Minx book review

IT TAKES A MINX TO TEMPT A ROGUE...

Henrietta Barrett has never followed the dictates of society. She manages her elderly guardian's remote Cornwall estate, wears breeches instead of frocks, and answers to the unlikely name of Henry. But when her guardian passes away, her beloved home falls into the hands of a distant cousin.

...AND IT TAKES A ROGUE TO TAME HER

William Dunford, London's most elusive bachelor, is stunned to learn that he's inherited property, a title... and a ward bend on making his first visit his last. Henry is determined to continue running Stannage Park without help from the handsome new lord, but Dunford is just as sure he can change things... starting with his wild young ward. But turning Henry into a lady makes her not only the darling of the ton, but an irresistible attraction to the man who thought he could never be tempted.

Best thing about this book hands down is the pet name, Minx, given by the hero to the heroine. Minx is by far one of the most original pet names I’ve seen in literature or heard in real life. Very cute and fits the story perfectly. The worst thing about the book was this phrase and its variations: “I’m Henrietta Barrett, but call me Henry; everybody else does.” Completely overused. On top of that Henry is so boyish it’s hard to get behind. I much preferred Dunford’s further shortening of her name to Hen, sadly he only uses it a few times.

Rating: 4 Stars before the midpoint and 3 Stars by the end.

Being Nikki book review

Emerson Watts is still trying to adjust to life being supermodel Nikki Watts and being technically dead. She still tries to go to school and is still hoping her life-long crush will figure out she's really Em living in the body of Nikki. Just when she thinks she has the hang of her new life, she finds herself engaged in a undercover struggle with her sinister employer Stark Enterprises, running from a variety of Nikki's ex-lovers, and looking for Nikki's long-lost relatives. Can Stark really be as bad as it appears, and will she ever get to live her own life?

Author Meg Cabot does it again. Once readers pick up BEING NIKKI they will not be able to put it down. By now readers of the first book will be used to the idea of brain transplants, so that fantastical portion of the book doesn't take away from the intrigue and mystery of Stark Enterprises.

The novel is funny, the language realistic, and there is an intriguing mystery mixed in with the fluffy teen model and crush story lines. Cabot takes her readers on a great ride, and the only complaint most will have is that the ride stops and readers will have to wait for the next book to see what happens.

Brighter than the sun by Julia Quinn book review

Husbands don’t grow on trees…but apparently they fall from them, especially when roaringingly drunk. This is something that Miss Ellie Lyndon finds out the hard way when Charles Wycombe, Earl of Billington, falls from an oak tree and straight on her toes, then not long after proceeds to make an offer of marriage. Although completely foxed Charles thinks the very prickly but lovely Miss Lyndon will make a perfect wife, especially as he only has a few weeks to find one before he loses his fortune, but even he is taken by surprise when she accepts his offer and the marriage takes place. But as time progresses, they find that this marriage of convienence could be much more then they ever expected.

I find it so hard to rate a Julia Quinn book, I believe I have, without fail, enjoyed every single one I’ve ever laid my hands on. I know exactly what I will find when I draw back the cover of one of her romances; a quirky lovable heroine; a charming and cheeky hero and dialogue that is bound to leave me with a massive smile on my face, as well a sweet love story that is pure and brilliant brain candy. These books are never going to change the world, but they are well written and whilst I am reading them I can’t put them down and I always enjoy it. So that leaves me with the problem, what shall I rate it?

Brighter than the Sun made me laugh and Charles and Ellie were so adorable together and their banter was witty and well written. But, will I remember this book in 6 months time and be desparate to reread it? Probably not. But don’t let this put you off, it is a great book, it is the marshmallow of the book world it is fun, fluffy, sweet and would go great with a barbeque on the beach!

Twenties girl by Sophie Kinsella

Lara Lington has always had an overactive imagination, but suddenly that imagination seems to be in overdrive. Normal professional twenty-something young women don’t get visited by ghosts. Or do they?

When the spirit of Lara’s great-aunt Sadie—a feisty, demanding girl with firm ideas about fashion, love, and the right way to dance—mysteriously appears, she has one request: Lara must find a missing necklace that had been in Sadie’s possession for more than seventy-five years, because Sadie cannot rest without it. 

Lara and Sadie make a hilarious sparring duo, and at first it seems as though they have nothing in common. But as the mission to find Sadie’s necklace leads to intrigue and a new romance for Lara, these very different “twenties” girls learn some surprising truths from and about each other. Written with all the irrepressible charm and humor that have made Sophie Kinsella’s books beloved by millions, Twenties Girl is also a deeply moving testament to the transcendent bonds of friendship and family.

While TWENTIES GIRL does have a bit of a poor beginning, I would urge you to bear with it, it’s a hugely entertaining, laugh-out-loud, romantic comedy with a ghostly sidekick. Or perhaps a ghostly heroine, depending on how you want to look at it. Kinsella knows how to write comedy, and write it really well.

Along for the ride by Sarah Dessen Book review

Ok. This is my first book by Sarah Dessen. I have heard of her writings. Well I found it slow paced but yeah ,  a defenite read though.

Auden has major insomnia. Ever since her parents took a visit to splitsville, she doesn’t sleep during the night, choosing to drive around and drink coffee instead. Right, so Auden goes to live with her dad and his new wife for the summer. Auden is one of those people who had to group up fast because her parents act like children, and thus she’s got to take on the adult role. Anyways, while in beachtown, she decides to act like a legit teenager instead of a grown up. With a new job at her step mom’s boutique, Auden learns the ropes on how to have a normal teenage life and makes friends with Maggie and other girls and they have these awesome impromptu work dance parties. 

I really enjoyed Along For The Ride minus the baby parts. Dessen pens an interesting and engaging plot line. The tone is occasionally serious, but it never gets too heavy handed. Auden’s exploration of teen-like activities makes for an intriguing premise in addition to dealing with her family problems. Her dad is totaly selfish – i.e. he won’t take care of the baby because it’s all about him and I totally wanted to clock him in the face. 

Well there is  Eli Stock. He is a professional bike rider who isn’t quite into riding bikes any more. And he has secrets!! And he is kind!! And nice!! And athletic!! Also, a night owl, hence joining Auden on her quest to be a normal teenager. 

If you are looking for a solid contemporary read, you might as well pick up Along For The Ride. After all, I thought  Dessen perfectly delivered – an authentic heroine, family drama, a strong love interest, and tumble-into-prose.

Its all about love by Tanveer Singh Book review

I was  in a hurry and I dint read the back of the book when i bought it.

Well its a Homo love story. I thought as I have already got it, let me read it.

So,

I don't know how to start because if I had to say anything about this book then I would be giving away many things . Anyway the lead of the book is a straight guy but enters the Homo world for research. Its an entirely different world to him. He learns many things about the new world and so does we. 

The issues handled in the book are so delicate that my opinions about the book could have swung both ways 

Its authors like these that make us question certain issues, clear the air about many misconceptions and at the end enlighten us about the many things that are considered taboo in our society.

Well the readers might enjoy it or not. If you are really open minded, accept the facts and get on with it, then you will surely enjoy the book. If you are too concerned the other way, then just let this one go.

I too had a love story book review

If you are looking for a book with literary skills,you may not get it but if you are looking for something warm,something to relate to,something that happens in your simple middle class home,then this 

 is it..With no pretensions of being a classic,this book evokes the most wonderful feeling in you..that of love..

The protagonist Ravin from Bhubaneswar is an Infy guy who after a college reunion with 4 buddies decide to create a profile on Shaadi.com..A girl from Faridabad sees her profile contact him..Thats how slowly the romance blooms..Its something a teenager or people just of teens can relate to..the emotions,the craziness,the silliness,the illogical things that we do to connect and grow with your love..With absolutely no resistance the duo is welcomed by both parents and seemingly everything moves towards the D day..The valentines day of 2006 when they decide to exchange rings and everything is hunky dory,till fate strikes..

A must read for suckers of romance and especially people who love the story teling ways of Indian films and TV serials..

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer: review

You might have thought there was no room for more in the bloated Twilight saga, which consists of four mega-tomes for teenagers relating the chaste love affair between a kindly vampire and a human girl. But there is. Stephenie Meyer has a story to tell and not even garlic will stop her. This mini-tome takes a minor character from the series, Bree Tanner, who (unfortunately for her) was vampirised. The novella follows her on the road to her death. Yes, she dies. Again. Didn’t guess that from the title, did you?

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephanie Meyer
This lack of suspense might have been mitigated by good writing or character development. But Meyer doesn’t let such things get in the way of her befanged juggernaut. The plot concerns a vampire army. These vampires are bad. No, really bad! They listen to loud bass-heavy music. Sometimes they flip over cars, just for fun. They are being created by a girlishly voiced vampirette to attack the Cullens (the main family in the saga). Bree and the others are kept subjugated in a cellar; Bree falls in love with Diego, a slightly older pretty vampire (“but then,” muses Bree, “who wasn’t pretty?”), and tries to work out what’s going on.
 

Meyer’s favourite tricks are lists and repetition: “The sound of his landing was too low to catch the attention of the crying prostitute, the zoned-out prostitute, or the angry pimp.” Her conversations are limited, as most people are so tongue-tied they spend their time staring at each other across tables (causing Bree to think, usefully, “I had sat like this before – across a table from someone”).
Sometimes Meyer accidentally channels P G Wodehouse: “A couple of kids temporarily lost limbs”, or “the breeze turned helpfully gentle”. At others, Napoleon Dynamite crops up: “Vampires with skillzzz.” When the vampire army attacks a passenger ship, it’s Enid Blyton: “That was amazing – three cheers for Riley!” shouts one of them as they sit surrounded by bloodied and gutted corpses.
 

This is a strange, chaotic, even tedious book, which you cannot read if you don’t know the series, and if you do know it, won’t enlighten you one bit.

Codex Alera book review

(Thanx to Vikram Raghu for the review)

Having read extensively into several classics and many recent popular novels... 

I find it surpising that this book is not more popular. 

The story is set based on the middle ages roughly and at some places hints to be part of the Romanic era. It revolves mainly around a young boy named Tavi born into a country where everyone without exception possess elemental powers of varying degrees of magnitude earth, fire, wind, water, metal and wood. Without exception atleast until Tavi was born. 

As he grows he faces difficulties including public ridicule. The story evolves around him over six books as he overcomes problem after problem with nothing but wits and deadly cunning and resourcefulness ultimately to lead the entire country in a battle for survival.

I believe that many people are not gripped by this because they find that the story develops slowly. Personally I believe that this series can be compared to the "Lord of the rings" on an equal footing and had I not read it I would have missed out on one the best stories that come around once a decade or so.

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Fallen by Lauren Kate

There's something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Lucinda Price's (Luce) attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. She is sent to that reform school as a boy mysteriously burnt to death while with her, . She see shadows in a different way. They follow her even in the dead night. The reason remains a secret..

Luce misses her previous life, her best friend, her parents.. But Daniel is the one bright spot in the school where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move of everyone. There is the other guy Cam who is so charming and flirts with Luce. She likes Cam but she is confused about the attraction towards Daniel. She also realises that Daniel is one other person who can see the mysterious shadows.

Luce with her new friend, Penn (the only one who is not a reform student at school) tries to find out about Daniel and in the process finds a very old picture (picture taken few hunded years back) of Daniel and hers in a textbook at the Library. She gets dumbstruck. Then the truth is revealed..

Daniel is an angel. He is madly and deeply in love with Luce who dies n comes back after every seventeen years. The story is always the same. She dies when they try to express their love. Her death is always mysterious. Again after seventeen years, somehow they get to meet and she falls for him..

But while she learns about her story, Cam turns into a demon and attacks Daniel and other angels at the school. The librarian whom Luce always adored offers to help the humans (Luce and Penn). But, the librarian herself turns against Luce and kills Penn for no reason and also try to kill Luce. But the gorgeous Daniel rescues her and sends her to a safe place temporarily.

This is not the end. Infact, its the beginning. Cam is not a demon. But why does he attack Luce who he always flirted and the fact that she is the one whose attention he always tried to steal remains true?? Why doesnt Daniel kill Cam?? Daniel doesnt reveal the truths to Luce. Why? Is there something which Daniel doesnt really want Luce to know?? What is their story and why are they destined to fall in love with each other over and over again??

Hopefully, U can get the answers for these questions in the sequel, Torment.

I personally chose Fallen assuming it a vampire-human love story like Twilight. But in the beginning of my journey itself, I understood its nothing to do about vampires. Even though it is not a completely interesting book, but it can take us to new angel-human love story.

LOVE STORY by Erich Segal book review

         Love Story by Erich Segal” is the best selling love story. It is about a romantic love story of wealthy and respected Oliver Barrett IV with working class Jennifer Cavilleri. They get married after their graduation against the wishes of Oliver’s father.

         Oliver goes to Law school. Jenny works at a private school supporting financially and they struggle for 3-4 years. Then, Oliver graduates third in Harvard Law and get placed in a respectable Law firm. They decide to increase their family by having a child. On failing, the couple consults a doctor. After few repeated tests, the doctor informs Oliver that Jenny is having Leukemia and will soon die.

        Oliver tries to be normal without telling her. But Jenny comes to know about it from other doctor. With their days together numbered, Jenny begins a costly cancer therapy. Soon, Oliver becomes unable to afford the multiplying hospital expenses. Desperate, he seeks financial relief from his father. When his father asks the reason, Oliver hides the truth and lie to his father that he got a girl in trouble.

          Jenny tells her father and Oliver to take care of each other. Oliver and Jenny lie together on bed. Then the only girl Olive has ever loved is gone. Coming out of the hospital, he goes into his father who now knows truth and wants to help his son. His son reveals the death of Jenny to which his father replies “Sorry”. Then Oliver does something which he never did in his life. He hugs his father and tells the line which was once told by his love…”Love means never having to say you're sorry."

2 STATES by Chetan Bhagat book review

What do you expect when you read something like this on the cover page of a novel?

"Love marriages around the world are simple.

Boy Loves Girl... Girl Loves Boy.....They get married.

But in India...

Boy Loves Girl... Girl Loves Boy

 Boy’s Family needs to love Girl..... Girl’s Family needs to love Boy .... 

Boy's Family has to love Girl's Family...Girl's Family has to love Boy's Family.... 

If Boy and Girl still love each other, they get married "

You almost know the story. Its about how a young couple meet, fall in love, parents intially object but later are forced to succumb to the demands of their kids. Finally the marriage takes place, the girl becomes pregnant and the couple lives happily ever after with their own children.

Though the storyline doesn't have many surprise elements, the narration is pretty good. 

You start reading the novel and can’t stop till the end.

Boy is KRISH from Punjab and girl is ANANYA from Tamilnadu. 

Its a story of a not so typical indian marriage. But sure the incidents between Krish and Anaya will keep you captivated till the end ^_^

ANGEL by L.A. Weatherly book review

This novel is such a shocker.

What I expected with Angel, is vastly different from what I have read. Even from the very beginning I was already caught unaware by this novel. It's far from predictable, and none of my guesses were actually even remotely near the plot. There were always surprises around every corner and each caught me by surprise. Throw away all your expectations and read this book. You will not regret it!

Willow knows she’s different from other girls. She has a gift. She can look into people’s futures, know their dreams, their hopes and their regrets, just by touching them. She has no idea where she gets this power from…But Alex does. Gorgeous, mysterious Alex knows Willow’s secret and is on a mission to stop her.  In spite of himself, Alex finds he is falling in love with his sworn enemy.

While the suspense remains a constant presence in the course of the plot, there is also adventure and romance intertwined strongly within the novel. Willow and Alex are two very different, very engaging characters. I found the character development to be more intrinsic than external, linking closely to the romance and plot as a whole. I couldn't get enough of the two!

OH SHIT, NOT AGAIN by Mandar Kokate book review

 Have you ever experienced what happens when a porn movie is mistakenly played in front of your grandma and the CD player refuses to stop?

Have you ever experienced what happens when mixture of vodka and soft drink is served to hundreds of people gathered for a party?

Have you ever experienced what happens when a boy is kicked in the groin by a girl when he attempts to kiss her?

Have you ever experienced what happens when a college-going student has an affair with a married woman whose husband carts a gun? Have you ever experienced what happens when you are conspired into a murder that you had merely witnessed?

        The cover of this book said it's a National Best Seller, and the above abstract written at the back of the book made me to take this book when I was just going through the racks of books at the Crossword. It also held the caution in the first page saying

'Beware before you read......

you may die laughing......'

         But I must say it is a complete dissappointment. The writer could have done a much better job. There is no proper plot. The story is about 5 friends Raj, Aarti, Seema, Sam, Andy. This story is more than vulgar. I wonder how come it ended up as the Indian Best seller. I regretted after reading it. The lead character Raj himself is worse and his friend Sam is the ugliest character I ve ever read. The writer tried copying the style of Chetan Bhagat but he is  miles away from Chetan. Last but not least, if I ever see this book again, I'll just say myself "Oh shit, not again!!!"

RIGHT FIT WRONG SHOE by Varsha Dixit book review

         Right Fit Wrong Shoe is a Bollywood movie type story. Everyone have different opinions on bollywood. So, let me say how I felt about the book. It is a cool love story. I never thought Indian writers are this good. This book really got my whole attention for a day. Im still unable to come out of the feel it created in me.

          The story weaves around Nandini and all that is important to her, with two contenders gunning for the top spot; Aditya Sarin and Sneha Verma. Sneha and Nandini are the ideal example for bff. Aditya Sarin, the man Nandini is madly in love with, yet compelled, for some unsolved reason to shun. Aditya, in the past declared Nandini to be a ‘lassi in a wine glass’ and appropriately not his type. Yet he fell for her . . . hard!!! Both of their families relate to each other with much passion and love. However, some mysterious episode causes the lovers to acrimoniously, part.

                After their break up, Aditya moved away. But now he is back and wants to give Nandini hard time. Fortunately for the readers, and unfortunately for Aditya, Nandini is determined not to give up and tried to be as normal as she can. No matter how hard Aditya tries to hate her, his love for her never ends. Jealous and Sneha play an important role in making a happy ending.

                It has a simple story line. But I assure you no one can just drop the book once you start it. It is a book which should only be read and not just try to get the story. All the scenes and characters are very lively and compassionate. 

PRINCESS DIARIES by Meg Cabot book review

Mia Thermopolis is your average urban ninth grader. Even though she lives in Greenwich Village with a single mom who is a semifamous painter, Mia still puts on her Doc Martens one at a time, and the most exciting things she ever dreams about are smacking lips with sexy senior Josh Richter, "six feet of unadulterated hotness," and passing Algebra I. 

Then Mia's dad comes to town, and drops a major bomb. Turns out he's not just a European politician as he's always lead her to believe, but actually the prince of a small country! And Mia, his only heir, is now considered the crown princess of Genovia! She doesn't even know how to begin to cope: "I am so NOT a princess.... You never saw anyone who looked less like a princess than I do. I mean, I have really bad hair... and... a really big mouth and no breasts and feet that look like skis." And if this news wasn't bad enough, Mia's mom has started dating her algebra teacher, the paparazzi is showing up at school, and she's in a huge fight with her best friend, Lilly. 

How much more can this reluctant Cinderella handle?

This novel is definitely a fun and entertaining read, but it’s also a story about Mia maturing and learning throughout her everyday life.  It's a lot of fun, but it still leaves the reader with a good deal to think about.  I think everyone who’s even been a teenager can find a little something in this book which they’ll enjoy.

TWILIGHT by Stephenie Meyer book review

There's a reason more than 10 million Twilight series books are in print. Twilight, the first in the series, is the addictive story of two teenagers –- Bella, a regular girl, and Edward, a perfect gentleman and a vampire. This is the type of book you might read in just a few sittings, becoming engrossed in its fantastical world and oblivious to your physical surroundings. While not the next great thing in modern literature, it's a fun book to get lost in and comes to an end much too quickly.

I need not say much about it, its already a big sorry huge hit. Twilight will almost certainly appeal to teenage girls and many women of all ages, but probably not to the majority of males. It's sure to make readers eager to devour the next three novels.

HARRY POTTER by JK Rowling book review

"I wouldn't be surprised if today was known as Harry Potter day in the future - there will be books written about Harry - every child in our world will know his name."Professor McGonagall, in the first chapter titled "The Boy Who Lived"

By now there's not much that can be said about the Harry Potter phenomenon  that hasn't been said already. Worshipped by kids, enjoyed by adults, this modern myth has become an accepted classic worldwide. Pull any copy of the series off a shelf anywhere in the world and you're holding magic.

It's not hard to see why. Right from the first page of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" (or "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" for those reading in the UK) Rowling proves that she knows a thing or two about the kind of magic that brings stories to life.

EVER MORE by Alyson Noel book review

Ever Bloom has been given a second chance at life but she doesn’t think she deserves it. She is the sole survivor of a car accident that killed her parents and little sister. Now Ever has moved in with her aunt in California and is going to a new school. Since the tragic deaths, Ever has acquired a psychic gift that she doesn’t particularly like.

Damen is very unusual and has a lot of secrets but the one that he is open with is his fondness for Ever. The whole world stops when Damen talks to her and the connection between them is undeniable

Evermore is the first book in a new Young Adult Series called The Immortals. The writing is eloquent, the characters come alive, and the romance is heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time. There are many similarities to compare Evermore to Twilight but I enjoyed . The first person point of view is intimate and the narration by Ever is strong with emotions and feeling. She is confused and going through a lot and the reader can feel her angst come through in her passages.

MILES TO GO by Miley Cyrus book review

We all know her. Or at least we think we do. We’ve heard her on the radio, seen her on MTV, YouTube, talk shows, music videos, the internet, shirts, posters in every little girl’s bedroom, award shows, iTunes, and in those scandalous photos in Vanity Fair. She is Miley Cyrus, the seventeen-year-old made famous by her television character, Miley Stewart, or “Hannah Montana,” and the cheesy love/pop songs she writes and sings. Everyone seems to have an opinion on Miley and her actions.  However, she’s now decided to open up and “come clean”  about her life story in an autobiography entitled Miles to Go.

When I started reading Miles to Go, I laughed at of her attempt of writing an autobiography. But as I read the book, I fell for Miley’s stories of character-shaping challenges. At times in this book, Miley acts like a spoiled superstar, but then she’ll let her humble side come through, telling a funny story about a mistake.  Suddenly she’s relatable and just like any other teenager.

Miley Cyrus ends the book with advice for her fans, the clichéd suggestion to “follow your dreams and live every day to its fullest.” She constantly mentions her goal to be a positive and good role model for her fans. In all, Miley truly means well and writes from her heart. She hopes her career in performing will inspire people to do what they love and never hold back.

Oh, just one more thing: the last pages of the book list the 100 things she wants to do before she dies, and number 40 is “make a metal album.”

Good luck Miley.