Book Review: "When I See Your Face" by Devika Fernando (Smashwords Author)

Second Chance Saloon

Devika Fernando’s “When I See Your Face” is a story that I was eager to read, even though eking out time to read it was a bit of a problem. This story is particularly close to my heart, for many reasons, not least of which is the yummy guy-next-door hero, Michael Newland. This debutant romance author (who is also foraying into paranormal romance now) spins a tale of true love between the unlikeliest pair.

They find love in a hopeless situation and place, which could have been disastrous considering the very strong theme that runs through the story. But Devika Fernando manages to weave a rich, emotional tapestry that makes for a sweet journey.

Cathy Nolan is that likely girl who lives next door. Except, the next door is a mansion and she is married to a real-estate mogul who is the very epitome of rich, handsome and successful: Mark Nolan. He is also that very ordinary creature. A man who abuses his wife just because she is there.

“When I See Your Face” opens with a very strong scene where Cathy has finally gathered the guts to leave her abusive husband and start a new life somewhere else. She is full of determination, even though her situation and her control over it is so precarious. She is in a daze yet she is hopeful, I fell for Cathy immediately. She arrives in the proverbial charming village full of helpful village folk and soon settles down into her new life.

It is not the best or wisest choice to have your hero look like the villain but Devika’s Michael is the carbon copy of Cathy’s tormentor, which, of course, has her reacting predictably when she spies him for the first time. When the misunderstanding (and of course, it is one, Michael is not Mark!) is cleared up, she knows she has to make amends to this stranger whose face is a constant reminder of all that she had lost.

What begins as a simple apology turns into a beautiful friendship mixed with a few nasty surprises along the way, all of which I thoroughly enjoyed reading.

Cathy could have come off as weak, sniveling, willing to latch onto the next available protector who appears in her life, but instead she is strong, makes her own decisions, even though they may not be visible even to the reader as we go through the pages. Her idea of becoming a baker is executed with some amount of panache, which is just right, because Cathy is not flashy at all. She is simple, a homemaker who got a raw deal and is now learning to be independent using the limited but talented skills she has.

Which woman cannot identify with such a heroine?

Add in, the dilemma of falling for the wrong man, not once but twice! And you have a story that is full of pathos, drama and a fair bit of mystery too. Deft touch that, Devika!

Michael’s gardener-artist turn is fairly believable mostly because of the easygoing manner in which he has been portrayed. As his instant attraction to the delicate Cathy. And the supporting cast of characters, (including the aforementioned villain) have been sketched out well too.

If the pace of the story lags a bit in the middle, for lack of passionate interludes, it is because I am used to reading romance of a different kind. Fast-paced, filled with physical gratification and high-voltage drama. The end, when it came, was devoured by me because the story does pick up once the author really gets into the skin of her characters.

“When I See Your Face” is a love story. Period.

Old-fashioned, filled with truisms that resonate in my heart even now, and the vivid descriptions of flowers, foliage, nature and gardening had me concluding that the writer knows her flowers and is in love with them. It shows.

Read it on a lazy summer-afternoon when you need sweet, dreamy thoughts and an ending that can only be described as a new-beginning!

Recommended to all fans of sweet-romance!

VERDICT: Sweet ballerinas for a honey of a story! 

Xx

Aarti V Raman aka Writer Gal

Book Review of Natasha Ahmed's "Butterfly Season" (Indireads Author)

A Necessary Love

Natasha Ahmed is a fan of Rumi, the seminal poet and philosopher, without whom the world would be a poorer place indeed. This is eminently clear not from the name of her heroine, who is also called Rumi (LOVE that!) but from a poem called “Meeting Place” that the poet wrote, to describe what love really means: beyond right and wrong and good and bad.

That is how I know; she is a fan of Rumi.

Ahmed’s first novel; that which she cleverly calls novella, “Butterfly Season”, deals with the thorny subject of love and sex for a modern-day Pakistani woman. It was with much excitement that I started on this journey with 30-year old Rumi, architect, caregiver and free thinker, for someone living in South Asia. And I wasn’t disappointed at all, as Rumi and the adorable cast walked through lines and scenes as if I were a part of the conversation instead of just reading about it.

Rumi comes to London on a holiday to take a break after her frail mama’s death, where she is staying with her uptight, proper Miss sis, Juveria and her hubby. She meets Ahad, publisher, player (not so much) and undeniably good-looking and feels attraction pull her toward him like moth to a flame. (Sorry Natasha, couldn’t resist that reference!) They date, and dating turns into intense sexual chemistry, and Rumi in a moment of utter clarity and fearlessness takes Ahad for a lover.

A totally banal concept in today’s times, you might mutter, but we live in India and Pakistan and Sri Lanka, things still run just a bit different here. While our peers and friends have accepted the notion of being in several relationships and having a ‘history’, sexual and otherwise, our families and older generations are stuck in a time, when this was frowned upon. I am not taking sides here, just explaining context.

Obviously, Rumi is cast with The Scarlet Letter and her conservative family turns against her as she tries to express herself and the various choices she has made, including what she feels for the dishy but slightly commitment-phobic Ahad. And the resolution that comes is expected but welcome.

I will not dwell too much on the romance of “Butterfly Season”, it’s light, frothy, and filled with enough passion and fun to keep any true romance fan hooked from page one.

I will instead talk about the various strong female characters I found in the book. Mahira, Rumi’s bestie who is a bulwark of support and wisdom even though she comes across as zany and pushy. Juveria, the jealous younger sister who has it all, and yet can’t forgive her sister for living her life instead of doing ‘the proper thing’! The ex that Ahad runs into and the other ex who makes him see the error of his ways. These are ALL women I have been, I continue to be and can instantly identify with, that makes for some lovely pages.

There is also the pop culture references that delighted me because I was given a wonderful, warm glimpse into a world that was hitherto unknown to me and, which to my delight, I found to be as familiar to me as my own is. I loved that about “Butterfly Season”.

Ahmed’s writing holds strong, except in a couple of places, where the plot could have been tighter, but that can be easily overlooked when you see the bigger picture and see what she is trying to attempt and accomplish with her debut novel “Butterfly Season.” A lot of people are calling it bold. I disagree. I call it necessary. It is a subtle, subversive reminder to all of us that times are a-changin’ and change is GOOD.

KUDOS on doing so with two strong, passionate and vulnerable characters as Rumi and Ahad, Natasha.

I look forward to your next with much anticipation and eagerness.

A must-read for fans of a good romance.

 

VERDICT: Sexy boots for a truly, sexy story. (And I don't just mean that hot scene in Ahad's apartment!) :P

You can find this charming novel at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Indireads, iTunes and Smashwords. 

Xx

Aarti V Raman aka Writer Gal.

BOOK REVIEW of Ruchi Vasudeva's "Bollywood Fiancé For A Day"

The Rake’s Reformation

As an avid romance reader, you see a title like Ruchi Vasudeva’s “Bollywood Fiancé for A Day” and your brain goes, hmmm, how could this first-timer have given the oft-portrayed glamorous B-town a new twist? You also think, ok, maybe I should have read this before Vasudeva’s second novel “You Can’t Fight a Royal Attraction.” The writing style has obviously evolved by Book Two (kudos on that, by the way, Ruchi) but it was with a lot of curiosity that I sat down to read “Bollywood Fiancé for A Day.”

Take one simmering, snarky, bonafide heartthrob Zaheer Saxena (YUM name), mix him for a disastrous evening with an out of her-element Doctor Vishakha “Visha” Sehgal and watch sparks fly. The opening chapters could have been just out of my favorite rom-coms ‘Win a Date with Tad Hamilton’ starring the hunky Josh Duhamel in the titular role.

And well, it’s exactly what happens.

The small-town paeds doc wins a Dream Date with the Indian Die-Hard (deft touch, that) and he is unforgivably, obnoxiously late. Friction, friction abounds and the banter takes on a life of its own. Zaheer (talented bad boy with a softie heart) has an attack of conscience and wants to make amends for his boorish behavior and find his date of many shades.

Location change:  Lucknow.

And here is where Vasudeva really comes into her own. Firstly just for not picking Delhi (I don’t have anything against the place, y’all). Be it describing the typical sangeet ceremony of the evil stepsister Saira, straight out of Cinderella (and the heroine of You Can’t Fight a Royal Attraction) with its OTT Punjabi charm. Or the quaint streets of Hazratganj where Visha and Zee have a first-class romantic date complete with ‘ganjing’ (lovely turn of phrase) Ruchi brings Lucknow to life.

As well as she delves into the complex psyche of her sworn-off-love TDH Zaheer and the just-jilted but determined to live life, sweet doctor.

The plot plays out like it should, from the time the sexy dude makes “an offer she can’t refuse”, to the inevitable growing up of the still-naïve Vishakha and, like all good M&B romances gives an HEA that is just right.

While the story may have benefitted from just a smidge more tightening what really stood out in “Bollywood Fiancé for a Day” is Ruchi’s dialogue, particularly the use of endearments. Chica and senorita (I can just imagine Zaheer drawling each syllable out) haven’t still found their way into Indian romances. Neither have Grand Romantic Gestures (he makes her dream come true, sigh!) just before the end.

And since I am a sucker for both, I cheered as Zee and Visha went about this business of falling in love.

Character-wise, Zaheer stands out more, probably because his conflict is a lot more internal and damaged Alpha Male does something to my insides. But I was really glad that Vasudeva did let the almost-dormant Vishakha finally take control of the situation and her man and grow a spine! Go Visha! The secondary characters too are well-rounded although I find it IMPOSSIBLE to believe that ugly stepsister Saira is the mature, poised and vulnerable young woman in Ruchi’s next. Kudos for bringing about that character growth arc, Ruchi.

“Bollywood Fiance For a Day”, as the name suggests is all about the Big Fat Indian Wedding and its aftermath. Vishakha’s doctor turn rings extremely true, since the author hangs out her medical shingle too. It is about the coming together of two flawed people and that is why it works. Although it may have been a bit passion-light, the simple innocence of the heroine makes it entirely believable.

Maybe Vasudeva will explore the physical side of romance as she continues on an excellently-begun (2 novels!) journey as a traditional M&B romance author. But, her website states that she is a writer of ‘tender, passionate romances’ and, you know what, in today’s bang for the buck world that is a much needed addition.

I recommend it, sweetly.

Xx

Aarti V Raman aka Writer Gal

VERDICT: Kitten pumps for a kitten-hearted story!

 

BOOK REVIEW of Tanu Jain's "His Captive Indian Princess"

Heartbreaker: Heart-maker

I am a romance writer too. And I have recently started writing Indian romance, for which one of my submissions was of a TDH named Vikramaditya Singh. While the fate of my Vikram is still in limbo, I chanced upon the lovely cover Tanu Jain’s “His Captive Indian Princess.” The captive princess’s doe eyes caught my eye and I read the blurb, following up on Google. And quel horreur! Her hero was a Vikram Singh too! Thankfully, he has Pratap for a middle name. So, it was with a lot of trepidation that I read this M&B romance which has a Woman Done Wrong at its core.

I needn’t have worried.

From the first page itself I was swept away: by the story, the setting (a lovely fictional place named Mogragarh), the action and the heroine Gauri Rao.

Gauri is a lawyer with terrible secrets, but her outward composure belies a heart as fragile as a bruised petal. Shunned and tormented by almost everyone in her ‘royal’ family one fateful night, Gauri runs away and manages to establish a new identity for herself as a young and upcoming lawmaker.

Maharaj Vikrampratap Singh, or Vikram as he is known, is a princely businessman with many burdens. He has only one goal in life. That of finding the vanished princess of Mogragarh and bring her home to the palace to make her pay for all the alleged sins she has committed. Did I forget to mention he is ridiculously handsome?

The action is swift, almost breathless.

Vikram finds Gauri and in the first of many charged, passionate encounters, basically orders her to drop her entire existence and do his bidding. Gauri resists, but Vikram maneuvers things so that she ends up going home with him anyway. To the land and people she’d left behind six years ago, especially her beloved Baba. She returns back to being Yuvrani Gauri Rao (lovely terminology), the illegitimate daughter of Maharaj Sambhaji Rao who is now in no fit state to rule.

Add in the grandmother from hell and an older sister who is selfish and conniving and the stage is set for a typical Cinderella story.

Jain’s “His Captive Indian Princess” could have gone several soap-opera ways, none of which could have complemented the poise of its achingly vulnerable heroine. Thankfully, it remains true to the internal conflict of Gauri who only longs for the love of a family that has always shunned her. She is forever the outsider, looking in. And yet discharges her duties out of love and compassion instead of a sense of holy vengeance.

In case you’re thinking she sounds like a complete pushover; she ain’t.

Gauri gives it back to Vikram as good as she gets, be it verbally or sexually. And in a particularly tense scene, even puts the grand dowager in place.

Vikram, the lonely, autocratic, RH prince of the nearby state of Bijagarh initially comes off as too autocratic and rigid, but becomes human halfway through the book. And his confused desire for the lovely princess has been vividly portrayed.

A thing I found a little difficult to digest was the first passionate encounter that Jain introduced. Acting the caveman would surely not be a suave, princely businessman’s style. But then again, passion does make fools of mere mortals so it can be overlooked. A real area of concern, at least for me, (the girl who would have been either a lawyer or a writer) was how young the lawyer Gauri was in regards to the prominent position she held in a charitable organization for abused women.

Do they really breed them that young, Ms Jain?

But, let me reiterate, leaving aside these and other minor weak threads, the well-rounded plot, crackling pace and crisp dialogue, coupled with the fresh royal setting that Tanu Jain has used with remarkable effectiveness, makes “His Captive Indian Princess” one of my personal favorites ever. For the subtle way in which family abuse is explored, for Gauri’s strong-but-vulnerable character and that scorching motel room scene, which was a delightful surprise in a completely Indian Romance.

Very much looking forward to the next gut-wrencher from the pen (or keyboard) of Tanu Jain. I heart and recommend it!

-          Xx

Aarti V Raman aka Writer Gal 

VERDICT:  Five pointy inches of heat and heart!

BOOK REVIEW: Adite Banerjie's "The Indian Tycoon's Marriage Deal"

REVENGE SHE WROTE...

Debutant romance novelist Adite Banerjie’s bio reads that she has always been fascinated by the high drama found in Bollywood movies. So, I kind of knew what to expect as I read the back blurb on “The Indian Tycoon’s Marriage Deal” and a cutesy cover to go with it. It is about a woman hell-bent on revenge and willing to go to any lengths to destroy her enemy. Even marry his devastatingly handsome son. A tried and tested (and discarded) cliché, right?

Well, yes.

But, no, too!

For Adite’s Maya Shome (again, weird last name) is no ordinary, vengeful angel. For one she is a trained landscape designer, and I have not read a more different and fascinating profession in recent times. Except, perhaps in Scott Hutchins’ ‘A Working Theory of Love’. Yes, she is svelte and luscious; she is an M&B heroine; she can’t be the Wicked Witch of the West. But Maya knows her roses from her daffodils and is spunky to boot. A hard-to-resist woman.

Krish Dev, the DH Hero, certainly seems to think so as he first spies her at the British High Commissions’ gardens in Delhi, directing a crew in cut-offs that showcase her coltish legs. Although I found the idea of a young, attractive woman ordering about a bunch of men wearing skimpy clothing in broad daylight ring just a bit false, there was no denying the impact that young Maya made on him. Nor the general impact of the scene. Add in, his authoritarian charm (like a true M&B hero) and you have a Hottie McHotelier who will stop at nothing to get what he wants.

He sends flunkies to find out about the delectable gardener and makes her a part of his evening’s entertainment.

Maya herself has reasons for attending this society gala but finds herself tangoing with a divine man who turns her world upside down a few minutes later, when he introduces her as his fiancé to his all-powerful, controlling father, KD.

AKA Maya’s archenemy and the object of her hatred.

How this impulsive moment blossoms into a lifelong love forms the rest of this well-crafted romance.

In the beginning, the DH Krish comes across as cold-blooded and just a bit spoilt; he is later on revealed to have his own demons that he has still not successfully quelled. And he has surprising pockets of vulnerability and need. A classic Alpha Male hallmark. I felt for Krish Dev, confused groom and dutiful-but-rebellious son.

It is also very clear from Banerjie’s writing that she knows her flowers and her people. And Delhi (why does everyone write about Delhi!) and the small town of Howrah have also been evocatively described. It is also equally clear that the Indian Tycoon and his spunky-but-soft hearted Maya have a lot of internal and external conflict that plays out well over the course of the story. The plot too is watertight, even though, a jarring note was the notion of a young Maya (she is only 23) waitressing in a pub in Delhi. Does that really happen, Adite?

And, needless to say, the passion between the two headstrong lovers simmers just below the surface until it explodes on a cozy four-poster bed in a wonderful idyll called Deovan.

Maybe, I have given away too much, maybe not enough, all I can say in conclusion is Adite Banerjie’s “The Indian Tycoon’s Marriage Deal” has it all: heart, heartbreak, laughter and passion to make it a successful and inspiring debut on the traditional M&B romance scene. I personally can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.

A definite recommend to readers and fans alike.

 VERDICT: A sexy stiletto of a  read!                                                                                                                 

Xx

Aarti V Raman aka Writer Gal.