Author Archives: Namrata Ganti

Book Review: Misfire by Tammy Euliano

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About the Book:

Misfire CoverA device that can save a life is also one that can end it

Kadence, a new type of implanted defibrillator, misfires in a patient visiting University Hospital for a routine medical procedure—causing the heart rhythm problem it’s meant to correct. Dr. Kate Downey, an experienced anesthesiologist, resuscitates the patient, but she grows concerned for a loved one who recently received the same device—her beloved Great-Aunt Irm.

When a second device misfires, Kate turns to Nikki Yarborough, her friend and Aunt Irm’s cardiologist. Though Nikki helps protect Kate’s aunt, she is prevented from alerting other patients by the corporate greed of her department chairman. As the inventor of the device and part owner of MDI, the company he formed to commercialize it, he claims that the device misfires are due to a soon-to-be-corrected software bug. Kate learns his claim is false.

The misfires continue as Christian O’Donnell, a friend and lawyer, comes to town to facilitate the sale of MDI. Kate and Nikki are drawn into a race to find the source of the malfunctions, but threats to Nikki and a mysterious murder complicate their progress. Are the seemingly random shocks misfires, or are they attacks?

A jaw-dropping twist causes her to rethink everything she once thought she knew, but Kate will stop at nothing to protect her aunt and the other patients whose life-saving devices could turn on them at any moment.

Author Bio:

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Tammy Euliano writes medical thrillers. She’s inspired by her day job as a physician, researcher and medical educator. She is a tenured professor at the University of Florida, where she’s been honored with numerous teaching awards, nearly 100,000 views of her YouTube teaching videos, and was featured in a calendar of women inventors (copies available wherever you buy your out-of-date calendars).

When she’s not writing or at the hospital, she enjoys traveling with her family, playing sports, cheering on the Gators, and entertaining her two wonderful dogs.

Website: http://www.teuliano.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teuliano
Twitter: https://twitter.com/teuliano
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teuliano/

Author Marketing Experts tags for social media:
Twitter: @Bookgal
Instagram: @therealbookgal

Amazon link: https://amzn.to/3Chdv7t
Goodreads link: https://bit.ly/3Z8GTqu

My Thoughts:

I am participating in the blog tour conducted by Author Marketing Experts for Misfire by author Tammy Euliano. It’s my stop on the tour today and I am so grateful for the chance to have read this book!

This is the second book in the medical thriller series. The story follows Kate, Nikki and Christian in a brand new plot related to supposedly faulty defibrillators. These are a new kind and have recently been implanted in patients but are misfiring (hence the title I guess) and there seem to be issues. We follow the characters as they navigate this plot and try to find out why this is happening and how to stop it. I also loved reading about Aunt Irm. She was one character whom I absolutely loved reading about and I enjoyed her interactions with the other characters the most!

I have not yet read the first book and so some of the background was not very clear to me. It took me some time to understand the characters and their connections or the relationships they have with one another. However, this did not take away from the plot and I was still able to read this book as a stand alone and enjoy it. The plot starts of quit slowly initially which makes for slow reading. But as we progress, the plot thickens and it is indeed a race against time to solve the mystery. The author has written the story well and simplified the medical terms for us to understand. This made it even more easy to read the book and understand what was happening.

The story is full of twists and turns and I quite enjoyed reading it! I am definitely going to go back and pick up Book 1 soon!

Tammy Euliano Blog Tour

Book Review: The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

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About the Book:

59447780Avery’s fortune, life, and loves are on the line in the game that everyone will be talking about.

To inherit billions, all Avery Kylie Grambs has to do is survive a few more weeks living in Hawthorne House. The paparazzi are dogging her every step. Financial pressures are building. Danger is a fact of life. And the only thing getting Avery through it all is the Hawthorne brothers. Her life is intertwined with theirs. She knows their secrets, and they know her.

But as the clock ticks down to the moment when Avery will become the richest teenager on the planet, trouble arrives in the form of a visitor who needs her help—and whose presence in Hawthorne House could change everything. It soon becomes clear that there is one last puzzle to solve, and Avery and the Hawthorne brothers are drawn into a dangerous game against an unknown and powerful player.

Secrets upon secrets. Riddles upon riddles. In this game, there are hearts and lives at stake—and there is nothing more Hawthorne than winning.

My Thoughts:

The Final Gambit is the final book in the Inheritance Games trilogy. I devoured this series, reading each book successively and when the third released, I was sure that I had to read it. In short, I absolutely loved the premise of the series, the characters and the entire plot.

This book picks up right where the second one ended. Avery is on the verge of inheriting a fortune and she still has a few more weeks of living with the Hawthorne brothers left. I love how the characters have grown over the books and the sense of belonging Avery feels among the brothers. Their acceptance of her and the bonds they share with her are also wonderful to read about and to be honest, it did not happen instantly. In this book, the author throws us a curve ball, because why not? 😀

There are a few new characters introduced and a plot twist that the readers just don’t see coming. It is definitely not that easy for Avery and it has not been since day 1. However, a lot of secrets come to light and many questions are clarified in this amazing conclusion to this series! The book draws you in just like the previous ones and it is UNPUTDOWNABLE!

It is worth the time spent reading and trust me, you will love getting to know the characters whether they are good, bad or fall into the grey area. It just doesn’t matter as they all play an important role in driving the plot forward as well as shaping each other. To understand one is to understand all of them! I highly recommend this series to everyone!

Book Review: The Karachi Deception by Shatrujeet Nath

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My Thoughts:
I am a huge huge huge fan of Shatrujeet Nath’s books and writing. Having read all his books based on Indian Mythology, I knew I had to read this book which was the first book he had written. A huge thank you to the Writersmelon team as well for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

The Karachi Deception is an international espionage thriller filled with mystery and intrigue and a plot that is full of twists and turns. I loved reading this book and was hooked right from the beginning. In short, the story follows three commandos as they enter Pakistan to eliminate one of the most dreaded underworld dons. As they navigate their way, follow the plan established, they seem to meet roadblocks at every stage. With secrets being kept among the superiors, no clarity on whom to trust and too many parties in play, the reader is in for a roller coaster ride.

The story is fast paced and the characters are well thought out. I really appreciate how the author has handled all the various characters, there are so many of them and each one has an important role to play whether it is big or small. Every one of the characters contributes something which makes the plot stronger and the storyline believable. As our main protagonists set out to do the impossible task set out in front of them, we are giving a glimpse into the minds of the characters and how each one thinks. The reasons behind the decisions taken and how every web of lies has some ounce of truth in it is intriguing.

Overall I loved this book and am happy that my first read of 2023 was a 5 star read! I highly recommend this book to all!

Book Review: Don’t Ask Me How I’m Doing: Life, Death and Everything in Between by Sanjay Deshpande and Co-Authors

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About the Book: (taken from Amazon India)

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Co-authored by Sanjay Deshpande (Lead Author), Sachin Rajakrishnan, Snehal Ponde, Thanisha Sehgal, Anuraag Khaund, Piuli Roy Chowdhury, Vani Verma, Nikita Wadhwani, Pallavi Saraswatula, Aditya Arun, Subeksha Poudel, and Poornima Sardana.

You are 29 and entering the gates of your dream college, you are 30 and have just moved countries with your partner to start your new life, or you are 34 and are expecting your first child. You are in the midst of truly living your life when you wake up one day and find out that you have been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness such as cancer. The world as you know it turns upside down in an instant and you are left all alone grappling with multiple questions in a sea of uncertainty. The world as you know it turns upside down in an instant and you are left alone grappling with multiple questions in a sea of uncertainty.

So, when cancer knocks the living daylight out of you, what do you do? This book is a collection of stories of people in the age group of 17-39 who came together to recount what it’s like to be diagnosed with cancer at a young age or become caregivers to those diagnosed and how they navigated or are navigating their lives through such difficult times. Filled with raw, honest and vulnerable narratives of coping with something whose cause and outcome are mostly unclear, this book is a must read for anyone who wants to find support and have their own voices reflected in the stories of the authors.

My Thoughts:

When Saumita Banerjee from LetsAuthor Books reached out to me regarding this book, I was intrigued. The first thing that caught my attention was the title of the book ‘Don’t Ask Me How I’m Doing’. The second was the synopsis, straight, to the point and written in a way to grab your attention immediately.

Before I write about the book, I want to mention that I truly appreciate Sanjay for finding the courage and stepping up to talk about his experience and opening up the conversation about having or living with cancer. In addition, I have only the utmost respect for all the wonderful co authors (all in a specific age range as the synopsis suggests) who have stepped up to share with us their journeys and the impact cancer has had on their lives as well as that of their loved ones.

I cannot even begin to fathom what any of them or others in general have gone through but this book has given me some insight into how they or anyone might feel or react to the information of having cancer and later dealing with it. The authors are candid and even funny in some cases, bringing to us their thoughts, feelings, insecurities and finally strategies they used to cope with the diagnosis and further. This book is a testament to their strength and more than that their will to educate us all. I have learnt so much from this book and more than anything, I understand that sometimes people need time and space to find their way.

This is a book that is so much more than just people’s accounts. It is about their journey, adulting and in some ways providing a safe space for everyone. One message I came away with is that we are not alone! There is always someone who will understand you or what you are going through and it is okay to ask for help, to reach out to people! I highly recommend this book to all and please do forgive me if I have expressed anything incorrectly here!

New Year greetings and a look back at Year 2022!

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I would like to start off this post by first wishing you all a very happy and prosperous New Year 2023!

I would also like to thank the entire reading community, friends and everyone who has supported me and my blog. A big shoutout to the Instagram community of readers and bloggers. It is a wonderful place to talk about books and get to know fellow bibliophiles.

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Wrap Up 2022 – Top 6 favourites!

Here I’m including the images (from goodreads) of my top 6 favourite books read in 2022 in no particular order. For some of them, the review is posted already and for some the complete review will be put up soon (I am quite late on this and I have a huge backlog 😦 )

I have to say though that I enjoyed every one of the books I read in 2022 and some just stuck with me more than the others. It’s all a relative comparison for me. As you can see, the books range across many genres and I am so happy to have gotten the chance to discover so many new authors who have fast become favourites!

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Book Review: The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber

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About the Book:

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Not every love is meant to be.

After Jacks, the Prince of Hearts, betrays her, Evangeline Fox swears she’ll never trust him again. Now that she’s discovered her own magic, Evangeline believes she can use it to restore the chance at happily ever after that Jacks stole away.

But when a new terrifying curse is revealed, Evangeline finds herself entering into a tenuous partnership with the Prince of Hearts again. Only this time, the rules have changed. Jacks isn’t the only force Evangeline needs to be wary of. In fact, he might be the only one she can trust, despite her desire to despise him.

Instead of a love spell wreaking havoc on Evangeline’s life, a murderous spell has been cast. To break it, Evangeline and Jacks will have to do battle with old friends, new foes, and a magic that plays with heads and hearts. Evangeline has always trusted her heart, but this time she’s not sure she can…

My Thoughts:

“Happy endings can be caught, but they are difficult to hold on to. They are dreams that want to escape the night. They are treasure with wings. They are wild, feral, reckless things that need to be constantly chased, or they will certainly run away.” – A quote I really liked from the book.

The Ballad of Never After is the second book in the series and follows Jacks and Evangeline on an adventure far beyond one we imagined. I am a big fan of the Caraval universe and it’s characters and have absolutely loved reading Once Upon A Broken Heart (Book 1) and this one which are set in the universe but follow a different story.

This book picks up where the first one left off, following Evangeline as she deals with the betrayal from Jacks and then struggles to understand her role as the key. She enters into an agreement with Chaos as well which is something we all know not to do. I love how Stephanie handles the characters in this series and especially this book. They grow and surprise us at every turn. This book is captivating and will pull the reader in. So many questions arise and thus compel us to read more until we know what is happening or until we get to the truth.

I love the author’s style of writing and this book has all the goodness and heartbreak wrapped up in one. It is wonderful to read but tugs at your heartstrings making you experience every emotion along with the characters. Without delving into the story, I assure you readers that the plot is well thought out and makes or an interesting read. I highly recommend this book and the series for all fans of romance, fantasy fiction, YA fiction and so on!

Book Review: Spellbound by Crystal J. Johnson and Felicity Vaughn

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About the Book:

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Gemma inherited more than she can handle thanks to the hot inhabitants of her hotel . . .

When Gemma Fox inherits the storied Reynard Hotel from her great-aunt, she’s totally unprepared for the responsibility. It’s not the bills or the renovations or the repairs piling up. Or her family’s complete lack of confidence in her ability to manage the hotel. It’s that she’s not alone.

Bound to the hotel are two spirits, Archer and Soren Hyde. Brooding, handsome, immortal—they’ve been haunting the Reynard for generations. And Gemma is now their custodian.

As Gemma fights to keep the hotel from going under, she also finds herself fighting a growing attraction to the brothers. Each offers her something different: Archer is impish, fun, sexy, and just the distraction she needs. Soren’s arrogant, passionate, sinfully attractive, and driving her crazy. In turn, they each want something from her—one wants freedom, the other wants her heart.

It turns out that Archer and Soren are holding back a secret that might finally see them no longer spellbound. And when the truth comes out about who—and what—they are, their imperfect triangle shatters. With her life and her happiness on the line, and pressure mounting on all sides, Gemma is forced to make a decision that could change everything—for eternity.

My Thoughts:

I usually enjoy fantasy fiction and when you throw in the paranormal aspect, it gets fun. Spellbound was one such book that I truly enjoyed. I am not one to read books with ghosts or spirits in them but, this book had me hooked. The mystery surrounding the Reynard hotel drew me in and I fell in love with the setting, description and even the characters.

The story follows Gemma who inherits the Reynard hotel from her great-aunt. This makes her even more unpopular among her family members some of whom think they were cheated out of the inheritance and money. Gemma is given a time frame to be able to run the place and prove that she is capable of the task set in front of her, while most of the family deem her unfit for the responsibility. Little does anyone know that running the Reynard is the least of anyone’s worry. The secret to the hotel lies in its unexpected inhabitants who are bound to the place and who had a very special connection with Gemma’s great-aunt making them her responsibility now.

I adored the characters of Soren and Archer. The two are very different and yet have an interesting connection to the hotel and develop a connection with Gemma. As she navigates a complicated love triangle, managing the hotel, family members who want to see her fail, we meet a whole lot of characters (including Larry, Skye, Raven and many more) whom we either love or hate. The authors have done a wonderful job in describing each character and give them enough space in the plot to ensure that the reader is familiar with them.

The twists at the end and the decisions Gemma faces make the story and mystery of the place that much more interesting. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and recommend it for all fans of the genre. Even those who do not normally read paranormal fantasy can pick up this book and enjoy the story!

Book Review: The Engagement by Samantha Hayes

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About the Book:

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You thought you had escaped him. Until he proposed to your daughter.

‘There’s someone I want you to meet,’ Belle says, as a man draws up to her side. He’s tall with dark hair and stubble on his square jaw. He’s dressed in expensive-looking clothes – tan trousers and a fitted navy shirt. He’s not exactly smiling, but the corner of his mouth curls upwards as he slides his hand around my eighteen-year-old daughter’s waist.

I grab my husband’s arm to steady myself as my heart kicks into a thunderous gallop.

I’m frozen.

It’s as though I’m under water. The room spins around me.

I stare into his eyes – jet black. Nothing and everything hidden behind them.

Fear prickles my skin as I remember what he did.

How I only just escaped.

All the lies I’ve had to tell since.

‘I want you to meet Jack,’ Belle says, bouncing up and down with excitement. ‘He’s my fiancé.’ She rests her head on his shoulder. ‘Isn’t it exciting? We’re engaged!’

I have to stop this.

If I don’t, I’ll lose everything…

My Thoughts:

Note: I received a copy of the book from NetGalley and Bookouture in exchange for an honest review.

The Engagement is a fast paced thriller that will have the reader on the edge of their seat. The story is told from 3 different points of view, one of Hannah in the present day, one of her daughter Belle and the last in Molly’s view in the past. As we read each chapter, the story unfolds from each character’s perspective giving us a sense of how the past shapes the current events.

Belle returns home from a language learning trip abroad with a shocking announcement. Not only did she not go ahead with the purpose of her trip, she spent time with a much older man to whom she is now engaged in the short span of two months of knowing each other. However, when Hannah meets this person, it is as though her past is coming back to haunt her. The story then follows her as she tries to make sense of the situation, protect her daughter and prevent some of her darkest secrets from coming to light.

The story is well-written with a lot of twists and some of them are so unexpected, you just do not see them coming. Each person has some kind of agenda and so many deeply buried secrets that it is a revelation to the reader. Some parts of the story are horrifying to read about but the author handles it all rather delicately. I truly enjoyed reading this book and was left shocked right until the very end. Even the last few pages had a twist that the reader just doesn’t see coming.

This book is a must read for all those who enjoy a good thriller.

Book Review: Fall of the Harvest Moon by Nina Walker and Kimberly Loth

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My Thoughts:
Fall of the Harvest Moon is the final book in the New World Shifters series by authors Nina Walker and Kimberly Loth. This book picks up where the last one left off and takes us on a fast paced journey towards the conclusion.

We follow Poppy as she navigates becoming a Lycan and deals with the after effects of having killed The King and biting Rhys. So many questions were left unanswered at the end of Book 3 with the clarification and conclusion coming to light in this book. Poppy starts to take control and stand up for herself and the other girls. Rhys is confused and trying to come to terms with a lot of things as well as handle being the alpha. There is also a bigger focus on the romance between the characters and an interesting twist to this equation.

The authors have done a great job in bringing the story together and tying up all loose ends. As a reader, we come away satisfied with the story and the characters and how they end up. This story is fast paced and we see much more action than in the others. In addition to this, we also see a lot of the characters grow into their own and take control of their lives. It is indeed a beautiful journey of four books that the readers will take with these characters whom they will grow to love or hate. But, it is all worth it in the end.

This is a world where werewolves, lycans and other shapeshifters come together and hopefully, eventually live in harmony with the humans. A truly wonderful conclusion to the series, I highly recommend this series and of course this book (if you have read the rest) to all fans of  books in the genres of paranormal romance.

Book Review: Teenage Chronicles by Saania Saxena

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About the Book:

Feelings, fears, friendships, insecurities, passions. All of us go through these intense emotional experiences, and the start of it all, without the shadow of a doubt, is teenagerhood. As we start to realize that we are our own person, many questions inevitably follow, as who we want that person to be, and how to get there.⠀
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Saania Saxena, the sixteen-year-old author of Teenage Chronicles: My Journey of Self Discovery knows well what she writes about. With curiosity, a bright analytical mind, and the wise humility of someone who knows how much there is to learn from this world – regardless of the age one has reached – she narrates her first-hand life experiences and the consequent lessons she has elaborated and learned, sharing them with her readers.⠀
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Philosophy and science are no longer intellectual and abstract concepts, but tools to better understand ourselves and ease our journey to self-discovery. A fresh, rich, and interesting work between narrative and essay, providing at the same time entertainment and suggestions to consider.⠀
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A book recommended not only to teenagers but as well to adults that are still questioning themselves and in need of a fresh and original point of view to improve their self-perception.

My Thoughts:

Teenage Chronicles is a well-written book that is extremely relevant and relatable not just to teenagers but to everyone. The book brings out some basic emotions that we all face through examples, situations, facts and scientific thought. Though the title and focus of the book is on teenagers and teenage years, I think that most of us can relate to the emotions highlighted and examples in the book.

I love the idea of the book and the presentation of each chapter. It is clear that author Saania has taken time not only to introspect but to understand and reflect on what she is going through as well as others around her. She then takes this one step further and tries to articulate how these emotions affect her peers and then finally extending this to a larger group. The presentation of the content is captivating and informative without being preachy.

This book will help teenagers realize that they are not alone, that everyone feels almost the same emotions but to varying degrees. A good way to deal with things is to just pause for a moment and think. A little bit of understanding and lending an ear or a shoulder to lean on can go a long way. What I liked the most is the candid nature with which Saania presents her thoughts and the research and care that has gone into writing about each emotion.

Even though I do not read a lot of books in this genre, Saania’s book is one that I truly enjoyed and could relate to even though I am way beyond my teenage years. This book took me back and helped me think about what I felt and how I handled it. The book is thought provoking and the beauty lies in the simplicity of the writing and ideas. I highly recommend this book for readers of all ages!