Book ReviewReviews

Book Review – The Hunt for Kohinoor by Manreet Sodhi Someshwar

by Tina Basu
written by Tina Basu
Hello people, it’s a book review after a lot of short fiction writing. And this time it’s a thriller. It is a sequel to the 2012 best seller The Taj Conspiracy. 

Now I had not read TTC and now after finishing this book I think I need to get my copy of TTC. The Hunt for Kohinoor revolves around Mehrunisa It has just about everything to make it a good thriller, and you also have our neighbors in this fast paced thriller.

The Story


Mehrunisa Khosa the smart and witty protagonist has to save our nation from a catastrophic attack and she has only 96 hours for it after the Pakistani Army chief gets killed. The general dies leaving behind a Kohinoor and she has to figure that out as only that can help in saving the attack on India.

She is sent to Pakistan for the Kohinoor quest along with Raghav. Mehrunisa is an expert in Mughal history and artifacts and is the ideal person for this quest, which turns out to be a roller coaster ride. Will she be successful? Will she be able to save the nation? Where will the Kohinoor lead to? You will need to read this for sure.

Analysis

The story unfolds various secrets, and twists and turns as any thriller would do. And the striking thing is an Indian author attempting a fast time track. I am a big fan of Mr. Dan Brown for his ability to bring in 3-4 tracks and a story spread across 24 hours. This one attempts something similar with multiple tracks and a 96 hour story line.

The detailing of the rough terrains and Mehrunisa working with RAW having the nerve to enter enemy terrain gives an adrenalin rush to you as you go on reading.

The storyline and the plots keep you hooked on to it, but there are few places which I felt could have been dealt better, things were getting dragged. But that’s okay I guess, after all you get some very intense moments.

The Author

I read up a little on Manreet Sodhi Someshwar and it looks like this IIM-C alumnus did quite good to leave the corporate world to get into writing fiction. I read a lot of praises on The Taj Conspiracy and I have decided to pick it up soon. She has also written a novel called The Long Walk Home and Earning the Laundry Stripes. She definitely is an author to look out for. You can read more about her in her website.

My Rating – 3.75/5. Quite a nice read

Book – The Hunt for Kohinoor
Author – Manreet Sodhi Someshwar
Genre – Thriller
Publisher – Westland Publishing
Published in – October 2013
ISBN 13 – 9789383260607
ISBN 10 – 9383260602
Pages – 432
Price – INR 295

———————————————————————————————
This book was sent by the publisher. These are entirely my own views and I try not to be biased while reviewing.
———————————————————————————————

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Uncategorized

Five Sentence Fiction – Over a Cup of Coffee

by Tina Basu
written by Tina Basu
Hello guys, see I am being punctual for a change. My Thursday Five Sentence Fiction Prompt from Lillie’s blog just arrived in my inbox and here I am updating my post already. I like the moment when my mind starts thinking how to play with the prompts as soon as I get them. I so like prompts. 

People please let me know on some blogging challenges please, weekly or monthly challenges. You can also tell me about food blog challenges. In case you have not noticed I have a food blog as well which goes by the name Twinkling Tina Cooks. Challenges makes life interesting.

Okay now check out my this weeks Five Sentence Fiction and you ca read the previous posts here.

Over a cup of Coffee  

Frieda spotted a familiar looking face at the coffee shop, a face that she knew all her life, it was still the same, pretty and lively but now had a reading glass on and was dug in a book.

“Hi” she said as the pretty face looked up and stared at her through her reading glasses, it stood still for a moment but Frieda watched the eyes light up.

“Hi, long time” said Candice while pulling up a chair for her.

They chatted for several hours, the chat started out with single words and long silences but ended in girly giggles and consoling hugs like the old times.

The weekend stroll at the mall proved fruitful for Frieda, that silly misunderstanding over the college lad had kept the best friends apart for six years, but now they were back like old times and Frieda was happy she made the first move in all these years. 

Photo Courtesy: http://weheartit.com/entry/10127266

———————————————————————————— 
Word theme for the current week is MISUNDERSTANDING.
———————————————————————————— 
Lillie McFerrin Writes

Leave a comment below if you liked this short fiction and if you want me to write some more. Your words mean a lot to me


17 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Uncategorized

Five Sentence Fictions – The Sunshine

by Tina Basu
written by Tina Basu
Hello People, hope you guys are all fine. Last week couldn’t post much on the blog because of some crazy project that we have started at work. And I was not getting any time in between or after. So the FSF prompt came on Friday and I kept on delaying this post. But since I still have some time left its fitting I finish it off now before one more delay. 
So this week’s prompt is ‘Sunshine’. So go ahead and check this one out. I had written a 55 Fiction on a similar theme and would like you to read that as well. You can read that here.

The Sunshine 

Selena was upset that evening, in this cold hotel suite, in this cold land, she hated the long shooting schedules in such secluded places – being a superstar was not easy.

The next day was special and she wanted to be home, with the people she loved, she was longing for that touch, but she knew she had to spend the night alone and the next day shooting.

Snuggling to a soft cushion on the couch, she chose to ignore the doorbell, but had to pick herself up on the third ring to check who on earth could ignore her ‘do-not-disturb’ tag.

“What… what are you doing here in Alaska? Did you really come down here to meet me?” asked an ecstatic Selena who suddenly looked so happy to see her James, her man.

“Yes my Sunshine, how can I not be with you on your birthday”, said a smiling James holding a bottle of champagne.

Photo Courtesy: www.get-covers.com
———————————————————————————— 
Word theme for the current week is SUNSHINE.
———————————————————————————— 
Lillie McFerrin Writes
2 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Uncategorized

55 Fiction Friday – My Valentine

by Tina Basu
written by Tina Basu
Hey people, how are you doing on this Valentine? Are you guys also fretting like me why this year its on a Friday and not over the weekends? Well you could always take a long weekend out somewhere and enjoy with your love. I unfortunately am at work and not liking it a bit. But thank God it’s on a Friday and can plan something for the night. 

Anyways I was not writing my 55 fictions for some time. So I thought its best to do a Valentine themed 55 fiction this time. I like to give some depths to my characters so sometimes the contents are layered and you might need to read between the lines. But that’s exactly what writing a 55 fiction or a 5 sentence fiction is. You can read my 55 Fictions here and 5 sentence fiction here (if you wish to that is). 

So go ahead and read this one.


My Valentine

Puja stared at the birds flying, from her bed.

She turned and saw Rahul entering the room.

“What are you doing here? I told you don’t see me”, she snapped.

“Babes you know this won’t work, some burn scars on your body doesn’t change anything for me”

“You’ll always be my valentine. I love you.”    

image courtesy: all-images.org
 Leave a comment below if you liked it. If you didn’t like it then also you can leave a comment… Don’t you?


0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Uncategorized

Five Sentence Fiction – Desperate

by Tina Basu
written by Tina Basu
My Thursday Five Sentence Fiction prompt is here from Lillie’s blog and so is my tiny story. 

I hope you are liking the short fictions I’m writing.

So go ahead and check it out. 





Desperate 

Rano looked at her little kids sleeping on the floor mat in her tiny dark shelter.

Her three children were her world and she clung on to them like the protective tigress ever since her husband left her in this state for the other woman.

A painting by Cynthia Angeles titled Grief from blogs.tribune.com.pk

Their innocent faces and limp bodies made Rano desperate; she couldn’t see her children this way.

Everything is finished… this can’t go on… I have to accept the offer… I will not let my children suffer like this…

God give me Strength, I have never done this before, but if I don’t go and sleep with the men my kids will go hungry again tomorrow.

———————————————————————————— 
Word theme for the current week is STRENGTH.
———————————————————————————— 
Lillie McFerrin Writes

Leave a comment below if you liked the short story.


5 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Book ReviewReviews

Book Review: The Proposal by Lily Zante

by Tina Basu
written by Tina Basu
         
Now for last few weeks I am hooked on to the Kindle Cloud reader and the Kindle app on my phone. Ever since I planned to take public transport my time for reading has increased, thankfully. I came across this chick lit light romance fiction on Amazon and it was free to download, so I thought of giving it a try. At the end I was really overwhelmed so thought I might as well review it here. 

Now little warning for you guys – it’s adult and mushy romance, so if you don’t like such stuffs then you may avoid. But who doesn’t like some mushy romance sometimes?? “The Proposal” is the first book of A Perfect Match Series. It’s followed by a prequel “Lost in Solo” and the final book is “Heart Sync”.


The Story

Nadine is an independent & fierce career woman who has always weighted her career above anything else. While hosting a bachelorette party for her little sister Nadine encounters the handsome, well-built and suave Ethan Adams who happens to be a male stripper. Nadine hires Ethan for a weekend to play a pretend boyfriend for a work convention that she has to attend with a partner. Now that she didn’t have one she couldn’t just go there without anyone in her arms.

During the weekend Nadine discovers Ethan was stepping in for a night as the stripper in place of a sick friend and he actually is a male escort! As if the stripper part was not enough!! But she is attracted to his brains and brawns and how he charms everyone around. Ethan on his part, is equally attracted and amused with Nadine as how a pretty face like her is not the conventional girl like. He gives Nadine the due respect and sleeps in his sleeping bag in spite of sharing a suite in a five star.

Both are attracted emotionally towards each other but are in dark on what the other one thinks about, and at the wrong time Nadine finds him shirtless with another woman and misunderstanding crops up heightening the tension between them. Sandra, Nadine’s catty boss at the ad-agency figures out about Ethan’s stint as an escort and whips up a whirlwind at her workplace. It takes another friend to come and explain the situation and Nadine wakes up to reality after some agonizing and lonely weeks and gives Ethan a visit at his Studio. Mr. Adams is not a sleazy stripper or escort he is an artist. With confusions cleared up you have Nadine and Ethan together through their passion filled colorful nights and romantic times.   

My Thoughts

Okay… now did I tell you most of the story?? Well its okay I guess, since it’s not a suspense thriller or anything of that sort. It’s a mushy romantic Chick Lit read. But hold on… it’s not just another read. The way the characters are built are superlative. I loved Ethan so much that I could fall in love with him. He is handsome, he is suave, he has the perfect physique he has the restrained look (that’s what you visualize as you read), a power house of emotion – such a hero material. I got so engrossed in their love story that I couldn’t wait but ordered and read the sequel. I will review that later. Ethan for me is such a real character.

As much I loved Ethan and Nadine and got pissed of the lady on why she couldn’t trust her man, I equally hated Sandra the catty boss for being such a bitch. Now the end of The Proposal gets a little predictable, but which romance fiction I not. We all know the hero has to get his lady, and a hero like Ethan damn well should get his lady!

Now coming to the writing style – I think the book was for the British audience and later changed for the US. The characters are American and stay in San Francisco and they speak British words. But I am not complaining. A good read is a good read. I am completely overwhelmed with this read you might have realized that by now so I will pass the little grammar glitches as well… haha

About the Author

Lily Zante is a romance author with several romantic fictions to her credit. In between bringing up three kids she writes romantic fictions. And after reading The Proposal & Heart Sync you have a new follower in me. You can check out about her books in her website here.

My Rating – 4.5/5.

I usually don’t rate a romance genre so high given that I absolutely love thrillers and mystery. But I couldn’t help but rate this one high because I freaking loved it. GoodReads didn’t allow me a 4.5 so I had to rate it 4 there.


The Kindle edition is available on Amazon for free and you may download it here. 

Product Details: (From Amazon.in)
  • File Size: 1865 KB
  • Print Length: 144 pages
  • Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
  • Publisher: Lily Zante (January 12, 2014)
  • Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B00ARFOGQ2
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled 
  • X-Ray:
  • Lending: Not Enabled

2 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Newer Posts
Older Posts