Girl Plus One

Hi friends! So, Chubby Cheeks is back with a novel little different from others which were featured here so far. In fact, “Girl Plus One” by Rhea Saran is the first ever chick lit I’m reviewing in the blog.

The protagonist, Laila Rao is an attractive young girl of 27 years. After spending many years in New York, finally she is settling in Mumbai, where she is able to be at constant touch with her best buddies, Maya and KK. Smart and talented Laila gets appointed as a features editor in one of the most famous international magazines, Guyzone and surprisingly she ends up being the sex columnist of the magazine as well. Being a girl who has always been natural and easy going when it comes to the subject of Men, Laila manages the job well though it was offered unexpectedly. Life is cool and fun for her with usual brunches with her buddies, listening to their breakup stories and new dates until she meets handsome Sameer Malhothra, a reputed and well established man, aged two decades over her. Will her life change because of his arrival? Rest is for you to find out.

I should say that the book is a quality chick lit. The story is presented in a cool and fun manner using a language which is impressive. The characters were well pictured, settings well described and the ideas discussed throughout the story were quite relevant to the modern day society. The frequent appearance of the sex column in Guyzone stops the story being monotonous and boring like most other. Even the style of writing is refreshing and interesting, the dialogues quite natural. Set of characters with the ups and downs of their lives were well blend as well.

Despite this book being her debut, the author has done a wonderful job. However, I believe that the story lost its own identity by getting too much into the famous TV serial “Sex and the City”. I couldn’t stop relating the characters and incidents in the book with SATC almost all the time. But, all in all, it’s an interesting read that I really liked. I’m sure that this would be an appealing read for all the ladies out there who love to spend few hours with a light and funny romantic story and especially the ones who are big fans of SATC would love this. 

Happy reading!

A GPS for your Retirement

This would be the first post of a non-fiction in our blog and I’m glad to introduce you all “A GPS for your Retirement” written by Ken Mahoney, a financial advisor, speaker and an author with over 24 years of professional experience.

The book offers you all the necessary tips to make a clear-cut plan for your retirement. Author has penned it in very simple English and has skillfully tagged each and every fact with practical examples which would make any reader to understand and absorb the concepts. The chapters are well organized covering all the aspects and each chapter is sub-divided into various small topics which would tickle your senses to keep on reading. 

The book is a step by step guide in how to visualize our future and make it happen with great enthusiasm and excitement.

Unlike the other books written on this subject, this book starts with a special and much needed topic, psychology. Ken teaches us to address our subconscious and make it believe in our dreams so that ultimately it would win over the conscious and make us achieve the targets.

The book indeed is an interactive road map to your retirement. Gone are the days you would dread to think about your retirement or retire with joy but end up in misery due to the lack of financial supports after a few years. The book is a must read to everybody out there who would love to endure in a future of non-working bliss. I give the book 5 stars and consider myself lucky to come across it. You are never too early to plan up your retirement, so the book is recommended to every individual regardless their age.

Ending the note with few lines extracted from the book.

“The best thing about having a well-thought out plan for your future is that it gives you the luxury of enjoying today and feeling secure that your retirement years are being provided for. It’s about being able to strike a balance between living for today and preparing for tomorrow.”

Personal Growth

Introducing....

Personal Growth - (Growing Roots Series -2) 

by Chelsea Falin

Willie, despite a rough start, has become immersed in the culture she should have been born into. As she grows in her own knowledge of her ancestral roots, she also grows in who she is as a person. All things are now within her reach, and all she must do is put forth a little effort. With all of this in mind, Willie has decided to dedicate herself towards her own 'Personal Growth.'

"Our heritage might be bloody, but that's no reason not to be proud!"

-Spike

'Personal Growth' is the second installment in the popular 'Growing Roots' series by Chelsea Falin, which follows a young Native American teenager as she tries to find herself amidst a whirlwind of change. 'Personal Growth' will premiere on Create-space, Amazon, Nook, Kindle, and Kobo on March 21st, 2013. The first book, 'Less Than Humble Beginnings' is available at all major online retailers.

For the entire first week that 'Personal Growth' is officially on the market (March 21st-March 28th) it will only be 99 cents!!! Make sure you grab your own copy while it's at this promotional price and save yourself some cash! (Regular price is only $1.99, so you won't have to spend too much extra if you don't get around to purchasing during the promotion period!)

Sneak Peek from 'Personal Growth' (pages 22-23)

“Aunt Janie?” I asked, finding her at the kitchen table. She was looking over some papers, which I assumed by the calculator were finances. “Are you busy?”

Aunt Janie looked up. “No, no. I could use a break from this anyways. What is it, sweetie?”

“I was just thinking about a lot of things today.” I wasn't really sure how to broach the subject of heritage or my father with her.

“Like what?”

“Well, for starters… if you’re three quarters Choctaw, was momma that much to?” Aunt Janie nodded her head to say that it did. “So what does that make me?”

“Three-eighths, I think, from our side.” Aunt Janie answered.

Nodding my head to show I understood, I said “Well… I was wondering something else.” I paused momentarily, pondering how best to ask this question. I finally decided the best way to do it was to just be out with it. “Do you know who my father was?”

Aunt Janie’s face took on a slightly pained expression as though my words caused her a small physical blow. “Your mom never told you who your father was?” I shook my head to answer no but remained silent. “Well, yes, I know who your father is.”

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The Sea of Storms

Chubby Cheeks is back again with another wonderful book for you all and this would be the first time a science fiction is featured in our blog. The Sea of Storms by Mark Whiteway is the first book of the Lodestone Series which has four books in total. It is truly a masterpiece and I find myself very lucky to come across it.

The story is set in an imaginary world of Kelannis who live in a world under three suns which are, Ail-Mazzoth, Ail-Gan the yellow sun and Ail-Kar the white sun. The Kelannis are controlled by a Prophet and his army called as Keltars who possess the power of flying. Neither the Prophet nor the Keltars are any good to the common kelannis, they torture the poor souls misusing the powers. Lyall, who has understood the source of power which Keltars possess rebels and tries to put a stop for all the brutality against his fellow mates. Shann, who accidently comes across Lyall volunteers to help him in his cause. But Shann is followed by the Keltars, young and talented Keris is specially appointed to do the task. Will she be able to catch Shann and prove her loyalty to the furtherance of the Prophet’s cause? The rest of the mysteries are for you to unveil by indulging yourself in the book.

The book is a natural page turnover. You won’t feel like putting down the book until the very end. The thing I loved the most about the book is the narration and the writing style. The author excels in taking the maximum benefit of a rich vocabulary, using the right words at the right place. The story is developed and described so perfectly. The language is picturesque and the flow of the story is so smooth and well organized. Each new character or fact is introduced in an ever so talented way by giving enough time for the readers to absorb the things and get adjusted with the new world created upon their eyes. Although a whole new world, the book won’t overload your mind with a bunch of characters and happenings. The theme is simple, which is about fighting against the evil, but the story is unique in its own way with a remarkable and a mind blowing plot. Being the first book of the series, it really is intriguing and promises an amazing set of stories ahead.

The author has the ability to drag us along a finely created fantasy, and I assure you that it’s a journey worth taking and truly entertaining. I give the book five stars and recommend it to all the fiction lovers out there. If you are in search of an amazing read, try this out! It’s a book which will make you fall in love with and make you eagerly wait to get your hands on the next in the series.

Ending the note with a line taken from the book.

“The key to defeating a tyrant–any tyrant–is to understand the source of their power. Once you do that, you can manipulate it; even use their own power against them.”

You can purchase the book from following links.

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Goodreads

The Southern Dictionary

This time I’m presenting you all a different book. Unlike the novels I have been reviewing in my blog since beginning, this is a dictionary which would be really handy if you are planning to detour in Southern US. Chelsea Falin, the author who is born and brought up in Southern US has again come out with a very interesting book “The Southern Dictionary” , a knowledgeable and informative read at the same time.

For a dictionary, it’s not so big and scary which may shoe off many readers from touching it. With less than 100 pages the author has skillfully concise all the essential words and phrases which is very often used all over Dixie. The content is well organized and the format is quite easy to understand and follow. Explanations are given with proper definitions and good examples. I found it really interesting even though I’m not an American.

 
I was so amused to know the meaning of new words like “Biggity”, “britches”, “buggy”, “cattywampus” and many others. If you have come across phrases such as “A Whistlin' Woman and a Crowin' Hen Never Comes to a Very Good End”, “Don't Let Your Mouth Overload Your Tail”, “Do Go On”, “Feathers Ruffled”, “Go to Bed with the Chickens”, “High On The Hog” and wonder what they really mean, it’s high time you refer this book. Personally I found the phrase “Gimme sugar” very cute and loving. The Southern Dictionary would be very helpful to understand he Southern American language, so why wait, go grab it!

You can purchase the book from following links.

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Less Than Humble Beginnings

I’m back again with another breathless read authored by Chelsea Falin. “Less than Humble Beginnings” is the first book of the many yet to come in the Growing Roots series and surely a book you all will love.

The protagonist is Willamina, a 15 year old girl who hates her name and preferred to be called as Willie. She was not blessed with a fairy tale like childhood, given the facts that her mother is an alcoholic and her father being unknown. But she survives, and makes sure to be a loving and a caring companion to her younger sister Babette in their lonely lives. Her miseries won’t leave her easily, her mother dies in a car accident and Willie and her sister were left to go and live with her maternal aunt whom she had no contacts for five years.  Although she is not happy with the things going on in her life, she really can’t complain, in fact there is nobody to complain but her own fate. She accepts this challenge in her life as she did with the previous ones, not that she was left with any other option. For Willie’s surprise she comes to know that her aunt Jennie is now a mother of five kids and realizes that now she is going to be one of seven. Fortunately the life is not so bad after all. The family welcomes her dearly and her life turns to get better with the time, meeting new friends and belonging to a proper family.

“Less Than Humble Beginnings” is a tale about a young girl coming of age who happens to face many challenges in her life which are not so common compared with her peers. Simple and lucid writing with a charm to tickle your senses and make you wonder “what’s next” with every line your eyes will swim through. It’s a light read with a smooth flow which will keep you engrossed. As in her previous novels, the author has succeeded in making this book too, a real page turn over by her skillful and lively narration and I didn't even realized reaching the very last page of it.

The story is populated with practical characters that are strange and unique in their own ways and also very friendly and caring the same time that you will fall in love with them and find it hard to part with. Just after finishing the story I started missing Willie and her gang of cousins and friends. It’s a book which you will never feel like putting down until the very end. I really look forward in reading the next books to come out in this series. The story not only makes you live in the sweet day today adventures of the teenagers but also discusses the grueling mishaps a child has to face due to drug addict, alcoholic and abusive parents. So, it carries a message for you all to think upon as well.

All in all I can call it’s a story which is “short and sweet”.  If you are a young adult, or anybody who loves to read about loving family bonds and friendship this is definitely a book you don’t want to miss!

You can purchase the book from the following links.

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Goodreads

Can Love Happen Twice?

Chubby Cheek’s Column celebrates her first birthday today! To make it special for her, I thought of reviewing this second book of the same author whose very debut novel, “I Too Had A Love Story” was reviewed as the very first post in our blog last year.

Memories are still vivid in me of that day when I first got hold of the book adorned with an autograph by the author in Bangalore. Although I was certain that this one would be as splendid as the previous, it took me this long to read it as I was waiting for the perfect moment in which I would be absolutely free to take in every bit of the story to my heart’s content.

“Can Love Happen Twice?” is the sequel for the ever so popular novel “I Too Had A Love Story”. Ravin who was still in utter despair after losing his girlfriend happens to visit to Belgium for an on-site project. While he tries to take this chance as a break or a change over in his life, the real change in his destiny comes in the form of beautiful Simar, whom he meets in Belgium and falls in love with. And the question lingers as the story moves ahead, is Ravin really lucky enough to experience the full form of love?

Even though the theme love and the narrator are same, the plot turns out to be quite different and unexpected from the first book. Most of the story was set in Belgium, which I believe is a rare and lovely experience. Also this time the readers are introduced to a girl much different from their favorite and ever loving Khushi.

The opening scene was a brilliant idea and the following three chapters were heart touching, thought provoking and nicely linked with the aftermath of the demise of Ravin’s beloved. The involvement of the three best friends brings in warmth and assurance to the story and needless to point out that it also depicts a good similarity with the previous book, as it started with a reunion of all of them together.

Personally, I didn’t like Simar’s character. Rather say I almost hated her! Obviously, all the credits go to the author for picking up the fine details from the commonly seen girly attitudes and behavior of modern girls and creating Simar’s character in such a natural way that I never felt I was reading a fiction.

On the other hand, Ravin seems to receive much love and sympathy from not only me but every other reader from the very beginning of the novel. Just as he was struggling to recover a severe mental trauma of losing his beloved, he was struck by the cupid again only to treat him with even a bigger blow. His fate is in the course of playing rather a cruel game with his life this time. I sighed and weeped for his great misfortune and the tears outnumbered the moments I was able to be happy for him in the earlier chapters of his love life.

The best thing about this book is the revelation it brings upon the readers and I’m thankful to the author for taking the opportunity to talk about the true but fragile hearts crushed amidst of selfishness. The book title questions whether love could happen twice, but the story questions the real place a pure love would have in these modern days regardless its first or second love. The words “love” and “commitment” has lost its real meaning. People have become heartless and love has become a mere excuse for time pass. Young people would propose another without much strong feelings that it would be quite easy to leave and move to another if a small dispute occurs between them. Love, family and commitment had been forgotten during the race to reach success and other selfish achievements. Hence, the story is not just to cry and laugh with but to think deeply about the message it carries and change one’s self in a way that they would never hurt another soul. The book is a reminder pure love and true feelings which would blossom only in a sensitive heart for another.

Regarding the story and the climax, of course the first book was quite heart touching and sincere to me. Still, considering the presentation of the story – the story set up, blending the past and the present, the flow of incidents and the addition of many remarkable and diverse set of characters all together makes this book out smarts all the other. Yet another masterpiece by our ever loving author Ravinder Singh! This is a truly sensational read which everyone who believes in love should never miss.