Book Review : Rule ( marked men#1) by Jay Crownover

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This was one of the book which I bought on impulse just by looking at the cover. I mean , is it too hard to not fall for the charming man shown here on the book cover. Sigh!

Rule

“ Here’s my heart Shaw. You have it in your hands
and I promise you’re the first and last person to ever touch it. You need to
be careful with it because it’s far more fragile than I ever thought and if you try and give it back I’m not taking it.”

This is just one of the lines from the book that I remember even after a month.

Plot :

Shaw Landon loved Rule Archer from the moment she laid eyes on him. Rule is everything a straight–A pre-med student like Shaw shouldn’t want–and the only person she’s never tried to please. She isn’t afraid of his scary piercings and tattoos or his wild attitude. Though she knows that Rule is wrong for her, her heart just won’t listen.

To a rebel like Rule Archer, Shaw Landon is a stuck-up, perfect princess-and his dead twin brother’s girl. She lives by other people’s rules; he makes his own. He doesn’t have time for a good girl like Shaw-even if she’s the only one who can see the person he truly is.

But a short skirt, too many birthday cocktails, and spilled secrets lead to a night neither can forget. Now, Shaw and Rule have to figure out how a girl like her and a guy like him are supposed to be together without destroying their love . . . or each other.

My views : Ok, this is one of the romance books that I read by choice. The story was kind of predictable ( which I realized later) but the way it is written , you will not have any time to think about it. Rule is typical IDC ( I Don’t Care) guy , who is clearly a lot misunderstood by his parents , loved by his brothers and adored by friends. He is good at his job ( one of the best infact) and so so likable.

Shaw is (surprisingly) so sweet and the pretty , shy girl next door but not dumb and awkward like many other heroines I come across in many books that are based on a male character. No way ! Shaw is perfect daughter to parents who never seem to approve anything about her , a good friend , a super hot and wild girlfriend ( the love making scenes would really make you feel oh so HOT ! ). She is fun , a little proud and yet with a good heart that is controlled by a brave mind.

what i really liked about the book was how both Shaw & Rule struggle to make this relation work. It is not the other people that make life unbearable for both but also , learning to fit into each other’s routine , each other’s thoughts and understanding each other that makes the story so believable and close to any heart in love.

Read it for fun , for A real hot & super awesome boyfriend Rule. for the really well created set of characters around them and for believing in Love.

 

Sigh ! The next book is a bit costly. Can’t wait for its prices to fall a bit ;)

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This is for Indie book reading challenge by DDS

Some times in Love …

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Some times Love alone is not enough to answer all your doubts.

Sometimes Love alone is the cause of all your doubts.

Some times people are the real influence on your decision.

Some times people are the excuses for your decision.

Some times your heart wants to take risks and live each day head on.

Some times your heart just wants to escape all worries and move on.

Some times the only support is not from people you know

Some times the opposition is not from people but of your own.

Some times Love loses these battles ..

Some times Love wins the war of hearts later on …

Here’s to Love that never loses. and to Lovers that always stay close.

Cheers !

Book Review : Business Sutra

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 I signed p for reviewing this book only ’cause I love Devdutt Pattnaik books. At first when I began the book, I wondered if it was a good decision , since I am far far away from any sort of business / management profiles. But within a few pages , I fell into the flow of the author’s direction of thought.

The introduction of the book covers his initiation into the topic , the basic definitions and ground rules for belief , the three beliefs , the culture , the links to management and before you know , you become comfortable with the stories & the morals that we can map to present times.CAM00048

The illustrations done by the author are as funny as simplistic to learn from. The attention is given to all details and presentation of the idea in most effective and understandable way.

Each story that DP took from our scriptures & like wise , is so seamlessly transitioned into the modern story snippets.

while I read the book , I paused and wondered if i had been in same situation or how do people usually react to these scenes. there are many ideas / learning that one can use in our personal lives too and not just business. After all , life too is a transactional sum of a lot of our actions of give and take like this :

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Even if you ignore the management part of things , the book has excellent tales and examples from mythology that would initiate you into this topic and make you read more and more. No one can make you impressed with mythology like DP does. The opening pages of the book were very easy as introductions of the topic felt like some one is talking just to you.

The illustrations are awesome ! they are fun , clear and so on the mark. I almost got reminded of a teacher who taught us with similar stimulating visuals .

No aspect of human or business lifeline is left untouched. Without much forceful reading , the author has made us so aware and curious about things around us and way we consciously or subconsciously get affected by it.

I will surely recommend this book to all managers & entrepreneurs, if they ever plan to apply the indian way of dealing things.

Only issue with the book that it is NO way en easy read ;) both by topic and size wise. Some things seem to be over explained which makes reading a bit slow and one can get distracted easily.

All in all , a good read.
I would rate 4/5.

You can buy the book here : http://www.flipkart.com/business-sutra-very-indian-approach-management/p/itmdhwr4zfgzhvwr

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This review is a part of the biggest Book Review Program for Indian Bloggers. Participate now to get free books!

Feelings

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The moments i whisper
the simplest words for you,
a thunderous storm kicks up
in my head and heart -
Its no easy way to tell
not in less than thousand words,
how much i miss you.
the world revolves around you
And it will be so always,
but how does one fight the urge
to shut down every other thought
and go on with the task in hand,
like say, making my fave soup
but following your dressing tip,
Each golden sunset with a red halo,
a reminder of your words
Dripping in my blushing eyes,
i inhale you scent from my skin
Tracing empty palms on my skin,
where only you can reach
And make these feelings come alive.

May photo a day . Day#3 this is good.

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For me, nothing is better than books, book racks , book stacks , book covers ….

So you get my point i guess. Since i am on a self impised restriction on buying new books ( i cheated on that yesterday though)  , i am filling my kindle reader with lot of free books. This is a screenshot of some of my fav books !

Also, i am 6 books ahead of my reading goal. I cant stop eatching all the book covers in my reading progress page. Here is a screenshot from goodeads :

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M loving this !!

zzzzzzzzz

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The blog is sleeping.
And yes , I am to be blamed for that. Suddenly so much is happening in my life that I have no head or heart in writing anything. This is a short post to say hello to anyone who still drops by. A thank you to friends whom I know are wondering where I am hiding , and a promise that I would be back (soon I hope).

Be good. Keep writing and I promise I would read you all sooner than I start blogging again.

Wake up

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Dreams , maybe not
Of your fingers on me
Smiles on you

Messages of morning
Of love , longing and care
Of rosy reality

Wishes like prayer
Whispered to pillow so soft
Like your heart.

Finally the call
Out of dream to real
You are mine.

This is collum lune. Inspired by sunday mini challenge at imaginary toads. Also linked to sunday scribblings.

A to Z challenge : I am “scared”

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There always were things
I did not know,
about myself,about you;
there always would be stuff
that would remain unsaid
and so unknown to me and you.
This unknown did not matter
till last night,when less was said
and many questions it left;
where we stand,where we flow
its a hard decision,we know
hold on to me,as we face the storm.
It will not help,to turn away
it might be the best,to hold our place
yet it scares me,the bonds we break;
the words we leave behind,
the world we plan to create
are we too early , or too late ?

A to Z challenge : Kindle for books

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For a long time , I thought one needs to buy kindle to read the books available on amazon [ They were at times lot cheaper than paperback]. Then amazon came out with Kindle apps for PC , android , iPad , windows Phone etc and that opened a lot of books to me.

You can download the free kindle apps here

Also , chrome has a kindle cloud reader widget that can be installed and access all the books you have purchased.

Recently I bought a new phone that has an awesome kindle app and reading is so much easy and fun. I am so so addicted to it that I do nothing on phone in free time except read. Browsing kindle, I also came across this list of Kindle’s top 100. What is really cool about this list is that there are both free books and the paid ones. Kindle books get synced to the last line read on all applications and devices at same time so you can always switch from laptop app to the phone one seamlessly.

Do download and try some really cheap and interesting reading options !!

And lastly ,  Please check my poetry collection on Kindle : Fragments

If you happen to buy and read , please let me know your feedback.

A to Z challenge : Fasting

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This is the season for navratri in India – the nine auspicious nights dedicated to worshiping goddess Durga in her many ( 108 being exact) forms. These days are also synonymous for Fasting. Most people keep 2 fasts atleast while many go for 7-8 days of fasting. Of course , last day is for feasting :D

Last time I had made halwa to celebrate the feasting ceremony ;)

I have never been a big fan of fasting unless I read this article on it benefits. suddenly the talks of my mother on this issue made a bit more sense to me. And yet , I do not keep the religious fasts, not unless my mother asks me to. Instead I try to cut down food intake and replace it with fruits and fluids once every week. Basically , I realized that we have to cut out the excess from our life and do it again and again to maintain a healthy system. Be it food , shopping , art or even studies ; We all need break from our routine and this break should be enjoyed and welcomed with good spirits.

I go on a “no book shopping fast” twice a year . It is always so tough to keep filling my wish list and wait for the day when I begin buying all these books. but i realized , the wait is too rewarding. Not just I can get few books as gifts from my guy , but the wait makes my shopping all the more pleasurable.

What do you think you need fasting from ?

A to Z challenge : Monsters in my Life

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We all have our own version / definition of monsters at different age. Its like giving a different face to our fears as we grow up. So I thought of few faces I can associate to this feeling ( based on my age )

4 : I don’t recall why I had this image fixed in my head that the top floor of my grandmother’s home had a sand man living there. Who always wanted to eat me. My mom says it was one of my nightmare that I told her about and frankly that particular spot gave me creeps till I left the house

10 : There was a robbery in my area and for a month. That time I used to be so scared of any one  who roamed the streets in dark. The watchman’s “jaagte raho” really kept me awake :D

15 : One day I saw a 18 year old guy touch a 10 year old girl in an inappropriate way. I can not forget the look of confusion and fear on the girl’s face. Even though I was standing far away, I felt disgusted and afraid at same time. That was the first time I came to recognize why my mother always told me to be safe. That guy was the first real monster I came across.

25 : I was a victim of online stalking and defamation. I had never felt so insecure and vulnerable. I saw strangers asking me not to visit their blogs ’cause some one would follow my steps and say mean things about me on their page. I quit blogging and closed all my accounts for an year. That email id ( the only identity of my stalker) was my nightmare and monster equivalent for  along long time [ I still live in those fears I admit ]

On and off I have come across stories that would make me sad , scared and depressed at state and moods of people. Few of them so much deserve to be branded monsters. I pray for people who have to bear and deal with such creatures !

Inspired by the theme at

A to Z challenge : Lonely nights

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Much has been written,
And said
Of nights in our times
Foggy like ghosts of dead.

Hollow eyes stay glued
To hopes
We neither understand
Nor we pull those ropes.

Confused emotions
And dreams
Lie bleeding in heart
Supressing the screams.

In silent whispers of loss
And loneliness
I scribble these verses
N order to be blessed.

Pardon my sharp tongue
And loud voice
Remember the tears,
The would pay the price.

In dark i lie awake
And alone
Awaiting the dawn of love
Melting the stares so cold.

If once you turned back
To see
The eyes are set on roads
That bring you to me

last email

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Nothing specific
But maybe it could become,
If only he had replied
To the last email she sent.

Actually there were many
One for each day,
Most were answered well
But one would remain.

It was a pattern of sort
A habit she got used to
The emails had no goodbye
Neither a reason to renew.

Even then they wrote,
To each other religiously
And waiting who would end
This pretense of untiring duties

You see the love had gone
And the words grew cold
But more difficult were the hearts
That refused to let go.