Monthly Archives: October 2013

Oct 15 2013
Image

Revenge Wears Prada: The Devil Returns

by  Lauren Weisberger

revenge wears prada

About the Book :

The sequel you’ve been waiting for: the follow-up to the sensational #1 bestseller The Devil Wears Prada.

Almost a decade has passed since Andy Sachs quit the job “a million girls would die for” working for Miranda Priestly at Runway magazine—a dream that turned out to be a nightmare. Andy and Emily, her former nemesis and co-assistant, have since joined forces to start a highend bridal magazine. The Plunge has quickly become required reading for the young and stylish. Now they get to call all the shots: Andy writes and travels to her heart’s content; Emily plans parties and secures advertising like a seasoned pro. Even better, Andy has met the love of her life. Max Harrison, scion of a storied media family, is confident, successful, and drop-dead gorgeous. Their wedding will be splashed across all the society pages as their friends and family gather to toast the glowing couple. Andy Sachs is on top of the world. But karma’s a bitch. The morning of her wedding, Andy can’t shake the past. And when she discovers a secret letter with crushing implications, her wedding-day jitters turn to cold dread. Andy realizes that nothing—not her husband, nor her beloved career—is as it seems. She never suspected that her efforts to build a bright new life would lead her back to the darkness she barely escaped ten years ago—and directly into the path of the devil herself…

Quotes from the Book :

“First loves were powerful and private,and they stayed with you for a very long time. A lifetime.(…) There would always be a small,intimate piece of your heart tucked away for the person you loved first.”

To Download this Book, click here :Revenge Wears Prada: The Devil Returns

Oct 15 2013
Image

The Devil Wears Prada: A Novel

by  Lauren Weisberger

the devil wears prada

About the Book :

A delightfully dishy novel about the all-time most impossible boss in the history of impossible bosses.

Andrea Sachs, a small-town girl fresh out of college, lands the job “a million girls would die for.” Hired as the assistant to Miranda Priestly, the high-profile, fabulously successful editor of Runway magazine, Andrea finds herself in an office that shouts Prada! Armani! Versace! at every turn, a world populated by impossibly thin, heart-wrenchingly stylish women and beautiful men clad in fine-ribbed turtlenecks and tight leather pants that show off their lifelong dedication to the gym. With breathtaking ease, Miranda can turn each and every one of these hip sophisticates into a scared, whimpering child.

THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA gives a rich and hilarious new meaning to complaints about “The Boss from Hell.” Narrated in Andrea’s smart, refreshingly disarming voice, it traces a deep, dark, devilish view of life at the top only hinted at in gossip columns and over Cosmopolitans at the trendiest cocktail parties. From sending the latest, not-yet-in-stores Harry Potter to Miranda’s children in Paris by private jet, to locating an unnamed antique store where Miranda had at some point admired a vintage dresser, to serving lattes to Miranda at precisely the piping hot temperature she prefers, Andrea is sorely tested each and every day—and often late into the night with orders barked over the phone. She puts up with it all by keeping her eyes on the prize: a recommendation from Miranda that will get Andrea a top job at any magazine of her choosing. As things escalate from the merely unacceptable to the downright outrageous, however, Andrea begins to realize that the job a million girls would die for may just kill her. And even if she survives, she has to decide whether or not the job is worth the price of her soul.

Quotes from the Book :

“I’ve always expressed my thoughts in color but we remain blind.”

“As I raced out of the office, I could hear Emily rapid-fire dialing four-digit extensions and all but screaming, ‘She’s on her way– tell everyone.’ It took me only three seconds to wind through the hallways and pass through the fashion department, but I had already heard panicked cries of ‘Emily said she’s on her way in’ and ‘Miranda’s coming!’ and a particularly blood curdling cry of ‘She’s baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!”

To Download this Book, click here :The Devil Wears Prada: A Novel

Oct 14 2013
Image

If It’s Not Forever. It’s Not Love

by Durjoy Datta

If its not forever its not love

About the Book :

“If you die tomorrow, what would your last words be? It’s just another afternoon in Deb’s life, when a powerful blast rips across the heart of Delhi Chandni Chowk. He is unhurt, but emotionally scarred. Haunted by the blast for many days, he seeks redemption. One day, while wandering near the blast site, he finds a half-burnt diary, written by someone who died on that fateful day. The burnt diary entrusts Deb with a strange responsibility – the last words of a dead man. Shrey, his best buddy since college, and Avantika, his girlfriend, unknowingly join him on his road trip, as he tries to put together the pieces of the dead guy’s intriguing story.”

Review :

“IF IT’S NOT FOREVER” is a Romance/Fiction novel, penned by best-selling authors Nikita Singh and Durjoy Datta. It is the story of Deb, a writer cum publisher, whose life takes a dramatic turn when he miraculously escapes a powerful blast in New Delhi. He escapes unhurt, but he is emotionally weakened. He realizes that life is too short, and one should not shy away from confessing his/her true feelings. Still scarred and haunted by the tragic incident, he visits the blast site and finds a half-burnt diary – a diary written by someone, with initials RD, who, possibly, died in the blast. He reads the diary, and realises that they are the unspoken words of RD, who loved Ragini truly, but ‘somehow’ never mustered enough courage to convey his feelings. Deb takes up the responsibility and a journey, to convey the ‘final’ words of RD to his true love, Ragini. But the road is not easy. The last few pages of the diary are burnt, and Deb has very limited clues.

Avantika – Deb’s true love, Shrey – Deb’s best friend, and Tiya – Shrey’s girl friend join him on this journey to unravel the unsolved and unspoken love story of RD. Their journey takes them to different cities, as they slowly put together the pieces of RD’s love story. But, will they be able to solve the mystery of RD’s story? Will they be able to find Ragini, the true love of RD? Who is RD? Is he really dead? You will get all the answers, after reading this book. I don’t want to spoil the magic by revealing the details of the story and the climax.

The story starts on a strong note, and continues effortlessly till the end. The scenes, the dialogues, the expressions and the emotions are perfectly expressed. The emotional scenes are well written, and will make you sad (weak-hearts may cry). As a reader, you will smile and laugh on Shrey’s and Deb’s witty dialogues, and the inner pain of Deb and RD will make you sad as well.

Quotes from the Book :

“Avantika : I know you love me. Yes, you try to get me naked half of the time, but i love you for that too. you are my boyfriend and it’s always great to have a boyfriend who gets turned on by a mere touch. Makes life a lot easier.”

To download this Book click here : If It’s Not Forever. It’s Not Love

Oct 12 2013
Image

Amanda’s Wedding

by Jenny Colgan

amanda's wedding jenny colgan

About the Book:

Melanie and Fran are two charmingly wisecracking young Londoners who simply can’t believe it when their old schoolfriend Amanda, Satan’s own PR agent, manages to get herself hitched to a laird (Scottish for lord). Who cares that Fraser McConnel has worn the same ratty Converse sneakers for years and that his castle is really a pile of rubble — all the social -climbing queen of preen cares about is the title she’ll soon have. She’s got Fraser by the nuptials, and she has no intention of letting go. Gentle, decent Fraser is completely innocent Amanda’s wiles, so Mel and Fran, still smarting from Amanda’s evil misdeeds years ago in school, join forces with Fraser’s adorable younger brother Angus to sabotage the mismatch of the century. Between fighting off the attentions of a love-crazed accountant, dealing with a ne’er-do-well rockstar wannabe boyfriend, keeping Fran’s deadly maneuvers with the opposite sex under control, finding herself at the heart of a bachelor party controversy, consuming large quantities of alcohol, and throwing out hysterical barbs that would make Oscar Wilde proud, Mel will break some hearts and win over those of readers by the score…all of whom are certain to enjoy the mayhem — and hilarious mishaps — in store in “Amanda’s Wedding!”

Review:

The book revolves around Amanda’s wedding, but not Amanda. Amanda is the old childhood friend who suddenly became rich, started acting quite posh and then found her old friends not up to her new refined tastes. Our heroine, thankfully, is not Amanda but one of her castaways, still close to the other desertee. Occasionally Amanda deigns to contact her old friends, and the catalyst for the story is news of her engagement.

Melanie, Fran and Amanda have been friends since elementary school. This bond of friendship should have lasted well into old age; however, since Amanda’s father got rich off some invention of his, suddenly she is too posh for the likes of Melanie and Fran. And now, to top it all off, Amanda announces her engagement to Scottish Laird Fraser McConald — the very same Fraser who Melanie had a major crush on back in college. Well, that just won’t do! So Melanie and Fran form a committee with one goal in mind: to destroy the happy couple and make sure this wedding will never take place.

This books with a compelling story line is definitely one to be enjoyed. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a well-written, satisfying, fun and funny book.

To Download this book click here :Amanda’s Wedding

Oct 12 2013
Image

Meet me at the Cupcake Cafe

By Jenny Colgan

meetmeatthe cupcake cafe

About the Book:

“Issy Randall can bake. No, more than that – Issy can create stunning, mouth-wateringly divine cakes. After a childhood spent in her beloved Grampa Joe’s bakery, she has undoubtedly inherited his talent. So when she’s made redundant from her safe but dull City job, Issy decides to seize the moment and open up her own cafe. It should be a piece of cake, right? Wrong. As her friends point out, she has trouble remembering where she left her house keys, let alone trying to run her own business. But Issy is determined. Armed with recipes posted to her from Grampa, and with her local bank manager fighting her corner, Issy attempts to prove everyone wrong. Following your dreams is never easy and this is no exception. Can Issy do it?”

Review:

The novel is set in London, where a thirty-year-old women has realized what we all realize at one point. We’re getting older and unhappy with our safe course. Issy has a boyfriend she likes, but who doesn’t like her. She has an ok job, but it doesn’t make her happy. Her mother is distant, her grandfather is sick, and her friends are all settling down. When she gets laid off in a crap economy with no job prospects, she takes a crazy chance and follows her passion – making cupcakes!

Opening a cupcake cafe may seem a little nuts, and maybe it is, but she’s so sweet and passionate for baking that you cannot help but be swept up and want her to win. Naturally, there are a few bumps along the road. Should she go back to the jerk boyfriend or give a new guy a chance? How will she run this cafe without her grandpa’s guidance? Can she settle into the community?

Issy is a sweet character. She’s so innocent, even though, at times, you wish she should could see the true character of her jerk boyfriend. On the other hand, I think most young women have had a relationship like this at some point, so it’s not that terrible a flaw. The supporting cast adds a great comedic element, and I liked that none of the characters felt too…typical. They were quirky and adorable!

Quotes from the Book:

“I have a head for business and a body for sin. Unfortunately, the sin appears to be gluttony.”

“Baking is…Life. So when you describe what you’re making, you must describe life. Do you see? It’s not just recipes..”

To download this book click here :Meet me at the Cupcake Cafe

Oct 12 2013
Image

Remember Me

by Sophie Kinsella

remember me

About the Book :

When twenty-eight-year-old Lexi Smart wakes up in a London hospital, she’s in for a big surprise. Her teeth are perfect. Her body is toned. Her handbag is Vuitton. Having survived a car accident—in a Mercedes no less—Lexi has lost a big chunk of her memory, three years to be exact, and she’s about to find out just how much things have changed. Somehow Lexi went from a twenty-five-year-old working girl to a corporate big shot with a sleek new loft, a personal assistant, a carb-free diet, and a set of glamorous new friends. And who is this gorgeous husband—who also happens to be a multimillionaire? With her mind still stuck three years in reverse, Lexi greets this brave new world determined to be the person she…well, seems to be. That is, until an adorably disheveled architect drops the biggest bombshell of all. Suddenly Lexi is scrambling to catch her balance. Her new life, it turns out, comes complete with secrets, schemes, and intrigue. How on earth did all this happen? Will she ever remember? And what will happen when she does?

Review:

When Lexi Smart wakes up following an accident, it’s to learn that it’s three years later and her life is nothing like she remembers it. The last thing Lexi remembers is clubbing with her girlfriends, and falling down some stairs while trying to get a cab home. The girls were drinking away their problems–in particular, that everyone in Lexi’s company got a bonus except her, because she was too junior, her loser boyfriend stood her up, and that her father’s funeral is the next day. In the hospital, Lexi learns that not only has her father’s funeral come and gone, but that she’s now a member of the senior management team at her company, she’s two sizes smaller and much more sleek and sophisticated, and she’s got a husband who is rich, successful, and gorgeous.

Thinking she’s woken up in a fairy tale, Lexi jumps headfirst into her new life. She moves into her immaculate and pristine loft with her real-estate developer husband and is determined to fit in with her new image as a woman who only dresses in neutral colors, whose ambition and drive are what she is known for, and who bears no resemblance at all to the woman who Lexi remembers. Despite her frustration at her inability to remember, Lexi is determined to persevere. But when her husband’s lead architect gives Lexi some more startling information about her past, things begin to turn a little topsy-turvy in Lexi’s already confusing life.

This is a fast and fun book to read. I laughed out loud, felt Lexi’s initial joy and later frustration and anger and swooned at the romance.
Sophie Kinsella fans won’t be disappointed with this offering, and anyone in the mood for a lighthearted and amusing story will appreciate it as well.

Quotes from the Book :

“The trouble with giving yourself a pep talk is, that deep down you know it’s all bullshit.”

“It’s like I’m thirteen again and he’s my crush. All I’m aware of in this entire roomful of people is him. Where he is, what he’s doing, who he’s talking to.”

To download this book click here :Remember Me

By seemav • Posted in Books
0
Oct 10 2013
Image

The Oath of the Vayuputras

by Amish Tripathi 

Book 3 of Shiva Trilogy.

the oath of vayuputra

About the Book:

 Shiva is gathering his forces. He reaches the Naga capital, Panchavati, and Evil is finally revealed. The Neelkanth prepares for a holy war against his true enemy, a man whose name instils dread in the fiercest of warriors.

India convulses under the onslaught of a series of brutal battles. It’s a war for the very soul of the nation. Many will die. But Shiva must not fail, no matter what the cost. In his desperation, he reaches out to the ones who have never offered any help to him: the Vayuputras.

Will he succeed? And what will be the real cost of battling Evil? To India? And to Shiva’s soul?

Discover the answer to these mysteries in this concluding part of the bestselling Shiva Trilogy.

Review:

The last of the Shiva Trilogy, this book promises to keep the readers gripped while the great warrior discovers who his true enemies are and gives it his all to destroy them. In the earlier books of the trilogy, Shiva finds out that the Nagas are not his enemies and joins hands with them to reach the root of all evil. This book will have answers to ‘the Neelkanth’s’ questions about his fate, the choices he made previously and karma. Further, in the concluding book of the trilogy, Shiva reaches Panchavati, the capital of Naga where he will come face to face with his greatest enemy. Will he win the battle over his wicked enemies, who are out to destroy him and his legacy? Further the relationship between Daksha, the king of Meluha and the mysterious temple priests will also be exposed in this last part of the trilogy. Shiva seeks helps from the Vayuputras in the quest to conquer all evil.

The great warrior will encounter the real intentions of some characters he deemed to be close to him. Some new characters will add that extra vitality to the entire plot, especially Shiva’s greatest enemy whose name sends shivers down the spines of many great warriors. An interesting journey of a warrior who is turned into a God by his followers because of his deeds and war against the evil, this book is sure to have its readers’ full attention. A good read which will make one reflect on their actions, this book like the two earlier books of the trilogy focuses on philosophy, religion and the never ending battle between the good and the evil.

Quotes from the book:

“Creation and destruction are the two ends of the same moment. And everything between the creation and the next destruction is the journey of life.”

“The key question isn’t ‘What is Evil?’ The key question is ‘When does the Good become Evil?”

To download this book click here :The Oath of the Vayuputras

Oct 10 2013
Image

The Secret of the Nagas

by Amish Tripathi 

Book 2 of Shiva Trilogy.

the secret of nagas

About the Book:

 His vengeance and the path to evil will lead him to the door of the Nagas, the serpent people. Of that he is certain. The evidence of the malevolent rise of evil is everywhere. A kingdom is dying as it is held to ransom for a miracle drug. A crown prince is murdered. The Vasudevs – Shiva’s philosopher guides – betray his unquestioning faith as they take the aid of the dark side. Even the perfect empire, Meluha is riddled with a terrible secret in Maika, the city of births. Unknown to Shiva, a master puppeteer is playing a grand game. In a journey that will take him across the length and breadth of ancient India, Shiva searches for the truth in a land of deadly mysteries – only to find that nothing is what it seems. Fierce battles will be fought. Surprising alliances will be forged. Unbelievable secrets will be revealed in this second book of the Shiva Trilogy, the sequel to the #1 national bestseller, The Immortals of Meluha.

Review:

The secret of the Nagas” is the second part of the Shiva trilogy and is a sequel to the book “The immortals of Meluha. It’s a fictional account of the famous Indian god Lord Shiva. The second book begins exactly where the first had ended, in the land of the Chandravanshis, Swadweep. Shiva is trying to find the Nagas who have killed Brahaspati, a brother like figure to Shiva. While on the trail he discovers various facts, meets different people making him ponder about good and evil while also uncovering many interesting facts about the Nagas. Various events lead him to question his mission and if it actually serves it’s purpose.

The Secret of the Nagas is a fitting sequel to the Immortals of Meluha. This book leaves you with the same experience as the previous one although it’s never repetitive and even more adventurous. As you read more you seep into Indian mythology discovering various facts about gods, rivers, war techniques, customs of various sects, religion, cultural practices while never being disengaged from the plot. As, in the first book Shiva is always on the move, traveling to different places. His relationship with Sati and other central characters evolve and many new characters are also introduced.

Fascinating! captures your emotions and makes you belong to the story. The descriptions are superbly done create visuals almost like a movie. Loved the concept of portraying Lord Shiva as a man without any supernatural powers..who by his karma becomes a God..makes you believe in this God.

Quotes from the book:

“The opposite of love is not hate, its apathy, when u simply don’t bother about that person!”

“The opposite of love is not hate. Hate is just love gone bad. The actual oppposite of love is apathy. When you don’t care a damn as to what happens to the other person.”

To download this book click here :The Secret of the Nagas

Oct 10 2013
Image

The Immortals of Meluha

by Amish Tripathi 

Book 1 of Shiva Trilogy.

the immortals of meluha

About the Book:

 In 1900 BC the once-proud Suryavanshi rulers of the Meluha Empire are in dire peril. The empire’s primary river, the Saraswathi, is slowly drying up. There are devastating terrorist attacks from the east, the land of the Chandravanshis – and to make matters worse, the Chandravanshis appear to have allied with the Nagas, an ostracised race of deformed humans with astonishing martial skills. The only hope for the Suryavanshis is an ancient prophecy: when evil reaches epic proportions and all seems lost, a hero will emerge…

Review:

Shiva! The Mahadev. The God of Gods. Destroyer of Evil. Passionate lover. Fierce warrior. Consummate dancer. Charismatic leader. All-powerful, yet incorruptible. Quick wit, accompanied by an equally quick and fierce temper.

What if the legend of Siva, the destroyer of evil, was not a legend, but something that began with an actual human; that acquired the proportions of legend and finally myth over the course of centuries and millenia, because of the astounding feats of that single person?

This book is an exciting fictional take on Shiva and related mythological events and characters. Some parts of this book make you appreciate the richness and depth of the mythology one grows up with in India, but rarely ponders overs. Other parts challenge the conventional understanding of the myths and elements of ancient Indian culture. The plot also indirectly touches on controversial historical issues like the Aaryan invasion theory and origins of civilization. And even though Hindu mythology is inextricably intertwined with Hindu religious beliefs, this books steers clear of dogma and worship. It focuses more on Hindu philosophy than Hindu religious beliefs. All in all, a very satisfying and entertaining read regardless of one’s religious inclinations.

Quotes from the book:

“A person’s ethics and character are not tested in good times. It is only in bad times that a person shows how steadfast he is to his dharma.”

“Whether a man is a legend or not is decided by history, not fortune tellers.”

To download this book click here :The Immortals of Meluha

Oct 9 2013

Prada and Prejudice

by  Mandy Hubbard

Prada & Prejudice

About the book:

To impress the popular girls on a high school trip to London, klutzy Callie buys real Prada heels. But trying them on, she trips?conks her head?and wakes up in the year 1815!

There Callie meets Emily, who takes her in, mistaking her for a long-lost friend. As she spends time with Emily?s family, Callie warms to them?particularly to Emily?s cousin Alex, a hottie and a duke, if a tad arrogant.

But can Callie save Emily from a dire engagement, and win Alex?s heart, before her time in the past is up?

More Cabot than Ibbotson, Prada and Prejudice is a high-concept romantic comedy about finding friendship and love in the past in order to have happiness in the present.

Review:

Callie is a 15-year-old sophomore on a class trip to England during summer vacation. Callie is not enjoying her trip as much as she hoped, as the “A-list” girls are ignoring her and she is left pretty much to herself. A known klutz, Callie falls and bumps her head outside of a Prada shoe store, where she has just purchased a pair of 3-inch heels (hoping to impress the A-listers). When Callie regains her senses, she somehow has been transported to 1815 Regency England. After a fortuitous mistake causes her to be mixed up with an American guest in a duke’s home, Callie takes residence and struggles to integrate into 1815 English customs.

The restrictions and expectations of women during that time period are particularly hard for Callie to swallow and Callie becomes embroiled in an effort to save a young woman she befriends from an unwanted engagement. During this time, Callie also gets to know the young duke, Alex. At first, Callie thinks he is an arrogant, controlling jerk. Over time, she realizes that first impressions cannot always be trusted, and the duke may be much more than he at first appears to be.

Light, bright, and sparkly, Prada and Prejudice has made a grand entrance into the emerging Young Adult fiction genre. This is one of those books you’ll hate to put down, because every chapter is so much fun. You’ll find yourself rooting for the awkward Callie as she eventually grows more confident in herself. You’ll drool for the sexy duke Alex, and when Callie finally does find her “footing”, you’ll cheer for her! Based very loosely on Pride and Prejudice, this humorous teen time-travel romance is the perfect escape.

Quotes from the book:

“Shouldn’t you have today off? Isn’t it Sunday?”
“I’ve a half day off ever’ three days. I’ll be out temorra afte’noon.”
I snort. “A half day?”
God, that’s ridiculous. She doesn’t even get a single full day off? What is Alex, some kind of slave driver? Jeez.”
——————————

“What do you mean, ruined?”
From the way Emily swallows slowly, you’d think we were talking about smoking crack. “Compromised. By…by another man.”
“Oh!” I say, too loudly. “You mean, if the girl’s not a virgin, the guy won’t marry her?”
She nods, her eyes wide, as if being a non-virgin is akin to being an ax-murder.”

To download this book click here :Prada and Prejudice