But still their conversation continued.
He told her about his college life while she talked about her friends.
One day, he surprised her by dropping to her place and professing his love.
What will Avani do now?

My Review: It was great reading a book on College life. It refreshes the memories of one’s college life. Lemme first talk about the plot of the story. A book is all about it’s plot. Very straight and interesting story, describing the life problems of a student. From family pressure to get KT in exams, from having amazing friends for life to get the love of life, from getting rejected by your crush to run after your passion, it was all immense… Many funny incidents were there. One can relate the story to one’s college life.
Coming to the characters, they seem realistic, as they are all portrayed very well. Neil, Chinu, Baba, Avani, Pia, Rinichi, Amanda and some more characters were there. I found the main leads very passionate about life, Avani was already passionate, where Neil started running after his passion after rejection by Avani.
Simple narration and easy language makes it to read by anyone. Author used some/many Hindi conversation, which made it more interesting, as it’s a story of Indian background. Author played well with the words.
The story is written in 14 chapters, whose names are interesting and kinda funny too. One can get easily involved in the story. Many scenes are there which you would like to read again, description of Noor Mahar, Video Game development, Chemistry as a subject, group discussion on the topic Women on the top are truly amazing. Some love stories and a love triangle was also getting developed with the main story as this is the College story.
The cover could be more interesting. The title suits the most on the story, just perfect.

Conclusion: With a simple narration style, author will won your heart by the story… Must read for refreshing your college days memories.

Star Rating: 5/5

Book Link: Get your book from here- College Days .

Stay connected.

-Arti Manekar

Book Review: Love of My Life

Author: Rohit Sharma

About the Author: Rohit Sharma is a fiction/non-fiction writer, motivational speaker and the best selling author of ‘Te Amo… I LOVE YOU’ and ’12 HOURS’.
Huss debut romantic thriller, ‘Te Amo… I LOVE YOU’, was released in December 2012, and was an instant hit among the readers. His second book, ’12 HOURS’ – an anthology of 12 short stories, which he co-authored with Mahi Singla, was released in September 2013, and was widely appreciated by the media and the readers of all the ages. He then did the Hindi translations of his own books. The Hindi translation of ‘Te Amo… I LOVE YOU’ was released in 2014.
Born in Amritsar and brought up in Faridabad, Rohit had written some of the most read articles for FilterCopy.com.
Apart from being a Gold-Medalist in Engineering (Honors), getting inducted into the Hall of Frame of his college, Rohit successfully represented his college at various dancing and sketching competitions.
‘Love of My Life’ is his third fiction book. He is also working on his first non-fiction book titled ‘How to get into IAS’.

He can be connected at
Website- www.AuthorRohit.co.in
E-mail- author.rohitsharma@gmail.com
Facebook- facebook.com/Author.Rohit
Instagram- instagram.com/Author.Rohit

Blurb: Major Virat Singh Rajput was once a fearless Black Cat commando who had saved Mumbai from its venomous perpetrators. His life to a beautiful turn when he got engaged to Pratishtha Sachdev, the girl he had selflessly loved for the last fourteen years.
Everything was blissful, until one day Pratishtha mysteriously went missing. Virat, who was hailed as India’s hero, had now become a villain and is facing a certain death penalty.
Only one woman can save him.
Criminal Defense Lawyer Vaishnavi Pandit has not win her first six cases. She is adamant to win her seventh.
But, still, no one knows where Pratishtha is. No one still knows what the motive behind Virat’s crime was. The odds are heavily against Vaishnavi.
Let’s unfold together a deeply romantic and nail-biting story about true love, excruciating pain and lurid vengeance – a thriller story about love and honesty, hatred and deceit, friendship and animosity, dark truths and hidden motives.

My Views: “Love of my Life’ is just a heart touching story of Major Virat and his love for Pratishtha. Impressive book cover and the title totally suits the story. Author made me cry at the very starting chapters of the book by writing about Mumbai attack. Off course, it was the most painful period for India and for every Indian and by all his powerful words, all that scenes got visualised in my mind and tears eventually rolled down of my eyes. All the detailed description of Mumbai attack, made it not a part of a story but a documentary.

Goal of the story was to show that how deep one can love and how far one can go for ones love.
Story revolves around two main characters Virat and Pratishtha, as it is a love story and all other characters play their roles splendidly supporting the story till it ends. While coming to the character description, author has done it in a way that a sketch artist can draw them by his pencil. Both main characters are strong and impressive. No wonder to get impressed by Virat’s character and I’m much impressed with Pratishtha. Description of her beauty reminds me of my friend with the same name and kinda same beauty.
Delhi is in the main background of the story and some more other places are described in the story so beautifully that you will feel like you are there already.
Dialogues are the soul of any story, author penned them very well, with a smart and mesmerizing language and writing style.
Story has a very strong plot. As Hindustan Times says ‘Rohit’s stories are readymade for movies’. This statement can be felt true while reading the book.
It takes less time to get involved in the story, and once you get in, it will take much time to get you out of the story.
There is some scenes of the courtroom. I must say author has studied both the battlefields very well, one where bullets are weapons, other where words fight. It is a story which makes you cry, not one time, but multiple times by its heart touching scenes. A story of love, a story of revenge, a mystery book it is. Beautiful things are penned beautifully by the author, as well crucial things penned with the same crucially. Pain of Pratishtha can be felt by everyone who is going to read it. I must suggest, people with weak heart must not read the book as there are some very crucial scenes.
I found no negative points about the story. Everything was perfectly planned and amazing linked.

Conclusion: Wanna experience the thrills, the suspension, the pain? Must read the book. A story, one can never forget….

Star rating: 5/5 (no doubt)

Book Link: Get your copy here… Love of My Life

Stay connected..😊

-Arti Manekar

Book Review: Men and Dreams in the Dhauladhar

Author: Kochery C. Shibu

Genre: Fiction

About the Author: Kochery C. Shibu is a retired naval officer, A graduate from the National Defence Academy. He has held several important posts in the Indian Navy. Post his retirement he has executed hydroelectric projects in the Cauvery river basin in Karnataka, Beas river basin in Himachal and lately Teesta river basin in Sikkim. He holds a postgraduate degree in Defence Studies from Chennai University, and MA in English Literature from Pune University. Men and Dreams in the Dhauladhar is his debut novel. The technical content of the novel, namely the setting up of a hydro-project is drawn from his experience in these projects since 2005, as are many of the characters inspired from those whom he encountered at the project site. Kochery C. Shibu was born in Kochi and now lives in Bangalore with his wife and daughter.

Blurb: A hydelpower project in the remote Himalayas. Three people brought together by fate. Nanda, an engineer from Kerala at the dam construction site hiding from his past, from the law, torn between the love of his dear ones and the traditional kalari code of revenge. Khusru, a boy displaced from his native village in Kashmir, a gambit in the terror plot threatening to blow up the dam, working as a labourer at the site. Rekha, a Kathak dancer in heart, a doctor by profession, arrives at the campsite as the consort of Khusru. A village that accepts the dictates of modernity with a heavy heart, its population steeped in superstitions and religious beliefs.

All throng the campsite like moths to a flame, some escape untouched, successful; some, miss a step, and perish. Each has a story to tell and a dream to realise. Men and Dreams in the Dhauladhar is about the aspirations of these people with their cares and worries woven into the site life. The fury of nature and the hardships of project life have no mercy for the weak and no time for the dead. Like an eternal spectator the Dhauladhar watches as men risk life and limb in a quest to fulfill their dreams.

My Views: This is a book with truly Indian touch. I would like to give it’s review on the following points-

  1. Goal: The goal of the author can easily be understood by the title of the book. Author wanted to show the struggles and hard work to let your dreams come true and he has been successful in this. The story teaches us to have faith in our dreams.
  2. Plot: The plot of the story seems quite unusual. Not a complex plot, but there are many sub-plots of the story. The main plot involves a hydro electric power dam which in being made in Dhauladhar. It has a unique, refreshing and strong plot.
  3. Characters: There are numerous characters in the book and each character holds its importance to the particular scene. Author has done detailed study of each character, like description from their ancestor’s time. There are three main characters in the story, Nanda, Khusru and Rekha, all three from different background. Author added many characters with every new chapter, but they didn’t seem main characters. So the author should not have added much characters. I liked the names of every character of the novel.
  4. Conversation: There is vast description of everything in the book. The author could cut the description and add more conversation. It seems that the story lack conversation.
  5. Language: Language is easy. Author is wise choosing the words. And the writing style of the author is smooth and serene. The narration is lovely, which I liked the most.
  6. Background: The story doesn’t stop at one place. The diversity from all over India and from foreign can be seen here in the book. A lot of places like Kashmir, Russia, France and Kerala are covered by the book. But at the end it us Dhauladhar, where the strory ends. So we can say Dhauladhar as the background of the story.

Conclusion: A story with the Indian touch… Have read something like this after a long time. It left a great impact on my mind, that I would be roaming in the story for many coming days…

Being a debut novel, it is a very strong story.

A must read book. Go, grab your copy.

Star ratings: 4/5

Book link: You can get your copy here Men and Dreams in the Dhauladhar .

Keep reading.

Stay connected.

–Arti Manekar