Saturday, 12 October 2024

Author Interview - Monica Sahu

Exclusive Special Q/A session with Author Monica Sahu


Hello and Welcome everyone! Today, we have the honor of hosting a special author interview with the talented Monica Sahu. Thank you for joining us, and let's dive into this enriching author interview together!


1) ๐“๐ž๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ฆ๐ž ๐š๐›๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฌ๐ž๐ฅ๐Ÿ.

Born in the golden age of cable television and houseful theaters, I have always been enchanted by the power of storytelling. From listening to plays on the radio to running back home after school to watch my favorite cartoon, there was no shortage of enthusiasm when it came to embracing the world is entertainment. So, after I decided to leave my corporate job and do something different, creating content and eventually, writing books made sense to me. I always wanted to leave a lasting impact on the World. Storytelling gives me a beautiful platform to not just inspire but also empower people who are looking for someone like us to pave the way.


2) ๐–๐ก๐ž๐ง ๐๐ข๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐š๐ซ๐ญ๐ž๐ ๐ฐ๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐  ๐›๐จ๐จ๐ค๐ฌ? ๐–๐ก๐จ ๐ข๐ง๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐ž๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ? 

 I started writing from a very young age but did not think of, or rather act on publishing a book until 2019. That's when I found my current Publisher and started working on my first book, a thriller short story. So far, I have written three books and numerous online stories. I'm deeply inspired by horror and thriller genre and my exceptionally supportive readers believe that I bring a good mix of both into many of my stories.


3) ๐‡๐จ๐ฐ ๐ฆ๐š๐ง๐ฒ ๐›๐จ๐จ๐ค๐ฌ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐›๐ฅ๐ข๐ฌ๐ก๐ž๐ ๐ฌ๐จ ๐Ÿ๐š๐ซ? 

Three Books:
A FAMILY OF STRANGERS (family drama thriller)
THE STRANGE REALITY (psychological horror thriller)
KISS ME WITH YOUR DOE EYES (thriller romcom)


4) ๐˜๐จ๐ฎ ๐ญ๐จ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฆ๐ž ๐ญ๐ก๐š๐ญ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ’๐ฏ๐ž ๐ฐ๐ซ๐จ๐ญ๐ž ๐›๐จ๐จ๐ค๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง ๐–๐š๐ญ๐ญ๐ฉ๐š๐ ๐š๐ฅ๐ฌ๐จ. ๐‡๐จ๐ฐ ๐จ๐Ÿ๐ญ๐ž๐ง ๐๐จ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฐ๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ž ๐จ๐ง ๐–๐š๐ญ๐ญ๐ฉ๐š๐? ๐€๐ง๐ ๐๐จ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐š๐ง ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐›๐ฅ๐ข๐ฌ๐ก ๐ข๐ญ ๐จ๐ง ๐š๐ง๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ก๐ž๐ซ๐ž? 

I write online fics when I have an idea worth working on, even if it might not be something that mainstream publishing would usually print. Wattpad for me is a place for creative expression and spontaneous storytelling. I'm glad that my online stories have made many readers feel represented, celebrated and empowered!

5) ๐–๐ก๐ข๐œ๐ก ๐›๐จ๐จ๐ค ๐ก๐š๐ฌ ๐›๐ž๐ž๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐ฆ๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐Ÿ๐ฎ๐ง ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฐ๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ž? 

I have throughly enjoyed working on all of my books. My first book is special to me since it brought me to a whole new World full of amazing new people who I can share my creativity with. My second book is special because it is my absolute favorite genre. I will forever cherish the sleepless nights that helped bring that story to life. My third book helped me explore some new ideas and narrative tool and I'm glad it is being loved by both thriller and romance readers.


6) ๐ƒ๐จ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ก๐š๐ฏ๐ž ๐š ๐Ÿ๐š๐ฏ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ž ๐œ๐ก๐š๐ซ๐š๐œ๐ญ๐ž๐ซ ๐ข๐ง ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐ž๐ฌ? 

There's someone who has inspired many characters in many of my stories, both online and in my books. Who, you wonder? Let's keep it a secret, for now!


7) ๐ˆ๐Ÿ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐œ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ž๐ฌ๐œ๐ซ๐ข๐›๐ž ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฌ๐ž๐ฅ๐Ÿ ๐ข๐ง ๐จ๐ง๐ž ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐, ๐ฐ๐ก๐š๐ญ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐ข๐ญ ๐›๐ž? 

Advaya (one of my favourite words in Sanskrit which means Unique, With No Duplicate)


8) ๐–๐ก๐š๐ญ ๐๐จ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ค๐ž ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐จ ๐ฐ๐ก๐ž๐ง ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐š๐ซ๐ž๐ง’๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ? 

Travel, Swim, Watch Movies, Meet New People.


9) ๐“๐ž๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐š ๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐ฅ๐ž ๐›๐ข๐ญ ๐š๐›๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ฒ, "๐ค๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ฆ๐ž ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ž ๐ž๐ฒ๐ž๐ฌ" 

KISS ME WITH YOUR DOE EYES is a narration on the long term effects of bullying and how different people deal with trauma, wrapped in a sweet romcom with some giggles. It was my aim to present this story in a way that does not feel too heavy, unlike my other two books that deep dive into social issues without the safety net of humor. While my other two books are meant to be emotionally raw, I wanted my third book to feel like a hug. Hopefully, it keeps reaching many who need a comforting story like this!


10) ๐€๐ซ๐ž ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ค๐ข๐ง๐  ๐จ๐ง ๐š๐ง๐ฒ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐  ๐ง๐ž๐ฐ? ๐–๐ก๐š๐ญ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ค๐ž ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ž๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ซ๐ž๐š๐๐ž๐ซ๐ฌ? 

I'm always working on stories that are worth sharing with my World. And I'm extremely grateful for all the amazing readers who are so supportive and encouraging. I'll keep writing books and online stories that you and I can enjoy and benefit from. Cheers to unconventional tales of triumph.

September Road - Book Review

Book Title: ๐’๐ž๐ฉ๐ญ๐ž๐ฆ๐›๐ž๐ซ ๐‘๐จ๐š๐
๐‘ญ๐’๐’“๐’ƒ๐’Š๐’…๐’…๐’†๐’ ๐‘บ๐’Š๐’๐’—๐’†๐’“ ๐’‚๐’•๐’•๐’“๐’‚๐’„๐’•๐’Š๐’๐’ #2
By Pax Sinclair


๐’๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐š๐ซ๐ฒ:

I’m a former Army Ranger, an Afghan vet that’s faced my share of battles, but nothing in my training has prepared me for the road trip I’m about to take alone with Riley, the daughter of my best buddy.

Josh and I grew up in a Vermont small town. We joined the Army after high school and we busted our asses to become Rangers. I’ll never forget the night he died on a mission in Afghanistan, leaving behind his young daughter Riley and his wife, Laci.

Years later, when Laci died, it became my duty to fulfill her final wish, to drive her daughter from New Mexico to Vermont to Josh’s mother, the only family Riley has left. While I take Riley to her grandmother, I’m to tell her about a father she doesn’t know and the harder memories of how Josh and Laci’s lives intertwined with mine.

Riley is a 20-year-old smoking hot beauty with sass, determination, and she won’t back down, especially from me. And yeah, she’s my type. Damn, she's more than just a temptation, she’s my best buddy's daughter. I know where my duty lies, so this brown-eyed girl is off limits.

I have to be honest with myself; there's no point in sugarcoating this situation. What could that princess see in a 40-year-old soldier still battling his own demons? Being in close quarters on a long road trip with her will be challenging enough, but staying true to my loyalty to Josh and protecting his daughter, even from my own feelings, will be the real test. I can do it. I can be a hard ass and complete the mission, but damn, she’s beautiful.


๐‘๐ž๐ฏ๐ข๐ž๐ฐ:

The story deals with loss, grief, forgiveness, friendship, and an age- gap forbidden all-consuming love. 

Riley is a great character, so strong after all she's been through a lot but determined to live. She was smart, funny, but a risk taker. When Riley meets Stephens, sparks fly. The romance is top notch in the beginning when they both don't know each other. 

Later when Bank came to know that Riley's Josh kid and he's supposed to take her to Josh's mother house in Vermont,everything changes. He denies the fact that he wants her. He totally turns her down. But how long can he hold out? The harder they protest the better it is when they fall. 

Those first few chapters were slow but the interaction between Riley and Banks left me with an open jaw and I was sold. I just had to find out what would happen next. Lots of things happen and it is a good lengthy book. There are nice steamy scenes, humour and a great group of secondary characters, especially Max Stephens and Riley's grandmother and Creed (Riley's Ex boyfriend). The brotherhood between Josh and Banks Stephens explained well. 

This story takes us far past the exciting beginning of Stephens relationship with Riley's parents. I loved their story. There is also an incident that happens toward 3/4 of the way in the book that had me sobbing and going through the emotions with the characters. 

From the extremely hot scenes, to the great portrayal of military men and the women who love them, it was perfect. The writing is phenomenal. I was completely captivated with each introduction of the individual characters.  

Their relationship is not without its ups and downs, being far from perfect, but I loved it. They both seemed so right in their stubborn steadfastness to what they wanted and needed, and even when they were at odds you wanted them to win, to make it work. I found the last half of the book excruciating, it broke my heart more than once, leaving me with ugly cries and in despair. 

The characters pull you in and eventually drag you along with them whether you want to go or not. I could not put this book down and had to finish it in one reading. Who needs to sleep when you have characters keeping you awake? 

I loved the chemistry between Banks and Riley. Their bantering throughout the road trip was really funny and they were so good together. When they finally got together in all ways it was off the charts. But I also love the other relationships in this book. 

I loved the humor & the emotions within, I loved the characters and most of all, I loved the letters. Great secondary characters and I would read their stories if Pax chooses to write about them. Definitely one of the best books I've read so far this year.

๐‘๐š๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐  : 10/10
 

๐€๐›๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐“๐ก๐ž ๐€๐ฎ๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ซ:

Pax Sinclair is a contemporary romance novelist who explores the wild world of love and passion. Her novels feature biracial women in interracial relationships, guaranteed to keep you turning pages until the very end.

Prepare to meet a tantalizing cast of characters, from sizzling tech billionaires to swoon-worthy firefighters, hunky men in kilts, and even a hot Army Ranger.

Lose yourself in a steamy rollercoaster ride of emotions and crazy twists, leading to an oh-so-satisfying conclusion.


Friday, 4 October 2024

The Serpent Series #2

The Serpent Woman

Author : SZ Estavillo
Page count — 346

Summary:

The exciting sequel to The Serpent's Bridge...

A serial killer is on the loose. With her insidious tattoo and venomous killer strike, they’re calling her the serpent woman.

Two of the best in their field, LAPD Detective Anaya Nazario and FBI Supervising Special Agent Blake Huxley are forced to work together yet again, despite their strained romantic history and a baby on the way. Together on a nationwide hunt, they must find this serpent woman before she strikes again. 

But, as the cat-and-mouse chase evolves, Nazario and Huxley begin to realize that their killer is on a mission of vigilante justice and they must struggle with the question of who really deserves their justice: The killer, or her victims?


Review:

This book picks up where the first one left off, and it sets a fast pace. Again centered around crime, the book unravels piece by piece the mystery that is, the circumstances that caused the crime in the first place. It kept me thoroughly hooked, and I actually did have a hard time putting it down.

The character development is so good especially Ananya Nazario and Huxley's and delivers perfect emotions.

While there were a few situations which made me suspend my disbelief, I found the premise interesting and I had a hard time putting the book down.

This book is definitely a page turner that is not only an intriguing mystery, but has wonderfully developed characters and makes the reader stop and think about morality and what it really entails.

Von Schlange' s strange yet strongest character that made this book turn everything upside down. I could go on for ages highlighting all the great things in this book - I have absolutely nothing negative to say or complain about, and it was wonderful to read a book with proper plot and twist. 

The twists and turns of the story were exactly what was needed for this amazing book.

Thanks to the author for creating this wonderful mystery thriller.

Rating : 5/5

About the Author:

SZ Estavillo has been passionate about writing since childhood, with a defining moment in second grade when her teacher predicted, "You’re going to be a writer someday." Her biracial heritage, being half-Korean and half-Puerto Rican, deeply influences her book themes.

As a staunch advocate for diversity and inclusion, SZ works tirelessly to amplify the voices of underrepresented and marginalized communities within the publishing industry. 

Balancing her roles as a devoted mother and an enthusiastic digital marketer, SZ brings her professional expertise into her personal passion, amassing over 85,000 followers on social media.

She uses her platform to inspire and uplift the writing community with motivational and positive content. Along with her two children and two senior dogs, she enjoys the simple pleasures of family sushi outings in their Los Angeles home.


Tuesday, 1 October 2024

The Last Doorbell - Pride Book Tours

The Last Doorbell

Author : William Parker
Page Count : 358 
Deixis Press 2024


Summary:

"What the bloody hell am I doing here?"

Ben's past was supposed to be behind him: debts paid, savings secured, and a collection of outrageous anecdotes that would amuse his friends for a lifetime. But under pressure from his escort agency for "one final favor," he now stands at a precipice, finger poised over a doorbell.

There's a moment's pause before his finger makes reluctant contact. He can't possibly know it, of course, but this doorbell, the last, changes his life forever...


Review:

I was intrigued by the cover at first. Thought it'd be a thriller/horror kind of story. Even after reading the summary I thought it was a thriller genre. The summary is rather inadequate to describe the story and what i got in return after reading the insides of the book is completely unbelievable. 

There is a rather large cast but they all revolve around the main characters. It definitely sounds like a total melodrama – which I like from time to time. However, I couldn’t get into the story for a long time. I was reading more from curiosity about what the author wants to do with all these people and I really wanna know more about ben and I'm glad that i kept going further. 

The author is highly skilful in the way the story unfolds, which is told in flashback. The book is a character driven story, and the characterisations were among the best I have ever read, they were full and satisfying, I felt I knew these people and the details of it were very believable.

Rating : 4/5 

Thanks for having me on this booktour @pridebooktours


About Author:

William Parker set out to be an actor but decided in his mid-30s that the stage was too frightening and precarious a profession for someone of a generally nervous disposition - just because one might be good at something doesn't necessarily mean one has to do it!

He's still addicted to make-believe, though, so settling down with fingers poised above a keyboard to bring characters to life has turned out to be just the thing, even if he's left it rather late.

His first book, The House Martin, was published in 2010. His second book, The Last Doorbell, continues the story of a shy young man who might or might not bear some resemblance to his literary creator.

The Serpent's Bridge

The Serpent's Bridge
Volume One of the Serpent Series

Author : S Z Estavillo
Page count : 398 

Summary:
Compelling dialogue, rich, gritty prose, and characters you won't forget - if you loved The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest by Stieg Larsson, or Ink and Bone by Lisa Unger, you'll love The Serpent's Bridge.

Recovering alcoholic Detective Anaya Nazario remains haunted by her father's murder. Lucas Nazario was the highest-ranking Puerto Rican LAPD detective, and his case has gone unsolved for twenty-four years since his murder. 

When Mexican immigrants are targeted by a serial killer, Nazario senses a connection and fights to keep the leadless case open. The homicide investigation centers on Sanctuary Baptist, a church composed of immigrants led by Pastor Stan and his wife. 

Nazario's personal and professional worlds collide when she is compelled to collaborate with her former lover, Special Agent Blake Huxley. As their lives merge once more, the FBI and Detective Nazario stop at nothing to find a killer.

Is this the same monster who killed her father and left him for dead under a bridge?

Can she put a stop to the murders before more families lose loved ones?

Review:

This book cost me a good night's sleep. I started reading it in the evening and just couldn't stop. The ending is absolutely shocking and unexpected, making up for the more stationary passages. 

Ananya Nazario is a brilliantly written character, enigmatic, fascinating and sympathetic. This is on-the-edge-of-your-seet fiction. Page-turning at its best. The book is full of baddies, twists, turns and revelations and I can't recommend this series highly enough. 

"But, at fifty, her life was only beginning, and freedom had never tasted sweeter. Every day, she aimed to try something new"

One of the best thriller books I've ever read. Engaging the whole way through, with excellent characters and plotting. Nazario is a fascinating character and one of the most unusual you will ever meet in crime fiction. Intelligent, prickly, intensely private and with a strong moral core, even if that morality is not one that always makes sense to others, she may not seem to be an obviously sympathetic character, but I know I'm not alone in liking her a lot.

The characters are all so real and individual that this never happens especially Millie Ann. The author moves smoothly between characters and points of view to create a story that is complex, dense and detailed, and the result is spellbinding. Unfortunately, the ending leaves you hanging and wanting to dive right into the second book in the series. 

Rating : 4.5/5


About the Author:

S Z Estavillo has been passionate about writing since childhood, with a defining moment in second grade when her teacher predicted, "You're going to be a writer someday." Her biracial heritage, being half-Korean and half-Puerto Rican, deeply influences her book themes. As a staunch advocate for diversity and inclusion, SZ works tirelessly to amplify the voices of underrepresented and marginalized communities within the publishing industry.

Balancing her roles as a devoted mother and an enthusiastic digital marketer, SZ brings her professional expertise into her personal passion, amassing over 85,000 followers on social media. She uses her platform to inspire and uplift the writing community with motivational and positive content. Along with her two children and two senior dogs, she enjoys the simple pleasures of family sushi outings in their Los Angeles home


Monday, 23 September 2024

Book Review - Dear Ana

Book Title: Dear Ana
Author: I.I.E
Pages: 429

Summary:

When twenty-five-year-old Maya Ibrahim goes to the cemetery on the anniversary of her accident, it’s not so she can pay her respects to the dead girl that saved her life–it’s so she can finally take back the future she was robbed of ten years ago. Seconds before she can successfully carve her fate, Maya gets interrupted by Noah Davidson, and after a rocky first impression, they form an unlikely friendship. 

Alternating between her present, and the letters she wrote detailing the painful consequences of her survival, Dear Ana follows Maya as she tries to overcome her past and find herself again amidst all the chaos. Will she continue to hide her scars, or will she be honest and tell Noah that the heart of the girl he once loved is still beating… but in Maya instead?


Book Review:

"๐‘ฐ’๐’๐’ ๐’”๐’†๐’† ๐’š๐’๐’– ๐’˜๐’‰๐’†๐’ ๐‘ฐ ๐’˜๐’‚๐’Œ๐’† ๐’–๐’‘ ๐’‚๐’• ๐’”๐’–๐’๐’“๐’Š๐’”๐’† ๐’•๐’ ๐’”๐’‚๐’š ๐’ˆ๐’๐’๐’… ๐’Ž๐’๐’“๐’๐’Š๐’๐’ˆ, ๐’‚๐’๐’… ๐’•๐’‰๐’†๐’ ๐’‚๐’ˆ๐’‚๐’Š๐’ ๐’‚๐’” ๐’•๐’‰๐’† ๐’”๐’–๐’ ๐’”๐’†๐’•๐’” ๐’˜๐’‰๐’†๐’ ๐’š๐’๐’– ๐’”๐’‚๐’š ๐’ˆ๐’๐’๐’…๐’๐’Š๐’ˆ๐’‰๐’•"

Lords! There are no words, absolutely. Beautiful amidst tragedy. I tried to mark some lines I thought were beautiful, but how can I tab every page? I suppose I'll just have to reread it over and over until I memorize it, there's no way out. 

For a book that focuses so much on death and oblivion, it sure is life-affirming. It was everything at once, making it that much more beautiful and difficult to read.

"๐’€๐’๐’– ๐’˜๐’†๐’“๐’† ๐’๐’†๐’—๐’†๐’“ ๐’•๐’๐’ ๐’ƒ๐’“๐’๐’Œ๐’†๐’ ๐’‡๐’๐’“ ๐’Ž๐’†, ๐‘ด๐’‚๐’š๐’‚. ๐‘ต๐’ ๐’Ž๐’‚๐’•๐’•๐’†๐’“ ๐’‰๐’๐’˜ ๐’Ž๐’‚๐’๐’š ๐’…๐’Š๐’‡๐’‡๐’†๐’“๐’†๐’๐’• ๐’†๐’๐’…๐’Š๐’๐’ˆ๐’” ๐’š๐’๐’– ๐’Š๐’Ž๐’‚๐’ˆ๐’Š๐’๐’†๐’… ๐’‡๐’๐’“ ๐’š๐’๐’–๐’“๐’”๐’†๐’๐’‡, ๐’Š๐’• ๐’˜๐’Š๐’๐’ ๐’‚๐’๐’˜๐’‚๐’š๐’” ๐’†๐’๐’… ๐’˜๐’Š๐’•๐’‰ ๐’Ž๐’† ๐’‡๐’‚๐’๐’๐’Š๐’๐’ˆ ๐’‰๐’๐’‘๐’†๐’๐’†๐’”๐’”๐’๐’š ๐’‚๐’๐’… ๐’†๐’๐’…๐’๐’†๐’”๐’”๐’๐’š ๐’Š๐’ ๐’๐’๐’—๐’† ๐’˜๐’Š๐’•๐’‰ ๐’š๐’๐’–"

The writing style of the author is beyond exquisite. Its the kind of story that I know will stay with me forever, i mean it. Planning to re-read it asap. 

If anything I'd be more scared of the fact that I probably cried for about 80% of this book and once I finished I sobbed for about an hour, can't help. 

“๐‘ฐ ๐’‰๐’๐’‘๐’† ๐’š๐’๐’– ๐’„๐’‚๐’ ๐’‰๐’†๐’‚๐’ ๐’‡๐’“๐’๐’Ž ๐’•๐’‰๐’† ๐’•๐’‰๐’Š๐’๐’ˆ๐’” ๐’•๐’‰๐’‚๐’• ๐’‚๐’“๐’† ๐’”๐’Š๐’๐’†๐’๐’•๐’๐’š ๐’•๐’†๐’‚๐’“๐’Š๐’๐’ˆ ๐’š๐’๐’– ๐’‚๐’‘๐’‚๐’“๐’•. ๐‘ฐ ๐’‰๐’๐’‘๐’† ๐’š๐’๐’– ๐’„๐’‚๐’ ๐’‡๐’Š๐’๐’… ๐’‰๐’‚๐’‘๐’‘๐’Š๐’๐’†๐’”๐’”.”

Rating : 10/10 


The Duchess of Kokora - Book review

Book Title: The Duchess Of Kokora
Author: Nikhil Prabala
Page count: 444 pages

Summary:
The Duchess of Kokora, Phera Ylir Mdana, has entered the marriage games of the neighboring kingdom of Ryene. But she’s not there to woo the dashing Prince Dominic.

Her true objective? To win back one of the other contestants, Lady Rocelle Virae—Phera’s true love and ex-fiancรฉe.

Not only must Phera mend matters with her childhood sweetheart, but she must also conceal her intentions and charm the court to earn their votes and stay in the competition. This entails no end of mischief throughout the many sorcerous and social challenges where she must also pretend to be absolutely besotted with the prince.

But as long-brewing political tensions simmer beneath the surface, the playful veneer of the courtly games begins to crack. In the end, Phera, Dominic, and Rocelle find themselves united in a desperate bid to prevent a duel that threatens the integrity of the kingdom, the stability of the continent, and any hope for a happily ever after.


Review:

What did I read just now?! I completely recommend this book to fans of historical fiction and anyone interested in reading a riveting story of love, jealousy, and vengeance. The author's phenomenal research on spell-binding historical fictions when combined with his superb storytelling and attention to the type of detail that adds extra humor. 

Oh Phera! 

The plot gives a rich, textured portrait of a particular time and place and is well worth reading. I was thoroughly amazed at the court scenes and the main character thinking ability. And also the side characters especially Pellivar and Hespin, gawd I enjoyed their plots.
It definitely will inspire reader's interest in the time period, and i swear the story was engaging from beginning to the end. When you get to the ending you wouldn't want to finish. I really loved it a lot. At times you did wonder if this was a mater of circumstance or if these two women actually wielded some power that would influence the outcomes of plots that were not from their own doing. Overall a very well written and remarkably easy to read. It is a work of fiction, though very well researched.


Rating : 5/5

I should be thanking colored pages book tour and Author Nikhil Prabhala for having me on this tour ๐Ÿ’Œ

Rhyme, Reason & Heal