Introduction
About the author
Me thinks
Foodie Verdict
This book is like chamomile tea for me - fragrant with a subtle long lasting flavour.
- ISIN: 978-9384180195
- Genre: Romance
- Publishers: Write India
- Price: Rs. 111/- ( I got the book from the author for a review)
When Ananya, a bubbly twenty-year-old engineering student, reaches her Grandmother's house in Sreepuram on a month long vacation, romance is the last thing on her mind. However, she meets Dr. Arjun there and falls head over heels in love.
As it often happens, the path of true love never runs smooth. Circumstances force them apart even though they were madly in love. She becomes a victim of depression. When everything fails to return her to normalcy, help arrives from an unexpected source. Will she ever find happiness again? Will time allow her heart to heal and forget Arjun? What indeed is true love? What is that strange secret that locks all the circumstances together?
Travel with Ananya to the picturesque Sreepuram, face the chaos of Bengaluru, and relish the warmth of magical Dubai in this heartwarming tale of love, betrayal, friendship, and miracles.
Behind The bookAs it often happens, the path of true love never runs smooth. Circumstances force them apart even though they were madly in love. She becomes a victim of depression. When everything fails to return her to normalcy, help arrives from an unexpected source. Will she ever find happiness again? Will time allow her heart to heal and forget Arjun? What indeed is true love? What is that strange secret that locks all the circumstances together?
Travel with Ananya to the picturesque Sreepuram, face the chaos of Bengaluru, and relish the warmth of magical Dubai in this heartwarming tale of love, betrayal, friendship, and miracles.
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| Source: Goodreads |
About the author
Preethi Venugopala is a Civil Engineer by education and an avid blogger, artist by passion. After working in many prestigious civil engineering projects for more than a decade, she quit her job to become a full time mother.
Meanwhile, she took a Masters Degree in English literature to complete her dream of studying English literature. She tried her hand successfully at crafts, crocheting, portraiture and painting before venturing into writing.
Preethi Venugopala always liked stories. When alone, she would create stories in her mind but never thought about penning them down until a break from her regular job as a Civil Engineer prompted her to take up blogging.
Flash fictions written for various prompts, winning story writing competitions led to publications of short stories in various anthologies and then to her first full length novel 'Without You'.
She currently lives in Bangalore with her husband, son and an ever growing collection of books. When not penning down the stories of the voices in her head, she can be found curled up on a couch with her favorite book.
Meanwhile, she took a Masters Degree in English literature to complete her dream of studying English literature. She tried her hand successfully at crafts, crocheting, portraiture and painting before venturing into writing.
Preethi Venugopala always liked stories. When alone, she would create stories in her mind but never thought about penning them down until a break from her regular job as a Civil Engineer prompted her to take up blogging.
Flash fictions written for various prompts, winning story writing competitions led to publications of short stories in various anthologies and then to her first full length novel 'Without You'.
She currently lives in Bangalore with her husband, son and an ever growing collection of books. When not penning down the stories of the voices in her head, she can be found curled up on a couch with her favorite book.
Me thinks
It always feels good to read a fellow blogger's book as it reinstates my belief that quality writing is still existent, waiting to be discovered... just like this book. Like they say never judge a book by its cover, it holds true for this one too. When I picked the book for reading I was expecting a cool light and breezy read befitting a perfect lazy weekend afternoon. What I got in turn was a story that had its own ups and downs keeping me enthralled till the end.
What I loved - The descriptions of places, the author has got them all perfectly done almost making me time travel along with her characters to these locations. The characters, they were too well etched to be not connected to the reader. There comes a point where you begin to feel for them and that is a very good sign of a debut author. At a glance the plot does seem very wafer thin but as you read it you come to know the amount of emotions it holds within that makes this book an emotional roller coaster ride for you. Editing is flawless, that speaks volumes in itself for it is a very rare thing in today's times in debut novels and that is where the author scores a brownie point for herself including the superb twist in the end.
From romance to emotions the author has managed to handle it all aptly with the right dosage, not once has she made it feel over the top to choke a reader with too much of anything. A perfectly balanced work in terms of story and plot.
What didn't work for me - The language used in the book was not exactly lucid, with a lot of detailing in the scenes at times tiring the reader in trying to gauge what is being conveyed. For the reviewer in me it surely felt wonderful to have such an amazing grip on the language but the reader in me did feel a bit shaken up at few places. Perhaps the author could have tried writing smaller sentences making it more easier to grasp. Having said that I need to emphasize that it exactly is not a con, rather there are people who enjoy such language and I am one of them. Somehow I feel simplicity of it would have created a greater impact on the reader.
Overall, a fabulous attempt for a first time and it shows the potential the author has as a writer. She has announced her arrival with great gusto. A perfect read for romance lovers, aptly brewed to perfection just the way I like it - strong and tempestuous. It has all the makings of a Bollywood movie and I would really want to see it on the big screen sometime.
P.S: I am really curious to read her historical romance. Having read this book, now that is something on my TBR list soon. Do watch out this space for more on her books :)
What I loved - The descriptions of places, the author has got them all perfectly done almost making me time travel along with her characters to these locations. The characters, they were too well etched to be not connected to the reader. There comes a point where you begin to feel for them and that is a very good sign of a debut author. At a glance the plot does seem very wafer thin but as you read it you come to know the amount of emotions it holds within that makes this book an emotional roller coaster ride for you. Editing is flawless, that speaks volumes in itself for it is a very rare thing in today's times in debut novels and that is where the author scores a brownie point for herself including the superb twist in the end.
From romance to emotions the author has managed to handle it all aptly with the right dosage, not once has she made it feel over the top to choke a reader with too much of anything. A perfectly balanced work in terms of story and plot.
What didn't work for me - The language used in the book was not exactly lucid, with a lot of detailing in the scenes at times tiring the reader in trying to gauge what is being conveyed. For the reviewer in me it surely felt wonderful to have such an amazing grip on the language but the reader in me did feel a bit shaken up at few places. Perhaps the author could have tried writing smaller sentences making it more easier to grasp. Having said that I need to emphasize that it exactly is not a con, rather there are people who enjoy such language and I am one of them. Somehow I feel simplicity of it would have created a greater impact on the reader.
Overall, a fabulous attempt for a first time and it shows the potential the author has as a writer. She has announced her arrival with great gusto. A perfect read for romance lovers, aptly brewed to perfection just the way I like it - strong and tempestuous. It has all the makings of a Bollywood movie and I would really want to see it on the big screen sometime.
P.S: I am really curious to read her historical romance. Having read this book, now that is something on my TBR list soon. Do watch out this space for more on her books :)
This book is like chamomile tea for me - fragrant with a subtle long lasting flavour.
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