Cindy's Love Of Books

Blog Tour: Breathing Two Worlds

Posted on June 26, 2017June 26, 2017 by Cindy

About the Book:

Neena Arya, a Delhi-born goes abroad for
further studies and decides to settle down there. Determined to be a ‘somebody’
from a ‘nobody’ she blends with the Americans via the accent and their
mannerisms while having a live-in relationship with her European boyfriend,
Adan Somoza.

When illness hits home, Neena rushes to
meet her ailing dad. Tragedy strikes and amidst the mingling with relatives and
friends, she finds herself suffocated with the two different cultures that she
has been breathing since she moved to the United States. How will she strike a
balance between both the cultures as she continues to support her widowed
mother? Will she be able to do justice to her personal and professional life
after the loss?

Amidst the adjusting she bonds with an
ally and learns about ties beyond blood. On what grounds will she be able to
form an invisible thread that she has longed for since childhood?

Breathing Two Worlds ventures into
cultures and ethnicity allowing Neena to ponder upon her foundation and
priorities.

Available
on Amazon

Book Trailer:

Excerpt:

“Oh!” the Mom answered, but could not contain her curiosity with one hand holding the hyper toddler and the other on her hip she could not resist, “You two don’t look like brother-sister, hmmm. So, what is your relationship?” she inquired with a slight smile in a soft voice but without any inhibition. A handful of seniors sitting in the same room observed all the drama and nodded to each other while their fingers were moving on the Tulsi neck beads.

Neena rolled her eyes and thought to herself, “Jeez! We Indians are always darn inquisitive.”

Nikhil immediately got up and started walking towards the dining area. This was happening to them for the umpteenth time, and he was now tired of clarifying things. He had lived in this country for half a decade now and still he could never understand the fascination Indians had for marriage and children.

Neena was confused at first because it was unlike Nikhil to be so rude. On the contrary, sometimes Neena referred to him on lessons in patience but today it was different. But then she didn’t have a choice; she felt it was rude to walk away from the young mother leaving the conversation unanswered. Moreover given Indian mentality in all possibility, she might even follow them till she had a convincing answer to her question.

About
the Author:

Ruchira Khanna, a biochemist turned
writer, left her homeland of India to study in America, where she obtained her
Master’s degree in Biochemistry from SJSU and a degree in Technical Writing
from UC Berkeley.

After finishing her studies, Ruchira
worked as a biochemist at a Silicon Valley startup for five years. After the
birth of her son, Ruchira took a job as a technical writer, so that she could
work from home. Soon, she began doing freelance writing work as well.

Her love of writing grew and she started
working on her own books. After four years of freelancing, Ruchira published
her first book, a fiction novel for adults called Choices.

Then came the children’s book The
Adventures of Alex and Angelo: The Mystery of the Missing Iguana. She got a
thumb’s up review from Kirkus Reviews.

In January 2016, she has published her
second fictional novel Voyagers into the Unknown. It talks about the quest for
happiness as the heavy hearted tourists travel miles from different parts of
the world to Raj Touristry in Agra, India. Return to their respective home with
a healed heart. This book talks about their journey!

In Breathing Two Worlds, Ruchira talks
about ethnicity and cultures, and helps to strike a balance via a fiction-drama
novel as her characters breathe two worlds.

In addition to writing books, she is a
holistic healer associated with Stanford Healing Partners and also maintains a
blog of daily mantras on Blogspot, called Abracabadra. Ruchira currently
resides in California with her family.

Find
her on: Website Blog

Sundays In Bed With… A Third Wife

Posted on June 25, 2017June 23, 2017 by Cindy

Welcome to our Sundays In Bed With… Meme! The meme that dares to ask what book has been in your bed this morning? Come share what book you’ve spent time curled up reading in bed, or which book you wish you had time to read today!

This is being hosted by two of the sweetest people I have to privilege of knowing in real life Kate and Kim. Sadly we don’t talk like we use to because you know real life happens but there is not a day that goes by that I don’t think of them both.

I am pre-writing this the night before so I am more the likely not curled up in bed reading but probably curled up on the couch reading since everyone will still probably be sleeping and I can’t sleep in.

It was a long weekend here in Quebec and basically the first long weekend to start the summer although its not really summer like here but we will have to bare with it and hope for nicer weather.

Anyways the reason why you are here is to see what book I am reading today and the next one I will be starting:

3RD WIFE by Lisa Jewell

What are you curled up and reading?

June 2017 Books Bought

Posted on June 24, 2017August 15, 2017 by Cindy

Since starting my blog back in August of 2008 I always try to share what books I get with you so that you can see what I will be reading and I am always looking for a place to link them so that others can see them so from now on I will be sharing my links on Tynga’s Reviews and Reading Reality. As Marlene has offered to co-host Stacking The Shelves with Tynga’s Reviews. Marlene is a new to be blogger and I look forward to checking out her blog.

As you can see I switched this up and will be posting monthly because I have to say since doing this instead of posting the books in my weekly haul I am much more aware of the books that I am buying. This year I am making it my top priority to read the ones I am buying before buying new ones. I know its easier said then done but that is my goal.

I am trying to get better with my book buying and trying to stick to sales, bargain books or reward plum bonus point events. As a book lover its hard not to buy books.

As you can see this month is a little calmer and thats a good thing. Here is what I bought this month:

Follow Me Back by A.V Geiger
Love Lies beneath by Ellen Hopkins
A Travel Guide Novel Destinations by Shannon McKenna Schmidt & Joni Rendon
Every Last Lie by Mary Kubica
Under Her Skin by Adriana Anders
By Her Touch by Adriana Anders

Total books bought this month: 6
Total books bought this month (Michael): 0

Total books read from this months haul: 3

Total books bought in 2017: 67

Total books read in 2017: 23

Meme: Waiting On Wednesday

Posted on June 21, 2017 by Cindy

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

I decided to get back into doing this meme again and I am going to mix it up a little bit and include all books and that means old, recently released and upcoming releases.

So my pick today is:

I just recently read Ali’s The Heartbreaker series this week and loved it so now I want to find this book. It was released March 2014.

From a fresh new voice on the contemporary YA scene, My Life with the Walter Boys centers on the prim, proper, and always perfect Jackie Howard. When her world is turned upside down by tragedy, Jackie must learn to cut loose and be part of a family again.

Jackie does not like surprises. Chaos is the enemy! The best way to get her successful, busy parents to notice her is to be perfect. The perfect look, the perfect grades-the perfect daughter. And then…

Surprise #1: Jackie’s family dies in a freak car accident.

Surprise #2: Jackie has to move cross-country to live with the Walters-her new guardians.

Surprise #3: The Walters have twelve sons. (Well, eleven, but Parker acts like a boy anyway)

Now Jackie must trade in her Type A personality and New York City apartment for a Colorado ranch and all the wild Walter boys who come with it. Jackie is surrounded by the enemy-loud, dirty, annoying boyswho have no concept of personal space. Okay, several of the oldest guys are flat-out gorgeous. But still annoying. She’s not stuck-up or boring-no matter what they say. But proving it is another matter. How can she fit in and move on when she needs to keep her parents’ memory alive by living up to the promise of perfect?

Ali Novak wrote My Life with the Walter Boys when she was just 15 years old. First a hit on the online community Wattpad, this debut novel has already been read over 33 million times and is loved by readers around the world.

What are you waiting on this week?

Meme: Top Ten Tuesday One day I Will Get To You

Posted on June 20, 2017June 20, 2017 by Cindy

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created over at The Broke and the Bookish

As a book reader you hear about all kinds of books, stand alones and series that you really want to read. I really enjoy reading stand alones because you read them and then its over a done with but when it comes to series you hear all about the first book and you buy them. You might be lucky and read them and then you might not be so lucky and they are left sitting on your shelf waiting to be picked up to read and that my dear friends is my situation I have a ton of series sitting waiting to be read and I am making 2017 the year to try and read them. So this list is of the series I have currently sitting on my bookshelves.

Welcome to my Top Ten Series I’ve Been Meaning To Start But Haven’t

An Everlife Series/Intertwined/White Rabbit Chronicles by Gena Showalter. I have Firstlife sitting on my shelf and the Lifeblood is currently available in stores so this shouldn’t be a problem to read since there is only two books so far.I have all of Intertwined and the first three in the White Rabbit series.
The Red Queen Series by Victoria Aveyard. I have Red Queen and Glass Sword currently on my shelf and this is also another small series that I can probably get through rather quickly with the third book currently available.
The Glittering Court Series by Richelle Meade. This is another small series with only two books so far.
From Manhattan With Love series by Sarah Morgan. I was super excited when this come out and I have been buying them as soon as they hit the shelves because I love reading stories that take place in NYC and all four are sitting there waiting for me to read.
Splintered series by A. G. Howard. When I first saw the covers I knew I had to own them because they are just stunning and because its a spin off of Alice in Wonderland my favorite fairy tale. I have the whole series.
I have to include Harry Potter in this because I do own the books just never read them. Yea I know.
The Mortal Instruments/Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare
Madman’s Daughter series by Megan Shepard
The Young Elites by Marie Lu
The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

I know I have a few extras added in but I figured since they were by the same author I would include them. What do series do you have sitting waiting to be read?

Sundays In Bed With…The Heartbreakers

Posted on June 18, 2017 by Cindy

Welcome to our Sundays In Bed With… Meme! The meme that dares to ask what book has been in your bed this morning? Come share what book you’ve spent time curled up reading in bed, or which book you wish you had time to read today!

This is being hosted by two of the sweetest people I have to privilege of knowing in real life Kate and Kim. Sadly we don’t talk like we use to because you know real life happens but there is not a day that goes by that I don’t think of them both.

I am late in posting this but its been a busy morning. We did a special father’s day breakfast and then I had to rush out to get groceries this morning and now I am set for the week. Although with Michael being home all week not sure how long the food will last.

Its also been a crazy week here with Michael finally finishing school, he had his last two exams this past week and he is officially on summer vacation..yay Specking of Michael he has wrapped up his 3 on 3 spring hockey. His team has been undefeated for the past 12 weeks with the exception of one exhibition game lose but that was in the beginning with a team that was way out of their league. So our last game was Friday and they won 12-3 and they were the first place winners in their division.

Anyways the reason why you are here is to see what book I am reading today and the next one I will be starting:

I finished up The Heartbreakers by Ali Novak earlier today so I will be starting book 2 next

What are you reading today? Hopefully its not too hot where you are. We are currently sitting at 87 F.. its hot and humid out there with a chance of thunderstorms and certain areas have a tornado warning in effect.

Review: Love Lies Beneath by Ellen Hopkins

Posted on June 15, 2017 by Cindy

Love Lies Beneath by Ellen Hopkins
Format: Paperback
Published by Atria Books on April 26th 2016
Pages: 320
Goodreads

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Collateral comes a gripping novel about a woman caught in a love affair that could be her salvation...or her undoing.
Tara is gorgeous, affluent, and forty. She lives in an impeccably restored Russian Hill mansion in San Francisco. Once a widow, twice divorced, she’s a woman with a past she prefers keeping to herself.
Enter Cavin Lattimore. He’s handsome, kind, charming, and the surgeon assigned to Tara following a ski accident in Lake Tahoe. In the weeks it takes her to recover, Cavin sweeps her off her feet and their relationship blossoms into something Tara had never imagined possible. But then she begins to notice some strange things: a van parked outside her home at odd times, a break-in, threatening text messages and emails. She also starts to notice cracks in Cavin’s seemingly perfect personality, like the suppressed rage his conniving teenage son brings out in him, and the discovery that Cavin hired a detective to investigate her immediately after they met.
Now on crutches and housebound, Tara finds herself dependent on the new man in her life—perhaps too much so. She’s handling rocky relationships with her sister and best friend, who are envious of her glamour and freedom; her prickly brother-in-law, who is intimidated by her wealth and power; and her estranged mother. However perfect Tara’s life appears, things are beginning to get messy.
Writing in beautiful prose, Ellen Hopkins unveils a new style while evoking her signature poetic form that readers fell in love with in Collateral and Triangles.

Recently when I was at Chapters I spotted Love Lies Beneath by Ellen Hopkins on the bargain table and I picked it up to read the synopsis and it peeked my interest. I don’t think I have ever read anything by Ellen Hopkins in the past. I do recall owning a book or two of hers but not reading them.

Anyways I am so happy I picked this up because I started reading it and I am enjoying it. I found the beginning a little slow but once I got about half way into the book I literally had a hard time putting it down because I just had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen. The way the second half progressed I was literally sitting on the edge of my seat reading to find out what was going on and then bam I was finished. I heard that there is a second book but no idea when its suppose to be released.

As I was getting set to do my review I noticed that there was a prequel to this called On the Rocks and its still available on wattpad for free. Which I read after the fact but I have to say that after reading it the whole story line made much more sense.

If you know Ellen you are familiar with her young adult writing which she does her whole books in verse and this is completely opposite because this is a adult fiction book written in the traditional format. I really enjoyed the writing as it was smooth and her story line was easy to follow. The list of characters were kept to a minimum so you weren’t able to get things confused.

Our main character is Tara who has wealth and privilege. She was a widow at a young age and has been divorced twice. She has no kids and no desire for kids so she lives her life the way she wants to live her life. She doesn’t have to answer to anyone and can do as she pleases. She is enjoying life to the fullest and loves the company of men.

During her annual ski trip with her sister Mel she gets in a accident and is rushed to the hospital and its there that she meets the ever so charming Dr. Cavin, who is an orthopedic surgeon. Tara has no problem calling the good dr up and inviting him out to dinner and its over the course of this relationship she begins to think that Cavin could be the next one to make her settle down.

As I was reading I was actually beginning to really like Cavin because he is that kind of character that you know you will love because he is sweet, charming and caring but then as you read you begin to think this guy is way to good he is up to something and as I was reading I kept getting feeling that something is up. He was too good to be true, if you know what I mean.

I am curious to see where this story line will lead and to discover more about Cavin and what he isn’t telling. I would difinitely read the next book in this series.