Friday, April 26, 2024

A to Z April Challenge 2024: W for WRITTEN IN THE STARS

 

From the time I was a teenager, I have been fascinated with star signs which supposedly rule us. While the western world is divided by twelve stars, the Indian world is a bit different, with twenty-seven of those.

That said, I thought a combo of two star signs per romance novel, one for each protagonist, was perfect for a series of six novels, and that is how my romance series WRITTEN IN THE STARS was born.
 
Most importantly, I need to mention Linda Goodman, and her book LOVE SIGNS. I keep reading this book on and off, and continue to find hidden gems in the characteristics of the various star signs. 

The titles of the first three books are based on the hero’s star sign, and the next three on the heroine’s star sign.

 
Books in the series

SCORPIO SUPERSTAR is the story of Chandrakanth, a Scorpio who is the superstar of the South Indian film industry. His love interest is Ranjini, his social media manager, who is a Pisces.

LEO’S DESIRE is about industrialist Nishaan Ahuja, a pushy Leo with a powerful roar. He falls in love with Chaahat, an Aries fashion model who is as stubborn as they come. Chaahat in Hindi means Desire. Now you know how the title was born.
 
TAURUS TEMPTATION is the story of Vidyut Kamat, a Taurus who leaves his cushy job to set up a coffee shop, resulting in his fiancĂ©e dumping him. But it’s Cancerian Haasini, a blogger, who is all encouragement, making him a perfect life partner.

VIRGO’S KRUSH is about Sanjana and Krish. Sparks fly the moment they meet and a child is born. The meticulous Capricorn wants to marry his child’s mother, but the Virgo doesn’t want to marry without love. I coined the word KRUSH, combining Krish and Crush. 

LIBRA’S FLAME is the story of successful business woman Dipika. The Libra is attracted to Mudit, a Gemini, who returns her feelings in full. While the stars match well, his family don’t agree.

AQUARIUS REBEL is about Shreya and Chirag. Attraction flares between the Aquarius woman and Sagittarius man from the beginning. But that doesn’t mean they want to tie the knot. Will Chirag be too late to stop Shreya marrying someone else? 

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Thursday, April 25, 2024

A to Z April Challenge 2024: V for PRINCE VIKRAMASIMHA

 

Image Courtesy: https://www.freepik.com/

THE BANISHED PRINCE is my latest historical romance novel published in January 2024. Vikramasimha is the prince who is banished from the kingdom by his own father, the king.
 
By the time he goes to the rescue of Princess Sarvani who is fleeing from a most unsuitable marriage, Vikrama has become a soldier of fortune. 

While Vikramasimha and Sarvani get closer, the princess isn’t sure if she could trust a warrior whose services are available to the highest bidder. 

Is the banished prince as bad as he seems? Will Sarvani be able to trust the man she’s fallen in love with?

Read the story on Kindle. It’s also free on Kindle Unlimited.

An Excerpt

There was no expression on the accused prince’s face which appeared stony. But that did not take away from his handsomeness. His broad forehead was softened by the unruly curls of hair which fell on it, how much ever the prince tried to keep them in place, while long strands of hair fell to his massive shoulders. His thick and dark eyebrows arched over large, deep-set eyes which were a dark brown tending towards black, surrounded by eyelashes which would have appeared feminine on any other man. As for his cheeks, they were sharp and clean shaven, a thick and luxurious moustache on his upper lip, which was brushed back to curl upwards, underscoring his masculinity. His nose was perfectly centred and was as prominent and sharp as those of the flock of golden eagles Vikramasimha used for hunting. As for his mouth, while it appeared grim right now, the shape and thickness of his lips suggested to a passion for life and enjoyment which was inherent in him. His chin was strong and determined, except for the cleft right in the middle which added a touch of unexpected softness.

At two and twenty, Vikramasimha had seen his share of battles at his father’s and brother’s sides and had many scars to prove it, the most prominent being the one on the inside of his left forearm, from his inner elbow all the way to his thick, manly wrist. 

What truly fascinated everyone was the devil-may-care expression on the prince’s face, as if he was not being accused of a heinous crime, and that too, by no one less than the chief minister himself.


Story-in-Brief

Prince Vikramasimha might be considered a rogue by some, but even then, the people of the kingdom of Kaushambi are shocked when the king, his father, banishes the younger prince from the kingdom, after he is declared guilty of committing a heinous crime.

Princess Sarvani is heartbroken when her father, the king of Rajagriha, dies suddenly. She runs away from the palace to escape an unwanted marriage with her stepbrother, Charukesi, who wants to ascend the throne as the next king.

The prince saves the princess’s life when she is shot by a poisonous arrow, not divulging his identity. The two are attracted to each other, and grow close.

But how can Sarvani trust Vikrama, the warrior, when she finds out he is a soldier of fortune? Especially considering that she has not a single coin to offer him, while her stepmother has her kingdom’s coffers in her control?

Is Sarvani safe from the mercenary she has fallen in love with?

Wednesday, April 24, 2024

A to Z April Challenge 2024: U for UNABASHED DAYANITA

 

The Oxford Dictionary meaning for an UNABASHED person is someone who is not embarrassed, disconcerted, or ashamed regarding anything. This adjective perfectly fits Princess Dayanita Thakore, the heroine of my novel THE WOOING OF THE SHREW.

Unabashed Dayanita, who belongs to the Thakore contemporary royal family, is thoroughly spoilt by her grandmother. The youngest of three siblings (the other two being her brothers Indrajeet and Rajvardhan), Dayanita is totally rude and a tantrum-throwing queen. And there’s just about no one who can handle her.
 
On the verge of wasting her life away, chasing a man who finds her juvenile, she’s saved by her brother from embarrassing herself deeply. 

Falling in love with the Unabashed Dayanita, it is Prince Harshvardhan Singh Gaekwad who takes upon himself the task of THE WOOING OF THE SHREW. This Contemporary Royal Romance novel is available on Kindle, Kindle Unlimited and in Paperback.

 
Story-in-Brief

Dayanita Thakore is a prickly princess who doesn’t care for the idea of any man getting close to her… until Prince Harshvardhan Singh Gaekwad turns up in her life.

Sparks fly even at their first meeting when the Princess of Udaipur clashes with the Prince of Baroda.

He falls in love with the fiery princess while she fights her attraction to him tooth and nail.

He woos her, beguiles her, cherishes her…

…while the princess feels that maybe he couldn’t love such a tempestuous woman such as herself.

But before they could cross the great divide and get to know each other, something happens, something terrible that might just blow their lives apart.

Do they have a chance at a happily ever after?


Tuesday, April 23, 2024

A to Z April Challenge 2024: T for TWIN TORMENT

 

TWIN TORMENT is exactly what the title suggests. The story is about Ansh and Arth Sharma who are the bane of Sanya’s life. She had held a childhood crush for Arth, which was before she moved to London with her parents.

Returning to Mumbai after twelve years, she’s truly excited at the thought of reconnecting with Arth. Only to find herself spending most of her time with the terrible twin, Ansh. 

Arth doesn’t seem to be interested in Sanya at all. Will Sanya’s trip to India be worth the effort? It’s a journey of a young woman not only finding love, but also finding herself.

 
Story-in-Brief

London based Sanya Chaturvedi is bored of the party circuit. The only child of a rich businessman, Sanya hates her aimless life and grabs the chance to revisit Mumbai, where she had spent the first twelve years of her life.

The main attraction is her childhood sweetheart Arth Sharma. She hopes to rekindle the love she used to feel for him as a kid.
Sanya’s thrilled with the opportunity to holiday with the Sharmas. But it’s Arth’s tormenting twin Ansh who insists on spending time with her while the man of her dreams is never around. And the worst part is that her body plays traitor, lusting after the devilishly handsome Ansh.

Will Sanya find relief from her bored life? And the love she came in search of? Read the book to find how destiny plays a strong role as Sanya deals with the Twin Torment in her life.

Monday, April 22, 2024

Book Blitz: PRESS RESTART by Sundari Venkatraman

     



Publisher: Flaming Sun (Indie published)
Publication Date: April 18, 2024
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Language: English
Genre: Contemporary Romance

STORY-IN-BRIEF

Pritesh Lohia is unhappily married to the wicked Divya. It has been five years and there’s no love lost between the two. He is completely focused on his career as the youngest partner in an investment banking company. While he’s super successful financially, his personal life is in shambles.

Working as Pritesh’s executive assistant, Mahika Rajput falls head over heels in love with him at first sight, unaware that he’s a married man. Does her love disappear when she knows he's tied to someone else? The heart seems to understand no logic. 

Pritesh gets to know something about his wife, information which jerks him out of his laid-back attitude to his failing marriage. It also awakens him to the young and beautiful Mahika who not only makes his work life smooth, but just plain adores him. 

Their professional lives begin to get more complicated when Pritesh and Mahika make major changes in their personal ones. 

Will things be the same ever? Or is Pressing the Restart button the answer?





Sundari Venkatraman is an Indie Author who has 69 books to her credit, the latest book being PRESS RESTART, which is a standalone novel. These books have consistently featured in the Top 100 Bestseller Lists on Amazon India, Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Amazon Canada and Amazon Australia in both romance as well as Asian Drama categories. Her latest hot romances have all been on #1 Bestseller slot in Amazon India for over a month.

These days, the author is independently publishing her novels in paperback format under her banner Flaming Sun, printed and distributed by Notion Press. 

Even as a child, Sundari absolutely loved the ‘lived happily ever after’ syndrome and she grew up on a steady diet of fairy tales, Phantom comics and Mandrake comics. It was always about good triumphing over evil and a happy ending after the protagonists surmounted all unexpected obstacles.

Once she entered her teens, Sundari switched her loyalties from fairy tales to Mills & Boon. While she loved reading both of these, she kept visualising what would have happened if there were similar situations happening in India; to local heroes and heroines. And of course, the joy of vanquishing the ubiquitous evil villains! Her imagination soared and she happily ensconced herself in a rosy romantic cocoon for many years.

Then came the writing—a true bolt from the blue! And Sundari Venkatraman has never looked back.


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A to Z April Challenge 2024: S for SING FOR ME

SING FOR ME is the first book in my Bollywood Bros trilogy and follows the story of Vivaan Chandhok and Mili Sharma. Vivaan loves music and enjoys his work as the head of a famous Bollywood music house. 

Mili is one of the contestants at the music talent show organised by Vivaan’s company. They both are attracted to each other, Vivaan admiring her singing from the bottom of his heart.

He keeps his distance from her, not keen on the paparazzi pointing a finger at Mili, as she is one of the top most contestants, while he owns the music company.

She’s stolen from right under his nose when Ankit, the singer who wins the contest, proposes marriage to Mili.

Read SING FOR ME to find out if the heartbroken Vivaan ever finds happiness. This book is available on Kindle and is FREE on Kindle Unlimited.


Story-in-Brief

Mili lacks self-confidence when she arrives in Mumbai to take part in a singing contest. It’s young Vivaan who goes to her rescue and they are deeply attracted to each other.

But he keeps his distance from Mili once the contest begins in earnest, to avoid her name being trashed by the paparazzi…

…only for her to be stolen from right under his nose by Ankit who goes on to marry her, breaking Vivaan’s heart in the process.

Six years later…

Mili leaves her abusive marriage, deciding to walk alone. Will Vivaan be able to win her now? And find happiness with the woman he never stopped loving?
 
*D for Dance with Me is Book 2 of Bollywood Bros trilogy.


 

Saturday, April 20, 2024

A to Z April Challenge 2024: R for THE RUNAWAY BRIDEGROOM


THE RUNAWAY BRIDEGROOM is a novel I wrote while working full time. I used to blog my novels those days as there were no takers for them in the traditional publishing world. I also used to manage my kitchen, making no less than three meals every day.

Well, the story wanted to be told, the characters insisting on having their say; and how could I refuse? I used to write one chapter per week, publishing them every Friday. Even today, in its final form, most of the thirty-eight chapters in this book are brief, all because I had managed to write one chapter every Thursday night, determined not to give up telling my stories.

There was another feedback many readers insisted on giving me: They have only heard of runaway brides, but never of any runaway bridegroom. I’m only thrilled that my tale is unique. 

Jokes apart, this story is about child marriage (a taboo subject, but still prevalent in the smallest of villages in India) and I had to tell my version of such a wedding. 

The Runaway Bridegroom is also the first book in the Marriages Made in India series which consists of 6 books in all. 


Story-in-Brief: 

Chanda Maheshwari’s family is shaken when her thirteen-year-old bridegroom Veerendra runs away immediately after the wedding. The eight-year-old child doesn’t even understand the impact on her life. Unable to face their neighbours and friends, the Maheshwaris move from their village to Jaipur and begin a new life in the city.

Fourteen years later, Chanda is studying in a Delhi College. She takes up a temporary job at RS Software Pvt. Ltd. and falls head-over-heels for the boss of the operation. But what about Ranveer Singh? Is he interested in her?

Ranveer’s secretary Shikha is desperate to make him fall for her. All she wants is life-long security with a rich man. But it’s nerd Abhimanyu who keeps getting in the way. Abhi is Ranveer’s second-in-command and Shikha isn’t keen on him as she’s eyeing the main chance.

When Ranveer appears to show interest in Chanda, she’s faced with a new problem. Astrologer Vidyasagar insists that she would get back with her husband Veerendra. Does anyone want to know what she wants?

Chanda feels torn between the man she has fallen for and the family values that have been instilled in her. Will she ever find happiness?